This is How She Did It with Bonnie Habyan: Top Women Podcast, Conversations for Women, GenX Women, MidLife Women on Claiming Success, Persistence, Resilience, Reinvention, and Finding Your Voice.

#24: How to Become Unbreakable and Rise After the Unthinkable

In 2022, civil engineer and entrepreneur Erika Rothenberger was violently attacked in her workplace parking lot — and it changed everything. In this powerful episode, Erika shares the 5-step framework she used to go from victim to advocate, from shattered to stronger. What you'll learn: → Why resilience isn't about being unbreakable → How to reclaim your sense of identity after trauma → The one mindset shift that turned her pain into purpose → How she's fighting to change strangulation laws in Pennsylvania → Why community is the #1 factor in trauma recovery Erika is a TEDx speaker, host of the "Grit, Grace & Glitz" podcast, founder of the Audacious Women's Summit, and author of the upcoming book "Audacious Expansion." ⏱ 00:00 – Introduction 02:15 – The attack that changed everything 07:30 – Rock bottom & the identity crisis 13:00 – The engineering mindset applied to trauma 19:45 – Step 1: Acknowledge but don't be defined 23:10 – Step 2: Redefine resilience 27:00 – Step 3: Build your support community 31:20 – Step 4: One small empowered action 35:50 – Step 5: Turn pain into purpose 41:00 – The Audacious Women's Summit & what's next 🎧 Listen now to This Is How SHE Did It with Bonnie Habyan 👉 Follow Bonnie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan Visit meetbonnieh.com [http://meetbonnieh.com/] #TraumaRecovery #WomenEmpowerment #ResilienceStory #SurvivorStory #AudaciousWomen #GritGraceGlitz #TedxSpeaker #WomenInEngineering #MentalHealthAwareness #PodcastForWomen

#23: From Single Mom to CEO: How David's Bridal CEO Kelly Cook is Driving Bold Transformation

💥What if the strongest leaders you admire didn't start with a plan—but with survival? From Pinto Beans to Power Moves: Redefining Leadership from the Ground Up In this episode of This Is How SHE Did It, Kelly Cook, CEO of the nation's largest bridal retail brand, shares a story that challenges everything you think leadership is supposed to look like. From single motherhood and financial hardship to leading a multi-channel powerhouse, her journey isn't polished, it's powerful. It's about grit, reinvention, and stepping up long before anyone gives you the title. → How leadership often shows up before you feel ready → Why not having it all figured out can actually be your advantage → The balance between confidence and humility that defines real leaders → What it takes to grow when no one is watching This episode sets the tone for what this show is really about: honest stories, hard-earned lessons, and insights you can carry into your own next chapter. 🎧 Listen now to This Is How SHE Did It with Bonnie Habyan 👉 Follow Bonnie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan Visit meetbonnieh.com

#22: How She Built Build-A-Bear—and Changed Retail Forever

She Built More Than a Bear—She Built a Movement. At 48, Maxine Clark left a top corporate role to follow a spark of "kid think"—and turned it into the global sensation, Build-A-Bear Workshop. In this inspiring episode, Maxine shares how she broke barriers, trusted her gut, and built an empire when few believed a woman—or a teddy bear—could. You'll learn how she faced down skeptics, raised millions, and took her company public—all without losing her heart or her vision. Her story is packed with real-life lessons on confidence, curiosity, and the power of persistence. If you're ready to stop waiting for permission and start building your dream, this is your blueprint. About Maxine Clark https://www.buildabear.com/brand-about-story-founder.html [https://www.buildabear.com/brand-about-story-founder.html] Resources Build-A-Bear Workshop: https://www.buildabear.com [https://www.buildabear.com] Resources At 48, Maxine Clark walked away from a powerful corporate career to follow a spark of "kid think"—and turned it into Build-A-Bear Workshop, a global phenomenon. In this episode, she shares how she trusted her gut when few believed in the idea, faced down skeptics, raised millions, and took her company public—proving that joy can be a serious business strategy. This is a conversation about courage, reinvention, and betting on yourself when the odds say don't. Maxine opens up about the emotional stakes of starting over, the power of persistence, and why waiting for permission is the fastest way to stay stuck. If you're navigating change or sitting on a dream that feels "too late" or "too risky," this episode is your reminder: start building anyway. Resources - Check out Bonnie's website here. [https://www.meetbonnieh.com]

#21: How the Most Powerful Women Win — Fortune's Emma Hinchliffe Breaks It Down

What do Kim Kardashian, Sara Blakely, and Melanie Perkins have in common—and can you have it too? In this episode of This Is How SHE Did It, Bonnie Habyan sits down with Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune's Most Powerful Women editor, who has personally interviewed each of these trailblazing founders and countless others redefining success on their own terms. From newsroom beginnings to front-row access to the world's most powerful women, Emma shares what she's learned about imposter syndrome, mentorship, and the unseen confidence that drives extraordinary achievement. Together, they explore the traits that unite top female leaders—and how owning your story just might be the key to joining their ranks. About Emma Hinchliffe Emma Hinchliffe is Fortune's Most Powerful Women editor, overseeing editorial for the longstanding franchise. As a senior writer at Fortune, Emma has covered women in business and gender-lens news across business, politics, and culture. She is the author of the Most Powerful Women Daily newsletter (formerly the Broadsheet), Fortune's daily missive for and about the women leading the business world. She is a co-chair of Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit, where she's interviewed everyone from Fortune 500 CEOs and U.S. politicians to Hollywood stars, and previously co-chaired Fortune's MPW Next Gen Summit and the Fortune/U.S. Department of State Global Women's Mentoring Partnership. Her work, which includes magazine features with subjects ranging from Meta and CVS Health to Canva and the WNBA, has been honored by the Silurians Press Club and the Deadline Club. Before joining Fortune, she worked as a reporter for Mashable and the Houston Chronicle. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. Emma Hinchliffe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmahinchliffe/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmahinchliffe/] Resources Fortune Magazine: https://fortune.com/author/emma-hinchliffe/ [https://fortune.com/author/emma-hinchliffe/] In this episode, Fortune's Emma Hinchliffe shares what she's learned from interviewing the most powerful women in business—and how those insights translate into real-world confidence, leadership, and career growth. From Fortune 500 CEOs to iconic founders, Emma breaks down the patterns she sees again and again among women who rise to the top. Drawing from conversations with leaders like Sarah Blakely, Melanie Perkins, and Kim Kardashian, we explore imposter syndrome, visibility, mentorship, and what it truly takes to own your story in today's professional landscape. If you're navigating leadership, building something meaningful, or stepping into rooms that feel bigger than you, this conversation will leave you grounded, inspired, and clear on what matters most. In this episode, we cover: - What the most powerful women have in common - Why hearing "no" is often a sign you're thinking big enough - How successful women reframe imposter syndrome - The importance of visibility and owning your story - Why mentorship and sponsorship still matter - Lessons from founders and CEOs who changed the game Guest: Emma Hinchliffe is a senior leader at Fortune and the voice behind Most Powerful Women Daily, spotlighting the challenges and triumphs of women shaping business, culture, and leadership worldwide. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a review—it helps more listeners find conversations like this. Your story isn't over. It's still unfolding. Let's rise together. Resources: Sign up for the This is how SHE did it Newsletter to stay up to date: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/worth-knowing-7236433935503618048/ [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/worth-knowing-7236433935503618048/] Follow Bonnie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan/] Check out Emma Hinchliffe's bio at https://www.emma-hinchliffe.com/ [https://www.emma-hinchliffe.com/] Check out Bonnie's website at www.meetbonnieh.com [http://www.meetbonnieh.com/]

#20: From American Nightmare to Reclaiming Her Life: Denise Huskins' 5 Steps to Rise After Trauma"

In one of the most gripping conversations I can remember, I sit down with Denise Huskins Quinn —a woman whose story captured headlines and inspired the 2024 Netflix documentary, American Nightmare. Kidnapped, disbelieved, and publicly vilified, Denise faced not only the trauma of a violent attack but also the crushing weight of community betrayal and media scrutiny. And yet, she found a way back—rebuilding her life, reclaiming her voice, and transforming her pain into purpose. In this powerful episode, Denise shares the five essential steps that helped her heal, trust herself again, and own her story without apology. From the emotional toll of surviving when no one believes you, to the courage it takes to write your truth in her memoir *Victim F*, Denise opens a raw, honest window into the realities of resilience. Whether you're navigating your own difficult chapter, searching for a way to speak your truth, or simply need a reminder that it's possible to rise after being broken, Denise's journey will stay with you. This is more than a survival story—it's a masterclass in reclaiming your life when the world gets it wrong. About Denise Huskins Quinn In 2015, Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn found themselves at the center of a high-profile kidnapping and sexual assault case that not only shook their world but also captivated the nation. Their remarkable journey, as depicted in the Netflix show American Nightmare and chronicled in their acclaimed book Victim F: From Crime Victims to Suspects to Survivors, serves as a powerful testament to resilience, courage, and the unwavering human spirit. Although the details of their ordeal are extreme, they came to realize they are not alone in much of what they suffered. Their case is an example of misogyny, tunnel vision, and confirmation bias in law enforcement; media misrepresentation and the dangers of rushing to judgment; the public's continued disbelief of women and victims of sexual violence; and the re-victimization that can happen within the criminal justice system. Despite facing unimaginable challenges and public shaming, Huskins and Quinn emerged from this traumatic experience with grace, fortitude, and an unyielding determination to turn their pain into purpose, advocating for much-needed systemic changes and a better understanding of the victim's experience. Denise Huskins Quinn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-huskins-quinn-dpt-b9810b250/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-huskins-quinn-dpt-b9810b250/] Resources https://victimf.com/ [https://victimf.com/] In Victim F, Aaron and Denise recount the horrific ordeal that almost cost them everything. Like too many victims of sexual violence, they were dismissed, disbelieved, and dragged through the mud. With no one to rely on except each other, they took on the victim blaming, harassment, misogyny, and abuse of power running rife in the criminal justice system. Their story is, in the end, a love story, but one that sheds necessary light on sexual assault and the abuse by law enforcement that all too frequently compounds crime victims' suffering. Resources Sign up for the "This is how SHE did it" newsletter to stay up to date: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/worth-knowing-7236433935503618048/ [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/worth-knowing-7236433935503618048/] Follow Bonnie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan/] Check out Bonnie Habyan on www.meetbonnieh.com [https://www.meetbonnieh.com]