Back by Popular Demand: Iryna Wood on Self-Love, Relationships & Building Gemini Near Me

Building Bold Communities: Marina Middleton on Leadership, Legacy & Empowering Women at Scale

In this episode of SHE DECIDES, host Staci Swiderski sits down with Marina Middleton, CEO and Partner of Create & Cultivate, for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, community, and what it truly means to lead with purpose.  As a first-generation Egyptian immigrant, former corporate strategist, bootstrapped founder, and now venture-backed CEO, Marina shares the pivotal moments that shaped her journey, from becoming a single mother at 23 to leading one of the most influential brands dedicated to advancing women in business. She opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, stepping into rooms where she didn't feel like she belonged, and why some of the most uncomfortable moments in life often lead to the greatest opportunities.  Marina and Staci discuss the importance of access, community, and surrounding yourself with people who challenge and elevate you. Marina also shares what it was like acquiring Create & Cultivate, raising nearly $3 million in venture capital, and reimagining the future of women's networking and leadership.  This conversation is filled with wisdom for anyone building something meaningful, navigating change, or wondering if they belong in the room.  Because as Marina reminds us, sometimes the rooms where you feel the most uncomfortable are the ones that change your life the most.   Because when SHE DECIDES to step into the room, she creates opportunities for countless others to rise.    🔗 Connect with Marina Middleton  * Website: https://www.marinamiddleton.com/ [https://www.marinamiddleton.com/]   * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinamiddleton/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinamiddleton/]   * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinamiddleton/ [https://www.instagram.com/marinamiddleton/]   * Create & Cultivate: https://www.createcultivate.com/ [https://www.createcultivate.com/]   * Create & Cultivate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate/ [https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate/]   🎉 Learn More About the Create & Cultivate Festival  The Create & Cultivate Festival is the world's largest festival for women in business, bringing together thousands of entrepreneurs, creators, executives, and founders for networking, education, inspiration, and community.  Learn more and attend future events: https://www.createcultivate.com/ [https://www.createcultivate.com/]

Returning at Your Request: Samantha Giordano on Intuition, Healing & Building a Purpose-Driven Brand

By listener request, one of our most inspiring conversations is back. In this re-released episode of SHE DECIDES, host Staci Swiderski sits down with Samantha Giordano, founder of Intuition Kicks, a luxury women's sneaker brand handcrafted in Italy and designed to inspire women to trust themselves, embrace their journeys, and move boldly toward their purpose. More than a year after this conversation first aired, Samantha's message continues to resonate deeply with listeners. After experiencing her own struggles with anxiety and depression, Samantha embarked on a powerful journey of healing through therapy, spirituality, and self-discovery. That journey ultimately led her to create Intuition Kicks, a brand built on the belief that intuition is one of our greatest strengths. Together, Staci and Samantha explore mental wellness, manifestation, entrepreneurship, and the courage it takes to turn personal pain into purpose. Samantha shares how she transformed her healing journey into a movement, creating a brand that reminds women with every step to trust themselves and honor their inner voice. This episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes our greatest challenges become the foundation for our greatest purpose. Because when SHE DECIDES to trust her intuition, she steps into the life she was meant to live. * Website: https://www.intuitionkicks.com [https://www.intuitionkicks.com] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intuitionkicks/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthagiordano/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthagiordano/] 🔗 Connect with Samantha Giordano

Back by Popular Demand: Iryna Wood on Self-Love, Relationships & Building Gemini Near Me

One of our most requested episodes is back. Just over a year ago, Staci Swiderski sat down with Iryna Wood, relationship expert, entrepreneur, author, and creator of Gemini Near Me, for a conversation that continues to resonate with listeners today. At the time, Gemini Near Me was in its early stages. Today, the platform has grown significantly, making this episode a fascinating look back at the vision, passion, and purpose that sparked its creation. In this inspiring conversation, Iryna shares her journey from studying psychology, counseling, and spiritual development to building an innovative app designed to help people better understand themselves, strengthen relationships, and cultivate self-love. She opens up about overcoming personal challenges, embracing authenticity, trusting intuition, and taking bold action on an idea she believed could make a difference. Together, Staci and Iryna explore self-worth, emotional wellness, manifestation, gratitude, relationship intelligence, entrepreneurship, and why understanding yourself is the first step toward creating the life you truly want. Looking back, it's incredible to hear Iryna's vision for Gemini Near Me and see how far both she and the platform have come since this episode first aired. This conversation remains a powerful reminder that every successful venture begins with a decision to believe in yourself before anyone else does. Because when she decides to trust her vision, even before the world sees it, extraordinary things can happen. 🔗 Connect with Iryna Wood * Website: https://gemininearme.com * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irynawoodofficial * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irynawoodofficial * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IrynaWood * Gemini Near Me App: https://gemininearme.com

The Courage to Pivot: Ashley Varnado on Success, Reinvention & Choosing Yourself

In this episode of SHE DECIDES, Staci Swiderski sits down with Ashley Varnado, a first-generation corporate executive, author, speaker, and former Managing Director at Bank of America Private Bank.  Born and raised in a small Mississippi town, Ashley shares her remarkable journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the youngest African American female Managing Directors at one of the nation's largest financial institutions. But after achieving everything she thought success was supposed to look like, a series of life-changing events, including the loss of loved ones and three strokes in 2025, forced her to reevaluate what truly mattered.   Ashley opens up about taking what she calls a "radical sabbatical," walking away from a high-powered career, and choosing time, health, family, and purpose over titles and expectations. Together, she and Staci discuss ambition, burnout, reinvention, networking, mentorship, using your voice, and why it's never too late to pivot toward a life that feels more aligned.  This conversation is an inspiring reminder that success isn't just about what you build, it's about having the courage to decide what comes next.  Because when she decides to choose herself, she creates space for an entirely new chapter.     🔗 Connect with Ashley Varnado  * Website: https://www.theashleyexchange.com [https://www.theashleyexchange.com/]   * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyvarnado [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyvarnado]   * Instagram: @theashleyexchange   * Book: Out of the Yazoo Clay   * Upcoming Book: Halftime

Legacy, Leadership & Innovation: Anna Burch on Carrying SmartMouth Forward

In this episode of SHE DECIDES, Staci Swiderski sits down with Anna Burch, Director of Integrated Marketing at SmartMouth [https://www.smartmouth.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com], for a conversation about legacy, leadership, innovation, and finding confidence in your own voice. Anna shares the deeply personal story behind SmartMouth, the oral care brand founded by her grandfather, dentist Dr. Marvin Cohen, who spent decades developing the company’s patented zinc-ion technology to solve the root causes of bad breath. After losing both her grandfather and father, who laterhelped grow the company into a nationally recognized retail brand, Anna and her sister stepped into leadership roles to help carry their family’s mission forward. Together, Anna and Staci talk about navigating impostersyndrome, transitioning from accounting into marketing leadership, learning to trust yourself in rooms where you feel inexperienced, and the power of simply being willing to learn. Anna opens up about the emotional connection she still feels seeing SmartMouth products on store shelves nationwide and how honoring her family’s vision continues to inspire her every day. This episode is a reminder that legacy is not just aboutwhere you come from, it’s about how you choose to carry it forward with passion, purpose, and innovation. Because when she decides to step into her purpose, legacybecomes impact. Connect with Anna & SmartMouthWebsite: SmartMouth [https://www.smartmouth.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Instagram: @smartmouthwash [https://www.instagram.com/smartmouthwash/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]TikTok: @smartmouthwash [https://www.tiktok.com/@smartmouthwash?utm_source=chatgpt.com]Facebook: SmartMouth Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/smartmouth?utm_source=chatgpt.com] LinkedIn: Anna Burch LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-timm-cpa-0212b4194/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]