Girl, Why Not You?

She Was Told to Shrink. She Won Two Emmys Instead.

They told her to sit to the side. Wear all black. Don't take up too much space. So she wore a golden dress to the Emmys — and won. Shannon Malone DeBenedictis is a two-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker who's worked alongside James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, Netflix, Disney+, and National Geographic. But for years, she made herself small in an industry that wanted her to disappear. In this episode, Shannon opens up about what it's really like navigating Hollywood as a plus-size woman, the blunt comment from a colleague that changed everything, and why she's done apologizing for who she is. Now through her company Paddlin' Creative, she helps women step into their voice and tell powerful stories that move people. If you've ever felt like you're too much — or not enough — press play.  Connect with Shannon: paddlincreative.com [http://paddlincreative.com]

She Was Told to Wear Lipstick to Succeed — So She Quit

She was climbing the corporate ladder in education — doing everything "right" — until she was told she'd be more successful if she wore lipstick and pulled her hair back. That was the moment Stacey Ryan realized she was becoming a leader she didn't even respect. So she quit. No backup plan. No safety net. Just self-trust. What followed was a dog treat company (yes, really), an abusive marriage she had the courage to leave, and a leap of faith into an organization called School of Rock — where she went from consultant to President, growing it from under 100 locations to 445+ and 80,000 students worldwide. In this episode, Stacey gets raw about toxic leadership, knowing your worth (a promise she made to a dying friend), why imposter syndrome is just the modern-day "bicycle face," and why she refuses to dull her edges for anyone but herself. If you've been staying somewhere that no longer aligns — in your career, your relationship, your life — this is your sign. Join Front Women: frontwomen.org [http://frontwomen.org]

She Didn’t Wait. She Built It. It Went Viral.

What happens when your “random idea” turns into a viral business… before you even graduate? At 25, Elena DiStefano, the founder of Cozy Clip is running a brand that blew up online—but she started it as a junior in college with zero experience in product design. She just knew one thing: claw clips were uncomfortable. So she fixed it. That one decision turned into a viral product, selling out in minutes and launching her into full-blown entrepreneurship almost overnight. But here’s the part no one talks about—  what happens after it takes off. In this episode, we get into: *  Building a product from scratch with zero experience  *  Going viral—and keeping up with the chaos that follows  *  Handling copycats, pressure, and rapid growth  *  Staying grounded while running a business solo  Because she didn’t wait to feel ready.  She didn’t have a perfect plan. She just started. If you’ve been sitting on an idea, overthinking your next move, or waiting for the “right time”—this is it. Girl, why not you? 💥 Connect with her + check out the product: 🌐 Website: www.thecozyclip.com 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cozyclip/

From $100 to $20M: How Nellie Akalp Built a Business Empire While Raising a Family

What if all it took to start your business… was $100 and the decision to just go for it? In this episode of Girl, Why Not You?, I sit down with Nellie Akalp, founder and CEO of CorpNet, who built and sold her first company for $20 million—all while raising a family. We talk about what it really looks like to build a business from scratch—no investors, no shortcuts, just consistency, grit, and solving real problems. Nellie shares: *  How she and her husband started with just $100 and a one-page website *  The truth about bootstrapping (and why it still works)  *  What most people get wrong about starting a business  *  How she built CorpNet differently—with transparency and long-term trust  *  The reality of balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood  *  Why waiting for the “perfect time” is the biggest mistake you can make  This episode is your reminder that you don’t need everything figured out—you just need to start. Because… why not you?

You’re Not Doing It Wrong—You’re Just Not Designed That Way

What if the reason things aren’t working… isn’t because you’re doing it wrong? In this episode of Girl, Why Not You?, Jennie sits down with master coach and facilitator Ebonie Allard to challenge everything you’ve been taught about success—and why forcing yourself into someone else’s blueprint might be the very thing keeping you stuck. Ebonie shares her journey from early independence to working in the film and TV industry, navigating massive financial loss and even homelessness during the 2008 recession. Those experiences ultimately led her to a deeper understanding of alignment, resilience, and what it really means to build a life that works for you. We dive into human design and how understanding your unique energy, strengths, and tendencies can completely shift the way you approach business, relationships, and life. In this episode, we talk about: *  Why you’re not failing—you’re just misaligned  *  What human design is (and how to actually use it)  *  The problem with forcing yourself into traditional success models  *  How self-awareness can save you years of frustration  *  Why it’s never too late to pivot and do things differently  This conversation is your permission slip to stop trying to be someone you’re not—and start building a life that actually feels aligned. Because you’re not doing it wrong…  you’re just not designed that way. CONTACT EBONIE https://www.ebonieallard.com/get-chart