What if the life you want isn’t something you find, but something you create?

In this special episode of The Virtual Campfire, Tony Martignetti explores one of the foundational lessons from his book, Campfire Lessons for Leaders: You have the power to create your world.

Through powerful moments from conversations with Amir Ghannad, Dorie Clark, and Effie Parks, we hear three very different stories about taking ownership of what comes next.

Amir Ghannad, founder of the Ghannad Group and author of The Transformative Leader, reflects on his early life in Iran and the experiences that shaped his belief in personal responsibility and our ability to create meaningful change. His story demonstrates how taking ownership of where we are can become the first step toward changing where we're going.

Bestselling author of Stand Out, speaker, and business thinker Dorie Clark shares the unconventional journey that took her from journalism and politics to entrepreneurship. Her many reinventions reveal what can happen when we stop allowing a single role, setback, or circumstance to define what is possible—and instead begin creating opportunities for ourselves.

Effie Parks, host of Once Upon a Gene and rare-disease advocate, shares the deeply personal journey that began with her son's diagnosis with CTNNB1 syndrome. Faced with a world she never expected to enter, Effie transformed uncertainty and isolation into connection, advocacy, and a community supporting families navigating rare disease.

Their circumstances couldn't be more different. But each story points toward the same powerful idea:

We may not get to choose everything that happens to us, but we can choose what we create from it.

• Why taking ownership is different from taking blame
• How our circumstances influence us without having to define us
• Why reinvention often begins when the expected path disappears
• How adversity can become the starting point for something meaningful
• The importance of seeing possibilities beyond your current situation
• What it means to become an active creator of your own life

This special series of The Virtual Campfire revisits powerful conversations from the show's archives through the lens of Tony Martignetti's book, Campfire Lessons for Leaders. Each episode brings together stories and insights from past guests to explore the lessons that help us lead, grow, and create meaningful change.

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Want to get to know Tony Martignetti, visit his website at tonymspeaks.com.

Meet Sara Schulting-Kranz, an authority in resiliency and leadership. After navigating profound personal betrayal, Sara transformed her trauma into purpose, developing an effective change framework centered on the healing power of nature. Discover how this best-selling author, extreme adventurer, and guide to Fortune 500 executives and Olympic athletes uses the Grand Canyon as a metaphor for navigating life’s deepest challenges and emerging as a powerful leader.

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Blog Post URL https://tonymspeaks.com/a-journey-to-resilience-and-leadership-through-nature-with-sara-schulting-kranz

Disruption is everywhere—but few truly understand how it actually works. In this episode, we sit down with Scott Anthony—Clinical Professor at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, Thinkers50-ranked global thought leader, and author of Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World—to explore the real story behind disruptive innovation. From his early days at Dartmouth College to working alongside Clayton Christensen, Scott shares the defining flashpoints that shaped his career, the importance of pursuing non-obvious opportunities, and the human behaviors behind breakthrough ideas. Through powerful stories—including insights on Julia Child—we unpack what it truly takes to navigate uncertainty, persist through challenges, and thrive in a world defined by constant change.

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Blog Post URL https://tonymspeaks.com/epic-disruptions-understanding-innovation-and-the-power-of-non-obvious-choices-with-scott-anthony

Meaningful work is the foundation of engagement, performance, and fulfillment—yet so many people feel disconnected from what they do. In this episode, speaker, author, and professor specializing in human flourishing at work, Tamara Myles, breaks down the science of meaningful work and explains why it’s not about the job itself, but how you experience it. You’ll learn how leaders influence nearly half of that experience and discover the three core drivers of meaningful work—community, contribution, and challenge—that shape thriving teams. From the power of belief and feedback to the hidden impact of loneliness and bore-out, this conversation offers practical ways to create meaningful work for yourself and others, no matter your role.

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Join us for an electrifying conversation with best-selling author and management guru Joe Pine, co-author of The Experience Economy and his latest, The Transformation Economy. Joe takes us through his fascinating journey from a technical role at IBM to pioneering the concept of staging experiences and, ultimately, guiding transformations. Discover the critical mindset shift required to move your business from selling services and experiences to fostering meaningful, life-changing outcomes for your customers—or, as Joe calls them, “aspirants.” Learn why “human flourishing” is the true raison d’être of business and how embracing intentionality and accountability can transform trauma and aspiration into a powerful force for good in the world.

True workplace culture transformation begins not with increased control, but with the radical act of letting go. Jessica Kriegel, Chief Strategy Officer at Culture Partners and author of Surrender to Lead, joins the show to share the “flashpoints” that redefined her leadership journey, from failing as a high-achieving executive at Oracle to finding emotional sobriety. She challenges the “work harder” muscle that often leads leaders into the “action trap,” offering instead a framework based on transparency, truth-telling, and leading with love. This conversation explores how surrendering the need for control allows leaders to foster psychological safety, navigate difficult transitions like mass layoffs with integrity, and drive sustainable business results by focusing on the beliefs that truly motivate human performance.

Hitting rock bottom should not be taken as a sign to give everything up, but as a catalyst to jump back stronger, bolder, and more empowered than ever. Tony Martignetti sits down with Perry Knoppert, who turned the lowest moment of his life into an inspiration to create a powerful global movement. He shares how months of homelessness pushed him to build The Octopus Movement, a community of over 11,000 “curious misfits” designed to champion human intelligence and the atypical mind. Discover how “Dr. Octopus” embraced non-linear thinking to keep his authentic self intact despite the rapid change of the world around him.

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Trailblazing women leaders face unique challenges and opportunities in biotech and beyond, and this conversation dives into what it truly takes to rise and make an impact. Dr. Sheila Gujrathi shares her journey from physician to biotech executive, highlighting the flashpoints that shaped her path, the courage required to break new ground, and the lessons learned navigating leadership as a woman of color. Dr. Gujrathi also discusses founding the Biotech CEO Sisterhood and the South Asian Biopharma Alliance, as well as her bestselling book The Mirror Effect, offering actionable strategies for building supportive networks, embracing authentic leadership, and fostering inclusive workplaces. This episode inspires reflection on purpose, growth, and the power of lifting others as we rise together.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.ipurposepartners.com/podcast