Samantha Dockery joins She Thrives with Rhonda Coleman Wandel to share how she pivoted from a 13-year career in wedding planning into founding her own sparkling wine brand. Samantha Dockery opens up about career reinvention, trusting your vision, and building a purpose-driven business rooted in impact. This episode explores entrepreneurship, personal growth, and the courage it takes to pivot into something bigger.

Key Takeaways:

• You can pivot your career without starting from scratch—skills transfer
• Starting before you feel ready is often the key to growth
• Your network and visibility (even Instagram) can unlock real opportunities
• Profit and purpose can coexist in a meaningful business
• Comparison slows growth—focus on your own path
• Authenticity matters more than audience size in business

Meet Samantha Dockery

Samantha Dockery is the founder of LoveLuvv Sparkling Wines, a luxury sparkling wine brand rooted in culture, celebration, and storytelling. A hospitality entrepreneur and champagne educator, she’s been featured on local Chicago TV and partners with hotels, wedding professionals, and lifestyle brands to reimagine how people experience bubbles. From pop-ups to premium pours, Samantha blends business, joy, and intention—always with a glass raised.

Visit her website | Follow her on Instagram

How She Pivoted

After 13 years in wedding planning, Samantha Dockery realized she no longer wanted a business that required her constant physical presence. She began exploring how to stay connected to celebration while creating more freedom and long-term impact. That vision led her to launch a sparkling wine brand sourced from France and Italy.

“If you really believe in your vision, the provision will come.”

Instead of waiting for perfect conditions, she leveraged what already existed—partnering with winemakers and securing exclusive blends. Her pivot was both strategic and intuitive, proving that reinvention doesn’t require starting over—just thinking differently.

Insights for Ambitious Women

Samantha Dockery reminds women that growth often requires action before certainty. Whether in business or life, waiting until you feel fully ready can keep you stuck. Her journey highlights the importance of trusting yourself and moving forward—even when it feels uncomfortable.

“Do it afraid… but do it smart.”

She also emphasizes that success isn’t about doing everything alone. Building support, seeking guidance, and staying grounded in your own vision are what sustain long-term growth—especially during career transitions and reinvention.

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In this episode, Natalia Ombach joins Rhonda for a thoughtful conversation about career transitions, personal growth, and redefining professional purpose. Natalia Ombach, an executive coach and former corporate risk and compliance leader, shares how a life-changing family experience prompted her to rethink success, leadership, and connection. Together, they explore the messy reality of career pivots, the importance of community, and how coaching can help professionals move from siloed work environments toward more collaborative, human-centered leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Why career transitions are often messy, emotional, and longer than we expect
• How personal life events can spark powerful professional reinvention
• The hidden challenges faced by “support function” leaders like legal, compliance, and cybersecurity
• Why collaboration often breaks down inside organizations—and how to fix it
• The importance of community and conversation during moments of career uncertainty
• How coaching helps leaders move from isolation to impact

Meet Natalia Ombach

Natalia is an executive and leadership coach, she works mostly with leaders of corporate support functions, like Legal, Risk, Compliance, or Cybersecurity in global organisations, helping them to reclaim ownership and direction of their function, be more impactful and be seen as strategic partner in their leadership team.

She brings 15+ years of international corporate experience, including leadership roles in legal, risk, compliance, and DEI.

Visit her website | Follow her on LinkedIn | Access her FREE Booklet here

How She Pivoted

Natalia Ombach’s career pivot didn’t happen overnight. After years of building a respected corporate legal and risk career while raising a family, she began to feel that something was missing. That feeling intensified after a traumatic accident involving her son, which changed how she viewed community, connection, and the role other people play in our strength during difficult times.

“You feel stronger just because other people wish for you to feel stronger.” shared Natalia on episode 36 of the She Thrives with Rhonda Coleman Wandel podcast.

That experience reshaped how Natalia thought about leadership and relationships at work. She began exploring coaching as a way to help others navigate the same emotional and professional complexity she had experienced. What started as curiosity evolved into a new career focused on helping leaders better understand themselves, their teams, and the invisible dynamics that shape workplace culture.

Insights for Ambitious Women

One of Natalia’s most powerful lessons is that uncertainty during a career transition is completely normal. Many professionals believe they should have everything figured out by a certain age or stage in their careers. Natalia challenges that assumption, reminding listeners that questioning your path is often the first step toward meaningful growth.

“It is normal. There’s nothing wrong with you.” expressed Natalia on episode 36 of the She Thrives with Rhonda Coleman Wandel podcast

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In this episode, Laura Williams joins Rhonda for a powerful conversation about caregiving, career reinvention, and building solutions born from lived experience. Laura Williams, a long-distance caregiver and legal advocate for her mother, shares how navigating a broken system inspired her to create a new approach to caregiving support. This episode explores career pivots rooted in purpose, the emotional weight of caregiving, and how personal challenges can become the foundation for meaningful professional reinvention and impact.

Key Takeaways:

• Why long-distance caregiving adds unique emotional and logistical challenges
• How lived experience can spark purpose-driven career reinvention
• The importance of dignity, autonomy, and safety in caregiving decisions
• How removing friction and complexity creates better outcomes for families
• What it looks like to build a solution instead of settling for broken systems
• Why clarity and advocacy matter when supporting loved ones from afar

Meet Laura Williams

Laura A. Williams is the visionary founder of Respitely, the world’s first CareGifting™ marketplace—making it as easy to gift care as sending flowers or a meal. A former corporate leader turned caregiving innovator, Laura brings firsthand experience as a long-distance caregiver and court-appointed conservator for her mother. Her work bridges technology, compassion, and community, redefining how families support one another through life’s most challenging seasons with dignity and ease.

Visit her website | Follow her on Instagram

How She Pivoted

Laura Williams’ career pivot was driven by necessity, responsibility, and love. While supporting her mother from a distance, Laura found herself navigating fragmented caregiving systems, time-sensitive decisions, and overwhelming administrative hurdles. Acting not only as a daughter but also as her mother’s legal advocate, she saw firsthand how difficult it was for families to find trusted care quickly and with confidence.

“My job is not only to be her daughter, but also her legal advocate—and to make sure she can stay at home safely and with dignity.”

Rather than accepting the friction and inefficiency of existing options, Laura reimagined the process entirely. She built a platform that removes guesswork, pre-vets care options, and allows families to secure care when and where it’s needed—transforming a deeply personal challenge into a scalable, purpose-driven solution.

Insights for Ambitious Women

Laura’s story is a reminder that reinvention doesn’t always come from ambition alone—it often comes from responsibility. For professional women balancing caregiving, leadership, and personal growth, this episode highlights how clarity and conviction can guide powerful career transitions.

“Caregiving from a distance adds an additional layer of complexity—you can’t be there at a moment’s notice.”

Laura encourages women to trust their lived experience as expertise. By honoring emotional intelligence, practical problem-solving, and advocacy, ambitious women can build careers that

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In this episode, Paula Amato joins Rhonda for an honest conversation about career reinvention, non-linear paths, and trusting long-term evolution over quick wins. Paula Amato, a seasoned PR and communications professional, shares how she transitioned from the music industry into wellness, storytelling, and ultimately transformational travel. Together, they explore career pivots, identity shifts, and what it really takes to build a meaningful professional life rooted in purpose, curiosity, and personal growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Why career pivots often unfold over years, not months, and why patience matters
• How transferable skills like storytelling and communication unlock new industries
• The power of staying in a beginner’s mindset during career transitions
• Why financial planning and timing are critical when leaving corporate roles
• How authentic brand building starts with self-trust, not external validation
• What transformational travel teaches us about growth, leadership, and perspective

Meet Paula Amato

Paula Amato is a seasoned PR and communications professional whose career spans music and the arts, wellbeing, social impact, and transformational travel. She is the founder of PAI/Life, a creative communications consultancy based in New York City. Throughout her career, Paula has led strategic storytelling, brand positioning, event curation, and partnership development for iconic artists and musicians, award-winning producers, CEOs, authors, and forward-thinking brands.

Before founding PAI/Life, Paula Amato served as National Publicity Director at Atlantic Records and later as an adjunct professor at New York University’s Steinhardt School, where she taught public relations at the undergraduate level. Her work today bridges narrative strategy with purpose-driven impact, helping organizations communicate with clarity, depth, and intention.

Visit her website | Follow her on LinkedIn

How She Pivoted

Paula Amato’s career has never followed a straight line—and that’s exactly what made her evolution possible. After launching her career in the music industry at a young age, Paula later moved into independent consulting, where she explored wellness, functional medicine, and personal development. Over time, those interests naturally intersected with her communications expertise, opening the door to transformational travel and purpose-driven work.

“My trajectory has not been linear, but every phase taught me something I needed for the next one.”

Rather than forcing a fast transition, Paula allowed her pivot to unfold gradually. She spent years learning a new industry, building relationships, and redefining her role—proving that sustainable reinvention often requires curiosity, humility, and the willingness to sit in uncertainty.

Insights for Ambitious Women

One of Paula’s most powerful lessons is that career transitions don’t require abandoning your past, they require reframing it. She encourages women to recognize their transferable skills and trust that experience gained in one industry often becomes the foundation for success in another.

“We all underestimate ourselves. Sometimes what feels like

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Episode Summary

In this episode of The Rhonda Coleman Wandel Podcast, Okera Banks, designer, style expert, and founder of the Okera Banks Collection and OTG Essentials, shares her remarkable journey from Charleston to Hollywood to building a global fashion brand rooted in purpose. From her early years in costume design to launching her own line, Okera opens up about courage, creativity, and the spiritual faith that has guided every pivot. Her story is a masterclass in trusting your instincts and designing a life that fits who you truly are.

Key Takeaways:

• How Okera Banks turned her love of fashion into a purpose-driven brand
• The difference between a stylist, a costume designer, and a fashion designer
• Why every woman should learn to “be comfortable being uncomfortable.
• How faith and intuition can lead your biggest life pivots
• Lessons from working in Hollywood, fashion, and entrepreneurship
• The importance of legacy, community, and building “brick by brick"

Meet Okera Banks

Okera Banks is an American designer, style expert, and entrepreneur whose work blends elegance, confidence, and authenticity. She is the founder of Okera Banks Collection and OTG Essentials, created for women who lead with purpose and live life on the go. Her designs have been featured on CNN, VH1, and E! Online and are sold in boutiques including Hudson’s Atlanta Airport and the Bank of America Marketplace by Seneca Women. A graduate of Clark Atlanta University, Okera’s mission is simple: to help women “travel in on-the-go style."

Meet Okera

How She Pivoted

Okera Banks began her career as a costume designer and stylist in Hollywood, working behind the scenes on television and film. But her entrepreneurial spirit and design education kept calling her toward something bigger. What began as a birthday gift of handmade skirts eventually evolved into a full-fledged fashion line.

“I didn’t chase exposure, I just needed an outfit I couldn’t find. That’s how the first collection was born,” shared Okera Banks on episode 32 of the Rhonda Coleman Wandel podcast.

Through fearless pivots, Okera transitioned from entertainment to entrepreneurship, creating timeless collections for women who want to look stylish while living in motion. Each piece, she says, is designed to make women feel confident, comfortable, and seen.

Insights for Ambitious Women

Okera’s wisdom extends far beyond fashion. She speaks candidly about resilience, financial freedom, and how obedience to God shapes her creativity and direction.

“Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Don’t let fear or other people’s opinions talk you out of what God told you to do,” encouraged Okera Banks on the RCW podcast

Her story is an empowering reminder that success is not linear, and that the real work of becoming who you’re meant to be starts with faith, courage, and the willingness to pivot.

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In this solo episode, Rhonda Coleman shares her deeply personal journey through two major career pivots — first from teaching to law, and now from a coveted legal role at Google to launching her own consulting firm. Rhonda Coleman opens up about navigating fear, redefining success, and embracing personal growth. She also breaks down how coaching, community, and intentional planning helped her make empowered transitions in her professional life.

Key Takeaways:

• Why major career transitions rarely happen fearlessly — and how to move forward anyway.
• The power of redefining success based on your own values rather than external expectations.
• How working with coaches can accelerate clarity, confidence, and strategic decision-making.
• The importance of building and leaning into your network when pursuing reinvention.
• Why taking personal responsibility for your career trajectory is essential for long-term fulfillment.

Meet Rhonda Coleman Wandel

Rhonda Coleman Wandel is an accomplished attorney, former Google legal professional, and the founder of a growing legal and business strategy consulting firm. With over a decade of experience supporting leaders and organizations, she now helps women executives, general counsels, and business owners navigate growth with confidence and clarity.

Visit her website | Follow her on Instagram

How She Pivoted

Rhonda’s first major pivot began over a decade ago when she transitioned from a 10-year teaching career into law school as a newly single mother of two. Despite uncertainty, she followed a calling to create a different future for herself and her family — ultimately building a thriving legal career and earning a role at Google, a milestone many consider the height of professional success.

“Sometimes you look behind you and know you can’t stay there, and you look at where you’re standing and realize you can’t stay there either — the only way to go is forward.”

Her second pivot emerged from a growing sense that she had reached a ceiling and needed more room to grow. Through deep self-work and strategic guidance, she recognized that entrepreneurship held the freedom, purpose, and impact she craved — even if it meant stepping away from the security of corporate life.

Insights for Ambitious Women

One of Rhonda’s biggest lessons is the importance of tuning into your own definition of success. Instead of chasing titles or external validation, she encourages women to ask why they want what they want — and to honour what truly aligns with their happiness, health, and wellbeing. This shift became foundational in her transition from corporate to entrepreneurship.

“I stopped looking at what I didn’t have and started looking at what I wanted and how I could get it.”

Rhonda also highlights how coaching, community, and planning can transform your trajectory. By building a support network, leaning into professional relationships, and taking responsibility for your growth, you create a powerful roadmap for reinvention — one that is grounded, strategic, and deeply empowering.

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Episode Summary
Lily Schurra shares her inspiring journey from litigation attorney to legal operations leader, entrepreneur, and now senior commercial counsel at a cutting-edge tech company. In this episode, Lily opens up about the pivots that shaped her career, how she aligned her work with her values, and what it means to design your own destiny. Her story is one of courage, reinvention, and the power of choosing experiences that truly matter.

Key Takeaways:

• How to recognize when it’s time to pivot and make a career change.
• Why aligning your career with your values leads to greater fulfillment.
• The lessons Lily learned from founding and running her own consulting company.
• How motherhood reshaped her perspective on work, balance, and success.
• Practical insights for women navigating career transitions with confidence.
• The importance of letting go of labels and embracing seasons of change.

Meet Lily Schurra

Lily Schurra is a senior commercial counsel at Sourcegraph, where she combines her expertise in contracts, legal operations, and technology. Previously, she founded LOLI Consulting, a legal operations and innovation firm, and has worked with global legal teams and emerging tech companies to optimize processes and scale smart. With a background in both law and entrepreneurship, Lily brings a unique perspective on career reinvention and professional growth.

Meet Lily

How She Pivoted

Lily’s career began in traditional law, but she quickly realized litigation wasn’t her calling. After roles in insurance and corporate contracts, she discovered her passion for legal operations; streamlining processes and finding smarter ways to work. That led her to create LOLI Consulting, an “accidental” business she started during a season of burnout and transition.

“I lovingly say that I accidentally started a company, because I gave myself a couple of weeks to breathe, and then people just started saying yes.,” shared Lily Schurra on episode 31 of the Rhonda Coleman Wandel podcast.

Running her own business gave Lily the freedom to choose projects, be present with her children, and align her career with her values. Eventually, she pivoted again, returning to a full-time role that offered the same sense of purpose and balance she had cultivated as an entrepreneur.

Insights for Ambitious Women

Lily’s story is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t come from titles or labels, it comes from creating work that fits your life. She emphasizes the importance of testing ideas, trying projects in small chunks, and giving yourself permission to pivot as your needs evolve.

“Do it scared, do it experimentally, do something. The worst thing that can happen is that you end up in the exact same position you’re in today,” encouraged Lily Schurra on the RCW podcast

Her wisdom encourages ambitious women to stop chasing arbitrary milestones and instead focus on alignment, joy, and growth. Whether you’re starting a business, stepping into leadership, or making a career change, Lily’s journey proves that reinvention is always possible.

Want More Like This?
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Episode Summary
Keli Frazier-Cox is a former global executive turned executive coach, keynote speaker, and founder of Promote Leaders. In this episode, Keli shares what led her to leave a high-powered corporate career and how she now helps leaders show up with more clarity, confidence, and intention. Her insights challenge the myth that hard work alone is enough and offer a more sustainable path to leadership.

Keli Frazier-Cox’s story is rooted in both personal and professional transformation and her voice is one every ambitious woman needs to hear.

Key Takeaways:

• Why over-performing doesn’t guarantee promotion or recognition
• How to build influence without burning out
• The difference between “managing” and truly leading
• How to shift your mindset from proving yourself to knowing your value
• What it means to lead with intention in today’s workplace

Meet Keli Frazier-Cox

Keli Frazier-Cox is the founder of Promote Leaders and the creator of the Intentionally Balanced Leadership framework. With over 25 years of experience in global executive roles, including Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Learning and Development, she now works as a leadership coach and keynote speaker. Her mission is to help professionals become the kind of leaders others want to follow.

Meet Keli

How She Pivoted
Keli Frazier-Cox spent decades excelling in corporate leadership roles. But behind the impressive titles was a woman carrying the weight of over-functioning, managing perception, and navigating the unique pressure of being the only one who looked like her in the room. After hitting a personal turning point, Keli stepped away from corporate life and gave herself permission to pursue a more meaningful kind of impact.

“I was doing everything right. But I realized I was filling the wrong gap,” shared Keli Frazier-Cox on episode 30 of the Rhonda Coleman Wandel podcast.

That clarity became the foundation for Promote Leaders; a business built to support executives who want to lead with more authenticity, balance, and presence. Keli’s journey is a reminder that success is not just about elevation, it’s about alignment.

Insights for Ambitious Women
Keli offers a new model for what leadership can look like, especially for women who are tired of overworking, overproving, and being overlooked. Her framework invites high-achievers to stop performing and start leading from a place of strength, self-trust, and clear priorities.

“You don’t have to burn out to be taken seriously,” encouraged Keli Frazier-Cox on the RCW podcast

Whether you’re managing a team, navigating a promotion, or considering a bold career move, Keli’s insights are both strategic and soulful. This episode is a permission slip to do things differently and thrive because of it.

Want More Like This?
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And if you’re ready for even more honest stories, career inspiration, and powerful insights, join Rhonda’s monthly newsletter. It’s where ambitious women get the encouragement, tools, and behind-the-scenes wisdom to thrive—straight to your inbox.

Subscribe to the newsletter and catch more episodes at RhondaColemanWandel.com