Seats of Power

Today, we’re bringing you a powerful recap of lessons from three incredible leaders across industries, generations, and experiences. From building brands and products to navigating failure, and stepping into leadership, this episode is a compilation of key insights that have the power to change your leadership and professional trajectory.Hear from Prashina Chopra on passion and purpose, Dr. Gerald Patnode on failure as the foundation of entrepreneurship, and Dean Molly Sauder on how a growth mindset impacts everything.Take your seat.Episode Chapters:00:00 Prashina Chopra - Clean Beauty Product Founder and Pioneer05:27 Takeaways: Drawing passion, support, and inspiration from your circle06:57 Dr. Gerald Patnode - 9x Founder09:59 Takeaways: Entrepreneurs are shaped by failure12:34 Dean Molly Sauder: Dean of the York College School of Business17:32 Takeaways: Growth Mindset is Key to Success

Today, we welcome Prashina Chopra to the Power Seat. A beauty product developer and founder of ROES Cosmetics, Shina shares what it takes to be a trailblazer and build a brand from the ground up in the South East Asian economy and beyond. From developing 30+ products to selling out at Urban Outfitters 4x, she discusses how passion fuels you even in your darkest moments and "refusing to create without intention."Most importantly, Shina opens up about the difficult decision to walk away from ROES and what that taught her about personal integrity and values, her identity, and long-term mindset.This conversation is about building brands with intention, true passion and purpose, and learning when to keep going and when to let go.Take your seat.Learn more about Shina:https://www.linkedin.com/in/prashinachopra/https://roescosmetics.com/Episode Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Prashina Chopra and ROES01:42 Building ROES Cosmetics From Ground Zero02:55 Why things can go wrong quickly in business03:58 Developing the Liquid Love Blush05:33 Using product development as a launchpad06:42 What managing ROES looks like06:55 Scheduling and planning as a founder08:53 ROES’s small team dynamic11:31 Being a pioneer in the Southeast Asian market13:39 Targeting sensitive skin but made for all15:35 Sustainability at the core of ROES17:27 Building a brand for the consumer and the planet20:13 First time selling in Urban Outfitters20:57 Building a brand across borders21:21 Challenges of global marketing and sales22:48 Balancing passion and pressure24:09 The decision to not compromise and step away24:29 Building with purpose, not just another brand26:46 Refusing to create without intention29:05 Lessons learned29:56 Redefining success and effort31:05 Current chapter: returning to product development33:09 The role of global exposure34:00 Why people make or break the experience35:28 Seats of Power closing traditions

Today, Riya and Alexia recap and reflect on the lessons we learned from previous guests. We discuss how we’re applying that advice as we step into our next chapters...in college! We talk about goals, building strong habits, and the power of manifesting (and how to manifest effectively).This conversation is for anyone at a turning point, figuring out what to carry forward and what to leave behind into next milestones.Take your seat. - Stay tuned and follow for more episodes - Episode Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Recap and Reflect Episode01:44 Next Steps for Us...02:50 Riya and Alexia Discuss the Most Impactful Lessons From Past Guests04:01 Alexia's Quote: "You must get comfortable with the uncomfortable so you can learn and grow"04:38 Do you still want to be an entrepreneur?05:22 Importance of Strong Social Circle06:59 "Empathy brings so much more meaning into the work we do"09:13 Stepping Away While Retaining Lessons and Skills11:48 Goals for 2026!12:34 Continue Showing Up and Bringing 100%13:52 Raising $300k for Childhood Cancer in Under 1 Year15:16 The Power of Manifesting17:39 Effective Manifesting: Envisioning the Exact Scenario Becoming a Reality

Today, we welcome Krystal Jugarap to the Power Seat. A 2x founder, speaker, and community builder, Krystal shares how she knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur as early as high school and what she did not know back then. As a mom and founder, she reflects on the lessons that shaped her leadership and the advice she would give her 18 year old self.We dive into why community is non negotiable for growth, how she built a culture of belonging through EM/POWEREDbyWMN, and the one word she refuses to use in her vocabulary.This conversation is about being solution-driven, evolving constantly, and taking action that serves others.Take your seat.Learn more about Krystal:https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystaljugarap/https://www.empoweredbywmn.com/Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Krystal Jugarap02:56 Start of Empowering Women Entrepreneurs05:58 The Birth of BOOKofBIJOUX: "see a need, create a solution"08:54 Challenge of Perfectionism Preventing Action10:43 The moment that completely shifted my mindset:11:31 "If you don't ask, the answer is always NO"12:21 "Failure is not in my vocabulary"13:41 Building a Community and Culture, Not Just a Platform17:09 Importance of Creating a Sense of Belonging18:09 Maintaining Magic of Connection through Virtual Events19:59 What's next for EM/POWEREDbyWMN?21:40 What does it mean to rebrand?22:29 Working to Increase Access to Female Mentorship27:17 A Day in the Life of a Female Founder28:28 ".....You always need a mentor"30:23 Reoccurring Leadership Lessons33:02 How does motherhood influence leadership?33:54 Constantly Reinventing: Rebranding Chapter34:58 Seats of Power Tradition: Takeaways and Closing Question

Today, we welcome Dr. Molly Hayes Sauder to the Power Seat. As Dean of the Business School at York College of Pennsylvania, Dr. Sauder shares what it was like stepping into the Power Seat early and how her experience as a high school and collegiate athlete with a background in sports business shaped the way she leads, shows up, and gives 110%. We talk about how putting in extra effort sets up your next move, not just for yourself but for the people around you. We gained unexpected insights into the business of sports, including the parts most people never see or talk about. This conversation is about leadership, continuous learning, and building paths for others to succeed.Take your seat.Learn more about Dr. Sauder:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollyhayessauder/Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Dean Molly Sauder00:42 Entering the Business of Sports01:22 "Start with what you know about yourself"04:06 Seeing Sports Through a Business Lens06:31 Lessons from College Volleyball 08:09 Taking Leadership Lessons from Taylor Swift08:39 Importance of Building and Utilizing A Social Network10:23 "This is a leadership skill not many people talk about..."12:48 Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry14:53 Reality of the Sports Industry18:02 Full Transparency of the Abusive Side of the Industry20:58 Stepping into the Dean Power Seat21:31 Dr. Sauder's Approach to Tackling New Challenges 22:04 Today’s effort unlocks tomorrow’s role.23:50 Changing Self-Talk for Success25:05 Learning From Everyone and Everything26:23 The Value of Surrounding Yourself With Diverse Perspectives29:00 "If I wasn't continuing to learn, I would probably not be a leader people want to be around"30:23 What You Take Away From Uplifting Others33:15 "Growth is not always a straight line"36:05 Is there a secret to success?38:12 The Advantage Gained from Hands-On Experiences41:29 Champion of Students AND Their Visions 42:36 Seats of Power Tradition: Takeaways and Closing Question

Today, we welcome Dr. Gerald Patnode to the Power Seat. A serial entrepreneur, speaker, former professor and educator, and lifelong mentor to leaders and entrepreneurs across the nation, his career spans marketing, real estate, education, and now fiction writing. From being the first in his family to attend college to building companies with $100 million in annual revenue, we learn what decades of failure, and going against the grain have taught him. We talk about the drive to prove people wrong, why learning never stops, and what really drives success.This conversation is about entrepreneurial failures outweighing wins, resilience, and keeping the mind curious and active.Take your seat.Learn more about Dr. Patnode: https://grpatnode.com/about-patnode/https://www.linkedin.com/in/geraldrpatnode/Episode Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Dr. Gerald Patnode00:51 First Company: Initial successes and failures06:19 Lessons Carried from 1967 until Present Day 08:16 "I used to think asking questions made me look stupid"09:57 What Drives Success: Passion vs. Person vs. Idea?12:23 "As an entrepreneur, failure is inevitable."13:51 Evolving Metrics of Success14:35 "The largest company I ever had was..."18:43 Transitioning from Entrepreneur to Banker19:54 Gut Instinct vs. Data in Decision Making21:12 Brave Enough to Go Against the Grain22:48 100th Birthday Party24:58 What makes a successful entrepreneur?27:13 The Ongoing Drive to Prove Others Wrong32:11 Consistent Advice Across Decades of Mentorship34:30 Current Chapter: Storytelling38:09 The Story Behind 'The Stirling Defense'39:52 Favorite Company and Final Thoughts41:58 Seats of Power Tradition: Our Takeaways and Closing Question

Today, we welcome Dr. Angela Marick to the Power Seat. A heart led leader, chiropractor, coach, and humanitarian, Angela shares how she built communities from the ground up, including founding a nonprofit and co creating the Joslin School in Kenya. We talk about having $200 in her non-profit's checking account and learning fundraising in real time, navigating nonprofit versus for profit worlds, and how her view of education changed when students taught her as much as she taught them. Her latest challenge has been continuous learning via becoming a private pilot. This conversation is about creating communities, an Ubuntu way of life, and learning from everyone. Take your seat.Learn more about Angela: https://angelamarickcoaching.com/https://www.consciouslyco-creating.com/the-joslin-schoolEpisode Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Dr. Angela Merrick01:56 Beginning Again: Becoming a Pilot06:59 Building the Ubuntu Community and Joslin School 12:00 Transition from For-Profit to Non-Profit18:30 Angela's Perspective Shift on Education25:05 Navigating Challenges in Non-Profit Work28:07 $200 in Checking Account: Navigating Fundraising and Marketing for a Non-Profit30:26 Expectation vs. Reality of Africa33:48 Most Repeated Lesson: We're Not Alone37:31 Lessons from our Leader: A Seats of Power Tradition

Join Alexia Purkanto and Riya Datta as they launch Seats of Power, a podcast built for ambitious young people who are trying to figure it out before it’s too late.At 18, you’re expected to have answers, direction, and a plan. But no one hands you the blueprint.Seats of Power cuts through the noise with candid conversations with leaders across industries, asking the questions most people only think to ask later. What decisions changed everything? What failures shaped them? And what do they wish they knew at 18?In this opening episode, Alexia and Riya share the mission behind the podcast and what to expect. New episodes drop biweekly on Tuesdays.If you’re building your future,  take your seat.Episode Chapters:00:05 Welcome to the Seats of Power01:03 How We Met03:27 Podcast Structure/ What to Expect04:41 Looking Forward to this New Year...Our Goals and Future ConversationsRecommend a Guest or Suggest a Topic: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDhNc8jrp_0ug92irRJG1PQ_x5xaXpC1q0Mp_myQO53KLf0Q/viewform

Seats of Power asks leaders the question most people wait too long to ask: what do you wish you knew at 18? Hosted by 18-year-olds Alexia Purkanto and Riya Datta, we put decision-makers across industries in the power seat to reveal the lessons, failures, and mindset shifts behind real success. Awarding listeners with a lessons from leaders you can actually use, before it’s too late. If you’re building your future, take your seat. We look forward to learning and growing with you.