How does one transform a personal crisis into a groundbreaking business that has the potential to change lives? This question lies at the heart of this episode, as we explore the journey of entrepreneurship through the lens of resilience, innovation, and a relentless drive to make a difference. Our guest, Martha Carlin, transitioned from a career in accounting to founding BiotiQuest after her husband’s early Parkinson’s diagnosis. Motivated to find solutions outside traditional medicine, Martha ...
Jun 26, 2025•26 min•Ep. 128
What if the key to transforming entrepreneurship lies in who gets to be an investor? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood invites us to consider the power of opening up investment opportunities to more women and how it could change the face of business leadership. Our guest, Patricia Lizarraga, is a trailblazing finance expert who created the Hypatia Women CEO ETF (WCEO ETF) after realizing the unique strengths women bring to executive roles. Her fund allows anyone—...
Jun 19, 2025•23 min•Ep. 127
What if the true game changer in entrepreneurship isn’t just innovation, but the ability to make bold, strategic asks—even when a “no” seems inevitable? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood sits down with communications coach and auctioneer Dia Bondi to explore how asking for what you want can transform a founder’s journey. Dia Bondi, author of Ask Like an Auctioneer, draws on her extensive experience coaching executives and founders, as well as her unique backgroun...
Jun 12, 2025•33 min•Ep. 126
How close are we to making space not just the final frontier, but the next big investment opportunity? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia sits down with Tim Maul of Balerion Space Ventures to break down the exciting—and very real—landscape of space investing, moving the conversation far beyond science fiction. Tim brings a wealth of experience from institutional investing and now plays a key role in connecting investors to groundbreaking space and defense technologies. H...
Jun 05, 2025•30 min•Ep. 125
What if the path to entrepreneurial success for women didn’t have to be so lonely—or so uphill? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood sits down with Melissa Wallace, a marketing veteran whose journey spans a $750 million tech exit, hands-on mentorship, and now, leading the first Femtech venture studio dedicated to female founders. Melissa shares her fascinating career evolution, from the high-octane world of startup acquisitions to co-founding Fierce Foundry, a uniqu...
May 29, 2025•28 min•Ep. 124
What happens when the people deciding which startups get funded rethink the rules of who belongs at the table? In this episode, host Marcia welcomes Kate McAndrew, co-founder of the Baukunst fund, who shares her journey from arts student to leading pre-seed venture capitalist with a fresh perspective on building companies. Kate discusses how she’s redefining the early stage investment process—focusing on community, creativity, and making capital accessible for underrepresented founders. She also...
May 22, 2025•27 min•Ep. 122
What if the key to unlocking a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem lies not just in funding, but in research, mentorship, and global collaboration? On this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood sits down with Dr. Shakenna Williams, Executive Director of the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College, to discuss the center’s 25-year evolution and its impactful work supporting women and allies in entrepreneurship. Dr. Williams leads initiatives rangin...
May 15, 2025•25 min•Ep. 123
How do small businesses and entrepreneurs thrive when global policies and economic shifts threaten stability? This episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast explores that question with Congressman Gabe Amo of Rhode Island, whose life story as the son of West African immigrants and career in both state and federal government uniquely position him to address these challenges. Congressman Amo shares his journey from growing up in Rhode Island’s vibrant immigrant and entrepreneurial community to his cu...
May 08, 2025•25 min•Ep. 121
What does it take for a founder to break new ground in an industry full of barriers and taboos? This episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast features Colette Courtion, CEO and founder of JoyLux, whose personal experience ignited a mission to transform women’s health with innovative, red light therapy solutions for intimate wellness. Colette shares how JoyLux was born from her own postpartum and perimenopausal struggles, leading her to bring a groundbreaking device to market—despite hurdles like F...
May 01, 2025•33 min•Ep. 120
What does it take to carve a space in the entrepreneurial world when you begin feeling like an outsider? Pocket Sun, co-founder of SoGal Ventures, shares her transformative journey from setting up a community for female entrepreneurs to becoming a major player in the venture capital space. In a world where women are often underrepresented and underfunded, Pocket's journey has been anything but conventional, pushing boundaries to ensure women-led companies get the support they deserve. Pocket Sun...
Apr 24, 2025•32 min•Ep. 119
How does crowdfunding fit into a startup's fundraising strategy? In this intriguing episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood converses with guest Woodie Neiss about how crowdfunding has emerged as a transformative option for entrepreneurs seeking capital. The conversation unveils the ways securities-based crowdfunding is reshaping how new ventures are funded, making investments more accessible to various investors. Woodie Neiss, an experienced entrepreneur and a key advocate fo...
Apr 17, 2025•33 min•Ep. 118
What does it take to not only start a company but to grow it into something truly impactful, not just once but FIVE times? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, we dive into the experiences of Angel Gambino, a remarkable five-time exited entrepreneur. With over 20 years of experience crafting successful ventures and fostering economic equity through entrepreneurship, Angel offers a wealth of knowledge on various aspects of business growth and development.. Having achieved success as a ...
Apr 10, 2025•39 min•Ep. 117
What truly sets successful entrepreneurs apart from the rest? Is it creativity, resilience, or perhaps a unique blend of traits that allows them to thrive in the unpredictable world of startups? In this compelling episode of The Angel Next Door podcast, host Marcia Dawood dives into these questions with guest Greg Moran, a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist with a deep-rooted passion for identifying and nurturing innovative founders. Greg Moran is a serial entrepreneur turned investor,...
Apr 03, 2025•29 min•Ep. 116
What drives a successful start-up employee to leave the security of a lucrative role after a major acquisition to become a founder? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, Marcia Dawood explores the fascinating journey of Caitlyn Driehorst, an exited entrepreneur and financial service expert. Caitlyn shares her unique path—from majoring in Russian and English literature to becoming a strategic consultant for financial services giants, before returning to her roots to build a company that...
Mar 27, 2025•33 min•Ep. 115
What drives economic growth? In this engaging episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, we explore the crucial role of angel investors in supporting entrepreneurs—the creative minds behind groundbreaking innovations and thriving businesses. Host Marcia Dawood is joined by two esteemed guests: Pat Gouhin, CEO of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), and Kristina Montague, incoming ACA Chair (July 2025). Together, they break down the mission of ACA and its charitable arm, the Angel Investor Foundatio...
Mar 20, 2025•11 min•Ep. 114
How does a woman navigate and succeed in the traditionally male-dominated world of Wall Street? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, Marcia Dawood welcomes Lori Van Dusen, an inspiring figure in the financial advisory industry. Lori began her career at Lehman Brothers in the late 1980s, where she stood out not only for her quantitative skills but for her early advocacy of client-centered, conflict-free financial advice. With years of experience under her belt, Lori founded her own fir...
Mar 13, 2025•26 min•Ep. 113
What if the path to successful entrepreneurship isn't just about finding a compelling market idea, but also about crafting an intentional exit strategy that benefits an entire community? On this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, we dive into an unconventional exit strategy that prioritizes employees and community sustainability. Marcia, our host, welcomes Gina Schaefer, a pioneering entrepreneur who transitioned her successful hardware store chain to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)...
Mar 06, 2025•32 min•Ep. 112
What drives an entrepreneur to turn personal adversity into impactful ventures? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, we explore this question through the lens of Diana Greshtchuk's compelling journey. Following a profound personal loss, Diana found herself re-evaluating her legacy and impact on the world, leading her to become a passionate advocate for financial literacy and empowerment, especially among women and marginalized communities. Diana Greshtchuk is a seasoned financial expe...
Feb 27, 2025•27 min•Ep. 111
What does it take to turn a groundbreaking idea into a reality, especially when it challenges societal norms and confronts widely held taboos? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood explores this question with her guest, Cindy Gallop, a trailblazer reshaping conversations around sex, pornography, and sexual wellness. Cindy's journey into entrepreneurship is anything but conventional, providing a fascinating look at how one can use business to drive social change. Cind...
Feb 20, 2025•45 min•Ep. 110
What if your charitable donations didn’t just support causes—but actually helped build impactful businesses? In this episode of The Angel Next Door, host Marcia Dawood gives a quick 7-minute overview of the growing interest in investing with philanthropic capital and answers some of the most common questions about how it works. Using insights from past conversations with experts like Sally Boulter of Impact Assets and Patrice and Leah Brickman of Inspire Access, Marcia breaks down how Donor-Advi...
Feb 13, 2025•8 min•Ep. 109
Have you ever considered how your financial mindset might impact your entrepreneurial journey? In this episode of the Angel Next Door Podcast, Marcia Dawood recaps insightful conversations with guests, exploring the profound connections between money, leadership, and impact investing, and how these factors influence entrepreneurship. Marcia highlights Sally Boulter's discussion on donor advised funds (DAFs) as a means for accessible impact investing. She also revisits her conversation with Wendy...
Feb 06, 2025•6 min•Ep. 109
Have you ever wondered how your mindset could transform your entrepreneurial journey? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood dives deep into this compelling question with Julie Foucht, a coach who has dedicated her career to empowering female entrepreneurs. By examining the critical link between mindset and financial success, Julie brings a fresh perspective to the way we view money and female entrepreneurship. Julie Foucht's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Rai...
Jan 30, 2025•26 min•Ep. 108
Have you ever wondered what it truly takes to turn a groundbreaking idea into a successful business venture? On this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, our host Marcia Dawood explores this question with Anya Cheng, an innovative entrepreneur from the Bay Area. Anya’s journey from big tech to launching her own AI-powered company showcases the transformative potential of unique data in revolutionizing an industry. Anya Cheng is the founder of Taelor, an AI company on a mission to redefine how...
Jan 23, 2025•30 min•Ep. 107
Why do we hesitate to talk openly about money, and how can breaking this silence transform our financial futures? In this compelling episode of "The Angel Next Door," host Marcia Dawood explores the pervasive taboo surrounding money conversations and how lifting this veil can lead to a healthier financial mindset. Through insightful dialogue, the episode illuminates the importance of embracing vulnerability and the power of open discussions about wealth and investments. Our esteemed guests for t...
Jan 16, 2025•35 min•Ep. 106
What does it take to successfully navigate the transition from being an entrepreneur to a CEO while maintaining your company’s core values intact? This intriguing question sets the stage for a deeply insightful conversation with Anne Maghas on "The Angel Next Door Podcast." Anne’s journey from curiosity about angel investing to becoming a significant mentor and investor is full of valuable lessons about leadership, diversity, and resilience amidst rapid change. Anne Maghas, our esteemed guest, i...
Jan 09, 2025•32 min•Ep. 105
Have you ever wondered what it takes to leave a lasting legacy in the world of entrepreneurship? In this illuminating episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Wendy Ryan, who transforms our understanding of leadership, investment, and legacy-building. Wendy's journey from human resources to becoming a game-changing investor offers valuable insights for anyone looking to make a meaningful impact in the business world. Our guest, W...
Jan 02, 2025•28 min•Ep. 104
The Angel Next Door Podcast: 2024 Year in Review On this special, year-end episode, our host Marcia Dawood wraps up the year with a joint episode with Laura Nix Gerson, host of the Venture F podcast. This year marked a significant milestone for The Angel Next Door podcast, hosted by Marcia Dawood. With a full year of weekly episodes, we celebrated key achievements, impactful conversations, and global recognition for our contributions to angel investing and impact-driven funding. Here are some of...
Dec 26, 2024•44 min•Ep. 103
Have you ever wondered why some entrepreneurs seem to effortlessly connect with high-profile clients and seemingly land opportunities out of thin air? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast , we unravel the secrets behind successful networking and relationship building, which are crucial to making those magic moments happen. Our guest today, Michelle Tillis Lederman, is an accomplished author, networking expert, and dynamic speaker known for her strategic insight into the world of relati...
Dec 19, 2024•24 min•Ep. 102
What does it take to turn a humble beginning into a thriving empire? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood explores the intricacies of entrepreneurship and franchising with Dawn Lafreeda, a highly successful Denny’s franchisee. Dawn's entrepreneurial journey from a young hostess to owning more Denny’s franchises than anyone else globally underscores the power of determination, resilience, and strategic thinking. Dawn Lafreeda began her career at Denny’s at the age of...
Dec 12, 2024•34 min•Ep. 101
Ever wondered what it really takes to break into the world of venture capital, especially as an underrepresented entrepreneur or an emerging fund manager? In our milestone 100th episode, host Marcia Dawood sits down with Catherine Gray, the visionary Executive Producer of the award-winning documentary *Show Her the Money,* to demystify this complex space. The film shines a light on the staggering statistics around the lack of funding for female entrepreneurs but goes beyond the numbers with powe...
Dec 05, 2024•31 min•Ep. 100
