NAWBO ON THE GO

Jenelle Dito, Vice President of Consumer Empowerment Programs and Partnerships at FICO®, is on a mission to make credit education more accessible and less intimidating. In this episode, she breaks down what a FICO® Score is, why it exists and why every entrepreneur should understand it. From qualifying for a credit card or auto loan to securing a mortgage or financing future growth, your FICO® Sco...

Rhonda Brunson has never been afraid to follow a new path. From high school French teacher to wedding photographer to leading a nonprofit serving survivors of domestic abuse, each chapter of her career taught her something new about resilience and human connection. But it was a chance encounter with breathwork that changed everything. After a deeply transformative experience, Rhonda found herself...

Internationally recognized speaker, motivational singer and LOUD Women Nation founder Adrianna Foster is on a mission to help women remember who they are. A member of NAWBO South Florida and a champion for women’s empowerment, Adrianna blends music, leadership development and emotional transformation to help women step into their power, purpose and prosperity. Her signature LOUD philosophy—Loving,...

For Amy Miller, entrepreneurship began with an unexpected turning point. The New Mexico-based president of AMM Communications Coach and AMM Consulting spent more than 25 years building expertise in public affairs, strategic communications and stakeholder engagement before being blindsided by a layoff. After jumping into another role that wasn’t the perfect fit, Amy decided to build a business of h...

Judi Firestone Roth, NAWBO Lifetime Member, past Cleveland (now Northeast Ohio) Chapter President and former National Board Member, has spent decades championing women business owners and building a legacy of leadership, mentorship and service. Now a member of NAWBO Indianapolis, Judi reflects on receiving the 2026 Susan Hager Award and what the honor means to her after more than 40 years of invol...

For Monica Roca-Quesada, numbers aren’t something to fear. They’re pieces of a bigger picture waiting to come together. A Florida-based fractional CFO and financial operations strategist, Monica helps growth-focused entrepreneurs turn financial chaos into clarity by understanding the story behind the data. Surprisingly, one of her favorite ways to unwind is building Legos, and she sees a lot of si...

For Kathy Rudkin, entrepreneurship has always been part of the wild adventure. The San Antonio, Texas-based founder and CEO of Rudkin Productions and Top 3 Finalist for Woman Business Owner of the Year grew up in a zoo in Oklahoma, where raising chimpanzees, tigers and even bringing baby jaguars to school sparked a fearless curiosity and creative spirit that would shape her future. Coming from a l...

Licensed clinical psychologist, practice founder and “builder of bigger tables,” Mirjam Quinn, PhD believes care should extend far beyond the therapy room—it should shape how we lead, hire and live. Born in Germany, raised across three continents and arriving in the United States at 17, Mirjam went on to found Mirjam Quinn and Associates on the south side of Chicago, where her practice now serves...

Latina founder, restaurateur and community advocate Diva Name is building more than a place to eat—she’s creating an experience rooted in culture, connection and bold leadership that’s worth slowing down to savor. As the owner of La Mexicana Taco Bar and The Local All-in Catering in South Florida, and a Top 3 Finalist for NAWBO’s 2026 Woman Business Owner of the Year Award, Diva brings together he...

For women business owners, the ability to vote is a business imperative. In this episode of NAWBO On the Go, we’re joined by Thresette Briggs, NAWBO National Advocacy Chair, for a clear breakdown of the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Act) and why NAWBO is paying close attention to its potential impact on women, especially women business owners who have experienced name changes due to marriage,...

Lindsey Paulsen, Vice President of Digital Innovation at Opportunity International, is working at the intersection of technology, funding and purpose to expand access to opportunities for women entrepreneurs around the world. In this episode, she shares how her organization is investing in women living in extreme poverty, supporting small businesses, and what those efforts reveal about the univers...

Behind every great experience is someone making it all work, and for NAWBO, that’s Katie Hatfield. As Executive Assistant to the CEO and a key force behind the NAWBO Institute, Katie plays a central role in organizing, expanding and bringing to life the resources that support women business owners at every stage. In this episode, Katie pulls back the curtain on the NAWBO Institute’s educational Jo...

What happens when advocacy efforts hit a roadblock, but the mission is too important to pause? Elle Patout, Director of Advocacy and Public Relations at NAWBO, returns to share insights from the latest visit to Capitol Hill and continued efforts to advance a national microbusiness definition. While the issue gained traction across party lines, it’s not a current priority for Congress. So what’s ne...

What if the breakthrough you’re looking for isn’t at your desk? In this episode, Deanna Novak, NAWBO Institute Board Chair and founder of The Write Journeys, shares why stepping away from your day-to-day can be one of the most powerful things you do for your business. From poolside ideas to “aha” moments in unexpected places, she explores how changing your environment sparks creativity, sharpens d...

If you are a women business owner doing “good” on paper but still feeling stuck in the messy middle, this episode is for you. In this NAWBO On the Go episode, NAWBO HQ’s Tonia Chagnon sits down with NAWBO National Board Chair Megan Patton to break down Strategic Leap, a growth-focused program built for NAWBO members who are ready to scale and want real structure, real support, and a clearer path f...

What happens when women business owners’ biggest concerns are carried straight to Capitol Hill? Elle Patout, NAWBO National’s Director of Advocacy and Public Relations, joins the conversation to recap her recent trip alongside NAWBO’s CEO and National Board Chair. From meetings with members of Congress to a conversation with a Minnesota representative on the Small Business Committee, they brought...

What if the perspective you need most is your own—from the future? Andrea Liebross, speaker, host of the She Thinks Big podcast and author of She Thinks Big: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Guide to Moving Past the Messy Middle and into the Extraordinary , joins the conversation to talk about what it takes for women entrepreneurs to think bigger about what’s possible. This NAWBO Indianapolis member wo...

What if the only thing standing between you and stronger sales is a mindset shift? In this episode, Tish Times, founder and CEO of Tish Times Sales Agency and member of NAWBO Phoenix, dives into the topic so many entrepreneurs avoid—sales. She works with high-performing, high-achieving female entrepreneurs who are exceptional at what they do, yet still struggle to build a consistent, scalable sale...

Dr. Rita Renee Gibson, Your Ultimate PowerHouse Coach, speaker, author and NAWBO Greater Raleigh member, has spent decades leading under pressure. With more than 36 years in nursing and corporate leadership, she learned early that leadership isn’t about recognition, but responsibility—it’s about listening deeply, earning trust and showing up consistently, especially when the stakes are high. In th...

Luxury artisan and Repinned Luxury Upholstery Workroom owner Riana LeJeune sees possibility where others see worn, outdated or forgotten. A member of NAWBO Iowa and the chapter’s Woman Business Owner of the Year, Riana’s journey into entrepreneurship didn’t begin with a plan to build a luxury brand, but with creativity and a willingness to say yes. After offering to refinish furniture for fellow m...

What if certification didn’t just open doors, but helped businesses walk through them faster? SupplierGateway CEO Michael Cardinal and Chairman Ade Solaru share how their platform was built to solve real-world procurement challenges, helping buyers make smarter decisions while creating meaningful access for suppliers. They discuss SupplierGateway’s partnership with the NAWBO Institute and how comb...

NAWBO has always been powered by women who choose to show up—not just for themselves, but for future generations of women business owners. In this episode, NAWBO National Board Member Janet Kendall White sits down with Judi Firestone-Roth, a NAWBO Lifetime Member of 40 years, to share exciting news and reflect on what lasting impact truly looks like. Together, they announce the return of NAWBO’s L...

Psychotherapist, speaker, author and coach Kim McLaughlin, MA of Feed Your Soul and NAWBO Sacramento Valley believes caring for mental health isn’t just a luxury, it’s essential for women business owners. In this episode, she explores the hidden costs of internalizing emotions and how emotional suppression is often mislabeled as strength in business culture.  Kim invites women to reflect on how h...

The restaurant business is one of the toughest there is, and Sarah White knows that firsthand. As the owner of four restaurants in Northern Virginia, her journey is defined by grit, heart and an unshakable belief in herself. Diagnosed at 18 with a rare medical condition and advised to go on disability, Sarah chose a different path, following her passion for hospitality. Along the way, she learned...

After years in hospital and health system leadership, Michal Waechter launched Waechter Consulting Group to help healthcare organizations grow through strategy and engagement. But it’s her volunteer leadership with the Ranch Chic Fashion Show—a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society in San Antonio, TX, that was started by a small group of women—that truly reflects her heart for service. Michal...