Explore every episode of the podcast How Women Inspire: Invest, Lead, Give
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building Women’s Financial Independence and Fixing the Broken Rung with Megan Schoettmer | 08 Jan 2025 | 00:26:06 | |
Do you feel confident that you’re in control of your financial future? With the huge transfer of wealth to women in this country, it’s more important than ever to be financially literate and feel confident in the conversation. In today’s episode, Megan Schottmer shares her inspiring journey of overcoming shyness and self-doubt to become a trailblazing leader in the financial services industry. Megan candidly discusses the importance of financial empowerment for women, the critical role of mentors and sponsors, and strategies for navigating the corporate ladder as an introvert. This week’s episode 150 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about building women’s financial independence and fixing the broken rung! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Megan Schoettmer is sharing the importance of ensuring women take an active role in their financial lives and actionable steps you can take right now to leverage your authentic self to succeed in a male-dominated industry. Megan Schoettmer is regional president of PNC Bank, Northern California. Prior to joining PNC in August 2022, she served as managing director and Commercial Banking leader of middle market banking for Wells Fargo focusing on various industries including technology, commercial and industrial, and commercial real estate in Silicon Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Active in the community, Schoettmer serves as a board member for the Bay Area Council and the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. She serves on the advisory board for Santa Clara University's Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and is co-chair for How Women Lead #GetOnBoardWeek. Some of the talking points Julie and Megan go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH MEGAN SCHOETTMER: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Embracing Ambition and Rejecting Apologies with Shellye Archambeau [Replay] | 01 Jan 2025 | 00:25:29 | |
As women in the workplace, the odds of success and growth are not usually in our favor. So, what can we do to improve our odds and set ourselves up for success? In this episode of How Women Inspire, we sit down with Shellye Archambeau, experienced CEO, board director, and author of Unapologetically Ambitious. Shellye shares her inspiring story of overcoming the odds as a Black woman in tech to become a CEO, emphasizing the importance of setting goals, making intentional decisions, and more. This week’s episode 149 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about embracing ambition and rejecting apologies! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Shellye Archambeau is sharing the importance of making daily decisions that align with your goals and actionable steps you can take right now to create a self-care plan to keep yourself healthy. Shellye Archambeau is an experienced CEO and board director with a track record of building brands, high-performance teams, and organizations. She currently serves on the boards of Verizon, Roper Technologies, and Okta. She's also a strategic adviser to Forbes Ignite and the president of Arizona State University and serves on the board of two national nonprofits Catalyst and Braven. Shellye is also the author of “Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms.” Some of the talking points Julie and Shellye go over in this episode include:
Check out Shellye’s book Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH SHELLYE ARCHAMBEAU: | |||
| Driving Breakthrough Innovations and Impact with Erin Harkless Moore, Senior Director of Investments at Pivotal Ventures [Replay] | 25 Dec 2024 | 00:32:10 | |
In a world where the gender funding gap remains stubbornly wide, women are on a mission to change the game. Erin Harkless Moore is at the forefront of driving breakthrough innovations and social impact through strategic investments. In this episode, Erin shares her journey from Wall Street to impact investing, and the powerful strategies she's employing to empower women-led funds and companies that are reshaping industries and communities. From tackling the challenges of biased funding practices to championing the importance of diverse decision-makers, her insights offer a roadmap for anyone passionate about leveraging the power of capital to create a more equitable future. This week’s episode 148 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about driving breakthrough innovations and impact! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Erin Harkless Moore is sharing the importance of aligning your work with your personal values and actionable steps you can take right now to level up your leadership qualities. Erin Harkless Moore is the Senior Director of Investments at Pivotal Ventures created by Melinda French Gates to accelerate social progress in the United States. She leads the organization's fund and direct investment decisions, overseeing a diverse portfolio that drives breakthrough innovations and impact for people in this country. Erin has nearly 20 years of investment experience previously working as the Managing Director at Cambridge Associates. Some of the talking points Julie and Erin go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ERIN HARKLESS MOORE: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Embracing Authenticity and Overcoming Self-Doubt with Liz Sklar, Director at Stand & Deliver and Actress [Replay] | 18 Dec 2024 | 00:31:12 | |
Are you a woman in leadership struggling to manage stress and are not feeling like your authentic self? In this episode of How Women Inspire, Liz Sklar, Director of Stand and Deliver and actress, shares her journey from stage to C-suite and how she helps leaders find their authentic voice and communicate powerfully. Liz and Julie discuss the importance of managing stress, setting boundaries, and embracing your personal values to become a more impactful and authentic leader. They also explore the power of storytelling, emotional resilience, and overcoming self-doubt for women in leadership. In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Liz Sklar is sharing the importance of managing stress and setting boundaries and actionable steps you can take right now to lead with authenticity and sincerity. In her work with clients including Genentech, Gilead, Twilio, Google, IVP, CZI, Waymo, and the Cartier Women’s Initiative, Liz’s work has crossed industries from pharma to finance and frequently focuses on leaders in the innovation economy. She is especially inspired by female entrepreneurs and executives and is invested in empowering them to harness their innate power and wisdom to further their careers and expand their missions. Liz has acted professionally in both film and theater, including leading roles at premier regional theaters such as California Shakespeare Festival and American Conservatory Theatre. Some of the talking points Julie and Liz go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH LIZ SKLAR: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Revolutionizing the Healthcare Landscape with Elyse Heob | 11 Dec 2024 | 00:21:16 | |
The healthcare industry has long overlooked the unique needs and experiences of women, but that tide is finally turning. Today, we’re sitting down with Elyse Heob, a multi-time healthcare startup founder and expert in bringing groundbreaking innovations to market. Elyse shares her insights on the critical importance of women-led research and product development, the myths surrounding startup chaos, the power of betting on yourself as a female entrepreneur, and more. This week’s episode 146 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about revolutionizing the healthcare landscape! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Elyse Heob shares the importance of strategic planning and treating startups like a regular job and actionable steps you can take right now to bet on yourself and get more comfortable with risks. Elyse Heob is an expert in transforming groundbreaking healthcare ideas into thriving businesses with a main focus on patient care. She is the Founder and CEO of Elyse Heob Consulting, where she supports startup founders to scale their health innovations. Previously, she co-founded ClearMask, the first FDA-cleared transparent surgical mask, growing it from zero to $45 million in just two years with zero outside investment. Some of the talking points Julie and Elyse go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ELYSE HEOB: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Pioneering AI in Legal Tech with Jacqueline Schafer | 04 Dec 2024 | 00:23:47 | |
Only 2% of all founders of AI companies are women, and Jacqueline Schafer is one of those women leading the way in tech. Jacqueline is here this week to share her inspiring journey from her early days as a lawyer at a top firm to founding her own innovative company set on changing the legal landscape. She discusses the importance of partnering with strong women investors and building a company with a focus on security and ethical considerations, the challenges she has faced as a female founder, and more. This week’s episode 145 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about pioneering AI in legal tech! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing. In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Jacqueline Schafer is sharing the importance of preparation and persistence when finding supporters and investors and actionable steps you can take right now to support women-founded ventures. Jacqueline Schafer is the founder and CEO of Clearbrief (Winner, Litigation Technology Product of the Year, Legalweek 2023). Schafer serves as one of inaugural members of the Texas Bar’s AI Taskforce, and she was chosen by the American Bar Association as one of the “2022 Women of Legal Tech” and named to the 2022 Fastcase 50, Honoring ‘Innovators, Techies, Visionaries and Leaders’ in Law, Schafer also received the 2021 Washington State Bar APEX Award for Legal Innovation for founding Clearbrief as well as for her 2020 law review article ("Harnessing AI for Struggling Families"). Some of the talking points Julie and Jaqueline go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH JACQUELINE SCHAFER: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Mentorship, Curiosity, and the Immigrant Experience with Julie Huang | 27 Nov 2024 | 00:25:04 | |
In the professional world, having a mentor to guide you in making the best choices for yourself can make all the difference. Having a mentor can help you unlock your curiosity, seek out opportunities you didn’t think were possible, and make significant changes to the world. Mentorship is even more critical for people from underrepresented backgrounds, especially first-generation students from low-income families, as they go through the academic world and into professional life. In this episode, Dr. Julie Huang provides invaluable insights on supporting young women and girls in STEM, the unique superpowers that first-generation students bring to the table, and more! This week’s episode 144 of How Women Inspire Podcast concerns mentorship, curiosity, and the immigrant experience! In this episode of the How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Huang discusses the importance of diversity and mentorship for underrepresented students and early career professionals and actionable steps you can take right now to start taking a practical approach to abundance. Some of the talking points the two Julie’s go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH JULIE HUANG: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Unlocking Barriers to Cancer Screening and Care with Vinona Bhatia | 20 Nov 2024 | 00:20:52 | |
Women’s health continues to be an important issue for many of us, and more and more medical technoplogy startups are getting on board with turning their attention to women’s health issues across the globe. Dr. Vinona Bhatia, a trailblazer in medicine, technology, and global health, is here this week to discuss her work in cancer screening and care both here and in Africa, as well as advocating for inclusive leadership, networking, and mentorship. This week’s episode 143 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking barriers to cancer screening and care! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing. In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Vinona Bhatia is sharing the importance of innovation to meet women's needs and wants in healthcare and actionable steps you can take right now to seek opportunities to make a difference. Vinona Bhatia is a Medical Oncologist trained at U Penn and UCSF, with an MPH in Global Health and Population from Harvard. Vinona is the Founder of Partnering for Cancer Innovation, an organization working to improve outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients, and ensure that cancer is treated equitably in all parts of the world. Her primary goal is to unblock millions of individuals from the barriers they face accessing cancer screening and care. Some of the talking points Julie and Vinona go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH VINONA BHATIA: Partnering for Cancer Innovation CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Using Your Business as a Force for Good with Coco Sellman | 13 Nov 2024 | 00:22:48 | |
Growing a business is no easy feat, but here at How Women Lead, we have the pleasure of knowing many women who are leading high-growth companies. Their difference? The companies are not only high-growth, but high-impact, aligning their business values with their personal values aiming for a better world. Coco Sellman is here today to share her journey growing her business and using it as a force for good, and her upcoming book by the same name. This week’s episode 142 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking the secrets of high-growth, purpose-driven companies! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing. In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Coco Sellman is sharing the importance of having a data-driven approach in business, even if the founder is not naturally data-oriented and actionable steps you can take right now to align your business practices with what consumers and employees want. Since 1998, Coco has been on a mission to align business purpose with profit. As a serial entrepreneur and a consultant to founders, Coco has built and supported hundreds of businesses. Most recently, Coco was the founder of Allumé Home Care, a home health company serving medically fragile children and adults. Allumé merged with All Pointe Care in 2021, creating the second-largest provider of in-home pediatric nursing in the state of Connecticut; Coco now sits on the board. Over the course of her career Coco has worked with hundreds of founders to grow successful, sustainable businesses that lead in impact and profits. Some of the talking points Julie and Coco go over in this episode include:
To learn more about Coco’s Book A Force for Good and to pre-order your copy, visit the A Force for Good website today! Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH COCO SELLMAN: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Leveraging Entrepreneurship to Drive Positive Change in Latino Communities with Marisela Barbosa | 06 Nov 2024 | 00:21:50 | |
If anyone knows about the importance of grit and determination, it’s immigrants. Hispanic people are the fastest growing worker group in the US, and young Hispanic people attending college and universities are truly the workforce of tomorrow. Despite this, Latina and Latino voices are grossly underrepresented in the biggest rooms of power. Marisela Barbosa is here today to talk about her journey supporting her community through her entrepreneurial journey, standing up for Latina voices, encouraging women to pursue civil leadership, and more! This week’s episode 141 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about leveraging entrepreneurship to drive positive change in Latino communities! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Marisela Barbosa is sharing the importance of raising Latina voices in business and local politics and actionable steps you can take right now to build strong relationships and networks. Marisela Barbosa is a small business owner and civic leader dedicated to fostering sustainable economic growth in the community. Marisela is the co-founder of Monarch Engineers, an engineering firm specializing in civil, structural, and mechanical engineering. In 2016, she founded Green Hive Spaces, a coworking space in downtown Vallejo with a focus on sustainability. Some of the talking points Julie and Marisela go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH MARISELA BARBOSA: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Overcoming Barriers with Confidence, Resilience, and Determination with Deborah Smith | 30 Oct 2024 | 00:22:56 | |
Even if we think our career is on a straight path, life has a funny way of presenting us with unexpected opportunities and changing our trajectories. Deborah Smith knows this firsthand, having moved around in the financial industry and taken almost every opportunity that presented itself before founding The CenterCap Group, a boutique investment bank serving the real estate industry. Deborah is here this week to share her journey with us, as well as offer advice on our career mindsets, surrounding ourselves with a support network, and more! This week’s episode 140 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about overcoming barriers with confidence, resilience, and determination! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Deborah Smith is sharing the importance of keeping your eyes open for unexpected career opportunities and actionable steps you can take right now to approach your career with confidence. Deborah Smith is Co-Founder and CEO of The CenterCap Group, LLC and heads the firm's Strategic Capital and M&A and Execution efforts. Prior to forming The CenterCap Group, LLC, Ms. Smith was Co-Head of M&A and a Senior Managing Director with CB Richard Ellis Investors (CB Richard Ellis's $40 billion AUM investment management business). She joined CBREI in July 2007 to co-head the build out of the firm's M&A efforts and led the firm's negotiation and acquisition of a majority interest in Wood Partners (one of the largest multifamily developers in the United States) in 2008. Some of the talking points Julie and Deborah go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH DEBORAH SMITH: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Balancing Innovation and Responsibility with Jessica Nall | 23 Oct 2024 | 00:31:35 | |
As technology advances quickly, it can be hard for regulation to keep up with innovation. So what are developing technology companies to do when regulations are so vague, and standards are yet to be developed? One answer is to work on self-regulation. Jessica Nall is here to talk about her work as a lawyer whose mission is to defend and support tech companies, founders, CEOs, and more! This week’s episode 139 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about balancing technological innovation with responsibility! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Jessica Nall shares the importance of self-regulation and consumer consent in the tech industry and the actionable steps you can take right now to diversify your thoughts and perspectives in driving innovation. Jessica Nall is a technology investigations partner practicing at the forefront of government enforcement in the technology industry. Jess leads Baker McKenzie's investigations and compliance practice on the West Coast. For more than two decades, Jess has defended companies and individuals in government investigations and conducted internal investigations involving cutting-edge technology issues, including AI, cybersecurity, and alleged misuse of all kinds of data. Jess has defended companies and individuals across the Asia Pacific region since the first DOJ Antitrust cartel investigations in 2003 and has a deep understanding of cultural issues impacting investigations in that region and across the globe. Some of the talking points Julie and Jessica go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH JESSICA NALL: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Mentorship, Resilience, and the Power of Relationships with Shannon Nash | 16 Oct 2024 | 00:36:40 | |
One of the most powerful tools you can have as you navigate your career is a well-rounded network. The relationships you build with mentors and colleagues have a massive effect on your trajectory, and few know this better than Shannon Nash. Shannon is here today to offer us her insights on the power of relationships, the value of diverse perspectives in the boardroom, and the importance of following your passions, and to offer inspiration and practical wisdom for aspiring leaders across industries. This week’s episode 138 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about mentorship, resilience, and the power of relationships! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Shannon Nash is sharing the importance of being present and fully committed to various aspects of life, including work, family, and personal interests, and actionable steps you can take right now to explore relationship-building in your career. Some of the talking points Julie and Shannon go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH SHANNON NASH: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Unlocking the Wealth and Influence of Women with Mandy Bynum | 09 Oct 2024 | 00:30:52 | |
There has been a significant increase in women-led venture firms, going from 12 in 2010 to nearly 300 in 2020, emphasizing the potential for women to manage $30 trillion in wealth by 2030. And despite women-founded companies outperforming their male counterparts, they received only 1.8% of venture funding last year. But as women have more control over money and assets, we can demand and bring about change. Mandy Bynum is here today to share her journey into investing in women, the need for women to take control of their financial decisions, seeking funds that align with your values, and more. This week’s episode 137 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking the wealth and influence of women! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing. In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Mandy Bynum shares the importance of women demanding change and performance in the venture capital market and actionable steps you can take right now to expand your professional opportunities through investing in venture funds. Mandy Bynum is a highly sought-after super-connector. A skilled strategy consultant and advisor, she helps individuals and organizations build capacity and valuable relationships with people and the communities that matter to them. Blending her experience in venture capital, startup, and nonprofit leadership, Mandy advises a wide range of companies on how to build authentic relationships with different audiences, as well as professionals looking to integrate their creative pursuits, increase revenue streams, and advance social activism in order to design meaningful, impactful, and sustainable multidimensional careers. Some of the talking points Julie and Mandy go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH MANDY BYNUM: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Leaving Normal and Embracing Change with Dr. Keera Godfrey | 02 Oct 2024 | 00:29:33 | |
Everyone has a different path and purpose in life, and those on the entrepreneurship journey often feel it most. But fighting loneliness by building community with and supporting other women and women entrepreneurs leads to incredible collaboration, better health, and lasting societal change. Dr. Keera Godfrey is here today to talk about the importance of investing in women, choosing the path that’s right for you, and more! This week’s episode 136 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about leaving normal and embracing change! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing. In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Dr. Keera Godfrey shares the importance of a supportive ecosystem for founders and entrepreneurs, and actionable steps you can take right now to support other women on their entrepreneurial journeys. Dr. Keera Godfrey is the CEO and Founder of Naris Communications and the Naris Leadership Academy. Dr. Keera helps global organizations with a focus on digitization and digital transformation to define and align their workforce culture to embrace new ways of working bringing her 25 years of experience as a communications and change strategist, activating performance strategies for the U.S. Army, global manufacturers, healthcare systems, and non-profit organizations. She is a trusted advisor, change management consultant, speaker, and author utilizing emotional intelligence, strategic communications, and performance improvement techniques to maximize business results. Some of the talking points Julie and Keera go over in this episode include:
To get Dr. Keera’s book, Leaving Normal: How to Let Go and Move The Heck On, you can head over to Amazon. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH DR. KEERA GODFREY: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Leveraging Venture Investing for Impact with Gaby Darbyshire | 25 Sep 2024 | 00:32:16 | |
Women currently own 52% of wealth but receive only 2% of venture funding, despite returning 34% more to investors. It’s our mission here at How Women Lead to lift each other up in every way we can, including funding women startups and business owners looking for funding. Because when we invest in our values and put our money into what we believe in, everyone wins. This week’s episode 135 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about leveraging venture investing for impact! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Gaby Darbyshire is sharing the importance of having a diverse investment portfolio and actionable steps you can take right now to leverage your investments to also make more philanthropic donations. This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing. Gaby Darbyshire is a global executive and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience building tech and media businesses in London, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. In her current role as General Partner at Dangerous Ventures, an early-stage VC fund, Gaby is focused on investing in solutions to the world’s most pressing climate challenges, a lifetime interest that dates back to building an electric car when she was 16 years old. Born in Beirut and raised in London, Gaby began her career as a barrister, practicing environmental and criminal law and working pro bono on death row appeals. After leaving the Bar, she spent several years as a management consultant, developing strategies in the tech, utilities, financial services and pharmaceutical industries. Some of the talking points Julie and Gaby go over in this episode include:
Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH GABY DARBYSHIRE: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Investing in Women CEOs with Patricia Lizarraga | 18 Sep 2024 | 00:27:29 | |
Women CEOs are incredible - they have to be to get to the top - so it only makes sense that their companies outperform others in the stock market. So why aren’t more people actively investing in women? Patricia Lizarraga is here today to talk about raising visibility and funds for women-led companies that consistently outperform in all different markets. This week’s episode 134 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing in Women CEOs! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Patricia Lizarraga is sharing the importance of giving everyone the opportunity to invest in companies led by women CEOs and actionable steps you can take right now to start investing today. Patricia Lizarraga is the managing partner of Hypatia Capital and the issuer of the Some of the talking points Julie and Patricia go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH PATRICIA LIZARRAGA: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Do Good While Doing Well with Marcia Dawood | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:29:45 | |
The importance of getting more women involved in venture and angel investing cannot be understated. As more women earn more money, the value of getting women seats at the table and in positions that decide what their money is being used for grows. Marcia Dawood is here today to share with us how we can be more involved in investment decisions, combat bias in finance, and more. This week’s episode 133 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about how you can do good while doing well! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Marcia Dawood is sharing the importance of understanding your investment options and actionable steps you can take right now to diversify your investment portfolio. Marcia Dawood is an early-stage investor who serves on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee. She is a venture partner with Mindshift Capital, a member of Golden Seeds, and the Chair Emeritus of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), the global professional society for angel investors. In 2022, Marcia spoke at TEDx Charlotte and she currently hosts The Angel Next Door Podcast. Some of the talking points Julie and Marcia go over in this episode include:
You can find Marcia’s book, “Do Good While Doing Well” wherever you get your books, or by visiting her website! Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH MARCIA DAWOOD: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Designing Human-Centered AI with Ewa Ding | 04 Sep 2024 | 00:26:42 | |
It feels like AI has taken over the world since Open AI released ChatGPT at the end of 2022. The widespread use of large language models, however, has shown a great deal of bias and misinformation, in addition to being less than intuitive. So how do we create better AI? Ewa Ding is here this week to share her thoughts and mission to make AI more human-friendly! This week’s episode 132 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about designing human-centered AI! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Ewa Ding is sharing the importance of understanding AI's capabilities, limitations, and ethical considerations. and actionable steps you can take right now to educate ourselves about AI and its uses. Ewa Ding is a product and design leader on a mission to make AI more human-friendly and genuinely useful. As the founder of UX4AI, she blends her passion for impactful experiences with expertise in human-centered AI strategies, digital transformation, product strategy, and UX design. Some of the talking points Julie and Ewa go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH EWA DING: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Embracing Unabashed Visibility as Women Leaders [Credo #4] | 28 Aug 2024 | 00:18:46 | |
Women’s voices have been and continue to be culturally dismissed and discouraged. Women are very rarely quoted in science and financial journals, as well as make up only about 25% of all of the people who are quoted as experts in the news media. The fourth element of our credo at How Women Lead is to Be Unabashedly Visible, and today, Julie is sharing her journey to be more visible. This week’s episode 131of How Women Inspire Podcast is about the fourth tenet of ouw How Women Lead Credo: being unabashedly visible! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams is sharing the importance of public speaking in creating change and actionable steps you can take right now to be visible and take up space. Some of the talking points Julie goes over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Amplifying Women’s Voices to Reshape the Future [Credo #3] | 21 Aug 2024 | 00:14:46 | |
Every woman has an instance in her childhood where her voice was ignored. Maybe she was told to be seen and not heard, maybe she was looked over in class to speak, or maybe she was told to take up less space. This cultural bias against women’s voices needs to be put to an end, and it starts with us supporting one another and speaking up to affirm another woman and make her voice heard. This week’s episode 130 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about the third tenet of the How Women Lead Credo: reinforcing other women’s voices when they speak up! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams shares the importance of supporting other women when they speak and actionable steps you can take right now to open opportunities for women’s voices to be heard. Some of the talking points Julie goes over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast. CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| The Power of Making Introductions and Saying Yes [Credo #2] | 14 Aug 2024 | 00:13:47 | |
“Deals are made on the golf course.” “Your network is your net worth.” How often have we women heard these phrases throughout our lives, only to be scolded or warned against doing these same things that men are encouraged to do? It’s time for us to change the cultural narrative around using our connections to create professional opportunities for ourselves and the women around us. This week’s episode 129 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about the second tenant of the How Women Lead credo: saying yes to helping each other! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams is sharing the importance of making introductions for other women and actionable steps you can take right now to increase opportunities for yourself and women around you! Some of the talking points Julie goes over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Fierce Advocacy: Lifting Women Up and Transforming Work Culture [Credo #1] | 07 Aug 2024 | 00:18:04 | |
In a world where women leaders are still facing immense challenges and criticism, our role as advocates for each other has never been more important. Too often, we've seen women tear each other down, rather than lifting each other up. But when we commit to refusing to participate in the toxic dynamics that hold us back and instead use our voices to build other women up, amazing things happen. We’re thrilled to share this replay of Julie Castro Abrams discussing the first pillar of our How Women Lead credo. This week’s episode 128 of How Women Inspire is about the first tenet of the How Women Lead credo: be fierce advocacy for all women and transforming work culture! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams shares the importance of lifting up and supporting other women and actionable steps you can take right now to advocate for the women in leadership roles in your life. Some of the talking points Julie goes over in this episode include:
It's time we change the culture of how we are together so that all women can feel like they have a path forward and do it with fewer battle scars. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Unlocking the Power of Latina Investors with Emma Rodriguez-Ayala | 31 Jul 2024 | 00:29:23 | |
The workforce in the US is more diverse than ever. And with a large part of the educated workforce being made up of Latina women, strategies and ideas around investments are shifting. Emma Rodriguez-Ayala is here today to talk about how investors need to learn how Latino communities view and value money, bridging the financial literacy gap by teaching kids about money from a young age, and much more. This week’s episode 127 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking the power of Latina investors and bridging the financial literacy gap! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Emma Rodriguez-Ayala is sharing the importance of investing in Latino communities and overcoming barriers to inclusion. and actionable steps you can take right now to start teaching your kids what they need to know about money. Emma Rodriguez-Ayala serves as Ariel’s Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel as well as Board Secretary of Ariel Investments and Ariel Alternatives. With almost two decades of experience in investment management, Emma is a seasoned legal and operations executive with a passion for impact investing, DEI, risk management, and corporate governance. Emma is an independent director of First Bank Chicago, one of the largest privately held banks in Chicagoland. She serves on the board of Chicago television station WTTW and the Chicago classical music station WFMT. Additionally, she is a founder and board member of Angeles Investors, a Latino-focused angel investing group, and is a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association. Some of the talking points Julie and Emma go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH EMMA RODRIGUEZ-AYALA: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Elevating Latina Voices with Marilyn Alverio | 24 Jul 2024 | 00:30:16 | |
While women in general are underrepresented in leadership roles and corporate America, those least represented are Latina women. Despite being one of the largest sections of the workforce, Latina women make the least money of any demographic in the country; on average only being paid 62 cents for every dollar made by a white man. Marilyn Alverio founded Latinas & Power as a way to bring Latina women together to share their experiences, elevate their voices, build strong networks, and navigate the changing workplace landscape together so that all women have opportunities in leadership. This week’s episode 126 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about elevating Latina voices! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Marilyn Alverio is sharing the importance of creating work environments where you can bring your whole self to work and actionable steps you can take right now to build up your network. Marilyn Alverio is the Founder and CEO of Latinas & Power Corp., a non-profit organization that empowers Latinas to succeed as influential leaders and advocates in their careers and communities. She has over 30 years of experience in marketing, sales, and brand management, working with Fortune 100 companies and diverse audiences. Marilyn is also a keynote speaker on topics that include; DE&I, Women’s Market, Latino Market and ERG’s. Some of the talking points Julie and Marilyn go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH MARILYN ALVERIO: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Hot Flashes! Investing In Her Wellness with Ariane Tom | 17 Jul 2024 | 00:26:56 | |
Women-led venture firms grew from 12 in 2010 to over 300 in 2020, representing new opportunities for women in leadership and innovation. As the first generation of women with decades of work experience and control of 50% of wealth, it’s up to us to invest in companies who share our values, especially in women’s healthcare. Ariane Tom is here this week to share about the importance of investing in healthcare technology, especially neuroscience technologies. This week’s episode 125 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing in her wellness! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Ariane Tom is sharing the importance of involving women in venture capital and actionable steps you can take right now to find venture firms to invest in that align with your values. Dr. Ariane Tom is Founder & Managing Director of Kaleida Capital, investing in neurotech with domain expertise across deeptech, AI, and neuroscience. Throughout her academic career at Stanford, Ariane spearheaded research programs in neural interfaces with applications in brain-mapping, prosthetics, drug delivery, and neuromodulation. She is a published co-author in top-tier research journals Science Magazine and Nature Portfolio, collaborating across disciplines with luminaries Karl Deisseroth (optogenetics & CLARITY), Zhenan Bao (electronic skin), and Sergiu Pasca (organoids). Beyond the bench, she has applied over a decade of research insight to venture capital, patent law, and public policy, cultivating a top-performing investment track record by identifying and backing technologies of multiple Nobel Laureates. Some of the talking points Julie and Ariane go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ARIANE TOM: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Intersectional Reproductive Justice with Kwajelyn Jackson | 10 Jul 2024 | 00:39:33 | |
As we mark two years since the Dobbs decision which overturned Roe v. Wade, highlighting inequality in healthcare is more important than ever. Limiting access to essential reproductive care disproportionatelty affects women of color, non-English speaking folks, people living in poverty, and other marginalized groups. Kwajelyn Jackson is here this week to discuss her work in fighting for reproductive justice in Georgia and across the US, as well as addressing the intersections of issues like economic insecurity, racism, and lack of community support. This week’s episode 124 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about intersectional reproductive justice! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Kwajelyn Jackson is sharing the importance of considering multiple identities and systems of oppression when advocating for reproductive justice. and actionable steps you can take right now to support equal access to reproductive healthcare for all. Kwajelyn Jackson currently serves as Executive Director at Feminist Women’s Health Center (FWHC) in Atlanta, GA, leading the entire organization’s operations, abortion clinic, civic engagement, education and outreach teams. Since 2013 she has led the expansion of FWHC’s statewide and national impact, and significantly deepened community partnerships. Kwajelyn has been named one of the 500 most powerful leaders in Atlanta by Atlanta Magazine for five consecutive years. Some of the talking points Julie and Kwajelyn go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH KWAJELYN JACKSON: Feminist Women’s Health Center CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Transforming Communities through Visionary Leadership with Aja Brown | 03 Jul 2024 | 00:33:35 | |
Local politics is often regarded as the most important level of government. It is where decisions are made that affect you and those in your community directly and daily, and where people come together to improve where they live. Aja Brown became mayor of Compton, California in 2013 by doing just that, caring for her community and inspiring others to do the same. She is here today to talk all about her time as mayor, her passion for creating effective technology, and more. This week’s episode 123 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about transforming communities through visionary leadership! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Aja Brown is sharing the importance of data in driving equity and justice and actionable steps you can take right now to be an effective, values-driven elected official. A visionary leader with an unshakeable commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, Aja Brown stands at the forefront of catalytic growth, harnessing technology to transform government, deliver efficiencies that remove red-tape, and empower stakeholders of communities across the U.S. through the democratization of data. Throughout her career, she has been a driving force for transformation, impacting people and places around the world through her leadership, fresh perspective and ability to strongly connect with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences. As Mayor, Aja pioneered groundbreaking initiatives that revolutionized city administration, broadened access to technology, and cultivated a culture of innovation and growth. Some of the talking points Julie and Aja go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH AJA BROWN: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Building an Inclusive Culture for High Performance with Nancy Geenen [Replay] | 26 Jun 2024 | 00:27:25 | |
Having diverse perspectives in your workplace is good not only for productivity and output, but also for creating a comfortable environment where all people can do their best work. In recent years, however, we have seen shifts on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) regulation. Nancy Geenen is an expert in DEI in the workplace, and on today’s show she’s sharing insights from her book The Advantage of Other: A Leader’s Guide to Building an Equitable, Dynamic, and Productive Workplace. This week’s episode 122 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about building an inclusive workplace culture for high performance! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Nancy Geenen is sharing the importance of finding your voice and actionable steps you can take right now to get involved in causes you care about. Nancy Geenen is the CEO of Flexability, a workplace equity & inclusion consulting firm. Nancy is an accomplished entrepreneur, trial attorney, and strategic facilitator. She is a sought-after advisor on matters of company culture, retention, career development, and leadership. Early in her career, she was a Senior Legal Officer for the United Nations in Geneva focused on adjudicating damages arising from Iraq’s unlawful invasion of Kuwait. Following her passion, Nancy writes and speaks on topics related to the social impact of employing individuals with disabilities Some of the talking points Julie and Nancy go over in this episode include:
Don’t forget to order Nancy’s book, The Advantage of Other: A Leader’s Guide to Building an Equitable, Dynamic, and Productive Workplace! Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH NANCY GEENEN: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Venture Voices: Women Leading Change in Startups and Capital with Winsome Kirton and Tatijana Janko | 19 Jun 2024 | 00:30:43 | |
As women-founded companies receive only 2% of venture funding year after year, it’s more important than ever for women founders and women venture capitalists to band together to reshape what it means to be an investor and an entrepreneur. Winsome Kirton and Tatijana Janko are two women advocating for and leading this change. They’re here today to discuss diversity in investment, their experiences with bias in the investment space, and more. This week’s episode 121 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about women leading change in startups and capital! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast,Winsome Kirton and Tatijana Janko are sharing the importance of investing in diverse women founders, both ethically and financially and actionable steps you can take right now to begin investing with your values. Winsome Kirton is the founder and CEO of Heard.io, a B2B ecosystem that drives and measures social impact by connecting businesses with companies that meet their ESG goals. After working as a media director and working on her first startup, Pack Elephant, Winsome realized how difficult it was to work with small and diverse-owned businesses on a big scale. She started Heard.io to combat those difficulties and allow companies to shop thoughtfully and intentionally for their corporate gifting needs. Tatijana Janko is the Founder and General Partner at Fjor venture capital. She most recently was a Mucker Capital backed founder of a software startup built for managing workflows of matrixed investment teams. As a fintech entrepreneur and independent sponsor she closed $56M in investments and helped to secure securitization and forward flow arrangements for insurance companies and hedge funds. Some of the talking points Julie, Winsome, and Tatijana go over in this episode include:
To learn more and join The New Table, visit the How Women Lead website today! Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH WINSOME KIRTON: CONNECT WITH TATIJANA JANKO: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Inspiring and Funding Native American Entrepreneurship with Betsy Fore | 12 Jun 2024 | 00:24:58 | |
In the world of founders and business owners, you’ll find many people who start more than one company. You’ll be hard-pressed, however, to find someone who has not only started multiple successful companies and a venture fund, but imbues all of her projects with as much passion, authenticity, and respect for her culture and values as Betsy Fore. Betsy has taken her success and turned to mentoring, funding, and supporting the next generation of Native American entrepreneurs through her from Velveteen Ventures, the non-profit Natives Rising, and more. Betsy is here today to talk about all of that and more! This week’s episode 120 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about inspiring and funding Native American entrepreneurs! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Betsy Fore is sharing the importance of understanding one’s deep inner ‘why’ and actionable steps you can take right now to support Native American entrepreneurs, founders, and young professionals. Betsy Fore is the Founding Partner and Managing Director of Velveteen Ventures, a venture firm investing in Children & Planet for the next seven generations. Previously, she was the Co-Founder and CEO of Tiny Organics, Founder and CEO of Wondermento, creators of WonderWoof. Betsy is also Co-Founder & Board Member for Native Rising, a career accelerator for Indigenous founders & Indigenous technologists that provides funding and opportunities through mentorship, networking, events, job placements and career development. Some of the talking points Julie and Betsy go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH BETSY FORE: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| The Future is Female: Investing with Purpose and Power with Barbara Iyayi | 05 Jun 2024 | 00:31:44 | |
Women control 52% of wealth in the United States. Despite that, less than 5% of women who can invest in venture capital actually do so. Venture capital is often portrayed as an avenue of wealth for the “bros” but if we come together as women, our unique value sets and perspectives can change the world by funding innovative, women-founded startups looking to find solutions that benefit everyone, rather than a privileged few. Today, Julie and Barbara Iyayi, CEO and Founding Partner of Unicorn Growth Capital, invite you to learn about venture capital as an opportunity to grow your wealth and help women across the globe. This week’s episode 119 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing with purpose and power! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Barbara Iyayi is sharing the importance of investing in women-led companies, creating a more inclusive innovation economy, and actionable steps you can take right now to start investing in women-founded companies creating a better future. Barbara Iyayi is the CEO & Founding Partner of Unicorn Growth Capital, a Web3 VC fund that invests in the future of Finance, bridging TradFi & DeFi, to transform the financial infrastructure of the digital economy. She is an experienced venture capital and growth equity investor, and entrepreneur with over 17 years’ experience in financial services, spanning venture capital, private equity, investment banking/M&A and technology. Some of the talking points Julie and Barbara go over in this episode include:
To learn more and join The New Table, visit the How Women Lead website today! Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH BARBARA IYAYI: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Empathy in Philanthropy and Entrepreneurship with Soon Hagerty | 29 May 2024 | 00:29:23 | |
Entrepreneurship is never easy and it proves to be more difficult for women. But with resilience, determination, and support from a strong network, entrepreneurship is attainable for all women. Soon Hagerty knows more than most about what it takes to be a successful business owner and has made it her mission to support and mentor other women on this journey through the Boundless Futures Foundation. She is here this week to talk about all this and more. This week’s episode 118 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about empathy in philanthropy and entrepreneurship! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Soon Hagerty is sharing the importance of leading and mentoring others with empathy and compassion and actionable steps you can take right now to contribute to your community, no matter what stage of life you’re in. Soon Hagerty is the Co-Founder and President of the Boundless Futures Foundation, a non-profit that provides financial support and leadership resources for aspiring female entrepreneurs building businesses to solve today’s biggest social issues so they can have a boundless impact in society. She has co-owned several PR/marketing firms including Luxe Communications, which she founded, and Centigrade. In 2022, Soon was named one of the U.S.’s “Top Women in Communications” by Ragan Communications for her work in transforming the Hagerty brand. Some of the talking points Julie and Soon go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH SOON HAGERTY: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Rewriting the Playbook for Women’s Investing with Tessa Flippin, Founder and Managing Partner at Capitalize VC | 22 May 2024 | 00:30:33 | |
Investing in venture capital has historically been a men’s game, and the companies that receive funding reflect that. Less than 2% of venture funding is awarded to women-led companies, and that number has remained the same for many years. But as the pool of venture investors diversifies, we believe that number should grow. Tessa Flippin, Founder of Capitalize VC and Julie spoke about this topic in a LinkedIn Live that we’re sharing with you today. This week’s episode 117 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about rewriting the playbook for women’s investing! In this episode of the How Women Inspire Podcast, Tessa Flippin discusses the importance of investing in women-founded and diverse companies and actionable steps you can take right now to demystify investing jargon. Tessa Flippin is the Founder and Managing Partner of Capitalize VC, a Chicago-based VC fund investing in pre-seed stage, diverse founders in the multi-trillion dollar, rapidly growing commerce industry at the intersection of commerce enablement, commerce infrastructure, fintech and consumer brands. Tessa began her career in venture capital as a venture investor at TechNexus, a Chicago-based fund, where she invested in enterprise SaaS technologies at the seed stage. She joined Genius Guild Greenhouse Fund as a Venture Partner, investing in founders in fintech, health tech and connectivity. Some of the talking points Julie and Tessa go over in this episode include:
If you’re interested in joining The New Table, head over to our website for more information! Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of it to post in your stories and tag me! Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH TESSA FLIPPIN: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Investing with Purpose: Women in Capital Making a Difference with Naseem Sayani, Co-founder and GP of Emmeline Ventures | 15 May 2024 | 00:31:31 | |
Less than 2% of all venture funding every year goes to women-founded businesses. But while that number has not changed in recent years, the amount of women actively investing has increased significantly. Our mission at How Women Lead is to create opportunities and access for women investors to help increase the amount of funding for women in the venture space. Naseem Sayani, Co-founder and GP of Emmeline Ventures joined Julie for a LinkedIn Live that we’re sharing with you today. This week’s episode 116 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing with purpose and making a difference in investing as women! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Naseem Sayani is sharing the importance of investing in women-founded companies and actionable steps you can take right now to begin your investing journey today. Naseem Sayani is the Co-founder and Director of Emmeline Ventures, a female-founded early-stage fund investing in ambitious female founders building businesses that are helping women, in particular, manage their health, build their wealth, and live in a cleaner, safer world. Naseem has over 20 years of expertise in investing and business-building and has experience as an angel investor on her own. Some of the talking points Julie and Naseem go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH NASEEM SAYANI: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Supporting Young Professionals through Early Career Development with Ivoree Jordan & Myshell Gresham | 08 May 2024 | 00:44:42 | |
As we progress in our careers, we better understand the importance of mentorship and coaching in our professional lives. Too often though, career coaching and professional development resources aren’t accessible to young professionals, whether it’s cost or time-prohibited. Ivoree Jordan and Myshell Gresham have started We Have Range to change that and create accessible resources for young professionals, especially women. This week’s episode 115 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about supporting young professionals through early career development! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Ivoree Jordan and Myshell Gresham are sharing the importance of creating access to career development resources for young professionals and actionable steps you can take right now to continue your professional self-discovery journey. Ivoree Jordan is the Senior Vice President of Business Insurance at Newfront insurance and co-founder of We Have Range, a firm that combines coaching, business consulting, and emerging media. Ivoree was recently named one of the Top 25 Agents of 2021 by the Insurance Journal, one of only four women and the only black professional honored on that list. She was also awarded the 2022 Woman of the Year by her firm for her commitment to clients, colleagues in the community. Myshell Gresham is the Senior Vice President of Partnership Engagement - West Region at the Ascot Group and co-founder of We Have Range. An award-winning insurance industry expert, Myshell has consistently demonstrated her capacity to drive partnerships, growth, and portfolio management through her 20-plus-year career. Through her various leadership roles, she has found a love for helping others develop their professional careers, and is an executive coach. Some of the talking points Julie, Ivoree, and Myshell go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH IVOREE JORDAN: CONNECT WITH MYSHELL GRESHAM: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| The Power of Storytelling in Venture Capital with Gayle Jennings O'Byrne | 01 May 2024 | 00:27:37 | |
Venture capital has a reputation for only funding certain demographics of entrepreneurs, particularly white men. As both entrepreneurs seeking funding and investors looking to support them become more diverse, we don’t necessarily see that trend change. Gayle Jennings O’Byrne is here today to talk about the power of storytelling in venture capital and how it can help build trust, break down barriers, and get capital into the hands of those who need it, especially women entrepreneurs. This week’s episode 114 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about the power of storytelling in venture capital! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Gayle Jennings O'Byrne is sharing the importance of diverse teams in the venture capital space and actionable steps you can take right now to break down barriers through storytelling. Gayle Jennings O'Byrne is the CEO of Wocstar Capital, and Co-Founder and General Partner of the Wocstar Fund, an early-stage venture fund that invests in the future of consumption and innovation using a female arbitrage strategy — women of color tech entrepreneurs (“WOCstars”). Gayle was named one of "10 Women Changing the Landscape of Leadership'' by the New York Times, March 2021, one of the top Black venture capitalists, Business Insider, February 2024, and one of the top “10 Women of Influence” by Venture Capital Journal, July 2022. She is an instructor at Wocstar Academy and co-founder of the Ally Capital Collab, an initiative aimed at tackling systemic underinvestment in women of color fund managers. Some of the talking points Julie and Gayle go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH GAYLE JENINGS O’BYRNE: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Boardroom Bound: Strategies for Success with Kimberley Goode | 24 Apr 2024 | 00:30:43 | |
There is no better time to prepare for your search for a board position than in the seasons of life leading up to it. And with 30% of those on public company boards now being women, there are more resources than ever to prepare you and stories from other women who have already made the journey to learn from. Join us for a replay of our recent Linkedin Live with Kimberley Goode where she shares the blend of industry expertise, strategic networking, and impactful initiatives that paved the way for her recent board appointment. This week’s episode 113 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about preparing for the boardroom and strategies for success as a board member! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Kimberley Goode shares the importance of networking before you’re ready to be on a board and actionable steps you can take right now to prepare yourself for your search for a board seat. Kimberley Goode is the Chief Communications and Social Impact Officer of BMO Financial Group and a board director at Providence Health Plan. She is a leader with passion for stakeholder engagement strategies, integrated communication, reputation management, brand building, corporate social responsibility, culture, diversity and inclusion. Kimberley has been recognized on the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business list by the San Francisco Business Times, as one of the Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America by Savoy magazine, and many others. Some of the talking points Julie and Kimberley go over in this episode include:
You can head to the How Women Lead Linkedin page to catch the original conversation! Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH KIMBERLEY GOODE: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Unlearning Silence with Elaine Lin Hering | 17 Apr 2024 | 00:23:25 | |
We have all learned rules around when our voices should and should not be heard; when it’s safe to speak up and moments when it’s too costly to use our voices. Anyone who carries a subordinated identity, particularly women, experience the expectation of silence baked into corporate policies and practices, while it goes unnoticed or misunderstood by leaders. Elaine Lin Hering is here today to share wisdom from her book, Unlearning Silence, and encourage us all to start our journey to speaking up. This week’s episode 112 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlearning silence and promoting open communication! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Elaine Lin Hering is sharing the importance of agency and choice in communication and actionable steps you can take right now to start unlearning the versions of silence we have learned over time. Elaine Lin Hering works with organizations and individuals to build skills in communication, collaboration, and conflict management. Elaine has worked on six continents and with a wide range of corporate, government, and nonprofit clients. She has trained mental health professionals, political officials, religious communities, and leaders at companies including American Express, Capital One, Google, Nike, Novartis, Shell, Pixar, and the Red Cross. Elaine is a former Managing Partner of Triad Consulting Group and Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School, specializing in dispute resolution, mediation, and negotiation. Some of the talking points Julie and Elaine go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ELAINE LIN HERING: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Women-led Healthcare Innovation and Investment with Michele Colucci | 10 Apr 2024 | 00:21:49 | |
Healthcare technologies continue to see innovation faster than ever before. But as technologies change to ideally improve healthcare for everyone, we cannot have the only minds in the space be white men. Michele Colucci is here today to talk about the shift towards more women getting involved in venture funding for healthcare technologies. This week’s episode 111 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about women-led healthcare innovation and investment! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Michele Colucci is sharing the importance of collaboration in heathcare and actionable steps you can take right now to invest in women-led ventures. Michele Colucci is the CEO and Managing Partner of DigitalDx Ventures, a majority woman-owned impact fund investing in early-stage health technology companies that deliver innovative solutions using artificial intelligence (AI) to better diagnose + treat illness. Michele has authored six patents in the technology space and founded companies in the legal, technology, retail, and entertainment spaces.She has worked at law firms including Hughes Hubbard & Reed, run her own media production company, owned and operated a chain of retail stores in the political space, run a political fundraising venue, and founded a legal technology company. Some of the talking points Julie and Michele go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH MICHELE COLUCCI: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Inviting Women to Embrace Disruption with Charlene Li | 03 Apr 2024 | 00:23:10 | |
Society and business are slow to change. Without leaders using disruption to create positive change, we would likely never see improvements to our quality of life, both personally and professionally. But there is evidence that shows women are less likely to be disruptors, since we grow up hearing that being disruptive is a negative trait. Charlene Li is here this week to encourage women to embrace disruption and see it as a strength. This week’s episode 110 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about empowering women to embrace disruption and drive positive change! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Charlene Li is sharing the importance of learning to embrace disruptive thinking as a woman and actionable steps you can take right now to incorporate generative AI into your work as a leader. Charlene Li is the Founder and CEO of Quantum Networks Group, an organization founded with the goal of helping disruptors and innovators succeed by providing a community—live and virtual—of like-minded individuals. She is a New York Times bestselling author of six books, including The Disruption Mindset, Open Leadership, and the critically acclaimed Groundswell. Charlene is a sought-after expert on disruptive transformation, leadership, customer experience, and the future of work, having worked with hundreds of organizations to provide winning strategies for disruptive growth. Some of the talking points Julie and Charlene go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH CHARLENE LI: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: LINKS MENTIONED: Navigating Generative AI: A CEO Playbook | |||
| Achieving Carbon Neutrality for Your Business with Cathleen Turner | 27 Mar 2024 | 00:28:12 | |
Climate change is at the top of many people’s minds as we experience more and more of its effects each year. Finding ways to reduce your carbon emissions and even achieve carbon neutrality is easier than ever as technologies advance and we create smarter systems to achieve our business goals without using as many natural resources. Cathleen Turner, the founder of CZero is here this week to talk about the steps you can take as a business owner or executive to reduce your business's carbon footprint. This week’s episode 109 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about achieving carbon neutrality! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Cathleen Turner is sharing the importance of carbon neutrality for businesses and actionable steps you can take right now to take care of yourself as a high-achieving person. Cat Turner is the Founder of CZero, a cutting-edge platform that allows for frictionless, carbon-neutral distribution for food and technology businesses. Through CZero, brands have access to carbon accounting, enabling them to shift towards eco-friendly logistics and achieve carbon neutrality. Some of the talking points Julie and Cathleen go over in this episode include:
To read more on what was covered in today’s episode, check out Cat’s blog post on going carbon-neutral today. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH CATHLEEN TURNER: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Improving Health Outcomes Through Diversity with Andrea Henderson | 20 Mar 2024 | 00:23:56 | |
Healthcare is an industry that affects everyone, no matter your race, gender, and age. With every person needing healthcare access, having a diverse group of voices and minds both in clinics and in companies developing healthcare technologies is more important than ever. Andrea Henderson knows this and has made it her life’s mission to not only find these diverse voices, but also invest in technologies to improve healthcare for underrepresented groups. This week’s episode 108 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about improving health outcomes through diversity! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Andrea Henderson is sharing the importance of diversity in healthcare and actionable steps you can take right now to ask yourself how you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Andrea Henderson is the Partner in the Life Sciences, Healthcare, Diversity, and Board & CEO Practice Groups at DHR Global, a provider of executive search, leadership consulting, and emerging leader search solutions in more than 50 markets spanning 22 countries.. She is an executive talent strategist and people architect, and previously served as the Director of Partner Solutions and Executive Search at a career acceleration and talent sourcing platform for underrepresented healthcare and life science leaders. Andrea is passionate about health equity and women's health. Some of the talking points Julie and Andrea go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ANDREA HENDERSON: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Revolutionizing Medicine with Cell-Based Therapies with Crystal Nyitray | 13 Mar 2024 | 00:21:08 | |
Every day, we see technology improving the systems and industries all around us. From finance to environmental science and more, technological advances are allowing us to make great changes to the way we live and work. The medical field is no exception, with scientists and inventors working tirelessly to improve healthcare across the board. Crystal Nyitray, the CEO of Encellin, is here today to talk about how her company is changing the game by introducing cell-based therapies, allowing healthcare to become even more personal. This week’s episode 107 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about revolutionizing medicine with cell-based therapies! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Crystal Nyitray is sharing the importance of disruptive technology to improve our lives and actionable steps you can take right now to get involved with Encellin. Crystal Nyitray is the Founder and CEO of Encellin. She is an alumna of UCSF, Sanofi, and Y Combinator. She led Encellin’s over $5M seed raise, authored over 10 patents, and is an awardee of MedTech Innovator, Rosenman Innovators, and American Diabetes Innovator. Some of the talking points Julie and Crystal go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH CRYSTAL NYITRAY: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Generative AI Storytelling and Responsible AI with Katie Trauth Taylor | 06 Mar 2024 | 00:25:19 | |
Since the release of ChatGPT at the end of 2022, the whole world has been buzzing about AI. While it has proven incredibly useful in businesses and is sure to keep changing the technology game, AI and large language models don’t come without their fair share of problems to be corrected. Inaccuracies and biases in the data used in AI present many problems. Katie Trauth Taylor is no stranger to these issues and is working through her company Narratize to create a platform that corrects these issues for innovative enterprises. This week’s episode 106 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about generative AI storytelling and responsible AI! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Katie Taylor shares the importance of creating AI that accounts for bias and actionable steps you can take right now to utilize AI for storytelling at an enterprise level. Katie Trauth Taylor, Ph.D. is CEO & Co-founder at Narratize AI, the Generative AI storytelling platform for innovative enterprises. Katie is a growth-focused entrepreneur executive with 10+ years experience inspiring teams to design and deliver magnetic products, memorable experiences, and groundbreaking impacts. She has led strategic innovation narratives and served as a senior content strategist within fast-growth tech startups and the Fortune 500, including Boeing, NASA, Hershey, Sunoco, the United Nations, and many more. She believes that everyone can be an innovator--when empowered to share their bold ideas. Some of the talking points Julie and Katie go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH KATIE TRAUTH TAYLOR: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| The How Women Lead Credo with Julie Castro Abrams | 28 Feb 2024 | 00:49:01 | |
When women are in positions of power and influence, it’s better for people, profits, and the planet. But society up to this point has not been conditioned to see women as influential, successful leaders. We at How Women Lead are working to change how the world perceives women leaders and our credo is our guiding light on this journey. Today we are compiling Julie’s episodes about the four tenets of our credo into one place to inspire and motivate you to help us in our cultural transformation. This week’s episode 105 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about the How Women Lead credo! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams is sharing the importance of reinforcing the voices of other women and actionable steps you can take right now to be unabashedly visible in whatever you do. Some of the talking points Julie goes over in this episode include:
Don’t forget to head over to How Women Lead to learn about the different branches of the organization and how you can get involved. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Unlocking Higher Returns and Lower Risk Through Gender Diversity in Finance with Ruth Shaber | 21 Feb 2024 | 00:24:42 | |
While we have made strides in increasing women’s representation in investment management roles, male portfolio managers still control around 12 and a half times more capital than women. This lack of diversity in making investing decisions leads to a lack of funding for women-owned and diverse businesses. Without more perspectives in the room, everyone misses out on opportunities that will benefit the many. Ruth Shaber is here today to discuss her work driving gender diversity in portfolio decisions, her experience founding reproductive health ventures, and much more. This week’s episode 104 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking higher returns and lower risk through gender diversity in finance! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Ruth Shaber shares the importance of diversity in asset allocation decisions and actionable steps you can take right now to increase gender diversity in your portfolio. Ruth Shaber, MD is the Founder and President of the Tara Health Foundation. This foundation advances health and economic justice by transferring all of our resources and assets to invest in and elevate solutions at the intersection of race and gender. Ruth is also the co-founder and board chair of Rhia Ventures, a group of foundations and investors that collaborate to bring new types of capital and enterprise to the field of reproductive health in the United States. Recently, Ruth co-authored “The XX Edge: Unlocking Higher Returns and Lower Risk”. Some of the talking points Julie and Ruth go over in this episode include:
To order Ruth’s book, The XX Edge: Unlocking Higher Returns and Lower Risk, you can head to https://thexxedge.com/ today! Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH RUTH SHABER: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Leadership, Longevity, and the Modern Matriarchy with Barbara Waxman | 14 Feb 2024 | 00:30:48 | |
As women reach midlife, we find that not only our physical selves change but also our values, leadership styles, and how we want to leave an impact in the world. And as we live longer lives with more years in “middlescence”, we are searching for new techniques and advice for navigating this stage. Barbara Waxman, a leadership coach with expertise in gerontology and life stages, is here this week to explain the concept of “middlescence”, how we change as we age, steps we can take now to increase our longevity, and more! This week’s episode 103 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about leadership, longevity, and the modern matriarchy! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Barbara Waxman shares the importance of self-reflection and intellectual curiosity in the next stage of life and actionable steps you can take right now to reverse engineer your life for joy and independence at age 100. Barbara Waxman, founder of Odyssey Group Coaching, is passionate about building leaders’ personal and professional skills so they can thrive while increasing their ability to manage complexity and maximize their effectiveness. With over two decades of experience coaching CEOs, C-suite leaders, and entrepreneurs, Barbara utilizes a holistic approach to help clients lead and communicate authentically, sustain high performance, and expand their influence and impact. Some of the talking points Julie and Barbara go over in this episode include:
Barbara’s Seven Lifestyle Levers Assessment and her weekly newsletter are available through her website. Don’t forget to check them out! Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH BARBARA WAXMAN: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Advancing Diversity in the Boardroom with Robin L. Washington | 07 Feb 2024 | 00:28:31 | |
As we continue to seek more diverse voices in the corporate world and demand more representation for women and People of Color, we see experienced women leaders leading the demand for change. Robin L. Washington, who joins us on the podcast today, is the Co-founder of Black Women on Boards, an organization that removes obstacles that the world’s top Black female executives can face when pursuing board of director appointments. We talk about authenticity in the workplace, diversity of thought and representation at the board and C-suite level, and so much more. This week’s episode 102 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about advancing diversity in the boardroom and c-suite! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Robin Washington is sharing the importance of diversity of thought and inclusivity in business and actionable steps you can take right now to create space for authenticity through your leadership. Robin L. Washington is a Fortune 100 board member and operating executive, currently serving on the boards of Alphabet, Honeywell, and Salesforce, where she is the Lead Independent Director. A CFO with significant expertise in Life Sciences and Enterprise Software, Robin is passionate about human capital management and deeply committed to accelerating the next generation of innovative leaders and entrepreneurs. Robins is the Co-founder of Black Women on Boards, and the recipient of the Get on Board Week Fearless Leader Award through How Women Lead. Some of the talking points Julie and Robin go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ROBIN L. WASHINGTON: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||
| Transforming Communication Skills to Find Your Voice with Liz Sklar | 31 Jan 2024 | 00:31:11 | |
At How Women Lead, we strongly believe in women finding their voice and being unabashedly visible in what they do. But finding your voice and learning to use it for your mission does not come naturally to everyone. Liz Sklar, actress and Director at Stand & Deliver, helps leaders across all industries find their voice and use it to be effective, inspiring leaders. She’s here today to talk about her journey, how you can find your unique voice, and much more! This week’s episode 101 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about improving your communication skills to find your voice! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Liz Sklar is sharing the importance of choosing to believe in yourself and your voice and actionable steps you can take right now to take care of yourself in today’s stressful world. In her work with clients including Genentech, Gilead, Twilio, Google, IVP, CZI, Waymo, and the Cartier Women’s Initiative, Liz’s work has crossed industries from pharma to finance and frequently focuses on leaders in the innovation economy. She is especially inspired by female entrepreneurs and executives and is invested in empowering them to harness their innate power and wisdom to further their careers and expand their missions. Liz has acted professionally in both film and theater, including leading roles at premier regional theaters such as the California Shakespeare Festival and American Conservatory Theatre. Some of the talking points Julie and Liz go over in this episode include:
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH LIZ SKLAR: CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: | |||