Female Fridays

Have you ever done everything “right” — checked every box, landed the dream job, hit the big milestones — but still wondered, Is this really it? That’s exactly where my guest Tama Kieves found herself. She had the Harvard Law degree, the prestigious career, the life her family dreamed of… and she walked away from all of it to chase something she couldn’t ignore: her own voice.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, burned out, or secretly longed for a different life, you’re not alone. In this episode, Tama gets honest about what it’s really like to leave behind expectations, face your fears, and finally trust yourself — even when it makes no sense on paper.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• Why high achievers (especially women) are often the ones doubting themselves most
• How to tell the difference between intuition and anxiety
• The unfiltered truth about starting over — with no plan, no safety net, and no regrets
• The hidden cost of people-pleasing, perfectionism, and ignoring your inner voice
• Simple, powerful tools Tama uses to help women get clear and take bold steps forward

If you’re thinking about a career change, feeling overwhelmed, or just craving more meaning in your life, this conversation is for you. You’ll walk away with real strategies, plenty of “me too” moments, and (I hope) a renewed belief that your own dreams matter.

This is for every ambitious woman who’s ever wondered if she’s allowed to want more. I can’t wait for you to listen.

Learn more about Tama: https://tamakieves.com

If you're a younger manager leading older employees — or stepping into a leadership role before you feel ready — this episode is your go-to guide.

I sat down with Julianne Fries and Amy Robertson of Cassia Life, two women who started in entry-level roles and are now shaping culture and leadership development across a multi-state senior care organization.

We talk honestly about what it’s like to:

• Build trust when you’re managing people older than you
• Lead teams with more experience than you — without faking it or shrinking
• Step into leadership roles early in your career (and thrive)
• Create workplace culture programs that improve retention and morale
• Support burned-out staff in healthcare through empathy and systems

This conversation is packed with real advice for young managers, especially women navigating leadership in senior care, healthcare, and intergenerational teams.

Whether you’re wondering how to earn respect as a younger boss, how to lead older team members with confidence, or how to build a culture people actually want to be part of — this episode delivers.

🎧 Hit play for practical leadership tips, inspiring stories, and a fresh take on how to manage up, down, and across generational lines.

Connect with Julianne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianne-fries-1615b560/

Learn more about Cassia: https://www.cassialife.org/

What does it really take to stay relevant in a world run by algorithms?

This week on Female Fridays, I sat down with Rachel Fuld-Cohen — a brilliant, future-focused tech COO at Silicon Society who's helping people not just survive, but thrive in an AI-driven world. We covered everything from building all-female sales teams to the rise of micro-internships, to how to learn (and unlearn) when everything around you is shifting.

If you're wondering how to adapt smart AI strategies, how to keep your human edge while everything automates, or how to lead with empathy and strategy — this episode is for you.

We talked about:

• Why learning how to learn is your real superpower
• The theory of “planned happenstance” (and how it can shape your whole career)
• How prompt engineering, job shadowing, and curiosity are changing the game
• What makes someone irreplaceable — even when AI is everywhere

Rachel doesn’t just talk about the future of work — she’s building it. And this conversation left me feeling what I think so many of us are craving right now: clear, capable, and ready.

📲 Connect with Rachel Fold-Cohen on LinkedIn

Topics: AI in the workplace, women in tech, career transitions, learning new skills, future of work, workforce development, leadership in AI

Connect with Rachel on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelfuldcohen/

Learn more about Silicon Society: https://www.siliconsociety.org/

Melissa Evraet’s story reads like a leadership masterclass in grit, humility, and reinvention. From a tiny town in Oklahoma to a high-rise office in Chicago, she rose through the ranks—starting as a dishwasher, becoming a nurse, and now serving as Chairwoman of Argentum’s Women in Leadership initiative and Chief Nursing Officer at Vi.

In this episode of Female Fridays, we explore:

• How care and profitability can coexist in healthcare leadership
• What happens when you stop asking “Why me?” and start owning your value
• Why nurses (and women) need to master the financial side of leadership
• Her unexpected career pivot—and the recruiter who wouldn't give up
• The mindset shift from imposter syndrome to impact
• Her advice to the young woman washing dishes—and to all the future leaders listening now

Melissa’s leadership is deeply human: equal parts data and heart, boldness and grace. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating self-doubt, climbing toward leadership, or redefining what’s possible in healthcare and senior living.

Join Women In Leadership: https://www.argentum.org/research-and-initiatives/women-in-leadership/

Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-evraets-rn-msn-ne-bc-b375341b8/

In this episode of Female Fridays, I talk with Pilar Carvajal — founder, CEO of Innovation Senior Living, and social impact entrepreneur — about what it really looks like to lead with vision, resilience, and purpose in the senior living space.

Pilar shares her journey from corporate consulting to co-founding a company with her powerhouse mother, and eventually building Innovation Senior Living from the ground up. We talk about what it takes to leave a family business, navigate industry skepticism, and create space for truly mission-driven leadership.

She also shares her next big leap: Longevity Day Communities — an innovative care model that blends scientific wellness, social connection, and aging in place. Think: proactive healthspan hubs for middle-market seniors, grounded in equity and purpose.

✨ In this conversation, we explore:

• What it means to be a social impact entrepreneur
• The power (and pain) of leaving a family-run business
• Innovation in affordable senior living
• Her new longevity center model that’s changing the game
• Why she only hires women — and the radical clarity that brings
• The importance of gratitude in leadership culture

Whether you’re a leader, founder, innovator, or simply curious about the future of aging — this one is packed with bold ideas and grounded wisdom.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Robin Rinke — a senior living executive, speaker, and newly published author — for a raw and soulful conversation about what it really means to lead with peace, purpose, and presence.

Robin shares her personal journey through burnout, the moment she realized she needed to slow down, and how getting quiet led to a creative breakthrough. We talk about the pressure to perform, the cost of ignoring your intuition, and the inner voice that so many of us drown out in our busy lives.

This one’s for any woman navigating a career pivot, recovering from burnout, or trying to reconnect with who she really is beneath the noise.

✨ We talk about:

• Authentic leadership in senior living and beyond
• Getting quiet enough to hear your next move
• Recovering from burnout and redefining success
• Why knowing yourself is the foundation of legacy
• How to lead with energy that actually lifts a room

If you’ve ever felt like you lost touch with yourself while climbing the ladder — this one’s for you.

Connect with Robin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-r-rinke-15aa2131/

Get Robin's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/diVINE-Time-Robin-R-Rinke/dp/B0DTYW2M4Z

What Is Female Fridays? A Podcast for Women in Leadership, Healthcare & Entrepreneurship

Welcome to the Female Fridays podcast — your weekly space for real conversations with women in leadership. This 60-second trailer gives you a quick feel for what we’re all about.

Hosted by Rachel Keller, each episode features unfiltered stories from bold women in senior living, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and beyond. We go beyond the LinkedIn headline to talk about career pivots, breaking glass ceilings, imposter syndrome, and the quiet courage it takes to rise.

If you’re searching for a podcast that blends leadership, authenticity, and legacy — you’re in the right place.

Hit play to hear what Female Fridays is all about.