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The Honourable Leela Sharon Aheer shares the story that shaped her life and leadership.

Growing up in Alberta as the daughter of an Indian immigrant father and a Canadian mother, Leela learned early what it meant to stand out, speak up, and build community. At just 15 years old, she was directly confronted by white supremacist hate. Instead of shrinking, that moment became the catalyst for using her voice and stepping into leadership.

In this episode, Leela walks through her unconventional path from music and teaching into politics, winning her first election by just 260 votes and later serving as Alberta’s Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism, and Status of Women. She shares grounded lessons on women’s leadership, servant leadership, and why real change is built through small, consistent actions rather than power or position.

This conversation is a reminder that you do not need permission to lead. You just need to activate yourself.

Episode Notes
In this episode, we cover:

• Leela’s early life and how identity and community shaped her leadership
 • Being targeted by hate at 15 and choosing to speak up instead of stay silent
 • Why she left political science for music and later returned to politics
 • Winning her first election by 260 votes and navigating imposter syndrome
 • Why women’s rights must be protected in legislation
 • How to build bridges with people you strongly disagree with
 • Why momentum matters more than burnout
 • Her vision for global collaboration, trade, and women’s leadership
 • The simple lesson she believes every woman needs to hear

Guest Information
The Honourable Leela Sharon Aheer, ECA

Email: [email protected]
 Twitter: @LeelaAheer
 Instagram: leelasharonaheer
 LinkedIn: Hon. Leela (Sharon) Aheer

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Most people donate because they want to help. Few ever find out what actually happens to their money. Philanthropy has a trust problem. Nonprofits have a transparency problem. Donors want clarity but rarely get it. And donor-advised funds have become a quiet holding place for billions of untapped charitable capital.

After fifteen years working inside philanthropy, Sarah Angello could not ignore the friction anymore. She saw the outdated systems. She saw the lost potential. She saw how giving had become complicated when it should feel meaningful.

So she left a stable career, stepped into tech, and cofounded Daffodil, a fintech platform designed to rebuild trust in the nonprofit sector by making charitable giving transparent, simple, and accessible.

In this conversation, Sarah explains the gap no one was addressing, how donor-advised funds actually work, why impact reporting is broken, and how she is solving a systemic problem with zero-burden, real-time data. She opens up about raising capital as a woman, choosing cofounders, navigating risk, and the lesson that shaped her leadership: almost everything is fixable.

If you have ever given to a nonprofit, wondered where your money went, or thought about starting something meaningful, this episode will change the way you see philanthropy and the business behind it.

Chapters this episode explores:

• The moment Sarah realized philanthropy needed a complete reset
• Why donor-advised funds hold more than 250 billion dollars that rarely reaches nonprofits
• What the GoFundMe controversy revealed about trust in the sector
• How Daffodil built a system to deliver real-time impact reporting with zero burden on nonprofits
• Why transparency is the next frontier in charitable giving
• What she learned moving from nonprofit bureaucracy to tech speed
• How she chose her cofounders and why their history matters
• The reality of raising money as a woman in a male-dominated funding environment
• Why she believes fear of being copied is fear of weak execution
• The early mistake that taught her that almost everything is fixable

Key lessons:

• Transparency is not optional; it is the foundation of impact
• Good ideas are everywhere; execution is the differentiator
• Donors do not stop giving because they lack generosity but because they lack visibility
• Founders should build in public, not hide in fear
• Careers are long, and mistakes rarely ruin them

Contact

Website: www.getdaffodil.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getdaffodil/
Email: [email protected]

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Rachael Wonderlin built a national dementia consulting firm from a Tumblr blog, three Johns Hopkins books, and a decade of hands-on work inside senior living communities. But the real story is what she learned along the way about boundaries, burnout, and trusting her intuition long before the data caught up.

In this conversation, Rachael shares the full arc of building Dementia By Day from a one-woman hustle into a recurring revenue business that now operates like fractional operations for senior living companies. She talks about the early years when she said yes to everything, the moment she realized she needed a different model, and the systems she created to stop chasing one-off gigs.

She also opens up about being pigeonholed as “just” a dementia expert, the tone deaf advice she received while pitching her fourth book, and the unregulated coaching industry that inspired her business memoir, I Can’t Hustle Any Harder Than This.

If you’re building a business, struggling with boundaries, or fighting your way out of a niche that people keep trying to trap you in, this episode gives you the clarity you need to move forward with confidence.

In this episode, Rachael shares:

 • How she turned a blog into a national consulting firm
 • The moment she learned to stop saying yes to everything
 • How she built recurring revenue and stopped chasing the next gig
 • The difference between coaching and consulting, and why clarity matters
 • Why the coaching industry can harm entrepreneurs who are just getting started
 • The story of the agent who told her to write a “funny dementia book”
 • How she is repositioning herself as a business leader, not only a dementia expert
 • The evolution of dementia care and why public awareness has changed
 • Why she refuses to use AI to create content
 • How her viral web comics reached hundreds of thousands of people
 • What hiring mistakes taught her about leadership and trust
 • The one lesson she wants every business owner to learn: if your gut says no, believe it

Key quote:

 “If your gut reaction is ‘oh hell no,’ that is the answer. Stop arguing with yourself. Say no and move on.”

CONTACT INFORMATION

Rachael Wonderlin
Founder and CEO, Dementia By Day
Website: dementiabyday.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachaelwonderlin
Instagram: @dementiabyday and @cant_hustleanyharder
Substack: Can’t Hustle Any Harder

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Kristin Heideman spent more than twenty years working inside the insurance industry before she realized she was ready to build something of her own. When she was let go from a job she excelled in, she walked into Best Buy the next morning, bought a laptop, registered her business the day after, and stepped into a version of her career she had never imagined.

In this Diary of a CEO style conversation, Kristin breaks down the real story behind The Brinkman Group, why she never wanted to scale into a large operation, and how she created a business that supports her life rather than consumes it. She talks about her early years typing ID cards, the moment she understood her own value, and the confidence she had to build one decision at a time.

Kristin explains why insurance is a hidden goldmine for women, why flexibility is now essential in hiring, and how she built a thriving practice without buying every tool, subscription, or automation that promised explosive growth. She speaks openly about the realities of being a solo founder, the traps she avoided, the clients she attracted through consistency, and the discipline it took to choose depth over speed.

This episode is a clear look at what happens when a woman refuses to play small, chooses a path that fits her values, and defines success on her own terms. If you have ever questioned whether you need to scale to win, or whether small and powerful can be a strategy, Kristin’s story will give you a new way to think about success.

Show Notes

1. A new beginning at 41
Kristin describes the day she decided to launch her company, the circumstances that pushed her out of her previous job, and how she trusted herself enough to start immediately.

2. The reality of the insurance industry
A candid look at why insurance is stable, well paying, and full of opportunity, especially for women who are ready to step into higher level roles.

3. Building a lifestyle business with intention
How Kristin chose focus, freedom, and quality over headcount and rapid expansion.

4. Confidence and risk as a career strategy
Kristin explains how she strengthened her confidence, how she stopped holding back, and why women need to recognize their own value.

5. Staying scrappy instead of overspending
Why founders often waste money on tools they do not need and how Kristin kept her business simple by relying on relationships and consistency.

6. Hiring trends and the future of insurance
How retirement waves, market pressure, and remote work expectations are reshaping the talent landscape.

Guest Contact
Kristin Heideman
Founder, The Brinkman Group
Website: thebrinkmangroup.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristin-heideman-a1076b46

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Amanda DuBois was once told she was nothing more than a doctor’s wife who should stop dabbling at the law. Instead of shrinking, she built one of Washington’s longest standing women owned law firms, created a workplace that supports and mentors women, founded a nonprofit that has helped change more than twenty five state laws, and became an award winning author who writes about injustice in the legal system.

In this episode, Amanda talks with Aggie and Cristy about confidence, self doubt, trauma informed leadership, and how she turned rejection into a thirty year career of purpose and impact. She shares the early challenges of entering a male dominated profession, why she chose to start her own firm, how visualization shaped her success, and the work she is doing today to support formerly incarcerated women and mothers.

This conversation is powerful, honest, and encouraging for any woman who has ever been underestimated or told she could not do something.

Show Notes

In this episode you will hear:
• How a negative comment pushed Amanda to start her own law firm
• What it was like to practice law in a male dominated industry in the 1990s
• Why her nursing background influenced her trauma informed approach
• How she built a mentorship model that supports young women attorneys
• The story behind Civil Survival and how it has changed laws for justice impacted people
• How she began writing legal thrillers and why she uses fiction to highlight real problems faced by women in prison
• Her perspective on confidence, courage, and the limits women place on themselves
• Why women need to support each other in business and funding
• The advice she would give to any woman considering a career change or new venture

Key quotes:
• “Be brave. Hold the vision. Believe in yourself.”
• “Your craft is your product. Become excellent at it.”
• “Empathy and transparency are strengths in leadership.”

Resources:
• DuBois Levias Law Group: www.duboislaw.net
• Civil Survival: www.civilsurvival.org
• Camille Delaney Mystery Series by Amanda DuBois
• Amanda’s YouTube channel The Ripple Haven: https://www.youtube.com/@AmandaDuBois206

Guest Contact Information

Amanda DuBois
Founder and Managing Partner, DuBois Levias Law Group
Author, Camille Delaney Mystery Series

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-dubois-2b46071
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandadubois206
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amandaduboisauthor
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmandaDuBois206

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What happens when a fashion designer and magazine editor turns her creative eye toward helping women entrepreneurs grow their brands and themselves? Ashley King, founder and CEO of BLOOM Virtual.co, joins Aggie and Cristy to share how she built a thriving creative agency that helps women step into their next level of growth with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

From her early days in luxury fashion to launching BLOOM as a way to reclaim her independence and rediscover her voice, Ashley’s journey is one of transformation and trust. She opens up about the challenges of perfectionism, the power of delegation, and why building a team with integrity can change everything.

Ashley also delivers a masterclass in brand growth, walking listeners through her simple yet powerful three-step framework: Visualize, Audit, Act, for evolving your business, website, and mindset. Whether you are rebranding, hiring, or scaling, Ashley’s insights on authenticity, alignment, and emotional connection will help you build a brand that not only looks beautiful but actually converts.

If your website, your brand, or your business no longer inspires you, this episode will remind you it is time to bloom again.

Show Notes:

 In this conversation with Ashley King, you will learn:

• How Ashley’s background in luxury fashion and editorial storytelling shaped her approach to brand design.
• Why she founded BLOOM Virtual.co as both a personal rebirth and a mission to help other women rise.
• The lessons she learned from early business partnerships and why not every collaboration is meant to last.
• How perfectionism and burnout led her to discover the freedom of trusting and training the right team.
• Why emotionally resonant branding is more powerful than flashy design.
• How your website can and should do the work of attracting and filtering your ideal clients.
• The most common website mistakes small businesses make and how to fix them.
• Why your brand needs to evolve with you and how to know when it is time for a refresh.
• Ashley’s three-step framework for growth:
  1. Visualize the Future You – Get clear on who you are becoming and how your brand reflects that.
  2. Audit What Is Holding You Back – Identify the habits, systems, or people that no longer align.
  3. Take One Brave Step Forward – Delegate, redesign, or launch, whatever it takes to move toward your next level.

Contact Ashley King:

• Website: https://www.bloomvirtual.co
•  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ashley-k-7a144611
•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomvirtual.co
•  Podcast: The Brand Bloomprint Podcast

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In this Season 4 episode of Badass Women in Business, Aggie and Cristy sit down with Sarah Noel Block, founder of Tiny Marketing, to talk about what happens when you stop playing small and start building a business that actually fits your life.

Sarah shares how she went from being laid off in 2008 to creating a thriving solo business that helps consultants and small B2B teams grow without burnout. She breaks down the process of testing new offers, using Gateway Offers to bridge leads to long-term clients, and setting boundaries that protect both energy and profit.

The conversation is an honest look at evolution in business. From undercharging and overworking to scaling, burning down systems, and rebuilding stronger, Sarah explains how confidence and data shape every next step. This episode is for anyone ready to build a business that feels sustainable, profitable, and fully in their control.

Show Notes
• Sarah’s path from layoff to entrepreneurship and her mission for distributed income
• How to test offers before investing time or money
• The three-part Gateway Offer framework and why it works
• Using client interviews to refine messaging and services
• What triggers the leap from corporate to full-time entrepreneurship
• The hard lessons of scaling too fast and rebuilding better
• Raising prices, recognizing red flags, and working only with aligned clients
• How to shift from service provider to strategic partner
• Setting and maintaining boundaries that protect creativity and focus
• Confidence as a strategy and the freedom to walk away

Key Takeaways
• Test before you build. Let the market confirm your ideas.
• Gateway Offers are the bridge between curiosity and commitment.
• Boundaries are a business system, not a suggestion.
• Confidence grows when you act, measure, and refine.
• Sustainable growth comes from systems, not hustle.

Connect with Sarah Noel Block
Website: sarahnoelblock.com
Media Page: sarahnoelblock.com/media-page
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahnoelblock
Tiny Marketing Club: sarahnoelblock.com/tiny-marketing-club

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Jenn Harris’s journey is a lesson in reinvention, resilience, and trusting yourself through change. Before becoming President and CEO of AirX Utility Surveyors, she built her career on curiosity and connection. She studied psychology, dreamed of becoming a golf pro, and went on to build golf-centered businesses that helped women gain confidence, build relationships, and find their voice in male-dominated spaces. When the pandemic halted her event-based ventures, Jenn pivoted into a completely new field and stepped into her most challenging role yet—turning around an established company in the utilities industry.

In this episode of Badass Women in Business, Jenn shares the truth about stepping into leadership after a founder exits, the challenges of transforming a team and culture, and how she’s balancing the demands of running a company while preparing for motherhood. Her story is about taking bold chances, trusting your instincts, and leading with both compassion and conviction.

Show Notes:

Jenn Harris has never followed a straight path. From studying psychology to pursuing golf, founding women-focused businesses, and now leading a California-based utility company, her story is rooted in curiosity and resilience. In this episode, she talks with Aggie and Cristy about:
 • Turning failure into resilience and self-awareness
 • Founding High Heel Golfer and Street Swings to help women build confidence
 • Pivoting during the pandemic and stepping into a new industry
 • Taking over an established business and redefining company culture
 • Building a personal board of mentors and advisors
 • The realities of pregnancy and leadership
 • Why sustainability matters more than endless growth

Jenn’s insights remind every listener that reinvention is not about starting over but about showing up differently, with more courage, clarity, and compassion each time.

Connect with Jenn Harris:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-harris-50b8419/

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Angela Zeng, PhD, MBA, is the founder and CEO of Karviva, an award-winning wellness beverage company that blends Traditional Chinese Medicine with modern nutritional science. A pathologist by training, Angela immigrated from China to the U.S., built her own factory in St. Louis when co-packers couldn’t support her unique formulations, and has since carved out a space in the competitive natural food and beverage industry. In this episode of Badass Women in Business, she shares her story of resilience, cultural heritage, and the relentless pursuit of quality. Angela opens up about facing bias as a woman of color in business, the importance of educating consumers, and why she believes food is the best medicine. Her journey is both inspiring and practical for anyone looking to build something meaningful while staying true to their values.

Show Notes
In this conversation, Angela Zeng discusses:

• Her early fascination with Traditional Chinese Medicine and how it shaped her entrepreneurial vision
• Transitioning from pathology and pharmaceutical research into launching her own wellness beverage company
• Why she built her own production facility instead of outsourcing to co-packers
• Challenges of entering the U.S. market with products rooted in Eastern medicine
• Navigating systemic bias in funding and retail as a woman and immigrant founder
• The importance of consumer education in driving health-focused innovation
• Lessons on resilience, rejection, and thinking outside the box when scaling a CPG brand
• Advice for entrepreneurs on staying aligned with their mission while adapting to market realities

Guest Contact

• Website: https://karviva.com
• Facebook: Karviva Wellness
• LinkedIn: Angela Zeng
• TikTok: @karvivawellness
• Instagram: @karvivawellness

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At just 27 years old, Julie Smolyansky became the youngest female CEO of a publicly traded company when she stepped into leadership at Lifeway Foods in 2002. What began as her family’s immigrant dream has grown into the dominant kefir brand in the U.S., with revenues projected at over $185 million in 2024 and distribution across the U.S., Mexico, Europe, and beyond.

In this episode, Julie shares her remarkable journey from Soviet refugee to global business leader. She talks about taking over the company after the sudden passing of her father, the challenges of family business succession, and how resilience, mindfulness, and self-care sustain her as a CEO and mother. We dive into the science of gut health, the power of kefir, the innovation behind Lifeway’s product line, and Julie’s ability to spot trends years ahead of competitors. Along the way, Julie highlights why wellness, mental health, and intentional leadership are non-negotiables in both business and life.

• Julie’s childhood story: defecting from the Soviet Union and starting over in Chicago
• How her parents launched Lifeway Foods and introduced kefir to the American market
• Taking over as CEO at 27 after her father’s sudden passing and proving the skeptics wrong
• Family business lessons on succession, contracts, and navigating conflict
• Why her psychology background shapes her leadership style and decision-making
• The role of mindfulness, therapy, and marathon running in preventing burnout
• Gut health explained: kefir, the microbiome, immunity, and the mind-gut connection
• Lifeway’s innovation strategy: from early adoption of social media to trend-driven flavors
• Balancing global growth with her roles as mother, author, and activist
• Julie’s advocacy work, including producing documentaries and co-founding Test400k
• Her book The Kefir Cookbook and creative ways to bring kefir into everyday meals

• Website: https://lifewaykefir.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julie-smolyansky-05304612
• Instagram: @juliesmolyansky
• Facebook: facebook.com/LifewayKefir
  
  

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