Author: Paul Gichia

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Drawing a Line in Sand

Ly Smith:

Drawing a Line in Sand

On a picture-perfect Hawaiian holiday, Ly realized she was surrounded by beauty but unable to feel it. That moment sparked a journey of rediscovery, identity, and choice that transformed her life.

Bio

Ly is a motivational speaker, best-selling author, and creator of The CANDY Method™. She helps women entrepreneurs shift from REACTORS to CREATORS by teaching mindset, self-talk, and purpose-driven action. After overcoming a three-year depression and rebuilding her life in eight months, Ly now empowers women to quiet their inner critic, amplify their self-belief, and take clear and confident action to lead boldly and live fully.

Topics

  • Recognizing depression when you don’t “look depressed”
  • The moment of awakening: why self-awareness matters
  • Identity shifts and reclaiming your true self
  • Choosing to respond vs. react in life’s challenges
  • The “Reactor vs. Creator” framework explained
  • Inner child wisdom and rediscovering joy
  • How names shape identity and belonging
  • The ripple effect of personal transformation
  • Using public speaking as a tool for healing and impact
  • Seeing the best in others—and reflecting it back

Guiding Questions

  • Can you take us back to that Hawaiian sunset moment when everything shifted?
  • What made you realize you were experiencing depression?
  • How did your identity journey—from Nancy to Ly—play into your rediscovery?
  • What role did your inner child play in helping you find joy again?
  • Can you explain the “Reactor vs. Creator” framework and how it came to you?
  • Why do you believe choice is at the center of transformation?
  • What was it like to step into public speaking again after reclaiming yourself?
  • How has your personal growth impacted your family relationships?
  • How do you balance authenticity with positivity, especially when you’re struggling?
  • What message do you most hope audiences take away from your story?

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Summers in the Bakery

Ragan Andrew:

Summers in the Bakery

Growing up in her family’s small-town bakery, Ragan learned early that summer meant work, not leisure. Years later, after experiencing corporate life and government work, she finally stepped into her own dream—building a travel brand that’s all about creating unforgettable experiences.

Bio

Ragan Andrew is a seasoned professional with nearly two decades of experience in festivals, events, tourism, and public service. Currently with Adrift Tours and Travel, Ragan brings over 16 years of expertise in festival and event planning and has been actively involved in the tours and travel industry since 2006.

Her extensive background includes end-to-end event execution, strategic planning, and small business development, with a strong emphasis on creating memorable experiences and impactful community engagement. In addition to her work in tourism and events, Ragan has dedicated 15 years to city government, where she honed her skills in public administration, civic collaboration, and community-focused service delivery.

Ragan is passionate about connecting people, places, and culture—whether through travel experiences or dynamic local events. Her unique blend of public and private sector experience positions her as a leader in community enrichment and experiential tourism.

Topics

  • Lessons from growing up in a family business
  • The reality of summer work in tourism towns
  • How hospitality shapes leadership and customer experience
  • Transitioning from small business to corporate to entrepreneurship
  • Creating a brand that reflects your personality
  • Why “service before self” still matters
  • Building a registered trademarked business from scratch
  • Designing travel as an experience, not a product
  • The role of grace and focus in business growth
  • Turning lifelong skills into a legacy business

Guiding Questions

  • What was it like growing up in your parents’ bakery?
  • Can you share the “mixing bowl” story from your childhood?
  • How did working in a tourism town shape your work ethic?
  • What was the biggest contrast between small business and corporate life?
  • How did you know it was time to start your own company?
  • What does “experience creation” mean to you?
  • What’s been your proudest moment with Adrift Tours and Travel so far?
  • How did trademarking your brand change your mindset as a business owner?
  • What legacy do you hope to leave through your business?
  • How have personal wellness changes (like the super patch) impacted your work?

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Broke, Pissed, and Powerful

Amanda Rose:

Broke, Pissed, and Powerful

From acting to sales to barely surviving, Amanda’s life took a hard turn when a single letter threatened her home—and forced her to rewire everything she believed about money and worth.

Bio

Amanda Rose is the CEO and founder of The Infinite Power of You INC., Co-Founder of No BS Biz Co. Ltd., a Business, Wealth and Mindset Coach, Multi-Published Multi-Genre Bestselling Author, Motivational Speaker, Course Creator, Actor, and Self-Made Millionaire. Her corporation serves entrepreneurs worldwide, with her unique approach that focuses on understanding each client’s individual strengths and guiding them in building their own methodology, rather than attempting to get them to adapt to a specific mold.

Amanda has been a sales expert for over a decade, having experience in door-to-door sales, retail, live sales presentation, network marketing, and online product and service sales, which allows her to bring extensive insight to her clients. Amanda has been featured in many publications and news articles for her work, including FOX, CBS, Yahoo! Finance, and NBC, and was recently recognized with the BRAINZ Global 500 Award, the CREA 2021 Award, and CANVAS REBEL’S 2024 INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS. Amanda passionately works to help entrepreneurs succeed through her Corporation as well as within her Facebook Communities.

Topics

  • Mindset as a survival tool
  • What manifestation really takes
  • Shifting from victim mode to empowered mode
  • The identity leap behind lasting success
  • Why “just knowing” isn’t enough
  • How a 1% shift changed everything
  • Publishing your way into purpose
  • The spiritual science of success
  • Building a business from your breakdown
  • Embodying the future version of yourself now

Guiding Questions

  • What was going through your head when you opened that letter?
  • Why do you say the mindset shift was more important than any strategy?
  • How did growing up with Tony Robbins books influence you?
  • Why was it so infuriating when things finally started working?
  • What’s the difference between knowing personal development and living it?
  • What role did identity play in your transformation?
  • How did your background in storytelling shape your journey?
  • What do people misunderstand about manifestation?
  • What did you learn about fear of success—and being seen?
  • How do you coach people through making their own 1% shifts?

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Networking Without Borders

Michael Whitehouse:

Networking Without Borders

When the pandemic eliminated Michael’s primary marketing channel, it became a launchpad—leading him into global online networking and a new life coaching role. His story reveals unexpected opportunity in adversity.

Bio

Michael Whitehouse is a master connector, entrepreneur, and networking expert dedicated to helping business owners grow through authentic relationships and strategic partnerships. With years of experience running summits, coaching entrepreneurs, and building communities, Michael has facilitated countless collaborations that have led to real business success.

As the author of The Guy Who Knows a Guy and the host of a podcast by the same name, Michael shares his knowledge of relationship-based marketing and networking strategies that create opportunities for growth without cold outreach or high-pressure tactics. His flagship event, JV Connect, brings together top-tier entrepreneurs to form powerful, profitable partnerships.

Whether through live events, masterminds, or one-on-one coaching, Michael teaches entrepreneurs to use the Nine Foundational Questions of Business to deploy their resources effectively, and how to leverage connections for massive impact and sustainable income. His mission is simple: to help people make meaningful connections that drive business success.

Topics

  • Pivot mindset: When your core business fails
  • Rebuilding identity after professional collapse
  • Networking in the age of Zoom
  • How pandemic-era shifts reshape entrepreneurship
  • From magazine ads to coaching conversions
  • Sell-by-chat: strategy and cautionary tales
  • Power of abandoning a steady “Plan B”
  • How supplemental jobs spark insight
  • Coaching as connection: community over convenience
  • Building aligned programs (tech + geek culture)

Guiding Questions

  • What was your emotional state when in-person networking vanished?
  • How did you discover your first coaching clients?
  • What surprised you about “sell by chat”?
  • How hard was it to leave magazine publishing?
  • What made you decide not to return, even when possible?
  • How did you use DoorDash/Uber to build local connections?
  • What did you learn from early client dropouts?
  • How do you integrate geek culture into coaching?
  • Why is global Zoom networking a game-changer?
  • What advice do you have for others whose business just sank?

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Creating My Own Way

Rachel Lee:

Creating My Own Way

Rachel Lee thought a job in design would finally scratch her lifelong creative itch—but the opposite happened. What followed was a surprising realization about what creativity really is and how stifled expression can quietly ruin everything.

Bio

Rachel Lee is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Unicorn of Neo Genesis, a personal branding agency for creatives & misfits who are sick of hiding and are finally ready to show up online exactly as they are.

As an artist, designer and (recovering) creative entrepreneur who’s helped over a hundred brands across North America ditch the boring and glow it up while still keeping it classy, Rachel has mastered the art of making ‘professional’ and ‘fun’ play nice together — all without scaring off clients or looking like a hot mess.

Whether you’re starting fresh, levelling up, or just figuring it out as you go, Rachel’s got your back with her signature, 1-week brand transformations that will help you show up confidently and attract those dream opportunities you’ve been dying to get!

When Rachel’s not saving brands from themselves, you’ll probably find her doodling on her iPad, blasting EDM on a run, or getting cozy with her cat.

Topics

  • The hidden cost of working in a “creative” job
  • How businesses unconsciously suppress innovation
  • Reclaiming your voice after professional burnout
  • The emotional and physical toll of unexpressed creativity
  • Why entrepreneurship doesn’t always mean freedom
  • Creativity as a mindset—not a medium
  • Rebuilding a business from your truth
  • The power of curiosity and experimentation
  • How conformity kills innovation
  • Why self-expression is vital for well-being

Guiding Questions

  • What did creativity mean to you growing up—and how did that evolve in adulthood?
  • Can you describe the moment you realized your “dream job” wasn’t fulfilling you?
  • Why do you think so many creative roles don’t actually allow for creativity?
  • How did it feel to suppress your creative voice in your early business years?
  • What pushed you to finally say “enough” and change how you showed up?
  • How do you define creativity now—beyond just artistic expression?
  • What did rebuilding your business “your way” actually look like in practice?
  • How does unexpressed creativity show up in our bodies and emotions?
  • What do you say to people who say “I’m not creative”?
  • What’s one small step anyone can take today to reconnect with their creative self?

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Clarity Through Chaos

Debra Chantry-Taylor:

Clarity Through Chaos

After a devastating business failure, Debra found herself unemployed, bankrupt, and pleading for government assistance in a pinstripe suit. But that wasn’t the end of her story—it was the start of something deeper.

Bio

Certified EOS Implementer | Family Business Advisor | Visionary Entrepreneur

I don’t just teach EOS. I live & breathe it. I use it in all three of my own businesses & have helped 100+ Kiwi & Aussie companies implement it too. I work with entrepreneurs & family business owners to build companies that are scalable, sustainable & ultimately saleable — whether they plan to grow, pass it on, or step away.

Many business owners reach a point where the business feels stuck. The team isn’t aligned, the vision is fuzzy, & they’re working harder than ever without the same results. That’s where I come in.

I work with leadership teams to:

  • Get clear on their vision using simple, powerful language
  • Create traction through focus, rhythm & accountability
  • Build healthy, functional teams who actually enjoy working together

I specialize in private & family-owned businesses where the personal often collides with the professional. These environments are complex, emotional & deeply personal. I use EOS tools alongside the Harvard 3-Circle Family Business Model to help teams make better decisions, with less drama & more clarity. I bring calm, curiosity & structure to messy dynamics.

My style is direct, practical & no-nonsense. But I’m also empathetic, fun & people-focused. I’m not a consultant who tells you what to do. I’m a facilitator, coach & teacher who asks the right questions so you & your team find your own best answers. I’ll challenge you kindly, hold space for tough conversations, & help you make real progress.

Outside of work, I love nature, fast cars, electric bikes, photography & travel. I’ve won trophies in horse riding, go-karting, dog agility & tennis. I speak three languages (not fluently, but fearlessly) & I’m always learning something new.

My 3 uniques:

1. No fluff. Just real-world leadership experience

I’ve built businesses, led 220-person teams, survived failures & created wins. I get straight to the point & help you move forward fast.

2. Certified EOS Implementer with high-challenge, high-support energy

I bring clarity, energy & momentum. I’ll support you, but I won’t let you hide. I ask the tough stuff because I care.

3. Specialist in family & multi-owner business dynamics

I help navigate emotional complexity with practical tools. You’ll gain structure, better communication & stronger relationships.

This is why my clients get real results! 💖

Topics

  • How to come back after total business failure
  • What forced clarity breaks can teach entrepreneurs
  • The emotional toll of entrepreneurship—and how to survive it
  • Merging businesses: what no one tells you
  • Navigating grief while running a business
  • How personal loss reshaped my business philosophy
  • Why market validation sometimes fails (even when you know better)
  • Learning to let go: business identity and ego
  • Self-worth after failure: rebuilding belief in yourself
  • Creating entrepreneurial spaces that support the whole human

Guiding Questions

  • Can you take us to the moment you found out about the tax debt?
  • What was it like walking into Work and Income New Zealand in your suit that day?
  • What limiting beliefs did this experience reinforce—and how did you move past them?
  • How did you emotionally process letting your team go?
  • What did you learn from the first business collapse that you took into your second venture?
  • How did the deaths of your brother and mother shift your priorities in business?
  • What exactly changed in your business model after that “forced clarity break”?
  • Why do you think entrepreneurs often struggle to let go—even when something clearly isn’t working?
  • Can you talk about the role grief played in your clarity and decision-making?
  • What advice would you give to someone who’s hit rock bottom but isn’t ready to give up?

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Panel: More Than Money: Preparing for the Retirement That Really Matters

More Than Money: Preparing for the Retirement That Really Matters

Many prepare financially for retirement, but few prepare emotionally, spiritually, or relationally.

This panel hosted by Vona Johnson and Michael Fritzius brings together 3 panelists in the areas of leadership, travel and retirement planning, so that you get a complete view of how to prepare for that season in a God-honoring way.

We’re pleased to share the time and expertise with you on this info-packed panel, hosted on August 25th at 4pm CST.

Sign up on the calendar below and have the registration info sent directly to your email!

SOME OF OUR

Testimonials

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Holding Space Within

Alethea Felton:

Holding Space Within

As an educator and entrepreneur, Alethea mastered showing up for everyone except herself. It took a painful but powerful turning point to make her see the cost of neglecting her own well-being. Now, she teaches others how to find sustainable balance without guilt.

Bio

Alethea Felton is a motivational speaker, bestselling author, transformational specialist, and founder of Alethea Felton Coaching, LLC and the Resilient Leaders Alliance. As host of The Power Transformation Podcast – a Top 5% ranked show – she celebrates the power of turning adversity into triumph.

With over two decades in education and entrepreneurship, Alethea helps leaders master resilience, transform setbacks into breakthroughs, and elevate their overall influence personally and professionally. She turns life’s challenging plot twists into power moves, equipping leaders to bounce back, level up, and thrive. Having overcome life-threatening health challenges since birth, she embodies perseverance, inspiring others to reclaim their best lives and lead with purpose.

A proud Southeastern Virginia native and longtime Washington, DC resident, Alethea enjoys mermaids, genealogy, and time with Buddy, her playful American tabby.

Topics

  • The power of compartmentalization in leadership
  • Lessons from caregiving while building a business
  • Balancing personal wellness with professional demands
  • How to avoid over-giving in service roles
  • Navigating grief while staying present for others
  • Creating boundaries when you lead people
  • Finding the courage to focus on yourself
  • Building resilience during health crises
  • How therapy changed my approach to work and life
  • Practical strategies for sustainable self-care

Guiding Questions

  • What was the turning point that showed you you needed to prioritize yourself?
  • How did your friend Shaderi influence your life’s direction?
  • What does healthy compartmentalization look like in real life?
  • How did you juggle caregiving and entrepreneurship at the same time?
  • What’s the biggest lesson you learned from balancing wellness with leadership?
  • What do you wish more leaders knew about pouring from a full cup?
  • How did therapy help you build practical skills for balance?
  • What role does emotional health play in physical wellness?
  • How can others set boundaries without feeling guilty?
  • What advice would you give someone who feels they’re giving too much and have nothing left for themselves?

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Rewriting My Health

Serena Sabala:

Rewriting My Health

A teenage diagnosis left Serena feeling powerless and afraid for her future. Years of struggle turned into years of research, discovery, and creating a proven method that changes lives naturally.

Bio

Transforming high-achieving leaders into their most vibrant, balanced, and impactful selves — because when you thrive, everyone around you flourishes.

As an Executive Coach, Certified Nutrition Consultant and Trainer, and Hormone Balance Specialist, I partner with ambitious professionals to achieve optimal wellbeing and leadership excellence. Together with my husband Eugene at Whole Shift Wellness, we’ve transformed the lives of 600+ professionals across five continents.

My journey began personally. At age eight, I watched my father—a brilliant entrepreneur—lose everything because he didn’t have the tools to balance success with self-care. This profound experience shaped my mission: helping leaders sustain their success through integrated wellness.

Our signature method, detailed in my book “Make The Shift,” proves that extraordinary results don’t require extreme measures. We believe that YOU are the most important person in your life, that the more YOU have, the more YOU have to give, and that YOU are capable of WAY more than you think.

Today, I work passionately with leaders who want to show up as their strongest selves—physically, mentally, and professionally. Our approach harmonizes executive leadership development, hormone balance, nutrition, and stress management into one powerful program.

In the corporate sphere, we’re revolutionizing workplace wellness because we know that “employees who are cared for, care more.” Whether you’re seeking personal transformation or looking to elevate your organization’s wellness culture, let’s connect.

🌟 Specializing in: Executive Coaching | Hormone Balance | Corporate Wellness

📚 Author of “Make The Shift”

🌍 Impacting leaders across 5 continents

Topics

  • Overcoming PCOS through holistic methods
  • From painkillers to empowered health choices
  • Why lifestyle change beats quick fixes
  • Nutrition’s role in hormonal balance
  • How yoga supports hormone health
  • The emotional side of chronic conditions
  • Listening to your body when doctors don’t
  • Building a protocol that works for you
  • Helping young women take charge of their health
  • Turning personal struggles into a wellness business

Guiding Questions

  • What was it like to hear that diagnosis at 14?
  • How did the pill’s side effects shape your journey?
  • What made you decide to look for solutions outside traditional medicine?
  • What was the turning point where you said, “enough is enough”?
  • How did you discover which natural approaches worked for you?
  • How did your condition impact your professional life early on?
  • Why do you believe so many women feel powerless about their health?
  • What advice would you give to women newly diagnosed with PCOS or PMDD?
  • What inspired you to write your Hormone Harmony Shift book?
  • How can women begin to advocate for themselves when doctors say “there’s nothing you can do”?

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From Skincare To Sage

Missy Coleman:

From Skincare To Sage

Melissa Coleman never imagined herself behind a radio mic—until a single conversation shifted everything. What started as a leap outside her comfort zone turned into Sage Advice with Melissa, a platform blending mind, body, and spirit.

Bio

With an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for elevating others, Melissa Coleman has established herself as a dynamic business leader in the St. Louis community. Born and raised in the Gateway City, Melissa continues to call St. Louis home, where she resides with her husband and pursues her multifaceted career with unwavering enthusiasm.

Bringing over 28 years of expertise in marketing and accounting, Melissa has channeled her business acumen into creating Sage Skincare Solutions, an innovative aloe-based skincare line. As Owner and Skin Care Strategist, she has built her brand from the ground up, establishing its presence in the historic Hill neighborhood of St. Louis.

Beyond the skincare industry, Melissa’s voice reaches across North America as the producer and host of two successful radio programs. Her shows, “Sage Advice with Melissa” and “It’s Your Business,” broadcast live across 100 cities throughout the United States and Canada every weekday on the My Genre Radio Network.

Through these platforms, she continues her passion for coaching entrepreneurs and business owners, helping them discover pathways to greater success. When she’s not building her business empire or sharing wisdom over the airwaves, Melissa embraces a balanced lifestyle. She recharges through regular workouts, yoga practice, and meditation. An enthusiastic home chef, she finds joy in preparing delicious meals for the family and friends who form her supportive inner circle.

Topics

  • Finding your true voice in unexpected places
  • How live radio changed my confidence
  • Lessons learned from unscripted conversations
  • Mind, body, spirit alignment in business
  • Saying yes when fear says no
  • Building community through conscious conversation
  • Why holistic wellness needs more air time
  • Behind the scenes of starting a radio show
  • How to choose topics that inspire you and your audience
  • Staying grounded while wearing many hats

Guiding Questions

  • How did your conversation with Dr. Stan Fine change your career path?
  • What was your biggest fear before going live on the radio for the first time?
  • How did you decide what Sage Advice with Melissa would focus on?
  • What surprised you most about hosting a radio show?
  • Can you share a moment when a guest’s story deeply impacted you?
  • How do you balance skincare, radio, and your other passions?
  • What mindset shifts helped you move through the nerves of live broadcasting?
  • Why is talking about mind, body, and spirit alignment so important to you?
  • How do you prepare for an unscripted, authentic show?
  • What advice do you have for people afraid to share their voice?

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