Expressions of Leadership

Turning Pain Into Purpose: Brad Wolfe on Leadership, Grief, and Healing

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with musician and social entrepreneur Brad Wolfe about how a deeply personal loss shaped his life’s work, from creating music to founding Reimagine, a global community centered on healing, connection, and meaning.
Together, they explore how people can move through grief and transform it into purpose through storytelling, creative expression, and acts of service. Brad also shares how his experiences have shaped his approach to leadership, one rooted in presence, compassion, and the ability to support others through life’s most challenging moments.
Learn more about Brad Wolfe and Reimagine:www.bradwolfe.comwww.letsreimagine.orgIG: www.instagram.com/bradwolfemoonDon't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.
Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.

Leading Beyond the Stage: Rachel Moore on Leadership and Transforming Communities

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Rachel S. Moore, President and CEO of The Music Center of Los Angeles—one of the largest performing arts centers in the United States.
Rachel’s leadership journey began on stage as a professional ballet dancer with American Ballet Theatre before a pivotal turning point set her on a new path into executive leadership. Today, she leads an organization of more than 1,400 employees with a bold belief: that the arts are not a luxury, but a public service that can strengthen communities and improve lives.
In this conversation, Rachel shares insights on leading with humility, treating people with dignity, and recognizing when challenges are rooted in systems, not individuals. She reflects on building inclusive institutions, investing in people and culture, and creating spaces where communities can truly thrive.Learn more about Rachel Moore and the Music Center, L.A.'s Performing Arts Center at https://www.musiccenter.org/
Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.
Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.

Building Schools That Matter: Leadership, Equity, and Impact with Bob Riddle

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with Bob Riddle, a lifelong educator whose nearly four-decade journey, from math teacher to Head of School, offers a powerful perspective on what it means to lead with purpose, courage, and authenticity.
Together, they explore the defining moments of Bob’s leadership, including coming out and leading with greater authenticity, as well as bold institutional decisions like eliminating AP courses, launching a transformational capital campaign, and founding the Equity & Justice Institute to embed inclusion and impact into the fabric of the school. Bob also reflects on leading through complexity and crisis, the importance of building strong, values-driven communities, and his continued work in the nonprofit sector to expand educational access and support community healing. This conversation is a thoughtful look at leadership that is centered on relationships, integrity, and a commitment to the greater good.
Connect with Bob Riddle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-riddle-171a94298/
Learn more about Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences: https://www.xrds.org/
Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.
Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.
 

From Railroads to Reinvention: Katie Mednick on Leadership, Values, and Building What Matters

In this episode, Michele Kawamoto Perry interviews Katie Mednick, a founder and TEDx speaker who bootstrapped Spark TS into a North American rail industry leader before successfully exiting in 2025. Katie shares how she navigated complex regulations, built trust across unionized teams and regulators, and scaled a product under intense pressure.
This conversation goes beyond entrepreneurship into the heart of leadership. Katie reflects on leading through uncertainty, defining success through values, and building resilience in the face of setbacks. She also shares her journey of reinvention with Alumah, a spiritual self-care platform designed to help individuals and teams cultivate clarity, alignment, and inner strength.
Learn more about Katie Mednick and Alumah:Website: https://katiemednick.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-mednickYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlumahApp
Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.
Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.

Leading with Courage: Ellie Shapiro on Reinvention, Resilience, and Becoming a Mother at 57

Ellie Shapiro has spent her career bringing imagination to life for iconic brands like Barbie and Disney Princess, but her most powerful story is about the life she chose to build. In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Ellie to explore her journey from corporate marketing to independent toy inventor, including the moment she took on a multi-billion-dollar company in a landmark lawsuit. Ellie shares what it took to stand her ground, trust her instincts, and navigate the uncertainty that comes with forging your own path.
After losing both of her parents, Ellie stepped away from everything familiar and embarked on a solo year-and-a-half journey around the world. This turning point reshaped her understanding of leadership and self-trust. What followed was a life that defied conventional timelines: finding love, becoming a mother at 57, and stepping into a new chapter rooted in courage and reinvention. This conversation is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to trust yourself and create the life you truly want.Learn more about Ellie Shapiro and follow her work:Substack: https://substack.com/@babyafter50TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@babyafter50
Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.
Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.

Love as Leadership: Dr. Kerry Neal on Reinvention, Community, and Doing the Uncomfortable Work

What does love have to do with leadership? For Dr. Kerry Neal, everything.
In this episode, Michele Kawamoto Perry traces the arc of a remarkable journey, from hospital orderly to Doctor of Education, from a devastating personal moment to the founding of Black Love Reimagined, a movement that has been quietly transforming how communities talk about love, accountability, and connection for 15 years.
This is a conversation about reinvention, the courage to do uncomfortable work, and what happens when you stop trying to fit a mold and start leading from who you actually are.
Learn more about Dr. Kerry Neal and his work:www.DrKerryNeal.comwww. UrbanBirdsAndBees.comInstagram @drkerryneal and @UrbanBirdsAndBeesYouTube @UrbanBirdsAndBees
Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.
Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.

Leadership and Design Literacy: Erica Rife on Equity, Community, and the Future of Architecture

In this episode, Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Erica Rife, Executive Director of the Architecture Foundation of Oregon, about her journey from the startup world to nonprofit leadership, and how design literacy can expand who has a voice in shaping the built environment.
They explore Erica’s path into design-focused work, her decision to return to school to deepen her understanding of equity and philanthropy, and why early exposure to design education is critical for creating more inclusive communities. The conversation also examines the slow but necessary reckoning within the architecture field and what leadership looks like in times of change.
Erica speaks candidly about burnout, mental health, and stepping into visible leadership while becoming a mother, and shares her vision for an organization grounded in listening, adaptability, and community-centered impact.Connect with Erica Rife: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericarife/
Learn more about the Architecture Foundation of Oregon: https://www.af-oregon.org/
Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.
Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.

Leading with Curiosity: Michelle Bacharach on Building FindMine and the Future of AI in Retail

Host Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Michelle Bacharach, CEO and Board Chairman of FindMine, about her journey from UC Berkeley to acting, product leadership, and ultimately founding an AI platform that helps brands translate their creative expertise into inspiring, shoppable experiences for consumers.
Michelle shares how burnout led her to step back and rethink what she wanted to build, the leadership lessons she learned along her journey, and how curiosity, empathy, and optimism shape the culture of her company. They also discuss building trust with major brands, founder resilience, practical insights for public speaking, and what the future of AI-driven retail may hold.
Learn more about FindMine: www.findmine.com.Connect with Michelle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleharrisonbacharach/
Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.
Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.

Cathy Derksen on Leadership, Reinvention After 50, and Empowering Midlife Women

Host Michele Kawamoto Perry interviews Cathy Derksen, founder of Inspired Tenacity, to explore her remarkable journey from medical genetics and financial planning to becoming a publisher, international speaker, and 23-time #1 bestselling author. Cathy shares how a midlife reinvention led her to discover the power of authorship and community as catalysts for leadership, visibility, and purpose.
In this conversation, they discuss leading without a title, trusting intuition when a culture no longer fits, and how storytelling can open doors to credibility, impact, and legacy. Cathy also shares how her collaborative book projects and community have helped more than 200 women step into authorship, amplify their voices, and lead boldly in the next chapter of their lives.
Connect with Cathy Derksen and learn more about her work:
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/cathy.derksen.3/
Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/inspired_tenacity
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathyderkseninspiredtenacity
YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@inspiredtenacitypublishing    
Free Gifts (PDFs and session)  https://inspiredtenacitygifts.now.site/home
Main website  https://inspiredtenacity.com
Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.
Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.
 

Dr. Sarah Zappe on Academic Leadership, Innovation, and the Arts in Engineering

Host Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Dr. Sarah Zappe, Assistant Dean for Teaching and Learning and Director of the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education at Penn State, about what it means to lead with authenticity at the intersection of engineering, innovation, and the arts. As the first non-engineer to serve in her role within the College of Engineering, Dr. Sarah Zappe shares how she integrates creativity into technical education, supports faculty in developing communication and professional skills, and helped launch interdisciplinary initiatives like an arts-and-engineering teaching gallery at the Palmer Museum to spark deeper conversations about ethics, identity, and what it means to be an engineer.
They also explore navigating resistance to change, why creativity is not a “soft skill” but a core leadership capability in STEM, and how empowering faculty and students can transform academic culture. Beyond academia, Dr. Sarah Zappe discusses founding Kaleidoscope PA, her arts-based wellness company that brings mindful watercolor workshops into community spaces, and offers practical insight on trusting yourself, empowering others, and building a more human-centered learning environment.
 
Connect with Dr. Sarah Zappe and learn more about Kaleidescope PA:
Website:  www.kaleidoscopepa.com
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-zappe-b8670a4/
Instagram:  @kaleidoscope_pa
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094117775883
Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT.
Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.