Rise & Reinvent
Rise & Reinvent is a podcast hosted by Nicole M. Jones, founder of KAKO and a former Fortune 100 executive. It features candid conversations with bold thinkers, changemakers, and everyday people about career growth, leadership, and personal transformation. Drawing on nearly 30 years of global experience, Jones offers practical wisdom and real stories of reinvention. The show aims to help emerging leaders, startup founders, and professionals rise above uncertainty and embrace what comes next.
Episodes
SE01E26 THE $50M PIVOT : HOW TO REINVENT ONESELF & THE COMPANY | Michael Sanders | Rise & Reinvent
Michael Sanders shares his personal journey, highlighting his grandfather's influence on his leadership development and how family support helped him overcome challenges like being given up for adoption at a young age. He discusses his career evolution, including a pivotal $50 million contract win that required him to reinvent himself as a CEO, and his approach to handling business uncert
SE01E25 MUSIC, TECH & THE ART OF REINVENTING YOURSELF | John Hendow | Rise & Reinvent
In this interview, John Hendow shared his career journey from music to technology, emphasizing how his supportive network and personal values guided his transitions while maintaining his passion for music. He discussed the importance of visioning in career decisions, the role of fear in limiting growth, and the need for adaptability in today's rapidly changing job market. John also highli
SE01E24 BREAKING BARRIERS, BUILDING BALANCE | Jeannette Brown | Rise & Reinvent
Nicole interviewed Jeannette Brown, an Enterprise Agile and product coaching expert with diverse experience across fintech, healthcare, and renewable energy, who shared her personal journey and career development experiences. Jeannette discussed her approach to leadership, emphasizing the importance of support systems and self-marketing in career advancement, while also highlighting her e
SE01E23 AGAINST ALL ODDS : RISE FROM DROPOUT TO TECH VISIONARY | Robert Brown | Rise & Reinvent
Rob Brown, CEO of CDR Global, Inc., shared his challenging upbringing and path from high school dropout to successful tech company leader, emphasizing resilience and determination. Rob discussed his leadership approach, including decision-making, hiring practices, and the importance of respect in workplace communication, while also addressing his company's financial challenges and personn
SE01E26 THE $50M PIVOT : HOW TO REINVENT ONESELF & THE COMPANY | Michael Sanders | Rise & Reinvent
Michael Sanders shares his personal journey, highlighting his grandfather's influence on his leadership development and how family support helped him overcome challenges like being given up for adoption at a young age. He discusses his career evolution, including a pivotal $50 million contract win that required him to reinvent himself as a CEO, and his approach to handling business uncert
SE01E22 FROM VINYL TO VISION : MUSIC, MENTAL HEALTH & REINVENTION | Christian Henderson | Rise & Reinvent
Christian Henderson, Senior Director of Talent Partnerships at G7 Entertainment Marketing, shared his personal journey from a music enthusiast to a successful career in the entertainment industry, including overcoming introversion and anxiety to manage talent contracts. He discussed his 11-year journey of managing workplace stress and burnout through therapy, which was tested during the p
SE01E21 CODE, CONFIDENCE & COMEBACKS: THE BRYAN COLLER WAY | Bryan Coller | Rise & Reinvent
Nicole interviewed Bryan Coller, a 25-year software consulting veteran at Invisia, who shared his journey from electrical engineering to leadership roles while overcoming initial feelings of inadequacy due to less experience than colleagues. Bryan discussed his approach to adaptability and leadership in the software industry, emphasizing the importance of empowering teams, learning from f
SE01E20 REINVENTING SUCCESS: GROWTH, GRIT AND GETTING BACK UP | Gary Smith | Rise & Reinvent
Gary shared his personal and professional journey, including his upbringing in a single-parent household, educational background, and transition into the technology field, where he developed a disciplined approach to personal finances and career advancement. He discussed his experiences with career transitions, including a significant pivot into technology and his eventual rise to a leade
SE01E19 THE STORY BENEATH THE SCRIPT | Brooks Elms | Rise & Reinvent |
Brooks Elms shares his personal journey from growing up in the Hamptons to becoming a screenwriter and life coach, discussing how his challenging upbringing and family experiences shaped his career path and approach to storytelling. He explores his experiences in the film industry, including his transition from independent filmmaking to Hollywood screenwriting, while emphasizing the impor
SE01E18 INTROVERT TO INNOVATOR : RAVIND'S RISE | Ravind Budhiraja | Rise & Reinvent
Ravind Budhiraja, a director at Proficient, shared his career journey from mechanical engineering in India to technology and consulting in the US, highlighting the importance of passion, continuous learning, and adaptability in navigating career changes and personal growth. He discussed strategies for decision-making, building support networks, and balancing ambition with well-being, emph
SE01E17 WIRED FOR SERVICES: FROM NAVY TECH TO TELECOM LEADER | Jim Dedmon | Rise & Reinvent
Jim Dedman, a telecommunications professional with a background in military service and disaster recovery, shared his journey of reinvention and career experiences. He discussed the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and maintaining a broader perspective as a leader in the rapidly evolving telecom industry. Jim emphasized the significance of staying focused on helping others
SE01E16 BROKEN TO BOLD: A JOURNEY OF RESILIENCE & REINVENTION | Allison Martinez | Rise & Reinvent
Allison Martinez, a senior program manager with extensive IT experience, shares her personal and professional journey on the Rise and Reinvent podcast. She discusses her unconventional career path, the challenges she faced as a single mother pursuing education and career growth, and the importance of maintaining a supportive network. Allison emphasizes the need for adaptability in project
SE01E15 THE ART OF REINVENTION : THROUGH PASSION & PERSEVERANCE | Jeff Gordon | Rise & Reinvent
Jeff Gordon, an Emmy-winning animation director, shared his journey in the entertainment industry, from his early passion for art to his successful career in animation. He discussed the importance of following one's passion, overcoming challenges, and learning from failures in both personal and professional life. Gordon's story highlighted the value of persistence, family support, and fai
SE01E14 BEYOND THE STEREOTYPE : A PUERTO RICAN WOMEN'S RISE TO LEADERSHIP | Vanessa Robles | Rise & Reinvent
Vanessa Robles, a production director at Penguin Random House, shared her personal journey from growing up in a bilingual Puerto Rican household to achieving independence and success through education, despite facing challenges like her parents' divorce and limited college application support. She discussed her approach to handling uncertainty and risk through faith and prayer, while also
SE01E13 FROM PAIN TO POWER : REINVENT LIFE ON YOUR OWN TERMS | Pierre Jean Vargas | Rise & Reinvent
Nicole interviewed Pierre Vargas, a senior operations manager in the casino industry, who shared his personal and professional journey from growing up in New York City to becoming a father and husband while pursuing a career in public gaming. Pierre discussed his journey of self-reinvention and financial literacy, which was inspired by his wife and motivated by challenging experiences in
SE01E12 - A JOURNEY OF LEADERSHIP AND HEALING | Dr. Nicole Price | Rise & Reinvent
Dr. Nicole Price, CEO of Lively Paradox, shared her journey from engineering to HR and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of empathy, vulnerability, and resilience in personal and professional growth. Throughout the discussion, she highlighted key career transitions, personal challenges, and strategies for navigating workplace dynamics, while stressing the significance of self-a
SE01E11 REINVENTING MID-CAREER WITH PURPOSE | Mark Leathers | Rise & Reinvent
Mark Leathers shared his journey in the ticketing technology industry, his recent experience of reinvention after becoming unemployed, and the importance of staying open to change and adapting to new technologies. He also reflected on support from an older colleague, the importance of emotional maturity in the workplace, and his approach to mentoring younger colleagues. Throughout the dis
SE01E10 STAYING TRUE IN A SHIFTING CAREER LANDSCAPE | Lauren Abram | Rise & Reinvent
Lauren, a senior implementation manager, shared her personal and professional journey, emphasizing the importance of taking risks, learning from failures, and staying true to oneself. She discussed her experiences in various roles, including art auctioneer and project management, highlighting the value of self-advocacy, authenticity, and finding supportive mentors. Lauren also shared her
SE01E09 FAIL, PIVOT, RISE: THE INTENTIONAL GROWTH OF MARIO PABARU | Mario Pabaroue | Rise & Reinvent
Mario shared his journey from growing up in rural New Jersey to becoming a technology leader, emphasizing the importance of intentional growth and being purposeful with that growth. He also discussed his college experience, where he initially struggled with balancing social life and academics, but eventually learned valuable lessons about success, perseverance, and handling adversity. The
SE01E08 HOW KARATE, FAITH, AND FAILURE SHAPED A LEADER | Cesar Lara | Rise & Reinvent
Cesar Lara aka "CB", a senior SDR Manager for Gray Noise Intelligence, shared his personal journey, including his upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, his experiences with martial arts, and his early career as a sales development representative. He emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes, embracing challenges, and seeking help when needed, and shared his personal goals and aspira
SE01E07 LEADING BOLDLY IN TECH | Carrie Wiles | Rise & Reinvent
Carrie Wiles shares her journey from growing up in Michigan to becoming a successful professional in the male-dominated technology industry, emphasizing the importance of risk-taking, self-awareness, and authenticity in her career. She discusses the challenges faced by women in corporate environments and the significance of mentorship, support systems, and work-life balance. Carrie offers
SE01E06 THE SILENT STORM: LEADING WITH GRACE, REINVENTING WITH PURPOSE | Heather Newman | Rise & Reinvent
Heather Newman, a project professional with Caribbean roots, shared her experiences transitioning from Jamaica to the corporate world in the United States, highlighting the challenges she faced and the strategies she employed to succeed. Throughout the conversation, Heather emphasized the importance of staying true to one's values while adapting to new environments, discussing her approac
SE01E05 LEADING THROUGH CHANGE: MY JOURNEY OF GROWTH AND GRIT | John Powell | Rise & Reinvent
John Powell discussed his diverse career journey, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives, knowledge, and mentorship in his work as a producer. He shared his approach to learning new skills, the value of adaptability and curiosity in a constantly evolving industry, and the importance of recognizing and appreciating the contributions of others. John also defined his personal suc
SE01E04 BETTING ON YOURSELF: JEAN GORDON'S JOURNEY | Jean Gordon | Rise & Reinvent
Nicole and Jean Gordon discussed reinvention, with Jean sharing his diverse experiences and emphasizing the importance of confidence and learning from failures. They also discussed Jean's approach to challenges in corporate America, the importance of self-empowerment, and the need for open-mindedness and adaptability. The conversation concluded with Jean reflecting on his purpose in life,
SE01E03 - FROM BALLROOM DANCER TO CEO | With Kelly Lakas | Rise & Reinvent Podcast
Kelly, the CEO and co-founder of Onyx Point Systems, discussed her journey of transformation and reinvention, emphasizing the importance of support, learning, and networking. She also shared her approach to risk management, the importance of balancing ambition with personal fulfillment, and her experiences with career reinvention and job loss. The conversation concluded with Kelly sharing
SE01E02 - THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-BELIEF AND POSITIVE THINKING | Quentin DeBerry | Rise & Reinvent
Quentin Deberry, a sports and music business executive, shared his journey of resilience and determination, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and positive thinking in overcoming adversity. He discussed his personal story of overcoming challenges, including growing up without parents and facing financial struggles, and the importance of having a supportive group of friends in his l
SE01E01 - NAVIGATING CAREER & LIFE WITH PIVOTS | With Santona Tuli | Rise & Reinvent Podcast
Welcome to my first episode of Rise & Reinvent!Santona Tuli, a data science and product director, shared her personal and professional journey, discussing her achievements, challenges, and experiences from growing up in Bangladesh to her current life in Virginia. She emphasized the importance of soft skills, interpersonal relationships, and building a supportive community in professio
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