NAWBO ON THE GO

Bonnie Chavez, CEO of Building Beloved Communities in Roanoke, VA, grew up in a small town in Southern New Mexico where economic opportunity was scarce.

Her family often relied on food boxes, and just as often, served on the other side of the line—sorting, packing and distributing food. Those early lessons in service and connection shaped her life’s work and leadership. In this episode, Bonnie shares how deep listening, compassion and a simple cup of coffee can create space for partnership and belonging.

She unpacks the inspiration behind her company’s name, drawn from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of a world without poverty, bigotry or racism, and challenges us to ask: How do we translate vision into everyday actions that move us closer to a truly beloved community?

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

Shawnda Sparks isn’t just a seasoned wealth advisor at Perspective Financial Group—she’s also a certified scuba diver of 13 years.

In this episode, she takes a deep dive into smart financial strategies for business owners. From choosing the right retirement plans to maximizing tax deductions and structuring compensation, Shawnda shares expert insights to help you and your employees build lasting wealth.

Don’t miss these game-changing tips that could transform your financial future!

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

After a historic 43-day government shutdown, NAWBO’s Advocacy Director Elle Patout returns with an inside look at a productive week on Capitol Hill.

She breaks down what unfolded during the shutdown and what women business owners can expect as Congress heads into late-January negotiations. At the center of it all? The unresolved future of Affordable Care Act subsidies, and the potential impact rising healthcare costs could have on individuals and small businesses.

Elle also shares what she’s seeing in the current political climate: renewed energy around accountability and transparency and very different dynamics in the Senate and House. As always, she offers a nonpartisan look at what’s at stake now that we’re back in business, and what comes next.

To fill out the survey, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NAWBO_General_2025

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

For many women entrepreneurs, the world of WBE and MWBE certification can feel confusing—like a box they’re not sure they fit into.

Dr. Lena Graham and Molly Gimmel, members of the NAWBO Institute Certification Committee, are here to clear things up. In this episode, they share why certification is always a good thing for business, from establishing credibility to opening doors with corporations and government entities.

They also explore how certification serves as a powerful business development tool and why it’s still highly relevant today and even share a few fun facts, including Lena’s past as a celebrity makeup artist and Molly’s HGTV obsession.

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

Hema Crockett has the kind of résumé most people dream of—international teacher, corporate leader and founder of Recalibrate Coaching in San Diego, CA. But behind the polished surface, she knew something was missing.

In this episode, Hema challenges the myth of work/life balance and reframes life as one fluid experience: sometimes work-heavy, sometimes life-heavy and always shifting.

From the grind of startups to a slower season in Nepal, she shares the turning points that helped her rebuild life and business on her own terms, plus how women entrepreneurs can move from juggling to true integration and reconnect with their authentic selves.

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

From biking 60 miles a day across Vietnam to raise money for women and girls, to helping people leave a lasting legacy through planned giving—Melissa Northway’s philosophy is simple: Say “yes” and go for it!

In this episode, Melissa, a California-based former NAWBO president, shares her powerful approach to creating lasting impact. She dives into how donors can align their charitable giving with their personal values, while providing long-term stability for the nonprofits they care about.

Ready to learn how to leave a legacy that truly matters?

Every gift counts for the NAWBO Institute and the more than 14 million U.S. women business owners we now serve. Please consider giving as you are able here. To discuss planned giving, reach out to Becky Ragan at [email protected]. 

After years in sales, business development and even helping roll out electric vehicle infrastructure, Stacy Huston hit a point where she couldn't picture what was next—until she quite literally said "yes" to everything.

That openness led her to SixDegrees.org, the nonprofit founded by Kevin Bacon that's reconnecting communities through storytelling and hands-on impact.

Now nine years into her role as Executive Director, this LA-turned-DC leader shares how disconnection is quietly eroding our society, and how businesses and their teams can change that while strengthening culture and the bottom line.

Plus, as an Office superfan (she's watched it more than a dozen times!) and true crime junkie, Stacy reminds us that joy and curiosity are both essential parts of saying yes to life.

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

After more than 25 years in corporate America working on mergers and acquisitions, Renita Wolf saw firsthand how many business owners weren’t prepared for what came after selling their companies.

That experience—combined with her family’s own small business roots—inspired her to launch Poe Wolf Partners, where she helps small and mid-market business owners prepare to exit on their own terms.

In this episode, Renita, a NAWBO Virtual member from Colorado Springs, CO, shares why she believes entrepreneurship is one of the most honorable professions and the surprising regret she often sees from business owners post-sale.

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

Debra Michals may binge true crime shows and dream of being a private investigator in her next life, but in this one, she’s an associate professor, historian, and author uncovering mysteries of a different kind: the untold stories of women in business.

A former journalist who wrote about women entrepreneurs breaking barriers, Debra turned her curiosity into a book after asking: Where did all these women business owners come from, and why was entrepreneurship such a powerful path for them?

In this episode, Debra takes us on a fascinating journey through the 20th century, from women starting businesses to stave off poverty to the rise of NAWBO in 1975 as the unified voice of women entrepreneurs. 

Debra’s book, She’s the Boss: The Rise of Women’s Entrepreneurship Since World War II is available on Amazon here. 

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

Paige Mecca, founder of Allegro Power in Buffalo, NY, believes meditation isn’t just personal—it’s a business strategy. By staying calm and centered, she leads with clarity and intuition while building a thriving renewable energy installation company.

In this episode, Paige explains why solar energy is one of the smartest moves businesses and families can make today, offering rare predictability in a volatile energy market.

She also shares how solar is tackling the global challenge of “energy poverty” through microgrids that power schools, clinics and small businesses in communities across Africa and Asia, and the inspiring work of her Solar Liberty Foundation, which has been advancing this mission for the past 18 years.

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