Returns on Resilience

By WEI Atlanta

Returns on Resilience is a podcast series from the Atlanta Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI), the nation's only municipally funded incubator for women entrepreneurs. Hosted by Dr. Dawn Sizemor... more

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FAQs about Returns on Resilience:

How many episodes does Returns on Resilience have?

The podcast currently has 4 episodes available.

Returns on Resilience episodes:

January 15, 2026The Cost of Being Underestimated
In this episode of Returns on Resilience, host Dr. Dawn Sizemore talks with WEI alumni Jenn Graham (Inclusivv) and Tamara Lucas (My PANDA) about the hidden costs of entrepreneurship (financial, emotional, and personal) and how they've reclaimed their businesses by rejecting conventional "growth at all costs" mentality in favor of sustainability and self-trust.

On Sacrifice & The Real Cost of Building
Time, finances, and emotional bandwidth as the entrepreneur's triple tax

Why not paying yourself early can backfire (COVID relief lesson)

The dangers of investor pressure to "spend money" and scale too fast
On Resilience & Reclaiming Your Company
Confronting worst-case scenarios to take back your power

Setting boundaries: no weekends, no after-6pm work

Moving from "harmful resilience" (battering through) to strategic shifts
On A Feminine Approach to Growth
Why "growth, growth, growth" can be detrimental

Equity crowdfunding as a community-aligned funding model

Getting money from customers vs. chasing VC validation
On Being Underestimated
The "lifestyle business" dismissal and being called "emotional"

Rebuilding investor trust through radical transparency

Forgiveness (of yourself and your investors) as a turning point
Key Takeaways
Pay yourself: It protects you and validates your role

Worst-case planning removes fear's power

Resilience isn't just endurance; it's knowing when to shift

Community-based funding can align with your values
Guests
Jenn Graham is the founder and CEO of Inclusivv (formerly Civic Dinners), a platform bringing meaningful conversations to corporations and organizations. After scaling to 26 employees and navigating down rounds, she reclaimed her company and reached profitability without additional funding.
Tamara Lucas is the founder and CEO of My PANDA (Personal Assistant Next Door App). A former sales executive and single mother, she bootstrapped her business through WEI and is now pursuing equity crowdfunding aligned with her community-first values.

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49min
January 12, 2026Investor Confessions
In this episode of Returns on Resilience, host Dr. Dawn Sizemore goes behind closed doors with three Atlanta investors to hear exactly what they see, think, and feel when founders pitch. Featuring Lisa Calhoun of Valor Ventures, Stephanie Diaz of Catalyst by WellStar, and Charles Robinson of 1888 Ventures, this candid conversation reveals insider truths about the funding process and what it really takes to win investor confidence.
GUEST BIOS
Lisa Calhoun is the managing partner and founder of Valor Ventures, which leads seed rounds in B2B AI and SaaS startups. She also founded Startup Runway Foundation, a nonprofit supported by Cox Enterprises and Georgia Power that provides grants to underrepresented founders. Companies that have pitched at Startup Runway have gone on to raise nearly $100 million in follow-on capital.
Stephanie Diaz is the principal of innovation and venture strategy at Catalyst by WellStar. Her journey spans pharma, healthcare, tech, and venture. She has worked extensively with female founders, previously hosting her own event series dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs. Her path to the investor side of the table brought her face-to-face with obstacles that exist for women both as investors and founders.
Charles Robinson is the managing partner and founder of 1888 Ventures, which invests in early-stage companies with ties to the Southeast. He is a former founder who has built companies from very beginning stages all the way to Series F, including work with Teamworks and Forward Cities building startup ecosystems throughout the country.
RESOURCES
Valor Ventures Deck Check AI: deckcheck.valor.vc/ (get same-day AI feedback on your deck)

Visit weiatlanta.com for more stories, resources, and ways to connect with the Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative community
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Invest Atlanta or the City of Atlanta. The program is committed to fostering inclusive entrepreneurship regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, ability, or background.
Produced by the Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative, Empowered by Invest Atlanta & Could Be Pretty Cool

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...more
40min
October 17, 2025The Cost of Being Underestimated
In this inaugural episode of Returns on Resilience, host Dr. Dawn Sizemore sits down with two Atlanta powerhouses, serial tech founder and ecosystem builder Jen Bonnett, and investor and Zane Venture Fund founder Shila Nieves Burney, for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build and fund successful women-led businesses.
On Money & Confidence (08:30)
Why asking for money is a learnable skill

The importance of financial literacy for founders

How to handle rejection and build confidence through practice

Why women founders need to own their CEO title
On Resilience & Vulnerability (13:46)
The difference between a marathon and a series of sprints

Why celebrating wins matters for long-term success

The critical importance of communicating both good and bad news to investors

How self-care and pauses fuel better decision-making
On Atlanta's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (23:26)
Why Atlanta is positioned to become a top-five tech hub

The city's commitment to equitable growth

How to retain the incredible talent coming from Atlanta's universities

The power of community in raising successful entrepreneurs
On Why Invest in Women (30:29)
Women-led companies return 30-33% more capital to investors

The social impact component of women-founded ventures

How women founders create cyclical investment in other women

The importance of not backing off on investments in female founders
You are the CEO: Only you can lead your company at this stage, own that role!

Practice asking for money: It's a learnable skill that gets easier with repetition

Communicate the bad news too: Regular transparency builds trust with investors

It takes a city: Success requires an entire ecosystem of support organizations

Women don't walk away: Female founders honor their commitments and make things happen
Jen Bonnett is a serial tech founder turned entrepreneurship ecosystem builder with nine startups under her belt. After spending ten years in corporate tech and taking a company public, she founded Startup Chicks in 2008 to support women entrepreneurs in Atlanta. Today, she works to make the entrepreneurial journey easier for all founders in metro Atlanta.
Shila Nieves Burney is the founder and managing partner of Zane Venture Fund, which has invested in nine portfolio companies and graduated over 100 companies from its programming. After a personal tragedy involving her daughter in 2019, Shila pivoted to venture capital to solve the access-to-capital problem facing entrepreneurs, particularly women and underrepresented founders.
Invest Atlanta

Zane Venture Fund
Visit weiatlanta.com for more stories, resources, and ways to connect with the Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative community.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Invest Atlanta or the City of Atlanta. The program is committed to fostering inclusive entrepreneurship regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, ability, or background.
Produced by the Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative, Empowered by Invest Atlanta & Could Be Pretty Cool

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...more
39min
October 17, 2025 Introducing: Returns on Resilience
About the Show
Returns on Resilience is the official podcast of the Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative, empowered by Invest Atlanta. Hosted by Dr. Dawn Sizemore, this podcast goes deeper than funding rounds and elevator pitches to explore the real stories behind women entrepreneurs building businesses in Atlanta's thriving innovation economy.
What to Expect
Each episode features candid conversations with founders, investors, and ecosystem builders who are shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Atlanta. From navigating capital raises to building confidence, from celebrating wins to communicating setbacks—this is where the honest conversations about women's entrepreneurship happen.
Why Listen?
Whether you're a founder looking for community, an investor seeking opportunities, or simply curious about Atlanta's entrepreneurial ecosystem, Returns on Resilience offers insights, inspiration, and actionable advice from those who are living it every day.

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...more
2min

FAQs about Returns on Resilience:

How many episodes does Returns on Resilience have?

The podcast currently has 4 episodes available.