The WECAN Podcast

The Power of Women in Business: Wendy Appelbaum is a force of nature, a titan of South African business, a dedicated philanthropist, and a fierce advocate for women’s empowerment. We are honoured to be refeaturing her for WECAN today as part of our Summer Recap Series. From co-founding the Women’s Investment Portfolio (Wiphold), the first all-woman-run company to list on the stock exchange, to fighting for constitutional change to protect the poor from predatory micro-lending, Wendy’s career is a masterclass in boldness, precision, and purpose. She is the daughter of Sir Donald Gordon, founder of the Liberty Group, and has owned the De Morgenzon wine estate in Stellenbosch since 2003. Appelbaum is one of the richest women in South Africa. In this conversation, she pulls back the curtain on how she transitioned from finance to founding the world-class De Morgenzon Wine Estate, where she continues to champion women in agriculture and industry. The Power of Women in Business is never to be underestimated! Women-led boards are more efficient, collaborative, and effective. Being bold and brave is a non-negotiable, and one should always strive to leave a legacy. Wendy’s philosophy is simple: if you’re going to do something, do it properly. This conversation is a must-watch for anyone looking to challenge the status quo, lead with conviction, and leave a meaningful "ding in the universe." "Whatever you do in life... one should really try and leave a legacy that you're proud of, a legacy that your children are proud of, and an example to others. If we can do that... I think that you'll leave a ding in the universe." Thank you, Wendy. We are so inspired by your boldness, leading by example! #WECAN #WendyAppelbaum #WomenInBusiness #Philanthropy #SouthAfricanBusiness #DeMorgenzon #Entrepreneurship #WomenLeaders #SocialActivism #Legacy Find more on Wendy Appelbaum here: https://demorgenzon.com/the-appelbaums/ _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c

Our next role model this month of August is a powerful mentor who first featured 2 years ago:From A Map To Your Soul to the power of "Femifesting", WECAN is joined by the brilliant Dr Jennifer Freed to bridge the gap between the cosmic and the clinical, blending psychological insight with astrological wisdom to help individuals decode their "Cosmic DNA" and unpack what stands in the way of true self-expression. Dr Jennifer Freed is a renowned psychological astrologer, bestselling author, and a lifelong champion of social and emotional education. She invites us to stop manifesting, let go of the ego, and move beyond superficial goals and start "Femifesting." This is a powerful approach to working with universal energy to create lasting value for ourselves and the collective. When we bring good energy through us, we can also give it to others. Dr Freed shares why we should never apologise for crying and the importance of surrounding ourselves with a support system that holds us accountable, and so much more. Be sure to tune in to the conversation and learn how to work with Dr Jennifer Freed. Explore your inner landscape and unpack what is in your way of true self-expression, combining psychology and astrology. We are all interconnected constellations, glimmering with unique gifts. Dr Jennifer Freed is a true role model whose work spans individual coaching, group circles, retreats, writing articles on psychological growth and astrology (including contributions to goop), and consulting on psychological, spiritual, and educational topics. Visit Dr. Freed’s Website for more: https://www.jenniferfreed.com/ Visit and support her Charity: AHA! Charity: https://ahasb.org/ "Founded in 1999 by Dr Jennifer Freed and Rendy Freedman, AHA! is a transformative non-profit organisation dedicated to serving teenagers, families, and educators. Operating with a focus on social and emotional learning (SEL), AHA! helps young people feel safe, seen, and celebrated by training them in the five core pillars: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Having served over 60,000 teens and educators in Santa Barbara and beyond, AHA! is on a mission to foster empathy, responsibility, and deep emotional intelligence in the next generation." #WECAN #DrJenniferFreed #AMapToYourSoul #PsychologicalAstrology #Femifesting #PersonalGrowth #SocialEmotionalLearning #Astrology #InnerWork #Service _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c

In today's inspiring WECAN/SHECAN interview of our Recap-Series, learn how to own the room and public speaking tips with acclaimed writer, comedian, and podcast host Viv Groskop. She discusses the power of public speaking, overcoming self-doubt, and how women can give themselves permission to step into the spotlight. Discover Viv’s journey from journalism and Russian Vogue to stand-up comedy and podcasting, why channeling your energy and getting grounded in your body changes everything, and her mission to create an everlasting archive of brilliant women's voices. Viv Groskop is a writer, broadcaster, and comedian best known as the creator and host of the hit podcast How to Own the Room, where she interviews extraordinary women across industries about public speaking, performance, and confidence. She is also the author of multiple books, including the bestselling How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking. Having started her stand-up career in her mid-30s while raising three young children, Viv is a passionate champion of women finding their voice and owning their presence in any room. Visit her website and listen to How to Own the Room: https://vivgroskop.com/ #VivGroskop #HowToOwnTheRoom #PublicSpeaking #WomenInMedia #WECAN #SHECAN #FemaleFounders #ConfidenceTips ________________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c

Kate Mosse CBE is putting women back in the story through her remarkable work! This August WECAN is celebrating former Role Models who we have been hugely inspired by through the years, for our Summer Recap Series. During this inspiring interview with the award-winning author, journalist, and feminist icon, Kate Mosse CBE (2022), we discuss her remarkable career, her advocacy for women's visibility in history, and her powerful book, Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries. She reflects on a lifetime of standing beside other women, why she believes history is often manipulated to justify prejudice, and how uncovering the forgotten stories of the past can help us shape a fairer future. She also shares personal insights into her detective work, discovering her own literary ancestors, her upcoming one-woman theater tour, and invaluable advice for supporting women in the workplace and beyond. Today, Kate maintains an active international schedule as an author, speaker, and performer. Her recent milestones include being upgraded to a CBE in 2024, celebrating the 20th-anniversary tour for Labyrinth, being named the 2026 Public Library Champion, and releasing new additions to her historical fiction and non-fiction works. Her latest book, Feminist History for Every Day of the Year, discovers a rich tapestry of women's and girls' history from across the globe and through the ages. Explore Kate's work: Visit her official website for tour dates, books, and more. https://www.katemosse.co.uk/ #KateMosse #WarriorQueens #Feminism #WomenInHistory #WECAN #SHECAN #BookLovers #WomensPrize ________________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c

Whitney's Story Launches Our RECAP AUGUST @ WECAN, to remember all the amazing advice, guidance and inspiration from our earlier mentors:Ever dreamed of achieving world flower domination while balancing a high-powered career in fashion? In this inspiring interview, Whitney Hawkings, CEO and Founder of FLOWERBX discusses her incredible journey from working nearly 20 years alongside designer Tom Ford, as Senior Vice President of Communications, to building the world's first truly luxury global flower brand. Discover just how Whitney identified a gap in the market while juggling a busy corporate career and family life, why sustainability and unmatched freshness are at the core of the FLOWERBX model, and her ambitious vision to change the way the world consumes flowers. Frustrated by the lack of convenience, high cost, and inconsistency of traditional flower delivery services, and tired of running through Covent Garden flower markets in stilettos and pencil skirts before morning meetings, she launched FLOWERBX to solve a personal problem. Today, FLOWERBX operates across the UK, Europe, and the United States, revolutionising floral gifting with farm-fresh stems delivered straight from growers with unmatched quality and zero stock waste. Explore FLOWERBX and order your flowers online: https://www.flowerbx.com/ #WhitneyHawkings #FLOWERBX #WomenEntrepreneurs #WECAN #SHECAN #FemaleFounders #BusinessLeadership *A WECAN/SHECAN Summer Recap-Series Interview ft. a former Role Model _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe7304

Today's episode of WECAN with the mother-daughter duo, Marta and Corrina of the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation, is all about resilience in motion, a powerhouse of talent, and compassion. We learn what it takes to stand tall, be strong, and dream big, and about their nonprofit organisation, founded in 2020 when Marta was only 13, supporting scoliosis awareness. What does it mean to pursue your biggest dreams while navigating an invisible disability? Diagnosed with scoliosis at age 10, Marta has spent her life refusing to be defined by her limitations. Instead, she has transformed her journey into a mission, founding the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation to raise awareness, fund vital research, and build a supportive community for others living with scoliosis. Having raised over a million dollars, she is now spearheading a $250,000 grant initiative to change the lives of young people across the country. From the ice rink to the stage, Marta’s path hasn't always been easy. She discusses the physical and emotional realities of living with scoliosis, the power of a positive outlook, and how she balances the demands of a high-performance athlete with a thriving career in musical theatre. Recently graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from AMDA, Marta is now setting her sights on Broadway and film, proving that passion and persistence can break through any barrier. Marta leads with care and intention. Together with her mother, they are forces to be reckoned with, improving the lives of young people with scoliosis. We want more young people showing what they care about and how they put those values and passions into reality and projects. The future is bright because we have these amazing young people taking action this week as part of our "Young Leaders" series. Donate to the Foundation & Connect with Them: https://martaelizamillerfoundation.org/ Follow Marta's Journey: https://www.instagram.com/m.e.m.foundation/ #WECAN #MartaElizaMiller #ScoliosisAwareness #InvisibleDisability #MusicalTheater #YouthLeadership #Resilience #Advocacy #BroadwayBound #HumanCenteredLeadership ________________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c

It is "Young Leaders" week here at WECAN, and in today's episode, I’m thrilled to feature a dear family member: Luca Ortona, championing for student voices worldwide. Luca is a 20-year old, Italian-American student at the prestigious Bocconi University, and the founder of Agora International. Driven by a passion for diplomacy and authentic storytelling, he created Agora a year ago to provide a platform for student voices from regions often overlooked by mainstream media. This is a non-profit publication dedicated to featuring student political perspectives from every corner of the globe, bridging cultures. Luca is carving out his own unique path, and a powerful example of what happens when a young leader dares to fill a void in the conversation. Coming from a family with a rich legacy of diplomacy, including his great-grandfather, who worked on the Marshall Plan, and his father, recently appointed Ambassador to the UAE, it’s no surprise that Luca has a deep-seated passion for international relations. Agora has secured a publishing contract to distribute their magazine globally, a testament to the hard work and integrity Luca invests into this initiative every single day. What is Agora? "Agorà is an international, non-profit publication produced exclusively by university students interested in how politics shape our everyday lives, covering topics from domestic affairs, international governance, economics and innovation, art, culture & identity, and science, technology & environment. They reach out to students already on-site in countries around the world, and ask them to document local, political issues. In turn, they assemble and spotlight their work in a monthly journal on a global stage." I am so proud of Luca, and I couldn’t agree more with his mission: we need more young people at decision-making tables across the world. Their perspectives matter, and it is time we do more to listen and include them. The future is bright because we have passionate young people taking action, turning their values and beliefs into tangible projects that shape our world. Contribute & Connect with Agora International: Website: https://www.agorainternational.it/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luca-ortona-a34551331/#WECAN #YoungLeaders #AgoraInternational #StudentVoices #GlobalPolitics #YouthLeadership #BocconiUniversity #LeadershipDevelopment #GlobalDiplomacy #FutureLeaders ________________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c

In today's heartfelt episode of WECAN, Stephanie sits down with the extraordinary Tracey Thomas, founder of Good Mess Media, to deep dive into the real business of Podcasting and the Good Mess Media philosophy: prioritising genuine storytelling over traditional, numbers-driven models. Good Mess Media is a New York–based production company, creatively rooted in Tribeca. They create premium podcasts, digital series, documentaries, YouTube content, and live experiences designed to connect, move, and resonate. Authenticity, honesty, and vulnerability aren't just "nice to have" but the most powerful metrics for success in today’s saturated podcast, AI, and digital landscape. Tracey possesses that rare combination of sharp business insight, intuition, and heart. In an industry that often obsesses over metrics and algorithms, Tracey’s values are a breath of fresh air. She leads with vulnerability, honesty, and a commitment to protecting the creator's voice. I received so much incredible feedback on WECAN during this episode, and it’s no surprise; Tracey has a gift for making you feel truly seen the moment you sit down with her. Tracey shares her personal journey, having lost her father at the tender age of 14, and how her own life experiences shaped her approach to business, and why she believes audiences are craving "unpolished", soul-filling content more than ever. We absolutely love the Good Mess Media philosophy: "Life is MESSY, but it’s GOOD MESSY!" Audiences are moving away from perfection and striving toward authentic storytelling, staying true to their values, all while scaling with vision instead. "Tracey has insight, gut feeling, heart, and values that reflect ours, and it just felt like we had known each other for a long time. I love how we instantly connected; I am moved by our conversation, and your business model resonates! Thank you so much, Tracey." Stephanie Connect with Tracey Thomas & Good Mess Media Website: https://www.goodmessmedia.com/ Instagram: @goodmessmedia #WECAN #GoodMessMedia #PodcastingTips #ContentCreation #AuthenticStorytelling #PodcastBusiness #MediaIndustry #DigitalStrategy #CreativeTalent #Storytelling #PodcastLaunch #LeadershipWithHeart ________________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c