Hats On!

9. The Humanity Hat | One Woman, One Dream, Thousands of Lives Changed

From Austria to Congo, turning a Childhood Dream into Change. At just 20 years old, Manuela boarded a plane to the Democratic Republic of Congo with little more than a childhood dream and an unwavering belief that she could make a difference. In this episode of Hats On!, Manuela shares the reality behind the mission—the loneliness of those first months, the illnesses that nearly forced her to stop, the resilience required to keep going, and the responsibility that comes with being given the local name "Mother of All Children." We also explore leadership, sustainability, motherhood, and what it means to raise a daughter between two worlds while building a future that extends far beyond yourself. This is a conversation about purpose, courage, service, and the remarkable things that can happen when one person refuses to give up on a dream. In this episode we talk about: • Following a childhood calling into the unknown • Building schools, healthcare, and community-led development • Resilience in the face of adversity • Leadership rooted in service • Raising a child across cultures • Creating sustainable impact that outlives the founder If you've ever wondered whether one person can truly make a difference, this conversation is your answer. Check out this incredible project on the following links. Website: https://www.zukunft-fuer-tshumbe.or.at/ Social media: https://www.instagram.com/zukunftfuertshumbe [https://www.instagram.com/zukunftfuertshumbe] Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

8. From Construction Sites to the Boardroom | What Nobody Tells Women at the Top

She spent years being the only woman in the room. Now she’s helping other women take their seat at the table. From being the only woman on construction sites in her twenties to becoming Group President of a major American corporation, Erin built a remarkable career in engineering and leadership. But this conversation goes far beyond titles. In this episode of Hats On!, Erin opens up about the mentors who shaped her, the loneliness of senior leadership, impostor syndrome, motherhood while climbing the corporate ladder, and the invisible emotional labour women carry behind successful careers. We also talk about something rarely discussed openly in leadership circles: menopause. What happens when your career is peaking, your children are leaving home, your parents are aging, and your body starts asking for attention in a completely new way? This is an honest conversation about ambition, identity, leadership, health, and learning to stop chasing perfection. We talk about: * women in engineering and leadership * mentorship vs advocacy * impostor syndrome at senior level * motherhood and career guilt * moving cities and rebuilding community * menopause in the workplace * redefining success in midlife A thoughtful, deeply human conversation for anyone navigating leadership, caregiving, ambition, and change. Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

7. From War Zones to Wisdom | A Life Beyond Borders

(Episode in Spanish) De Bosnia a Irak. Del ébola en Sierra Leona a los campos de refugiados en Grecia y Ucrania. En este episodio de Hats On! converso con una mujer que ha dedicado su vida a la medicina, la ayuda humanitaria y, sobre todo, a las personas. Anestesióloga, cirujana y vicepresidenta de Cruz Roja Española, comparte las lecciones que aprendió trabajando en algunos de los escenarios más duros del mundo. Hablamos de resiliencia, humanidad, liderazgo, miedo, menopausia, independencia, curiosidad y del enorme poder de no perder nunca las ganas de aprender y de vivir. Una conversación profundamente humana sobre servicio, propósito y vida. --------------------------------------------------- (ENG) From war zones to Ebola wards, from rural medicine to refugee camps. This week’s conversation is with a woman who has spent her life running toward humanity when others were running away. A former anesthesiologist and surgeon, humanitarian doctor, and Vice President of the Spanish Red Cross, she shares what Bosnia, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Palestine and Ukraine taught her about resilience, leadership, fear, curiosity, and what it really means to care for people. But beyond the extraordinary missions, this is also a conversation about being a woman who chose freedom, purpose, medicine, and curiosity over convention — and why she still wakes up every morning wanting to learn more. This episode is a masterclass in humanity. Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

6. The Pain Women Are Expected to Endure | Endometriosis, Work & the Cost of Silence

One in ten women lives with endometriosis. Most spend years being dismissed before they’re diagnosed. This episode of Hats On! is the first of our Deep Dive series — where we unpack one topic through three lenses: the personal experience, the workplace reality, and what organisations can actually do better. Today’s topic is endometriosis. A chronic condition affecting an estimated 190 million people worldwide — yet still misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and rarely discussed openly at work. In this episode, we explore: * What endometriosis actually is and why diagnosis can take up to a decade * The physical and emotional cost of living with chronic pain * Why so many women suffer in silence at work * The impact on careers, productivity, fertility, and mental health * The practical changes organisations can make to better support employees This isn’t just a women’s health issue. It’s a leadership issue. A workplace issue. A systems issue. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, unseen, or forced to push through pain in silence — this episode is for you. And if you lead people, manage teams, or shape workplace policy, this conversation matters even more. Link to the Endometriosis UK friendly employer scheme: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/endometriosis-friendly-employer-scheme Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

5. The Bold Move That Built It All | Starting From Scratch Abroad

She left the U.S. for Spain and built a business from scratch in a market built on connections she didn’t have. In this episode of Hats On!, we talk about what it really takes to build something of your own far from home, without a clear roadmap, and before you feel “ready.” Just four years out of university, Lauren made a decision most would call bold: she moved to Spain and launched her own executive search firm in one of the most competitive, relationship-driven industries. What followed was over a decade of building a business across Europe—by doing things differently. Not just filling roles, but finding the people others overlook and turning them into game-changing hires. But the story doesn’t stop there. Years later, she made another big shift—moving back to the U.S. to rebuild her business in a market she hadn’t lived in for over a decade… all while becoming a mother for the first time. We talk about: * Starting a business abroad with no network * Turning “different” into your biggest advantage * Navigating markets, cultures, and constant change * What it means to rebuild—personally and professionally * Motherhood as a founder—and how it changes everything (and nothing) At its core, this is a conversation about trusting your instincts even when there’s no clear path. And realizing that sometimes, what looks bold from the outside… just feels obvious from within. If you’ve ever taken a leap, questioned where you belong, or tried to build something on your own terms—this episode is for you. Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.