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“Every person regardless of their role operates as an individual leader. And when you eventually get to leadership, what do you want people to know you for?”
In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman sits down with Lori Lalonde, founder of Her Executive Ascent and former Microsoft executive, to discuss her journey from nearly 30 years in corporate leadership to building a business dedicated to helping senior women break through the barriers holding them back.
Lori shares the pivotal moment she walked away from corporate, the leadership patterns she repeatedly saw keeping women from advancing, and why high performers often end up doing the work that earns someone else a promotion. Together, they explore practical strategies for setting boundaries, communicating with confidence, navigating workplace politics, and building a leadership brand before you need it.
What We Talked About:
Leaving Corporate [2:16]
Why Women Get Overlooked [6:15]
Leadership, Boundaries & Practice [14:04]
AI Readiness and Governance [20:36]
Build Your Leadership Brand [31:33]
Connect with Lori:
@her_executive_ascent on Instagram
Lori Lalonde on LinkedIn
Connect with Ingrid:
@itsingridsworld on Instagram
Ingrid Zapata-Read on Linkedin
Connect with Carlyn:
@carlynbushmanconsulting on Instagram
Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn
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Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos
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Guests
Lori Lalonde
Hosts
Carlyn Bushman
Carlyn Bushman is a seasoned business consultant, entrepreneur, and advocate for female founders. She founded POP Business Academy to empower women entrepreneurs with tools for building sustainable, profitable businesses. As CEO of Carlyn Bushman Consulting, she specializes in helping product- and service-based business owners navigate financials, marketing, and growth strategies. With extensive corporate experience, Carlyn, a mom in a blended family and lifelong learner, has been featured on Good Morning America and in Times Square. She's here to help you make money and stay in business.
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