From Paicoma to Congress: Rep. Luz Rivas on STEM, Risk Taking, and Opening Doors for the Next Generation

How Dr. Nicole Alioto Turns Data Into Impact and Built a Career in Education Consulting

What if you could measure anything — even the things that feel impossible to pin down? That's exactly what Dr. Nicole Alioto has spent nearly 30 years helping schools do. As the founder of Alla Breve Educational Consulting, a two-time TEDx speaker, a podcast host, and author of Your School Sucks: Why Schools Fail to Measure Up and What To Do About It and the new You Can Measure Anything, Nicole has a gift for making data feel accessible, actionable, and even fun (her words), and we believe her. In this episode, we sit down with Nicole to talk about how she moved from a social psychology PhD into transforming small and rural school districts, why student voice is the most underused data point in education, what parents can actually do if they think their school is falling short, and how AI is changing the classroom in ways nobody fully predicted. If you work in education, parent school-aged kids, or just believe data should drive better decisions, this one is for you.

From Paicoma to Congress: Rep. Luz Rivas on STEM, Risk Taking, and Opening Doors for the Next Generation

What happens when a girl from Pacoima who learned to code in fifth grade ends up in the United States Congress? We sit down with Representative Luz Rivas — engineer, educator, nonprofit founder, and the only Latina in Congress with a STEM background — to talk about the winding, unplanned path that took her from MIT to Motorola, from founding DIY Girls to the California State Assembly, and now to representing California's 29th Congressional District in Washington, D.C. Rep. Rivas opens up about what it's like to be a freshman in Congress, how she was elected by her peers as the Freshman Leadership Representative, and why relationship-building across the aisle may be the most underrated skill in politics. She also gets real about the financial realities of serving in public office — managing two households on a congressional salary — and why she believes the key to being a great leader is hiring people who know more than you do. Whether you're interested in STEM careers, women in leadership, public service, or simply what a day in the life of a congresswoman actually looks like, this episode will leave you inspired to take your next big risk — even when it's scary.

The Brow Whisperer: Real Beauty, Real Business with Pilar DeMann

Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt like something was just... off — but couldn't put your finger on it? Pilar DeMann says it might be your brows. With over 30 years of beauty experience, Pilar has built an award-winning studio in Washington, Connecticut, a loyal client base of 600+, and a reputation for real, wearable beauty that fits a woman's life. In this episode, she breaks down the truth about microblading (yes, it can be permanent), the biggest brow mistake women make (hint: it involves your nail salon), and why women over 50 actually need makeup more than ever — just not a lot of it. She also gets candid about building a business alone, raising prices after 10 years, and the Jones Road beauty campaign that made a childhood dream come true at 52. If you've ever wanted an expert in your corner who's going to tell it to you straight — listen in. Your brows may thank you.

She Built the Firm She Couldn't Find: Allison Mahoney on Survivors' Rights & Tech Abuse

What does it take to leave a big law career and build something from the ground up—one that actually changes lives? In this powerful episode of What She Does, we sit down with Allison Mahoney, founder and managing attorney of ALM Law, a firm dedicated entirely to survivors of sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, technology-facilitated abuse, and children harmed in foster care and juvenile justice systems. Allison opens up about why she chose this emotionally demanding work, how she manages secondary trauma (yoga, skiing, and very firm boundaries), what clients are really looking for in a trauma-informed attorney, and why she believes taking risks is the most important advice she could give her younger self. She also shares a remarkably honest look at the business side of building a purpose-driven law firm—and why AI might be the next frontier of abuse cases. This is one of those episodes that will stay with you. If you're a woman who's ever thought about taking a leap into something bigger than yourself, Allison's story is exactly the inspiration you need. Topics covered: survivors' rights law, domestic violence, technology abuse, foster care civil rights, trauma-informed practice, building a law firm, legal entrepreneurship, AI, and tech abuse trends.

From Civil Engineer to Bourbon Barrel Investor: An Unexpected Path to Liquid Assets

What do civil engineering and bourbon have in common? More than you'd think. Morgan Salsman, founder of LQD Assets and BRBN Storage, grew up in Bardstown, Kentucky, the Bourbon Capital of the World, and turned a $5,000 barrel investment at 21 into a full-fledged whiskey business. She breaks down the surprisingly fascinating world of bourbon barrel investing, what it actually means to warehouse whiskey, how tariff wars are shaking the spirits industry, and why craft bourbon is like a snowflake — no two barrels are ever the same. A great pivot story with a side of bourbon education. You will leave smarter and maybe a little thirsty. 🥃 #bourbon #WhatSheDoesPodcast #bourbonbarrel #whiskey #liquidassets #barrelinvestment #womeninbusiness