Podcast
The Leadership Dance
Hosted by Alissa Hsu Lynch · EN
Welcome to The Leadership Dance, where Alissa Hsu Lynch—former world-class dancer turned global business executive—shares insights and inspiration from visionary leaders who are breaking barriers in the arts and business worlds. Tune in to discover how to step into your star power and confidently choreograph your own leadership dance.
43episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep. 41: From dancer to director, with Sonja Kostich
5d ago00:38:02Summary ready"I don't think ballet ever left me. Ballet has had my heart since I was a child." Sonja Kostich, Executive Director of Houston Ballet, joins host Alissa Hsu Lynch to trace a career that began at 17 when Mikhail Baryshnikov personally recruited her to American Ballet Theatre. She went on to perform with San Francisco Ballet, Zurich Ballet, and the White Oak Dance Project, and co-founded her own contemporary dance company OtherShore. Then, at 42, she walked away from the stage, earned a business degree, and landed at Goldman Sachs. But ballet never left her. Today, Sonja leads one of America's premier dance companies, partnering with Co-Artistic Directors Julie Kent and Stanton Welch to bring Houston Ballet's "best kept secret" to the world. She talks honestly about the fear of starting over, what it felt like to walk into Goldman Sachs without ever having owned a suit, and why not knowing what comes next is sometimes exactly the right condition for discovery. Don't miss this conversation about reinvention, courage, and the winding path that leads to your dream job. 💡 Key Takeaways: The skills that make a great dancer, including discipline, rapid learning, and teamwork, are also what make a great leader. Why the path forward doesn't have to be a straight line. How Houston Ballet is taking a modern approach to ensuring ballet remains relevant for global audiences. Photo credits: Julieta Cervantes, Chris Lee, Andrea Mohin, Dave Rossman, Marty Sohl, Michelle Watson, Quinn Wharton Connect with Sonja: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonja-kostich-51249a1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonja.kostich/ Website: www.houstonballet.org ✅ Sign up for the newsletter: https://theleadershipdance.substack.com/s/the-leadership-dance 👉 Listen and follow: https://linktr.ee/theleadershipdance Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"
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Ep. 40: Bend, don't break the rhythm, with Matt West
3w ago00:40:42Summary ready"The goal isn't to avoid change. It's to bend without losing yourself." In this episode of The Leadership Dance, Matt West, executive coach, facilitator, speaker, and author of Bend, Don't Break, shares how his years as a professional jazz musician shaped the way he thinks about leadership, change, and human connection. From touring the world as a trombonist to coaching leaders at some of the world's most recognized organizations, Matt reflects on the lessons that came from rewriting his own story and learning how to stay grounded in times of uncertainty. 💡Key Takeaways: Why adaptability is more than flexibility and is really a practice, not just a trait. Why frozen expertise shows up when the things that once made us successful become the things that hold us back. How critical thinking, empathy, judgment, and taste remain essential human skills in the age of AI. Connect with Matt: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/westpractices/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewwest/ Website: https://matt-a-west.com/ ✅ Sign up for the newsletter: https://theleadershipdance.substack.com/s/the-leadership-dance 👉 Listen and follow: https://linktr.ee/theleadershipdance Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"
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Ep. 39: Choreographing with changemakers, with Yemi Dele Akinyemi
Apr 1300:45:56Summary readyWhat does it take to build a career across continents, art forms, and social movements? Yemi Dele Akinyemi, Czech-Nigerian entrepreneur, choreographer, and founder of the Moonshot Platform, joins host Alissa Hsu Lynch to trace a path from dancing in front of a communist-era TV to choreographing for Kanye West, advising a robotics company, and mobilizing young changemakers from over 100 countries. He also reflects on growing up as the only Black child in his city, being separated from his father for 18 years, and how movement became his first language for belonging. Don't miss this wide-ranging conversation about leading from the inside out and why the most important distance any leader will ever cross is the one between their head and their heart. 💡 Key Takeaways: Why embodied leadership, integrating head, heart, and gut, produces decisions grounded in values rather than pure transaction How working with Kanye West taught Yemi that real artistry means being willing to be naked in your creative process Why structure and freedom aren't opposites and how the walls of a pool are what make a wave possible What Moonshot Platform is doing differently by betting on young changemakers at the very moment their ideas are just beginning to hatch Connect with Yemi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yemia1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yemialchemist/ X: https://x.com/YemiAlchemist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YemiAlchemist/ ✅ Sign up for the newsletter: https://theleadershipdance.substack.com/s/the-leadership-dance 👉 Listen and follow: https://linktr.ee/theleadershipdance Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"
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Ep. 38: Rising through rejections, with Samantha Hope Galler
Mar 3000:38:55Summary readyWhat does it take to rise to the top at one of America's leading ballet companies, after dozens of rejections, a serious injury, and a recession? Samantha Hope Galler, Principal Dancer at Miami City Ballet, joins host Alissa Hsu Lynch to share the resilience and self-belief that carried her through 30+ auditions and years of setbacks, including a near career-ending injury. She also reflects on founding Fifth Position Path, a mentorship platform for dancers, earning her Master of Science from Northeastern University while performing professionally, and navigating pregnancy as a dancer. Don't miss this honest conversation about processing rejection, betting on yourself when no one else will, and building a career on your own terms. 💡 Key Takeaways: Why rejection is often the best teacher and how to process it without losing momentum How discipline, visual learning, and problem-solving skills from dance translate to any career Why mentorship matters and how Fifth Position Path is filling a critical gap for dancers and their families Photo credits: A Iziliaev, Daniel Azoulay, Danny Cardoza, Jonathan Taylor, Juliet Hay, Melissa Dooley, Philip Galler Connect with Samantha: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-hope-kunstadt/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeisadebut/ and https://www.instagram.com/fifthpositionpath/ Website: www.fifthpositionpath.com ✅ Sign up for the newsletter: https://theleadershipdance.substack.com/s/the-leadership-dance 👉 Listen and follow: https://linktr.ee/theleadershipdance Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"
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Ep. 37: Championing women's voices, with Jenna Segal
Mar 1600:33:58Summary readyJenna Segal is writing women into the history books in arts and entertainment. Women make up more than 75% of theater audiences, yet are rarely in the decision-making seats. Jenna has stepped in to change that narrative. She is an Emmy, Tony, and Clio award-winning producer of Broadway hits including Hadestown, Gigi, and Six, as well as the visionary behind The 31 Women Collection of remarkable female artists. In this episode of The Leadership Dance, she discusses how she moved from CNN and MTV to Broadway, why she insists on supporting women in leading roles, and how she built an amazing career by just saying yes. 💡 Key Takeaways: Ask who's missing from the room and make space for women in decisions, not just in the audience. Say yes before you feel ready and follow your curiosity. Build a life and career you're proud to "lose money on" because it aligns with your values. Connect with Jenna: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gathererent/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gathererent/ Website: https://gathererenterprises.com/ ✅ Sign up for the newsletter: https://theleadershipdance.substack.com/s/the-leadership-dance 👉 Listen and follow: https://linktr.ee/theleadershipdance Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"
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Ep. 36: Taking the lead, with Chloe Misseldine
Mar 200:38:57Summary readySpotlight, pressure, and the power of example. In this episode of The Leadership Dance, Chloe Misseldine, Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre, talks about her surprise promotion on stage after her debut as Odette/Odile at The Met, how she prepares for the technical and emotional demands of taking on leading roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, and Sylvia, and what she's learned about artistry, setbacks, and confidence along the way. She also reflects on growing up with a mother who danced with ABT, performing through injury, being named to Forbes 30 Under 30, and the importance of staying humble — especially when younger dancers are watching. 💡 Key Takeaways: Kindness is a form of leadership. How you treat people matters, whether that's in the studio, at the stage door, or online. Do the work so you can trust yourself. Preparation allows you to step on stage with freedom instead of fear. Confidence grows over time. Sticking to the basics, staying humble, and trusting the process builds lasting strength. Connect with Chloe: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloemisseldine Photo Credits: Emma Zordan, HELI, Laura Sukowatey, LK Studio and Jennifer Curry Wingrove, Nir Arieli, Quinn Wharton, Rosalie O'Connor ✅ Sign up for the newsletter: https://theleadershipdance.substack.com/s/the-leadership-dance 👉 Listen and follow: https://linktr.ee/theleadershipdance Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"
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Ep. 35: Cancer, risk, and resilience, with Lawton Cummings
Feb 1600:47:37Summary readyWho gets funded depends on who's deciding. In this powerful episode of The Leadership Dance, Lawton Cummings, General Partner at Capital Factory, shares why women in venture capital matter—and how her experience navigating cancer has influenced her approach to life. Lawton gets vulnerable about navigating breast cancer twice while continuing to work and raise a family, and what survivorship taught her about rest, energy, and letting go of perfection. She also shares her nonlinear career journey: from practicing law to serving as a legal analyst for Fox News (while simultaneously serving on an ACLU board of directors) to now investing in tech startups. The conversation explores representation in decision-making and how curiosity and resilience shape leadership over time. 💡 Key Takeaways: Resilience isn't always pushing through. Sometimes leadership means resting, recalibrating, and being honest about your limits. Careers don't have to be linear to be successful. Following curiosity and depth can open doors that rigid paths never will. Representation shapes outcomes. Diverse perspectives drive better outcomes and stronger innovation. Connect with Lawton: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawtoncummings/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawtoncummings/?hl=en Website: https://capitalfactory.com/ ✅ Sign up for the newsletter: https://theleadershipdance.substack.com/s/the-leadership-dance 👉 Listen and follow: https://linktr.ee/theleadershipdance Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"
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Ep. 34: Performing like a fighter pilot, with Christian "Boo" Boucousis
Feb 200:35:19Summary readyWhat can leaders learn from fighter pilots about performing under pressure? Former fighter pilot and CEO Christian "Boo" Boucousis joins The Leadership Dance to share how elite performers make decisions in chaos, execute with clarity, and stay calm when it matters most. From cockpit-tested leadership habits to practical tools like plan–brief–execute–debrief, this episode breaks down what it means to perform like a fighter pilot. From a five-year-old boy mesmerized at an air show to one of fewer than 400 fighter pilots trained over four decades, Boo's journey reveals how his air force training taught him to value time in seconds and put the mission above ego. This candid conversation explores friction, burnout, digital overload, and how to move from reactive days to truly flawless execution. 💡 Key Takeaways: High performers don't just have good ideas; they turn decisions into action. The fighter pilot mindset is relentlessly growth-oriented: define what success looks like today, then get slightly better tomorrow. Calm is a leadership advantage. In chaos, people look to the calmest people in the room. Connect with Boo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-boo-boucousis/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianbooboucousis/ Website: https://callmeboo.com/about/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fewpodcast ✅ Sign up for the newsletter: https://theleadershipdance.substack.com/s/the-leadership-dance 👉 Listen and follow: https://linktr.ee/theleadershipdance Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"
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Ep. 33: Creativity is a leadership muscle, with Tina Wells
Jan 1900:42:45Summary ready"Curiosity is a cure for stagnation." Tune in to meet mover and shaker Tina Wells, an author, entrepreneur, and trend spotter, as she shares her insights on what it takes to design a life and career you love across multiple chapters. Her incredible journey from teen founder to agency leader, product designer, and bestselling writer reflects her approach to embracing curiosity in all its manifestations. Tina discusses how a "happy accident" at 16 grew into a powerful youth insights company, why she ultimately chose to close a successful business, and how that bold move opened the door to writing more than 20 books, developing Target-exclusive products, and a new chapter centered on content and creativity. This conversation is a candid look at taking risks, reinvention, and how aligning your work with your values can change not just your business, but your whole life. 💡 Key Takeaways: Creativity isn't a personality trait; it's a practice What makes Gen Z tick and what business leaders misunderstand about younger generations Why people are craving deeper, more meaningful, and more analog experiences, and why artists and creators have an important role to play right now Connect with Tina: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinawells/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinawells/ Website: www.tinawells.com ✅ Sign up for the newsletter: https://theleadershipdance.substack.com/s/the-leadership-dance 👉Listen and follow: https://linktr.ee/theleadershipdance Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"
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Ep. 32: Delivering impact with affirming care, with Liana Guzmán
Jan 500:29:20Summary readyWhat does it mean to lead with values when the political landscape makes inclusion harder, not easier? In this episode of The Leadership Dance, host Alissa Hsu Lynch sits down with Liana Guzmán, CEO of FOLX Health, to explore what real leadership looks like when rhetoric, risk, and responsibility collide. Liana shares her personal journey growing up in Puerto Rico and the mainland U.S., her nonlinear career across marketing, fintech, and healthcare, and why she's committed to building a future of LGBTQIA+ affirming care that prioritizes outcomes over optics. Together, they unpack how leaders can stay anchored to what's right and why affirming care isn't about statements but about access. Liana introduces a powerful leadership framework that balances right, righteousness, and effectiveness, and offers practical guidance for leaders navigating tradeoffs without losing their North Star. 💡 Key Takeaways: How leaders can "change the words, not the work" when it comes to equity and inclusion What affirming care means for the LGBTQIA+ community Why first-principles thinking is essential for transforming entrenched systems like healthcare Connect with Liana: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/folxhealth/ Website: www.folxhealth.com Substack: https://futurerx.substack.com/ ✅ Sign up for the newsletter: https://theleadershipdance.substack.com/s/the-leadership-dance 👉Listen and follow: https://linktr.ee/theleadershipdance Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"
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