EPISODE · Feb 10, 2026 · 47 MIN
The International Spy turned Founder & Principal at Cultivate CX ft. Kathleen Rouse
from She's So Suite Podcast · host Kristi Faltorusso
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 - Preview0:40 - Meet Kathleen Rouse2:45 - Early career aspirations and personal backstory5:15 - Early business failure and the lessons learned6:42 - Critical shift during the 2020 pandemic at FinancialForce (now Certinia)8:02 - Personal life changes influencing career moves9:15 - Rise of solopreneurs and content creators16:00 - How losing a first business built resilience and focus17:15 - Balancing pragmatism with ambition18:30 - Navigating work and family pressures20:04 - Caring for children, aging parents & self-care25:00 - Go-to karaoke songs27:30 - Stopping to reflect & celebrate31:11 - Launching grassroots movements within organizations32:11. - Building empowered teams & achieving significant business outcomes33:42 - Recent accomplishments at CultivateCX37:15 - Empowering other women41:10 - Relocating to Paris and expanding business to Europe43:55 - Closing remarksConnect 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/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjPApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499To learn more about Wednesday Women check out theirWebsite: 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.
What this episode covers
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 - Preview0:40 - Meet Kathleen Rouse2:45 - Early career aspirations and personal backstory5:15 - Early business failure and the lessons learned6:42 - Critical shift during the 2020 pandemic at FinancialForce (now Certinia)8:02 - Personal life changes influencing career moves9:15 - Rise of solopreneurs and content creators16:00 - How losing a first business built resilience and focus17:15 - Balancing pragmatism with ambition18:30 - Navigating work and family pressures20:04 - Caring for children, aging parents & self-care25:00 - Go-to karaoke songs27:30 - Stopping to reflect & celebrate31:11 - Launching grassroots movements within organizations32:11. - Building empowered teams & achieving significant business outcomes33:42 - Recent accomplishments at CultivateCX37:15 - Empowering other women41:10 - Relocating to Paris and expanding business to Europe43:55 - Closing remarksConnect 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/0Pf1SZMvfwvSJTA6WnpNjPApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shes-so-suite-podcast/id1730535499To learn more about Wednesday Women check out theirWebsite: 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.
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The International Spy turned Founder & Principal at Cultivate CX ft. Kathleen Rouse
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