In this episode of The Cyber Savvy Woman, host Rachele Schainker sits down with Michelle Hodges, a global channels and alliances executive, to explore the evolving cybersecurity landscape for small businesses.

Michelle shares insights from her extensive career in IT and channel alliances, including her experience driving channel-first transformations and building partner ecosystems. Together, they discuss how cybersecurity has shifted from a technical afterthought to a core business strategy — especially for small and mid-sized organizations.

The conversation highlights the role of AI in productivity and security, the critical intersection of human behavior and technology, and practical guidance for women who are interested in entering or advancing in cybersecurity. Michelle also offers actionable advice for small business owners on securing their IT infrastructure, building a security-first culture, and leveraging trusted partnerships.

Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on networking, leadership, and resilience, along with an honest discussion of the challenges and opportunities women face in the tech and cybersecurity space.

🎧 Tune in for actionable insights and strategies to strengthen your cybersecurity posture and lead with confidence in the digital world.

00:00 Introduction to The Cyber Savvy Woman 00:52 Meet Your Host, Rachele Schainker 01:10 Interview with Michelle Hodges 02:00 Michelle’s Career Journey 04:13 The Evolution of Cybersecurity 08:19 Women in Cybersecurity Leadership 11:39 Advice for Aspiring Women in Tech 16:57 Fun Personal Insights 19:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎙️ Designing Spaces, Securing Futures with Amy Fregosi

In this episode of The Cyber Savvy Woman, host Rachele Schainker sits down with Amy Fregosi, founder of Mondolfo Interior Design, to explore the powerful connection between intentional design, productivity, and cybersecurity for small business owners.

Amy shares her journey from a deeply creative childhood to building a successful interior design business that blends beauty with technical expertise. Together, Rachele and Amy discuss how physical environments influence mental clarity, why structure is just as important as creativity, and how technology plays a critical role in modern design workflows.

This conversation also dives into an often-overlooked topic in creative industries: cybersecurity. Amy explains why protecting your digital systems, passwords, and business identity is essential for long-term success — especially for women entrepreneurs and creatives who rely heavily on technology every day.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How intentional spaces support focus, confidence, and peace of mind

• The balance between creativity and structure in business

• Tools designers and entrepreneurs rely on daily

• Why small businesses are not “too small” to be hacked

• Practical cybersecurity habits every entrepreneur should adopt

⏱️ Episode Chapters

00:00 Welcome to The Cyber Savvy Woman

00:52 Meet Your Host, Rachele Schainker

01:17 Amy’s Journey into Interior Design

04:06 Balancing Creativity and Structure

09:39 The Role of Technology in Design

11:27 Creating Inspiring Workspaces

25:38 Cybersecurity for Small Business Owners

31:04 Rapid Fire Tech Questions

32:47 Final Thoughts

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

💬 What does your workspace say about how you work? Share one change you’ve made — or want to make — to support your productivity or digital security in the comments below.

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another woman business owner who could benefit from it.

#TheCyberSavvyWoman #WomenInBusiness #WomenEntrepreneurs #InteriorDesign #CreativeBusiness #CybersecurityForSmallBusiness #WomenInTech #DigitalConfidence #WorkspaceDesign #BusinessSecurity

In this episode of THE CYBER SAVVY WOMAN, host Rachele Schainker sits down with executive coach and author Rachel Burr for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, mindset, and navigating change in a tech-driven world.

Rachel Burr shares her journey into leadership coaching, the critical role of mindset and self-awareness, and why imposter syndrome is far more common among leaders than many realize—especially women. Together, they explore practical ways to build trust and resilience within teams, how leaders can create a healthy culture around cybersecurity without fear or overwhelm, and why partnerships matter when navigating complex technology decisions.

Rachel also discusses key insights from her book Butterfly Goo, a powerful metaphor for transformation that emphasizes embracing discomfort, leveraging core strengths, and trusting yourself through change. The episode wraps with a rapid-fire cybersecurity round that blends humor, perspective, and practical awareness.

This episode is a must-listen for women business owners and leaders who want to lead with confidence, clarity, and courage—without needing to be deeply technical.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Cyber Savvy Woman

00:52 Meet Your Host, Rachel Schenker

01:17 Interview with Rachel Burr: Leadership and Transformation

01:48 The Journey to Leadership Coaching

03:19 Mindset Shifts in Leadership

06:17 Imposter Syndrome and Leadership Challenges

08:02 Building Trust and Resilience in Teams

09:47 Self-Awareness in Leadership

11:36 Creating a Culture of Cybersecurity Awareness

14:24 The Importance of Partnerships in Cybersecurity

15:29 Modeling Good Habits and Communication

16:56 Butterfly Goo: A Story of Transformation

20:01 Trusting Yourself and Learning from Mentors

20:39 A Hilarious Golf Lesson Gone Wrong

23:12 Daily Practices for Women Leaders

24:06 The Importance of Self-Reliance

26:41 Debunking Leadership Myths

28:43 Balancing Strategy and People Management

30:46 Rapid Fire Round: Cybersecurity Insights

33:44 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find More

🎧 Listen, subscribe, and share this episode of THE CYBER SAVVY WOMAN on Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

💬 If this conversation resonated with you, leave a review or share the episode with a fellow woman leader navigating leadership, technology, or transformation.

📩 Want to be a guest or suggest a future topic? Reach out—we’d love to hear from you.

#TheCyberSavvyWoman

#WomenInLeadership

#WomenInTech

#LeadershipMindset

#ExecutiveCoaching

#CybersecurityAwareness

#DigitalConfidence

#ImposterSyndrome

#TrustAndResilience

#WomenBusinessOwners

In this episode of The Cyber Savvy Woman, host Rachele Schainker sits down with Natalie Oh of Taran Insurance for a candid conversation about what it really means to plan ahead—without fear, perfection, or technical overwhelm.

Natalie shares her unexpected journey from aspiring prosecutor to insurance advisor, shaped by powerful personal experiences that reveal the real consequences of not planning for the future. Together, Rachele and Natalie explore the parallels between cybersecurity and insurance: both are about preparing for the what-ifs before they become crises.

This episode breaks down common myths around life insurance and long-term care, highlights how women often approach planning differently than men, and reinforces an empowering message: you don’t need to love technology—or fully understand it—to take control of your financial and digital well-being.

Whether you’re a business owner, professional, or caregiver, this conversation will help you replace uncertainty with clarity and confidence.

Episode Highlights

00:00 Welcome to The Cyber Savvy Woman

00:52 Meet Your Host: Rachele Schainker

01:14 Guest Introduction: Natalie of Taran Insurance

01:37 Natalie’s Journey from Law School to Insurance

02:26 Why Proactive Planning Matters

02:52 Common Myths and Fears Around Insurance

03:14 Real-Life Stories That Changed Everything

04:18 Cybersecurity & Insurance: Preparing for the “What Ifs”

06:04 Empowering Women to Make Confident Financial Decisions

08:29 Generational Differences in Planning

09:32 Natalie’s Relationship with Technology

10:53 Rapid Fire Questions

12:01 How to Connect with Natalie

14:12 Final Takeaways & Call to Action

🎧 Listen to the full episode and discover why being proactive—not perfect—is the key to protecting your future.

💬 If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend, colleague, or fellow business owner who could use a confidence boost.

⭐ Subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help more women find The Cyber Savvy Woman.

#CyberSavvyWoman #ProactiveNotPerfect #WomenInBusiness #CybersecurityAwareness #FinancialPlanning #LifeInsurance #LongTermCarePlanning #WomenSupportingWomen #DigitalConfidence #RiskManagement

In this inaugural episode of Cyber Savvy Woman, host Rachele Schainker, a Silicon Valley technologist and owner of CMIT Solutions, sits down with Caron Shahrestani, a video marketing expert and founder of a boutique marketing company. Together, they explore the latest tech trends shaping the digital landscape—like YouTube Shorts overtaking TikTok and Amazon’s AI-powered streaming service, Showrunner—and share actionable strategies for women in business.

Carone offers practical advice on leveraging video marketing, social media strategies, and automation tools to grow your brand. She also dives into the power of targeted ads, creative workflows, and her inspiring journey from high-end retail to video marketing and coaching.

Whether you’re a business owner, content creator, or tech enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights to help you confidently navigate the digital age.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ How short-form video and AI are transforming marketing

✅ Tools and workflows for business growth

✅ The role of targeted ads and automation in scaling your brand

✅ Carone’s personal journey and lessons learned

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome to Cyber Savvy Woman

01:50 – The Rise of YouTube Shorts and AI in Video

10:20 – Effective Technology and Workflows for Business Growth

13:43 – The Power of Targeted Ads

23:02 – Carone Ani's Journey to Video Marketing

36:55 – Balancing In-Person and Online Networking

40:43 – Empowering Women in Business

#CyberSavvyWoman #WomenInTech #VideoMarketing #SocialMediaStrategy #AITrends

In this first episode, we’re turning the spotlight on why The Cyber Savvy Woman exists—and why women business owners deserve a space where cybersecurity feels empowering, not intimidating.

Nick Uresin steps in as guest-host to interview Rachel Schainker about her journey from corporate tech to becoming an MSP owner serving small businesses with clarity, support, and real-world solutions.

You'll hear how women business owners use tech differently, what they worry about (and shouldn’t), how AI is shaping their operations, the cybersecurity mistakes business owners make most, and why Rachel chose to build her MSP through a franchise model.

Key Discussion Points

00:00 — Welcome to The Cyber Savvy Woman (Rachele & Nick)

00:45 — Why this podcast needed to exist

02:00 — How AI will shape the conversations

03:30 — The gap Rachele saw in the cybersecurity space

05:00 — What women business owners struggle with most in tech

06:30 — Who will benefit from the show (audience breakdown)

07:45 — Types of guests and vendor partners we’ll bring on

09:00 — Why product-agnostic cybersecurity matters

10:30 — Real horror stories & what “cyber hygiene” really is

12:00 — Password managers, MFA, and sharing credentials safely

13:30 — Remote teams, secure internet, and keystroke logging risks

15:00 — Why Rachele chose the franchise model (CMIT)

16:30 — Running vs building: the decision that shaped the business

18:00 — Rachele’s background: Seattle roots & early tech work

20:00 — Leaving corporate America and the pivot to small business

21:30 — What CMIT does and how Rachele supports clients

23:00 — How to reach Rachele (LinkedIn & show notes)

24:00 — Final thoughts, subscribe & support

If you’re a founder, advisor, designer, therapist, or any business owner trying to stay safe in a digital world that moves fast—this conversation was made for you.

Don’t forget to:

👍 Support conversations that make cybersecurity more accessible

🔔 Subscribe so you never miss practical strategies for protecting your business

💬 Share the one insight that made you rethink your digital safety

🔗 Send this to a woman business owner who deserves to feel cyber-confident

#CyberSavvyWoman #WomenInBusiness #CybersecurityForSmallBusiness #FemaleFounders #DigitalSafety #MSP #AIForBusiness #TechConfidence #WomenWhoLead #CyberHygiene #SmallBusinessTips

The Cyber-Savvy Woman is where women business owners reclaim their power in the digital world. We break down the cybersecurity barriers that have kept women out of critical tech conversations, transforming complex protection strategies into clear, actionable guidance. Our vision: every woman leading a business deserves to feel unshakeable in her digital decisions— no matter her technical background.

From women founders who lead businesses in a digital world to top security experts who understand what's really at stake for your business, we bring you the voices that matter. Whether you're protecting client trust as a therapist, safeguarding financial data as an advisor, or scaling a mission-driven nonprofit, discover how to build digital strength without sacrificing the values-driven approach that makes your business thrive. Ready to stop letting cybersecurity intimidate you and start letting it elevate you?