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2B Bolder Podcast : Career Growth and Insights from Women in Business, Tech & Sports

2B Bolder Podcast : Career Growth and Insights from Women in Business, Tech & Sports

Hosted by Mary Killelea, Host

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Episodes

158

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The 2B Bolder Podcast brings you into real conversations with women leaders in business, tech, and sports. Going deep into what helped them succeed, shine and stand out as leaders. Hosted by Mary Killelea, a former Intel marketing strategist and career visibility coach, the show shares real stories and practical insights from women who have built meaningful careers and leadership paths. Each conversation provides guidance on: • Building your personal brand with intention • Speaking with confidence and clarity • Strengthening leadership presence and influence • Navigating career transitions with purpose • Advocating for your value in rooms where decisions are made If you’ve ever felt overlooked despite the work you deliver, this podcast will help you show up, speak up, and step forward — with clarity, confidence, and a strong sense of who you are. Learn more at www.2BBolder.com The 2B Bolder Podcast ranks in the top 3% of 3.5 million podcasts globally (Listen Score).

Listen to episodes

60 recent
June 2, 2026Episode 15834 min

Tracy Brower, PhD. discusses connection, community, and what actually makes work and life feel meaningful.

Your career doesn’t grow in isolation, and neither does your confidence. When we feel overlooked, stuck, or burned out, we often blame skills, strategy, or a lack of a personal brand. But what if the real lever is connection and community and the quality of the relationships around us?On episode #158 of the 2B Bolder podcast, I sat down with Dr. Tracy Brower, a sociologist, author, and the VP for Workplace Insights at Steelcase, and got practical about what makes work and life feel meaningful. We talked about why sometimes the  “work is a grind” narrative misses something human and important: we all have an instinct to matter, and work is one of the biggest places we’re seen, supported, and shaped. Tracy breaks down the modern pattern of having more connections but fewer fulfilling relationships, plus how distraction, social media, and post-COVID habits can leave us with shallow “empty calorie” interactions.We also get tactical about networking for women in business and tech without the icky, transactional vibe. Tracy shares how giving can be asynchronous, why you should build your network before you need it, and how to walk into coffee chats with less pressure by focusing on learning. If visibility is your challenge, she offers a clear framework for the kinds of people you need around you: advocates, honest challengers, and safe-harbor colleagues. You’ll also hear memorable data points from her latest book, Critical Connections, including how long it really takes to make a friend and why diverse relationships boost joy and fulfillment.If you found this helpful, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more women can build careers with stronger connection and real belonging.Resources:tracybrower.com Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn Order Critical Connections Here

May 19, 2026Episode 15739 min

From Urban Farmer to AI SAAS Co Founder Maggie Pounds Shares Her Journey

Most people don’t fail at sales because they’re “bad at sales.” They fail because fear hijacks their brain at the exact moment they need clarity. That’s why I loved talking with Maggie Pounds, co-founder of Salescoach Pro, an AI-powered sales training platform that helps sales reps practice real conversations before they ever get on the phone with a real customer. If you’ve ever frozen, rambled, or felt your heart rate spike during an objection, you’ll recognize what she describes: even simulated role play can feel shockingly real, and that realism is what builds true confidence. On episode #157, Maggie shares her unconventional path from urban farming and farmers markets to building an AI product alongside her husband, plus how a simple Thanksgiving dinner conversation with her sister sparked the core idea. We get into what makes effective sales coaching work, why repeated reps matter more than generic advice, and how tailored feedback, scoring, and structured scenarios can improve onboarding and sales enablement without draining a manager’s time. We also talk about the practical question everyone asks: why not just use ChatGPT, and what a purpose-built voice role play experience does differently. Beyond the product, Maggie brings a refreshing perspective on AI hype and fear, especially for people who worry they’re “behind.” She argues for curiosity, moving slowly, and using technology as a tool to enhance human skill, not replace it. We close with a candid look at intentional living, homeschooling, presence, and giving yourself permission to pause projects in different life chapters, plus what “to be bolder” really means when you listen to yourself and take the next step. If this conversation helps you rethink confidence, sales practice, or building a business that supports your real life, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.Resources:Maggie Pounds on LinkedInSalesCoachPro

May 5, 2026Episode 15656 min

Kellyn Gorman talks about building a career in tech : Databases, AI Advocacy, Mentoring, PDXWIT and more.

You can spend your whole career waiting to feel “ready,” or you can do what Kellen Gorman did: jump in, learn fast, and let results speak. Kellen is an engineer and advocate at Redgate Software with nearly three decades across databases, cloud, and AI, plus experience at Microsoft, Oracle, and Delphix. Her path into tech starts with a brutal curveball, recovering from five strokes and rebuilding her work life from the ground up, then turning the hardest, least popular tasks into standout opportunities.On episode #156, we get concrete about what career boldness looks like in practice: taking on the database no one wants, refusing to be boxed into a single platform, and staying technical even in an advocacy role by working directly with product teams and customers. Kellen shares why “AI exhaustion” is real, how duct-taped AI features can hurt usability, and how to experiment with generative AI without blowing up your cloud bill. If you’re trying to upskill in AI, cloud, or cybersecurity, you’ll leave with sane starting points and a clear warning about AI snake oil salesmen.We also talk about visibility and personal branding for women in tech: blogging, books, GitHub, and public problem-solving as proof that travels when you’re not in the room. The episode closes with community and support, including the revival of PDX Women in Tech in Portland, and why mentorship alone isn’t enough without sponsorship and real networks.Subscribe to this podcast for more conversations on topics that matter to women in tech and business, skills, being in the right rooms, gaining opportunities, confidence, visibility, and meaningful career growth, then share this episode with a friend and leave a review so more women can find it.Resources: DBAKevlar website Kelly’s LinkedIn Profile Pdxwit.net

April 7, 2026Episode 15549 min

Dr. Fern Halper, Shares Her Brilliance, From Oceanography to AI Leader

On episode #155 of the 2B Bolder Podcast, I got to sit down with someone I could have honestly talked to for hours — Dr. Fern Halper. And if you've been feeling overwhelmed by all the AI noise out there, this one is for you.Fern has been working in data and AI for over 30 years — long before it was a headline — and she is the real deal. What struck me most wasn't just her brilliance or depth of knowledge; it was her warmth, her wisdom, and the genuine human kindness she brings to everything she does. It was such an honor to have her on the show, and I walked away inspired.We got into all of it — data foundations, governance, trust, and the career skills that keep you valuable as AI tools and agents move faster than most organizations can keep up with. No fluff, just real talk.Here's what we covered:Fern's unexpected path from oceanography research to data and AI leadershipThe career forks that shaped her journey and why speaking up is everythingWhat companies are actually coming to her for: strategy, starting points, and governanceThe new roles emerging around responsible AI, ethics, stewardship, and operationsWhy so many enterprises are lagging behind and what "building a foundation" really meansWhat feels genuinely different about this AI moment — and why it comes with real risksWhere agentic AI and multi-agent systems are taking businesses in the next 3 to 5 yearsThe skills that stay valuable no matter what: critical thinking, risk, communication, and literacyThe mistakes leaders keep making — skipping the business need and treating governance like a choreWhy trust isn't just technical — it's the change management your people can actually believe inWhy we need more women's voices at the table when it comes to AI governance and ethicsIf this resonates with you, please share it with a friend who needs to hear it — and don't forget to like and subscribe!Resources:📖 Data Makes the World Go 'Round: The Data, Tech, and Trust Behind AI Success by Dr. Fern Halper🔗 Connect with Dr. Fern Halper on LinkedIn🌐 aifoundationsgroup.com

March 31, 2026Episode 15438 min

Monica Nassif Shares Lessons From Building a Household Brand #154

"Different is better than better." It's the belief that drove Monica Nassif to build one of the most beloved household brands in America, and in the latest episode of the 2B Bolder podcast series, she sat down with me to share exactly how she did it. And this was a conversation I didn't want to end.Monica didn't stumble into entrepreneurship. She grew up the oldest girl in a family of nine kids, all born within 10 years, running the household when her mom needed backup, holding jobs from age 10 onward, babysitting, waitressing at a truck stop (where she lied about her age at 15!), and typing in an ER at 16. Her mom's mantra? "Learn to work with people." That stuck.What I love most about Monica's story is the boldness of her strategy. She built a beautiful, high-end cleaning brand called Caldria, and then deliberately set out to compete with herself before anyone else could. That's how Mrs. Meyer's was born, inspired by her real Midwestern mom, Thelma Meyer, the original recycler who wasted absolutely nothing.We cover so much:Why she trusted trend-spotting over focus groups How packaging and fragrance turned cleaning products into something people wanted on their countertops The two "belly flops" and the financial guardrails she used to shut one down before it became a sinkhole Building an up-tempo culture with office badminton, ornament contests, and talent showsWhy authenticity and storytelling are your biggest competitive advantages right now, especially in the age of AIAnd she's got a book coming late April, I Bottled My Mother: The Mrs. Meyer Story, Grit, Grime, and Growing a Business, part love letter to her mom, part startup manual. It's the business book that's actually funny and emotionally honest. I cannot wait to get my hands on it. I'm sure it will be a very popular business book.Her advice to her younger self? Slow down and listen more. Mine too, Monica. Mine too. 😄🎧 Please check out this episode, drop a review, and share it with a founder or dreamer in your life!Resources: I Bottled My Mother: The Mrs. Meyer StoryMonica Nassif on LinkedIn

March 17, 2026Episode 15336 min

#153 Gina Riley, Executive Career Strategist and Author, Shares Insights On Managing a Career Transition

Interviews can feel overwhelming if you're not prepared, or worse, they can feel discouraging when you know you’re qualified, yet you keep hearing “we went another direction.” In episode #153 of the 2B Bolder podcast, I’m joined by Gina Riley, a former Fortune 50 HR leader turned executive career strategist and author of Qualified Isn’t Enough, to discuss what’s really happening behind the scenes in executive hiring and why great résumés still fall flat without the right story. And yes, even if you're not an executive, this show has great takeaways for you!We dig into the hiring manager’s reality: a requisition is funded to solve a specific business problem, and the candidate who wins is the one who positions themselves as the clearest solution. Gina shares how to “read the room” across every touch point, why every stakeholder is effectively a decision maker, and how to build a tight set of interview stories that prove leadership, judgment, and results without sounding like everyone else. We also talk about executive presence, including the subtle communication habits that can weaken confidence and decisiveness, especially for women navigating competitive leadership roles.Gina walks us through her Career Velocity Framework: clarifying your unique value proposition, capturing wins in a career data vault, tightening your “tell me about yourself,” then translating it all into a stronger LinkedIn profile, interview prep, and a relationship-driven job search strategy. We also get practical about today’s job market, layoffs, and how informational interviews can guide AI skill building when the landscape changes too fast for generic advice.If you’re planning a career transition or you’re in the middle of one, stop what you're doing and listen now, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more women in business and tech can find these career strategy tools.  Gina is amazing at knowing the ins and outs of navigating these waters, so you don't have to go it alone. Resources: Gina Riley on LinkedIn Gina Riley Consulting

February 17, 2026Episode 15243 min

#152 Elaina Dulaney Shares the Power and Value of Experience and Relationships in Career Resilience

Want a masterclass in credibility, change communications, and career resilience without the fluff?  I had the opportunity to sit down with senior communications leader Elaina Dulaney to unpack how strategic storytelling, trusted relationships, and a servant leadership mindset can carry you from small software gigs to agency depth and into the halls of Big Tech on episode #152 of the 2B Bolder podcast. Elaina shares the early principle that shaped her career arc, build experience before kids to create future choice, and the unexpected phone call that turned into an agency, Microsoft work, and eventually a corporate leadership role right before the world shifted.She and I get candid about today’s market: how budgets are tighter, rates are pressured, and job boards can feel like a black hole. Elaina breaks down a practical system for job seekers, 10% applications, 25–30% AI upskilling, 25–30% brand building, and the rest on targeted networking, plus the one constant that still moves mountains: relationships. We talk through “overqualified” bias, why great managers hire strategic doers, and how to spot roles where scope expands but recognition lags. You’ll hear real tactics to surface referrals, maintain momentum, and protect your mindset when you face rejections, even though you are quite capable of the role.For leaders, we dig into the communication blind spots that quietly sink trust: last-minute reviews, skipped rehearsals, and messages that forget the audience. Elaina outlines a change comms playbook built on consistency across stakeholders, durable truth, and live Q&A that shows transparency under pressure. And because AI is changing the craft, we frame it as a copilot, not the pilot, so strategy, ethics, and empathy stay human. We also explore executive presence on LinkedIn, balancing authenticity with professionalism without slipping into performative posts.If you’re building a career in communications, marketing, or tech, or you lead teams through complexity, you’ll leave with a sharper toolkit and renewed conviction that reputation and community are your edge. If this conversation sparks ideas or you want more on these topics, connect with us on LinkedIn, share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick review so we can keep the conversations you care about coming.Tune in as Mary and Elaina talk openly about today's job market and share how they both face it with grace and optimism. Resources:Connect with Elaina Dulaney on LinkedIn

February 3, 2026Episode 15151 min

#151 QuantumBloom's Andrea Mohamed on Redesigning Work So Women Stay And Thrive

Ever feel like you did everything “right” and still got sidelined? We sit down with Andrea Mohamed, COO and co‑founder of QuantumBloom, to unpack why so many women exit tech and what it takes to build workplaces they won’t want to leave. Andrea traces her journey from first‑gen college student to strategy executive and founder, sharing how an MBA unlocked confidence and how glass-cliff roles, nitpicky performance feedback, and unspoken power dynamics still got in the way. The message is clear and practical: stop blaming individuals and start redesigning systems, while equipping women early with the skills that make influence, advocacy, and staying power feel natural.We dig into the critical inflection points where women quietly disengage: the first year after a STEM degree, the leap to management, and the jump to senior leadership, where relationships and influence matter more than output. Andrea explains why the school playbook fails at work, how to unlearn “merit-only” thinking, and what durable skills, communication, negotiation, and cross-functional trust look like in real roles. We talk about psychological safety, manager capability, and pro-family flexibility that benefits everyone, not just mothers, and how these choices change retention.The conversation turns tactical for leaders and HR. Learn to quantify turnover, model retention ROI, and speak the CFO’s language so talent programs no longer get cut. Andrea outlines how HR can evolve, as modern marketing did, moving from “arts and crafts” to a revenue partner, by connecting programs to profit. We also address DEI headwinds, the tall poppy problem, and the courage it takes to be values-aligned and visible without burning out. If you care about keeping women in STEM, building fair systems, and turning excellence into advancement, this one gives you the data, the playbook, and the push.If this resonates, follow, share with a colleague who leads teams, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. Your feedback helps us keep these conversations bold and useful.Resources:Quantum Bloom is helping companies retain and advance women in STEM by fixing the systems that push them out Andrea Mohamed on LinkedIn

January 13, 2026Episode 15042 min

#150 How Tamara Day Built Her Brand From Driveway Sales To HGTV

Confidence radiates from doing something you're passionate about. Doing it for a living and building talent and vision over time is magic. I had the best time sitting down with award-winning designer and Bargain Mansions TV host Tamara Day to talk about her life before stepping onto the national platform of the Magnolia Network and HGTV. The successes are only part of her story; the heart of her commitment, grassroots community, and her choice of integrity over shortcuts really make her unique.Tamara shares the unlikely chain of moments that led to television, plus the practical habits that kept her grounded once the cameras arrived. We get real about the early fear of filming, the shift from “we” to “I” without losing team spirit, and the tough but necessary rebrand from Growing Days to “Tamara Day” for SEO and discoverability. If you’re building a business around your name or wondering when to pivot a beloved label, this is a masterclass in listening to the data and keeping meaning in the details.We also dig into her love for product design as a second act: creating shallow, wide fixtures for low ceilings, weaving scallops and soft curves across categories, and maintaining a cohesive color story across multiple manufacturers. Tamara explains how she balances creative intuition with business strategy, when to pause a collaboration that doesn’t feel right, and why long-term brand trust beats short-term hype.You’ll leave with usable design ideas: set up a simple drop zone, add a front-door catchall, and try color drenching, one saturated hue across walls, trim, and even ceilings, for big impact on a budget. Tamara’s approach proves that patience compounds, partnerships multiply reach, and the best definition of success includes the freedom to step away for a month with your family. Subscribe to 2B Bolder, share this with a friend who loves design and has ever wondered what it would be like to be a designer on HGTV.See the full library of Women in Business and Tech Career podcastsEpisode Title: #150 How Tamara Day Built Her Brand From Driveway Sales To HGTV Transcript

December 23, 2025Episode 14937 min

#149 Sandy Carter on How Bold Leadership And Smarter AI Choices Create Real Opportunity

In this episode of 2B Bolder, I sit down with Sandy Carter, Chief Business Officer at Unstoppable Domains, former AWS and IBM executive, Forbes contributor, and author of AI First, Human Always.We talk about what it really means to take smart risks, build influence through visibility, and lead in fast-moving spaces like AI and Web3, even when you don’t feel 100 percent “ready.”Sandy shares pivotal career moments, including a $5 billion bet that didn’t seem obvious at the time, and the lessons she learned about arriving early, staying late, and taking ownership before permission is granted. We reframe visibility, not as self-promotion, but as credibility, narrative control, and leadership when the stakes are high.We also dig deep into what an AI-first, human-always mindset actually looks like in practice. Sandy explains why AI should start with business outcomes, not tools, and how leaders can redesign workflows, decisions, and customer experiences with AI as the lever, while keeping human judgment firmly in control. From pressure-testing arguments to accelerating research, we talk about where AI adds leverage and where humans must always own voice, values, and accountability.This conversation gets refreshingly real. Sandy shares stories about AI agents quietly changing their own limits, robots learning the wrong behaviors by watching humans, and why simple guardrails, human-in-the-loop oversight, logging, and escalation paths matter more than flashy demos. We also explore why building your own agents, not just relying on ChatGPT, is becoming essential for leaders who want real control and resilience.Finally, Sandy walks through the origin of Unstoppable Women of Web3 and AI and the powerful three-part formula behind it: education, tribe, and recognition, a model that has trained tens of thousands of women and dismantled the tired excuse of “we can’t find qualified women.”If you’re a senior leader navigating responsible innovation, or a rising builder wondering if now is the moment to step forward, this episode offers a clear message: lead while you learn, act before consensus, and put guardrails in place so innovation compounds instead of derails.If this conversation resonated, share it with someone who needs a nudge to be bolder, and leave a review telling me the bold move you’re committing to this week.Resources: Sandy’s Profile linkedin.com/in/sandyacarterBooksBySandy.comsocialmediasandy.wordpress.com/ See the full library of Women in Business and Tech Career podcastsSandy Carter's Career Tips for Women TranscriptThe 2B Bolder Podcast provides first-hand access to some amazing women. Guests will include women from leading enterprise companies to startups, women execs, coders, account execs, engineers, doctors, and innovators.

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