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B Student Podcast

B Student Podcast

Written by: Betsy Gardner
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The B Student Podcast is hosted by Betsy Gardner, the President and CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. The podcast focuses on exploring the "B side" of influential and dynamic professionals.

Just like the B-side of a record, where deeper, more personal passions often live, this podcast highlights the less publicized yet deeply impactful aspects of these individuals' work and lives. Betsy brings her extensive experience as a CEO, speaker, consultant, and executive coach to dive into conversations with experts from diverse fields.

The goal is to provide listeners with actionable insights, strategies, and inspiration to help them succeed and create meaningful impact in their own careers and communities. Each episode introduces listeners to unique perspectives and lessons on topics like leadership, emotional intelligence, community building, and personal growth—empowering the audience to "be" more successful and impactful in their own lives.

About the host:
Betsy Gardner is a dynamic leader with a diverse professional background. Since January 2017, she has served as the President and CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, where she has been instrumental in modernizing the organization and implementing innovative programs to support local businesses and the community.

Under her leadership, the chamber has received national recognition, including the North American Chamber Innovation Grand Prize, surpassing larger chambers such as Greater Boston and Vancouver. Before her tenure at the chamber, Gardner co-founded Longwave Apparel Ltd. in London, a company specializing in luxury UV-protective swimwear. She also served as the Director of Business Development for Mentore Consulting Ltd., focusing on mentoring programs for women in leadership roles.

A native of Winter Park, Florida, Gardner holds a degree in History from the University of Florida, where she was recognized for her leadership and academic achievements. She is passionate about community development and has been involved in various initiatives, such as "Relaunch: Career Re-entry for Professional Women," which assists women returning to the workforce. She is also known for advocating for important issues and her efforts to make the chamber's programming more inclusive and relevant.

Her leadership style is characterized by a strong bias toward action, strategic clarity, and a commitment to driving transformative revenue growth and innovation. She is dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and is recognized for her ability to energize cross-functional teams to consistently outperform targets.Copyright Hi Hello Labs Network Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • 51. The Soft Skills AI Can’t Touch: Career Success & Real Estate with Courtney Pelfrey

    51. The Soft Skills AI Can’t Touch: Career Success & Real Estate with Courtney Pelfrey
    May 27 2026
    How do you pivot careers from higher ed to real estate while managing motherhood and a family business? Courtney Pelfrey (Miller Grant & Company) joins Ashley Billings on the B Student Podcast to reveal the reality of building a relationship-based business in Winter Park, FL.

    In this episode, we go past the transaction to discuss the emotional side of home buying, the truth about career transitions, and the "secret" soft skill every professional needs: curiosity.

    Watch the full conversation to learn:
    • The Pivot: How Courtney moved from 10 years in collegiate career services into the real estate industry.
    • The "Baby" Metaphor: Why closing on a home is like bringing home a baby and why aftercare matters.
    • Curiosity vs. AI: Why curiosity is the leadership skill technology can't replicate.
    • Family Dynamics: The challenges and rewards of running a brokerage with your father and sister.
    • Working Motherhood: Practical wisdom on staying present as a mom while building a recognizable local brand.
    • Relationship Business: Why being "purpose-driven" wins over trends every time.

    Whether you're a relauncher returning to the workforce, a new agent, or a business owner in a new season of life, Courtney’s journey offers a roadmap for staying aligned with your values.

    If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone navigating a new season in life or business.

    Time Stamps:
    • 00:00 – Meet Courtney Pelfrey & Her Career Pivot Story
    • 02:12 – Why She Left Higher Education for Real Estate
    • 04:48 – Building a Family-Owned Real Estate Business
    • 05:31 – Why Closing on a Home is Like Bringing Home a Baby
    • 07:15 – Working With Family: Strengths, Roles & Dynamics
    • 09:42 – Creating a Relationship-Driven Real Estate Brand
    • 12:18 – The Emotional Side of Buying & Selling Homes
    • 14:36 – How Career Services Prepared Her for Real Estate
    • 17:08 – The Reality of Working Motherhood & Flexibility
    • 19:45 – Balancing Business, Kids & Boundaries at Home
    • 22:04 – Social Media, Branding & Standing Out in Real Estate
    • 24:26 – Advice for Young Realtors Starting Their Careers
    • 26:18 – Why Curiosity Is a Powerful Leadership Skill That AI Can’t Replace
    • 28:10 – Serving the Winter Park Community & What’s Next for Miller Grant

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    Listen to more episodes of The B-Student Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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    Connect with our Guest:
    Website: https://millergrantandco.com/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneympelfrey/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneympelfrey/


    Learn More about Winter Park Chamber of Commerce: https://www.winterpark.org/
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    Podcast produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • 50. How to Return to Work After a Career Break (With Confidence)

    50. How to Return to Work After a Career Break (With Confidence)
    May 20 2026
    Thinking about returning to work after a career break — but not sure where to start?

    In this episode, Ashley Billings interviews Betsy Gardner, CEO of Evermore Advisory and former President & CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. After her own 13-year career break, Betsy created the Relaunch program — a proven return-to-work program now helping professional women confidently reenter the workforce across the country.

    Whether you've been out of the workforce for 2 years or 15, this episode breaks down exactly what it takes to come back — not at the bottom, but at your level.

    What you'll learn:
    • How to return to work after a career gap without starting over
    • Why women struggle with confidence after a career break (and how to rebuild it)
    • How to update your resume, LinkedIn profile, and personal brand for reentry
    • The 3 drivers of every career decision: control, content, and compensation
    • Why forward-thinking employers are actively hiring career returners

    The leadership and soft skills that make returning women high-value hires

    This episode is for you if:
    • You're woman considering returning to work after time off for family, caregiving, or personal reasons
    • You're mid career-transition and need a confidence reset
    • You're an HR leader or employer looking to hire experienced returning professionals


    Timestamps:
    (00:00) Introduction + Betsy Gardner and the Relaunch program
    (03:05) The origin of the Relaunch program
    (06:10) The business case for hiring women returning to the workforce
    (09:15) Why women leave the workforce and struggle to return
    (12:20) The confidence gap after a career break
    (15:10) Betsy's personal career reentry story
    (18:05) What Relaunch teaches (branding, resumes, LinkedIn)
    (21:00) The psychology of returning to work after years away
    (24:05) Control, content, compensation: the 3 Cs of starting a job
    (27:10) How employers should view resume gaps in 2026
    (30:00) The hidden skills career returners bring to the workplace
    (33:00) Final advice: stop waiting for the "right time" to return to work
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    Listen to more episodes of The B-Student Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

    If this episode helped you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a woman who needs to hear it.

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    Connect with our Guest:
    Website: http://Humanintheroombook.com Or http://Betsygardner.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebetsygardner
    YouTube: @humanintheroompodcast

    Learn More about Winter Park Chamber of Commerce: https://www.winterpark.org/
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    Podcast produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • 49. Why Creativity and Curiosity Matter in Leadership | Jennifer Deery | B Student

    49. Why Creativity and Curiosity Matter in Leadership | Jennifer Deery | B Student
    May 14 2026
    Today on the B-Student Podcast, Ashley Billings interviews Jennifer Deery, Executive Director of the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, about her journey from corporate banking leadership to nonprofit arts and culture leadership in Winter Park, Florida.

    Jennifer shares how growing up moving frequently helped shape her adaptability, curiosity, and leadership style. She opens up about earning her Fine Arts degree, working as an art director in the corporate world, and eventually transitioning into museum leadership and nonprofit management.

    This episode explores:
    • Career pivots and professional reinvention
    • Leadership lessons from corporate and nonprofit spaces
    • Why arts and culture matter to local economies
    • The impact of museums and cultural institutions
    • The story and legacy of sculptor Albin Polasek
    • Creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning
    • How art inspires innovation and community connection
    • Winter Park’s thriving arts and culture scene
    • Stroke awareness and resilience through creativity
    • Advice for young creatives and aspiring leaders
    Jennifer also shares exciting updates about upcoming exhibits, educational programming, collaborations with local organizations, and the museum’s vision for the future as it celebrates 65 years.

    If you’re passionate about leadership, creativity, entrepreneurship, nonprofit work, museums, community development, or personal growth, this conversation is packed with valuable insight.

    Time Stamps:


    00:00 – Introduction to Jennifer Deery & the Polasek Museum
    02:08 – Childhood influences, travel, and discovering museums
    04:12 – Jennifer’s first year leading the museum
    06:18 – The future vision for the Polasek Museum
    08:03 – Transitioning from board member to Executive Director
    10:38 – Why arts and culture are economic drivers in Winter Park
    13:02 – Collaboration between local museums and cultural organizations
    15:02 – Jennifer’s career path from art school to corporate leadership
    17:20 – Creativity, psychology, and leadership in business
    18:55 – Museum tourism and attracting visitors from around the world
    20:02 – Upcoming exhibits, events, and community programming
    23:24 – Albin Polasek’s resilience after stroke & advice for creatives
    Listen to more episodes of The B-Student Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

    Like this video, subscribe, and comment your favorite London spot or what city has most transformed you.
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    Connect with our Jennifer:
    Website: https://polasek.org/
    LinkedIn: @jennifer-deery
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polasekmuseum/

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    Learn More about Winter Park Chamber of Commerce: https://www.winterpark.org/

    Podcast produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
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