Women leaders -- directors, vice presidents, C-suite executives -- are breaking up with their employers in unprecedented numbers. Why? Because ambitious women, these days, are much less willing to stay at companies that don't offer career opportunities comparable to their male peers.  Corporate America is at a "Critical Crossroads" for diverse talent, according to the influential "Women in the Workplace 2022" study, the largest, annual study of women in corporate America. Terry Barclay, president and CEO of Inforum Michigan, who has had her finger on the pulse of women professionals for decades, talks with Anne about the warning signs flashing throughout the 2022 research.

Matilda Dodge Wilson, one of the richest and most accomplished women in the world in the early 20th Century, is known more today for marrying her boss, one of the founders of the Dodge Motor Car Company, and building Meadowbrook Hall, now a National Historic Landmark, that she donated along with her 1,400 acre estate to found Michigan's Oakland University. But she was so much more than that. An immigrant who rose to incredible heights, Dodge-Wilson was a legendary philanthropist, a women's rights activist, named one of the most prominent woman in U.S. banking, and the first woman to be named Lieutenant Governor of a state. Her story and incredible legacy are finally being told, thanks to the work of my guest, Madelyn Rzadkowolski, Director of Curatorial Services at Michigan's stunning Meadowbrook Hall.

A major scandal has just erupted in women's soccer, one of the world's fastest growing sports. An in-depth, independent investigation of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) found extensive emotional abuse and sexual misconduct by coaches. "Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture in women's soccer, beginning in youth leagues, that normalizes verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players," wrote former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Q. Yates in her scathing report. The report is deeply disturbing and hopefully will trigger significant change urgently needed to protect female soccer players from abusers and predators.    In the meantime, the sport and fan base continue to grow, as evidenced by the Corktown Women's Football Club, Detroit's first women's professional soccer team, preparing to kick off its inaugural season in May 2023. I talk with Owner and Coach Aaron Roy and Center Midfielder Lauren Bos.

More than 60 Million people working in the USA are affected by workplace bullying, according to the Workplace Bullying Institute. Whether it's sexual harassment, racial discrimination or other negative behaviors, a toxic workplace can be devastating to our self-confidence.  I know, because it's happened to me more than once!  Business Coach Zenica Chatman turned her own bullying experience into her business coaching specialty. Her six-week, virtual course, Surviving Corporate, is the first step to reclaiming your MOJO and getting "back in the saddle" after workplace setbacks. Listen here or your favorite podcast platform to learn how to recognize, survive and power back up to your full potential after toxic workplace experiences.

Since 1999, the suicide rate in the USA has increased 30%. And that's just the tip of the Mental Health Crisis Iceberg in the USA, which the COVID pandemic made even worse. But help is on the way. The 988 National Suicide Prevention Hotline has just been launched and immediate, virtual access to Behavioral Health Urgent Care specialists is growing.  Heather Rae, president and CEO of Common Ground, which has been providing emergency mental health services for 50 years, joins me to talk about the severity of the crisis and the urgency of making emergency mental health help as important as police and fire support.

Leadership coach and former corporate HR executive Kelli Thompson spent years negotiating employee salaries and getting an insider's view of the gender pay gap. Now she wants very woman to know the secret to getting paid what she is worth. You'll learn all that and more in her upcoming book, CLOSING THE CONFIDENCE GAP: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential and Your Paycheck.  Kelli shares with Anne what she's learned about the challenges aspiring women face in today's post-COVID workplace and the skills needed to successfully navigate 21st Century career journeys that are STILL rougher for women.

Horse lovers of every age will love meeting three highly-skilled horsewomen of different generations and very different riding disciplines. Michelle Conrad, dressage; Sarah Mauzey, western performance; and Caroline Berg, hunter/jumper were all little girls who loved horses and have found ways to keep these magnificent spirits in their lives. This episode will inspire horse lovers of any age to answer the call of the hoofbeats in their hearts.

The Gen Z generation, which is just coming of age as young adults, is the most educated generation in history, with 57% of 18-21 year olds in college or advanced training.  Gen Z young women and teenage girls are already indicating they may be the most socially conscious and political active generation of females the world has ever seen. Forget all the complaining about what's wrong with Gen Z's and listen to the voices of Oakland University seniors Ashlyn Smith and Tayler Swartz. future change agents just hitting their stride.  I hope you are inspired as I was by their insights on social media, gender bias, their sheroes, their fears and how they plan to change the world.

Motorsports legend Lyn St. James, named one of Sports Illustrated's Top 100 Athletes of the 20th Century, is still blazing new trails. Just months away from her induction into the prestigious Automotive Hall of Fame, Lyn has paired up with race team owner Beth Paretta to launch Women in Motorsports North America. Lyn and I renewed our friendship, which began decades ago through Ford Motor Company, with this fascinating conversation about overcoming fear, her new leadership roles in NA and global motorsports governing bodies and her vision for growing women's involvement in auto racing.

Energy Healing, once considered "alternative medicine," is steadily growing in credibility as a valuable tool in an integrative approach to mental, physical and emotional health. For over 20 years, Energy healer, intuitive and educator, Elaine Grohman has been helping individuals to tap into the power of the energy that is all around us. Most recently she has been asked to lecture at medical, nursing and hospice schools where today's students are more open than previous generations to new tools for enhancing health. Grohman believes the world will be a safer and healthier place when we reconnect to the ancient knowledge about humanity's essential and intimate connection with the Energy of Living Earth.

Executive Consultant and Coach Marsha Clark's renowned POWER OF SELF leadership  program has enabled thousands of women throughout the U.S. and globally to explore, discover and optimize their personal and professional potential. Her expertise and leadership tools are now available to the next generation of women leaders, with the release of her new book, Embracing Your Power: A Woman's Path to Authentic Leadership and Meaningful Relationships. Marsha joins Anne to share her take on the challenges and opportunities that the COVID pandemic has created for women, and how growing up with a special needs Sister shaped her vision for authentic leadership.

March 15 is Equal Pay Day, which is how long white women -- who earn about 83 cents for every dollar earned by the average man -- need to work in order to earn the same that men in similar positions earned by the end of last year.  But the gender pay gap is even worse for women of color, with Latina women at the very bottom of the gender and racial pay gap, earning an average of only 49 cents for every dollar earned by white men. JoAnn Chavez, a SVP with a major Michigan energy company and one of the Most Influential Women in Michigan sees the issue as not only hurting individual women, but also a serious waste of economic power that she is committed to change. The granddaughter of immigrant, Mexican farmworkers Chavez shares her remarkable leadership journey, as well as insights on what she's learned about how and when to strategically raise your voice to make a powerful difference.

Nichole Kraatz, Chief Vehicle Engineer for General Motors' 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV pick-up, shares insider insight on why a battery-powered, full-size truck with a range of up to 400 miles per charge is not just revolutionary, but is powerful evidence that the future of vehicle transportation is all about electric. Kraatz attributes the influence of her older brother and cousin, as well as the advice -- "Be bold, but respectful" -- of her Italian immigrant grandfather as invaluable to her effectiveness in the still male-dominated world of automotive engineering and manufacturing.

What do you think of when you hear the word Tomboy? Does it bring back memories of you playing football with the boys and preferring blue jeans to princess dresses? Or would it feel like an insult if someone said it about you, as a young girl, or your daughter or granddaughter? Lisa Selin Davis, author of the new book, TOMBOY, sheds light on how the word's meaning has changed dramatically through history and why it’s changing meaning is directly related to today's complex and often conflicting conversations and beliefs about gender and gender identity.

With  medical marijuana now allowed in 36 U.S. states, recreational use legal in 18 and CBD products appearing everywhere from gas stations to health store grocery shelves, Cannabis is now an $18 billion market and growing fast.  But what should we know about marijuana and the multitude of CBD products, for everything from insomnia to pain relief, before dipping our toes in these new waters -- whether for health or a relaxing alternative to alcohol? Annette Compo, President & Founder of the Care by Design Market family of marijuana-related businesses, and a grower, a developer of CBD products and a wholesale and retail distributor of Michigan-grown cannabis, pulls back the curtain on the mysteries, wellness potential and rapid mindset changes around a potent plant that has sent thousands to prison.

Have you ever fantasized about the American West? I have, as have millions from all over the world. So many that there is now a genre of literature, "The American West." So I was thrilled to discover an organization of "Women Writing the West (WWW)," which is female authors (and some male) whose characters, stories and settings reflect the distinct cultures, geography and history of this important and distinct part of the United States.  Betsy Randolph is a widely-read, mystery author, including her noted Cat Carlyle Mysteries, the president of Women Writing the West and one of the first female officers in both the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Capital Patrol promoted to leadership roles. She joins me to talk about writing, growing up as a "tom-boy" and her reaction to the arrest of the parents of the suspect in the latest school shooting that occurred in my community of Oxford, Michigan.

Do you have a passion or a dream that you have been putting off? There is no better time than NOW for planning and then living your "Second & Third Act" careers.  Katana Abbott, Mid-Life Millionaire Coach, Founder of the Smart Women's Empowerment companies, and host of Smart Women Talk, left her very successful Financial Planning career to become a pathfinder to show other women how to do the same. Katana and Anne talk about the five money personalities that shape our financial decision-making, her six-step process for successful financial/life planning and why retiring in another country is a great idea!  For her free Mid-Life Millionaire Life-Style Guide, click here.

Historical fantasy author Laurel Anne Hill joins Anne to talk about her newest book, PLAGUE OF FLIES: Revolt of the Spirits, 1846.  On the back of a black, Andalusian stallion, readers are whisked back in time to the western section of Mexican Alta California in the mid-19th Century. Guide for the adventure, Catalina Delgado, is a courageous, Mexican teenager fighting for her family, her country and the "old ways" that are under attack in a rapidly changing world. Hill is a strong advocate for the value of reading to develop imagination and the importance of girls meeting strong female role models through books. A member of Women Writing the West, Hill shares her path as a writer, as well as tips on getting started on that book you always wanted to write!

Has the massive COVID-19 disruption, which revealed deep fault lines in our culture and economy, created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for women to lead the changes needed to begin fully tapping human potential? Gloria Feldt, a nationally-recognized thought leader, author and president of Take the Lead, says "Yes!" Feldt joins Anne to talk about the leadership tools, skills and concepts in her newest book, INTENTIONING, which will help women take the leadership lessons from the pandemic to achieve their own highest purpose and create a better world for ALL by finally breaking through the remaining barriers to gender and racial parity.

This episode is a change of pace, as Life Coach Julie Foucht, puts me into the interview chair for her, "The Art of Feminine Business" podcast.  A few of our topics include:  The difference between "power over" and "power too;" the importance of having the courage to challenge bias when you witness it; and why women must bring our talent and knowledge to the table to help move the human family forward.