Ep. 9: Facing fear and finding your voice, with Cerise Lim Jacobs
Release Date: 02/03/2025
Ep. 19: From fired to fearless & leading boldly, with Sarah Robb O'Hagan
The Leadership Dance
In this energizing conversation, powerhouse leader Sarah Robb O’Hagan—former executive at Nike, Gatorade, and Equinox, and author of Extreme You—shares insights from her bold career journey. Sarah opens up about the tough lessons she learned from early career failures, the power of resilience, and how embracing her authentic, “extreme” self led her to unlock new levels of leadership. Together, Alissa and Sarah explore what it means to lead with courage, create inclusive high-performance cultures, and why doing “hard things” is essential for growth. Whether you’re just starting...
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Ep. 16: From NFL underdog to entrepreneur, with Ryan Nece
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Ep. 13: How to build a career you love, with Lindsay Trout
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Season 2 of The Leadership Dance kicks off with an illuminating conversation with Lindsay Trout, Partner at Egon Zehnder, a global executive search and leadership advisory firm. Throughout the episode, Lindsay shares her expertise and insights on leadership, career development, and the challenges facing CEOs and boards today. She discusses how courage and curiosity have become essential leadership traits, and offers practical advice for positioning yourself in the marketplace by focusing on competencies and potential rather than just experience. Lindsay also discusses growing up in Charleston,...
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Ep. 10: Breaking the ballet mold, with Calvin Royal III
The Leadership Dance
Episode 10 of The Leadership Dance features Calvin Royal III, Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre and a prominent figure in the dance world. In this inspiring conversation, he shares his breakthrough journey from discovering dance at the late age of 14 to becoming only the third African American principal dancer in ABT’s 85-year history. He discusses the importance of leadership, mentorship, and representation in ballet, as well as the challenges he had to overcome along the way. Calvin also highlights his recent project, UNITE, which celebrates the beautiful array of artistry and...
info_outlineIn Episode 9 of The Leadership Dance, Cerise Lim Jacobs shares her remarkable journey from a traditional upbringing in Singapore to becoming the founder of the activist opera company, White Snake Projects. She discusses the cultural influences of her childhood, the challenges of leaving Singapore during a turbulent political time, and running away from home at the age of 18. During this episode, Cerise reflects on her struggle for independence and the ongoing process of finding her voice in a world that often imposes limitations based on cultural or societal expectations. She discusses the challenges of reimagining her identity, the lessons learned from her time as a lawyer, and the motivations behind founding White Snake Projects. Lastly, Cerise reflects on the importance of community engagement in the arts and offers advice to her younger self about overcoming fear and staying true to herself.
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đź’ˇKey Takeaways:
Don’t be afraid of making major life and career decisions–fear can be overcome and managed.
Leaving behind a successful career may open doors to new opportunities and personal growth, allowing you to embrace change and take on new challenges.
You don’t have to wait for permission—if the industry won’t open the door, build your own space and bring others with you.
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Learn more about White Snake Projects here:
Website: http://www.whitesnakeprojects.org
Twitter: https://x.com/whitesnakeproj
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitesnakeprojects/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitesnakeprojects
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