Per Her Perspective

In this insightful episode of Per Her Perspective, host Marla Noel sits down with Teri Bassman, Chief Culture Officer and co-owner of Bassman Blaine, a family-led home furnishings company that has been shaping the industry since 1984. From growing up as an IBM “transfer kid” who had to make new friends every couple of years, to helping lead a company through recessions, rapid growth, and a global pandemic, Teri shares how adaptability, integrity, and clear priorities became the backbone of her leadership.

Marla and Teri explore how Bassman Blaine evolved from a scrappy sales agency into a respected, people-centered organization recognized as one of Orange County’s best places to work. Teri talks about the power of clarity and accountability, the TIGER values that anchor their culture, and why hiring for alignment is just as important as hiring for talent. She also opens up about being in the “sandwich generation,” raising three daughters while caring for aging parents, finding balance through pickleball and meditation, and the role Women Presidents Organization has played in strengthening her voice as a leader.

Tune in for a candid, encouraging conversation about building a business that honors your values, supporting your team through change, and staying grounded while you grow something that lasts.

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Marla Noel is the creator and host of the Per Her Perspective podcast: a series of raw, relatable conversations about leadership, challenges, and building companies with the support of smart peers. With riveting episodes available on all major platforms, the show inspires business owners to grow their businesses and make bold decisions with the input of others to achieve greater success and profitability. To learn more about Marla, visit www.OCGrowthAdvisors.com

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3LED3TL
🟢 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4oMVKTH
▶️ YouTube: http://bit.ly/49Vz3bm

In this powerful episode of Per Her Perspective, host Marla Noel sits down with Britt Houd, owner of AlphaGraphics West Houston, to explore how a small-town girl, childhood cancer survivor, and lifelong daydreamer grew into a grounded, heart-centered leader.

Britt shares how stepping into her family’s print and marketing business became an unexpected path to entrepreneurship, and how she has reshaped the company into a people-first, culture-driven operation. Marla and Britt talk about the realities of running a multi-generational business, the role of energy and enthusiasm in growth, and why honest conversations and accountability matter so much in leadership.

Along the way, Britt reflects on the support of her husband, the legacy of her grandfather, the lessons she is passing on to her children, and her dreams for the next decade, including writing a book and creating a space for healing and leadership development. This is an inspiring conversation about courage, ownership, and giving yourself grace while you build the life and business you want.
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Marla Noel is the creator and host of the Per Her Perspective podcast: a series of raw, relatable conversations about leadership, challenges, and building companies with the support of smart peers. With riveting episodes available on all major platforms, the show inspires business owners to grow their businesses and make bold decisions with the input of others to achieve greater success and profitability. To learn more about Marla, visit www.OCGrowthAdvisors.com

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3LED3TL
🟢 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4oMVKTH
▶️ YouTube: http://bit.ly/49Vz3bm

When Carolina Alvarez’s client told her she had 30 days to start her own business or lose the contract, she didn’t hesitate. With a newborn at home and no safety net, she said yes and turned that leap of faith into two thriving, women and minority owned companies: J&S Building Maintenance and J&S Construction Cleanup.

In this episode, host Marla Noel dives into Carolina’s journey, unpacking how courage, competitiveness, and people-first leadership became the foundation for her success. A lifelong athlete, Carolina shares how sports shaped her drive, discipline, and teamwork - lessons she still applies in business today. She also reveals the story behind her company motto, “Safety First, Quality Always,” and how that simple phrase evolved into a culture built on accountability, care, and integrity.

They discuss the real side of growth: learning to trust and delegate, setting KPIs, building scalable systems, and protecting time for both business and family. Carolina talks about how programs like Stanford LBAN, Harvard’s executive education, and WPO have helped her refine her strategy, strengthen her mindset, and keep learning as her companies expand. She also shares how giving back through her employee-led charitable committee and partnerships keeps her team connected to purpose.

Both grounded and full of energy, Carolina’s story is a masterclass in building with heart, leading with grit, and proving that saying yes before you’re ready can change everything.

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Marla Noel is the creator and host of the Per Her Perspective podcast: a series of raw, relatable conversations about leadership, challenges, and building companies with the support of smart peers. With riveting episodes available on all major platforms, the show inspires business owners to grow their businesses and make bold decisions with the input of others to achieve greater success and profitability. To learn more about Marla, visitwww.OCGrowthAdvisors.com

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3LED3TL
🟢 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4oMVKTH
▶️ YouTube: http://bit.ly/49Vz3bm

In this heartfelt episode of Per Her Perspective, host Marla Noel sits down with Becky Robbins, WPO Chapter Chair for Northern Colorado and Houston, to explore a remarkable journey of resilience, leadership, and lifelong purpose.

From humble beginnings as the eldest of eight in a working-class family to leading global consulting projects across continents, Becky shares how integrity, communication, and vision shaped her career and her life.

Together, Marla and Becky discuss what it means to hold people accountable with compassion, create success through language, and lead with kindness in an increasingly divided world. Becky also opens up about love, loss, and the power of mentorship and how her purpose continues through her work helping women in business fulfill their dreams.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation on courage, connection, and creating a happy, healthy, loving, and wealthy life.
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Marla Noel is the creator and host of the Per Her Perspective podcast: a series of raw, relatable conversations about leadership, challenges, and building companies with the support of smart peers. With riveting episodes available on all major platforms, the show inspires business owners to grow their businesses and make bold decisions with the input of others to achieve greater success and profitability. To learn more about Marla, visit www.OCGrowthAdvisors.com

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3LED3TL
🟢 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4oMVKTH
▶️ YouTube: http://bit.ly/49Vz3bm

Behind many thriving women-led businesses is a leader navigating the realities of perimenopause and midlife change. In this episode, Marla Noel sits down with Dr. Arianna Sholes-Douglas, board-certified OB/GYN, integrative women’s health expert, author of The Menopause Myth, and founder of Tula Wellness & Aesthetics, to talk candidly about hormone health, brain fog, intimacy, and the business systems that keep leaders steady through it all.

Together, they unpack the “myths” that leave women unprepared in their late 30s and 40s, why evidence-based hormone therapy and intimate wellness matter for performance at work, and how Dr. Arianna evolved from corporate medicine to a concierge model serving entrepreneurs and executives. She shares hard-won founder lessons, plus how meditation and mindset help reduce drama, improve decision-making, and support sustainable growth.

Practical, holistic, and refreshingly real, this conversation is a toolkit for leaders who want less chaos, more clarity, and a business (and life) that actually feels good.

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Marla Noel is the creator and host of the Per Her Perspective podcast: a series of raw, relatable conversations about leadership, challenges, finding resources and solutions in running a business, many times, with the help of other smart people in peer groups. With riveting episodes available live on all major platforms, the show inspires business owners to grow their businesses and make bold decisions with the input of others to achieve greater success and profitability. To learn more about Marla, visit www.OCGrowthAdvisors.com.

Behind every successful business is a story of grit, growth, and lessons learned. In this episode, Marla Noel sits down with Pete Fowler, founder of Pete Fowler Construction Services, to explore how he built a nationwide consulting firm rooted in integrity and discipline.

Together, Pete and Marla wrote the book on healthy leadership, Drama Free Management, where they outline practical ways to transform high-drama workplaces into high-performance teams. That same philosophy runs through their conversation as Pete reflects on the values that drive his company and shares what construction leaders and entrepreneurs can learn about risk management, leadership, and building strong teams.

Along the way, he highlights the role of mentors, peer groups, and clear processes in turning challenges into sustainable growth. This conversation offers straightforward insights for anyone looking to reduce drama, strengthen their business, and lead with purpose.

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Marla Noel is the creator and host of the Per Her Perspective podcast: a series of raw, relatable conversations about leadership, challenges, finding resources and solutions in running a business—often with the help of other smart people in peer groups. With riveting episodes available live on all major platforms, the show inspires business owners to grow their businesses and make bold decisions with the input of others to achieve greater success and profitability. To learn more about Marla, visit www.OCGrowthAdvisors.com

Most leaders experience “WTF moments”—those unexpected disruptions that force a decision between reaction and intentional pivot. For Danielle Sprouls, founder of Unscripted Pivots LLC and author of WTF: Women That Flourish, those moments became the foundation of a leadership framework centered on turning fear into fuel, failure into wisdom, and focus into momentum.

In this episode, host Marla Noel explores how Danielle reframes fear through her “Worth The Fear” philosophy, showing how forward movement often begins in discomfort. She discusses the discipline behind narrowing priorities instead of chasing every opportunity, and how concepts like “Win Tiny First” create meaningful progress in high-stakes environments. The conversation also examines money as a source of voice and agency, and why intentional networks and peer groups become strategic assets in leadership.

This episode offers a clear lens for leaders navigating change, combining practical structure with the kind of clarity and humor that make hard pivots possible—and sustainable.

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Marla Noel is the creator and host of the Per Her Perspective podcast: a series of raw, relatable conversations about leadership, challenges, finding resources and solutions in running a business, many times, with the help of other smart people in peer groups. With riveting episodes available live on all major platforms, the show inspires business owners to grow their businesses and make bold decisions with the input of others to achieve greater success and profitability. To learn more about Marla, visit www.OCGrowthAdvisors.com

When a tropical storm swept through Houston just days after she opened her first gymnastics gym, Carly Markesich faced the kind of test that defines an entrepreneur’s spirit. Instead of walking away, she rebuilt, turning an early setback into the foundation for Discover Gymnastics, a thriving business she led for 26 years before selling to one of her longtime employees.

In this episode, Marla Noel talks with Carly about the evolution of that journey: from bootstrapping with a $50,000 loan and learning to navigate cash flow, to creating systems and staff training programs that made her business stronger and more sustainable. She shares how lessons from the Women Presidents Organization (WPO) helped her professionalize operations, plan for a successful exit, and step into a new chapter as a WPO chair supporting other women entrepreneurs.

Carly’s story is a testament to grit, vision, and the power of process. From founding the Discover Fitness Foundation (DFF) to make movement accessible to children with special needs, to mentoring future leaders through peer learning, she continues to prove that resilience and purpose can turn any challenge into lasting impact.

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Marla Noel is the creator and host of the Per Her Perspective podcast: a series of raw, relatable conversations about leadership, challenges, finding resources and solutions in running a business, many times, with the help of other smart people in peer groups. With riveting episodes available live on all major platforms, the show inspires business owners to grow their businesses and make bold decisions with the input of others to achieve greater success and profitability. To learn more about Marla, visit www.OCGrowthAdvisors.com.

Every secure financial future begins with the decision to take control today. In this episode, host Marla Noel shares her passion for personal financial planning, offering clear, practical guidance to help listeners build confidence with their money, whether they’re just starting out in their 20s or rethinking goals later in life.

Drawing on her expertise as a CPA, business owner, and university instructor, Marla breaks down the essentials: budgeting, saving, managing debt, understanding 401(k) benefits, and setting SMART financial goals. She also explains how to create a personal financial statement, why quarterly check-ins matter, and the steps you can take right now to reduce financial stress and build long-term security.

This episode is packed with straightforward strategies and encouragement for anyone ready to stop feeling overwhelmed and start making empowered financial choices.

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Marla Noel is the creator and host of the Per Her Perspective podcast: a series of raw, relatable conversations about leadership, challenges, finding resources and solutions in running a business, many times, with the help of other smart people in peer groups. With riveting episodes live on all major platforms, the show inspires business owners to grow the business and make those bold decisions with the input of others to go bigger and more profitable. To learn more about Marla, visit www.OCGrowthAdvisors.com

Every thriving company begins with a founder willing to take risks and solve real problems. In this episode, Marla Noel sits down with Dr. Nicole Odom-Hardnett, the powerhouse behind FocusPoint Behavioral Health, to explore how she transformed a small practice into a multi-location enterprise—and why franchising is the next step in expanding access to care nationwide.

Dr. Odom-Hardnett opens up about the early obstacles that tested her resilience, from navigating licensing delays to managing financial strain, and the turning points that set FocusPoint on a growth path. She also reflects on the power of mentorship, the role of strategic hires, and the balance between leading a business and nurturing a blended family.

This conversation is packed with inspiration and hard-earned wisdom for entrepreneurs who want to scale with purpose, build strong teams, and leave a meaningful legacy.

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Marla Noel is the creator and host of the Per Her Perspective podcast: a series of raw, relatable conversations about leadership, challenges, finding resources and solutions in running a business, many times, with the help of other smart people in peer groups. With riveting episodes available live on all major platforms, the show inspires business owners to grow their businesses and make bold decisions with the input of others to achieve greater success and profitability. To learn more about Marla, visit www.OCGrowthAdvisors.com.