Climb Higher With Her

About Climb Higher With Her

Climb Higher with Her is a podcast about women in leadership, career growth and professional development. Hosted by Darlene Repollet, First Lady of Kean University and a former corporate HR executive with 25 years of experience, the podcast features conversations with women leaders in business, government, higher education and public service. Each episode includes real-world lessons and actionable insights for emerging and established women leaders navigating today’s workplace, executive roles and leadership careers.

Publisher

Kean University

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Jan 2026

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

16 of 18 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Empathy in Leadership and The Power of “Yet” with Dr. Marian Stuart

   Host [Host Name] interviews psychologist Dr. Marian Stuart ’71 about using empathy and the power of "yet" to build confidence and navigate leadership challenges.

2. 

   28 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Adenah Bayoh on Building Businesses, Community Wealth and Leading with Purpose

   Host Sarah Jones interviews entrepreneur and real estate developer Adenah Bayoh about building businesses, community wealth, and leading with purpose.

3. 

   10 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Courage and Perseverance: Leadership Lessons from Season One

   Host Sarah Jones revisits season one's leadership lessons on courage and perseverance, offering listeners practical insights for overcoming challenges and building resilience.

4. 

   20 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Bonus! Leadership Advice For New Leaders with Michelle Velez-Jonte

   Host Michelle Velez-Jonte offers first-time leaders essential advice on listening, questioning, and purpose-driven connection in this bonus interview.

5. 

   6 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Bonus! How to Build Connections

   Darlene Repollet and Amanda Gardiner explore how persistence and human connection build lasting relationships that open doors over time in this interview.

6. 

   22 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Michelle Velez-Jonte on Finding Her Voice and Leading Through Language

   Host [Host Name] interviews Michelle Velez-Jonte, an education leader, about finding her voice and leading through language to create opportunities for future educators.

7. 

   8 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Sustainability and Better Business: Amanda Gardiner on Values-Based Leadership and the Work of Change

   Sustainability leader Amanda Gardiner discusses values-based leadership and influencing change by integrating sustainability into core business strategy in this interview.

8. 

   26 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Disney’s Christina Carey Dunleavy on Leadership, Change and Inclusive Storytelling

   Host interviews Disney's Christina Carey Dunleavy about leadership, embracing change, and the power of inclusive storytelling on her career journey.

9. 

   11 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Women Leaders on AI, Confidence and Career Growth

   Host Alexa Canas ’13, Tiffany Perkins-Munn, Ph.D., and Dr. Karma Brown Warren discuss AI's impact, building confidence through action, and women advocating for themselves in this interview.

10. 

    27 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Career Growth, Pivots and Purpose - Panel Discussion Part 1

    Industry leaders Alexa Canas, Tiffany Perkins-Munn, and Karma Brown Warren share career growth strategies, industry pivots, and finding purpose in this interview.

11. 

    20 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Bonus! How to Be Authentic

    Brigitte Jean-Louis and Darlene explore the power of authenticity and self-acceptance, revealing how embracing your true self enhances connections and life navigation.

12. 

    13 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Leading with Heart and Building a Legacy with Patricia Barksdale

    Host [Host Name] interviews financial planning leader Patricia Barksdale ’95 about her people-first approach to building lasting client relationships and a legacy of care.

13. 

    30 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Building a Career Aligned with Your Values with Brigitte Jean-Louis

    Brigitte Jean-Louis, director of mission advancement at YWCA Princeton, shares her journey to purpose-driven leadership, offering insights on navigating setbacks and building a values-aligned career.

14. 

    16 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Karla Elrod on Self-Advocacy and Career Growth

    Host [Host Name] interviews Karla Elrod, a leader in finance, discussing how transferable skills and self-advocacy drive career growth and overcome bias.

15. 

    23 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Robin Landa: The Power of an Authentic Brand

    Distinguished Professor Robin Landa shares strategies for building authentic brands and leading with clarity in this interview.

16. 

    9 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

    From Chemistry to C-Suite: Felicia Bourke’s Career Evolution

    Host [Host Name] interviews Felicia Bourke, Senior Executive at Quest Diagnostics, about her career evolution from chemist to C-suite leader and the courage, clarity, and confidence that shaped her success.

17. 

    26 Jan 2026

    Former NJ Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter on Leadership and Legacy

    Former NJ Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter shares her leadership journey and legacy with Darlene Repollet, offering insights on public service and advocacy.

18. 

    12 Jan 2026

    Sara Peña’s Journey from First-Gen Student to State Leader

    Darlene Repollet, First Lady of Kean University, interviews Sara Peña, Kean alumna and State Leader, about her inspiring journey from first-gen student to public service.

Inside a recent episode

Empathy in Leadership and The Power of “Yet” with Dr. Marian Stuart

Published 13 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] We tell ourselves stories. And so from your perspective. I know you often teach about a single powerful word. The word yet. And so how does adding yet to our own personal internal dialogue, as well as in maybe team conversations, how does that help to reframe an individual self-doubt? And how can leaders use that simple word to foster, I'll call it a growth mindset within their organizational culture? I'm so glad you picked up on that, Darlene, because I think it is a really powerful concept. If someone tells me that I can't lose weight, I can't exercise on a regular basis. My life is too hectic. […]

Who has been a guest on Climb Higher With Her

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Marian Stuart
• Adenah Bayoh
• Michelle Velez-Jonte
• Amanda Gardiner
• Christina Carey Dunleavy

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

15 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Contact Climb Higher With Her

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Climb Higher With Her