Professional success is often seen as the ultimate measure of a fulfilling career, but what if achievement alone isn't enough? In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb welcomes Jeff Westphal, former CEO of Vertex Inc., entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author of A Work Life Worth Living: Your Guide to Creating a Meaningful Career. Jeff shares the personal experiences that shaped his leadership journey and inspired his mission to help others create more meaningful work lives.

Jeff reflects on growing up in a family of hardworking entrepreneurs, navigating a complicated relationship with his father, and discovering how learning to truly listen transformed both his leadership and his life. Together, Tammy and Jeff explore the power of workplace culture, personal responsibility, and the importance of understanding what truly brings meaning to work.

Whether you're rethinking your career, leading a team, or searching for greater fulfillment in your professional life, this conversation offers thoughtful insights and practical wisdom. Jeff reminds listeners that while organizations can foster supportive environments, each individual has the opportunity to create a work life that is rooted in purpose, connection, and meaning.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How childhood experiences shape leadership
• Why success alone does not create fulfillment
• The leadership power of listening first
• Building a culture where people thrive
• Taking ownership of your own career satisfaction
• Finding meaning regardless of your job title
• The lessons that transformed Jeff's relationship with his father
• Why meaningful work starts from the inside out

Learn more about Jeff:

• Read: A Work Life Worth Living: Your Guide to Creating a Meaningful Career
• Visit: meaningsphere.com
• Visit: jeffwestphal.org
• Follow Jeff on LinkedIn
• Follow Jeff on Facebook
• Follow Jeff on Instagram

Additional resources noted during the podcast:

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
• Tech Humanist: How You Can Make Technology Better for Business and Better for Humans by Kate O’Neill
• Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership by Joseph Jaworski

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Dr. Shawn Andrews and Michael O'Brien, co-authors of The 5 Levels of Male Allyship: A Guide to Building Better Teams Through Real Inclusion. Together, they explore how allyship can help create more inclusive workplace cultures and stronger professional relationships.

Drawing on their research and experiences, Shawn and Michael discuss why many men want to be allies but often struggle to know where to begin. They explain the five levels of allyship, the importance of awareness and courage, and how individuals can move from good intentions to meaningful action.

The conversation also examines the differences between allies, mentors, and sponsors, the role leaders can play in fostering cultures of inclusion, and the challenges created by workplace dynamics such as "bro culture." Shawn and Michael share practical tools from their book that help individuals assess their allyship and identify potential advocates within their organizations.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into how allyship benefits everyone, strengthens workplace culture, and creates opportunities for people to thrive together.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• The definition of allyship and why it matters
• The five levels of male allyship
• Why awareness is the foundation of allyship
• The role of courage in supporting others
• How allyship differs from mentorship and sponsorship
• The impact of workplace culture on inclusion
• Common barriers that prevent men from becoming allies
• The influence of "bro culture" in organizations
• Practical tools for identifying and developing allies
• Why allyship benefits both individuals and organizations

Learn more about Michael and Shawn:

• Read: The 5 Levels of Male Allyship: A Guide to Building Better Teams Through Real Inclusion
• Take the assessment: 5 Levels of Allyship Assessment
• Visit drshawnandrews.com/5levelsofallyship
• Follow Shawn Andrews on LinkedIn
• Visit michaelobrienshift.com/
• Follow Michael O’Brien on Linkedin

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Heather Hansen O'Neill, a keynote speaker, coach, leadership expert, author, and former professional dancer whose career journey has been defined by reinvention, resilience, and curiosity. Heather shares how dance became her safe place from a young age, leading her to a professional performing career before a devastating injury abruptly changed her path forever.

Heather reflects on the difficult transition that followed losing the career she loved, the years she spent searching for direction, and the powerful “what if?” question that ultimately helped her rediscover joy and purpose. She discusses how her experiences shaped her work helping leaders and organizations create more human-centered cultures, build meaningful connections, and rethink the way they approach sales, leadership, and career fulfillment.

Tammy and Heather also explore the importance of listening to your inner voice amid life’s noise, embracing reinvention at every stage of life, and staying resilient through rejection and uncertainty. Heather shares lessons from the dance world that continue to guide her today, including why sometimes not getting the role you wanted may lead you to the one that truly fits.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How Heather’s professional dance career shaped her identity and leadership style
• What happened after a career-ending injury changed the direction of her life
• Why curiosity and asking “what if?” can open new possibilities
• How human connection transforms leadership, sales, and workplace culture
• The importance of listening to your inner voice amid external noise
• Why many professionals feel disconnected from their work—and how to reconnect
• How Heather transitioned from sales into coaching, speaking, and authorship
• Lessons about resilience, rejection, and persistence from the dance world
• Why reinvention often begins with letting go of old expectations
• How setbacks can ultimately lead to more meaningful opportunities

Learn more about Heather:

• Visit: heatherhansenoneill.com
• Follow Heather on LinkedIn
• Listen: From Fear to Fire Podcast
• Read: Teams on Fire! Transforming your group into a more productive, profitable and motivated team
• Read: Find Your Fire at Forty: Creating a Joyful Life During the Age of Discontent
• Read: Where's the Office?: Moving Today's Leaders from What IS to What CAN BE
• Read: Finding Humanity: The Evolution of Sales
• Watch: Become Conscious -You Must & Can Change the World
• Watch: Let go and let fly!

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Deborah Farone, consultant, speaker, former chief marketing officer at two international law firms, and author of Best Practices in Law Firm Business Development and Marketing and Breaking Ground: How Successful Women Partners Build Thriving Practices. Deborah shares how her fascination with marketing began in childhood and evolved into a remarkable career helping professional service firms strengthen relationships, build trust, and grow thriving businesses.

Deborah reflects on the early experiences that shaped her career path, from creating handwritten job-tracking systems while applying to public relations agencies to persistently pursuing opportunities that aligned with her interests. She discusses how curiosity, authenticity, and a willingness to learn helped her move from public relations into leadership roles at prestigious firms including Debevoise & Plimpton and Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Along the way, she credits strong mentors, meaningful networking, and continuous learning as essential ingredients in her professional growth.

Tammy and Deborah also explore the importance of creating a career rooted in genuine interests and strengths. Deborah shares insights from her consulting work and books, including how professionals can identify the kinds of work that energizes them most, develop authentic client relationships, and navigate career transitions with intention and resilience.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• Why persistence and creativity helped Deborah land her first job in public relations
• How curiosity has been a driving force throughout her career
• The importance of authenticity in leadership and business development
• What Deborah learned from working inside elite professional service firms
• Why strong writing skills can transform a career in communications
• How networking and relationship-building create long-term opportunities
• Why career transitions require both resilience and intentionality
• How professionals can identify the kinds of work that truly energizes them
• Why building trust is essential for sustainable business development
• How Deborah’s consulting and writing career evolved after leaving corporate leadership

Learn more about Deborah:

• Follow Deborah on LinkedIn
• Instagram: @deborahfaronebestpractices
• Learn more deborahfarone.com
• Read: Best Practices in Law Firm Business Development and Marketing
• Read: Breaking Ground: How Successful Women Lawyers Build Thriving Practices

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Miki Feldman Simon, an executive coach, global business leader, and author of Core Leadership: A Four-Step Framework to Lead Yourself, Grow Your Influence, and Amplify Your Impact. Miki shares her journey across continents, industries, and roles, from growing up in Israel and Australia to stepping into leadership positions in HR, operations, and marketing, and ultimately establishing her path in executive coaching. Along the way, she reflects on the value of experimentation and how unexpected turns can become meaningful learning experiences.

Miki introduces her CORE Leadership framework, a four-step model designed to help individuals lead themselves first in order to expand their impact. She explains the importance of clarifying values and priorities, translating intentions into consistent action, reflecting on internal patterns and limiting beliefs, and evaluating how one’s behavior is experienced by others. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes that leadership is not only about what we do, but also about who we choose to be in each moment.

This conversation is especially relevant for anyone at a career crossroads or seeking greater fulfillment in their work. Miki shares how clarity around values, strengths, and definitions of success can build confidence and open new possibilities. Her insights offer both a mindset shift and practical tools to help listeners move forward with intention and create a more meaningful path from the inside out.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How early career experiments can shape long term success
• Why leadership begins with leading yourself first
• The CORE framework, clarify, operationalize, reflect, and evaluate
• The difference between intentions and actual impact on others
• How breaking down strengths into skills opens new career possibilities
• Why clarity builds confidence during career transitions
• The importance of pausing before deciding what comes next
• How small consistent habits create lasting change

Learn more about Miki:

• Visit mikifeldmansimon.com/
• Follow Miki on LinkedIn
• Read: Core Leadership: A Four-Step Framework to Lead Yourself, Grow Your Influence, and Amplify Your Impact

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Dr. David Charles, educator, executive coach, and former industry leader whose career spans consulting, analytics, innovation, and academia. David shares how early influences in science and engineering led him into technology, and how a series of unexpected pivots shaped a career grounded in curiosity, learning, and growth.

David reflects on key transitions, from consulting to corporate leadership roles at organizations like CVS Health and John Deere, and eventually into academia. Along the way, he explores how networking, continuous learning, and a willingness to step into the unknown opened doors he never anticipated. He also discusses the importance of understanding what you enjoy in your work, especially the value of seeing the real-world impact of your contributions.

Today, as a faculty member and coach, David helps others navigate their own career journeys. He emphasizes the importance of staying curious, building meaningful connections, and being open to opportunities that may not initially seem like the obvious next step. His story is a powerful reminder that careers are rarely linear and that growth often comes from embracing what you do not yet know.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How early career decisions do not have to define your long-term path
• Why curiosity is one of the most valuable career skills you can develop
• The role of networking in uncovering unexpected opportunities
• How to evaluate whether you enjoy the work or just the subject matter
• The difference between learning in theory and seeing real-world impact
• What it takes to transition across industries successfully
• Lessons from moving between large organizations and startup environments
• The importance of understanding what you do not know yet
• How coaching can expand your perspective on business and leadership
• Why building relationships is more powerful than having the perfect pitch



Learn more about David:

• Follow David on LinkedIn
• Visit drdavidscharles.com
• Subscribe and read Substack

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Kate Kayaian, a former professional cellist turned career strategist, author, and coach. Kate shares her journey from performing on world-class stages to making the bold decision to step away from a successful music career in her forties. What makes her story especially powerful is that nothing was “wrong” on the outside. She had built a life many would aspire to, yet something no longer fit.

Kate opens up about the internal shift that led her to question her path, including the realization that success as she had defined it no longer aligned with the life she wanted to live. Through the unexpected pause of the pandemic, she began experimenting with new ways of working, which led to coaching, creating programs, and ultimately discovering work that felt more meaningful and aligned. Her story challenges the belief that we must stay on a path simply because it has been successful.

Together, Tammy and Kate explore what it means to redefine potential on your own terms, how to move past the stories that keep you stuck, and why it is never too late to pivot. Kate also shares a simple yet powerful mindset shift that can help you move from feeling blocked to seeing new possibilities. This conversation is an invitation to rethink what is possible for your next chapter.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How to recognize when a successful career no longer aligns with your values
• Why external success does not always translate to internal fulfillment
• The role of identity in keeping you stuck in a path that no longer fits
• How the pandemic created unexpected opportunities for reinvention
• The difference between ego-driven success and purpose-driven work
• Why you do not need a crisis to justify making a change
• How to translate existing skills into a completely new career direction
• The power of questioning the stories you tell yourself about your past, present, and future
• A practical mindset shift from “no, because” to “yes, if”
• How to begin redefining your potential on your own terms



Learn more about Kate:

• Read: Beyond Potential: A Guide for Creatives Who Want to Re-Assess, Re-Define, and Re-Ignite Their Careers
• Listen: Tales from the Lane podcast
• Visit: katekayaian.com
• Follow Kate on Instagram: @kkayaian
• Get on the Wait List: Creatives Leadership Academy

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

What does leadership look like in a world where emotions are more present at work than ever before? In this episode, Tammy speaks with executive coach, strategic advisor, and author Dina Denham Smith about the increasing emotional demands placed on leaders today. Drawing on her background in organizational psychology, business, and executive leadership, Dina shares how workplaces have changed and why leaders are being charged with navigating situations that go well beyond traditional management practices. In her new book, Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work, she connects the dots between the complexities of intensified emotions in the workplace and the practical approaches needed to lead a trusting and engaged workforce.

Dina reflects on her early life growing up on a boys boarding school campus and how that environment shaped her confidence, communication style, and comfort speaking up in male dominated settings. She also shares the path that led her from studying organizational psychology to earning an MBA, working in consulting and private equity, and eventually building a successful executive coaching practice.

Tammy and Dina also explore the concept of emotional labor in leadership. Dina explains why the emotional expectations placed on leaders have intensified in recent years and offers practical insights for navigating difficult conversations, supporting teams through change, and leading effectively in an emotionally complex workplace.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How Dina’s unconventional childhood shaped her confidence and communication style
• Why early work experiences influenced her interest in workplace psychology
• The path from studying organizational psychology to earning an MBA and moving into consulting
• What she learned working in organizational strategy and corporate transformation
• Dina’s transition from corporate leadership roles into executive coaching
• Why writing became an important part of her professional work
• The concept of emotional labor and how it applies to leadership
• Why leaders today face higher emotional demands than in the past
• How leaders can navigate emotionally charged conversations with their teams
• Practical ways to explore career changes through experimentation rather than overthinking



Learn more about Dina:

• Website: www.dinadsmith.com
• Book: Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dina-denham-smith/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dinadsmith71/

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb