Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw

Medicare spends as much on falls as it does on cancer—but 30-50% of those fall-related costs are preventable. Amanda Rees watched her grandmother develop a "goose egg" from a fall while gardening, then watched the shame make her stop gardening altogether, spiraling into depression and isolation. A decade of caregiving radicalized how this Princeton-trained engineer thought about aging. So she built Bold, a company now serving 10 million older adults—with a leadership team and cap table that's "very, very female" in a notoriously male-dominated space. But first, she had to stop making herself small. "You're really good at making yourself seem small," someone told Amanda early in her fundraising journey. The irony wasn't lost—she was downplaying a Princeton engineering degree, $100M in energy investment experience, and a decade caring for her grandmother while running a company literally called Bold. She only needed to hear that feedback once. What followed was a masterclass in building with intention. Amanda raised funding from Rethink Impact, the largest fund dedicated to investing in women, and assembled a predominantly female leadership team—not through quotas, but through mission alignment. "Women tend to be the frontline caregivers for a lot of families, and they see it. They understand that's a very real problem," she explains. In this conversation, Amanda dismantles the preparation myth holding women founders back: "If you have the itch and you wanna do it, do it. Don't go get an extra degree or do this thing before I'm ready." She explains why your first pitch will be terrible, why pitch five is the hardest, and how objection handling refines not just your deck but your entire business model. She also shares why she only hires people who'll stay "when things are tough, when the challenges ahead look really big and scary"—because fair-weather teams crumble, and resilience must be embedded from day one. Key Takeaways: Stop waiting to be "ready"—the best data comes from actually doing it, not preparing endlessly Making yourself small doesn't help anyone, especially not you—authenticity beats false modesty Build your team and investor base with people who deeply connect to your mission, not just the opportunity Your first pitch will suck; by pitch fifty you'll be excellent—you just have to survive pitch five The DNA of the people you hire becomes the DNA of your company—choose accordingly When older adults lose independence, it's the shame and isolation that does the damage, not just the physical limitation About the Guest: Amanda Rees is the CEO and Co-founder of Bold, a pro-aging health company serving over 10 million older adults through Medicare partnerships with organizations like UnitedHealth Group. Bold's platform has demonstrated a 46% reduction in falls and 182% increase in weekly physical activity in peer-reviewed research. A Princeton graduate with a degree in biological and chemical engineering, Amanda previously managed a $100M renewable energy portfolio at The Schmidt Family Foundation and has been selected for The Aspen Institute's 2025 class of Finance Leaders Fellows. Health Podcast Network Chapters 00:00 - Introduction at Health Conference 00:55 - From Caregiver to Founder: The Bold Origin Story 03:35 - Keeping Humanity in Fall Prevention 08:12 - Building a Female-Led Company and Cap Table 10:08 - Fundraising Advice: Just Start Pitching 13:41 - The Feedback That Changed Everything: Stop Making Yourself Small 15:21 - AI and the Future of Aging 16:52 - Building Your Team: The DNA of Your Company Guest & Host Links Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn Connect with Amanda Rees on LinkedIn Connect with Inspiring Women Browse Episodes | LinkedIn | Instagram | Apple | Spotify

At nine years old watching a presidential debate, Shefali Razdan Duggal realized something: in America, a peanut farmer and the son of divorced parents could become president. Her mother was cutting vegetables at night, working as a seamstress by day. Politics became the path to help people like her mother. Decades later, she became the first person of color to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands, where the Dutch named a fuchsia-pink tulip after her, the first ambassador from any country ever honored this way. But the journey between that childhood revelation and diplomatic triumph involved a different calculation entirely. "Women of color have to work four times as hard," Shefali states. Her response wasn't resentment—it was a choice. She calls it "weed whacking" for the people behind her. While serving 90-hour weeks, she operated from what she calls "complete and utter equality" with her entire embassy staff. The result? Her Marines ranked as one of the best detachments in Europe. Her embassy became one of the best-run on the continent. And when women of color visited the ambassador wall and saw her photo next to John Adams, they would start crying. In this conversation, Shefali explains why ego kills opportunities faster than anything else, how she managed crushing stress without punishing anyone around her, and what happens when you choose to "do something" instead of "be someone." She also reveals why your work may not benefit you immediately—but that's actually the point. Key Takeaways: Why working harder (when you shouldn't have to) clears the path for everyone behind you How to build relationships before you need them What "lift as you climb" actually looks like in practice Why starting at the base level with zero ego changes everything How to manage stress without taking it out on your team When your work benefits someone else instead of you—and why that matters About the Guest: The Honorable Shefali Razdan Duggal served as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 2022-2025, becoming the first person of color in this role. Born in India and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio by a single mother working multiple minimum-wage jobs, she began her political career volunteering on Senator Ted Kennedy's campaign. The Dutch honored her by naming a tulip "Tulipa Shefali"—the first ambassador from any country to receive this tribute. Her book about her journey from immigrant daughter to diplomat releases summer 2026. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction at Health Conference 02:17 - From Humble Beginnings to Public Service 05:08 - Starting at the Bottom: Early Campaign Work 07:39 - Working Four Times as Hard: Breaking Barriers 09:51 - Lifting as You Climb: Human Rights Commitment 15:15 - Learning Diplomacy: The Path to Ambassador 19:06 - EQ and IQ: Leading with Humanity Under Pressure 26:48 - Advice for Women and What's Next Guest & Host Links Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn Connect with Former Ambassador Shefali Razdan-Duggal on LinkedIn Connect with Inspiring Women Browse Episodes | LinkedIn | Instagram | Apple | Spotify

"As a physician in training, we have been trained to believe that we are the leaders of every team. That we should know more than anyone in the room, or we must not be a good doctor. Throw that out." Dr. Saria Saccocio spent months during COVID not sleeping, trying to solve every problem herself while managing care for 1.3 million people. She was drowning under the weight of leadership until she had an epiphany that would fundamentally change how she leads: "Maybe I don't have to have all the answers myself. Perhaps I'm not the only one who comes up with solutions." That realization—that her medical training had actually taught her the wrong leadership model—became the foundation of her approach as Chief Medical Officer of Essence Healthcare. Five years later, she describes watching her team shift "from a brain drain to a recharge," becoming one of the most creative and innovative teams she's ever led. Dr. Saccocio's leadership philosophy centers on what she calls "let go and lead"—a mantra she returns to whenever anxiety creeps in. "Leading is not always directing," she explains. "Leading is inspiring, empowering and enabling everyone to sit at the table, speak up, show up, and do things. Build everyone else's confidence." After a year with Essence, she's most proud not of her own decisions but of "the work that they do, the creativity that they have now that they're working across swim lanes and doing things together." This approach hasn't just prevented burnout—it's unlocked innovation. From eliminating prior authorizations through physician collaboration to providing Oura rings to Medicare Advantage seniors, Essence Healthcare's solutions emerge from empowered teams, not top-down mandates. What makes Dr. Saccocio's perspective particularly powerful is her refusal to abandon clinical practice. After two decades as a family physician, she still sees patients at a free clinic, maintaining what she calls "a sacred relationship" that keeps her grounded in the vulnerability patients experience. Her closing advice to women leaders is deceptively simple but hard-won: "Don't forget to be you. Let's stop trying to be someone else. You are at that table because you are you. Bring your whole self to work. Bring your whole self wherever you go." Key Insights: Why physician training teaches the wrong leadership model—and how to unlearn it How "let go and lead" prevents burnout while unlocking team creativity Why continuing clinical practice makes you a better executive leader The shift from brain drain to recharge: building teams that energize each other How to lead without directing: inspiring, empowering, and enabling others Why bringing your whole self to work is the most revolutionary leadership act The connection between seeing whole people as patients and leading whole people as teams About the Guest: Dr. Saria Saccocio is Chief Medical Officer at Essence Healthcare, a 21-year-old regional Medicare Advantage plan with consistently high star ratings. A practicing family physician for over two decades, she previously held leadership roles at CareMore Health, Elance Health, Securas, Carilion Health, and LifePoint Hospitals. She continues seeing patients at Greenville Free Medical Clinic. Recorded live at Nashville Sessions conference. Health Podcast Network Chapters 00:00 - Redefining Physician Leadership 01:11 - Why ESSENCE Healthcare 04:04 - Navigating Medicare Advantage Disruption 12:35 - Why She Still Practices Medicine 18:33 - OURA Rings and Digital Health Literacy 24:28 - Leadership Evolution: The COVID Moment 29:33 - Bring Your Whole Self to Work Guest & Host Links Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn Connect with Saria Saccocio on LinkedIn Connect with Inspiring Women Browse Episodes | LinkedIn | Instagram | Apple | Spotify

"Get us re-listed. You have 12 months." When Crissy Carlisle walked into HealthSouth in 2005, the FBI had already raided the building. The company held the distinction of being one of the largest frauds in American history. She filed six years' worth of 10-Ks in 12 months, deploying such autocratic leadership that she earned the label "dictator." Then she did something remarkable: she spent the next two years consciously rebranding herself. This is the story of a leader who refuses to be defined by crisis or constrained by labels. From PricewaterhouseCoopers to Summit Behavioral Healthcare, Carlisle has built a career on walking into impossible situations and transforming them through strategic vision and radical self-awareness. Her secret? Understanding that even when you deploy the right leadership style, there are consequences. And having the courage to evolve anyway. "I went from chicken little to now people say, 'How do you stay so calm in these situations?' My response is generally: years of practice." Today, as CFO of Summit Behavioral Healthcare, Carlisle brings decades of high-stakes experience to behavioral health's most pressing challenges. But her most powerful lesson came from managing an accounts payable team who taught her that while some people are motivated by promotions, others just want to wear jeans. The revelation changed everything about how she builds and leads teams. In this episode of Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw, discover why removing "I don't have time" from your vocabulary might be the most important leadership decision you make. From being the only woman at investor conferences to consciously surrounding herself with people who think nothing like her, Carlisle reveals how strategic leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking better questions. For Crissy Carlisle, leadership isn't about getting rich and famous. It's about serving patients well and knowing everything else will follow. In a healthcare system desperate for strategic financial leadership, she's proof that the best CFOs don't just manage costs. They reimagine what's possible. Key Insights: Why deploying autocratic leadership successfully still required two years of rebranding How managing accounts payable taught her more about leadership than managing MBAs The mental shift from "I don't have time" to "That's not a priority today" Why finding common ground through Alabama football changed everything How to build teams with people who think nothing like you About the Guest: Crissy Carlisle serves as CFO of Summit Behavioral Healthcare, bringing 30+ years of experience from PricewaterhouseCoopers, HealthSouth (now Encompass Health), and taking companies public. She navigated one of the largest corporate frauds in American history, transforming from "dictator" to strategic visionary through conscious leadership evolution. Her personal mission: walk by faith, give with a generous heart, and make a difference in the lives of others. Health Podcast Network Chapters 00:00 Introduction  3:06 From Auditor to Healthcare CFO  5:44 Leadership Lessons from HealthSouth  6:54 Rebranding After 'Dictator' Label  10:08 Choosing to Change Your Leadership  14:00 Building Diverse-Thinking Teams  15:51 Being the Only Woman in the Room  19:53 Priorities Over Excuses  21:49 Career Advice: Assess, Learn, Build Guest & Host Links Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn Connect with Crissy Carlisle on LinkedIn Connect with Inspiring Women Browse Episodes | LinkedIn | Instagram | Apple | Spotify

"What's the problem we're trying to solve? Because oddly enough, sometimes that's not really understood." Before Mercedes Ikard solves a problem, she asks a question most leaders skip: Are we even solving the right problem? In a world demanding immediate action, she's built her leadership on something more powerful: the discipline to pause, listen, understand, and ensure everyone's calibrated on what actually matters before moving forward. As Senior Director of US Benefits Operations at The Walt Disney Company, Mercedes leads benefits strategy for one of the world's most complex workforces—six generations, cast members in theme parks and executives in boardrooms, each with different needs. For Mercedes, this complexity requires constant calibration. "Empathy I think is important. And I think it's important to be a decent human. If we start out to be a decent human, that really is a good barometer and we really make decisions a lot easier." This is where calibration begins. Not with spreadsheets or plan designs, but with a fundamental check: Are we being decent humans? When issues explode in the cultural ethos, Mercedes does a gut check: Is this really an issue within this organization? She's learned to calibrate signal from noise, solving problems that actually impact her workforce rather than chasing topics du jour. In this episode of Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw, discover why constant calibration might be leadership's most powerful skill. Not as hesitation, but as disciplined checking that everything stays aligned with what actually matters. From bifurcating work and home with precision to extending grace in postmortems, Mercedes has built her career on understanding before acting, clarity before speed, grace before perfection. Her superpower isn't speed. It's the wisdom to calibrate constantly on the right problems, with empathy, and with grace. Key Insights: Why "what's the problem we're trying to solve?" eliminates most organizational chaos How listening to understand rather than respond creates scalable solutions The discipline required to separate workforce-relevant issues from topics du jour Why plain language and "side streets" serve six generations better than complex plan details How bifurcating your day prevents the exhaustion of never decompressing Why showing yourself grace isn't optional for sustainable leadership About the Guest: Mercedes Ikard serves as Senior Director of US Benefits Operations at The Walt Disney Company, leading benefits strategy for one of the world's most complex and diverse workforces. Her leadership philosophy centers on calibration: constantly checking that she's solving the right problems, leading with empathy, and extending grace to herself and others navigating the high-pressure demands of corporate leadership. Health Podcast Network Chapters 0:00 Intro 2:05 Why Benefits Leadership Matters 4:03 Finding Her Passion in Healthcare and Retirement Benefits 6:59 Managing Disney's Multigenerational Workforce 10:42 Problem-Solving Framework for Complex Workforce Challenges 13:26 Leadership Skills That Matter: Empathy and Listening 15:03 The Power of Processing: Resisting the Urge to Act Immediately 18:29 Work-Life Balance and Decompression Strategies 21:11 Career Advice: Be Yourself and Show Grace Guest & Host Links Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn Connect with Mercedes Ikard on LinkedIn Connect with Inspiring Women Browse Episodes | LinkedIn | Instagram | Apple | Spotify