This week I sit down with Dana Rutland, a senior HR executive whose career has been shaped by a simple truth: she loves solving the problems that can't be handled by a checklist or an algorithm. Dana has served as CHRO at Right at Home and VP of HR at Impro Industries, and on The Hodges 12 she's a Cultivator–Synthesizer–Communicator Which means she's wired to grow people, connect dots across silos, and translate complexity into something teams can actually use.

Right now, Dana is in what I call a sacred in-between, a discernment season where she's asking big questions about the next chapter.

Our conversation moves through the moments that shaped her leadership, from the young employee she coached, to her father's simple but unforgettable advice about never settling for a job that has you praying for Saturday.

A few of my favorite moments from this episode:

Why Dana never set out to be in HR, and how her problem-solving instinct quietly led her there anyway

The coaching story that shows what a Cultivator actually does when someone walks in ready to quit

Why the "messy middle" is where the most meaningful leadership happens

Running a marathon at a sprint's pace, and the permission we all need to finally slow down

The closing charge every HR leader needs to hear: your gifts matter, and never, ever settle

If you've ever felt the pull between who you've been and who you're becoming, this one is for you.

Want to discover your own Creative Genius Trifecta like Dana did? Take the Hodges 12 assessment at www.heatherhodges.com

Connect with Dana:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-rutland/

To take The Hodges 12 Types of Creative Genius assessment:

Visit: www.heatherhodges.com

In this episode Heather sits down with Riley Simpson, the founder of LeapYear, a life accelerator for high school graduates designed to help young people discover their identity, purpose, and direction before rushing into the next chapter. Riley is a bold entrepreneur, passionate advocate for the next generation, and a fellow ACU Wildcat. On the Hodges 12 Types of Creative Genius™, Riley is a Connector—Synthesizer—Teacher.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

What LeapYear is and why Riley believes young people need a different kind of start

The moment he realized he'd essentially built a business out of everything he loves

How he went from zero to a complete 12-month program, in only12 months

What surprised him about seeing "Teacher" in his Trifecta

The micro-commitment growth edge he's actively working on, and the accountability system he's put in place

Why Connectors and Synthesizers can be especially prone to overpromising and underdelivering (and what to do about it)

What he wants to learn from the Functional Creative Genius types, and why Builders fascinate him

The question he wants every future guest to answer: "Which creative genius type do you most want to learn from?"

Riley's Creative Genius Trifecta: Connector — Intuitively sees potential matches between people, opportunities, and resources. Synthesizer — Integrates insights across multiple fields and weaves diverse information into new solutions. Teacher — Breaks down complex concepts and equips others with the knowledge, tools, and resources to grow.

Connect with Riley:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rileywsimpson/

https://www.startleapyear.com

To take The Hodges 12 Types of Creative Genius assessment:

Visit: www.thehodges12.com

What happens when a shark and a shrink walk into a podcast studio together? You get one of the most honest, insightful, and warmhearted conversations about creativity and leadership you've ever heard.

Trey Reese is the Chief Operating Officer of Brightmoor Hospice and a board member of the Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. He is a leader who has spent his career at the intersection of law, compassionate care, and people development.

On The Hodges 12, Trey is a Cultivator— Communicator— Healer and in this episode, you'll see exactly why that combination is so powerful.

Trey and Heather explore what it really means to be creative when you've never called yourself a creative person, why the Cultivator's work is often invisible until years later, and how his Trifecta showed up in a single, pivotal conversation with a colleague, before he even realized what he was doing.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

Why Trey never considered himself creative, and what changed

The invisible nature of the Cultivator genius: planting seeds and trusting the long game

The kudos card that arrived two years in the making, and what it revealed

How his Healer genius goes straight for the root cause beneath what's being said

Why humor and playfulness are essential leadership tools (yes, even in hospice)

The courage it takes to share your biggest failures, and why people love it

Trey's powerful message to anyone convinced they are not creative: "You're wrong."

Percy the Penguin's lightning round, including a question from previous guest Jen Elliott

Connect with Trey:

Reach out directly, he welcomes real conversations.

https://www.brightmoorhospice.com

To take The Hodges 12 Types of Creative Genius assessment:

Visit: www.thehodges12.com