2B Bolder Podcast : Career Insights & Advice from Successful Women in Business & Tech

Mary Killelea, Host
  • 5.0 (30)
  • 职业
  • 一周一更

The 2B Bolder Podcast ranks in the top 3% of 3.5 million podcasts globally (Listen Score). Host Mary Killelea, a former corporate B2B marketing strategist and founder of the 2B Bolder platform, sits down with bold and inspiring women in business and technology who have built powerful personal brands and thriving careers. Through honest conversations, guests share how they navigated challenges, found their voice, and stood out in competitive industries. From execs to entrepreneurs, engineers to marketers, you’ll hear firsthand how they turned ambition into action. If you're ready to elevate your career and personal brand, this is your front-row seat. Learn more at www.2BBolder.com.

  1. #137 Cisco's EVP Liz Centoni Talks about Navigating AI and Leadership

    5天前

    #137 Cisco's EVP Liz Centoni Talks about Navigating AI and Leadership

    Liz Centoni takes us on the extraordinary journey through her 25-year career at Cisco, where she's currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer, leading a global team of 21,000 employees. Rather than viewing her long tenure at one company as stagnation, Liz describes finding multiple "lily pads" across 13 different roles, allowing her to constantly reinvent herself while building diverse skills and leadership capabilities. With refreshing candor, Liz addresses the challenges women in technology face, sharing personal experiences of having ideas ignored until repeated by male colleagues. "It took me a long time to realize that it was not about how I was saying it, it was who was hearing it," she reflects. This authenticity extends to her leadership approach, where building trust through consistent communication, clear priorities, and genuine empathy creates alignment across her organization. As an executive at the forefront of technological innovation, Liz offers valuable insights into how AI is transforming customer experience. She distinguishes between traditional AI applications and newer agentic systems that can take autonomous action, creating opportunities to solve persistent customer problems at scale. Rather than viewing AI as a job replacement, Liz sees it as freeing teams from repetitive tasks to focus on more complex, creative problem-solving. Perhaps most powerful is Liz's reflection on what it means "to be bolder," drawing from Viktor Frankl's philosophy that between stimulus and response lies a space where we choose our actions. For Liz, boldness means expanding that space, taking ownership of choices, and recognizing personal agency in every situation – a perspective that offers a powerful framework for approaching leadership challenges with authenticity and courage. Ready to transform your approach to career development and leadership? Tune in now here or on your favorite streaming channels. Subscribe to the To Be Bolder podcast for more conversations with inspiring leaders who are breaking barriers and creating meaningful change. Support the show When you subscribe to the podcast, you are supporting our work's mission, allowing us to continue highlighting successful women in a variety of careers to inspire others helping pay our wonderful editor, Chris, and helping me in paying our hosting expenses. 🎉

    33 分钟
  2. #136 Nedra Rezinas Marketer, Entrepreneur and Coach Talks About Finding Your Niche

    8月26日

    #136 Nedra Rezinas Marketer, Entrepreneur and Coach Talks About Finding Your Niche

    What if the boldest move in marketing wasn't about being louder, but about being truer to who you really are? Nedra Rezinas joins us to challenge conventional marketing wisdom with her refreshing approach designed specifically for introverts and highly sensitive entrepreneurs. Nedra's journey from web designer to marketing strategist reveals how listening to clients' needs led her to discover her true calling. After 16 years in web design, she noticed clients consistently asking, "What do I do after the website is built?" This gap became her opportunity to serve a community she naturally understood – fellow introverts seeking authentic marketing guidance. The conversation takes a powerful turn when Nedra boldly states that "you don't have to do it all" in marketing – a perspective she admits feels almost "blasphemous" in an industry that often pushes omnipresence. By giving permission to skip video content or certain platforms when they don't align with your strengths, she immediately reduces the overwhelm that paralyzes many sensitive business owners. Her "done is better than perfect" philosophy similarly liberates clients from the perfectionism that prevents progress. We explore practical strategies for introverts to network effectively, including volunteering at events to have a built-in purpose, following a "one to two meeting rule" to evaluate groups efficiently, and creating structured environments where meaningful connections can form. Nedra's "Quiet Networking" initiative replaces unstructured "schmoozing" with intentional, topic-driven small group discussions – reimagining networking for those who find traditional approaches draining. For anyone feeling stuck or afraid to be visible, Nedra offers this gem: ask your existing clients why they chose to work with you. This simple yet powerful suggestion shifts the focus from abstract marketing concepts to concrete feedback from people who already value your work – a perfect encapsulation of her relationship-focused approach to marketing, which prioritizes human connection over techniques. Ready to market your business in a way that honors your introvert nature while still creating meaningful impact? This conversation will show you how authenticity becomes your greatest marketing asset. Support the show When you subscribe to the podcast, you are supporting our work's mission, allowing us to continue highlighting successful women in a variety of careers to inspire others helping pay our wonderful editor, Chris, and helping me in paying our hosting expenses. 🎉

    32 分钟
  3. #135 Unleashing Your Voice: Rising in Sales with Cherilynn Castleman

    8月20日

    #135 Unleashing Your Voice: Rising in Sales with Cherilynn Castleman

    What does it take to succeed in male-dominated fields? Cherilynn Castleman knows firsthand, having navigated 30+ years in sales leadership at Fortune 500 companies as a woman of color. Her journey from selling Girl Scout cookies to coaching C-suite executives at Amazon and Walmart reveals powerful insights about career advancement, personal branding, and overcoming barriers. Cherilynn's revelation that "sales is a gateway skill" transforms how we think about this crucial capability. "Everybody sells," she explains. "If you're interviewing for a job, you're selling yourself. If you have an idea in marketing, you're selling your idea." This reframing makes sales accessible to everyone—especially women who might otherwise avoid this traditionally male-dominated field. The conversation takes a powerful turn when Cherilynn shares her framework for handling microaggressions—those painful "paper cut" moments that undermine confidence. She outlines three distinct types and exactly how to respond to each, providing practical tools for self-advocacy while maintaining dignity. Her three-part formula for career success is equally actionable: be competent ("too good to be ignored"), have confidence to share your point of view, and genuinely care about your work and clients. Perhaps most valuable is Cherilynn's strategic approach to mentorship and building a personal brand that attracts opportunities. She reveals that 100% of her business coaching Fortune 500 executives comes through LinkedIn, a platform she once feared, and shares exactly how she transformed her presence there. Her mission to empower one million women by 2030 demonstrates how an audacious goal can focus your efforts and open unexpected doors, from teaching at Harvard to developing global training programs. Connect with Cherilynn on LinkedIn and mention this podcast to receive her frameworks on any topic discussed. Whether you're early in your career or looking to break through to leadership, her practical wisdom will help you find your voice and show up bolder in every professional setting. Support the show When you subscribe to the podcast, you are supporting our work's mission, allowing us to continue highlighting successful women in a variety of careers to inspire others helping pay our wonderful editor, Chris, and helping me in paying our hosting expenses. 🎉

    36 分钟
  4. #134 Culture and Creativity Collide: Jodi Porter Reveals TikTok's Impact on Traditional Industries

    8月5日

    #134 Culture and Creativity Collide: Jodi Porter Reveals TikTok's Impact on Traditional Industries

    Think TikTok is just dancing and viral videos? Prepare to have your perspective completely transformed. In this eye-opening conversation with Jodi Porter, Vertical Director at TikTok, we dive deep into how major industries like automotive, finance, and healthcare are redefining their approach to customer connections in the digital age. With 20 years of experience spanning agencies and digital innovation, Jodi reveals what happens when traditional brands embrace a platform built on speed, culture, and creativity. "Culture happens on TikTok every day," she explains. "When brands regularly show up, not just to advertise but to engage, they naturally become part of this culture." The result? Authentic connections that drive measurable business impact. The conversation explores fascinating transformations happening across industries – financial discussions once limited to living rooms now thrive as educational content, healthcare brands build communities through trusted dialogues, and automotive companies leverage the platform as a dynamic showroom where your next vehicle discovery begins. Behind these cultural shifts is sophisticated strategy, not just viral content. As Jodi notes, "It's less about making a viral video and more about mapping your annual brand strategy to culture in ways that drive results." Whether you're a marketing professional seeking fresh perspectives, someone contemplating a career pivot, or simply curious about TikTok's business impact, this episode delivers valuable insights about leadership, authenticity, and the future of brand-consumer relationships. Jodi's journey from traditional agencies to tech leadership offers a masterclass in career development, with gems like "Don't wait to be ready. Just start showing up like you already belong there" and "Your job isn't to have all the answers, it's to make other people feel safe trying new ones." Ready to understand how culture and commerce collide in today's digital landscape? Listen now and discover why your next career or business breakthrough might just be a swipe away. Support the show When you subscribe to the podcast, you are supporting our work's mission, allowing us to continue highlighting successful women in a variety of careers to inspire others helping pay our wonderful editor, Chris, and helping me in paying our hosting expenses. 🎉

    23 分钟
  5. #133 Building a Successful Customer Advocacy Program: Alyssa Maschi's Journey at Lenovo

    7月22日

    #133 Building a Successful Customer Advocacy Program: Alyssa Maschi's Journey at Lenovo

    Ever wondered how customer stories come to life in global tech companies? Welcome to a fascinating conversation with Alyssa Maschi, Head of the Customer Reference Center of Excellence at Lenovo. Alyssa's career journey defies traditional expectations. Starting in nonprofit work, she made a bold transition into tech through channel marketing before finding her way to customer advocacy. Her candid admission that she "had to Google what customer reference marketing was" when applying for her current role reveals an important truth: career paths rarely follow a straight line. What carried her through these transitions? The soft skills she cultivated along the way, communication, relationship-building, and adaptability. Building Lenovo's customer reference program from scratch presented enormous challenges. Alyssa shares how she established the operational foundation, engaged with sellers, recruited customers, and eventually expanded from a single business unit to a company-wide center of excellence. Her role evolved from hands-on implementation to strategic leadership, focusing on program expansion and securing executive support. This evolution offers valuable lessons for anyone tasked with building something new within a large organization. The conversation takes an honest turn when discussing corporate politics and finding advocates. Alyssa credits her success in scaling the program to having a VP who believed in her work and provided the platform to pitch directly to the CMO. For women navigating large tech organizations, this highlights the critical importance of finding champions who can elevate your work to higher levels. When leadership guidance is lacking, Alyssa recommends returning to strategic foundations and expanding your internal network, practical advice for maintaining momentum during uncertain times. Looking to position yourself for promotion? Alyssa suggests a methodical approach: understand the specific requirements for the next level position and document how you're already fulfilling those responsibilities. This evidence-based approach creates a compelling case that's difficult for management to dispute. Join us for this illuminating conversation about career transitions, building global programs, and what it truly means to be bolder, embracing curiosity and following opportunities that spark your interest, even when they aren't obvious next steps. Support the show When you subscribe to the podcast, you are supporting our work's mission, allowing us to continue highlighting successful women in a variety of careers to inspire others helping pay our wonderful editor, Chris, and helping me in paying our hosting expenses. 🎉

    30 分钟
  6. #132 Karenga Ross's Career Insights: Ask for Help, Build Your Legacy: A Tech Leader's Playbook

    7月8日

    #132 Karenga Ross's Career Insights: Ask for Help, Build Your Legacy: A Tech Leader's Playbook

    What does it take to go from childhood dreams of building a Terminator robot to leading AI innovation at Intel? Karenga Ross's remarkable journey offers a masterclass in career development that combines technical expertise with business acumen, authentic relationship-building, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. As Intel's Senior Director shaping the future of data center AI, Karinga shares how unexpected pivots became her greatest assets—from abandoning mechanical engineering after a challenging thermodynamics course to discovering her leadership voice at Coca-Cola where she was first challenged to articulate her personal brand. Her candid reflections reveal how saying "yes" to opportunities, even when they required significant life changes, opened doors she never imagined possible. For women intimidated by fields like AI and data center engineering, Karinga offers refreshingly accessible advice, demystifying complex technical concepts by connecting them to everyday experiences. "Don't be intimidated; be curious," she emphasizes, explaining that companies hire for aptitude and willingness to learn—not complete mastery of every technical detail. This perspective transforms imposing career paths into approachable possibilities. Perhaps most valuable is Karinga's evolved understanding of leadership essentials often overlooked in technical fields—strategic vision-building, cross-cultural communication, and the courage to ask for help. She reveals her personal strategy development process, which includes scheduled time away from digital distractions to think clearly among trees, and how discovering that people genuinely enjoy sharing knowledge transformed her approach to networking from something that felt like "schmoozing" to building authentic relationships based on mutual support. As AI continues transforming industries, Karinga provides practical guidance for both early-career professionals and those facing potential displacement. Her approach to continuous learning—currently pursuing a PhD in business leadership while leading at Intel—embodies her philosophy: "If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready." This conversation is essential listening for anyone navigating technical careers with ambitions beyond coding. Support the show When you subscribe to the podcast, you are supporting our work's mission, allowing us to continue highlighting successful women in a variety of careers to inspire others helping pay our wonderful editor, Chris, and helping me in paying our hosting expenses. 🎉

    28 分钟
  7. #131 From Acting to Producing: Karina Michel's Journey Through Entertainment

    6月24日

    #131 From Acting to Producing: Karina Michel's Journey Through Entertainment

    What does it truly take to build a thriving career in Hollywood? Emmy award-winning actress and producer Karina Michel pulls back the curtain on the entertainment industry in this captivating conversation about resilience, authenticity, and creative evolution. Karina's remarkable journey began far from the bright lights of Hollywood—in a small town in England where, at just three years old, she declared to her parents she wanted to be an actress. Through twists of fate, including being discovered by a photographer at an Ohio mall, she built a career spanning over 100 projects, including appearances in Dexter, Entourage, CSI: New York, and Transformers 2. What makes Karina's story particularly compelling is her ability to evolve with changing circumstances. When a writers' strike halted her acting work, she pivoted to producing at a time when female producers were rare. This transition coincided with motherhood, allowing her the flexibility to remain in entertainment while being present for her children. Beyond acting and producing, she has expanded her creative portfolio as a writer for Rolling Stone and Authority Magazine, as well as the host of her podcast, "Coffee with Karina: Entertainment Unfiltered." Throughout our conversation, Karina shares invaluable wisdom for aspiring entertainment professionals. She emphasizes the critical importance of networking, the need to begin local and build experience, and the power of embracing imperfection rather than waiting for ideal conditions. Her definition of boldness—"not giving in to fear in any way"—serves as both her philosophy and her message to listeners hesitant to pursue their creative dreams. Discover why authenticity remains the cornerstone of creative success and how facing your fears might open doors to worlds you never imagined possible. Whether you're pursuing a career in entertainment or seeking inspiration to take a bold step in any field, Karina's insights offer both practical guidance and motivational fuel to move forward with courage. Resources: Podcast Coffee with Karina Karina on LinkedIn Support the show When you subscribe to the podcast, you are supporting our work's mission, allowing us to continue highlighting successful women in a variety of careers to inspire others helping pay our wonderful editor, Chris, and helping me in paying our hosting expenses. 🎉

    21 分钟
  8. #130 Susan Sly Talks about Revolutionizing Menopause Support with AI & Her Career Journey

    6月10日

    #130 Susan Sly Talks about Revolutionizing Menopause Support with AI & Her Career Journey

    What if AI could finally solve one of the most overlooked challenges in women’s health? Millions of women experience menopause, yet real support has always lagged behind, until now. In this episode of the 2B Bolder Podcast, I sit down with Susan Sly, tech founder, health advocate, and CEO of Pause AI, who is transforming how women navigate menopause through the use of artificial intelligence. Her journey is anything but traditional, from working on facial recognition algorithms in the ’90s, to building a career in holistic health, to a life-threatening illness that nearly derailed everything. But that experience lit a fire—and brought her back to tech with a new mission: to build real-time, personalized solutions for the 1.1 billion women facing menopause. We talk about: The spark behind Pause AI at a Women in AI eventHow wearables and real-time data are changing the gameWhy only 2.5% of VC funding goes to women founders—and what she’s doing anywayThe resilience it takes to walk away from what’s working to build what’s neededSusan gets real about leadership, aging, and why women should solve women’s health issues. 🎧 Tune in and be inspired, as bold leaders innovate and listen to what women truly need.  Search 2B Bolder wherever you get your podcasts, or listen now at 2bbolder.com/podcasts. Resources: Susan Sly on LinkedIn Official Website: https://susansly.com/ Company website: https://thepause.ai/ Support the show When you subscribe to the podcast, you are supporting our work's mission, allowing us to continue highlighting successful women in a variety of careers to inspire others helping pay our wonderful editor, Chris, and helping me in paying our hosting expenses. 🎉

    54 分钟
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The 2B Bolder Podcast ranks in the top 3% of 3.5 million podcasts globally (Listen Score). Host Mary Killelea, a former corporate B2B marketing strategist and founder of the 2B Bolder platform, sits down with bold and inspiring women in business and technology who have built powerful personal brands and thriving careers. Through honest conversations, guests share how they navigated challenges, found their voice, and stood out in competitive industries. From execs to entrepreneurs, engineers to marketers, you’ll hear firsthand how they turned ambition into action. If you're ready to elevate your career and personal brand, this is your front-row seat. Learn more at www.2BBolder.com.

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