Beta-Tested: A Podcast for Women Building Bold Careers in Media and Tech

About Beta-Tested: A Podcast for Women Building Bold Careers in Media and Tech

Beta-Tested is a podcast for the women navigating careers in tech, leadership, and life while still figuring it out in real time. Hosted by Stacy Bohrer, each episode features honest, unfiltered conversations with women who are writing their own rules, breaking invisible barriers, and redefining what power looks like from the inside. Whether you're leading teams, selling vision, building products, or entering through nontraditional paths - this show is your seat at the table. We unpack the truth behind big titles and polished LinkedIn bios: the ambition, the setbacks, the pivots, and the systems that don’t always work for us. From the myth of work-life balance to the realities of boardroom politics and the psychology of confidence, Beta-Tested is a space to explore what it really takes to build a meaningful, sustainable career as a woman in media and tech. Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact ⁠Marketecture Media.⁠

Publisher

Stacy Bohrer

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 May 2026

Latest episode

21 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Oct 2026

   Hollis Guerra on Women in Leadership, Overcoming Self-Doubt & Building Community

   Stacy Bohrer sits down with Hollis Guerra, President of Purpose Worldwide and Co-Founder of Advance Women, to discuss overcoming self-doubt, building meaningful connections, and empowering women in leadership. Hollis shares her career journey, the importance of authenticity, and how embracing change and supporting others can lead to personal and professional growth. Takeaways - Building supportive communities helps women grow and succeed at every career stage. - Overcoming self-doubt starts with embracing opportunities and trusting yourself. - Authenticity and meaningful relationships are essential to effective leadership. - Personal challenges can strengthen resilience and self-advocacy. - True success comes from happiness, flexibility, and continuous growth. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Beta Tested 00:48 Meet Hollis Guerra, President of Purpose Worldwide 01:46 The Story Behind Advance Women 06:19 Finding Purpose and Support in Your Career 07:57 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome 09:48 Building a Personal Support System 12:11 Leadership, Confidence, and Career Growth 16:07 Authenticity in Professional Relationships 18:43 Staying Authentic During a Crisis 19:55 Navigating IVF and Personal Challenges 25:37 Empowering Women Through Community 29:38 Creating Safe Spaces for Honest Conversations 32:46 Redefining Success and Work-Life Balance 36:10 The Power of Meaningful Relationships 38:08 What Hollis Is Beta Testing Next 40:51 Final Reflections and Advice

2. 

   7 Oct 2026

   Gina Cavallo on Leadership, Self-Awareness & Building a Career with Confidence

   Stacy Bohrer sits down with Gina Cavallo, Chief Revenue Officer at xpln.ai, for an honest conversation about leadership, self-awareness, and building a career without pretending to have all the answers. Gina shares how she learned to lean into her strengths, trust her instincts, build teams rooted in empathy and psychological safety, navigate imposter syndrome, and advocate for more women in leadership. She also opens up about what she is still beta testing: permitting herself to rest while building a new team and culture from the ground up. Takeaways - Self-awareness means knowing your strengths and being equally honest about where you need others to shine. - Strong leaders create psychological safety by giving feedback without making people feel judged. - Culture matters more than hiring the highest performer if that person brings toxicity to the team. - Imposter syndrome can still appear at senior levels, but trusted mentors and peers can help leaders recognize their own value. - Making room for other women to succeed does not diminish your own success. It creates a bigger table. - Rest, health, and life outside work are part of sustainable leadership, not distractions from it. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Beta Tested 01:14 Knowing Your Strengths and Weaknesses 04:34 Gina’s Early Drive and Career Mindset 07:33 Trusting Your Gut and Challenging Your Biases 10:28 The Value of Executive Coaching 11:39 Learning From Bad Judgment Calls 14:42 Confidence, Experience, and Getting Older 15:20 Building Teams That Want to Follow You 17:57 Why Toxicity Can Destroy a Culture 20:21 Leading Without Micromanaging 21:46 The Emotional Side of an Acquisition 25:14 Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry 28:42 Imposter Syndrome and Knowing Your Value 31:08 Helping the Next Generation of Women Lead 33:00 Building a Bigger Table for Women 35:59 Who Are You Without the Job Title? 38:32 permitting Yourself to Be Imperfect 39:03 What Gina Is Beta Testing: Permission to Rest 40:03 Building a Culture From Scratch 41:05 Friendship, Sisterhood, and Closing Thoughts

3. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Building a Career Through Curiosity with Rebecca Holland

   Stacy Bohrer sits down with Rebecca Holland, Customer Revenue Leader, to share the experiences and mindset that shaped her journey from a Division 1 athlete to a revenue leader, advisor, and entrepreneur. She discusses building a career around curiosity, learning to thrive in fast-growing companies, navigating leadership, and helping founders create scalable organizations. She also reflects on motherhood, mentorship, personal growth, and why strong teams and aligned leadership remain essential as technology and AI reshape the workplace. Takeaways - Curiosity creates opportunities: Staying curious and being willing to figure things out has been a consistent driver throughout Rebecca’s career. - Growth requires adaptability: Success can mean optimizing for different things at different stages, from performance and revenue to balance, clarity, and family. - Scaling is more than sales: Rebecca evaluates people, processes, structure, technology, tools, and performance to identify what businesses need to grow. - People still matter in an AI-driven world: She believes aligned teams and individual participation remain critical to executing a shared mission. - Mentorship builds stronger leaders: Professional communities can give women access to the mentorship and support that earlier generations often lacked. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Rebecca’s career journey 01:25 Becoming the person people turn to for leadership 04:37 Building a career outside the traditional path 06:54 Division 1 athletics and learning to figure things out 08:38 Entering startups and high-growth environments 10:13 Selling emerging technology and finding early success 13:11 Curiosity, trust, and connecting with people 18:48 Learning from mentors and high performers 22:22 Motherhood, priorities, and redefining success 24:02 Athletics, injury, yoga, and finding balance 28:04 Launching GTM RH Advisory 29:10 Building scalable revenue organizations 31:02 Why people still matter in the age of AI 33:04 Redefining career success 33:38 Becoming a multi-hyphenate leader 36:03 Women, mentorship, and workplace leadership 38:25 Motherhood, curiosity, and creating the next chapter

4. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Heather Carver on Leadership, Career Risks and Embracing Ambiguity

   Heather Carver, Chief Customer Officer at tvScientific by Pinterest, joins host Stacy Bohrer to share the career risks and lessons that shaped her leadership journey. Heather reflects on leaving Magnite after a decade, navigating Amazon and Freestar, stepping into executive leadership, building trust, embracing ambiguity, and learning that saying no can be just as important as saying yes. Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact ⁠ http://marketecturemedia.com Takeaways: - Career growth often starts outside your comfort zone. - Strong leaders do not need to know everything. - Trust and relationships can shape long-term career opportunities. - Saying no is a leadership skill that protects your time. - Success should be measured by impact, not just titles. - Embracing ambiguity can build confidence and resilience. Chapters: 00:40 - Welcome to Beta Tested 01:22 - Heather Carver’s 20-Year Ad Tech Journey 04:34 - Lessons From Going Private to Public 08:53 - Knowing When It’s Time to Leave 14:06 - Rebuilding Your Identity After a Career Change 17:30 - Taking on the Next Scary Challenge 20:09 - Moving From Doer to Executive Leader 22:29 - Handling Bad Days and Building Resilience 25:11 - The Habits and Experiences That Shaped Heather 27:57 - Beta Testing Boundaries 30:15 - What Success Actually Feels Like 34:37 - Trust, Conflict and Difficult Feedback 40:13 - Finding Work-Life Balance 41:53 - Learning How to Say No 43:21 - Final Lessons on Leadership and Growth

5. 

   16 Sept 2026

   From Patent Lawyer to Ad Tech Founder: Vanessa Otero on Risk, Rejection & Reinvention

   Vanessa Otero, Founder and CEO of Ad Fontes Media, joins Stacey Bohrer to share how a side project became the viral Media Bias Chart and ultimately transformed her career. Vanessa opens up about leaving a secure career in patent law, navigating rejection and criticism, stepping into her identity as a founder and CEO, and finding an unexpected path into ad tech. She also explores the importance of funding quality journalism and why success often requires learning to move forward without knowing how the story will end. Takeaways - Failure and rejection can be preparation for entrepreneurship. - Stepping into a new professional identity often requires confidence before certainty. - The Media Bias Chart began as a side project before reaching millions online. - Vanessa found an unexpected opportunity to bring Ad Fontes Media's data into ad tech and brand safety. - Taking a risk does not guarantee success, but giving it your best effort is something you can control. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Beta Tested 00:28 Meet Vanessa Otero, Founder & CEO of Ad Fontes Media 01:11 From Sales to Patent Law to Entrepreneurship 03:43 Learning to Embrace Failure in Sales 05:11 The Story Behind the Media Bias Chart 09:21 How the Media Bias Chart Went Viral 13:33 Turning a Passion Project Into a Business 16:17 Leaving Behind a Professional Identity 19:50 Learning to Own the Founder & CEO Title 23:35 Building Confidence and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 25:18 Representation and Women in Leadership 27:57 The Reality of Gender Equality Later in a Career 29:14 How Ad Fontes Media Found Its Way Into Ad Tech 32:38 Making Quality News Easier for Advertisers to Buy 34:33 Why Advertising Matters to Journalism 37:03 Leaving a Secure Law Career to Go All In 37:55 Crowdfunding, Rejection and Raising Capital 40:44 The Reality Behind Entrepreneurial Success 43:07 Balancing Profit With a Public Mission 46:49 Learning What You Don't Know 47:35 Authenticity, Criticism and Building in Public 50:28 What Vanessa Is Beta Testing Now 52:54 Trying Even When Success Isn't Guaranteed 54:06 Final Thoughts

6. 

   9 Sept 2026

   Zoe Mann on Taking Risks, Building Confidence, and Finding Strength Through Loss

   Stacy Bohrer sits down with Zoe Mann, VP of Inventory Partnerships at The Trade Desk, for a personal conversation about taking calculated risks, building resilience, and learning to trust yourself. Drawing on her career at Google, Amazon, and The Trade Desk, Zoe shares how embracing imperfect first attempts helped her grow as a leader, why titles don’t define your value, and why strong leadership doesn’t mean being the loudest person in the room. Takeaways: - Titles don't define your value: What matters is the impact you create, the results you deliver, and how you show up for others. - Confidence comes from repetition: Taking imperfect action, learning from mistakes, and getting more reps can build confidence over time. - Calculated risks can change your trajectory: Zoe explains why data matters, but sometimes your gut has to guide the decision. - Strong leadership doesn't require being the loudest: Being thoughtful, direct, authentic, and results-oriented can carry more weight than dominating a room. - Leadership is about scaling through others: Building great teams means trusting people and accomplishing together what you couldn't accomplish alone. - Life is always being beta tested: Growth comes from trying new things, expanding your horizons, and accepting that you'll never have everything figured out. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Beta Tested 00:18 Meet Zoe Mann 02:08 Joining The Trade Desk 03:46 Separating Self-Worth From Job Titles 05:48 Confidence, Vulnerability, and the "Shitty First Draft" 07:43 Building SupplyDesk and Taking Calculated Risks 10:52 Trusting Your Gut on Big Career Decisions 12:48 Family, Confidence, and Early Influences 17:42 Women, Leadership, Power, and Finding Your Voice 20:19 Learning to Speak Less and Mean More 21:15 Why It's Powerful to Say "I Don't Know" 22:48 Balancing Ambition With Being Present 23:33 Zoe Shares Harper's Story 26:30 How Loss Changes Your Perspective 28:19 Family, Motherhood, and Marriage 31:27 Perfectionism and Learning From Mistakes 33:26 Friendship, Connection, and Fulfillment 36:15 What Zoe Is Beta Testing Right Now 38:18 Finding Strength, Healing, and Living Fully

7. 

   2 Sept 2026

   Building the Future of Advertising: Anne Coghlan on Leadership, AI & Scope3

   Stacy Bohrer sits down with Anne Coghlan, Co-Founder and COO of Scope3, to explore her journey from AppNexus to entrepreneurship, the rise of agentic advertising, and the realities of becoming a confident leader. Anne shares how she approaches big bets, overcomes perfectionism, builds strong founder relationships, and continues to "beta test" herself as both a leader and a person. Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact ⁠ http://marketecturemedia.com Takeaways: - Bet on people, not just ideas: Anne explains why the people building the future matter as much as the opportunity itself. - Agentic advertising is expanding what's possible: Scope3 is working toward a future where advertising can extend far beyond traditional websites and social platforms. - Perfection can slow progress: Anne shares how she has learned to balance high standards with making decisions and moving forward. - Leadership doesn't have one mold: Her AppNexus experience taught her that she could lead authentically rather than imitate someone else's leadership style. - Clarity is kindness: Direct communication can help teams understand the outcomes they need to achieve. - Growth never really reaches GA: Anne sees herself as continually evolving, improving, and learning how to balance ambition with downtime and family. Chapters: 00:19 Meet Anne Coghlan, Co-Founder & COO of Scope3 01:46 The Assumptions People Get Wrong About Anne 04:17 Making Big Bets on the Future 06:20 Understanding Technology Through the Hype Cycle 09:20 Scope3 and the Future of Agentic Advertising 11:41 Building Better Advertising Experiences for Consumers 14:22 Confidence, Perfectionism and Self-Doubt 19:24 How AppNexus Shaped Anne's Leadership 23:21 Building a Strong Co-Founder Partnership 26:43 Why Directness and Clarity Matter 28:58 Big Companies vs. Startup Culture 32:35 Curiosity, Childhood and a Love of Learning 36:18 What Anne Is Still Beta Testing

8. 

   26 Aug 2026

   From Google & Snap to Founder: Ali Manning on Building Chalice, Leadership & Taking Risks

   Stacy Bohrer sits down with Ali Manning, co-founder of Chalice, to explore her path from The Atlantic and Razorfish to Google, Snap, and entrepreneurship. Ali shares candid lessons about founding a company with her husband, navigating financial pressure, earning credibility as a woman in tech, and building an AI-powered advertising platform while raising a family. Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact ⁠https://marketecturemedia.com/ Takeaways: - Authenticity can be a greater leadership strength than conforming to traditional ideas of executive presence. - Founding a company with a spouse requires mutual respect, productive disagreement, and intentional repair. - Control over your time can be more valuable than the next title or promotion. - Women founders often need to establish their expertise and credibility earlier and more directly. - Chalice helps major brands use AI to connect advertising investments with real business outcomes. - Trusted friends and colleagues can provide perspective when imposter syndrome takes over. - Making space for a long-held creative ambition can restore energy and clarity. 00:00 Welcome to Beta Tested 00:50 Ali Manning’s voice and leadership style 02:11 The childhood goal that built her confidence 03:19 From The Atlantic and Razorfish to Google and Snap 06:14 Becoming co-founder of Chalice 06:46 Building a company with her husband 08:05 Leaping from operator to founder 09:38 The financial pressure behind entrepreneurship 11:45 Ali’s hardest moment as a founder 13:49 Writing, self-awareness and finding her voice 15:02 Rejecting feedback that undermined her authenticity 16:41 Why control over your time matters 18:10 Earning credibility as a woman in technology 20:55 How Chalice uses AI to improve advertising outcomes 23:50 Staying ahead of a rapidly changing market 25:39 Disagreeing productively with a spouse and co-founder 28:34 How to invest in a professional partnership 29:44 What Ali’s children are learning from their parents 32:56 Working through imposter syndrome 34:24 Beta testing a lifelong dream of writing a book 35:44 The story behind Ali’s book 36:27 Closing thoughts

9. 

   19 Aug 2026

   Priti Ohri, CEO & Co-Founder of Advertible Inc., on Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Self-Belief

   Stacy Bohrer joins Priti Ohri, CEO & Co-Founder of Advertible Inc., to share her journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, trusting intuition, bootstrapping a startup, and finding success without sacrificing peace. Takeaways - Why Priti left corporate leadership to build Advertible Inc. - How intuition and self-awareness shaped her career decisions. - Lessons from bootstrapping a startup and betting on yourself. - The importance of community, mentorship, and authentic leadership. - Why success doesn't have to come at the expense of peace. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:32 Meet Priti Ohri, CEO & Co-Founder of Advertible Inc. 01:47 From Corporate Leadership to Entrepreneurship 06:24 Why Data Became Her Career Compass 07:45 Trusting Intuition and Taking the Leap 10:52 Getting Laid Off and Starting a Company 13:13 The Reality of Bootstrapping a Startup 16:03 Why She Chose Not to Raise Funding 17:24 Finding Balance Beyond Work 19:26 Building Community and Supporting Women 21:53 Why Women Should Bet on Themselves 23:13 The Power of Self-Awareness and Reflection 24:50 Advice to Her Younger Self 26:01 Achievement and Peace Can Coexist 26:50 Final Thoughts

10. 

    12 Aug 2026

    Anjlee Majmudar on Authentic Leadership, AI, Career Growth & Work-Life Balance

    Stacy Bohrer sits down with Anjlee Majmudar, VP Programmatic at Level Agency, to discuss authentic leadership, career growth, AI, mentorship, motherhood, and defining success on your own terms. Anjlee shares how taking a career break helped reshape her values, leadership style, and approach to balancing work and family while embracing the future of AI in advertising. Takeaways: - Why authenticity is a leadership advantage. - How AI creates more time for strategy and relationships. - Redefining success beyond titles and promotions. - The importance of mentors and strong personal values. - Balancing leadership, motherhood, and career growth. - Why taking a career break can provide clarity and prevent burnout. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Meeting Anjlee and first impressions 01:17 Three words that define Anjlee 02:02 Finding confidence and speaking up at work 04:07 Leading Programmatic at Level 05:48 Why being direct doesn't mean you don't care 08:44 How AI is transforming her work 11:03 Redefining success beyond job titles 14:07 Becoming an authentic leader 16:24 The importance of mentors 17:34 Taking a career break and rediscovering personal values 20:45 Returning to work with clarity and confidence 23:35 Leading differently after burnout 25:03 How motherhood shaped her leadership 27:04 Setting boundaries while maintaining high performance 29:26 When authenticity has consequences 31:12 Learning to lead through uncertainty 33:08 Advice for anyone questioning their career path 33:53 What Anjlee is still beta testing today 34:50 Closing remarks

11. 

    5 Aug 2026

    Jill Steinhauser of Warner Bros. Discovery on Resilience, Leadership & Career Growth

    Stacy Bohrer sits down with Jill Steinhauser, Group Senior Vice President, Platform Monetization & Partnerships at Warner Bros. Discovery, to discuss resilience, leadership, career growth, and balancing work with personal well-being. Jill shares how navigating grief, embracing feedback, and prioritizing health helped her become a stronger leader while offering practical advice for professionals facing change and uncertainty. Takeaways: Why resilience is built through both challenges and everyday experiences. How self-awareness helps leaders navigate difficult seasons. The importance of separating work from personal life. Why feedback is essential for leadership growth. How preparation builds confidence and reduces workplace anxiety. Lessons on leading with honesty, vulnerability, and accountability. Why women should prioritize strategic thinking over constant execution. How AI can improve productivity and organization without replacing human judgment. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Meet Jill Steinhauser 01:36 What resilience really means 02:58 Growing up independent and building resilience 07:37 Leading through personal challenges 10:15 Developing executive presence and communication 12:45 Rebuilding after grief and prioritizing health 15:56 Learning to give yourself grace 20:12 Feedback, leadership, and owning mistakes 23:20 Managing workplace anxiety through preparation 25:43 Women in leadership and working smarter 29:03 Advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed 31:37 How Jill is using AI to work smarter 33:03 Final thoughts and closing conversation

12. 

    29 Jul 2026

    Sarah Caputo on Betting on Yourself, Building Fraction Method, and Turning Curiosity into Career Growth

    Sarah Caputo, Founder of Fraction Method, joins Stacy Bohrer for a candid conversation about leaving a Chief Digital Officer role without a backup plan, building her own consultancy, and navigating the challenges of leadership, entrepreneurship, and self-belief. Sarah shares how curiosity became her competitive advantage, why asking questions unlocks growth, and how reframing imposter syndrome helped her take bigger risks. From overcoming adversity to helping technology companies refine their go-to-market strategies, Sarah offers a powerful perspective on resilience, authenticity, and finding success on your own terms. Takeaways Sarah left her CDO role to pursue a more challenging and fulfilling path. Curiosity and asking questions have been central to her career growth. Reframing imposter syndrome can unlock new opportunities. Success comes from being comfortable with discomfort. Self-awareness helps leaders understand and communicate their value. Constructive disagreement is essential for innovation and growth. Building strong relationships matters more than having all the answers. Entrepreneurship requires balancing long-term vision with short-term realities. Authenticity creates stronger professional connections. Taking risks becomes easier when you trust your ability to adapt. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sarah Caputo 01:54 Leaving a CDO role without a plan 03:46 Why discomfort drives growth 05:31 Growing up independent and resilient 07:26 Taking risks despite uncertainty 09:28 Building a career through curiosity 11:45 The power of asking better questions 12:53 Managing imposter syndrome 15:26 Handling criticism and public disagreement 17:11 Navigating challenges in a male-dominated industry 19:07 Why women need to advocate for themselves 21:10 Building Fraction Method and advising founders 23:12 Creating value through strategic partnerships 27:08 What Sarah is still beta testing 29:39 Standing by your convictions 31:49 Understanding and communicating your value 33:00 Final reflections and closing thoughts

13. 

    22 Jul 2026

    How Employee Ownership and Culture Drive Business Growth

    Stacy Bohrer sits down with Kimberly Jones, CEO of Butler Till, and Amanda DeVito, CMO, to discuss leadership, employee ownership, company culture, psychological safety, delegation, decision-making, and building a business designed for long-term success. Learn how empathy, accountability, ownership, and purpose-driven leadership create stronger teams, better client outcomes, and sustainable growth. Takeaways - Employee ownership creates accountability, engagement, and long-term thinking. - Culture isn't a campaign. It must be demonstrated through actions and behaviors. - Empathy, authenticity, and vulnerability are leadership strengths that drive growth. - Great leaders pause to consider stakeholders who aren't in the room. - Psychological safety starts with making people feel seen and heard. - Strong leadership teams invest in relationships, trust, and alignment. - Delegation means allowing others to make decisions you wouldn't necessarily make. - Imposter syndrome is normal and often a sign that you care deeply.- Decision-making should balance speed with the reversibility of outcomes. - Sustainable growth happens when people, purpose, and profit are aligned. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Butler Till and Shareholder Summit 02:21 What It Means to Be Woman-Owned 06:21 The Power of Employee Ownership 09:31 Communicating Company Values Without Being Performative 12:25 Choosing Culture Over Short-Term Gains 14:26 Leadership, B Corp Values, and Long-Term Thinking 18:11 Protecting Culture and Maintaining High Standards 20:48 Leadership Norms and Psychological Safety 22:37 Why Great Leadership Teams Invest in Relationships 24:10 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 27:48 Leadership Lessons and Continuous Growth 28:18 What Kimberly and Amanda Are Currently Beta Testing 31:11 Delegation, Decision-Making, and Leadership Scale 33:03 Final Reflections and Closing Thoughts

14. 

    15 Jul 2026

    Nola Solomon on AI, Leadership, Confidence & Building Your Own Path

    Beta-tested, Stacy Bohrer sits down with Nola Solomon, Founder & CEO of Renoverse AI. Drawing from leadership roles at companies including The Trade Desk, NBCUniversal, Criteo, and AOL, Nola shares lessons on ambition, resilience, imposter syndrome, AI adoption, and why fear should never drive your decisions. They discuss women in tech, confidence versus perfectionism, navigating corporate politics, mentorship, leadership, entrepreneurship, and Nola's latest project: building her own AI-powered personal assistant. Takeaways Confidence Comes From Action Fear Should Never Make a Decision Women Often Over-Prepare AI Has Democratized Learning Diverse Perspectives Improve Leadership Build Your Own Opportunities Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Beta Tested & Meet Nola Solomon 01:12 Career Journey: Trade Desk, NBCU, Criteo, AOL & Entrepreneurship 02:30 Finding Your Voice as a Leader 04:04 Women in Tech, Credibility & Imposter Syndrome 07:21 Perfectionism and Leadership Growth 08:10 Why Women Often Wait Until They're "Ready" 09:33 Lessons From an Entrepreneurial Childhood 11:20 Confidence, Introversion & Personal Growth 13:13 Living Around the World & Cultural Perspectives 15:00 Leadership Challenges and Executive-Level Biases 16:00 Women Supporting Women in the Workplace 17:58 Unique Strengths Women Bring to Leadership 21:20 AI, Technical Skills & Career Growth 23:57 How AI Makes Learning More Accessible 25:19 Becoming Brave and Taking Risks 26:47 The Life Lesson: Never Let Fear Drive Decisions 27:28 What Nola Is Beta Testing Right Now 28:00 Building an AI-Powered Personal Assistant

15. 

    8 Jul 2026

    From Perfectionism to Power: Katy Friday on Confidence, Risk, and Leading Authentically

    Stacy Bohrer sits down with Katy Friday, revenue leader at StackAdapt, to unpack her journey from administrative assistant to senior leadership. Katy shares how she navigated career pivots, overcame perfectionism, built confidence, and stayed authentic in male-dominated spaces. This conversation is a real look at growth leadership and the messy middle that shapes success. Takeaways • Progress comes from showing up, not perfection • Confidence grows when you trust your own path • Betting on yourself creates new opportunities • Authenticity is a leadership advantage • Mentorship and support accelerate growth • Preparation is useful, but over-perfection can hold you back • Partnerships matter more than being liked • Boundaries are key to balancing career and family • You don’t need to reinvent yourself to lead • Saying yes intentionally can help you rediscover fulfillment Chapters 00:00 The idea behind Beta Tested and embracing imperfection 00:34 Introducing Katy Friday and her leadership journey 02:25 From criminal justice to media, an unexpected start 04:49 Transitioning into media and early career growth 06:04 Moving into digital and spotting industry shifts 07:53 Taking risks and betting on yourself 09:27 Joining The Trade Desk and accelerating career growth 10:11 Overcoming doubt in a complex industry 11:10 The turning point, shifting from likability to impact 12:59 Perfectionism and self-pressure 13:58 Building confidence and quieting self-doubt 16:32 Staying true to yourself as a leader 17:45 Authenticity in male-dominated leadership spaces 20:50 Balancing leadership and motherhood 24:15 Building a supportive partnership at home 27:05 The importance of community and support systems 27:16 What Katy is still beta testing in life

16. 

    1 Jul 2026

    Stephani Estes on Finding Your Voice, Leading with Courage, and Building Psychological Safety

    Stacy Bohrer sits down with Stephani Estes, Chief Media Officer at The Shipyard, to discuss leadership, confidence, psychological safety, sponsorship versus mentorship, and advocating for women in the workplace. Stephani shares lessons from her unconventional career journey, why speaking up matters, how leaders can create trust, and the power of embracing opportunities before feeling fully ready. Takeaways Confidence comes from trusting your perspective and being willing to speak up, even when it's uncomfortable. Psychological safety is essential for innovation, collaboration, and high-performing teams. Women often wait until they're fully qualified before pursuing opportunities, while growth happens by embracing the unknown. Great leaders listen more than they talk and actively seek perspectives that aren't represented in the room. Sponsorship goes beyond mentorship by actively advocating for others and creating opportunities for them. Feedback is a gift, and leadership requires both the courage to give it and the humility to receive it. Reframing apologies into expressions of gratitude can help build confidence and stronger communication habits. Success comes from continuous learning, whether in your career or personal passions. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Beta Tested & Introducing Stephani Estes 01:05 Stephani’s Career Journey: From Special Education Teacher to Chief Media Officer 02:24 Why Media Is Always in Beta Mode 03:08 Finding Your Voice and Learning to Speak Up 04:49 Overcoming the Fear of Being Wrong 06:00 Speaking Truth to Power and Managing Resistance 07:10 The Role of Therapy in Personal and Professional Growth 08:06 Looking Polished While Navigating New Leadership Roles 09:00 Being “Scited”: Scared and Excited at the Same Time 10:08 Growth Happens Outside Your Comfort Zone 11:15 Why More Women Should Apply Before They're Fully Ready 13:02 Hiring for Curiosity, Critical Thinking, and Potential 15:15 Learning When and How to Use Your Voice 16:15 Advocating for Women in Leadership 16:45 Asking: “Whose Voice Is Missing?” 18:00 Calling Out Bias and Microaggressions 20:05 Sponsorship vs. Mentorship 21:30 The Challenge of Self-Advocacy 22:25 Internalized Bias and Direct Communication 23:10 Turning “Sorry” Into “Thank You” 24:00 Leadership Responsibility and Listening at Scale 25:45 Monthly Office Hours and Staying Connected to Teams 28:00 Why Psychological Safety Is a Business Imperative 29:00 Breaking Down Silos Through Trust 30:00 Disagreement Without Losing Psychological Safety

17. 

    24 Jun 2026

    Tech, Motherhood & the Myth of Balance: Melissa Gordon-Ring on Leadership, Boundaries, and Reinvention

    In this episode of Beta-Tested, Stacy Bohrer sits down with Melissa Gordon-Ring, media and healthcare industry leader at Omnicom Media Health, to discuss confidence, career growth, motherhood, boundaries, and the myth of achieving perfect balance. Melissa shares how embracing authenticity, asking questions, setting clear boundaries, and focusing on gratitude have helped her navigate leadership, family life, and industry transformation. Whether you're a working parent, aspiring leader, or someone seeking more confidence, this conversation offers practical wisdom for thriving in the messy middle of growth. Takeaways Confidence is built through experience, self-awareness, and learning to stop apologizing for taking up space. Asking questions is a leadership strength, not a weakness. Clear boundaries help others understand how to support you and respect your priorities. Balance isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about showing up as your best self in each moment. Family priorities become easier to protect when you're clear about your values. Gratitude can serve as a grounding practice during periods of uncertainty and change. Authenticity is a leadership superpower that fosters trust and connection. Success comes from embracing imperfection and learning from setbacks. Sharing your goals with others creates accountability and support. Personal growth often requires resilience, risk-taking, and continuous reinvention. Chapters 00:00 - Welcome to Beta Tested: Embracing the Messy Middle 00:35 - Meeting Melissa and First Impressions 02:02 - Leading Healthcare Media at Omnicom Media Health 02:44 - Navigating Industry Change and Uncertainty 04:04 - Building Confidence and Letting Go of Perfection 05:54 - The Link Between Career Growth and Confidence 08:30 - Finding Strength Through Self-Awareness 09:40 - Boundaries, Self-Care, and the Myth of Balance 11:01 - Motherhood, Career Ambition, and Priorities 13:15 - Why Clear Boundaries Matter 14:52 - "Clear Is Kind" and Communicating Expectations 16:15 - Giving Others Permission to Support You 17:26 - Working Parenthood and Managing Guilt 18:36 - What Melissa Is Beta Testing Right Now 19:03 - Resilience, Risk, and Reinvention 20:49 - Designing Your Life with Intention 21:34 - Agility, Adaptability, and Leadership 22:01 - Owning Mistakes and Learning from Them 22:47 - Gratitude as a Daily Practice 23:03 - Final Reflections and Closing Thoughts

18. 

    17 Jun 2026

    Lauren Wetzel on Leadership & Breaking Barriers for Women in Tech

    For the debut episode of Beta Tested, Stacy Bohrer sits down with Lauren Wetzel, Global President of Data & Technology at WPP, for a candid conversation on leadership, sponsorship vs. mentorship, women in technology, AI innovation, career growth, and building diverse, high-performing teams. Lauren shares lessons from her leadership journey and practical advice for navigating change, advocating for yourself, and creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders. Takeaways: Leadership is about creating environments where others can do their best work. Sponsorship accelerates careers by advocating for talent when they're not in the room. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is often more important than IQ for effective leadership. Women tend to be over-mentored and under-sponsored in their careers. Constructive feedback is a skill that can be developed through repetition and self-awareness. Diverse leadership teams drive stronger business outcomes and innovation. Confidence comes from preparation, self-trust, and being comfortable with what you don't know. Authentic leadership requires balancing ambition with kindness toward yourself and your team. AI and automation are creating new opportunities for leaders to work smarter and focus on higher-value activities. Career growth often happens by already doing the work of the next role before receiving the title. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Beta Tested 00:38 Lauren's Career Journey & Role at WPP 03:41 Women Leading Data & Technology 05:11 Why EQ Matters More Than IQ in Leadership 08:39 Early Career Ambitions & Learning Mindset 11:03 Becoming a Leader Through Impact 12:03 The Power of Sponsorship 12:44 Handling Feedback Without Letting It Hold You Back 18:50 Self-Advocacy, Promotions & Career Growth 23:50 Taking Ownership Before You Have the Title 24:52 Mentorship vs. Sponsorship Explained 29:44 Structural Barriers for Women in Leadership 34:20 Building Diverse Teams That Drive Results 38:44 Finding Courage When You're Afraid to Speak Up 40:55 Confidence Through Preparation & Self-Trust 44:47 Leadership, Kindness & Creating Space for Others 45:08 What Lauren is Beta Testing: AI, Automation & the Future of Work 47:00 Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks Takeaways

19. 

    14 May 2026

    Beta-Tested: A Podcast for Women Building Bold Careers in Media and Tech

    This sizzle reel offers a glimpse into four powerful conversations with some of the most influential women in media, marketing, and technology. From leadership and resilience to motherhood, confidence, and career-defining breakthroughs, each episode reveals the personal stories behind the titles and the lessons learned along the way. Featuring Zoe Mann of Amazon, Melissa Gordon-Ring of IPG Health, Lauren Wetzel of WPP, and Katy Friday of StackAdapt, the series captures honest reflections, sharp insights, and the moments that shaped their paths to leadership. Together, these conversations explore ambition, reinvention, and what it really takes to thrive in fast-moving industries.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Contact Beta-Tested: A Podcast for Women Building Bold Careers in Media and Tech

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.