In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with Kelli Thompson, award-winning executive coach and author, to explore where confidence truly comes from and how curiosity is its secret partner.

Mary and Kelli unpack the critical difference between being a manager and being a leader, diving into how doing the work yourself can sometimes hinder your ability to think strategically and lead effectively. Together, they explore why confidence isn’t about having all the answers but about being willing to ask the right questions.

Tune in and discover how confidence and curiosity work hand-in-hand to shape authentic, fearless leadership.

Kelli is an award-winning leadership and executive coach, keynote speaker, and the critically acclaimed author of Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck. In Kelli’s two-decade career leading teams, she received industry awards for her ability to build programs that cultivated the pipeline of future leaders.

MORE ABOUT KELLI THOMPSON:
LinkedIn: Kelli Thompson
Website: Kelli Rae Thompson
Book: Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck.
Ted Talk: How Idolizing Coworkers Can Hold You Back

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ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS:
Website - Sweet but Fearless
LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with Gloria Chou, an award-winning PR strategist and host of the top-rated Small Business PR Podcast. Gloria is known for her untraditional yet proven approach to public relations—one that makes visibility and media access attainable for everyone, not just those with insider connections or massive followings.

Together, they dive into what PR truly means for small business owners and professionals in transition. Gloria shares practical strategies for pitching yourself with confidence, using your voice to attract your ideal audience, and showing up authentically in your story.

✨ FREE MASTERCLASS Oct 7-9, 2025

MORE ABOUT GLOIA CHOU
LinkedIn: Gloria Chou
Website: Gloria Chou PR
Podcast: Small Business PR
Masterclass: Get Featured in Gift Guides, Oct 7-9, 2025

ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS:
Website - Sweet but Fearless
LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

In this episode of the Sweet but Fearless podcast, co-founder, Mary Sullivan, talks with Kim Brassor, founder and Chief Visionary with One Voice Evolving, for an insightful conversation on resilience and reinvention, especially for women over 40. Together, they explore what it truly means to take up space at the table, how to speak so others will listen, and the hidden barriers that keep many women from feeling confident, comfortable, and secure in their roles.

Kim shares practical strategies for finding your voice, stepping into your presence, and overcoming the doubts that hold you back. Whether you’re leading in the workplace, starting something new, or simply redefining what’s next, this episode will give you tools to step forward with courage and clarity.

✨ Click the link below to grab your free resource on How to Speak Up and start building your confidence today!

Kim Brassor, MA-ORGL, is a speaker, author, and founder of One Voice Evolving. With a background in organizational leadership and a passion for helping women find their authentic voice, Kim specializes in guiding listeners through the art of courageous conversations. Her work blends practical communication tools with somatic awareness, making her an engaging, insightful guest for podcasts focused on personal growth, leadership, women’s empowerment, and professional development.

MORE ABOUT KIM BRASSOR
LinkedIn: Kim Brassor
Website: One Voice Evolving

FREE: Speak Up Starter Kit

ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS:
Website - Sweet but Fearless
LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

In this episode of the Sweet but Fearless podcast, co-founder, Mary Sullivan, talks with Anastasia Ristovska, co-founder of Books at Ease and Next Generation Bookkeeping Academy, focusing on the financial foundations every business needs to thrive. Anastasia shares her journey from corporate accountant to building two successful businesses dedicated to empowering small and medium-sized companies, especially in the digital space, with financial control and clarity.

She highlights why leveraging relationships is just as critical as the numbers, and why systems and processes must be in place from the start to avoid costly mistakes down the road. Anastasia also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her work training international accounting professionals in U.S. business principles and communication skills, helping to fill a growing gap in skilled financial talent.

It’s an inspiring conversation about strategy, structure, and the courage to build something that lasts.

MORE ABOUT ANASTASIA RISTOVSKA:
LinkedIn: Anastasia R.
Website: Books At Ease

ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS:
Website - Sweet but Fearless
LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

In this episode of the Sweet but Fearless podcast, co-founder Mary Sullivan talks with Tara Landes, Founder of Bellrock. After years of working with small businesses across North America, Tara returned to Vancouver and discovered a gap no one was filling. She didn’t just step into the work she was already great at - she leaned into what she loved most. Rather than wait for the perfect role to appear, she created it, building a business around passion and purpose.

Tara shares how identifying unmet needs, following what lights you up, and defining what truly matters can guide your path. She also explains why influence and persuasion are essential skills for turning ideas into reality and inspiring others along the way.

If you’ve ever felt successful on paper but unfulfilled in practice, Tara’s story is a reminder that fulfillment often comes from leaning into your natural strengths and using them to serve others.

Tara Landes is the Founder of Bellrock. Based in Vancouver, BC, Tara has been working directly with the leaders and managers of North American companies to help them scale and build enterprise value since the turn of the century.

MORE ABOUT TARA LANDES:
LinkedIn: Tara Landes
Website: Bellrock
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ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS:
Website - Sweet but Fearless
LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

In this episode, we dive into the power of visibility at work, because your accomplishments, skills, and the value you bring won’t speak for themselves. Our guest, Tami Reiss, CEO of Leader Within and Keynote Speaker, shares why being your own cheerleader isn’t just optional, it’s essential. She focuses on the importance of building resilience skills, staying vision-oriented, and ensuring that colleagues and leaders truly understand the impact you make.

Tami also introduces her signature MAP framework - Manifest, Access, Promote- a practical framework for mapping your influence. If you’ve ever struggled to make your hard work visible or to position yourself for the recognition you deserve, this episode will give you the tools to shift from overlooked to unstoppable.

Tami is a leadership speaker and coach who’s as bold as she is practical. She transforms strategy into alignment, presence into power, and ideas into action. Through easy to remember frameworks like L.E.A.D. and M.A.P. it Out, she encourages everyone to leverage influence and not authority to gain momentum for ideas.

MORE ABOUT TAMI REISS:
LinkedIn: Tami Reiss
Website: Leader Within
YouTube: Tami Reiss: Speaker & Author

ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS:
Website - Sweet but Fearless
LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, is joined by Talya Elitzer, co-founder of the GRAMMY-nominated artist development company Godmode Music, to share her fearless journey through the music industry. Starting out in the mailroom of a Hollywood talent agency, Talya carved her own path toward building one of today’s most influential music companies—home to groundbreaking artists like Channel Tres, JPEGMAFIA, and Yaeji.

In this conversation, Talya opens up about the evolution of Godmode Music, what it takes to nurture genre-defying talent, and why she prioritizes sustainable operations that allow artists to pursue their craft without compromise. Her story is one of grit, vision, and redefining what it means to succeed in music.

MORE ABOUT TALYA ELITZER:
LinkedIn: Talya Elitzer
YouTube: GodMode Music

ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS:
Website - Sweet but Fearless
LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with Breanne Kiefner, owner and founder of Roots Adventures, about embracing inner strength and finding stability in the midst of chaos. Their conversation explores the power of curiosity, the value of staying present, and why building a collective mentorship is essential. Instead of relying on a single mentor, Breanne shares how surrounding yourself with a circle of guides, each offering unique perspectives, can bring greater depth, resilience, and growth to both your career and your life.

Breanne also talks about her work as the owner and founder of Root Adventures, an adventure travel company that blends wellness, sustainability, and inclusivity. She believes travel is more than a destination, it’s a transformative experience that ignites passion, deepens cultural understanding, and nurtures happiness. Root Adventures reflects this philosophy, showing how exploration can become a powerful path to self-care and joy.

MORE ABOUT BREANNE KIEFNER:
LinkedIn: Breanne Kiefner
Website: Root Adventures
Instagram: Breanne Kiefner

ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS:
Website - Sweet but Fearless
LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless