Ellevate Podcast: Conversations With Women Changing The Face Of Business

Through her interest in storytelling, Sharon Epperson, Senior Personal Finance Correspondent at CNBC, found herself in the world of money and business - with a passion for reporting stories of individuals and their personal finances. After having a ruptured brain aneurysm, Sharon realized the value of her health, and through this opened a new door in her life. On this episode, Sharon shares how she learned about money and business, why talking to other women about finances is important, and how assumptions may be very dangerous. She also shares her tips on talking about how much money you are making and why it’s important to have discussions around personal health.

Coming from a large family of eight siblings, Felena Hanson, founder of Hera Hub, knew she wanted to be a first generation college graduate when the opportunity presented itself. Taking her college degree and tapping into entrepreneurship, Felena shares her journey that led her to founding Hera Hub, how getting a college degree might be a subjective decision, and how entrepreneurs can set themselves for success with the power of a network. She also talks about the role men can play as allies, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, and how everyone can have something to bring to the table. 

After studying communication, Iva Pawling, co-founder and CEO of Richer Poorer, found her start in fashion at Kate Spade’s rotational program a young professional. After learning the ins and outs of every department, from answering customer phone calls to working in production, Iva realized she wanted to create a brand that represented her own vision. Her brand Richer Poorer starting out as a sock company, Iva talks about how she entered a business that she knew nothing about. On this episode, Iva shares her tips for new entrepreneurs, how Richer and Poorer grew as a successful brand, tips on time management and being productive, as well as the role of resilience in the start-up world. 

In this exclusive Livestream event, Ellevate’s CEO Kristy Wallace sits down with Caroline Feeney, the head of Individual Solutions for Prudential Financial, Inc., for an important conversation on Equal Pay Day. Caroline and Kristy will discuss the biggest financial challenges facing women, the opportunities for female financial advisors, and why it’s so crucial for us to start making a habit of talking openly about our finances. We’ll also learn more about Prudential’s current work to support lifetime income protection for women, and what we can start doing today on our journey toward financial wellness.

When Melissa Jun Rowley, entrepreneur, BBC News correspondent, decided that Hollywood journalism was not a career for her, she decided to change her path from entertainment to tech; showcasing entrepreneurs and those who did “tech for good”. On this episode, Melissa shares her journey from almost having to file for bankruptcy to working with Peter Gabriel, her experiences with groundbreaking entrepreneurs from across the globe, and how technology can be used for positive social impact. She also shares her insights on how organizations can incorporate purpose and impact without it becoming a distraction, flipping the script on social impact, as well as her experiences with diversity in tech. This episode kicks off Ellevate’s Inclusive Workplaces Program. Learn more about the launch of our new program here!

When More magazine came to an end in February 2016, Lesley Jane Seymour, CEO of CoveyClub.com, had a second act in mind - one that was completely different than what she went into. After her old readers reached out to her, Seymour put her consumer-centric self forward and started CoveyClub.com, a platform for lifelong learners. On this episode, Leslie talks about being an entrepreneur compared to the corporate world, how she reinvented herself after the publishing world, and importance of having a lifelong network. She also shares the keys to a backpocket reinvention plan, having your second act ready, and why “longlooking” doesn’t work anymore.

After her 18-year banking career, Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO of Luminary, saw that it was time to pivot and shortly after, started her own collaboration hub for women. On this episode, Cate joins us to share the highs and lows of starting a business, how she came up with the idea for Luminary, and the emotional difficulties and loneliness of starting a business. She also shares some of her tips for entrepreneurs such as the importance of building a great team, rethinking work-life balance, and how her team only has one meeting a week.

In a small town in Texas, Gloria Feldt, NY Times best-selling author and founder of Take the Lead, applied to work for Planned Parenthood, after writing a paper about them. Rising up to become the President of Planned Parenthood, Gloria talks about her learnings as a single mother and as the President inside a highly-disputed organization. Gloria offers her tips on the place of innovation and creation of meaning through organizational leadership, as well as what she is currently doing to give women an equal shot in the world through Take the Lead. She also shares her experiences in creating Planned Parenthood’s new mission, values, and its 25-year vision as a part of reshaping the organization.

Jodi Flynn knows very well that Type-A people are a “special breed.” That’s because she works as a career coach for Type-A women...and if her additional list of titles (speaker, author, podcaster) doesn’t already give it away, Jodi is Type-A, too. While a Type-A woman’s desire for perfection can lead her on a journey to the top, Jodi points out that it can also hamper her efforts to get there through unnecessary self-doubt and burnout. In this episode, Jodi walks us through the rewards and challenges of holding oneself to the highest standard, and she outlines helpful practices that all women can adopt to let go of unrealistic expectations of what we can accomplish. In doing so, she believes we’ll find that we are actually able to accomplish more.

This week, we sat down with broadcaster, speaker, writer, and educator, Natali Morris to discuss managing your personal finances. When Natali left CBS, she set out to build her family’s wealth by growing the resources they already had. In the process, she became highly knowledgeable in the realm of personal finance, so much so that women and men around the world seek out her insights.

Miriam Grobman, Founder and CEO of Miriam Grobman Consulting, joins us for the second time on the Ellevate Podcast to talk about everything from changing careers and industries from mining, to finance and consulting. Miriam shares her tips on building and maintaining confidence, switching from an operational mindset to a strategic mindset, and what it means for women to own their influence. She shares insights to her famous courses on leadership education, strategic influence, and executive presence. Miriam also gives us some insight into what’s in store for her next and how she is working to get women ahead in business.

As we keep focusing on closing the gender achievement gap, Ericka Spradley, Career Coach/Chief PowHer Officer of Confidence Career Women joins us this week to share her insights about closing the confidence gap as well. Ericka talks about the importance positioning yourself well in job the application process, balancing multiple jobs and responsibilities, and the importance of prioritizing. From shaving her head unannounced to publishing three books, Ericka explains the impact of leaving your comfort zone and truly owning your career for continued success. (Original air date: August 7th, 2018)

Past podcast guest, Melanie Curtis, life coach, comes back to the EllevatePod to share her amazing insights. On this episode, Melanie talks about how she finally decided to join Ellevate after years of using public Ellevate resources, everything that’s new in her life, and importance of finding your calling in life. She also shares her tips and advice for future networkers, and how she had fun at networking events with her laid-back approach.

When Joy Altimare, Chief Engagement and Brand Officer at EHE, started her career in marketing, she soon realized that she was more interested in the bigger picture. Starting in the corporate world and moving to a startup at 8-months pregnant, Joy talks about her experiences with negotiating, her career, and the journey that led her to a corporate healthcare provider focused on preventive care. She also shares her insights on leading a company with employees from multiple generations, managing a team, and setting boundaries for work-life balance and integration.

Having the perfect job might not always be the key to happiness. Stella Grizont, Executive Coach, Trainer and Founder of Woopaah, joins us this week to share her history with workplace burnout. Stella shares her expertise on the importance of individual and workplace values, and how mental health practices at work can have significant long-term benefits. Stella also talks about our brain’s negativity bias and the importance of tending to our happiness at work, as well as when planning a family.

From working publishing house basements to being the editor of one of Refinery 29’s most sought-after sections, Money Diaries, Lindsey Stanberry, joins us this week to talk about how her career started. She shares her insights on how to handle being laid off, how learn from others’ mistakes when it comes to money management, and how the individuals on Money Diaries deal with a story going viral. Lindsey also discusses some of the most interesting stories she’s encountered while writing her book, as well as stereotypes when it comes to women and money.

The seeds of Jessica Aguirre and Bertha Jimenez’s RISE Products were planted when the duo met at a program through their graduate studies. Their interest in sustainability and their common background from Ecuador inevitably made them business partners and founders of RISE Products, producing flour from brewer’s spent grain. On this episode, Jessica and Bertha talk about how they started their company, industrial symbiosis and why it matters, as well as how to incorporate sustainable practices in businesses. The duo also touch on sexism in their industry and the obstacles they faced as immigrants in the United States.

Shirley Chen, the Founder & CEO of Narrativ, started her career journey when she scored her Vogue internship through waiting in line for a Broadway musical. Jumping from biology to fashion, and management consulting to online retail marketing, Shirley shares her career journey and how she founded her own company, Narrativ, fixing digital media with AI technologies. On this episode, she also talks about the benefits of networking, the science of online shopping, and the difficulties she faced starting her own business.

Getting her start in a male-dominated kitchen and bath industry, Suzie Williford, Executive Vice President of Industry Relations & Chief Strategy Officer of National Kitchen and Bath Association, soon realized how important it is to love the work she does. From answering phones to executive leadership, Suzie talks about the hardships she faced, the importance of mentorship, as well as the progress the kitchen and bath industry made in closing the gender gap. She also opens up about the feeling of inadequacy at work and how to find a career path you are truly passionate about.

When Sateria Venable, Founder of Fibroid Foundation, was diagnosed with a fibroid disease, she realized that a support system available to women scarce. Sateria went on to create the Fibroid Foundation to provide a global community with women with fibroids. On this episode, Sateria talks about her history with fibroids and how it helped her discover faith and courage in herself to found the Fibroid Foundation. Sateria also discusses people who have helped her along the way, how fibroids can be treated, and what everyone can do to become an advocate.