The Leadership Dance

Jenna Segal is writing women into the history books in arts and entertainment. Women make up more than 75% of theater audiences, yet are rarely in the decision-making seats. Jenna has stepped in to change that narrative. She is an Emmy, Tony, and Clio award-winning producer of Broadway hits including Hadestown, Gigi, and Six, as well as the visionary behind The 31 Women Collection of remarkable female artists. In this episode of The Leadership Dance, she discusses how she moved from CNN and MTV to Broadway, why she insists on supporting women in leading roles, and how she built an amazing career by just saying yes.

💡 Key Takeaways:

Ask who's missing from the room and make space for women in decisions, not just in the audience.

Say yes before you feel ready and follow your curiosity.

Build a life and career you're proud to "lose money on" because it aligns with your values.

Connect with Jenna:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gathererent/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gathererent/

Website: https://gathererenterprises.com/

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Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"

Spotlight, pressure, and the power of example. In this episode of The Leadership Dance, Chloe Misseldine, Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre, talks about her surprise promotion on stage after her debut as Odette/Odile at The Met, how she prepares for the technical and emotional demands of taking on leading roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, and Sylvia, and what she's learned about artistry, setbacks, and confidence along the way.

She also reflects on growing up with a mother who danced with ABT, performing through injury, being named to Forbes 30 Under 30, and the importance of staying humble — especially when younger dancers are watching.

💡 Key Takeaways:

Kindness is a form of leadership. How you treat people matters, whether that's in the studio, at the stage door, or online.

Do the work so you can trust yourself. Preparation allows you to step on stage with freedom instead of fear.

Confidence grows over time. Sticking to the basics, staying humble, and trusting the process builds lasting strength.

Connect with Chloe:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloemisseldine

Photo Credits: Emma Zordan, HELI, Laura Sukowatey, LK Studio and Jennifer Curry Wingrove, Nir Arieli, Quinn Wharton, Rosalie O'Connor

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Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"

Who gets funded depends on who's deciding. In this powerful episode of The Leadership Dance, Lawton Cummings, General Partner at Capital Factory, shares why women in venture capital matter—and how her experience navigating cancer has influenced her approach to life. Lawton gets vulnerable about navigating breast cancer twice while continuing to work and raise a family, and what survivorship taught her about rest, energy, and letting go of perfection. She also shares her nonlinear career journey: from practicing law to serving as a legal analyst for Fox News (while simultaneously serving on an ACLU board of directors) to now investing in tech startups. The conversation explores representation in decision-making and how curiosity and resilience shape leadership over time.

💡 Key Takeaways:

Resilience isn't always pushing through. Sometimes leadership means resting, recalibrating, and being honest about your limits.

Careers don't have to be linear to be successful. Following curiosity and depth can open doors that rigid paths never will.

Representation shapes outcomes. Diverse perspectives drive better outcomes and stronger innovation.

Connect with Lawton:

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawtoncummings/?hl=en

Website: https://capitalfactory.com/

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Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"

What can leaders learn from fighter pilots about performing under pressure?

Former fighter pilot and CEO Christian "Boo" Boucousis joins The Leadership Dance to share how elite performers make decisions in chaos, execute with clarity, and stay calm when it matters most. From cockpit-tested leadership habits to practical tools like plan–brief–execute–debrief, this episode breaks down what it means to perform like a fighter pilot. From a five-year-old boy mesmerized at an air show to one of fewer than 400 fighter pilots trained over four decades, Boo's journey reveals how his air force training taught him to value time in seconds and put the mission above ego. This candid conversation explores friction, burnout, digital overload, and how to move from reactive days to truly flawless execution.

💡 Key Takeaways:

High performers don't just have good ideas; they turn decisions into action.

The fighter pilot mindset is relentlessly growth-oriented: define what success looks like today, then get slightly better tomorrow.

Calm is a leadership advantage. In chaos, people look to the calmest people in the room.

Connect with Boo:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-boo-boucousis/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianbooboucousis/

Website: https://callmeboo.com/about/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fewpodcast

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Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"

"Curiosity is a cure for stagnation." Tune in to meet mover and shaker Tina Wells, an author, entrepreneur, and trend spotter, as she shares her insights on what it takes to design a life and career you love across multiple chapters. Her incredible journey from teen founder to agency leader, product designer, and bestselling writer reflects her approach to embracing curiosity in all its manifestations. Tina discusses how a "happy accident" at 16 grew into a powerful youth insights company, why she ultimately chose to close a successful business, and how that bold move opened the door to writing more than 20 books, developing Target-exclusive products, and a new chapter centered on content and creativity. This conversation is a candid look at taking risks, reinvention, and how aligning your work with your values can change not just your business, but your whole life.

💡 Key Takeaways:

Creativity isn't a personality trait; it's a practice

What makes Gen Z tick and what business leaders misunderstand about younger generations

Why people are craving deeper, more meaningful, and more analog experiences, and why artists and creators have an important role to play right now

Connect with Tina:

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinawells/

Website: www.tinawells.com

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Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"

What does it mean to lead with values when the political landscape makes inclusion harder, not easier? In this episode of The Leadership Dance, host Alissa Hsu Lynch sits down with Liana Guzmán, CEO of FOLX Health, to explore what real leadership looks like when rhetoric, risk, and responsibility collide. Liana shares her personal journey growing up in Puerto Rico and the mainland U.S., her nonlinear career across marketing, fintech, and healthcare, and why she's committed to building a future of LGBTQIA+ affirming care that prioritizes outcomes over optics. Together, they unpack how leaders can stay anchored to what's right and why affirming care isn't about statements but about access. Liana introduces a powerful leadership framework that balances right, righteousness, and effectiveness, and offers practical guidance for leaders navigating tradeoffs without losing their North Star.

💡 Key Takeaways:

How leaders can "change the words, not the work" when it comes to equity and inclusion

What affirming care means for the LGBTQIA+ community

Why first-principles thinking is essential for transforming entrenched systems like healthcare

Connect with Liana:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/folxhealth/

Website: www.folxhealth.com

Substack: https://futurerx.substack.com/

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Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"

A little over a year ago, I launched The Leadership Dance podcast to shine a light on amazing people who don't fit the conventional mold - people who are choreographing their own leadership dances. Over the past year, this podcast has grown into a global community through honest conversations with trailblazers across business and the arts. As we head into the next year, I'm excited to continue exploring the art of leadership, creativity, career reinvention, and what it means to choreograph your own leadership journey with more inspiring voices and real-world lessons. Thank you for listening and watching! ✅ Sign up for newsletter: https://theleadershipdance.substack.com/s/the-leadership-dance 👉 Links to listen and connect: https://linktr.ee/theleadershipdance Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"

Former Emmy award-winning SNL producer Lindsay Shookus shares the trust-building strategies, people skills, and leadership lessons that carried her from two decades at Saturday Night Live into a powerful next act as a speaker and executive coach. In this candid conversation, she opens up about resilience, reinvention, and the transformational relationships that shaped her career, and how you can apply the same tools in your own leadership journey. Drawing on stories from booking A-list guests and surviving high-pressure live TV, Lindsay discusses how thoughtfulness, a relentless work ethic, and treating celebrities like humans (not idols) helped her build deep trust. She now applies those same skills to help leaders identify their superpowers, stay grounded in chaos, and navigate the inevitable "wobbles" of career pivots.

💡 Key Takeaways:

Build transformational relationships, not transactional ones.

Leadership is dealing with the hard stuff, not just the good stuff.

Stay true to who you are, even when your industry tests your boundaries.

Connect with Lindsay:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-shookus-7869212aa/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shookusshookus

Website: www.lindsayshookus.com

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Video credit for Alex vs. A-Rod (2025): Home Box Office, Inc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03G0WfDiGEU

What does it really take to build an organization where people thrive - especially in a world transformed by technology, generational change, and new expectations? In this energizing episode, host Alissa Hsu Lynch sits down with James D. White, renowned board leader and former Jamba CEO, and his daughter Krista White, rising workplace culture strategist and writer. Together, they share how their experience as a father-daughter team powered their new best-selling book, Culture Design, and reveal why transformation starts with rethinking culture from the inside out. Tune in for actionable stories on creating workplaces that are resilient, purpose-driven, and ready for the future, from practical rituals to the "big misses" in AI readiness, and the surprising power of middle managers.

💡 Key Takeaways:

Every company has a culture, whether by design or default. When leaders are intentional, they build organizations that perform and endure.

Millennials and Gen Z are shifting workplace priorities. For them, flexibility, meaningful work, and being valued as whole individuals matter more than just compensation, redefining what creates loyalty and engagement.

Rapid advances in technology and AI are changing how work gets done, but empathy remains a uniquely human advantage.

Connect with James and Krista:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristawhite3/ AND https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-d-white-086ab2153/

Instagram: @thekristawhite

Website: https://www.jdwhitedesignlabs.com/

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After 25 years with American Ballet Theatre, iconic ballerina Misty Copeland took her final bow in a historic gala performance – but her work is far from over. In this episode of The Leadership Dance, host Alissa Hsu Lynch sits down with Misty to explore what comes next: leading from the boardroom, expanding access to the arts through the Misty Copeland Foundation, and reimagining ballet's future for the next generation. Misty opens up about why she initially said 'no' to a farewell performance, the challenges of returning to the stage after five years and becoming a mother, and how she's finding purpose and joy in building something bigger than herself. It's a conversation about movement, meaning, and mission – and how true legacy is measured not by the final curtain, but by the doors you open for others.

💡 Key Takeaways:

Legacy means opening doors for others.

Leadership begins with empathy and inclusion.

Reinvention takes courage—and never losing your love of dance.

Connect with Misty:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mistyonpointe/

Website: https://mistycopeland.com/

X: https://x.com/mistyonpointe?lang=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/misty-copeland-12b0a634b/

Other: https://www.mistycopelandfoundation.org/

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