What does it take to build something successful… and still stay grounded in who you are?

In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, we sit down with Melissa Solis, CEO of Inbenta and a seasoned technology executive with over 30 years of leadership experience across insurance, fintech, fraud prevention, and AI.

Melissa’s story is remarkable. As co-founder and former CEO of GIACT, she scaled the company from startup to industry leader—growing a client base of over 1,000 companies and ultimately leading to a $610 million acquisition by the London Stock Exchange. Today, she leads global AI strategy at Inbenta, helping organizations innovate while staying grounded in purpose and responsibility.

But what makes this conversation powerful isn’t just her success.

It’s how she got there.

Melissa opens up about the role adversity has played in shaping her—growing up with serious health challenges, navigating multiple surgeries, and learning how to find meaning in suffering. She shares how those experiences didn’t just build resilience—they shaped the way she leads.

We talk about authenticity, humility, and the importance of creating safe spaces where people can be vulnerable, take ownership, and grow.

Because leadership isn’t about having it all together.

It’s about being real enough for others to grow.

This conversation is about more than business or success.

It’s about becoming—and learning how to lead from a place of purpose, forgiveness, and truth.

If this resonates, take a moment and ask yourself—what has actually shaped me the most? And how is it showing up in the way I lead today?

Welcome back to Beneath the Transaction.

This week we sit down with Alix Prassas — an organizational effectiveness leader with more than two decades of experience in People & Culture, global organizational development, DEI, and change management.

But this conversation isn’t about frameworks.

It’s about the moments that shape culture quietly and powerfully.

Alix shares her journey from working in a family business to leading large-scale transformation efforts, and what she’s learned about trust, vulnerability, and accountability along the way.

Together, we explore:

• Why culture is formed beneath the surface

• How small leadership moments shape belonging

• Why vulnerability is a prerequisite for trust

• What accountability looks like when it’s rooted in relationship

• Why conversations around diversity require courage and openness

• And what it means to “have the conversation anyway”

This episode is honest. It’s practical. And it reminds us that transformation isn’t about bold declarations — it’s about consistent courage.

It takes a Tribe to practice transformation.

Let’s practice this together.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Culture Change

01:58 Alix's Background and Journey

06:32 The Importance of Culture in Retail

14:34 Building Trust and Vulnerability

20:25 Navigating Difficult Conversations

30:58 The Role of Accountability in Leadership

40:28 Personal Stories and Lessons Learned

50:11 Final Thoughts on Culture Transformation

What if the version of yourself you bring to work… isn’t the real you?

In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, I sit down with Kendra Davenport, President and CEO of Easterseals, to talk about what it really means to lead beyond the surface.

Kendra leads an organization that impacts over 1.5 million people each year, overseeing a national network of 70 affiliates and 38,000 employees across the country. With more than three decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, her leadership has consistently been rooted in one thing:

People.

But what stood out most in this conversation wasn’t her scale—it was her willingness to go deeper.

To be vulnerable. To be transparent. To let people actually know her—and for her to know them.

We talk about the tension so many leaders feel—showing up professionally while leaving the personal at the door—and why the best leaders don’t operate that way.

Because culture isn’t built through policies or processes.

It’s built through relationships.

And the leaders who are willing to show up fully— not perfectly, but honestly— are the ones who create environments where people actually grow.

This is a conversation for leaders who want more than performance.

Who want connection. Trust. And something real.

Because transformation doesn’t happen at the surface.

It happens when we’re willing to be known.

If this resonates, take a moment and ask yourself—where am I holding back as a leader? And what would it look like to show up more fully this week?

Follow Beneath the Transaction for more episodes like this. Thanks for listening!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Nonprofit Landscape 02:56 Kendra's Journey into Nonprofit Leadership 06:00 The Dichotomy of Purpose and Transaction 09:01 Transformational Leadership in Nonprofits 11:51 Creating a Supportive Work Culture 15:05 The Importance of Vulnerability in Leadership 17:58 Navigating Personal and Professional Relationships 21:03 Philosophies of Leadership and Team Dynamics 24:01 Cultural Practices and Their Impact on Relationships 33:47 The Importance of Connection in the Workplace 51:25 Building Relationships Beyond Transactions

When profit becomes the focus, something deeper starts to break.

In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, I sit down with Brian Belliveau, Chief Growth Officer at Columbia Southern University, to talk about what leaders often miss when they’re trying to grow an organization.

Brian brings over 20 years of experience leading growth at scale—but what stands out most isn’t strategy. It’s how he thinks about purpose.

As a U.S. Navy veteran and former Hospital Corpsman, his leadership is grounded in service, discipline, and people. And in this conversation, he challenges a common pattern in leadership:

We move too fast to solutions… without ever asking the deeper question—why.

We talk about how profit can quietly become the driving force behind decisions—and how, over time, that disconnects organizations from their purpose, their people, and their impact.

Because the issue usually isn’t what we’re doing.

It’s that we haven’t gone deep enough to understand why we’re doing it.

This is a conversation for leaders who want to build something that lasts—not just something that performs.

Because profit should never outweigh purpose. And transformation only happens when we’re willing to go deeper.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background of the Podcast 00:57 Chris introduces Brian and the focus on transformation 01:56 Brian's background in higher education and leadership 03:59 The significance of purpose in organizational change 07:04 The analogy of art and understanding the 'why' 14:09 Creating purpose-driven teams and organizations 20:03 Digging deeper: The importance of asking 'why' 29:04 The role of process in reinforcing purpose 37:10 Decision-making guided by purpose 44:01 Staying committed to purpose during challenges 49:45 The deeper 'why' that pulls us forward 55:11 Practical takeaways for leaders and organizations

What does tattooing have to do with purpose?

More than we think.

In a lot of indigenous cultures, tattoos weren’t just something you chose—they reflected how you lived. Your identity. Your story. Your responsibility.

In this episode, I sit down with Kiko San Diego, a traditional Filipino tattoo practitioner and co-founder of Tribal Korner.

Kiko carries forward ancestral practices like batok, and the way he talks about his work—it’s not just art. It’s something deeper. Something intentional.

This conversation isn’t really about tattoos.

It’s about what it means to live a life marked by purpose.

Because long before we defined ourselves by titles or achievements, there were other ways of carrying meaning— ways that connected people to who they were and how they were meant to live.

Welcome to Beneath the Transaction.

As you listen, I’d invite you to lean into this idea— to ask yourself:

What is my purpose? And what would it look like to live it… in a way that’s marked on my heart every day?

If this resonates with you, we’d love for you to follow the show, share it with someone you care about, and keep having these conversations in your own life.

Grateful for Kiko and the work he’s doing to carry this tradition forward. Go check him out and follow along at @tribal.korner

Thanks for being here. Salamat Po.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Indigenous Tattooing 03:09 Kiko's Journey into Traditional Tattooing 10:37 Cultural Revival and Connection to Ancestry 21:14 Tattooing as a Sacred Responsibility 29:07 Purpose and Transformation through Tattooing 29:34 The Significance of Indigenous Tattooing 32:12 Intention Behind Markings 37:24 Living with Purpose and Ancestry 43:36 Transformative Power of Markings 48:41 Advice for Living Beneath the Transaction

In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, Chris sits down with Arthur Soriano, a researcher exploring the Philippine and Austronesian past, present, and future.

Together, they explore what modern leadership can learn from indigenous culture—long before systems, titles, and metrics defined how we lead today.

Arthur shares insights into pre-colonial Filipino life, from systems of governance and community to the values that shaped identity, belonging, and purpose. Through oral history, cultural memory, and research, the conversation uncovers a deeper way of understanding leadership—one rooted not in control or performance, but in relationship, responsibility, and shared identity.

But this conversation isn’t just about history.

It’s about what we’ve forgotten—and what we can reclaim.

Because many of the answers we’re searching for in leadership today have existed long before us.

And sometimes, the way forward requires us to look back.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Indigenous Connections 02:47 The Journey into Pre-Colonial History 05:16 The Importance of Oral History 07:48 Personal Pursuits and Cultural Identity 10:22 Discovering Ancestral Connections 12:53 Genetic Links and Austronesian Identity 15:12 Colonial Impact on Filipino Identity 17:40 Pride in Pre-Colonial Governance 20:14 Cultural Resilience and Historical Amnesia 32:43 The Loss of Knowledge and Cultural Hierarchies 34:25 Colonization and Its Impact on Indigenous Cultures 37:01 Warfare and Respect in Indigenous Societies 39:19 The Abundance of Life in Pre-Colonial Philippines 42:19 Pride in Heritage and Cultural Identity 46:35 Bridging Cultures: Lessons from Ancestry 50:06 The Importance of Ancestral Knowledge for Modern Living

In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, Chris sits down with Ben Fielder, Vice President at NCF Michigan, to explore how giving can move from transactional to transformational.

Ben has spent his career walking alongside individuals and families, helping them steward what they’ve been entrusted with and discover a deeper sense of purpose in how they live and give. With a background in church stewardship, higher education, and relationship-driven philanthropy, Ben brings a thoughtful and grounded perspective on generosity, identity, and legacy.

Together, Chris and Ben explore the connection between purpose and generosity, and how the way we give is often a reflection of who we are becoming. They talk about the importance of living intentionally, the role of faith and identity in shaping our decisions, and why community is essential for creating meaningful, lasting impact.

At its core, this conversation is about more than giving.

It’s about learning to live with purpose in the present— and allowing that purpose to shape how we invest in others.

Because when giving becomes an expression of who we are, it moves beyond transaction… and into transformation.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Transformation 07:05 The Transactional Nature of Philanthropy 13:02 Discovering Meaning and Identity 19:39 The Role of Generosity in Personal Fulfillment 27:51 Navigating Frugality and Faith 34:45 Understanding Collective Identity and Future 46:54 Transforming Philanthropy Through Purpose

In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, Chris sits down with Vanessa Plant, Executive Director of the Alku Foundation and an experienced leader in Boston’s nonprofit and philanthropic space.

Vanessa has spent her career helping organizations move beyond traditional, transactional approaches to fundraising and into more relational, trust-based models of giving. Her work centers on building authentic partnerships, strengthening organizational culture, and creating lasting community impact.

Together, Chris and Vanessa explore what it looks like to move beneath the transaction in philanthropy—shifting from control and metrics to trust, relationship, and shared purpose. They discuss the principles of trust-based philanthropy, the role culture plays in nonprofit effectiveness, and why meaningful impact begins with how we choose to relate to the people we serve and support.

At its core, this conversation is about more than giving. It’s about the kind of leadership required to build trust, foster connection, and create change that lasts.

Because when philanthropy becomes relational, impact becomes transformational.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Beneath the Transaction Podcast 01:45 Exploring Philanthropy: Intent vs. Transaction 04:19 Historical Context of Philanthropy 09:04 The Transactional Nature of Fundraising 12:05 Trust-Based Philanthropy: A New Approach 18:29 Power Dynamics and Fears in Philanthropy 25:36 Helping Organizations Find Their Own Answers 30:13 The Importance of Culture in Nonprofits 33:35 Investing in Culture and Human Connection 39:12 The Importance of Employee Retention and Culture 41:09 The Soil of Organizations: Culture vs. Outcomes 46:41 Building Authentic Relationships in Philanthropy 51:00 Leveraging Influence Capital for Community Impact 55:25 The Power of In-Person Connections 01:01:05 Authenticity as a Key to Meaningful Relationships