Episode #25 From Wall Street to Tech to Angel Investing: A Journey to Impact ft. Natalie Levy, Founder of She’s Independent

You don’t need millions to start investing. You just need curiosity, intention, and the willingness to begin before you feel ready.

In this episode, Monique Schafer sits down with Natalie Levy, founder of She’s Independent, to explore how angel investing becomes a pathway not just to financial returns, but also to confidence and leadership. intentional steps, and letting each decision deepen her sense of self and purpose. Together, they explore how wealth, influence, and impact can begin with something as simple as curiosity, and how the act of investing (even in small amounts) can unlock success, board opportunities, and belief.

You’ve returned to work after a necessary break—maybe it was for your health, family, or just life. But now you’re wondering… why does it feel like you’re starting from scratch?

Through thoughtful guidance and practical insight, Monique unpacks how to re-establish visibility, align with leadership, and position yourself as a strategic asset, not a problem to solve. This episode is a permission slip to stop waiting for recognition and start initiating the conversations that will move your career forward.

Do you ever feel a mix of emotions when revisiting places connected to your family history? Whether it's a relative's home, a cherished childhood vacation spot, or a community where you spent a lot of time steeped in memories, sometimes these "family spaces" can feel complicated. We evolve, these places change, and the history can be heavy. But what if these complicated places offered an unexpected opportunity for personal growth and creating new, meaningful connections?

In this personal episode, Monique shares her journey back to her family's farm in the rural Midwest. This isn't where she grew up, but it's a 'family space' that forms a rich part of her family's roots, steeped in generations of stories, transformations, and memories. Monique unpacks the emotional nuances of returning to spaces with mixed feelings and reveals how she chose to see familiar places, create new experiences, and make new meaning for this next generation.

In this special case study episode, Monique takes listeners inside an experiment of her own — using Google’s AI tool, NotebookLM, to analyze the first 20 episodes of this podcast.

Part recap, part reflection, this episode blends AI with insight and gently explores how technology can help us see our evolution more clearly. Monique shares surprising themes that emerged and offers a simple invitation: What might you discover if you used a tool like this on your work… or your own life?

What if your next professional breakthrough isn’t about doing more but showing up differently?

In this episode, Monique Schafer sits down with powerhouse entrepreneur and social media strategist, Mary Robb. As the founder and CEO of Social Practice, Mary brings the kind of clarity and warmth that cuts through the noise and reminds us what social media was always meant to be: connection, storytelling, and service.

Together, Mary and Monique unpack the messy, beautiful, and often emotional process of showing up online, not just as a business, but as a whole human. They talk about the difference between business and personal branding (and how to do both without losing your mind), why values should lead your content, and how to create boundaries that protect your mental health while still building real influence.

Today, I’m inviting you into the pause. The space between clarity and action. The soft unraveling that happens when you finally let your nervous system breathe. This isn’t an episode with big “aha” moments — it’s one that meets you exactly where you are, especially if you’ve been craving permission to slow down, feel more, and do a little less.

If you’re in a season of reflection, reset, or just needing a little more quiet in a loud world — you are not alone.

In this episode, Monique Schafer welcomes powerhouse executive Katie Kruger for a raw, riveting, and deeply relatable conversation on transformation, grit, and redefining what success looks like. 

Raised in rural Alaska, dreaming of skyscrapers while hauling firewood and joining an exclusive male workforce in the oil fields, Katie now leads in the C-suite of a $35B company and has become a sought-after policy influencer and mentor. Her story is a masterclass in reinvention — not the loud, flashy kind, but the kind that happens when no one is watching, when you say “yes” to growth, over and over again, even when it’s hard. 

She shares what it was like being one of the only women in the oil fields, how she taught herself policy in a coffee shop, and why her version of success has nothing to do with titles — and everything to do with relationships, service, and staying grounded.

Monique reconnects with her college roommate and lifelong friend, Kelsey Murray, a former ad agency director with a deep background in marketing and digital strategy. After more than a decade climbing the corporate ladder, she made the bold decision to step away in pursuit of motherhood and a more intentional way of living.

Her career journey has included becoming a stay-at-home mom, launching a photography business, consulting as a fractional CMO, and ultimately stepping into franchise ownership. Each pivot was less about chasing titles and more about rediscovering what truly lights her up.

Monique expands on one of the key themes from Episode 15, Foundation Not Fumes, diving deeper into the nuanced and often misunderstood topic of overwhelm. More importantly, the critical difference between legitimate temporary overwhelm and lifestyle overwhelm.

Drawing inspiration from Mel Robbins and her own lived experience as a parent and a business leader, Monique provides listeners clear, actionable strategies for regaining clarity, presence, and momentum in both life and business.

Whether you’re managing a business, a household, or both, this episode offers practical, compassionate guidance for reclaiming mental clarity and capacity amidst chaos. Let’s dive in!

In this episode, Monique Schafer sits down with Michele Ashby, a trailblazing executive, board director, and founder of ACE LLC. With over three decades of experience in finance and capital markets, and eight board seats under her belt, Michelle is on a mission to train 1,000 women to step into corporate boardrooms with confidence, clarity, and impact.

Together, Monique and Michelle dive into the real path to board leadership — from mastering governance and financial acumen to navigating the unspoken dynamics of the good old boys’ network. They also explore the mindset shifts women need to own their value, silence imposter syndrome, and speak the executive vernacular that commands a room.

"Foundations Not Fumes: Surviving Parenthood and Burnout" - Ft. Crystal Harvey (Home on the Rock) and Danielle DeAnna (Bedrock)

“High Powered Love” for high achieving couples ft. Heather Clark

What happens when two driven, high-achieving people fall in love and try to do life — careers, kids, dreams — together? You get high-powered love, with all the magic and the mess that comes with it.

What to do when you’re already maxed out and someone adds another priority to your plate? How do you respond when everything is “important”, nothing can wait, and no one wants to make the tough call?

There are moments in life when you’re doing all the “right” things — you’re showing up, you followed the plan, you played by the rules — and somehow, it’s still not working. It’s frustrating. It’s heartbreaking. And it can leave you questioning everything.

We’ll also explore what it really takes to make decisions when clarity feels far away, and you’re craving direction but getting silence.

The top 5 human skills that research says will actually matter as AI continues to evolve. These are not just fluffy soft skills. These are power tools for your career, your creativity, your leadership, and your peace of mind.

Reports from Microsoft, McKinsey, and the World Economic Forum. So whether you’re pivoting careers, leading a team, or just trying to stay sane in the swirl of it all, this episode is your field guide to staying irreplaceable.

You know that moment when something feels “off” — you can’t quite name it, but you know you’re not where you’re meant to be? Maybe you’re over-functioning. Maybe you’re burned out. Or maybe life just feels muddy, and you’re ready to gain clarity, lit up, and be aligned again.

Using Your Voice in New Spaces: How to bring your voice forward with confidence and wisdom without feeling like you’re overstepping or underplaying your brilliance.

Career Pivots, Purposeful Work, and Human-Centered Research — Real Talk with Chelsea Ottaviano

Ask Monique Episode: How do I talk to my boss about a promotion?

These episodes are where I take your real questions—the messy, nuanced, “what do I even say or do right now?” kind of moments—and give you practical tools, honest language, and a little pep talk so you can show up with confidence in your work and life.

Change happens. Change you choose. Change you don’t. And some times when an ending occurs with think … okay what’s the next thing starting. And we know that in reality, there is an end, an in-between, and THEN the start. We’ll discuss navigating change in each of the phases and how to embrace when you start something new all over again.

Conversation between Monique & Sarah Norman (Founder of FortySix10 Wealth Management). Life’s a series of plot twists, right? One moment, you’ve got everything figured out, and then you’re wondering what’s next, who’s coming along for the ride, and how to even begin recalibrating. If you’ve ever felt the weight of big life transitions, shifting friendships, or just a need for a reset, this episode is for you!

Part 1 of two-part series with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training besties. You know that moment when you’re starting something new, heart pounding, wondering, “Can I actually do this?” If you’ve ever been curious about stepping on the mat or even just trying something totally new and outside of your comfort zone, this episode is for you.

We cover how to break through the gridlock, and what actually works when leading teams through tough, messy challenges.

You are in it: adulting, business, career, caregiving, figuring it all out. Let’s talk about how to thrive in this season and not just survive it.

My Story & Unexpected Career Path. So if you’re wondering, “Can I pivot? Can I start over? Can I figure this out as I go?” The answer is YES.