The Brand Called You

Welcome to another inspiring episode of The Leaders Who Care series on The Brand Called You (TBCY)! In this episode, host Mark Sadovnick sits down with Kelli Richards, President & Chief Connection Officer of The All Access Group, to explore her remarkable journey from the orchards of Cupertino to the forefront of music, technology, and innovation. Kelli shares insights from her experiences at Apple, her interactions with visionary Steve Jobs, and her work with influential artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince, and Todd Rundgren. Discover how music and technology converged to shape her career, why being ahead of the market can be challenging, and how she built a consulting and advisory practice grounded in trust, integrity, and purpose. The conversation also explores visionary leadership, mental health among high achievers, the importance of critical thinking, and the role of AI in shaping the future of work and humanity. From creating meaningful business impact to staying connected to our shared humanity, Kelli offers valuable perspectives for leaders, entrepreneurs, and aspiring change-makers. In this episode, you’ll discover: How early experiences shaped Kelli’s journey in music and technology. What she learned from Steve Jobs and other influential figures. Why timing matters when bringing visionary ideas to market. How integrity and purpose can guide business decisions. Why AI should complement human capabilities rather than diminish human value. How leaders can create lasting economic and social impact.

Welcome to another episode of The Brand Called You’s “Leaders Who Care” series! In this insightful conversation, host Mark Sadovnick speaks with Charles “Chip” Whitney Webster Jr., Founder of Unity in Service, about his journey from overcoming childhood challenges with dyslexia and ADD to becoming an entrepreneur, business leader, and advocate for community engagement. Chip reflects on the values of discipline, hard work, fairness, and service that shaped his life. He shares lessons from his early career in retail, his experience building an independent phone book business, and his leadership journey with Vistage Florida. The conversation also explores how businesses can create both economic and social value, why people remain an organization's most important asset, and how meaningful human connections can strengthen communities. Chip discusses his mission through Unity in Service to encourage civic participation, volunteering, and national unity. He explains why building a stronger society requires more than words: it calls for empathy, shared responsibility, and active involvement. In this episode, discover: How early challenges can build resilience and determination. Why listening, gratitude, and teamwork are essential leadership qualities. How businesses can combine commercial success with community impact. Why volunteering and civic engagement can strengthen social connections. How individuals can contribute to a more united and compassionate society.

How can organizations turn scientific knowledge into meaningful innovation? And what does it take to move from a closed innovation model to one that embraces global collaboration? In this episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY), host Frits Bussemaker speaks with Graham Cross, Senior Lecturer at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and former Global Director of Innovation at Unilever. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience at Unilever, Graham shares his journey from chemistry to innovation leadership. He explains how understanding customer needs, challenging organizational silos, and collaborating with external partners can transform the way businesses innovate. The conversation also explores the challenges of organizational change, the value of learning from setbacks, and why practical experience is essential for future leaders. Graham’s journey from chemistry to global innovation leadership. Lessons from driving innovation at Unilever. The transition from closed to open innovation. Organizational change, collaboration, and leadership. The role of suppliers and external partners in innovation. Why practical experience matters more than theory alone. Advice for young managers and aspiring innovators.

How can technology make justice more accessible to everyone? In this episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY), host Stephen Ibaraki speaks with Marcin Maciejewski, Founder and CEO of DelayFix, about his journey from law to entrepreneurship and his mission to make consumer rights more accessible through technology and artificial intelligence. From his multicultural upbringing in Lebanon and Poland to his legal career and entrepreneurial ventures, Marcin explains how personal experiences and a strong sense of justice inspired him to help consumers exercise their rights. Discover how DelayFix supports passenger rights, how AI is transforming legal services, and why Marcin believes scalable justice infrastructure can help millions of people access meaningful legal remedies. In this episode, we explore: The experiences that shaped Marcin’s worldview and passion for justice. The creation of DelayFix and the fight for passenger rights. How AI and legal technology can improve efficiency and accessibility. Consumer protection challenges in aviation and banking. Litigation finance and success-based models for legal assistance. The role of advocacy in strengthening consumer protections. Marcin’s vision of building justice infrastructure with the potential to reach one billion people. The importance of defining a personal mission and creating a lasting impact.

In this inspiring episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY), host Stephen Ibaraki speaks with Yan Solihin, Pegasus Professor, Director of Cybersecurity in the Privacy Cluster, and Charles Millican Professor of Computer Science at the University of Central Florida. Recently recognized as an ACM Fellow, Yan shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in Indonesia to becoming a leading researcher in computer architecture, cybersecurity, and privacy. Discover the pivotal moments that shaped his career, his contributions to computer security—including cache fairness, secure processors, and homomorphic encryption—and his perspectives on the rapidly evolving fields of AI, education, and societal impact. Yan also discusses emerging cybersecurity research, privacy-preserving computation, the challenges posed by AI, and the importance of lifelong learning in a world of accelerating technological change. Whether you are a student, technology professional, researcher, educator, or simply curious about innovation, Yan’s experiences and insights offer valuable lessons for the future. Yan’s early life in Indonesia and the influence of his father. The importance of curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning. His academic journey from NTU in Singapore to the United States. Research into cache fairness, secure processors, and memory encryption. Patent strategy, intellectual property, and industry innovation. Emerging research in homomorphic encryption, memory pooling, and generative AI privacy. AI safety, responsible governance, and the future of education.