In this episode of Women of Aurora, Marisol Perez talks with Jodi Doyle, a sustainable transformational stylist and founder of UpLevel Redesign. Jodi opens up about her journey from creative burnout to discovering her calling of helping women reconnect with themselves through intentional style.

If you’ve ever stood in front of a full closet thinking you have “nothing to wear,” this episode is for you. Jodi shares how personal style goes far beyond trends and fashion—it’s about self-worth, energy, and identity. You’ll learn what a Wardrobe Wake-Up looks like, why thrifting is powerful (and planet-friendly), and how releasing old clothes can release emotional baggage too.

We also talk about:

• Why confidence starts in your closet
• How fast fashion fuels overwhelm and what to do instead
• Creating a wardrobe that fits your life and your future self
• The emotional and energetic weight of clothes we’ve outgrown
• How to dress like you—no matter your age, stage, or size

Jodi’s approach is equal parts stylist, coach, and closet therapist. Whether you’re craving a fresh start or just tired of the “nothing to wear” cycle, her wisdom will leave you feeling seen, empowered, and ready to make your wardrobe work for you.

• Connect with Jodi on Instagram: @uplevelredesign
• Learn more at: uplevelredesign.com

About Women of Aurora:

Women of Aurora is a group of purpose-driven women coming together to network, support, and uplift each other. Membership is open to women living and working in Aurora and the surrounding communities.

Join the Women of Aurora Facebook Group here.

Connect with host Cynthia Gamboa Morales on LinkedIN

Connect with co-host Marisol Perez on LinkedIN

Connect with producer Amy Downing through her lifestyle blog, Friends Over 50 — a space for women in midlife exploring reinvention, tech, and inspired living.

In this episode of Women of Aurora, host Cynthia Gamboa and co-host Marisol Perez sit down with the remarkable Meighan Cole Bailey, a serial entrepreneur, certified coach, and community leader whose journey from foster care to CEO is nothing short of inspiring.

Meighan shares how a personal family crisis sparked the creation of her first business, Connections Mobile, a non-emergency medical transportation company. She opens up about the heart behind her work, how she's grown her team and impact over 16+ years, and how loss became a catalyst for deeper purpose.

We dive into:

• How Megan launched her first business without an LLC and what happened next

• Her mission-driven approach to elder care and transportation

• The story behind Mama’s Kitchen, her family-run food truck with a powerful legacy

• Coaching women impacted by the justice system and creating real career paths

• Her upcoming book From Foster Care to CEO and what that title truly means

• The mindset shift that comes from learning to delegate and ask for help

Plus, Meighan recommends two favorite books for women entrepreneurs and shares how she stays grounded, focused, and connected

Resources & Mentions:

• ConnectionsMobile.com.

• Email: [email protected]

• Books Mentioned:

– Secrets of Six-Figure Women by Barbara Stanny

– Let Them by Mel Robbins

– The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck* by Mark Manson 

Stay connected with Women of Aurora:

Join our Facebook group @WomenofAurora

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave a review if you loved the episode to help other women find our community.

About Women of Aurora:

Women of Aurora is a group of purpose-driven women coming together to network, support, and uplift each other. Membership is open to women living and working in Aurora and the surrounding communities.

Join the Women of Aurora Facebook Group here.

Connect with host Cynthia Gamboa Morales on LinkedIN

Connect with co-host Marisol Perez on LinkedIN

Connect with producer Amy Downing through her lifestyle blog, Friends Over 50 — a space for women in midlife exploring reinvention, tech, and inspired living.

Welcome back to Women of Aurora! Season 2 kicks off with a deep dive into the journey of Women of Aurora, featuring founder Cynthia Gamboa. She shares her entrepreneurial path, the inspiration behind the community, and what’s in store for the future. Co-host Marisol Perez joins the conversation to discuss empowerment, networking, and the impact of building a supportive space for women in business.

[00:00:00] - Introduction

• Welcome back to Women of Aurora podcast!
• Meet your hosts, Cynthia Gamboa and Marisol Perez.
• A look ahead at Season 2.

[00:01:00] - The Vision Behind Women of Aurora

• Cynthia shares her excitement about relaunching the podcast.
• The journey of Women of Aurora and its impact on the community.

[00:02:00] - Who is Cynthia Gamboa?

• Entrepreneurial journey: From HR to business owner.
• Founding Cammi Photo Booth and leaving the corporate world.
• Transitioning careers and embracing entrepreneurship.

[00:05:00] - Turning Passion into Purpose

• How a childhood love of photography evolved into a thriving business.
• Overcoming limiting beliefs about creative careers.
• The creation of Cups Bra Drive in honor of Cynthia’s late mother.

[00:08:00] - Navigating Business Challenges During the Pandemic

• The impact of COVID-19 on event-based businesses.
• Pivoting into Pop of Love, a balloon decor company born from a simple idea.
• The importance of visual connection during difficult times.

[00:12:00] - Talent Acquisition & Business Growth

• Cynthia’s background in HR and headhunting.
• Lessons learned from recruiting for top businesses.
• Building confidence in career transitions.

[00:15:00] - Women of Aurora: Building a Community

• The inspiration behind Women of Aurora.
• Creating a space where women empower each other without expectations.
• The power of networking and business collaborations.

[00:18:00] - How Women of Aurora Has Evolved

• From an online community to in-person networking lunches.
• The importance of intentional connections and support.
• Success stories of women who built businesses and partnerships through the group.

[00:22:00] - Upcoming Events & Speakers

• The lineup of guest speakers for the next few months.
• Topics include quantum leaping sales, networking strategies, and community outreach.
• Exciting plans for a book series and a beauty panel.

[00:28:00] - Join Women of Aurora!

• Events take place every second Thursday of the month from 11 AM - 1 PM at Society 57 in Aurora.
• Open to all women and individuals who identify as female.

[00:30:00] - How Women of Aurora Has Personally Impacted Cynthia

• The power of authentic connections.
• How the community has helped her grow both personally and professionally.

[00:33:00] - Closing Thoughts & Final Takeaways

About Women of Aurora:

Women of Aurora is a group of purpose-driven women coming together to network, support, and uplift each other. Membership is open to women living and working in Aurora and the surrounding communities.

Join the Women of Aurora Facebook Group here.

Connect with host Cynthia Gamboa Morales on LinkedIN

Connect with co-host Marisol Perez on LinkedIN

Connect with producer Amy Downing through her lifestyle blog, Friends Over 50 — a space for women in midlife exploring reinvention, tech, and inspired living.

On this episode of Women of Aurora, our host Cyndi Gamboa interviews Tammy Helfrich, an Intuitive Life Coach, host of the Intentional Life podcast, and author of the book Unapologetic. Learn how Tammy’s career as a life coach has evolved as she leans into her gifts to help others choose to live as their authentic selves. Tammy is passionate about helping women remember how to trust their intuition so they can expand their unique gifts and live unapologetically.

Tammy's book recommendations: Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott and all of the books by Brené Brown.

Meet Tammy in person at the December 2023 networking lunch at Society 57, where she presents the hot topic of  'Breaking the Mold: Doing Business Your Way!' Learn how to discover your authentic self and stop apologizing so that you can lead intentionally. Get your ticket here.  

You can connect with Tammy at www.tammyhelfrich.com.

About Women of Aurora:

Women of Aurora is a group of purpose-driven women coming together to network, support, and uplift each other. Membership is open to women living and working in Aurora and the surrounding communities.

Join the Women of Aurora Facebook Group here.

Connect with host Cynthia Gamboa Morales on LinkedIN

Connect with co-host Marisol Perez on LinkedIN

Connect with producer Amy Downing through her lifestyle blog, Friends Over 50 — a space for women in midlife exploring reinvention, tech, and inspired living.

If you love the idea of traveling but get overwhelmed by trying to plan the perfect trip, help is here! Kimberly Simpson is an independent travel advisor and owner of Destinations-Design. She can plan a memorable vacation for individuals, families, and groups. Not only is Kimberly the go-to expert on cruises, but she can also help you grow your business by offering retreats.

Travel is a second-act career for Kimberly, and she shares how she got started in this industry. Listen for some great travel advice and inspiration if you are looking for your next career pivot.

Kimberly’s book recommendation is Relentless by Tim S. Grover.

Connect with Kimberly:

Facebook 

Instagram 

Facebook Group  for Cruising 

Website

Sports, Concert, & Event Tickets

About Women of Aurora:

Women of Aurora is a group of purpose-driven women coming together to network, support, and uplift each other. Membership is open to women living and working in Aurora and the surrounding communities.

Join the Women of Aurora Facebook Group here.

Connect with host Cynthia Gamboa Morales on LinkedIN

Connect with co-host Marisol Perez on LinkedIN

Connect with producer Amy Downing through her lifestyle blog, Friends Over 50 — a space for women in midlife exploring reinvention, tech, and inspired living.

Join us for this interview with Jane Marcoux, founder of ACES Education, and learn about Jane’s inspiring journey of homeschooling her seven children, three of whom are adopted and have unique needs. Her experience of struggling to find the right fit for each child’s educational needs led her to create ACES Education. Jane holds degrees in psychology and education and is a certified per-K through 8th-grade educator and a Master’s IEP coach.

ACES is a community resource hub supporting families with their children’s education. The PreK-8 Academy offers half-day, whole-day, and ala carte classes for homeschooled students. There is support for high school students, along with tutoring, ACT/SAT test prep, camps, and more.

Listen for a discussion on the challenges of homeschooling, how to identify your child’s learning style, and where to find resources to advocate for your child’s education.

Connect with Jane/ACES:

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

About Women of Aurora:

Women of Aurora is a group of purpose-driven women coming together to network, support, and uplift each other. Membership is open to women living and working in Aurora and the surrounding communities.

Join the Women of Aurora Facebook Group here.

Connect with host Cynthia Gamboa Morales on LinkedIN

Connect with co-host Marisol Perez on LinkedIN

Connect with producer Amy Downing through her lifestyle blog, Friends Over 50 — a space for women in midlife exploring reinvention, tech, and inspired living.

Moyra Gorski is passionate about helping others live healthy lives. She does this through her work as a rep for Shaklee products, but Moyra is much more than a salesperson. As a former nurse, Moyra helps  anyone unsure of where to begin with using vitamins and supplements create a personalized wellness plan. She also mentors others along their entrepreneurial journey. Listen for Moyra’s tips on how budding entrepreneurs can tap into the network that is right in front of them. And her podcast is a source of inspiration for anyone facing life challenges. On Your Journey to Joy, Moyra interviews guests sharing stories of how they have overcome challenges and found their path to thrive.

Moyra’s book recommendations for us are:

The Gap in the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy

Win Win  by Laura Meyer

Moyra’s Journal and Podcast:

Journey to Joy Journal 

Your Journey to Joy Podcast

Connect with Moyra:

About Women of Aurora:

Women of Aurora is a group of purpose-driven women coming together to network, support, and uplift each other. Membership is open to women living and working in Aurora and the surrounding communities.

Join the Women of Aurora Facebook Group here.

Connect with host Cynthia Gamboa Morales on LinkedIN

Connect with co-host Marisol Perez on LinkedIN

Connect with producer Amy Downing through her lifestyle blog, Friends Over 50 — a space for women in midlife exploring reinvention, tech, and inspired living.

It’s not often we hear a story about how the pandemic proved to be the catalyst for a food service business. But that helped launch rapid growth for Rent-A-Chef, the mobile food vendor and catering company owned by Heather Rainey and her husband, Matthew. The couple got started part-time after catering a wedding for a coworker. But the phone started ringing after COVID shut down restaurants, and their clients still wanted to celebrate in their homes. Rent-A-Chef provides everything from private chef-plated dinners to full-service buffet catering. Listen to learn what it’s like for a husband and wife team to work closely together!

Heather’s book recommendation for us is The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.

Find Rent-A-Chef on Facebook 

Find Rent-A-Chef on Instagram

Thank you to Suzanne Winiecki for guest hosting today's show! Follow her on Facebook at Ease-y Nutrition by Suzanne.

About Women of Aurora:

Women of Aurora is a group of purpose-driven women coming together to network, support, and uplift each other. Membership is open to women living and working in Aurora and the surrounding communities.

Join the Women of Aurora Facebook Group here.

Connect with host Cynthia Gamboa Morales on LinkedIN

Connect with co-host Marisol Perez on LinkedIN

Connect with producer Amy Downing through her lifestyle blog, Friends Over 50 — a space for women in midlife exploring reinvention, tech, and inspired living.

Are you intrigued by the concept of Feminine Power? Jen Bugajsky of The Freedom Keys helps women embrace pleasure and intimacy without guilt, leading to better connection and fulfillment in their relationships. Her coaching includes mindset and embodiment practices designed to help you get out of your head and into your body to express your femininity.

Jen offers one-on-one coaching and group coaching. Her retreats offer women the chance to fully experience the work while exploring their bodies, emotions, and relationships. In addition, you can get a taste of what she has to offer by participating in her monthly virtual fireside chat. The fireside chat is an opportunity to ask questions and share your own experiences, exploring topics like money, power, and sex.

Jen’s book recommendations:

Pussy: A Reclamation by Regena Thomashauer

The Queen's Code by Alison Armstrong

Get Jen’s Freebie:

Stop Crushing the Man and Step into your Feminine Leadership

Connect with Jen:

The Sensual Feminine Life Facebook Community 

The Sensual Life Podcast

Website: www.thefreedomkeys.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thefreedomkeys

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the_freedom_keys

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-freedom-keys

Order Jen’s Freedom Keys book series on Author Spots

About Women of Aurora:

Women of Aurora is a group of purpose-driven women coming together to network, support, and uplift each other. Membership is open to women living and working in Aurora and the surrounding communities.

Join the Women of Aurora Facebook Group here.

Connect with host Cynthia Gamboa Morales on LinkedIN

Connect with co-host Marisol Perez on LinkedIN

Connect with producer Amy Downing through her lifestyle blog, Friends Over 50 — a space for women in midlife exploring reinvention, tech, and inspired living.

Clara Lucia Carrier, the founder of Breaking Through Coaching, joins host Cyndi Morales to discuss how living with purpose can benefit our health, relationships, and overall well-being. Clara teaches how looking at our circumstances from a SAGE perspective can improve our lives by changing how we approach difficulties. Clara believes we don't have to settle for whom we have become. We are designed and made to transform thanks to our brain's neuroplasticity. Learn what it is and how to activate it.

Clara’s book recommendation:

When the Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction for Life’s Sacred Questions by Sue Monk Kidd

About Clara

Clara Lucia Carrier is a proud Colombian American and founder of Breaking Through Consulting & Coaching. With two graduate certificates through the Wright Graduate University, one in Emotional Intelligence and another in Transformational Coaching, and her highly accredited training as an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Certified Coach, she supports and facilitates people’s transformation and capacity to reach their full potential and thrive. As an empathetic and experienced consultant, Clara serves stagnant businesses to become stronger brands by elevating their purpose, developing clear messaging, and determining strategic priorities. Her work as a brand strategist, communicator, and non-profit adviser fills her with joy.

Connect with Clara

Vist Start Breaking Through website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

About Women of Aurora:

Women of Aurora is a group of purpose-driven women coming together to network, support, and uplift each other. Membership is open to women living and working in Aurora and the surrounding communities.

Join the Women of Aurora Facebook Group here.

Connect with host Cynthia Gamboa Morales on LinkedIN

Connect with co-host Marisol Perez on LinkedIN

Connect with producer Amy Downing through her lifestyle blog, Friends Over 50 — a space for women in midlife exploring reinvention, tech, and inspired living.