Institute for Women, Wellness & Work

Jaclyn Ionin, Trademark Attorney, talks about embracing the label bossy, setting goals, and welcoming surprises. She discusses why she chose to leave behind steady employment to launch her own law practice and the benefits of being an entrepreneur as a woman.

Shameka Jones Taylor, Vice President of Corporate Work Study Program at Saint Martin de Porres High School, discusses her passion for supporting our future generations and finding her own superpower.

Genevieve Piturro, author and founder of the Pajama Project, shares how she found her purpose and passion while volunteering to help children in shelters due to trauma and abuse. Inspiring others with her story, she’s appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and the list goes on. To date she is responsible for providing seven million pairs of pajamas to children in need.

If you’re a music fan, you’ll certainly be inspired by today’s guest, music industry mogul Marilyn Batchelor. Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Partnerships at legendary Patti LaBelle’s label, GPE Records, she has over a decade of experience in music marketing for indie marketing divisions and nationally known brands, including Universal Studios/Killer Tracks, Interscope/Geffen/A&M, and MCA. Her brilliance and expertise are behind the marketing plans responsible for the successful launch of albums by Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, and Gwen Stefani just to name a few.  Marilyn’s creativity, leadership, and commitment to relationship building resulted in establishing partnerships between the music industry and the sports industry as you know it today. She’s brokered marketing partnerships with BMW, Coca-Cola, Ford, Nike, McDonalds, and the list goes on. It is her tenacity for building relationships that resulted in the multi-billion dollar venture Beats by Dre . Marilyn is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences – AKA The Grammys. In addition to all of this, Marilyn is an ordained Methodist pastor and lives a life of service as chaplain at St. John’s Medical Center, mentor to LA’s inner city youth, and serves on the Board of GoHaiti!, a non-profit orphanage she visits every Christmas.

President and CEO of Jubilee Park and Community Center, Marissa Castro-Mikoy shares her passion for engaging in a career that aligns with her values, her reaction to being named a Champion of Change by the White House, and how she continues to combat imposter syndrome, calibrates career and family, and is finally giving herself permission for some “me-time.”

Coach Julie Jones talks about the importance of personal energy management and the ways we can lead more efficient and fulfilled live by paying attention to what our bodies need.

Holistic wellness and life coach, Beth Korinek shares her story on why she pursued entrepreneurship, the importance of being in alignment and trusting ourselves, and how we can achieve a higher level of wellbeing in our lives.

Dr. Denise Reading shares her philosophy on why we need to live intentionally and practices we can put into place to start taking steps to consider our purpose and values in all areas of our lives.

An experienced leader in the Energy Industry and Mechanical Engineer Allyson Jimenez shares her journey as a woman in STEM, how she confronted imposter syndrome, and engages her identity and culture to lead positive change.

Journalist, activist, and author Lisa Factora Borchers opens up about the challenges of “having it all.” She discusses her love for language, her own journey as an author, and how other women can share their voices and find a path to getting published.

Ronette Burkes discusses her long career as a leader in the field of justice advocacy and offers insights on team building, creating a positive culture, and transformational leadership. Ronette Burkes serves as Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. Her leadership career began at the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center as the Director of Justice Advocacy and includes serving as the Warden of the Ohio Reformatory for Women at Marysville; but if you ask her, Ronette describes herself as being in the business of saving lives. Ronette has received multiple awards for her ongoing commitment to transformational leadership and serving others including the Governor’s Award for Community Development and Participation in 2019, and Warden of the Year in 2017.

Erica Merritt, MA, CDP, BCC, founder of Equius Group (and Ursuline alum!) is described by clients as a skilled coach, gifted facilitator and leadership and organizational development expert. She is well-recognized for her commitment to positive social change and as an authority on diversity, equity, inclusion and intersectionality. In this episode, Erica shares how she made her decision to leave a salaried position to found Equius Group, critical points for creating cultures of belonging in the workforce, and how we can navigate our own leadership journeys.

Donna Dabbs, Executive Director of the Cleveland Urban Film Foundation discusses the importance of creating our own journeys, supporting our communities, and recognizing opportunities to disrupt gender and intersectional inequities. 

Kelly Fuscaldo shares the importance of relationship building, how women can excel in relationship management, and important skills to boost productivity and get the credit you deserve.

Sophia Fifner shares her journey from serving as a senate staffer on Capital Hill to her current position of Chief of Community Relations of Parks and Recreation for the City of Columbus. She discusses the importance of women's voices in public affairs, motherhood challenges, and leading through the COVID 19 crisis. 

Patrice Russell discusses her role as Talent Acquisitions Manager for Akron Children’s Hospital, what it’s like working for an organization that is primarily female, and the many ways we can further develop our leadership skills. 

Blessing Omakwu shares how her experience growing up in Nigeria led to a passion for gender equity and human rights law and to serving in leadership roles with the United Nations, the One Campaign, and the Gates Foundation where she currently serves as the Deputy Director of Goal Keepers.

Empower yourself to rise, lead, and thrive in all aspects of your life. Influential women reveal insights on challenging gender and intersectional issues, getting ahead, defining success, taking their place at the table, and how to do it while thriving.