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🎙️ Tracks To Success | Beth Gast: Building Brands, Protecting Reputations & Betting on Yourself

What can we learn about building our own professional brand from someone who spent decades helping major companies, athletes and executives build theirs?

In this episode of Tracks To Success, Kraig Kann sits down with Beth Gast, founder of BG Public Relations, for a conversation about reputation, visibility, career growth and what it takes to stand out for the right reasons.

Beth built an impressive career in public relations and brand communications, with leadership roles connected to major organizations including the LPGA, Nike and adidas.

Along the way, she helped shape stories, promote brands, guide leaders and navigate the high-stakes moments where communication and reputation matter most.

But Beth’s story is also about something deeply personal.

After years of helping other people and organizations build their brands, she made the decision to build one of her own.

Kraig and Beth talk about the lessons career professionals can use to become more intentional about how they show up, how they communicate their value and how they take greater ownership of the reputation they are building every day.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Beth’s path into public relations
• What she learned from working with major sports and lifestyle brands
• Why reputation is built long before a crisis arrives
• What great communicators understand about trust
• How professionals can become more visible without becoming self-promotional
• Why your personal brand deserves the same attention as a company brand
• The importance of consistency, credibility and authenticity
• What it took for Beth to step out on her own
• Why betting on yourself can become one of the biggest career decisions you make
• How her definition of success has changed over time

Beth’s story is a reminder that your reputation is being built whether you are managing it intentionally or not.

Her message?

Know your value. Own your story. And don’t wait for someone else to promote the brand called YOU.

🎧 Listen to this episode of Tracks To Success with Kraig Kann—and subscribe on Kraig's YouTube Channel to watch the show and get more inspiring stories from leaders, entrepreneurs, visionaries and changemakers.

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🎙️ Tracks To Success | Kent Skornia: Building a Business by Building People

What does it take to build a successful company—and still make people the most important part of the story?

In this episode of Tracks To Success, Kraig Kann sits down with Kent Skornia, founder of Krilogy, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, culture and what it really means to accomplish something that lasts.

Kent founded Krilogy in 2009 with a vision that went far beyond financial services. He wanted to build a company where people could grow, clients could feel genuinely cared for and leadership development would become part of the culture—not just a talking point.

The name Krilogy reflects a philosophy Kent calls “The Art of Accomplishment”—the belief that meaningful success is built through energy, discipline, consistency and a willingness to do the work every day.

But this conversation is about much more than building a business.

It’s about building people.

Kraig and Kent talk about the importance of culture, recognizing potential in others, learning to trust people with bigger responsibilities and understanding that a leader’s greatest impact may come through the people they help develop.

They also discuss Kent’s recent recognition as an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Heartland Award finalist, an honor that gave him a chance to reflect on how far Krilogy has come—and why he believes there is still so much more ahead.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why Kent chose entrepreneurship
• What “The Art of Accomplishment” means to him
• Building Krilogy during uncertain times
• Why culture has to be protected as a company grows
• Developing the next generation of leaders
• Recognizing potential before someone sees it in themselves
• What Kent has learned about trust and delegation
• The meaning behind his recent EY recognition
• Why that experience motivated him instead of making him feel finished
• How his definition of success has evolved

Kent’s story is a reminder that growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of culture—and accomplishment means more when other people grow with you.

His message?

Build the business. Build the culture. But never stop building the people.

🎧 Listen to this episode of Tracks To Success with Kraig Kann—and subscribe to Kraig's YouTube Channel for more inspiring stories from leaders, entrepreneurs, visionaries and changemakers.

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🎙️ Tracks To Success | Janice Kapner: Building the Story. Shaping the Brand. Leading with Influence.

What does it take to help transform a challenger brand into an industry leader — and make sure the story is every bit as powerful as the strategy behind it?

In this episode of Tracks To Success, Kraig Kann sits down with Janice Kapner, longtime T-Mobile executive and former Chief Communications & Corporate Responsibility Officer, for a conversation about leadership, storytelling, influence and the power of great communication.

Janice spent more than a decade at T-Mobile, playing an instrumental role in shaping and telling the company’s bold “Un-carrier” story as the organization evolved from industry challenger to champion. Before that, she spent 10 years at Microsoft, eventually leading worldwide communications for Microsoft Office.

Her career has been built around some of the moments when communication matters most — major transformations, leadership changes, reputation challenges and opportunities to create a story people can believe in.

Janice shares what she has learned about earning trust, influencing people without always having direct authority, navigating change and understanding that communication isn’t simply something leaders do — it is a fundamental part of how they lead.

📣 From Silicon Valley startups to Microsoft to the executive ranks at T-Mobile, Janice’s journey is a reminder that the right story can move people, strengthen a brand and help change the trajectory of an organization.

🎯 Inside the episode:

• Why great leaders must also become great communicators
• How storytelling helped differentiate and build the T-Mobile brand
• What it takes to influence people when you don’t control the decision
• Why trust, clarity and follow-through matter at every level of leadership
• How curiosity and adaptability can open unexpected doors in your career

This isn’t simply a conversation about corporate communications. It’s about influence, trust and understanding the power of the story you choose to tell.

Janice Kapner reminds us that brands don’t build themselves. Neither do careers. Both require clarity, courage and the ability to connect people to something they believe is worth following.

🔗 Subscribe, share, and follow the journey toward A Brand New You.

🎥 You can also watch Tracks To Success on Kraig Kann’s YouTube Channel

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🎙️ Tracks To Success | Dave Christensen: Leadership, Reinvention & Knowing When to Go For It

What happens when the final whistle blows — and the career that defined you suddenly changes?

In this episode of Tracks To Success, Kraig Kann sits down with Dave Christensen, former Division I head football coach, longtime offensive coordinator, author, and leadership speaker, for a conversation about pressure, perseverance, reinvention, and what it means to keep moving forward when life presents its own fourth-down moments.

Christensen spent more than four decades in football, with coaching stops that included Missouri, Toledo, Wyoming, Utah, Texas A&M, and Arizona State. He served as head coach at Wyoming, earned Mountain West Coach of the Year honors, and built a reputation as an innovative offensive mind during a career spent developing players, staffs, and high-performing teams.

Today, Dave has taken those lessons beyond the football field. As the author of YOUR 4th Down: Why You Need to Go For It, he challenges leaders to recognize the defining moments when playing it safe may no longer be the answer — and to rely on preparation, discipline, courage, and belief when the pressure is highest.

🏈 Inside the episode:

• What four decades of coaching taught Dave about leadership and influence
• The lessons he learned working alongside some of college football’s most respected coaches
• His experience leading the University of Wyoming football program
• What pressure and failure can teach us about growth
• Why preparation and discipline matter when the stakes are highest
• Dave’s A.D.A.P.T. Game Plan for life and leadership
• How he handled the transition from coaching into his next chapter
• Why everyone eventually faces a personal or professional “4th Down”
• And how to know when it’s time to stop playing it safe — and go for it

Dave Christensen’s story is a reminder that success is not simply about what happens on the scoreboard. It’s about how you prepare, how you respond when things get difficult, and whether you have the courage to keep moving when your path suddenly changes.

🎧 Listen to Tracks To Success on all the top podcast platforms and watch the full conversation on the Kraig Kann YouTube channel.

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🎙️ Tracks To Success | Kathy Seegebrecht: Leading with Trust, Listening First & Building What Comes Next

What does it take to lead across industries, functions and continents—and still stay grounded in people?

In this episode of Tracks To Success, Kraig Kann sits down with Kathy Seegebrecht, former senior executive at UL Solutions, for a conversation about leadership, trust, reinvention and the lessons that come from four decades of professional growth.

Kathy’s career began in sales and evolved into senior leadership roles in marketing, brand, customer experience and business operations. Along the way, she held global positions with companies including BP, Navistar and UL Solutions, where she helped shape the company’s marketing organization, brand story and regional leadership strategy.

But Kathy’s story is about much more than titles.

It’s about listening before leading.

It’s about building trust before asking people to follow.

And it’s about recognizing that the strongest leaders are often the ones who remain curious, keep learning and create opportunities for others to grow.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The early experiences that shaped Kathy’s ambition
• Why sales taught her to listen first
• How trust became central to her leadership philosophy
• Moving from sales into marketing and executive leadership
• Leading across cultures and large organizations
• Helping modernize and reposition the UL Solutions brand
• What it takes to lead through change and uncertainty
• The importance of mentoring, advocacy and developing people
• Why curiosity matters at every stage of a career
• What retirement means after decades of leadership

Kathy also shares how her definition of success has evolved—and why the people you help along the way may ultimately matter more than any title you earn.

Her message is a powerful one:

Listen first. Learn constantly. Build trust. And use your experience to help others move forward.

🎧 Listen to this episode of Tracks To Success with Kraig Kann—and subscribe to Kraig Kann's YouTube Channel for more inspiring stories from leaders, entrepreneurs, visionaries and changemakers.

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🎙️ Tracks To Success | Mike Flaskey: Building Brands, Creating Experiences & Leading What’s Next

What does it take to transform major organizations, lead iconic hospitality brands and create experiences people never forget?

In this episode of Tracks To Success, Kraig Kann sits down with Mike Flaskey, President and Chief Operating Officer of Marriott Vacations Worldwide, for a conversation about leadership, innovation, reinvention and the power of turning big ideas into real experiences. Mike stepped into his current role in February 2026 after more than 25 years of leadership across the hospitality and vacation ownership industries.

His career has included more than a decade at Diamond Resorts International, where he ultimately served as CEO and led the company through significant growth and transformation before its sale to Hilton Grand Vacations. He later founded his own sports and entertainment company and served as CEO of Hornblower Group before returning to the vacation ownership industry with Marriott Vacations Worldwide.

But Mike’s story is about much more than titles.

It’s about seeing what could be better—and doing something about it.

Kraig and Mike talk about building cultures that encourage innovation, creating customer experiences that become true brand differentiators, developing people, navigating major career transitions and having the confidence to keep moving forward when the next opportunity doesn’t look exactly like the last one.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The leadership philosophy behind Mike’s career
• Transforming Diamond Resorts and leading through major growth
• Why memorable experiences create powerful brands
• Turning ideas into action instead of waiting for permission
• What innovation looks like inside a large organization
• Reinvention, setbacks and knowing when it’s time for something new
• Building teams that see opportunity instead of limitation
• Mike’s return to the vacation ownership industry with Marriott Vacations Worldwide
• How his definition of success has evolved along the way

Mike Flaskey has built a career by refusing to simply accept the way things have always been done.

His message for anyone looking to get ahead?

Don’t just identify what could be better. Be willing to help make it better.

It’s a conversation about leadership, experience, innovation and continuing to build what comes next.

🎧 Listen to this episode of Tracks To Success with Kraig Kann—and subscribe On Kraig's YouTube channel for more inspiring stories from leaders, entrepreneurs, visionaries and changemakers.

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🎙️ Tracks To Success | Bridgett McGowen: Find Your Voice. Own the Room. Be Unforgettable.

What does it take to become the kind of communicator people remember — not simply because of what you say, but because of how you make them feel?

In this episode of Tracks To Success, Kraig Kann sits down with Bridgett McGowen, award-winning international professional speaker, author and communication expert known as “The Presentation Fixer.” For more than two decades, Bridgett has helped professionals communicate with greater clarity, confidence and impact — and learn how to become more memorable in the moments that matter.

Bridgett’s own journey started long before the big stages. She traces her love of communication back to standing in front of her childhood church, eventually turning that early confidence with words into a career that has taken her in front of audiences around the world. Along the way, she has become an award-winning author, entrepreneur, publisher and sought-after presentation coach.

She opens up about the importance of believing in your voice, showing up with intention and understanding that leadership presence isn’t reserved for people with impressive titles. It belongs to anyone willing to communicate with confidence and purpose.

🎤 From finding your voice to owning a room, Bridgett’s story is a reminder that being unforgettable isn’t about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about bringing the best version of yourself into it.

🎯 Inside the episode:

• Why great communication starts with confidence in yourself
• What separates an ordinary presenter from an unforgettable one
• How authenticity helps people connect with your message
• Why presence matters in leadership — regardless of your title
• The importance of showing up even when you may not feel completely ready

This isn’t simply a conversation about public speaking. Kraig gets a lively chat going about about confidence, connection and the courage to let people see who you really are.

Bridgett McGowen reminds us that your voice has value. Your presence matters. And when you learn how to bring the two together, you give people something worth remembering.

🔗 Subscribe, share, and follow the journey toward A Brand New You.

🎥 You can also Watch Tracks To Success on Kraig Kann’s YouTube Channel

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🎙️ Tracks To Success | Jamie Pollard: Building a Vision, Leading with Conviction

What does it take to transform an athletic department, build belief around a vision, and lead through more than two decades of constant change in college sports?

In this episode of Tracks To Success, Kraig Kann sits down with Jamie Pollard, longtime Director of Athletics at Iowa State University, for a conversation about leadership, competition, calculated risk and what it takes to build something that lasts.

A former NCAA national champion distance runner who began his professional career as a CPA, Jamie took an unconventional road into college athletics before eventually arriving at Iowa State in 2005. More than two decades later, his leadership has helped reshape the Cyclone athletic program, its facilities, its fan base and its national profile.

Jamie shares the mindset behind making difficult decisions, trusting your instincts and staying committed to a long-term vision — especially when others may not immediately see what you see.

🏃 From competing on the track to leading one of the nation’s major college athletic departments, Jamie’s story is a reminder that great leadership requires endurance, confidence and the willingness to keep moving forward.

🎯 Inside the episode:

• How a competitive mindset can shape the way you lead
• Why leaders have to be willing to make difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions
• The importance of creating belief around a bigger vision
• How culture, people and relationships drive long-term success
• Why staying true to who you are matters when the pressure rises

This isn’t simply a conversation about college sports. It’s about vision, conviction and having the courage to lead your own way.

Jamie Pollard reminds us that success doesn’t happen overnight. It comes from seeing what’s possible, believing in the direction and bringing enough people with you to make that vision real.

🔗 Subscribe, share, and follow the journey toward A Brand New You.

🎥 Watch Tracks To Success on Kraig Kann’s YouTube Channel

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🎙️ Tracks To Success | Greg Feasel: Leading with Vision, Competing with Purpose

What does it take to lead a professional sports franchise through wins, losses, and everything in between — while keeping your culture strong and your purpose clear?

In this episode of Tracks To Success, Kraig Kann sits down with Greg Feasel, President & COO of the Colorado Rockies, for a behind-the-scenes look at leadership inside Major League Baseball. From the front office to the field, Greg brings decades of wisdom and a steady hand to a world driven by performance and passion.

A former NFL offensive lineman, Greg made a remarkable transition from the trenches of professional football to the executive offices of Major League Baseball — a career pivot that’s as rare as it is inspiring.

He opens up about the decisions that define a team, the responsibility of representing a city, and the art of balancing business results with clubhouse culture.

⚾ From managing talent to managing expectations, Greg’s story is a masterclass in building a winning environment — even when the scoreboard doesn’t always cooperate.

🎯 Inside the episode:

• How a sports executive builds trust from the top down
• Why leadership is less about titles and more about truth
• The mindset that helps you navigate pressure in high-stakes environments
• How storytelling and culture drive team identity
• What it means to truly “own the moment” — no matter your role

This isn’t just a conversation about baseball. It’s about presence, poise, and the power of showing up with purpose — every day, in every decision.

Greg Feasel reminds us that leadership isn’t loud. It’s consistent. And unforgettable impact? That starts behind the scenes.

🔗 Subscribe, share, and follow the journey toward A Brand New You.

🎥 Watch Tracks To Success on Kraig Kann’s YouTube Channel

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🎙️ Tracks To Success | Sandi Bragar: Redefining Wealth, One Conversation at a Time

What happens when your purpose becomes bigger than performance — and your mission is to lead with meaning?

In this episode of Tracks to Success, Kraig Kann sits down with Sandi Bragar, Partner and Chief Client Officer at Aspiriant, for a compelling conversation about wealth, wisdom, and what really matters. Known for her deep empathy, clarity, and leadership, Sandi brings a unique perspective to personal finance — one that focuses on people, not just portfolios.

She shares how she’s helped redefine the role of a financial advisor by building trust first, crafting client stories second, and putting authentic connection at the center of it all.

📈 From Wall Street to the heart of client relationships, Sandi's journey is filled with intentional pivots, powerful insights, and a commitment to helping others feel seen, heard, and empowered.

🎯 Inside the episode:

• The defining moment that shaped Sandi’s leadership approach
• Why real wealth starts with understanding someone’s “why”
• How to lead conversations that matter — and build loyalty that lasts
• The power of presence in business and in life
• Advice for women looking to lead with confidence in male-dominated industries

This isn’t just a conversation about financial leadership — it’s a lesson in personal leadership. Sandi Bragar reminds us that influence isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room — it’s about being the most intentional.

🔗 Subscribe, share, and join the movement to build A Brand New You.

🎥 Watch Tracks to Success on Kraig Kann’s YouTube Channel

Watch Tracks To Success on Kraig Kann's YouTube Channel!