Podcast
Wickedly Smart Women
Hosted by Anjel B Hartwell & The Creative Age Consulting Group · EN
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.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Human-First Leadership That Drives Real Business Results with Kathy Eastwood – Ep.375
1w ago00:29:21Tap to summarizeWhat if the reason your team isn't performing has nothing to do with strategy and everything to do with leadership? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Kathy Eastwood, CEO and creator of the human-first E3 Leadership Code and a leadership strategist with over thirty years of executive experience across EY, Hewlett-Packard, high-growth startups, and private equity-backed companies. This conversation dives into the real reason most teams struggle, why emotional intelligence is the missing link in leadership. If you've ever questioned your leadership environment, your next career move, or how to build a business that aligns with your values, this episode will challenge how you think about success and performance. What You Will Learn: How misaligned leadership directly impacts culture, performance, and team engagement. What signals indicate it may be time to leave a corporate role and explore something new. How emotional intelligence influences leadership effectiveness and team results. What the E3 Leadership Code is and how it creates sustainable high performance. Why fear-based leadership fails and what to do instead to motivate teams. How to navigate the financial uncertainty of leaving corporate and starting a business. What it really takes to build a people-first organization that drives profit and retention. Connect with Kathy Eastwood E Equals Why https://marketing.eequalswhy.com/e3-leadership-code 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
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Reinventing Your Career Path with Megan Applegate – Ep.374
2w ago00:31:18Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you wake up one day and realize the career you built no longer fits your life? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Megan Applegate, Career Strategist, Certified Personal Consultant, and the founder of Career Blueprint Solutions. Megan shares her powerful journey from a 20-year corporate career in hospitality to building her own business in recruiting and career strategy. What started as a feeling of disconnection and burnout turned into a bold leap into entrepreneurship, without a clear roadmap. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone feeling stuck, questioning their career direction, or ready to make a change but unsure where to start. What You Will Learn: How to recognize the signs that a career is no longer aligned and what to do next. What it means to shift from being a job seeker to someone who attracts opportunities. How to identify and articulate transferable skills when changing industries. Why proficiency in a role does not always equal passion or fulfillment. How to build confidence by understanding your true market value. What it takes to become "market ready" before making a career move. How to navigate career transitions without waiting for a breaking point. Connect with Megan Applegate Career Blueprint Solutions https://www.careerblueprintsolutions.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
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Making Bold, Smart Decisions with Dr. Crystal Gifford – Ep.373
3w ago00:30:25Tap to summarizeWhat if the decision that changes everything isn't about leaving your job but about how you think? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Dr. Crystal Gifford, CEO of EdgeTech Global, a pioneering force in educational leadership, curriculum development, and EdTech integration. This conversation goes deeper than "just leap." It explores the internal and external variables that shape major life decisions, the importance of trusting yourself, and how to build a business that aligns with your values instead of burning you out. If you've been questioning whether it's time to pivot, evolve, or step into something bigger, this episode will help you think more clearly, decide more confidently, and move forward with intention. What You Will Learn: How to recognize the signs that it may be time to make a career or business transition. What factors to consider before deciding to leave a corporate or structured role. How to break down complex decisions into clear, manageable parts. What role self-trust plays in making confident and aligned choices. How personal values influence business and leadership decisions. What it takes to move from employee mindset into entrepreneurial thinking. How decision-making impacts long-term success in business and life. Connect with Dr. Crystal Gifford Edgetech Global https://edgetechglobal.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
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Building People-First Businesses with Sandra Coker – Ep.372
4w ago00:29:35Tap to summarizeWhat if the key to higher profits isn't better marketing or more sales tactics but how you treat your people? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Sandra Coker, CEO of Human Power Solutions and author of People Profit. Sandra shares her powerful journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, sparked by life-changing personal experiences that forced her to rethink everything. Sandra breaks down how investing in employee development directly impacts customer experience, retention, and long-term profitability. This episode is a must-listen for leaders, entrepreneurs, and women navigating what's next, offering both inspiration and actionable strategies to build stronger teams and more sustainable businesses. What You Will Learn: How early life challenges can shape leadership style and drive independence. Why investing in employee development leads directly to increased profitability. The connection between internal team experience and external customer satisfaction. How to transition from corporate life into entrepreneurship with intention. What it takes to grow and scale a seven-figure consulting business. Why asking for help and leveraging mentors accelerates success. How to identify and fix internal organizational gaps that impact performance. Connect with Sandra Coker HP Solutions Book: People Profit: How to Improve Your Bottom Line by Investing in Those 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
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Fixing Workplace Culture with Dr. Trisha Vinatieri – Ep.371
Apr 800:30:03Tap to summarizeBurnout is not a personal failure. It is a systems problem, and today's episode breaks down exactly why. In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Dr. Trisha Vinatieri, a clinical psychologist and organizational development psychologist who has spent nearly two decades treating PTSD and holding various leadership roles within healthcare systems. From her own experience navigating burnout during COVID to stepping into a leadership role focused on wellbeing, Dr. Vinatieri explains why so many high-achieving professionals feel stuck, exhausted, and disconnected from work that once gave them purpose. If you've ever felt like your job is draining you, or you're leading a team that's struggling, this conversation will shift how you think about burnout and what to do next. What You Will Learn: Burnout is driven by systems and environments, not just individual effort. Why healthcare and helping professions experience burnout at higher rates. How workplace culture directly impacts engagement, retention, and wellbeing. The role leaders play in either driving or reducing burnout within teams. How small operational changes can significantly improve daily work experiences. Why connection at work is a critical factor in long-term job satisfaction. How to identify and eliminate unnecessary processes that frustrate teams. The importance of involving frontline staff in problem-solving and decision-making. How to transition from burnout into purpose-driven work that feels aligned. Connect with Dr. Trisha Vinatieri Clinical Care Consulting https://www.linkedin.com/company/clinical-care-consulting/ 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
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Reluctant Leadership & Leaving Corporate with Stacey Bailey – Ep.370
Apr 100:30:30Tap to summarizeWhat happens when your body starts telling you it's time to walk away, even before your mind is ready to admit it? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Stacey Bailey, a leadership coach, strategist, and facilitator who helps entrepreneurs and creative leaders grow businesses with heart. A certified System and Soul™ Implementor and Dare to Lead™ Certified professional, she brings more than 15 years of experience in leadership and operations within the creative services industry. Stacey shares her evolution from accidental leader to COO, and ultimately to entrepreneur, revealing the internal struggles, physical burnout signals, and emotional transitions that led her to make a bold exit. If you've been questioning whether it's time to leave your current role, or wondering how to transition into entrepreneurship without burning out, this episode offers clarity, validation, and a practical path forward. What You Will Learn: Leadership is not about having all the answers but about guiding others to find their own. Burnout often shows up physically before you consciously recognize it. Leaving corporate requires both emotional readiness and strategic financial planning. True leadership balances empathy for people with the realities of business decisions. Entrepreneurship demands self-trust without the constant validation of a team. Creating space to rest and reset is essential before building what comes next. Connect with Stacey Bailey The Intention Collective 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
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A New Approach to Women's Health with Meredith Oke – Ep.369
Mar 2500:30:28Tap to summarizeWhat if your burnout isn't just stress but a deeper biological disconnect? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Meredith Oke, strategic coach turned science storyteller, host of the Quantum Biology Collective podcast, and founder of a nonprofit focused on helping women reclaim their energy and health through the lens of quantum biology. After walking away from burnout and chronic fatigue, Meredith now helps women understand how their environment, light exposure, and daily habits directly impact their energy, health, and long-term wellbeing. If you've been feeling exhausted no matter how much you rest, this episode will open your eyes to what might really be going on and what you can actually do about it. What You Will Learn: The difference between being tired and experiencing deeper biological fatigue that signals a bigger issue. Why burnout is not just emotional but a physiological response to how life is structured. How disconnection from nature directly impacts energy, hormones, and overall health. The hidden role of light, screens, and environment in disrupting your body's natural rhythms. Simple daily shifts that can create immediate leverage for better energy and healing. Why fatigue is often the first warning sign of chronic illness and should not be ignored. How expectations, overcommitment, and modern lifestyles contribute to long-term burnout. The connection between circadian rhythm disruption and serious health conditions. Why many women dismiss their symptoms and how that delays real healing. How to begin rebuilding your energy by supporting your biology instead of fighting it.. Connect with Meredith Oke Quantum Biology Collective 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
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How to Build a Subscription-Based Business That Solves Real Problems with Heather Moore – Ep.368
Mar 1800:29:42Tap to summarizeWhat if the biggest risk in your career isn't leaving corporate, but staying? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Heather Moore, Founder and CEO of Pet Centric Health. Heather takes us behind the scenes of what it really looks like to transition from corporate stability into entrepreneurship, including the mindset shifts, challenges, and unexpected growth that come with building a company from the ground up. This episode is a must-listen for high-achieving women who feel the pull toward something more and are ready to explore what's next in leadership, impact, and value creation. What You Will Learn: How to recognize the internal and external signs that it's time to leave corporate. What mindset shifts are required to take the leap into entrepreneurship. How to evaluate risk in a way that empowers action instead of fear. What it really takes to build a startup from idea to execution. How to navigate the early stages of business with limited resources. What challenges founders face when scaling a business beyond startup phase. How to build a subscription-based business model that creates consistent value. What it means to stay nimble and evolve with market demand. How to balance confidence and vulnerability as a leader. What it takes to build a mission-driven company that serves multiple stakeholders. FAQ: How do you know when it's time to leave your corporate job? You know it's time when you feel a strong pull toward solving a problem you can no longer ignore, combined with a sense that your current role no longer challenges or fulfills you. Often, a pivotal life event or internal shift clarifies that staying is the greater risk. What are the biggest challenges when starting a business after corporate? The biggest challenges include navigating uncertainty, managing limited resources, making high-stakes decisions without a safety net, and shifting from structured environments to building systems from scratch. What is a subscription-based business model and why does it work? A subscription-based model provides recurring revenue by offering ongoing value to customers. It works because it creates consistency, improves customer retention, and allows businesses to build long-term relationships. Connect with Heather MoorePetCentric Health Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com
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Why Women Still Aren't in Leadership Parity and What Needs to Change with Gloria Feldt – Ep.367
Mar 1100:29:35Tap to summarizeWhy are women still dramatically underrepresented in leadership positions despite earning the majority of college degrees and making up half the workforce? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Gloria Feldt, visionary leadership strategist, bestselling author, and co-founder of Take The Lead. Drawing on decades of experience, including serving as national president of Planned Parenthood and building leadership development programs for women, Gloria explains why the issue is not a lack of ambition but a deeper challenge around women's relationship with power and money. This episode is a must-listen for women leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals who want to expand their impact, influence, and ability to create meaningful change. What You Will Learn: How Gloria Felt's early life experiences shaped her passion for gender equality and leadership. What the real barriers to gender parity in leadership are and why ambition is not the issue. How women can redefine power as a creative force rather than something oppressive. Why women's relationship with money and power plays a critical role in leadership advancement. How strong networks and relationships create opportunities, funding, and career growth. What leadership power tools women can use to move into positions of influence. Why thinking bigger about business and impact can help accelerate women into leadership roles. FAQ: Why has gender parity in leadership still not been achieved? Despite women making up roughly half of the workforce and earning the majority of college degrees, systemic cultural conditioning and structural barriers still limit women's access to leadership roles. Gloria Felt explains that the issue is not ambition but the way power and leadership have historically been defined and rewarded. What does Gloria Felt mean by redefining power? Gloria teaches that power should not be viewed as "power over others," but as energy that can be used to create, build, and improve lives. When women shift their mindset to see power as a positive and generative force, they become more willing to pursue leadership roles. How can women build businesses that create larger impact? Gloria encourages women to think bigger when starting businesses and to design companies that create meaningful impact in people's lives. Building organizations that solve large problems attracts investment, attention, and opportunities for scale. Connect with Gloria FeldtTake the Lead Women Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com
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How to Build Confidence, Prevent Burnout, and Lead with Emotional Safety with Dr. Melanie Gray – Ep.366
Mar 400:29:59Tap to summarizeWhat is trauma-informed leadership, and why does it matter in today's workplace? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Dr. Melanie Gray shares how trauma-informed care transforms leadership, strengthens workplace culture, and prevents burnout before it derails careers. Drawing from over 25 years in healthcare, higher education, and corporate leadership, Dr. Gray explains how trauma shapes behavior, how generational stress impacts performance, and why confidence is built through intentional self-leadership. If you are a high-achieving woman considering leaving corporate, building a consulting business, or leading teams through change, this episode delivers practical wisdom on resilience, emotional safety, confidence, and long-term leadership sustainability. What You Will Learn: How trauma-informed leadership shifts workplace culture by asking what happened to someone rather than what is wrong with them. What generational trauma and adverse childhood experiences mean for confidence, communication, and leadership development. How unresolved trauma contributes to burnout, anxiety, and disengagement in corporate environments. What practical steps leaders can take to build emotionally safe and resilient teams. How to assess personal skills and strategically prepare for a transition from corporate to entrepreneurship. What confidence truly looks like when it is built through preparation, data, and intentional action rather than perfectionism. How planning financial runway reduces anxiety when launching a consulting business. What separates sustainable business growth from temporary virality and surface-level success. How structured coaching with defined goals creates measurable transformation instead of dependency. What it takes to lead with compassion while still holding high standards for performance and accountability. FAQ: What is trauma-informed leadership? Trauma-informed leadership is a framework that considers how past experiences, including adverse childhood experiences and generational stress, influence present behavior, communication, and performance in the workplace. How does trauma affect workplace performance? Trauma can impact confidence, emotional regulation, communication patterns, and stress responses, which may show up as withdrawal, defensiveness, burnout, or disengagement. How do I confidently leave corporate to start a consulting business? Confidence increases when leaders assess their skills, create a financial runway, build required competencies in advance, and transition with a structured plan rather than reacting to anxiety or corporate restructuring. Connect with Dr. Melanie GrayWebsite Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com
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