Be an Ethical Leader and Stand in Your Values with Vera Cherepanova

My guest today, Vera Cherepanova, shares the importance of being ethical at work and how we can leverage our values to create safer work environments.In my discussion with Vera, we chatted about:Why ethics is so important to Vera, and how she got into her line of work.The definition of ethical leadership.How ethics and compliance support the growth of an organization.How we can hold true to our values as working women when working in male-dominated industries.How we can advance from leadership to a seat on a company’s board.And more. Here’s more about Vera:Vera is the Executive Director of a non-profit, Boards of the Future™, a Chartered Accountant, and an award-winning Ethics and Compliance expert who writes and speaks about business ethics, governance, risk, and workplace culture.She is the author of Corporate Compliance Program, the first-ever book on compliance in the Russian language, and a co-author of The Transnationalization of Anti-Corruption Law, as well as hundreds of articles on all aspects of ethics, risk, compliance, and governance. Her insights have been featured in the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Law360, CityAM, and Thomson Reuters. Vera serves as a corporate director and ethics advisor for market-leading corporations and international not-for-profits. Before we begin, if the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Today’s show deals with the loss of a spouse, which we all know is a serious and devastating loss for so many women. In fact, here are some statistics on being a widow in the United States:For women under 50, being widowed occurs less than 12% and under 40, it’s less than 5%.Even though it seems rare, this adds up to 73,000 new U.S. widows each year between the ages of 35-54 years old.The average age for widowhood in the U.S. is around 59, but like I just said, many women are widowed much younger, during their working years. And PS, if we take age out of the mix, 2,800 women are widowed each day, or over 1 million per year. That’s staggering.This topic hits particularly close to home for me because my mom was in that statistic. She was 43 years old when my dad died from kidney cancer that move to the bone at 48. 48. I wanted Sandy to share her story because it is an important one. Also, Sandy pays it forward with tips for other women facing a similar situation and the aftermath of challenges from being a widow.In my discussion with Sandy, we chatted about:Her late husband, Scott’s, story.How Sandy handled life and work after Scott’s passing.The challenges widows face. What Sandy’s life and work look like today. Resources that Sandy recommends widows leverage to make the season more bearable.Some of the tips and resources that Sandy provides during our conversation are unexpected, so listen in!Here’s more about Sandy:Sandy Ramage-Kallal has over 15 years of experience in the credit union industry and currently serves as Director of Member Experience at the Illinois Credit Union League, supporting nearly 200 credit unions. Her background includes roles in training and development, community relations, and project management, as well as experience in education and nonprofit leadership. Sandy has served on the League’s Young Professional Advisory Committee, chaired the Burnett Chapter of Credit Unions, and presented at national conferences. She holds a master’s in social Geography and a bachelor’s in history from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Outside of work, Sandy enjoys traveling with her husband and daughter. 

According to an article on American Progress “In a Stagnating Job Market Job Seekers are Struggling to Find Opportunities”, the current US unemployment rate is at 4.4%, which is lower than the long-term average but is at its highest amount since before COVID began almost 5 years ago. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/in-a-stagnating-job-market-job-seekers-are-struggling-to-find-opportunities/When Jackie Cetera of JNC Innovations introduced me to Melinda Stoops, I knew I had to have her on the show. Melinda has taken her own job loss and tried to help others through it with her work with the Reluctant Free Agent. With the state of job seeking today, I knew I had to take our conversation live right away. In my discussion with Melinda, we chatted about:Her personal job loss story and what prompted her launch her LinkedIn newsletter and book, The Reluctant Free Agent.Her advice with being emotionally resilient, especially when shame and waiting for an extended period for the next right job opportunity comes alone.The power of community to your job search because the process can be lonely.Resources that Melinda recommends you take advantage of, especially if you are in the middle of a search.What the biggest learning Melinda has had during the last several months of her personal search.How you can register to receive Melinda’s newsletter and grab a copy of her book.Here’s more about Melinda:Melinda Stoops PhD helps people navigate change—with clarity, compassion, and measurable results.​As a licensed psychologist, executive coach, and strategic consultant, Melinda works with individuals and institutions facing transition, disruption, or reinvention. Whether you're processing personal loss, recalibrating your career, or leading organizational change, Melinda offers a space that’s both emotionally grounded and outcome-driven.​Melinda’s psychotherapy practice supports adults seeking insight, healing, and growth. Her coaching and consulting work empowers leaders to transform uncertainty into strategic clarity. Across both domains, Melinda brings:Deep clinical expertise and emotional intelligence,Frameworks for decision-making and change, andA personal understanding of transition, as reflected in her book The Reluctant Free Agent. Melinda believes transformation is possible when we honor our lived experience and build toward what’s next.Before we begin, if the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Are you were coming up in your career, what were you taught about rest? Here are a few oldies but goodies I was taught:You can rest when you die.No pain, no gain.Sleep is for the weak.Face time means you are committed. Don’t take a break.Do any of these toxic messages resonate with you? Unfortunately, so many women I chat with understand exactly where I am coming from. I am so happy to hear people like my guest today, Dr. Erin Wilson, sharing a new, healthier way to work.In my discussion with Dr. Erin today, we chatted about:Why boldness starts with clarity before bravery.The story behind Dr. Erin’s book, Strategic Rest in Leadership: The Nap Framework.Why rest is a competitive advantage for a leader.How we can incorporate rest into our corporate cultures.What relationship intelligence is and how it plays into the larger work that Dr. Erin does with her clients.Here’s more about Dr. Erin:Dr. Erin Wilson is a dynamic workshop facilitator, speaker, leadership consultant, and co-author of Strategic Rest in Leadership. With a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and over a decade of experience in leadership, adult learning and human development, Dr. Wilson empowers professionals, teams, and students to achieve meaningful growth through strengths-based development, strategic rest, and collaborative leadership strategies.​Her innovative approach, including the NAP Framework (Nurture, Assess, Prioritize), helps leaders and teams foster well-being, build resilience, and drive success. Known for her engaging and results-driven workshops, Dr. Wilson brings clarity and actionable solutions to organizations and individuals alike. Whether working with college students to build confidence and purpose or partnering with teams to enhance collaboration, Dr. Wilson’s mission is to create lasting impact through thoughtful, empowering solutions.Before we begin, if the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!Also, a Brave Women at Work Affirmation Deck is available in time for the holidays! It is a 54-card deck that is a beautiful compilation of advice and hard-won wisdom from podcast guests, Brave Women at Work Podcast guests, authors in the anthology series, and community members! You can grab a copy of the deck for $19.99 plus $10 shipping. To purchase your deck, visit Brave Women at Work and click on Resources. From there, you will see the Affirmation Cards page. I hope you enjoy them!

Today, I had the privilege of having Tracey Newell on as a guest. We chatted about more women making their way to the top, no matter what the level means to you. Listen in to be inspired and challenged to reach your next level.Here’s more about Tracey:Tracey Newell is the former president of Informatica, where she also served as a member of the company’s board of directors for two years prior to being asked to join the management team. Prior to joining Informatica, Newell served as executive vice president of global field operations at Proofpoint, where she led sales through a five-year period of hypergrowth. Recognized as a Top 100 Sales Leader by The Modern Sale, Newell led Proofpoint’s go-to-market team to become a top five leader in the cybersecurity market. Newell has also served as executive vice president of global sales at Polycom and held sales leadership positions at Juniper Networks, Webex, and Cisco Systems.Newell currently serves in the non-profit organization Impact 100, and is also a member of the board of advisors for the University of California, Santa Barbara’s economics department. In addition to Druva, Newell serves on the board of directors of DataRobot, Highspot, Sailpoint, and Sumo Logic. Before we begin, if the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!Also, a Brave Women at Work Affirmation Deck is available in time for the holidays! It is a 54-card deck that is a beautiful compilation of advice and hard-won wisdom from podcast guests, Brave Women at Work Podcast guests, authors in the anthology series, and community members! You can grab a copy of the deck for $19.99 plus $10 shipping. To purchase your deck, visit Brave Women at Work and click on Resources. From there, you will see the Affirmation Cards page. I hope you enjoy them!

Today, I have a great guest, Arivee Vargas. Arivee and I had a fun and flowing conversation about rising up and getting unstuck from situations that no longer serve you. I loved this conversation, and I am sure you will too!Here is more about Arivee:Arivee Vargas is an award-winning executive & High Performance™️ coach to lawyers and corporate leaders, author of the bestselling book Your Time to Rise: Unlearn Limiting Beliefs, Unlock Your Power and Unleash Your Truest Self, leadership development strategist, keynote speaker, and host of the Humble Rising podcast.With nearly 20 years of experience—from Big Law attorney to corporate executive—leading global litigation and corporate compliance initiatives to leading global employee relations and leadership development at a fast-paced biotech, Arivee knows firsthand what it takes to excel & lead in high-pressure environments. Trusted by top companies and 100 Am law firms, Arivee delivers coaching, keynotes and workshops to help organizations develop—and lawyers & leaders to become—bold, grounded, values-driven leaders, who lead with clarity, purpose, and seek to drive meaningful, lasting impact. Whether she’s coaching or advising executives, delivering workshops, or speaking on stage, Arivee is driven by one mission: to empower and equip leaders and lawyers with the tools to create transformational change from the inside out—and build a culture of sustainable high performance where work feels fulfilling and rewarding, even in the face of challenge and immense pressure.Arivee’s work has been featured in Oprah Daily, Forbes, Success Magazine, and Boston Business Journal. She graduated magna cum laude from Boston College, cum laude from Boston College Law School, and received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Boston College in 2022. In addition to her career at two large law firms and as a corporate executive, Arivee taught Business Law at the Boston College Carroll School of Management and served as a judicial law clerk at the Federal District Court in Massachusetts and on the First Circuit. She is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including most recently being honored with the Latina Trailblazer Award from the National Hispanic Bar Association Region II in 2025. She is a proud Latina, daughter of Dominican immigrant parents and mother of three children. 

As you will find out during today’s show, I have one of the authors I have worked with, Magon Peuker, on the show today! Magon and I began working on marketing her book earlier this year, maybe April or May 2025. When I first met Magon, I was so excited to work with her because this was the first book my partner, Hope Mueller, of Hunter Street Press and I were publishing!Also, the book, Raelynn’s Flower Garden, is so beautiful. I must give a shoutout to Olivia Deckard, the illustrator on this book. It’s just lovely! The book’s message is also appropriate for children and adults alike. It boils down to this: be kind and respectful to others because you never know what someone else is facing. So, if they look different than you or have a different life experience, show them care and love. Again, be kind to those you encounter in this world. 

Have you ever been betrayed? You’re probably thinking, “Of course I have, Jen.” That can be betrayal in a professional relationship with a boss or colleague or as devastating as marriage infidelity. But have you thought of burnout as a form of self-betrayal? When I saw Lora Cheadle, my guest today, refer to burnout that way, I was like “Ouch. That is some tough love right there.” I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about Lora’s perspective on betrayal.During the show, Lora and I chatted about:Her personal betrayal storyWhat Lora thinks of burnout as a form of self-betrayalKey tips on how you can rise above betrayal and thrive personally and professionallyHer Flaunt FrameworkWe touch on Lora’s books, FLAUNT! Drop Your Cover and Reveal Your Smart, Sexy, & Spiritual Self, and It’s Not Burnout, It’s Betrayal, 5 Tools to FUEL UP & Thrive. Here is more about Lora:Lora Cheadle, JD, CHt, is a betrayal recovery coach, licensed attorney (CO & CA), somatic attachment therapist, clinical hypnotherapist, and international speaker who guides women through the soul-shattering impact of infidelity into a life reclaimed. As the creator of Life Choreography® and the FLAUNT!® Framework, she offers the complete path of healing—legal, emotional, somatic, and spiritual—so women rise whole, sovereign, and free.Author of FLAUNT! Drop Your Cover and Reveal Your Smart, Sexy, & Spiritual Self, (an International Book Awards finalist and Tattered Cover bestseller) and It’s Not Burnout, It’s Betrayal, 5 Tools to FUEL UP & Thrive, Lora blends the precision of a lawyer, the compassion of a trauma-aware coach, the depth of somatic and spiritual practice, and the channeled wisdom of The Librarians with the lived experience of surviving infidelity herself.

I am excited for today’s guest, another repeat Brave Women at Work guest from a year or so ago, Gina Riley! I look up to Gina as a coach because she is successful in the industry, has built a solid and understandable framework, and is has now launched a book, Qualified is Not Enough: Develop Your Story, Land the Interview, Win the Job. During the show, Gina and I chatted about:What prompted her to write the book and get it out in the world.What Gina’s Career Velocity System is and how it works.What a career story is and why it’s important.How a career story is different than an elevator pitch. How do we develop our own unique career story and leverage it in our career. What the YouMap Assessment is and why you should consider taking it for yourself.Here is more about Gina:Gina has spent her career on both sides of the hiring process, giving Gina a unique perspective on what it takes to secure competitive leadership roles. As an executive search consultant, Gina has led searches, trained corporate teams on effective talent selection, and witnessed firsthand what makes candidates stand out—or miss the mark.Today, Gina guides leaders through career transitions with clarity and confidence using her proven Career Velocity™ framework—an actionable roadmap that helps her clients refine their story, market themselves strategically, and land the roles they are after.With a master’s degree in Whole Systems Design and certifications in Behavioral Interviewing, YouMap®, and Speaker Skills Academy coaching, Gina combines deep expertise with a practical approach to career strategy. Her insights have been featured in the Forbes Coaches Council, on 50+ podcasts and webinars, and in Gina’s book, Qualified Isn’t Enough: Develop Your Story. Land the Interview. Win the Job.Gina’s mission is simple: to demystify the hiring process and empower executives to own their value, take control of their careers, and create new opportunities instead of waiting for them.If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!Also, I have an awesome announcement!  I have been working an awesome project with Jackie Cetera of JNC Innovations and Jennifer Johnson. Ready…. drumroll please! A Brave Women at Work Affirmation Deck! It is a 54-card deck that is a beautiful compilation of advice and hard-won wisdom from podcast guests, Brave Women at Work Podcast guests, authors in the anthology series, and community members! You can grab a copy of the deck for $19.99 plus $10 shipping. To purchase your deck, visit Brave Women at Work and click on Resources. From there, you will see the Affirmation Cards page. I hope you enjoy them!

This week, I am featuring a dear repeat guest, Neen James. Neen is a wonderful ball of energy, and I love having her on the show. This time, we chatted about her book that just launched, Exceptional Experiences: Five Luxury Levers to Elevate Every Aspect of Your Business.During the show, Neen and I chatted about:How Neen’s latest book baby came to beHow the word “luxury” can be misconstruedAn overview of the five luxury levers and how they lead to exceptional experiencesNeen’s research on luxury mindset and how you can determine which luxury mindset category you fitHow this information can be applied to leadership at any levelIf you’d like to listen to my chat with Neen, who feels like an old friend at this point, listen in!Here is more about Neen:Neen James, MBA, CSP, is a force to be reckoned with in the world of leadership strategy and keynote speaking. As the author of Folding Time, Attention Pays and the forthcoming Exceptional Experiences, Neen inspires leaders and organizations to create extraordinary connections and experiences that drive results and leave lasting impressions. Recently named to the board of the World Luxury Chamber of Commerce, her proprietary research into the luxury mindset —the only study of its kind—sets her apart as a leading expert in delivering world-class client and employee experiences.Named one of the top leadership speakers by Global Gurus multiple years in a row, Neen’s practical strategies and infectious "Aussie sass" make her a favorite among corporate audiences and meeting planners alike (who often call her the Energizer Bunny). From being a confidante to Fortune 500 CEOs to empowering executive leaders responsible for revenue, Neen is known for her ability to blend actionable insights with an engaging delivery style, helping leaders to achieve greater focus, communications, and influence.