Kevin Webb

Building Accessible Career Pathways for People With Disabilities With Kevin Webb

In this episode, Kevin shares his journey into sustainability and social impact leadership at Mitsubishi Electric in the Americas and as Executive Director of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation. He explains how the foundation focuses on empowering young people with disabilities through access to technology, workforce training, and employer readiness, particularly in high-demand IT and technical careers.
Joannah Harris

Navigating Career Transitions and Resilience in the Face of Vision Loss With Joannah Harris

In this episode, Joannah shares her inspiring story of resilience and career reinvention. She highlights the importance of mentorship and vocational coaching, which helped her navigate the job market and refine her skills. Joannah also discusses how her professional journey shifted from teaching to pursuing a master's degree in applied and computational mathematics, and ultimately embracing opportunities in digital accessibility.
Heather Bergerson

Reclaiming Creativity and Independence After Sudden Vision Loss, With Heather Bergerson

In this episode, Heather shares her powerful story of resilience and reinvention. She emphasizes how crucial it was to find support through vocational rehabilitation and mentorship, which helped her reclaim her artistic identity. Heather also discusses how her art practice has evolved, focusing now on larger, tactile pieces that are designed to be accessible, allowing others to engage with her work in ways that were once unimaginable.
Brian Osborne

[Mission Driven Series] Using Data to Tell NIB’s Story with Brian Osborne

In this episode, Brian joins NIB President and CEO Soraya Correa to discuss how credible research shapes messaging, builds confidence, and informs policy advocacy. He shares insights on why public education matters, how to communicate about mission-driven work without using political jargon, and why data and storytelling together create lasting change.
Matt Koch

Overcoming Vision Loss and Building Empowering Careers for People Who Are Blind With Matthew Koch

In this episode, Matt joins host Dean Thompson to share how he turned personal loss into a legacy of empowerment. He reflects on his journey from flying missions at sea to managing a multimillion-dollar organization that employs more than 160 people — half of whom are blind. Matt discusses how VIB’s innovative model combines manufacturing, service contracts, and professional training to create pathways to independence. He also highlights success stories of employees who have gone from public assistance to homeownership, and the growing collaboration with NSITE to expand career opportunities nationwide.

Dennis Steiner

[Mission Driven Series] From Mentorship to Mission: Lessons in Leadership and Advocacy With Dennis Steiner

In this episode of our Mission Driven series, Dennis joins NIB President and CEO Soraya Correa to reflect on his 42-year career and the lessons that shaped his leadership. He discusses how shifting from a caretaking model to a culture of empowerment revolutionized VisionCorps, the critical role of mentorship in developing future leaders, and why embracing failure is vital for growth and innovation.

Charles Ansley

Breaking Barriers: No Limits, Only Possibilities with Charles Ansley

Drawing from his own journey, Charles reflects on the mindset shift that helped him see beyond limitations and become a role model for other people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired. His story proves that, with perseverance, adaptive technology, and the right support system, barriers can turn into possibilities and independence can be redefined.

Mary Jane Surrago

[Mission Driven Series] Mary Jane Surrago’s 50-Year Legacy of Service, Leadership, and Storytelling

In this episode of Mission Driven, a special series of the Heard and Empowered podcast, NIB President and CEO Soraya Correa sits down with Mary Jane to reflect on her five decades of service. Together, they explore the lessons learned from a lifetime of leadership, the evolution of NIB’s mission, and the advice Mary Jane offers to those pursuing meaningful, mission-driven careers.

Alexis Flores

From San Francisco to Capitol Hill: Alexis Flores on Advocacy

In this episode, Alexis reflects on why advocacy matters, how lived experience shapes his leadership, and what it means to stand up for people who are blind in the workplace and beyond.

Rebecca Martin

Rebecca Martin on How Partnering With NSITE Helps Her VR Clients Succeed

Drawing on her own journey with multiple sclerosis and vision loss, Rebecca shares inspiring stories of individuals who overcame setbacks, rebuilt professional skills after traumatic brain injuries, and embraced assistive technology to succeed in their careers. Her perspective highlights how collaboration, compassion, and the right resources can open doors to lasting career success.