Coffey Talk

Kate Coffey-Bacon
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Self-Improvement

Grab your coffee and join Kate Coffey-Bacon for Coffey Talk...a podcast brewed for connection, featuring honest conversations and stories that inspire, challenge, and build community.

  1. 1d ago

    The Becoming: Leadership, Mentorship, and Who You're Growing Into with Gina McGlamry

    Episode Summary In this episode of Coffey Talk, Kate sits down with Gina McGlamry, channel manager at TrueCommerce and a well-known relationship builder in the Microsoft Dynamics ecosystem. What starts as a conversation about conference culture and showing up authentically as a brand ambassador takes an exciting turn into one of the richest leadership conversations Coffey Talk has had. Gina talks about what it means to truly own your role -- the accountability, the internal advocacy, the responsibility of being the face of your company in a relationship-driven industry. Kate shares what she's been learning about knowing when to step back and let her growing team find their own footing. Together they get into mentorship in a real way: not the polished version, but the kind that happens in hallways and on quick calls when someone needs help navigating something they haven't seen before. The conversation moves through failure, recovery, and the leaders who make you better because of what they do in the hard moments -- not just the easy ones. Kate shares a story about bombing a pitch and the leader who responded not with disappointment, but with three words that changed her: 'but did you die?' Gina opens up about a call that went sideways, what she learned from it, and the kind of leadership culture that makes growth possible. They close with what Kate calls 'the becoming' -- the ongoing, imperfect process of turning into who you're meant to be, not who everyone expects you to be. This one goes somewhere unexpected and earns every minute. Key Takeaways Being a brand ambassador isn't just a conference role. It's an everyday accountability to the partners, customers, and teammates who are counting on you to show up.Mentorship isn't a program. It's a practice -- and knowing when to offer advice vs. when to just listen is a skill that takes years to develop.Good leaders create room for failure. Stepping in every time doesn't protect your team. It delays their development and eventually burns you out.Confidence in your own expertise isn't arrogance. At some point, you've earned the right to trust what you know without over-justifying it.The becoming is real: failure, pivots, and even the conversations that go off-script are part of how we grow into who we're meant to be. 👉🏻Contact information for Gina McGlamry https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-mcglamry-95b890149/ Thanks for tuning in to Coffey Talk with Kate Coffey-Bacon! Real people. Real stories. Conversations that stir something in your soul. ☕ Subscribe and join the Coffey Talk community. 💬 Follow @_CoffeyTalk on Instagram for daily inspiration and behind-the-scenes stories. 🎧 New episodes every Monday at 8 AM ET. 👉 Visit us at CoffeyTalkPodcast.com

    39 min

  2. Jun 8

    Curiosity Did That: Mel Wilhelmi on Following What Interests You Through Every Career Pivot

    EPISODE SUMMARY Mel Wilhelmi has never had a master plan. And that's exactly the point. In this episode, Kate sits down with the Sr. Director of Marketing and Strategic Growth at Sunrise Technologies, a Microsoft Dynamics partner, for a conversation about what it actually looks like to keep saying yes to the most interesting thing in the room. Mel's career started at 16 at a job fair she wasn't even there for. She picked retail because it would give her the most real-world applicability. That one decision in 1991 wound through a microbiology degree, 17 years at Sally Beauty moving through programming, project management, and AX implementations, and eventually to Sunrise, where she's been a consultant, a trainer, and now the head of marketing. The thread through all of it? Curiosity. This conversation covers career pivots, the role of community in professional growth, what it means to push through fear, and why the skills that look unrelated on paper are usually the ones that set you apart. TAKEAWAYS Curiosity is a career strategy. Mel didn't map out her path. She followed what was most interesting, most challenging, and most worth her energy.The skills that look unrelated are usually the ones that set you apart. Biology to programming. Retail to consulting. Every detour connected.Fear is real and you push through it anyway. Mel draws a direct line between box jumps and career pivots.Community matters most to the people who didn't have it. Mel shows up for others because she remembers what it felt like when nobody showed up for her.Find your fulfillment and pursue it responsibly. You don't need the whole map. You just need the next right direction.👉🏻Contact information for Melissa Wilhelmi LinkedIn: :https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissawilhelmi/ Thanks for tuning in to Coffey Talk with Kate Coffey-Bacon! Real people. Real stories. Conversations that stir something in your soul. ☕ Subscribe and join the Coffey Talk community. 💬 Follow @_CoffeyTalk on Instagram for daily inspiration and behind-the-scenes stories. 🎧 New episodes every Monday at 8 AM ET. 👉 Visit us at CoffeyTalkPodcast.com

    42 min

  3. May 11

    Your Past Is the Fire: Shirley Grimes on Resilience, Motherhood, and the Ripple Effect with Shirley Grimes

    Episode Description: Shirley Grimes describes herself simply as a mom just trying to make it - but that description doesn't begin to cover the ground she's covered. In this Mother's Day episode of Coffey Talk, Shirley shares a story that starts in a car, winds through a psychology degree, a grief-fueled cross-country drive, and an accidental entry into the Business Central world through an order-entry job at a golf company in Panama City Beach. What Shirley didn't expect was to find a career she loves, a community that embraces her, and a platform to do what she was always wired to do: give others the same small but life-changing investment that her aunt once gave her. Kate and Shirley talk about the invisible weight of conference mom guilt, raising daughters to lead with faith over fear, letting go of a plan when something better is waiting, and why the tech community might be exactly the right place to change the trajectory of kids aging out of foster care. This one will stay with you. Takeaways: Your background doesn't set the ceiling — it can be the very thing that propels you forward.The people who shaped us most often had no idea the magnitude of what they were doing.Mom guilt around professional growth is real, valid, and worth naming out loud.Faith over fear isn't a platitude — it's a daily decision, especially when life forces a pivot.The tech community has a unique and largely untapped opportunity to mentor and reach foster youth.👉🏻Contact information for Shirley Grimes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirley-grimes-90818214b/ Thanks for tuning in to Coffey Talk with Kate Coffey-Bacon! Real people. Real stories. Conversations that stir something in your soul. ☕ Subscribe and join the Coffey Talk community. 💬 Follow @_CoffeyTalk on Instagram for daily inspiration and behind-the-scenes stories. 🎧 New episodes every Monday at 8 AM ET. 👉 Visit us at CoffeyTalkPodcast.com

    40 min

  4. Apr 20

    Lead with Empathy, Adapt with Purpose with Jenn Rinfret

    Jenn Rinfret has lived a lot of lives. She was a runway model in Milan at 17, a single mom rebuilding from scratch, a survivor of a serious car accident, and the founder of a business that helped seniors navigate technology with dignity. Today she is the Commercial Lead for Americas at Seer 365 in the Microsoft channel — and through every chapter, empathy has been her north star. In this episode, Jenn and Kate dig into what it really means to lead with empathy in leadership and in life, the difference between a gamble and a calculated risk, and why the seniors Jenn worked with taught her more about showing up for people than any leadership course ever could. This is a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and what keeps you going when life just keeps coming. Key Takeaways: Stepping outside your comfort zone is where the best things begin — the discomfort is the point, not the problem.Empathy is not a soft skill. It is a leadership strategy, and it shows up in how you take the time to understand the why behind someone's behavior before reacting.There is a difference between a gamble and a calculated risk. Knowing the difference changes how you make decisions and how you move forward.The seniors Jenn worked with — spies, war survivors, people carrying extraordinary stories — are a reminder that wisdom is everywhere if you slow down enough to notice it.Reinvention is not a one-time event. It is something you choose over and over again, and it gets a little easier every time you do it. 👉🏻Contact information for Jenn Renfret https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennrinfret/ Thanks for tuning in to Coffey Talk with Kate Coffey-Bacon! Real people. Real stories. Conversations that stir something in your soul. ☕ Subscribe and join the Coffey Talk community. 💬 Follow @_CoffeyTalk on Instagram for daily inspiration and behind-the-scenes stories. 🎧 New episodes every Monday at 8 AM ET. 👉 Visit us at CoffeyTalkPodcast.com

    38 min

  5. Apr 13

    Winning in Today's Marketplace: How to Stay in the Room with Kevin Armstrong

    Kevin Armstrong has spent decades at the intersection of technology and growth, and in this episode of Coffey Talk, he pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to win in today's marketplace. From his early days at Xerox to scaling companies, leading transformations, and now driving AI strategy at FinListics, Kevin shares the principles that have kept him in the room through every market shift the last 30 years has thrown at him. This is a conversation about curiosity, preparation, perspective, and what it means to show up as both a competitor and a good human. If you're navigating change, building your career, or just trying to figure out your next move, this one's for you. Key Takeaways Curiosity is a strategy, not a personality trait. The people who keep asking questions are the ones who stay relevant.Preparation is the differentiator nobody talks about enough. The practice-to-performance ratio in sales is broken, and it's costing people deals.Know thyself. Your value equation is unique to you, and the sooner you understand what you bring to the table, the sooner you can own it.Tell them something they don't already know. That's how you build a perspective worth having in the room.Time kills all deals, and that goes well beyond sales. Responsiveness is a discipline that compounds over a career. 👉🏻Contact information for Kevin Armstrong LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/armstrongkevin/ Episode Referenced: The Currency of Life: Understanding Time ~ with Brad Prendergast and Kate Coffey-Bacon https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-currency-of-life-understanding-time-with/id1835167771?i=1000738109865 Thanks for tuning in to Coffey Talk with Kate Coffey-Bacon! Real people. Real stories. Conversations that stir something in your soul. ☕ Subscribe and join the Coffey Talk community. 💬 Follow @_CoffeyTalk on Instagram for daily inspiration and behind-the-scenes stories. 🎧 New episodes every Monday at 8 AM ET. 👉 Visit us at CoffeyTalkPodcast.com

    55 min

  6. Apr 6

    Shut Her Down, Clancy: Kim Dallefeld on Grit, Community, and a Career That Never Stopped Moving

    Kim Dallefeld has spent nearly three decades in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Business Central ecosystem, and her story is anything but a straight line. From accidentally triggering a debugging message at Ford Motor Company to leading a ten-country ERP implementation, building Dallefeld Consulting from the ground up, and eventually selling it to Centre Technologies, Kim has lived through just about every chapter this industry has to offer. In this conversation, Kim and Kate dig into what it really takes to build a career worth remembering: listening before solving, showing up honestly, leaning into community, and never being afraid to ask for help. Kim is an MVP, MCT, NAVUG All-Star, and NAVUG Legend, and she still believes the best credential you can carry is your reputation. Key Takeaways: Listening is the most underrated consulting skill. Kim learned early that the best thing you can do before offering a solution is to actually hear what someone needs.Community gives you what certification never can. The relationships formed in the NAVUG community shaped Kim's career in ways no credential ever could.You get back as much as you put in, and sometimes way more. Showing up to serve, not to grab, is what builds lasting trust and opens unexpected doors.Knowing when to let go is its own kind of leadership. Kim's decision to sell Dallefeld Consulting came from self-awareness, not defeat, and that distinction matters.Be yourself and do what you say you're going to do. Simple advice that still holds up after 30 years in the field.👉🏻Contact information for Kim Dallefeld LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-dallefeld/ Thanks for tuning in to Coffey Talk with Kate Coffey-Bacon! Real people. Real stories. Conversations that stir something in your soul. ☕ Subscribe and join the Coffey Talk community. 💬 Follow @_CoffeyTalk on Instagram for daily inspiration and behind-the-scenes stories. 🎧 New episodes every Monday at 8 AM ET. 👉 Visit us at CoffeyTalkPodcast.com

    52 min

  7. Mar 30

    Purpose Doesn’t Arrive All at Once ~ Sam Bush

    Summary Purpose doesn’t usually arrive as a clear plan. It reveals itself over time through mentors, misalignment, and the moments that quietly energize us. In this episode of Coffey Talk, Kate sits down with Sam Bush to talk about how purpose actually shows up in a career. From early mentorship to seasons that didn’t feel right, Sam shares how teaching, speaking, and guiding others became the throughline of her work. This conversation explores what it looks like to recognize purpose, trust it, and begin living it even before you have it fully figured out. Key Takeaways Purpose often reveals itself through patterns, not plansMisalignment can be one of the clearest signals that something needs to changeMentorship plays a critical role in helping us see what we can’t yet see in ourselvesThe work that energizes you is often pointing toward your purposeYou don’t have to have it all figured out to start moving toward it👉🏻Contact information for Sam Bush LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthabushoh/ Ambush on Air: https://www.ambushonair.com/ Ambush on Air on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/40sb0D8YRlj6q7nHyHm02w Thanks for tuning in to Coffey Talk with Kate Coffey-Bacon! Real people. Real stories. Conversations that stir something in your soul. ☕ Subscribe and join the Coffey Talk community. 💬 Follow @_CoffeyTalk on Instagram for daily inspiration and behind-the-scenes stories. 🎧 New episodes every Monday at 8 AM ET. 👉 Visit us at CoffeyTalkPodcast.com

    43 min

  8. Mar 9

    When Alignment Leads to Acquisition: A Business Central Growth Story ~ Shannon Mullins and Pier Lemyre

    In this episode of Coffey Talk, Kate Coffey-Bacon sits down with Shannon Mullins of A BC Consulting Group and Pierre Lemyre of Gestisoft to talk about the human side of an acquisition in the Microsoft Business Central ecosystem. Rather than focusing on the press release, the conversation explores how relationships, cultural alignment, and shared strategy led two organizations to realize they could build something stronger together. Shannon shares the journey of building A BC Consulting Group and the leadership choices that shaped its culture, while Pierre reflects on Gestisoft’s thirty-year evolution in the Microsoft ecosystem and the decision to expand into North America. Together, they discuss what made the partnership feel right, the role culture plays in long-term growth, and why the future of Business Central is accelerating faster than many expected. The conversation also looks ahead to what partners should be preparing for next, including the impact of AI, evolving ERP delivery models, and the growing opportunity in the Business Central market. This episode is a candid look at leadership, trust, and what it takes to build companies that are meant to last. Key Takeaways • Cultural alignment matters as much as strategy in partnerships • The Business Central market in North America is growing rapidly • Trust and transparency are essential in acquisition processes • AI will reshape how ERP implementations and consulting are delivered • Strategic growth often starts with strong relationships 👉🏻Contact information for Shannon Mullins LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-mullinsmacc/ Pierre Lemyre LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierlemyre/ ABC Consulting: https://www.abccgroup.com/ Gestisoft: https://www.gestisoft.com/en Thanks for tuning in to Coffey Talk with Kate Coffey-Bacon! Real people. Real stories. Conversations that stir something in your soul. ☕ Subscribe and join the Coffey Talk community. 💬 Follow @_CoffeyTalk on Instagram for daily inspiration and behind-the-scenes stories. 🎧 New episodes every Monday at 8 AM ET. 👉 Visit us at CoffeyTalkPodcast.com

    26 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Grab your coffee and join Kate Coffey-Bacon for Coffey Talk...a podcast brewed for connection, featuring honest conversations and stories that inspire, challenge, and build community.

Information

  • Creator
    Kate Coffey-Bacon
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Coffey Talk
  • Show Website
    Coffey Talk