In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Yosi Kossowsky to explore how identity, lived experience, and internal belief systems shape how we lead.

Yosi shares a deeply personal journey—one shaped by early experiences of being labeled as “not enough,” navigating limiting beliefs, and ultimately transforming those experiences into a foundation for curiosity and growth.

Through this conversation, we explore how intersectionality extends beyond visible identity—into the internal narratives we carry about ourselves, our capabilities, and what we believe is possible.

From his early career in technology to executive leadership roles and eventually into coaching, Yosi’s journey highlights how technical expertise, emotional awareness, and behavioral understanding intersect to shape leadership.

A central theme in this episode is curiosity.

What happens when we shift from assuming we understand—to questioning what we might be missing?

This conversation challenges leaders to rethink how assumptions, communication styles, and cultural differences influence workplace dynamics—and how greater awareness can transform how we lead.

• How early labels and belief systems shape leadership identity
• The intersection of technical expertise and people leadership
• Why knowledge alone doesn’t translate into behavior change
• The role of curiosity in leadership and communication
• How assumptions impact workplace relationships and conflict
• Insights from working across global teams and cultures
• Why “what if I’m wrong?” is a powerful leadership practice
• The difference between knowing something and embodying it

Yosi Kossowsky is a seasoned executive coach with over 18 years of experience, complemented by more than 30 years in executive leadership roles, including Chief Technology Officer and Senior Director of Talent Management.

He specializes in leadership development, personal growth, and effective communication, integrating neuroscience and organizational development principles to help leaders navigate complex challenges, build high-performing teams, and drive meaningful change.

Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s workplace.

Through conversations and reflections, host Dr. Lola Adeyemo uncovers the insights, challenges, and leadership lessons that help professionals not just survive—but truly thrive.

Each episode invites leaders to define intersectionality in their own words and reflect on how their layered identities shape how they navigate, lead, and build impact within organizations.

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• Leave a review to help others discover the show
• Continue the reflection on Substack for a deeper dive

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Dr. Julie Pham to explore how identity, lived experience, and leadership are shaped across cultures, systems, and personal history.

Julie shares her journey as a Vietnamese-born refugee raised in the United States, and how that experience continues to shape how she understands belonging, communication, and opportunity in the workplace.

Through her story, we explore the intersection of refugee identity, culture, and leadership—and how these layers influence the way professionals navigate environments that are not always designed with them in mind.

This conversation also introduces a powerful shift in how we think about migration through the lens of “push and pull” factors, offering a deeper understanding of how and why people move—and how those experiences show up in the workplace.

Julie also reframes code-switching as strategic communication, and shares insights from her work on the “Seven Forms of Respect,” highlighting how respect is not universally defined—but shaped by lived experience.

• The difference between refugee and broader immigrant experiences
• “Push vs. pull” factors and how they shape identity and opportunity
• How code-switching can function as strategic communication
• Why success should be defined by how it feels—not just how it looks
• The importance of asking for help in career growth
• Managing energy vs. managing time
• Why respect is experienced differently across identities and cultures

Julie Pham is a Cambridge-trained social scientist, TEDx speaker, and founder of CuriosityBased. She works with organizations to build stronger workplace cultures through curiosity, communication, and a deeper understanding of respect.

Her TEDx talk: Curiosity as a Practice

Video Resource: 15-min overview on 7 Forms of Respect

Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s workplace—helping professionals move from navigating systems to shaping them.

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• Continue the reflection on Substack — where I share a deeper perspective on this conversation

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Daniel Hodges to explore how leadership is shaped through layers of identity that are often unseen—and frequently misunderstood.

Daniel shares his journey growing up with limited socioeconomic resources, navigating life as someone who is blind, and managing invisible disabilities including chronic pain and mental health challenges. Together, we unpack how these overlapping identities shaped not only how he experienced systems—but how he now works to transform them.

Through his story, we explore the intersection of disability, socioeconomic background, faith, and leadership—and how these layers influence access, opportunity, and the way people are perceived in professional spaces.

This conversation also challenges common assumptions about who experiences barriers—and how those barriers show up. What may not be visible on the surface often carries the most weight.

Daniel reflects on navigating education systems that were not designed for him, building a career despite significant access barriers, and ultimately founding the Peaces of Me Foundation to address the root causes of exclusion through community education and systems change.

At its core, this episode is not just about accessibility.

It is about how we define capability.
How we interpret difference.
And what it truly means to create environments where people can thrive—not in spite of their identities, but through them.

• How disability—both visible and invisible—shapes lived experience and leadership
• The role of socioeconomic background in access to education and opportunity
• Why many workplace barriers are rooted in bias and inaccessibility—not ability
• The gap between how people are perceived and what they are actually capable of
• What it means to navigate systems that were not designed with you in mind
• How pain, adversity, and lived experience can evolve into purpose-driven leadership
• Why accessibility is not separate from inclusion—but central to it
• The importance of moving from awareness to action in building inclusive systems

Daniel Hodges, JD, MHA, is a thought leader on accessibility and authentic inclusion of people with disabilities. He is the President and Co-Founder of the Peaces of Me Foundation, a nonprofit focused on transforming society through community education, professional training, and resource connection to break the stigma surrounding disabilities.

Living with multiple disabilities himself, Daniel brings both lived experience and professional expertise to his work—helping organizations build solutions that are sustainable, practical, and human-centered.

Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s workplace. Through conversations and reflections, host Dr. Lola Adeyemo uncovers the insights, challenges, and leadership lessons that help professionals not just survive—but truly thrive.

Each episode invites guests to define intersectionality in their own words and reflect on how their layered identities shape how they lead, navigate systems, and create impact.

Learn more about Daniel’s work: https://www.peacesofme.org/

Connect with Daniel Hodges.

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⭐ Reflect on how your own intersections shape how you experience the workplace