Empowering Women to Lead

What if checking every box on your to-do list still left you feeling unfulfilled? In the 11th episode of Empowering Women to Lead, Ruth Easterling introduces her new book, Beyond the Checklist: Mistakes That Sideswipe Your Journey to a Life of Purpose, and explores the first mistake many of us make: living on autopilot. Ruth challenges listeners to look beyond productivity and reconnect with what...

In this inspiring episode, Judith Jacque shares how caregiving, resilience, and a leap of faith led her to create Gardenland, a children’s book series rooted in life lessons, imagination, and growth. Through honest reflections on entrepreneurship, fear, and finding purpose, Judith reminds women that success begins with taking the first step, asking boldly, and trusting their own potential to bloom...

In Episode 9 of this podcast, Urmi Hossain joins the Empowering Women to Lead podcast to discuss mentorship, leadership, and the importance of building supportive communities for women. Drawing from her experiences mentoring women across different cultures and career stages, Urmi shares practical insights on finding mentors, developing confidence, and overcoming imposter syndrome. The conversation...

In this episode, Wendee Mann, founder of Wendee Jane Designs and known as the “Perennial Plant Lady,” shares her 30-year journey as a garden and landscape designer in Western Washington. She reflects on entrepreneurship, the power of networking, and how connecting with nature can help people design homes and lives that truly reflect who they are. Wendee also discusses the importance of believing i...

Guilt is a silent constant in many of our lives, but it holds so much power in our decisions. Follow along with this worksheet below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qk9o47HTOXNo8pCN5wRSfrUnCCmtU-Nk12Hf7VL3B9A/copy Fresh off leading a women’s retreat on letting go of guilt, our host unpacks the difference between true guilt and false guilt, why guilt feels so pervasive for women today, and how...

In this powerful episode, we’re joined by Dr. Dina Porterfield, President of Seattle Pacific University, for an honest and inspiring conversation about leadership, faith, and the responsibility that comes with opportunity. Dr. Porterfield shares her remarkable journey—from being a first-generation college student who wasn’t “supposed” to go to college, to serving as president of two universities a...

In the fifth episode of "Empowering Women to Lead," host Ruth Easterling invites listeners to embark on a transformative journey toward purpose. Charting Your Course: A Journey Toward Purpose explores the moment many of us face when the familiar path no longer feels fulfilling—and the quiet inner voice calling us toward something more meaningful. Using the metaphor of climbing a mountain, Ruth enc...

In this episode, we sit down with Sammy, CEO of the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce, to explore her journey from growing up in a Vietnamese refugee camp to becoming a leader shaping regional economic and workforce development. Sammy reflects on the mentors and resources—such as the College Success Foundation—that helped bridge gaps for students without strong professional networks. She share...

Welcome to the third episode of Empowering Women to Lead! In this powerful conversation, host Ruth Easterling sits down with Therese Tipton, principal of Raisbeck Aviation High School in Seattle, TEDx speaker, and President of the National Association of Secondary STEM Schools. Together, they explore what it truly means to empower young women, especially in male-dominated spaces like aviation and...

In this powerful episode of Empowering Women to Lead, we sit down with Judy McMurtry, a trailblazing leader who rose through the ranks of the airline industry with relentless determination, a people-first leadership style, and unshakable confidence. From her childhood in Detroit during the 1967 riots to managing major U.S. airports, Judy shares how persistence, personal growth, and a refusal to gi...

In our debut episode, we dive into the quiet but powerful force that affects so many women in leadership: imposter syndrome. Together, we unpack why even the most capable women question their worth, how these doubts show up in our personal and professional lives, and what it looks like to lead with confidence anyway. This episode sets the tone for the journey ahead—one rooted in authenticity, cour...

Elizabeth shares her journey from starting in a call center to leading major technology projects, and the pivotal moment when she realized leadership meant not just identifying problems but stepping forward with solutions. She opens up about navigating male-dominated spaces, the importance of raising your hand and using your voice, and the need for women to step into decision-making with confidenc...

In this episode, I sit down with architect and entrepreneur Kristen Becker, founder of Mutuus Studio in Seattle. Kristen shares her powerful journey from childhood adversity to a career in professional dance, and ultimately to becoming a successful female business owner in the male-dominated field of architecture. We dive into how her background in teaching dance has shaped her unique communicatio...

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Dr. Ndidi Musa, pediatric cardiac intensive care specialist, professor at the University of Washington, and director of the new internal coaching program at Seattle Children’s Hospital. We dive into her powerful journey through medicine, leadership, and her calling to build a coaching culture in healthcare. Dr. Musa opens up about breaking barriers as a w...