In this powerful episode of SHE DECIDES, host Staci Swiderski sits down with Tissa Richards, founder, CEO, TEDx speaker, author, and former tech founder turned leadership strategist, for a deeply honest conversation about identity, resilience, and choosing alignment over burnout.

Tissa shares her journey from the fast-paced world of Silicon Valley startups to walking away from a career that no longer served her, even when the stakes were high. She opens up about the emotional and financial realities of shutting down a company, losing everything, and rebuilding with integrity, clarity, and purpose.

Together, Staci and Tissa explore what it means to pivot without apology, how to define success beyond titles and revenue, and why knowing your values before things fall apart is the ultimate form of self-advocacy. The conversation dives into leadership under pressure, resilience as a proactive muscle, the power of saying “I’m known for…,” and why women must stop overexplaining their worth.

This episode is both grounding and energizing, filled with practical wisdom, humor, and real talk for anyone standing at a crossroads, questioning what’s next, or learning to trust their own voice.

Because when she decides she doesn’t need permission to choose herself, everything changes.

Connect with Tissa Richards

• Website: TissaRichards.com

• LinkedIn: Tissa Richards

• Instagram: @tissarichards