Cracking the Code: From Underestimated to Undeniable with Lisa Imondi, The Mosaic Company

Cracking the Code: From Underestimated to Undeniable with Lisa Imondi, The Mosaic Company

In this episode of Leadership Variations: Unfiltered, Amy Bladen Shatto sits down with Lisa Imondi, Senior Vice President of Consulting Operations at The Mosaic Company, for a powerful conversation on what it really takes for women in STEM and technical spaces to move from underestimated to undeniable. Lisa shares how some of the most meaningful leadership moments in her career came from stepping into work she had never done before — building programs, leading transformation, and proving that confidence can grow through action, not certainty. She also opens up about navigating credibility, authenticity, and the pressure to “fit in” within traditional technical environments. The conversation also explores Lisa’s nonprofit, Her Story to Share, and her belief in the power of creative expression, storytelling, and personal branding as tools for healing, confidence, and growth. For women leaders, technical experts, high-potential talent, and anyone who has ever felt underestimated, Lisa’s message is clear: if you see something that can be better, go ask to lead it. In this episode, you’ll hear about: * Leading before you feel fully ready * Why stretch assignments can become career-defining moments * Building credibility without abandoning authenticity * The challenge of being different in STEM and technical spaces * How leaders can create room for multiple styles of success * Why women should ask for the opportunity instead of waiting to be chosen * The story behind Her Story to Share * Using creativity and storytelling as a path to confidence and healing Listen now and subscribe for more unfiltered leadership conversations. ____________________________________________________ HIGHLIGHT CHAPTERS 00:45 — Meet Lisa Imondi 02:14 — What Leadership Doesn’t Show on a Resume 02:48 — Taking on Work You’ve Never Done Before 05:36 — The Red Thread Behind Career Growth 06:14 — Authenticity in Ambiguous Environments 08:27 — Credibility Challenges for Women in STEM 09:03 — “Act More Like an Engineer” 12:49 — Why Difference Is a Competitive Advantage 14:47 — Navigating Generational Mindsets at Work 16:39 — Her Story to Share and the Power of Creative Expression 21:14 — The Undeniable Take: Go Ask for It Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522302/support] Watch & Subscribe 🎥 Watch this conversation and explore more Unfiltered leadership content: www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations [http://www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations] Work with Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto 📈 Tired of being underestimated? Partner with a coach who specializes in helping leaders in STEM break barriers and accelerate impact. Book a consultation → https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min [https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min]🌐 Learn more → https://www.leadershipvariations.com [https://www.leadershipvariations.com/]🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto] 🔗 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/ [https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/] 🔗  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/  [https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/ ] About the Host Leadership Variations: Unfiltered is hosted by Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto, PhD, PCC, BCC — an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations make faster, smarter leadership decisions. She specializes in science-based assessment, executive coaching, and leadership development strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Cracking the Code: From Underestimated to Undeniable with Dr. Andrea Garfinkel, Research & Extension Center, Univ of Wyoming

In this episode of Leadership Variations Unfiltered, Amy Shatto interviews Dr. Andrea Garfinkel, a plant pathologist and agricultural leader whose career spans academia, agtech, and global farming systems. Andrea shares her unconventional leadership journey—from post-PhD fieldwork and career breaks to leading research in high-tech indoor farming environments. The conversation explores what it really takes to transition from technical expert to leader, particularly in male-dominated industries like agriculture and tech. They unpack the often invisible work behind leadership growth, including building credibility, navigating bias, and leveraging sponsorship. Andrea also offers a powerful perspective on why self-trust—not perfection—is the defining trait of leaders who rise. This episode is essential for women in STEM, emerging leaders, and organizations serious about developing high-potential technical talent. ___________________________________________ Chapters:  02:02 – Meet Dr. Andrea Garfinkel: From Agriculture to AgTech  02:38 – The Hidden Leadership Lessons Not on Your Resume  04:40 – Why “Non-Linear” Career Paths Build Stronger Leaders  05:38 – From Expert to Leader: The Reality of the Transition  08:02 – Credibility Challenges for Women in STEM  10:15 – Sponsorship: The Career Accelerator No One Talks About  11:16 – Leading in AgTech: Bridging Agriculture & Technology  13:53 – Managing Strong Personalities Across Disciplines  14:12 – Women Supporting Women: Breaking Internal Competition  17:38 – The Undeniable Take: Self-Belief as a Leadership Strategy Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522302/support] Watch & Subscribe 🎥 Watch this conversation and explore more Unfiltered leadership content: www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations [http://www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations] Work with Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto 📈 Tired of being underestimated? Partner with a coach who specializes in helping leaders in STEM break barriers and accelerate impact. Book a consultation → https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min [https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min]🌐 Learn more → https://www.leadershipvariations.com [https://www.leadershipvariations.com/]🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto] 🔗 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/ [https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/] 🔗  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/  [https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/ ] About the Host Leadership Variations: Unfiltered is hosted by Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto, PhD, PCC, BCC — an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations make faster, smarter leadership decisions. She specializes in science-based assessment, executive coaching, and leadership development strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Cracking the Code: From Underestimated to Undeniable with Dr. Rosemary Bernal-Gomez, First Analytics

In this episode of Leadership Variations: Unfiltered, Amy Bladen Shatto speaks with Dr. Rosemary Bernal-Gomez, a seasoned analytics leader and STEM advocate whose career spans over three decades in high-stakes environments. From developing predictive analytics models that helped eliminate workplace fatalities to navigating the realities of bias and credibility testing in leadership, Dr. Bernal-Gomez shares what it truly takes to rise from underestimated to undeniable. This conversation explores the intersection of technical expertise and leadership identity, including the moment she was publicly challenged in a high-stakes meeting—and how she transformed it into a defining career inflection point. Listeners will gain insight into: * The real transition from expert to leader * The role of AI and data in ethical, human-centered leadership * How to navigate bias, sabotage, and imposter syndrome * Why self-advocacy is a leadership competency—not a personality trait This episode is essential for women in STEM, senior leaders, and anyone navigating high-performance environments where credibility is constantly tested. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522302/support] Watch & Subscribe 🎥 Watch this conversation and explore more Unfiltered leadership content: www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations [http://www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations] Work with Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto 📈 Tired of being underestimated? Partner with a coach who specializes in helping leaders in STEM break barriers and accelerate impact. Book a consultation → https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min [https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min]🌐 Learn more → https://www.leadershipvariations.com [https://www.leadershipvariations.com/]🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto] 🔗 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/ [https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/] 🔗  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/  [https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/ ] About the Host Leadership Variations: Unfiltered is hosted by Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto, PhD, PCC, BCC — an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations make faster, smarter leadership decisions. She specializes in science-based assessment, executive coaching, and leadership development strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Cracking the Code: From Underestimated to Undeniable with Pilar Baltar, Perplexity AI & Various Top Tech Firms

In this episode of Leadership Variations: Unfiltered, Amy Bladen Shatto sits down with Pilar Baltar, Business Fellow at Perplexity AI and former senior executive across global Microsoft partner organizations, to explore what it truly takes to lead at the intersection of AI, revenue, and executive power. With over 20 years leading large-scale tech transformations across EMEA and the U.S., Pilar shares her journey from computational linguistics to AI strategy, and what women in technology must understand to rise — and stay — at the senior table. This episode dives into: * How AI is disrupting hiring, resumes, and executive recruitment * Why companies are flipping interviews in the age of generative AI * The shift from technical expert to leader-of-leaders * Navigating executive power as a woman in male-dominated tech * Why “likability vs. gravitas” is a false binary * The commercial truth women must understand to reach the C-suite If you're a woman in STEM, AI, tech consulting, or executive leadership — this is a must-listen. 🎧 Listen now and subscribe for science-based leadership insights that drive real business value. ___________________________________________________ Chapters: 02:50 – From English Major to AI Leader 04:00 – The AI Resume Disruption 08:30 – Will Resumes Survive AI?  10:20 – AI Maturity in Organizations 14:20 – The Shift to Leader of Leaders 16:50 – Delivering Through Others 19:00 – Gender & Executive Perception 21:00 – Gravitas vs. Likability 24:00 – Feedback Deficit for Women in Tech 25:35 – The Undeniable Take Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522302/support] Watch & Subscribe 🎥 Watch this conversation and explore more Unfiltered leadership content: www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations [http://www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations] Work with Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto 📈 Tired of being underestimated? Partner with a coach who specializes in helping leaders in STEM break barriers and accelerate impact. Book a consultation → https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min [https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min]🌐 Learn more → https://www.leadershipvariations.com [https://www.leadershipvariations.com/]🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto] 🔗 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/ [https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/] 🔗  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/  [https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/ ] About the Host Leadership Variations: Unfiltered is hosted by Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto, PhD, PCC, BCC — an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations make faster, smarter leadership decisions. She specializes in science-based assessment, executive coaching, and leadership development strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Cracking the Code: From Underestimated to Undeniable with Biliana Veleva-Rotse, Amicus Therapeutics

In this episode of Leadership Variations: Unfiltered, host Amy Bladen Shatto, PhD, PCC, BCC sits down with Dr. Biliana Veleva-Rotse, Global Medical Director for Fabry Disease at Amicus Therapeutics, to unpack what leadership really looks like for women in STEM who rise without the recognition they deserve. Biliana shares her non-linear path from neuroscience PhD and academic research to global leadership in biotech—revealing how credibility, influence, and impact are built without positional power, perfectionism, or having all the answers. Together, Amy and Biliana explore: - Why being the smartest person in the room can actually limit leadership - How trust, vulnerability, and cross-functional thinking unlock innovation - The hidden cost of “earning the right to speak” as a woman in STEM - How inclusive leadership becomes a strategic advantage—not a soft skill - What it truly takes to move from underestimated to undeniable This conversation is essential listening for senior women in STEM, biotech leaders, medical affairs professionals, and executives navigating technical-to-leadership transitions. 🎧 If you’ve ever felt you needed one more credential before claiming your seat at the table, this episode is for you. 🎧 Available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms  📌 Subscribe for unfiltered conversations on leadership, credibility, and real behavior change _________________________________________ Highlight Chapters: 00:40 – About Biliana 02:20 – Leadership Beyond the Resume 04:50 – The Myth of the Clear Leadership Path 06:30 – Leaving Academia 08:55 – Credibility in Male-Dominated Spaces 11:40 – Subject Matter Expert vs. Leader 15:30 – Trust as a Leadership Accelerator 16:20 – Leadership at Home 17:50 – The Career Identity Crisis 23:50 – The Undeniable Take #LeadershipVariationsUnfiltered #WomenInSTEM #WomenInLeadership Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522302/support] Watch & Subscribe 🎥 Watch this conversation and explore more Unfiltered leadership content: www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations [http://www.youtube.com/@leadershipvariations] Work with Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto 📈 Tired of being underestimated? Partner with a coach who specializes in helping leaders in STEM break barriers and accelerate impact. Book a consultation → https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min [https://calendly.com/abladenshatto/30min]🌐 Learn more → https://www.leadershipvariations.com [https://www.leadershipvariations.com/]🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybladenshatto] 🔗 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/ [https://www.facebook.com/leadvarunfiltered/] 🔗  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/  [https://www.instagram.com/leadvarunfiltered/ ] About the Host Leadership Variations: Unfiltered is hosted by Dr. Amy Bladen Shatto, PhD, PCC, BCC — an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations make faster, smarter leadership decisions. She specializes in science-based assessment, executive coaching, and leadership development strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes.