Fearless Moves and Building Webfest Berlin | Meredith Burkholder | CEO & Founder

Meredith Burkholder didn’t just move abroad—she built a life and a business from the ground up in a city where she didn’t speak the language and didn’t know a soul. As the CEO, Founder, and Director of Webfest Berlin, she’s championing short-form storytelling and creating a platform where creators from around the world connect, collaborate, and get their work seen. In this conversation, we talk about her journey from Texas to Switzerland to Berlin, the leap of faith it takes to start over, and the mindset that makes it possible to keep chasing possibilities even when fear is loud. Meredith’s story is proof that trusting yourself, building community, and taking bold action can transform not just your career—but your life. Chapters 00:00 Taking the leap: Moving abroad without a plan 02:10 From Texas to New York to Europe 04:25 Discovering the world of short-form series 07:40 Launching Webfest Berlin 10:15 Building a creative community from scratch 13:00 Navigating cultural differences and language barriers 15:30 Lessons from producing around the world 18:15 Gender parity in the festival world 21:00 How Webfest Berlin impacts creators’ careers 24:20 The mindset that keeps her moving forward 27:00 Balancing vision and adaptability 30:15 Life lessons from risk-taking 33:45 What’s next for Meredith and Webfest Berlin 36:10 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and creators The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms. Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think. Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices