Warriors at Work

We welcome Dr. Kimberly Lemke to discuss her groundbreaking efforts to enhance sleep quality through her DRIFT method.  Poor sleep is everywhere, affecting people in our own families and circles even if we are not experiencing it ourselves.  Dr. Lemke shares with us practical tips and tools that we can use everyday to improve the quality of our sleep.  From the importance of light, to learning how each of our senses plays an important role, Dr. Lemke shows that is is easier to achieve and get a better night’s sleep without even thinking about it.

Dr. Kimberly Ann Lemke is an esteemed licensed clinical psychologist and recipient of the prestigious 2020 Enterprising Women of the Year Award. With a passion for promoting sleep wellness and mental health, Dr. Lemke has dedicated her career to empowering individuals and organizations to achieve optimal well-being. Her expertise in addressing a wide range of psychological issues complements her focus on sleep science and its profound impact on overall health.  

Certified as a Sleep Science Coach, Dr. Lemke is celebrated for her groundbreaking efforts to enhance sleep quality and reduce the organizational costs associated with sleep deprivation. Her innovative online sleep course, Drift , has earned recognition for its unique approach to tackling sleep-related challenges. Drift goes beyond the “you need to sleep more” advice and provides customers with unique and transformational strategies for individuals and organizations to optimize their workplace environment and workday in order to improve nighttime rest.  

Beyond her online platform, she delivers impactful workshops on sleep, stress, and holistic well- being within corporate wellness programs, showcasing her dynamic public speaking style and commitment to community welfare.

(3:36) Dr. Lemke shares with us her journey to study clinical psychology  
(6:01) How do different environments (hospitals, academia, etc) shape her approach?  
(8:28) Dr. Lemke shares some statistics and discusses her Drift sleep method.  
(13:48) Dr. Lemke shares the “Sleep Balloon” method.  
(16:56) How can we stop thinking about ourselves and our time as “expenses” and start prioritizing sleep and rest?  
(20:51) What trends and patterns does Dr. Lemke see in her work?  
(23:35) What common misconceptions do people have between sleep and mental health?  
(25:40) What other strategies can Dr. Lemke share with us about how to get better sleep?  How can what we eat and drink affect our sleep?  
(31:27) Dr. Lemke shares some success stories with us?  
(33:40) How can people deal with travel and jet lag?  
(36:48) What about all of the products that center around getting good sleep?   
(40:48) What is constructive worrying time?  
(45:58) What does Dr. Lemke see as the future of sleep science?

Connect with Dr. Kimberly A. Lemke
www.drkimberlylemke.com
www.driftcourse.com  

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Networking is an integral part of our lives, both professional and personal.  I welcome back Nancie McDonnell Ruder, an extraordinary business woman from the Warrior community, to discuss the skills of networking and connecting with others.  We discuss how we can cultivate the best mindset and what tactical tips, inspiration and perspectives can we learn that will help us to connect and network better.  

Nancie McDonnell Ruder is an executive coach, leadership advisor and marketing consultant with decades of experience in marketing strategy, training, branding, and consumer research. She has a strong track record of driving accelerated growth for organizations by aligning their marketing strategies closely with customer expectations and preferences.  

Nancie began her professional career with the Leo Burnett Company in Chicago, Illinois, where she served clients such as Procter & Gamble, Eli Lilly and The Gap, and spearheaded global new business efforts, resulting in 14 cross market new business wins.  

Since launching Noetic Consultants in 2002, Nancie has provided strategic guidance to clients large and small, including: 7-Eleven, Discovery Channel, Georgetown University, NIKE, Vail Resorts, Samsung Electronics, SC Johnson, Mayo Clinic, and the Walt Disney Company. She is the creator of the Noetic Brand Health Diagnostic™ and the Noetic Art & Science Assessment™.  

In addition to her consulting work, Nancie is a respected author and sought-after speaker in the marketing and leadership space. Her engaging presentations draw from her extensive experience, providing actionable takeaways that help organizations and individuals thrive in today’s competitive business landscape.

(3:42)  Why did we decide to partner and discuss networking?  
(6:05) The word “networking”, how do we define it?  
(12:40) How can we integrate networking into our personal and professional lives?  
(14:37) Why networking matters? What are some of the barriers we experience related to networking?  
(18:32) What are some of the fears we experience when we don’t exercise our “networking muscles” regularly?  
(20:55) Nancie discusses the many ways we can use networking in our lives.  
(23:05) We talk about the concept of “Give and Take” from Adam Grant.  
(28:30) We discuss concepts of “helping others to succeed first”, how we are “you’re only as good as your network” and “you can’t get there alone and you don’t want to”.  
(32:20) Thinking of interactions with others as an “ask, offer and acknowledge”.  
(35:54) Where can someone begin on the path to successful networking?  How can we learn good habits from the beginning?  
(45:08) Tactical things you can do before networking with others.  
(48:26) Do’s and Don’ts when networking  
(55:25) Let’s wrap up the highlights of our conversation around being connected and networking.  
(56:47) We ask the community to take away an important point from our conversation.

Connect with Nancie McDonnell Ruder 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancieatnoetic/
https://noetic.io/   

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This week we are joined by Ejieme Eromosele, an award-winning Customer Experience and Success Executive, with two decades of experience building high-impact customer programs. She has led CX strategies for Fortune 500 companies and early to mid-stage startups.  

Specializing in customer-led growth, Ejieme helps organizations drive business value by delivering customer outcomes. She has built Customer Success programs from the ground up and expanded global operations as General Manager for EMEA.  

As the Founder of Success in Black, she champions DEI in Customer Success, fostering a thriving community for Black professionals.  

Beyond her corporate work, she is a respected advisor, speaker, board member, and angel investor, backing pre-seed and seed-stage startups across DTC, consumer tech, social/creator economy, and B2B SaaS.

(3:13) Who is Ejieme inside and outside of the office?  
(7:25) Who was Ejieme right out of college and how has she changed over the years?  
(10:29) Why did Ejieme choose the path of customer success?  
(12:25) What differentiates Ejieme from an influencer and key thought contributor?  
(15:21) Ejieme shares her idea of vulnerability as a skillset.  
(18:50) She walks us through a recent post after a tough life experience.  
(26:35) Who inspires Ejieme?  
(28:58) What advice does Ejieme want to leave the community with?

Connect with Ejieme Eromosele
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejieme/  

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March 16, 2020. A moment in time when everything changed. The world almost stopped, uncertainty rose, and we were all forced to navigate uncharted territory.

It was also the day I took a big leap into the unknown. I went live on Facebook, not knowing who would show up but knowing that leadership, resilience, and community were needed more than ever.

That was the birth of Warriors At Work.

What started as live conversations—meditations, visualizations, leadership practices, resources, humor, and above all, human connection—became a movement. A space for people to fuel themselves and each other. A place to remind us that even in the hardest times, we are not alone. 

Looking back, that risk was one of the best decisions I ever made. Warriors At Work wasn’t just for others—it was for me, too.

To those who were there from the beginning and those who have joined along the way—thank you. Here’s to the power of courage, community, and showing up, even when the world feels uncertain.

In celebration of the 5-year anniversary of Warriors At Work, I am resharing my first ever interview with the “ultimate mentor and motivator” Jean Otte in early 2020.  

Experience a special journey into entrepreneurship with the extraordinary Jean Otte, Founder of WOMEN Unlimited, Inc. From Jean’s very humble beginnings in London during World War II to the building of a nationally recognized organization, Jean talks openly and honestly about fear, uncertainty and courage as she faced many obstacles over her career.  

Jean Otte was the embodiment of grit, humor, clarity, ambition, and courage.  

As my mentor, she challenged anything mediocre. She was direct, intuitive, and never shy about giving advice. Jean had an incredible ability to balance big-picture thinking with tactical execution. She could hold space for fears and insecurities while guiding you toward confident decisions.  

I still hear her voice when I’m feeling unsure or insecure. Her influence shaped me in ways I can’t fully express, and for that, I am deeply grateful. 

(2:15) Jean shares with us some of her experiences growing up in England during WWII.  
(8:30) Did Jean’s determination and independence come from her experiences while growing up?  
(12:21) Jean shares her motivation for starting her own company.  
(21:46) What was Jean’s transition like, to move from a corporate position to starting out on her own?  
(26:40) What were some of the first things Jean did notice that proved her new venture was going to succeed?  
(31:32) Jean shares how her mentor, Jack Urish, was an integral throughout getting WOMEN Unlimited, Inc. off the ground.  
(36:18) What has been Jean’s greatest accomplishment building this business?   
(39:23) What was a point of frustration or concern for her during that same time?  
(42:05) What advice would Jean share for those just starting out?  
(45:46) Who or what brings Jean joy? What frustrates Jean? What scares her and how does she overcome those fears? Who would she want to meet, alive or dead?
(52:06) What daily practice or ritual that keeps Jean alive and connected?

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In 2025, Transition Enterprises LLC marks its 20th anniversary! Over the past two decades, I have had the honor of working with some of the most talented and inspirational leaders around the world. It has been a privilege to be in service to something greater than myself, helping others tap into their inner wisdom and make bold choices.  

To commemorate this milestone, my dear friend Fisayo “Fiz” Olajide, an acclaimed filmmaker and creative executive, turns the lens on me. Together, we explore my journey—where it all started as well as the stumbles along the way.  

Whether you've been part of this ride from the beginning or are just joining now, this series is a reflection on pain, joy, transformation, and the power of trusting your inner wisdom.  I’m excited to share the triumphs, challenges, and defining moments from the past 20 years.

Join us as we celebrate, share and look ahead to the future!

(3:38) Balancing her professional and spiritual side in business?  
(7:20) What are some of the common misconceptions you have encountered about the work you do?   (9:54) Jeanie shares with the community who she sees as a mentor.  
(12:22) What has Jeanie discovered about herself after doing this work for 20 years?  
(14:57) What does it mean to Jeanie integrate all aspects of herself?  
(16:50) How would Jeanie distill her message into one word and how does she see the next chapter unfolding?  
(19:14) If she could give her younger self some advice, what would it be?  
(20:00)  Is there one thing she would like her community to take away from this conversation?

Connect with Fisayo “Fiz” Olajide 
https://www.fizolajide.com/   

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In 2025, Transition Enterprises LLC marks its 20th anniversary! Over the past two decades, I have had the honor of working with some of the most talented and inspirational leaders around the world. It has been a privilege to be in service to something greater than myself, helping others tap into their inner wisdom and make bold choices.  

To commemorate this milestone, my dear friend Fisayo “Fiz” Olajide, an acclaimed filmmaker and creative executive, turns the lens on me. Together, we explore my journey—where it all started as well as the stumbles along the way.  

Whether you've been part of this ride from the beginning or are just joining now, this series is a reflection on pain, joy, transformation, and the power of trusting your inner wisdom.  I’m excited to share the triumphs, challenges, and defining moments from the past 20 years.

About Fisayo “Fiz” Olajide
Fiz is a filmmaker and creative executive whose work bridges corporate innovation and cinematic storytelling. As the Director of Brand Design for X, she leads brand strategy and design, shaping a visionary identity for one of the world’s most influential platforms.  

Join us as we celebrate, share and look ahead to the future!

(5:20) Who was Jeanie before starting Transitions Enterprises and the Warriors and Work platform?  (10:58) What were some of the philosophies that resonated with Jeanie when she first got started?  
(14:57) How did Jeanie find her first clients? What were those first years like?  
(15:56) How would she describe her brand and how has it evolved over the years?  
(17:55) Jeanie shares how she views intuition and discusses the power of pausing?  
(21:00) Were there moments of self-doubt and show did Jeanie navigate them?  
(24:13) Jeanie discusses a time when she thought about quitting and shares how she pulled through?  
(27:46) What are some of the things Jeanie would see (business opportunities and clients) that she found didn’t align with her?  
(29:10) What stories comes to mind where Jeanie saw incredible transformations of clients and business colleagues.  
(32:42) What are some of the biggest trials that Jeanie has overcome during her career?  

Connect with Fisayo “Fiz” Olajide 
https://www.fizolajide.com/   

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Warriors at Work is celebrating 5 years this coming March and we are kicking off 2025 with a great interview with Derek Koenig - marketing & creative extraordinaire.  He shares with us highlights from his 25 year career, what he learned from his work around the globe and his most recent assignment in Shanghai, China.  Derek takes us on his journey of ideas, incredible business results, and inspirational stories of pushing through fear and playing with boundaries.   

Whether you are looking to expand your business, locally or globally, or even in to the Asia Pacific region, this conversation is for you.   

Throughout his 25-year career, Derek Koenig has combined team-building leadership, strategic acumen and award-winning creative storytelling to deliver record-breaking business results around the globe. Demonstrating equal expertise on both the strategic and creative sides of the content continuum, Koenig connects insights, data and innovative creative for break-through brand solutions. As VP Marketing for The North Face on assignment living in Shanghai China, Koenig led strategic and creative development for all consumer platforms driving awareness, relevance, consideration and conversion for the brand and product portfolio in the APAC region (including ANZ), doubling the business to reach $1B in sales in under 2 years.

(3:38) - How does Derek describe himself?  He also talks about tapping into the qualities of both sides of our brains.  

(5:40) - Derek shares a stand out moment when working at The Discovery Channel.  

(9:00) Derek shares his experience working at North Face and expanding their brand in Asia.  

(14:10) What did Derek know about himself, what critical skills did he posses, that helped him complete the task?  

(16:57) What were some of the critical things Derek needed to do to create the level of engagement that North Face wanted in China?  

(20:25) What was most challenging for him during this time?  How did the cultural differences play a part in his approach?  

(24:41) Derek shares some of the relationships he made while on this journey.  

(29:02) Derek shares one of his extraordinary initiatives while he was in China.  

(36:03) How did this experience shape how he views creative and marketing?  

(45:22) Derek talks about how he shares his experiences and lessons in the classroom?  

(47:53) What advice does he want to share with our community?  

Connect with Derek Koenig
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dekoenig/  

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This week I welcome two incredible women from my personal circle, Hilary DiPiero and Teresa Pearson. Long term friends turned collaborators, who have come together in the creation of a brand that is focused on sharing the beauty and power of the small moments in life.  Personally, I am struck by their connection to each other and their decision to reveal themselves so that it can bring happiness and inspiration to other people.  

An inspiring, feel good conversation that is just in time for the season of giving! 

Hilary DiPiero is married with 3 children in New Jersey.  She has served on HMH@ Riverview Medical Center Board of trustees and served on Horizons Board.  She also hosts an annual fundraiser for HMH@Riverview Medical Center the last 10 years.  

Teresa Pearson relocated back to the NJ area in 2020 after living in the New England area for 18+ years. She is mother to Bridget and happily married to her husband, Dana.  She has been a Marketing Executive w/ over 25+ years of experience working for Fortune 500 companies and served on several boards - Girls on the Run Board, St Judes Family Advisory Board as well as HMH Marketing Sub-Committee Board.

(4:00) We start off talking about the beautiful friendship that Hilary and Teresa share.  How did they meet?  What was the genesis of this collaboration that they have created?  

(9:27) They talk about how this collaboration isn’t just about themselves, but also shedding light on the “small moments” we can appreciate each day.  

(12:33) They each describe the other, sharing with the community what they see in each other.  

(16:37) We talk about courage, in bringing themselves forward into the public, and what part it has played in their journey.

(25:26) What has changed in their lives as a result of their collaboration and putting themselves out there?  

(28:18) What is the reaction to the work they do?  What are they hearing from people who follow them and share their own experiences?  

(32:15) What advice do they share with others who are inspired to try something new in their own lives?  

(40:02) What is next for Hilary and Teresa?

Connect with Hilary DiPiero and Teresa Pearson
https://www.instagram.com/hilaryandteresa/

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We welcome to the Warrior community a security and risk management expert, Molly Blomquist, renowned for her leadership in high stakes situations in Iraq and Pakistan.  She has extensive experience in negotiations and interrogations and joins us to discuss the Art of Interrogation.  She breaks down the complex and nuanced skill of interrogation into easy to use tools that we can apply in our everyday work & life experiences.  

Join us as we learn the tools of reading body language, profiles of unique and difficult people and the power of silence.   With a career that has spanned various high-stakes environments, including critical hotspots like Iraq and Pakistan, Molly Blomquist has not only demonstrated her expertise but has fundamentally redefined the field.  

Molly's illustrious career is marked by her significant leadership roles within the U.S. Government. In these capacities, she has been pivotal in managing complex security programs, advising senior policymakers, and orchestrating global security initiatives. Her ability to thrive in dynamic and challenging environments speaks to her exceptional skills in strategic planning, risk management, and negotiation.  

Molly serves an expansive array of clients, from corporate entities to private partners, leveraging her vast experiences and insights to add unparalleled value.

(3:00) Molly shares her story, how she ended up on her career path  
(9:33) Molly breaks down for us the skills and connections that interrogation has to the business world.  
(12:00) How can we “set the tone” for a constructive conversation “interrogation”?  
(14:40) Molly explains the skill of pairing a question with body language (non verbal clues)?  
(18:47) Molly shares some of the different profiles & people she can worked with over the years.  How can you best handle the different people you may come across?  
(23:40) How does Molly keep up on what is happening in her career to stay sharp and fresh?   (26:30) How does Molly manage her own external factors related to security & threats?  
(32:55) How does Molly’s work have an impact?  
(36:08) Molly reflects on one of the important things she hopes to impart on to the Warrior Community.  
(37:33) Looking into the future, how has Molly made an impact?  

Connect with Molly Blomquist 
http://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-blomquist  

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