Episodes

  • Resilience, Relationships, and Rising: Kishane Davis’ Blueprint for Career Success
    May 1 2025

    In this powerful episode of Momentum Now, co-hosts Bob Brooks and Karen McFarlane sit down with Kishane Davis, a senior biotech leader and leadership coach, to explore his extraordinary career journey. 🌟

    Kishane shares how he transitioned from a clinical occupational therapy background to a thriving career in pharmaceutical sales and leadership, fueled by resilience, mentorship, and a relentless drive to diversify his skill set. Raised in a Jamaican household where education, hard work, and entrepreneurship were core values, Kishane reflects on how those early lessons shaped his personal and professional growth.

    Listeners will learn:

    • The importance of embracing discomfort to unlock new opportunities

    • Why building authentic relationships can change the trajectory of your career

    • How mentorship and consistency helped him break into competitive industries

    • Real-world strategies for navigating career transitions and standing out in today’s market

    • How to create a personal brand rooted in confidence, integrity, and resilience

    Kishane’s story is a masterclass in how young professionals of color can move from surviving to thriving, one bold step at a time. 🔥

    🎧 Listen and subscribe:

    • Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/5qy1R6AnexTiZRyDWFlbCv

    • Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/momentum-now/id1749694194

    • YouTube: youtube.com/@mvpoc9565

    🌟 Learn more about MVP:

    • Website: mvpoc.org

    • Instagram: @mvpoc

    • Facebook: facebook.com/mvpoc2020

    • LinkedIn: Momentum and Value for People of Color (MVP)

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    51 mins
  • Toxic Hustle, Real Healing: Dr. Juan Rios on Mental Health, Identity & Leading with Purpose
    Apr 17 2025

    Our co-hosts, Bob Brooks and Karen McFarlane, sit down with Dr. Juan Rios—a powerhouse in mental health, trauma-informed care, and inclusive leadership. As Chair of Social Work at Seton Hall University and founder of Rios & Associates, Dr. Rios brings not only a stacked list of credentials but a deeply personal story of resilience, purpose, and authenticity.

    In this episode, Dr. Rios opens up about surviving foster care, living with survivor’s guilt, and the “toxic hustle” that fueled his early success. He unpacks how mindfulness, vulnerability, and finding your tribe are key to thriving in both your career and your personal healing.

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    49 mins
  • Episode 14: Breaking Barriers with Wema Hoover on Leadership and DEI
    Jan 9 2025

    In this episode of Momentum Now, Karen and Bob sit down with Wema Hoover, a global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion leader and CEO of Be Limitless Consulting. Wema takes us through her journey, from organizational development to leading DEI efforts at Google, Pfizer, and beyond!

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    50 mins
  • Episode 13: Redefining Leadership—The Third Way to Thrive with Mohan Sivaloganathan
    Nov 21 2024

    This week on Momentum Now, we’re joined by Mohan Sivaloganathan, CEO of Harmonious Leadership and the “Batman of Social Impact.” Mohan’s career in social justice has taught him the importance of creating a balance between performance and personal wellbeing.

    From his early days navigating corporate America to empowering young leaders to lead with authenticity, Mohan offers insights into how we can all adopt a “third way” of leadership—one that’s sustainable, innovative, and deeply personal.

    Tune in as we explore how to break free from burnout culture, embrace curiosity, and elevate your career through meaningful connections and storytelling.

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    49 mins
  • Episode 12: Navigating Early Roles with HR Expert Greg Griesemer
    Nov 7 2024

    Today on Momentum Now, co-hosts Bob Brooks and Karen McFarlane sit down with HR strategist and talent expert Greg Griesemer, founder of 1130 Works. Greg takes us through his unique career journey, starting from an unlikely first job that shaped his relationship-centered approach to HR. Along the way, he shares valuable insights into building a network that fuels career growth, finding purpose in hybrid and in-office roles, and identifying the right time to make your next career move.

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    56 mins
  • Episode 11 | Nourishing Change: Maya Feller’s Mission for Food Justice & Health Equity
    Sep 26 2024

    Today, our co-hosts, Karen McFarlane and Bob Brooks, sit down with the incredible, Maya Feller, the founder and lead dietitian of Maya Feller Nutrition. Maya shares her inspiring journey from experimental theater to becoming a national nutrition expert, with features on major platforms like Good Morning America and The New York Times. Maya also dives into the importance of culturally relevant foods, anti-bias in nutrition, and her mission for food justice, offering practical tips for students and professionals balancing busy careers while maintaining their health and well-being.

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    47 mins
  • Episode 10: Empowering the Next Generation Through Education with Andrea Walker
    Sep 12 2024

    Today, our co-hosts, Karen McFarlane and Bob Brooks, speak with Andrea Walker, the Chief Operating Officer of Cooperman College Scholars. Andrea shares her journey through nonprofit leadership, the importance of providing students with financial freedom to pursue their education, and how to navigate career pivots with purpose.

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    50 mins
  • Episode 9: Teaching with Purpose and Leading with Heart with Jeffrey Veale Jr.
    Aug 28 2024

    Today, our co-hosts, Bob Brooks and Karen McFarlane, speak with Jeffrey Veale Jr., Managing Director of Alumni Programs and Leadership Experiences at Teach for America. Jeffrey shares his journey from rural North Carolina to teaching in Uganda and founding a charter school in Memphis. He reveals the personal and professional lessons he’s learned along the way, how navigating discomfort shaped his success, and the importance of representation in education, especially for young people of color.

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    43 mins
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