Power Partners Podcast Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:02:24 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2127029 en-us © 2026 Power Partners Podcast yes cd804564-1910-57ff-8c85-a15efa7bba3f Women's Business Development Center episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Women's Business Development Center https://storage.buzzsprout.com/3fd2xytatvv2fzqll8s92eh24v08?.jpg Power Partners Podcast Clark McCain Soraya Hernandez, Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) Director | WBDC Soraya Hernandez, Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) Director | WBDC Native of Caracas, Venezuela. Of an entrepreneurial family. From fish jerky to market research for the “big fish.” Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) Director at WBDC. Our expert on tariffs and international trade. Meet Soraya Hernandez, a Power Partner.

]]> Native of Caracas, Venezuela. Of an entrepreneurial family. From fish jerky to market research for the “big fish.” Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) Director at WBDC. Our expert on tariffs and international trade. Meet Soraya Hernandez, a Power Partner.

]]> Women's Business Development Center Buzzsprout-16710690 Fri, 28 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0600 2703 2 4 full false Phylicia Manley | Vice President and Program Officer for Global Philanthropy in Corporate Responsibility, JPMorganChase Phylicia Manley | Vice President and Program Officer for Global Philanthropy in Corporate Responsibility, JPMorganChase Illinois Native. Peace Corp volunteer. Local economic development worker. Leading small business philanthropy in Chicago and guiding grantmaking in Indiana and Wisconsin for JPMorganChase. Meet Phylicia Manley, a Power Partner.

]]> Illinois Native. Peace Corp volunteer. Local economic development worker. Leading small business philanthropy in Chicago and guiding grantmaking in Indiana and Wisconsin for JPMorganChase. Meet Phylicia Manley, a Power Partner.

]]> Women's Business Development Center Buzzsprout-16214688 Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0600 2632 2 3 full false Adam Engle | Fund for Equitable Business Growth at the Chicago Community Trust Adam Engle | Fund for Equitable Business Growth at the Chicago Community Trust Long Island native. Grantor. Grantee. Leader of the Fund for Equitable Business Growth. A collaborator helping to grow more small businesses in Chicago. Meet Adam Engle, a Power Partner.

]]> Long Island native. Grantor. Grantee. Leader of the Fund for Equitable Business Growth. A collaborator helping to grow more small businesses in Chicago. Meet Adam Engle, a Power Partner.

]]> Women's Business Development Center Buzzsprout-16011930 Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0600 3425 2 2 full false Dr. Maija Renko, Coleman Chair of Entrepreneurship at the Driehaus College of Business | DePaul University Dr. Maija Renko, Coleman Chair of Entrepreneurship at the Driehaus College of Business | DePaul University Originally from Finland. Entrepreneurship professor at DePaul University in Chicago. A researcher and educator on self-employment, disabilities entrepreneurship, women in business. Meet Maija Renko, a Power Partner.

Maija Renko, Coleman Chair of Entrepreneurship at the Driehaus College of Business at DePaul University.

Maija joined DePaul in 2019 after twelve years at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her focus is on how entrepreneurs build financially successful businesses that contribute to positive social change. She has dedicated much of her life to studying and helping entrepreneurs with disabilities and those that have been historically disenfranchised understand their unique strength in the market.

About DePaul University

DePaul is the largest private university whose faculty members' priority is teaching. It is committed to an educational experience that weaves together mind, place, people and heart, preparing its students to succeed and make a difference in a changing world.

]]> Originally from Finland. Entrepreneurship professor at DePaul University in Chicago. A researcher and educator on self-employment, disabilities entrepreneurship, women in business. Meet Maija Renko, a Power Partner.

Maija Renko, Coleman Chair of Entrepreneurship at the Driehaus College of Business at DePaul University.

Maija joined DePaul in 2019 after twelve years at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her focus is on how entrepreneurs build financially successful businesses that contribute to positive social change. She has dedicated much of her life to studying and helping entrepreneurs with disabilities and those that have been historically disenfranchised understand their unique strength in the market.

About DePaul University

DePaul is the largest private university whose faculty members' priority is teaching. It is committed to an educational experience that weaves together mind, place, people and heart, preparing its students to succeed and make a difference in a changing world.

]]> Women's Business Development Center Buzzsprout-15823757 Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0500 2529 2 1 full false Silvia Orozco | Somercor Silvia Orozco | Somercor Women's Business Development Center Buzzsprout-15659637 Wed, 28 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0500 1368 1 8 full false Cyndi Stewart | Sustainable Options for Urban Living Cyndi Stewart | Sustainable Options for Urban Living An American Dream childhood in a West Pullman community. A Baby Boomer with early days in computers and real estate. Now helping people in the construction trades build things, build themselves up, build their community. Meet Cyndi Stewart, a Power Partner.

]]> An American Dream childhood in a West Pullman community. A Baby Boomer with early days in computers and real estate. Now helping people in the construction trades build things, build themselves up, build their community. Meet Cyndi Stewart, a Power Partner.

]]> Women's Business Development Center Buzzsprout-13089747 Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:00:00 -0500 2074 1 7 full false Rhea Steele | Greater Chatham Initiative Rhea Steele | Greater Chatham Initiative From Saint Agatha’s to Saint Sabina’s. Learned the IT business at IBM. Leveraged her experience to own a consultancy.  Using technology for greater visibility to client challenges and opportunities. Making change happen on 79th Street.  Meet Rhea Steele, a Power Partner.

]]> From Saint Agatha’s to Saint Sabina’s. Learned the IT business at IBM. Leveraged her experience to own a consultancy.  Using technology for greater visibility to client challenges and opportunities. Making change happen on 79th Street.  Meet Rhea Steele, a Power Partner.

]]> Women's Business Development Center Buzzsprout-12906187 Thu, 25 May 2023 17:00:00 -0500 1733 1 6 full false Jessica Vazquez | Northwest Side Community Development Corporation Jessica Vazquez | Northwest Side Community Development Corporation Life within a 3-mile radius on the Northwest Side. Getting every small business online. Building trust by listening and being present. Making ScaleUp and Plan For Profit work in Belmont Cragin. Meet Jessica Vazquez, a Power Partner.

]]> Life within a 3-mile radius on the Northwest Side. Getting every small business online. Building trust by listening and being present. Making ScaleUp and Plan For Profit work in Belmont Cragin. Meet Jessica Vazquez, a Power Partner.

]]> Women's Business Development Center Buzzsprout-12713896 Mon, 24 Apr 2023 13:00:00 -0500 1705 1 5 full false Erika Gonzalez | Greater Southwest Development Corporation Erika Gonzalez | Greater Southwest Development Corporation Came to Chicago from Mexico City. Got a gentle push to learn a new language. Did so while running her restaurant.  An awning leads to a new dawn.  Now serves education to entrepreneurs.  Meet Erika Gonzalez, a Power Partner.

]]> Came to Chicago from Mexico City. Got a gentle push to learn a new language. Did so while running her restaurant.  An awning leads to a new dawn.  Now serves education to entrepreneurs.  Meet Erika Gonzalez, a Power Partner.

]]> Women's Business Development Center Buzzsprout-12593313 Wed, 05 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0500 2027 1 4 full false Sheree Moratto | Rogers Park Business Alliance Sheree Moratto | Rogers Park Business Alliance From a wart to Wartburg College. Started a high school. Started a farmers’ market. Started an entrepreneurship program. Not someone you can stop. Meet Sheree Moratto, a Power Partner.

]]> From a wart to Wartburg College. Started a high school. Started a farmers’ market. Started an entrepreneurship program. Not someone you can stop. Meet Sheree Moratto, a Power Partner.

]]> Women's Business Development Center Buzzsprout-12439127 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0500 1916 1 3 full false Kathryn Jackson, Far South Community Development Corporation Kathryn Jackson, Far South Community Development Corporation Raised by entrepreneurs.  Always wanting to learn.  All about liquor (licensing, that is).  Expanding Minority Business Access.  Meet Kathryn Jackson, a Power Partner.

]]> Raised by entrepreneurs.  Always wanting to learn.  All about liquor (licensing, that is).  Expanding Minority Business Access.  Meet Kathryn Jackson, a Power Partner.

]]> Women's Business Development Center Buzzsprout-12315237 Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:00:00 -0600 1914 1 2 full false Lauren Amos | Build Bronzeville Lauren Amos | Build Bronzeville Papaya juice on the doorstep.  Why you might say “no” to Goldman Sachs.  Running restaurants and bars.  Immersed in the world of Bronzeville entrepreneurship.  Meet Lauren Amos, a Power Partner.

]]> Papaya juice on the doorstep.  Why you might say “no” to Goldman Sachs.  Running restaurants and bars.  Immersed in the world of Bronzeville entrepreneurship.  Meet Lauren Amos, a Power Partner.

]]> Laurie Buzzsprout-12170252 Thu, 02 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0600 2075 1 1 full false