Potential Is Everywhere, Opportunity Is Not

Good Things Come in Threes

Judi Firestone Roth, NAWBO Lifetime Member, past Cleveland (now Northeast Ohio) Chapter President and former National Board Member, has spent decades championing women business owners and building a legacy of leadership, mentorship and service. Now a member of NAWBO Indianapolis, Judi reflects on receiving the 2026 Susan Hager Award and what the honor means to her after more than 40 years of involvement with NAWBO and being nominated by her peers. In this episode, Judi shares memories of briefly meeting NAWBO founding president Susan Hager, the responsibility women have to lift one another up and the three legacies she hopes to leave behind. To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org [https://nawbo.org]

What Story Is This Data Telling?

For Monica Roca-Quesada, numbers aren’t something to fear. They’re pieces of a bigger picture waiting to come together. A Florida-based fractional CFO and financial operations strategist, Monica helps growth-focused entrepreneurs turn financial chaos into clarity by understanding the story behind the data. Surprisingly, one of her favorite ways to unwind is building Legos, and she sees a lot of similarities between constructing a Lego masterpiece and building a business: there’s a vision for what’s possible, but the real magic happens through the process, problem-solving and lessons learned. In this episode, Monica shares how women business owners can remove the fear around finances, start interpreting what their numbers are really saying and even discover that financial strategy can be empowering and fun. To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org [https://nawbo.org]

Raised in a Zoo, Built for Entrepreneurship

For Kathy Rudkin, entrepreneurship has always been part of the wild adventure. The San Antonio, Texas-based founder and CEO of Rudkin Productions and Top 3 Finalist for Woman Business Owner of the Year grew up in a zoo in Oklahoma, where raising chimpanzees, tigers and even bringing baby jaguars to school sparked a fearless curiosity and creative spirit that would shape her future. Coming from a long line of entrepreneurs, Kathy launched her own marketing and advertising agency at just 24 years old and spent the next 34 years growing it into a thriving business while adapting through every industry shift, including the rapid move to digital marketing during COVID-19. In this episode, Kathy also shares the deeply personal story behind her nonprofit, Aid the Silent, created after her daughter became deaf at age 3, and how it now helps provide hearing aids and resources to deaf children. To learn more about NAWBO, visit: https://nawbo.org [https://nawbo.org]

Everyone Is Worthy of Love and Care

Licensed clinical psychologist, practice founder and “builder of bigger tables,” Mirjam Quinn, PhD believes care should extend far beyond the therapy room—it should shape how we lead, hire and live. Born in Germany, raised across three continents and arriving in the United States at 17, Mirjam went on to found Mirjam Quinn and Associates on the south side of Chicago, where her practice now serves patients from age 3 to well into their 90s. A Top 3 Finalist for NAWBO’s 2026 Woman Business Owner of the Year Award, she’s redefining what it looks like to care for both clients and clinicians. In this episode, Mirjam shares how investing deeply in her team—from 32-hour work weeks to employer-provided childcare—creates a ripple effect of extraordinary care. To learn more about Top 3 Finalist Mirjam Quinn, visit: https://nawbo.org/blog/a-human-first-philosophy-mirjam-quinn-leads-with-purpose-and-connection [https://nawbo.org/blog/a-human-first-philosophy-mirjam-quinn-leads-with-purpose-and-connection]

Don’t Come If You’re in a Rush

Latina founder, restaurateur and community advocate Diva Name is building more than a place to eat—she’s creating an experience rooted in culture, connection and bold leadership that’s worth slowing down to savor. As the owner of La Mexicana Taco Bar and The Local All-in Catering in South Florida, and a Top 3 Finalist for NAWBO’s 2026 Woman Business Owner of the Year Award, Diva brings together her love of food, music and art to create something truly unforgettable. In this episode, Diva shares what inspired her journey, how she’s weathered the ups and downs of the restaurant industry by expanding into catering and why community-centered events she hosts like her annual Cinco de Mayo festival are just as important as what’s on the menu. To learn more about Top 3 Finalist Diva Name, visit: https://nawbo.org/blog/finding-flavor-and-building-community-diva-name-turns-a-dream-into-la-mexicana [https://nawbo.org/blog/finding-flavor-and-building-community-diva-name-turns-a-dream-into-la-mexicana]