From a Woman to a Leader

What if the only thing standing between you and the business you really want… is the belief that you’re not ready yet? In this powerful and practical episode, I sit down with Ksenia Votinova-Arnaud—serial tech entrepreneur, INSEAD business coach, and creator of the Weatherproof Business Formula™—to explore how high-achieving women in tech can escape the golden cage of corporate life and launch bus...

What if the biggest threat to your leadership isn’t failure—but the voice in your head telling you you’re not good enough? In this bold and empowering episode, I sit down with Jenn Donahue —retired US Navy Captain, PhD engineer, and leadership coach—to talk about how to quiet self-doubt, overcome imposter syndrome, and lead with courage even when everything feels uncertain. Jenn spent 27 years lea...

What if confidence wasn’t about proving yourself—but about treating yourself like someone you love? In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode, I sit down with Kristin Zhivago—Silicon Valley veteran, revenue coach to Fortune 500 companies, and founder of a thriving digital marketing agency—to talk about what it really takes to succeed in a man’s world. Kristin started her career selling mach...

What if the key to leading with confidence wasn’t your IQ—but your ability to understand and manage emotions? In this episode, I sit down with Rhonda Parker-Taylor , academic researcher, entrepreneur, and emotional intelligence expert, who shares how she went from flunking kindergarten to leading global research on EQ at the United Nations. Her story will inspire anyone who’s ever felt overlooked,...

Have you ever felt like it was too late to start over or too hard to break into tech—especially in a new country? In this episode, I sit down with Kavitha Lakshminarasaiah , a Lead Data Engineer, career mentor, and founder of the Lakshya Foundation, who moved from India to the U.S. at 30 to pursue her master’s degree—after a decade-long break from education. She didn’t just build a successful tech...

Have you ever felt like life knocked you down so hard that you didn’t know how to get back up, let alone start something new? In this episode, I sit down with Kimberly Laverdure , an Operations Specialist, Business Consultant, and author of the upcoming book She Defies , who rebuilt her entire life and business after surviving abuse, chronic illness, and career loss. From being permanently disable...

Have you ever looked around and thought, “This is the life I worked so hard for… so why does it still feel so exhausting?” You’re not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Jo Stone, a former Chief Marketing Officer turned high-performance coach and founder of the Balance Institute. Jo had the dream job, the dream house, and all the “success” society told her to chase—until she realized it was bu...

Feeling overwhelmed by AI and not sure where to even begin? You’re not alone—and this episode will change the way you see it. In today’s conversation, I sit down with Nicole Hilgenkamp , an AI and digital transformation leader with over 20 years of experience in reshaping how businesses work. But what makes this episode so powerful isn’t just the tech talk—it’s how Nicole breaks down the human sid...

Have you ever felt invisible in meetings? Are you struggling to prove your worth in a male-dominated industry? Or wondered how to stand out as a new grad in tech? You’re not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Akanksha Gupta , Engineering Manager at DoorDash , who has navigated these challenges firsthand and is here to share the real strategies that helped her rise as a leader in tech. From bu...

Have you ever felt like your career was at a crossroads, unsure whether to stay in a stable job or take a leap into something new? What if you didn’t have to choose? In this episode, I sit down with Sarena Diamond , CEO & Founder of Diamond Solutions Group, to talk about The Power of AND —the mindset shift that changed everything for her. After 30 years in corporate America, Sarena was unexpec...

Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything right at work—taking on more responsibility, putting in extra effort—yet promotions and raises keep passing you by? You’re not alone. And today’s episode will show you exactly how to stop waiting to be noticed and start actively advocating for yourself like a leader. I’m sitting down with Tabatha Jones , career advancement coach, author, and former c...

Have you ever felt stuck in a job that drains you but don’t know how to break free? You’re not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Jet van Wijk , a multi-7-figure entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and business coach who walked away from the corporate world to create a life and career she loves. She went from working in a windowless basement office to building a thriving business helping others desig...

If you’ve ever hesitated to go after an opportunity because you were afraid of hearing no , you’re not alone. Rejection is tough—it can shake your confidence, make you question your abilities, and even stop you from trying again. But what if rejection wasn’t the end of the road? What if it was actually a stepping stone to something greater? In this episode, I’m sharing: ✔️ The real reason rejectio...

Have you ever felt like leadership wasn’t meant for you because you’re not the loudest voice in the room? Do you struggle with visibility, confidence, or feeling like you don’t quite fit the mold of a ‘traditional’ leader? In this episode, I sit down with Sharissa Sebastian Deppen , CEO of Leadership Mastery Alliance , TEDx speaker, Forbes writer, and executive coach to Fortune 100 leaders. Sharis...

Have you ever felt stuck in your career, questioning if the role you’re in is really the right fit? Maybe you’re thinking about transitioning to tech or wondering if a career pivot is even possible without starting from scratch. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and this episode is for you! In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with Gabriela Schwartz-Porto, the Head of Compliance at F...

In this episode, I’m joined by B. Kim Barnes , a global expert on influence, leadership, and organizational development. Kim has spent decades helping leaders across industries develop influence strategies that work. If you’ve ever struggled with being assertive, setting boundaries, or advocating for yourself at work, this conversation is packed with proven techniques you can start using today! Ki...

Have you ever wondered if you could turn your corporate experience into a thriving consulting business? In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Schwartz Ramirez , a strategy and operations executive who made the leap from leading high-growth companies like PayPal and Dapper Labs to building her own successful consulting business, Garden Labs . After working 80-hour weeks while pregnant with her th...

Have you ever sat in a meeting bursting with ideas but struggled to get a word in? Or did you feel your introverted nature holding you back from the leadership roles you deserve? If so, this episode is exactly what you need. Today, I’m sitting down with Stacey Chazin , a leadership coach specializing in helping introverts unlock their true leadership potential—without changing who they are. Togeth...

Are you stuck in your career, unsure how to move forward or advocate for yourself? You’re not alone—I’ve been there too. In this episode, I share my journey from a frustrated software engineer to a successful leader and coach and how a concrete career plan made all the difference. You’ll learn: Why having a career plan is essential for growth The lessons I learned from staying stuck for four years...

Why do so many smart, ambitious women feel stuck when it comes to money? Whether it’s guilt, fear, or that nagging sense of “it’s never enough,” money often feels more emotional than logical.  But what if you could break free from that cycle and create financial overflow—without stress or struggle? In this episode, I’m joined by Money Coach and author of Wealth From Within , Hanna Bier, to explore...

Have you ever thought a career in tech was out of reach because you don’t write code? Think again! In this episode of From a Woman to a Leader, I sit down with Brittany Greenfield, cybersecurity leader and founder of Wabbi, who shares her incredible journey from being a comp-sci dropout to building a groundbreaking company. Brittany reveals how you can align your passions and skills to break into...

Happy New Year, and Welcome to Season 4 of From a Woman to a Leader! 🎉 We’re kicking off 2025 with an incredibly inspiring guest, Emily van Putten—a cybersecurity expert, DEI advocate, and leader redefining what it means to thrive in tech. If you’ve ever wondered how to break into cybersecurity, grow as a leader, or create workplaces where everyone feels included, this episode is for you. Emily s...

Hi, it’s Limor here! If you’ve ever felt stuck in your tech career, unsure how to break into leadership, or wondered if you’re “enough” to lead—this episode is for you. Today, I’m sharing a deeply personal story about my journey from being a quiet, introverted software engineer to stepping into my first leadership role. It wasn’t easy. I doubted myself, missed opportunities, and thought maybe lead...

Have you ever hesitated to ask for what you really want—whether it’s a promotion, a raise, or even just the chance to step into a leadership role? I get it. It can feel intimidating and uncomfortable. But what if I told you that fear of failure is often the biggest thing standing in your way? In this episode of From a Woman to a Leader, I sit down with the amazing Merve Hokamp , an executive coach...

Have you ever been promoted… and realized it wasn’t what you really wanted? That happened to me when I was promoted to Staff Engineer. At first, I was excited—it felt like recognition for my hard work. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t the right path for me. I wanted to lead teams, not just solve technical problems. It took me years to pivot because I lacked career clarity and didn’t know how to be...