NAWBO ON THE GO

What does it take to leave a successful career behind and start something completely new? In this episode, host Dr. Lena Graham sits down with Daphne Simpson, a former nurse practitioner turned McDonald’s franchise owner, to explore her unexpected journey from healthcare to the fast-food industry, and how she grew from two restaurants to eight.

From learning every job in the restaurant to navigating labor challenges and building high-performing teams, Daphne shares the realities of franchise ownership, the lessons she’s learned about leadership and growth and why being willing to start over can open doors you never imagined.

Plus, hear her advice for women considering franchising, the importance of knowing when to delegate and why sometimes the biggest rewards come from doing the hard things.

To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org

To learn more about McDonald’s franchising, visit: https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/us-franchising.html

Your voice has value, and the world needs to hear it.

In this episode, new host Dr. Lena Graham sits down with Jennifer R. Hudson, public relations strategist, entrepreneur and keynote speaker for the upcoming NAWBO’s On the Rise: Miami Edition summit, to explore what happens when women business owners stop playing small and start owning their expertise.

From her journey as a corporate communications executive to building her own business, Jennifer shares lessons on finding your voice, communicating with confidence, asking for what you're worth and recognizing the power of what you bring to the table.

Plus, get a sneak peek at her interactive Miami keynote, "Your Voice Is an Economic Force," and why speaking up can create opportunities and impact far beyond your own business.

To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org

For Diane Yetter, expertise is about more than mastering a subject. It’s about using your knowledge to educate others, shape your industry and create meaningful impact.

As president of YETTER Tax and the Sales Tax Institute, Diane has spent nearly 30 years building a thriving business in one of the most technical niches imaginable while becoming a trusted voice on sales tax policy. When she’s not helping clients navigate complex regulations, you’ll likely find her tending to her thriving garden in downtown Chicago or unwinding with classical music.

In this episode, Diane shares how embracing a niche has opened unexpected doors, why thought leadership is one of the most powerful ways to grow your business and how a strong culture has helped her build an award-winning remote workplace.

To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org

Jenelle Dito, Vice President of Consumer Empowerment Programs and Partnerships at FICO®, is on a mission to make credit education more accessible and less intimidating.

In this episode, she breaks down what a FICO® Score is, why it exists and why every entrepreneur should understand it. From qualifying for a credit card or auto loan to securing a mortgage or financing future growth, your FICO® Score plays a critical role in the opportunities available to you.

Jenelle explains how knowing your score empowers you to make informed borrowing decisions, improve your financial health over time and position your business for long-term success. Whether your score is exactly where you want it to be or needs some work, understanding it is the first step toward expanding your options.

To learn more and monitor your FICO® Score, visit: myFICO.com and myFICO.com/free

To access FICO®’s credit empowerment programs, visit https://www.fico.com/empowerment

Rhonda Brunson has never been afraid to follow a new path.

From high school French teacher to wedding photographer to leading a nonprofit serving survivors of domestic abuse, each chapter of her career taught her something new about resilience and human connection. But it was a chance encounter with breathwork that changed everything.

After a deeply transformative experience, Rhonda found herself asking: What exactly just happened? That question launched a deep exploration into the nervous system.

Today, as co-founder and lead facilitator of Waypoint Wellness HQ, Rhonda helps leaders and organizations better understand how their bodies respond to pressure, burnout and overwhelm.

In this episode, she shares why nervous system health matters and two simple practices you can start using today to create more calm, clarity and resilience.

To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org

Internationally recognized speaker, motivational singer and LOUD Women Nation founder Adrianna Foster is on a mission to help women remember who they are.

A member of NAWBO South Florida and a champion for women’s empowerment, Adrianna blends music, leadership development and emotional transformation to help women step into their power, purpose and prosperity. Her signature LOUD philosophy—Loving, Open, Unapologetic and Deserving—was born from years of working with women who shared a common struggle: feeling disconnected from their worth and potential.

In this episode, Adrianna shares how creativity fuels her work, from writing and recording music to releasing a new album in celebration of her 40th birthday. She also discusses the biggest mindset barrier she sees holding women back from wealth and how embracing your authentic voice can transform every area of life.

To register for NAWBO On the Rise: Miami Edition (Adrianna is a speaker!): https://nawbo.org/on-the-rise-miami-edition-save-the-date 

For Amy Miller, entrepreneurship began with an unexpected turning point.

The New Mexico-based president of AMM Communications Coach and AMM Consulting spent more than 25 years building expertise in public affairs, strategic communications and stakeholder engagement before being blindsided by a layoff.

After jumping into another role that wasn’t the perfect fit, Amy decided to build a business of her own rooted in helping organizations communicate with clarity, confidence and purpose.

In this episode, Amy shares the challenges of learning how to price her services and the fulfillment of working with values-aligned clients as well as doing pro bono work with young people. She also talks about the communications coaching framework she uses with clients and the common challenges they face when trying to connect with their audiences.

To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org

Judi Firestone Roth, NAWBO Lifetime Member, past Cleveland (now Northeast Ohio) Chapter President and former National Board Member, has spent decades championing women business owners and building a legacy of leadership, mentorship and service.

Now a member of NAWBO Indianapolis, Judi reflects on receiving the 2026 Susan Hager Award and what the honor means to her after more than 40 years of involvement with NAWBO and being nominated by her peers.

In this episode, Judi shares memories of briefly meeting NAWBO founding president Susan Hager, the responsibility women have to lift one another up and the three legacies she hopes to leave behind.

To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org

For Monica Roca-Quesada, numbers aren’t something to fear. They’re pieces of a bigger picture waiting to come together. A Florida-based fractional CFO and financial operations strategist, Monica helps growth-focused entrepreneurs turn financial chaos into clarity by understanding the story behind the data.

Surprisingly, one of her favorite ways to unwind is building Legos, and she sees a lot of similarities between constructing a Lego masterpiece and building a business: there’s a vision for what’s possible, but the real magic happens through the process, problem-solving and lessons learned.

In this episode, Monica shares how women business owners can remove the fear around finances, start interpreting what their numbers are really saying and even discover that financial strategy can be empowering and fun.

To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org

For Kathy Rudkin, entrepreneurship has always been part of the wild adventure.

The San Antonio, Texas-based founder and CEO of Rudkin Productions and Top 3 Finalist for Woman Business Owner of the Year grew up in a zoo in Oklahoma, where raising chimpanzees, tigers and even bringing baby jaguars to school sparked a fearless curiosity and creative spirit that would shape her future.

Coming from a long line of entrepreneurs, Kathy launched her own marketing and advertising agency at just 24 years old and spent the next 34 years growing it into a thriving business while adapting through every industry shift, including the rapid move to digital marketing during COVID-19.

In this episode, Kathy also shares the deeply personal story behind her nonprofit, Aid the Silent, created after her daughter became deaf at age 3, and how it now helps provide hearing aids and resources to deaf children.

To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org