What does it mean to be a good bandmate, in music, in leadership, and in life?

In this episode, Tommy Lee sits down with Stu Smith, Head of Design at Atlassian, to trace his journey from worship bands in Texas to leading design for global products like Confluence and Trello. Stu shares how music opened the door to design, how “cave time” and “spike time” fuel creativity, and how he learned to lead not by consensus but with clarity and care.

From the Austin startup scene to Atlassian’s global team, Stu reflects on what it takes to foster creativity, build healthy remote teams, and show up authentically as a Christ-follower in the workplace. His insights on leadership, faith, and creativity will inspire anyone navigating the intersection of calling, career, and community.

#Podcast #LeadershipPodcast #FaithAndWork #ChristianLeadership #Creativity #DesignLeadership #WorkplaceFaith

In this episode of UpNext, Yonilda Varner shares her remarkable journey from California to Austin, where family circumstances and a heart to support her mother shaped her path. With over 25 years at AT&T, she reflects on how servant leadership and meaningful workplace relationships defined her career. Yonilda and Tommy also discuss the evolution of training methods in a rapidly changing culture and her transition into the nonprofit sector with Life Anew, where she experiences the joy of seeing her work’s direct impact. Along the way, Yonilda draws wisdom from her mother and grandmother, offering timeless lessons on resilience, kindness, and the power of community.Tune into this inspiring new episode of UpNext! #Leadership #ServantLeadership #FaithAndWork #NonprofitLeadership #PodcastCommunity #ChristianLeadership #LifeLessons #UpNextPodcast

In this episode of UpNext, Lauren Gill takes us from her rural roots in Kentucky to her role as Senior Director of the Global Faith and Work Initiative at Redeemer City to City in New York City. She shares how her early passion for acting and producing shaped her perspective on vocation, faith, and the dignity of all work. Lauren also unpacks cultural differences in the global faith-and-work conversation, the role of empathy in leadership, and insights from her new book that help us live out our callings with purpose.

#UpNextPodcast #FaithAndWork #RedeemerCityToCity #ChristianLeadership #CallingAndCareer #WorkplaceFaith