The LeadHer Shift with Alian Ollivierre

In this thought-provoking episode, Alian Ollivierre opens up an honest and layered conversation about women in leadership — beyond surface-level empowerment.

This is not just about breaking glass ceilings.

It is about questioning the architecture of the building itself.

Alian explores:

1. The double standards women still face in professional spaces
2. The tension between equality and equity
3. The reality of underrepresentation at senior levels
4. The impact of systemic barriers such as career gaps and motherhood
5. The internal barriers that stop women from putting themselves forward
6. Whether leadership itself needs redefining

This episode invites both women and men into a deeper dialogue about what true progress looks like.

Because leadership is not about imitation.

It is about influence.

And influence must be inclusive.

1. Why is a man seen as assertive while a woman is labeled aggressive?
2. Why do women feel pressured to tone down their authority?
3. How often do women shape-shift to survive in male-dominated environments?
4. Are we unconsciously reinforcing the very standards we critique?

Alian challenges listeners to reflect on how behavioral expectations differ based on gender — and whether we are willing to stop accommodating them.

We have made progress.

We see more women in C-suite roles, politics, and executive leadership than ever before.

But the highest levels of power still reflect imbalance.

Alian explores two critical angles:

1. Are women being excluded?
2. Or are women sometimes excluding themselves by not applying, not stepping forward, or believing they are “not ready”?

This is not blame — it is reflection.

Confidence, discipline, and strategic positioning matter.

But so does access.

Using a powerful example from the TV series The Diplomat, Alian highlights how systems were historically built without women in mind.

Sometimes barriers are not loud policies.

Sometimes they are as subtle as a chair designed for someone else’s body.

She explores:

1. Career gaps due to pregnancy and caregiving
2. The motherhood penalty
3. Workplace inflexibility
4. Policies that assume a “robot” workforce

If we know women will statistically experience life-cycle interruptions, why do we still penalize them for it?

Equality says treat everyone the same.

Equity says acknowledge difference.

Men and women are different.

Different biology.

Different societal expectations.

Different lived experiences.

The question becomes:

Are we willing to design leadership structures that consider those differences without diminishing capability?

Leadership is influence.

Leadership is empathy.

Leadership is strategy.

But are we still defining leadership through outdated, rigid frameworks?

What would leadership look like if it were:

1. Flexible?
2. Family-conscious?
3. Remote-friendly?
4. Performance-driven rather than presence-driven?

If Google did not exist 25 years ago, why do we believe workplace models must remain static for the next 40?

Alian leaves the audience with powerful self-inquiry:

1. Do you feel like you have to change to fit in?
2. Do you actually want to?
3. What systemic barriers are you navigating?
4. Are you creating alliances to challenge double standards?
5. Do you want a seat at the table — or to build your own?
6. How do you define leadership for yourself?

✔ You feel overlooked despite your competence

✔ You struggle with being labeled “too much”

✔ You have taken a career break and fear it cost you advancement

✔ You are navigating motherhood and ambition simultaneously

✔ You are rethinking what leadership should look like

Progress requires more than conversation.

It requires acknowledgment.

It requires acceptance.

It requires adjustment.

Your leadership does not have to mirror anyone else’s to be valid.

You are not alone.

Your leadership matters.

The world is ready for your authority.

The question is — are you?

New conversations every week on mindset, visibility, strategy, and power — from inner awareness to outer authority.

🌍 Connect with us: theleadhershift.com

📩 Share this episode with a woman who needs to be reminded that her voice belongs in every room she enters.

Welcome back to the LeadHer Shift podcast for 2026, where host Alian Ollivierre creates a safe, honest space for bold women building power, presence, and purpose from the inside out.

In this next episode Alian opens up about leadership at 40 and the deeply reflective season that preceded this one, with emphasis on leaving a few things behind, while embracing all that is to come.

What does leadership look like in your next season?

In this powerful reflection, Alian Ollivierre shares three leadership truths she’s carrying into 2026 and beyond:

✨ Why it’s time to empty the trash

✨ How noticing the good can change everything

✨ And the reminder every woman needs—you are more than enough

This episode is for women navigating transitions, releasing what no longer fits, and choosing alignment over obligation.

🎧 Watch the full episode on The LeadHer Shift Podcast.

🔁 Share this with a woman who needs permission to let go and rise.

#LeadHerShift #WomenInLeadership #Leadership2026 #Alignment #SelfLeadership #WomenWhoLead

In Episode 17 of The LeadHer Shift Podcast, host Alian Ollivierre sits down with mindset mentor and holistic healer, Jacqui Letran. From rebellious teen to award-winning author, Jacqui shares her powerful story of healing, identity, and inner transformation. They dove into how childhood trauma, subconscious programming, and self-talk impact our leadership journey, and why healing your inner girl is essential to becoming the woman you’re called to be.

Transcripts:

Alian Ollivierre [00:00:00]:

Welcome to the Lead Her Chef podcast. This is what I like to call a safe space. A space for bold women building their power, presence, and purpose from the inside out. A space where we explore what it means to lead with clarity, courage, and conviction. So wherever you are in the world. Hey, I'm your host, Aliane Oliver, and I am super honored that you're tuning in today. Hi, guys. Alian Oliver here, back again with Lead Her Shift, Another dynamic woman from around the globe.

Alian Ollivierre [00:00:44]:

We've been talking to so many, but Jackie is particularly special. She's a mindset mentor and holistic healer. I just wanted to make sure I got it right, and we're gonna delve into what that means. Right. But first, let me introduce you to Jackie. I'll let her share a little bit about herself and her a little bit about her story, and then we'll go deeper into what that title actually means. So over to you, Jackie. Talk to me about who is.

Alian Ollivierre [00:01:16]:

Let me define Jackie. So let's put it this way. What are two words? If you could even narrow it down to two. What are two words that describes Jackie?

Jacqui Letran [00:01:31]:

Inspired.

Alian Ollivierre [00:01:32]:

Okay. Inspired. And happy. Happy. Okay. Why happy? What is it that makes Jackie happy?

Jacqui Letran [00:01:43]:

Well, you know, I really am very blessed. Such a beautiful point in my life where everything has just fallen into place. Not by accident, you know, by a whole lot of work and a whole lot of planning.

Alian Ollivierre [00:01:58]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:01:58]:

But I'm at this where the things I've been wanting to create, I've created. And I just love every aspect of my life right now, from personal, professional, romantic.

Alian Ollivierre [00:02:09]:

Wow.

Jacqui Letran [00:02:10]:

It's amazing.

Alian Ollivierre [00:02:11]:

Yeah. I feel like. Feel like, in a way, and you could correct me if I'm wrong, but in a way, you feel complete is what I'm hearing. At least. Is that. Am I right in saying that?

Jacqui Letran [00:02:25]:

Yes. Complete, blessed, just content. I mean, life is good.

Alian Ollivierre [00:02:31]:

Life is good. That's amazing. So, you know, in tracking back, we've. We've been dealing with. And this is very off topic, but we've been dealing with COVID for most of the year so far, at least. And then you say. Then you say, I'm happy. I'm complete.

Alian Ollivierre [00:02:54]:

So what makes that so even in light of all the challenges that has been happening globally? Has something shifted since COVID or. It didn't matter as result of COVID.

Jacqui Letran [00:03:09]:

So, you know, Covid is definitely a very traumatic thing for many people, and many people are dealing with a lot of loss and suffering, whether it's income loss or loss of people that they care about.

Alian Ollivierre [00:03:22]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:03:23]:

And lots of Freedom. Right. Because we're now, like, living in a very different lifestyle.

Alian Ollivierre [00:03:28]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:03:30]:

I feel completely blessed that my life haven't changed that much. My health is fantastic. All the people that I love, their health is fantastic. I have an amazing relationship with my husband. We have stability in our income. We both work from home. We really enjoy being with each other. I mean, like, it could be a lot worse.

Jacqui Letran [00:03:54]:

And I know there's a lot of people who are not in such great circumstances. My heart breaks for them. But again, I'm just grateful that my husband and I, we worked really hard to set up our life the way that we have it right now.

Alian Ollivierre [00:04:08]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:04:09]:

Actually just realized our dream just last year, really, right before. So we've been planning on him leaving his corporate work. I brought my business online three years prior. He was like, I'm not quite ready to leave corporate because he's a C level executive and really good money and he have a good title. So he wasn't ready. But we've been working at it and working at it, and finally he was ready and he retired at 47.

Alian Ollivierre [00:04:40]:

Wow.

Jacqui Letran [00:04:41]:

And so we started doing what we dream of doing for a long time is we sold everything, moved ourselves, our four cats and our dog into a motorhome and traveled the US and we did seven months straight. I'm telling you, it was just so much fun. And so we were. And then we went back to Florida, kind of like, you know, to stabilize and rework some things and get some more things set up so that we can travel again. And we were supposed to be on the road in April for the rest of the year. And then Covid happened. So. Yeah, obviously not on the road, but again, you know, we are so blessed that we have the opportunity to do what it is that we want to do, and that is just work in a way that's fulfilling to us rather than work to make ends meet.

Alian Ollivierre [00:05:37]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:05:38]:

Completely blessed.

Alian Ollivierre [00:05:40]:

That's so funny, because I was literally in the process of asking you what's a fun fact about you? And I just feel like just deciding I'm gonna travel the way how you did and in the way you did is even bigger of a fun fact than I thought. What was that like, though? Like how. How in. In having such a journey. So let's start with the journey itself. In having such a journey like that, is there anything. Any challenges that you came up against or any triumphs you had, whether whether with your mindset shift or with something that actually physically happened? Like, is there anything that you could share about the Experience that you had.

Jacqui Letran [00:06:28]:

The experience being the RV life.

Alian Ollivierre [00:06:30]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:06:32]:

It was a huge challenge. I'm not gonna lie and say it was just rosy and perfect.

Alian Ollivierre [00:06:37]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:06:38]:

The biggest challenge is my husband. He had a big identity shift. In fact, he felt like he lost his identity. And so there were just a lot of time where he's like, what are we doing? I know we talked about this. I know we planned this, but are we being responsible? You know?

Alian Ollivierre [00:06:58]:

Right.

Jacqui Letran [00:06:59]:

Left. This amazing corporate work where everything is guaranteed. Well, not really guarantee. We found out. Right.

Alian Ollivierre [00:07:04]:

Yeah, true.

Jacqui Letran [00:07:06]:

But at that point, he's like, you know, income's guarantee, health insurance guarantee. I just go in the office. I know what to do. I've been doing it for 30 years, you know, and what are we doing?

Alian Ollivierre [00:07:18]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:07:20]:

So there was a lot of that. Our relationship struggled a little bit at first because he was just not happy. You know, we both expected that once he retired, we'd be like, oh, party time.

Alian Ollivierre [00:07:33]:

It's not as easy as that, is it?

Jacqui Letran [00:07:35]:

I was, until he wasn't, you know? And I love him so much, and it's hard to see the person you love struggling so much.

Alian Ollivierre [00:07:44]:

Right.

Jacqui Letran [00:07:44]:

For me, because I'm a mindset mentor and one of my biggest goal in working with all of my clients, helping them to create internal peace.

Alian Ollivierre [00:07:54]:

Right.

Jacqui Letran [00:07:54]:

And so that's what I love doing. That's what I'm really good at, and that's something I couldn't help my husband do. And so there was a lot of that mindset. So, like, you're talking about, like, really? Am I really that good of a holistic healer if I can't help my husband? But of course, we all know you can't help someone who's not ready for help.

Alian Ollivierre [00:08:16]:

That's it. Yeah, that's it. Yes.

Jacqui Letran [00:08:20]:

He needed that time and space to figure things out for himself. He needed to mope. He needed to go through all of those different emotions that are normal when you. He basically had an identity loss.

Alian Ollivierre [00:08:32]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:08:33]:

And even when you want that identity loss, when it happened, it's still like, oh, that's not what I thought it was gonna be like.

Alian Ollivierre [00:08:39]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:08:40]:

And you're never quite ready.

Alian Ollivierre [00:08:42]:

Yeah. In a lot of it. In a lot of ways, he couldn't see around the corner. And when he got around the corner, it was like, wait, hang on. This is not what I pictured in my head, you know? Right.

Jacqui Letran [00:08:53]:

And so he had his struggles, but now he's on the other side of the other corner. And I tease him all the time. I'm like, you Want to go back to work? No. Why would I want to do that? You know, he's like, no, we've got it good. I know that everything that we worked for, we really do love. And he realized, you know, he struggled, which I totally gave him space to do that.

Alian Ollivierre [00:09:18]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:09:19]:

My initial, like, I need to do this for him. No, I don't. He needs to do that for him. Yeah, he's ready. I can step in and give him extra support, but, you know, he has to go through the process himself.

Alian Ollivierre [00:09:31]:

Yeah. And you know, one of the things that it remind. That story reminds me of is that one, you don't know what you don't know. I mean, you just don't know what you don't know. But also, sometimes the most obvious ways of helping, especially our loved ones or our partners, team members, is in knowing when not to help them, if that makes sense. You know, because sometimes I always say this, all help isn't helpful. You know, and oftentimes the way we think they need help isn't necessarily how they need help or require help. So that's a very powerful, powerful point.

Alian Ollivierre [00:10:16]:

But I want to get back to Jackie. Jackie is a multi.

Jacqui Letran [00:10:19]:

Can you finish that thought? Because I think listeners could benefit so much from that. We tend to help people the way we want help.

Alian Ollivierre [00:10:29]:

Right.

Jacqui Letran [00:10:30]:

In reality, most people just want to be heard.

Alian Ollivierre [00:10:33]:

Exactly.

Jacqui Letran [00:10:34]:

Not looking for you to solve their problem. They just want that moment to vent, to know that their thoughts, their feelings matter. And so one of the best things that you can do for your loved one is just really listen.

Alian Ollivierre [00:10:46]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:10:47]:

Ask this very important question that we don't tend to ask. How can I support you? And then let their answer be the answer and stop second guessing them.

Alian Ollivierre [00:10:57]:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Literally let them share or tell you how they need it and not decide for them. Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:11:07]:

And oftentimes I'll say, just listen. I just need someone to listen to. I need someone to balance these ideas of.

Alian Ollivierre [00:11:12]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:11:14]:

And so I teach my clients that and I. Down the road a little bit. I remember. Oh yeah. Best thing I can do for him, you know, is this. But sometimes when you're in the thick of it, you get caught up with all the emotion and all the stories and all of that and you forget some of the tools that you know.

Alian Ollivierre [00:11:33]:

Right.

Jacqui Letran [00:11:33]:

Realize. Okay. You know, I've forgotten, but now I remember. It's always a good time to kick that in gear and see where it goes.

Alian Ollivierre [00:11:40]:

Yeah. And I think also it comes down to, it comes down to personality types too. You know, understanding that different Personality types receive or accept help differently, but. But also different personality types give help differently as well. And knowing how to maneuver that or just that no matter what the setting is, whether it's a personal family member or a team member, as part of a corporate team, it's important to kind of understand who's around you, understand what they need. Exactly. You know?

Jacqui Letran [00:12:17]:

Exactly. I love it.

Alian Ollivierre [00:12:21]:

So, Jackie, you are a multi award winning author. Like, talk to me about what? Talk to me about that.

Jacqui Letran [00:12:29]:

Thank you. I have four. I have 16 awards for three of my books.

Alian Ollivierre [00:12:35]:

Six. Okay, wait, stop. Let's pause, let's soak that. 16 awards, that's crazy.

Jacqui Letran [00:12:43]:

16 awards for the books. And I'm just super proud of them because if you were to ask me before I wrote the book if I would have ever imagined I would be an author, I would think, nuts. I never dreamed of being an author. I never thought I was a good writer. I never see myself as, you know, a teacher for a very long time. Even though I've been teaching ever since I was 23. I just never really realized I was teaching.

Alian Ollivierre [00:13:14]:

Right.

Jacqui Letran [00:13:14]:

I never gave myself that. That acknowledgement. But yeah. So I have four books now. The fourth one haven't won any award yet. It just came out last week.

Alian Ollivierre [00:13:24]:

Okay, give it time.

Jacqui Letran [00:13:29]:

That one actually is probably not gonna win award. It's not an award type book because it's a companion journal to my very first book.

Alian Ollivierre [00:13:36]:

Right, okay.

Jacqui Letran [00:13:38]:

And so the first three books, all my books are written to teen girls. Oh, yeah. It's a population I'm super passionate in serving.

Alian Ollivierre [00:13:48]:

Right.

Jacqui Letran [00:13:49]:

Talk about the why, if you want to know the why. Yeah, but all the books are for teen girls. And the goal of my books are really to help them to understand how their mind works so that they can be in control of their thoughts, their feelings, their actions. And with those tools, they can build their self esteem, self confidence, self love, and could then go after the things they want with courage, with confidence, with clarity. And so I wrote it for the teen girls. But the content of the books are what I teach in my private practice, which is primarily adults. Okay, so same content written for teens.

Alian Ollivierre [00:14:26]:

White teen girls though, is it? Yeah, white, white teen girls specifically, why not women?

Jacqui Letran [00:14:32]:

Or, you know, because I was once a teen girl. I was once a very struggling teen girl and I did not have the resources and I made a lot of mistakes and I put my life in jeopardy. I put my mental health in jeopardy. I made just terrible decisions. And at that point in my life, I didn't know where to go for help. But to be completely truthful, I'm not sure if I would have sought help, you know, if something was available because of the fear of judgment, the action, the fear of being shame or shunned was pretty strong because of my experience as a teenager. I made a decision very early on, in fact at 17, that I was going to be a source of support for other teens.

Alian Ollivierre [00:15:23]:

Right. So I think it's fair to say that your 17 year old self will definitely be proud of you today.

Jacqui Letran [00:15:32]:

She loves me, I love her.

Alian Ollivierre [00:15:36]:

Of course. So do you mind sharing at least one of the experiences that you would have gone through as a teen and how it would have led you here today?

Jacqui Letran [00:15:49]:

Okay. I will go to the one that is probably most shocking and I laugh when I tell their story. It's not because at that moment it wasn't painful or scary, it was very traumatic.

Alian Ollivierre [00:16:00]:

Right.

Jacqui Letran [00:16:01]:

But again, on the other side of it, I've learned so much. And because of that experience, I am where I am today. So I'm actually very grateful now for the experience back then. No, not so much. And I never ever want anybody, any teen girl to go through this, you know, So I was a rebellious teenager, troubled kid. I had depression. And usually with depression there's multiple ways of reacting, but two big chunks is this rebel like crazy or withdrawn, right? And I was the rebelling one. So I was the one that was bullying other kids at school because I so weak, so unsure, so scared of everything, right? Like if I wasn't this big person, I was going to be picked on.

Jacqui Letran [00:16:52]:

And it was just the mentality I had was killed or be killed, right? And so I went around school picking on people, picking fight. I mean, I was just a mess, but inside I was dying because that's not who I am. I mean, all I really wanted was someone to acknowledge me and to say, hey, Jackie, you're okay. You know? You know, I see you. But nobody saw me. All they saw was this very angry, obnoxious, noxious girl. So I was dismissed constantly for being the troublemaker. Whereas again, I was just a wounded little girl needing love and attention and not knowing how to seek it.

Jacqui Letran [00:17:29]:

And so I met this man who we quickly became sexually intimate, right? I was like, I don't want to have a baby. I know I don't want to have a baby. I need to get on birth control. I knew that much.

Alian Ollivierre [00:17:42]:

Yeah.

Jacqui Letran [00:17:43]:

And so I went to the local planned parenthood three times. The first two times I was so scared. I mean, I got there and I Filled all the paperwork, and I snuck out. I was like, I'm doing the wrong thing. I felt so judged. I felt dirty. I...

In this standout episode of The LeadHer Shift Podcast, Alian Ollivierre sits down with HR professional and career coach Nneoma Chiakwelu for a soul-nourishing conversation about redefining leadership on your own terms.

Together, they explore:

1. What it means to lead with “soft structured success”?
2. The difference between being strong and being resilient
3. How working in construction and tech shaped Nneoma’s leadership philosophy
4. Building a life (and career) rooted in self-awareness, faith, and feminine power

Nneoma’s journey — from Nigeria to Canada, from HR to podcasting — is a masterclass in navigating identity, ambition, and divine timing. Whether you’re at a crossroads in your career or simply tired of performing toughness to succeed, this conversation is for you.

💬 “Softness does not excuse action. It just means you’re moving with intention.”

🎧 Listen now to reclaim the kind of leadership that doesn’t burn you out — it builds you up.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share.

Your leadership matters. And so does your softness.

What does it mean to lead yourself before leading others? In this powerful episode, Alian Ollivierre sits down with educator, counselor, author, and founder of Get a Grip for Teens, Vonetta Pierce, to explore what 30 years in education has taught her about leadership, confidence, community, and the courage to rest.

🔥 From battling imposter syndrome to building a multi-state mentoring movement for girls, Vonetta shares her raw truths, leadership lessons, and how rest became her resistance.

🎙️ Inside this episode:

• Why your impact matters, even when you don’t see it yet

• The hidden cost of shrinking to fit in

• How Black women leaders can own their brilliance unapologetically

• Why comparison is the thief of joy

• The importance of community, collaboration & self-care

• What it really takes to nurture the next generation of girls

Whether you’re an educator, a mentor, or a woman rising in leadership — this conversation is your reminder: Your voice matters. Your leadership matters. You are not alone.

🔔 Subscribe to The LeadHer Shift Podcast for more episodes centering women in leadership.

📲 Connect with us:

Website: https://www.theleadhershift.com

IG: @theleadhershift

Tag & share using #TheLeadHerShiftPodcast

👇🏽 Know someone who needs this episode? Share it. Don’t gatekeep.

Andrea Uchar, founder of luxury branding studio Jove, joins The LeadHer Shift to share how client demand moved her from a Gen-Z aesthetic to premium, minimalist brand strategy—and what that pivot taught her about self-trust, boundaries, and leading a business with integrity. We cover her early management role at 21, navigating burnout during the pandemic, switching careers (logistics → accounting → audit → branding), and building a studio with her husband that now explores AI-powered stock visuals. Andrea breaks down the difference between visuals and true brand psychology, why pricing reflects depth of work, and how women can move past self-doubt by “getting uncomfortable and trying anyway.” If you’re redefining success as freedom, purpose, and creative impact—this conversation is your nudge.

Key Takeaways:

• Why Andrea rebranded Jove from Gen-Z trends to luxury & premium positioning

• Early leadership at 21, pandemic pressure, and learning to set boundaries

• Career shifts across logistics, accounting, audit → creative entrepreneurship

• Success as freedom vs. only money; firing misaligned clients

• Branding beyond Canva: research, target psychology, colour strategy, emotion

• Building with a partner + launching an AI stock-image platform

• Advice for women: try before you’re “ready,” trust yourself, embrace discomfort

In this transformative episode of The LeadHer Shift podcast, host Alian Ollivierre sits down with Bina Freilich, founder of Wounds to Wings, for a powerful conversation on trauma healing, self-leadership, and personal transformation.

Bina shares her inspiring journey from surviving abuse and divorce to reclaiming her identity and stepping into purpose. Together, they unpack the difference between trauma and toxicity, the power of unlearning generational patterns, and how women can rise by reconnecting with their truth.

This episode explores the deep connection between healing and leadership, and how self-worth impacts our careers, relationships, and ability to lead with clarity and conviction. Perfect for women navigating transition, personal growth, or seeking more intentional leadership.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to transform emotional wounds into personal power
• The link between childhood patterns and adult leadership
• Why self-love is the foundation for strong relationships
• How to break free from limiting beliefs and internalized narratives
• The importance of risk, resilience, and radical self-awareness

In this deeply powerful episode 12 of The LeadHer Shift Podcast, host Alian Ollivierre sits down with Kelly Morgan—author, publisher, and founder of Bright Headed Publishing and BTA (Break the Algorithm). Together, they explore themes of authenticity, self-leadership, rejection, resilience, and reclaiming your voice.

Kelly shares her raw, inspiring journey from being the only Black girl in a predominantly white Utah community to facing betrayal in the publishing industry. She opens up about people-pleasing, body image struggles, grief, and the unlearning required to truly lead yourself. From being scammed by a publisher to relaunching her business with clarity and intention, Kelly’s story is one of falling, pausing, rebuilding, and rising in her own power.

Listeners will hear about:

• The inspiration behind her books “You Sound White” and “Wait for It”

• The emotional toll of being the “reference” for Blackness in white spaces

• How the weight we carry isn’t always physical, but deeply internal

• Why mindset is the first shift in self-leadership

• The importance of collaboration and breaking free from social media dependency

This episode is a testament to the power of starting over, owning your narrative, and showing up as your whole self—even when it’s uncomfortable.

So, if this conversation spoke to you, share it. Let another woman know she’s not alone, and her leadership still matters. Subscribe to the podcast and visit theleadhershift.com to stay connected.

In this episode of The LeadHer Shift, I sit down with Ciara Lewis, Founder & CEO of Fierce & Fearless, to talk about what it really takes to lead in spaces that weren’t designed for you.

Ciara shares how she went from a quiet girl in school to a woman holding her own—and outshining—male peers in the high-pressure world of auto sales. Her story is layered with moments of resilience, realignment, and revelation. From navigating male-dominated workplaces to launching a powerful women’s magazine (coming July 2025!), Ciara’s leadership journey is anything but linear.

But what stood out most?

👉 Her unwavering decision to show up anyway

👉 Her belief that vulnerability can be curated, not performed

👉 And her reminder that confidence isn’t always loud—it’s lived

We talked about:

• Overcoming environments designed to dim your light
• Being underestimated—and overdelivering with grace
• What her grandmother taught her about picking battles
• Why the “quiet ones” are often the fiercest leaders of all

If you’ve ever questioned your worth in a space that didn’t see you…

If you’ve ever chosen to stay when it felt easier to shrink…

If you’re ready to be fierce and fearless on your own terms…

🎧 This episode is for you.

Take a listen to learn more about Ciara, and how a movement is being birthed as we speak.

Show Notes Below:

Alian Ollivierre [00:00:00]:

Welcome to the Lead Her Shift podcast. This is what I like to call a safe space. A space for bold women building their power, presence, and purpose from the inside out. A space where we explore what it means to lead with clarity, courage, and conviction. So wherever you are in the world. Hey, I'm your host, Alian Olivierre, and I am super honoured that you're tuning in today. So now today I want to let you guys know who I have on the call. I have Ciara Lewis, an accomplished entrepreneur and the visionary CEO and founder of Fierce and Fearless.

Alian Ollivierre [00:00:54]:

Let's just repeat that. Fierce and Fearless proudly unveils the arrival of the Fierce and Fearless Entrepreneur magazine. I can't wait to dig deeper into what this magazine is all about. Slated to release in July 2025. So just around the corner, guys. This transformative publication is set to inspire, inform, and empower women at every stage of their professional journey. I can't wait to sign up. Available on all major platforms, this magazine represents a pivotal advancement in the women's empowerment sector.

Alian Ollivierre [00:01:36]:

Welcome, Ciara. Thank you so much for being a guest on our podcast. I want to learn so much more about you, the woman. So if we could take just a moment, watch. Why? Why Fierce and Fearless? What brought us here?

Ciara Lewis [00:01:59]:

A lot. So growing up, I was always one of the quiet ones, even in school, but I managed to be friends with pretty much everybody. I didn't really meet a stranger.

Alian Ollivierre [00:02:14]:

Right.

Ciara Lewis [00:02:14]:

And going. I started working young, so my first job was a clown. And I think just from starting there and growing into other careers is how I really started to see how women were perceived in society. After that, I started venturing off into jobs that were managed by men. And that was really what said, you know, the big awe moment.

Alian Ollivierre [00:02:43]:

Yeah.

Ciara Lewis [00:02:44]:

And I said, you know, this. This can't be. This cannot be how we're treated in society or how we're viewed. The first time I noticed it and had an issue was when I worked at a car lot. I'm not sure what that man had against me, but I was the sole female sales associate there. And I think the issue was they thought that they could get part of my sales because they thought I didn't know what I was doing or I wasn't good enough to do it. On my. Unfortunately, that was not the case because I'm definitely one of those, like, try me if you want to.

Ciara Lewis [00:03:19]:

And when you tell me I can't do something, I'm definitely going to make sure I find a way to do it. So I ended up being the only person that could Actually get the trucks off the lot. That literally drove them in insane. Had a couple of headbutts with the, the owner, which is eventually why I ended up leaving. Funny, because he actually tried to ask me to come back several years ago when he came back, but I was just like, no, I'll never do that again. However, I went on to be selected to this program. One million and one black women with Goldman and Sachs.

Alian Ollivierre [00:03:57]:

Nice.

Ciara Lewis [00:03:57]:

And that right there just let me know how powerful we are as women and how we've got to come together and stop this, this feud, this contest. It's not necessary. And you know, we can do so much more when we work together rather than when we work against each other. And that is the reason I said fierce and fearless on top of. I know that there are several women out here who have been through probably a whole lot that they're not willing to mention. I am a domestic abuse survivor, and I shouldn't say survivors if like, he tried to kill me, but I went through domestic, a domestic situation. And, and I feel like a lot of times women, they don't want to speak on that or they, they let that take away from them when that, that's really what empowers you. You know, you just gotta find the, the strength within you and the ability to keep moving and knowing that you're not alone.

Ciara Lewis [00:04:58]:

Because I think that's what we feel like when that happens is we're alone and we're ashamed. And that does not have to be the case. So that's another reason why I chose fierce and fearless. Because, you know, I mean, we're women and I feel like we outdo anything that is given to us. We take a challenge regardless and we're always ready, even when we don't look ready already.

Alian Ollivierre [00:05:24]:

Listen, so you started off strong here because even when you were speaking, speaking about, okay, so we, we gotta break this down. You got the male dominated spaces where there's this expectation that they're the ones who lead, they're the ones who are domineering, they're the ones who kind of dictate how we exist in the space. They may not listen, they are not attentive, they don't really care that we are existing there. And then you have the other side where it's women who may not champion and celebrate each other and recognize how powerful we really are and understand that we are not just fruitful, but we multiply and we multiply constantly. Everything we are handed is duplicated and tripled. Right. And so how do you connect and exist with women understanding their power while at the same time being in spaces where men don't want to even acknowledge our power. Like what, what's that dynamic? How do we force ourselves or be fierce through those situations?

Ciara Lewis [00:06:43]:

You show up, you keep showing up. You, you never let whatever they are trying to create the environment to be like. You never let that take you down. You, you never let it show through. You, you show up just as fierce and as strong as you would. Even if we're not at that job or as if a woman or someone you know, nicer or at a higher standard was over the job, you go in and you do your job to the best of your ability, which as a women or as a woman, normally we take that, like I said, to the next step. Yeah. So you, you don't let it hinder you because eventually what's going to happen is that's going to speak so loudly, which is actually what happened at the next job I took after that.

Ciara Lewis [00:07:29]:

Actually, it happened at both jobs. But the second job, the man literally stopped because he seen what was happening, right. It was so loud that he understood what was happening. And we ended up having a personal one on one conversation about it. And he told me, I hear you, I see you. And if you would not have been responding in the manner you were responding, I would not have noticed that there is a problem. So you, you do not let them win. You keep going.

Ciara Lewis [00:08:02]:

You do what you're supposed to do. And eventually when they realize that you're unbothered by what it is they're trying to create or that mood they're trying to set, there one or two things are going to happen. They're either going to make the change because they're going to realize there's a problem, right. Or they're going to become so uncomfortable that it's going to come down to either somebody's going to stay or leave. You know what I'm saying? Like, you're either going to acknowledge how much I'm doing for you and this company or I'm going to go elsewhere. And at this point, you need to decide to take your pick of my value.

Alian Ollivierre [00:08:40]:

I think this is so powerful because I, I do feel like as women, we tend to adjust to what's happening in the space as opposed to just being ourselves authentically. And we tend to almost go in the shadows a little bit. And we are very much. Let me mold myself here and don't, don't show up where I'm like, label the angry woman, you know, or Maybe I'm a little too aggressive or, you know, we just should show up. But what do you. How do you even do that when you don't believe in yourself? In. I mean, I, I feel like you are super impressive because you've been, or it feels like you've been in a lot of male-dominated space basis. And I don't want the focus to be there, but I really want the focus to be like, is there ever a time where you didn't feel confident or.

Alian Ollivierre [00:09:42]:

Because, I mean, I know confidence takes time and it also takes the courage to step out in the first place. Right. But there were, I'm sure there were moments where you were like, should I even be courageous in this moment? Like, should I step out? What. What was that shift for you? Like, what was there a defining moment that you felt like, you know what, Enough is enough.

Ciara Lewis [00:10:08]:

Yes. The car. What? You know, the Car lot was my first major sales job.

Alian Ollivierre [00:10:17]:

Right.

Ciara Lewis [00:10:17]:

And I will say it was challenging when I realized that there was another female there. But she, she never really came to work. She didn't really even have to truly work to get the sales. And I'm not saying that in a bad way because what would happen is she was a beautiful woman, right. So of course a lot of people were attracted to her. They wanted to go to her. So when she would come to work, there was no doubt she was going to sell something that day. But was she truly selling it because she knew what she was doing? No.

Ciara Lewis [00:10:47]:

And I'm not saying anything against her because again, she was a beautiful woman. She had a beautiful voice. But see, the men knew that and they took advantage of that. And she was so blind, she didn't realize it because she didn't realize her beauty was what was really keeping her pushing at that job. And they would talk about her in such a way when she wasn't around that it would just sicken me because I'm thinking, you know, if she only knew this is what you all were doing when you. When she wasn't here, I'm pretty sure it would change so much for her and how she came to work.

Alian Ollivierre [00:11:23]:

Yeah.

Ciara Lewis [00:11:24]:

And eventually she ended up quitting. And so again, that just left me. But yeah, there were definitely times that, you know, I came to work and I was like, I'm not sure if I should be doing this, especially because like I said, they are so quick to pin us against one another. And she was a little bit older than me at the time. Right. So obviously she's carrying and, and looking a little bit different than I'm looking when I first come on the scene because I was still young.

Alian Ollivierre [00:11:55]:

Yeah.

Ciara Lewis [00:11:57]:

So at first I thought, okay, am I going to be able to actually sell? Am I? You know, I let all these thoughts start going through my head until one day I told myself, and actually, I'll tell you, I had a client come up and tell me that you don't have to look a certain way.

Alian Ollivierre [00:12:14]:

Right.

Ciara Lewis [00:12:14]:

To do your job. He said, I can tell that you know what you're doing, you know, about the cars. He. You know your way around a car, and that is going to be what makes you the best salesperson here at this lot. And so from that day forward, that's what I had to tell myself. It's not about the look. It's about my character, my knowledge, and how I carry myself when I'm approaching and speaking with a client. And so once I knew that you couldn't stop me, I knew exactly how to approach each cell.

Ciara Lewis [00:12:48]:

I knew how to close myself. I had gotten so good that the financial manager was actually wanting to teach me how to literally do myself from start, all the way to finish paperwork and all. I just didn't want to take on all that responsibility because it was a lot, you know, on the paperwork end.

Alian Ollivierre [00:13:08]:

Yeah.

Ciara Lewis [00:13:08]:

But, yeah, I definitely had that breaking moment. I definitely had that moment to where I felt discouraged. I felt like I wasn't worthy enough to be in that position. I felt like I couldn't do it. And then that changed for me.

Alian Ollivierre [00:13:24]:

Nice. And so I hear all of this. These stories and these conversations about, you know, who may have stepped in and shared thoughts with you. And from that alone. Sierra. I know. I feel like I know the answer to this question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway. Do you feel like you are a leader?

Ciara Lewis [00:13:46]:

I do.

Alian Ollivierre [00:13:47]:

I. Why? Why, though? Like, what. What brought you to that?

Ciara Lewis [00:13:53]:

I feel like. And I think I get a lot of this from my grandma. My mom has the same tendency, but my grandma was really just one of these women that I don't care where we were. Everyone was attracted to her. He, like, just random people would come up to her and share their story or, you know, cry or just, you know, And I started having that problem. And at first, I didn't realize, you know, what was going on. But then it came to my attention that I must carry such an energy that people feel safe coming to me.

Alian Ollivierre [00:14:26]:

Yeah.

Ciara Lewis [00:14:27]:

And talking to me or sharing whatever or even taking advice for me. And this literally started happening to me in every job that I went to. Like, I, I remember having that. This was my, my best moment in my whole entire career. The car lot. Again, I had this older couple, they were from Florida. They had phoned in an inquiry.

Alian Ollivierre [00:14:53]:

Okay.

Ciara Lewis [00:14:54]:

And a lot of times the phone inquiries, they don't always go through. Right. Especially if they're coming out of state.

Alian Ollivierre [00:15:00]:

All right.

Ciara Lewis [00:15:00]:

This man literally wanted to custom build his car. This, I was the first one that actually built a full car, top to bottom. Oh. For a client.

Alian Ollivierre [00:15:09]:

Okay.

Ciara Lewis [00:15:10]:

Now, everybody kept saying, oh, I bet he don't show up. I bet he don't. Blah, blah, blah. This man showed up to the car lot with his wife with cash.

Alian Ollivierre [00:15:20]:

Nice.

Ciara Lewis [00:15:21]:

And not only did the man show up to get his car, it had been a minute since I had my aunt tried to teach me how to drive a stick when I was younger. That, that was kind of how I started learning to drive. But that's not how I drove after the fact, if that makes sense. Like, I was on an automatic.

Alian Ollivierre [00:15:38]:

Right.

Ciara Lewis [00:15:39]:

So it had been a minute. I wasn't comfortable. This man literally trusted me enough that he wanted me to drive his car.

Alian Ollivierre [00:15:49]:

Nice.

Ciara Lewis [00:15:51]:

Because he wanted me to not have, I guess he could feel that I was in that male dominant spirit space, and he wanted me to feel confident enough to drive a stick if I, if ever needed. And he said, this be the best thing you take away today because I'm going to make sure that this is something you can do moving forward as a saleswoman at a car lot.

Alian Ollivierre [00:16:14]:

Nice.

Ciara Lewis [00:16:15]:

And I got behind that seat and I actually was able to, I, I, I was relaxed because the man literally put that in me that I could do it, and I managed to do it.

Alian Ollivierre [00:16:30]:

That's actually pretty, pretty powerful because especially when you have not been doing something for so long, it's just the activity, right? And it's not just only you believing in yourself in that moment, but someone else trusting. You see that level of trust that, that someone puts, and, and, and you're like, well, if they trust me, well, I must trust me too, you know, kind of thing. And I love that. And I love also that. I don't know, you could tell me if I'm wrong, but it feels like a restorative moment where, you know, you're in this male dominate his space. But then another male kind of presents this opportunity, and you're like, oh, well, you're not all that bad, aren't you? You know, kind of thing. So I really hear that. But I also hear there's a lot of dynamic and powerful women that have been in your life.

Alian Ollivierre [00:17:28]:

So I hear grandmother, I hear aunt. And I'm just curious, like, what are some of the good lessons that really came from the powerful women in your life about leadership? What are some things you could share?

Ciara Lewis [00:17:45]:

I can definitely tell you. My grandma always try to tell me, pick your battles wisely, because I can tell you, growing up, I was a spitfire. It did not take much for me to get upset, Right? And, you know, she told me that eventually I would learn it, and I. I have finally learned it. But she would always tell me that, you know, getting upset was not always going to solve my problem and that it was only going to take more time and energy away from me.

Alian Ollivierre [00:18:20]:

Right.

Ciara Lewis [00:18:21]:

Than what I was investing into the anger and the argument. And so it took me a while. Like I said, it took me a long while to really understand what she was trying to tell me in that moment. And, of course, you know, my mom, my favorite, she would always tell me, don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Alian Ollivierre...

Welcome to the LeadHer Shift podcast, where host Alian Ollivierre creates a safe, honest space for bold women building power, presence, and purpose from the inside out. In this deeply personal kickoff to a new season, Alian opens up about the defining moments of her last five years—including her journey through motherhood, professional pivots, and inner transformation. She shares how the LeadHer Shift movement was born from her own search for authentic leadership, and how reclaiming her voice became not just a personal revival, but an invitation for all women to step into clarity, courage, and conviction.

This episode explores the messy, sometimes isolating process of identity shifts, the power of inner awareness, and the transition from performative confidence to fully embodied leadership. Alian highlights that true authority and presence begin with the work within—and invites listeners to join her and a community of trailblazing women for strategies, stories, and support as they navigate their own leadership journeys. If you’ve ever felt invisible, doubted your ambition, or wondered if your leadership truly matters, this episode is for you. You’re not alone, and your story is ready to be heard.

• Welcome message and purpose of the podcast
• Emphasis on a safe space for bold women building power, presence, and purpose
• Introduction of the host, Alian Ollivierre
• Setting the stage for a deeply personal episode and a new era of the podcast

• Sharing of deeply personal experiences from the last five years
• The feeling of urgency to share her gifts and reconnect with listeners
• The concept of “shift” and how her experiences may mirror those of the audience

• Owning credentials and titles but feeling her voice was not fully her own
• Experiences of shrinking in rooms and hesitating to take up space
• Specific example from a United Nations meeting: withholding critical questions and experiencing self-doubt

• Recognizing the difference between capability and capacity
• Acknowledging a lack of inner permission to hold space and be fully present

• Shifts occurring in 2020: the global pandemic and the birth of her child
• Transition into motherhood: joy, grief, and isolation
• Navigating the emotional complexities and identity questions of being a new mother

• Unexpected loss of ambition and redefining success in simple terms
• The struggle with self-doubt, feeling unworthy, and the erosion of former passions

• Rebuilding herself, piece by piece, after intense life changes
• Using metaphors like “clearing the bush” to describe the process of self-renewal
• Questioning, “Who am I becoming?” versus trying to reclaim her past self

• Separating and honoring various roles: mother, wife, daughter, leader
• Development of a stronger, more grounded, and intentional self
• Deepening spirituality and clarity of purpose

• Launching the podcast in 2020 as an act of reclamation and alignment
• The transformation of the podcast from a space for shared perspectives to a declaration of leadership

• Realization that inner work is foundational to authentic leadership
• Defining inner awareness: knowing your worth and truth before external validation
• Understanding outer authority as the public manifestation of inner work

• The distinction between performative confidence and truly owning confidence
• Teaching a formula for moving from inner awareness to outer authority
• Sharing an example of her team succeeding independently as evidence of true leadership impact

• Plans for bringing powerful female leaders, founders, and creatives onto the show
• Topics to be covered: mindset, identity, visibility, power, and authentic leadership
• Commitment to delivering actionable strategies and reminders of women’s intrinsic power

• Encouragement for women experiencing doubt, confusion, or identity shifts
• Assurance that they are not alone and their leadership matters
• Call to share the episode and connect via the podcast’s website