In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Andrea Mohamed, co-founder of Quantum Bloom, to explore what it really takes to build a career, and a company, on your own terms.

From boldly quitting her boss (but not the company) to helping early-career women in STEM navigate systems that weren’t built for them, Andrea shares personal stories and powerful insights on how to lead with courage, clarity, and self-worth. Together, Alyssa and Andrea unpack why women are still waiting to be chosen...and how to stop doing that.

Key Takeaways:

Don’t wait to be picked...own your power. Agency starts when you stop asking for permission.

Courage is contagious. Speaking up and advocating for yourself inspires others to do the same.

True progress means making it easier for those who come next. Leadership means opening doors, not guarding them.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:17 Andrea's Origin Story
03:39 Bold Moves and Career Challenges
05:44 Empowering Women in STEM
16:40 Future of Work and Final Thoughts

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

What if the key to better leadership isn’t another tool or framework, but your own nervous system? In this episode of Taking Back Monday, Natalie Alesi unpacks the science behind heart-brain coherence and how leaders can use it to build trust, reduce stress, and create more connected, high-performing teams. We talk about neuroscience in plain English, why consistency matters more than charisma, and how intuitive intelligence can be a strategic advantage in today’s remote world. Whether you're leading a global team or just trying to show up better for the people around you, this conversation will make you think differently about what leadership really requires.

Key Takeaways:

→ The science behind “heart-brain coherence” and why it matters at work
→ How to build trust in a remote, distracted world
→ Why stress isn’t just a feeling, it’s a barrier to innovation and performance

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:18 Natalie's Origin Story
02:26 Discovering Heart Brain Coherence
03:25 Mind-Body Connection in Leadership
07:26 Building Trust and Authentic Connections
09:42 Remote Work Challenges and Solutions
12:07 Techniques for Heart Brain Coherence
15:44 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership
18:42 Neuroscience and Business Success
25:23 Influential Figures and Resources
27:10 Conclusion and Contact Information

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

What if your customer growth problem isn’t a product issue but a people one?

In this episode, Alyssa Nolte sits down with leadership strategist Charles Browne to unpack why so many organizations chase the wrong customers, build bloated offerings, and burn out their best people in the process. From his early days in martial arts and the Navy’s nuclear program to leading transformational change at Los Alamos, Charles shares how clarity, consistency, and personal values are the real accelerators of growth.

They explore why high-performing teams start with empowered individuals, how to build trust through decision-making frameworks, and what happens when companies forget their core value proposition.

If you’ve ever added more features to justify your price, or overloaded your customers with choices, you need to hear this.

Key Takeaways:

→ Stop jumping to solutions. If you don’t define the real problem, even your best ideas won’t fix it.
→ Empowered teams and clear values create scalable momentum; micromanagement kills it.
→ Your customers don’t want more options...they want clarity, confidence, and connection.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Charles
00:07 Charles' Origin Story
02:16 Current Roles and Responsibilities
03:39 Common Blind Spots in Leadership
06:57 Defining Leadership Roles
08:50 Customer-Centric Strategies
11:53 Personal Values and Leadership
16:24 Core Values in Organizations
19:29 Micromanagement and Organizational Values
19:42 Customer, Product, and Operations Focus
20:30 Southwest Airlines: A Case Study in Values
22:06 The Importance of Consistency in Leadership
25:33 Aligning Personal and Professional Values
28:40 Serving the Customer with Integrity
30:37 Identifying and Serving Your Ideal Customer
34:26 Final Thoughts and Resources

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod