If you thought Part 1 was good… Part 2 is the page you didn’t know you were waiting for.

This week, Kelly Atkinson is back, and she’s answering the question we left dangling: how she advocated for women in the workplace by building systems that actually worked, especially for mothers-to-be. And that’s just the start.

From learning how to delegate like a boss (literally) and letting people show up for you, not just in business but in life, to unpacking her idea of the “Toolbox” we all start building early and add to as we grow… this conversation is packed with gems.

We also dive into the messy, magical part of leadership: trusting your gut when the odds are stacked against you, embracing change even when it’s scary, and why being a CEO doesn’t automatically equal success (spoiler: fulfillment is the real flex).

Part 2 is raw, unfiltered, and ridiculously inspiring, whether you’re a leader, a dreamer, a mom, or just figuring out your next leap.

Wait What's Next? Hosts: Laura Alba & Leni Vasquesz

Instagram: @lauraalbaz & @v_leeeni
Email: waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com

What happens when you put a powerhouse exec in the hot seat and ask her to spill the real story behind becoming a CMO? You get this conversation.

In Part 1, Kelly takes us back to the firsts that shaped her career, her first management role, the habits rooted in her upbringing that became her professional superpowers, and the pivotal moments where she leaned into discomfort that ultimately positioned her as CMO across multiple industries.

What does the diary of a CMO really look like?

• Knowing when it’s time to shift gears for real growth
• Why your upbringing shapes more of your career than you think
• Creating space as the only woman in the boardroom
• And why marketing is equal parts art and science

This episode is for anyone navigating transitions, building your career, redefining leadership, and learning how to show up unapologetically in spaces that weren’t designed with you in mind.

Because Kelly’s story isn’t just about climbing the ladder… It’s about rewriting the playbook while you’re on it.

Wait What's Next? Hosts: Laura Alba & Leni Vasquesz

Instagram: @lauraalbaz & @v_leeeni
Email: waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com

What does it mean to grow up caught between cultures, languages, and worlds, and still carve out a space that feels like yours?

In this week’s episode of Wait… What’s Next?, Laura flips the script and interviews co-host Leni about her story as a first-gen daughter of immigrants. From navigating college without a roadmap, to stepping into the startup world without a guidebook, Leni opens up about what it means to live in-between, not fully from here, not fully from there, but somehow building everywhere.

We talk about:
Growing up in-between cultures and identities
Building confidence when you don’t have the blueprint
Why being scrappy isn’t just survival — it’s a superpower
How belonging is less about fitting in and more about creating your own table

It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s a story so many will recognize: finding strength in the spaces where you never quite felt like you belonged.

Wait What's Next? Hosts: Laura Alba & Leni Vasquesz

Instagram: @lauraalbaz & @v_leeeni
Email: waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com