The Corporate Expat Experience

Billi Rogers, Chief Creative Officer at Voss Allen joins the podcast to explore the deep architecture of branding and the strategic evolution of business. In this episode, Billi shares how she navigated the natural evolution of her agency from an experiential media startup to a full-service "scale to market" powerhouse, emphasizing that business pivots should be viewed through a lens of growth rather than failure.

 

Episode Highlights:

• The DET Framework for Strategy: Discover Billi’s unique approach to avoiding brand and technical debt to ensure every marketing move is grounded in harmony and measurable results.
  
  
• The Power of Personal Experience over AI: why AI-generated content often fails to convert without an authentic human story and proper user flow.
  
  
• Personal Branding by Deleting the Noise: Billi discusses the misconception that entrepreneurs must be on every social platform, sharing how she cleared the digital noise to strengthen her professional signal and maintain her privacy.
  
  

From the future of fractional leadership to the best most unexpected advice for protecting your energy, this conversation offers a deep dive into what it truly takes to scale a brand in the modern market.

 

Episode Links:

• Voss Alan: https://www.vossalan.xyz/ 
• Billi Rogers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billirogers/ 

 

Connect & Subscribe:

• Website: https://www.corporate-expat.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/corporate-expat
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporate_expat
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncolwell

Latif Hamlani spent nearly four decades inside tech giants like Microsoft, Oracle and AWS. Then came the layoff, followed by twelve brutal months of job searching that led nowhere. The lesson was not subtle: the industry did not want thirty-seven years of experience, it wanted someone cheaper and younger. In this episode, Latif exposes what nobody says out loud about ageism in tech, and what he did once he stopped asking for permission and started building on his own terms.

In this episode we dive into:

• Finding Your Ikigai:  how a Japanese philosophy changed the game for Latif
• The Power of Partner Intelligence and AI:  how emerging tools are leveling the playing field for startup advantage
• Embracing HI (Human Intelligence):  why empathy and life experience remain a founder's greatest asset, even in an AI-obsessed market

This is not a comeback story with a tidy bow on it. Latif is candid about the year he spent applying for jobs, the isolation nobody warns you about, and the exact moment he realized his experience was not a liability, it was the differentiator.

Press play and hear what happens when someone stops waiting to be hired and starts building the life they were meant to live.

Episode Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latifhamlani/
• Partner Assistant AI: https://www.partnerassistant.ai/
• “The Ikigai Way: A Simple Path for Living a Life of Purpose” by David E. Marlow: https://amzn.to/4wHIWll

 

Connect & Subscribe:

• Website: https://www.corporate-expat.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/corporate-expat
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporate_expat
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncolwell

 

Everyone is talking about AI, but few have seen it from the inside out. In this episode, Nicole sits down with someone who was not just in the room where it happened - she was shaping the story being told.

Miri Rodriguez, the visionary behind Empressa AI and the woman who helped shape the human story of Microsoft Copilot, joins Nicole for a conversation that will make you rethink everything about the future of work, emerging technology and your own untapped potential.

Miri brings a rare perspective to the AI revolution - one built on years inside the rooms where emerging technology was being shaped and what she witnessed compelled her to build something the industry had never seen: a platform that puts women at the center of it all, Empressa AI. 

In this episode, Miri and Nicole dive into:

• The 123-Year Problem*: Why the gender gap in the global workforce is a crisis women cannot afford to wait on, and what is being done to close it now
• The Rise of the Portfolio Economy: Discover why the traditional one-track career is becoming a thing of the past and what the future of work looks like
• Conquering the "Croc Brain" and AI Fears: The surprising reasons women hesitate to embrace AI and the mindset shift that changes everything

This is the episode that gives you a peek behind the curtain of AI, changes the way you see technology and the future of work, and spotlights the impact of one woman's mission to ensure that when it comes to emerging technology and the future of work - no one gets left behind. 

Hit play now.

Miri Rodriguez is the co-founder of Empressa AI, a digital platform that combines technology, community and opportunity for women to contribute their knowledge and earn royalties, while the AI transforms those insights into guidance that helps rising women leaders grow. AI created by women, for women.

Episode Links:

• Empressa website: Empressa AI
• Empressa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/empressaai/
• Miri's website: Mirirod.com
• Miri's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirirod/  
• Book: Women Who Run with Wolves: https://amzn.to/4fcVATb

Connect & Subscribe:

• Website: https://www.corporate-expat.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/corporate-expat
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporate_expat
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncolwell

* reference: 2025 WEF Global Gender Gap Report

An Episode from the Vault

Some episodes are so packed with wisdom and bits of gold that they deserve their own moment in time. This is one of them.

Meet Stacy Igel - fashion designer, best-selling author, and founder of the global impact brand BOY MEETS GIRL. Stacy takes us on a fashion journey - from her earliest days designing as a child in Chicago, behind the doors of the corporate fashion world, and into one of the boldest entrepreneurial leaps you will hear about - launching her brand during the week the world shut down, 11 September 2001.

In this episode, Stacy shares:

• The 9/11 Decision: How a national tragedy became the defining moment that shaped her company into a cause-driven brand, and what Stacy did with her entire first show's proceeds 
• Hard-Won Business Lessons:  Drawing from her best-selling book Embracing the Calm in the Chaos, Stacy breaks down the non-negotiable steps every entrepreneur must take
• Pioneering Tech and Culture: From being one of the first fashion brands on Twitter and Tumblr to current ventures in emerging tech projects and creating high-profile collaborations with the NBA, Roots Canada and childhood favorite the Care Bears, learn how Stacy always stays ahead of the curve

Whether you are still in the corporate world weighing your next move, or already deep in your entrepreneurial journey, Stacy's story is a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and building something that truly matters.

This one was worth the wait. Hit play now.

Stacy Igel is Founder & Creative Director of BOY MEETS GIRL®, a purposeful, edgy, and young contemporary athleisure brand, and author of the bestselling book “Embracing the Calm in the Chaos: How to Find Success in Business and Life Through Perseverance, Connection, and Collaboration”

 

Episode Links:

• Stacy Igel: https://linktr.ee/stacyigel
• BOY MEETS GIRL®: https://www.boymeetsgirlusa.com/

Connect & Subscribe:

• Website: https://www.corporate-expat.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/corporate-expat
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporate_expat
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncolwell

Forget the highlight reels. This episode gets real.

Nicole sits down with Kelly Massad, CEO and co-founder of Mainstay Digital, to dismantle every polished, romanticized story you have ever heard about leaving corporate life. After over a decade in consulting, including time at KPMG,  Kelly said yes to a two-week business plan, quit his job, and never looked back. What followed was not a straight line. It was a crash course in niching down, killing the ego, and betting everything on himself.

 

In this episode:

→ Why the consultant's trap of saying yes to everything is silently killing your business

→ How AI functions as a force multiplier - cutting through the noise so you can lead, not just survive

→ Nobody cares what you used to be in corporate - and the sooner you stop hiding behind it, the sooner you can build something that actually matters

This is entrepreneurship without the filter. If you are thinking about making the leap, this is the episode you cannot afford to skip.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to the Corporate Expat Experience.

Kelly Massad is CEO/Co-Founder of Mainstay Digital, a 3D and spatial computing company that transforms complex B2B products into compelling digital experiences. 

 

Connect with Kelly and Mainstay Digital:

• Mainstay Digital: https://www.mainstaydigital.com/ 
• LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyjmassad/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mainstay-digital/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mainstaydigital 

Connect & Subscribe to Nicole and Corporate Expat:

• Website: https://www.corporate-expat.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/corporate-expat
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporate_expat
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncolwell

Recorded and filmed at MarketScale Studios - a big thank you to the MarketScale Team for your support of the Podcast. https://www.marketscale.com

In this episode, Nicole sits down with Tom Galido, a five-time founder and three-time CEO, to explore the critical intersection of startup agility and enterprise structure. Drawing from his experience navigating the dot-com bubble, leading teams at Yahoo and Live Nation, and executing successful startup turnarounds, Tom provides a masterclass on how to survive and thrive in a shifting economy. 

Key Takeaways for Listeners:

• Structure is the Secret to Scaling (and Sanity): While many founders avoid "corporate" processes to stay cool, Tom argues that building systems and decentralizing decision-making is what actually frees a founder to focus on growth
• The "Davids" are Disrupting the "Goliaths" with AI: Technology has lowered the barrier to entry significantly, Tom shares his insights on what this means for tech advancements and for entrepreneurship
• Integrity in Failure is the Ultimate Trust Signal: Because 80% of early-stage investment is based on the founder, how you fail matters as much as how you succeed. Tom shares his experience and insights on how handling failure sets you up for future success and can actually make you more “investable”

Whether you are a corporate professional facing industry-wide layoffs or an aspiring entrepreneur building your first MVP, this conversation offers a roadmap for integrating AI, building durable revenue, and mastering the "startup language" to remain valuable in any environment.

Thank you for listening! 

 

EPISODE Links:

Tom Galido - Galido Consulting Corp

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tegalido
• Website:  https://www.galido.co/
• YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/@ThomasGalido

SOCIAL Links:

• Website: https://www.corporate-expat.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/corporate-expat
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporate_expat
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncolwell

 

In our latest episode of The Corporate Expat Experience Podcast, we had the honor of hosting Michael Colwell, CEO/President of Colwell & Associates, Inc.  With nearly 50 years of entrepreneurial experience under his belt, Michael shares invaluable insights and stories from his remarkable journey. Here are some highlights you won't want to miss:

• Making the Leap: Learn how Michael transitioned from working in a public works office to founding his own successful consulting engineering firm.
• The Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster: Discover the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, from the thrill of building something from scratch to navigating slow periods and overcoming challenges.
• Keys to Success: Michael shares his thoughts on what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur, offering practical advice and wisdom accumulated over decades in the business world.

Tune into this episode for a high-voltage adventure in entrepreneurship as Michael offers a candid and illuminating perspective on what it truly takes to thrive as an entrepreneur. For more on Colwell & Associates, Inc. Consulting Engineers visit www.colwellengineering.com 

In this episode of The Corporate Expat Experience, we dive into the dynamic worlds of entrepreneurship and women's golf with Corporate Expat Daniella Rosa, the innovative mind behind AIEA Golf. 

Join us as we explore how Daniella is reshaping the landscape of women's golf attire, blending style, technology, and community like never before. In this episode, Daniella delves into the unique challenges and opportunities she encountered from deciding to leave her corporate job to building AIEA Golf from the ground up, sharing insights into:

• What it's like to be a new entrepreneur
• How curiosity led to embracing technology to uplevel and distinguish her brand
• Why building community is vital to your brand strategy today

Whether you're an avid golfer, a fashion enthusiast, or an aspiring entrepreneur, this episode offers inspiration and wisdom from one woman's quest to revolutionize womens golf by changing the game both on and off the course. 

Learn more about AIEA Golf by visiting: https://www.aieagolf.com

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of entrepreneurship and fundraising with the dynamic Kat Weaver, CEO of Power to Pitch. Join us as Kat shares her inspiring journey as a two-time accidental entrepreneur, revealing how she stumbled into the world of grants and fundraising where she discovered the invaluable skill of mastering the "power to pitch."

Kat's entrepreneurial story is one of resilience, determination and a knack for turning unexpected challenges into opportunities. Tune in to hear how she navigated the complexities of raising capital for her ventures by strategically applying for (and winning!) grants. What's truly remarkable is that Kat didn't just dabble in the grant game – she emerged victorious, winning an astonishing 22 out of 23 grants in the process. 

Discover the secrets behind Kat's success as she unveils the art of crafting a compelling pitch, a skill she aptly calls the "power to pitch." Learn how she harnessed this power to secure funding for her own ventures and how she now empowers other entrepreneurs to do the same. Kat has become a sought-after advisor, helping ambitious business owners raise capital, refine their messaging, and accelerate the funding process.

Kat Weaver, CEO of Power to Pitch is a multi-award winning, accidental 2-time entrepreneur who works with pre-seed to seed stage founders pitch and raise capital.

To learn more about Kat’s work: https://www.powertopitch.com.

Meet Corporate Expat Steven Urban - Steven was on the corporate track, working his way up the ladder reaching new heights until one day before a critical meeting it all came crashing down, with Steven literally finding himself on the hotel floor unable to move. That event set him on a new path, to find himself and a future that involved helping others to discover their strengths, rediscover themselves and define what success means to them. 

In this episode, Steven shares his story that led him to entrepreneur-land and provides insights on

• Defining Your Success - why and how it might look differently for you and me
• Knowing Your Strengths - how to identify your strengths to help you become clear about who you are and how they help you to work more effectively with others
• What’s Your Future - the questions you need to be asking yourself today that can help you break your rut and reach your next level of success

Steven Urban is Founder and CEO of Build Your Alliance, CliftonStrengths Certified Coach, EQi Certified Coach. Steven works with individuals and teams to unlock their potential through self-awareness, understanding their values and strengths. Learn more about Steven’s work by visiting www.buildyouralliance.com