Leaders of Today: From Teens to Titans

From Perfectionism to Purpose: Kamini Wood’s Journey in Leadership Development

In this episode, Lorraine Connell, founder of Peers Not Fears, sits down with life coach Kamini to explore how her teenage struggles shaped her work in leadership development and coaching. As a high performer and introvert, Kamini faced immense pressure to succeed, which led to social anxiety, people-pleasing, and perfectionism. These experiences have profoundly influenced her journey of self-discovery and now fuel her mission to help high achievers overcome self-sabotage, embrace their core values, and cultivate self-compassion.

Together, Lorraine and Kamini discuss:

• Kamini’s teenage years and the pressures of high achievement.
• The role of self-discovery and redefining success based on personal well-being.
• Strategies for helping teens and emerging adults understand their values.
• How people-pleasing and perfectionism impact mental health and relationships.
• Supporting high-achieving students experiencing burnout and stress.
• Parenting styles, self-reflection, and creating authentic connections with teens.

This inspiring conversation sheds light on the importance of empathy, self-awareness, and leadership beyond external achievements, making it a must-listen for teens, parents, and educators.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership Beyond Titles: True leadership stems from values and self-awareness, not external achievements.
• Self-Compassion Matters: Overcoming perfectionism begins with accepting imperfections and practicing curiosity.
• Burnout in High Achievers: Addressing stress and pressure early can prevent long-term challenges in teens.
• Empowering Teens: Creating space for authentic conversations and diverse perspectives fosters growth and resilience.

Connect with Kamini:

• Website: https://www.kaminiwood.com/
• Social Media:
  • Facebook
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaminiwood
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsauthenticme/
  • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSVaEISjpaXsCdQGbE2lpUw

Learn More About Peers Not Fears:

Explore leadership development resources, programs, and more at Peers Not Fears.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could benefit from Kamini’s insights!

#LeadershipDevelopment #SelfCompassion #TeensAndParents #OvercomingBurnout #AuthenticLeadership

Parenting with Purpose: Connection, Resilience, and Navigating Adolescence with Jamie Buzzelle

In this episode of Student Voice Future Leaders, Lorraine Connell sits down with certified parenting coach Jamie Buzzelle, the founder of The Repairent Coach, to dive deep into the challenges and rewards of parenting adolescents. Jamie shares his personal journey from feeling isolated and misunderstood as a teen to becoming a coach focused on fostering connection, co-regulation, and relationship-building with humor and heart. Lorraine and Jamie explore the balance between control and connection and how parents can best support their children through the complexities of adolescence.

Key Takeaways:

• Parenting Adolescents: The delicate balance of allowing teens to make mistakes while maintaining strong relationships.
• Emotional Regulation: Why parents need to model emotional awareness and co-regulation for their children.
• Safe Spaces for Communication: How creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment can encourage teens to communicate openly and take calculated risks.
• Positive Reinforcement: The importance of validating teens' feelings and behavior without tying their identity to their actions.
• Collaborative Parenting: Lorraine and Jamie share strategies for effective communication and accountability in both parenting and coaching teens.

Listen to this insightful conversation on creating a supportive, trusting, and growth-oriented relationship with your teen.

#Podcast #ParentingTeens #Resilience #EmotionalRegulation #Connection #TeenLeadership #FamilySupport #PositiveParenting #FutureLeaders #StudentVoice

Are you a Leader or a Follower? Redefining Leadership with Keyana Cellucci

In this inspiring episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine sits down with Keyana Cellucci, entrepreneur and podcast host of Trust Me, to explore the transformative power of self-discovery, asking for help, and redefining leadership. Keyana shares her personal journey from a middle child who often overlooked her own needs to a leader who empowers others to embrace self-discipline, inner strength, and the courage to seek help.

Together, Lorraine and Keyana discuss the significance of reshaping leadership perceptions in schools, the power of delegation, and the importance of facing challenges head-on.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

1. Keyana’s Journey of Self-Discovery:

• How her teenage years were shaped by the question, “Who do I want to become?”
• The impact of being a middle child and the lessons she wished she had learned about asking for help earlier in life.

2. Shifting Leadership Perceptions in Schools:

• The need to redefine leadership beyond academic and athletic achievements to include delegation, humility, and teamwork.
• Why parents and educators should model vulnerability and normalize seeking help.

3. The Role of Delegation in Leadership:

• Keyana’s experience moving from Pennsylvania to Maine and how it taught her to trust others with responsibilities.
• How delegation helped her business flourish and broadened her leadership perspective.

4. Embracing an Unconventional Leadership Path:

• Keyana’s decision to follow her instincts rather than conventional routes, and how this led to her becoming a leader by example.
• Lorraine’s affirmation that leadership is about making intentional, goal-aligned choices.

5. Self-Discipline as a Key to Success:

• Why showing up for yourself, even on hard days, is essential for growth and leadership.
• The difference between self-discipline and fluctuating motivation.

6. Inner Strength and Growth:

• Keyana’s advice to teenagers: Everything you need is already within you—embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth.
• The powerful analogy of a buffalo running toward challenges to illustrate resilience.

7. Turning Hardships into Superpowers:

• How overcoming struggles can become a defining strength.
• Keyana’s personal story of resilience and how it fuels her passion to help others.

Key Takeaways:

• Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
• Leadership is more than a title—it’s about behavior, trust, and collaboration.
• Self-discipline is the foundation for achieving success and navigating challenges.
• Facing challenges directly can lead to quicker resolutions and greater personal growth.

Resources Mentioned:

• Keyana’s Podcast: Trust Me
• Connect with Keyana on Social Media:
  • Instagram: @KeyanaCellucci
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trustme_the_podcast
  • LinkedIn: Keyana Cellucci

Connect with Us:

• Peers Not Fears: www.peersnotfears.com
• Instagram: @PeersNotFears
• LinkedIn: Lorraine Connell

Don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories of leadership, growth, and resilience!

Thank you for listening!

Resilience, Reflection, and Leadership: Insights from Educator Craig Gemmell

In this insightful episode of Student Voice Future Leaders, Lorraine Connell speaks with Craig Gemmell, a seasoned educator and leader, about his journey through education, personal growth, and leadership. Craig shares his transformative experiences, from navigating high school challenges to founding a school in Madrid, all while learning the importance of resilience and reflection. He discusses:

• The Role of Resilience in Growth: Craig reflects on the importance of embracing discomfort and mistakes to foster personal and professional development.
• The Impact of Mentorship: Craig’s high school coach played a pivotal role in helping him recognize his potential, and he now pays it forward by guiding others.
• Overcoming Perfectionism: Craig and Lorraine discuss how striving for perfection can hinder growth and the importance of learning from failure.
• Building a Supportive Community: The conversation explores the value of honesty and openness in leadership, and how creating a culture of mutual support fosters stronger communities.
• Masculinity and Asking for Help: Craig addresses societal pressures on masculinity and the difficulty teens, especially boys, face in seeking help.
• Starting a School from Scratch: Craig shares the challenges and successes of building a thriving school in Madrid and the importance of culture in student and staff retention.

Tune in to hear Craig’s inspiring journey and his thoughts on building resilience, learning from mistakes, and leading with empathy.

🎧 Listen now and explore Craig’s remarkable story of leadership and growth!

#Resilience #Leadership #Mentorship #Education #StudentVoice #FutureLeaders #GrowthMindset #Reflection #Community #MadridSchool #StudentSuccess

Embracing Change and Discovering Your True Calling: A Conversation with Reverend Dawn Adams

Show Notes: In this inspiring episode, Lorraine sits down with Reverend Dawn Adams, Senior Minister at 1st Congregational Church, Wolfborough, UCC. Dawn shares her profound journey into ministry and leadership, offering valuable insights into self-perception, personal growth, and the importance of finding one's true calling in life. Together, they explore:

🔹 Dawn's early experiences in ministry and the path that led her to become a spiritual leader.

🔹 The importance of embracing curiosity, trusting your gut, and following what brings you joy.

🔹 Leadership evolution—shifting from a hierarchical approach to one that values collaboration and listening.

🔹 The power of community and how impactful leadership can emerge from the margins.

🔹 Finding and following your "calling" in life—how it can lead to a meaningful and fulfilling career.

🔹 The ongoing challenges faced by women in ministry and the importance of mentorship in fostering growth.

Reverend Dawn’s life story serves as a reminder that self-discovery and personal development are lifelong processes, and it’s okay to pivot and shed old paths when you discover your true passion. Whether you’re exploring your own calling or just curious about leadership in ministry, this episode is full of wisdom and encouragement.

#Leadership #Ministry #PersonalGrowth #SelfDiscovery #WomenInLeadership #CallingInLife #Podcast #PeersNotFears

From Rebel to Resilient Leader: Cassie Crosby's Journey to Empowering Change

In this inspiring episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine speaks with Cassie Crosby, CEO of Iterata Solutions and founder of Vertex Leadership Lab. Cassie, a 24-year army veteran, shares her incredible transformation from a rebellious teenager to a powerful leader in both the military and the corporate world. With expertise in leadership development, Cassie now helps ambitious executives build confidence, master organizational dynamics, and cultivate their executive presence.

Join us as Cassie recounts her journey, including overcoming early challenges, navigating male-dominated leadership arenas, and learning that leadership is not a title—it’s a behavior and responsibility.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Cassie’s Teenage Years: From a “rebel without a cause” to a determined leader, Cassie shares the defining moments that led her to join the army and start her path toward leadership.
• The Power of Nurturing Potential in "Disruptive" Kids: Cassie and Lorraine discuss the importance of believing in kids who may be overlooked, a trait often seen in successful individuals.
• Navigating Leadership as a Woman in Combat: Cassie talks about her time in the military and the challenges she faced as a woman in traditionally male roles, from logistics to combat positions.
• The Evolution of Self-Confidence: From shy beginnings to becoming a confident leader, Cassie discusses how therapy, a shift in mindset, and the influence of compassionate leaders helped shape her journey.
• Leadership and Decision-Making: Explore how Cassie’s leadership philosophy evolved from strict military hierarchy to a focus on collaboration, questioning, and understanding the “why” behind decisions.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is a skill that can be cultivated—it's about behavior and willingness to take responsibility.
• Teenagers with rebellious or disruptive behaviors may have untapped potential—it's crucial to have someone believe in them.
• Confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s developed through self-reflection and surrounding yourself with strong leaders.
• Good leaders empower others, and leadership decisions should always have clarity and purpose behind them.

Resources Mentioned:

• Cassie Crosby’s Leadership Development Firm: Vertex Leadership Lab
• Iterata Solutions: Iterata Solutions Website

 

Empowering Teenage Girls: Kimberly Gustas on Skincare, Self-Care, and Navigating Puberty

In this episode, Lorraine chats with Kimberly Gustas, the founder of Good For You Girls, a chemical-free skincare line designed specifically for teenage girls. Kimberly shares the personal story that led her to create a brand focused on empowering young girls through safe and effective skincare.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. The Birth of Good For You Girls: Kimberly's background in nutrition and fitness, combined with her daughter's health challenges, inspired her to create a skincare line free of harmful chemicals, helping teens care for their skin safely.

2. Navigating Puberty: Kimberly opens up about the traumatic loss of her brother during her adolescence, becoming a caregiver, and how these experiences shaped her empathy and leadership journey. Lorraine and Kimberly also explore how puberty can be reframed as a "superpower" and the importance of positive self-talk for teens.

3. Puberty's Impact on Girls' Self-Confidence: Discussing how early puberty can affect girls' mental health and self-confidence, Kimberly shares insights on the role of hormones and the importance of addressing these changes in a growth-focused way.

4. Skincare and Social Media: Kimberly warns about the harmful influence of social media on pre-teen skincare habits, often leading to the use of damaging products. She stresses the role of mothers in modeling healthy self-care routines.

5. Safe Product Selection: Lorraine and Kimberly dive into the dangers of chemical-based skincare products, discussing natural alternatives and how moms can help their daughters make better choices.

6. Preventing Acne in Teens: Kimberly shares essential tips on preventing and treating bacterial acne, emphasizing simple habits like good hygiene and avoiding harsh chemicals that disrupt the skin's balance.

Special Offer:
Listeners can enjoy 20% off all Good For You Girls products with the code PNF20. Visit goodforyougirls.com to explore safe skincare solutions for your teen!

🎧 Tune in now to learn more about how you can support your teen’s self-care journey and help them navigate the challenges of puberty with confidence.

#Podcast #TeenSkincare #SelfCare #PubertySupport #NaturalBeauty #ChemicalFreeSkincare #GoodForYouGirls #PeersNotFears

Building Confidence, Connection, and Leadership Through Community

In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine sits down with Melissa, co-founder of Women’s Business League (WBL), to dive deep into the power of building genuine connections, overcoming challenges, and fostering confidence in leadership.

Melissa shares her personal journey, from facing rejection in high school cheerleading to finding her unique way to stand out and be part of a team. This story laid the foundation for her commitment to creating inclusive communities that inspire confidence and leadership in others.

Together, Lorraine and Melissa explore:

• The importance of creating a sense of belonging for teens and adults alike.
• Practical strategies to help young people—and ourselves—build stronger connections and communities.
• How vulnerability and authenticity are key to creating lasting relationships.
• The role of mentorship in helping individuals embrace their strengths and lead with confidence.
• Tips for navigating networking with intention and building leadership skills at every stage of life.

They also discuss Melissa's experiences building Women’s Business League and how the principles of collaboration and shared growth apply to both business and youth development.

Whether you're an aspiring leader, a parent looking to guide your teen, or someone seeking to build stronger connections, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories.

Key Takeaways:

• True leadership starts with community and connection.
• Networking and confidence are skills that can be learned and practiced.
• Empowering young people to embrace their individuality can lead to transformational growth.

Connect with Melissa:

• Follow on Social Media. LinkedIn
• Learn more about Women’s Business League and their mission to support women entrepreneurs.
• Stay connected with Lorraine and Peers Not Fears for resources on leadership development for teens.

Listen now and join the conversation on building a stronger, more connected future for leaders of today and tomorrow!

Carving a Path: Leadership, Action Sports, and Personal Resilience with Luke Giacopelli

Show Notes:

In this episode, Lorraine reconnects with her high school student, Luke, now the Brand Activation and Events Manager at Woodward Park City. They dive into Luke’s inspiring journey from an unconventional teen to a leader in the action sports industry. Here are the highlights:

🎯 Luke's Leadership Journey: Luke shares how his non-traditional path, personal challenges, and passion for snowboarding helped him become a mentor and leader for young athletes.

🏂 Growth of Action Sports: Lorraine and Luke explore the evolution of sports like skateboarding, snowboarding, and the rise of new activities like Parkour. Luke reflects on the power of community in supporting resilience in action sports.

💡 Advice for Young Adults: Luke offers valuable advice for young adults struggling to find their passion or career path, emphasizing the importance of persistence and trying different experiences.

🧠 Overcoming Challenges: Luke opens up about his own personal challenges, including a significant brain injury, and how it shaped his views on mental health and resilience. Lorraine and Luke also discuss the importance of peer support during tough times.

Tune in for an insightful conversation on leadership, personal growth, and finding success beyond the conventional path.

#ActionSports #LeadershipJourney #Resilience #WoodwardParkCity #PeersNotFears #YouthMentorship #Podcast #ADHD

Overcoming Teen Burnout and Defining Success

In this episode, Lorraine Connell, founder of Peers Not Fears, sits down with mental health expert Abbey Sangmeister to explore the critical challenges teens face, including burnout, mental health, and societal pressure around career choices. The conversation highlights the importance of self-care, reflection, and open communication for teens navigating school, future aspirations, and personal growth.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Adolescent Burnout: Lorraine and Abbey delve into the rising issue of burnout among teens. They discuss the pressures from school schedules, career choices, and the overwhelming expectations placed on young people today. Abbey shares her personal experiences with burnout and the importance of rest and reflection to maintain mental health.

2. The Pressure of Career Choices: The conversation also covers the need for supportive adults who can guide teens as they make critical decisions about their future. Lorraine and Abbey agree that teens need the space to explore their interests rather than be pushed into predetermined paths.

3. Self-Care and Mental Health: Both Lorraine and Abbey stress the need for teens to prioritize self-care, especially when dealing with anxiety and depression. They discuss strategies such as positive affirmations and allowing time for play and reflection to help teens manage mental health challenges.

4. Leadership Without a Title: Lorraine shares her belief that leadership is not tied to a title or external achievements. Abbey echoes this sentiment, encouraging teens to view leadership as a set of actions, emphasizing growth and balance rather than perfectionism.

5. Addressing Bullying: Abbey shares her concern about bullying in schools and the lack of effective solutions, urging immediate steps to ensure student safety. Lorraine supports the idea of listening to students' voices and incorporating their perspectives into finding solutions.

6. Defining Success on Your Own Terms: Both hosts explore the evolving concept of success. Abbey opens up about her personal values and the realization that success for her means happiness and balance, not material wealth or status.

Tune in for an enlightening discussion that empowers teens and their supporters to redefine leadership, success, and personal growth!