For more than two decades, Leo Rossi worked with bands and artists such as Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks, The Beach Boys, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Billy Idol, and many more to create magical experiences for their audiences. Starting on music tour crews doing lighting installation and design, he became a trusted team member and built a solid career managing hundreds of high-profile tours worldwide.

As a young Italian Catholic boy from the blue-collar Los Angeles port town of San Pedro, Leo Rossi tripped into an improbable dream when he was punished for taking off on his own from a school field trip. His penance was to work on the backstage crew for the school play, which turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to him.

Leo Rossi shares his life story, reflects on the transformative experiences and values from his traditional upbringing, and balances the influence of faith with the rock-and-roll lifestyle. He discusses the technological advancements that allowed him to transition into management roles and highlights his involvement with Apple during the early years of the Macintosh. Now retired, Rossi focuses on the Knights of Rock initiative, which is dedicated to preserving the authentic stories of classic rock and supporting charitable causes. Through his talks and storytelling, Rossi emphasizes the importance of dreams, learning from history, and giving back, urging listeners to follow their dreams and share their stories.

Learn more and connect with Leo here:

https://knightsofrocktheroad.com/

https://aknightstale.org/

https://20kwatts.org

https://www.instagram.com/nitesofrock

Dr. Ruth Gotian is the Chief Learning Officer and Associate Professor at Weill Cornell School of Medicine in New York City. She returns to the Work from the Inside Out podcast to discuss her new book, "Financial Times Guide to Mentoring," co-authored with Andy Lopata. They emphasize the importance of mentoring in professional development, highlighting that 61% of positive mentoring relationships are formed organically. Ruth stresses the need for diverse mentoring teams and shares insights on the benefits of mentoring, including higher salaries and reduced burnout, as well as the importance of engaging mentors outside one's organization.

She has been hailed by the journal Nature and Columbia University as an expert in mentorship and leadership development. In 2021, she was selected by Thinkers50 as one of the eight people worldwide to be named an emerging management thinker. In addition to publishing in academic journals, she is a contributor to Forbes and Psychology Today, where she writes about ‘optimizing success’. Her research is about the mindset and skill set of peak performers, including Nobel laureates, astronauts, and Olympic champions. Her award-winning book, The Success Factor, came out in January 2022.

Discussion on Mentoring and High Achievers

• Ruth stated that mentoring is not just for beginners but also for those looking to grow at all stages of their careers. Mentors provide guidance, support, and new perspectives.
• She discusses the importance of mentoring for high achievers and shares insights from interviews with top achievers, emphasizing the commonality of seeking mentors.

• Ruth discuss the ineffectiveness of many mentoring programs in organizations, emphasizing that 61% of positive mentoring relationships develop organically, not through random assignments.
• She advocates for creating opportunities for people to organically meet, offering a resource on her website with 13 conversation starters to help people initiate conversations and create those organic connections.

• Ruth shares that mentoring relationships can start with casual conversations and evolve over time.
• She explains that mentoring should not be transactional and should be about building strategic professional relationships.

• Dr. Gotian highlights the benefits of mentoring, including higher salaries, promotions, and lower burnout.
• She emphasizes that mentoring is a valuable retention tool for organizations.
• Ruth discusses the importance of having a diverse mentoring team with various perspectives.
• She provides a worksheet on her website to help individuals develop their own mentoring teams.
• Ruth shares personal anecdotes of mentors who transformed her life and career.
• She emphasizes that mentoring is not limited to specific professions or industries and encourages individuals to seek out mentors who can offer different perspectives and expertise.

Learn more and connect with Ruth here:

www.ruthgotian.com

https://x.com/ruthgotian

https://www.instagram.com/ruthgotian/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgotian/

From an early age, Harry Duran displayed a natural affinity for technology, tinkering with computers and embracing the latest gadgets. After briefly attending Syracuse University, Harry got distracted and lost his focus. He says he jumped around, never completing his degree, and then applied for a job at Chase Bank as a teller. Harry thought wearing a suit to work meant that he ‘made it.’ He was a quick learner and adapted well, moving up the ranks in the banking world.

In 1999, Harry's innate curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit compelled him to explore opportunities in the dotcom boom, a venture that ultimately fell short. Undeterred, he went into construction with his half-brother in Atlanta, only to return home to his parents, tail between his legs.

Harry took some time to self-reflect and realized that many of his choices were heavily influenced by other people. He recognized the importance of finding his own voice and taking responsibility for his future.

Harry was always interested in electronic music and grew up DJing. That was his first passion. He wanted to start a podcast interviewing DJs because he was fascinated with the culture. Harry also built a mobile app for electronic music. A turning point came in 2014 when Harry attended the New Media Expo in Las Vegas, where he realized the power of podcasting as a platform to share stories and connect with audiences. Inspired, he launched Podcast Junkies, a show that enabled him to hone his interviewing skills and develop a deep understanding of the podcasting landscape.

Harry's entrepreneurial spirit soon took over, and he founded Fullcast, a full-service podcast production and marketing consultancy. Leveraging his corporate experience and newfound podcasting expertise, Harry has helped over 110 clients launch their own shows.

But Harry's journey didn't stop there. In 2019, he identified a niche that ignited his passion – vertical farming. Recognizing the potential to educate and inform audiences about this emerging industry, Harry launched the Vertical Farming Podcast, a show that has since become a leading voice in the space, securing high-profile sponsorships and opening doors to international conferences.

Throughout his winding path, Harry's unwavering commitment to finding his voice and creating his own stage has been the driving force behind his success. From the corporate world to entrepreneurial ventures, his story is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and the pursuit of finding meaningful work from the inside out.

Learn more and connect with Harry here:

https://fullcast.co

https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryduran/

https://www.facebook.com/djharryduran

https://www.youtube.com/@harryduran

https://x.com/IAMHarryDuran

Joe Sprangel is the founder and principal consultant at Emmanuel Strategic Sustainability LLC, which helps organizations develop a hybrid sustainability strategy that enhances their longevity, profitability, and impact. His expertise includes strategic and tactical planning, change leadership, and humanist manufacturing, a framework that addresses the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit, as developed in his book Humanist Manufacturing: A Humanitarian Approach to Excellence in High-Impact Plant Operations.

Joe is the founding dean of the College of Business & Professional Studies at Mary Baldwin University. He leads the undergraduate departments of business, criminal justice, healthcare administration, and social work. He is also the architect of the Master of Business Administration degree there. He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Lawrence Technological University.

Joe has over 45 years of experience in various industries, including manufacturing, education, and consulting. He started his career in high school, cleaning and repairing heavy farm equipment and, soon after, rebuilding machines that manufactured auto parts. With a natural ability to figure how things work and to solve a wide range of problems, he was promoted to an industrial engineer role, which took him out of the plant and into the office. It also allowed him to earn a degree in mechanical engineering. At 40, he earned his MBA and his doctorate by 50.

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about Joe’s journey:

• Before joining the Mary Baldwin faculty in 2010, Joe taught undergraduate and MBA students at Ithaca College for three years, where his classes included Operations Management, and Decision Support Analysis and Sustainable Practices in Operations & Technology.
• Joe has run 18 marathons, completed an Ironman competition, and continues to compete today.

Learn more and connect with Joe here:

https://www.emmanuelstrategicsustainability.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-sprangel-7ba31a2/

https://www.facebook.com/joe.sprangel.79

https://twitter.com/JoeSprangel

When my clients need information, advice or help, I emphasize the importance and methods needed to proactively get the answers to move their goals forward. Yet, too often people hesitate, filling their heads with fear or self doubt, hampering their progress. I usually point out that if they do not make an inquiry or seek more information, then the answer is always NO. Not only is their progress stunted, they feel disappointed in themselves for not following through.

My podcast guest this week, ​Dr. André La Plume​ believes in going beyond the NO to uncover answers to his questions. In our interview, André shares his educational journey, from a French community high school in Winnipeg to earning a PhD in management. His post-PhD career began at Michigan Tech and was followed by his return to Canada as a result of political constraints in the US.

André delves into his interests in strategy, mentorship, and research, leading to the publication of his book on spinout ventures, ​Spinout Ventures: Transitioning from Employees to Entrepreneurs​. It covers the implications of spinout ventures, the academic and real-world perspectives on entrepreneurship, and the evolving regulatory landscape. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, André emphasizes the importance of taking risks and continuous learning at any career stage.

Today, as a Full Professor in Entrepreneurship and Strategy at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Ted Rogers School of Management, André studies and teaches entrepreneurship and strategy. He is interested in the competitive and institutional barriers preventing potential entrepreneurs from launching new ventures successfully.

André has over a decade of experience working as a business and information technology consultant in corporate Canada. He has performed many roles, including business analyst, systems analyst, project manager, practice leader, and integration architect.

In this week’s ​Work From The Inside Out podcast,​ learn more about Andre’s journey:

• André is a frequent judge at entrepreneurship pitch competitions and an experienced entrepreneur, having launched a startup while in Michigan.
• His research has appeared in top journals like Human Relations, Journal of International Business Studies, and Journal of Business Research, among others.

Learn more and connect with Andre here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-laplume-90639433/

https://spinoutventures.net/

​Kelly K. James​ (formerly Kelly James-Enger) has been writing for 20+ years as a full-time freelancer, and most recently, as a corporate content writer. In June 2024, she published her memoir, ​The Book That (Almost) Got Me Fired: How I (Barely) Survived a Year in Corporate America​, an entertaining, honest account of what (and what not) to do when you make that corporate leap in midlife.

As a kid, Kelly loved to read, write, and was an excellent student. In college, she majored in business because it was one of the more competitive programs. Day two of her sophomore year, Kelly had an anxiety attack and left school. She worked in a restaurant and returned to college the next term to study rhetoric, a writing major. A professor told her she would be a good lawyer. She took the LSAT exam, aced it, and went to law school. In 1997, Kelly “escaped from the law.” She practiced law for over five years, yet she knew it was not for her.

Kelly began to write articles for major publications, later adding ghostwriting and authoring her own books. As a ghostwriter, Kelly has penned more than 30 books. She is also a novelist and author of writing-related books including ​Writer for Hire: 101 Secrets to Freelance Success​, ​Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer’s Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition​, and ​Goodbye Byline Hello Big Bucks: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs, and More, Second Edition​.

In 2018, Kelly decided to go work for a small company. She was happily self-employed, yet she was also a single mom and worried about the cost of health insurance.

In 2022, Kelly returned to the law to write legal content full-time for ​Miles Mediation & Arbitration​. In addition, she writes independently about health, wellness, nutrition, and fitness subjects. Her work has appeared in 65+ online and print publications, including Huffington Post, The Girlfriend, NextTribe, Next Avenue, Chicago Health, Vibrant Life, and other markets.

In this week’s ​Work From The Inside Out podcast,​ learn more about Kelly’s journey:

• Kelly has written over 2,000 print and online articles for Family Circle, Health, Parents, Runner’s World, Continental, and NextAvenue, and has produced written content for agencies including MXM, StayWell, and Imagination.
• She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.

Learn more and connect with Kelly here:

www.kellykjames.net

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellykjames/

https://www.facebook.com/kelly.jamesenger/

https://www.instagram.com/healthbookghost

When Rashmir Balasubramaniam was six years old, she asked her father, “Why am I here?” He laughed but did not answer her. She interpreted this as a message to stop asking questions. Deep down, Rashmir knew she had a purpose. It wasn't until she was 40 years old that she leaned into her true purpose.

Rashmir grew up in a traditional Sri Lankan family in Africa and the UK, with high, prescribed expectations. Attending university, she intended to prepare for medical school (her mom is a physician) but realized it was not right for her. Instead, Rashmir studied math and computer science and earned her chartered accounting credential while in her first job at Ernst & Young. Next stop: investment banking.

From there, Rashmir navigated a variety of career moves, always seeking to learn new things and to make a meaningful impact. These two threads have been essential foundations in guiding her professional decisions and the quest for her true calling. Rashmir took her work from the for-profit sector to explore several nonprofit sector roles, including a 5-year engagement with the Gates Foundation on a newly formed team dedicated to identifying new areas of giving which became their Global Development Program.

Today, Rashmir coaches leaders who have bold visions for change that they want to bring to the world. She also offers team coaching, strategic consultations, speaking, and custom professional development programs.

Throughout all of Rashmir’s strategic career moves, she has emphasized:

• the importance of listening to one's inner voice
• the value of taking time off for reflection and growth
• taking a balanced approach to professional development that emphasizes learning, impact, and authentic living

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about Rashmir’s journey:

• Rashmir decided to pursue an MBA at Yale University to learn best practices in management and leadership as applied in social impact enterprises.
• She found her experience living in the US to be eye-opening and transformative.
• Rashmir highlights the power of meditation, coaching, and inner reflection in navigating career transitions and aligning work with purpose.

Learn more and connect with Rashmir here:

www.rashmir.net

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmirbalasubramaniam/

https://www.facebook.com/RashmirGBalasubramaniam

https://www.facebook.com/rashmir.balasubramaniam

https://www.youtube.com/@rashmir

https://www.instagram.com/coachrashmir/

​Roman Eggenberger​, is a man living many lives, who is good with numbers and likes to talk. At 15, he entered the banking industry as an apprentice in his home country of Lichtenstein, where he was introduced to the world of work while completing his secondary education. Like many young people who completed apprenticeships and opted not to go to university immediately, Roman went abroad to improve his language skills. Unlike most of his friends who went to English-speaking countries, he went to France to study French for four months and returned to Lichtenstein to work in banking in Lausanne, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. (For those of us in the US, this would be comparable to living in New Jersey and working in New York… well, sort of, kind of!)

Over the next several years, Roman worked in banking elevating his roles into the global markets and relocating to Hong Kong and Singapore. His travels also took him to New Haven, CT, Vancouver, Canada, and Nicaragua for different purposes, but you will need to listen to our interview to learn more about that part of his adventures.

Roman has carved distinct paths wherever he has gone in his career, and the arenas he has worked in are pretty varied. Yet he has navigated his journey with an internal compass that many of us might not be able to comprehend. Along the way, he earned a university degree, took Seth Godin’s alt-MBA program, and attended a five-day fool’s workshop that was a personally and professionally transformative experience.

After working in several large global banking institutions, Roman explored various other avenues, including the hemp business, bread baking, coffee farming, coffee and pastry service, oat milk business, agriculture, and many more entrepreneurial ventures. His takeaway message points to the importance of relationships, curiosity, and adaptability. Roman's story is a testament to the value of continuous learning and the impact of personal relationships on professional fulfillment.

In this week’s ​Work From The Inside Out podcast,​ learn more about Roman’s journey:

• Roman involved his whole family, including his children, in his decision to transition from a more traditional career path to his entrepreneurial pursuits.
• He has co-produced a traveling exhibition on discrimination throughout Lichtenstein. More than a thousand schoolchildren have attended the program.

Learn more and connect with Roman here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/romaneggenberger/