Influential Women Podcast

Influential Women
  • 4.9 (11)
  • Business

Influential Women Podcast features conversations with women leaders, founders, professionals, and subject matter experts about leadership, careers, entrepreneurship, visibility, and personal growth. The podcast is part of Influential Women, a professional media and editorial platform Hosted by Jodie O’Brien, each episode shares real stories from entrepreneurs, executives, creators, and changemakers, exploring the decisions, challenges, and turning points that shaped their journeys. Podcast hub: ⁠https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts⁠ IMDb: ⁠https://www.imdb.com/title/tt42561398/⁠

  1. 2d ago

    The Sacred Art of Selling: Building Success Without Sacrificing What Matters Most | Kelly Roach

    Kelly Roach believes we've been sold the wrong version of success. For years, entrepreneurs have been told that achieving extraordinary results requires extraordinary sacrifice. Work harder. Sleep less. Miss family moments. Push through burnout. Kelly has spent her career proving there's a better way. A former Fortune 500 executive, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and founder of Kelly Roach International, Kelly has helped more than 100,000 entrepreneurs build profitable businesses while keeping faith, family, and fulfillment at the center. After building her first company to eight figures, she now leads a portfolio of businesses focused on helping entrepreneurs scale predictably, profitably, and with integrity. In this insightful conversation with host Jodie O'Brien, Kelly challenges common beliefs about entrepreneurship, leadership, sales, and success. She explains why sales is about service, not manipulation, why rejection is valuable feedback, and how many entrepreneurs unknowingly stand in the way of their own growth. As AI continues to reshape business, Kelly also shares why relationship capital is becoming more valuable than ever. While many business owners focus on automation, she believes the future belongs to leaders who can build trust, create meaningful connections, and strengthen the human skills technology can't replace. Together, they explore how to grow a thriving business without burning out, overcome the fear of selling, lead with integrity, and build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it. Kelly shares: Why sales, when done correctly, is one of the highest forms of service The mindset shift that instantly makes selling feel more natural and authentic How rejection becomes a tool for growth rather than something to fear The principle she calls "the currency of integrity" and why it outperforms shortcuts every time Why relationship capital may become the most valuable asset in the AI era The leadership qualities that will matter most as technology continues to evolve The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when building teams How to create self-led companies that don't depend on you for every decision Why many successful entrepreneurs still struggle to enjoy the success they've created Her framework for integrating faith, family, health, and business growth What homeschooling her daughter has taught her about legacy and leadership Why success should create the freedom to invest in the people you love most How to build a life that reflects your values rather than someone else's definition of achievement What makes this episode different is Kelly's willingness to challenge the traditional narratives around entrepreneurship. Having found success in both corporate leadership and business ownership, she's seen how ambition often comes at the expense of health, relationships, and purpose. Her message is simple: success should expand your life, not shrink it. This conversation is for entrepreneurs who are tired of hustle culture, leaders who want to grow without compromising their values, and anyone wondering if it's truly possible to build a thriving business while protecting what matters most. It's also a powerful reminder that success isn't measured by what you accumulate, but by the impact you create, the people you invest in, and the legacy you build along the way. CONNECT WITH KELLY ROACH Website:https://kellyroachinternational.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kellyroachofficial/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/kelly.roach.520/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyroachint/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@KellyRoach The Kelly Roach Show:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kelly-roach-show/id1052353755 Latest Book:https://a.co/d/012FuXyK Called to Lead Event:https://www.sandiglandt.com/called-to-lead

    32 min

  2. Jun 19

    Leading by Design, Not Default with Tracy O'Malley

    Most leaders spend years trying to fix their behaviors without ever understanding what's driving them. In this episode of the Influential Women Podcast, host Jodie O'Brien sits down with performance coach, speaker, and Enneagram expert Tracy O'Malley to explore the patterns, beliefs, and unconscious conditioning that shape how we lead, communicate, parent, and navigate life's biggest challenges. Tracy shares the deeply personal story behind her own transformation—from growing up in a passionate but dysfunctional family, to becoming a young mother determined not to repeat generational patterns, to making the life-changing decision at 40 to rebuild her life from the ground up. Along the way, she opens up about addiction, recovery, nearly 5,000 days of sobriety, leadership, self-awareness, and why understanding yourself is only the beginning. Known as the "Velvet Hammer," Tracy combines radical honesty with deep compassion to help leaders stop operating on autopilot and start leading by design. In this conversation, you'll hear: The difference between living by default and leading by designWhy self-awareness alone doesn't create transformationThe hidden reasons behind procrastination, control, burnout, and overachievementThe life-changing decision that led Tracy to choose growth over familiarity at 40How nearly 5,000 days of sobriety transformed her leadership, family, and legacyWhy understanding your perspective is only "one-ninth of the puzzle"The leadership lesson that applies equally in the boardroom and at homeHow understanding human behavior helps leaders build stronger teams and relationshipsWhy seeking to understand is more powerful than being rightWhat radical, compassionate honesty really looks like in practiceHow one decision can change the trajectory of an entire family for generations CONNECT WITH TRACY O'MALLEY Substack - https://substack.com/@tracyomalleyownyouredge Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/tracy.omalley/ Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/tracy_omalley/ Website - https://tracyomalley.com ABOUT THE INFLUENTIAL WOMEN PODCAST The Influential Women Podcast features honest, thoughtful conversations with women shaping their industries and building meaningful careers. Each episode goes beyond titles to explore the real stories behind leadership, the lessons learned along the way, and the pivotal moments that shaped these women's journeys across business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and creative fields. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0x6V5bV1hwEAD0VCHxkhI0 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/influential-women-podcast/id1850947661 Visit our website: https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ FOLLOW INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/influentialwomen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/influential_women_official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Influential-Women/61579362114580/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Influential_Women_Official

    31 min

  3. Jun 8

    Beyond the Perfect Persona: How to Rebuild When Everything Falls Apart

    Bravo audiences knew Kari Wells as "The Queen of Class" on Married to Medicine. What they didn't know was that she was privately surviving severe PTSD from a violent armed robbery, the loss of her sister, and the relentless pressure of performing strength while everything underneath was falling apart. In this episode of the Influential Women Podcast, host Jodie O'Brien sits down with British television personality, actress, and author Kari Wells for an honest conversation about the cost of the perfect persona and the practices that helped her rebuild from the inside out. Kari is the author of From Attitude to Gratitude: 15 Practices for Transforming Pain into Power, available now on Amazon and at all major bookstores. CONNECT WITH KARI WELLS: Website: https://kariwellsofficial.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kariwells_/ X: https://x.com/kariwells TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kariwellsofficial Book: https://us.amazon.com/Attitude-Gratitude-Practices-Transforming-Power/dp/1637635222 CONNECT WITH INFLUENTIAL WOMEN: Website: https://influentialwomen.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/influentialwomen Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/influential-women-podcast/id1850947661 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0x6V5bV1hwEAD0VCHxkhI0

    27 min

  4. May 29

    The Co-Founder Myth: Building A Pet Genetics Company Alone From Scratch

    Most founders won't tell you what it's actually like to build a company alone. Anna Skaya will. In this episode of the Influential Women Podcast, Anna sits down with host Jodie O'Brien to talk about the eight years she spent solo-founding Basepaws, the pet genetics company that created the first DNA test for cats and ultimately sold to Zoetis. From her early Groupon days to a failed social network called Breakup Buddy, from a brutal co-founder split twelve months in to a defining moment on Shark Tank, Anna walks us through the parts of entrepreneurship that almost never make it into the highlight reel. She talks candidly about fundraising as a single female founder, the male "co-founder" she brought in just to be taken seriously in pitches, what “Shark Tank” actually does for a brand (and what it doesn't), the identity crisis that arrives after a successful exit, and what she now looks for as a Managing Partner at AniVC. In this episode: Why most co-founder partnerships break (and the 18-month rule) Fundraising as a single female founder in Silicon Valley Bringing in a male "co-founder" just to be taken seriously in pitches What Shark Tank actually does for a business, and the behind-the-scenes truth Building a category from zero when cat DNA testing didn't exist Selling to Zoetis during COVID The identity crisis nobody warns you about after a successful exit What she looks for in founders now as an early-stage investor Whether you're building solo, navigating an exit, or sitting in the quiet that follows a sale, Anna's story is a master class in grit, reinvention, and the courage to keep creating categories nobody else sees yet.

    38 min

  5. May 18

    From Imposter Syndrome to Force of Nature: Breaking the Unwritten Rules of Advancement | Chitra Nawbatt

    Every space has two sets of rules: the written ones, and the ones nobody puts on paper. In this episode of the Influential Women Podcast, host Jodie O'Brien sits down with Chitra Nawbatt to talk about what really happens behind closed doors when promotions get decided, why so many qualified women feel invisible in rooms where they belong, and how to reposition yourself for the opportunities you've already earned. Chitra Nawbatt is the author of The CodeBreaker Mindset, a USA TODAY best-seller, and creator and host of the podcast by the same name. She is a Partner at General Catalyst, one of the world's leading multibillion-dollar global venture capital firms, where she serves as Global Head of Health Assurance and Innovation. Before venture capital, Chitra was a TV news anchor in New York City for Reuters, BNN Bloomberg, and CCTV, conducting in-depth interviews with global leaders including the Citigroup CEO and the Governor of the Bank of England. She holds a CPA designation and is a graduate of Harvard Business School, Harvard University, and the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. In this conversation, you'll hear: Why what most women call imposter syndrome is actually "imposter treatment" The three signals hiring managers are watching for right now, beyond your resume Pattern recognition as a leadership skill, and how to develop it ▪ The framework Chitra calls "octagonulating" a decision The difference between data, perception, and manipulation The two kinds of people in every workplace: those who want to win, and those who are afraid to lose How to read whether your environment is built to support you or limit you One concrete skill to start practicing this month to reposition yourself How grief became fuel for purpose, and what "living in creation" looks like Why no one else gets to define your ceiling "It's not imposter syndrome. It's imposter treatment. You are born a force of nature. Hang onto your force of nature self." – Chitra Nawbatt "Who is another human to define what my trajectory is? Your limit is the solar system, which means no limit." – Chitra Nawbatt CONNECT WITH CHITRA NAWBATT Website: https://www.chitranawbatt.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chitranawbatt/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chitranawbatt/ Order The CodeBreaker Mindset: https://www.chitranawbatt.com/codebreaker-mindset-book ABOUT THE INFLUENTIAL WOMEN PODCAST The Influential Women Podcast features honest, thoughtful conversations with women shaping their industries and building meaningful careers. Each episode goes beyond titles to explore the real stories behind leadership, the lessons learned along the way, and the pivotal moments that shaped these women's journeys across business, leadership, and creative fields. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0x6V5bV1hwEAD0VCHxkhI0Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/influential-women-podcast/id1850947661 Visit our website: https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts FOLLOW INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/influentialwomen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/influential_women_official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Influential-Women/61579362114580/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Influential_Women_Official Subscribe to the channel for new episodes three times a month, plus masterclasses, leadership conversations, and stories from women shaping the future of business.

    39 min

  6. May 8

    From Zero Budget to Viral: Why Every Founder Needs a PR Strategy | Jenna Guarneri | Influential Women Podcast

    What if visibility isn't a luxury for entrepreneurs? What if it's infrastructure? Jenna Guarneri is the founder and CEO of JMG Public Relations, bestselling author of You Need PR, and host of Call Your Publicist—a rapidly growing podcast that's been recognized as a 2025 Most Shared Show on Spotify and is now expanding to television on Roku. But here's what makes her different: she didn't build this empire with a big budget. She built it by democratizing PR and proving that visibility is something any entrepreneur can create. Jenna has been featured on Good Morning America four times. She's sparked viral conversations that caught the attention of Kim Kardashian and Lindsay Lohan. She's proven that you don't need celebrity status or deep pockets to build credibility and visibility. You need strategy, authenticity, and the willingness to tell your story. In this powerful conversation with host Jodie O'Brien, Jenna reveals exactly how to build visibility strategically, whether you have a six-figure PR budget or you're bootstrapping with zero dollars. She talks about the difference between chasing trends and building an authentic narrative. She shares why women specifically struggle with self-promotion and visibility. And she proves that by saying yes to opportunities, you never know where they'll lead. Podcast hub: ⁠https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts⁠ IMDb: ⁠https://www.imdb.com/title/tt42561398/⁠ In this episode, we explore: Why you need PR—and what it actually means for your business How women are taught to be quiet and how to break that pattern Building visibility with zero budget: where to start (hint: go local) The difference between telling your story and just talking about what you do Why being authentic with trends matters more than jumping on every one How to leverage pop culture conversations without feeling opportunistic Building a narrative that makes people actually listen The cost of staying invisible (to your business, opportunities, and income) What happened when she launched a podcast without expecting it to go viral Why you should say yes to opportunities you don't expect Celebrating wins at every stage—from your first media placement to your 10th year as CEO KEY TAKEAWAYS ✓ Visibility isn't a luxury—it's infrastructure for business success ✓ You don't need a massive budget to start building visibility ✓ Regional press and local media are the perfect entry point ✓ Your story is what makes you stand out, not your credentials alone ✓ Women are taught to be quiet—you have to intentionally break that pattern ✓ Never jump on trends just for clicks; stay authentic to your brand ✓ Building your narrative takes time and consistency (Jenna built for 11 years before viral moments) ✓ Saying yes to unexpected opportunities (like a podcast) can change your business trajectory ✓ Success looks different for everyone—celebrate the wins at every stage FIND JENNA GUARNERI JMG Public Relations: www.jmgpr.com Book: You Need PR (bestseller) Podcast: Call Your Publicist (387k+ streams, 2025 Most Shared Show on Spotify) Roku Channel: Call Your Publicist (expanding to television) Social Media: Instagram: (26K followers personal, 21K+ JMG PR page) LinkedIn: (active with thought leadership) Forbes: Contributor on Forbes Business Council WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS Jenna represents something rare: a woman who's proven that PR success doesn't require massive budgets or celebrity status. She's not gatekeeping. She's not telling you to hire a big agency. She's saying: here's how I did it, here's the template, now go build your own visibility. She's building her company, hosting a podcast, appearing on national TV, launching on Roku, and still has time to mentor the next generation. CONTENT NOTE This episode is tactical, inspirational, and grounded in real business strategy. It's for entrepreneurs who want results, not hype.

    24 min

  7. Apr 29

    The Self-Worth Equation: How Understanding Yourself Changes Everything | Anna Morgenstern | Influential Women Podcast

    What if the reason you keep dating the same type of person isn't luck? What if it's a pattern you're choosing—unconsciously—because of an old wound? Anna Morgenstern is NYC's top matchmaker and dating expert, having spent over a decade helping men and women worldwide find real partnerships. But here's what makes her different: she's not just a matchmaker. She's a pattern-breaker. She's someone who understands that most people aren't stuck because they're unlucky. They're stuck because they're dating from a wounded place—and they don't even know it. Anna's own journey proves it. She was a matchmaker who couldn't find her own match until she did the deep self-work she now helps her clients do. She spent years feeling turned off when men treated her well, pausing to ask herself why consistency and kindness felt wrong. She had to retrain herself to recognize a real partnership. In this honest conversation with host Jodie O'Brien, Anna reveals what actually keeps people from finding lasting relationships—and it's not what you think. Podcast hub: ⁠https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts⁠ IMDb: ⁠https://www.imdb.com/title/tt42561398/⁠ In this episode, we explore: Why you're not a victim to your type—and how to change it The patterns high-achieving women keep repeating How to recognize when you're dating from a wounded place Why superficial qualities lead to divorce What actually matters in finding a real partner The cost of accepting less than you deserve How to use travel and stress situations to evaluate partnerships Doing the self-worth work that changes everything Why your professional success doesn't guarantee relationship success Breaking patterns and finding real partnership Anna brings data, research, and lived experience. She's worked with hundreds of clients and lived through her own pattern-breaking. She doesn't offer inspiration without substance. She offers a strategy: understanding your attraction triggers, recognizing your patterns, and doing the work to retrain yourself to recognize real partnership. KEY TAKEAWAYS ✓ Attraction isn't fixed—it's a pattern you can change if it's not working ✓ Your type tells you where your wounds are coming from ✓ High-achieving women often attract unavailable men because it validates their drive ✓ Superficial qualities (looks, status, money) don't predict lasting relationships ✓ What matters: kindness, consistency, genuine friendship, shared goals ✓ You're likely dating from a wounded place without knowing it ✓ Stress situations reveal who someone really is (travel, delays, conflict)  ✓ Self-worth work means retraining yourself to recognize good treatment ✓ Patterns tell you everything about how you got here ✓ Your past doesn't define your future—and you can meet someone tomorrow who changes everything FIND ANNA MORGENSTERN Anna Morgenstern Matchmaking: www.annamorgenstern.com Social Media: Instagram: @annamorgenstern  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annamorgenstern Email: datingrehabnyc@gmail.com

    24 min

  8. Apr 17

    Redefining Leadership: Empathy and Authenticity As Competitive Advantages | Sarah Burlew | Influential Women Podcast

    What if the secret to business success wasn't productivity, efficiency, or profit maximization? What if it was joy? Sarah Burlew walked away from a stable career in consulting to launch Omlie during the pandemic. Someone told her she didn't understand her market value. She proved them wrong by hitting $1.9 million in revenue in year one. Now, just a few years later, her woman-owned consulting firm has earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list, been recognized as a Global Top 100 Inspiring Workplace, and earned Sarah recognition as a Most Admired CEO. But what makes her journey remarkable isn't the accolades. It's what she's built: a consulting firm that centers joy, empathy, authenticity, and psychological safety as core business strategies—not soft perks or nice-to-haves. In this candid conversation with host Jodie O'Brien, Sarah reveals what it takes to bet on yourself when everyone doubts you, build a people-first culture at scale, and pioneer a completely different kind of leadership. In this episode, we explore: Why she walked away from consulting despite success How she identified what was missing in the way we work Building $1.9M in revenue in year one on conviction What "people-first culture at scale" actually looks like Why joy matters at work (and why most companies are missing it) Leading with values even when it costs you business The difference between entrepreneurs and calculated risk-takers Building a company intentionally designed around women's needs How she reframes feedback and self-worth What legacy she hopes to leave for future women leaders Sarah brings honesty about the hard moments, clarity about her values, and infectious passion for proving that business can be built differently. She doesn't offer inspiration without substance. She offers proof: through her Inc. 5000 listing, through her team's engagement, through the fact that people genuinely want to work there. Podcast hub: ⁠https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts⁠ IMDb: ⁠https://www.imdb.com/title/tt42561398/⁠ KEY TAKEAWAYS ✓ Work was designed 175 years ago for factory efficiency—but we're knowledge workers now  ✓ Joy, empathy, and authenticity aren't soft perks—they're competitive advantages  ✓ Building with values costs some opportunities. That's a price worth paying  ✓ Someone else's assessment of your worth is not truth—it's a reflection of their limitations ✓ Calculated risk-takers de-risk their decisions with small wins that build confidence ✓ Most businesses fail because leaders give up when it gets hard  ✓ Leading for the rising tide: decisions that create paths for others to follow ✓ Pioneers don't need playbooks—they create them  ✓ Fear and scarcity are constructs you can choose not to operate within  ✓ Your gut is data. Don't silence it. FIND SARAH BURLEW Omlie: https://omlieconsulting.com/ Social Media:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/omlie-consulting/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OmlieConsultingIG: https://www.instagram.com/omlieconsulting/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omlieconsulting

    29 min
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4.9
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Influential Women Podcast features conversations with women leaders, founders, professionals, and subject matter experts about leadership, careers, entrepreneurship, visibility, and personal growth. The podcast is part of Influential Women, a professional media and editorial platform Hosted by Jodie O’Brien, each episode shares real stories from entrepreneurs, executives, creators, and changemakers, exploring the decisions, challenges, and turning points that shaped their journeys. Podcast hub: ⁠https://influentialwomen.com/podcasts⁠ IMDb: ⁠https://www.imdb.com/title/tt42561398/⁠

Information

  • Creator
    Influential Women
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Influential Women
  • Show Website
    Influential Women Podcast

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