Thriving in Intersectionality

Hosted by Dr. Lola Adeyemo

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Aug 2026

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Thriving in Intersectionality is a leadership podcast exploring how identity, lived experience, and culture shape the way we lead, work, and build impact. Hosted by Dr. Lola Adeyemo — leadership strategist, researcher, and founder of EQImindset and Immigrants in Corporate — the show features thoughtful conversations with executives, founders, scholars, and changemakers navigating leadership at the intersections of identity and influence. Through interviews and solo reflections, each episode examines how leaders make decisions, build belonging, navigate complexity, and grow their careers while shaping more human, inclusive workplaces. Listeners gain practical insight, real-world leadership stories, and research-informed perspectives on culture, power, and professional growth. If you care about leading with intention, building cultures where people thrive, and understanding how lived experience informs leadership — this podcast is for you.

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September 5, 202640 min

EP 142: The Value of a Nonlinear Career with Kim Peirano

What if the parts of your career that look disconnected on paper are actually the experiences that make you uniquely equipped for the work you're doing now? Kim Peirano's career has been anything but linear. She studied television production, business and art. She became an acupuncturist, built businesses, founded a nonprofit, worked in nightlife and eventually returned to school to study industrial and organizational psychology. Along the way, she was also diagnosed with ADHD later in life, began living with Long COVID, and spent eight years in a high-control spiritual group—an experience that ultimately contributed to her interest in understanding destructive leadership and the organizational conditions that allow harmful leaders to thrive. In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo and Kim explore what happens when we stop viewing a nonlinear career as evidence that someone couldn't stick with one thing—and start recognizing the perspective, skills and pattern recognition that can come from moving across different worlds. Their conversation also moves beyond Kim's personal journey into her work as an organizational psychologist: why destructive leadership is often a systems problem, how organizational conditions can enable harmful behavior, and why workplaces designed to support neurodivergence and invisible illness can ultimately work better for everyone. In this episode, you'll learn: How receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life changed the way Kim understood her career and experiences Why a nonlinear career can create valuable perspective rather than signal a lack of direction How seemingly unrelated experiences can build on one another over time Why knowing when to leave a career, role or environment can be as important as knowing when to stay How Kim's experience in a high-control spiritual group influenced her study of destructive leadership Why destructive leadership isn't always simply a “bad leader” problem How organizational structures, unclear boundaries and lack of accountability can allow harmful leadership behaviors to thrive Why some destructive leadership behavior may reflect undeveloped leadership skills rather than malicious intent What it means to move beyond workplace accommodations toward genuine inclusion How ADHD, Long COVID and invisible disability have shaped Kim's approach to organizational design Why organizations may be excluding neurodivergent talent before candidates ever enter the hiring process One idea to carry with you A career doesn't have to make sense in a straight line to make sense. We often assign greater credibility to people whose careers follow an easily recognizable path: choose a field, build expertise, move upward. Kim's story challenges that assumption. Art, entrepreneurship, healthcare, nonprofit leadership, personal experiences with coercive environments, neurodivergence and organizational psychology may look like separate chapters. But each added another lens through which she learned to see people, organizations and systems. Sometimes the value of a career becomes clearer when you stop asking whether every step followed the plan—and start asking what each step taught you. About Kim Peirano Kim Peirano is an organizational psychologist, consultant, entrepreneur and founder of Integrity Catalyst. She specializes in organizational culture diagnostics, leadership development, destructive and coercive leadership, and workplace inclusion for neurodivergent employees and people living with invisible illness. Kim holds a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Hartford. Her graduate work explored destructive leadership and the organizational conditions that allow harmful leadership behaviors to thrive. She also serves as an alumni research assistant with the university's SHINE Lab, where her research includes neurodivergence and workplace inclusion. Through Integrity Catalyst, Kim works with organizations on culture diagnostics, ethical leadership development, team effectiveness and building workplaces that better support the range of humans within them. Connect with Kim Integrity Catalyst: integritycatalyst.com LinkedIn: Kim Peirano Instagram: @kimpeirano TikTok: @kimpeirano Substack: Kim Peirano And because every story ends with food... If Kim were sharing a meal with coworkers, she'd take them to one of her favorite San Francisco restaurants for sweet potato gnocchi —the kind of dish she says is so good you have to slow down to eat it. A question to reflect on What part of your career once looked like a detour—but you now recognize as part of what prepared you for where you are today? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout . I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

August 30, 202644 min

EP 141: The Strengths We Bring — First-Generation Leadership with Joaquin Martinez

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Joaquin Martinez, global energy leader, entrepreneur, author of The Super Generation , and founder of Mariposa Energy Consulting. Joaquin grew up in a low-income single-parent household in Southern Arizona and became the first person in his family to attend college. As a young engineering student, he entered professional spaces without the networks, examples, or unwritten guidance that many others around him may have had. But over a career spanning more than three decades and leadership roles across North America, South America, Africa, and Asia, Joaquin began recognizing something important: many of the experiences he once saw as disadvantages had already taught him how to lead. Supporting family had taught him how to develop and care for people. Learning to create with limited resources had taught him innovation. Navigating unfamiliar environments had built resilience. And being different had taught him how to enter new spaces while carrying his identity with him. In this conversation, Joaquin and Dr. Lola explore: Growing up in a single-parent household and becoming the first in his family to attend college How his Hispanic and Native American identities shaped his perspective Choosing engineering as a pathway to breaking a cycle of poverty Building a 30+ year career in the global energy industry Why the skills developed through first-generation experiences can become leadership strengths Joaquin's SUPER framework: Supportive, Unique, Passionate, Enterprising, and Resilient Why leadership development shouldn't begin only after someone receives a leadership title The role humility and listening have played in Joaquin's global leadership Why relationships may be one of the most important long-term investments a professional can make The idea of building a career through "1,000 cups of coffee" Why Joaquin wrote The Super Generation to help fill the development gap first-generation professionals can encounter after entering the workforce One of the most powerful ideas in this conversation is that being first doesn't mean arriving empty-handed. First-generation professionals may enter spaces without inherited knowledge of how those spaces work. But they also arrive carrying experiences, capabilities, cultural knowledge, resilience, and ways of solving problems that have been developing long before their first professional title. Joaquin's journey invites us to stop looking only at what first-generation professionals may not have been given—and start recognizing what they already bring. About Joaquin Martinez Joaquin Martinez is an author, global energy leader, entrepreneur, and founder and president of Mariposa Energy Consulting. His career spans more than 30 years across engineering, operations, operational excellence, asset management, and international executive leadership. After retiring from corporate leadership in 2020, Joaquin launched Mariposa Energy Consulting, where he helps organizations solve complex operational and leadership challenges. His book, The Super Generation , translates lessons from his own first-generation journey and decades of mentoring into practical guidance for professionals navigating spaces they may be the first in their families to enter. He is also working with academic institutions to develop curricula based on the guidance in The Super Generation . Connect with Joaqui n Connect with Joaquin Martinez on LinkedIn Instagram: @jmartinez77005 Look for The Super Generation wherever you purchase books. A Question to Reflect On What experience from your own background have you underestimated because no one taught you to recognize it as a professional strength? And, of course, stay through the end to hear what Joaquin would bring to share with his coworkers: chile colorado , a dish that connects him to Southern Arizona, culture, home, and the kind of humble hospitality he brings to leadership. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout . I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

August 23, 202646 min

EP 140: Belonging, Well-Being & the Systems That Help People Thrive with Dr. Melissa Durham

What does it take to create environments where people can actually thrive? For Dr. Melissa Durham , the answer has been shaped across many different parts of her life—as a woman, single mother, healthcare professional, educator, clinician, and organizational leader. In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Dr. Durham, Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Associate Dean of Organizational Success and Well-being at the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, to explore how those experiences have shaped the way she thinks about leadership, belonging, well-being, and organizational success. Melissa shares the unconventional journey that took her from choosing pharmacy as a young woman seeking stability, to academia and chronic pain care, to experiencing a significant period of professional burnout that forced her to reconsider her relationship with work and leadership. That experience became part of what shaped the work she does today. Across her roles—as a mother, clinician, educator, and organizational leader—Melissa keeps returning to a common idea: people are more likely to succeed when the environments and systems around them are intentionally designed to support their success. In this episode, you'll learn: How Melissa's experiences as a woman, single mother, healthcare professional, educator, and leader have shaped her approach to leadership The burnout experience that changed the trajectory of her career Why belonging and well-being are connected to organizational success How Melissa's clinical experience influences the way she approaches organizational leadership Why sustainable change requires moving beyond programs and events to systems and structures The importance of listening to people rather than assuming what they need Why accountability and compassion don't have to be opposites How values, data, strategy, and stakeholder input can guide organizations through change Why developing new leaders is essential to building communities and initiatives that last Melissa's refreshingly simple advice for navigating an uncertain future: do something useful One of the biggest reminders from this conversation: Belonging and well-being aren't separate from organizational success. They're part of the conditions that make success possible. Whether you're leading a healthcare team, university, corporation, employee community, nonprofit, or simply thinking about the environments you create for the people around you, this conversation invites us to consider a bigger question: Are we asking people to thrive—or are we intentionally building the conditions that allow them to? About Dr. Melissa Durham Dr. Melissa Durham, PharmD, MACM, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Associate Dean of Organizational Success and Well-being at the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She also practices as a clinical pharmacist at the USC Pain Center, bringing nearly two decades of experience across pharmacy education, chronic pain management, clinical practice, organizational leadership, and well-being. Her work bridges clinical rigor and human-centered leadership, with a focus on creating systems where people can learn, contribute, belong, and succeed. Connect with Dr. Melissa Durham 🌐 The Pain Pharmacist 💼 LinkedIn Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout . I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

August 16, 202640 min

EP 139: From Best-Kept Secret to Trusted Voice with Kelly Schuknecht

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Kelly Schuknecht —marketing strategist, author, podcast host, and founder of Two Mile High Marketing—for a conversation about what it really takes to become a trusted voice without losing yourself in the process. Kelly shares how years of working behind the scenes in marketing eventually led her to build a business helping entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders move from being the industry's "best-kept secret" to becoming recognized authorities. Along the way, she reflects on the career transition that changed everything, overcoming imposter syndrome, and why authentic visibility is less about self-promotion and more about serving others. Together, they explore how our experiences shape our confidence, why many experts remain invisible despite years of experience, and how personal branding becomes most powerful when it reflects who you truly are. In this episode, you'll learn: Kelly's journey from corporate marketing to entrepreneurship Why expertise alone isn't enough to build influence The difference between personal branding and authentic leadership How to build visibility without feeling like you're bragging The role of imposter syndrome in keeping talented professionals hidden Kelly's three pillars of thought leadership: Visibility Credibility Consistency Why your lived experiences are part of your professional authority How AI is making authentic human connection even more valuable Practical ways to begin sharing your expertise with confidence One of the biggest reminders from this conversation: The expertise you've spent years developing may be exactly what someone else needs—you simply have to let them see it. Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, speaker, author, or professional ready to elevate your voice, this episode will encourage you to stop waiting for permission and start sharing your authority with confidence. About Kelly Schuknecht Kelly Schuknecht is a marketing strategist, thought leadership expert, founder of Two Mile High Marketing , author of Unlocking Your Authority X-Factor , and host of the podcasts Beyond the Bestseller and The Authority X-Factor . Through her proven framework of Visibility, Credibility, and Consistency , she helps professionals transform years of expertise into recognized authority and sustainable influence. Connect with Kelly 🌐 Website: https://www.kellyschuknecht.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyschuknecht/ 🎙️ Podcasts: Beyond the Bestseller & The Authority X-Factor 📖 Book: Unlocking Your Authority X-Factor Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout . I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

August 8, 202644 min

EP 138: When Caring Isn't Enough — Rethinking Burnout, Leadership & Workplace Culture with Ashley Gibson

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Ashley Gibson —founder of Meaning in Practice, psychotherapist, and former marketing executive—for a conversation that challenges many of the assumptions leaders make about resilience, workplace culture, and employee well-being. Before becoming a therapist, Ashley spent more than a decade leading marketing for mission-driven organizations, including serving on the original marketing team behind Hamilton . Today, she combines her executive leadership experience with clinical expertise to help organizations understand why their most committed employees are often the first to burn out. Throughout the conversation, Ashley reflects on the experiences that shaped her work—from navigating neurodivergence and single parenthood to working in high-performing, mission-driven environments where caring deeply often came at a personal cost. Her own journey became the foundation for a different way of thinking about leadership, organizational culture, and burnout. Together, they explore: Ashley's journey from Broadway marketing to psychotherapy and organizational consulting How identity, neurodivergence, single parenthood, and purpose have shaped her leadership philosophy Why burnout is often an organizational design issue—not simply an individual resilience problem How workplace culture teaches employees how to treat themselves The gap between organizational intentions and employees' lived experiences What leaders miss when they assume employees "just don't care" Why sustainable leadership begins with healthy boundaries—not endless sacrifice Rather than asking people to become more resilient, Ashley invites leaders to ask a different question: What if the system—not the people—is what needs to change? Whether you're a leader, HR professional, ERG leader, or someone trying to build a meaningful career without losing yourself along the way, this conversation is an invitation to rethink how our own experiences shape the way we lead—and how healthier workplaces begin by designing systems that allow people to thrive, not just endure. Guest Ashley Gibson, M.Ed., MFA, NCC, LRC is the founder of Meaning in Practice , a psychotherapist, organizational advisor, and speaker specializing in structural burnout, organizational culture, and workforce sustainability. Drawing on over 13 years of executive leadership experience and her clinical work in trauma therapy, Ashley helps organizations identify the hidden patterns that drive burnout, turnover, and workplace exhaustion before they become organizational crises. Connect with Ashley 🌐 Meaning in Practice https://www.meaninginpractice.com 📝 Substack: Meaning in Practice *** Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout . I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

August 2, 202644 min

EP 137: Humanity First — AI, Leadership & the Future of Work with Stephanie Sylvestre

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with technologist, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and Avatar Buddy co-founder Stephanie Sylvestre for a conversation that goes far beyond artificial intelligence. Growing up in Belize, Stephanie imagined one day returning home to help build her country's future. But when an unexpected political shift changed those plans, she found herself on a different path—one that led from corporate technology leadership to entrepreneurship, community impact, and ultimately building AI solutions designed to empower people rather than replace them. Along the way, her experiences across cultures, industries, and communities shaped a leadership philosophy rooted in one belief: technology should always serve humanity. Together, Dr. Lola and Stephanie explore how our identities, lived experiences, and values influence the way we approach innovation, leadership, and the future of work. They discuss why the most valuable skills in the age of AI are still deeply human, how organizations can embrace emerging technologies responsibly, and why curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking will remain essential as workplaces continue to evolve. This conversation isn't simply about AI. It's about the people who build it, the values that guide it, and the humanity that must remain at its center. In This Episode, We Discuss Stephanie's journey from Belize to technology leadership How identity and lived experience shape innovation The role of AI in transforming—not replacing—the workplace Why human skills matter more than ever in the age of AI Responsible AI and the importance of human oversight Resourcefulness, creativity, and critical thinking as future-ready skills Building technology that amplifies people instead of replacing them How AI can expand access, opportunity, and social impact Leading organizations through technological change Practical advice for professionals preparing for the future of work About the Guest Stephanie Sylvestre is a technologist, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and Co-Founder of Avatar Buddy , an AI company helping organizations eliminate bottlenecks—not people—through human-centered artificial intelligence. With more than three decades of leadership experience spanning technology, operations, nonprofit leadership, and innovation, Stephanie has held executive roles with organizations including The Children's Trust , Burger King , Subway , Hewlett-Packard , and Avatar Buddy . Today, she helps leaders and organizations embrace AI responsibly while ensuring people remain at the center of innovation. Learn more about Stephanie and her work: 🌐 https://avatarbuddy.ai Reflection Question As technology continues to evolve, what uniquely human quality do you believe will always remain essential to great leadership? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout . I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

July 27, 202636 min

EP 136: Rewriting Your Story — From Approval to Self-Loyalty with Lauretta Zucchetti

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with speaker, author, former Apple and Xerox sales executive, and transformational coach Lauretta Zucchetti for a deeply personal conversation about identity, self-worth, resilience, and the courage to rewrite the stories we've inherited about ourselves. Growing up in Italy, Lauretta learned early how family dynamics, cultural expectations, and childhood experiences quietly shape the way we see ourselves. As an immigrant who later built an extraordinary corporate career in the United States—including becoming one of Xerox's top sales representatives and working with Apple Computer International—she discovered that external success does not always heal internal wounds. Together, Dr. Lola and Lauretta explore how early conditioning influences our confidence, relationships, leadership, and career choices. They discuss the hidden pursuit of approval, rebuilding after profound personal loss, and the lifelong journey of choosing authenticity over expectation. This conversation isn't simply about reinvention. It's about finding the courage to stop living someone else's story and becoming the author of your own. In This Episode, We Discuss Growing up in Italy and navigating traditional gender expectations Building a successful career as an immigrant in the United States Rising through Xerox and Apple Computer International How childhood conditioning shapes adult decisions The difference between seeking approval and practicing self-loyalty Rebuilding after adversity and personal loss Confidence, authenticity, and leading from alignment Why success without self-worth can still feel empty Breaking inherited patterns and limiting beliefs Choosing a future that reflects who you truly are About the Guest Lauretta Zucchetti is an international speaker, author, transformational coach, and former sales leader with Xerox and Apple Computer International . Drawing on her background in international business, transpersonal psychology, and lived experience, she helps women break free from limiting beliefs, reclaim their self-worth, and create lives aligned with who they truly are. After rebuilding her life through extraordinary personal and professional challenges, Lauretta now speaks and coaches globally on authenticity, resilience, self-loyalty, and personal transformation. Her work encourages women to stop earning their right to belong and instead embrace the life they are meant to live. Learn more about Lauretta and her work: 🌐 https://laurettazucchetti.com Connect with Lauretta on LinkedIn Reflection Question Where in your life are you still seeking approval when what you really need is self-loyalty? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout . I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

July 19, 202646 min

EP 135: Coming Home to Yourself — Identity, Rest & Reclaiming Your Voice with Delia Saenz Skinner

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with educator, researcher, and founder of Working with Delia , Delia Saenz Skinner , for a deeply personal conversation about identity, belonging, education, and what it means to come home to yourself after years of learning to survive. The conversation begins where every episode of Thriving in Intersectionality begins—with identity. Delia reflects on the intersecting experiences that have shaped her life as a woman, daughter, teen mother, formerly undocumented immigrant, educator, and community leader. She shares how those identities influenced not only the opportunities available to her, but also how she learned to see herself and navigate systems that often required her to hide parts of who she was. From arriving in the United States without speaking English to spending nine years completing community college while raising her daughter, Delia's story is one of persistence, purpose, and profound transformation. Today, through her consulting practice Working with Delia , she helps educators, leaders, and mission-driven organizations reconnect with themselves through rest-centered leadership, embodied practices, and sustainable ways of serving others. This conversation isn't simply about overcoming adversity. It's about remembering who you were before the world told you who you needed to become. In This Episode, We Discuss Growing up between cultures and identities Navigating education as a formerly undocumented student Becoming a mother while pursuing higher education The hidden cost of constantly proving yourself Why belonging sometimes requires unlearning Rest-centered leadership and sustainable impact Working with educators, youth, and mission-driven organizations The difference between surviving systems and reclaiming yourself Why rest is not quitting—it is regeneration Creating workplaces and communities where people can thrive About the Guest Delia Saenz Skinner is an educator, researcher, program strategist, and founder of Working with Delia , a rest-centered facilitation and consulting practice supporting educators, innovators, and community-based leaders engaged in high-impact, mission-driven work. Drawing from more than a decade of experience across K–12 education, higher education, community organizations, research, and leadership, Delia designs restorative professional learning experiences that help individuals and organizations reconnect with their wisdom, sustainability, and purpose. She currently serves as a Program Manager, Teacher, and Community Education Manager at UC San Diego Extended Studies while continuing to build Working with Delia. Learn more: 🌐 www.workingwithdelia.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deliasanezskinner/ Reflection Question What part of yourself have you had to hide in order to belong—and what would it look like to reclaim it? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout . I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

July 13, 202643 min

EP 134: Beyond What We See — Identity, Psychological Safety & the Power of Being Heard

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with integrative physician, leadership advisor, and founder of The Mind Re-Mapping Company, Dr. Maiysha Clairborne , for a thoughtful conversation about identity, psychological safety, trauma-informed communication, and what it means to truly create environments where people feel seen, heard, respected, and valued. The conversation begins with an important reminder: Intersectionality includes many identities we don't immediately see. From neurodiversity and trauma experiences to generation, parenthood, education, and professional journeys, our lived experiences shape the way we communicate, lead, and move through the world. Drawing from more than two decades of experience in medicine, coaching, neuroscience, and leadership development, Dr. Maiysha shares how understanding the brain, behavior, and our communication filters can help individuals and organizations build trust, repair relationships, and create psychologically safe workplaces. Together, Dr. Lola and Dr. Maiysha explore how our stories shape us, why emotional intelligence is an essential leadership skill, and how community and vulnerability can become powerful tools for personal and organizational transformation. This conversation isn't only about communication. It's about understanding the invisible experiences people bring into every room—and what becomes possible when people feel safe enough to be fully human. In This Episode, We Discuss: The visible and invisible layers of intersectionality Neurodiversity, trauma, and identity How our lived experiences shape communication and leadership Why psychological safety matters for individuals and organizations The connection between emotional intelligence and trust Understanding communication through the lens of the brain Why emotions are data—not distractions The importance of vulnerability and modeling humanity as a leader Building communities of belonging in the workplace How to lean into your differences as superpowers About the Guest Dr. Maiysha Clairborne, MD , is an Integrative Physician, Consultant, Coach, Trainer, and Founder of The Mind Re-Mapping Company . Specializing in psychological safety and trauma-informed communication, she helps organizations create environments where employees feel seen, heard, respected, and valued. Drawing on expertise in medicine, neuroscience, coaching, and communication, Dr. Maiysha helps leaders and teams understand how stress, trauma, and unconscious patterns influence relationships, trust, and workplace culture. She is the creator of the R.E.M.A.P.™ Framework , author of The Wellness Blueprint , co-author of Conscious Anti-Racism , TEDx speaker, and host of the Behind Beliefs, Behaviors & The Brain Podcast . Learn more about her work: 🌐 https://mindremappingacademy.com Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmaiysha/ Reflection Question What invisible parts of your identity have most shaped the way you communicate, lead, and connect with others? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout . I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

July 6, 202653 min

EP 133: Leading from Within — How Identity Shapes Leadership and Organizational Culture

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with leadership consultants, podcast hosts, and co-founders of ASQ Empowerment, Dr. Jessie Ferreira and Omar Ferreira , for a thoughtful conversation about identity, leadership, organizational culture, and the experiences that shape the way we lead. The conversation begins where every episode of Thriving in Intersectionality begins—with intersectionality itself. Rather than viewing identity through a single lens, Jessie and Omar reflect on the many visible and invisible experiences that have influenced their leadership journeys. From immigration and cultural identity to childhood experiences, family, service, education, and personal transformation, they explore how leadership is formed long before someone receives a title. Together, they discuss why sustainable leadership begins with self-awareness, how our internal patterns shape the cultures we create, and why understanding ourselves may be the most important leadership work we ever do. This conversation is about more than organizational culture. It's about becoming the kind of leader who can build cultures where people—and organizations—can truly thrive. In This Episode, We Discuss: What intersectionality reveals about leadership and identity How childhood experiences shape the leaders we become Immigration, culture, and the power of lived experience Why leadership begins long before a leadership title The connection between personal growth and organizational culture Moving from reactive leadership to intentional leadership Building trust, relationships, and psychologically healthy workplaces Why self-awareness is foundational to effective leadership The power of pausing before reacting Viewing leadership as an ongoing process of growth rather than a destination About the Guests Dr. Jessie Ferreira and Omar Ferreira are the co-founders of ASQ Empowerment and creators of the Fractal Coherence Methodology , a leadership framework grounded in one central belief: Leadership that begins within is the only kind that lasts. Drawing on decades of experience across higher education, nonprofit leadership, organizational development, and systems thinking, they help leaders and organizations strengthen culture by first understanding the internal patterns that shape how people lead. Learn more about their work and leadership resources: https://asqempowerment.com Reflection Question How have your own life experiences shaped the way you lead—and what part of your story are you still learning to understand? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo. This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives. 💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout . I'd love to hear what resonated with you. ❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences. ⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations. 📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack 🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at: www.immigrantsincorporate.org Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.