Podcasts about how women invest

Azin Radsan Van Alebeek is a co-founder and managing partner at Emmeline Ventures. This early-stage fund invests in and supports female-led start-ups in tech-enabled, FemTech, FinTech, and Sustainability sectors. With over 30 years of experience as an executive and board-level advisor, she leverages her strategic planning and coaching skills to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses, achieve their goals, and create returns for investors. Azin is passionate about empowering women to achieve financial sovereignty and make a positive impact in the world. She volunteers regularly to mentor other women on financial literacy, angel investing, and playing big.   In today's episode, Azin shares how an invitation to do something she knew little about led to betting on herself and ultimately becoming an investor in women's health, wealth, and overall well-being. Azin breaks down her role as Co-founder of Emmeline Ventures and the firm's focus on improving women's lives. She describes the meandering journey that took her career from consultant to PTA leadership to firm partner. Azin offers a digestible overview of venture capital, helping us identify who can benefit from VC support and who is better off without it. Check out Emmeline Venture's website and the resources Azin mentioned: I Relaunch, Golden Seeds, Portfolia, How Women Invest, and Show Her the Money. Follow on Instagram: @azinradvan. Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Julie Castro Abrams, Managing Partner at How Women Invest, discusses her firm's investment thesis.

Are you standing at a crossroads, wondering where your life force should go next? This week on How Women Inspire, Julie Castro Abrams invites you to explore middlescence and what it means for your future. It's a time for honest reflection, taking stock of what you've built, and considering the true cost of continuing on the same path. Julie shares her personal journey and insights into the courage required to unlearn, redesign your life to align with your deepest values, and step into your next chapter with greater meaning and impact. This week's episode 172 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking your portfolio life in middlescence! In this episode of the How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams is sharing the importance of taking time to reflect on where you are currently in your career and actionable steps you can take right now to begin exploring new options for your next stage of life. Some of the talking points Julie goes over in this episode include:How to navigate career transitions and make meaningful changes.Strategies for overcoming cultural narratives and embracing your true self.The importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing your well-being.Tips for leveraging your experience for board seats, social impact, and more.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Ready to shatter the glass ceiling of venture investing? Let's  dive deep into the transformative world of women-led investments. In this episode of How Women Inspire, Amy Dawson and Alissa Livingston unpack the stark reality that women control 52% of wealth yet receive only 2% of venture funding - and why that's about to change. With candid insights, personal stories, and a roadmap for getting started, this conversation is a rallying cry for women to step into their financial potential, challenge traditional investment narratives, and create meaningful economic impact. This week's episode 169 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about how women investors are changing the venture investing landscape! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Amy Dawson and Alissa Livingston are sharing the importance of approaching investing as a community and actionable steps you can take right now to overcome your internal roadblocks keeping you from investing. Alissa Livingston is the AVP of Finance Strategies & Initiatives at Saks Global. When she's not using data to analyze new business opportunities, she's taking trapeze lessons or traveling with her two children. Alissa received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University in Chicago, and an MBA from Columbia Business School in the City of New York. She's spent time in Technology Consulting, Investment Banking, and Luxury Retail.Amy Dawson is a product executive with over 20 years of experience in transforming visions into successful commercial ventures. She excels at identifying product-market fit, developing bundled solutions, scaling new product development from concept to profitability, and driving cross-functional execution for sustainable growth. Amy also serves as a board member for How Women Lead. Some of the talking points Amy and Alissa go over in this episode include:The benefits of learning together, the welcoming and collaborative nature of the venture ecosystem.How seeing other women successfully invest can inspire you to confront your investing fears.Using your investing journey to teach the next generation about financial literacy and establishing new norms in investing.The personal satisfaction and impact of supporting women founders who address issues affecting women and society.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ALISSA LIVINGSTON:LinkedInCONNECT WITH AMY DAWSON:LinkedInCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Are you ready to unlock the secrets to financial empowerment and strategic vision? Today's episode features a dynamic conversation with Anne Myong, a global transformational leader and operating partner at How Women Invest. Join Julie Castro Abrams as they delve into the critical aspects of financial intelligence, portfolio decisions, and building wealth, specifically tailored for women investors. Anne shares her remarkable journey from Fortune 100 boardrooms to startup success, offering invaluable insights on navigating economic cycles, leveraging compounding interest, and making impactful investment choices. Get ready to elevate your financial acumen and gain the strategic perspective needed to achieve your investment goals and create lasting financial freedom. This week's episode 168 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about financial intelligence and strategic vision for women investors! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Anne Myong is sharing the importance of starting your investing journey early and actionable steps you can take right now to have financial conversations with your kids to impact them for a lifetime. Anne Myong is a board member, investor, and advisor to eCommerce, medical device, technology, social media, AI, and retail organizations on finance, audit, mergers & acquisitions, business development, and corporate governance. Anne is on the board of Align Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALGN), Audit Committee Chairperson, a SEC-qualified financial expert, and a member of the Compensation and Human Capital Committee. From 2016-2022, she was a Board Director, Treasurer, and Chairperson of the Audit and Finance Committees of Goodwill Industries International, a $6B donated goods retail and workforce development non-profit organization.Some of the talking points Julie and Anne go over in this episode include:Opportunities for women to start investing, even with small amounts, and exploring venture capital as an investment class.How women can educate themselves about finance and investing.Anne's leadership experience across countries and companies.Building wealth and long-term financial strategies.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ANNE MYONG:LinkedInCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Feeling overwhelmed by the world of investing? You're not alone! Today, we take a dive deep into demystifying financial planning and wealth building with Julianne Averill, an extraordinary CFO, investor, and board advisor. Julianne shares her journey from a music major to a financial powerhouse, revealing accessible strategies for everyone—from those starting with a small windfall to seasoned professionals looking to diversify their portfolios. Get ready to learn practical tips on automation, risk management, and how to confidently step into your investment power, no matter your experience level. This week's episode 167 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about automation, venture capital, and wealth building! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julianne Averill is sharing the importance of setting long-term investment plans  and actionable steps you can take right now to simplify your investing journey. Julianne Averill is a healthcare AI executive, strategic CFO, and board leader with 20+ years of experience scaling digital health and biopharma companies, driving billions in capital raises and M&A. She advises boards and investors on strategy, leveraging her expertise in digital transformation, CPA, SHRM-CP, GenAI, and board certification (NACD.DC). Currently, she is Audit Committee Chair for CureSearch, Operating Advisor to How Women Invest, and Managing Director at Danforth Advisors, leading growth in the SF/West Coast market and serving as interim CFO for late-stage companies, advising on IPOs and capital markets transactions. Her prior leadership roles include finance and strategy at global institutions and venture-backed companies across banking, techbio, and health tech.Some of the talking points Julie and Julianne go over in this episode include:Julianne's definition of success in investing and investment journey.Automating your investments for your busy life.Starting small and other advice for beginner investors.Setting up and dividing your investment “buckets” based on your income.Remember, you have what it takes to start making knowledgable investments for your future, and you don't need a lot of money to get started!Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH JULIANNE AVERILL:LinkedInCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Join us for a powerful conversation about women, wealth, and wielding your influence! Today, certified financial planner Sherry Finkel Murphy, founder of MadrinaMolly, shares with us how she's revolutionizing how women approach their finances and futures. We talk about the cultural narratives, understand the intricacies of risk and opportunity, and learn how to leverage your unique strengths to build a secure and impactful financial legacy. This isn't just another money talk; it's about stepping into your power and creating the future you truly desire. This week's episode 166 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about financial wisdom and building a secure future! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Sherry Finkel Murphy is sharing the importance of beginning to learn about the details of your financial life at any age and actionable steps you can take right now to handle your money responsibly and plan for your future. Sherry Finkel Murphy is Founder and CEO of MadrinaMolly, LLC, a content community and platform that creates and distributes financial and longevity planning education through powerful storytelling. Sherry is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional (CFP®,) Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®,) and Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®.) With 40+ years in multiple successful careers, she excels in helping clients fund both retirement and continuous reinvention. Focusing on a cohort of (mostly) women from 40s to 70s, Sherry delivers financial and longevity planning education in easy-to-understand language.Some of the talking points Julie and Sherry go over in this episode include:Balancing risk and safety in your finances using a pie analogy.Automating your savings and investment contributions to ensure consistent growth.The role of community and affinity groups in supporting women's financial education and success.The benefits of investing in venture through a self-directed Roth IRA.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH SHERRY FINKEL MURPHY:LinkedInWebsiteMadrinaMolly™CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Imagine a world where freezing your eggs isn't just a luxury for the wealthy, and starting a family is a journey filled with ethical considerations and genuine support. That world is becoming a reality thanks to Lauren Makler, founder of Cofertility. In this episode of How Women Inspire, Julie sits down with Lauren to explore the revolutionary ways Cofertility is changing the landscape of reproductive health. From their innovative 'split program' making egg freezing accessible, to their commitment to ethical egg donation and supporting diverse family structures, Lauren's vision is reshaping how we think about family building and gender equality. This week's episode 164 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about revolutionizing egg donation and fertility solutions! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Lauren Makler is sharing the importance of education and opportunities around fertility solutions and actionable steps you can take right now to support others in their family planning. Lauren Makler is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cofertility, a human-first fertility ecosystem rewriting the egg freezing and egg donation experience. Previously, as an early Uber employee, Lauren founded Uber Health, a product that enables healthcare organizations to leverage Uber's massive driver network in improving healthcare outcomes through patient transportation and healthcare delivery. After a rare disease diagnosis, Lauren's fertility journey led her to believe that everyone should have the opportunity to freeze their eggs–and that there should be better access to egg donors. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their miracle baby girl.Some of the talking points Julie and Lauren go over in this episode include:The lack of diversity in egg donors and the transactional nature of traditional egg donation.Lauren's personal journey with fertility and how it inspired her to pursue creating Cofertility.The importance of inclusive regulatory policies that support all types of families.The concerns of Gen Z women about their fertility and encouraging awareness and education.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH LAUREN MAKLER:LinkedInInstagramCofertilityCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

In this challenging world that's full of bias against women, the only person guaranteed to advocate for you is you. Today, we sit down with marketing powerhouse Patti Newcomer for an insightful conversation that's sure to ignite your ambition. Patti shares her personal journey, career advice for women in STEM and leadership, and valuable strategies for building intergenerational wealth. She dives deep into overcoming systemic bias, creating your own personal board of directors, and the importance of financial literacy. No matter where you are in your career, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you step into your power and create the future you envision. This week's episode 162 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about career advice, investing, and overcoming systemic bias! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Patti Newcomer is sharing the importance of always having a point of view in your career and actionable steps you can take right now to build your personal board of directors. Patti Newcomer is the Chief Marketing Officer at Centerbase, a cloud-based legal practice management solution that gives mid-sized firms the power to streamline their daily tasks with ease and efficiency.. Patti has a unique analytical background and extensive experience in product design and development, marketing strategy and campaigns, consumer research and insights, direct marketing communications, customer experience design and brand strategy and advertising. Patti has a passion for starting from the consumer to develop business-building marketing plans.Some of the talking points Julie and Patti go over in this episode include:Setting boundaries and priorities in the workplace and at home.The difference between mentorship and advocacy and the impact of having a supportive manager.Unique challenges women face in leadership roles, such as managing emotional work and dealing with systemic bias.The importance of financial literacy and planning for the future.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH PATTI NEWCOMER:LinkedInInstagramCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Now more than ever, it's important for women to master their money and business strategies for financial freedom and success. Forget the myth that money is just 'numbers' - in today's episode, Melissa Houston is tackling the emotional side of finance, unraveling cultural narratives that hold women back, and equipping you with actionable strategies for sales, marketing, and securing venture funding. Get ready to unlock your financial confidence and turn your business dreams into a profitable reality! This week's episode 161 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about women's financial confidence and breaking through business barriers! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast,Melissa Houston is sharing the importance of understanding your business's finances and actionable steps you can take right now to find the right CPA for your business. Melissa Houston, CPA, and founder of She Means Profit™, is an internationally-selling author and Forbes.com contributor with over 25 years of experience in financial management for small businesses. She helps professional Gen X women build wealth through her proprietary 6-step P.R.O.F.I.T. Method™ Framework. Some of the talking points Julie and Melissa go over in this episode include:The importance of mindset in financial success.Overcoming self-limiting beliefs about money to improve business success.The cultural narratives that hold women back, including that sales aren't for women.Creating a professional relationship with a CPA.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH MELISSA HOUSTON:LinkedInShe Means ProfitCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Julie Castro Abrams is a venture capitalist and gender and racial justice activist who has spent the majority of her career working to build great women-owned companies and economic access for women. She is the founder and CEO of How Women Lead, a network of 14,000-plus top executive women who come together to learn, break barriers to success, and make an impact. Using her extensive background, Julie helps top executive women harness and activate their power across all aspects of their careers and lives. She also leads the sister organization, How Women Invest, an early-stage venture capital firm seeking to realize untapped economic potential by focusing on the intersection of female founders and female investors, particularly those of color.

By 2030, it's estimated that women will have control of over 60% of wealth in the United States. But historically, not only have women not played a big role in investing, but companies founded and led by women only receive around 2% of available venture funding. It's time for us to take the reins, invest in the technology and women of the future, and make it part of our sound wealth-generating strategies. Rachel Zayas, CEO of AGED is here today to share her story of starting her company, pivoting when necessary, the difficulties of raising funds, and more. This week's episode 160 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about values-based investing in women-lead startups! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Rachel Zayas is sharing the importance of investing in companies founded and led by women and actionable steps you can take right now to support women founders beyond monetary investments. Rachel Zayas is the Founder and CEO of Active Genomes Expressed Diagnostics (AGED), a diagnostics venture focused on developing diagnostic tools for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH, liver disease) and fibrosis (liver scarring). Her expertise ranges from genetics, clinical research, grant writing to product development. Rachel has a Masters in Biotechnology and Business from American University.Some of the talking points Julie and Rachel go over in this episode include:The challenges of raising capital, especially in the last few years.Clear communication and confidence when pitching and talking to investors.Listening to customers and pivoting when necessary - it's rare to get it right the first time!Being unapologetically bold, present, and courageous as a woman leader.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH RACHEL ZAYAS:LinkedInAGED DiagnosticsCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

What if I told you that women are poised to control trillions of dollars in wealth, yet only a fraction of venture capital funding goes to women-led businesses? It's time to change that narrative. Today, Julie Castro Abrams and Jackie Schafer discuss how we can support women founders, close the gender funding gap, and create a future where women's leadership thrives. This week's episode 158 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about closing the funding gap and supporting women founders in venture capital! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Jacqueline Schafer is sharing the importance of investing in and supporting women founders and actionable steps you can take right now to start your investing journey. Jacqueline Schafer is the founder and CEO of Clearbrief (Winner, Litigation Technology Product of the Year, Legalweek 2023). Schafer serves as one of inaugural members of the Texas Bar's AI Taskforce, and she was chosen by the American Bar Association as one of the “2022 Women of Legal Tech” and named to the 2022 Fastcase 50, Honoring ‘Innovators, Techies, Visionaries and Leaders' in Law, Schafer also received the 2021 Washington State Bar APEX Award for Legal Innovation for founding Clearbrief as well as for her 2020 law review article ("Harnessing AI for Struggling Families").Some of the talking points Julie and Jacqueline go over in this episode include:Why it's crucial to support women-led companies, especially in AI and emerging tech.The value investors can bring to a new company beyond the money.Committing to making introductions for other women as a rule.Why it's crucial to support women-led companies, now more than ever.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH JACQUELINE SCHAFER:LinkedInClearbriefCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Ever feel like you're playing it safe, sticking to what you know? What if the key to unlocking your full potential was simply to lean into what scares you? In this episode of How Women Inspire, Julie sits down with Tamesa Rogers, a seasoned Chief People Officer and venture investor. Tamesa shares her incredible journey of scaling NETGEAR from $300 million to $1.3 billion, building an HR function from scratch, and the pivotal moments that shaped her fearless leadership style. But beyond the impressive career milestones, Tamesa dives deep into the importance of personal growth, overcoming burnout, and why investing in women founders is not just good for business—it's essential for building a better future. This week's episode 157 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about developing high-performing teams and avoiding burnout! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Tamesa Rogers is sharing the importance of training your team to take over after you and actionable steps you can take right now to recover from burnout. Tamesa Rogers is an experienced Chief People Officer with over 25 years in tech. She has scaled businesses, built global teams, and achieved high employee retention rates. Tamesa was instrumental in M&A, IPOs, and ESG reporting. She led HR at NETGEAR for over 20 years, building the HR organization from scratch, scaling the company, and leading cultural transformations. She also served as SVP and VP of HR, where she launched engagement, retention, and diversity programs and oversaw M&A integrations. Tamesa has been recognized for her leadership and is a member of professional organizations.Some of the talking points Julie and Tamesa go over in this episode include:Tamesa's leadership journey and defining career moments.Developing team members to eventually replace the leader.Overcoming burnout and finding balance.Investing in women and building community.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH TAMESA ROGERS:LinkedInCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Ever feel like you're leaving money on the table, or that your financial growth is always taking a backseat to everything else? You're not alone. In this episode of How Women Inspire, we dive deep into the world of venture investing and women's empowerment with the incredible Cheryl Beninga. Cheryl shares her personal journey, the secrets to attracting more capital for women-led ventures, and actionable steps to confidently step into the world of investing—no matter where you are in your journey. This week's episode 156 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about breaking the glass ceiling in venture capital! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Cheryl Beninga is sharing the importance of an abundance mindset for women and investing and actionable steps you can take right now to balance your career, personal life, and investment goals. Cheryl Beninga is an experienced venture investor in high-growth organizations that are innovating in clean technology, mobile software, MedTech, and enterprise software and services. She is the Managing Director of Wai-Mohala Ventures and Beninga Advisors. Cheryl is also the Co-Founder of FourthWave, an accelerator program for leading female founders in technology sectors, which provides mentorship, conscious leadership training, and access to capital.Some of the talking points Julie and Cheryl go over in this episode include:How to overcome anxiety around wealth and start investing.The evolution of women in venture capital and the current landscape.Why investing in women-led businesses is crucial.Cheryl's advice for aspiring female leaders and investors.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH CHERYL BENINGA:LinkedInFourthWave CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Ever heard the saying "Shirt sleeves to shirt sleeves in three generations"? It's a stark reminder that generational wealth doesn't simply happen; it requires intentional planning and a focus that goes beyond finances. In this episode of How Women Inspire, we sit down with Thomasina Williams, founder of Sankofa Legacy Advisors, to discuss the often-overlooked human element of building a lasting family legacy, the concept of parallel planning, and more. This week's episode 154 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about parallel planning for growing generational wealth! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Thomasina Williams is sharing the importance of intentionality around generational wealth and actionable steps you can take right now to keep human capital at the forefront of wealth conversations. Thomasina Williams partners with families to develop leaders. Working at the intersection of family business, family systems, and leadership development, she helps clients build multigenerational legacies of connected and capable families, who are engaged stewards of their resources. Clients have described her as their “high-beams,” lighting the way and guiding them through unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory. An accomplished lawyer and philanthropy strategist, Thomasina is the founder of Sankofa Legacy Advisors. Some of the talking points Julie and Thomasina go over in this episode include:The concept of  "shirt sleeves to shirt sleeves in three generations," in regards to families' maintenance of generational wealth.The tendency for families to focus solely on financial assets and forget the human element.Examples of how families can be purposeful in developing their human capital.The meaning of legacy and being intentional in designing our lives.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH THOMASINA WILLIAMS:WebsiteLinkedInCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Diversity of thought is one of, if not the most important thing we can bring into the boardroom with us as leaders. Considering a variety of perspectives allows us to find solutions to complex problems more quickly than if everyone had the same backgrounds and frames of mind. Few know this better than Lynda Grindstaff, board director and cyber security expert. In this episode, Lynda shares her incredible journey from corporate executive to board member and investor, overcoming imposter syndrome, and more! This week's episode 153 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about leveraging an engineering mindset in the boardroom! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Lynda Grindstaff is sharing the importance of finding your support network and actionable steps you can take right now to decide if board leadership is right for you. Lynda Grindstaff is a cybersecurity executive and board director who transforms consumer and technology trends into high-margin, multibillion-dollar strategies for global products. She was named 2024 Cybersecurity Woman Leader of the Year by the United Cybersecurity Alliance. Lynda excels in driving innovation and cybersecurity solutions for F500 B2B and B2C technology companies, bringing 30 years of experience in technical engineering, product marketing, and strategic planning to leadership teams and boardrooms. As a board member, she brings a strategic framework to companies needing growth and transformation. She ensures the right technologies and ecosystems are brought to market and optimizes people, processes, and technologies for internal growth and efficiency.Some of the talking points Julie and Lynda go over in this episode include:The importance of having a growth mindset and looking out for others.Building a network of support and encouragement around yourself.The unique perspective engineers bring to the boardroom.Becoming an investor, one small investment at a time.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH LYNDA GRINDSTAFF:LinkedInWebsiteCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Do you feel confident that you're in control of your financial future? With the huge transfer of wealth to women in this country, it's more important than ever to be financially literate and feel confident in the conversation. In today's episode, Megan Schottmer shares her inspiring journey of overcoming shyness and self-doubt to become a trailblazing leader in the financial services industry. Megan candidly discusses the importance of financial empowerment for women, the critical role of mentors and sponsors, and strategies for navigating the corporate ladder as an introvert. This week's episode 150 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about building women's financial independence and fixing the broken rung! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Megan Schoettmer is sharing the importance of ensuring women take an active role in their financial lives and actionable steps you can take right now to leverage your authentic self to succeed in a male-dominated industry. Megan Schoettmer is regional president of PNC Bank, Northern California. Prior to joining PNC in August 2022, she served as managing director and Commercial Banking leader of middle market banking for Wells Fargo focusing on various industries including technology, commercial and industrial, and commercial real estate in Silicon Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Active in the community, Schoettmer serves as a board member for the Bay Area Council and the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. She serves on the advisory board for Santa Clara University's Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and is co-chair for How Women Lead #GetOnBoardWeek.Some of the talking points Julie and Megan go over in this episode include:The importance of finding one's "why" and aligning with an advisor who shares similar goals.The concept of the “broken rung” in the workforce and the need to address the gender gap in promotions.How financial stress affects career advancement and the importance of financial independence.Building a personal board of directors and having diverse perspectives to guide your career and personal life decisions.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH MEGAN SCHOETTMER:LinkedInCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Send us a textOn this episode of Badass Women in Business, hosts Aggie and Cristy sit down with Julie Castro Abrams, the CEO of How Women Lead and How Women Invest. Julie shares her journey of empowering women to break barriers in leadership and investment, the cultural biases that hold women back, and the tangible strategies to rewrite those narratives.Julie discusses the "middle essence" life stage, a transformative period where women shift from climbing career ladders to seeking meaningful impact. With a network of over 25,000 women, Julie sheds light on the importance of collective action to increase women's representation on corporate boards and in venture capital. From the power of diverse leadership to practical advice for navigating investments, Julie's insights resonate deeply with entrepreneurs, executives, and changemakers alike.Notes:Cultural Narratives and Self-Limiting Beliefs:Many powerful women struggle with internalized narratives stemming from early life. Julie highlights the need to identify and rewrite these stories.Confidence is a key element for breaking through these barriers.The "Middle Essence" Life Stage:A period in life (mid-40s to 70s) when women focus on making an impact and building meaningful connections.Women need peers who can inspire and support them at this stage.Women on Corporate Boards:Julie's work has helped drive initiatives to increase the number of women on corporate boards, leading to better financial performance and decision-making.Companies with diverse boards disrupt groupthink and are better positioned for long-term success.Investment and Economic Power:Women are underrepresented in venture capital, receiving just 1.8% of funding in 2023.Julie advocates for women to invest in women-led companies and funds to shift this imbalance.Angel Investing vs. Venture Funds:Angel investing involves direct investments into startups, often high-risk but with potential for personal connection.Venture funds offer diversification and professional management, reducing individual risk.Julie's Leadership Philosophy:Empowering women requires collective action and accountability.Her initiatives like #GetOnBoard and The New Table aim to create systemic change by mobilizing women in leadership and investment.Connect with Julie Castro Abrams:Website: How Women Lead | How Women InvestLinkedIn: Julie Castro Abrams | How Women LeadInstagram: @HowWomenLeadFacebook: How Women LeadTune in for actionable insights and strategies to fuel your leadership journey and expand your impaKeep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here: Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders Instagram: @badass_women_in_business LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com

In a world where the gender funding gap remains stubbornly wide, women are on a mission to change the game. Erin Harkless Moore is at the forefront of driving breakthrough innovations and social impact through strategic investments. In this episode, Erin shares her journey from Wall Street to impact investing, and the powerful strategies she's employing to empower women-led funds and companies that are reshaping industries and communities. From tackling the challenges of biased funding practices to championing the importance of diverse decision-makers, her insights offer a roadmap for anyone passionate about leveraging the power of capital to create a more equitable future. This week's episode 148 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about driving breakthrough innovations and impact! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Erin Harkless Moore is sharing the importance of aligning your work with your personal values and actionable steps you can take right now to level up your leadership qualities. Erin Harkless Moore is the Senior Director of Investments at Pivotal Ventures created by Melinda French Gates to accelerate social progress in the United States. She leads the organization's fund and direct investment decisions, overseeing a diverse portfolio that drives breakthrough innovations and impact for people in this country. Erin has nearly 20 years of investment experience previously working as the Managing Director at Cambridge Associates.Some of the talking points Julie and Erin go over in this episode include:The importance of aligning your values and your work with your professional interests.Challenges and opportunities for women in the venture capital space.Recognizing the biases that hold women back from raising capital.Erin's biggest lessons that have defined her career.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ERIN HARKLESS MOORE:LinkedInTwitterPivotal VenturesCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

The healthcare industry has long overlooked the unique needs and experiences of women, but that tide is finally turning. Today, we're sitting down with Elyse Heob, a multi-time healthcare startup founder and expert in bringing groundbreaking innovations to market. Elyse shares her insights on the critical importance of women-led research and product development, the myths surrounding startup chaos, the power of betting on yourself as a female entrepreneur, and more. This week's episode 146 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about revolutionizing the healthcare landscape! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Elyse Heob shares the importance of strategic planning and treating startups like a regular job and actionable steps you can take right now to bet on yourself and get more comfortable with risks. Elyse Heob is an expert in transforming groundbreaking healthcare ideas into thriving businesses with a main focus on patient care. She is the Founder and CEO of Elyse Heob Consulting, where she supports startup founders to scale their health innovations. Previously, she co-founded ClearMask, the first FDA-cleared transparent surgical mask, growing it from zero to $45 million in just two years with zero outside investment.Some of the talking points Julie and Elyse go over in this episode include:The difference between inventing a health innovation and running a startup.Key considerations for designing successful health technologies.The lack of research on women's health and the need for better care and detection.Encouraging women to embrace their potential and take on leadership roles in healthcare and entrepreneurship.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ELYSE HEOB:LinkedInWebsiteCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Only 2% of all founders of AI companies are women, and Jacqueline Schafer is one of those women leading the way in tech. Jacqueline is here this week to share her inspiring journey from her early days as a lawyer at a top firm to founding her own innovative company set on changing the legal landscape. She discusses the importance of partnering with strong women investors and building a company with a focus on security and ethical considerations, the challenges she has faced as a female founder, and more. This week's episode 145 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about pioneering AI in legal tech! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Jacqueline Schafer is sharing the importance of preparation and persistence when finding supporters and investors and actionable steps you can take right now to support women-founded ventures. Jacqueline Schafer is the founder and CEO of Clearbrief (Winner, Litigation Technology Product of the Year, Legalweek 2023). Schafer serves as one of inaugural members of the Texas Bar's AI Taskforce, and she was chosen by the American Bar Association as one of the “2022 Women of Legal Tech” and named to the 2022 Fastcase 50, Honoring ‘Innovators, Techies, Visionaries and Leaders' in Law, Schafer also received the 2021 Washington State Bar APEX Award for Legal Innovation for founding Clearbrief as well as for her 2020 law review article ("Harnessing AI for Struggling Families").Some of the talking points Julie and Jaqueline go over in this episode include:How every role in her career helped pave the way for Clearbrief.The challenges of raising capital for a legal tech company, especially during the pandemic.The role of women investors for success and the support networks they create.The need for strict security requirements to succeed with large enterprise firms and government agencies.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH JACQUELINE SCHAFER:LinkedInClearbriefCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

It's time to embrace your power and influence, no longer worried about societal expectations.Julie Castro Abrams is an expert in board governance, investing, and is an experienced CEO, movement builder, and leader. As the CEO of How Women Lead, a network of over 24,000 women, she is dedicated to breaking ceilings for women both individually and collectively. She is the Managing Partner of How Women Invest, the country's largest venture fund focused exclusively on women founders, and is passionate about helping women rise to positions of power.Julie shares the concept of the middle essence—when women in their 40s need to have an impact, be happy, and do meaningful work. Women own 52% of the wealth and have the financial power to drive significant change. However, there is a disparity between wealth control and decision-making, and most financial decisions are still made by men.It is time to break cultural barriers, and women should advocate for each other, reinforce women's voices, make introductions to expand networks, and be unapologetically visible through podcasts, books, and their communities. Entrepreneurship is key for women to take control and create more inclusive systems because women-led businesses often have a pro-social focus, addressing issues like climate change, good working conditions, and local community support.The challenge of investment women are facing can be fixed with the help of women-run venture funds that are growing and funding solutions for women's businesses. All this information and encouragement can be found in this episode and also in women's circles. So, finding a community that aligns with your values and needs—whether for business or social purposes—will be very helpful.Ladies, embrace every stage of your life, speak up, and pursue your dreams unapologetically.Show notes:⚡ Julie quit her job as a CEO: she felt the urge to impact the world by activating women to make systemic changes. 03:32

Women's health continues to be an important issue for many of us, and more and more medical technoplogy startups are getting on board with turning their attention to women's health issues across the globe. Dr. Vinona Bhatia, a trailblazer in medicine, technology, and global health, is here this week to discuss her work in cancer screening and care both here and in Africa, as well as advocating for inclusive leadership, networking, and mentorship. This week's episode 143 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking barriers to cancer screening and care! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Vinona Bhatia is sharing the importance of  innovation to meet women's needs and wants in healthcare and actionable steps you can take right now to seek opportunities to make a difference. Vinona Bhatia is a Medical Oncologist trained at U Penn and UCSF, with an MPH in Global Health and Population from Harvard. Vinona is the Founder of Partnering for Cancer Innovation, an organization working to improve outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients, and ensure that cancer is treated equitably in all parts of the world. Her primary goal is to unblock millions of individuals from the barriers they face accessing cancer screening and care.Some of the talking points Julie and Vinona go over in this episode include:The shift in focus from general women's health to specific issues like menopause and perimenopause.The importance of not being elitist about innovation and recognizing that innovation can take many shapes and forms.The need for clinical studies pre-launch of medical technologies to ensure effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.Seeking opportunities and educating oneself to make a difference.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH VINONA BHATIA:LinkedInPartnering for Cancer InnovationCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Growing a business is no easy feat, but here at How Women Lead, we have the pleasure of knowing many women who are leading high-growth companies. Their difference? The companies are not only high-growth, but high-impact, aligning their business values with their personal values aiming for a better world. Coco Sellman is here today to share her journey growing her business and using it as a force for good, and her upcoming book by the same name. This week's episode 142 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking the secrets of high-growth, purpose-driven companies! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Coco Sellman is sharing the importance of having a data-driven approach in business, even if the founder is not naturally data-oriented and actionable steps you can take right now to align your business practices with what consumers and employees want. Since 1998, Coco has been on a mission to align business purpose with profit. As a serial entrepreneur and a consultant to founders, Coco has built and supported hundreds of businesses. Most recently, Coco was the founder of Allumé Home Care, a home health company serving medically fragile children and adults. Allumé merged with All Pointe Care in 2021, creating the second-largest provider of in-home pediatric nursing in the state of Connecticut; Coco now sits on the board. Over the course of her career Coco has worked with hundreds of founders to grow successful, sustainable businesses that lead in impact and profits.Some of the talking points Julie and Coco go over in this episode include:The importance of resilience and integrity when scaling a business quickly.The unique strengths women bring to leadership, particularly in managing multiple stakeholders and understanding emotional intelligence.The critical role of emotional intelligence in leadership, especially in understanding and motivating teams.Key skills and mindset needed for successful leadership, including self-awareness, adaptability, and a focus on impact.To learn more about Coco's Book A Force for Good and to pre-order your copy, visit the A Force for Good website today!Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH COCO SELLMAN:LinkedInA Force for GoodCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the political landscape and the pressure to vote a certain way as a Christian woman, then you are not alone! The conflicting narratives and the fear of making the wrong choice can be paralyzing, leaving you feeling isolated in your decision-making process. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover the impact of US elections on Christians and gain insights into navigating political beliefs with faith. Learn about the crucial role of empathy in effective political leadership and its significance for shaping a compassionate society. Explore the intersection of Christian nationalism and politics to understand the complexities of religious identity in the political landscape. Uncover the significance of voting as a Christian woman and how your voice can make a meaningful impact in shaping the future. Gain insights into recognizing and addressing spiritual abuse in the context of US politics, empowering you to navigate faith and politics with wisdom and discernment. My special guest is Johnna Harris Johnna Harris, a white Christian woman and a proud mom, brings a unique perspective to the table. As the host of Bodies Behind the Bus podcast, she shares compelling stories of spiritual abuse survivors, shedding light on the impact of faith and politics. Her journey as an adoptive mom has fueled her passion for issues like adoption, family preservation, and abortion, shaping her political stance. Living in Arizona, an epicenter of Christian nationalism, Johnna's experiences offer a thought-provoking insight into the intersection of religion and politics, especially for Christian women. With her down-to-earth approach and relatable experiences, Johnna's voice adds a valuable layer to the conversation on voting, empathy, and faith. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:02 - Introduction to the Podcast 00:00:34 - Better Help Sponsorship 00:01:38 - Election Day and Political Landscape 00:04:53 - Navigating Voting as a Christian Woman 00:09:23 - Impact of US Politics and Trauma 00:14:08 - Pro Choice vs. Pro Life 00:15:38 - Trump's Influence 00:21:12 - Kamala Harris Rally Experience 00:26:32 - Leadership and Empathy 00:28:36 - Women in Peacemaking 00:28:44 - redefining strength and empathy 00:29:27 - Kamala Harris as a prosecutor and advocate 00:32:38 - Longing for empathy and joy 00:39:51 - The impact of the election on women's lives 00:42:50 - Navigating Spiritual Abuse and Reflecting on Character and Integrity Issues 00:43:23 - Recognizing Narcissistic Behavior and Seeking Support 00:44:12 - Warning Signs and Calls for Support 00:49:24 - Spiritual Abuse and Coercion in Voting 00:54:09 - Hope for an Empathetic and Empowered Future 00:57:16 - Connecting through FaceTime 00:57:47 - Observing elections from Asia 00:58:14 - Voting as a family legacy 01:00:13 - Empowerment through voting 01:01:32 - Embracing diverse perspectives Your allegiance lies with God. End of discussion. - Johnna Harris Follow Lori Adams-Brown on social media for updates and discussions on important topics. Join an organization like How Women Lead or How Women Invest to be part of a community that supports and empowers women in leadership roles. Educate yourself on the political landscape and make an informed decision when voting in local and national elections. Consider making a donation to support political candidates or causes that align with your values and beliefs. Engage in respectful and open conversations with others, even if you disagree, to promote understanding and empathy. Podcast Social Media Links https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/aworldofdifference/ https://www.twitter.com/@awodpod https://www.youtube.com/@aworldofdifference https://www.facebook.com/A-World-of-Difference-613933132591673/ https://www.instagram.com/aworldof.difference https://www.patreon.com/aworldofdifference Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the political landscape and the pressure to vote a certain way as a Christian woman, then you are not alone! The conflicting narratives and the fear of making the wrong choice can be paralyzing, leaving you feeling isolated in your decision-making process. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover the impact of US elections on Christians and gain insights into navigating political beliefs with faith. Learn about the crucial role of empathy in effective political leadership and its significance for shaping a compassionate society. Explore the intersection of Christian nationalism and politics to understand the complexities of religious identity in the political landscape. Uncover the significance of voting as a Christian woman and how your voice can make a meaningful impact in shaping the future. Gain insights into recognizing and addressing spiritual abuse in the context of US politics, empowering you to navigate faith and politics with wisdom and discernment. My special guest is Johnna Harris Johnna Harris, a white Christian woman and a proud mom, brings a unique perspective to the table. As the host of Bodies Behind the Bus podcast, she shares compelling stories of spiritual abuse survivors, shedding light on the impact of faith and politics. Her journey as an adoptive mom has fueled her passion for issues like adoption, family preservation, and abortion, shaping her political stance. Living in Arizona, an epicenter of Christian nationalism, Johnna's experiences offer a thought-provoking insight into the intersection of religion and politics, especially for Christian women. With her down-to-earth approach and relatable experiences, Johnna's voice adds a valuable layer to the conversation on voting, empathy, and faith. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:02 - Introduction to the Podcast 00:00:34 - Better Help Sponsorship 00:01:38 - Election Day and Political Landscape 00:04:53 - Navigating Voting as a Christian Woman 00:09:23 - Impact of US Politics and Trauma 00:14:08 - Pro Choice vs. Pro Life 00:15:38 - Trump's Influence 00:21:12 - Kamala Harris Rally Experience 00:26:32 - Leadership and Empathy 00:28:36 - Women in Peacemaking 00:28:44 - redefining strength and empathy 00:29:27 - Kamala Harris as a prosecutor and advocate 00:32:38 - Longing for empathy and joy 00:39:51 - The impact of the election on women's lives 00:42:50 - Navigating Spiritual Abuse and Reflecting on Character and Integrity Issues 00:43:23 - Recognizing Narcissistic Behavior and Seeking Support 00:44:12 - Warning Signs and Calls for Support 00:49:24 - Spiritual Abuse and Coercion in Voting 00:54:09 - Hope for an Empathetic and Empowered Future 00:57:16 - Connecting through FaceTime 00:57:47 - Observing elections from Asia 00:58:14 - Voting as a family legacy 01:00:13 - Empowerment through voting 01:01:32 - Embracing diverse perspectives Your allegiance lies with God. End of discussion. - Johnna Harris Follow Lori Adams-Brown on social media for updates and discussions on important topics. Join an organization like How Women Lead or How Women Invest to be part of a community that supports and empowers women in leadership roles. Educate yourself on the political landscape and make an informed decision when voting in local and national elections. Consider making a donation to support political candidates or causes that align with your values and beliefs. Engage in respectful and open conversations with others, even if you disagree, to promote understanding and empathy. Podcast Social Media Links https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/aworldofdifference/ https://www.twitter.com/@awodpod https://www.youtube.com/@aworldofdifference https://www.facebook.com/A-World-of-Difference-613933132591673/ https://www.instagram.com/aworldof.difference https://www.patreon.com/aworldofdifference Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get in the Game: Leadership, Board Seats, Venture InvestingTake a listen inspirational conversation with host Natalie Benamou, Founder of HerCsuite®, with Julie Castro Abrams, CEO of How Women Lead and Managing Partner of How Women Invest. Julie shares her transformative journey from supporting the funding of 6,000 women's businesses to leading initiatives that enhance women's representation in the C-suite, on corporate boards, and in the venture capital sphere.Highlights:Julie highlights the critical underrepresentation of women in venture capital, noting that only 1.8% of all venture funding goes to women-founded companies. She shares the impact of How Women Invest, which sets a manageable investment threshold, opening doors for women to become venture investors.The episode sheds light on an initiative by How Women Lead aimed at preparing women for leadership and board roles. Over 3,000 participants this year gained insights into navigating the challenges of securing top-tier positions.Natalie introduces HerCsuite® Boards Mastermind and HerCsuite® Boards Retreat as complementary programs that build on the momentum of #GetOnBoard Week, specifically designed to help women secure board positions on both private and publicly traded companies.Inspirational Quotes by Julie Castro Abrams:"Look around, are there five women you can encourage today? Tell them, 'I believe in you. Consider stepping up now so you're ready to get in the game when it's right.' There's nothing better I can do for a woman.""In the venture space, only 1.8% of all venture money goes to companies founded by women and 80% of all venture funding went to companies with no women in the founding teams.""When women rise, communities thrive. It's a chain reaction that changes the world."About Julie Castro AbramsJulie Castro Abrams is an expert in board governance, investing and is an experienced CEO movement builder and leader. As the CEO of How Women Lead, a network of over 24,000 women, she is dedicated to breaking ceilings for women individually and collectively. She is the Managing Partner of How Women Invest, the country's largest venture fund focused exclusively on women founders.How Women Lead#GETONBOARDWEEKJulie Castro Abrams LinkedInHow Women Lead on LinkedInHow Women Invest on LinkedInHow Women Lead PodcastConnect with Host Natalie Benamou, Founder HerCsuite®Natalie Benamou is the host of "Women Leaders on the Move '' and the Founder of HerCsuite®, a powerful women's network providing connect circles for women's careers and businesses. She is dedicated to making it easier for women to achieve success in all aspects of their lives. Natalie is also the Founder and President of HER HEALTHX, a nonprofit focused on improving health outcomes for women.Natalie Benamou on LinkedInHerCsuite® on LinkedInThis podcast is sponsored by HerCsuite® Board Retreats

There has been a significant increase in women-led venture firms, going from 12 in 2010 to nearly 300 in 2020, emphasizing the potential for women to manage $30 trillion in wealth by 2030. And despite women-founded companies outperforming their male counterparts, they received only 1.8% of venture funding last year. But as women have more control over money and assets, we can demand and bring about change. Mandy Bynum is here today to share her journey into investing in women, the need for women to take control of their financial decisions, seeking funds that align with your values, and more. This week's episode 137 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking the wealth and influence of women! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Mandy Bynum shares the importance of women demanding change and performance in the venture capital market and actionable steps you can take right now to expand your professional opportunities through investing in venture funds. Mandy Bynum is a highly sought-after super-connector. A skilled strategy consultant and advisor, she helps individuals and organizations build capacity and valuable relationships with people and the communities that matter to them. Blending her experience in venture capital, startup, and nonprofit leadership, Mandy advises a wide range of companies on how to build authentic relationships with different audiences, as well as professionals looking to integrate their creative pursuits, increase revenue streams, and advance social activism in order to design meaningful, impactful, and sustainable multidimensional careers. Some of the talking points Julie and Mandy go over in this episode include:The significant wealth and influence of women, with American women expected to manage at least $30 trillion by 2030.The value of following curiosity and building a network to find the right investment opportunities.The benefits of being a limited partner over directly investing in a company.Aligning your investments with your values, and making your own decisions as an accredited investor.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH MANDY BYNUM:LinkedInWebsiteInstagramCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Everyone has a different path and purpose in life, and those on the entrepreneurship journey often feel it most. But fighting loneliness by building community with and supporting other women and women entrepreneurs leads to incredible collaboration, better health, and lasting societal change. Dr. Keera Godfrey is here today to talk about the importance of investing in women, choosing the path that's right for you, and more! This week's episode 136 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about leaving normal and embracing change! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Dr. Keera Godfrey shares the importance of a supportive ecosystem for founders and entrepreneurs, and actionable steps you can take right now to support other women on their entrepreneurial journeys. Dr. Keera Godfrey is the CEO and Founder of Naris Communications and the Naris Leadership Academy. Dr. Keera helps global organizations with a focus on digitization and digital transformation to define and align their workforce culture to embrace new ways of working bringing her 25 years of experience as a communications and change strategist, activating performance strategies for the U.S. Army, global manufacturers, healthcare systems, and non-profit organizations. She is a trusted advisor, change management consultant, speaker, and author utilizing emotional intelligence, strategic communications, and performance improvement techniques to maximize business results.Some of the talking points Julie and Keera go over in this episode include:The value of diverse contributions in all areas of society and how it will shape the future.The emotional and financial benefits of investing in women-led businesses.Integrating family and work instead of a “work-life balance”.How community, support, and validation in women's professional and personal lives changes the game.To get Dr. Keera's book, Leaving Normal: How to Let Go and Move The Heck On, you can head over to Amazon.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH DR. KEERA GODFREY:LinkedInInstagramX (formerly Twitter)Naris CommunicationsCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Women currently own 52% of wealth but receive only 2% of venture funding, despite returning 34% more to investors. It's our mission here at How Women Lead to lift each other up in every way we can, including funding women startups and business owners looking for funding. Because when we invest in our values and put our money into what we believe in, everyone wins. This week's episode 135 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about leveraging venture investing for impact! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Gaby Darbyshire is sharing the importance of having a diverse investment portfolio and actionable steps you can take right now to leverage your investments to also make more philanthropic donations. This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.Gaby Darbyshire is a global executive and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience building tech and media businesses in London, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles.  In her current role as General Partner at Dangerous Ventures, an early-stage VC fund, Gaby is focused on investing in solutions to the world's most pressing climate challenges, a lifetime interest that dates back to building an electric car when she was 16 years old. Born in Beirut and raised in London, Gaby began her career as a barrister, practicing environmental and criminal law and working pro bono on death row appeals. After leaving the Bar, she spent several years as a management consultant, developing strategies in the tech, utilities, financial services and pharmaceutical industries.Some of the talking points Julie and Gaby go over in this episode include:The benefits of investing in climate solutions.The role of philanthropy in complementing for-profit investments.How being a generalist with a wide array of interests benefits you in investing.Closing the wealth gap by teaching women to start investing early.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH GABY DARBYSHIRE:LinkedInX (formerly Twitter)Dangerous VenturesCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Women CEOs are incredible - they have to be to get to the top - so it only makes sense that their companies outperform others in the stock market. So why aren't more people actively investing in women? Patricia Lizarraga is here today to talk about raising visibility and funds for women-led companies that consistently outperform in all different markets. This week's episode 134 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing in Women CEOs! This episode was created in partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation. Together, we are working to educate, inspire, and engage women from diverse backgrounds on venture investing and entrepreneurship. Did you know that only 2% of venture funding goes to women-led companies? Together, we are working to show that women are the new face of venture investing.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Patricia Lizarraga is sharing the importance of giving everyone the opportunity to invest in companies led by women CEOs and actionable steps you can take right now to start investing today. Patricia Lizarraga is the managing partner of Hypatia Capital and the issuer of the Hypatia Women CEO EFT, an actively managed Exchange Traded fund that invests in all publicly traded American companies that have female Chief Executive Officers. Patricia founded Hypatia over 15 years ago, when she'd already been working in finance as an investment banker for 20 years, committed to investing in women in leadership. Some of the talking points Julie and Patricia go over in this episode include:Making investing in women accessible to everyone, regardless of their investment amount.The numerous studies by major institutions that show the outperformance of women in both public and private markets.The need for AI and large language models to recognize and promote women CEOs more effectively.Educating women about investing, starting at a young age.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH PATRICIA LIZARRAGA:LinkedInX (formerly Twitter)WCEO EFTCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

The importance of getting more women involved in venture and angel investing cannot be understated. As more women earn more money, the value of getting women seats at the table and in positions that decide what their money is being used for grows. Marcia Dawood is here today to share with us how we can be more involved in investment decisions, combat bias in finance, and more. This week's episode 133 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about how you can do good while doing well! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Marcia Dawood is sharing the importance of understanding your investment options and actionable steps you can take right now to diversify your investment portfolio. Marcia Dawood is an early-stage investor who serves on the Securities and Exchange Commission's Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee. She is a venture partner with Mindshift Capital, a member of Golden Seeds, and the Chair Emeritus of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), the global professional society for angel investors. In 2022, Marcia spoke at TEDx Charlotte and she currently hosts The Angel Next Door Podcast. Some of the talking points Julie and Marcia go over in this episode include:Investing in early-stage companies that make a positive impact.The transparency and democratization of information on crowdfunding platforms.How philanthropic dollars can be directed to for-profit companies, providing a triple win of social impact, financial returns, and tax deductions.The value of cheerleading and social media support for entrepreneurs and offering expertise, networks, and mentorship.You can find Marcia's book, “Do Good While Doing Well” wherever you get your books, or by visiting her website!Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH MARCIA DAWOOD:WebsiteLinkedInThe Angel Next Door podcastCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

What if the key to transforming your career and personal life lies in embracing discomfort and letting go of numbing habits? In this episode of "The Other Way," we sit down with Cecily Mak, a mother, writer, podcast host, Founder of the ClearLife movement, and co-founder of Wisdom Ventures, who shares her journey from a high-powered career in law to leading a movement focused on intentional living. Today we cover:Cecily's journey going from 20 years of diverse experience as an attorney, revenue leader, and COO to launching the ClearLife movement, authoring a book, and her podcastReleasing dimmers: aka substances, media, habits that “numb” or alleviate our uncomfortable emotionsAs a mindfulness practitioner, how Cecily balances aspiration with presence and contentmentThe key questions Cecily asks herself to tune into her values, her North Star, and honing her intuitionDaily practices for tapping into her intuition (including a simple way to recognize “signs” from the Universe)Navigating imposter syndrome and doubt (Even top tier executives and founders experience this! Loved the honesty)How a devastating breast cancer diagnosis pointed her more firmly towards her path (validation that “rock bottom” moments can point us towards our greatest gifts)+ so much moreAbout Cecily:Cecily Mak is a mother to two sons, writer, podcast host, co-founder of Wisdom Ventures, and the visionary behind ClearLife. ClearLife is a journey toward an undimmed life, where intention and presence flourish, unencumbered by the stigmas of addiction. Cecily's ClearLife journey, influenced by her triumph over breast cancer in 2022 and her late mother's battle with alcoholism, fuels her mission of transformation and healing. Through her work, she extends a compassionate hand to those navigating similar paths, guiding them toward a life defined by connection, clarity, and well-being.With over 20 years of diverse experience as an attorney, revenue leader, and COO, Cecily has spearheaded the growth of startups across various industries, including music, publishing, mindfulness, well-being, and crypto. As co-founder of Wisdom Ventures and co-founding limited partner of How Women Invest, Cecily is a champion for greater human connection and well-being. Her board memberships and support for various organizations, notably at SIY Global, and The U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance, underscore her commitment to ethical leadership and social responsibility.Whether parenting her two sons, supporting impact-driven entrepreneurs, or engaging with a global community, Cecily embodies the principles of ClearLife, inspiring others to embrace authenticity and heart-centered living. Her dedication to fostering presence, healthier relationships, and intentional living resonates deeply with individuals seeking a path of alignment and fulfillment.Connect with Cecily:On SubstackOn InstagramOn Support the showTo connect with Kasia Join our monthly newsletter www.inflowplanner.com (use code "podcast10" for 10% off) @The_Other_Way_Podcast @InFlowPlanner Submit topic/theme/speaker requests

The workforce in the US is more diverse than ever. And with a large part of the educated workforce being made up of Latina women, strategies and ideas around investments are shifting. Emma Rodriguez-Ayala is here today to talk about how investors need to learn how Latino communities view and value money, bridging the financial literacy gap by teaching kids about money from a young age, and much more. This week's episode 127 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking the power of Latina investors and bridging the financial literacy gap! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Emma Rodriguez-Ayala is sharing the importance of investing in Latino communities and overcoming barriers to inclusion. and actionable steps you can take right now to start teaching your kids what they need to know about money. Emma Rodriguez-Ayala serves as Ariel's Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel as well as Board Secretary of Ariel Investments and Ariel Alternatives. With almost two decades of experience in investment management, Emma is a seasoned legal and operations executive with a passion for impact investing, DEI, risk management, and corporate governance. Emma is an independent director of First Bank Chicago, one of the largest privately held banks in Chicagoland. She serves on the board of Chicago television station WTTW and the Chicago classical music station WFMT. Additionally, she is a founder and board member of Angeles Investors, a Latino-focused angel investing group, and is a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association.Some of the talking points Julie and Emma go over in this episode include:The growth of women in investment management.Investing in financial literacy and teaching kids about money from a young age.The importance of understanding the Latino community's value system when engaging with them financially.How leadership means looking at the big picture and watching for obstacles for your team.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH EMMA RODRIGUEZ-AYALA:LinkedInAriel InvestmentsCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Preethy Padmanabhan is the founder and host of the 10X Growth Strategies - a hub for discussions on leadership and business growth through books. She is currently the VP of Marketing at Bidgely - providing AI-Powered Solutions for Utilities. Preethy is also a Board Member at TiE Silicon Valley, investor in and mentor to several startups. She is a LP at How Women Invest. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theindustryshow/support

The Jen Marples Show episode 169 is here!I'm revisiting one of my favorite conversations on the podcast with powerhouse Julie Castro Abrams, CEO of How Women Lead and Managing Partner of How Women Invest.  If you feel unsure about your next career move or how to advance while juggling other responsibilities, you'll find this discussion so helpful and inspiring!Julie and I also discuss how to overcome challenges in today's work environment, optimizing your personal brand to expand your opportunity and influence, and finding fulfilling work that fits your strengths.We also dig deep into one of my favorite topics: how women can best support each other!Julie Castro Abrams is a gender and racial justice activist who has spent the majority of her career working to build great women-owned companies and economic access for women. She is founder and CEO of How Women Lead, a network of 14,000-plus top executive women who come together to learn, break barriers to success, and make an impact. Using her extensive background, Julie helps top executive women harness and activate their power across all aspects of their careers and lives. She also leads the sister organization, How Women Invest, an early-stage venture capital firm seeking to realize untapped economic potential by focusing on the intersection of female founders and female investors, particularly those of color.Julie and I discuss:How Julie empowers women through leadership positions and corporate boards.The challenges women face re-entering the workforce, navigating ageism, and gender bias.The importance of networking effectively, building genuine relationships, and mentoring other women.How women can support each other through making introductions, amplifying voices, and acting as advocates.Finding fulfilling work that aligns with your strengths and values in a supportive environment.Embracing confidence in midlife while letting go of negative self-talk.Julie says: You're Not to F***ing Old! to Support Women!I hope you enjoyed today's show! If you'd like to find out more about how I can help you achieve your business or life dreams, you can book a complimentary 20-minute call HERE. Visit my website at www.jenmarples.com and if you sign up for my newsletter, I've got two free juicy gifts for you, my Stepping Into The Spotlight guide and my 12 Steps to Pivot guide. I'd love to connect with you on social media so please follow me @jenmarples on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube, and let me know if you listen to the show! Nothing makes me happier than connecting with you dear listener. Please help me by leaving a 5-star rating and written review on Apple HERE and a 5-Star rating on Spotify HERE. Thank you and have a beautiful day!Unedited AI Transcript HereCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS: How Women LeadInstagramLinkedinCONNECT WITH JEN MARPLES:Subscribe to my Newsletter

Women-led venture firms grew from 12 in 2010 to over 300 in 2020, representing new opportunities for women in leadership and innovation. As the first generation of women with decades of work experience and control of 50% of wealth, it's up to us to invest in companies who share our values, especially in women's healthcare. Ariane Tom is here this week to share about the importance of investing in healthcare technology, especially neuroscience technologies. This week's episode 125 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing in her wellness! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Ariane Tom is sharing the importance of involving women in venture capital and actionable steps you can take right now to find venture firms to invest in that align with your values. Dr. Ariane Tom is Founder & Managing Director of Kaleida Capital, investing in neurotech with domain expertise across deeptech, AI, and neuroscience. Throughout her academic career at Stanford, Ariane spearheaded research programs in neural interfaces with applications in brain-mapping, prosthetics, drug delivery, and neuromodulation. She is a published co-author in top-tier research journals Science Magazine and Nature Portfolio, collaborating across disciplines with luminaries Karl Deisseroth (optogenetics & CLARITY), Zhenan Bao (electronic skin), and Sergiu Pasca (organoids). Beyond the bench, she has applied over a decade of research insight to venture capital, patent law, and public policy, cultivating a top-performing investment track record by identifying and backing technologies of multiple Nobel Laureates.Some of the talking points Julie and Ariane go over in this episode include:Investing in neuroscience technology for the future of women's health.The unique perspective women bring to the role of innovation.Finding venture firms that align with your values to invest in.A primer on how venture investing works and what you can expect.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ARIANE TOM:LinkedInX (formerly Twitter)WebsiteKaleida CapitalCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

As women-founded companies receive only 2% of venture funding year after year, it's more important than ever for women founders and women venture capitalists to band together to reshape what it means to be an investor and an entrepreneur. Winsome Kirton and Tatijana Janko are two women advocating for and leading this change. They're here today to discuss diversity in investment, their experiences with bias in the investment space, and more. This week's episode 121 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about women leading change in startups and capital! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast,Winsome Kirton and Tatijana Janko are sharing the importance of investing in diverse women founders, both ethically and financially and actionable steps you can take right now to begin investing with your values. Winsome Kirton is the founder and CEO of Heard.io, a B2B ecosystem that drives and measures social impact by connecting businesses with companies that meet their ESG goals. After working as a media director and working on her first startup, Pack Elephant, Winsome realized how difficult it was to work with small and diverse-owned businesses on a big scale. She started Heard.io to combat those difficulties and allow companies to shop thoughtfully and intentionally for their corporate gifting needs.Tatijana Janko is the Founder and General Partner at Fjor venture capital. She most recently was a Mucker Capital backed founder of a software startup built for managing workflows of matrixed investment teams. As a fintech entrepreneur and independent sponsor she closed $56M in investments and helped to secure securitization and forward flow arrangements for insurance companies and hedge funds.Some of the talking points Julie, Winsome, and Tatijana go over in this episode include:New Table's mission to get 10,000 women investing.The challenges of being a black woman entrepreneur.The importance of amplifying women-owned and founded companies.The grit and unique perspectives offered by immigrant entrepreneurs.To learn more and join The New Table, visit the How Women Lead website today!Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH WINSOME KIRTON:LinkedInHeard.ioCONNECT WITH TATIJANA JANKO:LinkedInFjorCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

Have you ever considered how women can leverage their influence and resources to drive impactful changes in entrepreneurship and investing? In this episode, Marcia engages in a dynamic discussion on women's leadership, angel investing, and the power of collective action with Julie Castro Abrams. Julie is a seasoned leader in social justice and shares her journey into angel investing and how and why she created How Women Lead and How Women Invest, organizations inspiring women to make positive change.From breaking glass ceilings in corporate boards to investing in ventures with a social impact focus, Julie is at the forefront of empowering women to make a difference. This episode is a must-listen for those interested in the intersection of entrepreneurship, gender equality, and social impact, offering practical insights and inspiration for women looking to drive positive change in the investment landscape. To get the latest from Julie Castro Abrams, you can follow her below!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-castro-abrams/https://www.howwomenlead.com/https://www.howwomeninvest.com/ Sign up for Marcia's newsletter to receive tips and the latest on Angel Investing!Website: www.marciadawood.com And don't forget to follow us wherever you are!Apple Podcasts: https://pod.link/1586445642.appleSpotify: https://pod.link/1586445642.spotifyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/angel-next-door-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theangelnextdoorpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marciadawood

In the world of founders and business owners, you'll find many people who start more than one company. You'll be hard-pressed, however, to find someone who has not only started multiple successful companies and a venture fund, but imbues all of her projects with as much passion, authenticity, and respect for her culture and values as Betsy Fore. Betsy has taken her success and turned to mentoring, funding, and supporting the next generation of Native American entrepreneurs through her from Velveteen Ventures, the non-profit Natives Rising, and more. Betsy is here today to talk about all of that and more! This week's episode 120 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about inspiring and funding Native American entrepreneurs! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Betsy Fore is sharing the importance of understanding one's deep inner ‘why' and actionable steps you can take right now to support Native American entrepreneurs, founders, and young professionals. Betsy Fore is the Founding Partner and Managing Director of Velveteen Ventures, a venture firm investing in Children & Planet for the next seven generations. Previously, she was the Co-Founder and CEO of Tiny Organics, Founder and CEO of Wondermento, creators of WonderWoof. Betsy is also Co-Founder & Board Member for Native Rising, a career accelerator for Indigenous founders & Indigenous technologists that provides funding and opportunities through mentorship, networking, events, job placements and career development.Some of the talking points Julie and Betsy go over in this episode include:The challenges of being a "ceiling breaker" as a woman of color in the tech industry.Lifting up other entrepreneurs to help them build companies and generational wealth.Overcoming fundraising challenges as a Native American woman through authenticity and passion.Partnering with indigenous organizations for economic empowerment.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH BETSY FORE:LinkedInInstagramNatives RisingVelveteen VenturesCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

Women control 52% of wealth in the United States. Despite that, less than 5% of women who can invest in venture capital actually do so. Venture capital is often portrayed as an avenue of wealth for the “bros” but if we come together as women, our unique value sets and perspectives can change the world by funding innovative, women-founded startups looking to find solutions that benefit everyone, rather than a privileged few. Today, Julie and Barbara Iyayi, CEO and Founding Partner of Unicorn Growth Capital, invite you to learn about venture capital as an opportunity to grow your wealth and help women across the globe. This week's episode 119 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing with purpose and power! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Barbara Iyayi is sharing the importance of investing in women-led companies, creating a more inclusive innovation economy, and actionable steps you can take right now to start investing in women-founded companies creating a better future. Barbara Iyayi is the CEO & Founding Partner of Unicorn Growth Capital, a Web3 VC fund that invests in the future of Finance, bridging TradFi & DeFi, to transform the financial infrastructure of the digital economy. She is an experienced venture capital and growth equity investor, and entrepreneur with over 17 years' experience in financial services, spanning venture capital, private equity, investment banking/M&A and technology.Some of the talking points Julie and Barbara go over in this episode include:How decentralized finance can open up investment opportunities worldwide.Aligning your investments with your values to help underserved markets.Investing in women-founded companies can help solve problems others ignore.The importance of investing in women-led companies and creating a more inclusive innovation economy.To learn more and join The New Table, visit the How Women Lead website today!Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH BARBARA IYAYI:LinkedInX (formerly Twitter)Unicorn Growth CapitalCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

Investing in venture capital has historically been a men's game, and the companies that receive funding reflect that. Less than 2% of venture funding is awarded to women-led companies, and that number has remained the same for many years. But as the pool of venture investors diversifies, we believe that number should grow. Tessa Flippin, Founder of Capitalize VC and Julie spoke about this topic in a LinkedIn Live that we're sharing with you today. This week's episode 117 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about rewriting the playbook for women's investing! In this episode of the How Women Inspire Podcast, Tessa Flippin discusses the importance of investing in women-founded and diverse companies and actionable steps you can take right now to demystify investing jargon. Tessa Flippin is the Founder and Managing Partner of Capitalize VC, a Chicago-based VC fund investing in pre-seed stage, diverse founders in the multi-trillion dollar, rapidly growing commerce industry at the intersection of commerce enablement, commerce infrastructure, fintech and consumer brands. Tessa began her career in venture capital as a venture investor at TechNexus, a Chicago-based fund, where she invested in enterprise SaaS technologies at the seed stage. She joined Genius Guild Greenhouse Fund as a Venture Partner, investing in founders in fintech, health tech and connectivity.Some of the talking points Julie and Tessa go over in this episode include:The challenges faced by diverse founders, including women and underrepresented groups, in accessing funding.Investing in social impact funds to drive financial return and support sustainable practices.The importance of diversity and inclusion in the entrepreneurial space.The impact of women-led businesses on society and the environment.If you're interested in joining The New Table, head over to our website for more information!Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of it to post in your stories and tag me! Don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH TESSA FLIPPIN:LinkedInX (formerly Twitter)Capitalize VCCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

Less than 2% of all venture funding every year goes to women-founded businesses. But while that number has not changed in recent years, the amount of women actively investing has increased significantly. Our mission at How Women Lead is to create opportunities and access for women investors to help increase the amount of funding for women in the venture space. Naseem Sayani, Co-founder and GP of Emmeline Ventures joined Julie for a LinkedIn Live that we're sharing with you today. This week's episode 116 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing with purpose and making a difference in investing as women! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Naseem Sayani is sharing the importance of investing in women-founded companies and actionable steps you can take right now to begin your investing journey today. Naseem Sayani is the Co-founder and Director of Emmeline Ventures, a female-founded early-stage fund investing in ambitious female founders building businesses that are helping women, in particular, manage their health, build their wealth, and live in a cleaner, safer world. Naseem has over 20 years of expertise in investing and business-building and has experience as an angel investor on her own.Some of the talking points Julie and Naseem go over in this episode include:The underrepresentation of women in venture capital and how the numbers have changed in the past few years. How women-led companies perform better for their investors, are more capital efficient, and continue to grow despite challenges in the industry.The importance and power of values-based investing.Making entering the venture capital space clear and accessible for women everywhere.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH NASEEM SAYANI:Emmeline VenturesLinkedInX (formerly Twitter)CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

Venture capital has a reputation for only funding certain demographics of entrepreneurs, particularly white men. As both entrepreneurs seeking funding and investors looking to support them become more diverse, we don't necessarily see that trend change. Gayle Jennings O'Byrne is here today to talk about the power of storytelling in venture capital and how it can help build trust, break down barriers, and get capital into the hands of those who need it, especially women entrepreneurs. This week's episode 114 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about the power of storytelling in venture capital! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Gayle Jennings O'Byrne is sharing the importance of diverse teams in the venture capital space and actionable steps you can take right now to break down barriers through storytelling. Gayle Jennings O'Byrne is the CEO of Wocstar Capital, and Co-Founder and General Partner of the Wocstar Fund, an early-stage venture fund that invests in the future of consumption and innovation using a female arbitrage strategy — women of color tech entrepreneurs (“WOCstars”). Gayle was named one of "10 Women Changing the Landscape of Leadership'' by the New York Times, March 2021, one of the top Black venture capitalists, Business Insider, February 2024, and one of the top “10 Women of Influence” by Venture Capital Journal, July 2022. She is an instructor at Wocstar Academy and co-founder of the Ally Capital Collab, an initiative aimed at tackling systemic underinvestment in women of color fund managers. Some of the talking points Julie and Gayle go over in this episode include:Gayle's story and why she started Wocstar Capital to support women entrepreneurs.Women's role in making consumer decisions and therefore the market in general.Raising capital by using storytelling to break down barriers.The importance of mentorship and leadership development for women in the tech industry.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH GAYLE JENINGS O'BYRNE:WocstarLinkedInCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

GSD Presents: AI, Growth & Creativity: CMO Insights with Nicole DeMeo April 23, Tuesday Guest: Nicole DeMeo, Founder, Outfront Solutions http://linkedin.com/in/nicoledemeo Nicole DeMeo, wears many hats as co-founder of Outfront Solutions and partner at Muir Equity. She is an accomplished business launch, growth, and turnaround expert. A Silicon Valley veteran, she works closely with global executive teams to develop business and marketing strategies and guides companies through major lifecycle events. Her participation in more than 50 company launches - including four of her own – has resulted in significantly increased valuations, acquisitions, IPOs, two unicorns and a decacorn. Nicole has served as brand ambassador and marketing strategist for industry leaders such as Steve Jobs, Eric Schmidt, and Chris Foster and Fortune 500 companies including Apple, Accenture and Omnicom. Nicole has served on leadership teams including Andra Capital, Glispa, and Organic and advises fast-growth companies and funds like Redfin, Hoopt, Spyke Games, Peak Games, Griffin Gaming Partners and How Women Invest. #Tech #AI #CMOInsights #Growth #Creativity #GaryFowler #NicoleDeMeo

Healthcare technologies continue to see innovation faster than ever before. But as technologies change to ideally improve healthcare for everyone, we cannot have the only minds in the space be white men. Michele Colucci is here today to talk about the shift towards more women getting involved in venture funding for healthcare technologies. This week's episode 111 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about women-led healthcare innovation and investment! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Michele Colucci is sharing the importance of collaboration in heathcare and actionable steps you can take right now to invest in women-led ventures. Michele Colucci is the CEO and Managing Partner of DigitalDx Ventures, a majority woman-owned impact fund investing in early-stage health technology companies that deliver innovative solutions using artificial intelligence (AI) to better diagnose + treat illness. Michele has authored six patents in the technology space and founded companies in the legal, technology, retail, and entertainment spaces.She has worked at law firms including Hughes Hubbard & Reed, run her own media production company, owned and operated a chain of retail stores in the political space, run a political fundraising venue, and founded a legal technology company.Some of the talking points Julie and Michele go over in this episode include:How experience working across different vertices leads to unique problem-solving abilities.The importance of collaboration in the development of healthcare technologies.Three uses for AI in healthcare.Why it is important for women to participate in venture investing.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH MICHELE COLUCCI:LinkedInEmail MicheleDigitalDx VenturesCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Healthcare is an industry that affects everyone, no matter your race, gender, and age. With every person needing healthcare access, having a diverse group of voices and minds both in clinics and in companies developing healthcare technologies is more important than ever. Andrea Henderson knows this and has made it her life's mission to not only find these diverse voices, but also invest in technologies to improve healthcare for underrepresented groups. This week's episode 108 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about improving health outcomes through diversity! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Andrea Henderson is sharing the importance of diversity in healthcare and actionable steps you can take right now to ask yourself how you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Andrea Henderson is the Partner in the Life Sciences, Healthcare, Diversity, and Board & CEO Practice Groups at DHR Global, a provider of executive search, leadership consulting, and emerging leader search solutions in more than 50 markets spanning 22 countries.. She is an executive talent strategist and people architect, and previously served as the Director of Partner Solutions and Executive Search at a career acceleration and talent sourcing platform for underrepresented healthcare and life science leaders. Andrea is passionate about health equity and women's health.Some of the talking points Julie and Andrea go over in this episode include:The need for diverse clinicians and medical professionals for the betterment of everyone's health.Tithing one's time and giving back to the community.Making investing more accessible to women hoping to help find solutions with limited resources.The importance of aligning one's actions with their values.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ANDREA HENDERSON:LinkedInCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

Every day, we see technology improving the systems and industries all around us. From finance to environmental science and more, technological advances are allowing us to make great changes to the way we live and work. The medical field is no exception, with scientists and inventors working tirelessly to improve healthcare across the board. Crystal Nyitray, the CEO of Encellin, is here today to talk about how her company is changing the game by introducing cell-based therapies, allowing healthcare to become even more personal. This week's episode 107 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about revolutionizing medicine with cell-based therapies! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Crystal Nyitray is sharing the importance of disruptive technology to improve our lives and actionable steps you can take right now to get involved with Encellin. Crystal Nyitray is the Founder and CEO of Encellin. She is an alumna of UCSF, Sanofi, and Y Combinator. She led Encellin's over $5M seed raise, authored over 10 patents, and is an awardee of MedTech Innovator, Rosenman Innovators, and American Diabetes Innovator. Some of the talking points Julie and Crystal go over in this episode include:The potential of encapsulated cell replacement therapy to revolutionize medicine.How startups have the luxury of risk and can experiment with emerging technologies to benefit everyone.Embracing inexperience as a strength and building networks from scratch.How being comfortable with being different can lead to disruptive innovation and impactful change.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH CRYSTAL NYITRAY:LinkedInEncellinCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

While we have made strides in increasing women's representation in investment management roles, male portfolio managers still control around 12 and a half times more capital than women. This lack of diversity in making investing decisions leads to a lack of funding for women-owned and diverse businesses. Without more perspectives in the room, everyone misses out on opportunities that will benefit the many. Ruth Shaber is here today to discuss her work driving gender diversity in portfolio decisions, her experience founding reproductive health ventures, and much more. This week's episode 104 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking higher returns and lower risk through gender diversity in finance! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Ruth Shaber shares the importance of diversity in asset allocation decisions and actionable steps you can take right now to increase gender diversity in your portfolio. Ruth Shaber, MD is the Founder and President of the Tara Health Foundation. This foundation advances health and economic justice by transferring all of our resources and assets to invest in and elevate solutions at the intersection of race and gender. Ruth is also the co-founder and board chair of Rhia Ventures, a group of foundations and investors that collaborate to bring new types of capital and enterprise to the field of reproductive health in the United States. Recently, Ruth co-authored “The XX Edge: Unlocking Higher Returns and Lower Risk”.Some of the talking points Julie and Ruth go over in this episode include:Prioritizing women's health and reproductive rights and seeking to address systemic issues.Women and men's different approaches to decision-making. The importance of bringing one's full, authentic self to the table including lived experiences.How women are often closer to the problems they're trying to solve, bringing unique perspectives and innovation to the table.To order Ruth's book, The XX Edge: Unlocking Higher Returns and Lower Risk, you can head to https://thexxedge.com/ today!Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH RUTH SHABER:LinkedInX (formerly Twitter)CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

Julie Castro Abrams is the Managing Partner of How Women Invest and CEO of How Women Lead. How Women Lead was established in 2011 and is driving for a world where women have a seat at every table where decisions are made and is currently a network of over 100,000 professional women. How Women Invest is an early stage venture firm seeking to realize untapped economic potential by focusing on the intersection of female founders and female investors. She is also the co-founder and CEO of Limitless Bridge Capital, sits on the Advisory Board of Nia Impact Capital among multiple other roles.   Our conversation is a sweeping one which traces the origins of Julie's passion for empowering women in professional settings and spends considerable time on the benefits of networking, knowledge sharing and developing a voice. We talk about the benefits of a community, and how to build one, and how to bridge the confidence gap that many women experience when it comes to finance and money matters. This relates to empowerment and inviting more women in to finance and investing, which for some is angel investing.Julie discusses the importance of angel investing as both spark and growth capital in an ecosystem, and how going about it can generate the virtuous cycle of more confidence, more status and better community and relationship.We move then to discuss the need for a New Table, at which women and men are represented equally, and how to message this so that women respond and get the support they need.  There is more information about How Women Lead here: https://www.howwomenlead.com/the-movement Series 1 of 2024 is supported by Apollo Global Management, a leading provider of alternative asset management and retirement services solutions. Apollo seeks to provide clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum and is focused on empowering retirees, building and financing stronger businesses and driving a more sustainable future. 

Content warning: Discussion of sexual assault, eating disorders, and suicide.There is a youth mental health crisis in the United States. On average, there is an 11-year age gap in youth mental health between when children experience their first symptoms and signals of mental illness to the first intervention and seeking of treatment. Kenzie Butera Davis started Maro to eliminate that age gap and provide early intervention and risk detection starting with a school-based mental health screening. She is here today to talk to us about the strides Maro has made thus far and how we can support their mission. This week's episode 98 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about using technology to increase access to youth mental health services! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Kenzie Butera Davis is sharing the importance of screening for mental health symptoms at school and actionable steps you can take right now to support Maro and its mission to screen 1 million kids. Kenzie Butera Davis is the Founder and CEO of Maro, a digital health company that has been awarded the Leading Innovative Early-Stage Pediatric Health Company by Oracle Cerner and the World's Most Innovative Ed Tech Startup by ASU GSB for their work at the intersection of healthcare and education. Maro makes mental health an asset to student success instead of a roadblock by screening for warning signs of mental health problems in students and working with schools to engage families and provide access to resources. Some of the talking points Julie and Kenzie go over in this episode include:When Kenzie knew Maro was starting to make a difference.Tracking social return on investment in addition to financial return on investment.The importance of mental health screenings for children at school.Building partnerships with schools and mental health providers.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH KENZIE BUTERA DAVIS:LinkedInMaroCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Climate change is a constant topic of conversation. And while headlines may seem bleak, the climate technology sector continues to grow and innovate to improve our use of resources and impact on the environment. With this sector expected to continue to see rapid substantial growth, it's time for women to explore it as an option, no matter their professional field. Linda Kinney is here today to talk about the lack of women in climate tech, and what we can do to change it. This week's episode 94 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about the role of women in climate tech! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Linda Kinney shares the importance of encouraging women to take jobs in climate technology and actionable steps you can take right now to invest in the future of climate technology companies. Linda Kinney is a climate tech visionary who served as the head of ESG and Product Regulatory Legal at Intel, which is repeatedly ranked at the top of Barron's list of the most sustainable public companies. She's an impact investor and plays an active role in advising climate tech CEOs and leadership teams. Before she moved to the private sector. Linda served in the federal government during three administrations, receiving the highest levels of civil service appointment as a career member of the senior executive service.Some of the talking points Julie and Linda go over in this episode include:Linda's hope for climate technology because of government and private sector investment in climate tech.The current lack of women's involvement in climate tech.Educating and empowering women to enter the climate tech space, no matter their career field.Adjusting investments on both personal and corporate levels to include climate technology.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH LINDA KINNEY:LinkedInCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLLINKS MENTIONED:Canary Media

Cecily Mak: The Founding of Wisdom Ventures Fund Cecily Mak is a co-founding general partner of Wisdom Ventures, committed to advancing technology and businesses based on compassionate design and is co-founding LP of How Women Invest, a venture capital firm that invests exclusively in women-led companies. Welcome to the Conscious Millionaire Show for entrepreneurs, who want to achieve high sales and positively impact humanity! Join host, JV Crum III, as he goes inside the minds of conscious guests such as Millionaire Entrepreneurs and World-Class Business Experts. Like this Podcast? Get every episode delivered to you free!  Subscribe in iTunes Download Your Free Money-Making Gift Now... "Born to Make Millions" Hypnotic Audio - Click Here Now! Please help spread the word. Subscribing and leaving a review helps others find our podcast. Thanks so much! Inc Magazine "Top 13 Business Podcasts." Conscious Millionaire Network has over 3,800 episodes that have been heard by over 100 million in 190 countries.

Cecily Mak: The Founding of Wisdom Ventures Fund Cecily Mak is a co-founding general partner of Wisdom Ventures, committed to advancing technology and businesses based on compassionate design and is co-founding LP of How Women Invest, a venture capital firm that invests exclusively in women-led companies. Welcome to the Conscious Millionaire Show for entrepreneurs, who want to achieve high sales and positively impact humanity! Join host, JV Crum III, as he goes inside the minds of conscious guests such as Millionaire Entrepreneurs and World-Class Business Experts. Like this Podcast? Get every episode delivered to you free!  Subscribe in iTunes Download Your Free Money-Making Gift Now... "Born to Make Millions" Hypnotic Audio - Click Here Now! Please help spread the word. Subscribing and leaving a review helps others find our podcast. Thanks so much! Inc Magazine "Top 13 Business Podcasts." Conscious Millionaire Network has over 3,800 episodes that have been heard by over 100 million in 190 countries.

The majority of invested assets owned by women are not managed by women. Only 1.4% of assets are managed by women and people of color combined! With up to 70% of wealth projected to be controlled by women by 2030, that gender gap simply won't do. Barbara Pierce, founder of Women with Capital, has made it her mission to empower women with financial literacy and teach women that they are in control of their investments. She is here today to talk about the community she has created with Women with Capital, and how women should be thinking about their investments. This week's episode 93 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about unlocking women's financial power! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Barbara Pierce is sharing the importance of financial and investing literacy for women and actionable steps you can take right now to take control of your own wealth management, while still being supported by professionals. Barbara is the founder of Women with Capital, a private learning community to inspire, educate, and support women in using their wealth as a tool for change. In addition to her roles as an individual investor and founder of Women with Capital®, Barbara has 25 years of experience facilitating partnerships between top philanthropists and nonprofits.Some of the talking points Julie and Barbara go over in this episode include:Realizing early that investing is the key to building wealth.Empowering women through financial literacy and investing, especially for social good.The problem of women's wealth predominantly being managed by men.The psychology of wealth and how it guides people's actions, beliefs, and feelings of worthiness.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH BARBARA PIERCE:LinkedInWomen with CapitalCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

The technology industry is predominantly led by white men under the age of 45. While this has been the case for a long time, many different types of founders are starting to enter the space and attempting to get venture funding. Venture firms and funds that focus on often underrepresented founders, especially women of color, are truly making an impact in the technology space and paving the way to change other investor's attitudes toward whom they invest in. Victoria Kennedy is here to talk about Seed to Harvest Ventures and how they put women of color first in their firm. This week's episode 92 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing in women of color entrepreneurs and founders! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Victoria Kennedy share the importance of using one's existing skills and strengths to pursue their passions and actionable steps you can take right now to build community and network as you seek funding. Victoria Kennedy is the Founder and GP at Seed to Harvest Ventures, a venture firm committed to setting up early-stage companies that are historically overlooked and providing them with education, resources, and connections to scale their business. Victoria has unparalleled expertise in building products and assembling high-performance teams and has consulted for companies like Goldman Sachs and The Today Show with NBC.Some of the talking points Julie and Victoria go over in this episode include:Transitioning careers from a product leader to starting a venture firm.Women of color founders deliver 35% higher ROIs than white male founders.The challenges of being a black woman in a predominantly white male-led industry.Using your existing skills to pursue your passions.You can listen to Seed to Harvest's podcast, Adventures in Fun(d)land, on Spotify!Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH VICTORIA KENNEDY:LinkedInInstagramSeed to Harvest VenturesCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Food technology and the food industry is a $9 trillion business, but most people wouldn't think of it. Food and how we eat is often seen as a far more personal choice than a large industry. Because of this, there is ample opportunity for investors to get involved in the early stages of many companies. Brita Rosenheim is here today to talk about her experience in the food industry and how it will change in the years to come. This week's episode 91 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing opportunities and innovation in food technology! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Brita Rosenheim is sharing the importance of specialization in venture capital and actionable steps you can take right now to support new food chain technology. Brita Rosenheim is the Managing Partner at Vita Vera Ventures, a venture firm that supports early-stage tech entrepreneurs defining our future by advancing the resiliency, efficiency, and sustainability of the food industry. Brita has been recognized as an expert on the food tech ecosystem for over a decade; recently named a “Tech Power Player” from BI and featured in NRN's annual "Power List" for the industry. She has 20 years of experience as a food & tech investor, M&A advisor, and corporate development professional.Some of the talking points Julie and Brita go over in this episode include:The intersection of technology and the food supply chain.How the food industry is ubiquitous and recession-proof, yet is often overlooked as an investment opportunity.The need for digitization in the food technology industry to lay a foundation for progress.Vita Vera's commitment to investing in companies with diverse leadership.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast. CONNECT WITH BRITA ROSENHEIM:LinkedInX (formerly Twitter)Vita Vera VenturesCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

Reenita Malhotra Hora founded, built and sold Ayoma, a health and wellness brand, and has written seven books - five non-fiction and two fiction. She has contributed to The Hindu, South China Morning Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, Asian Investor, Times of India and National Geographic Kids, Cartoon Network Asia, Disney and more. She is a founder, executive-level content, operations, & marketing leader, and prolific writer. Reenita has served as Head of Marketing at SRI International, Silicon Valley's pioneer science and deep tech research institute, VP of Content at hibooks/Otto Radio producer/presenter for Bloomberg and award-winning host for RTHK Radio 3 in Hong Kong. With experience across industries, including: media, entertainment, communications, tech/innovation and wellness industries in the USA and Asia, she grows organizations, ranging from early stage startups through mid-size businesses, through storytelling, creative marketing and business strategy. She is a limited partner in the How Women Invest fund which specifically invests in women owned companies. In this episode we discussed: the effect storytelling has on our lives the essence of purpose the importance of having a strong sense of direction in both our personal and professional lives. Connect with Reenita Malhotra Hora: https://www.reenita.com   Is Your Book Ready to be Turned into a Successful Online Course? Find out by downloading my time-tested FREE “Book-to-Course Readiness Checklist.” Get it here today: Create Masterful Courses (https://createmasterfulcourses.com/)   Want to connect? Connect with Dr. Robin on  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinlowensphd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robinlowensphd Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/robinlowensphd/ Email: Robin@LeadershipPurposePodcast.com   Thank you for listening! Rate, review, & follow on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast player. Talk to you soon!   This episode was produced by Lynda, Podcast Manager #YourPodcastHelp at https://www.ljscreativeservices.co.nz    

For many of us, we were told that talking openly about money was rude or even taboo. But times have changed, and financially empowering women is not only good for women but good for everyone. We see time and time again that when money is in the hands of women, they invest in the common good and bring everyone up with them. AdaPia d'Errico is here this week to talk about her journey of teaching women in her life about money, the impact of women's investing, and more. This week's episode 90 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about the intersection of impact and women's investing!In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, AdaPia d'Errico shares the importance of financial literacy for women and actionable steps you can take right now to support women-owned projects. AdaPia d'Errico is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and advisor with over 20 years of experience in the financial industry. AdaPia's 20-year career has spanned banking, insurance, hedge funds, private equity, real estate, venture capital, and digital assets. As a founder, angel investor, lifelong entrepreneur, and advisor, AdaPia brings a wealth of acumen and experience to the table.Some of the talking points Julie and AdaPia go over in this episode include:The importance of demystifying money for women.How and why women's investments are hugely impactful, changing everything for the better.The massive transfer of wealth happening and the shifting landscape of women's finances.AdaPia's journey in angel investing and wanting to support women founders and learn alongside them.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ADAPIA D'ERRICO:LinkedInWebsiteWomxn of WealthCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Nia Castelly is the Co-founder and Legal Lead at Checks, a Google-backed privacy platform that uses AI to simplify privacy compliance for developers. Before Checks, Nia spent nearly five years as a legal advisor for Google Play's Developer Console, Policy, and Operations teams. Nia is an entrepreneur and supporter of early-stage startups, serving as an Angel Investor at the Black Angel Group and as a Limited Partner at How Women Invest. In this episode… In the early 2000s, Apple trademarked the phrase “there's an app for that!” Fast forward to today — the public demands applications because it simplifies areas of our lives. With that demand, developers often rush to launch but must adhere to complicated privacy regulations. How can developers create delightful apps while remaining compliant? Most mobile engineers use software developer kits, a third-party code. If developers do not adequately edit the codes, it can cause unintentional consequences, such as data collection and sharing. Seasoned lawyer Nia Castelly, co-founder of privacy platform Checks, explains there is a three-step procedure known as a triangle to analyze such issues. Once detected, mobile app companies can make requirements to be compliant. Product developers also leverage AI to translate privacy policies, helping simplify compliance complexities. In this episode of the She Said Privacy/He Said Security Podcast with Jodi and Justin Daniels, Nia Castelly, Co-founder and Legal Lead at Checks, discusses data privacy compliance within mobile app development. Nia explains how cultural differences affect privacy across the globe, demystifying compliance complexities, and procedures for governing AI within product development.

US Census population predictions indicate that by the year 2045, white Americans will make up less than 50% of the US population. While we see this shift in population, that is far from the case when it comes to venture funding. There is a massive massive imbalance in the amount of capital that is going to minority and underrepresented founders. Carmen Palafox is here today to talk about how we can correct this imbalance and her work with 2045 Venture. This week's episode 83 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing in underrepresented founders! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Carmen Palafox is sharing the importance of understanding the founders you invest with and actionable steps you can take right now to address the funding imbalance in venture capital. Carmen Palafox has over 20 years of experience in finance, and an established record of investing across industries including Climate tech, Fintech, Health tech, and consumer. Carmen is the founding partner at 2045 Ventures, a partner at MiLA Capital, and a venture partner at How Women Invest. She is also an Adjunct Professor teaching venture capital at USC Marshall School of Business. Prior to venture capital, she was Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors where she scaled investment operations going from $75 Billion AUM to $300 Billion AUM.Some of the talking points Julie and Carmen go over in this episode include:Carmen's journey from traditional finance to venture investing.Addressing funding imbalance for underrepresented founders to bring economic empowerment.The importance of understanding founder motivation and how best to support the founders in which you invest.The benefits of investing in early-stage or day-zero companies.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH CARMEN PALAFOX:LinkedInX (formerly Twitter)2045 VenturesCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Venture capital has been dominated by cis white men since the practice first began. While the founders and innovators seeking funding are starting to vary from that profile, many of those still writing the checks and offering funding fall into that dominant profile. Naseem Sayani is one woman who is trying to change that.  Naseem, the co-founder of Emmeline Ventures, is here today to talk about what can be done to support women from many different backgrounds, minorities, and underserved demographics. This week's episode 80 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about changing demographics in venture capital! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Naseem Sayani is sharing the importance of changing the demographic of investors and actionable steps you can take right now to support diverse communities of women.Naseem Sayani is the Co-founder and Director of Emmeline Ventures, a female-founded early-stage fund investing in ambitious female founders building businesses that are helping women, in particular, manage their health, build their wealth, and live in a cleaner, safer world. Naseem has over 20 years of expertise in investing and business-building, and has experience as an angel investor on her own.Some of the talking points Julie and Naseem go over in this episode include:The importance of investing in women with diverse backgrounds.Breaking stigmas around women's health and the myth that women's health is “niche”.How women have been wrongfully convinced that they make poor money choices.Setting the precedent for pay transparency.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH NASEEM SAYANI:LinkedInTwitterEmmeline VenturesCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

Mark interviews Reenita Malhotra Hora, an award-winning screenwriter, novelist and audio producer. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. Learn more about SciFidea and the awesome Dyson Sphere Sci-Fi Writing Contest.   In the interview, Mark and Reenita talk about: How Reenita has been writing her entire life and her love of storytelling in varous forms The manner in which life can be more fun when we are creating and when we don't always take life so seriously Focusing for a long time on how she could help her clients get THEIR stories out there The decision, in mid-pandemic, to begin to take her writing career in her own hands and developing her own IP The release of her book OPERATION MOM, which was released by Harper Collins India initially in 2011 Buying the rights back for the book in the rest of the world (ie, outside India), as well as for the subsidiary rights for film, TV, etc The publisher's belief that the Western world isn't at all interested in reading a book set in Mumbai Reenita's own screenplay adaptation of the novel (written in the last year) which she decided to set in Hoboken, New Jersey How the story and the comedy in the screenplay remains the same but how the specific details and specific jokes have been modified and adjusted for the different market Just how much Reenita has been learning about publishing in the past few years The way that working with a smaller, boutique publisher can be a good experience, but how an author self-publishing it can potentially work a bit better because of the control they have Winning the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Award and being a finalist for the New York International Screenplay Award The unique approach Reenita took with her newer book Shadow Realms and the multiple formats she has created it in The importance of understanding the business of storytelling The two active podcasts Reenita has created, including the True Fiction Project, which explores the journey of story from non-fiction to fiction The different opportunities for various sponsorships in these two different podcasts Diversity being so important, but the fact that it has become such a recent "buzzword" The interesting compromise of the diversity of a community like Hoboken (which has shades of similarity to Mumbai and offers a window into the Indian-American community) How it can be fun to play with stereotypes and tropes and to turn them around Reenita's passion about bringing the experience of South-Asians to an American audience Describing her experiences as being akin to a street-food in Mumbai And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things from the conversation, including the narrow way many New York publishers look at setting in a novel, which hasn't changed all that much since the early 1990s, and the dynamic way Reenita has explored storytelling in creative ways, while patiently learning more about the industry. Links of Interest: Reenita's Website Operation Mom Reenita's Podcasts Screenplays The 2023 Aurora Awards (YouTube) 2023 Aurora Awards Opening Schtick (YouTube) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Reenita Malhotra Hora is an award-winning screenwriter, novelist and audio producer. Based partly in San Francisco and partly in Los Angeles, her experiences are akin to 'Bhel Puri,' the street food of Mumbai, her native place — a delectable mix of tastes (and preferences), meshed together with a bug or two for good measure. Passionate about storytelling the Indian narrative, Reenita writes characters and themes that reflect the South Asian experience whether set in South Asia or in the Western world. As a writer she has contributed to Reuters, South China Morning Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, Times of India, Rolling Stone, National Geographic Kids, Cartoon Network Asia, Disney and more. As an on-air news reporter, writer, and producer, she has contributed to Bloomberg, RTHK Radio 3, Monocle Radio and the BBC. She has two active podcasts - 'Shadow Realm' (narrative fantasy fiction) and the 'True Fiction Project' (unscripted to scripted). Her female-driven comedy, 'Operation Mom' is a Santa Barbara Screenplay Awards winner, a Chanticleer International Book Awards GrandPrize winner and an Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize winner. Her YA fantasy screenplay, ‘Shadow Realm' is a Script2Comic and Launchpad Prose finalist, a Screencraft quarterfinalist, and a selected nominee for the New Media Film Festival. She is a limited partner in the How Women Invest fund which specifically invests in women owned companies. She is working on her next novel and has recently launched Chapter by episode, a digital publishing platform for immersive chat fiction stories with diverse themes.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

The fitness industry has seen many changes, especially since the Pandemic. One of those changes is the popularity of at-home fitness which is still led by professional instructors. Lauren Foundos, Founder of FORTË, is changing the game by creating opportunities for more gyms and studios to reach their members, even when those members want to work out at home. Lauren is here this week to talk about her journey from working on wall street to helping advance technology in the fitness industry and more.  This week's episode 79 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about investing in the fitness industry! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Lauren Foundos is sharing the importance of lowering the barrier to entry for fitness for everyone and actionable steps you can take right now to build your business support system. Lauren Foundos is the Founder and CEO of FORTË, a digital platform that allows gyms and fitness studios to provide their own fitness classes as an on-demand streaming platform for their members. FORTË has created digital experiences with many companies including the YMCA, the NFL Players Association, the UFC, and more. Lauren founded FORTE after a career in the financial industry, working on Wall Street with Whitaker Securities.Some of the talking points Julie and Lauren go over in this episode include:Lauren's background in fitness and how she's people's interest in fitness change since the pandemic.The journey of becoming a woman founder after working on Wall Street.How having supportive, active investors makes a difference in a company.What lobbying for the PHIT Act in Washington DC taught Lauren about legislation.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH LAUREN FOUNDOS:LinkedInInstagramTwitterFORTËCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLJoin us for Get On Board Week from October 16-20, 2023. Registration is now open at https://www.howwomenlead.com/getonboard

Venture capitalist Julie Castro Abrams — CEO and chair of How Women Lead and general partner of How Women Invest — takes the microphone to discuss the surprising data (both positive and negative) surrounding the wealth women control, their access to capital, their approach to investing, and how they differ constitutionally from their male counterparts. (07/2023)

Poverty among women, especially women of color, continues to be a problem throughout the world. In impoverished countries, rates of femicide are much higher, and that problem was brought even more to light during the pandemic. But Mpho Hansjee is one of many women working to end the poverty of women artisans in South Africa by teaching entrepreneurial skills and providing access to larger markets. This week's episode 71 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about ending women's poverty with e-commerce! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Mpho Hansjee is sharing the importance of taking risks and living life fully and actionable steps you can take right now to support women entrepreneurs all over the world. Mpho Hansjee is the founder and CEO of Women Enabled Enterprises, which strives to help low-income women of color artisans in African countries grow their craft business for self-sufficiency through a virtual, mobile-phone-based, retail entrepreneurship skills-building program, access to international markets through our USA online marketplace (ShopConsciously), micro-funding from VC impact partner investors and ongoing alumni support.  For more than 15 years, she has helped fortune 500 retail companies analyze customer and product data and leverage it to adopt strategies and operation solutions that drive great meaningful business results. She increases category sales, establishes world-class best practices, streamlines processes, and optimizes performance.Some of the talking points Julie and Mpho go over in this episode include:The connection between silicon valley entrepreneurial spirit and gender equity.How growing up in South Africa shaped Mpho's view of women in entrepreneurship.Women entrepreneurs create sustainable businesses and solve environmental issues.How Women Enabled Enterprises is growing and expanding into many South African markets.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH MPHO HANSJEE:LinkedInWomen Enabled EnterprisesShopConsiouslyCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Accessing funding and capital as a small business is challenging, especially so for those who belong to minority communities. But there are people out there rooting for the “new majority” and investing in their businesses and ventures. Today, Elizabeth Gore from Hello Alice is here to talk about investing in minority-owned businesses and more. This week's episode 70 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about funding new majority small businesses! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Elizabeth Gore is sharing the importance of leading with your values and advice you can use right now to weather the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. Elizabeth Gore is the Co-founder and President of Hello Alice, a FinTech platform helping over 1 million small business owners access capital. She served as Entrepreneur in Residence at Dell Technologies, the United Nations Foundation, and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia. Elizabeth has been passionate about breaking down barriers for entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, including women, People of Color veterans, and people with disabilities.Some of the talking points Julie and Elizabeth go over in this episode include:How Elizabeth and Carolyn came together to form Hello Alice.How using outdated technology to assess creditworthiness hurts small business owners. Using their mission to support businesses through Covid-19.Elizabeth's tenants for leadership and how they've changed over the years.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH GORE:LinkedInTwitterHello AliceCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLOnly 2.1% of venture capital went to women-founded companies in 2022. We are done waiting or fighting for a seat at the table—today, we are committing to build The New Table; women-funded, women-run. I invite you to invest in your power, don't wait—join The New Table today.

AI is one of the biggest topics of conversation in our world right now. With so many uses of this powerful technology, it's important to look at both the benefits and the risks of integrating this technology into our businesses. Today, Lake Dai is here to talk about the ever-changing landscape of AI. This week's episode 69 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about using AI to create a positive impact! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Lake Dai is sharing the importance of understanding AI and what it means for the future of business and actionable steps you can take right now to utilize AI technologies for good.Lake Dai is the Founder and Managing Partner of Sancus Ventures, investing in the next-gen software infrastructure of AI, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. She is an Applied AI adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Lake has led global product and engineering organizations and public companies and tech startups and is an inventor with five US patents.Some of the talking points Julie and Lake go over in this episode include:Why it's important to start building AI into you company.How ChatGPT and other AI can speed up the process of content creation.The three-step process for assessing risk in technology ventures.Balancing your head and your heart in the boardroom.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH LAKE DAI:LinkedInTwitterCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLOnly 2.1% of venture capital went to women-founded companies in 2022. We are done waiting or fighting for a seat at the table—today, we are committing to build The New Table; women-funded, women-run. I invite you to invest in your power, don't wait—join The New Table today.

Women founders and their companies are vastly overlooked when it comes to venture funding. Only 2 percent of funding is given to women-led teams, and that number gets even smaller when it comes to women of color. Erin Harkless Moore is here today to talk about why this number hasn't gone up, and what we can do about it! This week's episode 67 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about women-first investing and knowing your power! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Erin Harkless Moore is sharing the importance of aligning your work with your personal values and actionable steps you can take right now to level up your leadership qualities. Erin Harkless Moore is the Senior Director of Investments at Pivotal Ventures created by Melinda French Gates to accelerate social progress in the United States. She leads the organization's fund and direct investment decisions, overseeing a diverse portfolio that drives breakthrough innovations and impact for people in this country. Erin has nearly 20 years of investment experience previously working as the Managing Director at Cambridge Associates.Some of the talking points Julie and Erin go over in this episode include:The importance of aligning your values and your work with your professional interests.Challenges and opportunities in the venture capital space.Recognizing the biases that hold women back from raising capital.Erin's biggest lessons that have defined her career.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ERIN HARKLESS MOORE:LinkedInTwitterPivotal VenturesCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLOnly 2.1% of venture capital went to women-founded companies in 2022. We are done waiting or fighting for a seat at the table—today, we are committing to build The New Table; women-funded, women-run. I invite you to invest in your power, don't wait—join The New Table today.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Julie Castro Abrams. Julie is a hard charging activist who very early on knew what she did not want to be– and that was a trophy wife. This is because when she was young, Julie saw her mother's friends navigating divorces and ending up destitute as a result. Julie wanted to have a family and a career, and she also wanted to protect herself from the financial risk that her mom's friends experienced. Julie successfully crafted the life she wanted, including finding a spouse who has had a strong enough ego to be an ally and support her role as the family's breadwinner.Julie is the founder and Managing Partner of How Women Invest, an early-stage venture firm focused on high growth, tech enabled women-founded enterprises. The firm is a culmination of her lifetime of work propelling women founders to launch and find success with training, capital and networks. Julie brings her extensive experience identifying and supporting early-stage entrepreneurs and twenty years as a CEO and board director. She is bringing her extensive networks, leadership and entrepreneurship experience to disruption of the venture landscape.An active investor and advisor to start-ups, and as the leader of the nation's largest microenterprise and microfinance organization for 11 years, Julie has helped launch over 6,000 women into successful businesses. In her role as CEO of Women's Initiative for Self Employment, an SBA Certified Development Financial Institution, Julie drove innovation in the US microenterprise and finance space. Investing in extensive research about the indicators of long-term success for women entrepreneurs, Julie brings deep intellectual prowess, extensive networks and experience to this transformative venture firm.Today she is advising the SBA, White House and Congress on national legislative initiatives to address economic opportunities for women. She serves on the California First Partners Project as an advisor regarding corporate board diversity. In her role as Founder and CEO of How Women Lead, she has been a driver of legislative initiatives and transformation in the US and California. Julie serves as an Advisor to financial services firms including the fin-tech start-up LENDonate and Nia Capital. She previously served as an advisor to Beneficial Bank and as the Governance Chair for the Association for Enterprise Opportunity and the Women's Funding Network. As the CEO of How Women Lead, she is at the center of the movement to disrupt antiquated, unequal systems by propelling women into even greater leadership roles and increasing opportunities for all women. Julie has been an essential driver of the ecosystem for women on corporate boards in California. Julie has been a national leader in the movement and drove the successful passage of the groundbreaking Senate Bill 826, requiring public companies to have women on their boards. The recipient of many accolades, she has been awarded the More Jobs Genius Award, the Morgan Stanley Innovation Award, Cisco's Innovation in Technology Award, the League of Women Voters' Women Who Could Be President Award, the Stevie Award for Best Non-Profit Executive, and the Commission on the Status of Women's Human Rights Award. She has also been featured in six books, including "Scrappy Women in Business", "Women of Courage", and "The Missing Mentor", and she has been featured in Fast Company's video series "30 Second MBA."Learn more about Money Tale$ > Subscribe to the podcast Recent episodes See all episodes > Form CRS Form ADV Terms of Use Privacy Rights and Policies

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Julie Castro Abrams. Julie is a hard charging activist who very early on knew what she did not want to be– and that was a trophy wife. This is because when she was young, Julie saw her mother's friends navigating divorces and ending up destitute as a result. Julie wanted to have a family and a career, and she also wanted to protect herself from the financial risk that her mom's friends experienced. Julie successfully crafted the life she wanted, including finding a spouse who has had a strong enough ego to be an ally and support her role as the family's breadwinner. Julie is the founder and Managing Partner of How Women Invest, an early-stage venture firm focused on high growth, tech enabled women-founded enterprises. The firm is a culmination of her lifetime of work propelling women founders to launch and find success with training, capital and networks. Julie brings her extensive experience identifying and supporting early-stage entrepreneurs and twenty years as a CEO and board director. She is bringing her extensive networks, leadership and entrepreneurship experience to disruption of the venture landscape. An active investor and advisor to start-ups, and as the leader of the nation's largest microenterprise and microfinance organization for 11 years, Julie has helped launch over 6,000 women into successful businesses. In her role as CEO of Women's Initiative for Self Employment, an SBA Certified Development Financial Institution, Julie drove innovation in the US microenterprise and finance space. Investing in extensive research about the indicators of long-term success for women entrepreneurs, Julie brings deep intellectual prowess, extensive networks and experience to this transformative venture firm. Today she is advising the SBA, White House and Congress on national legislative initiatives to address economic opportunities for women. She serves on the California First Partners Project as an advisor regarding corporate board diversity. In her role as Founder and CEO of How Women Lead, she has been a driver of legislative initiatives and transformation in the US and California. Julie serves as an Advisor to financial services firms including the fin-tech start-up LENDonate and Nia Capital. She previously served as an advisor to Beneficial Bank and as the Governance Chair for the Association for Enterprise Opportunity and the Women's Funding Network. As the CEO of How Women Lead, she is at the center of the movement to disrupt antiquated, unequal systems by propelling women into even greater leadership roles and increasing opportunities for all women. Julie has been an essential driver of the ecosystem for women on corporate boards in California. Julie has been a national leader in the movement and drove the successful passage of the groundbreaking Senate Bill 826, requiring public companies to have women on their boards. The recipient of many accolades, she has been awarded the More Jobs Genius Award, the Morgan Stanley Innovation Award, Cisco's Innovation in Technology Award, the League of Women Voters' Women Who Could Be President Award, the Stevie Award for Best Non-Profit Executive, and the Commission on the Status of Women's Human Rights Award. She has also been featured in six books, including “Scrappy Women in Business”, “Women of Courage”, and “The Missing Mentor”, and she has been featured in Fast Company's video series “30 Second MBA.”

Investing is a powerful tool for creating generational wealth and creating a secure financial situation. Often, however, women have less education on investing and are spoken down to by advisors, even though women are more likely than men to take their advice. Freda Zietlowis here this week to talk about the importance of women having financial literacy and finding happiness in their lives. This week's episode 63 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about happiness and investing strategies for women!In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Freda Zietlow are sharing the importance of financial literacy and actionable steps you can take right now to increase your happiness. Freda Zietlow is an international investment banking and wealth management executive. She has over 25 years of experience. She's served on many nonprofit boards and corporations in the last decade. Today, she's the managing director of the Fiduciary Trust, a subsidiary of Franklin Templeton with $30 billion of assets under management. Some of the talking points Julie and Freda Zietlow go over in this episode include:Courageous stances for women in leadership positions to take.The type of women Freda likes to advise and work with.Current hot topics in the corporate boardroom.What we can do to live happier lives as we age.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH FREDA ZIETLOW:LinkedInCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLOnly 2.1% of venture capital went to women-founded companies in 2022. We are done waiting or fighting for a seat at the table—today, we are committing to build The New Table; women-funded, women-run. I invite you to invest in your power, don't wait—join The New Table today.

In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into the world of Venture Capital and explore the untapped potential of women investors.Julie Castro Abrams is the Founder and Managing Partner of How Women Invest, an early stage venture firm focussed on high growth, tech enabled women-founded enterprises.Despite women-led startups generating 10% more in cumulative revenue over a five-year period, only 1.9% of venture capital dollars went to female founders in 2022.Thamina and Julie discuss the reasons behind this disparity and how high net worth women can be recruited as Angel investors and Limited Partners in Venture Capital funds to help bridge the gap.With How Women Lead and How Women Invest, Julie has built a network of 17,000 top executive women, who are now investing as a community, 50% of them being women of color.For the first time ever, we have a huge volume of women with 30 years of work experience, with power, influence, and some wealth and as Julie likes to put it: “We're not going to wait for other people to break down barriers for us.”Julie and Thamina also open up about their relationships with their Latino partners and talk about how initiatives like Latina In Sight are challenging cultural stereotypes and creating opportunities for women in the Latin community.

Women CEOs are incredible - they have to be to get to the top - so it only makes sense that their companies outperform others in the stock market. So why aren't more people actively investing in women? Because the information has not been there, until now. Patricia Lizarraga is here today to talk about how we can consciously invest in women now and in the future. This week's episode 62 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about WCEO and investing in the future of women's leadership! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Patricia Lizarraga are sharing the importance of designing the world you want to see and actionable steps you can take right now to invest in women now and in the future. Patricia Lizarraga is the managing partner of Hypatia Capital and the issuer of the Hypatia Women CEO EFT, an actively managed Exchange Traded fund that invests in all publicly traded American companies that have female Chief Executive Officers. Patricia founded Hypatia over 15 years ago when she'd already been working in finance as an investment banker for 20 years, committed to investing in women in leadership. Some of the talking points Julie and Patricia go over in this episode include:Breaking ground by collecting data on women outperforming in investing.Women CEOs are incredible - they have to be to make it to the top.What an EFT is and why you should invest in WCEO.If you want a certain kind of world, you have to build it yourself.To learn more about Hypatia and the Women CEO EFT, go to https://www.wceoetf.com/.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH PATRICIA LIZARRAGA:LinkedInTwitterCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLOnly 2.1% of venture capital went to women-founded companies in 2022. We are done waiting or fighting for a seat at the table—today, we are committing to build The New Table; women-funded, women-run. I invite you to invest in your power, don't wait—join The New Table today.

Our guest, Carmen Palafox, is a seasoned venture capitalist. She is a Founding Partner at 2045 Ventures in Los Angeles and Venture Partner at How Women Invest. She is also a Partner at MiLA Capital.Carmen was awarded the Rising Star Award from the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce. She was spotlighted by the NVCA as a Rising Star in VC and featured by LA Magazine as 1 of 13 of LA's Powerful Women. Coming out of USC, Carmen was fortunate to land her first job at Dimensional Fund Advisors, where she scaled operations into LATAM, Canada, and Europe, going from $75 Billion AUM to $300 Billion AUM.In this episode, Carmen shared her journey into venture capital, launching a fund, the challenges of women and underrepresented founders in the VC world, and what people can expect in the coming years despite the uncertainties in the industry.Episode Quotes:How Haas led her to venture capitalI went to Haas thinking that I'd get into social impact investing, and that was in 2011, when impact investing was a little earlier than it is today. At that time, there's a lot of talk around social impact bonds and pay for success, and that's where I was thinking my career would be headed. But, you know, one of the advantages of going to Haas was the career development group and just the support I got there and the freedom to really explore. And that exploration led me to venture.The challenges that women and underrepresented founders face in the VC industryAs women, we don't want to think that our gender will hold us back. But there are systemic issues. There's bias that people may or may not be aware of. And I think one of the reasons women are successful when they do get funding is because they are capital constrained and do have to be more efficient. I mean, the same is true for underrepresented founders. You just don't know if there will be capital around the corner, so you are more judicious with what you have. And on the flip side, I think there need to be more capital allocators that are focused on outcomes, meaning, we want to see more women founders, we want to meet more women funders. And so, being focused on that as a primary driver to change the status quo. I think it's important to create more balance in an ecosystem. I think that should be our objective. It should be about balance. And I think we would solve a lot of these unintended consequences that we see as a result of the technology that's out there today if we were to bring more balance to the industry.Opportunities for early-stage founders I think it's an epic time, both because of the reset but also the fact that we're coming out of Covid, and during Covid, people had a lot of time to evaluate how they were spending their time, where they were spending their time. And so, I think a lot of people, if they're able to, are prioritizing differently and potentially looking for areas where they can have the most impact in their careers, and where they can shift priorities to their families. I've seen or talked to a lot of startups that are able to attract talent because they have flexibility in how they're going to manage building their company. If you can offer someone with technical talent the ability to work off hours or work remotely from wherever they want, then I think you have an opportunity there as an early-stage founder.Show Links:LinkedIn Profile2045 CapitalHow Women InvestMiLA Capital (Make in LA)Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/onehaas/donations

In this Silicon Valley Tech & AI episode presented by GSD Venture Studios Gary Fowler interviews Nicole DeMeo. Guest: Nicole DeMeo, co-founder of Outfront Solutions Nicole DeMeo, co-founder of Outfront Solutions, is an accomplished business launch, growth and turnaround expert, as well as an investment fund advisor. A Silicon Valley veteran, she works closely with global executive teams to develop marketing strategies and guides companies and executives through major lifecycle events. Her participation in more than 50 company launches - including four of her own – has resulted in significantly increased valuations, acquisitions and IPOs. Nicole has served as executive branding and marketing strategist for industry leaders such as Steve Jobs, Eric Schmidt, Chris Foster and Carly Fiorina. As part of their #WomenOutfront initiative Nicole and her business partner, Jeanine Moss dedicate more than 25% of their business to helping women get into the c-suite, on boards, funded and advanced in their leadership initiatives. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies including Omnicom, Apple, Hewlett Packard and Accenture. Nicole has served on leadership teams including Andra Capital and advises fast-growth companies like Everviolet as well as funds like How Women Invest and Earlybird Venture Capital.

Investing is a great way to achieve financial security and independence, but it can be difficult to get started if you don't know where to begin. All too often, women are left out of conversations about investments that would help reduce the wealth gap. This week's episode 56 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about how to achieve gender equity in investing! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Kristin Hull are sharing the importance of expanding access to information on investing and actionable steps you can take right now to invest in the causes and beliefs that align with your values. Kristin Hull is the Founder and CEO of Nia Impact Capital, a woman-led registered investment advisor leading the charge to change the face of finance. She has been an impact investor since 2007. Prior to devoting her career to transforming our financial system, Kristin was a full-time educator.Some of the talking points Julie and Kristin go over in this episode include:How much we can do together when we put respect first.All of the opportunities that exist for women investors, and how more opportunities open us as more conversations are had.The importance of a woman-founded mutual fund and how it democratizes investing.What it means to invest with an ESG lens.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast Links mentioned in today's episode:Invest for BetterCONNECT WITH KRISTIN:LinkedInThe Money Doula blogNia Impact Capital CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLOnly 2.1% of venture capital went to women-founded companies in 2022. We are done waiting or fighting for a seat at the table—today, we are committing to build The New Table; women-funded, women-run. I invite you to invest in your power, don't wait—join The New Table today.

Being a Woman of Color in corporate can be difficult, especially if you feel alone. That's why we encourage the people in our circle of influence, especially those with diverse backgrounds, to lead and mentor those who are coming up behind them. This week's episode 53 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about gratitude and giving back! Rashida Hodge is the VP of Azure Data and AI Customer Success at Microsoft. She recently won the North Carolina Tech 2021 Tech Woman of the Year award and sits on the board of Girls, Inc. Rashida is passionate about her family, volunteering in her community, technology innovation, and always learning.Some of the talking points Julie and Rashida go over in this episode include:How important it is to lift others up and create opportunities for them.Authenticity in leadership and its role as a differentiator.A “T” shaped career and the value of having a varied background when sitting on a corporate board.Giving back during your working career versus waiting until later in life.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!CONNECT WITH RASHIDA:LinkedInTwitterCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLOnly 2.1% of venture capital went to women-founded companies in 2022. We are done waiting or fighting for a seat at the table—today, we are committing to build The New Table; women-funded, women-run. I invite you to invest in your power, don't wait—join The New Table today.

One of the threads of leadership is to be connected with those who are in our organizations who are at various points in their careers and who may need somebody to help them get to where they want to go. This week's episode 50 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about the value of the general counsel perspective on a corporate board!In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Shawnte Mitchell share the importance of diversity in a company's leadership (especially the C suite) and actionable steps you can take right now to be the best possible board member. Today's guest, Shawnte Mitchell, is the Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at Genomatica. An accomplished attorney, she has nearly 20 years of experience of advising both publicly traded and privately held companies in the healthcare and life sciences industries. She joins Geno from Zogenix Inc., where she was most recently executive vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary, contributing to the development and execution of the company's strategic and operational plans and overseeing compliance, governance, SEC, intellectual property, data privacy, and contractual matters.Her background starts with a Biology degree from Stanford and a JD from George Washington University Law School. In her spare time, Shawnte likes to volunteer with a number of organizations, such as How Women Invest, and spend quality time with her two daughters.Some of the talking points Julie and Shawnte go over in this episode include:The importance of representation and diversity in leadership.The role of general counsel and the assets they bring to a board.Elements that make a board director stand out.Giving yourself grace while working towards your goals.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!CONNECT WITH SHAWNTE MITCHELL:LinkedInCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLOnly 2.1% of venture capital went to women-founded companies in 2022. We are done waiting or fighting for a seat at the table—today, we are committing to build The New Table; women-funded, women-run. I invite you to invest in your power, don't wait—join The New Table today.

Julie Castro Abrams is the managing partner at How Women Invest, an early-stage venture firm focused on the intersection of female founders and female investors. She is also the CEO of How Women Lead, a network of executive women working to increase female leadership representation on boards and more. Julie engages with Women on Top with Haleh Moddasser about women supporting other women through venture funds. Julie debunks myths about women investors, demystifies terminology associated with venture funds, and describes the stages of a company and the investment risk level associated with each stage.

Today's guest -  attorney, founder and former investment banker Lisa Liu - is FULL of incredible legal and business strategy to build the foundation of your business and also to save you so much time, energy + money!!!   In this episode, we dive into: Vision Architecting -  Starting with the ideal end in mind.  The Legal Mistake that Could Cost You EVERYTHING. The Danger of Legally Mad Libbing Your Business. Why Great Customer Service is one of the BEST legal protections. And so much more!!!!   A legal maverick with a reputation for challenging the status quo, Lisa is a fierce advocate and trusted advisor of entrepreneurs and their businesses. She combines her backgrounds in finance and law to position clients toward growth and successful exit.    An entrepreneur in her own right, Lisa serves on the board of directors for startup QuickHaven. She is also a limited partner in the VC firm, How Women Invest, which is changing the venture capital landscape by focusing on investments in female-founded and female-led technology companies, with emphasis on women of color. An entrepreneur in her own right, Lisa serves on the board of directors for startup QuickHaven. She is also a limited partner in the VC firm, How Women Invest, which is changing the venture capital landscape by focusing on investments in female-founded and female-led technology companies, with emphasis on women of color.    Lisa is fluent in Mandarin and speaks conversational Japanese. She is a mother of two, and serves her community as the Legal Director for Parents' Club of Palo Alto and Menlo Park and as a board director of QuickHaven–a for-profit company trying to solve transitional shelter issues for the homeless and displaced.   RESOURCES   Text me HELLO at +1 (949) 503-9882 to receive weekly business + lifestyle tips, tools & inspo! Download your 4 in 1 Irresistible Pitch Templates to supercharge your brand and business visibility + credibility!! It's a plug and play template to pitch to press, podcasts, TV and public speaking!! Join The Visibility Lounge on FB - for female business owners + entrepreneurs who want to build a profitable + purpose driven business!   CONNECT WITH GUEST Visit Their Website: https://mitzelgroup.com  https://www.getcontracthigh.com/        CONNECT WITH REBECCA Follow Rebecca: @RebeccaCafiero   Follow The Pitch Club: @thepitch.club  Visit my Website: www.rebeccacafiero.com

Our guest this week has had a very interesting journey toward being a leader and board director. She started her career with a hard hat and now sits on the board of a public company. Her journey is inspiring, and she gives insights on how you can live every day to its fullest potential. This week's episode 32 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about leading with self-realization! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Kathryn Henry share the importance of showing up as an authentic leader. They also discuss what living to your full potential really looks like and how it has a positive impact on how you show up in the world. Kathryn Henry is currently serving as CEO & Co-Founder of LightBrite and Independent Board Director at lululemon since February 2016. She's a member of Audit and Compensation Committees focusing on Technology, Operations, Cyber Security, People Development, and Social Impact/ESG. She's led strategic planning and program management for Blue-Chip global firms, including Gap Inc., Levi Strauss & Company, lululemon, Ernst & Young, and Deloitte & Touche. Kathryn also serves as a limiter partner at How Women Invest, a venture firm disrupting the unequal investment in women-owned ventures and propelling women-led businesses forward.Some of the talking points Julie and Kathryn go over in this episode include:The unique situation of being on the team at lululemon and then joining the board.How a background with technical and people skills is helpful for board members. Finding your meaning through meditation and spiritual practice of quiet. How we as a society are becoming more awakened to our broader consciousness.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!CONNECT WITH KATHRYN HENRY:LinkedInMySoul Vibe AppCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLLINKS MENTIONED:Living with the Himalayan MastersAutobiography of a Yogi

Do you believe that venture can be used as a global catalyst for change? We do. We've seen it time and time again with How Women Invest. Cheryl Beninga, our guest this week, believes that we can each make our mark on the work by investing in women-owned companies. This week's episode 27 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about using venture as a global catalyst for change! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Cheryl Beninga share the importance of owning your power as a woman in male-dominated spaces. They also chat about how venture capitalism can be an intentional vehicle for change in our world. Cheryl has 20+ years of investment experience working with leading technology investors, including Intel Capital and GE Ventures, on all stages of technology investing. She has been responsible for billions of dollars in venture investing, with over $50M in early-stage technology investments yielding over $2B in value. Cheryl is experienced at the board and operations level at all venture stages, from Seed round to IPO, and has experience in M&A transactions.She is Co-Founder of FourthWave, a non-profit accelerator program for female-led, high-potential technology companies providing business mentorship, personal potential coaching, and access to capital. FourthWave cohort members have raised over $25M in capital, participated in Y Combinator, and earned national growth recognition from INC., TechCrunch, and others.Some of the talking points Julie and Cheryl Beninga go over in this episode include:Power in having support when you are juggling so many endeavors.Learning by doing and taking risks.Investing in positive impact technology so we can make the world a better place for future generations.  Women try to hide their intuition and fit in within male-dominated spaces. That's a disservice to ourselves and those around us.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!CONNECT WITH CHERYL BENINGA:LinkedInTwitterFourthWaveWai Mohala VenturesCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Many come into a career with the expectation of starting here and wanting to be at the next level at a certain very rapid point. Sure, technology has made some changes to that; but we've lost the importance of what you can learn in the process of building from the ground up. This week's episode 22 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about supporting and mentoring our next generation of women leaders! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Heather Jerrehian are sharing the importance of surrounding yourself with people who can help raise you up. So many of us grew up in an era where there was only one seat at the top. There's abundance for all of us, and How Women Invest showcases that spectacularly.Heather Jerrerhian is an award-winning entrepreneurial leader and turnaround expert with key executive roles as a startup founder, CEO, COO, CFO, and VP/GM for Fortune 500 enterprises and startups with extensive software, consumer, and technology expertise. Global business builder recognized for cultivating key strategic partnerships, accelerating sales through robust GTM strategies, maximizing distribution channels (B2B + B2C + B2B2C), and demonstrating the operational acumen to architect systems and infrastructure to support large-scale organizations.She has full 360-degree knowledge of SaaS, marketplaces, e-commerce, retail, wholesale, and manufacturing across multiple consumer categories, including hardware, electronics, clothing, accessories, and food – as well as technology expertise using AI + ML across HRTech, EdTech, AgTech, and FashionTech. Known for the ability to identify trends and quickly capitalize on growth opportunities, having a consistent record of building multi-million-dollar businesses ($0 to $75M) and driving triple-digit increases while maintaining financial controls for profitability and extraordinary people leadership skills to enable the impossible.Some of the talking points Julie and Heather go over in this episode include:Stepping out and taking the shot to meet the right peopleHow being a hexagon has helped her better articulate and shift the conversation to how she can best support the role she wanted.Pivotal qualities that served her well through all her career shifts.The most critical skills for any new entrepreneur or startup CEOHow to create an advisory network that will best serve you in your different roles.  The most important thing the younger generation needs to know as they step into these leadership roles.What to do when you are in the middle of a struggle in your career. There's a time and a moment for all of us. Grab the moment when you can because you never know what will come out of it. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!CONNECT WITH HEATHER JERREHIAN:Hitch WorksLinkedInTwitterCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Sue Harnett knows a thing or two about helping others' voices be heard, and she's a fierce advocate for others. Through her many years in Fin-Tech and banking, as well as her experience being an angel investor and helping start ups. Sue has a heart for women leaders and business owners. This week's episode 19 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about growing your network and asking the right questions to help others expand their horizons and ideas! Sue currently serves as Independent Director, Nomination & Governance Committee Chair, and a member of the Risk Committee of the OFG Holding Company Bank Board (NYSE:OFG) and a member of the Compensation & Human Capital and Audit Committees of Life Storage (NYSE:LSI). She recently joined the Board of American Enterprise Group, a mutual insurance company and is a member of the Audit Committee. Previously she served on the Board of Directors of First Niagara Financial Group. She is certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors as a Director and a Governance Fellow and a Qualified Risk Director when she was awarded a Certificate in Risk Governance from the DCRO Institute. To give back, Sue is a founding limited partner of How Women Invest and a member of the Executive Board of How Women Lead an organization committed to increasing venture funding to women led companies.In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Sue Harnett are sharing the importance of asking great questions and actionable steps you can take right now to help other women succeed beside you. Some of the talking points Julie and Sue go over in this episode include:Balancing Motherhood, careers, and other challenges throughout the ages as women in successful career fields.The power in asking good questions in board meetings, and the role you play as a board member, whether it's in banking or start ups.Why it's important for other women to join boards and why Sue puts in extra work to help fellow women join them.Innovations in Fin-tech that Sue sees that have a strong potential to change the trajectory of women in finances. This episode will encourage you to humbly help others and be a fierce advocate for others through networking. Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips and to hear even more about the points outlined above.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!CONNECT WITH SUE HARNETT:LinkedInCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWLLINKS: Book: Lean Inwww.goalsetter.co

Venture capital, which is one type of investing, can be confusing to understand unless, of course, you're talking to Erika Cramer, Managing Member and General Partner of How Women Invest, who has over 25 years of experience in investment banking. Today we will break down just what it is, how to start investing in this way, and how businesses can secure these types of investors. That's why episode 8 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about venture capital investing, with Erika Cramer! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Erika Cramer is sharing the importance of venture capital investing to ease the gender wage gap and actionable steps you can take right now to either start investing or get an investor. Some of the talking points Erika and I go over in this episode include:The identity shift Erika went through when she retired from investment banking, and how she handled the loss of a title to recreate her identity.Why women in venture capital is such a huge passion for Erika, and how important the gender wealth gap is in this as well.What Erika believes is most exciting for those limited partners when it comes to venture investing, and what venture capital investing is.Some of the trends Erika is seeing in venture today, and what she's seeing in the market for both the investors and the businesses looking for investors.If you've ever been curious about what venture is, how to be a part of it, or how to secure venture capital investors for your own business, this episode cannot be skipped! So be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips and to hear even more about the points outlined above.Thank you for listening!If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!CONNECT WITH ERIKA CRAMER:LinkedInWebsiteCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

A career CEO, activist, and board expert shares the importance of women taking leadership roles as founders, on boards, and as investors. Julie Castro Abrams is leading a movement of women who invest in women-led companies, and are transforming the venture landscape as a result. As the founder and CEO of How Women Lead, she's devoted to getting more women on public and private boards, and as the Managing Partner at How Women Invest, she has created a unique VC firm where thousands of women are investing in other women-led companies - with groundbreaking results. In this episode, Julie shares her perspective on the progress being made toward diversity in venture and on corporate boards, the importance of a strong personal frame for oneself and others, taking empowered action in the face of injustice, the hierarchy of philanthropy, and the inspiring movement of women who are investing in other women founders who, in turn, are creating successful businesses across a broad spectrum of industries - from female-focused to AI-driven. Julie is the founder and CEO of How Women Lead, a sought-after speaker, and a consultant who helps leaders achieve their growth and breakthrough goals. She's also a philanthropist who created How Women Give and serves as the governance chair for the Women's Funding Network. Julie has won many awards including the Jobs Genius Award, Morgan Stanley Innovation Award, Cisco Innovation in Technology, "Women Who Could Be President" League of Women Voters, Stevie Award for Best Non Profit Executive, Human Rights Award from the Commission on the Status of Women, the Women of Color Action Network, Leadership California and the Marin Women's Hall of Fame in 2011. Key Insights: The impact of your personal frame on your ability to succeed The growth and gains that result from board diversity The power of women investing in women-led companies Maimonides' hierarchy of philanthropy and how it relates to investment Subscribe to this podcast to build your healthy financial foundation through expertise, insights, strategies, tactics, wisdom, and inspiration from Alpha Investing's community of professionals, advisors, investors, and members: Apple - Spotify - Google - TuneIn - Stitcher - iHeartRadio Guest Bio: Julie Castro Abrams is an expert on building boards that add a strategic advantage including proactive searches for women on corporate boards. An experienced CEO and sought-after speaker in entrepreneurship and how women lead, she is widely recognized because of her unique ability to connect people and facilitate rich conversations that make change happen. Julie partners with terrific CEOs to build high performance, multicultural teams, in particular boards that make organizations better. She has a successful consulting practice with leaders she admires to achieve their growth and breakthrough goals. Julie's commitment to justice and community are well known in her personal and professional endeavors. She serves as a leader on the boards of organizations focused on women and children, Latinos, economic development and the arts. Julie is a philanthropist who launched How Women Give and serves as the Governance Chair for the Women's Funding Network. Thousands of new businesses attribute their launch and growth to her support which has resulted in millions toward the economic growth in communities. She is a leader in the country's movement to build and fund start ups. Julie has won many awards including the Jobs Genius Award, Morgan Stanley Innovation Award, Cisco Innovation in Technology, "Women Who Could Be President" League of Women Voters, Stevie Award for Best Non Profit Executive, Human Rights Award from the Commission on the Status of Women, the Women of Color Action Network, Leadership California and the Marin Women's Hall of Fame in 2011. Resources: Real Wealth Real Health Alpha Investing podcast@alphai.com How Women Invest How Women Lead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicole Demeo, Founder, Outfront Solutions Founder of Outfront Solutions, Nicole DeMeo is an accomplished marketing executive, business launch, growth and turnaround expert. A Silicon Valley veteran, she works closely with executive teams to develop strategies and guide companies through multiple phases of their lifecycles. Her participation in over 50 company launches - including four of her own – has created significantly increased valuations, acquisitions and IPOs. Nicole has served as brand ambassador and marketing strategist for industry leaders such as Steve Jobs, Eric Schmidt and Carly Fiorina and created brand positioning, messaging, and go-to-market strategies for Fortune 500 companies including Apple, HP and Accenture. She has formed and marketed funds and incubators including Andra Capital, How Women Invest and Earlybird Venture Capital. Nicole bridges Silicon Valley to the world bringing fast-growth companies like Trendyol.com EyeEm, Peak Games, NDS Cognitive Labs and Making Sense to market globally. Fueled by her desires to give back, she has worked with some of the largest non-profits, foundations, community organizations and venture funds of our time including: How Women Invest, The September 11th Fund, American Red Cross, UPWARD, How Women Lead, an Advisor to many others. In addition to building businesses, funds, communities and personal brands, Nicole's passion is also in wine as owner of Media Luna Vineyards in Argentina. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoledemeo/ https://twitter.com/OutfrontNow @techiecat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ellen Snee has worked at the forefront of women's leadership development for more than 25 years. But for the first 18 of those years, the front line of leadership wasn't an Ivy League MBA program or a high-end consulting firm: It was an international order of Catholic nuns.During her time in the order, Ellen was surrounded by smart, educated, committed, and fun women who held roles of authority that were uncommon for women in the 1970s. She gained a number of essential — and, happily, transferable — skills: How to discern a call or deep desire, how to work collaboratively with other women, and how to be a savvy operator within male hierarchies. This experience laid the foundation for Ellen's guiding passion: to become an expert in women's leadership development and to change the world one woman at a time.  Ellen left the convent while still in graduate school, receiving her EdD in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University in 1994. She turned the conceptual frameworks from her dissertation on women in roles of authority into the launch of a successful consulting firm, Fine Line Consulting. Before long, she arrived in the corporate sector running leadership and coaching programs for executive women in Fortune 500 companies such as Pfizer, Schwab, Marriott, Goodyear and many others. For 15 years she provided one-to-one coaching to high potential and executive level women across the country.A move to California in 2001 led to work in Silicon Valley at the major tech companies such as Apple, Cisco, KPG, and Citrix. In 2009 Ellen was hired by global technology company VMware as VP Leadership Development and Organizational Consulting. She went on to lead Global Talent Development and in 2013 launched VMwomen, a business initiative designed to attract, retain, develop, and advance talented women.She has spoken extensively at corporate conferences including the Conference Board, Catalyst, California Governors Association, Marriott, Pfizer, Panasonic, Amgen, as well as Boston College, University of Michigan and Presidio Business Schools. Ellen is a member of the International Women's Forum, an invitation-only organization of global women leaders. She is an advisor to She Can and Rise Up, organizations that empower young women in Africa and Asia to become leaders. She is a global advisor for How Women Lead and a Limited Partner with How Women Invest venture fund. Ellen is the author of Lead: How Women in Charge Claim Their Authority (She Writes Press), in which she shares her wisdom and experience with all talented women seeking to accelerate their careers. Lead differs from other management and leadership books in several important ways. The locus of authority throughout is women's experience within 3 vital perspectives: personal, relational, and systemic. Ellen's Self-Others-Systems model recognizes that women are always in simultaneous relationships with themselves, others, and the systems in which they live and work. All of these relationships overlap and interact dynamically when someone exercises their leadership in a role of authority. Full of insights, examples, and stories, Lead is firmly grounded in psychological research. She has her experiences and illustrated them in such a way as to be both inspiring and instructive to women on their way up. Along the way, Ellen urges women to find and speak with their unique voice and claim their personal power. In 2015 Ellen returned to the work she loves, accelerating the career advancement of talented women through executive coaching. Based in the San Francisco Bay area, she continues to coach and advise women leaders and executives around the world, and to speak at companies, academic institutions and leadership conferences.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Julie Castro Abrams, founder and CEO of How Women Invest and How Women Lead.  For over 30 years, Julie, who describes herself as a social justice ...

Sonya Pelia is a B2B marketing executive with expertise in driving revenue, product led growth, marketing strategy and brand development for startup companies.  She is a startup mentor, founder at How Women Invest, Non-Profit Leader, TEDx Speaker and Aspiring Author. In this episode:1. Sonya defines product-led growth which means the go to market strategy uses the product to aquire, convert and to retain customers.  Freemiums and free trails arecommon mechanisms for product-led growth.  Continue to dest your freemium and trials every 6 months to convert customers into your enterprise product.2. Sonya describes the difference between lead generation and demand generation.  Although often used interchangeably, they are different.  Demand generation is the top of the funnel and is used to describe the challenges customers are facing.  Lead Generation are techniques that move your customer onto your website.  It describes the process of someone who is willing to give their contact information for you to email them.3. Sonya talks about many operational challenges that SaaS founders face at various stages of the startup.  One of the challenges is time.  Digitalization of solutions is happening so quickly that startups can no longer wait to operationalilze critical programs.   Another challenge is the lack of a metrics-driven sales & marketing team.  Determining the metrics early on is critical.  Ensure that all teams are looking at the same numbers.  The earlier you can understand churn, CAC, CLV, etc. the better you can work against numbers.  Another challenge is around the hiring process.  Competition for talent is fierce.  Developing a process for onboarding talent is important.  Finally, developing a methodology for customer engagement and success are critical.  This includes talking to customers regularly and ensuring there is an active customer base.  4. Sonya shares her lessons learned for startup founders:  CEO's should talk to 5-10 customers per week.  Don't wait until they have a problem.  Also, your website should look bigger than your product and the size of your company.  This helps to infuse trust with your customers that you plan on being around a long time.   ...and much more!You can connect with Sonya on LinkedIn or at sonyapelia.com

Erika Cramer is the Managing Partner with How Women Invest and its gender-lensed early-stage venture fund. With more than 25 years of experience in M&A, capital raising, divestitures, succession planning and valuations, Erika is an accomplished investment banking executive, advisor, and board member. The venture fund “How Women Invest” is seeking to change the landscape of funding for women investors and entrepreneurs. For background: only 2% of companies founded by women get venture backing, despite the fact that 40% of companies are founded by women, AND they generate 26% greater return than those founded by men. Our conversation will dive deeper into these statistics and peel back the layers on the untapped economic potential that sits at the intersection of women founders and women investors. https://www.howwomeninvest.com/

Did you know that women founders generate 1.5x more revenue than male founders, according to a Boston Consulting Group (BCG)? However, women only receive 2% of venture capital funding despite making up 42% of all entrepreneurs. Investing in women leaders would also return $4.4 trillion to the economy, according to Morgan Stanley's Beyond the VC Funding Gap survey. In this Green Light episode, Catherine speaks with Alice Myerhoff of How Women Lead & How Women Invest about how they are both investing in women entrepreneurs & helping women across all industries prepare for and join Boards. Alice will also provide advice for managers on how to overcome the “SHEcession,” or the loss of 5.3 million women from the workforce since the beginning of the pandemic.Are you looking for your next role in climate tech? Join the largest growing network of cleantech professionals and be the first to know about when industry-leading cleantech companies post new job openings. From development to finance to marketing, check out our website: dylan-green.com/latest-jobs.Dylan Green | Clean Energy Recruitment AgencyUS Phone: +1 (917) 287-6826UK Phone: +44(0)7538921422Email: catherine@dylan-green.com

Julie Castro Abrams is the founder, CEO and chair of How Women Lead, a network of 14,000 women. They are top executives, leaders, current and aspiring board members and investors. Julie is also the GP of How Women Invest, an angel investing fund that has invested millions in women owned startups.  Recently, Julie was featured on Forbes magazine for her accomplishments on leading How Women Invest. She's also on one of the task forces of California Governor Gavin Newsom, "the first partners" initiatives. The interviewer, Joanne Tan, is personally involved with How Women Lead for over two and a half years, both as a member of the Leadership Committee and through helping aspiring executives to get on corporate boards, with their board bios, LinkedIn profiles and resumes. Joanne describes Julie: "I have come to know Julie really well, and admire her passion, talent, brilliance, leadership, authenticity, and business savviness. All of these are inspiring to me and to lots of women." The tide raises ALL boats.  Diversity is the tidal wave. Diversity increases the whole pie for everyone, and everyone stands to benefit. Like it or not, America will be the most diverse country in the world and nobody can turn the tide. For those who don't like to be politically correct all the time, - I get you; but, there is a right way and a wrong way of dealing with diversity. Either you ride the tidal wave, or better, lead the wave, or you are being dragged kicking and screaming and end up being a “loser”, and get drowned by the inevitable. Learn from the true leaders like Julia Abrams, it's not a waste of your time.