
5 Years Of Inspiring Women: The Leadership Lessons That Changed Everything
From Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw by Laurie McGraw
March 17, 2026 · 28 min
About this episode
Laurie McGraw reflects on five years of conversations with remarkable women, sharing the leadership lessons that have shaped her perspective.
Five years ago, Laurie McGraw launched Inspiring Women on International Women's Day — her own birthday — with a simple belief: when women lead, we build a more just and equitable society. What followed was hundreds of conversations with some of the most remarkable women in leadership, healthcare, tech, business, and beyond. This episode is different. There's no single guest. Instead, Laurie steps back and reflects on the conversations that have shaped her most — and the lessons that have stayed with her long after the recording stopped. From Chelsea Clinton's conviction that those with power and voice have a responsibility to remove bias for those without it, to Kara Swisher's unshakeable self-belief in the face of being told she was "too confident." From Carla Harris drawing a sharp line between mentors and sponsors — and why the difference could define your career — to Dr. Jenny Schneider rejecting work-life balance entirely in favour of ruthless prioritization. From Missy Krasner reframing failure as the fuel that drives the next big thing, to four-time Olympian Joetta Clark Diggs picking up her cleats again at 62 and breaking national records, living proof that your why will…
People in this episode
Host: Laurie McGraw
Topics covered
- leadership lessons
- women in leadership
- overcoming bias
- mentorship vs sponsorship
- work-life balance
- resilience in failure
- personal growth
Keywords
- Inspiring Women
- leadership
- women empowerment
- mentorship
- personal development
- resilience
- bias
- work-life balance
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