067: Crossing the Threshold With Humanity and Dignity
The Collective Corner with Elena Armijo
Release Date: 12/17/2025
068: Holding Space in High Stakes Rooms
The Collective Corner with Elena Armijo
In this episode, Elena Armijo sits down with executive coach and facilitator Natalie Rothfels for a rich exploration of what it truly means to meet people where they are. Drawing from Natalie’s background as a startup operator, educator, and team coach, the conversation moves beneath surface-level performance and into the deeper dynamics shaping how leaders and teams relate, communicate, and grow together. to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. Elena opens with a coaching reflection on curiosity over assumption, honoring capacity...
info_outline
067: Crossing the Threshold With Humanity and Dignity
The Collective Corner with Elena Armijo
As 2025 comes to a close, Elena Armijo offers a heartfelt solo episode filled with reflection, gratitude, and a few favorite moments from this year’s podcast conversations. From exploring holistic health and empathy to the power of artistry and resilience, this episode is a warm invitation to pause, look back, and plant seeds for what’s to come. to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. Elena revisits powerful conversations, including her episode with Dr. Sonal, whose journey from medicine to holistic healing reminds us to take...
info_outline
066: Leading with Rhythm: When Art Meets Enterprise
The Collective Corner with Elena Armijo
In this inspiring episode, Elena Armijo speaks with tenor, producer, and creative entrepreneur Nathan Granner. With a career spanning 30 years, Nathan shares his path through the world of classical music, opera, film, and now, innovation at the intersection of technology and art. From humble beginnings in a small Iowa church to starring roles in Pulitzer Prize-winning productions and a bold leap into startup culture, his story is one of resilience, reinvention, and deep commitment to connection. to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you....
info_outline
065: Leading with Artistry
The Collective Corner with Elena Armijo
In this special episode, Elena Armijo is joined by the love of her life, J. Aaron Boykin - a vocalist, song writer, actor, and producer whose creativity, depth, and heart shine in every space he enters. Their nine years together have been marked by a deep mutual witnessing: of growth, of dreams pursued, and of the quiet courage it takes to live a creative life with heart. Aaron’s artistry is rooted in authenticity and joy, with music as his first safe haven, a place where emotion could move freely when words fell short. Today, that same music continues to be his most powerful tool for...
info_outline
064: Creativity as a Lifeline
The Collective Corner with Elena Armijo
In this uplifting episode, Elena Armijo is joined by keynote speaker, podcast host, and beatbox entertainer Parker Kane. Known for his viral McDonald’s performance that reached over a billion views, Parker shares the deeply personal story behind that moment, and the emotional journey that led to it. From a low point of burnout and disconnection to finding renewed purpose through creativity and community, Parker’s path is a powerful reminder that small decisions can lead to life-altering change. to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within...
info_outline
063: The Skill That Shapes the Future
The Collective Corner with Elena Armijo
In this heart-centered episode, Elena Armijo speaks with bestselling author and global empathy advocate Mimi Nicklin. With a mission to reconnect one million people through the power of empathy, Mimi brings years of research, corporate training, and lived experience to a timely and transformational conversation - one that reveals how empathy shapes leadership, drives innovation, and transforms the way we connect with ourselves and others. to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. Mimi shares the pivotal moment that redefined her career:...
info_outline
062: The Gifts My Mother Gave Me
The Collective Corner with Elena Armijo
In this heartfelt Mother's Day episode, Elena Armijo is joined by a very special guest - her mother, Sky Armijo. For the first time on the podcast, Elena invites a family member to share a deeply personal and moving conversation about motherhood, leadership, resilience, legacy, and the strength passed down through generations. to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. Elena opens by reflecting on the five most meaningful gifts she received from her mother: resilience, the belief that everyone belongs, the courage to fly, the value of...
info_outline
061: Building a Life That Honors Both Structure and Soul
The Collective Corner with Elena Armijo
In this heartfelt episode, Elena Armijo welcomes pianist, writer, and coach Robert Kuang back to the show for a deeply grounding and expansive conversation on the powerful intersections between creativity, leadership, and the human need for care. Through personal stories and grounded insight, they explore how slowing down, honoring emotions, and reconnecting with the body are not luxuries, but essential foundations for innovation, emotional processing, and navigating change with intention and heart. to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within...
info_outline
060: Rooted in the Sacred: A Journey Through Nature and Leadership
The Collective Corner with Elena Armijo
In this episode, Elena Armijo and Chelsea Rose Cotton explore the deep connections between nature, leadership, personal growth, and spiritual wisdom. Through reflection, they share how lessons from the natural world can reshape the way we understand interdependence, adaptability, and the essential need for embracing change. This conversation travels through outer landscapes and inner terrain, weaving in themes of grief, love, and transformation. to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. Elena and Chelsea explore the parallels between...
info_outline
059: Blending Science and Spirituality for Holistic Health
The Collective Corner with Elena Armijo
In this episode, Elena Armijo sits down with Dr. Sonal Bhatia, a physician and former Pfizer executive, who is on an inspiring journey from the confines of Western medicine to a more holistic, integrated approach to health. With roots in Mexico City and a rich Indian heritage, Sonal’s unique background informs her mission to activate the inner healing intelligence within each person, blending the best of Eastern and Western practices. to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. Dr. Bhatia reflects on early experiences with cultural...
info_outlineAs 2025 comes to a close, Elena Armijo offers a heartfelt solo episode filled with reflection, gratitude, and a few favorite moments from this year’s podcast conversations. From exploring holistic health and empathy to the power of artistry and resilience, this episode is a warm invitation to pause, look back, and plant seeds for what’s to come.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
Elena revisits powerful conversations, including her episode with Dr. Sonal, whose journey from medicine to holistic healing reminds us to take ownership of our well-being before burnout takes hold. She also highlights her time with Mimi Nicklin, whose global mission around empathy brought fresh insight into human connection and leadership during complex times. And, in a personal highlight, Elena reflects on her first interview with her partner, J. Aaron Boykin, whose story weaves music, artistry, and depth with everyday leadership and grounded joy.
Elena also shares the practices anchoring her end-of-year transition: reviewing the calendar with curiosity, honoring the rhythm of goal setting, choosing a meaningful word for the year ahead, and celebrating personal growth. She opens up about the certifications and trainings she completed, especially her journey into team coaching and somatic breathwork. These new tools, grounded in nervous system regulation and community, are already reshaping how she serves leaders and teams.
This episode is a thoughtful send-off for the year, encouraging space to reflect, reconnect with purpose, and celebrate how far you've come. It’s a gentle nudge to slow down and remember that wellness and leadership always begin within.
Let’s Get Social!
Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Learn more about The C-Suite Collective
Follow The C-Suite Collective on Instagram
Connect with Elena on LinkedIn
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:
Ulrich Wolvaardt, Audio Engineer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
Jo van Eeden, Project Manager