Women Advancing

True impact isn’t about making history—it’s about showing up to do the work. In this episode, Dr. Thelma Witherspoon , Hamilton Township Committee woman, shares the grit and grace required for local governance. Drawing from her diverse background in law enforcement, faith, and elected office, she redefines leadership as stewardship. If you’re interested in the nuances of leading or public service,...

In a world engineered to drag our attention toward negativity and urgency, the ability to consciously direct our focus is a radical and powerful leadership skill. Artist and advocate Emily Gaines Demsky joins us to explain her transformative 3 Good Things Movement, which moves beyond standard gratitude exercises into a tangible, daily commitment to noticing beauty. By learning to anchor our awaren...

In a competitive industry, do you ever feel like you’re waiting for an invitation that will never come? Stop waiting. The secret to standing out isn’t getting a seat at someone else’s, it’s learning how to build your own table. Meet Kelsey Nicole Nelson , an award-winning broadcaster, professor, and entrepreneur who has mastered the art of not just being seen, but owning the entire space. In this...

Floral design is the last big-ticket purchase you are making when planning your wedding. Although it may seem beautiful on the outset, it is downright ugly behind the scenes. When Cameron Hardesty was planning her own wedding flowers, she encountered unclear pricing, rigid minimums, sourcing issues, and manual workflows. After going through such a nightmare, she decided to turn it into a business...

Are you successful on paper, but feel like something is missing inside? In this episode, we sit down with  Danielle Finch , Founder and CEO of  Equera.ai . Danielle made the bold career pivot from twenty years of corporate success—including roles at GE, Michelin, and as Director of Customer Experience at HomeToGo—to become a social entrepreneur in the impact tech space. Her story isn’t o...

Are you overlooking the unseen systems that cost us the most? In the U.S., a staggering 12.2 million tons of furniture waste is discarded annually—enough to furnish 8.8 million one-bedroom apartments. This isn’t just a waste problem; it’s a crisis of sustainable design, mindset, and leadership. Today, we welcome  Kathryn Soter , Executive Director of the  Good Future Design Alliance , wh...

What if the secret to scaling your business wasn’t more hustle, but more humanity? In this episode of Women Advancing, Olivia Cleary, Founder of The Clearly Collective and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, joins us to flip the script on traditional career growth. We’re moving beyond the "more, more, more" mentality to explore wellness as infrastructure—not a reward for hard work, but the very foundation...

In a world rapidly reshaped by Artificial Intelligence, the conversation often centers on the tools. But what if we shifted the focus to the people? Join host Kate Byrne on Women Advancing as she dives deep with global thought leader  Snjezana Slabek  into the timely intersection of AI, human-centered learning, and organizational effectiveness. Snjezana—an expert in human-centered AI lea...

What is the true cost of courage in speaking up? In a world riddled with resistant systems and uncomfortable truths,  Cece Jones-Davis , an extraordinary spiritual leader, artist, and relentless advocate for justice, has consistently chosen voice over silence. Known for her tireless work on the Justice for Julius Jones campaign—a movement that successfully fought against a man’s execution—Cec...

What does leadership look like in a world of climate urgency, rapid tech change, and systemic upheaval? We spoke with Terry Slavin, Editor-in-Chief of Reuters’ sustainable business magazine, The Ethical Corporation, for a deep dive into the 2026 Reuters Trailblazing Women Report. More than a list, it signals where innovation and influence are headed. Key insights from this year’s report: The rise...

The University of Virginia did not accept women until coeducation was introduced in 1970. This institutional transformation was made possible through the grit of its first class of women. Kate Byrne sits down with one of them, author  Gail Burrell Gerry , who shares the inspiring story behind this historic milestone for UVA and the education systems as a whole. Gail talks about what it takes...

Money isn’t just math. It’s memory. In this conversation, I’m joined by Scarlett Stanhope – also known as  The Biz Hippie  – for a refreshingly honest exploration of money, power, and the stories so many women have quietly inherited about both. Scarlett’s work lives at the intersection of financial planning and intuition, helping women move beyond either/or thinking and into a relationsh...

We often talk about the glass ceiling in business, but what if the true barrier to a woman’s full potential starts much lower—at the most basic level of her health and healthcare access? Imagine trying to lead a meeting, ace an exam, or secure funding when you can’t access essential menstrual products. This is the reality of “period poverty,” a silent struggle that affects millions and is rooted i...

The way we work is seemingly broken and does not serve us at all. To ensure that the future of work is way better than today, a couple of things we are so used to right now must be vastly transformed. Kate Byrne chats with  Jena McGregor , Managing Editor of  Charter , who sheds light on how most businesses are trying to fix the workplace using the wrong tools. She explains what it takes...

When words fail to clearly convey what you feel or what you want to say, using a different medium may be more effective. Kate Byrne sits down with artist  Tamara Garvey , who uses art to confront misogyny in this day and age, when women are attacked even by people in positions of power. She talks about her upcoming multimedia art show,  The Winter of Discontent , featuring paintings of t...

On today’s Women Advancing, I’m joined by  Katie Begando , Founder and CEO of  Bluubird —a brand built on the idea that influence isn’t just for people with massive platforms or loud megaphones. It’s something we grow, collectively, through trust, community, and showing up consistently. Katie’s story reflects a real shift in how brands are built today. Not top-down. Not alone. But with a...

It’s time to start minding the gap—specifically the one where a fast-growing market is quietly being left out. Join us as we sit down with the remarkable mother-daughter founding team behind  Featherie , a golf apparel company, to talk about spotting an overlooked opportunity in a male-dominated industry. Founder Kate Korngold, a high school sophomore, and her mom and ops person, Kristy Korng...

The old models of success—all grit, grind, and self-sacrifice—are crumbling. Enter the cultural catalyst, the new breed of female leader who isn't just building a business; she's architecting a movement. In this paradigm-shifting conversation, we dive deep with Jaclyn Orent , Co-founder and Frequency Architect behind the Cultural Catalysts Network . Discover how to transform your wisdom into legac...

When you walk out of a meeting questioning your own sanity, you need to know the truth about gaslighting at work. Attorney  Alreen Haeggquist , founder and managing partner of  Haeggquist & Eck, LLP , is a powerhouse advocate who digs right into this pervasive and psychologically damaging workplace issue, breaking down what it is—and what it absolutely is not. Discover the subtle red...

What does it take to rise above and silence doubt when the world sets a low bar of expectation for you? Host Kate Byrne welcomes the ultimate ladder-builder,  Michelle Gervais , a Partner at  Blank Rome LLP , Adjunct Professor, Co-chair of the Sports Industry Group, and President of  WISE Tampa Bay . Michelle shares her powerful story of being underestimated from a young age and how...

In a rapidly changing world shaped by automation and AI, the power of being indispensable takes on new meaning.  Uma Subramanian , founder of  The Limitless Leaders  and former Microsoft executive, joins host Kate Byrne to explore what it truly means to lead with influence, integrity, and adaptability. Drawing from her Human Advantage framework, Uma breaks down the five traits that...

From the corner office to the pages of a children’s book, learn how to redefine your personal brand and leadership by following your purpose. Host Kate Byrne welcomes Julie Keshmiry , the accomplished author of Princess Shmincess and former Chief of Staff for tech and finance giants like Intel, Visa, and Microsoft. Julie shares her inspiring journey of transitioning from a corporate executive to a...

Far too many take freedom for granted. For wrongfully convicted individuals, freedom is just the beginning—life after exoneration is full of hidden obstacles. In this episode of Women Advancing, host Kate Byrne speaks with  Joi Thomas Adams , Executive Director of  Life After Justice  (LAJ), which centers the voices of exonerees and their loved ones. Learn how LAJ uses research to d...

Breaking barriers in baseball isn’t for the faint of heart, and  Justine Siegal  has made a life of doing just that. The co-founder of the new  Women’s Pro Baseball League  and founder of  Baseball For All  joins host Kate Byrne to share her journey from being told “girls don’t play baseball” to becoming the first woman to coach for a Major League Baseball team. Justi...

In  The Price of Nice , Amira Barger—author and Executive Vice President at Edelman—reveals why courage, not compliance, defines true leadership. Through stories that blend honesty with heart, she challenges the cultural myth that being agreeable equals being kind, showing how “nice” can come at the expense of truth and progress. In this powerful conversation with Kate Byrne, Amira explores t...