Advertise on podcast: Sweet but Fearless Podcast

In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with Bridget Sicsko, Brand Strategist, Speaker, and Consultant, for a conversation on building a brand that actually reflects who you are and what you want to be known for. They dig into a simple but often overlooked question: when someone lands on your LinkedIn or website, is it immediately clear who you are and what you stand for? Bridget shares how taking a thoughtful audit of your digital presence can help you shape the narrative you want others to see and why clarity is the foundation of any strong personal brand. As co-founder of Visibility on Purpose and host of the Visibility Era podcast, Bridget breaks down how to develop your brand voice, use storytelling to elevate your message, and leverage social media for visibility, even with little to no budget. She also reminds us that every experience, whether a win or a setback, offers lessons that can strengthen your brand story. This episode is a practical and empowering guide for anyone ready to show up with intention, refine their message, and build a brand that opens doors.     ABOUT BRIDGET SICSKO: Website – Visibility on Purpose LinkedIn – Bridget Sicsko Podcast – Visibility Era   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 Carmell Clark, Executive Coach and Vision Strategist, for a conversation about trusting yourself, leaning into your strengths, and doing work that truly fulfills you. Carmell shares how paying attention to what energizes you can help guide better choices in both career and life, and why meaningful change starts from within. It's an inspiring reminder to stop waiting and start creating the future you want now. Carmell is the founder of the Center for Transformational Influence (CTI), an organization that works globally across sectors to help companies and entrepreneurs build sustainable success through greater self-actualization and gender equity.   ABOUT CARMELL CLARK: Website - Carmell Clark LinkedIn - Carmell Clark Upcoming Books - "Professional Woman's Guide to Radical Self-Acceptance" "The Art of Discovering Who You Are"   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 Corinne Gavlinski, CEO and Founder of The GAV Group, about what it really takes to lead with intention in high-pressure environments. With over two decades of experience in financial services and health tech, Corinne shares how she built and scaled commercial teams while navigating demanding growth goals and constant pressure. But it was a personal loss that sparked a deeper reflection, shifting how she saw herself as a leader and how she shows up for others. Together, they explore the importance of lifting up your team, having meaningful development conversations, and staying aware of your impact as a leader. Corinne also introduces her XTR (Executive Table Read) methodology and unpacks the concept of "lazy leadership", those moments when distraction pulls you away from your intentions. This conversation is a powerful reminder to stay present, lead with purpose, and take a bet on yourself.   ABOUT CORINNE GAVLINSKI: Website – The Gav Group LinkedIn – Corinne Gavlinski The XTR - More info   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 Janet Kintner, a pioneering lawyer and judge who helped break barriers in San Diego, California, while raising three children and managing a full and busy home life. In this candid conversation, Janet reflects on her groundbreaking career, including the pivotal moment in 1978 when she was forced to run in an election to keep her judicial seat. Janet shares her experiences navigating law school, the challenges of working in a male-dominated field, and the resilience it took to keep moving forward. She also opens up about writing her first memoir after years of contributing to legal articles, and the people who supported her along the way. Through it all, Janet emphasizes the importance of recognizing your worth, letting go of perfection, and building a strong community of support. Her story is a powerful reminder that persistence, self-belief, and using your voice can open doors and that you deserve your place at the table.   ABOUT JUDGE JANET KINTNER: Website -  Judge Janet Kintner Substack - Author's Answers: Janet Kintner BOOK - "A Judge's Tale – A Trailblazer Fights For Her Place on the Bench"  

In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with Dr. Kate Mason, author of Powerfully Likable, about what it really means to communicate as a woman in today's workplace. Too often, women feel like they have to choose, be powerful or be likable. But what if you didn't have to? Kate shares how the way we communicate trains others how to trust us and why understanding who you are is key to stepping into leadership with confidence. This conversation challenges the idea of either/or and introduces a more powerful approach, being both strong and genuinely likable. Because real leadership isn't about choosing, it's about becoming powerfully likable. Dr. Kate Mason is an executive communications coach, keynote speaker and author specializing in communication, influence, and leadership dynamics. Kate works with companies like Microsoft, Netflix, Google.org, Uber and many more to help execs more fully present themselves and boost their signal, presence, and value in their organization.   ABOUT DR. KATE MAASON: Website – Dr. Kate Mason LinkedIn: Dr. Kate Mason BOOK: Powerfully Likeable   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 Eleanor Beaton, founder of Safi Media, about confidence and how it's built through courage. Confidence doesn't appear overnight; it grows each time you step outside your comfort zone and do something you haven't done before. They discuss why courage is the foundation of confidence, and how taking small, bold actions can expand what you believe is possible for yourself. The conversation also explores the power of relationships at work and why who you know, and who knows about you, can be just as important as what you know. If you've ever hesitated to speak up, reach out, or connect with people who hold more influence, this episode offers practical insight on building the confidence to show up, be visible, and create meaningful professional relationships.   ABOUT ELEANOR BEATON: LinkedIn – Eleanor Beaton Website: Eleanor Beaton Podcast: Woman Owned: The Growth Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs Website – Safi Media Join the Newsletter   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 Chanda Coston, Personal PMP and Success Strategist, about how women over 40 can build businesses by leveraging the experiences they've gathered over time. With a background that spans the U.S. Navy and corporate America, Chanda explains how every role, challenge, and lesson becomes part of what she calls a "shoebox of experiences" that can be used to create new opportunities. In this conversation, Chanda challenges the pressure of hustle culture and encourages women to be smarter about how they spend their time. Instead of trying to do everything at once, she suggests breaking life into seasons and designing your schedule around the goals that matter most in the season you're in. Chanda also emphasizes the importance of making the outcome non-negotiable. By building a practical action plan and approaching goals with intention and strategy, women can move their businesses forward in a way that is proactive, focused, and sustainable. This episode is a reminder that experience is powerful, time is valuable, and the next chapter of business can be built with purpose.   ABOUT CHANDA COSTON: LinkedIn – Chanda Coston Website – Chanda Co. E-book – Reclaiming Your Dreams with Confidence & Clarity ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

In this inspiring episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with leadership coach and educator Colleen Souza, author of Living by the Mantras, as she shares how small, intentional words can create powerful shifts. She invites us to live with greater purpose, one mantra at a time. A nationally recognized educator turned real estate leader, speaker, author, and podcaster, Colleen has spent decades guiding others with honesty, clarity, and practical insight. Her advice is grounded and refreshingly real, the kind that comes from experience, resilience, and a conscious choice to lead with joy. In her book, Living by the Mantras, Colleen shares the powerful phrases that have shaped her life, along with the lessons behind them, for readers ready to live with more intention and more heart. Her hope is to empower others to live from their values with positivity, heart, and humor.   ABOUT COLLEEN SOUZA: LinkedIn – Colleen Souza Website – Living by the Mantras Podcast – Living by the Mantras BOOK: Living by the Mantras   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 Sheronda Rochelle about career reinvention, bold pivots, and redefining yourself in your 50s and beyond. Sheronda shares her career journey and why she's passionate about helping women over 50 reimagine what's next. They explore the power of support systems, friendships, and why you don't have to reinvent your life alone. Sheronda also introduces her newest endeavor, Revelre, (Relatable, Evolve, Elevate, Rediscovery) a membership community that brings businesswomen together through meaningful, dinner-based networking experiences. If you're navigating a pivot, craving connection, or ready for your next chapter, this episode is for you. Outside of her professional work, Sheronda enjoys writing, cooking, and traveling. She credits much of her success to strong mentors and a supportive community and to embracing a nontraditional path. Looking ahead, she hopes to publish her first novel, write a cookbook, and continue advancing her career.   ABOUT SHERONDA ROCHELLE JD, MFA: LinkedIn – Sheronda Rochelle Website – Revelre ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

What happens when the journey to conception collides with burnout? In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, is joined by Dr. Aumatma Simmons, a renowned holistic fertility expert who's changing the conversation around natural, whole-person fertility care. Dr. Aumatma explores the key areas that truly support clients on their path to conception and how chronic stress and burnout can quietly impact fertility. She also debunks common myths, especially those around advanced maternal age, and shares her personal journey into fertility work and the unique model of care she's built. This is a thoughtful, empowering conversation for anyone navigating fertility, supporting others, or curious about the deeper connection between stress, health, and reproduction. Dr. Aumatma is a double board-certified Naturopathic Endocrinologist, in practice for close to 20 years. She founded the Holistic Fertility Institute to support badass power couples (C-Suite execs, Entrepreneurs, and multi-passionate people) to create the family of their dreams. ABOUT DR. AUMATMA SIMMONS: Website – Holistic Fertility Institute LinkedIn – Aumatma Simmons BOOK: Fertility Secrets: What Your Doctor Didn't Tell You About Baby-Making   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 professor and author Caroline Levander about what it really means to build and nurture a growth mindset in a world that demands innovation. They dive into why an innovative growth mindset isn't something you're born with, it's something you build by learning through doing, experimenting, and being willing to get it wrong before you get it right. Caroline shares insights from her book Invent Ed, a much-needed contribution to the ecosystem of innovation, creativity, and higher education in America. This conversation is a powerful reminder that progress comes from curiosity, courage, and the willingness to try. If you're a frontline woman leader looking to stretch your thinking, expand what's possible, and lead with creativity, this episode is for you.   ABOUT CAROLINE LEVANDER: Website – Caroline Levander LinkedIn – Caroline Levander BOOK: Invent Ed: How an American Tradition of Innovation Can Transform College Today Rice University - Caroline Levander   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 Caroline Stokes, leadership strategist, Fifth Industrial Revolution, for a grounded conversation about intentional learning, emotional intelligence, and navigating change at work with clarity. They explore how emotional intelligence can quietly influence your career, both positively and negatively, especially during moments of uncertainty or transition. Caroline introduces the four common responses to workplace shifts: flight, freeze, fight, and fawn, and explains why understanding your default reaction is key to moving forward with intention instead of operating on autopilot. Once you know where you are, you can begin to choose a mindset that supports growth rather than stress or stagnation. The conversation also dives into thinking ahead in your career, learning with purpose, and handling disruption without losing momentum. Drawing from her books Elephants Before Unicorns and Aftershock, Caroline shares practical insights for leaders who want to respond thoughtfully to change instead of reacting out of fear. This episode is for anyone facing shifts at work and looking to lead themselves, and their careers, with greater awareness and intention. A Sony alum who contributed to the launch of PlayStation, and a PCC-level, EQ 2.0–certified coach, Caroline has evolved from executive headhunter to one of the few global authorities on psychological and strategic leadership reinvention.   ABOUT CAROLINE STOKES, CEC: Website - The Forward Co LinkedIn - Caroline Stokes, CEC Books: Elephants Before Unicorns: Emotionally Intellignet HR Strategies to Save Your Company Aftershock to 2030: A CEO's Guide to Reinvention in the Age of AI, Climate, and Societal Collapse   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 Tameka Bazile, content creator, entrepreneur, and a powerful voice on LinkedIn, where she shares raw, honest truths about social media as both a profession and a culture. Tameka challenges the idea that your identity stops at your 9–5 and reminds us that personal branding isn't just for influencers, it's essential for professionals navigating evolving careers. They talk about the importance of being open about what you actually want in your career, asking for opportunities instead of waiting to be discovered, and allowing yourself to grow beyond the version of you that first entered the workforce. Tameka also makes one thing clear: learning matters but learning without action keeps you stuck. This conversation is a reminder to stay curious, apply what you learn, and commit to lifelong growth because your career is allowed to evolve as much as you do. Tameka is a Brooklyn-born creative entrepreneur, social strategist, and business influencer who is shaping the conversation around work, identity, and brand power in the digital age. With a career spanning over eight years, Tameka has built a reputation as a sharp, creative industry leader who blends strategic thinking with real-world relatability. She previously served as Social Strategy Manager at TIME, where she oversaw social programming for legacy media bringing the century-old brand into a social-first future   ABOUT TAMEKA BAZILE: LinkedIn: Tameka Bazile Website: Tameka B Instagram: The Tameka Bazile 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 Michele Kehrer, author and founder of Shift to Success, for a thoughtful conversation about overcoming adversity and the personal challenges we all face. Drawing from her book Brave Shift, Michele explores how mindset shapes the way our days unfold, how the thoughts we start with can either fuel overwhelm or create space for calm. Together, they talk about the importance of beginning each morning by identifying the one thing that truly matters that day. With never-ending to-do lists pulling at our attention, this conversation is a reminder that we have to learn when to set the list aside and choose to take action for ourselves.   ABOUT MICHELE KEHRER: LinkedIn: Michele Kehrer Website: Michele Kehrer BOOK: Brave Shift:30 Mindset Changes to Transfer Your Life Available January 27, 2026 FREE: Shift to Success Starter Kit   ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

In this episode with Cooper Alexander and Mary Sullivan, co-founders of Sweet but Fearless, celebrate the start of a new year and creating a Rebuild Plan for the new year, one you can build in just 15 minutes and actually stick to. Cooper and Mary will take you through planning your January the RX3 way: Reflect → Research → Rebuild. No "new year, new me" pressure. No trying to change everything at once. Just a calmer, clearer way to move forward. Because most January plans don't fail from lack of motivation, they fail from overload. Too many goals. Too much change. Not enough structure. Instead, you'll focus on one powerful question: What's the ONE thing that, if strengthened, would make everything else easier? That's your catalyst goal. One steady anchor. One place to start. Grab your coffee, open your notebook, and rebuild January with clarity, not chaos!   ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless