HerStories is a series of frank conversations with leading women at the forefront of Chicago’s business, professional, cultural, nonprofit and educational communities. Join us as we hear their inspirational stories to learn who they are, how they got there, and what challenges they faced on the way. HerStories is brought to you by The Chicago Network, Chicago's premier organization for leading women, dedicated to empowering women to lead.
Send us a textStarting her life in soviet Kiev, Lifeway Foods CEO Julie Smolyansky's mother opened Chicago's first Eastern European deli on Devon where she introduced the city to Nutella. Meanwhile, Julie's father first began making kefir in the family basement. Julie joins The Chicago Network President and CEO Maria Doughty to tell how she brought the family business to new heights.
12/22/25 • 76:16
Send us a textA self-professed geek, Dr. Jennifer Holmgren was a part of the team that produced a ground-breaking non-petroleum based fuel that allowed a fighter jet to break the sound barrier. As CEO of LanzaTech, Jennifer leads the organization in producing clothing, fuel, and even food from recycled carbon.
12/8/25 • 66:15
Send us a textSol Flores, CEO, Knight Impact Partners, joins Maria Doughty to discuss her Puerto Rican roots, founding La Casa Norte, an organization dedicated to helping families escape homelessness, and her journey to serving as Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services for the State of Illinois.
11/24/25 • 114:34
Send us a textFrom a small town in Greece, Vicky Kalogera escaped poverty through education, becoming a leading member of the LIGO Collaboration that observed gravitational waves in 2015, and a leading theorist in the study of gravitational waves: “A new way to study the universe for centuries to come.” Today, Vicky is a Daniel I. Linzer Distinguished University Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy Director, CIERA, and Director, NSF-Simons SkAI Institute at Northwestern University.
11/10/25 • 94:16
Send us a textIn Lima Peru, a young woman by the name of Sara Sirotzky responded to an ad seeking to hire an individual who spoke some English. Little did Sara know that this opportunity would take her and her young son almost four thousand miles away to Chicago, where she would build a legendary career culminating in serving as Managing Director of the Chicago office of Marsh McLennan, the world's leading professional services firm in risk, strategy and people.
10/27/25 • 70:37
Send us a textAmerican Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal winner, founding member and former first President of Chicago Women in Architecture (CWA) Carol Ross Barney joins Maria to discuss her life story, designing the Chicago Riverwalk, joining the peace corps, and the lack of peanut butter in Düsseldorf.
2/3/25 • 85:48
Send us a textWhen a young Janet Foutty considered her future, she imagined herself in the arts: music, or theater; she certainly never anticipated that she'd one day become Executive Chair of the Board of Deloitte US, or Chair and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP. In this episode, Janet recounts the journey that led to her tremendously successful career.
1/6/25 • 67:59
Send us a textRoseanna Ander joins Maria to discuss how her background led to her work today in reducing gun violence and advancing justice as Founding Executive Director of The University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab.
12/2/24 • 82:12
Send us a textThe daughter of immigrant parents who fled pogroms to reach the U.S., lifelong advocate and activist Hedy Ratner shares her life story and describes her work in civil rights, anti-war, and gender equity movements.
11/1/24 • 79:42
Send us a textIn this episode, Maria speaks with Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall, Founding President & President Emerita of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. Stephanie talks education, students with special needs, and her personal philosophy.
11/6/23 • 85:32
Send us a textGloria Castillo, Former Director: Together We Rise, Chicago Community Trust joins us this week, discussing overcoming generations of gender bias, growing up in Wrigleyville, and working towards a more diverse and equitable future.
10/23/23 • 74:06
Send us a textCEO of America's largest charity, Feeding America, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot shares what it's like to grow up in small-town Louisianna with over 100 siblings, how Feeding America provided 6.5 billion meals during the pandemic, and how a dollar can turn into ten meals.
10/9/23 • 87:19
Send us a textPersonal finance expert and author Terry Savage joins us this week to let us in on some little-known top personal finance tips. Terry also discusses buying a seat on the options exchange, becoming a TV and Radio personality, becoming the first woman to sit on McDonald's board of directors, and her secret vice as a financial expert.
9/25/23 • 66:49
Send us a textTina Tchen joins us to discuss her career, her work as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Impact Officer for the The Barack Obama Foundation, what it was like to campaign for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential election campaign, and gives us an insight into growing up as a child of first-generation immigrant parents.
9/11/23 • 84:06
Send us a textFrom a young age, the importance of education was impressed upon Suzet McKinney. Taking this lesson to heart, Suzet has built a wildly successful career across multiple fields. As if becoming one of the United States' foremost leaders in bioterrorism and disaster preparedness and response, Executive Director of the Illinois Medical District, and leading Chicago’s response to the H1N1 and Ebola outbreaks wasn't enough, Suzet now serves as Principal and Director of Life Sciences at Sterling Bay.
8/21/23 • 92:04
Send us a textIn this episode, Gray Matter Founder and CEO Sheila Talton takes us on a journey from fighting against racial injustice in her youth as a Black Panther, building a career in the face of racial and gender prejudice, to becoming the sole founder and CEO of Gray Matter Analytics.
8/7/23 • 62:56
Send us a textIf you've ever walked down a Chicago street, chances are you're familiar with Anne Bigane Wilson's work. Following the passing of her father, Anne took the reigns at Bigane Paving Co., overcoming a steep and sudden learning curve, gender-based preconceptions, and even a massive warehouse fire to steer Bigane Paving Co. into the vertically integrated Chicago mainstay that it is today.
7/24/23 • 60:06
Send us a textWith a career spanning everything from education, to interior design, and even warehousing, Ann Drake tells her story, and shares how she plays a crucial role in creating a better, more equitable future for women as President and Founder of Lincoln Road Enterprises.
7/10/23 • 66:41
Send us a textAt the end of China's cultural revolution, a young girl in Shanghai played her first notes on an oversized, secondhand violin. Today, Yuan-Qing Yu is an international award-winning violinist, Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University, and Assistant Concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Join us to hear her story.
5/8/23 • 77:28
Send us a textMaricela Garcia has spent her life fighting to improve the lives of others. In this episode Garcia shares her story, from facing mortal peril as a young activist, to her work today as CEO of Gads Hill Center, a non-profit youth education and family resource center on Chicago's South Side.
2/27/23 • 72:07
Send us a textFormer chaplain, musician, lawyer, and global citizen Angela Williams, President & CEO of United Way, joins us to talk living up to her family legacy, how faith has informed her journey, and how she came to lead America's largest privately funded charity.
2/6/23 • 51:31
Send us a textKimberly Moore, President of KDM Engineering on dealing with loss while launching a new business, serial entrepreneurship, and what it's like to be the only woman of color in the room.
12/6/22 • 70:59
Send us a textChristie Hefner, one of The Chicago Network's founding members, reflects on learning about movie theaters, Playtique, a former boutique clothing and music retail subsidiary of Playboy Enterprises, getting women into the c-suite, and the decisions that led to her many accomplishments today.
11/8/22 • 68:23
Send us a text This time on the HerStories Podcast, American Red Cross of Illinois CEO Celena Roldan gives us a rare look into what it's like to lead an organization that saves lives every day.
10/24/22 • 62:53
Send us a textFrom studying law in night school while raising a family, United States District Court Judge Virginia Kendall knows what it means to beat the odds. In this episode, Judge Kendall talks loss, what it's like to be underestimated, and recounts racing the clock to find and rescue a missing child in the gripping story of how the United States' human trafficking statutes came to be.
10/10/22 • 57:20
Send us a textDiscover Executive Vice President, President - Payment Services Diane Offereins Joins Maria this week, discussing technology and automation, mentorship, and innovation.
9/26/22 • 54:21
Send us a textFrom family newsletters to President and Co-Publisher of The Chicago Reader, Tracy Baim talks journalism, family trauma, and what it's like to be at the forefront of the fight for LGBT+ rights.
9/9/22 • 76:49
Send us a textFrom flying alone to the U.S.A. at three years old with nothing but a name-tag, to becoming Principal, COO and CMO of JMG Financial Group, Yonhee Gordon talks with The Chicago Network CEO Maria Doughty about life, learning, and leadership.
8/26/22 • 65:09
