VEST Her Podcast

VEST Her Members and Guests

The VEST Her Podcast explores the real, often unspoken challenges women face at work, in society, and on the path to building wealth.  Through candid conversations with women navigating career pivots, entrepreneurship, leadership, and family life, we unpack the pressure to do it all, the self-doubt, and the systems not built with us in mind. This podcast is for women ready to move beyond outdated advice and create success on their own terms. If you’re looking to grow, speak up, and be part of a supportive, change-making community, welcome. Let’s question the rules, share what’s real, and build a better future together.

  1. Don't Leave Money On The Table

    MAR 23

    Don't Leave Money On The Table

    Speed and visibility are often rewarded in the workplace, but they can also lead to costly mistakes, including leaving money on the table. In this episode, we sit down with Jacqueline Twillie, author, leadership strategist, and founder of Bend AI, for a candid conversation on negotiation, decision-making, and high-stakes communication, especially for women who have been socialized to be “polite” instead of persistent. Moderated by VEST member Alison Anthony, President and CEO of Tulsa Area United Way, this discussion challenges conventional thinking and offers a more strategic approach to advocating for your value. Together, they unpack the mindset traps that hold women back from asking for more and the real cost of not doing so. You’ll walk away with practical frameworks you can begin using immediately, whether in your career, business, or everyday conversations. In this episode, we explore: Why preparation, not confidence, is the true driver of better decisionsHow to slow down fast-moving rooms and “set the temperature”Three common negotiation pitfalls: self-negotiation, worthiness spirals, and failing to follow upThe FLOW framework for navigating difficult conversationsThe LATTE framework for preparing, communicating, and evaluating negotiationsA thoughtful, practical conversation on how small shifts in how you prepare and communicate can lead to meaningful financial and career outcomes. Click here for Show Notes and Guests Bios Support the show If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button. If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co

    55 min
  2. What If The Fastest Way To Grow Isn't Moving at All?

    FEB 23

    What If The Fastest Way To Grow Isn't Moving at All?

    What if the fastest way to grow isn’t moving at all?  In this episode, we sit down with Tulsa International Airport CEO, Alexis Higgins, to unpack how a 26‑year journey in one city became a masterclass in influence, trust, and long‑term impact. From a support role to CEO, Alexis shows why deep roots can beat constant motion when you turn visibility, preparation, and relationships into compound career returns. Alexis pulls back the curtain on airport life as a “city within a city." She breaks down how airlines choose new routes, why landing new airline routes take patience and precision, and more.  Inside the organization, we explore culture by design, setting goals where none existed, normalizing debate, and anchoring tough decisions on what’s best for the airport. Alexis shares practical leadership tools, “to be clear is to be kind,” practicing hard conversations, and creating transparent development paths so people are ready for opportunities before they officially exist. We also get candid about the job market, layoffs, and longer searches, offering concrete steps for visibility, high‑value networking, and asking for precise help. We talk women in aviation, the power of hometown leadership, and more. Alexis’s takeaways are both grounded and energizing, find work that gives you joy, volunteer to reset your mind, and keep your attention on what you can control when the world feels heavy. If you’re hungry for real talk on career strategy, route development, airport operations, mentorship, and culture change, this conversation delivers clear, actionable insight. Click here for our guest full bio and show notes.  Support the show If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button. If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co

    52 min
  3. Confronting Religion, Christian Nationalism and the Push for Women’s Submission

    FEB 9

    Confronting Religion, Christian Nationalism and the Push for Women’s Submission

    At VEST, we talk a lot about careers, money, and women’s economic mobility. But here’s the truth: you can’t fully talk about women building power without talking about the systems that taught us what we’re allowed to want—and what we should quietly accept. For many of us, that system was religion. In this episode of the VEST Podcast, Erika sits down with Reverend Lori Walke for an honest, grounded conversation about what happens when faith becomes complicated, especially for women who grew up inside religious institutions that preached love, but practiced control. What we talk about in this episode How women learn “their place” and how to unlearn itSeparating the message from the messengersDeconstruction without losing yourselfReligious trauma is real and you have permission to leaveWhen religion becomes a political weaponHow women stay engaged without burning outWhy this matters for women’s careers and economic mobilityDeconstructing harmful spiritual narratives isn’t a side quest. It’s part of building a life where women can earn, lead, rest, belong, and thrive, without shrinking. For our guest full bio and show notes (including book recommendations) click here.  At VEST, we’re not afraid to have these conversations because women are whole people. Not just workers. Not just caregivers. Not just resilience machines. Support the show If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button. If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co

    1h 20m
  4. Redefining Wealth and Your Money Story

    JAN 26

    Redefining Wealth and Your Money Story

    As we begin a new year, many of us are reflecting on what’s working, what needs to shift, and what we truly want, not just in our careers or personal lives, but financially as well. But let’s be honest, for many women, wealth is the last thing we feel comfortable talking about. In this episode of the VEST Her Podcast, we explore how to reset your relationship with money, redefine what wealth means on your own terms, and build a system that actually supports the life you want. Because wealth isn’t just a number, it’s a reflection of access, freedom, and the ability to move through the world with confidence and choice. This Episode Is for You If You’ve been taught that talking about money is impolite or selfishYou’ve hit career milestones, but still feel unclear about your financial pictureYou want to set wealth goals this year, but don’t know where to startYou’re ready to shift from short-term survival to long-term visionYou want to build wealth in a way that aligns with your values, not someone else’s definition of successWhat You’ll Learn Why wealth is about more than salary, savings, or statusHow culture, family, and systems shape our beliefs about moneyA 5-step Wealth Inventory to help you get clear on your starting pointHow to set one bold financial goal and the habit that supports itWhy doing this work in community changes everythingChapters 1:00 Why Women Need A Different Money Talk 2:12 The Wealth Inventory Framework 4:06 Turn Goals Into Systems 5:27 Why Money Feels Complicated 7:13 History, Exclusion, And The Wealth Gap 8:40 Three Actions And The Power Of Community Support the show If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button. If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co

    9 min
  5. Mapping Your Web Of Support And Legacy

    11/24/2025

    Mapping Your Web Of Support And Legacy

    We’re often told to “build our network” or “think about the impact we want to have” but rarely does anyone show us how. It’s not just about adding connections or chasing influence. What we really need is a Web of Support and a clearer sense of the legacy we're already leaving behind, often without realizing it. In this episode, we slow things down to explore two powerful reflection tools: the VEST Web of Support that helps make hard things doable, and the VEST Legacy Map that surfaces your quiet but meaningful influence. First, we walk you through mapping the people around you, mentors, peers, partners, and communities. Who asks better questions? Who shows up when it’s hard? Who helps carry the load? This simple but revealing scan helps you recognize gaps, appreciate the support you already have, and see where you're playing that role in someone else’s life too. Then, we reframe legacy, not as something far off or grand, but as the everyday ways you shift culture, model values, and strengthen systems. From making space for underrepresented voices to normalizing boundaries and improving how work flows, these quiet contributions shape trust and sustainability, even if they never make it onto a resume. By the end of the episode, you’ll have three simple actions to take. Click here for our host bio and show notes.  Support the show If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button. If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co

    15 min
  6. Living on Fire with Shannon Watts

    10/20/2025

    Living on Fire with Shannon Watts

    What if the key to moving from stuck to unstoppable isn’t finding your one big purpose but choosing to live with purpose, every day? In this episode, we sit down with Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action and author of New York Bestseller Fired Up, to explore a practical framework for aligning what you value, what you're good at, and what truly matters to you. She calls it the fire formula, a tool for any stage of life, from early career to midlife reinvention. We unpack three common myths that hold women back: That you need a single, all-consuming callingThat happiness is the goalThat constant busyness means you're succeedingShannon also shares her playbook for handling blowback when you start showing up differently, how to decide whose feedback matters, what to hold onto, and how to keep going when the discomfort sets in. You’ll hear actionable strategies for building aligned community, sustaining momentum, and reclaiming your time and voice. We also get into: How to navigate professional risks and resistanceHow to build meaningful relationships in midlifeHow to push back against the systems and narratives shaping our democracyThis is a grounded, honest conversation about courage, clarity, and living on your own terms. If you’re ready to stop waiting for permission, this episode offers the tools and the push to start. Click here for more Show Notes and Guest Bio.  Support the show If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button. If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co

    53 min
5
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

The VEST Her Podcast explores the real, often unspoken challenges women face at work, in society, and on the path to building wealth.  Through candid conversations with women navigating career pivots, entrepreneurship, leadership, and family life, we unpack the pressure to do it all, the self-doubt, and the systems not built with us in mind. This podcast is for women ready to move beyond outdated advice and create success on their own terms. If you’re looking to grow, speak up, and be part of a supportive, change-making community, welcome. Let’s question the rules, share what’s real, and build a better future together.

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