This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Brittany Stevens. The two talk about Brittany's journey into employment discrimination law, the challenges of balancing a demanding legal career with motherhood, and the importance of workplace policies that support parents and caregivers.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How pregnancy discrimination is still rampant, bosses assuming moms-to-be will slack off, and why Brittany fights to shatter that, drawing from her own return from maternity leave (needing a private fridge, blinds, and pumping space).

• What drew her to the plaintiff side: a deep drive to help folks facing power imbalances at work, chasing internships and jobs that let her focus on real discrimination cases, fueled by her natural people-person vibe.

• When caregiving for aging or ill parents hits (like Brittany taking time for her mom's final days and doctor's visits), what protections exist, like leaves for loved ones, state-specific caregiver time off, and why HR chats early can make all the difference.

• Why, despite progress since the '70s, we're still miles from equity: post-COVID return-to-office mandates are pushing women out again due to childcare chaos, proving conversations about real accommodations and culture are non-negotiable.

• How to spot supportive workplaces before signing on: check policies on paid maternity/paternity, flexible leaves, and a vibe that won't punish you for using them without retaliation or getting passed over for promotions.

Brittany A. Stevens is a Partner at Phillips & Associates, PLLC, one of
the nation's premier plaintiff-side employment law firms. She focuses exclusively on representing employees who have experienced sexual harassment, discrimination, or retaliation in the workplace. Known for her strategic legal mind and compassionate client advocacy, Brittany empowers clients during some of the most vulnerable moments in their professional lives. She represents women from across industries— especially those in executive support roles—and works tirelessly to hold employers accountable.

At the heart of Brittany's practice is a deep belief in justice, respect, and protection for those with less power in the workplace. She's
been featured in media, published legal articles, and leads with a communication style that is clear, empathetic, and action-oriented. Whether fighting for a settlement or guiding a client through the legal systems, Brittany ensures every voice is heard—and every violation addressed.

Website:

https://www.newyorkcitydiscriminationlawyer.com/

Social Media Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-stevens-alper-4895911a/

https://x.com/Phillips_Assoc_

https://www.facebook.com/PhillipsandAssociatesAttorneysatLaw/

https://www.instagram.com/phillips_and_associates

https://www.youtube.com/@phillipsassociates9558

This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Lulu Essey. The two talk about building a successful global creative career while navigating bipolar disorder, the power of true self-love as a foundation for resilience, and how Lulu helps ambitious professionals achieve meaningful, sustainable success through her coaching and podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Lulu built a 30-year global creative career, from theater and television in South Africa to experiential marketing and executive creative director roles across Europe, the U.S., Hong Kong, Greater China, and Southeast Asia, while quietly managing severe bipolar disorder.

• What it was like to move to New York City in the middle of the pandemic, visa bans and all, and simultaneously build a coaching business after years of doing workshops, speaking, and mentoring on the side of her agency career.

• When being let go from her senior vice president, executive creative director role during a major bipolar relapse felt "brutal" in the moment, but ultimately became the push she needed to fully step into her own work and redefine success on her terms.

• Why self-love (not just "liking yourself") is now at the core of her work, defined as refusing to abandon yourself, your needs, and your voice, and how that perspective completely reframed resilience, failure, and bouncing back from hard seasons.

• How shifting her worth off "quicksand" metrics like titles, awards, and deals, and onto an inner sense of value, helped her stop chasing external validation and start feeling worthy now, even when goals are still in progress.

Lulu Essey is an award-winning Executive Creative Director who has spent three decades working with global brands like Porsche, BMW, Cartier, and Google across four continents. Finding her way through a 30-year journey with severe bipolar disorder while building an impressive career, she discovered that external achievement and awards mean nothing without authentic Self-Love as the foundation - the missing infrastructure most driven women never build.

Now a Speaker, certified Life Coach, and host of The Lulu Essey Podcast, Lulu helps ambitious professionals create success that actually feels good. Her message: sustainable success isn't about pushing harder or doing more - it's about building from the inside out.

Website: https://www.luluessey.com/

Social Media Links: https://www.luluessey.com/podcast

This week Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Poonam Sharma. The two talk about Poonam's journey from growing up around construction sites as the daughter of Indian immigrants to founding and successfully exiting Stealth Force, a gig economy commercial real estate company.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Poonam's childhood, tagging along on construction sites with her Indian immigrant dad and watching her parents launch (and sometimes crash) businesses like restaurants and hotels, pulled her into real estate and sparked her entrepreneurial fire.

• What pushed her from dev/private equity to tech: spotting gaps, channeling family hustle, and building Stealth Force (small exit, big win), then eyeing NYC co-working with onsite childcare—right as lockdown hit at 8 months pregnant.

• When old family stories, like being "ladylike," fearing the evil eye, or grandma's turkey trick, quietly shape our choices, and how midlife is prime time to unpack them and choose what actually fits now.

• Why everyone (CEOs to in-laws) is secretly fragile—be gentler, drop the personal grudges—and her leadership hack: "If it won't matter in seven years, it doesn't matter now."

• What peace looks like post-pivots: Board gigs, family deals, surprise coaching (releasing mental blocks for high-achievers), and savoring kid time—no more compartments, just one integrated, wrinkle-loving self.

Poonam Sharma is a board member, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, real estate industry veteran, novelist and recognized PropTech leader with a passion for innovating around the built world. A public and private board member, published author and public speaker, she has sat on the board of Hennessy Capital VII and Fifth Wall Acquisition Corp III to name a few, and previously headed Arden Digital Ventures, a technology-focused investment arm of The Arden Group, a storied real estate investment fund. Previously CEO of Raise (which aimed to revolutionize childcare for the future of work), and Founder of StealthForce (the gig economy of real estate; a resource and project management platform for CRE, which was exited in early 2019), she was an early voice in proptech, bringing years of institutional real estate experience to the innovation movement. Prior to StealthForce, she was Deputy to the Head of Global Real Estate Asset Management at Partners Group AG ($40 bn AUM), VP at a developer of senior housing and hotels, and earlier employee 13 at The Gerson Lehrman Group, which was the world's first institutional expert network.

Poonam earned her BA at Harvard and MBA at Wharton, and spent over a decade in real estate development and investment. Twice named a top female CEO in CREtech, she has been featured in The New York Times, Inc. Magazine, Harvard Business Review, NBC News, and more. As an author and experienced public speaker (ULI, ICSC, CRETech, etc.) she has published four books including two novels in five languages which have been printed worldwide.

Website:

www.poonam.info

https://www.instagram.com/justpoonamnyc/

In this episode, Ivy Slater chats with us about starting the new year with intention and clarity. Helping you step into 2026 refreshed, focused, and ready to make the most of new opportunities

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Ivy eases into the new year by actually taking a break, recharging over the holidays, and putting her health and energy at the top of the list so she can show up fully for her business.
• What a real-world SWOT(T) looks like, from naming your strengths and weaknesses to spotting opportunities, threats, and trends in your industry and life.
• When to break down your business into four core plans: financial, marketing, sales, and people, and audit what's working (and what's not) in each area.
• Why prioritizing health, joy, and happiness isn't fluffy—it's the fuel that lets you actually grow your business or career in a sustainable way.
• What kinds of questions to ask yourself at the start of the year, like what you want to be celebrating at the end of 2026, and what would make you genuinely proud?

Ivy Slater is a professionally certified business coach, speaker, best-selling author and podcast host. After owning and operating a 7-figure printing business, having been in the industry for 20 years, she started Slater Success which focuses on developing great leaders and facilitating business growth and expansion. Ivy holds masterminds and retreats with her private client base and corporate training on communication and strategic planning. She speaks nationwide on the topics of leadership, sustainable growth, relationships and sales.

Best Selling Author of From the Barre to the Boardroom

Website: https://slatersuccess.com/

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

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

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/slatersuccess/

This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Jenna Williams. The two talk about the power of community, the journey from STEM professional to nonprofit founder, and how innovative experiential learning is transforming the homeschooling experience in Westchester, New York.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Jenna Williams went from a chemical engineer at the EPA to educator, yoga teacher, and founder of Wonder Village, following a nudge from her late mother to use her talents to help people more directly.

• What Jenna has learned about building community: showing up, networking, saying yes to other local moms' ideas, and staying flexible so programs can evolve with what families actually want and need.

• When she noticed that local homeschool families were scattered in small, separate pockets across Westchester, with few opportunities to come together across geography and beliefs, why that convinced her to create Wonder Village.

• Why she believes parents deserve to see their children's "lightbulb moments" firsthand, and how Wonder Village is designed to bring families together to learn, play, and grow side by side.

• How the family scouting program grew into one of Wonder Village's most beloved offerings, with mixed-age, mixed-gender groups choosing their own topics—like anatomy—and turning them into creative, project-based activities and peer-led lessons.

Jenna Williams is a chemical engineer turned educator, yoga teacher, and founder of Wonder Village Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing enrichment education, experiential learning, and community support for families in Westchester County. Blending her STEM foundation with a passion for teaching and mindfulness, Jenna creates programs that inspire children to learn through hands-on exploration—whether through science, nature-based experiences, cultural programming, or creative enrichment. With years of experience as a yoga teacher, she brings a grounded, heart-centered approach to leadership and learning. Dedicated to inclusive, community-driven education, Jenna's mission is to build spaces where every family feels seen, supported, and deeply connected.

Website: https://wondervillage.org/

This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Melissa Giraud. The two talk about the origins of Embrace Race, the importance of fostering healthy conversations about race with children, and the organization's commitment to providing research-informed resources for parents, caregivers, and educators.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Melissa Giraud co-founded Embrace Race in 2016, drawing from her experiences as a multiracial educator and former NPR producer to address children's confusion about race and parents' reluctance to discuss it openly.

• What the organization's field-building efforts entail—convening researchers, pediatricians, media creators, and educators to create cross-sector supports and ensure consistent racial equity messaging across children's environments.

• When and why conversations about race matter most: Children constantly absorb negative messages from media, peers, and society, requiring parents to guide their interpretations rather than assume good intentions work.

• Why no one needs a PhD to lead racial learning at home: Melissa stresses curiosity over perfection, encouraging adults to sit with kids, ask questions, and explore together without needing all the answers upfront.

• How Embrace Race builds community through online classes and learning groups where parents and educators share experiences, fostering collective growth and relational support tailored to individual family contexts.

Melissa Giraud is co-founder and co-director of EmbraceRace, an organization that supports families, educators, and caregivers to raise kids who are thoughtful, informed and brave about race. Melissa leads a team that creates research backed resources, community spaces and partnerships, all in the service of supporting caregivers to nurture children to develop healthy racial attitudes and behaviors. Such children will become the adults who can build the truly inclusive institutions on which the future of US multiracial democracy depends.

Melissa has spent a lifetime trying to center the voices, experiences and concerns of children and families, with a particular interest in immigrant kids of color and first-generation children. She is the multiracial (Black/White) daughter of immigrants from Dominica and Quebec.

Professionally, Melissa has sought to empower kids and families, first as an elementary school educator teaching in a bilingual (Spanish/English) program in a predominantly Mexican and Mexican American neighborhood in Chicago, then as an NPR producer in DC driven to recruit voices and perspectives from communities of color in the newsroom, and later as a radio reporter who collaborated with her former elementary students as they were coming of age to capture the experience of living biculturally and transnationally for NPR. Melissa further pursued her interest in K-12 education and equity in graduate school and has been a consultant to numerous foundations and organizations, with special attention to the promise and perils of technology in advancing educational equity.

https://www.embracerace.org/

This week Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Brawley Chisholm III. The two talk about the journey of founding a nonprofit, the challenges of getting started, and the game-changing benefits of offering free events that teach everything from financial literacy to coding, yoga, and basketball.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Brawley Chisholm III, former Harlem Globetrotter, channeled his basketball passion and New York roots into founding CHAMP (Cultivating Humanity And Manifesting Purpose), inspired by childhood programs that provided free access to sports for inner-city kids.

• What drove Brawley to launch CHAMP—recognizing that while he achieved his athletic dreams, he felt a void in community impact, leading him to create free events blending sports, life skills, and professional development for underserved youth.

• When CHAMP's first event took place at a Baltimore public school, quickly snowballing into larger back-to-school initiatives like the Bronx event at Mallalis Park near Yankee Stadium, serving 200 kids with rotating skill-building stations.

• Why consistency and starting small matters—Brawley emphasizes overcoming overthinking by leaning on mentors, with CHAMP expanding to teen summits in Indiana featuring panels, meditation, sales training, coding, and gaming scholarships.

• How CHAMP addresses modern needs like social media, AI, and gaming careers, teaching kids to look beyond playing games to opportunities in production, logos, and business behind them.

Brawley Chisholm III is a three-time Emmy-nominated entertainer, longtime Harlem Globetrotter, and founder of CHAMP—his youth nonprofit focused on financial literacy, wellness, creativity, and career development for ages 8–18. After performing in over 60 countries, he's dedicated his platform to mentorship and purpose-driven impact. He also co-leads EMCC Media, producing cinematic brand storytelling for companies like Converse and Jordan Brand, and hosts "Confidently Different," a motivational series centered on confidence and mental wellness. Born in Brooklyn and raised in The Bronx, Brawley's mission is simple: inspire through authenticity, purpose, and service.

https://becomeachamp.org/