Formidable Podcast

 Andrea Anderson is the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Western Washington. She stepped into that role in 2022 and has become known for her authentic, rule-challenging, and passionate approach to youth advocacy, social justice, and leadership. The organization is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2027.Before her time at the Girl Scouts, Andrea was the CEO of Planned Parenthood in Hawaii, and she was an executive for the same organization in Michigan. Andrea reminds us to connect with the young people in our lives, ask them how they're doing, and see how they're thinking about the future.This episode is sponsored by Gallagher,  a global insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting firm. Learn more at ⁠ajg.com⁠.Want to hear more from Andrea? She'll be moderating a panel at the  Formidable Women's Health Summit on October 30th, 2026. Full details at: ⁠beformidable.com/womenshealth

Rashmi Raghavendra is the CEO of Dionysus Health,  a precision diagnostics company that is making a test that predicts the likelihood of a woman developing postpartum depression. In this episode, Rashmi discusses how postpartum depression and psychosis have dominated the headlines recently in light of the Lindsay Clancy trial. She also details her company's groundbreaking new postpartum depression tests and what that could mean for the future of treatment options for parents who are experiencing these symptoms.Want to learn more about women's health? Attend the  Formidable Women's Health Summit on October 30th, 2026. Full details at: beformidable.com/womenshealth

Brigadier General Katherine Roberts is a retired Air Force leader whose career spanned space operations, national security, and the acquisition of some of the country’s most complex aerospace systems. Kimberly Hicks is the Executive Division Director for Mobility, Surveillance and Bombers in Boeing’s Phantom Works division.In this episode, Kathy and Kim take us inside the world of defense and aerospace — explaining what actually happens when the government identifies a new mission need and how an idea eventually becomes an aircraft, spacecraft, satellite, or other critical capability. They also share lessons from high-stakes negotiations, the importance of knowing when to pause rather than react, and their experiences building careers in fields where they were often the only women in the room. This episode is sponsored by Gallagher,  a global insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting firm. Learn more at ajg.com.

Allison Dunn is the CEO of Deliberate Directions, and one of the country's most sought-after executive business coaches. Over the past 30 years, Allison has coached more than 1,000 business leaders, helping them shift from reactive management to intentional, strategic leadership. She is also the author of Think First, a practical guide to building the mindset and habits that help leaders create lasting impact.In this episode, Allison shares why so many leaders unknowingly become the biggest bottleneck in their organizations — and how changing the way they think can transform the way they lead. We explore the difference between managing today's problems and building a business that can thrive without constant intervention, as well as the simple frameworks leaders can use to make better decisions, delegate more effectively, and create accountability throughout their teams.

Laura Cassidy is the Interim Services Manager at Recompose — the Seattle-based funeral home pioneering human composting as an alternative to traditional burial and cremation.After two decades working in journalism and content direction, Laura shifted careers during the pandemic to work in grief support and end-of-life care, eventually joining the team helping families navigate one of life’s most difficult transitions.In this episode, Laura takes us inside Recompose’s groundbreaking approach to death care and the philosophy behind reimagining what a funeral home can be. We explore the human composting process itself — how bodies are transformed into soil through a carefully monitored natural process — but also the emotional and cultural shifts happening around death, grief, and ritual.