<![CDATA[View From the Summit]]>View from the Summit is a podcast to help teens identify potential careers and unlock passions. I’ve always loved talking to people about how they’ve shaped their careers and built their lives from the ground up because it motivates and inspires me that I can do the same. I started this podcast as a means to share these conversations with my peers. 

Each episode taps into the mindset and worldview of leaders across industries, bringing their perspectives on how to break into an industry, what skills are valued and needed to excel, and advice they wish they had learned sooner. I hope to offer perspective to help my peers find fields that resonate with them.

]]>vftspod.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:52:18 GMTMon, 04 May 2026 04:05:39 GMT60James Jedlic<p>View from the Summit is a podcast to help teens identify potential careers and unlock passions. I’ve always loved talking to people about how they’ve shaped their careers and built their lives from the ground up because it motivates and inspires me that I can do the same. I started this podcast as a means to share these conversations with my peers. </p><p>Each episode taps into the mindset and worldview of leaders across industries, bringing their perspectives on how to break into an industry, what skills are valued and needed to excel, and advice they wish they had learned sooner. I hope to offer perspective to help my peers find fields that resonate with them.</p>episodicJames Jedlicalpine6192@gmail.comno<![CDATA[Ep 05: Bridget Legnavsky, CEO of Sugar Bowl Resort]]>Bridget’s Path from New Zealand Ski Instructor to Sugar Bowl CEO

Bridget, CEO of Sugar Bowl for four years and a resort resident, recounts growing up in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, working in her father’s scenic flying business and developing operations skills early. She began skiing at Mount Dobson, quickly advanced into instructing and certification, earned a physical education degree while doing back-to-back seasons in Japan and Colorado, and competed in what was then called extreme skiing. At Cardrona, unplanned promotions took her from events manager through leadership roles to general manager, where she built instructor training and competitive programs, expanded ski days, and pursued an online MBA culminating in the Soho master plan, alongside acquiring Treble Cone. She describes COVID impacts, China initiatives, and how centralized corporate work felt less fulfilling, leading her to Sugar Bowl after connecting with its board. She contrasts New Zealand and U.S. business culture, outlines Sugar Bowl’s multi-business operations and current capital projects, and shares a favorite memory: a May 5, 2023 powder day during the Donner Summit event.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:39 New Zealand Roots

03:17 Teaching and Racing

04:06 Degree and Seasons Abroad

07:41 Cardrona Career Ladder

09:55 Teams Mentors Values

12:50 Scaling Cardrona Up

14:42 Growth vs Sustainability

17:37 Big Moves and COVID

21:23 Global Expansion China

22:17 Why Sugar Bowl Called

28:25 NZ vs California Culture

32:55 Networks in Tahoe

34:20 Projects and Daily Work

36:32 Favorite Powder Memory

38:07 Closing Thoughts

]]>bdbd53a5-907a-4e60-9d4e-5e16e49b2132Fri, 28 Aug 2026 19:00:00 GMT<p>Bridget’s Path from New Zealand Ski Instructor to Sugar Bowl CEO</p><p>Bridget, CEO of Sugar Bowl for four years and a resort resident, recounts growing up in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, working in her father’s scenic flying business and developing operations skills early. She began skiing at Mount Dobson, quickly advanced into instructing and certification, earned a physical education degree while doing back-to-back seasons in Japan and Colorado, and competed in what was then called extreme skiing. At Cardrona, unplanned promotions took her from events manager through leadership roles to general manager, where she built instructor training and competitive programs, expanded ski days, and pursued an online MBA culminating in the Soho master plan, alongside acquiring Treble Cone. She describes COVID impacts, China initiatives, and how centralized corporate work felt less fulfilling, leading her to Sugar Bowl after connecting with its board. She contrasts New Zealand and U.S. business culture, outlines Sugar Bowl’s multi-business operations and current capital projects, and shares a favorite memory: a May 5, 2023 powder day during the Donner Summit event.</p><p></p><p>Chapters: </p><p>00:00 Introduction</p><p>01:39 New Zealand Roots</p><p>03:17 Teaching and Racing</p><p>04:06 Degree and Seasons Abroad</p><p>07:41 Cardrona Career Ladder</p><p>09:55 Teams Mentors Values</p><p>12:50 Scaling Cardrona Up</p><p>14:42 Growth vs Sustainability</p><p>17:37 Big Moves and COVID</p><p>21:23 Global Expansion China</p><p>22:17 Why Sugar Bowl Called</p><p>28:25 NZ vs California Culture</p><p>32:55 Networks in Tahoe</p><p>34:20 Projects and Daily Work</p><p>36:32 Favorite Powder Memory</p><p>38:07 Closing Thoughts</p>no00:39:0315Ep 05: Bridget Legnavsky, CEO of Sugar Bowl Resortfull<![CDATA[Ep 04: Matt Paul, Founder of Loose Cannon Pictures]]>In this episode of View From the Summit, I sit down with Matt Paul — Sugar Bowl Academy alum, former U.S. Navy SEAL, and founder of Loose Cannon Pictures. Matt got cut from his college ski team junior year and calls it the best thing that ever happened to him. What he did next took him through Hell Week, an infection that nearly ended it, two deployments, and eventually into a room with an Oscar-winning director who threw him out before she let him in. He's since mortgaged his own home to finance a film, and has another premiering at TIFF this September. We talk about failure as a redirector rather than a terminator, why leaving the military was hard for reasons he didn't expect, and how you build a tribe on purpose instead of by accident.

Here are some notable chapters to listen for in the episode:

00:35 Introduction

01:40 What's your connection to Sugar Bowl?

02:30 The old Caltrans lodge, firewood, and a class of three

05:10 Bates, Maine ice, and getting cut from the D1 ski team

08:20 Theater over thesis

11:30 Enlisting, Hell Week, and Class 287

16:10 "To thine own self be true" — handling the naysayers

20:50 The camera, the intel department, and looking for work

23:00 Why you can't multitask

24:35 Cold-messaging his way into Hollywood

26:30 Shadowing Kimberly Peirce

29:45 Loose Cannon Pictures, Violet, and Breakwater

31:30 Skin in the game

33:30 How to build a community on purpose

34:45 What running a film set actually feels like

37:30 Malibu, San Francisco, and what's next

41:00 Life after the military

44:00 One skill, one mindset

]]>d013804f-1987-49dd-b222-3639e4d8e0c4Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT<p>In this episode of View From the Summit, I sit down with Matt Paul — Sugar Bowl Academy alum, former U.S. Navy SEAL, and founder of Loose Cannon Pictures. Matt got cut from his college ski team junior year and calls it the best thing that ever happened to him. What he did next took him through Hell Week, an infection that nearly ended it, two deployments, and eventually into a room with an Oscar-winning director who threw him out before she let him in. He's since mortgaged his own home to finance a film, and has another premiering at TIFF this September. We talk about failure as a redirector rather than a terminator, why leaving the military was hard for reasons he didn't expect, and how you build a tribe on purpose instead of by accident.</p><p></p><p>Here are some notable chapters to listen for in the episode:</p><p>00:35 Introduction</p><p>01:40 What's your connection to Sugar Bowl?</p><p>02:30 The old Caltrans lodge, firewood, and a class of three</p><p>05:10 Bates, Maine ice, and getting cut from the D1 ski team</p><p>08:20 Theater over thesis</p><p>11:30 Enlisting, Hell Week, and Class 287</p><p>16:10 "To thine own self be true" — handling the naysayers</p><p>20:50 The camera, the intel department, and looking for work</p><p>23:00 Why you can't multitask</p><p>24:35 Cold-messaging his way into Hollywood</p><p>26:30 Shadowing Kimberly Peirce</p><p>29:45 Loose Cannon Pictures, Violet, and Breakwater</p><p>31:30 Skin in the game</p><p>33:30 How to build a community on purpose</p><p>34:45 What running a film set actually feels like</p><p>37:30 Malibu, San Francisco, and what's next</p><p>41:00 Life after the military</p><p>44:00 One skill, one mindset</p>no00:45:3114Ep 04: Matt Paul, Founder of Loose Cannon Picturesfull<![CDATA[Ep 03: Nadia Costa, Founding Partner, GVR]]>Nadia describes her family’s long connection to Sugar Bowl through her son’s academy and racing, their move from the Bay Area to Truckee, and why the community remains meaningful even after their kids left the academy. She recounts a difficult high school experience, starting at junior college, working at a crisis nursery, studying sociology at UC Santa Barbara, earning a funded master’s opportunity at the University of Chicago before transferring to UCLA, and working in residential drug treatment and then as an emergency response worker for Children’s Protective Services. Encouraged to pursue law, she attended UC Berkeley (Boalt) and entered land use after transferring from commercial litigation. She details seven and a half years of pro bono work on Debbie’s case, firm pressures, leaving big law for Miller Starr in Walnut Creek, building client relationships, and later launching the land use firm GVR. She emphasizes mentorship, networking through reciprocal consultant relationships, recognizing luck, and advice against hyper-curated overachievement. Favorite Sugar Bowl memories include early racing-era weekends and freeride competition community.

Here are some chapters:

00:00 Sugar Bowl Roots

02:12 High School Struggles

03:40 Finding Purpose in College

06:21 Grad School and Frontline Work

11:47 From Social Work to Law

12:26 Accidental Land Use Career

15:08 Debbie Case Pro Bono Fight

19:17 Big Firm Reality Check

21:31 Mentors and Team Culture

26:04 Networking and Client Trust

30:51 Launching GVR Together

35:37 Luck and Advice for Youth

40:14 Favorite Sugar Bowl Memories

]]>3cebe115-1d2f-4ba5-9790-4761a5693f1eFri, 24 Jul 2026 06:24:21 GMT<p>Nadia describes her family’s long connection to Sugar Bowl through her son’s academy and racing, their move from the Bay Area to Truckee, and why the community remains meaningful even after their kids left the academy. She recounts a difficult high school experience, starting at junior college, working at a crisis nursery, studying sociology at UC Santa Barbara, earning a funded master’s opportunity at the University of Chicago before transferring to UCLA, and working in residential drug treatment and then as an emergency response worker for Children’s Protective Services. Encouraged to pursue law, she attended UC Berkeley (Boalt) and entered land use after transferring from commercial litigation. She details seven and a half years of pro bono work on Debbie’s case, firm pressures, leaving big law for Miller Starr in Walnut Creek, building client relationships, and later launching the land use firm GVR. She emphasizes mentorship, networking through reciprocal consultant relationships, recognizing luck, and advice against hyper-curated overachievement. Favorite Sugar Bowl memories include early racing-era weekends and freeride competition community.</p><p></p><p>Here are some chapters:</p><p>00:00 Sugar Bowl Roots</p><p>02:12 High School Struggles</p><p>03:40 Finding Purpose in College</p><p>06:21 Grad School and Frontline Work</p><p>11:47 From Social Work to Law</p><p>12:26 Accidental Land Use Career</p><p>15:08 Debbie Case Pro Bono Fight</p><p>19:17 Big Firm Reality Check</p><p>21:31 Mentors and Team Culture</p><p>26:04 Networking and Client Trust</p><p>30:51 Launching GVR Together</p><p>35:37 Luck and Advice for Youth</p><p>40:14 Favorite Sugar Bowl Memories</p>no00:40:4413Ep 03: Nadia Costa, Founding Partner, GVRfull<![CDATA[Ep. 02: Jason Bogardus, 545 group, Morgan Stanley]]>The conversation covers Jason's early life, career exploration, college experience, the importance of networking and persistence, creating your own luck, the ingredients of success, career progression, overcoming challenges, networking and creating opportunities, and Jason's career at Morgan Stanley and success factors. The conversation delves into the themes of resilience and overcoming adversity, navigating career challenges, and the importance of curiosity and continuous learning. It emphasizes the value of persistence, adaptability, and the pursuit of knowledge in personal and professional growth.

Takeaways

  • Career paths and opportunities have evolved significantly over time
  • Creating your own luck is a key factor in career success Resilience
  • Curiosity

Chapters

  • 00:00 Early Life and Career Exploration
  • 06:02 The Importance of Networking and Persistence
  • 11:55 The Ingredients of Success
  • 17:54 Overcoming Challenges and Persistence
  • 23:57 Career at Morgan Stanley and Success Factors
  • 29:40 Overcoming Adversity and Resilience
  • 37:11 The Importance of Curiosity and Learning
]]>ecd4e211-a04c-4dc7-886d-a0b37da9e295Mon, 04 May 2026 05:27:38 GMT<p>The conversation covers Jason's early life, career exploration, college experience, the importance of networking and persistence, creating your own luck, the ingredients of success, career progression, overcoming challenges, networking and creating opportunities, and Jason's career at Morgan Stanley and success factors. The conversation delves into the themes of resilience and overcoming adversity, navigating career challenges, and the importance of curiosity and continuous learning. It emphasizes the value of persistence, adaptability, and the pursuit of knowledge in personal and professional growth.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Career paths and opportunities have evolved significantly over time</li><li>Creating your own luck is a key factor in career success Resilience</li><li>Curiosity</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Early Life and Career Exploration</li><li>06:02 The Importance of Networking and Persistence</li><li>11:55 The Ingredients of Success</li><li>17:54 Overcoming Challenges and Persistence</li><li>23:57 Career at Morgan Stanley and Success Factors</li><li>29:40 Overcoming Adversity and Resilience</li><li>37:11 The Importance of Curiosity and Learning</li></ul>no00:55:4912Ep. 02: Jason Bogardus, 545 group, Morgan Stanleyfull<![CDATA[Ep. 01: MaiLy Pham Kopasty, Senior Vice President, Global General Manager at Fenty Beauty ]]>In this episode of View From the Summit, I sit down with Mai-Ly, Senior Vice President and Global General Manager of Fenty Beauty at LVMH. Mai-Ly shares her unconventional path from engineering school in France to the top of the global beauty industry. From interning at Chanel on Avenue Montaigne to falling in love with the fast-paced retail world at Sephora, and ultimately stewarding one of the most culturally significant beauty brands in the world. She opens up about the power of noticing what fills your cup, how to find mentors who genuinely have your best interest at heart, and what she actually looks for when hiring. I hope you enjoy this candid, wide-ranging conversation about passion, grit, and building a career that feels like your own.

Key topics:

  • The importance of paying attention to what activities make you lose track of time
  • How early interests in art, math, and fashion influenced her career trajectory
  • The role of family influences and cultural background in career choices
  • Navigating internships, networking, and persistence in landing coveted roles
  • The value of mentorship, curiosity, and authenticity in career growth
  • Strategies to identify personal strengths and areas of genuine interest
  • Embracing lateral moves and setbacks as part of professional development
  • Tips on self-awareness, visualization, and aligning work with personal fulfillment
  • Recognizing toxic environments and knowing when to say no
  • Practical advice for young professionals on job selection and growth
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Starting points and early passions
02:19 - Recognizing what makes you lose yourself in activities
05:02 - Childhood interests in ballet, makeup, and numbers
08:32 - Transition from engineering to fashion and luxury
11:37 - Educational journey and lucky breaks in career
14:10 - Finding mentors and building your network
17:54 - The importance of following what you love in your career
21:32 - Breaking into the luxury industry through boldness and persistence
24:48 - Lessons learned from high-end retail roles
30:37 - How authentic customer relationships drive success
36:43 - Overcoming industry challenges and toxic environments
43:33 - Climbing the career ladder: promotions, lateral moves, and setbacks
50:07 - Visualizing success and setting clear goals
54:24 - Traits to look for in hiring and team building
56:41 - What fills your cup: personal fulfillment and work-life balance
57:25 - Managing ADHD and leveraging rapid bursts of focus in training
58:24 - Predicting trends in economics and understanding macro impacts
61:14 - Future educational plans and broadening horizons
62:24 - Final thoughts: continuous learning and connecting with well-informed individuals
]]>a9ea6456-c45e-4d78-9552-edf7b81ddc88Mon, 04 May 2026 04:16:42 GMT<p>In this episode of View From the Summit, I sit down with Mai-Ly, Senior Vice President and Global General Manager of Fenty Beauty at LVMH. Mai-Ly shares her unconventional path from engineering school in France to the top of the global beauty industry. From interning at Chanel on Avenue Montaigne to falling in love with the fast-paced retail world at Sephora, and ultimately stewarding one of the most culturally significant beauty brands in the world. She opens up about the power of noticing what fills your cup, how to find mentors who genuinely have your best interest at heart, and what she actually looks for when hiring. I hope you enjoy this candid, wide-ranging conversation about passion, grit, and building a career that feels like your own.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Key topics:</p><ul><li>The importance of paying attention to what activities make you lose track of time</li><li>How early interests in art, math, and fashion influenced her career trajectory</li><li>The role of family influences and cultural background in career choices</li><li>Navigating internships, networking, and persistence in landing coveted roles</li><li>The value of mentorship, curiosity, and authenticity in career growth</li><li>Strategies to identify personal strengths and areas of genuine interest</li><li>Embracing lateral moves and setbacks as part of professional development</li><li>Tips on self-awareness, visualization, and aligning work with personal fulfillment</li><li>Recognizing toxic environments and knowing when to say no</li><li>Practical advice for young professionals on job selection and growth</li></ul><h6><b>Timestamps:</b><br />00:00 - Introduction: Starting points and early passions<br />02:19 - Recognizing what makes you lose yourself in activities<br />05:02 - Childhood interests in ballet, makeup, and numbers<br />08:32 - Transition from engineering to fashion and luxury<br />11:37 - Educational journey and lucky breaks in career<br />14:10 - Finding mentors and building your network<br />17:54 - The importance of following what you love in your career<br />21:32 - Breaking into the luxury industry through boldness and persistence<br />24:48 - Lessons learned from high-end retail roles<br />30:37 - How authentic customer relationships drive success<br />36:43 - Overcoming industry challenges and toxic environments<br />43:33 - Climbing the career ladder: promotions, lateral moves, and setbacks<br />50:07 - Visualizing success and setting clear goals<br />54:24 - Traits to look for in hiring and team building<br />56:41 - What fills your cup: personal fulfillment and work-life balance<br />57:25 - Managing ADHD and leveraging rapid bursts of focus in training<br />58:24 - Predicting trends in economics and understanding macro impacts<br />61:14 - Future educational plans and broadening horizons<br />62:24 - Final thoughts: continuous learning and connecting with well-informed individuals</h6>no01:03:0111Ep. 01: MaiLy Pham Kopasty, Senior Vice President, Global General Manager at Fenty Beauty full