Stacy Kamigaki is a fractional CMO, firm owner, and Leadership Voices coauthor whose work centers on growing businesses and developing the people behind them. In this conversation on Leadership Portraits, she joins Jennifer Wright to explore how the leaders we see shape the leaders we become—and why there’s room for more than one way to lead.

The conversation begins with Stacy’s move into fractional leadership and what it means to take responsibility for marketing as part of a company’s leadership team. From there, she shares her approach to mentorship: understand each person’s strengths, interests, and ambitions, then help them grow with those differences in mind. She also reflects on what younger generations are teaching established leaders about speaking up and seeing the whole person.

At the center of the episode is Stacy’s Leadership Voices chapter, “See It Be It.” Writing it helped her connect experiences across her career, while conversations with eight leaders revealed how differently people describe the qualities they value. A young Sunday school student’s dream of becoming a nurse or doctor brought the idea into focus: the examples around us can expand what we believe is possible.

Stacy encourages emerging leaders to begin with self-awareness, seek feedback, and notice where their strengths can meet a real need. She also shares the story of a company rebrand that brought people from multiple acquisitions together around a shared identity. What made that work meaningful was the team’s sense of ownership in the result.

The conversation closes with the value of learning across disciplines, books Stacy returns to, and the advice she’d offer her younger self: slow down, reflect, recognize the people who have helped you, and ask who you want to become—not only what you want to accomplish.

“And that’s really important because it all comes down to the people.”

On bringing people into a shared identity

“I guess I’m just a student at heart, but I love going into those sessions and just learning something new.”

On curiosity and continuous learning

“Not just what I want to do, but what do I want to be?”

On reflection and the advice she’d give her younger self

Stacy Kamigaki | Fractional CMO and firm owner, yorCMO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacykamigaki/

Your Story. Your Brand. — October 28, 2026, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. as listed by BPW Colorado. Attend in Denver or via Zoom. Details and registration: https://www.bpwcolorado.org/event-6860933

Read Stacy’s chapter, “See It Be It,” in Leadership Voices.

www.LeadershipVoicesBook.com

Dare to Lead — Brené Brown

Good to Great — Jim Collins

Traction — Gino Wickman

Host: Jennifer Wright

Podcast: Leadership Portraits

Leadership Portraits is a gallery of inspirational leadership, exploring the stories, experiences, and qualities that shape how people lead. Follow for more conversations about the people behind the work.

www.LeadershipPortraits.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferwrightexecuwright/