Today’s episode goes deeper into one of the most important signals that has emerged from our work over the past year. The leaders who are truly flourishing are getting out from behind screens and into scenes.

That search for people who truly embody this practice is what led me to today’s guest, Kate Brigham.

Kate’s career spans more than two decades across design, product, and research leadership in healthcare, B2B SaaS, marketplaces, data integration, fintech, education, and beyond, including transformative work at PatientsLikeMe. But what makes her story so compelling is not just where she has worked, it is how she has chosen to evolve.

After stepping away from traditional full-time roles, Kate intentionally shaped a portfolio focused on consulting, advising, investing, and building community in areas that feel deeply meaningful to her. In the process, she has helped cultivate one of the most active AgeTech and longevity communities on LinkedIn while also co-creating fast-growing in-person communities in Boston and across the country.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• Why successful leaders invest in scene work and intentional connection
• How Kate created the rooms she needed when they did not exist or needed to evolve
• Why curiosity leads the way before certainty arrives
• What AgeTech reveals about the future of aging and opportunity
• How storytelling shapes our relationship with longevity
• What burnout taught Kate about managing energy and pace
• How leaders can think about both the next quarter and the next decade

This is a thoughtful, grounding, and energizing conversation for anyone feeling the pull toward something more aligned, more connected, and more alive.

Press play and consider which scenes might help shape your next chapter.

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Connect with Kate on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/katebrigham)
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Learn more about The Afternoon Shift and sign up for our free newsletter. (theafternoonshift.com)

Host: Brady Sadler

Let's connect on LinkedIn

Show Art: Kyle Mosher

What does winning look when work is full of paradoxes?

Today I’m joined by my friend and longtime mentor of more than 20 years, Patrick Jones, a builder at heart and one of the most multidimensional creative leaders I know.

Patrick’s career has been spent at the intersection of education, media, and workforce innovation, helping people and organizations adapt to what’s next.

He’s a professor, consultant, and public servant, currently serving as Vice Chair of the Board of Investments for LACERA, where he helps steward over 85 billion dollars in assets for the largest pension fund in the country.

His path includes 25 years in management consulting, as well as faculty, and co-op leadership positions at Northeastern University.

He has also produced branded content and media projects for Coca-Cola, Volkswagen, and Nike, and his first documentary film, The Journey, about the power of asking for help, won the South by Southwest Documentary Award and received numerous other accolades.

Patrick embodies what we talk about so often on The Afternoon Shift: the belief that creativity, openness, and connection are the real levers for career growth and impact.

In this conversation, he shares how to play the inside-out game: how to stay open when uncertainty feels overwhelming, how to notice the signals others miss, and how to prepare for the moment when it’s time to take your shot.

This episode feels like a conversation with a great coach, part philosophy, part practicality, and all heart.

Dive in and explore how creative leaders like Patrick turn paradox into possibility.

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Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/patrickjonesmba
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Learn more about The Afternoon Shift and sign up for our free newsletter. (theafternoonshift.com)

Host: Brady Sadler

Let's connect on LinkedIn

Show Art: Kyle Mosher

In this episode, I dig into a leadership practice that can seem obvious but is far more nuanced than it looks, and I’ve come to believe it’s a critical discovery in our exploration of what it takes to go from fear to flow and uncertainty to optionality.

I'm now referring to the people who embody this as creative leaders.

These leaders aren’t stuck in silos. They’re out in scenes, collecting dots, building relationships, and fueling their creativity through curiosity and community.

Today I’m joined by Ace Bhattacharjya, an entrepreneur, consultant, self-proclaimed applied anthropologist, and someone who exemplifies this modern creative leadership.

His career has spanned Ogilvy, the US Open, and advisory work at Harvard and MIT.

He's also my co-founder, alongside our friend Waseem Kawaf, of the Original Signal Salon.

Together in this conversation, we explore the kinds of scenes that expand creativity, strengthen networks, and make career more of a team sport.

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Connect with Ace on LinkedIn

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Learn more about The Afternoon Shift and sign up for our free newsletter. (theafternoonshift.com)

Host: Brady Sadler

Let's connect on LinkedIn

Show Art: Kyle Mosher