NAWBO ON THE GO

In this episode, Elle Patout—NAWBO’s Director of Advocacy and Public Relations—shares the extraordinary lengths NAWBO’s CEO and Board Chair go to each month to show up in person on Capitol Hill.

From planes to trains to automobiles, they travel coast to coast to ensure the voices of women business owners are heard. Elle offers a behind-the-scenes look at their most recent trip, including what they shared, what they learned and how NAWBO continues to show lawmakers that we’re a constant, credible presence.

This episode is part of the ongoing NAWBO Academy For Public Service™ series. To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org/

Sunitha Chandy, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Artesian Collaborative in Chicago, IL, challenges the idiom we often hear as women and entrepreneurs.

Instead of masking struggles and letting the pressure build, Sunitha explores how to direct your energy toward solving the root issues that stress you out. Tune in to discover a healthier, more empowering approach to life and business.

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

Ebony Whitson wouldn’t let a little thing like a high-speed car crash with the cake in the back ruin the dream wedding of one of her clients.

This founder of a Wisconsin-based full-service event production company talks keeping her cool under pressure and getting seriously creative but also lessons learned in the process. These things (and more) have helped her smash her first five years as a business owner.

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

Roslyn Rice, co-founder of DPI, LLC and past president of NAWBO South Florida, isn’t just an expert in business management, operations and HR—she’s also surrounded by twins!

As an identical twin, married to a twin and daughter of a fraternal twin, Roslyn has mastered the art of balancing identities, priorities and change.

In this episode, she shares her insights on navigating life’s biggest transitions, managing competing demands and embracing change with a positive, resilient mindset. 

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

Diana Doukas knows what it means to lean into transformation. As Head of Economic Opportunity & Advocacy for US Policy at Meta, she’s at the forefront of how AI is shaping the way we connect, work and grow.

In this episode, Diana breaks down how Meta and others are approaching AI innovation, the opportunities it’s opening for businesses and individuals alike and why this moment in tech is one we can all harness—on our own terms. Plus, she shares how she’s rediscovering her voice…literally.

Ready to explore what’s possible with AI? To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org

Terry Bradley Dunn knows the power of having—and using—your voice.

As founder of Tai-Lynn HR Solutions, she set out to support startups and nonprofits with the HR services they often go without.

As a longtime NAWBO member and current public policy chair of the Greater Raleigh chapter, she’s brought that same passion for advocacy from her college sorority days to the state and national stage on behalf of all women business owners.

Now, as the 2025 recipient of NAWBO’s Gillian Rudd Award, Terry shares what advocacy means to her, why this recognition is personal and how she continues to champion others every step of the way. “We have a voice and deserve the right to be heard,” she says. 

To learn more about this NAWBO award and others, visit: https://nawbo.org/awards

Suzanne Pease has worn just about every hat in NAWBO—from chapter leader to national board president—and today, she’s considered NAWBO’s unofficial historian.

A 37-year member and the 2025 recipient of the Susan Hager Award, Suzanne reflects on decades of service, leadership and impact.

She shares how NAWBO shaped her journey, why she always stepped up when asked and how she found success by lifting others and then stepping aside.

It’s a conversation full of wisdom, warmth and a deep love for a community that’s still changing the game for women business owners.

To learn more about this NAWBO award and others, visit: https://nawbo.org/awards 

Lynda Bishop, VP of National Programs for the NAWBO Institute, believes success shouldn’t be isolating. That’s why she leads the Circle program—a powerful 12-month experience designed exclusively for women whose businesses generate $1 million or more in annual revenue.

In this episode, Lynda shares how the Circle was created to connect and support the top 2% of women business owners who are often leading at levels where peer support is rare.

She talks about what makes the Circle so impactful, what these high-achieving women need most and why community matters even more at the top. Plus, a fun fact: Lynda is one of those rare people who truly loves change.

To explore NAWBO’s Circle and other Institute programs, visit: https://nawboinstitute.org

Aquila Mendez-Valdez didn’t initially envision herself as a business owner—but becoming a mom of two was the spark that lit her entrepreneurial fire.

Today, as founder of Haute in Texas and Haute in Network Agencies, she leads a thriving PR and marketing firm and franchise dedicated to helping female founders build bold, beautiful brands that shine—online and off.

Aquila, a NAWBO San Antonio member and finalist for the 2025 Woman Business Owner of the Year Award, sponsored by Bank of America, shares her journey from small-town farm life to powerhouse agency leader, how storytelling became her superpower and why motherhood was the unexpected catalyst for a career she loves.

To learn more about this NAWBO award and others, visit: https://nawbo.org/awards 

Christine E.B. Howard didn’t just stumble into the innovation ecosystem—she built a business to support it.

As founder of E.B. Howard Consulting and a NAWBO Buffalo Niagara member, Christine works with startups and support organizations to find funding and write and evaluate grants that bring breakthrough ideas to life.

A finalist for the 2025 Woman Business Owner of the Year Award, sponsored by Bank of America, Christine shares how she turned her passion for funding innovation into a thriving consultancy, what excites her most about emerging tech and why seeing big visions become reality is the ultimate reward.

To learn more about this NAWBO award and others, visit: https://nawbo.org/awards