Women and Work

When life feels overwhelming, it’s often because the loudest things are stealing our attention — not the most important ones.  For Joe Dillon, clarity comes from calm. After watching countless women navigate divorce, career disruption, and the mental load of parenting, Joe has seen how easily people lose focus on what truly matters — especially during major life transitions.  As the founder of Equ...

When you're doing everything right to get promoted, yet you keep getting passed over, you start to wonder if you will ever reach your career goals. When that happened to Falguni Shah, she questioned herself and her career -- until she started asking around and realizing other women were experiencing the same thing, but her male colleagues weren't. That's when she decided to devote h...

For Carson Wagner, excellence in childcare didn’t come from building a business — it came from rebuilding trust in an industry where trust is everything. Before founding Lifetime of Love Nannies, Carson spent years watching families struggle to find support they could rely on. She saw burnt-out parents trying to do it all, nannies undervalued for the heart-work they provide, and a system failing t...

Dr. Nelva Lee, Founder & CEO of Concrete Build Financing and candidate for Superintendent of Schools in Georgia, learned that leadership doesn’t always look like momentum — sometimes it looks like sacrifice. During a season of homeschooling her child, Dr. Lee placed her career on the back burner, building a business quietly while prioritizing presence over progress. At the time, it felt heavy....

Shruti Trivedi, Founder & CEO of Tulsi Heals Coaching, learned that resilience at work didn’t come from pushing harder — it came from finally allowing herself to heal. After enduring multiple pregnancy losses, including the devastating loss of twin boys at 23 weeks, Shruti returned to work almost immediately, convincing herself that staying busy was strength. For years, she carried unprocessed...

Alexa DePaolo, one of Colorado’s #1 lenders and top 1% in the nation, didn’t rise by staying quiet — she rose by refusing to accept a system designed to undervalue her. For years, she delivered record-breaking results while being told she was “ungrateful” for wanting fair pay. Behind the accolades was a culture of toxic micro-abusing — subtle control, diminished worth, and the message that success...

Martha Razo, CEO of Guero Pallets and President of the Xcelerator Business Summit, leadership didn’t come from following expectations — it came from challenging them. By 18, Martha had left home, choosing education over traditional roles that never fit her vision. What began as a push against limitation became the foundation for a future built on independence, problem-solving, and grit. From learn...

For Sarah Wallace, impact didn’t come from knowing the technology — it came from understanding the humans behind it. In an industry driven by systems engineers and technologists, Sarah entered with a different lens: psychology, behavioral economics, and human-computer interaction. She wasn’t there to out-code anyone — she was there to bridge the gap between people and the products built for them....

Wholeness. Bravery. Alignment. For Ashley, success wasn’t just about leading at a high level — it was about finally feeling whole. For years, she felt split in two: “work Ashley” and “real Ashley.” And instead of choosing between them, she built a career where she never had to. From executive leadership to motherhood to creativity and community, Ashley chose spaces where she could show up as all o...

Freedom. Ambition. Design. For Chandler Stroud, getting her MBA wasn’t about climbing higher — it was about living freer. Success, for her, wasn’t defined by titles or power. It was about choice — the freedom to design a career that honored both her ambition and her family. From long commutes to flexible work and paid maternity leave, Chandler set out to find — and create — workplaces that worked...

Bias. Balance. Empowerment. For Nancy Griffin, success didn’t come from following the rules — it came from realizing the system wasn’t built for her. When an executive once said, “She has a family,” to deny her an international opportunity, Nancy never even knew. Years later, she found out that decision — made for her — changed the course of her life. But it also became the moment she decided to r...

Awareness. Transformation. Clarity. For Lisa Giruzzi, power didn’t come from proving herself — it came from realizing she never had to. After years of walking into boardrooms “guns blazing,” ready to defend her worth, Lisa discovered that confidence doesn’t come from fighting for validation — it comes from knowing your value. A former social worker and domestic violence advocate turned transformat...

Courage. Reinvention. Purpose. Dr. Felicia Dortch-Greer’s life has never followed a straight line. A nurse of 27 years, a mother of four, and a survivor of domestic abuse — she rebuilt her world one bold decision at a time. When her life nearly ended, she made a promise: If I survive, I’ll live my purpose. She did. While raising and homeschooling her children, she wrote screenplays, modeled intern...

She didn’t leave corporate life — it left her. When Alexa Starks returned from maternity leave, she found herself in a culture that expected her to “bounce back” overnight — no re-onboarding, no support, no understanding. Instead of accepting it, she built something better. Alexa founded Executive Moms to help companies create parent-forward cultures, redefine productivity, and empower working mot...

Ever had life completely fall apart — only to realize it was pushing you toward your purpose? That’s exactly what happened to Holli Beth Clauser. She was a young mom navigating the unpredictable world of raising two children — both with unique needs. Between food banks, hospital visits, and sleepless nights, she faced more than her fair share of challenges. But through it all, she discovered somet...

Maximiliane Mihajlovic was only 16 when she began chasing her dream as an actress. But somewhere along the way, she gave it up—pressured by a boyfriend who told her it wasn’t safe, practical, or worthy of her future. That decision led her down a path she never expected: toxic relationships, heartbreak, and eventually raising two children on her own. Her journey as a single mom was anything but eas...

Denied. Overlooked. Told she was “too much. That was Jerria Donelson’s reality, even with two master’s degrees and years of experience. She was qualified — more than qualified — but still shut out of opportunities simply because she’s a woman. At first, she played along. She kept quiet. She tried to fit in. But not anymore. Now, Jerria shows up authentically — as a Black woman, a mother, and a lea...

She thought she had found her calling as a speech-language pathologist. But the reality was long hours, holidays away from family, and endless pressure from insurance rules. Then came burnout. Suzy Carbrey had always been entrepreneurial. So she started building a private practice on the side. The very same day she finalized her business, Illinois shut down for Covid. What looked like disaster tur...

Dr. Sakira Jackson’s story is one of resilience and bold choices. Growing up in Illinois with entrepreneurship in her blood, she rose through the ranks in sales before facing a defining moment: when her boss told her to choose between her job and her kids, she chose her kids and walked out. Years later, after securing a $10M federal contract with a $1M commission, she was fired on the day the deal...

What happens when you land your dream job—only to realize it’s breaking you? Marisa Ciesluk had everything she thought she wanted: a senior leadership role, a growing family, and a thriving career. But behind the scenes, she was burned out, crying on her commute, and battling an identity crisis. In this candid interview, Marisa shares: •  How she navigated postpartum depression and career burnout...

What happens when you pour 25 years into a career… only to be told you’ll never move up? Katie Dunn faced that moment after leading the biggest deal of her career. Instead of giving up, she built a new path—one focused on empowering women and underrepresented founders. In this episode, Katie shares: ✔ Why being the only woman in the room shaped her career ✔ The breaking point that changed everythi...

Rebecca Torres lost her best friend at 13, her mom, dad, and brother in later years — yet she refused to be defined by grief. After nearly 20 years as a recruiter, including at Amazon, she turned her pain into purpose, becoming a mindset coach who helps others overcome challenges and unlock their potential.  In this episode, Rebecca shares how she learned to control her mindset, rise above tragedy...

Marisa Mann spent decades climbing the corporate ladder, working at firms like JP Morgan, Accenture, and other top consulting firms — often being the only woman at the table. Despite being a top performer, she waited five years for a promotion and learned that perfection doesn’t guarantee advancement. Now, she’s the CEO of Uplift All, where she helps underrepresented leaders rise with confidence,...

When Susan MacNicol’s corporate job disappeared just days before she returned from maternity leave, she faced a choice: start over in the corporate grind or build something of her own. With a 3-month-old baby and no job, she launched her own marketing business — and never looked back. In this episode of Women & Work , Susan shares how she navigated the “boys’ club,” grew her company into an ag...

Noelani Mitchell, mom of six and former nurse, opens up about her powerful journey from single motherhood and working multiple jobs to building a business that gave her time, freedom, and presence with her family. Raised with a strong message about independence from her own mother—“Make more than your husband, because you never know”—Noelani’s story is raw, inspiring, and real. She shares how she...