In Confidence with Lisa Sun: A Gravitas Podcast

From performing in Rent and Aida to directing The Notebook and The Wiz, Schele Williams has built a legacy not only through what she’s accomplished, but through how she leads. In this episode of In Confidence, Lisa and Schele sit down to discuss how the discipline, heart, and conviction she’s carried through her career have shaped the way she shows up.   What You’ll Learn: Why representation behind the table can change the entire story. How to shift from scarcity to a purpose-driven mindset. What it takes to overcome stage fright and own your voice. Why your peers aren’t your competition, but your inspiration.   Whether you're navigating your own creative path or redefining leadership in any industry, this conversation is a masterclass that will leave you thinking bigger and rooting harder for the people around you.   00:00 Intro 00:43 Meet Schele Williams 01:44 Getting Started in the Arts 07:41Love for the Arts 09:21 Transitioning from Performer to Director 10:45 Her First Directing Opportunity 13:40 Comparing the Roles of Performer and Director 18:33 How Performing Shaped Her Directing Style 21:47 What She Had to Learn to Become a Great Director 23:08 Building Her Leadership Style 25:17 Handling Rejection and Staying Confident 28:28 The Power of Community and Peer Support 32:11 Creating Work You’re Proud Of (Even If Others Don’t Get It) 35:47 Learning to Lead Diverse Teams 38:50 Advice for Overcoming Stage Fright 41:46 Applying Storytelling Across Roles 43:49 How Broadway Is Evolving 50:22 Theater’s Role in Expanding Perspective 53:09 Breaking Barriers in Broadway Leadership 54:54 Writing Your Legacy for the Next Generation 57:20 What’s Ahead and Her Advice for Confidence 58:42 Outro   Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:  ⁠Visit Our Website⁠ ⁠Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback⁠ ⁠Follow Gravitas on Instagram⁠ ⁠Follow Lisa on Instagram⁠ ⁠Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com 

Before success happens in reality, it happens in the mind. Whether it’s sinking the game-winning shot or stepping confidently into a high-stakes meeting, elite performers don’t just hope for success, they start out by visualizing it. Dr. Wendy Borlabi, a high-performance expert and sport psychology consultant, has spent her career helping top athletes and leaders harness the power of mental preparation to perform at their peak.   In this episode of In Confidence, Lisa and Dr. Borlabi explore how your mindset shapes outcomes and the mental resilience required to stay focused under pressure and bounce back from setbacks.   Key takeaways include: * How visualization is a proven tool for peak performance. * The power of routines. * How reframing a fear of failure to a ‘win-win’ mindset can lead to breakthroughs. * The leadership qualities that foster an unstoppable team.   Success isn’t just about talent; it’s about training your mind to succeed. Whether you’re navigating high-pressure moments in sports, business, or everyday life, Dr. Borlabi’s insights will help you build confidence, stay composed, and turn challenges into opportunities.   00:00 Intro 02:00 Meet Dr. Wendy Borlabi 04:07 Love of Sports 08:04 Career in Sports Psychology 10:50 Techniques Shared with Elite Athletes 12:19 The Effectiveness of Routines 15:20 The Importance of Deep Breathing 16:48 How Openness Helps You Build Authentic Connections 19:04 Letting Resistance Play Out 25:37 The Power of Visualization 28:22 Life is About Perspective 29:41 Pulling the Best Out of Your Team 31:33 Women in Male-Dominated Fields 32:59 25 Ideas in 2025 to Accelerate Action for IWD 34:32 Outro 36:00 Disclaimer   Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:  ⁠Visit Our Website⁠ ⁠Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback⁠ ⁠Follow Gravitas on Instagram⁠ ⁠Follow Lisa on Instagram⁠ ⁠Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com

April 1 marks the calendar for office mandates saying it’s time to go back to working in office 4 to 5 days a week. But for many, this return feels like more than a logistical shift. It’s emotional. It’s generational. And it’s bringing up big questions about purpose, productivity, and power. In this episode, Lisa unpacks why the return-to-office conversation hits such a nerve and how we can make this moment work for everyone.   We cover: Why returning feels so personal and what generational tensions have to do with it. The pros and cons of working from home vs in office. What employees and leaders can do to navigate this transition. How dressing for work has changed and how to find your new “power look” (yes, sneakers count). Whether you’re remote forever or back to a badge-in culture, this episode offers tangible strategies for navigating this modern workplace moment with confidence.   00:00 Intro 00:57 Why Are We Resisting This Return? 05:40 Lisa’s Playbook for Returning to the Office 11:22 Turning this Moment Into a Win-Win 12:10 Rethinking Leadership 20:30 It’s an “And,” Not an “Or” 22:38 What Is Your Resistance Telling You? 25:38 Dress for the Moment 28:13 Long-Term Vision 29:36 Outro 30:04 Disclaimer   Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:  ⁠Visit Our Website⁠ ⁠Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback⁠ ⁠Follow Gravitas on Instagram⁠ ⁠Follow Lisa on Instagram⁠ ⁠Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com ⁠

In this episode of In Confidence, Lisa is joined by friends, Marybeth Coleman and Lauren Wolf, for a laugh-filled deep dive into romantasy: the genre where fantasy and romance collide. This once quietly passed–between–friends genre has turned into a full-blown cultural moment and offers much more than just dragons and slow-burn romance.   From the book boyfriends of Fourth Wing and the favorite tropes of A Court of Thorns and Roses to the ways these heroines help us reconnect with our own strength, navigate healing, and reflect on the relationships we choose, this is a cozy, candid conversation about why these wildly entertaining reads stick with us long after the final page.   00:00 Intro 02:47 Meet the Guests: Lauren & Marybeth 04:10 What Is Romantasy? 07:30 Lisa's Romantasy Algorithm   08:58 How We Got Hooked: Personal Journeys into the Genre 12:40 From Secret to Mainstream: Normalizing Romantasy 15:30 Yes, Men Read It Too 16:13 Why Women Love Romantasy 19:30 Empowering Heroines & Escapism 21:17 Reflections of Real Life: Adversity, Growth, and Relationships 25:44 From Streaming to Reading: A Shift in What We Crave 29:07 Rapid Fire: Tropes, Favorites, and More 30:21 The Book Boyfriend Phenomenon 37:03 How These Stories Challenge the Way We Live 38:23 Romance vs. Fantasy: Which One Elevates the Other? 40:10 The Community Effect: Romantasy as a Shared Experience 42:25 Outro 44:20 Disclaimer   Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:  ⁠Visit Our Website⁠⁠Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback⁠ ⁠Follow Gravitas on Instagram⁠ ⁠Follow Lisa on Instagram⁠ ⁠Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com ⁠

"The only way we're ever going to watch a women’s game the way it deserves to be watched is if we had our own place.” It was a passing comment made out of frustration, but for Jenny Nguyen, it sparked a vision that turned into The Sports Bra, the first-ever sports bar dedicated 100% to women’s sports. In this episode, Jenny, CEO and Founder of The Sports Bra, shares how that one moment changed everything, the risks and triumphs of building something groundbreaking, and why we’re witnessing a turning point for women’s sports.  “All the things I imagined The Sports Bra doing in 10 years, we did in year one. And I realized that I hadn’t dreamed big enough.” — Jenny Nguyen    00:00 Intro 01:17 Jenny Nguyen's Intro 3:00 Jenny's Life Story 6:14 Integrating Into American Culture and Growing Up With Sports In The Household 12:11 Love of Basketball; Being In A Team + Accessibility  15:33 What Sparked The Idea of he Sports Bra 24:52 Entrepreneurship; Tell Everyone Your Idea  27:18 A Chain Reaction of Support 32:17 Grand Opening Day 34:04 Vulnerability is Connection 36:44 What's Next For The Sports Bra 38:02 The Legacy of The Sports Bra 45:44 The Rise of Women's Sports 51:35 Equity in Women's Sports 54:17 Final Thoughts and Recap 55:04 Disclaimer   Wear Jenny's Quote in our Mosaic Collection The Sports Bra   Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration: Visit Our Website Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback Follow Gravitas on Instagram Follow Lisa on Instagram Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com   For International Women's Day 2025, Gravitas has brought together 25 extraordinary leaders in business, sports, media, technology, and government to share bold ideas on how we can advance gender equality, NOW. The World Economic Forum predicts it will take 134 years to achieve gender equity at the current pace. 134 years is too long to wait. Get involved with our 25 Ideas in 2025 Accelerate Action campaign by heading to GravitasNewYork.com to download your very own Checklist of 25 Ideas or to buy our Corazon Suffragist blouse. For all of March, a portion of sales supports Catalyst, a non-profit helping to advance gender equity In the workplace.

Have you ever been told to be more confident? Society has conditioned us to believe confidence means speaking louder or puffing our chest, but what if we’ve been thinking about it all wrong?   In this episode, Lisa reveals a powerful truth: Confidence is a choice and a mindset before it becomes a behavior. It’s not about bravado or performance; it’s about trusting in your own abilities. We’re all born fully self-confident, but over time, six powerful forces shape our inner critic and hold us back. The good news? You can break free and choose gravitas.   If you’ve ever doubted yourself, this episode will change the way you see confidence, because it’s not about being the loudest in the room; it’s about owning your strengths and stepping into your power.Listen in and discover: Why confidence is a mindset before it’s a behavior The six forces that hold us back (and how to take away their power) How to shift your inner dialogue and take control of your narrative The eight superpowers that redefine confidence, because confidence looks different for everyone ⁠Discover Your Superpowers at MyConfidenceLanguage.com ⁠ 00:00 Intro 01:14 We're All Born Fully Self-Confident 02:40 The 6 Forces That Hold Us Back 07:09 Breaking Free From The 6 Forces 10:48 Confidence Is A Choice 12:18 The 8 Superpowers That Redefine Confidence 18:31 Lisa's Story and How Shifting Your Mindset Can Empower You 21:15 Your Inner Critic 23:01 Recap and Final Thoughts 24:18 Disclaimer   Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration: ⁠Visit Our Website⁠ ⁠Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback⁠ ⁠Follow Gravitas on Instagram⁠ ⁠Follow Lisa on Instagram⁠ ⁠Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com ⁠  

In this episode of In Confidence, Lisa is joined by her dear friend, Vicky Nguyen, the anchor of NBC Daily News and Chief Consumer Investigative Correspondent for The Today Show. Vicky opens up about her remarkable journey from being a boat baby escaping Vietnam to becoming a trusted national news anchor. She shares insights from her forthcoming book, Boat Baby (out on April 1st), and talks about resilience, vulnerability, and the power of moving forward despite challenges. This episode is a testament to the immigrant experience, the importance of connection, and the strength of family. Listen in for an inspiring conversation full of wisdom and heart.    00:00 Intro 00:48 Vicky Nguyen 02:05 Lisa and Vicky's Friendship 10:04 Confidence and Insecurities at Work and at Home 16:19 Immigrant Experience and Power of Resilience 19:30 Vicky's Book, Boat Baby 25:33 Key Takeaways From Boat Baby 31:13 Era of Transparency and Connection 32:31 Did You Ever Imagine This Life? 36:14 The Real Goal of Boat Baby 39:12 Final Thoughts 39:42 25 Ideas in 2025 to Accelerate Action 40:54 Disclaimer   Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:  Visit Our Website Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback Follow Gravitas on Instagram Follow Lisa on Instagram Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com   Get involved with our 25 Ideas in 2025 Accelerate Action campaign by heading to GravitasNewYork.com to download your very own Checklist of 25 Ideas or to buy our Corazon Suffragist blouse. For all of March, a portion of sales supports Catalyst, a non-profit helping to advance gender equity In the workplace. 

In this mini-episode of In Confidence, Lisa introduces a powerful exercise designed to reset your mindset: "7-5-7." Whether you’re facing a setback, feeling anxious, or simply need a quick boost, this simple meditation can help you recenter your energy. Lisa explains why this exercise is so effective and how she uses it daily, from the beginning of her keynotes to moments of stress. You’ll get a chance to experience it firsthand as Lisa walks you through each step and explains how it can be used to release negative emotions and tap into your personal power. Discover how this small practice can make a life-changing difference on how you take on the day.    00:00 Intro 01:03 7-5-7 Exercise 04:05 The Power Of This Exercise 07:23 Final Thoughts 07:54 Disclaimer   Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration: Visit Our Website Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback Follow Gravitas on Instagram Follow Lisa on Instagram Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com   For International Women's Day 2025, Gravitas has brought together 25 extraordinary leaders in business, sports, media, technology, and government to share bold ideas on how we can advance gender equality, NOW. The World Economic Forum predicts it will take 134 years to achieve gender equity at the current pace. 134 years is too long to wait.   Get involved with our 25 Ideas in 2025 Accelerate Action campaign by heading to GravitasNewYork.com to download your very own Checklist of 25 Ideas or to buy our Corazon Suffragist blouse. For all of March, a portion of sales supports Catalyst, a non-profit helping to advance gender equity In the workplace.

Join us for this special In Confidence episode as we celebrate International Women’s Day—a day dedicated to recognizing achievements, reflecting on progress, and taking action for gender equality. On this episode, Lisa dives into the history of International Women’s Day, shares why this day is so important to the mission of Gravitas, and introduces an exciting Gravitas IWD campaign and how you can help Accelerate Action toward gender equity in 2025 and beyond.   Tune in to honor those who paved the way, so we can continue to carve a wider path forward.   00:00 Intro 00:45 History of International Women's Day 01:27 Why IWD is important to us at Gravitas 03:12 Gravitas' IWD 2025 campaign 04:38 How you can get involved   Get involved with our 25 Ideas in 2025 Accelerate Action campaign by heading to GravitasNewYork.com to download your very own Checklist of 25 Ideas or to buy our Corazon Suffragist blouse. For all of March, a portion of sales supports Catalyst, a non-profit helping to advance gender equity In the workplace.   Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration: Visit Our Website Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback Follow Gravitas on Instagram Follow Lisa on Instagram Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com

Have you ever found yourself saying "sorry" even when you haven’t done anything wrong? In this episode of In Confidence, Lisa Sun challenges the habit of apologizing unnecessarily and explores how it holds us back. How do we break out of a deficit mindset or shrinking effect? By replacing "sorry" with "thank you." Lisa also introduces the "Sorry Counter," a powerful tool to help you track and reduce the times you apologize when it’s not necessary, empowering you to communicate more confidently.   There’s no time for apologies when you’re stepping into your full power.      00:00 Intro 01:36 Why Do We Apologize 03:47 Replace Sorry with Thank You 04:47 Alternatives to Sorry 09:09 The Sorry Counter 12:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 12:48 Disclaimer   Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:   Visit Our Website Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback Follow Gravitas on Instagram Follow Lisa on Instagram Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com