Guilt is a silent constant in many of our lives, but it holds so much power in our decisions.

Follow along with this worksheet below:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qk9o47HTOXNo8pCN5wRSfrUnCCmtU-Nk12Hf7VL3B9A/copy

Fresh off leading a women’s retreat on letting go of guilt, our host unpacks the difference between true guilt and false guilt, why guilt feels so pervasive for women today, and how it subtly drives our choices, relationships, and sense of self. Through real-life stories, coaching insights, and practical reflection tools, you’ll learn how to pause, reframe your thoughts, and stop letting guilt run your life.

This episode is an invitation to step off the guilt trip, reclaim your peace, and start making decisions led by your values rather than your guilt. 

In this powerful episode, we’re joined by Dr. Dina Porterfield, President of Seattle Pacific University, for an honest and inspiring conversation about leadership, faith, and the responsibility that comes with opportunity.

Dr. Porterfield shares her remarkable journey—from being a first-generation college student who wasn’t “supposed” to go to college, to serving as president of two universities and a seminary. Along the way, she reflects on the importance of sponsorship over mentorship, the role men play in opening doors for women, and why leadership requires both confidence and deep humility.

To learn more about Dr. Dina Porterfield, her journey, and her leadership at Seattle Pacific University, please visit the link below.

In the fifth episode of "Empowering Women to Lead," host Ruth Easterling invites listeners to embark on a transformative journey toward purpose. Charting Your Course: A Journey Toward Purpose explores the moment many of us face when the familiar path no longer feels fulfilling—and the quiet inner voice calling us toward something more meaningful.

Using the metaphor of climbing a mountain, Ruth encourages listeners to take that first courageous step, even when the path ahead feels uncertain or intimidating. She shares her intention to walk alongside listeners throughout 2026, offering guidance, clarity, and tools to help navigate obstacles, rediscover identity, and stay aligned with one’s “north star.”

This episode is a powerful invitation to stop feeling stuck, step into your calling, and begin building a life rooted in confidence, purpose, and intention.

In this episode, we sit down with Sammy, CEO of the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce, to explore her journey from growing up in a Vietnamese refugee camp to becoming a leader shaping regional economic and workforce development. Sammy reflects on the mentors and resources—such as the College Success Foundation—that helped bridge gaps for students without strong professional networks.

She shares her transition from a profit-driven mindset to mission-focused nonprofit leadership and explains how initiatives like the Workforce Discovery Lab connect students to local career pathways and mentors. Sammy also speaks candidly about the realities women face in leadership, from being talked over in professional spaces to the urgent need for childcare support for working mothers.

Throughout the conversation, Sammy emphasizes lowering barriers to access, uplifting diverse voices, and fostering a culture of mentorship, flexibility, and abundance. This episode is a powerful reflection on leadership rooted in community, advocacy, and creating systems where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

https://www.seattlesouthsidechamber.com/

Welcome to the third episode of Empowering Women to Lead! In this powerful conversation, host Ruth Easterling sits down with Therese Tipton, principal of Raisbeck Aviation High School in Seattle, TEDx speaker, and President of the National Association of Secondary STEM Schools.

Together, they explore what it truly means to empower young women, especially in male-dominated spaces like aviation and STEM. Therese shares her journey into leadership, the impact of mentorship, and how confidence often begins with one small “yes.”

How Therese’s mother quietly modeled strong leadership after personal tragedy

Why representation and mentorship matter for girls in STEM

The importance of taking risks, even when you feel uncertain

The challenges women face when their leadership is misunderstood or underestimated

How persistence, self-talk, and community build long-term resilience

As principal at a STEM high school located on Boeing Field, Therese has seen firsthand how girls thrive when given opportunity, encouragement, and a place to lead. With only about one-third of the student population being female, Raisbeck is actively working to close the gender gap in STEM leadership.

Are a woman navigating leadership or stepping into new opportunities

Want to support the next generation of female leaders in your school, company, or community

Need inspiration to say "yes" to that next big challenge

Believe that mentorship and visibility change lives

Connect with Therese Tipton [email protected]

Learn more about The Purpose Journey Program https://www.rutheasterling.org/copy-of-productivity-coaching 

Sign up for Ruth's upcoming Live2Lead Women’s Business Conference – October 24 https://www.rutheasterling.org/live2lead

If this episode encouraged or inspired you, share it with a friend. Tag @RuthEasterling and tell us: What does empowering women to lead mean to you?

And don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss future episodes with trailblazing women who are making a difference in leadership, STEM, business, education, and beyond.

In this powerful episode of Empowering Women to Lead, we sit down with Judy McMurtry, a trailblazing leader who rose through the ranks of the airline industry with relentless determination, a people-first leadership style, and unshakable confidence. From her childhood in Detroit during the 1967 riots to managing major U.S. airports, Judy shares how persistence, personal growth, and a refusal to give up helped her break barriers in a male-dominated field.

She opens up about what it takes to lead in high-pressure environments, how to bring people together across differences, and why women must stop waiting for permission and make their own seat at the table.

Quote Worth Remembering:

“You don't have to wait for a seat at the table—you make the table and bring others with you.” – Judy Phenomenal

Listeners will walk away inspired to lead with purpose, challenge limiting beliefs, and step confidently into positions of influence—no matter where they start.

To connect with Judy: https://excelwithjudy.com/

To connect with our website and find out more information on the Purpose Journey, go to www.rutheasterling.org

In our debut episode, we dive into the quiet but powerful force that affects so many women in leadership: imposter syndrome. Together, we unpack why even the most capable women question their worth, how these doubts show up in our personal and professional lives, and what it looks like to lead with confidence anyway. This episode sets the tone for the journey ahead—one rooted in authenticity, courage, and the belief that you belong in every room you step into.

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Captain Patty Tomich, who has been flying for 40 years—30 of those with Alaska Airlines. Patty shares how her childhood fascination with airplanes in Lima, Peru, sparked a lifelong passion for aviation, and how her journey through Embry-Riddle to the captain’s seat shaped her leadership.

She reminds us that in aviation, leadership starts from day one: “The aircraft doesn’t know if it’s a man or a woman at the controls—it only knows if you’re prepared to take command.”

From balancing family and career to mentoring the next generation of women pilots, Patty’s story is full of courage, sacrifice, and inspiration. Whether you’re curious about aviation or need encouragement to step into your own purpose, this conversation will lift you higher.

To learn more about the Purpose Journey, go to www.rutheasterling.org/purposecoaching

Elizabeth shares her journey from starting in a call center to leading major technology projects, and the pivotal moment when she realized leadership meant not just identifying problems but stepping forward with solutions.

She opens up about navigating male-dominated spaces, the importance of raising your hand and using your voice, and the need for women to step into decision-making with confidence. We also dive into the challenges of mentorship in IT, how the pandemic reshaped opportunities for women, and the ways Elizabeth is mentoring the next generation of women in STEM.

Her story is both practical and inspiring—a reminder that leadership grows when we step up, speak out, and support others along the way.

“In the last 10 years, the idea that you can be your authentic self—and that the world needs your authentic self—means everything to me. Show up as you, because you are important.”

To find out more about Elizabeth and the Purpose Journey, go to www.rutheasterling.org/purposecoaching

In this episode, I sit down with architect and entrepreneur Kristen Becker, founder of Mutuus Studio in Seattle. Kristen shares her powerful journey from childhood adversity to a career in professional dance, and ultimately to becoming a successful female business owner in the male-dominated field of architecture.

We dive into how her background in teaching dance has shaped her unique communication style as a leader, how she built a holistic, people-first studio model that supports families and promotes work-life balance, and why mentorship—especially for women—is essential to creating change. Kristen also opens up about the moment she realized she didn’t need to hide motherhood to be professional and how bringing her whole self to work became a game-changer.

“Our biggest challenge is often ourselves holding us back… You don’t have to have it all figured out to take the first step.” – Kristen Becker

She leaves us with a nautical mantra: “Sailing full and by”—a beautiful metaphor for pushing to the edge of your potential and staying open to the wind of life, even when it doesn’t take you in a straight line.

Key Topics:

Leading in male-dominated industries

Embracing authenticity in business and leadership

Work-life integration, not just balance

The power of mentorship and modeling leadership

Starting before you're ready

This episode is a must-listen for any woman navigating leadership, entrepreneurship, or the decision to step fully into who she is, without compromise.

🎧 Listen now, share with a friend, and don’t forget to subscribe to empower more women to lead boldly and authentically.