The strongest leaders often come from humble beginnings, because these early hardships are instrumental in the development of grit. 

In this episode of Shift Out Loud, I talk to community leader Kian Kamas. As the Executive Director of PartnerTulsa, Kian is passionate about creating long-term, institutional change in how Tulsa pursues its economic and community development objectives, and is committed to building a sustainable, world-class operating model that builds strong and stable long-term revenues for this important work.

Our discussion explores the many shifts that have led Kian to her current professional success, including her time at the University of Edinburgh, her shift into the world of politics, and her transformation from doer into strong leader. We also dive into her post-University struggles, the hardest job she’s ever had, and how growing up on a farm helped to strengthen her incredible work ethic.

Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover: 

• The biggest challenges Kian has faced while shifting from doer into leader — and how she works through them
• How she navigates a self image of herself as an inexperienced “small-town girl”
• The exercises she uses to help her team find joy and potential in what they do

Guest bio: Kian Kamas serves as the Executive Director of PartnerTulsa, leading Tulsa’s comprehensive community and economic development strategy and a team of talented professionals dedicated to increasing economic opportunity for Tulsa residents. Prior to this role, Kian served as Mayor G.T. Bynum’s Chief of Economic Development. She and her husband Lathen have lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma since 2009, and are raising their son Leith as a proud Tulsan.

Timestamps:

01:45  Intro

03:22  Meet Kian Kamas

05:54  Early work experience

08:24  “All hands on deck” 

10:52  Grit

13:10  Building a strong team

16:27  Hardest job & University of Oklahoma

19:10  University of Edinburgh

21:45  Return to the US & finding her place

26:09  Self-perception

28:44  Biggest challenges

34:22  Team-building tips

40:00  Team retreat

45:40  What’s next?

Links:

Kian Kamas

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiankamas 

Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com 

Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com 

Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog 

—

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker 

Twitter: @tracylspears 

Instagram: @tracylspears

I may be cheering you on as you think and play bigger, but my guest for this episode could give me a few professional tips! Charity Barton is the University of Tulsa Cheer coach, a Director at TU's Collins College of Business, and an entrepreneur who believes in the power of storytelling. Not only is Charity a gifted and charismatic speaker, she is a TEDx alumna. Her Talk, “How to Fix Your Unhealthiest Relationship”, focuses on the effects of media consumption on mental health and self perception, and how to develop a healthier lifestyle through media literacy — a timely and necessary topic!

While Charity has experienced many shifts in her life, she has also consciously created breathing room that allows her to consider her best next steps. During our conversation, Charity and I dig into the ways in which taking gap years has helped to shape her path forward and allowed her to shift out loud on her own terms. We also discuss Charity’s experiences along the road to TEDx Tulsa and how she is redefining her relationship with mass media for the better.

Listen now to discover: 

• How Charity’s ‘why’ changed in terms of seeking her degree, and how this shift affected her decision
• Charity’s TEDx process and how she prepared for this prestigious stage 
• Powerful tips for interacting with media in a healthier way

Guest bio: Charity Barton is a former University of Tulsa cheerleader and alumna with a B.A. in Communications. She is a Director at TU's Collins College of Business and the TU Cheer coach. She has a Master's in Mass Communications, and recently gave her first TEDx Talk, titled “How to Fix Your Unhealthiest Relationship.”

Timestamps:

01:57  Intro

02:51  Meet Charity Barton

04:34  Gap year lessons

06:50  Influences behind her shifts

10:36  Spain & France

15:10  TEDx Tulsa

20:27  Unhealthiest relationship

23:54  Changing the input

26:51  Storytelling shift

33:33  Good/bad storytelling

38:40  Education & leadership

41:18  What’s next?

Links:

Charity Barton

https://cboriginal.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e_q01Ym9Fk

Instagram: @iamchar.ity

The Skin I’m In by Sharon Flake

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/skin-im-in-sharon-g-flake/1100552129

The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren

https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Driven-Life-What-Earth/dp/031033750X

Don't Drop the Mic: The Power of Your Words Can Change the World by T. D. Jakes

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-drop-the-mic-t-d-jakes/1137427897

Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com

Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit: https://tracyspears.com

My resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog

—

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker

Twitter: @tracylspears

Instagram: @tracylspears

My guest for this episode of Shift Out Loud is definitely playing bigger — she was recently recognized as a 2023 Power List Leader in Workplace Diversity by Oklahoma’s Journal Record! As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at BOK Financial, Janet Huber is responsible for providing leadership, vision, and a team-oriented philosophy to advance diversity and inclusion within the organization.

During our conversation, we talk about the unique opportunities provided by the pandemic, how working in the court system helped Janet to shift out loud and hone her craft, and the amazing books that have enabled us to think and play bigger!

Listen now to discover: 

• The importance of taking the time to appreciate our achievements (and those of the people around us!) 
• Why privilege is so often misunderstood and the power of conscious gratitude  
• How to know when you need to speak out — and what to say when you don’t know what to say

Guest bio: Janet Huber is a Senior Vice President and Director of Diversity and Inclusion at BOK Financial. She has over 20 years of progressive HR experience and is passionate about establishing relationships and collaborating to facilitate cross-cultural dialogue and establish inclusive environments. 

Timestamps:

01:48  Intro

03:43  Meet Janet Huber

06:18  North Carolina to Tulsa and back

09:43  Pandemic & remote work

11:39  Wells Fargo to BOK

12:42  “Brag sheets” & thank yous

15:44  Wilkesboro

18:09  Mediation & the empathy gap

22:07  Privilege, gratitude & using your voice

27:02  When to speak & what to say

33:14  Sharing the microphone & mentoring

37:28  Shifting from manager to consultant

42:14  What’s next & DEI

Links:

Janet Huber

https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-huber-phr-cm-cpc-0b94542

Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz

https://www.amazon.com/NEW-Never-Split-Difference-Lead-Title/dp/B09VCPNDH3 

The Power of Thanks: How Social Recognition Empowers Employees and Creates a Best Place to Work by Eric Mosley & Derek Irvine

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Thanks-Recognition-Empowers-Employees/dp/0071838406 

Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual by Luvvie Ajayi Jones

https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Troublemaker-Luvvie-Ajayi-Jones/dp/0593298772 

Master Mentors: 30 Transformative Insights from Our Greatest Minds by Scott Miller

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Mentors-Transformative-Insights-Greatest/dp/1400221013 

Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com 

Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com 

Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog 

—

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker 

Twitte

Often, our most impactful shifts can take us by surprise or seem to come out of nowhere. My guest for this episode of Shift Out Loud is mastering the art of recognizing the right opportunities and shifting out loud with intention — whether that means playing bigger in the corporate world, leading her community, or embracing her role at home. 

Jessica Lowe-Betts is a Vice President at the PR and leadership development firm Schnake Turnbo Frank, and a former Senior Diversity & Inclusion Consultant at ONEOK. She has had an incredible career and more than her fair share of shifts! For over a decade prior to joining ONEOK, Jessica worked in various roles at the Tulsa Regional Chamber and Tulsa Regional Tourism, has co-chaired the Association for Women in Communications Newsmakers Event, and currently serves as the inaugural Chair of the Board of Directors for Greenwood Rising history center. 

Our discussion explores the lessons that Jessica has learned through experiencing a tragic loss in her early childhood, her struggles with overcoming imposter syndrome, and how each of her amazing shifts has led to her current success.

Listen now to discover: 

• Why Jessica shifted away from her first love, broadcast journalism, and toward local government and business organizations 
• How she knew when it was time to play bigger — and how she recognized the right opportunity
• How she is nailing her core as a mother and wife, and being intentional about where she is in her life right now

Guest bio: Jessica Lowe-Betts is a Vice President at Schnake Turnbo Frank’s Tulsa office with 15+ years of experience in government affairs, communications, marketing, leadership coaching, and diversity, equity and inclusion consulting. She is an experienced DEI practitioner, communications professional, event planner, and community leader.

Timestamps:

01:37  Intro

03:36  Meet Jessica Lowe-Betts

06:36  Early years & memories

11:25  Family support

13:50  Shifting to college

17:23  Shifting away from journalism

21:50  Shifts & evolutions

24:08  Imposter syndrome

26:55  Knowing the right opportunity

30:50  Schnake & “beautiful chaos”

35:12  Pandemic, harmony & authenticity

39:24  The pay-off & inclusion

43:07  What’s next?

Links:

Jessica Lowe-Betts

https://www.facebook.com/jessica.lowebetts

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lowe-betts-a6023110

Instagram: @jlowebetts

Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com

Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com

Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger? Visit https://tracyspears.com/blog

Connect with me

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker

Twitter: @tracylspears

Instagram: @tracylspears

Christopher Uric Brecht-Smith is a trailblazer in championing equality, and his passion for playing a bigger game has led him to make legal history… not once, but twice! Chris studied journalism at Oklahoma State University before shifting gears to pursue a juris doctorate from the University of Tulsa… and this shift would have a MASSIVE, reverberating impact for his community.  

Chris now practices family, guardianship, and adoption law as a partner at McDaniel Acord in south Tulsa. In 2019, he and his husband, Michael, obtained an appeal from the Supreme Court of Oklahoma that recognizes and acknowledges the parental rights of nonbiological same-sex parents on the same basis as their biological parental counterparts. Two years later, he obtained the first nonbinary birth certificate ever issued in the State of Oklahoma.  

In this episode of Shift Out Loud, Chris and I talk about his family’s reaction to his coming out, the importance of paying heed to your internal voice, and his unexpected shift into practicing groundbreaking constitutional law.

Listen now to discover: 

• How he won a paradigm-shifting, landmark appeal as a new lawyer  
• The unfortunate human cost of his history-making case
• A step-by-step overview of the civil rights lawsuit that led Oklahoma to issue a nonbinary birth certificate 

Guest bio: Christopher Uric Brecht-Smit is an Oklahoma boy through and through.  Born in Edmond, Oklahoma, Chris attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater for journalism and earned a juris doctorate from the University of Tulsa. His law practice heavily emphasizes LGBTQ+ representation. He lives in Tulsa with his husband Michael Brecht-Smith, also an attorney, and their two fur babies. 

Timestamps:

01:50  Intro

03:40  Meet Christopher Uric Brecht-Smith

10:07  Shift from journalism to law

16:01  Edmond & OSU

18:39  Coming out to family

28:18  Figuring it out & moving on

35:15  Being present & gracious

43:15  Nonbiological same-sex parental rights

51:53  Shift to diversity

55:47  Nonbinary birth certificate case

1:04:44  Equality gala

Links:

Christopher Uric Brecht-Smith

https://www.ok-counsel.com 

https://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Brecht-Attorney-At-law/100069448718521 

cbrecht@ok-counsel.com

Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com 

Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com 

Want tools that will help you play bigger in your life? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog 

—

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker 

Twitter: @tracylspears 

Instagram: @tracylspears 

If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game.

You’d be surprised by the positive impact you can have on your community in just 45 minutes per week. If you want to learn how to make a huge difference in under an hour, you won’t want to miss this episode of Shift Out Loud!

I speak to Olivia Martin, who is championing students, teachers, parents, and volunteers in the meaningful work of literacy for children in Tulsa and the surrounding areas. As the Executive Director of Reading Partners of Tulsa, she works to provide students with the support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade, partnering with under-resourced schools and pairing kids with volunteer reading partners.

During our conversation, we dig into her experience in the Leadership Tulsa program, 

how her daughter’s passion for the theatre led to an unexpected shift in Olivia’s career, and how she’s making an INCREDIBLE difference in her community.

Listen now to discover: 

• How to get more comfortable asking for money while in a fundraising role
• Why we’re currently experiencing a crisis in youth literacy — and what needs to happen in order to fix it  
• How to play a role in the Reading Partners mission, in just 45 minutes per week

Guest bio: Olivia Martin is a devoted advocate for education and the Tulsa community who brings more than two decades of experience in teaching, school administration, development, and civic engagement to her role as the executive director or Reading Partners of Tulsa. She envisions a big, bold future for Reading Partners Tulsa and looks forward to nurturing data-driven growth and collaborative partnerships in the service of students’ literacy and a life-long love of learning.

Timestamps:

01:49  Intro

03:04  Meet Olivia Martin

05:25  Leadership Tulsa 

09:06  YWCA, Tulsa Dream Center, Theatre Tulsa & Collegiate Hall

12:11  Performance, theatre & extroversion

15:47  Fundraising

17:58  Vital literacy statistics

22:09  Julia Louis-Dreyfuss & Toni Morrison

30:13  Reading Partners

35:58  May Fest, fundraising gala & Stacey Abrams

40:41  Getting involved & what’s next

Links:

Olivia Martin

https://readingpartners.org/location/tulsa

https://readingpartners.org/donate

Wiser Than Me™ with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

https://lemonadamedia.com/show/wiser-than-me-with-julia-louis-dreyfus

Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com

Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit: https://tracyspears.com

Visit my resource library for tools that will help you play bigger: https://tracyspears.com/blog

—

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker

Twitter: @tracylspears

Instagram: @tracylspears

If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game.

Karen Kiely has played bigger in two hemispheres and multiple industries — and she’s collected amazing insights along the way! 

Karen is the Executive Director of Cap Tulsa, an organization that helps children in lower-income families grow up and achieve economic success through a two-generation approach that prepares young children to succeed in school and helps their parents increase their parenting skills and earning potential. Under Karen’s leadership, Cap Tulsa was named Best Nonprofit to Work For by the Nonprofit Times… for seven consecutive years!  

Prior to joining Cap Tulsa, Karen built an international career spanning Beijing, New York City, Hong Kong, and Taipei. While working for The Bama Companies, she produced apple pies for the first McDonald’s in China!

In this episode of Shift Out Loud, we dive into the twists and turns of Karen’s incredible career path, the biggest shifts that have led her to success all over the world, and the major influence that first set her on her path to playing bigger.

Listen now to discover: 

• How Karen channeled an aptitude for languages into a thriving international business career
• How she shifted seamlessly from banking to consulting to manufacturing before the age of 26 
• How she successfully managed a major product launch… with zero manufacturing experience!

Guest bio: Karen Kiely is the Executive Director of Cap Tulsa. She is a passionate, award-winning leader focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, developing shared vision, building a high-performing team, and achieving desired results in the right way. Karen was named a Woman of Distinction by the Tulsa Business & Legal News in 2016, and nominated for Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO by the Journal Record in 2021.

Timestamps:

01:50  Intro

04:17  Meet Karen Kiely

05:17  Booker T. Washington High School 

08:16  Mandarin & exploring possibilities

12:24  Studying in Beijing

17:09  Legacy business & biggest surprises

20:24  New York City & Hong Kong 

25:36  Taipei

29:33  Bama Companies & apple pies

34:39  Corporate liability & launching McDonald’s

38:37  Shifting to Cap Tulsa

45:29  Cap Tulsa

49:14  Big lessons & what’s next

Links:

Karen Kiely

https://captulsa.org 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-kiely-55444921

Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com

Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com

Visit my resource library for tools that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community: https://tracyspears.com/blog

—

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker

Twitter: @tracylspears

Instagram: @tracylspears

If you love the podcast, consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game.

Dr. Dwayne Jenkins won’t just help you to play bigger — he’ll also teach you how to live fully and authentically. Dr. Jenkins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist recognized for his expertise in advanced laproscopy and robotic surgery. 

Twenty years as a cancer surgeon has taught him this above all: the most powerful medicine flows from the heart, not the hands. Now, Dr. Jenkins is on a mission to teach a generation the power of meditation and self acceptance. His own journey of self acceptance took a winding path through the Southern Baptist faith, marriage, and Alcoholics Anonymous, before he finally embraced his identity as a gay man.

Dr. Jenkins shares how he found an oasis of inclusivity in the middle of the Bible Belt, why you NEED to learn about Substack, and what trees can teach us about building community.

Listen now to discover:

• How he shifted away from his Southern Baptist upbringing and continues to cultivate a self-affirming space
• How letting go of shame has allowed him to heal and to make a bigger impact
• How to strengthen your subconscious mind — and how it will benefit you!

Guest bio: Dr. Dwayne Jenkins is a gynecologic oncologist and partner in a multi-specialty cancer practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He writes about faith, wellness, and spirituality in his Substack newsletter, The Art of No Hard Conversations, and hosts the Words of Love with Dr. Dwayne podcast. He wants to lead a group of high-performing tree huggers dedicated to service and self care.

Timestamps:

01:42  Intro

03:30  Meet Dr. Dwayne Jenkins 

06:15  Mycelia

07:59  Healing & embracing identity

12:00  Tulsa & inclusivity

13:34  “Coming out of the gay sober closet”

17:02  Coming in with intention

19:31  Substack & authorship

24:52  Self awareness, spirituality & the subconscious

28:42  Shifting to a new chapter

38:19  Respecting your own humanity

42:34  Personal ecosystems & detaching lovingly

55:18  Find Dr. Dwayne

Links:

Dr. Dwayne Jenkins

https://www.drdwaynemd.com 

https://drdwaynemd.substack.com 

https://open.spotify.com/show/5hx1EzNkCPT9UlkP6cFoYg?si=6d34efff27af4ed3&nd=1 

TikTok: @drdwaynemd 

Instagram: @drdwaynemd 

The Influential Voice: Saying What You Mean for Lasting Legacy by Tricia Brouk

Discover your tactical leadership toolkit

Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com

Visit my resource library for tools that will help you play bigger: https://tracyspears.com/blog

—

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker

Twitter: @tracylspears

Instagram: @tracylspears

If you love the podcast, consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game!