What happens when one bold decision takes you through 11 countries in 11 months and completely changes the direction of your life?

In this episode of the InPowered Women Podcast, Sharon sits down with Christina Barnes, Development Director at Adventures in Missions, to talk about the journey that took her around the world and ultimately led her to a life and career she never could have planned.

Christina shares how the World Race opened her eyes to new possibilities, deepened her faith, and helped her discover the kind of work that truly made her come alive. The conversation also explores mentorship, resilience, generosity, unexpected detours, and why you do not have to have your entire life mapped out before taking the next step.

This episode is adventurous, funny, faith-filled, and full of thoughtful reminders about what can happen when you are willing to take the leap.

Listen now: 11 Countries, One Life-Changing Leap with Christina Barnes.

In this episode of the InPowered Women Podcast, Sharon Lee sits down with Tomeka Thomas, owner of The Roof Clinic, for a fun, honest, and inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, family, and what it takes to build a successful business in a male-dominated industry.

Tomeka shares her unexpected path from the insurance world to becoming a commercial roofing CEO, including the moment she and her husband realized they might be ready to “go to the dark side” of construction. From insurance claims and government contracting to business development, job-site leadership, motherhood, marriage, and trusting relationships, this conversation is full of wisdom, laughter, and real-life perspective.

Tomeka’s story is a reminder that career paths are not always linear, opportunity often begins with a question, and leadership requires both strategy and heart. In this episode, we talk about:

How Tomeka transitioned from insurance to commercial roofing

What it’s like to build a business with your spouse

Why relationships matter in business development

Leading crews and managing commercial roofing projects

Government contracting and the value of mentorship

Balancing motherhood, marriage, and entrepreneurship

The courage to follow unexpected opportunities

Learn more about The Roof Clinic: https://theroofclinic.com/

Connect with Tomeka Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomekathomas/

Hosted by Sharon Lee, Principal of Pinnacle Strategic Advisors and co-founder of InPowered Women.

What started as a funny “same name” connection turned into a powerful conversation you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, I sit down with Sharon Lee Thony, founder and CEO of SLTC, to talk about her journey from corporate advertising to building a thriving digital marketing agency. We dive into the real moments behind the success—taking risks, navigating motherhood while earning her MBA, and learning to trust herself before everything felt “figured out.”

This conversation is honest, relatable, and full of perspective for any woman navigating career growth, big decisions, or the pull toward entrepreneurship.