What if the biggest lie we’ve been sold about growth… is that it’s supposed to look polished?

In this episode of SHeCOMMERCE, Cristina and Jacqui sit down with powerhouse marketer and innovation leader Tina Lambert—author of Innovation Is Ugly—to unpack the messy, uncomfortable, and wildly transformative reality of reinvention.

From leading brand turnarounds and driving billion-dollar growth in CPG to making a bold pivot into the automotive industry, Tina shares what it really takes to evolve your career, rebuild your identity, and lead through uncertainty.

Because here’s the truth: growth isn’t linear—and innovation definitely isn’t pretty.

What We Cover

• Why innovation is messy, lonely, and often misunderstood
• The myth of the “perfect career path” (and what to do instead)
• How to navigate career transitions, layoffs, and identity shifts
• The problem with traditional innovation funnels—and what actually works
• Big company vs. startup mindset: speed, risk, and decision-making
• Why fresh eyes can be your biggest competitive advantage
• Building resilience, adaptability, and confidence in the unknown

Key Takeaways

This episode is for anyone in a “messy middle”—whether you’re pivoting careers, rebuilding after a setback, or trying to drive innovation inside a complex organization.

Tina reminds us: You don’t need to have it all figured out to move forward Innovation isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence Reinvention isn’t a reset—it’s an expansion

Who Should Listen

• CPG leaders & brand builders
• Marketers navigating transformation or innovation strategy
• Women in leadership facing career pivots or reinvention
• Anyone questioning what “success” should look like next

Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood.

SHeCOMMERCE:

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

What if your next career move is not about escaping something broken, but answering something deeper that finally clicked?

In this episode of SHeCOMMERCE, Cristina and Jacqui sit down with Donté McCrary-McClain for a conversation that goes far beyond titles, pivots, and polished LinkedIn narratives. This is a real conversation about the internal audit behind the resume — the questions leaders ask themselves when ambition, purpose, family, time, money, and identity all collide.

Donté opens up about the deliberate introspection that shaped his latest chapter, sharing how he evaluates growth not just through promotions or prestige, but through learning, energy, alignment, and the finite resource of time. He speaks candidly about hyper-independence, the weight and wiring that can come from early responsibility, and how family, serious life experiences, and proximity to mortality sharpened his bias for action.

Together, the conversation explores what it means to pursue growth without abandoning presence. From relocating for career-defining opportunities to building a trusted personal board of champions, Donté offers a grounded and deeply human perspective on leadership, reinvention, and the courage to get uncomfortable on purpose.

This episode also dives into the difference between intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship, and the often-overlooked skills leaders need to build before they ever step out on their own: seeing the forest through the trees, galvanizing people around change, building trust across functions, celebrating wins loudly, and leading with consistency when the playbook does not exist.

And because this is SHeCOMMERCE, the conversation goes even deeper — into mentorship, allyship, access, and the responsibility of using proximity to power to widen the door for others. In a moment where support for underrepresented talent can feel quieter and more complicated, Donté makes the case for intentional leadership that is not performative, but practiced.

This episode is for anyone standing at the edge of a new chapter. Anyone rethinking success. Anyone asking whether the next move is worth the risk. And anyone learning that growth is not always loud — sometimes it looks like honesty, alignment, and the courage to choose what matters most.

Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood.

SHeCOMMERCE:

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

What happens when you’re doing everything right… but still not getting seen for the leader you already are?

In this powerful SHeCOMMERCE podcast conversation, Cristina and Jacqui sit down with executive coach and consultant Liz Mayer to unpack one of the biggest traps high-achieving women face at work: being known for execution, but not recognized for influence. Together, they dig into what it really means to refresh your personal brand without reinventing yourself, why over-functioning is not the same as leadership, and how women can stop waiting for permission and start showing up with more clarity, authority, executive presence, and strategic influence.

Liz shares why so many women are rewarded for being the “gets it done” person, yet overlooked when it comes to shaping direction, driving vision, and earning the next opportunity. She offers a smarter, more sustainable path forward — one rooted in self-concept, standards, career growth, executive presence, and intentional visibility.

This episode is part mindset shift, part career development strategy, and all real talk.

Inside the episode:

• Why your next level does not come from doing more
• The difference between being seen as reliable vs. being seen as strategic
• How over-preparing and overworking can actually signal under-trust in yourself
• The personal branding shifts women need to make to lead with more influence
• Why “permission” is one of the most expensive things women keep waiting for in their careers
• A simple self-audit you can do this week to reclaim your power

If you’ve ever felt stuck being the helper, the fixer, the workhorse, or the one carrying the room without getting credit for driving it — this one is for you. This is a must-listen conversation for women in leadership, marketing, commerce, CPG, and growth roles who are ready to move from execution to influence.

Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood.

SHeCOMMERCE:

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.