Stop waiting until you’re "ready." Bevin Mahon (CEO of Dentaltech Group) did the opposite—and built Ireland’s largest dental provider for nursing homes.

In this episode of (un)conversations (S2 | E5), Dr. Alison sits down with Bevin to discuss her journey from "winging it" to leading a digital transformation that turned 4-hour technical headaches into 3-minute wins.

🔔 Follow (un)conversations on Spotify to never miss an episode: https://open.spotify.com/show/5xkI3Kg3e4VCUY5hXFGUaS?si=xUdMhFRrQyyR1wHbaIkWDQ&nd=1&dlsi=47c2f501c0f54948

Inside the Episode (The "WIIFM"):🚀 Stop Overthinking: Why saying "yes" before the "how" is a massive competitive advantage.🛠️ The "Stuck" Fix: A framework to use frustrations as a roadmap for your next pivot.✨ The 3-Minute Miracle: How to use digital shortcuts to collapse time and scale.📢 Panic-Proofing: High-frequency communication strategies for crisis leadership.

Timestamps:(01:15) Welcome Bevin Mahon(06:36) The "Winging It" Philosophy(33:13) Transforming a traditional family business(53:40) Mastering digital scanning: 4 hours to 3 minutes(01:11:37) Ask Dr. Alison

Connect with our Guest:Bevin Mahon: https://dentaltech.ie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bevinmahon/

Connect with Dr. Alison:Work With Us: https://www.unconventionllc.com/messageusLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-l-schmidt-phd-bcc/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralisonschmidt/

⭐ Love the show? Leave us a 5-star rating on Spotify! It helps more unconventional leaders find these conversations.

🎵 Music by DJ Doug Jackson: https://soundcloud.com/dougjackson

Is the "Scaling Trap" destroying your returns—and your purpose? 📉

Former Nike VP Dirk Van Onsem reveals why the traditional corporate growth model is failing and how a single question from his daughter forced him to walk away from a 25-year executive career to pursue regenerative leadership.

In this episode of (un)conversations (S2 | E4), Dr. Alison sits down with the founder of Beyonders Collective to explore "The Unknowing"—the vulnerable space between leaving a global giant and building a planet-positive biohub.

🚀 Inside the Episode (The "WIIFM"):

• The Daughter's Question: The catalyst that turned a Nike executive into a climate advocate.

• Shadow Leadership: Why the "perfect executive" image is actually blocking your team's innovation.

• The Scaling Myth: Why expanding large businesses is often the opposite of regeneration.

• Regenerative Finance: A new framework for prioritizing resilience over exit-based growth.

🔔 Follow (un)conversations on Spotify to stay ahead of the leadership curve:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5xkI3Kg3e4VCUY5hXFGUaS?si=xUdMhFRrQyyR1wHbaIkWDQ&nd=1&dlsi=47c2f501c0f54948

Timestamps:(03:00) The “(UN)word” Effect: Personal leadership evolution(07:08) Unassuming: Leading by asking the right questions(14:30) 25 Years of Nike Leadership Lessons(28:45) Unknowing: Navigating burnout and the "empty space"(52:10) Building a Regenerative Business Ecosystem(01:10:46) Ask Dr. Alison: Leadership Q&A

Connect with our Guest:Dirk Van Onsem: https://www.beyonderscollective.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirk-van-onsem-36a8b75/

Connect with Dr. Alison:Work With Us: https://www.unconventionllc.com/messageusLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-l-schmidt-phd-bcc/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralisonschmidt/

⭐ Love the show? Leave us a 5-star rating on Spotify! It helps more unconventional leaders find these conversations.

🎵 Music by DJ Doug Jackson: https://soundcloud.com/dougjackson

What does it cost to lead at the highest level? 💼

Jess Bass Bolander (SVP at Lockton) joins Dr. Alison to peel back the curtain on the mental load of high-stakes leadership. From a "scrappy" start in the insurance industry to the C-suite, Jess reveals why your childhood survival triggers (the "Unhealed 8-Year-Old") might be sitting at the boardroom table with you—and how to manage them.

In this episode of (un)conversations (S2 | E3), we discuss why emotional intelligence is a leader’s most critical tool and why staying "at the table" is the only way to impact real change for women in the workforce.

🚀 Inside the Episode (The "WIIFM"):

• The Unhealed 8-Year-Old: How childhood turbulence shapes executive decision-making and survival triggers.

• The Law Pivot: Lessons from walking away from a legal path to find a "scrappy" start in business.

• The Mental Load: Breaking the taboo around executive burnout and workplace mental health.

• Advocacy in Action: Why "if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu"—and how to stay in the game.

🔔 Follow (un)conversations on Spotify and save this episode to your library:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5xkI3Kg3e4VCUY5hXFGUaS?si=xUdMhFRrQyyR1wHbaIkWDQ&nd=1&dlsi=47c2f501c0f54948

Timestamps:(01:06) Welcome Jess Bass Bolander, SVP of Lockton(04:49) (UN)breakable: Overcoming childhood turbulence(15:18) The Pivot: From Law to the "scrappy" world of insurance(30:46) The Balancing Act: Executive roles and motherhood(44:50) The "Unhealed Eight-Year-Old" in the workplace(55:34) Ask Dr. Alison: Leadership Q&A

Connect with our Guest:Jess Bass Bolander (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-bass-bolander-63213114/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessbassbolander/

Connect with Dr. Alison:Work With Us: https://www.unconventionllc.com/messageusLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-l-schmidt-phd-bcc/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralisonschmidt/

⭐ Resonated with this? Leave us a 5-star rating! It helps other unconventional leaders find these tools for resilience.

🎵 Music by DJ Doug Jackson: https://soundcloud.com/dougjackson