The Female CEO™ Podcast

Can you be a high-level CEO in the luxury space and still be a present, intentional mother? Tatiana Vostrikov joins us to discuss the "courage to pivot" and why putting yourself first isn't just self-care - it’s a business strategy.

In this episode of the Female CEO Podcast, host Mark Sephton sits down with Tatiana Vostrikov, the CEO of Aesthetics Innovations and founder of Genova Med Spa. 

Tatiana shares her incredible story of international transition, moving from Europe to North America and the grit required to rebuild a luxury brand from the ground up. She explains her "hyper-natural" philosophy and why true beauty—and true business—must be rooted in authenticity. 

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• 
  

  Rebuilding a Dream: Tatiana discusses the challenges and rewards of navigating two distinct careers across different continents. 

  
  

• 
  

  Filling Your Own Cup: Discover why Tatiana believes putting yourself first gives you the capacity to make others happy and make their lives better. 

  
  

• 
  

  Leading with Values: How to stay anchored in your personal values while managing a luxury brand with footprints in both Toronto and Frisco. 

  
  

• 
  

  Undetectable Excellence: Insights into the aesthetics industry and why the best results are those that honor the individual's natural beauty. 

"Winning is an outcome, but trying is a decision." How do you lead a global team while navigating the complexities of single motherhood and a cross-cultural career? In this episode, Denisa Dudaskova reveals why "rebellious optimism" is the ultimate secret weapon for the modern female leader and how to finally stop hiding parts of yourself to fit into the corporate mould.

How do you lead a global team while navigating the complexities of single motherhood and a cross-cultural career? In this episode of the Female CEO Podcast, Mark Sephton sits down with Denisa Dudascova, an international leader and innovator who has successfully navigated high-level careers across multiple industries and countries.

Denisa opens up about her unique path—growing up in Slovakia behind the "wall" to becoming a global executive who leads with a blend of strategic strength and inner development.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• 
  

  Stop the Trade-Off: Denisa explains why women don’t have to choose between professional excellence and personal devotion.

  
  

• 
  

  Motherhood as a Training Ground: Discover how the challenges of parenting sharpen high-stakes decision-making and empathy in business.

  
  

• 
  

  Leading Diverse Teams: Learn how to find synergies between different cultural mentalities to build the "best team in the organization".

  
  

• 
  

  Inner Growth: Why Denisa believes "when the student is ready, the teacher appears" and how she uses self-reflection to stay grounded.

Stephanie Palmer’s life changed in an instant when a routine surgery went wrong. In this episode, we explore how she turned a devastating personal crisis into a powerful mission for transparency - and what every woman needs to know about advocating for herself in the healthcare system.

As a Registered Nurse and Certified Bariatric Nurse with over 11 years of experience, Stephanie found herself in the unique and terrifying position of having to "advocate like hell" for her own life when she faced severe post-operative complications. 

Today, she is the founder of Bariatric Warrior Support and the recipient of the Bariatric Advocate of the Year award, dedicated to ensuring no one else has to walk their health road in silence.

In this episode, we discuss:

• 
  

  Turning Adversity into Purpose: How Stephanie used her clinical expertise and lived experience to build a movement rooted in radical transparency.

  
  

• 
  

  The "Easy Way Out" Myth: Breaking the stigma surrounding bariatric surgery and GLP-1 medications.

  
  

• 
  

  Patient Advocacy: Practical advice on how to listen to your body and effectively communicate with your medical team when you know something isn't right.

  
  

• 
  

  Radical Transparency: Why sharing the "good, the bad, and the ugly" of healing is essential for community survival.

  
  

Whether you are on a specific health journey or navigating the complexities of the healthcare system, Stephanie’s story of resilience and community building will empower you to become your own best advocate.

Are you a female CEO who has achieved "success" but still feels a sense of emptiness or chronic burnout? In this episode, Shamanic Practitioner Adina Andronic reveals The Shamanic Approach to Leadership - a powerful framework for blending corporate strategy with ancient spiritual wisdom.

We dive deep into why traditional leadership models are failing high-achieving women and how tools like the Medicine Wheel and intentional healing can shift your business from "surviving" to truly "thriving."

This week on the Female CEO Podcast, Mark Sephton sits down with Adina Andronic, founder of ARA Shamanic Healing. With an illustrious international career spanning the demanding sectors of nursing, law, HR, IT, banking, and insurance, Adina experienced a profound awakening that led her from the boardroom to a path of ancestral wisdom. She now helps ambitious women heal, release emotional blocks, and reconnect with their truest selves.

Key Takeaways:

• 
  

  The New CEO Acronym: Understanding the internal journey of Create, Evolve, and Overcome.

  
  

• 
  

  Life Hygiene: Why regular emotional and spiritual clearing is as essential as physical hygiene for a leader.

  
  

• 
  

  Breaking the "Bubble": How the modern way of living causes us to "focalize and focus" on a narrow culture, missing out on vast opportunities for growth and community.

  
  

• 
  

  Reclaiming Individuality: Why self,acceptance is the practical foundation for authentic, impactful leadership.

  
  

• 
  

  La Vita e Bella: Adopting a perspective of beauty and resilience even during the "hard yards" of business.

Are you a high-achieving woman who feels like you’re constantly "on," yet never doing enough?

In this episode, therapist Justine Carino breaks down The Psychology of Perfectionism and reveals how to break the cycle of high-functioning anxiety to build a business that doesn't cost you your mental health.

In this episode of the Female CEO Podcast, host Mark Sephton sits down with Justine Carino, a licensed mental health therapist and anxiety treatment specialist.

Justine pulls back the curtain on the hidden pressures many female leaders carry, specifically exploring the psychology of perfectionism and high functioning anxiety.

She explains why many ambitious women struggle to "turn off" and how to redefine success so it includes your well being, not just your bottom line.

In this episode, we discuss: The "CEO" Journey: How the pillars of Create, Evolve, and Overcome apply to mental health and entrepreneurship.

High Functioning Anxiety: Why being a "doer" often masks a deeper struggle with the need for control and the fear of failure.

The Perfectionism Cycle: Understanding the "all or nothing" mindset that leads to burnout.

Success Without Sacrifice: Practical strategies for setting boundaries and maintaining personal goals alongside business ambitions.

Measuring Peace: Shifting your metric of success from pure performance to internal peace.

About Our Guest:Justine Carino is a mental health expert who helps high achieving women navigate the intersection of ambition and anxiety.

She is the host of the "Thoughts From the Couch" podcast and a dedicated advocate for healthier relationships with success.

Connect with Justine: Website: JustineCarino.com

In this episode, Rachel Paling explains how the neuroscience of conscious communication can transform education and leadership.

How can understanding the brain transform the way we learn, lead, and connect? In this episode of the Female CEO Podcast, host Mark Sephton sits down with Rachel Marie Paling, the visionary behind Neuro-Language Coaching and Neuro-Heart Education.

Rachel discusses the "neuro language" approach, a revolutionary blending of coaching, neuroscience, and communication designed to help teachers and students thrive in a high-powered, stressed-out world.

She shares how shifting from directive commands to calm, curious dialogue can move learners out of "survival mode" and into a state of optimal, rapid discovery.

In this episode, we discuss:The Survival Brain: Why students cannot learn when they are in a fight or,flight state.Beyond IQ and EQ: Introducing the "MQ" (Metacognitive Intelligence) and social intelligence as critical tools for the future.

The Power of Curiosity: How teachers can move from reactive aggression to deep curiosity about their students' perspectives.

Limitless Potential: Why giving students "permission" to think outside the box is a core leadership duty.

Transforming the Classroom: Moving away from a "one size fits all" curriculum to a dialogue, based voyage of discovery.

About Our Guest: Rachel Marie Paling is an author, coach, and the founder of the Academy for Educational and Language Coaching.

She has revolutionized language learning by integrating brain science into traditional teaching methodologies.

Connect with Rachel: www.neuralanguagecoaching.com

This week on the Female CEO Podcast, Mark Sephton welcomes Ana Placencia Block, the founder of New Mind Psychology. With 25 years of experience working with traumatized youth and schools, Anna has developed a comprehensive 8-week program designed to build mental health literacy and resilience at scale.

Anna breaks down the vital connection between integrated self-identity and leadership, explaining how early childhood attachment (or the lack thereof) dictates whether an adult operates from a place of "surplus" or a place of "survival".

Key Takeaways:

• 
  

  Prevention vs. Intervention: Why we need to act before "the horse has bolted".

  
  

• 
  

  The Three-Track Approach: Why effective change requires simultaneous training for children, parents, and schools.

  
  

• 
  

  The "Operating System" of the Brain: Understanding why the first 18 years are critical for long-term psychological stability.

  
  

• 
  

  A Call to Action: Moving past "paralysis" to bring your own "light" to the mental health crisis.

The DNA of Decision Making with Olga Kiendler | Human Judgment, AI & Meta-Thinking

In this thought-provoking episode of The Female CEO Podcast, executive advisor and decision scientist Olga Kiendler joins us to explore the most critical, yet often overlooked, driver of success: how we make choices.

Olga, the creator of the Decision DNA and Decode frameworks, shares her journey from global finance and law to the frontier of cognitive leadership. She dives deep into the subconscious patterns that shape our judgment and explains why, in an increasingly automated world, refined human intuition is the ultimate competitive advantage.

Together, we discuss:

• Decoding your Decision DNA: Understanding the subconscious "software" that runs your choices.

• The Experience Fallacy: Why past success can sometimes be a liability in a rapidly changing world.

• Human Judgment vs. AI: How to strengthen your unique edge in an age of automation.

• The Power of Meta-Thinking: Why "thinking about thinking" is a vital leadership skill.

• The Seven-Second Gap: Identifying the moment between an impulse and a conscious decision.

• The "Decode" Framework: Strategic tools to uncover hidden biases and mental models.

• Leading through Curiosity: Treating the business world as a "playground of excitement" and discovery.

• Integrity-Based Leadership: Why your personal values are the bedrock of sustainable decision-making.

As technology continues to evolve, Olga reminds us that the most powerful tool we possess is our own mind. This conversation is an invitation to step out of "autopilot" and move toward a more intentional, strategic, and self-aware way of leading.

If you are a leader navigating the complexities of the digital age, a founder looking to scale without losing your clarity, or simply someone fascinated by human behavior and the brain, this episode is a masterclass in modern wisdom.

This is a conversation about insight, innovation, and the mastery of the mind.

In this episode of the Female CEO Podcast, host Mark Sephton sits down with Josephine Eneje to unpack her 25-year evolution from a powerhouse corporate leader to a successful entrepreneur. Josephine shares her blueprint for success, emphasizing that true authority doesn't come from a title—it comes from deep conviction and a clear, unwavering purpose.

We explore how your corporate experience can be leveraged as a foundation for business innovation, why the art of observation is a secret weapon for professional growth, and how something as intentional as your daily skincare routine can actually support your emotional well-being and inner fulfillment.

• Leading with Conviction: Why knowing your "why" is the most critical step in navigating challenges and avoiding the trap of following fads.

• Corporate to Entrepreneur: How to translate years of HR and corporate expertise into a thriving, purpose-driven company culture.

• The Power of Observation: Learning to lead by example and using your surroundings to sharpen your business strategy.

• Skincare as Self-Care: Understanding the psychological connection between your beauty rituals and your daily resilience.

• Redefining Legacy: How to build a business that is not just successful today, but impactful for the future.

In this transformative episode of the Female CEO Podcast, host Mark Sephton talks with Bronwyn Sciortino, the visionary founder of Chic Life. Bronwyn shares her incredible journey from the high-pressure corporate world to becoming a global voice for empowered, conscious living.

They explore how personal trauma can be the catalyst for profound leadership insights and why visibility is no longer optional for women in business. Bronwyn challenges us to stop viewing success as a destination and start seeing it as an adventure—one built on radical authenticity, conscious choices, and the courage to own our authority.

• Identity Over Roles: Why the most impactful leadership comes from who you are, not just what you do.

• The Visibility Non-Negotiable: Why women must overcome internal barriers to be seen and heard in today’s market.

• Redefining Success: Moving away from traditional benchmarks toward a life of exploration and adventure.

• The Power of Conscious Choice: How small, intentional decisions align your professional life with your core values.

• Male Allyship: How men can support women’s advancement by stepping aside and making space without fear of loss.