Women in Business Impact Lab (WBIL) Podcast

S6E3: 10 Lessons In Leadership From An Olympic Medalist, with Ali Cox

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talk with Ali Cox about lessons in leadership.
Ali Cox is an agriculture and food ingredient marketing visionary and founder of Noble West, an award-winning marketing consultancy that specializes in the entire agricultural ecosystem. From fresh produce and nuts to dairy and ag Tech, Noble West works in all aspects of agriculture. As a fifth generation farmer, Cox returned home to California’s Central Valley in 2007 with the singular goal of making world-class marketing services available to the abundance of farmers and growers in the area. A fierce advocate for farmers, Ali’s blend of a deep personal connection to the land and business acumen has made her a highly sought after strategist by her clients. With an eye on the future of farming and the climate crisis, Cox regularly consults with her clients on upcycling, regenerative water use, and hydroponic & organic farming practices. Cox was a walk-on rower at the University of San Diego and went on to win a Silver Medal in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. A Turlock native, she is a graduate of Turlock Senior High School and University of San Diego where she majored in Communications and minored in business. She happily purchased her childhood home where she resides with husband Tony and their two sons.
https://wearenoblewest.com/ideas/10-lessons-in-leadership-from-an-olympic-medalist

S6E2: The Impact of AI in the Workplace, with Lisa-Maree Blumenfeld

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talk with Lisa-Maree Blumenfeld about the Impact of AI in the workplace.
Lisa-Maree Blumenfeld is a seasoned HR leader with over 25+ years of experience across fast-growing startups and established corporations. As the founder and CEO of Retain she and her incredible team have helped founders scale their businesses while building a solid and compliant HR foundation for them. Concurrently, Lisa-Maree is the co-founder and COO of Eleven (getelevenapp.com), where she has played a pivotal role in scaling innovative solutions to get their communication platform into the hands of leaders- empowering them to up level their communications with their teams.
Before launching Eleven and Retain, Lisa was the VP of People at Expa, where she spearheaded HR and recruiting for a portfolio of 20+ startups, helping them scale with strong people-first cultures. Her career also includes leadership positions at Lyft, NinthDecimal, and Aria Systems, as well as positions within PG&E and Blue Shield of California.
Lisa is deeply passionate about helping startups navigate the exhilarating (and sometimes chaotic!) journey of building high-performing teams. Whether it's crafting scalable HR strategies, providing executive coaching, or guiding founders through the ups and downs of growth, she brings a rare combination of hands-on expertise and empathy to her work.
Outside of work, Lisa is a proud mom of four and a big fan of live music, often found at concerts whenever she can carve out a moment of downtime. Currently she is trying different strategies to talk her husband into getting another puppy (so far unsuccessful but she believes only temporarily). She brings the same energy, creativity, and drive from her personal life to everything she does professionally, making her an advocate for finding balance and joy amidst the hustle.

S6E1: A Business Journey to Owning a Successful Dancewear Company, with Alina Khoo

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talk with Alina Khoo about her business journey to owning a successful dancewear company.
Alina Khoo, the visionary founder of AK Dancewear, was born in Penang, Malaysia. Her journey into ballet began at the age of 9, initially as a form of therapy to correct a congenital posture condition known as kyphosis. When traditional physical therapy proved ineffective, ballet became a transformative experience for her. She trained under the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus with esteemed instructors Oh Eng Sim, Grace Chew, and Sharon Tan.

S5E12: Facilitating Professional Growth and Driving Sustainable Business Practices, with Dr. Karen Hills Pruden

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talk with Dr. Karen Hills Pruden about facilitating professional growth and driving sustainable business practices.
Dr. Karen Hills Pruden is an executive coach and leadership development strategist. With a passion for empowering leaders, Dr. Karen is committed to helping leaders unlock their full potential, achieve their goals, and create a life they love. With her dynamic coaching services and deep expertise, Dr. Karen has helped countless leaders amplify their value by elevating their leadership competencies and thriving in their personal and professional lives.

S5E11: Learning to Lead Ourselves First, with Julia Black

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talk with Julia Black about Learning to lead ourselves first.
Julia Black, mother to two young adults and creator of Lights On, is a BAFTA and Grierson nominated documentary director, social entrepreneur, educationalist and Master Neurocoach. She hosts a global community for parents who want to bring the latest thinking from neuroscience, positive psychology and passion-led learning into their homes. Her vision is of a world where all children love learning, and parents are the key to that future.

S5E10: Cultivating Exceptional Leadership: A Conversation with Liz Wiseman

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talk with Liz Wiseman about cultivating exceptional leadership.
Liz is the author of New York Times bestseller Multipliers and Wall Street Journal bestsellers Rookie Smarts and Impact Players. She is a researcher and executive advisor, who teaches leadership to executives around the world, and the CEO of The Wiseman Group, a leadership research and development firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. Liz is a former executive at Oracle Corporation, where she worked as the Vice President of Oracle University and as the Global Leader for Human Resource Development. She is a frequent guest lecturer at Brigham Young University and Stanford University. Liz has received the top achievement award for leadership from Thinkers50 and has consistently been named one of the world’s top 50 management thinkers.
 

S5E9: Empowering Women in Business and the 5Cs Framework for Career Growth, with Monique Hayward

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talk with Monique Hayward about empowering women in business and the 5Cs framework for career growth.
Monique Hayward is a dynamic, high-energy, get-it-done leader with over 25 years of building a successful, multifaceted career as an award-winning marketing executive, entrepreneur, author, and speaker. Since 2004, Monique has launched and managed three companies – Nouveau Connoisseurs Corporation, which owned and operated the critically acclaimed Dessert Noir Café & Bar in Beaverton, Oregon; Cerise Noire Software, LLC, an Oregon-based mobile software applications company; and DRISCOLL Cuisine & Cocktail Concepts, LLC, a personal chef and vacation property company in Phoenix, Arizona. To complement her entrepreneurial pursuits, Monique has a thriving corporate career in high technology. She’s held various senior leadership and managerial roles in marketing, communications, and business development at Enactify.ai, Microsoft, Intel, and Tektronix.

S5E8: Women Empowerment to Build Community, with Delisa Abraham

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talk with Delisa Abraham about women empowerment to build community.
Delisa Abraham is a dynamic and results-driven Executive Leadership Coach, renowned international speaker, podcast host, and business strategist. With over 15 years of experience in empowering senior leaders and entrepreneurs, Delisa helps individuals and organizations navigate complex challenges, unlock their full potential, and achieve lasting success. Her passion lies in developing high-performing leaders who thrive in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing business landscape. With her unique blend of strategic insight, emotional intelligence, and a deep understanding of human behavior, Delisa provides leaders with the tools and mindset to make impactful decisions, foster innovation, and drive organizational growth. Delisa's approach is grounded in a deep commitment to helping leaders build authentic, sustainable success while staying true to their values and purpose. As a sought-after keynote speaker, coach, and strategist, she works with a diverse range of clients, from Fortune 500 executives to budding entrepreneurs, guiding them to elevate their leadership capabilities and unlock their business’s potential.

S5E7: How and Why You Should Be Thinking Bigger About Your Career, with Andrea Liebross

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Jonathan H. Westover talk with Andrea Liebross about how and why you should be thinking bigger about your career.
Andrea Liebross founded Andrea Liebross Coaching with a mission to empower bold, ambitiouswomen entrepreneurs to unlock their unique formula for success in both life and business. Shebelieves that the secret to thinking big and achieving significant results lies in just twoingredients: the implementation of solid systems and cultivating the right (big) mindset. Andreaexcels at transforming your once seemingly insurmountable challenges into achievable,enjoyable realities through her signature process, which is both practical and fun—even thesystems part! Her clients have successfully turned once daunting tasks into straightforwardvictories, paving their way to success and unlocking profound personal growth and freedom.Andrea is also the bestselling author of She Thinks Big: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Guide toMoving Past the Messy Middle and Into the Extraordinary, and the host of the She Thinks Bigpodcast.

S5E6: STEM Careers for Women and Girls in Utah, with Bettina Smith Edmondson

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Jonathan H. Westover talk with Bettina Smith Edmondson about her career journey and STEM careers for women and girls in Utah.
Experienced Data Consultant, with a demonstrated history of working in hospital & health care, and government industries. Skilled in Management, Analytics, Report Writing, Healthcare, and Organizational Development. Strong business development professional with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Weber State University.