Badass in Heels

Episode 19, Part 2: Lynn Holland & Vanessa DuBoulay

This is Part 2 of my EMPoWER micro-series. In this episode, Lynn Holland and Vanessa DuBoulay, two amazing women from the Department of Justice ICITAP EMPoWER, the International Criminal Investigative Assistance Program, Engaging Multinational Police Women in Equality and Rights, share with us their personal stories and journey into the EMPoWER world. Learn about Lynn and her phenomenal 33 career in law enforcement as she talks to us about becoming the first U.S. female peacekeeper to be sent to Haiti and working high-profile cases in Kosovo during the Kosovo war.  Listen to Vanessa talk to us about immigrating to the United States, developing a passion for international affairs, and how she is making waves by elevating the policewomen in Jordan and Kenya.

Episode 19:EMPOWER-Grace Mason & Ivana Brennan

In honor of International Women's Day, five extraordinary women from the Department of State and the Department of Justice joined me to talk about the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program, Engaging Multinational Police Women in Equality and Rights, ICITAP EMPoWER. This part 1 of the EMPoWER micro-series. 
In today's segment you will hear from Grace Mason, Program Manager for the U.S. Department of State, Counterterrorism Bureau Programs Office;  and, from Ivana Brennan,  Deputy Assistant Director for the ICITAP Global Programs and Women, Peace, & Security (WPS) Unit. Grace and Ivana share with us the importance of EMPoWER, whose mission is to increase the number of women in counterterrorism efforts around the world and develop them professionally by providing top-notch training and resources, and connecting them across regions. But like every Badass in Heels episode, Grace and Ivana  share their story letting us in their world. For more on Grace, Ivana, #ICITAP, and #EMPOWER visit my website. 

Episode 18: Cyber Pioneer Woman, Stacy Arruda

Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Stacy Arruda shows us a glimpse into the cyber world at the FBI! She served in the FBI for 22 years and worked cyber most of her career, becoming a sought out subject matter expert. In this episode, Stacy shares her story, from working for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to to hunting down online sex predators via the first FBI's online undercover operation. She talks to us about tracking state-sponsor hackers and investigating computer intrusion attacks, and she talks to us about the biggest cyber threats for people like you and I. This episode will surely keep you wired! Listen to Stacy's story today to learn more about her phenomenal career and what she is up to now! 

Episode 17: Grace O'Neill & Fit For Duty Clothier

In this episode, retired Supervisory Special Agent Grace O'Neill takes us through her 24-year law enforcement career journey. From working as a police woman in the Chula Vista Police Department to her fabulous 21 year career in the Bureau in the Santa Ana Resident Agency, now known as Orange County RA, where she worked narcotics, white collar, and counterterrorism. Just as many of us law enforcement women, Grace struggled from the beginning of her career with finding the perfect suit! The little things that matter when you have to carry a weapon, creds, handcuffs, and are a woman! After retirement, she created Fit For Duty Clothier, which specializes in suits for law enforcement women- how spectacular is this! Tune in today to listen to her story, about her amazing work with the Bureau, and to listen more about FFD Clothier.

Episode 16: Stephanie Yanta, an FBI Rockstar

In this episode, retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Stephanie Yanta talks to us about her life and journey in law enforcement and in the military. From joining the Indiana University ROTC to becoming the first female Commander for a newly formed 638th Military Intelligence Battalion in Indiana, to joining the Bureau and kicking butt! Stephanie served in the FBI for 25 years, where she investigated cold homicide cases, narcotics, cyber, and terrorism. During her FBI tenure, Stephanie was the case agent of the largest drug seizure in the history of the D.C. area and was a member of the Hazardous Materials Response Team. Stephanie operated in overseas environments having deployed to the Middle East, Afghanistan three times, Europe and Africa. She earned the highest award within the Department of Justice, the Attorney General’s Award, for her efforts during the May 2010 Times Square attempted bombing. Stephanie retired as an FBI profiler from the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). Tune in today to listen to her amazing story!
#FBI #womeninlawenforcement #leadership #women

Episode 15: Lou Ann Sandstrom

Retired Supervisory Special Agent Lou Ann Sandstrom served in the FBI for 28 years. In this episode, she takes us to the world of SWAT, having become the first female operator in the Oklahoma City Division. She shares with us her career from working narcotics and terrorism, to becoming a crisis negotiator and a polygrapher!  Lou Ann even conducted her first arrest in high heels, a Badass in Heels, for sure!

Episode 14: Beth O’Brien

Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Beth O'Brien served in the FBI for 28 years! She worked civil rights and environmental violations and espionage at Oak Ridge, Knoxville. Are you thinking Oppenheimer? While in Norfolk, she racked up about 72 convictions and saved a man's life! She became the first SSA at the Knoxville office, where she also acted as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) and Acting Special Agent in Charge (ASAC), while still covering her SSA desk! Beth shares with us the challenges of being at the Academy and a new mom at HQ. Tune in now to listen to her amazing story-- from attorney to badass Special Agent!

Episode 13: Amber Mann, Runaway Girls

Special Agent Amber Mann from the Omaha Field Office lets us in her journey in the world of the ATF and FBI. In her short tenure with the Bureau, Amber has worked white collar crime and human trafficking. She now leads the Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) task force, where she does extraordinary work saving children, teenagers and young adults from predators. Amber shares with us stories of "Runaway Girls," who perhaps had hope for a better life, but instead, fell pray to pimps and the on-line prostitution world. Listener discretion is advised.

Episode 12: Sasha Taylor, Retired Intelligence Analyst

Sasha Taylor medically retired from the FBI after serving for 11 years as an Intelligence Analyst. Sasha supported several portfolios at FBI Headquarters from counterterrorism to counterproliferation. In this episode, Sasha starts by talking to us about her early years, a very challenging episode of her life, in which she was forced into marriage as a child. Sasha shares her story, how she came out a survivor, and how she made it to the Bureau. She talks to us about what it was like to work at HQ, in different units and with different people. Sasha also shares how difficult it was to prematurely part ways with the Bureau. Sasha concludes by talking to us about how she is now an advocate against child marriage and violence against women, an effort that she effects through her consultant company Reality of a Desi Girl. Sasha's story is that of pain, of gender inequality and loss of rights, of traditions that have made their way to the United States, of suffering in silence, but most importantly of resilience and survival. This is an emotional charging episode, one that I hope educates you on the matter, and hopefully, it helps someone in need. 

Episode 11 Part 2: Powerhouse Woman, Dr. Rhonda Glover Reese

In the second part of episode 11, retired Supervisory Special Agent Rhonda Glover Reese talks to us about leadership. She tells us about the challenges of ascending the ladder into Senior Executive Service (SES) positions and how those challenges put her on the path of true leadership! She also shares with us about her many accolades, her decisions to start mentoring and coaching others, and her company the Rhonda M. Glover Group LLC.