After trying out variety of different jobs and markets, Adda Birnir, CEO & Founder of Skillcrush, taught herself how to code and design and decided to get into the tech world. What started out as her side project to find a better way to teach women technological skills turned into Skillcrush, her rapidly-growing company. This week, we talked to Adda about how she got started, finding long term opportunities, job stability within the entrepreneurship world and corporate world, as well as the importance of staying customer-focused. Adda also talks about her inspirations and what helped her stay on her feet when starting out as an entrepreneur along with how she took being laid off as a massive opportunity.

A third generation girl scout, Meridith Maskara, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Greater New York is not just passionate about girl scouts, but about supporting the generation of young girls and women who will be the change agents of tomorrow. This week, we talked about inclusivity and diversity within Girl Scouts, their active involvement in legislative decisions, the new programs Girl Scouts is offering including fields of STEM, advocacy, and entrepreneurship and how Girl Scouts are adapting to the fast-paced technological world of today. Meridith also discusses the role Girl Scouts’ program Troop 6,000 plays on girls and women in shelter, how to include men in conversations around equality, as well as teaching girls confidence at a young age.

Growing up in a politically engaged household and having a passion for civic engagement from an early age, Maria Yuan, Founder of IssueVoter, defines herself as someone who is “interested in fixing really big problems”. This week, we sat down with her to talk about how she was able to balance her work life in Finance and Investment Banking setting up IssueVoter, coming up with great ideas and being able to grow them, as well as how her background and her experience in being a Campaign Manager helped her when founding IssueVoter. Maria talks about civic engagement and its importance, how everyone can be civically engaged in different ways, as well as how her rapidly growing non-profit, IssueVoter works.

After leading the Product Development team at J.P. Morgan, Amber Baldet, the Co-founder and CEO of Clovyr decided to take a dive into the world of startups. A self-taught coder, Amber is now successfully redefining the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency as well as showcasing what women in tech can achieve if they have the right tools. On this episode, Amber talks about importance of having a good partner when leading a startup, importance of shared responsibility in families, as well as what could be done to involve more girls and women in the field of tech. Tune in to hear more about this up-and-coming technology, future of blockchain, data privacy, and Amber’s spin on the world of tech.

As the CEO of XO Group, Mike Steib’s road to becoming a successful leader has not only been a result of hard work and dedication; but also of networking and influential women he has worked with in his life. On this episode, Mike talks about the diversity at XO Group and how it impacts growth and leads to more success, women as Board of Directors members, and the impact his wife had on him as both a life and business partner. With his new book on driving the most impact in careers, managing energy, and managing stress tune in to listen to Mike’s personal and professional experiences.

When Chelsea VonChaz was walking the streets of Los Angeles, she saw a homeless (or “houseless” as she calls it) woman having her period with no proper menstrual hygiene products. The woman’s blood stained undergarments were a sign for Chelsea to take action, so she did some research and started a nonprofit, #HappyPeriod, that soon became a nationwide movement. In this episode, Chelsea talks about the stigma surrounding menstruation, lack of access to proper menstrual hygiene products among certain populations, and The Pink Tax. Tune in to hear all about how Chelsea works to remove stigmas and how she turned her passion and dedication into a movement affecting hundreds of thousands of women.

Hannah and Jade Sullivan are women founders disrupting an age-old industry. When Hannah and Jade first had the chance to start Pogo.co, their own insurance business, they weren’t sure it was for them. They were designers by trade and had no formal experience working in insurance. But being the go-getters that they are, Hannah and Jade recognized their fresh perspective could provide a unique opportunity to reshape the way things were done. In this episode, we talk with Hannah and Jade about what it was like to dive head-first into a new industry, as well as how they manage their relationship as both business partners and spouses.

As one of the top thought leaders in business innovation, Whitney Johnson has reshaped the way we think about professional development. Whitney’s latest book, Build an A-Team, looks at how bosses can create an ever-improving and engaged team. In this episode, Whitney talks about the thought process and research behind her book as well as what it means to disrupt yourself.

For RM Harrison, entrepreneurial success doesn’t just mean big profit margins. After starting her entrepreneurial career as a communications designer, RM realized that to continue to flourish, she needed to find a way to keep her passions alive, even if it meant making big changes. That’s when she decided to start helping other entrepreneurs design business models that not only drive financial success but also cultivate and maintain a sense of fulfillment for the entrepreneur. In this episode, RM Harrison traces her path to becoming a Pivot Strategy Consultant and explores how entrepreneurs can stay in touch with the inner motivations that led them to start their business in the first place.

Elizabeth Zeigler is a master in the art of fundraising. As CEO and President of Graham-Pelton Consulting, she uses her powers for good. Unlike other consulting firms, Elizabeth’s works to help nonprofits get the support and funding they need to achieve their philanthropic mission. In this episode, Elizabeth discusses the exceptional power of individual giving, and she provides a refreshing example for how companies can create equal opportunities for flextime employees.

Less than 30% of key management positions are held by women. Archana Ravichandran is working to change that. After getting her MBA from Wharton, Archana decided she wanted to try her hand at management. She signed on as a manager with Google and led three different teams over the course of her seven years there. Now, she is using her people skills to help professional women get to the top through her very own podcast. 

Laura Atwell is solving two big problems at once. As VP of Development at Team Rubicon, Laura helps military veterans get reintegrated into civilian life by connecting them to disaster relief projects. Laura uses her background in journalism and her fundraising skills to tell Team Rubicon’s powerful story and raise funds that fuel disaster relief missions all over the world. Follow along with our conversation with Laura as she talks about her path to making a difference and what goes into creating an impenetrable, positive work culture.

Rana Nawas has spent her professional life standing up for women’s rights in the workplace in Dubai. As SVP of Capital Markets for GE, Rana pushed for better maternity leave policy and advocated for women at her company. As President of the Ellevate Dubai chapter, Rana creates opportunities for professional women to develop their careers and support one another. Rana’s next endeavor is her podcast, “When Women Win,” which highlights formidable women of the past and present. On this episode of the Ellevate Podcast, we talk to Rana about changing workplace policy and culture, how she manages her busy schedule, and what inspired her path to championing women.

Kate Edwards is the Co-Founder and COO of Heartbeat, a marketing platform that connects brands to real women through real women. Kate saw that women hold immense power when it comes to promoting the brands they love. She thought, why not capitalize on the authentic promotion these women are already putting out there? In this episode, Kate talks about what it took to go from an idea to a thriving company that provides side hustle opportunities to thousands of women.

This week, we sat down with broadcaster, speaker, writer, and educator, Natali Morris to discuss managing your personal finances. When Natali left CBS, she set out to build her family’s wealth by growing the resources they already had. In the process, she became highly knowledgeable in the realm of personal finance, so much so that women and men around the world seek out her insights.

Lorraine Hariton’s illustrious career has stretched into every sector - public, private, and now, as SVP of Global Partnerships for the New York Academy of Sciences, nonprofit. What all of her experiences hold in common is STEM. Lorraine started working in computers in the 1970’s, and her knowledge of technology opened many doors for her. Now she wants to open those doors for future generations of women. In this episode, Lorraine talks about how we must champion women and girls in tech, as this is where the fate of our future lies.

Jodi Flynn knows very well that Type-A people are a “special breed.” That’s because she works as a career coach for Type-A women...and if her additional list of titles (speaker, author, podcaster) doesn’t already give it away, Jodi is Type-A, too. While a Type-A woman’s desire for perfection can lead her on a journey to the top, Jodi points out that it can also hamper her efforts to get there through unnecessary self-doubt and burnout. In this episode, Jodi walks us through the rewards and challenges of holding oneself to the highest standard, and she outlines helpful practices that all women can adopt to let go of unrealistic expectations of what we can accomplish. In doing so, she believes we’ll find that we are actually able to accomplish more.

When we think of someone who seems to be “doing it all,” Melanie Curtis no doubt comes to mind. Melanie is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and life coach with a dedicated Facebook following. She has also jumped out of a plane over 10,000 times. When asked how she manages it all, Melanie reassured us that the state of her apartment would reveal her humanness. In this episode, Melanie Curtis chats about making her imperfections known, overcoming fears, and what it’s like to throw yourself out of planes, helicopters, and the occasional hot air balloon.

Neha Gandhi is Chief Operating Officer and Editor in Chief at Girlboss—a versatile role one could only have at a startup. With her love of storytelling as her guide, Neha charted a path to professional fulfillment that is all her own. As she honed her skills at publications like Harper’s BAZAAR, Seventeen, and Refinery29, Neha realized she was destined for more than publishing alone. Neha has since become a force in both the editorial and operational realms. In this podcast, Neha shares her insights on how to create a work culture that churns out innovative solutions, the universal value of storytelling, and the future landscape of media.