Thriving in Intersectionality

Dr. Lola Adeyemo

Thriving in Intersectionality is a leadership podcast exploring how identity, lived experience, and culture shape the way we lead, work, and build impact. Hosted by Dr. Lola Adeyemo — leadership strategist, researcher, and founder of EQImindset and Immigrants in Corporate — the show features thoughtful conversations with executives, founders, scholars, and changemakers navigating leadership at the intersections of identity and influence. Through interviews and solo reflections, each episode examines how leaders make decisions, build belonging, navigate complexity, and grow their careers while shaping more human, inclusive workplaces. Listeners gain practical insight, real-world leadership stories, and research-informed perspectives on culture, power, and professional growth. If you care about leading with intention, building cultures where people thrive, and understanding how lived experience informs leadership — this podcast is for you. 

  1. 1 day ago

    EP 136: Rewriting Your Story — From Approval to Self-Loyalty with Lauretta Zucchetti

    In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with speaker, author, former Apple and Xerox sales executive, and transformational coach Lauretta Zucchetti for a deeply personal conversation about identity, self-worth, resilience, and the courage to rewrite the stories we've inherited about ourselves. Growing up in Italy, Lauretta learned early how family dynamics, cultural expectations, and childhood experiences quietly shape the way we see ourselves. As an immigrant who later built an extraordinary corporate career in the United States—including becoming one of Xerox's top sales representatives and working with Apple Computer International—she discovered that external success does not always heal internal wounds. Together, Dr. Lola and Lauretta explore how early conditioning influences our confidence, relationships, leadership, and career choices. They discuss the hidden pursuit of approval, rebuilding after profound personal loss, and the lifelong journey of choosing authenticity over expectation. This conversation isn't simply about reinvention. It's about finding the courage to stop living someone else's story and becoming the author of your own. In This Episode, We Discuss  Growing up in Italy and navigating traditional gender expectations  Building a successful career as an immigrant in the United States  Rising through Xerox and Apple Computer International  How childhood conditioning shapes adult decisions  The difference between seeking approval and practicing self-loyalty  Rebuilding after adversity and personal loss  Confidence, authenticity, and leading from alignment  Why success without self-worth can still feel empty  Breaking inherited patterns and limiting beliefs  Choosing a future that reflects who you truly are About the Guest Lauretta Zucchetti is an international speaker, author, transformational coach, and former sales leader with Xerox and Apple Computer International. Drawing on her background in international business, transpersonal psychology, and lived experience, she helps women break free from limiting beliefs, reclaim their self-worth, and create lives aligned with who they truly are. After rebuilding her life through extraordinary personal and professional challenges, Lauretta now speaks and coaches globally on authenticity, resilience, self-loyalty, and personal transformation. Her work encourages women to stop earning their right to belong and instead embrace the life they are meant to live. Learn more about Lauretta and her work: 🌐 https://laurettazucchetti.com Connect with Lauretta on LinkedIn Reflection Question Where in your life are you still seeking approval when what you really need is self-loyalty? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

  2. 19 Jul

    EP 135: Coming Home to Yourself — Identity, Rest & Reclaiming Your Voice with Delia Saenz Skinner

    In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with educator, researcher, and founder of Working with Delia, Delia Saenz Skinner, for a deeply personal conversation about identity, belonging, education, and what it means to come home to yourself after years of learning to survive. The conversation begins where every episode of Thriving in Intersectionality begins—with identity. Delia reflects on the intersecting experiences that have shaped her life as a woman, daughter, teen mother, formerly undocumented immigrant, educator, and community leader. She shares how those identities influenced not only the opportunities available to her, but also how she learned to see herself and navigate systems that often required her to hide parts of who she was. From arriving in the United States without speaking English to spending nine years completing community college while raising her daughter, Delia's story is one of persistence, purpose, and profound transformation. Today, through her consulting practice Working with Delia, she helps educators, leaders, and mission-driven organizations reconnect with themselves through rest-centered leadership, embodied practices, and sustainable ways of serving others. This conversation isn't simply about overcoming adversity. It's about remembering who you were before the world told you who you needed to become. In This Episode, We Discuss  Growing up between cultures and identities  Navigating education as a formerly undocumented student  Becoming a mother while pursuing higher education  The hidden cost of constantly proving yourself  Why belonging sometimes requires unlearning  Rest-centered leadership and sustainable impact  Working with educators, youth, and mission-driven organizations  The difference between surviving systems and reclaiming yourself  Why rest is not quitting—it is regeneration  Creating workplaces and communities where people can thrive About the Guest Delia Saenz Skinner is an educator, researcher, program strategist, and founder of Working with Delia, a rest-centered facilitation and consulting practice supporting educators, innovators, and community-based leaders engaged in high-impact, mission-driven work. Drawing from more than a decade of experience across K–12 education, higher education, community organizations, research, and leadership, Delia designs restorative professional learning experiences that help individuals and organizations reconnect with their wisdom, sustainability, and purpose. She currently serves as a Program Manager, Teacher, and Community Education Manager at UC San Diego Extended Studies while continuing to build Working with Delia.  Learn more: 🌐 www.workingwithdelia.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deliasanezskinner/ Reflection Question What part of yourself have you had to hide in order to belong—and what would it look like to reclaim it? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

  3. 13 Jul

    EP 134: Beyond What We See — Identity, Psychological Safety & the Power of Being Heard

    In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with integrative physician, leadership advisor, and founder of The Mind Re-Mapping Company, Dr. Maiysha Clairborne, for a thoughtful conversation about identity, psychological safety, trauma-informed communication, and what it means to truly create environments where people feel seen, heard, respected, and valued. The conversation begins with an important reminder: Intersectionality includes many identities we don't immediately see. From neurodiversity and trauma experiences to generation, parenthood, education, and professional journeys, our lived experiences shape the way we communicate, lead, and move through the world. Drawing from more than two decades of experience in medicine, coaching, neuroscience, and leadership development, Dr. Maiysha shares how understanding the brain, behavior, and our communication filters can help individuals and organizations build trust, repair relationships, and create psychologically safe workplaces. Together, Dr. Lola and Dr. Maiysha explore how our stories shape us, why emotional intelligence is an essential leadership skill, and how community and vulnerability can become powerful tools for personal and organizational transformation. This conversation isn't only about communication. It's about understanding the invisible experiences people bring into every room—and what becomes possible when people feel safe enough to be fully human. In This Episode, We Discuss:  The visible and invisible layers of intersectionality  Neurodiversity, trauma, and identity  How our lived experiences shape communication and leadership  Why psychological safety matters for individuals and organizations  The connection between emotional intelligence and trust  Understanding communication through the lens of the brain  Why emotions are data—not distractions  The importance of vulnerability and modeling humanity as a leader  Building communities of belonging in the workplace  How to lean into your differences as superpowers About the Guest Dr. Maiysha Clairborne, MD, is an Integrative Physician, Consultant, Coach, Trainer, and Founder of The Mind Re-Mapping Company. Specializing in psychological safety and trauma-informed communication, she helps organizations create environments where employees feel seen, heard, respected, and valued. Drawing on expertise in medicine, neuroscience, coaching, and communication, Dr. Maiysha helps leaders and teams understand how stress, trauma, and unconscious patterns influence relationships, trust, and workplace culture. She is the creator of the R.E.M.A.P.™ Framework, author of The Wellness Blueprint, co-author of Conscious Anti-Racism, TEDx speaker, and host of the Behind Beliefs, Behaviors & The Brain Podcast. Learn more about her work: 🌐 https://mindremappingacademy.com  Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmaiysha/ Reflection Question What invisible parts of your identity have most shaped the way you communicate, lead, and connect with others? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

  4. 6 Jul

    EP 133: Leading from Within — How Identity Shapes Leadership and Organizational Culture

    In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with leadership consultants, podcast hosts, and co-founders of ASQ Empowerment, Dr. Jessie Ferreira and Omar Ferreira, for a thoughtful conversation about identity, leadership, organizational culture, and the experiences that shape the way we lead. The conversation begins where every episode of Thriving in Intersectionality begins—with intersectionality itself. Rather than viewing identity through a single lens, Jessie and Omar reflect on the many visible and invisible experiences that have influenced their leadership journeys. From immigration and cultural identity to childhood experiences, family, service, education, and personal transformation, they explore how leadership is formed long before someone receives a title. Together, they discuss why sustainable leadership begins with self-awareness, how our internal patterns shape the cultures we create, and why understanding ourselves may be the most important leadership work we ever do. This conversation is about more than organizational culture. It's about becoming the kind of leader who can build cultures where people—and organizations—can truly thrive. In This Episode, We Discuss:  What intersectionality reveals about leadership and identity  How childhood experiences shape the leaders we become  Immigration, culture, and the power of lived experience  Why leadership begins long before a leadership title  The connection between personal growth and organizational culture  Moving from reactive leadership to intentional leadership  Building trust, relationships, and psychologically healthy workplaces  Why self-awareness is foundational to effective leadership  The power of pausing before reacting  Viewing leadership as an ongoing process of growth rather than a destination About the Guests Dr. Jessie Ferreira and Omar Ferreira are the co-founders of ASQ Empowerment and creators of the Fractal Coherence Methodology, a leadership framework grounded in one central belief: Leadership that begins within is the only kind that lasts. Drawing on decades of experience across higher education, nonprofit leadership, organizational development, and systems thinking, they help leaders and organizations strengthen culture by first understanding the internal patterns that shape how people lead. Learn more about their work and leadership resources:  https://asqempowerment.com Reflection Question How have your own life experiences shaped the way you lead—and what part of your story are you still learning to understand? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

  5. 29 Jun

    EP 132: Authentic Leadership Starts Within — Identity, Confidence & Leading with Courage with Dr. Elizabeth Pritchard

    In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with leadership researcher, executive coach, and bestselling author Dr. Elizabeth Pritchard for a conversation about identity, authenticity, confidence, and what it truly means to lead from the inside out. The conversation begins with an honest reflection on intersectionality itself. Elizabeth shares why she has a complicated relationship with labels and how years of personal growth helped her move beyond defining herself by roles and expectations. Together, she and Dr. Lola explore how our lived experiences—including culture, family, career, adversity, and personal history—shape the leaders we become. Drawing on decades of experience across healthcare, education, neuroscience, and leadership development, Elizabeth explains why so many capable leaders continue to struggle with self-doubt despite their accomplishments. She introduces the BE → DO → HAVE framework, discusses the hidden patterns that keep leaders stuck, and shares practical ways individuals and organizations can build cultures grounded in authenticity, psychological safety, and courageous leadership. Whether you're an emerging leader, an experienced executive, or someone navigating personal and professional growth, this conversation offers practical tools for leading with greater confidence and self-awareness. In This Episode, We Discuss: Why intersectionality is about more than visible identitiesMoving beyond labels and discovering your authentic selfHow childhood experiences and limiting beliefs shape leadershipThe connection between neuroscience, self-awareness, and confidenceWhy capable leaders often struggle with self-doubtThe BE → DO → HAVE framework for authentic leadershipCreating psychologically safe workplaces where people can thriveHow leaders can recognize and interrupt unhelpful behavioral patternsWhy coaching accelerates personal and professional growthPractical ways organizations can build cultures of trust, courage, and belongingAbout the Guest Dr. Elizabeth Pritchard is an international keynote speaker, bestselling author, researcher, and Authentic Leadership coach based in Melbourne, Australia. Originally from Aotearoa (New Zealand), she is the Co-Founder and Director of WALT Institute and co-author of The Authentic Leadership Playbook. Her work combines neuroscience, leadership research, and positive psychology to help leaders close the gap between capability and confidence while building healthier, more effective workplace cultures. Learn more about Elizabeth's work, leadership resources, and coaching through the links in the show notes. Reflection Question What roles or labels have you carried for years—and how might they be shaping the way you lead today? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

  6. 20 Jun

    EP 131: Capability Is Not Enough — Visibility, Identity & Opportunity with Vas Ramakrishnan

    In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with entrepreneur, immigration strategist, technologist, and human rights advocate Vas Ramakrishnan for a conversation about identity, visibility, opportunity, and navigating systems that were not always designed with everyone in mind. The conversation begins with an exploration of intersectionality through Vas's own lived experience. As an immigrant, entrepreneur, technologist, advocate, and neurodivergent professional, Vas shares how his layered identities have shaped the way he approaches leadership, innovation, and service. Born in Madurai, India, Vas reflects on his journey from engineering and technology to entrepreneurship, nonprofit leadership, and immigration advocacy. Along the way, he discusses the challenges of adapting to new environments, building credibility, and creating opportunities while navigating unfamiliar systems. One theme emerges throughout the conversation: Capability alone is not always enough. Many talented professionals believe hard work will naturally lead to recognition and opportunity. Yet success often requires understanding systems, building visibility, telling your story effectively, and learning how to position your contributions so they can be recognized. Together, Dr. Lola and Vas explore what it means to build a future across borders, navigate uncertainty, and create pathways for others to thrive. This conversation is not simply about immigration. It is about identity, belonging, visibility, and the human desire to contribute, grow, and be recognized for our potential. In This Episode, We Discuss: • How immigrant identity shapes leadership and perspective • Navigating multiple identities across cultures and professional environments • Neurodivergence, adaptability, and personal growth • Growing up in India and building a life and career in the United States • Entrepreneurship, innovation, and purpose-driven work • Why visibility matters alongside competence • The hidden challenges many immigrant professionals face • Understanding systems and creating opportunities within them • The connection between advocacy, technology, and human dignity • Practical advice for professionals navigating career growth and uncertainty About the Guest Vasanthan (Vas) Ramakrishnan is an entrepreneur, immigration consultant, technologist, and human rights advocate. He is the founder of Ascend HSI Advisory Partners, an immigration advisory firm focused on employment-based immigration pathways. He is also the founder of the Feminist Pen Foundation, an international nonprofit dedicated to advocacy, innovation, and social impact. His work spans technology, child safety, immigration strategy, and human rights initiatives across multiple countries. Reflection Question Where in your life or career have you assumed that hard work alone would be enough—and what additional skills, relationships, or visibility ultimately helped create new opportunities? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

  7. 13 Jun

    EP 130: Beyond the Label — Dyslexia, Potential & Thriving Differently with Russell Van Brocklen

    In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Russell Van Brocklen, dyslexia educator, researcher, and advocate, for a conversation about learning differences, identity, confidence, and human potential. The conversation begins with a reminder that intersectionality extends beyond the identities we immediately see. Learning differences, educational experiences, and the systems that shape opportunity also influence how people move through the world, develop confidence, and see themselves. Russell shares his personal journey growing up with dyslexia, navigating educational systems that often underestimated his abilities, and facing years of frustration, labels, and barriers. Despite being told what he could not achieve, Russell went on to develop innovative approaches to supporting students with dyslexia and helping families access tools that build confidence and academic success. Together, Dr. Lola and Russell explore how learning differences impact identity, the importance of looking beyond traditional definitions of intelligence, and the role that schools, families, and communities play in helping people reach their full potential. This conversation is not just about dyslexia. It's about what happens when we focus on people's strengths instead of their struggles. In This Episode, We Discuss: Understanding dyslexia beyond common misconceptionsHow learning differences shape identity and confidenceNavigating educational systems that were not designed for every learnerThe relationship between labels and human potentialRussell's personal journey from struggling student to dyslexia educatorWhy intelligence and learning style are not the same thingSupporting students through strengths-based approachesThe role of parents, educators, and communities in student successCreating more accessible pathways to learningBuilding confidence through accomplishment and belongingAbout the Guest Russell Van Brocklen is a dyslexia educator, researcher, and advocate who helps students and families overcome academic barriers through innovative learning approaches. Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience, he develops accessible strategies that help students with dyslexia strengthen reading, writing, and academic confidence while focusing on their strengths and long-term potential. Learn more about his work at Dyslexia Classes. Reflection Question What assumptions might we be making about someone's potential based solely on the way they learn, communicate, or process information? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

  8. 6 Jun

    EP 129: Building What's Next — Career Pivots, Leadership & Reinvention with Shannon Russell

    What happens when the career you've always dreamed of no longer fits the life you're trying to build? In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Shannon Russell, Strategic Leadership and Team Facilitator, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and host of the Build Better Teams podcast. Shannon shares her journey from a 16-year career in television production to entrepreneurship, business ownership, team facilitation, and coaching women through career transitions. Together, they explore how our identities evolve through different seasons of life and how those changes often require us to rethink what success, leadership, and fulfillment look like. The conversation begins through the lens of intersectionality, examining how roles such as daughter, first-generation college graduate, television producer, entrepreneur, leader, and mother have shaped Shannon's career decisions and leadership approach. They also explore the importance of human connection in today's technology-driven workplace, why meaningful collaboration matters more than ever, and how creative approaches like LEGO® Serious Play help teams communicate, solve problems, and build stronger relationships. At its core, this episode is a reminder that careers do not have to follow a single path. Sometimes the most meaningful opportunities emerge when we allow ourselves to pivot. In This Episode, We Discuss: How identity and life transitions influence career decisions Moving from television production to entrepreneurship The role of motherhood in redefining success and priorities Why career paths are rarely linear Lessons learned from building and selling a successful business Human connection in an increasingly digital workplace The power of creativity, collaboration, and hands-on learning Building stronger teams through communication and trust LEGO® Serious Play and its impact on leadership development Advice for professionals considering a career transition Why there doesn't have to be only one path to success About the Guest Shannon Russell is a Strategic Leadership and Team Facilitator certified in LEGO® Serious Play methodology, founder of Build Better Teams Consulting, and host of the Build Better Teams podcast. She works with organizations to strengthen communication, improve collaboration, and facilitate strategic planning through hands-on, human-centered experiences. Shannon is also the founder of Second Act Success®, where she coaches women navigating career transitions and entrepreneurship. Her background includes 16 years as a television producer in New York and Los Angeles, building and selling a successful franchise business, authoring Start Your Second Act, and helping leaders and teams move forward with clarity, creativity, and confidence. About the Podcast Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, and changemakers, Dr. Lola Adeyemo uncovers the stories, challenges, and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. If This Episode Resonated • Share it with someone considering a career pivot or transition • Leave a rating or review to help others discover the podcast • Join the conversation through the Substack deep-dive reflection accompanying this episode Reflection Question What part of your story might be preparing you for a future opportunity you haven't considered yet? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

    EP 129: Building What's Next — Career Pivots, Leadership & Reinvention with Shannon Russell

About

Thriving in Intersectionality is a leadership podcast exploring how identity, lived experience, and culture shape the way we lead, work, and build impact. Hosted by Dr. Lola Adeyemo — leadership strategist, researcher, and founder of EQImindset and Immigrants in Corporate — the show features thoughtful conversations with executives, founders, scholars, and changemakers navigating leadership at the intersections of identity and influence. Through interviews and solo reflections, each episode examines how leaders make decisions, build belonging, navigate complexity, and grow their careers while shaping more human, inclusive workplaces. Listeners gain practical insight, real-world leadership stories, and research-informed perspectives on culture, power, and professional growth. If you care about leading with intention, building cultures where people thrive, and understanding how lived experience informs leadership — this podcast is for you.