She's So Suite Podcast

The Accountant turned Chief Marketing & AI Officer at 2X ft. Lisa Cole

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Lisa Cole didn't plan to be a marketer. She started college as an accounting major, landed a sales job, and discovered a broken relationship between sales and marketing that would shape her entire 25-year career. Now Chief Marketing & AI Officer at 2X, Lisa shares what it really takes to transform marketing from a "make things look pretty" function into a company's primary growth engine.

In this episode, Lisa and I dig into her path from retail cell phone sales to the C-suite, including the mentor who named her successor, a CEO who told her to "find her swagger," and the moment her team accepted an award in front of 4,500 CMOs. She also gets candid about managing layoffs of former peers, finding work-life integration as a mom of three, and why every CMO needs to personally get their hands dirty with AI.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & introduction

1:15 - Meet Lisa Cole, her current role at 2X & an overview of 2X

4:45 - From 12-year-old aspiring accountant to marketing major

7:40 - First job as an account executive & discovering the sales/marketing divide

11:20 - What does sales really do? And why the future is bright for marketing

13:40 - Deciding to own the outcome & her first CMO role

15:02 - Biggest pivotal decisions: owning outcomes and driving disruptive change

16:20 - The CEO who said "find your swagger" & learning to say no

18:20 - Becoming a business leader, not just a functional leader

21:33 - Eliminating former peers & inheriting a broken operating model

25:20 - Advice for leaders navigating layoffs with empathy

28:38 - Bagging the Sirius Decision award

33:00 - Pulling other women through the door — mentorship as a commitment

33:55 - The "find your Sarah" story; writing The Limitless CMO

35:31 - Work-life integration & setting boundaries

39:20 - Don't outsource AI to your team — understand it yourself

Connect with the guest:

Lisa Cole:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisacole01/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

Embark on a journey with Kristi in each podcast episode as she engages in insightful conversations with accomplished women in the C-suite. Explore their unique stories, triumphs, challenges, dreams, and valuable advice that will inspire and empower you. Tune in for an enriching experience as Kristi delves into the depth of their professional journeys and brings you closer to the dynamic world of female leaders at the top.

The Marine Biologist turned Chief Product Strategy Officer at Kantata ft. Sarah Edwards

Tue, 05 May 2026 17:20:00 -0400

In this episode, I am joined by Sarah Edwards, Chief Product Strategy Officer at Kantata who shares how a psychology degree led to Oracle's graduate scheme, coding, consulting, living abroad twice, and ultimately landing in the C-suite. She opens up about navigating male-dominated boardrooms, the confidence gap holding women back, negotiating compensation, balancing motherhood with executive travel, and why AI is reshaping the entire industry.

Key takeaways:

→ You don't have to be the loudest in the room to lead

→ Take the leap even when you only check 50% of the boxes

→ Protect your "me time" — it's not selfish, it's survival

→ Flexibility attracts the best talent — full stop

→ AI is breaking the "grow headcount = grow revenue" model

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Introduction

0:43 - Meet Sarah Edwards, Chief Product Strategy Officer at Kantata

2:10 - How AI is changing her job daily

315 - The hardest part of AI innovation

4:20 - Career aspiration growing up

7:14 - Career switches, working abroad & pushing past the comfort zone

13:05 - Which roles she loved most (and least)

14:05 - Leading a global team of 20

15:09 - Why vertical beats horizontal in the AI era

16:40 - Navigating culture across orgs & countries

18:51 - The compensation gap for women in tech

21:52 - Retaining talent through remote work & flexibility

26:04 - Proudest career moments

30:29 - Breaking the "loudest in the room" stereotype

33:15 - Balancing C-suite demands & family

39:05 - The guilt every working mom feels

41:23 - Staying sharp: networking & research

44:00 - Have confidence & push yourself

Connect with the guest:

Sarah Edwards : ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahedwards3/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The National Geographic photographer turned Founder at Verbatim ft. Brianna Doe

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0400

She dreamed of shooting wildlife for National Geographic. Instead, she built a top-ranked influencer marketing agency from scratch. In this episode, Brianna Doe — founder and CEO of Verbatim — gets raw about burnout cycles, getting laid off, and the career coach call that changed everything. From filling notebooks as a kid to writing The Unapologetic Professional, Brianna breaks down how she stopped chasing someone else's version of success and started building her own. Plus: the Bumble photo that almost ended her love story before it started.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Introduction

1:25 - Meet Brianna Doe, The Unapologetic Professional & Verbatim overview

5:50 - Childhood dream to become a Nat Geo photographer

8:03 - Film degree & friends' nonprofits

10:20 - Career journey

14:10 - Pivoting from freelancing to tech

16:00 - Influencer marketing explained

21:12 - LinkedIn content creation pivot

24:40 - Working with a career coach & launching Verbatim

29:00 - Layoff, burnout story & working with a co-founder

34:30 - Celebrating success

36:39 - The mentor manager, mom's role & the Bumble date story

39:36 - Empowering women

43:12 - Work-life balance philosophy

46:15 - Final takeaway: embrace pivots

Connect with the guest:

Brianna Doe:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianna-doe/⁠

The Unapologetic Professional: ⁠https://www.briannadoe.com/the-unapologetic-professional⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Hotel Management Aspirant turned Founder of Running Mate ft. Dena Lewis

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I sit down with Dena Lewis to discuss career pivots, entrepreneurship, resilience, and the personal story behind Running Mate, an on-demand app that matches runners with verified companions for safer runs. Dena discusses her early interest in hotel management, a 20-year career in medical device sales, three earlier businesses, the trauma that pushed her to rethink runner safety, and the challenges of building a mission-driven tech startup.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Introduction

0:42 - Meet Dena Lewis & Running Mate Overview

3:10 - Runners' Safety Matters

10:35 - What Defines a Runner

12:45 - From Cornell Dreams to Med Device

16:30 - Handling Rejection

21:25 - Finding Purpose & Leaning Into Strengths

26:24 - Building Her First 3 Companies

34:00 - The Story Behind Running Mate

43:27 - Startup Challenges

48:31 - Living With Purpose

Connect with the guest:

Dena Lewis: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/dena-lewis-a9546a24/⁠

Running Mate: ⁠https://www.getrunningmate.com/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Spy turned CCO at People.ai ft. Natalie Wolf

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:25:00 -0400

Kristi Faltorusso sits down with Natalie Wolf, CCO at People.ai, to explore her journey from consulting to the C-suite and the leadership lessons she had to unlearn along the way.

Natalie shares how growing up in a competitive consulting environment shaped her early leadership style, and why she later realized that being “tough” wasn’t enough. She dives into the importance of empathy, adapting leadership to individuals, and redefining success beyond traditional career paths.

This episode is a candid reflection on growth, resilience, and becoming the kind of leader your team actually needs—not just the one you were taught to be.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Introduction

1:10 - Meet Natalie Wolf

2:30 - Fitness Journey & Side Hustle

5:25 - Career Aspirations vs Reality

10:45 - Career Pivots & Key Moments

15:35 - Transition from Consulting to Tech

18:20 - Leading as a Woman in Male-Dominated Environments

28:10 - Career Reflection & Proud Moments

31:24 - How Difficult Leaders Shape You & Your Career Success

34:10 - Empowering Women

37:00 - Work-Life Harmony

41:00 - You Don’t Need Permission to Lead

Connect with the guest

Natalie Wolf: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nmwolf/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The President turned CRO at Vanta ft. Stevie Case

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 08:40:00 -0400

In this episode of She's So Suite, host Kristi Faltorusso sits down with Stevie Case, Chief Revenue Officer at Vanta, to explore one of the most unconventional journeys to the C-suite.

Stevie shares her remarkable story—from aspiring politician, to professional esports gamer, to video game designer, and ultimately becoming a top enterprise salesperson and then becoming a CRO leading a 500+ person revenue organization.

The conversation dives into the power of leaning into discomfort, proving doubters wrong, building high-performing teams, and leading with vulnerability. Stevie also opens up about navigating career challenges, raising a daughter as a single mother while building her career, and the leadership lessons that helped her scale Vanta during hypergrowth.

If you're interested in career pivots, sales leadership, building elite teams, or breaking traditional career molds, this episode delivers powerful lessons and inspiration.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:08 - Meet Stevie Case & Vanta's Overview

2:25 - Scaling a Hypergrowth Company

4:30 - The Secret to Execution in Startups

6:40 - Childhood Dream: Becoming U.S. President

8:15 - Becoming a Professional Gamer & an Early Internet Celebrity

10:28 - Transitioning from Gaming to Game Development

11:25 - The Unexpected Career Pivot into Sales

15:00 - Parents' Reaction to Stevie's Gaming Career

18:30 - Leaning into Discomfort

21:30 - Joining Twilio and Proving the Critics Wrong

23:07 - The Mentor Who Changed Her Career

28:30 - Raising a Daughter as a Single Mom While Building a Career

30:25 - Betting on Yourself

35:25 - Building the Team at Vanta

38:15 - Hiring Secrets for High-Performing Teams

41:03 - Final Leadership Advice

Connect with the guest:

Stevie Case: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/steviecase/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page:⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Ballerina turned CEO at Purl Advisors ft. Shannon Plumb

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:15:00 -0400

In this episode of the She’s So Suite Podcast, Kristi Faltorusso sits down with Shannon Plumb, CEO of Purl Advisors, to discuss resilience, reinvention, leadership, and empowering women in revenue.

Kristi shares her unconventional journey from dancing professionally at BalletMet to breaking into enterprise sales, navigating the SaaS boom in Boulder, Colorado, and ultimately stepping into the C-suite. She opens up about losing her identity after a career-ending ballet injury, navigating tech as a woman without role models, leading through mergers and acquisitions, getting laid off unexpectedly, taking the leap to launch her own advisory firm, and building and mentoring women in revenue.

This conversation is honest, empowering, and packed with leadership insight for ambitious women, founders, and revenue leaders.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Introduction

1:11 - Meet Shannon Plumb

2:30 - Being A Paasionate Dancer

4:45 - Losing Identity & Rebuilding from Scratch

6:48 - Choosing College & Studying Interior Design

8:50 - Breaking into Sales

10:30 - The Power of Real Sales Training

13:35 - Moving to Boulder & Discovering SaaS

16:20 - Why SaaS Changed Everything

18:30 - The Challenge of Leading as a Woman in Revenue

20:33 - Navigating Authenticity in Male-Dominated Spaces

25:45 - Coaching Women Differently in Sales

29:00 - Leading Through an Acquisition & Keeping 100% of Her Team

32:10 - Getting Laid Off & The Emotional Impact

35:20 - Launching Purl Advisors

36:31 - Women in Sales & Techstars Mentorship

40:20 - The Myth of Work-Life Balance

43:00 - Don’t Wait to Be Empowered

Connect with the guest:

Shannon Plumb: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonplumb/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

Embark on a journey with Kristi in each podcast episode as she engages in insightful conversations with accomplished women in the C-suite. Explore their unique stories, triumphs, challenges, dreams, and valuable advice that will inspire and empower you. Tune in for an enriching experience as Kristi delves into the depths of their professional journeys and brings you closer to the dynamic world of female leaders at the top.

The International Spy turned Founder & Principal at Cultivate CX ft. Kathleen Rouse

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0400

In this inspiring episode, I, Kristi Faltorusso, sit down with the remarkable Kathleen Rouse, founder and principal of CultivateCX. Kathleen opens up about the pivotal moments, hard-won lessons, and bold decisions that shaped her career—from her childhood dreams of becoming an international spy to her reality leading teams across continents and founding her own impactful business.

Together, Kristi and Kathleen dive deep into the exciting and challenging world of entrepreneurship, discussing everything from business failures and resilience to the unique challenges of balancing life in the “sandwich generation,” supporting both her daughter and aging parent.

Tune in to hear how Kathleen Rouse continues to create space for herself and other women to rise, and why she believes compassion and courage will define the leaders of the future.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

0:40 - Meet Kathleen Rouse

2:45 - Early career aspirations and personal backstory

5:15 - Early business failure and the lessons learned

6:42 - Critical shift during the 2020 pandemic at FinancialForce (now Certinia)

8:02 - Personal life changes influencing career moves

9:15 - Rise of solopreneurs and content creators

16:00 - How losing a first business built resilience and focus

17:15 - Balancing pragmatism with ambition

18:30 - Navigating work and family pressures

20:04 - Caring for children, aging parents & self-care

25:00 - Go-to karaoke songs

27:30 - Stopping to reflect & celebrate

31:11 - Launching grassroots movements within organizations

32:11. - Building empowered teams & achieving significant business outcomes

33:42 - Recent accomplishments at CultivateCX

37:15 - Empowering other women

41:10 - Relocating to Paris and expanding business to Europe

43:55 - Closing remarks

Connect with the guest:

Kathleen Rouse: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleenrouse/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠h⁠ttps://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The NFL Cheerleader turned Founder & CEO at GrowthQ ft. Esther Iyamu

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:52:00 -0400

In today’s episode, I, Kristi Faltorusso, sit down with Esther Iyamu, founder and CEO of Growth Q. Esther shares her incredible story as the self-declared "pivot queen," taking us through the major shifts in her life—from immigrating to the US, switching college majors, being an NFL cheerleader, climbing the ranks at Cisco, and finally launching her own company.

Tune in as Esther Iyamu reflects on the power of community, the importance of calculated risks, and the value of learning from both successes and setbacks.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Introduction

0:45 - Meet Esther Iyamu

6:00 - Life in Dubai

9:45 - Career Aspirations Growing Up

11:31 - Being The NFL Cheerleader

14:55 - Reflecting on Career Pivots and Major Decisions

19:07 - The Role of Community in Professional Growth

21:02 - Struggles with Hiring Fast & Firing Slow

27:50 - Celebrating Esther's Successes

33:27 - Raising Capital as a Female Founder

37:10 - Advice for Younger Self & Listeners

42:00 - Outro

Connect with the guest:

Esther Iyamu: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamestherayorinde/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women, check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page:⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Safeway Checkout Lady turned CMO Advisor at G2 ft. Sydney Sloan

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Welcome to another inspiring episode of She’s So Suite. In this episode, I, Kristi Faltorusso, sit down with the CMO Advisor at G2, Sydney Sloan, for a candid conversation on career-defining moments, leadership, and setting boundaries that fuel real success.

From growing up on a cattle ranch to leading at Adobe and beyond, Sydney shares the lessons that shaped her rise to the C-suite—plus empowering advice on raising your hand, protecting your wellbeing, and owning your ambition without apology.

If you’re building your path to the top, this episode delivers the clarity, confidence, and motivation you need.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Introduction

1:09 - Sydney Sloan’s Career Journey

5:20 - Childhood Ambitions and Early Work Experiences

7:35 - Raising Her Hand

9:24 - Building strong presentation and public speaking skills

10:40 - Navigating Career Breaks, Health Challenges, and Family Life

15:45 - Reflections on choices made in her 30s

17:35 - Advice for Women Facing Career and Life Choices

22:33 - Setting Boundaries and Learning to Say “No”

26:53 - Celebrating Major Wins at Adobe and SalesLoft

31:55 - Empowering Future Female Leaders

35:00 - Evolving Roles in Marketing and Customer Success

39:40 - Be Fearless, Take Risks, Raise Your Hand, and Don’t Apologize

Connect with the guest:

Sydney Sloan: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydsloan/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website:⁠ ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Prosecutor turned Founder of DoraB Global ft. Dora Boussias

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:46:00 -0400

She's So Suite is brought to you by Client Success. The easiest to use, fastest to implement software to reduce churn & increase customer revenue. Request a demo at ⁠⁠https://www.clientsuccess.com/⁠⁠

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the She’s So Suite podcast!

In this episode, I, Kristi Faltorusso, sit down with award-winning data and AI executive Dora Boussias, whose career journey is as extraordinary as it is encouraging. Born and raised on a farm in Greece, Dora Boussias started out cultivating tobacco before boldly leaping into technology—a world she knew little about at the time. Over the past three decades, she’s not only held leadership roles in major corporations like GE, Stryker, and Prudential, but has also become a fierce advocate for driving business transformation through data, innovation, and empowering women in tech.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Dora Boussias’s pivotal decisions, resilience, and willingness to embrace challenges helped shape her remarkable trajectory—from mainframe programming to enterprise-level transformation and, most recently, to entrepreneurship. Whether you’re navigating a layoff, considering a career pivot, or searching for actionable leadership advice, Dora Boussias delivers both wisdom and motivation to help you take charge of your own path. Tune in for an honest, uplifting conversation that proves incredible things happen when you bet on yourself.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

0:45 - How Kristi met Dora

2:08 - Meet Dora Boussias

4:25 - Dora Boussias’s Childhood Dream

6:47 - Moving to the U.S. & Early Career

8:40 - Leading Change and Driving Transformation

11:13 - Standing Up for Fair Compensation and Facing Adversity

18:56 - The Shift to Entrepreneurship & Lessons

24:48 - Be the Captain of Your Ship

27:55 - Navigating Layoffs & NOT being Stuck

32:05 - Advice to Younger-Self

35:45 - Closing Thoughts

Connect with the guest:

Dora Boussias: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/doraboussias/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Olympic Gymnast turned Head of Lifecycle Marketing at Atlassian ft. Ashley Faus

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:09:00 -0400

In this episode of She’s So Suite, I sit down with Ashley Faus, Head of Lifecycle Marketing at Atlassian — marketer, writer, speaker, and performer. Ashley shares her unconventional journey from aspiring Olympic gymnast to theater major to tech marketing leader. She opens up about identity crises, navigating career pivots, breaking into tech during a recession, and the power of falling in love with your audience.

Ashley also unpacks the importance of creating visibility for your work, building a personal brand, and showing up before the world gives you permission. From the role of theater training in public speaking to how to think about promotions, to transparent conversations about compensation, this episode is filled with actionable career wisdom.

Chapters:

0:00 – Preview & Intro

0:45 – Meet Ashley Faus

2:30 – Marketing vs. Customer Success & the 4 Ps

6:00 – Little Ashley’s Dream

9:30 – From Musical Theater to Marketing

17:00 – Breaking Into the Workforce During a Recession

18:40 – Building Opportunities Instead of Waiting for Them

26:40 – Working Across Industries & Breaking Into Tech

32:23 – Selling Out a 1,000-Person Session at Inbound with Her “Playground Framework”

35:00 – Achieving Her Director Promotion

38:00 – Empowered Women Empower Women

43:30 – Closing Remarks and Episode Wrap

Connect with the guest:

Ashley Faus: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyfaus/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Artist turned founder of CBK - Sales Training & Coaching ft. Celeste Berke Knisely

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:27:00 -0400

She's So Suite is brought to you by Client Success. The easiest to use, fastest to implement software to reduce churn & increase customer revenue. Request a demo at ⁠https://www.clientsuccess.com/⁠

Celeste Berke Knisely, founder of CBK – Sales Training & Coaching and the only certified Gap Selling training partner, sits down with me to share her winding path to entrepreneurship after a pandemic layoff pushed her to bet on herself. The episode explores the pivotal career moments, risks, and reinventions that have shaped her success, touching on everything from building life skills and changing career paths to setting boundaries and balancing motherhood with ambition.

Timestamps

0:00 – Preview

0:30 – Meet Celeste

2:40 – How and why Gap Selling

6:20 – Career aspirations growing up & early career

14:09 – Chasing financial benchmarks & staying too long

17:55 – Moving from account management to sales

20:15 – Management and leadership lessons

21:48 – Entrepreneurship after the corporate world

25:20 – Defining and redefining success

27:10 – Motherhood and career

30:18 – Work–life balance and boundaries

Connect with the guest:

Celeste Berke Knisely: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celesteberke/

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The President turned CEO at The Other Side of Sales Consulting ft. Ashleigh Early - Part 2

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 07:21:00 -0400

In this episode, I welcome back Ashleigh Early for a powerful continuation of our conversation—one that dives into the pivotal moments that have shaped her career. From negotiating job offers and managing challenging relocations to confronting toxic leadership and making bold life decisions (including a move to Europe), Ashleigh brings candor, humor, and hard-won insight. She opens up about the highs and lows of her journey, sharing practical guidance on negotiation, navigating performance plans, and choosing which challenges are truly worth taking on in both work and life.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

0:17 - Why This Is a Two-Part Episode

1:41 - Job Offers and Benefits Negotiation

9:20 - Relocating and Returning to San Francisco

12:09 - Navigating Toxic Leadership and Workplace Conflict

13:50 - Constructive Dismissal and Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs)

25:35 - Reflections on Leadership and Promotion Practices

31:21 - Saying Yes to Opportunities Without Full Knowledge or Confidence

34:30 - International Moves: Lifestyle Changes and Challenges

42:29 - Choosing Your Hard

----

Connect with the guest:

Ashleigh Early: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleighearly/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-----

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:consulting, fractional sales leadership, revenue optimization, founder-led sales, B2B sales motion, scalable sales practices, agency growth, SEO, digital ads, small marketing teams, women in sales, sales conference, diversity in leadership, content creation, solopreneurship, networking, work-life balance, career transitions, LinkedIn personal branding, financial challenges, expense reimbursement, mentorship for women, tech layoffs, burnout, business travel policies, sales leadership, startup culture

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The President turned CEO at The Other Side of Sales Consulting ft. Ashleigh Early

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 07:17:00 -0400

In this episode, I, Kristi Faltorusso, sit down with Ashleigh Early, CEO of Other Side of Sales Consulting and Head of Growth at MKG Marketing, who shares her unconventional career path, from studying opera performance and political science to thriving in tech sales, surviving layoffs, and building a successful consulting career.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:15 - Meet Ashleigh Early

2:10 - Origin Story: Other Side of Sales

9:24 - Solopreneurship: Realities and Lessons

15:05 - Financial Realities for Young Professionals

16:43 - First Business Trip & Financial Challenges

21:55 - Pitfalls of Rigid Playbook Consulting

26:35 - Acceptability of Moving Back to Corporate Roles

30:40 - Early Career & Aspirations Growing Up

35:50 - First Exposure and Transition into Sales via SDR roles

38:38 - Work-Life Regulation

40:15 - The Power of Not Disclosing Everything at Work

43:18 - Wrap-Up and Check Out Part Two

----

Connect with the guest:

Ashleigh Early: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleighearly/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-----

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page:⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

consulting, fractional sales leadership, revenue optimization, founder-led sales, B2B sales motion, scalable sales practices, agency growth, SEO, digital ads, small marketing teams, women in sales, sales conference, diversity in leadership, content creation, solopreneurship, networking, work-life balance, career transitions, LinkedIn personal branding, financial challenges, expense reimbursement, mentorship for women, tech layoffs, burnout, business travel policies, sales leadership, startup culture

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Archaeologist turned SVP of Growth at Besler ft. Randi-Sue Deckard

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:05:00 -0400

In today’s episode, host Kristi Faltorusso is joined by her LinkedIn bestie and SVP of Growth at Besler, Randi Sue Deckard. Get ready for an inspiring and candid conversation about big career pivots, the grit required to succeed, and the messy—but necessary—role of failure on the path to growth.

Randi opens up about her unique professional journey, starting from childhood dreams of becoming an archaeologist, pivoting through STEM and clinical research, and ultimately landing in healthcare tech leadership. She shares her hard-won wisdom on resilience, betting on yourself, and finding joy after overcoming workplace challenges—including tough lessons from toxic leadership. Randi also dives into the importance of building a supportive personal brand, investing in continuous learning, and empowering other women along the way.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

0:40 - Meet Randi

2:13 – Overview of Besler

3:00 – Childhood Aspirations & Early Career Decisions

6:38 – Transition to Pharmacology and Commercial Career Growth

8:08 – Does Subject Matter Expertise Drive Career Success?

9:28 – Navigating Failure & Learning from Mistakes

12:34 – Leadership Growth & Team Management Lessons

13:50 – Betting on Oneself and Avoiding Regrets

16:15 – Learning Gaps & Team Building

19:07 – Experience with a Toxic Female Boss

21:35 – Impact of Leadership Style on Team Well-Being

24:10 – Navigating Toxicity at Work and Knowing When to Walk Away

28:25 – Pivoting Away from an Established Career and Reinventing Yourself

28:55 – Developing a Personal Brand: Podcasting, Public Speaking, etc.

31:30 – Strategies for Starting a Personal Brand on LinkedIn

38:20 – Empowering & Giving Back to Women

40:30 – Commitment to Personal Growth & Lifelong Learning

42:15 – Plans for a Book and Merchandise on Career & Leadership Insights

43:52 – Final Advice & Episode Wrap-Up

Connect with the guest:

Randi-Sue Deckard: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/randisuedeckard/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Veterinarian turned Founder of The Scroll Lab ft. Tas Bober - Part 2

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 18:23:00 -0400

In Part 2, Tas Bober, founder of The Scroll Lab, returns to share how getting laser-focused on her niche and showing up authentically fueled both business growth and personal fulfillment. Expect real talk about leadership, life as a mom of two, and building a personal brand on social media—plus a nostalgic nod to her and Kristi’s shared love of ‘90s and 2000s hip hop.

Tas gets vulnerable about her journey from corporate burnout (balancing impossible workloads), motherhood, and unkept career promises, to creating a thriving business on her own terms. Together, Kristi and Tas unpack what it truly means for women to support one another at work, how to advocate for yourself, and why setting boundaries can completely transform your career story.

This episode is filled with heart, honesty, and actionable wisdom for anyone striving to build a meaningful career and life—on your own terms.

Timestamps

0:00 – Preview

0:35 – Celebrating the return of Tas Bober for a two-part episode

1:53 – Burnout from corporate roles & gaslighting

5:20 – Gender dynamics in leadership

12:05 – Setting boundaries in the workplace & their repercussions

14:10 – The birth of a personal brand and business

16:45 – Corporate reactions to employee side projects

18:26 – Navigating layoffs & the leap to entrepreneurship

21:30 – The power of niching down

26:15 – Building a personal brand on LinkedIn

29:55 – Music that shapes identity and personal brand

39:39 – Empowering women & paying it forward

43:43 – Tas’s parting advice

Connect with the guest:

Tas Bober:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasbober/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Veterinarian turned Founder of The Scroll Lab ft. Tas Bober - Part 1

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

She’s So Suite is brought to you by Client Success—the easiest-to-use, fastest-to-implement software to reduce churn and increase customer revenue. Request a demo at ⁠https://www.clientsuccess.com/⁠

Welcome back to the She’s So Suite podcast. In this episode, I sit down with Tas Bober, founder of The Scroll Lab—a B2B SaaS landing page specialist, digital strategist, and self-described “accidental entrepreneur.” Tas opens up about her unique path from dreaming of rescuing animals as a child to navigating the cutthroat world of digital marketing and eventually building her own successful, lifestyle-focused business.

Together, Kristi and Tas discuss the realities of corporate life, the evolving definitions of success, and the invisible obstacles that women—especially women of color—continue to face as they ascend the corporate ladder. Tas shares candid stories about burnout, career pivots, the challenges of balancing ambition with family, and the moment she realized it was time to rewrite her own rules. You’ll hear honest reflections on resilience, redefining self-worth, and the power of shooting your shot—even when the odds seem stacked against you.

This conversation is full of wisdom, realness, and actionable advice for anyone figuring out how to craft a career (and a life) that’s meaningful—on your own terms.

Timestamps

0:00 – Preview

0:33 – Meet Tas Bober

1:45 – Overview of The Scroll Lab

5:24 – Career obstacles, biases, and defining success

8:25 – Generational parenting changes and challenges

13:18 – Childhood ambitions and educational journey

20:00 – Career evolution and key pivotal moments

27:15 – Challenges and climbing the corporate ladder

38:07 – Burnout, layoffs, and gaslighting

48:55 – Embracing creativity and independence

52:23 – Check out Part Two

Connect with the guest:

Tas Bober: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasbober/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Artist turned Co-Founder at GoldHue ft. Mackenzie Hughes

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 08:51:00 -0400

In this episode of the She's So Suite Podcast, I sit down with Mackenzie Hughes, co-founder of Gold Hue, to unpack Mackenzie’s journey from corporate burnout to bold entrepreneurship and the personal reflections that fueled her leap into building something new.

Mackenzie opens up about her early love of art and creativity, her path to tech, and the pivotal moments that shaped her career. She and Kristi dive into the challenges of navigating corporate America, the impact of both great and toxic bosses, and the gender dynamics that complicate leadership. Mackenzie shares candid lessons on vulnerability, growth, and why women must not only strive but also pause to celebrate their successes.

Tune in to hear:

1. The risks and rewards of leaving stability for entrepreneurship

2. How self-reflection, therapy, and coaching can transform your path

3. What great leadership looks like (and how to recognize toxic traits)

4. The importance of building safe, supportive spaces for women in tech

5. Practical strategies for maintaining balance and investing in yourself

Whether you’re a founder, a leader, or someone navigating your next career move, Mackenzie’s story is packed with honesty, encouragement, and actionable wisdom.

Timestamps

0:00 – Preview & Intros

1:30 – Mackenzie’s Background and Current Role

2:35 – Taking the Leap to Entrepreneurship

4:30 – Childhood Ambitions and Personal Hobbies

9:03 – Education and Early Career

13:28 – Meeting Future Co-Founder Tara Goldman

14:40 – Navigating Discomfort and Imposter Syndrome

16:57 – Reflections on Leadership (Good and Bad Bosses)

21:15 – Toxicity in Female Leadership

29:10 – Celebrating Career Successes

33:20 – Empowering and Supporting Other Women

36:10 – Work-Life Balance and Self-Care

39:20 – Parting Advice for Listeners

Connect with the guest:

Mackenzie Hughes: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenzierhughes/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Hairstylist turned Founder & CEO at Zinnia ft. Lauren Goodell

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:24:00 -0400

On this episode of She's So Suite, host Kristi Faltorusso talks with Lauren Goodell, founder and CEO of Zinnia, about her journey from Nebraska to the world of tech and entrepreneurship.

Lauren shares how she went from wanting to be a hairstylist to landing a job at Microsoft at 21, and eventually building Zinnia. She opens up about the challenges of starting a company, fundraising as a female founder, and leading with authenticity in male-dominated spaces.

They also dive into big topics like financial independence for women, building joyful work cultures, and making tough decisions while scaling a business.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

0:50 - Meet Lauren & learn about Zinnia

5:55 - Childhood dreams and realizations

7:05 - Lauren’s early career & self-discovery

9:44 - Moving from Microsoft to Salesforce

11:07 - Financial independence as a foundation

14:05 - Experience at Salesforce

17:22 - Being the only young, female team member at Microsoft

18:45 - How Lauren embraced authenticity in the workplace

21:07 - The challenge of fundraising as a female founder

23:45 - Celebrating success & building positive culture

27:05 - Overcoming imposter syndrome & CEO mindset

28:10 - Staying focused as an entrepreneur

31:12 - Work-life balance versus integration

32:32 - Evolving friendships and social circles

36:25 - Growth mindset and continuous learning

38:55 - Create your own table

Connect with the guest:

Lauren Goodell: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-goodell/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The World Traveler turned Founder & SVP at Certinia ft. Deb Ashton

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 08:07:00 -0400

In this conversation, Deb Ashton shares his journey from a science background to leading customer experience at Cetinia, previously known as Financial Force. She discusses the evolution of the company, the challenges faced in leadership, and the importance of customer experience. Deb reflects on her proudest moments, including reaching significant revenue milestones and fostering a positive company culture. She also emphasizes the importance of work-life balance and the need for women to find their voice in leadership roles.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:30 - Meet Deb Ashton and Learn about Certinia

3:40 - The Evolution of Financial Force

5:55 - From Lab to Tech

10:40 - Founding Financial Force: Risks and Dreams

13:55 - Growth and Investment

17:21 - Transitioning to Customer Experience Leadership

22:00 - Embracing Emotional Challenges in Leadership

29:50 - Overcoming Gender Challenges in Leadership

34:00 - Proud Moments and Company Culture

39:05 - Balancing Work and Family Life

42:10 - Deb's Final Thoughts and Advice

Connect with the guest:

Deb Ashton: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-ashton-founder-financialforce/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

female leadership, C-suite women, customer experience, operations management, founding a company, career pivots, FinancialForce, Certinia, product management, customer success, professional services automation, Salesforce platform, startup growth, women in tech, career challenges, work-life balance, company culture, organizational change, entrepreneurship, executive mentorship, product development, leadership journey, board membership, strategic decision-making, gender diversity, emotional resilience, work boundaries, personal development, professional achievements, company milestones

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Recruiter turned CEO at CS Recruiting ft. Charlie Saffro

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 10:33:00 -0400

On this episode of the She So Suite Podcast, I sit down with Charlie Saffro, Founder and CEO of CS Recruiting, keynote speaker, and trailblazer in the logistics and supply chain industry. Charlie shares her unconventional fifteen-year journey from freelancer to leader, explaining what it means to truly step into the CEO role of her own company after a decade of letting others lead. She opens up about building her business as a woman in a male-dominated space, the moments and setbacks that shaped her leadership style, and why authenticity, vulnerability, and people-first policies are at the heart of her success.

Kristi and Charlie also explore the power of standing out—not blending in—and why speaking up and putting people first, especially women, matters more than ever. Charlie’s story is packed with real talk about imposter syndrome, learning to say no to the wrong clients, and her proudest accomplishments, including giving a TED Talk and instituting compassionate leave policies for her team.

Get ready to meet a remarkable woman whose honest perspectives and hard-won wisdom will encourage you to step into your own power—no matter where you are on your career journey.

Timestamps

0:00 – Preview

0:50 – Meet Charlie Saffro

5:10 – Initial lack of intent to lead & the transition to leadership

10:05 – Early career & aspirations

16:26 – Embracing the leadership role at CS Recruiting

20:02 – Understanding self-worth & learning boundaries with difficult clients

26:35 – Names don't have genders

31:35 – Delivering a TED Talk and the significance of that achievement

35:25 – Implementing a miscarriage and pregnancy loss leave policy

41:40 – Charlie's plans for the future

43:50 – Seeing people behind their titles

Connect with the guest:

Charlie Saffro: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliesaffro/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, female leadership, women CEOs, C-suite women, entrepreneurship, logistics industry, supply chain, transportation industry, recruiting, leadership journey, women in business, workplace empathy, managing remote teams, employee retention in a remote work set up, keynote speaking, TED Talk, business growth, parental leave and workplace challenges, women supporting women, women’s career advancement, business pivots, authenticity in leadership, breaking up with clients

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Artist turned Founder at The Borden Group ft. Melanie Borden

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 08:50:00 -0400

In today’s episode, I'm joined by the dynamic Melanie Borden, Founder and CEO of The Borden Group, who candidly shares her unique pivot from her early dreams as an artist and portrait painter to the fast-paced world of marketing and entrepreneurship. Melani shares how she built her agency almost overnight, leveraging her expertise and a LinkedIn community she cultivated from the ground up. From managing million-dollar marketing budgets in the auto industry to navigating tough rooms filled with skepticism, Melanie gets real about overcoming adversity, workplace aggression, and the challenges of being the youngest—and often only—woman at the table.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:24 - Melani Borden’s background and The Borden Group

3:30 - Leveraging LinkedIn for business and inbound opportunities

7:46 - Early Aspirations and Artistic Beginnings

10:28 - Career Pivot from Art to Sales, Advertising & Marketing

14:28 - Helping a multi-business analyze marketing spend & building an in-house agency

18:30 - Female Leadership and Industry Dynamics

21:00 - Overcoming Fear and Building Confidence

27:00 - Facing hostile leadership as a young, female change agent & lessons learned

32:40 - Developing Resilience and Thick Skin

39:05 - Empowering other women

Connect with the guest:

Melanie Borden: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieborden/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, marketing strategy, personal branding, LinkedIn presence, C-suite women, female leadership, in-house agency, agency startup, social media, content strategy, business consulting, overcoming fear, career pivots, entrepreneurship, artist to entrepreneur, marketing budgets, marketing consulting, executive branding, adversity in the workplace, women in automotive, thick skin, career growth, professional networking, client acquisition, crisis management, leadership challenges, inbound marketing, business development, digital transformation, emotional intelligence, brand storytelling

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Fashion Designer turned Founder at Down to a T ft. Talya Heller G.

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 11:26:00 -0400

Talya Heller G, a competitive positioning consultant and founder of Down to a T joins me, Kristi Faltorusso, CCO at ClientSuccess on this episode of She's So Suite Podcast. Talya opens up about her unconventional career journey—from dreaming of becoming a fashion designer as a child, to transitioning through engineering, program management, product marketing, and finally, to entrepreneurship. Together, they dive into the pivotal moments that shaped Talya’s path, her mindset for embracing unexpected opportunities, and the challenges she faced working in male-dominated tech environments.

Talya Heller G, Competitive Positioning Consultant and Founder of Down to a T, joins me, Kristi Faltorusso, CCO at ClientSuccess, on this episode of the She's So Suite Podcast. Talya opens up about her unconventional career journey — from dreaming of becoming a fashion designer as a child to transitioning through program management, and product marketing, and finally to entrepreneurship. Talya shares how drawing on creativity, self-expression, and analytical skills has ultimately helped her succeed, even when her journey didn’t follow a five-year plan.

Together, we dive into the pivotal moments that shaped Talya’s path, her mindset for embracing unexpected opportunities, and the challenges she has faced working in male-dominated tech environments.

Timestamps

0:00 – Preview

0:56 – Meet Talya Heller G.

2:55 – Talya’s Early Career Aspirations & Education

10:50 – Saying YES & Embracing Opportunities

21:10 – Working in a Male-Dominated Environment

28:23 – Celebrating & Reflecting on Successes

33:19 – Defining Success

Connect with the guest:

Talya Heller G.: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/talyahellermba18/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, women entrepreneurs, female role models in tech, female tech leaders, women in tech, C-suite women, female leadership, empowering women, success stories from founders

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Actress turned SVP of Marketing & Growth at Pavilion ft. Kathleen Booth

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:29:00 -0400

Kathleen Booth, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Growth at Pavilion, joins me Kristi Faltorusso, CCO at ClientSuccess for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, career pivots, and thriving in leadership.

Kathleen opens up about her unconventional career journey, from working in international development and consulting on clean water projects worldwide to founding and selling her own marketing agency, and ultimately leading Marketing & GTM at Pavilion.

Together, Kristi and Kathleen discuss the real truths behind solopreneurship and work-life balance, the lessons learned from building and selling a company alongside her husband, and how owning your own business isn’t always the shortcut to freedom it’s made out to be.They also dive into the importance of building confidence—even as an introvert—and embracing your zone of genius by doing work you genuinely love, surrounded by people who inspire you.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

0:50 - Meet Kathleen Booth

3:15 - Kathleen’s Early Inspiration and Beginnings

6:53 - Founding and running a marketing agency with her husband

9:00 - Career Pivots and their impact on careeer

11:55 - Lessons from Entrepreneurship and Business Ownership

15:06 - Work-Life Balance Revisited for Entrepreneurs

18:12 - Gender and age-related challenges in international consulting

20:55 - Building Confidence as a Skill

22:40 - The Reality of Introverts in Leadership

24:42 - Reflecting and Celebrating Kathleen's Successes

29:25 - Empowering Other Women

33:00 - Creating and Defining Personal Balance

37:04 - planned vs. organic career growth

39:21 - Closing Insights

Connect with the guest:

Kathleen Booth: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleenslatterybooth/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Teacher turned President & CSO at The Enginnered Innovation Group ft. Karen Mangia

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:33:00 -0400

This episode, I welcome Karen Mangia, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Engineered Innovation Group.

Karen shares her fascinating journey from big tech powerhouses—AT&T, Cisco, and Salesforce—to leading strategy in the world of AI at her current company.

Listen as Karen opens up about the defining moment that made her completely rethink the meaning of success following a major health crisis, and the powerful leadership lessons she’s learned about boundaries and balance.

Plus, she reveals her proudest achievements, her passion for mentorship, and the inspiring work she’s doing outside the boardroom—like publishing bestselling books and running transformational programs for women. Karen’s wisdom and authenticity will leave you feeling motivated and empowered to define success on your own terms.

Timestamps

0:00 – Preview

0:53 – Meet Karen Mangia

2:47 – Overview of Engineered Innovation Group & intro to Roxie

6:07 – Karen’s early aspirations and career journey

9:11 – Major career and life challenges

9:44 – Professional overwork and ignoring personal health signals

12:55 – Sacrificing self for career and redefining personal success

14:45 – How leaders’ habits and boundaries impact teams

18:25 – Advocating for self-care

20:33 – Addressing overwork and reclaiming empowerment

21:00 – Understanding the Positive Intelligence (PQ)

25:05 – Celebrating wins and proudest achievements

29:50 – Sundays with Salvatore

31:33 – Volunteering work with Dress for Success

31:55 – The Visionary Ladies group

35:45 – Advice for navigating toxic work environments

37:20 – Three (plus one) key questions for task prioritization

42:33 – Final thoughts: Success is accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime

Connect with the guest:

Karen Mangia:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenmangia/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

________________________________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Marine Biologist turned Founder of The Sales-Led GTM Agency ft. Leslie Venetz

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 18:02:00 -0400

Leslie Vanetz, Founder of The Sales-Led GTM Agency, joins me, Kristi Faltorusso, CCO at Client Success for a candid conversation on this episode of the She's So Suite Podcast.

Leslie takes us on her journey—from aspiring marine biologist and would-be lawyer to excelling in B2B sales and ultimately forging her own path as a successful entrepreneur. She opens up about the challenges she faced early in her sales career: toxic environments, burnout, and the realities of carving out space as a woman in leadership. Her story is one of grit and transformation—surviving hostile workplaces, learning hard lessons, finding her power, building a business from scratch, and redefining success on her own terms.

With her signature honesty and warmth, Leslie shares valuable insights on navigating career pivots, discovering self-worth beyond job titles, and why betting on yourself can be the most rewarding move of all. She also offers advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and a sneak peek at her debut book - Profit Generating Pipeline.

Timestamps

0:00 – Preview

1:15 – Meet Leslie Venetz

6:03 – Early Aspirations and Career Pivots

12:10 – Sales Career: Successes, Challenges, and Lessons

21:00 – The Entrepreneurial Leap

23:34 – Dealing with a Toxic Work Environment

37:45 – Celebrating Professional Milestones and Redefining Success

39:40 – Embracing the Founder Role and Betting on Yourself

42:30 – Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

46:46 – Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom

48:48 – Leslie’s Debut Book: Profit Generating Pipeline

Connect with the guest:

Leslie Venetz: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslievenetz/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page:⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, personal fulfillment, impact over money, mentoring for women, women in leadership, C-suite, sales career, B2B SaaS, entrepreneurship, founder journey, corporate to entrepreneurship, workplace harassment, mindset shift, career pivots, women empowerment, gender diversity, CRO, women mentorship, career challenges for women, startup experience, sales consulting, personal worth, self-identity, career success, toxic work culture, job transitions, financial independence, work-life balance, launching a book

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Paleoethnobotanist turned Founder & CEO at Hyphenate ft. Debra Senra

Wed, 21 May 2025 10:45:00 -0400

Welcome back to the She’s So Suite Podcast, where we spotlight powerful women who’ve carved their paths to the C-suite. In this episode, I, Kristi Faltorusso, sit down with Debra Senra, CEO and Founder of Hyphenate. Debra takes us on a candid journey—from her childhood dream of becoming a paleoethnobotanist, to her ambition of serving as a Supreme Court Justice, and ultimately, to her rise as the Founder of Hyphenate. Together, we explore the pivotal moments and bold risks that shaped her career.

You’ll hear raw reflections on overcoming challenges such as workplace bias, pay disparities, and the pressures of perfectionism—along with Debra’s philosophy of leading with authenticity, empowering future women leaders, and creating honest conversations about the realities women face on their climb to the top. Plus, she offers some unfiltered advice: you need the confidence of a “rich white man” to forge your own path and ignore the noise.

Tune in and get ready to feel empowered.

Timestamps

0:00 – Preview

0:50 – Meet Debra & Learn About Hyphenate

4:50 – Career Aspirations Growing Up

9:45 – Pivotal Career Decisions

13:07 – Nobody Knows Anything

15:26 – Dealing with Criticism, Bias & Negative Feedback

20:30 – Emotional Toll and Overcoming Pay Discrepancies

24:47 – Successes, Pride, and Authenticity

30:15 – No One Is Perfect

31:58 – Empowering Other Women

35:15 – Balancing Work & Life

43:10 – Parting Advice and Closing Thoughts

Connect with the guest:

Debra Senra: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/debrasenra/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, women in leadership, C-suite women, female CEO, female founder, SaaS startups, AI-powered software, generative AI, pay disparity, gender bias, career transitions, career advice for women, parenting and career, negotiation skills, professional confidence, leadership challenges, career pivots, mentorship for women in tech empowered women, ambition, overcoming obstacles

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Ballerina turned Founder & CEO at The Fairy Job Mom ft. Alexis Scott

Wed, 07 May 2025 10:07:00 -0400

Welcome back to the She's So Suite podcast, where we celebrate, elevate, and learn from accomplished women in the C-suite and beyond. In this episode, I, Kristi Faltorusso, sit down with the inspiring Alexis Scott, Founder & CEO of The Fairy Job Mom, to chat about her refreshingly candid career journey.

You’ll hear Alexis’s raw insights on being laid off during the pandemic, grappling with golden handcuffs, and how a pivotal conversation with her life coach sparked the launch of her own brand. Alexis shares not only the highs and lows of her professional life but also valuable advice for women who want to empower others and design a career and community on their own terms. So settle in—this is a story of grit, reinvention, and embracing your voice, packed with honesty, laughs, and wisdom you won’t want to miss.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

0:58 - Meet Alexis

2:50 - Discovery and use of TikTok

7:00 - Early career aspirations

9:20 - Education & career journey

11:45 - Pivotal Career Shifts and Growth

14:19 - Layoff During COVID and Reinvention

20:55 - Entrepreneurial Journey: From Employee to Founder

31:40 - Giving Back and Empowering Other Women

35:00 - Work-Life Balance, Personal Growth & Mindset Shifts

43:20 - Closing Insights and Advice

Connect with

Alexis Scott :

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexisjscott/⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.thefairyjobmom.com/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, career transitions, job search, life coach, work-life balance, professional burnout, golden handcuffs, The Fairy Job Mom, LinkedIn personal branding, executive ghostwriting, social media presence, career reinvention, women in business, female empowerment, entrepreneurship, remote work, tech industry, hospitality sales, career setbacks, layoffs during COVID, salary negotiations, building an audience, self-employment challenges, content creation

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Journalist turned Sales Manager at Dreamdata ft. Laura Erdem

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 09:58:00 -0400

From dreaming of becoming a journalist in Lithuania to excelling in the world of tech sales, Laura Erdem—a dynamic sales executive at DreamData—opens up about making bold career pivots and overcoming fear through financial security, which is crucial for empowerment, especially for women.

Laura shares candid insights on making the leap from established enterprise roles to early-stage startups, building her personal brand on LinkedIn, and how her background in communications and journalism continues to shape her success in sales. She also discusses the importance of diversity, the power of cultivating a strong support network, and offers practical advice for anyone looking to redefine their professional story.

Timestamps

0:00 – Preview

0:58 – Meet Laura Erdem

4:56 – Laura’s Early Career & Educational Background

8:16 – Pivoting Into Sales

10:57 – Transitioning to Startups: The Jump to DreamData

15:24 – Career Pivots & Mindset

18:10 – Overcoming Fear and the Role of Financial Security

25:25 – Navigating the Lack of Diversity in Tech

29:36 – Recognition as the "Best Inside Sales Employee"

30:43 – Brand Building & Influencing Broader Audiences

31:44 – Advice on Building a Personal Brand on LinkedIn

35:31 – Empowerment of Women and Giving Back

39:13 – Balancing Choices, Self-Care, & Trade-Offs

42:17 – Managing Guilt as a Working Parent

44:00 – Closing

Connect with the guest:

Laura Erdem: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lerdem/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, sales and marketing integration, mentoring for women, career pivot, women in tech, financial security, personal brand, LinkedIn strategy, sales career, B2B marketing, revenue attribution, startup culture, enterprise sales, Dreamdata, Gartner, Red Hat, female empowerment, diversity in tech, work-life balance, mentorship, women leadership, career transitions for women, C-suite women

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Veterinarian turned CCO at SAI360 ft. Paula Sobb

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 05:45:00 -0400

Join me, Kristi Faltorusso, CCO, Client Success as I sit down with Paula Sobb, CCO, SAI360 ( former CCO, LifeLoop). Paula takes us on a remarkable journey through her career, from navigating the male-dominated tech industry to successfully launching her own business. With honesty and vulnerability, Paula shares pivotal moments in her life, including balancing motherhood and career, overcoming health challenges, and bouncing back into corporate America with renewed vigor. Listen in as they explore the power of female leadership, the importance of mentorship, and how women can redefine success on their own terms. Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or blazing your unique path, Paula's story will inspire and empower you to pursue your dreams fearlessly.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intro

4:48 - Career aspirations growing up

6:55 - Career Journey and Transitions

10:10 - Balancing Career and Family

12:03 - Stepping back from corporate life

15:12 - Return to corporate life after personal challenges

18:25 - Challenges as a Female Leader

27:11 - Lack of female mentors in earlier career stages

33:00 - Taking time off

36:15 - Reflection on Success

41:08 - Empowerment and mentoring young women

44:27 - Defining personal success.

Connect with the guest:

Paula Sobb: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulasobb/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Astronomer turned CEO at Virtual Field ft. Rachel Krug

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 08:22:00 -0400

Welcome back to the She's So Suite podcast, where I spotlight remarkable women who have journeyed to the C-suite. In today's episode, I, Kristi Faltorusso, sit down with Rachel Krug, the accomplished CEO of Virtual Field. With an MA in Sociomedical Sciences from Columbia University, an MBA from New York University, and a BA in Sociology from Cornell University, Rachel's career has been shaped by pivotal moments and challenges she's overcome, including personal trials during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this insightful conversation, Rachel discusses her passion for growth, her path to becoming a CEO, and the importance of empowering women in the workplace. Join us as we explore the intersections of leadership, family, and continuous self-improvement in the dynamic world of female leaders at the top.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:10 - Meet Rachel & Learn about- Virtual Field

5:45 - Rachel’s Career Aspirations & Journey

9:10- Background and experiences leading to her current role

11:20 - Getting promoted from Director to VP

14:00 - Personal family challenges during COVID-19

22:03 - Impact on professional life and work environment

24:24 - Professional accomplishments and company growth

27:10 - Participation in Pavilion community and CRO school

29:27 - Preference for small to mid-sized companies

36:10 - Empowering Women and Mentoring

41:50 - Balancing Personal and Professional Life

44:10 - Importance of a supportive partner

46:00 - Final Advice from Rachel

Connect with the guest:

Rachel Krug: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelakrug/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women⁠/⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, optometry, ophthalmology, C-suite, female leadership, female empowerment, women in c-suite, women in tech, female tech leaders

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Spy turned Founder & CEO at Avenue Talent Partners ft. Amy Volas

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Join me, Kristi Faltorusso, CCO at ClientSuccess as I welcome the inspiring Amy Volas, founder and CEO of Avenue Talent Partners to uncover her unique journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Amy shares candid anecdotes about the formidable challenges she faced, including working with a difficult CEO and navigating career crossroads, and how she overcame them by embracing excellence and communication. She also shares her proudest moments, including her entrepreneurial success and impactful work with her best friend.

0:00 - Preview

2:50 - Meet Amy Volas, Founder and CEO at Avenue Talent Partners

4:50 - Average tenure for executives in sales and CS roles

6:20 - Importance of communication in hiring processes

8:41 - Childhood dreams of becoming the female version of James Bond

16:30 - Amy's Journey and Career Shifts

20:38 - Foundation and growth of Avenue Talent Partners

23:30 - Working with a difficult boss

30:50 - Amy’s Successes and Achievements

36:00 - Values driving Amy’s supportive actions

44:44 - Authenticity and intentionality in relationships

48:00 - Amy’s Final Thoughts and Advice

Connect with the guest:

Amy Volas: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyvolas/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Pilot turned Product Led Growth Expert ft. Leah Tharin

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0400

Leah Tharin, a trailblazing influencer and product-led growth expert joins me, Kristi Faltorusso, CCO at Client Success on the She's So Suite podcast to candidly share her unique career path, starting as a C++ developer and evolving into a dynamic force in the product management and executive landscape.

Leah unveils pivotal moments, the challenges she faced, and the transformative decisions she made to embrace her true self and achieve professional success. Tune in to discover the insights and wisdom from Leah's journey, and be inspired by her dedication to challenging the status quo and paving the way for future leaders.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:13 - Meet Leah

7:05 - Early Ambitions and Career Realizations

12:20 - Importance of self-acceptance and humility

16:05 - Openly admitting mistakes

23:30 - Embracing a unique voice

30:10 - Empowering women through mentorship

41:07 - Be kind to yourself

Connect with the guest:

Leah Therin:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahtharin/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website:⁠ ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page:⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, female leaders, career journey, mentorship for tech women, women empowerment, women leaders.

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Social Worker turned VP at Agility PR Solutions ft. Pragya Dubey

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the She's So Suite Podcast, Pragya Dubey, the Vice President of Global Services & Media Analytics at Agility PR Solutions joins me, Kristi Faaltorusso, CCO at ClientSuccess to chat about path to the C-suite, along with the inherent traits that propelled her forward.

Pragya shares the profound impact of mentorship and how she empowers other women. With valuable insights on building relationships, embracing ambition, and maintaining balance, this episode offers a wealth of inspiration and wisdom for all those striving to achieve their career aspirations.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

0:57 - Meet Pragya Dubey

7:25 - Pragya’s early aspirations of being a social worker

12:10 - Importance of perseverance and resilience

14:28 - Going the extra mile

16:40 - Career Progression at Agility PR Solutions

19:40 - Embracing ambition

25:30 - Pragya's achievements and the

26:30 - Building strong relationships

31:45 - Empowering women

Advocacy against domestic violence

36:40 - Balancing Work and Personal Life

41:31 - Advice for the Younger Self

Everyone deserves a life free of violence. Support Harmony House: ⁠https://harmonyhousews.com/⁠

Connect with the guest:

Pragya Dubey:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/pragsy/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, She So Suite podcast, Kristi Faltorusso, Pragya Dubey, Agility PR Solutions, customer success, public relations, global services, vice president, career success, ambitious women, mentorship for women, women empowerment, domestic violence, community involvement, women leadership, career progression for women,

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Inside Sales Rep turned Co-Founder & CEO of eWebinar ft. Melissa Kwan

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 11:43:00 -0400

Melissa Kwan, Co-Founder & CEO of eWebinar, joins me, Kristi Faltorusso, CCO at ClientSuccess, on the She's So Suite podcast to share her journey of bootstrapping startups, embracing nomadic living, and intentionally designing a life centered around freedom and happiness.

She also reveals the philosophy that guides her today: You can have everything you want—just not all at once.

Melissa opens up about working alongside her life partner, David, and the unwavering support he provides for her ambitions. She highlights the importance of having a partner who truly embraces you for who you are—especially for women with a CEO mindset. Through her experiences, Melissa hopes to inspire other women to seek relationships built on mutual support and acceptance, demonstrating how she and David have crafted an extraordinary life together, balancing professional success with a lifestyle of freedom and fulfillment.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

2:06 - Meet Melissa Kwan

4:00 - Working with life partner, David, as her cofounder

8:12 - Early Career and Aspirations

11:00 - Realizing that corporate life wasn't for her

14:49 - Key learnings from her startup experiences

19:27 - Melissa's least favorite tasks & her experiences with in-person conferences

25:00 - Being intentional with life and achieving personal freedom

28:35 - Importance of shared goals and lifestyle with a partner

32:18 - Keeping the motivation alive

38:30 - Advice and reflections for ambitious women

41:05 - "You don't need to give half of your company away."

45:15 - "You can have everything you want, just not everything today."

46:10 - Don't let anyone dim your light

Connect with the guest:

Melissa Kwan: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissakwan/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Hairstylist turned COO at OnTheClock ft. Nicole Hullihen

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 06:54:00 -0400

In this episode of the She's So Suite, podcast, I'm joined by Nicole Hullihen, Chief Operating Officer at OnTheClock and Founder of XecuteTheVision. Nicole shares her journey from being overlooked for promotions to becoming a recognized leader and mentor. She discusses the pivotal role of education in her career, her passion for providing mentorship to women, and the delicate balance she maintains between her professional and personal life. We'll also explore her practical advice on self-improvement, the significance of Excel skills, and her commitment to community involvement. Buckle up for an episode filled with valuable insights, and actionable advice that will motivate you to take charge of your career path. Stay tuned!

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intros

5:00 - Early career aspirations

6:00 - Career path and professional experiences

7:20 - The role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at OnTheClock

9:30 - Enhancing qualifications for career growth

13:40 - Being overlooked for promotions

17:20 - Setting an example for her two daughters

18:30 - Balancing work commitments and family time

21:50 - Accomplishments: Microsoft MVP award and COO promotion

25:20 - Self-advocacy and growth

29:25 - Mentoring & empowering women

32:30 - Personal Habits and Wellbeing

37:10 - Advice to Younger Self and Others

Connect with the guest:

Nicole Hullihen: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-hullihen-mba/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, female corporate leaders, career path challenges, formal education for career, balancing career and motherhood, female mentorship, Chief Operating Officer, OnTheClock, Execute The Vision, mentoring women in business, , work-life balance for women, empowering women

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Lawyer turned Co-Founder at Goldhue ft. Tara Goldman

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 09:05:00 -0400

In this She's So Suite podcast episode, I sit down with Tara Goldman, co-founder and executive coach at Goldhue. Tara shares her dynamic career journey and emphasizes the transformative power of face-to-face interactions and the role of empathy and accountability in digital communication, especially in remote work environments.

Listen in as Tara reflects on her career transitions, the significance of communication over technical skills in hiring, and the delicate balance of personal and professional life.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intros

5:45 - Tara's self-reflective career decisions

8:00 - Career aspirations growing up

13:30 - Dealing with self-doubt while taking up new jobs

17:45 - Fostering genuine relationships with empathy

23:10 - We are a team

25:10 - Seek to understand

28:28 - Being agile and applying lessons learned

32:00 - Finding new opportunities and building a network

35:30 - Staying in touch with ex co-workers

38:30 - Empowering women

41:00 - Building confidence

45:00 - Optimising for personal and professional priorities

48:48 - Be intentional about your choices

Connect with the guest:

Tara Goldman : ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-goldman/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, c-suite women, women in c-suite, women leaders, female leadership, women in tech, tech women

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

An Entrepreneur from the Start ft. Giuliana Corbo (CEO, Nearsure)

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 13:23:00 -0400

In this empowering episode of the She's So Suite podcast, I am joined by an extraordinary guest, Giuliana Corbo (CEO, of Nearsure) with me. Together we dive deep into Giuliana's remarkable journey to becoming a tech industry leader.

Giuliana discusses the value of failure as a crucial lesson in personal and professional development, emphasizing its role in fostering a growth mindset. She also shares her mission to empower women, particularly in Latin America, by leading by example and offering opportunities like tech scholarships. Kristi and Giuliana exchange insights on the importance of routines, personal well-being, and the power of storytelling in inspiring future leaders. Stay tuned as we explore the vibrant world of female executives and uncover the keys to their success.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intros

3:30 - From dream to reality

9:35 - Learn as you grow

14:56 - Latin American talent

16:45 - Nearshore's rapid growth, culture & opportunities

19:30 - Inspiring women to pursue their ambitions boldly

24:54 - Prioritizing self to find balance

31:10 - Embrace early failure to diminish future problems-- learn resilience

36:50 - Continuing learning for growth

41:36 - Giuliana's ONE thing

43:40 - Kristi's book recommendation

Connect with the guest:

Giuliana Corbo: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/giulianacorbo/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, personal fulfillment, post-sales customer experience, feedback in business, company culture, mentoring for women, personal growth, professional development, learning from competitors, women in tech, empowering women, career accomplishments, company growth, cultural impact, women in leadership, personal balance.

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Marine Biologist turned President at Mosaicx ft. Rebecca Jones

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 05:40:00 -0400

Rebecca Jones, the President at Mosaicx joins me, Kristi Faltorusso, for this episode to share her incredible journey. Rebecca's path to success is one of resilience, mentorship, and the pursuit of purpose. Along the way, she faced significant challenges, including job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has found innovative ways to navigate her career and personal growth. She also emphasizes the importance of aligning personal values with professional roles, creating a personal brand, and seeking support from mentors and peers.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intros

2:36 - Kristi's initial impressions and connection with Rebecca

3:30 - Rebecca's career aspirations growing up & career journey

11:36 - Overcame obstacles & empowering self through belief and opportunity

18:00 - Mentorship is mutually rewarding and meaningful

20:36 - Recognizing and dealing with grief after job loss during COVID

27:00 - Rising like a phoenix

34:16 - Contributions to the national suicide hotline support

37:50 - Participation in the Global Mental Health Task Force in collaboration with the UN

42:48 - Advise on believing in oneself and surrounding oneself with supportive people

Connect with the guest:

Rebecca Jones: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-lynn-jones/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, executive women leaders, women in leadership, accomplished women, leadership roles, Mosaic, victim notification technology, domestic violence experiences, job loss, mindset shift, career challenges, personal growth, job search strategies, women empowerment, National Suicide Hotline, Global Mental Health Task Force.

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Teacher turned CCO of Trustwell ft. Maria Burch

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 06:04:00 -0400

Maria Burch, the Chief Customer Officer at Trustwell, joins me, Kristi Faltorusso, CCO at Client Success to open up about her dynamic career journey, emotional challenges of leadership, and strategies for building confidence through power poses and affirmations. They also delve into the complexities of navigating male-dominated industries, the importance of female empowerment, the philosophy around work-life integration, the mental health benefits of fitness routines, and Maria's role in creating supportive environments for her team.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intros

5:01 - Aspirations & career path growing up

9:10 - Embracing discomfort for growth

11:21 - Leading is taking predictive risks

15:58 - Navigating difficulties working in male-dominated environments

22:15 - Maria's career accomplishments

26:50 - Empowering upcoming women leaders

33:20 - Work-Life integration

38:50 - Commitment to growth through continuous learning

42:02 - Maria's future aspirations

43:36 - Words of affirmation

Connect with the guest:

Maria Burch: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariaburch/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, post-sales customer experience, mentoring for women, Maria Burch, Chief Customer Officer, customer success, female leadership and empowerment, employee relationships, empowering female leaders, women in tech.

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Teacher turned CPO of Axonius ft. Nurit Shiber

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 23:18:00 -0400

Nurit Shiber, Chief People Officer at Axonius, joins me in this episode to discuss her career milestones, challenges navigating motherhood and career growth, and the necessity of practicing gratitude, self-reflection, and making mindful choices. Nurit also shares her passion for mentoring high school students. Tune in to our conversations filled with wisdom, authenticity, and actionable insights that will leave you inspired to reflect on your path and pursue a fulfilling life.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intros

3:00 - The ideal company criteria

6:50 - Early career aspirations & journey

9:30 - Being intentional about career choices

11:47 - Being a courageous coward

14:45 - Overcoming burnout and reassessing the focus of life

19:38 - Balancing career, motherhood, and finding inner peace

22:40 - Pause - Reflect - Redefine

25:30 - Celebrating Nurit's career successes

30:12 - Importance of role modeling and emphasizing early mentorship

33:31 - Balancing Career and Motherhood

37:37 - Slowing down

39:19 - Future Ambitions & Desires

40:32 - Why suffer?—choosing fulfillment and happiness

Connect with the guest:

Nurit Shiber: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nurit-shiber/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, Work-Life Balance, Career Achievements, Empowering Women, Approach to Leadership, Career Path, Organizational Psychology, HR Leadership, Axonius, People-Centric Approach, Motherhood and Career

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Medical Doctor turned (former) CEO of Radial ft. Laura Ritchey

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 10:43:00 -0400

In this episode, Laura Ritchie, CEO of Radial & I sit down to reflect on her career journey. Laura shares powerful lessons about prioritizing significance and purpose over status. She advocates for maintaining strong social connections for a happier, longer life. She offers profound insights into female leadership, spotlighting systemic issues from the McKinsey Women in the Workplace study and stressing the need for actionable diversity and inclusion efforts. Laura's commitment to mentorship and advocacy shines through, as she speaks on fostering a respectful workplace culture and breaking down barriers for women.

Tune in for inspiring advice on navigating career challenges, maintaining work-life balance, and leading with empathy and impact. Whether you're an aspiring leader or looking to champion change within your organization, Laura Ritchie's story is one you won't want to miss. So grab your headphones, hit play, and get ready to be motivated by the unique journey of a true trailblazer in the C-suite!

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intros

5:00 - Career aspirations growing up

9:04 - Being comfortable outside of comfort zone

13:10 - Listen to your gut

13:40 - Becoming the CEO

15:40 - There is not enough of us

21:15 - Don't be close-minded

24:00 - Influencing the career trajectory of others as a leader

26:33 - Empowering future women leaders

27:55 - Don't presume, reach out for help

30:10 - Balancing work & life

34:35 - Zoom out to know the significance

38:25 - Women in leadership

43:00 - YOU are a LEADER

Connect with the guest:

Laura Ritchey: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-ritchey-55836a8/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page:⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), mentoring for women, career advice for women, female leadership, McKinsey Women in the Workplace study, women in business, women of color, leadership roles, diversity and inclusion, recruitment support, executive women leaders.

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Doctor turned CCO at Salesloft ft. Sam Loveland

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 04:24:00 -0400

Sam Loveland, the Chief Customer Officer at SalesLoft, joins me to share her incredible journey in the tech and business world. From navigating a male-dominated industry to diving into the importance of feedback, Sam & I explore the challenges and strategies for transitioning into leadership roles. We also touch upon the value of mentorship, and the significance of a supportive system in achieving career aspirations.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Preview & Intros

3:50 - Navigating career & family life

6:06 - Early aspirations to become a doctor

7:20 - Quitting computer science

10:45 - Prioritizing family over career

17:35 - Moving laterally, making tough decisions

20:40 - Women in STEM roles

23:20 - Celebrating career success

27:32 - Mentoring and guiding women

29:30 - Expertise brings value; management isn't everything

38:05 - Ask for help

40:30 - Feedback is a gift

45:10 - Love what you do and prioritize personal time

Connect with the guest:

Sam Loveland: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-loveland-b19775/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, customer experience, mentoring for women, safe environment for feedback, women led leadership roles, work-life balance, mentorship, gender dynamics, career satisfaction, career transitions, vulnerability in leadership, female representation in tech, SalesLoft, ServiceNow, empowering women, career planning

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Musician turned CHRO of Gong ft. Sunaina Lobo

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 10:14:00 -0400

In this episode of the She's So Suite Podcast, you'll find a treasure trove of insights and actionable advice on leadership, diversity, inclusion, and achieving both personal and professional success. Sunaina Lobo, the dynamic Chief People Officer at Gong, joins Kristi Faltorusso to discuss the crucial role of relationships, mentorship, and authentic leadership in fostering inclusive workplace environments.

Sunaina also passionately shares her commitment to empowering women in STEM and advancing diversity within corporate structures.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intros

4:01 - Creating "raving fans" among customers

6:07 - Happy employees equals happy customers

9:50 - Suni's love for music growing up

13:20 - Aspirations to become the Chief People Officer

18:17 - Overcoming challenges as an outsider

22:57 - Losing self-authenticity

24:30 - Embracing diversity as a part of company culture

29:55 - Mentoring and investing in other's careers

33:30 - Promoting STEM education for girls locally and globally

35:13 - Encouraging women's workforce retention

37:00 - Supporting women to focus on family & career opportunities

41:07 - Ruthless prioritization is essential

45:00 - Career is a journey, not just a destination

47:00 - Be a multiplier

Connect with the guest:

Sunaina Lobo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunaina-lobo-4b0a2319/

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, company culture, mentoring for women, Sunaina Lobo, Leadership Approach, Mentoring, Coaching, Sponsoring, Women in STEM, Maternity Support, Career Journey, Executive Female Leaders, Diversity and Inclusion, Organizational Culture, Work-life Balance, Talent Acquisition, Gong, Revenue Intelligence, Employee Well-being, advisory work in business.

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Pediatric Cardiologist turned CRO at Japhy AI ft. Steph Reck

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 09:02:00 -0400

Steph Reck, CRO at Japhy AI, joins me on the She's So Suite Podcast and sheds light on the emotional challenges of layoffs, and the importance of supporting affected employees. They also discuss the biases in traditional hiring practices, which can overlook diverse, talented individuals. Steph emphasizes leaders' role in creating a collaborative, inclusive, and safe work environment.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:23 - Meet Steph Reck

5:05 - Break down silos, work cross-functionally

7:30 - The aspiration to be a Pediatric Cardiologist

12:05 - Don't let anybody get in your way

17:00 - Impact of layoffs and the struggle with corporate decisions

23:45 - Supporting staff to plan for success and growth

26:06 - Recruitment, the bias for a university degree & compensation

41:40 - Mentoring former employees

45:21 - The voice goes unheard

48:50 - They don't know what they are doing

53:00 - Be the voice, open the door, fail forward

Connect with the guest:

Steph Reck: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniereck/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), mentoring for women, staff layoffs, employee support, leadership empathy, talent diversity, hiring biases, sales recruitment, cross-functional collaboration, AI startup challenges, career mentorship

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Customer turned Global Head of Customer Support Operations ft. Natalie Beckerman

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 02:51:00 -0400

Natalie Beckerman, Global Head of Customer Support Operations at IHG Hotel and Resorts joins me to share her dynamic career path filled with wild challenges, pivotal moments, and empowering leadership. She’ll offer insights into contrasting experiences with different leadership styles and the role of a leader in making her feel empowered to deliver results in seemingly impossible situations. Natalie also outlines her structured approach to assessing career moves and ensuring alignment with personal vision and values.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intro

2:40 - Obsession for Customer Success

9:05 - Power of positivity & leadership

13:00 - Contrasting leadership styles

22:46 - Instilling a customer-centric mindset

25:50 - Learning it is time to let go

29:20 - Empowering women

34:45 - Be strong, learn to say NO

41:55 - Control your journey

Connect with the guest:

Natalie Beckerman: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliedbeckerman1/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

customer experience, mentoring for women, female leadership, c-suite women, future leaders, career advice, mentorship, networking, leadership roles, female executives, Oracle Applications Service Excellence, She's So Suite podcast

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Physician turned CGO ft. Summer Brown

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 07:04:00 -0400

Join me, Kristi Faltorusso for an inspiring episode as I delve into the extraordinary career of Summer Brown, CGO at CipherHealth. Summer is a trailblazer who shares her groundbreaking experiences as the first woman to hold organizational leadership positions.

Gain insights into her strategies for making her voice heard,how she overcame the challenges of the gender pay gap while working in male-dominated environments. Discover the critical decisions and moments that defined her path and propelled her to success.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intros

4:13 - Career aspirations growing up & early career

8:45 - Learning about the drive for career success

12:50 - Being the first woman in the leadership team

18:40 - Navigating corporate hypocrisy and injustice

21:35 - Growing as a leader

26:09 - Being secretly competitive

32:05 - Empowering future women leaders

36:30 - Balancing work & life

38:30 - Learn to ask for help

41:00 - Live intentionally & not perfectly

44:44 - Embrace your own journey

Connect with the guest:

Summer Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/summer-brown-17a67343/

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, chief growth officer, career journey, leadership roles, male-dominated work environments, work-life balance, executive women leaders,cross-functional organizations, ambitious individuals, gender diversity, women in leadership

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

A Leader from the Start ft. Catherine Blackmore (GVP, Oracle Applications Service Excellence)

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 10:18:00 -0400

Catherine Blackmore (GVP Oracle Applications Service Excellence) joins me on the She's So Suite Podcast to share her invaluable advice on intentional networking, the significance of mentorship, and the power of personal branding. With a wealth of experience spanning Nestle, Kellogg’s, and now Oracle, Catherine's insights on leadership, overcoming inner critics, and driving innovation are sure to resonate. She passionately emphasizes the importance of lifting people up and creating opportunities for future leaders, rather than competing and stepping on others.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview, Meet Catherine Blackmore (GVP CS & Renewals, Oracle)

5:43 - Desire for leadership growing up

13:15 - Focusing on personal growth within career

17:30 - Embrace opportunities despite limited capacity

20:00 - Get out of your own way

22:20 - Know your superpowers & focus on your personal brand

24:30 - Pride in mentoring future company leader

27:00 - Oracle Women's Leadership

30:40 - Here's why you need to build your personal brand

33:00 - Unlocking the door to C-suite

36:30 - Leveraging wisdom & exploring opportunities to grow professionally

41:04 - What one woman can do, another can do

Connect with the guest:

Catherine Blackmore: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineblackmore/⁠

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/⁠

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, mentoring for women, Catherine Blackmore, female leadership, c-suite women, future leaders, career advice, mentorship, networking, leadership roles, Wednesday Women, female executives, Oracle Women's Leadership, Oracle Applications Service Excellence, She's So Suite podcast

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Writer turned CPO of Viator ft. Kristin Dorsett

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:17:00 -0400

In this episode, I sit down with Kristin Dorsett, Chief Product Officer at Viator. Kristin is a dynamic leader passionate about building businesses and helping her team members grow, many of whom have ascended to VP and C-suite roles in other companies. In this episode, Kristin shares her journey from her early days in public relations and marketing to her pivotal role in product management. She discusses the importance of women in leadership, the need to increase the pipeline of female candidates, particularly in engineering, and the challenges of balancing personal and professional life. Kristin also offers invaluable advice on finding the right culture fit and prioritizing impactful tasks.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:15 - Intros

3:40 - Managing a remote team

4:45 - Career aspirations growing up

5:55 - Writing to Product Management

10:00 - Career impact of having an MBA

13:05 - Pivoting to Product Management

14:40 - Mapping a career trajectory

16:30 - Skills over titles

18:15- Importance of knowing the pain of the customer

20:42 - Find the right culture fit

26:30 - Leading through tough times

30:20 - Hiring, Leading, Collaborating with women

35:22 - Personal sacrifices for pursuing career ambitions

39:00 - Everyone has imposter syndrome

40:39 - Landscape for females in tech leadership

43:50 - Raise your hands

Connect with the guest:

Kristin Dorsett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristindorsett/

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/

_____________________

Keywords:

Cheif Product Officer, Kristin Dorsett, Viator, Wednesday Women, Kristi Faltorusso, Client Success, female leadership, female executives, career balance, product management, women in tech, leadership roles, company culture, customer centricity, team building, customer voice, cultural fit, remote team management, transitioning careers, authentic leadership, She's So Suite Podcast

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Actress turned CMO of WorkRamp ft. Jack Foster

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 04:16:00 -0400

Jack Foster is a dynamic CMO who has been steering the marketing team at WorkRamp for over two and a half years. Jack shares how she's nurtured an all-female team along with her approach to balancing a high-powered career with personal life. She also reflects on the challenges and lessons of leading teams during tough economic times, the importance of setting boundaries, and the invaluable lessons of embracing discomfort and seeking help.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:48 - Intros

8:30 - Path to leadership

15:40 - Evaluating opportunities for career growth

17:55 - Investing in education; getting an MBA

21:19 - Leading colleagues with more experience

24:04 - Hiring the right people for growth

27:17 - Leading through challenging times

32:54 - Empowering women as leaders

36:28 - Balancing work with a support system

40:40 - You can do it too

45:05 - Having a mentor is a blessing

46:35 - Closing

Connect with the guest:

Jack Foster: https://linkedin.com/in/jacquelinewfoster/

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/

_____________________

Keywords:

Jack Foster, Leila Srinivasan, WorkRamp, Kristi Faltorusso, women in leadership, female leaders, mentorship, C-suite career, work-life balance, setting boundaries, hiring the right team, leading by example, marketing strategy, company growth, authentic leadership, empathetic leadership, professional success, transparent leadership, career transitions, tech industry, venture-backed startup, leadership skills, career growth

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Rockstar Turned Co-Founder of CMP Research ft. Nicole Kyle

Tue, 21 May 2024 03:54:00 -0400

In this episode, Nicole Kyle candidly discusses the challenges faced by women in male-dominated industries, the pressure of being one of the few female voices on a conference panel, and how she overcame communication hurdles early in her career. Nicole also offers valuable advice on overcoming imposter syndrome, taking risks, and celebrating career success.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intros

3:43 - Transitioning from large corporate environments to a smaller company

4:48 - Childhood career aspirations

8:37 - Shift from individual contributor to business co-founder

10:35 - Handling fears by focusing on the "why"

12:45 - Dealing with imposter syndrome

15:30 - Navigating the male dominated tech industry as a woman

21:45 - Celebrating accomplishments

24:32 - Networking on LinkedIn

27:45 - Discussing professional conversations in friend groups

33:15 - Balancing work & life

37:35 - Advice for young professional women

Connect with the guest:

Nicole Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolekyle/

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/

_____________________

Keywords:

Nicole Kyle, CMP Research, employee experience, gender equity, professional networking, mentorship, women in tech, male-dominated industry, corporate setting, communication challenges, career success, managing director, customer management practice, Corporate Executive Board, work-life balance, financial planning, retirement savings, career progression, Wednesday Women, executive women leaders, professional growth, self-care.

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Pediatrician turned CRO ft. Stephanie Valenti

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Stephanie Valenti, a dynamic leader who has shattered glass ceilings in multiple C-level positions, joins me, Kristi Faltorusso, to delve into the candid world of leadership through Stephanie's lens. Together, we discuss the crucial roles emotional intelligence and healthy conflict play in leadership, the persistent lack of female representation in top roles, and the importance of aligning personal values with professional environments. Stephanie shares her struggles and triumphs as a young mother while climbing the corporate ladder.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview & Intros

5:02 - Evaluating a job opportunity & leadership

10:50 - Stephanie wanted to be a pediatrician

13:22 - Being a young mom

15:35 - Choosing work over family

19:00 - Partnering with a supportive spouse

21:40 - Working in silos

28:03 - Stepping out of comfort zone

32:32 - Empowering women

36:03 - Success and sacrifice

41:18 - Learning to grow

43:40 - Considered the worst case scenario

45:50 - Closing

Connect with the guest:

Stephanie Valenti: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentis/

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, personal fulfillment, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), sales and marketing integration, mentoring for women, women in leadership, career success, work-life balance, C-suite roles, Stephanie Valenti, Kristi Faltorusso, COO, CRO, CEO traits, young mother, professional development, Wednesday Women, sales leadership, promoting women executives, overcoming career challenges, career transitions

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Athlete turned CEO ft. Kristin Savilia

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 09:34:00 -0400

Kristin Savilia, CEO at JOOR, joins me on She's So Suite to share her profound insights into leading a SaaS startup as a female CEO, nurturing a support network, and mentoring upcoming female CEOs. Whether it's discussing her time turning around a local sales team with zero experience or her bold leap into a CEO role within the tech field, Kristin's story is one of adaptation, resilience, and personal fulfilment.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:32 - Intros

5:41 - Stepping as the CEO of JOOR

7:10 - Aspirations of becoming an athlete

9:20 - The path to leadership & management

14:08 - Acknowledging and embracing your career choices

15:50 - Stepping out of comfort zone to lead the sales team

18:50 - Women leaders are expected to prove themselves

21:10 - Don't surprise your Board of Directors

22:52 - Creating custom wedding web pages that revolutionized the industry

24:42 - Turning a struggling company into a global success story

28:05 - Mentoring female CEOs in tech

31:20 - Scheduling your priorities, health & well being

39:40 - Look at the greater good

41:45 - Kristin's plans for the future

43:00 - Define your own definition of success

Connect with the guest:

Kristin Savilia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-savilia-4003851/

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/

_____________________

Keywords:

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Dancer Turned Chief Customer Officer at Infor ft. Mari Cross

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 10:56:00 -0400

Mari Cross, the Chief Customer Officer at Infor join me in this episode of the She's So Suite Podcast. In this conversation we navigate through Mari's fascinating journey from her origins in Russia to leading a massive global team. Mari shares the importance of reaching out for help and tapping into available resources, and advocating for mentorship throughout one's professional journey.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:18 - Intros

4:22 - Aspirations of being a dancer

5:45 - Finding fulfilment in a career

7:20 - Job title & scope of job

11:19 - The decision to switch from engineering

14:00 - Building teams from scratch at Adobe

16:30 - Working on yourself

18:05 - The leap of faith

20:55 - Ensuring a good culture while building a global remote team

26:45 - Empowering future women leaders

30:15 - Work-life balance

33:00 - Ask for help

34:05 - Perspective shapes reality

36:28 - Mari's future plans

38:40 - Future of women leadership

40:40 - Closing

Connect with the guest:

Mari Cross: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mncross/

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, women in tech, women in technology, female leaders in tech, women in leadership, leadership in tech, Mari Cross, Infor, She's So Suite, Kristi Faltorusso, get hired in the c-suite, women in c-suite, Chief Customer Officer (CCO), customer experience, tech industry, female leaders growth, team building, work-life balance, hiring for potential, fostering team culture, remote team connectivity, women's mentorship, engineering to business career transition

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Drummer turned Co-Founder and CEO of Hummingbirds ft. Emily Steele

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:46:00 -0400

The story of Emily Steele, the CEO & Co-founder of Hummingbirds, is one of courage and tenacity, illuminating the path for future female entrepreneurs with her inspiring example of leadership and grace. Emily Steele, a non-technical founder who smashed through barriers to shape her innovative startup, Hummingbirds, started from a local marketing agency in Iowa and went on to raise venture capital in an industry where women secure a mere sliver of funding. Emily's journey is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:13 - Meet Emily & get to know Hummingbirds

7:20 - childhood aspirations of becoming a drummer

9:30 - Growing up under academic pressure and discovering the Enneagram

12:12 - Valuing social impact over financial success

13:12 - Mind over matter all the time

16:38 - Struggling with internal criticism at workplace

18:59 - Raising venture capital funding as women entrepreneurs

20:10 - ClientSuccess

21:10 - Building a remote team

22:30 - Establishing a women's networking group

24:24 - Women's pitch event supporting small businesses

29:55 - Prioritize time for balance

32:32 - Long trip with the family

34:24 - Embracing your superpowers

35:35 - Emily's aspirations for the future

37:32 - Follow the breadcrumbs of your curiosity

39:03 - Wednesday Women

Connect with the guest:

Emily Steele: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilysteele12/

Humming Birds: https://hummingbirds.com/

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/

_____________________

Keywords:

advice for women in business,women in business inspiration,business women,successful women,women entrepreneurs,female entrepreneur,entrepreneur motivation,women empowerment,how to have a successful career,successful business women,women entrepreneurship,women entrepeneurs

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Veterinarian turned CPO of UserTesting ft. Michelle Engle

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 05:41:00 -0400

Michelle Engle, Chief Product Officer at User Testing, has established herself in the male-dominated tech industry and serves as a role model for women aspiring to advance in technology.

Join me as I explore Michelle's passion for developing innovative products and her exceptional leadership skills, which set her apart. Together, Michelle and I address pivotal topics such as advocating for gender diversity and the significance of aligning with organizations that share your values.

Michelle shares her personal criteria for evaluating job opportunities and emphasizes the importance of nurturing a supportive environment and achieving balance in every stage of life. She believes that life's unexpected twists often lead to discovering our true calling.

Timestamps

0:00 - Preview

1:50 - Meet Michelle

4:03 - Michelle's first day as CPO at UserTesting

7:40 - Michelle love for animals & her career aspirations

12:45 - Navigating the tech world without a formal education in technology

18:00 - Finding the right leader

19:00 - Client Success

20:00 - Identifying whether you will fit into the culture of an organization

25:20 - Don't let your career stagnate. Find the next opportunity for career growth

29:15 - Adding value to other's careers

34:35 - Actively hiring talented women

40:15 - Prioritising work & prioritising life

43:30 - Michelle's plans for the future

46:09 - Wrapping up

48:00 - Wednesday Woman

Connect with the guest:

Michelle Engle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miengle/

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Connect with the Show Producer:

Manali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/

_____________________

Keywords:

tech mentorship,womenintech,women techmakers,women in code,how i got a job in tech with no experience,discrimination at work,why we need women in tech?,career in tech,tech careers,female leaders in tech,tech job no experience,how to get a job in tech with no experience,tech jobs no coding,women in leadership,female leaders,leadership in tech

_____________________

About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Attorney turned CRO of Calendly ft. Jessica Gilmartin

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 13:12:29 -0400

Jessica Gilmartin, CRO at Calendly) hasn't just climbed the ladder; she's built her own. From her days in Cornell to running a successful yogurt business, and embracing the martech world, Jessica's journey is nothing short of incredible. Her career is a shining example of how breaking the mold and embracing the unknown can lead to unexpected and rewarding outcomes. She also opens up about overcoming impostor syndrome, staying authentic, and the importance of failing forward. There's so much to unpack— why focusing on impact rather than titles and money can vastly change your career trajectory. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview 1:50 - Intros 2:46 - Bringing marketing & sales team together 3:50 - CROs the new head of CS? 5:15 - Jessica's career aspirations & early career 8:18 - Desire to understand inner workings of the business 10:10 - Starting a yogurt store business 13:05 - Overcoming fixed mindset & fear of being wrong 15:10 - Embracing authenticity & being your true self 16:15 - Winning over Imposter syndrome 19:00 - Finding the right culture 20:37 - Skills can be learned 22:02 - Creating a safe environment for feedback 23:03 - Believe in your ability to figure it out 26:08 - Client Success 27:15 - Jessica empowers women 28:37 - Leaning in and leaning out 32:20 - Listen to yourself first 34:12 - It's not about the title or the money, it's about the impact 36:23 - Advocating for yourself vs advocating for the company 39:58 - Jessica's plans for the future 41:45 - Jessica's message for you 42:25 - Wednesday Women Connect with the guest: Jessica Gilmartin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagilmartin/ Connect with Kristi Faltorusso: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Podcast YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠⁠ To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠ LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Show Producer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/

_____________________

Keywords:

career prioritization, career advancement, personal fulfillment, impact over money, Asana, Calendly, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), sales and marketing integration, post-sales customer experience,feedback in business, company culture, authentic self, mentoring for women, Women at Calendly Group, professional transformation, tech marketing, advocating for the company, understanding value, advisory work in business. _____________________ About She's So Suite Podcast: Embark on a journey with Kristi in each podcast episode as she engages in insightful conversations with accomplished women in the C-suite. Explore their unique stories, triumphs, challenges, dreams, and valuable advice that will inspire and empower you. Tune in for an enriching experience as Kristi delves into the depth of their professional journeys and brings you closer to the dynamic world of female leaders at the top.

The Film Director turned CEO, Refine Labs ft. Megan Bowen

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 12:02:01 -0400

She's So Suite is brought to you by Client Success. The easiest to use, fastest to implement software to reduce churn & increase customer revenue. Request a demo at https://www.clientsuccess.com/

Megan Bowen, CEO of Refine Labs, joins me, Kristi Faltorusso, to share her wisdom from her professional journey. We discuss her journey, from her aspirations of directing films (her desire to take charge) to the behind-the-scenes experiences of layoffs, her firsthand experience with layoffs, and her strive to excel in her career.

We delve into the significance of prioritizing self-care, finding balance, self-advocacy, and the emotional impact of taking career risks. Join us as we celebrate Megan's milestones and gain valuable wisdom from her remarkable story.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Preview

1:37 - Meet Megan Bowen

6:33 - Aspirations of becoming a film director & being in charge

9:54 - Creating opportunities for career growth

11:25 - Finding opportunities beyond your current role

18:05 - Knowing your values

20:22 - Ad

21:23 - Marketing your contributions to support company growth

25:00 - Overview of layoffs from the ivory towers: they aren't personal

27:27 - What being laid off feels like?

30:30 - Don't take layoffs personally

32:15 - Building a strong career foundation

38:45 - Empowering women

41:40 - Work & Life

44:44 - Loving life and prioritizing self-care

49:00 - Define your version of success

50:17 - Closing

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/

LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/

Show Producer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/ _____________________ About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Hot Dog Vendor turned Co-Founder and COO, Champion HQ ft. Gianna Scorsone

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:59:00 -0400

Kristi Faltorusso, sits down with Gianna Scorsone, COO and co-founder of ChampionHQ. Gianna's career is a testament to resilience, innovation, and dedication, from overcoming initial job rejections to charting her path in the competitive tech industry. Prepare to be inspired as Gianna shares her love for hotdogs, importance of standing out in a competitive job market, overcoming challenges faced by women in leadership roles, aligning with empathy and fostering a positive team environment, sexism and unconscious biases at workplace and much more. Timestamps: 0:00 - Preview & Intro 2:47 - Meet Gianna Scorsone 4:22 - What’s ChampionHQ? 7:45 - Gianna wanted to be a rich hot dog vendor 12:12 - Learning on the job 17:43 - The grit to bag a job at Bluewolf 22:10 - The only 2 questions that need to be answered in an interview 24:18 - Reinventing yourself and staying relevant 25:33 - Ad

26:33 - Identifying your leadership style 33:28 - Everyone needs to collectively build a culture 39:28 - Empowering and uplifting each other 44:00 - Hustle culture & Work-life balance 51:15 - Trust yourself 53:13 - Win-Learn change 56:40 - Gianna's plans for the future 58:11 - Closing

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠⁠

Show Producer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/ _____________________ About She's So Suite Podcast:

The Juvenile Corrections Officer turned SVP CS, Datasembly ft. Maranda Dziekonski

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:45:14 -0400

Kristi Faltorusso, sits down with Maranda Dziekonski, SVP, CS Datasembly. Maranda’s story will inspire you to dare to dream big. Maranda's story is an inspiration to those aiming for career advancement. She encourages taking calculated risks and aiming high, while also emphasizing the significance of recognizing one's limitless potential and advocating for oneself.

Timestamps 0:00 - Preview 0:36 - Intro 3:58 - Juvenile Corrections Officer aspirations 6:11 - Navigating a non-linear career 8:23 - Quitting a stable job 10:43 - Maranda realizes her self-worth 15:05 - Ad #1 16:04 - How to get unstuck in your current role? 19:00 - Career growth with an uncertain upward trajectory 22:30 - Work-Life balance is tough 27:17 - Grooming leaders 28:48 - Your potential is limitless 30:30 - Maranda's plans for the future 32:24 - Closing

Connect with Kristi Faltorusso:

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.kristifaltorusso.com/⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/⁠⁠

Follow the Podcast

YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmKTIOWzy8e3kbzHr4f9VMr1oGfK5Qc_⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjP⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499⁠⁠

To learn more about Wednesday Women check out their

Website: ⁠https://www.wednesdaywomen.org/⁠

LinkedIn page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wednesday-women/⁠

Show Producer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manalibhat/ _____________________ About She's So Suite Podcast: