She Lights the Way

Finnish-American production manager Sharissa Holopainen gives us an exclusive look into the dynamic, cross-cultural world of film production, describing it as a living puzzle. A short film assignment opened the door to her lifelong passion for storytelling behind the camera after she dropped out of a business program that didn’t feel right and realized acting wasn’t her true calling. Raised between Finland and California, Sharissa ...

In this bold and deeply authentic conversation, Dr. Frances Mei Hardin shares her journey from teenage prodigy to rural ENT surgeon and cofounder of the Hippocratic Collective—as she reflects on how surviving the culture of surgical training shaped her mission to transform medicine from the inside out. She speaks candidly about physician burnout, mental health, toxic workplace norms, and why success without authenticity is a hollow...

Naomi Ceder—educator, author, and former chair of the Python Software Foundation—shares her raw, powerful journey of becoming. From hiding her identity for decades to leading one of the world’s most influential tech communities, Naomi rewrites the rules on resilience, authenticity, and inclusion. She shares candid insights on Imposter Syndrome—rooted in her lived experience as a trans woman—and why owning your truth is the most pow...

Melissa Austin has spent her career opening doors in the gaming industry—not just as a technical artist and leader but as a force multiplier for others. In this conversation, she shares how mentorship, representation, and a deep passion for helping others have shaped her journey. From her early days in game development to leading a team at Niantic, Melissa opens up about the pivotal moments, the challenges of a male-dominated indus...

Bevin Victoria’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. Once a gymnast chasing Olympic dreams, a devastating injury forced her to pivot, fueling a lifelong passion for the arts. Later, she confronted the harsh realities of pursuing acting and chose to rewrite her story, creating roles for herself and forging opportunities in spaces where she often stood alone. Her raw honesty about Imposter Syndrome and the power o...

Fran Wilde, a two-time Nebula Award-winning author, self-proclaimed "battle poet" and teacher, takes us on a journey through her creative process. From embracing failure to finding the magic in messes, Fran shares how curiosity can be a transformative tool for growth. We dive into her upcoming novel, A Philosophy of Thieves, and explore profound questions about humanity, technology, and storytelling’s power to reshape lives. Whethe...

Sharon Davis—former First Lady of California and lifelong advocate—shares her remarkable journey of public service, personal growth and unwavering commitment to making a difference. At 70, Sharon reflects on her decades of experience, offering timeless lessons on leadership, aging well, and thriving through life’s challenges.

She reveals how her early career as a flight attendant taught her to master people skills, handle crises, a...

Minette Norman, author, speaker, and leadership consultant, shares her journey from aspiring actor to tech industry leader to champion for inclusive leadership. She reflects on the power of psychological safety, the pain of exclusion, and the transformative impact of truly inclusive cultures. Her candid insights and practical advice inspire us to shine our lights brightly and lead the way to a more inclusive and innovative world.

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Laura Stanfill shares how a traumatic brain injury transformed her approach to life, work and advocacy for neurodivergent voices on her path from journalism to publishing and writing her debut novel, Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary. She shares her insights on amplifying underrepresented voices, the magic of indie bookstores, finding balance, and redefining success in the literary world. 

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Iwalani Kaluhiokalani—a biracial businesswoman, artist, and wellness pioneer—reflects on her journey across two distinct passions: Pilates and painting. She shares how her childhood love for swing sets evolved into running a successful Pilates and GYROTONIC® wellness studio while pursuing her passion as an international artist. Iwalani reflects on the key moments that shaped her, the lessons she’s learned, and her path to embracing...

Hear from Vinothini Raju and Diane Mueller, leaders in the world of AI and cloud native, as they share their insights into the powerful dynamics of their mentor-mentee relationship, built on mutual learning and respect. Vinothini discusses her journey from consulting to innovating with generative AI, while Diane reflects on the joy of mentoring and continuous learning. Discover how their inspiring mentor-mentee bond fuels meaningfu...

Bela Friedman, daughter of Holocaust survivors, shares her remarkable journey from a successful career in public relations to a life dedicated to helping others as a life coach and hypnotherapist. She discusses the transformative power of intuition and gratitude in reshaping her life and finding purpose. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of resilience and the importance of following one's inner voice to live authentically and...

With refreshing candor, Anna Maria Ponzi shares her journey from planting vineyards at age four with her family to leading one of Oregon’s first and most iconic wine brands. Facing a male-dominated industry, she had to “work twice as hard” to build the renowned Ponzi name. She reflects on balancing motherhood with the demands of an international business and the complex dynamics of growing a family enterprise with her sister. Anna...

From a town of 300 in South Dakota to transforming education across borders, Christi Harter's journey defies convention. Through Peace Corps service in Ghana, she discovered true education transcends rigid structures. Now at Eastern Washington University, she's revolutionizing credentials and career pathways, building bridges between employers and education, and creating opportunities for underserved communities. Her mission? To he...

Penporn Koanantakool, a senior software engineer, shares her courageous journey from growing up in Thailand to being awarded a Fulbright scholarship, confronting challenges in moving to the U.S., earning a PhD from U.C. Berkeley, and eventually helping shape the future of AI at one of the world’s leading tech companies. Thank you for listening ❤ See below for transcript, timestamps, to get in touch, and more. TRANSCRIPT: https://...

In this warm heart-to-heart with my colleague and good friend Nithya Ruff, we dive deep into her incredible journey from India to Silicon Valley, where she's now leading the open source program office at Amazon and serving on the board of the Linux Foundation. Nithya opens up about the pivotal moments in her life—moments that weren’t just about career choices but about the people who believed in her and the values that have guided ...

Vani Jain, an emerging Indian-born interior designer fresh out of Pratt Institute, shares her experiences of overcoming challenges, from navigating a cross-cultural move during COVID to embracing resilience in her professional journey. Her passion for empowering women, promoting environmental justice, and creating spaces that enhance well-being shines through as she discusses her influences, time management strategies, and the pivo...

Brittany Istenes gives us a kickass blueprint for thriving as she shares her remarkable journey of personal growth, career pivots, and finding success through adaptability and compassion. She reveals how moving through 15 different schools by the time she finished high school instilled in her a remarkable ability to adapt to new environments. Her unexpected career pivots—from following the Grateful Dead on tour to becoming a specia...

Mother-daughter duo Anne Gudger and Maria Gibson open up about their powerful journey through grief and how it became their shared mission. After losing her husband while pregnant with Maria's older brother, Anne transformed her pain into purpose. Together, they've created a safe space for others to explore and express their grief through podcasts, a reading group, and writing workshops.

In this moving interview, Anne and Maria rev...