PODCAST · business
Leading Without Illusions
by Athena
Leading Without Illusions is Athena’s podcast for leaders navigating the fast-moving, often misunderstood world of artificial intelligence. Co-hosts Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly bring candid conversations with innovators on what AI is, where it goes wrong, and how to lead with better questions, sharper judgment, and real accountability. Expect practical clarity on bias, trust, risk, and the human choices shaping what comes next.
Episodes
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Garry Ridge | WD-40 | June
What does it take to build a culture where people genuinely love coming to work? In this episode of Leading Without Illusions, Holly Smithson and Jay Connolly sit down with leadership icon and former WD-40 CEO Garry Ridge to explore the principles that transformed a simple household product…
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Kaye Foster | BCG | May
In a world shaped by disruption, uncertainty, and accelerating AI adoption, what does effective leadership actually look like? In this episode of Leading Without Illusions, Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly are joined by Kaye Foster, Senior advisor at Boston Consulting Group, for a candid,...
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Dr. Carlos Nunez | Resmed | April
Artificial intelligence is moving fast—but is it really as disruptive as it seems? In this episode of Leading Without Illusions, Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly sit down with Dr. Carlos Nunez of ResMed to separate signal from noise in the AI conversation. From being in the top 1% of global AI...
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Dr. Stephen Morse | Unchained Solutions | March
In this episode of Athena’s Leading Without Illusions, hosts Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly sit down with Dr. Stephen Morse, founder of Unchained Solutions, an Australian-based consulting firm focused on modern slavery risk in global supply chains. Sparked by a recent conference in Perth on...
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Sean Harvey | Warrior Compassion | February
What happens when traditional leadership models stop working? In this episode of Leading Without Illusions, Athena leaders Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly join Reverend Sean Harvey of the Warrior Compassion Institute to explore why many leaders—especially men—feel disconnected, burned out, and...
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Claire and Antony Roberts | Full Fathom Five AI | January
In the launch episode, Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly welcome Claire Roberts and Antony Roberts, co-founders of Full Fathom five, for a raw conversation on AI’s biggest illusions. They unpack why AI isn’t a panacea, what “hallucinations” really mean, who’s accountable when systems fail, and how...
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Angela Pennella | Hugs in the Wild | November 2025
In this episode of Lifting While Climbing, Holly Smithson sits down with “hug dealer” Angela Pennella to explore the movement behind Hugs in the Wild. Angela shares how intentional connection, nervous system awareness, and small acts of kindness can reset our emotional balance and strengthen our...
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Dr. Tina Rinker | Syantra Inc. | October 2025
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Tina Rinker—co-founder & Chief Scientific Officer of Syantra Inc.—joins host Holly Smithson to unpack a breakthrough approach to early detection: a simple blood test that reads the immune system’s signals rather than hunting for tumor fragments. Dr....
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Esther Mutuma | Boreka Group | September 2025
From the slopes of Mount Kenya to the halls of Cambridge and the UN General Assembly, Esther Mutuma, founder & CEO of the Boreka Group, shares how a village girl with a love of math became a banking leader turned climate entrepreneur. In this Lifting While Climbing episode, Esther unpacks her...
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Claude Jones | do.it.withAI | August 2025
In this episode of the Lifting While Climbing podcast, Athena CEO Holly Smithson sits down with Claude Jones, CEO of Do It With AI, for a powerful, perspective-shifting conversation about what it really means to lead with AI. Together, they explore how fear-based narratives around artificial...
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Dr. Tina Nova | Life Science Consultant | July 2025
In this powerful episode of Athena’s Lifting While Climbing, host Holly Smissen sits down with biotech trailblazer Dr. Tina Nova for an intimate, candid conversation about resilience, leadership, and purpose. From humble beginnings in Central California to leading multiple publicly traded…
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Susan Poser & Jaye Connolly | Athena Chairs | June 2025
As political pressure mounts and corporate DEI efforts are being quietly rebranded or rolled back, Athena’s leadership is standing firm. In this powerful episode, Athena CEO Holly Smithson is joined by Board Chair Susan Poser (Oracle) and Vice Chair Jaye Connolly (RippleNami) for a candid...
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Rijon Charne, J.D. | Sunray Fertility Law | May 2025
In this month’s Lifting While Climbing podcast, we spotlight the unstoppable Rijon Charne—a lawyer, cancer warrior, and fierce advocate who turned every obstacle into ammunition for change. Just two days after graduating from law school, Rijon was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Before…
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Dr. Nima Alamdari | Ritual | April 2025
In Athena’s April edition of Lifting While Climbing, CEO Holly Smithson welcomes Dr. Nima Alamdari, Chief Science Officer at Ritual, as the podcast’s first featured workplace ally. Against the backdrop of today’s politically charged climate, this timely conversation explores how authentic…
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Misti Cain | Techstars | March 2025
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Athena was honored to spotlight powerhouse entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and business reality show host Misti Cain on our Lifting While Climbing podcast. And if you missed it—trust us—you’ll want to press play on this episode. Raised in a humble,...
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Lara Wynne | Gate Sciences | January 2025
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Lara Wynne, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Gate Sciences, on this month’s episode of Lifting While Climbing. Lara shares her remarkable journey from being a stay-at-home mom to leading groundbreaking innovations in orthopedic care, all while...
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Kiva Allgood | Corporate Board Director, Advisor | December 2024
In this dynamic episode of Athena’s Lifting While Climbing podcast, Athena’s President and CEO, Holly Smithson, sits down with trailblazing leader Kiva Allgood for a candid and inspiring conversation. Kiva shares her extraordinary career journey in the technology industry, offering invaluable...
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Dr. Manna Semby | Aruna Personalized Medicine | November 2024
Tune in to the latest episode of Athena’s Lifting While Climbing podcast, where CEO and host Holly Smithson dives into an inspiring conversation with Dr. Manna Semby. Dr. Semby shares her extraordinary journey from a successful career on Wall Street to becoming a naturopathic doctor and…
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Sheila Gujrathi, MD | ADARx and Ventyx | September 2024
In this episode of Athena's Lifting While Climbing podcast, Holly Smithson, President and CEO of Athena, sits down with Lifting While Climbing Summit speaker Dr. Sheila Gujrathi. Dr. Gujrathi shares her inspiring journey from the world of medicine to becoming a leader in the biotech industry. She...
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Sarah Hassaine | ResMed | August 2024
In the latest episode of Athena’s Lifting While Climbing podcast, host Holly Smithson, Athena’s President and CEO, welcomes Sarah Hassan, Head of Global Diversity & Inclusion at ResMed. Sarah shares her inspiring journey from working in refugee camps to leading DE&I initiatives at global tech...
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Kyla Pavlina | Schiper Medicine | July 2024
In this episode of Athena's "Lifting While Climbing" podcast, Holly Smithson, the President and CEO of Athena, speaks with Kyla Pavlina, Chief People Officer at Scipher Medicine. Kyla, whose career spans roles in law, litigation, and the medical device industry, shares insights into her work and...
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Apparna Ramadoss | Intuit | June 2024
The June edition of Athena's Lifting While Climbing podcast, hosted by Holly Smithson, President and CEO of Athena, celebrates International Women's Engineering Day with an insightful interview featuring Apparna Ramadoss, executive engineer at Intuit. Apparna emphasizes the critical need for…
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Rebecca Driscoll | Cancer Help Desk | May 2024
Athena’s Lifting While Climbing podcast kicks off our summer with Rebecca Driscoll, CEO & Founder of Cancer Help Desk. Rebecca’s inspiring journey is a revealing showcase of what an unbreakable spirit and purpose-driven leadership looks like in 3-D. Rebecca shares the genesis of Cancer Help Desk…
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Kassandra Castillo | WSGR | April 2024
We're thrilled to have Kassandra Castillo, Partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, joining us this month. As a highly successful corporate partner, providing counsel to life sciences and technology companies at every stage of development, Kassandra shares a unique perspective, and delivers a...
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Colleen Cormier | Commvault | March 2024
We're wrapping up Women's History Month with a powerful message in the Lifting While Climbing studio with Colleen Cormier, Vice President of Enterprise Sales at Commvault. Lighting the pathway for her "big, bold career in tech," Colleen attributes her sponsors and mentors as paving the way to...
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La Keisha Landrum Pierre | Emmeline Ventures | February 2024
Athena's honoring Black History Month In this captivating podcast with La Keisha Landrum Pierre, Co-founder and General Partner of Emmeline Ventures. Join us as we unpack La Keisha's journey, from Harvard Business School to launching Sahara Media Company across Africa, to founding a venture…
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Jaye Connolly-LaBelle | RippleNami | January 2024
As Athena pursues its global expansion efforts to help more STEM women rise up and realize their ambitions, RippleNami serves as a prominent channel partner by empowering women in Africa. In Athena's new Lifting While Climbing Podcast, we'll learn from Jaye Connolly-LaBelle, Chairman & CEO @...
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Pantea Khodami | AWS | November 2023
Athena is GOING GLOBAL in 2024, launching new products, programs, and member benefits! We're excited to share this sneak peek at the all new Lifting While Climbing (LWC) podcast. The new format amplifies the voices and experiences of women and allies in STEM, delivering actionable strategies,...
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Tammy Hawkins | Intuit | October 2023
Access Tammy Hawkins, VP at Intuit on her remarkable career voyage, spanning IT firms, Mastercard, a journey across the Atlantic to Ireland, and a deep dive into the dynamic world of gaming. Her journey eventually led her to her dream role as VP of Cyber Security & Fraud Prevention for Small...
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Barbara Bry | Blackbird Ventures | September 2023
Athena founder Barbara Bry joins us in the B4S studio for this very special edition of B4S. As the STEM community prepares to gather for Athena's 25th Anniversary Gala and LWC Summit on October 26, we invite you to listen as Barbara shares the origins and genesis of Athena. This B4S will reignite...
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Sooganthy Nadarajah | Amazon Web Services | August 2023
Athena is honored to welcome Soo Nadarajah, Head of Global Data Sales and GTM @ AWS, to the Blueprint for Success studio. Soo is an authentic and engaging visionary who shares riveting anecdotes from a stellar career that includes "learning, adapting, and innovating" at some of the most pivotal...
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Andrea Cubitt, Ph. D. | aTyr Pharmaceuticals | July 2023
Dr. Andrea Cubitt's path to success began with a childhood fascination with chemistry, which ultimately paved the way for remarkable academic and professional achievements. Armed with a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the prestigious University of Sheffield and a first-class honors degree (B.Sc) in...
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Cari Gallman | Bristol-Myers Squibb | June
Summer is here, and it's sizzling in the Blueprint for Success studio as we welcome Cari Gallman, Chief Compliance & Ethics Officer @Bristol-Myers Squibb. How does a Princeton political theory grad and Harvard-trained attorney achieve executive-level leadership at a STEM company? Learn and level…
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Sri Cressy & Fatima Oguz | Qualcomm | May 2023
As we launch Phase II of #Athena25, this year-long digital media celebration is showcasing the undeniable impacts of Athena's Corporate Partner Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). What we learn from these insightful stories can inform your strategies to amplify the voice of women across these...
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Chanda Owens | Cue Health | April 2023
Meet Chanda Owens, VP of Quality @ Cue Health for Athena's Blueprint for Success podcast. As a black woman and engineering student at UC Berkeley, it was clear her career path would be neither easy or comfortable. Intuitively, Chanda knew it was essential to find a support system early in her...
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Amy Johnson | RippleNami | March 2023
For Women's History Month grand finale, we welcome Amy Johnson, COO of RippleNami to Athena's Blueprint for Success studio. Amy's dynamic career journey spans both the life sciences and tech sectors, starting with a degree in health and behavioral science in Australia, to bringing Africa into the...
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Dr. Kate Broderick | Maravai Life Sciences | February 2023
In kicking off Women's History Month, we're excited to present Dr. Kate Broderick, Chief Innovation Officer @ Maravai LifeSciences in our monthly Blueprint for Success podcast. The by-product of parents with careers in physics and psychology, Kate developed a deep passion for exploring new...
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Tashonda Taylor | San Diego Gas & Electric | January 2023
Athena is celebrating Black History Month by showcasing the inspiring and illustrious career impact of Tashonda Taylor, Vice President, Gas Operations @ SDGE. The leadership traits she exhibits and the path she created is a model worth emulating. Listen to Tashonda's Blueprint for Success podcast...
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Dr. Christina Towers | Salk Institute for Biological Studies | November 2022
Athena's Blueprint for Success showcases the distinguished career journey of the award-winning, Dr. Christina Towers, Assistant Professor @ Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Her goal is to develop new targeted cancer therapies that block the cancer-cell recycling pathways that allow these...
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Lauren Miskelly | Google | October 2022
The October edition of Athena's Blueprint for Success showcases the unconventional career journey of Lauren Miskelly, Managing Director, Chrome Browser Enterprise GtM Lead @ Google. A thriving Tech executive and Google veteran of 13 years, Lauren shares some surprising insights about her own...
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Molly He | Element Biosciences | September 2022
The September edition of Athena's Blueprint for Success showcases the leadership journey of Molly He. Following her company's successful close of $276 million Series C funding last summer, Molly has an intriguing story to tell. Click below to listen or watch as she describes a long and winding...
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Tracy Ting | CHRO, Encore Capital Group | August 2022
Athena's Blueprint for Success featured guest is Tracy Ting, Chief Human Resources Officer at Encore Capital Group. Tracy's illustrious career includes notable achievements in multiple male-dominated industries - from finance to medical devices to pharmaceuticals. Watch or listen below to learn...
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Jaye Connolly-Labelle | Chairman & CEO, Ripplenami | July 2022
Female Founder and international tech entrepreneur Jaye Connolly-LaBelle shares her Blueprint for Success with the Athena community this month. Listen below as she gives insight into the unique experience of being a woman forging new paths in business around the globe.
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Ambreen Farook | Vice President, Head of Alliance Management, Pyxis Oncology | June 2022
With a career spanning 20 years across a variety of industries, Ambreen Farook brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and inspiration to this edition of Athena's Blueprint for Success. Listen as Ambreen details the blueprint that propelled her intentional pivot to a more transformational and...
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Madhushree Ghosh | VP, Global Strategic Alliances and Projects, Pharma Services, NeoGenomics Laboratories | March 2022
In this month's Blueprint for Success, we're featuring a very special guest, Dr. Madhushree Ghosh, VP Strategic Alliances at NeoGenomics. She is well-regarded across the STEM community and wears many hats including esteemed scientist, precision medicine executive, diversity champion and now a...
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Allison Kemner | VP Clinical Science & Operations, Tyra Biosciences | February 2022
Welcome to Athena's Blueprint for Success with special guest, Allison Kemner, VP, Clinical Science & Operations @ Tyra Biosciences. Allison's leadership discoveries focus on the invaluable lessons learned instead of the inevitable career failures and setbacks. She shares the value of "giving...
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Dr. Leslie Nangle | Vice President, Research, aTyr Pharmaceuticals | January 2022
Athena's Blueprint for Success podcast catapults into 2022 aTyre Pharmaceuticals Vice President, Research, Dr. Leslie Nangle. Longevity can be elusive in the life sciences industry, making Leslie is bit of a "unicorn" as she has been with the aTyr for 15 years. She shares how she resisted the...
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Christina England, MPH | Vice President Marketing - Acute Care Franchise, Heron Therapeutics, Inc. | November 2021
We are excited to feature Christy England, VP Marketing @ Heron Therapeutics in our Blueprint for Success Series. Christy describes the critical "weigh-stations" along her journey, and details how she capitalized on these career opportunities when presented. Christy also shares her vision on the...
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Dr. Gina Wallar | President, Pharma Services Division, NeoGenomics | October 2021
Dr. Gina Wallar, President, Pharma Services @ NeoGenomics shares her Blueprint for Success which began with early career advice that ran counter to her values and passion.“Oh honey, just marry rich...” was the direction she often heard when sharing her passion to pursue science as a young girl....
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Lifting While Climbing Winners | September 2021
This special edition of our Blueprint for Success showcases the recipients of Athena’s Annual Pinnacle Awards. These five distinguished diversity champions sit down with Athena's CEO to share their foundational values around "lifting others while climbing” and how those practices have defined…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Leading Without Illusions is Athena’s podcast for leaders navigating the fast-moving, often misunderstood world of artificial intelligence. Co-hosts Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly bring candid conversations with innovators on what AI is, where it goes wrong, and how to lead with better questions, sharper judgment, and real accountability. Expect practical clarity on bias, trust, risk, and the human choices shaping what comes next.
HOSTED BY
Athena
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Leading Without Illusions have?
Leading Without Illusions currently has 57 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Leading Without Illusions about?
Leading Without Illusions is Athena’s podcast for leaders navigating the fast-moving, often misunderstood world of artificial intelligence. Co-hosts Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly bring candid conversations with innovators on what AI is, where it goes wrong, and how to lead with better questions,...
How often does Leading Without Illusions release new episodes?
Leading Without Illusions has 57 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Leading Without Illusions?
You can listen to Leading Without Illusions on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Leading Without Illusions?
Leading Without Illusions is created and hosted by Athena.
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