Owning Your Legacy
Episodes
She Followed the Signs and Built a Global Brand | Holly Garrard on turning intuition into a business
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if the signs you keep ignoring are actually pointing you toward your purpose?In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Holly Garrard, founder of Fun...
She Became CEO Without Chasing It | Christie Tarantino-Dean on Leadership and Mentorship
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if leadership is not something you chase, but something that finds you?In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Christie Tarantino-Dean shares how ...
Mara Smith: From Stay-at-Home Mom to Tequila Founder | Reinvention, Risk & Starting Over
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, we sit down with Mara Smith, founder of Inspiro Tequila, to talk about what it really looks like to start over ...
Katrina Markoff: Rebuilding After Losing Everything | From Vosges Chocolate to Violet Flame
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, host Laurette Rondenet sits down with Katrina Markoff, founder of Violet Flame Chocolate and the original creat...
Rewrite the Mother Code: Motherhood, Guilt & Feminine Leadership | Dr. Gertrude Lyons
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, host Laurette Rondenet sits down with Dr. Gertrude Lyons, author of Rewrite the Mother Code, for a transformati...
Neurodivergence & Leadership in the AI Era | Brittani Mack
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, host Laurette Rondenet sits down with Brittani Mack, host of Tech Me As I Am, for a powerful conversation on au...
Choosing the Right Partner Without Losing Yourself: Bela Gandhi on Smart Dating.
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, host Laurette Rondenet sits down with Bela Gandhi, founder of Smart Dating Academy, for a powerful conversation...
Walking Away to Move Forward: Leadership, Values, and Long-Term Vision with Teresa Ging
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Teresa Ging, founder and CEO of Sugar Bliss Bakery, returns to Owning Your Legacy for a timely and values-driven conversation about growth, courage, a...
The Multiplier Effect: Confidence, Representation, and Leading Before You’re Ready
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ayra Mudessir, TEDx speaker, three-time author, youth advocate, and neuroscience student, joins Laurette Rondenet on Owning Your Legacy for an insight...
From Ego to Authenticity: The Path to Inner Alignment with Ahmed Darwish
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ahmed Darwish, founder of The Living Organism Project, joins Laurette Rondenet on Owning Your Legacy for a powerful exploration of healing, authentici...
From Brooklyn to Boise: The Grace Effect of Leadership with Michael Byron
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do grace, resilience, and purpose shape the kind of leader you become? In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Laurette Rondenet sits down...
From D1 Athlete to Entertainment Powerhouse: Jasmine Gonzalez on Fearless Leadership & Legacy
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you turn a college side hustle into two thriving businesses that bring joy to thousands? In this inspiring episode, Jasmine Gonzalez, founder ...
The Art of Belief: Sandy Marsico on Building a Purpose-Driven Enterprise
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sandy Marsico, Founder and CEO of Sandstorm Design, joins Laurette Rondenet on Owning Your Legacy to explore how purpose, creativity, and human-center...
Owning Your Legacy Season 10 Trailer
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to lead with purpose, authenticity, and courage in today’s world? Season 10 of Owning Your Legacy invites you to find out. Hosted ...
Bold Pivots, Deep Purpose: Elysabeth Alfano on Reinventing Life with Joy
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What drives a woman to leap from Fortune 500 exec to art gallery owner… to launching a plant-based ETF on the NYSE? In this after-the-show conversat...
Motherhood, Marriage & the Moment That Changed Everything — Meryl Kennedy Unplugged
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this raw, after-the-show moment, Meryl Kennedy opens up like never before. Over champagne and cookies, she joins Laurette Rondenet to talk about lo...
Mentorship, Mayors & McDonald’s: Dan Gibbons on Legacy Leadership
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this After the Show conversation, Dan Gibbons, CEO of the City Club of Chicago, pulls back the curtain on the mentors, moments, and memories that s...
Aligning Values with Action: Elysabeth Alfano’s Journey to Impact
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you align your values with your actions? Elysabeth Alfano, CEO of VegTech Invest and host of the Plantbased Business Hour, joins Lau...
Food as the Lever for Change | Eric Larson of Tilia Holdings
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Eric Larson, Founder and Managing Partner of Tilia Holdings, joins Laurette Rondenet on Owning Your Legacy to explore how food systems innovation, sus...
From Restaurant Rookie to Incubator Powerhouse | Natalie Shmulik’s Legacy in Food Innovation
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Natalie Shmulik transformed her passion for food into a mission-driven career helping hundreds of founders grow their food and beverage businesses. In...
Rewriting the Rules of Leadership | Inside The Executives’ Club of Chicago Transformation
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Margaret Mueller, CEO of The Executives’ Club of Chicago, turned a 110-year-old institution into a modern hub for business leadership. In this episo...
Leading With Empathy: Jon Harris on PR, Mentorship, and Corporate Reinvention
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Harris, EVP & Chief Communications and Networking Officer at ConAgra Brands, has led an extraordinary career built on empathy, authenticity, a...
Rebranding a Family Business: Meryl Kennedy’s Startup Journey to Retail Success
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meryl Kennedy, CEO of Four Sisters Rice, is reshaping the future of farming with family, sustainability, and purpose. In this episode of Owning Your L...
How Civic Connection Is Changing Chicago | Dan Gibbons of City Club
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dan Gibbons, CEO of the City Club of Chicago, believes civic engagement starts with meaningful conversations. In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, D...
Empowering the Next Generation of Women Leaders | Emily Smith of Female Strong & Bespoke CRE
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to Emily Smith’s bold leadership and inspiring mission, thousands of young girls are gaining the confidence to lead, speak up, and own their ...
Transforming Food Waste into Hope with Alan Reed
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to Alan Reeds refreshingly practical approach to taking on big issues, the Food & Beverage Industry delivered 4 million servings to people ...
Passion, Innovation, and the Legacy of Culinary Creativity with Chef Charlie Baggs
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you combine culinary artistry, food science, and a passion for teaching? You get Chef Charlie Baggs, a leader in the culinary indust...
Breaking Barriers & Creating Opportunity with Cargill's Natalie McGrady
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Natalie McGrady’s journey from a small town in New York to supplier diversity leader at Cargill is a testament to purpose and determination. Overcom...
Finding Your Joy & Creating a Profound Impact with Author & Life Coach Jess Kaskov
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this inspiring episode, Jess Kaskov, Certified Life Coach, Speaker, and Author, offers a fresh perspective on measuring success and fulfillment bey...
Smart Money Moves & Raising Resilient Next-Gen Leaders with Sean Sebold
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sean Sebold, Founder of Sebold Capital Management, took an unconventional journey from English major and college football player to respected wealth m...
From Grape Picker to Global Leader: Authenticity, Innovation & Taking Chances with Paul Graham
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Laurette is joined by Paul Graham, President & CEO of Americas at Döhler and recently appointed FEMA President, who shares his remarka...
From “You Can’t” to “Watch Me”: Darcy Gaechter on Defying Expectations and Leading with Passion
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever been told you can’t do something? Darcy Gaechter’s journey to becoming the first woman to kayak the Amazon River from source to sea is filled...
How the Restaurant Industry Saved Kevin Boehm’s Life. Literally.
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In an inspiring story of perseverance and passion, Kevin Boehm, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of BOKA Restaurant Group, shares his journey from living in his ...
The Mind Game of Leadership: A Coach’s Perspective on Winning at Life and Legacy
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of Owning Your Legacy has Laurette speaking with Robert Pomazak, or “Coach Pom” as he is known by the players of St. Charles North Hi...
The Power of Perseverance and Using Leadership Influence for Good
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Israel Santiesteban-Barrientos joins us in this episode of Owning Your Legacy to share his story of how he went from delivering milk at Dannon to beco...
Bringing Holistic Wellness to the Corporate World with BIÂN Co-Founder Mar Soraparu
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette speaks with Mar Soraparu, a former finance executive who went on to co-found BIÂN, a premier private ...
Building a More Sustainable Food Industry with Planting Hope Founder Julia Stamberger
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Julia Stamberger, the president, founder, and director of The Planting Hope Company, Inc....
The Power of Your Network and Your Values with former NFL player Brent Novoselsky
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Brent Novoselsky, former NFL player and current VP of Wealth Services at Alera Group. The...
Advocating for Yourself at Work with Jennifer Convery, Former President of Griffith Foods NA
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Jennifer Convery, the former group president of Griffith Foods North America. Jennifer cu...
The Transformative Power of Clothing with Stylist Tali Kogan
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Tali Kogan, renowned Chicago stylist, founder of Tel Aviv Couture, and co-founder of Sw...
Making a Difference with Your Money with Alex Johnston
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Alex Johnston, the founder and president of Building Impact Partners, a philanthropy ad...
Grow Big or Go Home with Lori Hilson Cioromski
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Lori Hilson Cioromski, founder & CEO of HC Strategic Advisors, president of Essenti...
Being Present, Staying Curious & Building Trust in Sales & Life with Brandon Casteel
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Brandon Casteel, vice president of partnerships at SPINS, to discuss the leadership ten...
Investing in Your Dreams & Your Team with Jennifer Bell
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Jennifer Bell, CMO of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant Group, to talk about the importa...
The Hidden Benefits of Trade Associations for Networking & Innovation With George Southworth
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes colleague George Southworth, executive director of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Assoc...
How to Harness Your Insecurities & Uplevel Your Leadership With Christie Myers
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette talks all about transparency, reflection, and potential with entrepreneur, life coach, and food indust...
Finding Fulfillment in Community, Food & Family With D.C. Crenshaw
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes Chicago-based food & lifestyle entrepreneur D.C. Crenshaw to talk through his purpose-fil...
Accountability, Personal Agency & Paying It Backward With Amy and Pete Kadens
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the season 6 premiere of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes philanthropist and entrepreneur duo Amy and Pete Kadens for an incredibly powerful a...
The Power & Potential of Food Science With Mary Wagner
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the Season 5 finale of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes executive food & beverage professional Mary Wagner. From General Mills to Taco Bel...
Navigating Life’s Mountains & New Milestones With Suzanne Nance
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down to talk with certified life coach Suzanne Nance. Since starting her company Create 4 You, Su...
Prioritizing Health & Joy For Healing With Beth Smith
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Beth Smith, founder and CEO of Simplicity Cold-Pressed Juice & Cocktails. Made with f...
Leadership Strategies to Attract & Retain Talent With Oliver Kelly
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes Oliver Kelly, the President & CEO of Kerry North America, to discuss his lessons learned ...
Choosing Perseverance Over Perfectionism With Courtney Johnson
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes Courtney Johnson, founder and president of Culinary Care, to talk about the decision to perse...
Optimize & Elevate Your Leadership With Robert Jordan
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by serial entrepreneur, business expert, and author Robert Jordan. Robert is renowned for hi...
Resilience is Bliss: Embracing the Bittersweet Reality of Business With Teresa Ging
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by entrepreneur Teresa Ging, Founder & CEO of the Chicago-based retail bakery Sugar Blis...
Making Innovation & Inspiration Second Nature With Karuna Rawal
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the season 5 premiere of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is excited to welcome Karuna Rawal, the Chief Revenue Officer & Chief Marketing Officer a...
Becoming an Indispensable Leader & the Power of Connection With Larry Kaufman
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“An indispensable leader goes above and beyond, but is thought of beyond their role as a go-to. Imagine if [your clients] thought of you like that. ...
Building Trust Through Transparency With Ryan Smith
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“We're building trust through a really great foundation of transparency. One of my pet peeves is I shouldn't be walking into a situation a...
Origin Stories, Knowing Your Worth, and Learning to Leverage With Brooke Foley
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“A lot of reasons why I talk about knowing your worth is that if you don't know it, you can't fight for it. And if you don't believe ...
Leave It Better Than You Found It With Stuart McCarroll
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“You know, I’ve always just believed really simply in leaving things better than what you took them. And I don’t have any sort of grand plans fo...
Stopping the Teen Suicide Epidemic With Kari Eckert
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“The fact that our young people are learning that it's okay to ask for help, that's an amazing win.” — Kari EckertIn this episode of O...
Innovation Hurts with Barb Stuckey
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“True innovation usually requires doing things that haven't been done before, and that can be very painful for some people along the journey. I...
Seeing Crisis as an Opportunity With Christie Hefner
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“One of the keys to success in business, and frankly any organization, is constant innovation, constant agile thinking, and diversity within the org...
Competitor Isn't a Dirty Word With Renee Flesch and Lauren Hopkins
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“It's really become more win-win, which is part of that mutual boundary setting. And I think when you look at it that way, sometimes there is m...
The Intersection of Entrepreneurship & Social Responsibility With Desiree Vargas Wrigley
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“I like building things that matter. I like taking an innovative approach to problems and thinking about them from a stakeholder-centric perspective...
How the Shamrock Shake Changed the World With Holly Buckendahl
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“What they're going through is traumatic and anxiety provoking and scary. And, you know, it's a roller coaster ride of emotions and experi...
Using Your Seat at the Table for Good With Michael Byron
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“You're here for a reason. And so you need to use your seat of influence for good…I got in a lot of good trouble at Walmart…and that good t...
Trust, But Verify—How to Create a Culture That Fuels Innovation With Jon McIntyre
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"People are the most important thing in any business, you know. And if you want them to fit your innovation culture, your work culture, [put in] ...
A Tortilla Alternative That Makes Consumers Feel Seen With Andrea Schwenk & Denise Senter
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Andrea Schwenk, the chief marketing officer of Egglife Foods, and Denise Senter, Edlong’...
Applying a Sports-Centered Mindset to Business With Desmond Clark and Mike Natale
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Go look up ‘Desmond Clark combine stats,’ and as you scroll down, you're going to see a big fat ‘F.’ 37 out of 100 was my score. 36 ou...
Learning To Embrace Criticism With David Jones and Emily Sheehan
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You can’t be precious about ideas. You have to share them, express them, and get feedback from the start.In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, I si...
Making a Seat at the Table With Suzanne Johnson and Gail Scott
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Limiting beliefs keep us from achieving our own potential.In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, I sit down with my dear friend, Dr. Suzanne Johnson, ...
Becoming a Visionary with a Traction Mindset With Bobi Siembieda and Brenda Dehart
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Your vision and strategy will not serve you unless you can execute them the right way.In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, I'm excited to welco...
Don't Mistake My Kindness for Weakness With Dr. Sarah Evans and Bob Corbett
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kindness and its power cannot be underestimated.In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Dr. Sarah Evans, who has a Ph.D. in ind...
The Beauty of Happiness With Amy Banas
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There is nothing more beautiful than feeling happy, confident, and in harmony with your life—but it takes hard, consistent work to get there.In toda...
Empowerment Drives Culture With Colleen Soukup and Kami Hunt
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s no secret that company culture is everything, but how do you guarantee an incredible one?In today’s episode, Laurette sits down with Colleen ...
Owning Your Narrative With Tiffany Willis
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Owning your legacy starts with owning your narrative.In this episode, Laurette sits down with Tiffany Willis, who discusses her experience of being a ...
Build Lasting Trust with Your Customers With Dan Callahan and Paul Masline
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Can your customers trust you? Can your people?In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down to discuss the core importance of building a f...
Creating a Culture of Belonging With Lena Lewis and Wanda Sheehan
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Host Laurette Rondenet is back with Season 2 of Owning Your Legacy with even more amazing guests and important conversations. In the premiere episode ...
Not Just the Pieces With Jessica Zweig and Dale Wytiaz
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As leaders, our job is to create an environment where our great people can shine and prosper.In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined...
You Can't Be What You Can't See With Emily Smith and Brenda Dehart
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Opportunity. Possibility. Hope. This is what representation gives women. Young girls need female professionals and role models to light the way.In thi...
Leading With Empathy With Pam Henderson, Ph.D.
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is empathy a core leadership skill? We think so. In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, host Laurette Rondenet and her guests Pam Henderson, CEO and f...
Kicking Doors Open With Michele Fite
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Laurette is joined by guest Michele Fite, Chief Commercial Officer at Motif FoodWorks, to discuss kicking doors open as a woman in the food and bevera...
Myths About Family Businesses With Brian Griffith
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Laurette is joined by guest Brian Griffith, executive chairman at Griffith Foods, to discuss myths about family businesses.Both Laurette and Brian gre...
Servant Leadership With Nick Economos and Gail Scott
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Laurette is joined by guests Nick Economos, co-founder, managing principle and chief retirement officer at Fiduciary Financial Partners, and Gail Scot...
Energy is Everything With Nancy Gianni
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Laurette Rondenet is joined by guest Nancy Gianni, chief belief officer and founder of Gigi's Playhouse, the only worldwide network of Down syndr...
Navigating Relationships With Charlie Saffro and Sean Smith
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Host Laurette Rondenet and guests Charlie Saffro, president and founder of CS Recruiting, and Sean Smith, president and co-founder of Third Street A...
Introducing: Owning Your Legacy
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Laurette Rondenet, CEO and owner of Edlong Corporation, as she hosts intimate discussions with fellow leaders, visionaries, and trailblazers who ...