with Michele Kawamoto Perry
Expressions of Leadership
When honing your own leadership style, learning from others is powerful.
Join leadership advisor and coach Michele Kawamoto Perry in conversation with a variety of leaders, from the start-up CEO breaking new technology ground, to the teacher challenging the status quo, to the doctor caring for patients, to the artist creating innovative work. She delves into leadership styles, explores philosophies, and uncovers stand-out practices. Get inspired by new perspectives and ways to lead more effectively from those who make it happen.
Latest Episodes
Leaders emerge from every walk of life, and leadership is something you practice, not a title you hold. On Expressions of Leadership, executive coach and leadership development strategist Michele Kawamoto Perry talks with startup founders, teachers, healthcare practitioners, artists, and changemakers about how they lead, what shaped them, and what they’ve learned along the way. Whether you’re defining your leadership or evolving it, you’ll come away with real stories and practical ideas to lead with greater impact.
Michele is the founder of The Forward Project, where she helps organizations build cultures where leadership shows up at every level.
Listen live on CKMS-FM, Mondays 12–1 pm ET (replay Fridays 7–8 am ET), or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow @ExpressionsOfLeadership on Instagram and YouTube.
Dr. David Bardeen, Assistant Curator of European Painting and Sculpture at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), joins Michele Kawamoto Perry on Expressions of Leadership to explore an unexpected career journey from corporate law to art history. After building a successful career in finance and law, David began to question whether the path he had chosen was the one he wanted to continue pursuing. An experience at the Metropolitan Museum of Art sparked a deeper interest in art, eventually leading him to make a bold change at 39 and pursue a new career.
In this conversation, David reflects on what it takes to rethink success, step into the unfamiliar, and embrace the challenge of becoming a beginner again. He shares how curiosity, relationship-building, collaboration, and the ability to connect different fields of knowledge have shaped his work and approach to leadership. From navigating a major career change to finding unexpected connections between art, science, and history, David’s story offers insights into the courage to change direction, the value of lifelong learning, and the possibilities that emerge when we remain open to new paths. Follow David Bardeen on Instagram @dbardeen. You can also learn more about what is happening at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art at www.lacma.org. Don’t miss an episode! Be sure to click on the Follow and Subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also catch the show on CKMS 102.7 FM Radio Waterloo, Canada.
Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Expressions of Leadership and David Bardeen 02:02 Growing Up Between Art and Science 04:50 From Harvard to Finance and Corporate Law 10:09 Leadership Lessons from Corporate Law 13:28 Discovering a Passion for Art History 15:47 Leaving Law to Pursue a New Career 18:24 The Caravaggio Painting That Changed His Perspective 22:17 Starting Over: The Courage to Be a Beginner 30:52 From Art Historian to Museum Curator at LACMA 42:37 Why Relationships and Collaboration Matter 49:36 Career Reinvention and the Evolution of Leadership 54:00 Wisdom and Whimsy: Advice and a Creative Question
