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A World of Difference

A World of Difference

By: Lori Adams-Brown
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 A World of Difference: Leadership, Culture & Travel Podcast Welcome to A World of Difference, a top 3% global podcast where authentic leadership meets cross-cultural wisdom. Host Lori Adams-Brown, a strategic transformation executive and multilingual global leader, brings you real conversations with bestselling authors, nonprofit changemakers, C-suite executives, and thought leaders who are redefining what it means to lead with purpose. This isn't surface-level leadership content. We dive deep into psychological safety in leadership, organizational culture transformation, differentiation strategies, global leadership development, and how cross-cultural communication shapes the future of work. Whether you're a CEO navigating organizational change, an HR leader building inclusive cultures, or a manager seeking authentic leadership skills, these conversations will challenge how you think and lead. From travel as cultural education to ethics in business to emotional intelligence for executives, each episode offers actionable insights for leaders who believe our differences make us stronger. If you're tired of cookie-cutter business podcasts and want meaningful conversations that bridge culture, society, and leadership, you're home. Pull up a seat at the table with us.© 2023 Lori Adams-Brown Art Economics Literary History & Criticism Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Unlocking Hidden Brilliance: How Neurodivergent Talent Is Transforming the Tech Workplace with CEO Tara May

    Unlocking Hidden Brilliance: How Neurodivergent Talent Is Transforming the Tech Workplace with CEO Tara May
    Feb 25 2026
    What if the key to innovation in your workplace isn't finding people who fit your culture, but transforming your culture to unlock brilliance that's been overlooked? Tara May, CEO of Aspiritech, has spent her career proving that when organizations create truly neuro-inclusive workplaces, everybody wins. In this conversation, Tara opens up about her personal journey, including raising an autistic son and her own OCD diagnosis in her 40s, and shares the practical frameworks any organization can use to go beyond diversity buzzwords and create real, measurable change. In this episode, you'll discover: Why 80% of autistic adults face unemployment, and what employers are missing The 'spiky cognitive profile' advantage and why neurodivergent talent can be 150% more productive What the 'ROI of Kindness' really means for your bottom line Three concrete steps to become a neuro-inclusive organization starting this week The canary in the coal mine: how accommodations for neurodivergent employees benefit everyone Why psychological safety isn't a soft skill — it's the engine of innovation About Tara May: Tara May is the CEO of Aspiritech, a tech services organization built on the belief that neurodivergent talent is a competitive advantage. With 25 years leading digital transformation at major media companies, Tara brings both executive credibility and lived experience to the movement for neuro-inclusive workplaces. Timestamps: [00:00] Intro — What if inclusion is the real innovation strategy? [01:24] Tara's origin story: An autistic son, a C-suite career, and a new mission [05:05] Neurodiversity belongs to all of us — the 86 billion neuron truth [06:56] Tara's own OCD diagnosis: 'It's okay to have needs' [10:03] Accommodations demystified: the water bottle story [13:20] The spiky cognitive profile and the strengths employers overlook [17:03] The index card meeting: introverted leadership in action [20:44] Universal design and the canary in the coal mine [25:27] 3 steps to becoming a neuro-inclusive organization [30:00] Psychological safety as the engine of digital transformation [35:11] How Aspiritech measures success — employees ARE the mission [38:54] One action you can take this week: ask 'what do I need?' [41:08] Where to find Tara and connect with Aspiritech Find Tara May at: www.aspiritech.org | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tara-may Subscribe, leave a review at https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/reviews/new/, and share this episode. Visit our website for more resources. Mentioned in this episode: The Human Score — https://thehumanscore.org Find out how human-centric your organization really is with our 40-question survey and live dashboard. Get clear insights and practical steps to strengthen culture, trust, and performance. Host Lori Adams-Brown is one of the consultants in the Human Score Consultant Collective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • The Telescope in the Room: What High-Performing Leaders Can't See About Their Own Career with Executive Coach Karen Kunkel Young

    The Telescope in the Room: What High-Performing Leaders Can't See About Their Own Career with Executive Coach Karen Kunkel Young
    Feb 18 2026
    You're highly capable. So why does your next move feel so unclear? For senior leaders at a career inflection point — whether navigating a layoff, a values misalignment, or a long-overdue pivot — the problem is rarely a lack of skill. It's a lack of perspective. In this episode, executive coach and strategic advisor Karen Kunkel Young joins host Lori Adams-Brown to talk about what high-performing leaders consistently miss when they're standing at a crossroads — and what it actually takes to move forward with clarity, agency, and intention. In this conversation, you'll discover: Why the habits and communication styles that made you successful may now be holding you back — and how to see that shift before it costs you How to reclaim ownership of your career narrative, especially when external forces (layoffs, leadership changes, industry shifts) have made you feel like a passenger The critical transition from expert executor to strategic leader — and why skipping the mindset shift is a lose-lose for everyone How to advocate powerfully for your impact without it feeling like bragging — including the storytelling framework that connects your achievements to business outcomes A practical approach to fear in high-stakes transitions: how to name it, feel it, and use it as a launchpad rather than a brake About Karen Kunkel Young: Karen Kunkel Young is an executive coach and strategic advisor known as "the telescope in the room" — helping senior leaders step back far enough to see the blind spots, shifting influence, and hidden opportunities their current vantage point obscures. With nearly 30 years of experience as a global media showrunner (including Project Runway and Tim Gunn's Guide to Style), Karen brings a master storyteller's precision to leadership transitions, executive presence, and career pivots. Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction & why this moment demands perspective over pace 01:12 — What highly capable leaders aren't seeing clearly right now 03:51 — You are the CEO of your career: reclaiming agency 07:30 — The expert-to-leader transition: why it's a lose-lose without support 10:04 — What the telescope reveals: the hard truth that changes how leaders lead 13:42 — Naming unspoken fear in high-stakes transitions 18:46 — How your narrative expands or limits your future influence 23:02 — Advocacy without bragging: the storytelling framework that works 28:14 — Coaching leaders through emotionally difficult career transitions 33:57 — Advice for high-performing women in a slow, painful job search 38:30 — Where to find Karen Kunkel Young 39:44 — Lori's closing reflection on perspective, resilience, and sustained impact Find Karen Kunkel-Young at: 🌐 karenkunkelyoung.com 💼 LinkedIn: Karen Kunkel Young Subscribe, leave a review at https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/reviews/new/, and share this episode with a leader standing at a crossroads — even if they haven't named it yet. Visit https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com for more resources, tools, and episodes designed for globally-minded leaders. Watch this episode on YouTube here. Join us for an exclusive with Karen on Patreon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • Spanish-Speaking America in STEM: A First-Gen Immigrant Latina Leadership Story with Bay Area Entrepreneur Rebeca Lopez Valerio

    Spanish-Speaking America in STEM: A First-Gen Immigrant Latina Leadership Story with Bay Area Entrepreneur Rebeca Lopez Valerio
    Feb 11 2026
    What do you do when the doors you’ve worked for keep closing because of factors you can’t control? In this episode, Rebeca Lopez Valerio shares how she turned “no” into fuel, built opportunities from scratch, and learned to lead with coraje, heart-forward courage rooted in identity, resilience, and values. Rebeca’s story is powerful and deeply human. Born in Mexico with Indigenous roots from the Oaxaca/Puebla region, she immigrated to the U.S. at age four and navigated life as a first-generation student, while also carrying the realities of being undocumented during key years of her education and career journey. Together, we talk about what it really takes to keep showing up when the stakes are high, and how community can be the difference between feeling stuck and finding your way forward. In this episode, we cover: Indigenous heritage, language loss, and the impact of “dialects being looked down on” First-generation student survival: why community often beats 1:1 mentorship How to lead with ambition without being defined by hardship Rejection as strategy: building your brand through projects, businesses, and relationships Sustainable fashion + AI: how Apparel Assist aims to reduce clothing waste by starting in our closets Guest bio:Rebeca Lopez Valerio is a hardware engineer, entrepreneur, and community builder. A first-generation immigrant with a background in electrical engineering, she co-founded Apparel Assist, a sustainable fashion startup exploring how AI can help people rewear what they already own and reduce clothing waste. Timestamps (highlights): 00:01 – Meet Rebeca + the cultures that formed her 01:11 – Indigenous roots and the reality of language loss 05:44 – Immigrating at age four + education access 08:59 – Most overlooked resource for first-gen students: community 15:11 – “No” after “no”: how Rebeca built her personal brand 24:39 – Practical strategy: relationships, reps, and showing up anyway 29:56 – From cleaning business to Apparel Assist (AI + sustainability) 42:39 – Where to find Rebeca + Apparel Assist on Instagram Bonus: 00:01 – Legacy: impact through everyday interactions Follow Apparel Assist on Instagram, where Rebeca and her team are sharing the story behind their AI-powered sustainable fashion platform and inviting community conversation. Call to action:Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who’s been shrinking to fit. Visit loriadamsbrown.com for more resources and to stay connected. Join Lori for. an exclusive with Rebeca with our Difference Makers on Patreon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
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