Her Origin Story

Check Out These Highlights:

What happens when you've built a successful business, but it no longer feels like freedom?

In this episode, Colleen Kranz shares her journey from growing up on a sheep farm to leading marketing teams in corporate America and eventually launching her own business. But after leaving corporate to create more flexibility, she found herself facing a second burnout, this time inside a business she had built herself.

Colleen opens up about the realization that she'd created what she calls a "golden cage", a business that looked successful from the outside but left her feeling trapped, overwhelmed, and disconnected from the freedom she originally wanted. She explains why profit matters, but should never be the only measure of success.

We also dive into one of the most unforgettable stories ever shared on the podcast: how Colleen and her husband built an airplane in their garage despite her fear of heights, claustrophobia, and motion sickness. The experience became a powerful lesson in conviction, confidence, community, and tackling seemingly impossible goals one step at a time.

Along the way, Colleen shares why "You're not slow, you're deep" became one of the most transformative lessons of her life, and how slowing down can sometimes be the very thing that helps you grow.

If you've ever wondered whether the life you're building actually supports the life you want to live, this conversation is for you.

About Colleen Kranz:

Colleen Kranz is a fractional CMO, growth coach, and creator of the Grow On Purpose System (GPS). She helps consultants, coaches, and expertise-based business owners build profitable, sustainable businesses that prioritize purpose, wellbeing, and freedom alongside growth.

Connect with Colleen:

🌐 Website: https://www.catapultnorth.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenkranz

🎁 Free Resource: https://www.catapultnorth.com/grow-north-thursday-newsletter

The Grow on Purpose® System (GPS): https://www.catapultnorth.com/gps

Stalk Me Online!

About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

Check Out These Highlights:

Amy shares how racing go‑karts as a child gave her early lessons in competition, sponsorship, and community; lessons that still guide her work today.

She recalls launching a speaking tour of six elementary schools at age 10 to show kids they could do big things right now, and how that visibility led to a radio show at 13.

We talk about her 18 years in the nonprofit association world, where she learned the power of building community around larger movements, and how that experience shaped her consulting work.

Amy explains why she sees entrepreneurship as one big experiment, why sales is really just a conversation, and how social media was meant to be social.

Her story is a reminder that curiosity, openness, and joy can be the foundation for sustainable business growth.

About Amy Hager:

Amy Hager is a sales strategist and community builder at Joyful Business Revolution. She helps entrepreneurs refine their messaging, marketing, and positioning so they can grow their businesses from a place of joy and connection.

Connect with Amy:

🌐 Website: https://joyfulbusinessrevolution.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-hager-cae-iom/

💬 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amy.hager.58/

🎁 Free Resource: https://joyfulbusinessrevolution.com/salespagehelp/

Stalk Me Online!

About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

Check Out These Highlights:

Hady reflects on her mother’s saying, “Closed mouths don’t let flies in,” and how that lesson in silence shaped her early years and followed her into a 25‑year career in male‑dominated tech and finance.

She shares how being the youngest of four sisters pushed her to carve out her own identity, always looking for ways to do things differently and stand out.

We talk about her mission work in Bolivia, teaching incarcerated women to find their voice, and how that experience connected directly to her later work in equality and leadership.

Hady also describes her time as head of equality at Slack, and how she shifted from quietly waiting her turn to actively advocating for herself; a transformation that became the foundation of her bestselling book.

Her story is a powerful reminder that underestimated professionals can thrive when they own their voice, and that belonging and inclusion lead to stronger teams, better products, and more authentic leadership.

About Hady Méndez:

Hady Méndez is a bestselling author, leadership coach, and founder of Boldly Speaking. She helps underestimated professionals find their voice and claim their place at the table, drawing on her decades of experience in tech, finance, and equality leadership.

Connect with Hady:

🌐 Website: https://www.boldlyspeakingllc.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadymendez

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calladitanomorebook

📑 Substack: https://hadyunfiltered.substack.com

Stalk Me Online!

About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

Check Out These Highlights:

Amanda reflects on the pivotal moment when her husband told her their marriage couldn’t sustain her distraction, and how that conversation forced her to confront the gap between who she was becoming and who she was expected to be.

She explains how she accidentally fell into real estate investing, starting with a few hours of paperwork each week, and how curiosity turned that opportunity into her life’s work.

Amanda shares her perspective on women and money; from generational conditioning to the stigma of “not being good with finances”, and why she believes curiosity and authorship are more powerful than literacy alone.

We also talk about risk awareness, values‑based investing, and her conviction that when women control capital, they invest in communities, healthcare, and technologies that create lasting impact.

Her story is a reminder that you don’t need a finance degree or a trust fund to start building wealth; you need curiosity, confidence, and the willingness to take the next step.

About Amanda Taylor:

Amanda Taylor is a business and wealth strategist, entrepreneur, and host of the Expand Your Empire podcast. She helps women move from financial sidelines to financial authorship, building wealth strategies that align with their values and create lasting impact.

Connect with Amanda:

🌐 Website: www.expandyourempire.org

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-taylor-biz/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_amanda_taylor/

📑 Substack: https://genxhermoney.substack.com/

📋 Investing 101 Course: https://investing101.expandyourempire.org/investing-101

Stalk Me Online!

About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

Check Out These Highlights:

Kristina shares how babysitting for her neighbor (who happened to be a drill team director) set her on a path from gymnast to dancer, eventually leading her into business ownership and expanding Crowd Pleasers into a premier Texas company.

Brie recalls growing up as an only child, quitting dance to try sports, then rediscovering her passion in high school and realizing dance was the place she belonged.

Together, they reflect on how dance teaches kids more than choreography — confidence, discipline, resilience, and life lessons that last far beyond the stage. They also talk about the stigma of the “starving artist” and why creative careers can be stable, lucrative, and deeply rewarding when paired with vision and business savvy.

Finally, Kristina and Brie share how Elevation On Tour grew out of decades of shared experience, and why they believe dance is about building people, not just performances.

About Kristina Cross and Brie Peña:

Kristina Cross and Brie Peña are co‑founders of Elevation On Tour and longtime leaders in the dance industry. Kristina is also the owner of Crowd Pleasers Dance, while Brie has built her career as a dancer, educator, and entrepreneur. Together, they create opportunities for dancers and staff to thrive in careers that combine artistry with business growth.

Connect with Kristina and Brie:

🌐 Website: https://elevationontour.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevationontour/

💬 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevationontour

Stalk Me Online!

About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

Check Out These Highlights:

Urmi opens up about growing up in a strict, traditional South Asian household in Italy, where women were expected to follow rigid rules and boys were given more freedom. She reflects on how those early experiences shaped her drive to challenge inequality and advocate for women.

She shares how questioning her cultural identity led her to embrace both sides of her heritage, turning what once felt like a limitation into a source of power. That clarity inspired her to mentor South Asian women, especially those navigating immigrant experiences, and to join organizations like Women in Leadership.

Urmi also talks about how she discovered finance almost by accident, falling in love with the subject during university and pursuing challenging certifications to prove herself in a male‑dominated industry.

Her guiding belief, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” shows up in everything she does, from mentoring women who never had a mentor to writing her book about transforming dual identity into a superpower. Her story is a reminder that identity struggles can become the foundation for leadership and impact.

About Urmi Hossain:

Urmi Hossain is a financial professional, CFA and CAIA charterholder, author, and host of the Stories Beyond Borders podcast. She mentors women of color and advocates for diversity and representation in finance, turning her dual identity into her greatest strength.

Connect with Urmi Hossain:

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urmihossain/ 

🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/urmihossain 

Stalk Me Online!

About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

Check Out These Highlights:

Ramona recalls the moment she discovered theater as a place where she could finally be loud and expressive, despite growing up in a quiet household. That spark led her from biology labs to playwriting, and eventually into nonprofit leadership.

She reflects on her winding career path; from running arts organizations to teaching nonprofit management, and how teaching gave her a deeper appreciation for empathy and patience. Ramona candidly admits she wasn’t always the most empathetic boss, but learning to see each student as an individual transformed her leadership style.

We also talk about her upcoming book on the relationship between executive directors and nonprofit boards, why board dynamics are often misunderstood, and how nonprofits can thrive when leaders and boards truly understand each other’s roles. Her story is a reminder that even a “scribble” of a career path can lead to meaningful impact.

About Ramona Baker:

Ramona Baker is a nonprofit executive, educator, and consultant who has spent decades on every side of the nonprofit world; as an executive director, board member, and professor of nonprofit management. She helps organizations strengthen leadership and board relationships while championing the vital role nonprofits play in communities.

Connect with Ramona:

🌐 Website: https://www.ramonabakerconsulting.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramona-baker-0961608/

Stalk Me Online!

About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

Check Out These Highlights:

Brandi reflects on the seed that started her entrepreneurial path: her late husband’s encouragement to work for herself instead of climbing the corporate ladder. That shift revealed her natural curiosity and drive to question systems, even when it made her a “bad employee” in rigid corporate environments.

She opens up about one of the hardest moments of her life; standing at the podium for her husband’s eulogy while her phone buzzed with work calls. That painful disconnect between her values and her reality became the catalyst for reshaping her business and life.

Brandi shares how she now helps founders and small teams untangle their strengths, values, and energy so they can grow without burning out. We talk about the importance of humor, curiosity, and self‑trust, why social media narratives can distort reality, and how she guides clients to “out‑evidence” the limiting stories holding them back.

Her story is a reminder that entrepreneurship exposes every weakness, but it also offers the chance to build businesses that support life, not cost it.

About Brandi Holder:

Brandi Holder is a marketing consultant and coach who helps founders and small teams align their strengths, values, and energy to grow sustainably. She believes peace and joy are not distant goals, but choices we can make today.

Connect with Brandi:

🌐 Website: https://www.brandiholder.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bholder1/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bh_explains_it_all/

Stalk Me Online!

About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

Check Out These Highlights:

Kristin reflects on her early years as an art major, moving to San Francisco, and the defining moment when she stepped into the corporate world at McKinsey & Company. That decision shifted her trajectory from art and galleries into business and leadership.

She opens up about the summer of 2023, when she and 1,000 colleagues were furloughed overnight after their company imploded in scandal. The sudden loss of her role as COO left her in a dark season, but ultimately became the catalyst for launching her own business.

Kristin shares how she gave herself permission to grieve, embraced curiosity, and began building work that aligned with her values. Today, she creates spaces and conditions for women and organizations to get honest about what needs to shift, and helps them build bridges into what’s next.

Her story is a reminder that pivots often arrive uninvited, but they can lead us closer to the work and life we’re truly meant to build.

About Kristin Belden:

Kristin Belden is a strategist, coach, and podcast host who helps women and organizations align their work with the lives they want to create. Drawing on her own journey through corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and unexpected pivots, she empowers others to navigate change with clarity and resilience.

Connect with Kristin:

🌐 Website: https://www.beldenstrategies.com/

Stalk Me Online!

About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

Check Out These Highlights:

Deborah Newton opens up about losing her dad at age five, watching her mom’s resilience, and how those early lessons shaped her drive to succeed. She reflects on the devastating loss of her mom in 2024, the guilt she still carries, and the strength she draws from her mother’s example of perseverance and grace.

She shares her winding career path — from dreams of law and investigative reporting to discovering her true fit in sales and logistics. Along the way, Deborah explains how problem‑solving, grit, and building authentic relationships became the foundation of her success, and why she believes “everything is figureoutable.”

We also talk about the importance of community, the lessons she’s carried from family survival skills into business strategy, and how starting her own company, Newton Steele, became both a leap of faith and a tribute to her mom’s legacy. Her story is a powerful reminder that the hardest seasons often prepare us for the work and life we’re meant to build

About Deborah Newton:

Deborah Newton is a sales and logistics leader and founder of Newton Steele. Known for her gift in building lasting relationships, she helps organizations strengthen their sales strategies while carrying forward the resilience and lessons she learned from her own life journey.

Connect with Deborah:

🌐 Website: https://newtonsteele.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahchristinenewton/

Stalk Me Online!

About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.