Advertise on podcast: Leaders Rise

Meron Mathias, Corporate Vice President of CSR and Sustainability at Thermo Fisher Scientific, joins Becky Shambaugh on the Leaders Rise podcast for a thoughtful conversation on what it truly takes to lead in a world defined by complexity, rapid change, and heightened expectations. Leadership today demands more than expertise—it requires curiosity, courage, and meaningful connection. In this episode, Becky and Meron unpack the real challenges leaders and executives face—from making high-stakes decisions to leading authentically while navigating constant disruption. They explore how curiosity, authenticity, and bravery have shaped Meron's leadership journey—and why leaders today must embrace continuous learning, vulnerability, and connection to build strong cultures and empower their teams.

Ramesh Srinivasan, Senior Partner for McKinsey & Company, joins Becky Shambaugh on the Leaders Rise Podcast.  In this episode, Becky and Ramesh discuss the unprecedented challenges leaders today face, such as geopolitical instability, climate change, and the disruptive force of AI converging in ways that amplify uncertainty and redefine the landscape of leadership. They explore what it takes to guide organizations, communities, and people through a world that feels increasingly complex and unpredictable. This rich conversation highlights not only the challenges leaders face but also the opportunities they can seize when they cultivate resilience, agility, and a human-centered approach to leadership.

Stacy Gorin built her career in executive coaching and skill building for organizations in technology and financial services. She currently serves as an Executive Coach in EY and is the chief architect for EY’s highly successful Power Up Program for leaders in the company. In this episode, Becky and Stacy discuss 3 leadership essentials that are required to thrive in today’s environment: personal well-being, strategic relationships, and striking the right leadership balance of IQ and EQ.

Brenda Harvey is the Managing Director of IBM Industrial leading IBM’s largest industrial clients. Her impressive career has also allowed her to lead IBM’s public sector, federal, and financial services as general manager and IBM Asia Pacific as Chairman and CEO. In this episode, Becky and Brenda discuss the factors still holding women back in the workplace, the importance of self-advocacy, and developing a strong adversity quotient (AQ) in today’s environment.

Nancy May is founder and President of The BoardBench Companies, a woman-owned board governance consulting group focusing on the advanced development and execution of public, private, and not-for-profit board organization. In this episode, Becky and Nancy discuss the important attributes and practices for women to be “Board Ready” in today’s environment.

Alex David is the President & CEO of Stifel Independent Advisors. Alex is known for championing and leading diversity and inclusion and was recently named the 2023 InvestmentNews Diversity, Equity and Inclusion honoree for Lifetime Achievement. In this episode, Becky and Alex discuss how he got started on Wall Street, giving back and mentoring as well as advice for increasing the number of women and those of diversity in leadership.

In this episode of the Women Rise podcast, Rebecca Shambaugh discusses driving your own career path and unlocking your potential. Learn coaching techniques, practices, and strategies for knowing and leveraging your value and championing your leadership.

Robert Reiss is the Founder and CEO of The CEO Forum Group, a tier 1 media group focused exclusively on top CEOs. Today, The CEO Forum Group is recognized as “The Transformative CEO Community” for its efforts in helping to build success, one CEO at a time, by sharing best practices, driving job creation, and expanding innovation and value throughout the world. In this episode, Becky and Robert discuss leadership in a collaborative world and three things that need to happen to achieve gender balance.

In this episode of Women Rise podcast, Rebecca Shambaugh discusses resetting your playbook for leadership and the top three attributes to optimize performance through people.

Natalie Siston is the Program Experience Leader at Positive Intelligence, a company that delivers groundbreaking, research-based mental fitness programming that has transformed thousands of lives. In her role, she brings Positive Intelligence to companies around the world through partnerships, presentations, and the flagship PQ mental fitness program. In this episode, she discusses what positive intelligence and why mental fitness is so important.

Chic Thompson is the Executive Director of WagiLabs, a nonprofit organization that helps inspiring executives, MBA students, and children to be curious first and critical second while problem solving. He is a Fellow at the University of Virginia's Darden Business School and adjunct faculty at the Brookings Institute. In this episode, he discusses how executives can leverage their strategic curiosity as a path to innovation.

Kimber Maderazzo is the Chairman of the Board of C200, a peer community of female CEOs whose purpose is to advance women in business leadership. Kimber also serves on the Board of Directors of Pepperdine Graziadio Business School and was previously an Executive Vice President & General Manager at The Proactiv Company. In this episode, she discusses how C200 teaches women to be in P&L roles and how its members work with each other to advance each other. She also highlights her five principles of leadership advancement for female executives.

Stacey Stewart is the President & CEO of March of Dimes, responsible for all aspects of the organization's strategy, vision, and operations. She was previously the U.S. President of United Way, the nation's largest nonprofit organization, and was the Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Vice President for the Office of Community and Charitable Giving at Fannie Mae, as well as President and Chief Executive Officer for the Fannie Mae Foundation. In this episode, she discusses the gender wage gap, encouraging women to place greater value on their capabilities at the outset of taking on a new role and how senior women can use their position on boards to make a difference. She also highlights the importance of refraining from the mindset of perfectionism and how to be valued in the workplace without needing to "check every box."

Caroline Feeney is the CEO of US Insurance & Retirement Businesses at Prudential. She has held progressively more senior roles during her 27-year career at Prudential, including as CEO of Individual Solutions, president of Prudential Advisors, and president of Individual Life Insurance. She also leads the company's Women Empowered business resource group and champions women's financial issues, diversity, and professional development both within and outside Prudential. In this episode, she discusses her passion for actively sponsoring, coaching, and mentoring future women leaders, how organizations can be more deliberate about finding opportunities for women who show potential, and the importance of taking on stretch roles and "jumping into the proverbial cold pot."

Kara Goldin is the Founder and CEO of Hint, Inc. and the author of Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters (Harper Leadership). She has been named one of InStyle’s Badass 50, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs, Fortune's Most Innovative Women in Food & Drink and Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California. In this episode, she offers prescriptive advice for entrepreneurial-minded professionals who are looking to take smart risks and create their own success, highlights her own journey to becoming an entrepreneur and changing careers at age 36, and shares an inspiring story of how Hint raised two years worth of capital during the pandemic.