The Driven Women Project – Details, episodes & analysis

In this high-impact episode of The Driven Women Project, Erin sits down with Ariel Dangelo, founder of Helo and partner at Nightingale Wealth Management, to talk about why now is the moment for women to take control of their financial future—and exactly how to start.

Ariel’s story is one of resilience and radical responsibility—from surviving a paralyzing spinal injury to building a fintech company that helps people get out of debt, stay on budget, and reclaim their financial agency.

She doesn’t just talk theory—this episode is packed with practical tools, hard-won wisdom, and real solutions for women who want to thrive, not just survive.

💡 Top 3 Reasons You Should Listen:

1. Hear Ariel's incredible story of rebuilding her life after paralysis and a doctor’s prognosis that she’d never walk again, spoiler alert: not only is she walking again, but she’s pregnant with her first child. 
2. Ariel shares countless gems of inspiration and reframes for how to approach set-backs, work through adversity and rise into your power!
3. Discover how app, Helo is not just another financial planning app. It actually automates budgeting, helps you build emergency savings which is crucial, and helps you hit your goals faster—with zero spreadsheets and barely any effort on your part.

🧠 What We Cover:

• The mindset shift that you can copy that helped her go from PTSD and paralysis to founder, investor, and mom-to-be
• How women approach money differently than men, and how to make it your superpower
• The truth about risk tolerance, investing with intention, and using your money for social impact
• How to find your personal “sleep number”—the amount of savings that brings you peace
• Why small daily actions beat big, unsustainable plans
• Ariel’s take on building a $10,000 emergency fund movement

🛠️ Resources:

• For financial guidance, support and planning: https://nwsadvisors.com/ 
• Sign up for cash flow management services: www.gohelo.com 
• Follow Ariel on Instagram: @nightingalewealthsolutions
• Book a complimentary strategy call with Erin: https://erinsmithexecutivecoach.youcanbook.me/ 
• Nominate a Driven Woman:
• https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/nominateadrivenwoman 
• Connect with Erin Smith directly: erin@drivenbeyondexcellence.com
• Download Erin’s free ebook: https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/ebook 
• Try a compound interest calculator: Investor.gov Calculator

In this episode we speak with President and CEO of the UConn Foundation, Amy Yancey - a powerhouse in higher education philanthropy who most recently launched the largest fundraising campaign in UConn’s history: the $1.5 billion Because of UConn initiative that just experienced a $720M raise which exceeded their initial launch goal. Congratulations to Amy, her team, and UConn!

Amy leads all philanthropic fundraising, alumni relations, and endowment investments for the University of Connecticut—including all campuses, UConn Health, and Athletics. She also serves on President Radenka Maric’s senior leadership team.

Before UConn, Amy held senior fundraising leadership roles at Boston College, the University of Virginia, Penn State, and the University of Tennessee, where she earned a bachelors in philosophy and a masters in plant sciences and agricultural economics. Her work has led to over $15B raised in support of scholarships, faculty, research, and more.

But Amy's leadership story goes far beyond dollars raised. From navigating male-dominated spaces to modeling bravery for her daughter, Amy offers a masterclass in pragmatic, purposeful leadership—and what it truly takes to thrive at the top.

This conversation is packed with real talk, strategic insight, and powerful reflection on what it means to lead with integrity, vision, and heart.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Amy raised $15.1B (and why she measures success in impact, not ego)
• Why she walked away from a decade-long role and how she modeled bravery for her daughter. 
• The surprising truth about mentorship vs. sponsorship
• How to move from performance to influence in male-dominated industries
• Practical tips on asking for more—and getting paid what you’re worth

Make sure you listen all the way through, because Amy shares her deeply reflective and candid insights around the evolution of true inclusivity and equity in our society. If you’re feeling stuck, I promise, you’ll want to adopt her mindset on unlimited abundance

Enjoy the show and Stay Driven!

Follow Amy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanceyai/ 

Learn more about the UConn Foundation: https://www.foundation.uconn.edu/ 

Book a complimentary strategy call with Erin: https://erinsmithexecutivecoach.youcanbook.me/ 

Nominate a Driven Woman:

https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/nominateadrivenwoman 

Connect with Erin Smith directly: erin@drivenbeyondexcellence.com

Download Erin’s free ebook: https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/ebook 

"Changing the game from within — sometimes you need to create a new path to shine as a leader."

Erica D'Eramo, a trailblazer in the energy sector and champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), joins us on today's episode. Founder of Two Piers Consulting, Erica is a mechanical engineer with two decades of experience in the international energy industry, now dedicated to elevating DEI in workplaces.

In this episode, Erica and I talk about how she decided to become a mechanical engineer despite initially believing it sounded too boring! Because girls often look at math and science related fields and think it sounds hard or uninteresting, right?

Erica also shares her thoughtful theory as to why so few women enter into male dominated fields, and why the few who do, don’t always last. It isn’t what you may think, and has to do with how girls and boys are socialized differently.

I was most excited to learn what her life was like from being one of two women on a boat out in the ocean for 30 days at a time, to being in the board room being surrounded by men, - these are two totally different environments that she needed to navigate – listen carefully to hear her techniques and how she handled being told that swearing is not “lady-like.”

Make sure you listen all the way through because Erica talks about what well intentioned organizations need in order to make their diversity equity and inclusion initiatives truly effective.

- Learn more about Erica's work: https://www.twopiersconsulting.com/

- Reach out to Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-deramo/

And don't forget to leave a review or share the episode to inspire another woman who might be on her own path in a male-dominated career!

If Maureen wants to do it, it will get done, and in HER way, no matter who tries to silence or edit her voice.

Maureen Pollack, Stamford, CT city council member, inventor, and co-owner of the pleasure brand Lovability, joins us to discuss advocating for oneself and others. She delves into embracing her identity and balancing motherhood with politics, also touching on fighting stereotypes as a modern orthodox Jewish woman and entrepreneur.

Maureen shares strategies from "Feminist Fight Club" for handling interruptions and mansplaining, highlighting the importance of response over silence. With her unique tale of transforming CEO of her household to a successful politician while maintaining her values, she inspires listeners to boldly own their narratives.

For more inspiring interviews with women like Maureen subscribe to The Driven Women Project Podcast.

Don't forget to nominate a Driven Woman here: https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/nominateadrivenwoman

An article about Maureen's Product: https://www.kveller.com/meet-the-orthodox-jewish-mom-who-invented-the-latest-pleasure-product/

Maureen's Lovability Website: https://www.lovabilityinc.com/

Feminist Fight Club: https://www.amazon.com/Feminist-Fight-Club-Survival-Workplace/dp/0062439782

In this episode of The Driven Women Project Podcast, host Erin Smith shares her personal journey and insights into success in male dominated fields. Join us as we explore the following key points:

Here are 5 keys you'll glean from this episode:

• Why I went to work for Bridgewater, why I left, and the one thing that would get me to go back.
• What to expect from each episode and who I plan to interview.
• What the Co-Chief Investment Officer at Bridgewater (a woman!) inspired me to do.
• The one thing every successful woman I've interviewed has in common.

Please help us help more women succeed in male dominated fields by giving this podcast 5 stars and subscribing on your preferred podcast platform.

If you know a driven woman who needs to be a guest on this show you can nominate her here: https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/nominateadrivenwoman

To connect with Erin: https://drivenbeyondexcellence.com/

You don’t need an Ivy League degree to rise to the top. You need clarity, courage—and the right kind of leadership.

Meet Julie, a powerhouse in private equity real estate. From investment banking analyst to Chief Investment Officer at CBRE Investment Management, she now co-leads a $34B portfolio and a team of 140 professionals.

She was recently named 2023 North American Industry Figure of the Year by PERE. But that’s not why this episode is so special.

I had the honor of being her Executive Leadership Coach in 2024—and what unfolded in our coaching sessions was nothing short of transformational.

🎙 In this episode:

• The feedback that shocked her—and became a turning point
• Her raw perspective on gender and success
• How Gandalf (yes, that Gandalf) changed her leadership style
• And why authenticity isn’t a buzzword, it’s a performance strategy

Julie’s story is proof that you don’t have to conform to succeed. You just have to own who you are—and lead like you mean it.

👇 Listen now. You won’t forget this one.

LINKS:

Connect directly with Julie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-julianna-ingersoll-a04a5b8

Book a complimentary strategy call with Erin: https://erinsmithexecutivecoach.youcanbook.me/

Nominate a Driven Woman:

https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/nominateadrivenwoman

Connect with Erin Smith directly: erin@drivenbeyondexcellence.com

Download Erin’s free ebook: https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/ebook

This episode of The Driven Women Project Podcast is not just for mothers—it’s for any woman who has ever questioned society’s definition of success.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to conform to someone else’s definition of success, this episode will reframe everything.

In this episode, I sit down with Neha Ruch, the founder of Mother Untitled, a movement redefining the way we view stay-at-home motherhood. Neha’s work has caught the attention of Oprah, Drew Barrymore, Kourtney Kardashian, Mandy Moore, and more, and her new book, The Power Pause, is changing the narrative around career breaks for women.

We talk about:

🔥 What it really means to be a driven woman

🔥 How to own your decisions—whether that means focusing on career, family, or both

🔥 The biases that women face when re-entering the workforce—and how to overcome them

🔥 Why pausing is not giving up, and how to preserve your career optionality

🔥 How to have financial conversations with your partner before stepping away from work

Connect with Neha and her movement here:

THE POWER PAUSE BOOK!! BUY HERE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nehaleelaruch/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/motheruntitled/?hl=en

Website: https://www.motheruntitled.com/

Links: https://linkin.bio/motheruntitled/

If you want help with your own career shift, consider reaching out to Erin, an Executive Leadership Coach who has helped countless women make career transitions or come back to work after her own Power Pause.

Book a complimentary strategy call with Erin: https://erinsmithexecutivecoach.youcanbook.me/

Nominate a Driven Woman:

https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/nominateadrivenwoman

Connect with Erin Smith directly: erin@drivenbeyondexcellence.com

Download Erin’s free ebook: https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/ebook

Jen Saarbach spent nearly a decade rising from Associate to VP on Wall Street starting with Lehman Brothers in 2008, Barclays, and then Morgan Stanley, after which she decided to leave the finance world, only to recently return with a passion for democratizing access to Wall Street for everyone. She co-founded The Wall Street Skinny which is a phenomenal platform that quickly exploded on social media, and is now offering courses to help folks competitively prepare for a career on Wall Street.

Jen and her co-founder, Kristen Kelly, host a podcast of the same name absolutely loaded with information that aims to demystify the world of finance. They explain jargon, talk with experts, and straight up teach listeners everything from “what is an investment bank” to portfolio management to private equity and hedge funds – they also tackle topics like what it’s like to be a woman on wall street.

This has been one of my favorite conversations to date. Jen is full of incredible insights and she gets straight to the point. This episode is packed full of tips and Jen is a fast talker so you will want to listen to this episode multiple times to make sure you catch all the gems.

We talk about:

• Quality mentorship
• How women can sometimes be harder on other women than men
• How to think about leaving behind a legacy you can be proud of
• Make sure you listen to the end because Jen drops some advice about how to be your authentic self in an intense environment filled with pressure to perform. IT'S EXCELLENT!

Want to learn more about Jen and The Wall Street Skinny?:

Follow The Wall Street Skinny:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

LinkedIn Jen Saarbach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-saarbach/

LinkedIn The Wall Street Skinny: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wall-street-skinny/posts/?feedView=all

Nominate a Driven Woman:

https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/nominateadrivenwoman

Connect with Erin Smith directly: erin@drivenbeyondexcellence.com

Download Erin’s free ebook: https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/ebook

I’m excited to share this conversation with you because Dr. Gail Lebovic has an incredibly impressive background in multiple male dominated fields. Most importantly, she has committed her career to improving the delivery of healthcare for patients around the world, especially woman’s health. Internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work as an Oncoplastic Surgeon, Dr. Lebovic is also highly regarded as a creative inventor and successful serial entrepreneur.

Along with her highly skilled team, she has developed and brought to market numerous innovative products. The team has achieved multiple successful acquisitions totaling nearly $500M.

Dr. Lebovic holds over 50 US patents, is a member of the Forbes Business Council, and currently serves as Founder and CEO of Silicon Valley Innovations. Her company is focused on bringing novel drug delivery platforms to the multi-billion dollar nasal healthcare and feminine healthcare markets. Their initial product called NasoClenz is on the market as the first intranasal antiseptic, perfect for those of us seeking nasal relief products.

Dr. Lebovic told me she loves to pay attention to areas of the body that are neglected – like the nose. I tried NasoClenz, and let me tell you, it is the product I never knew I needed, and now I will not travel without it. You know how your nose gets dry on airplanes? Well this stuff was a dream. NasoClenz was also designed for patients with allergies, chronic sinus issues, CPAP users and more.

She has served as director of several important clinical programs and is the Founder of the Society of Oncoplastic Surgery,

Listen in to hear how Dr. Lebovic did all of this, including her take on being likable, and how she navigated being told in medical school that being a surgeon is not for women!

Enjoy the show and Stay Driven!

Meet Dr. Lebovic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaillebovic/

Visit Dr. Lebovic’s news blog here: https://svi-inc.com/news/

Nominate a Driven Woman:

https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/nominateadrivenwoman

Connect with Erin Smith directly: erin@drivenbeyondexcellence.com

Download Erin’s free ebook: https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/ebook

🌟 Meet Kat Benzova: Rock Photography's Trailblazer! 🎸📸 🌟

From a globe-trotting fashion model to the tour photographer for Guns N’ Roses, Kat

Benzova has become one of the world's most sought-after rock photographers.

She's worked with legends like AC/DC, Aerosmith, KISS, and many more. With her

own philanthropic foundation, Mission 11, Kat's work and social impact are awe

inspiring, and she is nowhere near done evolving.

🔊 Tune in to hear: 🔊

• 🎤 Exclusive insights from Kat’s extraordinary journey.
• 💪 Struggles and triumphs in an intense male-dominated industry.
• 🌍 Inspiring stories from her charitable foundation, MISSION 11.
• 🧠 Mindset and growth: Overcoming challenges and finding balance.
• 💡 Empowering perspectives: How environment shapes us and the importance of rebalancing our feminine energy.

Don't miss this episode filled with powerful moments and valuable lessons. Listen now and get inspired to create your extraordinary life! 🎧✨

Kat’s website: https://www.katbenzova.com/about

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katbenzova_rockphoto/

Nominate a Driven Woman:

https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/nominateadrivenwoman

Schedule a complimentary strategy call with Erin: https://erinsmithexecutivecoach.youcanbook.me

Download Erin’s free ebook: https://live.thedrivenwomenproject.com/ebook