How Redemption, Resilience, and Brokenness Feed the Multitude Our newest episode is out now! In Episode 6 of Your Authentic Executive, we sit down with Stephen Barbee—a former All-American athlete, mentor, and founder of Passion to Purpose Ministries. Stephen transformed his life from crack addiction and incarceration to finding a meaningful purpose, developing a faith-driven life, and inspiring leadership. Stephen’s story is a raw, powerful testimony of redemption and resilience,...

CEO Mom: Leading with Grit, Grace, and Generational Wisdom As we approach Mother’s Day, Episode 5 features a story that honors the profound intersection of leadership and legacy. Meet Kim Cappellano, CEO of Private Wealth and a mother of four, in her most courageous leadership act to date: sharing her deeply personal IVF journey for the first time. A private leader by nature, Kim steps forward in this conversation—not for attention, but because she knows that sharing what’s real helps ...

How Freediving, Failure, and a 16-Year-Old Leader Built Executive Grit – New Podcast Episode Out Now! What do freediving and boardroom leadership have in common? In Episode 4 of Your Authentic Executive, I sit down with Robert Vause, an unconventional leader whose journey began at age 16, managing a service department—and has taken him everywhere from near-military flight school to the depths of freediving and the heights of executive leadership. Robert’s story is a mastercl...

In this episode of Your Authentic Executive, host Dr. Janyne Peek Emsick sits down with Nash Mahupete, the newly appointed CEO of QLI (Quality Living, Inc.) in Omaha, Nebraska. Nash shares his inspiring journey from his upbringing in Zimbabwe to leading a multiple-time Best Places to Work organization. Key Themes & Takeaways: A Journey of Resilience & LeadershipNash reflects on his formative years in Zimbabwe, where he grew up in a home shaped by faith, community, and a deep sense of ...

In this episode of Your Authentic Executive, host Dr. Janyne Peek Emsick welcomes Pat Kearns, a physical therapist, President, and CEO of QLI (Quality Living, Inc.), an award-winning organization recognized multiple times as a Best Places to Work organization. Key Themes & Takeaways: Roots & Leadership Foundations Pat shares her upbringing in rural western Nebraska (Gordon, NE), a community she describes as "God’s country," rich in safety, connection, and opportunity. She reflects on ...

In this debut episode of Your Authentic Executive Podcast, we sit down with Susan Courtney, retired Executive Vice President of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, to explore her incredible journey from a small-town childhood in Minnesota to leading at the highest levels of corporate America. Susan shares insights from her early years, the impact of her family, and how golf played a pivotal role in shaping her identity. She reflects on her time in the Navy during the Cold War, where sh...