Women Worldwide With Deirdre Breakenridge

Jenny Ta, CEO of Sqeeqee and co-founder of VCNetwork.co, joins host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Jenny began her career with strong roots in the financial world and working on Wall Street. Jenny is known as a serial entrepreneur. She has built, launched and sold two of her companies. More recently in 2016, together with her partner, Shinta W. Dhanuwardoyo (Founder/CEO of Bubu.com), VCNetwork.co was launched to help forward-thinking VC firms and individual VCs find the startups that have what it takes to succeed. Today, Jenny mentors start-ups and focuses on shaking up the current VC models making VC funding more entrepreneurial friendly. On the show, Jenny shared how the funding for women entrepreneurs is slow progress. She and her partner Shinta work to create a bridge for entrepreneurs who hit one wall after another as they seek funding. They act as the role of connectors to make the introductions to high worth investors so there is an opportunity on both sides. Jenny discussed her thoughts on w

Dr. Marika Lindholm, Founder and CEO of ESME (Empowering Solo Moms Everywhere), joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. When Marika realized the steady rise in solo parenting, the changing climate to American families, and through her personal experience with single motherhood, she became impassioned with helping other women facing the same challenges that she did. On the show, Marika shares her inspiration behind the launch of ESME and why she wants to honor moms everywhere. Her platform provides solo moms with a safe space to share their challenges and struggles including some tough subjects such as domestic violence, addiction and cyberbullying. “ESME is a platform that allows your vulnerability to come through,” explained Marika. She also shares her own challenges as she moved from academia to becoming an entrepreneur and launching her online community. “The learning curve was tremendous having to learn about building content, social media, marketing and team building.” At the same time, as a

Lauren Leader-Chivee, co-founder, and CEO of All In Together (AIT) and the author of Crossing the Thinnest Line: How Embracing Diversity-from the Office to the Oscars-Make America Stronger  joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Lauren has dedicated her career to closing the most critical personal, professional and political gender gaps for women. In addition to her role at AIT, Lauren is an Executive Advisor to Deloitte working with a range of global companies on their most pressing diversity issues. On the show, Lauren discussed how the thinnest of lines separate groups. Establishing an emotional connection, through a shared experience, makes you less of an outsider and helps you to understand different cultures. The shared experience also leads to relationships and trust. She gave examples of soldiers in the military and prison populations. Lauren offered insights on Millennials as a generation, who are much more accepting and inclusive. You can see the trend of Millennials moving to urban ar

Judy Williams, the founder of iHalt, joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Judy’s non-profit organization promotes understanding, accountability, and mutual respect between at-risk youth and EMTs, police, and firefighters. After spending 18 years in education, Judy launched iHalt as a movement to raise awareness about safety and to foster mutual respect and harmony between first responders and the general community. On the show, Judy discusses her work with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Her programs teach consideration and mutual respect through activities that build trust. When children have a relationship with police officers they are more likely to respect and cooperate under different situations outside of the iHalt program. At the same time, the more police officers and other first responders interact, they, too, have a much better understanding of the people living in their communities. Parents are also involved in the program so the iHalt learning and relationship building continue

Meagan Hooper, entrepreneur and founder of bSmartguide.com, joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Megan’s  platform, bSmartguide.com, is an online portal where women can learn, connect and promote their brands in order to achieve success and obtain their goals. Previously, Meagan spent a decade-long career on Wall Street, working her way up from Administrative Assistant for the founder of a premier hedge fund, to the firm's Chief Operating Officer. Self-taught in the world of finance, Meagan's expertise was quickly recognized, as she became Director of Operations for a global wealth management firm, overseeing $4 billion in assets across multiple asset classes. On the show, Meagan shares her passion for Millennials; how they're breaking down barriers and going past the stereotypes in their communities. With a focus on technological resources and collaboration, you can make this happen. At the same time, she says you're able to create a culture of listening and being who you're meant to be. On ta

Fabian Geyrhalter, the founder of FINIEN, an LA-based brand consultancy, joins host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Fabian is the author of the book How to Launch a Brand: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Crafting a Brand - From Positioning to Naming and Brand Identity. He is also published internationally by the Washington Post, Graphis, Communications Arts and the Huffington Post. On the show, Fabian takes a deep dive into the meaning of a brand and what it takes to prepare for a brand launch. He shares what entrepreneurs get wrong 99% of the time when it comes to branding. As a result, he offers a step-by-step guide for those entrepreneurs who are bootstrapping but know brand development really matters far beyond a product or service they offer. In addition to discussing company branding, Fabian also shares his thoughts on personal branding, how technology affects a brand and why you should align with the right people. A little more about Fabian Geyrhalter … Fabian is an active jury member of the Acade

Heather Whaling, CEO and founder of Geben Communication, joins host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Heather started her digital and social media PR agency in 2009, out of her dining room and at the heart of a recession. She’s grown her company through culture building and policy-making that helps all of her employees to thrive. Geben is an award-winning agency and Heather just recently received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Ohio Valley Region (OH, KY, IN). On the show, Heather discusses what culture looks like at her company. They’ve created some interesting "House Rules" which include Embrace the Crazy and Design Your Day. When it comes to Embracing the Crazy, Heather’s team is cool and calm whether they’re dealing with a crisis event or a client's product launch. The Design Your Day program helps employees to work when and where they are the most comfortable. It’s also a great way to have employee select the times of day that they are the most productive. Heather also shares her tho

Keynote Speaker and Leadership Coach Neen James joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Neen's corporate background is in learning and development, and managing large teams throughout several industries. As a motivational keynote speaker, she focuses on productivity and helps leaders get more done, so they can create more significant moments in life. Neen has been referred to as a "force of nature" with "boundless energy." On the show, Neen dives into the characteristics of a good speaker. If you’re really interested in speaking, then you have to be authentic, reliable and approachable. She also stresses that you must put aside your ego and make sure you have a quality message. Many people call themselves speakers and just regurgitate someone else’s material. Neen also shares what productivity means to her. She says, "Productivity is having time to do what really matters in your life." Productivity takes true focus and requires a deadline-oriented approach. Neen works 15-minute blocks of time. "Yo

Brianna Averhart, a fashion design major at Moore College of Art & Design, joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge for a Women Worldwide in-person podcast interview on the Moore College Campus in Philadelphia. Brianna is a sophomore at Moore. She's also a Resident Advisor (RA) and recognized as one of the scholars of the college's Visionary Award Honors Program. The episode with Brianna is part of a three-part series sponsored by Moore featuring alumni, faculty, and students. On the show, Brianna shared when she first discovered her passion for fashion design, which began with her love of sewing. She joined the Moore community which has helped her to cultivate her leadership skills. As an RA, planning programs and assisting her student residents, Brianna offered her perspective on leadership and inspiring others. During the episode, Brianna fields questions from friends and peers on how she handles the criticism that comes with the world of an artist as well as how she overcomes her inner fears and challenges. A

Marcello Pedalino, Executive Director of MMP Entertainment and author of the motivational book, Celebrate Life:  A New Book on How to Live it Up, Discover Fulfillment, and Experience the Joy You Deserve, joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. A three-time national DJ Entertainer of the Year, Marcello and his company have helped clients have the time of their lives at their Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, and countless other milestone occasions. On the show, Marcello discusses the inspiration behind his book, Celebrate Life which is taking care of yourself, being surrounded by the right people and seeing the bigger picture and all of the incredible possibilities. Marcello outlines the difference between the Very Inspiring People (VIPs) in his life and how you need to avoid the Very Draining People (VDPs). He also shares candid advice on how to get “unstuck" in your life especially when you’re going through the “darkest hours.” There may be times when you're lied to or betrayed, personally and/or prof

Lynn Palewicz, Assistant Professor of Art and Foundation Chair at Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on the Women Worldwide show. As Foundation Chair, Lynn develops, implements and assesses the Foundation curriculum for all first-year students at Moore. As an artist, Lynn combines photography, sculpture, and drawing to explore different approaches to self-portraiture: the self as subject, the self as material, and the self as creative impulse. On the show, Lynn discussed women in the arts. She shared how her work at Moore helps students to transition from freshman orientation to community leadership. Students are encouraged to interact with their professors and peers through open dialogue while building their skills and confidence, diving into research to expand their creativity. Lynn stresses the importance of learning self-identity and a sense of consciousness. Students also learn creative problem solving so they can graduate and tackle the challenges that face

Megan Harris, Managing Partner, at SYZYGY, North America, joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Megan is a digital native, global business citizen, and travel brand digital expert, who brings a unique perspective to her role as a Managing Partner. At SYZYGY, she manages operations and business growth for the digital agency, which offers creative, technology, and media services to major brands including Avis Budget Group. On the show, Megan discussed her journey in global digital marketing. As a Millennial leader, she shared her insights on what it takes to lead: vision, empathy, and delegation. Megan's philosophy: You always have to "be brave, be bold and be yourself,” showing your authenticity at all times. She shared personal stories including a period in her life when she felt “stuck" and what her prescription was to move forward and to achieve her goals. Megan was candid about how you can find your voice and how you must "say what you mean" in business. She also believes in the power of  pla

Kia Weatherspoon, founder of Determined by Design, joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Kia was a dancer turned soldier who then fell in love with interior design. Kia has ten years of diverse experience in hospitality design and management, high-end residential and multi-family design with a splash of architectural sales. Kia founded her company, Determined by Design in 2012 to begin creating spaces that eclipse current design trends. On the show, Kia discussed personal stories including when she first discovered the meaning of space. When living in the Middle East (just after 911) with 14 other women soldiers, she needed a reprieve to let out a flood of emotions. She took her issued troop sheets that were meant for her cot and hung them around her with string to create three sheet walls instead. Kia left active duty and has been creating spaces ever since. Kia also shared fond memories of her education at Moore College of Art and Design and how she was surrounded by women leaders and “the mos

Peter Shankman, author, corporate keynote speaker and founder of Shankminds, joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Peter is recognized as the perfect example of what happens when you merge the power of pure creativity with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), then add in a dose of adventure, and make it work to your advantage. Peter is regarded as a "worldwide connector” and also known for his radical new ways of thinking about ADHD. On the show, Peter shares his journey, which he describes as “always a fast state of motion" and some of the difficulties he had when he was growing up. Fast forward to today and he is helping people with ADHD to recognize it's a gift and not a curse. Peter shares recent initiatives including the launch of his podcast, Faster Than Normal (FTN), and his new book which will be published in 2017. Peter offers advice on how to stay focused, make the right choices and why you need to spread your energy in all of the right places. For Peter, every day is busy,

Winnie Sun, founding partner and managing director of Sun Group Wealth Partners, joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. With more than 16 years of experience in the financial services industry, Winnie has been selected as Investment News' Twenty Women to Watch. She is frequently featured as a “top advisor” speaker at national events, is a contributor to Forbes, Fox Business, CNBC broadcast, and CBS News. She is also considered the most social advisor on social media. On the show, Winnie shares her best practices on Twitter and how she builds business relationships through her participation. She got started on Twitter knowing that “like attracts like.” Her advice to professionals is "you have to start out identifying 10 of your closest friends." You also have to be present, share methodically and strategically. But, most of all, you have to be human and treat others the way you want to be treated. If you can text then you can tweet.  Winnie also discusses how tweet chats are a great way to meet pe

Caren Merrick, the founder and CEO of Pocket Mentor joins host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Caren was a partner at Bibury Partners, an angel investment and advisory firm. Earlier in her career she was co-founder and EVP of webMethods, leading the company to the most successful software IPO in 2000. Caren grew the company to 1,100 employees and $200m in revenue, which eventually led to its acquisition by SoftwareAG in 2007 for $540million. On the show, Caren discusses her career journey and how she has served on different boards. According to The Gender Diversity Index, in 2015, of the 842 active companies on the Fortune 1,000 list, women held 18.8% of board seats. This is an increase from 17.7% in 2014. If you compare these stats to the 14.6% of board seats that were held by women in 2011, you can see the numbers are rising, but not high enough. According to Caren, too few women see themselves as participants in the boardroom and they aren’t stepping up by taking r

Trina Felber, founder and CEO of a natural skincare line, Primal Life Organics, joined host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Trina discovered during her first pregnancy that all her high-end skincare products were loaded with toxic ingredients that could hurt her and her growing baby. Knowing your skin is the largest organ in the body and the body’s first line of defense, Trina began a quest in 2007 for organic and all-natural skincare products that were safe to use during pregnancy. She was shocked to learn there were none. At that point, Trina decided to transition from her career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) to an entrepreneur, launching her natural skincare products business. On the show, Trina shared the importance of giving your skin the right nutrients and why it’s important to read product labels carefully. According to Trina, if you feed your skin what it needs, it will function. Unfortunately, consumers are not aware of the toxins and harmful effects of many skincare pr

Michelle Bacharach, Co-Founder and CEO of FINDMINE, joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Michelle's retail tech company, FINDMINE, is an enterprise SaaS startup positioned to make retail more efficient and shopping more delightful. Michelle, who started in entertainment, transitioned to retail tech experiencing a number of interesting stories that highlight the challenges of starting a tech company in New York. On the show, Michelle discusses how she wanted to figure out and define a different consumer experience. With people asking millions of questions about the products they want to purchase, retailers were not equipped to answer everything. Michelle launched her platform, FINDMINE, to help tailor and customize the consumer shopping experience answering their questions and using machine learning to scale product curation. Michelle also discusses what it takes to create a winning team describing her own experience as working with people who are really passionate and can “pull themselves out o

Aly Saxe, founder and CEO of Iris PR Software, joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide.  Aly's journey in public relations has led her from PR pro to PR agency owner to building software for agencies and in-house teams. Chaotic systems and a lack of visibility into her team’s performance pushed Aly to create a tech platform to cure the headaches of PR agency management. On the show, Aly discussed her approach to problem-solving especially as a woman in tech. Because you have to be flexible and agile and keep up with the pace of change, Aly shares her favorite resources. She also offers her insights on the importance of integration in an organization and the best way to break down silos between departments including marketing, PR, sales and other areas within a company. Because these barriers separate talent, businesses miss out on increased productivity, ideation, innovation and a better experience for customers. A little more about Aly Saxe …  In 2007, Aly founded Ubiquity PR to provide strategic

Samantha Paxson, Chief Marketing Officer at CO-OP Financial Services joins Host Deirdre Breakenridge on Women Worldwide. Samantha is the chief architect and marketing technologist who leads the development of her company's go to market corporate strategy for product development, credit, sales, business development, and marketing. On the show, Samantha discusses her journey, transitioning from PR and marketing agency work to a position in Financial Services. She shares how she was “ignorant enough not to have any fears” often raising her hand to get involved in new responsibilities. For her, “passionate ignorance has no limitations.” Samantha believes this was the secret to getting recognized early on. At CO-OP Financial Services, she was promoted to Vice President by the age of 30. Samantha's ability to collaborate with others and to build trust with her team helped her to advance more quickly. She also discusses the importance of understanding what’s going on in a company that's larger than your own role, an