In this deeply moving and powerful episode of The Survivor’s Chair, Kim sits down with her very first guest—friend, entrepreneur, and founder of Women’s Business League, Melissa Gilbo.

This is not just a business conversation. It’s about what happens behind the business—the grief, the grit, the moments that break us open and redefine who we are. Melissa shares her incredible survival story of battling Rye syndrome as a child, navigating her son’s terrifying PANDAS diagnosis, the heartbreak of losing her mother, and the fear of rebuilding her business after the end of a long-time partnership.

With raw honesty and deep reflection, Melissa opens up about what it really means to be a high-achieving woman carrying so much—personally and professionally. Together, Kim and Melissa remind us that it's okay to need a minute, that vulnerability is strength, and that even in our most uncertain chapters, we are never truly alone.

If you’ve ever felt like you were treading water, this episode is a lifeline.