HerStories

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Brooke Flanagan, Executive Director of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater joins Maria to tell her story and discuss theater and the arts as modes of storytelling and change. 

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Andrea Zopp describes herself simply as an introvert who likes to read, but over her storied career, Andrea has worn a lot of hats in high places. From professionalizing the State's Attorney Office, becoming the first person of color to report to the CEO in the history of Sears as a company, Serving as CEO of the Chicago Urban League, running for senate against Tammy Duckworth, serving as Deputy Mayor under Rahm Emanuel—and more—Andrea's resume tells the story of a woman determined to make change. In this episode, Andrea joins Marie to discuss her incredible career, confronting her racial identity in the Harvard cafeteria, bringing experience as a prosecutor into the boardroom, and working with the Chicago Bears.

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Laura Stein isn't just an executive. She's an avid skier, former competitive tennis player, ski-racer, and rugby player. After studying at Dartmouth and Harvard, between sport and speaking some five languages, Laura found the time to become the first woman senior executive at H.J. Heinz, work on the pandemic response at Clorox, and become Executive Vice President Corporate and Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Mondelez International. In this episode, Laura shares her remarkable story, talks understanding a business, and the importance of financial knowledge in leadership roles.

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Kathy Bolhous, a child of nine in small-town Indiana, used to dig up dandelions for a penny apiece to buy candy at a local store. Today, she is Chairman and CEO of Charter Next Generation, a leading provider of specialty films and sustainable material science solutions that impacts lives from within grocery store shelves, hospitals, and homes. In this episode, Kathy joins Maria to talk playing the long game in hostile working environments, surviving sexism, building relationships to negotiate deals, and her daily routine.

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Chicago Sky Co-Owner and Operating Chairman Nadia Rawlinson joins Maria Doughty to talk people strategy, falling in love in Egypt, architecting your life, doing a $30B deal via Slack, choosing to start a family in your 40s, WNBA All-Star 2026, and the future for Chicago Sky. 

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If you've been watching recent coverage on the U.S. economy on just about any major TV network, you'll have seen Diane Swonk offering her take on inflation during the war with Iran. In this episode, KPMG's Chief Economist shares her thoughts on the current U.S. economic situation and takes us through a life filled with both trials and opportunities: from a latchkey kid with dyslexia sneaking into her family home through the milk-chute, to surviving 9/11 while attending a conference at the world trade center, beating cancer, testifying before congress, and becoming one of the nation's go-to experts on matters of economics.

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Melissa Washington shares her journey from a promising young girl in a single-parent household to Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at ComEd. Melissa talks mindset, mentorship, and seeking experiences rather than jobs as key pathways to success.

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Barbra Bukovac, Vice Chair, Consumer Markets and Mid-Central Region, PWC, talks about never burning bridges, sharing your goals to climb the corporate ladder, and using your brand to help others.

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Mary Smith's detractors told her that she didn't "look like" your typical President of the American Bar Association, but she proved them wrong in a stunning upset.  Hailing from the south side of Chicago, Mary Smith shares the story of her remarkable career.

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Starting her life in soviet Kiev, Lifeway Foods CEO Julie Smolyansky's mother opened Chicago's first Eastern European deli on Devon where she introduced the city to Nutella. Meanwhile, Julie's father first began making kefir in the family basement. Julie joins The Chicago Network President and CEO Maria Doughty to tell how she brought the family business to new heights.