Rejection, Redirection & Radical Honesty: The LEAP Story Continues

Rejection, Redirection & Radical Honesty: The LEAP Story Continues

April 13, 2026 · 1h 3m · Season 1 · Episode 81

About this episode

The episode discusses the evolution of the LEAP women's networking group and the journeys of its new leaders, emphasizing themes of rejection, networking, and radical honesty.

Have you ever walked into a room full of strangers and thought, I've been looking for this my whole life? That's exactly what happened — and it's what sparked an entire legacy. Back in Episode 23, Monique and I introduced LEAP — the women's networking group we co-founded for Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Professionals right here in Duluth. For two full years we poured our hearts into it, and then life expanded us in beautiful directions. It was time to pass the baton. Enter Christa and Kristine. Christa pivoted from retail into financial advising and has grown into VP of Retirement Solutions at North Shore Bank of Commerce. Kristine built a six-figure women's mastermind, ran soul-filling retreats across the country, and now brings that same energy into real estate. When they sat down for coffee and realized something was missing in Duluth for women, they found each other — and then they found us. Key Themes & Takeaways – Rejection is redirection. Both women lost jobs tied deeply to their identity — and both discovered the road forward was better than anything they'd planned. – You are the five people you surround yourself with. Intentionally putting yourself in elevated rooms…

People in this episode

Hosts: Mariah McKechnie, Monique Forcier

Guests: Christa, Kristine

Topics covered

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: North Shore Bank of Commerce

Places: Duluth

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