How Women Inspire: Invest, Lead, Give

Every woman has an instance in her childhood where her voice was ignored. Maybe she was told to be seen and not heard, maybe she was looked over in class to speak, or maybe she was told to take up less space. This cultural bias against women’s voices needs to be put to an end and it starts with us supporting one another and speaking up to affirm another woman and make her voice heard.  This week’s episode 89 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about reinforcing women’s voices when they speak up! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams shares the importance of supporting other women when they speak and actionable steps you can take right now to open opportunities for women’s voices to be heard. 

Some of the talking points Julie goes over in this episode include:

• Women being ignored is a cultural problem, not an isolated incident.
• How Harvard Business School documented gender bias that kept women from reaping the full benefits of attending the school.
• All women have been told to be seen and not heard as children, and this carries over well into adulthood.
• Steps we can take to open doors and create opportunities for ourselves and the women around us. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast 

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We often hear the importance of shopping locally, shopping small businesses, and purchasing from minority and underrepresented groups. And while this is quite easy to do on a personal level, it’s more difficult to accomplish on a company- or corporate-wide level. Not all smaller businesses are equipped to handle large requests, and often getting ESG certifications is too difficult and time-consuming for the small business owner. Today, Winsome Kirton is here to talk about her journey creating Heard.io to help close those gaps. This week’s episode 88 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about leveraging AI to empower diver entrepreneurs! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Winsome Kirton is sharing the importance of supporting small and ESG-aligned businesses on a larger scale and actionable steps you can take right now to encourage your employer to seek small businesses for their corporate gifting needs. 

Winsome Kirton is the founder and CEO of Heard.io, a B2B ecosystem that drives and measures social impact by connecting businesses with companies that meet their ESG goals. After working as a media director and working on her first startup, Pack Elephant, Winsome realized how difficult it was to work with small and diverse-owned businesses on a big scale. She started Heard.io to combat those difficulties and allow companies to shop thoughtfully and intentionally for their corporate gifting needs.

Some of the talking points Julie and Winsome go over in this episode include:

• Recognizing and addressing imposter syndrome in high-achieving women.
• Challenges faced by small businesses in reaching ESG certifications.
• Using AI to vet small businesses for diversity and ESG dimensions for greater visibility.
• The importance of supporting small businesses and ESG-aligned companies during the holiday season.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast 

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Heard.io

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Earlier this year, the Surgeon General released an advisory about an “epidemic of loneliness” here in the United States, and steps we can take to increase community connections. One effective step someone can take to increase their community and social connections is to volunteer and serve their community. Benita Mosley, CEO of Multiplying Good, is here today to discuss her mission to promote service, introduce young people to service, and more.  This week’s episode 87 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about inspiring service and leadership! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Benita Mosley shares the importance of self-belief and service in achieving success and actionable steps you can take right now to get involved in your community. 

Benita Fitzgerald Mosley is an Olympic gold medalist and an established international leader in the sports and business sectors and has a passion for helping people and organizations win gold medals in life and work. With over 20 years of experience leading organizations, Mosley aims to bring her vast leadership and media experience to lead Multiplying Good into the organization’s next chapter of growth and success. Mosley also served as the Vice President of Community and Impact and President of FundPlay Foundation for LeagueApps, and Chief Executive Officer of Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA.

Some of the talking points Julie and Benita go over in this episode include:

• Benita’s family's legacy of service, leadership, and civil rights activism.
• How to make a positive impact in the community by leveraging personal gifts and expertise.
• The rewards and challenges of transitioning from professional athlete to corporate roles.
• The importance of self-belief, and why more women need to think, ‘Why not me?’.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast 

CONNECT WITH BENITA FITZGERALD MOSLEY:

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Multiplying Good

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The global supply chain has been under the spotlight more and more since the COVID-19 pandemic caused massive disruptions. Supply chain technology is growing and changing, but what can we do to manage and change the supply chain to be more sustainable, especially in industries like fashion? Lisa Morales-Hellebo is here to talk about sustainability in the global supply chain and fashion industries today. This week’s episode 86 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about refashioning the global supply chain for sustainability! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Lisa Morales-Hellebo shares the importance of finding your people and actionable steps you can take right now to reduce your textile consumption and waste. 

Lisa Morales-Hellebo is passionate about helping fashion tech and supply chain startups achieve industry adoption and growth. As a VC, seasoned entrepreneur, product strategist, and community builder, Lisa knows what it takes to spot and coach a winning team — backed by 25 years of working with startups to F500s on strategy and execution across branding, product development, and innovation. Lisa is currently co-founder of The Worldwide Supply Chain Federation, an organization that is changing how supply chain professionals learn about, collaborate, and adopt supply chain innovation around the world. She is also co-founder and general partner of REFASHIOND Ventures — an NYC-based, early-stage supply chain technology venture fund that invests in startups refashioning global supply chains.  

Some of the talking points Julie and Lisa go over in this episode include:

• Why digitizing supply chains is the key to solving the climate crisis.
• How fast fashion is unsustainable and how overproduction and consumer addiction must be addressed through disruption or legislation.
• The role of venture capital in the fashion industry.
• The impact of microplastics on human health and the importance of eliminating poly and microplastics from daily life.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast 

CONNECT WITH LISA MORALES-HELLEBO:

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REFASHIOND

CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:

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How Women Lead

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How Women Give

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The demands and challenges companies face are changing in the digital age. Because of this, the way corporate boards operate, discuss, and tackle these issues is also changing. From having more diverse voices represented to acknowledging and responding to global issues like climate change and supply chain disruptions, the job of the corporate board is more difficult now than ever. Dottie Schindlinger is here to talk about the impact of these changes and what we should expect going forward in the world of corporate boards. This week’s episode 85 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about the future of corporate governance! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Dottie Schindlinger is sharing the importance of corporate boards addressing climate change and other major issues and actionable steps you can take right now to continue to educate yourself as a board member. 

Dottie Schindlinger is the Executive Director of the Diligent Institute, the independent corporate governance research arm and think tank of Diligent Corporation. The Diligent Institute informs, educates, and connects leaders to champion governance excellence by providing cutting-edge research on the most pressing issues of corporate governance and offering certifications and educational programs that equip leaders with the knowledge and credentials needed to guide their organizations through existential challenges. Dottie also hosts The Corporate Director Podcast. 

Some of the talking points Julie and Dottie go over in this episode include:

• Dottie’s journey into the world of corporate governance and building BoardEffect.
• Issues likely to be discussed in boardrooms over the next few years, including quantum computing.
• The three main jobs of a board: insight, oversight, and foresight.
• The importance of board chairs building strategic partnerships with their CEOs and fostering trust and goodwill.

Don’t forget to check out Dottie’s book Governance in the Digital Age: A Guide for the Modern Corporate Board Director!

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast 

CONNECT WITH DOTTIE SCHINDLINGER:

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X (formerly Twitter)

Diligent Institute

CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:

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How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

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The feelings of belonging and making a notable difference are important to our sense of professional worth. It is the job of the leader, a CEO or founder, to build an equitable, dynamic, and productive workplace for their employees. And while this discussion does take place, it doesn’t happen nearly as often in the realm of entrepreneurs and small business owners. Nancy Geenen is here today to change that and talk about her experiences making this conversation more prevalent. This week’s episode 84 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about Nancy’s book, The Advantage of Other, and asking ‘what if?’! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Nancy Geenen is sharing the importance of finding your voice and actionable steps you can take right now to get involved in causes you care about. 

Nancy Geenen is the CEO of Flexability, a workplace equity & inclusion consulting firm. Nancy is an accomplished entrepreneur, trial attorney, and strategic facilitator. She is a sought-after advisor on matters of company culture, retention, career development, and leadership. Early in her career, she was a Senior Legal Officer for the United Nations in Geneva focused on adjudicating damages arising from Iraq’s unlawful invasion of Kuwait. Following her passion, Nancy writes and speaks on topics related to the social impact of employing individuals with disabilities.

Some of the talking points Julie and Nancy go over in this episode include:

• Nancy’s entrepreneurial journey, starting with a women's group meeting in the conference room at her law firm.
• The recent Affirmative Action ruling and how that will affect the work and fight for equal opportunity.
• The importance of finding belonging in the workplace, as well as in networks that care about the same causes as you.
• If you’re not making a difference, it can be hard to show up.

Don’t forget to order Nancy’s book, The Advantage of Other: A Leader’s Guide to Building an Equitable, Dynamic, and Productive Workplace!

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast 

CONNECT WITH NANCY GEENEN:

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Website

Flexability

CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:

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How Women Lead

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US Census population predictions indicate that by the year 2045, white Americans will make up less than 50% of the US population. While we see this shift in population, that is far from the case when it comes to venture funding. There is a massive massive imbalance in the amount of capital that is going to minority and underrepresented founders. Carmen Palafox is here today to talk about how we can correct this imbalance and her work with 2045 Venture. This week’s episode 83 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing in underrepresented founders! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Carmen Palafox is sharing the importance of understanding the founders you invest with and actionable steps you can take right now to address the funding imbalance in venture capital. 

Carmen Palafox has over 20 years of experience in finance, and an established record of investing across industries including Climate tech, Fintech, Health tech, and consumer. Carmen is the founding partner at 2045 Ventures, a partner at MiLA Capital, and a venture partner at How Women Invest. She is also an Adjunct Professor teaching venture capital at USC Marshall School of Business. Prior to venture capital, she was Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors where she scaled investment operations going from $75 Billion AUM to $300 Billion AUM.

Some of the talking points Julie and Carmen go over in this episode include:

• Carmen’s journey from traditional finance to venture investing.
• Addressing funding imbalance for underrepresented founders to bring economic empowerment.
• The importance of understanding founder motivation and how best to support the founders in which you invest.
• The benefits of investing in early-stage or day-zero companies.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast 

CONNECT WITH CARMEN PALAFOX:

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X (formerly Twitter)

2045 Ventures

CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:

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How Women Lead

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How Women Give

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Women have powerful voices and have been using them to voice concerns and demand change forever. But when society is full of naysayers and those who undervalue women, it can be easy to back off of your convictions. Denise Brosseau has been on a mission for decades to help women crystalize their voices and use them to stand up for the causes they believe in. Today, she is here to talk about her causes and how she helps women find their voices! This week’s episode 82 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about amplifying your voice and message! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Denise Brosseau is sharing the importance of trusting ourselves and actionable steps you can take right now to start finding your voice. 

Denise Brosseau is a thought leader, strategist, author, and CEO of Thought Leadership Lab. Passionate about amplifying inspiring voices, she assists leaders and changemakers in expanding their influence and impact. As the co-founder of Watermark (now Upward) and Springboard Enterprises, Denise champions women-led companies and their access to capital. 

Some of the talking points Julie and Denise go over in this episode include:

• How Denise’s time at Wellesley College shaped her career.
• The importance of seeing women in leadership roles and how it inspires other women.
• Exploring the role of leaders in using voice and platform for moral leadership.
• How purely performative acts of solidarity hurt companies in the long run.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast 

CONNECT WITH DENISE BROSSEAU:

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X (formerly Twitter)

Thought Leadership Lab

CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:

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How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

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Women in leadership positions are extraordinarily familiar with the feelings of uncertainty and doubt that come with taking on larger roles. But these worries of inadequacy and under-preparedness, while ingrained into us at a young age, are completely unfounded. Our guest today, Ellen Taaffe uses her metaphor of the mirrored door to better our understanding of these feelings on today’s episode. This week’s episode 81 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about advancing women in leadership! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Ellen Taaffe is sharing the importance of talking about yourself differently when doing something new and actionable steps you can take right now to take advantage of new opportunities. 

Ellen Taaffe is an author, a Board Director, an MBA Professor, an Executive Leadership Coach/Advisor, and a Speaker. She serves as the Director of Women’s Leadership Programs at the Kellogg School of Management and serves on the boards of three company boards, where she chairs several committees. 

Some of the talking points Julie and Ellen go over in this episode include:

• The mirrored door and how it portrays the lack of confidence in women’s leadership behaviors.
• The importance of talking about yourself differently when doing something new.
• Taking small risks when the stakes are lower to build up to larger opportunities.
• Getting clear and direct feedback from colleagues and mentors.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast 

CONNECT WITH ELLEN TAAFFE:

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Pre-order “The Mirrored Door” today!

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Venture capital has been dominated by cis white men since the practice first began. While the founders and innovators seeking funding are starting to vary from that profile, many of those still writing the checks and offering funding fall into that dominant profile. Naseem Sayani is one woman who is trying to change that.  Naseem, the co-founder of Emmeline Ventures, is here today to talk about what can be done to support women from many different backgrounds, minorities, and underserved demographics. This week’s episode 80 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about changing demographics in venture capital! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Naseem Sayani is sharing the importance of changing the demographic of investors and actionable steps you can take right now to support diverse communities of women.

Naseem Sayani is the Co-founder and Director of Emmeline Ventures, a female-founded early-stage fund investing in ambitious female founders building businesses that are helping women, in particular, manage their health, build their wealth, and live in a cleaner, safer world. Naseem has over 20 years of expertise in investing and business-building, and has experience as an angel investor on her own.

Some of the talking points Julie and Naseem go over in this episode include:

• The importance of investing in women with diverse backgrounds.
• Breaking stigmas around women’s health and the myth that women’s health is “niche”.
• How women have been wrongfully convinced that they make poor money choices.
• Setting the precedent for pay transparency.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast 

CONNECT WITH NASEEM SAYANI:

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Emmeline Ventures

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How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

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LinkedIn - HWL

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