Well friends and podcast listeners, I have met another sister from another mister in my guest today, Dr. Kasi Lacey! I met Dr. Kasi at the Thrive in ’25 Conference last summer, and I was like, Dr. Kasi is my person! When we chatted, I really resonated with what she was saying and so much of our corporate war stories were similar, even though Dr. Kasi and I come from different industries. It simply goes to show you that it doesn’t really matter the industry. What matters is that we share our stories so that women do not feel alone. When I met Dr. Kasi, I know I felt seen.

Like my work with Brave Women at Work, Dr. Kasi focuses a big portion of her work on lifting women up so they can build confidence and advocate for themselves. Once I found that out, I knew she had to be on the show.

During our discussion, Dr. Kasi and I chatted about:

1. Confidence is a skill we can build; it’s not something we have or don’t have.
2. How resilience, grit, and clarity have key roles in building confidence in any area of your life.
3. How boundaries go hand in hand with confidence building
4. We chatted about how Dr. Kasi loves being on stage, and it wasn’t something she set out to do.
5. Her upcoming book, The Confidence Comeback: The Psychology of Reclaiming Your Power, Voice, and Leadership
6. And we also touched on her course: Break Free from Self-Doubt

Here is more about Dr. Kasi:

Dr. Lacey is a nationally recognized psychologist, author, keynote speaker, and confidence coach who empowers women and workplaces to lead with confidence.

She blends the science of psychology with actionable leadership strategies to deliver high-impact, transformative keynotes and training that leave audiences inspired and equipped to take action.

With 15+ years of experience as a C-suite executive in higher education and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Dr. Lacey is known for her relatable, energizing speaking style and her deep understanding of what it truly takes to cultivate confidence in leadership - especially for women navigating high-pressure roles.

Whether she’s on stage, on camera, or in a boardroom, Dr. Lacey's mission is clear: help women lead unapologetically and help organizations build thriving, inclusive, and psychologically safe environments.

If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

I’m excited to share that Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Authenticity is coming out soon in E-Book! Be on the lookout for a purchase link for the $0.99 E-Book in April 2026!

And, finally, I am already receiving interest in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Abundance! This will be the sixth book in the women’s anthology series! This project will begin later this year in August 2026!

If you have a story to share and a deep desire to become an author, please contact me at hello@bravewomenatwork.com. I am happy to share the details on the project.

Alright, let’s welcome Dr. Kasi to the show!

Do you have someone in your life that has made a brave pivot? For example, maybe a friend, family member or colleague that has made a big leap into a new career, left their career to be a mom or caregiver full-time, left a relationship that was draining them. Whenever I hear stories like this, I’m both awed and triggered at the same time.

Why? Well, friends, I have always struggled with big changes. Every time I have left a job, I’ve cried and grieved. I’ve agonized over these big changes, made pros and cons lists, asked everyone I know until I wind myself up to a tight ball of anxiety.

Some people release the control of the known and bravely pivot into the unknown. My guest, Dr. Vasu Tolia, has done this with her monstrous move from medicine to art. Talk about different sides of the brain!

I met Dr. Vasu through a coaching inquiry, but realized coaching was not the right fit for her. Inviting her to be part of the larger community of powerhouse women I’m part of was. So, I am so pleased to have the opportunity to chat with her today on the show!

During our discussion, Dr. Vasu and I chatted about:

1. What led Dr. Vasu to get into medicine?
2. How she knew it was time to move from medicine into the world of art?
3. What the response was from others in her community when she decided to make that pivot
4. How picking up a paintbrush has made her find something deeper within herself
5. The intersection between science, art, and healing and where Dr. Vasu’s work is headed
6. What a personal mandala is and how it is a healing exercise it itself

Here is more about Dr. Vasu:

Dr. Vasu Tolia is a physician turned healing artist and Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics. After spending over 40 years in academic medicine—establishing Michigan's first pediatric endoscopy unit and publishing 150+ research papers—she embarked on a second career creating healing-focused art grounded in neuroaesthetics.

Her work has been featured by The Washington Post, appeared on CDC journal covers, and been included in ArtTreasury's 2026 Collector's Annual. Through her unique charitable giving model, art collectors can direct proceeds to organizations supporting mental health, autism research, and vulnerable populations.

Vasu's Bold Statement of Claim is "Healing never retires. It just picks up a different path." Learn more at www.vasutolia.art.

If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

I have never been a shopper. Starting in my teenage years, I decided I would be emo and wear black all the time. It was just easier, and it matched my teenage angst and all the Alanis Morrissette I was listening to. Can you relate?

I would love to tell you that I have changed in my adult years, but I haven’t really. Black is still my staple, and I don’t put a lot of time into my wardrobe. My guest, Dianne Boyer, has shared with me the importance of putting together a wardrobe that serves us not only personally, but professionally. This is a missing tool that helps us with our confidence and with advocating for ourselves.

You know what I’m talking about. When we feel good, we do good. When we wear our favorite outfit, we walk a little taller. And maybe, just maybe, we advocate for ourselves a little more.

During our discussion, Dianne and I chatted about:

1. Her origin story in fashion and styling
2. What pushed her out of her work and into running her own business, Dianne in Style
3. What is a color analysis, and why is it important?
4. What is a personal style evaluation, and can it be done from anywhere?
5. What is the goal of Dianne’s work with women?

If you are anything like me and are quick to go to wearing black as a default or the same outfits repeatedly that you do not particularly love, this show is for you.

Here is more about Dianne:

Dianne Boyer is a personal stylist helping women rediscover their confidence and joy through style. After decades in corporate and fashion marketing, Dianne transitioned into styling to empower women navigating life’s next chapter. She offers practical, personalized styling for women who want to feel vibrant and relevant at any age.

Reinvention is not just about what she does for others, it’s her own story as well. Her professional path includes leadership roles in Fortune 100 marketing and over a decade in the fashion accessories space. Since the beginning, her career has centered around brand identity, visual impact, and helping others make a strong first impression. She’s leveraged her years of marketing experience and love of fashion and applied the same principles for making brands shine to doing the same for women.

Dianne has shared her styling insights on television segments in Detroit and Chicago and has been featured in Real Simple, People, and Today.com. Her message is simple: it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. Whether it’s a career pivot or a fresh outfit, you deserve to love what you see in the mirror.

If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!