What happens when a high-powered executive is forced to pause—and begins to truly listen?

In this deeply personal and inspiring conversation, Rebecca Kaykas-Wolff sits down with longtime friend and sales enablement leader Roderick Jefferson to talk about what it really means to lead with empathy, live with intention, and rebuild from the inside out.

Roderick shares the story behind his life-altering stroke and the profound transformation that followed. Together, they explore the evolution from hustle-fueled success to values-led legacy, the fallacy of work-life balance, and why EQ—emotional intelligence—is no longer optional in today’s leadership landscape.

This episode is a masterclass in perspective, vulnerability, and redefining impact on your own terms.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Roderick reframed his definition of success through adversity
• Why “give to give” has become his personal and professional mantra
• The role empathy plays in high-performance leadership
• Why transformation is essential (and what it really takes)
• How younger generations are shifting the narrative on work and life

Whether you're a seasoned leader, an emerging executive, or simply someone navigating big life shifts, this episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and lead with heart.

Welcome to the premiere episode of The Luminary Lens, where heart meets strategy and stories spark transformation. Host Rebecca Kaykas-Wolff—a corporate marketing leader, salon curator, and founder of the Luminary Society—kicks off the series with John Hagel, acclaimed strategist and author of The Journey Beyond Fear.

In this candid and thoughtful conversation, John shares why fear—not flawed strategies—is often the greatest obstacle to growth, and how emotional intelligence, curiosity, and community can unlock new potential in the age of AI. Drawing from decades of experience in Silicon Valley, he outlines what it means to lead with purpose in rapidly evolving environments—and why passion is often missing from the workplace.

Rebecca brings her signature style of intentional conversation to explore the human side of transformation, making space for reflections that reach beyond business as usual.

In this episode:

• Why fear is driving resistance in leadership and organizations
• How to cultivate the “Passion of the Explorer” to sustain impact
• Why innovation demands emotional intelligence and creative risk
• A new model for strategy: Zoom Out to find the vision, Zoom In to make it real
• How leaders can embrace transformation without triggering resistance
• What it means to scale an “edge” and build toward a new core of growth

If you believe business needs more curiosity, courage, and humanity, this conversation is just the beginning.

Join the conversation using #LuminaryLens.

The Luminary Lens is a podcast where technology-marketing leader, salon curator, and champion of emotionally intelligent leadership Rebecca Kaykas-Wolff invites executives, artists, athletes, and other industry luminaries to share the “aha” moments that transformed their work and their lives. In this trailer, Rebecca previews relaxed, salon-style conversations that blend pragmatic business and marketing insight with soulful reflection. Expect candid stories from boardrooms, design studios, stables, and stages, plus practical takeaways for building purpose-driven careers, teams, and lives that turn inspiration into action. Pull up a chair, hit follow, and discover how intentional dialogue can transform you—professionally and personally—one story at a time.