The LeadHer Shift w/ Alian Ollivierre

In this standout episode of The LeadHer Shift Podcast, Alian Ollivierre sits down with HR professional and career coach Nneoma Chiakwelu for a soul-nourishing conversation about redefining leadership on your own terms. Together, they explore: Nneoma’s journey — from Nigeria to Canada, from HR to podcasting — is a masterclass in navigating identity, ambition, and divine timing. Whether you’re at a crossroads in your career or simply tired of performing toughness to succeed, this conversation is for you. 💬 “Softness does not excuse action. It just means you’re moving with intention.” 🎧 Listen now to reclaim the kind of leadership that doesn’t burn you out — it builds you up. 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share. Your leadership matters. And so does your softness. About Nneoma: Nneoma Chiakwelu is an HR professional, part-time career coach, and host of the Get In Girl podcast, a show for women who are tired of overthinking and ready to take clear, confident action toward the life they want. She blends strategy with motivation, helping ambitious women get out of their heads and into alignment with their goals. With experience across construction, mining, and tech, Nneoma has led initiatives in onboarding, engagement, and DEI, improving systems while keeping people at the heart of every process. Through her podcast and coaching, she helps women stop spinning their wheels and start building soft, structured success, where their routines, money, and mindset finally work together. Her message is simple: you’re capable of so much more than you think, and you can plan your way into the life you want, one step at a time. Her Favourite Leadership Quote Reads: “There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” - Nelson Mandela

What does it mean to lead yourself before leading others? In this powerful episode, Alian Ollivierre sits down with educator, counselor, author, and founder of Get a Grip for Teens, Vonetta Pierce, to explore what 30 years in education has taught her about leadership, confidence, community, and the courage to rest. 🔥 From battling imposter syndrome to building a multi-state mentoring movement for girls, Vonetta shares her raw truths, leadership lessons, and how rest became her resistance. 🎙️ Inside this episode: • Why your impact matters, even when you don’t see it yet • The hidden cost of shrinking to fit in • How Black women leaders can own their brilliance unapologetically • Why comparison is the thief of joy • The importance of community, collaboration & self-care • What it really takes to nurture the next generation of girls Whether you’re an educator, a mentor, or a woman rising in leadership — this conversation is your reminder: Your voice matters. Your leadership matters. You are not alone. 🔔 Subscribe to The LeadHer Shift Podcast for more episodes centering women in leadership. 📲 Connect with us: Website: https://www.theleadhershift.com IG: @theleadhershift Tag & share using #TheLeadHerShiftPodcast 👇🏽 Know someone who needs this episode? Share it. Don’t gatekeep.

Andrea Uchar, founder of luxury branding studio Jove, joins The LeadHer Shift to share how client demand moved her from a Gen-Z aesthetic to premium, minimalist brand strategy—and what that pivot taught her about self-trust, boundaries, and leading a business with integrity. We cover her early management role at 21, navigating burnout during the pandemic, switching careers (logistics → accounting → audit → branding), and building a studio with her husband that now explores AI-powered stock visuals. Andrea breaks down the difference between visuals and true brand psychology, why pricing reflects depth of work, and how women can move past self-doubt by “getting uncomfortable and trying anyway.” If you’re redefining success as freedom, purpose, and creative impact—this conversation is your nudge. Key Takeaways: • Why Andrea rebranded Jove from Gen-Z trends to luxury & premium positioning • Early leadership at 21, pandemic pressure, and learning to set boundaries • Career shifts across logistics, accounting, audit → creative entrepreneurship • Success as freedom vs. only money; firing misaligned clients • Branding beyond Canva: research, target psychology, colour strategy, emotion • Building with a partner + launching an AI stock-image platform • Advice for women: try before you’re “ready,” trust yourself, embrace discomfort

In this transformative episode of The LeadHer Shift podcast, host Alian Ollivierre sits down with Bina Freilich, founder of Wounds to Wings, for a powerful conversation on trauma healing, self-leadership, and personal transformation. Bina shares her inspiring journey from surviving abuse and divorce to reclaiming her identity and stepping into purpose. Together, they unpack the difference between trauma and toxicity, the power of unlearning generational patterns, and how women can rise by reconnecting with their truth. This episode explores the deep connection between healing and leadership, and how self-worth impacts our careers, relationships, and ability to lead with clarity and conviction. Perfect for women navigating transition, personal growth, or seeking more intentional leadership. What You’ll Learn:

In this deeply powerful episode 12 of The LeadHer Shift Podcast, host Alian Ollivierre sits down with Kelly Morgan—author, publisher, and founder of Bright Headed Publishing and BTA (Break the Algorithm). Together, they explore themes of authenticity, self-leadership, rejection, resilience, and reclaiming your voice. Kelly shares her raw, inspiring journey from being the only Black girl in a predominantly white Utah community to facing betrayal in the publishing industry. She opens up about people-pleasing, body image struggles, grief, and the unlearning required to truly lead yourself. From being scammed by a publisher to relaunching her business with clarity and intention, Kelly’s story is one of falling, pausing, rebuilding, and rising in her own power. Listeners will hear about: • The inspiration behind her books “You Sound White” and “Wait for It” • The emotional toll of being the “reference” for Blackness in white spaces • How the weight we carry isn’t always physical, but deeply internal • Why mindset is the first shift in self-leadership • The importance of collaboration and breaking free from social media dependency This episode is a testament to the power of starting over, owning your narrative, and showing up as your whole self—even when it’s uncomfortable. So, if this conversation spoke to you, share it. Let another woman know she’s not alone, and her leadership still matters. Subscribe to the podcast and visit theleadhershift.com to stay connected.

Alian Ollivierre [00:00:00]: Welcome to the Lead Her Shift podcast. This is what I like to call a safe space. A space for bold women building their power, presence, and purpose from the inside out. A space where we explore what it means to lead with clarity, courage, and conviction. So wherever you are in the world. Hey, I'm your host, Alian Olivierre, and I am super honoured that you're tuning in today. So now today I want to let you guys know who I have on the call. I have Ciara Lewis, an accomplished entrepreneur and the visionary CEO and founder of Fierce and Fearless. Alian Ollivierre [00:00:54]: Let's just repeat that. Fierce and Fearless proudly unveils the arrival of the Fierce and Fearless Entrepreneur magazine. I can't wait to dig deeper into what this magazine is all about. Slated to release in July 2025. So just around the corner, guys. This transformative publication is set to inspire, inform, and empower women at every stage of their professional journey. I can't wait to sign up. Available on all major platforms, this magazine represents a pivotal advancement in the women's empowerment sector. Alian Ollivierre [00:01:36]: Welcome, Ciara. Thank you so much for being a guest on our podcast. I want to learn so much more about you, the woman. So if we could take just a moment, watch. Why? Why Fierce and Fearless? What brought us here? Ciara Lewis [00:01:59]: A lot. So growing up, I was always one of the quiet ones, even in school, but I managed to be friends with pretty much everybody. I didn't really meet a stranger. Alian Ollivierre [00:02:14]: Right. Ciara Lewis [00:02:14]: And going. I started working young, so my first job was a clown. And I think just from starting there and growing into other careers is how I really started to see how women were perceived in society. After that, I started venturing off into jobs that were managed by men. And that was really what said, you know, the big awe moment. Alian Ollivierre [00:02:43]: Yeah. Ciara Lewis [00:02:44]: And I said, you know, this. This can't be. This cannot be how we're treated in society or how we're viewed. The first time I noticed it and had an issue was when I worked at a car lot. I'm not sure what that man had against me, but I was the sole female sales associate there. And I think the issue was they thought that they could get part of my sales because they thought I didn't know what I was doing or I wasn't good enough to do it. On my. Unfortunately, that was not the case because I'm definitely one of those, like, try me if you want to. Ciara Lewis [00:03:19]: And when you tell me I can't do something, I'm definitely going to make sure I find a way to do it. So I ended up being the only person that could Actually get the trucks off the lot. That literally drove them in insane. Had a couple of headbutts with the, the owner, which is eventually why I ended up leaving. Funny, because he actually tried to ask me to come back several years ago when he came back, but I was just like, no, I'll never do that again. However, I went on to be selected to this program. One million and one black women with Goldman and Sachs. Alian Ollivierre [00:03:57]: Nice. Ciara Lewis [00:03:57]: And that right there just let me know how powerful we are as women and how we've got to come together and stop this, this feud, this contest. It's not necessary. And you know, we can do so much more when we work together rather than when we work against each other. And that is the reason I said fierce and fearless on top of. I know that there are several women out here who have been through probably a whole lot that they're not willing to mention. I am a domestic abuse survivor, and I shouldn't say survivors if like, he tried to kill me, but I went through domestic, a...

Welcome to the LeadHer Shift podcast, where host Alian Ollivierre creates a safe, honest space for bold women building power, presence, and purpose from the inside out. In this deeply personal kickoff to a new season, Alian opens up about the defining moments of her last five years—including her journey through motherhood, professional pivots, and inner transformation. She shares how the LeadHer Shift movement was born from her own search for authentic leadership, and how reclaiming her voice became not just a personal revival, but an invitation for all women to step into clarity, courage, and conviction. This episode explores the messy, sometimes isolating process of identity shifts, the power of inner awareness, and the transition from performative confidence to fully embodied leadership. Alian highlights that true authority and presence begin with the work within—and invites listeners to join her and a community of trailblazing women for strategies, stories, and support as they navigate their own leadership journeys. If you’ve ever felt invisible, doubted your ambition, or wondered if your leadership truly matters, this episode is for you. You’re not alone, and your story is ready to be heard. 1. Introduction to the LeadHer Shift Podcast 2. Alian’s Personal Story and Defining Moments 3. Challenges with Visibility and Self-Expression 4. The Concept of Inner Permission and Capacity 5. Major Life Changes and Their Impact on Identity 6. The Loss and Realignment of Ambition 7. The Process of Rebuilding and Self-Discovery 8. Emergence of a New Version of Self 9. The Birth and Purpose of the LeadHer Shift Podcast 10. The LeadHer Shift Framework: From Inner Awareness to Outer Authority

Episode 9 of LeadHer Shift features Alecia, who has dedicated her life to excelling beyond the norms of her society and thriving to lead each step of the way. She is passionate about innovation, human rights, and developing an agile working space that creates impact. Take a listen to learn more about Alecia, and how she's passionate about making sure companies take a 360 look at culture, process, and management, considering that shifts are inevitable and consistent in these uncertain times.

Episode 8 of LeadHer Shift features Kim, who has dedicated her life to serving others as a Human Resources Professional. She describes herself as self-made, and all her accolades are centered around being hungry to develop and support others. Kim's main desire is to change lives and believes that leadership should always change those lives positively. Take a listen to learn more about Kim, and how she's passionate about making sure companies connect their team's talent with the vision of the company so that the mission is fulfilled.

Episode 7 of LeadHer Shift features Francoise, who has dedicated her life to serving others within the feminist space, one conversation at a time. She has had tremendous experiences through a gender lens and holds firm to the belief that it's impossible for one to lead without community. As such, Francoise stays true to her belief that if you are a leader, it's for others to highlight that as factual. Take a listen to learn more about Francoise, and how she took the time to discover her passion for serving others.

Episode 6 of LeadHer Shift features Angela Walker, who has dedicated her life to helping singles and couples design relationship strategies that are comprehensive and customized for their specific relationship needs. After leading through bad relationships and marinating on ineffective communication styles, over the years, it was key for her to share with others what to say, when to say it, and how you say things to build healthy relationships. Take a listen to learn more about Angela, her learnt behaviours along the way, and how she took the time to discover teaching in the way that serves others.

Episode 5 of LeadHer Shift features Kaus Sharma, who has spent the last two years building a business from the ground up, after working for years as a journalist and copy-write specialist. With taking that bold step she's now leading the charge to help others live intentionally, with a constant reminder, even to herself, that imposter syndrome does not serve the greater good. Take a listen to learn more about Kaus, her adventures along the way, and how she is taking the time to discover herself as a leader.

Episode 4 of LeadHer Shift features Karen Arthur, who has adjusted her life to ensure her happiness is maintained, by going from being a teacher to now a fashion designer. Karen shares that after 28 years as a teacher, she just was not happy, and she took the leap that was way overdue to take care of her anxiety and depression, to rediscover her love for fashion in her own way. Take a listen to learn more about Karen, the purpose behind her fashion, and how she leads others towards finding their happy.

Episode 3 of LeadHer Shift features Kelly Abanda, who is an adventure coach that shares the shift she had when she went from a corporate job to touring 27 countries to find her happy. Kelly shares that after spending 15+ years within the corporate and non-profit sector she felt stuck and unhappy. She refused to let life overpower her desire to be free. What started out as a 3-month hiatus to discover her next steps in her career, turned in to 3-years of pure "MAGIC", as she likes to call it. Take a listen to learn more about Kelly's adventure and how she leads others towards that level of success, by connecting with people.

Episode 2 of LeadHer Shift features April Graham, a mindset coach who shares key shifts she's made from childhood trauma and major academic triumphs to the success of leading her life to freedom, as a coach, successful business owner and non-profit leader. This Leading Lady, who has persevered, has earned four college degrees, manages a successful childcare business, and has earned a host of recognitions and distinctions in the field of education. Many who know her inquire about the possibility of her success when considering the odds that were stacked against her. Take a listen to learn more about what obstacles shaped this dynamic woman you hear today.

Episode 001 of LeadHer Shift features Janeen Wilson, who is a psychotherapist, creative practitioner, and entrepreneur, as she shares challenges within her career and life, and how she has lead, shifted, and navigated them towards triumphant results. With 18 years of experience working with children and young people in the creative and therapeutic industries, Janeen sees supporting generations to come as her passion. She has worked in schools, colleges, theatre companies, young offenders institutions, hospitals, and outpatient mental health facilities. Overall, Janeen sees herself as an advocate for children and young people and sees it as her role to ensure their voices are always heard.