Sydney Key and Priscilla Olivarez reflect on an incredible season, share their journeys, and reveal the new co-host for Season 4!
S3E23 Tom Nolan: Fashion, Family, and the Future of Kendra Scott
We’re joined by Tom Nolan, CEO of Kendra Scott, to talk leadership, growth, and what it’s like to lead a female-driven brand. From Ralph Lauren to Condé Nast to Kendra Scott, Tom’s journey is all about purpose, people, and staying true to your values.
S3E22 KS WELI Student Board 2025 Seniors Pt. 2: Kayla Akly, Vanessa Chen, & Kirsten Shin
We’re celebrating three more incredible seniors — Kayla Akly, Vanessa Chen, & Kirsten Shin — and their amazing journeys with KS WELI and beyond. Kayla, Vanessa, and Kirsten share their leadership experiences, advice for future Student Board members, and what’s next after graduation.
S3E21 KS WELI Student Board 2025 Seniors Pt. 1: Puja Satish, Kena Desai, & Grecia Angeles
We’re celebrating three incredible seniors — Puja Satish, Kena Desai, and Grecia Angeles — and their amazing journeys with KS WELI and beyond. Puja, Kena, and Grecia share their leadership experiences, advice for future Student Board members, and what’s next after graduation.
S3E20 Amira Khatib: Hungry for Innovation, Investing for Impact
We’re joined by Amira Khatib, Principal at Bluestein Ventures, a venture capital firm transforming the future of food, wellness, and commerce. Amira shares her journey to venture capital, how she’s empowering founders to reshape the food system, and the lessons she’s learned about staying curious, owning your story, and building an authentic career.
S3E18 Marina Middleton: Creating Impact, Cultivating Connection
We’re joined by Marina Middleton, CEO and Partner at Create & Cultivate, the powerhouse behind the world’s largest events and media platform for women in business. Marina dives into building confidence, personal branding, and breaking barriers as a first-time CEO and woman of color in business. Her journey is all about showing up unapologetically and creating space for others to …
S3E14 Alma Hernandez: Soaring Beyond Barriers in Leadership
In this episode, we’re joined by Lieutenant Colonel Alma K. Hernandez, Commander of the 566th Intelligence Squadron at Buckley Space Force Base. With over 15 years of service, including roles with the NSA, DIA, and multiple combat deployments, she shares her passion for empowering women in leadership and offers insights on overcoming imposter syndrome, setting boundaries, and thriving in high-pressure …
S3E2 Whitney McElwain: Shaping the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, One Player at a Time
In this episode, we sit down with Whitney McElwain, KS WELI’s new Director and a founder, investor, and advocate for female entrepreneurs. From her early days at Red Bull, working in venture capital, to launching her own brand, Daybird, Whitney shares her journey, passion for empowering women, and insights into creating a more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem.
S2E18 Jessica Yang & Vani Jain: From Students to Graduates – Celebrating KS WELI Student Board Seniors
This episode explores the journey of graduating seniors, Jessica Yang and Vani Jain, from UT Austin and the KS WELI Student Board share their journey from students to graduates, reflecting on their time in leadership roles and discussing their plans for the future. They offer advice for incoming college freshmen while envisioning their entrepreneurial leadership journey ahead.
S3E1 Sophia Cuerquis: Starting A Platform To Inspire Others
In this episode, we explore Sophia Cuerquis’ inspiring journey from the Philippines to Austin, where she’s transformed her passions into successful ventures. Sophia, a dynamic entrepreneur, content creator, and personal creative director, shares her path to success, highlighting the importance of family, launching a clothing brand, and hosting a podcast. Tune in to hear her story of fearless entrepreneurship, creativity, …
S2E24 Sheena Wilde: Defining Purpose Through Intrapreneurship and Creating Philanthropic Impact at Kendra Scott
In this episode, we explore Sheena Wilde’s journey and her impactful role at Kendra Scott. As the Senior Vice President of Corporate Philanthropy & the Kendra Scott Foundation, Sheena is responsible for all philanthropic strategy, growth, and implementation. She oversees local and national programs, including the Kendra Scott Foundation, which aims to empower women and youth in health, wellness, education, …
S2E21 Elizabeth Findlay: Navigating Authenticity and Embracing Failure in Brand Building
In this episode, we highlight Elizabeth (Liz) Findlay’s story and gain insight into her journey of establishing Albion. Raised in Guatemala, her family owned and operated a clothing factory where they manufactured technical apparel for top U.S.-based fashion brands. However, Liz and her husband, Dave (Co-CEO), had to make a hard decision to close the factory and start their new …
How to Make the Most of Fall in Austin
Sophomore Lauren Sitrin shares tips for enjoying fall in Austin. Pumpkin Nights offers immersive pumpkin displays and cultural scenes. Sweet Eats Fruit Farm boasts a large pumpkin patch and family-friendly activities like petting zoos and wagon rides. Cozy up at coffee shops like Mozart’s, Cosmic Coffee, Intelligentsia, or Lucky Lab for a pumpkin spice latte. Despite Austin’s lack of typical …
Valentine’s Day at The University of Texas at Austin
Mithra Cama, a freshman at UT Austin, recounts the Valentine’s Day festivities on campus. Speedway was adorned in pink and red, with various events and activities celebrating love. “Bunches of Love” at Jester West allowed students to create flower bouquets, fostering community connection
EmpowerHER Hour: Storytelling During Interviews
Alejandra Acosta, a sophomore at UT Austin, shares insights from KS WELI’s EmpowerHer Hour on storytelling during interviews. Dr. Chela White, Senior Executive Advisor at Indeed, emphasized storytelling’s role in job interviews. The STAR method, focusing on Situation, Task, Action, and Result, helps craft concise yet compelling stories. Audience participation and feedback empowered listeners, while Dr. White advised addressing bias …
Q&A with Student Board VP of Marketing, Ryan Levin
Ryan Levin, KS WELI’s Co-VP of Marketing, discusses her role in managing branded content and enhancing the institute’s Instagram feed via Student Board Content. Learning to facilitate branding while staying true to KS WELI’s style has been rewarding. Leading a committee has honed her leadership skills, boosting creativity.
SheReads Workshop #2 Recap
Lauren Sitrin, a sophomore at UT Austin, recounts the recent SheReads workshop hosted by SB on March 25th, featuring Tiffany and Leon Chen’s “It’s Not Just Cookies.” Participants engaged in a scavenger hunt inspired by the book’s chapters, fostering teamwork and social interaction. The workshop provided insights into Tiff’s Treats’ entrepreneurial journey, igniting excitement for the upcoming panel and book …
EmpowHER Hour: The Story Lab for Impactful Interviewing with Dr. Chela White
Learn to communicate with confidence, craft your story, prepare effectively, and negotiate job offers. After this event, you’ll feel empowered to articulate your narrative cohesively and create your authentic branding.
EmpowerHER: The Empowerment Through Mentorship with the Co-founders of Meli’s Monster Cookies
This dynamic session empowers individuals to realize their full potential, achieve personal and professional growth, and navigate their paths to success. Learn how to find a mentor, make your ask, and maintain the relationship in an interactive environment. Meet Melissa Mehall and Melissa Blue, co-founders of Meli’s Monster Cookies, who share their expertise and journey to inspire and empower mentees
EmpowHER Hour: Building your Professional Network with Marc Nathan
Discover the power of networking with Marc Nathan, Senior Director of Market Development at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP! In this session, learn how to overcome networking fears and leverage mentorship for empowerment. Join Austin Startup Community connector Marc Nathan as he shares practical tips for building and nurturing professional relationships. Don’t miss out on accessing valuable take-home resources to …
S2E12 Natalie Franke: The Power of Finding Your Inner Gutsy and Going Beyond the Comfort Zone
“Go after things and don’t be afraid of sucking” ~ Natalie Franke in ‘Gutsy.’ 🤘💛✨ This episode explores the journey of Natalie Franke, a bestselling author of “Gutsy,” community builder, neuroscience nerd, and “mama bear” for small businesses. As the Head of Community at Flodesk, she empowers tens of thousands of business owners worldwide. During her time at school to …
S2E11 Christy Carlson Romano: Exploring Beyond the Characters on the Entrepreneurial Journey from Voicing Disney Characters and Performing on Broadway to Her Evolution into Podcasting
In this episode, we have Christy Carlson Romano, actress, host, and co-founder of PodCo. From being a Disney icon and best known for her roles as Disney’s “Kim Possible,” and roles in “Even Stevens,” and “Cadet Kelly,” to bringing Disney princess Belle’ to life in the highly acclaimed Beauty and the Beast on Broadway, as well as ‘Kate Monster’ in …
S2E5 Rachel Lindsay: A Conversation of Mixing Law, Love, and Leading with Rachel Lindsay, Author, Media Personality, and Lawyer on Shaping Her Legacy for Better
A new episode is out now! In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Lindsay, author, attorney, media personality, podcaster, and speaker. We delve into Rachel’s inspiring journey, from initially pursuing a law degree, to making history as the first Black lead in the reality TV franchise, specifically on the thirteenth season of ABC’s “The Bachelorette”. She hasn’t stopped there; …
