Empowering Women to Lead

Elizabeth shares her journey from starting in a call center to leading major technology projects, and the pivotal moment when she realized leadership meant not just identifying problems but stepping forward with solutions.

She opens up about navigating male-dominated spaces, the importance of raising your hand and using your voice, and the need for women to step into decision-making with confidence. We also dive into the challenges...

In this powerful episode of Empowering Women to Lead, we sit down with Judy McMurtry, a trailblazing leader who rose through the ranks of the airline industry with relentless determination, a people-first leadership style, and unshakable confidence. From her childhood in Detroit during the 1967 riots to managing major U.S. airports, Judy shares how persistence, personal growth, and a refusal to give up helped her break barriers in ...

In this episode, I sit down with architect and entrepreneur Kristen Becker, founder of Mutuus Studio in Seattle. Kristen shares her powerful journey from childhood adversity to a career in professional dance, and ultimately to becoming a successful female business owner in the male-dominated field of architecture.

We dive into how her background in teaching dance has shaped her unique communication style as a leader, how she built ...

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Dr. Ndidi Musa, pediatric cardiac intensive care specialist, professor at the University of Washington, and director of the new internal coaching program at Seattle Children’s Hospital. We dive into her powerful journey through medicine, leadership, and her calling to build a coaching culture in healthcare.

Dr. Musa opens up about breaking barriers as a woman and minority in academic medic...

Raise Your Hand for the Hard Stuff: Leading with Courage with Katherine Caffrey

In this episode, Ruth speaks with City Manager Katherine Caffrey about her journey into public service and leadership in a traditionally male-dominated field. From discovering city management in college to leading transformational community projects, Katherine shares how mentorship, courage, and raising her hand for the tough assignments shaped her path...

In this inspiring episode, host Ruth Easterling sits down with longtime educator and former superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield to explore what it truly means to lead with courage, authenticity, and resilience. From navigating public leadership during the COVID-19 crisis to overcoming gender bias in executive roles, Susan shares honest stories and powerful lessons from her leadership journey.

Together, we discuss:

• The importance...

In this episode of Empowering Women to Lead, we sit down with Mayor Traci Buxton of Des Moines, Washington—a woman who never set out to become a politician but answered the call to serve her community when the opportunity arose.

From raising four children to running city council meetings, Traci’s leadership journey is a story of humility, courage, and purpose. What makes her stand out isn’t just her title, but her mindset: She lead...

Empowering Women to Lead was born at Raisbeck Aviation High School in Seattle, Washington. The vision came to life through conversations with school leadership about the ongoing challenges women face in breaking the glass ceiling, particularly in STEM fields. As we shared stories, it became clear these struggles extended far beyond one industry or location. This inspired the creation of a podcast where women’s voices, experiences, ...

Empowering Women to Lead was born at Raisbeck Aviation High School in Seattle, Washington. The vision came to life through conversations with school leadership about the ongoing challenges women face in breaking the "glass ceiling" in the STEM world.

As we shared stories, it became clear these struggles extended far beyond one industry or location. This inspired the creation of a podcast where women’s voices, experiences, and leade...

Welcome to the very first episode of Empowering Women to Lead! In this powerful conversation, host Ruth Easterling sits down with Therese Tipton, principal of Raisbeck Aviation High School in Seattle, TEDx speaker, and President of the National Association of Secondary STEM Schools.

Together, they explore what it truly means to empower young women, especially in male-dominated spaces like aviation and STEM. Therese shares her journ...