Dr. Cynthia Rapaido has over 30 years of experience in K-12education, having served as a high school principal, assistant principal, and teacher across various schools and districts in California. A researcher, coach, and award-winning leader, Dr. Rapaido lives in San Leandro, California with her husband. When she’s not exploring and improving the world ofeducation, you can find her play the piano, making handcrafted jewelry, dancing, and skating. Cynthia Rapaido shares her extensive journey in ...
Jun 25, 2025•32 min•Season 7Ep. 175
As an experienced entrepreneur, corporate leader and global philanthropy expert, Kristina Joy Carlson is redefining what it means to lead with purpose. Through Outrageous Kindness, she helps individuals, businesses, and nonprofits achieve meaningful, lasting success. A sought-after speaker and best-selling author of Essential Principles for Fundraising Success , Kristina knows how to navigate change and turn challenges into opportunities. While leading businesses and driving global philanthropic...
Jun 18, 2025•38 min•Season 7Ep. 174
Toyin Crandell shares her inspiring journey from struggling with finances to becoming a successful entrepreneur and leader. She discusses the importance of identifying limiting beliefs, taking strategic action, and overcoming the fear of risk in business. Toyin emphasizes that everything in life involves risk and encourages women to embrace their calling in entrepreneurship. She provides practical steps for young entrepreneurs to identify what isn't working in their business and to uproot limiti...
Jun 11, 2025•47 min•Season 7Ep. 173
Nellie Harden is a wife, mother of 4 daughters, former worth chaser, trauma survivor, and an author and speaker in the space of Family Life & Leadership. She focuses on helping women build a solid life foundation that allows them to know their worth, have a firm grasp on their value and truly believe in themselves so they can become self-disciplined leaders of their lives and positively impact the next generation. Her career in biology and psychology has spanned fromhumpbacks to humans, and ...
Jun 04, 2025•35 min•Season 7Ep. 172
Shannon Russell, a certified Career Transition/BusinessCoach, Author of Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life , and Host of the Second Act Success Career Podcast . Her mission in creating Second Act Success® is to support YOU as you "produce" your best life. If I can do it, YOU can do it! If you are ready to launch a "second act," ditch the 9-5, and build a business you love? Get in touch with Shannon! In this episode, Shannon Russell shares h...
May 28, 2025•30 min•Season 7Ep. 171
Lisa Gibson shares her unique journey from criminology to a successful career in communications. She discusses the importance of adaptability in the workplace, especially during times of change, and offers insights into effective communication strategies for organizations undergoing transitions. Lisa emphasizes the significance of personal branding, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the role of AI in professional development. She also highlights the value of mentorship and the necessity of askin...
May 21, 2025•32 min•Season 7Ep. 170
Bree Carriglio shares her transformative journey from a successful corporate career in marketing to her current role as the executive director of a nonprofit organization focused on empowering vulnerable populations in Armenia. Bree discusses the emotional connection to her Armenian heritage, the challenges of career change, and the significant impact of nonprofit work. She emphasizes the importance of perseverance, curiosity, and asking questions, especially regarding personal history and ident...
May 14, 2025•29 min•Season 7Ep. 169
Scout Brisson shares her unique journey from MIT to becoming the CEO of De Soi, a brand specializing in non-alcoholic beverages. Scout's journey includes unexpected turns that shaped her career. She emphasizes the importance of understanding investor perspectives. She discusses her experiences in venture capital, the challenges of fundraising as a woman, and the importance of mentorship. Scout emphasizes the need for a supportive company culture and the significance of personal fulfillment in de...
May 07, 2025•32 min•Season 7Ep. 168
Suzanne Campi emphasizes the importance of honoring one's past, finding purpose in retirement, and setting boundaries to avoid being overwhelmed by others' expectations. Suzanne also discusses the significance of health and fitness in maintaining a fulfilling life post-retirement and the impact of leaving a meaningful legacy. Throughout the discussion, she highlights the power of self-recognition and the insights gained from working with women in transition. As a certified professional co-active...
Apr 30, 2025•33 min
Amber Briggle shares her unexpected journey from a liberal arts college graduate to a successful massage therapist and business owner. She discusses the evolution of her business, Soma Massage Therapy, the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the unique aspects of her business model, including a no-tipping policy and a focus on health benefits. Amber emphasizes the importance of self-care, mentorship, and community support, while also outlining her vision for the future of her fran...
Apr 23, 2025•33 min
Reverend Dr. Xenia Barnes shares her inspiring journey from being an educator to a social and behavioral scientist after facing a terminal illness. She discusses the importance of resilience, emotional intelligence, and mentorship, as well as her work in nonprofit leadership and community service. Dr. Barnes emphasizes the significance of defining success through the impact one has on others and the legacy they leave behind. She also offers advice for young women and reflects on the importance o...
Apr 16, 2025•29 min•Season 7Ep. 165
Rev. Cheryl Kincaid shares her profound journey from a troubled childhood marked by abuse to becoming a Christian minister and author. She discusses her struggles with PTSD, the challenges of being a female pastor, and her commitment to writing as a means of healing and advocacy for others who have faced similar traumas. Through her experiences, she emphasizes the importance of faith, recovery, and the ongoing work of God in one's life.Reverend Cheryl Kincaid is a Presbyterian Minister whostudie...
Apr 09, 2025•34 min•Season 7Ep. 164
Angela Fowler shares her journey as a blind entrepreneur, discussing the challenges she has faced and the unique business she has built around accessibility. She emphasizes the importance of understanding and implementing accessibility in technology and business, providing insights into resources available for the visually impaired. The discussion also touches on the significance of cultural accessibility, especially in healthcare, and the support women provide each other in the business world. ...
Apr 02, 2025•25 min•Season 7Ep. 163
Did you know that leaders who lead by example with integrity are 50% more likely to earn the trust and loyalty of their teams? Alex Snider, the Founder & Lead Scale Up Partner, has an impressive track record, including completing a $2B divestment in the natural resource sector and tripling the revenues of a tech firm in just 10 months. Alex Snider shares her transformative journey from being an athlete to a successful entrepreneur. She discusses the lessons learned through various life exper...
Mar 26, 2025•32 min•Season 7Ep. 162
Jan, or as we call her Mama Jan, keeps the heart and soul ofMission Mobile Medical alive, happy and out of trouble (hence the nickname). After several years working as an executive Director of Training and HR executive for global brands, including 7-Eleven Corp, Yogurtland, and Rita’sItalian Ice, we were lucky to scoop her up to join our mission. When she’s not caring for our team, she’s in the front row and center rooting for her other favorite teams. Go UNC and LA Chargers! In this engaging co...
Mar 19, 2025•34 min•Season 7Ep. 161
Did you know? On any given day, there are nearly 424,000 children in foster care in the United States. Meet Amy Vale , founder of For the Cubs , who has dedicated her life to supporting kids in foster care. With her personal experience as a foster parent and her professional expertise, Amy created For the Cubs to provide quality essentials for young children and support their transition, whether in foster care or returning to their families. Born and raised in the Australian outback, Amy's early...
Mar 12, 2025•37 min•Season 7Ep. 160
In this conversation, Ayo Haynes shares her journey to motherhood as a single woman through adoption. She discusses the challenges and joys of becoming a mother later in life, the importance of open adoption, and how her experiences have shaped her role as a success coach. Ayo emphasizes the need for support systems for aspiring parents and offers practical advice on navigating the adoption process, balancing career and motherhood, and the significance of mindset in achieving personal goals. The...
Mar 05, 2025•35 min•Season 7Ep. 159
Carolyn Goerner shares her journey from a small-town upbringing in California to becoming a respected academic in management and human resources. She discusses her teaching philosophy, emphasizing empathy-based negotiation and the importance of understanding generational differences in the workplace. Carolyn provides valuable insights for young entrepreneurs, highlighting the significance of knowing one's scope and building relationships. She reflects on mentorship's role in her career and concl...
Feb 26, 2025•37 min•Season 7Ep. 158
Lisa Nichols is the CEO and co-founder of Technology Partners (TPI), a Women-Business Enterprise and provider of premier IT staffing, solutions, and IT leadership development. Named among the Most Influential Business Women (by St. Louis Business Journal), Lisa’s influence has been recognized by her peers and greater St. Louis community. Lisa and her husband, Greg, founded Technology Partners in 1994 driven by their passion to revolutionize the staffing industry with their transparent business m...
Feb 19, 2025•38 min•Season 7Ep. 157
Joanne Hession shares her inspiring journey from her early entrepreneurial endeavors in Ireland to her impactful work in leadership development. She discusses her experiences in the charity sector, the importance of education, and her decision to start a nonprofit aimed at enhancing leadership across Ireland. Joanne also recounts her determination to bring renowned leadership expert John Maxwell to Ireland, highlighting the challenges she faced and the lessons learned along the way. The conversa...
Feb 12, 2025•39 min•Season 7Ep. 156
Nicole Hilgenkamp is an AI Business Growth Strategist passionate about empowering businesses to harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and innovative technologies. We discuss Nicole's journey, her insights on AI and its applications in business, particularly for small and women-owned businesses. Nicole emphasizes the importance of mastering data management and the evolving job landscape due to AI advancements. She provides practical advice for le...
Feb 05, 2025•33 min•Season 7Ep. 155
Ali Cox, a fifth generation farmer, is an agriculture and food ingredient marketing visionary and founder of Noble West, an award-winning marketing consultancy that specializes in the entire agricultural ecosystem. In this episode, she shares her journey from being a competitive athlete to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the agricultural industry. She discusses the resilience required in farming, the impact of political decisions on agriculture, and the importance of consumer choices in fo...
Jan 29, 2025•34 min•Season 7Ep. 154
In this conversation, Marcylle Combs interviews Margaret, or "Magi," Graziano, who shares her journey from recruiting to consulting, focusing on organizational change and personal development. Magi discusses the importance of conscious use of self in coaching and the impact of her upbringing on her resilience and independence. She highlights her extensive training and the role of mentorship in her career, emphasizing the need for personal growth in facilitating change within organizations. Magi ...
Jan 22, 2025•36 min•Season 7Ep. 151
In this conversation, Lori Mazan shares her journey from a limited childhood in Virginia to becoming a successful entrepreneur and executive coach in California. She discusses the challenges women face in the startup world, particularly in securing venture capital, and emphasizes the importance of diversity in leadership roles. Lori offers valuable advice for young women entrepreneurs, highlighting the significance of persistence, networking, and mentorship. The conversation concludes with insig...
Jan 15, 2025•31 min•Season 7Ep. 150
In this conversation, Cindy shares her transformative journey from a childhood marked by trauma to becoming the founder of Village of Hope, a ministry dedicated to helping orphans in Africa. She discusses the importance of integrity in leadership, her deep connection to Africa, and the challenges she faced, including a brain tumor. Cindy emphasizes the impact of her work on the lives of children and the importance of trusting others in ministry. Cindy Cunningham’s (Director and Founder of Villag...
Jan 08, 2025•35 min•Season 7Ep. 149
Marcylle and Deantha reflect on the New Year, discuss the impact of Taylor Swift's generosity, and explore essential skills for 2025, including communication and emotional intelligence. They also delve into the role of AI in our lives and the importance of financial management, all while sharing personal anecdotes and light-hearted banter.
Jan 01, 2025•18 min•Season 7Ep. 150
This episode explores giving, love languages, holiday preparations, and the significance of faith during the Christmas season. In this heartfelt conversation, Deantha and Marcylle explore the significance of memories, the importance of inner peace during the holiday season, and the value of time spent with loved ones. They share personal anecdotes about meaningful gifts, family traditions, and the joy of giving back to the community. The discussion emphasizes the role of faith and hope in naviga...
Dec 23, 2024•22 min•Season 7Ep. 149
In this conversation, Marcylle Combs and Dr. Parul Dua Makkar discuss the profound impact of sibling loss, the importance of oral health, and the journey of advocacy in the face of grief. Dr. Makkar shares her personal story of losing her brother to cancer and how it inspired her to raise awareness about oral cancer and its connection to overall health. They explore the challenges of balancing a dental practice with family life, the significance of mentorship for women in dentistry, and the impo...
Dec 18, 2024•29 min•Season 7Ep. 148
In this engaging conversation, Kash Rocheleau shares her journey from being an executive assistant to becoming the CEO of Icon Foods. She discusses the challenges of balancing family life with a demanding career, the importance of company culture, and the unique dynamics of being a female leader in a male-dominated industry. Kash emphasizes the significance of mentorship, the impact of imposter syndrome, and offers valuable advice for aspiring female leaders. She also shares her favorite books a...
Dec 11, 2024•34 min•Season 7Ep. 147
In this conversation, Jessica Joines shares her transformative journey from a successful corporate career to discovering her true purpose. She discusses the importance of overcoming fear and scarcity mindset, empowering women to trust their inner truths, and the significance of building heart-centered relationships within her community. Jessica emphasizes the power of perception and choice in shaping one's reality, and she offers practical advice for future female leaders to pursue their passion...
Dec 04, 2024•26 min•Season 7Ep. 146
