"She was told she’d never walk again… now she’s leading a movement that helps others rise.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces shares her journey of redefining success and leading with authenticity, inspired by her brother Junior, who has Down Syndrome. Stacey welcomes Sherry A. Henry, CEO of HabCenter Boca Raton, who brings over 20 years of nonprofit leadership in human capital management, marketing, communications, and fundraising. A champion for neurodiverse communities, she drives HabCenter’s strategic vision, overseeing operations, business enterprises, and resource mobilization to support underserved populations and vital programs.
Sherry shares her own transformative experience following a traumatic accident. They discuss advocating for neurodiverse individuals and creating inclusive environments where everyone can thrive. The episode emphasizes the importance of community, resilience, purposeful leadership, and the radical inclusion of all people. Join Stacey and Sherry for an inspiring conversation that challenges traditional notions of success and encourages living and leading with heart.

🎧 In this episode:
• 02:08 Meet Sherry Henry: A Leader in Inclusive Leadership
• 04:12 Sherry's Personal Journey and Resilience
• 14:05 The Hab Center: Empowering Neurodiverse Individuals
• 21:00 Leadership and Advocacy
• 33:12 Redefining Leadership
• 34:10 The Power of Community
• 36:47 Balancing Work and Life
• 44:03 Self-Care and Personal Growth
• 55:26 Supporting the Hab Center


💡 Key Takeaways:
• Redefining Strength Through Vulnerability - Both Stacey and Sherry challenged the traditional notions of strength by highlighting authenticity, emotional honesty, and vulnerability as essential leadership traits—especially for women of color. True leadership isn’t about being unshakable; it’s about being real, connected, and emotionally aware.
• Purpose Is Often Born from Pain - Sherry’s traumatic accident and her father’s invisible illness became catalysts for her calling. Pain can ignite purpose—especially when channeled into service, advocacy, and impact. Her lived experience deepened her empathy and fueled her mission at the Hab Center.
• Inclusion Isn’t an Add-On—It’s a Foundation - The episode illuminated the power of radical inclusion. Sherry’s work goes beyond accommodating neurodiverse individuals—it's about co-creating spaces where dignity, agency, and person-centered leadership are central. They aren’t fixing people; they’re fixing systems.
• Community Is a Superpower - Whether navigating disability, trauma, or burnout, both women emphasized that healing and thriving are communal acts. From wheelchair support to airport pickups to quiet beach rituals, the message was clear: We rise higher when we rise together.
• Self-Mastery Fuels Impactful Leadership - Stacey and Sherry both dropped wisdom on emotional regulation, mindset, and boundaries. Whether navigating adversity or leading a team, self-awareness and integration (not balance) are the keys to sustainable leadership, especially for purpose-driven women juggling multiple roles.

You’ve already done the quo—now it’s time to go beyond.

🔥 Feeling inspired? Don’t keep it to yourself!
• Subscribe, share and follow Beyond the Quo and I’d deeply appreciate your five-star rating so more people can listen and learn!
✨ Connect with Stacey Luces:
• Free Global Community - Rising Beyond Power Collective: https://www.skool.com/risingbeyondglobalcommunity/about

📩 Connect with Sherry:
• LinkedIn/Instagram: @sherryahenry @SherIsABear
• Website: habcenter.org
"

“If you’ve ever walked into a room and felt like you were carrying more than your resume, this episode is for you. Because the pressure isn’t just in your head. It’s structural.”
In the episode of Beyond the Quo, Stacey Luces reflects on the powerful messages from recent Super Bowl performances and explores the responsibilities and challenges of being the first, only, or bridge in various contexts.
Stacey shares personal insights and strategies to help redefine success, live authentically, and lead courageously. Learn how to map your access footprint, convert mentorship into sponsorship, build micro pipelines, and create new spaces for inclusive leadership. Join us for an inspiring discussion on leveraging inner work for outer impact and shaping a legacy that matters.
🎧 In this episode:
• 00:51 The Responsibility of Being the First or the Only
• 01:43 Inner Work
• 02:54 Shared Cultural Experiences and Leadership
• 04:45 Navigating Identity and Leadership Challenges
• 14:45 Strategies for Impact and Access
💡 Key Takeaways:
• This is a “season shift” episode: inner work becomes the foundation, not the destination. You frame 2026 as the year you move from self awareness to consequence, asking not “who am I becoming?” but “what changes because I’m here?”
• Being the first, the only, or the bridge creates a real leadership tax, and it is predictable. You connect lived experience to the reality that underrepresentation amplifies scrutiny, makes mistakes “stick,” and treats wins as exceptions rather than precedent.
• Access is the accelerator, and leaders can architect it on purpose. You introduce access as something you can map and operationalize, then give concrete levers: access footprint, sponsorship, micro pipelines, normalizing presence, and building parallel rooms.
• Impact leadership is systems leadership, and it requires boundaries. You name the trap: trying to carry everyone. You reinforce that healthy bridge leaders build pathways and rooms without erasing themselves or diluting the mission to please everyone.

You’ve already done the quo—now it’s time to go beyond.
🔥 Feeling inspired? Don’t keep it to yourself!
• Subscribe, share and follow Beyond the Quo and I’d deeply appreciate your five-star rating so more people can listen and learn!
✨ Connect with Stacey: staceyluces.com IG @ Stacey.Luces LinkedIn @StaceyLuces

“If you want to scale in 2026, you’re not just scaling the business. You’re scaling the stakes, the visibility, and your nervous system. And that control demon is about to show up.”
In the episode of Beyond the Quo, Stacey Luces has a candid and insightful conversation with Naresh Samlal, founder and CEO of CloudSource. In this episode, they explore the essence of leadership through redefining success, living authentically, and leading courageously. Discover how personal growth, mindful decisions, and authentic connections can create a lasting impact both personally and professionally. Whether you're in midlife or just embarking on your leadership journey, this episode is packed with strategies to help you make meaningful progress.
🎧 In this episode:
• 01:47 Defining Leadership and Personal Growth
• 04:04 The Impact of Decision Fatigue
• 14:45 Scaling and Personal Investment
• 18:20 The Importance of Aligned Partnerships
• 24:24 Dropping Your Ego and Seeking Help
• 33:34 The Impact of Social Media
💡 Key Takeaways:
• Authenticity is the meta-skill that unlocks everything else. Naresh lands on a simple but sharp thesis: authenticity is not a vibe. It is an operating system. It is what makes success redefinable, decisions cleaner, relationships stronger, and leadership courageous because you stop performing and start discerning.
• The next level of leadership is not competence, it is capacity. It is not that leaders “can’t,” it is that they are making high impact decisions under decision fatigue, burnout, lack of sleep, health strain, and constant noise. The implication is clear: if you want impact, you have to protect internal capacity like it is infrastructure.
• Scaling exposes the control gremlin. The moment you go from “I can predict the outcome” to “the stakes, visibility, and risk expand,” control shows up hard. The leader has to evolve, and so do the circles around them.

You’ve already done the quo—now it’s time to go beyond.
🔥 Feeling inspired? Don’t keep it to yourself!
• Subscribe, share and follow Beyond the Quo and I’d deeply appreciate your five-star rating so more people can listen and learn!
✨ Connect with Stacey: staceyluces.com IG @ Stacey.Luces LinkedIn @StaceyLuces
✨ Connect with Naresh Samlal on LI, @tsc.naresh on IG and at www.cloudsource.us

Most decisions aren’t made in the meeting. They’re shaped before anyone sits down. If you don’t know where that power sits, this episode is for you.
In the episode of Beyond the Quo, Stacey Luces delves into the complexities of identifying patterns in leadership behavior, understanding the difference between momentum and true power, and the importance of foundational integrity. In this episode, Stacey offers practical strategies for leaders to move beyond reaction, focus on the nuances of power dynamics, and craft impactful decisions. Whether you're a founder, executive, or a budding entrepreneur, discover how to build relational currency, ask the right questions, and navigate today's noisy world to achieve your goals.
🎧 In this episode:
• 00:29 Identifying Patterns in Leadership
• 01:42 Momentum vs. Power
• 05:58 The Influence of Quiet Power
• 08:40 Strategies for Effective Leadership
• 23:15 Practical Tips for Immediate Implementation
💡 Key Takeaways:
• Momentum is not power. Being busy, visible, or in motion can feel productive, but real power is quiet. It lives in who shapes decisions before they’re public, who frames the question before the room debates, and who influences outcomes without needing the spotlight.
• Most people are answering the wrong question. What looks like a tactics or urgency problem is often a trust, alignment, or timing issue. When nothing is moving, it’s rarely about effort. It’s about misframing the real problem, performative alignment, or pushing an idea before the moment is ready.
• Power comes from awareness, not control. Trying to control outcomes creates delay. Power grows when you pay attention to who influences decisions, where people are already leaning, and what’s forming beneath the surface before it has a name. Small, strategic questions compound into long-term direction.

You’ve already done the quo—now it’s time to go beyond.
🔥 Feeling inspired? Don’t keep it to yourself!
• Subscribe, share and follow Beyond the Quo and I’d deeply appreciate your five-star rating so more people can listen and learn!
✨ Connect with Stacey: staceyluces.com IG @ Stacey.Luces LinkedIn @StaceyLuces

“Indecision is not neutral. It’s costing you, every day.”
In the episode of Beyond the Quo, Stacey Luces builds upon her previous talk on Main Character Energy,' providing practical advice on embodying this mindset daily. She discusses the common pitfalls that hinder us, such as fear, familiarity, fatigue, guilt, and outdated identities.
Stacey emphasizes the necessity of making intentional, courageous decisions to break free from repeating past patterns. Drawing on personal anecdotes and professional experience, she guides listeners on transforming intentions into actions, setting boundaries, and achieving authentic success in health, relationships, and career. Tune in for actionable insights to lead yourself and others more effectively.
🎧 In this episode:
• 01:13 Identifying the Barriers to Change
• 07:42 The Importance of Intention and Execution
• 14:14 Making Decisive and Courageous Choices
• 26:30 Practical Steps for a Better Year
💡 Key Takeaways:
• The 5 places you keep making decisions from (and why that repeats your year): Fear, familiarity, fatigue, guilt, and identities you’ve outgrown.
• A simple reframe that changes everything: “Does this decision advance the plot or stall it?” No drama required. Just direction.
• A 48-hour action challenge to rebuild self-trust: Pick one postponed decision, take one step in 48 hours, and use the feeling of alignment as your compass.
• Resentment is information, not a character flaw. When you feel resentment, numbness, or “tired but I slept,” it’s a signal that you’re out of alignment and likely self-abandoning somewhere.

You’ve already done the quo—now it’s time to go beyond.
🔥 Feeling inspired? Don’t keep it to yourself!
• Subscribe, share and follow Beyond the Quo and I’d deeply appreciate your five-star rating so more people can listen and learn!
✨ Connect with Stacey: staceyluces.com IG @ Stacey.Luces LinkedIn @StaceyLuces

What if the revolution in education isn’t just about policy or paperwork—but about seeing someone fully, without pity, and showing up with consistency and compassion?
Welcome back to Beyond the Quo—the podcast where we dismantle outdated narratives of success, leadership, and fulfillment. I’m your host, Stacey Luces—executive coach, reinvention strategist, and founder of the Living Beyond Movement.
For over two decades, I’ve walked with leaders through burnout, breakdowns, and bold reinventions. And one thing I’ve learned? Transformation rarely starts with a checklist—it starts with a whisper. A moment. A mentor. Someone who sees more in you than you’ve been taught to see in yourself.
And today’s guest is the embodiment of that truth.
Meet Christine Sylvain—TEDx speaker, community builder, and award-winning founder of Path to College, a nonprofit on a mission to close the college access gap for high-potential, low-income students.
But Christine doesn’t just talk equity—she builds it. As the mixed-race daughter of an immigrant, she knows what it means to navigate identity, scarcity, and systems that weren’t built for everyone. She took that experience and turned it into something transformative—from the inside out.
In this conversation, we talk about:
• Education that empowers, not just evaluates.
• Burnout recovery and boundary-setting.
• Reparenting ourselves after decades of over-functioning.
• The link between personal wellness and collective change.
• And how mentorship can be the spark that redefines a life—not by fixing, but by seeing.
This episode is deeply human. It’s full of heart, truth, and tangible takeaways. If you're in the work of impact, leadership, or just raising the next generation—this one’s for you.
So grab your journal, your favorite cup of whatever, and let’s get into it.
🌍 Want more conversations like this?
Join the Rising Beyond Power Collective—our free global community for women leaders who are done playing small and ready to redefine success on their own terms:
👉 https://www.skool.com/risingbeyondglobalcommunity/about


💡 Key Takeaways:
• High Achievement Looks Different in Marginalized Communities
Christine redefines achievement—not by GPA, but by grit. Her students often juggle part-time jobs, care for siblings, and translate medical paperwork—all while navigating school. That’s excellence.
• Mentorship and Belonging Change Lives
It’s not a single scholarship that creates success—it’s consistent care. Christine’s long-term, trauma-informed mentorship model cultivates safety, confidence, and generational ripple effects.
• You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Lead Powerfully
Christine let go of the myth that leaders must be polished. Her openness about divorce, burnout, and healing has only deepened her impact—and made her leadership magnetic.
• Stress Isn’t the Enemy—Disconnection Is
Stress can shape us. But chronic stress, isolation, and survival mode? That breaks us. This episode unpacks how rest, community, and values-based living are non-negotiables for sustainability.
🔥 Feeling inspired? Don’t keep it to yourself.
Subscribe, share, and rate Beyond the Quo five stars. Let’s amplify voices, disrupt the status quo, and lead lives that are truly our own.
✨ Connect with Stacey Luces
• Free Global Community: Rising Beyond Power Collective
📩 Connect with Christine Sylvain
• LinkedIn/Instagram: @citizenchristine @pathtocollege
• Website: www.pathtocollege.org

Beyond Permission: Owning Your Power and Your Next Move with Stacey Luces
“If you repeat the same day for 80 years… what kind of life is that? Because that’s what ‘good enough’ turns into.”
In the first episode of Beyond the Quo for 2025 Stacey Luces dives deep into embracing 'main character energy' and stepping out of supporting roles in our own lives. Stacey addresses common feelings of reflection and resolution at the beginning of the year, urging us to live authentically, redefine success, and lead courageously. This episode touches on the pitfalls of remaining passive in life, the importance of making intentional, consequence-driven decisions, and practical steps to regain autonomy over one's schedule, health, and personal boundaries. Ideal for those looking to break free from complacency and truly own their narrative in 2026.
🎧 In this episode:
• 00:56 Playing a Supporting Role in Your Own Life
• 02:14 Embracing Main Character Energy
• 05:08 The Power of Personal Promises
• 06:22 Curating Your Circle and Growth
• 15:26 Moving Beyond the Status Quo
• 26:29 Signs You're in Support Role Energy
• 32:23 Reclaiming Main Character Energy
💡 Key Takeaways:
• Resentment is information, not a character flaw. When you feel resentment, numbness, or “tired but I slept,” it’s a signal that you’re out of alignment and likely self-abandoning somewhere.
• Main character energy is a leadership concept, not a vibe. It’s authorship. It shows up in real decisions about boundaries, health, relationships, standards, and who gets access to you.
• Your life is shaped by your schedule and your standards. Things don’t slow down by accident. You slow them down through decisions. Raise the standard, stop over-explaining, have the overdue conversation, and choose what matters most.
You’ve already done the quo—now it’s time to go beyond.
🔥 Feeling inspired? Don’t keep it to yourself!
• Subscribe, share and follow Beyond the Quo and I’d deeply appreciate your five-star rating so more people can listen and learn!
✨ Connect with Stacey: staceyluces.com IG @ Stacey.Luces LinkedIn @StaceyLuces

“Grownups can be dream killers.” A stop-you-in-your-tracks truth that opens a deeper conversation about courage, safety, and choosing possibility again.
In the final episode of Beyond the Quo for 2025, Stacey Luces sits down with Yulimar Trumbo, an investor in the future of entrepreneurs and a world-class sales facilitator who has worked across 40+ countries with Fortune 500 companies, NGOs, and government sectors. Together, they close the year with honesty, humor, and depth, exploring what 2025 revealed and what 2026 can become.
They unpack why intentions create alignment while resolutions often create pressure, why authentic connection matters more than proximity, and how protecting your time is really about protecting your life. Through personal stories about family, entrepreneurship, partnership, and change, they discuss leading yourself first, trusting what your body knows, and building “a new same page” in relationships and communities.
🎧 In this episode:
• 02:39 Intentions vs. resolutions
• 05:06 Decisions that shaped the last decade
• 10:47 Protecting your time and saying no
• 26:24 Dreams, courage, and refusing to shrink
• 29:07 Youth, innovation, and social entrepreneurship
• 39:36 Relationships, loneliness, and real connection
💡 Key Takeaways:
• Intentions create alignment. Resolutions create pressure. Intentions invite your spirit to rise toward what’s possible. Resolutions demand compliance. This episode reframes the New Year as alignment, not self-correction.
• “No” is autonomy in motion. Practice it early and often. Self-betrayal starts small. If you override yourself in minor moments, you’ll override yourself when the stakes are higher. Boundaries are built in the everyday.
• Courage must be protected or it will be negotiated away. “Grownups can be dream killers” isn’t an accusation. It’s a warning. When safety becomes the goal, imagination shrinks. Courage is the cost of a future that’s truly yours.
• Transformation begins with a new internal language. Words like sacrifice, balance, guilt, and control quietly drain power. Replacing them with center, integration, responsibility, equanimity, and surrender changes how you lead, love, and choose.
You’ve already done the quo—now it’s time to go beyond.
🔥 Feeling inspired? Don’t keep it to yourself!
• Subscribe, share and follow Beyond the Quo and I’d deeply appreciate your five-star rating so more people can listen and learn!
✨ Connect with Stacey: staceyluces.com IG @ Stacey.Luces LinkedIn @StaceyLuces
✨ Connect with Yuli: LinkedIn @yulimar-trumbo