The Leadership Dance Podcast

Welcome to The Leadership Dance podcast, where Alissa Hsu Lynch—former world-class dancer turned global business executive—shares insights and inspiration from visionary leaders who are breaking barriers in the arts and business worlds. Tune in to discover how to step into your star power and confidently choreograph your own leadership dance.

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Aug. 3, 2026

Ep. 45: Stop waiting for permission, with Lisa Shalett

"I realized I was allowing other people to be my source of confidence." Lisa Shalett, co-founder of Extraordinary Women on Boards, joins host Alissa Hsu Lynch to talk about a career that spans equities, compliance, crisis communications, and the boardroom. A former Goldman Sachs partner, she spent twenty years at the firm reinventing herself across roles most people wouldn't have the courage to take, including managing Goldman's brand through one of the worst crises in Wall Street history. Wh

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June 22, 2026

Ep. 44: Dancing into her destiny, with Alexandra Hutchinson

"The things that make me different are why I am who I am." Professional ballerina Alexandra Hutchinson joins Alissa Hsu Lynch to talk about a journey that began as a “miracle baby” and led to performing with the Dance Theatre of Harlem on stages around the world. She trained at the Academy of the Dance, Washington School of Ballet, and Indiana University, where she earned a B.S. in Ballet with an outside field in arts management. Now in her eighth season with DTH, she recently performed the t

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June 8, 2026

Ep. 43: Dancing with whales, with Karim Iliya

"The first time you swim with a whale, you realize your place in the world — that not everything revolves around us humans." Karim Iliya, photographer, filmmaker, and whale swimming guide, joins Alissa Hsu Lynch to talk about a life built on curiosity and constant motion. He grew up moving every two to four years across the Middle East and Asia, taught himself photography at 13, and eventually found his way beneath the surface. He free dives with humpback whales, filmed orcas for Netflix, and

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May 25, 2026

Ep. 42: Two hundred percent of a person, with Clive Chang

"I think music was a way of me finding identity, of finding purpose." Clive Chang, President and CEO of YoungArts, joins Alissa Hsu Lynch to talk about a career that began as an immigrant in Canada, bonding with his twin sister and their first piano teacher over music when neither spoke the other's language. He went on to earn degrees in both music and finance, adding an MFA in musical theater writing from NYU and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He’s held leadership roles at Lincoln Cent

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Reviews

Impressive interview style

"I was impressed by your interview style and the production quality. Too many podcast creators want to show how smart they are and go on and on (read: pontificate). The interview flow and your questio…"

Steve | June 24, 2025

Interesting perspective

"Alissa’s unique background and experiences makes for a very interesting perspective on leadership and career paths! I’m also enjoying her interview style and am looking forward to hearing from more o…"

Erin | Nov. 20, 2024

Compelling story

"The concept of The Leadership Dance is such a powerful and authentic metaphor. Alissa shared her journey with us and it is incredibly compelling. The idea of choreographing your own leadership path—e…"

Brenda Becker | Nov. 20, 2024

Enjoyed podcast

"I thought it was interesting and informative. I enjoyed the advice to stay focused on goals and what makes you happy, and the acknowledgement that it is challenging to do so."

Margot Carroll | Nov. 24, 2024

Engaging and Insightful

"Enjoyed learning about Alissa’s journey and lessons learned. Looking forward to listening to future episodes!!"

Rajit Kamal | Nov. 25, 2024

Leadership with Grace and Flow

"Each "The Leadership Dance" episode is a perfectly choreographed mix of inspiration, insight, and actionable advice. Alissa Hsu Lynch’s thoughtful approach, relatable stories, and expert interviews d…"

Katie Castillo-Wilson | Dec. 8, 2024

Inspiring and Relevant

"Such an inspiring set of conversations that are relevant and engaging- with easy application for career growth!"

JenElmashni | Jan. 18, 2025

Deep insights, unique perspective

"Really enjoying Alissa’s perspective and questions. I resonate with the core exploration here of how does an artistic/creative person make the shift and thrive in the business world!"

scottandjames | Dec. 12, 2024

Great listen

"Insightful conversations about business leadership and adversity. An entertaining and easy listen!"

Rick | Feb. 12, 2025

Thank You!

"Thank you Alissa for being an inspirational role model and bringing light to other role models through this podcast. You are inspiring a generation of people who have never seen someone like them ge…"

Outside-the-box leader | Feb. 17, 2025

Insightful, honest, and empowering

"It's wonderful listening to the vibrant, cogent discussions that so accurately and often poignantly capture the challenges and joys of being a woman leader. I realized that I have had so few peers to…"

Angela | March 2, 2025

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