Podcast
Leadership Beyond Borders
Hosted by Kimberli J. Lewis · EN
Leadership Beyond Borders" by Siinda explores the dynamic realm of leadership, emphasizing a range of perspectives and strategies tailored for navigating the constantly evolving globalized digital landscape.
43episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
From Survival to Strategy: Cracking the Glass Ceiling Without Apologies
Jan 1300:51:09Tap to summarizeToday's conversation is with Karolina Pelc — entrepreneur, former casino dealer, and author of Her Play. Her story is not a story about shortcuts or formulas, but about risk, resilience, and the invisible moments that shape who we become. From the casino floors of post-communist Europe to building and exiting a global tech company, Karolina's journey challenges how we think about luck, ambition, and belonging. This is a conversation about how life is really played. About the Guest Again, Karolina Pelc is the author of Her Play: Making Your Own Luck, available via the following links on Amazon, Target, and Barnes & Noble. The book is the foundational volume of her Her Playbook series and captures practical insights drawn from a two-decade career across real-money gaming, technology, and executive leadership. Karolina Pelc began her career dealing cards in land-based and cruise casinos before progressing into senior leadership roles and ultimately serving as a board director of a Nasdaq-listed company. In 2021, she founded BeyondPlay, an engagement SaaS startup focused on player experience and retention. She raised over €7 million in angel and venture capital and scaled the business rapidly. In under three years, BeyondPlay was acquired by FanDuel in 2024, where Pelc subsequently served as Vice President. Her Play was launched on Necker Island with Richard Branson in attendance. Today, Pelc advises venture capital firms and founders, supports M&A and investment due diligence, and actively invests in and mentors early-stage founders through HerPlay, helping them build resilient companies and create their own luck. Guest social media Website: https://www.herplay.com/ Instagram: @storiesbypelc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolinapelc Host social media Website: www.siinda.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberli-lewis-7a34053/?ppe=1 https://www.linkedin.com/company/search-and-information-industry-association/?viewAsMember=true Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followsiinda/
Transcribe →Tech That Scales: Digital Tools Powering Small Business Growth
Jan 600:50:44Tap to summarizeIn today's episode, we turn our focus to small businesses, technology, and the evolving role of digital tools in helping companies grow and stay competitive. We'll be talking about how technology can balance automation with human connection, and how agencies and organizations can better serve small businesses in a rapidly changing digital landscape. About the Guest Rachel is Vice President of Brand & Product Marketing at vcita, where she helps companies serving small businesses turn technology into practical, human-centered tools that owners actually use and trust. Her journey began in college, when she founded her first business helping local companies build their web presence and transition from offline to online marketing. Since then, she has worked across the tech industry, leading marketing and sales enablement initiatives designed to help small businesses grow and thrive in a digital-first world. At vcita, Rachel partners closely with enterprise organizations to define go-to-market strategies, train teams, and launch branded solutions built on the vcita platform. A self-described tech enthusiast, she is passionate about simplifying digital tools to create real opportunities and smoother everyday business operations. vcita is an SMB technology company dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses manage and grow their operations. Its AI-driven platform supports scheduling, billing, messaging, and marketing—balancing automation with human interaction. Through inTandem by vcita, enterprise partners can deliver white-label AI solutions that unlock new revenue, reduce churn, and deliver measurable value at scale. Guest social media Website: https://www.vcita.com inTandem: https://intandem.vcita.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vcitainc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vcita LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcita YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vcitaofficial Host social media Website: www.siinda.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberli-lewis-7a34053/?ppe=1 https://www.linkedin.com/company/search-and-information-industry-association/?viewAsMember=true Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followsiinda/
Transcribe →The End of Search as We Know It: AI's 2026 Revolution
Dec 3000:52:03Tap to summarizeAs we move into 2026, the way people search and interact with brands is rapidly changing. AI is shifting discovery from traditional search toward personalized, context-aware experiences, and even the interfaces we use are evolving into agent-driven tools that act on our behalf. In this interview we explore what these changes mean for businesses and how they can prepare for a year where search, ranking, and customer experience will look very different than they do today with one of the worlds experts in search and data. About the Guest Christian J. Ward is Executive Vice President and Chief Data Officer at Yext. He specializes in knowledge graphs and data asset optimization, helping clients identify, value, and structure their knowledge to maximize its impact in AI and search. Christian is the co-author of the Amazon top release Data Leverage and has built hundreds of data partnerships worldwide, working with both startups and major global data companies. He previously served as Chief Data Officer at Arizent and Data Axle, and as Global Head of Content Innovation at Thomson Reuters. His insights have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, and Search Engine Journal. He frequently speaks on data strategy, partnerships, and the influence of AI. Yext helps organizations build digital experiences across any channel on its open, composable platform. The Yext Digital Experience Platform organizes content to deliver AI-driven experiences for customers, employees, and partners. For more than 15 years, thousands of companies have trusted Yext to create seamless experiences across search engines, websites, mobile apps, and hundreds of digital touchpoints. Guest social media - Website: https://mobile.twitter.com/yext https://www.yext.com/index.html - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wardchristianj/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/yext/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yextinc/ - Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/YextDE/ Host social media - Website: www.siinda.org - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberli-lewis-7a34053/?ppe=1 https://www.linkedin.com/company/search-and-information-industry-association/?viewAsMember=true - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followsiinda/
Transcribe →Encore -Unveiling AI's Trust Revolution
Dec 31, 202401:00:00Tap to summarizeIn this VoiceAmerica episode, we explore AI's trust issues with Christian J. Ward, Chief Data Officer of Yext. We discuss how companies like OpenAI, Claude, and Google focus on building trust through a two-panel design that provides citations for AI-generated content. This trend harkens back to SEO practices, highlighting the renewed importance of citations. Ward notes that some businesses are even reporting new leads from AI interactions. OpenAI's SearchGPT and Google's Gemini are leading this field, but we anticipate an explosion of open-source models accessing real-time data. The episode emphasizes the distinction between subjective and objective questions, with AI showing promise in handling objective queries that help with daily tasks and decision-making. Ward explains how humans alternate between subjectivity and objectivity throughout their day, stating that subjective is what you want, objective is what you need. This exploration aims to give listeners insight into AI's capabilities and potential impact on our everyday lives.
Transcribe →Encore- Pioneering Ethical Leadership: Empowering Change
Dec 24, 202401:00:00Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we dive into the essential topic of ethical leadership. Leading with integrity, honesty, and fairness has never been more critical in today's rapidly changing world. Ethical leaders understand the significance of prioritizing the well-being of their team members, customers, and communities while driving toward organizational success. In this episode, we explore the profound impact of ethical leadership and how leaders can foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and high ethical standards in the workplace. We uncover actionable strategies and insights to empower leaders to build a stronger, more ethical future.
Transcribe →Encore -Why Integrity Matters
Dec 10, 202401:00:00Tap to summarizeAs we close out 2024, we are repeating some episodes that give us food for thought. In this episode, we talk about why Integrity Matters. We delve into the power of integrity in today's business landscape, exploring the importance of maintaining honesty, ethics, and transparency in all aspects of business. From building trust with customers to foster a culture of accountability within teams, we uncover the ten essential strategies behind integrity with real-world examples that highlight the impact of integrity on success. The interview with today’s guest, Jeffrey Klubeck, author of The Integrity Game, will inspire, inform, and empower you as we navigate the principles and practices that drive integrity and bring remarkable results.
Transcribe →Encore Empowering Voices: Honoring Courage Together
Nov 19, 202401:00:00Tap to summarizeAs we head into the holday season, we are taking this opportunity to give thanks and reflect on the people who implement change for the good. We are repeating an episode we did around the US Holiday the 4th of July. Using the upcoming US Holiday of Thensgiveing to once again take a special opportunity to honor the dedicated individuals who have valiantly served and continue to serve in the military, defending freedom and the rights of all individuals, whether in the USA, NATO countries, Ukraine, or anywhere that stands for these fundamental values. This episode is a celebration of courage and resilience, featuring the remarkable story of a US veteran and one of the most decorated Paralympic athletes in the history of Team USA. Tune in to be inspired by a tale of unwavering determination, extraordinary bravery, and remarkable achievements. Join us in honoring these exceptional individuals as we listen to their truly uplifting journey.
Transcribe →Encore AI Visionaries: Growth and Innovation in Today's Digital World
Nov 12, 202401:00:00Tap to summarizeIn today’s episode we are going to speak with a visionary CEO who is trailblazing the AI landscape, leading their innovative company into the future with a strategic focus on artificial intelligence. T his inspiring leader not only drives their own company's success in AI but also takes the time to empower and educate smaller businesses about the vast opportunities AI presents. He is going to talk to us about the opportunities around AI and how to Passion fostering a community of learning and growth around these exciting opportunities.
Transcribe →AI Visionaries: Growth and Innovation in Today's Digital World
Nov 5, 202401:00:00Tap to summarizeIn today’s episode we are going to speak with a visionary CEO who is trailblazing the AI landscape, leading their innovative company into the future with a strategic focus on artificial intelligence. T his inspiring leader not only drives their own company's success in AI but also takes the time to empower and educate smaller businesses about the vast opportunities AI presents. He is going to talk to us about the opportunities around AI and how to Passion fostering a community of learning and growth around these exciting opportunities.
Transcribe →Encore Embracing Transformation: Advancing Leaders in 2024
Oct 29, 202401:00:00Tap to summarizeIn 2024, the leadership development landscape is set to undergo a radical transformation. The ever-evolving business environment demands leaders who are agile, resilient, and equipped with a diverse set of skills. Effective executive coaching becomes increasingly critical as industry boundaries dissolve and technologies advance. Forward-thinking organizations recognize that investing in their leaders' professional growth directly contributes to their success. With its tailored support and guidance, executive coaching is becoming an essential tool to unlock leadership potential. By providing personalized strategies to navigate complex challenges, executive coaching empowers leaders to develop their strengths, address blind spots, and confidently lead. Our guest today has been coaching and helping leaders for over 20 years, has observed the changes in leadership demands, and has helped many leaders transform. This episode discusses the new leadership landscape and how we can help leaders adjust.
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