A Woman's Business

In this episode, Allison Bridges shares how her background in sports built the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship and eventually launch Experts Only Consulting. She reflects on being the “black sheep” in her family, curating early business ideas, and developing multiple companies in wellness as well as consulting. Allison also offers practical advice on setting boundaries, hiring with intention, and using self-awareness to drive both personal and professional growth.

Within this episode I brought on a guest who I truly admire and look up to. She is a 2-time Emmy Award winner, a director of technical enterprise management at Walmart, and the vice chair on the board of directors for Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado. I think her views and values really show a lot about her character and what she has been able to accomplish. Especially in the societal and political climate that we are in, this episode serves as a great reminder to take a step back and really look after your community as well as reflect on what values you carry as a person.  I hope you enjoy. And again, would love any support or feedback on the Instagram @awbpodcast_!

In this solo episode, I’m taking a step back to reflect on the last four years — the highs, the lows, and everything in between. I recently graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, and while I’m proud of that accomplishment, the real growth came from what happened outside the classroom.I’m sharing 10 life lessons that shaped me, challenged me, and ultimately helped me become who I am today. If you’re in college, about to start, or simply navigating your own season of change, I hope this episode gives you something to hold onto!

For the first time, I had the incredible opportunity to speak at and moderate an event—something I’ve been working toward since last semester. Last Saturday, at a Women & Technology Conference, I led a session on Building Authenticity within Leadership and moderated a panel featuring three inspiring female student leaders—each at different stages of their college journey.Our panelists, Bhuvi, Sejal, and Hargun, are presidents of amazing student organizations at Indiana University. They shared thoughtful insights on what it means to lead in college and offered practical advice that anyone—whether a student or a young professional—can carry into their career.Since not everyone had the chance to attend the event, I wanted to bring the full experience to you! In this episode, you’ll hear my presentation on authenticity in leadership, featuring insights from Professor Herminia Ibarra’s TEDx talk, The Authenticity Paradox. Following that, we dive into a dynamic discussion covering:Overcoming imposter syndrome as a leaderFinding the balance between professionalism and relatabilityCreating and maintaining a supportive environment for your teamI’m so excited to share this with you all!

With eight years of professional experience at Deloitte—including attending the Deloitte National Leadership Conference (DNLC) and completing a Deloitte Advisory internship during college—I knew Hilary Stavrakas would be the perfect guest for this episode. After just one networking chat with Hilary (who is now a partner at Linford & Company LLP & a CISA), I was so impressed by her constructive advice that I immediately pitched the idea of recording an episode. This conversation on A Woman’s Business Podcast provides valuable insight into what a career at a Big 4 firm entails, strategies for advancing your career, mentorship, and tips for successfully navigating the recruitment process.  *Topics & timestamps are posted on AWB's Instagram! 📸 @awbpodcast_ *Follow the TikTok as well! @awbpodcast_

Introducing A Woman's Business Podcast: The purpose of this podcast is to highlight women from different backgrounds and careers to give younger women and girls exposure to what they can do with their own career. The goal is to interview and connect with one person per episode to discuss their career pathway, hardships that they had to overcome, soft skills required, and some advice they would give to the younger generation.I want to provide my podcast community with the role models I once needed, help them realize their full potential, break through barriers, and thrive in a world where their success deserves to be celebrated. I am creating a space where women can be inspired and supported because female accomplishments are often overlooked.As I step into my career, I’m focused on reaching my full potential, discovering my strengths, and creating something meaningful—not only for myself but for the next generation of ambitious women, encouraging them to embrace their journey with confidence.

The guest that I have for today’s podcast has recently started an initiative called Beauty in Balance (BIB): a platform designed to help people find harmony between their professional ambitions, personal passions, and creative pursuits. Through her story, she emphasizes the importance of leveraging your strengths, embracing an abundance mindset, and fostering community to drive meaningful impact. She is a strategy analyst at Accenture, keynote speaker, influencer, dance instructor, and a non-profit consultant. I hope you all enjoy the episode!  Check out Beauty in Balance on Instagram: @beautyinbalance.co Alisha's Instagram: @alisha_g9 Follow the Podcast on Instagram! @awbpodcast_

This month we're doing something a little different. Let's talk about allyship, a crucial step in creating equitable and inclusive workplaces. I’m directing this conversation towards men—an essential audience in the journey to fostering true workplace equity. I had the privilege of speaking with an incredibly knowledgeable and experienced professional in the corporate and e-commerce world, Dr. Kevin Sakamoto. He has dedicated extensive time and research to understanding employee resource groups as well as the challenges women often face in the workplace. From a leadership standpoint, he offers actionable strategies for supporting female employees and building a workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Within the episode, we also discuss Dr. Dana Sumpter’s Ted Talk. Click here to watch and learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JsSURd39iI

This month I brought some more powerful C-suite energy into the equation with the one and only Chandy Ghosh! Chandy is currently serving as the COO of Sinch Emergency Services and is the founder & chair of Women in 911 (W.I.N). She has won numerous awards for her work in the DEI space as well as the impact she has made as a leader.  Advice from Chandy: Always think about how you can prove to them that you are different and you are better. We discussed the importance of negotiation, networking, and mentorship in advancing your career. She also touched on how she built confidence and owned her career as one of the few women in leadership within her industry. Follow A Woman’s Business on Instagram: @awbpodcast_

I sat down with Nataly Kogan, co-founder and CEO of Happier, Inc., to talk about building emotional fitness, overcoming burnout, and unlocking your potential. Nataly shared her incredible journey—from being a 13-year-old Russian refugee to becoming one of the few women in venture capital—and the life lessons that shaped her outlook on choice, learning, and joy. This conversation was deeply inspiring, and I can’t wait for you to hear it.

Catherine Cartwright became a single mom at 19 and put herself through college and grad school with little support. When her daughter needed an expensive surgery, she pivoted from academia to tech for financial stability—ultimately building a strong reputation in the industry through her leadership and drive for change. Now, she’s merging her love for art and social impact with her corporate career. We discussed career growth strategies, the power of mentorship and networking, and staying connected to passions beyond work.

Welcome to my first episode on A Woman's Business! Today, I interviewed Anita Khedkar, an Agile Coach who has worn many hats throughout her career. We discussed how Agile has transformed business workflows—boosting efficiency, production, and collaboration. As an immigrant from India, Anita also shared the cultural challenges she faced in the U.S. and how she built community and growth through her personal and professional journey.