Uncategorized

In this episode of I Want Her Shoes, host Anna talks with Kelly Dolanik – a former Microsoft and LinkedIn executive who now works as a transformational coach and strategic advisor. 

The conversation focuses on conscious leadership, burnout, and how alignment between purpose and performance can shape both work and personal life.

Recognizing Burnout Beyond Exhaustion

Kelly describes burnout not as simple fatigue but as “a soul-level misalignment where we’re doing a lot of what we think we should be doing instead of where we feel like our purpose lies”.

She explains that high-performing professionals often overlook the signs because they normalize stress. “We like to say we can do it… and so we miss that we’re actually in fight or flight a lot of the time,” she notes.

Physical awareness can help identify early warning signals. Kelly suggests paying attention to tension: “Is your tongue hitting the roof of your mouth? Is your jaw clenched or your shoulders up?” Recognizing these can help individuals assess whether they are functioning in alignment or survival mode.

The Science of Conscious Performance

Kelly’s work integrates neuroscience, mindset, and practical planning. Her process starts with “deep listening and getting a really good sense of where you are right now,” followed by defining a “desired state” and identifying “aligned and inspired actions”.

She uses structured tools to help clients visualize their current and target states. For individuals, this may be the Wheel of Life; for companies, a strategic plan. Both help clarify where energy and effort should be directed.

Drawing from neuroscience, Kelly highlights that “as we rewire our thoughts, behaviors, and emotional reactions, we can create new neural pathways”. This, she says, allows people to replace limiting beliefs with more effective narratives.

Energy as Currency

Energy management is a recurring theme in Kelly’s practice. She defines energy as “our greatest currency” and explains that “if you use it wisely, it expands; if you are reactive, then you burn it”.

One tool she recommends is a “priority-aligned to-do list,” designed to ensure that daily activities reflect actual priorities. She emphasizes breathing as a simple yet effective way to restore focus: “Finding that stillness within ourselves when everything else is moving around allows us to shift from doing to being”.

Leadership as Self-Alignment

Kelly links leadership growth to self-awareness. She suggests that leaders begin by believing in “another level or version of yourself,” followed by developing the “vulnerability to really look inwards.”

She describes a key mindset shift: “You created your life. To get out of autopilot, start by seeing life as a mirror of your choices”. Awareness and responsibility, she explains, are necessary to move from reaction to conscious action.

Creativity and Leadership

Beyond corporate coaching, Kelly has served on the boards of arts organizations such as Hubbard Street Dance and Bux Arts. She sees direct parallels between creativity and leadership. “Innovation comes from the inclusion of different ideas”, she says. The arts, in her view, teach that there is no single correct approach. It is a lesson that can strengthen collaboration and problem-solving in business environments.

Culture as a Competitive Advantage

Reflecting on her time at LinkedIn, Kelly recalls a mentor who told her, “Culture is a competitive advantage.” She connects resilience to alignment within teams: “Resilience comes from true alignment. When the team sees themselves as building something bigger than themselves”  she adds.

She shares a personal story from when she was considering the LinkedIn role. A recruiter asked whether she wanted “to continue in a job or to change the way the world works.” The question led her to think about purpose as a central element of professional engagement.

Reinvention as Evolution

In closing, Anna summarizes the discussion by stating, “Reinvention isn’t failure; it’s really evolution”. Kelly’s journey from corporate leadership to coaching illustrates how redefining purpose can support both personal balance and organizational clarity.

Sandra Njoku transitioned from cybersecurity to maternal fitness after her own pregnancy and postpartum experience revealed limited, structured support for women. Drawing on a career built on process and rigor, she created Miami Mommy to meet mothers where they are—physically and logistically – through in-home and virtual training focused on healing and function.

Sandra’s professional background includes years in information security at major banks in Canada and Germany. During her pregnancy, she searched for practical guidance on training safely and returning to baseline function. 

“I ended up finding out that there’s very little support for women… not only fitness-wise but a holistic approach to feeling supported” she said. 

She found gaps in accessible, evidence-aware coaching and minimal acknowledgment of the physical changes that follow pregnancy. This led her to build a system that addressed those needs directly.

Building a System for Mothers

Miami Mommy provides personalized sessions in clients’ homes and virtually. Trainers bring the necessary equipment, reducing friction for clients managing early motherhood. The work centers on gradual strength recovery, awareness of bodily changes, and steady return to daily activities. Sessions also include clear, nonjudgmental communication and encouragement, with the understanding that confidence often shifts postpartum.

“So many women feel lost, isolated after having a baby… and they think this phase will last forever” she comments. 

Sandra identifies several areas that need greater visibility:

• Healing vs. “bouncing back.” She emphasizes rebuilding, functional recovery, and identity stabilization rather than rapid aesthetic change.
• Misinformation online. Social platforms often elevate extreme or non-contextualized approaches. Sandra notes that people may follow unsound advice because it appears to have worked for someone else.
• Specific conditions. Diastasis recti (abdominal separation) occurs during late pregnancy and may or may not resolve naturally. Sandra describes clients who discovered it only when seeking unrelated procedures, underscoring a gap in routine discussion and screening. Pelvic floor recovery is another overlooked area.

Identity and isolation. Many women experience isolation and a sense of lost identity after childbirth, a dynamic made more acute during COVID-19. Sandra links consistent, appropriate training with improved daily function and mood.

Strength Redefined

As a former competitive bodybuilder, Sandra once prioritized progressive overload, symmetry, and strict dieting, including very low-calorie phases before competitions. After becoming a mother, she reframed “strength” around sustainability and health rather than stage-ready conditioning. She flags unrealistic body ideals and cautions against weight-loss drug use that ignores muscle preservation, strength training, and overall well-being.

Sandra’s guidance is direct: it is acceptable to want more for oneself. “The woman who’s happiest is not the one that sacrifices more” she adds. She notes that fulfillment supports steadier parenting and leadership. Practical steps include reserving personal time, using community resources, and avoiding the exhaustion that results from doing everything alone.

Personal Style and Representation

Sandra’s daily wear prioritizes function and readiness: wrinkle-resistant pieces, activewear that can transition to last-minute events, and a spare outfit on hand. She highlighted a pair of medium-heel shoes with wing details that are comfortable to move in and that she associates with a sense of support.

Sandra Njoku built Miami Mommy in response to specific postpartum needs she observed firsthand: structured guidance, functional recovery, and steady identity rebuilding. Her approach centers on sustainable strength, informed coaching, and accessible logistics. The result is a service designed to help mothers recover function, regain confidence at their own pace, and maintain room for personal ambition.

In this episode of I Want Her Shoes, Anna spoke with Florence Schaefer, an innovation strategist, global tech executive, and co-founder of Becoming, a human performance concierge. 

Their discussion explored upbringing, career transitions, a stage-4 cancer diagnosis reframed as a reset, and how choices in technology, clothing, and place influence life and work.

Early Foundations

Florence grew up in California with a South Korean mother and South Dakotan father, traveling frequently to both Korea and South Dakota. These contrasting value systems shaped her outlook. As she put it, “I just had this perspective that there’s no one right way to live or right way to think”. She later described herself as a third-culture kid, reflecting the combination of different cultural influences.

Although she had planned to study international relations and mathematics at UC Berkeley, Florence changed course after attending a pre-freshman orientation at Harvey Mudd College. She chose engineering, influenced by professors who noticed her unusual focus: “I was always thinking about who’s going to use it, how are they going to feel when they use it”. This human-centered approach became a throughline in her work.

Career Across Industries

Florence has held executive positions in luxury fashion, beauty, automotive, and healthcare. The connecting thread, she explained, is transformation: designing systems at the intersection of technology and human behavior so that experiences can shift how people live and work.

A Diagnosis as Reset

A stage-4 cancer diagnosis, despite a health-oriented lifestyle and no family history, became a turning point. She explained the experience as “liberating” and said she felt “an immediate almost surrender and faith… whatever is going to happen is exactly what’s meant to happen”.

She used a car metaphor to describe the shift: “The stage four cancer is like my wheels fell off… I was supposed to stop driving the car”. The diagnosis revealed that constant optimization and pushing through warning signs were no longer effective strategies. Listening to intuition became central.

Becoming and the Life Reset Protocol

Florence co-founded Becoming, where the Life Reset Protocol helps people pause and reconsider foundational questions: “It’s really about slowing down and finding this space… asking yourself… ‘Who am I?’… ‘How do I want to live?’”.

She highlighted research indicating that “95% of our decisions are made by our unconscious”. By surfacing and rewiring unhelpful patterns, people can reduce friction in life. The goal is not to add more practices but to identify unconscious habits that “are almost sabotaging you… If we can go to the root and figure out what those are, we can just rewire one or two things”.

Technology as Tool

Technology was framed as neutral: “Technology is a tool… it’s not inherently good or bad… Start from clarity: how can technology amplify my life?”. Many coping behaviors, such as compulsive phone checking, arise from stress. Instead of treating emotions as problems, she suggested recognizing that “our emotions are just meant to be there as signals”.

She cautioned against extreme measures like digital detoxes: “Any sort of extreme reaction just kind of flips you to the other side… It’s almost the shadow side of the same challenge”.

Clothing, Breathing, and Regulation

Personal style also intersects with wellbeing. Florence stopped wearing clothing that pinches the waist after discovering its impact on breathing. “Your diaphragm was stuck… you’ve literally been breathing through your chest versus your belly… that creates anxiety and fight-or-flight”. She now prioritizes fabrics and fits that allow her to breathe freely and remain comfortable.

Even posture and gaze matter. “Looking below your horizon… lowers your mood… sometimes we have to look up”. Small adjustments, such as breathable fabrics or shifting how one holds a phone, can affect daily regulation.

Florence described identity as dynamic and shaped by context: “Your identity is not fixed… in an environment your identity shifts without you even realizing”. Living in Hong Kong, she became known primarily for her height, while Miami offers a different atmosphere. She sees Miami as a space where people can express themselves without judgment, a restorative contrast to other global cities.

Practical Habits

Frequent travel led Florence to develop systematic packing strategies. “I pack on color themes… everything in there has to have multiple purposes”. She favors footwear that is stylish yet comfortable and stable, suitable even for long flights or trade shows.

Reflecting on what it means to “walk boldly,” Florence said: “It’s really about just being present… if you think too much in the future then you become anxious… if you’re too much in the past… So the more present I am… everything really just flows”.

Her closing note reinforces a central theme of the conversation: transformation comes not from adding more, but from becoming more aligned with presence, intuition, and intentional choices.

On this episode of I Want Her Shoes, host Anna speaks with Brooke Sharpton, a seasoned financial expert and wealth advocate. Their discussion covers wealth beyond numbers, navigating transitions, balancing motherhood with financial planning, and the evolving role of style.

For Brooke, wealth is not only about balance sheets. It is about designing a life and leaving a legacy. “Wealth to me is being able to live the life and build the legacy that you foresee for yourself” she said.

Brooke has seen this take different forms among clients. For some, it is centered on family, children, and philanthropy. For others, it is about enjoying life without focusing on legacy. Personally, she aims to combine both approaches – living well while ensuring she leaves something meaningful for her daughter.

Facing Life’s Transitions

Brooke works with clients during pivotal changes such as divorce, inheritance, career shifts, or entrepreneurship. She notes that these moments often create a sense of lost control.

“The biggest thing people tend to forget is you are in control” she said. Her approach is to ground clients by helping them clarify goals and create a structured plan. This process gives them confidence and restores a sense of agency.

Motherhood and Money

Motherhood has had a strong impact on how Brooke manages finances and time. She explains that having a daughter has made her more risk averse. More importantly, it has shifted her priorities toward being present.

“Whenever I come home, I will intentionally put my phone on the other side of the room and try not to touch it for two hours” she said. This awareness extends to long-term planning, ensuring her choices account for both current presence and future security.

Style as an Evolving Identity

Brooke describes her professional style as evolving through several stages. Early in her career, she imitated what she saw other women wearing, even when it did not fully fit her. Later, she leaned into feminine and colorful looks. More recently, she has embraced edgier brands such as Alexander Wang, Rick Owens, and Jean Paul Gaultier.

This shift reflects how her definition of femininity has changed over time, moving from bright florals to minimalist cuts and materials.

Building Wealth and Community

A significant part of Brooke’s work is with Black wealth creators. She emphasizes the value of building professional relationships, particularly with Black women. Miami’s economic landscape is changing, with new residents and industries beyond hospitality, including finance and technology. Brooke sees opportunities in this evolving environment and finds passion in serving her community.

Brooke’s own experience after separating from her daughter’s father showed her the importance of being fully informed about household finances.

“I encourage women to ask questions, get to know who your financial advisor is, who your CPA is, who the attorney is” she said.Her core advice is simple: “Advocate for yourself even when it feels very uncomfortable or not natural for you.” 

This applies to small decisions, like voicing a preference at a salon, and larger ones, like questioning financial transactions.

Miami’s Influence on Style and Success

Growing up in Miami shaped Brooke’s view of style. She explains that the city’s diversity prevents her from assigning a rigid definition of what success looks like.

“I don’t put women in a box as what a successful or powerful woman looks like because everyone has their own style here” she said. 

This perspective allows her to maintain creativity and independence in how she presents herself, without conforming to industry stereotypes.

Conclusion

Brooke Sharpton’s story illustrates that wealth encompasses far more than numbers. It is about clarity, control, and values. Through her career and personal experiences, she encourages women to take ownership of financial decisions, remain present in family life, and express individuality through style.

Her message is consistent: wealth is not only about financial capital—it is also about personal freedom, community, and legacy.

In this episode of the I Want Her Shoes podcast, Anna speaks with Victoria Pellet, a highly accomplished executive, keynote speaker, and advocate for diversity and inclusion. 

Victoria’s career has been marked by remarkable achievements, including becoming a CEO at the age of 24. Throughout the conversation, she reflects on how her leadership journey evolved, the role fashion plays in her professional life, and how visibility and empathetic leadership have shaped her approach to business.

Victoria’s Early Life and Career

Victoria’s drive and determination have roots in a difficult early life. She shared that her purpose and resilience stemmed from her childhood, where she endured trauma and abuse. This challenging start, combined with being adopted into a loving but lower socioeconomic family, shaped her perspective and fueled her determination to succeed. 

From a young age, she worked to help support her family, starting at age 11, and was promoted to a leadership position by 14, becoming the assistant manager of a shoe store in high school.

“I was never going to let circumstance prevent me from achieving a goal or objective that I set for myself” she says. 

Initially pursuing a career in law, Victoria soon realized that her passion lay in the business world. After a promotion with a bank, she relocated across the country and, although she planned to take a year off before attending law school, she found that she enjoyed the corporate environment. 

Leadership Philosophy: From “Iron Maiden” to “Whole Human”

Over the next 30 years, Victoria remained in the B2B professional services sector, eventually earning a position as Chief Operating Officer at the age of 24. Reflecting on this experience, she acknowledged the challenges of being both the youngest and the only woman in the room at that time.

Victoria discussed the evolution of her leadership style, which initially involved an all-business, no-nonsense approach. At the start of her career, she relied on resilience and a strict, business-driven persona to prove her capabilities in environments where she often felt like an outsider. 

While this approach led to her professional success and subsequent promotions, she admitted that it wasn’t the kind of leadership she aspired to. She wore a “mask,” trying to shield her vulnerabilities and personal background, believing that any display of emotion could be seen as weakness.

“For me, no excuses… you have a choice in how you’re going to act or respond to it” she says.

However, as she gained more experience and self-awareness, Victoria shifted toward a leadership style she describes as “whole human leadership.” This approach combines resilience with emotional openness, allowing for both strength and vulnerability. She reflected that her “Iron Maiden” persona, which helped her succeed early on, has evolved into something more compassionate and authentic. Victoria now seeks to be the kind of leader she would want to work for, one who values emotional intelligence and encourages openness in the workplace.

Her personal motto, “no excuses,” is integral to her leadership philosophy. She explained that while challenges are inevitable, individuals have control over how they respond to adversity. 

The Role of Fashion in Leadership and Self-Expression

Fashion, for Victoria, is not merely a means of dressing for the day-it is a powerful form of self-expression and a way to communicate confidence. She recalled her early years in New York, where she adopted the corporate uniform of black clothing to fit in. 

However, as she became more comfortable with her identity, she began to experiment with bolder fashion choices. Today, she incorporates bright colors, unique sneakers, and statement blazers into her wardrobe, using fashion as a way to show her individuality and stand out in a business world that often values conformity.

Victoria’s style choices, such as wearing funky sneakers during speaking engagements, have become part of her leadership identity. She believes that fashion allows her to express her boldness and authenticity while also challenging conventional norms in corporate settings. Her fashion choices now reflect her comfort in her own skin, and she encourages others to embrace their unique style as a means of personal and professional expression.

Visibility and Empowering Others

A key theme in the conversation was the importance of visibility, particularly for women and members of marginalized communities. Victoria believes in the power of representation and the idea that “you cannot be what you cannot see.” 

As a leader, she feels it is her responsibility to be visible and to create opportunities for others who may not have had access to those spaces before. By doing so, she hopes to inspire future generations of women and LGBTQ+ individuals to pursue leadership roles.

Victoria also emphasized the need to create safe spaces in the workplace where people can be themselves without fear of judgment. She spoke about the importance of hiring for diverse experiences and backgrounds, recognizing that not everyone fits the traditional mold of success. She believes that by coaching employees and providing opportunities to grow, leaders can build more inclusive and effective teams.

Conclusion

Victoria Pellet’s journey from a young, ambitious leader to a resilient, empathetic executive offers valuable insights into the evolving nature of leadership. Her emphasis on authenticity, visibility, and inclusion serves as a model for those striving to lead with intention. 

Whether through her leadership style, fashion choices, or commitment to empowering others, Victoria demonstrates how to walk boldly in one’s own shoes authentically, with confidence, and with a focus on making a positive impact.

Over the first 20 episodes of I Want Her Shoes, Anna spoke with Miami women who run companies, shape culture, and rethink how work and life fit together. Each guest brought a pair of shoes tied to a moment like a career milestone, personal pivot, or family memory. 

The Manolo Blahnik Hangisi appeared often (Melissa Pegus, Ella Muradyan, and Courtney Spritzer each chose it), while three guests (Diana Contreras, Rhonda Singer, and Virginia Laird Rojo) picked the hot pink Palm Angels slip-ons from my own closet. Those patterns became a thread through the series: style as signal, memory, and method.

Episode 1: Chef Nicole Votano – Culinary Entrepreneur

Nicole built food ventures while raising a family. She described how she schedules her day with the same precision she uses for a menu: prep early, plate cleanly, and leave room for surprises. She turned down partnerships that didn’t align with her priorities and said that “no” is not a missed chance, but it’s a guardrail.

Her shoes: a pair she can sprint in when a delivery goes wrong and still wear to a client tasting. The footwear choice mirrors her philosophy: invest in pieces that support the life you actually live.

Episode 2: Fatima Rosa – Founder, The Brow and Beauty Bar

Fatima built a business around brows, but the core is community work. As Chair of United Way’s Small Business Committee, she funnels resources and mentorship to owners who might not otherwise have access. She frames giving as a growth strategy: when the ecosystem is healthy, individual companies benefit.

Her shoes represent accessibility-something stylish, but approachable in a studio setting.

Episode 3: Melissa Pegus – Managing Partner, 645 Ventures

Melissa talked about moments on stage with founders: the pressure, the pride, and the outfit choices that anchor confidence. She said clothes can store memory. For example putting on a certain pair of heels can trigger the mindset she had during a pivotal pitch.

She brought the Manolo Blahnik Hangisi, linking it to a milestone event. The shoe is a cue card: it reminds her of what she delivered and what she can deliver again.

Episode 5: Sherrell Dorsey – Entrepreneur

Sherrell pushes for transparency in fashion. She traces the supply chain of her wardrobe like a data journalist. Instead of “buy less” as a vague mantra, she suggested a clear practice: track what you purchase, repair what you can, and ask suppliers questions they aren’t used to getting.

Her chosen shoes were durable and traceable. She knew the maker and the material path.

Episode 7: Cynthia Ortiz – Founder, Casa Lily

Cynthia walked through the realities of producing footwear overseas – minimum order quantities, factory audits, shipping delays – and how she built ethical checks into each stage. She admitted missteps, then outlined how she updated her process rather than scrap it. 

Her wave-heel design became a symbol of forward momentum: form that reflects function.

Episode 8: Svetlana Gafurova – Director of Luxury Sales, Bottega Veneta

Svetlana tracks what luxury clients now expect: honesty about materials, informed staff, and experiences that feel personal. She grew up making her own clothes, so she reads garments differently. On the sales floor, that background lets her decode the difference between marketing terms and real craft.

Her shoes fit long days on polished floors-elegant, but practical for movement.

Episode 9: Ella Muradyan – Financial Crimes Specialist

Ella broke down her 50/25/25 budgeting rule: 50% needs, 25% savings/debt payoff, 25% joy. She insisted that planning for discretionary spending is what keeps budgets sustainable. If a Hermès scarf fits in the “joy” category and you plan for it, it isn’t indulgence-it’s alignment.

She also brought the Hangisi. For her, it marked a celebration after a tough quarter.

Episode 11: Nicole Vasquez – Entrepreneur

Nicole sees community building as an operating system. She shared how she maps her network, follows up, and puts people together with clear asks and offers. On the style front, she uses a signature piece-often a blazer or bold shoe-to help her anchor in rooms where impostor syndrome could creep in.

Episode 12: Courtney Spritzer – Co-Founder, Entreprenista

Courtney talked through marketing trends and AI tools, but the standout moment was her announcement of the Entreprenista 100. She treats color as strategy: hot pink isn’t just preference; it’s a recognizable brand signal.

Her Hangisi pair is more than a shoe-it’s a reminder to show up as the brand’s best advocate.Takeaway: Consistent visual cues create memory in the audience. Use them deliberately.

Episode 13: Diana Contreras – Artist & Muralist

Diana paints walls across Miami with portraits that reflect heritage and current life. She spoke about balancing motherhood with field work and the logistics of painting outdoors. 

When she picked the Palm Angels slip-ons, she said they mirrored her move toward bolder public pieces.

Episode 14: Meg Daly – Founder, The Underline

Meg broke both arms, couldn’t drive, and started walking under the Metrorail. That led to The Underline: a 10-mile park project now used by commuters, runners, and families. She described how community input shaped features, from lighting to programming.

Her footwear choice emphasized comfort for long site walks.

Episode 15: Rhonda Singer – Wealth Advisor

Rhonda guides clients through transitions-divorce, retirement, inheritance-and addressed how clothes can help people re-anchor identity. She often suggests doing a closet edit during major life changes to identify what still fits the person you are.

She chose the Palm Angels slip-ons as a signal of choosing boldness after a quieter chapter.

Episode 17: Virginia Laird Rojo – Founder, VLR Consulting

Virginia leads with empathy but holds a high bar for accountability. She told me she swapped a neutral palette for red pieces after launching her firm-an external cue to match an internal shift toward visibility.

She also selected the Palm Angels slip-ons for their mix of edge and practicality.

Episode 18: Katherine Doble – Founder & CEO

Katherine uses AI to streamline outreach but keeps relationship-building human. One story stood out: inheriting Chanel pumps from a family member and wearing them during a key client meeting. 

The shoes carried history, and that weight translated to her posture and voice.

Episode 19: Sarah Dunn – CFO & Cat Rescuer

Sarah manages corporate finances and rescues cats. She sees both as systems: budget lines and adoption lists require similar tracking. She spoke about letting her wardrobe shift with her role-fewer stiff suits, more pieces that allow quick stops at shelters after work.

Episode 20: Asha – Author

Asha wrote about motherhood and identity. She said the draft that finally worked was the one where she stopped hiding the “mess.” That vulnerability translated to the page and to her presence. Her shoes? A comfortable pair worn during late-night writing sessions-a reminder that progress often happens offstage.Takeaway: Imperfection is usable material. Voice strengthens when you stop polishing away the truth.

Summary

Shoes marked turning points for these women: funding rounds, new ventures, fresh starts, community wins. Whether it’s a Manolo, a Palm Angels slip-on, or sneakers you’ve repaired three times, the pair you pick can remind you where you’re going-and why.If these stories resonated, share the post or reach out.