She Became CEO

ILZE BE BERZINA

She Became CEO is for people who feel behind and want to take leadership of their lives again. Many have worked hard, carried responsibilities, supported others, and still feel unsettled financially, professionally, or personally. This podcast creates space to think clearly about what comes next. We talk about: Rebuilding financial stability in midlife Communication as a leadership skill Hormones, metabolism, and cognitive performance Nervous system regulation and stress Reinvention grounded in practical action I speak with experts — clinicians, entrepreneurs, researchers — to translate complex ideas into usable insight. I also speak with people willing to share their lived experience. Real change happens when knowledge meets honesty. This podcast connects health, wealth, and voice — because long-term performance depends on all three. If you are ready to move forward with clarity and responsibility, you are welcome here.

  1. E55 | Hiring Tips for New Entrepreneurs: How to Build a Team and Avoid Costly Mistakes

    MAR 15

    E55 | Hiring Tips for New Entrepreneurs: How to Build a Team and Avoid Costly Mistakes

    If you are starting a business and thinking about hiring help, this episode may save you time, money, and frustration. Many early-stage entrepreneurs quickly discover that coming up with an idea is the easy part. The real challenge begins when you start building a team, outsourcing work, and figuring out how to turn your experience into a functioning business. In this episode, Ilze shares three real stories from her own entrepreneurial journey that offer practical lessons for new and aspiring entrepreneurs. You will learn: Hiring tips for beginner entrepreneurs how to recognize red flags when outsourcing work why the cheapest service provider can become the most expensive mistake how previous experience can become the foundation for a new business direction why you don’t always need a perfect plan before taking action Ilze also reflects on her experience building and managing a translation company in Latvia, training employees, and working with international teams. Those lessons now inform the work she is developing through ILZE BE LLC, where she supports professionals and organizations with documentation, writing, translation, proofreading, and administrative preparation. This episode is especially relevant if you: • are starting a business with limited resources • are thinking about hiring your first contractors or assistants • want practical entrepreneur tips based on real experience You will also hear Ilze’s perspective on passion projects, persistence, and building a business later in life — especially for women transitioning into a new phase after raising families. If you are trying to turn your experience into something meaningful and sustainable, this episode will give you ideas to think about before making your next move. For coaching or collaboration inquiries: support@shebecameceo.com

    20 min
  2. E53 | What If We Listened to Kids with Leah Ellis, Founder of The Society of Child Entrepreneurs

    MAR 1

    E53 | What If We Listened to Kids with Leah Ellis, Founder of The Society of Child Entrepreneurs

    In this episode, I sit down with Leah Ellis, mother of four and founder of The Society of Child Entrepreneurs (SoCE) — a nonprofit teaching children ages 6–17 real entrepreneurship through hands-on business experience. Leah’s mission is rooted in something deeply personal. As a child, she was told to shrink. Today, she teaches kids to stand up — sometimes literally on chairs — and use their voices. We talk about: Why Leah rejects the phrase “children are the future” How kids build real businesses (from 3D printing to book-recommendation services) The mindset shift from profit to impact in a nonprofit model How to test demand before launching a business What kind of risk you should accept — and what kind you should limit Why children don’t need protection from responsibility — they need support How adults can mentor child entrepreneurs (even without kids at home) As an Amen University-certified brain health coach, I was especially intrigued by the idea of directing open neural plasticity responsibly. When confidence is nurtured early, adults don’t have to spend decades rebuilding it.   About Leah Ellis Leah Ellis is a mother of four and the founder of The Society of Child Entrepreneurs (SoCE), a nonprofit dedicated to helping children ages 6–17 build confidence, leadership, and real-world business skills through hands-on learning. Through business fairs, curriculum, and coaching, she helps children launch real ventures, learn financial literacy, and develop resilience through experience, not theory. At the heart of her work is a simple belief: When kids are trusted with responsibility and supported by the community, they rise. Important note: Programs currently operate in South Central Kansas Curriculum expansion planned nationally and beyond 🔗 Website: SOCEICT.org 🔗 Facebook: Society of Child Entrepreneurs About the Host and the Podcast Ilze Be Berzina SheBecameCEO.com

    36 min
  3. JAN 31

    E49 | Jermaine Ee on Legacy, Loss, and the Conversations We Avoid

    This episode was recorded just before Ilze travels to Latvia to visit her parents—during their birthday month—and shortly after Jermaine lost his mother. Jermaine asked to be on the podcast not to promote a product, but to honor his mom by sharing her story and the lessons she left behind. What unfolds is a quiet, deeply human conversation about parents, time, migration, money, and the conversations we postpone because they feel uncomfortable—or too final. In this episode, we talk about: Losing a parent and what it changes about how we relate to time Growing up in a communal culture where family always came first Reinventing oneself later in life—and learning, sometimes late, to enjoy it Why gratitude can feel complicated after loss The small moments we dismiss that end up mattering the most How encouragement from loved ones can help us reclaim joy Why clarity around money, wishes, and legacy is an act of love Jermaine also shares the personal story behind HeirLight—a will-making app he is building in honor of his mother. Designed as a calm, guided experience, HeirLight helps people face one of adulthood’s most avoided tasks with clarity and care. As Jermaine says in the episode: clarity is love, in practical form. This conversation isn’t about productivity or hustle. It’s about courage, tenderness, and choosing not to wait. About the guest Jermaine Ee is a founder and storyteller interested in how we spend our time, the work we do, and what we leave behind. His career has spanned ed-tech, logistics, toys, political campaigns, executive search, and impact projects, always focused on helping people make better decisions about their futures. Born in Los Angeles and raised between LA and Malaysia, he reflects often on belonging, identity, and the quiet instructions we leave behind for the people we love.   Connect with Jermaine Ee through his website: https://heirlight.com/en

    35 min

About

She Became CEO is for people who feel behind and want to take leadership of their lives again. Many have worked hard, carried responsibilities, supported others, and still feel unsettled financially, professionally, or personally. This podcast creates space to think clearly about what comes next. We talk about: Rebuilding financial stability in midlife Communication as a leadership skill Hormones, metabolism, and cognitive performance Nervous system regulation and stress Reinvention grounded in practical action I speak with experts — clinicians, entrepreneurs, researchers — to translate complex ideas into usable insight. I also speak with people willing to share their lived experience. Real change happens when knowledge meets honesty. This podcast connects health, wealth, and voice — because long-term performance depends on all three. If you are ready to move forward with clarity and responsibility, you are welcome here.