Life from Within

Kelly Dwyer
  • 5.0 (7)
  • CAREERS

Life from Within is for growth-minded professionals and leaders who know that the most powerful change starts from the inside out. Hosted by executive coach and strategic facilitator Kelly Dwyer, this show is for people who are navigating complex careers, meaningful leadership roles, and the lifelong journey of becoming more of who they truly are. Through candid interviews with thoughtful guests and insightful solo episodes, you'll explore how to: - Build personal power to lead with influence and integrity - Use career challenges and transitions as fuel for growth - Cultivate inner harmony to create outer impact - Communicate, collaborate, and lead across lines of difference - Discover what it really means to live a life well lived Life from Within is rooted in the belief that our external world reflects our inner one, and when we align the two, transformation happens. Kelly brings a rare blend of depth, warmth, strategic clarity, and soulful inquiry to each episode, helping you access the wisdom, clarity, and confidence that already live within you. If you’re ready to lead with more intention, grow through what you go through, and become the most powerful version of yourself, then start here.

  1. Flipping the Script: Identity, Career Transition, and Becoming with Kelly Dwyer and Elicia Carmichael

    APR 27

    Flipping the Script: Identity, Career Transition, and Becoming with Kelly Dwyer and Elicia Carmichael

    When we face a major career pivot or step into a high-stakes leadership role, we often change more than just our job title. We may lose the ability to "trade" on the value of our previous role, leaving us in a vulnerable gap between who we were and who we are becoming. In this special episode of Life from Within, the tables are turned as Elicia Carmichael interviews Kelly. Moving away from the role of the expert, Kelly shares her own "quarter-life crisis" transition from the high-momentum startup world to the uncertain life of an actor in LA. We discuss the "identity loss" that often blindsides high achievers and how to build the internal scaffolding necessary to support a new version of yourself. 💡Key TakeawaysThe Weight of the Room: Why an executive is never in a "small room," and how your positional power changes the way your words land.Trading on Value: Understanding the specific type of loss that occurs when you move into a field where your previous successes no longer serve as currency.The Decision vs. The Integration: Why the choice to change can happen in a moment, but the integration of a new identity takes months, or even years, of "micro-shifts".Who over What: Shifting the question from "What do I want to do?" to "Who do I want to be?" to find clarity in the middle of complexity. Chapters 00:00 | Introduction 02:42 | My Experience with Identity Loss 10:56 | How to Introduce Yourself in a Meaningful Way 12:43 | Navigating an Identity Change in Your Career 18:14 | The Importance of Taking the Chance 21:18 | The Decision-Making Process 22:04 | Micro Shifts: Building Confidence in Communication 24:27 | Who Do You Want to Be? A Guiding Question 26:36 | Multiple Dreams: Embracing Change in Identity Interviewer Elicia Carmichael focuses her professional energy and boundless curiosity on the intersection of finance and impact. She is the CFO and leader of financial solutions at Labor Mobility Partnerships (LaMP), where she deploys blended capital designs to overcome global migration challenges — turning the global labor/demographics mismatch into prosperity for all. In 2024, she founded the Mobility Finance Network, which unites experts from finance, industry, and migration policy to design and fund financial instruments that make cross-border opportunities accessible for migrants, students, and refugees. Her current initiatives span the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe and are driven by her desire to see safe, legal cross-border growth opportunities available to blue-collar workers. Prior to joining LaMP, Elicia was VP of Strategy for Root Capital, where she led the innovation and business development functions in service of their $100M agricultural development investment portfolio. Elicia holds an MBA from Cornell University and a BA in International Studies from Colby College. In her free time, she hikes, scuba dives, and patrols for invasive aquatic plants in the pristine lakes of Maine. Connect with Elicia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliciacarmichael/ “Guest” Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress. In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful leaders, including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction. Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Connect with Kelly Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co IG – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer Sign up for updates Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

    28 min
  2. Reclaiming Visibility, Power, and Presence for Women Over 50 with Barbara Brooks and Julie Ciardi

    APR 13

    Reclaiming Visibility, Power, and Presence for Women Over 50 with Barbara Brooks and Julie Ciardi

    Reclaiming Visibility, Power, and Presence for Women Over 50 with Barbara Brooks and Julie Ciardi Is midlife a diminishing season or an ignition point? In this powerful double-feature conversation, Kelly talks with Barbara Brooks and Julie Ciardi about age, reinvention, visibility, ambition, and the deeper call many women feel in the second half of life. Barbara shares how ageism at 51 led her to build a movement around experience as power, while Julie reflects on leaving IBM to pursue work that felt more aligned with who she was meant to be. Together, they challenge the narrative that women become less relevant with age. They explore why experience is a business asset, why visibility should match your goals rather than social media trends, how ambition evolves in midlife, and why caring for the body becomes part of the work. At the heart of the episode is a clear message: you are not finished, your voice matters, and it may be time to stop waiting. Key Takeaways: Why age is an asset, not a disadvantage“Middlescence,” the gold age, and reframing the second half of lifeHow visibility changes when you start leading from substanceWhy owning your value is essential before others can value itThe evolution of ambition from proving yourself to serving something biggerThe physical realities of midlife and the need to care for the body alongside the missionFear, conformity, and the courage to use your voice anywayWhy legacy work often begins when you stop waiting Chapters 00:00 | Introduction to Empowering Women in Middlescence 03:25 | Barbara Brooks: The Birth of a Mission 05:09 | Julie Ciardi: A Transformational Moment 07:35 | Redefining Midlife: Middlescence 11:20 | Visibility Differently: How to do it Right 19:15 | The Evolution of Ambition 23:54 | The Responsibility of Legacy Work 24:24 | Facing the Challenges of New Beginnings 26:00 | The Importance of Self-Care 27:17 | Listening to Our Bodies 30:03 | Emerging Convictions and Niche Drama 31:04 | The Power of Female Voices 33:32 | Age as an Asset 35:12 | Valuing Our Experience 36:34 | Embracing Uniqueness and Overcoming Fear 37:50 | Taking Action and Living Fully Guests Barbara Brooks is a nationally recognized entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and founder of SecondActWomen. Through her Experience Is Power platform, she helps organizations unlock the business value of experienced talent across a five-generation workforce. A bold advocate for age inclusion and workforce performance, Barbara has been featured by Forbes, Fast Company, CBS Colorado, PBS Next Avenue, and NBC 9News. She believes beauty knows no age, value has no expiration date, and experience is power. https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaralbrooks/ barbarabrooks.com and secondactwomen.com https://barbarabrooks.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks Julie Ciardi is the author of 50 Not Finished, a former IBM exec turned 7-figure founder & a mom of three. She is navigating midlife & the adult-children phase of motherhood. There is a big gap in the current menopause conversation - all health, all aesthetics, no “what’s next?” Julie believes that midlife is the start of the Gold Age - not Old Age. She is an advocate for women near or over 50 ready to do their legacy work. Julie rewrote the entire Human Design system by a woman for women to help them get clarity in their midlife calling. She is a Substack Best Seller & runs a global mentorship company for midlife women. https://www.julieciardi.com/ https://substack.com/@julieciardi https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/substack-by-design/id1882801640 https://www.instagram.com/julieciardi/ Host Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach, facilitator, and host of Life from Within, a podcast exploring the inner work of leadership, growth, and career transition. She works with thoughtful leaders, founders, and seasoned professionals who are navigating complexity, change, and meaningful inflection points in their work. Through her coaching, facilitation, and podcast conversations, Kelly helps people find clarity, strengthen self-trust, and move forward with greater intention and grounded conviction. https://kellydwyer.co Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube IG – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer

    41 min
  3. Culture Change, Credibility, and the Long Game of Leadership with CEO Chris Bower

    MAR 30

    Culture Change, Credibility, and the Long Game of Leadership with CEO Chris Bower

    Change isn't just about new software or updated protocols; it’s about people. Today I am speaking with Chris Bower, President and CEO of Endurance Federal Credit Union. He is a veteran of the credit union industry with 30+ years of experience. Chris shares how he has modernized the organization over his 18-year tenure as CEO through technology and culture change. We talk about the importance of trust building and why it is so important to allow space for employees to share concerns. Whether you are leading a small team or a major institution, Chris’s insights on leadership are an essential roadmap in organizational transformation. Key Takeaways for Leaders: Communication is Currency: You cannot over-communicate during times of transition.Invite Collaboration: If you want buy-in, you must empower middle management.Building the Foundation: Why you can't rush culture change - trust must be earned through transparency and consistency.Be Intentional: Change should never be impulsive. A methodical approach reduces anxiety across the board.Focus on Trust: Trust isn't a byproduct of success; it’s the prerequisite for it. Chapters 00:00 | Introduction to Leadership and Communication 04:28 | Implementing Technology and Cultural Shifts 08:42 | Embracing AI in Financial Services 10:30 | Fostering Openness and Transparency in Culture 16:17 | Navigating Communication Challenges 20:25 | Learning from Missteps 25:00 | Future Growth and Community Engagement Guest Chris is the CEO of Endurance Federal Credit Union. He is a strategic and growth-focused financial services executive with more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience in community and federal credit unions ranging from $11 million to $195 million in assets. He has a proven record of accelerating loan and deposit growth, expanding membership, enhancing profitability, and leading high-performing teams through transformation and change. Chris is recognized for building strong organizational cultures, improving operational efficiency, driving digital modernization, and delivering exceptional member experiences. He is a collaborative leader and persuasive communicator who thrives in dynamic, evolving environments. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-bower-93b181157/ Endurance Federal Credit Union: https://www.endurancefcu.org/ Host Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress. In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders, including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction. Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow Kelly Instagram – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer Sign up for updates

    27 min
  4. How Clarity Arrives When You Stop Forcing the Outcome

    MAR 16

    How Clarity Arrives When You Stop Forcing the Outcome

    In this solo episode, I reflect on surrender, resistance, and the moments of clarity that energize the path ahead. Whether it’s pivoting to a new career or launching a creative project, we often find ourselves stuck in seeking mode, paralyzed by the need to guarantee an outcome before we even begin. I share two pivotal stories from my own life - transitioning into full-time coaching and launching this very podcast. Surrender is about letting go of the illusion of control so that momentum can finally take over. 💡 Key Takeaways:How to Identify Your Authentic Desire: A genuine spark or idea arises.Ask the big questions (e.g., "What is my next right step?").What is the Wall of Resistance? Fear-based questions like "Will it work financially?" or "What if I quit?"How to shift perspectives to make the resistance crumble. Chapters 00:00 | The Essence of Surrender 01:11 | Personal Journey: Surrendering to Coaching 05:03 | Personal Journey: Surrendering to the Podcast 08:45 | Connecting the Dots: Common Themes in Surrender 09:31 | Universal Experience: Desire and Resistance Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress. In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders, including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction. Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow Kelly Instagram – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer Sign up for updates

    13 min
  5. Leaving Corporate Without Losing Yourself: Identity, Burnout & Creative Reinvention with Vika Nikitina Chala

    MAR 2

    Leaving Corporate Without Losing Yourself: Identity, Burnout & Creative Reinvention with Vika Nikitina Chala

    Have you ever told yourself, "I’m just not the creative type"? In this episode, Vika Nikitina Chala, founder of Rising Heart Coaching and Studio and author of Mother Monster Mystery, dismantles the myth that creativity is reserved for professional artists. Vika shares her incredible journey from a 20-year career as a process engineer and pharmaceutical services professional to becoming a creative wellness entrepreneur. We discuss the pivotal moments that led Vika to embrace the title of Artist. Vika also opens up about the entrepreneurial burnout she faced after opening her physical studio and how she used her own creative wellness tools to navigate insomnia and anxiety. If you are standing at a career crossroads or feeling the weight of hustle culture, this episode offers a soulful, practical guide to coming back to yourself. 💡 Key Takeaways:The science behind creative wellness and how you can incorporate it into your life.Art as a tool for neuroplasticity, problem-solving, and nervous system regulation.The importance of speaking your truth after the creative process.How voicing who you want to become will help bring your vision to life.How to avoid burnout when you are starting a business. Chapters 00:00 | Introduction to Vika Nikitina Chala 02:07 | The Belief in Universal Creativity 06:42 | Creative Wellness as a Pathway to Well-Being 09:25 | Personal Journey: From Corporate to Creative 13:47 | The Pivotal Moment of Change 16:59 | Launching the Creative Arts Studio 20:34 | Navigating Grief with Past Identities 22:24 | The Importance of Pacing and Pausing 27:18 | How to Work with Vika  Guest Vika is an artist, expressive arts practitioner, and certified professional life coach who helps people reconnect with themselves through creativity, reflection, and honest conversation. After nearly 20 years in a pharmaceutical services career, a persistent creative calling pushed Vika to reimagine achievement and belonging on her own terms. Her pivot into creative wellness came after realizing she could not fake being successful if she could not be herself. Over the past decade, Vika has delivered hundreds of hours of creative facilitation, helping people reframe their relationship with creativity as an internal resource rather than a performance. She has developed multiple comprehensive creative wellness programs that support connection with creativity from within, in conversation with others, and in relationship with society as a whole.  Vika is a mother of two, the founder of Rising Heart Coaching, and the owner of Rising Heart Studio in Metuchen, New Jersey. She is the author of Mother Monster Mystery and is currently working on a children’s book. Vika believes that creativity is for everyone and is an essential component of human life.    Website: https://www.risingheartcoach.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risingheartcoach/ Host Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress. In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction. Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow Kelly Instagram – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer Sign up for updates

    31 min
  6. When a High Performer Hurts the Team: A CEO’s Hardest Culture Call with Lara Hodgson

    FEB 16

    When a High Performer Hurts the Team: A CEO’s Hardest Culture Call with Lara Hodgson

    Welcome back to Life from Within. In this episode, I chat with Lara O'Connor Hodgson, the CEO of ROXWrite. We talk about her journey as a contrarian thinker and how her background in aerospace engineering shaped her unique approach to solving complex problems in startups. We also discuss how to foster innovation, the importance of doing something different and how she is currently using AI to revolutionize risk assessment in the lending world. If you’ve ever wanted to challenge the status quo in your organization, this episode is for you. 💡 Key Takeaways: How to navigate business challenges that feel overwhelming.How to create a safe space for teams to experiment and ideate without fear.How ROXWrite is leading the lending industry by using AI to look at risk through a completely different lens.How to build the muscle for navigating uncertainty in your own career. Chapters 00:00 | Introduction to Engineering Mindset and Liberal Arts Personality 04:40 | The Strengths and Weaknesses of Compassionate Leadership 06:34 | Hiring for Mindsets vs. Skill Sets 11:55 | Navigating Team Dynamics and Cultural Fit 18:05 | Developing Comfort with Conflict in Leadership 24:09 | The Importance of Intentional Culture 26:09 | The Difference Between the Collective Person and Individuals 31:40 | Introducing ROX Write: A New Venture 38:30 | The Role of a CEO in Team Building Guest Lara Hodgson currently serves as the CEO of RoxWrite, an innovative, AI-enabled underwriting platform to enable lenders and businesses to assess the risk of their customers.  She is a rocket scientist, a contrarian and a serial entrepreneur with an engineering mind and a liberal arts personality, having founded 3 companies, Insomnia LLC, Nourish and NowAccount, prior to Rox. Before starting her first company, she worked at startups such as Dunk.net, founded with Shaquille O'Neal and at iXL where she learned she thrived in the ambiguity of start-ups.  Lara is co-author of the best-selling book, "Level Up: Rise Above the Hidden Forces Holding your Business Back" and has served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Harvard Business School.  She serves as a Trustee at Georgia Tech where she studied Aerospace Engineering and was a member of the Varsity Track and Field Team. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larahodgson X: @laraohodgson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/level.up.2day/ Level Up Book: https://www.amazon.com/Level-Up-Hidden-Holding-Business/dp/0593539826 Host Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress. In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders, including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction. Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow Kelly Instagram – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer Sign up for updates

    44 min
  7. After the Exit: A CEO’s Story of Private Equity, Burnout, and Finding Your Ground with Beck Sydow

    FEB 2

    After the Exit: A CEO’s Story of Private Equity, Burnout, and Finding Your Ground with Beck Sydow

    Welcome back to Life from Within. How do you transition to the next version of yourself when you achieve everything you thought was impossible, only to find a hollow feeling inside? In this episode, I am joined with Beck Sydow, a self-described "business geek with Buddhist roots." Beck shares their journey from a 20-year corporate career at UPS to leading Sticker Giant as COO through a period of massive growth and an eventual private equity sale. Beck discusses the heartbreak in leadership, the difference between effort-based burnout and values-based burnout, and why the most precious times in our lives are often the transitions we try to rush through. 💡 Key Takeaways & Leadership LessonsHow the practice of meditation translates to how you respond to conflict in your daily life.Why networking is a marathon, not a sprint.How to have honest, human conversations with employees when they are struggling to meet new expectations.How they managed 30%+ growth plans during a global pandemic and the eventual sale of Sticker Giant to Private Equity (PE).How to stop rushing through life’s transitionsHow to recognize fear disguises and what is behind them Chapters 00:00 | Exploring Buddhist Roots and Personal Journey 06:28 | Navigating Corporate Leadership and Growth Challenges 12:40 | The Heartbreak of Leadership and Human Connection 16:29 | Personal Identity and Transitioning 20:41 | Uncovering Hidden Challenges in Business Purchases 22:41 | The Different Levels of Burnout 24:50 | The Pain and Beauty of Transition 28:11 | Understanding Fear with Compromising 29:50 | The Journey of Remaking Yourself 35:45 | Befriending Your Experience Guest Founder, Business Advisor & Leadership Coach Beck Sydow (they/them) works with leaders who are brilliant, overloaded, and tired of losing themselves under pressure. A business geek with Buddhist roots, Beck teaches founders, entrepreneurs, and senior leaders to recognize fear in real time, steady their nervous system, and return to clarity when it matters most. With four decades of experience as a CEO/COO, therapist, and mindfulness teacher, Beck moves easily between business strategy and the inner workings of a leader’s nervous system. This dual fluency is what clients call “magic”—the moment when reactivity quiets, insight returns, and leadership feels spacious again. Beck’s work offers a way of leading where results and humanity can finally coexist. They are the Founder of HumanKind Business Leaders and the creator of the People-Hearted & Business-Minded™ framework. Beck’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becksydow/ Human KindBusiness Leaders: https://www.humankindbusinessleaders.com/ Brene Brown’s New Book: https://brenebrown.com/book/strong-ground/ Host Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress. In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction. Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow Kelly Instagram – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer Sign up for updates

    39 min
  8. Servant Leadership in Private Equity: Putting People to Work with Matthew Ripaldi

    JAN 19

    Servant Leadership in Private Equity: Putting People to Work with Matthew Ripaldi

    How do you move from a $19,000-a-year entry-level recruiter to the CEO of a private equity-backed IT staffing firm? In this episode, Matthew Ripaldi, CEO of Talent Groups, shares his 26-year journey through the technical staffing industry. Matthew shares his motivation behind recruiting, the isolating pressure of the CEO chair, and the high-speed execution required in the world of Private Equity (PE). We discuss his startup experience, the challenge of integrating five companies into one brand, and the humbling experience of receiving a 12-page 360 review. Matthew’s insights on trust, delegation, and being open to learning can benefit you whether you are an aspiring leader or a seasoned executive.  💡 Key Takeaways & Leadership LessonsMatthew recalls the moment he found his why—helping a candidate land a life-changing job that allowed him to buy his first home. This core passion for putting people to work has fueled his 26-year career.After promising his mother he would try a startup, Matthew realized he thrived in high-energy environments. He discusses the importance of self-awareness in knowing where you do your best work.Operating a PE-backed company involves a unique speed of execution, especially when working in a leveraged environment with debt obligations and clear exit targets.As a CEO, Matthew views himself as reporting to his employees rather than the other way around.Matthew opens up about his 360 review. He explains why leaders must create a culture where teams feel safe telling them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Talent Groups and Career Journey 07:35 Transitioning to CEO Role and Responsibilities 12:29 Decision-Making as a CEO 18:16 Challenges in a Changing Industry 21:35 Integration and Operating in a Leveraged Environment 22:28 Navigating the Challenges of First-Time CEO 25:56 The Importance of Delegation and Trust 30:23 Building Trust Through Feedback and Reflection 33:23 Focusing on Execution and Delivering Results 37:05 The Role of Project Management in Execution 38:11 Finding Passion in Your Career Guest Matthew James Ripaldi is an accomplished staffing industry veteran with over 20 years of experience. During his first 18 years in the industry Matthew worked for The Adecco Group, a Global Fortune 500 Company and the world’s second largest staffing firm. Starting off as a Technical Recruiter and quickly finding his passion for the business. This passion combined with a strong work ethic and consistent high-performance helped him excel to seven (7) consecutive promotional opportunities, holding executive leadership roles across eight (8) different industry leading brands; TAD Technical, Adecco Technical, Ajilon ICT, Ajilon Consulting, VendorPass, Modis IT, Modis Engineering and Modis Managed Solutions. Matthew’s vast early experience led to extensive knowledge across contract staffing, direct hire, managed services, project based solutions, onsite MSP programs, payrolling, training and development, and global client solutions. Matthew then joined Collabera as Executive Vice President in September of 2017 reporting directly to the Founder, Chairman and CEO of this fast growing and industry leading IT Staffing and Consulting Firm. While with Collabera he was part of the Executive Management Team, supported their managed services business unit and launched Collabera’s stand-alone Direct Hire Practice. This role provided him with extensive experience in direct hire, executive search, and global delivery. Closing in on 20 years and learning directly from some of the industry's legendary leaders, Matthew then co-founded and launched Simon+James Group, a boutique firm that provided services to start-ups on up to the Fortune 500. As CEO of Talent Groups, Matthew helps set the strategic direction, continually looks to improve every aspect of the organization, works to drive scalable growth, operates with a collaborative and servant-based leadership approach with this team, and continues to run his own full desk. Matthew resides in Houston, Texas, with his wife and son. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewripaldi/ Talent Groups LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentgroups-connections/ Host Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress. In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders, including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction. Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow Kelly Instagram – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer Sign up for updates

    44 min
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About

Life from Within is for growth-minded professionals and leaders who know that the most powerful change starts from the inside out. Hosted by executive coach and strategic facilitator Kelly Dwyer, this show is for people who are navigating complex careers, meaningful leadership roles, and the lifelong journey of becoming more of who they truly are. Through candid interviews with thoughtful guests and insightful solo episodes, you'll explore how to: - Build personal power to lead with influence and integrity - Use career challenges and transitions as fuel for growth - Cultivate inner harmony to create outer impact - Communicate, collaborate, and lead across lines of difference - Discover what it really means to live a life well lived Life from Within is rooted in the belief that our external world reflects our inner one, and when we align the two, transformation happens. Kelly brings a rare blend of depth, warmth, strategic clarity, and soulful inquiry to each episode, helping you access the wisdom, clarity, and confidence that already live within you. If you’re ready to lead with more intention, grow through what you go through, and become the most powerful version of yourself, then start here.

Information

  • Creator
    Kelly Dwyer
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Kelly Dwyer
  • Show Website
    Life from Within