What does it take to lead with impact in spaces where women are still the minority?

In this episode of Making Maverick Moves, Gina L. Osborn shares her insights from the Global Women in Tech Conference and her own journey through the U.S. Army, the FBI, and LA Metro. From breaking down self-imposed barriers to commanding a room with confidence, Gina unpacks the lessons she’s learned about thriving in male-dominated fields, and how you can apply them too.

Through her Maverick Moves framework, Gina offers practical tools and inspiring stories to help you:

• Command the Scene – show up authentically and own your presence

• Rewire the Code – shift limiting beliefs and rewrite your narrative

• Be Ready to Roll – prepare yourself to lead boldly, even in the toughest situations

If you’ve ever wondered how to rise, lead, and thrive when the odds feel stacked against you, this episode will give you both the motivation and the roadmap.

🎧 Tune in for real-world strategies, empowering takeaways, and the reminder that the boldest move you can make is to lead as yourself.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction to Maverick Moves
00:55 – Gina's Career Journey
01:43 – Challenges in Male-Dominated Fields
02:41 – Overcoming Internal Barriers
03:24 – The Cyber Leadership Story
09:01 – Maverick Moves for Success
09:15 – Command the Scene
11:09 – Rewire the Code
12:35 – Be Ready to Roll
14:27 – Conclusion and Call to Action

Gina L. Osborn is a retired FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Army counterintelligence veteran, former Chief Safety & Security Officer for LA Metro, keynote speaker, and host of Making Maverick Moves. She helps leaders navigate chaos, crisis, and change with courage and clarity.

Follow Gina: www.ginalosborn.com | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube (@MakingMaverickMoves)

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Follow Rosslyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosslyn-cooper-31754077/

What happens when you leave everything behind—your home, your career, your comfort zone—for the unknown? Rosslyn Cooper did just that, moving from Australia to the U.S., taking a 42% pay cut, and stepping into tech leadership with no tech background. In this episode of Making Maverick Moves with Gina L. Osborne, Rosslyn shares her fearless mantra—say yes before you think you’re ready—and how it transformed her career and life. From navigating imposter syndrome and leading global digital transformation to embracing authenticity and mentoring future leaders, Rosslyn’s journey is a masterclass in courage, adaptability, and heart-led leadership. Whether you’re looking to make your own bold move, lead authentically, or simply get inspired by a story of grit and growth, this conversation will challenge you to step through the door—even when you don’t feel ready.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Rosslyn’s bold leap: moving from Australia, pay cut, and no tech background

02:05 – Saying yes before you’re ready: from executive assistant to lifelong mantra

03:36 – The “upper limit problem” and overcoming self-imposed boundaries

05:16 – Facing doubts, embracing resilience, and lessons from her South African upbringing

08:13 – Rising to global leadership without a tech background

11:41 – Heart-led leadership: people first, balance, and authenticity

15:54 – Mentorship, empowering others, and building legacy

20:04 – Problem-solving as a leadership superpower

24:30 – Communicating complex systems simply and driving global buy-in

30:28 – The art of pivoting: turning setbacks into opportunities

35:10 – Lightning round: breaking leadership rules, empathy, and emotional control

40:14 – Rosslyn’s proudest Maverick Move & final message: Say yes now, get ready later

Follow Gina: https://www.instagram.com/ginalosborn/

Follow Helen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clearpathhelen

Helen Lao, a first-generation American, left a secure HR career to build Clear Path Solutions, one of the top executive search firms in the U.S. In this conversation, she shares her journey from selling tires to leading a national team, her philosophy of relationships over transactions, and the bold risks that shaped her success.

Timestamps:

00:01 – Betting on herself: founding Clear Path Solutions

01:31 – Growing up first-generation, language barriers & resilience

02:49 – Expectations, being the “black sheep,” and work ethic

04:22 – Selling tires as the only woman in the room—becoming top salesperson

05:10 – Transition to recruiting and early HR career

06:39 – Quitting a stable HR role (with 4 kids) to start a firm from scratch

09:30 – Early struggles: $700 split payroll and hand-written checks

10:39 – Matchmaking philosophy: cultural fit over job titles

14:47 – Leadership traits of top CEOs & listening as a superpower

24:58 – Saying “no” to clients: living from abundance, not scarcity

38:17 – Boldest move: walking away from stability into entrepreneurship

45:20 – Advice to women leaders: unlearn silence, speak boldly

Follow Gina: https://www.instagram.com/ginalosborn/

Follow Suzy: https://www.instagram.com/itssuzycrawford/

In this episode of Making Maverick Moves, Suzy Crawford shares how she walked away from an 8-year career at Google to launch Crawford Marketing, build a thriving coaching program, and teach entrepreneurs the real power of personal branding. From cleaning up your online image to gaining audience trust in the AI era, Suzy offers raw, actionable advice for anyone ready to make their own maverick move.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Suzy Crawford: From Google to marketing agency founder

01:42 – Why your personal brand is your “digital currency” in 2025

03:03 – The dark side of branding: when past social posts come back to haunt you

04:17 – Audience-first content: posting what they want, not what you want

05:21 – Trust in the AI era: how real engagement builds loyalty

10:32 – The corporate shakeup that pushed Suzy to finally leave Google

12:14 – Landing a $100M case study from a cold email

13:17 – Inside Suzy's Freelancer to CEO program

15:12 – Thought leadership through originality and vulnerability

23:29 – Why marketers must embrace AI to stay ahead

Follow Gina: https://www.instagram.com/ginalosborn/

Follow Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-l-goodman-14279580/

What if your greatest pain became your purpose?

Eric Goodman, 2024 Orange County Philanthropist of the Year, shares his unbelievable journey from being immobilized in a full-body cast at age 15 to becoming the CEO of a company serving 3,500 people with disabilities every month. In this powerful conversation, Eric opens up about overcoming severe spinal issues, launching multiple companies, battling depression and dyslexia, and how his mindset and faith shaped it all. This episode is a masterclass in authentic leadership, resilience, and the power of service. If you’re feeling stuck, Eric’s motto says it all: “Serve.”

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: From challenge to calling

01:42 – The surgery that changed everything

03:21 – Developing empathy through pain

04:41 – Turning disability into purpose

05:07 – How Eric scaled Mountain View Services

07:23 – Writing What’s Your Mindset?

11:52 – Choosing positivity daily

15:59 – The weight of leadership and workplace culture

18:56 – A cousin’s suicide and the impact of toxic leadership

31:50 – Giving back through business resources, not just checks

33:18 – Launching a mental health initiative for CEOs

36:53 – Leadership lessons & setting boundaries

40:02 – A powerful tribute to his parents

44:02 – Advice to parents and kids dealing with disabilities

45:38 – Final mindset advice: Use your difference as your superpower

46:23 – Outro

Follow Gina: https://www.instagram.com/ginalosborn/

Follow Winnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/winnie-da-silva-1b8414/

In this episode of Making Maverick Moves, host Gina Osborne sits down with Winnie Da Silva, who shares her transformative journey—from creating an alter ego and using neuroscientific visualization techniques to challenging internal stories and embracing uncertainty. You don’t need permission to lead like a boss. You just need courage, creativity, and the willingness to start—even before you're ready.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Introduction: rewriting the rules and making bold maverick moves

01:43 — Transitioning from social work to corporate consulting at Arthur Andersen

03:55 — Applying social work insights to executive leadership and stakeholder ecosystems

09:42 — Building confidence using an alter ego (“Winnie the Consultant”) and visualization

11:51 — Differentiating imposter syndrome from unfamiliarity in new roles

15:34 — Identifying and reframing limiting stories about yourself, others, and culture

31:34 — Implementing feedback systems (check-ins, peer exchange, 360 reviews) to surface blind spots

41:58 — When strengths become blind spots: why leaders must evolve their style

49:25 — Building leadership through authentic relationships and empowering others

51:00 — How to make a maverick move: planting seeds, flexing courage, and accepting learning through failure

1:03:42 — Insights from immigrant entrepreneurs: adaptation, resilience, and identity

1:06:16 — What distinguishes a great leader from a poor one: self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and authenticity

Follow Gina: https://www.instagram.com/ginalosborn/

Follow Wing: https://www.instagram.com/wahooswing/

What happens when you leave a high-tech aerospace career working on the Star Wars defense program to open a taco joint for surfers? Wing Lam, co-founder of Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, shares his inspiring journey of taking risks, embracing authenticity, and building one of California’s most iconic lifestyle brands.

In this episode of Making Maverick Moves, Wing reveals how he turned a simple idea into a cultural movement by aligning with the surf and skate community, empowering his team, and leading with purpose. He also discusses lessons in leadership, resilience during COVID-19, and why creativity and community will always win in business.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Wing Lam: From aerospace to tacos

01:34 – Fitting in vs. standing out: the power of authenticity

04:48 – Why Wing quit aerospace after a single conversation

06:41 – How surfing inspired the birth of Wahoo’s Fish Tacos

08:23 – Partnering with Billabong & the surf community

11:10 – Business relationships: loyalty, transparency & trust

14:10 – Building a team culture of respect and legacy

15:31 – Sponsoring surf events & athletes: authentic marketing

21:49 – Wing’s leadership style: empowering people to own their work

24:19 – California Love Drop: pivoting to philanthropy during COVID-19

31:40 – Why creativity & community matter more than ever in the age of AI

38:00 – Authenticity, healthy food, and creating a lifestyle brand

42:10 – Wing’s inspiration today & leaving a legacy of impact