How Women Inspire: Invest, Lead, Give

In this episode, Julie and Liz Mabey share insights from a recent How Women Lead trip to Puerto Rico, focusing on the power of connection and authenticity among women leaders. They  cover topics like escaping the "performance mode" we’re often in as women, overcoming self-limiting beliefs, and the impact of deep friendships formed during shared experiences. This week’s episode 159 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about breaking out of performance mode! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Liz Mabey are sharing the importance of taking time away from work and actionable steps you can take right now to create space for growth. 

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

• The importance of escaping professional “performance mode” to recharge.
• Sharing a trip with other professional women who understand your circumstances and can support you.
• Creating room to challenge yourself and grow.

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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How Women Give

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What if I told you that women are poised to control trillions of dollars in wealth, yet only a fraction of venture capital funding goes to women-led businesses? It's time to change that narrative. Today, Julie Castro Abrams and Jackie Schafer discuss how we can support women founders, close the gender funding gap, and create a future where women's leadership thrives. This week’s episode 158 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about closing the funding gap and supporting women founders in venture capital! 

This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Jacqueline Schafer is sharing the importance of investing in and supporting women founders and actionable steps you can take right now to start your investing journey. 

Jacqueline Schafer is the founder and CEO of Clearbrief (Winner, Litigation Technology Product of the Year, Legalweek 2023). Schafer serves as one of inaugural members of the Texas Bar’s AI Taskforce, and she was chosen by the American Bar Association as one of the “2022 Women of Legal Tech” and named to the 2022 Fastcase 50, Honoring ‘Innovators, Techies, Visionaries and Leaders’ in Law, Schafer also received the 2021 Washington State Bar APEX Award for Legal Innovation for founding Clearbrief as well as for her 2020 law review article ("Harnessing AI for Struggling Families").

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

• Why it's crucial to support women-led companies, especially in AI and emerging tech.
• The value investors can bring to a new company beyond the money.
• Committing to making introductions for other women as a rule.
• Why it's crucial to support women-led companies, now more than ever.

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 JACQUELINE SCHAFER:

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Clearbrief

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How Women Give

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Ever feel like you're playing it safe, sticking to what you know? What if the key to unlocking your full potential was simply to lean into what scares you? In this episode of How Women Inspire, Julie sits down with Tamesa Rogers, a seasoned Chief People Officer and venture investor. Tamesa shares her incredible journey of scaling NETGEAR from $300 million to $1.3 billion, building an HR function from scratch, and the pivotal moments that shaped her fearless leadership style. But beyond the impressive career milestones, Tamesa dives deep into the importance of personal growth, overcoming burnout, and why investing in women founders is not just good for business—it's essential for building a better future. This week’s episode 157 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about developing high-performing teams and avoiding burnout! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Tamesa Rogers is sharing the importance of training your team to take over after you and actionable steps you can take right now to recover from burnout. 

Tamesa Rogers is an experienced Chief People Officer with over 25 years in tech. She has scaled businesses, built global teams, and achieved high employee retention rates. Tamesa was instrumental in M&A, IPOs, and ESG reporting. She led HR at NETGEAR for over 20 years, building the HR organization from scratch, scaling the company, and leading cultural transformations. She also served as SVP and VP of HR, where she launched engagement, retention, and diversity programs and oversaw M&A integrations. Tamesa has been recognized for her leadership and is a member of professional organizations.

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

• Tamesa’s leadership journey and defining career moments.
• Developing team members to eventually replace the leader.
• Overcoming burnout and finding balance.
• Investing in women and building community.

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 TAMESA ROGERS:

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LinkedIn - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

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Ever feel like you're leaving money on the table or that your financial growth is always taking a backseat to everything else? You're not alone. In this episode of How Women Inspire, we dive deep into the world of venture investing and women's empowerment with the incredible Cheryl Beninga. Cheryl shares her personal journey, the secrets to attracting more capital for women-led ventures, and actionable steps to confidently step into the world of investing—no matter where you are in your journey. This week’s episode 156 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about breaking the glass ceiling in venture capital! 

This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Cheryl Beninga is sharing the importance of an abundance mindset for women and investing and actionable steps you can take right now to balance your career, personal life, and investment goals. 

Cheryl Beninga is an experienced venture investor in high-growth organizations that are innovating in clean technology, mobile software, MedTech, and enterprise software and services. She is the Managing Director of Wai-Mohala Ventures and Beninga Advisors. Cheryl is also the Co-Founder of FourthWave, an accelerator program for leading female founders in technology sectors, which provides mentorship, conscious leadership training, and access to capital.

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

• How to overcome anxiety around wealth and start investing.
• The evolution of women in venture capital and the current landscape.
• Why investing in women-led businesses is crucial.
• Cheryl's advice for aspiring female leaders and investors.

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 CHERYL BENINGA:

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FourthWave 

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LinkedIn - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

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Embracing human-centric leadership, cultural intelligence, and authentic self-expression are the key ingredients to a successful company. Lori Adams-Brown, a global talent development director, podcast host, and advocate for women in leadership, is here today to share her insights on the unique perspectives women bring to leadership, the importance of a global mindset, and how to cultivate inclusive, human-centric leadership in today's world. Lori also offers advice on how women can overcome self-doubt and step into their power. This week’s episode 155 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about cultivating inclusive, human-centric leadership! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Lori Adams-Brown is sharing the importance of cultural intelligence in navigating global teams and actionable steps you can take right now to overcome self-doubt. 

Lori Adams-Brown is a combination of international speaker, business executive, podcaster, and relief and development expert. She hosts the popular podcast A World of Difference, celebrating humanity’s unique differences and encouraging us all to make a difference around the world.  She worked in disaster relief in the 2004 Indonesian tsunami, where she consulted with the UN coordination efforts, and she has spoken to audiences in Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia, Venezuela, and around the U.S.  Lori speaks 6 languages, and brings a rare multicultural perspective into her speaking, training, coaching, and business consulting. She serves on the board of Justice Revival and volunteers to help resettle Afghan refugees in the SF Bay Area. 

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

• The impact of global experiences on leadership and the importance of diversity in decision-making.
• How companies with diverse teams generate higher revenue and make better decisions.
• Challenges women face in leadership, including self-doubt and the likability trap.
• The long-term impact of leadership and the importance of leaving a positive legacy.

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 LORI ADAMS-BROWN:

Website

A World of Difference podcast

LinkedIn

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LinkedIn - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

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Ever heard the saying "shirt sleeves to shirt sleeves in three generations"? It's a stark reminder that generational wealth doesn't simply happen; it requires intentional planning and a focus that goes beyond finances. In this episode of How Women Inspire, we sit down with Thomasina Williams, founder of Sankofa Legacy Advisors, to discuss the often-overlooked human element of building a lasting family legacy, the concept of parallel planning, and more. This week’s episode 154 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about parallel planning for growing generational wealth! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Thomasina Williams is sharing the importance of intentionality around generational wealth and actionable steps you can take right now to keep human capital at the forefront of wealth conversations. 

Thomasina Williams partners with families to develop leaders. Working at the intersection of family business, family systems, and leadership development, she helps clients build multigenerational legacies of connected and capable families who are engaged stewards of their resources. Clients have described her as their “high-beams,” lighting the way and guiding them through unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory. An accomplished lawyer and philanthropy strategist, Thomasina is the founder of Sankofa Legacy Advisors. 

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

• The concept of  "shirt sleeves to shirt sleeves in three generations," in regards to families' maintenance of generational wealth.
• The tendency for families to focus solely on financial assets and forget the human element.
• Examples of how families can be purposeful in developing their human capital.
• The meaning of legacy and being intentional in designing our lives.

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 THOMASINA WILLIAMS:

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How Women Give

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Diversity of thought is one of, if not the most important thing we can bring into the boardroom with us as leaders. Considering a variety of perspectives allows us to find solutions to complex problems more quickly than if everyone had the same backgrounds and frames of mind. Few know this better than Lynda Grindstaff, board director and cyber security expert. In this episode, Lynda shares her incredible journey from corporate executive to board member and investor, overcoming imposter syndrome, and more! This week’s episode 153 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about leveraging an engineering mindset in the boardroom!

This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Lynda Grindstaff is sharing the importance of finding your support network and actionable steps you can take right now to decide if board leadership is right for you. 

Lynda Grindstaff is a cybersecurity executive and board director who transforms consumer and technology trends into high-margin, multibillion-dollar strategies for global products. She was named 2024 Cybersecurity Woman Leader of the Year by the United Cybersecurity Alliance. Lynda excels in driving innovation and cybersecurity solutions for F500 B2B and B2C technology companies, bringing 30 years of experience in technical engineering, product marketing, and strategic planning to leadership teams and boardrooms. As a board member, she brings a strategic framework to companies needing growth and transformation. She ensures the right technologies and ecosystems are brought to market and optimizes people, processes, and technologies for internal growth and efficiency.

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

• The importance of having a growth mindset and looking out for others.
• Building a network of support and encouragement around yourself.
• The unique perspective engineers bring to the boardroom.
• Becoming an investor, one small investment at a time.

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 LYNDA GRINDSTAFF:

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Website

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How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

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In a tech world that's constantly evolving, how do you stay ahead of the curve and become a truly impactful leader? In this episode of How Women Inspire, Brandy Goolsby, a seasoned tech executive, shares her incredible journey from finding her voice to empowering the next generation of tech innovators. Brandy and Julie dive deep into the challenges of fostering innovation, the power of strategic partnerships, and the importance of finding your voice amidst the noise. This week’s episode 152 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking the power of strategic partnerships and vulnerability! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Brandy Goolsby is sharing the importance of moving from the familiar to the new and innovative, and actionable steps you can take right now to build strong, strategic relationships. 

Brandy Goolsby’s focus lies in empowering developers with the software, tools, and environment they need, enabling them to concentrate on innovation and automation, leading to an elevated customer experience. Her work centers on equipping developers with the tools and in the environment where they can create exceptional customer experiences. She's worked with industry giants like Ford, GM and Wind River, among others to shape their strategic partnerships and pioneer different breakthrough technologies.

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

• The importance of software and the challenges of embracing innovation.
• How leaders set the tone for their teams when exploring new technologies.
• Building strong relationships through open communication, trust, and a shared vision.
• Pushing through fear and doubts to achieve success.

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 BRANDY GOOLSBY:

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LinkedIn - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

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. In this episode, Denise Brosseau delves into the transformative power of finding your voice and building trust and shares her journey to becoming a champion for women's voices and a leading voice on moral leadership, offering invaluable insights on how to make a real impact. This week’s episode 151 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about trust, moral leadership, and finding your voice! 

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

Denise Brosseau is a visionary leader and CEO of Thought Leadership Lab, a company dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to build more influence, have more impact, and leave a legacy that matters. With over 20 years of experience in the field of leadership, thought leadership, and organizational development, Denise is a respected expert and speaker on the topics of personal branding, thought leadership, change management, and women’s leadership. 

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 across careers and fields.
• 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

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Do you feel confident that you’re in control of your financial future? With the huge transfer of wealth to women in this country, it’s more important than ever to be financially literate and feel confident in the conversation. In today’s episode, Megan Schottmer shares her inspiring journey of overcoming shyness and self-doubt to become a trailblazing leader in the financial services industry. Megan candidly discusses the importance of financial empowerment for women, the critical role of mentors and sponsors, and strategies for navigating the corporate ladder as an introvert. This week’s episode 150 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about building women’s financial independence and fixing the broken rung! 

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Megan Schoettmer is sharing the importance of ensuring women take an active role in their financial lives and actionable steps you can take right now to leverage your authentic self to succeed in a male-dominated industry. 

Megan Schoettmer is regional president of PNC Bank, Northern California. Prior to joining PNC in August 2022, she served as managing director and Commercial Banking leader of middle market banking for Wells Fargo focusing on various industries including technology, commercial and industrial, and commercial real estate in Silicon Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Active in the community, Schoettmer serves as a board member for the Bay Area Council and the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. She serves on the advisory board for Santa Clara University's Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and is co-chair for How Women Lead #GetOnBoardWeek.

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

• The importance of finding one's "why" and aligning with an advisor who shares similar goals.
• The concept of the “broken rung” in the workforce and the need to address the gender gap in promotions.
• How financial stress affects career advancement and the importance of financial independence.
• Building a personal board of directors and having diverse perspectives to guide your career and personal life decisions.

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 MEGAN SCHOETTMER:

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LinkedIn - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

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