About Greg Hedgepeth:

Greg Hedgepeth is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the NC State University Graduate School and President & CEO of Substantial Media, an award-winning platform amplifying the voices and stories of Black and Brown communities. With over 16 years of experience in higher education marketing and communications, Greg is also a certified digital marketing professional, professor at Shaw University, and passionate social entrepreneur. A proud first-generation college graduate from Halifax County, NC, he holds degrees from East Carolina University and Webster University, and is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Learning and Organizational Change. Greg is a sought-after speaker and facilitator, recognized nationally for his service in education and community empowerment.

In this episode, Kevin and Greg Hedgepeth discuss:

• Why communication and true connection are a leader’s greatest superpowers
• Using storytelling to shape culture, preserve history, and build community
• Finding your “why” and not wasting time or opportunities
• The difference between managing by title and leading through influence
• Overcoming imposter syndrome and refusing to let your job title define your identity

Key Takeaways:

• Communication is a leader’s superpower. It is not just talking, but truly connecting, meeting people where they are, and building real relationships through words.
• Your full story is your strength. When you embrace both the polished and unpolished parts of your journey, you create authenticity, credibility, and a deeper connection with others.
• Prepared people maximize opportunities. Saying yes to new roles, projects, and collaborations, while doing the quiet work of research and groundwork, opens doors you may not expect.
• Real leadership goes beyond titles. Shifting from managing by position to leading with influence, humility, and self-awareness helps you combat imposter syndrome and expand your impact.

"There's no passion to be found playing small for settling for a life that is less than the one that you are capable of living." – Greg Hedgepeth

Connect with Greg Hedgepeth:

Substantial Magazine: https://www.substantialmagazine.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-hedgepeth/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsubstantial2u

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gregory.hedgepeth.1

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: coachkd63@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63

About Dr. Andy Scarpelli:

Dr. Andrew Scarpelli is a Chicago science and art professor whose training is in microbiology and synthetic biology. He is a 2020 Global Community Biosummit fellow and SciArt Resident in “The Bridge” program. He is cofounder and president of the community biolab ChiTownBio. He is greatly interested in expanding the utility of biotechnology into fields such as art and social justice.

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Andy Scarpelli discuss:

• Blending science, art, and imagination in leadership
• Why context matters more than memorization in learning
• Translating complex ideas so people can actually connect with them
• Creativity as a leadership skill, not a personality trait
• The role of curiosity in innovation and problem-solving

Key Takeaways:

• True understanding comes from context, not repetition. Memorizing terms or concepts without meaning creates distance, while learning rooted in a real-world context helps people connect ideas to purpose and application in leadership and education.
• Creativity is not limited to artists or innovators by title. It shows up whenever leaders are willing to listen, translate ideas across disciplines, and make space for curiosity rather than control.
• Great leaders act as bridges. They sit between worlds, learn the language of each side, and help people understand one another without diminishing complexity or oversimplifying meaning.
• Innovation grows when people feel safe to explore ideas they do not fully understand yet. Curiosity, humility, and the willingness to ask better questions open doors that expertise alone often keeps closed.

"If you find everything that you need, you're going to want to share it with the people that you care about, because I don't, I would think the vast majority of people don't want to be alone in things." – Dr. Andy Scarpelli

Connect with Dr. Andy Scarpelli:

Website: https://chitownbio.org/

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: coachkd63@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63

About Polina Kratova:

Polina Kratova is the Founder of Rising Stars, an organization focused on reimagining K–12 education through innovation, AI, and experiential learning. She leads a multidisciplinary team building future-ready programs and products designed to prepare students for the evolving world of work, creativity, and human potential.

Through Rising Stars, Polina helps empower the next generation of thinkers, makers, and leaders by integrating AI literacy, leadership development, wellness, and hands-on learning into education. The organization designs and implements AI and future-ready learning programs, student hackathons and innovation challenges, creative arts and wellness experiences, and entrepreneurship and career-readiness pathways.

With a background in technology, AI, and education innovation, Polina brings together educators, engineers, and community partners to build equitable learning ecosystems in collaboration with school districts, tech companies, and philanthropic organizations. Her work is driven by a vision to inspire students not just to learn, but to create the future, to reach more than 100,000 students by 2030.

In this episode, Kevin and Polina Kratova discuss:

• Redefining K–12 education through personalized and project-based learning
• Helping students discover their strengths, passions, and leadership abilities
• Teaching AI literacy, entrepreneurship, and financial skills responsibly
• Creating safe, supportive learning environments for underserved students
• Why ownership and agency are essential to long-term student success

Key Takeaways:

• Education is most powerful when students are given ownership of their learning. When young people are trusted to explore their interests, choose how they learn, and build projects that matter to them, confidence and leadership develop naturally rather than being forced.
• Preparing students for the future requires looking several steps ahead. Skills like creativity, adaptability, collaboration, and technological literacy matter just as much as traditional academics, especially in a world shaped by rapid change and emerging tools like AI.
• Support systems can change the trajectory of a student’s life. Access to mentors, encouragement, and safe spaces allows students to see possibilities they may never have imagined for themselves, particularly those from underserved communities.
• Growth comes from focusing on quality before scale. Slowing down, building strong systems, and embracing mistakes as part of the learning process leads to healthier organizations and more meaningful, sustainable impact over time.

“There’s so much magic that happens when you bring together mentors and the students and just give them the space.” – Polina Kratova

Connect with Polina Kratova:

Website: https://risingstarsprograms.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/polina-kratova-26411351/

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: coachkd63@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63