SheVentures

Imagine your significant other dies unexpectedly from a heart attack. In the midst of grief, you must find the resilience to go on while raising children and deciding how to move ahead professionally. This week’s guest — Sejal Lakhani-Bhatt — shares her story of the unexpected and how she managed to balance her family, her health, and her profession. Lakhani-Bhatt speaks candidly about her global banking career and how mentorship helped her climb the ladder at Deutsche Bank. Her husband, a tech entrepreneur, supported Lakhani-Bhatt when she decided to leave her banking job. Though she envisioned time with her children and yoga classes as a stay-at-home mom, her husband suggested she use her certified (and much-needed) project management skills at his tech startup. Today, TechWerxe, a turnkey cybersecurity company in the Northeast, is thriving with Lakhani-Bhatt at the helm. As more cyberattacks affect us personally and in business, TechWerxe provides enterprise-level security needs for small and medium businesses. Lakhani-Bhatt encourages solopreneurs to prioritize cybersecurity essentials, offering practical and affordable insights on securing data and devices for smaller businesses that may not have a tech team. Lakhani-Bhatt, opens up about her early childhood memories, why working in male-dominated careers has not been a stumbling block, what it was like to work with her spouse, and how she coped with sudden loss. Listen to the episode as Lakhani-Bhatt shares authentically about her successes — and provides sensible tips. Highlights:

Named one of Inc. magazine’s top 100 female founders to watch, Maggie Adhami-Boynton is well-versed in the pivots required for an early-stage company to morph into a viable, scalable business. A 15-year startup veteran, she understood earlier than most the rapid evolution of digital apps and e-commerce and hit the ground more than a decade ago. Adhami-Boynton helped grow Canada’s Plastic Mobile, an award-winning mobile app agency, to acquisition in 2015. In 2019, she soft-launched ShopThing, one of North America’s first live video commerce apps, which quickly amassed hundreds of thousands of followers. She is also one of the 2.3 percent of women who have successfully raised venture capital, closing a $10 million round in 2022. Curious how Adhami-Boynton identified niche tech opportunities and how she leveraged her knowledge to start and grow a VC-funded business? Who doesn’t love to shop with an app?! Highlights:

Kimberley Nixon tells it like it is. Yes, she is a Los Angeles–based venture capitalist and the founder and managing partner of Open Venture Capital. Yes, she is passionate about increasing access to investment for women of color, who we know raise less than 1 percent of all venture capital. Nixon is also keen to share the human side of her life. Health is a topic she knows intimately as she overcame cancer in her late 20s after a misdiagnosis. Today, she is balancing, like many of us, her passions with being a wife and mother to two tweens. If you are looking for a relatable, smart, hip role model, Nixon is it! Highlights

If you’re feeling stuck in your pursuit of success in the music industry despite all the hard work and effort you’re putting in — you’re not alone! Karla Ortiz, founder of Monark Entertainment, delves into her struggles and victories as a woman of color in the entertainment industry. Early in her career, Ortiz shaped digital marketing campaigns for megastars like Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, and Nelly Furtado. Decades later, she founded Monark Entertainment, an agency focused on streaming and digital marketing, with a particular emphasis on supporting women of color. Ortiz shares her experiences as a female executive, addresses challenges women face in the music industry, and advocates for strategic team-building and selective engagement. Her journey took an exciting turn when she became a professor at the Los Angeles College of Music. Ortiz’s story is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the boundless possibilities that lie ahead for women in music and entertainment. Highlights Fun fact:

Ever wondered how one woman can impact racial wealth and investment equity as well as advancements in women’s health? In two decades, Erika Seth Davies transitioned from a career in development and fundraising to becoming the CEO of Rhia Ventures, a groundbreaking fund that secured an impressive $44 million (in 2022) to revolutionize the U.S. women’s health market through impact investing. But wait, there’s more! Davies isn’t stopping at women’s health. She’s also the mastermind behind the Racial Equity Asset Lab (the REAL), an impact investing venture tackling the persistent racial wealth gap. Tune in as we explore the significance of this groundbreaking initiative and its potential to reshape the narrative around capital allocation and wealth creation for minorities. Highlights

From Nigeria to London to Paris to the United States, Pauline Idogho’s journey has taken her on a whirlwind tour of different cultures and experiences. But it’s her ability to adapt to change that has made her a successful entrepreneur. As the founder of Mocktail Club, an innovative line of elevated non-alcoholic beverages, not only does Idogho take pride in offering delicious, natural drinks, but she also dedicates 1 percent of her sales to support clean water initiatives around the world. She tapped into an ever-evolving market — and has learned to diversify her distribution channels and stay connected with her customers through social media. Idogho’s story can inspire you to embrace change and thrive in constant change, on this episode of SheVentures. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover the undeniable advantages of adapting to change for sustained success in your business ventures. Unravel the potential of diversifying distribution channels to reach a wider audience and boost revenue. Master the art of engaging customers on social media for a stronger online presence and genuine relationships. Explore the pivotal role flexibility plays in navigating an ever-evolving entrepreneurial landscape. Gain insight into the significance of inclusivity in branding and marketing for optimal resonance with a broader demographic. Check out Mocktail Club’s blog for tips and recipes. Help this small business by recommending Mocktail Club to local retailers or bars and asking them to carry the products. Donate to Mocktail Club’s clean water access initiative by making a purchase or directly by visiting the website. For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.sheventurespodcast.com/podcast/pauline-idhogo-podcast-episode

Becoming a parent is a seismic pivot in itself. Add the societal pressure to breastfeed — with virtually no support and sleepless nights — and you have a rocky six months. But it doesn’t need to be this way. Andrea Ippolito, CEO of SimpliFed, created a community to help women navigate everything from finding an insurance-covered lactation consultant to exploring different formulas to scoring the best-quality breast pump. Ippolito offers free classes and directories of allies and providers and works with workplaces and insurers to help parents get the support they need. As a mom herself, Ippolito knows firsthand the paucity of resources for parents who need support to do what’s best for their new baby and her nutrition. With her background working with the Department of Veteran Affairs and launching and selling her first product (an AI-driven health appointment scheduler), Ippolito has the track record to make a difference. Show highlights

Divorce is a life pivot that touches many, and it can be civil or act as a wrecking ball. You may know Kenya Duke from her BET+ show The Gary Owen Show, with her now ex-husband and their three children. Duke, an entrepreneur, real estate investor, and host of the podcast Truly Kenya, shares her experience of divorce, as well as its emotional and financial impacts. The pain of financial instability and the struggle to make ends meet can be overwhelming. But there is a way to regain control and find empowerment. Duke tells her story from childhood to what it means to be a Black woman in the entertainment industry. Duke shows how to rise above a nasty, acrimonious public divorce, take care of yourself, and build a secure financial future, in this episode of SheVentures. Highlights

Have you ever considered opening a spa, but the number of unknowns stopped you? Not Crystal Bethea, founder and CEO of C3 Wellness Spa, who pivoted from Army veteran to licensed massage therapist, cosmetologist, and entrepreneur. Bethea is passionate about massage, acupuncture, and other wellness modalities. Coming from a family of veterans, she’s passionate about helping vets maintain their health and to help them pursue their entrepreneurial dreams and find fulfillment in their post-military lives. That’s why C3 Wellness Spa is a franchise and ready to expand! Bethea works with her husband, Marus Bethea, also a veteranwho is a medical billing expert. The spa is committed to working with its clients and their health insurance benefits, to see if the spa’s services are covered. Show Highlights

Imagine rising through the ranks of the Federal government for three decades until one day a sudden heart attack forced you to reevaluate your life priorities. Debra Owens, Ph.D., is an Army veteran, former U.S. Postal Service employee, and a U.S. Department of the Treasury human resources manager. By all accounts, she built a stable career while raising two children, going through a divorce, and taking every opportunity possible to educate/upskill herself, tireless in her pursuit of knowledge. While building her career, Owens was often asked by friends or family about how to navigate the Federal government. Initially, Owens helped because that’s her nature. Then it kept happening, and Owens recognized a gap in the market: helping people navigate the complexities of working with the Federal government, in addition to working with women on how to define and take action on their passions. Owens’ heart attack — which happened while she was working her then side hustle and full-time job — was a pivotal moment where she decided to follow, well, her heart and retire from the government. Today Owens is the founder and CEO of her own development consulting firm, Encore Empowerment International, an author, motivational speaker, executive coach, and consultant who holds multiple degrees and licenses, including one as an ordained minister! This is a story about resilience and determination. Key Highlights

The pivot from finishing high school, college, or graduate school to landing one’s first job is often filled with anxiety. If you are like most recent grads, you have zero idea of how to approach your job search — unless you are one of the smart or lucky students who proactively sought help or had an amazing career development department. The truth is many grads lack foundational knowledge in how to interview, write a winning cover letter and a resume, use LinkedIn, and most importantly, how to be proactive, tenacious, and confident in their career search instead of waiting for it to unfold passively. And that’s assuming they know what field they want to explore. As a mother of two Gen Z daughters and the mentor to a handful of young women who’ve interned at SheVentures podcast, I’ve witnessed the need for quality job guidance firsthand. When I received a review copy of Beth Hendler-Grunt’s practical manual, The Next Great Step: The Parents’ Guide to Launching Your New Grad Into A Career, I knew I wanted to speak to her about the book as well as her role as the enterprising founder of Next Great Step, a company dedicated to guiding recent graduates through the transition from school to the job market. A proud mother to two college-age sons, living the transition in real-time, Hendler-Grunt brings a unique, empathetic perspective to her work. With decades of robust professional experience prior to founding Next Great Step, Hendler-Grunt leverages her workplace expertise and uses it to inform her job-seeking strategies, help grads understand their talents, and acknowledge and confidently articulate their professional value. Next Great Step is a one-stop shop for some quality free checklists and videos. Hendler-Grunt embraces a B2B2C business model where she helps students, parents, colleges, universities, and corporates looking to hire recent grads or provide internship opportunities. Highlights The Next Great Step: The Parents’ Guide to Launching Your New Grad Into A CareerNext Great Step

In the cutthroat world of Hollywood, Tanika Ray — a renowned TV personality who appeared on networks such as NBC, HGTV, VH1, Lifetime, and is perhaps best known for covering red carpet events such as the the Oscars, MTV Music Awards, and the Golden Globes, to name a few — is refreshingly candid about her public and acrimonious divorce with her co-star and now former husband and the soul-searching required to pivot forward and focus on her passions. Ray, 51, describes her newish podcast Mamaste with Tanika Ray as “celebrating mommying AF while bossing like a queen.” We marked this episode explicit in case you find the F-bombs objectionable that host Doria Lavagnino and Ray use as they discuss marriage, divorce, coparenting, motherhood and Hollywood’s well-known representation problem on this episode of SheVentures. Highlights channel

Maya Ford cares deeply about truth in marketing. As the founder of Ford Momentum!, she challenges stereotypes, ignites innovation, and is conquering the business world with a diverse mentorship style and a strategic mindset. Nearly all marketing consultants champion their data prowess, so what makes Ford stand out (in addition to her two decades of experience in marketing, communications, and operations)? Her hunger for knowledge and penchant to challenge the status quo cause her to break free from the conventional narratives that surround various societal groups. Ford is not afraid to call a spade a spade. Ford uses a new proprietary data-led methodology called STOLO (Standard of Love) that helps communities address unique regional or local problems accurately and compassionately. STOLO, backed by MIT’s Data, Economics and Development Policy program, is quickly becoming the go-to process for accurate data collection. Why is STOLO so powerful? Historically, data has been used to confirm a theory instead of being used to offer new considerations. STOLO incorporates five pillars to guide data collection and analysis: Ford uses these pillars to inform data collection (surveys, gamified mobile apps) with the end goal of driving equitable results that are true to what people want and need, not only of benefiting those in power. STOLO is a radical way of helping the historically under-represented own their data and their voices — and leverage their assets for change. Listen to Ford describe STOLO in action, provide case studies where STOLO is already creating change, and why she believes this methodology will be embraced by more communities. If you are a corporate leader, a parent, or a community member who desires change and isn’t afraid to tackle problems head-on, this episode is for you. Key Highlights

What on Earth is the JOBS Act? How can I get my foot in the door of the investing world? Should I take my entire maternity leave? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, then this SheVentures episode is for you. Shari Noonan, co-founder and CEO of Rialto Markets, has always had an eye for market shifts. Not only did she witness the days when Wall Street traders used actual paper to trade on the floor of the stock exchange, but Noonan was also integral in digitizing trades. Now, with Rialto Markets, she makes the investment opportunities brought on by the JOBS Act easily accessible. Noonan reflects on the positive changes in the workplace she’s witnessed over the years. More women are in senior positions, and creating support networks is getting easier. Going on maternity leave may still seem daunting in competitive industries, but Noonan has one thing to say about that: Take all of it. For Noonan, her pivot from working in large firms to entrepreneurship took eight years. Even so, it still took time to feel like a “true” entrepreneur. Learn how she conquered her imposter syndrome and immersed herself in the world of entrepreneurship. Follow along as Noonan describes how any woman can utilize Rialto Markets to invest. Plus, learn about the benefits and risks associated with investing in early-stage companies. Highlights: rialtomarkets.com

Major personal events can be agents of change. Jan Patterson, M.D., candidly reflects on how her own cancer diagnosis — shortly after her son’s suicide — implored her to find inner strength and alternatives to augment her traditional Western medicine background. As a result, Dr. Patterson (an infectious disease and integrative medicine specialist) began to explore and embrace holistic remedies like breathwork, meditation, and essential oils to help balance and heal both her patients — and herself. With a 30-year career as a physician and teacher, Dr. Patterson, co-author of the book Breath for the Soul: Self Care Steps to Wellness, focuses on how we can have agency in our health. A key takeaway: Combining both Western and Eastern modalities emphasize disease prevention and stress reduction and benefit one’s physical and mental health. We feature a heartfelt discussion on maternal grief and guilt, having tough conversations with your children, and incorporating self-care into your life — stat! This episode of SheVentures will explore new healing methods that can help not only your physical well-being but your mental health, too!

The devil’s in the details, and it’s easy to get lost in them where money is concerned. Post–high school education is no exception, and it’s rarely made easy. From saving to taking out loans — and paying off said loans — the cycle seems downright Sisyphean. Patricia Roberts, founder and COO of Gift of College and author of Route 529: A Parent’s Guide for Saving for College, gets it. And, with her expertise with education savings plans, she’s here to help you make the details and devil within work for you. Her company makes it easy for anyone to open an education savings plan online in a matter of minutes. Plus friends and family can contribute $25 to $200, and the funds don’t expire! As a first-generation college student herself, Roberts knows the struggles many face when thinking about post–high school education. For Roberts (who’s also an attorney), specializing in the intricacies of 529 education savings plans was personal — she and her husband wanted to provide their son with choices not readily available to them. Some myth-busting about 529 education savings plans: Did you know they pay for a myriad of education-related expenses, such as K–12, trade schools, and college? Many 529 plans have tax benefits — check your state. The owner of the 529 plan can change the beneficiary to another family member — or use it for themselves. Roberts also discusses diversity in the workplace and how far it’s come along since the 90s — but acknowledges it still has a ways to go, especially in traditionally male-dominated industries like financial services. Save time sifting through different 529 resources and find the information you need in one fell swoop with Roberts’ insight. Learn about Roberts’ recent pursuits on LinkedIn and Instagram, and check out the hashtag #radicalgenerosity on Twitter for inspiration! Find out who benefits from a 529, what can be done with the money, and more on this episode of SheVentures! Gift of College

Imagine being the youngest female member of the Mongolian government and the country’s first female state secretary of digital development. For Bolor-Erdene Battsengel, these are not mere titles. She crafted, implemented, and executed a plan to transform Mongolia into a “digital nation” by leading the E-Mongolia Project, ensuring internet access across the country. Before her plan, the nation faced challenges in digital inclusion. Today, she estimates 80 percent of Mongolian adults have internet access. When Battsengel left her government position due to alleged cyberbullying, she continued her focus as a social entrepreneur in technology. She pivoted to create a program, Girls Code, that teaches coding skills to girls from disadvantaged, rural communities in Mongolia. Battsengel, raised in a rural community herself, worked at both the World Bank and the United Nations, and received an MBA as well as a master’s in public policy from Oxford. She was named a Next Generation Leader by Time magazine and a Forbes 30 Under 30 in Asia. Listen to Battsengel describe her journey as a child from a rural village in Mongolia to becoming an advocate of social entrepreneurship on this episode of SheVentures. Highlights: girlscode.mn

Many of us are told that confidence is innate. Not so fast, says Selena Rezvani, an award-winning journalist specializing in training people leadership skills and author of Quick Confidence: Be Authentic, Create Connections and Make Bold Bets on Yourself. Sure, many women face imposter syndrome, but they beat it one tiny step at a time. Action is the key. Rezvani started in social work, but after realizing that maintaining work-life balance was impossible, she transitioned to a position where she could apply her skills from social work to multiple workplaces to reduce employee hardship. While pursuing her MBA, Rezvani designed a project to interview women in leadership positions in business. Her only female professor gave her this advice: Go after the giants. Learn how Rezvani engineered the perfect emails to politely and uniquely slide into the inboxes of C-level executives. These interviews became her first and second books. Take a risk and e-mail the CEOs of a company you love for an interview. You’d be surprised how many said yes. Follow Rezvani as she details workplace scenarios — such as asking for a raise — and gives tips on how to best approach them. To build confidence, Rezvani says, think like a dog: Don’t overthink too much — just do. Be the first to greet others. Extend a hand for a handshake. Be the first to welcome others into the workplace. Tune in for a discussion about how gender bias affects children, the ups and downs of reducing gender disparity in the workplace, and battling imposter syndrome. Challenge harmful perceptions of what a leader in the workplace should look like and affirm a healthy work-life balance. Rezvani describes her moments of pride and regrets in exercising confidence in the workplace, on this episode of SheVentures. Highlights Quick Confidence

Do you want to create a harmonious and productive work environment where employees feel engaged and innovative? Are you searching for ways to lead with mindfulness and unlock the full potential of your team? In this SheVentures episode, our guest, corporate mindfulness guru Keren Tsuk, Ph.D., reveals the key to achieving these goals as the founder of Wisdom To Lead, a company with clients including Google and Bayer. Tsuk explores her wide-ranging pivots within the corporate world and combines them with a personal, 20-year mindfulness practice. Tsuk — an international teacher, consultant, entrepreneur, and author — shares practical strategies and insights on incorporating mindfulness into leadership, fostering a culture of connection, creativity, and success. Her new book, Mindfully Wise Leadership, is a practical guide for implementing mindfulness in the workplace. By implementing Tsuk’s proven techniques, you can cultivate a workplace that thrives on mindfulness, leading to increased employee satisfaction, enhanced collaboration, and, ultimately, extraordinary results. Tune in to discover the power of mindfulness in leadership. Episode Key Takeaways: More Highlights: Wisdom To LeadWisdom To LeadMindfully Wise Leadership

Have you heard these myths about work-life balance in venture capital? Myth #1: You have to sacrifice your personal life to succeed. Myth #2: Only men can handle the demands of the industry. Myth #3: Taking time for self-care is a sign of weakness. But let’s be real, these are all…myths. And Ashley Aydin, principal at VamosVentures, is here to share the truth about balancing work and life in venture capital. As a successful VC, she knows firsthand the challenges and rewards of juggling a demanding career and personal life. Get ready to debunk these myths and learn practical strategies for achieving work-life balance in the startup world. In this episode, you will be able to: The tips mentioned in this episode are: