Emerge Woman Magazine Podcast

Qiana Cressman, Host & Creator

Every woman's journey matters. The Emerge Woman Magazine Podcast shares real stories and successful, actionable insights that ignite vision, uplift sisterhood and inspire women to achieve their highest potential. #emergewoman

  1. 03/22/2021

    Episode 26 - Special Guest: Maraleen Shields, Esq., Political Candidate running to become the first Black Judge of Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas

    LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS AMAZING POLITICAL CANDIDATE AND HER CAMPAIGN AT: shieldsforlcjudge.com Maraleen Shields was born and raised in North Braddock, Pennsylvania. After her father’s sudden death when she was in the fourth grade, she and her sister were raised by her single mother, Doris. Maraleen attended Woodland Hills High School, a school which was created as the result of a 1981 court-ordered desegregation merger. She discovered her interest in the law by participating in high school mock trial competitions. She is a graduate of Kenyon College in Ohio, where she was a double major in political science and philosophy with a law and society concentration. Because of her hard work both in the classroom and on campus, where she held several campus jobs, Maraleen emerged from college without any student loan debt. She was awarded a 3-year full tuition scholarship and in 2003 she received her law degree with the highest honors from the University of Pittsburgh school of law. Maraleen began her career handling commercial litigation and mass tort defense work in Philadelphia. In 2006, she and her husband, Kevin, chose to make the Lehigh Valley their home. In 2014, Maraleen joined the Lehigh Valley-based Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, firm becoming a member of both the health care as well as the litigation and trial practice groups. In 2017, she became the first person of color to become a shareholder at FL&B. She joins her colleagues in many volunteer efforts, serves on several boards and has won various awards for her legal expertise, leadership and community service and influence which include: PBA President's Award (2018); the Lynette Norton Award (2020); PA Rising Stars (2008, 2010, 2012-2018); Lehigh Valley Business Journal's Forty under 40; Lehigh Valley Magazine's Legal Leader. Over the last 14 years, Maraleen has developed deep connections to the Lehigh Valley. She was a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Hillside School; a member of the Board of Directors of Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers; President of the Parents’ Association of Cetronia Elementary School; and a Member of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council of Lehigh Valley Inter-regional Networking & Connecting (LINC). As a candidate for Judge in the Court of Common Pleas, she runs on solid principles (among many) of critical thinking, temperament, lack of bias and communication. We are excited about Maraleen’s stellar legal expertise, community leadership and demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

  2. 08/03/2019

    Episode 24 - Transformation G.E.M.S. with Carmen Thomas: Empowering Today's Emerging Women Entrepreneurs

    As the owner and founder of Transformation Empowerment Solutions, known as TransformationbyCarmen.com, Carmen has been resiliently studying and perfecting her craft while completing her Doctorates Degree with Bakke Graduate University Transformational Leadership with an emphasis in Culture and developing Women Entrepreneurs.  Carmen is an alumni of Spring Arbor College, Masters Degree In Family Studies, Bachelors Degree in Management & Organizational Development, Ministry Training and Self-Esteem Expert. In addition, Carmen is an International Certified Holistic Life Coach. Carmen is an inspirational, motivator, author, encourager, teacher, and sought after speaker who travels the world to speak at seminars, workshops, conferences, and community events.   Carmen is a Transformation Strategist, with a Green Belt Certification in Lean Process Improvement; she has taught & facilitated foreclosure prevention, credit repair, home buying classes, marriage & family classes and self-esteem, Mission/Vision/Values, Stakeholder Engagement Analysis, Lessons Learned, Purpose/Position/Power workshops.  Carmen has a proven system to show you how she went from a million dollars in debt without filing bankruptcy. Carmen’s has over 20 years of experience working with executive leaders, government leaders, professional athletes and managing multi-million dollar real estate projects.  Carmen is the Founder and Executive Director of Transformation GEMS, a 501c3 Women’s Entrepreneur Empowerment Startup Accelerator, in the Lansing, MI area, Carmen has helped several women start & sustain businesses within the last 10 years.  Carmen’s mission is to strategically educate, motivate and empower every individual she meets to do the impossible while identifying their solutions.   https://www.transformationgems.com/

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Every woman's journey matters. The Emerge Woman Magazine Podcast shares real stories and successful, actionable insights that ignite vision, uplift sisterhood and inspire women to achieve their highest potential. #emergewoman