Wickedly Smart Women

Hosted by Anjel B Hartwell & The Creative Age Consulting Group

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300

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Wickedly Smart Women® is a multi-award-winning, internationally ranked podcast featuring conversations with women who have left high-level corporate roles or exited businesses and are now discerning what comes next. Each episode explores leadership, visibility, value creation, and the transition from corporate identity to independently owned impact. Guests share candid stories, hard-earned wisdom, and real-world insight drawn from lived experience. This show is for women who know they are in - or approaching - their final corporate chapter and are beginning to explore how their expertise, leadership, and discernment can be structured into a high-value consultancy, advisory path, or independent body of work that reflects who they are becoming. Wickedly Smart Women® supports thoughtful transitions - from structure to sovereignty, from credentials to contribution, and from success as defined by others to success defined from within. Listeners come for grounded conversations, practical perspective, and clarity about what's possible after corporate - and stay for the intelligence, integrity, and depth that define the Wickedly Smart Women® ecosystem.

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60 recent

September 9, 20261 hr 0 min

What Comes After Corporate? Part 2: Let Me Pick Your Brain

What happens when being the person everyone turns to becomes a habit of giving away your expertise for free? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, Anjel B. Hartwell and Amanda Goodwin continue the seven-part anniversary series exploring what comes after corporate and take on one of the most common ways accomplished women undervalue their expertise. Amanda shares how she learned to distinguish between external validation and a genuine value exchange, including the simple question she now asks when someone wants her time. If people constantly ask how you did something, seek your advice, want access to your network, or tell you they want to "pick your brain," this episode offers a powerful invitation to stop giving away what you have spent years developing and start recognizing the value of your expertise. What You Will Learn: How to recognize when people are consistently seeking your expertise. Why "Let me pick your brain" can be a sign that you have valuable intellectual property. How external validation can make it difficult to recognize the true value of your expertise. Why women can become conditioned to give away their knowledge without a meaningful value exchange. How to identify the questions people repeatedly ask you. How to turn frequently requested expertise into a professional offer. Why understanding your audience is essential when creating a high-value consulting offer. How social capital and professional connections can become valuable assets. Why "I'm hired for that" can be a powerful response to requests for free expertise. How to create a script for responding to requests for your time and knowledge. Why "help" can create confusion around whether a professional service is actually being purchased. How to evaluate whether your work and corporate environment are aligned with your values. Why being complete with a role does not mean you are done. How support can help experienced professionals recognize and package the value they already possess. Connect with Amanda Goodwin Wickedly Smart Women https://www.wickedlysmartwomen.com/ Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic [5X Award-Winning Book] Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds Email: listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

September 2, 202630 min

What Comes After Corporate? Part 1 - Timing: The Clock is Ticking

What if the next chapter of your career isn't another executive position, but something you build for yourself? In this special seventh anniversary episode of the Wickedly Smart Women Podcast, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Amanda Goodwin, the newest member of the Wickedly Smart Women team and Director of Engagement and Strategic Partnerships. After serving as CEO of a technology startup, Amanda realized she had spent decades progressing from one leadership role to another without ever intentionally mapping out what would come next. Her initial answer to the question was simple: rest. This is Part 1 of a special seven-part series celebrating seven years of Wickedly Smart Women and exploring the often-overlooked bridge between corporate leadership and consultancy. What You Will Learn: Why successful corporate careers do not automatically create a clear path for what comes next. How rest can create the space needed for creativity, clarity, and the next stage of growth. Why timing matters when considering a move from corporate leadership into consulting. How decades of professional experience can become valuable intellectual property. Why your expertise can be applied across multiple industries and sectors. How to begin recognizing the systems, processes, and knowledge you have already built. Why creating your own path can give you greater agency over your time and career. How a consultancy can provide freedom while still allowing you to serve organizations and causes you care about. Why having human support can make navigating a major career transition more intentional. How building a consultancy can allow high-achieving women to create new possibilities for their expertise, income, and impact. Connect with Amanda Goodwin Wickedly Smart Women https://www.wickedlysmartwomen.com/ Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic [5X Award-Winning Book] Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds Email: listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

August 26, 202630 min

Stop Shrinking and Rise with Cassandra Crawley Mayo – Ep.391

What happens when you accomplish everything you set out to achieve, yet still feel like something deeper is calling you forward? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Cassandra Crawley Mayo, bestselling author, dynamic speaker, and podcast host who made history as the first African American woman to hold every corporate leadership role she has held. Cassandra also shares the lessons she learned after becoming a bestselling author, including how to develop discernment when opportunities and offers begin coming your way. She explains why building a personal board of directors can help women navigate entrepreneurship without trying to do everything alone. This conversation is especially meaningful for high-achieving women who have spent decades building successful careers but know there is something more they are meant to do. What You Will Learn: How being the first African American woman in multiple corporate roles shaped Cassandra's leadership journey. Why achieving a long-held retirement goal does not necessarily mean your purpose ends there. How to recognize the internal barriers that can keep you from pursuing your next chapter. Why recognizing what is holding you back is an essential first step toward change. How to interrupt limiting patterns and embrace what your experiences have taught you. Why building a personal board of directors can make entrepreneurship more sustainable. How mentors, coaches, financial professionals, attorneys, and spiritual advisors can support your growth. Why discernment becomes especially important when success attracts new opportunities and offers. How women can avoid scams and costly mistakes when investing in their businesses. Why trying to do everything yourself can recreate the burnout you experienced in corporate. How to recognize when your successful career is no longer aligned with your deeper purpose. Why living with regret can be more painful than taking the risk to pursue a more authentic life. How to move from looking successful on the outside to feeling fulfilled on the inside. Connect with Cassandra Crawley Mayo Website https://cassandracrawley.com/ Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic [5X Award-Winning Book] Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds Email: listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

August 19, 202630 min

Financial Freedom Smarter Not Harder with Ira Kaganovsky – Ep.390

How do you move forward after getting fired, surviving breast cancer, and completely redefining what success looks like? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Ira Kaganovsky, a former Merrill Lynch and Citigroup advisor, successful financial practice owner, entrepreneur, and breast cancer survivor. Ira's story is one of resilience, tenacity, sales, and knowing when to let go of the plan you originally created. After three friends were diagnosed with breast cancer, Ira began questioning what she was putting on her body and set out to create a natural deodorant that actually worked. Despite being rejected by 18 spas, she kept going until the Four Seasons saw potential in her product and gave her an opportunity to change her packaging. This episode is about sustainable high performance, burnout prevention, and the importance of being willing to "kill the baby" when your business needs to evolve. What You Will Learn: How getting fired can become the catalyst for entrepreneurship. Why entrepreneurial thinking does not always fit within traditional corporate structures. How to replace the dollars-for-hours mindset with an ROI-focused approach. Why working smarter can create greater results while reducing burnout. How leveraging one major client can open the door to an entirely new market. Why sales are essential to turning an idea into a sustainable business. How to recognize when your business is telling you to change direction. Why entrepreneurs should avoid becoming emotionally attached to their original product or business model. How Ira pivoted her company when COVID eliminated her primary spa distribution channel. Why profitability matters when you want to grow, raise capital, or continue making an impact. How launching before everything is perfect can create opportunities that waiting may prevent. Why entrepreneurs need to prioritize marketing rather than simply creating more products. How resilience, tenacity, and adaptability can help entrepreneurs navigate major disruptions. The surprising story behind the Freedom brand name and its hummingbird logo. Connect with Ira Kaganovsky Freedom Deodorant https://freedomdeodorant.com/ Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic [5X Award-Winning Book] Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds Email: listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

August 12, 202628 min

Finding Your Way Back to Yourself with Desislava Dimitrova – Ep.389

What if the life you thought would make you happy is actually the thing disconnecting you from yourself? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Desislava Dimitrova, a meditation teacher, bestselling author, podcast speaker, and transformational guide. Desislava shares how her early vision of corporate success quickly began to unravel when the reality of long hours, competition, and an environment that didn't align with her values began affecting her physical and emotional well-being. Her first yoga class became an unexpected doorway into a deeper spiritual awakening and a reconnection with herself. This episode explores what happens when the version of success you've been pursuing no longer fits, how physical and emotional signals can reveal deeper misalignment, and why creating space to reconnect with yourself can open the door to a completely different way of living and working. What You Will Learn: How physical and emotional symptoms can signal that your current environment is no longer aligned with who you are. Why the definition of success you inherited may not actually create happiness or fulfillment. How yoga and meditation can become gateways to greater self-awareness and spiritual awakening. Why reconnecting with your authentic self can change the direction of your career and life. How motherhood influenced the decision to prioritize flexibility, presence, and purpose. How a personal health crisis can become a catalyst for deeper healing and transformation. What a personalized primordial sound mantra is and how it can be incorporated into a meditation practice. How consistent meditation can help quiet the mind, release emotions, and create greater peace. Why spiritual practices work differently for each person and each moment. How creating space for stillness can help you become more present to what you need right now. Connect with Desislava Dimitrova Website https://www.desi-divine.com/ Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic [5X Award-Winning Book] Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds Email: listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

August 5, 2026Episode 38829 min

Rewriting Your Money Story with Debbie Dobbins – Ep.388

What happens when you've achieved financial success by following the traditional playbook, only to realize it has left you burned out, disconnected, and unfulfilled? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Debbie Dobbins, speaker, author, and transformational mentor, helping women and conscious entrepreneurs rewrite their relationship with money, success, and self-worth. After building successful businesses and earning millions, Debbie's life took an unexpected turn when she faced cancer, financial collapse, and the challenge of rebuilding from scratch. Rather than allowing those experiences to define her, she discovered a deeper understanding of abundance rooted in self-worth, feminine leadership, intuition, and courage. This episode explores how women can release outdated beliefs around money, stop living by the masculine hustle model, and create lasting prosperity by becoming fully aligned with who they truly are. What You Will Learn: Why your money story influences every financial decision you make. How burnout often signals a disconnect from your authentic self. The hidden cost of following the masculine success playbook. Why feminine energy is essential for sustainable leadership and abundance. How micro acts of courage build confidence and expand your capacity for success. The role gratitude and breathwork play in shifting your relationship with money. Why true wealth begins with believing you are already worthy. How entrepreneurs can avoid recreating corporate burnout in their own businesses. Why intuition is becoming one of today's most valuable leadership skills. How releasing limiting beliefs opens the door to greater abundance and impact. Connect with Debbie Dobbins Website https://thedebbiedobbins.com/ Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic [5X Award-Winning Book] Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds Email: listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

July 29, 2026Episode 38729 min

Turn Authentic Relationships Into Referral Revenue with Sarah Hubbard – Ep.387

What if the key to growing your business isn't finding more leads but building better relationships? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Sarah Hubbard, founder of The Intentional Network and author of The Intentional Networker. Today, 85% of her multi-million-dollar business comes from referral partnerships, and she's helped hundreds of entrepreneurs generate millions in referral revenue using her proven MAPP Framework. Sarah shares how listening to your deeper calling, creating intentional relationships, and refining your message can transform both your business and your life. Whether you're preparing to leave corporate, growing a consultancy, or simply tired of chasing clients, this conversation will show you how connection truly creates capital. What You Will Learn: Why authentic relationships outperform traditional networking strategies. How listening to repeated signs can reveal your next calling. The importance of building a business that aligns with your strengths and values. What the MAPP Framework is and how it creates referral-based growth. Why mindset and intentionality are the foundation of successful networking. How authentic presence builds trust faster than scripted conversations. Ways to craft clear, memorable messaging that generates referrals. Why specificity makes it easier for others to introduce ideal clients. How purposeful follow-through strengthens long-term business relationships. The difference between operating as a technician versus a business owner. How AI can simplify content creation and business preparation. Why honoring your natural personality leads to more sustainable success. Connect with Sarah Hubbard Website https://sarah-hubbard.com/ Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic [5X Award-Winning Book] Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds Email: listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

July 22, 2026Episode 38630 min

Stop Choosing Toxic Relationships with Chaya Garcia – Ep.386

Why do so many successful women thrive in business but struggle to find lasting love? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Chaya Garcia, The Epic Love Expert, a relationship expert and founder of the growing #LoveLighter movement. Chaya shares how her own journey through toxic relationships, codependency, and self-discovery inspired her mission to help women attract emotionally healthy, lasting partnerships. Whether you're navigating dating, marriage, or simply learning to trust yourself again, this conversation offers powerful wisdom for choosing yourself first. What You Will Learn: Why high-achieving women often struggle with healthy romantic relationships. The difference between chemistry and emotional safety. How to recognize relationship red flags from the very beginning. Why hope can sometimes keep women stuck in unhealthy situations. The importance of aligning words with actions. How self-love influences every relationship you create. Why emotional sobriety matters as much as physical sobriety. The connection between toxic relationships and unhealthy work environments. How asking better questions leads to better relationship choices. Why letting go can create space for the love you truly deserve. Connect with Chaya Garcia Website https://connectwithchaya.com/ Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic [5X Award-Winning Book] Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds Email: listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

July 15, 202630 min

Activating Women to Lead and Thrive with Raina Gandhi – Ep.385

What if your career hiatus wasn't a gap, but the foundation for your most impactful work? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Raina Gandhi, a powerhouse advocate for women in leadership and the founder and CEO of Rising Tide Consulting. After an 11-year hiatus to raise her daughters, Raina returned to the professional world with a Wharton MBA and an investment banking background, only to find a corporate landscape that often felt misaligned with her values. Her journey through burnout, the challenges of re-entry, and navigating workplace barriers led her to discover her true calling: activating other women to navigate these same hurdles and step confidently into leadership roles. Through coaching, workshops, and research-backed strategies, Raina now equips women with the tools to tackle self-advocacy, negotiation, and gender equity. This conversation is an inspiring look at how to lead on your own terms and ensure that when women stay in the workforce, they don't just survive—they thrive. What You Will Learn: Why an 11-year career hiatus can be a catalyst for professional reinvention and purpose. How to recognize the symptoms of burnout in high-stakes roles like investment banking. Why "life deciding for you" can be a powerful redirection toward your true calling. The critical importance of visibility and representation for women of color in leadership. How to navigate workplace barriers such as information gatekeeping and bullying. Why the skills that get you to a director level aren't the same ones needed for the C-suite. The importance of shifting from male-centric negotiation tactics to authentic self-advocacy. How to manage the transition from being an individual contributor to leading and scaling a business. Why having a "blueprint" and a partner is essential for entrepreneurial success. How to scale your impact by shifting focus toward speaking and group leadership programs. Connect with Raina Gandhi Rising Tide Consulting http://risingtideconsultingllc.com Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic [5X Award-Winning Book] Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds Email: listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

July 8, 2026Episode 38430 min

Build the Business That Builds Your Future with Jennifer Johnson – Ep.384

What if the biggest obstacle to building the life and business you want isn't your circumstances, but your willingness to take the first step? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Jennifer Johnson, founder of True Fashionistas, Florida's largest lifestyle resale store, entrepreneur, business coach, best-selling author, and host of the Confident Entrepreneur podcast. Jennifer shares the setbacks, betrayals, pivots, and powerful mindset shifts that shaped her entrepreneurial journey. She also explains why building a personal brand before exiting your business creates lasting freedom and opportunity. If you've been wondering whether it's too late to reinvent yourself, this inspiring conversation will encourage you to stop waiting, trust yourself, and begin creating your own destiny. What You Will Learn: Why it's never too late to reinvent yourself or pursue a new calling. How starting a side business can reduce the risk of becoming an entrepreneur. Why unlimited income potential comes from creating your own opportunities. How setbacks and betrayal can become catalysts for greater success. Why hiring based on core values builds stronger, more resilient teams. The importance of asking for help and working with coaches or consultants. How shifting from "Why is this happening to me?" to "What is this teaching me?" transforms adversity into growth. Why every entrepreneur should intentionally build a personal brand before exiting their business. How stepping out of daily operations empowers both your business and your leadership. Why lasting success is built one intentional step at a time. Connect with Jennifer Johnson Website https://jenniferannjohnson.com/ Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic [5X Award-Winning Book] Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds Email: listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com