Women in Business Impact Lab (WBIL) Podcast

S5E5: A Female Entrepreneur's Story of Resilience and Courage in the Pacific Northwest, with Alissa Leinonen

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Jonathan H. Westover talk with Alissa Leinonen about her story of resilience and courage as a female entrepreneur in the Pacific Northwest.
A well-established leader in the Pacific Northwest hospitality industry, Alissa started Gourmondo as a simple, four-table lunch cafe in Pike Place Market in 1996. Throughout the past 28 years she has strategically and thoughtfully expanded her company to offer full-service catering, a successful corporate café division, an in-house bakery, and a wholesale product line which develops and provides elevated grab-and-go dining options to large companies.  New collaborations, and an expansion into diverse industries - ranging from gourmet local grocery to sports entertainment to wine - include recently announced partnerships with PCC, The Seattle Sounders and Long Shadows.

S5E4: The Pivotal Moments that Shape Your Leadership Style, with Lisa McDonald

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Jonathan H. Westover talk with Lisa McDonald about the pivotal moments that shape your leadership style.
Lisa McDonald (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-mcdonald-5b297295/) is the CEO of MDSi, the IT solutions partner of choice for some of the world’s largest, most trusted service providers and enterprises. Over the past three decades she has grown the company from a small regional venture into a major national player in the IT services space. Today MDSi boasts 750,000+ sq feet of integration centers, warehouse facilities and supports over a $1 billion in managed assets. It has been profitable since its founding and has enjoyed uninterrupted year-over-year growth during Lisa’s tenure. In 2024 Lisa was recognized on CRN’s 2024 Women of the Channel list and MDSi earned a spot on the CRN Solution Provider 500 list. Lisa is a passionate advocate for young women in business and is actively engaged in mentoring opportunities to lift the next generation of female executives.
 

S5E3 - Mentorship That Matters: Empowering Future Leaders, with Sairan Aqrawi

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Jonathan H. Westover talk with Sairan Aqrawi about mentorship that matters and empowering future leaders.
As a seasoned professional with a rich background in engineering and business coaching, Sairan Aqrawi (www.linkedin.com/in/sairan-aqrawi-m-sc-993bb61a3) is dedicated to driving technical solutions and advancing organizational excellence. With a strategic mindset and strong problem-solving skills, she excels in designing and implementing comprehensive solutions that meet the highest standards in the industry. Her extensive experience in Systems Integration Engineering encompasses engineering design, quality assurance, and compliance, ensuring successful project delivery through goal-oriented management.
 

S5E2 - Skills and Strategies for Women Who Aspire for a Seat in the C-Suite, with Marne Martin

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Jonathan H. Westover talk with Marne Martin about skills and strategies for women who aspire for a seat in the C-suite.
Marne Martin has more than 25 years of technology business leadership. She has an illustrious track record working with both public and privately-held software companies, driving teams that deliver exponential profitable growth, market expansion, and increased brand and analyst recognition. Her experience includes leading organizations through initial public offerings, go-privates and other growth initiatives, M&A, and strategic exits. Marne joined Emburse from IFS, where she spent more than five years on its leadership team, culminating in her role as chief strategy officer and president. Prior to joining IFS, Marne held a variety of senior roles, including CEO of ServicePower PLC, and CFO of Norcon PLC. Marne holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Finance from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service with a years’ study at the London School of Economics, an MBA from Krannert School of Business, Purdue University and a Masters in International Management from ESCP-EAP.

S5E1 - Promoting Resilience and Proactive Mental Wellbeing, with Elysia Butler

In this podcast episode, Dr. Angela Schill and Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talk with Elysia Butler about promoting resilience and proactive mental wellbeing.
Elysia Butler (Ee-lee-sha) is a passionate advocate for proactive mental well-being and suicide prevention, especially among youth. As the founder of the Hope Hero Foundation, Elysia is dedicated to equipping young people with the tools and resilience needed to become the heroes of their own stories. Drawing from personal experiences and over 14 years as an educator, Elysia has created innovative programs that combine the Hero's Journey framework with cutting-edge resilience research, empowering teens to thrive through adversity.
The Hope Hero Foundation has made significant strides under Elysia’s leadership, reaching thousands of kids and families through educational outreach, hero camps, and a growing ambassador program that certifies teens in suicide prevention. Elysia's work has been featured on multiple platforms, including TV channels and podcasts, highlighting the foundation’s proactive approach to mental health.
Elysia's commitment to this cause is deeply personal, fueled by a journey of supporting their own child through mental health challenges. This experience has driven her to create a movement that bridges gaps in mental health services, ensuring that no child feels alone in their struggles. With a vision to create communities of thriving, resilient youth, Elysia continues to inspire and lead with compassion, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference.
In addition to their work with the Hope Hero Foundation, Elysia is an engaging speaker and best-selling author, sharing insights on resilience, mental well-being, and the power of proactive prevention in various forums, including an upcoming TEDx talk. Elysia's leadership and vision have made them a prominent voice in the fight against youth suicide, with a mission to catch kids before they fall and empower them to live their best lives.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thehopehero/

S4E12 - Issues Affecting Women’s Abilities to Seek, Prepare for and Attain Business Leadership Positions, with Elissa Sangster

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Elissa Sangster about issues affecting women's abilities to seek, prepare for and attain business leadership positions.Elissa Sangster (https://www.linkedin.com/company/fortefoundation/) serves as CEO of Forté and brings to the role extensive knowledge of issues affecting women's abilities to seek, prepare for and attain business leadership positions, drawn from her prior experience as Assistant Dean and Director of the MBA Program at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. There she oversaw all activities related to the full-time McCombs MBA program including marketing, admissions, student services, and alumni relations. Before McCombs, Elissa was Assistant Director of the MBA Program at Texas A&M University’s Mays School of Business. Elissa currently serves as Treasurer and Board Member for the Thirty Percent Coalition. She is past Chair of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) Annual Industry Conference and formerly served as Chair of MBA Student Services Professionals (MBA SSP). Elissa sits on the board of Forté as an ex-officio member. She enjoys reading, running, cooking and is a champion for women in business.

S4E11 - Empowering Marginalized Communities, with Thomas Ng

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover and Dr. Angela Schill talks with Thomas Ng about empowering marginalized communities.Thomas Ng is the founder of Genashtim, a for-profit social enterprise that aims to empower marginalized communities, through specialization in eLearning, Digitalization, and ESG services. His remarkable journey began in 2008 when he embarked on a mission to provide meaningful employment opportunities for the disadvantaged. Through Genashtim, he has empowered individuals across 25 countries, from people with disabilities to refugees and older adults, by pioneering a 100% remote-work environment.

S4E10 - Find Your Clear Vision, A New Mindset to Create a Vibrant Personal or Professional Brand with Purpose, with Lisa Guillot

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Lisa Guillot about her book, Find Your Clear Vision, A New Mindset to Create a Vibrant Personal or Professional Brand with Purpose.Lisa Guillot (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisagguillot/) is a certified transformational life and leadership coach and branding expert. She helps her clients find their Clear Vision and bring it to life through her Clear Vision Framework. Her clients include senior-level executives of Fortune 500 entertainment and media companies, leaders in marketing and tech, and ambitious entrepreneurs. 

S4E9 - Diversity and Inclusion and Empowering Women in Finance, with Lindsey Lewis

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Lindsey Lewis about diversity and inclusion and empowering women in finance.Lindsey Lewis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseycarolyn/) has built a career around women and money. She not only helps women take charge of their finances as a Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) and CFP® Professional, but she also stands as a champion for diverse women in the financial services industry in her role as Senior Director and chair of the American College Center for Women in Financial Services, a premier Center of Excellence focused on research and advocacy within The American College of Financial Services.

S4E8 - To My Younger Self: Insights and Reflections, with Dr. Krista Andersen

In this podcast episode, we share Dr. Krista Andersen's recent keynote remarks at the UVU Women in Business Case Competition, titled: "To My Younger Self: Insights and Reflections."
Krista (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkristaandersen/) has a passion for mediation. Her education began with a Bachelor’s of Science from Utah Valley University in Business Management. Next she obtained a Master’s of Sciences from Creighton University in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. Currenly she is a Doctor of Education Candidate at Creighton University.
Her focus has not only been on education and research. Krista is a Certified Mediator with experience in business, elder care, property, and civil mediation. She is also a Certified Domestic Mediatior with experience with family and domestic issues. Krista has 20 years experience with co-parent coaching and communication.
Krista’s experience has taken her through many disciplines. She was formerly a Registered Investment Advisor and managed client money, handled investments, retirement planning, and insurance. She also has experience in business and marketing consulting and in healthcare administration and management engineering (through Intermountain Health Care).
Krista lives in Orem, Utah with her husband Scott. They are a blended family with 8 children.