Contagious Culture

#117 | The Climb, The Courage, The Exit: Building a Career That Serves You W/ Krista Bourne

What happens when you climb to the top of corporate America, only to realize you’re ready to redefine what success looks like?In this episode, I sit down with Krista Bourne , a powerhouse leader who spent 25 years inside Verizon, rising from the mailroom to COO of its Consumer Group. She led 30,000 employees, served 110 million customers, and helped deliver over $100 billion in annual revenue.But here’s what makes her story extraordinary, Krista walked away on her own terms.Now, she’s helping high-achieving professionals gain clarity, build strategy, and lead with authenticity, without losing themselves in the process.This conversation is about power, purpose, and permission, because you don’t need anyone else’s to design a career that aligns with who you are.
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#116 | How Great Fundraisers Build Trust and Transform Communities W/ Rachel Simon

What separates a good fundraiser from a truly transformative one? In this episode, Kyle sits down with Rachel Simon, MBA, MS, CFRE , a powerhouse in the world of community impact and philanthropy, to unpack how authentic relationships, deep trust, and shared purpose can turn fundraising into a movement for change.Rachel shares her journey from early career challenges to leading record-breaking campaigns that didn’t just raise money, they rebuilt confidence, culture, and connection within entire communities. Together, she and Kyle explore what it really means to lead with empathy, create donor partnerships rooted in trust, and sustain generosity even in uncertain times.If you’ve ever wondered how to inspire people to give, not out of obligation, but out of belief, this episode is your blueprint.
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#115 | Building Resilient Women: Leadership, Sisterhood, + Self-Belief

In this episode of Contagious Culture, we sit down with Shantell Jeter, founder of You Got It Girl and Manager of Special Projects at Boston Public Schools. Shantell Jeter is a powerhouse educator, coach, and community builder dedicated to empowering young women to embrace their value, build confidence, and become resilient leaders. With over 300,000 Black women recently pushed out of the workforce due to federal budget cuts and the rollback of DEI initiatives, Shantell’s work has never been more urgent.
Through basketball, leadership programming, and a strong focus on sisterhood, she is creating spaces where girls can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally and learn that everything they need to succeed is already inside them. In this conversation, we explore the intersection of leadership, resilience, and self-belief, hear inspiring stories from the girls she mentors, and discuss how programs like You Got It Girl can change the trajectory for the next generation. Shantell also shares how educators and communities can continue supporting young women in a world that too often underestimates their potential. Tune in to learn actionable insights on how to nurture confidence, foster meaningful connections, and raise a generation of women who are ready to lead with courage and purpose.
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#114 | The Power of One: Why You’re Not Making Progress (and How to Change that..)

In this live episode of The Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King dives deep into why you’re not making progress and how one decision, one risk, and one step can completely shift your momentum.Kyle shares the behind-the-scenes story of how The Podcastathon and The Blueprint Conference came to life in just 11 days and what it really takes to turn vision into execution. If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to start, this episode will challenge your comfort zone and give you a roadmap to move from stuck to unstoppable in just five days.
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#113 | Turning Vision into Impact: Megan Schmitt King on Fundraising, Partnerships, and Nonprofit Success

In this episode, we sit down with Megan Schmitt King, Chief Development Officer at Camp Southern Ground and a seasoned expert in nonprofit growth and fundraising strategy. With a career spanning leadership roles at Team Red, White & Blue, Raiders Foundation, and National 4-H Council, Megan has mastered the art of turning vision into measurable impact.
We explore how to build lasting partnerships, activate powerful sponsorships, and lead with strategy in a rapidly changing philanthropic landscape. Megan also shares lessons learned from her work in corporate and nonprofit spaces, from navigating sponsorship challenges to leveraging data and storytelling to inspire donors.
Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or changemaker, this conversation will equip you with actionable insights to strengthen your strategy, deepen relationships, and grow your impact.
Order Your Copy of Contagious Culture: Creating an Ecosystem of Academic Excellence
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#112 | First Impressions Matter: Behind the Scenes of a Client Intake Call

What does it really take to turn a first conversation into a million-dollar impact? In this episode, I take you inside a live client intake call with a mission-driven organization, unpacking the questions, insights, and strategies that set the stage for successful fundraising. You’ll see how our 4P Framework, Prepare, Prove, Partner, Propel, guides organizations to build their strategy, board, prospect list, and story, while connecting with donors who can make a real difference.
Whether you’re a leader, consultant, or entrepreneur, you’ll walk away with actionable tactics to make your first interactions count and start creating measurable impact from day one.
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#111 | Making Strategy Stick: The Human Side of Change with Coretta Dixon

In this live episode of The Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Coretta Dixon, Director of Organizational Effectiveness and Change Leadership, to explore how real transformation begins from within. Coretta has led large-scale initiatives across industries like education, finance, healthcare, and aviation, helping organizations build adaptive cultures, high-trust teams, and scalable people systems that truly perform.Together, Kyle and Coretta dive into the intersection of leadership, culture, and change management. They unpack what it means to make strategy stick, not through top-down mandates, but through people-centered transformation that prioritizes safety, trust, and clarity.Drawing from her experience leading a $130M modernization initiative and creating the first Change Management Office for a 5,000-employee organization, Coretta shares how sustainable change happens when leaders blend governance, coaching, and analytics to turn transformation into habit. If you believe leadership is contagious and culture is the engine that drives performance, this episode will give you the insight and inspiration to lead change that lasts.
Order Your Copy of Contagious Culture: Creating an Ecosystem of Academic Excellence
Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast
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📞 Schedule Your Call Here
🖥️  Visit The Website
👉🏽 Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn

#110 | The Art of Experience, How to Turn Events Into Emotional Journeys

What makes an event unforgettable? How do you turn a gathering into an experience that inspires, connects, and leaves a lasting impact?
In this episode of Contagious Culture, we sit down with Corey J Frank, Founder of Spoken Red, a dynamic Event Experience Strategist, Host, Dance Instructor, and Wellness Coach with nearly two decades of transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary legacies. From corporate activations and nonprofit galas to wellness initiatives and cultural celebrations, she shares her secrets for designing events that move people,  literally and figuratively.
Tune in as we explore:
How to create legacy moments that leave a lasting impression
The intersection of culture, movement, and strategy in experiential design
Tips for building authentic connections and partnerships that amplify impact
Lessons from nearly 20 years of leading high-level, unforgettable experiences
If you want to learn how to go beyond planning and truly craft experiences that inspire action and connection, this episode is a must-listen.
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