The Bold Lounge

Send us Fan Mail

About This Episode

Tune in to hear the inspiring journey of Sarah Gormley, an art gallery owner and author of The Order of Things: A Memoir about Chasing Joy. Through her story of building a corporate career to navigating personal loss to opening her own gallery, we explore how taking unexpected actions fueled by self-belief can lead to finding your own sense of joy. Journey with us as we reflect on the pressures of societal and personal expectations, and discover how stepping away from the need for external validation enabled Sarah to embrace her own happiness and creativity. She also explores the profound power of self-acceptance and the neverending journey of personal transformation. Sarah's courageous story and artistic journey inspire and exemplify how vulnerability and boldness can lead to meaningful impact. Don't miss this episode filled with stories of courage, healing, and finding one's true path.

About Sarah Gormley

Sarah Gormley is a writer and art gallery owner living in Columbus, Ohio. Her undergraduate degree from DePauw University reinforced an early love for literature and writing, while the heavy sprinkling of liberal-arts fairy dust taught her how to analyze and articulate a clear point of view. She rounded out this foundation with concentrations in marketing and operations from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Her marketing career included work with several global brands, including IMAX, Martha Stewart, Girl Scouts of the USA, and Adobe. Gormley was honored as one of 2015’s Forty Women to Watch over 40, and she has been featured in Forbes and the CMO Club. In June 2019, she was invited to deliver the class address at her DePauw University class reunion and regrets not having her hair blown out. Today, Gormley owns a contemporary art gallery, Sarah Gormley Gallery (SGG), in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The gallery operates based on the belief that original art can be a source of joy for everyone and actively eschews pretense of any kind. She opened the gallery in 2019, twenty-five years after Grandma Cameron gifted her with her first piece of art. 

Additional Resources

Web: sarahgormley.com

Instagram: @scgormley

LinkedIn: @SarahGormley

Support the show

--------

Stay Connected 

www.leighburgess.com

Watch the episodes on YouTube 

Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess

Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess

Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

Send us Fan Mail

About This Episode

Tune into this episode with Vitale Buford Hardin, a renowned expert in the intriguing intersection of perfectionism and boldness, as she shares her journey from seeking love through her actions to doing things from a place of love. With insights influenced by her transformative experience of motherhood, Vitale offers an authentic look at balancing professional success and personal fulfillment, all while embracing imperfections in both areas. Vitale reveals the most common causes of perfectionism, most of which often start in childhood for parental approval or social acceptance. With a keen eye on corporate environments, she distinguishes between slow perfectionism, often seen in procrastination and imposter syndrome, and fast perfectionism, marked by unrealistic expectations and people-pleasing. Vitale’s personal stories shed light on how these traits manifest and provide valuable guidance on managing them effectively. Tune in to hear how you can reclaim control from perfectionism's grip, especially through the boldness within you.

About Vitale Buford Hardin

Vitale Buford Hardin, leading expert in perfectionism and how it permeates corporate culture and individual performance, is the President and CEO of Vitale & Company. Having led two University studies focused on perfectionism in the workplace, Vitale is a true pioneer of thought leadership in this space. This study Revealed that 85% of workplaces have cultures of perfectionism as well as 86% of leaders in these workplaces seeing their work affected by perfectionism, further solidifying perfectionism as a crucial topic to be addressed in every work environment. Throughout Vitale’s life, she has overcome struggles with perfectionism and addiction which propelled her to becoming a published author, nationally recognized speaker and iPEC-certified executive coach. She brings 15 years of corporate experience to her custom trainings, strategic advisory, culture change initiatives and performance coaching.

Additional Resources

Website: vitaleandco.com

LinkedIn: @VitaleBufordHardin 

Support the show

--------

Stay Connected 

www.leighburgess.com

Watch the episodes on YouTube 

Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess

Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess

Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

Send us Fan Mail

About This Episode

Powerhouse Mary Crafts shares her transformative bold journey towards embracing her true self and aligning with her inner purpose. Her story is a testament to the daily choice of boldness, where aligning with our true selves can lead to real growth, personally and professionally. Fear can often take root from a sense of inadequacy or uncertainty, a universal experience that can paralyze us from taking bold steps. Mary opens up about how embracing vulnerability and self-acceptance can break this cycle, leading to genuine healing and transformation. By choosing love over fear and asking ourselves what we would do if we were no longer afraid, we can catalyze change and inspire others. Listen as we unpack the stories of those who've embraced this bold mindset, reassuring us all that we're part of a shared human journey toward self-discovery and fulfillment.

About Mary Crafts

Mary Crafts built her award-winning, multi-million-dollar catering company from the ground up. For over 3 decades Mary led her company to greater and greater levels of success, earning the respect and admiration of her peers, employees, and clients. Her catering empire became the launching pad for Mary to serve in leadership positions in her community, and to share her hard-won business and wellness expertise through public speaking. In 2016 Mary handed the reins of her catering empire to her three children and has devoted herself full time to helping others build their dreams. Whether those dreams are centered around business, leadership, wellness, or something uniquely personal, Mary’s unbounded energy and engaging spirit lights the way for others to choose a new path forward — a path empowered by courage and personal meaning and fueled by authentic vitality.

Additional Resources

Website: marycraftsinc.com

Instagram: @marycrafts

LinkedIn: @MaryCrafts

Support the show

--------

Stay Connected 

www.leighburgess.com

Watch the episodes on YouTube 

Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess

Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess

Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

Send us Fan Mail

Content Warning: death of a sibling, grief

About This Episode

Join us as we welcome Annie Orenstein, an esteemed qualitative researcher, oral historian, storyteller, and the author of Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner’s Guide to Grief. Through Annie's insights, we explore the deeply personal nature of boldness and the courage it takes to keep moving forward, especially after hardship. As the youngest of three siblings, Annie shares the experience of losing her oldest brother during his deployment in Afghanistan, and we examine the shared and distinct aspects of sibling grief and the lifelong journey of healing. This episode also emphasizes the importance of storytelling and creating a lasting legacy, as Annie recounts how writing her book was a positive transformative process. We share the power of sharing stories, encouraging you to embrace a bold mindset and preserve cherished memories to inspire healing and connection.

About Annie Orenstein 

Annie Sklaver Orenstein is a qualitative researcher, oral historian, and storyteller who has spent over a decade collecting stories from people around the world. Her work has been featured on NBC Nightly News, Comedy Central, Huffington Post, Politico, TIME, and Mother.ly. In 2020, driven by a desire to share these stories beyond the walls of corporate America, Annie founded Dispatch from Daybreak, a collection of letters written by womxn to their earlier selves. She is also the author of Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner’s Guide to Grief. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, children, dog, and chickens.

Additional Resources

Website: annieorenstein.com

Instagram: @AnnieSklaverOrenstein

LinkedIn: @AnnieOrenstein

Support the show

--------

Stay Connected 

www.leighburgess.com

Watch the episodes on YouTube 

Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess

Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess

Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

Send us Fan Mail

About This Episode

Cate Luzio, the dynamic founder and CEO of Luminary, joins us to share how her bold decisions and mindset catalyzed her journey from the corporate banking industry to being a successful entrepreneur. Cate's narrative is one of resilience and determination, offering invaluable insights into how bold actions not only break barriers but also inspire lasting change. Throughout the episode, she emphasizes the need for a bold mindset and the courage to bet on oneself, while underscoring the importance of fostering support systems. Mentorship and community continue to be pivotal in Cate's journey, influencing her vision for Luminary as an inclusive, collaborative platform. With a membership exceeding 15,000, Luminary champions an environment of support where competition takes a backseat to partnership. Cate’s story is a testament to the power of community and the belief that empowering others can create waves of positive change. Tune in to explore how boldness, mentorship, and a supportive network can pave the way for personal and professional success.

About Cate Luzio

Cate Luzio is the Founder and CEO of Luminary, a global professional education and networking platform created to uplift, upskill, and propel women and allies through all phases of their professional journey- from entrepreneurs to those navigating their career path, the Power Middle to the C-suite, those in transition, and everyone in between. In March 2018, Cate left her two-decade banking career and self-funded the launch of Luminary, with the mission to build an ecosystem of high-touch engagement for both individual and enterprise members to address and impact the systemic challenges faced by women and underrepresented communities across all industries and sectors. Cate has grown Luminary into a multimillion-dollar global B2C and B2B business with more than 15,000 members and over 100 enterprise members. Before starting Luminary, Cate was Global Head of Multinational Corporate Banking for HSBC and prior to that, she served as Head of Multinational Corporate Banking at J.P. Morgan EMEA based in London. She spent her early years in Latin America with Bank of America across both consumer and wholesale banking. Cate is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where she was named its Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021 and joined its Board of Governors that same year. She holds a master’s degree in International Relations from Georgetown University. She sits on the Boards of Girls Inc. New York City and Pomp and Whimsy.

Additional Resources

Website: www.weareluminary.com

Instagram: @CateLuzio

Twitter/X: @CateLuzio

LinkedIn: @CateLuzio

Support the show

--------

Stay Connected 

www.leighburgess.com

Watch the episodes on YouTube 

Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess

Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess

Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

Send us Fan Mail

About This Episode

Discover the art of boldness and resilience with leadership expert and bestselling author of The Setback Cycle, Amy Shoenthal. With Amy's engaging stories and her work with leaders and founders, we spotlight the importance of recognizing setbacks and navigating them with curiosity and kindness. From quiet self-assurance to major life transformations, discover why staying on an unsatisfying path can be more harmful than making brave changes. This episode serves as a guide to making informed decisions that foster personal and professional growth. Amy walks through the four phases of The Setback Cycle—Establish, Embrace, Explore, and Emerge—and explains how to make sense of your experiences, gain clarity on what comes next, and move confidently into your future. Join us for a transformative journey through boldness, and learn how to harness the power of taking action to overcome setbacks and make a positive impact on your life and the lives of others.

About Amy Shoenthal

Amy Shoenthal is a leadership expert and the author of USA TODAY bestselling book, The Setback Cycle, about how today’s prominent founders and leaders overcome obstacles to find success. Amy has been studying the journeys of successful leaders for more than two decades. As a top contributor to ForbesWomen and Harvard Business Review, Amy highlights underestimated innovators dedicated to solving society's greatest challenges. She's interviewed high profile leaders such as Senator Mazie Hirono, Tracee Ellis Ross, Norma Kamali, Robin Arzón and others. Amy frequently speaks at conferences and within organizations about career development, leadership, unexpected pivots, working motherhood, and more. She also works with organizations to help their employees and managers confidently lead through tumultuous times, offering the tools to help teams navigate workplace setbacks together.

Additional Resources

Website: www.amyshoenthal.com

More about The Setback Cycle

Instagram: @amysho

LinkedIn: @AmyShoenthal

Subscribe to her newsletter: Amy's Antidote

Support the show

--------

Stay Connected 

www.leighburgess.com

Watch the episodes on YouTube 

Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess

Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess

Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

Send us Fan Mail

About This Episode

Ready to boost your positivity and personal growth? Join us in an uplifting conversation with Kristen Butler, the trailblazing author and CEO of the Power of Positivity, who has transformed her life from rock bottom to leading a community of over 50 million followers. Kristen opens up about her bold journey of stepping into her true self, building her personal brand, and connecting deeply with others to inspire change. She dives into the establishment of healthy boundaries and the dangers of toxic positivity, while emphasizing the importance of authenticity to embrace and process emotions. Kristen also highlights the significance of aligning actions with personal preferences and expanding your comfort zones for sustainable success. Together, we explore the powerful themes of living boldly, aiming high, and embracing the courage to be vulnerable, all of which can motivate you to pursue your own aspirations.

About Kristen Butler

Kristen Butler is a bestselling author and the CEO of Power of Positivity, a community with over 50 million followers globally. Kristen was awarded SUCCESS Magazine's Emerging Entrepreneur in 2022. She is a leader, writer, and visionary in personal development with a huge heart and captivating authenticity. Her mission is to uplift the planet! Kristen passionately started Power of Positivity in 2009 after completely transforming her life from rock bottom using the power of positive thinking.  Kristen contributes her transformation to a positive mindset, her relationship with God, and an active, plant-based lifestyle.

Additional Resources

Website: www.positivekristen.com

Instagram: @positivekristen  @powerofpositivity

LinkedIn: @KristenButler

Support the show

--------

Stay Connected 

www.leighburgess.com

Watch the episodes on YouTube 

Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess

Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess

Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

Send us Fan Mail

About This Episode

What does it mean to truly lead boldly? Join us for an engaging discussion with Katie Desiderio and Michael Frino, co-authors and organizational experts. Katie and Michael share the transformative experiences that inspired their book, The Beekeeper: Pollinating Your Organization for Transformative Growth, including insights into unlearning inherited beliefs to become a more effective leader. Through their personal stories, they illustrate the power of stepping out of comfort zones and embracing new perspectives. As we navigate the importance of authentic leadership, Katie and Michael reveal how storytelling, curiosity, and vulnerability can drive both personal and professional growth. Throughout the episode, they highlight the value of having a growth partner for accountability and the joy of continuous learning in leadership. Tune in for a rich conversation that promises to inspire and challenge your approach to leadership.

About Katie Desiderio & Michael Frino

Katie Desiderio is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Beekeeper; Pollinating Your Organization for Transformative Growth. Along with her work as a Professor of Management and tenured faculty member at Moravian University, Desiderio is Principal Partner in Learning of Proximal Development, LLC, an authorized DiSC partner, specializing in leadership development and the advancement of performance through learning. Katie’s personal mission is grounded in her r2C model, where she has devoted her work to recognize what we give our time and energy to grow, to reflect on how we interact with and see the world, and, at the heart of her approach, to connect with why this fuels transformative growth. Upon completion of her doctorate in Organizational Learning and Leadership, Katie has been co-authoring scholar-practitioner journal articles, conference proceedings, and now this book with her learning partner and friend.

Michael Frino is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Beekeeper; Pollinating Your Organization for Transformative Growth. Michael has over 20 years of professional experience working for Fortune 500 companies in sales, leadership, and organizational development across the payroll/human resources, pharmaceutical, and med-tech industries. His curiosity on how organizations optimize performance at work inspired him to obtain his PhD in Organizational Learning and Leadership in (2010) and embrace opportunities to help individuals, groups, and organizations reach their peak potential. His co-authoring of The Beekeeper is the culmination of decades of research and publishing with his friend, Katie Desiderio, in performance improvement journals to understand how organizations can provide transformational growth to their most important assets, people.

Additional Resources

Web:leadershipfables.com
LinkedIn:@KatieDesiderio  @MichaelFrino

Support the show

--------

Stay Connected 

www.leighburgess.com

Watch the episodes on YouTube 

Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess

Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess

Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

Send us Fan Mail

About This Episode

Meet Katie Nowak, a visionary leader, new venture designer, and investor who founded Kanvas, a strategy consultancy that helps companies turn new ideas into compelling business cases. Katie joins us to share her definition of boldness—one that includes persistence and the pursuit of joy against all odds. She also discusses how she navigated from a corporate career to entrepreneurship by maintaining a clear vision and understanding her "why." Katie's experiences offer invaluable lessons on reclaiming control over your schedule and remaining process-oriented to achieve long-term goals. Storytelling and networking are crucial for any startup founder, and Katie emphasizes how to effectively communicate your vision to others. Get ready for an episode packed with motivation, insights, and practical advice to fuel your own bold endeavors.

About Katie Nowak

Katie Nowak is an innovation leader, new venture designer, and investor. At her strategy consultancy Kanvas, Katie helps companies turn new ideas into compelling business cases. Her clients have raised over $350M+ in early stage investment. Katie is also on the investment team at HF Scale Partners, a fund investing in growth- and late-stage startups with a current focus on secondary market transactions. Outside of Kanvas and HF Scale, Katie is celebrated as a game-changer for startups looking to clearly articulate their message, raise money, and commercialize their products. She is an active mentor and advisor for organizations like The Venture Mentoring Team, Plug and Play Korea, Techstars, and others. Katie recently distilled her frameworks into educational content and launched her first course “Dreams to Dollars: Unlocking your Business Model” with venture capital firm Seven Seven Six Ventures. Her goal is to translate the live course into digital content, and eventually into a book.

Additional Resources

Website: www.withkanvas.com

LinkedIn: @KatieNowak

Support the show

--------

Stay Connected 

www.leighburgess.com

Watch the episodes on YouTube 

Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess

Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess

Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter

Send us Fan Mail

About This Episode

What does it mean to truly take up space? Cristina Apple Georgoulakis, a trailblazing portfolio and founder outcomes partner, joins us in this episode to share her unique journey in boldness. Travel with Cristina as we explore the pivotal moments that shaped her career and confidence, including her adventure teaching English in Spain and upon returning to the U.S., her key role in Typeform’s U.S. expansion during its hyper-growth phase. Cristina’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, teamwork, and personal growth. Now with Seven Seven Six, she emphasizes the importance of helping others realize their entrepreneurial dreams, while reflecting on how international ventures contributed to her own self-belief and independence. Tune in to celebrate the bold mindset and the extraordinary stories that inspire us to make positive impacts in our lives.

About Cristina Georgoulakis

Systems-thinking CX leader turned venture capitalist, Cristina Apple Georgoulakis values driving growth in people and organizations. She previously co-founded an e-learning SaaS platform in Barcelona. After seven years of building her career and community abroad, she moved to San Francisco to open Typeform’s first U.S. office. She’s held a number of leadership roles at hyper-growth SaaS startups where she built and operationalized teams from scratch. As an investor, Cristina is drawn to startups where technology meets human connection, emphasizing the approach to maximizing returns while keeping a keen eye on the triple-bottom line: profits, people, and process. While at 776, Cristina has invested in ScorePlay, Area 2 Farms, Givingli, Trala, LA Golf Club.

Additional Resources

LinkedIn: @CristinaGeorgoulakis

Instagram: @cris.tinaapple

X: @cristina_laki

Support the show

--------

Stay Connected 

www.leighburgess.com

Watch the episodes on YouTube 

Follow Leigh on Instagram: @theleighaburgess

Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: @LeighBurgess

Sign up for Leigh’s bold newsletter