The Answers Are In The Room
Discussions about real life personal and professional development.
Episodes
16 episodes
Episode 13: Paola Mendevil: How Hard Choices Creates The Life She Loves
Community leader, Paola Mendivil, shares her personal stories of struggle, hard choices and ultimately, success.
Episode 15: Jaime Counterman: Tips for Early Navigation of Your Career to Find Your Passion
Jaime Counterman has always wanted to help as many people as she could. Her passion has always been to be a voice for others that didn’t feel they had one. In our latest episode of The Answers are in the Room, Jaime and Barbara reflect on Jaime...
Episode 14: Erin Fisk: The Art of Empowering Humans to be Human
In today’s episode, Barbara and guest, Erin Fisk, discuss how reciprocity is an important part of all relationships. It empowers human beings to be human. You do not have to be two, three or four different personas in different rooms. It’s impo...
Barbara Speaks About Her Memoir, Reimagined
In an interview format, Barbara shares what she learned about the importance of speaking up while writing her memoir, Reimagined.
Episode 10: Laura Traxler: Building Trust While Holding a Team Accountable
Our guest today is our friend and colleague, Laura Traxler, Director of Admissions at Douglas J Aveda Institutes and Salons. In today’s episode, we dive deeper into a topic we hear managers and colleagues struggle with on a regular basis: maint...
Episode 12: Jamon Alexander: The Importance of How Our Stories Shape Who We Are and Who We Are in Community With
In today’s episode, WMCAT’s President and CEO, Jamon Alexander discusses human connection and the importance of how our lived experiences and stories shape who we are, who we are in community with, and where we are going.
Episode 11: Miriam Andrade Cuevas: A Life Story that Presented Her Purpose
Today’s guest is Miriam Andrade Cuevas, Language Access Expert at Spectrum Health. An American by choice, Miriam moved here from Honduras at the age of 21. Listen in as Miriam shares some of her unique experiences that shaped her and brought he...
Shannon Cunningham Asks: Can I Do Everything “Well Enough” as I Seek Peace and Balance?
As a talented Marketing Executive and busy mom of three very small children, Shannon Cunningham often asks herself: “what’s next?” And…how do you even begin thinking about what’s next? It’s a common conversation among friends , family and...
Episode 8: The Dudes Share: Why do a Group of Busy Guys Take the Time to Talk Goals/Work/Family?
For well over a year now, West Michigan professional, Tom Blower, and some friends within his network (Michael TerHorst, Drew Wessell, and Nicholas Wallis) have intentionally gathered with Barbara for guided conversations surrounding whatever t...
Episode 7: Andy Johnston: Getting Through the To Do’s to Make Room for Clarity Breaks
In this episode, Barbara welcomes Andy Johnston, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Grand Rapids Chamber. Listen in as Barbara and Andy tackle the struggle of balancing “Busy work” vs. “Working on Your Business.” How do you get through...
Episode 6: Sara Lachman Asks: How Can I Develop (and not Retreat to) Different Employee Personality Types? Work EnvironmentPersonality TraitsDevelopment Sara Lachman, like many of us, have certain personality types she is drawn to in work environments. Sh
Episode 5: Mel Trombley Asks: Can You be True to Your Authentic Self in Business Settings? And at What Cost?
Mel Trombley, Director of Leadership Programs at the Grand Rapids Chamber, is a very successful business woman & a community cheerleader. A self-described “Woot! Woot! personality,” she sometimes struggles (or subdues) her friendly, “nice,”...
Episode 4: Alex and Kayla Benda: Balancing Businesses, Having a Life and Surviving Covid. How to Find the Calm?
Alex and Kayla Benda are go-getters, to say the least. They took their big ideas and grew multiple businesses over the past six years. Managing this, along with trying to have a personal life and survive Covid 19 is a LOT. Today we talk t...
Episode 3: Zach Verhulst: Business Leader & Young Father Asks “Is Chasing Ambition Worth It?”
Our guest, Zach Verhulst, is an experienced architect here in West Michigan. He is passionate about community and people. Zach has very recently taken on a new positive at Metric Structures. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Zach here ...
Episode 2: Georgia Everse: Executives Sweat Over Managing Crisis During Pandemic Times
Today’s episode focuses on the subject of Crisis Management, something many of our listeners have top of mind during this pandemic. Our guest is a communications marketing executive with over 30 years of experience and a proven track record of ...