Podcast
She Became CEO
Hosted by ILZE BE BERZINA · EN
She Became CEO is for people who feel behind and want to take leadership of their lives again.
Many have worked hard, carried responsibilities, supported others, and still feel unsettled financially, professionally, or personally. This podcast creates space to think clearly about what comes next.
We talk about:
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Rebuilding financial stability in midlife
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Communication as a leadership skill
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Hormones, metabolism, and cognitive performance
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Nervous system regulation and stress
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Reinvention grounded in practical action
I speak with experts — clinicians, entrepreneurs, researchers — to translate complex ideas into usable insight.
I also speak with people willing to share their lived experience. Real change happens when knowledge meets honesty.
This podcast connects health, wealth, and voice — because long-term performance depends on all three.
If you are ready to move forward with clarity and responsibility, you are welcome here.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
E63 | The Networking Mistake Nobody Talks About (And How to Fix It)
2w ago00:11:52Tap to summarizeEveryone talks about following up after networking events. Fewer people talk about why most of that follow-up goes nowhere — and almost nobody talks about the real opportunity that most business owners walk past every single time. In this episode, I react to networking expert Cass Thompson's five most common networking mistakes. I agree with most of what she says — but I also have some reservations, and I share them honestly. Then I reveal what I think is the biggest missed networking opportunity of all. It has nothing to do with your elevator pitch, your business card, or your LinkedIn profile. It has everything to do with how you walk into the room and who you're actually looking for when you get there. I also share a real example from my own event organizing background that shows exactly how collaboration between business owners can create opportunities none of them could create alone. This is also my second unscripted episode — let me know in the comments if you prefer this format. In this episode: Cass Thompson's five networking mistakes and my honest reaction to each Why the standard follow-up advice is harder to execute than it sounds The one networking opportunity almost nobody is talking about A real example of what business collaboration could look like in practice Why your ideal client probably isn't in the networking room — and where the real opportunity is Mentioned in this episode: Cass Thompson — networking and connections expert and podcaster She Became CEO podcast — available wherever you listen to podcasts Have you made any of these networking mistakes? Are you planning to approach your next event differently? Leave a comment and let me know. And if you're enjoying the unscripted format, I'd love to hear that too. Follow or subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.
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E62 | What Is Your Podcast's Job? How I Redefined Mine After Trauma and Burnout
3w ago00:10:40Tap to summarizeEvery podcast needs a job. That's what Neil Veglio of B2B Podcasting Insights said in an episode I couldn't stop thinking about. And it made me ask myself a question I had been avoiding: what is the job of mine? In this episode, I'm being honest about something. I started She Became CEO to heal from a complex trauma. That was its job. And for a while, it worked. But somewhere along the way, I got pulled into the mainstream — interviews, pitches, guests — and drifted away from what I actually wanted to say. So I'm course-correcting. More solo episodes. Less scripting. More of my natural voice, unfiltered. I also share why I'm moving away from scripted episodes even though I've worked hard on every script, and who is currently inspiring me to show up more unapologetically — even if she's not someone everyone will like. If you've ever wondered why your content feels too polished to be real, or if you're a podcaster questioning whether your show is doing what it's actually supposed to do — this one is for you. In this episode: What Neil Veglio's question "what is your podcast's job?" made me realize about mine Why I started She Became CEO — and how trauma shaped those first 20 episodes How interviewing guests pulled me away from my original voice Why I'm shifting to unscripted solo episodes The podcaster who inspired me to be more unapologetic — and what I'm borrowing from her approach Mentioned in this episode: B2B Podcasting Insights — Neil Veglio Shamina Taylor — The Unapologetically Rich podcast She Became CEO — available wherever you listen to podcasts If this episode resonated, follow the show and leave a comment. It helps more than you know.
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E61 | Invisible Value: Monetizing the Skills You Take for Granted in Midlife
4w ago00:12:00Tap to summarizeWhat if the most valuable thing you have is the thing you've stopped seeing? This episode started with a breakfast conversation. I had been listening to The Huberman Lab — Scott Galloway was the guest — and I couldn't stop thinking about what he said about the mentorship crisis facing young men today. The statistics are sobering: young men are four times as likely to kill themselves, three times as likely to become addicted, and twelve times as likely to be incarcerated as their female peers. And the single most common turning point? The loss of a male role model. I bring this home with a personal story about my older son and the rowing coach who stepped in when no one else did — teaching not just sport, but life skills, character, and what it means to be part of a tribe. But this episode isn't only about men or mentorship. It's about a blind spot most of us in midlife share: the inability to see the value in what we know, simply because we've always known it. I share my own version of this — how I turned my native Latvian language into a structured, properly priced digital offering while others were trading hours for dollars with no certainty of income. The larger question I'm asking in this episode is one worth sitting with: what did our elders used to do that the modern world forgot to replace? And what happens to a society when the people with the most to give don't realize they have anything to offer? In this episode: What Scott Galloway and Andrew Huberman said about the male mentorship crisis — and why it matters beyond gender The rowing coach who built a tribe and changed my son's life Why the skills most invisible to you are often most valuable to others The difference between trading time for money and building something with what you already know Why midlife may be exactly the right time to start — not in spite of your experience, but because of it Resources & mentions: The Huberman Lab podcast — episode featuring Scott Galloway Sigil & Sisterhood gatherings — intimate in-person experiences in the Winston-Salem, NC area ILZE BE LLC — SheBecameCEO.com If this episode resonated, share it with someone in midlife who has more to offer than they realize.
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E60 | How I Use Ancient Symbols and Tesla's Numbers to Help Midlife Entrepreneurs Find Clarity
Apr 2500:23:13Tap to summarizeMost of us try to build a business with words. A mission statement. A vision document. A goal-setting template. But what if the most important things you want to build toward do not actually live in language at all? In this episode, I open with something unexpected — a summary of myself generated by an AI after a week of working together. What came back was not just a professional profile. It was a mirror. And it raised a question worth sitting with: what does it mean to be genuinely multifaceted in a world that keeps asking you to pick one thing? From there, I move into territory She Became CEO has never explored before. The neuroscience of how the brain processes symbols differently from words. The oldest continuously used symbol system in Europe — hiding in plain sight in Latvian folk costumes and woven belts since the Iron Age. Tesla's 3, 6, and 9. A birth date that encodes yin and yang and 111. And the ancient practice of sigil work — encoding intention into a personal symbol created by your own hand — as a starting point for building a business from the inside out. This is episode 60. The bridge number. Something has been growing underground. Today it comes above the ground. In this episode: What the AI said about me after one week — and why it matters for anyone who has ever struggled to explain what they do in one sentence. Why symbols activate a broader network in the brain than words do — and what that means for how you set intentions. The Latvian ornamental tradition and why women have been encoding prosperity and protection into geometric symbols since the Iron Age. What a sigil is, where the word comes from, and how to create one using NLP principles. Tesla's numbers, vortex math, and one very interesting birth date. Four in-person experiences I am designing around vision, numbers, colors, and voice — and the larger vision they are building toward. A Midsummer night in North Carolina on June 20th into June 21st — and an invitation to be there. Mentioned or referenced: Tesla's 3, 6, and 9 — vortex math Episode 58 — The Seed Story The Sigil & Sisterhood gathering — coming soon Jāņi — Latvian Midsummer celebration If something in this episode made you feel seen: Reach out directly or stay close via the newsletter — including what is coming this Midsummer. 🔗 shebecameceo.com/podcast-newsletter-subscription/ About She Became CEO I am Ilze Berzina — Amen University Certified Brain Health Coach, business mentor, and guide for women navigating midlife transition. I come from a maternal lineage of Latvian women with intuitive gifts and bring thirty years of entrepreneurial experience to every conversation.
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E59 | Health, Business, and Becoming Your Own Advocate with Dr. Heather Skeens
Apr 1900:40:58Tap to summarizeThis episode brings together two themes that run through this podcast: health and money—and how closely they are connected, especially in the second half of life. I sit down with Dr. Heather Skeens, a physician with a rare combination of expertise in ophthalmology and functional medicine, and the founder behind multiple ventures that aim to rethink how we approach health. In this conversation, we talk about what happens when the traditional healthcare system looks at the body in parts—and what becomes possible when someone chooses to see the whole person instead. Dr. Skeens shares the personal turning point that changed how she practices medicine, and why she believes patients must become active participants in their own care. Her message is simple, but not easy: listen to your body first, ask questions, and do not stop until you understand the “why.” At the same time, she speaks directly to healthcare providers, reminding them that patients often reveal the answers—if someone is willing to listen carefully enough. We also move into entrepreneurship. Dr. Skeens explains how she made the decision to leave a traditional practice model and build something of her own, even without formal business training. Her perspective on risk, independence, and purpose will resonate with anyone in midlife who is questioning whether it is too late—or too complicated—to start over. If you are someone who feels that your energy, clarity, or health is not where it should be… if you have been told everything looks “normal,” but you know it is not… or if you are thinking about building something new but worry your body may not keep up—this conversation will give you a different way to look at both your health and your choices. Dr. Skeens is the author of Unshackled: Why Medicine Is Failing Doctors (and Patients) —and How We Can Break Free, a book written for both patients and physicians, calling for a more human, connected, and root-cause approach to care. You can learn more about her work through her website (BellaSeeBeauty), her company Aligness, and her presence on platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. This is a conversation about responsibility, awareness, and possibility—at a stage of life where many people begin to realize that both health and financial freedom require more intentional choices. Host: Ilze Be Berzina https://ilzebe.com https://shebecameceo.com Guest: Heather Skeens, MD CFMP Link to Heather Skeen's book "Unshackled: Why Medicine Is Failing Doctors (and Patients) —and How We Can Break Free" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unshackled-Medicine-Failing-Doctors-Patients/dp/1953183972/ Links to BellaSeeBeauty and Aligness, Heather Skeen's businesses mentioned in this episode: https://bellaseebeauty.com/ https://alignessq.com/
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E58 | Three Stories for Easter: A Boat, a Rope, and a Seed
Apr 500:08:11Tap to summarizeThree Stories for Easter: A Boat, a Rope, and a Seed Stories have a way of reaching us differently than direct advice. In this episode, I share three simple stories—not to explain them, but to invite you to think. Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of communication. It works through images, metaphors, and meaning that often speak directly to the subconscious. That is why the same story can feel different depending on when you hear it and what you are going through. This episode is an opportunity to slow down and notice how stories influence the way we interpret situations, make decisions, and structure our thinking. Without overanalyzing, you may begin to see: How storytelling shapes perception How metaphors carry meaning beyond words how certain patterns of thinking can be restructured simply by seeing something differently how messages that seem simple on the surface can reveal deeper insight over time If you are interested in communication, messaging, and the role of storytelling in personal and professional life, this episode offers a different way to learn—through metaphors that resonate with you. Sometimes, the most effective way to learn is not through explanation, but through reflection. Listen, and notice what stands out to you. Reach out for storytelling and messaging support at info@ilzebe.com
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What E57 | What Happened When a Simple Call Turned Into a Political Conversation
Mar 2900:22:05Tap to summarizeA simple birthday call turned into a conversation about politics—and a reminder of how quickly people form strong opinions about complex decisions. In this episode, I reflect on that moment and take it further by working through a detailed and highly opinionated article by a Latvian journalist. I walk through her arguments, her historical references, and her perspective on Iran, global conflict, and recent geopolitical decisions. You will hear about: how narratives are formed and repeated what happens when facts, interpretations, and emotions get mixed together why large-scale events become simplified into labels and what it takes to speak about difficult topics without avoiding them This is an episode about thinking, speaking, and staying grounded when the subject is emotionally charged. If you’ve ever hesitated to express your thoughts because a topic felt too complex or too controversial, this episode will give you a different way to approach it. If you want to express your ideas more clearly, handle difficult conversations with more confidence, and build stronger messaging in your personal or professional life, reach out to me.
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E56 | Working Internationally, Cultural Differences & Latvia Through American Eyes
Mar 2200:53:02Tap to summarizeIf you’ve ever worked with people from different cultures, traveled abroad, or simply wondered why people behave so differently depending on where they are, this episode will likely stay with you. In this conversation, I invited someone who knows me well—my partner, Scott—to share what he noticed when stepping into my world: Latvia, my background, and the way I see people, business, and culture. We talk about what it actually feels like to move between countries—not as a tourist, but as someone trying to understand how people think, communicate, and work. You’ll hear: What changes when you work with international teams Why the same behavior can mean something completely different in another culture What surprised him most about Latvia, from daily life to deeper history The difference between surface-level friendliness and real connection Why Americans (and not only Americans) often misunderstand the rest of the world How travel forces you to question your own assumptions There’s also a more personal layer in this episode. If you’ve followed me for a while, disappeared with me, and are now seeing me return, you’ll understand more about what my life looks like behind the scenes. This is not a structured interview. It’s a real conversation. And somewhere in it, there’s a message I think matters: You can’t understand people—or business—without understanding context. In this episode, I also mention my webpage https://ilzebe.com/careers The URL of the podcast website is https://shebecameceo.com
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E55 | Hiring Tips for New Entrepreneurs: How to Build a Team and Avoid Costly Mistakes
Mar 1500:20:19Tap to summarizeIf you are starting a business and thinking about hiring help, this episode may save you time, money, and frustration. Many early-stage entrepreneurs quickly discover that coming up with an idea is the easy part. The real challenge begins when you start building a team, outsourcing work, and figuring out how to turn your experience into a functioning business. In this episode, Ilze shares three real stories from her own entrepreneurial journey that offer practical lessons for new and aspiring entrepreneurs. You will learn: Hiring tips for beginner entrepreneurs how to recognize red flags when outsourcing work why the cheapest service provider can become the most expensive mistake how previous experience can become the foundation for a new business direction why you don’t always need a perfect plan before taking action Ilze also reflects on her experience building and managing a translation company in Latvia, training employees, and working with international teams. Those lessons now inform the work she is developing through ILZE BE LLC, where she supports professionals and organizations with documentation, writing, translation, proofreading, and administrative preparation. This episode is especially relevant if you: • are starting a business with limited resources • are thinking about hiring your first contractors or assistants • want practical entrepreneur tips based on real experience You will also hear Ilze’s perspective on passion projects, persistence, and building a business later in life — especially for women transitioning into a new phase after raising families. If you are trying to turn your experience into something meaningful and sustainable, this episode will give you ideas to think about before making your next move. For coaching or collaboration inquiries: support@shebecameceo.com
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E54 | An Important Conversation through Art: Latvian Singer Atvara & Her Contest Winning Song
Mar 800:25:40Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I explore how storytelling can happen through stage art. Using the performance of Latvian singer Atvara, whose song “Ēna” won Latvia’s national Eurovision selection contest Supernova, I look at how music, staging, and visual effects can communicate a powerful story—even when the audience does not understand the lyrics. To test how effective that storytelling is, I also share reactions from several YouTubers who watched the performance without knowing Latvian and tried to interpret the visuals. You can listen to this episode as audio, but if you enjoy the intersection of music, art, and technology, you may also want to watch the video version on my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@SheBecameCEO
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