Wickedly Smart Women

What does it really take to leave the corporate world behind and build a thriving business from scratch? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Bashak Ilhan, who has founded five startups, achieved two successful exits, and now leads a global consultancy. From selling childhood toys to landing a $3 million investment over coffee, this episode reveals the mindset, strategies, and resilience needed to bring bold visions to life. Listeners will discover why sales are at the heart of any business, how to immerse themselves fully in their dreams, and why knowing when to delegate is essential for both success and wellbeing. This is a must-listen for women ready to step into entrepreneurship with confidence, clarity, and courage.

What You Will Learn:

Why early entrepreneurial experiences often shape lifelong business instincts.

How transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship requires courage and vision.

The importance of selling skills and vision casting in building a business.

Why doing deep research and immersion before launching a venture can create a strong foundation.

The value of building for the audience rather than personal taste.

How to navigate challenges that arise in scaling and sustaining a startup.

Why timing matters in choosing to exit a business.

The role of branding, positioning, and strategy in securing investment and growth.

How to innovate during crises and adapt to market needs.

Why receiving too much funding early on can be more dangerous than not having enough.

How financial constraints can fuel creativity and build stronger foundations.

The importance of self-awareness and knowing when to seek a co-founder or partner.

Why delegating effectively is critical to long-term success and personal well-being.

How to redefine success away from busyness and toward balance and impact.

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What if spirituality could be as practical and structured as project management? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Tiffany Antoine, founder of Meditating Human, a tech-driven platform revolutionizing spiritual wellness for busy professionals. Tiffany shares her journey from a corporate career she didn't love to building a spiritual healing business that blends ancient wisdom, modern technology, and practical tools.

Discover how she turned divine intervention into a sustainable calling, the power of personalized spiritual journeys, and why making spirituality accessible in "baby bird bites" is transforming lives.

What You Will Learn:

How a cultural upbringing can influence spiritual roots.

Why spiritual heritage is sometimes dismissed and what can bring someone back to it.

How trauma can become a catalyst for a deeper spiritual journey.

The role certain books and teachings can play in opening the mind to manifestation.

Why people may stay in unfulfilling careers for years despite knowing their calling.

Steps to transition from corporate work to full-time spiritual or purpose-driven work.

The importance of fully accepting a personal identity as a healer or guide.

The inspiration and process behind creating a spiritual wellness platform.

How AI technology can provide personalized spiritual plans for busy lifestyles.

The value of keeping wellness tools affordable and accessible.

How to translate spiritual concepts into clear, everyday language.

Why manifestation is essentially goal setting with inspired action.

Strategies to help skeptics embrace spiritual practices.

How asking "What does this look like?" can lead to innovative breakthroughs.

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Meditating Human

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Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell

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What happens when a brand strategist discovers her true calling isn't external marketing, but transforming company culture from within? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Linda Carlisle, a fractional corporate communications partner who helps mid-market companies navigate high-impact change with clarity, compassion, and culture-forward leadership.

From mergers and acquisitions to organizational restructuring, Linda shares how her internal comms expertise supports psychological safety and lasting performance.

What You Will Learn:

Internal communications is a form of marketing that influences how employees experience and engage with company culture.

A strong internal culture directly shapes customer experience and brand perception.

Leaders can intentionally design company culture through communication, behavior modeling, and what they choose to reward.

During mergers or major transitions, thoughtful communication helps employees feel informed, supported, and psychologically safe.

Fractional leadership allows experienced professionals to support multiple companies without full-time commitments.

Financial planning and runway preparation are critical for women stepping into entrepreneurship.

Having internal alignment around values and purpose is essential to maintaining team cohesion during growth or restructuring.

Giving employees opportunities to volunteer together can deepen workplace relationships and improve retention.

The success of a culture transformation often depends on whether leaders are open to embedding new behaviors, not just new messages.

Working capital can come from many sources, but entrepreneurs need a plan for navigating income fluctuations.

Being part of a leadership team as a fractional partner enables more informed and integrated communication strategies.

Disruption doesn't have to equal chaos; done well, it can lead to growth, clarity, and stronger organizational identity.

Connect with Linda Carlisle

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What if the secret to transformation wasn't speed but consistency? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Hilda Fainsod, executive coach, podcaster, and author Hilda Fiallos, a transformation catalyst who's helped leaders build sustainable growth and long-term impact. Hilda shares how true transformation starts by shifting everyday habits and tuning into what we practice not just what we say. With 10+ certifications and 20 years in coaching, Hilda breaks down why short-term gains won't lead to long-term success, and how even a 2-minute gratitude routine can shift your entire day. Whether you're building a business, changing careers, or rethinking your leadership style, this conversation will help you reset your mindset and commit to practices that last.

What You Will Learn:

Why transformation takes time and can't be rushed.

How fast-paced habits and urgency culture block true change.

The difference between surface-level goals and deep transformation.

How to identify automatic routines that shape your life.

Why small, consistent actions are more powerful than big, unsustainable ones.

How to create simple habits that align with long-term goals.

What it means to coach yourself through change using micro-promises.

Why support systems like mentors and coaches accelerate transformation.

How to shift identity during a career or life transition.

The importance of investing time or money in your personal growth.

How a two-minute daily gratitude practice can anchor your mindset.

How to build new routines by starting with what already works.

Why defining who you want to become is the first step in transformation.

How self-awareness helps you replace habits that no longer serve you.

Why true transformation is more about what you practice than what you say.

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Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell

Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343

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Have you ever felt like the title "writer" or "creative" belonged to someone else, someone more talented, more confident, or more "official"? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Amy L. Bernstein, author of Wrangling the Doubt Monster. Amy shares her powerful journey from the "wage world" to a fully creative life, highlighting how self-doubt held her back for years and what finally helped her reclaim the writer within.

If you've ever whispered "I'm not creative enough" or waited too long to own your identity, this episode will inspire you to give yourself permission and start taking bold, joyful steps toward your truest path.

What You Will Learn:

Why mindset shifts are more important than milestones when claiming your creative identity.

How to identify and break free from cultural and familial conditioning that reinforces self-doubt.

The power of giving yourself permission before taking action.

How starting small can lead to big creative breakthroughs.

Why success should be decoupled from money, especially in creative fields.

The hidden risks of staying in the "safe lane" too long.

Why creative pursuits are undervalued and how to reframe your relationship with creativity.

How to navigate fear, including fear of failure and fear of success.

What it means to discover your worth outside of a paycheck or title.

The transformational impact of book coaching and supporting other writers.

Connect with Amy L. Bernstein

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Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell

Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343

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What if the story holding you back isn't theirs, it's yours? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Karen Sigalas, whose mission is to help ambitious women become respected, heard, and paid what they're worth. Karen blends science-backed mindset work with practical career strategies to help her clients own their voice, shift internal narratives, and rise confidently into leadership.

Through personal stories of overcoming bias in male-dominated industries and being underestimated due to her appearance, Karen reveals how our internal self-talk often does more damage than external critics.

What You Will Learn:

Why your internal dialogue often holds more power than external criticism.

How to recognize and shift limiting stories you tell yourself.

The difference between external validation and internal self-worth.

How to rewire your brain through gratitude and positive affirmations.

How neuroscience supports mindset work, especially the Reticular Activating System (RAS).

Practical ways to start your day with mindset rituals that boost confidence.

How to stop tying your value to your job title, income, or other people's opinions.

Why self-doubt is normal, and how to respond powerfully when it arises.

Tools to stop internalized oppression from dimming your voice.

How to transform microaggressions and subtle put-downs into moments of clarity and growth.

How to hold confident, non-defensive conversations in response to biased comments.

The importance of being seen, heard, and valued, especially for women of color.

How to lead without waiting for permission, titles, or external authority.

Why fighting harder isn't the solution, and how reframing your energy can lead to peace and progress.

How gratitude and celebration can fuel forward momentum without burnout.

The long-term career impact of mindset traps and how to avoid them.

How to use personal leadership practices even if you're not in a formal leadership role.

The power of storytelling to reclaim agency over your professional and personal narrative.

The connection between mindset, visibility, and earning power.

Why celebrating how far you've come matters more than obsessing over what's next.

Connect with Karen Sigalas

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Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell

Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343

Email [email protected]

Finding the Joy in Career Reinvention with Michelle Schafer - Ep.331

What if losing your job was the best thing that ever happened to you? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Michelle Schafer, certified coach, author, and career transition expert. After spending 25 years in what she thought were "secure" corporate roles, Michelle was twice restructured, which ultimately led her to create a thriving coaching business.

Michelle shares practical strategies for preparing for career change before crisis hits, negotiating from a place of value, and finding clarity around your next step, whether that means a new job or your own consultancy. This is a powerful conversation for anyone feeling the winds of change in their work life.

What You Will Learn:

How to reframe a job loss as an opportunity for growth and use it to pivot into more meaningful work.

Why job security is often an illusion and how to prepare yourself now for unexpected career changes.

Practical steps to stay ready for career opportunities.

The connection between self-worth and income and how to clearly communicate the value you bring to a role or a client.

How to explore if starting your own business is the right next step and what to expect in the beginning stages.

Tips for shifting your mindset around money so it supports your success instead of creating stress.

The power of surrounding yourself with mentors and community when making a major life or career change.

How to trust your instincts and move forward even if the timing feels uncertain or later in life.

Connect with Michelle Schafer

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What if the promotion you've been chasing isn't actually the right move? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Joanne Merrick, founder of The Leadership Recipe and author to explore the deeper layers of leadership, self-liberation, and what it really means to be a manager in today's world.

Whether you're considering stepping into management or you're already there and wondering if it's aligned, this conversation will give you the clarity, courage, and actionable insight to define success on your own terms.

What You Will Learn:

Why stepping into management is a transformation, not just a promotion.

The long-term impact of early emotional conditioning on leadership development.

How neuroscience and emotional intelligence can revolutionize your leadership style.

Why many people are promoted to management for the wrong reasons.

The real-life challenges of leaving corporate world to start a consultancy.

What organizations often get wrong about promoting individual contributors.

How to determine if you're truly ready to be a manager.

Practical tools for current managers who feel misaligned or underprepared.

The difference between influence within corporate roles and true impact as a founder.

Connect with Joanne Merrick

The Leadership Recipe

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Have you ever felt like you were just a supporting character in your own life story? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes life story coach and author Carrie KC West, who reveals how rewriting our personal narrative can transform deep-rooted trauma into purpose, power, and peace. Carrie shares her journey from a rocky start in childhood to rising in the corporate world and ultimately finding freedom and fulfillment through storytelling.

If you're stuck in an old story or ready to leave a life that no longer fits, Carrie's wisdom will light the path forward.

What You Will Learn:

How childhood trauma and family dynamics shape our internal narratives.

The healing impact of storytelling on personal growth and leadership.

Why identifying with your own protagonist energy changes everything.

How to recognize old stories and reframe limiting beliefs.

Practical ways to ground yourself in the present when triggered.

How to determine what "your table" looks like and claim your seat.

Why burnout often stems from unaligned life roles and outdated expectations.

How to exit corporate life with clarity, courage, and a plan.

Why external success doesn't equal internal happiness.

The role forgiveness plays in reclaiming your authentic power.

Connect with Carrie KC West

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Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell

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What if the very technology that pushed you out of your job became the vehicle for your success? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell interviews Tracy Beavers, a seasoned business and sales coach, who turned corporate downsizing into divine redirection. Tracy reveals how her career journey, from climbing roofs as an insurance adjuster to launching a top-ranked podcast, taught her to trust her gut, listen to divine nudges, and finally bet on herself.

With raw honesty and a whole lot of grit, Tracy shares how she went from being laid off and divorced to building a six-figure coaching business that empowers other women to show up online, get visible, and make sales with authenticity. Whether you're still in corporate or already forging your own path, this conversation is a masterclass in resilience, strategy, and spirit.

What You Will Learn:

How early childhood experiences can reveal natural strengths in sales and entrepreneurship.

Why witnessing a parent struggle in business can shape future career decisions.

How unexpected life changes like layoffs and divorce can lead to powerful reinvention.

What it means to recognize coaching as a calling before officially stepping into the role.

Why building a business alongside a full-time job can be a smart transition strategy.

How to cut expenses and plan financially to safely leave corporate life.

Which financial milestones and mindset shifts signal it's time to go all-in on a business.

Tips for involving family in building a business in meaningful and practical ways.

The importance of running your own race instead of comparing your success to others.

Connect with Tracy Beavers

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Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell

Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343

Email [email protected]