F'ing Up
F’ing Up is a podcast that peels back the highlight reel of success. Hosted by Deanne Rhynard, each episode features accomplished guests who share the messy, real, and often uncomfortable parts of their journeys—the moments that shaped their eventual success.
In a world where social media sells the illusion of overnight success, F’ing Up reminds listeners (especially those early in their careers or considering a major pivot) that growth is never linear. Deanne invites guests to drop the polished narrative, explore their stumbles, and reflect on what those experiences taught them in real time.
Because the truth is: what we often label as failure is usually just part of the climb.
After all, we’re all F’ing Up.
ABOUT THE HOST
Deanne Rhynard is a Success Mentor and the Host of The F’ing Up Podcast, where she translates failure into clarity, confidence, and momentum. Known for her grounded honesty and sharp emotional intelligence, she helps people cut through noise, confront blind spots, and define success on their own terms.
Before launching F’ing Up, Deanne spent nearly two decades as a Chief People Officer and startup advisor, helping companies navigate the messy, high-pressure stages of growth and scale. She shaped culture and leadership at organizations including Performio and Olo—the restaurant-tech pioneer where she scaled the team more than 30x, led the company through an IPO and two acquisitions, and built a remote-first culture well before the rest of the world caught up.
Her background spans people operations, corporate relations, and management roles at the UVA Darden School of Business, KKR, Marriott, and several early-stage startups. This breadth gives her an uncommon ability to read people quickly and understand what unlocks their potential—whether they’re early in their career or leading from the C-suite.
Deanne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Walla Walla University and lives in Washington State with her husband and three sons.
F'ing Up
F'ing Up with Laila Ghambari - S2 E15
Laila Ghambari knows success. She worked her way up in the coffee world, from Barista to Executive, all without a college degree. She even competed in the US Barista Championship in 2014 and won. Though she worked her way to the top, her journey did not come without challenges, with experiences such as poor work culture and burnout.
About Laila Ghambari
Laila Ghambari has nearly 20 years of specialty coffee experience. She won the prestigious title of United States Barista Champion in 2014 and was an elected member of the Executive Council for the Barista Guild from 2012-2016. Her expertise is in running multi unit retail operations, training and education, as well as team and organizational leadership.
Most recently, she founded by Laila Ghambari, her coffee business consulting company that supports coffee companies with operations, education, growth, and profitability.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speakers’ own and do not represent the
views, thoughts, and opinions of the companies or individuals referenced during this recording. The material and information presented is for general information purposes only.