#Fempire

Julia Pennella
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#FEMPIRE explores the inspiring stories, challenges, and triumphs of remarkable women who have defied stereotypes and shattered glass ceilings. Join us as we sit down with fearless queens who’ve climbed the hill of leadership. 

  1. MAR 2

    Ep 23: Success on Paper, Burnout in Practice

    Success that burns you out isn’t success. In Part 2, we continue the conversation with strategist and execution architect Jen Phillips, founder of The New Ambition, to unpack what sustainable growth really looks like and why so many leaders get stuck in the hero habit. If you’ve ever felt like your business is thriving while you’re barely hanging on, you’ll hear a clear framework to regain control: define your success levers, set a true floor and ceiling for each, and run every decision through that lens so the wrong options fall away. Jen shares hard-won lessons from two decades inside high-growth organizations where speed, office politics, and decision loops can stall progress. We talk about the rush of saving the day and why that dopamine hit keeps teams dependent and leaders trapped in every decision. You’ll learn how to shift from fixing problems yourself to building the system and the people who can solve them—raising enterprise value, reducing bottlenecks, and giving your team the space to be great. We also explore autonomy of time, burnout recovery, and practical boundaries that restore executive function. From cutting nonessential commitments to reclaiming an hour by reducing doom scrolling, small moves create real change.  Jen’s advice is disarmingly simple and deeply human: step outside for fifteen minutes, reconnect with people in real life, and remember you’re not alone. The strength of your connections is the strength of your happiness—and your leadership. Ready to trade heroics for clarity, ownership, and sustainable execution? Hit follow, share this conversation with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so more leaders can find the show. Your next step might be as small as a walk, and as big as redefining success on your terms. Check out The New Ambition here: https://www.thenewambition.co/ This episode was recorded on January 16, 2026

    16 min

  2. MAR 2

    Ep. 22: The Human Cost of Moving Fast - Inside the AI Race and Burnout Culture

    A quiet truth is haunting workplaces right now: speed has become the strategy, and the human cost keeps climbing. In this episode, we sit down with Jen Phillips—former SVP of Global Marketing Operations at Salesforce and founder of The New Ambition—to unpack how the global race to AI, power dynamics in tech, and political instability are reshaping the very fabric of work. Jen takes us inside the operational engine room of modern tech organizations, where decisions are made at breakneck pace and incentives around data centres, energy, and talent create relentless pressure to move faster and ship more. In this environment, velocity is rewarded—while the human cost of burnout, attrition, and the erosion of female talent pipelines is treated as acceptable collateral damage. This conversation reveals how the race to build first is transforming not just technology, but the people expected to sustain it. She also breaks down the data behind the disappearing pipeline for women in tech—higher layoff rates, fewer promotions, and a narrowing path to leadership—and explains why this is not a talent problem, but a systems failure. Jen shares the personal moment that forced a reset and ultimately led her to found The New Ambition, a company dedicated to helping high-performing teams regain momentum—restoring focus, driving execution, and getting the right work across the finish line without burning people out. This episode is about power, pace, and the cost of progress when women are left behind. Listen, reflect, and share this with someone who needs permission to redefine what success really means. If it resonates, follow the show, leave a review, and tell us: what would you change first—pace, power, or policy? Check out The New Ambition here: https://www.thenewambition.co/ Quick heads up! This episode was recorded on January 16, 2026

    25 min

  3. MAR 2

    Season 2: Unfiltered. Unbothered. Unstoppable.

    Welcome back to #FEMPIRE—if this is your first time here, hi, hello, ciao, bonjour. I’m your host, Julia Pennella, and we’re officially kicking off Season 2. This is the podcast where we talk power, politics, money, leadership—and all the messy, complicated, very real stuff that comes with building a life and a career on your terms. Now more than ever, we need community. Real community. Not transactional networking or cold LinkedIn messages—but a space where we can talk honestly about the very real shit impacting our lives. That’s why I created this podcast. And I’ll be honest—this year has been tough. There are days where I curl up into a ball and feel utterly and completely hopeless. Women’s rights are under attack around the world. Everyday feels like we are the cusp of World Ward 3. Our institutions—and the leaders running them—are failing us. And that’s exactly why spaces like this matter. I started #FEMPIRE because it gives me hope. The women who step into this space give me hope. I believe—deeply—that every woman carries a story worth telling. And it’s through those stories that we remember who we are, that we’re not alone, and that our strength multiplies when we stand together. Community isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s how we survive, how we resist, and how we make it through even the hardest battles. If this podcast offers you even a small moment of solace or inspiration, let it be this: we can’t give up. We have to lean into community. We have to show up for one another. That’s the legacy I want to leave—and I hope you’ll join me for the journey. So if this is your first time tuning in, welcome to our community—our fempire. And to my returning baddies: Season 1 was just the warm-up. This season? We’re getting even bolder. And maybe a little more unfiltered. We’re talking strategy. Concrete solutions. How to actually network, build power, and move the needle. This podcast is dedicated to every woman who’s been underestimated, underpaid, or overlooked—and decided to break barriers and build pathways for the women coming next. We’re digging into who really holds power, how women claim it, and what happens when we stop asking for permission and start setting the agenda. You’ll hear directly from women who are changing the game, breaking the rules, and rewriting what success looks like—not in theory, but in practice. Real conversations.  Real strategies.  Real people. Because here’s the thing: confidence isn’t the issue. Ambition isn’t the issue. Access is the issue—and this season, we’re pulling back the curtain. So if you’ve ever been told to wait your turn, stay small, or be grateful for the seat you were given—fuck that. This is your reminder that you don’t need permission to sit at the table. Instead I want you to build your own damn table. I’m Julia Pennella, and this is #FEMPIRE. Let’s get into it.

    4 min

  4. 08/10/2025

    Ep 21: Your War, Our Lives - The Stories Behind the Headlines with Mina Sharif

    Accomplished writer, advocate, and global bridge-builder Mina Sharif takes listeners on a powerful journey in this deeply moving conversation about identity, storytelling, and challenging dominant narratives. Her new book, Your War, Our Lives: Short Stories of the Afghan Experience, wasn’t born from a publishing plan but from a deeply personal desire to preserve memories and offer counter-narratives to the conflict-driven images of Afghanistan so often portrayed in Western media. “What I saw missing was what everyday life in Afghanistan looks and feels like,” Sharif shares, explaining how her writing began as cathartic journaling reflecting on her 14 years of living in Kabul.  After the fall of Afghanistan in 2021, she was invited to speak at countless events — but instead of being asked about her lived experiences, she was met with geopolitical questions rooted in stereotypes. Frustrated, she made it her mission to use storytelling, writing, and art as tools to move beyond the black-and-white narrative of Afghanistan, highlighting its nuance and complexity through lived experiences and everyday stories — not just politics or headlines. Sharif reflects on how returning to her homeland in 2005 profoundly shaped her understanding of belonging. With disarming honesty, she realized that “avoidance isn’t an option” when it comes to cultural identity — but you do have the autonomy to choose how you explore and engage with it.  In this episode, we explore the idea of coexistence and Sharif’s experience of “straddling two worlds” — feeling “so Canadian” in Afghanistan, then returning to find herself changed by her years abroad. She offers powerful insights for anyone navigating dual identities: “Maybe it doesn’t mean that I’m without a home,” she reflects. “Maybe it means I have more than one.” Sharif is also the founder of Sisters 4 Sisters, a nationwide mentorship program for Afghan women and girls that grew out of grassroots community action.  A prominent voice in the Afghan diaspora, she uses her platform to bridge cultural gaps and deepen understanding of Afghan life. She co-authored The Diaspora Journal, writes The Hyphenated Blog, and has been featured across major publications, TV, podcasts, and radio. Her work continues to shape conversations on conflict-affected communities, women’s rights, and uplifting marginalized voices. For Mina Sharif, advocacy starts with storytelling. She believes emotional connection leaves a deeper, lasting impact than facts alone — and that everyone’s story deserves to be told. Listen now to learn why she calls community collaboration “a cheat code” for finding your voice. Learn more about Mina Sharif and her work here: https://minasharif.com/  https://minasharif.com/your-war-our-lives  Original illustrations by ArtLords: https://artlords.co/

    40 min

  5. 08/10/2025

    Ep 20: Behind the Scalpel - Dr. Daniela Vaca’s Transformative Take on Plastic Surgery

    Dr. Daniela Vaca brings an international and revolutionary perspective to plastic surgery, transforming it from a misunderstood field often associated with vanity into a pathway for genuine empowerment and healing.  Drawing on her clinical research at Harvard Medical School, her experience treating burn victims and breast cancer survivors in Colombia, and her specialized microsurgery training at Toronto General Hospital in Canada, she shows how plastic surgery can be both a medical necessity and a personal choice—each equally valid when approached with care and intention. Dr. Daniela Vaca is redefining plastic surgery by rejecting the “quick fix” mindset. Early in her career, she saw patients return for repeat liposuction because nothing had changed at the root — their habits, health, and mindset. Determined to make a real, lasting impact, she blended her passion for health, fitness, and wellness into her practice. Through the Thrive Club wellness program, co-founded with her brother Juan Sebastián, Dr. Vaca creates personalized plans for patients before and after surgery — from nutrition and fitness to mindset coaching. Her philosophy is clear: surgery is just one part of a larger transformation. Sustainable and long term results come when patients commit to changing how they live, not just how they look. The conversation delves into the artistry of plastic surgery, where Dr. Daniela Vaca balances patients’ aesthetic goals with medical safety while honoring each patient's unique body structure. She passionately debunks common misconceptions, particularly the false dichotomy between acceptance and enhancement. "If you're working on yourself, going to therapy, have good relationships...but don't like something about yourself, why not get that change?" she asks, challenging the notion that seeking physical enhancement automatically signals insecurity or superficiality. Looking toward the future, Dr. Daniela Vaca shares exciting technological developments in the field—from AI-assisted surgical planning to advanced tissue engineering and improved breast implant technology that reduces inflammation. These innovations promise to make plastic surgery safer and more personalized while maintaining natural-looking results. Whether you're considering plastic surgery or simply curious about this often-misunderstood field, this conversation offers invaluable insights into how female surgeons are redefining beauty standards and patient care.  Learn more about Dr. Daniela Vaca and her work here: https://www.danielavacamd.com/en/about https://www.thriveclub.info/en  https://www.facebook.com/p/Dra-Daniela-Vaca-Grisales-100088033115275/  https://www.youtube.com/@Danielavacagrisales

    33 min

  6. 08/08/2025

    Ep 19: 10 Million Hungry - Inside Canada’s Food Insecurity Crisis

    Hunger doesn't discriminate, but our systems often do. In 2024, Statistics Canada reported that 10 million Canadians — including 2.5 million children — lived in households that couldn’t reliably afford food. That’s families skipping meals, parents making impossible choices, and children going to school hungry in one of the world's wealthiest nations. And while food insecurity touches every province, it cuts even deeper in the territories. In Nunavut, nearly half the population struggles with access to food. In the Northwest Territories and Yukon, it's more than 1 in 5. These numbers don’t just tell us who’s missing meals — they tell us who’s being left behind economically. Because food insecurity isn't just about food. It’s a red flag for deeper financial distress — households choosing between rent, medication, heat, or a week of groceries. It’s a symptom of poverty — and a signal for policy failure. Jasmine Ramze Rezaee, Director of Policy and Community Action for Community Food Centres Canada, joins us to challenge conventional wisdom about hunger and food insecurity in Canada. With passion and precision, she dismantles the myth that food insecurity is simply about food. "Food insecurity is not a food problem," she explains, "it's an income problem." This critical distinction shapes everything about how we should respond to this growing crisis. The conversation takes us beyond emergency food relief to examine the structural forces creating hunger: stagnant wages, skyrocketing living costs, and inadequate social support systems that effectively "legislate poverty." We explore how traditional approaches like food banks, while necessary, cannot solve the underlying issues alone. Instead, Ramsey-Razai presents a compelling case for policy solutions like a new Groceries and Essentials Benefit, $150 per adult, $50 per child, that would provide direct financial support to 9 million struggling Canadians. Perhaps most powerful is her framing of food security as fundamental to democracy itself. "Rising inequality, rising poverty, and rising food insecurity does and will undermine democracy," she warns. By connecting hunger to our broader social contract, she reveals how addressing food insecurity isn't just about feeding people – it's about the kind of society we want to build. Whether you're concerned about poverty, inequality, or the future of our democratic institutions, this episode offers both sobering insights and practical pathways forward. Listen now to understand why hunger persists in Canada and what meaningful solutions might look like. Check out Jasmine Ramze Rezaee and Community Food Centres Canada’s policy recommendations here: https://act.beyondhunger.ca/page/66634/action/1  What good are human rights if you’re always hungry? We need a new benefit for groceries and essentials: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/what-good-are-human-rights-if-youre-always-hungry-we-need-a-new-benefit-for/article_0c7c92e8-b3fc-11ef-b2ca-0f7c0e42a2db.html  Food insecurity sources:  https://proof.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/

    32 min

  7. 08/06/2025

    Ep 18: Power Suits & Policy - Redefining Municipal Advocacy & Policy in Ontario

    What does it really take to advocate for over 100 municipalities across Eastern Ontario while breaking barriers as a woman in government relations? Meredith Staveley-Watson opens up about her journey from volunteer to becoming Director of Government Relations and Policy at the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC).  Meredith, affectionately known as "Municipal Meredith" during her Masters of Public Administration at Queen’s University, reveals why she chose to focus on local government when others pursued federal or provincial paths. Her passion for municipal work stems from its direct impact on communities and the incredible diversity of issues – from infrastructure and finance to social services and even cemetery management. This conversation pulls back the curtain on what government relations and municipal governance actually entails.  The financial challenges facing municipalities take center stage as Meredith highlights a fundamental imbalance in our governance structure—one that dates back over a century to the original division of power and funding. Local governments are responsible for the majority of public infrastructure and social programs, yet they receive the smallest share of tax dollars—and unlike other levels of government, they’re not allowed to run deficits. This burden hits rural communities the hardest, where fewer residents must maintain the same kilometers of road as densely populated urban areas. Meredith’s advocacy at the EOWC—alongside other municipalities—for a “new financial framework” presents a compelling vision for sustainable, long-term funding for local governance and services.  Perhaps most powerful is Meredith’s discussion of women’s leadership in municipal politics. In 2025, for the first time, all heads of Ontario’s municipal organizations are women—many of whom are championing initiatives like "Elect Respect" to create safer, more inclusive spaces for women in elected office and public service. We also dive into the power of mentorship and networking, the importance of asking for what you want, how volunteering where you're passionate can open doors, and why visualizing your success—right down to the power suit—is a crucial ingredient in the recipe for achieving it. Like what you heard? Check out these resources:  About the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus: Homepage - EOWC Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus Advocacy: EOWC Communications - EOWC Elect Respect: Elect Respect — A Pledge to Restore Civility in the Public Square AMCTO Mentorship Program: Mentorship Program | AMCTO (Mentorship open until August 8 for 2025-2026 cohort) Ontario’s Municipal Leadership Shines on International Women’s Day 2025: Ontario’s Municipal Leadership Shines on International Women’s Day - EOWC Federation of Canadian Municipalities: Stronger Together | Federation of Canadian Municipalities Association of Municipalities of Ontario: Home | AMO

    33 min

  8. 07/18/2025

    Ep 17: Cultivating Connection - Reconnecting Soil to Soul (Part 2)

    What if your hands in the dirt could change your relationship with the Earth? Environmental scientist, Destiny Allen-Green invites us to reconnect with nature through a revolutionary approach to gardening that transforms how we view our place in the natural world. Destiny Allen-Green is a proud Black Afro-Métis daughter of The Underground Railroad and the First Peoples of Turtle Island. She is an environmental scientist by trade and a farmer by experience, but maybe not in the traditional way you might be picturing. Just as Destiny’s ancestors tended to the lands of Turtle Island for generations carrying their Indigenous wisdom across oceans, she too seeks to be in a deep and respectful relationship with the land. With farming roots that stretch across both sides of her family, Destiny proudly identifies as a small-scale, unconventional farmer. Her mission is to help others discover the joys of “everyday farming” as a powerful way to connect with the land, with themselves, and with our shared stories. Destiny shares her journey from a child fascinated with soil, to pursuing a Masters degree in Land and Water Systems, to co-founding F.A.R.M.E.R.S (Future Agrarians Reciprocity Movement for Earth, Relationships, and Story), a branch of The Empathy Agency Inc. F.A.R.M.E.R.S was founded by Destiny and her fellow environmental scientist and friend, Maia Somers, with a vision to reclaim and challenge traditional ideas of what farming looks like and who gets to participate. Together, they’ve created programs that help people, regardless of space or experience, develop personalized approaches to gardening and farming that transform how we connect to the natural world. At the heart of this conversation lies a powerful idea: when we stop viewing the land as a commodity and start recognizing our deep interdependence with natural systems, our behavior naturally shifts toward greater care and responsibility. Expressions of environmental stewardship, when practiced collectively, can generate profound, lasting impact. Destiny challenges the notion that you need acres of land, years of experience, or complicated crops to be considered a farmer. Instead, she invites us to see growing food as a gift, one that can nourish both our bodies and the environment, no matter where or how we begin. Destiny’s approach to environmental justice includes universal access to gardening and farming, and helps us rediscover our place in "one collective story" of environmental stewardship. For those feeling overwhelmed by climate challenges, Destiny offers this perspective: "Don't focus on the scale of the problem, but on what you can contribute to the solution." This practical wisdom reminds us that hope lies in wielding whatever power we have, however small it might seem. Ready to get your hands in the dirt? Check out F.A.R.M.E.R.S to begin your own journey of reconnection with the natural world. Learn more about F.A.R.M.E.R.S here:  Website: https://www.theempathyagency.ca/farmers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t.e.a_f.a.r.m.e.r.s?igsh=eWM2ZzVpcHdrMXdl&utm_source=qr Substack: https://teafarmers.substack.com Blog 1: https://teafarmers.substack.com/p/seeds-of-justice-answering-change?r=5b3048 Blog 2: https://teafarmers.substack.com/p/join-us-in-the-garden?r=5b3048

    21 min
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About

#FEMPIRE explores the inspiring stories, challenges, and triumphs of remarkable women who have defied stereotypes and shattered glass ceilings. Join us as we sit down with fearless queens who’ve climbed the hill of leadership. 

Information

  • Creator
    Julia Pennella
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 #Fempire
  • Show Website
    #Fempire