Leadership Backstage Podcast
by Claudia Williams
Leadership Backstage: Conversations Uncovering Blind Spots & BreakthroughsLeadership Backstage invites you behind the curtain of leadership, far away from polished bios and perfect LinkedIn posts and into the real, unfiltered stories that shape today’s most impactful leaders. This podcast digs into the hidden moments, blind spots, turning points, and cultural shifts that define the journey of modern leadership.Hosted by Claudia Williams, award-winning attorney turned leadership coach and creator of frientorship®, the show brings together CEOs, founders, executives, thought leaders, and culture-builders who have weathered scaling pains, tough decisions, team crises, and the emotional challenges of leading people.Here, conversations get honest. Vulnerability meets strategy. And leaders share the lessons they rarely talk about publicly, the setbacks, gratitude moments, rebuilding phases, and the breakthroughs that changed everything.🔥 Why Listen to Leadership Backstage? Because leadership
Episodes
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How a Former Marine Became a People‑First Leader
Every once in a while, I sit down with someone whose leadership journey stays with me long after the microphones are turned off — and my conversation with Michael Bistline was one of those moments. What struck me most about Mike wasn’t just the breadth of his experience — from Marine Corps...
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From Multi-Million Dollar Business to Spiritual Awakening: Nate Wakeford’s Story
When I first met Nate Wakeford, I knew this conversation would be different. Nate built one of Australia’s leading specialty beverage companies, supplying thousands of cafes and even tech giants like Google and Twitter. By all accounts, he had “made it.” But what happens when success and comfort...
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Leadership Secrets: Building Ownership Culture | Jason Fralick
I had the privilege of sitting down with Jason Fralick, President and CEO of HRG, for this episode of Leadership Backstage. Jason’s story is incredible; he went from a college graduate to leading an engineering services firm with over 400 employees. What makes HRG unique? Their commitment to...
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Mark Bonsall: Lessons from an Introverted CEO
Hi, I’m Claudia Williams, and this episode of Leadership Backstage is one you don’t want to miss. I had the privilege of sitting down with Mark Bonsall, former president of Conrad Siegel, to talk about his incredible journey from introverted number cruncher to respected leader. Mark opens up…
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The CEO’s Path: From Humble Beginnings to Community Impact
I had the privilege of sitting down with Mary Quinn, CEO of YWCA Harrisburg, for one of the most inspiring conversations I’ve ever had on Leadership Backstage. Mary’s story moved me deeply—from growing up in a poor, working-class family in Detroit to leading a major nonprofit that impacts…
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Innovation, Growth, and Grit: Leadership Lessons from Amy Murray
What does leadership really look like when the cameras are off? In this episode of Leadership Backstage, I sit down with Amy Murray, Partner at Pavone Group, for a conversation that goes beyond titles and success stories. We talk honestly about what it means to be a partner — the responsibility,...
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Navigating Leadership and Business Growth in Law Firms: A Conversation with Steve Williams
In this episode of Leadership Backstage, host Claudia Williams sits down with Steve Williams, a leading expert in landlord-tenant law and the managing partner of Cohen Segs Palace, Greenhall, and Furman. Steve shares his remarkable journey from working in a small real estate firm to leading a...
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From Marketing Intern to CEO: Inside Betsy Hamm’s Leadership Journey | Leadership Backstage
In this episode of Leadership Backstage, we sit down with Betsy Hamm, whose career journey spans from a marketing intern at Hershey to the CEO of Duck Donuts, one of the most beloved franchise brands in the world. Betsy takes us behind the scenes of scaling a family-owned business into an...
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From Blind Spots to Breakthroughs: Leadership Starts Here | Introducing The Leadership Backstage Podcast
Welcome to Episode 1 of Leadership Backstage, a podcast dedicated to uncovering the REAL, unfiltered truth about leadership, growth, and the often-lonely journey behind the title. In this solo kickoff episode, host Claudia Williams shares her personal story, from growing up in a traditional...
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From Multi-Million Dollar Business to Spiritual Awakening: Nate Wakeford’s Story
When I first met Nate Wakeford, I knew this conversation would be different. Nate built one of Australia’s leading specialty beverage companies, supplying thousands of cafes and even tech giants like Google and Twitter. By all accounts, he had “made it.” But what happens when success and comfort...
About this show
Leadership Backstage: Conversations Uncovering Blind Spots & BreakthroughsLeadership Backstage invites you behind the curtain of leadership, far away from polished bios and perfect LinkedIn posts and into the real, unfiltered stories that shape today’s most impactful leaders. This podcast digs into the hidden moments, blind spots, turning points, and cultural shifts that define the journey of modern leadership.Hosted by Claudia Williams, award-winning attorney turned leadership coach and creator of frientorship®, the show brings together CEOs, founders, executives, thought leaders, and culture-builders who have weathered scaling pains, tough decisions, team crises, and the emotional challenges of leading people.Here, conversations get honest. Vulnerability meets strategy. And leaders share the lessons they rarely talk about publicly, the setbacks, gratitude moments, rebuilding phases, and the breakthroughs that changed everything.🔥 Why Listen to Leadership Backstage? Because leadership
Hosted by
Claudia Williams