NAWBO ON THE GO

Licensed clinical psychologist, practice founder and “builder of bigger tables,” Mirjam Quinn, PhD believes care should extend far beyond the therapy room—it should shape how we lead, hire and live.

Born in Germany, raised across three continents and arriving in the United States at 17, Mirjam went on to found Mirjam Quinn and Associates on the south side of Chicago, where her practice now serves patients from age 3 to well into their 90s.

A Top 3 Finalist for NAWBO’s 2026 Woman Business Owner of the Year Award, she’s redefining what it looks like to care for both clients and clinicians. In this episode, Mirjam shares how investing deeply in her team—from 32-hour work weeks to employer-provided childcare—creates a ripple effect of extraordinary care.

To learn more about Top 3 Finalist Mirjam Quinn, visit: https://nawbo.org/blog/a-human-first-philosophy-mirjam-quinn-leads-with-purpose-and-connection 

Latina founder, restaurateur and community advocate Diva Name is building more than a place to eat—she’s creating an experience rooted in culture, connection and bold leadership that’s worth slowing down to savor.

As the owner of La Mexicana Taco Bar and The Local All-in Catering in South Florida, and a Top 3 Finalist for NAWBO’s 2026 Woman Business Owner of the Year Award, Diva brings together her love of food, music and art to create something truly unforgettable.

In this episode, Diva shares what inspired her journey, how she’s weathered the ups and downs of the restaurant industry by expanding into catering and why community-centered events she hosts like her annual Cinco de Mayo festival are just as important as what’s on the menu.

To learn more about Top 3 Finalist Diva Name, visit: https://nawbo.org/blog/finding-flavor-and-building-community-diva-name-turns-a-dream-into-la-mexicana 

For women business owners, the ability to vote is a business imperative.

In this episode of NAWBO On the Go, we’re joined by Thresette Briggs, NAWBO National Advocacy Chair, for a clear breakdown of the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Act) and why NAWBO is paying close attention to its potential impact on women, especially women business owners who have experienced name changes due to marriage, divorce, or other life events.

Thresette explains:

• What the SAVE Act is and what it would require for federal voter registration and voting
• Why NAWBO supports election integrity and free, fair elections while raising concerns about added documentation burdens
• What forms of proof could be required (and why common IDs like standard driver’s licenses may not qualify in many states)
• The potential unintended consequences, including time, complexity, and access issues for eligible voters
• Why fewer voices at the polls can shape the policies that directly affect women-owned businesses

To read NAWBO and WIPP’s joint statement on the SAVE Act:

https://nawbo.org/blog/womens-business-groups-thank-leader-thune-for-removing-save-america-act-from-pending-business

Learn more about NAWBO:

https://www.nawbo.org

Learn more about NAWBO Advocacy:

https://nawbo.org/advocacy

Lindsey Paulsen, Vice President of Digital Innovation at Opportunity International, is working at the intersection of technology, funding and purpose to expand access to opportunities for women entrepreneurs around the world.

In this episode, she shares how her organization is investing in women living in extreme poverty, supporting small businesses, and what those efforts reveal about the universal drive women share, no matter where they live. From wanting to provide for their families to creating better futures for their children, the goals are the same, but the barriers are not.

Lindsey also reflects on a powerful truth: potential is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. She explores what it takes to close that gap and how we can all think differently about access, equity and impact.

To learn more about Opportunity International, visit: www.opportunity.org

Behind every great experience is someone making it all work, and for NAWBO, that’s Katie Hatfield.

As Executive Assistant to the CEO and a key force behind the NAWBO Institute, Katie plays a central role in organizing, expanding and bringing to life the resources that support women business owners at every stage.

In this episode, Katie pulls back the curtain on the NAWBO Institute’s educational Journeys—designed to meet women where they are, from just starting out to scaling beyond $1M—and shares how a common challenge sparked one of NAWBO’s most exciting innovations yet:

Susan, a new AI-powered chatbot guide who cuts through the overwhelm and helps women business owners quickly find the right resources, tools and next steps based on their unique goals.

To learn more about NAWBO Institute Journeys, visit: https://nawbo.org/nawbo-journeys

To access the Institute and start your journey with Susan’s help, visit: https://nawbo.org/institute

What happens when advocacy efforts hit a roadblock, but the mission is too important to pause?

Elle Patout, Director of Advocacy and Public Relations at NAWBO, returns to share insights from the latest visit to Capitol Hill and continued efforts to advance a national microbusiness definition. While the issue gained traction across party lines, it’s not a current priority for Congress.

So what’s next? Elle breaks down how NAWBO is shifting from a federal legislative push to building coalitions, expanding state-level momentum and equipping chapters with the tools to drive change where it matters most. She also shares updates on NAWBO’s regional advocacy efforts and offers ways for all members to get involved, lend their voice and help shape the future of policy for women business owners.

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

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

What if the breakthrough you’re looking for isn’t at your desk? In this episode, Deanna Novak, NAWBO Institute Board Chair and founder of The Write Journeys, shares why stepping away from your day-to-day can be one of the most powerful things you do for your business.

From poolside ideas to “aha” moments in unexpected places, she explores how changing your environment sparks creativity, sharpens decision-making and helps you think bigger. She also gives a preview of an exciting retreat experience designed to do exactly that.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, stretched or simply ready for fresh perspective, this conversation is your invitation to step away—and move forward.

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

To learn more about the writer’s retreat, visit: https://writeawayretreats.com/ 

If you are a women business owner doing “good” on paper but still feeling stuck in the messy middle, this episode is for you.

In this NAWBO On the Go episode, NAWBO HQ’s Tonia Chagnon sits down with NAWBO National Board Chair Megan Patton to break down Strategic Leap, a growth-focused program built for NAWBO members who are ready to scale and want real structure, real support, and a clearer path forward.

We talk about who Strategic Leap is designed for (including the revenue range), why the experience is intentionally curated, and what topics help women business owners move from “busy and stuck” to scalable and strategic. Megan also shares key community updates, including a reminder about Legacy Lifetime Membership (limited spots) and why NAWBO Days in Washington, DC matters more than ever.

What we cover in this episode:

Who Strategic Leap is for (and why it is not for “just curious”)

What it looks like to scale from $250K toward $1M with a stronger foundation

The business-building topics that move the needle (KPIs, team, SOPs, scalable models)

How NAWBO creates opportunity through community, leadership, and advocacy

Updates on Legacy Lifetime Membership and NAWBO Days

Learn more about NAWBO: https://nawbo.org

Subscribe for more episodes of NAWBO On the Go.

Chapters (timestamps):

00:00 Welcome + what we are talking about

00:38 What is Strategic Leap?

04:07 Who Strategic Leap is for

05:12 What the experience is designed to do

06:12 The growth topics you will cover

13:14 Why Megan is all-in on this work

15:17 Legacy Lifetime Membership update

16:10 NAWBO Days in Washington, DC (Advocacy Day)

What happens when women business owners’ biggest concerns are carried straight to Capitol Hill?

Elle Patout, NAWBO National’s Director of Advocacy and Public Relations, joins the conversation to recap her recent trip alongside NAWBO’s CEO and National Board Chair.

From meetings with members of Congress to a conversation with a Minnesota representative on the Small Business Committee, they brought forward real-time challenges women business owners are facing across the country, with each conversation tailored to the office.

She also unpacks NAWBO’s latest survey results, revealing a notable shift in priorities this year. Taxes top the list of concerns, followed closely by AI, access to capital and workplace benefits. The changes signal a new chapter in the economic landscape and underscore why advocacy has never been more critical.

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

What if the perspective you need most is your own—from the future? Andrea Liebross, speaker, host of the She Thinks Big podcast and author of She Thinks Big: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Guide to Moving Past the Messy Middle and into the Extraordinary, joins the conversation to talk about what it takes for women entrepreneurs to think bigger about what’s possible.

This NAWBO Indianapolis member works with women founders whose businesses may look successful on the outside but feel exhausting on the inside. That constant pressure can keep even high-achieving leaders stuck in a cycle of playing small.

Andrea explains why big thinking requires trust and walks through a powerful exercise: imagining yourself in the future and asking, when faced with a challenge today, what would future you say? The answer just might change how you lead.

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