Women at the Top

Laura Moreano Pinzón discussed her role at the International Luxury Hotel Association, where she leads global partnerships to connect and innovate across the luxury hospitality ecosystem. She shared how her background in international law and NGO work shaped a systems-thinking approach centered on trust, cross-cultural collaboration, and relationship-building. Navigating career uncertainty during the COVID-19 period reinforced the value of adaptability, clarity, and focusing on core strengths, while her long-term vision includes mentoring others and creating clearer pathways for the next generation of professionals.

Key Takeaways:

• ILHA connects over 300,000 luxury hospitality leaders worldwide and serves as a hub for innovation and partnerships.
• Trust and long-term relationship-building are the foundation of a strong professional network.
• Systems thinking helps align diverse stakeholders around shared goals, especially across cultures and industries.
• Career uncertainty can be navigated by identifying core strengths and staying flexible rather than rigidly attached to one path.
• Adaptability and quick pattern recognition are critical skills in fast-changing environments.
• High performance is supported by grounding rituals such as midday walks, regular exercise, and intentional resets.
• Being selective and intentional about relationships increases both personal and professional impact.
• Strong organizational systems reduce stress and create clarity when managing multiple timelines and stakeholders.
• In chaotic situations, clarity matters more than control—focusing on the few decisions that truly matter drives progress.
• Future impact comes from leveraging experience to mentor others and create pathways for those navigating complex corporate environments.

Reach out to Laura on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauramoreano/

To get some help to reach the top, check out free services and products at https://humanprosperity.io

Mariella Amaya shared her journey into tech sales and her role at Informatica, where she helps customers unlock value through a cloud-based, AI-powered data management platform. 

She discussed her unconventional transition from title insurance and accounting into tech, driven by persistence, an underdog mindset, and strategic networking. 

Alongside her professional growth, Mariella emphasized the importance of discipline, high-performance habits, and intentionally stepping outside her comfort zone, all while working toward her long-term goal of financial freedom.

Key Takeaways:

• Informatica provides an end-to-end cloud data management platform with embedded AI, low-code/no-code tools, and consumption-based pricing.
• Mariella’s role focuses on relationship-building, prospecting, and ensuring customers gain real ROI from the solution.
• Success in tech sales does not require a technical background, but it does require resilience, learning sales psychology, and persistence.
• Networking and referrals played a critical role in breaking into the tech industry.
• An “underdog” mentality helped her turn obstacles into motivation rather than discouragement.
• Surrounding herself with high achievers raised her standards and inspired personal challenges like running a half marathon.
• Seeking discomfort, such as skydiving, helped her build confidence for high-pressure professional situations.
• Childhood responsibilities and high expectations fostered independence, grit, and goal orientation.
• High performance is supported by fundamentals like sleep, meditation, hydration, exercise, and disciplined time blocking.
• Meditation is a core tool for managing stress, emotional regulation, and sustained success in corporate environments.
• Her long-term aspiration is financial freedom, supported by continuous self-investment through coaching and skill development.

Reach out to Mariella on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariella-amaya/

To get some help to reach the top, check out free services and products at https://humanprosperity.io

Elena Boutsikari, a medical statistician and AI adviser, shared her journey across academia, global health, and industry, driven by a desire for purpose, freedom, and impact. Her accomplishments include serving as a WHO biostatistician and becoming a co-principal investigator at Western University, and overcoming limiting beliefs through psychoanalysis. Elena discussed the strategic choices, discipline, and systems that shaped her career, along with the professional challenges of fragmented data systems and gender equity, and her mission to build trustworthy evidence systems in the era of AI.

Key Takeaways:

• Elena’s career spans academia, global health, and industry, focused on biostatistics, regulation, and real-world impact.
• Major accomplishments include work with the WHO and co-leading research at Western University.
• Her biggest breakthrough was overcoming scarcity-based limiting beliefs through psychoanalysis.
• She believes mindset defines a person’s ceiling and that true change starts with deep self-understanding.
• Career growth came from long-term focus, strategic transitions, and learning from every role.
• Passion was inspired by her grandfather and a lifelong love of mathematics.
• High performance relies on discipline, systems, consistency, and structured thinking.
• She stresses “default to action,” noting that motivation follows disciplined behavior.
• Key challenges include fragmented data systems and inequities in task distribution by gender.
• Her “golden rule of three” reduces decision fatigue: protect time/energy, keep the mind clear, and automate micro-decisions.
• Elena is currently building a product in stealth mode to scale trustworthy analytics in AI-driven healthcare.

Reach out to Elena on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaboutsikari/

To get some help to reach the top, check out free services and products at https://humanprosperity.io

Ewelina Kurtys discusses the work of FinalSpark, a Switzerland-based startup developing biocomputers made from living neurons to address AI’s rapidly growing energy demands, leveraging neurons that are up to one million times more energy efficient than digital hardware. 

She explains the company’s shift from traditional digital AI to biocomputing, the early-stage nature of the research, and the challenges of commercializing and marketing deep tech. 

Alongside the technology, Ewelina shares her entrepreneurial journey, approach to performance and learning, and the near-term goal of securing major investment to accelerate research and scale this long-term vision.

Key Takeaways:

• FinalSpark is developing biocomputers built from living neurons to dramatically reduce AI’s energy consumption.
• Neurons are approximately one million times more energy efficient than digital computing systems.
• The project is still in early research stages, currently able to store one bit of information, with a long-term horizon of about 10 years.
• FinalSpark offers remote lab access, allowing researchers and companies to experiment with living neurons via code.
• The company is self-funded by experienced Swiss entrepreneurs and operates with a small, focused team.
• A major challenge in deep tech is explaining complex technology simply and identifying the ideal first customer.
• Ewelina’s career path reflects trial and error, networking, and continuous technical preparation.
• Success in complex fields requires enjoying the daily process, not just chasing outcomes.
• Her daily routine prioritizes movement, focused work blocks, and habits that support long-term health and performance.
• She emphasizes constant adaptation, learning, and knowing when to change direction professionally.
• The immediate goal is to raise 50 million Swiss Francs to accelerate research and maintain leadership in biocomputing.

Reach out to Ewelina on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewelinakurtys/

To get some help to reach the top, check out free services and products at https://humanprosperity.io

Jessica Oistacher shares the story behind founding Élavive, a corporate wellness consultancy that helps organizations improve performance and culture through customized programs built on vital energy, calm clarity, and meaningful connection. 

She explains how her unconventional career path—from recruitment to wellness—was driven by continuous learning, prevention-focused health, and the courage to take a leap as a solo founder. 

The conversation explores the importance of breaks for sustained energy, practical approaches to building high-performance habits, and why starting small with the right mindset creates lasting impact for both individuals and organizations.

Key Takeaways:

• Élavive designs customized corporate wellness programs grounded in three pillars: vital energy, calm clarity, and elevating connection.
• Effective wellness programs are engaging, fun, and tailored to an organization’s size, goals, and culture.
• Taking intentional breaks during the workday supports sustained energy, clarity, and better performance beyond work hours.
• Jessica’s transition into wellness was shaped by continuous learning, self-care practices, and recognizing wellness as a growing, prevention-focused market.
• Founding Élavive required embracing struggle, resilience, and executing a vision without having everything fully figured out.
• Being a solo founder brings challenges, including managing sales, branding, and execution, which Jessica addressed through planning, prioritization, and strategic use of tools like AI.
• Many organizations underutilize wellness benefits due to lack of awareness; a cohesive strategy helps employees engage more fully.
• A positive, curious mindset is foundational to high performance—asking “How can I do that?” instead of shutting ideas down.
• Starting small with habits, such as five minutes of meditation, builds consistency and long-term change.
• Holistic health—including movement, meditation, nutrition, and recovery—is essential for emotional regulation and longevity.
• Lessons from long-lived communities highlight the importance of connection, purpose, and enjoying one’s work.
• Jessica’s vision is to expand Élavive globally and inspire people to do work they love while living with greater energy, clarity, and fulfillment.

Reach out to Jessica on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lynn-oistacher-nyc/ or her company website at https://www.elavive.com

To get some help to reach the top, check out free services and products at https://humanprosperity.io

Rachael Fricke shares how her career in healthcare was shaped by personal loss, relentless work ethic, and a deep belief in human connection, describing her rise from a $15-an-hour administrative assistant to President of Guaranty Health Solutions by staying curious, building strong relationships, and saying yes to growth opportunities. Her story highlights the emotional weight of balancing motherhood with leadership, the persistence required to overcome imposter syndrome, and the courage it takes to build something new while staying grounded in purpose, boundaries, and a commitment to making healthcare more human.

Key Takeaways:

• Her career shift into healthcare was inspired by her mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis, prompting a move from hospitality to an entry-level administrative role.
• Relationships, connections, and integrity played a pivotal role in her advancement and later partnerships, showing why “never burning a bridge” matters.
• At Premier Health, she progressed from administrative assistant to VP of Marketing, eventually building a unified division spanning innovation, marketing, and patient experience.
• Early success came from being a “sponge and learn,” saying yes to opportunities, and building a rock-solid team that grows and shares wins together.
• Imposter syndrome was managed through confidence, preparation, and doing the “extra homework.”
• Leadership challenges included working in slow-moving systems, being one of the youngest leaders in the room, and learning patience while driving innovation.
• Building GHS required taking “one brave step at a time,” supported by partnerships with Guarantee Corporation and long-standing professional relationships.
• As a mother of three, she balances work through strict boundaries—like fully unplugging on Sundays—and giving herself grace to prioritize differently each day.
• Her work ethic was shaped by childhood experiences with financial hardship and witnessing her parents' resilience.
• She maintains high performance by protecting mornings for her children, preparing focused task lists, and anchoring decisions in the mission of improving patient care.
• Her future vision for GHS is a healthcare model defined by seamless access, compassionate care, and hospitality-level experience as the standard.
• Personally, she hopes her impact outlives her and that she models integrity, empathy, and courage for her sons while helping make healthcare feel human again.

Reach out to Rachael on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-b-fricke/

To get some help to reach the top, check out free services and products at https://humanprosperity.io

Jenn Whittingham shares how she approaches UX design by deeply understanding users, validating business problems early, and ensuring solutions are simple, effective, and aligned with organizational goals. 

Her story highlights the realities of growing into leadership, learning to trust teams, balancing motherhood with a demanding career, and eventually redefining success around purpose, fulfillment, and the freedom to choose roles that genuinely support a meaningful life.

Key Takeaways:

• UX design centers on understanding users and creating simple, enjoyable experiences across digital and real-world interactions.
• Early user research reduces risk and avoids costly rework, preventing issues that can be 10–100x more expensive to fix later.
• Successful UX solutions must align user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility.
• Transitioning into leadership requires stepping back, trusting teams, practicing servant leadership, and managing both up and down.
• Jenn’s career path evolved from creative and architectural interests to marketing, startups, and UX leadership.
• Balancing motherhood and work brought challenges, but ultimately strengthened her children’s independence.
• Her leadership philosophy focuses on supporting and uplifting teams, giving credit away, and assuming responsibility when things go wrong.
• She attributes her success to curiosity, passion for her craft, and continuous learning.
• Jenn is currently prioritizing personal fulfillment, evaluating companies for culture and leadership fit rather than titles or salary.
• Her long-term dream is a peaceful, creative retirement—painting by the ocean surrounded by family.

Reach out to Jenn on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennwhittingham/

To get some help to reach the top, check out free services and products at https://humanprosperity.io

Sarah McCauley, founder of Effitech Solutions and a veteran in order-to-cash operations, shares how she helps businesses use Accounts Receivable as a strategic growth engine through data clarity, process repair, and scalable systems. She explains how her superpower—pattern recognition—enables her to foresee problems long before they occur, while also reflecting on gender-based challenges, grief after losing her sister, and the personal growth that shaped her resilience. Sarah emphasizes choosing environments that value one’s mind and outlines her vision for developing the “future ready employee” in an evolving, tech-driven world.

Key Takeaways:

• Effitech Solutions uses a three-pillar AR approach: deep data understanding, fixing cross-department handoffs, and building scalable processes.
• Sarah’s background spans more than 20 years in finance operations, including leadership roles at GitLab and Wesco Distribution.
• Her “superpower” is hardwired pattern recognition, enabling her to anticipate issues months in advance.
• She has faced gender-related challenges, particularly around being labeled aggressive for data-backed assertiveness.
• Leaving corporate life revealed how much she had been masking to fit traditional professional expectations.
• She emphasizes voicing perspectives thoughtfully and asking clarifying questions to build trust.
• Learning to adjust language (“obviously,” etc.) helped her avoid unintentionally boxing others in—a lesson reinforced by Leadership and Self-Deception.
• Confidence comes from embracing her strengths without shrinking to make others comfortable.
• Sarah shared her journey through profound grief after her sister’s passing, rebuilding her identity beyond work.
• Her mindset centers on acceptance, duality, understanding triggers, and taking responsibility for her reactions.
• Professionally, she aims to build a framework for the “future ready employee” in an AI-driven world.
• Personally, her dream is to find peace and live expansively beyond the traditional career narrative.
• Her core advice: choose rooms that value your mind and protect your energy.

Reach out to Sarah on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahjmccauley/

To get some help to reach the top, check out free services and products at https://humanprosperity.io

Christina Muller, a licensed clinician and workplace mental health expert, explains how organizations can build psychological safety, reduce burnout, and improve performance through trauma-informed leadership, practical tools like her SEA model, and strategic stress management. She also warns against overreliance on AI, which can fuel anxiety, impostor syndrome, and cognitive offloading, emphasizing the need for human-centered leadership. Christina shares how her parents’ work-related stress shaped her mission and offers personal strategies for managing stress and sustaining high performance.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership buy-in is essential for integrating mental health into organizational strategy.
• Psychological safety can be built through the SEE model: spot, empathize, and engage.
• AI should be treated as a tool; excessive reliance may drive impostor syndrome and weaken cognitive functioning.
• Cognitive offloading from AI overuse can impair learning and memory.
• Trauma-informed approaches equip leaders to support employees during crises and disruptions.
• Strategic stress management—like regular check-ins and meeting breaks—reduces burnout and increases productivity.
• Christina’s mission is shaped by witnessing her parents’ workplace stress and its long-term effects.
• Personal stress management includes self-care, exercise, mindful eating, faith, limiting caffeine, and leveraging natural supports.
• High performance comes from consistency, authenticity, follow-through, and seeking support through therapy or peer debriefs.
• Networking and informational interviews help unlock new career opportunities.
• Christina aims to help create workplaces where people feel supported, valued, and emotionally well.

Reach out to Christina via email at [email protected], Substack at
mindyourworkplace.substack.com, or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinamullerlcsw/ 

To get some help to reach the top, check out free services and products at https://humanprosperity.io

Audrey Dhanani, Director of Operations at Bolt Accelerator, shares her inspiring journey from retail management and kindergarten teaching to leading operations at a fast-growing business accelerator. She reveals how she drives sales, finance, tech systems, and data tracking to help entrepreneurs scale effectively while maintaining balance, inclusion, and purpose in leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Role and Impact: Audrey oversees sales, finance, tech systems, and data tracking at Bolt Accelerator, ensuring smooth operations and scalable growth for entrepreneurs.
• Bolt Accelerator Programs: The company offers tiered programs that connect founders with expert coaches, community support, and practical tools like SOPs and templates.
• Career Journey: Audrey’s path spans diverse industries—retail, education, insurance, and manufacturing—showcasing adaptability, leadership growth, and operational excellence.
• Leadership Evolution: Moving into a director role required a mindset shift toward innovation, measurable outcomes, and proactive ownership of results.
• Tactical Habits for Success: Effective calendar management, strategic prioritization, and weekly relationship check-ins form the foundation of her productivity system.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Audrey highlights the importance of building teams with diverse perspectives to drive stronger collaboration and innovation.
• Tenacity and Resilience: Early personal and professional challenges built the determination that continues to fuel her success.
• Self-Care and Support Systems: Regular counseling, mentorship, reading for growth, and open communication in marriage sustain her well-being and performance.
• Career Advice: Keep a “wins document” to track accomplishments, demonstrate impact, and build confidence for career advancement.
• Core Motivation: Audrey’s ultimate purpose is creating freedom and happiness for her family—especially her daughter—which drives everything she does.

Reach out to Audrey on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrey-dhanani

To get some help to reach the top, check out free services and products at https://humanprosperity.io