In this episode of What’s Next with Lacey, Lacey sits down with the brilliant Michelle Griffin—CEO, founder, and all-around HR powerhouse behind Griffin Resources.

Michelle helps small- and medium-sized businesses tackle the big HR stuff (think: building the right team, navigating mergers, and surviving layoffs with sanity intact). In this conversation, she spills on her journey from industrial-organizational psychology to HR executive to full-on entrepreneur, plus what it really takes to run a multi-entity business.

We get into the highs, the hard parts, and the behind-the-scenes realities of building a company—along with Michelle’s best advice on scaling a business, creating strong client relationships, and fostering a workplace culture people actually want to be part of.

Whether you’re dreaming about starting your own business, already deep in the HR world, or just love hearing how smart women make big moves, this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and inspiration.

Trust me—you don’t want to miss this one.

00:00 Welcome to What's Next with Lacey

00:15 Introducing Michelle Griffin: CEO of Griffin Resources

00:51 Michelle's Journey to CEO

01:59 The Role and Growth of Griffin Resources

05:07 Operational Insights and Team Management

07:14 Balancing Client Work and Internal Operations

21:16 Challenges and Surprises in Running a Business

25:31 Reflecting on Success and Future Goals

33:20 Michelle's Early Career and Transition to HR

34:45 Struggles in Human Behavioral Research

35:07 Transition to IO Psychology and HR

36:01 First HR Job at ConnectWise

36:19 Challenges and Growth in HR

37:33 Starting a Business and Pursuing a PhD

38:39 Impact of Higher Education on Career

40:06 Research Skills and Legal Knowledge

41:45 Importance of Employee Happiness

43:42 Pursuing a PhD: Personal and Professional Motivations

46:51 Research on Reverse Knowledge Transfer

48:24 Experience in Auto Theft Adjustment and Insurance

53:19 Best Career Advice Received

59:48 Advice for Entrepreneurs and HR Professionals

01:03:35 Future Plans and Travel Goals

This week on What’s Next? with Lacey, Lacey interviews Josh Simons, CEO of Vinyl Group, an Australia-based music tech company that’s shaping the future of the music industry. Vinyl Group is home to a range of platforms that support artists and music professionals in meaningful ways—from publishing and data to connecting creatives and selling records. Josh also co-founded Vampr, one of the group’s standout platforms, before later stepping into the CEO role for the company as a whole.

In this episode, Josh shares his entrepreneurial journey and offers an honest look at what it really takes to build companies, take risks, and lead in a fast-moving industry. From behind-the-scenes lessons to thoughtful career advice, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.

If you’re thinking about starting your own business, dreaming of becoming a CEO one day, or simply looking for an uplifting and motivating story, this episode is for you.

In this episode of What’s Next with Lacey, Lacey is joined by the incredible Kristen Buckles—writer, director, and producer with one seriously fascinating career path. From professional horseback rider (yes, really 🐎) to working behind the scenes in film and TV, Buckles shares how she made the leap from producing to writing and directing her own projects.

They talk about what it actually takes to make it in the entertainment industry, a rom-com she wrote that is currently in the works, her upcoming feature film Mother, and so so much more.

Along the way, Buckles drops honest, practical, and genuinely inspiring advice for creatives—on persistence, trusting yourself, getting better at your craft, and finding joy even when the journey feels messy.

If you’re navigating a career change, working in (or dreaming about) film and TV, or just need a reminder that you don’t have to have it all figured out—this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:48 Introducing the Guest: Buckles

01:58 Buckles' Career Journey

03:03 Current Projects and Future Plans

09:50 Daily Life of a Filmmaker

12:31 Navigating the Film Industry

19:54 Personal Reflections and Challenges

20:31 Directing and On-Set Experiences

31:14 Living and Working in Different Cities

34:30 Finding Happiness in Your Environment

34:57 Starting a Podcast: The Journey and Motivation

35:54 Manifestation and Personal Growth

37:34 Navigating Jealousy and Envy

39:51 The Role of Community and Networking

43:10 Entering the Entertainment Industry

48:19 Transitioning from Acting to Directing

58:33 Advice for Aspiring Creatives

01:06:45 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts

Welcome to Season 3 of What's Next? with Lacey! And we’re kicking it off with the world of Music Marketing.

In this episode, Lacey sits down with Alexa, who currently works as the Director of Marketing at Cinq, for a deep dive into the world of music marketing, creative storytelling, and career growth in the media industry. Alexa breaks down what her role really looks like, how she designs campaigns that actually tell a story, and the path that took her from her college hustle to leading major marketing initiatives.

Alexa got her start the way many of us do in the entertainment industry—juggling internships, building connections, and leveraging every skill she had to climb the ladder. She shares the behind-the-scenes of working in strategic partnerships, gaming marketing, and building a career that blends creativity, storytelling, data analysis and business.

And because transparency is everything, Lacey and Alexa also share their stories of something very relatable: the struggle of dealing with unemployment in the entertainment industry and the challenge of getting your foot (or… getting it back) in the door. Their conversation digs into resilience, reinvention, the help you can get from your community and what it really takes to stand out in today’s competitive employment landscape.

Of course, before the episode ends, Alexa shares her best career advice for anyone trying to break into the field—so if you're building a career from the ground up or making a comeback, this is your new favorite episode.

In this episode of What’s Next? with Lacey, Lacey sits down with a friend from London, Maria. Maria is a dentist in England specializing in oral surgery, with a career path that has taken her across the country, into hospitals, and through some of the most competitive programs in her field.

Maria shares how she’s shaped a more “traditional” career path into something uniquely her own, fueled by passion and persistence. From navigating moves and selective opportunities to building a career in a demanding specialty, her story offers inspiration for anyone considering how to make their career fit their life — not the other way around.

(Quick note: the mic had a small glitch during this recording — but Maria’s insights more than make up for it!)

In this solo episode of What’s Next with Lacey, host Lacey dives into the real power of networking — and why it’s so much more than trading business cards or sending cold LinkedIn requests. She shares personal stories, including how a simple coffee chat led to an internship at The Tonight Show, and why she calls herself the “Queen of Networking.”

Listeners will hear why networking matters now more than ever, the role it plays in opening doors and building support systems, and how it can spark both personal and professional growth. Lacey also breaks down practical ways to start building a network today, tips for nurturing relationships, and how to overcome the common fears that hold people back.

Whether you’re shy, worried it feels “fake,” or simply unsure where to start, this episode will give you the encouragement and tools to see networking as something human, fun, and life-changing.

Credits:

Hosted and Produced by Lacey Dikkers

Art by Lacey Dikkers

Music by Organic Lo-Fi, PIxabay

On this episode of What’s Next? with Lacey, Lacey chats with Natalie, a Database Marketing Associate who takes us behind the scenes of her world. From what a “typical” day actually looks like, to how her role has shifted over time, Natalie shares the highs, the challenges, and the surprises of navigating her career path. It’s part career story, part real talk, and totally inspiring for anyone figuring out what’s next in their own journey.

In this episode of What’s Next?, host Lacey chats with Sean, a third-year Cardozo Law student whose path from pre-med to patent law is anything but ordinary. From navigating the grind of law school to working in healthcare during the chaos of COVID, Sean’s story is packed with curveballs, lessons, and a few laughs.

They get real about Law Review, why patent law excites him, and how music still plays a big role in his life—proof that you can chase multiple passions without losing your mind.

Listen in for:

• What law school is really like
• The leap from medicine to law (and why it worked)
• Why time management is the secret weapon
• Advice for making your own big career pivot

Whether you’re rethinking your future or just curious about the twists and turns of a life in progress, this episode’s for you.