This holiday season, we’re inviting you to pause, breathe, and check in with yourself — because as this week’s guest reminds us, you are your greatest asset.
In this uplifting and practical conversation, Nancy Griffin, founder of Women, Worth & Wellness®, joins Yo to explore the powerful connection between women’s health, wealth, and self-worth — especially during a time of year when stress, overspending, and over-giving tend to take over.
Nancy has spent more than 30 years supporting women in building stronger financial foundations and stronger personal foundations. Her holistic approach to net worth, self-worth, philanthropy, and wellness gives us a fresh, timely reminder:
Your life is a privilege. Take care of yourself first — so you can take care of everything else with joy.
💛 In This Episode
We cover:
The hidden connection between women’s health and women’s wealth
Why women need to think about health-related planning (and what great advisors look for)
How generosity — not just financial, but emotional — strengthens self-worth
Nancy’s powerful 5-minute morning holiday check-in ritual
The danger of perfectionism and the wisdom of the 80% Approach
Why you should consider repurposing old life insurance as a philanthropic legacy
The importance of recognizing yourself as your number one asset
Nancy’s inspiring message to her 20-something self
Her signature mantra: “Stay vertical and keep smiling.”
🎄 Why This Episode Is Perfect for the Holidays
This time of year can pull us in a hundred different directions. Nancy offers simple, grounded ways to:
-center your own well-being
-manage holiday overwhelm
-reset spending expectations
-rediscover joy in small, spontaneous moments of generosity
-choose what really matters as you head into a new year
It’s the perfect episode to send to a friend who needs a gentle reminder to take five minutes for herself.
👑 About Our Guest: Nancy Griffin (Boomer)
Nancy is a connector and influencer. She attributes her success to personal courage, determination, and joy, especially when focusing on women’s health and wellness, which led her to create Women, Worth & Wellness®. Nancy enjoys every opportunity to inspire and inform women about their personal health and wealth, net worth and self-worth, philanthropy and legacy—so that women feel fabulous, generous, joyful, confident, and on top of their game every day.
Nancy Griffin established Women, Worth & Wellness in 1994 as a Private Client Wealth Advisor for her female clients and their families. She continues to promote and inspire Daring & Caring Leaders, encouraging them to step up and lead in the world, following in the footsteps of many powerful women leaders before her. Her overall purpose is to connect and influence for positive impact every chance she gets.

Connect with Nancy:
📧 [email protected]
🌐 WomenWorthWellness.com (brand updates coming soon!)
📱 Social: @womenworthwellness across platforms

✨ Key Takeaways
You cannot enjoy your wealth without your health — and both require intentional care.
Women’s financial planning must include health-related what-ifs.
Generosity strengthens self-worth — and it doesn’t have to cost money.
A simple five-minute morning check-in can change the tone of your entire day.
Don’t wait for perfect: aim for 80% and take action.
You are worthy, unique, and capable — and your life is a privilege.💌 Connect with Yo & Girl, Take the Lead!

🎧 Listen on YouTube & Spotify
💬 Join the Girl, Take the Lead! Facebook Group
🛍 Explore the Heartfelt Card & Gift Shop
🔗 Follow on LinkedIn & Instagram

Because leadership — and connection — begin when we dare to understand ourselves and each other more deeply. 💖

Today’s guest is Derek, an educator at heart whose life journey—rooted in autism, ADHD, and dyslexia—has been shaped by a lifelong quest to transform confusion into clarity. Diagnosed at age 50, he finally gained the language, belonging, and understanding that helped him make sense of decades of feeling “different.” That clarity became his calling.

Professionally, Derek’s path spans the trades, automotive manufacturing, entrepreneurship, process engineering, and ultimately talent development—where he became the architect behind Amazon’s highest-rated employee training program, earning an extraordinary 92 NPS and 4.92/5 rating.

Today, he is the visionary behind Human-First AI, including his book, Human First AI, which lays out a powerful and accessible blueprint for building AI systems that augment humanity rather than replace it. His company, Practical AI, builds tools like Pocket Mentor, offering voice-based, just-in-time support so no one ever feels stuck, judged, or alone again.

This episode explores what it really means to unlock neurodiverse brilliance—and how empathy and human-centered AI can change the way we learn, collaborate, and lead.

📚 Featured Resource Recommended by Derek

✨ Dr. Nancy Doyle’s “What Is Neurodiversity” framework, including the plus-10/minus-10 graph that helps explain ALL human skill variation.
🧭 Memorable Quotes

“My whole life was trying to turn confusion into clarity — and that became the foundation of everything I build.” – Derek
“Empathy unlocks neurodiverse brilliance.” – Derek
“Judge people for what they do well, not for what they don’t.” – Derek
“AI should make humans irreplaceable — not replace them.” – Derek
“Just-in-time knowledge reduces cognitive load and restores confidence.” – Derek
“We’re all different. The more we understand each other, the better we all become.” – Yo Canny

🌺 Key Takeaways

1. Neurodiversity is the human condition.
Dr. Nancy Doyle’s work reframes neurodiversity as a continuum of strengths and challenges that all humans share.

2. Diagnosis can bring healing—not limits.
For Derek, learning he was autistic at 50 unlocked understanding and belonging.

3. Empathy-based leadership allows brilliance to shine.
His Amazon success was made possible by a leader who supported his strengths and covered his gaps.

4. Human-First AI supports—not replaces—humans.
Just-in-time learning tools like Pocket Mentor can reduce anxiety, boost confidence, and preserve institutional knowledge.

✨ Connect with Derek

Support is rooted in celebrating strengths and releasing judgment.

📘 Hero Book – Human First AIRead the first chapter free: https://www.humanfirstai.net

🌐 Practical AI (organization & nonprofit community)
https://www.practicalai.app

👥 Community
https://www.practicalai.app/community

💼 LinkedInSearch “Derek” + “Human First AI”

💌 Connect with Yo & Girl, Take the Lead!

🎧 Listen on YouTube & Spotify
💬 Join the Girl, Take the Lead! Facebook Group
🛍 Explore the Heartfelt Card & Gift Shop
🔗 Follow on LinkedIn & Instagram

Because leadership — and connection — begin when we dare to understand ourselves and each other more deeply. 💖

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, we meet Lori Pappas, one of the first female computer sales reps in the world, an award-winning entrepreneur, and founder of the Global Team for Local Initiatives, where she spent over a decade in Africa helping more than 100,000 people.

After years of chasing success, Lori discovered that the true magic of life comes from saying yes—yes to forgiveness, boundaries, curiosity, and self-discovery. Her journey inspired the D.R.E.A.M. Framework, a practical guide for transforming challenges into wisdom.

In this episode, Lori and Yo talk about reinventing yourself at every stage of life, the myths that hold women back from self-advocacy, and how forgiveness and reflection unlock our deepest wisdom.

💡 Key Takeaways

✨ The Power of Choice
At 17, Lori learned one of her life’s defining lessons: she had choice. That insight—realizing we don’t have to “swallow” what life hands us—became the foundation for how she navigated every transformation that followed.

💖 Turning Struggles into Wisdom
Her years in Africa illuminated that our challenges are not obstacles but teachers. When we take time to reflect, our struggles become our superpower.

🌿 Boundaries as Self-Care
Drawing from her work, Lori shares common myths that keep us from setting boundaries—like believing others’ needs are more important than our own—and how self-advocacy is an act of self-worth.

💬 Favorite Quotes from Lori

“Our struggles and challenges really are the keys to finding our wisdom.”
“Boundaries are the bedrock of self-care.”
“Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting—it means dropping the hundred pounds of stones we carry on our back.”
“Fear can become your rocket fuel.”
“Wisdom is information minus the noise, over time.”
“Let’s just clean the closet of the noise.”

“Let’s really work on that noise. Let’s just get rid of that crap. If I had done that earlier, I could have traveled farther and touched more people.”

📚 Resources & Links

• 🌐 Website: loripappas.com

• 💌 Free Resource: Download a free D.R.E.A.M. framework of your choice → loripappas.com/dream

• 📘 Book: The Magic of Yes: Embrace the Wise Woman Within

• 💬 Email: [email protected]

• 💕 Join: Wise Woman Sisterhood Facebook Group

  
  

⏰ Episode Chapters

00:00 — Lori’s story: from rebellion to resilience
03:00 — The moment in the Sahara that changed everything
06:00 — Saying yes to life and boundaries
09:00 — The myths that keep us from self-care
16:00 — Learning to self-advocate
18:00 — Forgiveness and flipping the script
21:00 — Lori’s formula for wisdom
25:00 — The D.R.E.A.M. framework revealed
29:00 — Turning fear into rocket fuel
35:00 — Curiosity as nourishment for the mind
37:30 — Advice to her 20-something self

💖 Connect with Girl, Take the Lead!

• 🎧 Listen on YouTube & Spotify

• 💌 Join the Girl, Take the Lead! Facebook Group

• 🛍 Explore the Heartfelt Card & Gift Shop

• 💬 Connect with Yo Canny on LinkedIn
  

Today’s guest is Michelle Jeovanny — a renowned spiritual life coach, mentor, channel, and successful entrepreneur who helps individuals create wealth on all levels: spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, energetically, and financially.

Michelle’s work blends ancient wisdom with modern consciousness — guiding her clients through ancestral healing, somatic freedom, ceremony, and spiritual power to unlock their truest potential. Her mission? To help people live in freedom, fulfillment, and flow.

In this episode, Michelle and Yo dive deep into the alchemy of turning wounds into power — exploring how the stories passed through our lineage shape our beliefs about wealth, worth, and identity. You’ll hear Michelle’s extraordinary story of awakening, from her childhood connection to Spirit, to a near-death moment at sea that became a divine calling to step fully into her spiritual gifts.

Together, they explore:

• 🌿 What ancestral wealth really means — and how to awaken it within

• 🔥 The process of transforming pain and grief into creative power

• 💎 How our body is the first bank account — and what true wealth feels like

• 🕊 Practices for stillness, surrender, and rewriting family patterns

• 💫 Why money is the byproduct of who we become

Whether you’re navigating your own healing, exploring spirituality, or simply curious about the unseen threads that shape your story, this episode invites you to see your wounds not as weaknesses — but as doorways to power.

🧭 Memorable Quotes

“Our body is the first bank account. It is our altar of wealth and abundance.” – Michelle Jeovanny
“Beyond the wounds is a creative intelligence — the gold within the onion.” – Michelle Jeovanny
“I was running toward success, but the more I ran, the further I felt from myself.” – Yo Canny

🌺 Key Takeaways

• True wealth begins with self-honoring — when you’re wealthy on all levels, money follows as an energetic reflection.

• Ancestral healing allows us to see and release patterns we’ve inherited, transforming unconscious loyalty into conscious freedom.

• Stillness and surrender aren’t weakness — they’re the portals to divine guidance and co-creation.

• Writing down your desires and releasing limiting beliefs through ceremony can open you to a higher frequency of abundance.

  
  

✨ Connect with Michelle Jeovanny

🌐 Magik Mystery School — monthly channelings, programs, and resources
📸 @michellejeovanny
💌 Mention “Girl, Take the Lead!” for Michelle’s free PDF: How to Create with AI — with Soul

💌 Connect with Yo & Girl, Take the Lead!

🎧 Listen on YouTube & Spotify💬 Join the Girl, Take the Lead! Facebook Group🛍 Explore the Heartfelt Card & Gift Shop🔗 LinkedIn | Instagram

Because leadership — and healing — begin when we have the courage to see ourselves clearly. 💖

Today’s guest is Hillary Spiritos (Millennial) — a pathfinding coach and founder of Bat Outta Hell, where she helps young adults find the courage, creativity, and resilience to build lives that feel authentic, invigorating, and meaningful.

A former university advisor at Duke, NYU, and Northeastern, Hillary has guided countless students and early professionals through crossroads moments — from choosing a major to choosing themselves. Her work now focuses on helping Millennials and Gen Zers define success on their own terms, navigate anxiety about the future, and trust that their unique paths can lead to purpose.

In this conversation, Yo and Hillary explore how social media, uncertainty, and shifting definitions of success are shaping a new generation — and why trusting yourself might just be the most radical act of all.

✨ In this episode, we cover:

• The challenges today’s young adults face — from cynicism to social media overload

• How to redefine success based on your values, not your title or salary

• How social media can inspire and overwhelm — and how to use it intentionally

• The difference between satisfaction and success

• Why authenticity is the new currency of connection

  
  

⏱️ Episode Highlights

00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Hillary Spiritos
00:33 – The mission behind Bat Outta Hell
01:59 – From college advising to pathfinding: how it began
03:55 – Empowering Millennials and Gen Z to create change
07:55 – What makes this generation’s challenges unique
09:51 – The role of anxiety and cynicism in today’s world
15:26 – Redefining success through your own values
21:11 – Is social media friend or foe?
27:15 – Why authenticity beats perfection online
30:09 – Navigating a tough job market with resilience
35:27 – Facing fear, failure, and the courage to try

💡 Key Takeaways

• You define success — not your title, salary, or feed.

• Awareness turns social media from a trap into a tool.

• Courage grows through action, not perfection.

• You don’t have to follow the rules — you can write your own.

• The world needs your authentic voice.

  
  

📚 About Hillary Spiritos

Hillary Spiritos, M.A., C.L.C. is a pathfinding coach and founder of Bat Outta Hell, where she helps young adults and early-career professionals overcome fear and self-doubt to create meaningful, sustainable lives. She holds degrees from Duke University and NYU, has lived abroad, and led workshops on resilience, leadership, and thriving through rejection and change.

🌐 batoutahell.net

📸 Instagram & TikTok: @bat.outa_hell

💌 Store Highlight

Hillary’s favorite from our Girl, Take the Lead! Card & Gift Shop is “Celebrate — Life’s Too Short to Act Normal.”It’s a joyful reminder to embrace your quirks, follow your own rules, and celebrate the life you’re creating — one bold step at a time.
Explore guest-inspired cards at girltaketheleadpod.com/shop.

📬 Connect with Yo, Your Host

🌐 Website: girltaketheleadpod.com
📸 Instagram: @yocanny
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yocanny
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/yolanda.canny

Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — the podcast where we share real, raw, and remarkable stories of people breaking cycles, finding freedom, and leading with courage.

Today’s guest is Sue Hincenbergs (Boomer) — a former television producer turned #1 bestselling author whose debut novel, The Retirement Plan, has taken Canada by storm. Now translated into 20 languages and headed for the big screen, this darkly funny thriller proves that it’s never too late to follow your dreams — or plot a little creative mayhem along the way.

After three decades producing award-winning TV programs, Sue decided at 59 to finally keep a promise she made to herself (and Bruce Springsteen!) at 20: to write a novel. The result? A hit book, a movie deal, and a wildly inspiring story of reinvention.

In this conversation, we explore the humor, humility, and heart behind her success — and why midlife might just be the perfect time to unleash your creative spark.

✨ Other Topics Covered:

• How Sue turned a lifelong dream into a #1 Canadian bestseller

• The 40-year promise inspired by Bruce Springsteen

• Lessons from her TV career that made her a tighter, funnier writer

• What makes a great storyteller — and why tension matters

• The courage to start something new at any age

• What she’d tell her 20-something self about patience, humility, and timing

• Why “If not now, when?” became her personal mantra

⏱️ Episode Highlights

00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Sue Hincenbergs
00:57 – “If not now, when?”: deciding to write at 59
02:20 – The Retirement Plan — murder, marriage, and midlife reinvention
04:58 – The Bruce Springsteen concert that sparked a lifelong promise
07:45 – From television producer to novelist: learning on the fly
09:39 – How tension and clarity make a great story
13:53 – Editing, rewriting, and the art of brevity
15:43 – Her advice to younger writers and her 20-something self
17:09 – Sue’s card pick: Celebrate — Life’s Too Short to Act Normal
18:35 – “Why not me?”: believing it’s never too late

💡 Key Takeaways

• Dreams don’t expire — they evolve when you do.

• If you don’t try, nothing can happen.

• Good storytelling blends honesty, tension, and heart.

• Courage grows with age (and a sense of humor helps).

• It’s never too late to take your creative leap.

📚 About Sue Hincenbergs

Sue Hincenbergs is a former television producer who’s worked on multiple award-winning programs. She lives in Toronto with her (very much alive) husband, her scruffy, middle-aged rescue dog, Kramer, and the rooms full of stuff her three sons left behind. The Retirement Plan is her debut novel.
🌐 suehincenbergs.com

💌 Store Highlight

Sue’s favorite from our Girl, Take the Lead! Card & Gift Shop is “Celebrate — Life’s Too Short to Act Normal.”Featuring a circle of dancing women, it’s a reminder that joy, laughter, and a touch of mischief keep us young at heart.
Explore guest-inspired cards at girltaketheleadpod.com/shop.

📬 Connect with Yo, Your Host

🌐 Website: girltaketheleadpod.com
📸 Instagram: @yocanny
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yocanny
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/yolanda.canny

Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — the podcast where we explore real, raw, and remarkable stories that inspire us to lead with courage and heart.

Today’s guest is Salvatore Manzi (Gen X) — a leadership communication coach, speaker, and author who helps mission-driven leaders transform their insight into influence. With two decades of experience coaching executives from Silicon Valley to the United Nations, Salvatore believes your leadership goes beyond how you show up and communicate your truth.

In this episode, Salvatore and Yo dive into the art and science of communication — exploring how content, delivery, and presence shape our impact. They discuss how introverts can command the room, why communication training often fails analytical thinkers, and how reframing fear into excitement can help you speak with confidence.

✨ In this episode, we cover:

• How to own the spotlight no matter your comfort level with public speaking

• The three pillars of communication: content, delivery, and presence

• How to “reframe the rush” from fear to excitement

• Why asynchronous communication (emails, texts) often misfires

• The importance of intention and feedback in becoming a better communicator

• How to adapt your communication style without losing authenticity

• Taking up space — physically and emotionally — when you’ve been conditioned not to

• What Salvatore would tell his 20-something self about voice and courage

  
  

⏱️ Episode Highlights

00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Salvatore Manzi
01:00 – The missing link in communication training for introverts
04:40 – The three pillars: content, delivery, and presence
06:55 – Why presence matters most in today’s world
09:35 – Dialogue, not download — and why metaphors move minds
11:02 – “You may be on mute, but your body isn’t”
13:18 – Expanding what feels authentic
15:31 – Reframing the rush: fear into excitement
18:23 – How to add warmth to asynchronous communication
22:17 – Setting intention before you speak
23:42 – Why feedback fuels growth
26:35 – Communication as context: knowing your audience
29:15 – Taking up space and overcoming conditioning
32:24 – Body and mind hacks to restore presence
36:33 – “Speak before it feels comfortable” — Salvatore’s 20-something-self advice

💡 Key Takeaways

• Presence is built through self-awareness, not performance.

• Communication is both art and science — it can be learned.

• Fear and excitement feel the same in the body; label them wisely.

• Every voice deserves space; every story deserves to be heard.

  
  

✨ Connect with Salvatore Manzi

🌐 Website & Free Resources: salvatoremanzi.com/ccpb
📸 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/salvatorejmanzi
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/CommsCoachSalvatore
📧 Email: [email protected]

💌 Store Highlight

Salvatore’s favorite from our Girl, Take the Lead! Card & Gift Shop is the “You Got This” card — a reminder to trust your worth, wisdom, and voice. Explore this and other guest-inspired cards at girltaketheleadpod.com/shop

📬 Connect with Yo, Your Host

🌐 Website: girltaketheleadpod.com
📸 Instagram: @yocanny
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yocanny
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/yolanda.canny

Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — the podcast where we share real, raw, and remarkable stories that inspire us to lead with courage and heart.

Today’s guest is Sarah M. Eden (Millennial) — a USA Today best-selling author, screenwriter, and creative powerhouse whose witty, award-winning historical romances have sold over a million copies worldwide.

Known for blending her obsession with history and affinity for tender, hopeful love stories, Sarah has written more than eighty-five novels and is now expanding her storytelling into film. Her upcoming movie, Seeking Persephone, reimagines the myth of Hades and Persephone as a Regency-era romance — and her latest novel, The Tides of Time, explores how love, guilt, and hope transcend centuries.

In this episode, Sarah and Yo explore the heart of storytelling itself — why stories matter, how creativity lifts us through life’s oppositions, and why romance will always promise hope.

⏱️ Episode Highlights

• How writers “train” their minds to see stories everywhere

• The spark behind The Tides of Time and its time-travel premise

• What adapting her own novel taught Sarah about letting go

• How romance fiction empowers women and offers hope

• Why joy is essential to creative longevity

• How resistance and opposition help us rise — in life and in art

• Sarah’s gentle message to her 20-something self

  
  

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Sarah M. Eden
01:29 – How a dare launched her writing career
02:25 – The story behind The Tides of Time — time travel meets the French Revolution
04:20 – What makes a good storyteller — and how it can be learned
07:42 – Letting go: when your story belongs to the world
09:59 – Adapting Seeking Persephone for film and what changed in the process
13:39 – Finding joy in creativity, even when it’s “work”
14:38 – Sarah’s advice for aspiring writers: love the stage you’re in
19:27 – Why romance fiction endures — and what hope it offers
24:34 – The Finding Joy card story and how opposition gives us lift

💡 Key Takeaways

• Storytelling is an act of hope — a way to connect across time and emotion.

• Opposition builds strength; resistance helps us rise higher.

• Romance fiction celebrates women’s agency and resilience.

• Creativity is joy — and joy sustains the creative life.

• Every stage of your journey has meaning; don’t rush past it.

  
  

✨ Connect with Sarah M. Eden

🌐 Website & Newsletter: sarahmeden.com
📸 Instagram: @sarah_m_eden
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/SarahMEden

🎬 Coming Soon:

• Mercury Raine (Books 1 & 2) — releasing October 2025

• Seeking Persephone — film premiere expected late 2025

💌 Store Highlight

Sarah’s favorite from our Girl, Take the Lead! Card & Gift Shop is “Finding Joy” — featuring a hummingbird and flowers.
She shared how her love of physics and birds reminds her that:

“What allows birds to fly is opposition. As they flap down, they’re lifted up. Strength is found in opposition.”

Explore this and other guest-inspired cards at: girltaketheleadpod.com/shop

📬 Connect with Yo, Your Host

🌐 Website: girltaketheleadpod.com
📸 Instagram: @yocanny
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yocanny
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/yolanda.canny

Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — the podcast where we share real, raw, and remarkable stories that inspire us to lead with courage and heart.

Today’s guest is Dr. Arisbe Mendoza (Gen X), Director of Global Impact, Advocacy, and Partnerships atFairtrade International in Bonn, Germany. A proud Mexican woman and passionate advocate for women’s leadership, Arisbe believes that leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about impact.

In this inspiring conversation, we explore how Fairtrade transforms global trade into a force for equity, how women’s leadership creates ripples of change, and why joy, empathy, and authenticity are essential to leading with heart.

✨ In this episode, we cover:

• The powerful origin story of the Fairtrade movement — and its deep roots in Mexico
• How Fairtrade works with more than 1.9 million farmers and workers across 67 countries
• Why true leadership is grounded in empathy, authenticity, and purpose
• The Fairtrade Women’s School of Leadership and its impact on confidence and equality
• How young people are driving awareness through the Fairtrade Ambassador Program
• What sustainable livelihoods really mean — and how fair pricing changes lives
• How global collaboration and trust build resilience across supply chains
• Arisbe’s reflections on capitalism, resistance, and the ongoing relevance of Fairtrade
• Her message to her 20-something self about trusting her voice and being bold
• The leadership lesson behind her favorite phrase: “Joy in the everyday”
• 
  

⏱️ Episode Highlights

00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Dr. Arisbe Mendoza (Gen X)
00:30 – Leadership as impact, not title — how Fairtrade reflects that mission
01:49 – The Fairtrade story: from Mexican coffee farmers to a global movement
04:42 – Why producers stay committed — and the challenges they face today
06:45 – Connecting farmers to fair markets and meaningful partnerships
09:29 – Empowering women through the Fairtrade Women’s School of Leadership
11:24 – Youth advocacy and the Fairtrade Ambassador Program
12:18 – Arisbe’s personal journey from Mexico to global leadership
15:28 – The strategic vision for Fairtrade’s next decade
17:18 – Sustainable livelihoods and the shared responsibility of supply chains
20:36 – How listeners can support Fairtrade and ethical consumption
24:00 – Why Arisbe remains hopeful amid global economic shifts
27:07 – Her message to her 20-something self: trust your voice, even when it shakes
28:34 – Her favorite pick from the GTTL shop — “Joy in the Everyday”
30:03 – Final reflections and celebration of Fairtrade Month

💡 Key Takeaways

🌍 Fairtrade began as a movement for justice — and continues to support millions through dignity and fair pay.

💫 Leadership thrives on empathy, purpose, and impact — not position or title.

🌱 Sustainable livelihoods depend on shared responsibility across the entire supply chain.

👩‍🌾 When women lead, entire communities rise.

💛 Joy and purpose often live in the everyday moments that connect us.

🗣️ Trust your voice, even when it shakes — that’s where leadership begins.

✨ Connect with Dr. Arisbe Mendoza & Fairtrade International

📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: fairtrade.net
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/fairtrade
📸 Instagram: @fairtradeofficial

💌 Store Highlight

Arisbe’s favorite from our Girl, Take the Lead! Card & Gift Shop was our “Joy in the Everyday” card — a gentle reminder that true leadership often lives in small, intentional moments. She also loved our You Bundle (“You Got This,” “You’re Amazing,” “You Rock!”) — the perfect way to lift others up with kindness and gratitude.

Explore these and more guest-inspired designs at girltaketheleadpod.com/shop

📬 Connect with Yo, Your Host

🌐 Website: girltaketheleadpod.com
📸 Instagram: @yocanny
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yocanny
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/yolanda.canny

Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — the podcast where we share real, raw, and remarkable stories that inspire us to lead with courage and heart.

Today’s guest is Uma Thana Balasingam (Gen X) — a powerhouse global tech executive turned founder, movement builder, and podcast host. Uma grew up in Malaysia, put herself through university, and rose from engineer to Vice President of Sales for global tech companies, leading more than 800 people across 48 markets and managing over $1 billion in revenue.

Now, Uma is building her second career by launching companies and movements at the intersection of leadership, reinvention, and media. As founder of The ELEVATE Group, she’s architecting a future where five million women rise with her. Her hit podcast, RAW with UMA, amplifies raw, real voices across Asia Pacific — bridging strategy and soul, and inspiring women everywhere to rethink what’s possible.

In this openhearted conversation, Uma shares what it’s like to experience what she calls a “careerquake” — that seismic professional shift that shakes your identity and calls you to reinvent. Together, we explore how grief and growth coexist, how sponsorship accelerates careers, and how to find belonging again when everything changes.

✨ In this episode, we cover:

• What a careerquake really means — and how it can spark reinvention instead of regret

• The emotional journey of leaving a beloved role: love, grief, and belonging

• How to reframe career breaks as growth chapters, not gaps

• Why workplace politics aren’t a dirty word — and how to play with integrity

• The two currencies that drive careers: performance and relationships

• How sponsorship (not just mentorship) accelerates opportunity

• The leadership lessons from an inclusive boss who amplified women’s voices

• The story behind RAW with UMA — and why she’s tackling the “hard things”

• Uma’s powerful message to her 20-something self about colorism, courage, and challenging norms

  
  

⏱️ Episode Highlights

00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Uma Thana Balasingam
00:59 – Defining the “careerquake” and how it reshaped her sense of identity
02:28 – From love to grief: what leaving behind success really feels like
05:39 – Why workplace politics aren’t a dirty word — and how power truly flows
09:28 – The inclusive boss who modeled how to amplify women’s voices
11:22 – How to confidently reframe career breaks in interviews
17:01 – The origin of Lean In Singapore and Uma’s Walk the Talk sponsorship platform
23:11 – The backstory of RAW with UMA — turning eulogies into empowerment
28:44 – Uma’s message to her 20-something self: challenge everything
30:42 – Her favorite pick from the GTTL shop — and the birth of the “Careerquake” card

💡 Key Takeaways

• Careerquakes are breakthroughs, not breakdowns. Every shake-up reveals who you truly are.

• Where there is love, there is grief. Transitions are emotional because they matter.

• Belonging fuels leadership. Losing it can invite you to rediscover it within.

• Workplace politics are simply the unwritten rules of power — learn them, don’t fear them.

• Career breaks build resilience and perspective; own your story with confidence.

• Sponsorship is the hidden accelerator for women’s advancement.

• Challenge everything. Growth begins with asking bold questions, not having all the answers.

  
  

✨ Connect with Uma Thana Balasingam

🌐 Website & Courses: linktr.ee/elevateasia 
📧 Email: [email protected]
🎙️ Podcast: RAW with UMA (on YouTube and all major platforms)
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/umathana
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uma__raw/
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564066752294

💌 Store Highlight

Uma inspired a new "Careerquake" card for our Girl, Take the Lead! Card & Gift Shop. Explore this and more guest-inspired cards here: girltaketheleadpod.com/shop

📬 Connect with Yo, Your Host
🌐 Website: girltaketheleadpod.com
📸 Instagram: @yocanny
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yocanny
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/yolanda.canny