World's Greatest Women: Recent Episodes
Annette Comer
Today’s woman grew up in a middle class home with two working parents. From an early age she was very responsible and often showed up as a leader. As she grew into a young woman, the bible verse “to whom much is given, much is required” guided her path. She worked with others to develop high performance leaders and teams. And her impact grew as she served as a global executive in a variety of top companies. Today she has turned her talents and wealth of knowledge to the boardroom where she sits on two public and two private boards. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Lynn Utter.
Today’s woman grew up in a lower class area of China. But as she grew, her status changed due to her father’s success. Even though her father became successful with much hard work, he lacked a real education – something he insisted his daughter receive. So, at age 17 she left China and came to America as an exchange student. Here in new home, she felt very alone but she focused on making good grades and learning all she could. Her US host family helped her find her direction into accounting and finance. As her career unfolded, she became an executive in several industries. Today she serves as a top leader in one of the largest ground handling & aviation services companies in North America. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Ying Mcpherson.
Today’s episode takes a little different twist as we look at business partnerships among powerful women and how they work or don’t. The two women showcased today are well educated and are innovators in the skincare field. One of these women already had a skincare product line that could be found in major department stores but she believed its consumer reach could be even greater. This is where the other woman came in. She had different skills and business acumen that the skincare company founder didn’t have. So, they joined forces to expand the skincare company by forming a 50/50 partnership. But being business partners, though extremely beneficial, can be a tough business arrangement to manage much less thrive. But these two women are making it happen. They are working together toward a common goal and have much to teach us about the power and pitfalls of partnerships. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Aliett Buttelman and Nina Labruna.
Today’s woman has taken a very unusual career path. She grew up in Washington DC, attended Catholic schools and went onto to major in college in financial management. But after a short time in this career, she realized she wasn’t cut out for such a sedentary role. So she became a DC police officer. She was a bit of a political junky so being a police officer got her into the middle of things happening in the capital city. She went onto to specialize in homeland security. Along the way she discovered the game of golf. She loved it so much she started a side hustle featuring gold events around the country aimed particularly at involving minorities. Today she runs a successful event company while serving the public as a Washington DC police officer. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Desiree Walker.
Today’s woman grew up participating in more activities than most young people. She was curious and loved to be a part of things. In her family unit, conversations usually centered around how to leave the world a better place - a burning desire that developed in her as she grew into an adult. The area she began to influence was aerospace and her determination and talent landed her a senior executive spot in the US Space Program. As a Deputy Administrator of NASA, she knew she could bring so much good to the world as she set out to reform the agency. But aerospace was not a place where women were welcomed and being in such a powerful role of influence was not easy. She was sexually harassed and verbally abused but she pushed on. Now others can learn from the wisdom of her journey from her recently released book “Escaping Gravity, My Quest To Transform NASA and Launch A New Space Age.” The story reveals how she defied the status quo as a woman working in a male-dominated field. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Lori Garver.
Those that watched this woman grow up knew she was destined to be a leader. She was at the forefront of all activities in school. But as she grew into an adult, she at times felt so overwhelmed and decided all she had to do was survive. But even in surviving, losing was never an option. In college, she pursued a business degree and realized believing in herself was paramount to her success. Her focus was always to move forward and never whine. As her career unfolded, she became an C-Suite executive in human resources for large corporations. Today she serves on several corporate boards and operates a human capital consulting company. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Mara Swan.
This woman grew up on a farm. Even though there wasn’t much money, she was around an affluent crowd and saw clearly how those with money lived. As she grew into a young woman, she became well-grounded and confident. And as she moved through high school and college, she found herself constantly showing up in leadership roles. After college, she remained involved in the education arena. But after 10 years, she realized she could have an even bigger impact on developing leaders if she took the leap to start her own company. This began a life long journey as a highly regarded and sought-after leadership consultant. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Sarah Albritton.
Today’s woman was born to a black father and a white mother. Both her parents were well educated and they in turn had high expectations for her. She went to college and earned a degree in applied mathematics. But as her career took shape, she felt she didn’t quite fit in anywhere. So after a year, she left the career her college degree had prepared her for and decided to pursue the arts. Jazz singing was where things felt right and she knew her voice and intelligence would lead the way. She joined a band and wrote her own songs. She won awards and became known in the music world for helping women choose more for themselves through music. Today, she performs, coaches and shows women leaders of all colors and ages how to choose more for themselves. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Monique DeBose.
This woman grew up being exposed to many different cultures. She was curious about others and wanted to know more. In college she studied journalism but quickly realized this field of study paid little. So she ventured abroad to Paris to learn more about communications and media. As her career unfolded, she appeared to have it all – money, career, the perfect man - but she knew something was missing. She began to explore deeper to find out what this was. She moved to Italy and explored the music and theater scene, started a film production company and wrote best-selling books. Today she is walking her path to greatness as a world renown connection and communication expert who is using her skills to bridge the gap across all things. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Kass Thomas.
Today’s woman grew up in a liberal family and was the oldest of three children. As a child she took acting lessons and all thought she would be a professional actress. However, in college she realized she would be a better director than actress. So, she moved to New York City and broke into the opera scene. Eventually she worked her way up to the stage director level at Metropolitan Opera, one of the largest classical music organizations in North America. As time passed, the director level wasn’t enough. She wanted to run an opera company but no one would give her the job. So, she started her own company. Today, after 30 years in the opera industry, she has taken her lifetime of perfecting the art of presenting and is using it to help leaders become concise and compelling presenters. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Elizabeth Bachman.
Today’s woman grew up being taught to make her own way. She thought she might be a lawyer but had no passion for it. While in college, windsurfing caught her attention and she went on to become a professional windsurfer and to be the first woman in the world to kitesurf. This path eventually led to Hollywood stunt work. She liked the movie scene and decided this was to be the space in which she would find her career. She started at the bottom of the movie set but was a quick learner. Others took notice and she found herself with credits on films that included such stars as Denzel Washington and Clint Eastwood. Eventually she produced a script and now is quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s leading authority figures. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Ceci Cleary.
Today’s woman spent much of her childhood in Nigeria being raised by religious parents. Growing up she traveled extensively and eventually immigrated to the UK. She was a quiet child yet always felt there was a fighting spirit within her. As a young woman she attended college and achieved a degree in mechanical engineering. But after graduation, her life took a turn. She became pregnant and struggled. As time passed, she found her way again and began to put her engineering degree to work. However, she kept getting placed in projects that didn’t seem to fit. So, she designed her own path by starting her own companies. Today she is an author, documentary producer, speaker, engineer and all-around fearless thought leader on creating your own memo. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Yemi Penn.
Today’s woman grew up in a middle class family in the US Midwest. Her father never had much to say but her mother constantly told her to “go out and sleigh the dragon.” This saying guided this woman’s life and with each hit that life offered, she bounced back and continued to elevate herself. She worked as a television news anchor and reporter for ten years at CBS television stations. She eventually moved from television to the world of financial security. Along the way she also learned what it meant to be authentic…to not pretend to be someone else but to embrace who she was. As an executive leader at New York Life, she has excelled by being authentic and was ranked in Forbes Magazine as one the top financial security professionals. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Christie Mueller.
Some of the World’s Greatest Women are stepping into positions of influence and leadership, making the changes the world so desperately needs. But what about girls and young women? Can they be a part of the leadership shift?
I would argue they must be if a long-lasting permanent change toward inclusion, diversity and equity is to be had. And it is from this place that I want to introduce you to Kate Williams, an 11 year-old that is brave enough to step forward and show what is possible.
She is on fire with passion for protecting wildlife and wild spaces. And determined to do all she can to make sure that when she turns 21, both are still here. But she is not just a young girl talking about something. She is showing up as a young leader, showing others her age and beyond what the young can do to lead others toward creating a world worth living in.
Meet Kate Gilman Williams, leader of Kids Can Save Animals and one of the World’s Greatest Girls.
This woman grew up in the inner city of Minnesota in a strong Christian home. She was a driven to succeed and was often seen as bossy. As she became an adult she realized protecting and preparing people for a good life was what really mattered to her. So, she became a nurse and then enjoyed a long career as a commercial lender. And along each step of the way, she was the best in her field. Her life twisted and turned like most of our lives do. She came to realize the only thing she had control over was her thoughts. And that there were 12 universal laws that, if she followed, would bring her abundance. Today she is the author of a book that has captured the wisdom of these laws into 365 Days of Abundance. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Judy Balloff
Today’s woman was the oldest sibling among 4. And at an early age she got involved in business and was driven to succeed. Attending a self-help workshop by Jack Canfield would set her on a direction she never could imagine. She went to work for his organization and ended up being the glue that brought the Chicken Soup For The Soul series together. Eventually she became the President of the company and led it to incredible success. As the years have passed, she has stayed closely connected to Jack Canfield, now as President of the Canfield Training Group. But she has also found her autonomy as an author and provider of powerhouse programs that change the lives of all she works with. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Patty Aubery.
Today’s woman was an only child to working parents. She grew up in New York and as she entered her teen years, decided she wanted to be a ski racer and compete in the Olympics. However, an injury made this impossible and she went off to college majoring in psychology. And as her life unfolded, she took an unusual direction. She navigated toward computer programming and got really good at it. And as a tech woman, she played all kinds of roles. Entrepreneur, corporate manager and worldwide spokesperson. Always using her tech skills to better the world and those that live in it. Today she works for Microsoft and is the founder of Project 15, an open platform used to accelerate scientific team building solutions. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Sarah Maston.
Today’s woman grew up on a farm to a lower middle-class family. From an early age, she learned how to work and was always competitive. And she realized she had a presence about her – one that people noticed when she walked into a room. After earning a college degree in radio, TV and motion pictures, she landed a sales job at Coca-Cola. Over the next 30 years she excelled as a leader in sales, marketing, and training and development. Today she is an author and professional speaker who motivates audiences with her real-life stories of aspirations, failures and achievements in the world of business. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Lisa Fey.
Today’s guest grew up with 7 siblings in the Bahamas. Her parents earned very little money therefore she grew up in very basic surroundings. In spite of being poor, she loved to learned and would often sneak off to the library to read as much as she could. At age 15 she graduated high school and found the money to go off to college and earn a degree in biochemistry. While working as a waitress, a woman offered her a job as a chemist. Here she thrived. And as the years flew by, she married, had children and went on to get her doctorate focused on social emotional learning. Today, she is walking her path to greatness as she teaches children and adults how to deal with emotions and relationships. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Marilyn Simmons Bowe.
This woman grew up in a family with 3 siblings. At age 8 her father left the family and her mother took over raising the children. There wasn’t extra money but this woman knew she wanted to go to college. So, she found a way to put herself through college and began a 22-year marketing career. Then at age 50, she made a promise to God to commit to inspire and reach the masses. She had always felt purposeful, even as a kid. This commitment at age 50 to a bigger purpose was the next step along her journey. Today she is walking her path to greatness as she promotes powerful conversations, powerful connections and meaningful transformation through her thriving platform Goalfriends. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Darlene Whitehurst.
Today’s woman was born to parents who were very open and progressive in their thinking. In this environment she learned to be an individual who was willing to take risks. In high school she went to Iceland as an exchange student and went onto study economics and international business. As her life unfolded, she worked in different industries and became involved in startup efforts. And with each step, she got stronger, took on more responsibility and excelled higher. Today she is walking a path to greatness as a c-suite executive. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Lisa Reeves.
Today’s woman was born in Mexico City to a working-class family. From an early age, she devoured every book she could find on how to improve herself and her life. And along the way there were hardships. At age 12 the family lost everything to a fire. At age 14 the family made their way to the United States even though she couldn’t speak English. And then there came a point where the father abandoned the family. In spite of these challenges, she graduated high school with honors. And then at age 21, she was diagnosed with cancer. But she kept believing that she could rise above and that all the things she learned from those great self-help authors were true. Today she has built a successful 7 figure marketing company and walks a path to greatness with an intense desire to serve others. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Jackie Ruiz.
Today’s woman grew up in a service-oriented middle-class family as the oldest of two children. As a child she was in lots of social circles and often saw the injustices of the world around her. In college she decided to pursue law because she wanted to be one of the ones that rooted for the underdog. She thought she was destined to be a fighter but as time passed, she realized she was more of a bridge builder. So, she left legal litigation and moved into mediation. And then she became a mother and her whole perspective of the world and her career changed. Today she is on her path to greatness as an entrepreneur conflict resolution specialist for corporate and family disputes. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Colleen Byers.
Today’s woman grew up in an immigrant family from Mexico. From an early age, she was exposed to what it was like to be an entrepreneur and she knew she wanted to be one. In school, she was popular and loved being social. But she was also smart and by the age of 16 she already had 52 college credits. Speech therapy caught her attention and this became her major in college. At the age of 22 she started her first company with a $100,000 loan. Over the next 14 years she generated over $100 million in revenue from 17 startups in 7 different industries. Today she has turned much of her attention to philanthropy as she strives to get back to others. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Perla Tamez.
Today’s woman grew up in a lower middle class family with an identical twin sister. She was an A student in school and knew by the time she reached college she wanted to be a doctor. Her parents had taught her that she could do anything she dreamed of so off to medical school she went. When it came time to choose her medical specialty, she chose radiology – a field few women pursued. By the time she completed her training, she was a mother of two. And it was as a mother she saw how others began to decide what was enough for her and where they thought her priorities should be. But she pushed forward and today is walking her path to greatness as a prominent radiologist specializing in pediatric and breast imaging. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Lauren Golding.
This woman was born in the segregated south to working parents. The family didn’t have a lot of extra money but they were rich with love. And as she grew into a young woman, she was taught to always be her best and that nothing was impossible for her. Being a Christian defined her view of the world and how it was her responsibility to find ways to give back. A music scholarship after high school led her in one direction but psychology caught her interests. With an advanced degree in psychology, she eventually settled into a career at the US Department of Energy. Here she excelled into a management position in security responsible for over 300 facilities in 31 states. Today she is a community activist continuing to walk her path to greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Pauline Douglas.
This woman grew up in an educated family in a small rural town. Her father treated her like a boy so she assumed she could do anything boys could do. And she was always expected to do her best and seemed to excel in most things. Early on medicine caught her attention and she decided instead of marrying a doctor like many others desired, she would be the doctor. As she moved through medical school, diagnostic radiology became her chosen direction. She eventually became involved in the American College of Radiology and was elected to the board. Today, she continues to walk her path to greatness as she continues to be a major influencer in the radiology field of medicine. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Catherine Everette.
Today’s woman was born in a small town as the youngest of 4 in the family. The home was full of love and her father ran a strict household. At the age of 16, she began working in a support role in a corporate company. She liked business and ended up making this her college major. She took her business education and turned it toward real estate. But as her life unfolded, challenges landed on her doorstep. An abusive marriage that left her living in a half-way house. This was followed by a great marriage but when her husband died, she was left as a young widow with a failing business. But through it all, she was determined to find a way to rise above. Today she runs a successful air flight medical company, a ground transport medical transport and a thriving real estate agency. And her companies now employ over 340 people and she is walking her path to greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Ronnie Ontiveros.
Today’s woman grew up in a family where she always saw people helping each other. She was taught it was everyone’s responsibility to share and that she was lucky to have what she had. As a child she knew she wanted to be in TV somehow where she could impact others. In college, she studied journalism and eventually found herself in TV news. As the years passed by, she wrote a best-selling book, had a baby, created a YouTube TV show and became a regular contributor to Entrepreneur magazine. As the pandemic raged through the world, she began to reinvent herself. Today she is a media trainer helping executives and celebrities share their stories with the world. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Jessica Abo.
Today’s woman grew up in an Italian family who was often in the American and Italy. She came to love art, history and culture. Her childhood was spent in private schools and she describes her growing up years as being loving but with complications. Anxiety was often present and she was always trying to be a part of things. Being an actress caught her attention but what really energized her was the art of producing and directing. Today she is on a path toward greatness as a successful producer and director in Los Angeles. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Ilaria De Plano.
Today’s woman grew up in an upper middle-class family where she was constantly exposed to business conversations. Even though she was a female, her dad and her engaged in a lot of father /son type activities. These moments made her believe that there were no limits as to what she could do as a woman. As she moved toward figuring out her future, her parents advised her to avoid pursuing technology-based careers as she would be competing with the smartest and the best. So, she pursued law and eventually became general counsel in what is deemed a male dominated space. Today, she serves as the chief legal officer for a technology based human resource company. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Lauren Zajac.
Today’s woman grew up in England and Ireland to parents who were nurses. From an early age, she was pushed to pursue education. And this push seemed natural for her as she was driven and competitive. She eventually made her way to medical school. She wanted to be a doctor and chose breast imagery as her specialty. In 2018 she became the first board chair of the American College of Radiology. Today she continues to walk a path to greatness as she pursues more board positions and steps forward as a leader in the development of others in the medical space. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Geraldine McGinty.
This woman grew up in a middle-class family and was taught early that nothing was impossible with God. With this belief, she felt she could pursue whatever she dreamed of. So, she went to Harvard and here learned that everything in life is intertwined. As her life unfolded, she married, had children, and divorced. She experienced working for a corporation and being an entrepreneur. But her real direction came in 2014 when she was introduced to the business of bottled water. She became curious about water quality and was disturbed to find it’s often not as safe as many assume. A new passion was born. Today she is leading the way on understanding US water quality and how the consumer might understand it too. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Doll Avant.
Today’s woman grew up in a middle-class family of educators. Even though she was a minority in almost all situations, she felt accepted and supported. She was taught to believe to have no limits on what she could achieve. So, she went for an Ivy league education and embraced being one of the few black females in a room. And as her life unfolded, she became a C-suite executive of a large corporate company. Today she is the CEO of her own company – a company dedicated to empowering healthier lives. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Kat Peeler.
Today’s woman grew up learning how to be independent. She watched her mom struggle to leave a troubled marriage and vowed to herself she would always make her own way. After college she went to work for a travel company and a few months later joined a well-known cruise line. She loved the industry and saw she was really good at sales. As the years flew by, she joined a competitive cruise company where she rose quickly into the ranks of senior management. These days, she continues her path to greatness as a senior VP of Sales, Trade Support and Service of a major cruise line. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Vicki Freed.
Today’s woman grew up in an entrepreneurial household. At the age of 12, she often helped her father in the office of his air condition and electrical business – a business full of male workers. As she became a young woman, being a lawyer caught her attention and, even though being an attorney was an option, she found her father’s business needed her help so this is where she landed. She made systems efficient and streamlined accounts receivables. And customers and employees came to trust and respect her. Eventually she took over the family business and expanded its offerings growing the top line to a multiple 7 figure revenue stream. Today she continues to grow the company as a sharp business woman in a male dominated industry. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Sarah Sagredo-Hammond.
Today’s woman was born with a special gift and knew she was different growing up. As a child she often could see things before they happened and even though many considered this unique ability a gift, she saw it as a curse. So, in college she earned a Bachelors and Masters in Speech Pathology and this became her profession. But this special gift to see things others couldn’t, never left. She engaged a psychic development specialist to help her develop the power of this unique talent. Today she is a sought-after psychic who uses her special gift to help others chart their own way through this journey called life. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Tova Kove.
Today’s woman grew up as an only child in a poor family. When she was born, she was named after a famous woman pilot and grew up believing she was related to her. With this in the back of her mind, she secured her private and commercial license to fly. And then she started training in secret to fly around the world. Most would tell her this was impossible but her mom taught her the word can’t was not a word she was ever to use. So, she raised the money she needed and for 18 days she flew 28,000 nautical miles around the world. Today she is walking her path to greatness as she teaches others how to set their goals high while not being tied to an identity. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Amelia Earhart.
Today’s woman, as a little girl, saw herself as different. She would push hard to make things happen. By the age of 4, she had decided she wanted to be a dancer. She started making up dances and performing for whoever would watch. By age 13, she was in a regional dance company and by age 17 she snagged her first professional choreographer job. Studying dance in college added theory and structure to her passion. Shortly after graduation she made the bold move to NYC and started her own dance company. This was the beginning of her path to greatness and 50 years later her company is still impacting the world and she continues to dance. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Catherine Turocy.The New York Baroque Dance Co.
This woman grew up in an upscale family of doctors. From an early age she had a leadership mentality. She would organize things and create PowerPoint presentations to go after what she wanted. And she loved pets and for a while seemed to be obsessed with them. But she was also fascinated by plants and botanicals. She turned her college dorm room into an apothecary and created a clean beauty line. In her senior year she launched the Labruna skincare line and a year later secured a big account with a major department store. She is now walking a path to greatness as she continues to discover what it takes to build a worldwide brand and company to support it. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Nina Labruna.
This woman grew up a poor family and went on to become a school teacher. She married a man who became an attorney and her life seemed set. But at age 45 she met a retired French pastry chef who taught her the fine art of baking. She learned from him on the weekends and practiced what she learned during the weekdays. She began selling her cakes in local restaurants and found she made more money doing this than teaching. And then her big break came. She got asked to make the wedding cake for a well-known wealthy family and a 40-year journey of baking master pieces began. She found herself engulfed in a world of dignitaries, wealth and fame. Her cakes became known as the most beautiful, the most delicious and the most expensive. From Paris to Dubai to the US, the legacy of and the desire for a Sylvia Cake continues. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Sylvia Weinstock.
Today’s woman grew up in a household that often expected her to be perfect. She was to try her best and get results. As she grew into adulthood, she never learned to ask permission for what she wanted but instead she would just do things and go after what she desired. And she became a master at overcoming whatever situation she found herself in. As an adult she became fascinated with technology and came to realize it could change how work got done. So, she took her career in the direction of technology driven human resourcing. Today, as an author, career professional and champion for women, she works to lay the groundwork for global platforms which allow everyone to harness their talents and passions to make the change they want in the world. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Patti Fletcher.
Today’s woman grew up in a middle-class family to parents who believed education was the key to a good life. As a little girl, she thought she might be a nurse but her mother told her no, she should be a doctor. So even as a young girl, her parents set the bar high for what their children would become. No excuses were allowed and can’t wasn’t a word that was permitted within the household. As this woman grew into a young adult and entered medical school, she often followed what people expected. She became an eye surgeon and opened her own practice. However, after 11 years, she stepped away from surgery. She was burned out from trying to be everything to everyone. In the years to follow, she explored different avenues of impact. Today, she is making a difference as an integrative and intuitive medical physician who uses her gifts and talents to help people with strange, rare and peculiar health issues. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Veronica Anderson.
This woman was one of 6 children with a mother providing for them all. By the age of 4, she was talking to angels and felt God was everywhere. And she knew she was different than other children and hence, learned to be a chameleon who could become what she needed to be to get what she wanted. As a young adult, she focused on making as much money as she could and did well until she lost it all. It was then that she started to deeply explore herself. Eventually she realized that her purpose was to impact others in a big way. Over the years she has helped feed millions of children and was key to the start of volunteer tourism. Today she walks a path to greatness as she continues to show up as a dedicated global humanitarian. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Spryte Loriano.
This woman grew up in a very conservative family. In this environment she was taught to be independent and competitive. She was never in the typical school clicks but was seen as a leader in many school activities. As a young girl, she wanted to be a veterinarian but in high school changed her mind and decided to pursue medicine. In medical school, there wasn’t many women and men seemed to hold the power. So, she adopted a male like behavior and became one of the guys. And as she moved through the years, her career in medicine and a successful support system continued to evolve. Today she is not only the chair of radiology of a prominent medical hospital, but is also a champion of developing women leaders. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Cheri Canon.
Today’s woman grew up with a grandmother that spoke Spanish. As a child, it looked to her like this was a secret code her grandmother used to communicate. This early exposure to a foreign language captured her interest in academics. As a young adult, she thought her destiny was to be a professor. However, while on the tenure track, she realized academics was not where she was supposed to be. Instead, being an entrepreneur was to be her path. But her interest in language never disappeared and she began to focus on the words women and men used. Today she is an executive communication coach who teaches others how to get buy in for their ideas and programs. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Laura Sicola.
This woman was born the oldest of 5 children into a middle-class family. She liked to push limits and hated restrictions. And was curious about what was on the other side of the boundaries of her life. She got into acting as a child and thought, after college, she would pursue it as a career. However, her curiosity took her into toward human potential. She wondered why humans would disengage at work and how this could be fixed. And she explored human health and how one could build resilience and wellbeing. Today she leads a holistic think tank that combines groundbreaking science and proven wisdom to move people and organizations forward. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Carey Davidson.
This woman was born in India to an academic family. Conversations were intellectual and often about reaching higher. As a child, she often found herself in a college classroom with her father who was a professor. Throughout her formative years and even into adulthood, gender was never something she thought about. That was until she became a mother and realized she was a business woman and leader who was affected by her biology. Today, she has her foot in two worlds. She is back engaged in academia but is also a highly successful c-suite coach and advisor as well as an award- winning speaker. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Tanvi Gautam.
Today’s woman grew up in a poor family that was rich in love. She had a speech impediment as a child and, as she grew, language and proper grammar became important to her. She realized early that she was different. She wasn’t willing to settle like others and always believed there were ways to get what you wanted. And even though as a black woman, she was told she didn’t belong, she decided early on she wasn’t going to let others tell her who she was. Today she considers herself to be in the transformation business. As a counseling psychologist, she helps others identify their blind spots and craft new plans of success. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Faith Brown.
Today’s woman was born to immigrant parents from New Delhi. As a child she watched her parents go from a simple life to one that was very successful. And, during this transition, they taught her business and a business mindset. As she became a young adult, she came to understand that social entrepreneurship was going to be her focus. And she realized that she could do big and good at the same time. But she wasn’t meant to be in a non-profit and was never going to ask others for money. She wanted to create companies that would make big money so that she could use it to shift social consciousness. Today she operates as a thriving entrepreneur who has enjoyed a variety of world-changing product successes. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Shivani Gupta.
Today’s woman was raised in a very educated family. Everything about her environment supported creativity. The house was full of books and as a child she wanted to be a composer. At the age of 6, she was teaching other first graders and she started writing short stories at the age of 9. In college she studied psychology, business and classical singing. And as an adult she became accomplished in spaces women weren’t normally seen. She became an investment banker and a serious composer. She eventually opened her own company to manage her abundance of creative material. Today she continues to walk a path to greatness as she gifts the world with her many creative accomplishments. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Georgia Shreve.
This woman immigrated from Chili and travel was a natural part of her growing up. Her father was a strong driven force and she came to believe she could also be a strong achiever. However, when she came to the US, she was separated from her father for 3 ½ year due to immigration and her mother became her role model - a role model that would often settle. But she was smart and learned quickly. After college she went to work for a travel agency and, having already traveled so much herself, excelled in the company. In 1994, she struck out on her own. Today she operates an award winning world class travel agency that specializes in destination weddings and honeymoons. She is an expert in creating moments that her clients remember for a lifetime. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Jennifer Doncsecz.
Today’s woman was raised by a single mom. There was never much money and the family values were rooted in religion. As a young girl, she cleaned other people’s home to earn money and by the age of 14 had a real job. She even played pool to earn additional money and found that being good and female was a winning combination. Even though there was little, her mom always told her to ask for part of the world and she just might get it. As she moved through life, she never forgot this and became good at asking for what she wanted. And even though she doesn’t see herself as someone special, she is in ways others might not recognize. Today she operates a successful travel agency and, as an ordinary woman, is full of in-depth wisdom so many others have yet to acquire. And it is in this space she is walking her path to greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Jennifer Pearce.
This woman was the daughter of a preacher in what was a very culturally diverse family. There was a strong traditional faith in which she was taught to always look for commonalities among other races and ways of living. After high school she went onto to study classical music but felt after short period of time this wasn’t where she was meant to be. So, she left college and took a job in corporate and then a non-profit. She came to realize she was a strategist who could view the world in an abstract way. And that with this innate ability, she was able to see what was broken in a system and put things in motion to change them. Today everything she does is about social consciousness and seeing where problems exist that need to be solved. She builds innovative strategies and tools to bridge the gap between profit and non-profit organizations and exposes the benefits each offer to the other. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Iris Ivana Grant.
Today’s woman was born to parents who came from Cuba. There was very little money and she was taught to work hard and take care of her younger sister. She went to Catholic school and the rules here coupled with the Cuban culture made life very constrictive. Wrongs were viewed as black or white with no grey areas. She was constantly supervised yet her spirit was one of independence and a craving for freedom. At the age of 17, she married a man her parents didn’t approve of but it was her way out. However, he wasn’t a kind man. He abused her but she taught she had to always do the right thing, so she stayed with him and had children. Along the way she earned degrees in psychology and marriage and family therapy. And she used this knowledge to keep her and her children safe as well as others she counselled. Today, as a divorced woman, she continues to walk a path to greatness as she counsels and guides others through the challenges of life. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Aileen Castellano.
Today’s woman grew up in a wonderful home full of love and guidance. She learned at an early age about honesty, hard work and humility and how to not be afraid to look evil in the eye. Through her father’s work she was often around top CEOs and came to believe she could change the world. At the age 16 her view of life changed when she saw children as young as 6 being sold into sex trafficking and it was something she couldn’t un-see in her mind. However, she tucked the image away and went on to marry and become a mother but deep down she always knew she was blessed with money and opportunities and that it was all for a reason. And at the age of 34, she decided to act on what she had seen at 16. She launched Safe House Project and began building a network of safe homes for those rescued from human trafficking. Today, she is walking her path to greatness as she continues to lead and build this impactful organization. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Kristi Wells.
Today’s woman was born in Bosnia to a Muslim family full of love. During her youth, Bosnia came under siege and she was nearly killed by a bomb. As time passed and the Bosnian genocide took place, she felt like she was in an emotional whirlpool that she just couldn’t escape. She held onto her sanity by teaching herself math, physics and other subjects. And after many attempts to leave Bosnia and the horror happening there, she finally got out and eventually made her way to America. In America, she found a way to continue learning, going on to earn two masters and a doctorate from Columbia University. Today, as a professor at Columbia, she uses her journey and her education to teach others why societies fall apart and what role education can play in rebuilding decimated countries. In addition, she explores concrete ways to facilitate women’s social mobility. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Amra Sabin-El-Rayess.
Today’s woman grew up with little money and was supporting herself by the age of 14. During her teenage years she was bullied and her self-esteem struggled. However, along the way she was introduced to modeling and the world of beauty. She entered pageants and began winning. Her self-confidence grew as she won Miss Singapore and was the one of the top three finalist in the Miss Universe pageant. She dug deep into entrepreneurial endeavors with image consulting and a café retail chain. There were partnerships along the way that worked and some that didn’t. But through it all, she never gave up on women and her ability to elevate them. Today, through her Soul Rich Woman brand, she mentors thousands of women to bring their business and leadership brands online. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Genecia Alluora.
Today’s woman was raised in a wealthy isolated environment and was the youngest of 8 children. She was an exceptional athlete and sometimes felt she was different than others. She was driven and inspirational but yet had very limited social life. As a young adult in college, she decided she wanted to be a motivational speaker. It wasn’t a direct path for her to get there though. She worked at a crisis center and for a seminar company. And eventually she went out on her own and got her first gig as a speaker. Years later she has become one of the few speakers to be honored in the Speaker Hall of Fame. Today she walks a path to greatness as she motivates audiences to get out of their comfort zone and take a front seat in life. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Marilyn Sherman.
Today’s woman was raised by parents who emphasized education and work ethics. There wasn’t much money and there were lots of rules in the household which she often rebelled against. She was a classic over achiever and at the age of 4, knew she would go to Harvard and she did. It was at Harvard that she came to understand the difference between her resources growing up and what those with money had access to. This led her to become passionate about education equity. She excelled at navigating between different worlds and saw how this skill could be used to impact education. Today she is walking a path to greatness as she leads an organization focused on making it possible for race and income to no longer predict post-secondary education and upward mobility. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Tina Fernandez.
This woman had a strong drive to succeed that didn’t make sense to her loved ones. At one point she even wondered if she might be adopted because she was so different than the other women in the family. At age 15, she knew she wanted to change the world but she had no role models to show her how. In college she discovered the concept of patterns and came to realize her ability to recognize patterns could be used to inspire and impact the world she wanted to change. She worked for Greenpeace and became an activist who got arrested a lot. Then she moved onto Wall Street where she built finance projects that supported the good of the world. Today, her path to greatness continues as she works toward a wide shared democracy by aligning capital with protecting life and human dignity. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Donna Morton
Today’s woman felt like she grew up in a cocoon in Sweden. Things seemed wonderful and everyone was equal. The family were big chess players so her existence was very intellectual. But at age 5, she got her first taste of performing on a stage and she loved it. The air seemed to clear and she felt connected to people in a way she couldn’t describe. As her grew into a young woman, the arts became part of her life. Ballet was where she shined and by age 10 she became part of the Royal Swedish Ballet School. Over the years she has become an accomplished ballet dancer and choreographer as she uses her talents to help her and others make sense of the world around them. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Julia Bengtsson.
Today’s woman knew she was different and unique at an early age. She was untraditional in so many ways and therefore didn’t seem to fit into what others expected. As a young woman, she started a career in corporate and was on her way. But the man she married eventually cheated on her and her world was shattered. As she sorted through the hurt and shame, she discovered another side to life – the act of giving and how it could activate the law of receiving. She went on to write two best-selling books revealing how others overcame the obstacles between themselves and their goals. Today, she is walking a path to greatness as she shows each of us how to solve the world’s most seemingly impossible challenges through simple individual actions. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Cynthia Kersey.
Today’s woman was always curious as a child. Wrapped within this curiosity was a lot of personal and family expectations. She was taught early to take care of herself and follow the rules. And these rules and expectations impacted her in negative and positive ways as she matured. She went off to college and while there, got booked for commercials. She was curious once again and wondered what acting would be like. So, she moved to California and, after competing with 6000 other young women, landed a major acting role on the daytime TV show Guiding Light. This eventually led to another lead role on the show One Life To Live. Through it all, she learned the powerful connection between moving her body and controlling her mind and the reality it could create. Today she helps others create the reality they want by showing them how to combine movement with mindset to access a normally inaccessible part of their brains. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Sonia Satra.
Today’s woman came from a broken family and was the youngest of 8 children. There wasn’t much money and she ended up living with her aunt who showed her what abundance looked like. In college, she studied fashion and enjoyed quick success. But then love came along and she married and had children. Her husband and she founded a wine business but she wanted something of her own. She decided real estate would give her flexibility and good income and she became what seemed like an overnight success. But her husband died and she found herself alone with 6 children. After his death, she moved to Italy to be closer to his family. In this culture, she saw very different social norms for women - an insight that put her on a path to greatness to help women be more. Today she is back in the US and as a real estate broker and life coach, she is changing how women live and view themselves. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Brenda Di Bari.
This woman became the caregiver of her siblings at a very young age. She was the oldest of 6 children who were being raised by a single mom in the UK. After high school, she was told black girls didn’t go to college but she went anyway. It wasn’t easy. She was already a mother herself and her marriage was abusive, but she kept going. She worked, went to school and eventually got a Masters Degree and, afterwards, secured various senior management roles. Then a second marriage took her to the Caribbean. Here she found an executive role in telecom in what was a very male dominated environment. Yet, with each new challenge, she polished her leadership skills and her determination. Today she is walking a path to greatness as she helps ambitious women challenge the status quo and navigate their careers without compromise. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Janice Sutherland.
Today’s woman grew up in a household of positive affirmations. She heard things like “you can always learn more” and “you can do anything you put your mind do.” She attended an all-girls school from 6th to 12th grade, and this experience coupled with her parent’s affirmation shaped her to be confident and not influenced by male counterparts. At college, she was encouraged by her father to become a doctor or a lawyer. She tried medicine but it didn’t fit. So, she became an attorney and eventually ended up at one of the largest private banks on Wall Street. It was here that she realized women were so under served in the financial space. So, she pioneered a new concept of estate planning for women centered around a woman’s values. Today she continues to walk a path to greatness as she boldly ventures into new roles that can impact others in the private banking arena. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Adrienne Penta.
Today’s woman grew up in a family with lots of money. Even though she was wealthy and could have access to the finest, her parents made sure she experienced manual labor and public school and grew up understanding the importance of values. As a young woman, she was shy and non-traditional. Her education was in economics and government. And her first marriage was to a Roman Catholic priest. But as life twisted and turned, she realized she was not living to her full potential and began to seek ways to make a major impact. In March 2019, she heard details about 10 to12 year old girls being forced to have sex several time a night with strangers. It broke her heart and she knew she had to do something to help. Today she is walking her path to greatness as she uses her wealth, influence and prestige to change the horrific reality of human trafficking. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Mitzi Perdue.
Today’s woman, as a young child, thought her family was rich. They had a big backyard and went on vacation but when she went to middle school, she became friends with wealthy children and realized she wanted to one day have that kind of life. So, in college she decided she would become a physical therapist. With her degree in hand, she eventually took a position at Duke University Hospital. In this academic medical setting, she realized she loved to be constantly learning and the routine of physical therapy started to bore her. So, at the age of 30, she decided she would become a doctor and one day be in a position where she could have incredible impact and influence. Today, she is walking that path to greatness as a department chair of internal medicine of a major hospital. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Cynthia Brown.
This woman didn’t understand as a child she was low income. Everyone she saw had the basics covered so to her they were doing just fine. In spite of little extra money, her mom constantly told her she could be anything we dreamed of. And she was encouraged to read a lot and going to college was never up for negotiation. As an adult, she thought she would be lawyer, but instead she graduated with a communications and advertising degree. As she explored what life might hold for her, she had an opportunity to volunteer at a non-profit focused on helping children and their families cope in difficult medical situations. And she loved the whole experience of giving of herself. Today she is the president and CEO of a non-profit and is walking a path to greatness as she leads the organization to the forefront of state-of-the-art programming in pediatric healthcare. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Michele Hall-Duncan.
Today’s woman grew up always having 2 to 3 jobs and, even though sometimes afraid, she always kept going. In her mind, quitting was the only way to not be successful. As a young woman she loved clothes and at one point sold them out of the truck of her car. But her parents were big on education and pushed her hard in this direction. While working fulltime and part time job, she went to school and had children. And in the mist of it all, cofounded a company with her husband that overhauled aircraft engines. However, after 16 years running this business, she felt something was missing. When a friend made her a t-shirt that said “I am Love” she knew this was it. She saw the missing piece to play successfully in fashion. The Peace Love World brand was born. Today, her global lifestyle brand inspires other to live in love, peace and happiness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to one of the World’s Greatest Women - Alina Villasante.
Today’s woman grew up in the Yellowstone Park version of Ireland. Her family never had much money but to her, she had everything she needed. As a young woman she came to believe that Ireland was in the dark ages so she went to Scotland to become a nurse. However, in her post graduate studies, she focused on print, TV and radio and at the age of 30 became the CEO of a publishing company. As her life unfolded, it became full of twists and turns. She appeared on top TV shows and eventually had her own show. And through it all, there was a recurring theme – to support and advance women. Today she walks a path to greatness as she elevates girls and teenagers while always looking for that one woman who can make a difference. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Norah Casey.
Today’s woman grew up in a household that prioritized sports and she learned to find joy in movement. Plus, her parents taught her to have a strong work ethic and to be selfless in service to others. As an adult she explored medicine, TV and music. She traveled the world with UNICEP and taught youth sports. She realized she loved to be creative. In fact, it was a must for her. So, she created Songs for Seeds, a rockin’ kids music program. She opened a classroom for pre-school childhood to have a safe place to play and learn. And with each new venture, her path to greatness continued to unfold as she impacted others around the world. Today she has moved into another space of service as she helps others experience calmness and clarity in this precious journey called life. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Alison Qualter.
This woman moved around a lot as a child but didn’t seem to mind. She was curious, open-minded and adaptable and loved the diversity of life. As she grew, she thought she wanted to be a writer and started her first novel at age 8. As an adult her writing showed up in politics and in local papers. There was something about a story that drew her in and she found herself wanting to follow the story and be a part of the change it created. Her first global opportunity to experience such change on a large scale appeared in the area of public health and she was consumed with its ability to impact. Today she walks a path to greatness as the CEO of an organization working to end neglected tropical diseases that affect over 1.5 billion people. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Ellen Agler.
Today’s woman loved being girly and never seemed to relate to the boys or to children in general. She related to adults and hung around them whenever she could. In school, she excelled and loved being social and stepped into visible roles like the 8 musicals she played in. As a young woman she studied English and marketing. And along the way she started to sharpen her leadership skills. She felt comfortable leading and others seemed to follow. After a short career in event planning, an opportunity working for a title company came her way. She accepted and started to flourish as one position led to another. Today she serves as one of the companies’ top executives setting the strategy for growth, expansion and culture. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Lindsay Smith.
This woman grew up in household where the family moved every 12 months or so. She never felt she had roots and friendships were often superficial. And she became very attuned to what kind of life she might want. She observed that her mother had very little voice in things and she realized this was not what she wanted. As a young woman, she studied English and Organizational Dynamics and began to step into being a powerful leader who could develop powerful workplace teams. She became good at asking for what she wanted and as her leadership skills sharpened, she found herself running divisions globally for many different size organizations. Today, she walks a path to greatness as she uses her extensive knowledge to help executives create and thrive in well-functioning teams. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Shawn Kent Hayashi.
This woman was the youngest of 5 girls but she didn’t act like the other girls. She loved doing boy type things with her father and learning everything she could. Her mom took her to a doctor when she was seven years old to find out what might be wrong with her. The answer – she was really smart. So off to boarding school she went. When it came time for college, she explored many directions. Veterinary school, medical school, family therapy and psychology. But her real depth of knowledge came from the PhD studies of human development and neuro-psychology. The way the brain functions fascinated her. Today, she combines her extensive knowledge of the brain and human development to help individuals and corporations reach higher levels of productivity. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Cynthia Dougherty.
This woman knew at early age she was a high achiever and even at 6 years old, her attitude was “I will figure it out and go after what I want”. Her mom was the perfect role model of what was possible for women. In college she studied social work, law and social policy. And while there, she fell in love with a man who would become her husband and business partner. Together they stepped into real estate development and then into residential. Even though she had 4 children along the way, her business endeavors continued to expand. She became a pioneer as the first African American woman to oversee 19 real estate offices of a top national company. Today, she continues to be on a path to greatness as she develops her teams and enjoys incredible success. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Kymber Lovett-Menkiti.
This woman lost her father when she was 6 years old. Her mother remarried and the next 8 years she was abused by a stepfather. And as a young woman, she couldn’t wait to leave home and be on her own. Even though her start in life was rocky, her sights for herself were set high. She wanted to be a doctor and help others. But her path wasn’t easy. Her first marriage didn’t work out and she made some mistakes as she moved toward a thriving career in medicine. But she never gave up on what was possible for her. Today she serves as a medical director over a clinic of 85 doctors and is on a path to greatness as a leader and as a caring physician. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Vanessa Peters.
As a child, this woman was the scapegoat for everything that went wrong. At one point she thought – “what if it’s not me?” As she grew into a young woman, she decided she would no longer apologize for things she didn’t do. She worked hard to find her value as a human being and through this discovered what it was like to help others. The years passed as she studied nutrition, healthy stress responses and transpersonal psychology, all with the intent of healing herself and others. But along the way she experienced the ultimate betrayal when her husband cheated on her. Her purpose became crystal clear. She was going to find a way to move forward and show others the way as well. Today she is walking her path to greatness as she helps others heal from betrayal and other forms of trauma. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Debi Silber.
Today’s woman was raised in an environment where others were like her. She wasn’t fully aware of gender and other such barriers until she went to college. She also had a mom that always told her she could do anything she put her mind to. And she believed her. So, in college she began to explore what life might offer. She spent a semester at sea exploring 12 countries. She studied abroad and worked for a firm that provided services to fast-growing companies that wanted to establish subsidiaries and hire employees in dozens of countries. And she began to envision what might be possible. She decided to disrupt the way companies hired international talent by creating a platform that would act as a bridge across the world. Today her company continues to grow and fill a critical global need. It is my pleasure to introduce a woman on her way to greatness – Nicole Sahin.
This woman grew up in a household where there was very little money. Yet, somehow her single mother found a way to make sure she had cello lessons each week. As she moved into her teenage years, she would ride her bike to other children's homes and teach them how to play the cello. She dreamed of one day going to the Juilliard School in NYC and becoming one of the best. While in high school, her dream came true. She went from being a local kid of a simple family to being surrounded by children from professional families and who had been in music for years. A whole new world unfolded as she became a world class cellist. Today, she uses her beautiful instrument and her desire to impact to show others how to listen to music differently so that they can experience a higher level of happiness and productivity. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Stephanie Winters.
Today’s woman studied communications and business in college. She was smart and savvy and knew she was meant to lead. Her leadership style started to take shape when she went to live in Japan for a period of time Her exposure to another culture sharpened all aspects of her including her sense of business politics. However, the road to success wasn’t always easy. A job was lost and she had premature twins. But she was adaptable and always knew she could learn whatever she needed to fill the next role of leadership. And as her abilities developed so did opportunities. Today she is recognized as an accomplished technology executive who is leading a company to greatness as it’s CEO. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Juliann Larimer.
Todays’ woman left home at the age of 15 to attend a private boarding school. Being away from home plus being surrounded by classmates that were smart and competitive, she herself became independent and competitive. And in this environment, she learned that failing was not an option. She eventually went into the air force where she met the man who would become her husband. Then one day she lost her husband to a heart attack and her whole world came crashing in. Many months later she met a man on-line and a blooming relationship unfolded. Until 2 years in when she discovered her on-line love was a shyster who had taken her for over a million dollars. Today, she is walking a path to greatness as she teaches others how to know what is real and not real in the on-line world. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Debby Montgomery Johnson.
This woman grew up in a home that was focused on survival. She was taught to not think about others but to only be concerned with taking care of herself. As a young woman, she wanted to be an artist and the freedom she thought it would bring. Her pursuit of this, after college, led her to work in the entertainment industry for major TV networks. As she moved through life, she began to realize survival wasn’t enough and that caring about others was the real juice of life. And that she needed money to impact others the way she envisioned. A business was born and she went from a broke mentality to a millionaire investor helping others find their way toward wealth as well. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Tamar Hermes.
This woman grew up south of England in what she describes as a practical sensible family. Early on she learned good work habits and was able to outwork most of those around her. As she came into young adulthood, she found career choices were limited so she became a hair stylist. At 20 years old, she moved to America and as the years unfolded, she captured every opportunity that came her way. She quickly discovered that tenacity and hard work were greater than any talent she had. Her career began to go in different directions. She became a professional speaker, an author and an in-demand speech coach. And today she walks a path to greatness as her speech-coaching of professionals creates people of impact. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Patricia Fripp.
Today’s woman grew up in South Africa. Within this family, the messages were clear. You operate by a strict code of ethics; you earn things if you want them and school work is important. These messages shaped who she became as a young woman. When she graduated high school at age 15, she wanted to be a doctor but her father talked her out of it and she instead became an attorney. As the years flew by, she served in top executive positions, taught at CalTech and authored several books. But her real greatness began when she started a non-profit to mentor exceptional women. In this place she coaches and mentors outstanding women so they can step into their greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Larraine Segil.
This woman grew up in Chicago and was taught the importance of research and charity. And as she matured, she also discovered she was a gifted storyteller that could make people laugh. So, in college she pursued English as one of her majors and became a teacher. But not just any teacher. She designed courses and workshops, connected powerful people and became a best-selling author. And, at only 4 foot 11 inches, she became an expert on how to work a room as well as how to connect teaching and business. Plus, her awareness of how she impacted others coupled with adaptability made her someone others wanted to be around. Today she is still impacting the world by staying true to herself and to her personality. It is my pleasure to introduce you to one of the World’s Greatest Women - Susan RoAne.
Today’s woman was born and raised in Mexico to entrepreneurial parents. As a little girl she followed their lead. She sold baked goods and t-shirts and saw business as a fun game. As she grew, her parents relocated to the US to follow the American dream. And business continued to be in her blood. But as the years passed, she also loved to teach and wondered how she could combine these two. She eventually found a franchise business that allowed her to do both. Years later, she joined the franchise parent company itself and today walks a path to greatness as she shows others how to impact the world by combining the love of teaching with the art of business. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Susan Valverde.
This woman, as a child, was painfully shy but yet was often the peacekeeper of a family of two siblings and 5 foster children. Even though she was shy, she was driven and hated to lose. As she grew into a young woman, she became interested in politics and dreamed of perhaps being the governor of California. But as the years went by, the role meant for her was to be a connector of people. First working for someone else and then in her own company. And she was really good at it. But her world came to halt when she was given 90 days to live after a breast cancer diagnosis. Today, she is still a powerful connector but her path to greatness now includes the insight of how precious life is and what it takes to live fully. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Michelle Patterson.
Today’s woman had a father who was a brilliant idea man. She learned from him how to take risk as she watched him put money toward his ideas and enjoy repeated success. When she became a young woman, she went off to college to study business and math. And from here she pursued real estate. Hard skills were her sweet spot and she loved people. Combining these she became one of the most successful real estate agents in the US. But she seemed to never have enough time. So, she began to question how she spent her time and realized she herself was the problem. Today, she continues to be wildly successful in real estate but now she uses time hacks to do more with less time. And she is walking a path to greatness as she shows others how to also be more successful in just 5 minutes a day. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Karen Briscoe.
Today’s woman was raised in a stable environment surrounded by loving parents. And both parents were excellent role models. Her mom went for her masters while raising children. Her father was in marketing who loved connecting with others. But she wanted to be at the bedside of others so took the path of nursing. And after she had children of her own, she followed in her mom’s footsteps by furthering her education while being a mom. Today, with a doctorate in nursing, she serves as the Dean of Nursing at a University. And as a strong empathic executive, she leads others to become nurses who bravely and lovingly show up on the front line of care. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Mary Elizabeth Tadunni.
This woman was raised by a single mom in a small town. Even though she wasn’t raised in a big city, she had big dreams of how she would change the world. She went on to receive an undergraduate degree and later 2 masters degrees. In 2008, Barack Obama was running as the first black presidential candidate and she quit her job to do all she could to help him become president. As a black woman, she felt strongly that she had to do all she could to make history. Two years later she became the first African American woman to manage all aspects of the personal residence of a sitting president as the Obamas made the White House their home. Today she is embarking on a path to greatness as she works toward moving the needle on racism. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Angela Tennison.
This woman grew up with a father who was a fighter pilot therefore the family was constantly living in new places and meeting new people. It was strict home where the messaging was clear - if she wanted anything, she would have to do it on her own and she was to always keep her word. As she grew and started to find her way, she found her heart was in the creative space. Even as a child she explored this as she made clothes for dolls. And as an adult, she experimented with being a designer, painter or sculptor. But she somehow came to believe she would never make money in design so she decided to pursue psychology. However, her desire to design never left and now she creates and showcases entire fashion lines in high end clothing boutiques bearing her name. She is right where she is meant to be. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Michelle Farmer.
This woman knew as a little girl she had a “cat like”spirit. She had no fear and always seemed to land on her feet. She became a national power tumbler at age 11 and competed in world competitions by age 15. Being competitive at such an early age taught her to be focused and goal oriented. But along her childhood journey a neighbor violated her world by sexually molesting her. And, as an adult, she became caught in a cycle of pleasing, performing and perfecting. But along the way, she shifted from surviving to thriving to being a victor. Today she teaches professionally, is a gifted storyteller and a ghostwriter for authors. But her real greatness shines in how she helps others write their healing story. It is my pleasure to introduce you to April Tribe Giauque.
Today’s woman grew up in a military family and learned early how to be disciplined and structured. In her world, one worked before one played and everyone pitched in to help each other even when you didn’t feel like it. She was tough, competitive and smart and, by the age of 21, she had her Masters in Business and was well on her way. She became a leader and started her own business teaching others how to maximize their productivity. But then one day not long ago, her son committed suicide and her need to address wrongs became her passion. And today she walks a path to greatness by giving meaning to her loss. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Laura Stack.
This woman grew up with no fuzzy bunny stories of childhood. She was very sick most of her formative years and no one could figure out why. Doctor after doctor missed the mark. At times she couldn’t walk and other children were mean to her. When she graduated high school, she went to Israel where she finally felt accepted and supported. Years later she finally got a correct diagnosis and a college degree in ancient approaches to healing. Due to continued health challenges, her life can still be difficult but these days she is filled with purpose. She is an advocate and mentor for other children with chronic illness and is often key to solving the complicated puzzles of others' health. This young woman is well on her way to greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Brianna Greenspan.
Today’s woman knew as a little girl she was meant to lead. As early as age 7, she was the one taking charge in the family. But her father ruled the house so she was often criticized for stepping forward. No one seemed to understand she was designed to lead. And even though her father told her she had no business going to college, she got a scholarship in nursing. As her life unfolded, she found herself excelling in various executive roles. But at age 38, she decided to start her own business helping others in healthcare become strong leaders. Today she coaches medical c-suite executives helping them be the leader they are meant to be. It is my pleasure to introduce you to one of the World’s Greatest Women - Elizabeth Jeffries.
Today’s woman grew up being a Tomboy - sailing, fishing and doing all the things the boys around her were doing. When she graduated high school, we went off to study architectural design but instead of completing her studies, she sneaked off to Aspen. Years later she entered into real estate but she was not the typical real estate agent. Her training in and love of architectural design began to shine thru. She could understand building plans, had an eye for high end interior designs and knew how to make a deal come together. Plus, she was a caring person who loved showing clients how to have the home of their dreams. The winning combination of design, business and heart led her create a successful company serving global clientele and prestigious communities. Today she continues to make family dreams come true with the perfect home. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Sandra Wilken.
Today’s woman was raised by hard-working uneducated parents and was the first in her family to graduate from high school. As she grew into a young woman, she earned her own money for college and pursued psychology focused studies. Corporate America is where she landed after college and where she climbed the ladder to success. But it wasn’t an easy ladder. She never felt heard or like she was enough. After 25 years, she left corporate and started her own company. She needed to find her own voice and show others how to do the same. Today she is walking a path to greatness as she helps others communicate with boldness and confidence. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Kim Boudreau Smith.
This woman grew up in a household where there was always enough. And she was always told she could be anything she wanted to be. That was until she said she wanted to be a mechanical engineer. Her mom thought this was not for girls but this young woman was smart, strong and ready to tackle the world. So, she became a mechanical engineer and years later, she had moved in and out of the aircraft industry as well as the entertainment industry. But in 2008, she decided she wanted to be an entrepreneur. Using her engineering training, she analyzed what her skills were and what people would pay for those skills. And opened her door to what would become a very successful business. Today, as a business woman, her greatness continues to shine as she guides corporate managers toward becoming great leaders. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Valerie Grubb.
This woman grew up in a household of politics and became very comfortable in this arena. She believed deep in her heart that everyone deserved a chance and as the early years of her life unfolded, she found herself fighting hard for fairness and equality…especially for women. In her mid-30s, she started her own company and it was here she used her knowledge of political campaigning to bring awareness to issues near to her heart. From organizing Take Our Daughter to Work Day to launching Make Mine a Million Dollar Business, successful campaigns were repeated over and over. Today she not only continues to motivate people to act with her public education campaigns but also continues to help women find the confidence needed to step forward as powerful leaders. It is my pleasure to introduce you to one of the World’s Greatest Women - Nell Merlino
This woman grew up in a household where the parents fought a lot. So as a little girl, she created a fantasy world to escape to. As a young woman, she looked for a relationship that would make her feel safe and loved. The perfect man arrived and she married him. He was handsome and ultra-successful but instead of being happy, she only felt wrong, unworthy and unimportant. In the end the marriage failed as did her second marriage. Devastated she decided to heal and determine her own worth from the inside out while no longer seeking approval from men. It took time, tears and self-honesty. But now she is guilt and anger free and is helping others be the same. She has found her path to greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Allana Pratt.
Today’s woman grew to 6 ft 2 by the age of 13 and many believed being a basketball player would be her future. But fate had a different plan for her. She won Miss North Carolina and by the age of 19 had made over 500 speeches. A lifetime of speaking began to unfold. But her speaking wasn’t like other professionals. She played around with ways to entertain and came to realize that the real power in speaking was in sharing her personal stories from a woman’s viewpoint. And in these true stories she could help others laugh not only at her life journey but also at their own. As the decades flew by, she continuously kept her material fresh and relevant. And as a world class humorist and speaker, she continues today to brighten and uplift the lives of millions of people. It is my pleasure to introduce you to one of the World’s Greatest Women - Jeanne Robertson.
This woman came from a wealthy family but the money was controlled by the men of the family so she never experienced the freedom of choice wealth can provide. And as she grew into adulthood, she rebelled. After 9 years and 7 colleges later, she landed on anthropology and eventually snagged a CEO position of a non-profit. It appeared to others she had arrived, but in truth she was in her own private prison trapped in a position that stifled her desire to impact communities. Some rough years followed. Then one day she found an old beach bag full of things she had collected over the years. And in these snippets of collection she found the magic of her success and began her climb toward greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Jenean Perelstein.
Today’s woman grew up in a rough environment. The home was full of abuse and drug addiction and she dropped out of school at age 17 after she got pregnant. Being a mother was her first glimpse of what love looked like and was the beginning of a different life taking shape. She met a pastor who would become her husband and came to believe that everything works out for the good. Powerful women mentors came into her path and her hard driving passion to want something different propelled her toward success. She engaged in public service opportunities and eventually started her own company which has grown into a powerhouse service offering. She has transformed from a self-destructive young person to a woman driven by impacting others. Today’s guest is walking a path to greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Rebecca Contreras.
Today’s woman grew up in a household where both parents worked several jobs. She was taught work ethics, mindset and not to live beyond her means. Mixed in with these messages was a strong Christian faith – a faith that would direct her life in so many ways. She loved people and wanted to be front and center so she could influence, love and inspire others. But as her life unfolded, she became an army wife and began to feel like a trapped pigeon as opposed to the eagle she knew she was destined to be. Her opportunity to become that eagle however came in 2008 when she decided to believe in herself and open her own company. When she gave herself permission to soar, the universe sighed with relief saying what took you so long. And a woman of greatness began to unfold. It is my pleasure to introduce you to April Bernal-Reed.
This woman never took the expected path of life. She went to college for journalism but dropped out early when she got pregnant. Yet, 28 years later she went back and finished her degree. Along the way, she took a job selling airplanes. It excited her and she was good at it! So, she partnered with her husband and started an airplane brokerage company. And with each decision her comfort zone expanded and with each expansion came more opportunities. As the years passed and her children left home, she realized one day that she had become a trailblazer for other women and a powerful leader others wanted to follow. Even though there aren’t many like her in her industry, she knows she is exactly where she is meant to be. And as one of the top airplane brokers in America, her path to greatness continues to unfold. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Rene Banglesdorf.
This woman grew up hearing a simple message from her father – “just be happy.” But this often seemed to be a concept that escaped most people and she was curious as to why this might be. So, she began to explore. She talked to those that were happy all the time and to those who experienced being happy as a roller coaster ride. And in the midst of this exploration she found not only her own happiness, but the keys to what is needed for others to be happy for no reason. And in this discovery, she began a lifelong journey toward helping others live in a state of unconditional joy. It is my pleasure to introduce you to one of the World’s Greatest Women - Marci Shimoff.
Today’s woman grew up in a sleepy town in the northeastern USA. Her parents owned a bed and breakfast and it was here she met new people from all over the world. These new interactions opened up her vision of what was possible for her. She wanted to explore the world and suspected business law was to be her future endeavor but a trip to Florence Italy set the real direction for her life. She studied at the university in Florence and used her spare time to explore Europe. She learned to speak Italian, Spanish and Japanese. And in the midst of it all, she discovered luxury expression. It excited her as she realized the power luxury had to elevate and empower a woman. Today she uses this knowledge and passion to make women feel unique and authentic. It is this ability to uplift women and enhance their personal expression that has her on a path to greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Kimberly Pucci.
This woman grew up believing there was no such thing as man’s work verses woman’s work. There was just work to be done to move things forward and keep things on track. And she learned that innovation and creativity were the keys to thriving. When others would ask “why”, she would ask “why not?” This thinking coupled with her value-based way of living has led this woman to meet needs where they exist. To find innovative solutions others would never envision. She has become a pioneer and an incredible business woman…a woman who is walking the path to greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Jody Stewart.
Today’s woman grew up loving to ride horses. And the place she rode them to the most was the library. It was her window to the world. Through the books she found there, she dreamed of all the places she wanted to see and all the things she wanted to do. But she never assumed someone else would make her dreams come true. She was smart and bold and it was up to her to figure them out. Others told her she should be a doctor, but this woman didn’t want this for herself. Instead she wanted to invoke the hearts of people by asking the right questions – questions that would help them find their sweet spot of communication. And it in this place of service that she has become one of the World’s Greatest Women. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Sam Horn.
This ex-Marine was a powerhouse as a Marine and has been even more so as an entrepreneur. For her, it started in rural West Texas. Her parents created a loving but strict environment. Work ethics were instilled early – so much so that other parents thought she was being overworked. But for this woman it never felt that way. She loved working and the accomplishments that came with it. She had a talent for business and the Marines had taught her how to take risk. As she explored herself and the world, she found she was especially good with money and that others needed help. The landscape of investments, retirement and overall money management was disjointed and difficult for many to understand. So she decided to be the money solution - the go to person in as many areas as possible. And it was in serving a need that her greatness began to shine. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Leasha West.
This woman grew up in a materialistic household. Her parents worked hard and showed her she could have anything she wanted. And as an adult, she found this to be true. She lived in a 7000 square foot home and from the outside had it all. But she wanted more. She wanted a life balanced with passion and significance as opposed to a life full of only self-actualization. The real change started when she became a mother and experienced the joy of being with her child. Her focus shifted from accomplishing to instead learning, growing and sharing. This shift changed everything. She was no longer just on a journey toward achieving but had shifted to a path of leadership. And as a leader, a woman of greatness began to unfold. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Kelly Resendez.
Today’s woman was told in high school she wasn’t college material. Others believed she would be a teen mom like so many in her family had been. But, at 10 years old, when a friend broke her arm, she desperately wanted to fix it and realized at this tender age that medicine was going to be her path. As she grew into a young adult, the human body became her fascination. Instead of being grossed out by blood and body waste, she was intrigued. So, at age 17 she entered college and by the age 25 she was a doctor on a mission to heal and teach the world. And now years later, her greatness continues to shine as her healing touch and calm spirit as a trauma doctor impacts everyone she encounters. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Jamie Hope.
This woman grew up in a household full of music and dancing. And even though she didn’t pursue either as she grew, the creative nature of her did flourish. Color and design were exciting and fashion design and merchandising caught her attention. Over the years a career began to take shape as she created wardrobe magic. She became an expert at wardrobe consultation and custom clothing especially focused on dressing powerful men. Today she creates beautiful clothing with the purpose of enhancing how someone feels about themself. And it is in this place of color and texture that her greatness is unfolding. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Mary Theresa Sciandra.
Today’s woman was adopted as a baby into a strong family setting. And it was in this setting that she was repeatedly told that she was the only person who could stop her from achieving big dreams. She came to believe this and embraced opportunities to be on the ground floor of startups that were socially focused for good. But she was also determined not be a flash in the pan and instead came to be known in business circles as the trusted steady and persistent force of power. It is in this approach to life that she has embraced her greatness - both in the profit and not-profit space. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Karen Robinson.
This woman was born to an interracial couple – a couple that sacrificed so much to give her a strong start. And felt accomplished when she was the first to graduate from college. As her career unfolded, television was where she was meant to be. She started as a writer and producer and eventually pivoted to content writing. And as an executive producer she helped built a network to 72 million viewers. But even though she loves all aspects of television, her real passion lies in helping find forever parents for foster children. And it is in this place, her greatness is unfolding. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Brigitte McCray
Today’s woman grew up in the southwest part of England. She never had much money growing up but she found a way to be the first one to graduate from college in her family. She moved across the ocean to New York City to start an 18-year technology career in investment banking. The city not only held the keys to her career but also the keys to her heart – she fell in love. But the man that became her husband was not a good man and she became the victim of domestic violence. Many would crumble under such abuse but this woman found her way out. And then she did something to change the world of others in a most innovative way - she created an interactive video game to teach others how to recognize the signs of domestic abuse. She had finally found her path to greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce Aelsa Gilliam.
Today’s woman grew up in a small town in Alabama. Her life was simple and family roles were traditional. And she was smart and easily intrigued by things and places that were different. She learned to dance and lose herself in movement. She became curious about delivering babies and thought nursing was for her. But business was where she was destined to be. The road wasn’t easy. The color of her skin blocked entry into many areas and she always felt she had to be silent. Then one day she realized she didn’t have to play by everyone else’s rules. She could make her own. And when she made this change in perspective, the world opened up to her. Her vision became clear and her journey to greatness began unfolding in ways she never thought possible. It is my pleasure to introduce Yalonda Haywood.
This woman grew up in a household of strong values - values that centered on public service, integrity and education. And she found being a lawyer of public policy allowed her to practice all three. But by age 42, she had lost both parents and a brother within 18 months and what she loved doing now all of a sudden had no meaning. She left her high paying law career without a plan and began to travel the world. And in traveling to foreign places she saw things that touched her heart – extreme poverty, children begging and 10 year old boys laboring in the mountains. None of these children were in school…a place she knew they needed to be. And she realized that it was she that needed to make this happen. The “School The World'' organization was born. And through providing education to the extreme poor, to local governments and to communities, this woman’s path to greatness continues to unfold. It is my pleasure to introduce to you Kate Curran.
Today’s woman wanted to be a dolphin trainer but her mom told her she was being foolish. But she was a pioneer at heart so instead of working with dolphins, she went to Alaska. She taught school in the bush there and became a commercial bush pilot. She was happy and things were exciting. But her whole world turned upside down when she lost her husband at the age of 34. Nothing had prepared her for such loss with two small children at her side. Yet, this woman moved forward and pioneered in a different business area. She built a distillery. And with time the deep grief she felt was reshaped and success was once again hers. She was finally back on her path to greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce to you Felicia Keith-Jones.
This woman grew up in a family that never had much money so when she decided to go to college, she had to figure out how to pay for it. So, she started her own personal training business to pay her way and discovered that making money wasn’t that hard. And when she looked around, she found some people made lots of money while others struggled. This realization started her down a lifelong path toward helping others discover the secrets to making lots of money and the freedom and security that comes with it. And when someone takes her advice and becomes a millionaire, she experiences joy, satisfaction and a deep sense of fulfilled purpose. And as a leader, teacher and mentor, she continues to shine with greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce to one of the World’s Greatest Women – Loral Langemeier.
Today’s woman grew up with incredible parents but she lost both of them by the age of 23. She could have lost her way from experiencing such a deep loss but her brother refused to let this happen. He set out to discover her IQ and when he did, he told her there were no excuses to not excel and that she was designed for something special. As her life unfolded, she found what he said was true. But not in the way most think. Yes, she was strong in business but her real foundation of success was not the business models she smartly executed. Instead, her success was rooted in the spiritual principles that led her daily existence. And it was from this place that she became a powerful force who inspired audiences around the world to achieve new levels of professionalism and personal growth. It is my pleasure to introduce one of the World’s Greatest Women – Naomi Rhode.
Today’s woman was lucky enough to have a college professor lead her toward a career she absolutely loved - public relations. And she was good at it no matter who she worked for. Her reputation as being one of the best began to build and clients started to ask for her. Then one day her boss told her that it was impossible to combine happy customers and happy employees in the same space…something she was striving for and valued deep inside. This was her catalyst for change. She left working for others and started her own company. Fast forward to today and you will find she has created the perfect formula that keeps employees happy while growing a solid customer base. And in this space of balancing customers and employees, she is building a successful company while walking a path to greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Nicole Rodrigues.
This woman grew up in a card playing family. At the age of 22, she played Texas Hold-Em in a casino and after a short while, realized she was really good at cards…especially poker. So she began to play professionally in tournaments across the country and, millions of dollars later, became known as one of the top poker players in the world. And from this place of success, she started to make a difference. She raised money for struggling African countries and for Refugee International. And she stood up against efforts to portray women and men as being different intellectually. In recent years she has used her skills to help young people develop the essential skills of critical thinking and decision making. It is my pleasure to introduce one of the World’s Greatest Women - Annie Duke.
Today’s woman is athletic, classy and beautiful. But for many years, this combination was just a mask for the chaos that was happening on the inside. She was hacked by alcohol and substance abuse. Some close to her knew this but instead of confronting and helping her, they became her enablers. Then she had a child and the world seemed right and her drinking stopped…but for only 2 years. But the tipping point of real change came when her husband realized she was destroying herself and demanded she get help. This shook her awake and a new path was charted. She got help and more importantly learned to close the gap between dreaming of how she wanted her life to be with doing what she needed to do to make her dreams come true. And she knew she could help others do the same. Her story of greatness began unfolding. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Crystal Waltman.
Today’s woman was born to teenage Espanic parents. The home surroundings were humble and simple and even though there sometimes was no running water, she never saw herself as poor. Instead she watched her father work hard for the family and quickly learned that good things came from hard work. As she grew into a young woman, she became restless as young people often do. She wanted to be on her own…to spread her wings. So at age 19, she left home determined to find her own way. A few years later she became a business woman when she bought a franchise in the beauty industry. Then she bought a second one and then a third. And as she got bolder and bolder in her vision, she created her own brand and began to expand it. Her path to greatness had begun. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Edna Posada.
This woman began her path to greatness when she was a senior in high school. When her father told her that his purpose in life was quote “to make other people glad they saw him”, she thought “I want that too.” The next turning point came at the age of 21 when she embraced her Christian faith and all it stood for. And as the years unfolded, this woman became a blessing to everyone she met. She became a mother, a wife and an incredibly successful business woman. She became known across the world as a transformational trainer and coach and as one of the premiere speakers of our time. And after decades of touching hundreds to thousands of people from the podium, she is still offering up to everyone one she meets a heart full of love and guidance. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Glenna Salsbury.
Today’s woman had the dream of creating a design company that would impact how people around the world experienced their living spaces. She wasn’t sure how she could ever make such a big dream come true. She decided to start by going into her closet. In this dimly lit small space, she wrote business plans and journaled her thoughts. And when she excitedly shared her vision, others didn’t take her seriously. In their eyes she only had a design degree and was certainly too young. But what they couldn’t see was her burning desire to impact the world with her designs. All she needed was one person to give her a chance. So, with fake confidence, she went looking for that one person. After many nos, she finally found someone who said yes. That one yes led to two which led to four and, before long, a multi-million-dollar design company was created. Her journey to greatness had begun. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Wendy Yates.
This woman discovered her passion for women in her mid 20s. In her community, a serial rapist was in the news but the women he raped were not. When she asked why, she was gently taken to the side and whispered that the victims were prostitutes. She wondered…what does this mean? Isn’t every woman valuable? So, she got involved in the case and found the victims of the rapist were from all walks of life…and that these women had families, jobs and dreams. She impacted the case by posting the faces of these victims everywhere and suddenly people started to care. They saw the victims. And this woman realized she could be the voice for the voices. Her first glimpse into the power she had to make a big difference in women’s lives was revealed. And a path toward greatness unfolded. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Chaunci Cline.
Today’s woman was thriving and climbing the corporate ladder. She was respected and admired as a top HR executive. But things weren’t all wonderful. Her marriage was toxic but she couldn’t leave. She had grown up in a family where marriages were not allowed to fail. And then a health challenge came her way and rocked her world even further. She desperately needed to take back control of her life. So, in 2012 she started her own company and put her total focus toward creating high levels of excellence in personal and business relationships. In this new venture she changed all aspects of her life – how she thought, how she took care of herself and who she surrounded herself with. She began to understand the complexities of herself and of others. And her ability to bring others to a high level of excellence unfolded. Her path to greatness had begun and has continued to unfold in ways she couldn’t have ever imagined. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Kathryn Ford.
Today’s woman was raised in a low-income family and as a child believed money was bad. However, as she grew into a young woman, she found earning money was easy for her. But holding on to it was a different story. It seemed to just disappear! When her accountant pointed out that she had spent $80,000 in the previous year on eating out, she was shocked and felt sick to her stomach. She knew she had to change. As she searched for answers, she discovered more money meant more influence and impact…in fact, lots more. And she wanted these. So, this new desire became her catalyst for change. She started to use her money differently. Instead of fine dining, she helped children find direction and women to be entrepreneurs. And it was from this place of giving that her story to greatness began to unfold. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Cathy Christen.
This woman took her first airplane ride at 5 years old and even at this young age she loved everything about seeing the world from 30,000 feet. When she graduated college, she knew that in the skies was where she wanted to be. But never did she image she would start as a flight attendant and end up being a commercial pilot flying Boeing 787s. And nor could she have ever imagined that her piloting skills would also lead her to flying combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. But the whole world opened up for this woman when she was bold enough to say “why not me”. And as she sees the world from the windshield of an airplane, this woman continues to soar toward greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Carla Riner.
This woman was 9 years old when she showed the world what she was destined to be. It started with a stolen bike and her determination to find the man who had taken her precious new birthday gift. It was the beginning of her as a Private Investigator and the over 6000 cases solved to date. But this unique career journey has never been about the cases she solves. It has been about her using her work as a way to bless others. And it has been in this mindset that this woman continues to walk the path of greatness. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Monica Morton.
This woman had a gift many others didn’t have – a gift that could impact and help others along life’s journey. But as a young woman this gift got her into trouble and led her to feeling misunderstood and alone. So, she chose to hide her special gift and instead, used her financial education to create a successful international company focused on wealth generation for those pursuing cross border living. But as the years passed something happened and she bravely started to look for ways to utilize her hidden gift. And in this, a path to greatness began to unfold. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Jennifer Patterson.
This woman was a sales and marketing superstar in a Fortune 50 company yet was ignored and sexually harassed. Even though she was a strong young woman, this disconnect from what she was accomplishing to how she was being treated ended in a nervous breakdown. Then there was betrayal in her marriage and her world crumpled. And she lost the most valuable thing she had…her faith and trust in herself. But then something happened. She started to write books as well as showcase her brilliance on YouTube. And a new astonishing path began to unfold and the seeds to greatness began to grow. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Andrea Albright.
This woman was moved toward greatness by a 3 year old who wanted to have a birthday party. This intuitive love coach and matchmaker already had a mission that was important and fulfilling but when she realized her child did not have what she needed to feel special and accepted, she became a mom on a mission. Why had it taken so long to address the need of a 3 year old, she wondered to herself. And it was in this question that she found a strong desire to not only impact her child but all the children to follow. The path to greatness had begun. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Casandra Henriquez, aka Coach Cass.
This woman was envied and admired as she was the only female speaker with one of the world’s greatest male trainers. But people see what they want to see, including ourselves. Those who envied her didn’t know that the path she had traveled to get to this point was marred by years of violence, sexual abuse and abandonment. Nor did they know about the eating disorder she had overcome as a young woman. But the old saying “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” began to define her life. And from a place of strength she decided to leave her dream position and create her own place of impact. And this is when her true path to greatness began. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Mina Shah.
Selling seashell bracelets at the tender age of 6 was this woman’s entry into business and the world of entrepreneurship. And as she grew into a young woman, she explored the creative sides of herself. At 17, she bought a guitar and joined a band. And then fashion and beauty caught her attention and she was hooked. She began modeling in the US and in London. But it was here that she saw the uglier side of being a woman in the business world. And that her journey to greatness began. It is my pleasure to welcome Jaclyn Milford.
This woman was a little girl with a dream. At the age of 2, she told her parents she would be a doctor and help lots of people. And 30 years later, she was a doctor with a thriving practice…her dream had come true. But sometimes life has a way of forcing one to change directions and dig deep to see who they really are. And this is what happened to this doctor and was when the real journey to greatness began for her. It is my pleasure to welcome Dr. Sheri Prentiss.
This woman dreamed of being in the limelight. She wasn’t sure what this might look like but she just knew she wanted it. Her journey toward her dream started with music as she sang for Pope John Paul II in Rome. But music wasn’t where she was to shine. Instead her path landed her in television where she eventually became the anchor woman in a major TV market. And it was here that all aspects of her where tested and her true grooming for greatness began. It is my pleasure to introduce Liz Brunner.
Today’s woman had a powerful start in life by being raised by two successful parent role models. But they were only the beginning of her journey to greatness. As a young woman, she decided to play BIG in the business world and was not afraid to go against the norm to achieve her goals. And, before she knew it, she was deemed a trailblazer in male dominated business spaces like the automotive industry. But with each male dominated arena she navigated, she learned a hard fact – the world owed her nothing – and success would only be hers if she was willing to fight for it. It is my pleasure to introduce Lisa Copeland.
This woman often wished she had more talent, more intelligence and was better looking. But she quickly learned that she had more than enough of all three of these. And the success she would claim throughout her life was more than she could have ever imagined. From award winning TV shows to best-selling books to successful company ventures, it appeared to others that she had it all and that she couldn’t have ever lacked anything. But her road has not always been easy and her journey to greatness has been full of lessons that she generously shares with others today. It is my pleasure to introduce Rita Davenport.
This woman knows what struggle looks like. Her first introduction was at the age of 12. Her faith in God directed her toward the struggles of others and a lifetime of mission trips began. But at age 21, she was face to face with her own struggle. She found herself homeless and had to live out of her car. Yet 8 years later this same young woman was featured in Forbes and Fortune as owning one of the fastest growing woman-owned companies in the world. It is my pleasure to welcome Britnie Turner.
This woman lives, breathes and embodies financial independence…not just for you but for your family. Yet, she knows that so many women and their families don’t have it. They spend too much, save too little and then struggle when the world around them changes. But this woman knows it can be different. And it is in this space that her greatness shines! She never gives up on showing you how to have money, manage money and experience the security it can bring. It is my pleasure to introduce one of the World’s Greatest Women - Sharon Lechter.
Today’s woman is the essence of contradictions….especially as it relates to business and gender. She continues to be a successful business woman who has built her business model on the backbone of philanthropy….a feat many women struggle to maneuver successfully. And even though she shows up in the business world as an attractive and petite minority attorney, ego-driven NFL and NBA athletes see her as a trusted confidant who can make their deals happen. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Kimberly Haynes.
Today’s woman is on the journey to becoming one of the World’s Greatest. Her family migrated from Spain during the Spanish Civil War and made their way to rural Arizona and it was here she was welcomed into the world. At an early age, she was encouraged to think tough and work hard and she realized, even as a child, that a crisis would not kill her unless she let it. It is Annette Comer's pleasure to introduce Codie Sanchez.