Susan L Combs, Gen X, is the founder of Pancakes for Roger, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to serving those who have served our nation. She joins us today to talk about the non-profit that emerged from a humble request by Susan’s father, the late Major General Roger E Combs, during his Hospice care. His simple wish for pancakes sparked a movement, which became a book and a keynote address. Now, it stands as a non-profit organization. While the pancakes themselves couldn't be served...
Feb 12, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 217
Lisa-Maree Blumenfeld, GenX, joins us to talk about career stages, value alignment, and planning. She is a seasoned HR leader with over 25+ years of experience across fast-growing startups and established corporations. As the founder and CEO of Retain she and her incredible team have helped founders scale their businesses while building a solid and compliant HR foundation for them. Concurrently, Lisa-Maree is the co-founder and COO of Eleven (getelevenapp.com), where she has played a pivotal rol...
Feb 05, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 216
In this very special episode of “Girl, Take the Lead!”, we celebrate our 3rd anniversary by diving into Mel Robbins’ inspiring new book, Let Them Theory . Mel’s simple yet transformative idea encourages us to release control, embrace love, and focus on what truly matters. Through key takeaways from Mel’s book and a heartfelt reading from Chapter 18, we explore how the “Let Them” approach can deepen connections, foster self-love, and lead to more authentic relationships. Plus, we reflect on the i...
Jan 29, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 215
Dima Ghawi, Gen X, joins us for this episode. She is Middle Eastern in her genes, American in her heart, and a global citizen in her spirit. She ignites the untapped potential in individuals across the globe, empowering them to shatter limitations and become courageous, purpose driven leaders. Her own journey is one of escaping confinement, crossing continents, and transforming her life’s purpose. Harnessing the power of her story, Dima is committed to inspiring individuals to attain personal an...
Jan 23, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 214
Kate Flynn, Millennial, is The Crisis Coach with a PhD in Developmental Psychology. After navigating her own life-altering crisis, Kate combined her academic expertise, entrepreneurial success, and personal resilience to create a unique coaching practice. She specializes in helping high-achieving leaders turn their most challenging moments into opportunities for growth and transformation. Topics Covered: Post Traumatic Growth Defining Crisis and Trauma· The Body Keeps the Score Trauma statistics...
Jan 15, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 213
Dr. Amanda Kenderes, author of the book, “ Talk Types: How What We Say Reveals Who We Are ” joins us to talk about her talk type model. Also joining and giving generational perspectives are Yo's daughters: Kiki, the GenZer, and Emma, the Millennial. AMANDA is a professor of interdisciplinary studies at Humphreys University. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Science and Comparative Education from the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. She grew up in North and South America, A...
Jan 08, 2025•46 min•Season 1Ep. 212
A Statista Consumer Insights survey of 1,050 U.S. residents revealed that the top response regarding resolutions for 2025 was surprising: 4 in 10 respondents stated they do not plan to make any resolutions for the upcoming year. Why might that be? It’s not too surprising, considering that research shows only 9-12% of people actually keep their New Year’s resolutions. So what does work? A 2022 study found that setting daily intentions improved focus and emotional regulation in 73% of participants...
Jan 02, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 211
With the news of President Jimmy Carter’s passing, I felt it was important to pause and reflect on the legacy of this extraordinary man. To honor him, I’m replaying an episode I did in October of this year dedicated to his life and contributions. Melinda French Gates beautifully captured his essence when she said: “One of my favorite teachings says: ‘To know that even one life has breathed easier because you lived, this is to have succeeded.’ We honor President Carter by remembering that because...
Dec 30, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 210
Traditions remind us of the universal need to connect and find meaning. They ground us in a fast-moving world, giving us a sense of belonging and purpose. Today, we’ll explore how rituals, big or small, hold the power to unite us across cultures, seasons, and generations. Resources https://faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/jschroeder/Publications/Hobson%20et%20al%20Psychology%20of%20Rituals.pdf#:~:text=People%20who%20did%20rituals%20showed%20fewer%20physiological,performed%20better%20than%20people%20who...
Dec 23, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 209
We have been so blessed to have had some amazing authors as guests. As a way to celebrate this we wanted to highlight them in this episode as a gift guide that touches both heart and our mind. Books have been broken into 4 sections and if you’d like to listen to the episode we suggest going to https://girltaketheleadpod.com , it’s easy to search there but we’re also available on most podcast platforms. All books can be purchased on Amazon: https://amazon.com . Section 1: Empowering Leadership &a...
Dec 18, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 208
Ziem Nguyen Neubert, Executive Director of Project Cornerstone at the YMCA of Silicon Valley, joins us to discuss the topic of loneliness. Ziem leads an amazing team, working with school and community partners to support youth social and emotional well-being. Over 20 years of experience in education – serving as a teacher, coordinator, assistant principal, and principal – has been instrumental in supporting her work in building relationships and driving the vision for Project Cornerstone. Ziem i...
Dec 11, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 207
So today we’ll talk a bit about procrastination during the holidays and its link to stress and overwhelm. Yeah, I know, I can see your eyes rolling and you’re saying: Really, Yo? Do we have to understand this, right now? I don’t really have the time! And that’s the point, you guys. Just listening to this might open up some space for you to be calmer and more peaceful. You may be like me and not see yourself as a procrastinator but you know, if you take an honest look, I’m sure you’re procrastina...
Dec 05, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 206
Lisa DeFrank-Cole, Gen X, joins Yo who talks with us about resiliency and other important traits for women leaders. Lisa is Director and F Duke Perry Endowed Professor of Leadership Studies at West Virginia University, and is widely known for her academic and practical expertise in women’s leadership. She is a leadership coach and has been coauthor/coeditor of the following three academic books about women and leadership including an award-winning textbook:. Women and Leadership: Journey Toward ...
Dec 03, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 204
Giving Tuesday is December 3, 2024 and we wanted to share some ideas for organizations you might want to consider in your giving plan this year. In the past year we’ve been fortunate to have had the following guests that featured very cool organizations and you’ll find the ways to contact them for any donations below: Organizations: Ep. 135, Unleashing Creative Brilliance: A Conversation with Lane Gardner https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/ZQM2HynUQOb THREAD: www.threadconnects.org Ep. 149, ...
Nov 29, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 204
Judy Bornstein, Boomer, joins me to discuss conflict – whoa! Judy is the Founder of C Suite Resolutions, where she provides mediation, ombuds services, conflict and negotiation coaching, and corporate trainings to organizations and executives. She has worked extensively as a CFO and Chief Compliance Officer, and brings her business experience to her work in addressing conflict. Topics Covered: Conflict definition Disagreement vs conflict Gossip Consequences of pushing down conflict Costs involve...
Nov 26, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 203
Tammy Alvarez, Gen X, joins Yo to discuss her new book, Escaping the Career Trap, Transform Your Apathy, a self-leadership blueprint for high achievers who want to experience true career fulfillment. Tammy is the CEO of the Career Winners Circle, author, professional keynote speaker, inspirational coach, and former corporate executive. Her spirited “Break All the Rules” approach blends C-Suite experience with a pragmatic, results-based coaching style that helps business professionals create a bi...
Nov 21, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 202
Drew Turner, Millennial, joins Yo to discuss the McKinsey Women in the Workplace 2024 – the 10th Anniversary Report. Drew began her leadership journey in retail at Williams Sonoma, eventually transitioning into Learning and Development at Tesla. She’s passionate about helping women break free from societal expectations and step confidently into leadership roles. Her vision is a world where women lead boldly and empathetically, breaking barriers for future generations. Drew is also Yo’s Chi Omega...
Nov 19, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 201
We've hit a milestone, 200 episodes, and we're doing something special - this episode is a compilation of 17 different voices from different generations who answered the question: What would you tell your 20 something self today? The answers are amazing!! When considering this question as your host, I see some of my own optimism and naiveté during those years. As a warning my comments speak to Roe v Wade which greatly impacted my 20s and I wanted to speak about that. So if abortion rights are a ...
Nov 15, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 200
Lata Hamilton, Millennial, returns to the show to discuss her new book , Pioneer Your Career Change, The Proven Path To Change Careers with Confidence and Earn Your Worth . Yay!! Lata is a Change Leadership and Confidence expert, the creator of the “Leading Successful Change” program and the Founder & CEO of Passion Pioneers. Together, we explored these topics: Why changing careers with confidence is important How to make a change and things to consider 5 step formula for career change proce...
Nov 13, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 199
In our previous episode we introduced Rich Hanson, Drew Westen and Amy Chua, experts in political anxiety and we’ll call on them again in this episode. We’ll examine what they have to say about emotional recovery to help us after this presidential election. Topics Covered: Post-Election Emotional Recovery Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: "taking in the good" focus Understanding Emotional Aftershocks Overcoming Tribalistic Divides Practical Self-Care Tips Reflection on National Resilience Here ar...
Nov 06, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 198
In many of our past episodes we’ve uncovered aspects of emotions that can come up when we’re stressed plus this month we’re looking into the topic of conflict so today’s episode goes into both these areas by looking at the political anxiety many of us may be experiencing around the upcoming Presidential election. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum we seem to all experiencing the same sensation of fear resulting from the polarization we’re feeling. We thought it might be helpful t...
Oct 30, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 197
Janine Klein, CEO & Co-Founder, and Andrea Canny, Actor & Interactive Learning Specialist, of the Emotional Intelligence Institute (Eii), join Yo to talk about how avatar-led training is delivering human-focused solutions. Eii is taking the power of creative storytelling and instead of using it to entertain, they help people understand each other on a deeper level. Their mission is to create immersive training experiences that blend artistry with emotional intelligence. Janine is an Inno...
Oct 23, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 196
This month we’ve been talking about grief and this episode could be an example of anticipatory grief because we’re talking about Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States who recently on Oct 1 celebrated his 100th birthday. Our hope is that you'll be inspired by this short Sound Bite episode. There is a ton of things to admire about him – I recently shared some of them with some Millennials I know who said, "Wow, I had no idea" so we're taking the opportunity today to share some of m...
Oct 16, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 194
Ellyn Katherine Shamalov, Millennial, joins us to discuss a bit more about loss, grief, separation, self-acceptance, and manifestation. Ellyn is an Enlightenment Mentor, Quantum Healer, International Speaker, 2x Best-selling Author + Soul-care Coach specializing in the Akashic Records. In early 2023, Ellyn’s life was upended when her partner made the decision to take his life. From despair, grief, guilt, and anger, she found herself immersed in emotional struggles that tested her resolve like ne...
Oct 10, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 194
So we like to cover books and have guests on the show to talk about emotions so we can be better leaders and based on the number of listens, you like to explore those topics with us. And there’s one emotion we realized was suspiciously absent from our list. And that emotion was grief. As some of you know we recently lost the dog we’ve had the pleasure of loving and caring for, over the last 7 years, Caitlin. She was a very spicy 13 yo Frenchie and we are so grateful to her breeder who thought it...
Oct 02, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 193
Chrissy Grigoropoulos, Esq., Millennial, is a self-made millionaire and author of the book, LadyShark: How to Become a Millionaire in Your 30s. She is founder of the multi-location law firm, The Grigoropoulos Law Group. She is a corporate real estate broker for Property Shark Realty Inc., an investor, and CEO of IME Sharks Inc. She has appeared as a finance expert on Fox News, Yahoo! and more. Topics covered in the Episode: LadyShark book overview Step 1 being brave and having courage Step 5 con...
Sep 25, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 192
Andrea Sampson, Boomer, joins us to talk about storytelling and the importance it has for building abundance. Andrea, CEO and Founder of Talk Boutique, blends her astute listening skills and insight into human behavior to coach leaders and speakers in crafting impactful stories. With over two decades in marketing and advertising, Andrea's prowess in connecting with audiences has transitioned into her role as a TED-trained Speaker Coach, where she excels in making complex, technical subjects rela...
Sep 19, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 192
This month we’re all about Abundance and this episode continues the conversation by doing two things: The first is covering the book, The Algebra of Wealth, A Simple Formula for Financial Security , by Scott Galloway. I had seen several posts by Galloway on LinkedIn and thought he had a lot to say about wealth, both from the functional and higher vibrational level. And the second thing will be to share some recent learnings about Resilience I’ve had over the weekend when I attended the Nancy Wal...
Sep 12, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 190
This episode kicks off our theme for the month, Abundance, with a book by the same name, Abundance, The Inner Path to Wealth, by Deepak Chopra, MD. Dr. Chopra is a clinical professor of family medicine and public health at the University of CA, San Diego, and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. He is the author of more than ninety books. Here the topics we covered: Unfolding the inner path External and internal perspectives The “money will come” Yoga with a capital “Y” Gifts t...
Sep 04, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 189
We’ve been covering stories about fearless leadership for August and this is our final episode. I know you probably all followed the Olympics in Paris this year and heard a lot about the women who stood out with amazing stories like Katie, Simone, Sha'Carri , but I’m thinking there’s some other stories you may not have heard about and that’s my hope for today. I hope you hear something new and feel inspired learning about these fearless women, moms, and soon-to-be moms. Athletes Covered: Yaylagu...
Aug 29, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 188
