Whether they were a teenage mother, founding a nonprofit from scratch, or launching their own media company, these women have all tackled life and career challenges with gusto, each forging their own extraordinary path.
By Laura Anne Bird, Heidi Duss, Kristine Hansen, Faatima Khan, Melanie Lee, Shayna Mace, Katy Macek, Marybeth Matzek, Dawn Mullarney, Lisa J. Smith And Chantel Soumis | Top photo by Hillary Schave
Building Her Own Real Estate Empire
Making decisions based on intuition — not just number crunching — has always felt right to Julia Steege-Reimann. This includes buying what’s now the 21-unit The Medallion — their newest property, which opened this past spring. It’s also how she decides who to work with.
How to Network Strategically Without Burning Out
My name is Dawn, also known as the Unique Connector. Once a very shy girl, I’ve transformed into a master connector. My journey has been shaped by 20 years of experience across various industries, including university, construction, banking/wealth management and IT staffing. Each career change has enriched my understanding of connection and the power of networking.
She Crafted a Media Company From the Ground Up
Lupita Montoto has been a Madison media presence for more than 24 years. She and her husband, Luis, cofounded La Movida Radio in 2000 out of a small station in Poynette. La Movida initially started as a weekend radio program but within two years, the duo were able to launch a full-time, Spanish-speaking station.
In 2002, the Montotos partnered with Mid-West Family Madison, which owns the frequency, to expand La Movida’s reach.
How to Manage Imposter Syndrome
In a world of key performance indicators and LinkedIn humblebrag posts, it’s easy to fall into the habit of comparing ourselves to others — then feeling like we’ve come up short.
So, how do we knock it off? Sadly, there’s no quick fix. However, I’ll share what I’ve learned.
Leading Outside Her Comfort Zone
After seven years as CEO of YWCA Madison and transforming the organization into an equitable community hub, Vanessa McDowell-Atlas was ready for a new challenge.
Earlier this year, she and her husband left her hometown of Madison for Charlotte, North Carolina, where she is now chief operating officer of Black Girl Ventures.
Mother of Invention
When inspiration strikes, you need to run with it. For Rachel Neill, inspiration came in the middle of the pandemic. Her then two-year-old was playing with a popular play couch designed for dorm rooms when he had an accident. While trying to clean the fabric, she had an idea: What if there was a toy that kids could rearrange into different shapes — covered in child-friendly fabric and thoughtfully designed — built for them to jump and climb on? With that, Figgy was born.
How to Embrace Inclusive Career Pathways for the LGBTQ+ Community
In 2023, I envisioned a transformative initiative for the LGBTQ+ community, leading to the creation of the OPEN Foundation. This nonprofit focuses on career readiness and workforce development for LGBTQ+ individuals, providing essential resources, tools and community support to achieve professional goals. Today, this vision is materializing through our comprehensive career development programs and strategic partnerships.
How to Recognize Your Value
As the founder of SMITH Company, I work with female-led businesses and executives to help them increase their revenue and reverse their limiting beliefs. However, I’ve noticed an unsettling pattern: Many women often undervalue their skills and services. In late 2023, I conducted a national survey to better identify potential root causes of this issue.
The Courage and Confidence to Lead
The seeds for Sandy Morales’ journey to become CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County (BBBS) were planted years before she ever joined the nonprofit.
Prior to working at BBBS, Morales held roles in marketing and development at United Way of Dane County. The two nonprofits often worked together on events and initiatives and are even located in the same building on Madison’s East Side. Morales also had a friendly relationship with BBBS’ CEO at the time, Dora Zúñiga. Occasionally, she sought career guidance from Zúñiga.
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