Inside Source

What happens when life brings a diagnosis you never saw coming? In this deeply personal episode of Inside Source, Kellye Smith opens up about living with a chronic, invisible illness while raising three boys, leading in the workforce, and redefining what success looks like. From navigating seizures and wheelchairs to showing up with purpose and humor, Kellye shares hard-earned wisdom on resilience, identity, and advocating for a more compassionate workplace. Her story is a reminder that anyone can become “the one”—and that with the right support, we all can thrive.

What does it take to carry a family legacy into the future—while staying true to your roots? In this powerful conversation, Shelley Brown Floyd, Executive Vice President of Brown Bottling Group, shares how she climbed the ranks of her family's third-generation business—starting in the warehouse and working her way up. She opens up about the challenges of working alongside her father, the unique value women bring to leadership, and why being local still matters—even when you're selling global brands. From vending machines to values on the wall, this episode is a heartfelt reflection on leading with purpose, investing in people, and “doing it up Brown.

In this inspiring episode of Inside Source, host Mary Straton Smith sits down with Portia Green, the dynamic principal of Prichard Preparatory School in Mobile, Alabama. What began as a parent's search for a better education for her daughter became a life-changing calling for Portia, who now leads the school with wisdom, humility, and an unshakable faith. She shares her incredible journey from volunteer to principal, the mission behind Prichard Prep's unique academic and spiritual model, and how character, community, and opportunity are transforming the lives of students every day. Full of heartfelt stories, practical insights, and vision for the future, this episode is a celebration of leadership that sees every child, values every associate, and uplifts an entire community.

What does it truly mean to provide a shelter? In this inspiring episode of Inside Source, Mary Straton Smith sits down with Dawn Bradley Fletcher, CEO of the New Orleans Women and Children's Shelter, to discuss how her team is transforming lives beyond just offering a place to stay. Dawn shares her personal journey into nonprofit work, the realities of family homelessness, and the innovative programs designed to empower women and children toward self-sufficiency. From workforce development and education support to long-term transition assistance, the shelter is more than a refuge—it's a launching pad for lasting change. Tune in to hear powerful success stories, the challenges families face, and how you can be part of the solution.

In this inspiring episode of Inside Source, host Mary Straton Smith sits down with Tifferney White, CEO of the Louisiana Children's Museum. Tifferney shares her unexpected career path from chemistry and psychology to leading a museum that shapes young minds. She opens up about the power of purpose, the magic of New Orleans' community, and how early childhood experiences can unlock a child's full potential. Listen in as she discusses the museum's role in fostering curiosity, cultural appreciation, and lifelong learning.

Laura Johns, Founder and CEO of The Business Growers, shares her inspiring journey from babysitter to tech-focused marketing agency leader, crediting effective networking, seizing opportunities, and a workplace culture focused on solutions. Her experience and commitment to supporting women in tech both shape her leadership style and entrepreneurial vision. In this episode, Laura offers valuable advice for aspiring marketers, insights on goal setting, and reflections on the impact of representation as a working mother.

Mandi Stanley, a certified speaking professional and seasoned entrepreneur, shares her transformative journey and strategies for effective communication – from public speaking to professional networking. Combining the power of intentionality with the art of audience engagement, Mandi delves into the core practices that have sustained her 30-year career. Listen to her practical advice on crafting a professional network, mastering public speaking jitters, and leveraging opportunities with confidence and creativity.  

You probably best recognize Julie McAllister of Julie McAllister Cakes from her appearances on Food Network and Netflix's hit show Is It Cake?, but she didn't start out there. Julie shares her incredible journey from a career in advertising to becoming a renowned cake artist best known for her confections that are as realistic as they are delicious. She talks with Inside Source about the pivotal moments that led her to follow her passion, the challenges of running a niche small business, and how she turns iconic Southern elements into edible works of art.  

MK Hennigan, founder of In the Curious Kitchen, went from a decades-long career in corporate sales to launching her own business during the uncertainties of the pandemic. Her Southern roots, love for family traditions, and entrepreneurial spirit led to the creation of a unique line of products inspired by cherished family recipes. Listen as MK opens up about overcoming fear, the importance of authenticity, and the challenges and joys of being a small business owner.

In this special episode of Inside Source, our very own Katy Hedglin breaks down the origin story of The Source and gives a glimpse into her 15-year journey at BankPlus, her role in developing The Source, and the challenges and triumphs of being a working mom. A lot happened behind the scenes while creating a women's network that flourished beyond expectations, and Katy's unique position at BankPlus proved she was the perfect person for the job.

In this episode of Inside Source, host Mary Straton Smith welcomes Kristi Brown, a regional economic development consultant with TVA and a life and leadership coach with Upside Browns. Kristi shares her unique journey, balancing her dual roles, and delves into her passion for helping communities and individuals thrive. Listen as Kristi discusses the importance of overcoming adversity, leveraging emotional intelligence, and the value of intentional connections. Gain insights on navigating male-dominated industries, combating imposter syndrome, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with practical advice and heartfelt wisdom.

Elizabeth Randall's career journey has taken her from the Mississippi Delta to New York City and back, leading her to found Randall Commercial Group in Oxford. #InsideSource invited Elizabeth to discuss her early inspiration for entrepreneurship, embracing a non-linear path to success, and how she finds fulfillment in serving her community.

With more than two decades of experience working to improve the quality of life for people with limited financial resources, Aisha Nyandoro is a leader in the campaign to end generational poverty. She is the founding CEO of Springboard To Opportunities, a nonprofit that helps affordable housing residents reach their life goals. Aisha talks with Inside Source about “disrupting” poverty, living generously, and the gift of financial breathing room.

Each generation brings unique strengths and insights to the workplace, but it's not always easy to get on the same page. Collaboration not only strengthens team cohesion but encourages employees to appreciate the knowledge and experience both older and younger coworkers. Sara Yates of HORNE LLP talks with Inside Source about bridging age gaps, enhancing communication and different social media approaches for each.  

The Source believes when women are empowered, communities thrive, and few people have a more unique perspective on this than Stevie Phillips with Cooperative Energy. The wife of an entrepreneur herself, Stevie talks to Inside Source about women's unique economic perspectives, the importance of her male allies, and how her personal life has helped her professionally. 

Dr. Rani Warsi Sullivan is an award-winning leader in STEM at a top-ranked engineering university, a brilliant career woman, and a working mom who still makes time for her passion as a lifelong learner. Inside Source sat down with Dr. Sullivan as she both reflects back on her career and looks forward to her continuing work in groundbreaking research, collaborating with colleagues, and remaining a trusted mentor to her students.

Many women have a complicated relationship with their healthcare and healthcare providers. Channeling her passion for healing others with functional medicine, Kelly Engelmann, FNP-BC, founded Enhanced Wellness Living after dedicating years to researching and developing treatment strategies using a food-first approach. Inside Source talked with Kelly about women's specific healthcare needs, being a lifetime learner, and how wellness takes many forms.

Change is the only constant in digital marketing, and staying up-to-date with our strategies is crucial to remain competitive in the dynamic landscape of the digital marketplace. Inside Source sat down with our very own web guru, Bo Pentecost, to discuss the savvier and smarter end user, the difference between SEO and SEM, and whether email marketing is still effective.  

Artificial intelligence is changing the game in hundreds of industries, from marketing to healthcare to human resources, but should we fear it or be fascinated by it? We talked with Whitney Jackson of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP about how AI can help or hinder a job search, can simplify tedious tasks, and how laws are scrambling to keep up with the technology.

When Michelle King took over as COO of Coffee Bean Corral, she envisioned transforming the business from a hobby venture to an international operation. Her colleague Catherine Mansell expanded the impact even further with Current Crop Roasting, an interactive and educational roasting experience in New Orleans. They both sat down with Inside Source to answer our questions on scaling the business, building an effective team, and why they place so much emphasis on sustainability.

If you've ever enjoyed a filled king cake, you can probably thank Sherri Paul Thigpen of Paul's Pastry. Her family's delicious spin on a traditional Mardi Gras pastry put her bakery and her small town on the map. Inside Source talked with Sherri about managing her large team, stepping out of her comfort zone, and the privilege of being a part of so many customers' celebrations.

Before she became owner of The Bridal Path in Jackson, Mississippi, Audrey Jarvis McCarty had an undeniable entrepreneurial spirit. She has successfully combined that drive with an eye for detail and beauty and a passion for customer service in a time where enthusiastic word of mouth is still the best publicity. Audrey sits down with Inside Source to talk about working with her family, building a hardworking team, and scaling her growing business to new heights.

Cathy Peshek started blogging in 2013, and since then has amassed nearly 60,000 followers of her “Poor Little It Girl” content, building and growing a business that has evolved as much as her personal style. Inside Source asked Cathy about work-from-home balance, “creativity block,” and how social media has changed how we all do business.

Laura Cox Kaplan's career spans three decades in policy, communications, business, and media with positions at some of the highest institutions in Washington, DC. The connections she made inspired her to create She Said / She Said podcast, dedicated to sharing stories of how successful women have understood, embraced, and leveraged influence. Laura sat down with Inside Source to discuss building a network, learning to assert influence, and the best pep talk her daughter ever gave her.

In the age of online shopping, simply having a website isn't enough anymore. Social media may get your customers there, but then what? Inside Source talked with Kristen Schneider of The Business Growers about common mistakes your copy might be making, the disconnect between website clicks and sales, and why hesitancy to ask for the sale is costing you.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and where mental health and the workplace intersect, you'll often find emotional intelligence. Libbo Crosswhite is a counselor and leadership consultant, and she answered our questions about how EI factors into management, whether it's innate or learned, and why these conversations are happening in offices everywhere.

If true work-life balance is a myth, what about wealth-life balance? In honor of Financial Literacy Month, Inside Source spoke with our very own Maeve Beard on the subject of building wealth, specific to women. We asked her about planning for the future, why working with a financial advisor isn't just for the “wealthy,” and if it is ever too late to start building wealth.

Knowing your Enneagram number is more than a simple conversation starter. Different from other personality typing systems, it identifies your motivation rather than your behavior and is an effective tool for not only self-examination, but for understanding others. Joey Schewee of WE Solutions puts an even finer point on the concept: the Enneagram in the workplace. She talks to Inside Source about using the Enneagram in a team setting, how she handles skeptics, and what it's like working in “the family business.”

Walking into Muddy's Bake Shop in Memphis, Tennessee is more than entering a carb-lover's utopia; it's a living, breathing master class in customer service. And even further behind the curtain is Kat Gordon, the shop's founder and owner, and the brains behind her company's stellar service and top-notch customer experience. Inside Source asked Kat our questions about the importance of a supportive community, learning from failures, and why we need to give (and receive!) “fearless feedback.”

Many women don't know they're performing tasks of invisible labor, but once it's pointed out, it can't be unseen. Miriam Cherry and Winifred Poster are co-authors of the book, Invisible Labor: Hidden Work in the Contemporary World, and they shared their wisdom with Inside Source about surprising examples of invisible labor, what makes it different from “being a team player,” and what the solution to the problem might be.

The fascinating field of bioarchaeology brought together Lida Gibson and Dr. Jennifer Mack for the Asylum Hill Project on the campus of University of Mississippi Medical Center. The thousands of residents of the then-named Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum we buried in an on-site cemetery, launching a huge project to identify, catalog, and study of the patients. Inside Source talked with both women about unlikely (and likely!) career paths, maximizing your unique set of skills, and the value of making and maintaining connections.

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While “leadership” may have a specific interpretation on paper, in actuality, there are as many iterations of the word as there are people in those roles. Staci Tyler, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer at EastGroup Properties in Jackson, Miss., talks with Inside Source about her own definition of leadership, leveraging women's unique skills in the workplace, and embracing the twists and turns in a career path.

To create something totally unique that both solves a problem and excites customers takes an entrepreneurial spirit and out-of-the-box thinking. Luckily, Amy Thomas has both and used them to her advantage to create Manebangle, a premium ponytail holder and leather bracelet. Inside Source chats with Amy about teamwork, the importance of support from your circle, and the journey from idea to finished product.

  Somewhere at the juxtaposition of stark, white lab coat and bold, beautiful art stands Dr. Lisa Cain, a professor of neuroscience, gross anatomy and cell biology, as well as a self-taught folk artist. This Mississippi native's gifts are just as appreciated by her students at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston as the many art galleries and homes in which she's featured. Inside Source sat down with Dr. Cain for a conversation about dreaming big, the art she sees in science, and her passion for empowering others.

While we've heard mixing business with friendship can be tricky, Margaret Boyce and Jamey Gresham couldn't imagine running their company with anyone else. Inside Source talks with the two founders of J. Lowery handbags and accessories about where they draw inspiration, the benefits of outside-the-box thinking, and the importance of communication and trust in both personal and professional relationships.

Mary Landrum Pyron has always followed her own path, including the one that lead her to being Mississippi's only custom hatmaker, creating felt hats from scratch for customers all over the world. Inside Source went on location to talk to Mary Landrum in her ML Provisions studio about leaps of faith, growing her unique business, and why she loves creating wearable art.

You'll likely find as many different definitions of the term “marketing” as individuals asked to define it. While it may still be a mystery to some, Erin Fults has built her career developing marketing and messaging strategies for her small business clients, enabling them to cut through the noise and confidently grow their businesses. She talks with Inside Source about the evolution of her own business, her unlikely career path, and helping companies get the most bang for their marketing bucks.

Women-owned Gay Jones & Kuhn PLLC is not your typical law firm. With a team of brilliant attorneys, you likely won't be surprised to encounter some outside-the-box approaches to both the business and the culture of the workplace. Inside Source spoke with founding partners Mary Margaret Gay and Sarah Beth Jones about the evolution of their careers, the benefits of diverse perspectives, and why work-life balance is part of what makes a great lawyer.

The common thread of nearly every point in Gayle Benson's career has been identifying a need and executing her impeccable vision to improve it. In her current role as a multi-business owner, including the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans, Mrs. Benson finds herself in a position with unlimited opportunities to impact her community. She spoke with Inside Source about making big decisions, “wins” and “losses,” and why you should never compromise on what's important to you.

Tobey Houston and Robyn Pollack both took unlikely paths to starting CreateHealth, a boutique marketing agency specializing in tailoring a marketing strategy for every client. On paper, the experience and expertise of these two women may appear to be opposites, but these differences are what makes their partnership successful. Tobey and Robyn told Inside Source about the evolution of their company, marketing during a global pandemic, and how the various points of their careers prepared them for where they are today.

After a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Sajani Barot identified a need for virtual skin care consultation and founded The Skin Consult, connecting clients with skin care experts to deliver personal routines and highly curated products directly to the consumer. Inside Source spoke with Sajani about her passion for science and education, bringing a business from concept to reality, and the importance of self care.    

Laura Johns and Lauren Williams were already busy working moms before starting their podcast The Home and The Hustle, but that's kind of the point. Boundaries and work-life balance don't come easy for anyone, and they identified a need to talk about it with other working women. Inside Source sat down with these two women about their podcast passion project, what they love about it, and why they consider it self-care.

Anna Barker didn't know she was interested in STEM until she'd almost completed college, but that didn't stop her from becoming one of the founders of Glo, an innovative company that developed water-reactive light-up cubes. Inside Source talks with Anna about entrepreneurship, being a woman in STEM, and the idea that took her company all the way to Sesame Street.

After working in medical and research settings, audiologist Dr. Grace Sturdivant parlayed a passion for hearing health into OtoPro Technologies, a hearing conservation business that takes her all over the country as her clients' own “hearing concierge.” Inside Source asked Grace about her career in STEM, hearing loss as a facet of our overall health, and why she loves being underestimated.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and The Source is going teal! Because of its vague, “silent” symptoms, ovarian cancer is often not diagnosed until its later stages. Dr. Mildred Ridgway is a Gynecologic Oncologist at University of Mississippi Medical Center and has dedicated her life to treating women with ovarian cancer and other gynecologic cancers. Inside Source talked with Dr. Ridgway about her career in medicine and why she chose GYN oncology as her specialty.

The Women's Foundation of Mississippi plays an important role in advancing economic security for women. With an extensive career in nonprofit work and her valuable experience with fundraising, working with boards of directors, and day-to-day functionality of a foundation, Tracy DeVries is just as passionate about her work today as the day she started. She talks with #InsideSource about supporting women in the workplace, invisible labor, and how to measure success in a nonprofit.  

Lindsey Bell turned the age-old question of “what's for dinner?” into a business that takes the guesswork out of feeding families. The Dinner Darling herself sits down with Inside Source to talk about being an entrepreneur in the age of social media, her struggles with imposter syndrome, and why it's ok for working women to talk about the money side of our professions.

If you've spent any time on social media, chances are you've seen Nicole McLaughlin (or at least her well-manicured hands) on a recipe prep video for All Recipes, or an accompanying hilarious “Mom Vs.” video. She talks with #InsideSource about the traditional to digital media transition, her hopes for the future generation of professional women, and what her kids think of her TikTok fame.

Small business owner Nancy King of Nandy’s Candy has been keeping Jackson, Mississippi in tasty treats for over 40 years. She, along with daughter Emmie, work hand-in-hand to grow and evolve their business while staying true to their traditional roots. They sat down with Inside Source to discuss their sweet successes, sour challenges, and what they’re still learning from one another.

Mandi Stanley has built a career doing what many people fear the very most in life and has grown accustomed to answering more than a few questions about it. Mississippi’s first Certified Public Speaker sits down with Inside Source to discuss how professional speaking became her job, growing an audience, and shares one of the best tips she’s ever heard.