#25: How to Reinvent Yourself: 5 Fearless Lessons from Joan Lunden

#25: How to Reinvent Yourself: 5 Fearless Lessons from Joan Lunden

Joan Lunden was the face of Good Morning America for 17 years. Then, at 46, she was let go. What followed became one of the most powerful stories of reinvention, resilience, and women's empowerment in modern media. In this deeply inspiring conversation, Joan Lunden opens up about breaking into a male-dominated television industry, rebuilding her identity after public career loss, and transforming a breast cancer diagnosis into a mission that changed women's healthcare advocacy forever. 💡 KEY TAKEAWAYS: Reinvention never retires Resilience is built through adversity Starting over is not failure — it's evolution Your purpose is bigger than your title Want it more than you're afraid of it She also reflects on the advice that shaped her career from Barbara Walters, her groundbreaking partnership with Charlie Gibson, and the mindset that helped her continue evolving through every chapter of life. Her message is unforgettable: "They can take you out of a job, but they can't fire you from your gift." This episode is a masterclass in self-improvement, intentional living, resilience, and how to succeed when life forces you to start over. 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Joan Lunden's reinvention story 03:43 Breaking barriers for women in television 05:28 Barbara Walters' career advice 08:36 Being a working mother before it was accepted 10:24 Leaving Good Morning America and redefining success 13:10 "You can't get fired from your gift" 19:45 Public scrutiny and staying grounded 24:37 Breast cancer and women's health advocacy 27:00 The fight for mandatory mammogram reporting 33:53 Advice for women afraid to start over This conversation is for anyone navigating: • Career transitions • Burnout or identity shifts • Women in leadership • Personal growth and healing • Breast cancer awareness • Reinvention after loss or change 🔔 Subscribe for conversations about resilience, reinvention, leadership, healing, and personal growth. Resources 🔔 Subscribe to my newsletter here for weekly conversations with people who refuse to be defined by their hardest moments. Visit my website here: www.meetbonnieh.com #WomenEmpowerment #MindsetMotivation #PersonalDevelopmentPodcast #OvercomingAdversity #SelfImprovementPodcast #BOLDMethod #AudaciousExpansion #Resilience #ErikaRothenberger #WomenInLeadership #PersonalGrowth #ResiliencePodcast #WomenEmpowermentPodcast #PersonalDevelopment #Podcast

#24: How to Become Unbreakable and Rise After the Unthinkable

In 2022, civil engineer and entrepreneur Erika Rothenberger was violently attacked in her workplace parking lot — and it changed everything. In this powerful episode, Erika shares the 5-step framework she used to go from victim to advocate, from shattered to stronger. What you'll learn: → Why resilience isn't about being unbreakable → How to reclaim your sense of identity after trauma → The one mindset shift that turned her pain into purpose → How she's fighting to change strangulation laws in Pennsylvania → Why community is the #1 factor in trauma recovery Erika is a TEDx speaker, host of the "Grit, Grace & Glitz" podcast, founder of the Audacious Women's Summit, and author of the upcoming book "Audacious Expansion." ⏱ 00:00 – Introduction 02:15 – The attack that changed everything 07:30 – Rock bottom & the identity crisis 13:00 – The engineering mindset applied to trauma 19:45 – Step 1: Acknowledge but don't be defined 23:10 – Step 2: Redefine resilience 27:00 – Step 3: Build your support community 31:20 – Step 4: One small empowered action 35:50 – Step 5: Turn pain into purpose 41:00 – The Audacious Women's Summit & what's next 🎧 Listen now to This Is How SHE Did It with Bonnie Habyan 👉 Follow Bonnie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan Visit meetbonnieh.com [http://meetbonnieh.com/] #TraumaRecovery #WomenEmpowerment #ResilienceStory #SurvivorStory #AudaciousWomen #GritGraceGlitz #TedxSpeaker #WomenInEngineering #MentalHealthAwareness #PodcastForWomen

#23: From Single Mom to CEO: How David's Bridal CEO Kelly Cook is Driving Bold Transformation

💥What if the strongest leaders you admire didn't start with a plan—but with survival? From Pinto Beans to Power Moves: Redefining Leadership from the Ground Up In this episode of This Is How SHE Did It, Kelly Cook, CEO of the nation's largest bridal retail brand, shares a story that challenges everything you think leadership is supposed to look like. From single motherhood and financial hardship to leading a multi-channel powerhouse, her journey isn't polished, it's powerful. It's about grit, reinvention, and stepping up long before anyone gives you the title. → How leadership often shows up before you feel ready → Why not having it all figured out can actually be your advantage → The balance between confidence and humility that defines real leaders → What it takes to grow when no one is watching This episode sets the tone for what this show is really about: honest stories, hard-earned lessons, and insights you can carry into your own next chapter. 🎧 Listen now to This Is How SHE Did It with Bonnie Habyan 👉 Follow Bonnie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan Visit meetbonnieh.com

#22: How She Built Build-A-Bear—and Changed Retail Forever

She Built More Than a Bear—She Built a Movement. At 48, Maxine Clark left a top corporate role to follow a spark of "kid think"—and turned it into the global sensation, Build-A-Bear Workshop. In this inspiring episode, Maxine shares how she broke barriers, trusted her gut, and built an empire when few believed a woman—or a teddy bear—could. You'll learn how she faced down skeptics, raised millions, and took her company public—all without losing her heart or her vision. Her story is packed with real-life lessons on confidence, curiosity, and the power of persistence. If you're ready to stop waiting for permission and start building your dream, this is your blueprint. About Maxine Clark https://www.buildabear.com/brand-about-story-founder.html [https://www.buildabear.com/brand-about-story-founder.html] Resources Build-A-Bear Workshop: https://www.buildabear.com [https://www.buildabear.com] Resources At 48, Maxine Clark walked away from a powerful corporate career to follow a spark of "kid think"—and turned it into Build-A-Bear Workshop, a global phenomenon. In this episode, she shares how she trusted her gut when few believed in the idea, faced down skeptics, raised millions, and took her company public—proving that joy can be a serious business strategy. This is a conversation about courage, reinvention, and betting on yourself when the odds say don't. Maxine opens up about the emotional stakes of starting over, the power of persistence, and why waiting for permission is the fastest way to stay stuck. If you're navigating change or sitting on a dream that feels "too late" or "too risky," this episode is your reminder: start building anyway. Resources - Check out Bonnie's website here. [https://www.meetbonnieh.com]

#21: How the Most Powerful Women Win — Fortune's Emma Hinchliffe Breaks It Down

What do Kim Kardashian, Sara Blakely, and Melanie Perkins have in common—and can you have it too? In this episode of This Is How SHE Did It, Bonnie Habyan sits down with Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune's Most Powerful Women editor, who has personally interviewed each of these trailblazing founders and countless others redefining success on their own terms. From newsroom beginnings to front-row access to the world's most powerful women, Emma shares what she's learned about imposter syndrome, mentorship, and the unseen confidence that drives extraordinary achievement. Together, they explore the traits that unite top female leaders—and how owning your story just might be the key to joining their ranks. About Emma Hinchliffe Emma Hinchliffe is Fortune's Most Powerful Women editor, overseeing editorial for the longstanding franchise. As a senior writer at Fortune, Emma has covered women in business and gender-lens news across business, politics, and culture. She is the author of the Most Powerful Women Daily newsletter (formerly the Broadsheet), Fortune's daily missive for and about the women leading the business world. She is a co-chair of Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit, where she's interviewed everyone from Fortune 500 CEOs and U.S. politicians to Hollywood stars, and previously co-chaired Fortune's MPW Next Gen Summit and the Fortune/U.S. Department of State Global Women's Mentoring Partnership. Her work, which includes magazine features with subjects ranging from Meta and CVS Health to Canva and the WNBA, has been honored by the Silurians Press Club and the Deadline Club. Before joining Fortune, she worked as a reporter for Mashable and the Houston Chronicle. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. Emma Hinchliffe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmahinchliffe/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmahinchliffe/] Resources Fortune Magazine: https://fortune.com/author/emma-hinchliffe/ [https://fortune.com/author/emma-hinchliffe/] In this episode, Fortune's Emma Hinchliffe shares what she's learned from interviewing the most powerful women in business—and how those insights translate into real-world confidence, leadership, and career growth. From Fortune 500 CEOs to iconic founders, Emma breaks down the patterns she sees again and again among women who rise to the top. Drawing from conversations with leaders like Sarah Blakely, Melanie Perkins, and Kim Kardashian, we explore imposter syndrome, visibility, mentorship, and what it truly takes to own your story in today's professional landscape. If you're navigating leadership, building something meaningful, or stepping into rooms that feel bigger than you, this conversation will leave you grounded, inspired, and clear on what matters most. In this episode, we cover: - What the most powerful women have in common - Why hearing "no" is often a sign you're thinking big enough - How successful women reframe imposter syndrome - The importance of visibility and owning your story - Why mentorship and sponsorship still matter - Lessons from founders and CEOs who changed the game Guest: Emma Hinchliffe is a senior leader at Fortune and the voice behind Most Powerful Women Daily, spotlighting the challenges and triumphs of women shaping business, culture, and leadership worldwide. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a review—it helps more listeners find conversations like this. Your story isn't over. It's still unfolding. Let's rise together. Resources: Sign up for the This is how SHE did it Newsletter to stay up to date: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/worth-knowing-7236433935503618048/ [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/worth-knowing-7236433935503618048/] Follow Bonnie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-habyan/] Check out Emma Hinchliffe's bio at https://www.emma-hinchliffe.com/ [https://www.emma-hinchliffe.com/] Check out Bonnie's website at www.meetbonnieh.com [http://www.meetbonnieh.com/]