“I think all the guys are staring at you because they think you’re anorexic,” Teri stated with a sneer. We were at a training with various male police officers in rural Maryland, and I was a seemingly buxom, young, blond twenty-something. I was pretty sure they weren’t staring at me judging my possible eating habits. Always having been self-conscious about how thin I was, her words cut me, but I didn’t let her know. She was my supervisor at the time, and one of many in a very long line of poor leadership examples. She wasn’t just imperfect, she was horrendous.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Sam Willing, strategic partner, transformational executive coach, and speaker with over twenty-five years of corporate experience in Organizational Development, People Strategy, and Culture Transformation about leadership, healing and the kind of impact we leave behind. While Sam focuses on equipping business leaders with the tools, confidence, and strategic insight to unlock their full potential, elevate leadership effectiveness, and drive meaningful impact—all while strengthening business performance, her comments about imperfection and compassion really resonated with me.

Sam brings over twenty-five years of corporate HR experience, much of it in biotech and high-growth companies. But it’s her deep compassion, lived wisdom, and disarming honesty that stand out most. She doesn’t just coach leaders, she holds space for their transformation.

Sam shared that the coaching side of HR had always been her calling. From college days where friends called her “the counselor,” to her early career roles, she found herself naturally guiding others through challenge and change. When an organization asked her to continue coaching after she left a full-time HR role, it sparked something: maybe this was her next chapter. She started her own coaching business quietly, building a reputation through word-of-mouth, growing a loyal client base while juggling full-time executive roles. Eventually, she made the leap, bringing her heart, strategy, and powerful presence into full-time coaching.

Many of Sam’s clients are in the thick of leadership—C-suite and senior leaders navigating pressure, pivots, and people dynamics. Especially in biotech and tech startups, where the stakes are high and the pace is relentless, her work helps them find solid ground. Her coaching dives into nervous system regulation, identity, and values. “When leaders define success based on things they can lose, titles, outcomes, recognition, they end up chasing peace instead of embodying it,” she shared. “But when they anchor in who they are and the impact they want to have, everything shifts. The pressure doesn’t go away, but their relationship to it does.”

Sam believes the secret to sustainable leadership isn’t more strategy, it’s more awareness. “You can teach someone how to have a hard conversation, improve their communication etc., but if they’re dysregulated, all those tools go out the window. Regulation is what allows us to access wisdom under pressure.” Her clients learn practical tools like breathwork, movement, journaling, and meditation to return to center, especially in moments of fear or overwhelm. “Fear comes in waves,” she says. “Your job is to learn to ride the wave, not get taken under by it.”

She’s now turning those years of insights into her first book, Regulate to Rise: The Hidden Key to Powerful Leadership and Personal Peace, launching Fall 2025. The book weaves neuroscience, story, and leadership strategy with Sam’s signature warmth and honesty. It’s a wake-up call and an invitation to stop performing leadership and start embodying it.

Sam also hosts the podcast Imperfection Wins, born from her own journey with perfectionism and the healing that followed. Filled with authentic stories and honest reflection, it’s been a space of grace for her and her listeners. She’s closing the podcast this September to make room for new ventures, but its legacy remains.

Another expression of Sam’s heart is The Compassionate Collective, a social impact marketplace she co-founded that features handmade “imperfect hearts” as tangible reminders of the beauty in imperfection. “We’ve sold them for six and a half years,” she said. “People carry them, gift them, and pass them along in moments of loss, hope, and celebration. It’s a piece of compassion you can hold in your hand.”

Sam’s work is more than coaching. It’s an invitation to live with intention, lead with integrity, and remember that the most powerful leaders are the ones who know how to come home to themselves.

To learn more about Sam Willing, The Compassionate Collective, or her upcoming book, visit samwilling.com and compassionatecollective.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

“You’re not four years old! You’re too small!”

The mean little girl narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing me in all her four-year-old wisdom. Then she shoved me down the slide, cackling madly, because I was in her way and taking too long.

“You’re too skinny. You need to eat,” the cruel girl looked me up and down with disgust. I was twelve. That exact phrase echoed through junior high, and then on into high school.

“You’re so pale. Don’t you like the beach?” asked an old, leather-faced man in the elevator, leering. I was thirty-five.

I was always the smallest, the skinniest, the palest. Perpetually the underdog, I found myself deeply connected to Eyal Levit’s new book, The King’s Race, which I was honored to preview—alongside the opportunity to interview him.

Dr. Levit is a board-certified dermatologist at Levit Dermatology in the Manhattan Beach area of Brooklyn, New York. He was born in Ukraine in 1971 during the Cold War, when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. He explained that as Jews, they were “equal” only in slogans and propaganda. In reality, their passports marked them as part of a “fifth column”—subject to quotas, barred from many jobs, and often deliberately failed in school regardless of academic excellence. Even becoming valedictorian was nearly impossible, as the unspoken rule was to suppress Jewish achievement. Since exams were oral, grading could always be skewed by subjective interpretation.

In January 1972, his parents immigrated to Israel. The process was humiliating. Most heirlooms passed down through generations had to be left behind. Emigrants were allowed only $100 in hard currency. After a long and degrading train journey through Vienna and a short stay there, the family finally arrived in Israel.

Integration wasn’t easy. There was a new language, new climate, and his parents—both professionals—had to retake their licensing exams in Hebrew. Eventually, they settled in Haifa. But by 1973, war had broken out, and both of Eyal’s parents were drafted to serve. He vividly remembers hiding in bomb shelters, sirens blaring as Egyptian planes flew overhead, bombing his city.

At the age of seven, his family was sent on a humanitarian mission to Nigeria—his father as a civil engineer to build roads and bridges, his mother as a doctor to serve malaria-stricken communities. Because Nigeria was part of AIPAC and couldn’t officially request help from Israel, the Israeli construction company adopted the American-sounding name RCC (Reynolds Construction Corporation).

At first, Eyal was enrolled in a school run by nuns. He was the only white child in the class and was called a derogatory name: “Umbakara” (banana-peeled skin). His mother pulled him out after witnessing, by chance, the daily fistfights he had been enduring—fights he had hidden from her to spare her worry. She homeschooled him until the company opened its own school.

By thirteen, Eyal’s family had returned to Israel. He enrolled in one of the country’s top private schools, but soon his parents had to leave again in search of work. Eyal stayed with his grandparents. After three years, he joined his parents in the United States, where they were still navigating life with green cards. Just three months after arriving, a martial arts instructor who believed in him took him under his wing. Eyal went on to win a silver medal in the Junior Olympics—missing gold only because he lost focus in shock at his own unexpected success.

Dr. Eyal Levit is now a successful dermatologist. He explained that it was his mother—also a physician—who encouraged him to consider dermatology. He took her advice seriously, and the more he learned, the more he realized she was right. The skin, he says, is the body’s largest organ and its first line of defense—like an envelope maintaining a constant, interactive pathway between our internal organs and the outside world.

Eyal believes that education should never stop. He teaches and learns daily, and to him, a day without learning something new is a day wasted. Currently, he is working to reverse biological aging—a key to preventing many cancers and chronic diseases. He holds two patents: one for diabetes therapy and another for air purification. He has presented at dermatological and cosmetic conferences both in the United States and around the world, and has authored numerous articles and book chapters in medical textbooks. He also co-edited a textbook on medical and cosmetic dermatologic surgery.

No matter what happens, he says, always remember to have a BALL: Believe, Achieve, Love, and Live.

Eyal recently wrote a children’s book titled The King’s Race, inspired by his education, his medical practice, his personal journey, and the stories shared with him by his patients. The King’s Race is a heartwarming and inspirational story about a noble animal who overcomes adversity and the circumstances of his birth to persevere and shine.

Eyal believes that life constantly tests us—and each time we fall short, we’re faced with a choice: give up, or rise up. Through his global experiences as an immigrant, he has seen firsthand how athletics can unite people and help them rise above petty prejudice. Children, with their open minds, are especially receptive—sports can help them build friendships that transcend race, religion, and nationality.

In the story of Spots the horse, Eyal highlights the importance of open-mindedness, kindness, respect, hard work, and the timeless wisdom of ancient books like the Bible. The book also confronts society’s shallow obsession with outward appearance—an obsession that does not define who we truly are, yet is often used to judge us unfairly.

As a doctor whose mission is to heal, Eyal feels compelled to write when he believes his words can help society. While much of today’s health conversation centers on gut health, mindfulness, and meditation, he believes we must not overlook books. Books are ancient pillars of human knowledge. They help us unlock our potential. Throughout the history of civilization, after the gift of speech, it was writing and reading that became our second most vital tool for survival—preserving the DNA of our shared human story.

The message Eyal hopes readers take from The King’s Race is that kindness pays off. True strength is an internal quality—something each of us can choose to cultivate. He encourages readers to choose their friends wisely, because our environment plays a powerful role in shaping both our character and our future.

When life feels difficult, when hope seems distant, and you’re left wondering why certain things are happening to you—pause, refocus, and take charge of what you can do. Learn from your circumstances, rise up, and change your situation. Eyal believes that heroes are not born—they are forged by the challenges they overcome. He thus advises us to embrace the challenges as an opportunity for growth. Each of us has the potential to be a hero. There’s no limit to how many heroes the world can hold.

He reminds us to celebrate one another’s strengths rather than diminish others to elevate ourselves. We must learn to recognize the beauty in everyone and everything—and to honor it, not extinguish it.

The King’s Race embodies all these values, told through a timeless story that reads like an ancient fable.

The King’s Race is being published by Brave Kids Books and is expected to be available in November 2025.

To learn more about Dr. Eyal Levit, visit www.levitdermatology.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

“You’re just like your hair, flimsy and floppy. You’re such a pushover,” the cruel words came out of the mouth of one of the most popular girls in school. Most popular girl almost always coincided with mean girl. I felt the sting of her words, but didn’t say anything back. I was used to being put down by kids at school, and at this point in life I was attending the original Mean Girl High. All through my school years I didn’t feel like I really knew myself and I often looked at others and wanted to be them. I was not very self-aware, or perhaps I was too self-aware. I was sort of like a shell of a person, personality not yet formed. As I reached college, this changed dramatically as I discovered my true self and gained confidence. This becoming coincided with my physical blossoming as a late bloomer.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Astrologer and Certified Life Coach, Adriana “Adri” Barnhardt. Her description of how she felt growing up and into adulthood resonated with me as someone who had been consumed for most of my childhood and teenage years with how I was being perceived and talked about. Adri explained that her biggest fear has always been being seen, perceived, and then talked about. It’s interesting because she pursued such a visible career in musical theater before becoming an astrologer and life coach. She loved theater because she could hide behind a role—makeup, costume, lines. If people judged the performance, it wasn’t her, it was the character.

She later realized that what she was really fighting deep down was self-hatred. Years of therapy helped her realize that she doesn’t care as much anymore about what others think of her, because she knows what she thinks of herself. Adri used to feel so lost—no idea who she was or what she wanted, besides wanting to hide. But now she understands her true calling and that clarity has surpassed the fear. She no longer hides behind a character and she feels free to be her most genuine, authentic self. And if someone has a problem with that? That’s a them issue.

Her biggest challenge in life has been becoming her own best friend and unconditionally loving herself. Once she got out of her own way and started her business, lovinglyadri, unlocking what she calls the ILYSM “intuitively love yourself” mentality, everything in her life shifted. She discovered her passions, her real goals, and began working toward the happiest version of her life. Most importantly, she killed her “sh*t-talking inner voice”. Lovinglyadri is a coaching and astrology practice that helps people return to themselves with clarity, compassion, and radical honesty.

Adri is unique in the life coaching world because she combines being a life coach with astrology. She says that her clients have the answers, she just helps them hear the answers louder. Lovinglyadri exists to guide people through the process of self-awareness, unconditional self-love, and intentional living by integrating astrology, coaching, and intuitive wisdom. Adri has now officially launched ILYSM: the lovingly Adri signature method. ILYSM is a mindset shift – from tolerating yourself to intuitively loving yourself. There are four steps and personalized post-session materials, including a customized astrology study guide and anti-spiraling packets. She begins with the client’s birth chart, what she calls your personal happiness manual, and bridges the gap between your cosmic blueprint and your real, lived experience. This is not your typical “mindset reset”; this is deep, intentional integration. After a chart reading, characteristics that a client thought they didn’t like about themselves turn into a characteristic that can be used as their superpower.

Adri explains that this means less spiraling, more grounding. Less obsessing, more action. Less “I should know better by now,” and more “I get it now – and I’ve got me”. If you’ve ever wished your inner voice sounded like someone who actually loves you, Adri’s service is for you.

Adri is always accepting new clients and she wants people to understand astrology as a tool for self-awareness, not some fortune-telling gimmick. She also offers astrology-only readings for people who don’t want the full coaching experience. In addition, she does friend hangs and astrology dinner parties. Her dream is to travel around the world helping humans gain self-awareness, leading to unconditional self-love.

If you would like to learn more about Adri and ILYSM, please visit lovinglyadri.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

As a child I loved to write, with a particular inclination toward scary stories and other types of fiction. This was where I truly thrived, but over time you could say that the mundane aspects of life took precedence, and that creativity was dimmed. Teachers and professors told you what to write, and later, as an intelligence officer, cable writing didn’t exactly align with tales of ghost cats and spooky dolls. Once I resigned from the CIA, I realized I really didn’t have a skill that could translate to the real world. I had never loved any job that I had ever had, and I had quite a few. Sure, there were aspects of each experience that I liked, but I didn’t find my true love until I returned to writing. It was only then that I realized this was my calling and I did have a skill that translated to the world outside of the CIA after all! I then hit reset, started over, and I have officially “come home to myself”, as International Business Coach Dana Grant would say.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Dana, and speak with her not only about being an International Business Coach and Master Question Asker, but also a host of global retreats, keynote speaker, and co-founder of Cali’Flour Foods. Dana’s work has expanded into helping people discover the power of using their intuition to make life-changing decisions in their day-to-day lives. She speaks of “coming home to yourself” and she is on a soul quest to see everyone reach their full potential.

Dana describes herself as a master question asker, podcast host, entrepreneur, and creative with deep roots in both healing and adventure. She has worn a lot of hats over the years: co-founder of Cali’Flour Foods, international coach, former business lobbyist with records that have still not been broken, speaker, and most recently, she has just finished her first book and she spends her time “zooming” around the globe supporting and celebrating people. She has a heart that’s always been drawn to service, community and connection.

Dana says that her biggest challenge has been releasing the need to prove her worth through performance. For a long time, she was caught in the cycle of overachieving, over giving, and constantly showing up for others while abandoning herself. She wore success like armor—chasing the next milestone, the next title, the next “yes”—believing that if she could just do enough, she would be enough. But that way of living broke her down emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

The real breakthrough came when she was forced to slow down—when her health, relationships, and sense of purpose all collided and asked her to choose something different. That’s when she began becoming—learning to live from truth, not trauma. Choosing to rest, to receive, to honor herself without needing to earn it—that’s been the most radical, and rewarding, challenge of her life.

Dana described defeating a debilitating illness and going through a season where her body quite literally shut down. She was in chronic pain, deeply fatigued, and no one could give her clear answers. She was told by more than one doctor that she’d just have to “manage” it for the rest of her life. But something in her refused to accept that. She had this quiet, persistent belief that her body wasn’t her enemy—it was trying to get her attention.

Defeating that illness wasn’t a quick fix, Dana describes it as a deep unraveling. She had to change everything—what she ate, how she worked, how she thought. She began learning to listen to her body, to slow down, to nourish instead of numb. She sought out holistic practitioners, functional medicine, and trauma-informed therapy. And, she says, maybe most importantly, she learned how to feel her emotions instead of powering through them. Dana believes that so much of our pain is our body screaming what our mouths are too afraid to say. For her, healing wasn’t just about getting better—it was about becoming whole. That journey taught her to stop outsourcing her power and start partnering with her own wisdom. It’s why she does the work she does now—to help others come home to themselves the way she had to.

Dana’s tips for fighting an illness:

1. Listen to your body like it’s a trusted friend, not a broken machine. Your symptoms aren’t punishments—they’re communication. Your body is trying to tell you what your soul may not have the words for yet. Slowing down to listen is one of the bravest things you can do.
2. Be your own advocate. No one knows your body better than you. If something feels off, trust yourself. Keep asking questions. Keep searching. Just because a practitioner can’t find the cause doesn’t mean the cause doesn’t exist.
3. Heal the emotional, not just the physical. Dana had to face the fact that unresolved trauma, burnout, and over-functioning were contributing to her illness. When she started healing emotionally—setting boundaries, releasing shame, honoring her needs—her body started responding.
4. Let support in. Illness can be incredibly isolating, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Find a community, a coach, a support group—anyone who reminds you that you’re not a burden, you’re human.
5. Give yourself permission to rest. You don’t have to “earn” rest by being productive. Rest is a form of resistance in a world that wants you to push through everything. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is pause and be present with what’s real.

In her coaching business, Dana teaches her clients to use their intuition to make life-changing decisions in their day-to-day life. She explains that intuition is that quiet, inner knowing — the nudge that speaks before fear or logic gets too loud. She believes everyone has it, but most people are just too busy or too disconnected from themselves to hear it. To use your intuition in daily life, you’ve got to slow down and actually listen. That might look like journaling, meditating, walking in nature, or just getting still and asking, “What feels right?” not just “What makes sense?”

Life-changing decisions often come down to what aligns with your peace, not just your plan. Intuition doesn’t always shout, it whispers. But when you learn to trust it, you’ll find it’s one of the most powerful tools for creating a life that’s authentic, aligned, and wildly fulfilling. Dana has built her client base through connection, trust, and word of mouth. She shared her story, showed up consistently, and created results for the people she worked with. That ripple effect turned into a community. It didn’t happen overnight, but within a couple of years, she had a solid client base, and from there, it expanded globally. She now has helped over 3,000 clients across 9+ countries. Dana now primarily coaches high achievers who are ready to scale their impact without losing their soul.

Managing 3,000 clients across 9+ countries isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing things smarter, with structure, soul, and strategy. Dana has built systems that support both personalization and scalability. That includes digital platforms, automated touchpoints, group coaching models, and a solid team. But even with all of that, the real key is presence. When she is with a client, whether it’s one or 100, she’s all in.

For anyone managing multiple clients: boundaries are everything. You must protect your energy like it’s part of your business plan. Clear communication, systems that work while you sleep, and the ability to delegate are non-negotiables. And finally, don’t forget the heart. People don’t just want a service — they want to feel seen. Stay connected to that and you’ll always stand out.

Manage your energy first, and your time will follow.

Dana’s biggest time management tip is to align your calendar with your energy, not just your tasks. Know when you’re most creative, most focused, most social, and batch your activities accordingly. She calls it “energy-based scheduling.” Dana recommends time blocking like it’s a boundary, not a suggestion. Schedule rest and play, not just work. This keeps burnout at bay. Automate and delegate everything that doesn’t require your personal magic. And, most importantly, prioritize what matters, not just what’s urgent.

Currently, Dana’s biggest project is expanding her global coaching platform to support even more high-achieving women who are ready to step into their next chapter — whether that’s building a soul-led business, healing from burnout, or rewriting the stories that have held them back. She’s also writing her second book which focuses on resilience, reinvention, and the power of coming home to yourself. Between that and hosting The Dana Grant Show, she’s all-in on amplifying voices, creating safe spaces for transformation, and building a legacy that reflects love, truth, and possibility.

Dana’s first book The Truth Within The Lie will be out soon.  In the book, Dana delivers a no-fluff, fire-breathing wake-up call for anyone done pretending, performing, or settling for less than what they came here to be. Drawing from her own powerful story of resilience and spiritual realignment, Dana guides readers to reconnect with Universal Principles that govern all creation — principles like alignment, intention, truth, and divine timing.

The Power of Starting Over

Dana Grant feels that no matter where you are in life, it’s never too late to hit reset, reclaim your story, and create something aligned with who you truly are. So many people feel trapped by their past decisions or current circumstances, but she believes that transformation is always possible when we give ourselves permission to grow without judgment. Whether it’s changing careers, healing old wounds, or stepping into a new identity, the journey of becoming is a beautiful, ongoing process, and it’s one Dana is passionate about supporting others through.

If you would like to learn more about Dana Grant, please visit danagrant.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

I watched as my friend’s face visibly fell and I could almost feel the dreadful feeling in the pit of her stomach that I knew she felt every time she saw that her ex-husband had sent her yet another email. I had never been married, but I had been in enough horrible relationships to know the stress that came along with acrimonious communications. In my friend’s case, they had both moved on long ago, but they had a child, and therefore co-parenting was necessary. But the vitriol coming from his side was palpable. The emotions were high. It was like an endless battle via email, phone, or text, and just checking her messages no doubt caused great anxiety. She couldn’t just ignore him, as they needed to work together for their child, but what if there was a better way? What if there was a way to defuse the trauma involved in constantly fighting with your ex?

I recently had the opportunity to interview Vanessa Carson, the founder of Defuze.io, a cutting-edge platform redefining what it means to co-parent in today’s world. She explained that co-parenting is when parents collaborate post-separation to raise their children, ensuring their well-being and stability. It spans everything from high-conflict scenarios, where “parallel parenting” is often more accurate, to more harmonious setups that include extended family networks. Vanessa has spent years herself navigating the complexities of co-parenting, constantly adapting to challenges while focusing on her children’s needs. She describes her experience as a journey of resilience, patience, and learning the value of clear communication, and especially boundaries. Every family is unique, but prioritizing shared goals for the children remains at the heart of it all. One of the toughest aspects of co-parenting is balancing the mental load while maintaining consistency for the children involved. Another challenge is when communication breaks down, a key area that Vanessa has worked hard to address with her platform, Defuze.

Defuze is a platform designed for separated and single parents, as well as extended families, to streamline communication, manage logistics, and collaborate more effectively. It’s not just about reducing conflict – it’s about simplifying life for modern families. The platform even includes channel access for grandparents, caregivers, and others involved in raising children. In phase two, Defuze will extend support beyond the child-rearing years. Defuze harnesses its own AI, THEA, to make communication constructive and neutral, reducing unnecessary conflict and ‘noise’. It also helps with scheduling, task management, and tracking shared responsibilities, making planning effortless for busy families.

Vanessa explains how she came up with the idea for Defuze as beginning with a lightbulb moment, but says the real magic has been the synchronicity of the journey. Meeting the right people at just the right time – team members, advisors, and collaborators – has been instrumental in bringing her vision to life. Developing Defuze.io has taken just under a year, with the real milestones coming from connecting with the right people at critical stages. Collaboration and timing have been key in shaping the platform. Building it has been a testament to the strength of a shared vision and the magic of timing. Defuze is accessible on both smartphones and laptops, giving families the flexibility to use it in the way that works best for them.

The universal challenge amongst humans is communication. Defuze incorporates an AI tool called THEA to respond without emotion to those potentially nasty exchanges between co-parents, even if the other partner is not open to using the tool. Vanessa understands that every word carries meaning and words can have an enormous impact. The whole idea behind THEA is to avoid escalation in those potentially ugly exchanges and create a more harmonious, successful separated household environment which reduces, and hopefully eliminates, the trauma on the children involved. Phase two will extend beyond the child rearing years and THEA will be harnessed for additional application as well as co-parenting.

Vanessa Carson’s motivation comes from her own children and the mission behind Defuze. Her driving force is knowing that this platform can help families navigate challenges and reduce stress. Defuze isn’t just a tech solution or app – it’s an ecosystem and a reflection of the power of collaboration. It is especially unique because Vanessa and her team are building a community around the platforms, which will extend to physical events they will be launching in the near future. It’s all about empowering modern families – separated parents, single parents, and extended networks – to thrive.

Inspired by her own experiences navigating single and parallel parenting, Vanessa is on a mission to empower parents with practical tools, fostering collaboration, resilience, and independence. Her vision? To create a world where parents thrive, not just survive.

If you would like to learn more about Vanessa Carson and Defuze, please visit www.defuze.io.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.