Life from Within

Episode 7 Jake Gunn-Sandell

On this episode, I speak with Jake Gunn-Sandell, Director of Strategic Affairs at Instructure (the company behind Canvas), about his incredible journey. We discussed his bold career pivots, particularly his high-stakes transition into executive search, where he developed the innovative 'Polymath Practice'—a powerful framework for C-Suite recruiting.

I learned so much about how Jake leveraged vulnerability and strategic networking to make the leap from placing top talent to a pivotal leadership role in Education Technology (EdTech). I think this conversation offers a powerful blueprint for successful job searching and personal growth, emphasizing the need to ask critical questions, identify one's values, and remain adaptable throughout major career changes.

1. Embrace Vulnerability for Professional Growth: Ask probing questions, and let intellectual curiosity guide learning. This builds trust and accelerates skill acquisition.
2. The Polymath Practice: Jake's strategy to compartmentalize new, complex roles into simple, core subjects (e.g., Psychology, Tech, Finance) to make major career pivots manageable.
3. Strategic Networking is Essential for Job Searching: Focus networking efforts on leaders and companies you admire. Finding the right organizational culture is as important as the role itself.
4. Establish Credibility, Sell the Dream, and Slow Down: These three steps are what Jake found critical for building influence and trust in any leadership position or high-stakes environment like executive search.
5. Identify Your Values and Goals: Jake defined his next move by writing down what he wanted (lead more, travel more, give back). A clear personal vision for guiding career pivots is essential.
6. Creative Thinking Unlocks Opportunity: Challenge assumptions about the "perfect" candidate or the "obvious" career move. Leverage transferable skills to pivot into new sectors like EdTech seamlessly.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:30 Career Pivots and Challenges

13:35 Using Vulnerability in Executive Search

20:52 Fundraising Challenges in Nonprofit Work

22:54 Embracing Vulnerability in Leadership

24:34 Navigating Career Transitions SPMB to Instructure

30:03 Identifying Personal Values and the Impact of a Career Coach

32:05 Leveraging Relationships for Career Growth

34:47 Strategic Job Searching

38:34 Understanding Your Identity as a Builder

Guest

Jake Gunn-Sandell’s career is a masterclass in the power of the career pivot. He currently serves as the Director of Strategic Affairs at Instructure, helping define the future of education through his work in government affairs and strategic partnerships. Before moving into EdTech, Jake excelled in the demanding world of executive search, where he built the Polymath Practice—leveraging transferable skills to place C-suite leaders across every major tech vertical. From the fast-paced environment of recruiting top executives to his early days as a Disney character performer, Jake attributes his success to embracing vulnerability, strategic networking, and a relentless drive for personal growth. He remains committed to his community as a board member for the Arapahoe Rescue Patrol.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/education-the-first-step/

Host

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress. In her coaching and facilitation work, Kelly helps leaders uncover what matters most to them, navigate inflection points with intention, and build the kind of impact that grows from the inside out.

Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co

Resources mentioned

• Jake on LinkedIn - /in/education-the-first-step/
• Arapahoe Search and Rescue - https://www.arapahoerescue.org/

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Episode 6 • November 10, 2025

Founder Chris Schwalbach on shifting from head to heart and why authentic relationships are the real ROI.

After building a successful finance firm, Chris Schwalbach realized his leadership needed less logic and more heart. He shares how coaching helped him unlearn family beliefs, ask personal questions, and practice vulnerability at work and home. This inner shift ultimately shaped his company’s culture and the relationships that led to AVL Growth Partners’ acquisition by Ampleo. A story about connection, curiosity, and saying what matters now.

Founder and finance leader Chris Schwalbach opens up about shifting from a brain-first, value-proving style to a heart-led, relational approach. The pivot began in 2019 when outward success no longer matched his inner experience. Working with a coach, Chris uncovered an inherited belief that it is impolite to ask personal questions, saw why it served his family, and chose a different path. He practiced new muscles — asking human questions, building emotional vocabulary, and receiving appreciation without deflecting.

We trace how that inner work supported major business moves: hiring a CEO, stepping back in, and ultimately selling AVL Growth Partners to Ampleo. Chris committed to relationship building with no immediate agenda, meeting 100 people across the ecosystem. The eventual acquirer was a relationship planted eight years earlier. His takeaway is simple and practical: relationships are not a tactic — they are the point. We close with a challenge inspired by Walter Green’s “Say It Now” — tell people what they mean to you while you are both here.

• Authentic leadership is built in practice; expand your emotional vocabulary and reps.
• Question inherited rules — helpful family beliefs may not serve your leadership today.
• Calibrate depth; go one notch deeper while protecting safety and trust.
• Change can disorient colleagues and family — name it, slow down, stay in dialogue.
• Receiving is half of connection; when appreciation arrives, let it land.
• Curiosity is a strategic asset — ask real questions without pre-editing.
• Relationships create outcomes — plant seeds early, nurture often, release the timeline.
• Protect time yet connect — make brief human check-ins part of meetings.
• Keep a reconnection list; reach out to two or three people this month.
• Say it now — express gratitude today rather than saving it for later.

00:00 Navigating Personal Growth and Authenticity

03:10 From Head to Heart: Shifting How We Connect

06:01 Unlearning Family Rules About “What’s Personal”

09:02 Asking for Help, Vulnerability, and Early Stumbles

12:06 How Change Lands at Home and Work

15:04 Calibrating Depth and Building Emotional Vocabulary

20:57 Presence, Listening, and Subtle Culture Shifts

21:46 CEO Experiment, Return, and Path to an Exit

22:52 Relationship Mapping: 100 Conversations, No Agenda

25:19 Curiosity and Trusting Your Voice

27:12 The Practice of Receiving Praise

29:05 Time Respect, Human Check-ins, and Team Norms

30:40 Intentionality in Leadership and People Systems

35:07 Relationships as the Point, Not the Tactic

39:29 Say It Now: Expressing Appreciation in Real Time

Chris Schwalbach is a serial entrepreneur, finance professional, board director, and the founder of AVL Growth Partners, a fractional accounting and CFO firm recently acquired by Ampleo.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cschwalbach/

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator who brings real conversations about growth, leadership, and life to her podcast Life from Within.

Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co

• Chris on LinkedIn - /in/cschwalbach/
• Small Giants by Bo Burlingham
• Finish Big by Bo Burlingham
• AVL Growth Partners
• Ampleo
• Walter Green’s Say It Now concept

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Episode 5 — October 26, 2025

“I want people to feel joy.”

What happens when a world-class teacher with decades of experience and who helped launch Peloton’s Yoga & Pilates programs bets on herself? Kristin McGee joins Kelly to talk about the brave, messy, very human leap from corporate star to founder of Kristin McGee Movement. It’s a story about owning your content, rebuilding confidence, and designing a business that supports both artistry and motherhood.

Kristin shares why a contract change at Peloton and the realities of single parenting pushed her to step into founder mode - and how she navigated a one-year non-compete while listening for the next right step. She gets specific about the unglamorous parts of entrepreneurship (choosing a white-label platform, wrestling with mics/lighting, learning to delegate editing and comms) and the mindset shifts that made it possible (“No one’s going to do it for me, and I don’t have to do it alone”).

We dig into movement as community: live classes where Kristin can coach form in real time, a chat space for recipes and questions, and 21-day challenges to build consistency. We also go deep on breathwork - how Pilates’ lateral breathing differs from yoga’s Ujjayi, and why that mattered in Kristin’s recovery from diastasis recti, which inspired a 21-day core program inside the app.

Finally, Kristin introduces her forthcoming book, The Treat Yourself Philosophy (“Truly Realizing Everything Is Already There”), and makes the case for small, daily treats as a path to healing, presence, and self-trust. From “pure healing energy” mantras to practical marketing discomforts, this is a masterclass in owning your work, your worth, and your wellbeing - without losing the joy.

Offer: Life from Within listeners get 30 days free on Kristin McGee Movement with code LIFEFROMWITHIN (good through November 26, 2025).

Kristin McGee is a nationally recognized yoga & Pilates teacher, speaker, mompreneur, and author. Across three decades, she’s taught thousands (including many celebrities), pioneered Peloton’s Yoga & Pilates program, and now leads Kristin McGee Movement.

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator who brings real conversations about growth, leadership, and life to her podcast Life from Within.

00:00 It’s Up To You

00:26 Episode Intro

00:53 What is Kristin McGee Movement?

04:04 Launching Yoga & Pilates at Peloton

08:48 Navigating Motherhood and Career

11:01 Embracing Change and Creativity

13:22 Building a Community and Ownership of Content

15:06 Overcoming Challenges in Entrepreneurship

16:43 Decision-Making and Self-Reflection

20:07 Stepping into Founder Mode

20:20 Building Confidence and Resilience

21:32 Launching the App and Marketing Strategies

23:23 Creating a Community and Organic Growth

25:04 Pilates Breath and Diastasis

28:35 The Treat Yourself Philosophy

32:36 Embracing Self-Care and Healing

36:28 Cultivating Inner Peace and Presence

38:34 30 Days Free on Kristin’s Platform

39:12 Rate, Follow, and Share

Kristin’s site: https://www.kristinmcgee.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kristinmcgee/

Book: The Treat Yourself Philosophy: A Guilt-Free Guide to Prioritizing You (pre-order at all major booksellers)

Offer: Life from Within listeners get 30 days free on Kristin McGee Movement with code LIFEFROMWITHIN(good through November 26, 2025).

• Own your library, own your leverage: Leaving Peloton clarified the value of content ownership, creative freedom, and optionality (“Kristin’s version”).
• Founder is a mindset: Confidence + consistency beat perfection. “No one’s going to do it for me” became Kristin’s operating system.
• Decisions need space: A twice-daily 20-minute meditation practice helps her stop over-analyzing and feel for the next right step.
• Build the team you need: Delegate editing, comms, and production so your genius (program design + teaching) stays front and center.
• Community accelerates progress: Live classes, chat, and 21-day challenges create accountability and real-time coaching.
• Breathe differently for different aims: Use lateral breathing in Pilates to engage the transverse abdominals - especially helpful in diastasis recti recovery.
• Treats as daily medicine: Small, varied delights retrain self-trust and joy; Kristin’s mantra: “pure healing energy.”
• Marketing with integrity: Balance organic word-of-mouth with clear, consistent invitations - people can’t join what they don’t know exists.

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• LinkedIn: /in/kellydwyer/
• Updates: lifefromwithin.com
• Coaching: kellydwyer.co

Speak Up with Confidence: Lessons from "The Next Conversation" with Alessandra Zielinski

Episode 4 - October 13, 2025

About This Episode

In this episode, Kelly Dwyer and Alessandra Zielinski discuss the intricacies of communication, particularly in the context of coaching and leadership. They explore themes from Jefferson Fisher's book, 'The Next Conversation,' focusing on assertive voice, confidence, and the challenges of navigating difficult conversations. The conversation highlights the importance of preparation, understanding identity dynamics, and practical strategies for effective communication.

Bios

Alessandra Zielinski is a certified leadership coach with more than 20 years of experience across the private and nonprofit sectors. She helps leaders become more strategic, effective, and sustainable in their work, drawing on a rich global perspective shaped by living and working in seven countries. Alessandra teaches graduate courses on intercultural communication and consulting at American University and holds an MBA from Cornell, an MA in International Relations from Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, and a BA from the University of Notre Dame.

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator who brings real conversations about growth, leadership, and life to her podcast Life from Within.

Topics & Timestamps

00:00 Intro to Confidence

00:14 What To Expect in this Episode

01:08 The Role of Confidence in Communication

05:54 Preparation for Difficult Conversations

08:27 Navigating Emotions in Conversations

10:57 Choosing Your Timing and the Rule of Three

15:39 Tricky Situations for Assertiveness

19:44 Understanding Defensiveness in Conversations

21:35 Tips and Phrases to Try On

23:25 Resources for Continued Learning

24:39 Thank you  - please follow and rate

Resources mentioned in this episode

• The Next Conversation, by Jefferson Fisher: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/book
• Jefferson Fisher, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXjnpu6lK0HoUyOMh2ZBwhQ
• Adam Grant article:  https://share.google/BHeK1kNIU6aUHWJoH
• Amy Gallo book, Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) https://www.amyegallo.com/getting-along-difficult-people-archetypes
• Alessandra’s website: https://www.alessandrazielinski.com/
• Alessandra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessandrazielinski/

Takeaways

• Communication is a lifelong skill that requires continuous improvement.
• Confidence is often a result of taking action, not a prerequisite.
• Assertive voice can be cultivated through specific language choices.
• Recognizing patterns in communication can help address issues effectively.
• Bottling emotions can lead to negative consequences in interpersonal relationships.
• Preparation is key to successful conversations and outcomes.
• Identity dynamics play a significant role in how communication is perceived.

Listen, rate, subscribe, and share! 

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who’s navigating their own leadership journey.

Find us on your favorite podcast platform:

• Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-from-within/id1840787981
• Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5J1jDK3lgEnAfBwMsOgHvu?si=65aa3b39cd844443
• Youtube - https://youtube.com/@lifefromwithinpodcast?si=liejuiW6gI7lJ45c

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellydwyer/

Sign up for updates: https://www.lifefromwithin.com/

Coaching and facilitation: kellydwyer.co

Leading Through Chaos and Becoming a Visible CEO with Stephanie Postles

Episode 3 - September 29, 2025

About This Episode

In this episode, Kelly Dwyer talks with Stephanie Postles, founder and CEO of Mission.org and RELVNT.com. Stephanie shares her journey from Google to entrepreneurship, the near-collapse of her company, and the limiting beliefs she overcame to step into the spotlight as CEO. She also discusses balancing personal life with business, the launch of her new media firm, and her insights on leadership, delegation, and visibility in today’s digital age.

Bios

Stephanie Postles is the founder and CEO of Mission.org, one of the world’s most-downloaded business and tech podcast networks, and CEO of RELVNT.com, a media strategy firm helping B2B brands show up where it counts—through trusted conversations, podcasts, and thought leadership. She’s worked with global brands like Salesforce, NYSE, Splunk, and General Mills, bringing a rare mix of creative content instincts and ROI-driven strategy. Before launching her own companies, Stephanie managed a $1B+ P&L at Google and began her career in finance at Fannie Mae.

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator who brings real conversations about growth, leadership, and life to her podcast Life from Within.

Topics & Timestamps

00:00 From Behind the Scenes to the Spotlight

08:01 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

12:53 Building Company Culture & Business Model

24:02 Launching Relvnt.com: A New Venture

26:32 The Entrepreneurial Journey: Course Creation and Growth

29:06 Delegation and Leadership: Finding Your Unique Ability

33:30 The Cost of Visibility: Balancing Help and Boundaries

37:46 Overcoming Fear of Visibility: Meditation and Authenticity

39:54 Identifying Unique Abilities: A Methodical Approach

45:21 Learn More

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Strategic Podcasting Course - https://training.mission.org/optin
• Hiring VA talent in the Philippines - https://www.onlinejobs.ph/
• mission.org
• relvnt.com
• Podcasts:
• The Mission Daily - https://mission.org/mission-daily/about-the-mission-daily/
• Marketing Trends - https://mission.org/marketing-trends/

Takeaways

• Mission.org started as a side project and grew into a major podcast network.
• Facing near bankruptcy pushed Stephanie to step into being a visible leader, essential for founders in today’s digital landscape.
• Curiosity can help overcome fear in challenging situations.
• Personal challenges, including pregnancy and divorce, shaped her leadership journey.
• The launch of Relvnt.com was a strategic move to separate business offerings.
• Creating a podcast course was a response to demand from aspiring podcasters.
• Delegation is key to scaling a business effectively.

Listen, rate, subscribe, and share! 

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who’s navigating their own leadership journey.

Find us on your favorite podcast platform:

• Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-from-within/id1840787981
• Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5J1jDK3lgEnAfBwMsOgHvu?si=65aa3b39cd844443
• Youtube - https://youtube.com/@lifefromwithinpodcast?si=liejuiW6gI7lJ45c

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LinkedIn

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Coaching and facilitation: kellydwyer.co

Episode 2 - September 29, 2025

About This Episode

In this conversation, Kelly Dwyer and Justin Shuman explore the profound impact of personal health challenges on career and self-perception. Justin shares his journey through a serious health diagnosis while also searching for a job, the fear and uncertainty it brought, and how he leaned on his community for support. They discuss the importance of cultivating relationships, the therapeutic practices that helped Justin cope, and the three filters he applies to career opportunities post-diagnosis. The conversation emphasizes resilience, the value of community, and the lessons learned from navigating unexpected challenges.

Bios

Justin Shuman builds and leads growth functions for mission-led healthcare companies and serves as Treasurer on the board of Uptown Health Clinic, a Denver-based community health center. His own health journey with valvular heart disease has deepened his compassion and persistence, shaping how he builds, leads, and connects.

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator who brings real conversations about growth, leadership, and life to her podcast Life from Within.

Topics & Timestamps

00:00 Navigating Career Challenges and Personal Growth

02:36 Facing Health Crises and Their Impact

04:52 Building Community During Tough Times

07:31 Shifts in Self-Perception and Identity

09:51 Finding Purpose in Career Transitions

12:10 The Importance of Trust in Leadership

14:39 Evaluating Job Opportunities with New Perspectives

16:37 Advice for Navigating Unexpected Life Changes

19:20 Moments of Redemption and Moving Forward

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Justin Shuman LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinshuman/
• [email protected]

Takeaways

• Health challenges can lead to significant personal growth.
• Community support is vital during tough times.
• Invest in relationships before you need them.
• Self-perception can shift dramatically during crises.
• Trust in management is crucial for emotional safety.
• Job searches should align with personal values and mission.
• Every challenge can lead to redemptive moments.

Listen, rate, and subscribe! 

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Youtube

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Coaching and facilitation: kellydwyer.co

Episode 1 - September 29, 2025

About This Episode

In this episode of Life From Within, Kelly Dwyer interviews Laurel Donnellan, founder and CEO of Compassionate Leaders Circle. Laurel shares her transformative journey from a successful career in hospitality to embracing sobriety and discovering her true calling through a Lakota vision quest. The conversation delves into the concept of 'soul work', the challenges of navigating career changes, and the impact of AI on the workforce. Laurel emphasizes the importance of purpose in work and encourages listeners to reflect on their motivations and aspirations.

Bios

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator who brings real conversations about growth, leadership, and life to her podcast Life from Within.

Laurel Donnellan is a compassionate leadership expert, founder of Compassionate Leaders Circle, and cohost of the Compassionate Leaders Circle Podcast. With degrees from Cornell and Columbia, she has spent over 25 years developing transformational programs that build careers and organizations from the inside out.

Topics & Timestamps

00:00 God Shot and Introduction

01:20 The Journey to Sobriety

07:00 Finding Purpose Through Vision Quest

09:02 Soul Work

11:24 Navigating Business Challenges

14:11 Embracing Change and Purpose

18:23 Pivoting with Grace

23:09 AI and Turning Worry into Wonder

27:29 Why Am I Working?

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Compassionate Leaders Circle

Takeaways

• Sobriety marked a powerful turning point in Laurel’s career and life.
• A Lakota vision quest revealed her deeper sense of purpose.
• Soul work is about aligning personal passion with meaningful contribution.
• AI is reshaping the job market, but human connection and compassion remain essential.
• Asking “Why am I working?” is a simple yet transformative question for leaders and professionals.

Listen, rate, and subscribe! 

Find us on your favorite podcast platform:

• Apple Podcasts 
• Spotify
• Youtube

Follow Kelly

• Instagram: @kd_lifefromwithin
• LinkedIn
• Sign up for updates: https://www.lifefromwithin.com/
• Coaching and facilitation: kellydwyer.co

✨ Welcome to Life from Within! ✨

This podcast is about the inner and outer work of becoming who you’re meant to be—at work, in leadership, and in life.

Hosted by executive coach and facilitator Kelly Dwyer, Life from Within is for growth-minded professionals and leaders who want to grow through career challenges, lead with integrity, and live with more clarity and confidence.

Through candid conversations and solo reflections, you’ll discover how to align your inner and outer worlds—and why that alignment changes everything.

🎧 Subscribe now to start your journey and go deeper at lifefromwithin.com