Leading Visionaries Podcast

What if changing the way you see yourself could change the way you move through one of the hardest seasons of your life? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Amanda Goodwin, founder of Cancer Sharks, a storytelling and advocacy platform inspired by her experience with stage four melanoma. A longtime communications and leadership professional, Amanda has led nonprofit initiatives, fundraising campaigns, childcare organizations, and a technology startup.

Amanda shares how Cancer Sharks is evolving through storytelling events, merchandise, publishing, and speaking, while staying rooted in its larger purpose: creating connection...

How can you stand out in a world where everyone sounds the same? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Judy J. Winslow, the Brandologist, pioneering brand strategist, two-time international best-selling author, and founder of TEDx Sarasota. With three decades of experience helping visionary CEOs and founders become unforgettable brand leaders, Jay brings a refreshingly holistic perspective to branding, leadership, vision, and human connection.

The conversation then moves into what it really means to build an unforgettable brand. Jay challenges the traditional way we think about branding and explains why a...

What if leadership is about becoming more conscious of how you show up in every moment? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Marcy Axelrod, bestselling and award-winning author of “How We Choose to Show Up”, TV Contributor, 2X TEDx speaker, and visual artist.

Marcy challenges us to stop living on autopilot and consciously choose how we show up. She introduces a deeper way of understanding our role in the world, including how our actions affect ourselves, the people immediately around us, and the broader social networks connected to us.

Th...

What if that persistent idea, inner knowing, or urge to write is actually a calling you are meant to follow? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Wiebke Tasch, founder of Digital Authors LLC.

Wiebke shares her own lifelong calling to write, beginning with short stories at age nine and eventually leading her into publishing and entrepreneurship. She explains how a calling can show up as restlessness, intuition, or an inner knowing, and why ignoring that calling can prevent an important message from reaching the world.

Whether you have...

What do you do when your life, finances, and career all seem to be falling apart at the same time? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Mandi Feely-Swain, EVP at Premier Mortgage Resources, a Top 1% mortgage originator, and author of Origination Boost.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, sales professional, or someone navigating a difficult season, this conversation offers practical wisdom and inspiring reminders that your greatest challenges can become the foundation for your greatest successes.

What You Will Learn

Why leadership begins...

What happens after you've achieved everything the world says should make you happy, only to discover you're still searching for something more? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Kris Land, entrepreneur, technologist, and award-winning author. After building and exiting more than a dozen technology companies, including one that went public, Kris realized external success couldn't answer life's deepest questions.

If you're building a business, leading a team, or searching for deeper meaning beyond achievement, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on success and the human experience.

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What does it take to lead from a place of true center, especially when the world around you feels reactive and overwhelming? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Pennie Wilson, mental fitness trainer and creator of the Kokoro Calm Repatterning Method.

Whether you’re a visionary creating into the "void" or a leader that’s navigating the "messy middle," this episode offers a practical framework for self-leadership, emotional regulation, and building the self-trust necessary to say yes to your biggest calling.

What You Will Lear...

What happens when the career you've worked so hard to build no longer feels like the story you were meant to live? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Federico Malatesta, executive coach and founder of FM Transformational Coaching, and former Chief Investment Officer. After leading a $40 billion energy portfolio, Federico made an unexpected transition into coaching executives through identity shifts, leadership challenges, and life's biggest turning points.

Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or sensing it's time for your next chapter, this conversation offers a thoughtful framework for...

What happens when the darkest chapters of your life become the foundation for your greatest purpose? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Dr. John A. King, an Australian-born Indigenous Warumungu author, survivor advocate, and founder of the Give Them A Voice Foundation. After surviving years of childhood sexual abuse and trafficking, Dr. King transformed unimaginable trauma into a mission to help other survivors reclaim their lives through healing, leadership, and authentic living.

Whether you've overcome personal adversity, lead others through difficult seasons, or simply want to live more intentionally...

What if science could accomplish what politics cannot? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Zafra Lerman, an internationally recognized chemist, educator, and humanitarian. Zafra shares how she has spent decades using science diplomacy to unite scientists across some of the world's most divided regions.

If you've ever wondered what it truly takes to lead with courage, influence others around a bold vision, and create lasting global impact, this conversation offers an inspiring masterclass in purpose-driven leadership.

What You Will Learn

How leadership often...

What does it take to transform deep expertise into a scalable, investment-grade business? In this special anniversary episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Dr. Dia Burger, founder of Stiletto Med Spa, the International Med Spa Academy, and the Million Dollar Med Spa Method.

With more than 30 years of medical experience and two decades in aesthetics, Dr. Dia shares how her vision evolved from operating a highly successful med spa to creating a global chain of premium med spas designed for exceptional client outcomes and strong investor returns. She discusses the importance...

What happens after the crisis is over, but clarity still hasn't returned? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Savio P. Clemente, keynote speaker, TEDx presenter, journalist, wellness coach, bestselling author, and two-time cancer survivor. After conducting more than 2,000 interviews with global leaders and navigating two life-altering cancer journeys, Savio developed the Adaptive Resilience Leadership Framework to help leaders remain grounded, make better decisions under pressure, and transform adversity into wisdom.

Get ready to explore the difference between vision and goals, the importance of leading yourself before leading others, and...

What does it take to turn unimaginable adversity into a life of impact, purpose, and abundance? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Michelle J. Lamont, podcaster, leading manifestation guru, and master mindset coach. Michelle shares her extraordinary journey from losing her mother as a child, surviving abuse and multiple suicide attempts, to building successful businesses and helping others transform their lives through mindset and manifestation.

This conversation is a testament to the power of believing in your vision, refusing to accept limitations, and choosing transformation over surrender.

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What if you had a coach sitting beside you during every important conversation? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Makaeel Sheikh, Founder & CEO of NūrAI, an innovative communication intelligence platform designed to help people communicate more effectively in real time. Drawing from his background as a scientist at Genentech and his passion for solving human-centered challenges, Makaeel shares how his journey from biotechnology to entrepreneurship led him to create AI-powered tools that illuminate hidden communication patterns.

Get ready to explore the future of communication, the role of AI i...

What does leadership look like when lives are on the line? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Mark Andrew, 30-year fire service veteran and author of Leading Through the Heat. Mark shares how his childhood dream of becoming a firefighter led him into a decades-long career serving in dangerous, high-stakes environments where leadership decisions carried real consequences. He also opens up about the unexpected journey of becoming an author and why he felt called to write his book, Leading Through the Heat.

This episode is packed with practical leadership...

What if the biggest thing holding back your business, leadership, or vision isn’t strategy but the way decisions are being made behind the scenes? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Kylee Ingram, CEO and co-founder of Wizer, a decision science platform helping organisations make smarter, more inclusive decisions by mapping expertise and diversity. From building television productions seen around the world to creating a platform designed to improve organizational decision-making, Kylie shares how bold ideas become reality and why the right people in the room matter more than ever.

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What if the next chapter of your life is not a detour, but an invitation? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Julie Delucca-Collins, business strategist, TEDx speaker, award-winning author, founder of Go Confidently Services, and host of the Casa de Confidence podcast.

Julie shares how being laid off during the pandemic became the doorway into entrepreneurship, podcasting, authorship, and deeper purpose.

This conversation explores confidence, courage, self-leadership, business strategy, and what it means to create impact while honoring the season of life you are in.

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What if the reason you feel tired, overwhelmed, or older than you should has nothing to do with your age and everything to do with how you’re living? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Dr. Kavin Mistry, board-certified neuroradiologist, bestselling author of Primal Health Design, and creator of The Primal Reset Program. Drawing from over 25 years in medicine, neuroscience, and ancestral health, he breaks down how misalignment with your natural design is impacting your energy, clarity, and long-term health.

From redefining what it means to be healthy to un...

What if the biggest leadership mistake isn’t doing too little but trying to do too much alone? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Daria Rudnik, former Chief People Officer and ex-Deloitte professional, who shares a powerful shift in modern leadership. Drawing from her global executive experience and transition from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, Daria breaks down what it really takes to lead in uncertainty, reduce overwhelm, and create teams that thrive without constant direction.

This conversation is a must-listen for leaders who feel stretched, responsible for everything, and un...

What if the reason your business feels scattered isn’t a lack of effort but a lack of clarity? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Clare Treston, strategic planning consultant and author of The Where and The Why, endorsed by professors at Wharton and London Business School. Clare shares her proven framework for turning complex, overwhelming strategies into one clear, powerful “moonshot” goal that aligns your entire team and drives real results.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing too much without real traction, this conversation will help you r...

What does it really take to rise into leadership when no one is handing you the roadmap? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Lara Hamilton, Director of IT Services for the HelpDesk Realty, a division at Tectonic (formerly eResources), where she has excelled for over 15 years, to unpack a leadership journey built on resilience, persistence, and vision. Lara didn’t set out to work in technology. She created her path by solving problems, improving systems, and proving her value again and again.

If you’ve ever felt like you had...

What does it really take to turn a big idea into meaningful, measurable impact? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Dr. Eugene Manley Jr., PhD, Founder and CEO of the SCHEQ (STEMM & Cancer Health Equity) Foundation, where he leads national efforts to improve cancer outcomes and diversify the STEMM workforce. A first-generation scholar and nationally recognized speaker, Dr. Manley bridges science, policy, and lived experience to drive measurable, community-centered change. Dr. Manley shares his powerful journey from navigating undiagnosed ADHD and systemic barriers to becoming the founder of the SHE STEM...

What happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted and it still feels empty? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Kevin Howard, U.S. Army veteran, former FEMA Lead Disaster Assistance Loan Officer, who had a successful 25-year career in commercial banking before transitioning to climate risk & sustainability advisory services. Kevin Howard shares his journey from military service and a successful 25-year banking career to a deeply personal turning point that changed everything.

This episode serves as a masterclass in leadership, identity, and the courage it takes to...

What if aging isn’t inevitable and you’ve just been taught to believe that it is? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Bob Gilpatrick, to share perspective on longevity, leadership, and the future of human health. With over 40 years of experience in holistic nutrition, healthcare innovation, and mindset transformation, Bob breaks down how aging is influenced not just by biology but also by belief systems, metabolic patterns, and emerging science such as epigenetic reprogramming.

If you’re a visionary ready to expand your thinking and challenge what you’ve been...

What if the biggest obstacle to visionary leadership isn’t strategy, resources, or opportunity but unresolved trauma stored in the body? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Allana Pratt, intimacy expert, author, and global media personality. Allana shares her own journey from high-achieving overfunctioning to profound transformation through psychedelic somatic integration and body-based healing. She explains how trauma can push people toward extreme success or destructive coping patterns, and why many leaders unknowingly operate from survival mode rather than embodiment.

If you are someone who wants to create conscious ch...

What happens when the pursuit of success masks deep personal pain? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Judd Shaw CEO, lawyer, entrepreneur, and speaker. After building one of the largest law firms in New Jersey and achieving the outward markers of success, Judd found himself facing a private crisis that forced him to reevaluate everything he believed.

This episode offers a deeply honest look at how vulnerability, self-awareness, and connection can transform leadership and create organizations where people truly thrive. Whether you're a founder, executive, entrepreneur, or emerging leader...

What does it take to lead in moments of crisis? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Jessi Beyer, crisis mental health clinician, SWAT negotiator, bestselling author of How to Heal a Crisis, and founder of the Life Model of suicide prevention.

If you are a leader, entrepreneur, parent, educator, HR professional, or first responder, this conversation will expand how you think about trauma-informed leadership and crisis response.

What You Will Learn:

How leadership evolves from personal ambition to collective responsibility.

What verbal de-escalation...

What separates high performers who burn out from leaders who build lasting influence? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Dr. Lizette Warner, scientist and Chief Coaching Officer of Trust & Leadership, to unpack the neuroscience behind grounded leadership.

This episode is essential listening for leaders who want influence without burnout, performance without dysregulation, and growth that is both measurable and sustainable.

What You Will Learn:

Why curiosity is the foundation of visionary leadership.

How trust is built through vulnerability and emotional safety.

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What if the biggest opportunity for learning in your organization is hiding inside your worst day? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Desai Link, safety leader, former lawyer, and author of Beyond the Incident. As the General Manager of Health and Safety for a commercial construction company in New Zealand and co-host of the Circus of Safety Podcast, Desai is reshaping how organizations approach workplace investigations.

Whether you lead a team or manage operations, this episode will challenge you to rethink how your organization learns from failure.

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What does it really mean to lead from lived experience? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Matt Paradise, a financial wellness speaker, award-winning author, and resilience-driven leader whose life journey spans homelessness, addiction recovery, cancer survival, and entrepreneurship.

This episode is a reminder that vision requires capacity, leadership requires hope, and sustainable success begins when we humanize the bottom line.

What You Will Learn:

How lived experience can become a powerful foundation for visionary leadership.

Why financial stress is never just about money...

What if burnout isn’t a personal failure, but a leadership signal asking for something different?

In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Sophia Mikelionis, self-leadership expert and founder of Gearing Together. Sophia shares her journey from thriving in corporate leadership to realizing that success without alignment was costing her relationships, health, and joy.

If you lead a team, run a business, or feel the quiet exhaustion of always being the reliable one, this conversation will give you language, permission, and tools to lead differently.

What Yo...

What if aging isn’t something to fight, fix, or freeze, but something to express?

In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Cathy Goldstein, with nearly four decades in holistic medicine. Cathy challenges cultural narratives that tell us to chase youth, erase expression, and disconnect from our innate wisdom as we age.

If you’re a visionary leader, entrepreneur, or changemaker who wants to age well without losing authenticity, reclaim confidence without erasing your story, and bring your innovative ideas into the world with courage and clarity, this conv...

What if the biggest thing blocking your vision is not your strategy, but your nervous system. In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Luis Mojica, somatic therapist, trauma nutritionist, musician, and founder of Holistic Life Navigation, for a powerful conversation about what it really takes to lead, create, and build sustainably. Luis shares how his lineage shaped his visionary capacity, why he experiences creativity as a kind of natural “psychedelic” communion, and how developmental trauma can become an initiation into purpose.

If you are a visionary who wants to create with...

What does real leadership look like in a world obsessed with celebrity, conflict, and short-term wins? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Saji Madapat, a global transformation architect, author, and cultural myth-maker whose work spans Fortune 10 boardrooms, geopolitical strategy rooms, and ancient ritual traditions of Southern India. With more than 30 years of experience across 40+ countries, Saji brings a rare and provocative perspective on what leadership has become and what it must return to if we are to navigate the economic, social, and cultural disruptions of our time.

This episode...

What if the fastest way to scale isn’t doing more, but touching less. In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Max Lewis, author of Who Is Max Lewis? Max went from selling mangoes as a kid to building a propane tank exchange business that ultimately sold for $37 million.

This episode is a masterclass for founders, CEOs, and visionaries who feel capped by their own effort and are ready to step into the next version of leadership.

What You Will Learn:

Why vision is often developed th...

What does it mean to lead when your path doesn’t follow a straight line—and your vision unfolds in seasons rather than deadlines? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Lori A Andrus, creator of the Stone Speak Oracle and Journey Jewels Sacred Adornments, the founder of the Sanctuary Circle Community, and host of the Luminary Life Podcast. Lori shares her personal visionary journey. Rather than choosing a traditional healer’s path, Lori followed a quieter inner calling, allowing her gifts to emerge organically through art, jewelry, and eventually sacred tools that n...

What if one podcast, one book, or one idea could permanently change the direction of your life? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Nick Hutchison, founder of Book Thinkers, to explore how reading became the catalyst for leadership, entrepreneurship and conscious growth. From building a side hustle while still employed to hosting large-scale author events and serving visionary leaders around the world, Nick’s story is a powerful reminder that slow, intentional growth often creates the strongest foundations.

This conversation dives deep into leadership development, vision-building, community, and why bo...

What if the real reason you feel stuck isn’t a lack of knowledge but old programming running your life on autopilot? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Deekron Krikorian, MBA, and transformation coach for high achievers and the founder of the Identity Liberation Movement. Deekron shares how a “survival identity” forms in childhood, how it silently drives perfectionism and why inner work is the missing piece for high achievers who want authentic leadership. You’ll also hear why metabolic health matters for your mind, your mood, and your decision-making.

What Y...

What if the challenge in front of you isn't here to break you, but to bring you back to who you really are? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Felicity Ashley, mother of three, former corporate marketer, ocean rower, cancer survivor, motivational speaker and #1 bestselling author of Stronger Than the Storm.

If you've been feeling the nudge to start something bigger, this episode will invite you to trust your "why," ask for help, and lead yourself into a life that feels truly your own.

What You Will...

What if the best person to teach you about money was not a guy in a suit, but a woman who has built real wealth, weathered big market shifts, and is willing to tell you the truth about money with zero fluff? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Gokce Donat, a no-fluff financial educator, real estate investor, and host of the Million Elle Podcast. With a background in engineering and finance, a builder’s license, and more than twenty years in business, Gokce shares how confidence, discipline, and clear thinking about ri...