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The She Leads Podcast | Rewriting the Rules of Entrepreneurship

The She Leads Podcast | Rewriting the Rules of Entrepreneurship

By: Adrienne Garland
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 The She Leads Podcast is a weekly podcast that strips away the sugar-coating, and removes the fluff to get at conversations that matter for women entrepreneurs and leaders across the globe. Host Adrienne Garland, CEO of She Leads Media, has real conversations that matter to women building businesses with impact. The She Leads Podcast features raw, unfiltered stories from visionary women leaders and entrepreneurs building $1 million revenue businesses and beyond, who see the future, and who've been bold enough to break the mold and re-write the rules that were designed to keep us small and in our place. Each episode amplifies diverse voices with powerful missions, giving women the platform we deserve while delivering actionable insights you won't find in business textbooks. Your host Adrienne Garland asks compelling questions so you get the answers you need to hear. She's a Professor at NYU & Rice, an entrepreneur, an MBA grad, and a bold friend that seeks out straight talk about entrepreneurship that other business podcasts for women may shy away from.© She Leads Media Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • Identity Is Not a Limitation: Turn Lived Experience Into Leadership Power with Lindsay Green

    Identity Is Not a Limitation: Turn Lived Experience Into Leadership Power with Lindsay Green
    Feb 13 2026
    From Washington, D.C. to the Brooklyn waterfront, Lindsay Green shares how a career in finance evolved into a mission to transform industrial spaces into engines of opportunity for underserved communities.Lindsay Green is the President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where she leads one of New York City’s most ambitious models for inclusive economic development. With more than 550 businesses and 11,000 employees on site, the Navy Yard is not simply a real estate portfolio but a living ecosystem designed to create quality jobs and connect local residents to meaningful careers. Her work blends business strategy, workforce development, and community engagement into a powerful example of how cities can rethink the purpose of former industrial spaces.Her journey began in Washington, D.C., where daily exposure to economic disparities shaped her desire to work at the intersection of business and community impact. After studying economics at Harvard and starting her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, she discovered urban development through the Urban Investment Group under Alicia Glen. Mentorship from leaders like Glen and MIT professor Phil Thompson helped her shift from traditional finance to mission driven economic development. A detour into the food industry after Yale School of Management eventually led her back to this work, culminating in her leadership at the Navy Yard in 2022.Lindsay explains how the Brooklyn Navy Yard goes beyond affordable real estate to support small, women owned, and minority owned businesses with mentorship, capital access, and technical advisory services. She highlights the Brooklyn STEAM Center, a public high school that gives 600 students hands on training with industry grade equipment, as well as new adult reskilling programs that recognize the value of both digital and analog problem solving. Through initiatives like the Micro Business Accelerator Program, she is building pathways for entrepreneurs to start small, grow, and scale within a supportive ecosystem.This conversation explores leadership, economic mobility, and the importance of early exposure to career possibilities. Lindsay’s work demonstrates that revitalizing industrial spaces can do more than preserve history. It can create futures. Tune in to hear how thoughtful economic development can reshape communities and expand opportunity for the next generation.Chapters:00:00 🎙️ Welcome to the She Leads Podcast01:01 👩‍💼 Meet Lindsay Green President and CEO of Brooklyn Navy Yard03:37 🗺️ Lindsay’s journey from Washington DC to New York City05:30 🏦 From Goldman Sachs to a career in economic development13:54 🏗️ Revitalizing the Brooklyn Navy Yard into a thriving hub16:24 🌱 Community programs driving opportunity and impact34:21 🚀 What is next for the Brooklyn Navy Yard41:12 ✨ Closing reflections and final thoughtsLinks:Website: www.brooklynnavyyard.org Connect with Lindsay Green through the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s website to explore how this innovative model is creating jobs, supporting entrepreneurs, and opening new pathways for underserved communities. Thank you to our podcast sponsorGo From Expert to Thought Leader with the Genius Discovery Program.Book Directly with Kent: http://talktokent.com Learn more at: geniusdiscovery.org We're always seeking aligned sponsors.⭐️ If you're interested in supporting our podcast - one episode or a season, reach out to Adrienne at Adrienne@sheleadsmedia.com.⭐️Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com to learn about upcoming events or to work with me directly and get the clarity you’re seeking."I love ♥️ listening to The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, I’d love it if you would take a moment and give our podcast some love too. 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 featured on 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!!— Adrienne (00:00) - 🎙️ Welcome to the She Leads Podcast (01:01) - 👩‍💼 Meet Lindsay Green President and CEO of Brooklyn Navy Yard (03:37) - 🗺️ Lindsay’s journey from Washington DC to New York City (05:30) - 🏦 From Goldman Sachs to a career in economic development (13:54) - 🏗️ Revitalizing the Brooklyn Navy Yard into a thriving hub (16:24) - 🌱 Community programs driving opportunity and impact (34:21) - 🚀 What is next for the Brooklyn Navy Yard (41:12) - ✨ Closing reflections and final thoughts
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    43 mins
  • My Take: Why Sales Is the Real Job (Even If You Hate Sales) — with Julia Arpag

    My Take: Why Sales Is the Real Job (Even If You Hate Sales) — with Julia Arpag
    Feb 6 2026
    I’m saying the quiet part out loud: if you don’t build your sales muscle, growth stalls - no matter how talented you are. In this episode, Julia Arpag, CEO and Founder of Aligned Recruitment, shares with me how she went from five weeks postpartum and laid off to building a seven-figure tech recruitment firm by treating selling as service, investing early in mentorship, and using LinkedIn + networking like a real funnel.Julia’s journey began in August 2023 when she was unexpectedly laid off while on maternity leave. What could have been a destabilizing moment became the catalyst for something extraordinary. While briefly accepting a W-2 role, she started selling for a friend’s startup recruitment venture on the side. Within months, she closed three retainer clients. That early traction forced a pivotal decision: continue playing it safe, or step fully into entrepreneurship despite fears around sales, taxes, and “not knowing enough.” She chose the leap. Rather than trying to figure everything out alone, Julia invested her earliest earnings into mentorship by hiring an executive coach who had sold a recruitment agency for $28 million, a LinkedIn writing coach, and systems experts. Inspired by Carol Dweck’s Mindset and the philosophy of “Who Not How,” she built her sales muscle, reframed selling as service, and adopted a growth mindset that became foundational to Aligned Recruitment’s rapid success. She reminds us that for women entrepreneurs especially, seeking support is often the difference between staying small and scaling meaningfully. We also explored Julia’s tactical wisdom as a recruiter, including why job seekers should treat their search like a sales funnel, how to optimize LinkedIn to be discovered, and why networking consistently outperforms cold online applications. At a deeper level, Julia challenges the idea that business success must come at the cost of personal well-being. Her philosophy is clear: build a business around your life, not the other way around. This conversation is a powerful reminder for all of us that profitability, purpose, and peace can coexist. Tune in to hear my conversation with Julia Arpag and how she is redefining what it looks like for women to lead, sell, and scale without losing themselves in the process. Chapters: 01:12 👩‍💼 Meet Julia Arpag Founder and CEO of Aligned Recruitment 02:34 🚀 Turn a Layoff Into a Launch Plan After Maternity Leave 07:32 📈 Smart Strategies for Scaling a Recruitment Firm Fast 16:12 🤝 Sales Skills and Mentorship Change Everything for Women Founders 22:51 🔎 How Recruiters Really Search for Candidates 23:32 💼 Make Your LinkedIn Profile Work for You 24:50 ☕ Networking Tactics That Beat Online Applications 26:59 🌍 How Values Driven Tech Companies Hire Diverse Talent 36:59 ⚖️ Build a Business That Supports Your Life and Family Links:Website: www.alignedrecruitment.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-arpag Connect with Julia on LinkedIn and explore Aligned Recruitment’s website to learn how values-based leadership and smart hiring strategies can transform the way you build teams and careers. Thank you to our podcast sponsorGo From Expert to Thought Leader with the Genius Discovery Program.Book Directly with Kent: http://talktokent.com Learn more at: geniusdiscovery.org We're always seeking aligned sponsors.⭐️ If you're interested in supporting our podcast - one episode or a season, reach out to Adrienne at Adrienne@sheleadsmedia.com.⭐️Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com to learn about upcoming events or to work with me directly and get the clarity you’re seeking."I love ♥️ listening to The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, I’d love it if you would take a moment and give our podcast some love too. 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 featured on 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!!— Adrienne
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    43 mins
  • Become the Obvious Choice: Brand Positioning That Turns Reputation Into Demand | Paige Arnof-Fenn

    Become the Obvious Choice: Brand Positioning That Turns Reputation Into Demand | Paige Arnof-Fenn
    Jan 30 2026
    Paige Arnof-Fenn shares how to stop competing on price by sharpening brand positioning, owning a niche, and turning reputation + referrals into consistent demand.In this episode, Paige Arnof-Fenn shares her journey from investment banking to branding powerhouse and discovering her true calling in marketing, building a distributed firm long before remote work was mainstream, and detailing how to turn expertise into profitable, high-impact businesses. Paige is the founder and CEO of Mavens & Moguls, a global branding and digital marketing firm that has worked with clients like Microsoft, Virgin, The New York Times Company, and Colgate. Her path to entrepreneurship didn’t begin with a clear plan, but with a series of courageous pivots that led her from Wall Street to marketing leadership at P&G and Coca-Cola, and eventually to building her own agency. Along the way, she learned that success is less about following a script and more about honoring the parts of work that energize you.The turning points in Paige’s story are rooted in self-awareness and bold action. After realizing investment banking didn’t align with her values or passion, she shifted into marketing, first through business school, then by shaping brand strategy at major corporations and startups. She watched the internet industry emerge in the late ’90s and embraced it, later using the post-9/11 job market as a catalyst to launch her own business. What could have been a moment of fear became the start of a 24-year journey building a thriving firm with a distributed team across multiple cities and countries.Paige’s most powerful insights center on clarity, niche, and validation. She encourages women entrepreneurs to treat themselves as a brand, not a commodity, and to build businesses based on real market research, not friendly feedback. She champions differentiation through specificity, sharing how dominating one niche beats trying to please everyone, and explains how profitability is the foundation for meaningful impact.Paige’s story is a celebration of women’s leadership, resilience, and the power of building businesses that create real change. If you’re ready to rethink what entrepreneurship can look like, and how to build it with intention and confidence, this conversation is for you. Tune in and be inspired.Chapters00:56 👩‍💼 Meet Paige Arnof-Fenn From Stanford to CEO03:13 💼 Paige’s Journey in Investment Banking06:26 📈 Discovering a Passion for Marketing09:40 🚀 Building a Successful Marketing Firm23:42 🌍 Pioneering Outsourced Marketing24:04 🏆 Early Success and Harvard Recognition28:19 💡 Positioning Strategy for Women Founders: Brand vs Commodity29:45 📣 Niche + Market Research: Validation That Creates Demand35:18 🔁 The Referral Engine: Becoming the Default Choice42:28 💖 Philanthropy and Legacy LinksWebsite: www.mavensandmoguls.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paigearnoffenn Check out Paige Arnof-Fenn’s website, connect with her on LinkedIn, and explore her work with Mavens & Moguls to learn how to build a brand-driven business that scales with clarity, purpose, and impact. Thank you to our podcast sponsorGo From Expert to Thought Leader with the Genius Discovery Program.Book Directly with Kent: http://talktokent.com Learn more at: geniusdiscovery.org We're always seeking aligned sponsors.⭐️ If you're interested in supporting our podcast - one episode or a season, reach out to Adrienne at Adrienne@sheleadsmedia.com.⭐️Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com to learn about upcoming events or to work with me directly and get the clarity you’re seeking."I love ♥️ listening to The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, I’d love it if you would take a moment and give our podcast some love too. 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 featured on 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!!— Adrienne (00:56) - 👩‍💼 Meet Paige Arnof-Fenn From Stanford to CEO (03:13) - 💼 Paige’s Journey in Investment Banking (06:26) - 📈 Discovering a Passion for Marketing (09:40) - 🚀 Building a Successful Marketing Firm (23:42) - 🌍 Pioneering Outsourced Marketing (24:04) - 🏆 Early Success and Harvard Recognition (28:19) - 💡 Advice for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs (29:45) - 📣 Building a Strong Personal Brand (42:28) - 💖 Philanthropy and Legacy
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    48 mins
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