Women Advancing

In an era driven by automation and digital detachment, interpersonal leadership is more powerful—and more necessary—than ever. Tina Fox, Founder and CEO of TERN Mentoring, offers a deeply personal and practical perspective on how mentorship can be reimagined as a daily, living legacy. She opens up about how vulnerability, intentional connection, and service to others aren’t soft skills—they’re cor...

What does courageous leadership actually look like in a world of nonstop disruption? Cindy Solomon, founder of the Courageous Leadership Institute, brings fire and clarity to a conversation about leading when conditions are uncertain, expectations are high, and change is constant. With insights on resilience, perception vs. reality, and why women are uniquely equipped to lead in times like these,...

Unlocking sustainable growth in your business is not a task for a single person. It can only be achieved with the help of other people, especially from your most trusted circles. Kate Byrne chats with Megan Riggs, who shares how she brought success to her company, Crunchy Hydration, by putting community at the top of her priorities. She explains why long-term growth is not just about creating enti...

With technology continuously evolving every single day, it offers an almost limitless potential to come up with something innovative to transform the broken education system. This has been Akshita Tiwari’s mission: to democratize quantum tech and make it easily accessible to the young generation. She joins Kate Byrne to talk about her work as co-founder of qMe, dedicated to reshaping education by...

Are you ready to redefine your relationship with food? This powerful conversation uncovers how to rewrite your food story, moving beyond diets to a place of true transformation. Join author, speaker, and food story whisperer Michelle Petties, who shares insights from her book, Leaving Large, revealing how emotional eating became a survival tactic and why understanding the “why” behind what we eat...

Stepping into your purpose and leaving the comfort of a major media brand like Fox or Paramount takes immense courage, a topic we dive into with Jyoti Sarda, founder of Nimble Media and producer of impactful films. Jyoti shares her journey of transitioning from the corporate world to independent filmmaking, covering the realities of fundraising and launching your own venture with eyes wide open. H...

The future of education is a topic of crucial importance in today's rapidly evolving world. In this episode, Kate Byrne chats with Dr. Dawn Sizemore, CEO and Founder of iCurric, to explore this very topic. Dr. Dawn envisions the future of education, where digital learning and human-centered design converge to create impactful and accessible experiences. She dives into the critical roles of digital...

The intersection of technology and social impact is ripe with possibilities, but many non-profits struggle to keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital landscape. In this insightful episode, Kate Byrne welcomes Bourgogne Kinlaw, Senior Business Program Manager at Microsoft, to shed light on navigating this complexity. From corporate to non-profit to entrepreneur, Bourgogne shares how to get it d...

Public media isn't stuck in the past; it's a dynamic force shaping our present and future, especially in building community trust and critical thinking. In this episode, join Kate Byrne in conversation with Jayme Swain, CEO of Virginia Public Media (VPM), as they dive deep into the evolving world of public broadcasting. This is not your grandparents' public media! Jayme shares how VPM is driving i...

The convergence of women and Artificial Intelligence is not just a trend, it’s a revolution, and Shubhi Rao, Founder and CEO of Uplevyl, is leading the charge to close the AI gap with a platform built for women, by women. In this episode, host Kate Byrne sits down with Shubhi to unpack the game-changing work of Uplevyl, diving deep into how a “female forward lens” can transform the tech landscape...

Why does the word “midlife” make so many of us want to crawl under the nearest weighted blanket? It’s often framed as a crisis, a downhill slide of hot flashes, self-doubt, and questionable decisions. But what if it’s actually the most liberating chapter of all? In this refreshing and deeply insightful episode, I’m joined by clinical psychologist, award-winning author, and Zen practitioner Dr. Sha...

The return on AI is not what you might think. It is more than just traditional metrics. Kate Byrne talks all about it with Vivekam founder Divya Agarwal. Divya reframes the return on AI by focusing on advanced introspection and human potential. They delve into crucial concepts like discernment, naming discomfort, and self-management, especially during high-stakes moments. Divya also presents her v...

What if reinvention wasn’t about becoming someone else, but finally becoming you? In this energizing episode, we sit down with Suzy Welch, three-time New York Times bestselling author, professor and leadership powerhouse to talk about her new passion project: Becoming You. It’s a program designed to help you get radically clear on your values, your aptitudes, and your real purpose, not the one you...

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about building a business, it’s about building wealth that can ripple through generations. And no one gets that quite like Farah Allen. In this episode, I sit down with the powerhouse founder of The Labz, a platform that helps companies like Netflix, Delta, and Microsoft craft immersive digital experiences, minus the budget blowout. Farah’s journey from corporate life t...

College admissions are often mired with controversy and difficulties, making the process extremely complicated and unfair. In this age where college access is becoming more stressful than ever before, two amazing women are leading the charge to make this process more humane and even data-smart. In another episode of the Founder Series, Kaye Byrne sits down with Sophie English Smith and Leah Guesma...

From newsrooms to global leadership, Toyosi Ogunseye is dedicated to empowering next-generation leaders. Join Kate Byrne as she speaks with Toyosi, President & CEO of the Presidential Precinct, about her remarkable path from biochemistry to award-winning journalism and global leadership. Toyosi shares powerful insights on building next-generation leaders through media, mentorship, and self-belief,...

Local journalism plays a vital role in keeping communities informed and connected. This episode delves into the world of journalism and media with Sandy Hausman, Charlottesville Bureau Chief for Virginia Public Radio. Sandy shares her diverse experiences, from her early days as a stringer reporter to her current role covering local news. She discusses the evolution of media, the challenges faced b...

Join us in this enlightening episode of Women Advancing, where we sit down with Melissa Thomas-Hunt, an authority on building inclusive work environments and promoting diversity. As the former Head of Global Diversity and Belonging at Airbnb and a distinguished academic, Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge on how a sense of belonging can dramatically enhance workplace performance and innovation....

American culture tends to glorify busyness and overwork, focusing more on the amount of work than the actual value. Since most women are stuck in traditional gender roles and unfair cultural expectations, this workplace norm puts them in a pretty hard spot to grow and thrive. Kate Byrne discusses how to go beyond this status quo with New York Times bestselling author and journalist Brigid Schulte....

The future of work for women is evolving at an unprecedented pace, creating new challenges and exciting opportunities. This episode explores the changing landscape of women in the workplace with Allison Elias, Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. Allison shares her insights on navigating career transitions, aligning your values with your work, and finding...

In my conversation with Terry Slavin, Editor-in-Chief at Reuters Events Sustainable Business, we dive into the intersection of climate leadership, diversity, and the power of storytelling. As the driving force behind Trailblazing Women in Climate (now in its 3rd year) Terry has spotlighted the impressive leaders reshaping sustainability, such as former President of Ireland and Co-Founder of the Pr...

What are the rules in today’s workplace? Who better to ask than Stephanie Mehta, CEO and Chief Content Officer of Mansueto Ventures — home of the two brands that, one could argue, created the notion of the Future of Work. Still relevant to this day are what were then considered "the New Rules of Business," emblazoned on the premier issue of Fast Company. The rules were simple: Work is Personal. Co...

Corporate America makes the leadership journey of every woman quite challenging and frustrating. Their opinions are often disregarded, their talents belittled, and their expertise considered only secondary to men. Jacquelyn Lane, president & co-founder of 100 Coaches Agency, is leading the charge in transforming how women leaders are shaped and trained through executive coaching. Joining Kate Byrn...

What does it take to lead in a world shaped by innovation and change? This episode explores the intersection of technology, education, and leadership with Yael Grushka-Cockayne, Professor and Vice Dean for Professional Degree Programs at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Yael shares her insights on the transformative power of AI in education, discussing both the challenges and...

The current digital era has made the dissemination of news faster and provided the media industry with the powerful boost it needs. But this fast-paced age of information also led to the diminution of critical thinking, hindering society from unlocking true progress. Kate Byrne discusses how to address this alarming status quo with Amy Bernstein, Editor in Chief of the Harvard Business Review. Tog...