She Lift Project Podcast

In this episode of the She Lift Project Podcast, Cynthia Kirkpatrick sits down with Lauren Colbert, Principal Strategic Facilitator at Filament, a one-of-a-kind analog thinking space located in the Cortex Innovation District in St. Louis. Lauren helps smart people think better together, working with organizations ranging from local nonprofits to Fortune 50 companies to unlock honest conversation, eliminate political noise, and produce real momentum inside rooms where teams have been stuck for years. This episode explores how Lauren built her career, what Filament actually does, and why the way most teams meet is quietly costing them everything.
This episode is for leaders, team builders, and women who have ever felt like the culture around them was slowly suffocating who they really are. Listeners will learn why the best leaders stop trying to have all the answers, how to replace performance with genuine thinking, and what it looks like when a room full of skeptics becomes a room full of believers. After listening, you will walk away with a completely different way of thinking about meetings, leadership, failure, and what it means to show up fully as yourself.

In Episode 74 of the She Lift Project Podcast, Cynthia Kirkpatrick sits down with Paya Sample, CEO of Peak Leaders Collective and executive coach to leaders across industries and education. Paya works with executives, administrators, and managers to build trust-based cultures, develop rising leaders, and lead with authenticity and purpose. Together, Cynthia and Paya explore what it actually means to lead with heart. Paya explains it all, from the neuroscience of emotional pain in the workplace to the personal story of walking away from a principal role she loved without a next step lined up.
This episode is for any woman who has ever been in a culture that drained her, led a team and wondered if she was doing it right, or stayed somewhere too long because leaving felt like quitting. You'll learn Paya's three-part framework for building trust through relationship, belonging, and vulnerability. You'll also learn practical tools for shifting culture, giving feedback differently, and rediscovering your own zone of genius. After listening, you will be equipped to take immediate action as a leader or team member to start building the kind of workplace where people actually want to show up.

In this episode of the She Lift Project Podcast, host Cynthia Kirkpatrick sits down with Stephanie Zettl, an award-winning photographer with over 25 years of experience working across the globe. Stephanie specializes in capturing the inner beauty of leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs through portraits that reveal confidence, personality, and authentic self. Together, Cynthia and Stephanie explore the deeper connection between photography, self-worth, legacy, and what it truly means to be seen.
This episode is for women leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs who have been avoiding the camera or settling for photos that don't reflect who they truly are. Listeners will discover why confidence is data not a feeling, how photographs build a lasting legacy, and why their 40s are exactly the right time to invest in being seen. After listening, they will feel empowered to step in front of the camera, invest in their personal brand, and embrace the powerful, accomplished woman they have already become.

Beth Gunter joins Cynthia Kirkpatrick on the She Lift Project Podcast to share her journey from building a network from scratch to becoming Chief Revenue Officer and partner at Spry Digital. She is a sales leader, community builder, and founder of the One Degree of Separation networking event, known for helping professionals form real relationships that move their careers forward. In this episode, she talks about the power of authentic networking, women supporting women, and how the right connections can shape both your career and your life.
This episode is for women who want stronger professional relationships, more confidence in networking, or a clearer path toward leadership. Listeners will learn how to build meaningful connections, follow up with purpose, and intentionally surround themselves with people who help them grow. After listening, they will feel more equipped to find their people, strengthen their network, and take concrete steps toward the career and life they want.

In this episode of the She Lift Project Podcast, Cynthia talks with Sally Schwarz, a retired emeritus professor of radiology at Washington University in St. Louis and a global leader in nuclear pharmacy. Sally built a groundbreaking career in radiopharmaceutical science, regulatory leadership, and international medical innovation while helping shape the future of nuclear medicine. They discuss her journey from a small town in Iowa to global scientific leadership, and how her mother’s determination for her daughters’ education shaped the risks, pivots, and opportunities that defined her life.
This episode is for women who are navigating career decisions, considering a pivot, or wondering if their path has to be perfectly planned. Listeners will learn how curiosity, networking, resilience, and saying "yes" to opportunities can open doors they never expected. After listening, you will feel more confident trusting your own path, taking the next step forward, and pursuing success in whatever form it takes.

In this episode of the She Lift Project Podcast, Cynthia Kirkpatrick sits down with Alison Niermann, founder and CEO of Tilley Partners. Alison is an executive recruiter and leadership advisor who helps organizations hire the right people and build teams that actually work. They talk about how to recognize your true professional value, how great leaders hire differently, and why protecting your spark at work changes everything.
This episode is for professionals ready for growth, leaders responsible for hiring, and anyone questioning their next career move. You will learn how to clarify what makes you valuable, how to show that value in conversations and interviews, and what strong hiring and culture look like behind the scenes. After listening, you will be able to approach your career or your team with clearer focus and make smarter decisions about where you work and who you hire.

In this episode of The She Lift Project, Cynthia Kirkpatrick sits down with Melissa Gragg of Bridge Valuation Partners for a deep dive into what it really takes to win high-stakes negotiations. From complex business sales and mergers to high-net-worth divorces and closed mediations, Melissa shares how her background in business valuation, forensic accounting, expert testimony, and investment banking shaped an unconventional negotiation approach. Through real-world stories from boardrooms, courtrooms, and mediation rooms, she reveals why most negotiations fail, how power imbalances form, and why traditional back-and-forth bargaining often leads to bad outcomes.
Melissa breaks down the psychology behind winning negotiations and explains why outcomes are driven by preparation, data, timing, and patience rather than pressure or compromise. She introduces a repeatable framework for anchoring the deal, controlling leverage, reading behavioral “tells,” and using silence as a strategic tool. The key takeaway is clear: winning isn’t about overpowering the other side, it’s about setting the foundation so the outcome becomes inevitable. Whether you’re negotiating a business deal, navigating a divorce, or advocating for yourself in any high-stakes situation, this episode offers a powerful blueprint for negotiating with confidence, clarity, and control.

Accountability That Unlocks Potential features a powerful conversation between Cynthia Kirkpatrick and Angie Lovatto, Vice President of Human Resources at KCI Construction, about leadership, non-linear career paths, and building a people-first culture in a male-dominated industry. Angie shares her journey from starting on a construction job site at 18 to becoming an executive leader, navigating HR, education, family life, and personal growth along the way. Her story challenges the idea that leadership follows a straight line and highlights how grit, curiosity, and support can shape meaningful careers and strong organizations.
Throughout the episode, Angie reframes accountability as a positive and essential leadership tool, not rooted in fear or compliance, but in coaching, care, and belief in people’s potential. She explains how accountability, when done well, builds confidence, psychological safety, and trust, allowing individuals and teams to grow. From redefining the role of HR at KCI Construction to leading with empathy, humility, and integrity, this conversation offers practical insight for leaders, managers, and anyone seeking a workplace culture where people are supported, challenged, and empowered to be their best.

In this episode of The She Lift Project, Cynthia Kirkpatrick sits down with Lisa Govro, founder of Big Heart Tea Co., to explore how a deeply personal mission turned into a nationally recognized, values-driven brand. Lisa shares the journey of building Big Heart Tea Co. from a trailer at local farmers markets to shelves at Whole Foods and boutique shops across the country, all while staying rooted in authenticity, ethical sourcing, and human connection. With a background in social work and a belief that healing should be accessible, Lisa explains how intuition, storytelling, and heart-led leadership shaped a business that refuses to compromise its values.
This conversation goes far beyond tea. Lisa opens up about self-worth, redefining success, resisting comparison, and learning to trust yourself as a woman, a founder, and a mother. She reflects on the courage it takes to say no, the importance of aligning business decisions with personal values, and how true leadership starts with self-belief. Listeners will walk away inspired to bet on themselves, embrace authenticity over perfection, and remember that success is not just what you build, but how you live while building it.

In this episode of the She Lift Project podcast, host Cynthia Kirkpatrick welcomes Krystal Weigl, an attorney, author, and advocate passionate about transforming the legal field. Krystal runs her own law firm, Weigl Law, where she focuses on civil rights, employment law, and supporting individuals and small businesses through creative, people-centered legal solutions. This episode explores her journey in law, her mission to make justice more accessible, and how she’s redefining traditional legal practice with authenticity and empathy.
This episode is for anyone who has ever felt dismissed or overlooked in professional spaces, clients seeking legal support, or aspiring leaders. Listeners will learn how Krystal built her practice by challenging outdated norms, prioritizing fairness, and trusting her values over status quo expectations. After hearing her story, they’ll be better equipped to advocate for themselves, set healthy boundaries, and create spaces—personally or professionally—where integrity and compassion thrive.