Women in the Arena

Let's be friends! Dawn Payne earned her BA in Sociology from Winston Salem State University in 2007. She went further and received her master’s degree from UNCG and the NC A&T Joint Master of Social Worker program in 2009. While enrolled at WSSU as a freshman she was called to active duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dawn is highly decorated and has received numerous Marine Corps Awards. S...

Let's be friends! Kris Nurse is a Learning and Development professional with over 20 years of experience in performance consulting, developing high-performing teams and leaders and inspiring company cultures that create a differentiating employee and customer experience. She designs personal and professional development programs that are unique to the organization, support the culture objectiv...

Let's be friends! Samantha is Phoenix based Sommelier, influencer, TV personality and online wine and social media consultant. She found her passion in wine very early and launched her in home wine tasting business, SAMANTHA SOMMELIER at age 23.      Her  sommelier-led virtual wine tastings  are fun, laidback, and approachable! Any level of wine enthusiast can benefit from a sommelier guided t...

Let's be friends! Farah Foustok is the Chief Executive Officer of Lazard Gulf Ltd. based in Dubai. She began working in the investment field in 1994. Prior to joining Lazard in 2014, she was Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of ING Investment Management Middle East from 2008.  Previously, she was the Head of Asset Management at NBD Investment Bank. Farah was a senior fund ma...

Let's be friends! Mrs. Cynthia Williams-Bey is a wife, mother of 5 beautiful children, prophetess, best-selling, award-winning author, international speaker, philanthropist, and business mogul. Born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, she is one of 19 children. Mrs. Williams-Bey is the CEO and founder of Heaven-Sent Child Care, which is a childcare facility based out of Richmond, Virgi...

Let's be friends! Liz Whitehead is an award-winning business development consultant that specializes in guiding diverse businesses to leverage their certification and benefit from corporate supplier diversity initiatives. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies as well as certified business enterprises who are invested in making the most of their certification.  She supports her clients in r...

Let's be friends! Ikimi Dubose, Executive Director of The Roots Fund Inc “Find what you love and let it kill you.” is the famous quote wrapped around a global knife tattooed on Ikimi’s back. Destined to be a lawyer to help her Brooklyn community, Ikimi ended up in Culinary school by accident. Securing her first job at the World Trade Center Marriott as a silver polisher, was a humbling and kno...

Let's be friends! Pam is a woman that embraces her unique place in this world.  She thrives on being her authentic self  and believes everyone, no matter who you are, brings value to this world in their own way.  Listen to our conversation about life, the lessons you learn and how to always keep sight of your value.

Let's be friends! You know how it goes, life happens when we are busy making plans.  For guest Laura Sheehan, she knows this better than anybody and has made adapting to new surroundings an art form.  When she graduated from law school, Laura thought her path was laid out in front of her.  Boy was she wrong.  Her life has taken an unexpected turn.  Laura has found herself living in 8 different...

Let's be friends! This week we are speaking with Crystal McLean, an author that is dedicating her talents to teaching children financial literacy.  There is a saying that the rich get richer, that's  because they look at money differently.  Crystal says that in order to break generational financial disparity, you need to start teaching children about money when they are young, and do it i...

Let's be friends! We've all been faced with anxiety, you know how that feels...racing heartbeat, sweaty palms, head spinning.   Sometimes those feelings separate us between standing still and walking into greatness.  Meet Adrienne Barr, a mental health advocate that believes we should start learning to manage our feelings of anxiety and fear as young as possible.  Her book, "Dancing...

Let's be friends! Did you know that there is a science that studies history as a predictor for the future? Would it surprise you to know that the experience of 2020 was expected? Meet Jessica Stollings-Holder , our guest this week. As a generational scientist, her specialty is to study habits and characteristics to understand patterns for the future. The good news is this, after the cold of wi...

Let's be friends! Meet Alicia Doyle, journalist, author of "Fighting Chance" and a two time Golden Gloves winner.  Listen to our conversation on how she found the best parts of her in the last place she thought she'd be...in the middle of the boxing ring. https://aliciadoyle.com/

Let's be friends! We've invited Surreina back to lead us in a New Year's mediation.  Take some time to release the things that no longer serve you from 2020, but bring with you all the good that you've learned into 2021.  Enjoy this time of reflection and calm as you ready yourself for the new year. You can take additional classes from Surreina at these virtual locations: Sandra...

Let's be friends! Chelsea Tanner Ballad of Frank Martin Reinecke Sonata Sicilienne at Burlesque WF Bach E Minor

Let's be friends! Anne Deming  http://www.annedeming.com/about.html                                                 Ave Maria Feels like Christmas How can I keep from singing? Jingle Bells Joy to the World O Come all Ye Faithful O Holy Night Silent Night We Three Kings What Child is This? Syndee Stein Deck the Halls Ding Dong, Merrily on High God Rest You Merry Gentlemen Hark! The Herald Angel...

Let's be friends! 2020.  It's been many things, but the one thing it has been is a giant opportunity for growth.  Meet Cynthia De Lorenzi and Hope Katz Gibbs, powerhouse women in their own right whom have now joined forces to create the Your 2021 What's Next Journal.  In order to have an amazing 2021, you must prepare  for that.  Part of being ready for what comes next is saying good...

Let's be friends! Meet Jen Singh.  She is a full time artist and gallery owner.  Jen had great plans for 2020, all of which were cancelled because of COVID.  How do you represent artists and sell art when people can't see it?  Through ingenuity and creativity, she was able to create virtual art shows and keep her artists productive, as well as push her own creative process Support these a...

Let's be friends! Tricia Arce is an unexpected entrepreneur.  After the death of her grandmother, she felt that she had lost her purpose.  She redirected her grief into making homemade marshmallows.  With a successful corporate career, she had no intention to be a business owner, and definitely not with marshmallows.  But with a successful Kick Starter campaign and a leap of faith, her family...

Let's be friends! As a gift from us to you, we've invited Surreina Gallegos to lead us with a Thanksgiving gratitude meditation.  We invite you to take the time to breathe, relax and enjoy a moment of calm.     You can reach Surreina for additional classes at the below virtual locations: Sandra (Surreina) Gallegos Gerbman 805-428-0731 E-RYT-500 YogaWorks Certified Teacher & Assistant...

Let's be friends! Rebecca Hess has been in the business cooking for others most of her life.  For the last 15 years, she has been a professional chef, working in many prestigious kitchens in Ohio.  But a chance item of cacao in her CSA basket changed the direction of her life.  Curious of what to do with this, she started to research how to make chocolate from its humble beginnings.  Her curio...

Let's be friends! Meet Meagan Ayers, founder of Modern Day Wife, an organization dedicated to supporting all the roles that women play in their lives.  Listen to our conversation about the work she doing to bring resources to the every day woman.  https://www.themoderndaywife.com

Let's be friends! Meet Sue and Norma.  Sue is the owner and wine maker at Acquiesce Winery, the only all white wine winery in Lodi, CA.  She didn't start out as a winemaker, she was simply chasing a dream and following it to wherever it led her.  Today, she is an award winning wine maker and one of the only female winery owners in California. Norma is the sommelier at Acquiesce Winery, wh...

Let's be friends! Meet Caroline Adams Miller.  She is a black belt,  expert in the science of goal setting and a fierce champion of all women.  Listen to our conversation as she speaks about how we can change the game by celebrating each other out loud.  When one of us wins, we all win.  Join us with the hastag #share222 to promote victories from women all over the world. To learn more about C...

Let's be friends! Meet Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, hosts of Pantsuit Politics Podcast , The Nuanced Life Podcast and authors of "I Think Your Wrong, (But I'm Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filed Political Conversations .  Today we discuss supporting each other, even when we don't agree, the importance  of hearing each other and giving one another space to learn and gro...