All content for The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends is the property of jeffpelaccio and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
From Pain to Purpose: Chandra Clark on Resilience, Leadership, and the Power of Service
The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends
56 minutes
1 week ago
From Pain to Purpose: Chandra Clark on Resilience, Leadership, and the Power of Service
Chandra Clark’s story (see her bio below) is one of courage, compassion, and transformation. From raising her three younger siblings as a child to becoming the inaugural President of the Corey C. Griffin Foundation, Chandra’s life is a testament to turning adversity into impact.
In this conversation, she shares how her unconventional path from a childhood in Louisiana to leading major nonprofits across Kansas City and Boston shaped her purpose-driven approach to leadership.
We talk about:
How early responsibility and hardship fueled her desire to serve others.
Her love for art, fashion, and creativity and how it shows up in her leadership style.
What it means to lead with empathy while navigating rapid organizational growth.
How trauma and healing intersect with career development and confidence.
Why she believes self-worth and service are the foundation of success.
Chandra’s journey reminds us that leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about impact, integrity, and using your story to help others rise.
This episode is brought to you by... Ever wish your company updates could be less "quarterly earnings report" and more "late-night talk show"? At Pelaccio & Partners, we're revolutionizing internal communications with podcasts that employees actually want to listen to. Imagine podcast episodes that make your employees laugh while staying informed. Our founder, Jeff Pelaccio, doesn't just create podcasts; he creates conversations that break through the noise. Whether you're a growing startup or a massive corporation, we turn your company's story into audio gold. Leadership becomes human. Remote teams feel connected. Your message cuts through the clutter. Jeff is happy to share his insights on improving your culture, increasing employee engagement, and retention. You can contact him via LinkedIn or schedule a Zoom call via this link - 15-minute call with Jeff.
About Chandra: Chandra Clark is a nonprofit executive driven by purpose and mission. For over a decade, she has served in nonprofit leadership by developinginnovative programs, initiatives, and collaborative opportunities in thecommunity to support and advance the lives of underrepresented children,youth and women. She is honored to currently serve as the inauguralPresident of the Corey C. Griffin Foundation. Her previous roles include Executive Director of VHL Alliance, the inaugural Director of Community Outreach for Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City, and Founder of Be Loved, a lifestyle brand.
As a celebrated speaker, mentor, and life coach, she has been honored toreceive numerous awards and recognitions, including the Young AthenaLeadership Award from the Kansas City Chamber, Rockhurst Faber YoungAlum of the Year from Rockhurst University, Top Connector in Education andEntrepreneurship from the Kauffman Foundation, and Most InfluentialWomen in Kansas City Business from the Kansas City Business Journal.Chandra holds a Master of Education degree from Rockhurst University, aBachelor of Liberal Arts degree from the University of Missouri-KansasCity and is a graduate of the Central Exchange Emerging Leaders program.She currently serves on the board of The Boston Club, and AdvisoryCouncil for the Women’s Foundation of Boston. Her former board and civicengagement include serving as President of the Missouri CareerDevelopment Association, member of the Executive Women’s LeadershipCouncil, member of the Junior League of Greater, and founding member ofthe Central Exchange Young Professionals Council.
The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends