Powerful Women: Off The Record

Special thanks to Sonali Vijayavargiya for joining me on this podcast!

Enjoy the “Powerful Women: Off the Record” podcast on Spotify, YouTube and all your favorite podcast platforms. New Episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Watch full video episodes on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/70nwWBPNyAIBmVy4FD5OZV

Watch full video episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYhSkYxWhZSzS4A-In3rcGw

Follow the podcast on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elisabethvealey

Connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eavealey/

Schedule a discovery call:

https://sophiusllc.com/

In this episode of Powerful Women Off the Record, Sonali Vijayavargiya challenges the traditional narrative of leadership by proving that empathy, wealth creation, and ambition can coexist. From India to the Midwest, she built a career around a central belief that impact happens when courageous ideas are given the opportunity to grow.

As the founder of a venture capital firm, Sonali is building bridges between visionary founders and the resources needed to create meaningful change in the world. Raised in India by parents who taught her to believe in herself and seek no permission, she shares how that philosophy shaped her career.

She reminds women that they belong in rooms where decisions are made, capital is deployed, and futures are built. Her message is simple but powerful: build your capabilities, build your community, and don’t carry the weight of your dreams alone.

Sonali Vijayavargiya is Founder and Managing Director of Augment Ventures, an early stage venture firm. A systems-thinker with financial rigor, she was one of the early backers of supply-chain unicorn LLamasoft. Today she leads Fund IV, deploying capital into AI-powered industrial, climate, and digital health platforms that reshape how we live, work and move goods.

Sonali previously took Rediff.com public on NASDAQ, mentors immigrant and women founders, and serves on multiple high growth boards. Her mission: compound economic and social returns by activating under networked innovators into category-defining leaders worldwide, proving diversity consistently drives superior performance.

Learn more:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonaliav/

https//www.youtube.com/@augmentventures

https://medium.com/@augmentventures360

https://augmentventures.com

Enjoy the “Powerful Women: Off the Record” podcast on Spotify, YouTube and all your favorite podcast platforms. New Episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYhSkYxWhZSzS4A-In3rcGw

Listen on Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/powerful-women-off-the-record/id1873433782

Watch full video episodes on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/70nwWBPNyAIBmVy4FD5OZV

Follow the podcast on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elisabethvealey

Connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eavealey/

Schedule a discovery call:

https://sophiusllc.com/

Special thanks to my son for designing and producing this podcast!

Special thanks to Judge Penny Wolfgang for joining me on this podcast!

Enjoy the “Powerful Women: Off the Record” podcast on Spotify, YouTube and all your favorite podcast platforms. New Episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Watch full video episodes on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/70nwWBPNyAIBmVy4FD5OZV

Watch full video episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYhSkYxWhZSzS4A-In3rcGw

Follow the podcast on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elisabethvealey

Connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eavealey/

Schedule a discovery call:

https://sophiusllc.com/

In this episode of Powerful Women: Off the Record, Judge Penny Wolfgang shares the extraordinary journey that led her from aspiring actress in New York City to attorney, broadcaster, and New York State Supreme Court Justice.

Penny reflects on the powerful influence of her father, who encouraged her to pursue law while supporting her love of theater, and the unwavering partnership of her husband, whose guidance helped her navigate major career decisions. Along the way, she discovered that the skills she developed on stage would later become invaluable in the courtroom, on television, and throughout her public life.

Drawing on decades of experience as both a public defender and judge, Penny offers thoughtful perspectives on mentorship, family, discipline, role models, and the societal patterns she observed throughout her career. She shares why staying open to feedback, trusting your instincts, and being willing to start before you're ready can often lead to life's greatest opportunities.

This conversation offers a rare glimpse into the wisdom gained from decades of public service and a life spent embracing opportunities that others may have overlooked.

Judge Penny Wolfgang is a former New York State Supreme Court Justice, longtime broadcaster, educator, and community leader whose career has spanned law, media, and public service. A trailblazer for women in the legal profession, she served on the Erie County Court and New York State Supreme Court while becoming one of Western New York's most recognizable voices through decades of television and radio broadcasting. A member of the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Judge Wolfgang continues to inform, educate, and engage audiences through her media work and community involvement.

Follow Judge Penny:

https://www.facebook.com/penny.wolfgang.98

https://www.facebook.com/wbbztv

Enjoy the “Powerful Women: Off the Record” podcast on Spotify, YouTube and all your favorite podcast platforms. New Episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYhSkYxWhZSzS4A-In3rcGw

Listen on Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/powerful-women-off-the-record/id1873433782

Watch full video episodes on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/70nwWBPNyAIBmVy4FD5OZV

Follow the podcast on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elisabethvealey

Connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eavealey/

Schedule a discovery call:

https://sophiusllc.com/

Special thanks to my son for designing and producing this podcast!

Special thanks to Jodi Johnston for joining me on this podcast!

Enjoy the “Powerful Women: Off the Record” podcast on Spotify, YouTube and all your favorite podcast platforms. New Episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Watch full video episodes on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/70nwWBPNyAIBmVy4FD5OZV

Watch full video episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYhSkYxWhZSzS4A-In3rcGw

Follow the podcast on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elisabethvealey

Connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eavealey/

Schedule a discovery call:

https://sophiusllc.com/

In this episode of Powerful Women: Off the Record, Jodi Johnston shares a deeply personal story of career reinvention, faith, and finding balance.

Jodi shares her remarkable journey from a highly visible career in television news to an unexpected and fulfilling second chapter in banking and corporate communications. After years of early mornings, public scrutiny, and sacrificing personal time, she realized something was out of alignment. Trusting her faith and intuition, she made the difficult decision to leave a successful career behind and step into unfamiliar territory.

Jodi opens up about the challenges of leaving behind colleagues who felt like family, navigating public criticism, and rebuilding confidence in a new industry. She also reflects on a serious health scare that forced her to confront the physical toll of years of relentless schedules and burnout.

Through the conversation, Jodi reflects on the importance of mentorship, the lessons that come from failure, the value of constructive feedback, and why true leadership is rooted in humility, service, and helping others grow. She also shares how a serious health crisis became a wake-up call that reinforced the importance of balance and self-care.

Above all, Jodi reminds us that growth often begins when we are willing to trust the unknown and embrace opportunities that don't fit the plan we originally imagined.

Learn more about Jodi:

Jodi Johnston is an award-winning communicator, former television news anchor, and respected community leader. After more than 20 years in broadcast journalism, she built a second career in corporate communications, helping organizations navigate public relations, community engagement, and strategic storytelling.

Known for her commitment to mentorship, service, and leadership, Jodi has dedicated her time and talents to numerous nonprofit organizations, helping create meaningful impact beyond the workplace.

Enjoy the “Powerful Women: Off the Record” podcast on Spotify, YouTube and all your favorite podcast platforms. New Episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYhSkYxWhZSzS4A-In3rcGw

Listen on Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/powerful-women-off-the-record/id1873433782

Follow the podcast on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elisabethvealey

Connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eavealey/

Schedule a discovery call:

https://sophiusllc.com/

Special thanks to my son for designing and producing this podcast!

Special thanks to Laura Jimenez-Holmes for joining me on this podcast!

Enjoy the “Powerful Women: Off the Record” podcast on Spotify, YouTube and all your favorite podcast platforms. New Episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Watch full video episodes on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/70nwWBPNyAIBmVy4FD5OZV

Watch full video episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYhSkYxWhZSzS4A-In3rcGw

Follow the podcast on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elisabethvealey

Connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eavealey/

Schedule a discovery call:

https://sophiusllc.com/

Laura Jimenez-Holmes joins Powerful Women: Off the Record for a heartfelt conversation about reinvention, self-trust, motherhood and embracing the unknown.

After years of following a traditional path of success, Laura reached a point where everything externally looked right—but internally felt misaligned. Faced with major life transitions and uncertainty, she made the difficult decision to leave a stable corporate career and pursue a vision that had quietly been calling her for years.

Laura shares how athletics, coaching, mentorship, and family support shaped her leadership style and gave her the confidence to evolve into the next version of herself. She also speaks candidly about people-pleasing, learning to say no, financial literacy, and the transformative experience of becoming a mother.

Throughout the episode, Laura offers refreshing honesty about:

• Trusting your instincts even when others don’t understand

• The value of financial independence and preparedness

• Why failure is often preparation in disguise

• The emotional shifts that come with motherhood

• How boundaries create stronger relationships

• Letting go of the pressure to have life figured out immediately

This conversation is both grounding and inspiring—a reminder that the path forward is rarely linear, but growth happens when we have the courage to keep going anyway.

Learn more about Laura Jimenez-Holmes:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurajimenez-holmes

Https://instagram.com/laurajimenezholmes

https://www.facebook.com/laura.c.jimenez.37

Enjoy the “Powerful Women: Off the Record” podcast on Spotify, YouTube and all your favorite podcast platforms. New Episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYhSkYxWhZSzS4A-In3rcGw

Follow the podcast on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elisabethvealey

Connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eavealey/

Schedule a discovery call:

https://sophiusllc.com/

Special thanks to my son for designing and producing this podcast!

Special thanks to Julia Faller for joining me on this podcast!

Enjoy the “Powerful Women: Off the Record” podcast on Spotify, YouTube and all your favorite podcast platforms. New Episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Watch full video episodes on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/70nwWBPNyAIBmVy4FD5OZV

Watch full video episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYhSkYxWhZSzS4A-In3rcGw

Follow the podcast on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elisabethvealey

Connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eavealey/

Schedule a discovery call:

https://sophiusllc.com/

In this episode of Powerful Women: Off the Record, Julia Faller shares a powerful story about building a meaningful career, raising a family, and leading with empathy — all while staying deeply connected to community and purpose.

From moving from Canada to the United States as a young military wife, to entering medical school with an infant at home, Julia reflects on the importance of partnership, resilience, mentorship, and finding strength through the people around us.

Now a physician and healthcare executive, Julia opens up about the realities of leadership, the responsibility that comes with influence, and why empathetic leadership matters more than ever.

This conversation explores:

• Building a career while raising children

• The importance of supportive partnerships

• Women in medicine and leadership

• Mentorship and lifting others up

• Leadership responsibility and emotional intelligence

• Community, family, and finding balance

This episode is a reminder that leadership does not always arrive with a grand plan — sometimes it grows quietly through service, consistency, and showing up for others.

Learn more about Julia Faller:

www.roswellpark.org/julia-faller

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-faller-792b24126

Enjoy the “Powerful Women: Off the Record” podcast on Spotify, YouTube and all your favorite podcast platforms. New Episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYhSkYxWhZSzS4A-In3rcGw

Follow the podcast on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elisabethvealey

Connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eavealey/

Schedule a discovery call:

https://sophiusllc.com/

Special thanks to my son for designing and producing this podcast!