✨ Too many women hesitate to negotiate, undervalue their skills, or struggle to navigate workplace power dynamics—often without realizing the cost. In this episode, we uncoverthe hidden price of playing small and what it takes tostep into your worth with confidence.

Buildingepisode 5 with Feriel Aliouchouche, an international labor law lawyer who broke down the importance of financial independence, we’re now reflecting on our biggest takeaways. From learning how to negotiate to embracing your unique identity in the workplace, we dive deep into the lessons that can transform how you see yourself—and what you allow yourself to ask for.

🗣️“Your worth is not just about money—it’s about how you see yourself and what you allow yourself to ask for.”

🎧LISTEN IN ON THE CONVERSATION:

💜The real cost of playing small
Why so many women hesitate to negotiate—and how it impacts your career and future earnings.

💜Negotiation is a skill—not a personality trait
How to shift from “I’m just grateful to be here” to confidently stating your value.

💜Turning ‘outsider’ status into your superpower
Our personal experiences of navigating workplaces as immigrants and why embracing your uniqueness is an advantage.

💜The power of owning your story
How shifting the way you present yourself can open new doors—whether in job interviews, salary talks, or leadership roles.

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✨  Meet Feriel Aliouchouche

An international lawyer breaking barriers in labor law and gender equality. Her story reveals how financial independence can transform not just your career but your confidence and choices.

We sat down with the fierce and compassionate Feriel to discuss her journey and share insights on financial literacy. With over a decade of experience in labor law and a deep commitment to the EU Pay Transparency Directive, Feriel’s perspective on financial independence is practical, transformative, and deeply relatable.

🗣️ “Dare to negotiate. Even if the answer is no, asking the question plants a seed — your ambition deserves to be acknowledged.”

LISTEN IN ON THE CONVERSATION:

💜 Breaking free from 'underprivileged' stereotypes

• From growing up in the Paris suburbs to becoming a leader in international law.

💜 How you must get good at negotiating pay:

• Why women need to ask the tough questions and claim their financial worth.

💜 The game-changing EU Pay Transparency Directive:

• How this groundbreaking legislation aims to close gender pay gaps and empower employees.

💜 Essential for financial literacy for the workplace:

• From understanding employment contracts to aligning ambition with opportunity.

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✨ Pull back the curtain with us on our first annual end-of-year recap. In this honest and passionate episode, Nina and Jocelyn share the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned from a year of leading the Raising Women Podcast. We’re reflecting on the realities of what it takes to confront fear, embrace vulnerability, and build a partnership rooted in trust and shared purpose.

Looking ahead to 2025, Jocelyn is focusing on health and resilience, while Nina is diving deep into driving social change. We’re sharing why these goals matter to us and how we’re planning to achieve them—through intentional steps, finding accountability partners, and embracing the courage to have honest conversations. And we’re challenging you to do the same: choose a goal that aligns with your aspirations and take that first step forward.

Listen in as we share how to transform intentions into actions, how to find strength in community, and how to celebrate progress—no matter how small.

🗣️ "It doesn’t matter what you want to do with your life. There’s no right or wrong in my opinion, as long as it’s your choice. As long as it’s not a circumstance that you’re in because of your lack of awareness or knowledge or whatnot. And that’s what I hope with this podcast we are going to, in some way, give—an informal education, access to women everywhere." - Nina

LISTEN IN ON THE CONVERSATION:

💜  How Jocelyn is tackling her hardest challenge—health and fitness—and why she believes building physical strength is the key to unlocking her full potential.

💜 Why Nina is reconnecting with her roots in social change and how embracing fear has helped her reignite her passion for advocacy.

💜 The truth about building partnerships: the balance of trust, shared vision, and navigating disagreements with dignity.

💜 The one actionable step we recommend to set goals that truly matter—and how to find someone to hold you accountable along the way.

💜 Why it’s not just about achieving goals, but about creating a foundation for empowerment that lasts well beyond 2025.

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✨ Heather Thornton, a former US public diplomacy officer turned head of a school board during covid to teaching English in the Peace Corps, shares her journey from a book-loving introvert in Virginia to a global changemaker.

Inspired by her mother’s dedication to service, Heather navigated a period of uncertainty before carving out a purpose-driven career in diplomacy, education, and social change. Along the way, Heather immersed herself in community development across countries like Guatemala, India, and Brazil, gaining invaluable lessons about empathy, resilience, and breaking societal norms.

Nina and Jocelyn explore Heather’s experiences, uncovering the rewards and challenges of living intentionally and using every moment to create meaningful global impact.

🗣️ "You can only let fear dictate your life for so long. And ultimately you just have to pick up one foot and step forward. You go somewhere, even if you don't know where you're going." - Heather Thorton

LISTEN IN ON THE CONVERSATION:

💜 Navigating Challenges Abroad

• ​Stories from Heather’s immersive community development work in Guatemala, India, and Brazil, including the emotional and physical demands of working in underserved areas.

💜 Diplomacy and Advocacy:

• ​Insights from Heather’s role as a public diplomacy officer, where she amplified voices and built bridges between cultures.

💜 Leadership in Education:

• ​Her time serving on a school board, contributing to policies that prioritize equity and learning outcomes.

💜 Service through Education:

• ​Heather’s work as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching literacy to children in Grenada and how it shaped her worldview.

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In this heartfelt episode, we explore the transformative power of women’s sharing circles—a place where genuine sisterhood unfolds and women find strength, connection, and courage to be themselves. Episode host Jocelyn Lee, founder of Women's Sharing Circles (WSC), and special guest Johanna Wallner, a participant-turned-leader in WSC, share the magic that happens when women come together in supportive spaces.

✨ LISTEN IN ON THE CONVERSATION:

💜 What Is a Women’s Sharing Circle?
Discover the essence of women’s sharing circles and the special role they play in fostering authentic sisterhood. These circles aren't just safe spaces—they're brave spaces where women can show up fully, feel seen, and know they belong at every chapter of their journey.

💜 Sisterhood in Action: Johanna’s Journey
Johanna Wallner is a beautiful example of how transformative these circles can be. From participant to facilitator to leader of the community, Johanna’s story reveals how a circle’s support and shared wisdom have deeply enriched her life and leadership.

💜 The 5 Guiding Principles of a Women’s Sharing Circle
Jocelyn and Johanna dive into the core values that make WSC an empowering space for women to rise together

1. Replace Judgment with Curiosity – A shift to openness that invites understanding and acceptance.
2. Active Listening with Your Whole Self – Listening with presence and intention, creating a space where every voice is honored.
3. Speak with Self-Awareness – Fostering a culture where everyone can share honestly and thoughtfully.
4. Consent to Comment – Respecting each person’s story and only offering insights when invited.
5. Confidentiality of Identity – Upholding privacy, trust, and sacredness of shared experiences.

💜 Creating Sisterhood, Rising Together
Learn how the circle helped Johanna navigate her life and why it’s a powerful experience we want every woman to discover. Women’s sharing circles are the foundation of Raising Women—they're the soil from which real connection and growth emerge.

Listen in on two long time friends and community sisters as they celebrate each other, sisterhood, and the beauty of rising together.

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Welcome to the very first episode of Raising Women!

Join your hosts Nina and Jocelyn as they kick off this journey by sharing a bit about themselves, their vision for this podcast, and the inspiration behind it.

In this episode, you'll get to know their backstories, their mission to empower and uplift women, and what it means to be part of a community dedicated to:

• driving social change,
• embracing freedom and financial independence,
• fostering health and wellness,
• and building strong, meaningful relationships

Tune in to discover the kind of honest conversations, inspiring stories, and transformative insights you can expect in future episodes. Whether you're seeking motivation, connection, or just a dose of real talk, Raising Women is here for you.

To womanhood in sisterhood!

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