Success Your Own Way

What happens when you leave corporate life and suddenly have to sell yourself instead of relying on your job title?

Craig Chadwell joins Yifat and Tina for some real talk about making the leap into independent consulting and the challenges that come with it. They talk about the anxiety of finding the next client, dealing with rejection and ghosting, and why selling your own expertise can feel so personal.

The conversation also explores the value of genuine relationships, finding networking opportunities that feel natural, and learning to build a business in a way that works for you. And even after years of working independently, all three agree on one thing: they're still figuring it out.

What does success look like when you stop trying to be the best at everything and start deciding what matters right now?

Becky Simmons, Professor of the Practice in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Duke University, joins Yifat and Tina to talk about defining success through personal metrics, showing up with intention, and learning to grow through feedback. Becky shares what decades of teaching have taught her about confidence, resilience, kindness, ambition, and the importance of challenging people while still giving them room to struggle and learn. Her stories about students show how support, courage, and the opportunity to try again can build confidence over time. The conversation moves from the classroom to careers, parenting, gratitude, and women in STEM, including how our definitions of success change throughout life. Becky also reflects on a serious health challenge that shifted her perspective, the value of asking questions and building a strong support system, and why there is nothing wrong with being outrageously ambitious. 

What does it mean to make your own destiny happen?

In this episode, Yifat and Tina sit down with Donzel Leggett, author of Make Your Destiny Happen and creator of the Destiny Development Delta model, to talk about setting a vision for your life while staying flexible enough to change it.

Donzel shares the 40 year life plan he created at age 25, the career and personal decisions that forced him to rethink some of those goals, and why knowing what you are and are not willing to sacrifice matters. The conversation also explores leadership, listening, and mentorship, including the lessons Donzel learned from his great grandmother, his father, and an unexpected financial mentor early in his career.

At the center of it all is a simple idea: you are the leader of your own life. Success isn’t about following someone else’s path. It’s about knowing what matters to you, continuing to learn, and taking action toward the life you want to build.

www.destinydevdelta.com

Bert Lee didn’t set out to become a speaker, branding coach, or entrepreneur. His path started with an interest in drawing and computers, led him into graphic design and advertising, and eventually opened the door to speaking and building his own businesses. 

In this episode, Bert talks with Yifat and Tina about learning skills that didn’t come naturally at first, including networking and public speaking. He shares what helped him get more comfortable, why he thinks about speaking through stories rather than scripts, and how his background in dance still influences the way he teaches. 

They also talk about how Bert’s definition of success has changed as an entrepreneur, from focusing on numbers and expectations to recognizing progress, impact, and how far he has come. 

About Bert

Bert Lee is a speaker and branding coach who equips young professionals and entrepreneurs with storytelling tools to communicate with confidence and clarity. He has trained more than 900 people, led five successful branding cohorts, and mentored entrepreneurs through NDC (Neighborhood Development Center) and AEDA (Asian Economic Development Association). Before coaching, Bert created award-winning campaigns for brands like General Mills, Target, and Walmart and was awarded as one of Minnesota’s 32 brightest young minds in advertising. 

To connect with Bert, visit www.bertleespeaks.com 

In this episode, Tina and Yifat talk about the different ways careers can develop when you are a specialist, a generalist, or somewhere in between.

They explore what happens when career growth starts pushing technical experts toward people management, how closely work can become tied to identity, and the difference between having the right credentials and being able to demonstrate real capability.

The conversation also turns to luck, opportunity, and how much control we have over the direction our careers take. Along the way, both Tina and Yifat reflect on the choices, experiences, and strengths that shape how we define success for ourselves.

In this inspiring episode of "Success Your Own Way," hosts Yifat and Tina sit down with Pete K. Wong, a keynote speaker, coach, and psychological safety facilitator. Pete shares his deeply personal journey from shrinking himself in spaces where he didn’t feel seen, to finding his voice and power through martial arts and mentorship. With stories that range from his Minnesota upbringing to his transformative experiences in California, Pete reveals how facing discomfort and embracing vulnerability led him to a career helping others do the same. Discover how he pivoted from filmmaking aspirations to shaping cultures of courage and connection, and learn actionable insights on fulfillment, self-belief, and the process of continuous self-discovery. Whether you’re questioning your own career path or looking for ways to foster psychological safety in your teams, this episode is packed with wisdom, real talk, and practical tips for living—and succeeding—on your own terms.

www.courageinchaosmn.com

Social Media: @petekwong

In this episode of Success Your Own Way, Yifat and Tina sit down with Bridgette Simmonds, transformational keynote speaker, executive coach, and founder of The Reset Movement.

Bridgette shares how growing up as the daughter of Jamaican immigrants shaped her early definition of success. Like many high achievers, she followed the path she thought she was supposed to follow, checking the boxes, making her family proud, and pursuing the version of success that had been handed to her. But a memorable moment she calls her “destiny scar” helped her question whether she was living someone else’s dream instead of her own.

From corporate marketing to coaching, breathwork, leadership development, and transformational work, Bridgette’s story is about learning to trust yourself, listen to your intuition, and choose again when the life you built no longer feels like yours. Together, Bridgette, Yifat, and Tina talk about self trust, burnout, mentorship, gratitude, emotional resilience, and the small ways we can remind others that they are seen.

This conversation is a reminder that success does not have to be rushed, forced, or built around proving yourself. Sometimes success looks like slowing down, savoring your life, reconnecting with your own voice, and remembering that as long as you are still here, you are not stuck.

On this episode of Success Your Own Way, Dan Nissani shares his journey from entry-level physical therapist to business strategist, leadership advisor, author, podcast host, and entrepreneur. Dan talks candidly about what happened when being a strong producer led him into leadership before he had the tools to lead effectively. Through self-reflection, accountability, and a willingness to look honestly at his own behavior, Dan began shifting from blaming the team to understanding how his own leadership needed to change.

Dan and the hosts explore what it takes to become a successful leader, including the importance of self-awareness, connection, communication, coachability, and culture. He shares why technical skill alone is not enough, how companies can better support people moving into leadership roles, and why some of the best lessons come from both mentors and “anti-mentors.”

The conversation also touches on Dan’s evolving definition of success. What once centered on money and status has shifted toward fulfillment, gratitude, growth, and helping others succeed. Dan brings a practical, direct perspective on leadership, business systems, customer experience, and building organizations that can grow without losing sight of the people they serve.

This episode is for anyone who has stepped into leadership, struggled with accountability, questioned what success really means, or realized that growth often starts with taking a hard look in the mirror.

https://linktr.ee/DanNeissany

In this inspiring episode of "Success Your Own Way," Tina and Yifat welcome Arnie Sair, Ph.D., Founder of Core Ready Leadership and VP of Global Quality at Neogen Corporation. A seasoned leader, Arnie has spent more than 25 years building a career in food safety, quality and leadership within the food industry. 

From his early days as a shift manager at McDonald’s to leading global teams at companies including General Mills, Bunge, and now Neogen, Arnie shares his unique journey and the lessons that shaped his career.

Arnie explains why technical expertise may open doors, but the habits that build trust are what create lasting success. Drawing from years of leading teams, mentoring students, and developing future leaders, he introduces FORM TUF ABS™, a practical framework built around the habits that help people earn trust, build relationships, adapt to change, lead with confidence, and accelerate their career growth.

Arnie discusses the power of mentorship, the importance of raising your hand for new opportunities, how his definition of success has evolved over time, and why impact matters more than titles. He also shares practical advice for students, early-career professionals, and experienced leaders who want to continue growing while helping others succeed.

Whether you're just starting your career or looking to make a greater impact in your current role, this conversation offers actionable insights, personal stories and practical leadership lessons to help you define and achieve success—your own way.

You can learn more about Core Ready™ and the FORM TUF ABS™ leadership framework at www.corereadyleadership.com.

What if the most powerful thing a leader can do right now isn't moving faster, it's learning to pause?

In this episode of Success Your Own Way, Yifat and Tina sit down with Nisha Kunder, keynote speaker, certified Energy Leadership coach, and a 13-year veteran of global mobile design teams at Microsoft and Motorola.

After walking away from a high-powered tech career while navigating burnout, pregnancy, and chronic pain, Nisha rebuilt her definition of success from the inside out. Today, she works at the intersection of technology and human potential, helping leaders move from anxiety to agency in the one territory most AI conversations completely ignore: their inner world.

Nisha introduces us to the Energy Leadership Index (ELI), a transformative assessment that reveals how you show up under stress versus when you're calm and confident, and how to deliberately shift from draining energy patterns to ones that fuel creativity, connection, and real results.

She shares the raw, honest story of recognizing her own burnout, not through a dramatic moment, but through small, creeping symptoms: talking over colleagues, dreading Monday mornings, a back that refused to stop hurting. And she opens up about what it took to finally choose herself.

Whether you're deep in corporate life, building something new, or quietly questioning what success actually means for you, Nisha's story will meet you where you are.

Nisha is offering our listeners an exclusive 15% discount for the ELI assessment valid till Aug 27th, 2026. 

Coupon code: SYOWYT15

1. Website: https://www.nishakunder.com/
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishakunder/
3. Speaking: https://www.nishakunder.com/speaking
4. ELI Assessment: https://www.nishakunder.com/energy-leadership-eucalyptus