In this week’s episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric sit down with Valentina Godinez to talk about the excitement around learning, why the current college system feels disconnected, and how real-world experiences can change everything.

Valentina Godinez is a junior at San Diego State University majoring in Business Administration and Management. She has been interning with SIX° since June, supporting marketing and growing visibility through social media, and has since expanded her role to focus on community engagement and member connection.

Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life.

Timestamps:

[00:04:15] New Year Check-In & Fresh Start Energy

[00:06:30] Returning from Abroad, Moving & Finding Structure

[00:09:15] “Be, Do, Have”

[00:14:30] Time Management & Building Routines

[00:22:45] School vs. Work Motivation

[00:26:15] U.S. vs. European Education Systems

[00:31:00] Community College, Status Pressure & Student Debt

[00:36:15] What Is School For?

[00:42:45] Career Exploration

[00:51:15] Marketing Strategy Beyond Social Media

[01:02:00] Personal Brands & Cancel Culture

[01:07:30] Comedy, The Office & Navigating Political Correctness

[01:18:00] Supporting Valentina’s Growth & What’s Next

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[01:21:30] Deep Dive

Connect with the SIX° Community:

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Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention.

New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.

In this week’s episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric sit down with April Kriz to talk about career reinvention, parenting in the modern age, and what it really takes to stay grounded through life’s constant changes.

April Kriz is a CPA at Magnus Blue who brings extensive experience in banking and financial management. She has dedicated her career to providing expert accounting services and continues to leverage her expertise to drive results and support clients at Magnus Blue.

Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life.

Timestamps:

[00:03:15] Check-In: Friday Energy + Birthday Weekend

[00:05:00] Starting Over: Leaving a Job After 12 Years

[00:09:30] Stocks, Clients, and Avoiding Politics in Money Conversations

[00:11:00] History Repeats Itself

[00:17:00] Career Beginnings

[00:24:00] From Subway to Banking

[00:33:15] Post-COVID and Modern Parenting

[00:48:00] “Everyone Needs a Therapist”

[00:54:27] Adulting Too Soon: Becoming a Mom at 18

[01:08:00] Taxes and Where the Money Actually Goes

[01:13:30] Wealth and Year-End Tax Strategy

[01:16:00] CPA + Financial Advisor Teamwork (and Why It Matters)

[01:24:30] New Year Habits

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[01:34:30] Deep Dive

Connect with the SIX° Community:

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Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention.

New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.

In this week’s episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric sit down with Drake Fudge to talk about lessons from early fatherhood, climbing the corporate ladder, and how those experiences shape the way he defines success today.

Drake Fudge is an Employee Benefits Advisor at Benefit Pro Insurance, where he partners with small to mid-sized businesses to design and manage strategic employee benefit programs. Drake is known for his people-first approach when working closely with HR and finance leaders to navigate complex benefits decisions and build programs that support both businesses and their teams.

Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life.

Timestamps:

[00:01:45] Check-In: Wins So Far in 2026

[00:06:00] Becoming a Dad at 20 & Growing Up Fast

[00:10:45] Career Filters & Lessons from Leadership

[00:12:45] 15 Years at Verizon

[00:15:15] Leaving Big Corporate

[00:19:00] Entering Payroll, Benefits & the Broker World

[00:29:15] Early Wins & Learning the Industry

[00:36:00] Building Client Relationships

[00:50:00] Roots and What Makes a Place Feel Like Home

[01:00:30] The Fifth Wheel Dream

[01:07:00] Building the Six Degrees Team

[01:15:00] Fatherhood, Purpose & Showing Up for Others

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[01:16:00] Deep Dive: Six Degrees, Experiences & What’s Next

Connect with the SIX° Community:

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Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention.

New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.

In this week’s episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric sit down with Anthony Anselmo to talk about using creativity to foster real connection, navigating AI without losing the human touch, and why relationships remain the foundation of meaningful business growth.

Anthony Anselmo is an Employee Benefits Advisor at KingBenefits Insurance Solutions, where he specializes in developing creative, relationship-driven strategies that help clients and prospects communicate and make decisions more effectively. Anthony is passionate in doing what’s right for his clients and building long-term, meaningful partnerships.

Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life.

Timestamps:

[00:02:05] Check-in: Being Present

[00:04:04] Learning by Talking to People

[00:10:08] From NFL Picks to AI Videos

[00:21:41] Automation Meets Relationship-Building

[00:25:49] Personal Branding on LinkedIn

[00:28:09] Making Cold Outreach Unforgettable

[00:35:13] From Pizza Delivery to Employee Benefits

[00:40:13] Family, Community & Giving Back

[00:47:25] Becoming a Packers Fan

[00:52:17] Couples Fantasy Leagues & Wild Challenges

[00:58:20] Soccer, Padres & San Diego Sports Life

[01:05:28] Making Insurance Human

[01:12:31] Why Helping People Is Rewarding

[01:16:02] Connector of the Year

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[01:22:30] Deep Dive

[01:32:14] Empathy: Feeling vs. Understanding

Connect with the SIX° Community:

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Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention.

New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.

In this week’s episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric sit down with Haley Kopp to talk about the role music plays in her life, navigating career pivots, and learning to trust yourself as a business owner.

Haley Kopp is a Partner at Yohanan Law in San Diego and serves as the Head of M&A and ECVC, where she supports startups and small businesses through growth, financing, and acquisition. Haley brings a problem-solving mindset to her legal practice and is passionate about helping founders turn ideas into reality and build businesses that last.

Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life.

Timestamps:

[00:01:28] Seeing Paul McCartney Live

[00:05:33] Check in: Things to Look Forward to

[00:10:35] From Engineering to Nursing to Law

[00:16:16] Law School & Learning a New Brain

[00:20:26] Choosing Business Law Over Litigation

[00:23:45] Why Transactional Law Fit Her Personality

[00:27:45] Becoming Partners Without Meeting in Person

[00:34:45] Firm Vision, Growth & Building Systems

[00:37:40] The Anxiety Behind Progress

[00:47:00] Jumping In Blind & Building Trust

[00:51:14] Success Beyond the Paycheck

[00:54:13] The Beatles Deep Dive

[01:12:09] Who’s Telling the Story?

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[01:28:50] Deep Dive

[01:32:14] Empathy: Feeling vs. Understanding

Connect with the SIX° Community:

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Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention.

New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.

In this week’s episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric sit down with Robert Allison to talk about living unapologetically, embracing personal growth, and letting go of judgment to create a more fulfilling life.

Robert Allison is an Associate Attorney at Naimish & Lewis, APC, specializing in family law. He is known for his client-centered approach, providing effective one-on-one counsel through clear communication and strategic guidance. He brings a passion to helping clients navigate complex family matters with confidence.

Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life.

Timestamps:

[00:06:42] Check-In: What Song Gets You Hyped Up?

[00:14:45] Connecting Through Music

[00:18:19] If It Makes You Happy, Who Cares?

[00:23:44] Curiosity vs Judgement

[00:28:43] Learning What Keeps You Grounded

[00:37:04] Awareness, Accountability, and Doing the Work

[00:43:49] Taking Ownership of Your Emotions

[00:55:09] The Path to Family Law

[00:57:41] Creating Healthy Work-Life Boundaries

[01:05:47] Why Shared Experiences Matter

[01:10:23] Sunrises vs Sunsets

[01:13:22] Letting Go of Keeping Up

[01:18:19] Why Do We Lie to Feel Included?

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[01:28:42] Deep Dive

[01:31:34] Wayne Dyer’s Orange Analogy

Connect with the SIX° Community:

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Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention.

New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.

In this week’s episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric sit down with John Allen to talk about hard-earned lessons, self-awareness in leadership, and what it means to realign your career after setbacks.

John Allen is a Mortgage Loan Originator at Cornerstone First Mortgage with over 20 years of industry experience. He specializes in working with first-time homebuyers, real estate investors, and self-employed borrowers, offering strategic, personalized lending solutions. John brings a consultative approach to helping clients navigate complex financial decisions.

Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life.

Timestamps:

[00:06:08] Check in: Year-End Reflection

[00:12:28] Growing Up: Moving Often & Early Work Ethic

[00:17:02] Compromise in Marriage

[00:20:06] Empathy Through Shared Experiences

[00:24:10] Holding Onto Childhood Magic

[00:29:27] From Psychology to Mortgage Lending

[00:34:00] The Challenge of Managing Others

[00:36:40] Inside the 2008 Financial Crisis

[00:40:20] Taking the Leap Into Business Ownership

[00:44:57] Networking & Relationship Overlap

[00:49:48] Entrepreneurship as Therapy & Self-Discovery

[00:56:50] Relationships First, Business Second

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[01:18:00] Deep Dive

[01:21:00] From Operator to Coach

Connect with the SIX° Community:

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Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention.

New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.

In this special episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric reflect on and revisit the most memorable moments, impactful insights and transformative stories from 30 incredible conversations that defined 2025. This "Best of" episode features a clip from every episode we've released so far and a few sneak peak clips to give you a preview into the ones we will be releasing through the end of the year. Enjoy!

Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life.

Timestamps

[00:03:04] Bryan Devore, The Goal Is To Help People

[00:04:51] Rebecca Del Secco, Three Synergies Of Culture

[00:06:08] Eduardo Parodi, The Humanity In Business

[00:07:58] Rudy Miick, How? vs In What Way?

[00:09:39] Olivia Porter, “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”

[00:11:19] Maria Corbisiero, The Life D’s

[00:12:55] Ed Quinlan, Never Put A Prospect In Front Of A Client

[00:14:17] Ros Galati, Culture Learning Curve

[00:15:55] Jon Osting, Intentional Vibrations Within

[00:18:24] Angela Yutangco, Thoughtfulness In Hiring

[00:20:06] Paris Delgado, Work As An Identity

[00:22:08] Heather Siems, Defining My Version Of Success

[00:23:52] Casey Currier, “Never work a day in your life”

[00:25:42] Corryn Kivett, Instead Of Why, What’s The Purpose?

[00:27:35] Erica Zygelman, Mind, Body, Heart Approach

[00:29:26] John Griswold, Pomodoro Method

[00:31:19] Scott Schechter, “I’m the only one showing up with a check.”

[00:33:14] Connor McAree, Unlocking Full Potential

[00:34:54] Natalie Jackson, Criticism vs Feedback

[00:36:50] Dave Morgan, The Impact Of A Warm Welcome

[00:38:45] Anjuli Dayal, Navigating A Career Shift

[00:40:45] Greg Lipper, Attack And Adapt

[00:42:35] Paige Wilhide, Unpacking External Validation

[00:44:17] Sharon McCorkle, What Is Hard Work?

[00:46:20] Celia Creek, Navigating Different Work Dynamics

[00:48:45] Andrew Skirde, The Impact Of A Niche

[00:50:35] Rick Snyder, The Keys To Building Trust

[00:52:35] Amanda-Dawn Natalia, Definition Of Success

[00:54:45] Darci Daneshvari, “The enemy of profit is perfection.”

[00:56:56] Robbie Wentzell, The Cards I’m Delt

[00:59:05] Deep Dive, SIX° Members Are Total Badasses & The Origins Of “Put ‘er there, Bub.”

Connect with the SIX° Community:

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Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention.

New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.