In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Kate Kayaian, a former professional cellist turned career strategist, author, and coach. Kate shares her journey from performing on world-class stages to making the bold decision to step away from a successful music career in her forties. What makes her story especially powerful is that nothing was “wrong” on the outside. She had built a life many would aspire to, yet something no longer fit.

Kate opens up about the internal shift that led her to question her path, including the realization that success as she had defined it no longer aligned with the life she wanted to live. Through the unexpected pause of the pandemic, she began experimenting with new ways of working, which led to coaching, creating programs, and ultimately discovering work that felt more meaningful and aligned. Her story challenges the belief that we must stay on a path simply because it has been successful.

Together, Tammy and Kate explore what it means to redefine potential on your own terms, how to move past the stories that keep you stuck, and why it is never too late to pivot. Kate also shares a simple yet powerful mindset shift that can help you move from feeling blocked to seeing new possibilities. This conversation is an invitation to rethink what is possible for your next chapter.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How to recognize when a successful career no longer aligns with your values
• Why external success does not always translate to internal fulfillment
• The role of identity in keeping you stuck in a path that no longer fits
• How the pandemic created unexpected opportunities for reinvention
• The difference between ego-driven success and purpose-driven work
• Why you do not need a crisis to justify making a change
• How to translate existing skills into a completely new career direction
• The power of questioning the stories you tell yourself about your past, present, and future
• A practical mindset shift from “no, because” to “yes, if”
• How to begin redefining your potential on your own terms



Learn more about Kate:

• Read: Beyond Potential: A Guide for Creatives Who Want to Re-Assess, Re-Define, and Re-Ignite Their Careers
• Listen: Tales from the Lane podcast
• Visit: katekayaian.com
• Follow Kate on Instagram: @kkayaian
• Get on the Wait List: Creatives Leadership Academy

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

What does leadership look like in a world where emotions are more present at work than ever before? In this episode, Tammy speaks with executive coach, strategic advisor, and author Dina Denham Smith about the increasing emotional demands placed on leaders today. Drawing on her background in organizational psychology, business, and executive leadership, Dina shares how workplaces have changed and why leaders are being charged with navigating situations that go well beyond traditional management practices. In her new book, Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work, she connects the dots between the complexities of intensified emotions in the workplace and the practical approaches needed to lead a trusting and engaged workforce.

Dina reflects on her early life growing up on a boys boarding school campus and how that environment shaped her confidence, communication style, and comfort speaking up in male dominated settings. She also shares the path that led her from studying organizational psychology to earning an MBA, working in consulting and private equity, and eventually building a successful executive coaching practice.

Tammy and Dina also explore the concept of emotional labor in leadership. Dina explains why the emotional expectations placed on leaders have intensified in recent years and offers practical insights for navigating difficult conversations, supporting teams through change, and leading effectively in an emotionally complex workplace.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How Dina’s unconventional childhood shaped her confidence and communication style
• Why early work experiences influenced her interest in workplace psychology
• The path from studying organizational psychology to earning an MBA and moving into consulting
• What she learned working in organizational strategy and corporate transformation
• Dina’s transition from corporate leadership roles into executive coaching
• Why writing became an important part of her professional work
• The concept of emotional labor and how it applies to leadership
• Why leaders today face higher emotional demands than in the past
• How leaders can navigate emotionally charged conversations with their teams
• Practical ways to explore career changes through experimentation rather than overthinking



Learn more about Dina:

• Website: www.dinadsmith.com
• Book: Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dina-denham-smith/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dinadsmith71/

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

What if meetings didn’t have to feel like a drain, but instead became one of the most powerful tools for collaboration and career growth? In this episode, I’m joined by Rebecca Hinds, organizational behavior expert and author of Your Best Meeting Ever: Seven Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done. Rebecca shares how her early years as a competitive swimmer shaped her understanding of teamwork and why putting the team first ultimately elevates individual success.

We explore the science of collaboration, what most organizations get wrong about meetings, and why so many well-intentioned efforts, including AI rollouts, fail due to human resistance rather than technical limitations. Rebecca explains the “4D rule” for deciding whether a meeting should even exist, how network science can transform career advancement, and why cognitive wandering is essential for innovation.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by inefficient meetings, skeptical about AI at work, or unsure how to position yourself for what’s next in your career, this conversation offers both research-backed insights and practical ways to rethink how you show up for your team and for yourself.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How Rebecca’s experience as a competitive swimmer shaped her understanding of teamwork
• Why organizations often reward individual performance over team success and why that’s a mistake
• The 4D rule for determining whether a meeting should exist
• Dropbox’s radical “Meeting Gettin’” experiment
• The hidden psychology behind meeting overload
• How network science influences career advancement
• Why weak ties (not strong ones) often lead to new opportunities
• What “cognitive wandering” is and why it fuels innovation
• Why AI initiatives fail due to human resistance, not technical limitations
• How to combine disciplines to create a unique competitive advantage
• Why designing and running effective meetings is a high-value leadership skill



Learn more about Rebecca:

• Read: Your Best Meeting Ever: Seven Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done
• Visit: RebeccaHinds.com
• Follow on LinkedIn: @rebecca-hinds

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In Episode 290 of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Margaret Andrews, author of Manage Yourself to Lead Others: Why Great Leadership Begins with Self-Understanding. A seasoned executive leader, Harvard instructor, and founder of the MYLO Center, Margaret shares why leadership is not just a skillset, it’s a craft that begins within. From her early career in consulting to running MBA and executive programs at MIT and Harvard, Margaret’s journey has been guided by curiosity, risk-taking, and deep reflection.

Margaret explains why self-awareness becomes increasingly important as we move into leadership roles. One of her most powerful insights? We judge ourselves by our intentions, but others judge us by our behaviors. That gap can undermine even the most well-meaning leaders. She shares how understanding our formative influences, values, and definitions of success allows us to close that gap and lead with greater clarity and impact.

In a world reshaped by post-pandemic workplace shifts, hybrid culture debates, and rapid change, Margaret reminds us that there is no silver bullet in leadership, only thoughtful, intentional navigation. If you’re contemplating your next move, leading a team, or striving to grow into your next level, this conversation offers practical frameworks and reflective questions to help you truly work from the inside out.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• Why leadership is a creative craft and not just a position
• The difference between intentions and behaviors, and why it matters
• How curiosity shapes career transitions
• The role of risk-taking in professional growth
• Why self-understanding is foundational to leading others
• The paradox of hybrid work and organizational culture
• How leaders can close the intention–behavior gap
• Why slowing down leads to better long-term decisions
• The importance of modeling learning and vulnerability
• Practical reflection strategies for your next career move

Learn more about Margaret:

• Visit The MYLO Center
• Read: Manage Yourself to Lead Others: Why Great Leadership Begins with Self-Understanding
• Follow Margaret on LinkedIn: @margaretcandrews
• Visit MargaretAndrews.com

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work From the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb sits down with entrepreneur and leadership innovator Addie Swartz, CEO of reacHIRE. Addie shares the remarkable throughline of her career, from selling apple pies at age 12 to founding multiple mission-driven companies, all rooted in a belief that talent, confidence, and potential exist everywhere, even when they’re overlooked.

Throughout the conversation, Addie reflects on pivotal moments that shaped her path, including her time at Bain, Disney, and Lotus, and the personal experiences that inspired her to build businesses supporting women, girls, and professionals navigating career transitions. From creating positive role models for young girls through The Beacon Street Girls to helping experienced professionals return to meaningful work, Addie illustrates how life’s disruptions often reveal powerful opportunities.

Addie also discusses the evolution of reacHIRE and its leadership platform, Aurora, which help individuals grow, re-enter, and advance within organizations by focusing on strengths, confidence, and intentional support. Her advice for anyone facing a transition is both reassuring and practical: lean into your potential, stay curious, and don’t go it alone. This episode is a powerful reminder that every stage of life holds the possibility for growth and reinvention.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How early entrepreneurial experiences can shape lifelong leadership instincts
• Why confidence, and not capability, is often the biggest barrier during career transitions
• The hidden cost of sidelining experienced talent after career breaks
• How strengths-based leadership development drives engagement, growth, and retention
• Why meaningful careers are built through curiosity, courage, and support at every stage of life

Learn more about Addie:

• Follow Addie on LinkedIn: @addieswartz
• Visit the website: reachire.com
• Explore Aurora



Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

What happens when life strips away certainty—health, finances, identity—and asks you to rebuild from the inside out? In this powerful episode, Tammy Gooler Loeb sits down with Matt Paradise, financial wellness speaker, award-winning author, and living example of resilience. Matt shares his extraordinary journey from homelessness and addiction to a decades-long career in financial counseling and ultimately, to redefining what true wealth really means.

Matt reflects on growing up between two vastly different worlds, grappling with addiction as a teenager, and becoming sober at 18. His story unfolds through mentorship, purpose, and a growing understanding that money is rarely just about math. It’s about identity, meaning, and hope. Along the way, Matt explains the critical difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, why comparison is the thief of joy, and how unaddressed inner struggles often show up in our financial lives.

The conversation takes a profound turn when Matt shares his experience surviving a rare bile duct cancer diagnosis and liver transplant. Out of that pain emerged clarity—and his book, Financially Capable: A Friendly Guide to Building Whole-Health Wealth. This episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and ask: What does “enough” really look like and how do we build lives that support our whole selves?

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• Why financial stress is rarely just about money
• The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
• How addiction, debt, and overwork share common emotional roots
• What it means to build Whole Health Wealth
• The role of mentorship in personal and professional transformation
• How serious illness can clarify purpose and priorities
• Why “done is better than perfect” when life is uncertain
• A practical five-step framework for meaningful change
• Reframing “have to” into “get to”
• Why hope matters—even when it’s not a strategy

Learn more about Matt:

• Read: Financially Capable: A Friendly Guide to Building Whole Health Wealth
• Visit mattparadise.com
• LinkedIn: @mattparadise
• Facebook



Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of the Work from the Inside Out podcast, I’m joined by executive coach and author of The Visibility Factor, Susan Barber. A former Fortune 500 IT Director, Susan helps business leaders who want to leverage their leadership strengths, increase their visibility, and elevate their impact in the workplace. Susan specializes in working with quiet, high-achieving leaders who want to step into the spotlight in authentic ways, so they can be seen, valued, and influential at work.

Susan shares her journey working for 25 years in various leadership roles at Kraft Heinz to entrepreneurship, including the moment she received career-changing feedback that she “wasn’t visible enough.” That feedback, despite years of strong performance, forced her to confront imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and the subtle ways leaders unintentionally hold themselves back.

We discuss what visibility really means, why it’s not about bragging or being the loudest voice in the room, and how leaders, especially introverts, can reframe visibility as service, clarity, and responsibility. Susan also shares insights from her recently published Your Journey to Visibility Workbook and offers practical guidance for people navigating career growth, and professional transitions.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• Why visibility ≠ self-promotion
• How imposter syndrome quietly limits career growth
• The difference between being busy and being visible
• Why introverts often struggle with visibility and how to reframe it
• How feedback (even painful feedback) can become a career-defining gift
• What it really means to “do the job before you get the job”
• Practical ways to show up more intentionally without changing who you are

Learn more about Susan:

• Read: The Visibility Factor: Breakthrough Your Fears, Stand In Your Own Power And Become The Authentic Leader You Were Meant To Be
• Read: Your Journey To Visibility Workbook: A Proven Action Plan to Achieve Career Success
• Listen: The Visibility Factor podcast
• Visit: SusanMBarber.com
• LinkedIn: SusanBarberCoaching



Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

This week, Tammy welcomes back author and executive coach Jacqueline Wales, whose new book Fear Intelligence: A Practical Framework for Leading Beyond Fear offers a powerful, compassionate roadmap for understanding how fears shape our lives and our leadership style. Drawing on her two plus decades of coaching executives, professionals, and creatives, Jacqueline explains how fear, often misunderstood or ignored, offers a deeply influential emotional signal that calls for our attention.

In the conversation, Jacqueline shares the evolution of her work, beginning with her early books The Fearless Factor and The Fearless Factor at Work, and leading to her latest framework, a four-part acronym: Face It, Explore It, Act on It, Rise with It. She and Tammy discuss how fear shows up in our behaviors, especially as avoidance, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or over-functioning, and how intergenerational stories can quietly shape our sense of safety and self-worth. Jacqueline illustrates how fear often runs “in the background,” like a CPU, until we learn to pause, question, and explore what it’s actually signaling.

Listeners will gain a fresh understanding of fear as data, not destiny. Jacqueline emphasizes that growth is not about becoming fearless, a myth she debunks. Becoming fear intelligent means choosing honesty over avoidance and conscious action over self-sabotage. Practical tools, reflective questions, and stories from her coaching practice illuminate how anyone can begin clearing the “old stories” that block their potential and open up space for the life they truly want.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• What Fear Intelligence is and why it matters for leaders and professionals
• The four-step F.E.A.R. Framework: Face It, Explore It, Act on It, Rise with It
• How fear shapes behavior through avoidance, perfectionism, and people-pleasing
• Why fear is often intergenerational, and how those stories get passed along
• Viewing fear as data rather than danger — and how that shift empowers action
• How to identify the stories that quietly reinforce “I’m not good enough”
• Why uncertainty is unavoidable, and why choosing discomfort can open new paths
• Jacqueline’s personal journey from hardship to transformation
• Tools, exercises, and real-life examples from her new book Fear Intelligence
• How to begin building a more honest, compassionate relationship with yourself

Learn more about Jacqueline:

• Read: Fear Intelligence: A practical framework for leading beyond fear
• Visit JacquelineWales.com
• Visit fearintelligence.co
• LinkedIn: Jacqueline Wales



Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb