She's Teaching Women to Buy Houses Alone — And It's Working

She's Teaching Women to Buy Houses Alone — And It's Working

Women have been legally allowed to get a mortgage for just about 50 years — and the gap that was created is still closing. This week on Not All Business, we sat down with Lane McLeod, founder of West Lane Lending, a mortgage brokerage built around one very clear mission: helping women build wealth through homeownership. Lane has watched the data play out in real time — single men buying homes in their 30s without a second thought, while the majority of single women who come through her door are in their 50s, often after a divorce, sitting on decades of missed equity. Lane's own path wasn't a straight line. She left a dream job in the fashion industry, lived through a hard season during COVID, and started a mortgage company from scratch in an industry she barely knew. Five years later she's hosting invite-only Pilates classes for women where the real agenda is financial education — and the results are speaking for themselves. Key Takeaways: * The equity gap no one's talking about: why women's homeownership timelines are running decades behind men's * Why Lane doesn't lead with credit score — and what she actually wants you to do first * The mortgage math most women were never taught (including why your mortgage can cost less than rent) * What "hot girls build equity" actually means — and why it's about more than money * How Lane went from the fashion industry to building a mortgage brokerage on Pilates and purpose * The one mindset shift that changes how you think about property, debt, and your future self Please consider sharing this episode & subscribing to the show for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business. Follow Lane: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westlanelending/ [https://www.instagram.com/westlanelending/]  * West Lane Lending: https://westlanelending.com/ [https://westlanelending.com/] * Property Pilates Club invite list: https://www.propertypilatesclub.com/ [https://www.propertypilatesclub.com/] [DM Lane on Instagram] * Email: lane@westlanelending.com Links & Mentions: * Equal Credit Opportunity Act (1974): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-cards/learn-more/what-is-the-equal-credit-opportunity-act/https://www.justice.gov/crt/equal-credit-opportunity-act-3 [https://www.justice.gov/crt/equal-credit-opportunity-act-3]  * Huron skincare (Clay's new routine): https://www.gethuron.comhttps://usehuron.com/ [https://usehuron.com/]  Submit Your Sticky Situations & Workplace Dilemmas: * Got a sticky situation for Not All Business? Send a voice recording to podcast@notall.biz or drop your question in the comments. Thank You to Our Sponsors: * Arcadia Leadership Experience — Three days on a Montana ranch outside Bozeman for senior GTM leaders. July 27–30. Application only. * https://www.ArcadiaLeadershipExperience.com [https://www.arcadialeadershipexperience.com] Keep exploring the stories that power Not All Business. Every episode opens the door to fresh insights on what it really means to be a Female Executive or Female CEO, navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of leadership. From real-world workplace dilemmas to candid conversations about breaking barriers, this podcast gives you the tools, inspiration, and perspective to thrive in your own career. So don’t stop here, dive into more episodes, learn from other women in business, and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of work. Your next breakthrough might be just one episode away. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about the messy reality of leadership, professional growth strategies, and the real talk about work with new episodes every week. #Female CEOs, #Female CEO Podcast, #Female Executive, #Female Executive Podcast, #Women in Business, #Women in Business Podcast, #Women Entrepreneurs, #Business Podcast, #Real Talk about Work, #Workplace Dilemmas, #Heather Cooper, #Blakely Graham, #Sticky Situations,  #WomenInLeadership, #ImposterSyndrome, #CareerGrowth, #LaneMcLeod

My Best Employee Got a Better Offer — What Did I Do Wrong?

When you can't give someone what they're asking for — and you know you might lose them — what do you actually do? And what happens when two great employees with totally opposite work styles are making each other (and their manager) miserable? This week on Not All Business, Heather, Blakely, and Clay take on two real sticky situations from the NAB community, then close out with a rapid-fire yes or no that goes completely off the rails. Key Takeaways: * When you can't match a competing salary offer, what are your real options? * Why losing one person to a pay gap is rarely a one-time problem * The difference between being a mediator and providing a communication framework * How to use company values when the conversation gets hard * What the red temperament profile says about visionary leaders — and what it doesn't Links & Mentions: Previous Guests mentioned on today’s episode: * Carolyn Keyes: Saying No Builds More Trust Than Saying Yes (Here's Why) [https://youtu.be/FmIJ5ELXE14?si=HvQr0e2FpqNFiugW] * Allison O'Brien: Your Brain Processes Too Fast—Here's What Goes Wrong [https://youtu.be/SnNo9-yXAAA?si=pAq12Gr6Fb7qj74l] * Julie Holunga: The Conversation Every Leader Is Avoiding [https://youtu.be/eEaGWR3vHMs?si=F4KvbpaaZuo6EfWz] * Brittany Hart: Why Your Team Isn't Hearing You (Even When You Think They Are) [https://youtu.be/a4aE_sWUJzE?si=Q8peMbKCZwh4opR-] * Michele Lando: Hiring Managers Reveal What Actually Gets You Hire [https://youtu.be/1HEpid3e66c?si=VdQAJlZASC6OGnHO] Submit Your Sticky Situations & Workplace Dilemmas: * Got a sticky situation for Not All Business? Send a voice recording to sticky@notallbusiness.com or drop your question in the comments. Thank You to Our Sponsors: * Arcadia Leadership Experience — Three days on a Montana ranch outside Bozeman for senior GTM leaders. July 27–30. Application only. * https://www.ArcadiaLeadershipExperience.com [https://www.arcadialeadershipexperience.com] Keep exploring the stories that power Not All Business. Every episode opens the door to fresh insights on what it really means to be a Female Executive or Female CEO, navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of leadership. From real-world workplace dilemmas to candid conversations about breaking barriers, this podcast gives you the tools, inspiration, and perspective to thrive in your own career. So don’t stop here, dive into more episodes, learn from other women in business, and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of work. Your next breakthrough might be just one episode away. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about the messy reality of leadership, professional growth strategies, and the real talk about work with new episodes every week. #Female CEOs, #Female CEO Podcast, #Female Executive, #Female Executive Podcast, #Women in Business, #Women in Business Podcast, #Women Entrepreneurs, #Business Podcast, #Real Talk about Work, #Workplace Dilemmas, #Heather Cooper, #Blakely Graham, #Sticky Situations,  #EmployeeRetention #PayEquity #WorkLifeBalance #WorkplaceConflict #OfficeConflict

She Lost 115 Pounds, Got Abandoned By Her Mom & Still Became the Toughest Person in the Room

What do you do when the person who was supposed to love you unconditionally just... doesn't show up? If you're Kait Dinunzio, you build yourself from scratch — and then you spend the rest of your career helping other people do the same. This week on Not All Business, we sit down with Kait Dinunzio — executive coach, field operations leader, competitive bodybuilder, and author of Unbreakable. Kait works in some of the most male-dominated industries on the planet — oil and gas, construction, technology — and she's the one they call when something's gone wrong and the culture needs to change. She also lost 115 pounds through diet and exercise alone, started a blog called NoMo Camel Toe before Instagram existed, and wakes up every morning reminding herself of three words: I am love. This episode goes deep. From the reticular activating system to what it actually means to be a cycle breaker. From the Trojan horse approach to navigating male-dominated spaces, to the grief of losing a mother you never really had. Also: Heather accidentally poisoned herself with beet powder. Yes, beet powder. And there's a card game from London that may or may not belong in every team meeting you'll ever run. Key Takeaways: * Why "validation is for parking" — and what to replace it with * How the reticular activating system shapes your entire day before you've had coffee * What it really means to invest in yourself like a project (and why "what's measured is managed" applies to you) * The Trojan horse approach to changing systems from the inside * How to break a cycle when you were handed one you never asked for * Why Kait's daily practice isn't "I am loved" — it's "I am love" — and why that difference matters Please consider sharing this episode and subscribing to the show for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business. Follow Kait: * Instagram: @unbreakable_legacy [https://www.instagram.com/unbreakable_legacy/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=kait+dinunziohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitdinunzio/ * Website: yourunbreakablelegacy.com [https://www.yourunbreakablelegacy.com] * YouTube: Unbreakable Podcast Network [https://www.youtube.com/@unbreakablepodcastnetwork] * Unbreakable on Amazon: https://a.co/d/02jqvh3a [https://a.co/d/02jqvh3a]  Submit Your Sticky Situations & Workplace Dilemmas: * Got a sticky situation for Not All Business? Send a voice recording to podcast@notallbusiness.com or drop your question in the comments. Thank You to Our Sponsors: * Arcadia Leadership Experience — Three days on a Montana ranch outside Bozeman for senior GTM leaders. July 27–30. Application only. * https://www.ArcadiaLeadershipExperience.com [https://www.arcadialeadershipexperience.com] Keep exploring the stories that power Not All Business. Every episode opens the door to fresh insights on what it really means to be a Female Executive or Female CEO, navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of leadership. From real-world workplace dilemmas to candid conversations about breaking barriers, this podcast gives you the tools, inspiration, and perspective to thrive in your own career. So don’t stop here, dive into more episodes, learn from other women in business, and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of work. Your next breakthrough might be just one episode away. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about the messy reality of leadership, professional growth strategies, and the real talk about work with new episodes every week. #Female CEOs, #Female CEO Podcast, #Female Executive, #Female Executive Podcast, #Women in Business, #Women in Business Podcast, #Women Entrepreneurs, #Business Podcast, #Real Talk about Work, #Workplace Dilemmas, #Heather Cooper, #Blakely Graham, #Sticky Situations,  #PersonalGrowth #Bodybuilding #CycleBreaker #KaitDinunzio #NotAllBusiness

Your Mission, Vision, and Values Are Not the Same Thing

Most businesses skip the foundation and wonder why everything feels muddy. Mission. Vision. Values. Purpose. Turns out there's a big difference between writing them down and actually knowing what they mean. This week on Not All Business, brand strategist Cindy Frigard of Yours Truly comes back for her second appearance and does something we've never done on the show before: walks Heather and Blakely through their own brand strategy, live. Every question, every honest answer, every moment they realized they'd been saying the same words and meaning completely different things. If you've ever started a business and gone straight to the logo, skipped the mission statement, or written down a vision that didn't really mean anything, this one is for you. Key Takeaways: * Why Your Vision and Mission Are Not Interchangeable (and What Each One Actually Means) * The Real Reason "Made for Everyone" Is Made for No One * How Values Work as a Decision-Making Filter, Not a Wall Hanging * Why Investing in Brand Strategy Before Marketing Will Save You a Lot of Money * What Happens When You Finally Define Who You Are and Who You Aren't Please consider sharing this episode & subscribing to the show for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business. Follow Cindy: * Cindy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-frigard-287a4b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-frigard-287a4b/] * Yours Truly: https://www.itsyourstruly.com [https://www.itsyourstruly.com/] * Free Mission, Vision, Values Workbooks by Yours, Truly: https://www.itsyourstruly.com/free-workbooks [https://www.itsyourstruly.com/free-workbooks] Links & Mentions: * Arcadia Leadership Experience: https://www.arcadialeadershipexperience.com/ [https://www.arcadialeadershipexperience.com/] * Friends with Benefits — Work Questions You'd Never Ask Out Loud with Heather Cooper and Blakely Graham: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/work-questions-youd-never-ask-out-loud-with-heather/id1689557087?i=1000767348617 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/work-questions-youd-never-ask-out-loud-with-heather/id1689557087?i=1000767348617] * Coach Nicole: https://www.instagram.com/nicchristensen/ [https://www.instagram.com/nicchristensen/] Submit Your Sticky Situations & Workplace Dilemmas: * Got a sticky situation for Not All Business? Send a voice recording to podcast@notall.biz or drop your question in the comments. Thank You to Our Sponsors: * Arcadia Leadership Experience — Three days on a Montana ranch outside Bozeman for senior GTM leaders. July 27–30. Application only. * https://www.ArcadiaLeadershipExperience.com [https://www.arcadialeadershipexperience.com] Keep exploring the stories that power Not All Business. Every episode opens the door to fresh insights on what it really means to be a Female Executive or Female CEO, navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of leadership. From real-world workplace dilemmas to candid conversations about breaking barriers, this podcast gives you the tools, inspiration, and perspective to thrive in your own career. So don’t stop here, dive into more episodes, learn from other women in business, and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of work. Your next breakthrough might be just one episode away. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about the messy reality of leadership, professional growth strategies, and the real talk about work with new episodes every week. #Female CEOs, #Female CEO Podcast, #Female Executive, #Female Executive Podcast, #Women in Business, #Women in Business Podcast, #Women Entrepreneurs, #Business Podcast, #Real Talk about Work, #Workplace Dilemmas, #Heather Cooper, #Blakely Graham, #Sticky Situations,  #BrandStrategy, #MissionVisionValues, #SmallBusiness, #StartupFounder, #CindyFrigard

Frozen at Work: What to Do When Someone Crosses the Line

Boundaries at work are complicated. Setting them is hard. Getting them crossed is harder. And knowing what to do when something happens faster than your brain can process? That's what this episode is about. This week on Not All Business, it's a Casual Friday sticky situations episode — no guest, just Heather, Blakely, and Clay diving into your real workplace dilemmas. The theme is boundaries, and it gets real fast. A listener wants to know how to stop their very kind, very enthusiastic boss from hugging them every single day. Then a story comes in about a French diplomat who received his award — and helped himself to something that was absolutely not on the table. Heather shares her own experience with workplace harassment and what she wishes she'd known then about freezing, self-blame, and what to do next. Key Takeaways: * Why freezing in the moment is not a character flaw — it's neurological * How to deflect unwanted physical contact at work without making it weird (and when you do have to make it a little weird) * What to do when the moment has already passed — because it's never too late * The signals women have to navigate at business dinners that men don't * Office vs. remote, gut vs. data, boardroom vs. bar — where do the real decisions get made? Please consider sharing this episode & subscribing to the show for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business. Submit Your Sticky Situations & Workplace Dilemmas: * Got a sticky situation for Not All Business? Send a voice recording to podcast@notallbusiness.com or drop your question in the comments. Thank You to Our Sponsors: * Arcadia Leadership Experience — Three days on a Montana ranch outside Bozeman for senior GTM leaders. July 27–30. Application only. * https://www.ArcadiaLeadershipExperience.com [https://www.arcadialeadershipexperience.com] Keep exploring the stories that power Not All Business. Every episode opens the door to fresh insights on what it really means to be a Female Executive or Female CEO, navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of leadership. From real-world workplace dilemmas to candid conversations about breaking barriers, this podcast gives you the tools, inspiration, and perspective to thrive in your own career. So don’t stop here, dive into more episodes, learn from other women in business, and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of work. Your next breakthrough might be just one episode away. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about the messy reality of leadership, professional growth strategies, and the real talk about work with new episodes every week. #Female CEOs, #Female CEO Podcast, #Female Executive, #Female Executive Podcast, #Women in Business, #Women in Business Podcast, #Women Entrepreneurs, #Business Podcast, #Real Talk about Work, #Workplace Dilemmas, #Heather Cooper, #Blakely Graham, #Sticky Situations,  #Boundaries #WorkplaceHarassment #Leadership