She Thrives with Rhonda Coleman Wandel Podcast

Episode Summary Jasmine Minor , Emmy Award-winning journalist at ABC7 Chicago and founder of the Rise Society, joins Rhonda for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation about identity, reinvention, and the power of failure as a catalyst for growth. From playing Division I college tennis and pursuing the US Open to pivoting into journalism with zero experience and eventually becoming a multi-E...

Episode Summary Natalie Plain, founder and CEO of Billion Dollar Beauty, joins Rhonda for a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, reinvention, intellectual property, and building a brand from the ground up. From interning at the White House during the Clinton administration to producing television in Los Angeles and eventually launching a beauty company, Natalie Plain shares the behind-the...

Samantha Dockery joins She Thrives with Rhonda Coleman Wandel to share how she pivoted from a 13-year career in wedding planning into founding her own sparkling wine brand. Samantha Dockery opens up about career reinvention, trusting your vision, and building a purpose-driven business rooted in impact. This episode explores entrepreneurship, personal growth, and the courage it takes to pivot into...

In this episode, Natalia Ombach joins Rhonda for a thoughtful conversation about career transitions, personal growth, and redefining professional purpose. Natalia Ombach, an executive coach and former corporate risk and compliance leader, shares how a life-changing family experience prompted her to rethink success, leadership, and connection. Together, they explore the messy reality of career pivo...

In this episode, Laura Williams joins Rhonda for a powerful conversation about caregiving, career reinvention, and building solutions born from lived experience. Laura Williams, a long-distance caregiver and legal advocate for her mother, shares how navigating a broken system inspired her to create a new approach to caregiving support. This episode explores career pivots rooted in purpose, the emo...

In this episode, Paula Amato joins Rhonda for an honest conversation about career reinvention, non-linear paths, and trusting long-term evolution over quick wins. Paula Amato, a seasoned PR and communications professional, shares how she transitioned from the music industry into wellness, storytelling, and ultimately transformational travel. Together, they explore career pivots, identity shifts, a...

Episode Summary In this episode of The Rhonda Coleman Wandel Podcast , Okera Banks, designer, style expert, and founder of the Okera Banks Collection and OTG Essentials, shares her remarkable journey from Charleston to Hollywood to building a global fashion brand rooted in purpose. From her early years in costume design to launching her own line, Okera opens up about courage, creativity, and the s...

In this solo episode, Rhonda Coleman shares her deeply personal journey through two major career pivots — first from teaching to law, and now from a coveted legal role at Google to launching her own consulting firm. Rhonda Coleman opens up about navigating fear, redefining success, and embracing personal growth. She also breaks down how coaching, community, and intentional planning helped her make...

Episode Summary Lily Schurra shares her inspiring journey from litigation attorney to legal operations leader, entrepreneur, and now senior commercial counsel at a cutting-edge tech company. In this episode, Lily opens up about the pivots that shaped her career, how she aligned her work with her values, and what it means to design your own destiny. Her story is one of courage, reinvention, and the...

Episode Summary Keli Frazier-Cox is a former global executive turned executive coach, keynote speaker, and founder of Promote Leaders . In this episode, Keli shares what led her to leave a high-powered corporate career and how she now helps leaders show up with more clarity, confidence, and intention. Her insights challenge the myth that hard work alone is enough and offer a more sustainable path...

Episode Summary Julie Ryder is a UK-based inclusion consultant and founder of an award-winning training business that helps organisations better support deaf employees and customers. In this episode, Julie shares her deeply personal journey of becoming profoundly deaf in her twenties, losing the career she had worked so hard for, and building a new path with purpose. From lip-reading lessons to la...

Stephanie Hildreth is an accomplished executive and former CEO of Mindful magazine, now serving as Chief of Staff and Head of Customer Success at a rapidly growing tech company. In this episode, Stephanie shares her journey from media to health tech and SaaS, offering deep insight into what it takes to lead high-performing teams through change. Her approach blends strategy with emotional intellige...

Episode Summary Kyla Denanyoh is a lawyer, storyteller, and founder of KD Creative , a multimedia agency that helps small business owners amplify their voice through podcasting. In this episode, Kyla shares her winding path through law school, bar exam setbacks, and eventual transition into entrepreneurship. Her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical self-trust; an empowering reminde...

Episode Summary Whitney Harper is the co-founder of Advos Legal and Advos Pro , where she helps law firm owners leave hourly billing behind and build practices they truly enjoy. In this conversation, Whitney shares how her small-town upbringing and strong family roots shaped her confident mindset, how she navigated career changes with intention, and how she is rewriting the rules of modern legal p...

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Summer Hamilton shares her journey from a small town in Arkansas to her current role at the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum. She discusses her upbringing, the impact of her family dynamics, and the challenges she faced in her education and career. Summer emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy, finding one's voice, and the significance of...

Meet Amanda Turbeville, HR Leader at Blue River Pet Care. In this heartfelt conversation Turbeville shares her incredible journey—from being born to teenage parents and then adopted by her grandmother to becoming a leader in HR. She talks about growing up in Chicago, studying interior design, and how she unexpectedly found her way into human resources. Along the way, she’s faced challenges in male...

In this engaging conversation, Yevedzo (Yeve) Chitiga shares her transformative journey from a successful career in securities law to becoming an executive coach. She discusses her upbringing in Zimbabwe, the influence of her mother, and the importance of education, especially for girls. Yeve reflects on her career path, including her experiences in banking and law, and how a layoff became a pivot...

In this episode, Dawn Anderson-Thurmond takes us on an inspiring journey from her roots in Hamilton, Ohio, to her impactful role as Interim COO for YWCA Hamilton. Growing up in a tight-knit, predominantly African American community, she learned resilience, kindness, and independence from her supportive family. Dawn shares how stepping outside her comfort zone broadened her horizons and empowered h...

Today’s episode is sizzling with inspiration! We’re thrilled to have Chef Tiffany Williams (Chef Mama), whose journey from teenage motherhood to becoming a powerhouse chef and entrepreneur is as remarkable as her guest list. Tiffany has catered for some of the biggest names out there—Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and even President Barack Obama! She shares the ups and downs of her path, from breaking in...

In this conversation, Mary N. Chaney shares her inspiring journey from humble beginnings in Cincinnati to becoming a corporate leader in cybersecurity and an entrepreneur. She discusses her education, her experience with the FBI, and her transition to corporate America. Mary emphasizes the importance of diversity in the cybersecurity field and the challenges faced by minorities. She also addresses...

Victoria Watkins is Founder and Managing Partner of Inrichmint, an organization that sources curated deal flow for high net worth individuals and families. She previously served as Chief of Staff to the Co-CEO and Chief Investment Officer at Ariel Investments.  Prior to joining Ariel, Victoria worked for the City of Chicago in the Office of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, serving as Senior Advisor, and Deputy...

Felecia Higgs Walker, executive career and business coach, is the CEO and Founder of the Focus Group by Felecia LLC,  a real-world career coaching company highlighted in her BRAND NEW BOOK "Paid On Friday, Broke By Tuesday: The Pathway to Unstoppable Success". Rhonda and Felecia discuss the new book, Felecia's journey to becoming a passionate financial consultant and balancing mothe...

Misty Hudek Giordano is a dynamic holistic health coach, and in this special edition episode, she delves into the four phases of the menstrual cycle, teaching us how to harness them to enhance our lives. Join us to discover valuable tips and strategies that will make you think, "I wish I had known this in my twenties." Misty reveals the empowering potential of understanding and utilizing...

Rhonda sits down with Katie Kohloff Mouat, a trailblazer in the field of sustainable engineering. Katie shares her journey from a small town in Kansas to leading NUMiX Materials, a startup focused on transforming industrial waste into valuable resources. Tune in to learn about Katie’s experiences overcoming the unique challenges faced by female engineer and entrepreneurs and her insights on leader...

In this episode Rhonda talks to Saira Alikhan, attorney and senior commercial advisor at Google. The two discuss Saira's  experience with race in the US as a child of immigrants and the impact it’s had on her career trajectory.  Also, Saira has charted a unique career path chock full of rich experiences and powerful pivots. If you’re looking to pivot in your career or are just looking for ins...