Honest stories and solutions from women in the workplace for dealing with situations women know all too well: sexual harassment, not being taken seriously, and being talked over, passed over, underpaid, and underappreciated. Mid-career women will listen and know they're not alone. Women earlier in their careers can save years of heartache and frustration by learning what's worked for women who came before them. Hosted by Founder/CEO and HR professional Mikaela Kiner based on her book Female Firebrands: Stories and Techniques to Ignite Change, Take Control, and Succeed in the Workplace.
Lindsay Dayton LaShell is a marketing activist and the CEO of Diamond + Branch, a marketing consultancy that serves womxn, queer, and BIPOC entrepreneurs and nonprofits. She helps these organizations achieve financial sustainability and growth through marketing that is both empathetic and efficient. Lindsay and I talk about how marketing can help underestimated founders acquire clients and avoid failure, why she shaved her head in a rebellious act of feminism and ways to use your field to give to others. For all things, Female Firebrands, visit the website here – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
Through founding Banister Advisors, Vanessa Laughlin's passion for client services has met the opportunity to ease the emotional and logistical burdens that individuals and families confront in the face of critical circumstances across their lifespan. Vanessa and I talk about how her work at Banister relieves the family navigator, how being a self-described “stealth person of color” puts her in unexpected situations and conversations, and why “you can’t fire an entrepreneur” because they keep coming back. For all things, Female Firebrands, visit the website here – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
Alisha Valavanis is the CEO and General Manager of the four-time WNBA Champion Seattle Storm. She is passionate about the dynamics and culture of high performing teams, and committed to leveraging the intersection of business, sport, and community as a space for social change. Alisha and I talk about strengths women bring to leadership both on the court and in the office, why leaders and organizations must take a stand on social justice issues, and how her mission, vision, and values serve as her guide. For all things, Female Firebrands, visit the website here – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
As Chief HR Officer, Dave Gartenberg was responsible for the strategic direction of all aspects of Avanade’s people, organization and culture. With 37,000+ professionals across the globe, Avanade brings together the world's largest community of experts on Microsoft based solutions. Dave and I talk about why he makes time to mentor 3 to 5 people every week and dive into what mentorship means as well as how to find and secure a mentor. Dave was my first ever official mentor and I still consider him one today. For all things, Female Firebrands, visit the website here – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
Today’s podcast episode is part two of our election series and was recorded on Thursday, November 5th. In this episode, Erin Jones and I talk about what the results of the presidential election say about the ideological landscape of the United States, how to move forward in a nation that's divided, ways to take care of yourself as the uncertainty continues, and the importance of continued action and activism, no matter who gets elected. For all things, Female Firebrands, visit the website here – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
Erin Jones has been involved with schools for the past twenty-six years. She received recognition at the White House in March of 2013 as a champion of change. She left her job to run as a candidate for state superintendent and was the first Black woman to run for any state office in Washington state. Today, Erin and I talk about the importance of voting, why it's important to vote down-ballot, the potential for unrest following the election, and why Erin isn't planning to jog the day after the election. For all things, Female Firebrands, visit the website here – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
Chelsea Glaser is an intuitive entrepreneur and brand strategist who enthusiastically embraces the challenges of running two businesses at once. It's Chelsea's mission to support ambitious women in pursuit of their goals and help them embrace their authentic selves every step of the way. Chelsea and I talked about making entrepreneurship more accessible by not over-glamorizing it, how authentic brands are always rooted in company values, and the importance of cultivating a daily practice. For all things, Female Firebrands, visit the website here – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
Jill Angelo is the CEO and Founder of Gennev, a first-of-its-kind online clinic, and community for women in menopause. Gennev specializes in menopause, gynecology, and primary care telemedicine through their team of OB/GYN and primary care practitioners. Jill talks about why she considers the 50s to be women's most vibrant years, what it's like to pitch a femme tech company to both male and female investors, and how she's living into the Most Effective Female CEO award she received from Inc.com. For all things, Female Firebrands, visit the website here – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
Leang Chung is the founder and CEO of Pelora Stack. After a decade of dreaming about building her own company, she finally made the courageous leap from the corporate grind to entrepreneurial life. She learned that shedding many of her long held corporate beliefs was the only way to succeed in this career pivot. Leang talks about playing it safe versus pursuing your professional dreams, balancing ambiguity and perfectionism at work, and why self compassion is better than hustling when you're building a company. For all things, Female Firebrands, visit the website here – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
Tiffany Dufu is the Founder and CEO of The Cru and author of the bestselling book Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less. Tiffany has raised nearly 20 million dollars toward the cause of women and girls. We talked about how to recognize if you have “home control disease” and how to overcome it, why perfectionism makes delegation nearly impossible, how The Cru helps women accelerate their personal and professional growth, and her advice for the rising generation of women professionals. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Female Firebrand Season 2 is sponsored in part by the Washington Technology Industry Association
Schuyler Bailar is the first transgender athlete to compete in any sport on an NCAA D1 men's team. His story has appeared everywhere, from 60 Minutes to The Ellen Show. We talk about Harvard's great response of “We're not experts, but we'll figure this out,” the importance of affirmation and never calling identity a phase, how even intersectionality can't possibly account for all of a person's identities, and the importance of advocates and allies taking care of themselves so they can take care of others. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
Jennifer Brown is an award-winning entrepreneur, dynamic speaker, and DEI expert. She's an advocate for social equality and helps businesses foster healthy, productive cultures. We talk about why, despite the data, some companies are just now playing DEI catch up, how the risk of seeing ourselves as good people leads to inaction and the importance of educating yourself as an aspiring ally. Jennifer challenges us to get uncomfortable, knowing that it is in this discomfort that we begin to make real change. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
At 11 years old, Sameeksha Singh led a diversity conversation for her mom's tech company: F5. She feels compelled to speak up for kindness, pay equity, and underestimated people including members of the LGBTQ community. Though she's just finished elementary school, Sameeksha has already learned how to stand up against bullying and is quick to encourage others to do the same. Hearing from an 11-year-old who is this passionate about equity at work and in life can give us all hope for the future. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season! Female Firebrand Season 2 is sponsored in part by the Washington Technology Industry Association
Kyle Angelo is a certified and practiced leadership coach. He has built a reputation for being relationship-centric, candid, and compassionate. Kyle is a dependable advocate, supporting many inclusion and gender equity initiatives. When approaching a new situation, he asks two questions: What does help look like and what does help not look like? He uses a cycle of listen-reflect-act to guide his behaviors. Kyle is thoughtful, humble and continually makes sure his actions are having their intended impact. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit Female Firebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season! Female Firebrand Season 2 is sponsored in part by the Washington Technology Industry Association
Julie Pham is a Cambridge trained historian, Forbes blogger, venture philanthropist, and marketing professional. She is a well-known speaker, writer, and influencer in business communities. We talk about why there's really no such thing as being “woke,” how the fear of seeming “un-woke” can lead to silencing ourselves, the importance of curiosity, and dialog in the face of ignorance. Julie has the courage to explore complex issues of diversity and inclusion even where there's no clear answer. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season! Female Firebrand Season 2 is sponsored in part by the Washington Technology Industry Association
Minda Harts is the CEO of ‘The Memo, LLC’ and author of The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table. Today we talk about her need to leave the workplace better than she found it (especially for Black and Brown women), one thing leaders can do to signal that they welcome inclusion, and why you really must stop touching Black people's hair. Minda is full of insights for how the workplace can do better for women of color and she is working every day to close the empathy gap at work. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit femalefirebrands/podcast – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season! Female Firebrand Season 2 is sponsored in part by the Washington Technology Industry Association
Megan McNally is a lawyer and strategy consultant who spent over two decades as an organizational leader, educator, and public speaker. When her startup failed to launch, The FBomb Breakfast Club was born. FBomb is a peer support community of over 3000 female founders and business owners. We talked about helping women build the power networks they need for business success, how women can come together to learn from each other and Megan's personal passion for helping women think bigger about business. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit Female Firebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season! Female Firebrand Season 2 is sponsored in part by the Washington Technology Industry Association
12 year-old Lillian and her mom Karen have a relationship that is grounded in mutual trust and a shared passion for female empowerment. In this episode, we talk about how moms and daughters can build stronger bonds by allowing one another to express feelings openly while celebrating and challenging one another’s perspectives. We dive into what they each envision for the future of gender equality, why fighting for empowerment is critical even when it’s exhausting, and the importance of patience and grace. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit Female Firebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form . Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season! Female Firebrand Season 2 is sponsored in part by the Washington Technology Industry Association
Priyanka Raha is an engineer, founder, and mom to two boys. She experienced female rivalry early in her career, but it took time before she recognized it. Although the “one seat at the table” narrative is still common in corporate cultures, Priyanka firmly rejects it and believes that leaders need to fight to increase gender equity. We talked about what causes female rivalry and how to spot it, the importance of having mentors, and how her experience with rivalry led her to invest in herself. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace here. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season! Female Firebrand Season 2 is sponsored in part by the Washington Technology Industry Association
Tameka McNair, Senior Technical Program Manager, and #IAmRemarkable Facilitator made a promise to her 7-year-old self that she would not become a product of her environment. This promise, along with her desire to inspire others to dream, has anchored her direction and guided every decision she has made since, despite the countless obstacles, injustices, and challenges thrown her way. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit Female Firebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Female Firebrand Season 2 is sponsored in part by the Washington Technology Industry Association
Mikaela gets personal and answers the same questions she asked the Female Firebrands in the book. Extraordinary acts of kindness in business. The impact of female rivalry on Mikaela’s career. How her career changed when she had kids. And being your authentic self in the workplace. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit reverbpeople.com/femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in a future episode!
Author and business leader Juliana Stancampiano shares her experience of female rivalry in the workplace, how it changed the trajectory of her career, and what leaders can do to create a culture of collaboration. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit reverbpeople.com/femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in a future episode!
Microsoft engineer and next generation Female Firebrand Grace MacJones shares her career journey and how she leveraged her resources to find her way into a competitive industry. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit reverbpeople.com/femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in a future episode!
Jessica Eggert, CEO and Co-Founder of LegUp, shares the challenges and joys of being a working mom, and why organizations can no longer go about business as usual when it comes to supporting parents. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit reverbpeople.com/femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in a future episode!
Cheryl Ingram, CEO and Founder of DEI companies Inclusology and Diverse City LLC, shares how she handles (and prepares for) microaggressions in the workplace – and why diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is good for business. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit reverbpeople.com/femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in a future episode!
5X Founder Dave Parker and creative consultant Michale Maine share tips and stories for men wanting to be better advocates to women in the workplace. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit reverbpeople.com/femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in a future episode!
Executive Coach Adrienne Kortas shares how to manage “hot moments” of all kinds – and how not to kick ourselves later for not speaking up. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit reverbpeople.com/femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in a future episode!
Executive coach and author of From the CEO’s Perspective Teri Citterman shares how to prepare and respond effectively when faced with sexist comments at work – and how things have changed (or not changed) in the workplace in the wake of #metoo. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit reverbpeople.com/femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in a future episode!
Fran Dunaway, CEO and co-founder of TomboyX, discusses her personal journey coming out as queer, how she’s creating an inclusive culture at TomboyX, and how we can help everyone bring their full selves to work. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit reverbpeople.com/femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
Female Firebrands author Mikaela Kiner shares her personal workplace stories of feeling dismissed by bosses and held back by other women – and the strategies she used to change her situation. She shares bright spots along the way, plus what she hopes listeners will learn from the Female Firebrands podcast. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit reverbpeople.com/femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
Mikaela Kiner, CEO, founder, mom, and author of Female Firebrands shares what to expect when the Female Firebrands podcast begins on Wednesday, March 11. For all things #FemaleFirebrands, visit reverbpeople.com/femalefirebrands – where you can buy the book or download free checklists to put what you learned into action. Share your success stories and questions about being a woman in the workplace in our Google Form. Mikaela may use your stories or answer your questions in the final episode of this season!
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