How do you keep moving forward when life forces you to grow up at age 11? Can you maintain your integrity when your job conflicts with your values? In this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, we explore the incredible journey of a leader who turned early personal tragedy into a lifetime of resilience and service. We go beyond the bio to discuss how to lead through loss, the power of divine order in your career, and what it takes to manage global teams during a crisis.

Carrie J. Clark is a powerhouse leader in technology, global governance, and higher education. As the System Director of IT Operations at Henry Ford Health, she drives digital transformation and operational excellence. Beyond the boardroom, Carrie serves as the International Regional Director for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, overseeing chapters across 13 countries. A proud Detroit native and STEM advocate, she is dedicated to creating pathways for the next generation through organizations like Code 313.

Key Takeaways:

• The Survivor Mentality: Carrie opens up about the devastating loss of her mother when she was just 11 years old. Learn how this tragedy shaped her resilience and instilled a survivor mindset that has fueled her personal and professional success.
• Integrity Over Titles: Hear the defining moment in Carrie's early career when she walked away from a good job because it compromised her values. She shares a powerful lesson on why you can't save everyone, but you must refuse to be part of the problem.
• Your Steps Are Ordered: From losing a major election to losing her father in the same season, Carrie discusses how to handle public defeat with grace and why trusting in divine order is essential for long-term peace and success.
• Leading Through Crisis: As a regional director during the height of COVID-19, Carrie had to pivot from standard leadership to managing the grief and safety of thousands of women. Discover her strategies for galvanizing a team during unprecedented times.
• Going Global: Carrie shares her excitement about expanding Alpha Kappa Alpha's footprint, including chartering new chapters in Ghana, London, and Puerto Rico, and bringing the sorority full circle back to the continent of Africa.

Whether you are a corporate executive, a community servant, or navigating your own wilderness season, Carrie’s story is a testament that "ain't no stopping us now." If this episode inspired you to trust your journey, please rate, review, and share it with a friend!

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

Are you afraid to start over? Do you feel like it’s too late to pursue a creative passion or pivot your career because you didn't start young enough? Whether you are navigating a competitive industry, recovering from a personal setback, or simply feeling the itch to try something new, this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses is your blueprint for resilience. We go beyond the bio to explore how to embrace being a beginner, how to navigate life's sinking canoes and why your 10,000 hours of hard work will always pay off.

Kelly Frye is a dynamic actress, producer, and director known for her roles in Disney's Secrets of Sulphur Springs, Criminal Minds, The Flash, and Rake. A Houston native and Loyola Marymount University graduate, Kelly is a lifelong learner who trained at the famed Second City. Beyond the screen, she is a multifaceted entrepreneur: she co-runs the Campbell Art Collective, hosts immersive "Bite" dinner series, and recently launched her own line of upcycled, artist-collaborative handbags, the Kelly Campbell Collection.

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace Being a Beginner: From joining her high school golf team with zero experience to launching a handbag line during a Hollywood strike, Kelly proves that success comes from the willingness to be a beginner and put in the work.
• Learn the Rules to Break Them: Kelly shares a critical lesson for any creative or professional: you must master the technical scaffolding of your craft before you can successfully improvise and add your own unique jazz hands.
• The Canoe Theory of Relationships: In a powerful analogy about navigating toxic relationships, Kelly explains how to recognize when you are in a sinking canoe and why you must have the courage to jump out and swim, rather than drowning trying to fix holes others are poking.
• Track Your Wins in the Desert: When you are in a wilderness season or feeling stuck, Kelly recommends keeping a physical list of every small win. Reviewing this list when you feel lost helps you see that you are actually moving forward, even if you can't see the forest through the trees.
• Pivot with Purpose: Learn how Kelly turned an 8-month industry strike into an opportunity to launch new businesses, proving that versatility and the ability to pivot are essential tools for long-term success.

Are you ready to jump off the mountain and see if the parachute opens? Kelly’s story is a reminder that you don't have to fit into one box—you can be an actress, a realtor, an entrepreneur, and an art lover all at once. If this episode inspired you to start your own list of wins, share it with us!

Don't forget to subscribe to No Boxes, Just Verses on your favorite platform so you never miss a leadership playlist.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

Are you feeling stuck in a wilderness season, unsure of your next move, or afraid to pivot? Whether you are navigating a career transition, facing financial uncertainty, or simply trying to rediscover your voice, this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses is the inspiration you need. We go beyond the resume to explore how to turn rock bottom into a launchpad for reinvention. Join us as we explore the incredible journey of a Hollywood icon who taught herself to code during a personal low point and emerged as a tech leader.

Malinda Williams is an acclaimed actress, producer, and cultural icon whose work has profoundly shaped film and television. Best known for her breakthrough role as Tracy "Bird" Van Adams in Showtime’s groundbreaking series Soul Food, she has also starred in hits like The Wood, Idlewild, and Daddy’s Little Girls. Beyond Hollywood, Malinda is a tech visionary who taught herself to code and founded the Arise and Shine Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to wellness, empowerment, and creative entrepreneurship for underserved communities.

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace the Wilderness Season: Malinda opens up about her time in the wilderness—a period of financial struggle and personal difficulty. She shares how she reframed this time not as a setback, but as a period of accelerated growth where she learned that if you want to see something different, you have to be something different.
• The Power of Self-Taught Reinvention: Discover the incredible story of how Malinda, facing a changing industry and personal debt, picked up a book called HTML for Dummies and taught herself to code. Learn how being an autodidact (self-taught learner) allowed her to pivot from acting to building websites and eventually launching a tech non-profit.
• Trust Your Intuition and Go: From moving to Los Angeles with only two weeks' notice to accepting the role of Bird in Soul Food after initially declining it three times, Malinda discusses the importance of listening to divine downloads and being radically obedient when your spirit says "go".
• Drop the "Bag Lady" Mentality: Inspired by Erykah Badu’s "Bag Lady," Malinda explains why you must let go of past hurts and grudges. She teaches that carrying emotional baggage slows you down, causing you to miss your bus—and your blessings.
• Know Your Worth in Negotiations: Hear the powerful story of how Malinda negotiated a salary double what she expected by leaning on her faith and learning to believe for more, even when the initial offer was a lowball.

Are you ready to drop your bags and code your own future? This episode is a masterclass in resilience and faith. If you were moved by Malinda’s story, consider supporting her mission to bring tech education to women and HBCUs by donating to the Arise and Shine Foundation at asforwomen.org 

Don't forget to subscribe to No Boxes, Just Verses for more inspiring journeys that go beyond the bio! Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

Are you a high-level manager struggling to make the leap to "unboxed" leadership? Many professionals hit a plateau where they focus solely on vertical status rather than the diverse skills needed for the C-Suite. This common pain point can lead to career stagnation and burnout.

In the conclusion of our Season 1 Recap, No Boxes: Just Verses explores the five final pillars of leadership that separate good managers from world-class leaders. This episode addresses how to use your platform for a higher purpose, the spiritual act of trust and delegation, and why strategic networking is the ultimate currency of business. If you’re ready to scale your impact and master the "human-centric" ecosystems of modern leadership, this "unboxed" playbook is for you.

You’ll see lessons from Dana Pump, Terri J. Vaughn, Shaun Robinson, Chloe & Maud Arnold, Nichole Jordan, Panya Lei, Christiane Pendarvis, Michelle Banks, Elicia Pegues Spearman, Steven Wolfe Pereira, Vishal Verma, Ravi Kumar,  and Lisa Shalett.

Key Takeaways:

• Purpose Through Service & Philanthropy: True leadership is not measured solely by personal achievement, but by how you use your platform and success to lift others and create a lasting, positive impact in your community.
• Trust and Vulnerability as a Scale Strategy: To scale your impact, you must view delegation as a spiritual act of trust and recognize that asking for help is a sign of authentic leadership strength, not fragility.
• Exposure as a Growth Accelerator: Broadening your horizons by stepping into unknown environments—such as new industries, cities, or global assignments—acts as a critical catalyst for stretching your mental perspective and accelerating executive readiness.
• Relationship Building is the Ultimate Currency: Business is fundamentally about people; mastering the art of human-centric connection and building strategic ecosystems is the essential skill needed to scale your impact globally.

Your fullness is your power, and there are no boxes here—only the verses you choose to write. We encourage you to take one of these lessons today—whether it's trusting a teammate with a new task or reaching out to a new mentor—and apply it to your journey.

Thank you for being part of the No Boxes: Just Verses global movement. We are turning the page on an incredible first season and getting ready for the next level. Season 2 drops January 5th! Subscribe now to ensure you're first in line for our stunning new lineup of guests. Stay unboxed.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music) 

Are you feeling stuck on a secure career path that no longer sparks curiosity? Do you feel like you have to wear a mask to be respected in the C-Suite? Many leaders face the grueling pressure of maintaining a perfect image while navigating personal trials or professional stagnation. This episode of No Boxes: Just Verses addresses the specific pain point of boxed-in leadership.

In this special Part 1 recap, host Shannon Nash counts down the first five pillars of leadership that defined our debut season. You’ll see lessons from Debbie Frost, Vicki Johnson, Lola Oladunjoye, Steven Wolfe Pereira, Kenny Lattimore, Lauren Maillian, Melonie D. Parker, Leah Pump, Debbie Allen, and Jack McCullough.

Key Takeaways:

• Master the "Unboxed" Career Pivot: Success rarely follows a straight line. Real leadership is defined by the courage to abandon a secure path to follow a spark of curiosity.
• Bring Your Full Identity to the Table: Your fullness is your greatest power. Refuse to code-switch or hide your cultural background; bringing your whole self—background, interests, and culture—is what allows you to lead with true authority.
• Lead Through "Titanium" Moments: Resilience is forged in the fire of personal loss. It is the ability to maintain high-level excellence even when life’s heaviest hits leave you operating at limited capacity.
• Build Your "Starting Five" Board of Advisors: You don't reach the top alone. Be intentional about building a village that includes a mentor to disrupt your thinking, a sponsor to open doors, and a peer "scream buddy" for support.
• Reclaim Empathy as a Strategic Tool: Niceness is not a weakness; it is a sign of immense strength. Purposefully choosing joy fuels creativity and allows you to stand up for the unheard in high-stakes rooms.

Leadership is not a destination; it is a series of verses. Which of these five lessons "hit" your career path the hardest today? We encourage you to pick one lesson—whether it's building your board of advisors or bringing more of your authentic self to your next meeting—and implement it this week.

No Boxes: Just Verses has officially hit the Top 5% of podcasts globally because of your support. Subscribe now so you don't miss Part 2 of our countdown next week, and get ready—Season 2 drops January 5th! Stay unboxed.

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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music) 

As we wrap up an incredible Season One, join us for a special countdown of the Top 5 most-chosen songs that shaped the journeys of our leaders! This episode goes beyond the rankings to explore the common musical threads that connect incredible leaders across business, culture, creativity, and community. We revisit the powerful stories behind the anthems of resilience, joy, strategy, and strength that resonated most deeply with our phenomenal guests.

Key Takeaways:

• Season one has been nothing short of phenomenal.
• The podcast ranked in the top 5% globally out of 3.6 million podcasts.
• The stories shared resonated deeply with listeners.
• The top five songs represent key leadership lessons.
• Music serves as a powerful connector in storytelling.
• Different genres can convey similar themes of empowerment.
• Confidence is crucial in leadership and presence.
• Choosing joy is essential for resilience and creativity.
• Perseverance is key when facing challenges.
• Identity and strength are central to personal narratives.

Thank you for being part of this phenomenal first season. We can’t wait to share new voices, new lessons, and more amazing songs when Season Two drops on January 5th. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

Check the blog for all the mentioned guests at www.noboxesjustverses.com 

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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music) 

Are you an executive struggling with the isolation of high-level leadership? Have you faced a personal crisis that forced you to re-evaluate your entire career path? In this powerful Authentic and Strategic episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles with the two Lisas—Lisa DeCarlo and Lisa Shallet—co-founders of Extraordinary Women on Boards (EWOB). They share deeply personal stories: Lisa D’s health scare that forced vulnerability and Lisa S’s decision to retire from Goldman Sachs to prioritize time. Learn their unconventional strategies for career entry, board service, and building the essential peer community needed to lead.

Lisa DeCarlo is the co-founder of Extraordinary Women on Boards (EWOB), co-creator of The Decade Game®, and founder of Just Go. A board director, advisor, and catalyst for change, she is passionate about helping leaders and organizations innovate, get unstuck, and dream bigger—guided by her core belief that nothing happens without movement.

Lisa Shalett is the co-founder of Extraordinary Women on Boards, a powerhouse network of 1,000+ trailblazing women corporate board directors dedicated to advancing board excellence and staying cutting edge. A former Goldman Sachs Partner, she now serves as an independent board director, corporate advisor, and entrepreneur.

Key Takeaways:

• Lisa D shares how she accidentally landed a temp job on a trading floor and used a two-year commitment to learn every business unit (sales, trading, investment banking) —a non-traditional path that led to six job offers.
• Lisa D’s severe health crisis forced her to realize she wasn't hiding her decline and that her ability to be open about life experiences later "opened up so many doors" in bigger leadership roles.
• Lisa S reveals why her father's sudden death caused her to retire from Goldman Sachs six months later. She suddenly saw a clock ticking backwards and realized her purpose was to be home for dinner.
• EWOB was built from the need for a community where women could "take the armor off". They discovered the power of a peer group that shares emerging best practices and sees you, not just your title.
• Lisa S stresses that beyond IQ and EQ, executives must develop OQ —understanding how things work informally within an organization —to navigate their career path and break the unwritten rules of the game.

The Lisas’ journey is proof that your most vulnerable moments can provide the deepest clarity on your life's purpose and unlock your Unstoppable potential.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

CONNECT WITH GUESTS:

LinkedIn - Lisa Shalett

LinkedIn - Lisa DeCarlo

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The Decade Game

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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music) 

Are you feeling stuck in a predictable career path? Do you struggle to make a strategic lateral move because you're afraid to lose status? In this highly Strategic episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles with Melonie Parker, VP of Employee Engagement at Google. Melonie shares her authentic story of navigating a 17-year career at Lockheed Martin through lateral moves and the crucial decision to take a non-promotional role at Google to answer a personal question: Do my skills work in a new industry? Learn her mentorship strategy ("The Starting Five") and why your superpower shines through when you choose to Add In versus Fit In.

Melonie Parker is the Vice President of Employee Engagement at Google, leading global talent and organizational success strategies. With over three decades of experience, including 17 years in leadership roles at Lockheed Martin and serving as VP of HR and Communications at Sandia National Laboratories, Melonie is known for her innovative leadership and focus on culture. She is a proud graduate of Hampton University and serves on the boards of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and her alma mater.

Key Takeaways:

• The Foundational Lesson of Service: Melonie shares the early lesson from her grandfather's country store: "always look at the person in the line, never look at the line". This perspective is the root of her focus on humanity and her approach to HR.
• Lateral Moves Over Vertical Status: Learn why she changed positions every two years for 17 years and why taking non-promotional lateral moves early in your career is essential for gaining the breadth of experience needed to be the most competitive executive later.
• The Starting Five Mentorship Model: Discover her advice on building a Board of Advisors that includes a mentor unlike you (to disrupt your thinking), a peer scream buddy (for safe venting), a personal cheerleader, and a professional coach.
• Add In Versus Fit In: Melonie reveals her crucial personal mantra for navigating new, challenging environments like Google: You don't want to fit in, you want to add in. Your superpower shines through when you contribute your unique cultural competencies and seasoned experience.
• The Generational Village is Everything: Melonie shares her personal story of having her daughter, Lauren, while at Hampton, and how her parents took Lauren in so she could graduate on time. This sacrifice led to a trajectory where her daughter now holds a PhD from Purdue.

Melonie’s journey is a powerful demonstration that success is built one strategic move at a time, supported by a dedicated community. Your current challenge is just preparation for your apex.

Build your Starting Five, seek out a lateral move, and subscribe to No Boxes: Just Verses to guide your next strategic step!

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music) 

Are you a creative professional who struggles to gain control behind the camera or above the line? Do you need courage to pivot from performing to directing? In this unforgettable episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles with the incomparable cultural icon, Debbie Allen. Debbie shares the courageous, unconventional journey—from facing segregation in Texas to tripling HBCU enrollment with A Different World. Learn her strategy for owning content, leveraging her talent to direct and produce shows like Grey's Anatomy , and the essential lessons of mentorship and funding necessary to launch the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.

Debbie Allen is an award-winning actress, dancer, choreographer, director, producer, and philanthropist. She first achieved global fame as Lydia Grant in the iconic series Fame. She has earned three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and the Kennedy Center Honor. Miss Allen has redefined the role of women of color in Hollywood by serving as an executive producer and director on Grey's Anatomy since 2015. She is the founder of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA), a non-profit dedicated to arts education and mentorship.

Key Takeaways:

• The Courageous Cultural Pivot: Hear the story of how her mother packed the family and moved to Mexico to escape segregation, providing a vital, early sense of cultural identity and acceptance.
• Shift to "Above the Line" Power: Debbie explains how she deliberately transitioned from being an actor (Fame) to a director and producer on shows like A Different World, breaking down the importance of owning the content and direction.
• The Legacy of A Different World: Discover the intentional strategy behind the hit series—adding "hot sauce" and social responsibility—that directly led to a tripling of HBCU enrollment.
• Soft Skills Drive Business Success: Learn why she made her staff (including high-powered lawyers) take improv classes: it teaches essential soft skills like listening and communication that are crucial for effective business leadership.
• The Mentorship/Funding Hustle: She reveals the personal commitment required to launch DADA, including using her own funds ($50,000) as the "anonymous donor" to kickstart scholarships, modeling the deep level of investment needed for purpose-driven work.

Debbie Allen’s life is a constant reminder that no one holds all the cards. If you are working hard and investing in your talent, the opportunities you are ready for will eventually find you.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music) 

Do you worry that pursuing a passion like the arts can't lead to stable, global success? Do you need inspiration to keep grinding through the long years of unemployed fun? In this highly Inspirational episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles with Chloé and Maud Arnold, powerhouse sister duo and founders of the viral Syncopated Ladies tap dance troupe. Learn their strategies for artistic entrepreneurship, leveraging education as a tool for access, and maintaining joy throughout the hard work.

Chloé and Maud Arnold are an internationally recognized tap dancing, choreographing, and producing duo, both graduates of Columbia University. They co-founded the viral female tap dance band, Syncopated Ladies. Chloé is an Emmy-nominated choreographer whose work has been featured in major productions like Netflix's Unfrosted and The Late Show with James Corden. Maud's choreography has been featured in films like Hulu's hit Theater Camp and A24's Y2K. The sisters have been praised by figures like Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, and Shonda Rhimes, and have been recognized by the US House of Representatives and the Kennedy Center for their work as ambassadors for the art form.

Key Takeaways:

• Their career path was defined by mentorship, specifically Debbie Allen, who pushed Chloé to move to LA and gave them space to create, proving that great leaders often see your potential before you do.
• Despite being immersed in the arts, both sisters attended Columbia University. They reveal how the prestige and the need for housing and structure made college a crucial strategic access point for success in New York.
• They detail the seven years it took between meeting Beyoncé and investing in their first viral video. Their secret to perseverance: Maintaining joy and a positive attitude, even while street performing and working multiple side jobs.
• They explain why their viral success—especially the "Formation" and "When Doves Cry" videos—came from being completely authentic to their art and their shared emotions (like collective mourning for Prince).
• The sisters share their technique for dealing with negativity: Instead of engaging with "hater aid," reframe the energy into power, focus on doing the work, and use that critical energy to fuel new art.

Chloé and Maud's journey reminds us that if you keep grinding with purpose, the break you've been working toward is destined to find you. Never lose the joy in your work!

CONNECT WITH Chloé and Maud:

Maude Instagram

Foundation Instagram

Chloé Instagram

Chloé and Maud Instagram

DC Tap Fest

Hollywood Tap Fest

Foundation Website

Syncopated Ladies

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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)