In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Dr. Debbie Qaqish to explore what it really means to evolve, from building a career out of necessity to stepping fully into purpose.

With over 35 years of experience transforming marketing into a true revenue driver, Debbie shares the pivotal moments that shaped her journey, both professionally and personally. From redefining the role of marketing in business to navigating a deeply personal mental health journey, this episode dives into the often unseen pressure leaders carry and the powerful tools that can help reframe it.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of expectations, wrestled with purpose, or wondered how your story could become your strength, this conversation will meet you there and gently challenge you forward.

Dr. Debbie Qaqish created the Revenue Marketing® movement in 2011 — years before the industry caught up — transforming marketing from a cost center into a measurable revenue driver. She is the author of Rise of the Revenue Marketer and From Backroom to Boardroom, and has spent more than 35 years helping B2B marketing organizations drive growth.

Today, as founder and CEO of The Growth Factor, Debbie focuses on the next shift most leaders are missing: performance under pressure. She translates neuroscience and human performance science into practical leadership discipline so marketing leaders can think clearly and perform sustainably when the stakes are high. Debbie earned her Doctor of Business Administration in 2018 and is a Positive Psychology Practitioner.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

Website: http://www.growthfactor.us

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/debbieqaqish

Connect with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoaching

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleaders

Spotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com

What if your greatest heartbreak became the doorway to your most vibrant life?

In this powerful episode of Be S.H.E. Podcast, Heidi sits down with Vickie Aigner…..72-year-old wellness expert, founder of Alive Fit & Free, and a woman whose story is equal parts resilience and transformation. After the devastating loss of her husband while raising six children, Vickie found herself forced to rebuild not just her life, but her identity.

Through grief, healing, and deep inner work, she discovered something many women overlook: true wellness doesn’t start with what we do on the outside, it begins within.

Together, Heidi and Vickie dive into:

• The hidden weight of unprocessed grief
• Why “pushing through” can delay true healing
• The connection between emotional health and physical vitality
• And how women, especially in later seasons of life, can step into strength, purpose, and joy again

This conversation is an invitation to stop running, start healing, and say yes to your next vibrant chapter, no matter your age or story.

Vickie Aigner is a 72-year-old fitness and wellness professional who has spent more than four decades helping women over 50 live their healthiest, happiest, and longest lives. She is the founder of Alive, Fit & Free and the creator of fun and effective brain-body fitness programs, including Energy Up for people living with dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and their caregivers. Through transformational wellness retreats and travel adventures, she guides women to build strength, protect their brains, and say “yes” to the next vibrant chapter of life.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

Website: http://www.alivefitandfree.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alivefitandfree/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alivefitandfree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alive-fit-free/?viewAsMember=true

Youtube: @alivefitfree6262

Connect with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoaching

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleaders

Spotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com

Dr. Nelva Lee went from housing instability as a child to building a mission-driven company that is changing lives, and in this episode she is sharing every lesson in between. We talk purpose, courage, entrepreneurship, and what it really looks like to start before you feel ready. This one is going to stay with you.

Dr. Nelva Lee is the Founder and CEO of Concrete Build Financing. Dr. Lee was also the CEO of a vocational school for 20 years, has over 20 years of experience in healthcare and over 10 years in academia as an adjunct professor for various Universities.

Dr. Lee was a Governor Kemp appointed board member to the Department of Community Health. She is the Vice Chairman of the board of the Henry County Pregnancy Resource Center (Bridge Wellness South), a former Republican candidate for State Senate in District 17, and current candidate for Georgia Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Lee has authored several Christian-based books including: “Stay and Fight” and “Be the Super Hero of Your Story.”

Dr. Lee volunteers at Relevant, her local church, and the Joy FM as a Prayer Partner. She was a Home-School Mom, and a Substitute Teacher for a Christian School. She has been married to her best friend Donnie for 25 years, and together they have 3 children

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

Website: http://www.drnelvalee.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TBWGTR/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/votenelvalee

Connect with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoaching

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleaders

Spotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com

What would your life look like if you actually believed in yourself? 🤍

This week on the podcast, I sat down with Simone Knego and this conversation did not disappoint.

Simone gets real about the lies she believed because of past relationships. She talks about pushing past fear and stepping so far outside her comfort zone that she literally climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. And she shares how all of it, every hard moment, became the foundation for her R.E.A.L. Method.

This one is for every woman who has ever thought:

"I'm not enough."

"Who am I to do this?"

"What if I fail?"

Because the story you've been believing about yourself?

It's time to rewrite it. 🤍

Simone Knego is an international speaker, award winning author, and confidence coach dedicated to empowering women to overcome self doubt and live purpose driven lives. As the bestselling author of The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You, Simone extends her mission through her globally ranked podcast, Her Unshakeable Confidence, offering inspiration and insights to a worldwide audience. Her transformative work, including the REAL Method, provides a straightforward framework for cultivating genuine self assurance. Featured on major networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS, and in publications such as Entrepreneur and Yahoo News, Simone also champions her "Kitchen Table Leadership" philosophy, which emphasizes that true leadership is performed through everyday choices. She is the heart of a vibrant household with her husband of 32 years, six children, and three dogs. Her upcoming book, REAL Confidence: A Simple Guide to Go From Unsure to Unshakeable, launches in February, offering women practical tools to foster authentic confidence.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

Website: https://simoneknego.com

FB- https://www.facebook.com/SpeakerSimoneKnego

IG- https://www.instagram.com/simoneknego/

LI- https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoneknego

https://www.youtube.com/@her_unshakeable_confidence

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/her-unshakeable-confidence-podcast/id1667058474

https://www.ted.com/talks/simone_knego_t_a_l_k_ing_to_kids_about_bias

https://www.ted.com/talks/simone_knego_how_to_find_your_kilimanjaro

https://realconfidencebook.com/

Connect with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoaching

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleaders

Spotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com

What if the very thing you're meant to do… is something you never planned for?

That's the question I couldn't stop thinking about after this conversation.

This week I sat down with Ruth Milligan…….a communications strategist, TEDx founder, and someone who has spent decades helping people find their voice and step into their message with confidence.

But her story didn't start the way you'd expect.

She didn't get into business school. She didn't have it all mapped out. But she showed up anyway, and what grew out of that? A 20+ year career helping others do the same thing she had to learn the hard way.

Ruth Milligan helps people find their voice, tell their story, and have their message be heard. For over three decades, she has served as a communication strategist, coach and trainer. Founder and curator of one of the longest-running TEDx programs, TEDxColumbus, her career has included roles of speechwriter, national press secretary, and embedded consultant to billion-dollar contract pitches for Fortune 10 companies.

Ruth received her BA in Speech Communication from Miami University. Prior to founding Articulation in 2010, which focuses exclusively on executive communication coaching and training, she ran a PR and marketing firm and worked in political and non-profit communications.

She has a deep connection and commitment to her forever home, Columbus, where she has served on a variety of non-profit boards, and helped to launch the nation’s third women-founded bank in town, Fortuna. She keeps active ties to Miami, having just finished a term on the university’s foundation board.

In her spare time, Ruth plays a healthy amount of Pickleball, enjoys working out, biking, and hiking with her husband Dave. They have two college-aged children and a dog, Bean.

We talked about what it really takes to find your voice. We talked about overcoming that nagging fear of "Can I actually do this?" We talked about the power of surrounding yourself with the right people, and why stepping out before you feel ready can change everything.

This conversation is honest. It's encouraging. And it's full of the kind of perspective that makes you want to stop waiting and start moving.

If you've been holding back or questioning your path, I really believe this episode will speak to you. 🤍

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

Website: http://www.articulationinc.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ruthmilligan

Connect with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoaching

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleaders

Spotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com

What does it really mean to heal, and come home to yourself?

In this episode, I sit down with Whitney Walker, a licensed marriage and family therapist, recovery coach, and spiritual guide who has dedicated her life to helping women heal and reconnect with who they truly are.

Whitney shares how a lifelong curiosity about human emotions and relationships led her into therapy, and how her own personal journey eventually inspired her to create Women Waken, a movement built around healing, spirituality, and self-discovery for women.

We go deep in this one.

We talk about the return of the divine feminine, how trauma and family dynamics quietly shape our lives, and why it matters so much to create spaces where women feel truly seen and heard….not just listened to, but actually seen.

This episode is an invitation. An invitation to move from fear to love, to let go of the patterns that are holding you back, and to step into the deep healing that comes when you finally accept yourself, all of yourself, without conditions.

If you've ever felt like you lost yourself somewhere along the way, this conversation is for you.

Whitney Walker is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in addiction, eating disorders, trauma, and Spirituality. She also works as a recovery coach and spiritual guide. Whitney incorporates spiritual concepts into her work including the return of the Divine Feminine to our world and moving from a place of Fear to Love; releasing self-destruction and rejection to embrace unconditional self love and acceptance. These ideas form the concept of Women Waken, her business and vision for the future. Whitney created The Women Waken Podcast; A Holistic Guide to Wellness and Abundant Self-Love along with an accompanying Youtube channel, please check it out!

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

Website: http://www.womenwaken.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/womenwaken/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenWaken

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-walker-16b77794/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqyxriSmwfLueB3fn-FthWw

Connect with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoaching

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleaders

Spotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com

In this episode, I sit down with Lori Barnes, a professional astrologer, licensed psychotherapist, and marketing strategist who has spent more than three decades exploring the intersection of human behavior, business, and astrology.

Lori shares how a childhood dream of owning her own business eventually led her through multiple careers, and how she now blends them together in a truly unique way. From navigating career transitions and international moves to pursuing multiple degrees and reinventing herself along the way, Lori’s story is a powerful reminder that our paths don’t have to be linear.

If you’ve ever felt a pull toward something different but weren’t sure how to follow it, this conversation will inspire you to embrace curiosity, keep learning, and trust the journey toward your purpose. ✨

Lori Barnes is a professional astrologer, licensed psychotherapist (LMFT), and marketing strategist with over 35 years of experience across industries. Based between Illinois and Rome, Italy, she brings a unique global perspective to her work, blending modern and traditional astrology with psychology, marketing, and AstroMapping techniques such as AstroCartoGraphy and Local Space. Lori’s expertise helps individuals and entrepreneurs align timing, place, and strategy to achieve their goals. Her academic background includes a BA in Business, an MA in Psychology, an MA in Marketing, and a Diploma in Astrology. She serves as Marketing Director for Kepler College and the Organization for Professional Astrology (OPA), and teaches classes on marketing, psychology, astrology, and AstroCartoGraphy.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

Website: https://www.loribarnesastrology.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loribarnesastrology

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loribarnesprofile/

Kepler College: lori@keplercollege.org

Connect with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoaching

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleaders

Spotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com

In this episode, we sit down with best-selling author, business strategist, and leadership consultant Roslyn Rice, whose newest book ‘What's Next’ just hit #1 Hot New Release on Amazon. She's a lead consultant with the Small Business Development Center at FIU and the Advocacy Director for NAWBO South Florida, and she's spent decades helping entrepreneurs and leaders figure out how to grow, change, and reinvent themselves.

We get into her unexpected path into the business world, how consumer psychology shaped the way she works, and the very real strategies companies use to influence how we think, shop, and make decisions. We're talking store layouts, impulse buying, the way your brain works against your budget... and so much more.

But this episode isn't just about buying behavior. It's about leadership, purpose, and what it looks like to keep evolving when you're not sure what's next. If you're an entrepreneur standing at a crossroads, or just someone ready for a change, this one's for you.

Roslyn Rice is Co-Founder of DPI LLC, a high-impact consulting firm specializing in leadership training and business strategy. A bestselling author and sought after speaker she brings decades of experience guiding entrepreneurs and leaders through growth and reinvention. She is lead consultant with Small Business Development Center at FIU and Advocacy Director for NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) South Florida. Her newest book release is a #1 Hot New Release on Amazon and it is titled, "What's Next".

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

Website: http://dpi2.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/doubleportion

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DPI2LLC

Connect with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoaching

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleaders

Spotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com