This is How She Did It with Bonnie Habyan: Top Women Podcast, Conversations for Women, GenX Women, MidLife Women on Claiming

Bonnie Habyan

Welcome to This is How She Did It—a bold, honest, and inspiring space for women who are building success on their own terms. Here, we spotlight real conversations with women who've faced big challenges, pushed through fear, and stepped into their worth with grit and authenticity. These are stories of persistence, reinvention, and those "finally me" moments that change everything—no fluff, just powerful insights, unfiltered wisdom, and hard-earned lessons from women who refused to be held back and created their path to find success and overcome adversity. If you're looking for authentic connection, courage, and practical takeaways for creating the life or career you want, you're in the right place. Because your story isn't over—it's unfolding with every step you take toward your goals and every time you truly know your worth. This podcast will answer questions like: What does success look like for women today—and how do we give ourselves permission to redefine it? How do women rebuild confidence after a career break, pivot, or setback? How do women overcome the fear of starting over—and what does it look like to push through when doubt and uncertainty arise? How can women know and own their worth—claiming their value and embracing their strengths? How can women not only own their dreams but also refuse to apologize for them? What are practical ways women can put themselves out there again—authentically and boldly? How do women quiet the inner critic and reclaim their voice and power? What does resilience really look like when life doesn't go according to plan? How can women turn life lessons and hard-earned wisdom into something meaningful? How do women surround themselves with others who get it—their tribe—those who accept them for who they are and support their ambitions and dreams? What small (but powerful) steps can women take today to move toward the life they want next? Most importantly, you'll hear the real stories of women who have faced fear head-on, pushed through, and emerged stronger. Because the world needs more women who know their worth, go after what they want, and aren't afraid to stand in it—no matter what. Let's build, rise, and do it together—unapologetically. 💪✨

  1. Sep 2

    How to Find Your People with Friendship Expert Shasta Nelson

    Why is making new friends as adults sometimes harder than we expect? Most women don't struggle with friendship because they're bad friends. They struggle because adulthood changes the very conditions that friendships need to grow. Between careers, marriage, children, moves, caregiving, and life's inevitable transitions, many women quietly find themselves surrounded by people—but missing the deep connection they crave. In this heartfelt conversation, Bonnie Habyan sits down with friendship expert, speaker, and bestselling author Shasta Nelson to unpack why adult friendships feel so different, what causes meaningful relationships to slowly fade, and, most importantly, how we can intentionally build the kind of friendships that enrich our lives. At the heart of the conversation is Shasta's powerful Friendship Triangle—three essential ingredients every healthy relationship needs: positivity, consistency, and vulnerability. Together, they provide a simple but transformative framework for understanding why some friendships flourish while others slowly drift apart. Bonnie and Shasta also explore the challenges many women face as they navigate major life transitions, relocate to new communities, balance marriage with personal friendships, step into leadership roles, and cope with the loneliness that can quietly accompany success. Throughout the conversation, Shasta offers practical, research-backed guidance that reminds us friendship isn't something that simply happens—it's something we intentionally cultivate. In This Episode You'll Learn: Why adult friendships naturally become more difficult than childhood friendships How the Friendship Triangle of positivity, consistency, and vulnerability creates lasting connection Why loneliness is often about lacking depth—not lacking people How major life transitions quietly cause friendships to drift Why expecting one friend to meet every emotional need sets relationships up for disappointment How to rebuild meaningful friendships after moving, changing careers, or entering a new season of life Why leaders often experience greater loneliness—and what they can do about it A simple exercise you can use today to strengthen the friendships that matter most Key Timestamps: 00:00:02 – Why adult friendships feel harder than they used to 00:02:10 – Understanding loneliness beyond simply being alone 00:04:11 – The Friendship Triangle: positivity, consistency, and vulnerability 00:06:36 – Why healthy relationships need far more positive than negative interactions 00:09:27 – Starting over and making friends after a major life change 00:15:09 – Marriage, friendship, and respecting different social needs 00:19:30 – Why friendships naturally drift over time 00:22:04 – Conflict, disappointment, and repairing friendships instead of walking away 00:24:54 – Why leadership can be surprisingly lonely 00:30:56 – Practical steps anyone can take to build stronger friendships today Who This Episode Is For This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered why friendships seem harder as an adult, felt lonely despite being surrounded by people, experienced friendships changing after a move or major life transition, or wants to build deeper, healthier, and more meaningful relationships. If you've ever questioned whether you're the only one struggling to find lasting connection, this conversation will reassure you that you're not alone—and give you practical tools to change that. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to This Is How SHE Did It, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who would benefit from these insights. 🎧 Listen now to This Is How SHE Did It with Bonnie Habyan 👉 Follow Bonnie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan 👉 Visit: meetbonnieh.com

    How to Find Your People with Friendship Expert Shasta Nelson
  2. Aug 5

    She Walked Away From the "Perfect" Career and Built Her Own Path

    What if the career everyone admires… is the one quietly draining you? She Walked Away From the "Perfect" Career and Built Her Own Path  In this episode of *This Is How SHE Did It*, Rae Liu shares the deeply personal story behind walking away from the path that looked "successful" on paper: Columbia University, the World Bank, the corporate track, only to realize none of it felt aligned. Instead of staying stuck in a life that looked good from the outside, she chose uncertainty, reinvention, and eventually co-founding Leatherology into the powerhouse brand it is today. This conversation is about identity, fear, ambition, confidence, and what happens when women stop waiting for permission to build lives that actually fit them. 01:09 — Ray shares feeling lost in her mid-20s and reassessing her path. 03:55 — The "build the house you want to live in" business philosophy. 06:37 — Introduction to Leatherology and what the company does. 08:24 — Ray explains trying pastry and accessories before finding her fit. 11:45 — Family reaction and her father's entrepreneurial background. 16:44 — The risk of leaving a stable career to start something new. 27:07 — Final advice: ask what brings you joy, what must change, and what you want to look back on. If you've ever questioned your path… this episode will hit home. 🎧 Listen now to *This Is How SHE Did It* with Bonnie Habyan 👉 Subscribe to the podcast: www.meetbonnieh.com 👉 Follow Bonnie on LinkedIn:  👉 Get the *This Is How SHE Did It* newsletter: https://bit.ly/49p85HV ✨ Power is built. One move at a time.

    She Walked Away From the "Perfect" Career and Built Her Own Path
  3. Jun 3

    How to Reinvent Yourself: 5 Fearless Lessons from Joan Lunden

    Joan Lunden was the face of Good Morning America for 17 years. Then, at 46, she was let go. What followed became one of the most powerful stories of reinvention, resilience, and women's empowerment in modern media. In this deeply inspiring conversation, Joan Lunden opens up about breaking into a male-dominated television industry, rebuilding her identity after public career loss, and transforming a breast cancer diagnosis into a mission that changed women's healthcare advocacy forever. 💡 KEY TAKEAWAYS: Reinvention never retires Resilience is built through adversity Starting over is not failure — it's evolution Your purpose is bigger than your title Want it more than you're afraid of it She also reflects on the advice that shaped her career from Barbara Walters, her groundbreaking partnership with Charlie Gibson, and the mindset that helped her continue evolving through every chapter of life. Her message is unforgettable: "They can take you out of a job, but they can't fire you from your gift." This episode is a masterclass in self-improvement, intentional living, resilience, and how to succeed when life forces you to start over. 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Joan Lunden's reinvention story 03:43 Breaking barriers for women in television 05:28 Barbara Walters' career advice 08:36 Being a working mother before it was accepted 10:24 Leaving Good Morning America and redefining success 13:10 "You can't get fired from your gift" 19:45 Public scrutiny and staying grounded 24:37 Breast cancer and women's health advocacy 27:00 The fight for mandatory mammogram reporting 33:53 Advice for women afraid to start over This conversation is for anyone navigating: • Career transitions • Burnout or identity shifts • Women in leadership • Personal growth and healing • Breast cancer awareness • Reinvention after loss or change 🔔 Subscribe for conversations about resilience, reinvention, leadership, healing, and personal growth. Resources 🔔 Subscribe to my newsletter here for weekly conversations with people who refuse to be defined by their hardest moments. Visit my website here: www.meetbonnieh.com #WomenEmpowerment #MindsetMotivation #PersonalDevelopmentPodcast #OvercomingAdversity #SelfImprovementPodcast #BOLDMethod #AudaciousExpansion #Resilience #ErikaRothenberger #WomenInLeadership #PersonalGrowth #ResiliencePodcast #WomenEmpowermentPodcast #PersonalDevelopment #Podcast

    How to Reinvent Yourself: 5 Fearless Lessons from Joan Lunden
  4. May 6

    How to Become Unbreakable and Rise After the Unthinkable

    In 2022, civil engineer and entrepreneur Erika Rothenberger was violently attacked in her workplace parking lot — and it changed everything. In this powerful episode, Erika shares the 5-step framework she used to go from victim to advocate, from shattered to stronger. What you'll learn: → Why resilience isn't about being unbreakable → How to reclaim your sense of identity after trauma → The one mindset shift that turned her pain into purpose → How she's fighting to change strangulation laws in Pennsylvania → Why community is the #1 factor in trauma recovery Erika is a TEDx speaker, host of the "Grit, Grace & Glitz" podcast, founder of the Audacious Women's Summit, and author of the upcoming book "Audacious Expansion." ⏱ 00:00 – Introduction 02:15 – The attack that changed everything 07:30 – Rock bottom & the identity crisis 13:00 – The engineering mindset applied to trauma 19:45 – Step 1: Acknowledge but don't be defined 23:10 – Step 2: Redefine resilience 27:00 – Step 3: Build your support community 31:20 – Step 4: One small empowered action 35:50 – Step 5: Turn pain into purpose 41:00 – The Audacious Women's Summit & what's next                                                                                                                      🎧 Listen now to This Is How SHE Did It with Bonnie Habyan 👉 Follow Bonnie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan Visit meetbonnieh.com #TraumaRecovery #WomenEmpowerment #ResilienceStory #SurvivorStory #AudaciousWomen #GritGraceGlitz #TedxSpeaker #WomenInEngineering #MentalHealthAwareness #PodcastForWomen

    How to Become Unbreakable and Rise After the Unthinkable
  5. Mar 4

    How She Built Build-A-Bear—and Changed Retail Forever

    She Built More Than a Bear—She Built a Movement. At 48, Maxine Clark left a top corporate role to follow a spark of "kid think"—and turned it into the global sensation, Build-A-Bear Workshop. In this inspiring episode, Maxine shares how she broke barriers, trusted her gut, and built an empire when few believed a woman—or a teddy bear—could. You'll learn how she faced down skeptics, raised millions, and took her company public—all without losing her heart or her vision. Her story is packed with real-life lessons on confidence, curiosity, and the power of persistence. If you're ready to stop waiting for permission and start building your dream, this is your blueprint. About Maxine Clark https://www.buildabear.com/brand-about-story-founder.html Resources  Build-A-Bear Workshop: https://www.buildabear.com Resources At 48, Maxine Clark walked away from a powerful corporate career to follow a spark of "kid think"—and turned it into Build-A-Bear Workshop, a global phenomenon. In this episode, she shares how she trusted her gut when few believed in the idea, faced down skeptics, raised millions, and took her company public—proving that joy can be a serious business strategy. This is a conversation about courage, reinvention, and betting on yourself when the odds say don't. Maxine opens up about the emotional stakes of starting over, the power of persistence, and why waiting for permission is the fastest way to stay stuck. If you're navigating change or sitting on a dream that feels "too late" or "too risky," this episode is your reminder: start building anyway. Resources - Check out Bonnie's website here.

    How She Built Build-A-Bear—and Changed Retail Forever
  6. Feb 4

    How the Most Powerful Women Win — Fortune's Emma Hinchliffe Breaks It Down

    What do Kim Kardashian, Sara Blakely, and Melanie Perkins have in common—and can you have it too? In this episode of This Is How SHE Did It, Bonnie Habyan sits down with Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune's Most Powerful Women editor, who has personally interviewed each of these trailblazing founders and countless others redefining success on their own terms. From newsroom beginnings to front-row access to the world's most powerful women, Emma shares what she's learned about imposter syndrome, mentorship, and the unseen confidence that drives extraordinary achievement. Together, they explore the traits that unite top female leaders—and how owning your story just might be the key to joining their ranks. About Emma Hinchliffe Emma Hinchliffe is Fortune's Most Powerful Women editor, overseeing editorial for the longstanding franchise. As a senior writer at Fortune, Emma has covered women in business and gender-lens news across business, politics, and culture. She is the author of the Most Powerful Women Daily newsletter (formerly the Broadsheet), Fortune's daily missive for and about the women leading the business world. She is a co-chair of Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit, where she's interviewed everyone from Fortune 500 CEOs and U.S. politicians to Hollywood stars, and previously co-chaired Fortune's MPW Next Gen Summit and the Fortune/U.S. Department of State Global Women's Mentoring Partnership. Her work, which includes magazine features with subjects ranging from Meta and CVS Health to Canva and the WNBA, has been honored by the Silurians Press Club and the Deadline Club. Before joining Fortune, she worked as a reporter for Mashable and the Houston Chronicle. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. Emma Hinchliffe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmahinchliffe/ Resources Fortune Magazine: https://fortune.com/author/emma-hinchliffe/ In this episode, Fortune's Emma Hinchliffe shares what she's learned from interviewing the most powerful women in business—and how those insights translate into real-world confidence, leadership, and career growth. From Fortune 500 CEOs to iconic founders, Emma breaks down the patterns she sees again and again among women who rise to the top. Drawing from conversations with leaders like Sarah Blakely, Melanie Perkins, and Kim Kardashian, we explore imposter syndrome, visibility, mentorship, and what it truly takes to own your story in today's professional landscape. If you're navigating leadership, building something meaningful, or stepping into rooms that feel bigger than you, this conversation will leave you grounded, inspired, and clear on what matters most. In this episode, we cover: - What the most powerful women have in common - Why hearing "no" is often a sign you're thinking big enough - How successful women reframe imposter syndrome - The importance of visibility and owning your story - Why mentorship and sponsorship still matter - Lessons from founders and CEOs who changed the game Guest: Emma Hinchliffe is a senior leader at Fortune and the voice behind Most Powerful Women Daily, spotlighting the challenges and triumphs of women shaping business, culture, and leadership worldwide. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a review—it helps more listeners find conversations like this. Your story isn't over. It's still unfolding. Let's rise together. Resources: Sign up for the This is how SHE did it Newsletter to stay up to date: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/worth-knowing-7236433935503618048/ Follow Bonnie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan/ Check out Emma Hinchliffe's bio at https://www.emma-hinchliffe.com/ Check out Bonnie's website at www.meetbonnieh.com

    How the Most Powerful Women Win — Fortune's Emma Hinchliffe Breaks It Down
5
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Welcome to This is How She Did It—a bold, honest, and inspiring space for women who are building success on their own terms. Here, we spotlight real conversations with women who've faced big challenges, pushed through fear, and stepped into their worth with grit and authenticity. These are stories of persistence, reinvention, and those "finally me" moments that change everything—no fluff, just powerful insights, unfiltered wisdom, and hard-earned lessons from women who refused to be held back and created their path to find success and overcome adversity. If you're looking for authentic connection, courage, and practical takeaways for creating the life or career you want, you're in the right place. Because your story isn't over—it's unfolding with every step you take toward your goals and every time you truly know your worth. This podcast will answer questions like: What does success look like for women today—and how do we give ourselves permission to redefine it? How do women rebuild confidence after a career break, pivot, or setback? How do women overcome the fear of starting over—and what does it look like to push through when doubt and uncertainty arise? How can women know and own their worth—claiming their value and embracing their strengths? How can women not only own their dreams but also refuse to apologize for them? What are practical ways women can put themselves out there again—authentically and boldly? How do women quiet the inner critic and reclaim their voice and power? What does resilience really look like when life doesn't go according to plan? How can women turn life lessons and hard-earned wisdom into something meaningful? How do women surround themselves with others who get it—their tribe—those who accept them for who they are and support their ambitions and dreams? What small (but powerful) steps can women take today to move toward the life they want next? Most importantly, you'll hear the real stories of women who have faced fear head-on, pushed through, and emerged stronger. Because the world needs more women who know their worth, go after what they want, and aren't afraid to stand in it—no matter what. Let's build, rise, and do it together—unapologetically. 💪✨

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