Pave Her Way

Send us Fan MailShali Reed is the COO of The Reeder LLC, a content strategy consulting and media company helping B2B brands and founders turn storytelling into revenue. She is also a former go-to-market and customer success leader who’s closed over $8 million in sales, and now blends business strategy with bold creativity to build brands that scale with soul. Known for her unfiltered takes on leadership, motherhood, and entrepreneurship, she’s redefining what modern growth looks like — equal parts operator, creator, and storyteller.You can connect with Shali Reed on Linked and on Instagram. Also, check her out on her website here. Here are the tools to start your own business that Shali shared on the podcast: 1.   Bob Iger’s Master Class.2.   Claude AI Tool to write a business plan, marketing resource, and legal guidance. 3.   Honeybook for automated invoicing. Follow Pave Her Way Podcast on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way podcast on your favorite streaming platform on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music. Also, you can follow Pave Her Way on Linkedin as well. 

Send us Fan MailCaroline Ruder. Caroline is a former Director of NA Quality at Amazon, where she spent over a decade leading large-scale operations, developing leaders, and driving customer-focused improvements across complex systems.Throughout her career, Caroline became especially passionate about building strong teams and helping individuals grow into confident, capable leaders. Her experience spans fulfillment operations, inventory management, and quality systems, with a consistent focus on operational excellence and people development.After 13 years at Amazon, Caroline made the intentional decision to step away from her corporate role to focus on her family and a new season of life in Montana. She is currently exploring how to apply her leadership experience in new ways, with a long-term interest in supporting organizations and individuals in building strong, effective teams.You can connect with Caroline Ruder on Linkedin. Here are a few tips Caroline shared:1.   Develop strong communication skills 2.   Bring your personal identity/brand into your day-to-day work day3.   Bring your creativity to your work! Fictional Leadership Book Recommendation: Enders GameFollow Pave Her Way Podcast on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way podcast on your favorite streaming platform on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music. Also, you can follow Pave Her Way on Linkedin as well. 

Send us Fan MailLaura works with women returning to the paid workforce after a career break, helping them take control of their job search and find work aligned with their current goals. With over 15 years of experience in HR, along with her own journey of returning from a career break and changing careers, she understands the unique challenges women face as they reenter the workforce. Rather than viewing career breaks as a liability, she helps women see them as an asset and position them with confidence. She lives in Texas with her husband and son, but will always be a Midwesterner at heart!You can connect with Laura Niebauer on Linkedin. Here are a few of the Career resources she shared on the episode:1.        The Ultimate Guide On Returning To Work After Your Career Break2.        Book Recommendation: The Power PauseFollow Pave Her Way Podcast on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way podcast on your favorite streaming platform on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music. Also, you can follow Pave Her Way on Linkedin as well. 

Send us Fan MailMercedes Swan is the Career Love Coach and creates empowering and safe places for high-performing and purpose driven Black women. She is a business and career coach for Black Women across the US, leveraging her expertise as a certified HR Professional (SHRM-CP), executive recruiter, and DEIB champion. It's her passion to see more Black Women find bliss personally and professionally and her mission is to close the pay, promotion and inclusion gap. Mercedes holds a Master’s degree in management and a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida.  Mercedes has 8+ years of experience as an HR professional in talent acquisition, DEI, talent management and change management. Mercedes currently lives in Florida with her fiancé, and two sweet boys: a chocolate American Staffordshire Terrier named Uno and tri-colored Beagle named Thorin. In her personal time, she loves nerding out , kayaking, spending time with family and crafting.You can connect with Mercedes Swan on Instagram- @mercedes.swan. Follow Mercedes tools and resources below:1.     Check out Happy Black Women.2.     Download Mercedes free Career Love Journal3.     Black Woman Bliss Community (a free and paid community experience for high-performing, passionate Black women). Follow Pave Her Way Podcast on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way podcast on your favorite streaming platform on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Send us Fan MailUrmi is a self-published author, speaker, blogger, and podcast host who works in the financial services industry in Canada. She holds both the CFA and CAIA designations and is deeply passionate about empowering women through mentorship, education, and public speaking.Her book, Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth from Interracial Struggle, reflects her journey as a third-culture kid navigating questions of identity, culture, and belonging. Through her writing and lived experiences, Urmi aims to create spaces for honest conversations around representation and self-discovery. She also hosts the podcast Stories Beyond Borders, which amplifies diverse voices and stories on identity, migration, and language.Outside of her professional and advocacy work, Urmi enjoys reading thrillers, practicing boxing, and staying active through running and HIIT workouts.You can connect with Urmi Hossain on Instagram- @urmamio.  Follow Urmi’s 3 Tips for how to break into the financial industry:1.     Connect with 100 Women in Finance.2.     Listen to the podcast, Leave Your Mark.3.     Check out the following Books Recommendations: “Leave Your Mark” by Aliza Licht and “Ikigai:The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” by Hector Garcia. Follow Pave Her Way Podcast on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way podcast on your favorite streaming platform on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Send us Fan MailNina is a proud wife, mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, and community leader whose life is deeply rooted in faith, family, and service. She is the oldest of three daughters, a role that taught her early about leadership, compassion, and perseverance. Nina’s entrepreneurial spirit was shaped by the example of her parents, who broke barriers in their own right. Her mother made history in their hometown as the first Black woman and first woman to own and operate an auto body shop, where she skillfully repaired and restored vehicles with determination and pride. Her father was a DJ, whose deep love for music inspired Nina’s own appreciation for creativity, rhythm, and connecting with people through joyful celebration. Before stepping into public leadership, Nina spent more than twenty years in the nursing field. That same heart for service later guided her toward entrepreneurship and event design. She began her business journey humbly—selling floral arrangements, décor, and women’s clothing through roadside and tent pop-up shops for many years. She then launched into wedding coordination, event design, and planning. In 2020, Nina expanded her vision by opening SB Fashion Boutique and soon after, launched the Simply Beautiful Event Center, a vibrant venue that now hosts weddings, receptions, and community celebrations throughout the region. Nina is a Certified Wedding and Event Planner through the Wedding Planning Institute and the CEO and Owner of Simply Beautiful Events & More, a full-service event and floral design company. In addition to her thriving business, Nina proudly serves as a school bus driver for Butler County Schools. She serves on both the Career Tech Advisory Board and the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Advisory Board, lending her leadership to career training and workforce development programs that help prepare students for success in the hospitality industry.In August 2025, Nina Jones Bonner made history as the Mayor-Elect of Georgiana, Alabama, becoming both the first Black woman and the first woman ever to hold the position. Her leadership vision is built on unity, revitalization, and opportunity. She continues to pour her heart into every role she holds—serving God, her family, and her community with excellence, humility, and love.You can connect with Nina Bonner on Instagram- @sbeautifuleventsandmore. Follow Nina’s 3 Tips for how to get involved in your local city:1.     Volunteer in your local community.2.     Network with people involved in local community organizations.3.     Stay updated and read local magazines and newspapers to know what’s going on in your local community. Follow Pave Her Way Podcast on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way podcast on your favorite streaming platform on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Send us Fan MailPave Her Way closed the year with our Season One recap, reflecting on conversations with our twelve incredible guests, the lessons we learned, and the growth along the way. We are deeply grateful to our guests and listeners for making the 2025 season so meaningful, and we can’t wait to share the exciting guest lineup we have planned for 2026. Thank you for your continued support and for being part of our journey.Follow Pave Her Way Podcast on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way podcast on your favorite streaming platform on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Send us Fan Mail Erin is an executive career coach and a senior sales leader at Amazon, known for helping high-achieving women step into leadership with clarity, confidence, and an authentic sense of self. With more than a decade of experience leading strategic sales and account teams, she has built her career at the intersection of performance, people development, and purposeful growth. At Amazon, Erin leads a national strategic account organization responsible for driving adoption and growth across some of the largest commercial customers in the US. She has shaped global account management strategy, built scalable leadership frameworks, and coached managers and sellers to excel in fast-moving, high-stakes environments.  As the founder of Erin Lewber Coaching, Erin works with women who are in pivotal moments of their careers and lives. Her clients are often stepping into leadership, pivoting into new industries (including sales), or rebuilding confidence after burnout, identity shifts, or personal transitions. Erin’s coaching blends strategic career guidance with meaningful clarity work and is wildly committed to helping women take up space in rooms where they once felt they had to shrink. Erin’s work is deeply informed by her own lived experience navigating career, motherhood, divorce, and rebuilding her identity. Her belief is simple: women are most powerful when they return to themselves and lead from that place. Outside of work, Erin’s most important role is being a mom to her two kids (and their very loyal dog). She hosts the podcast Career Lunch Break and uses it as a space to talk honestly about growth, ambition, and being human in the process. When she’s not coaching or leading, you’ll usually find her outside—on a trail, in the yard, or getting fresh air as a way to reset and unwind.You can connect with Erin Lewber on her website here. Also, you can reach out to her on Linkedin here and [email protected] Erin’s Top 3 Tips below:1.        Invest In your Well-Being2.        Journaling3.        Get to Know Yourself Follow Pave Her Way Podcast on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way podcast on your favorite streaming platform on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Send us Fan MailSabrena is a powerhouse in the world of career transformation. With over 30 years of experience in recruiting, workforce development, and career coaching, she has helped thousands of professionals pivot with confidence, overcome self-doubt, and secure roles aligned with their purpose. She’s the founder of HelloHired™, an AI-powered career coaching platform designed to meet professionals wherever they are—whether they're burned out, laid off, or simply ready for more.Sabrena is also the author of "Burn Your Exit Route: How to Leave a Soul-Sucking Job and Build a Career You Love," and she’s on a mission to disrupt outdated job search advice through a blend of modern tools, deep strategy, and straightforward guidance. A passionate advocate for equity, reinvention, and pursuing work that energizes you, Sabrena brings wisdom, warmth, and tangible results to every conversation.Whether she's mentoring emerging talent or developing technology that levels the playing field, Sabrena demonstrates that it's never too late to rewrite your career story—and she's here to help others do the same.You can connect with Sabrena Alvin on Linked here. Check out Sabrena’s book below: “Burn Your Exit Route: How to Leave a Soul-Sucking Job and Build a Career You Love”Follow Pave Her Way Podcast on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way podcast on your favorite streaming platform on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music. 

Send us Fan MailNicole is a marketing leader and AI ethics expert with over 25 years of experience driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence at the intersection of marketing, technology, and data analytics. She serves as an adjunct Professor of Marketing and Technology at New York University. Nicole has held pivotal leadership roles, including Global Head of Marketing at Meta, SVP of Innovation at Ipsos, and VP of Innovation for Greater China at Nielsen. As a strategic consultant, she has guided organizations across diverse industries through digital transformation and innovation, including in Tech, Automotive, CPG, Healthcare, Retail, and Finance—.A passionate advocate for ethical leadership and diversity in technology, Nicole serves on the Board of Per Scholas, advancing tech education for underrepresented communities, and the Board of Directors for the Loveland Foundation, supporting mental health and healing initiatives. Her expertise is grounded in academic rigor, with a Master’s in AI Ethics and Society from the University of Cambridge’s Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence and an Executive MBA from TRIUM, a global partnership among NYU Stern, the London School of Economics, and HEC Paris. Nicole is a sought-after speaker, sharing insights on ethical AI, digital innovation, and marketing leadership with audiences worldwide. Her forthcoming book, Ethical AI in Marketing: Aligning Growth, Responsibility and Customer Trust (Kogan Page, 2025), explores responsible AI adoption in marketing and its implications for the future. You can connect with Nicole on Linkedin here. Here’s a list of resources Nicole shared on the podcast:1.        Listen to podcasts every day! CMO Podcast2.        Check out AI Now Institute for events and information3.        Check out ALL Tech is Human Website

Send us Fan MailKaren Wilkins-Mickey is the VP of Diversity Equity & Inclusion, entering her fifth season with the Seattle Seahawks. Karen is the Seahawks first Vice President of diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Prior to joining the Seattle Seahawks, Karen worked for several Pacific NW companies including Alaska Air Group, Microsoft and Expedia in Senior Global Diversity and Inclusion Strategy roles. Karen earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from California State University, Chico and recently completed the McKinsey Black Executive Leadership Program where she represented a cohort of Black leaders at Alaska Air Group with peers across various industries. Karen Karen Wilkins-Mickey is the VP of Diversity Equity & Inclusion, entering her fifth season with the Seattle Seahawks. Karen is the Seahawks first Vice President of diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Prior to joining the Seattle Seahawks, Karen worked for several Pacific NW companies including Alaska Air Group, Microsoft and Expedia in Senior Global Diversity and Inclusion Strategy roles.Karen earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from California State University, Chico and recently completed the McKinsey Black Executive Leadership Program where she represented a cohort of Black leaders at Alaska Air Group with peers across various industries. Karen serves on several external Diversity Equity & Inclusion committees helping to drive this work across a variety of industries across the U.S. Karen is committed to helping people and organizations reach their full potential. You connect with Karen on Linkedin here. Follow Pave Her Way Podcast on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way podcast on your favorite streaming platform on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music.      

Send us Fan MailCorliss is a senior level Applied Scientist and Technical Product leader who has worked at top Fortune 100 companies in many leadership roles and partnered across different functions to drive overall strategy development and brand growth. Currently, she serves as Head of Technical Product and PMO for Amazon Transportation Operations Mgmt Tech. In this role she and her team are responsible for developing the strategy to efficiently move products through the ecosystem, by optimizing all inputs such as labor, automation, equipment and technology. Prior to joining Amazon, she spent 20+ years in several Strategy, Tech, Applied Science, Insights, and analytical roles for organizations such as Bumble Bee Foods, The Hershey Company, Danone, Dean Foods, and The Coca Cola Company (to name just a few). Corliss has won numerous awards and most recently, The Path to Purchase Institute, named her in “Who’s Who in Shopper Insights”. She has also been featured in Black Enterprise Magazine “People on the Move” listing. She was recognized by her undergraduate alma mater, Spelman College as a Distinguished Alumnae in Business and Tech as well as many published papers. She has a passion for mentoring and developing the careers of young professionals of color in tech while serving as a sounding board and clearing the way for the future.You connect with Corliss on Linked here.  Here is a list of book recommendations she shared on the podcast episode: - “Little Troublemaker Who Defends Her Name”-  “I’ m Not Yelling: A Black Woman’s Guide to Navigating the Workplace”-  “The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know To Secure a Seat at the Table”Follow Pave Her Way on Facebook and on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way on your favorite streaming platform such as Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music. 

Send us Fan MailSeven years ago, Carmen started her real estate business from scratch. Within her first year, she ranked in the top 1% of her field, brought her engineer husband on full-time, and grew her team to four full-time employees. Her success came from embracing challenges, leveraging smart strategies, and surrounding herself with a goal-driven community. By focusing on community engagement, social media, and the high-contact nature of real estate, she has built a powerful brand and become a top choice for clients—always delivering value, building relationships, and helping everyone win together.You can connect with Carmen Reese on Instagram @closewithclr. Here is the list of resources that she mentioned during her interview:- Tom Ferry Coaching-Book recommendations: Ninja Selling and Exactly What To Say For Real Estate AgentsFollow Pave Her Way on Facebook and on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way on your favorite streaming platform such as Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music. 

Send us Fan MailSuzanna Finnegan Guyton, a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor with over twenty years of experience. Suzanna deeply values creating a safe, chill place for her clients to find their authentic, congruent self. We all, at times, create barriers/discrepancies which prevent us from going towards the life we want. With the counselor-client rapport being the driving force, Suzanna assists clients discover what and who is most important in their life. It sounds simple, yet trauma, insecurities, defense mechanisms, etc. blur our value system (who and what is most important) which is how barriers manifest— and then enter said client not going towards their desired life.You can connect with Suzanna Finnegan Guyton on her website here. Here’s a list of the Tips she shared during the interview:-Find quiet time for yourself! -Be curious about your thoughts! “I am not my thoughts.”-Evaluate who and what is most important to you today.-Look at yourself today and evaluate your values. Purchase value cards to help you with this exercise here.- Book recommendation: The Liberated Mind Follow Pave Her Way on Facebook and on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way on your favorite streaming platform such as Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music. 

Send us Fan MailShe is a proud product of immigrant parents from Jamaica and Costa Rica who instilled in her the curiosity and independence to build and tinker with her father working as a machinist and mother working as a carpenter for over 25+ years each. She is currently a Sr Manager of Software Development at Amazon, leading diverse teams of software managers, engineers, and program managers to deliver $1B+ in revenue. Prior to Amazon she was a Sr Software Engineer and Technical Product Manager at IBM where she was awarded 4 U.S. patents working on social applications for the workforce and improving digital experiences for other businesses.Latoya earned her Bachelor's in Computer Systems Engineering from Boston University and her MBA from Northeastern University. Over the years she has been involved with various activities and organizations that promote technology awareness, directly mentored over 100 tech professionals, founded mentoring programs for women, and partnered with others to increase the pipeline of tech professionals in underrepresented groups. She was recently recognized with a Shero Trailblazer Award by the Amazon Black Employee Women’s group for her efforts in pioneering DEI initiatives.Originally from Boston, she resides in Maryland with her Husband and 2 girls (ages 9 and 7) who she is eager to teach coding in addition to enjoying play time and traveling.You can connect with Latoya Davis on LinkedIn here. Also, you can connect with her directly by emailing her at [email protected]. Here is a list of tools/resources she's shared on the episode to check out: -Udemy-Coursera -Career Specific Meetups/Facebook Groups-Professional Conferences-Professional Associations Follow Pave Her Way on Facebook and on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way on your favorite streaming platform such as Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music. 

Send us Fan MailTiffany McCullough CPSD, EMBA is a Global Supplier Inclusion professional with a career spanning over 15 years. She has led successful programs at Marathon Petroleum, NRG Energy, Skanska, Amazon, Amazon Web Services and currently the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Tiffany recently launched Mark It Better, LLC. to assist small businesses and nonprofits with fine-tuning their approach to winning proposals, grants, and access to capital. Tiffany has opened doors of opportunity for diverse-owned businesses globally surpassing $1B dollars. Tiffany's commitment to the economic empowerment of underrepresented businesses has earned her recognition as Outstanding Professional, Business Advocate of the Year, Extraordinary Woman Making History, and Best of the Best in Diversity by Professional Woman's Magazine. Her contributions were also highlighted by Bisnow and the Institute for Supply Management. Tiffany McCullough volunteers in her local community as a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, incorporated and has served on various nonprofit boards.You can connect with her on LinkedIn here. Also, you can follow her Instagram @tiffsperspective page to get her tips and perspective. Here are the top 5 Tips she shared on the podcast:1. Do micro learning.2. Build your network/Make new relationships.3. Allocate time on your calendar weekly for professional development. 4. Get involved in your community and be active in local professional associations. 5. Keep a brag book of all your accomplishments! Follow Pave Her Way on Facebook and on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way on your favorite streaming platform such as Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music.    

Send us Fan MailGloria Allorbi is the vibrant force behind Gloria’s Shito, embodying a rich tapestry of cultural influences. Born in Ghana, nurtured in Glasgow, and blossomed in New Jersey, she’s now weaving her magic in Los Angeles. A maestro in cosmetic chemistry, Gloria's artistry has graced major brands like L’Oréal USA and Paul Mitchell. Yet, it's her passion for good food that truly defines her. Gloria's Shito is more than a culinary venture; it's a love language that breaks barriers and unites hearts globally. From crafting ingredients to forging connections, Gloria's journey is a tribute to the universal magic of shared food.If you would like to follow Gloria and try some of her fabulous recipes that she posts about. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram @Gloriasshito or check out her website at www.gloriasshito.com. She is offering Pave Her Way subscribers a promotion. For 20% off your purchase, use promo code: PAVE20 on www.gloriasshito.com to try her delicious Shito. Check out the list of tools below that Gloria shared on the episode to get started with your business:- Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc...)- Canva app.-Gamma app.Follow Pave Her Way on Facebook and on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way on your favorite streaming platform such as Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music. 

Send us Fan MailBarbara is a Fortune 100 strategic, and results driven executive recognized for transforming and leading large-scale revenue teams to achieve double-digit YoY growth across diverse industries and competitive markets.  She currently leads 100 sales professionals in Avanade's $1.5B Accenture Microsoft Business Group in the US, providing customers innovative digital, cloud and advisory services, sustainable industry solutions and design-led experiences across the Microsoft ecosystem. Avanade is an Accenture and Microsoft-owned company.An advocate for professional women, She co-founded the Amazon Business Women’s Advocacy Circle (WAC) in 2020 to promote a more inclusive workplace for women. This resulted in 300% YoY growth in the promotion and recruitment of women-identifying professionals. WAC, now 1K+ members strong, provides career development, leadership opportunities, and unconscious bias education.You can connect with her on LinkedIn here.  Here's her sales book recommendation. Follow Pave Her Way on Facebook and on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way on your favorite streaming platform such as Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music. 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, you will learn more about the co-hosts and what inspired them to start this podcast! Crystal Howard and Anna McDonagh met while working together at Amazon. As two women in sales, their collective passion for equity and inclusion brought them together. Today, Crystal is a fulltime DEI professional, while Anna continues to pursue her career in sales.Crystal and Anna launched "Pave Her Way" to shine a light on women who are trailblazers in their field, especially those who work to lift others as they climb. Our hope is that listening to these interviews will motivate, inspire, and empower others to explore opportunities in fields where maybe they haven't seen many that look like them.Follow Pave Her Way on Facebook and on Instagram @paveherwaypodcast. Subscribe to Pave Her Way on your favorite streaming platform such as Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music.