The Empowered Woman | Storytelling & Women Empowerment

In this episode, Julie Cole—co-founder of Mabel's Labels—shares the real, behind-the-scenes journey of building a product-based business from a basement startup to a category leader. What began as a simple solution to a frustrating everyday problem turned into a thriving company powered by innovation, word-of-mouth marketing, and a deep understanding of moms as consumers. Julie opens up about the early days of testing products, navigating e-commerce before it was mainstream, and building a business alongside three co-founders—all while raising a growing family. She highlights the power of community, both as a customer base and as a support system, and how partnerships can provide not just shared risk, but shared resilience.
Julie also dives into the evolution of leadership, personal branding, and what it really takes to grow a sustainable business. From learning when to delegate and hire the right people, to stepping out of day-to-day operations, she offers honest insights into scaling without losing your vision. She reflects on her transition into becoming the face of the brand, an author, and a speaker, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and connection in today's digital world. The conversation wraps with a powerful perspective on empowerment—tuning out societal noise, trusting your own path, and quieting the "brain gremlins" that try to hold you back.
Connect with Julie:
Website: www.mabelslabels.com
LinkedIn: Julie Cole, LLB, MA
Instagram: @mabelslabels | @juliecoleinc 



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Website: www.martaspirk.com
Instagram: @martaspirk
Facebook: Marta Spirk
Want to be my next guest on The Empowered Woman Podcast?
Apply here: www.martaspirk.com/podcastguest 
Watch my TEDx talk: www.martaspirk.com/Speaking

In this episode, communications expert Amy Reczek shares her journey from a background in psychology and the arts to becoming a successful entrepreneur and author. She discusses the evolution of her career over seventeen years in sales, which eventually led her to "walk away" from corporate life to create a more fulfilling path centered on the human element of connection. Amy introduces her "BREW" methodology—Be the moment, Raise confidence, Engage, and What about the crap—a framework designed to help professionals uplevel their communication by focusing on micro-moments and authentic presence in every business interaction.
The conversation also dives into the modern landscape of business tools, specifically the role of AI in professional communication. Amy emphasizes that while AI is a phenomenal tool for structure and efficiency, it should never replace a person's unique voice; she advocates for a balanced approach where technology supports, rather than dictates, human connection. Listeners will walk away with actionable insights from Amy's new book, Connect to Close, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be an empowered, centered professional in today's fast-paced world.
 
Connect with Amy:
Website: www.salesandpresence.com
LinkedIn: Amy Reczek



Let's keep the conversation going!
Website: www.martaspirk.com
Instagram: @martaspirk
Facebook: Marta Spirk
Want to be my next guest on The Empowered Woman Podcast?
Apply here: www.martaspirk.com/podcastguest 
Watch my TEDx talk: www.martaspirk.com/Speaking

In this episode, we have a conversation with Nancy Li Smith, founder of Boop and a seasoned AI product leader with experience at Meta and Microsoft, to explore how her global upbringing and deep tech background led her to reimagine the way we plan travel. Nancy shares the inspiration behind Boop, sparked during her honeymoon in Venice, where she realized how fragmented and time-consuming travel planning can be. By combining AI with personal travel data, Boop transforms everyday memories—like photos and notes—into instantly shareable, bookable itineraries, making it easier for friends to discover, customize, and actually commit to trips together.
Nancy also dives into the bigger vision behind Boop: empowering women to monetize their travel experiences and shift a portion of the massive travel economy back into their hands. She opens up about the leap from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, the importance of mentorship and community, and how building from a female lens is shaping both the product and its impact. This conversation is a powerful blend of innovation, storytelling, and purpose—highlighting how lived experiences can become valuable assets in creating meaningful, scalable change.
Connect with Nancy:
Website: www.boopwithme.com
Instagram: @nancylistyle | @boopwithme



Let's keep the conversation going!
Website: www.martaspirk.com
Instagram: @martaspirk
Facebook: Marta Spirk
Want to be my next guest on The Empowered Woman Podcast?
Apply here: www.martaspirk.com/podcastguest 
Watch my TEDx talk: www.martaspirk.com/Speaking

In this episode, Stephanie Cartin, co-founder of Entreprenista, shares the story behind building a thriving media company and membership community designed to support women founders and leaders. After successfully building and selling their social media agency, Socialfly, Stephanie and her co-founder created Entreprenista to help women access the tools, mentorship, and relationships needed to grow and scale their businesses. What started as a podcast to share entrepreneurial stories quickly evolved into the Entreprenista League, a dynamic membership community where women can connect, collaborate, and learn from each other.
Stephanie also opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, from navigating new business models to investing in coaches and experts to fill knowledge gaps. She shares personal insights about building a company while raising a young daughter and managing a challenging pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of support systems and work-life integration. From launching a community during the pandemic to hosting large-scale gatherings like Entreprenista Founders Weekend, Stephanie highlights how connection, collaboration, and empowering women entrepreneurs remain at the core of the Entreprenista mission.
 
Connect with Stephanie:
Website: www.entreprenista.com
LinkedIn: Stephanie (Abrams) Cartin
Instagram: @entreprenistas | @stephjillcartin



Let's keep the conversation going!
Website: www.martaspirk.com
Instagram: @martaspirk
Facebook: Marta Spirk
Want to be my next guest on The Empowered Woman Podcast?
Apply here: www.martaspirk.com/podcastguest 
Watch my TEDx talk: www.martaspirk.com/Speaking 
 
 
If you're a cultural catalyst, what got you here won't get you there.
Cultural change happens through peers at your level — not through previous cycles of friends, mentees, or employees.
Join our free masterclass:
The Science-Backed Secrets to Activate Your Legacy as a Cultural Catalyst Without Burnout
Register at activateherlegacy.com.

This episode dives into Leslie Youngblood's journey as the founder of Youngblood MMC, co-founder of TableTag, and host of the Serious Lady Business podcast. She shares her path from early experiences in marketing and advertising to stepping out of the corporate world to create a business that aligns with her passions and family life. Leslie explains how The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron helped her embrace her creativity and "own her magic," fueling both her agency work and her mission to empower female entrepreneurs.
Leslie also breaks down how Youngblood MMC supports small-to-medium B2B businesses with marketing clarity, systems, and consistent content creation to drive revenue growth. She discusses her new platform, TableTag, which centralizes communication between marketers and restaurants, and how it's poised to transform the hospitality tech space. Packed with actionable insights, inspiring advice, and empowering words for women in business, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to harness their creativity, structure their business, and step fully into their own magic.
Connect with Leslie:
Website: www.youngbloodmmc.com | www.seriousladybusiness.com | www.tabletag.io
LinkedIn: Leslie (Bailey) Youngblood
Instagram: @seriousladybusiness | @leslie2400
 
 
Let's keep the conversation going!
Website: www.martaspirk.com
Instagram: @martaspirk
Facebook: Marta Spirk
Want to be my next guest on The Empowered Woman Podcast?
Apply here: www.martaspirk.com/podcastguest 
Watch my TEDx talk: www.martaspirk.com/keynoteconcerts 
 
 
If you're a cultural catalyst, what got you here won't get you there.
Cultural change happens through peers at your level — not through previous cycles of friends, mentees, or employees.
Join our free masterclass:
The Science-Backed Secrets to Activate Your Legacy as a Cultural Catalyst Without Burnout
Register at activateherlegacy.com