Fempire Rising: Her Future, Her Voice

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Welcome to Fempire Rising, her Future, her voice, the podcast where women in business rise, lead and redefine success on their own terms. I'm Trudy Heins, and I'm the CEO of Fempire. I'm an entrepreneur and a business coach, and I believe when one woman rises, we all rise.   Each week we'll dive into real conversations about business, leadership, money and mindset, the highs, the lows, and everything In between, you'll hear stories of women who've turned their fire into focus, their fear into fuel  and their purpose into profit.If you're ready to build a business that gives you freedom, fulfillment, and financial confidence, then you are in the right place.  This is where passion meets purpose, and together we rise  because the future isn't just bright. The future is female.

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  1. Episode 1

    Season 4 | Episode 1 | The CEO Shift: From Operator to Leader

    Send us Fan Mail Season 4 of Fempire Rising begins with a conversation every business owner needs to hear. In this special panel episode, Trudy Heins is joined by Laura Connarty-Duncan, Karen Evans, and Dena Piro, three Fempire Certified Business Coaches with decades of combined experience across corporate leadership, business ownership and coaching. Together, they explore what it really means to make The CEO Shift. That point where working harder is no longer the answer, and stepping into leadership becomes the key to sustainable business growth. The panel shares personal stories of career pivots, leadership lessons, imposter moments, burnout, confidence, delegation and the realities of building businesses that don't rely on the owner doing everything. This conversation is practical, honest and full of commercial insight for women who are ready to stop operating in their business and start leading it. In this episode, Trudy, Laura, Karen and Dena discuss:  What The CEO Shift really means and why every business owner eventually reaches it.  The difference between being busy and being commercially effective.  Why so many women underestimate the value of their own experience.  Building confidence through action rather than waiting until you feel ready.  Delegation, systems and why they need to happen earlier than most business owners think.  The mindset shifts required to move from operator to leader.  The importance of boundaries, resilience and building a business that supports your life.  Practical advice for women who are ready to lead with more confidence and commercial clarity.  Episode Highlights 00:00 Welcome to Season 4: The CEO Shift 02:49 Meet the panel: Laura Connarty-Duncan, Karen Evans & Dena Piro 09:45 The first signs you've become the bottleneck 17:36 Why the CEO Shift starts with mindset 23:08 Delegation, outsourcing and letting go 28:38 Systems: Why you need them earlier than you think 34:33 Getting out of the day-to-day and leading strategically 39:53 Redefining success as a business owner 42:12 The one thing every CEO needs to stop doing 47:08 Turning decades of experience into a coaching business 53:12 Final advice for women making the CEO Shift Connect with our panel Laura Connarty-Duncan Founder & CEO Champion Women Karen Evans Founder & CEO Business By Design Coach Dena Piro Founder & CEO DP Business Coaching Find all of our Certified Business Coaches here Become a Fempire Certified Business Coach: If you're an experienced businesswoman ready to turn your knowledge into a profitable coaching business, learn more here Join the FEMPIRE Academy: Access practical business resources, masterclasses, templates and a community of women building commercially strong businesses here Support the show

    Season 4 | Episode 1 | The CEO Shift: From Operator to Leader

  2. Episode 2

    Season 4 | Episode 2 | From Adversity to CEO

    Send us Fan Mail Today, Trudy Heins sits down with Di Geddes, founder of Exceptional Care For You, a values-led disability and aged care business she started at 54 after rebuilding her life following breast cancer, divorce, workplace bullying, grief and years of caring for others. What began with a desire to make a difference has grown into a business employing more than 90 people, proving it's never too late to start again. Di shares how encouragement from clients, the support of mentors and learning to believe in herself gave her the confidence to take the leap into business. She reflects on the milestones that mattered most, from securing her first office to leading a growing team, and the mindset shifts required to transition from doing everything herself to becoming the CEO her business needed. Together, Trudy and Di explore values-led leadership, compassion in business, building culture, trusting others, setting boundaries, overcoming loneliness as a business owner, and redefining success beyond revenue alone. If you've ever questioned whether it's too late to start over, struggled to let go of control, or wondered what it really takes to lead a growing business, this conversation is for you. Connect with Di Geddes Di's book Episode Highlights 01:22 Meet Di Geddes 03:07 Rebuilding after cancer, divorce and adversity 05:50 Finding purpose through care 06:38 The mentor who encouraged Di to start her business 08:54 Strength, support and healing 11:20 Letting go of resentment 12:41 Starting a business at 54 14:20 Why positive feedback changed everything 15:40 The mindset shift from employee to business owner 19:04 Moving from operator to organisation 20:57 Scaling the business and thinking like a CEO 23:30 Building a business led by compassion 25:09 Looking beyond the NDIS headlines 26:14 Can compassion and profit coexist? 26:51 Hiring for values before skills 29:52 Boundaries, trust and leadership 32:28 Building your business tribe 35:38 Lessons in loyalty and leadership 38:31 What the CEO Shift really means 39:14 Redefining success and leadership 41:28 Designing a business that supports retirement 43:22 Why it's never too late to begin again 45:18 Final takeaways Become a Fempire Certified Business Coach If you're an experienced businesswoman ready to turn your knowledge into a profitable coaching business, we'd love to have a conversation. Click here to learn more Find a Fempire Certified Business Coach Looking for practical business support from a coach who understands the realities of business ownership? Find your coach here Join the FEMPIRE Academy Access practical business resources, masterclasses, templates, workbooks and a supportive community of women building commercially strong businesses. Join the Academy Connect with FEMPIRE Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Support the show

    Season 4 | Episode 2 | From Adversity to CEO

  3. Episode 3

    Season 4 | Episode 3 | Disruption, Delegation and Building a Business That Doesn't Depend on You

    Send us Fan Mail Today, Trudy Heins sits down with Dionne Malush, co-owner of Realty ONE Group Gold Standard in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to explore what it really takes to build a business that can grow beyond its founder. After losing her first business following a difficult partnership, Dionne rebuilt from the ground up, combining her background in graphic design and marketing with real estate to create one of the fastest-growing brokerages in her region. What began as a bold decision to challenge the traditional real estate model has grown into a business of around 200 agents, built on authentic leadership, innovation and a willingness to do things differently. Together, Trudy and Dionne discuss disrupting an established industry, building a strong personal brand, learning to delegate, trusting others to lead, and making the mindset shift from doing everything yourself to building a business that doesn't depend on you. If you've ever struggled to let go of control, worried about whether your business could survive without you, or wondered what it really takes to become the CEO your business needs, this conversation is for you. Connect with Dionne Malush LinkedIn Episode Highlights 01:02 Meet Dionne Malush 02:06 Losing her first business and starting again 04:54 Why real estate became the next chapter 06:01 Challenging the traditional brokerage model 08:27 Why disruption creates opportunity 12:33 Building an authentic personal brand online 17:02 Hiring a COO and learning to delegate 23:15 Letting go to build a business beyond yourself 24:35 Communication, trust and leadership 26:13 Why women need to build their personal brand 29:06 Stop worrying about what other people think 31:44 Leading through personal adversity 33:27 Faith, mindset and resilience 35:44 Why taking action beats waiting for confidence 37:24 Season 4 Quickfire Questions 44:36 Legacy and final takeaways Become a Fempire Certified Business Coach If you're an experienced businesswoman ready to turn your knowledge into a profitable coaching business, we'd love to have a conversation. Click here to learn more Find a Fempire Certified Business Coach Looking for practical business support from a coach who understands the realities of business ownership? Find your coach here Join the Fempire Academy Access practical business resources, masterclasses, templates, playbooks and a supportive community of women building stronger, more profitable businesses. Join the Academy Connect with FEMPIRE Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Support the show

    Season 4 | Episode 3 | Disruption, Delegation and Building a Business That Doesn't Depend on You

  4. Episode 4

    Season 4 | Episode 4 | Building a Business Bigger Than Yourself

    Send us Fan Mail Today, Trudy Heins sits down with Sam Bell, founder of Courageous Girls Club, to explore what it really takes to build a business bigger than yourself. What began with just eight girls gathered around Sam's dining room table has grown into a national organisation, licensing programs across Australia to help young girls build confidence, courage and resilience. As the business expanded, Sam faced the challenge every founder eventually encounters: how do you stop being the person who does everything and become the leader who enables others to carry your vision? Together, Trudy and Sam discuss the transition from operator to CEO, the power of licensing, protecting your intellectual property, documenting systems, building the right team, and learning to let go so your business can continue to grow without depending solely on you. If you've ever wondered how to scale a service-based business, struggled to delegate, or wanted to create a business that makes an impact beyond your own time and effort, this conversation is for you. Connect with Sam Bell Website: Courageous Girls Club LinkedIn: Sam Bell Episode Highlights 02:35 How Courageous Girls Club began 05:11 The experiences that shaped Sam's mission 09:39 Building confidence instead of simply tackling bullying 15:43 Why licensing became the path to growth 20:36 Redefining success and building a business that fits your life 23:07 Stepping into the role of CEO 25:40 Letting go so your business can grow 31:04 What every business owner should know about licensing 33:56 Leadership, authenticity and building the right culture 38:44 Giving yourself permission to lead 43:22 Why you have to back yourself 45:05 Season 4 Quickfire Questions 47:42 Final thoughts and takeaways Become a Fempire Certified Business Coach If you're an experienced businesswoman ready to turn your knowledge into a profitable coaching business, we'd love to have a conversation. Click here to learn more Find a Fempire Certified Business Coach Looking for practical business support from a coach who understands the realities of business ownership? Find your coach here Join the Fempire Academy Access practical business resources, masterclasses, templates, playbooks and a supportive community of women building stronger, more profitable businesses. Join the Academy Connect with Fempire Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Support the show

    Season 4 | Episode 4 | Building a Business Bigger Than Yourself

  5. Episode 5

    Season 4 | Episode 5 | Protecting the Business You've Built

    Send us Fan Mail Today, Trudy Heins sits down with Caroline Cavanagh, Director of Jubilee Legal, to explore one of the most overlooked responsibilities of business leadership: protecting the business you've worked so hard to build. Many business owners spend years growing profitable businesses and valuable assets, yet very few stop to consider what could happen if life takes an unexpected turn. Together, Trudy and Caroline discuss why CEOs think about risk before it becomes a crisis, the role of financial agreements, estate planning and asset protection, and why these conversations are not just legal matters, but commercial decisions. They also explore Caroline's approach to Dignified Divorce, the importance of creating strong business foundations, and why the best time to protect your business is long before you ever think you'll need to. If you've ever assumed asset protection was something to deal with later, or wondered how to build a business that's prepared for whatever life brings, this conversation is for you. Connect with Caroline Cavanagh Website: Jubilee Legal LinkedIn: Caroline Cavanagh Episode Highlights 02:42 Caroline's journey into family law 04:43 Moving from practitioner to business leader 07:15 Scaling through consultants instead of employees 08:51 Why CEOs think about risk differently 11:41 The financial consequences of relationships 13:26 What every business owner should know about financial agreements 18:57 Why asset protection starts from day one 21:03 Financial agreements as business planning 25:09 Why estate planning and asset protection go hand in hand 27:16 The thinking behind Dignified Divorce 31:16 Protecting the assets that matter most 33:49 Caroline's own CEO Shift 35:03 Letting go of doing everything yourself 37:56 Designing a business around the life you want 38:58 Looking five years ahead 39:16 Why working with a coach changes everything 40:25 Season 4 Quickfire Questions 47:15 Final thoughts and takeaways Become a Fempire Certified Business Coach If you're an experienced businesswoman ready to turn your knowledge into a profitable coaching business, we'd love to have a conversation. Click here to learn more Find a Fempire Certified Business Coach Looking for practical business support from a coach who understands the realities of business ownership? Find your coach here Join the Fempire Academy Access practical business resources, masterclasses, templates, playbooks and a supportive community of women building stronger, more profitable businesses. Join the Academy Connect with Fempire Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Support the show

    Season 4 | Episode 5 | Protecting the Business You've Built

  6. Episode 6

    Season 4 | Episode 6 | Leading Through Setbacks

    Send us Fan Mail Today, Trudy Heins sits down with Samantha Bottegal, founder of PEKO PEKO and a Fempire Certified Business Coach, to explore one of the most difficult parts of business leadership: what happens when things don't go to plan. After building a thriving food business from the ground up, Samantha faced one of the biggest challenges many business owners experience but rarely talk about. Trusting the wrong people, navigating leadership setbacks and rebuilding both her business and her confidence. Together, Trudy and Samantha discuss why strong values create stronger businesses, the transition from operator to CEO, the importance of hiring well, setting clear expectations, and learning that leadership is not about avoiding mistakes but responding well when they happen. They also explore resilience, accountability, coaching, systems, culture and why setbacks often become the lessons that shape stronger leaders. If you've ever questioned your leadership, struggled after making the wrong hire, or wondered how to rebuild your confidence after a setback, this conversation is for you. Connect with Samantha Bottegal Website: PEKO PEKO LinkedIn: Samantha Bottegal Episode Highlights 02:47 Samantha's journey from Japan to business ownership 07:19 Building a business on strong foundations and values 09:24 Recognising it was time to stop doing everything 10:24 The cost of trying to do it all 12:22 Hiring leaders and learning to let go 16:51 When leadership doesn't go to plan 20:04 Difficult conversations and rebuilding confidence 22:43 Trust, accountability and learning from mistakes 24:36 Looking inward before pointing outward 26:05 Overcoming guilt, shame and self-doubt 28:43 Why every business owner needs support 31:12 Building better systems and stronger teams 35:18 Returning to your values as a leader 40:25 Season 4 Quickfire Questions 47:33 Final thoughts and takeaways Become a Fempire Certified Business Coach If you're an experienced businesswoman ready to turn your knowledge into a profitable coaching business, we'd love to have a conversation. Click here to learn more Find a Fempire Certified Business Coach Looking for practical business support from a coach who understands the realities of business ownership? Find your coach here Join the Fempire Academy Access practical business resources, masterclasses, templates, playbooks and a supportive community of women building stronger, more profitable businesses. Join the Academy Connect with Fempire Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Support the show

    Season 4 | Episode 6 | Leading Through Setbacks

  7. Episode 7

    Season 4 | Episode 7 | The CEO Shift Starts in Your Brain

    Send us Fan Mail Today, Trudy Heins sits down with Hannah Conkey, founder of MindPilot, to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of business leadership: the brain behind the business. As business owners, we spend years learning about marketing, finance and strategy, yet very few of us ever learn how our brains influence the way we think, make decisions, respond to stress and lead our teams. Together, Trudy and Hannah discuss the neuroscience behind the CEO Shift, why so many business owners become trapped in survival mode, how stress and decision fatigue affect performance, and the practical habits that help leaders think more clearly, make better decisions and create sustainable success. They also explore emotional regulation, energy management, sleep, movement, delegation and why becoming a better CEO starts with understanding yourself before trying to improve your business. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, struggled to switch off, or wondered why you know what to do but still find yourself stuck in the day-to-day, this conversation is for you. Connect with Hannah Conkey Website: MindPilot LinkedIn: Hannah Conkey Episode Highlights 02:50 Hannah's journey from corporate leadership to neuroscience 05:32 Why understanding the brain changes the way we lead 10:38 Survival mode versus intentional leadership 13:14 Why your brain resists change 16:09 What really happens during the CEO Shift 19:48 Decision fatigue and why business owners get stuck 23:13 The impact of stress on leadership and performance 27:50 Helping teams move beyond constant overwhelm 32:48 Measuring performance through neuroscience 36:03 Why wellbeing is a commercial advantage 40:59 Sleep, recovery and sustainable leadership 46:39 Practical habits that improve decision making 48:29 Letting go and trusting others to lead 52:20 Why exhaustion should never be a badge of honour 52:36 Hannah's advice for women ready to make their CEO Shift 54:34 Final thoughts and takeaways Become a Fempire Certified Business Coach If you're an experienced businesswoman ready to turn your knowledge into a profitable coaching business, we'd love to have a conversation. Click here to learn more Find a Fempire Certified Business Coach Looking for practical business support from a coach who understands the realities of business ownership? Find your coach here Join the Fempire Academy Access practical business resources, masterclasses, templates, playbooks and a supportive community of women building stronger, more profitable businesses. Join the Academy Connect with Fempire Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Support the show

    Season 4 | Episode 7 | The CEO Shift Starts in Your Brain

  8. Episode 8

    Season 4 | Episode 8 | Build It to Be Worth Something

    Send us Fan Mail Today, Trudy Heins sits down with Jenni Erbel and Nina Forbes, two highly experienced businesswomen whose careers have spanned financial services, leadership, business ownership and ultimately successful business exits. What started as a conversation on Nina's driveway became a business they would build, grow and sell within five years. From the beginning, they had a number in mind and knew what they were working towards. That clarity shaped many of the decisions that followed. Together, Trudy, Jenni and Nina explore what it takes to build a business with real value beyond its owners. They discuss exit planning, cash flow, profitability, delegation, people, processes, culture and why understanding your numbers is a responsibility that can never simply be handed to someone else. They also unpack the importance of building for where you want the business to go, rather than only solving for what it needs today, and why knowing your own strengths may mean recognising that you don't have to be the CEO simply because you own the business. If you've ever wondered whether you're building a valuable business or simply creating another job for yourself, this conversation is full of lessons from two women who have built, grown, sold and ultimately created the freedom to choose what came next. Connect with Jenni Erbel and Nina Forbes Jenni Erbel LinkedIn Nina Forbes LinkedIn Episode Highlights 03:14 Jenni's journey from teaching to financial services, business ownership and retirement 03:58 How a conversation on a driveway became their first business 05:11 Why they had an exit strategy from the beginning 07:35 Moving from technician to CEO 09:33 Building towards a number and finding the right business mentor 11:48 Why doing everything yourself limits business value 13:03 Cash flow, growth and the numbers you need to watch 15:15 Profit as the reward for taking the risk of business ownership 16:11 The mistakes and learning experiences behind the success 17:58 Knowing when an opportunity will derail your strategy 18:47 People, profit and process 20:01 Communication, culture and leading your team 21:16 Why culture can trump strategy 23:05 Building systems and structure for where the business is going 25:13 Why growth requires a longer-term view 27:00 Building the foundations for the business you ultimately want 38:17 Knowing when it was time to step away 40:15 Defining the end game and working backwards 40:52 From sharing one desk to taking over the entire floor 42:30 Backing yourself and creating options for the future 43:24 Why bigger businesses don't mean fewer mistakes 43:55 Season 4 Quickfire Questions 45:28 Why sustainable growth means stopping doing everything yourself 46:29 Knowing your numbers and measuring return on investment 47:22 What to do when you've become the bottleneck 48:32 Final thoughts and takeaways Become a Fempire Certified Business Coach If you're an experienced businesswoman ready to turn your knowledge into a profitable coaching business, we'd love to have a conversation. Click here to learn more Find a Fempire Certified Business Coach Looking for practical business support from a coach who understands the realities of business ownership? Find your coach here Join the Fempire Academy Access practical business resources, masterclasses, templates, playbooks and a supportive community of women building stronger, more profitable businesses. Join the Academy Connect with Fempire Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Support the show

    Season 4 | Episode 8 | Build It to Be Worth Something

  9. Episode 9

    Season 4 | Episode 9 | From Chief Everything Officer to CEO

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Fempire Rising: Her Future, Her Voice, Trudy Heins sits down with Moriah Riona, founder of Moriah Riona Branding, to explore what really changes when a business owner stops trying to do everything herself and starts leading like a CEO.  Moriah shares her journey from wedding photographer to luxury brand strategist, and how narrowing her niche, investing in mindset work and eventually building a team helped her grow from $50K to $100K, then into a multiple six-figure business. Together, Trudy and Moriah unpack why being capable of doing everything does not mean you should, how outsourcing created the white space Moriah needed to become the visionary in her business, and why her biggest growth year also came with a shorter working week. They also explore the relationship between branding, identity and leadership. Because a premium brand is not simply about beautiful design. It is about positioning, self-concept, knowing the value you bring and being willing to step into the level of business you want to lead. The conversation also gets practical about delegation, hiring, having difficult conversations, letting go of perfectionism and building a team you can genuinely trust. If you have become the bottleneck in your own business, or you know you are spending too much time doing work someone else could be doing, this episode is a reminder that growth often begins with getting out of your own way. Connect with Moriah Riona Website LinkedIn Episode Highlights 02:58 Moriah’s journey from wedding photography to luxury branding 05:00 What changed when she finally narrowed her niche 06:10 How mindset work helped Moriah grow from $50K to $100K 09:02 Moving from Chief Everything Officer to CEO 10:17 Creating white space to become the visionary 11:09 Tripling revenue while moving to a three-day work week 13:16 Why women feel pressure to do everything themselves 15:16 Entrepreneurship, identity and personal development 18:00 When branding becomes more than a logo or website 20:42 Self-concept and attracting premium clients 23:39 The mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur 25:20 Why business owners need other entrepreneurs around them 27:43 The practical shift from busy to strategic 29:19 How Moriah built a team she could genuinely trust 31:13 Feedback, communication and difficult conversations 33:47 Moriah’s biggest CEO Shift 34:09 Tripling revenue while working less 35:07 Designing a business around life, not just revenue 35:49 Why women need to invest money, not only time, into growth 37:00 Advice for the business owner who has become the bottleneck 37:30 Stop waiting for permission to step into your next level Become a Fempire Certified Business Coach If you're an experienced businesswoman ready to turn your knowledge into a profitable coaching business, we'd love to have a conversation. Click here to learn more Find a Fempire Certified Business Coach Looking for practical business support from a coach who understands the realities of business ownership? Find your coach here Join the Fempire Academy Access practical business resources, masterclasses, templates, playbooks and a supportive community of women building stronger, more profitable businesses. Join the Academy Connect with Fempire Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Support the show

    Season 4 | Episode 9 | From Chief Everything Officer to CEO
See All Season 4 (9)

About

Welcome to Fempire Rising, her Future, her voice, the podcast where women in business rise, lead and redefine success on their own terms. I'm Trudy Heins, and I'm the CEO of Fempire. I'm an entrepreneur and a business coach, and I believe when one woman rises, we all rise.   Each week we'll dive into real conversations about business, leadership, money and mindset, the highs, the lows, and everything In between, you'll hear stories of women who've turned their fire into focus, their fear into fuel  and their purpose into profit.If you're ready to build a business that gives you freedom, fulfillment, and financial confidence, then you are in the right place.  This is where passion meets purpose, and together we rise  because the future isn't just bright. The future is female.

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