A World of Difference

Live from the Transform 2026 conference floor in Las Vegas, Lori sat down with Daria Maneche, founder of The Working Optimist, for a candid, neuroscience-backed conversation about what it actually takes to build human connection at work, and why the stakes for getting this right have never been higher. Daria brings a deeply personal why to her work: after years of her own struggles and many forms of support that fell short, it was understanding the neuroscience of the brain that finally changed how she walks through the world. That shift became the foundation of the Working Optimist Mindset Method, and now she is bringing it to teams and leaders across the globe. In this episode, you will hear: Why high-quality connections (HQC) at work are not a "nice to have" but a core performance and retention strategy How a raging amygdala physically blocks access to the prefrontal cortex, and why this matters for every decision your team makes under pressure The hidden burnout accelerator: working in a remote or hybrid environment without intentional space for human connection Why globalizing a workforce without cultural consideration is a recipe for disconnection and disengagement What the Working Optimist Mindset Method is, and how metacognition can help individuals and teams change the way they think about thinking Guest Bio Daria Maneche is the founder of The Working Optimist, where she brings neuroscience-backed tools rooted in positive psychology into workplace settings to help individuals and teams connect, think more clearly, and perform with greater resilience. She is also an executive and transformational coach. Timestamps [00:00] — Welcome from Transform 2026, Las Vegas [01:30] — Daria introduces the Working Optimist Mindset Method [03:00] — What leaders can be optimistic about: EQ, connection, and the age of digital transformation [05:30] — The HQC gap: what we are not investing in and why it matters [07:30] — Burnout is accelerating, and disengagement is part of it [08:30] — The amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, and why stress blocks problem-solving [10:00] — Daria's personal why: how neuroscience changed everything for her [12:00] — Where to find Daria and The Working Optimist Find Daria Maneche at: workingoptimist.com | and linkedin.com/in/daria-maneche-87331418 Subscribe, leave a review at https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/reviews/new/, and share this episode. Visit https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com for more resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when the title is gone, but the work isn't finished? In this solo episode, Lori Adams-Brown pulls back the curtain on the past six months: the beach day that changed everything, the blank bio she couldn't write, and the Italian word that finally gave shape to what she was building. This is the origin story of Brava Global Advisory, and a masterclass in the kind of self-leadership most leaders never talk about out loud. What you'll hear in this episode: The moment at Santa Cruz that turned a word into a mission Why applying the Ikigai framework to yourself is completely different from applying it to others What it actually looks like to run an executive search and launch a consulting practice simultaneously How Lori's personal board of directors keeps her accountable (and why yes-people are leadership liabilities) Why the bravest work in today's world of work is being willing to see yourself clearly Lori Adams-Brown is a strategic transformation executive, intercultural leadership practitioner, and founder of Brava Global Advisory. With 20+ years advising senior leaders across six continents and six languagess, from Jakarta to San Jose, she brings a rare combination of global range and personal depth to every conversation. She hosts A World of Difference, a podcast with 153,000+ downloads across 100+ countries. Timestamps: [00:00] — The word brava, and what it means to earn it [04:30] — The blank bio: who are you outside the title? [09:00] — The beach, the reset, and the origin of Brava [14:00] — Applying Ikigai to yourself (it's harder than it sounds) [19:00] — Running a search and building a business at the same time [24:00] — Self-leadership, personal boards, and anti-yes-people [28:00] — What Brava is for — and what this show has always been for Subscribe, leave a review at https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/reviews/new/, and share this episode. Visit https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com for more resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever started a new job and realized the “real work” isn’t just the work. It’s learning the culture, the decision-making rhythm, and what success actually looks like? In this re-released best-of conversation, Dr. Shweta Miglani breaks down the small, practical moves that help you ramp faster, build credibility, and grow your career without burning out. Dr. Miglani shares how her journey began in journalism, pivoted through learning science and instructional design, and expanded into global talent management and organizational development—supporting leaders across industries and countries. Together, we talk about what separates professionals who thrive quickly from those who stay stuck: proactive communication, stakeholder mapping, clear expectations, and learning how to lead with both strategy and humanity. You’ll hear actionable guidance for your first 90 days, how to make your one-on-ones count, and why emotional intelligence and cultural intelligence matter even more as AI transforms the workplace. If you’re stepping into a new role, navigating a career pivot, or leading across cultures, this one will give you a playbook you can actually use. Main topics we cover: The #1 mistake people make in a new job—and how to avoid it How to prepare for one-on-ones so you’re seen as a true partner Stakeholder mapping: the career accelerator most people skip Upskilling/reskilling + AI: what leaders must unlearn to adapt EQ + CQ: why “being more human” is the competitive advantage Dr. Shweta Miglani is a global talent and organizational development leader with deep experience across major companies, helping modern organizations build leadership, culture, and capability. She holds a doctorate in leadership development and organizational enablement and is the author of Navigate Your Career: Strategies for Success in New Roles or Promotions by Wiley press. Timestamps (approximate): 00:00 — BetterHelp + why support matters 01:30 — Why this best-of episode is back 04:30 — Shweta’s career pivot and the mentor question that changed everything 13:30 — The biggest early-career mistakes in a new role 20:00 — What high performers do differently (prep, proactivity, follow-through) 30:30 — Talent development trends: skilling + AI 40:30 — EQ/CQ and leading “more human” in an AI world 52:00 — The one leadership move: lead with your values + clear expectations 58:30 — “Difference Maker” community: planning, stakeholder map, managing up Subscribe, leave a review, Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone starting a new role or navigating a pivot. Your support helps the community grow and keeps these important conversations going. Connect with us: https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com Linkedin YouTube Substack If you need professional help, such as therapy: https://www.betterhelp.com/difference If you are looking for your next opportunity, sign up for Lori’s Masterclass on Master the Career Pivot: https://www.loriadamsbrown.com/careerpivot Difference Makers who are podcast listeners get 10% offf with the code: DIFFERENT Get 50% off your first 2 months with Riverside: https://riverside.cello.so/ErHyXrgXYn3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it look like to build a life from scratch, not once, but again and again? Nuray Krein Yilmaz has done it more times than most people ever will, and her story is one of the most quietly extraordinary ones we've shared on this podcast. Nuray grew up in a small farming village in eastern Turkey, the eleventh of twelve siblings, in a community where girls' futures were largely pre-written. She lost both parents to cancer before she turned 13. She taught herself to dream inside boarding school libraries and across chess tournaments — and she never stopped. In 2018, she moved to the United States through a cultural exchange program with limited English, no safety net, and an enormous amount of courage. Today she is a content analyst in tech, a published author, and the founder of What If You Can — a community for people navigating immigration, grief, career transitions, and the question of whether they belong. In this episode, Lori and Nuray explore: How losing both parents to cancer before age 13 became the unlikely foundation for a life built on education and agency The role her father played in naming a different future for her — in a place where most men didn't What chess taught her about being underestimated, competing, and winning on her own terms The layers of learning agility required to navigate new languages, new cities, new countries, and new cultures Practical advice for first-generation immigrants: mentors, community, salary negotiation, and the courage to ask for help Why storytelling and community are not soft extras — they are the infrastructure of belonging The vision behind What If You Can and what she most wants to say to the girl she once was Nuray Krein Yilmaz is a first-generation immigrant, content analyst working via Highspring at Google, a published author, and founder of the What If You Can community. She holds a degree in business administration and builds spaces for people navigating uncertainty with curiosity and hope. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction & welcome 02:00 — Growing up on a farm in eastern Turkey; losing both parents before 13 05:00 — Her father's pivotal role; chess as a gateway to confidence and travel 10:00 — Arriving in the United States in 2018; navigating visa challenges and a new culture 18:00 — Education, self-learning, and tools for first-generation immigrants 22:00 — Salary negotiation, unwritten rules, and asking for help 24:00 — How storytelling builds belonging and motivation 29:00 — What If You Can community and the difference Nuray is making 33:00 — Where to find Nuray, her book, and her community Find Nuray Krein Yilmaz at: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nuraykreinyilmaz Instagram: @nuraykrein Book: Notes From My Mind (available on Amazon) Subscribe, leave a review at https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/reviews/new/, and share this episode. Visit https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com for more resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the way we’ve been thinking about brains at work is fundamentally broken? What if accommodations aren’t about fixing people, but about unlocking talent we’ve been filtering out for decades? In this powerful episode, Lori sits down with Dave Thompson to explore how neurodiversity is the biggest shift in human capital in a generation, and why the companies that get it right will lead the future of work. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why “rebranding the brain” matters, and how moving from a deficit model to an ecological, strength-based framework changes everything for individuals and organizations The four levels of psychological safety (inclusion, learner, contributor, and challenger safety) and what they actually look like when done well — not as buzzwords Why hiring is broken for everyone, and how job descriptions, ATS systems, and rigid requirements filter out some of the most brilliant talent before they even get a chance The difference between accommodations and “success enablers” and why Dave’s “desk tour” approach unlocks self-advocacy without labels or paperwork How ERGs can become true business resource groups, and why emotional labor and self-advocacy deserve recognition, not just a bullet on a job description About Dave Thompson: Dave Thompson is a strategist, author, and internationally recognized speaker focused on redesigning systems that support the full range of human cognition. A program coordinator and visiting scholar at Vanderbilt University’s Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, two-time TEDx speaker, and advisor to Fortune 100 companies, he translates lived experience as an early-identified ADHDer and dyslexic thinker into practical change. His book Brainstorm: Neurodivergent Talent and the Future of Work is available now wherever books are sold. Timestamps: [00:00] Cold open — What if brains at work are fundamentally misunderstood? [01:10] Intro — Meet Dave Thompson [02:00] Dave’s why — From cheese club to systems change [04:30] Rebranding the brain — The rainforest analogy for neurodiversity [08:00] Belonging & psychological safety — The four levels explained [14:30] Hiring is broken — Job descriptions, ATS bias & filtering out brilliance [21:30] Success enablers vs. accommodations — Dave’s desk tour approach [26:00] Self-advocacy & recognition — Not everyone wants a birthday party [33:00] ERGs that actually work — From afterschool clubs to business drivers [40:00] Brainstorm the book — What Dave hopes readers take away [43:30] Outro — Patreon exclusive teaser + calls to action Want more? Dave joins us in the Difference Makers community on Patreon for an exclusive: watch here. Find Dave Thompson at: Website: brainstormneurodiversity.com Book: Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, bookshop.org, and wherever books are sold Subscribe, leave a review at https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/reviews/new/, and share this episode. Visit https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com for more resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the key to innovation in your workplace isn't finding people who fit your culture, but transforming your culture to unlock brilliance that's been overlooked? Tara May, CEO of Aspiritech, has spent her career proving that when organizations create truly neuro-inclusive workplaces, everybody wins. In this conversation, Tara opens up about her personal journey, including raising an autistic son and her own OCD diagnosis in her 40s, and shares the practical frameworks any organization can use to go beyond diversity buzzwords and create real, measurable change. In this episode, you'll discover: Why 80% of autistic adults face unemployment, and what employers are missing The 'spiky cognitive profile' advantage and why neurodivergent talent can be 150% more productive What the 'ROI of Kindness' really means for your bottom line Three concrete steps to become a neuro-inclusive organization starting this week The canary in the coal mine: how accommodations for neurodivergent employees benefit everyone Why psychological safety isn't a soft skill — it's the engine of innovation About Tara May: Tara May is the CEO of Aspiritech, a tech services organization built on the belief that neurodivergent talent is a competitive advantage. With 25 years leading digital transformation at major media companies, Tara brings both executive credibility and lived experience to the movement for neuro-inclusive workplaces. Timestamps: [00:00] Intro — What if inclusion is the real innovation strategy? [01:24] Tara's origin story: An autistic son, a C-suite career, and a new mission [05:05] Neurodiversity belongs to all of us — the 86 billion neuron truth [06:56] Tara's own OCD diagnosis: 'It's okay to have needs' [10:03] Accommodations demystified: the water bottle story [13:20] The spiky cognitive profile and the strengths employers overlook [17:03] The index card meeting: introverted leadership in action [20:44] Universal design and the canary in the coal mine [25:27] 3 steps to becoming a neuro-inclusive organization [30:00] Psychological safety as the engine of digital transformation [35:11] How Aspiritech measures success — employees ARE the mission [38:54] One action you can take this week: ask 'what do I need?' [41:08] Where to find Tara and connect with Aspiritech Find Tara May at: www.aspiritech.org | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tara-may Subscribe, leave a review at https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/reviews/new/, and share this episode. Visit our website for more resources. Mentioned in this episode: The Human Score — https://thehumanscore.org Find out how human-centric your organization really is with our 40-question survey and live dashboard. Get clear insights and practical steps to strengthen culture, trust, and performance. Host Lori Adams-Brown is one of the consultants in the Human Score Consultant Collective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're highly capable. So why does your next move feel so unclear? For senior leaders at a career inflection point — whether navigating a layoff, a values misalignment, or a long-overdue pivot — the problem is rarely a lack of skill. It's a lack of perspective. In this episode, executive coach and strategic advisor Karen Kunkel Young joins host Lori Adams-Brown to talk about what high-performing leaders consistently miss when they're standing at a crossroads — and what it actually takes to move forward with clarity, agency, and intention. In this conversation, you'll discover: Why the habits and communication styles that made you successful may now be holding you back — and how to see that shift before it costs you How to reclaim ownership of your career narrative, especially when external forces (layoffs, leadership changes, industry shifts) have made you feel like a passenger The critical transition from expert executor to strategic leader — and why skipping the mindset shift is a lose-lose for everyone How to advocate powerfully for your impact without it feeling like bragging — including the storytelling framework that connects your achievements to business outcomes A practical approach to fear in high-stakes transitions: how to name it, feel it, and use it as a launchpad rather than a brake About Karen Kunkel Young: Karen Kunkel Young is an executive coach and strategic advisor known as "the telescope in the room" — helping senior leaders step back far enough to see the blind spots, shifting influence, and hidden opportunities their current vantage point obscures. With nearly 30 years of experience as a global media showrunner (including Project Runway and Tim Gunn's Guide to Style), Karen brings a master storyteller's precision to leadership transitions, executive presence, and career pivots. Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction & why this moment demands perspective over pace 01:12 — What highly capable leaders aren't seeing clearly right now 03:51 — You are the CEO of your career: reclaiming agency 07:30 — The expert-to-leader transition: why it's a lose-lose without support 10:04 — What the telescope reveals: the hard truth that changes how leaders lead 13:42 — Naming unspoken fear in high-stakes transitions 18:46 — How your narrative expands or limits your future influence 23:02 — Advocacy without bragging: the storytelling framework that works 28:14 — Coaching leaders through emotionally difficult career transitions 33:57 — Advice for high-performing women in a slow, painful job search 38:30 — Where to find Karen Kunkel Young 39:44 — Lori's closing reflection on perspective, resilience, and sustained impact Find Karen Kunkel-Young at: 🌐 karenkunkelyoung.com 💼 LinkedIn: Karen Kunkel Young Subscribe, leave a review at https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/reviews/new/, and share this episode with a leader standing at a crossroads — even if they haven't named it yet. Visit https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com for more resources, tools, and episodes designed for globally-minded leaders. Watch this episode on YouTube here. Join us for an exclusive with Karen on Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when the doors you’ve worked for keep closing because of factors you can’t control? In this episode, Rebeca Lopez Valerio shares how she turned “no” into fuel, built opportunities from scratch, and learned to lead with coraje, heart-forward courage rooted in identity, resilience, and values. Rebeca’s story is powerful and deeply human. Born in Mexico with Indigenous roots from the Oaxaca/Puebla region, she immigrated to the U.S. at age four and navigated life as a first-generation student, while also carrying the realities of being undocumented during key years of her education and career journey. Together, we talk about what it really takes to keep showing up when the stakes are high, and how community can be the difference between feeling stuck and finding your way forward. In this episode, we cover: Indigenous heritage, language loss, and the impact of “dialects being looked down on” First-generation student survival: why community often beats 1:1 mentorship How to lead with ambition without being defined by hardship Rejection as strategy: building your brand through projects, businesses, and relationships Sustainable fashion + AI: how Apparel Assist aims to reduce clothing waste by starting in our closets Guest bio:Rebeca Lopez Valerio is a hardware engineer, entrepreneur, and community builder. A first-generation immigrant with a background in electrical engineering, she co-founded Apparel Assist, a sustainable fashion startup exploring how AI can help people rewear what they already own and reduce clothing waste. Timestamps (highlights): 00:01 – Meet Rebeca + the cultures that formed her 01:11 – Indigenous roots and the reality of language loss 05:44 – Immigrating at age four + education access 08:59 – Most overlooked resource for first-gen students: community 15:11 – “No” after “no”: how Rebeca built her personal brand 24:39 – Practical strategy: relationships, reps, and showing up anyway 29:56 – From cleaning business to Apparel Assist (AI + sustainability) 42:39 – Where to find Rebeca + Apparel Assist on Instagram Bonus: 00:01 – Legacy: impact through everyday interactions Follow Apparel Assist on Instagram, where Rebeca and her team are sharing the story behind their AI-powered sustainable fashion platform and inviting community conversation. Call to action:Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who’s been shrinking to fit. Visit loriadamsbrown.com for more resources and to stay connected. Join Lori for. an exclusive with Rebeca with our Difference Makers on Patreon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the very conversations you’re avoiding are the ones that could change everything? In this episode, we explore the hidden cost of silence, and how choosing “peace” over honesty can slowly erode trust, connection, and even joy. Many of us were taught to keep the peace, smooth things over, or stay quiet especially when the stakes are high in families, partnerships, and leadership roles. But as today’s conversation reveals, avoiding hard conversations doesn’t actually protect relationships. It quietly damages them. This episode is for anyone who knows something needs to be said, but isn’t sure how, when, or whether it’s safe to say it at all. I’m joined by Amy Brodsky. Amy is Founder and CEO of Sky Partners, a Performance Coaching, Facilitation and Advisory Firm. Amy has spent her career helping CEOs, Leadership Teams, UHNW Families and high-profile individuals navigate their most confidential and complex matters, including challenging team and family dynamics. Amy helps CEOs and Leadership Teams achieve the utmost success through exploring their current thoughts and patterns of behavior while supporting them as they create shifts to increase performance, professional relationships, awareness and peace. Amy has 30 years of experience in leadership, transformational change, negotiation and executive coaching across sectors. She has led client engagements ranging from large-scale mergers and acquisitions, organizational change, and cultural integrations. Amy holds a J.D. from New York Law School, Executive Coaching Certification from Columbia University and B.A. from University of New Hampshire. Her past employers include J.P. Morgan, Union Bank of Switzerland, PIMCO and U.S. Trust. Amy has been a guest on CNN to discuss the topic of harassment in the workplace. She is a well-known speaker on the topic of Family Dynamics, Performance Coaching and Acquisitions. This is not about being confrontational. It’s about being honest. It’s about understanding the difference between peace and avoidance, and learning how to reclaim your voice without burning bridges. In this episode, we explore: Why avoiding difficult conversations creates fear, dysfunction, and lost potential The emotional dynamics that silently shape families, teams, and organizations The difference between technical problems and adaptive (human) challenges How self-awareness, intentional listening, and inquiry rebuild trust Why psychological safety and dignity are foundational—not optional—for performance About the Guest:Amy Brodsky is a performance coach and advisor who helps CEOs, leadership teams, and families navigate high-stakes conversations, succession planning, and deeply rooted relational challenges. With a background spanning Wall Street, HR leadership, and organizational behavior, Amy brings rigor, compassion, and clarity to the conversations that matter most. www.skyconsulting.org www.linkedin.com/in/amybrodsky Key Timestamps: 00:02 – Peace vs. avoidance: what silence really costs 08:14 – Emotional dynamics and why we’re never taught to communicate 16:36 – Trust, succession, and the real reasons families and companies fail 21:20 – Technical vs. adaptive challenges explained 35:28 – How assumptions derail relationships 39:10 – Final reflections: courage, fear, and choosing growth Call to Action:Subscribe to A World of Difference, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs permission to speak up. Visit loriadamsbrown.com to learn more and stay connected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when faith communities quietly replace women’s leadership with unpaid, invisible labor? In this powerful Best of 2025 #1 top most downloaded episode of 2025 re-release, historian and bestselling author Dr. Beth Allison Barr joins Lori Adams-Brown to unpack how the role of the “pastor’s wife” became a substitute for women’s ordination—and the deep harm that followed. Drawing from her book Becoming the Pastor’s Wife, Beth combines rigorous historical research with lived experience to show how a once-fluid vision of women’s leadership in Christianity narrowed dramatically in the late 20th century. What emerges is a sobering picture: women expected to perform the equivalent of multiple full-time jobs for free, while being told their obedience—not their gifts—is God’s highest calling. Together, Lori and Beth explore how this shift didn’t happen gradually, but almost overnight, during the Southern Baptist Convention’s fundamentalist takeover. They discuss the psychological toll on women, the myth of “biblical womanhood,” and how patriarchy often survives by recruiting women to enforce it. This conversation isn’t just about church history—it’s about power, unpaid labor, identity, and what happens when women are asked to disappear for the sake of “peace.” In this episode, we cover: How marriage replaced ordination as women’s path to ministry The myth of the “ideal” pastor’s wife and its emotional toll Why unpaid labor is framed as godliness—and why that’s harmful How women are pitted against one another inside patriarchal systems What it could look like for women to work together instead Guest Bio:Beth Allison Barr is a medieval historian, professor, and bestselling author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood. Her work bridges history, faith, and gender, helping readers recover the erased stories of women in Christianity. Key Timestamps: 00:05 – The forgotten legacy of Willie Dawson 12:30 – Dorothy Patterson’s hats & the performance of submission 19:40 – The “patriarchal bargain” explained 24:15 – The emotional cost of being the ideal pastor’s wife 27:40 – A vision for working together, not competing Call to Action:Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone navigating faith, leadership, or invisible labor. Visit our podcast website or loriadamsbrown.com for more resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices