Imposter Syndrome Is a Lie. Here's What's Really Wrong, With Araceli Esparza

Imposter Syndrome Is a Lie. Here's What's Really Wrong, With Araceli Esparza

Araceli Esparza, founder of Midwest Mujeres Collective, joins Rachel Bernier-Green on The Purpose Profit Shift to break down how storytelling becomes a real economic tool for purpose-driven business owners. We get specific on money shame, founder compensation, and the structural decision that finally let Araceli pay herself. If you are building a mission-driven business and quietly wondering whether the work will ever fund a life, this is for you. CHAPTERS: * 4:53 Plan B and the Cost of Racial Harm * 18:40 Money Shame and the 5K Day * 26:40 Self-Trust Is Not Imposter Syndrome * 33:53 What to Sunset, What to Scale * 40:17 Storytelling as Economic Tool * 45:15 Your Medicine Is Your Story KEY TOPICS: * Self-trust vs. imposter syndrome for founders * Operational triage: consolidating, digitizing, and sunsetting nonprofit programs * Founder compensation, fiscal sponsorship, and the structural decision to incorporate as a 501(c)(3) * Macroaggressions and unjust termination as catalysts for founding mission-driven work * Closing the gender wage gap through culturally-specific programming ABOUT ARACELI: Araceli Esparza is a Chicana writer, speaker, and social entrepreneur. She is the founder of Midwest Mujeres Collective, a nonprofit supporting Latina and Black women in building confidence, income, and leadership through storytelling, coaching, and community-based learning. With nearly a decade of experience, Araceli helps women overcome burnout and money shame, guiding them to reconnect with their voice and values. She emphasizes trust as a personal and business asset in her work. Currently, she is launching a five-week coaching program designed to help participants rebuild self-trust, moving from survival mode to grounded decision-making in their work and leadership. Her efforts have been showcased in various community and nonprofit spaces, fostering environments where honesty and purpose are supported. RESOURCES MENTIONED: * Voces y Sueños Academy: https://www.midwestmujeres.com/voicesanddreams2026 [https://www.midwestmujeres.com/voicesanddreams2026] * ¡Yo Quiero Dinero! (event): https://www.midwestmujeres.com/event-details-registration/iyo-quiero-dinero-our-stories-have-value [https://www.midwestmujeres.com/event-details-registration/iyo-quiero-dinero-our-stories-have-value] * Five-Week Self-Trust Coaching Program: https://www.araceliesparza.com/event-details/rebuilding-self-trust-in-times-of-transition [https://www.araceliesparza.com/event-details/rebuilding-self-trust-in-times-of-transition] * Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/habits [https://jamesclear.com/habits] FOLLOW ARACELI: * Midwest Mujeres Collective: https://midwestmujeres.com [https://midwestmujeres.com] * Personal Website: www.araceliesparza.com [http://www.araceliesparza.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwestmujeres/ [https://www.instagram.com/midwestmujeres/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/midwestmujeres/ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/midwestmujeres/] * Linktree: https://linktr.ee/araceliesparza_speaker [https://linktr.ee/araceliesparza_speaker] Follow the Host, Rachel Bernier-Green: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelberniergreen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelberniergreen/] * Website: www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/ [www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/] * Instagram: www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/ [www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/] * LinkedIn (Company): www.linkedin.com/company/jointhryvo/ [www.linkedin.com/company/jointhryvo/] * Twitter/X: x.com/jointhryvo [x.com/jointhryvo] * Facebook: www.facebook.com/jointhryvo [www.facebook.com/jointhryvo] * Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@jointhryvo [www.tiktok.com/@jointhryvo] Listening Links: * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kmrlBqo4QHftlfmqo2Q32 [https://open.spotify.com/show/0kmrlBqo4QHftlfmqo2Q32] * Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-purpose-profit-shift/id1829627732 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-purpose-profit-shift/id1829627732] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PurposeProfitShift [https://www.youtube.com/@PurposeProfitShift] If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow business owner who needs to hear this.

How Purpose-Driven Leaders Silence Themselves, with Jen Coken

Jen Coken has coached nearly 10,000 leaders, and she says imposter syndrome is not your problem; it's your superpower. In this episode of The Purpose Profit Shift, Jen and host Rachel Bernier-Green unpack the neuroscience of self-doubt, why women shrink in leadership roles, and the single most underused skill in women's careers. CHAPTERS: * 00:01 — From Grassroots to Coaching * 07:28 — Comedy, Loss, and Finding Purpose * 21:24 — Leading Without Shrinking * 26:10 — Imposter Syndrome Is Your Superpower * 44:31 — Curiosity Over Conclusions * 53:46 — The Power of the Ask KEY TOPICS: * Why imposter syndrome is not a syndrome (and why the distinction matters) * The step-by-step method for tracing self-doubt to its childhood roots * How to use the "Facts Over Feelings" exercise to break negative thought loops * What "curiosity over conclusions" looks like in real leadership conflicts * Why women become "the fixer" and how to break that cycle * Jen's practical framework for asking: back it up with data, tie it to mission, start small * Critical ovarian cancer detection information every woman should know ABOUT JEN: Jen Coken is an executive leadership coach, speaker, and author who helps high-performing women become unignorable in their careers. With over two decades of experience advising leaders in high-stakes environments, she specializes in executive presence, influence, and strategic leadership. Jen is the creator of the Executive Presence Accelerator and the author of Make Imposter Syndrome Your Superpower. Known for her warmth, humor, and no-nonsense approach, she teaches leaders how to show up with clarity and confidence when it matters most. Her work empowers individuals and organizations to build trust, elevate visibility, and lead at the next level. RESOURCES MENTIONED: * Make Imposter Syndrome Your Superpower by Jen Coken: https://www.jencoken.com/make-imposter-syndrome-your-superpower [https://www.jencoken.com/make-imposter-syndrome-your-superpower] * When I Die, Take My Panties by Jen Coken: https://www.jencoken.com/when-i-die-take-my-panties [https://www.jencoken.com/when-i-die-take-my-panties] * Jen's Free Quiz: "Are You Ready to Be Promoted?" https://www.jencokenquiz2.com [https://www.jencokenquiz2.com] * Clifton Strengths Assessment: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253676/how-cliftonstrengths-works.aspx FOLLOW JEN: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jencoken/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jencoken/] * Website: https://jencoken.com [https://jencoken.com] * YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@therealjencoken [https://www.youtube.com/@therealjencoken] Follow the Host, Rachel Bernier-Green: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelberniergreen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelberniergreen/] * Website: www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/ [www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/] * Instagram: www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/ [www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/] * LinkedIn (Company): www.linkedin.com/company/jointhryvo/ [www.linkedin.com/company/jointhryvo/] * Twitter/X: x.com/jointhryvo [x.com/jointhryvo] * Facebook: www.facebook.com/jointhryvo [www.facebook.com/jointhryvo] * Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@jointhryvo [www.tiktok.com/@jointhryvo] Listening Links: * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kmrlBqo4QHftlfmqo2Q32 [https://open.spotify.com/show/0kmrlBqo4QHftlfmqo2Q32] * Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-purpose-profit-shift/id1829627732 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-purpose-profit-shift/id1829627732] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PurposeProfitShift [https://www.youtube.com/@PurposeProfitShift] If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow business owner who needs to hear this.

GIV Gowns: The Solution to Patient Dignity That Healthcare Ignored for 100 Years

A medical gown is not a small detail — it is the first physical signal of whether a healthcare system sees a patient as a human being, and one provider's 15 years of witnessing that failure became the foundation of a company designed to fix what healthcare ignored for a century. In this conversation, Shawn Gibbs (Co-founder and CEO of GIV Gowns) and Rachel dig into the real business architecture behind GIV Gowns — the B2B sales approach, the D2C expansion strategy, the decision to bootstrap, and how the GIV Back Initiative was designed to give with measurable impact rather than ego. If you build anything at the intersection of purpose and profit, this episode is for you. CHAPTERS: * 00:00 — The Gown That Gets In the Way * 10:04 — When the Patient Finally Said Enough * 13:16 — Designing for Three Stakeholders at Once * 24:47 — The Business Case for Dignity * 27:39 — Why Shawn Stayed Bootstrapped * 19:20 — BYOG and the D2C Strategy * 45:48 — GIV Back: Giving With Intention KEY TOPICS: * Why the traditional hospital gown is a barrier to care, not just an inconvenience * The GIV Gowns product line: GIV Classic, GIV Forward, GIV Duo, and the Hero Collection for pediatric patients * How clinics that adopt GIV Gowns see ROI through patient acquisition and retention in under a year * The Bring Your Own Gown (BYOG) campaign and why patient demand drives provider adoption * Why Shawn chose to bootstrap — and what outside capital would have cost him beyond dollars * The GIV Back Initiative: how a percentage of every gown purchase funds intentional, locally sourced community giving * Pressure testing a business idea with three questions: Would you buy it? Would you buy it for how much? ABOUT SHAWN: Shawn Gibbs is the Co-founder and CEO of GIV Gowns, a healthcare innovation company redesigning patient attire to restore dignity, confidence, and trust in the clinical experience. With more than 15 years in healthcare — across family medicine, specialty care, and his own dermatology practice — Shawn has become a leading voice in Designing Trust in Healthcare. He is also the creator of The Irreplaceable Provider Method, a training framework for healthcare professionals navigating an AI-driven world. Shawn was named one of Causeartist's 50 Social Entrepreneurs to Watch for 2026 and featured in SEE Change Magazine. RESOURCES MENTIONED: * Causeartist Feature: https://www.causeartist.com/social-entrepreneurs-2026/#shawn-gibbs-is-bringing-dignity-and-confidence-to-patients [https://www.causeartist.com/social-entrepreneurs-2026/#shawn-gibbs-is-bringing-dignity-and-confidence-to-patients] , https://www.causeartist.com/meet-giv-gowns-why-patient-dignity-starts-with-what-you-wear/ [https://www.causeartist.com/meet-giv-gowns-why-patient-dignity-starts-with-what-you-wear/] * SEE Change Magazine Feature: https://www.seechangemagazine.com/bringing-dignity-to-the-patient-experience-in-conversation-with-shawn-gibbs-of-giv-gowns/ [https://www.seechangemagazine.com/bringing-dignity-to-the-patient-experience-in-conversation-with-shawn-gibbs-of-giv-gowns/] * GIV back INITIATIVE: At GIV Gowns, we don't just transform what patients wear, we're transforming what the words "health" and "care" mean. The GIV Back Initiative is our dedicated social impact arm, using a percentage of annual proceeds to fund global efforts that drive lasting change. * How It Works: Every purchase of a GIV Gown automatically contributes to the GIV Back Initiative. Proceeds are pooled into a fund that supports local and global projects aimed at uplifting communities in need. * Your Support Helps Fund: * Disaster Relief – To deliver rapid aid for communities in crisis. * Orphanage/Shelter Construction – To provide safe homes for the vulnerable. * Economic Stimulation – To empower local suppliers and producers. * Medical Outreach – To provide supplies, care, and dignity to underserved populations. * Education & Empowerment – To provide skills training and opportunities for those that want to improve their circumstances. * Together, We GIV Back: Every gown purchased means more care, more courage, and more impact. Thank you for helping us bring dignity to patients, and hope to the world. FOLLOW SHAWN: * Company: https://givgowns.com/ [https://givgowns.com/] * Instagram: https://instagram.com/givgowns [https://instagram.com/givgowns] * Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@GIVGowns [http://www.youtube.com/@GIVGowns] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giv-gowns [https://www.linkedin.com/company/giv-gowns] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@givgowns [https://www.tiktok.com/@givgowns] Follow the Host, Rachel Bernier-Green: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelberniergreen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelberniergreen/] * Website: www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/ [www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/] * Instagram: www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/ [www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/] * LinkedIn (Company): www.linkedin.com/company/jointhryvo/ [www.linkedin.com/company/jointhryvo/] * Twitter/X: x.com/jointhryvo [x.com/jointhryvo] * Facebook: www.facebook.com/jointhryvo [www.facebook.com/jointhryvo] * Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@jointhryvo [www.tiktok.com/@jointhryvo] Listening Links: * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kmrlBqo4QHftlfmqo2Q32 [https://open.spotify.com/show/0kmrlBqo4QHftlfmqo2Q32] * Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-purpose-profit-shift/id1829627732 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-purpose-profit-shift/id1829627732] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PurposeProfitShift [https://www.youtube.com/@PurposeProfitShift] If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow business owner who needs to hear this.

She Scaled to 10 Cities Without Investors or an MBA, With Meghan Fialkoff

You don't need an MBA, outside investors, or a masculine leadership style to build a nationally expanding events and membership company — you need relentless execution, real relationships, and the conviction to trust what you already know. Meghan Fialkoff is the Co-Founder and COO of Modern Day Wife, a global membership and lifestyle company for women. Before MDW, she spent nearly two decades running a drug prevention nonprofit where she produced over 2,000 events and trained 5,000+ NYPD officers. In this conversation with host Rachel Bernier-Green, Meghan gets real about launching an events company during COVID, building community through 200+ Zoom calls before entering a new city, managing finances per event instead of per month, the moment she stopped shrinking as a founder, and how she built a team that genuinely cares. Key Takeaways: * Why MDW limits to one event per city per year (and how scarcity drives demand) * The per-event P&L system on QuickBooks that replaced monthly reporting * How established city revenues subsidize new market launches * Why Meghan unfollowed almost everyone on social media * When bootstrapping becomes leverage for strategic partnership * The leadership philosophy behind a team that carries the mission About Meghan: Meghan Fialkoff is a visionary leader, entrepreneur, and humanitarian, deeply committed to creating impact across both the lifestyle and nonprofit sectors. Raised in New York and now based in Los Angeles, Meghan is the Co-Founder and COO of Modern Day Wife, a dynamic, global lifestyle brand. Under her leadership, the brand has produced over 50 international luxury events and expanded into a family of sub-brands, including Modern Day Beauty, Modern Day Wellness, and Modern Day Mama. In the nonprofit space, Meghan serves as the Executive Director of the Americas Chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World. Under her stewardship, the chapter expanded throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and into Central America—where she co-directs chapters in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, El Salvador and Guatemala. She has co-produced over 2,000 community outreach events and led impactful programs that include partnerships with Miss New York, Miss Connecticut, Miss Teen Ohio, Miss Delaware, Miss Louisiana, the NJ Attorney General, and the NY Senate Task Force on Heroin & Opioid Abuse. Follow Meghan: * Website: themoderndaywife.com [themoderndaywife.com] * Instagram: www.instagram.com/themoderndaywife [www.instagram.com/themoderndaywife] - www.instagram.com/meghanfialkoff/ [www.instagram.com/meghanfialkoff/] * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/meghan-fialkoff [linkedin.com/in/meghan-fialkoff] * Podcast: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-modern-day-wife [creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-modern-day-wife] Resources Mentioned: * Asana (project management): asana.com [asana.com] * QuickBooks (financial tracking by event): quickbooks.com [quickbooks.com] * MailChimp (newsletters): mailchimp.com [mailchimp.com] * Mail Meteor (bulk email): mailmeteor.com [mailmeteor.com] * Calendly (appointment scheduling): calendly.com [calendly.com] Follow the Host, Rachel Bernier-Green: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelberniergreen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelberniergreen/] * Website: www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/ [https://feeds.captivate.fm/profit-purpose-shift/www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/] * Instagram: www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/ [https://feeds.captivate.fm/profit-purpose-shift/www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/] * LinkedIn (Company): www.linkedin.com/company/jointhryvo/ [https://feeds.captivate.fm/profit-purpose-shift/www.linkedin.com/company/jointhryvo/] * Twitter/X: x.com/jointhryvo [https://feeds.captivate.fm/profit-purpose-shift/x.com/jointhryvo] * Facebook: www.facebook.com/jointhryvo [https://feeds.captivate.fm/profit-purpose-shift/www.facebook.com/jointhryvo] * Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@jointhryvo [https://feeds.captivate.fm/profit-purpose-shift/www.tiktok.com/@jointhryvo] Listening Links: * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kmrlBqo4QHftlfmqo2Q32 [https://open.spotify.com/show/0kmrlBqo4QHftlfmqo2Q32] * Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-purpose-profit-shift/id1829627732 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-purpose-profit-shift/id1829627732] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PurposeProfitShift [https://www.youtube.com/@PurposeProfitShift] ---------------------------- If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow business owner who needs to hear this!

Use AI to Run Everything (No Tech Background), With Francine Gregory

In this episode of The Purpose Profit Shift, host Rachel Bernier-Green sits down with Francine Gregory, a Sacramento-based entrepreneur, speaker, and coach who co-founded BizChicks.net to help women over 50 turn their experience into profitable businesses. Francine shares how surviving the 2008 real estate crash taught her the value of staying for your clients, why the most expensive business programs are often the most confusing, and how she uses AI assistants as a digital chief of staff to manage four brands without burning out. Chapters: * 9:20 Surviving the 2008 Real Estate Crash * 12:36 Systems, Mindset, and the CEO Shift * 16:33 AI as Your Digital Chief of Staff * 23:03 Why Women Over 50 Are Underestimated * 30:28 Faith, Simplicity, and Revenue Key Topics: * Building profitable businesses that are fun to run * AI tools and digital assistants for non-technical entrepreneurs * Why women over 50 are entrepreneurship's best-kept secret * Simple systems vs. overcomplicated business programs * The mindset shift from employee/hobby to CEO * Surviving economic downturns through purpose-driven resilience * Making it easy for people to pay you About Francine: Francine Gregory is a Sacramento-based entrepreneur, speaker, and coach who helps purpose-driven leaders simplify their thinking, streamline their systems, and activate their God-given genius. She equips small business owners, entrepreneurs, and ministries with practical tech and AI workflows that save time and reduce chaos—so they can focus on what matters most. Francine is the co-founder of BizChicks.net [http://bizchicks.net/] and founder of F. Gregory Consulting and Kingdom Thinkers. With a background in television production and marketing, she’s known for making the complicated simple and turning ideas into organized, profitable action. Connect with Francine: * 60-minute audit call + 2-page written roadmap delivered within 48 business hours - Booking link: https://tidycal.com/fgregoryconsulting/business-ministry-audit [https://tidycal.com/fgregoryconsulting/business-ministry-audit] * Instagram: https://instagram.com/bizchicksnet * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bizchicks.net * Instagram: https://instagram.com/francinegregory * X: https://x.com/francinegregory * YouTube: https://youtube.com/@francinegregory Resources Mentioned: * BizChicks.net https://bizchicks.net [https://bizchicks.net] * Francine Gregory website https://francinegregory.com [https://francinegregory.com] * $497 Business/Ministry Systems Audit + AI Roadmap https://tidycal.com/fgregoryconsulting/business-ministry-audit [https://tidycal.com/fgregoryconsulting/business-ministry-audit] * Free Beginner AI Workshop https://stan.store/BizChicks/p/beginners-guide-to-ai [https://stan.store/BizChicks/p/beginners-guide-to-ai] Follow the Host, Rachel Bernier-Green * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelberniergreen/ * Website: https://www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jointhryvo/ * LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/jointhryvo/ * Twitter/X: https://www.x.com/jointhryvo * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jointhryvo * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jointhryvo Listen on Your Favorite Platform: * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kmrlBqo4QHftlfmqo2Q32?si=4bd2e0e655864a26&nd=1&dlsi=37cbc85018304f35 [https://open.spotify.com/show/0kmrlBqo4QHftlfmqo2Q32?si=4bd2e0e655864a26&nd=1&dlsi=37cbc85018304f35] * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-purpose-profit-shift/id1829627732 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-purpose-profit-shift/id1829627732] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PurposeProfitShift [https://www.youtube.com/@PurposeProfitShift] If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow business owner who needs to hear this.