Sheventures

If you feel stuck in a career or personal rut, this guest will inspire you. If you’re a stay-at-home-mom reentering the workforce, she’s got you covered. Finally, if your marriage suddenly ends in divorce and you need to hustle to find your way back into the workforce — she’s been there done that. From civil engineer to Secret Service agent to stay-at-home mother of three to divorced mom reentering the workforce, Lucy Chang Evans inspires listeners through her pivots on this episode of SheVentures. Chang Evans grew up in Portland, Oregon, in a first-generation Taiwanese family. Chang Evans describes how she felt like she always needed to prove herself as a minority in the United States, which pushed her to pursue a degree in civil engineering. Living in a post-9/11 world, Chang Evans decided to leave civil engineering to see if she had what it took to join the Secret Service. She did, and it was there she fulfilled her commitment to civic duty. Listen as Chang Evans describes her decision to leave the Secret

No, we are not trivializing menopause, a life stage that can include as many as 34 symptoms, but we thought it was a clever wordplay. In truth, menopause is deeply personal and varies from woman to woman. Listen to Catherine Balsam-Schwaber speak about the importance of education and science-backed information to bring menopause to the forefront. After spending 20 years working in leadership positions in marketing for well-known brands (MTV, NBC Universal, and Mattel), Balsam-Schwaber pivoted to a role that would fulfill her passion of understanding consumer motivation and providing quality health solutions. That role was with Kindra, a science-backed women’s health community that provides a myriad of estrogen-free menopausal products and education. Balsam-Schwaber describes how “it was destiny” when she took over as Kindra’s CEO after the company’s inception at an incubator. Balsam-Schwaber passionately describes the stigma and silence surrounding menopause. Some women experience a myriad of symptoms, others

Ever wonder how a person decides to go from a stable, well-paying job to risking it all as an entrepreneur? Discover how Natalie Palomino pivoted from a lawyer at the Department of Justice pursuing terrorist financing to a bottom-of-the-pit hair assistant (for a minute), where she learned her new trade from the ground up. An avid student, Palomino says she checks her ego at the door, and believes humility is one key to her success. Palomino tells listeners about her early life and how it shaped her decision to become a lawyer despite her love of styling hair. Another key pivot: her diagnosis with an autoimmune disease — which helped her define her market — a “clean” pure-ingredient, zero-waste brick-and-mortar haircare salon called North Salon in Southern California. COVID-19 led to Palomino’s next pivot: her transition to an online store (North Atlantic) — which was something else she had to learn from the ground up. She immersed herself in research and adopted a can-do attitude during the pandemic where she

Sharon Kan built and successfully exited four startups, acquired by names such as Microsoft, Barnes & Noble, and Oracle. Listen to her pragmatic approach to business and learn what she believes is the one quality all entrepreneurs should embrace. Raised in war-torn Israel, Kan reminisces: “You lived today because you weren’t sure what might happen tomorrow.” Nonetheless, Kan started her first business at 14, selling homemade cakes to local shops, served her mandatory two years in the Israeli military (air force), and embarked on  a multi-decade career in marketing, business, and product development. But her corporate career path was sidelined by motherhood. How did she react? Kan chose to focus on “feminine power” and boost the mom-economy by co-founding Pepper Lane, a platform designed to provide a community of women to co-mentor and inspire one another — complete with workshops, mentorship, and the myriad of services one needs when starting a business. It’s time we stop apologizing and embrace our femin

Imagine what it’s like for any immigrant to embrace the culture and norms of a new nation. Then think about being a highly respected doctor, practicing for years in your native country. When you arrive in the United States, you learn that if you want to practice medicine, you’ll have to dust off your organic chemistry and anatomy books and pass a rigorous exam.     That’s what happened to Noor Ali who skipped undergrad, going straight from the renowned Bronx High School of Science into six years of medical school in Bangladesh, only to barely miss the cutoff when she sat for the U.S. exam to practice medicine. How did she cope?   Ali always knew she wanted to follow in her anaesthesiologist grandfather’s footsteps and become a doctor, but she never envisioned being denied the ability to do so — especially after “paying her dues” and finishing med school. With a successful career in her home country of Bangladesh, Ali was recognized by the United Nations as a volunteer — bringing healthcare to pregnant

She joined Microsoft when it was a startup, when it was not uncommon to run into Bill Gates in the hallway. She never envisioned a career where she would travel to 60 countries, while being a parent to three sons, a wife, and an executive.     Though Kate Isler did not start her career with dreams of globe-trotting, she defied expectations with the help of a supportive husband, who was willing to move as her career thrived with their growing children in tow. Rather than view their lifestyle as a negative, the family enjoyed the adventure of experiencing new cultures.    Isler’s pivot? Today, she is founder of an eCommerce platform for female-owned and -led businesses called TheWMarketplace, which she and her team created during the pandemic. The platform boasts about 400 women-owned brands, more than 2,000 products and services, and is growing rapidly.   Isler is not-your-typical-success story. She focused on work experience first, spent 20 years as an entrepreneur, but realized that with only a hi

Twenty percent of LGBTQ+ people say they are “much worse off” financially because of the pandemic, compared with only 11 percent of the general population. Hadassah Damien, queer femme writer, digital technologist, and financial strategist joins us to provide actionable tips for the LGBTQ+ community to take control of their finances today. Damien grew up in a single-parent household where she experienced financial challenges. She entered adulthood believing money was unattainable. But as Damien embraced nonprofits, community art, archiving and #vanlife in her 20s, she taught herself personal finance basics — and put herself through grad school.  When Damien left the corporate world after the 2008 financial crisis, she focused on how she could help other artists learn to manage their finances and found people she could help as a financial coach.  Damien candidly speaks about the challenges those in the LGBTQ+ community face when it comes to money, and provides some suggestions on what they can do, one step at

Six months before she was due to receive tenure (which is highly coveted in academia), in the midst of a pandemic, this psychology professor left it all behind.   Janet Ahn, Ph.D., pivoted from academia and entrepreneurship to consulting for large companies such as Procter and Gamble, before joining MindGym (a behavior change company for organizations and corporations) as chief behavioral science officer. Now, she focuses on the science to support workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).   Ahn discusses why traditional approaches to DEI in the workplace aren’t successful — and maps out the psychological pillars that should be a part of any workplace DEI efforts.   Ahn also reveals how a marshmallow drew her to psychology despite her first-generation Korean father not considering it a “real” science, the truth behind intellectual differences between men and women, and the steps to effectively implement DEI in the workplace on this episode of SheVentures.

Nearly 2 billion people lack access to nutritious food — a staggering number likely to increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lara Ramdin, Ph.D., and Barbara Guerpillon are trying to change that. These two global female executives are playing integral roles toward Dole Food’s corporate initiative: the Dole Promise Sunshine for All, the goal of which is to make nutritious foods accessible to 1 billion people by 2030. Ramdin, chief innovation officer at Dole Packaged Foods, has built her global research and development team to be made up of 60 percent women, demonstrating her advocacy for women and girls in STEM. Guerpillon, head of ventures at Dole and Asia Fresh, is the first person to hold this position and focus on a global strategy to enable profitable business growth through start-up led innovations and the creation of entrepreneurial networks worldwide. Listen to how these two women foster change by showing how a large company can leverage the ingenuity of the global startup ecosystem to help solve food

What path leads you from NBA marketing exec to the mystic world of shamanism and moon circles?   Ashley Cramer was a burned-out marketer, yearning for change. Becoming a shaman was the last thing on her mind, and even today she understands people may be skeptical of shamanism and what it entails. Cramer’s healing journey along with her appreciation of lunar cycles and all they involve inform her practice today.   Shamanism is a term used for energy healers across many cultures worldwide, and Cramer is seeking to modernize her lunar practice with her new website and app, Align With the Moon.    Learn more about how Cramer focuses on the moon’s position and energy to help her clients engage with their innermost emotions and to help discover their purpose on this episode of SheVentures.

COVID-19 required us to be mindful of our physical health like never before. What about our mental health? It’s time to talk to about it.   Kristin Miscall is a psychotherapist with nearly two decades of helping others under her belt. She worked initially with homeless LGBTQIA+ youth before pivoting to private practice. Last year, she, like many in the mental health field, transitioned to telemedicine to meet the unprecedented need for her services in the midst of the pandemic.   Miscall noticed women were impacted disproportionately by COVID-19, and she shares her experiences of teletherapy over the past year. She speaks about the adjustments both she and her patients made — a blueprint for any practitioner.    Listen as Miscall recounts the impact of COVID-19 on women specifically, and on humanity as a whole, her ultimate tips for self-care in a time when we need it most, and the power of saying “no” and setting boundaries on this episode of SheVentures.

What is pro-poor financial technology, and how is Mae Watson Grote’s company at the forefront of making a difference? Mae Watson Grote is dedicated to improving the lives of the under-served and under-banked in the United States. As founder and CEO of the Change Machine — a nonprofit dedicated to building financial security through technology — she is doing just that. The platform is available to all kinds of practitioners who work with women (financial advisors, social workers, coaches) and want to help their clients escape the poverty cycle. Focused on both short- and long-term outcomes rather than just outputs, the Change Machine recently launched a recommendation engine on its platform that suggests vetted products and services to practitioners that line up with their clients financial journeys. Listen as Grote describes the pitfalls in “the system” that keep people (particularly people of color) poor, how Americans and financial institutions can combat systemic poverty, and the importance of alignment an

Five languages. Three continents. Three kids. Two careers. One foundation. Zankhna Parekh is a trailblazer. Born in India but raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Parekh always knew she would venture into medicine. With a 20-year successful career as a physical therapist under her belt, Parekh was keen to return to her career after having two children.  But, Parekh noticed (as do many women who become mothers) that her pre-baby clothes didn’t fit the same way anymore. So she decided to make her own — and then start selling them. Through her education in Kenya, Parekh had the skills she needed to found Zankhna Designs. With a focus on the coined term Zaftan, a new generation of kaftan (a long, loose dress or shirt), Parekh seeks to revolutionize luxury clothing by making it elegant yet affordable, with an international flair influenced by Parekh’s background (India, Kenya, and the United States). On this episode of SheVentures, listen as Parekh discusses the difficulties of running a business while raising three childre

From an early age, Kristi Data knew she wanted to make an impact, and she used sports as her gateway. In the fourth grade, Data petitioned her school to allow girls to play basketball — and got it done the very next season.   Data went on to receive a full athletic scholarship for volleyball — the pressures of which caused her to spiral into an eating disorder that lasted throughout college. Data discusses the reality of this situation that so many women and girls in sports face today.   After a stint in medical sales, Data is now a certified values determination coach, passionate about fitness, nutrition, and above all, community. She founded Girl Gang Evolution, an event company focused on female empowerment that she hopes to see take off internationally in the years to come.    Listen as Data discusses what goes into clinching an athletic scholarship, how to find your perfect coach, and the impact that one singular woman had on her life in this episode of SheVentures.    If you or a loved on

What maximizes your chances of receiving funds from a venture capitalist? Shelly Kapoor Collins knows firsthand. She’s a tech entrepreneur and public servant–turned– founder/CEO of Shatter Fund, a venture capital fund that invests almost exclusively in female entrepreneurs whose businesses stand to disrupt the tech landscape. With more than 20 years in the tech sector advocating for innovation and policy reform, Kapoor Collins was appointed to the National Women’s Business Council in the second Obama Administration, served as vice chair of the Women in Public Service Project started by Secretary Hillary Clinton, and was part of the transition team for then California Attorney General (now Vice President) Kamala Harris. Because of her experience, grit, and commitment, Kapoor Collins has received numerous accolades, including being named one of the top 20 global influential Indian women by the Economic Times of India as well as one of Forbes 40 women to watch over 40. Shatter Fund also launched The Shatter Foun

Did you know female founders face bias in how venture capitalists ask questions and are often negatively impacted when their products fall in a male-dominated industry? These are two separate findings of Dana Kanze, Ph.D., that add to a growing body of research that quantify gender discrimination in attracting investors. After all, women receive a paltry 2.3 percent of venture capital — women of color even less, according to the Harvard Business Review.   A little-known fact about Kanze: She started her career as an entrepreneur before pivoting to academia where she earned a doctorate at Columbia Business School. Kanze experienced firsthand what it meant to be equally qualified but sometimes sidelined. This experience contributed to her interest in researching why this common phenomenon happens.  Now a professor at London Business School, her groundbreaking research focuses on the unconscious gender biases that many women experience daily. Kanze provides actionable tips for female entrepreneurs

Sometimes, the best business ideas are right in front of you. That was the case for Ashley Clark, who pivoted from being a banker to an entrepreneur and creator of old-school board games and flashcards that teach financial literacy — going against the current trend of online gaming with six-figure success during a pandemic.   A decade as a banker underscored that too many people didn’t understand their own finances. Clark began to write down common customer questions — using this as her initial “market research.” Next was her tough focus group: her children. Her passion for teaching people about money flourished, and today Clark is CEO and founder of Sense 2 Cents, a financial literacy–based game company.   Sense 2 Cents aims to take the chore out of learning and foster a solid financial foundation by making the flashcards and board games a family activity, in which parents can learn alongside their children. Clark has also developed active communities on Instagram and Facebook.   But it wasn’t al

To begin Financial Literacy Month on SheVentures, who better than Leslie Tayne to discuss one of America’s biggest financial problems: debt, a $14.6T reality for American households. Leslie Tayne always knew she wanted to be a lawyer despite her father warning her when she started 20 years ago that it truly was a boys club. She tried many facets of the law before she pivoted to what became her passion — as in-house counsel to a debt company. Today, The Tayne Law Group is changing the face of debt resolution law. Her mission is to create a more constructive way of handling debt resolution. Tayne is well respected as someone who focuses on the solution and how to educate and engage her clients. Tayne’s “open door” policy encourages her clients to consult with her team before taking a financial action they may regret later — such as student loan and credit card debt, decisions on major purchases like buying a new car, or taking out a mortgage. With a focus on financial wellness and working with their clients as

With more than 25 years in the life sciences, lawyer Diane Lifton is a huge proponent of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and communities.   Witnessing how incredibly hard her mother worked to balance raising children with returning to law school, Lifton credits this experience to her own genesis of hard work and advocating for others.   Lifton spent two decades as a partner in two top-tier East Coast law firms. She pivoted from partner to in-house counsel and today is senior vice president, legal, at Sumitovant Biopharma in New York City, where she continues to champion diversity in the life sciences and in the workplace. With a seat on the board of World Connect, and as a volunteer at Goddard Riverside Community Center in Manhattan, she is putting her beliefs into practice to help eradicate food insecurity and support women and girls worldwide.   On this episode of SheVentures, discover tips for getting vaccinated from someone in the field, what it takes to become a partner in a law firm