An Interview With Melissa Llarena

When life hands you lemons? Are you the type of person who accepts them and their bitterness or have you mastered how to consistently turn them into sweet lemonade? In this episode, you will uncover how you can reframe anything by asking yourself empowering questions to become a “Lemonade Lifer.” What’s a “Lemonade Lifer”? Someone who is a “daring disruptor” at work and in life. Meet Zack Friedman he coined and explains both terms during this insightful and applicable conversation. Zack is the bestselling author of the blockbuster book, THE LEMONADE LIFE, which Apple named one of last “Fall’s Biggest Audiobooks” and a “Must-Listen.” The Lemonade Life also debuted as the #1 new business book on the Apple Books bestseller list. Zack has inspired millions of people through his powerful insights, including more than 175 million who have read his advice in Forbes. Zack is the founder and CEO of Make Lemonade, a leading personal finance comparison website that empowers you to live your best financial life. Previous

Would you ever publically share your biggest goals? Does the thought of public humiliation for dreaming too big or failure terrify you?  Both are very difficult for me.  This is why I had to interview my youngest guest ever J.P. Pressley. I was researching insights pertaining to my business goals when I stumbled on his website where he neatly laid out his 2020 goals.  That bold act of courage where I need help encouraged me to interview this twenty-one-year old. Come along for the episode when you need to remember your younger self. That person who was unafraid of having wild dreams. The “you” who wanted to do big things. It’s time to wake up that person again in you whether you are in your 30s, 40s, 50s, or beyond.   J.P. can teach us about holding ourselves publically accountable in 2021, how to pick our goals, and whether we need to adjust or press on when facing life’s hurdles. J.P. is striving to do one thing: live up to his fullest potential on Earth. Due to and even in spite of his vast array of life e

In an era of movements there was no better person to bring in this new year than Asha Curran. Asha Curran is the CEO of GivingTuesday, and co-founder of the global generosity movement. In this fascinating discussion, you will uncover how the spirit of generosity continues to be thriving around the world. In 2020, in a single day of giving, $2.47B were donated. In a world where the news media may lead you to believe that we are only surviving, there are several organizations and individuals who have retained and reimagined their spirit of generosity. Asha walks us through some of those local creative ideas, she shares her personal story, and how her team still relishes in the heartwarming stories they witness all year-long, as well as what it’s like to lead a movement. You’ll feel inspired to dream big after hearing this chat and you’ll see just how much good there is in the world.   More on Asha. She was formerly Chief Innovation Officer and director of the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at

2020 has been a wild ride and because of its ups, downs, and enormous degree of uncertainty, as a result Melissa Llarena decided to put out a request for your questions when it comes to the pursuit of your goals, fulfillment of your dreams, and your eventual quest to build your legacy. Why? You matter. Your legacy matters. As far as Melissa’s purpose and ultimate ambition, she is here to see to it that you do not miss this incredible opportunity that we all have here right now to fulfill our purpose and leave a deeply meaningful legacy. So what’s Melissa’s intention behind this solo episode?   Melissa wants you to know that you are not alone in wondering the same things. She wants you to see that other people are also thinking the same thoughts. Most importantly, she wants to be of service to you and to share with you what I’ve learned through years of coaching professionals (some of whom are also workaholics) as well as having interviewed guests who have gotten to a place where they have felt a healthy obses

Whether you think you have or lack the pedigree to be successful is a big topic amongst my career coaching clients. This conversation was such a pleasure because Alicia Jackson-Warren and I had a great dialogue that covered a myriad of ideas around someone’s pedigree in terms of academic credentials and we touched upon messages based on our cultural backgrounds. This is a ripe conversation for anyone who has felt overlooked, unseen, or even marginalized due to having gone to a community college, or not having worked for big name brands, or simply because you may have not felt as “fancy” as some of those working for the world’s most competitive Fortune 500 companies. Alicia and I share how you can market yourself and sell yourself for your resiliency, ability to think creatively, and rise up as the underdog we both love advocating for.   Alicia Jackson-Warren is the Program Director of Career Development and Internships at Prince George's Community College. Ms. Jackson-Warren has been employed at PGCC since 20

Katherine Young is a designer and social media marketing professional who is well-known for her viral Girls’ Life meme where she recreated the cover of its airbrushed model magazine cover with that of a relatable and natural teenager. Her meme has been viral for over four-years now and it’s left an impact on girls worldwide. During our chat, Katherine and I spoke about creativity along with the courage you need to create, the surprising “dark side” of going viral, and about the biggest hindrance in creativity for adults. Such a thoughtful and inspiring conversation from someone who attended college for graphic design and went to work for the Walt Disney Company (despite 27-plus rejection letters) where she learned from the best of the best and began running large social media accounts.    To date, Katherine has been doing design and social media marketing professionally for more than a decade. She has created internationally viral content that has been featured by The Huffington Post, TODAY, Minnesota Public

Ever wanted to make a difference yet you were unsure about how to begin or what it would require? Well, this week’s guest lays out your first step and he talks about how not looking for approval is key to making an impact in any space. Muyambi Muyambi is the Founder of Cycle Connect, a non-profit that began as a lease-to-own bicycle organization that saw how bicycles were used to create access to critical resources, increase income, and improve rural livelihoods. An organization that now also applies the same model to more productive assets to give its clients more opportunities to invest in their futures.   Muyambi is a native of Uganda and holds a dual degree in Civil Engineering (B.S.E.) and Economics (B.A.) from Bucknell University and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Muyambi successfully secured seed funding for Cycle Connect from Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) and presented the organization on stage at CGI in 2008.  He did this during his college years! Makes me think w

Ever wondered why some people volunteer to do hard things for fun? Well, in the world of endurance sports, I have to say that I often think about what would compel someone to challenge themselves both physically and emotionally to the tune of running long distances, going on deep ocean swims, and cycling for good measure. So I had to get to know this week’s incredible guest. Amy Stone is a runner and triathlete in Miami. She writes about running and triathlon at AmySaysSo.com. She is the host of the award-winning Mile after Mile Podcast. She is an avid runner and triathlete herself with 7 Ironman finishes, 8 stand-alone marathons and as many other racing adventures as she can fit into her schedule. In addition to chasing her own endurance dreams, Amy coaches runners and triathletes to reach their own endurance goals. So how did Amy get started? She ended up selecting one of the toughest courses in one of the world’s toughest races for her first race. As they say the rest is “herstory.” Enjoy this conversation

Crishon Jerome is a self-proclaimed “ARTrepreneur,” who takes pride in fusing his creative passions with his desire to become a successful businessman. While earning a B.A. in Government from Georgetown University, Crishon began exploring his gifts as a performing artist. He got his first taste of professional dancing with Cirque du Soleil. By pursuing his professional dance career, Crishon has traveled to places such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Germany and Japan, where, despite cultural differences, he discovered dance to be a universal language.   When Crishon is not traveling for dance or directing his own projects, he spends his time enjoying fatherhood with his 7-year old daughter, Ella and expanding his company, CRōME, which focuses on creating immersive experiences in Fashion, Entertainment, Events, and most recently Virtual Reality. According to Crishon, CRōME speaks to those who believe in "achieving excellence.” He wants the brand to be a platform to educate and inspire

It’s not every day I get to ask a decision engineer a question. This week, Michelle Florendo joins me on the podcast. She is an executive coach who helps people untangle messy decisions in life and work. You are going to enjoy this conversation if you’ve ever found yourself in a position in making a messy decision. Michelle shares her step-by-step process for making decisions and also helps us untangle the difference between good vs. bad decisions and the desired outcomes.    After studying decision engineering at Stanford University, she spent the past 15 years helping hundreds of professionals use the principles of decision engineering to make decisions with less stress and more clarity. She has led workshops on decision making for both domestic and international audiences, guest-taught on decision making in Stanford's famous Designing Your Life course, been a repeat workshop lead at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business' Women in Leadership Conference, and currently hosts the podcast Ask A Decision Enginee

Gabriele Corcos is the Creator, host, and producer of Extra Virgin on Cooking Channel/Food Network, an NYT Bestselling author, as well as a James Beard Award Recipient, and Food Futurist.   He joins me on the podcast this week for a rich conversation about his decision to change course and move back to his hometown in the Tuscan countryside with his family. During our time together we explored the notion of how changing course does help you confront new challenges and learn more about yourself. This option is always available, it is never too late. Gabriele’s interest in technology and utilizing it to live off the land is fascinating. He helps us reimagine ways to incorporate technology into what feels like a traditional endeavor.  We also discussed being practical versus continuing to dream. Join us for this thought-provoking and inspiring conversation.   Here’s more about Gabriele and his career journey: Gabriele has never been a great student. Born to a surgeon and a schoolteacher, he was raised with high

Leesa McGregor is a passionate mother, speaker, and author dedicated to inspiring positive change and creating a bright future for humanity. Leesa has a Bachelor's Degree in International Business and over 20 years of experience starting as well as growing purpose-driven companies. Her mission is to change the status quo in business and education, to empower the next generation of children, and to create a more loving, sustainable, regenerative world.    Leesa has published two children’s books, A New Alphabet for Humanity and Around the World Adventures with Max, both of which have received global attention and acclaim. Leesa is very passionate about social impact and giving back. Through her business Alphabet for Humanity, Leesa is planting trees for every book sold and next month Leesa is going to start planting orchards and will be working on regenerative soil projects.   You’ll particularly enjoy this episode if you are a parent (or teacher) whose ambition is to teach kids something meaningful and life-

Cepee Tabibian is the Founder of She Hit Refresh, a global community for women aged 30-plus who want to break free from routine and start a life of travel—specifically moving abroad or quitting their job to travel long-term. Tune in as Cepee shares stories of how she has immersed herself in new cultures, used those opportunities to try on new identities even at the age of 37, and take notes about all of the resources that are available for women who want to fulfill their wishes of exploring an unconventional life filled with travel today. And if you are thinking of Europe as your top destination then Cepee has the book you’ll want to grab immediately.  Here’s some further background on Cepee. She is a citizen of the world, she is half Colombian and half Iranian, and proudly considers herself a native Texan. She loves jumping feet first into the unknown and encouraging others to make their own leap in life.  Through her Facebook group, podcast, annual retreats, online course called #MAKEITHAPPEN, and the

Matt Nuccio is the President of Design Edge, Inc., a toy and game development company, and a licensing agency whose clients include Mattel, Hasbro, Spin Master, and Fisher-Price to name only a few.  This week he joins me to discuss the evolution of his career within the toy industry.  Our conversation includes a discussion about how to be authentic within your chosen industry and harness the value you bring to the table. For Matt, he is both a business owner and an idea guy.  He brings amazing toy ideas to life and commercializes them on behalf of huge organizations. So, as you listen, think about how you might want to get credit for your knowledge. We also talked about this notion of competing with the big guys versus staying true to yourself and embracing your identity. And finally, Matt talked about how every idea should be a solution to a problem that someone is looking to be fixed.   For 4 years, Matt co-chaired the Toy Association (TA), on their associate panel, representing all designers and inventors

Marie Arlen, a holistic coach, joins me on the podcast this week. Before she was drinking her daily green juice and attending self-development workshops, she was an overachiever working in an Ivy League School helping applicants achieve their own dream.  Riddled with chronic stress and exhaustion from living a life on the go, she found her health rapidly declining.    During our conversation, she shares her courageous health journey and provides tangible steps to help you evaluate what you can do to be better in general and healthier specifically.  Despite not being a doctor nor a dietician, Marie decided to go from a state of helplessness to one of someone who can thrive and regain control of her health.   Ten years leading up to leaving Columbia University, she was living with exhaustion, mood changes, skin issues, massive brain fog, and migraines.  After years of being shuffled from doctor to doctor and thousands of dollars spent, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s.   Wi

Feggo is the pen-name of Felipe Galindo Gómez.  Felipe creates humorous art in a variety of media, including cartoons, illustrations, animations, fine art & public art. Born in Cuernavaca, Mexico resides in New York City. His drawings have appeared in The New Yorker. Feggo has presented numerous individual exhibitions and has received cartooning awards around the world. Some of his works have been displayed at The Library of Congress, Washington DC.  He joined me this week to talk about his career, how he has learned to handle criticism, and how to take initiative. There were several points from our conversation worth reflecting upon – like this notion of wholeness and how you identify yourself (where you live, where you came from, and being proud of both parts) is so important. We also discussed how Feggo uses his talent to help us think of ways we can solve the challenges in today’s world.  This conversation transcends fields; because in any field you need to knock on doors, promote your work, explor

Meet Tana Douglas. Throughout the music industry, Tana has been acknowledged as Rock’N’Roll’s first female roadie. Her journey started in 1973 in Australia and within a year she was working for AC/DC. She then moved to lighting, working for a Major Australian Promoter and completed in quick succession several tours with International acts such as Santana, Suzi Quatro, Neil Diamond, David Essex, and Leo Sayer, and Status Quo all before she turned 18. In this episode, Tana joins me for a discussion about her career, the evolution of the music industry, and some of the lessons she’s learned along the way. During our conversation, Tana emphasizes the notion of taking ownership of your own learning. We discussed taking control of your own destiny and doing things before you feel ready. As that is how you will grow rapidly – in your career or in your life. Tana has so much life experience and many stories to share. I hope you enjoy our conversation. Here’s some more background information about Tana: After get

Natasha Sutton is a mum, the founder of Bundles of Luxe, and a breast cancer survivor. She grew up in a loving family and has spent most of her life on the Gold Coast of Australia. In her early years, she would sing and serve as the designated driver or “roadie” for her dad’s band.   As my guest this week on the podcast, Natasha opens up about her 5-year cancer journey, her new perspective, gratitude, and her desire to write a new, cancer-free life chapter. We also discuss how her business, Bundles of Luxe, was born out of the need for joy during the COVID-19 pandemic. We end our conversation with specific ways to work through a similar diagnosis or how to be a better caretaker to someone who has cancer.   Prior to embarking on her entrepreneurial journey, Natasha worked for Apple Retail for eight years in visual merchandising and information technology, and before that she worked for a university. Natasha is married to an American named Scott and has two daughters Elizabeth and Caitlin. Natasha’s ambiti

What is possible in your career? Are you ready to kick some ash? If so, then this week’s guest, Chad Romzek, will be an inspiration to you! Chad Romzek is the Creator and Owner of Kick Ash Basket® and a creative, energetic, and passionate entrepreneur specializing in solving problems with simple solutions. The underlying theme of our conversation was, start small, and start smart. Ask yourself, as you listen, how can you take small, yet smart steps to move your career forward? We also explored the topic of analysis paralysis. Rather than hold yourself, hostage, why not take a leap of faith like Chad and his wife, Tracy, did when they started Kick Ash Basket®. Chad and his wife Tracy started the Kick Ash Basket® business from their garage in Neenah, Wisconsin back in 2014 and are now supplying grill accessories all over the United States and all over the Kick Ash Planet! In 2017, Chad walked away from his Corporate America six-figure income because it just didn’t make sense to keep going back to the cubicle. N

Meet Jane Egerton-Idehen, a Nigerian-Based STEM Advocate and IT Executive. Jane and I met by way of Bozoma Saint John’s virtual Badass Workshop. This week, Jane and I have a conversation about the advancement of women and gender equality in the workplace, both in the U.S. and Nigeria. Jane also brings to light how someone who was expected to survive herself being raised in a slum in Lagos she defiantly decided to thrive instead. Finally, we discuss why the single best thing anyone can do for their career is having a brand (a voice, your voice) not tied to that of your employer.  Jane Egerton-Idehen is a telecommunication executive with over 17 years’ experience in the Nigerian, Liberian and Ghanaian telecommunications markets. She holds an Engineering degree from the University of Nigeria and an MBA from Warwick Business school, UK. and executive education from Harvard Business School and Yale’s School of Management. She worked as part of the Ericsson Ghana and Liberia executive leadership team. Where she