Catch Her Spark
Tune into Catch Her Spark, the podcast for high-achieving women who build wealth on their own terms. Hosted by Jen Maldonado, this show is crafted specifically for busy female professionals—doctors, attorneys, engineers, and investors—who want to leverage real estate to grow their capital without the day-to-day hustle. If you're a woman in your 30s to 50s looking to invest with clarity and confidence, your journey starts here. Subscribe and catch the spark.
Managing Breast Cancer: The App She Built to Navigate the Patient Journey
For Olivia Sanchez, it was more than losing a notebook. It was losing years of notes about her breast cancer care, doctor visits, medicine, symptoms, and even how she felt each day.
She cried. She felt lost. But then she had an idea that would change everything.
In this episode of the Catch Her Spark Podcast, host Jen Maldonado talks with Olivia Sanchez, a breast cancer patient of more than five years and a senior product manager in healthcare.
Olivia shares how one hard moment led her to create Health Harmony, an app...
How to Create a New Version of Yourself When You’ve Outgrown the Old One
What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't what you lack, but what you're still carrying?
Sometimes, the life we worked so hard to build no longer feels right. We keep saying yes, meeting other people's needs, and holding on to old roles because we're afraid of what might happen if we let go.
But what if letting go is how we grow?
In this episode of the Catch Her Spark Podcast, host Jen Maldonado welcomes Dr. Lisa L. Campbell, a healthcare leader, author, and speaker who spent more than 30 years building...
The Gate Was Never Real — Stop Asking Permission to Become More with Joi Chevalier
What if the only thing standing between you and your next big dream is a gate that was never real?
When Joi Chevalier was a little girl, she went to the library to check out books about space and science. But she was told she could not read them without permission. That moment stayed with her and helped shape a life of asking questions, breaking barriers, and making her own path.
In this episode of the Catch Her Spark Podcast, host Jen Maldonado sits down with Joi to talk about what happens when women stop...
Your Career Is a Game Most Women Were Never Taught the Rules with Robin Goad
What if working hard is not enough to get ahead in your career? What if there are rules no one ever taught you?
In this episode of the Catch her Spark Podcast, host Jen Maldonado sits down with Robin Goad, a business leader with 25 years of experience in corporate America, government, and global sales.
Robin shares what she learned about the hidden rules of career success and why women need more than hard work to grow as leaders.
She talks about the power of having a career plan, knowing your value, telling your...
Stop Hustling. Start Being Boring — The Success Rule High Performers Ignore
What if the secret to success isn't doing more, but doing less—and doing it well?
We live in a world that tells us to work harder, wake up earlier, and always chase the next big thing. But what if real success comes from slowing down, keeping things simple, and building a life that works for you?
In this episode of the Catch her Spark Podcast, host Jen Maldonado welcomes Sireesha Chilakamarri, a technology leader, hands-on CTO, and Forbes Technology Council member who is challenging the way we think about success.
After 17 years in...
She Out Earned Her Husband — And Still Didn’t Protect Herself Financially with Neka Hickmon
What happens when a woman who knows how to protect millions of dollars at work realizes she did not protect herself at home?
In this episode of the Catch Her Spark Podcast, host Jen Maldonado sits down with Neka Hickmon, a technology leader, mother of three, and woman finding her way through a new chapter of life.
Neka has spent more than 20 years working with major organizations, including JPMorgan Chase and the U.S. Air Force. She has led large technology projects, helped solve big problems, and built strong teams.
But behind her...
Her Mother Was a Tailor. One Sentence Changed Their Future.
What if the place you start in life does not have to decide where you finish?
In this episode of The Catch her Spark Podcast with Jen Maldonado, Jen sits down with Geeta Priya Vattam to talk about a journey built on education, hard work, family, and the courage to keep going.
Geeta grew up in a low-income family in India. Her mother worked as a tailor, her father repaired televisions, and money was often tight. But her mother gave her something that would shape the rest of her life: the belief that education was...
Understanding the Capital Stack and Finding Opportunity in a Changing Market with Jen Maldonado
Real estate deals can look very different depending on where you sit in the capital stack.
In this episode, Jen Maldonado breaks down what the capital stack means, who gets paid first, and how risk changes at each level. She uses a simple $10 million example to explain senior debt, second liens, preferred equity, and common equity.
Jen also shares what she is seeing in Austin, Phoenix, and California as she reviews the market heading into the last quarter of 2026. In Austin, she is watching single family homes, condos, and smaller apartment properties while working on...
How to Get Into Bigger Rooms Before You’re Ready
What if the room you feel least ready to enter is exactly the room you need to be in?
In this episode of the Catch her Spark Podcast with Jen Maldonado, Jen sits down with first-generation attorney Sherelle Sanders to talk about what it takes to step into bigger rooms, take on bigger opportunities, and build a career when no one in your family has gone before you.
Sherelle shares how a high school teacher first saw something in her and encouraged her to consider becoming a lawyer. That encouragement helped start a journey that...
The Price Ambitious Women Pay That Nobody Teaches You — And How to Win Anyway
The Price Ambitious Women Pay That Nobody Teaches You — And How to Win Anyway
What does ambition really cost when you are a woman building a career in a world that was never designed for you?
In this powerful episode of the Catch her Spark Podcast with Jen Maldonado, Jen sits down with Bunmi Bashiru, an engineer, project manager, sustainability expert, entrepreneur, and energy consultant whose career has taken her through more than 13 years in the demanding, male-dominated energy industry.
Growing up in Nigeria, Bunmi saw communities surrounded by natural resources yet struggling to access re...
Growth Is Paid For — The Part Nobody Tells You About Becoming More
Growth Is Paid For — The Part Nobody Tells You About Becoming More
Guest: Grace McCubbin
Host: Jen Maldonado
Podcast: Catch her Spark Podcast with Jen Maldonado
Everyone says they want to grow. But what happens when growth costs you the version of yourself you thought you had to be?
In this powerful conversation, Jen Maldonado sits down with Grace McCubbin, a founder, author, TEDx speaker, congressional witness, mother, and self-described reformed perfectionist.
Grace shares how becoming a mother as a teenager shaped her drive to achieve and how growing up with hi...
She Quadrupled the Business. Then They Fired Her by Text.
What happens when you give your best to a company, quadruple the business, and still get fired by text?
For Laura Campbell, that painful moment became a turning point.
In this episode of The Catch her Spark Podcast with Jen Maldonado, Laura shares how getting fired pushed her to stop depending on someone else to recognize her value and start building something of her own.
Laura has spent more than 26 years working in animal health and nutrition. She has built trusted relationships with farmers, producers, feed mills, and nutritionists, and she is a...
What Happens When a Successful Career Stops Being Safe?
In this powerful episode of the Catch her Spark Podcast with Jen Maldonado, Jen sits down with Yildiz Burger for an open conversation about toxic workplaces, survival mode, rebuilding self-trust, and finding the courage to create a new chapter.
Yildiz shares her deeply personal journey through childhood challenges, loss, toxic work environments, and moments that left her questioning herself and her own worth. After years of pushing forward and trying to survive, her body and mind began telling her something had to change.
But leaving a toxic environment was only the beginning.
Yildiz...
She Sold Her First Business at 21—Now She Leads in AI
What if the twists, mistakes, and unexpected turns in your life aren’t taking you off course—but preparing you for what comes next?
In this episode of the Catch her Spark Podcast with Jen Maldonado, Jen sits down with Anisa Aven, a fourth-generation entrepreneur, leadership coach, and AI transformation leader whose career has been anything but a straight line.
Anisa started working in her family’s business as a teenager, sold her first business by 21, tried stand-up comedy at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, and eventually built a career helping people and organizations unlock...
At 40, I Walked Away From the Life I’d Built to Start Over
What happens when the life you worked so hard to build no longer feels like the life you’re meant to live?
In this episode of the Catch her Spark Podcast with Jen Maldonado, Jen sits down with Dr. Amanda Lewis, dentist, longtime entrepreneur, and founder of LUI, to talk about what it really looks like to start over.
By the time Amanda approached 40, she had built what looked like a successful life. She owned two dental practices, had grown a team of about 20 people, was raising two children, and had spent nearly two decades bu...
I Protected Some of the Richest People in the World—Here’s What I Learned About Money
In this episode of the Catch her Spark Podcast with Jen Maldonado, Jen sits down with Monica Duperon, whose remarkable career took her from law enforcement and undercover narcotics to hostage negotiations, SWAT, investigations, and executive protection for ultra-high-net-worth families around the world.
But Monica’s biggest transformation did not happen on the job. It happened at home when she found an old box filled with the things she once loved—painting, drawing, poetry, and music.
That box reminded her of something she had almost forgotten: Monica herself.
She had become a mother, wife...
From Paris Runways to the ER to Breast Cancer: The Doctor Who Never Stopped Asking Why
From Paris Runways to the ER to Breast Cancer: The Doctor Who Never Stopped Asking Why
What happens when the doctor becomes the patient? In this powerful episode of Catch Her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with Dr. Ruby Rose, an emergency physician who transformed her own health struggles into a mission to help others uncover the root causes of illness. From growing up in the fashion world to practicing emergency medicine, surviving a life-changing car accident, navigating physician burnout, and facing a breast cancer diagnosis, Dr. Ruby's story is one of resilience, curiosity, and hope.
Rather...
Jen Maldonado - August 2026 Update
The Doctor Who Redesigned the System — Then Had to Redesign Herself
The Doctor Who Redesigned the System — Then Had to Redesign Herself
What happens when the physician who has spent her career fixing broken systems is forced to face a deeply personal challenge she can't solve with medicine alone?
In this heartfelt episode of the Catch her Spark Podcast, Jen Maldonado sits down with emergency physician Dr. Shannon Markus to explore a journey that goes far beyond the emergency room. From improving healthcare equity and advocating for underserved patients to navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, IVF, and surrogacy, Dr. Shannon shares how life's hardest seasons reshaped her definition of su...
Stop Hiding Your Power: A Latina Leader on Owning the Room, Building Wealth & Being the Door"
Stop Hiding Your Power: A Latina Leader on Owning the Room, Building Wealth & Being the Door
What happens when one childhood moment becomes the spark for a lifetime of service?
In this inspiring episode of the Catch Her Spark Podcast, Jen Maldonado sits down with attorney, community leader, and former San Antonio City Council member Melissa Cabello Havrda to discuss the defining moment that shaped her mission to fight for underserved communities.
Melissa shares how a simple conversation with her grandfather about the lack of sidewalks in his neighborhood ignited a passion that...
The immigration mistake that became her mission
The Immigration Mistake That Became Her Mission
What happens when one immigration mistake changes the course of your life? In this episode of Catch Her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with immigration expert Cassandra Fultz, whose personal journey from South Carolina to Canada inspired her to build a career helping others avoid the fear, uncertainty, and costly mistakes she once experienced herself.
Cassandra shares the emotional story behind her own immigration process and explains how that experience led her to found DF Immigration. She opens up about the anxiety of navigating complex immigration laws, the importance of...
She Sewed Her Own Suits at Night So She Could Sit at Tables No One Invited Her To
What does it take to keep speaking up when you're the only woman in the room? In this inspiring episode of Catch Her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with environmental engineer and sustainability leader Susan Alvarez, whose career has been built on doing the right thing—even when it wasn't the easy thing.
Susan shares her remarkable journey from being one of only three women in her engineering graduating class to leading regional climate resilience and sustainability efforts that impact millions of people. Along the way, she faced leaders who wanted to take credit for her work, di...
Laid Off After 10 Years — The Money Conversation Every Woman Needs to Have
In this inspiring episode of Catch Her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with Senior Technical Account Manager Nicole LeBeau Fomin to talk about resilience, financial independence, career growth, and the mindset that helped her rebuild after being laid off from a company where she had invested ten years of her life.
Nicole shares her journey from waiting tables and working customer service jobs while paying her way through college to managing multimillion-dollar client relationships in the tech industry. Along the way, she explains why curiosity, trust, and strong boundaries have been the foundation of every career opportunity...
She took a $30K Pay Cut to Ger Her Life Back
She Took a $30K Pay Cut to Get Her Life Back with Jeniza Ketay
What if earning less money could actually give you more freedom?
In this episode of the Catch Her Spark Podcast, Jen Maldonado sits down with technology executive and former fashion industry leader Jeniza Ketay to explore a career decision that many professionals struggle to make. After building a successful career at iconic brands like Victoria's Secret, Jeniza made the bold decision to leave behind a higher salary and transition into the technology industry—all to create a life that gave her more time wi...
Stop Competing. Start Commanding. A Badass Woman on Power & Capital
What does it take to earn your seat in rooms where you're often the only woman? In this inspiring episode of the Catch Her Spark Podcast, Jen Maldonado sits down with executive leader Riffat Manasia, whose remarkable journey spans Wall Street, Harvard, Afghanistan, global economic development, venture capital, and technology innovation.
Riffat shares how growing up as a first-generation immigrant shaped her resilience and how working across some of the world's most challenging environments taught her that credibility, confidence, and authenticity matter more than fitting into someone else's expectations.
Together, Jen and Riffat explore why...
Why You're Spending $200 on Your Hair But Not Your Hormones or Your Future — A Midlife Doctor on Health, Wealth & Reinvention | Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith
What if the best investment you could make isn't in your appearance—but in your long-term health? In this inspiring episode of the Catch Her Spark Podcast, Jen Maldonado sits down with board-certified gynecologist and certified menopause practitioner Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith to challenge the way women think about aging, hormones, wellness, and self-worth.
Dr. Susan shares her personal journey from practicing traditional OB/GYN medicine to building a women-centered wellness practice that prioritizes education, connection, and personalized care. Together, Jen and Dr. Susan explore why so many women struggle through perimenopause and menopause without the information and su...
She Got Laid Off in the AI Era and Said: What If This Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me?
What happens when an unexpected layoff forces you to stop, reflect, and ask a different question—not "What's next?" but "What do I truly want?"
In this inspiring episode of Catch Her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with Ana Ekman, a technology sales leader who spent more than a decade helping enterprise organizations navigate complex digital workplace transformations. When she was unexpectedly laid off during the rapid rise of AI, Anastasia chose curiosity over fear and began exploring what success could look like on her own terms.
Together, Jen and Ana discuss what it really fe...
She Rebuilt a Failing Hospital's Reputation With One Simple Shift
What happens when healthcare stops focusing only on procedures and starts focusing on people? In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Kristen McCreight shares how one simple shift—putting human connection first—helped transform a struggling hospital's patient experience from the bottom of the rankings to the very top.
Kristen joins Jen Maldonado to discuss why empathy isn't just a nice quality to have—it's a leadership strategy that improves trust, communication, healing, and long-term outcomes. Together, they explore the lessons Kristen has learned as a nurse leader, educator, entrepreneur, wife, mother of five, and lifelong mentor.
B...
Designing More Than Buildings: Laura Evans on Leadership, Listening, and Success
In this episode of Catch Her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with award-winning architect and design leader Laura Evans. After beginning her career in New York City's demanding architecture world, Laura found herself on an unexpected path that led her into interior design, leadership, and building spaces that tell powerful stories.
Laura shares how relationships, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace change shaped her career. She opens up about finding her voice in a male-dominated industry, balancing motherhood and leadership, and redefining success over time. Through honesty and wisdom, Laura reminds us that growth doesn't always follow...
Zip Code Zero to PhD: Why This Single Mom Chose Her People Over Her Paycheck
What happens when a little girl from one of San Antonio’s highest-poverty neighborhoods refuses to let her zip code define her future? In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia shares how growing up translating for her parents and neighbors shaped her heart for service and led her from Zip Code Zero to earning a PhD and becoming a leader committed to changing lives. These show notes follow podcast best practices for creating a strong hook, expanding on key takeaways, and providing guest information.
Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia, President and CEO of the Center for Health Em...
Private Equity Secrets: How She Moved to Texas with No Network & Became an Audit Partner at a Top Advisory Firm
What does it really take to start over in a new city, build meaningful relationships, and rise to the top of a highly competitive industry?
In this episode of Catch her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with Jennifer Cuello, Audit Partner at EisnerAmper, who shares how she moved from New Jersey to Texas knowing almost no one and built a thriving career in private equity and financial services through authenticity, patience, and the power of community.
Jennifer offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of private equity and wealth creation, while also opening up about...
Bilingual, Bold, and Brilliant — The Lawyer Who Crossed the Aisle for Her Community
What happens when the person responsible for prosecuting criminal cases spends years watching immigrants and non-citizens navigate a legal system they don’t fully understand? For attorney Tayrin Wittenstein, it led to a life-changing decision. After 12 years as a prosecutor in Texas, she walked away from a secure government career to build a law firm dedicated to defending people who often feel voiceless in the justice system.
In this inspiring episode of Catch her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with Tayrin “Ty” Wittenstein to discuss her remarkable career transition, her passion for serving the Hispanic community, and the co...
She Started Over at 30 With 3 Kids — Now She's Building the Next Generation of Nurses
What does it take to reinvent your life, raise three children, work full-time, and build a career dedicated to helping others succeed? In this inspiring episode, Jen Maldonado sits down with Mary Hernandez, Division AVP of Academic Partnerships at Methodist Healthcare System, to discuss her remarkable journey from unit clerk to healthcare executive and mentor for future nurses.
Mary shares how the loss of her father became the catalyst for a complete career change and how faith, determination, and service guided her through every step of her journey. She opens up about leading a COVID unit during...
Sacrifice Should Have a Time Limit" — The Rule Successful Women Don't Talk About | Tolu Akindunni
What happens when the dream you planned for yourself changes completely?
In this inspiring conversation, Jen Maldonado sits down with entrepreneur, investor, nonprofit founder, and community leader Tolu Akindunni to discuss the unexpected twists that shaped her journey from aspiring doctor to global entrepreneur. Tolu shares how embracing change, collecting experiences, and staying connected to a clear vision helped her build businesses across continents while creating meaningful impact in the communities she serves.
Throughout the episode, Tolu offers powerful insights for women navigating entrepreneurship, leadership, family, and personal growth. She opens up about the challenges...
Why Human Stories Still Win in an AI World | Gigi Welch
What happens when someone spends their life shaping stories behind the scenes—and discovers that storytelling is still one of the most human things we do in an AI world?
In this episode, Jen sits down with editor and post-production leader Gigi Welch to explore the art of storytelling through film, commercials, and documentaries. Gigi shares her journey from advertising agencies to becoming an editor, the moment she realized editing was her true passion, and why giving herself permission to pursue it changed everything.
They talk about the emotional side of editing, why the smallest ge...
The Identity That Made You Successful May Be Blocking the Life You Want'
What happens when the version of yourself that helped you succeed is the same version keeping you from the life you truly want?
In this episode of Catch Her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with holistic psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Ssemanda for a powerful conversation about identity, self-awareness, growth, and the beliefs we carry through life. Dr. Elizabeth shares how her work goes beyond treating symptoms and focuses on understanding the root causes behind anxiety, depression, stress, and emotional patterns.
Together they explore the identities women adopt to survive, the pressure of balancing family, career, and...
Your Body Isn’t Broken. It’s Hiding What You Couldn’t Survive.
In this powerful episode of the Catch her Spark Podcast with Jen Maldonado, holistic therapist Cyndi Collen shares a deeply honest conversation about emotional healing, hidden trauma, and the signals our bodies send when something inside us needs attention.
Cyndi explains how many people carry unresolved emotional wounds without even realizing it. From anxiety and burnout to physical tension and emotional shutdown, she shares how the body often stores experiences until we feel safe enough to process them. Rather than seeing people as “broken,” Cyndi approaches healing with compassion, mindfulness, and understanding.
During the conversation, she...
After 20 Years of Success… She Risked Everything to Start From Zero
What happens when you leave behind a successful career, move to a new state during COVID, and decide to start over from scratch? In this episode of the Catch her Spark Podcast, Jen Maldonado sits down with Adriana Salazar Boyer to talk about reinvention, courage, and building a business rooted in people, trust, and purpose.
Adriana shares how she transitioned from corporate life and business ownership into co-owning a painting company in Texas with her husband. What started as helping Spanish-speaking painting crews communicate with homeowners became a completely new chapter in her life and career.
<...You Don’t Need More Opportunities—You Need the Right Room
In this episode, Jen sits down with Melanie Letot Allison, founder of Girl Flock Party, a thriving women’s community built on creativity, connection, and collaboration. What started as a small dinner gathering has grown into a powerful network where women support each other, build relationships, and create meaningful opportunities together.
Melanie shares how she turned her own need for support as an artist into a space where women feel seen, welcomed, and empowered. From hosting intimate gatherings to leading large-scale events and scholarship initiatives, she reveals what it truly takes to build a community that people do...
Your Space Might Look Good… But Still Be Wrong
What if your space looks beautiful… but still doesn’t feel right?
In this episode, Jen Maldonado sits down with interior designer Maya Moghadam to unpack the difference between design that simply looks good and design that truly works for your life. With over 20 years of experience across residential, commercial, and international projects, Maya shares how real design goes far beyond aesthetics.
This conversation explores how intentional design can shape how you feel, function, and live every single day. Maya explains why understanding a client’s lifestyle is the foundation of every successful space—and why skip...
