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Empowered & Embodied Show
Kim Romain and Louise Neil, alongside their refreshingly candid guests, welcome you to an entertaining and profound journey exploring the human experience. Through everyday ups and downs, The Empowered & Embodied Show dives deep into what it genuinely means to be gloriously, messily human. This isn't your standard self-help podcast—it's an unfiltered exploration of the laughter, tears, and "what the heck just happened?" moments that define our lives. Whether you're riding the wave of success or navigating the swamp of self-doubt, Kim and Louise unpack the complex realities and unexpected joys of personal growth with wit, wisdom, and healthy self-deprecation. Because let's face it—becoming your most empowered self is never a straight line.
Empowered & Embodied Show
Who’s Missing From the Room? A Conversation with Michele Heyward
In episode 146 of The Empowered and Embodied Show, Kim and Louise are joined by Michele Heyward—engineer, tech CEO, and fierce advocate reshaping the landscape for Black, Latina, and Indigenous women in STEM. Michele shares her journey from her early days mentoring engineering students to leading a company that champions underrepresented voices in tech. She invites us to look beyond who fills our rooms to who waits at the threshold—a shift that transforms how we solve problems and build our future. This conversation is a loving reminder that empowerment isn't about permission—it's about recognizing the authority that already lives within us. Because real change blossoms when someone—perhaps you—chooses to speak up, step into the room, and reshape it with their presence.
"It's not about who you are talking about, but who you aren't talking about." - Michele Heyward
Key Takeaways
🔹 Take action—don’t wait for permission. Change happens when we step up and push forward, even when the system isn’t ready.
🔹 Ask better questions. Instead of “Who’s in the room?” ask, “Who isn’t—and why?” Real inclusion starts with addressing exclusion.
🔹 Inclusion is essential. Retaining and supporting underrepresented groups strengthens our communities and workplaces.
🔹 Advocates and sponsors matter. Mentorship and sponsorship can be game-changers—seek them out and pay it forward.
🔹 Meet communities where they are. If people aren’t engaging, rethink outreach—it’s about access, not interest.
🔹 Small changes drive impact. Simple solutions, like curb cuts or better workplace benefits, create lasting transformation.
🔹 You have power—use it. Knowing your worth and challenging norms can spark real change.
Key Moments
- [00:00] – Introductions and celebrations
- [06:34] – The power of mentorship
- [09:33] – The difference between mentoring individuals and creating systemic change
- [13:04] – How organizations can identify who they are excluding.
- [18:23] – Finding advocates and sponsors within organizations to create real career opportunities.
- [26:18] – The labor shortage crisis in AEC: Why keeping women in the industry is critical.
- [34:06] – The consequences of exclusion
- [39:47] – Rethinking community engagement
- [49:44] – How professionals can use their influence for good
- [55:22] – Final thoughts
Connect With Michele:
Website: https://PositiveHire.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelecheyward/
Are you ready to reclaim your power and live (and work) with more ease? Discover your unique blueprint to do just that with Kim's Strengthscape Self-Mastery Profile.
Looking for something different and feeling lost about where to start? Rediscover your purpose and how to craft a career that makes sense. Check out Louise's Midlife Career Mastery program.
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