Powered by Authenticity

On this episode of Powered by Authenticity, Melissa Bernstein joins me for a conversation that is raw, rich, and full of meaning. You probably know Melissa as the co-founder of the wildly successful Melissa & Doug toy company and Lifelines—but behind the brands is a deeply creative soul who spent years struggling to make sense of the world, and her place in it.

In this conversation, Melissa shares how she turned a lifelong sense of “otherness” into purpose. She opens up about what it really means to live authentically, how creativity saved her, and the work she is doing as a mentor to others.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t belong—and needed someone to say, “Me too.”

Within we chat about:

• How Melissa turned deep sensitivity and creative energy into a lifelong mission

• The silent struggles she carried—even while building a wildly successful company

Melissa brings deep honesty to this conversation, with just the right mix of wisdom and warmth. If you’ve been craving real talk about purpose, identity, and helping others grow—this one’s for you.

Thank you, Melissa, for a wonderful conversation. I can't wait to have you on our show again!

Where to find more information on Melissa:

Practice Makes Purpose™ | Well-Being Ecosystem | Lifelines

LifeLines: An Inspirational Journey from Profound Darkness to Radiant Light: Bernstein, Melissa: 9781735439709: Books - Amazon.ca

Melissa's Bio:

Melissa Bernstein is an entrepreneur, creative, and working mother of six. In 1988, Melissa and her husband co-founded Melissa & Doug out of their parents’ garage, and in the years that followed, they built Melissa & Doug into a multi-billion dollar brand. Melissa has spent the last 30 years helping children discover themselves, their passions, and their purpose through open-ended play. In 2020, after her own personal journey of self-discovery and acceptance, Melissa co-founded Lifelines. In this new venture, she is using her unparalleled creativity and imagination to reinvent well-being products that help adults rediscover wonder and relieve stress through their senses.

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In this episode, Emily Carlson sits down with Carrie Gallant, founder of the Gallant Leader Institute, for a deep and thoughtful conversation on human design, leadership, and negotiating with authenticity.

Carrie shares her journey from Vancouver, BC to launching her company focused on empowering women executives to lead boldly and negotiate with confidence—both in the boardroom and beyond.

Together, Emily and Carrie explore:

• What human design is and how it can influence your leadership style

Despite a few tech hiccups in previous attempts (third time’s the charm!), this conversation is full of meaningful takeaways, laughs, and the kind of real talk you can expect from Powered by Authenticity.

About Carrie:

Carrie Gallant is an author, lawyer turned strategic advisor, and the CEO of The Gallant Leader™ Institute, where C-Suite and executive women leaders navigate high-stakes conversations and negotiations, transform impostor feelings and elevate their executive presence, so they can confidently own their seat at the boardroom table without compromising their values, authenticity or personal life.

Carrie is coauthor of Conversation Secrets for Tomorrow’s Leaders: 21 Obvious Secrets Leaders Do Not Use Enough, an Amazon #1 Hot New Release in Business Leadership.

She  is certified in Conversational Intelligence®, Authentic Leadership Conversations™ and Authentic Leadership for Teams™ and a certified Imposter Syndrome Informed Coach™. 

A former lawyer and executive, Carrie was adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia for nine years, and taught previously at the Universities of Toronto and Windsor, and York University. 

She was invited by The White House to speak about pay equity at a national conference on women’s equality.

You can reach Carrie at [email protected]. 

You can also find her at www.GallantLeader.com, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram (@GallantLeader).

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In this episode of Powered by Authenticity, I’m joined by Sally Green, Vice President of Author Development at Action Takers Publishing.

Sally shares her inspiring journey to her current role and highlights the essential role that self-care played in getting there. We dive into how she leveraged connections from her book projects to transform her professional path, and how intentional networking helped open new doors.

She also reminds us of a powerful truth: it’s okay to put ourselves first and choose the things that bring us joy—even if that means saying no to others.

This was such a heartfelt and empowering conversation, and I hope you walk away feeling just as inspired as I did.

Thank you so much, Sally!

Where to find Sally:

Sally Larkin Green | LinkedIn

Home | Action Takers PublishingSally's Bio:Sally Green is the Vice President of Author Development at Action Takers Publishing. With a background in business, Sally's passion for storytelling and empowering others has transformed her into a bestselling author, book publisher and inspirational speaker.​

As Vice President of Author Development, Sally guides aspiring writers through the process of transforming their ideas into bestselling books. She provides invaluable feedback, accountability, and encouragement. 

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Beyond her publishing role, Sally is a sought-after motivational speaker, sharing her experiences and insights. She motivates individuals to embrace self-care, pursue their passions, and unleash their inner author.

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People often ask me if I have a favorite travel experience—whether it’s a destination, trip, or flight. Well, in this episode, I finally answer that question! And who better to join me than my niece, Annie Janofsky—who, by pure chance, was my companion on my all-time favorite travel story.

We share the magic of being in the right place at the right time and how it led to the BEST flight EVER. From unexpected surprises to unforgettable moments, this story is one for the books!

A huge thank you to Annie—not only for being one of my favorite people on this planet but also for being my ultimate travel sidekick (and marketing officer 😉).

Got travel questions of your own? Drop them in! Who knows—I might just invite you to join me for a future episode.

LinkedIn:

Annie Janofsky | LinkedIn

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Do I miss traveling for work? It’s a question I get all the time!

To dive into this, I brought in two of my favorite ‘road family’ members, Tricia Cartledge and Mike Bright, to help me unpack what we really miss about life on the road.

Spoiler alert: it’s not the travel itself—it’s the people. The friendships, the shared experiences, and the team that became like family.

In this episode, we reminisce about some of our funniest, craziest, and most memorable moments from the road. If you’ve ever traveled for work, you know that the best stories don’t come from the destinations—they come from the people you share the journey with.

Want to hear more road stories? Let me know in the comments

Thank you, Tricia and Mike, for a fun episode!!

LinkedIn for Tricia and Mike:

Tricia Cartledge, PMP, MCT, ITIL, CSM | LinkedInMike Bright, PMP | LinkedIn

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What happens when you’re faced with an unexpected career pivot? Or when you decide to make a bold move into something new? In this episode ofPowered by Authenticity, I sit down withLynne Thornton, SVP Channel Activation with JSG, a dynamic leader who knows firsthand the power ofbeing proactive about building your network and skill sets—long before you need them.

Lynne shares invaluable insights on:

• Whystrategically growing your network can create opportunities before you even realize you need them

Lynne highlights the importance of working with acoach who sees you as an individual, not just a professional in transition. The right coach will help you navigate challenges, make strategic decisions, and build confidence in your next move.

This episode is all aboutfuture-proofing your career with intentional moves, smart connections, and the courage to take a step back (or a step forward) when the time is right. Whether you're considering a pivot, exploring a passion project, or just want toset yourself up for success, Lynne’s advice is packed with inspiration and actionable takeaways.

Listen now and start shaping your careerbefore you need to.

About Lynne:

Lynne has been a technology industry leader throughout her career, with an extensive background in developing sales, operational and business transformation strategies. She has experience leading large corporate teams and is also a tech channel consultant, specializing in advising clients on developing strategies to grow their businesses profitably. Throughout her career, Lynne has coached and mentored all levels of associates and leaders. Experiencing firsthand the value and impact that good coaching brings to people, she took her passion for coaching to the next level by obtaining her Leadership Coaching and HOGAN Personality Assessment certifications.

As a Coach, Lynne approaches each of her clients as the unique individuals that they are, using assessments to help people unlock their untapped potential and conquer the barriers to their growth and success. She helps her clients better understand themselves and how others see them and then guides clients in creating sustainable plans that enable them to achieve their career growth and life journey dreams.

Lynne is passionate about solving how to make technology careers possible for all people. She is a founding member of Women in Technology (WIT) International, Buffalo Chapter, and has served on Tech Buffalo’s Workforce Advisory Group. Lynne also leverages her leadership experience and coaching expertise to help guide people without technology backgrounds or formal education to obtain skills needed to obtain fulfilling careers in technology.

Professional Experience

• SVP Channel Activation, JSG Now

• Executive Director Software Sales and Operations, Ingram Micro

• Founder, Elevate Advisory Services (a leadership consulting firm)

Education and Leadership Certifications

• BA/Business administration - Buffalo State University

• Executive Leadership Coaching Certification, UB School of Management

• Certified in HOGAN Personality Assessment

Board and Volunteer Experience

• Women Who Lead WNY, Founding Board Member & Secretary

• Mikey’s Way Foundation, Board Member

• Women in Technology (WIT) International, WNY Chapter, Founding Board Member

• TECH BUFFALO Workforce Advisory Group, Technology Advisor

• UB HACKATHON, Judge& Mentor

• UB Student GLOBAL Leadership Program, Coach

Links to Lynne and JSG Now:

Lynne Thornton | LinkedIn

https://www.jsgnow.com/

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Recently I've been asked multiple times whether or not there was a career decision in the past that I would make differently now...knowing what I know.

Listen to my answer in a recent solo cast recording of my podcast, Powered by Authenticity!!

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In this episode of Powered by Authenticity, I’mjoined by the inspiring Susan O'Sullivan, President of SOS - Strategies, Opportunities & Solutions.

I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Susan through TheWIT Network Buffalo Chapter, and I can’t say enough about what an incredible advocate and coach she is for our community. Within, Susan shares her profound insights on:    The Power of Connection: How meaningfulrelationships can drive impactful change.

Thinking in Bigger, Abundant Terms: Amindset shift that unlocks possibilities, especially when addressing inequities in the workplace.

Coaching Wisdom from Susan:

The importance to interview multiple coaches to ensure alignment with your goals and values.

Understand that your coaching journey mayevolve—it’s okay to recognize when a coach isn’t the right fit anymore and adjust accordingly.

 The key is to identify where you need supportand take action to find it.

As a seasoned IT Executive, I know firsthand the value of coaching, and this episode came at the perfect time. Going into the recording, I found myself facing a situation that didn’t feel right. Susan graciously guided me throughit, offering solid, actionable advice that helped me gain clarity. This moment highlights the true value of a great coach—they provide perspective, guidance, and genuine care when you need it most.

This was such an engaging and insightful conversation,packed with actionable takeaways and relatable wisdom.

Thank you, Susan, for sharing your expertise and heart inthis episode!

Please find Susan's information below:

LinkedIn:

Susan (Lundquist) O'Sullivan | LinkedIn

Susan's Website:

My Executive Coach - SOS

Bio:

With over three decades of experience in technology sales and distribution management, I’ve developed a deep understanding of what it takes to drive success. My career was built at a Fortune 100 technology distributor, where Ispent over 30 years advancing from sales roles to executive leadership. As Vice President of U.S. Sales, my teams secured billions of dollars in revenue, and I led over 300 associates across multiple continents, overseeing one of thecompany’s most profitable divisions.

Drawing on my leadership skill, sales experience and business acumen, I transitioned my expertise into my own firm, SOS – Strategies, Opportunities & Solutions,providing executive coaching, sales consulting, and sales training services tohelp organizations and leaders achieve transformational growth and measurableresults.

Throughoutmy career, I’ve been passionate about mentoring others and fosteringprofessional development. For six years, I led a women’s group focused onnavigating corporate career advancement while mentoring numerous individualsboth within and outside the organization. These experiences have beeninstrumental in shaping my ability to coach and consult leaders and teamseffectively.

Now,as SOS merges with My Executive Coach, we combine decades of experience, provenstrategies, and a practical approach to help clients overcome challenges, seizeopportunities, and unlock their full potential in today’s competitivemarketplace.

I am a certified professional with extensive training and expertise in leadership, sales facilitation, conflict mediation, and executive coaching.  My credential includes ZengerMiller Leadership Training, Miller Heiman Sales Facilitator certification and I am a certified conflict mediator through Working Creatively with Conflict. I amcertified in Hogan Personality assessments and advanced interpretations, Korn Ferry ESCI 360 and a certified coach through Coaching Training Alliance.  I have further honed my leadership capabilities through Executive Leadership programs through Ingram Micro at the Graduate Business School at Stanford University and the Paul Merage School ofBusiness at the University of California, Irvine.

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Late November and early December, I had the opportunity to record a few episodes of the podcast where we addressed some questions I'd received via LinkedIn.

In this episode, Producer Ken and I talk about how to stay engaged socially and physically in the winter months...just a couple of tips and tricks we each have.

I hope you enjoy this little conversation and keep the questions coming...we love them!!

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In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Mary Messner, the dynamic CEO and Founder of Highline Creative Group and a highly sought-after keynote speaker. Mary’s passion and enthusiasm are contagious, and her journey from healthcare executive to impactful speaker is nothing short of inspiring.

During our conversation, Mary shares powerful insights about her career evolution, emphasizing the critical role of mentorship and the importance of investing in coaching. She reflects on how asking her network for a simple cup of coffee often opened doors, and she’s grateful for those who always said yes. Mary also reminds us that it’s okay to embrace the awkward moments in networking—they’re often where the most authentic connections are made.

Mary discusses how having a strong support system has been a cornerstone of her success and why building a team aligned with your vision can be transformative. She also dives into the concept of continuous iteration, highlighting the value of refining your work and embracing growth as essential aspects of personal and professional development.

This episode is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and the art of strategically pivoting your career. It’s a conversation filled with actionable takeaways and lessons that will inspire and energize you on your own journey. I can’t wait for you to listen and reflect on the powerful stories and advice Mary shares.

Links below where you can find more information on Mary Messner:

Speaker Mary Messner | Mary MessnerMary Messner | LinkedIn

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