Expressions of Leadership

What happens when you stop waiting and start pursuing what truly matters? On this episode of Expressions of Leadership, Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with TT for a deeply personal conversation about resilience, leadership, purpose, and finding the courage to follow a new path. From growing up in Colorado with a Broadway singer and actress as his mother, to facing a rare kidney disease at age six and the bullying and self-doubt that followed, TT shares how some of his earliest experiences shaped the person and leader he would become. His journey then took him from pursuing music in Los Angeles to building an extraordinary business career, including becoming one of the youngest vice presidents at News Corp and co-founding Overture, the company that pioneered paid search advertising. TT also opens up about how a second-stage 3 kidney disease diagnosis prompted him to return to music and pursue the creative work that had always been part of him. Today, he is building a career across music, songwriting, acting, and film, using storytelling to explore identity, resilience, connection, and choosing your own path. Throughout the conversation, he shares lessons on listening, empathy, helping people connect their work to a greater purpose, and why storytelling is such a powerful leadership tool. And as his definition of success has evolved from promotions and money to relationships, integrity, and family, TT offers a thoughtful perspective on what it means to create a life and a legacy that truly matters. Chapters 00:00 Intro to Expressions of Leadership & TT's Journey of Leadership and Resilience 02:41 Childhood Illness, Resilience and Bullying 06:13 From Music Dreams to a Career in Business 11:54 Learning Leadership at News Corp 13:09 Overture: Building and Scaling a Breakthrough Company 18:53 The Power of Listening and Learning 23:48 A Diagnosis Sparks a Creative Journey 29:26 Music, Acting and the Power of Storytelling 37:53 Leadership Lessons That Transcend Industries 42:07 Rethinking Success, Growth and Purpose 44:47 Risk, Timing and the Mentors Who Matter 48:17 Future Projects, Purpose and Legacy 51:39 Wisdom & Whimsy Learn more about TT and everything he is up to at https://www.ttmusicstudio.com/. You can also follow him on Instagram @OffficialTT.music and on Facebook @TTMusic Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the Follow and Subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also catch the show on CKMS 102.7 FM Radio Waterloo, Canada.

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry welcomes Sheila Cutchlow, a producer, classically trained chef, business development executive, actor, and storyteller whose remarkable career has spanned entertainment, media, culinary arts, live event production, and entrepreneurship. Sheila shares how growing up in Iowa and stepping into student leadership at the University of Iowa shaped her, how a transformative trip to Howard University changed her perspective, and how her early career at BET taught her the importance of responsibility, teamwork, and bringing people together. She also opens up about balancing a corporate career with acting, the resilience she developed through years of auditions, and the experiences that shaped her approach to leadership. A cooking competition led Sheila into another unexpected chapter, opening doors to Food Network, national brands, and eventually Le Cordon Bleu. Today, she combines business development and live event production with her passion for food, storytelling, and healthy living. Sheila talks about trusting your instincts, embracing reinvention, moving forward before you're fully ready, and the power of storytelling and food to create meaningful connections. Learn more about Sheila Cutchlow at https://ohhohhsheila.com, follow her on Instagram and YouTube @ohhohhsheila and Facebook @Sheila.Cutchlow. Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the Follow and Subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also catch the show on CKMS 102.7 FM Radio Waterloo, Canada. Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project's expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co. Chapters00:00 Welcome to Expressions of Leadership: Sheila Cutchlow 00:15 Growing Up Restless in Iowa 02:54 Trusting Yourself & Taking Risks 06:02 Finding Her Leadership Voice 09:46 The Howard University Turning Point 12:26 Breaking Into BET 16:16 Building a Career While Pursuing Acting 20:15 Learning to Keep Showing Up 21:42 Motherhood, Dreams & Determination 24:53 Leadership Lessons From The Wire 30:25 The Cooking Competition That Changed Everything 35:09 What Culinary School Taught Her About Leadership 39:44 From Business Development to Big Events 43:03 Food, Storytelling & Connection 47:16 The Future She Wants to Create 49:48 Wisdom, Whimsy & Crab Cakes

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with Maya Persaud, founder of Espero Atelier in Paris, and Sanam Hasan, documentary filmmaker and Sr. PR Manager at BFI Festivals, for a conversation about leadership, human dignity, confidence, trust, and the power of meaningful work. Maya shares how Espero evolved from its origins during the refugee crisis into a social enterprise connecting refugee artisans with luxury fashion, while helping people develop skills, rebuild confidence, and create a sense of belonging. Sanam shares what compelled her to tell this story through her documentary Fabric, and the leadership lessons she learned while earning the trust of the artisans and bringing their stories to the screen. Fabric is the winner of the Social Impact Award at the LA Shorts International Film Festival. Together, we explore leading across cultures and differences, creating environments where people can thrive, the responsibility of telling someone else's story with care, and the power of challenging narratives about refugees, migration, identity, and belonging. We also look ahead to what's next for Espero, Fabric, and the legacy they hope to create. Learn more about Espero Atelier at esperofrance.org and follow them on Instagram @esperoatelier. Learn more about Tiny Circus Productions at https://tinycircusproductions.com/ and follow them on Instagram @tinycircusproductions. Follow the documentary Fabric on Instagram @fabric_shortdoc Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the Follow and Subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also catch the show on CKMS 102.7 FM Radio Waterloo, Canada. Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project's expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co. Chapters 00:00:15 Opening the Conversation 00:03:53 Hope Through Craft 00:08:11 Storytelling as Purpose00:16:40 Balancing Impact and Excellence00:23:17 Confidence Rebuilt00:25:26 Making Fabric Work 00:32:43 Building Trust on Set 00:35:32 Hope Resonates 00:38:32 Challenging Refugee Narratives 00:42:00 Futures in Motion 00:45:27 Shared Human Connection 00:47:32 Legacy of Dignity 00:50:15 Advice and Whimsy

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry welcomes Linda Smiley, a researcher, educator, speech-language pathologist, and community leader whose career has centered on helping people communicate, connect, and create meaningful change. Linda shares lessons from an academic career that included more than 200 peer-reviewed research publications, work with children and adults with language impairments, and the co-founding of Wings On Words Preschool at the Child Language Center, supported by the University of Arizona Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences and the Scottish Rite Foundation. After moving to Magdalena, New Mexico, Linda began a new chapter of leadership by creating MagEboard, a volunteer-run community communication network that now reaches more than 700 people in a town of roughly 850 residents. Michele and Linda explore leadership, the power of partnership, building sustainable organizations, communication and trust, and what it means to lead without a title. Linda's story is a powerful reminder that leadership can be as simple and as impactful as seeing what your community needs and choosing to show up. Sign up for MagEboard emails by emailing Linda Smiley at [email protected] Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the Follow and Subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also catch the show on CKMS 102.7 FM Radio Waterloo, Canada. Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project's expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.

What does it take to lead under extraordinary pressure, and how do our greatest setbacks become the catalyst for becoming a better leader? In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, writer, entrepreneur, and inventor Ethan Prochnik for a captivating conversation about curiosity, courage, and continuous reinvention. From reporting in Afghanistan after 9/11 and producing Deadliest Catch to documenting Hurricane Katrina, creating groundbreaking virtual reality experiences, and launching an innovative yoga company, Ethan shares the remarkable experiences that shaped both his career and his leadership philosophy. Together, they explore what it means to earn trust in high-stakes environments, lead teams through uncertainty, recover from the collapse of a successful business, embrace an ADHD diagnosis later in life, and discover that the most effective leadership begins with knowing yourself. Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, creative professional, or simply someone navigating your own next chapter, this conversation offers powerful insights on resilience, storytelling, self-awareness, and the courage to keep evolving. Learn more about Kinshe Yoga at www.kinsheyoga.com. Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the Follow and Subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also catch the show on CKMS 102.7 FM Radio Waterloo, Canada. Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project's expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.