From corporate finance to education equity, Nick Freeman didn’t take the expected path.

At 26, with an MBA and master’s in finance in hand, he walked away from the corporate world and stepped into Chicago Public Schools. What he saw there (school closures, resource disparities, and the weight of systemic inequity) reshaped his career and his calling.

Today, Nick is the Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Innovare, where he works at the intersection of education leadership, edtech, and AI-powered tools. His team helps schools turn real-time data into action reducing administrative burden, streamlining school improvement planning, and giving educators time back to focus on what matters most: relationships.

But this conversation goes beyond technology.

Raised on Chicago’s South Side in Hyde Park, Nick grew up watching his parents run a neighborhood baseball league for twenty-five years out of their basement. They didn’t build it for profit. They built it for community. That example shaped how he thinks about leadership, trust, and responsibility.

In this episode, Nick speaks candidly about being a Black founder in venture capital spaces where less than one percent of funding goes to leaders who look like him. He reflects on mental health, the pressure of representation, and the power of removing the mask: rejecting code-switching and leading in your authentic voice.

This is a conversation about education reform, authentic leadership, community-driven innovation, and what it takes to stand firm in your values while building something that lasts.

If you care about equity in schools, AI in education, or leading without shrinking who you are, this one’s for you.

Chapters:
00:40 👋🏾 From Finance to a Quarter-Life Pivot: Nick’s Journey into Education

01:57 📚 Publish your book at leveragepublishinggroup.com

03:44 🏡 Baseball, Basement Offices, and Growing Up in Hyde Park

07:21 🏫 What School Closures and Inequity Look Like Up Close

18:50 ✍🏾 Write your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org

24:27 🤝 Co-Founding Innovare: Building with Community at the Center

26:29 💰 Venture Capital, Representation, and Not All Money Is Good Money

28:11 🧭 Removing the Mask: Authentic Leadership and Code-Switching

34:31 🤖 AI in Education: Saving Educators Time to Focus on Relationships

39:26 🌱 Support for Leaders and Changemakers at geniusdiscovery.org

41:52 🔭 Legacy, Family, and Building Something That Lasts

50:02 🎧 Launch your podcast at https://podcastsmatter.com

Links:
Website: https://innovaresip.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovaresip

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickfree
Email address: growth@innovaresip.com

Connect with Nick Freeman on LinkedIn and explore Innovare’s work to see how data, technology, and authentic leadership can help drive equity in education.

Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo
Check Out Ron's Book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473

Leverage Publishing Group: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com
Publish a Book That Matters: http://booksthatmatter.org
Start a Podcast That Matters: http://podcastsmatter.com
Go from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.org

For more great podcasts like this one, visit: https://podcaststhatmatter.org

From a student activist placed on a no-fly list to White House policy leader to an equity-driven consultant in Canada, Chris Harley shares how a lifetime of intersectional leadership shaped her mission to help organizations lead with courage, clarity, and care.

Chris is a nonprofit leader, fractional executive, and strategic advisor with more than fifteen years of experience guiding mission-driven organizations through growth and transition. A mixed-race Asian American and Indigenous woman of color with Korean and Piscataway heritage, she brings an equity-centered lens to everything she does. From her formative years at Oberlin College to earning her MPP at the University of Chicago, Chris’s leadership has always been grounded in justice, proximity, and lived experience. Her path has taken her from grassroots activism to the White House and now to her own consulting practice serving U.S. and Canadian organizations.

She shares the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership: organizing one of Ohio’s largest interfaith protests after 9/11, advocating for Asian Pacific American Studies as a student, and later leading health equity work at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders under President Obama. Chris recounts addressing toxic exposures for immigrant women in nail salons and ensuring millions could access the Affordable Care Act through culturally responsive outreach. Her journey continued as President & CEO of a national sex education nonprofit, where she led through the pandemic and racial reckoning while building a values-driven culture that doubled the organization’s budget and impact.

Chris offers powerful insights for leaders navigating uncertainty: grounding yourself in your identity, prioritizing psychological safety, and focusing on what truly matters during change. She speaks candidly about the decision to relocate her family to Canada for safety and stability, and how getting comfortable with the unknown has been central to her leadership. Her story is a reminder that lived experience is not a limitation but a leadership asset.

This conversation is a masterclass in values-aligned leadership, resilience, and building organizations that reflect the justice we hope to see in the world. Tune in to hear how Chris’s journey can inspire you to lead with greater authenticity and impact.

Chapters:
00:42 👩🏽‍💼 Meet Chris Harley and her courageous leadership journey

01:48 📚 Publish your book at https://leveragepublishinggroup.com

03:01 ✊🏽 Identity, activism, and finding her voice as a leader

17:59 🏛️ Navigating policy work through a social justice lens

22:55 🧭 Find support for writing your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org

28:45 🧩 Understanding the foundations of racial justice

31:55 💬 Leading through the challenges of sex education work

35:43 🌈 Practicing intersectionality as a leadership strength

43:04 🧠 If you are a leader or a changemaker looking for support, check out geniusdiscovery.org

44:33 🍁 Relocating to Canada for safety, values, and a new beginning

58:51 🎙️ Want a podcast just like this one? Check out podcastsmatter.org

Links:
Website: www.csyharleyconsulting.com/home

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/christine-soyong-harley

Connect with Chris Harley to explore her consulting work and learn how she helps organizations navigate growth, equity, and leadership with intention.

Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo
Check Out Ron's Book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473

Leverage Publishing Group: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com
Publish a Book That Matters: http://booksthatmatter.org
Start a Podcast That Matters: http://podcastsmatter.com
Go from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.org

For more great podcasts like this one, visit: https://podcaststhatmatter.org

From broadcaster to ADHD advocate: Dave Delaney shares his journey of turning lifelong curiosity, comedy, and communication expertise into a mission to help others understand and manage ADHD. With over two decades of podcasting experience, Dave has explored everything from parenting with his wife on Two Boobs and a Baby to solo musings on Walking with Dave, and now educates audiences through his podcast ADHD Wise Squirrels. His storytelling blends humor, empathy, and insight, making complex topics approachable while celebrating authentic human connection.

Dave’s path was shaped by discovery and adaptability. Majoring in radio and television broadcasting, his hyperactive, class-clown personality led him to study improv at Second City in Toronto, honing skills that would inform his podcasting, public speaking, and networking work. Recently diagnosed with ADHD at fifty, Dave reframed decades of personal and professional experience, realizing that his innate curiosity and energy could empower others. Along the way, he navigated the evolving landscape of social media, podcasting, and live performance, learning to balance technology’s benefits with its potential to dilute human connection.

Based on his knowledge and experiences, Dave shares practical strategies drawn from improv, communication theory, and ADHD research. He emphasizes the “yes and” mindset for authentic leadership and networking, the importance of mastering material to allow genuine improvisation, and how long-term, empathetic engagement outweighs transactional connections online. He also addresses ADHD management, offering resources like free screenings on wisesquirrels.com and insights into coaching oneself to stay focused and productive.

Listeners will gain a nuanced perspective on leadership, creativity, and resilience. Dave highlights how embracing neurodiversity can enhance collaboration and innovation, and why in-person relationships remain irreplaceable even in a digital-first world. His reflections on humor, storytelling, and human connection invite audiences to see both personal challenges and professional opportunities in a new light.

Tune in for a conversation filled with laughter, insight, and actionable advice, and discover how Dave Delaney transforms curiosity and creativity into tools for connection and understanding.

Chapters

00:49 🎙️ Meet Dave Delaney the Podcasting Pioneer

01:45 📚 Publish your book at https://leveragepublishinggroup.com

02:39 🎧 Explore Dave Delaney’s Podcasting Adventures

06:44 🎭 Discover the Power of Improv and Networking

19:45 💡 Find support for writing your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org

29:05 📝 Dave’s Struggles with ADHD and Writing

30:15 🌐 Tracing the Evolution of Social Media

32:21 ⚠️ Understanding the Dark Side of Social Media

42:34 🤖 AI and the Future of Networking

00:46:17 🌟 Leaders and Changemakers Can Get Support at geniusdiscovery.org

47:01 🧠 Understanding ADHD through Personal Insights

01:03:06 🎙️ Want a Podcast Like This One? Check out podcastsmatter.org

Links

Website: https://davedelaneyspeaks.com
Social Media: https://davedelaney.me/linkage
Connect with Dave Delaney to explore his ADHD resources, follow his podcast ADHD Wise Squirrels, and learn how improv, storytelling, and authentic networking can transform your communication and leadership skills.

Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo
Check Out Ron's Book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473

Leverage Publishing Group: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com
Publish a Book That Matters: http://booksthatmatter.org
Start a Podcast That Matters: http://podcastsmatter.com
Go from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.org

For more great podcasts like this one, visit: https://podcaststhatmatter.org