Are you a woman with financial resources, feeling frustrated by the challenges you see in the world, from limited representation for women in leadership to underfunded female-led companies? Do you believe your money could do more than just grow in a traditional portfolio – that it could be a powerful tool for change? In this episode of How Women Inspire, we tackle the exciting intersection of women’s wealth and global impact with Laura Henson. Discover how women hold the key to transforming industries, driving innovation, and solving critical problems by intentionally investing in the future they want to see. This week’s episode 179 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about building wealth through values-aligned investing!

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Laura Henderson is sharing the importance of investing with purpose and aligning investments with personal values. and actionable steps you can take right now to take control of where your investments are directed.

Laura Henderson is the Founder and CEO of HVM Communications. A seasoned marketer with more than two decades of experience in high-level strategic communications, Laura launched HVM Communications in 2009. A communications expert who specializes in business and lifestyle, she has developed strategic plans, and managed campaign execution for some of the world’s most admired brands, such as Hermès, PHYTO Paris, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, Method, European Wax Center, Asprey, Pratesi, Missoni and Salvatore Ferragamo.

Some of the talking points Julie and Laura go over in this episode include:

• The power and influence women have by currently controling 52% of the wealth.
• Aligning your investments with female founders to help close the funding gap.
• The importance of discussing investing with your friends and other women you know to help break the stigma that women “don’t know about investments.”
• How venture investing is more accessible than people think - often starting at $25,000.

Your investments can be a direct reflection of your values. Don't sit on the sidelines when you can be a catalyst for change. Take control of your financial power and step into the venture space. Explore investment opportunities, join communities like How Women Inspire that connect you with funds and female founders, and start making your money work for the world you envision.

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 LAURA HENSON:

LinkedIn

HVM Communications

CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:

LinkedIn - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

Instagram - HWL

LinkedIn - HWL

Facebook - HWL

Content Warning: This episode includes mention of child and animal neglect and abuse.

There’s a developmental stage between 45-65 where having an impact is one of the most important parts of this stage in our lives and it is so important to take a moment to reflect on the impact we want to have on the world.Today, we’re focusing on Julie’s story and how she came to the work she does today with How Women Lead. This week’s episode 178 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about philanthropy, racial justice, and feminist leadership!

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams shares how her childhood experiences were the foundation for her decision early in life to spend the rest of her life trying to make the world a better place and reflecting on her continued efforts to open her heart and door to others by caring for them and loving and accepting them as they are.

Some of the talking points Julie goes over in this episode include:

• Being cognizant of the power dynamics in nonprofit organizations and setting realistic expectations of gratitude.
• Sharing Maimonides ‘Ladder of Philanthropy’ and the high value placed on philanthropy through partnership.
• The 3 levels of impact Julie focuses on and examples of how this has played out in her life.
• Encouraging you to have a north star of your own values to drive the impact and influence you have on the world.

Julie shares her story to show that being a life-long philanthropist and living a life of service is not easy but the gifts that come for both you and the people you help are immeasurable.

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 - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

Instagram - HWL

LinkedIn - HWL

Facebook - HWL

Are you a woman leader or entrepreneur considering a career pivot, especially from academia to the dynamic startup world? Do you wonder how to navigate this transition, build crucial relationships, and drive innovation in a new industry? This episode of How Women Inspire addresses these very challenges, offering invaluable insights into making a successful leap and fostering meaningful connections.This week’s episode 177 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about transitioning from academia to startups!

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Grace Wei is sharing the importance of building relationships and maintaining connections with experts and mentors. and actionable steps you can take right now to build a team culture at your startup.

Grace Wei has held the position of COO at Encellin since 2016. Prior to that, Grace worked as a biologist at UCSF from 2005 to 2015. Grace Wei has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Genetics from McGill University and a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Chicago. Grace also completed programs at Stanford University Graduate School of Business and Y Combinator.

Some of the talking points Julie and Grace go over in this episode include:

• Why building and maintaining strong relationships is paramount for founders and leaders
• The unique benefits of different accelerators and how they can provide access to experts, community, and professional coaching for your startup journey.
• How transitioning from a specialized field like academia to a startup environment requires humility and a willingness to seek advice
• The importance of team culture for startup success, and how that differs from academia.

What steps will you take today to cultivate your network and embrace new challenges?

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 GRACE WEI:

LinkedIn

Encellin

CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:

LinkedIn - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

Instagram - HWL

LinkedIn - HWL

Facebook - HWL

Are you a top executive woman feeling the call for a significant career change, but grappling with the fear of the unknown, the exhaustion of past challenges, or the question of "who am I" outside of your corporate identity? In this episode of How Women Inspire, Julie Castro Abrams, JeanAnn Nochols, and Lori Igleski dive deep into the world of career pivots, offering a roadmap to make your transition less stressful and more fulfilling. Join them as they explore how to align your mindset, leverage community support, and discover your true north in your next professional evolution. This week’s episode 176 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about career pivots: navigating your next chapter with joy and success!

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, JeanAnn Nichols and Lori Igleski are sharing the importance of aligning professional choices with personal values and actionable steps you can take right now to prepare yourself for a meaningful career pivot.

JeanAnn Nichols is an accomplished executive with more than 30 years of diverse professional experience. She has managed engineering, product design, manufacturing, marketing, sales, communications, and IT operations for Fortune 500 companies. Most recently she served as a Vice President and General Manager for a $60B global technology company.

Lori Igleski founded Heart-Led Ventures LLC in 2022, leveraging decades of financial services experience to guide organizations through transformational change and ensure the next generation of diverse leaders benefits from her expertise. Throughout her career, she spearheaded over 35 significant merger and acquisition integrations, reorganizations, and technology implementations, passionately advocating for both the client and employee experience by building robust change management and employee engagement strategies.

Some of the talking points Julie, JeanAnn, and Lori go over in this episode include:

• Prioritizing professional rest and mindset alignment.
• Addressing common fears during a career pivot and embracing self-discovery.
• Leveraging community support for resilience.
• Building a portfolio career to fulfill diverse needs.

What is one small step you can take today to align your current professional path with your deepest values? Share this episode with a friend who might be contemplating their own career pivot, and subscribe to How Women Inspire for more insights on leading, investing, and giving.

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 JEANANN NICHOLS:

LinkedIn

Website

CONNECT WITH LORI IGLESKI:

LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:

LinkedIn - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

Instagram - HWL

LinkedIn - HWL

Facebook - HWL

Moving your career to the boardroom can be nerve-racking, but it’s never a journey you take alone. Join us as we sit down with Essye Miller, a distinguished public and private company board director. Drawing from her extensive 35-year career at the Department of Defense, including roles as CIO and CISO, Essye shares her unique journey transitioning from government service to corporate boardrooms. She offers invaluable guidance on leveraging public sector experience for private industry opportunities, navigating board interviews, building a robust digital presence, and her core philosophies on leadership and mentoring the next generation. This week’s episode 175 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about translating your experience for the board room!

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Essye Miller is sharing the importance of reframing your work experience for your board journey and actionable steps you can take right now to prepare yourself for the search for board opportunities in both the public and private sectors.

Essye Miller is the former CIO of the United States Department of Defense, where she held governance, charted strategy, piloted the DoD’s information enterprise overseeing its 11-figure budget, and influenced the overall technology strategy. Today, Essye is a public and private company board director and the CEO of Executive Business Management, her consultancy focuses on providing services and advisory to corporate businesses, government, and NGO clients on cybersecurity, information management, information technology, and national defense.

Some of the talking points Julie and Essye go over in this episode include:

• Knowing when to pivot to a new direction in your career, such as from corporate to board service.
• The importance of understanding the culture, dynamics, and values of the company before joining their board.
• Creating a body of work with speaking engagements, articles, etc. for people to find you beyond your LinkedIn profile.
• Recognizing that Superwoman does not exist and that communication is key in balancing family and work.

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 ESSYE MILLER:

LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:

LinkedIn - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

Instagram - HWL

LinkedIn - HWL

Facebook - HWL

Now more than ever, we need more diverse voices in positions of leadership, and preparing and supporting women on their journey to getting a board seat is what we do here at How Women Lead. In this episode, Robin Washington shares with us insights behind her remarkable career, emphasizing the power of self-assurance, strategic networking, and authentic leadership. We discuss discusses the crucial work of increasing Black women's representation in C-suites and boardrooms, offering invaluable advice for anyone seeking to amplify their influence and drive meaningful change. This week’s episode 174 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about diverse and inclusive board representation!

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Robin Washington is sharing the importance of diversity of thought and inclusivity in business and actionable steps you can take right now to create space for authenticity through your leadership.

Robin Washington is President and COFO at Salesforce, where she leads Business Strategy and Operations, Global Finance, Employee Success, Global Strategic Customers and Partners, Marketing, Communications, and Real Estate and Workplace Services. She is responsible for driving profitable growth and operational excellence—while accelerating the transformation of every company into an Agentforce company, in the new agentic era. Robin also currently serves on the board of directors of Alphabet.

Some of the talking points Julie and Robin go over in this episode include:

• Robin’s top ten words of wisdom for women everywhere.
• The critical importance of increasing Black women's representation in C-suites and boardrooms.
• Strategies for building powerful connections and finding allies.
• The importance of creating space for your employees and team members to be their authentic selves.

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 ROBIN WASHINGTON:

LinkedIn

Black Women on Boards

CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:

LinkedIn - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

Instagram - HWL

LinkedIn - HWL

Facebook - HWL

In this powerful episode of How Women Lead, host Julie Castro Abrams dives deep into the often-underestimated power of mentoring, sponsorship, and advising. Join Julie as she shares crucial insights on how women leaders can fiercely advocate for each other, counter damaging cultural narratives, and actively work to close the gender funding gap. Discover actionable strategies for becoming a vital partner and guide, particularly for women innovating in critical fields like climate tech and social impact, and learn why your unique experience is exactly what the next generation of leaders desperately needs. This week’s episode 173 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about shaping the future through mentoring and sponsorship!

In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams is sharing the importance of supporting founders more than monetarily and actionable steps you can take right now to start mentoring other women.

Some of the talking points Julie goes over in this episode include:

• The importance of senior leaders showing up as partners and guides.
• Practical advice for mentors, including thinking about new perspectives you can offer.
• The role of advisors in supporting social impact leaders and nonprofit organizations.
• Ways to begin your mentorship journey, including the Global Advisor program.

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 - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

Instagram - HWL

LinkedIn - HWL

Facebook - HWL

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 - Julie

How Women Lead

How Women Invest

How Women Give

Instagram - HWL

LinkedIn - HWL

Facebook - HWL