The Empowering Women Podcast

Empowering Women in Industry
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Interviews with successful career women from a variety of industries. We hope to empower women in their career aspirations, whether that's climbing a corporate ladder or becoming an entrepreneur.

  1. Aug 5

    Rise on Purpose with Kelly Mooney

    What if the biggest thing holding your career back... ...is waiting for someone else to choose you? In this episode of the Empowering Women Podcast, Shannon sits down with leadership expert, former CEO, and Equipt Women founder Kelly Mooney, co-author of the newly released book UP!: The Playbook for Every Woman on the Rise. But this conversation isn't just about career advancement. It's about choosing yourself before someone else does. It's about letting go of perfection, building the courage to take the next step, and creating a career - and a life - with intention instead of waiting for opportunity to arrive. Together, Shannon and Kelly explore why so many women hesitate to raise their hands, how to navigate workplaces that weren't always designed for them, the power of champions and sponsors, and why the smallest move today can change the trajectory of tomorrow. Whether you're considering a new opportunity, feeling stuck where you are, or simply wondering what comes next, this episode is a reminder that you don't have to have the entire journey figured out. Sometimes... The most important move is simply deciding to move. Watch on YouTube. 💬 Gems from Kelly: "Why not me?"  “It never occurred to me that I was capable and qualified. That I should raise my hand.” "You have to work with people whose values you respect. You are much happier and more fulfilled at work when you do.”  "Opportunities don't come to you when you're sitting comfortably in your comfort zone."  "Being a role model is important, but being perfect isn't."  "Make a move." 🔗 Episode Resources & Links: 🌐 Connect with Kelly Website: https://equiptwomen.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/pkmooney/   📚  Books and Resources Kelly’s New Book: https://equiptwomen.com/upbook/ Subscribe to Kelly’s Newsletter:  https://equiptwomen.com/get-equipt/   🏔️ Learn More Equipt Women Programs https://equiptwomen.com/programs/  Equipt Essentials:  Free Career and Life Tools https://equiptwomen.com/essentials/     EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKS Empowering Women in Industry Annual Conference Sept 30_October 1 New Orleans Empowering Women in Industry Membership Empowering Women in Industry Magazine Empowering Women in Industry Website Empowering Women in Industry Virtual Events

  2. Jul 15

    Choose Your Climb with Alexandra Nemeth

    What if the biggest adventure of your life isn't standing on top of a mountain... ...but taking the first step toward something that scares you? In this episode of the Empowering Women Podcast, Shannon sits down with international mountain leader, polar guide, photographer, and author Alexandra Nemeth—the first Hungarian to climb the highest mountain on every continent, including Mount Everest.  But this conversation isn't just about mountaineering. It's about choosing courage when certainty would feel easier. It's about finding purpose through unexpected twists, embracing discomfort as a path to growth, and discovering that resilience is built one step at a time. Together, Shannon and Alexandra explore the risks worth taking, the lessons hidden inside failure, the confidence that comes from doing hard things, and why adventure looks different for every one of us. Whether your next climb is changing careers, chasing a dream, speaking up, or simply trying something new, this episode will remind you that growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone. Because sometimes... The greatest summit you'll ever reach is the one you choose to climb. Watch the fill interview on YouTube. 💬 Gems from Alexandra: "I would rather adjust along the way than never know if it would have worked or not."  "Less about avoiding risk, but more about understanding what matters."  "Adventure is stepping slightly beyond what feels comfortable."  "I think people regret things they didn't do far more than the mistakes that they made along the way."  "If there is the spark, that curiosity, then listen to it." 🔗 Episode Resources & Links: 🌐 Connect with Alexandra ·       Website: https://alex7summits.com  ·       Instagram: @alex7summits  ·       Email: alex7summits@gmail.com   📚  Books and Resources Alex’s New Book: https://www.alex7summits.com/the-book  🏔️ Learn More Speaking and Keynotes https://www.alex7summits.com/speakingAlpine Seasons Series https://www.alex7summits.com/alpine-seasons-seriesPrivate Alpine Tours: https://www.alex7summits.com/alpine-tours    EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKS NEW Empowering Women in Industry Annual Conference Sept 30_October 1 New Orleans Empowering Women in Industry Membership Empowering Women in Industry Magazine Empowering Women in Industry Website Empowering Women in Industry Virtual Events

  3. Jun 23

    Engineering Your Future with Jossie Haines

    June 23 marks International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), a global celebration of the women designing, building, and shaping the future around us. In this episode of the Empowering Women Podcast, Shannon sits down with Jossie Haines - Princeton-educated engineer, technical Emmy Award winner, former VP of Engineering at Tile, and executive coach for women in technology leadership. With more than 25 years of experience spanning Apple, Zynga, and Tile, Jossie has seen both the incredible opportunities and very real challenges that come with building a career in engineering. From navigating burnout and imposter syndrome to creating her own executive role and helping leaders thrive in the age of AI, Jossie shares an honest and refreshing perspective on what it means to lead with both ambition and humanity. Together, Shannon and Jossie explore belonging, career reinvention, workplace culture, networking, and why the most valuable skills in an AI-powered world may be the most human ones. Whether you're an engineer, a leader, or simply someone wondering what's next in your career, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and encouragement to help you define success on your own terms. Because the future isn't something that happens to us. It's something we help create. Watch this interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbbBtRJ_Z9A 💬 Gems from Jossie: “I truly believe that with inclusive cultures, we can actually build technology that fulfills the needs of our diverse world.” “Don't gaslight yourself.” “What you can control is staying open to looking at the possibilities.” “Only you can connect the dots based on the perspective you have.” “The best leaders in the AI world are the ones who are leaning into the human-centric skills that they can uniquely use.” “You get to define what your version of success is. You get to own that.” 🔗 Episode Resources & Links: 🌐 Connect with Jossie Website LinkedIn Email  💼 Media to Explore Past Podcast InterviewsWomen in Tech Guide   International Women in Engineering Day   EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKS Empowering Women in Industry Membership Empowering Women in Industry Magazine Empowering Women in Industry Website Empowering Women in Industry Carolinas Conference Empowering Women in Industry Virtual Events

  4. Jun 5 ·  Bonus

    Community in the Carolinas with Charli Matthews Carruth

    What happens when women find a community that truly sees them? In this special bonus episode of the Empowering Women Podcast, host Shannon Bumgarner sits down with Empowering Women in Industry founder Charli Matthews Carruth to talk about the vision behind the inaugural Carolinas Conference and the power of connection in industry. Together, they explore why community matters, how mentorship and advocacy help women grow, and what makes Empowering Women events feel different from other professional conferences. They also discuss leadership lessons, the importance of investing in yourself, and why the next generation of women in manufacturing, engineering, and skilled trades gives them so much hope. Whether you're attending the Carolinas Conference on July 9th or simply looking for encouragement in your career journey, this conversation is a reminder that you belong, your voice matters, and you don't have to go it alone. Watch this interview on YouTube. 💬 Gems from Charli: “We're really just putting up a mirror to show them that they already have it within themselves to accomplish.” “You absolutely belong in the room.” “It's amazing how much you can do when you're not letting the pressures of work, family, or friends direct your steps.” “Allow people to help you. Allow people to use their gifts and support you.” “You're not leaving alone anymore. You have a whole community, a whole network of resources.”   EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKS Empowering Women in Industry Carolinas Conference Empowering Women in Industry Membership Empowering Women in Industry Magazine Empowering Women in Industry Website Empowering Women in Industry Virtual Events

  5. May 20

    Hope is a Leadership Skill with Jen Fisher

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month - a time to pause and rethink how we care for ourselves and the people around us. Because the truth is, many of us are running fast… and, let’s be honest, running tired. In this episode of the Empowering Women Podcast, Shannon sits down with workplace wellbeing expert, keynote speaker, and author Jen Fisher to explore a powerful idea: hope isn’t just a feeling—it’s a leadership skill. Jen shaped the conversation around wellbeing as the first-ever Chief Wellbeing Officer at Deloitte, helping organizations rethink burnout, human sustainability, and what it truly means to lead people—not just manage performance. But Jen’s work didn’t start in a boardroom. It started with her own experience navigating burnout and discovering that real hope is not passive. It’s intentional. It’s actionable. And it can transform the way we lead, work, and live. Together, Shannon and Jen unpack why hope matters more than ever in today’s world of work, how leaders can cultivate it within their teams, and why the smallest steps forward often create the biggest change. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, burned out, or unsure how to keep moving forward - this conversation the breath of fresh air you’ve been looking for. And maybe a reminder that hope isn’t naïve. It’s strategic. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Kuz0wuf9NKY 💬 Gems from Jen: “I want you to behave and lead in a way that inspires hope.” “Do you want to be the leader of a hopeful organization or a hopeless organization?” “Hope requires three things. It requires a goal, clarity around that goal, pathways to reach it, and the agency to actually impact change.” “Real hope requires action.” “Eleven years ago we weren't having these conversations in the workplace—we weren’t talking about well-being, and we certainly weren’t talking about burnout.” “If one pathway is blocked, you can switch and say: that didn’t work, what did I learn? I’m going to move to the next pathway.” 🔗 Episode Resources & Links: 🌐 Connect with Jen Fisher Website LinkedIn Instagram  💼 Media to Explore TEDx Talk: The Future of WorkThe WorkWell Podcast   📚 Books & Research Mentioned Hope Is the Strategy — Jen Fisher Hope Theory Research — C.R. Snyder  EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKS Empowering Women in Industry Membership Empowering Women in Industry Magazine Empowering Women in Industry Website Empowering Women in Industry Carolinas Conference Empowering Women in Industry Virtual Events

  6. May 6

    Built by Women with Rebecca Heustess

    May 6 is National Skilled Trades Day — a day dedicated to celebrating the makers, builders, and problem-solvers who quite literally shape the world around us. In this episode of the Empowering Women Podcast, Shannon sits down with Rebecca Heustess, certified tile installer, lead tile setter at Grazzini Brothers & Company, and the 2025 Empowering Women in Industry Tradeswoman of the Year. Rebecca’s journey into the trades didn’t begin with a master plan. It began with curiosity, grit, and a willingness to try something new. Over the years, she has worked her way from helper to lead tile setter, mentoring others along the way and becoming a powerful advocate for women entering the skilled trades. Together, Shannon and Rebecca talk about the art and science behind tile setting, the confidence that comes with mastering a craft, and why community organizations like NAWIC and Empowering Women in Industry can transform careers. Rebecca also shares a powerful story about allyship on the job site, the myths she’d love to bust about women in construction, and why she believes the skilled trades are one of the most rewarding career paths out there. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to build a career — and a community — with your own two hands, this conversation is for you. Watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/njTPlehwWRY 💬 Gems from Rebecca: “Grout is her glitter” “There’s something about tile that when it just gets in your blood, it’s in your blood. Tile people stay in it for the longevity.”  “Once I gained the confidence in myself is really when I knew this is where I was meant to be.”  “When I joined NAWIC, it gave me a newfound appreciation for what I actually do and the impact that I can make in this industry, being a woman in construction.”  “It’s not a puzzle. It’s a puzzle that we have to build, cut, and then put back together.”  “Just because I have pretty nails doesn’t mean I don’t get them dirty.”  “If we weren’t built to do everything a man can do, we’re built to do what a man can’t do.” 🔗 Episode Resources & Links: 👷Organizations Mentioned National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA)   📚 Articles NAWIC Article Tile Letter Article   💼 Connect with Rebecca on social media Facebook Instagram LinkedIn   EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKS Empowering Women in Industry Membership Empowering Women in Industry Magazine Empowering Women in Industry Website Empowering Women in Industry Carolinas Conference Empowering Women in Industry Virtual Events

  7. Apr 15

    Inchstones over Milestones with Sarah Kernion

    April is Neurodiversity Month - a time to expand how we think about communication, intelligence, progress, and belonging.  In this episode of the Empowering Women Podcast, Shannon sits down with writer, keynote speaker, and neurodiversity advocate Sarah Kernion, the voice behind Inchstones™, a movement redefining how we measure progress for children with profound autism and for the caregivers who support them.  Sarah shares the deeply personal journey that led her to become an advocate for neurodivergent families after two of her children were diagnosed with profound, non-speaking autism. Through storytelling, lived experience, and strategic insight, she challenges traditional narratives about milestones, success, and strength.  Together, Shannon and Sarah explore the idea that progress doesn’t always come in leaps.  It often comes inch by inch. They also discuss how lessons from neurodiversity can reshape leadership, systems thinking, and the way organizations approach inclusion.  From redefining motherhood to celebrating small wins, this conversation is a powerful reminder that difference is not a deficit - it’s an adaptive advantage.  If you’re ready to rethink progress, leadership, and what it truly means to support one another, this episode is for you.  💬 Gems from Sarah:  “Difference isn't a deficit, it's actually an adaptive advantage. Our systems work better when they work for everyone.”  “The hardships of life don't happen to you; they happen for you.”  “I have to focus on their inchstones of development.  If I don't, I will constantly be lagging behind what everyone else is expecting of them.”  “Strength is never the goal. Support, in any evolution, that's the goal.”  “Stories don't replace data or KPIs… but what they do is they give data a pulse.”  “You are allowed to be. There's no fill-in. You are allowed to be.”  “If you can, inchstone by inchstone, challenge all assumptions about what you are or are to be… it will change your life in more ways than you can imagine.”  Watch the Interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/n5wJ1g8vuP8 🔗 Episode Resources & Links:  🌐Links, Newsletters, and Resources  Saturday Story Website  Inchstones Substack  Inchstones Podcast    📚 Books, Articles, and Concepts The Artist’s Way  OODA Loop (Observe–Orient–Decide–Act decision framework)    💼 Connect with Sarah on social media   LinkedIn Instagram  Facebook    EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKS  Empowering Women in Industry Membership  Empowering Women in Industry Magazine  Empowering Women in Industry Website  Empowering Women in Industry Virtual Events

  8. Mar 25

    Women Redefining Opportunity with Katie Fortunato

    March is Women’s History Month.  This month and this year’s International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain, invites us to rethink what it means to open doors.  In this episode of the Empowering Women Podcast, Shannon is joined by Katie Fortunato, co-founder and EVP of Hire Innovations, who is working to fix what’s broken in today’s hiring systems.  She is challenging ghosting, phantom job posts, and processes that forget there’s a human on the other side of the screen. Together, they explore how giving transparency, dignity, and access in hiring doesn’t weaken organizations—it strengthens them.  From redefining rejection to meeting the next generation where they are, Katie shares how human-centered AI and intentional visibility can help create more equitable pathways to opportunity—especially for women navigating bias, career breaks, and evolving expectations in the workforce.  This conversation is a powerful reminder that every opportunity we’ve received likely came from someone who chose to give and that we now have the chance to do the same.  If you’re ready to rethink hiring, leadership, and what it means to lift as you climb, this episode is for you.  Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49-e1XEVnuo 💬 Gems from Katie Fortunato:  “Give to gain isn't just a theme, it's also a way of living.”  “Let's build a relationship on your career success, and I want to make that happen.”  “Giving the visibility and access doesn't diminish the power but multiplies it.”  “Legacy lesson here is every door that I can look at in my past that someone’s opened for me is someone who didn’t have to do it. “  “Visibility is free to give; you just have to be intentional about it.”  “Automate yourself before someone automates you.”  🔗 Episode Resources & Links:  💥Ways for YOU to get involved with the new way of hiring  ·       Become a career creator by posting jobs to your community — and earn up to $25/application  ·       Jobstream career influencer who is drawn to the mission and cares about helping people find work.  Your sign-up link for the creator types: https://app.getjobstream.com/creator-quick-signup Code: Mpower   🌐Links, Newsletters, and Resources  Hire Innovations  Jobstream  Recruitics  Talivity  The Onward & Upward Charitable Foundation    💼 Connect with Kate Fortunato and Hire Innovations on social media   LinkedIn   Talivity   Recruitics    EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKS  Empowering Women in Industry Membership  Empowering Women in Industry Magazine  Empowering Women in Industry Website  Empowering Women in Industry Virtual Events

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4.8
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About

Interviews with successful career women from a variety of industries. We hope to empower women in their career aspirations, whether that's climbing a corporate ladder or becoming an entrepreneur.

Information

  • Creator
    Empowering Women in Industry
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    113
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Empowering Women Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Empowering Women Podcast