There is incredible power in amplifying women’s voices through speaking on stages and podcasts.

Quinn Conyers is a founder of Speaking to Society and she transforms average events into epic experiences. As a professional corporate event emcee as well as a compelling keynote speaker. She shares her journey of discovering her talent for public speaking in college to becoming a professional emcee, keynote speaker, and event strategist.

She explains that an emcee isn't just a speaker but an "event experience partner" who is responsible for managing the flow, handling unexpected challenges, and ensuring audience engagement from start to finish. For Quinn successful event marketing should go beyond demographics, connecting with attendees’ deeper motivations and challenges—what she calls their psychographics.

Quinn advises recognizing that emceeing and speaking require different skill sets and emphasizes the importance of identifying your specific strengths and energy levels for certain types of events, whether corporate conferences, multi-day engagements, or galas. She shares practical insights on how to sustain energy during long events and recommends that organizers collaborate with the right professionals to enhance the experience.

Get ready to spark and show your energy to others.

Show notes:
🎤 While taking public speaking in college, Quinn discovered that when she talked, people listened. 3:32
👧🏾 Quinn always had a voice even before she started speaking: she was sure about what she wanted and liked. 7:05
😷 During Covid, speaking took off for her as an emcee in Clubhouse. 9:29
🌟 It's just about doing your thing, and then what you're naturally gifted and talented will emerge. 14:22
🎯 Importance of starting your marketing and outreach earlier, and focusing on attendee experience. 16:42
🤓 Although Quinn calls herself an emcee, she is an event experience partner. 21:21
🤔 The difference between an emcee and a speaker. 26:04
🤩 As an emcee, it's best to take events in fields of your own background. 28:41
⚠️ It's about being proactive, and managing your energy: being an emcee is very demanding. 33:12

Links:

Connect with Quinn: linkedin.com/in/quinnconyers

Website: quinnconyers.com
-Connect with Adrienne: www.sheleadsmedia.com

-Listen to podcasts for women by women on the She Leads Podcast Network: www.sheleadspodcasts.com

>> "I love ❤️ Adrienne and The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, can I ask you to please take a moment and give our podcast some love? To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests of The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺️ Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!! XO -Adrienne <<

We have to build a bigger influence up, down, and across, in all of our relationships.

Cate Luzio, the founder and CEO of Luminary, a global professional education and networking platform addressing and impacting the systemic challenges faced by women throughout their professional journeys. Luminary now includes a 22,000 sq. ft. space in NYC and a virtual network.

The world still operates differently for boys and girls. Women are smart and capable but often don’t fully believe in their abilities. While women are breaking down barriers, many of these barriers are internal. Overcoming imposter syndrome requires an “action-oriented” approach, along with subtle shifts in language and mindset. Using “I deserve” rather than “I need” brings up the confidence and that is crucial for becoming a visible role model who inspires others. Our leadership sets the tone for collective growth and support—finding win-win relationships and moving away from competition with other women is key. Cate’s experience with Tiffany Dufu illustrates how competitive situations can turn into opportunities for mutual growth.

It is time to embrace your achievements unapologetically, and find a community where you get the support that you need and where you can also provide support for others.

Show notes:
👩‍💼 Cate was a panelist at She Leads Live 2018: she left a very successful career in finance to pursue her goal of creating greater impact. 04:33
👠 Luminary has a huge working space in New York and partners 40 women-led partners around the country and abroad. 7:06
🎯 The importance is in building confidence, becoming better self-advocates, influence, and relationship building 11:13
😇 Men have their insecurities but they don't say it outright: Cate don’t like the term imposter syndrome. 15:06
⚠️ Mindset shift: “When I get there,” not “If I get there”; “I deserve something” rather than “I need something.” 19:23
🔥 Am I competing with her: how can businesswomen turn from a competition into a collaboration? 25:06
🏆 “In life, you've got to make sure people know who you are, how good you are, and that you'll be a team player.” 30:00
▶️ Cate wants to keep expanding because the power of the impact is driving her every day. 33:05
🤓 A diverse board and a diverse leadership team, creates allies and foster inclusivity. 36:18

Links

LI: linkedin.com/in/cluzio

IG instagram.com/CateLuzio

Website: weareluminary.com

-Connect with Adrienne: www.sheleadsmedia.com

-Listen to podcasts for women by women on the She Leads Podcast Network: www.sheleadspodcasts.com

>> "I love ❤️ Adrienne and The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, can I ask you to please take a moment and give our podcast some love? To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests of The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺️ Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!! XO -Adrienne <<

You don't have to be a certain brand of woman in order to deliver your message.

Mona is the founder of Couture for Cause, a nonprofit organization using fashion to fundraise and raise awareness for girls’ education and empowerment worldwide. She shares her journey from childhood in India to the recent Met Gala, where she turned heads in a stunning Iris van Herpen dress. With a blend of humor and vulnerability, she reflects on her struggles with identity, a tomboy image, and searching for her authentic self.

Mona has a strong entrepreneurial mind and a love for freedom mixed with a love for fashion She talks specifically of creativity and aesthetics, which she refers to as "aesthetic intelligence” which she used at Met Gala to showcase her nonprofit work. Multiple businesses she built taught her lessons about flexibility, learning skills, and the power of real estate.

Mona knows the power of connection and community along with the extensive education she got helped her to get out of the social pressures women face, especially in India, thanks to her parents’ open-mindedness which was the key to her empowerment. She had a desire to turn a "guilty pleasure" of fashion into something meaningful. Through her organization, she combines her passion for couture with efforts to support grassroots initiatives in India, particularly for young women and girls affected by sex trafficking and other challenges. Mona’s life was marked with resilience, seeking freedom, and breaking the norms in business and life but her mom taught her to balance between ambition and humility and that lesson has been a significant part of her growth.

Show notes:
👗 Mona made a splash at the Met Gala in a beautiful Iris van Herpen dress. 02:33
👧🏽 Mona's story as a child in India: her father's influence and help were significant. 08:12
👠 Only as an adult did she realize she didn't have to pretend to be a tomboy to be an empowered woman. 13:47
🏰 Her parents have been her fortress: they were very open-minded. 17:02
🦅 In the US, she truly felt freedom: she wanted to be known for who she was. 21:32
👩🏽‍💼 Mona's journey started with getting a broker's license in Florida in 2004. 24:36
🎯 She had an entrepreneurial mindset: "You control your destiny by not working for someone." 25:44
🏆 The first step to having a successful mindset is being the highest version of yourself. 27:55
🔥 Her mother's lesson: "Don't let the things that you own—own you." 34:05
😍 Mona and her husband have highly complementary skill sets: their partnership led them from one business to another. 38:51
😇 Couture for a Cause: that's a form of art. 43:09
🍀 She wanted to start initiatives that help women leave a legacy or impact. 46:27
🤩 During Covid, Mona had a reflective moment: "How can I serve the world?" 49:35
🌻 Perfectionism and high standards used to make her procrastinate, but now she has grown beyond that. 55:30

Links
Mona's website: hautemona.com

Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hautemona/

Connect with Adrienne: www.sheleadsmedia.com

Listen to podcasts for women by women on the She Leads Podcast Network: www.sheleadspodcasts.com

>> "I love ❤️ Adrienne and The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, can I ask you to please take a moment and give our podcast some love? To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests of The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺️ Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!! XO -Adrienne <<

When you start living in alignment with your design, everything feels lighter—opportunities come more naturally, and there's no longer a need to push or force things.

Mel McSherry is a CEO, author, podcaster, business and life coach who helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs align their lives and businesses by integrating human design with traditional business development. Mel predominantly works with women business owners who are exhausted and overwhelmed by combining spiritual gifts, as well as their 14+ years of business-building experience.

Women entrepreneurs are disadvantaged when trying to mold themselves into systems designed for men. Mel shares how Human Design provides a way to design businesses that align with women’s natural strengths and energy patterns. Human Design can lead to more authentic business strategies and healthier work-life balance which are needed for women to thrive. Even though there are five overarching types, as Mel explains, nothing is a cookie-cutter solution because Human Design reflects deeper, unchanging truths and explains why certain behaviors don’t work for everyone.

Mel shares that from 2027 we will be witnessing a huge change in the energetic shift from hierarchical systems to more fluid ones, based on communities. Mel advocates for authenticity and finding your own purpose while leveraging Human Design as a compass for success.

Success isn't just about what you achieve—it’s about how authentically you’re living while you do it.

Show Notes:
🤸🏻‍♀️ Mel started in the fitness industry back in 2010; becoming a certified personal trainer. 4:11
🤓 The importance of prioritizing time and energy management is what drew people to Mel. 8:03
⏰ Mel’s mental and emotional profitability was slowly but surely losing itself: then Human Design arrived. 11:21
🎯 In business, we are very familiar with our why, but we are less confident in our how. 14:13
😇 Human design is the science of differentiation: it shows you who you are, energetically. 18:25
5️⃣ The five types of Human Design: there is no quick fix. 20:12
🍄 Toxic positivity one-liners don't apply to most of us: Human design is the iceberg underneath this. 25:54
🧠 Only 7% of the population is meant to initiate: how we should spend our time. 31:16
🌺 What are my most profitable practices, to continue to be myself and to create in my own way? 36:01

Connect: www.linkedin.com/in/melmcsherry

Web: www.melmcsherry.com/home

She Profits book: https://tinyurl.com/ynnp5jp4

-Connect with Adrienne: www.sheleadsmedia.com

-Listen to podcasts for women by women on the She Leads Podcast Network: www.sheleadspodcasts.com

-🎟️ She Leads LIVE is on October 18 & 19th - Get your tickets NOW! https://bit.ly/SheLeadsLIVE2024

>> "I love ❤️ Adrienne and The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, can I ask you to please take a moment and give our podcast some love? To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests of The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺️ Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!! XO -Adrienne <<

"It's not about what you make, it's about what you keep. You can be a $2 million company and broke, or a $650,000 company and rolling in the money."

Pam, the CEO of Pivot Business Group, is a no-nonsense financial expert and speaker who specializes in analyzing and streamlining the back end of fast-growing companies, while efficiently creating more profit and strategic growth. Pam decided to create Pivot Business Group to ensure that no small business owner would face bankruptcy simply because they didn’t understand their numbers.

Pam shares her valuable experience and insights, noting that many entrepreneurs, especially women, undercharge for their services, undervalue their worth, and fail to set prices correctly. They also often neglect to pay themselves properly, have the wrong legal and tax structure for their company, and don’t track their numbers correctly.

For women, it is crucial to understand these financial aspects and stop undervaluing themselves. We aren’t always educated about the financial tools and strategies available, but there are professionals who can help avoid these pitfalls. Investing in their expertise from day one is worth the cost and saves you from future pain and financial mess.

Understand what your costs are, track your money in real time, and make sure you're setting money aside for yourself, delegate and enjoy your journey to success.

Notes:
📉 Pam is a CFO who has a broad-based financial background & experience: understanding your numbers is the key. 03:48
👠 Women entrepreneurs devalue themselves in the marketplace: STOP apologizing & raise your rates. 07:12
💰 What is cost accounting and how it is working: understanding the value you are bringing to the client. 09:34
📊 You might be fixing the wrong problem: entrepreneurs must look to their numbers to tell them the story 16:33
🎯 Don’t do bookkeeping if you are not a bookkeeper: fixing the mess is always more expensive than having a professional in from the start. 20:25
📈 Taking mom-guilt mentality into our businesses: how to get to the $1 million mark with your business. 22:43
🤓 How to think about delegating: getting from six figures to seven figures in your business. 25:36
⚠️ It's not about what you make. It's about what you keep: what to check about numbers - practical tips. 27:56
🥇 Profit First and meeting Mike Michalowicz. 32:01
💸 Why women don’t pay themselves salary: the usual mistake for business owners is being in the wrong legal and tax setup. 34:00
🎤 Pam will be a speaker on She Leads Live 2024 conference where she will share more tips about money management. 36:30

Links:
Website: www.pamjordan.com

Pivot Business Group: www.pivotbusinessgroup.com

-Connect with Adrienne: www.sheleadsmedia.com

-Listen to podcasts for women by women on the She Leads Podcast Network: www.sheleadspodcasts.com

-🎟️ Buy tickets to She Leads LIVE 2024 here:
https://bit.ly/SheLeadsLIVE2024

>> "I love ❤️ Adrienne and The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, can I ask you to please take a moment and give our podcast some love? To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests of The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺️ Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!! XO -Adrienne <<

"As women, we're always making excuses for why we can't do things for ourselves. But if you don't make the time, it won't ever happen."

Michelle Charpentier brings over 15 years of diverse experience, from startups to luxury brands. She founded Charp Consulting with a mission to empower all brands to reach their full potential. She is a leadership coach at Braven, a board member of the Columbia College Chicago National Alumni Board, where she contributes to mentorship and dynamic programming. Her focus is on supporting nonprofits, women-owned businesses, and fellow mom-preneurs through innovative consulting services and community-building initiatives. She's also a mom of three and an author.

Michelle’s journey to entrepreneurship started after spending nine years in the corporate world. Firstly in the fashion industry before leaping into entrepreneurship during the pandemic. Her love for mentoring and community building led her to found Charp Consulting.

Her upcoming book is a labor of love and will guide people through self-discovery, helping them unlock their potential at every stage of life. Michelle believes that by doing inner work, understanding your personal beliefs, and aligning them with your career, you can find your true calling, whether you're an entrepreneur or working for someone else.

The real fulfillment in your career doesn’t come from finding a job but from finding one that resonates with who you are. If you're unhappy, it’s not always about the company; it’s about being misaligned with your purpose.

Show notes:
⭐ Mentorship space: Michelle's focus on supporting nonprofits, women-owned businesses, and fellow mom-preneurs. 04:42
😇 Blessing in disguise: Being laid off gave her enough time to work on her business. 06:50
🤑 The biggest challenge was pricing and monetizing her services: 10:32
⚡ Power of partnerships and collaborations: Believing in some projects and working pro bono. 15:00
🧠 Utilizing both sides of the brain: Just try it and see if it works for you. 18:07
💪🏻 General rules for marketing and communications: collaboration to utilize strengths. 19:56
🤓 The importance of having a good strategy. 22:07
📙 Inspired by young professionals and inner development: The work on her book was a labor of love. 24:32
🏆 Having your own business is not working 24/7: working from love and inspiration. 28:34
👨‍👩‍👧 Leaving a legacy of peace and balance to her daughters: ‘Make the time to work on your dreams.’ 32:28

Links:

Connect : instagram.com/brooklyn_pioneer

Website: charpconsulting.com

-Connect with Adrienne: www.sheleadsmedia.com

-Listen to podcasts for women by women on the She Leads Podcast Network: www.sheleadspodcasts.com

-🎟️ Buy tickets to She Leads LIVE 2024 here:

https://bit.ly/SheLeadsLIVE2024

>> "I love ❤️ Adrienne and The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, can I ask you to please take a moment and give our podcast some love? To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests of The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺️ Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!! XO -Adrienne <<

As your company's founder, you are Beyoncé, and your slides in the pitch deck are your backup singers.

Heather Lawver, the founder and CEO of Ceemo.ai, has helped underrepresented founders raise over $172 million in venture capital. Heather shares her entrepreneurial journey, starting from graduating high school at 12, launching her first startup at 13, and creating a platform designed to automate brand marketing and pitch deck creation, which helps founders look polished and market-ready.

She says that pitch decks are like children's books for grown-ups who love money, while underrepresented founders often face a lack of early funding and expertise in branding and marketing. Heather decided to help fix this gap with Ceemo.ai. The approach to pitch decks is usually totally wrong because the founder, not the slides, should be the focus, as well as the emotional core that grabs an investor’s attention. Founders should rethink stories by viewing them from various angles, incorporating classic storytelling methods, and avoiding getting lost in the weeds, which is the first mistake entrepreneurs make.

Unfortunately, research shows there is a difference in how messages are received. Male founders often receive more positive, promotional questions, while women are asked defensive, preventative questions, even when delivering the same pitch. Women bring knowledge, kindness, and empathy, and we don’t need to adopt toxic traits commonly attributed to male leaders. However, we often struggle with self-doubt and hesitation.

It's time for women to reclaim their confidence and speak with the certainty and power we deserve. Language matters – saying "WHEN I reach my goals" instead of "IF I reach my goals" changes everything. Let’s shed doubt and take up space!

Notes:
⭐ Ceemo is preparing founders for pitch decks: underrepresented founders start ‘one day behind’ even if they have the funds. 03:37
👔 If you don’t pitch to investors, you need strategic brand material for banks, family investors, and non-profits. 08:27
🤯 Elements of a good pitch deck: you are the star, not the slides - you have one minute to show it all in the first two slides. 11:59
⚠️ Founders usually get lost; these are the most important questions founders should ask to get a perfect pitch deck. 13:57
🆚 Being aware of the problem vs the solution: emotional feeling is the key. 17:29
😇 When the person is the base: you have that ‘specialness’ when you address friends and family, angels, pre-seed, and seed ventures. 19:34
🤓 Ceemo will create an AI pitch generator: framing and creating unique stories while challenging the narrative owners created. 22:19
🤷‍♀️ Differences in pitches between women and men: declarative, confident language vs. cautious and doubting. 30:19
🏆 Stella Foundation is an amazing organization and Heather is their finalist this year. 37:09

Links:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/heatherlawver

Website: ceemo.ai

-Connect with Adrienne: www.sheleadsmedia.com

-Listen to podcasts for women by women on the She Leads Podcast Network: www.sheleadspodcasts.com

-🎟️ Buy tickets to She Leads LIVE 2024 here:

https://bit.ly/SheLeadsLIVE2024

>> "I love ❤️ Adrienne and The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, can I ask you to please take a moment and give our podcast some love? To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests of The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺️ Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!! XO -Adrienne <<

When you invest in women, you invest in all of humanity and the economy.

Melissa Wallace is the CEO of Fierce Foundry and co-founder of Fivefoottwo Marketing. Melissa has more than 25 years of marketing experience across many different areas - B2B, consumer, and the creative agency world, with a focus on pioneering technologies and entertainment. In 2023 Melissa launched Fierce Foundry - the first-ever FemTech Venture studio designed to reduce and equalize the deficit and funding for female founders.

Unlike traditional accelerators or incubators, a venture studio builds companies from idea to exit, offering full lifecycle support to founders. Melissa explained how Fierce Foundry provides both entrepreneurial and business expertise to help women founders launch and scale their companies, with the goal of driving these companies to exit and reinvest in other female-led ventures, creating a "flywheel" effect.

Male-focused startup model doesn't work as well for women entrepreneurs. Women face different challenges and need a tailored approach to success, one that better reflects our experiences and mindsets that don’t have drinking bourbon and smoking cigars mindset.

Women also have more phases in their lives, need reinventing, and as Melissa stated even middle of the life retirement. Reality is just different and career paths and models should be different as well. For Melissa resilience is a key trait for women in business but self-care is a critical component of success in entrepreneurship.

We are all equal, but we are different and that is why women should support other women in business, from investing in female-founded businesses to simply creating space for women to thrive without burning out.

Show notes:
👩‍💼 Melissa has been a huge proponent for women for decades: traction on the prototype was not possible, so she started bridging the gap through her venture studio. (3:59)
⭐ What is a venture studio: building products with creators to de-risk the investment, while incubators and accelerators only offer partial support. (08:15)
🤩 How the venture studio is funded: crowdfunding, donations, family offices, VCs, and angel investors. (13:07)
🆚 Female vs. male model of doing business: women need a model with flexibility. (16:48)
👠 Two phases of women’s lives: saving, reinventing, and being resilient. (20:49)
🗝️ Learning about yourself through entrepreneurship: mindset, self-care, and time management are key pillars. (24:58)
⚡Positive stress is energy that pushes and motivates you: learn your capabilities and work within boundaries that keep you happy and healthy. (27:24)
🌷 Learning from being laid off: take the opportunity to rethink your direction and focus on your happiness. (29:43)
🎤 Melissa will be a panelist at She Leads LIVE 2024: her membership includes a community for female founders. (31:55)

Links:

Connect: www.linkedin.com/in/melissahudsonwallace

Website: www.thefiercefoundry.com/about-us

-Connect with Adrienne: www.sheleadsmedia.com

-Listen to podcasts for women by women on the She Leads Podcast Network: www.sheleadspodcasts.com

-🎟️ Buy tickets to She Leads LIVE 2024 here:

https://bit.ly/SheLeadsLIVE2024

>> "I love ❤️ Adrienne and The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, can I ask you to please take a moment and give our podcast some love? To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests of The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺️ Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!! XO -Adrienne <<