Influential SHE Podcast

In 2014 Jenny became dramatically ill, fighting sepsis for her life.  Losing both legs below the knees, five fingers and multiple organs, enduring well over fifty surgeries and rising above opioid withdrawal, her story is one of always making the choice to step into life.  This is her tale shared through the voice of her beloved wife Myshkin, about how woven strands of support showed up from around the world to hold them when all seemed lost.  Jenny and Myshkin will inspire all with their lived story of always choosing love, joy, and community, even when life is in the darkest place.Jenny Qaqundah, born to Palestinian immigrants, is an R.N. and an herbalist that opened the Grateful Desert Apothecary in Joshua Tree, CA.  In 2018 she published Held Together:  A True Story of Love's Victory, a collection of vignettes from the perspectives of a community that rose up becoming warriors in the fight for her life.Myshkin Warbler is a poet and a musical artist with over three decades of celebrated work in independent music.   In 2018 she released Trust and the High Wire, songs that form a narrative of finding growing love through some extraordinary hardships.  Together Jenny and Myshkin created a worker owned company, celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Grateful Desert and opening a second location, Grateful Rain, in Astoria, Oregon where they live with daughter Yazzy.  Creating a production that weaves their talents and stories, they have shared the Held Together journey with multiple audiences in the country.

It's your worst nightmare - learning that your fifteen-year-old daughter has been sex trafficked right under your nose for 1 ½ years.  Susan brings voice to this incredible horror that shattered her entire family.  Her compelling story will open the eyes of all to understand that it can happen anywhere, at any time, to any family.  With incredible strength and courage, she and her husband took this “living death”, and started to piece their  family back together.  All will be inspired by how Susan rose from the depths of despair to become the “voice for the voiceless”.Susan Young, a subject matter expert and surviving parent, has trained thousands of personnel, private entities, doctors, law enforcement, houses of worship, teachers, and communities across the nation and around the world about the dangers and indicators of sex trafficking. She has worked alongside governors and the U.S. Congress to ensure proper legislation is passed to prosecute the traffickers and provide aid to victims and their families. Susan knows that trafficking not only affects the victims themselves, but the family as a whole and is tireless in her advocacy for needed changes,Susan is the Founder/CEO of the Parent Coalition to End Human Trafficking which she started in 2017.  With a mission to bridge the gap for families struggling to overcome the devastation left by traffickers. She created a support curriculum to aid families in their journey toward healing, provides guidance to locate resources, helps others navigate the criminal justice system, and delivers support for siblings and other family members. Susan has participated and led numerous conferences, delivered training, and provided mentorship and advisory at all levels of government and industry.  Additionally she is part of a call-in center for parents and victims all over the world, providing information, aid, and support.  www.preventht.org

Why in the world did we (Deb and Mel) start Influential She in the first place?  We took a hard look at what existed to unleash the crazy good influence of women and came up wanting.  So we simply decided to do something about it,  And the result?  An incredible podcast journey where nuggets of wisdom are shared by kickass women.  Join in and be inspired to live your best life!

With values mentored by her ‘force of nature' mother Fern, she is clear-eyed about who she is and how she belongs in every room.  As a judge, wife, mom and community leader, she had the courage to step into the District Attorney role after two professional prosecutors were slain in cold blood for doing their jobs.  As author of memoir Target on My Back, be inspired by how her strong sense of self gave the confidence to step into the sphere of danger before the killer was identified or apprehended.  Erleigh Wiley is a native Texan, born and raised in Kaufman County.  She was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to fill the unexpired term of the office of the Criminal District Attorney of Kaufman County after he was murdered.  She was re-elected in 2014 and has been the Kaufman County Criminal District Attorney ever since.  In her current and previous roles as elected judge of Kaufman County Court at Law and with the Dallas County District Attorney's office, she has been a tireless advocate in helping abused and neglected children, developing treatment courts and fighting for the most vulnerable.  She graduated from Texas Tech University, Rawls College of Business and Texas Law.

As a novelist and woman living on her deepest heart terms, she shares how important it is to “decide what you want and take a step toward it.”  When the world pressures how life should be, Cynthia will inspire all by her “doing” built around being separate and together.   Cynthia Newberry Martin writes novels about marriage.  About how characters navigate between separateness and togetherness.  About how they balance the need for both time to themselves and time together.  About what compromise does to a person's sense of self. Her website features the How We Spend Our Days series, over a decade of essays by writers on their lives.  Tidal Flats is her first novel.Cynthia holds an MFA in creative writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.  Her early stories, essays and reviews appeared in multiple publications.  She grew up in the sixties in the heart of Atlanta, went to college in North Carolina, spent a year teaching English in France, practiced law, and had kids.  Through it all she was a reader, and in the late 90's thought books were cool and writers were cool.  She got about ‘doing' to become one.She now lives in Columbus, Georgia with her husband and in Provincetown, Massachusetts, in a little house by the water that is her favorite place on earth.   www.cynthianewberrymartin.com

The daughter of Korean immigrants, she lives up to her namesake in fostering influential connections.  From negotiating D.C. “food fights” to being present and courageous when conversations are difficult, she will inspire all to grow in the skill of connection.  Through her story-telling Grace uncovers how implicit connection has always been in her life, and now claims it as truly explicit and a  driver for her authentic place in the world. Grace Koh is the Vice-President of Legislative Affairs for Nokia, advancing public policy priorities on Capitol Hill and in the Administration.  As a 15-year veteran of Washington, D.C., she has earned a reputation for bipartisanship and strategic advice influencing change in Congress.  She has extensive experience in the cross-section of geopolitics, technology and trade both domestically and abroad.Grace's rich experience includes being U.S. Ambassador to the 2019 International Telecommunication Union's World Radiocommunication Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, where she led the 125 member delegation in negotiating successful outcomes for U.S. spectrum (5G) and satellite policy.Koh also served as Special Assistant to the President for technology, telecom and cybersecurity policy in the White House, and as Deputy Chief Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Communications and Technology.  In the private sector, Grace worked as a lawyer in multiple capacities.  She has a B.A from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

As a singer/songwriter, she began massive ‘doing' at a very young age.  Sharing “I'm a go-getter, a chaser, a pursuer, a doer and will always stand up for myself”, Hailey talks about how hard and painful it can be to get going when others try to hold you back.  This not-to-miss podcast - with a surprise at the end -  will inspire you to quiet  the “committee in your head”, and get busy doing.Hailey Steele was raised in a no-stoplight town in South Dakota. She started performing at an early age, sharing stages with country legends like Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn all before the age of 15. Her melodies are strongly influenced by female country and pop music from the 90's, and her lyrics tackle daily topics that every girl and woman deals with - love, heartbreak, happiness, reality, and wine. Steele moved to Nashville at 19 to pursue a serious music career and has never looked back. As an alum of NBC's The Voice (Team Xtina, season 2), she got to perform on the last season of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with her duo The LiNE.  Steele co-wrote"Boyfriend,"  (Raelynn/Nicolle Galyon/ Steele) and "Small Town Soul" released by Gwen Sebastian. Steele's first solo single, "Where I Thought I'd Be" was featured on CMT as part of the Artist Discovery Program.  Hailey has opened several shows for Kelsea Ballerini and is the youngest member of the South Dakota Country Music Hall of Fame.  Most recently she co-wrote and released “Livewire”, a song that tackles mental illness and abuse.  She has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry stage with her friend Shelly Fairchild, performing their original “On The Highway”.  The music video for her newest release, Raggedy Ann, is the current Next Up Now feature on Country Music Television and is available on CMT.com.  www.haileysteele.com

Raised by four generations of influential women, at an early age Char developed confidence in truly being her authentic self.  And yet, as she shares, being true to yourself is not always an easy path when “many times it means going against the grain and making unpopular decisions.”  In this podcast Charlyn gets real about how vulnerable you can feel when claiming your rebel within!Charlyn Stanberry is the Vice President of Government Relations for the National Association of Broadcasters.  Prior she was chief of staff for Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09) after being her legislative director and counsel. Additionally Char is an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia where she teaches foundations of civics, ethics and values.Char has excelled on Capitol Hill and held policy and political roles in the arenas of communication, telecom and the internet along with being professional staff for the Congressional Black Caucus.  She serves in leadership for several philanthropic organizations, including Junior League of Washington and the Washington Bar Association. In 2020, she received the Lawyer of the Year Award from the Washington Bar Association, the Public Sector Award of Excellence from Women in Government Relations and was named a Top 40 under 40 Nation's Best Advocate from the National Bar Association. Charlyn holds a J.D. from Florida International University's College of Law and a B.S.B.A. and M.P.A. from the University of Central Florida.

 As a radio host who has interviewed more than 6000 guests on-air, Lori claims she found her voice by being a ‘pro-eavesdropper'.  In this not-to-miss podcast, she shares the incredible influence of deep listening where we can discover the similarities of humanity that exist between us.  Lori's wisdom of “You're never going to be ready to fully use your voice” will inspire all to want to do exactly that.  Lori Byers Walsh is the host and lead producer of In the Moment, South Dakota Public Broadcasting's news and culture radio broadcast. In nearly six years of public radio, she has interviewed thousands of guests on-air, in the studio, or on stage. Walsh is a writer, teaching artist, and member of the National Book Critics Circle and the Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. She is also a South Dakota Humanities Council One Book Scholar. A graduate of the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., Walsh studied humanities at Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu and received her B.A. in journalism from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. She was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in 1994; she served six years as a cryptologic Korean linguist. Walsh lives in South Dakota where she writes, reads, records, and hangs out with a tortoise known as "The Entity." 

When faced with barriers of age, gender and looks - once being told “You're in the room to improve the view” - she simply rolled up her sleeves and built integrity through hard work and grit.  She shares how important it is to read the landscape, stay objective and build relationships based on common ground.  Not letting ‘what is' get in her way, Kristin will inspire all to move beyond the truth of the matter.Kristin is a Principal in State Advocacy and Appropriations with BGR, a bipartisan lobbying and communications firm in Washington, DC.  She uses her many years of state government experience to assist clients in areas as diverse as executive policy, legislative debates and regulatory issues. She also leads outreach to multistate policy organizations such as the National Governors Association (NGA), the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).Her rich experience in policy and politics includes serving as Policy Director for the Attorney General of Ohio, MIke DeWine, being Director of State Government Affairs for the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), and serving as Director of State Government Affairs at the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO).A native of Ohio, Kristin graduated from Ohio University in 2007, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Geography. She achieved her Master of Arts degree in Political Science (American Politics) in 2008. 

From school counselor to founder and leader of a national education center, Angie relates how she became the voice and not the echo, thus realizing her dreams for a creative and innovative life.  She shares how to truly mature voice to accelerate influence, “The power of my work has come from honing in to hear others' voices.”   Angie will inspire all to “Be a voice that people can follow, recognizing you're blazing a way for others to have their voices be lifted up.”Angela Jerabek is the founder and executive director of BARR Center.  Jerabek developed the BARR model 20 years ago and has expanded it from one school in the Midwest to more than 180 schools throughout the U.S., serving over 100,000 students. www.barrcenter.orgAngie has published five books and several op-eds and articles in various publications. Often looked to for her expertise, she has been featured in USA Today, National Public Radio, and CNBC. In the fall of 2020, she was a co-panelist with John B. King Jr., the 10th United States Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama. Jerabek has presented at the White House at the “Evidence in Education Roundtable” in 2016 as well as at International Education events.  She was recently awarded the Donald McNeely Center Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University. 

A national champion volleyball player from Stanford and now part of the George W. Bush Institute, Anne gets into how difficult it is to be perspicacious with chaos in the world.  When events and connections are almost too much to take in, rising to curiosity can provide focus and a way forward.   Sharing “We're all getting kicked in the teeth”, Anne highlights the togetherness of our  world, and how humility and stopping to think can help us connect the dots of our own experiences. Anne Wicks is Director of the Ann Kimball Johnson Education Reform Center at the Bush Institute, where she develops and oversees the policy, research, and engagement work of the Education Reform team.  Her experience includes being Associate Dean at the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education, supporting Dean Karen Symms Gallagher in the launch of Ednovate Charter Schools, and management roles at Teach for America, the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, and Stanford University.  She is involved in many education focused boards in Dallas and Texas statewide.Anne holds a B.A. in American Studies and a M.A. in Education from Stanford University.  Additionally she has a M.B.A. from the University of Southern California.  A former captain of Stanford's women's volleyball team, she was part of three national championship teams, two as a player and one as an assistant coach.  She's also a mom to one son and lives in Dallas.

A raw and emotional podcast, Molly shares her story of facing the unimaginable when her husband suddenly becomes a quadriplegic on a ventilator in a matter of days with no promise of a full recovery.  With a career and mom with four children, she shares the anger that fueled her ability to keep moving forward, and how the trauma and horror helped her discover that she was so much stronger than she ever thought.  Molly will inspire all to keep the door open to possibility, even in the worst of times.Molly is the author of The Other Side of Us: A Memoir of Trauma, Truth, and Transformation, a beautifully crafted story that takes readers to the depths of calamity and the heights of restoration.  Just when it seems that all is lost, this young family climbs their way to a new life.   Molly earned her undergraduate degrees in English and Psychology and her master's degree in Communication Studies from the University of South Dakota. She studied with the Centers for Spiritual Living and graduated from its Spiritual Practitioner Program in 2017. The Other Side of Us is her debut book.  Molly and her husband Chris live in South Dakota with their four children.    mollyweisgram.com 

As a scientist following an untraditional path, Megan illuminates how deep connection - both with yourself and others - ultimately requires disconnect.  She shares “Living in the uncomfortable is where you grow.  And it can be a really crappy process.  When have I outgrown this thing that I'm in?”   Willing to be vulnerable about the “truth of the matter”, Megan opens up about imposter syndrome and how to move beyond what society has told you to think, or be or to do.  As a pursuer of authentic connection, Megan will inspire all to want the same!Megan Peppenelli is a medical scientist with a passion for bringing cutting edge cellular therapies to market and healing at the individual level. As a clinical instrument specialist with Miltenyi Biotec, she manages  6+ state territories, advancing customer cellular therapy pipelines in academic, non-profit and industry settings. She has an extensive background in cellular therapy, graft engineering, bone marrow transplant, CAR-T cell therapy and cell manufacturing.Following a non-traditional education path, Megan grounded herself at a community college in art, which since has informed her desire to seek wholeness in her work.  She has a PhD in immunology from the University of Arizona, with a postdoctoral emphasis in Virology.  She is passionate about clinical cell therapy, following the cell to the real person, and works on the leading edge of individualized cancer therapies.

As a physician pioneer certified in cranio-sacral therapy and mind/body/ spirit medicine, she has truly connected the dots about what it means to heal a whole person.  Embracing the unusual power to comprehend and act on that which may be puzzling or hidden to others, Dr. Kathy has become expert in so many areas such as the freeze response in stress and how held memories and historical trauma affect the body.  She’s a gracious powerhouse who has done the mind shift for herself that has led to living the practice that she’s meant to be.Kathy Farah, MD is an integrative and mind, body medicine physician.  She is certified with the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Integrative Medicine.  Additionally she is a Diplomate in the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine. Dr. Kathy has practiced full spectrum family medicine for over 30 years. She currently provides Integrative and Holistic Medicine at Western Wisconsin Health, Roberts, WI. Her career also includes 11 years with Mayo Clinic Red Cedar. She has been a consultant to families and children in the Pain, Palliative Care and Integrative Medicine Department at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics in Minneapolis MN for over 15 years. Dr. Farah is also an Associate Clinical Director with the Center for Mind Body Medicine and is the Clinical Lead for the VISN 8 program incorporating MInd-Body Medicine and the Whole Health Program in Florida, South Georgia and Puerto Rico. She is the Clinical Lead for the Native American and Indigenous programs as well. This has given her extensive experience in individual and global trauma.

The High Leverage Practice of As If moves way beyond the tired adage of “fake it til you make it”. This practice is about acknowledging the yearning gap - the space between where you are and where you want to be.  It’s exhausting. But even when placebound, no one has to give you permission to act more like the person you want to be. This episode is about “proceeding until apprehended”. And why not?  It’s where the juice is!!

Rae struggled mightily with special learning disabilities in math, reading and writing.  Defying all odds she has become a teacher extraordinaire, now inspiring 11 year olds in math. Sharing “If you’re going to struggle in life, then you better go out fighting hard”, Rae’s story is one of “proceeding until apprehended” and having her influence grow beyond what she ever could have imagined!Rae Hughart is a Middle Level Math Educator in Illinois, the CMO for the Teach Better Team, TEDx Speaker, and author of “Teachers Deserve It” and “Teach Better” books.Growing up with IEP support after being diagnosed SLD in Reading, Writing, and Math, Rae has worked with other educators and districts on designing mastery learning classrooms nationwide to reach all learners.Rae continues to facilitate rich discussions with educators around mastering personalized learning, providing targeted student-focused feedback, and the impact of incorporating purpose into student daily learning. Through building partnerships with local businesses, Rae shows the impact of teaching beyond the four walls of a classroom and altering a community into an authentic resource for developing leaders.After being inducted into The Illinois State University Hall of Fame in 2017, Rae was awarded the 2018 First Place Henry Ford Teacher Innovator Award for her innovative educational impact through the Teach Further Model. Additionally, Rae serves on several Educational Boards including the role of Vice President with the Association of Illinois Middle Schools (AIMS). In 2021, Rae Hughart presented on the TEDx stage challenging educators, students, and community members to consider progressive, data supported practices to further 21st century learners.  www.teachbetter.com

As a woman of great courage following her heart, she relates moving from a place of feeling lost and empty to being a trailblazing first ever life coach in the Philippines.  Through her work she “found herself”, and wants that same journey for everyone.  Her gracious open-hearted sharing about becoming “present to yourself” will inspire all to know that they are more than enough, just as they are.Kimilu is a global Neuro-Linguistic Hypnotherapy Life Coach, a Reiki Master Practitioner, a Certified Nia Instructor and Certified Sister Stories Facilitator.  She has been guiding growth-seekers and heart-centered leaders through individual and corporate well-being programs and workshops since 2010.  She received her certification at the Bennet Stellar University and was initiated with “Angels” at the Spiritual Unfoldment Network in Manhattan, New York City.  She also trained at Urban Breath New York for BioDynamic Breathwork, practiced meditation at The Art of Living Center New York, and trained to become a Storyteller at The Story Studio New York. She integrates the Art of Sensation in all the workshops she co-creates for self-discovery, self-healing and self-mastery.In 2020, she launched her certification program called SacredSpace™ Certification, a 10-week program designed to empower professionals, coaches and consultants in their desire to serve clients, teams and community members with a heart-centered approach through her distinct mind-body-spirit framework.  During the same year she started her podcast called “Celebrate Life with Kimilu Life Coach” which features guided exercises from her 10 day meditation program.  kimilu@kimilulifecoach.com

As a biochemist poet, her life and career moves have been the epitome of “proceed until apprehended”.  Every career step thrust Jen into a space she didn’t feel prepared for. But she learned to embrace her vulnerabilities sharing “I’ve always trusted myself to simply figure things out.  I don’t know exactly where that comes from, but it certainly has always been there. I don’t mean to say it’s always worked out how I thought it would work out, but I trusted that something juicy would happen and it always did.” From the Air Force Academy to being the founder of Work for Humanity, Jen shares her not to miss journey of “As If “with incredible wit and a generous heart.Jen Gresham is the founder of Work for Humanity, a nonprofit aimed at creating a more enjoyable and equitable future of work. Previously, she served as a career and business coach for clients around the world, helping individuals from the unemployed to senior executives create more income, influence, and impact. She is a Ph.D scientist and 20-year Air Force veteran. She previously served as the Assistant Chief Scientist of the Human Performance Wing, where she helped lead a $100M research portfolio in human-centered science spanning the fields of biology, psychology, and technology. She is in the process of moving from Seattle, WA to Sunnyvale, CA with her husband, daughter, and 3 cats. www.workforhumanity.org

The consummate “doer”, in the fall of 2020 this social studies/government teacher turned photographer kept seeing the disconnect in facts circulating about how the government works. She decided to do something about it, and tapped into a huge hunger for the truth! In four months she became a social media sensation, and America’s (not boring) government teacher. Sharing “The goal is to not to try and convince people to think like me, but to try to get them to have an educated opinion if you have no education. And you can’t have an educated opinion if you have no education.” Born to be a teacher, this delightful interview will inspire everyone to move on from “stuckness” and get busy doing!Sharon McMahon is a former high school government teacher who is on a mission to combat political misinformation. She is dedicated to sharing non-partisan facts about the US government and democracy. Sharon earned her reputation as ‘American’s Government Teacher’ amidst the historic 2020 election proceedings for her viral efforts on Instagram to educate the general public on political misinformation. Through a simple mission to share non-partisan information about democracy, Sharon has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers online, affectionately called the “Governerds”, who look to her for truth and logic in a society plagued by bias and conspiracy.Sharon, her husband and four kids live in Duluth, MN. www.sharonmcmahon.com

Hang onto your plates as Deanna tips “diet” on it’s head, delightfully sharing how color can change our lives, influence us, affect our feelings and alter our behavior. Her wisdom of “We need to expand the definition of nutrient to mean not just something in the diet that we’re eating, but it’s in the diet of what we’re feeling, it’s in the diet of what we’re thinking and reflecting,” is spot on in how we treat ourselves to have energy to pursue our passions. It’s time for all of us to “Think in color, eat in color, live in color!”Dr. Deanna MInich is an internationally-recognized teacher, author, scientist, speaker, and artist. She has more than 20 years of diverse, well-rounded experience in the fields of nutrition and functional medicine, including clinical practice, research, product formulation, writing and education.Deanna’s Ph.D. research focused on essential fatty acid absorption and metabolism, and her Master of Science degree (M.S.) allowed her to explore the health benefits of the colorful, plant-based carotenoids. She has authored six books on health and wellness, including Eat the Rainbow, and over forty scientific publications. Currently she is faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine and the University of Western States. She has developed an online certification program for health professionals so they can apply the color-coded 7 Systems of Full-Spectrum Health in their practice. Her lectures are heard by patients and practitioners throughout the world. Dr. Minich’s passion is teaching a whole-self approach to nourishment and bridging the gaps between science, spirituality, and art in medicine. She can be found at deannaminich.com

As a girl Lisa struggled mightily in school, until late middle school when she found something she loved and was really good at - theatre. Sharing “I learned more about me pretending to be someone else”, Lisa talks about uncovering her true values and translating into living a juicy life with dreams for the kids of the world. This delightful podcast is about claiming - and living - authentically. Or as Lisa says “We’re often told to improve things we’re bad at. And there’s value in that, as continuous improvement is always healthy. But there’s nothing wrong with finding the thing you’re good at and doing that!” Lisa Mitchell, PhD, is the Director of Education and Audience Engagement at Disney Theatrical Group, where she engages students, teachers, and audiences through Broadway performance and student-driven productions. Current and past field positions include: the Audience Engagement Committee (the Broadway League), the Roger Rees Awards advisory board, the New York City Arts in Education Roundtable board, and the American Alliance for Theatre and Education board. Lisa holds a Doctoral degree in entrepreneurial leadership in education from Johns Hopkins University, an M.S. in educational theater from the City College of New York, and a B.A. in theater from Arizona State University. Her research focuses on developing enduring theater programs in under-resourced schools. She lives with her husband, daughter, and dog in New York and enjoys teaching in higher education and spending time outdoors.

The High Leverage Practice of Story is more than just words - it’s about developing a common understanding and empathy through shared experience. And wow, are we ever ready to move beyond virtual relationships and get back together to write some new kickass stories! Deb and Mel share some incredible thoughts from our Story podcast guests to get us started, and announce a new groovy live event (yes virtual, sigh) happening that combines some of our favorite things - books and wine!

Influential women everywhere - time to chatter! Now more than ever, in this unprecedented time, women need to raise their words and voices. This episode spotlights the High Leverage Practice of Voice and how important it is for women to speak, speak, speak! Studies and surveys are chockfull of results that reveal women, as different from men, have a higher percentage in holding back the sharing of their thoughts, questions and opinions in public forums. Deb shares her own vulnerability in this arena with being terrified of public speaking in her 30’s and what she had to do to face the fear. And in this crazy time in history, our world needs a balance in the voices coming to the fore. Let’s link arms and be the voice not the echo!

From being a singer and songwriter in big cities to falling in love with a man and the land in rural America, Eliza’s story reveals one possibility after another. She epitomizes being a “possibilist” always asking “What can we do if this is where we want to get? How could we do a version of what could be?” Eliza brings sparkle to this podcast through her engaging story-telling about “listening to the small voice inside that says something has to change” and knowing that is a clue to your authentic self and how possibilities will find you. And for Eliza, living in a place where there are 3 people per square mile, that has even included making music with a famous ex-rocker!Eliza Blue is a shepherd, writer and folk-singer. In addition to her weekly column “Little Pasture on the Prairie,” which is carried by twelve different publications, she is a regular contributor to South Dakota Public Radio and Prairie Public Radio with her monthly series: Postcards from the Prairie.Her first book, Accidental Rancher, a collection of essays about her transition from urbanite to ranch hand, came out in 2020. Other writing credits include a recent New York Times Op/Ed about ranch life. Her New television show for SDPB, Wish You Were Here, a traveling concert series celebrating rural life, debuted in January 2021. Her creative work and story can be found at www.elizablue.netEliza, her rancher husband and two children live in rural northwest South Dakota along with the lambs, chickens and a donkey.

Holidays can wreak havoc with the High Leverage Practice of Bio You. Typical “tis the season” brings both joy and stress. Psychology experts tell us that 69% of people are stressed over the holidays, which is especially true for women when marketing messages entice perfection. And stress can really mess with your brain and gut. Deb and Mel offer a little 10 minute gift so you can take a breath and listen to your body in the hustle and bustle.

This episode highlights the real need for all of us to step up and accelerate the High Leverage Practice of Connection. Alarmed by the 2020 Women in the Workplace Study by McKinsey & Co., Deb and Mel dig into the revelation that 1 in 4 women are considering downshifting or leaving their careers. it’s been a hell of a year for women being more likely to be laid off or furloughed. Combine that with the reality of raising a family in a now virtual world, and we’re at a crossroads of unprecedented talent drain. Now more than ever women need to be connected with other women in meaningful ways - to have them know how truly badass they are at what they do and how much they are appreciated. Practicing amplification is a way we can all do just that, highlight smart ideas and give credit where credit is more than due.

In this episode Deb and Mel rap about the High Leverage Practice of What Is, sharing personal stories about being a fighter and a pleaser. They talk about how a good truth-slapping helped them see their growing up “what is” in a new light and move beyond it. Stopping to take a good hard look at what is truly going on is a powerful influential practice of recognition, reflection and reaction.

A podcast of raw vulnerability, Sara recounts a journey of alcohol addiction, controlling relationships with one culminating in an “intent to kill” assault. With details that may be difficult to hear, she describes the assault, the outcome of her injuries and putting a “stake in the ground” to reclaim her voice and true self. This podcast is a story of growth and triumph, where Sara now uses the power of her voice to inspire others to find their own.Sara Kindvall is a mom, speaker, domestic violence advocate and currently pursuing certification as an accredited life coach. From the day she woke up from unconsciousness after being beaten only to find her chest bleeding, Sara has fought for her future and for the lives of her two daughters. With a passion to help others, she speaks out to let others know that they are not alone in their struggles and that a better life is possible.With daughters as her priority, Sara strives to show them how to thrive in a world of injustices. Through her strong faith and perspective of gratitude, she now lives as if anything is possible. Having fought for herself and escaped a terrifying fight that was not physically in her favor, she now believes there is a profound reason for her to carry on.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of I She in Ten, where in 10 minutes Deb and Mel deliver nuggets of wisdom to help you accelerate your influence! In this episode we share how a powerful authentic story can propel you into the “I am having a blast” zone and tap into your best influential self.

As a woman who grew up on a reservation being half Native American and half white, she opens up about her journey to claim herself. Chepa is totally raw and vulnerable from sharing how her name means “chubby” to the challenges of being a mom when her growing daughter was in trouble. In this not to miss podcast, Chepa inspires all to live true to Self by claiming “This is who I am, I embrace who I am. I accept who I am.” Love yourself enough to know whatever you are going to do in the world, the most important person you have to be comfortable with is yourself.”Dr. Melita “Chepa” Rank (Hunkpati Oyate) is the Chief Executive Officer for the Fort Thompson Indian Health Services (IHS) Health Center in South Dakota. With a doctorate as a licensed social worker, she is passionate about transformative and innovative best practices to address grand challenges facing tribal communities and people. She is leading the development of Integrated systems to foster well-being, suicide prevention in indigenous nations, and holistic services to create a culture of wellness within tribal nations.Chepa has spent the majority of her career honored to work in public service in various capacities, primarily across tribal nations. She began her career working with families in child protection/child welfare services, eventually transitioning to administrative roles. Her research interests include enhancing tribal community capacity by fostering a culture of wellness, building bridges of economic and social development for tribal communities to reduce disparities, designing collective impact approaches to improve health and utilization of data for programmatic decision-making.Dr. Rank has an Associate of Arts from Haskell Indian Jr. College, a Bachelors in Social Work from the University of Kansas, a Masters in Social Work from Florida State University and a Doctorate from the University of Southern California. While education and work experience moved her around the nation, she was drawn back to her “native roots” to live, work and raise a family.

Growing up in London with Sri Lankan parents, early on she developed the skill of assessing the reality of her situation and moving forward based on clarity. With a well-traveled life that resulted in her becoming a United States citizen, she shares amazing insights about seeking equality and nuggets of fabulous advice about critical life decisions that affect your lifetime “What Is”.Pras Ranaweera is a Senior Program Officer with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Washington, DC. She leads the K-12 Place-Based Delivery through the design and execution of $70-90M RFPs to fund partners best positioned to close race- and income-based achievement gaps. Prior to this role, she also worked for the Foundation as a Senior Portfolio Manager. Her entre to the Foundation was as a Contractor on Assignment both in the United Kingdom and Washington, DC.With a passion for education and the opportunities it creates, Pras’ background includes being a Partner of Academic Strategy for TNTP (non-profit consulting) and Deputy Chief in the Office of Data and Strategy for D.C Public Schools. Pras worked for Interpol in a variety of capacities beginning as a Case Officer and ending as a Principal Business Planning Manager for the Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA). She also taught English in Switzerland and Japan.Pras has a MA in Educational Leadership from Broad Center for the Management of School Systems, CA and an MA in Intelligence & International Security from King’s College, University of London. Her BA in Combined Arts (French, German & English) is from the University of Durham, UK.

As a member of the Oregon State Legislature, Elizabeth is a shining example of how to develop authentic connections to get meaningful work done - both professionally and personally.. She talks about how to facilitate this happening sharing “By really forming connections and asking questions to get to know others better, you can often find places where you overlap, even with people that you might traditionally think you don’t have a lot in common with,” This podcast is sure to inspire all to pursue real connections which is about “getting to know others as whole people.”Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, M.D. was appointed to be State Senator from the Democrat Party representing District 17 in NW Portland/Beaverton, Oregon. With strong support from her district, she returned to the Senate in 2012 and has been serving in that role since. Her primary areas of concern and expertise include creating an affordable healthcare system, improving education statewide, improving the economy for small and local businesses and building a balanced state budget. She serves in leadership as Co-Chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee and as a member of the Joint Capital Construction and Legislative Audit Committees.Dr. Elizabeth has an undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago, a medical degree from the University of Massachusetts and moved to the northwest to complete her Family Medicine Residency at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Prior to becoming a Senator, she was a primary physician for countless individuals and families, eventually becoming involved in caring for the entire state by influencing statewide care and policy standards. Still today, while not at the Capitol in Salem, she works at Oregon Health & Sciences University teaching medical students and residents as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine.As a citizen, community involvement has always been a key priority for her. While her children were in school, she volunteered at the school, served as a Girl Scout Troop leader and camp physician. She remains on the Catlin Gabel Board of Trustees. Elizabeth is also very active with board or clergy search committees within her synagogue congregation, Neveh Shalom. Senator, Doctor Elizabeth has three grown daughters.

At 10 years old and our youngest podcast guest to-date, she lives with significant food allergies to eggs and mustard seed, Julia has had to find her voice and grow her confidence early in life. Wanting to “teach people that allergies are not just something that can’t be eaten but something that can affect your whole life”, Julia shows how our youth should not be underestimated in how they can influence the world. Julia lives in Westchester County, New York with her mom, dad, younger sister and Labradoodle Gracie. She is going into the 5th grade.She loves reading, writing stories about her dog, art and playing violin. Julia also loves baking and decorating cakes and cupcakes. She is currently allergic to eggs and mustard seed having already outgrown allergies to milk and sesame.

As a true “possibilist” she shares her delightful story of scary risk-taking that moved her from a clock-watching job to being a salon business owner with 21 stylists renting space. With her “I am not willing to fail” attitude, Amber cuts to the chase about what it means to follow your dreams and live an authentic, creative life. Her story of believing in something bigger for herself is an inspiration for all to just “go for it”!Amber Stegman is a businesswoman who in January of 2020 purchased her own Studio South Salon that has twenty-one rooms/chairs. Dually licensed as a cosmetologist and aesthetician, she tirelessly worked her way from being an employed stylist to owner in her 30”s. Savvy in offering quality niche services to meet client needs, she became certified in sugaring (instead of waxing) and hair extensions in a region where none of these options existed. Amber graduated from Mayville State University, Mayville, ND with a business degree. She worked for two years at State Bank and Trust in Fargo in the IT department. In spite of success and promotion in that role she left to attend Joseph’s West Academy cosmetology school, also in Fargo and began her dream career at MJ Capelli Salon. Now with her business, Amber at Studio South, she and her husband Tyler live in Grand Forks, ND with their two daughters.

At 18 years old, our youngest guest-to-date, she shares an amazing story of getting to know her core self and then just “going for it.” From feeling restless and unfulfilled as a Sophomore, she talks about her journey of self-discovery and steps forward with “I just started doing things that I was definitely afraid of.” Brenna’s “I know myself and love when I can pour myself into something that I can believe in”, will inspire women of any age to fully claim their powerful, influential selves!Brenna Pangelinan just graduated from Eastlake High School, Chula Vista, CA with a cumulative GPA of 4.64. After a six month intensive interview process, she was selected by the Governor as the sole student representative on the California State Board of Education for 2019-20. As a voting member, she served with eight women and one man on the highest policy-making board for California public K-12 education.Prior to this appointment, Brenna served as a Board Member for Sweetwater Union High School District, Chula Vista, CA. She was Chair of the President’s Council for the Associated Student Body (ASB) of Eastlake High School and Leader of the ASB Athletics Commission. Also she was President of her HS Nothing but Nets club, raising dollars to send insecticide treated beds to malaria endemic countries, and in that role was a United Nations Foundation Campaign Champions Council Member. She regularly met with Congressional and Senate members advocating for federal support of global health legislation.Brenna is an accomplished athlete in swimming and was varsity captain for the water polo team where she was named All Mesa League 1st Team, and varsity defensive player of the year. In 2017 and 2019 she was part of the Mesa League Division II CIF Semifinalist Varsity Swim Team. She was honored as Freshman Swimmer of the Year, and a California State High School Championship Qualifier in the 200 Freestyle Relay. In 2017 she was part of a team of six that completed the 21 mile Catalina Channel Relay in the ocean. Brenna was accepted at Brown University, Providence, RI beginning her freshman year in January 2021 (start delay due to COVID pandemic).

Her story is one of being a true innovator from the moment she pursued a “rare air” doctorate in Educational Technology. Using story as a powerful truth-telling about claiming authenticity, Julie constantly has charted new ground - including a year of wandering - and talks about how “We have to just push through our fears of worrying about disruption and figure out how to make those disruptions work in a way that gets us to our mission.” Julie Mathiesen, Ed.D. is the Director of Technology and Innovation in Education (TIE) in South Dakota providing executive leadership for a statewide education organization with a multimillion-dollar budget. Through her work, educators and leaders are empowered with professional learning experiences merging education and technology. TIE serves a range of entities, including historically under-served and at-risk populations.Julie was the recipient of the prestigious Bush Fellowship which enabled her take a two-year leave from her work and achieve a Doctorate in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University in California. She has a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, both from Black Hills State University in South Dakota.Previously Dr. Mathiesen worked as an Education Technology Specialist for TIE and as a Program Director for Three Rivers Special Services Cooperative. In the genesis of her career, Julie taught art and biology at the high school level. She serves on numerous professional boards and committees, and is a sought after national speaker within her field. Julie and her husband Steve had two grown children, Sienna and Sawyer, and live in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.

A true expert in women’s health, she digs deep into how the body responds to stress and what choices are best to stay in balance. Jessica shares “If you don’t have any energy and you can’t think clearly, there is no way you are going to be effective at whatever you try to do” highlighting how important balanced body health is to being truly influential. Jessica Morrell is a Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner with Avera Medical Group Functional Medicine in Sioux Falls, SD. She was in the first cohort in the world to become a Certified Provider from the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFMCP, 2015). She has extensive experience caring for women, providing a safe respectful place for healing and the ability to achieve optimum health. Her approach is one of digging deeper into each person’s history, genetic risk, exposures, life influences, and situations to determine causation/correlation. Taking into account hormonal imbalances no matter what the stage of life, she helps women establish long term lifestyle management interventions to achieve a fulfilling life.Jessica’s background includes being a Captain in the Air Force serving the United States at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) and Sheppard AFB both in Texas, at Eielson AFB in Arkansas and Osan AFB in the Republic of Korea. Additionally she has been a Gastrointestinal Navigator at the Avera Cancer Institute, worked with Emerald Coast Gastroenterology in Crestview, FL and as an RN at the Eglin AFB OB/Gyn clinic.Jessica achieved her MS in Nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and her BS in Nursing from South Dakota State University. She and her husband Mark have three growing daughters.

Doing is all about developing the acuity to redirect actions, building decision making muscle that results in the ability to get things purposely done. Katherine exemplifies this idea in her personal and professional life, sharing that it is not always easy, “We as women particularly need to embrace discomfort, and that’s hard for us.” She highlights that hoping is not doing, underscoring how “Respect and credibility are built by what you actually do in your work. Join in this rich dialogue about how purposeful doing leads to a juicy influential life!Katherine Bassett is Chief Executive Officer/Co-Founder of Tall Poppy, a nationwide consultancy firm providing leadership development and other services to schools, districts, associations and connecting educators with opportunities in policy, research, and advocacy. Additionally she co-founded Research and Assessment Design: Science Solution, radssolution.com, to assess social and emotional learning skills across career verticals which include incarcerated citizens, reentry citizens, educators, students and workforce. Past experience includes being President/CEO for the National Network of State Teachers of the Year, the Director of Policy and Partnerships for The Center for Educator Effectiveness at Pearson, and for twelve years with Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ as the Director of Educator Relations Group and other leadership roles. She also served as the Assessment Developer/Facilitator for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The genesis of her career was as a Library Media Specialist, Ocean City Intermediate School in New Jersey.She has an M.A. in Elementary Education along with a Post-Graduate Certificate in Computers in Education from Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, and a B.S in Educational Media/Library Science from Millersville University, Millersville, PA. Katherine has received numerous awards and honors for her work, such as being the 2000 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, New Jersey State Legislature Honoree & Congressional Honoree and twice being the New Jersey Best Practices awardee. She is an expert educator and executive volunteer with respect to education assessment and standards development. She is highly published and a sought after national speaker.

As a true risk-taker, Becky spent most of her twenties and early thirties in China. By living in four different cities and three different provinces, she uncovered her true self sharing, “Continually moving teaches you a lot about yourself - for better or worse. But with each one I was able to fine tune, to hone, what was important to me in a career, in a living environment and even regarding the people I want to work with” Becky opens up about the vulnerability and fear that can be experienced by all when forced into uncomfortable situations that ultimately help you to discover who you really are.Rebecca “Becky” Nelson is the Assistant Director of International Recruitment and Admissions for Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD. She is professionally fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Her most recent experience was as an English Foreign Language teacher for Weilanhaian Kindergarten, attached to Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, Beijing Normal University. Becky had held multiple international positions leading to a rich, diverse background. She was Account Manager/Trainer for Sino Associates in Shenzhen, and Client Executive for Burson-Marsteller in Shanghai. Additionally she was an Operations Manager for Dianhuo International Education Consulting, Changsha, Hunan Province and for Guangcheng International Education, People’s Republic of China. She served as an Assistant Field Director and Volunteer Oral English Teacher for WorldTeach, Changsha and Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province People’s Republic of China.Becky has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana University, South Dakota, 3 summers of Intensive Immersion College course from Beloit College, Wisconsin and completion of Critical Foreign Language Programs for 1st, 2nd and 3rd year Mandarin Chinese from Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

This episode features our terrific daughters, Heather and Molly. In general we just love to hang out with them and thought it would be fun to hear their take on our Influential She journey. As up and coming professionals they share characteristics of women that have inspired them to grow, along with barriers they perceive that can get in the way of becoming truly influential. Also they divulge a few personal things that listeners would not know about us! Join in this fun, relaxed, and at times mother homespun convo, with our deepest heart connection daughters.Heather Schopp currently is a Senior Prospect Analyst with The George Washington University in Washington, DC. She works with major gift officers across three schools to enhance gift development and serves as a strategic thought partner and trusted advisor throughout the donor cycle. Heather has extensive experience in prospect research as an analyst for The University of Arizona Foundation in Tucson and in project management as a coordinator and grant evaluator for Black Hills Special Services Cooperative in Rapid City, SD. Her background includes being a Chiropractic Physician in Long Beach, CA. Heather has an MS in Administration from the University of South Dakota, a Doctor of Chiropractic from Southern California University of Health Sciences and a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Northern Colorado. Molly Gilbert (Soholt), MD is an Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident at The University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix, AZ. She graduates in June 2020 and then moves with her husband A.J. to Salt Lake City, Utah to begin her practice. Additionally in residency Molly pursued Integrative Medicine education through the University of Arizona and during medical school by completing the integrative medicine scholars program. She completed year-long coursework in leadership development for residents. Molly has her Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, and a BS in Health and Exercise Science from Colorado State University.

She powerfully relates how stories bring theory to life. Her fascinating real life stories titled Silas and the Beer Bottle, Death by Cop and Bloody Snow, are lessons of building influence by trusting oneself, seeking hope and understanding that things are not always as they seem. Terryl highlights the influence of stories you tell yourself and others, sharing “Most people, including myself, underestimate our stories.”Terryl Cadwell is an adjunct professor for both the University of South Dakota and the University of Sioux Falls coordinating criminal justice practicums for upper level college students and teaching policing and corrections in a “smart” classroom setting. For ten years she held the top administrative position of Chief of US Probation and Pretrial Services for the District of South Dakota, where she was responsible for community safety and successful outcomes for over 700 federal offenders under supervision with one of the highest risk offender populations in the nation. Terryl has extensive experience as an assistant deputy, probation/parole practitioner and court services officer. Her multidimensional knowledge base in justice system practices, human behavior and administrative excellence led her to become a sought after national speaker. She has over 30 years of background partnering with tribal, state, and federal judges, attorneys, defendants and offenders, law enforcement agencies, and therapeutic treatment providers.She received her BA in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, and an MS in Selected Studies (emphasis communication/counseling) from the University of South Dakota. Additionally she is a graduate from the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) Leadership Development Program, Washington, DC and is a FJC National Training Academy Instructor, Baltimore MD and Charleston SC. Terryl also is a National Rifle Association Firearms Instructor from Front Sight, NV, teaching defensive handgun use.

Everything starts with a story. Stories powerfully connect us to others, and can hold the power to trigger imagination and empathy. Stories humanize, offering a glimpse of your authentic self. Jane does just that by relating her journey of living a disconnected life in an abusive relationship, and what it took to reclaim herself, sharing “You reach this point where you say - you know what? I don’t want to live this way anymore. And it takes having your back against the wall and really clarifying your thoughts, clarifying what you believe, clarifying what’s important. But it must happen to live an authentic life, your true self, which has so much to offer.”Jane Berz is a Registered Nurse and Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist and a national consultant for the development of breast/oncology centers of excellence. She has worked with multiple health systems to create comprehensive, multidisciplinary oncology programs that care for the whole person facing cancer - mind, body and spirit. Jane has extensive experience as an oncology service line administrator, along with being a breast cancer clinical nurse specialist where she provided navigation throughout the continuum of care for newly diagnosed patients. Jane is a Fellow and Board of Trustees member for the National Consortium of Breast Centers and is a frequent national speaker. Living in Chattanooga,TN with her husband Bob, she is very involved in the community and foundation work. She served as Board President for the Center for Mindful Living, and loves to advance southern literature through her work with the Southern Literature Alliance and Chattanooga Arts and Education Council.Her Bachelor of Science in Nursing is from the University of Texas in Arlington and her Masters in Adult Health and Oncology is from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She is a Fellow with the National Consortium of Breast Centers (FNCBC) and an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse (AOCN).

Nadja talks about how it is possible to rise above fractured circumstances sharing “There’s no way for our past to not define us, It is a part of our fabric, our psyche and our personality, but it doesn’t have to paralyze us. We can use it to fuel us, build grit and a growth mindset, turning it into a positive.” Nadja has done just that, developing perspicaciousness at a very young age, and using the practice throughout her life to achieve influential success every step of the way.Nadja Young is the Director of Education Practice and Federal Government Teams, Public Sector, for the SAS Institute. She leads national education analytic projects in all 50 states, and across six Federal Civilian Departments including the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Social Security Administration.Nadja began as a Career and Technical Education Teacher, along with Varsity Dance Team Coach, at Chaparral High School in Parker, CO. She became a Certified Teacher for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards at Wake County Public School System, Raleigh, NC. Prior to her post with SAS, she was the Curriculum and Assessment Development Contractor for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. For three years Nadja was part of the professional dance team for the Denver Nuggets Basketball Team. She is an accomplished national speaker. Her B.S. degree is in Marketing Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and her M.A. in Secondary Education is from the University of Phoenix in Denver. Nadja and her husband Tony have two daughters and live in North Carolina.

Nadja shares her compelling story of growing up with all the odds stacked against her - low income family, fatherless home, parents without college degrees, mother with significant mental illness, father in federal prison from robbing banks, chronically absent from school, in and out of social services protection - only to become a strong, confident woman. She learned to be perspicacious at a very young age when most are shielded by their parents, connecting dots to create a pathway out of chaos that led to a happy, secure life. Nadja Young is the Director of Education Practice and Federal Government Teams, Public Sector, for the SAS Institute. She leads national education analytic projects in all 50 states, and across six Federal Civilian Departments including the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Social Security Administration.Nadja began as a Career and Technical Education Teacher, along with Varsity Dance Team Coach, at Chaparral High School in Parker, CO. She became a Certified Teacher for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards at Wake County Public School System, Raleigh, NC. Prior to her post with SAS, she was the Curriculum and Assessment Development Contractor for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. For three years Nadja was part of the professional dance team for the Denver Nuggets Basketball Team. She is an accomplished national speaker. Her B.S. degree is in Marketing Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and her M.A. in Secondary Education is from the University of Phoenix in Denver. Nadja and her husband Tony have two daughters and live in North Carolina.

In a time of pandemic, she talks about how needed and powerful women’s connection influence can be, “Women play a special role because we’re natural healers, we’re natural connectors and I think our voices can make a difference in helping calm people and helping to bring people together.” Martha also reflects on a lifetime of making rich connections and offers advice for all to accelerate the development of whole-hearted relationships.Martha King just returned from almost a year as a U.S. Peace Corps “Response” Volunteer in Kabwe, Zambia. She served as an HIV/AIDS Education Facilitator, working under the DREAMS initiative and with the Zambian Ministry of General Education to train teachers in 34 schools under the country’s campaign to prevent HIV infections and teen pregnancies. DREAMS - Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe - is a USAID initiative in 10 African countries, including Zambia. Martha has over thirty years of experience working in health policy leadership for NCSL, a national bi-partisan membership organization of the 50 state legislatures, D.C. and the commonwealths and territories. In this role, she served as program and partnership lead on multiple invitational multi-state meetings for state legislators, state health officials, Medicaid agency directors, maternal and child health directors, and others under grant-funded collaborations with several national partner organizations, including the National Governors Association and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Prior to her time with NCSL, she had seven years of experience in several staff positions for the Colorado General Assembly.Martha served the U.S. Peace Corps for two years in South Korea just after graduation with a double major in Biology and Psychology from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Originally pre-med, Martha was inspired by working in rural county-level tuberculosis and leprosy control through the Peace Corp to pursue public health. This led to her obtaining Masters Degrees in both Social Work and Public Administration from the University of Denver in Colorado. Additionally she is extensively published with respect to public health and public policy.

This is the first episode of a two-part conversation featuring the High Leverage Practice of Connection with Martha King. From being a “barefoot connector” in South Korea for the Peace Corp to working with legislators from all over the country with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Martha epitomizes the practice of connection. She reflects how authentic connections are built on the foundation of where we have come sharing “The way we connect depends on how we were raised, what our opportunities were and what kind of culture we were brought up in.” Martha’s life journey is fascinating and exemplifies how women’s influential power grows when respectful connections are built by bringing the real you to the party!Martha King just returned from almost a year as a U.S. Peace Corps “Response” Volunteer in Kabwe, Zambia. She served as an HIV/AIDS Education Facilitator, working under the DREAMS initiative and with the Zambian Ministry of General Education to train teachers in 34 schools under the country’s campaign to prevent HIV infections and teen pregnancies. DREAMS - Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe - is a USAID initiative in 10 African countries, including Zambia. Martha has over thirty years of experience working in health policy leadership for NCSL, a national bi-partisan membership organization of the 50 state legislatures, D.C. and the commonwealths and territories. In this role, she served as program and partnership lead on multiple invitational multi-state meetings for state legislators, state health officials, Medicaid agency directors, maternal and child health directors, and others under grant-funded collaborations with several national partner organizations, including the National Governors Association and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Prior to her time with NCSL, she had seven years of experience in several staff positions for the Colorado General Assembly.Martha served the U.S. Peace Corps for two years in South Korea just after graduation with a double major in Biology and Psychology from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Originally pre-med, Martha was inspired by working in rural county-level tuberculosis and leprosy control through the Peace Corp to pursue public health. This led to her obtaining Masters Degrees in both Social Work and Public Administration from the University of Denver in Colorado. Additionally she is extensively published with respect to public health and public policy.

Too many times we wait and wait and wait for permission - to speak, to act, to grow. This practice is about “proceeding until apprehended”, acting as if where you are headed has already been realized. Mary Anne’s story is a lifetime practice of “As If”. From being a girl with self-doubt whose mom instilled “What do you mean you can’t do that?” moxie, to end up leading a state with 6.2 million kids from No. 2 pencil testing to online in one year - Mary Anne has not waited for permission from others to become amazing. Get ready to be inspired to do the same!Mary Anne Arcilla is the Executive Director for the Education Testing Service (ETS) for California’s K-12 Programs. She has over 30 years of experience in the K-12 education field having managed and directed several research and large-scale assessment programs. In her current role, she has overall strategic and business responsibility for the K-12 education and testing activities supporting over 6.2 million students in California. She has worked with California educators and the California Department of Education to meet state and stakeholder goals while overseeing major transitions of two key statewide assessment programs from paper-pencil testing to computer-based testing and reporting. Mary Anne first joined ETS in 2007 as an associate director for the California STAR program, where she provided end-to-end program management oversight. Prior to joining ETS, Mary Anne worked with the American Institutes for Research as a research scientist and a senior management specialist in the Education Assessment division. Key areas of professional talent are strategic development, project management, team building, cost estimating and cost control, specializing in multi-million dollar Federal and state government contracts.Mary Anne obtained her B.A. in Psychology from San Francisco State University. She lives with her family in Roseville, California, north of Sacramento.

As a podcast is being released at the height of a worldwide pandemic, Amy’s words ring true for all of us, “That which you put your mind to grows stronger. So sometimes when you are in those stuck places (think home for 2-3 weeks) and you just don’t know what to do, and you just let your mind keep perseverating about being hurt or upset, you do get stuck there. You have to realize you can change that thought pattern and can choose to move on.” For all of us right now, “doing” is about moving beyond fear and anxiety in our thoughts, holding those we love close and taking every possible step to stay well. First and foremost, Amy Skinner is grateful to be a mom to two delightful teenage daughters. Amy's adventures with her girls are what energizes her for the rest of life, including a career in the communications field. She is a communications strategist and team builder with more than twenty years experience in industries from IT to education and nonprofit. Her expertise falls in the areas of change management, brand development, and outreach and engagement. When she's not enjoying time with her daughters or hard at work at the office, you'll find her on her yoga mat. For Amy, hot power yoga brings complete joy and emotional, mental and physical strength.Amy recently joined the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) as the Director of Outreach and Engagement where she oversees all aspects of communication for state education leaders and legislators. Her experience includes being Director of Communications and Marketing for the Education Commission of the States, Director of Communications for the Colorado Department of Education and Worldwide Sales Development for Sun Microsystems. She has received numerous awards for her stellar work in the communication sector. Amy has a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University.

From public health to being a pediatrician, she has traveled around the world caring for others and seeing the emergence of trends. At a very young age, Heidi has been able to connect dots of similarity - in arenas that on the surface seem dramatically different. In this conversation Dr. Moline came to understand that she actually is “perspicacious”, sharing “Sometimes it’s hard to articulate in the moment if I’m thinking of ways we can be connecting this further down the road,and to put time in now and cultivate ideas to really bring energy toward something that may not deliver fruit until some time in the future.” Dr. Heidi is an inspiration for others who want to claim being the same!Dr. Moline has already done extensive research, published articles and provided numerous presentations in the areas of acute respiratory distress in children, virus’ and infections in pediatrics and pandemic preparedness. She worked with Ben-Gurion University and the Ministry of Health with respect to Disaster Preparedness and Response in Israel. Her most recent breakthrough work dealt with Acute Flaccid Myelitis in Minnesota children. In 2019 she spent a clinical month working with mothers and children in Tanzania, and does ongoing work with Somal-Minnesotani mothers to better understand vaccine hesitancy and misconceptions surrounding autism.Heidi Moline, MD, MPH, is Chief Resident of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. She completed her undergraduate (2008) and medical training (2016) at the University of South Dakota for undergraduate and medical training, and attended Emory University for her masters of public health (2010). In July 2020 she will join the Center for Disease Control's Epidemic Intelligence Service, a two year fellowship in applied public health leadership and outbreak investigation. Additionally she is a clinical instructor of public health at the University of South Dakota.Dr. Heidi has been honored with the 2019 Certificate in Global Pediatrics, the 2015 Gold Humanism Honor Society Award from the University of Minnesota and the Excellence in Public Health Award from the US Public Health Service.

Her success in authentically connecting with others is grounded in her belief that truly being listened to and heard is a basic need for all people. She shares how practicing connection based on reciprocal respect can lead to amazing new opportunities. Shirley also unabashedly seeks connections with others, telling her story of “out -of-the-blue” reaching out to former Secretary of Education Dr. Melody Schopp, now Co-Owner of Influential She, to secure a summer internship in South Dakota! Shirley Vargas, ED, L. D. is a social-justice minded educator of over 12 years who has focused on disrupting antiquated systems of education through immersive learning experiences, courageous leadership and strategic partnerships. Her passion is to reimagine an equitable education system designed for each learner to grow, thrive and lead. Shirley possesses a multitude of experiences leading and supporting positive change efforts within rural and urban schools and communities.Presently Shirley is the Senior Administrator in the Office of Coordinated School and District Support for the Nebraska Department of Education in Lincoln, NE. She leads and coordinates school improvement providing technical assistance for teaching, learning, assessment and special education within identified schools. Along with many other education enhancement leadership roles, her experience includes being an Education Consultant within the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, MA, along with being Director of School Renewal for the Office of School Superintendent, NYCDOE, in Brooklyn, NY. The genesis of her career trajectory, was being a Spanish and ESL teacher and coordinator for six years in New York.Shirley Vargas has a Doctor of Educational Leadership (Ed,L.D.) from Harvard University. She achieved both a Masters of Science and Masters of Arts at Baruch College in New York. Her B.A in Spanish Language and Literature was from Hunter College, also in New York. From June through August 2017, Shirley gained state-level experience by working alongside Secretary Dr. Melody Schopp at the South Dakota Department of Education by being a Gordon Ambach Fellowship Recipient.