This episode features Tiffany Willis, former SVP of Investor Relations at Starbucks, whose journey redefines what success actually looks like. From becoming a mother at 14 and facing homelessness to rising through PwC, EY, and leading investor relations at a $130B company, Tiffany’s story is a masterclass in resilience, ownership, and purpose-driven leadership.
We unpack what it really means to own your narrative, how your struggles can become your greatest competitive advantage, and why success is not about a perfect path but about persistence, adaptability, and belief. Tiffany also shares the mindset shifts that helped her navigate corporate leadership, make difficult family decisions, and step into her next chapter with intention.
This is a conversation about identity, leadership, and building a life on your terms, regardless of where you start.
Themes from this episode:
<ul>
<li>Owning your narrative and embracing your full story</li>
<li>Turning adversity into a competitive advantage</li>
<li>From teenage motherhood and homelessness to corporate leadership</li>
<li>The power of work ethic, curiosity, and raising your hand</li>
<li>Navigating corporate America without a perfect background</li>
<li>Translating business strategy into the “language of numbers”</li>
<li>Building a career through adaptability, not a straight path</li>
<li>Imposter syndrome in high-level leadership rooms</li>
<li>Choosing purpose over position in critical life decisions</li>
<li>Leadership, storytelling, and influencing at scale</li>
<li>Helping others see what’s possible through your journey</li>
</ul>
 Watch and listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify 
 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, transitions, and performance

<description>&lt;p&gt;This episode features Tiffany Willis, former SVP of Investor Relations at Starbucks, whose journey redefines what success actually looks like. From becoming a mother at 14 and facing homelessness to rising through PwC, EY, and leading investor relations at a $130B company, Tiffany’s story is a masterclass in resilience, ownership, and purpose-driven leadership.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We unpack what it really means to own your narrative, how your struggles can become your greatest competitive advantage, and why success is not about a perfect path but about persistence, adaptability, and belief. Tiffany also shares the mindset shifts that helped her navigate corporate leadership, make difficult family decisions, and step into her next chapter with intention.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This is a conversation about identity, leadership, and building a life on your terms, regardless of where you start.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Themes from this episode:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Owning your narrative and embracing your full story&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Turning adversity into a competitive advantage&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;From teenage motherhood and homelessness to corporate leadership&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The power of work ethic, curiosity, and raising your hand&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Navigating corporate America without a perfect background&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Translating business strategy into the “language of numbers”&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Building a career through adaptability, not a straight path&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Imposter syndrome in high-level leadership rooms&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Choosing purpose over position in critical life decisions&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Leadership, storytelling, and influencing at scale&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Helping others see what’s possible through your journey&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt; Watch and listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, transitions, and performance&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Tiffany Willis shares her journey from teenage motherhood and homelessness to leading investor relations at Starbucks. This episode explores resilience, owning your narrative, navigating corporate leadership, and choosing purpose over position while building a life and career on your terms.

14-Year-Old Mom → Starbucks SVP → Future CEO: Tiffany Willis on Owning Your Narrative

What does success really cost, and what happens when you finally choose yourself?
In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Shanti Das. Shanti is a music industry powerhouse turned mental health advocate. She helped build the legendary careers of Outkast, Usher, and Toni Braxton as a music execute at LaFace, Columbia, and Universal Records. Shanti shares the untold truth behind climbing to the top and what it took from her along the way.
At the height of her career, everything looked right on paper. What followed was a powerful pivot from corporate success to purpose-driven impact through her nonprofit, Silence the Shame.
This conversation is about leadership, sacrifice, mental health, and learning how to create a life that actually aligns with you.
In this episode, we cover:
<ul>
<li>The reality behind high-level success and hidden sacrifices</li>
<li>Why “work-life balance” is a myth—and what to focus on instead</li>
<li>The concept of work-life rhythm and how to navigate it</li>
<li>Mental health in leadership and why it can’t be ignored</li>
<li>How to recognize when you (or someone else) is struggling</li>
<li>Shanti's RAP framework: Recognize, Acknowledge, Process</li>
<li>Building your “starting five” support system</li>
<li>The power of saying no and protecting your peace</li>
<li>Turning pain into purpose through Silence the Shame</li>
</ul>
<a href='https://silencetheshame.com/'>https://silencetheshame.com/</a>

<description>What does success really cost, and what happens when you finally choose yourself?
In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Shanti Das. Shanti is a music industry powerhouse turned mental health advocate. She helped build the legendary careers of Outkast, Usher, and Toni Braxton as a music execute at LaFace, Columbia, and Universal Records. Shanti shares the untold truth behind climbing to the top and what it took from her along the way.
At the height of her career, everything looked right on paper. What followed was a powerful pivot from corporate success to purpose-driven impact through her nonprofit, Silence the Shame.
This conversation is about leadership, sacrifice, mental health, and learning how to create a life that actually aligns with you.
In this episode, we cover:
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The reality behind high-level success and hidden sacrifices&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why “work-life balance” is a myth—and what to focus on instead&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The concept of work-life rhythm and how to navigate it&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Mental health in leadership and why it can’t be ignored&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How to recognize when you (or someone else) is struggling&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Shanti's RAP framework: Recognize, Acknowledge, Process&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Building your “starting five” support system&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The power of saying no and protecting your peace&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Turning pain into purpose through Silence the Shame&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;a href='https://silencetheshame.com/'&gt;https://silencetheshame.com/&lt;/a&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
</description>

This episode features Shanti Das, founder of Silence the Shame and former music executive at LaFace, Universal, and Universal Records. She helped shape the careers of artists like Outkast, Usher, and Toni Braxton. 

In this conversation, we talk through her rise in the music industry, the cost that success had on her mental health, and how she turned that experience into her nonprofit, Silence the Shame, which now supports leaders and individuals in prioritizing their mental well-being.

Music Executive → Mental Health Wake-Up → Leaving the Dream Job → Mental Health Leader: Silence the Shame's Shanti Das on Alignment, Healing, and Purpose

In this episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with David Pollack, former University of Georgia player, three-time All-American, first-round NFL Draft pick, former ESPN analyst, speaker, author, and host of the See Ball Get Ball podcast.
David shares a powerful story of identity, transition, faith, resilience, and learning how to make every day count. From becoming under-recruited, to elite football player, to suffering a career-ending neck injury in the NFL, to rebuilding through broadcasting, speaking, writing, and family life. Our conversation is full of perspective for anyone navigating change.
We talk about what it really means to be great where you’re at, how to stay present instead of living in the rearview mirror, how to grow through adversity, and why some of life’s hardest moments can shape you into the strongest version of yourself. David also opens up about faith, his wife’s battle with brain cancer, parenting, personal discipline, leadership, and the mindset behind his book Every Day Counts.
This is a conversation about more than football. It’s about purpose, suffering, grit, service, and how to respond when life changes faster than you expected.
In this episode, we discuss:
* David Pollack’s journey from Georgia football to the NFL
* The mindset that helped him become great after changing positions multiple times
* What happened after his broken neck ended his NFL career
* Transitioning from pro sports to local radio and eventually ESPN
* Why feedback, accountability, and self-evaluation matter
* How faith shaped the way he handled adversity and uncertainty
* Lessons from his wife’s brain cancer journey
* The message behind his book Every Day Counts
* Parenting, youth sports, resilience, and letting kids own their journey
* What success looks like now in speaking, media, and life
 
If you’re in a season of transition, rebuilding, leadership, loss, or growth, this episode will challenge and encourage you.
Subscribe for more conversations with leaders, athletes, founders, and high performers navigating life and career transitions on Same Game Different Turf.
 
#DavidPollack #SameGameDifferentTurf #NFL #GeorgiaFootball #Faith #Resilience #Leadership #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #EveryDayCounts #CareerTransition #Adversity #SportsPodcast #Motivation #SuccessMindset

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with David Pollack, former University of Georgia player, three-time All-American, first-round NFL Draft pick, former ESPN analyst, speaker, author, and host of the See Ball Get Ball podcast.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;David shares a powerful story of identity, transition, faith, resilience, and learning how to make every day count. From becoming under-recruited, to elite football player, to suffering a career-ending neck injury in the NFL, to rebuilding through broadcasting, speaking, writing, and family life. Our conversation is full of perspective for anyone navigating change.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We talk about what it really means to be great where you’re at, how to stay present instead of living in the rearview mirror, how to grow through adversity, and why some of life’s hardest moments can shape you into the strongest version of yourself. David also opens up about faith, his wife’s battle with brain cancer, parenting, personal discipline, leadership, and the mindset behind his book Every Day Counts.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This is a conversation about more than football. It’s about purpose, suffering, grit, service, and how to respond when life changes faster than you expected.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we discuss:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* David Pollack’s journey from Georgia football to the NFL&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* The mindset that helped him become great after changing positions multiple times&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* What happened after his broken neck ended his NFL career&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* Transitioning from pro sports to local radio and eventually ESPN&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* Why feedback, accountability, and self-evaluation matter&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* How faith shaped the way he handled adversity and uncertainty&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* Lessons from his wife’s brain cancer journey&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* The message behind his book Every Day Counts&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* Parenting, youth sports, resilience, and letting kids own their journey&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* What success looks like now in speaking, media, and life&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you’re in a season of transition, rebuilding, leadership, loss, or growth, this episode will challenge and encourage you.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Subscribe for more conversations with leaders, athletes, founders, and high performers navigating life and career transitions on Same Game Different Turf.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;#DavidPollack #SameGameDifferentTurf #NFL #GeorgiaFootball #Faith #Resilience #Leadership #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #EveryDayCounts #CareerTransition #Adversity #SportsPodcast #Motivation #SuccessMindset&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

David Pollack shares his journey from Georgia football star to NFL first-round pick, from a career-ending neck injury to building a new chapter in media, speaking, and life. In this conversation, he talks about resilience, faith, intentionality, parenting, leadership, and the mindset behind his book Every Day Counts. It’s a powerful episode for anyone learning how to respond when life takes an unexpected turn.

NCAA All-American → NFL Broken Neck → ESPN GameDay → Faith: David Pollack on Making Every Day Count

In the latest episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with Elicia Azali, Chief Marketing Officer at Beazer Homes, to talk about leadership, marketing, and building a career that aligns with who you truly are.
Elicia’s journey from Oberlin, Ohio to the C-suite is a powerful reminder that success isn’t just about where you start.
It’s about work ethic, mentorship, and the courage to be yourself in rooms where you may feel different.
In this conversation:
• The work ethic lessons that shaped her growing up in Ohio 
• How mentorship helped launch her career in marketing 
• Early career experiences at Procter &amp; Gamble 
• Navigating imposter syndrome and authenticity in leadership 
• Why marketing is really about understanding people 
• How brand strategy drives business growth 
• Lessons from leading across multiple industries 
• Building alignment and vision as a C-suite executive 
• Balancing motherhood and executive leadership 
• The evolving meaning of purpose and success
This episode is a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, motherhood, career development, and building brands that last.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In the latest episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with Elicia Azali, Chief Marketing Officer at Beazer Homes, to talk about leadership, marketing, and building a career that aligns with who you truly are.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Elicia’s journey from Oberlin, Ohio to the C-suite is a powerful reminder that success isn’t just about where you start.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It’s about work ethic, mentorship, and the courage to be yourself in rooms where you may feel different.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In this conversation:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;• The work ethic lessons that shaped her growing up in Ohio
• How mentorship helped launch her career in marketing
• Early career experiences at Procter &amp;amp; Gamble
• Navigating imposter syndrome and authenticity in leadership
• Why marketing is really about understanding people
• How brand strategy drives business growth
• Lessons from leading across multiple industries
• Building alignment and vision as a C-suite executive
• Balancing motherhood and executive leadership
• The evolving meaning of purpose and success&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This episode is a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, motherhood, career development, and building brands that last.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

About Elicia Azali
Elicia Azali is the Chief Marketing Officer of Beazer Homes, a national homebuilder focused on energy-efficient homes and sustainable communities. She has held leadership roles across major organizations including Procter & Gamble, Nationwide Insurance, and The General.
Her work focuses on brand building, customer insight, and driving business growth through marketing leadership.

Small Town → Taking Risk → Beazer Home CMO: Elicia Azali on Marketing, Motherhood, and Leadership

In this episode, I sit down with TJ Callaway, founder and CEO of Onward Reserve, to unpack what building something real actually takes.
TJ shares his journey from investment banking to entrepreneurship and how that experience gave him confidence in rooms where big financial decisions are made. More importantly, he explains why lasting success isn’t about hype or chasing fast exits. It is about discipline, ownership, and playing the long game.
We cover
<ul>
<li>Why loving the process matters more than chasing the exit</li>
<li>How credibility gives you leverage in rooms most people feel intimidated in</li>
<li>The risk of building a business you don’t control</li>
<li>When to pivot from selling other brands to owning your own</li>
<li>Why the grind never really stops, and why that is a good thing</li>
</ul>
This conversation is grounded in patience, discipline, and building for the long term. TJ also shares how making thoughtful, deliberate decisions along the way allows you to control the variables that shape your future.
If you are building something, a company, a career, or your life, this episode will challenge how you think about control, preparation, and what success actually feels like.
 

If this episode resonated, subscribe and share it with someone navigating their own transition.

<description>In this episode, I sit down with TJ Callaway, founder and CEO of Onward Reserve, to unpack what building something real actually takes.
TJ shares his journey from investment banking to entrepreneurship and how that experience gave him confidence in rooms where big financial decisions are made. More importantly, he explains why lasting success isn’t about hype or chasing fast exits. It is about discipline, ownership, and playing the long game.
We cover
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why loving the process matters more than chasing the exit&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How credibility gives you leverage in rooms most people feel intimidated in&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The risk of building a business you don’t control&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;When to pivot from selling other brands to owning your own&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why the grind never really stops, and why that is a good thing&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
This conversation is grounded in patience, discipline, and building for the long term. TJ also shares how making thoughtful, deliberate decisions along the way allows you to control the variables that shape your future.
If you are building something, a company, a career, or your life, this episode will challenge how you think about control, preparation, and what success actually feels like.
 

&lt;p class="cta-caption"&gt;If this episode resonated, subscribe and share it with someone navigating their own transition.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

TJ Callaway, founder and CEO of Onward Reserve, reflects on his transition from investment banking to launching his own clothing brand. He shares three major lessons: fall in love with the process because the destination won’t satisfy you, build a foundation that creates credibility and leverage, and take control of the key variables that determine your success.

Investment Banking → → Entrepreneur → Brand Builder: Onward Reserve Founder: TJ Callaway on Process, Controlling Your Destiny, and Legacy

Same Game Different Turf Podcast aims to lead the conversation on navigating transitions. Rather than reinventing oneself, it emphasizes building on an existing foundation—growing, adapting, and moving forward. The goal is to evolve into the next version of yourself, whether that means overcoming a challenge or stepping into a new opportunity.

New episode and newsletter every other Wednesday.

Hosted by Mohamed Massaquoi. 
<a href="http://www.SameGameDifferentTurf.com">www.SameGameDifferentTurf.com</a>

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