Wickedly Smart Women

What if the reason your team isn't performing has nothing to do with strategy and everything to do with leadership? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Kathy Eastwood, CEO and creator of the human-first E3 Leadership Code and a leadership strategist with over thirty years of executive experience across EY, Hewlett-Packard, high-growth startups, and private equity-backed companies.

This conversation dives into the real reason most teams struggle, why emotional intelligence is the missing link in leadership.

If you've ever questioned your leadership environment, your next career move, or how...

What happens when you wake up one day and realize the career you built no longer fits your life? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Megan Applegate, Career Strategist, Certified Personal Consultant, and the founder of Career Blueprint Solutions. 

Megan shares her powerful journey from a 20-year corporate career in hospitality to building her own business in recruiting and career strategy. What started as a feeling of disconnection and burnout turned into a bold leap into entrepreneurship, without a clear roadmap.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone feeling s...

What if the decision that changes everything isn't about leaving your job but about how you think? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Dr. Crystal Gifford, CEO of EdgeTech Global, a pioneering force in educational leadership, curriculum development, and EdTech integration.

This conversation goes deeper than "just leap." It explores the internal and external variables that shape major life decisions, the importance of trusting yourself, and how to build a business that aligns with your values instead of burning you out.

If you've been questioning whether it's time to...

What if the key to higher profits isn't better marketing or more sales tactics but how you treat your people? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Sandra Coker, CEO of Human Power Solutions and author of People Profit. Sandra shares her powerful journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, sparked by life-changing personal experiences that forced her to rethink everything.

Sandra breaks down how investing in employee development directly impacts customer experience, retention, and long-term profitability.

This episode is a must-listen for leaders, entrepreneurs, and women navigating what's next, offering...

Burnout is not a personal failure. It is a systems problem, and today's episode breaks down exactly why. In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Dr. Trisha Vinatieri, a clinical psychologist and organizational development psychologist who has spent nearly two decades treating PTSD and holding various leadership roles within healthcare systems.

From her own experience navigating burnout during COVID to stepping into a leadership role focused on wellbeing, Dr. Vinatieri explains why so many high-achieving professionals feel stuck, exhausted, and disconnected from work that once gave them purpose.

If you've...

What happens when your body starts telling you it's time to walk away, even before your mind is ready to admit it? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Stacey Bailey, a leadership coach, strategist, and facilitator who helps entrepreneurs and creative leaders grow businesses with heart. A certified System and Soul™ Implementor and Dare to Lead™ Certified professional, she brings more than 15 years of experience in leadership and operations within the creative services industry.

Stacey shares her evolution from accidental leader to COO, and ultimately to entrepreneur, revealing the internal struggles, phys...

What if your burnout isn't just stress but a deeper biological disconnect? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Meredith Oke, strategic coach turned science storyteller, host of the Quantum Biology Collective podcast, and founder of a nonprofit focused on helping women reclaim their energy and health through the lens of quantum biology. After walking away from burnout and chronic fatigue, Meredith now helps women understand how their environment, light exposure, and daily habits directly impact their energy, health, and long-term wellbeing.

If you've been feeling exhausted no matter how much you...

What if the biggest risk in your career isn't leaving corporate, but staying? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Heather Moore, Founder and CEO of Pet Centric Health. Heather takes us behind the scenes of what it really looks like to transition from corporate stability into entrepreneurship, including the mindset shifts, challenges, and unexpected growth that come with building a company from the ground up.

This episode is a must-listen for high-achieving women who feel the pull toward something more and are ready to explore what's next in leadership, impact, and...

Why are women still dramatically underrepresented in leadership positions despite earning the majority of college degrees and making up half the workforce? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Gloria Feldt, visionary leadership strategist, bestselling author, and co-founder of Take The Lead. Drawing on decades of experience, including serving as national president of Planned Parenthood and building leadership development programs for women, Gloria explains why the issue is not a lack of ambition but a deeper challenge around women's relationship with power and money.

This episode is a must-listen for women leaders...

What is trauma-informed leadership, and why does it matter in today's workplace? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Dr. Melanie Gray shares how trauma-informed care transforms leadership, strengthens workplace culture, and prevents burnout before it derails careers. Drawing from over 25 years in healthcare, higher education, and corporate leadership, Dr. Gray explains how trauma shapes behavior, how generational stress impacts performance, and why confidence is built through intentional self-leadership.

If you are a high-achieving woman considering leaving corporate, building a consulting business, or leading teams through change, this episode delivers practical wisdom...

What happens after the baby arrives, and why has that conversation been missing for generations? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Aanchal Dasoar Arora, women's health innovator, pelvic floor physical therapist, and founder of Mendhai Health, shares how postpartum depression, pelvic floor dysfunction, and an identity crisis after motherhood led her to leave a high-level corporate healthcare career and build a digital maternal recovery platform born out of MIT.

If you are a leader navigating identity shifts, a healthcare innovator, or a woman seeking support after pregnancy, this episode delivers both...

What if the reason you feel stuck isn't that you need to push harder but because you need to let go? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Ginny Priem, keynote speaker, #1 bestselling author, master certified coach, and host of the Unsubscribe podcast. Ginny shares how escaping a toxic relationship became the catalyst for transforming her entire life and career.

If you've ever wondered whether it's time to let go of something you've invested years into, this episode will challenge and empower you to make bold, aligned decisions faster.

What if working from home wasn't a trend but a calling you answered decades before the rest of the world caught up? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Lesley Pyle, a true pioneer in the remote work and entrepreneurship space. Lesley is the founder and CEO of Hire My Mom, a platform that connects small businesses with highly skilled virtual professionals.

This episode is a must-listen for women who feel the inner nudge to do work differently, redefine success on their own terms, and create a business that aligns with their...

What if the reason you're exhausted, overworked, and questioning your worth at work has nothing to do with your talent and everything to do with a game no one ever taught you how to play? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Robin Goad, a senior technology executive at Amazon Web Services, speaker, and author, to unpack how childhood trauma, perfectionism, and unspoken corporate rules shape the careers of high-achieving women. With more than 30 years of leadership experience at Fortune 100 companies like Dell and Gartner, Robin shares how she built a wildly successful career...

What if the way you speak is the most powerful leadership tool you're underutilizing? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Julie Holunga,  to explore how trust, communication, and intentional leadership language shape influence at every level of an organization. Julie shares her journey from nonprofit and corporate leadership into building a consulting practice rooted in integrity, trust, and meaningful impact.

If you're a heart-centered leader, consultant, or professional considering a transition into more purpose-driven work, this episode offers both insight and grounded, real-world wisdom.

What Y...

What if the feeling that something is missing in your career isn't confusion, but wisdom trying to get your attention? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Aleksandra Ceho, whose work bridges the worlds of spirituality, leadership, and business strategy. Aleksandra shares her remarkable journey from studying kinesiology and working in motor vehicle accident clinics to building a thriving astrology practice rooted in authenticity, self-awareness, and aligned decision-making.

If you've ever felt like a square peg in a round hole or sensed that there is "more" waiting for you, this episode offers...

What if burnout isn't proof you're failing but proof something in you is begging to change? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Tracy Doyle, author of Life Storms: Finding Your Clear Sky and creator of the Aurora Method. Tracy shares the childhood trauma and survival patterns that shaped her drive, her leadership, and her belief that sacrifice meant abandoning herself.

If you've ever felt like you have to hold everything together, this episode will meet you right where you are and offer a real path forward.

What Y...

What if everything you've done in your career has been preparing you for something far more expansive than you ever imagined? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Julie Ryan, world-renowned medical intuitive, psychic medium, inventor, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Angelic Attendance. Julie shares her extraordinary journey from founding nine companies across five industries to fully stepping into her intuitive and spiritual calling later in life.

This episode is a powerful reminder for women feeling called to leave corporate, pivot their careers, or honor unconventional paths.

What...

What happens when a high-achieving corporate leader realizes her legacy must be about more than titles, promotions, and golden handcuffs? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Liat Kaplan, a global product innovation leader turned founder and CEO, to explore what it truly takes to leave corporate life, trust your inner conviction, and build something that matters.

If you are a woman standing at the edge of change, questioning whether it's "too late" to start something meaningful, this conversation will remind you that your most important work may still be ahead of...

What if your "willpower problem" with food was never about food at all? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Amber Romaniuk, an emotional eating, digestive, and hormone expert with 12+ years of experience. Amber shares the childhood roots of emotional eating, the intense turning point that forced her to face her own binge-restriction patterns, and the multidimensional healing path that led to true body freedom. This episode explores why feeling emotions can feel unsafe and how to create real nervous system safety.

What You Will Learn:

A...

What if the "perfect life" is actually the most convincing hiding place for emptiness? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Silvia Resnik, a fulfillment and purpose coach for high-achieving women. Silvia shares how a lifelong ache for connection shaped her drive to achieve. The conversation also goes deeper into the tension between honoring cultural traditions and evolving practices that harm women, including the urgent reality of female genital mutilation and how Silvia's organization, Empower Her, is working from within community partnership to create change through education, support, and empowerment.

W...

"We wake up every morning as a soul in a human body. That alone should be so incredibly fascinating to us." What if the hardest things you've lived through weren't punishments, but assignments your soul chose to help you grow? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Steffani LeFevour, modern-day soul strategist and author of You Are a Badass Mom and the forthcoming book Soul Assignments. Stteffani shares how childhood trauma, an alcoholic father, and the tragic loss of her sister cracked her open to a lifelong search for spiritual truth.

"Horses don't care if you're afraid. They care if you're honest." In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Sue Willoughby, founder of Willoughby Coaching, certified equus coach, real estate investor, and a woman who has rewritten her life more times than most people dare to dream. Raised by a single alcoholic parent and a two-time high school dropout, Sue charted a path from instability to a six-figure career, a multidimensional portfolio of work, and a coaching practice rooted in the intuitive wisdom of horses.

If you're feeling the whisper that something in...

"Anytime my managers are not out front, a problem happens. I want them where they can actually make the store money." In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Jana Franklin, serial entrepreneur, franchise expert, and CEO of CEO Concierge. Jana shares her experiences scaling brick-and-mortar franchises and how the pandemic inspired a major pivot.

If you're an executive overwhelmed by operations or a woman entrepreneur considering consultancy, this episode offers actionable advice and the inside scoop on delegation done right.

What You Will Learn:

How a corporate fashion...

"I had my ladder on the wrong wall. I was putting all my energy into getting people to want McDonald's instead of Burger King. Who cares, really?" In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Kate Grant, CEO Emeritus of the Fistula Foundation and author of No Woman Left Behind. Kate explains what obstetric fistula is and how a relatively low-cost surgery can restore a woman's health. She shares the practical steps she took to move from advertising into nonprofit leadership and why investing in your own retooling can be the most powerful career move. <...

At 50, I thought my body was broken. I knew everything about nutrition, but nothing was working anymore. In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Heather Awad, MD, a family doctor and certified coach, helps professional women in perimenopause and menopause lose weight without counting or deprivation. Learn why kindness precedes confidence, how insulin resistance shifts at midlife, and why moving from grazing to real meals restores energy, focus, and leadership clarity.

Professional photos can be retaken. But kindness and confidence can start today.

What You Will Learn:

Ready to leave corporate and build a business that actually funds your life. In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Estelle Gibson, CPA and TED speaker. Estelle shows you how to create a simple profit plan, price with confidence, and move through the money life cycle with intention. From childhood money scripts to corporate exits to packaging your offers, Estelle shares a calm and practical path that turns wisdom into wealth and replaces hustle with clarity.

What You Will Learn:

The critical distinction between being a...

Feeling wired, tired, and secretly dreading Mondays? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Jasmin Dennis, health and wellness leadership coach. Jasmin breaks down her Burnout Pie Framework so you can recognize early signals, prevent a crash, and lead with resilience. 

Whether you're considering leaving corporate or staying and thriving, this episode gives you the tools to assess where you are and what to do next.

What You Will Learn:

The critical distinction between burnout as an occupational phenomenon rather than a medical disease.

The d...

When was the last time you asked clearly for what you are worth. In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Amy Cosper, storyteller and brand builder to talk about risk, money, and the power women unlock when they find their voice. Hear why acting like Silicon Valley dulls your authenticity, how stories shape culture, why we cannot outsource them to AI, and the simple courage move that flips fear into forward motion. Smart, practical, and heart forward.

What You Will Learn:

Why many women are trained to avoid r...

What if your fatigue, insomnia, or autoimmune flare wasn't a problem to suppress, but a message pointing you back to your purpose? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Dr. Kelly McCann, the only physician worldwide board certified across internal medicine, pediatrics, integrative and functional medicine, and medical acupuncture, plus she holds a master's in spiritual psychology. Dr. Kelly McCann shares a radically different approach to chronic illness. That unique combination allows her to see what most doctors miss: your symptoms aren't just physical glitches. They're a guidance system activating when you drift from a...

What happens when the worst moment of your childhood becomes the catalyst for a lifetime of creative power, advocacy, and audacious dreams? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Lolita Milena, a paraplegic actress, author, and digital creator whose journey from Siberia to the stages of America is nothing short of extraordinary.

In this deeply honest conversation, Lolita opens up about transmuting trauma into purpose through dark humor, sisterhood, and relentless creativity. We dive into the hard truths about the U.S. foster care system, what actually keeps kids safe, and how...

What if the fastest way to real freedom isn't working harder in your business but making your money work twice? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Amanda Taylor, investor and business growth strategist to share how women can move from survival mode to lasting wealth with unapologetic ownership, simple systems that scale, and values-aligned investing.

If you've ever wondered when to stop plowing every dollar back into the company and start building real wealth, this episode is your roadmap.

What You Will Learn:

How childhood m...

What if "turning 60" was actually the beginning? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Allison McCune Davis, author and traditional neuropath, to demystify thriving after 60. Allison shares the health wake-ups that redirected her career, the mindset shift that came with a midlife challenge, and the planning discipline that turned a three-year manuscript into a movement. You'll learn the simple daily anchors that rebuild energy, how to identify and replace hormone disruptors at home, and a 60-day path to clarity, connection, and purpose.

What You Will Learn:

How a m...

Are you letting fear run your life? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Amy Koford, Clinical hypnotist and bestselling author. Amy shares her own journey from corporate HR and full-time motherhood to becoming a sought-after hypnotist, author, and speaker who helps people release deep emotional blocks, heal past traumas, and finally feel free.

If you've been craving change but fear keeps holding you back, this episode will show you how to rise, fearlessly and optimally.

What You Will Learn:

How hypnosis works with the subconscious t...

What does it really take to thrive in a free society, especially when the internet can feel like one giant, loud village? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Marsha Familaro Enright to unpack intellectual independence, self-reliance, and why the classics still matter. 

They explore how to evaluate information, resist social pressure, and design learning that transforms students into confident problem-solvers at any age.

What You Will Learn:

The real meaning of intellectual independence and why it's the backbone of a free society.

How se...

Drowning your audience in charts, tables, and tiny text? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Oreet Kaufman, who shows how to turn complex information into clear, visual stories that move people to action. Learn why most decks fail in the first five seconds, how to "word-diet" without losing substance, and simple ways to guide audience attention so your message actually lands. 

Whether you're pitching, reporting, or keynoting, this episode is your shortcut to decks that look modern, feel effortless, and deliver results.

What You Will Learn:

What does it take to achieve gender parity at the executive level in one of the world's most male-dominated industries? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Dianna Fioravanti-Ashikwe, the first female president of Kuehne + Nagel Canada, to explore her journey of resilience, authenticity, and transformational leadership. 

From navigating male-dominated boardrooms to cultivating psychological safety and optimism in the workplace, Dianna shares how women can "flip the switch" and embrace their full potential while leading others to do the same.

What You Will Learn:

How early ex...

What does it really take to leave the corporate world behind and build a thriving business from scratch? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Bashak Ilhan, who has founded five startups, achieved two successful exits, and now leads a global consultancy. From selling childhood toys to landing a $3 million investment over coffee, this episode reveals the mindset, strategies, and resilience needed to bring bold visions to life. Listeners will discover why sales are at the heart of any business, how to immerse themselves fully in their dreams, and why knowing when to delegate...

What if spirituality could be as practical and structured as project management? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Tiffany Antoine, founder of Meditating Human, a tech-driven platform revolutionizing spiritual wellness for busy professionals. Tiffany shares her journey from a corporate career she didn't love to building a spiritual healing business that blends ancient wisdom, modern technology, and practical tools. 

Discover how she turned divine intervention into a sustainable calling, the power of personalized spiritual journeys, and why making spirituality accessible in "baby bird bites" is transforming lives.

Wh...

What happens when a brand strategist discovers her true calling isn't external marketing, but transforming company culture from within? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Linda Carlisle, a fractional corporate communications partner who helps mid-market companies navigate high-impact change with clarity, compassion, and culture-forward leadership. 

From mergers and acquisitions to organizational restructuring, Linda shares how her internal comms expertise supports psychological safety and lasting performance.

What You Will Learn:

Internal communications is a form of marketing that influences how employees experience and engage with company cu...