WE Lead | Voices of Innovation

In this episode of WE Lead: Voices of Innovation, host Jackie Mattox (Founder & CEO, WE United) sits down with Maria Gillespie (Channel Sales Leader, TE Connectivity) and Amy Rooney (Director of Global Accounts, RFMW) for a candid conversation about leading through crisis, global tension, and uncertainty.
Together, they explore how leaders can stay informed without tunnel vision, manage bias with self-awareness, and create psychological safety for teams when headlines feel emotionally charged. Drawing on lessons from COVID and other disruptions, they share what it takes to lead with steadiness, humanity, and trust.
You’ll hear insights on:
How to consume news responsibly and avoid tunnel vision
Why self-awareness matters more than perfect neutrality
What defines a crisis and why it is often deeply personal
The difference between reacting to issues and responding to people
Why validation and transparency build trust in high-impact moments
Whether you are navigating geopolitical tension, business disruption, or the everyday pressures of modern leadership, this episode offers grounded perspective on how to lead with steadiness, empathy, and accountability in complex times.
If you are a senior executive, team leader, or emerging professional, this conversation will challenge you to think more deeply about how you define crisis, how you show up for others, and how you build trust when it matters most.
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In this episode of WE Lead: Voices of Innovation, host Jackie Mattox (Founder & CEO, WE United) sits down with Genein Letford, educator, speaker, and founder of Cafe Strategies and the Lyrics and Leadership Institute for Brain Health, to explore the intersection of creativity, brain health, and leadership.
Together, they examine why curiosity, imagination, and the arts are no longer “soft skills,” but essential capabilities for leaders navigating constant change across classrooms, organizations, and boardrooms.
You’ll hear insights on:
Why brain health and creativity are critical leadership issues
How the arts build resilience, empathy, and adaptability
The neuroscience behind curiosity and innovation
Why leadership development must be ongoing rather than one and done
How great leaders create psychological safety and unlock hidden potential
Whether you’re a senior executive, people leader, or emerging professional, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership, learning, and what it truly means to help people and organizations thrive.
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In this episode of WE Lead: Voices of Innovation, host Jackie Mattox (Founder & CEO, WE United) sits down with Michael Levin, President & CEO of Custom Solutions, keynote speaker, and serial entrepreneur who has built four multimillion-dollar companies across sectors.

They explore what it takes to build an entrepreneurial, ownership-driven culture from the front lines to the boardroom.

You’ll hear insights on:
- Bottom-up vs. top-down leadership
- Leading through change and uncertainty
- Why vulnerability builds stronger teams
- How to navigate generational differences and the rise of AI
- Creating politically neutral, inclusive workplace cultures

Whether you're a CEO or an emerging leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about control, culture, and connection.
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In this episode of WE Lead: Voices of Innovation, Dave Doherty, Chief Executive Officer of DigiKey, joins us live from the 2025 WE United Leadership Summit to examine the role of influence in driving meaningful, enterprise-level change.
Dave shares insights from decades of executive leadership, highlighting the strategic value of trust, humility, and systems thinking in today’s complex business environment. He challenges conventional models of leadership, emphasizing the long-term impact of values-driven decision-making and organizational alignment.
Key themes in this episode include:
· Influence as a core lever for sustainable change
· Building systems that reinforce accountability
· Leading with humility in high-performance cultures
· Earning trust across internal and external stakeholders
· Aligning leadership behavior with organizational outcomes
Subscribe to WE Lead: Voices of Innovation for forward-looking conversations with executives shaping the future of leadership, strategy, and innovation.
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In this episode of Voices of Innovation, we explore the intersection of personal resilience and professional leadership with Lauren Sloan, a senior leader at Newark (an Avnet company). Diagnosed with breast cancer at 38, Lauren shares her experience navigating treatment, recovery, and identity while continuing to lead at work and at home.
She speaks candidly about the challenges of self-advocacy within the medical system, the physical and emotional realities of reconstruction, and the power of community support. Through her journey, Lauren offers perspective on what it means to lead with vulnerability, courage, and clarity in the face of life-changing circumstances.
Key themes in this episode include:
The importance of early detection and self-advocacy
Balancing career leadership with cancer treatment and recovery
The emotional impact of surgery and reconstruction
Reclaiming identity and confidence after illness
The role of community in building strength and resilience
Practical advice for those newly diagnosed or supporting a loved one
Whether you're navigating your own health journey or supporting others through theirs, this episode offers insight into how women lead with strength.
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