Category: Business

Jessica Leonard's worked in some of New York's most storied restaurants: Daniel, 11 Madison Park, the James Beard House, but it was her love of chocolate that inspired her to go out on her own. In February, 2018, she opened Miss Maude's Bar of Chocolates in her home state of Virginia. The name refers to Virginia native Miss Maude who came of age in the Roaring 20s and left home for the big city, to among other pursuits, find the world's best chocolates. Jessica's added her brand to that list. Find out more in our mouth-watering conversation with this enthusiastic, adventurous entrepreneur.

Money matters to Jill Schlesinger. And to that end, the Certified Financial Planner covers the economy, markets, investing and whatever else contains a $-sign. An Emmy-nominated Business Analyst for CBS News, she shares her expertise on the network's radio and tv stations across the country. You'll want to make time to listen to Jill's jaw-dropping, but empowering stories about what it's been like to be a woman in a man's world.

Meet Sheila Ronning, leadership, networking expert, board strategist and founder of Women in the Boardroom. Since 2002, she's been connecting female executives with the people and tools needed to succeed in business and the boardroom. Her accomplishments haven't gone unnoticed, with a spot on the prestigious "40 Under Forty" membership Fortune's Most Powerful Women Insider network. Sheila and Women in the Boardroom has been featured in: The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Chicago Sun Times and the Minneapolis/St. Paul Journal.

Shannelle Armstrong Fowler is the owner and founder of Haute & Co. Bridal Boutique, Chicago's only luxury plus size bridal shop that caters to women sizes 14-32. By the way, the average woman in the U.S. happens to be a size 16. Shannelle is also the star of the PeopleTV series, "The Perfect Fit." It follows a dozen curvy women as they search for their 'perfect' wedding dress. We cover a lot of ground with this fashion entrepreneur and body positive advocate.

Meet visionary and fashion activist, Sugandh Agrawal who shares with us her "American" dream story. Born in India, she moved to the U.S. to attend college and work in the industrial design field. And... it is here that she founded Gunas, an ethically-sourced, 100% vegan line of luxury handbags, backpacks, wallets, totes, satchels. That means no silk, no fur, no wool, no down feathers, no leather. Gunas products are made from a variety of fabrics and in sweatshop-free environments. What began as a NYC-based label in 2010, Gunas has gone global. You don't want to miss this inspiration conversation.