In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler welcomes Lindsay Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Ink Factory Studio, to explore how visual storytelling transforms communication and leadership.

Lindsay shares her journey from military base beginnings to becoming a leader in visual note-taking and collaborative communication. She explains how visuals—what she calls “modern-day pictograms”—cut through noise, build clarity, and help leaders align teams across generations, cultures, and learning styles.

Throughout the conversation, Lindsay reveals the high-level skills her team uses in real time—active listening, synthesizing, and visual hierarchy—to turn complex ideas into engaging visual summaries. She also offers practical advice for leaders to bring visual thinking into everyday meetings, even without a professional artist in the room.

Listeners will discover how visuals are not just “pretty pictures” but powerful tools for understanding, retention, and connection. Whether it’s a high-stakes strategy session or a quick team huddle, Lindsay shows that showing—rather than just telling—can make all the difference.

The episode concludes with a powerful takeaway: listen to understand, not to respond.

Learn more about Lindsay and Ink Factory Studio at inkfactorystudio.com, connect with her on LinkedIn and follow their work on Instagram: @inkfactorystudio

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler has a heartfelt and eye-opening conversation with special guest and daughter, Sophie Koehler, a young engineer and emerging Gen Z leader who is reshaping what leadership looks like today—and tomorrow.

Sophie shares her experience growing up in the orbit of high-stakes leadership, only to realize that her generation is leading in different, quieter, and often more courageous ways. With honesty and introspection, she talks about moving beyond perfectionism, finding her voice, and navigating early career challenges in the engineering world, where confidence sometimes lags behind capability.

Together, Marc and Sophie explore how today’s young professionals are not waiting their turn—they're already transforming the workforce with values like empathy, self-awareness, and adaptability. Sophie speaks to the often-unseen brilliance of her peers and why the future of leadership will be built not just on bold action, but also on deep listening and personal alignment.

Listeners will hear reflections on the pressures Gen Z faces, the power of authenticity over approval, and the leadership lessons that emerge from simply staying in the room when things get uncomfortable.

The episode ends with encouragement for the next wave of leaders—and those guiding them: – Trust the next generation; they’re more capable than we give them credit for. – Leadership doesn’t require a title—just presence. – Growth happens when you question the script you’ve been handed.

Join us for this inspiring episode and discover why the future of leadership is already here—and it sounds a lot like Sophie.

Connect with Sophie Koehler: LinkedIn

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler has a powerful and deeply personal conversation with Charlene Wheeless, former NFL cheerleader, women’s keynote speaker, best-selling author, and leadership expert.

Charlene’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, authenticity, and conscious choice. Through her experiences, she challenges the myths around success and leadership, offering a fresh perspective on what it really means to lead with purpose.

The conversation explores the lessons Charlene learned on the sidelines of the NFL and in high-stakes corporate environments. She discusses the emotional toll of fitting in, the hidden cost of performance, and how cancer forced her to confront her identity and ultimately redefine her life. Charlene’s mantra, “choice, not chance,” becomes a guiding theme for the episode.

Listeners will walk away with actionable insights on:

• Leading through influence, not authority
• Owning your story instead of performing a role
• Finding alignment between who you are and how you lead

Join us in this unforgettable episode to learn how Charlene Wheeless reclaimed her voice—and how you can too.Learn more about Charlene Wheeless: Website LinkedIn Book: You Are Enough