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. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. The Power of a Million Little Things: Persistence in Work and Life with Bill Nolan

    JAN 5

    The Power of a Million Little Things: Persistence in Work and Life with Bill Nolan

    The Power of a Million Little Things: Persistence in Work and Life with Bill Nolan What does it take to leave a secure, prestigious position to build something from scratch? In this episode, I chat with Bill Nolan, the founding managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Columbus office. Bill shares the unflashy reality of leadership from his days as the Mayor of Powell and the persistence required to put a new law office on the map. This conversation explores the power of a million little things, the art of developing talent in business services, and the grace required to navigate identity shifts when handing over the reins of leadership. 🔑 Key Takeaways for Leadership & Personal Growth 95% of his graduating class ended up in a different place than they imagined—and that’s okay.The tactical socialization needed to get a national firm to remember and utilize a new local branch.Success is rooted in the ability to perceive how your actions affect others—whether they are clients, judges, or colleagues.Looking for personal strengths (marketing, client service, or event planning) creates a culture of growth and loyalty.The importance of planning for a successor and finding fulfillment in community rather than just the title. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Bill Nolan and His Background 02:01 Experiences as Mayor of Powell 05:22 Transitioning to Barnes & Thornburg 07:30 Building the Columbus Office 10:07 Strategies for Success in a New Market 12:06 Personal Growth and Leadership Evolution 14:25 Understanding Client Relationships and Communication 16:35 Building a Thriving Legal Team 20:45 Navigating Challenges in Office Management 22:37 Transitioning Leadership Roles 27:04 The Long View 29:48 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations Guest Bill Nolan brings clarity and closure to employment, contract and business disputes. Passionate about helping employers build strong teams, policies and processes, Bill’s proactive advice minimizes the frequency, cost and severity of employment disputes. Bill also works with clients to design systems and practices to manage the many challenges of complex employer-employee relationships. An experienced trial lawyer, Bill handles covenant not-to-compete and trade secret cases in many states. He also regularly defends employers in discrimination and discharge cases, administrative claims, arbitrations and mediations. Bill helps clients maneuver shifting legal mandates and has distinct experience handling complicated employee health and leave issues. Admired for his calm and thoughtful approach to resolving disputes, Bill also acts as a neutral. In his role as employment counselor, Bill advises clients on a range of workplace issues. He is called upon to conduct manager and workplace trainings that ensure legal compliance on the front lines. He was an early leader in tracking how employers and legislatures respond to discrimination in the workplace, advocating for changes in training models to better address persistent workplace behaviors. Bill is not one to back down from a challenge. Opening the firm’s Columbus office in 2009 during the Great Recession, he built and ran a notable team for over 15 years. Also, as a former two-term councilman and Powell, Ohio, mayor, Bill brings contagious energy to community affairs, focusing on furthering inclusion in the legal profession. Website: https://btlaw.com/en/people/william-nolan 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 Book mentioned Buckeye: A Novel  Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow Kelly Instagram – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer Sign up for updates

    32 min
  6. How Confidence Is Built in the Stretch: From White-Knuckling to Grounded Leadership with Kate Tansey Chevlen

    12/22/2025

    How Confidence Is Built in the Stretch: From White-Knuckling to Grounded Leadership with Kate Tansey Chevlen

    How Confidence Is Built in the Stretch: From White-Knuckling to Grounded Leadership with Kate Tansey Chevlen Episode 9 Welcome back to Life from Within. This is the final episode of the year, and I am so grateful for all of my guests and listeners who made this podcast possible. What happens when you land your dream promotion and realize on day one that you don’t speak the technical "language" of the room? In today’s episode, I am joined by Kate Tansey Chevlen, a Vice President at Amgen with a 17-year tenure at the company. Kate shares the raw, honest story of a career transition - moving from a marketing director to a franchise leader overseeing multi-billion dollar contracts. She opens up about the white-knuckle months, the physical toll of trying to be a different kind of leader, and the specific steps she took to reclaim her authenticity and empower her team. 🔑 Key Takeaways for Leadership & Personal Growth To master her new domain, Kate sought out trusted partners for intensive deep dives into their mastered skill.Kate initially tried to copy the boisterous, high-energy style of her predecessor. This led to white-knuckling, physical stress, and a team that felt unsupported.A moment of exhaustion during a business trip forced Kate to stop performing and start advising authentically. The result was immediate clarity for her team and liberation for herself.Kate discusses her "Trust but Verify" framework - knowing when to delegate and empower experts through full delegation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background of Kate Tansey Chevlen 02:07 Transitioning to Different Leadership Roles at Amgen 04:35 Navigating Leadership and Multi-billion Dollar Contracts 07:18 Building Trusting Relationships in Decision Making 09:51 The Impact of Leadership Style on Team Dynamics 11:07 Finding Your Authentic Self in Leadership Roles 13:00 Embracing Personal Leadership Style 17:49 The Journey to Self-Discovery 20:23 How to Find Your Own Way to Manage Stress 22:45 Building Confidence Through Challenges 24:22 Applying Confidence in Leadership 26:19 The Art of Delegation and Trust 30:03 The Importance of Authenticity in Leadership 31:17 Outro Guest Kate Tansey Chevlen has been a commercial leader at Amgen for 17 years and is currently serving as the Vice President, Global Marketing and Therapeutic Area Head of Inflammation.  Prior to joining the Global Inflammation team, Kate led the US Patient Access and Reimbursement team, where she oversaw efforts to help patients start and stay on Amgen medications.  Kate’s prior experience at Amgen spans across marketing, sales, and market access leadership. Kate has worked across the US and global side of Amgen’s commercial business, and across all major therapeutic areas, including oncology, nephrology, cardiovascular, bone, neurology, and inflammation. She has led multiple franchises at Amgen, including the nephrology and respiratory businesses in the US.  Prior to joining Amgen, Kate served as a gubernatorial appointee for the State of California, where she managed healthcare and economic development public policy. She also worked in local government in California, managing economic development public policies. Kate holds a BA in Politics and French from Brandeis University, an MBA from the Johnson School at Cornell University, and an executive coach certification from the Hudson Institute of Coaching. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-tansey-chevlen-4953391/ 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 Book mentioned Buckeye: A Novel  Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow Kelly Instagram – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer Sign up for updates

    32 min
  7. Excellence, Authenticity, and Family Balance with Rashida Bradley

    12/08/2025

    Excellence, Authenticity, and Family Balance with Rashida Bradley

    Join us for a deeply honest and inspiring conversation with Rashida Bradley, an accomplished Operational Strategist, as she shares her journey in navigating career pivots and family balance. Rashida opens up about the many challenges she faced—from balancing graduate school and a surprise pregnancy to managing the impact of grief and joy on the same day. Rashida highlights the importance of community support and advocates passionately for vulnerability in leadership as a pathway to building deeper trust and connection. We discuss the importance of striving for excellence over the pursuit of perfection, and the freedom found in embracing authenticity in all professional spaces. This episode is packed with essential advice on prioritizing mental health, practicing self-care, and continuously fostering personal growth in life and career. 🔑 Key Takeaways for Leadership & Personal Growth Surround yourself with a strong network.Honest vulnerability is the key to genuine connection and building a high-trust team.Pursue excellence, not perfection.Authenticity in professional settings is a form of leadership.Prioritize mental health and self-care practices for sustained personal growth and high performance.View your career as a journey of continuous evolution. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Rashida Bradley 01:45 Career Pivots, Applying for Graduate School and Personal Growth 04:03 Balancing Family and Education 07:07 Choosing A Career AND A Family 07:37 Navigating Grief and Joy on the Same Day 11:17 Being Vulnerable and Building Community 14:33 The Importance of Helpability and Support 18:03 Mental and Physical Health Management 19:23 Pursuing Excellence Over Perfection 21:44 Navigating How to Show up Authenticity When You Feel Left Out 27:20 Charting Your Own Course in Career and Life Guest Rashida is a seasoned healthcare leader and operational strategist with over 15 years of experience driving financial and operational transformations for Fortune 50 companies like CVS Health. As a Lead Director supporting Health Services, she oversees financial strategy and operational execution across pharmacy benefit management. Drawing on her background in investment banking (Lehman Brothers, Citi, J.P. Morgan), Rashida brings deep expertise in financial strategy and enterprise change management to complex, regulated healthcare environments. She is an alum of Babson College and a dual Master's recipient from Cornell University (MBA & MS in Healthcare Policy). LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashidabradley 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 Resources mentioned Drive by Daniel Pink: https://www.danpink.com/books/drive/ Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow Kelly Instagram – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer Sign up for updates

    30 min
  8. Finding What’s Next: How Values and Vulnerability Drive Career Pivots with Jake Gunn-Sandell

    11/24/2025

    Finding What’s Next: How Values and Vulnerability Drive Career Pivots with Jake Gunn-Sandell

    Episode 7 Jake Gunn-Sandell On this episode, I speak with Jake Gunn-Sandell, Director of Strategic Affairs at Instructure (the company behind Canvas), about his incredible journey. We discussed his bold career pivots, particularly his high-stakes transition into executive search, where he developed the innovative 'Polymath Practice'—a powerful framework for C-Suite recruiting. I learned so much about how Jake leveraged vulnerability and strategic networking to make the leap from placing top talent to a pivotal leadership role in Education Technology (EdTech). I think this conversation offers a powerful blueprint for successful job searching and personal growth, emphasizing the need to ask critical questions, identify one's values, and remain adaptable throughout major career changes. 💡 Actionable Takeaways I Learned from JakeEmbrace Vulnerability for Professional Growth: Ask probing questions, and let intellectual curiosity guide learning. This builds trust and accelerates skill acquisition.The Polymath Practice: Jake's strategy to compartmentalize new, complex roles into simple, core subjects (e.g., Psychology, Tech, Finance) to make major career pivots manageable.Strategic Networking is Essential for Job Searching: Focus networking efforts on leaders and companies you admire. Finding the right organizational culture is as important as the role itself.Establish Credibility, Sell the Dream, and Slow Down: These three steps are what Jake found critical for building influence and trust in any leadership position or high-stakes environment like executive search.Identify Your Values and Goals: Jake defined his next move by writing down what he wanted (lead more, travel more, give back). A clear personal vision for guiding career pivots is essential.Creative Thinking Unlocks Opportunity: Challenge assumptions about the "perfect" candidate or the "obvious" career move. Leverage transferable skills to pivot into new sectors like EdTech seamlessly. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:30 Career Pivots and Challenges 13:35 Using Vulnerability in Executive Search 20:52 Fundraising Challenges in Nonprofit Work 22:54 Embracing Vulnerability in Leadership 24:34 Navigating Career Transitions SPMB to Instructure 30:03 Identifying Personal Values and the Impact of a Career Coach 32:05 Leveraging Relationships for Career Growth 34:47 Strategic Job Searching 38:34 Understanding Your Identity as a Builder Guest Jake Gunn-Sandell’s career is a masterclass in the power of the career pivot. He currently serves as the Director of Strategic Affairs at Instructure, helping define the future of education through his work in government affairs and strategic partnerships. Before moving into EdTech, Jake excelled in the demanding world of executive search, where he built the Polymath Practice—leveraging transferable skills to place C-suite leaders across every major tech vertical. From the fast-paced environment of recruiting top executives to his early days as a Disney character performer, Jake attributes his success to embracing vulnerability, strategic networking, and a relentless drive for personal growth. He remains committed to his community as a board member for the Arapahoe Rescue Patrol. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/education-the-first-step/ 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 work, Kelly helps leaders uncover what matters most to them, navigate inflection points with intention, and build the kind of impact that grows from the inside out. Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co Resources mentioned Jake on LinkedIn - /in/education-the-first-step/Arapahoe Search and Rescue - https://www.arapahoerescue.org/ Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow Kelly Instagram – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer Sign up for updates

    45 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
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Kelly Dwyer
  • Show Website
    Life from Within