In this special holiday edition of the Wishful Doing Podcast, the tables are turned! Instead of interviewing a guest, Dr. Ja’Bette Lozupone steps into the hot seat as her husband of 20 years takes over the mic. Together, they revisit the early sparks of Wishful Doing, the leap from idea to reality, and the milestones that shaped 2025. With honesty, laughter, and holiday warmth, Ja’Bette opens up about the grit, challenges, and triumphs of entrepreneurship—and the family support that makes it all possible. Part 1 of 2
Why is asking for money so hard—and how can we do it better? In this episode of the Wishful Doing Podcast, Dr. Ja’Bette Lozupone sits down with Colleen Dolak, Development Advisor and fundraising strategist who has helped nonprofits raise nearly $40M. Together, they explore how to overcome the fear of the ask, build authentic donor relationships, and maximize philanthropic giving through strategy, storytelling, and creativity. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, founder, or changemaker, this episode will leave you with practical insights and actionable tips to elevate your fundraising and amplify your impact.
Entrepreneurship is tough — and for women of color, the path often comes with extra hurdles. In this candid conversation, Pamela and Maritza share their real experiences navigating bias, limited access to capital, and the pressures of representing their communities. They open up about the resilience, resourcefulness, and relationships that have sustained them, and how their cultural heritage has been both a differentiator and a source of strength. This is a must-listen for any founder or leader looking for inspiration, solidarity, and strategies to thrive in business. Pamela Nieto — Co-Founder & Chief Brand Officer, Captiva Branding Pamela is a multicultural and bilingual (English/Spanish) communications specialist with over 13 years of experience in multicultural marketing, digital strategies, media relations, and event promotion. Passionate about helping purpose‑driven organizations project their voice boldly, she co‑launched Captiva Branding to simplify branding and amplify impact . Maritza Lizama — Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer, Captiva Branding With more than 20 years of marketing expertise, Maritza--also bilingual in English/Spanish--builds powerful connections between brands and their audiences by blending strategy, storytelling, and flawless execution. Together with Pamela, she founded Captiva Branding, combining decades of experience to help meaningful organizations look and sound as impactful as their vision. Learn more at www.captivabranding.com and follow @CaptivaBranding on Instagram, LinkedIn and Youtube.
Branding is more than a logo — it’s a living story that shapes how the world experiences your organization. Pamela and Maritza unpack what it really means to build a purpose-driven brand and why authenticity is the cornerstone of lasting impact. You’ll hear real-world stories of organizations that transformed their reach through intentional branding, plus practical tips for crafting a message that connects deeply with your audience. Whether you’re a nonprofit, small business, or social enterprise, this conversation will help you put purpose front and center. Pamela Nieto — Co-Founder & Chief Brand Officer, Captiva Branding Pamela is a multicultural and bilingual (English/Spanish) communications specialist with over 13 years of experience in multicultural marketing, digital strategies, media relations, and event promotion. Passionate about helping purpose‑driven organizations project their voice boldly, she co‑launched Captiva Branding to simplify branding and amplify impact . Maritza Lizama — Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer, Captiva Branding With more than 20 years of marketing expertise, Maritza--also bilingual in English/Spanish--builds powerful connections between brands and their audiences by blending strategy, storytelling, and flawless execution. Together with Pamela, she founded Captiva Branding, combining decades of experience to help meaningful organizations look and sound as impactful as their vision. Learn more at www.captivabranding.com and follow @CaptivaBranding on Instagram, LinkedIn and Youtube.
What happens when two powerhouse Latina women combine decades of marketing, branding, and communications expertise? You get Captiva Branding — a creative force dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations look and sound as impactful as their vision. In this episode, Pamela Nieto and Maritza Lizama take us behind the scenes of their entrepreneurial journeys, the moment they decided to join forces, and the values that guide their work. From early wins to growing pains, they share how culture, purpose, and resilience have shaped their brand and their business. Pamela Nieto — Co-Founder & Chief Brand Officer, Captiva Branding Pamela is a multicultural and bilingual (English/Spanish) communications specialist with over 13 years of experience in multicultural marketing, digital strategies, media relations, and event promotion. Passionate about helping purpose‑driven organizations project their voice boldly, she co‑launched Captiva Branding to simplify branding and amplify impact . Maritza Lizama — Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer, Captiva Branding With more than 20 years of marketing expertise, Maritza--also bilingual in English/Spanish--builds powerful connections between brands and their audiences by blending strategy, storytelling, and flawless execution. Together with Pamela, she founded Captiva Branding, combining decades of experience to help meaningful organizations look and sound as impactful as their vision. Learn more at www.captivabranding.com and follow @CaptivaBranding on Instagram, LinkedIn and Youtube.
In honor of National Student Parent Month, this episode features personal development coach and student parent advocate Alisha Small—founder of Living Fulfilled Coaching and Consulting. Alisha shares her powerful story as a former student parent, reflecting on the sacrifices, lessons, and resilience that shaped her journey. We explore how her lived experience now fuels her advocacy for student parents, students with disabilities, and workforce development learners. Whether you're navigating school, raising a family, or supporting those who do—this conversation is a powerful reminder that your growth is the legacy. Alisha is the founder of Living Fulfilled Coaching and Consulting, a personal development coaching and consulting company. Her journey into coaching was inspired by her own deep need for personal growth, which ignited a passion for helping others reach their full potential. Certified through Montgomery College in Maryland, she has since collaborated with numerous organizations, teaching both youth and adults how to use personal growth as a catalyst for positive change. In addition to coaching, Alisha provides mentorship to youth, offering guidance to help them navigate life’s challenges and unlock their potential. She also conducts personal development staff training for businesses, equipping teams with tools to enhance productivity and personal effectiveness. As an advocate for student parents, students with disabilities and workforce development students, she works tirelessly to support their educational and career advancement. With a belief that personal growth drives both individual and community success, Alisha empowers her clients to break through barriers, build confidence, and create meaningful, lasting change in their lives. Learn more about Alisha at livingfulfilledcoaching.com.
What does healing look like for someone who’s always been the go-to? In the final installment of “When High Performance Hurts,” therapist and leadership whisperer Tanisha Sanders, LCSW, returns to guide us through the messy, beautiful path back to self. We explore how high performers can lead with authenticity, prevent burnout, and finally feel enough. If you’re ready to redefine success and embrace a more sustainable version of leadership, this episode is your roadmap. To learn more about Tanisha Sanders, visit www.trscounseling.com and follow her on instagram: trscounselingllc. * Part 3 of 3
In Part 2 of our series, we’re digging into what happens before high performers finally seek therapy. Tanisha Sanders, LCSW, returns to explore the tipping point—the silent signs of burnout, the emotional toll of overfunctioning, and the myths that keep high achievers stuck. If you’ve ever thought “I can’t stop or it’ll all fall apart,” this episode is for you. We’re talking red flags, reckoning, and the courage to pause before the collapse. To learn more about Tanisha Sanders, visit www.trscounseling.com and follow her on instagram: trscounselingllc. * Part 2 of 3
High performers often look like they have it all together—but behind the accolades and ambition, many are quietly battling perfectionism, people-pleasing, and burnout. In Part 1 of our “When High Performance Hurts” series, Tanisha Sanders, LCSW, joins us to unpack the hidden traits that drive success—and sometimes, self-sabotage. We explore how early experiences shape high achievers, why external wins don’t always bring internal peace, and what it really means to lead from a place of wholeness. Meet our guest: Tanisha Sanders, LCSW Founder of TRS-Counseling and a therapist with nearly two decades of experience, Tanisha Sanders brings both clinical expertise and lived wisdom to the healing process. Since 2006, she’s helped clients navigate anxiety, trauma, and relationship challenges with compassion and clarity. As a Black woman in leadership and mental health, Tanisha understands how cultural and generational wounds shape our well-being. Her approach is honest, relatable, and rooted in the belief that growth should feel empowering—not overwhelming. Whether you're a high performer on the edge or simply ready to unpack what’s been weighing you down, Tanisha offers a safe space to do the work—at your own pace. To learn more about Tanisha Sanders, visit www.trscounseling.com and follow her on instagram: trscounselingllc. * Part 1 of 3
BIPOC Mental Health Awareness and Disability Awareness Series: Part 3 We close our BIPOC Mental Health Awareness and Disability Awareness Series by bringing Jheri Holbert and Sophia Mason together for a raw and hopeful conversation on what’s next. How do Black women advocate for themselves without burnout? What does true accommodation look like? And how can employers move from performative allyship to real, lasting change? This finale is packed with takeaways and truth-telling. It’s not the end of the series—it’s a beginning for action. * Part 3 of 3
BIPOC Mental Health Awareness and Disability Awareness Series: Part 2 In Part 2 of our BIPOC Mental Health Awareness and Disability Awareness Series, we’re joined by Sophia Mason—HR leader, systems thinker, and doctoral researcher—who opens up about the often-overlooked realities of Black women leaders living with chronic illness and invisible disability. We dive into the intersections of racism, ableism, and gender bias, and what it means to lead with strength, vulnerability, and clarity. Special Guest: Sophia Mason Sophia Mason is a seasoned HR leader, lifelong learner, and systems thinker on a mission to make workplaces more human. With nearly two decades of experience spanning the for-profit, nonprofit, and higher education sectors, she currently serves as the Director of HR Business Services at Montgomery College. Sophia is also pursuing her doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership at USC, where her research centers the experiences of Black women leaders living with chronic illness and disabilities. Her work invites us to consider: What does it mean to lead while navigating invisible disabilities? How do racism, ableism, and gender bias collide in professional spaces? And what myths still need to be unlearned about who gets to be seen as strong, capable, and worthy? Grounded in transparency, equity, and well-being, Sophia believes that real transformation begins when people feel seen, valued, and supported. * Part 2 of 3
BIPOC Mental Health Awareness and Disability Awareness Series: Part 1 In the opening episode of our BIPOC Mental Health Awareness and Disability Awareness Series, we sit down with entrepreneur and scholar Jheri Holbert to explore the lived realities of Black women entrepreneurs. Jheri shares what led her to research this community, what systemic barriers her work has uncovered, and how identity, culture, and urgency all shape the entrepreneurial path. Visit www.kids4equity.com to learn more about Jheri Holbert's work to help kids learn about and understand their emotions. This episode lays the groundwork for a transformative series centered on truth, healing, and the power of being seen. *Part 1 of 3
In the final episode of our Teen Mom Awareness Month series, we bring it all home. Dr. Ja’Bette Lozupone and Yoslin Amaya-Hernandez close out this three-part conversation with a powerful reflection on what it means to turn survival into strategy—and strategy into legacy. From navigating leadership as former teen moms to advocating for others walking a similar path, this episode is a celebration of growth, gratitude, and the courage to dream bigger. They discuss what gives them hope, how they’re using their stories to shift systems, and why supporting teen parents is about more than empathy—it’s about equity. If you’ve been walking with us through this journey, this final chapter will leave you affirmed, inspired, and ready to keep doing the work. Part 3 of 3
We didn’t get here alone—and in this second episode of our Teen Mom Awareness series, we’re giving credit where it’s due. Dr. Ja’Bette Lozupone and Yoslin Amaya-Hernandez return to the Wishful Doing Podcast to pick up where Part 1 left off, reflecting on the people, programs, and moments that helped them reframe what was possible when they found themselves pregnant at 16. From early mentors and community support to moments of tough love and unexpected grace, this episode is a powerful reminder that support systems don’t just help us survive—they help us soar. If Part 1 was about owning the truth, Part 2 is about honoring the village that made transformation possible. Part 2 of 3
At 17, we were raising babies. Today, we’re raising the bar. In this inaugural episode of the Wishful Doing Podcast, Dr. Ja’Bette Lozupone sits down with Yoslin Amaya-Hernandez, Program Manager at Wishful Doing, for a raw and inspiring conversation in honor of Teen Mom Awareness Month. The two discover they share a remarkable parallel—both became teen moms at 16 and gave birth at 17—yet neither let that define their destiny. Together, they explore the power of support systems, the stigma teen moms face, and what it looks like to rewrite your story on your own terms. From motherhood to leadership, from struggle to strategy—this episode is a love letter to resilience and a rallying cry for those who’ve ever been underestimated. This is not just a conversation. It’s a legacy in the making. * Part 1 of 3