EPISODE · Jan 27, 2026 · 43 MIN
The NFL Cheerleader turned Founder & CEO at GrowthQ ft. Esther Iyamu
from She's So Suite Podcast · host Kristi Faltorusso
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 & Introduction0:45 - Meet Esther Iyamu6:00 - Life in Dubai9:45 - Career Aspirations Growing Up11:31 - Being The NFL Cheerleader14:55 - Reflecting on Career Pivots and Major Decisions19:07 - The Role of Community in Professional Growth21:02 - Struggles with Hiring Fast & Firing Slow27:50 - Celebrating Esther's Successes33:27 - Raising Capital as a Female Founder37:10 - Advice for Younger Self & Listeners42:00 - OutroConnect 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/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 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 & Introduction0:45 - Meet Esther Iyamu6:00 - Life in Dubai9:45 - Career Aspirations Growing Up11:31 - Being The NFL Cheerleader14:55 - Reflecting on Career Pivots and Major Decisions19:07 - The Role of Community in Professional Growth21:02 - Struggles with Hiring Fast & Firing Slow27:50 - Celebrating Esther's Successes33:27 - Raising Capital as a Female Founder37:10 - Advice for Younger Self & Listeners42:00 - OutroConnect 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/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 NFL Cheerleader turned Founder & CEO at GrowthQ ft. Esther Iyamu
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