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

She Went Solo — and It Changed Everything

What happens when you stop waiting for someone else and just go? In this episode, Jennie Blackwood sits down with Charlotte Lilly, founder of The Retreat Co, who turned a spontaneous solo yoga retreat in Cuba into a thriving business creating transformative travel experiences for women. Charlotte shares how that one trip gave her a confidence she didn't know she needed, why the scariest part is always saying yes, and what she sees happen when women finally stop waiting to feel ready. Whether you're dreaming about starting a business, booking a solo adventure, or just taking that first scary step — this episode is your sign. Just go. Guest: Charlotte Lily, Founder of The Retreat Co  Website: theretreat.company  Instagram: @_theretreatcompany

She Left a 60-Hour Corporate Career to Make Stickers. Now She's a Bestselling Author.

She was thriving in corporate — big teams, big projects, 60-hour weeks, addicted to the next promotion. Then her son was born five weeks early, and she almost didn't make it. In that hospital room, everything she thought she wanted stopped mattering. In this episode of Girl, Why Not You?, I sit down with Wendy Jensen — bestselling children's book author and founder of Scandinavian Hearts — about the moment she realized climbing the corporate ladder wasn't her path anymore. Not because she hated it. Because she loved something else more. Wendy shares how she went from corporate executive to freelance consultant to launching a heritage-inspired brand — starting with stickers — that turned into four bestselling children's books. No publishing deal. No writing degree. Just a woman who Googled "how to write a children's book" and went for it. We get into: * Why she almost died during childbirth and how it rewired everything * The difference between corporate success and the success that actually fills you up * How helping small business owners inspired her to become one * Turning family traditions into a bestselling book series * Why "test and learn, fail fast" isn't just corporate jargon — it's how she built her whole second chapter If you've ever felt stuck on a ladder that doesn't even lead where you want to go — this one's for you. Find Wendy at scandinavianhearts.com and on Instagram @scandinavianhearts.

She Grew a Company to $4.6 Billion — Then Her Body Shut Down

She went from accounting at one of the largest mining companies in the world to growing a financial firm from $500 million to $4.6 billion in four years — as a single mom. Then her body stopped letting her push through. In this episode of Girl, Why Not You?, I sit down with Jackie Yoder — executive consultant, leadership strategist, and growth advisor — for the conversation women in leadership aren’t having out loud. We’re talking about what happens when perimenopause collides with your biggest professional season. The brain fog. The anxiety out of nowhere. The moment you realize "just push harder" isn’t going to work this time. Jackie shares how burnout and premature menopause forced her to completely rethink how she led — and how letting go became the thing that actually made her team (and her business) stronger. We also get into: - What feminine leadership actually looks like in male-dominated industries - Why high-performing women hide what they’re going through - The delegation breakthrough that changed everything - Jackie’s new female executive roundtables in Scottsdale (and virtual options coming soon) If you’re a woman in leadership quietly wondering what’s happening to your brain, your energy, or your edge — this one’s for you. Find Jackie at jackieyoder.com and on Instagram @jackiemyoder.

"50% of Women Have Given Up on Their Dream" — She Told Me Why (and How to Fix It in One Week)

More than 50% of women are unsatisfied with their lives because they gave up on their dream. In this episode of Girl, Why Not You?, bestselling author and women's leadership expert Emily Lampkin reveals exactly why — and gives you the step-by-step playbook to start changing that THIS week. Emily is the founder of the Women Leaders Series, has spent 25+ years training thousands of women across corporate, nonprofit, education, and politics, and her book Duct Tape and White Lies is the practical, no-fluff guide women have been begging for. We go DEEP: why talking to men the way you talk to women is costing you promotions, deals, and respect. The 3 things you must do before walking into any networking event (I learned this the hard way after eating alone at a millionaire conference). The "dream slashers" keeping you stuck — and how to fire them today. Plus, the wild story of a country president who flew back just to hear Emily speak again. If you've been waiting for permission to bet on yourself, this is your sign. Stop waiting. Start now.  Grab Duct Tape and White Lies on Amazon ($17 paperback | audiobook available) [https://www.amazon.com/Duct-Tape-White-Lies-Practical/dp/B0G1CMPP93/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QRZ789TYAMNO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zVW3LkOB0KoJe--WSop4EFtN0IqqxR0DMDy5Dy1M_ldvBuzFBAFL-X4Mirya7r_E8NUVDoe4FcDJZsxZVnNzcwN-3A7ChSLj3E41tX7pzMGffJvZSNbo6qVu2Jf-0FHUTNGBjCbZjBfBq3oMT66RzWqsDtlRkmVryF-vfUzOT9lZC35MdGgxX7qj4aqIeL-52JoJCV95B-nNm_vhMk3Sdd7ga3a6BQJ_1qdnV13HZQk.2ewO9y4MAd-chHqqHX1-gIcL9XG7Nhq3PKzjNp7Soow&dib_tag=se&keywords=duct+tape+and+white+lie&qid=1781202480&sprefix=duct+tape+and+white+lie%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1] SHOW NOTES: About the Guest Emily Lampkin is a bestselling author, sought-after speaker and advisor, and the founder of the Women Leaders Series. She has spent more than 25 years training thousands of women across the country and around the world in corporate, nonprofit, education, and political leadership. Her book Duct Tape and White Lies: A Woman's Practical Guide to Real-Life Success was published by Simon & Schuster and is available now. Connect with Emily * Website: emilylampkin.com * Instagram: @emilyklampkin * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emilylampkin * Facebook: facebook.com/emily.k.lampkin * Book: amazon.com — Duct Tape and White Lies Emily Lampkin [https://www.amazon.com/Duct-Tape-White-Lies-Practical/dp/B0G1CMPP93/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QRZ789TYAMNO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zVW3LkOB0KoJe--WSop4EFtN0IqqxR0DMDy5Dy1M_ldvBuzFBAFL-X4Mirya7r_E8NUVDoe4FcDJZsxZVnNzcwN-3A7ChSLj3E41tX7pzMGffJvZSNbo6qVu2Jf-0FHUTNGBjCbZjBfBq3oMT66RzWqsDtlRkmVryF-vfUzOT9lZC35MdGgxX7qj4aqIeL-52JoJCV95B-nNm_vhMk3Sdd7ga3a6BQJ_1qdnV13HZQk.2ewO9y4MAd-chHqqHX1-gIcL9XG7Nhq3PKzjNp7Soow&dib_tag=se&keywords=duct+tape+and+white+lie&qid=1781202480&sprefix=duct+tape+and+white+lie%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1]  Connect with Jennie * Website: jennieblackwood.com * Instagram: @girlwhynotyou_ * Podcast: Girl, Why Not You?

The 3 Things Quietly Destroying Your Wealth (And You Don't Even Know It)

You work hard for your money. So why does it still feel like you're behind? Maybe you've been telling yourself you'll "figure it out later." Maybe you've googled "what to do with savings" at midnight and closed the tab more confused than when you opened it. Maybe you just feel like everyone else has it together and you're the only one faking it. You're not. And this episode is proof. I sit down with Hayley Dickson — Certified Financial Planner, CEO and founder of Rippl Wealth Management — and she pulls back the curtain on the 3 things silently eating your wealth alive: taxes, inflation, and your own emotions. We talk about why "I'm not a money person" is the most expensive story you've ever believed, why your savings account is actually working against you, and what financial freedom really looks like (hint — it's not some far-off retirement dream). Hayley left a cushy Hollywood career, started over with a toddler on her hip and a baby on the way, and built a firm specifically to help women like us — women who weren't handed a trust fund, who are building something from scratch, and who deserve a financial partner that actually speaks their language. Whether you're a mom, a 9-to-5er, a business owner, or all three — this conversation will make you feel seen, fired up, and ready to stop leaving your money on the table. FREE OFFER: Hayley is gifting every listener a complimentary 30-minute chemistry session — normally $500. No pressure, no pitch. Just real talk about your money and what to do next. Email her for details! Find Hayley: www.rippl.nm.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayleywdickson/ Email: rippl@nm.com If that quiet little voice inside you is saying "maybe it's time" — listen to it. This is your permission slip.