In this episode of The Steward Chair, Maria Thacker Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences, shares her journey of transitioning from a dedicated "number two" to leading a massive ecosystem through a global pandemic. We explore how a commitment to mission and the guidance of mentors drives meaningful, long-term success even when the original plan is upended.

We discuss the critical role of a connector in the life sciences sector, the importance of "work-life harmony" over balance, and why true stewardship means preparing the next generation to lead. This conversation provides actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways
Purpose Over Tactics: In times of crisis, your "North Star" must be your organizational purpose, allowing your tactics to remain nimble and adaptive.
The Responsibility of Mentorship: Leadership is a societal responsibility; investing time in the next generation is essential because no leader is "here forever".
Embracing "Ready Enough": You don’t have to feel fully ready to step into a leadership seat; surrounding yourself with a community that believes in you is the key to moving forward through fear.

Resources Mentioned
Visit https://www.galifesciences.org/
Follow Maria on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariathacker/
Join the Georgia Life Sciences mailing list at: https://www.galifesciences.org/join-the-mailing-list 

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn @ChatWithLeaders.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Maria Thacker Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences, shares her journey of transitioning from a dedicated "number two" to leading a massive ecosystem through a global pandemic. We explore how a commitment to mission and the guidance of mentors drives meaningful, long-term success even when the original plan is upended.
We discuss the critical role of a connector in the life sciences sector, the importance of "work-life harmony" over balance, and why true stewardship means preparing the next generation to lead. This conversation provides actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.
Key Takeaways
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Purpose Over Tactics: In times of crisis, your "North Star" must be your organizational purpose, allowing your tactics to remain nimble and adaptive.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The Responsibility of Mentorship: Leadership is a societal responsibility; investing time in the next generation is essential because no leader is "here forever".</li>
<li aria-level="1">Embracing "Ready Enough": You don&rsquo;t have to feel fully ready to step into a leadership seat; surrounding yourself with a community that believes in you is the key to moving forward through fear.</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Visit <a href="https://www.galifesciences.org/">https://www.galifesciences.org/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Maria on LinkedIn at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariathacker/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariathacker/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Join the Georgia Life Sciences mailing list at: <a href="https://www.galifesciences.org/join-the-mailing-list">https://www.galifesciences.org/join-the-mailing-list</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Join the Conversation The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn @ChatWithLeaders.
Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit <a href="https://chatwithleaders.com">ChatWithLeaders.com</a> to learn more about how we can help.

The Steward Chair is a podcast that explores business leadership as stewardship – the responsibility of guiding organizations, people, and industries with integrity, long-term thinking, and a commitment to doing good while doing well.

Through deep, candid conversations with CEOs, Presidents and Founders that have stood the test of time, we unpack the challenges, decisions, and strategies that define values-driven leadership. This is a space for leaders who recognize that success is about more than personal achievement – it’s about leaving a lasting, positive impact on their organizations and communities.

Each episode provides real-world insights on how to navigate key business decisions while maintaining ethical integrity, long-term sustainability, and a legacy-driven mindset.

This show is produced in collaboration between Chat With Leaders Media and End of the Line Productions. 

The Steward Chair is a podcast that explores business leadership as stewardship &ndash; the responsibility of guiding organizations, people, and industries with integrity, long-term thinking, and a commitment to doing good while doing well.
Through deep, candid conversations with CEOs, Presidents and Founders that have stood the test of time, we unpack the challenges, decisions, and strategies that define values-driven leadership. This is a space for leaders who recognize that success is about more than personal achievement &ndash; it&rsquo;s&nbsp;about leaving a lasting, positive impact on their organizations and communities.
Each episode provides real-world insights on how to navigate key business decisions while maintaining ethical integrity, long-term sustainability, and a legacy-driven mindset.
This show is produced in collaboration between <a href="https://chatwithleaders.com/">Chat With Leaders Media</a> and <a href="https://www.eotlproductions.com/">End of the Line Productions</a>.&nbsp;

The Steward Chair is a podcast that explores leadership as stewardship—the responsibility of guiding organizations, people, and industries with integrity, long-term thinking, and a commitment to doing good while doing well.

The Steward Chair

In a world defined by disconnection, human connection is your most powerful asset in building companies that last. At Chat With Leaders Media, we're dedicated to helping you unlock that power by delivering actionable insights from leaders who are leveraging business as a force for good.

Through our podcasts – The Steward Chair, The People Experience Pulse, and B The Change Georgia – we cut through the noise to bring you candid, real-world strategies for building a better business. We explore what it takes to elevate people, grow your business with integrity, and build a legacy that goes beyond the bottom line.

This isn't just about inspiration; it's about giving you the tools to elevate your influence and make a tangible impact on your organization and the world.

In a world defined by disconnection, human connection is your most powerful asset in building companies that last. At Chat With Leaders Media, we're dedicated to helping you unlock that power by delivering actionable insights from leaders who are leveraging business as a force for good.
Through our podcasts &ndash; The Steward Chair, The People Experience Pulse, and B The Change Georgia &ndash; we cut through the noise to bring you candid, real-world strategies for building a better business. We explore what it takes to elevate people, grow your business with integrity, and build a legacy that goes beyond the bottom line.
This isn't just about inspiration; it's about giving you the tools to elevate your influence and make a tangible impact on your organization and the world.

Chat With Leaders Media

Maria Thacker Goethe

In today’s episode, Nathan Stuck sits down with J. Dontrese Brown, Founder and CEO of BROWNBAYLOR™, to unpack what he is doing to reimagine leadership through the lens of purpose, courage, and justice.

 

Dontrese is a creative strategist who "fell into" a deeper calling of community and civic leadership after realizing that corporate notoriety wasn't enough to satisfy his "Why." He is on a relentless pursuit to help others maximize their potential.

 

Nathan and Dontrese explore the concept of Audacious Confidence—the unshakable belief that every action we take creates a ripple effect for future generations. Dontrese also gives us a sneak peek into his upcoming book, Build for Justice, which serves as a call to action for leaders to lead with both their minds and their hearts.

 

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE
Visit https://www.brownbaylor.com/
Visit https://www.hiddeninplainsite.org/ to explore hidden history and sites important to the experience of historically underrepresented groups
Follow Dontrese on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdontresebrown/ 
Learn more about B Local Georgia at https://blocalgeorgia.com/

 

CREDITS
Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

In today&rsquo;s episode, Nathan Stuck sits down with J. Dontrese Brown, Founder and CEO of BROWNBAYLOR&trade;, to unpack what he is doing to reimagine leadership through the lens of purpose, courage, and justice.
&nbsp;
Dontrese is a creative strategist who "fell into" a deeper calling of community and civic leadership after realizing that corporate notoriety wasn't enough to satisfy his "Why." He is on a relentless pursuit to help others maximize their potential.
&nbsp;
Nathan and Dontrese explore the concept of Audacious Confidence&mdash;the unshakable belief that every action we take creates a ripple effect for future generations. Dontrese also gives us a sneak peek into his upcoming book, Build for Justice, which serves as a call to action for leaders to lead with both their minds and their hearts.
&nbsp;
RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Visit <a href="https://www.brownbaylor.com/">https://www.brownbaylor.com/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Visit <a href="https://www.hiddeninplainsite.org/">https://www.hiddeninplainsite.org/</a> to explore hidden history and sites important to the experience of historically underrepresented groups</li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Dontrese on LinkedIn at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdontresebrown/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdontresebrown/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Learn more about B Local Georgia at https://blocalgeorgia.com/</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
CREDITS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Theme Music🎵<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/zakharvalaha-22836301/?tab=audio&amp;utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=audio&amp;utm_content=9968">ZakharValaha</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=music&amp;utm_content=9968">Pixabay</a></li>
<li>Produced by <a href="https://chatwithleaders.com">ChatWithLeadersMedia.com</a></li>
</ul>

Audacious Confidence: Building for Justice in Business and Community

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Jared Meyers, Founder & CEO of andCo, shares his journey of aligning personal values with professional leadership, exploring how authenticity in business drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the often-overlooked emotional costs of inauthentic leadership, why financial outcomes alone are an incomplete measure of success, and how balancing personal identity with professional responsibility leads to healthier leaders and more resilient organizations.

Key Takeaways
When leaders act differently in business than they do in life, there is an emotional cost that impacts well-being and fulfillment.
Authenticity at work restores energy, clarity, and purpose, leading to stronger leadership and healthier cultures.
True stewardship requires balancing personal identity with professional responsibility, not separating the two.

Resources Mentioned
Follow Jared Meyers on social media at
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-meyers/
Follow andCo 
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/andcohospitality/

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn @ChatWithLeaders.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Jared Meyers, Founder &amp; CEO of andCo, shares his journey of aligning personal values with professional leadership, exploring how authenticity in business drives meaningful, long-term success.
We discuss the often-overlooked emotional costs of inauthentic leadership, why financial outcomes alone are an incomplete measure of success, and how balancing personal identity with professional responsibility leads to healthier leaders and more resilient organizations.
Key Takeaways
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">When leaders act differently in business than they do in life, there is an emotional cost that impacts well-being and fulfillment.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Authenticity at work restores energy, clarity, and purpose, leading to stronger leadership and healthier cultures.</li>
<li aria-level="1">True stewardship requires balancing personal identity with professional responsibility, not separating the two.</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Jared Meyers on social media at</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2">LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-meyers/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-meyers/</a></li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="1">Follow andCo&nbsp;</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2">LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/andcohospitality/</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Join the Conversation The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn @ChatWithLeaders.
Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit <a href="https://chatwithleaders.com">ChatWithLeaders.com</a> to learn more about how we can help.

Jared Meyers

How do you build a business that scales its impact without running its leader into the ground? 

In today’s episode, Nathan Stuck sits down with Peter Georgariou, Founder and CEO of KarmaDharma, to unpack what he is doing to build a "Deloitte for do-gooders" while maintaining a raw, human approach to leadership. Peter is a social purpose entrepreneur based in Ottawa who helps organizations strengthen their strategy and culture through internal alignment that holds up under pressure.

Nathan and Peter explore the "sobering" side of social impact work—the burnout and anxiety that often hide behind the facade of purpose—and why building a profitable, sustainable bottom line is the strongest form of advocacy for the B Corp movement. Peter shares his personal journey through a high-stakes corporate career in radio to founding a mission-driven agency that prioritizes human connection over "formulaic" leadership.

 

In this episode, you will learn:
Why the "B" in B Corp shouldn't be a taboo word and the importance of capitalist acumen in driving social good.
How to lead teams with radical trust, including Peter's experience with unlimited time-off policies and "dormant" seasons for human performance.
Practical ways to activate the B Corp community by intentionally choosing values-aligned suppliers.
Peter’s "inside out" approach to leadership, navigating a cancer scare, and learning to lead with more trust and less control.

 

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE
Visit karmadharma.co 
Follow Peter on LinkedIn: Peter Georgariou https://www.linkedin.com/in/petergeorgariou/ 
Learn more about B Local Georgia https://blocalgeorgia.com/ 

 

CREDITS
Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

How do you build a business that scales its impact without running its leader into the ground?&nbsp;
In today&rsquo;s episode, Nathan Stuck sits down with Peter Georgariou, Founder and CEO of KarmaDharma, to unpack what he is doing to build a "Deloitte for do-gooders" while maintaining a raw, human approach to leadership. Peter is a social purpose entrepreneur based in Ottawa who helps organizations strengthen their strategy and culture through internal alignment that holds up under pressure.
Nathan and Peter explore the "sobering" side of social impact work&mdash;the burnout and anxiety that often hide behind the facade of purpose&mdash;and why building a profitable, sustainable bottom line is the strongest form of advocacy for the B Corp movement. Peter shares his personal journey through a high-stakes corporate career in radio to founding a mission-driven agency that prioritizes human connection over "formulaic" leadership.
&nbsp;
In this episode, you will learn:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why the "B" in B Corp shouldn't be a taboo word and the importance of capitalist acumen in driving social good.</li>
<li aria-level="1">How to lead teams with radical trust, including Peter's experience with unlimited time-off policies and "dormant" seasons for human performance.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Practical ways to activate the B Corp community by intentionally choosing values-aligned suppliers.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Peter&rsquo;s "inside out" approach to leadership, navigating a cancer scare, and learning to lead with more trust and less control.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Visit <a href="http://karmadharma.co">karmadharma.co</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Peter on LinkedIn: Peter Georgariou <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/petergeorgariou/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/petergeorgariou/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Learn more about B Local Georgia <a href="https://blocalgeorgia.com/">https://blocalgeorgia.com/</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
CREDITS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Theme Music🎵<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/zakharvalaha-22836301/?tab=audio&amp;utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=audio&amp;utm_content=9968">ZakharValaha</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=music&amp;utm_content=9968">Pixabay</a></li>
<li>Produced by <a href="https://chatwithleaders.com">ChatWithLeadersMedia.com</a></li>
</ul>

Maria Thacker Goethe

The Steward Chair

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