In this episode of Clover, I sit down with Cherie Werner, the force behind Fiesta, the largest community for founders and investors in Austin, and FoundHERs, a dedicated space for women entrepreneurs. Cherie shares her journey from startup life to building Fiesta almost by accident, and how “leading with welcome” has become her guiding principle.

We talk about what it really takes to turn a crowded room into genuine connections, why consistency and inclusivity matter, and how women founders can push past the urge to be “perfect” before showing up. Cherie also offers simple conversation starters and follow-up practices you can use to walk into any networking event with more confidence.

If you’ve ever felt intimidated walking into a room full of strangers—or if you’re looking for a better way to grow community around your own work—this conversation will give you both inspiration and practical tools.

You’ll learn:

• How Fiesta grew into Austin’s largest founder–investor community
• Practical ways to break the ice beyond “What do you do?”
• Why consistency and inclusivity fuel stronger communities
• A mindset reset for women founders: show up before it’s “perfect”
• Follow-up strategies that turn quick chats into lasting relationships
• How to design events and spaces that make people feel truly welcome

RESOURCES MENTIONED

🌐 Websites & Communities

• FIESTA → https://www.fiesta.community
• Grow.FIESTA (global platform) → https://grow.fiesta.community

📨 Newsletters

• The HERald → Women-focused newsletter Cherie publishes (first Friday after FIESTA events).
• FIESTA Focus → Founder/community newsletter (week before and after each FIESTA).

📱 Social Media

• Cherie’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriewerner
  (LinkedIn is her most active platform).

📚 Books Mentioned

• Let Them by Mel Robbins
• Believe It by Jamie Kern Lima
• Worthy - Jamie Kern Lima’s second book 

🎙️ Podcasts Mentioned

• All-In Podcast
• On Purpose with Jay Shetty

In this episode of Clover, I sit down with Andrea Bridges-Smith, founder of San Fenix, to talk about career pivots, finding confidence in front of an audience, and why a compelling story can make all the difference when you are trying to get people invested in an idea.

Andrea’s path has taken her from more than a decade in tech marketing to video production, political satire, and now presentation coaching for founders and executives. Along the way, she discovered that one of her greatest strengths was helping people get comfortable on camera and on stage. Today, she works with founders to clarify their stories, strengthen their pitch decks, and communicate their ideas in ways people will actually understand and remember.

We also get into the flood of AI-generated content. We talk about using AI to eliminate repetitive work without handing over the creative process, why lived experience matters more than ever, and how companies can compete for attention by being willing to entertain, experiment, and sound like actual human beings.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why a founder’s personal story can make a pitch far more memorable than credentials and numbers alone
•  How to use AI to eliminate repetitive work without outsourcing your creativity or voice 
•  Why creating more content is not the answer—and what makes people actually stop and pay attention 
•  What separates founders who get people excited about their ideas from those with a good product but a forgettable pitch 
•  Why even confident, accomplished people can freeze on camera or on stage—and how Andrea helps them find the version of themselves that can command the room

Notable quotes:

Connect with Andrea Bridges-Smith on LinkedIn and learn more about her work with San Fenix.

When I first launched Clover, I made a mental list of women I knew I wanted to reconnect with and bring onto the show. Gretta Gardner was at the top of that list.

Gretta and I first met years ago when we both lived in Austin, and I've watched her career with admiration ever since. Today, she serves as Chief Operations Officer at Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community, where she works to improve policies, systems, and responses for survivors across the country.

Our conversation went far beyond career milestones. We talked about what it means to carry the weight of difficult work for decades, how women build authority in rooms where they're often underestimated, why culturally specific services matter, and what keeps Gretta hopeful despite spending her career confronting some of society's hardest realities.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Gretta's unexpected journey from planning a career focused on educational equity to becoming one of the country's leading voices in domestic violence policy.
• Why equal access to justice isn't the same as equitable access; and what still needs to change for Black women and other marginalized survivors.
• Why meaningful systems change requires both frontline experience and policy work; and why theory alone is never enough.
• The critical role culturally specific organizations play in ensuring survivors receive equitable support, protection, and justice.
• Why close friendships, mentorship, and community are essential for women carrying the weight of leadership.
• What gives Gretta hope after more than 30 years working to end violence against women; and why she believes the next generation is changing the conversation in important ways.

Resources Mentioned

• Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
• Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA)
• Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)

:::

Most people know Komal Patel as the founder of two AI-powered jewelry companies. What they may not realize is that her path started with two decades in big tech, an industry she had known her entire life.

In this episode, Komal shares how growing up in a family jewelry business gave her a unique perspective on an industry that hadn't meaningfully changed in decades. After years building scalable systems in large technology companies, she realized those same skills could solve problems that jewelry retailers had simply accepted as "the way it's always been."

We also talk about what it really takes to leave corporate, why product-market fit matters more than logos and marketing campaigns, and how AI is helping founders build businesses in ways that weren't possible just a few years ago. Whether you're thinking about starting your own company or simply curious about what it looks like to reinvent an industry, Komal offers a refreshingly practical perspective on entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we discuss:

•  Why spending 20 years in big tech prepared Komal to transform a centuries-old industry. 
•  How growing up in her family's jewelry business inspired two AI-powered companies. 
•  The importance of proving product-market fit before investing heavily in branding or marketing. 
•  Why leaving a stable corporate career requires more preparation than people realize. 
•  How AI can serve as a "shadow team" for founders and small businesses. 
•  The biggest mindset shift between leading in a large company and leading a startup. 
•  Why talking to hundreds of customers is the only way to truly understand your messaging. 
•  How family, community, and fellow founders help sustain entrepreneurs through difficult days. 

Notable Quotes

Connect with Komal Patel on LinkedIn

Tarryn Reeves had everything she thought success was supposed to look like: a six-figure career, a corner office overlooking Sydney Harbour, and every milestone she had been taught to chase. But behind the scenes, her mental and physical health were telling a very different story.

In this episode of Clover, Tarryn shares how walking away from corporate life ultimately led her to entrepreneurship, publishing, and helping other business owners tell their stories. We talk about the courage to redefine success, why authentic storytelling matters more than ever, and how writing a book can transform not only your business—but the way you see yourself.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why Tarryn left a successful corporate career to build a life that aligned with her values
• How writing became an unexpected tool for healing and personal growth
• Why women often struggle to own their expertise and build authentic personal brands
• What criminology taught her about human behavior, storytelling, and trust
• Why books create deeper connections than traditional marketing alone

Notable quotes:

“Authority doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from clarity and conviction.”

“Your life is not your content strategy.”

“The best storytellers create resonance, not voyeurism.”

“Books don’t create authority. They reveal it.”

Resources mentioned:

• Tarryn Reeves: https://tarrynreeves.com
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarrynreeves

From styling celebrities like Selena Gomez for nearly a decade to helping women executives own the room in the boardroom, Basia Richard has built a career around one powerful idea: how you show up matters.

In this episode, Basia shares her incredible journey from growing up in Poland to pursuing a career as a professional violinist, reinventing herself in Hollywood as a celebrity stylist, and eventually leaving the entertainment industry to help women leaders build confidence through personal style. We talk about what it takes to pivot careers, why saying yes before you feel ready can change your life, and the lessons she learned working with some of the biggest names in entertainment.

We also dive into why executive presence extends beyond what you say. Basia shares how a thoughtfully curated wardrobe can reflect who you are, reinforce your credibility, support your goals, and help you lead with confidence.

Whether you're stepping into a leadership role, navigating a career transition, or simply looking to feel more like yourself, this conversation is packed with practical advice you can put to work immediately.

In This Episode

• Basia's journey from professional violinist to Hollywood celebrity stylist
• What she learned styling Selena Gomez and other high-profile clients
• Why she left celebrity fashion to help women leaders
• How saying "yes" before you're fully qualified can accelerate your career
• The connection between confidence, credibility, and executive presence
• Why women are often judged differently than men—and how to navigate that reality
• How to build a wardrobe that supports your career instead of creating decision fatigue
• Why timeless personal style will always outlast trends

Notable Quotes

Resources Mentioned

• Connect with Basia Richard on LinkedIn
• Follow Basia on Instagram

What happens when a creative mind, a startup operator, a cancer survivor, and a humanitarian all live inside the same person?

In this episode of Clover, I sit down with Melissa Wood, founder of Formis and Curate, to explore the winding path that led her from a small town in North Carolina to the startup ecosystem in Austin. Melissa’s story spans early tech startups, design and photography, turning down life-changing opportunities, surviving cancer, humanitarian work in Ethiopia, and building companies rooted in solving real-world problems.

What stood out most was Melissa’s ability to notice gaps others accept as normal;  and then build solutions around them. Whether helping homeowners navigate renovations through Formis or simplifying conference experiences through Curate, her work is driven by a simple question: “Why doesn’t something better exist?”

This conversation is about resilience, leadership, community, and the unexpected ways life experiences shape the companies we build.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How an accidental discovery of Photoshop in the mid-1990s launched Melissa’s career in technology and design.
• Why she walked away from opportunities—including an early chance to join the team behind Me.com—and how she evaluates big decisions.
• The life-changing impact of surviving cancer and how that experience influenced her approach to work, family, and entrepreneurship.
• What she learned from living and working in Ethiopia, including lessons about community, presence, loyalty, and leadership.
• How she built Curate, an AI-powered event discovery platform, in just days using no-code and AI tools after identifying a problem she’d personally experienced for years.
• Why trust breaks down in industries like home renovation and how technology can create transparency, alignment, and accountability.

Notable Quotes

“Trust isn’t built in one big moment. It’s built through patterns.”

“The best products are born from real experiences.”

“If the system reflects that someone is being heard and understood, it creates a feeling of partnership.”

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Formis – AI-powered platform designed to improve transparency and communication in home renovation projects.
• Curate – Event discovery and scheduling platform helping people navigate conferences, tech events, and community gatherings.
• Lovable – AI-powered development platform Melissa used to build an early version of Curate.
• Claude – AI assistant Melissa uses for ongoing product development and iteration.
• FoundHers – Austin-based organization supporting women founders and entrepreneurs.
• South by Southwest (SXSW) – The event experience that inspired Curate.
• Austin Tech Week
• LA Tech Week
• Austin TV Festival

Melissa’s story is a reminder that entrepreneurship doesn’t always begin with a grand vision. Sometimes it starts with a frustration, a life experience, or a problem you simply can’t stop thinking about and the courage to do something about it.

What does it mean to build a life rooted in service rather than status?

In this deeply moving conversation, I sat down with Dr. Farah Shroff—public health leader, educator, researcher, yoga teacher, and advocate for women's health—to explore the experiences that shaped her work and worldview. From her childhood in Canada after immigrating from Kenya, to watching her mother defy a devastating lupus diagnosis, to leading global health initiatives around the world, Farah shares how compassion, justice, and holistic well-being became the foundation of her life's work.

We talked about the intersection of public health and personal healing, why women's health continues to be overlooked by institutions, and what women must unlearn in order to step fully into their power as leaders.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How witnessing her mother's health journey sparked a lifelong commitment to women's health, public health, and holistic healing.
• Why improving health outcomes requires more than medicine; and how social justice, equity, and community are fundamental to well-being.
• What decades of global public health work have taught her about listening to communities instead of imposing solutions.
• The ways women are still underserved by healthcare systems and why research focused specifically on women's bodies remains critically important.
• How yoga, meditation, and self-awareness have shaped her approach to leadership, advocacy, and personal resilience.
• Why women leaders must stop shrinking themselves, trust their own authority, and learn to lead from a place of confidence rather than self-doubt.

One of my favorite moments from this conversation was Farah's reminder that leadership begins with believing you belong in the room. As she shared, so many women still carry the belief that they're "not enough." Releasing that narrative and stepping into our own power may be one of the most important forms of leadership there is.

This episode is both a conversation about health and a conversation about humanity; about caring for ourselves, caring for each other, and building systems that honor the dignity and worth of every person.

• Connect with Dr. Farah Shroff on LinkedIn

Listen now and join us for a conversation about leadership, service, healing, and the power of women supporting women.

Anna Sizova joins Clover for a conversation that spans global healthcare, leadership, reinvention, and what it really looks like to build a life and career across countries, industries, and identities. Anna shares her journey from growing up in Azerbaijan and becoming a pediatric endocrinologist to leading global clinical trials and eventually stepping into entrepreneurship, mentorship, and health innovation leadership in Austin.

We talk about what happens when other people reflect your value back to you before you fully see it yourself, the realities women still face in healthcare and investing, and why Anna believes healthcare needs more humanity, not just more technology. We also dive into AI in healthcare, patient advocacy, motherhood, resilience, and building community without waiting for permission.

In this episode, we discuss:

•  Anna’s path from physician and clinical researcher to founder, advisor, and community builder in healthtech 
•  The identity shift from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship — and learning to trust her own expertise 
•  Why women in healthcare and innovation still face major barriers when it comes to raising capital and being heard 
•  How AI is already transforming healthcare through diagnostics, patient care, and operational efficiency — and why cybersecurity and ethics matter just as much as innovation 
•  The importance of boundaries, resilience, and staying grounded through uncertainty, relocation, career pivots, and personal hardship

In this episode of Clover, I sit down with my friend Kara Mandeville — a powerhouse leader at Microsoft whose career journey is equal parts inspiring, relatable, and incredibly timely. From growing up as a military brat and dreaming of working with horses to leading high-performing teams in the fast-moving world of enterprise tech and AI, Kara’s story is proof that careers don’t have to follow a perfectly linear path to become extraordinary.

What I loved most about this conversation is how honest and grounded Kara is about leadership, ambition, burnout, and navigating change. We talk about the pressure of leading through massive industry shifts like AI, how to stay steady when everything feels uncertain, and why some of the best leaders are the ones willing to slow down, listen, and experiment instead of pretending they have all the answers.

This episode feels less like a corporate conversation about AI and more like a real discussion about the future of work, humanity, creativity, and how we can build careers that actually support the lives we want to live.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What it’s really like growing your career inside a massive enterprise organization
• How great leaders create calm, clarity, and trust during periods of change
• Why AI may completely reshape the way we work, collaborate, and lead
• The importance of experimentation, curiosity, and staying adaptable in uncertain times
• Redefining success beyond burnout, hustle culture, and constant achievement

This conversation is thoughtful, practical, inspiring, and full of perspective for anyone navigating leadership, career growth, or the rapidly evolving world of AI. I know you’re going to love Kara as much as I do.

Connect with Kara on LinkedIn