The KTS Success Factor® (a Podcast for Women)

Sarah E. Brown, Ph.D.
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The mission of the KTS Success Factor® Podcast for Women is to bring proven ideas female business leaders can use to increase their ability to achieve big goals and become happy, successful, and understood at work. All this in 25 minutes or less. Sarah E. Brown, Ph.D. is an expert on personalizing work to the unique interests, strengths, and needs of the workforce. A former Managing Director at Accenture, she is now on a mission to reach 250,000 women with knowledge of their unique gifts and the tools to be happy, successful and understood at work.

  1. FEB 18

    Why Do Successful Business Women Often Have Problems Finding Success in Their Love Life with Lynda Williams

    Many high-achieving women can lead teams, close deals, and build global careers — yet feel confused, frustrated, or discouraged when it comes to love. Lynda Williams is the founder of the Evolved Woman Program, a relationship coach, and podcast host who helps ambitious women find love without compromising their success. After building a career across three continents in leadership and entrepreneurship, Lynda realized that the same traits driving her professional success were undermining her love life. Through deep inner work, she transformed her relationship patterns and now guides women worldwide through that same shift. In this episode, we explore why professional success does not automatically translate into relationship fulfillment, and how the very mindset that fuels career achievement can quietly sabotage intimacy.   What you will learn from this episode: Why do successful women feel confident at work but insecure in dating and relationships. What the "success–love paradox" is and how it shows up in high-achieving women's lives. Why ambition is not a barrier to love — and how to use it as an asset instead.   Topics Covered: 02:34 – The success–love paradox for high-achieving women. 06:02 – Why professional confidence doesn't translate to dating confidence. 09:54 – Doing the inner work to understand who you are and what you want. 12:25 – Why traditional dating strategies fail ambitious women. 16:38 – Self-awareness as the foundation of healthy relationships. 20:46 – Why relationships, not achievements, drive long-term happiness. 23:38 – How to balance ambition and love without sacrificing either.   Key Takeaways: "Many high-achieving women are incredibly successful on the outside but quietly struggling with self-worth." — Lynda Williams "The problem isn't ambition — it's the disconnect between how women show up at work and in relationships." — Lynda Williams "You don't need to choose between career success and love. You can have both." — Lynda Williams   Ways to Connect with Lynda Williams: Website: https://www.lyndawilliamscoaching.com/lwc-evolved-woman-program LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndajw/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndawilliamscoach/   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com

    26 min

  2. FEB 4

    The Courageous Operating System with Eveline Shen

    Leadership today requires more than skill, strategy, or resilience alone — it requires courage that is grounded, aligned, and sustainable. Eveline Shen, who prefers to be called Ev, is an award-winning leader and social change strategist with more than two decades of experience building movements and developing courageous leaders. As the former executive director of one of the largest women-of-color-led, multi-issue organizations in the country, she helped expand the national Reproductive Justice movement. Today, as the founder of Leading Courageously, Ev teaches leaders how to stay true to their values, transform adversity into strength, and sustain their impact through her Courageous Operating System. In this episode, we explore how leaders can move beyond reactive leadership and instead operate from a deeply integrated system that aligns values, strengths, purpose, and courage.   What you will learn from this episode: Why leadership tools alone are insufficient without an integrated system. What the Courageous Operating System is and how it aligns nine core leadership components. Why women and marginalized leaders often need permission and support to fully claim their leadership power.   Topics Covered: 02:45 – Ev's journey from intern to executive director and movement builder. 05:10 – Building leaderful organizations within the Reproductive Justice movement. 07:20 – Why Ev founded Leading Courageously and shifted to leadership development full-time. 09:15 – Coaching, team work, and leadership programs as a sustainable business model. 11:10 – Why Ev wrote Choosing to Lead Against the Current. 13:30 – The leadership gap: why new leaders are promoted without support or training. 15:40 – Tools vs. systems: what makes the Courageous Operating System different. 19:05 – Courage as staying true to values, not people-pleasing or firefighting. 20:40 – Everyday acts of courage and why women leaders underestimate them.   Key Takeaways: "Leadership tools are helpful, but without a system, they can't carry you through complexity." — Eveline Shen "The Courageous Operating System interlocks leadership components so they move in the same direction." — Eveline Shen "Courage is not just about bold moments — it's about everyday decisions." — Eveline Shen "When leaders slow down, they create space to lead from purpose instead of reaction." — Eveline Shen "Staying true to your values often requires more courage than taking action." — Eveline Shen   Ways to Connect with Eveline Shen: Website: https://leadingcourageously.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eveline-shen-a600b8b/ Book: Choosing to Lead Against the Current   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com

    22 min

  3. JAN 21

    Mindset Coaching for Women with Simon Calderbank

    Mindset is not about positive thinking — it is about courageous reflection, honest reframing, and intentional reinvention. Simon Calderbank is the founder of Big Knows and a leadership mindset coach dedicated to helping women reflect, reframe, and reinvent their mindset for lasting personal and professional growth. Raised in a strong matriarchal household by his mum, auntie, and sister, Simon developed deep empathy and a coaching style that is both compassionate and challenging. Following a personal health scare in 2015, he shifted from business development into mindset and leadership coaching, supporting hundreds of women leaders and earning recognition on the Northern Women's Power Inaugural Advocacy List for advancing gender equality. In this episode, Simon shares his Re3 framework — Reflection, Reframe, and Reinvention — and explains why real transformation requires being comfortable with discomfort, questioning inner narratives, and taking intentional action.   What you will learn from this episode: How to reinvent your mindset without abandoning who you are or conforming to leadership models that were never built for you. Why career breaks, motherhood, and life transitions do not erode capability — and how internal narratives, not skill loss, hold women back. How affirmations and self-talk directly shape confidence, decision-making, and performance — and how to use them intentionally instead of unconsciously.   Topics Covered: 00:10 - Growth requires being comfortable with discomfort. 06:22 - Reflection as the starting point for mindset change. 08:57 - Reframing past experiences to unlock new perspectives. 12:18 - How self-doubt and imposter syndrome take hold — and how to release them. 15:49 - Navigating gender dynamics in male-dominated workplaces. 21:38 - Asking the hard question: "Why am I not heard?" 24:35 - Using mantras and affirmations to reshape inner dialogue. 27:30 - A hybrid coaching perspective shaped by male and female lenses.   Key Takeaways: "You've got to be comfortable being uncomfortable if you want to become unstuck." — Simon Calderbank "Reframing doesn't change the past — it changes how you see it." — Simon Calderbank "Women often block their own capability after life changes, even when nothing was lost." — Simon Calderbank   Ways to Connect with Simon Calderbank: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoncalderbank/ Upcoming 5-Day Challenge: Women Who Lead: Barriers to Breakthroughs https://mindset.big-knows.co.uk/challenge-registration-page   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd  To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com

    30 min

  4. JAN 7

    Why You Might Want to Consider Boudoir Photography for Yourself with Liz Hansen

    Boudoir photography is not about vanity or perfection — it is about confidence, self-expression, and reclaiming your power. Liz Hansen is the owner and photographer at Chicago Boudoir Photography, a boutique studio dedicated to helping women feel confident in their bodies, relationships, and lives. Since opening her studio in 2018, Liz has grown it into the Chicago area's premier boudoir photography studio. She has been featured on the TEDx stage, on National Public Radio, and by the Association of International Boudoir Photographers. In this episode, we explore how stepping outside their comfort zone through a boudoir experience can shift how women see themselves, show up in their businesses, and lead with greater confidence.   What you will learn from this episode: Why boudoir photography can be a powerful catalyst for confidence and personal transformation. How stepping outside your comfort zone can unlock leadership presence and bold decision-making. Why confidence gained through self-expression often carries directly into business and career growth.   "That one boudoir experience gave me the confidence to open my own business and apply for a TEDx talk." — Liz Hansen   Topics Covered: 00:00 - How boudoir photography becomes a confidence-building transformation, not just a photo session. 04:08 - Why boudoir photography is a powerful tool for female empowerment and self-expression. 08:27 - Building a thriving small business by creating community, not just selling a service. 12:53 - Finding your deeper "why" and letting it guide business growth and decision-making.   Key Takeaways: "That one boudoir experience gave me the confidence to open my own business and apply for a TEDx talk." — Liz Hansen "Boudoir is not about being sexy. It's about feeling powerful and truly seen." — Liz Hansen "You don't have to be ready or perfect to take action — you just have to start." — Liz Hansen "The most magnetic brands are real, human, and sometimes a little messy." — Liz Hansen "Success comes from the relationship and the mission, not just the transaction." — Liz Hansen   Ways to Connect with Liz Hansen: Website: https://chicago-boudoir.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chicagoboudoir VIP Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VIPChicago Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicago.boudoir/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chicagoboudoir LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-hansen-9aab35173/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChicagoBoudoirPhotography Free eBook: https://chicago-boudoir.com/free   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com

    16 min

  5. 12/17/2025

    Humanitarian Fashion with Shahd Alasaly

    Humanitarian fashion is more than a trend — it is a movement built on empathy, cultural preservation, and collective healing. Shahd Alasaly is a sociology instructor at the University of South Florida. Her work focuses on trauma, displacement, and collective healing through an anti-colonial lens. She is the founder and creative director of Blue Meets Blue, a slow-fashion label employing refugee women and partnering with Syrian textile producers. She is also the author of A Kids Book About Humanitarianism and is currently writing a new book series on refugee journeys. In this episode, Shahd shares how fashion became a tool for art therapy, empowerment, and cultural preservation — and why teaching empathy to children may be the most powerful humanitarian act of all.   What you will learn from this episode: Why slow fashion can support trauma healing, dignity, and empowerment for refugee women. Why children are naturally wired for humanitarianism — and how to nurture it. Why storytelling is essential for preserving marginalized voices and histories.   Topics Covered: 02:11 – Founding Blue Meets Blue as a response to the Syrian civil war and collective trauma. 05:03 – How slow fashion and artisan work became art therapy for refugee women. 06:10 – Blue Meets Blue relaunching with textiles sourced from newly freed Syria. 07:02 – Bestselling A-line skirts, brocade dusters, and the storytelling behind each piece. 08:40 – Why Shahd wrote A Kids Book About Humanitarianism and how kids understand empathy. 10:48 – Teaching children about refugees through simple, actionable language. 12:30 – Shahd's upcoming book From There to Here following refugee children's journeys. 15:52 – How Shahd's research explores trauma, resilience, and community healing. 17:20 – Humanizing refugee experiences through stories of everyday motherhood and dignity.   Key Takeaways: "Kids don't complicate relationships. Adults add politics, fear, and layers that make empathy harder." — Shahd Alasaly "These women weren't just sewing. They were healing together in a safe, trusted space." — Shahd Alasaly "You don't have to wait until you're older or important to be a humanitarian. You can start with a simple smile." — Shahd Alasaly "Community resilience comes from holding space for each other through trauma." — Shahd Alasaly   Ways to Connect with Shahd Alasaly: Website: www.bluemeetsblue.com Instagram: @bluemeetsblue Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/782300/a-kids-book-about-humanitarianism-by-shahd-alasaly/   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd  To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com

    17 min

  6. 12/03/2025

    Women and Failure with Tamara McMillan

    Failure is an unavoidable part of life — but for women, it often comes with heavier expectations, harsher judgment, and higher emotional tolls. Dr. Tamara McMillan is a seasoned facilitator, consultant, educator, and transformational speaker. With over 18 years of experience across corporate, government, and higher education, she specializes in leadership development, self-mastery, and innovative problem-solving. Her doctoral research examined the impact of failure on women entrepreneurs, exploring how creativity and resilience shape their ability to persist, rebuild, and thrive. She equips women and organizations with practical, universal strategies for personal and professional growth. In this episode, Tamara breaks down the three major themes that emerged from her research and shares the real stories behind how women redefine failure, ask for support, and stay persistently flexible — even in the face of constraints and gender expectations.   What you will learn from this episode: How women entrepreneurs redefine failure to create healthier mindsets and business practices. Why learning to ask for help is a critical skill for women leaders and founders. What it means to be "persistently flexible" and why rigidity can kill progress.   Topics Covered: 01:02 – Tamara's career path across corporate, tech, pharmaceuticals, and higher education. 03:14 – Studying the impact of failure on women entrepreneurs through creativity and resilience. 04:10 – How she designed her qualitative, multiple case study research. 05:20 – Redefining failure into opportunity, growth, and "necessary steps." 06:50 – Why asking for help is harder for women — and why it matters. 07:32 – Being persistently flexible in goals, strategy, and business pivots. 08:26 – Building a powerful network before you need one. 09:40 – Gender expectations, family roles, and constraints women must navigate. 11:05 – Tamara's work today in coaching, cohorts, and strategic learning for organizations. 12:30 – "Give what you did not get": Tamara's call to women supporting women.   Key Takeaways: "She doesn't even call it failure anymore. She calls it a necessary step." — Tamara McMillan "As women, we're sent messages that asking for help somehow means we're not good enough." — Tamara McMillan "They were persistently flexible. It wasn't rigid. It wasn't one way or the highway." — Tamara McMillan "You have to build your network before you need it." — Tamara McMillan "Give what you did not get. Many of us are here because we had to take it on the chin." — Tamara McMillan   Ways to Connect with Tamara McMillan: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-l-mcmillan-phd-strategy-and-change-management-4457736/    Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com

    19 min

  7. 11/19/2025

    How to Deal with a Fear-Based Leader with Kate Lowry

    Fear-based leadership is on the rise, impacting an estimated 60-70% of organizations today. Understanding how these leaders operate—and learning strategic ways to protect your power and well-being—can help you move from just surviving to truly thriving, even in challenging workplaces. Kate Lowry is a CEO coach, venture capitalist, and author based in Silicon Valley. Her expertise on fear-based leaders comes from growing up in a hierarchical family and working in startups, private equity, management consulting, and big tech companies like McKinsey, Meta, and Insight Partners. She is the author of Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders. In her free time, she enjoys writing comedy and music, and cuddling her service dog, Annie. In this episode, Kate shares the science behind how power can corrupt and diminish empathy in leaders. She explains why fear-based leaders often feel deeply insecure and use control and manipulation as their main tools.   What you will learn from this episode: Understand the neurological science proving that absolute power corrupts absolutely and how positions of authority affect empathy centers in the brain. Learn to identify fear-based leaders through their characteristic behaviors and how they make you feel. Discover tactical strategies for navigating, surviving, and ultimately thriving under difficult leadership while maintaining your power and well-being.   "If you understand how they think and how they make choices, you can almost always predict what they're going to do."  – Kate Lowry   Valuable Free Resource: Pre-order Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders - Available now on Kindle, print edition releasing October 28, 2025   Topics Covered: 02:35 – Fear-based leaders as bullies: understanding their deep insecurity and how they motivate through fear 05:06 – Fear-based leadership in families: Kate's personal experience growing up in a household modeled after a dictatorship and how it prepared her for corporate environments 10:24 – Myths about fear-based leaders: debunking the illusion of their power and understanding the concept of fealty and orbit 12:38 – Coping with fear-based leaders: protecting your energy, maintaining multiple identities, and the "gray rock" strategy 16:24 – Fear-based leadership in workplaces: the rising trend from 3 in 10 to 7 in 10 managers and why you're not alone   Key Takeaways: "Fear-based leaders are really deeply insecure, and they try to motivate with fear." – Kate Lowry "You should never share what you actually care about. Even the smallest details about your life, your hopes, your dreams, all of that will be used against you if you actually share it." – Kate Lowry "If fear-based leaders see you as a non-entity, if they think that you're just a sheep amongst the herd, you actually have a lot of freedom to do what you want." – Kate Lowry "If you feel like you're going from bad workplace to bad workplace, it's not just you. A lot of people are dealing with this. It's just a very different set of rules. And once you learn the rules, you can protect yourself." – Kate Lowry   Ways to Connect with Kate Lowry: Website: https://www.katelowry.com/  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinejlowry/  Substack:  https://katelowry.substack.com/    Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd  To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com

    19 min

  8. 11/05/2025

    How to Make Good Use of Mentors with Melissa Franks

    Melissa Franks is a seasoned business strategist, Fractional COO, podcast host and speaker, and transformation leader with a track record of scaling businesses and driving operational excellence with a people-first approach that mobilizes teams for unprecedented results. A former Fortune 500 executive and OnCon Icon "Top 100 COO" Winner (2022-2024), she has led billion-dollar IT transformations, M&A initiatives, and revenue growth strategies, blending corporate expertise with small business agility.  As the founder of On Call COO, she empowers female entrepreneurs by optimizing operations and increasing profitability with her knack for helping business owners break through growth plateaus, implement scalable strategies, and build profitable, sustainable companies. Passionate about women in leadership and business innovation, Melissa is also an advocate for high-performing women, helping them design lives they love while achieving balance and success. She is a strong voice for domestic violence awareness and family court reform. When not strategizing, she enjoys running, traveling, and cheering on her three sons at their sporting events.  In this episode, Melissa shares her journey from 25 years in corporate to entrepreneurship after a major life setback. She reveals how to maximize limited mentorship time, align career goals with personal priorities, and why the best mentors may be outside your organization. Plus, practical strategies for managing financial uncertainty and pivoting after setbacks.   What you will learn from this episode: Discover how to maximize limited mentorship opportunities by being prepared with clear asks, specific examples, and alignment between professional and personal goals. Learn strategies for pivoting after major setbacks, including managing financial uncertainty and making decisions without panic. Understand why mentorship can come from outside your organization and how to seek experts who can help you develop specific skills you need to reach your goals.   "Mentorship doesn't always need to come from your chain of command or inside of your business. Often the skills that you need to acquire and the modalities of thinking that you might need to develop in order to reach your goals can be taught and learned and coached outside of the four walls of the business that you work in."  – Melissa Franks   Valuable Free Resource: Connect with Melissa at melissafranks.com for support in scaling your business and breaking through growth plateaus.   Topics Covered: 02:35 – What is a fractional COO: part-time executive support for seven and eight-figure businesses 03:50 – Becoming an accidental entrepreneur: pivoting after a domestic violence incident and job loss 05:00 – Shifting priorities: learning to say no after decades of saying yes to everything 08:50 – Building a business through intention: the first nine months of firefighting and steady growth 11:00 – Corporate career journey: from the Gap to financial services and climbing to global executive 12:00 – Learning without mentors: navigating a male-dominated environment through trial and error 14:00 – Dealing with failures: seeking education when hitting friction points 16:00 – How to take advantage of senior female executives: being prepared with clear asks and specific examples 19:00 – Aligning professional goals with personal life: understanding what your life really needs 21:00 – Managing financial uncertainty: worst-case scenario planning and avoiding panic decisions 23:00 – Having humility: taking advantage of available benefits and not keeping struggles secret 26:00 – Empowering female entrepreneurs: helping women build businesses that enable the lives they want 28:00 – Mentorship beyond the workplace: seeking experts outside your organization for specific skills   Key Takeaways: "Every woman in corporate America that is at a very senior executive level wants to help as many women as possible, which means that she is dividing a piece of pizza, not the pie, but the actual piece, across as many hungry mouths as possible. So you may just get a bite." – Melissa Franks "If you're looking for advice, come in with an actual example. Be specific. Have an ask, have an example if you're looking for advice." – Melissa Franks "Make sure that you're really clear on what your personal life really needs, how it needs to be structured, what your boundaries are. So that when you come forward and say, is this the next right step, you have additional context." – Melissa Franks   Ways to Connect with Melissa Franks: Website: https://melissafranks.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_franks Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissafranks    Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd  To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com

    31 min
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About

The mission of the KTS Success Factor® Podcast for Women is to bring proven ideas female business leaders can use to increase their ability to achieve big goals and become happy, successful, and understood at work. All this in 25 minutes or less. Sarah E. Brown, Ph.D. is an expert on personalizing work to the unique interests, strengths, and needs of the workforce. A former Managing Director at Accenture, she is now on a mission to reach 250,000 women with knowledge of their unique gifts and the tools to be happy, successful and understood at work.

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