Boss Mamas Podcast: Recent Episodes

Analiza Quiroz Wolf

Welcome to Boss Mamas Podcast hosted by Analiza Quiroz Wolf: a wife, mama, proud Asian-American, and former CEO. I’m on a mission to help every mom leader I meet be a Boss Mama - thriving at work without sacrificing home or self-care.

I decided to start the Boss Mama's Podcast to address one question: How can mom leaders be a Boss at work, home, and life?

On this show I’ll be talking to women just like you who decided they wanted to become a Boss Mama and actually did it. My guests and I will share our stories of how we did it, mistakes we made, and the pivotal moment that changed everything. We’ll also be giving you lots of inspiration to get the life you deserve now.

Connect with Analiza Quiroz Wolf and Boss Mamas Website: www.analizawolf.com LinkedIn: Analiza Wolf Instagram: @analizawolf Facebook: Boss Mamas - Analiza Quiroz Email: analiza at analizawolf.com

How can art serve as an act of resistance?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Jamila Ponton Bragg, founder of JamRock Productions and a leader named to the Broadway Women's Fund "Women to Watch" list. After 20 years in the nonprofit world, Jamila pivoted to theater, co-producing hits like Passover (2021), Death of a Salesman (2022), Tony Nominated Best Play Fat Ham (2023), The Whiz (2024), Gypsy (2024) and Soul Train (2025).

A proud African American woman, Jamila is on a mission to ensure women's stories have depth and aren't confined to tropes. She shares how she stayed true to her values while navigating the high-stakes world of Broadway.

She shares lessons for rising leaders:

•Art is Resistance. In a world that often marginalizes women of color, telling our stories is a powerful way to fight back.

•Trust Your Instincts. Surround yourself with "your people"—those whose values and tastes align with your mission.

•The Power of Showing Up. Leadership isn't always big gestures; it's the follow-up email, the check-in, and being present for others.

•Find Your Mentors. Don't be afraid to send that "cold email." People are often more willing to help than you think.

•Keep Your Message Consistent. Reliability and a clear mission build the trust needed to fundraise and lead through tough climates.

Jamila's story is a reminder that when we stand in our identity and support one another, we can change the narrative on the world's biggest stages.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-125-art-as-resistance-uplifting-womens-stories-on-broadway-with-jamila-ponton-bragg

How do you build a legacy that lasts five generations?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Cheryl McKissack Daniel, Former CEO of McKissack & McKissack, the oldest minority and woman-owned design and construction firm in the U.S. From JFK Airport to Columbia University, Cheryl's work shapes the very skyline of New York.

As a fifth-generation builder, Cheryl didn't always plan to run the family firm. She once dreamed of being an airline stewardess! But she realized that rather than climbing a corporate ladder where few looked like her, she could chart her own destiny and amplify a 230-year history of Black excellence.

She shares her "5 Ps" for building a lasting legacy:

•Persistence: Show up in rooms where you aren't expected. Your presence is resistance.

•Preparedness: Excellence erases doubt. Always be the most prepared person in the room.

•Perseverance: Stay the course when progress feels slow. Legacies aren't built on a single win.

•Productivity: Let your results speak for themselves. Quality is undeniable.

•Prayer: Center yourself. Clarity and peace are your competitive advantages.

Cheryl's story models what it means to stand on the shoulders of ancestors and open doors for the next generation.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-124-build-a-230-year-legacy-with-cheryl-mckissack-daniel

How can we move from fearing equity to championing it?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Celeste Warren, former Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Merck and author of The Truth About Equity. With nearly three decades of experience, Celeste has been recognized by Black Enterprise's "Top Executives in Global Diversity and Inclusion."

Celeste's father was the first black teacher and principal in western Pennsylvania. She shares how her "dinner table lessons" taught her that while obstacles are real, they are never an excuse to stop succeeding. She opens up about the internal struggle of stepping into a DEI role as a woman of color and how she learned to stop "putting her blackness to the back."

She shares powerful lessons for rising leaders:

The Rocks and the Fence. Equity isn't about taking things away; it's about providing the "rocks" needed to see over systemic fences while we work to tear those fences down.
Boil Your Own Pot. You don't have to save the world alone. Impact starts by influencing the two or three people immediately around you.
Growth vs. Fixed Mindset. View opportunity as a bar graph that can rise infinitely, rather than a finite pie where one person's gain is another's loss.
Embrace Your "Lock and Load" Energy. Learn to balance your drive with a "servant leadership" heart that nurtures and protects your team.

Celeste's journey to global DEI leader is a wonderful model of authenticity and intentionality.

Get full show notes and more information here:

How can we move from fearing equity to championing it?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Celeste Warren, former Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Merck and author of The Truth About Equity. With nearly three decades of experience, Celeste has been recognized by Black Enterprise's "Top Executives in Global Diversity and Inclusion."

Celeste's father was the first black teacher and principal in western Pennsylvania. She shares how her "dinner table lessons" taught her that while obstacles are real, they are never an excuse to stop succeeding. She opens up about the internal struggle of stepping into a DEI role as a woman of color and how she learned to stop "putting her blackness to the back."

She shares powerful lessons for rising leaders:

•The Rocks and the Fence. Equity isn't about taking things away; it's about providing the "rocks" needed to see over systemic fences while we work to tear those fences down.

•Boil Your Own Pot. You don't have to save the world alone. Impact starts by influencing the two or three people immediately around you.

•Growth vs. Fixed Mindset. View opportunity as a bar graph that can rise infinitely, rather than a finite pie where one person's gain is another's loss.

•Embrace Your "Lock and Load" Energy. Learn to balance your drive with a "servant leadership" heart that nurtures and protects your team.

Celeste's journey to global DEI leader is a wonderful model of authenticity and intentionality.

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/episode-122-build-a-tribe-culture-with-celeste-thompson-founder-of-tribe-consulting

How can you find your spotlight in a competitive industry?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Christina Selby—Vice President of Production and Touring at Nederlander Producing Company of America, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, and a leading voice on the Broadway League's Executive Committee.

A first-generation Honduran-Haitian American and lifelong New Yorker, Christina's path wasn't scripted from the start. She spent years planning to be a pediatrician until a "hard look" in college led her to choose joy over expectations. From her first week out of college to becoming a high-level executive, she has navigated the world of Broadway with grace and infectious optimism.

She shares lessons for rising leaders:

•Identify your joy. Don't just stumble into it; actively carve out time for what makes you happy. It's the fuel for your resilience.

•Find the silver lining. Even in the darkest chapters, look for the light. Perspective is the only thing you can truly control.

•Master the art of timing. Success isn't just about the "what," it's about the "when." Read the room and wait for the right headspace before making your big move.

•Start where you are. You don't need $20 million to be a producer (or a leader). Gather your peers, book a room, and just start.

•Learn to say "No" with grace. Setting boundaries early is essential for long-term success and self-care.

Christina's story is a beautiful reminder that when we stand in our identity and lead with joy, we can open doors for ourselves and the next generation.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-121-master-timing-in-leadership-with-christina-selby

How can you transform exhaustion into a life of purpose and joy?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Patrice Tanaka—award-winning PR leader, author, and founder of the Joyful Planet Consultancy and Joyful Planet Foundation. After co-founding three successful PR agencies, Patrice found herself reeling after 9/11. That moment sparked a radical shift from being a "micromanaging" CEO to a leader driven by joy.

A proud Japanese American woman born and raised in Hawaii, Patrice shares how the "Aloha spirit" guides her work in NYC and how she finally fulfilled her childhood dream of ballroom dancing at age 50.

She shares lessons for rising leaders:

•Live Aloha. Bring love and community (Ohana) into every business communication.

•Clarify your purpose. A true life purpose leverages your talents in service of others and the planet, which brings joy.

•Let go of perfection. Especially for women of color, waiting for "perfection" before speaking up is a waste of your brilliant energy.

•Embrace the "Follower" role to be a better Leader. Lessons from ballroom dancing can make you a smarter, more empathetic CEO.

Patrice's journey from "Ayatollah Tanaka" to a Joy Advocate shows that when we lead with purpose, we unleash our greatest success.

Free Purpose Consultation: Patrice is kindly offering a free purpose consultation for our audience. Email her at Patrice@joyfulplanet.com to receive her 11-question questionnaire and schedule a free session to articulate your life and leadership purpose.

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/episode-120-choose-joy-and-purpose-with-patrice-tanaka

Facing a bully at work?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dali Rivera—parenting coach, U.S. Army veteran, author, and founder of the Diversity and Anti-Bullying Academy (DABA). Dali transformed her pain over both her and her daughter's bullying into a powerful purpose, creating tools for confident advocacy in schools and in the workplace.

Dali shares advice for leaders to confidently address a workplace bully or a hostile situation:

Stop Blaming Yourself: Immediately shift your mindset from shame or guilt to self-advocacy. Know you deserve respect.
Document Everything (Your Paper Trail): Collect dates, times, witnesses, and specific details of every incident. If it's verbal, it's hard to prove.
Know Your Resources & Suggest Solutions: Research your company's HR policies before you need them. When you report, bring a suggested, realistic resolution.
Seek External Counsel: Remember that HR's loyalty is to the company, not the employee. Be smart—be prepared to seek an attorney or HR coach to protect yourself.

Dali's story is a powerful reminder that our pain can become our greatest purpose, giving us the strength to advocate not only for our children but for ourselves in the workplace. Do not be afraid of the power of your voice.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-119-stop-bullying-at-school-and-in-the-workplace-with-dali-rivera

How can neurodiversity become a leadership strength?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Nella Garcia Urban, CEO of DSST Public Schools. Nella came from YES Prep Public Schools, Houston, where she spent over 20 years in various roles leading and operating charter schools. Nella is also the Board Chair of LEAL, Latino Educators Advancing Leadership.

As a proud Latina and neurodiverse leader, Nella shares how embracing her identity—and being open about her needs—has made her a stronger and more authentic leader. What once felt like a challenge became her power: seeing the world differently, asking questions others might not, and showing up fully as herself in every space.

She shares lessons for rising leaders:

•Celebrate neurodiversity. What sets you apart can be your greatest strength.

•Ask for what you need. Self-advocacy is essential to thriving in leadership.

•Model authenticity—unapologetically. By showing up as your true self, you give permission for other adults and kids to do the same.

Nella's story shows that when we embrace neurodiversity, advocate for ourselves, and lead with authenticity, we not only rise—but create a culture where others can rise too.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-118-neurodiversity-is-a-strength-with-nella-garcia-urban-ceo-of-dsst-public-schools

How can you unlock creativity to thrive in leadership and life?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Natalie Nixon—creativity strategist, author of The Creativity Leap and Move, Think, Rest, and CEO of Figure 8 Thinking. Recognized on the Thinkers50 Radar and named one of the Top 50 keynote speakers by Real Leaders, Natalie helps executives and organizations harness creativity as a strategic advantage.

A proud African American woman and Gen Xer, Natalie grew up on the East Coast in a family that modeled discipline, faith, imagination, and rest. From her father's example of Sabbath practice to her mother's encouragement of daydreaming, Natalie learned early that curiosity and movement fuel innovation and resilience.

She shares lessons for leaders:

Embrace creativity everywhere. It's not just for artists—engineers, CFOs, and educators all thrive when they pair wonder with rigor.
Build curiosity into culture. Ask better "what if" questions to unlock new possibilities.
Honor natural rhythms. Movement and rest sharpen thinking and prevent burnout.
Connect ROI to creativity. Collaboration and curiosity drive productivity, efficiency, and innovation.
Trust intuition. Imagination and foresight are as powerful as logic in leadership.

Natalie's story shows that by moving, thinking, and resting with intention, leaders can reimagine what's possible and create lasting impact.

Order Natalie's book Move Think Rest here.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-117-move-think-rest-to-promote-creativity-with-natalie-nixon

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How can you accelerate your path to CEO?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Rahesha Amon, CEO of City Teaching Alliance. With 25+ years of leadership experience, Rahesha has been a teacher, coach, principal, and senior executive at NYC DOE before stepping into her current role.

A proud Black woman and fourth-generation New Yorker, Rahesha never dreamed of being a CEO—she once wanted to act, then pursued pre-med. But her all-girls school experience, community encouragement, and resilience helped her find her voice and chart her own leadership path.

She shares lessons for rising leaders:

•Own your identity. Authenticity is power.

•Trust the process. Successes and failures both teach.

•Keep building your toolkit. Seek experiences that stretch you.

•Find your board of directors. Surround yourself with mentors and advocates.

•Believe in yourself. Look to the light and draw strength from those who came before you.

Rahesha's story shows that with identity, faith, and community, we can accelerate our own path to CEO.

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/episode-116-accelerate-your-path-to-ceo-with-dr-rahesha-amon-ceo-of-city-teaching-alliance

What does it mean to play the game to change the game?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Erica Mosca—Nevada State Assemblymember and Founder/Executive Director of Leaders in Training. Her nonprofit now empowers over 200 students annually with a 100% college acceptance rate and 81% postsecondary persistence. Erica is also the first Filipina elected to the Nevada State Legislature and is running for her third term.

Growing up, Erica didn't see herself represented in classrooms, on television, or in politics. When she learned that only 1% of elected officials were APIA, she realized she needed to "play the game to change the game." For her, that meant running for office. She shares powerful lessons for anyone looking to lead and serve:

Lead with values. It's not about you—it's about advocating for your community.
Seek support. Programs like APAICS, New American Leaders, Emerge America, and Leadership for Educational Equity offer training even if you're not ready to run yet.
Reframe fundraising. Fundraising isn't asking for money—it's giving people a chance to have their voice at the table.
Navigate politics with humility. Listen, meet people where they are, and show up consistently—even outside election season.
Know you are enough. Your lived experiences matter more than degrees or titles.

Through her leadership, Erica has helped create meaningful change across Nevada. She truly embodies what it means to play the game to change the game.

Donate to Erica's campaign at ericamosca.com. Even $14 is meaningful!

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-115-play-the-game-to-change-the-game-with-erica-mosca

What does it mean to bring feminine energy into leadership and parenting?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Shavon Terrell-Camper, a Realignment Coach and former therapist with over 3,000 hours of coaching experience helping individuals build self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership.

Shavon shares how to shift from default masculine approaches—power, control, being right—into a more expansive definition of leadership and parenting grounded in feminine energy.

Go beyond default definitions: Strong leadership doesn't have to mean domination or control. Feminine energy invites us to evolve past fear, hold space, and lead with authenticity.
See the benefits of feminine energy and choice points: In a culture of "go, go, go," we can pause and ask, What do I need to nourish my business, family, and self? or How can I hold space instead of forcing outcomes?
Start with you: Leadership and parenting begin with the relationship we have with ourselves. Rather than fixing others, we can focus on treating ourselves with compassion and presence.

Shavon's wisdom is a powerful reminder that we don't have to lead or parent from default settings—we can choose to bring more feminine energy to care for ourselves, our families, and our teams.

Check out Shavon's family workshop offering to improve communication and connection here.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-114-embrace-feminine-energy-in-leadership-and-parenting-with-shavon-terrell-camper/

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Gloria Lee—Social Entrepreneur, Lecturer at UC Berkeley and Stanford, and visionary behind a new venture focused on helping elders thrive while aging in place. A seasoned educator and nonprofit leader, Gloria's career includes Founder, CEO of Educate78, President and COO of New Schools Venture Fund, and Area Superintendent and COO of Aspire Public Schools.

Gloria didn't just dream about traveling the world with her husband and two sons—she made it happen. In our conversation, she shares how she turned this bold vision into reality.

Leverage career transitions: When her nonprofit reached a natural inflection point, Gloria chose not to leap into her next role right away. Instead, she seized the moment to make their family travel dream a reality.
Make it financially possible: Renting out their Bay Area home and choosing more affordable destinations meant their year abroad cost less than staying home. Mindful spending made the dream sustainable.
Think about the long-term impact: Rather than focusing on reasons not to go, Gloria envisioned how the experience could strengthen their family—and it did. They returned with deeper bonds and shared memories that will last a lifetime.
Support your children's growth: Gloria's introverted sons embraced "worldschooling" instead of traditional homeschooling. They returned with more gratitude, broader perspectives, and even a newfound passion for environmental conservation.

Gloria's story is a reminder that we can make space for both impact in our work and dreams that feed our souls. Sometimes, the bravest career move is to step away and explore the world—with the people you love most.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-113-take-a-yearlong-sabbatical-with-an-around-the-world-family-trip-with-gloria-lee

How do you get real team buy-in?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I talk with Jana Reed, COO of Nonprofit Finance Fund. Jana brings years of experience as a systems-level leader—previously serving as COO of iMentor, co-founder of Ascend Learning, and Chief of Schools at Citizens of the World Charter Schools.

Jana walks us through how her leadership has evolved—from focusing on modeling hard work to now prioritizing shared values, clear communication, and co-creation with her team.

We discuss:

The importance of frameworks like operating agreements and shared values to set expectations and build culture
Why asking for help is a strength, not a weakness
How transparency in vision and strategy builds alignment and trust
What co-creation really takes—and why involving your team early leads to stronger outcomes

This episode is for leaders who want to move from top-down decision-making to more inclusive, sustainable leadership practices. Thank you, Jana, for sharing your advice!

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/episode-112-inclusive-leadership-with-jana-reed-coo-of-nonprofit-finance-fund

Thinking of running for school board?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Judith Cruz, Former Board President, Houston Independent School District. Judith has over twenty-five years of experience as an educator, non-profit leader, and volunteer in public schools.

Judith shares her path to school board leadership—and what it really takes to serve well.

Know your why – Serving on a school board is a powerful way to create change, but it’s not easy. It’s unpaid, political, and full of competing priorities. Judith reminds us that while advancing student outcomes is essential, sometimes the most urgent fight is preventing students from falling further behind.
Be ready to work across differences – Even among seemingly aligned colleagues, interpersonal dynamics and politics can derail progress. Judith shares how she built trust and found common ground—internally within the board and externally with the broader community.
Don’t compromise your values – The toughest moments came when Judith had to vote against the wishes of those who helped her get elected. Her advice: stay grounded in your values and make decisions based on what’s best for all kids—not just the loudest voices.
Go grassroots or go home – To win her campaign, Judith knocked on 3,500 doors in six months, seven days a week. Her message: people matter. Conversations matter. That’s how trust—and leadership—is built.
Do your homework – Before running, Judith suggests attending civic and board meetings, asking questions, and learning how the system really works. Because once you're in, the work is real—and it’s relentless.

Thank you, Judith, for sharing your inspirational and powerful journey.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-111-run-for-your-school-board-with-judith-cruz

Do you mentor others?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Fernande (Nan) Duffly, the first Asian American Judge appointed to the Massachusetts Supreme Court.

Nan shares how mentorship played a critical role in her journey. Her mentor, Sam Adams, encouraged her to consider becoming a judge—something she hadn’t envisioned for herself. At the time, there were very few people who looked like her in those roles.

Now, Nan pays it forward. She actively mentors young lawyers and students, especially those from diverse backgrounds. For Nan, mentoring isn’t about formal programs—it’s about real conversations.

Demystify the role: Nan is intentional about helping others see that judges aren’t untouchable. “I was you once,” she says. “And you could be me.”
Build belief: She focuses on helping others believe they’re capable and ready. It’s not about who you know—it’s about being prepared, having the right experience, and doing the work.
Stay grounded: Nan makes space for real connection. She listens, shares her story, and lets people see the person behind the title.

Thank you, Nan, for sharing your story—and for showing how powerful mentoring can be.

Get full show notes and more information here:

https://analizawolf.com/episode-110-be-a-mentor-with-fernande-nan-duffly

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Nancy B. Gutiérrez, President & Lead Executive Officer of The Leadership Academy, a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to developing transformational leadership for educators at all levels. Nancy also serves on the boards of The Hunt Institute, brightbeam, and The Neurodiversity Alliance, and is the Board Chair of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC).

Nancy is the co-author of Stay and Prevail: Students of Color Don’t Need to Leave Their Communities to Succeed (2023), which shares powerful stories of leaders who choose to give back to their home communities. She shares her own journey serving East San Jose, the very place where she grew up—and where her mother once attended the school Nancy would later lead.

When asked to step into the principal role at that school, Nancy said to herself: “If I don’t step into this, who will?”

Nancy shares how building trust required:

Listening deeply—not just to hopes and dreams, but to generational trauma. She asked, “How have schools harmed you?”
Reflecting back what she heard, to show the community she was listening.
Taking visible action—like redesigning the student referral system. Instead of referring students only for misbehavior, teachers began referring students who exhibited excellence. Families started receiving calls from the principal to celebrate their children—flipping the script on what school leadership could look and feel like.

Nancy now leads work that supports school leaders across 40+ states. Her story is a beautiful example of what it means to stay, to serve, and to prevail—not just locally, but nationally.

Thank you, Nancy, for your powerful leadership and for sharing your story with us.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-109-stay-and-lead-in-your-home-community-with-dr-nancy-b-gutirrez-president-lead-executive-officer

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Jillian Juman, CEO of Envision Education—a network of high-performing middle and high school charter schools in Oakland, CA.

Jillian shares her powerful journey toward liberation and what it means to lead as a Black woman who embraces curiosity, intuition, and spiritual connection.

Lean into curiosity and play: Jillian follows what sparks her interest—even if most things don’t lead anywhere—and trusts that the few that do are exactly where she’s meant to be.
Notice when you don’t fit: She’s learned to recognize when something isn’t the right environment and no longer sees that as a personal failure.
Trust your intuition: Jillian makes space to listen inward and has come to trust that she already knows what’s right for her.
Create space for reflection: She schedules time to journal, reflect, and take retreats to stay grounded and lead with clarity.

Jillian reminds us that liberation is a lifelong journey—and that we already have the answers when we allow ourselves the space to hear them.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-109-stay-and-lead-in-your-home-community-with-dr-nancy-b-gutirrez-president-lead-executive-officer

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Angira Sceusi, Executive Director of redefinED atlanta, a nonprofit committed to ensuring every student in Atlanta can attend an excellent K-12 public school. Angira was named to the 2025 Atlanta 500, a list of the city’s most powerful leaders, and selected for the 2026 class of Leadership Atlanta.

Angira shares her journey from being a behind-the-scenes introvert to stepping into the spotlight and embracing her role as the face of the organization. Here’s what helped her:

Name the self-doubt. Even with advanced degrees and leadership experience, Angira realized she was holding herself back due to a quiet sense of imposter syndrome. She asked herself, “Why don’t I want to be the face of this organization?” and uncovered the self-doubt beneath the surface.
Use grounding mantras. To counter that doubt, Angira leans on a simple, powerful mantra: “I am enough. I am worthy.” She repeats it daily and whenever insecurity arises as a reminder of her value and strength.
Redefine what leadership looks like. Angira noticed that we often idolize a certain kind of leader—someone loud, charismatic, preaching from the mountaintop. But that’s not her style, and that’s okay. She’s a thoughtful, cerebral leader who needs time to reflect before responding. By embracing her authentic self, she realized she could lead powerfully as herself, not in spite of herself.

Angira reminds us that leadership doesn’t require becoming someone else. When we name our self-doubt, lean into our truth, and affirm our worth, we can show up with power—just as we are.

Thank you, Angira, for sharing your wisdom and your story.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-107-embrace-being-the-face-of-an-organization-as-an-introvert-with-angira-sceusi

How can you find a mentor?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, I speak with Veronica Conforme, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Greenhouse E3, a national nonprofit developing diverse pipelines of future education leaders. Veronica describes herself as a rebel—she turned down her father’s advice to become an accountant and instead set out to change the world. Her career includes serving as COO of the NYC Department of Education, leading UP Education Network in Massachusetts, and serving as Chancellor of the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan.

Veronica credits mentorship as a key to her success—but not as luck. It came through clarity, purpose, and values-aligned work. “You have to be really clear about what you're trying to achieve,” she says. “I grew up in the South Bronx, saw inequity firsthand, and knew I wanted to disrupt systems and change outcomes for communities like mine.”

Because she led with purpose, mentors found her through the work. “I wasn’t from the education sector, but when I helped principals rethink how to use their budgets to serve their communities, people noticed. They’d say, ‘Come work with us.’ That’s where mentorship happened—in the work, through shared values.”

Veronica offers this advice for finding a mentor:

Get clear on your mission. What change do you want to make in the world?
Be open. Stay open to help, new relationships, and new perspectives—even if they come from unexpected places.
Do the work. Lead with your values, show what you’re about, and opportunities will follow.
Make it mutual. Mentorship should be a two-way street. “You're not only pouring into me,” she says. “I'm bringing something to the table too.”

Thank you, Veronica, for your leadership and your wisdom.

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/episode-106-how-to-find-a-mentor-with-veronica-conforme-co-founder-and-co-ceo-of-greenhouse-e3

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Judith Brown Clarke, VP for Equity & Inclusion, Chief Health Equity Officer, and Chief Diversity Officer for Stony Brook University and Health System. A 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist and former collegiate champion, Dr. Clarke now leads transformational change in health equity and inclusive excellence.

Dr. Clarke shares how an Olympic mindset strengthens leadership:

Focus on execution, not outcomes. In high-pressure moments—whether on the Olympic track or in a policy meeting—Dr. Clarke emphasizes executing core strategies over fixating on the outcome. “You don’t go into a race thinking ‘I must win.’ You focus on form, precision, and the next hurdle.”

Use form and fundamentals as your anchor. Fatigue will come. Pressure will rise. In those moments, leaders must default to form—policy, strategy, and best practices—not panic. “Just like runners lean into form when tired, we lean into structure: What’s the process? Who’s the decision-maker? What’s needed for buy-in?”

Game theory mindset: anticipate, don’t react. Dr. Clarke approaches leadership with the same strategic thinking as athletic competition—asking, What are the key factors that lead to success? She maps out opposition, support, timing, and execution steps, treating meetings like races with defined phases and checkpoints.

Strategy and relationship go hand in hand. Even when it’s not a “win,” clarity around process and relationships sustains momentum. “You may not get consensus, but if you know the rules—it’s a majority vote, or a policy practice—you keep the path clear for next steps.”

Thank you, Dr. Clarke, for showing us how Olympic discipline meets inclusive leadership.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-105-lead-like-an-olympian-with-dr-judith-brown-clarke-vp-for-equity-inclusion

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Judith Brown Clarke, VP for Equity & Inclusion, Chief Health Equity Officer, and Chief Diversity Officer for Stony Brook University and Health System. A 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist and former collegiate champion, Dr. Clarke now leads transformational change in health equity and inclusive excellence.

Dr. Clarke shares how an Olympic mindset strengthens leadership:

Focus on execution, not outcomes. In high-pressure moments—whether on the Olympic track or in a policy meeting—Dr. Clarke emphasizes executing core strategies over fixating on the outcome. “You don’t go into a race thinking ‘I must win.’ You focus on form, precision, and the next hurdle.”

Use form and fundamentals as your anchor. Fatigue will come. Pressure will rise. In those moments, leaders must default to form—policy, strategy, and best practices—not panic. “Just like runners lean into form when tired, we lean into structure: What’s the process? Who’s the decision-maker? What’s needed for buy-in?”

Game theory mindset: anticipate, don’t react. Dr. Clarke approaches leadership with the same strategic thinking as athletic competition—asking, What are the key factors that lead to success? She maps out opposition, support, timing, and execution steps, treating meetings like races with defined phases and checkpoints.

Strategy and relationship go hand in hand. Even when it’s not a “win,” clarity around process and relationships sustains momentum. “You may not get consensus, but if you know the rules—it’s a majority vote, or a policy practice—you keep the path clear for next steps.”

Thank you, Dr. Clarke, for showing us how Olympic discipline meets inclusive leadership.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-105-lead-like-an-olympian-with-dr-judith-brown-clarke-vp-for-equity-inclusion

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Yordanos Eyoel, Founder and CEO of Keseb, a nonpartisan organization advancing inclusive and resilient democracies through transnational civil society. An Ethiopian-American democracy entrepreneur, Yordanos is an Ashoka and Aspen Institute Fellow and has received awards from the Elevate Prize Foundation and Unorthodox Philanthropy. Previously, she was a Managing Partner at New Profit, where she rose from Portfolio Analyst—the first to do so in the organization's history. Her work has been featured in TED, NPR, and Harvard Business Review.

Yordanos shares how her faith has shaped her leadership:

Faith provides grounding in uncertainty. As a leader, Yordanos acknowledges that she doesn’t always have the answers. Her faith offers a steady anchor—something to return to when decisions are complex and the path forward isn’t clear.
Faith strengthens resilience as a woman of color. Navigating leadership as a woman of color comes with unique challenges. Yordanos credits her faith with helping her stay centered amid external pressures, giving her the courage to lead authentically.
Her leadership is deeply values-driven. Yordanos’ sense of purpose, integrity, and commitment to service are all rooted in her faith. It’s not just a personal belief—it’s a leadership compass that guides how she shows up for others and makes decisions.

Thank you, Yordanos, for your insightful advice!

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/episode-104-faith-and-leadership-with-yordanos-eyoel-founder-and-ceo-keseb

How can you make your voice heard?

We’ve all heard the saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This episode of Women of Color Rise is an example of that.

I’m joined by fellow leaders Christian Green, Zainab Abbas, Ian Esquibel, and Derek Burtch—all part of the Culture of Health Leadership Institute for Racial Healing. Together, with Cecily Relucio, we’re supporting Equity Week 2025, a national movement grounded in collective action for justice.

Each of my guests brings a powerful perspective:

Derek Burtch, a high school English teacher and Executive Director of Erase the Space, focuses on education equity.
Zainab Abbas, founder of SciTech to You, works to disrupt the preschool-to-prison pipeline.
Christian Green, a college professor, advocates for transitional-age youth facing housing insecurity.
Ian Esquibel, a leadership coach and consultant, supports communities fighting for systems that serve all students.

Though we come from different places and lived experiences, we’re united by one goal: to make systemic change through Equity Week—a week of learning, advocacy, and organizing in Washington, D.C., June 11–14, 2025.

Equity Week 2025 is a national initiative uplifting equity-centered practices in education, civic engagement, and public history. It includes:

Sessions on the Hill as National Advocates for Equity
Training in advocacy and community organizing
Equity Ball—a joyful celebration filled with dance, art, and connection

We’d love for you to join us. Come be part of this movement.

June 11–14, 2025
Washington, D.C.
Learn more and sign up here: https://nbjc.org/equity-week/
Watch the Equity Week video: YouTube link

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-103-multi-racial-coalition-building-equity-week-with-christian-zainab-ian-and-derek

How can leaders turn perceived limitations into strengths?

On Women of Color Rise, I speak with Alia Abbas, Chief of Staff at New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. With a career spanning Estee Lauder, Warner Bros. Discovery, Prudential, and Citi, Alia has led in strategy, operations, and innovation—proving that disability and faith are not barriers but strengths.

Alia didn’t realize she was blind until she was diagnosed in college, thanks to parents who instilled confidence and adaptability. She also made a pivotal choice in her career—to wear a hijab, deepening her connection to her Muslim faith. Though both blindness and belief come with stereotypes, Alia sees them as value-adds in leadership and teams.

Her insights:

We are capable – People with disabilities develop adaptability, resilience, and unique problem-solving skills.
Diversity strengthens teams – Multi-generational, multi-background, and multi-ability teams drive stronger ideas and outcomes.
No ceilings on possibility – Instead of limiting others, empower them to pursue their goals.

Alia’s journey is a powerful reminder: Own your identity, use your voice, and lead with confidence.

Thank you, Alia, for sharing your inspiring stories!

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-102-strength-in-blindness-and-faith-with-alia-abbas

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Angie Kamath, Dean of NYU School of Professional Studies. Under her leadership, NYU SPS has been ranked as a top higher education institution, recognized for its career-connected, industry-focused degrees and courses.

Angie shares tips about how to turn imposter syndrome into your superpower:

Reframe It as a Strength: Imposter syndrome isn’t a sign of failure—it’s proof that you’re growing. Angie explains that feeling like an outsider means you’re pushing yourself into new and challenging spaces where real learning happens.
Stay Curious: Instead of letting doubt hold you back, use it as motivation to ask questions, explore, and expand your knowledge. Angie emphasizes that the most successful people aren’t the ones who "know it all" but those who remain inquisitive and open to growth.
Seek Challenging Spaces: The moment you feel like the smartest person in the room, it’s time to move on. Angie encourages others to embrace environments that push them outside their comfort zones, because that’s where true transformation occurs.
Embrace the Outsider Mindset: Rather than seeing self-doubt as a weakness, recognize it as a tool for problem-solving and innovation. Angie highlights that the best leaders and hires aren’t those who have all the answers—they’re the ones who are hungry to learn, work hard, and can see old problems with a new and fresh outside perspective.

Thank you, Angie, for sharing your inspiring advice and strategies!

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-101-how-to-turn-imposter-syndrome-into-your-superpower-with-angie-kamath

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Christie Wong Barrett, former CEO and owner of MacArthur, a global manufacturer of innovative labels and functional components with operations in the U.S., China, Mexico, and Poland. Christie currently serves as an Independent Board Member for DMI Companies, a Lecturer at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and Co-Director of AmplifyD, a nonprofit incubating startups led by minority and women founders. She has also advised on national manufacturing policy through her appointment to the White House Advanced Manufacturing Partnership.

Christie shares her framework for evaluating opportunities—when to say yes and when to say no:

Is it new? If it’s a fresh opportunity, consider saying yes.
Are you passionate? Ensure it aligns with your interests, passions, and goals.
Will it build your skillset? Growth potential makes an opportunity worthwhile.
Can you realistically succeed? You should have at least one foundational strength—whether it’s knowledge of the industry, clients, or team—to set yourself up for success.
Does it create multiple benefits? Look for opportunities that offer value beyond just work—advancing your career, expanding your network, or opening future doors.

While it’s tempting to say yes to everything, Christie emphasizes the importance of prioritizing what truly matters. Ideally, we should only say yes when all these criteria align.

Thank you, Christie, for your insightful advice!

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-100-when-to-say-yes-with-christie-wong-barrett

How can we build connection and compassionate communities?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Gail Christopher, the visionary behind the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) framework. Dr. Christopher is the Executive Director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity and a former Vice President at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where she spearheaded transformative initiatives like America Healing and TRHT. Recognized as one of the 10 Most Influential Women Scholars in Health Promotion by the American Journal of Health Promotion in 2023, Dr. Christopher continues to inspire change worldwide.

Dr. Christopher shares the powerful foundation of TRHT, designed to replace the false hierarchy of human value with a vision of our shared humanity. This framework has had a profound impact across the U.S. and beyond, with over 70 college campuses implementing TRHT campus centers.

The Five Pillars of TRHT: * Narrative Change: Redefining stories to reflect shared humanity. * Racial Healing & Relationship Building: Fostering compassion across diversity to create authentic, human connections. * Separation: Addressing the systemic ways society perpetuates division and hierarchy. * Law: Reforming immigration policies, voting rights, and criminal justice systems to uphold equality. * Economy: Transforming economic systems built on exploitation to prioritize equity.

The Five-Step Process for Change: * Create a Vision for Success: Imagine a future where equality and shared humanity replace hierarchy. * Use Data to Assess Reality: Evaluate current conditions against the envisioned future. * Engage Key Stakeholders: Identify and involve the individuals and communities necessary for progress. * Set Goals: Establish clear, short- and long-term objectives to guide action. * Sustain the Effort: Build systems for funding, communication, and volunteer support to ensure lasting impact.

Dr. Christopher reminds us that this work is both a framework and a methodology—a guide for communities, institutions, and nations to advance racial healing and equity.

Thank you, Dr. Christopher, for your leadership and for inspiring us to envision a future grounded in our shared humanity.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-99-truth-racial-healing-and-transformation-with-dr-gail-christopher

Aspiring to lead in theater?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Khady Kamara Nunez, Executive Director of the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC). Before this role, Khady served as Executive Director of Second Stage Theater, where she was part of the leadership team that won a Tony Award for Take Me Out.

Khady shares her inspiring journey from Senegal to the U.S., where a night at the theater changed her life’s trajectory. Though her decision to pursue theater initially caused friction—her mother hung up when she called to share the news—Khady followed her passion and learned invaluable lessons along the way:

Embrace the Pivot: Pursuing your passion can be uncertain, but taking the leap allows you to live without regrets. If needed, you can always pivot later.
Embrace Failure: Facing the unknown, like navigating and leading theater during COVID, showed Khady that mistakes are opportunities to learn and improve.
Know Your Values: When Khady discovered a report showing a lack of people of color leading regional theaters, she was motivated by her belief in representation and set her sights on becoming a leader in the industry.

Thank you, Khady, for showing us the power of resilience and passion in leadership!

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/episode-98-truth-racial-healing-and-transformation-with-dr-gail-christopher

How can you amplify your leadership in technology?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I sit down with Sonita Lontoh, an inspiring technology leader and inductee into the Asian Hall of Fame and Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame. Sonita currently serves on the boards of Sunrun (Nasdaq: RUN) and TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI) and has held senior executive roles at HP, Siemens, and PG&E. Recognized by the White House and U.S. State Department, Sonita shares actionable insights on amplifying your career in technology.

Sonita shares helpful advice to amplify a career:

Embrace change and failure: Explore your passions early, pivot when needed, and view failure as a learning opportunity. For example, Sonita started her career by pursuing an entrepreneurial passion in gaming, successfully launched a company, and later pivoted to corporate leadership after selling the business.
Find your purpose: Align your passions, skills, and purpose to guide your career path. Sonita found her purpose at the intersection of technology and sustainability, which became her north star in driving innovation and impact throughout her career.
Seek mentors and sponsors: Build a support network of role models who inspire and guide you, regardless of their level. Sonita leveraged mentorship from diverse leaders, including women and men, to navigate career transitions and grow into leadership roles.
Think like an owner: Go beyond your role to drive the broader success of your organization. Sonita exemplified this by creating and scaling new businesses within large companies like Siemens, transforming innovative ideas into operational success.

Sonita’s wisdom offers invaluable guidance for navigating the challenges of technology leadership.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-97-navigating-tech-leadership-entrepreneur-to-boardroom-with-sonita-lontoh

How can you amplify your leadership in technology?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I sit down with Sonita Lontoh, an inspiring technology leader and inductee into the Asian Hall of Fame and Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame. Sonita currently serves on the boards of Sunrun (Nasdaq: RUN) and TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI) and has held senior executive roles at HP, Siemens, and PG&E. Recognized by the White House and U.S. State Department, Sonita shares actionable insights on amplifying your career in technology.

Sonita shares helpful advice to amplify a career:

Embrace change and failure: Explore your passions early, pivot when needed, and view failure as a learning opportunity. For example, Sonita started her career by pursuing an entrepreneurial passion in gaming, successfully launched a company, and later pivoted to corporate leadership after selling the business.
Find your purpose: Align your passions, skills, and purpose to guide your career path. Sonita found her purpose at the intersection of technology and sustainability, which became her north star in driving innovation and impact throughout her career.
Seek mentors and sponsors: Build a support network of role models who inspire and guide you, regardless of their level. Sonita leveraged mentorship from diverse leaders, including women and men, to navigate career transitions and grow into leadership roles.
Think like an owner: Go beyond your role to drive the broader success of your organization. Sonita exemplified this by creating and scaling new businesses within large companies like Siemens, transforming innovative ideas into operational success.

Sonita’s wisdom offers invaluable guidance for navigating the challenges of technology leadership.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-96-5-keys-to-build-self-confidence-with-sheena-yap-chan

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Melissa Santoro, Former Vice President of De Beers and Former Head of Finance at Macy’s Backstage. With a career spanning finance and strategy roles at Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, Melissa is now an angel investor and board member.

Melissa shares powerful strategies for taking risks and making bold career moves:

Be Curious: Explore new opportunities, even without prior experience. Melissa accepted a challenging and unpopular role conducting fine jewelry analysis—a field she had no prior experience in—and this opened doors for her to lead analysis on new ventures.
Be Confident: Trust your skills and your ability to learn. Melissa explains how she embraces new challenges, knowing she can gain the knowledge she needs along the way.
Build Community: Leverage your network for support. Melissa emphasizes the importance of asking for help and tapping into your community for guidance.

Melissa will also be hosting a session on March 5 called “Cultivating A Growth Mindset in the Modern Workplace.” It caters to women in leadership, with a focus on building wealth, health, and longevity as women are living longer than ever—often until age 90.

For more details, visit here.

Thank you, Melissa, for sharing your inspiring advice and strategies!

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/how-to-take-risks-and-make-career-leaps-with-melissa-santoro-former-vice-president-de-beers

Seeking a deeper connection to culture, spirit, and homeland?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Grace Nono—a celebrated Filipino singer, ethnomusicologist, and scholar of Philippine shamanism. Grace holds advanced degrees in Humanities, Philippine Studies, Religious and Gender Studies, and Ethnomusicology from institutions like Yale University and NYU. She has also served as a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard Divinity School.

Grace shares how reconnecting to the land and indigenous Filipino cultural and spiritual practices has grounded her:

Land Connection: Returning to her birthplace in Mindanao to reconnect with the earth.
Spiritual Connection: Learning from living Babaylan about ancestral and land-based spirituality.
Cultural Connection: Exploring music, arts, and traditional healing practices.

Grace also offers two transformative opportunities:

Online Webinar Series: Learn from master indigenous practitioners in martial arts, music, and healing.
In-Person Immersion in the Philippines: Yuta: Co-Creating with Mother Earth is a 10-day program that includes cultural immersion, healing practices, and community building with Filipino and global participants.

Thank you, Grace, for inspiring others to reconnect with their roots and heritage!

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-94-connect-to-culture-spirit-and-homeland-with-grace-nono-filipino-singer-and-scholar-of-philippine-shamanism-1

Is it possible for life-or-death news to bring hope?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Johanne Morne, Executive Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Department of Health. With a long career in public health, Johanne has been guided by her commitment to equity, social justice, and trauma-informed care.

At age 42, Johanne was diagnosed with breast cancer while transitioning into a major role she had worked tirelessly to achieve. Faced with the dilemma of prioritizing her health or career, she chose to reframe the question: How can I focus on both?

Now celebrating ten years of being cancer-free, Johanne shares how her experience transformed her leadership at work and in life:

Focus on community: Johanne leaned on her strong community of family, friends, and faith, deepening those connections throughout her journey.
Clarity on her legacy: Cancer clarified Johanne's desire to leave a meaningful impact, especially around equity. She became bolder, speaking out on hard truths about inequities while balancing this with levity. She also felt empowered to take calculated risks, asking herself, “If X happens, can I stand by it?”
Bringing hope: Battling cancer taught Johanne the importance of hope—not just for herself but also at work. As she navigated difficult conversations, she realized balancing hard facts with hope and humor was essential to prevent despair. Even during COVID, she highlighted positive aspects, like the flexibility of remote work.
Seeing life as temporary: Johanne embraced the idea that life’s moments—whether joyful or challenging—are temporary. This perspective allowed her to choose how she spent her time and aligned her actions with her values.
Embracing authenticity: Cancer helped Johanne lean into her true self, becoming more confident and unapologetic in her leadership.

Thank you, Johanne, for sharing your inspiring story and bringing hope to all of us.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-93-how-breast-cancer-changed-my-leadership-at-work-and-in-life-with-johanne-morne

What does it take to secure a corporate board seat?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Christine Crawford, Former McDonald’s Franchisee Owner. Christine shares her journey to serving on multiple boards, including Avid Pursuits, which includes a digital marketing agency (Cyberwoven), and Illumyn by Him For Her, dedicated to enhancing the impact of private company boards through cohort-driven learning.

Christine and I discuss why diversity in boardrooms matter and how to get a seat in the boardroom.

Know Why Diversity Matters: Diverse board members bring different experiences to the table, enhancing innovation and preventing blind spots in decision-making.
Communicate Your Intentions: Aspiring board members, especially women and people of color, need to vocalize their interest in board roles with their network.
Articulate Your Value: Be prepared to share your diverse experiences succinctly and effectively, focusing on the common threads that demonstrate your value to a board.
Be Patient in Your Journey: Recognize that board placements take time. View your path as a continuous journey rather than a race.
Embrace Continuous Learning: Start with smaller board roles to gain experience and insights that can lead to larger opportunities.

Thank you, Christine, for sharing your valuable insights on board diversity and leadership development. Your journey inspires others to pursue their ambitions and advocate for representation in corporate governance.

Also, if you know of corporate board opportunities in education, technology, or HR that could use a leader with strategic, talent, and marketing experience, please let me know. I would love to be of service.

#BoardDiversity #Leadership #WomenInBusiness #WomenOfColorRise #CorporateGovernance

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/ep-92-how-to-get-a-corporate-boardroom-seat-with-christine-crawford

How can your identity become one of your greatest leadership strengths?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Shirley Collado, President and CEO of College Track. Previously, Shirley served as president of Ithaca College, executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer at Rutgers University-Newark, and executive vice president of The Posse Foundation.

Shirley and I discuss how women of color can embrace their identity as a superpower and lead authentically in spaces that may not always expect them to.

Define Your Narrative Shirley drew strength from her upbringing as a first-generation college graduate and daughter of Dominican immigrants to define herself as smart, capable, caring, and worthy of leadership.
Show Up in Fullness As a Dominican-American woman leading in higher education, Shirley defied expectations. She reminds us to embrace our identity fully, even in spaces where others may not expect it, and to use our voice to challenge stereotypes.
Model Possibility for Others Representation matters. Shirley's trailblazing career as the first Dominican-American president of a U.S. four-year college shows younger generations that leadership can come in diverse forms.
Embrace the Strength in Differences Shirley highlights the unique strengths that come from being different, such as adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving, which first-gen students often possess..
Turn Perceived Deficits into Strengths What makes you different is what makes you strong. Shirley encourages reframing perceived disadvantages, like navigating multiple worlds, into assets that make you a more effective and resilient leader.

Thank you, Shirley, for sharing your incredible story with us and showing how embracing your full identity can empower you and others to thrive.

#WomenLeaders #WomenOfColorRise #IdentityLeadership #CollegeTrack

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-91-see-your-identity-as-a-superpower-with-shirley-collado-president-and-ceo-of-college-track

What makes a great sponsor?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Deb Grant, Former President of The GE Foundation, Chief of Diversity, and GE’s first Black female corporate officer. Currently, Deb serves as an Independent Director for Edelman and is the Founder and CEO of Corporate Playbook, a business consulting firm. She also leads Dining With Deb, a unique dining experience that brings professional women together to bridge racial, religious, and political divides through meaningful conversation.

Deb shares how sponsors played a pivotal role in accelerating her career—and how, at one point, her own sponsor nearly blocked her progress. Here are her insights on what makes a great sponsor:

Find a sponsor committed to DEI Deb’s sponsor was a senior White male executive leader who prioritized diversity in his leadership team. After receiving feedback on the need for more diversity, he sought out Deb, recognizing her potential, and invited her to work directly under him.
Ensure your sponsor gives you feedback Her sponsor helped her grow by meeting with her weekly and providing valuable feedback. He took the extra step of gathering insights from her colleagues, peers, and direct reports to give a well-rounded perspective on her strengths and areas for growth.
A good sponsor opens up opportunities Her sponsor entrusted her with high-profile projects and introduced her to senior executives, helping her expand her network and gain visibility with influential leaders.
A good sponsor sets you up for promotion He was deliberate in advocating for her promotion, socializing her candidacy with decision-makers and addressing any concerns in advance.
Beware of unconscious bias that may block your career When Deb’s promotion was under discussion, her sponsor—despite his support—remarked, “Deb is great, but she needs one more thing to develop.” An African American leader in the room intervened, pointing out that her sponsor was holding her to a higher standard than others. Thankfully, Deb received her well-deserved promotion after this realization.

Thank you, Deb, for sharing your powerful story with us and highlighting how intentional sponsorship can make a difference in accelerating careers.

#WomenLeaders #WomenOfColorRise #Sponsors #GEFoundation

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-90-find-a-sponsor-who-will-accelerate-and-not-block-your-career-with-deb-grant

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Shawna Wells, Founder and CEO of 7Gen Legacy Group. Shawna helps Black Americans plan their legacy and establish intergenerational health and wealth.

Shawna shares her journey to clarifying her own legacy and how she built her business. Here are steps she took to create a business aligned with her vision of legacy and abundance:

Healing Practices to See Yourself as a Business Owner Shawna shares how it took significant healing to embrace her identity as a business owner. She developed daily rituals of space and writing, and shared her thoughts with her community for feedback and support. Shawna also reflected on her childhood, understanding that our relationship with money forms between ages 0-5, and how this shaped her initial resistance to anything to do with money.
Create Your Legacy and View Your Business as a Way to Fund Your Dreams Shawna became clear that her legacy for the next generation involved creating change—investing in her family, community, and projects like the Highland Project. By researching the costs of her legacy, she realized that she needed to run a seven-figure business to fund that dream. The question shifted from “How much do I need to get by?” to “How much do I need to change the world and redistribute wealth to those I care about most?”
Align Your Skills with Your Business Once you know the life you want and the impact you want to make, the next step is figuring out how your skills can connect to that vision. Understand the value of your work and create a pricing structure that supports your goals.
Build a Supportive Community Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who understand and support your journey. Consider your preferred connection style—whether through regular Zoom check-ins or in-person meetings—and find a community that feels authentic to you. This could be a mastermind group, conferences, or specific connections with people who are focused on building seven-figure businesses.

Thank you, Shawna, for generously sharing your journey and advice on building a business rooted in legacy and abundance. She is a wonderful example of how business can also be soul work.

#LegacyBuilding #WomenOfColorRise #Education #Inspiration

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/ep-89-build-a-seven-figure-business-with-shawna-wells-founder-and-ceo-of-7gen-legacy-group

What can we learn from the incredible journeys of women of color running for major leadership roles?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I had the honor of speaking with Dianne Morales, Founder of StillRising, who is dedicated to helping organizations drive real impact for marginalized communities. Named a "Latina of Influence” by Hispanic Lifestyle, Dianne brings over 20 years of leadership in education, social justice, and equity—and was formerly CEO of Phipps Neighborhood.

Dianne shared her powerful experience running for NYC Mayor in 2021 and the key lessons she learned:

Representation matters: Though initially hesitant to run, Dianne knew that having someone from her community in a seat of power was critical.
Claim your power: You don’t have to wait to be chosen. We can decide to step up and go for those top roles ourselves.
Political power is key to real change: If we want to shift systems and advance equity and justice, gaining political power is part of the journey.
Use the system while challenging it: There's a tension in working within existing structures while also trying to transform them.
Speak your truth: Dianne wishes she had been more vocal during the campaign when her identity was under attack. She now recognizes the importance of standing firm in who you are.

Thank you, Dianne, for sharing your story and for your courage in standing up for your community. Your journey is a powerful reminder of what it means to step out, speak up, and lead with purpose.

#Leadership #Equity #WomenOfColorRise #Education #Inspiration

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-88-running-for-change-a-woman-of-colors-nyc-mayoral-bid-with-dianne-morales-founder-of-stillrising

How do you handle someone with power blocking your path to leadership?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Maya Bugg Faison, Founder and CEO of the Bugg Consulting Group and Adjunct Professor of Public Policy at Vanderbilt. Previously, Maya served as CEO of the Tennessee Charter School Center and State Executive Director at Education Pioneers.

Maya shares her journey to becoming CEO of the Tennessee Charter School Center, a path filled with obstacles. Despite receiving positive feedback from her interviewers, she faced resistance from powerful board members who preferred a different candidate (a White male). They added additional interview rounds and hurdles to deter her.

However, Maya emerged victorious and became CEO. Here’s how she did it:

Speak Your Truth: Maya grew up with supportive parents who encouraged her to name injustice. She directly told the board that the process was disrespecting her as a leader, reminded them they had encouraged her to apply, and made it clear she had other opportunities.
Seek Other Opportunities: Maya didn’t put all her eggs in one basket. She ensured she had other options, including her current role and other job applications.
Build Champions: Maya was intentional about building relationships. When she moved to Tennessee, she started with one connection, asking to be introduced to three more people, and so on. She tracked and cultivated these relationships, and some of these people later advocated for her as CEO.

Maya led the TN Charter Center for 9 years, making a significant impact on schools, students, and families in Tennessee. Thank you, Maya, for your leadership and for modeling how we can bring equity to ourselves, our students, and our communities.

#Leadership #Equity #WomenOfColorRise #Education #Inspiration

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-87-what-to-do-when-someone-blocks-your-path-to-leadership-with-maya-bugg-faison

How integrated are you with your body, mind, heart, and spirit?

For this Women of Color Rise podcast, I speak with Laura Saldivar Luna, CEO of Pinata Possible, a transformational coaching practice committed to helping leaders access powerful breakthroughs to unprecedented possibility, well-being, and social good.

Laura shares how as she transitioned from being Chief People Officer at Teach for America, she needed to restore her wholeness before determining her next career chapter.

Laura shares advice about how to reconnect our body, mind, heart, and spirit:

Embrace space - Laura went from back to back meetings to an open calendar. While this was unchartered territory for her, Laura embraced not having a plan and having space to explore.
Be in your body - Laura found that reconnecting with her body meant moving her body. She found a dance class where she was surrounded by retired women who were fully expressing themselves individually while celebrating the collective.
Work with a coach - Laura worked with an executive coach to help her get clear on her goals for her health, wealth, self-expression, and love. These goals were based on how she wanted to feel during the experience of accomplishing her goals. For example, in her marriage, she wanted it to feel light and easy. So instead of saying things to be right, she would pause and ask, “Do I want to be right or do I want to be in love?”
Focus on the cracks - Laura looked at where in her life she wanted something different and pinpointed her marriage, motherhood, and health. She took responsibility for how she was showing up.

Laura is a wonderful model about how we can integrate all parts of ourselves to show up as the partner, friend, leader, and human we want to be.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-86-restore-your-body-mind-heart-and-spirit-with-laura-saldivar-luna-ceo-of-pinata-possible

Are you an introverted extrovert?

For this Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dominique Jones, CEO of Global Kids, a national organization educating, inspiring and activating youth to respond to global issues. Prior to this, Dominique held roles as the Executive Director of the Harlem Girls and Boys Club of New York and senior roles at the Food Bank of New York City and NYC Administration for Children’s Services.

A self-proclaimed introverted extrovert, Dominique shares that she used to think she needed to be someone else when she networked. Now she realizes that the key to networking is to be herself. Dominique shares tips to build genuine and authentic connections:

1) Acknowledge challenges - For women of color, we are taught that we need to be someone else when networking. We face unique challenges as sometimes one of the few or only in a room of people who do not look like us. At the same time, we have probably developed a unique skill of being multilingual, with the ability to speak to different people (people who don’t look like us or share experiences with us). We can use this skill to our advantage when networking.

2) Be intentional - Know what you need and who you need to connect with. Before an event, map out the specific people you want to network with.

3) Be present and curious - Be ready to meet them where they are and ask and learn about their experiences. Find things you have in common, including interests and experiences. You can even disarm them with a compliment; Dominique says complimenting them on their clothes works on both men and women. The key is to be genuine.

4) Think about the interaction not as a one-time event and find ways to be helpful - This is probably not the last time you’ll meet. Dominique tends to ask, “How can I be of service to you?” This opens up discussions where you can validate them, offer suggestions, and share resources (including introductions or opportunities).

5) Be yourself and find ways to keep yourself energized - For Dominique, she’ll wear bright colors to lift her mood. She’ll also identify people she already knows who are attending an event so she can have something to look forward to.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-85-how-to-network-as-an-introverted-extrovert-with-dominique-jones

How do you conquer feelings of self-doubt?

For this Women of Color Rise Podcast, I talk with Zee Clarke, a breathwork and resilience expert and the author of Black People Breathe. Trained in India, she is a Harvard MBA that went from leading teams at Fortune 500 companies to teaching powerful tools to improve our mental health and well-being in the workplace.

Zee shares a practical exercise called WEBAV to boost your confidence and conquer imposter syndrome when you experience self-doubt.

W = Welcome.
The first step is to pause and welcome the voice of self-doubt. Rather than squash it, allow the voice to be there and listen to what the voice is saying.
E = Evidence gathering.
Make a list that supports what your voice is saying, and make a list of evidence that disproves it. For Zee, she once had a job where each morning, she worried that she would get fired. She then made a list of evidence that supported this thought and another list that disproved it. Most of the time, the list that disproves it will be much longer because it’s all in our head.
B = Breathwork.
When we are in our heads, we tend to go into fight or flight mode. Breathing can calm your anxiety and also boost your confidence and help you use your voice.
A = Affirmations.
Affirmations are most effective when you use your name and say it in the present tense. So instead of, ‘I will be amazing,” I should say, “Analiza is amazing.” The more frequently we practice affirmations, the more we can rewire our neural pathways.
V = Visualization.
Olympic athletes practice visualization because research shows that visualization and actually doing the action stimulates the same regions in the brain. This is true whether it's work or outside of work. When we visualize, then that action becomes real for us in our subconscious, which then becomes real in our conscious mind when we actually do the thing.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-84-how-to-conquer-imposter-syndrome-with-zee-clarke-author-of-black-people-breathe

Do you want a pathway to build a more equitable world?

For this Women of Color Rise Power, I talk with Mildred Otero, President of LEE (Leadership for Educational Equity), where she is creating pathways for leaders to engage civically within their communities to end the injustice of inequity.

This includes building leaders with inside power (policy leaders, elected leaders) and outside power (advocates and organizers in communities). When we have diverse leaders with inside and outside power, we start to see long lasting change for communities,

Mildred shares skills to developing our inside power to create change:

Spot where there are problems and find solutions - Notice when something doesn’t feel right and how we can problem solve and make things better by working and bringing along others. For Mildred, she saw at an early age how hard it was for her hardworking family to get basic services, so she found a way later in life to find solutions and bring others (in politics and other changemakers along).
See the gray - Most people tend to see the world in black and white. When we can see the gray, we are able to be open and curious to different perspectives and empathize with others.
Have self-awareness and humility- See yourself as a growing person who does not know everything and can learn lessons from others.
Being a woman or person of color at the table is a doorway to change - When we bring our unique identities and experiences to the table, know that the conversations and decisions change.
Connect to people as humans - When we connect to each other as humans and the childhood experiences that have shaped us, we can get to the root of where our beliefs were formed. We open up shared understanding and the possibility of changing our beliefs.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-83-be-a-systems-changemaker-with-inside-power-with-mildred-otero

How can we take smart risks?

For this Women of Color Rise Podcast, I talk with DeNora Getachew, CEO of DoSomething, a national

hub for youth activism that focuses on fueling young people to change the world. We discuss the importance of taking risks, especially given the political turbulence we are facing.

DeNora shares advice about how to take risks:

Find strength in your personal mission - Pinpoint what you are willing to risk for. For DeNora, she is committed to fighting for our democracy and lifting up marginalized voices. Her mission fuels her to take risks. In our society today, it’s not enough to be transactional where we are liking an online post. This is different that the civil rights movement where people risked jail and pain and even death.
Lean on your support system - For DeNora, her mother provided her a lot of strength since she was young and during tough times such as when she was a pregnant teen. To this day, DeNora knows she can’t do it alone and leans on her community for support.
Take the work in sprints - Rather than falling for the myth that we need to give 110% all the time to all things and all people, focus on a specific measurable goal that is time-bound. That way, there is a clear light at the end of the tunnel to help motivate you and sustain you. And don’t forget to take a victory lap after a spring to celebrate!

Get full show notes and more information here:

Why does intersectionality matters for leadership?

For this Women of Color Rise Podcast, I talk with Dr. Dominica McBride, Founder of BECOME. Dominica founded BECOME from a belief that communities should be at the center of creating the reality they want and need and that culturally responsive evaluation can be a tool for social justice and thriving communities.

Dominica is also the author of Becoming Change Makers: The Exquisite Path to Leadership and Liberation for Women of Color. She highlights healing, relationships, owning our power, and intersectionality to help women of color recognize their own unique potential and power to lead, grow their self-efficacy, and spark transformation.

Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw provided the definition of intersectionality: "Intersectionality is a metaphor for understanding the ways that multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage sometimes compound themselves and create obstacles that often are not understood among conventional ways of thinking."

Dominica and I dive into intersectionality and how it can help us own all parts of ourselves and leverage them for leadership:

Recognize differences - Depending on our identity (such as gender, race, class, and age), our experiences differ. A Black middle-aged woman and a White gay male will experience the same situation differently.
Know thyself - We already have the solutions and strengths within ourselves. We can draw from our culture, for example Dominica with her Haitian background and Analiza from her Filipino background.
Shape who we want to be - Society teaches us values and ways of being that we don’t have to buy into. We can choose who we want to be. For example, society stresses individualism, that women need to be superheroes who do it all by ourselves. However, we can choose to let go of the superhero cape, not do everything, and ask from help from our community.

We can also affirm who we are with these daily practices:

Affirmations - Tell yourself positive affirmations such as, I’m worthy, beautiful, and strong.
Look at yourself - Spend two minutes each day to look in the mirror and see yourself and develop a relationship with yourself.
Journal - We are taught that knowledge can only be acquired from outside of ourselves, but actually, the answers are already within. Ask a question and allow yourself to write out the answer.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-81-why-intersectionality-matters-for-leadership-with-dominica-mcbride-founder-of-become

How can introverted leaders lean into their quiet power?

For this Women of Color Rise Podcast, I talk with Erica Phillips, Executive Director of the National Association for Family Child Care, a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting high-quality child care by strengthening the profession of home-based early learning programs.

As a self-described introvert, Erica shares tips on how to lead as an introvert.

1) Practice self-care. Before a big presentation, Erica spends time by herself. She also meditates and takes walks.

2) Find ways to connect extroverted work to where you thrive as an introvert. For Erica, she loves conversations and building relationships. For extroverted work like presentations, Erica will connect with a few members of the audience beforehand and bring those conversations into her presentation. She’ll also structure her presentation like a conversation and bring in input from the audience.

3) Bring other voices to the table. Erica is an inclusive leader who deliberately includes others in her presentations to share their stories and perspectives.

4) Choose opportunities thoughtfully. Erica is happy to meet with audiences that may have different views, but she is thoughtful to ensure that there is some alignment in values. For example, Erica presented to the Reagan Institute where they were able to find alignment in their shared goal of supporting small businesses.

5) Know that silence may not be the answer. Audre Lorde said, “Your silent won’t protect you.” Erica realized that even though she might be uncomfortable speaking, she would be even more uncomfortable not speaking.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-80-introverted-leadership-quiet-power-with-erica-phillips-executive-director-nafcc

For people of color, how do you navigate assimilation and authenticity?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, I talk with Heather Wise Turtle Harding, Executive Director of Campaign for a Shared Future, a timebound, nonpartisan campaign to defend and promote K12 public education from political attacks. Prior to this, Heather was Executive Director of EdCORE and had senior roles at the Gates Foundation and Schusterman Foundation.

Heather shares how her identity and roots growing up poor with a single mom helped shape her career to be a servant leader. She discovered the myth of meritocracy when she was the only student from her elementary school who was bussed to a gifted school. Heather credits her teachers to shaping her big dreams of having an impact on social justice. After graduating from Northwestern University, she became a teacher with Teach for America, then took on leadership roles in education, philanthropy, and politics.

We may sometimes be the “Only” (woman, person of color, etc.) in a room, and Heather shares the importance of how we choose to navigate assimilation and authenticity. Heather and I discuss.

Choose how to see yourself. When Heather was in a room where she was the “Only,” she chose her role to be an ambassador to bridge to people who were different than her. Heather has been in many roles over her career where she’s the bridge. Her hope, “If I’m a good ambassador, then people will understand that others like me belong here, too.”
Make sure that the role you choose is not a burden. Heather shares that with her personality, she was able to carry that ambassador role and didn’t let it break her. It felt like an honor, not a burden.
Exit if needed. If you are facing a toxic culture or it’s uncomfortable, protect your exit and make the explicit decision to exit. For Heather, when she got feedback from an organizational leader that she should “stay in her place,” she made the decision that she would exit after getting the experience she needed from the job.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-79-how-to-navigate-assimilation-vs-authenticity-with-heather-harding-executive-director

For this Women of Color Rise Podcast, I talk with Kathy Waller, Executive Director for the Atlanta Committee for Progress (ACP), which provides leadership on the key issues important to economic growth and inclusion for all citizens in Atlanta. Prior to this, Kathy was the Chief Financial Officer for The Coca-Cola Company. Kathy is also a Board member for Delta Airlines, CGI Group, and Beyond Meat.

Kathy shares her roots growing up in an all-Black neighborhood in Atlanta and then later attending an almost all-White college at the University Rochester. She shares how one of the key skills that helped her in her career was how to develop relationships, especially with White people. Kathy shares advice on the art of relationships building:

Meet people where they are. Kathy shares how sometimes people had preconceived notions of Black people. She saw this as an opportunity for them to get to know her personally and show who Black people really.
Understand people to determine if they are a friend or foe. Kathy advises us to observe how the person interacts with people they don’t know and how you can tell a lot about their bias and values. Are they a friend or foe? Can you turn a foe into a friend?
Develop relationships by being vulnerable. While it may be uncomfortable to let your walls down, real relationships are based on sharing who you are, which opens the door for them to share as well.
Don’t take it personally. If your attempts to convert them from foe to friend through a personal relationship doesn’t work, it’s not about you. They need to go on their own journey to overcome racism.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-78-friend-or-foe-the-art-of-developing-relationships-with-kathy-waller

Who is your sponsor?

For this Women of Color Rise Podcast, I talk with Sheila Duke, CEO of Roads to Success, a New York City non-profit with the mission of empowering young people to take control of their future through after-school and summer programs.

Sheila and I discuss how key to both of our careers was having sponsors, particularly White sponsors. Unlike a mentor who shares guidance, a sponsor actively promotes growth and provides access to opportunities and advocates for career advancement.

In the non-profit world, most leadership, fundraising, and decision makers are White, despite often serving Black and Brown communities. For Sheila and me, our White sponsors prepared us and advocated for us with decision makers to get the CEO seat.

Sheila and I share advice for how to find a White sponsor.

Know there are White leaders who understand why having leaders of color matters and are eager to sponsor leaders of color. In Sheila’s case, her CEO believed that leadership needs to reflect the community they serve. Look for these White leaders at your organization or at DEI conferences or ask your network for leads.
Build a relationship. Build a genuine relationship and establish a connection. Set up time to meet where you can ask for advice and also offer support. Remember that a relationship is a two-way street.
Ask for what you need. As you build the relationship, you can then ask for help, perhaps an introduction to someone in their network or feedback on how you navigated a leadership situation. You can also ask if they would be willing to sponsor you as you seek career advancement.
Stay true to yourself. Sheila has a saying, “Code switch, not soul switch.” Make sure to stay true to your values and your authenticity. As you get advice and learn how to maneuver in different rooms, stay clear on who you are.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-77-why-getting-sponsored-by-white-leaders-matters-with-sheila-duke

How do you strategically build relationships?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, I talk with Stacey Chavis, Managing Director of Campaigns Academy, where she trains leaders to serve in elected office. Having spent her entire career in politics, Stacey points out the challenges women of color face but makes an adamant case about why women of color need to be at the decision making table,

We discuss how being liked matters to rising in your career and how to strategically build relationships.

Begin with the end in mind. For example, Stacey knew that for her next role, she wanted to transition to fundraising. So she identified people who had jobs she wanted and strategically built relationships with them.
Build relationships up, down, and across. Ideally, you want to know people two levels above you, two levels below you, and people who are peers. This will help you gain perspective about your organization and flag any opportunities or challenges ahead of time.
Reciprocate. A relationship is not a one-way street. Make sure to offer value - for example, sharing expertise or information that can be helpful to them.
Be intentional and efficient. Given our online work environment, we have less opportunities to casually run into each other at the water cooler. Be intentional in setting up time to connect with people. This could be as quick as a 15-minute zoom call to get their input on something.
When in doubt, ask them about themselves. It may sometimes be awkward to get a relationship started. But a fool-proof way to get and keep the relationship going is to ask them about their favorite topic - themselves.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-76-how-to-strategically-build-relationships-with-stacey-chavis

Are you living your resume or eulogy life?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, I talk with Irma Shrivastava, Co-Founder of India Rooted and former Chief Marketing Officer of Randstad, the world’s largest human resources services firm. Irma and I discuss David Brooks’ advice to live your eulogy life, not your resume life.

How can we live our eulogy life?

Know that your career is not one path but multiple paths. Early in your career you might focus on skill building. But as you progress, you’ll want to learn more about yourself and your purpose and lean more into this.
Given the choice between courage and comfort, choose courage. This might mean being uncomfortable, but discomfort is often a sign of growth.
Consider your legacy and how you want to make a difference in the world. Irma and I discuss our shared legacies of helping others be at the table. This includes being on boards and our gratitude for being part of the Stakeholder Leadership and Governance Institute.

Irma’s eulogy life includes co-founding India Rooted. It is a two-week experience that takes Indian-American teens to India with the objective of engaging them in cultural experiences that will connect them to their ancestral roots. The inaugural cohort launches in June 2024. More information can be found at indiarooted.com.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-75-live-your-eulogy-life-not-your-resume-life-with-irma-shrivastava

Are you a good listener?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, I talk with Radha Ruparell who heads the Global Leadership Accelerator at Teach For All and is the author of Brave Now. Radha and I discuss how leaders often focus on communication but don’t give attention to the art of listening. In these times of polarization, listening is especially important because it can help us build relationships and understand other points of view, so that we can move forward together.

We discuss three steps to help us be better listeners:

Develop self-awareness of our filters. We may think that we are listening with an open-mind when in reality we are listening with established filters. These filters are often formed when we are young, for example the filters of not feeling like we are smart/good enough. These filters keep us being judgmental instead of truly being open.
Put our filters aside. Having self-awareness of our filters allows us then to deliberately put our filters aside so we can be open to the other person. We are no longer planning our response about why they are wrong and why we are right. We are present.
Set an intention to be a listening. Once we are able to release ourselves and our judgments, we are more able to be fully present for the other person. We set an intention to be a listening (a noun) for the other person, a vessel open to their perspectives, feelings, hopes, and dreams.

It’s such a rare gift to listen to others without any hidden agendas. When was the last time you were listened to with genuine curiosity and openness without judgment? Imagine what is possible when you can truly listen to others.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-74-the-art-of-listening-with-radha-ruparell-head-of-the-global-leadership-accelerator

What percent of your job is office politics?

Dolores Johnson says 60%. For this Women of Color Rise episode, I talk with Dolores, a former Vice President of International Marketing at Fortune 100 tech companies. In her current chapter, Dolores is a writer focused on race and recently wrote her award-winning Say I’m Dead, A Family Memoir of Race, Secrets and Love.

Dolores shares gems about how to fast track your career, including how to navigate office politics.

Understand office politics - Your job is 40% work and 60% office politics. You need to understand people’s hidden agendas and what is in it for them. This will help you understand how to persuade them to your ideas. Take advantage of pre-meetings to sell and get buy-in for your ideas before the actual meeting.
Take time to build relationships - It’s not your work that will get you ahead. It’s your relationships. Take initiative to seek mentorships. Take initiative to network outside of your company. Your job is not guaranteed - and these relationships will help you bounce back when you need a new opportunity.
Speak up - Do not fall prey to being quiet. Share your ideas. For Dolores, she needed to learn how to speak more directly, with less detail and more in headlines.
Come up with innovative ideas that drive the bottom line - If you want to accelerate your career, be on the lookout for ideas that the organization has not yet tried. You want to be seen as someone who is innovative with ideas that can drive results.
Keep your eyes on the prize - If people make comments that question your worth, believe in yourself. Instead of focusing on just this moment, look forward and remind yourself of where you are headed
Take care of yourself - The company is not responsible for your career progress or your care. Take care of your mental health, speak up for your pay, negotiate, and also be aware of the risks. Know that the extra hours, trips, and work won’t provide you job security.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-73-how-to-play-the-office-politics-game-with-dolores-johnson

How does a person of color get more comfortable with telling their story?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, I talk with Arshiya Kherani who is a Coach, Facilitator, and Co-Founder of Potluck Stories, a LA-based community organization that hosts monthly interactive storytelling events that amplifies underrepresented voices. Arshiya shares how she is often in white male dominated spaces. Being a Muslim woman who wears a hijab has given her the choice to either assimilate into what is expected of her or empower her to share her identity and culture with others. Arshiya chose empowerment

We discuss 3 steps people of color can take to tell their stories:

Step 1: Be vulnerable, and narrow down to an experience that matters to you. Sometimes people of color feel that their stories need to be their resume. Instead, think of an experience that shaped your life (could be from childhood, young adulthood or even recently). This could be a moment of fear, calling, or overcoming a challenge. Brainstorm for a few minutes, and choose one.

Step 2: Pick a specific moment in that story and bring us to that moment. Paint the details. What did you see, smell, taste, hear, feel? Help us be in your shoes.

Step 3: Speak it aloud and get out a SFD, shitty first draft. Don’t spend so much time writing and rewriting and trying to make it perfect. The more you do it, the better you’ll get, and the more you’ll be able to tell that same story from different perspectives based on the audience.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-72-3-steps-to-storytelling-for-people-of-color-with-arshiya-kherani

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Maria-Leticia Ossa Daza, Founding Partner and Chair of Latin America Practice, Willkie Farr & Gallagher Maria-Leticia Ossa Daza

Born and raised in Colombia, Leticia knew from an early age that she wanted to be a lawyer. Her parents were both lawyers and supported her dreams, with Leticia getting a scholarship for college in France. After graduating, Leticia found herself in New York as a lawyer, surrounded by mostly white males and not sure how to show up. Leticia shares how she got clear on her authentic leadership brand and how that helped her get recognized and rise at her organization.

Analiza and Leticia discuss how to leverage our authentic leadership brand:

Step 1: Know and leverage your brand. Your brand is what makes you unique. This includes your strengths, goals, and job history. This also includes aspects of yourself outside of work such as your cultural background and activities such as volunteer work. For Leticia, her brand included being a Latina with an international background. Her brand also included dressing with color instead of the standard dark office attire, using her hands to communicate, and also dancing at the holiday party. She saw that being different could help her stand out.
Step 2: Understand how to apply your brand and uniqueness to the organization’s needs. Spot opportunities and share your ideas with senior leaders. For Leticia, her Latin American background gave her the unique lens to see that the organization was missing a big opportunity. She took the initiative to share her idea to start the Latin American practice with a senior leader. That leader applauded the idea, became her mentor, and helped advocate for Leticia to found the Latin American practice.
Step 3: Share your brand inside and outside of your organization. Inside her organization, Leticia shared her unique perspective and cultural background. Outside of her organization, Leticia began to write more, starting with LinkedIn. Leticia’s writing got noticed for its unique perspective, and she is now a columnist for La Republica on international business trends.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-71-your-authentic-leader-brand-with-leticia-ossa-daza

Why is it so hard to ask for what we want? And how do we do it?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Sau-fong Au, Director of the Women’s Center at Brooklyn College. Sau-fong was born in Hong Kong and went to college at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She then followed her boyfriend to the US. Being in America was the first time that Sau-fong was surrounded by people who were different than her. She was told, “You’re not American,” and that there was something wrong with her. She also felt that she should feel grateful and that she shouldn’t ask for more. Having led the Women’s Center at Brooklyn College for 23 years, Sau-fong shares how these myths hold women, especially women of color, back.

Sau-fong shares advice about how women of color can ask for and get what we want.

Don’t take things personally. Whether successes or failures, it often doesn’t have anything to do with you, personally.
Fake it until you make it. You might not feel confident or worthy, but don’t let these mindsets hold you back. You have nothing to lose by asking. But by not asking, you make it 100% sure they will say no.
You can be grateful AND ask for more. Women are often taught to be grateful for our small slice of the pie. Instead, think to yourself, “I deserve the whole pie.” Or “I deserve the ingredients to make the pie myself.”
Feel the feelings and find a community to support. Depending on whether they say yes or no, you might feel joy, sadness, or anger. Feel these feelings and find a community to support you.
Be the change. When you get into positions of power, find ways to make systems more equitable, for example by standardizing pay through salary scales. This evens the playing field for women of color, who often don’t even negotiate.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-70-how-to-ask-for-what-you-want-with-sau-fong-au

How can we network while staying true to ourselves?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Isabel Ching, Executive Director of Hamilton Madison House. Born in South America, Isabel moved to Brooklyn, New York where she grew up. In school, she was bullied for being Asian American and put in an ESL class even though she spoke English fluently.

Even with these challenges, Isabel shares how she stayed to her identity. As the leader of her organization, she continues to lead, speak at events, and fundraise in harmony with her culture.

Isabel shares how to network and present authentically:

Get help - If networking and presenting are not a natural skill of yours, seek external help. A good consultant can help you build your executive presence.
Decide on what advice to accept - Don’t blindly follow all advice given to you. Ground yourself in your values and who you are. For Isabel, sometimes she’s giggly, jokes around, and uses her hands alot - that’s ok!
Take the pressure off - Sometimes Isabel feels like she needs to say something profound and unique, but that brings unnecessary stress. It’s ok not to be the smartest or most eloquent. Know who you are and speak from that place. You don’t need to prove anything.
It’s ok to fail - Isabel admits that she has had some misses, including a presentation that went terribly because she was up all night with her sick son. Give yourself compassion and grace.
Let go of control - There's only so much you can control. You can’t control what people think about you. If one person is not interested, move on. Keep doing this and you’ll get to the right person who will give you a chance.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-69-network-in-harmony-with-your-culture-with-isabel-ching-executive-director-hamilton-madison-house

How can you go from hot mess to life success?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Dr. Shai L. Butler, Founder and CEO of StratHERgies and author of Better. Not Perfect. Shai shares her personal journey of becoming a mom at 14, failing out of college, and becoming addicted to alcohol and opioids. Shai shares how she was able to take charge of her life, get her doctorate, and have a decades long career in higher education as a C-suite executive. She also started StatHERgies LLC, a leadership development consultancy that works with current and aspiring C-Suite managers. Dr. Shai debunks the myth that failure is bad. Failing doesn’t make you a failure.

Dr. Shai shares her strategies to go from hot mess to life success:

Find a faith. You don’t have to shoulder life by yourself. Find a faith that resonates with you so that you are able to share life’s challenges.
Invest in a therapist. Our beliefs, including imposter syndrome, are often deeply rooted in childhood trauma. A therapist can help you unpack beliefs that are not serving you.
Affirm yourself. Know your strengths and values. Let go of self-critical beliefs and view yourself from an asset-based lens, including all your gifts.
Take action. Even though you may face fear or doubt, instead of dwelling here, focus your energy on taking action to move your vision forward.

Check out Dr. Shai and her Better, Not Perfect book (also available in audio) here.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-68-better-not-perfect-with-dr-shai-butler

Want to heal the world? Start by healing yourself first.

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Sarah White, Oglala Lakota and Executive Director of the South Dakota Education Equity Coalition (SDEEC) and 2019 Bush Fellow.

Raised to value spirituality and education, Sarah saw how the system was failing her people with indigenous people falling further behind in the achievement gap. She decided to found SDEEC, a grassroots movement of community stakeholders committed to promoting diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning for future generations.

After years of working, Sarah noticed that her response to coping with trauma was achievement to give her a sense of self-worth. She realized that if she wanted to heal her community and world, she needed to start by heal herself.

Sarah shares strategies to heal:

Develop awareness of where we find your self-worth. For Sarah, she realized that she had been seeking worthiness through achievement. She believed that achieving would lead to wellness and being happy. This pattern of thinking set her up on a never ending cycle of looking outward instead of inward.
Notice that when we focus on outward success, we are the furthest away from ourselves. When we are on the hamster wheel of striving for outward achievement, we lose sight of our own belief in ourselves, that we are enough as we are.
We can come back to ourselves to heal. This includes self-care, even basic things like not skipping meals and drinking water.
Let go of martyrdom. Sarah shares that women generally more often than men suffer and martyr ourselves, falsely believing that it’s going to contribute to some sort of prosperity. But that’s never going to be sustainable. The key is to nurture our spirits, focus on healing, and recognize that this is going to be synonymous with the healing that we need to see within our professional work as well.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-67-heal-the-world-by-healing-yourself-with-sarah-white

With the backlash against DEI, critical race theory, and LGBTQ rights, what can we do?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Rhonda Broussard, CEO of Beloved Community, a non-profit to create sustainable paths to regional racial and economic equity. Her vision for Beloved Community is informed by her leadership in education and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s goal “to create a beloved community” that would “require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”

With DEI efforts such as critical race theory and LGBTQ rights under attack, Rhonda offers actions we can take to keep DEI moving forward:

Educate our children at home. School can’t do it all. For Rhonda as a child, MLK Day was not yet a federal holiday, so her family practiced celebrating this day at home.
Ensure that politicians have an understanding of the issues. Make sure they have access to training, which can have a big impact on the local level.
Consider for running for office yourself. Be part of the action and check out runforsomething.net which provides recruiting and support for young progressives. Or if not, identify your role in the movement. Are you more a behind the scenes leader?
Don’t back off with sharing your belief in DEI. If you are a leader in an organization, make sure you have legal resources to support you.
Find your support group. Doing this work is hard. You are not alone. Find a place to share, reset, and release toxicity.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-66-keep-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-moving-forward-with-rhonda-broussard/

Can a woman really aspire to become CEO?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Cheryl Crazy Bull, Wacinyanpi Win (They Depend on Her), a member of the Sicangu Lakota nation. Cheryl is President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund and is an advocate for self-determination focused on Native voice, philosophy, and traditions as the heart of the people’s work in building prosperity for current and future generations.

Cheryl shares advice for women to aspire to top roles:

Know that women as leaders is not new. If we reach back to our cultures and histories, we’ll see that women have always led.
Leadership starts at home with family. Among the Lakotas and other tribes, your responsibility is to be a good relative. This includes respect and reciprocity where you give to and receive from others.
Believe in yourself. If we face feelings of impostor syndrome, we can fill ourselves with our belief in our own worthiness. For Cheryl, she told herself, “You can be that good. You can take your vision and apply it.”
Be a learner and stay humble. This allows people to get close to you, see you as human and believe you will help them.
Power is not bad. Power is about influence and the ability to allocate resources and move towards a vision of serving others.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-65-aspire-to-be-ceo-with-cheryl-crazy-bull

Can sharing your story change your life?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Viridiana (Viri) Carrizales, CEO of ImmSchools. Born in Michoacán, Mexico, Viri didn’t realize she was poor until age 11. Her father decided to make the trek to the US for better schools for his four girls. A year later, Viri, her sisters, and mother followed, almost getting lost walking in the desert. In America, Viri's challenges continued. Even after graduating high school with top honors, she could not go to college due to her undocumented status. Despite the risk, she contacted a newspaper who published her picture and story on the front page. Because of that story, one reader reached out and told her, “I'm an undocumented student in college. You can go to college, here's how, here's the law.”

Viri founded ImmSchools, a nonprofit that works with schools to create safe and welcoming classrooms for immigrant and undocumented students. While she gained her US citizenship through her husband, millions of other undocumented students remain in limbo, not able to contribute to the highest of their ability to our country, and at risk of deportation.

Despite the unfavorable political climate for passing laws to support the undocumented, Viri shares advice about what we can do to help:

Break stereotypes of the undocumented. Learn stories of those formerly undocumented and how their change of status are allowing them to contribute to the country as teachers, engineers, and leaders like Viri.
Vote. Support candidates with similar values.
Educate ourselves. The media’s misinformation prevents us from better understanding how undocumented children and people are being hurt.
Empathize. What would you do for your loved ones? For parents, what would you be willing to do for your child? If you were in a similar position, what would you do?

Consider supporting Viri and ImmSchools here.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-64-share-your-story-to-change-your-life-viridiana-viri-carrizales-ceo-of-immschools

How can you answer your ancestral calling and apply that to business?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Chandra Roxanne, Former Managing Director of the Astia Edge Fund, a $20M fund which invests in Black and Latina women. Chandra made a pivot into venture capital after participating in Linda Lautenberg and Judy Schoenberg’s EvolveMe program and realizing her ancestral calling. Chandra believes in the transformative power of venture capital when used consciously and empowers Black and Latina women by investing in their ideas. Chandra is a graduate of the London School of Economics.

Chandra shares how to answer our ancestral calling:

Know your unique positionality. Know that your perspective, experience, and ancestry matter. Similar to a color in a rainbow, we each have a unique background that is important to the entire rainbow. Without it, the rainbow would not be the same.
Learn and find pride in your ancestors. As part of emotional reparations work for people of color, it’s about restoration of culture. When your people are forced to give up language and culture, you may think that America is the start and finish of your history. But it is not. We need to reach back and understand who we and our people were before.
Connect your people’s history and legacy to your higher purpose. When you look back and connect to your culture, find that part of your story that is your people’s legacy. This is also where you can find your ancestral calling and higher purpose. This higher purpose can be applied to businesses, where we can serve something bigger, not just for financial gain.

Are you or do you know of any Black and Latina women entrepreneurs at the seed stage? Please send them to Astia to get support.

Get full show notes and more information here: ep-63-answer-your-ancestral-calling-with-chandra-roxanne

How can we bring emotions and body wisdom to work?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Tina Fernandez, Former CEO, Achieve Atlanta. Tina is currently a Fellow at Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative. She is in a new chapter with a divorce, kids out of the home, and stepping down from her CEO role.

Tina has learned over the years that our bodies have wisdom. Assuming that only the mind should be valued at work without feelings is a white supremacist belief. Tina encourages women of color to bring all parts of ourselves to work - our mind, body, and spirit.

Here are strategies to use to leverage our body wisdom:

Get to know yourself. How does your body react when you are stressed? How can you self-soothe?
Take time to calm your nervous system down. Practice breathing, meditating, mindfulness, and somatics.
Stay in your body. Even though it may feel uncomfortable, stay in your body instead of disconnecting.
Give yourself grace. It’s ok to take a break. If there is an issue, you don’t need to fight immediately. Give yourself grace to take time and come back later.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-62-tap-into-your-bodys-wisdom-with-tina-fernandez-former-executive-director-achieve-atlanta

We all know the importance of DEIB. Yet many are feeling burned out. How do we stay motivated?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Betty Ng, Founder and CEO of Inspiring Diversity. Betty grew up in Chinatown, NYC and experienced bullying because she was Asian American. After graduating from Stanford with her BA and Harvard with her MBA, she continued to experience challenges as an Asian American during her 20+ year corporate career, including roles at Citibank and American Express. Betty transformed this pain to find her power and purpose, starting Inspiring Diversity, which helps organizations, educators, and families foster cultures of diversity and inclusion.

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Betty Ng, Founder and CEO of Inspiring Diversity. Betty grew up in Chinatown, NYC and experienced bullying because she was Asian American. After graduating from Stanford with her BA and Harvard with her MBA, she continued to experience challenges as an Asian American during her 20+ corporate career. Betty transformed this pain to find her power and purpose, starting Inspiring Diversity, which helps organizations, educators, and families foster cultures of diversity and inclusion.

Betty shares the importance of doing DEIB to build strong cultures and how to keep people motivated and engaged:

Make it individual - While policies, programs, and training are helpful, real transformation happens at the individual level since a culture is the sum of individual people. Inspiring Diversity includes individual assessments with recommendations of what to change.
Focus on conscious inclusion and well-being - DEIB encompasses many things. Inspiring Diversity hones in on conscious inclusion, which means asking how we can be more inclusive of each other, and well-being instead of bad behavior.
Make it playful - Team and culture building is powerful when we can incorporate play. How about incorporating play into DEIB too? Betty (a certified pickleball coach) has a pickleball program that integrates DEIB.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-61-how-pickleball-can-promote-deib-with-betty-ng-founder-and-ceo-of-inspiring-diversity

What does it take to thrive in a top role?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Jenise Terrell, CEO of Public Allies. The mission of Public Allies is to create a just and equitable society and the diverse leadership to sustain it. Jenise spent almost her entire career 20+ years at Public Allies, beginning as a Public Allies AmeriCorps member herself in 1997.

Jenise shares key leadership moves she made:

Stop holding all the pieces - As women of color, we are often the ones who are holding all the pieces of the pie. Jenise needed to move from being a technical expert to one who coaches and inspires others to manage all of the details.
Provide entry points for others - Marginalized groups often don’t have access to opportunities because they lack entry points. Public Allies was the entry point for Jenise and provided training and opportunities for her to grow. Similarly, reflect for yourself - am I giving consideration to others and providing entry points?
Find your tribe who can be honest with you and support you - Jenise’s leadership team gives her feedback. We need all of us helping each other.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-60-what-got-you-here-wont-get-you-there-with-jenise-terrell-ceo-public-allies

How do you go from being anti-system to being a system changemaker for racial justice?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Leah Gordon, Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, Diversity, and Belonging as well as an Associate Professor of the Practice at Boston College.

Leah shares how she was consistently told she was not enough. She was a mom at 19, on welfare, and told no many times for jobs because she didn’t have the right degree.

Leah points to not just her perseverance and mentors who spotted her talent that got her where she is today. She also had the vision to be a systems changemaker, to rise to leadership so that marginalized communities would not face injustice.

Leah shares the keys to being a systems changemaker:

Don’t listen to the many voices that will tell you that you can’t do it. You can. Source that belief from yourself and seek out mentors who can uplift you.
Be your full authentic self and also practice thoughtful restraint. Before speaking your truth and burning up the system, consider whether restraint might help you now. Later, you can share stories of the injustice you faced to urge others to change.
Get the support of the “mothership” organizations with authority to back why DEI is important. In Leah’s case, she had health organizations such as the National League of Nursing and American Nurses Association that influence nursing education.
Take care of yourself. Rest is a form of resistance. Prioritize you for the benefit of the movement.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-59-be-a-covert-systems-changer-for-racial-justice-with-leah-gordon/

Who are you?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Judie Saunders, Partner at ASK LLP. Judie grew up in Alabama, the daughter of parents who immigrated from Trinidad and Tobago. Her father was a professor of African American studies at Howard University. Judie grew up with values of education and justice and after graduating from University of Maryland with her J.D, she became an attorney supporting clients who suffered from sexual abuse. Judie also co-wrote A War on My Body with Gloria Allred and Paxton Smith.

As a mother, Judie decided to focus on her family, while keeping a foot solidly in her work. But this led to an identity crisis. She realized she was so much more than her work. How?

Embrace the tensions. These are your teachers. For Judie, her teachers were her kids who wanted her attention and her partner, a fellow litigator with an ambitious career. Judie saw how these tensions and teachers could help her learn more about herself.
You are not your work. Eckart Tolle’s The New Earth describes how we are not what society’s definition of success. We are not our careers, titles, or even motherhood. We are a consciousness.
Be flexible. Rather than hold on to external expectations, release resistance and allow yourself to accept what is in front of you in life.
Take time to heal. For Judy, this includes daily practices like meditation, boundaries, and journaling. Her daily prompts are: What are your goals for the year/decade? Why are you here? What are the top 3 things you will accomplish today?

Judie also credits participating in Linda and Judy’s Evolve Me program to help her clarify her identity, rev up, and come back to her career.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-58-you-are-not-your-work-with-judie-saunders

How often do you ask for what you want?

For this Women of Color Rise podcast, Analiza talks with Kianti Brown Whitney, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Relay Graduate School of Education. Kianti shares how her parents saved for all four of their children to attend private school. This led Kianti to a career path in education, where she leverages her passions of stories and marketing.

Kianti learned early on to always ask for what you want. In college, she overheard two white male students discussing their salaries. Before that, she had believed in the myth that you take what is given to you and negotiation was a faux paus. She reflected, “If these two mediocre white males could do it, I knew I could ask for more, too.”

Kianti shares these salary negotiation strategies:

Know the salary offered. Make sure this is in line with your expectations.
Do a values assessment of what most matters in addition to money. This could be flexibility or professional development or something else.
Know your worth. When Kianti was offered a job in advertising, she immediately countered and asked for ten percent more. They responded, “You’re lucky to get one of these rare jobs in advertising. We don’t negotiate.” But Kianti knew her worth and didn’t budge. And voila! They gave her what she wanted.
Go for it. If it helps, imagine you are another person, and you are negotiating on behalf of the person so it feels less personal. To help the person get paid what they are worth, you’ll make sure to negotiate.

Check out Kianti’s new podcast, Black Girls Bonding, where Black women can come and feel safe to share their experiences and challenge the status quo. From managing relationships and career, to navigating day-to-day life, this is a space for community blackgirlsbonding.buzzsprout.com

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-57-what-two-mediocre-white-guys-taught-me-about-negotiation-with-kianti-brown-whitney

How do you go from imposter syndrome to negotiator pro?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Michelle Palmer, Executive Director of Breakthrough Greater Philadelphia. Growing up with a single mom in Philadelphia, Michelle lacked confidence and felt imposter syndrome. Michelle was the first person in her family to attend college. After graduating from Temple University, Michelle tried different jobs starting with radio. Later, she tried development at a non-profit, which she loved.

Michelle realized that the key to being a leader was believing in herself. This confidence has helped her ask for what she wants - at work and at home. She’s gotten promotions, raises, donations, and agreements with her kids.

Michelle shares how to negotiate like a pro:

Believe in yourself. Noone is better than the other. You deserve to be at the table.
Think about the sacrifices you made (for example, working additional hours). You deserve this raise.
See negotiation as not about one big event but a series of conversations.
Know what you want and why. If you are negotiating your salary, list where you started and where you are now - your work, impact, and value.
You have nothing to lose. The worst thing that happens is they say no. “You’ll miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” (Wayne Gretzky)

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-56-negotiate-like-a-pro-at-work-and-at-home-with-michelle-palmer

You have a dream. Yet your family is completely opposed to it. What do you do?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Sonia Pérez, COO of UnidosUS, the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Sonia was the youngest of eight siblings, growing up in the projects in Brooklyn, New York. Despite limited access to quality schools, she was able to enter an elite public high school and then later Brown University. But her father did not understand why Sonia wanted to leave their community to attend Brown. He did not speak to Sonia for the entire summer.

What did Sonia do? She stayed true to her commitment to education and opportunity. She also stayed true to her family. She knew she was not leaving for good. Her plan was to come back.

The day before Sonia left for Brown, her father reconciled with her, “You will always have a home here.”

Sonia shares how this experience helped shape her life choices. She returned to family–caring for her mother in law in Puerto Rico and then back to New York. She also chose a career in education policy after attending the Kennedy School at Harvard. During her three-decade career at UnidosUS, she has served many roles, including Interim CEO.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-55-what-to-do-if-your-family-doesnt-support-you-with-sonia-prez

What’s more important to rising in your career: hard skills or soft skills?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Marcelle Fowler, Chief Coaching Officer, C-Suite Coach. C-Suite Coach is a multimillion-dollar, Black Woman-owned business that empowers diverse professionals through leadership coaching and diversity, equity and inclusion programming.

Marcelle brings more than 30 years’ experience in organizational effectiveness, talent development and internal communications with companies such as Capital One, Dow Chemical and UPS. Over the course of her career, Marcelle has coached C-Suite executives, County Police Chiefs and US Navy Commanders.

Through her experience coaching women of color leaders, Marcelle shares a few common struggles women of color face in rising in their career including developing EQ or soft skills especially with communication and relationship management. EQ skills include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and social management. Marcelle shares how important soft skills are, so much so that in corporations, these are now called Essential Skills. She shares how to develop these skills:

For self awareness, recognize your beliefs and feelings. Perhaps you are feeling scared or nervous. Know that these feelings are valid. For beliefs, Marcelle shared an example of a Latina who was taught by her mother to be grateful, which led this woman not to ask for promotions or projects to help her career.
For self management, you can choose which beliefs best serve you. For example, you can take on that belief that I deserve this. Or a belief that to whom much is given, much is expected, and that’s why I need to lean in to speaking up and taking on new assignments.
For social awareness and management, it’s important to build relationships and network. Contrary to popular belief, you can do this authentically and on your own terms. It doesn’t have to happen after work - you can connect with people on your commute, before or after meetings, at lunch, or a few minutes at the beginning or end of the day.
You can build relationships as your authentic self and connect with others as people. While you may want to network with people who look like you, it’s important to bring in others, including white males, who could open up connections and opportunities. Even if you might be nervous to form a new connection, don’t self-select out. Try anyway - you never know how they will respond until you try.

Marcelle shares how she got a job because she had built a personal connection with a senior leader of the hiring team.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-54-the-eq-edge-with-marcelle-fowler

How can you heal generational trauma?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Latina Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW, co-founder and the Director of Innovation of the Trauma Resource Institute. Elaine is the key developer of the Trauma and Community Resiliency Models. She is also the author of Building Resiliency to Trauma, the Trauma and Community Resiliency Models which was selected by the United Nations and Taylor as one of the innovations helping meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. She is also a Senior Consultant to Emory University’s SEE Learning program, launched by the Dalai Lama. Elaine also has a podcast called Resiliency Within, Building Resiliency during Unprecedented Times.

Elaine shares how her mother and grandmother immigrated from El Salvador and how she grew up in the Bay Area. She did not see poverty until she visited El Salvador when she was 11, embedding in her a desire to help others. Elaine later became a social worker and through her research at Stanford University created the Community Resiliency Model, which is used by people from all over the world, from children to adults in schools, hospital, and war-torn countries.

Based on Elaine’s expertise and experience as a trauma therapist, she shares how to heal from generational trauma.

Traditionally, Western medicine using talk therapy to heal but for some, it’s difficult to share (ex. for a soldier to talk about war can be retraumatizing).
Acknowledge that we have trauma passed down from our ancestors and how embedded shame is in our culture. For example, the feeling of not enough is pervasive. It comes from white male patriarchal colonialism and capitalism. Growing up in this culture, our ancestors transported this trauma and feelings to us. We are then striving to show we belong, to show “I’m not an accident, my ideas matter.” But despite being dressed well, speaking properly, and being educated, we still don’t feel like we are enough.
The Community Resiliency Model offers strategies to heal. It is about the connection between our mind, body and feelings. We all have a nervous system. When we experience trauma, our body responds to protect ourselves. Our implicit memory then triggers our nervous system when we face future similar experiences. For example, if we experienced an attack as a child by a person who had a specific cologne, smelling that cologne later in life could bring us back to that moment, and we feel that we’re being attacked even though we are safe.
The goal is to intercept and calm our nervous system. When we learn to notice what is happening in the body, we can notice when we are activated. For example, Elaine knows that she is triggered when she feels her ears get hot. This clues her in that her nervous system is reacting, and she can use CRM strategy such as grounding or rubbing her fingers together to self-soothe. There are other CRM “Help Now” strategies too.
We can also use words to calm ourselves. “I’m good. I’m good enough.” These affirmations change our mindset and help provide well-being in the body.

You don’t have to be a trained therapist or avid meditator to attain peace and calm, even in the most challenging of situations. Even children use these strategies!

Where attention goes, energy flows. Especially for women of color facing patriarchy as we lead, we can continue to be change agents.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-53-how-to-interrupt-generational-trauma-with-elaine-miller-karas

Do high performing CEOs tend to be extroverted or introverted?

While many people assume that leadership roles require a natural level of extroversion, one study found 40% of leaders identify themselves as extroverts. These include: Avon's chief executive, Andrea Jung, civil rights leader Rosa Parks, singer Christina Aguilera, and President Barack Obama. What makes introverts powerful leaders?

In this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Diana Cournoyer, CEO of the National Indian Education Association, member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and self-proclaimed introvert. As a child, she was “very shy, very introverted, borderline fearful of the world” so her childhood dream was to help animals not people.

But once she took a class in Native American studies and a multicultural communications class in college, she realized the injustice of her own people and decided to commit her life to supporting Native students. Diana’s work has included testifying before the U.S. Congress in support of Native education, creating more opportunities for visits to tribal communities, acquiring millions in grant funding for NIEA, and inspiring trust and collaboration among her team, organizations, and Native nations across the country.

Diana shares how she was able to lead authentically as an introvert:

Focusing on her why. Diana’s passion is to educate and support Native students and educators in general.
Remember that she loves to have conversations. So when she is doing keynote events or public speaking engagements, she considers these as opportunities to share what she is passionate about.
Lean on stories. To get her point across, Diana focuses on stories which include personal stories from her own life to connect with her audience, have them question their view of the world, and take action.
Believe in your expertise. Diana’s grandmother would tell her, “There should be no fear in you standing up in front of people, because you're the expert.” Diana would ensure she was well-prepared and researched and also be confident in her unique experiences and expertise.
Practice pausing and being thoughtful, a natural strength of being introverted. Stop, Think, Process, Breathe.

Diana inspires us - introvert or not - that we can be ourselves and also have the impact we want to change the world!

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-52-the-power-of-introverts-as-leaders-with-diana-cournoyer

How can we move from imposter syndrome to being fearless as a CEO?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Meralis Hood, CEO of EforAll, a nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate economic and social impact through inclusive entrepreneurship. Before EforAll, Meralis was the market president for City Year. Meralis was born and raised in Milwaukee after her mother was recruited from Puerto Rico to serve as a bilingual educator in the city. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and an Education Specialist degree in educational leadership and administration from National Louis University.

Meralis shares how her darkest moments struggling with mental health, self-harm, and losing her home were pivotal to how she shows up today as a CEO and mom. Meralis shares her path to being fearless:

Know that these dark moments are a gift. As bad as they were, she survived and will survive anything else that comes her way. So whatever is in her path today, go for it. As a CEO for EforAll, she is leading her team to go from serving 500 entrepreneurs to 50,000. Instead of fearing this goal, Meralis is inspiring her team to be fearless. She shares with them, “What’s the worst that can happen?”
Invest in therapy, mindfulness, and meditation. These weekly and daily practices have helped Meralis notice her thoughts and to release those that don’t serve her, such as not believing in herself. Meralis and her husband also invest in weekly therapy for their daughter.
Unlearn myths taught to her by her mom such as needing to be perfect. Struggling with perfectionism led Meralis to not be vulnerable, which prevented her from connecting with others and developing relationships. Now, Meralis has learned to share and to do so with boundaries (knowing who to share with, when, and how much). This has helped Meralis to connect with people at work and in her life, ask for help, and build a strong community.
Believe that she belongs. If she truly believes in social justice and belonging, she needs to model what it means to feel included. As a CEO, she has learned to overcome imposter syndrome, own her strengths, and believe that she deserves to be here.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-51-be-fearless-with-meralis-hood

Women of Color Rise supports more diverse leaders at the table, especially women and people of color. We’ll be talking with CEOs and C-suite women leaders of color and learning about their leadership journeys.

How can you travel the world while running a successful start-up?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Melissa Kwan, Co-Founder and CEO, eWebinar. Melissa has spent twelve years in startups and built three successful companies without venture capital backing. Her previous startup, a real estate tech company, was acquired in 2019.

Four years ago, Melissa decided to leave NYC to travel the world while working on her third start-up eWebinar. She shares advice about what makes a successful entrepreneur:

Be relentless. Especially at the worst of times, don’t give up.
Focus. Figure out what you want to serve to your core customer and stick to it. Melissa shared that with her first company, she kept saying yes to customers and spread her services too wide, which limited her company’s growth.
Emotionally detach from your company so that you don’t take things personally. Separate your company from yourself. When a customer says no, they are not saying to you, they are saying that your product doesn’t deliver what they need.
Have fun! Life isn’t about work. Rather than say, “When I retire, then I will travel,” imagine traveling now and do it. If you have the chance to work remote, do it now, even if it’s just temporary.

Melissa believes that happiness should be the foundation of one’s career, not the other way around, and that the way to achieve this is by intentionally designing one’s life. She’s all about living life now and encouraging others to live their lives now too.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-50-be-a-digital-nomad-with-melissa-kwan

Women of Color Rise supports more diverse leaders at the table, especially women and people of color. We’ll be talking with CEOs and C-suite women leaders of color and learning about their leadership journeys.

How can revealing our most vulnerable selves help us with business success?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Kathy Kuo, CEO of Kathy Kuo Home.

Kathy shares how as a daughter of a diplomat she moved eight times throughout her childhood, even changing her name from Janet to Victoria to Katherine. This experience taught her humility, resiliency, and the power of observation and also how important having a place to call home was to her. This helped lead her to start Kathy Kuo Home, a luxury interiors destination specializing in designer furniture and home decor.

Kathy grew her business from 22 people to now 250 people. Key to her success has been embedding vulnerability and radical candor into the culture. Kathy shares that business problems rarely have to do with questions such as, Can we do it? Problems tend to be more around the politics such as, Should we do it? Who am I going to offend? Is this my responsibility?

Developing a culture of radical candor has allowed Kathy and her team to move these problems in a heart-centered way. Here’s how she did it:

It starts at the top. Ensure you have an excellent executive team. Make sure each person is excellent at their job and also values aligned.
Within your team, build a common understanding and language of what it means to be above the line and below the line. Above the line means being empathetic, open, curious, maintaining a positive outlook, assuming positive intent. Being below the line is opposite of this, closed off, judgmental, defensive. It’s ok to be below the line, but you want to be aware of where you are and name it so that you can take time to move above the line. Set expectations and model calling out for yourself and others when you are below the line.
Own your 100% and make sure the rest of our team does too. This means taking 100% ownership and responsibility, even what we are talking about is not in your realm of work. If each person were to all lean in 100%, for example, it's an issue on customer service damages, what can I do in ops, in service, in trade? When one person owns their 100%, this sets up other members of the team to own their 100%. It shifts the culture to unpack issues and find solutions.

This culture has helped Kathy and her team not just with business success but also at home too, with team members bringing this to their own families.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-48-lead-authentically-within-a-white-dominant-culture-arva-rice-ceo-of-new-york-urban-league-1

How can we lead authentically within a white dominant culture?

For this Women of Color Rise podcast, Analiza talks with Arva Rice, CEO of New York Urban League (NYUL). Arva shares her journey beginning with her parents as sharecroppers in Arkansas. Her parents dreamed of a better life for their family and moved to Chicago, then Milwaukee. Arva and her siblings all went to college, with Arva attending Northwestern. A professor asked Arva, “How did you get into Northwestern?” Fighting off tears, Arva used this experience to motivate her, graduating with honors.

Arva took on her mother’s advice to, “Leave the door open for the next person” and dedicated her life to service. As a three-time CEO, Arva currently leads NYUL and their mission of enabling African Americans and other underserved communities to secure a first-class education, economic self-reliance and equal respect of their civil rights through programs, services and advocacy.

Arva shares how she has learned to “dance” in her leadership, staying authentic to herself in a white dominant culture.

Shed the belief that white is better and you are not enough. Arva prays and relies on affirmations which begin with, “I am God’s daughter…” Also, remember where you’ve been and what you’ve accomplished. Not just the tribulations but the trials too. Reflect on where you were one year ago, five years ago, ten years ago. Consider a person you admire. Know that they too have shed tears.
Know that even in white spaces, you can decide what feedback to accept or reject. Even with African American donors, board, volunteers, white supremacy still exists because the standard is still the white standard. Arva shares an example of being given feedback by a white CEO mentor that her passion was not sufficient and needed to be followed by statistics. While Arva did not agree with his viewpoint, she thought it was helpful to get a different perspective from a white leader. Arva saw how this could be helpful when deciding to form partnerships or fundraising with other white leaders.
Be aware of decision rights. Arva was nominated by Mayor Eric Adams as Interim Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board. In this role, Arva leads the board to “police the police” on behalf of the public. At the same time, while the board will give recommendations, ultimately, the decision is with the New York City Police Commissioner.

Get full show notes and more information here:

https://analizawolf.com/ep-48-lead-authentically-within-a-white-dominant-culture-arva-rice-ceo-of-new-york-urban-league

How can we risk, put ourselves out there, and even be willing to bomb as a comedian?

For this Women of Color Rise podcast, Analiza talks with Rhea Wong, Founder of Rhea Wong Consulting, Author of Get that Money Honey, Host of Non-Profit Lowdown, and Aspiring Comedian. Rhea shares how as a comedian she had an audience of just her family and parents and told sex jokes and it bombed in a big way. But even with this low moment, Rhea was able to shake it off and continue to get back on stage. Rhea’s ability to shake off mistakes is one of her super powers she has used throughout her career as Executive Director of Breakthrough New York and now a leader in the New York nonprofit community helping nonprofits raise money.

How does Rhea pick herself up and continue to get back on stage and toot her horn? There are 7 steps:

Step 1: Get out of your head and stop replaying the moment
- We’re either in survival or executive mode, and most of the time (70%) in survival mode. Get out of this mode by taking a breath and finding space to disrupt the narrative.
Step 2: Name the feeling. Not, “I am stressed” but “I feel stressed.”
Step 3: Feel the feeling in your body.
- For example, sadness can feel like a heaviness in the heart. Anger can be accompanied by a tension in the arms, neck, or shoulders.
Step 4: Check your assumptions - is it true that everyone will think you’re a failure?
Step 5: Practice self-compassion.
- Ask yourself, “Would you let anyone talk to your best friend the way that you are talking to yourself?”
Step 6: Keep putting yourself out there.
- Orientation is not, “I’m great,” or “I’m the best.” Instead, it’s about helping people. “I’ve figured out some things and can share.”
- Let go of people saying no. ”If you’re not interested, that’s ok.”
- You have no control over other people. And if they are not kind to you, then they aren’t your people or people you should care about.
Step 7: Know that your value is derived not by what you do or your work (which leads to overworking) but you have value just by being you.

Get full show notes and more information here:

https://analizawolf.com/ep-47-how-to-toot-your-horn-rhea-wong-founder-of-rhea-wong-consulting

How do you respond to a jerk? And do it elegantly?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Lisa Song Sutton, entrepreneur, investor, former Miss Nevada, and former Congressional candidate for Nevada’s 4th district. Lisa started her career in law, then went on to start and scale multiple 7 and 8 figure companies. Lisa is also a General Partner of a $20M pre-seed venture capital fund called The Veteran Fund, which invests in veteran led and military-spouse led companies. She was selected as Vegas Inc.’s 40 Under 40 and was named a Top Ten Social Entrepreneur to Watch by Inc. Magazine.

Lisa shares how as a lawyer in her mid-20s, a client refused to work with her because she was female. She shares tips about how to Respond with Elegance to a Jerk

Don’t take it personally.
Accept that you’re not likely to change their mind in the moment.
Focus on why you’re there. You’re there for a reason.
Be grateful - learn from the experience and move forward.
Always be prepared to do a great job (and show them how they underestimated you)

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-46-how-to-respond-elegantly-to-a-jerk-with-lisa-song

How do you overcome imposter syndrome and take space at the table?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Renata Soto, Founder and CEO of Mosaic Changemakers. Their mission is to weave a better South by supporting and growing leaders of color focused on social and racial justice. Before creating Mosaic Changemakers, Renata led Conexión Américas, the nonprofit organization she co-founded in 2002 to serve Middle Tennessee's LatinX communities. Even President Obama took notice and in 2014 visited one of their community development projects, Casa Azafrán, to host a nationally televised town hall on immigration policy. Recently, President Biden appointed Renata to the White House advisory commission on educational equity and economic opportunity for the Hispanic community.

Renata shares her journey starting from her roots in Costa Rica. She shares how she overcome imposter syndrome and learned to take space at the table:

Own that she is not the representative of the community, that she is only one person
Know the importance of taking space as a leader who is not currently represented at the table
See that it’s important to recognize this power because it opens doors to others in the community to join the table too
Embrace worthiness to be at the table
Find mentors for feedback and support

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-45-take-space-at-the-table-with-renata-soto-ceo-mosaic-changemakers

You need to share bad news, a lay-off, a break-up, or even a death. How do you do it - with love and care?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Vanessa Rodgriuez, CEO of NYC Outward Bound Schools. Prior to this, Vanessa was the Chief Program Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer at Citizens of the World Charter Schools (CWCS). She joined CWCS after serving as the Talent Officer of Newark Public Schools (NPS). Vanessa is also the proud mom of a fifteen-year-old son and she enjoys spending time playing basketball with him.

Vanessa has led many hard transitions and turnarounds, including layoffs at Newark Public Schools. She shares the keys to having a difficult conversation:

Center care for the other person and that this care means honesty. “I care about you and want to be honest.”
Just say it. Start with the “bad news” and then follow up to figure out solutions.
Keep the mission front and center. Vanessa would remind herself that the mission is to serve students not provide employment.
Consider the politics and front loading communication with other stakeholders to get buy-in before delivering the news.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-44-just-say-it-how-to-have-a-difficult-conversation-with-vanessa-rodriguez

How do you talk about race with a person you love yet disagree with?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Kriste Dragon, CEO of the Pahara Institute. Prior to Pahara, Kriste was the Co-founder and CEO of Citizens of the World, a national network of tuition-free schools committed to serving diverse communities across the country. Kriste has also been a middle school teacher, instructor at UCLA, and board chair for several charter schools, and Vice President of Regional Operations for Teach For America. She has grounded her life and work in the fundamental belief that all children deserve the opportunity to realize their full potential. Kriste holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Alabama.

Kriste shares how her mother’s passing during COVID has made her wish she had embraced difficult conversations like race.

She shares practices to help ground these conversations:

Have the conversation now; don’t delay. Life is too short.
Decide if she is here to understand or be understood. Seek to understand before trying to be understand.
Remember that her mom is her biggest support
Be the love that Kriste and her mom are both seeking
Be willing to be a friend instead of a daughter
See our mothers as whole; help her process

Kriste also shares how her father’s fight with cancer is having her see life from a macro-view with her family and children. How can we set priorities and be more conscious and deliberate about decisions about where to live and include our family to get input? How can we live aligned with our values and purpose?

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-43-how-to-talk-to-your-parents-about-race-with-kriste-dragon

Is it really possible for a woman leader and mom to have it all?

For this Women of Color Rise podcast, Analiza talks with Maddy Niebauer, Founder and CEO of vChief. After a career as a consultant and non-profit Chief of Staff, in 2016 Maddy launched vChief. vChief provides chief of staff services to support leadership, strategic planning and communications for organizations. In 2022, vChief was named to the 2022 Inc. 5000 Fast-Growing Private Company List.

Maddy isn’t just a CEO. She’s also the mom of three kids. While launching vChief, Maddy lived in South America with husband and her young family, living her vision of world schooling and running a company.

In this interview, Maddy shares tips about how she is able to have her all - and others can too.

Get clear on what most matters - It’s not just work. Think about those non-work priorities, which could include spending time with kids or traveling.
Be creative - You don’t have to live the traditional textbook life where you need to work at a company and be in person. It’s possible where the woman is the breadwinner in the family. It’s possible to live abroad.
If you want to live abroad, figure out what income you need and home and school logistics - If you want to live abroad, will you live off your savings or continue to earn an income? Will you rent your current home or leave it empty while you are abroad? Will you world school or get a tutor?
Stop trading your time for money - Maddy learned this lesson from Tim Ferris’ 4 Hour Work Week. Instead of being a Chief of Staff herself, Maddy took the risk to hire Chiefs of Staffs and focus on building the business.
Take action - Don’t just dream. Act. It’s possible to make your dreams come true.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-42-how-to-have-it-all-maddy-niebauer

Is it really possible for a woman leader and mom to have it all?

For this Women of Color Rise podcast, Analiza talks with Maddy Niebauer, Founder and CEO of vChief. After a career as a consultant and non-profit Chief of Staff, in 2016 Maddy launched vChief. vChief provides chief of staff services to support leadership, strategic planning and communications for organizations. In 2022, vChief was named to the 2022 Inc. 5000 Fast-Growing Private Company List.

Maddy isn’t just a CEO. She’s also the mom of three kids. While launching vChief, Maddy lived in South America with husband and her young family, living her vision of world schooling and running a company.

In this interview, Maddy shares tips about how she is able to have her all - and others can too.

Get clear on what most matters - It’s not just work. Think about those non-work priorities, which could include spending time with kids or traveling.
Be creative - You don’t have to live the traditional textbook life where you need to work at a company and be in person. It’s possible where the woman is the breadwinner in the family. It’s possible to live abroad.
If you want to live abroad, figure out what income you need and home and school logistics - If you want to live abroad, will you live off your savings or continue to earn an income? Will you rent your current home or leave it empty while you are abroad? Will you world school or get a tutor?
Stop trading your time for money - Maddy learned this lesson from Tim Ferris’ 4 Hour Work Week. Instead of being a Chief of Staff herself, Maddy took the risk to hire Chiefs of Staffs and focus on building the business.
Take action - Don’t just dream. Act. It’s possible to make your dreams come true.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-42-how-to-have-it-all-maddy-niebauer

Is it really possible for a woman leader and mom to have it all?

For this Women of Color Rise podcast, Analiza talks with Maddy Niebauer, Founder and CEO of vChief. After a career as a consultant and non-profit Chief of Staff, in 2016 Maddy launched vChief. vChief provides chief of staff services to support leadership, strategic planning and communications for organizations. In 2022, vChief was named to the 2022 Inc. 5000 Fast-Growing Private Company List.

Maddy isn’t just a CEO. She’s also the mom of three kids. While launching vChief, Maddy lived in South America with husband and her young family, living her vision of world schooling and running a company.

In this interview, Maddy shares tips about how she is able to have her all - and others can too.

Get clear on what most matters - It’s not just work. Think about those non-work priorities, which could include spending time with kids or traveling.
Be creative - You don’t have to live the traditional textbook life where you need to work at a company and be in person. It’s possible where the woman is the breadwinner in the family. It’s possible to live abroad.
If you want to live abroad, figure out what income you need and home and school logistics - If you want to live abroad, will you live off your savings or continue to earn an income? Will you rent your current home or leave it empty while you are abroad? Will you world school or get a tutor?
Stop trading your time for money - Maddy learned this lesson from Tim Ferris’ 4 Hour Work Week. Instead of being a Chief of Staff herself, Maddy took the risk to hire Chiefs of Staffs and focus on building the business.
Take action - Don’t just dream. Act. It’s possible to make your dreams come true.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-42-how-to-have-it-all-maddy-niebauer

Is it really possible for a woman leader and mom to have it all?

For this Women of Color Rise podcast, Analiza talks with Maddy Niebauer, Founder and CEO of vChief. After a career as a consultant and non-profit Chief of Staff, in 2016 Maddy launched vChief. vChief provides chief of staff services to support leadership, strategic planning and communications for organizations. In 2022, vChief was named to the 2022 Inc. 5000 Fast-Growing Private Company List.

Maddy isn’t just a CEO. She’s also the mom of three kids. While launching vChief, Maddy lived in South America with husband and her young family, living her vision of world schooling and running a company.

In this interview, Maddy shares tips about how she is able to have her all - and others can too.

Get clear on what most matters - It’s not just work. Think about those non-work priorities, which could include spending time with kids or traveling.
Be creative - You don’t have to live the traditional textbook life where you need to work at a company and be in person. It’s possible where the woman is the breadwinner in the family. It’s possible to live abroad.
If you want to live abroad, figure out what income you need and home and school logistics - If you want to live abroad, will you live off your savings or continue to earn an income? Will you rent your current home or leave it empty while you are abroad? Will you world school or get a tutor?
Stop trading your time for money - Maddy learned this lesson from Tim Ferris’ 4 Hour Work Week. Instead of being a Chief of Staff herself, Maddy took the risk to hire Chiefs of Staffs and focus on building the business.
Take action - Don’t just dream. Act. It’s possible to make your dreams come true.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-42-how-to-have-it-all-maddy-niebauer

Is it really possible for a woman leader and mom to have it all?

For this Women of Color Rise podcast, Analiza talks with Maddy Niebauer, Founder and CEO of vChief. After a career as a consultant and non-profit Chief of Staff, in 2016 Maddy launched vChief. vChief provides chief of staff services to support leadership, strategic planning and communications for organizations. In 2022, vChief was named to the 2022 Inc. 5000 Fast-Growing Private Company List.

Maddy isn’t just a CEO. She’s also the mom of three kids. While launching vChief, Maddy lived in South America with husband and her young family, living her vision of world schooling and running a company.

In this interview, Maddy shares tips about how she is able to have her all - and others can too.

Get clear on what most matters - It’s not just work. Think about those non-work priorities, which could include spending time with kids or traveling.
Be creative - You don’t have to live the traditional textbook life where you need to work at a company and be in person. It’s possible where the woman is the breadwinner in the family. It’s possible to live abroad.
If you want to live abroad, figure out what income you need and home and school logistics - If you want to live abroad, will you live off your savings or continue to earn an income? Will you rent your current home or leave it empty while you are abroad? Will you world school or get a tutor?
Stop trading your time for money - Maddy learned this lesson from Tim Ferris’ 4 Hour Work Week. Instead of being a Chief of Staff herself, Maddy took the risk to hire Chiefs of Staffs and focus on building the business.
Take action - Don’t just dream. Act. It’s possible to make your dreams come true.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-42-how-to-have-it-all-maddy-niebauer

Is it really possible for a woman leader and mom to have it all?

For this Women of Color Rise podcast, Analiza talks with Maddy Niebauer, Founder and CEO of vChief. After a career as a consultant and non-profit Chief of Staff, in 2016 Maddy launched vChief. vChief provides chief of staff services to support leadership, strategic planning and communications for organizations. In 2022, vChief was named to the 2022 Inc. 5000 Fast-Growing Private Company List.

Maddy isn’t just a CEO. She’s also the mom of three kids. While launching vChief, Maddy lived in South America with husband and her young family, living her vision of world schooling and running a company.

In this interview, Maddy shares tips about how she is able to have her all - and others can too.

Get clear on what most matters - It’s not just work. Think about those non-work priorities, which could include spending time with kids or traveling.
Be creative - You don’t have to live the traditional textbook life where you need to work at a company and be in person. It’s possible where the woman is the breadwinner in the family. It’s possible to live abroad.
If you want to live abroad, figure out what income you need and home and school logistics - If you want to live abroad, will you live off your savings or continue to earn an income? Will you rent your current home or leave it empty while you are abroad? Will you world school or get a tutor?
Stop trading your time for money - Maddy learned this lesson from Tim Ferris’ 4 Hour Work Week. Instead of being a Chief of Staff herself, Maddy took the risk to hire Chiefs of Staffs and focus on building the business.
Take action - Don’t just dream. Act. It’s possible to make your dreams come true.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-42-how-to-have-it-all-maddy-niebauer

Is it really possible for a woman leader and mom to have it all?

For this Women of Color Rise podcast, Analiza talks with Maddy Niebauer, Founder and CEO of vChief. After a career as a consultant and non-profit Chief of Staff, in 2016 Maddy launched vChief. vChief provides chief of staff services to support leadership, strategic planning and communications for organizations. In 2022, vChief was named to the 2022 Inc. 5000 Fast-Growing Private Company List.

Maddy isn’t just a CEO. She’s also the mom of three kids. While launching vChief, Maddy lived in South America with husband and her young family, living her vision of world schooling and running a company.

In this interview, Maddy shares tips about how she is able to have her all - and others can too.

Get clear on what most matters - It’s not just work. Think about those non-work priorities, which could include spending time with kids or traveling.
Be creative - You don’t have to live the traditional textbook life where you need to work at a company and be in person. It’s possible where the woman is the breadwinner in the family. It’s possible to live abroad.
If you want to live abroad, figure out what income you need and home and school logistics - If you want to live abroad, will you live off your savings or continue to earn an income? Will you rent your current home or leave it empty while you are abroad? Will you world school or get a tutor?
Stop trading your time for money - Maddy learned this lesson from Tim Ferris’ 4 Hour Work Week. Instead of being a Chief of Staff herself, Maddy took the risk to hire Chiefs of Staffs and focus on building the business.
Take action - Don’t just dream. Act. It’s possible to make your dreams come true.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-42-how-to-have-it-all-maddy-niebauer

How do you go from burnout to building a business about self-care… alongside Venus Williams?

For this Women of Color Rise podcast, Analiza talks with Stephanie Morimoto, the Owner and CEO of Asutra. She shares how she started her journey from 18 hour work days and burning out before she turned 30. She was so tired on weekends that she couldn’t even get to bed and would crash on the couch. Stephanie decided to make a change. She decided to focus on self care and get clear on who she wanted to be in life. This led Stephanie to buy a small business called Asutra, which is woman-owned, women-led, and a team of 60% people of color. Asutra’s mission is about active self care, offers 50+ natural remedies to help people take care of themselves on purpose so they can get the most out of life. The products are so good that Venus Williams (yes that Venus Williams) was already using Asutra’s products and reached out to Stephanie. Venus is now a part owner and Asutra’s team as Chief Brand Officer.

Here are tips Stephanie shares:

Practice self-awareness – Get a good therapist to understand your patterns, often tied to what we learned in childhood.
Embrace that we are enough – We don’t need to be productive to prove our worth.
Take time to reflect – Stephanie was able to take time to reflect and get clear on who she wanted to be. She also used The Artists Way to journal and find a way she could be creative and give back to the community.
If you want to contribute, take care of yourself – To take care of our world, we need to be in community and take care of each other. To take care of each other, that means we need to have a reservoir of energy, which means taking care of ourselves. Everyone deserves to be happy.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-41-how-self-care-saved-my-life-stephanie-morimoto-owner-and-ceo-asutra

How do you go beyond diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to justice and liberation?

Leaders talk about DEI. But is it more talk versus action? Is DEI enough? Or do we need to move to justice and liberation?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Jessica Santana, Co-Founder and CEO of America on Tech. She’s on the Forbes 30 under 30 list and the New York Non-Profit Media's 40 under 40 Rising Stars list. A graduate of Syracuse and Columbia, she's spoken at Google for Entrepreneurs, the White House, and Bloomberg.

When Jessica started her career in technology, she found that the game had been rigged. While she had done everything she was supposed to do and beaten the odds - graduating as one of 18 of a starting class of 118 from high school and then graduating from Syracuse as one of the few women with degrees in Accounting and Information Technology – she realized the truth. She had been fooled by organizations claiming to value diversity, equity, and inclusion, when the reality was that organizations had few leaders who looked like her. In fact, the entire system is designed to leave people of color out. “Genius is equally distributed. Opportunity is not.”

In Women of Color Rise we discuss how to Be the Change. Jessica is a great example of this. Without role models who looked like her, Jessica set out to Be the Change and co-founded America on Tech. Her goals were to move beyond diversity, equity, and inclusion and create an organization that could actually disrupt the system. With this in mind, America on Tech focuses on decreasing the racial wealth gap to

Be able to back the politicians to build local businesses to pay for basic resources
Economically empower people to so that they can make decisions for themselves
Support people of color in operating from a space of abundance instead of scarcity

America On Tech focuses on technology since it is the highest growing industry in America. For one software engineer with a starting salary of 88K, they make two times Black and LatinX household income..

Jessica also shares how she has moved from burn out to valuing herself and self-care. Quoting Audrey Lord, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-40-lead-with-justice-and-liberation-jessica-santana-ceo-america-on-tech

Episode Description:

Have you ever struggled with deciding to leave a job?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Dr. Tequilla Brownie, CEO of TNTP. TNTP sits at the cross-section of education practice, research, policy, and community to disrupt education inequities so that America can deliver on its promise of education being the great equalizer.

Growing up as a Black female and poor in the deep South, Tequilla shares how her grandparents and teachers instilled in her high expectations, the value of education, and that she can choose her own path. She applied to two colleges, including Yale, because her uncle and guidance counselor had recommended it. After graduating from Yale, Tequilla was a school social worker, then a leader focused on teacher effectiveness for nearly a decade in Memphis City Schools.

This is where she hit her rock bottom moment. The organization was facing a merger and the culture between adults was difficult. Tequilla found herself no longer gratified. But the work was not yet complete. Should she stay or go?

Tequilla shares the principles that guided her to eventually decide to leave:

She had self-awareness that she had a choice.
She knew her worth. She would not be driven by fear. She was confident she could find another role and organization where she could have impact and values alignment.
She asked herself… If she were 20 years old and white, what would she do?
She made a list of what was most important to her: be able to contribute her strengths, learn and grow, feel gratified…
She also knew that she could find a manager and organization that had her best interests at heart and could provide her psychological and mental safety.

In Women of Color Rise, we talk about how breakdowns can lead to breakthroughs. Tequilla shares her gratitude for this rock bottom moment because it led to her finding TNTP and catapulting her career to eventually become CEO.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-39-when-to-leave-with-tequilla-brownie-ceo-tntp

Women of Color Rise supports more diverse leaders at the table, especially women and people of color. We’ll be talking with CEOs and C-suite women leaders of color and learning about their leadership journeys.

Have you taken deliberate steps to heal from trauma?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with African American leader Zawadi Bryant, President, Acute Care Pediatrics for Pediatrix Medical Group. Zawadi co-founded and was CEO of Nightlight Pediatric Urgent Care for fourteen years before the company was acquired by Pediatrix Medical Group in March 2021.

Zawadi shares how she deliberately took steps to heal from her childhood. We might think, “We turned out ok.” But it’s important to take deliberate steps to heal trauma.

How?

Trauma is generational and bondage. We need to deliberately seek help and learn new tools.

Our parents did the best they could. It’s important to reconcile these relationships and not harbor hatred. There are some upsides to what we learned as a child. For example, Zawadi learned grit, determination, and the power of community..

We have the power to create new realities different from what we experienced as a child - new views on parenting, discipline, relationship with partner.

We also have the power to create boundaries to be with the people we care about. For example, Zawadi created boundaries around giving her father money.

To heal, we also need to create affirmations of self-love and safety.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-38-steps-to-heal-from-trauma-with-zawadi-bryant-1

What is the secret to having it all?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Erica Manuel, CEO of the Institute for Local Government, the nonprofit education and training affiliate of the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and the California Special Districts Association.

As one of the few Black students at her school, Erica shares how her mantras used to be, “Never let them see you sweat,” “Be perfect,” “Work twice or three or four times as hard,” and “Never ask for help.”

When Erica was a Stanford student working jobs to pay for school herself and she got an overdue credit card bill, she decided not to ask for help, moved out of the dorm quietly over break, and leave Stanford. Without a degree, Erica struggled to find a job. She ended up becoming an intern and wowed leaders with her work ethic, and was offered multiple jobs.

Erica later graduated from Stanford and married early. They had a son and later divorced; Erica’s advice – make sure you know yourself and find a partner who can grow with you.

Erica has found that she can have it all – as a mom and leader. How?

In Women of Color Rise, we talk about the power of knowing yourself, believing in yourself, and leading as yourself. Erica is a great example of this. Erica shares the importance of knowing what is most important to being happy, living your life based on what you want written on your tombstone, and being confident to let go when your team or organization doesn’t allow you to lead as yourself.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-37-ep-37-you-can-have-it-all-with-erica-manuel-ceo-of-the-institute-for-local-government

Do you deliberately seek out opportunities where you might fail?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Taiwanese American Melissa Wu, CEO of Education Pioneers. Melissa believed the myths about meritocracy, striving for achievement, achievement as the ultimate in fulfillment, and to avoid risk and failure at all costs. But then Melissa discovered the truth - things aren’t fair by design, achievement doesn’t lead to fulfillment, and if she really wanted to learn, that would mean deliberately seeking out opportunities where she could fail.

Melissa shares her failures and how as hard as they were, they allowed her to stretch and grow. By deliberately seeking out opportunities that were more risky, she also opened a surprise door to becoming a CEO of Ed Pioneers. Melissa also shares her tips on being both a CEO and a mom, specifically setting boundaries and prioritizing doing enough of the most important things at a “good enough” level.

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/ep-36-the-beauty-of-seeking-out-risk-and-possible-failure-with-melissa-wu

Do you deliberately seek out opportunities where you might fail?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Taiwanese American Melissa Wu, CEO of Education Pioneers. Melissa believed the myths about meritocracy, striving for achievement, achievement as the ultimate in fulfillment, and to avoid risk and failure at all costs. But then Melissa discovered the truth - things aren’t fair by design, achievement doesn’t lead to fulfillment, and if she really wanted to learn, that would mean deliberately seeking out opportunities where she could fail.

Melissa shares her failures and how as hard as they were, they allowed her to stretch and grow. By deliberately seeking out opportunities that were more risky, she also opened a surprise door to becoming a CEO of Ed Pioneers. Melissa also shares her tips on being both a CEO and a mom, specifically setting boundaries and prioritizing doing enough of the most important things at a “good enough” level.

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/ep-36-the-beauty-of-seeking-out-risk-and-possible-failure-with-melissa-wu

Hate Networking? 5 Steps to Becoming a Social Butterfly.

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Melisha “Mel” Jackman, Executive Director of Brooklyn Kindergarten Society. Mel shares how she wanted to rise and have more impact, but she couldn’t just depend on hard work. She needed to stop playing small and invest in her social capital and network.

How did she go from a person without a LinkedIn profile to becoming a social butterfly? Try these 5 steps.

Step 1: Be aware of how you feel about networking. Get to the root - Do you like it or not? If you do not like it, then there's some work that you have to do. For Mel, she needed to overcome her fear of rejection.

Step 2: Practice your elevator intro.

Step 3: Before you go to an event, have an intention, and do your research. Are you going to be in a corner looking at folks or are you going to jump in? Understand who will be there. Do your research, and find an organic way to start a conversation. Know why you want to meet the people that you're meeting. How would you add value to them and vice versa? It has to be two sided.

Step 4: Follow up with anyone you interact with through an email. Try to get a connection. Be clear about what you are going to talk about. Are you pitching something or are you genuinely invested in their organization? Are you looking for a job?

Step 5: Finally, at the very end of the day, you have to be confident. If you are nervous about networking, you’ve got to dig deep. What is that about? When you get your mindset in the right place, you can feel much more comfortable networking and building relationships.

In addition to networking, Mel also shares the power of community and how participating in Boss Mamas helped her have a safe space to help and be helped by others.

Listen to this story here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-35-how-to-network-with-melisha-mel-jackman-executive-director-of-brooklyn-kindergarten-society

How can you create a rhythm of work and deep rest?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Haitian American Guerschmide Saint-Ange, Chief Operations and Talent Officer, National Charter Schools Association. Guersch’s commitment to equity in education stemmed from her upbringing. She experienced firsthand how children of color were not given equal access to great schools. Guersch channeled her anger and became a classroom teacher, then later a student recruitment leader, charter school authorizer, and charter school Executive Director. A graduate of Hampton University (bachelor’s and master’s) and Harvard University (a master’s degree in education policy and management), Guersch loves traveling the world with her husband and daughter.

In Women of Color Rise, we talk about the importance of self-care. Guersch is a great example of how she learned to release perfection and prove herself and now has deliberately created a rhythm that allows her to work and deeply rest (which includes consistently getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep).

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-34-create-a-work-and-rest-rhythm-with-guerschmide-saint-ange

How do you become a leader in a male dominated field? When people tell you no, how do you respond?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Kange Kaneene, Vice President of SAP.iO Foundries North and Latin America, SAP’s no-equity ask external startup accelerators. Kange shares how during her career, many people would signal or explicitly tell her no. Yet, she would respond with YOLO, You Only Live Once.

Kange has been the one and only or one among a few. At age 12, she was the only female on a tackle football team. Later, she was one of the few Computer Science majors at University of Michigan. Today, she is one of the few female leaders of color in venture capital.

How did she do it? Kange walks us through the steps she took:

Deliberately deciding to take on the challenge
Networking and building authentic relationships
Being humble and learning on the job
4) YOLO - going for it, even when faced with racism and sexism.

Kange’s mission to support diverse founders goes beyond SAP.iO Foundries. Kange is an angel investor with Pipeline Angels group, a group of female investors who invest in female founders. She is also a mentor for entrepreneurs as a volunteer for Defy Ventures, a non-profit organization that invests in founders who are currently or formerly incarcerated.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-33-how-to-thrive-in-a-male-dominated-career-with-kange-kaneene

How can you be the best leader you can be? Be yourself!

For this Women of Color Rise episode, we talk with Mala Batra, CEO of Aspire Public Schools. A self-proclaimed introvert who never planned to be a CEO, Mala shares that the secret to thriving and sustaining as a CEO has been leading as herself. This has meant speaking out - but in ways that are authentic to her, like recording a video of herself on her living room couch sharing why it matters that Aspire talks about the George Floyd murder with their students. It has also meant working hard but also saying no to the “extras”, those networking events at night that drain her and take her away from her family. It has also meant Mala leaning deeper into her community and surrounding herself with coaches and friends who understand personally how tough her job is and offer encouragement and vulnerable stories too.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-32-lead-as-yourself-with-mala-batra-ceo-of-aspire-public-schools

How can you be the best leader you can be? Be yourself!

For this Women of Color Rise episode, we talk with Mala Batra, CEO of Aspire Public Schools. A self-proclaimed introvert who never planned to be a CEO, Mala shares that the secret to thriving and sustaining as a CEO has been leading as herself. This has meant speaking out - but in ways that are authentic to her, like recording a video of herself on her living room couch sharing why it matters that Aspire talks about the George Floyd murder with their students. It has also meant working hard but also saying no to the “extras”, those networking events at night that drain her and take her away from her family. It has also meant Mala leaning deeper into her community and surrounding herself with coaches and friends who understand personally how tough her job is and offer encouragement and vulnerable stories too.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-32-lead-as-yourself-with-mala-batra-ceo-of-aspire-public-schools

Are you a curious leader?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with African American leader Aimée Eubanks Davis, Founder and CEO of Braven. Braven works to ensure underrepresented college students develop the skills, confidence, experiences and networks to get strong first jobs after graduation. Aimée spent the majority of her career at Teach For America leading the organization's groundbreaking work around its human capital and diversity efforts. After graduating from Mt. Holyoke College, she taught sixth grade and led the Breakthrough New Orleans site. She is a 2019 Obama Foundation Fellow, Pahara-Aspen fellow, and lives in Chicago with her husband and three children.

While Aimée did not set out to become CEO, one of the keys to ascent was her curiosity. She was curious about the problems around her: how to make her Breakthrough local site one of the most effective sites in the country, how to scale best practices to all sites, how to address Teach for America’s diversity problem, and how to help underrepresented college students thrive at their first job. She even applied curiosity to her personal life - setting an intention to find a partner who was mature enough to know themselves and plan out how to set up childcare so that she could continue to rise in her career.

In Women of Color Rise, we talk about the importance of Knowing Yourself, knowing what gives you energy and surrounding yourself with people with shared values. Aimée is a great example of this - she did not have a set career path, and instead stayed open and curious following what excited her and the “gray” stretch opportunities with people she admired like Wendy Kopp, Founder and CEO of Teach for America.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-31-be-curious-with-aimee-eubanks-davis-ceo-braven

How do you go from bankruptcy and bulimia to CEO and invited guest of the Dalai Lama?

Most of us would keep these hidden in a deep dark cavern. But not Nichol Ng, CEO of X-Inc Private Limited, the parent of a group of companies in the food business since the 1930s. At age 19, when the bank came to take away her family’s home, Nichol promised that if she was able to save the family business, she would help as many families as she could.

Today the business is thriving with 200 employees, and Nichol has made good on her promise. She founded The Food Bank Singapore, which distributes food to over 300,000 underprivileged. Nichol was named to The Peak Magazine’s The Peak Power List 2016, Forbes Asia’s 2017 Heroes of Philanthropy, and Harper’s Bazaar’s The Power List 2018.

What about her two decade secret struggle with bulimia? Nichol shared it with as many people as she could - on TV and throughout Singapore. She wanted people to know how normal eating disorders are and that they can damage your body, including Nichol’s struggle to get pregnant. Thankfully Nichol is now a mom to four kids.

How does Nichol make it all work? In Women of Color Rise, one of our tenets is to Be Yourself. Nichol is a great example of this. She shares that one of her secrets to success has been to Be Herself - at work, home, and life. This has allowed her to release the myth of being perfect, to be vulnerable and share her struggles, to ask for help, and to let go of the need to control others.

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/ep-30-from-bankruptcy-bulimia-to-guest-of-the-dalai-lama-with-nichol-ng

How do you go from bankruptcy and bulimia to CEO and invited guest of the Dalai Lama?

Most of us would keep these hidden and locked in a deep dark cavern. But not Nichol Ng, CEO and Managing Director of X-Inc Private Limited, the parent of a group of companies that has been in the food business since the 1930s. At age 19, when the bank came with papers to take away her family’s home, she promised herself that if she was able to save the family business, she would help as many families as she could.

Today the business is thriving with 200 employees, more than 7,000 products, and over 4,500 customers. Not only that - Nichol has made good on her promise. She founded The Food Bank Singapore, which distributes food to over 300,000 underprivileged. Nichol was named to The Peak magazine’s The Peak Power List 2016, Forbes Asia’s 2017 Heroes of Philanthropy, and Harper’s Bazaar’s The Power List 2018. Nichol didn’t stop there. She took that dark secret of struggling with bulimia for over two decades and she shared it with as many people as she could - on TV and throughout Singapore. She wanted people to know how normal it is and the risks Nichol was now facing, struggling to make her dream come true and become a mom because of the damage to her body. Thankfully Nichol is now a mom to four kids and married to a partner of 24 happy years. How does she make it all work?

In Women of Color Rise, one of our tenets is to Be Yourself. Nichol is a great example of this. She shares that one of her secrets to success has been being herself - at work, home, and life. This has allowed her to release the myth of being perfect, to be vulnerable and share her struggles, to ask for help, and to let go of the need to control others.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-29-how-to-become-the-youngest-woman-to-take-a-company-public-with-luvleen-sidhu

Do you keep checking all the boxes or go for your dream?

For this Women of Color Rise episode, we talk with Indian American Luvleen Sidhu, Founder and CEO of BM Technologies. Luvleen checked all the success boxes - graduating from Harvard with her BS and Wharton with her MBA and working at an investment bank and a consulting firm. But instead of checking more and more boxes, Luvleen stopped and made a decision - she would pursue her dream to become an entrepreneur, which eventually led to her becoming the youngest woman to take a company public.

In Women of Color Rise, we talk about aligning with your North Star - your joy, passion, strengths, and values. And the best time to do this is now. Luvleen is a great example of this. She spotted a unique market opportunity and now leads her 300 person company with her values so that people feel cared for and have fun. Luvleen is also mindful of her energy, rekindling her chanting and journaling practice, setting intentions, and using a “flip it” mentality to see tough situations in a positive light.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-28-leading-an-organization-for-people-of-color-by-people-of-color-with-sharhonda-bossier

Welcome to the second series of podcasts where we’ll be changing our name from Boss Mamas to Women of Color Rise. Please know that I'm still very invested in mom leaders thriving at all aspects of life work home and self care. I also want to support more diverse leaders, particularly women leaders of color and how to get a seat at the table.

We know that diversity at the table matters. More ideas, more innovation… Companies with diverse leadership teams attain 73% more in revenue from innovation than less diverse companies.

But we also know the statistics – only 15% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, and 1% are women leaders of color.

This podcast Women of Color Rise is about helping address this problem. We will be talking with successful women leaders of color, CEOs and C-suite leaders in non-profit, government, private sector, and entrepreneurship. How did they get a seat at the table? What were the mistakes they made? What advice would they give to someone who aspires to rise in their career?

Women of Color Rise is a podcast where we share stories and advice and lessons learned. We want more diverse leaders to be at the table. Whether you are a woman of color starting your career or heading to the C-suite, this podcast is for you.

Upcoming interviews include:

Nichol Ng, CEO of X-Inc Private Limited
Luvleen Sidhu, CEO of BM Technologies
Mala Batra, CEO of Aspire Public Schools
Sharhonda Bossier, CEO of Education Leaders of Color

Get more information here: https://analizawolf.com/new-name-women-of-color-rise-with-analiza-quiroz-wolf

What would you do if you found out you were undocumented at the age of 16?

For this Boss Mamas episode, we talk with Korean American Hanseul Kang, Executive Director of the Broad Center at Yale School of Management. Born in South Korea, Hanseul moved to the US at 7 months old. When she was 16, she discovered that she was undocumented. She no longer could attend Georgetown due to financial aid, and she questioned her worth. In Boss Mamas, we talk about how Breakdowns Lead to Breakthroughs. Hanseul is a great example of this. Hanseul didn’t let this news stop her. She had her work ethic and reached out for help – from teachers and a pro bono lawyer who eventually helped her family become naturalized citizens. She graduated from Georgetown with her BS and then Harvard Law, and committed her career to public education – first as a teacher and eventually as the District of Columbia State Superintendent of Education. An introvert at heart who never wanted the top job, Hanseul shares how her dedication to students helped her speak out about her own undocumented experience in the Washington Post and take on top roles that would have a big impact on kids.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-26-from-undocumented-to-dc-state-superintendent-of-education-with-hanseul-kang

Do you know what the FIRE Movement is? FIRE stands for Financial Independence Retire Early. And it’s possible to take steps towards this now, even as busy leaders!

For this Boss Mamas episode, Analiza talks with fellow Filipina American mom Caroline Ceniza-Levine. Caroline had a thriving business and two young daughters at home when she discovered FIRE. In this episode, Caroline shares the steps she took to create multiple income streams for her family, including properties in New York, Florida, and Costa Rica. Today, Caroline is the founder of the Dream Career Club and a career coach, writer, and media personality on job market issues. Caroline helps experienced professionals in tech, media, financial services and other industries make a great living doing work they love.

In Boss Mamas, we talk about the importance of Mastering Your Mindset. Caroline shares how at every juncture - whether applying for jobs, starting her business, or going after FIRE, she mastered her mindset and is now “Living the Dream” doing what she loves with financial freedom.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-25-freedom-through-financial-independence-fire-with-caroline-cenizalevine

Do you have a hunch that you’re missing out? That life could be better, more fulfilling?

In this Boss Mamas episode, Analiza talks with mental health therapist Annie Olsen-Meehan and owner of Mindful Therapy. Since she was a child, Annie enjoyed helping people, so after graduating from the University of Kansas, she followed a career in social work. On paper, the jobs she had were great. She worked at schools where the mission was to serve low-income students and their families. Annie had supportive bosses who offered her promotions, raises, flexibility to be a mom to her two kids. And yet, Annie would go home, be with her beautiful family, and something in her gut would tell her that there was something missing - that she wasn’t truly fulfilled.

One of the Boss Mama strategies we talk about in the program is to Trust Your Gut. This means checking in with your body and listening. It might sound woo but it’s a real therapeutic practice. Annie is a great example of this. As a therapist, this is what practices with her clients. Annie shares how she practiced this herself. She shares the steps she took to check in with her body and take action based on what her body was telling her. Annie created a plan, left her comfortable job, and started her own private practice. What this has opened up for her is a life of fulfillment – at work, home, and play.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-24-trust-your-gut-with-annie-olsen-meehan-owner-mental-health-therapy

Chinese-American Jeanie Tung shares with Analiza her Boss Mama story about being a rebel. Jeanie had rebel parents who married even when their parents forbid them to. Jeanie was born in Taiwan and moved to the U.S. when she was two. When she was four, a teacher told Jeanie’s mom that Jeanie was a piano prodigy. Jeanie worked hard and got a seat at Julliard. There, Jeanie realized that her heart was not into piano.

She changed careers and went to law school, graduating from the University of Wisconsin. Jeanie practiced law for a few years but again, her heart was not into being an attorney. She leaned into her passion for advocating for Asian American rights and became a leader at different advocacy organizations. Jeanie is currently at the Henry Street Settlement helping marginalized New Yorkers find jobs. Jeanie shares her journey time and time again of facing pressure from her family and society to follow the typical route to success.

In Boss Mamas, we talk about the importance of trusting yourself and your authenticity and listening to your heart. Jeanie is a great example of this. Jeanie also shares her journey to realizing she is polyamorous and how she parents her daughter through her daughter’s own choices.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-23from-piano-prodigy-to-polyamory-and-values-aligned-work-with-jeanie-tung

Struggling to find more balance, joy, fulfillment? Join Boss Mamas, an 8 week online cohort program to learn research proven best practices that you can implement now. Early registration ends Friday 3/25. See here for more information: analizawolf.com/bossmamas

Mala Batra, CEO of Aspire Public Schools: I came to Boss Mamas feeling overwhelmed and juggling so many things that I wasn’t sure I could add another – even one that was specifically designed to help me with that! Boss Mamas gave me tools I could immediately start using so that I could start my day feeling more grounded and stay more present. I also got to reflect on how I could commit to some small steps to move me in the direction I want which made it realistic for me to take on. Analiza led our sessions with humor, compassion, humility that made it feel accessible and relevant.

Is it possible to overcome perfectionism - in 12 weeks? In this Boss Mamas episode, Analiza talks with her client Kim Lee, a Senior Leader in the U.S. government. When Kim was in fourth grade, her teacher singled her out and told her parents, “I think Kim is going to struggle with doing well at school.” This event changed Kim. At this young age, Kim decided she needed to give 150% to everything she did. Everything.

Fast forward, Kim graduated from Radford University and became a senior leader in the U.S. government leading over 100 staff. She had a family, two kids, and even a thriving health business. But Kim was spent - giving 150% to everything.

Kim shares the 5 steps she took to overcoming perfectionism and what this has opened up for her as a leader and mom. In Boss Mamas, we talk about the strategy of Simplifying to Success, understanding what matters and putting our energy and time there. Kim is a great example of this.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-22-how-to-overcome-perfectionism-with-kim-lee-senior-leader-us-government

“Everybody needs a passion. That’s what keeps life interesting. If you live without passion, you can go through life without leaving any footprints.” (Betty White)

Do you know what your passion is? Today we are talking with Andrea Silbert, President of the Eos Foundation. Andrea has been a mentor of mine for over 18 years. I was drawn to her because of her mission to support women. When we met, she was the CEO of the Center for Women Enterprise and also the mama of 3 kids. Andrea went to Harvard for both undergrad and business school and had a career in banking, then moved to non-profit. To create change on the policy level, she ran for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. Today, she is the President of the Eos Foundation, where they are doing research on the power gap and glass ceiling that still exists today. Throughout the years, I’ve asked her a lot of advice - on how to choose career paths, how to lead as a woman, and most definitely how to balance work and life.

In Boss Mamas, we talk about the importance of leaning into your own power, believing in yourself, and not letting others hold you back. Andrea is a great example of finding her passion and going for it. She also shares the importance of finding the right partner and that both parties should have a fulfilling career outside of the home.

Get full show notes and more information here:

https://analizawolf.com/ep-21-find-your-passion-with-andrea-silbert

Are you in a relationship that doesn’t quite feel right? Do you have a hunch that they might not be the right person, but you feel pressure from your family and community to stay together?

In this Boss Mamas episode, Analiza talks with Korean American Sue Jean Hong, Director of Talent Strategy at the KIPP Foundation. Growing up, Sue Jean’s family moved to different cities, so Sue Jean went to seven schools before graduating from high school, including eight years in Korea. Sue Jean went to the University of California Irvine for her BA and Masters and then University of Southern California for her EdD. Sue Jean was inspired by her teachers and became a teacher herself and then a principal. Sue Jean married but after two years had an inkling that her partner was not right for her. They struggled with getting pregnant, but it wasn’t until a fateful Christmas evening that she realized that enough was enough. Sue Jean decided that she was getting a divorce.

In Boss Mamas, we talk about the strategy of breakdowns to breakthroughs. Sue Jean shares facing pressures as a leader and as a daughter of parents with strong Korean values. She also shares how divorce was a gift and what this opened up for her in her life.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-20-how-i-decided-to-divorce-with-sue-jean-hong

Do you know what feeds your soul?

For this episode, Analiza talks with Natalie Mackey, CEO of Glow Concept, a holding company which owns brands like Winky Lux. After graduating from Parsons, Natalie started her career in finance and then pivoted to starting a fashion licensing company and then Glow Concept.

In Boss Mamas, we talk about the importance of juicing your joy, knowing what feeds your soul and setting up your life as a mom so that work revolves around your life and not the other way around. Natalie shares her experience knowing that her friends and networks are important to her, and how she made sure that whether planning for a nanny, maternity leave, or how to share child responsibilities with her husband, she still made time for what was important for her. By doing this, Natalie has been able to create a life that feeds her baby, family, and her soul.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-19-feed-your-baby-and-feed-your-soul-with-natalie-mackey

You decide to take a few years off to focus on your kids. How do you get back into the workforce and find a fulfilling job that puts family first?

In this Boss Mamas episode, Analiza talks with Mexican American Lizette Dubacher. Ever since Lizette was a little girl, she was an achiever. She graduated from Harvard Business School, climbed the corporate ladder, and was handpicked to lead Electronic Data System’s account start-up in Latin America. Lizette fell in love, and she and her husband had 2 daughters. Lizette found herself needing to choose between her own career aspirations and her husband’s and decided to take a few years off to focus on her kids. Lizette shares her journey with defining what success means to her. One of the Boss Mamas strategies is Mastering Your Mindset. It’s about taking a step back and seeing how society, our families, our schools have defined success for us. As Boss Mamas, we take time to decide for ourselves. Who am I? What do I really want? Lizette shares practical steps to find a meaningful career that puts family as number one.

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/ep-18-how-to-find-a-satisfying-job-after-taking-time-off-with-lizette-dubacher

On a scale of 1 to 10, how strong is your community?

In this episode, Analiza talks with mom leader Erica Blob, COO and Partner at Brighton Park Capital. Erica graduated with her BA from Duke and MBA from Harvard Business School. Erica shares her experiences in the male dominated industry of finance. Erica worked at Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, SAC, New Mountain Capital, and now at Brighton Park Capital.

In Boss Mamas, we talk about the importance of building a strong community. Erica is a great example of this. She shares how even as a busy mom leader, she prioritizes time with her tribe of female friends. Erica shares specific strategies of how she makes space for this and how sharing information has helped disrupt some of the inequities she has faced like championing better salaries.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-17-find-your-tribe-in-a-male-dominated-career-with-erica-blob

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday is coming up. Perfect timing for this Boss Mamas episode!

Analiza talks with Thaly Germain, CEO and Founder of Onward, a social justice organization. Thaly identifies as Black and non-binary. Thaly shares her journey learning independence at a young age and being raised by her neighbor. With degrees from Bryn Mawr, Fordham University, and Trinity University, Thaly was the Executive Director of the Lynch Leadership Academy and the Executive Director of Aligned Staff at New Leaders, a national leadership development organization, before starting Onward.

In Boss Mamas, we talk about knowing yourself and being true to yourself. Thaly is a great example of this. Thaly shares how her values of freedom and liberation motivated her to start Onward. Thaly also shares her desire for her child to be free and the specific steps she takes. One important step is to model for your child who you aspire for them to be and to be free yourself.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-16-raising-a-child-to-be-free-with-thaly-germain

Happy 2022! Congrats to our new cohort of Boss Mamas! They started the 8 week program this week and creating the life of joy and balance they want and deserve. I am so honored to be supporting their journey!

With the start of the new year, do you have a clear vision of what you want for the year, for the next 5 / 10 years? If not, this next Boss Mamas episode is for you!

In this episode, Analiza talks with Chinese American Stephanie Chen Banjo and how she used to think visualization was too “out there”. After graduating from Virginia Tech, Stephanie went through the standard success checklist. By the time she was 30, she had gotten married, had two kids, lived in 6 different countries, and got promoted in her corporate career. Stephanie had checked every “success box.” But instead of celebrating, she was left with a feeling of emptiness and utter lack of fulfillment. Stephanie had a slow and painful identity breakdown which led her to re-evaluate who she was and what was truly important to her. One of the Boss Mamas strategies is Visualize Victory. Stephanie is a great example of how she visualized the future she wanted. She shares her visualization process and how this led her to her Boss Mama life.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-15-the-power-of-visualization-with-stephanie-chen-banjo

We all know the quote - “It takes a village.” How strong is your village? How often do you ask for help?

In this episode, Analiza talks with Lindsay Kruse, a Leadership and Strategy Consultant. Lindsay shares how starting from childhood, she was a mom to everyone, taking care of friends, her schoolmates, and her community. After getting her BS from Cornell and her MBA from Columbia University, Lindsay’s willingness to take care of everyone led her to getting more responsibilities and leadership roles in consulting and then later in education. Lindsay shares the breakdown moment as a new mom when she decides to stop doing everything herself and start building her village and asking for help.

In Boss Mamas, we talk about the strategy of Calling Your Community. We know that we aren’t alone and can ask for help not only from close friends and family but from people we don’t know well. Lindsay is a great example of this. She’ll share the specific strategies she took to go from rarely asking for help to asking for help as a go-to strategy. Lindsay realized that being a Boss Mama was less about appearing strong and together and more about supporting and caring for her community.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-14-how-to-feel-comfortable-asking-for-help-with-lindsay-kruse

Rate yourself on self-care:

1 - I don’t have time for self-care

2 - I practice self-care because I know it’s important for my job.

3 - Self-care is essential in and of itself. I never ever miss a day.

If you’re not a 3, this episode is for you! In this episode, Analiza talks with Andrea Foggy-Paxton. Andrea was named to Ebony Magazine’s 30 under 30 with Sean Combs. After graduating from UC Berkeley for undergrad and Baruch for her Master of Public Administration, Andrea was the Executive Director for the Tavis Smiley Foundation, a Program Officer for the Gates Foundation, and Managing Director of Partner Strategy for The Broad Center. Today, she is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Education for Leaders of Color.

In Boss Mamas, we talk about Juicing Your Joy, that self-care is essential (a 3 rating on the scale) for being the best mom and leader you can be. Andrea is a great example of this. She shares how she learned self-care and entrepreneurship from her mom and how she made decisions based on what would make her most happy and aligned with her North Star. Andrea shares specific strategies of how she stays aligned to her happiness and the specific questions she asks to make sure she is living her best life now.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-13-lean-in-to-self-care-to-be-the-best-mom-and-best-leader-with-andrea-foggy-paxton

How do you view adversity? Do you run away or embrace it?

In this episode, Analiza talks with Kim Ades, President and Founder, Frame of Mind Coaching and The Journal That Talks Back. Recognized as a pioneer in the field of leadership coaching and thought mastery, Kim uses her unique philosophy and quirky coaching style to help leaders identify their blind spots and learn to direct their thinking to achieve extraordinary results. Author, speaker, entrepreneur, coach, and mom of five, Kim shares how the difference between ordinary leaders and extraordinary leads is how they approach adversity.

After graduating from the University of Ottawa with her BA and MBA, Kim started her career as an entrepreneur. She started several companies, including a software company where her first husband led with her. Kim had a flourishing business and a family but unfortunately found herself with a painful divorce and selling the business. Kim spent the next years trying to find her identity and deep diving into professional development to learn more about the power of thoughts and how she would approach this adversity.

In Boss Mamas, we talk about the importance of Mastering Your Mindset. Kim shares how shifting her thinking was pivotal to shifting her life. She ended up remarrying and starting a new business helping leaders reach their goals through mastering their thoughts. Now life is better than ever!

In addition to her coaching business, Kim also just launched The Journal That Talks Back™, an affordable, accessible and unlimited journaling and coaching service that connects young professionals with a certified coach so they can manage their mental health, career aspirations, relationships, personal and professional challenges and more. One journals privately with their coach in our app, and their coach gives feedback, support and guidance. It’s literally a journal that talks back!

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/ep-12-how-extraordinary-leaders-deal-with-adversity-with-kim-ades

Many schools are in crisis mode trying to keep their staff and keep kids learning. What can be done?

In this episode, Analiza talks with Elise Darwish, CEO of Ensemble Learning. Elise started her career as a teacher and then became the Principal of the first charter school in California and the second charter school in the country. Elise started Aspire Public Schools as the Chief Academic Officer where she grew the organization to a high-performing charter management organization with 38 schools in California and Tennessee. In these roles, Elise experienced firsthand how difficult it was to be a mom and also a leader and requested working from home a few days per week to be able to see her daughter. She started Ensemble Learning, a non-profit to improve school quality and help underserved students. Elise shares thoughts about what schools can do now to keep principals and teachers.

Get full show notes and more information here:

https://analizawolf.com/ep-11-what-schools-can-do-to-keep-talent-with-elise-darwish

When you are stressed, what is your go to strategy to calm yourself? A snack, a drink, anxiety? How about exercise?

In this episode, Analiza talks with Jennifer Maanavi, CEO of Physique 57 and mama of three children. After getting her BA from Boston University and her MBA from Columbia University, she fulfilled her childhood dreams of being in finance. After a decade, Jennifer started Physique 57. Starting a new company plus being a new mom was incredibly stressful. What was her magic elixir? It used to be peppermint patties and Diet Cokes. But she discovered something even better, a natural pick me up from Mother Nature. Exercise! Before, when she was most busy, most stressed, she used to skip her workout. Now, the more busy, the more stressed, the more essential exercise becomes.

In Boss Mamas, we talk about the strategy of Juice Your Joy and how self care is essential. It’s the way we fuel our tank for the hard ride ahead. Jennifer is a great example of this. She shares how she transformed her self-care routine to involve not just exercise but a healthy diet, sleep, and limiting alcohol - one step at a time. She also shares how she involved her family and her team and is a better mom and leader.

Analiza and Jennifer discuss:

Combining Flash Dance and Working Women
The birth of Physique 57
Balancing entrepreneurship as a new mom
How to get motivated to work out - mother nature’s endorphin rush
Tips for managing food with a family
How to stay disciplined and eat healthy

Get full show notes and more information here:

https://analizawolf.com/ep-10-how-to-get-motivated-to-exercise-with-jennifer-maanavi

Think of the last time a person said something mean. How did you feel? Angry, sad… How about grateful?

Happy Thanksgiving! For this Thanksgiving episode of the Boss Mamas podcast, Analiza talks with Mexican American Cora Schumann, Senior Director and Head of Corporate IT at eHealth. Cora’s mother and father grew up in Mexico without much money; her mother grew up literally under a tree. Her mother and father legally immigrated to the US to have a better life for their family.

Cora was put in the ESL class and faced racism by her peers and teachers, even being told that she would never go to college. What did Cora do with this? She was thankful because it ignited her desire to go to college. But the hardships didn’t stop.

In Boss Mamas, we talk about gratitude even for the hard things. Cora is a great example of this. With each challenge, she practiced gratitude and was inspired to pick a path she wouldn’t have thought possible for herself. Cora is grateful for these challenges because she wouldn’t be the leader and mom she is today.

Analiza and Cora discuss:

Cora’s parents and the poverty they faced in Mexico that encouraged them to move to the US
Cora’s upbringing as the youngest of 8 and being placed in an ESL class
Being named to the prom court and how Cora responded to a belittling comment
How Cora responded to a friend who encouraged her to have a smaller dream
Cora’s move to a male dominated career field and how she took on the challenge of sexism
Cora’s prayers answered for her husband and three children sixteen months apart
How Cora embeds prayer and gratitude into each and every day

Get full show notes and more information here:

https://analizawolf.com/ep-9-gratitude-for-the-hard-things-with-cora-schumann

Resources:

Professional Development: Symantec’s in-house “In Her Shoes” program for women

Connect with Cora:

LinkedIn: Cora Schumann | LinkedIn
Facebook: Cora Schumann | Facebook
Instagram: Cora Schumann (@coraschumann)

Do you struggle with boundaries?

In this episode, Analiza talks with Chinese American Aarika Lim Riddle. Aarika shares how her work ethic led her to become a non-profit Executive Director and how that same work ethic also led her to burn out. It wasn’t until her husband had an intervention with her that she realized she needed to have better boundaries. As part of the Boss Mama program, we talk about boundaries and how to keep them. Aarika shares her process to having clear boundaries and how that has opened up time for her to be the best mom, wife, and leader she can be.

What You’ll Learn:

Aarika’s experience as a Haole being half Chinese and half white in Hawaii
Her husband’s intervention that changed Aarika’s view of work and life balance
How Aarika’s boldly sets and keeps boundaries

Get full show notes and more information here:

https://analizawolf.com/ep-8-be-bold-with-boundaries-with-aarika-lim-riddle-executive-director-of-always-dream

On a scale of 1 to 10, how much joy do you have in your daily life?

In this episode, Analiza talks with Sarah Filipovitz, Co-Founder of Flipfort. Sarah shares, “Before taking the Boss Mamas class, I used to be at a level 2 in joy. Now, I am an 8 to 10. Each and every day!”

Since Sarah was a child, she unconsciously modeled after her mom. Her mom was a nurse, professor, founder and leader of a nursing school - on top of mom to three kids. Sarah didn’t realize that she was following after her mom’s footsteps. Sarah spent almost a decade as a Reading Specialist. Sarah fell in love and found herself moving to a new city to prioritize her husband and his career. Sarah felt like she had lost her identity and filled that loss by volunteering for her kids school and hospital fundraising projects.

Sarah joined Boss Mamas with the intention of strengthening her identity and leadership as she launched her business. But what she found from the program was more than that - that she could create a life of joy! Sarah shares her journey to becoming a Boss Mama and what she discovered when she put herself and her joy first. This opened daily practices for self-care, deeper connections with her family, and clarity to say no to the many requests that came her way.

What You’ll Learn:

The impact of our moms on how we view being a good wife and mom
How to approach career decisions when your partner makes more money
Simple steps to level up your daily joy
The importance of putting yourself first and learning to say “no”

Get full show notes and more information here:

https://analizawolf.com/ep-7-level-up-your-daily-joy-with-sarah-filipovitz

Are you addicted to achievement?

In this episode, Analiza talks with African-American Kristen Howard. Kristen shares her journey of achieving as a lawyer and being at the top of her game… when she became pregnant unexpectedly and it all came to a painful halt. As part of the Boss Mamas program, we talk about the strategy of trust and that trusting that breakdowns we are facing will lead to breakthroughs. Kristen shares how she realized that the breakdowns she experienced was the universe trying to speak to her and how she finally decided to listen. She shares her specific steps to how she is interrupting the cycle and addiction to achievement to stay true to her authentic self.

Get full show notes and more information here:

https://analizawolf.com/ep-6-signs-that-the-universe-is-telling-you-that-youre-on-the-wrong-path-with-kristen-howard

You have a purposeful career that you’re good at. But why are you still not fulfilled?

In this episode, Analiza talks with Marissa Lifshen Steinberger. After graduating from Brown with her BA, then Columbia University for her Master of Education, Marissa spent her 20+ year career in education and non-profit focused on low-income students. She had the picturesque perfect life - house, 2 kids, husband, a purposeful career. But yet she wasn’t happy. Marissa shares the pivotal moment when she realized she needed to change her life. One of the Boss Mamas strategies to get a life of joy, balance and fulfillment is to get clear and operate in your Zone of Genius. Marissa shares her Boss Mama journey where she got clear on her Zone of Genius and what really mattered to her. She shares the specific steps of how she aligned her mind, body, and spirit to get a life of joy, peace, and fulfillment.

Get full show notes and more information here:

How to Live and Lead in Your Zone of Genius with Marissa Lifshen Steinberger — Analiza Wolf

In the aftermath of the #metoo movement, how can we approach trauma like a Boss Mama?

In this episode, Analiza talks with Chinese American Melissa Ng Goldner. Melissa shares her journey from being known as the kid who carried a violin at school to being sexually abused and raped. In Boss Mamas, we talk about how breakdowns lead to breakthroughs. Some of the biggest growth in our lives often comes from the hardest things we face. Melissa shares how today, she is grateful for these experiences. These breakdowns helped her be the woman and mom she is today. Melissa has taken that anger and pain and used it to fuel her mission - uplifting the voices of marginalized women.

Get full show notes and more information here:

Ep 4 - From Trauma to Healing with Melissa Ng Goldner — Analiza Wolf

How can a Boss Mama move from comfortable conversations to brave conversations — ones that are scary and risky and put your authentic self out there?

In this episode, Analiza talks with Korean American Lizzie Choi about her journey to becoming a Boss Mama. After graduating from Stanford, Lizzie started her career as a teacher and eventually became the Chief Program Officer at the nationally acclaimed Summit Public Schools. Lizzie is now a Senior Vice President at Pahara Institute, a leadership development program for American education leaders. One of the Boss Mamas strategies is about trusting and accepting yourself. Lizzie shares how she chooses courage over comfort to be true to herself.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-3-lizzie-choi

How does a woman leader who is shy get the courage to speak her truth and share her deepest darkest secrets?

In this episode, Analiza talks with Korean American Judy Lee. Judy shares how she made a big life change. After she graduated with a BA from Binghamton University and her Masters from UC Riverside, she started her career as a university researcher. She soon realized that it wasn’t her calling and moved into her real passion of photography. Her goal wasn’t just to take photos but to help women uncover their true selves and their beauty - both inside and out. Her business is a reflection of Judy’s own journey. She spent most of her life struggling with the feeling of "not enough," beliefs about being shy and struggled for many years with infertility and finally adopted two boys. Her second son cried and cried and Judy developed an emotional armor to cope. Judy shares how it was her own willingness to be vulnerable and shed that armor, speak up, and share — this is how she came to know and love her true self.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-2-judy-lee

Never let a crisis go to waste. As hard as the pandemic has been, with work and personal life becoming blurred, how can a Boss Mama make life easier, simpler, and calmer?

In today’s episode, Analiza talks with Chrystie Edwards, TNTP Partner and African American mom of two boys. Chrystie shares her journey from being diagnosed with ADHD while a student at UCLA to creating structure so that she could thrive as a Boss Mama - a teacher, education leader, and as a mom. After graduating from UCLA, Chrystie became a teacher. She then became a school leader, led academics for 20 charter schools in California, Tennessee, and Texas, and now is a partner at TNTP, a consulting firm helping schools and teachers across the country. Chrystie shares how she simplifies to success by using her super strength of systems and structure not just for her work but for her personal life. She’ll share specific tactics about how she took best practices for what works with thousands of students across the country to her own home for her two boys.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-1-chrystie-edwards

I believe every single mom leader can be a Boss Mama.

What’s a Boss Mama? A Boss Mama is a Boss at work, home, and play.

Hi, I’m Analiza Quiroz Wolf: wife, mama, proud Asian-American, and former CEO.

I’m on a mission to help every mom leader I meet be a Boss Mama - thriving at work without sacrificing home or self-care.

I decided to start the Boss Mama Podcast to address one question: how can mom leaders be a Boss at work, home, and life?

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

Are you tired and on the verge of burnout?

Are you doing all the things - at work and at home - because you haven’t set boundaries or asked for help?

Are you trying to be all things to all people instead of taking time to know what really matters?

Do you constantly beat yourself up instead of practicing acceptance and grace?

Do you get the concept of self care, but that’s something to be done later?

Listen on this Episode trailer and find out more!

Connect with Analiza Quiroz Wolf and Boss Mamas:

Website: www.analizawolf.com
LinkedIn: Analiza Wolf
Instagram: @analizawolf
Facebook: Boss Mamas - Analiza Quiroz
Youtube: Boss Mamas
Email: analiza at analizawolf.com