Heartbeat For Hire with Lyndsay Dowd

Lyndsay Dowd
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The Heartbeat for Hire Podcast was created to inspire leaders on how to get through the most difficult of circumstances. I feature CEOs, Olympians, Professional Athletes, Authors, Disruptors, Emmy Winning Journalists and more as they share their stories of resilience with my lens on leadership and culture. My guests share their vulnerability and lessons learned so those of you who have never had a good leader can see the possible in the way they lead. My goal is to transform leadership as we know it and this podcast features the best of the best in showing you the way.

  1. 6D AGO

    189: The Money Patterns Quietly Running Your Leadership and Your Life with Elizabeth Ralph

    Elizabeth Ralph is a former energy trader turned spiritual teacher and high level wealth strategist. She retired at age 39 and is now the host of The Spiritual Investor Podcast (top 2%) and creator of The Spiritual Investor Program — a non-linear, frequency-based approach that blends financial strategy with energetic alignment. With a deep understanding of markets, money psychology, wealth management, and spiritual law, Elizabeth helps people build timeless wealth that creates true financial sovereignty from the inside out. Through her teachings, she guides others in collapsing time and building effortless wealth as a way of being. Her investing philosophy is Warren Buffet meets modern diversification. According to her, true financial freedom isn't bound to 3D structures. She lives her method daily, teaching through real stories, grounded strategies, and a deep reverence for cycles, energy, and choice. Her method has helped thousands shift from circumstance and survival-based money patterns into sovereignty, joy, and legacy wealth.   Summary:   In this episode of the Heartbeat For Hire Podcast, host Lyndsay Dowd welcomes Elizabeth Ralph, a former energy trader turned high-level wealth strategist who retired at age 39. Elizabeth is the creator of "The Spiritual Investor," a method that blends practical financial strategy with energetic alignment to help high performers move from a state of financial survival into true wealth sovereignty.   Socials:   Website: https://www.thespiritualinvestor.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethralph LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethralph/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Elizabeth_Ralph   Key Takeaways:   Wealth as a Way of Being: True wealth is built through energetic alignment rather than a constant "grind" or struggle. Breaking Inherited Narratives: Many individuals unknowingly carry "money narratives" and scarcity fears inherited from their parents, which must be healed to achieve true financial freedom. Collapsing Time: Leaders can achieve faster, more effortless results by aligning their personal growth and spiritual practices with their financial actions. Practical Tools vs. Universal Field: Success requires pulling energy from the "universal field of money" and applying it directly to 3D actions like investing. Commitment Level: Transformation is tied to your level of commitment; Elizabeth notes significant shifts often occur by the third week of her intensive Mastermind programs. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Overview of today's episode and guest Elizabeth Ralph. 01:53 Elizabeth's Story: Retiring at 39 and moving from energy trading to wealth strategy. 03:28 The Birth of The Spiritual Investor: How a meditation at a client's door changed Elizabeth's career path. 05:40 Combining Finance and Spirituality: Why high performers need more than just traditional financial advice. 07:00 Finding Your Level of Commitment: Understanding the different ways to work with Elizabeth, from clubs to masterminds. 11:11 Pulling Energy into 3D Results: Moving beyond "hope" to tangible financial action. 12:08 Healing Money Scarcity: Breaking free from inherited family narratives about wealth. 15:15 Reality vs. Media Narratives: A look at current economic truths versus the fear shared in the news. 24:58 Inspiration and Service: What drives Elizabeth to share her message and the legacy she hopes to leave.

    35 min

  2. FEB 4

    188: The Hidden Performance Crisis No One's Talking About with Henna Pryor

    Henna Pryror Speaker. Executive Coach. Workplace Performance Expert.   Considered one of the best recruiters on the east coast - and gave it all up. She had an incredible sales and consulting career. She shattered records and was in the top 10% of the company every year. She loved the industry – but her heart broke every time she helped a high-performing employee exit their high-potential team.   Socials: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/hennapryor Instagram: www.instagram.com/hennapryor Facebook: www.facebook.com/hennapryorcoach   Summary:   In this episode, workplace performance expert and bestselling author Henna Pryor joins the show to discuss the hidden challenges of the modern workday. The conversation dives deep into why many professionals feel like "drunk baby giraffes" navigating constant change and how "social muscle atrophy" is impacting team dynamics in a hybrid world. Henna shares why embracing awkwardness is a professional advantage and offers actionable strategies to rebuild social courage and connection.   Key Takeaways:   - Social Muscle as Currency: Your ability to navigate social discomfort is a hidden performance currency in today's workplace. - The "Atrophy" Epidemic: Remote and hybrid work have caused our social skills to weaken due to a lack of real-world practice and a tendency to avoid difficult conversations. - Awkwardness is an Emotion, Not a Trait: Awkwardness is a unique form of social discomfort triggered by uncertainty and change, rather than a permanent personality flaw. - The "Drunk Baby Giraffe" Mindset: Leaders must model being okay with "stumbling" through change to encourage their teams to take risks and keep moving forward. - Focus on the Start: The hardest part of social interaction is the "activation energy" required to begin; focusing on simply starting can overcome most social anxiety.   Episode Chapters:   [00:00:00] The "Drunk Baby Giraffe" Workplace [00:02:24] Henna's Path to Performance Coaching [00:03:52] Defining "Good Awkward" [00:06:17] Why We Are More Awkward Now [00:09:44] The Danger of Social Comfort [00:12:30] The Spotlight Effect and the Liking Gap [00:16:15] Strategy: Social Risk Micro-Dosing [00:19:50] The "Activation Energy" of Conversation [00:23:10] Leadership and the Permission to Stumble [00:27:18] Embracing the Messy Middle [00:31:05] Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome [00:33:45] Closing Thoughts and "Good Awkward" Resources

    35 min

  3. JAN 28

    187: Turning Adversity into Authority: Resilience Personified with Victoria Pelletier

    Victoria Pelletier is recognized across North America as a dynamic, captivating keynote speaker, published author and dynamic executive. Her story of overcoming unspeakable odds to live a life of #NoExcuses is both moving, and incredibly inspiring.   Victoria draws from her 20+ years in corporate senior leadership at companies like IBM and American Express to deliver engaging, inspiring keynotes to audiences across North America.   Socials: Website: https://victoria-pelletier.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VictoriaPelletierUnstoppable  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoria_pelletier_unstoppable/?hl=en  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriapelletier/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Victoria.Pelletier.Unstoppable/   Summary:   In this episode of The Heartbeat for Hire Podcast, host Lyndsay Dowd welcomes Victoria Pelletier, a powerhouse executive who became a COO at just 24 and has held senior leadership roles at IBM, Accenture, and American Express. Victoria shares her harrowing journey from a childhood defined by abuse, addiction, and trauma to becoming a global voice on "healthy resilience". She discusses the pivotal moment when she realized her "Iron Maiden" nickname was a sign that her professional armor was actually distancing her from her humanity. The conversation explores how leaders can shed their protective shields, embrace vulnerability, and build cultures where people can succeed without breaking.   Key Takeaways:   - Resilience is a Muscle: While some resilience may be innate, it is primarily a muscle that can be developed and strengthened through intentional work. - Armor vs. Humanity: Wearing a "shield of protective armor" to appear strong can often be perceived by others as a lack of emotion or empathy. - Humanize Your Leadership: Small, deliberate actions—like spending the first few minutes of a meeting on personal connection—can bridge the gap between performance and humanity. - Embrace Discomfort: Stepping into the "zone of discomfort" is necessary for high-performers to learn how to show vulnerability and lead as their whole selves.   Episode Chapters:   00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:52 Meet Victoria Pelletier: A Story of Resilience 03:02 Victoria's Early Life and Challenges 05:07 The Iron Maiden: Leadership and Resilience 07:25 Balancing Strength and Vulnerability in Leadership  14:25 Maintaining Authenticity in Corporate Leadership 16:53 Closing Remarks and Future Plans 23:00 Final Thoughts and Farewell

    24 min

  4. JAN 21

    186: Why AI Is a Leadership Shift, Not a Tech Upgrade with Elatia Abate

    Elatia Abate is an entrepreneur with a mission to revolutionize leadership to empower humanity in the Age of AI. Named a Forbes leading female futurist, she is a globally recognized expert on the futures of work and strategy and is a distinguished member of the American   Her Future-Led Leadership learning and development content has been utilized in organizations including Verizon, UniGroup RMI – Rocky Mountain Institute, Grupo Globo, CME Group, Arcus Power, GMAC (Graduate Management Admissions Council), and The College of William and Mary Raymond A. Mason School of Business. She previously served as Futurist in Residence for Paylocity.   Elatia is a sought-after keynote speaker on the topics of the future of work, leadership and resilience, sharing her message for audiences of tens and auditoriums of thousands for including, Citi, NY Life, VRBO, Deloitte, Honeywell, KPMG, and SHRM, among many others. She has a TEDx talk titled, "Pioneering the Future of Work."   Summary:   In this episode of The Heartbeat For Hire, we welcome back Elatia Abate, a Forbes-recognized futurist and expert on the future of work. As the conversation around Artificial Intelligence shifts from "possibility" to "pressure," leaders are often left feeling off-balance by the sheer velocity of change.   Elatia breaks down how we can move from fear to empowerment in the face of disruption. She introduces the concept of the "Stackable Factory" to explain the evolution of knowledge work and discusses the critical need for "Regenerative Resilience". From the emergence of new roles like "Vibe Coders" to the importance of embodied leadership, this episode is a guide to maintaining humanity and ethics in a rapidly accelerating digital world.   Key Takeaways:   - The "Stackable Factory" of Knowledge Work - Regenerative Resilience - Business Beyond the Brain - Slow Down to Lead   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Intro: The shift from AI hype to AI pressure. 01:07 – Meet Elatia Abate: Futurist and Leadership Expert. 03:21 – The Leadership Room: What executives are really asking about AI. 06:52 – Operationalizing AI: Focusing on business challenges, not just tools. 08:08 – The "Stackable Factory": How AI changes knowledge work. 10:10 – Future Roles: From Prompt Engineers to Vibe Coders. 12:10 – The Ethics of AI: Safety, profit, and global responsibility. 15:37 – Regenerative Resilience: Thriving in chaos. 18:13 – Business Beyond the Brain: The Think, Do, Be framework. 23:37 – Looking Ahead: Impact and conscious leadership in 2026. 27:37 – Conclusion: Slowing down to speed up.

    30 min

  5. JAN 14

    185: The Sales Leadership Playbook Every BDR Team Needs Now with Gabe Lullo

    Gabe Lullo is the CEO of Alleyoop, a sales development agency working with industry giants such as ZoomInfo, Salesloft, and Adobe.   He has trained over 8,000 salespeople across diverse businesses and, during his tenure in Alleyoop, he has personally hired and managed more than 1,500 BDRs.   With over two decades of experience in sales, marketing, and executive recruitment, his strategies have significantly driven Alleyoop's growth and shaped its corporate culture.   Beyond his career accomplishments, Gabe graduated from the Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford, and his leadership ethos is rooted in cultivating environments that prioritize both professional development and individual success.   Socials: linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lullo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabelullo/ Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL61t3M6geW84XNxsfKI5iARqa6_M9MuSy   Episode Summary:   In this episode, host Lyndsay Dowd talks with Gabe Lullo, the CEO of AlleyOOP, a sales-as-a-service company that specializes in helping businesses scale through effective outreach. Gabe shares his unique journey from recruiting to running a company that makes over 11 million cold calls a year.   The conversation dives deep into the realities of building high-performing revenue teams that last. Gabe and Lindsay discuss the difficult but necessary decision to fire toxic top performers to protect company culture. They also explore how to keep Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) motivated in a grueling role, the critical importance of a "video-on" culture for remote teams, and why LinkedIn is no longer optional for modern executives.   Key Takeaways:   - Culture Over Revenue - Mindset is 50% of Success - Video is Essential for Remote Trust - LinkedIn is a Must-Have   Episode Chapters:   00:00:00 – Intro to Gabe Lullo and AlleyOOP 00:02:17 – Gabe's background: From fundraising at 11 years old to recruiting 00:06:00 – The three pillars of success: People, Process, and Technology 00:07:40 – Why you should fire your toxic top performer 00:10:14 – Culture as a KPI and the "shadowing" interview process 00:13:19 – What is AlleyOOP? (The "unsung hero" of sales) 00:18:18 – The SDR Mindset and daily "Power Up" videos 00:21:26 – Why a "camera on" culture matters in remote work 00:24:05 – What inspires Gabe and his legacy 00:26:43 – Why leaders and employees must be on LinkedIn 00:31:26 – Where to find Gabe and his podcast, Do Hard Things

    33 min

  6. JAN 7

    184: Reinvent Your Life: Truth, Alignment and Unlocking Your Potential with Dana Grant

    Dana Grant is an International Master Life and Business Coach, best-selling author of The Truth Within The Lie: How to Align with Universal Principles to Create the Life You Deserve, host of global retreats, keynote speaker, host of top performing podcast The Dana Grant Show, and co-founder of the multi-million-dollar-brand, Cali'Flour Foods. Her influence spans continents, leading transformational retreats in Italy and delivering sold-out masterclasses in Paris and Amsterdam.   From her triumphant defeat of her debilitating illness in which she battled addiction and found a path to recovery, to setting unbreakable corporate sales records, she is now on a soul quest to see everyone reach their full potential. Her mission is clear: to ignite the soul potential in every person she meets. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Microsoft, Medium, New York Today, Miami Post, and more, making her a recognized voice in the fields of transformation, business, and intuitive leadership.   Socials: https://danagrant.me/ https://www.instagram.com/therealdanagrant/ https://www.youtube.com/@therealdanagrant/ https://www.facebook.com/thedanagrant https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-grant-408522a2/ https://www.tiktok.com/@therealdanagrant   Episode Summary:   In the first episode of 2026, the host welcomes Dana Grant—an international master coach, bestselling author, and global retreat leader—to discuss the power of radical honesty and vulnerability. Dana shares her personal journey from a life of "chaos," severe illness, and victimhood to one of aligned purpose and truth.   Key Takeaways:   - Vulnerability is Magnetic: Leaders who share their struggles—not just their wins—build the deepest connections. - Divorce the Outcome: To find true alignment, you must "marry the process and divorce the outcome". - Your "Truth" May Be a Lie: Many of the stories we tell ourselves (e.g., "I need this medication to survive" or "I am a victim") are actually lies created by the ego for protection. Real growth requires radical honesty to identify and dismantle these stories. - Everything is Energy: You cannot fake your vibration; if you enter a room with chaos or anger, people will feel it regardless of what you say. - Perfection is Paralysis: Waiting for the perfect moment is a waste of energy.

    42 min

  7. 12/31/2025

    183: How to Grow from 20 to 200 Without Losing Your Mind or Your Mission with Betsy Hamm

    Betsy Hamm, MBA, is the former CEO of Duck Donuts, where she led the brand's expansion from 20 locations in 2016 to nearly 200 by 2025. Under her leadership, the company grew across the United States and expanded internationally into nine countries, including locations in the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Asia. Before serving as CEO, Betsy held key roles at Duck Donuts, including Chief Operating Officer and Director of Marketing. She brought more than 15 years of marketing and leadership experience, including serving as Marketing Director for Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, a premier hospitality company known for its iconic attractions, resorts, and venues in Hershey, Pennsylvania.   In her latest venture, Betsy Hamm Lifted Studio, she partners with founders and executives to accelerate growth, streamline operations, and build strong, scalable brands and leadership teams. Betsy also hosts Loud & Lifted, a women-in-leadership podcast blending real talk with practical tools on confidence, executive presence, and career growth. She serves on the board of Central Penn College and holds a B.A. in Communications and an MBA from Shippensburg University.   Summary: In this episode, host Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Betsy Hamm, the former CEO of Duck Donuts who helped scale the beloved brand from 20 local shops to nearly 200 global locations. Betsy shares her journey from a marketing career at Hershey Entertainment to navigating the chaotic startup environment of Duck Donuts as employee number 12. She discusses the critical operational strategies required to scale a franchise without losing its soul, the delicate art of giving founders honest feedback (or "calling the baby ugly"), and why consistency is the hardest part of growth. Now an advisor for emerging brands, Betsy also opens up about the importance of personal branding for leaders and her passion for empowering women to be louder, braver, and more supportive of one another through her own podcast, Loud and Lifted.   Key Takeaways: - Scaling Requires Standards - The Art of "Calling the Baby Ugly - Build Your Personal Brand - Women Supporting Women

    30 min

  8. 12/24/2025

    182: Stop Assuming. Start Getting Access. with Stephen Oommen

    After nearly 200,000 cold calls and a million auto-dialer calls, Stephen Oommen discovered something shocking: 98% of his revenue came from warm referrals. Today, he breaks down how sellers can turn relationships into predictable growth. In this episode, host Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Stephen Oommen, a 25-year go-to-market veteran, speaker, and author of the upcoming book The Referral Effect. Stephen shares why nearly 98% of his business revenue came from warm referrals, despite making hundreds of thousands of cold calls throughout his career. Stephen opens up about growing up as the child of immigrants in Oklahoma, navigating an identity crisis that ultimately became his superpower—the Chameleon Effect—his ability to adapt, connect, and create trust across any environment. That skill later became the foundation for his referral-based sales methodology. You'll learn: - Why executives don't respond to cold outreach—and what they do respond to - How to close the trust gap by scaling warm referrals - The "Magic Networking Question" that instantly upgrades your network - The 99 and 1 Principle for managing energy in sales and relationships - How leaders can balance intensity, kindness, and long-term legacy If you're a B2B seller, founder, GTM leader, or executive tired of low-yield outreach, this conversation will challenge how you think about networking, sales culture, and growth.

    Timestamps
 00:00 – Introduction: Stephen Oommen, the Truth Teller.
 02:22 – Stephen's Origin Story: From Bankruptcy to Corporate Success.
 04:48 – The Chameleon Effect: Turning Identity Crisis into a Superpower.
 10:39 – Cold Calls vs. Warm Referrals: The Efficiency vs. Effectiveness Debate.
16:54 – How to Start Networking: Nurturing and Activating Relationships.
 19:16 – The Live Exercise: Asking the Right Questions to Build a Network.
 22:50 – Using Qualifiers: Geography, Industry, and Title.
 26:08 – The 99 and 1 Principle: Managing Energy in Sales.
 30:04 – What Inspires Stephen: Growth, Contribution, and Laughter.
 32:38 – Legacy: Kindness Character vs. Intense Personality.
 35:00 – What's Next: Speaking Tours and The Referral Effect.

    About the Guest Stephen Oommen is a 25-year go-to-market veteran with experience spanning frontline sales to executive leadership. He has worked with startups and global enterprises including Microsoft, ADP, and Citibank. Stephen is the only speaker and trainer dedicated to helping B2B sellers solve the biggest challenge in modern sales: lack of access to decision makers. His work focuses on closing the trust gap by scaling the most successful method known—warm referrals. A successful entrepreneur and W2 employee ("entreployee"), Stephen has retired from corporate twice, paid off hundreds of thousands in non-mortgage debt, and is currently writing his book The Referral Effect. He believes legacy is built at the intersection of kindness, generosity, and laughter.  Connect with Stephen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenoommen/

    About the Host – Lyndsay Dowd is a Speaker, Founder, Author, Coach, Podcast Host—and unapologetic Disruptor. With 30 years of leadership experience, including 23 at IBM, she's built and led high-performing teams that consistently delivered results. She also served as a Guest Lecturer at Harvard University, sharing her insights on modern leadership and culture transformation. 

 As the founder of Heartbeat for Hire, Lyndsay helps companies ditch toxic leadership and build irresistible cultures that drive performance, retention, and impact. She's been featured in Fortune Magazine, HR.com, ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, and over 100 podcasts. 

   Lyndsay is a two-time best selling author of Top Down Culture and Voices of Women, and the host of the globally ranked and 2X awarded Heartbeat for Hire podcast—sitting in the top 2.5% worldwide. She is also the host of a weekly live show called THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGE. Lyndsay is a frequent speaker, moderator, and guest, known for her candor, humor, and ability to spark action.
  Official Brand Partner: https://MyDeals.Page/19c3 
 To my loyal listeners - I love luxury and I love a great deal. 
 If you are looking for an amazing gift or a way to treat yourself, Go to https://cozyearth.com/ and use the code LEADWITHHEART and get 41% off. It's the deepest discount you will find anywhere and I get commission too! This brand has been on Oprah's Favorite Things 9 times!! Happy Shopping! 
   
 Connect with Lyndsay Dowd: 
  Website: https://heartbeatforhire.com
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndsaydowdh4h/ 
  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndsaydowdh4h/ 
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LyndsayDowdH4H
  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lyndsaydowdh4h

   #B2BSales #SalesStrategy #WarmReferrals #ColdCalling #SalesLeadership #GTM #Networking #RelationshipSelling #SalesPodcast #TheReferralEffect

    37 min
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5
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65 Ratings

About

The Heartbeat for Hire Podcast was created to inspire leaders on how to get through the most difficult of circumstances. I feature CEOs, Olympians, Professional Athletes, Authors, Disruptors, Emmy Winning Journalists and more as they share their stories of resilience with my lens on leadership and culture. My guests share their vulnerability and lessons learned so those of you who have never had a good leader can see the possible in the way they lead. My goal is to transform leadership as we know it and this podcast features the best of the best in showing you the way.

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