Her Time Has Come

Emily Beach is a Burlingame Council Woman. Prior to public service, Beach was an Army captain, tech executive, and community leader. I talk with Emily about leadership in the public and private sectors, among predominantly male and predominantly female organizations and the desire to be part of something bigger than herself.

Zahra Billoo is the executive director at CAIR (Council on American–Islamic Relations) and has been fighting for Muslim-American and women's rights all her life. She is also a baker for Cake4Kids.Music: www.bensound.comHer favorite recipe is the One-Bowl Chocolate cake, which she says has made her a "chocolate cake snob." Martha Stewart's recipe is below.Ingredients:Unsalted butter, softened, for pans3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch cocoa powder, plus more for pans1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1 1/2 cups sugar1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda3/4 teaspoon baking powder3/4 teaspoon salt2 large eggs3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk3/4 cup warm water3 tablespoons safflower oil1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans (2 inches deep); dust with cocoa. Sift cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of a mixer. Beat on low speed until just combined. Raise speed to medium, and add eggs, buttermilk, water, oil, and vanilla. Beat until smooth, about 3 minutes.2. Divide batter between pans. Bake until set and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Turn out from pans. Transfer, faceup, to wire racks. Let cool completely.3. Spread 2 cups chocolate frosting onto top of 1 cooled layer. Top with remaining layer; frost top and sides with remaining 2 cups frosting. Martha Stewart's One-Bowl Chocolate Cake Frosting Recipe2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powderPinch of salt6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly3/4 cup creme fraiche, or sour cream1. Sift together sugar, cocoa, and salt.2. Beat cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Reduce speed to medium-low; gradually add sugar-cocoa mixture, and beat until combined. Pour in chocolate in a slow, steady stream. Add creme fraiche; beat until combined.Music: www.bensound.com

Susan Barnes is a veteran businesswoman and has been working the finance and tech industry since the early 80's. Having become a prominent leader in a field dominated by men, she was both greatly positively influenced by her male coworkers, most notably Steve Jobs, but also had to endure incredible amounts of sexism to rise to the top.

This is my first episode. I interview Steimer-King who is the Program Director at Girls Learn International, an organization dedicated to the empowerment of girls around the world.