The Route to Success

Sara Orellena
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Business

Success rarely follows a straight line. On The Route to Success, I sit down each week with business owners, nonprofit leaders, founders, and changemakers from different backgrounds to talk about the real stories behind leadership, growth, hope, and resilience. Together, we explore the challenges people do not always see. Burnout. Setbacks. Purpose. Wellness. Asking for help. Starting over. We also talk about the practical tools, decisions, and habits that helped each guest keep moving forward. These are honest, thoughtful conversations. They are not polished stories about perfect success. They are real discussions about what it takes to lead, grow, and find hope during difficult seasons, with plenty of moments to connect and laugh along the way. New episodes are released every Thursday.

  1. 8h ago

    From Dimming Her Light to Leading Boldly: An Attorney’s Journey to Authenticity | Arnettia S Wyre

    Attorney, business strategist, and nonprofit founder Arnettia Wyre joins host Sara to discuss reclaiming her authentic voice after years of being told her natural way of thinking and asking questions made others uncomfortable. Arnetta shares how she moved from silencing herself for two decades to fully embracing her identity, and details her work through OmniQuest Youth Empowerment Initiative and Lake Solutions, helping youth and business leaders alike grow through authenticity and honest feedback. Lake Solutions LLC Website: https://www.lakesolutionsllc.com/  Show Notes 00:00 - Introduction to the episode's theme of reclaiming your voice and guest Arnetta Wire 00:59 - Arnettia thanks Sara and the conversation begins 01:07 - Sara highlights Arnettia's background in law, business, and motherhood 01:26 - What shaped Arnettia's early approach to leadership 01:39 - Landing her dream job at a Fortune 500 company after law school 02:00 - Admiring a senior VP's leadership style from afar as an early mentor 03:43 - Learning leadership through lived experience as an employee 04:08 - Sara shares her own philosophy on learning from bad leaders 04:20 - Introducing the pivotal moment Arnettia was told she made others uncomfortable 05:04 - The senior VP calls Arnettia in to say she makes people uncomfortable 05:30 - Arnettia explains her inquisitive, detail-driven thinking style as a lawyer 06:31 - Being told she "moves too fast" and needs to slow down 07:02 - Arnettia reframes this as questioning how God made her 07:20 - Learning to stay quiet and reel herself in for years 07:56 - Carrying this suppression for about twenty years 09:14 - Deciding "enough is enough" and embracing being uniquely made 09:38 - Sara reflects on her forties and growing comfortable in her own skin 10:19 - The idea that it gets easier to hold your space as you age 11:42 - What dimming her light actually cost Arnettia personally 12:03 - Going through therapy, prayer, and self-awareness work 12:37 - Taking the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment 13:09 - Early personality testing in legal training revealing she's a "high D" 13:56 - Realizing she'd been suppressing her true self for someone else 15:36 - The emotional intelligence work required to free herself 15:38 - Seeing her own traits mirrored in her 10-year-old daughter 16:40 - Recognizing when an environment isn't the right fit for her fast-paced mind 17:52 - Arnettia's philosophy on leaders making space for every team member's contribution 18:19 - Sara reflects on evolving as a person and her own year of solitude and healing 19:19 - Transition into discussing Arnettia's nonprofit work 21:02 - Introducing OmniQuest Youth Empowerment Initiative, founded during COVID in DC 21:44 - How Catholic school and a caring teacher changed the trajectory of Arnettia's life 23:15 - The mission behind creating OmniQuest for DC youth 24:49 - Teaching authentic Black history as part of the nonprofit's mission 25:17 - The life-changing impact of international travel as a teen 26:20 - Helping youth think more globally beyond their immediate environment 27:10 - Addressing the racial wealth gap and disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline 27:18 - Teaching entrepreneurial and AI skills to young people early 29:17 - How listeners can donate to OmniQuest (omniquestyouth.org) 30:04 - Sara explains the real return on investment of donating to youth nonprofits 31:07 - The final question: reclaiming your voice when told to be quieter 31:36 - Arnettia on believing you are more than what others say about you 32:33 - Accepting imperfection while standing in your core goodness 33:40 - "Be like a duck" — letting criticism roll off 34:08 - Sara's takeaway: you don't need permission to be who you are 34:44 - Discussion of Lake Solutions, Arnettia's for-profit consulting firm 35:04 - Arnettia's role as a CEO confidant for founder-led and family businesses 35:53 - Why leading a business is often lonely and needs honest partners 36:13 - The importance of being comfortable with brutal honesty for growth 36:49 - How to find and work with Lake Solutions (lakesolutionswithaw-llc.com) 37:34 - Closing thoughts: choose to show up fully and embrace the uncomfortable SEO Description Attorney Arnettia Wyre opens up about silencing her voice for 20 years, reclaiming authenticity, and empowering youth and CEOs through her nonprofit and consulting work

  2. Aug 12

    How to Job Search When Your Title Doesn’t Match Your Skills| Scott Toren

    Summary Scott Torrin, an operational excellence and continuous improvement professional, joins Route to Success to talk openly about the pain of feeling stuck between his current job title and the career he knows he's capable of. He and the host dig into how mismatched job titles create real barriers in the job search, how AI-driven hiring has flooded the process with applicants, and how family, faith in "the one right match," and taking things one bridge at a time keep him moving forward. Show Notes 00:00 - Intro: the show explores feeling stuck between what you've done and what you're capable of 00:18 - Meet guest Scott Torrin and the problem of career growth tied to job titles, not skills 00:58 - Scott thanks the host for the opportunity to have a difficult, vulnerable conversation 01:11 - How the host and Scott met through an OU advisory board 01:30 - Scott's career path across retail, pharma, and engineering/construction industries 02:19 - The realization: identifying which workdays didn't feel like work 02:24 - Example: chasing down a documentation issue outside his job scope 03:39 - Host digs into how Scott arrived at the "what days made me happiest" question 04:08 - Mundane work as the contrast that revealed his real passion for problem-solving 05:43 - Host on the value of brutally honest self-reflection 06:10 - How mismatched job titles have hurt Scott's confidence and job search 07:11 - Why "operational excellence" means wildly different things across companies 08:07 - Second-guessing years of experience when titles don't match job postings 09:37 - Host shares her own hiring philosophy on degrees vs. real-world experience 10:52 - Companies claiming to hire for skills but actually hiring for title-matched experience 11:16 - The AI arms race in job applications and resumes 11:50 - Job postings getting 300 to 12,000 applicants 12:16 - ATS and AI screening tools replacing human resume review 12:48 - Using ChatGPT carefully to refine his resume while keeping his authentic voice 13:37 - Scott's old-school plan: mailing hard-copy resumes and cover letters to targeted companies 14:27 - Host draws a parallel to nonprofit grant fundraising and the power of personal connection 15:03 - The impact of handwritten thank-you notes and direct outreach 16:34 - Why Scott's professional network (mostly scientists) hasn't helped his job search 17:05 - Being intentional about networking through chambers of commerce and local business groups 18:03 - How it feels day-to-day to not be fulfilled in his current role 18:41 - Scott's current job: converting live trainings into e-learning modules 20:06 - The daily "slog" and lack of a larger sense of purpose 20:43 - How marriage and fatherhood changed Scott's career risk tolerance 21:07 - Balancing his wife's static optometrist income with his own career mobility 22:19 - His father's advice about taking risks and relocating when young 23:19 - Why relocation and travel-heavy work are now off the table 24:44 - Wanting his kids to see work as energizing, not a burden 25:31 - Host shares her own experience letting her daughter see her fail and grow 27:02 - How Scott resets and stays grounded after rejection 27:34 - The online dating analogy: job searching like Match.com odds 28:34 - Focusing on "the one right match" instead of volume of offers 30:38 - Keeping the job search from consuming his whole identity 32:16 - Being proactive: rejecting job listings that aren't the right fit before they reject you 32:19 - Host praises Scott's healthy boundaries in the process 33:18 - The big practical takeaway: "focus on the bridge in front of you first" 34:00 - Breaking big goals into one actionable step at a time 35:04 - Struggling to celebrate wins as an overthinker 36:05 - How Scott proactively reached out to be a podcast guest mid-board-meeting 37:35 - Host on the value of proactive outreach and being a "connector" 38:47 - Final advice: notice the tasks you choose to do, not just what's assigned 39:55 - Host's closing thanks and encouragement to take it one bridge at a time SEO: Scott Torrin opens up about career reinvention, mismatched job titles, AI-flooded hiring, and family-driven motivation on this candid Route to Success episode. Keywords: Scott Toren career transition operational excellence continuous improvement job search tips AI resume screening career identity

  3. Aug 5

    What Do You Do When Life Tells You to Stop? | Sarah Jakle

    Sarah Jackal, founder of the national nonprofit, Democrashe, shares how being told she'd never work again after a chronic illness diagnosis led her to study brain science and resilience, eventually building tools like the "inner best friend" and "inner champion." She discusses how these tools carried her into national political leadership roles and now power her program, which operates in 42 states equipping high school girls with resilience skills and civic engagement training. Link to Democrashe’s website: https://www.democrashe.org/  Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction to the episode's theme: resilience, identity, and turning adversity into impact 00:15 - Guest intro: Sarah Jackal's 2014 chronic illness diagnosis and founding of Democrashe, active in 42 states 01:06 - Sarah Jackal welcomed to the show 01:25 - Sarah recounts the moment she was told she'd never work again as a social worker 02:19 - Living on the couch for two and a half years and realizing she could control how she showed up 02:54 - Turning to studying the brain and resiliency during her recovery 03:47 - Question: what skills and brain rewiring emerged from that period 04:05 - Explaining the prefrontal cortex vs. the amygdala and fight/flight/freeze responses 05:04 - How the amygdala responds to somatic, grounding language rather than logic 05:37 - Studying Dr. Kristin Neff's self-compassion work and acceptance commitment therapy 05:49 - The "grounding with mother earth" technique explained 06:14 - Introducing the "inner best friend" and "inner champion" tools 06:39 - Barack Obama and her dog Max as her original inner best friends 07:37 - Host connects the concept to her own meditation and gardening routine as grounding practices 08:22 - Host shares her struggle with a harsh inner critic 09:04 - Sarah explains why the inner critic is trying to help, and the "Thank You Brain" technique 10:16 - More on choosing figures for your inner best friend (Michelle Obama, Wonder Woman, Taylor Swift) 11:12 - Explaining the "inner champion" figures like Stacey Abrams, Megan Rapinoe, and Jeannette Rankin 13:00 - Question: how resilience tools helped her step into national political leadership 13:34 - Breaking tasks into tiny steps, like "just get in the car," to overcome overwhelm 14:17 - Becoming national outreach director for Field Team Six and get-out-the-vote director for California NOW 14:53 - Learning to shift "no" into "yes" despite being told she'd never work again 16:08 - Host shares her own health challenges and the power of taking one small step at a time 18:04 - The research-backed importance of celebrating small steps to reinforce progress 18:53 - Using a pet as a stand-in to help celebrate yourself when self-celebration feels hard 20:56 - Dogs and cats as some of the most profound "inner best friends," including on Zoom calls with Democrashe participants 21:34 - Introducing Democrashe: teaching resilience and civics to high school girls 22:00 - Why high school is the last time boys and girls believe equally they can run for office 22:11 - Imposter syndrome and the gender gap in seeing oneself as a candidate 22:34 - Statistics on harassment faced by women candidates and current congressional representation 23:45 - The overwhelm and exhaustion facing today's teens, and hyperarousal vs. hypoarousal 25:09 - Host shares her own experience with workplace gender pushback 26:04 - Why women's voices are needed at every table, from policy to science 27:18 - The crash-test dummy example of how excluding women from research costs lives 28:04 - The peer-led model of Democrashe and letting girls run their own workshops 29:07 - The "prepare, love, let go, learn" motto and "you can't do it wrong" 30:29 - How listeners can find and apply to Democrashe programs via democrashe.org 31:05 - Explanation of the 10-week flagship program, one-day intensives, and free self-directed program 31:35 - Girls are paid a stipend to remove financial barriers to participation 32:09 - Donation options explained and how funding levels support different program elements 33:59 - Host adds her nonprofit expertise to frame the return on investment of donations 36:04 - Closing thoughts: resilience as a muscle you build, and where to find Democrashe 36:58 - Sign-off and call to like, share, and subscribe

  4. Jul 30

    The Hidden Signs of Burnout Nobody Warns You About | Erin Treacy

    Summary Erin Treacy — former TV producer, nonprofit leader, and restaurant owner — shares how a decade of high-performance leadership led to a physical breakdown from compressed spinal discs and full-blown burnout. She and the host unpack how burnout actually shows up in the body and mind, why people miss the warning signs, and how to rebuild identity, leadership style, and support systems after being forced to stop. Erin’s Website: https://erintreacycoaching.com/  SEO Description Erin Treacy opens up about burnout, leadership, and rebuilding after her body forced her to stop, sharing real signs of burnout and practical recovery steps. Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro: welcoming guest Erin Treacy and previewing a deeper episode on burnout and rebuilding 01:01 - Erin Treacy officially welcomed to the show 01:33 - The big question: Erin's non-linear career from TV journalism to nonprofits to restaurants 03:13 - How leadership skills transferred across industries as a "human juggler" 03:28 - Opening the family restaurant and teaching teenage kids workplace leadership 05:04 - Why we expect leadership but never actually teach it 06:05 - Leading on your bad days and showing up as human with your team 09:01 - A staff mental health conversation sparked by Sara's own vulnerability 10:05 - Transitioning into the topic of burnout and why it's overused as a buzzword 11:01 - Erin's early physical burnout signs: constant pain, Tylenol, ibuprofen, lidocaine patches 13:24 - The moment Erin's leg went numb on the cook line 14:20 - Diagnosis: compressed discs (L4, L5, S1) cutting off nerve signals 15:31 - Her husband's warning that her pace was unsustainable 16:31 - Deciding to close the restaurants and the physical "sign to stop" 16:48 - Hearing another speaker's burnout story at a conference and recognizing herself in it 19:31 - Sara shares her own burnout experience and the seven areas of health 20:35 - Discussion on doctors dismissing symptoms and defaulting to "it's just stress" 23:57 - Why people can't hear burnout warnings until they're ready 26:07 - Her husband's gentle repeated nudges before she could finally listen 27:12 - Three to five signs someone is approaching burnout 29:42 - Burnout compared to addiction and pushing loved ones away 31:01 - What Erin learned about over-helping and the cost of "I'll just do it myself" 34:00 - The laundry-folding story: letting go of control and the "art of good enough" 38:16 - Introducing "people first" leadership versus servant leadership 40:20 - The restaurant "swap day" cross-training story and its impact on culture 45:41 - Rebuilding a support system after burnout and pushing back into community 47:38 - Finding activities, hiking without cell service, and saying yes to discomfort 53:00 - Practical small steps: starting conversations at the grocery store and coffee shop 57:28 - Rebuilding circles slowly and referencing the book "Rich Relationships" 1:00:39 - First steps to begin recovery today, and how to support someone in burnout 1:07:00 - The importance of play as an adult and setting boundaries around it 1:10:01 - Closing story about joy, connection, and dancing through hard days 1:11:59 - How to reach Erin Tracy through coaching and social media 1:14:12 - Final thanks and sign-off

  5. Jul 29

    From Corporate Tech to Purpose-Driven Consulting: A Founder's Story | Samir Abukhodair

    Samir Abukhodair shares his winding journey from engineering and corporate tech into teaching and eventually founding Creatures of, a business rooted in helping people rather than chasing sales. He and host Sara dig into finding courage to walk away from misaligned careers, building systems that balance strategy with human connection, and practical steps for anyone feeling stuck in their career. Samir Abukhodair shares how he left corporate tech to build a purpose-driven consulting business rooted in teaching, connection, and helping people over profit. Show Notes: 00:02 - Welcome to Root to Success: today's focus on alignment over titles and success on paper 00:18 - Introducing guest Samir Abukhodair and his path from engineering through corporate tech 00:56 - Episode preview: building a business and life grounded in purpose and systems 01:08 - Samir's traditional path into engineering and tech 01:38 - Why engineering didn't match what he expected 01:53 - Moving to New York City and the excitement of the tech startup era 02:19 - Realizing the stress was tied to a specific role, not real fulfillment 02:44 - The final straw and decision to walk away from tech 03:03 - Question: where did the courage to walk away come from? 03:12 - Growing up in rural Minnesota and struggling to talk to adults 03:41 - How New York City and his wife helped him become bolder 04:04 - Realizing CEOs are just people too - overcoming intimidation 04:54 - Discussing the feeling of "soul leaving" a job 05:19 - What made him take action when others stay stuck 05:41 - Childhood dreams vs. eighty-hour tech work weeks 06:06 - Discovering a love for teaching and watching students' eyes light up 06:29 - Realizing his whole family are teachers - coming back to his roots 07:22 - What tutoring revealed about his natural teaching and coaching skills 07:34 - Recognizing he was already teaching and coaching within his tech job 08:08 - His final tech role in revenue enablement and connecting the dots to teaching 08:33 - Bringing together tech, teaching, and people skills into one practice 09:12 - Building a company around the core mission of helping people 09:26 - Balancing financial pressure with staying mission-aligned 10:04 - Becoming a father and the added pressure to provide 10:38 - Trying cold calls and cold emails - and why it didn't work for him 11:01 - Choosing connection and community building over traditional sales 11:38 - How pilot programs turned into long-term lucrative client relationships 12:13 - Why focusing on the person before the task is critical for leaders 12:52 - The missing piece in most rulebooks: how to actually connect with people 13:34 - Building scalable systems with a client while keeping it simple 14:43 - Biggest gaps businesses have in building systems that actually work 15:01 - The limits of apps and technology for staying organized 15:34 - Teaching people to organize their day and prioritize 15:56 - Sunday scaries and where that anxiety really comes from 16:33 - Digital vs. paper planner debate 17:20 - Using paper planners for hands-on projects and construction work 17:58 - The lost art of blocking time on the calendar 18:04 - The big question: one practical step for someone feeling stuck or misaligned 19:03 - Coming back to the core reason you started in the first place 19:22 - Why having real conversations with people is the biggest growth tool 20:01 - Embracing uncomfortable conversations as a path to growth 20:34 - How to connect with Samir: Creatures of Consulting and Creatures of Learning 21:13 - Education branch offerings: summer, fall, and spring learning packages 21:26 - The importance of preventing summer learning loss in kids 21:54 - Closing thoughts on courage, meditation, and following your heart

  6. Jun 25

    S01E44 Unlocking Effective Communication With the CPL Framework | Dee Dee Fisher

    In this powerful conversation, DeeDee Fisher explores the growing communication crisis in leadership and shares practical strategies to create clearer, more compassionate, and more effective dialogue in today’s workplace. Using her CPL Framework — Compassion, Process, and Learning — Dee Dee explains how leaders can improve communication, reduce meeting fatigue, build stronger organizational cultures, and foster more energizing environments for their teams. The discussion covers active listening, setting boundaries, using “I statements,” asking better questions, and creating meaningful conversations in an age dominated by social media and digital overwhelm. Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, manager, or team member, this episode offers actionable tools you can apply immediately to communicate with greater clarity, empathy, and impact. In this episode:• The CPL Framework: Compassion, Process, and Learning• Why we are facing a communication crisis• How compassion improves difficult conversations• Reducing meeting fatigue with structured communication• The power of active listening in leadership• Using “I statements” for better dialogue• Creating energizing and productive work environments• Setting boundaries for healthier leadership• Building a positive organizational culture• Technology, creativity, and the future of communication Key Takeaway:“Communication is not just about speaking — it’s about truly connecting.” Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Communication Challenges02:59 The CPL Framework: Compassion, Process, Learning05:51 Understanding the Communication Crisis09:08 Compassion in Difficult Conversations11:54 Steps to Effective Communication15:08 Meeting Fatigue and Efficient Communication21:15 Efficient Meetings and Action Protocols22:09 Energizing Work Environments23:07 Utilizing Technology for Creativity24:31 Active Listening and Communication25:51 The Power of I Statements28:24 Asking Questions and Seeking Clarity30:38 Resetting as a Leader32:44 Setting Boundaries for Effective Communication36:21 Creating a Positive Organizational Culture39:49 Final Tips for Effective Communication #Leadership #Communication #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipSkills #ActiveListening #TeamCulture #WorkplaceCommunication #Productivity #OrganizationalCulture #LeadershipPodcast

  7. Jun 18

    S01E43 From Corporate Marketing to Nonprofit Leadership | Bree Carriglio

    In this inspiring episode, Bree Carriglio shares her powerful journey from corporate marketing to nonprofit leadership, dedicating her life to supporting vulnerable communities in Armenia. We explore what it truly means to lead under pressure, build resilient teams, and support people through humanitarian crises. Brie opens up about emotional intelligence in leadership, the importance of listening, creating a healthy team culture, and why strong leadership starts with compassion and trust. From refugee support to holistic community care, this conversation offers valuable insights for leaders, nonprofit professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone navigating uncertainty with purpose. In this episode:• Transitioning from corporate life to nonprofit leadership• Leading teams through emotionally heavy work• The power of listening and emotional intelligence• Building trust and communication within organizations• Supporting refugees and vulnerable communities• Creating a culture of grace and resilience• Practical leadership lessons for difficult times Key Takeaway:“You do not have to solve everything today. Focus on the next step.” Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Leadership Under Pressure03:00 Transitioning from Corporate to Nonprofit Leadership05:57 Navigating Leadership Challenges08:53 The Importance of Listening in Leadership12:00 Holistic Approaches to Community Support14:54 Responding to Humanitarian Crises17:55 Supporting Staff in Emotionally Heavy Work20:53 Cultivating a Culture of Grace24:01 Building Trust and Communication in Teams27:04 Conclusion and Key Takeaways #Leadership #Nonprofit #EmotionalIntelligence #Humanitarian #TeamCulture #Resilience #CommunitySupport #LeadershipPodcast #RefugeeSupport #PurposeDrivenLeadership

  8. Jun 11

    S01E42 Mastering the First 90 Days of Leadership | Neill Marshall and Kurt Mosley

    In this conversation, Neil Marshall and Kurt Mosley discuss the critical first 90 days of leadership, emphasizing the importance of understanding organizational culture, building trust, and making strategic decisions. They share real-world examples and actionable insights for leaders to navigate their initial period effectively, highlighting the balance between quick action and thoughtful decision-making. The discussion also covers the significance of small symbolic actions in building relationships and the necessity of resetting expectations with boards and stakeholders. Takeaways : Most leadership failures stem from misreading culture.Leaders who succeed immerse themselves in the organization.It's crucial to listen and understand before acting.Be quick to identify problems, but deliberate in action.Building trust is more important than proving brilliance.Small actions can have a significant impact on trust.Negotiating wins before starting can build credibility.Resetting expectations with stakeholders is essential.Your behavior sets the tone for your leadership.Start your leadership journey with intention and clarity. Connect with Neill - https://www.linkedin.com/in/neillmarshall/Connect with Kurt - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-mosley-01893212/ If you enjoyed this episode:• Like the video• Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, resilience, and personal growth• Share it with someone who might need it #TheRouteToSuccess #SaraOrellana

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About

Success rarely follows a straight line. On The Route to Success, I sit down each week with business owners, nonprofit leaders, founders, and changemakers from different backgrounds to talk about the real stories behind leadership, growth, hope, and resilience. Together, we explore the challenges people do not always see. Burnout. Setbacks. Purpose. Wellness. Asking for help. Starting over. We also talk about the practical tools, decisions, and habits that helped each guest keep moving forward. These are honest, thoughtful conversations. They are not polished stories about perfect success. They are real discussions about what it takes to lead, grow, and find hope during difficult seasons, with plenty of moments to connect and laugh along the way. New episodes are released every Thursday.

Information

  • Creator
    Sara Orellena
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sara Orellena