When you're doing everything right to get promoted, yet you keep getting passed over, you start to wonder if you will ever reach your career goals. When that happened to Falguni Shah, she questioned herself and her career -- until she started asking around and realizing other women were experiencing the same thing, but her male colleagues weren't. That's when she decided to devote her life to studying why women are still blaming themselves when they hit the glass ceiling, and she crafted th...

Dr. Nelva Lee, Founder & CEO of Concrete Build Financing and candidate for Superintendent of Schools in Georgia, learned that leadership doesn’t always look like momentum — sometimes it looks like sacrifice. During a season of homeschooling her child, Dr. Lee placed her career on the back burner, building a business quietly while prioritizing presence over progress. At the time, it felt heavy. The business wasn’t thriving yet, and the journey didn’t look like success from the outside. B...

Shruti Trivedi, Founder & CEO of Tulsi Heals Coaching, learned that resilience at work didn’t come from pushing harder — it came from finally allowing herself to heal. After enduring multiple pregnancy losses, including the devastating loss of twin boys at 23 weeks, Shruti returned to work almost immediately, convincing herself that staying busy was strength. For years, she carried unprocessed grief while excelling in a demanding IT career, quietly battling panic attacks behind closed ba...

Alexa DePaolo, one of Colorado’s #1 lenders and top 1% in the nation, didn’t rise by staying quiet — she rose by refusing to accept a system designed to undervalue her. For years, she delivered record-breaking results while being told she was “ungrateful” for wanting fair pay. Behind the accolades was a culture of toxic micro-abusing — subtle control, diminished worth, and the message that success should be enough to keep her compliant. Instead of settling for “how it works,” Alexa walked a...

Martha Razo, CEO of Guero Pallets and President of the Xcelerator Business Summit, leadership didn’t come from following expectations — it came from challenging them. By 18, Martha had left home, choosing education over traditional roles that never fit her vision. What began as a push against limitation became the foundation for a future built on independence, problem-solving, and grit. From learning business fundamentals the hard way to stepping into leadership in a male-dominated industry...

For Carson Wagner, excellence in childcare didn’t come from building a business — it came from rebuilding trust in an industry where trust is everything. Before founding Lifetime of Love Nannies, Carson spent years watching families struggle to find support they could rely on. She saw burnt-out parents trying to do it all, nannies undervalued for the heart-work they provide, and a system failing the very people it was supposed to help. Instead of accepting “how it’s always been,” she created ...

For Sarah Wallace, impact didn’t come from knowing the technology — it came from understanding the humans behind it. In an industry driven by systems engineers and technologists, Sarah entered with a different lens: psychology, behavioral economics, and human-computer interaction. She wasn’t there to out-code anyone — she was there to bridge the gap between people and the products built for them. As a Customer Experience Strategy Leader and Consultant, Sarah has spent her career translating...

Wholeness. Bravery. Alignment. For Ashley, success wasn’t just about leading at a high level — it was about finally feeling whole. For years, she felt split in two: “work Ashley” and “real Ashley.” And instead of choosing between them, she built a career where she never had to. From executive leadership to motherhood to creativity and community, Ashley chose spaces where she could show up as all of herself — not a curated version. Her story is a reminder that alignment isn’t a luxury. It’...

Freedom. Ambition. Design. For Chandler Stroud, getting her MBA wasn’t about climbing higher — it was about living freer. Success, for her, wasn’t defined by titles or power. It was about choice — the freedom to design a career that honored both her ambition and her family. From long commutes to flexible work and paid maternity leave, Chandler set out to find — and create — workplaces that worked for women, not against them. Her story is a reminder that ambition doesn’t have to mean sacrif...

Bias. Balance. Empowerment. For Nancy Griffin, success didn’t come from following the rules — it came from realizing the system wasn’t built for her. When an executive once said, “She has a family,” to deny her an international opportunity, Nancy never even knew. Years later, she found out that decision — made for her — changed the course of her life. But it also became the moment she decided to rewrite her story. From one of Procter & Gamble’s first female managers to founder of Women...

Awareness. Transformation. Clarity. For Lisa Giruzzi, power didn’t come from proving herself — it came from realizing she never had to. After years of walking into boardrooms “guns blazing,” ready to defend her worth, Lisa discovered that confidence doesn’t come from fighting for validation — it comes from knowing your value. A former social worker and domestic violence advocate turned transformational coach, Lisa has spent decades helping people break invisible barriers — in their work, t...

Courage. Reinvention. Purpose. Dr. Felicia Dortch-Greer’s life has never followed a straight line. A nurse of 27 years, a mother of four, and a survivor of domestic abuse — she rebuilt her world one bold decision at a time. When her life nearly ended, she made a promise: If I survive, I’ll live my purpose. She did. While raising and homeschooling her children, she wrote screenplays, modeled internationally, and built a career in film and television. She learned how to make her job work aro...

She didn’t leave corporate life — it left her. When Alexa Starks returned from maternity leave, she found herself in a culture that expected her to “bounce back” overnight — no re-onboarding, no support, no understanding. Instead of accepting it, she built something better. Alexa founded Executive Moms to help companies create parent-forward cultures, redefine productivity, and empower working mothers to thrive. Her story is about courage, transformation, and the power of turning burnout i...

Ever had life completely fall apart — only to realize it was pushing you toward your purpose? That’s exactly what happened to Holli Beth Clauser. She was a young mom navigating the unpredictable world of raising two children — both with unique needs. Between food banks, hospital visits, and sleepless nights, she faced more than her fair share of challenges. But through it all, she discovered something powerful: purpose often hides in hardship. A chance moment at her children’s preschool cha...

Send us a text Maximiliane Mihajlovic was only 16 when she began chasing her dream as an actress. But somewhere along the way, she gave it up—pressured by a boyfriend who told her it wasn’t safe, practical, or worthy of her future. That decision led her down a path she never expected: toxic relationships, heartbreak, and eventually raising two children on her own. Her journey as a single mom was anything but easy. She faced lonely nights, financial stress, and even health challenges, all whil...

Send us a text Denied. Overlooked. Told she was “too much. That was Jerria Donelson’s reality, even with two master’s degrees and years of experience. She was qualified — more than qualified — but still shut out of opportunities simply because she’s a woman. At first, she played along. She kept quiet. She tried to fit in. But not anymore. Now, Jerria shows up authentically — as a Black woman, a mother, and a leader who refuses to shrink. Her story is about courage, confidence, and claiming...

Send us a text She thought she had found her calling as a speech-language pathologist. But the reality was long hours, holidays away from family, and endless pressure from insurance rules. Then came burnout. Suzy Carbrey had always been entrepreneurial. So she started building a private practice on the side. The very same day she finalized her business, Illinois shut down for Covid. What looked like disaster turned into opportunity. Her medical job slowed down. Patients stopped coming. And i...

Send us a text Dr. Sakira Jackson’s story is one of resilience and bold choices. Growing up in Illinois with entrepreneurship in her blood, she rose through the ranks in sales before facing a defining moment: when her boss told her to choose between her job and her kids, she chose her kids and walked out. Years later, after securing a $10M federal contract with a $1M commission, she was fired on the day the deal closed—but instead of breaking, she signed a new client and launched her first bu...

Send us a text What happens when you land your dream job—only to realize it’s breaking you? Marisa Ciesluk had everything she thought she wanted: a senior leadership role, a growing family, and a thriving career. But behind the scenes, she was burned out, crying on her commute, and battling an identity crisis. In this candid interview, Marisa shares: • How she navigated postpartum depression and career burnout • The turning point that changed everything • Why she walked away...

Send us a text What happens when you pour 25 years into a career… only to be told you’ll never move up? Katie Dunn faced that moment after leading the biggest deal of her career. Instead of giving up, she built a new path—one focused on empowering women and underrepresented founders. In this episode, Katie shares: ✔ Why being the only woman in the room shaped her career ✔ The breaking point that changed everything ✔ How she transitioned from finance to angel investing ✔ Tips for women conside...