In this episode of The Luminary Lens, host Rebecca Kaykas-Wolff sits down with Kevin Perez-Allen, Senior Vice President at Signal Group, for a revealing conversation on political communication, emotional intelligence, and the nuance of narrative-building in polarized environments. From his early fascination with politics to advising foreign embassies and advocacy groups, Kevin’s journey bridges personal resilience with a deep understanding of how messaging shapes our realities.

Together, they explore how language and identity can either build walls or open doors, and why effective communication is less about persuasion and more about translation. Drawing on Maslow’s Hierarchy and real-world diplomatic strategy, this conversation offers a roadmap for leaders, marketers, and everyday citizens who want to move past division and toward meaningful connection.

In this episode:

• How a childhood shaped by poverty and political curiosity led Kevin into public affairs
• The overlooked power of communication strategy in policy and leadership
• What foreign governments get wrong (and right) about messaging to Americans
• Why fear is dominating political discourse—and what to do about it
• The danger of leading with identity in divided spaces, and how to find common ground
• How to communicate from the “bottom of the pyramid” to reach real people
• The difference between performative activism and transformational change
• Why curiosity, empathy, and shared humanity are the only sustainable strategy

If you believe business needs more curiosity, courage, and humanity, this conversation is just the beginning.

Join the conversation using #LuminaryLens.

Welcome to The Luminary Lens, where heart meets strategy and stories spark transformation. In this episode, host Rebecca Kaykas-Wolff speaks with Megan Judge—Owner of Central Coast Polo and Head Coach of Cal Poly Polo, one of the most successful collegiate programs in the U.S.

In this episode, Rebecca and Megan explore how polo goes far beyond horses and mallets—it becomes a training ground for life. Megan shares how she builds an open, development-focused culture that welcomes complete beginners and turns them into confident athletes. From the fundamentals of horsemanship to coaching philosophies that blend grit, adaptability, and community, Megan’s perspective offers lessons for leaders and learners alike.

In this episode:

• Coaching students with no prior polo or riding experience
• Why early exposure and family inclusion are essential to growing the sport
• Building a sustainable polo ecosystem: roles beyond players
• Horsemanship, safety, and how many horses it takes to compete
• The power of polo for leadership development and mental focus
• Women’s rising presence in the sport and the shifting demographics of play
• Why youth programs and instructor development are critical to polo’s future

If you believe sports can build character, community, and courage, this episode is for you.

Join the conversation using #LuminaryLens.

Welcome to The Luminary Lens, where heart meets strategy and stories spark transformation. Host Rebecca Kaykas-Wolff—a corporate marketing leader, salon curator, and founder of the Luminary Society—sits down with Dana Genshaft, choreographer, educator, and Artistic Director of SF Danceworks.

In this layered and insightful conversation, Dana reflects on a lifetime shaped by motion—from early training at the Kirov Academy to dancing on the stages of San Francisco Ballet, and now leading one of the most forward-looking contemporary repertory companies in the country. She shares how dance serves as a language of connection, what it means to build culture with intention, and why investing in emerging artists is essential for the future of the arts.

Rebecca brings her signature style of intentional conversation to uncover how Dana’s approach to leadership blends discipline with empathy, structure with stretch, and vision with community.

In this episode:

• How Dana’s artistic lineage shaped her identity as a dancer and leader
• The difference between discipline and perfection in the creative process
• Why contemporary repertory dance matters—and how SF Danceworks is reimagining it
• The role of trust, play, and negotiation in artistic collaboration
• Building administrative and emotional infrastructure to support working artists
• What empathetic leadership looks like inside a values-driven arts organization
• Dreaming future collaborations across tech, architecture, and immersive experience

If you believe business and the arts need more curiosity, courage, and humanity, this conversation is just the beginning.

Join the conversation using #LuminaryLens. For upcoming performances and more, visit sfdanceworks.org.