Starting as a receptionist during the 2007 recession, Lindsay Phillips never imagined she’d one day co-found SkyPhi Studios, a consulting firm that prioritizes people first. In this episode, Lindsay shares her journey of resilience, leadership, and building a business that thrives on flexibility, trust, and mentorship.

From Receptionist to COO: A Nonlinear Path to Leadership

Lindsay’s career trajectory wasn’t a straight shot to the top—it was a winding road of learning, adapting, and proving that leadership isn’t about titles but about action. She worked her way up, gaining firsthand experience in operations and management, which eventually led to co-founding SkyPhi Studios.

Her experience during the 2007 recession shaped her perspective on leadership and business: people are the foundation of success. This belief became the driving force behind SkyPhi Studios' human-centric consulting model.

Creating a Business with Flexibility and Trust

SkyPhi Studios is more than a consulting firm—it’s a community. Lindsay and her co-founder designed a company that values team members’ well-being as much as client success. Instead of rigid structures, they embrace flexibility, allowing their team to work in ways that best support their lives.

One key innovation is their “roster” model, a pool of skilled contractors who can step in as needed. This approach ensures the right expertise is available for every project while allowing team members to maintain work-life balance.

The Power of Mentorship and Clear Roles

Lindsay attributes much of her success to strong mentorship and learning how to delegate and trust her team. She emphasizes the importance of defining clear roles to ensure everyone knows their purpose within the organization. By creating this structure, SkyPhi Studios fosters a work environment that is both collaborative and empowering.

Giving Back: A Company That Cares

Beyond consulting, SkyPhi Studios is deeply invested in its community. One of the most heartwarming initiatives Lindsay shares is their holiday efforts to support foster youth, demonstrating that business success is about more than profit—it’s about making a positive impact.

Advice for Entrepreneurs

For those looking to start their own businesses, Lindsay’s advice is simple yet profound:

Lindsay’s journey is a testament to creating a business that works for people, not the other way around. Whether you're leading a team or starting your own venture, her insights offer a roadmap to building something meaningful and sustainable.

Get in touch:

🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear more about Lindsay’s journey and how SkyPhi Studios is redefining consulting.

In this episode of The Scrappy Leader Podcast, Christy sits down with Andrea Delancy, a seasoned real estate professional and Certified Divorce Specialist who has carved out a meaningful niche in helping individuals navigate one of life’s toughest transitions—divorce. Andrea shares her personal journey, lessons learned, and how she found her calling in providing guidance and support for divorcing clients facing difficult real estate decisions.

Key Takeaways:

Resources & Links:

🔗 Website: AndreaSellsJax.com

📸 Instagram: @AndreaSellsJax | @DivorcePropertyProJax

💼 LinkedIn: Andrea Delancy

Divorce Done Different:

National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP):

Join the Conversation:

The Scrappy Leader Podcast: From Jazz to Journalism to Leadership with Julia Scott

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Julia takes us through her fascinating career pivot from jazz to journalism to digital marketing. She shares invaluable insights on building confidence, overcoming imposter syndrome, and embracing leadership. We also dive into the power of difficult conversations, learning to fire people (yes, it’s a leadership skill), and the importance of lassoing your cheerleaders to help you through the inevitable bumps along the way.

If you’ve ever doubted yourself as a leader or wondered how to turn unexpected career shifts into opportunities, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Memorable Quotes:

Resources & Links:

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!

Thanks for tuning in, and remember—leadership is a journey, not a destination. Keep leading, keep learning, and keep being scrappy!

The Scrappy Leader Podcast with Elif Chiasson

In this episode of The Scrappy Leader Podcast, Christy welcomes Elif Chiasson, an engineer-turned-leadership expert, to discuss the power of emotional intelligence in technical fields. Elif shares her journey from excelling as an engineer to realizing that leadership required an entirely different skill set—one that wasn’t taught in engineering school. Together, Christy and Elif explore the balance of masculine and feminine leadership energies, the evolving workplace dynamics for women in male-dominated industries, and the critical need to develop emotional intelligence (EQ) alongside technical expertise.

Whether you’re an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, this conversation offers valuable insights into creating a leadership style that fosters collaboration, innovation, and long-term success.

Key Takeaways:

Resources & Mentions:

Connect with Christy:

✨ If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow scrappy leader!

#ScrappyLeaders #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #WomenInLeadership #EQ #TechLeaders

Crafting Change with Brynn Shader

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Scrappy Leader, host Christy Ritchie welcomes Brynn Shader, a business owner, change craft speaker, and advisor. Brynn takes us on a journey from her early days teaching English in the Czech Republic to building a career in HR, Salesforce administration, and change management. She shares how she found her true passion in supporting employees through organizational transitions and how that led her to consulting and public speaking. Brynn introduces her concept of "change craft," a creative and flexible approach to navigating change, and highlights the importance of self-care, mindset shifts, and leadership resilience.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

Key Takeaways:

Actionable Advice for Leaders:

Resources & Links:

Episode Highlights: [00:02:15] Brynn’s journey from teaching abroad to business ownership

Subscribe & Review:

In this heartfelt and insightful episode of The Scrappy Leader Podcast, Christy Ritchie welcomes a special guest and personal mentor, Bettina Morrow. Bettina has been instrumental in Christy's personal journey through her mom's dementia diagnosis and has dedicated her career to protecting vulnerable adults. Bettina shares her fascinating journey from Australia to England to the United States and dives deep into her passion for working with vulnerable adult populations.

1. Bettina's Journey in Social Work

Early career in child protection in Australia and the UK

Transitioning into adult protective services, specializing in elder abuse and dementia care

Earning multiple degrees, including a Master's in Dementia

Career path leading to her current role in Colorado APS

2. Raising Awareness Around Elder Abuse

Common misconceptions about elder abuse and its intersection with financial exploitation, neglect, and physical abuse

The importance of education and advocacy in reducing cases of abuse

Collaboration with law enforcement and district attorneys to prosecute abusers

Challenges in prosecuting physical abuse and neglect cases

3. Leadership and Self-Care in Challenging Fields

The high burnout rate in protective services and the importance of self-care

Strategies for maintaining mental well-being, including:

Exercise (running)

Conscious wardrobe changes to mentally separate work and personal life

Seeking support from peers and mentors

Recognizing the power of showing up consistently with a positive attitude

4. Advocacy and Policy Change

Bettina's efforts in policy reform and innovative programs to provide better support for vulnerable adults

The success of Colorado's unique programs for person-centered support

Importance of grassroots efforts and collaboration to effect meaningful change

5. Leadership and Feedback

The role of self-awareness and receiving constructive feedback

Importance of having personal cheerleaders and mentors

Understanding individual processing styles for feedback in leadership roles

Advocacy requires resilience, teamwork, and a strong support system.

Passion for people is the driving force behind impactful leadership.

Self-care is crucial to sustain long-term success in challenging fields.

Leadership is about consistency, showing up, and supporting others.

Be open to feedback as a growth opportunity.

"Leadership isn't a job title; it's how you show up every day."

"Find what works for you – whether it's running, meditation, or a support network."

"You don't have to carry the world on your shoulders to make a difference."

LinkedIn: Bettina Morrow

Navigating Leadership and Ethics with Dr. Emme Devonish

Welcome to another episode of The Scrappy Leader! In this episode, Christy sits down with the dynamic Dr. Emme Devonish—an attorney, author, executive coach, consultant, and educator—to discuss leadership, ethics, and personal growth. Dr. Devonish shares her multifaceted career journey and the lessons she's learned about leading with authenticity and purpose.

Dr. Devonish's diverse background spans multiple fields, including law, executive coaching, consulting, and education. Her work is deeply rooted in ethical stewardship and community service, reflecting her commitment to making a positive impact.

Dr. Devonish began her professional journey at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where she developed critical skills in international collaboration, problem-solving, and working with cross-cultural teams. This early experience became the foundation for her future career transitions.

Drawn to the legal and compliance aspects of her roles, Dr. Devonish focused on solving complex problems and navigating regulatory environments. This focus shaped her approach to organizational leadership and culture.

Organizational changes inspired Dr. Devonish to further her education and transition into internal roles dedicated to fostering ethics and compliance culture. This pivotal shift highlighted the transformative power of coaching in driving organizational success.

Relocating to Jacksonville marked a new chapter for Dr. Devonish. She immersed herself in the local community through Rotary and environmental initiatives, discovering new ways to help individuals and organizations achieve their highest potential.

Today, Dr. Devonish works with leaders across industries—including financial services, manufacturing, construction, and environmental sectors—to build stronger teams through culture training and a deeper understanding of employee motivations.

Dr. Devonish emphasizes the value of authenticity in leadership. She shares how integrating her professional ambitions with personal passions, such as creative writing, has led to holistic growth in both areas.

Dr. Devonish reflects on the challenges she faced in an internal ethics-focused role, emphasizing the complexities of understanding organizational values and the difficulties of driving cultural change.

Her advice to emerging leaders: Cultivate self-awareness, define your values, and lead yourself before leading others. She encourages embracing your unique path and making choices that prioritize happiness and fulfillment.

Connect with Dr. Emme Devenish:

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:

Stay tuned for more insightful conversations—because leadership is a journey, not a destination.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Scrappy Leader! In this first episode, host Christy Ritchie dives into the story behind the podcast—how it started, what inspired the name, and what being a “scrappy leader” is all about.

You’ll get to know Christy as she shares her journey: from a love of learning and tackling odd projects to earning the nickname “scrappy” and turning it into a leadership philosophy. Plus, she’ll outline what you can expect from future episodes, including inspiring guests, actionable insights, and strategies to fuel your own leadership growth.

If you’re a leader who thrives on learning, digging deep, and rolling up your sleeves to figure things out, this podcast is for you. Let’s get scrappy together!

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your thoughts on what you’d like to hear in future episodes.

🎧 Tune in now and start your Scrappy Leadership journey!

Welcome to The Scrappy Leader podcast!

For the overachievers, the doers, and the roll-up-your-sleeves kind of leaders—this one’s for you. The Scrappy Leader is the ultimate podcast for leaders who don’t wait around for answers—they go out and find them. Whether you're running the show or stepping up in the moment, this podcast is packed with the tools, tips, and hacks you need to figure it out and get it done.

But let’s be honest—being scrappy can take a toll. That’s why we’re also here to help you take care of the most important asset in your leadership toolkit: you. From boosting productivity and mastering new skills to managing stress and staying motivated, we’re all about helping you thrive—not just survive.

I am Christy, your host for the Scrappy Leader podcast. Welcome!