Closing the Confidence Gap—at work and beyond. In this episode of Momentum Matters, CEO/cohost April Benetollo sits down with Kelli Thompson—award-winning author of Closing the Confidence Gap, TEDx speaker, and executive coach—to unpack how high achievers become influential leaders. Kelli shares: Her path from banking & HR to entrepreneurship and executive coachingWhy confidence is a side effect of action—and how to swap “but first” for “while also”The difference between achiever and st...

Legacy. Leadership. Influence. In this episode of Momentum Matters, cohost Raven Holloway sits down with Tonya Hill Mitchell—former HR executive, founder & executive director of Diane’s Heart, and Inspire Action coach—to talk about transforming loss into purpose, building a living legacy, and why women leaders must “act brand new” to step fully into their power. Tonya shares: The origin story of Diane’s Heart and the moment she chose purpose over a lucrative corporate pathHer three core c...

In this episode of Momentum Matters, host Katie Hannah sits down with Dr. Kate McCombs, professor of leadership at Samford University and alumna of Momentum’s Upward Class 4. Kate shares her journey from finance to academia and dives deep into what it means to lead yourself before leading others. From defining self-leadership and emotional intelligence to discussing the changing nature of work, burnout, and the role of AI in leadership—this episode is full of insights for anyone striving to l...

In this episode, Katie sits down with Selena Rodgers Dickerson, a trailblazing entrepreneur from Birmingham, Alabama. Selena opens up about her journey in a male-dominated field, sharing how resilience, mentorship, and purpose shaped her path. From building a company rooted in equity and community voices to balancing career and family, Selena offers powerful lessons on leadership, personal branding, and creating supportive workplaces. A must-listen for anyone passionate about leadership, equi...

🎙 Takeaways from 30 Years of Digital Ventures with Cindy Martin In this episode of Momentum Matters, host April Benetollo sits down with Cindy Martin, a true pioneer in digital media and entrepreneurship. With a career spanning three decades, Cindy has led transformative ventures that shaped the way we consume news and connect online. From her early work at AT&T and Magellan—one of the first commercial search engines—to her leadership as founding CEO of AL.com and President of Alabama Med...

The Momentum Matters podcast is back—with fresh voices, powerful stories, and a bold new direction. In this inaugural episode of our relaunch, CEO April Benetollo is joined by new co-hosts Katie Hannah and Raven Holloway for a heartfelt conversation about what’s ahead for the podcast and the mission behind it. You’ll hear personal reflections on leadership, legacy, and transformation—and get a behind-the-scenes look at how Momentum continues to expand its impact across Alabama and beyond. Whe...

Welcome to the latest episode of the Momentum Matters Podcast: Courageous Conversations. In this inspiring episode, Christine Roberts, owner and CEO of Create Your Best Life, engages in a heartfelt conversation with Momentum's April Benetollo. Christine shares her incredible journey from her humble beginnings in Rochester, New York, to becoming a successful entrepreneur in Atlanta, Georgia. Discover how Christine transformed her life story into her life's work as the CEO and Founder of Create...

In this episode, April Benetollo, CEO at Momentum sits down with Clinical Psychologist and Performance Coach Josh Klapow, PhD. They explore his career journey, experiences, and invaluable insights on organizational consulting and leadership coaching. The discussion delves into the nuances of male and female leadership styles in the workplace, shedding light on communication challenges and societal influences that shape these dynamics. Josh emphasizes the importance of respecting individuality...

In this episode we interview Sharon Melnick, PhD, on the topic of power. Dr. Melnick is a global authority on leadership, confidence, resilience, and power. Dr. Melnick is the premier expert at creating fast and lasting behavioral change in accomplished but overwhelmed professionals, enabling them to expand their leadership impact and become change agents across the enterprise. With her psychological tools, clients harness their emotional makeup to create an inspiring culture under stressful ...

In this podcast, Executive Career Coach and Leadership Development Speaker Lenetra King, FACHE, shares her background and current mission with Momentum CEO April Benetollo. Lenetra is the founder and CEO of her company, Watch Me Excel, whose mission is to help organizations to engage, promote, and retain exceptional talent. Her mission's primary focus is to serve leaders in underrepresented communities. Lenetra's book, Unwritten Insights: A Career Playbook for Leaders of Color, is an ex...

In this podcast, Momentum CEO April Benetollo interviews CBS42 Chief Meteorologist Ashley Gann in Birmingham. Ashley shares about being a woman in a dominantly male career field, her influences along the way, and what her plans for the future are. Ashley's career has spanned 3 states and 3 major cities. From Montgomery, to Atlanta, to Birmingham. Ashley has covered some of the most historic weather events of our life time, including the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak. After receiving h...

PeggyLee Wright is a former US Army UH-60 Blackhawk pilot, having served at the 82d Airborne Division, Honduras Central America, and Fort Lee, Virginia. Following her military career, PeggyLee used her experience in DoD, logistics, leadership management, behavior analysis, and education to create a new approach to business development, ultimately establishing her own business development consulting firm, THE COMPANY YOU KEEP, in 2019. In this episode, PeggyLee shares what led her to join the ...

Leslie Claybrook currently is the General Manager for the Birmingham Squadron, the G League affiliate to the NBA New Orleans Pelicans. She is one of only a small handful of women to hold that title in men’s professional sports. In her current role, she manages all aspects of business operations including corporate partnerships, ticket sales, marketing and public relations. The Birmingham Squadron also has a heart for the community and will be featuring special game nights including a Women's ...

Ulrike Seminati is a leadership and communication coach with over twenty years of experience shaping award-winning communications and leadership programs around the world. Building on her experience as C-level executive, Ulrike combines her knowledge of how to succeed in the corporate world with powerful self-development techniques to help women lead with charisma and authenticity. Visit our website: www.MomentumLeaders.org Follow us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.c...

Steph Tuss is the CEO of multimillion-dollar global consulting company, Life Is Now, Inc., and frequent stand-in cohost of Business Daily News’ top-ranked podcast – The Successful Mind. In her six years at the helm of Life is Now, Steph has become the primary driver behind all of its marketing, business development and brilliant team culture. In this episode, Steph shares her journey from teacher in California to entrepreneur in Wisconsin, and now CEO of Life is Now in North Carolina. Visit o...

Amanda is the Founding Director of the Magic City Acceptance Center (MCAC) and manages Family Matters: LGBTQ Youth Perspectives, a photography exhibition by Carolyn Sherer. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Amanda moved to Alabama in 2006 and received her BA in Philosophy from UAB. Her advocacy work began in Columbus, Ohio volunteering with a local AIDS service organization. That work continued at Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO) in 2009. Amanda is in her 11th year of working with BAO and affiliated...

Join April this week as she interviews Patricia Arboleda, the CEO, and Founder of Arboleda coaching. The two women discuss honoring your values, the importance of family, and how your differences can truly be your superpower. To learn more about Patricia Arboleda and her business, visit her website today: https://arboledacoaching.com/welcome/. Visit our website: www.MomentumLeaders.org Follow us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MomentumLeaders Instagram: https://ww...

In today's episode, April Benetollo interviews Patti black, CFP, where the two discuss the power of understanding your financial voice, caring for your aging parents, and the ability to take the first steps towards your goals. About Patti Black: Bridgeworth Partner Patti Black, CFP® has been providing financial planning and investment advice for over two decades. She focuses on helping affluent individuals create a plan to be financially secure and live a purposeful life ...

Stegemann became known to millions of Canadians when she became the first woman from Atlantic Canada to land a venture-capital deal on the CBC TV show Dragons’ Den (think Canadian equivalent of Shark Tank) for her sustainable perfume company, The 7 Virtues Beauty. She went on to become the “Top Game Changer” in the history of the show for creating her social enterprise. Since then, Stegemann has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada; won the Ernst & Young “Entre...

In this episode, Ellen Holladay shares her journey from lessons learned as a child at the family drugstore in Jasper, Alabama, to a seasoned C-Suite leader and Chief Information Officer. Ellen has more than 35 years of experience helping companies achieve operational and digital excellence. She began her career with Ernst &Young where she led technology initiatives in the manufacturing, distribution, engineering, and healthcare sectors. Having recently retired after 24 years ...