John David Mann and some friends started their own high school when in their teens. It was quite successful for a number of years. He is now an award-winning author whose books have sold more than two million copies, including the bestselling classic “The Go-Giver.” His book “Take the Lead” was named by Tom Peters and the Washington Post “Best Leadership Book of 2011.” His latest book, a culinary parable, is called, “THE RECIPE.”
When Marcelle and her husband decided he should accept a job as a foreign service officer in Uzbekistan, she knew she’d have to give up the job she loved. What she needed now was a “Portable Career” that could travel wherever her husband was posted. After 10 years of strategic communications consulting, Marcelle Yeager changed course to enable people to get to the next level of their careers. She recently co-founded ServingTalent, the first recruiting agency for military and foreign service spouses.
Lynn Marie Morski, MD, Esq. had recently co-founded a health tech startup on medical tourism. “All of my cylinders were firing at the same time. But the sinking feeling in my stomach told me something wasn’t right.” She faced the hardest “quit” of her life. Her goal is to de-stigmatize quitting and illustrate what a useful tool it can be. Through her Quitting by Design website, she helps people carve out successful lives through strategic quitting. She is a physician and an adjunct professor of health law.
Shellee Howard is the owner and president of College Ready and a Certified Educational Planner. She has a son who graduated from Harvard in 2016–debt free! She has traveled around the world helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. She knows what it takes to compete for entry into Ivy League schools to small town colleges. She believes that no two students are the same, and that each has a gift/talent and a passion that will set him or her apart from their competition.
Amy Smalarz had been in a consulting position she enjoyed for 10 years. One day the staff was called together and told that their division president had just been fired. It was the nudge she needed to step out on her own. She quickly discovered she had a lot to learn. As a women’s empowerment coach, author, podcaster and freelance writer, she now provides women the information and experience that helps them uncover and rediscover their truest, best selves, and bring that to everything they do in life.
Lindsay Kinder returned from France filled with a knowledge of cuisine from farm to table. But she did not yet know how she would use it. She needed time. Would she be lulled back into the comfort of a 9-to-five job? She had left a stable career in life insurance to pursue her lifelong dream of learning to cook in France. She spent six months backpacking solo on a quest to discover where great food comes from, and what to do with it. She now lives in San Francisco, teaching sold out French macaroon workshops, private cheffing and dreaming up new recipes for her blog Food-La-La.
Steve Robertson is the CEO of Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs, an organization specializing in youth-to-adult programming that turns curiosity into passion and skill. He is a fan of the Gen Zs “because they are innovative, thoughtful, collaborative and motivated.” Generation Z is already impacting every facet of life: the workplace, how businesses present and sell products, and even what products businesses present and sell. In Steve’s opinion, “It is probably going be the greatest generation we’ve seen.”
Mali Phonpadith’s father escaped a re-education camp, and her family fled war-torn Laos. Arriving in the U.S. at age five, she learned English from watching the TV show Sesame Street. Later, her teacher said Mali’s journal showed she was a poet–even though she didn’t know what poetry was. Mali Phonpadith is the founder and CEO of the SOAR Community Network, as well as an author, speaker and podcaster. SOAR stands for See, Own, Articulate and Release and is based uncovering your greatest gifts and talents.
Stephanie Weeks was so dead-set on a career in law, she had no Plan B. Everything she had done in college and work had pointed her toward that goal. Then, after graduation, she received the news that totally changed her path. It turned out, there was a better option. As a mortgage lender, she has closed thousands of loans totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in volume, but the real joy in her career comes from the smile that she sees from buyers and sellers during a smooth and on time closing.
Dr. Carolyn Jerdan has served in education for 20+ years as a teacher, counselor and school administrator, both in private and public schools, with students ranging from preschool to adult. She earned an MBA at Northwestern University, and Ph.D. in school psychology at the University of Maryland. At Johnson Ferry Christian Academy she guides students through their college search process. Her passion is to help students realize their uniqueness and God-given talents so they can better plan for their future.
Erica is a former environmental science professor using her expertise in sustainability and green living to transform spaces and the interior design field using her cleaner, greener Method. Four years ago she started Eco Method Interiors to help people feel happier, healthier, less stressed and more confident at home or work. When she is not working she is planning her next trip down under with her Australian husband, or is at the dog park with Hank, her mutt.
Sayan Sarkar is an entrepreneur and founder of InvigorateNOW Health Sciences, an innovative health supplement brand. He is also the creator of Sark Media Direct, a direct marketing consultancy in the health and e-commerce industries. He’s worked with Martha Stewart, Organifi, Zenith Labs, and more. Through his consulting, he has helped entrepreneurs scale from zero to six and seven figures. Also an investor, Sayan has stakes in three health supplement brands in addition to businesses he started from nothing.
Simon Crowe is a master in the field of personal growth, who specializes in connecting the successful with their deepest purpose. As a qualified coach for over 12 years, he has guided hundreds of courageous individuals in achieving greater self-expression and fulfillment and experiencing deeper meaning in their lives. He works exclusively with high-performing, self-starters who have mastered conventional success and who are hungry to reappraise their life in honor of their unique gifts.