Impact investor, educator, and author James Rhee joins us to discuss his new book, Red Helicopter: A Parable for Our Times, a deeply personal and thought-provoking exploration of leadership, trust, and the power of choosing kindness. Best known for his transformative work as CEO of Ashley Stewart, James turned a struggling fashion brand into a thriving business by centering humanity, dignity, and long-term value. In this episode, he shares the inspiration behind Red Helicopter, a modern-day parable rooted in his lived experiences, and how it challenges conventional leadership models rooted in fear, control, and short-term thinking. Through his “Kindness and Math” philosophy, James invites us to imagine a different kind of success—one grounded in empathy, purpose, and collective well-being.

Two visionary leaders join us for this special episode on reshaping how we think about rest, resilience, and racial equity in professional spaces. Ngozi Cadmus and Ruth Abban—co-creators of The Black Woman’s Rest Revolution—share vital insights into the lived experiences of Black women in the workplace and the radical importance of rest as a form of resistance and healing.

Ngozi Cadmus is a TEDx speaker, psychotherapist, and the founder of the UK’s leading anti-racist workplace mental health platform. Currently completing doctoral research on Black women's leadership strategies, Ngozi is pioneering a movement that centers rest as essential to liberation and renewal. Through her leadership, she’s challenging organizations to build culturally sensitive, accountable, and restorative environments.

Joining her is Ruth Abban, an Integrative Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor who brings deep expertise in racial trauma, racial identity, and adultification bias. With years of experience working with youth and adults through an intersectional lens, Ruth now provides racial equity consultancy across sectors. Together, they are transforming organizational cultures through healing-centered approaches rooted in justice and rest.

Seasoned Salesforce strategist, thought leader, and Chief Growth Officer at Cloud Giants (a Salesforce consulting firm), Gay Thorne joins us to share her insights on customer experience and business development. With a strong background in customer relationship management (CRM) optimization, she has been instrumental in helping organizations maximize their Salesforce investments. Gay is also a prominent voice in the Salesforce community, frequently sharing best practices and insights through articles and social media. Her recent leadership in Cloud Giants’ Salesforce March Madness initiative reflects her passion for interactive learning and community engagement. Committed to empowering businesses through technology and continuous learning, Gay is a valuable resource in the ever-evolving world of customer relationship management.

Licensed psychologist, author, and educator based in Washington, DC, Dr. Samantha Sweeney joins us to share her work and discuss anxiety in children and some of the potential causes behind its rise. Dr. Sweeney has a private practice on Capitol Hill, where she supports children, families, and adults. She holds a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Maryland and a psychology degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Her background includes work in both public and private schools, with experience as a preschool teacher, school psychologist, researcher, and university instructor. An expert in cultural competence, she is passionate about helping families raise confident, inclusive children. Dr. Sweeney is the author of Working With Worry: A Workbook for Parents on How to Support Anxious Children, and her upcoming book, Culturally Competent Kids, is designed to help families thrive in a diverse world. In therapy, she focuses on empowerment, connection, and honoring the whole person behind the challenges they face.

Dr. Srini Pillay is a harvard-trained psychiatrist, brain researcher,executive coach and the Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Reulay, a digital therapeutics company that uses AI and neuroscience to enhance well-being and prevent chronic illness. Dr. Pillay joins us to discuss his book, Tinker Dabble Doodle Try: Unlock the Power of the Unfocused Mind. In his work, he explores how strategic "unfocusing" can boost creativity, productivity, and mental well-being—essential skills in today’s age of burnout, disengagement, and AI-driven disruption. A former Harvard Medical School faculty member and top medical graduate, Dr. Pillay brings over 17 years of brain imaging research experience. He is also the CEO of NeuroBusiness Group®, a global leadership development firm, and a pioneer in transformational neurocoaching®. An international speaker and author of three books, Dr. Pillay has advised Fortune 500 companies, the UN, and The World Bank, and is a TEDx speaker on "The Science of Possibility."

This is a compelling conversation on the impact of children’s literature on identity formation.

Dr. Ar brings a unique global and cultural lens to the study of literature, having earned her Ph.D. from Ege University in 2025 after completing her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in American Culture and Literature and a minor in Sociology from Hacettepe University. With a deep commitment to interdisciplinary research and teaching, Dr. Ar explores how stories shape self-perception, racial identity, and belonging—especially among young readers.

Her work has been recognized for examining how African American children’s literature contributes to the construction and affirmation of identity, challenging dominant narratives and offering empowering representations.

This is an engaging conversation with Scott Mautz, former senior executive at Procter & Gamble, where he successfully led several of the company’s largest multi-billion-dollar businesses. A renowned thought leader in leadership and personal development, Scott is the author of four multi-award-winning, bestselling books, including his latest, The Mentally Strong Leader: Build the Habits to Productively Regulate Your Emotions, Thoughts, and Behaviors. Scott is faculty on reserve at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business for Executive Education and a highly sought-after instructor on LinkedIn Learning, where his courses have been taken over 2 million times. Recognized as a “CEO Thought-Leader” by the CEO Executive Guild, Scott contributes to CNBC and was named a “Top 50 Leadership Innovator” by Inc.com, where his column attracts 2 million readers monthly. A frequent guest in national media, Scott is dedicated to helping leaders unlock their full potential through his writing, speaking, and teaching.

Educator, author, and race and education scholar, Dr. OiYan Poon joins me to share her insights for engaging in discourse about race, affirmative action and family. She is currently serving as a consultant to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s office on higher education policy. Dr. Poon is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and co-director of the College Admissions Futures Co-Lab. She has focused on the racial politics of Asian Americans, education access, affirmative action, and admissions systems and practices. She is the author of Asian American Is Not a Color: Conversations on Race, Affirmative Action, and Family, which explores how Asian Americans are shaping the future of race relations through debates over education policies like affirmative action, using personal narrative and interviews of Asian Americans across the country. Her work has appeared widely in national media outlets including NPR, the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The New Yorker. This was an timely and informative conversation that will be insightful to many!