The GENeration eXecutive podcast hosted by Andrea Bricca features conversations with executives and leaders who are part of Generation X.

Many discussions in business circles center on the departing Baby Boomers or the rising Millennials in the workforce and executive ranks. GENeration eXecutive podcast focuses on a generation firmly seated in the executive ranks.

Who are these leaders? How did they build their careers? What do they have to share about leadership?

Episode 12: Ekumene “E” Lysonge, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, NerdWallet

Ekumene “E” Lysonge has worked as a lawyer and government affairs professional in various industries from real estate to gaming and technology, and currently in financial services with NerdWallet. He repositioned himself after the 2008 economic downturn and the 2020 pandemic via strong relationships, flexibility, and his desire to lead in a mutually beneficial way. In this episode of GENeration eXecutive, E talks about the importance of listening, relationships, decision points in life, and assessment of priorities to build a successful and fulfilling career.

Episode 11: Olga Lagunova, Chief Product & Technology Officer, GoTo

Olga Lagunova used resilience and optimism to advance early in her technology career. She then learned the importance of conflict resolution to enhance her leadership skills. Now as Chief Product and Technology Officer at GoTo and an Adjunct Professor at Carnegie Mellon, she understands the importance of sharing her knowledge and the opportunities AI holds for leaders and organizations now and in the future. On this episode of GENeration eXecutive, Olga shares a technologist and leader’s insight on growth mindset, AI, and the human element in technology and business.

Episode 10: Javier Zamora, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, CarGurus

Javier Zamora persuaded his parents to let him join the military at the age of 17 and he never looked back as he eventually completed law school, was on active duty post-9/11, joined the legal team at Nike, and now is General Counsel at CarGurus. On this episode of GENeration eXecutive, hear how Javier embraced challenges and change, and leveraged both to build a career and generational bridges along the way.

Episode 9: Genevieve Kelly, General Counsel in Residence, Goodwin Procter LLP

Genevieve Kelly has learned to enjoy the journey during a legal career that has taken her around the world and challenged her with a myriad of legal issues as a Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel for some of the world’s most recognizable brands. On this episode of GENeration eXecutive we hear how she learned to love working with consumer-facing companies, how her decision to attend law school allowed her to be a business leader, and the importance of relationships along the way.

Episode 8: John Merrill, Chief Marketing Officer, Laserfiche

From the early days of marketing cell phone technology to today as CMO at cloud company Laserfiche, John Merrill has embraced change, followed his “why,” and utilized the power of teams. On this episode of GENeration eXecutive, John discusses servant leadership, being the boss of your career, developing your adaptability, and how AI is currently like a child.

Episode 7: Jonathan Yellen, Founding Partner, Greyhart Capital

On this episode of GENeration eXecutive, Jonathan Yellen and Andrea Bricca discuss how the discussions about Jonathan’s family’s business around the dinner table led to his work today helping entrepreneurs buy legacy family businesses. He talks about the business of search fund investing and generational differences among the business’s owners, along with the importance of building strong relationships, working hard, taking smart risks, and how AI may impact everything.

Episode 6: Michelle Sanchez-Bickley, Chief People Executive, Einstein II, Hallmark Health Care Solutions

From the dotcom boom and bust to HR leader at a healthcare system and her current role in HR Technology, Michelle Sanchez-Bickley has developed her leadership skills. On this episode of GENeration eXecutive, hear her thoughts on embracing change, helping others navigate change, failing fast, and modeling behavior for others.

Episode 5: Rachel Larrenaga, Acting General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Genalyte, Inc.

Rachel Larrenaga’s family has played a key role in her career, from teaching her the value of hard work early to the increased importance she placed on mission alignment with her employer once she became a mother. On this episode of GENeration eXecutive, hear Rachel’s career story, including her understanding of Gen X’s tech-savvy even if not tech-dependent, the Gen X belief in altruism and independence as a management style, and thoughts on AI in law and business going forward.

Episode 4: Kirsten Searer, President, Public Education Foundation

As the newspaper industry contracted, Kirsten Searer parlayed her lifelong connection to education into a new career that eventually led to her current role as President of The Public Education Foundation. On this episode of GENeration eXecutive, hear how empathy led to one of Kirsten’s biggest accomplishments, how her reporter’s mindset has aided her career, and her belief in the need for curiosity as the workplace evolves.

Episode 3: Sylvia Tiscareño, Chief Legal Officer, GAN Ltd

Sylvia Tiscareño grew up in Las Vegas with front-line casino workers as her parents and started her career in hotel operations before settling on a career in law. Intuition and grit are two of Sylvia’s hallmarks and led her to take a chance on the burgeoning sports wagering industry years before it became mainstream. Hear why Sylvia thinks Generation X is the greatest generation as she joins Andrea Bricca on this episode of GENeration eXecutive.

Episode 2: Lorrie Bamford, General Counsel, ECL Entertainment, LLC

Lorrie Bamford knew from a young age she wanted to be a lawyer and built a legal career that has offered her opportunities she could never have imagined. In this episode of GENeration eXecutive,  Lorrie shares with Andrea Bricca what her career with law firms and companies has taught her about confidence, resilience, and leading with authenticity.

From opening the former Aladdin on the Las Vegas Strip to joining Station Casinos as Senior Vice President, Human Resources in 2022, Chris Smith realizes the importance of being kind, embracing technology, and being a continuous learner. In this episode, Chris shares the understanding of what others need from you as a leader plays in success and how the success of others provides its own satisfaction.