WomenAdvancing brings you into a world that will leave you feeling so much better. Anxiety be gone! Why? Because we’ll be speaking to real women who have faced real opportunities and blocks and made it through to the other side. WomenAdvancing uncovers hidden gems- trailblazing women who are reshaping the world. We share not only the wisdom and best practices from well established voices, but reveal and uncover those who are on the horizon, leading us into the future. The women you most likely don’t know but should. We’ll be speaking to and engaging with female executives and female Founders through their passion for advancing diversity, achieving women’s income equality, and enhancing women’s careers and lives in their pursuit to have it all. Both a healthy personal life and a robust professional life. Each episode will take place every two weeks available on iTunes, Spotify, Media Village and other podcast platforms. Our conversations will address guests holistically, their internal and external challenges and everything in between. We’ll touch upon the often taboo subjects of imposter syndrome, mental wellness, multi-generational challenges, power dynamics and ensuing battles with others and within oneself. Un huh, we are going to go there! As well as classic business challenges and best practices for marketing, sales, building a team, fundraising(the audible ugh in everyone’s life), and scale. Our features interviews and initiatives focus on: How our guests got to where they are - spoiler alert it never is a straight line. You aren’t the only one who enjoyed a good zig or zag along the way. Dual mentoring at all stages of women’s lives and careers thereby encouraging one being ever curious. I’m big into intergenerational learning as it helps the older set stay relevant and the younger set wise. Industries that hold the greatest opportunity. How women will be the drivers of future technologies given our understanding of community and all ships rising. Recognition of best practices for achieving women’s income equality and career equity Initiatives focused on successfully advancing women into C-Suite and Board position Increasing the role, importance and power of women in society, business, and culture The leadership opportunity that technology presents The ins and outs and often not discussed aspects of the leadership journey for women I’m your host, Kate Byrne, Co-Founder of the Tulle Box and long time voice and leader in intentional leadership, investing and publishing spaces. I’ve spent my career leading and working with and for public and private companies, advised and supported female entrepreneurs and Founders in wending their way through the wacky hallways and now Zoom calls of work, and the challenges of raising capital. The common threads: tech and women owning their voices and power and the incredible outcomes that result when all are activated. I’ve also had to pivot and reinvent myself plenty of times so I truly understand and have thrived past the highs and lows of being a woman today. Join me as we delve into the stories, struggles, and successes of dynamic leaders, innovators, and change-makers from diverse fields. Each episode is a treasure trove of insights, offering inspiration and actionable advice for women at every stage of their personal and professional journey. Whether you're an emerging leader, a seasoned professional, or simply passionate about the advancement of women, this podcast is your go-to source for motivation and knowledge. We cover topics ranging from leadership and entrepreneurship to social impact and personal growth, all through the lens of women who are making a difference. Tune in to WomenAdvancing and discover a treasure trove of insight, intelligence and great women. You’ll leave saying who knew…well now you do! And hello….you are a gem too so I’d love to hear from you next.
What does it truly take to lead with both warmth and unshakeable authority? In this episode, host Kate Byrne sits down with Robyn J. Malone , Founder of RJ Communications , to explore the misunderstood power of leading with generosity. After 30 years in PR and communications, Robyn shares how an unexpected pandemic layoff led to building a thriving, human-first agency where seeing the “whole person” comes before tracking badge swipes or retinal scans. Together, Kate and Robyn unpack why generosity isn’t softness—it’s a high-stakes strategic practice grounded in discernment, boundaries, and self-trust. They dive into the shortfalls of traditional Western leadership, why AI can never replace human relational intelligence, and the vital importance for Black and Brown women to take up space without apology. Tune in for a masterclass on throwing out rigid control models, refining your edge, and leading with radical clarity and care. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
What does it take to turn a personal frustration into a journey of entrepreneurial success? In this episode, host Kate Byrne sits down with Nancy Yen , the Founder of OmieLife , to share a great founder story about her transition from a corporate career to founding her own company based on answering a problem she personally faced. Nancy breaks down her unconventional path from corporate roles at the Gap and LexisNexis to launching the wildly popular OmieBox , an insulated bento box designed to solve a daily struggle for parents everywhere. You’ll hear how she navigated manufacturing hurdles, ignored early rejections, and stayed true to her vision. Her commitment to solving one real problem well eventually led to a massive milestone: Target called her, asking her to be the lunchbox special for their back-to-school efforts across the country. Join us for this masterclass in persistence and turning corporate skills into a retail movement. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
True impact isn’t about making history—it’s about showing up to do the work. In this episode, Dr. Thelma Witherspoon , Hamilton Township Committee woman, shares the grit and grace required for local governance. Drawing from her diverse background in law enforcement, faith, and elected office, she redefines leadership as stewardship. If you’re interested in the nuances of leading or public service, join us for an honest conversation on building influence through integrity, mentoring the next generation, and turning local action into community-wide change. Tune in to discover why solving even one local problem can be the spark that changes everything. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
In a world engineered to drag our attention toward negativity and urgency, the ability to consciously direct our focus is a radical and powerful leadership skill. Artist and advocate Emily Gaines Demsky joins us to explain her transformative 3 Good Things Movement, which moves beyond standard gratitude exercises into a tangible, daily commitment to noticing beauty. By learning to anchor our awareness in the simple, quiet joys surrounding us, we can interrupt the cycle of despair, cultivate resilience, and develop a flexible, “hawk-eye” perspective that helps us connect dots, solve problems, and lead with clarity even during difficult times. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
In a competitive industry, do you ever feel like you’re waiting for an invitation that will never come? Stop waiting. The secret to standing out isn’t getting a seat at someone else’s, it’s learning how to build your own table. Meet Kelsey Nicole Nelson , an award-winning broadcaster, professor, and entrepreneur who has mastered the art of not just being seen, but owning the entire space. In this exclusive interview, Kelsey shares her journey of defying the odds by turning every ‘no’ into ‘on’ (game on). Learn how she leverages authenticity, a master-of-all-trades mindset, and a commitment to lifting others to redefine success in high-profile sports media. Discover the power of claiming your voice, controlling your narrative, and becoming the architect of your own career. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
Floral design is the last big-ticket purchase you are making when planning your wedding. Although it may seem beautiful on the outset, it is downright ugly behind the scenes. When Cameron Hardesty was planning her own wedding flowers, she encountered unclear pricing, rigid minimums, sourcing issues, and manual workflows. After going through such a nightmare, she decided to turn it into a business idea. She joins Kate Byrne to discuss how she became the CEO and Founder of Poppy , a company that’s rethinking floral sourcing, pricing, and logistics using technology, transparency, and deep customer empathy. Cameron explains how she found her sweet spot to thrive in the vast wedding market, what it takes to modernize a legacy business, and how to navigate motherhood and a venture-backed company at the same time. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
Are you successful on paper, but feel like something is missing inside? In this episode, we sit down with Danielle Finch , Founder and CEO of Equera.ai . Danielle made the bold career pivot from twenty years of corporate success—including roles at GE, Michelin, and as Director of Customer Experience at HomeToGo—to become a social entrepreneur in the impact tech space. Her story isn’t one of impulsive reinvention, but a thoughtful reorientation from chasing profit to pursuing equity as the ultimate outcome. Danielle recognized that ‘staying is also a choice’ and realized she ‘had to get off her path’ to follow a greater purpose. We dive into how Danielle is leveraging systems thinking to disrupt the extractive tourism industry, turning it into a powerful lever for addressing wealth inequality by redirecting capital back into local communities. Discover how she built a practical runway for her leap and how she redefined success by shifting her focus from the what to the why. If you’re contemplating a big move or want to learn how to find real leverage inside broken systems, tune in to understand what it truly takes to build something that shifts, not just scales. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
Are you overlooking the unseen systems that cost us the most? In the U.S., a staggering 12.2 million tons of furniture waste is discarded annually—enough to furnish 8.8 million one-bedroom apartments. This isn’t just a waste problem; it’s a crisis of sustainable design, mindset, and leadership. Today, we welcome Kathryn Soter , Executive Director of the Good Future Design Alliance , who has spent decades at the intersection of media, design, and sustainability. We dive into how to tackle overwhelming problems with “simple baby steps”, why the focus must shift to residential design (which accounts for two-thirds of US building square footage), and how connecting creativity, cost, and impact is the invisible work of modern leadership. Tune in to learn why the future depends on making the unseen impossible to ignore, and how you can embrace progress, not perfection, to build a truly good future. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
What if the secret to scaling your business wasn’t more hustle, but more humanity? In this episode of Women Advancing, Olivia Cleary, Founder of The Clearly Collective and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, joins us to flip the script on traditional career growth. We’re moving beyond the "more, more, more" mentality to explore wellness as infrastructure—not a reward for hard work, but the very foundation that makes it sustainable. Join us as we discuss how to redefine ambition, set radical boundaries, and design a version of success that supports the human doing the work, all without the cost of self-abandonment. It’s time to opt into a career that actually works for your life. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
In a world rapidly reshaped by Artificial Intelligence, the conversation often centers on the tools. But what if we shifted the focus to the people? Join host Kate Byrne on Women Advancing as she dives deep with global thought leader Snjezana Slabek into the timely intersection of AI, human-centered learning, and organizational effectiveness. Snjezana—an expert in human-centered AI learning, gamification, and design thinking—reveals why traditional learning and leadership models are failing in the AI era, and how we can adapt, unlearn, and relearn alongside technology. Discover: Why the biggest challenge in the AI era is not technology, but creating organizations capable of continuous adaptation. How gamification and human-centered design turn “consequences” into safe “trade-offs,” encouraging the experimentation vital for innovation. Why the “power of the query” is the new essential skill, shifting our focus from getting answers to asking the right questions. How communities like She STEAMS are empowering women to embrace playfulness, collaboration, and bolder leadership in an AI-driven future. Stop focusing on keeping up with AI and start focusing on leading the loop. Read on to explore how we can build a future where work truly works for humans. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
What is the true cost of courage in speaking up? In a world riddled with resistant systems and uncomfortable truths, Cece Jones-Davis , an extraordinary spiritual leader, artist, and relentless advocate for justice, has consistently chosen voice over silence. Known for her tireless work on the Justice for Julius Jones campaign—a movement that successfully fought against a man’s execution—Cece steps into spaces many of us avoid, armed with both courage and deep compassion. Join us as we explore the journey of a leader who wrestled with her faith, stood firm against political backlash, and discovered that her greatest passions were often fueled by the things she hated. This conversation is an unfiltered look at what it takes to speak truth to power, how spiritual conviction sustains leadership, and the profound, life-altering difference one woman’s voice can make. Read on to uncover the powerful lessons on why, for the sake of justice and your own well-being, the moment for silence is no longer an option. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
What does leadership look like in a world of climate urgency, rapid tech change, and systemic upheaval? We spoke with Terry Slavin, Editor-in-Chief of Reuters’ sustainable business magazine, The Ethical Corporation, for a deep dive into the 2026 Reuters Trailblazing Women Report. More than a list, it signals where innovation and influence are headed. Key insights from this year’s report: The rise of relational “Trail Finders” connecting finance, business, and civil society. Women-led climate tech teams driving holistic solutions to urban water and heat risks. Breakthrough innovations—like coal-free steelmaking—powered by resilient optimism despite funding gaps and “climate hushing.” Discover the women shaping a sustainable future and the trends every sector and community needs to watch.
The University of Virginia did not accept women until coeducation was introduced in 1970. This institutional transformation was made possible through the grit of its first class of women. Kate Byrne sits down with one of them, author Gail Burrell Gerry , who shares the inspiring story behind this historic milestone for UVA and the education systems as a whole. Gail talks about what it takes to challenge the status quo, the power of speaking up, and being comfortable with discomfort – even things that are considered taboo by most people. She also explains why there is no single path to achieving success in your journey and why you do not have to feel guilty about your accomplishments, especially women bombarded with constant pressure.
Money isn’t just math. It’s memory. In this conversation, I’m joined by Scarlett Stanhope – also known as The Biz Hippie – for a refreshingly honest exploration of money, power, and the stories so many women have quietly inherited about both. Scarlett’s work lives at the intersection of financial planning and intuition, helping women move beyond either/or thinking and into a relationship with money that’s both practical and expansive. Because for many women, money isn’t just about budgets or bank accounts. It’s about safety. Permission. Nervous systems. And the deeply embedded belief that wanting wealth somehow conflicts with being values-driven, ethical, or spiritually grounded. Together, we unpack the most common money misconceptions women carry, how to tell the difference between a mindset block and a systems problem, and what it really takes to feel safe holding more not just earning more. We talk about money wounds, abundance that shows up on a spreadsheet (not just a vision board), and what a more feminine, collaborative, sustainable financial system could actually look like in practice. This is a conversation for anyone who’s ever felt too juju for finance or too practical for the spiritual world and suspected there might be a more integrated way. Thoughtful, grounded, and deeply human, this episode is about rewriting your money story with clarity, confidence, and zero apology. Check out her class too! I’m so glad you’re here for it. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
We often talk about the glass ceiling in business, but what if the true barrier to a woman’s full potential starts much lower—at the most basic level of her health and healthcare access? Imagine trying to lead a meeting, ace an exam, or secure funding when you can’t access essential menstrual products. This is the reality of “period poverty,” a silent struggle that affects millions and is rooted in shame and lack of access. In this powerful conversation, we dive deep with Avery Bruen and Brooke Blankenship , the dynamic young founders of EmpowerHer . They started their mission in high school, tackling period poverty head-on by providing quality products and crucial education to underserved communities. Discover why access to period products is fundamentally a leadership and equity issue, not just a side note. Avery and Brooke share their journey—from neighborhood drives to a thriving organization serving over 11,000 students—and reveal the business savvy, resilience, and intergenerational wisdom required to build a mission-driven movement from the ground up. If you’ve ever wondered how small, practical interventions can unlock enormous change and shatter assumptions, don’t miss this episode. Their story is a powerful metaphor for overcoming any professional obstacle. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
The way we work is seemingly broken and does not serve us at all. To ensure that the future of work is way better than today, a couple of things we are so used to right now must be vastly transformed. Kate Byrne chats with Jena McGregor , Managing Editor of Charter , who sheds light on how most businesses are trying to fix the workplace using the wrong tools. She explains what it takes for workplaces to improve people retention, how leaders can lead with authenticity and adaptability, and how to prioritize human sustainability when it comes to work. Find out the roadmap to creating truly dynamic workplaces and help change the future of work for good. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katherinebyrne.com
When words fail to clearly convey what you feel or what you want to say, using a different medium may be more effective. Kate Byrne sits down with artist Tamara Garvey , who uses art to confront misogyny in this day and age, when women are attacked even by people in positions of power. She talks about her upcoming multimedia art show, The Winter of Discontent , featuring paintings of the Log Lady from Twin Peaks and recordings of real-life women responding to J.D. Vance’s infamous “childless cat ladies” statements. Discover how art can be an avenue of advocacy and bring empowerment to every single woman in the world. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katebyrne.co
On today’s Women Advancing, I’m joined by Katie Begando , Founder and CEO of Bluubird —a brand built on the idea that influence isn’t just for people with massive platforms or loud megaphones. It’s something we grow, collectively, through trust, community, and showing up consistently. Katie’s story reflects a real shift in how brands are built today. Not top-down. Not alone. But with a village—customers, creators, partners, and believers—who help shape the brand as it grows. In our conversation, we talk about democratizing influence, listening closely to the people you serve, and what it really looks like to build momentum without losing your center. We also dig into the realities of founding and scaling a consumer brand—the scrappy decisions, the resilience required, and the leadership it takes to keep going when the path isn’t linear. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katebyrne.co
It’s time to start minding the gap—specifically the one where a fast-growing market is quietly being left out. Join us as we sit down with the remarkable mother-daughter founding team behind Featherie , a golf apparel company, to talk about spotting an overlooked opportunity in a male-dominated industry. Founder Kate Korngold, a high school sophomore, and her mom and ops person, Kristy Korngold, share the journey of building a brand that refuses to “shrink it and pink it” for female golfers. They explore how trusting lived experience as market insight, embracing intergenerational leadership, and having the courage to build something new expands choice, belonging, and possibility for the women and girls who come next. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Visit katebyrne.co
The old models of success—all grit, grind, and self-sacrifice—are crumbling. Enter the cultural catalyst, the new breed of female leader who isn't just building a business; she's architecting a movement. In this paradigm-shifting conversation, we dive deep with Jaclyn Orent , Co-founder and Frequency Architect behind the Cultural Catalysts Network . Discover how to transform your wisdom into legacy, not through depletion, but through ease, grace, and an energetically aligned community. Learn the science behind leading from desire instead of fear, why your consciousness is the ultimate growth hack, and how personal transformation is the first step toward cultural revolution. If you're a female founder or leader ready to step out of the old frameworks and activate your highest impact, tune in. Your next evolution starts here.
