Welcome to 'Doing it Right: The Stories that Make Us', hosted by author and national news contributor Valerie Sokolosky.
On the show, you'll hear fascinating stories from successful leaders who have lived life "doing it right", the journey to becoming a leader, and personal experiences that formed their character, drive, impact, and influence.
Their stories of authenticity will inspire you!
Leadership Starts in the Brain | Ep. 215 - Doing it Right!
This conversation will change the way you think about leadership — from the inside out.
We spend more than 90,000 hours of our lives at work. The real question is: Will those hours be draining — or deeply meaningful?
The answer lies in leadership. The quality of leadership shapes not only performance, but culture, engagement, and the everyday human experience inside an organization. To make better decisions, show up as the best version of yourself, and build workplaces where people truly thrive, we have to start with one powerful place…
The brain.
In this episode of Doing It Right, Valerie sits down with Dr. Sherry Yellin, a neuroscientist, executive coach, and leadership expert with more than 30 years of experience helping leaders understand the science behind human performance.
In her book, The Science of High-Performance Leadership, Dr. Yellin explains how people learn, think, connect, and perform at their best. She reveals how great leadership isn’t just about strategy or personality — it’s about aligning your leadership style with how the human brain actually functions.
Creating a healthy, high-performing culture isn’t guesswork… It’s neuroscience in action.
Top Takeaways:
-THE TECHNOLOGY THAT DRIVES PERFORMANCE IS THE BRAIN
-THE GREATEST THING LEADERS CAN DO IS MINIMIZE THREAT
-WHAT DRIVES CULTURE? THE IMMEDIATE LEADER
-CULTURE DRIVES BUSINESS SUCCESS
-BEING A LEADER WORTH FOLLOWING DEPENDS ON SCIENCE
LET ME KNOW WHAT FUTURE TOPICS YOU’D LOVE TO EXPLORE!
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PROFESSIONALISM AND EXECUTIVE PRESENCE www.valerieandcompany.com
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9 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT
Bold Leaders Ditch Dare Do | Ep. 214 - Doing it Right!
We’re talking about courage – the kind that asks you to let go of what’s no longer working, step into who you really are, and lead with intention. Deb Dib, author of Ditch. Dare. Do., gives a powerful call to leaders who are ready to stop playing it safe and start leading boldly. Deb challenges us to ditch outdated habits, dare to trust our strengths, and do the hard, meaningful work of showing up authentically.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you are and who you know you’re meant to be as a leader—this conversation is for you.
Top Takeaways:
-GET GUTSY-DO THINGS YOU’RE SCARED OF
-HAVE A FOCUSED BRAND STRATEGY
-LIVE YOUR VALUES
-TO BE MEMORABLE LEARN TO TELL STORIES
-COLLAABORATE AND SHARE
LET ME KNOW WHAT FUTURE TOPICS YOU’D LOVE TO EXPLORE!
FREE!! —JOIN THOUSANDS WHO GET VALERIE’S BEST INSIGHTS ON
PROFESSIONALISM AND EXECUTIVE PRESENCE www.valerieandcompany.com
Follow her journey and expert insights:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriesokolosky/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriesokolosky/)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValerieAndCompany (https://www.facebook.com/ValerieAndCompany)
X: https://twitter.com/valsokolosky?lang=en (https://twitter.com/valsokolosky?lang=en)
Subscribe, rate, and write a review on Apple Podcast- https://apple.co/2SHDDmo (https://apple.co/2SHDDmo)
Subscribe to Doing it Right vlog cast: youtube.com/valerieandcompany
Listen and watch Doing it Right the Stories that Make Us:
https://www.valerieandcompany.com/Podcast (https://www.valerieandcompany.com/Podcast)
19 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT
Fashion With Confidence | Ep. 213 - Doing it Right!
What does it take to build a boutique that lasts—and becomes a destination?
Betty Reiter, owner of the iconic Betty Reiter Boutique in Dallas’ Preston Center, believes the clothes you wear speak for you the moment you enter a room—and continue to speak long after you leave.
Raised in Paris, France, Betty developed an intuitive sense of fashion early on. Today, she brings that European sensibility to life through a keen eye for visual curation, instinctively combining pieces to create personalized looks for every woman she styles. Her philosophy is simple and enduring: “The clothes do not wear you—you wear the clothes."
Top Takeaways:
-Be flexible when following your passion
-Remain young in your heart, thoughts, & activities
-Don't miss the gifts of aging
-Curiosity is the propeller of life
-Business anxieties help you gain mastery
LET ME KNOW WHAT FUTURE TOPICS YOU’D LOVE TO EXPLORE!
FREE!! —JOIN THOUSANDS WHO GET VALERIE’S BEST INSIGHTS ON
PROFESSIONALISM AND EXECUTIVE PRESENCE www.valerieandcompany.com
Follow her journey and expert insights:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriesokolosky/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriesokolosky/)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValerieAndCompany (https://www.facebook.com/ValerieAndCompany)
X: https://twitter.com/valsokolosky?lang=en (https://twitter.com/valsokolosky?lang=en)
Subscribe, rate, and write a review on Apple Podcast- https://apple.co/2SHDDmo (https://apple.co/2SHDDmo)
Subscribe to Doing it Right vlog cast: youtube.com/valerieandcompany
Listen and watch Doing it Right the Stories that Make Us:
https://www.valerieandcompany.com/Podcast (https://www.valerieandcompany.com/Podcast)
Inside a recent episode
Leadership Starts in the Brain | Ep. 215 - Doing it Right!
Published 2 Mar 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] We need great engineers. We need great nurses. We need great, every single role that's out there. So recognizing, I don't want the responsibility of being a people leader. It's a great awareness. And so we want to know that early on because if you do choose to be a people leader, you should also be choosing to continuously develop yourself. And you also have to choose that when you walk in the door or you turn on your screen wherever your workplace is, that you're creating an environment where people have the opportunity to become the best version of themselves. Well said. Well said. Sherry, how did you decide early on that you wanted to study the brain? […]
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