In Her Land

In this episode of In Her Land, hosts Carrie Aguilar and Mara Kamat sit down with their daughters, Olivia Kamat and Penelope Aguilar, to kick off Season 3 with an honest look at summer adventures, school transitions, and growing up. From summer travels and unexpected setbacks to navigating middle school social dynamics and new learning methods, Olivia and Penelope share their unfiltered perspectives on entering fifth and eighth grade. Carrie and Mara reflect on their own seasons of demanding workloads, personal recovery, and the intentional shift toward balance, peace, and flexibility. Filled with humor and candor, this conversation celebrates the unabashed optimism of the next generation and the grounded lessons motherhood brings to leadership and life.

In this special season finale of In Her Land, hosts Carrie Aguilar and Mara Kamat reflect on the powerful stories, lessons, and moments that defined Season 2. From courageous career pivots and entrepreneurial leaps to conversations about leadership, motherhood, wellness, mentorship, and resilience, they revisit the insights that stayed with them long after the microphones were turned off. Along the way, they share personal reflections on their own journeys, the importance of embracing life's different chapters, and what they've learned from the remarkable women who joined them this season. It's a thoughtful look back at a season filled with authenticity, growth, and community, and a glimpse at what's ahead for Season 3.

In this episode of In Her Land, hosts Carrie Aguilar and Mara Kamat sit down with financial advisor, writer, and advocate Grace Arnold for an honest conversation about women, wealth, and financial confidence. Grace shares her journey from corporate finance and strategy into entrepreneurship, why she became passionate about helping women take ownership of their financial futures, and the realities of navigating a male-dominated industry. Together, they unpack the importance of financial literacy, the risks of disengaging from household finances, and how women can build confidence through curiosity, education, and active participation. From raising financially aware daughters to redefining “girl math,” this episode is an empowering reminder that knowledge is not a burden, it is our right.

In this episode of In Her Land, hosts Carrie Aguilar and Mara Kamat sit down with Denise Shade, corporate executive turned entrepreneur and CEO of Audit One, to explore her journey from a 20+ year career at KeyBank to acquiring and leading her own company. Denise shares how a long-standing goal of business ownership guided her career decisions, the realities of leaving a stable leadership role to take a calculated risk, and what it actually takes to find and buy a business. From the power of networking and mentorship to navigating failed deals and building the right team, this conversation offers a candid look at entrepreneurship through acquisition and the mindset required to make the leap.

In this episode of In Her Land, hosts Carrie Aguilar and Mara Kamat sit down with Mara’s mother, Susan Nash, CFO of Helix Linear Technologies, for a deeply personal conversation on career, motherhood, and the reality of navigating life without a perfect plan. From building her career in a male-dominated manufacturing industry to making pivotal decisions for her family, Susan reflects on the chapters that shaped her path and the lessons she learned along the way. She shares insights on leadership, resilience, embracing change, and why living life in the moment often matters more than trying to control it. This episode is an honest look at what it means to grow, adapt, and lead with both strength and perspective.

In this episode of In Her Land, hosts Carrie Aguilar and Mara Kamat sit down with Jennifer Scheel, Executive Attraction Officer for the City of Cleveland, to talk about her journey from consulting in aerospace and defense to leading efforts that bring new businesses and jobs to the region. Jennifer shares what inspired her to pivot into civic leadership, how she balances career ambition with motherhood and personal challenges, and why creating meaningful economic opportunity is central to her work. This conversation explores reinvention, resilience, and the importance of choosing purpose-driven work that strengthens both communities and careers.

In this episode of In Her Land, hosts Carrie Aguilar and Mara Kamat sit down with Christina Breen, Head of School at Laurel, to explore her journey from a large family in Massachusetts to leading one of Cleveland’s most beloved institutions. Christina reflects on the resilience she built through setbacks, the lessons she learned from hearing “no” before stepping into headship, and her belief that girls must learn to be brave rather than perfect. From navigating AI in education to fostering civil discourse and launching innovative programs like Laurel Leads, she shares her vision for preparing young women to lead with confidence, curiosity, and courage. This conversation is a powerful reminder that growth often begins with failure and that leadership starts with finding and honoring your voice.

In this episode of In Her Land, hosts Carrie Aguilar and Mara Kamat step away from guest interviews to share a candid life and leadership update. Carrie opens up about her potential transition from consulting to an in-house role and her personal health journey, while Mara reflects on expanding her consulting practice and managing growing client demands. Together, they discuss the realities of family logistics, travel schedules, and the emotional weight that comes with major life transitions. From intentional couple time to digital boundaries and wellness goals, this conversation offers an honest look at navigating career evolution, motherhood, and personal growth in real time.

In this episode of In Her Land, hosts Carrie Aguilar and Mara Kamat sit down with Valentina Khoury Dubasik to explore her journey of building a naturopathic practice in Ohio while navigating limited scope, entrepreneurship, and motherhood. Valentina shares how strategic growth, flexible scheduling, and strong support systems have shaped both her business and her life. She discusses her holistic, patient-centered approach that blends natural therapies with collaboration from Western medicine, and why personalized care and education are key to building trust and long-term wellness. This conversation offers thoughtful insight into resilience, leadership, and redefining success in healthcare.

In this episode of In Her Land, hosts Carrie Aguilar and Mara Kamat sit down with Madison Riddell, President of VividFront, to explore her nine-year journey from unpaid intern to executive leadership. Madison shares how hands-on experience across every part of the business shaped her results-driven leadership style, why direct communication builds trust, and how a people-first culture drives sustainable growth. She also reflects on how motherhood has deepened her empathy and reshaped her priorities, while offering insights on modern marketing strategy, balancing AI with creativity, and leading with persistence, clarity, and heart.