In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, Kim Miller-Hershon sits down with Ben Wong, a seasoned product and strategy executive, fractional Chief Product Officer, and founder of Blue Harmony Advisory—a boutique firm helping companies grow with purpose, clarity, and measurable impact.

Ben shares insights from nearly two decades of experience guiding growth-stage technology companies, particularly in EdTech and SaaS, through critical inflection points. His journey spans product leadership, strategy, and advisory roles, offering him a unique vantage point on how businesses scale—and where conventional wisdom often falls short.

Throughout the conversation, Ben challenges the idea that success comes from rigid “playbooks” or best practices. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of understanding context, human dynamics, and the deeper “why” behind what works. He also explores how culture must evolve as companies grow, and why leaders need to focus less on preserving rituals and more on sustaining purpose.

The discussion dives into the realities of leadership—highlighting the importance of listening, building alignment over agreement, and fostering trust rather than authority. Ben also shares his perspective on navigating imposter syndrome, the shifting landscape of work in the age of AI, and why developing self-awareness and intentionality early in life is critical for long-term success.

A key theme throughout the episode is the power of human connection in an increasingly automated world. Ben makes a compelling case that while AI is transforming how work gets done, the ability to understand people, facilitate collaboration, and lead with empathy will only become more valuable.

We explore:

- How company culture must evolve during periods of growth

- The importance of listening and facilitation as leadership skills

- Why leadership teams must model the behavior they expect

- The shift from authority to trust in effective leadership

- How AI is changing work—and what remains uniquely human

- The importance of intentionality in career and life decisions

- Why giving yourself permission to be “selfish” can prevent burnout

- How to navigate imposter syndrome and build self-awareness

Ben’s perspective is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking better questions, understanding people, and adapting with intention.

If you’ve ever relied on a “playbook” that didn’t quite fit, or questioned your path in a rapidly changing world, this episode offers a more thoughtful, human-centered approach to growth and leadership.

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Website: https://www.blueharmonics.io/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wang-5731ba3/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_blueharmonics/

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In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, i sits down with Clint Rush, a decorated combat veteran and business executive currently serving as president and Managing Partner of Cabinetry and Millwork Concepts.

Clint shares his unconventional journey—from studying at the University of Wisconsin to enlisting in the U.S. Army following 9/11, serving nearly a decade with overseas assignments, and eventually transitioning into the private sector. His career spans operations, finance, and executive leadership, including his role as President and CEO of NorthPoint Logistics before stepping into his current leadership position. His story is one of adaptability, resilience, and redefining leadership through real-world experience.

Throughout the conversation, Clint challenges traditional ideas of leadership, emphasizing honesty, trust, and action over perfection. Drawing from both military and business environments, he offers a refreshing perspective on what it truly means to lead effectively, build strong teams, and navigate uncertainty.

We explore:

- Why shielding teams from bad news actually weakens leadership

- The importance of radical honesty and transparency in building trust

- How military leadership translates (and doesn’t translate) into business

- The myth of having everything “figured out” as a leader

- Why action beats overplanning—and how to avoid analysis paralysis

- The balance between excellence and perfection in business execution

- Building strong teams through trust, accountability, and support

- How to manage imposter syndrome in high-pressure environments

- The role of pacing and decision-making in leadership success

- Why asking for help is a critical (and often overlooked) leadership skill

Clint’s perspective is a powerful reminder that great leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about being honest, taking action, trusting your team, and continuously learning along the way. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to be perfect or to have everything under control, this episode will challenge that thinking and give you a more practical, human approach to leading and succeeding.

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Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com

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/kmillerhershon

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In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, I sit down with Shirley Wantland, CEO of Recovery Consultants, a company providing bespoke recovery support for individuals and families navigating addiction, mental health, and behavioral health challenges.

Shirley shares her journey growing up as the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants in Oklahoma, where fitting in felt like survival, and how those early experiences shaped her views on identity, success, and belonging. She opens up about stepping into her authentic self—symbolized by her now-signature purple hair—and what it really took to move beyond fear, judgment, and societal expectations.

Her story is not just about building a successful business—it’s about unlearning perfectionism, embracing vulnerability, and redefining what leadership and success actually look like.

We talk about how authenticity can feel risky but necessary, why so much conventional business advice falls short, and how self-compassion plays a critical role in both personal growth and leadership.

We explore:

Why authenticity requires vulnerability and courage
How early cultural expectations shape our view of success
The trap of perfectionism and “being ready”
Why fitting in can hold you back from real growth
The reality of imposter syndrome—even at the highest levels
How to lead without hierarchy and embrace collaboration
Why self-compassion is essential for healing and progress
The importance of addressing mental health without shame or stigma

Shirley also shares personal insights into building and leading a 25-person team, navigating difficult leadership decisions, and creating a company culture rooted in growth rather than perfection.

This conversation is a reminder that success isn’t about fitting into a mold—it’s about breaking it, owning your story, and having the courage to show up as you are.

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Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com

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/kmillerhershon

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In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, I sit down with Jerry, an entrepreneur who has built, bought, and sold over a dozen businesses, generating more than $450 million in revenue.

Jerry shares his journey from growing up in extreme poverty as one of nine children to building a life and career from nothing no degree, no safety net, and no shortcuts. Through it all, he built a mindset grounded in one powerful principle: total ownership of your life and outcomes.

This conversation goes beyond business. It’s about resilience, discipline, and rethinking what real success looks like.

We dive into why taking responsibility changes everything, how early life shapes long-term outcomes, and why a lot of popular business advice misses the mark. Jerry also opens up about imposter syndrome, leadership, and the reality behind building and sustaining success.

We also explore:

- Why responsibility is a superpower in business and life

- How adversity can shape your advantage

- Why “perfect” business personas are a myth

- Why common sense often beats formal education

- What most leadership advice gets wrong

- How to grow without losing yourself

This is a conversation about mindset, ownership, and what it really takes to build something meaningful.

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Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com
LinkedIn: /kmillerhershon
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In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, I sit down with Michael Black, founder and CEO of Success Tutoring, one of Australia’s fastest-growing education franchises, and author of the bestselling book Millionaire Tutor.

Michael shares his journey from starting a tutoring business in a spare room as a teenager to building a global education brand with over 100 locations across multiple countries, all before the age of 30. Now expanding into the United States, his story challenges many assumptions about age, experience, and what it really takes to succeed in business.

Along the way, Michael realized that some of the most common advice entrepreneurs hear, like chasing “work-life balance” or diversifying too early, can actually slow growth. Instead, he built his success by focusing deeply on one thing, reinvesting consistently, and committing fully to a single vision without a backup plan.

We talk about what it means to build a business early in life, how to stay focused in the face of endless opportunities, and why execution matters more than perfection.

We explore:

Why work-life integration may matter more than work-life balance
The case for specialization before diversification
Why perfection can delay progress—and what to do instead
How reinvesting in your business fuels long-term growth
The reality of imposter syndrome at every stage of success
Why action, not just mindset, is the key to creating “luck.”

Michael also shares honest insights about navigating uncertainty as a young founder, from negotiating his first commercial lease to hiring his first team, and how pushing through discomfort helped him grow into his role as a leader.

This conversation is a reminder that success doesn’t come from having everything figured out—it comes from taking action, staying committed, and being willing to learn as you go.

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Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com

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/kmillerhershon

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In this milestone episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, I’m celebrating a moment that feels both exciting and a little surreal—Episode 50.

In less than a year, this podcast has grown into a space where leadership clichés come to retire and honest conversations about growth, business, and being human can actually take center stage. And while a podcast might look like a solo act from the outside, this episode is a reminder that it never really is.

This special episode is a pause—a moment to celebrate the guests, the listeners, and the behind-the-scenes team who have helped shape the conversations that make this show what it is today.

Along the way, I share a few reflections on what 50 episodes of challenging conventional thinking has taught me about leadership, growth, and the systems we often feel pressured to succeed within.

We explore:

Why conventional wisdom isn’t always wrong—but often incomplete
How questioning leadership “rules” can lead to better outcomes
The importance of honesty and vulnerability in real leadership conversations
Why many capable people struggle inside systems that weren’t designed for them
How curiosity and courage create space for better thinking
The power of community in building meaningful conversations

This episode is also a heartfelt thank-you to the incredible guests who brought their expertise and honesty to the show, the listeners who continue to share and support these conversations, and the production team who make sure each episode actually makes it from idea to published podcast.

Reaching 50 episodes isn’t just a milestone—it’s proof that people are hungry for conversations that go beyond motivational clichés and surface-level leadership advice.

If this podcast has helped you think differently, lead differently, or question the “shoulds” that shape the way we work and lead, consider sharing this episode with someone who might need the same reminder.

Because fresh thinking isn’t a one-time event—it’s a practice.

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Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com

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/kmillerhershon

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In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, I sit down with Diane Wheeler, founder and CEO of Home Hub AI, a tech startup building an ecosystem that helps homeowners track, protect, and grow the value of their homes.

After spending more than 25 years in banking, Diane took an unexpected turn into entrepreneurship when she realized how little support homeowners receive after purchasing a home. Inspired by her own experience buying a house and feeling “ghosted” once the transaction was complete, she set out to build a smarter solution, one that puts the homeowner at the center.

The result is Home Hub AI, an app designed to help homeowners organize documents, track maintenance, receive reminders, and make better decisions about their homes. With the help of an AI assistant named Val, the platform turns what can often feel like guesswork into a clear, organized system for managing one of the biggest investments people make.

You can find the Home Hub AI app on the App Store, and Diane shared a special offer for listeners. If you download the app and message her to let her know you came from the podcast, she’ll give you a special deal.

Along the way, Diane discovered that many of the traditional assumptions about technology founders, like needing to be a coder or technical expert, simply aren’t true. Instead, her strength lies in understanding real problems and designing solutions around the people experiencing them.

We explore:

• Why you don’t have to be a technical expert to build a tech company
• How traditional corporate hierarchy can slow innovation and decision-making
• The importance of designing solutions around real customer problems
• Why working smarter, not longer, often produces better results
• How creativity and downtime can actually improve productivity
• What it means to lead with trust rather than control

Diane also shares candid insights about imposter syndrome, navigating gender bias in both banking and tech, and learning to trust her voice as a founder. Her journey is a powerful example of how innovation often comes from asking simple questions and refusing to accept that “this is just how things are done.”

This conversation is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t reserved for technical experts or Silicon Valley insiders. Sometimes the most meaningful innovation comes from someone who sees a problem clearly and has the courage to solve it.

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Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com

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/kmillerhershon

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In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, I sit down with Tori Barker, founder of Creative Marketing, a digital marketing agency focused on helping coaches, consultants, and entrepreneurs increase their visibility and grow their businesses.

Tori shares her journey from spending 15 years in corporate marketing to accidentally becoming an entrepreneur in 2019. What started as freelance work quickly evolved into a full-fledged agency built around helping “best-kept secret” business owners become seen, heard, and recognized in their industries.

Along the way, Tori realized that many of the beliefs she carried from her corporate career—like the idea that simply working hard will lead to recognition and advancement—didn’t always hold true. Instead, she discovered that success often requires adaptability, visibility, and the willingness to rethink long-held assumptions about work and leadership.

We talk about how shifting perspective, challenging internal narratives, and embracing growth can transform both business and personal confidence.

We explore:

- Why hard work alone doesn’t always lead to recognition
- How perspective shapes what we believe is “hard” in business
- The reality of imposter syndrome—even after years of experience
- Why leadership works better when you individualize how you work with people
- The dangers of micromanaging and becoming the bottleneck in your own company
- How slowing down can actually create more clarity and better decision-making

Tori also shares how changing the way she starts her day—moving away from the constant urgency of email and task lists—helped her show up more intentionally as a business owner and leader. By giving herself time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with her purpose, she found a healthier and more effective way to grow her business.

This conversation is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t about following someone else’s formula for success. Sometimes the most powerful shift is simply giving yourself permission to slow down, trust your experience, and build a business that works for you.

Connect with me here:
Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com

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/kmillerhershon

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