Why the System Fails Women — And How We Lead Anyway

Why Being 'Abrasive' Makes Women Powerful Leaders

This week on *Kris Talks About the Wisdom of Women*, nonprofit consultant and founder Nicole Farrell talks about the double standard between how men and women are perceived as leaders, why she confronts bias head-on instead of softening it, the underpaid reality of nonprofit leadership, and why she built her life around financial self-sufficiency instead of relying on a partner. A candid, unfiltered conversation for women in business, nonprofit leaders, and anyone rethinking the traditional life script. ### Key Quotes - *"Every woman I know is more accomplished, more fabulous, more successful than their male counterparts of the same age."* - *"You have to get to the point where you tell them, I don't care what you say. I'm going to do this with or without your support because I support myself."* - *"The peace that you get from handling it on your own... you don't have to be reliant on anyone unless you need to or you want to, because needing to is where you get issues."*

Microplastics Are in Your Brain & a Female Founder Built the Fix

Rhubaia founder Lacey Cadieux-McLean talks about building a sustainable fashion brand + AI wardrobe app, fighting for space in a male-dominated industry, and why your closet might be full of hidden microplastics. In this episode of Kris Talks About the Wisdom of Women, Lacey Cadieux-McLean explains how she's reimagining the entire lifecycle of clothing, from biodegradable fabrics and palm-seed buttons to a "try before you buy" digital avatar app inspired by e-books and paper dolls. We cover:- Being a woman building a brand in a male-dominated fashion industry- Why synthetic fabrics shed microplastics into our bodies (and what to do about it)- How Rhubaia's AI app lets you build outfits, check weather-based recommendations, and share your closet with friends- Advice for female entrepreneurs building sustainable businesses- The story behind Rhubaia's cork, eucalyptus, and palm-seed materials

Women, AI & the C-Suite: Rupali Kumbhani's Wisdom

Is AI really an "engineer's job"? Global Strategic Transformation executive Rupali Kumbhani says that mindset is exactly what holds women back in the AI era. In this episode of Kris Talks About the Wisdom of Women, Rupali shares why curiosity beats coding skills, how to avoid AI burnout by prioritizing just three goals, and why AI is a multiplier — not a strategy. She also opens up on building visibility as a woman in male-dominated C-suites, reframing self-promotion as communication (not bragging), and why adaptability across industries like healthcare, fintech, and real estate tech is her biggest career asset in the age of AI. Topics: AI adoption • women in leadership • AI strategy • C-suite visibility • AI burnout • agentic AI • career adaptability • human + AI collaboration

She Started Over at Zero and Built a Business on Love

Suela Pirushi didn't just survive starting over — she turned it into a methodology. After two decades across the World Bank, government, and international B2B partnerships, she moved to the UK with no network and no safety net. What she had was a belief: that trust and genuine human connection outperform strategy every time. That belief became The Business Currency is Love. In this conversation, Kris and Suela cover: * Why women's credibility is on trial from the moment they walk into a room — and how the "evidence" that counts differs between government and business sectors * Why the lack of women in AI isn't a diversity problem — it's a design flaw (and what women actually bring to the table that systems need) * How to use AI tools strategically without coding a single line — and why combining tools beats chasing the newest one * The six pillars of the BRIDGE framework (branding, revenue, influence, distribution, growth, execution) and how to diagnose what your business actually needs * Why so many small business owners are actually employed by their own business — and how to shift out of that trap * A reframe on hiring help that changes the whole conversation about delegation and growth Resources mentioned: * Suela's book: The Business Currency is Love. [http://www.thebusinesscurrency.com/] * Free business health check + advice: email info@themilestonehub.com [info@themilesthonehub.com] and mention Kris's show * Suela's company: The Milestone Hub

Why High-Achieving Women Get Stuck — And How to Take Back Your Career

Are you a high-achieving woman who feels restless, stuck, or underfulfilled — even though you're doing everything right? You're not alone, and it's not just in your head. In this episode, Kris sits down with executive coach, human capital strategist, and bestselling author Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer to unpack why women stall mid-career — and what to do about it. Dr. Cynthia's research for her book Now, Near, Next spanned five racial and ethnic groups, four countries, and a 20-year age span. The universal pattern? Women weren't intentional about their careers. They were told to put their heads down and wait to get tapped — and nobody tapped them. In this episode:→ Why mid-career spans 30+ years (not just a moment)→ The "waiting to get tapped" trap and how to escape it→ How to speak your ambitions out loud — even when it's uncomfortable→ The Now, Near, Next method: baby steps toward your next while excelling now→ Finding your purpose, natural gifts, and how to monetize them→ The danger of "drift" across career, relationships, health, and finances→ Free tools [https://www.dr-cynthia.com/]: the Stop Drifting Diagnostic and the 7-Minute Pivot Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer is a former C-suite leader turned executive coach helping women navigate pivotal career transitions. Her book Now, Near, Next is available now. Kris Talks About the Wisdom of Women [https://kriskeppeler.substack.com/]— real conversations with women who have wisdom worth sharing.