Gratitude Through Hard Times – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Episode Overview

In this deeply personal episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra sits down in person with Sandra Campos, a trailblazing CEO, board advisor, and serial entrepreneur whose story spans global fashion houses, digital transformation, and compassionate leadership.

From humble beginnings in her parents’ tortilla factory to leading billion-dollar brands like Diane von Furstenberg and PetMeds, Sandra’s journey is one of grit, grace, and reinvention. Sheopens up about her mother’s influence as an immigrant and lifelong learner, how that shaped her own discipline and drive, and why gratitude remains the throughline of every chapter in her life.

Together, Chris and Sandra unpack the difference between knowledge and wisdom, exploring how true leadership comes not from perfection but from experience, the kind earned through risk-taking, failure, and self-belief. Sandra shares how she’s learning to slow down, to truly listen to the sounds around her, from the birds on her rescue horse farm to the people who cross her path, and why presence might be the most powerful skill in business today.

They talk about the courage to show up before you’re ready, the importance of respect in partnerships, and how every ending can be the start of a new beginning if you meet it with optimism and curiosity. Sandra’s reflections on authenticity, self-authorship, and purpose offer timeless lessons for anyone navigating change or chasing meaning in modern leadership.

This episode is a reminder that you can’t teach wisdom — you live it. It’s a celebration of resilience, risk, and gratitude, and an invitation to believe that, no matter your age or stage, you’re always just beginning.

Themes & Highlights

●​ How Sandra’s immigrant mother instilled grit, gratitude, and lifelong learning 
●​ From “knowledge builds confidence” to “experience builds wisdom”

●​ Taking uncalculated risks — and learning to thrive through failure 
●​ The emotional intelligence behind leading through change 
●​ Presence as the ultimate leadership skill

●​  Why reinvention is not a restart, but a continuation of purpose​

Why Listen

At a time when leadership often feels defined by speed and perfection, Sandra reminds us that true wisdom comes from slowing down, showing up, and learning through experience. Her journey from small-town Texas to the global stage is proof that success built on gratitude, curiosity, and courage doesn’t just change careers...it transforms lives.

“Experience Builds Wisdom” is more than a conversation, it’s an invitation to see every risk, every chapter, and every quiet moment as a teacher.

In this deeply human and heartfelt conversation, Chris Schembra sits down with his longtime friend Kirti Naik, a powerhouse brand leader turned soulful storyteller, for an episode that moves beyond titles and accolades into the raw, unfiltered truth of a life well-lived. On this crisp New York City fall day, amid Yom Kippur reflections and the festive spirit of Diwali, Chris and Kirti explore the intertwined forces of fate, love, resilience, and identity.

Kirti opens up about her unexpected journey into motherhood and how her daughter, Kiran, became her North Star, pushing her to finish business school while pregnant, guiding her to build a better life, and teaching her lessons in forgiveness and courage. Together, Chris and Kirti unpack the subtle art of pausing in a world obsessed with speed: pausing before responding to an email, pausing to think, pausing to realign with who we are and who we want to become.

They delve into the heavy weight and quiet liberation of reputation, how cultural expectations and personal setbacks (like divorce) shape us, and how we can reclaim our own narrative even after painful turning points. Kirti shares how love and partnership with Greg have reshaped her family and her understanding of commitment — beyond paperwork and traditions — into something deeply chosen and resilient.

The conversation moves fluidly from practical life strategies (like managing anxiety, editing before you send, embracing imperfection) to profound reflections on destiny (or “amor fati”), legacy, and the humility that comes with decades of personal and professional growth. We hear about parenting in New York City, the courage to let go of perfectionism, and how success is measured not just by business milestones but by the depth of relationships we nurture along the way.

This is not a business episode,  it’s a blueprint for living with greater presence, courage, and gratitude. Whether you’re navigating big career decisions, untangling old expectations, or learning to pause before reacting, Kirti’s story is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and embrace the beautiful messiness of life.

1. “Kids, don’t worry about people knowing you. Make yourself worth knowing.” — Chris (quoting Fiorello LaGuardia)
    
2. “She was my North Star — the reason I wanted to be a better person, to work harder, and to finish what I started.” — Kirti
    
3. “Progress comes from movement, not perfection.” — Chris
    
4. “I’ve shifted from people pleasing to teaching and communicating what I authentically think.” — Kirti
    
5. “Precision requires pause. Sometimes waiting 15 minutes changes everything.” — Chris
    
6. “Reputation is hard to rewrite — but it’s not impossible when you lead with honesty and vulnerability.” — Kirti
    
7. “Material things don’t really matter. We don’t actually need anything but each other and some Netflix.” — Kirti
    
8. “We have to rise above business success and find success in our personal lives — the world needs that.” — Chris
    
9. “Love doesn’t have to be defined by societal milestones. Commitment can be something deeply chosen.” — Kirti
    
10. “It’s humbling to realize we’re still learning — not about tools or tactics, but about ourselves.” — Kirti
     

1. Pause Before You React — Writing a draft and waiting before sending helps you edit, clarify, and prevent future missteps.
    
2. Redefine Reputation — Your past doesn’t have to define you; vulnerability and new actions can reshape how others see you.
    
3. Parenthood as Catalyst — Unexpected life events, like surprise motherhood, can bring purpose and resilience you didn’t know you had.
    
4. Move from People Pleasing to Authenticity — Stop avoiding conflict; respectfully communicate your needs and boundaries.
    
5. Love Beyond Paperwork — Lasting commitment isn’t about traditional milestones but about shared choice and partnership.
    
6. Cultural Expectations Can Be Rewritten — Even deeply ingrained norms can shift when you choose your own happiness and truth.
    
7. Imperfection Is Human — Let go of needing to be flawless; aim for 80–90% and move forward.
    
8. True Success Is Relational — The depth of mentorship, family bonds, and love defines life more than job titles.
    
9. Anxiety Can Be Managed with Pause — Small intentional habits — like stepping back before acting — can reduce fear and increase control.
    
10. Fate vs. Coincidence — Sometimes the unexpected (from your child’s name to life detours) is guiding you toward who you’re meant to become.
     

In this riveting and deeply personal conversation, Chris Schembra sits down with Grace Smith — one of the world’s most respected hypnotherapists and the founder of the #1 hypnotherapy brand in the world — to explore how hypnosis can unlock peak performance, emotional clarity, and authentic leadership in the modern workplace.

Chris opens the episode by recounting how Grace helped him through a dark moment in 2021, using hypnotherapy to reconnect him to purpose, possibility, and a record-breaking year in business. From there, the conversation expands to cover Grace’s origin story, her groundbreaking work with high-achieving CEOs, and why hypnosis is less about “fixing” and more about revealing the strength already inside us.

Grace shares stunning stories from her early career — including how she helped a paralyzed man regain movement in a single session, a man who would later become her father-in-law. Together, they explore how the subconscious governs behavior, how leaders can reprogram outdated belief systems, and why gratitude often lives just beneath stress, waiting to be uncovered.

This episode is a masterclass in neuroscience, personal growth, and emotional intelligence for anyone looking to lead with clarity and courage in a world of chaos.

• Subconscious blocks and business growth
• The science of theta brainwave states and peak performance
• How trauma and stress quietly shape executive decision-making
• Why hypnosis helps leaders find clarity, confidence, and intuition
• The power of gratitude as a renewable energy source
• How to lead with presence in a world of distraction

• “When the subconscious is working against you, you’ll never reach your true potential.” – Grace Smith
• “Gratitude is there—it’s just buried beneath stress. Hypnosis helps you feel what’s already been inside you.” – Grace Smith
• “You’re not fixing broken people—you’re polishing the gem that was always there.” – Chris Schembra
• “Hypnosis gave me the pause I needed to take action toward healing. One week later, I bought a ticket to Italy.” – Chris Schembra
• “The brain doesn’t just change overnight because your circumstances improve. You have to rewire it—consciously.” – Grace Smith
• “I work with people whose decisions shift tectonic plates. When their subconscious is clear, the world moves with more grace.” – Grace Smith
• “Every subconscious breakthrough is followed by what I call a bonus miracle—change you didn’t even expect.” – Grace Smith
• “When you’re in theta, you bypass the ego. That’s where the intuition lives. That’s where the clarity begins.” – Grace Smith
• “We’re not adding anything. We’re removing what’s in the way of who you already are.” – Grace Smith
• “Hypnosis isn’t mind control. It’s mindset liberation.” – Grace Smith
• “Grace didn’t just help me recover—she helped me remember who I was before the noise.” – Chris Schembra
• “You can read every business book in the world. But if your subconscious is working against you, you’re building on sand.” – Chris Schembra
• “She’s not giving you a new mind—she’s handing you the keys to the one you forgot you had.” – Chris Schembra
  “Sometimes the only way forward is to pause long enough to hear the voice underneath the fear.” – Chris Schembra

• Grace’s first hypnotherapy session helped her quit smoking — and changed the course of her life
• How a United Nations peacekeeper paralyzed from a stroke moved his hand again in a single session
• Chris’s vulnerable account of his 2021 mental health crisis and the role Grace played in his recovery
• Why CEOs with billion-dollar companies are turning to hypnotherapy for their next breakthrough
• The neuroscience of flow, intuition, and decision-making under pressure

• Grace App: Hypnotherapy on-demand for stress, sleep, success, and more
• Learn more about 1:1 executive coaching with Grace

Learning is not about the outcome, like getting a good grade on your final. Learning is about the journey, the feeling you get when something finally makes sense, the moments of connection you have when studying with friends, the thrill of teaching a concept to another person. Learning is not a perfect process, it's messy and challenging, but it's necessary to adapt to failure or adversity.

Mattan Griffel is an expert on the importance of learning as a journey, not an outcome.

In his new book, "Python for MBA's", Mattan instills the mental models needed not only to code, but to look at the world with an artist's eye and a craftsman's heart.

Mattan is an award-winning faculty member at Columbia Business School, author of Python for MBAs, and two-time Y Combinator-backed entrepreneur. He is co-founder and COO of Ophelia, a company that helps people quit opioids without having to go to rehab. Mattan is also an Innovation Fellow at the Lang Center for Entrepreneurship and was selected as one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 in Education. Mattan advises companies on innovation and technology and has worked with companies like Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg, Condé Nast, American Express, NYSE, and JPMorgan. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, BusinessWeek, and the MIT Technology Review. Mattan studied Philosophy and Finance at New York University and wrote his thesis on the metaphysics of consciousness under David Chalmers and Ned Block.

In this episode, Mattan and Chris dive philosophically deep into Python, life, and learning.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

• Mattan giving credit and thanks to his middle school teacher (3:22)
• Teaching things you love (6:54)
• Developing critical thinking (11:01)
• Approaches to learning (17:57)
• Why coding is so essential (23:25)
• The technological revolution that is coming (27:18)
• Putting feelings first with code (29:41)
• Giving people the permission to fail (33:29)
• Python helping people have more integrity (35:14)
• What's next for Mattan (42:10)

Links:

• Connect with Mattan on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattangriffel/
• Python for MBAs - https://www.amazon.com/Python-MBAs-Mattan-Griffel/dp/0231193939
• Ophelia - https://ophelia.com

We all have the opportunity to take what life throws us and make the most out of it by seeing obstacles as a stepping stone and a growth opportunity.

To capitalize on this opportunity, we have to know deep down that que sera, sera, which means whatever will be, will be.

Allie Felix has used the mantra, que sera, sera to fuel growth throughout her entire life.

Allie is Embarc Collective’s VP of Platform, forging connections across startup founders, partner organizations, and investors between Tampa Bay and the broader tech ecosystem. Before boomeranging back to Tampa Bay, Allie led community for enterprise tech venture capital firm Work-Bench and DD bdusiness development for women's angel investing network 37 Angels in New York City. She CC started her career in marketing and partnerships for Tim Draper’s pre-accelerator program in San Francisco, Draper University. She is a graduate of Smith College and currently serves as a Venture Partner for Republic and Scout for bloom equity.

In this episode, Allie teaches us valuable life lessons by digging deep into her past using gratitude.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

• Allie giving credit and thanks to Brown University (2:42)
• Overcoming rejection (6:24)
• Developing the discipline to maintain a positive perspective (10:14)
• How impactful que sera, sera is (12:37)
• Managing the balance between success and struggle (19:27)
• Using gratitude to narrow the gap between a traumatic event and overcoming it (22:39)
• What's next for Allie (24:31)
• Allie's message to Brown University (26:27)

Links:

• Connect with Allie on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alliefelix/
• Embarc Collective - https://www.embarccollective.com

Negativity seems to surround us constantly. Whether it's on social media, the news, or at work, everywhere we look there seems to be negativity, anger, or sadness.

But we can choose whether we take on that negativity or not. Our attitude comes from how we look at life. We only get one life, so smile, stop and smell the roses, and enjoy every bit of it. Bring love to others through generosity. Because that's what our world needs the most right now, love and kindness.

Reneé Bemis knows just how powerful some love and kindness can be.

Reneé grew up in Palm Beach, Florida, playing golf, developing a drive that allowed her to compete with the very best golfers and go on to receive a full scholarship to play golf in college. That drive took her as an amateur to several professional tournaments and ultimately the US Open twice. Then, Reneé switched directions, translating her passion to something new: art. An accomplished sculptor, she has earned recognition and numerous awards throughout the United States. Utilizing the ancient lost wax method, her creations are initially created in clay, then cast in bronze. She is also the President of the Society of Animal Artists.

Together with her husband, Brian, she simultaneously runs Driftless Glen Distillery, an award-winning craft distillery in Baraboo, WI. They are located at the edge of the Driftless Area, a unique topographical part of the state that was missed by the last glaciation 15,000 years ago and that now has rugged hills, deep river valleys, rich prairies, and abundant limestone. This local terroir offers not only prime conditions to grow grains, but also a natural sandstone aquifer, allowing Driftless Glen to source grain and water locally and produce their whiskey 100% grain-to-glass. In addition to their bourbon and rye, they have a full range of products that include brandy, vodka, and gin. Driftless Glen takes pride in their double-distillation process that includes a 10,000 pound, 44-ft tall column still along with their one-of-a-kind pot still. Most recently awarded two double gold medals by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and rated by Whisky Advocate with a "90" for their Bourbon Whiskey, the company has been named "Wisconsin Distillery of the Year" by New York International Spirits Competition and shared as a "Top Ten US Spirits Brand You Must Try" by London Spirits Competition. From golf to art, and all the way to craft spirits, share Reneé's dream and "Taste the American Spirit."

In this episode, Reneé passionately shares with us how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

• Reneé giving credit and thanks to her little brother (3:00)
• Acknowledging people on a consistent basis (4:48)
• Values derived from adversity (8:56)
• Eliminating entitlement (11:02)
• Teaching others to enhance your own learning (12:04)
• Paying it forward to younger generations (15:57)
• Overcoming challenges during the pandemic (18:54)
• How to help others (26:17)
• Becoming more positive (33:50)

Links:

• Driftless Glen - https://driftlessglen.com
• Sculptures by Reneé - https://reneebemis.com

Setbacks can seem like the end of the world. It can feel as if all your progress is gone, and you're not sure if it's work persevering.

But when you face adversity in the difficult situations that come up in life, use it as an opportunity to do better for yourself and other people because most setbacks turn into the opportunity of a lifetime.

David Haskins especially knows how powerful a setback can be in order to set up for a comeback.

David is the Founder & CEO of Haskins & Company. He got his start in Law Firm Marketing a decade ago, helping David Aylor launch his practice. Since then, he has worked with over 100 law firms creating and implementing smart, aggressive growth strategies. Conferences and CLE's frequently ask him to share his wealth of knowledge and experience about law firm marketing.

In this episode, David shares about how to preserve and pivot in the most unexpected of situations.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

• David giving credit and thanks to his Grandfather, Solomon (3:13)
• How COVID completely changed priorities for the better (8:30)
• The value of taking yourself out of the equation (18:06)
• How impactful unexpected events can be (25:32)
• David's life advice to his twin daughters (31:24)

Links:

• Connect with David on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/skinnysc/
• Haskins & Company - https://haskins.co

Networking - it's something we all have to do but most of the time don't want to do. Networking can often feel awkward, cold, and transactional. This is especially true with the advancement of social media platforms like Linkedin.

But building relationships with others doesn't and shouldn't have to be this way. As social creatures, we crave genuine connection that leads to authentic relationships. But to build real and meaningful contacts, we need to go back to basics by tapping into our humanity and learning to be more intentional and authentic.

Susan McPherson is an expert on the ins and outs of the lost art of connecting. This is where the transactional nature of networking ends, and the meaningful creation on relationships begins.

Susan is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. She is the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact, providing storytelling, partnership creation and visibility to corporations, NGOs and social enterprises. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships. Susan has 25+ years of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry events including Inspirefest/Dublin, BSR, Center for Corporate Citizenship's Annual Summit, DLD and Techonomy., and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She has appeared on NPR, CNN, USA Today, The New Yorker, New York Magazine and the Los Angeles Times.

Currently, Susan invests in, and advises women-led technology start-ups, including iFundWomen, Inc., Messy.fm, Our Place, The Riveter, Park Place Payments, Hint Water, Apolitical, Arlo Skye, Giapenta and The Muse.  She serves on the boards of USA for UNHCR, The 19th News, and the Lower Eastside Girls Club, and serves on the advisory board of both The List and Alltruists. Additionally, she is a member of the MIT Solve Women and Technology Leadership Group and serves as an adviser to several nonprofits, including Girls Who Code, Ocean Collective, She’s The First, and The OpEd Project. Susan is a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador and has received numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company and Elle Magazine. She resides in Brooklyn.

In this episode, Susan dives deep into the concepts of her new book, The Lost Art of Connecting.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

• Susan giving credit and thanks to her 5th grade teacher (3:02)
• How listening and question asking can set you apart (6:49)
• Serving others before yourself (12:22)
• Finding out what you have to offer (15:54)
• Solving the insecurity of being left out (18:39)
• The first step to gathering people (21:41)
• Bringing people together around a particular issue (22:57)
• The importance of connecting people (25:34)
• Employees having time off to volunteer (29:11)
• How meaningfully connecting with others leads to efficiency (31:27)
• The power of reconnecting with people (33:41)
• Susan's love language (37:23)
• Susan's message to her 5th grade teacher (39:57)

Links:

• Connect with Susan on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanmcpherson/
• The Lost Art of Connecting - https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Art-Connecting-Meaningful-Relationships-ebook-dp-B08JZFYX46/dp/B08JZFYX46/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1601645264
• Julian Treasure's TED Talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen_better

SEO for decades has been thought of as an increasingly complex element of marketing to grow your company. But in this groundbreaking book, by Eli Schwartz, we uncover the human and artistic side of growth.

Eli's hypothesis is that good SEO is not derived by throwing money and content at a search engine algorithm, but it's created by taking the right intention and building a great product.

Product-led SEO is driven by listening to the needs of the customers you serve and delivering solutions that drive growth.

Eli is an SEO expert and consultant with more than a decade of experience working for leading B2B and B2C companies. Eli’s strategies have generated millions of dollars in revenue for some of the internet’s top websites. He has helped clients like Shutterstock, WordPress, Blue Nile, Quora, and Zendesk execute highly successful global SEO strategies.

As head of SurveyMonkey’s SEO team, Eli oversaw the company’s global operations, helped launch the first Asia-Pacific office, and grew the company’s organic search from just 1 percent of revenue to a key driver of global revenue. Eli’s work has been featured by TechCrunch, Entrepreneur.com, and Y Combinator, and he has given talks at business schools and keynoted conferences around the world.

In this episode, Eli thoughtfully shares with us insights and strategies from his book, Product-Led SEO.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

• Eli giving credit and thanks to his wife, Shawna (3:58)
• Being collaborative over technical (7:10)
• SEO as a long-term life learning strategy (11:15)
• SEO for product teams not marketing teams (14:36)
• Examples of product-led SEO (17:32)
• AI as an impediment to product-led SEO (20:25)
• Consultants versus full-time employees (23:23)
• Investing in SEO strategy (28:10)
• The first step to learning SEO (33:12)
• Red ocean versus blue ocean SEO (36:37)
• How Eli is investing in others (40:45)

Links:

• Connect with Eli on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwartze/
• Product-Led SEO - https://www.elischwartz.co/product-led-seo/

When was the last time you wrote a thank you letter? For most of us, the last time was as a child to thank friends or family members for gifts or other generous acts.

But the long forgotten act of writing thank you notes is more powerful than a simple thank you. Letters of gratitude can spark upward spirals of positivity and connection, among other things.

Gina Hamadey especially knows just how valuable writing thank you letters can be.

Gina is the author of the forthcoming book, I Want to Thank You, about her year writing 365 thank you notes to friends, neighbors, family members, mentors, and more (much more!) She was the travel editor at Food & Wine and Rachael Ray Every Day and started her career at the groundbreaking titles O, the Oprah Magazine, and George. She founded the content and social strategy firm Penknife Media. She has written for The New York Times, Real Simple, and Women's Health, among other publications.

In this episode, Gina thoughtfully shares with us key lessons around gratitude from her new book.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

• Gina giving credit and thanks to her 5th grade teacher, Mary C. Hall (3:24)
• The role of mentorship in destiny (5:53)
• The synergistic nature of writing and gratitude (7:24)
• If gratitude is selfish (10:09)
• If a letter is always the best way to express your gratitude (17:13)
• Giving and expecting nothing in return (22:07)
• The importance of reliving the past (25:07)
• The strength of reactivating weak ties (34:31)
• Gina's message to her 5th grade teacher (42:00)

Links:

• Connect with Gina on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-hamadey-5891894/
• Gina's Website - https://www.ginahamadey.com/
• I Want to Thank You - https://www.amazon.com/Want-Thank-You-Gratitude-Disconnected/dp/0593189620/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=