Sentenced, Shattered, and Reborn: An Ex-Felon’s Leadership Story with Rashmi Airan

This might be one of the most important episodes of Surfacing Leaders we’ve released.

In this gripping conversation, host Marc Koehler sits down with Rashmi Airan, ex-felon, lawyer, keynote speaker, and self-proclaimed unapologetic truth-teller, whose fall from grace led her through the darkest chapter of her life and into the brightest clarity of purpose.

Rashmi doesn’t just talk about resilience, transformation, and ethics: she lives it. Her story of being federally indicted, serving prison time, and then rebuilding her life with integrity and purpose is both sobering and deeply inspiring. What emerged from her journey is the RISE framework: Reframe, Identify, Surrender, Evolve; a process that will fundamentally reshape how you lead, live, and respond to adversity.

This episode will shake loose everything you thought you knew about leadership.

You’ll walk away rethinking the pace you operate at, how you make decisions under pressure, and what it truly means to take ownership. More importantly, you'll learn how to stop chasing perfection and start rising through struggle—with courage, clarity, and compassion.

Key takeaways:
– Slowing down might be the boldest move you can make as a leader.
– Vulnerability isn’t a weakness: It’s your greatest leadership tool.
– You can’t earn trust until you tell the truth–to others and yourself.

This episode isn’t just a conversation, it’s a wake-up call. If you’re leading at any level, you need to hear this.

🔗 Learn more about Rashmi:
Website: https://rashmiairan.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmiairan