In a digital world that’s getting louder by the minute, how do you actually stand out in 2026?

In this powerful conversation, Allison Walsh is joined by a seasoned business coach who specializes in helping online coaches and service providers uncover their distinctive edge—the unique blend of story, strengths, and strategy that sets them apart. From building a multi–six figure network marketing business to pivoting into coaching and navigating entrepreneurship as a twin mom, she shares what it really took to align her message, niche, and business model.

You’ll learn why the 2026 online landscape demands deeper storytelling, clearer messaging, and simple frameworks—and why sticking with generic “tips and tricks” content will keep you invisible. Together, Allison and her guest break down the real steps to creating content that sounds like you, sells your expertise, and resonates with the right people.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How her journey from network marketing to coaching evolved over 10+ years
• Why becoming a mom of twins forced powerful business pivots that led to deeper alignment
• What a “distinctive edge” actually is—and how to identify the parts of your story and skill set that make you unforgettable
• How one client went from $4–5K months to consistent 10K months in just a few months heading into 2026
• Why story-based content outperforms generic educational posts in today’s algorithm
• How to pick the right story when you have too many to choose from
• Why a clear 3-step framework or signature process is a must-have in 2026 for high-ticket coaching
• How AI tools like ChatGPT can support you without erasing your human voice
• Why your story does NOT need to be dramatic to convert—emotion and relatability win
• The new 2026 definition of confidence and authenticity online

If you want to be remembered, recognized, and referred this year, this episode will give you the messaging clarity and storytelling strategy you need.

Memorable Moments / Highlights

• A decade-long evolution from network marketing to business coaching
• How motherhood catalyzed long-overdue business alignment
• The true meaning of a “distinctive edge” and why it matters more than ever in 2026
• The real client case study behind hitting consistent 10K months
• Why stories outperform “3 tips” posts—and what to create instead
• A simple filter for choosing the one story that positions your expertise
• The power of owning and articulating your framework
• How to use AI while still preserving your voice
• Why your quiet, ordinary story might be your most magnetic asset
• A refreshing definition of confidence rooted in authenticity

Connect with Meg:

Get the Business Story Blueprint here: https://meganyelaney.com/business-story-blueprint

Follow Meg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganyelaney

Listen to Business Not As Usual: https://meganyelaney.com/podcast

Connect with Allison:

Instagram → @allisonwalsh
Learn more about the Impact Brand Accelerator → https://bit.ly/impactbrandaccelerator

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on mindset, confidence, personal branding, business growth, and well-being: https://pod.link/1505347834 

💗 Sign Up for Allison's Newsletter: www.allisonwalshconsulting.com/newsletter

Connect with Allison

• Interested in working together? Fill out this form.
• www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh
• www.shebelievedbook.com
• www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Signature Course | Build Your Brand On Demand
• Download The Be Unforgettable Playbook
• Access The Impact Brand Accelerator
• Beauty Must-Haves! 

In this episode of the She Believed She Could™ Podcast, Allison Walsh sits down with Ashley Walker, founder of The CRE Mentor and partner at Millenia Partners, to unpack her journey from “dream corporate job” to thriving entrepreneur and mentor in commercial real estate.

Ashley shares how she walked away from prestige and paychecks to follow God’s lead, built a career in healthcare and medical real estate, and designed a flexible, family-first life. She also reveals how mentorship became her mission—helping other women in CRE find confidence, balance, and financial success on their own terms.

If you’ve ever felt called to do more, this episode will inspire you to take the leap, trust your gifts, and use your story to impact others.

In this episode:

• Leaving corporate life to follow a faith-led path
• Finding and owning your niche in commercial real estate
• How mentorship can change careers (and lives)
• Creating a flexible, family-first business model
• Building confidence through alignment with your purpose
• Turning your story into your next opportunity

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to She Believed She Could with Allison Walsh
01:10 Meet Ashley Walker & The CRE Mentor
03:00 Leaving corporate comfort for a faith-led path
05:00 Discovering commercial real estate and finding her niche
07:20 Betting on yourself and trusting the next step
10:00 Building a family-first career with flexibility
12:30 Creating The CRE Mentor to empower women
15:10 Mentorship in action: helping others thrive
18:00 Confidence, calling, and staying in your lane
21:00 Lessons from leaders and building boundaries
24:30 Final encouragement + where to find Ashley

Connect with Ashley:
Instagram → @thecrementor
Website → thecrementor.com
Ashley’s page → @ashleywalkercre

Connect with Allison:
Instagram → @allisonwalsh
Learn more about the Impact Brand Accelerator → https://bit.ly/impactbrandaccelerator

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on mindset, confidence, personal branding, business growth, and well-being: https://pod.link/1505347834 💗 Connect with Allison: www.allisonwalshconsulting.com/newsletter

Connect with Allison

• Interested in working together? Fill out this form.
• www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh
• www.shebelievedbook.com
• www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Signature Course | Build Your Brand On Demand
• Download The Be Unforgettable Playbook
• Access The Impact Brand Accelerator
• Beauty Must-Haves! 

🔥 Ready to create your impact-driven personal brand? Check out this free training 👉https://bit.ly/impactbrandaccelerator

In this inspiring episode of the She Believed She Could™ Podcast, host Allison Walsh sits down with her client Becca Powers, a USA Today Bestselling Author and Transformational Leadership Expert, to talk about how building her personal brand completely changed her life and career.

Before she became a bestselling author, Becca spent two decades leading Fortune 500 sales teams. By intentionally building a brand rooted in trust, authenticity, and purpose — she opened doors to writing, speaking, and creating her dream business.

You’ll learn:

✨ How to build a personal brand that unlocks new opportunities

✨ The mindset shifts that turn fear and perfectionism into confidence

✨ Why collaboration and celebration matter more than doing it alone

✨ How to apply the same energy you give your job to your own dreams

✨ The power of believing in yourself and sharing your story

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome to She Believed She Could with Allison Walsh

1:05 – The mindset shift that changes everything

3:15 – Meet Becca Powers: USA Today Bestselling Author & Leadership Expert

4:30 – From corporate career to bestselling author — how Becca built her brand first

6:20 – Why your personal brand is your bridge to new opportunities

8:10 – Rediscovering your authentic self

10:00 – The courage to dream again

12:30 – Joy, collaboration, and the myth of doing it alone

15:20 – Growth through teamwork and why businesses stop dreaming

18:10 – Overcoming complacency and reigniting your purpose

20:40 – Collaboration over isolation: why “who, not how” is the key to growth

23:30 – Building your personal brand as the foundation for every dream

26:00 – The power of believing in yourself and sharing your story

28:40 – The ripple effect of impact

31:00 – Stop overthinking your brand

33:20 – Keep showing up: how confidence is built through action

36:00 – Celebrating milestones and why high achievers struggle to pause

38:00 – The “helmet check” moment

39:00 – Reflections on success, gratitude, and lessons learned

39:31 – Closing thoughts and words of encouragement from Allison

📚 Featured Guest:

Becca Powers – USA Today Bestselling Author of Return to Radiance

Follow Becca: @beccapowers1313 | www.beccapowers.com

🎙️ Hosted by:

Allison Walsh | @allisonwalsh

Learn more: www.allisonwalshconsulting.com

🤩 Access the FREE Impact Brand Accelerator: https://bit.ly/impactbrandaccelerator

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes: https://pod.link/1505347834

💗 Connect with Allison: www.allisonwalshconsulting.com/newsletter

👉 Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh

Connect with Allison

• Interested in working together? Fill out this form.
• www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh
• www.shebelievedbook.com
• www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Signature Course | Build Your Brand On Demand
• Download The Be Unforgettable Playbook
• Access The Impact Brand Accelerator
• Beauty Must-Haves! 

In this special episode of the She Believed She Could™ Podcast, host Allison Walsh sits down with Carolina and Carlos Flores, founders of Hi Hello Labs, to talk about building a service driven brand, creating professional content that actually moves the needle, and why the right collaborators help you stay focused on your genius while they handle the execution.

We cover how to pitch and structure win win brand collaborations, the mindset blocks that keep creators from hitting publish, and real examples of media that created measurable community impact, including a UN project tied to YouTube Health and a corporate series that sparked donations and awareness.

• The power of partnership and staying in your lane
• Why professional content is a magnet for future opportunities
• Discovery before the pitch and how to over deliver for sponsors
• Breaking through perfectionism, fear, and imposter syndrome
• Accountability, confidence, and making it easy to hit publish
• From nonprofit storytelling to corporate campaigns with impact
• How Hi Hello Labs helps good people make good content

00:00 Welcome and why partnership matters
02:10 Meet Carolina and Carlos of Hi Hello Labs
06:30 From first studio session to full creative partnership
12:05 Content that creates real world impact
18:20 Pitching brands the right way and reporting outcomes
23:40 Mindset blocks and tools to move through them
29:55 Collaboration that compounds your mission
36:20 Corporate storytelling, community impact, and sponsorships
43:10 Confidence and showing up authentically
47:50 Where to find Hi Hello Labs

Website: hihellolabs.com
Instagram: @hihellolabs / @carlosflores / @carolinadiplanfloresd

Ready to turn your story into a service-driven brand that opens doors and expands your impact? 

🤩 Learn about the Impact Brand Accelerator and join the community of women who are doing the work.

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on mindset, confidence, personal branding, business growth, and well-being: https://pod.link/1505347834

🔥 Access FREE trainings and resources: https://www.allisonwalshconsulting.com/freebies

💗 Connect with Allison: www.allisonwalshconsulting.com/newsletter

Connect with Allison

• Interested in working together? Fill out this form.
• www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh
• www.shebelievedbook.com
• www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Signature Course | Build Your Brand On Demand
• Download The Be Unforgettable Playbook
• Access The Impact Brand Accelerator
• Beauty Must-Haves! 

As The Make a Difference Series comes to a close, we're taking time to reflect on the incredible women whose stories have inspired all of us to lead with purpose and serve with heart. This episode is a celebration of how faith, courage, and authenticity can create ripple effects of change that touch countless lives.

We revisit some of our favorite moments from the series — including Noelle Schnacky, Miss Florida’s Teen 2025, whose Hope for Heart Kids Foundation was born out of love and loss, supporting families impacted by congenital heart defects. We also highlight Christy Ashby and Kate Slentz, the powerhouse mother-daughter duo behind Orange Appeal Magazine and The Orlando Women’s Conference, who have built platforms that celebrate women and strengthen our community.

Paris Richardson, Miss Florida 2025, continues to inspire us through her C.R.O.W.N. of Health initiative, bringing wellness and education to children and families across Florida. Jaeann Ashton, Executive Director of Community Engagement at AdventHealth Central Florida, reminds us how compassion-driven leadership and listening first can transform the way we care for our communities We also share updates from Keesha Scott, whose honesty and courage around motherhood and recovery continue to inspire; Karen Keene, whose strength and advocacy following tragedy uplift women through mentorship; and Dr. Karwanna Irving, whose passion for helping women create wealth with purpose is transforming the entrepreneurial space.

Finally, we spotlight the continued work of Jessica Galo with Be a MindLeader and Johanna Kandel with The National Alliance for Eating Disorders, two women who continue to make monumental strides in mental health awareness and healing.

Each of these stories reflects the heart of what The Make a Difference Series stands for — women using their voices, their gifts, and their experiences to create lasting impact. We hope this finale reminds you that your light, your story, and your purpose truly have the power to make a difference.

…And because this series was such a success, we will be doing it again! Stay tuned for more information!

💖 Memorable Moments

• “When life feels heavy, I lean into my quiet time with God, trusting that what happens in private prepares me for what’s ahead.”
  — Noelle Schnacky, Founder of Hope for Heart Kids
• “When women collaborate instead of compete, entire communities grow stronger together.”
  — Christi Ashby, Co-Founder of Orange Appeal Magazine
• “Leadership isn’t about recognition — it’s about responsibility.”
  — Paris Richardson, Miss Florida 2025 & Founder of C.R.O.W.N. of Health
• “When organizations listen first and act with empathy, entire communities change for the better.”
  — Jaeann Ashton, Executive Director of Community Engagement, AdventHealth Central Florida
• “People don’t connect with perfection — they connect with authenticity.”
  — Keesha Scott, Founder of Cake for Dinner & Co-Founder of Guardian Recovery
• “Resilience is built one act of courage at a time.”
  — Karen Keene, Advocate & Mentor, Athena Next Gen Orlando
• “Confidence isn’t arrogance — it’s trusting the vision God has placed on your heart.”
  — Dr. Karwanna Irving, Founder of She’s Got Goals
• “One conversation can change — and even save — a life.”
  — Jessica Galo, Director of Specialty Care, AdventHealth for Children & Be a Mind Leader
• “When you turn your pain into purpose, your story becomes a lifeline for someone else.”
  — Johanna Kandel, Founder & CEO of The Alliance for Eating Disorders
• “Making a difference doesn’t always start big — it starts with one brave decision to say yes to the whisper inside that says, I can do something.”
  — Allison Walsh

• Additional Resources & Links
  • Connect with Allison: www.allisonwalshconsulting.com/newsletter
  • Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1505347834
• Thank you to our sponsors!
  • Learn more about AdventHealth for Women: www.AdventHealthforwomen.com
  • Get involved with Be a Mindleader: http://beamindleader.com/

Connect with Allison

• Interested in working together? Fill out this form.
• www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh
• www.shebelievedbook.com
• www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Signature Course | Build Your Brand On Demand
• Download The Be Unforgettable Playbook
• Access The Impact Brand Accelerator
• Beauty Must-Haves! 

This episode is a celebration of courage, compassion, and the power of purpose. Host Allison Walsh welcomes back her dear friend and changemaker Johanna Kandel, founder and CEO of the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, as they honor the organization’s 25th anniversary. What began as Johanna’s deeply personal mission to ensure no one felt as alone as she once did has evolved into one of the nation’s leading nonprofits—offering a free, therapist-led helpline and life-saving support groups that reach more than 30,000 people annually across 88 countries.

In this heartfelt conversation, Johanna opens up about transforming pain into purpose, leading with resilience, and creating a movement that has changed the landscape of eating disorder recovery. She shares lessons on courage, collaboration, and hope, revealing how her 21-year-old self’s determination became a global force for good. Listeners will walk away feeling inspired to believe in their own ability to create impact — and reminded that when we heal together, we rise together.

Together, they discuss:

• How Johanna turned her personal recovery into the National Alliance for Eating Disorders at age 21 and built it into a global lifeline.
• The Alliance’s real-world impact: therapist-led helplines (~8,000 calls/year), 21 free support groups, ~30,000 participants annually, and 290,000 searches on findedhelp.com.
• Why eating disorders are serious biopsychosocial brain illnesses (not vanity) and the importance of getting care from trained, specialty providers.
• How free, clinician-led support groups and peer connection (“healed people heal people”) close the access gap for people who can’t get traditional treatment.
• The role of social media, weight stigma, and emerging trends (including GLP-1 conversations) in shaping public understanding and care needs.
• Johanna’s innovation roadmap: partnering with social platforms and AI (OpenAI, Cloud, Gemini) to meet people where they are and expand reach.
• What’s next for the Alliance — an ambitious goal to scale the helpline to 7 days a week, increase funding and partnerships, and keep driving down stigma.
• How listeners can take action: share resources, support the Alliance, or find help via findedhelp.com.

Additional Resources & Links

• Connect with Allison: www.allisonwalshconsulting.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1505347834
• Thank you to our sponsors!
  • Learn more about AdventHealth for Women: www.AdventHealthforwomen.com
  • Get involved with Be a Mindleader: http://beamindleader.com/

Connect with Allison

• Interested in working together? Fill out this form.
• www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh
• www.shebelievedbook.com
• www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Signature Course | Build Your Brand On Demand
• Download The Be Unforgettable Playbook
• Access The Impact Brand Accelerator
• Beauty Must-Haves! 

On today’s episode of She Believed She Could™, host Allison Walsh welcomes Jessica Galo, Director of Specialty Care at AdventHealth for Children. With over 16 years of experience in pediatric care and a background in social work, Jessica has dedicated her career to supporting families facing the challenges of both physical and mental health.

Jessica oversees the Be a Mindleader initiative, a community-wide effort powered by AdventHealth for Children and Heart of Florida United Way. This movement encourages open conversations about mental health, equips parents and educators with actionable tools, and empowers kids to step into leadership roles as advocates for themselves and their peers. Together, Allison and Jessica discuss:

• The rising pediatric mental health crisis and the importance of early action.
  
   
• How Be a Mindleader is reducing stigma and creating safe spaces for conversations at home, in schools, and across communities.
  
   
• The importance of community collaboration in making resources accessible for families.
  
   
• The growth of the Mindleader Ambassador Program and why peer leadership is so powerful.
  
   
• Expanding support through multilingual resources and grassroots partnerships across Central Florida.
  
   

Listeners will also hear about real success stories, such as how AdventHealth’s embedded mental health counselors in primary care practices are helping families uncover the root causes of children’s struggles—including bullying and anxiety—and connecting them with the right support. This episode delivers inspiration, practical resources, and a reminder that one conversation can change, or even save, a life.

• On starting the movement: “This idea to have a stigma reduction campaign—or destigmatization campaign—which is what the Be a Mindleader movement is, really bubbled up… If you can have conversations when things are not in crisis, when they’re maybe littler feelings, then that allows you to have those bigger conversations later when the feelings are bigger and the stakes are higher.”
   
• On pandemic lessons: “The pandemic really shone a light on the impact to not only adults and mental health, but kids and mental health and well-being… that kind of was a spark to really get the attention of people that needed to be paying attention, including the healthcare world, but also donors, people in the community.”
   
• On community reach: “This is the first time in AdventHealth history where we have had a campaign in three different languages out in our community, and really targeted and meant to support the community.”
   
• On everyday parenting: “Car rides are a great time for us to connect with our kids. All of a sudden, they start opening up… And so it’s really just being intentional about providing that time, providing that space.”
   
• On empowering youth: “Being a part of the ambassador program, it allows a kiddo to say, ‘I am a Mindleader’… And kids are so excited to do this work.”

About Jessica Galo

Jessica Galo serves as the Director of Specialty Care at AdventHealth for Children, where she has spent more than 16 years leading efforts to support children with complex healthcare needs and their families. Trained as a social worker, Jessica has a passion for addressing the ripple effects of both physical and mental health challenges.

She leads the Be a Mindleader initiative, a groundbreaking campaign in partnership with Heart of Florida United Way that equips parents, educators, and kids with resources to strengthen mental wellness and remove the stigma around asking for help.

Jessica is also a proud mom of two and is passionate about teaching parents how to create intentional moments of connection with their children, fostering resilience and emotional well-being.

Resources & Links

• Connect with Allison: www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1505347834
• Learn more about AdventHealth for Women: www.AdventHealthforwomen.com
• Get involved with Be a Mindleader: http://beamindleader.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/LifeAtAdventHealthCFL/
• https://www.instagram.com/lifeatadventhealthcfl/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/adventhealthcfl/

Connect with Allison

• Interested in working together? Fill out this form.
• www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh
• www.shebelievedbook.com
• www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Signature Course | Build Your Brand On Demand
• Download The Be Unforgettable Playbook
• Access The Impact Brand Accelerator
• Beauty Must-Haves! 

The last three months of the year can make or break your momentum heading into the new one. Instead of waiting for January to set resolutions, what if you used this season to take aligned action, reset your focus, and create the foundation for your best year yet?

In this powerful solo episode, Allison dives deep into why the final 90 days of the year are a hidden opportunity for ambitious women who want to elevate their goals, stay consistent, and step into 2026 with confidence and clarity. You’ll walk away feeling inspired, intentional, and ready to show up for yourself in ways your future self will thank you for.

Why October is the perfect month to reset and refocus your goals.

The importance of clarity and alignment in the final stretch of the year.

How small, consistent actions compound into unstoppable momentum.

Why waiting until January slows you down—and what to do instead.

The mindset shift that turns the last 90 days into your launchpad for 2026.

Resources & Links

• Connect with Allison: www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1505347834
• Goal Setting Mini Course 
• Impact Brand Accelerator

Learn more about our sponsors!

• AdventHealth for Women: www.AdventHealthforwomen.com
• Get involved with Be a Mindleader: http://beamindleader.com/

Connect with Allison

• Interested in working together? Fill out this form.
• www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh
• www.shebelievedbook.com
• www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Signature Course | Build Your Brand On Demand
• Download The Be Unforgettable Playbook
• Access The Impact Brand Accelerator
• Beauty Must-Haves! 

In this inspiring episode of She Believed She Could™ Make a Difference Series, Allison Walsh welcomes Dr. Karwanna D. Irving, a powerhouse entrepreneur, speaker, and coach who has helped more than 6,000 business owners grow through government contracting opportunities. As the founder of She’s Got Goals, LLC, she’s making a difference by teaching women how to leverage federal, state, and local contracts to create sustainable, scalable, seven-figure businesses.

Together, they discuss:

• How Karwanna went from struggling entrepreneur to winning her first $70,000 government contract in just 28 days.
• The Small Business Act and why trillions of dollars are set aside every year for women-owned businesses.
• Success stories from her clients, including multi-million-dollar wins in industries ranging from leadership training to wigs and video production.
• Why you don’t need a big team to win — just resourcefulness, strategy, and the right guidance.
• Her book Don’t Duck the Government, They’ve Got Your Money and how she’s helping women shift their mindset to wealth and possibility.
   

Listeners will walk away with actionable insights on how to get started with government contracts, build wealth through service, and step confidently into the role of change-maker in their businesses and communities.

🌟 Memorable Moments

• (3:22) “I landed a contract for 28 days for $70,000. That was the first experience in contracting that I had.”
• (4:51) “The U.S. government is the number one biggest purchaser in the world, and they are obligated to do business with small businesses and women-owned businesses.”
• (7:05) “One of my clients, she was a nurse, landed a $2.7 million contract in nursing.”
• (9:44) “The government literally buys everything… One of my clients, she actually sells wigs, and these are prosthetic wigs that are $5,000 apiece.”
• (11:57) “You don’t need a team. You just need to be resourceful.”
• (13:32) “My book Don’t Duck the Government, They’ve Got Your Money is about how to pitch and win government contracts and make millions doing it.”
• (19:48) “To be confident is having faith that you know something is going to happen even if you haven’t seen the result yet. It’s a walk of faith.”

About Dr. Karwanna D. Irving: Dr. Karwanna D. Irving is a transformational speaker, author, and government contracts expert with more than 20 years of experience in business and leadership. She is the founder of She’s Got Goals, LLC, where she has helped over 6,000 entrepreneurs grow by teaching them how to secure government contracts. Her clients have generated over $32 million in contracting opportunities in just the last two years.

Karwanna is the author of Don’t Duck the Government, They’ve Got Your Money and the upcoming book A Journey to Millions, which helps women align their mindset and strategies to achieve millionaire success. She is on a mission to empower women to step boldly into wealth creation, leadership, and impact through entrepreneurship.

Resources & Links

• Connect with Allison: www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1505347834
• Learn more about our sponsors!
  • AdventHealth for Women: www.AdventHealthforwomen.com
  • Get involved with Be a Mindleader: http://beamindleader.com/
• Connect with Karwanna Irving:
  • Instagram: @Karwannadspeaks
  • Facebook: @Karwannadspeaks
  • www.Youtube.com/KarwannaD
• Don't Duck The Government, They've Got Your Money 

Connect with Allison

• Interested in working together? Fill out this form.
• www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh
• www.shebelievedbook.com
• www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Signature Course | Build Your Brand On Demand
• Download The Be Unforgettable Playbook
• Access The Impact Brand Accelerator
• Beauty Must-Haves! 

This week, Allison Walsh welcomes the extraordinary Karen Keene, a visionary leader, advocate, and survivor whose story is equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring.

💡 As the founder of Athena Next Gen Orlando, Karen has empowered more than 500 women through leadership development, mentorship, and a powerful professional network. With 30 years of experience as a senior marketing executive, Karen has been recognized as Woman of the Year by both Orlando Magazine and Orange Appeal, while continuing to shape the future of women in leadership across Central Florida.

But Karen’s story goes far deeper than professional achievement. In 2020, she survived being shot four times in a devastating act of gun violence that tragically claimed the life of her husband. Through years of recovery, therapy, and advocacy, she has transformed her trauma into a movement. Today, she serves as a national fellow for Everytown for Gun Safety, raising awareness about the intersection of mental health and gun violence prevention across the country.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Athena Next Gen became a life-changing program for women leaders
• The story of survival that reshaped Karen’s mission and purpose
• Lessons on resilience, courage, and advocacy after unthinkable tragedy
• Why women’s mentorship, connection, and leadership matter more than ever
• How Karen continues to create impact and inspire the next generation of women

This is not just a story of survival — it’s a story of leadership, courage, and turning tragedy into transformation.

Memorable Moments

• “We knew women wanted a safe space to pass the baton to the next generation — and that’s how Athena Next Gen was born.”
• “When somebody can hold up the mirror and help you see how incredible you are, that’s transformative.”
• “I was shot four times — and somehow, I lived. My survival became my purpose.”
• “Mental health and gun violence are intertwined. These conversations must happen in the same space.”
• “Resilience is built when you take your hardest battles and turn them into fuel to help others.”

Resources & Links

• Connect with Karen: https://athenaleadershiporlando.org/
• LinkedIn: https: //www.linkedin.com/in/karen-keene-profile2023/
• Follow Allison on Instagram: www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1505347834
• Learn more about AdventHealth for Women: www.AdventHealthforwomen.com
• Get involved with Be a Mindleader: http://beamindleader.com/

Connect with Allison

• Interested in working together? Fill out this form.
• www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh
• www.shebelievedbook.com
• www.allisonwalshconsulting.com
• Signature Course | Build Your Brand On Demand
• Download The Be Unforgettable Playbook
• Access The Impact Brand Accelerator
• Beauty Must-Haves!