Catch Her Spark

What happens when an unexpected layoff forces you to stop, reflect, and ask a different question—not "What's next?" but "What do I truly want?"
In this inspiring episode of Catch Her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with Anastasia Ekman, a technology sales leader who spent more than a decade helping enterprise organizations navigate complex digital workplace transformations. When she was unexpectedly laid off during the rapid rise of AI, Anastasia chose curiosity over fear and began exploring what success could look like on her own terms.
Together, Jen and Anastasia discuss what it really feels like to navigate career uncertainty, embrace reinvention, and discover new opportunities during one of the biggest shifts the technology industry has ever experienced.
 
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What happens when healthcare stops focusing only on procedures and starts focusing on people? In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Kristen McCreight shares how one simple shift—putting human connection first—helped transform a struggling hospital's patient experience from the bottom of the rankings to the very top.
Kristen joins Jen Maldonado to discuss why empathy isn't just a nice quality to have—it's a leadership strategy that improves trust, communication, healing, and long-term outcomes. Together, they explore the lessons Kristen has learned as a nurse leader, educator, entrepreneur, wife, mother of five, and lifelong mentor.
 
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In this episode of Catch Her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with award-winning architect and design leader Laura Evans. After beginning her career in New York City's demanding architecture world, Laura found herself on an unexpected path that led her into interior design, leadership, and building spaces that tell powerful stories.
Laura shares how relationships, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace change shaped her career. She opens up about finding her voice in a male-dominated industry, balancing motherhood and leadership, and redefining success over time. Through honesty and wisdom, Laura reminds us that growth doesn't always follow a straight line—and that showing up consistently matters more than having all the answers.
 
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What happens when a little girl from one of San Antonio’s highest-poverty neighborhoods refuses to let her zip code define her future? In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia shares how growing up translating for her parents and neighbors shaped her heart for service and led her from Zip Code Zero to earning a PhD and becoming a leader committed to changing lives. These show notes follow podcast best practices for creating a strong hook, expanding on key takeaways, and providing guest information.
Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia, President and CEO of the Center for Health Empowerment in South Texas (CHEST), joins Jen Maldonado to talk about purpose, leadership, motherhood, and why serving her community mattered more than chasing a bigger paycheck.
Growing up in Indian Creek, a neighborhood marked by poverty and crime, Adriana became the first person in her family to attend college and one of the first Hispanic women to earn a doctorate from UT Austin. Today, she is leading efforts to close the life expectancy gap between the north and south sides of San Antonio and create healthier futures for underserved communities.
 
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What does it really take to start over in a new city, build meaningful relationships, and rise to the top of a highly competitive industry?
In this episode of Catch her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with Jennifer Cuello, Audit Partner at EisnerAmper, who shares how she moved from New Jersey to Texas knowing almost no one and built a thriving career in private equity and financial services through authenticity, patience, and the power of community.
Jennifer offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of private equity and wealth creation, while also opening up about the confidence gap many women face, the importance of lifelong learning, and why trust—not transactions—is the foundation of great leadership and relationships.
This conversation is packed with wisdom for women who are building careers, creating wealth, and learning how to lead with purpose.
 
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What happens when the person responsible for prosecuting criminal cases spends years watching immigrants and non-citizens navigate a legal system they don’t fully understand? For attorney Tayrin Wittenstein, it led to a life-changing decision. After 12 years as a prosecutor in Texas, she walked away from a secure government career to build a law firm dedicated to defending people who often feel voiceless in the justice system.
In this inspiring episode of Catch her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with Tayrin “Ty” Wittenstein to discuss her remarkable career transition, her passion for serving the Hispanic community, and the courage it took to leave a successful six-figure position to follow a deeper calling.
Ty shares how growing up bilingual on the Texas border shaped her perspective, why she believes preparation creates confidence, and what she learned from seeing the criminal justice system from both sides of the courtroom. She also opens up about entrepreneurship, building a law firm from scratch, hiring the right people, creating strong systems, and balancing motherhood with business ownership.
 
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What does it take to reinvent your life, raise three children, work full-time, and build a career dedicated to helping others succeed? In this inspiring episode, Jen Maldonado sits down with Mary Hernandez, Division AVP of Academic Partnerships at Methodist Healthcare System, to discuss her remarkable journey from unit clerk to healthcare executive and mentor for future nurses.
Mary shares how the loss of her father became the catalyst for a complete career change and how faith, determination, and service guided her through every step of her journey. She opens up about leading a COVID unit during one of the most challenging periods in modern healthcare, the personal sacrifices that came with serving others, and the lessons she learned about leadership, resilience, and change management.
The conversation also explores Mary's passion for developing future healthcare professionals, building strong nursing partnerships, and helping people discover opportunities they may not realize are possible. Through her story, listeners will learn how purpose-driven leadership can create lasting impact both inside and outside the workplace.
 
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What happens when the dream you planned for yourself changes completely?
In this inspiring conversation, Jen Maldonado sits down with entrepreneur, investor, nonprofit founder, and community leader Tolu Akindunni to discuss the unexpected twists that shaped her journey from aspiring doctor to global entrepreneur. Tolu shares how embracing change, collecting experiences, and staying connected to a clear vision helped her build businesses across continents while creating meaningful impact in the communities she serves.
Throughout the episode, Tolu offers powerful insights for women navigating entrepreneurship, leadership, family, and personal growth. She opens up about the challenges of moving to the United States during COVID, rebuilding her identity after marriage and motherhood, and learning that success is about more than titles and achievements.
One of the most powerful moments of the conversation comes when Tolu shares her belief that sacrifice should never be permanent. Women often spend years pouring into everyone else, but Tolu explains why sacrifice needs a timeline and why there must be a season for reaping the rewards of your hard work.
The discussion also explores leadership, legacy, investing, wealth-building, community support, and how women can create opportunities by collaborating rather than competing.
 
Be a Guest Are you a successful business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at https://catchherspark.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you...
 

What happens when someone spends their life shaping stories behind the scenes—and discovers that storytelling is still one of the most human things we do in an AI world?
In this episode, Jen sits down with editor and post-production leader Gigi Welch to explore the art of storytelling through film, commercials, and documentaries. Gigi shares her journey from advertising agencies to becoming an editor, the moment she realized editing was her true passion, and why giving herself permission to pursue it changed everything.
They talk about the emotional side of editing, why the smallest gestures can transform a story, and how editors help audiences feel moments more deeply. Gigi also reflects on her career highlights, including award-winning work, editing internationally in London, and her recent documentary Revolution’s Daughter.
The conversation also dives into the future of creativity and AI. While AI is changing workflows, Gigi believes human stories still matter most because emotion, experience, and soul cannot be automated.
 
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Are you a successful business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at https://catchherspark.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you...

What happens when the version of yourself that helped you succeed is the same version keeping you from the life you truly want?
In this episode of Catch Her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with holistic psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Ssemanda for a powerful conversation about identity, self-awareness, growth, and the beliefs we carry through life. Dr. Elizabeth shares how her work goes beyond treating symptoms and focuses on understanding the root causes behind anxiety, depression, stress, and emotional patterns.
Together they explore the identities women adopt to survive, the pressure of balancing family, career, and personal growth, and why self-care is not selfish—it is family care. Dr. Elizabeth also shares her evolving definition of success and why time freedom matters more than traditional achievements.
 
Be a Guest Are you a successful business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at https://catchherspark.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you...