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Nothing feels more incredible than saving someone’s life. -Shannon Silvestri

Meet Shannon Silvestri: wife, mother, marathoner, coach, fitness instructor and organ donor. A longtime resident of the little seaside town of Beverly, Massachusetts, Shannon was a champion field hockey player who received a scholarship to Boston College where she was later inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame. When her daughters were born, Shannon made the decision to be a stay at home mom, diving head first into volunteer work for their school and town as a coach and at the Beverly YMCA as a fitness instructor. A billboard in town showed the picture of a woman named Deb Debski and the question: “Could you be the one?” You see, Deb was in desperate need of a liver transplant. Shannon called the number on the billboard to see if she could be tested as a match. “I felt like God called me to do this, and if I didn’t do it, I knew Deb would die.” Many tests later, Shannon was told she was a perfect match for Deb. The lengthy surgery was performed and Deb’s life was saved. “It’s overwhelming to think there’s a part of me inside her, keeping her alive” says Shannon. “I call her my other half”. We call this story inspiring. If you have ever thought about organ donation, this episode is for you. #motherrunner  #americanliverfoundation  @BWME   #storybehindhersuccess    #16LifeLessons    #mydoveproductions

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The more you reach out…the more you tell your story…the more you share…the more will come back to you. -Liz Ryan

In this episode, we hear the story of a mom whose son has a rare, incurable and potentially deadly disease. Meet Liz Ryan, wife, mother of two, career woman and first generation American. What started as flu-like symptoms in January 2018 turned out to be Juvenile Myositis. For nearly 4 months, Liz and her husband watched their once laughing, curious, active 4 year old boy turn into a child who couldn’t walk, sit up, or even lift his head off the pillow. Liam’s diagnosis requires regular plasma transfusions, steroids and a low dose chemotherapy drug. Now 5, Liam is often tired, but always joyful. Born to Vietnam refugees who fled their country through Cambodia’s infamous “killing fields”, Liz shares her parent’s powerful work ethic as the impetus for her own determination to save her son’s life. She and her husband Luke have joined forces with a non-profit called The Cure JM Foundation whose mission is to spread awareness about the disease. Their website is www.CureJM4Liam.com. The chances of being hit by lightening are 1 in 500,000 and that is the same chance a child has of getting JM. By sharing their son Liam’s story, Liz and Luke are determined to support and offer encouragement to kids with JM and their families with love, hope and care. @Boston25 @bostonwomeninmediaandentertainment   #storybehindhersuccess    #16LifeLessons    #mydoveproductions

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Throughout the course of my career, I’ve had the good fortune of working with incredible women who have overcome hurdles and are willing to talk about it.  -Susan Brady

And talk about it, she does. Meet Susan Brady, newly named Managing Director of the Simmons University Institute for Leadership and author of Mastering Your Inner Critic and 7 Other High Hurdles To Advancement. A wife, mother and role model for so many women in Boston and beyond, Susan is one of those people who lights up the room and is willing to share her story with arms wide open. Raised on the little island of Martha’s Vineyard, Susan has spent her career surrounded by great women leaders. Her mission is to share what she knows and to remind us all that “you are enough, you matter, and most of all, you have unique value”. For a master class in leading with purpose and compassion, this episode is for you.  @bostonwomeninmediaandentertainment   #storybehindhersuccess    #16LifeLessons    #mydoveproductions

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One of her artists paints on canvas, using only the wheels of his wheelchair. Another just had one of his creations licensed to Starbucks. Meet Liz Powers, co-founder & Chief Happiness Spreader at ArtLifting, a socially conscious business that provides a marketplace for homeless and disabled artists to sell their artwork. Founded by Liz and her brother, Spencer in 2013, Art Lifting now has over 100 artists who provide incredible works of art. These artists are experiencing independence, receiving 55 % of the proceeds from the sale of their work. Seeing a person go from hopeless to hopeful is what Liz strives for each and everyday. A graduate of Harvard, Liz volunteered at local shelters throughout her college years and quickly realized that art therapy enabled this vulnerable population the chance to express their loss, their fears, their anger and their untapped talents. Says Liz: “I would just throw out art supplies on the table and if somebody was really stumped, I would just step back and say: paint hope.” And paint they did. What started out with a grant from Harvard is now a thriving business. The domino effect of empowering these artists is what brings this exceptional young woman her greatest joy.  A picture on a wall purchased from www.artlifting.com is more than a nice thing to do. It is a validation of someone’s talent and a tangible way to create positive change. @bostonwomeninmediaandentertainment   #storybehindhersuccess    #16LifeLessons    #mydoveproductions

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True success in business is when you can do what you want, when you want, and know that you are being paid equally. -Katie Donovan

If you believe in equal pay for women and minorities, this episode is for you. Meet Katie Donovan, the founder of Equal Pay Negotiations. She’s a pay equity expert and a trailblazer in this field. In fact, it was Katie who started a movement to ban the use of salary history in hiring and compensation decisions and her efforts were central to the passage of the bill she drafted here in Massachusetts. Two years later, 11 other states and 10 local jurisdictions have banned or restricted the use of salary history through new laws or executive orders. Born and raised in Chelsea, Massachusetts AKA the poorest city in the state, Katie is the daughter of a former school teacher and a local politician who got his start as a bat boy for the Boston Red Sox. Her father continued working for the legendary franchise, rising up the ranks to Executive Vice President. His message to Katie was two-fold: Anything is possible and life isn’t fair. Grab your best friend for a listen to this episode and don’t forget to take notes!    @bostonwomeninmediaandentertainment   #storybehindhersuccess    #16LifeLessons    #mydoveproductions

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Science and music: it is rare to have a career in both of these fields, but for Sheilah Dorsey, they are a perfect match.  She’s been singing all of her life, but she also gets plenty of joy from working in biotech where the goal is to discover life-saving drugs and treatments.  Her love of music goes way back to her childhood when her father rescued an old jukebox from a restaurant.  On that day, Sheilah was introduced to just about every form of music and a lifelong love of singing, songwriting, and recording was born. But from 9-5, Monday through Friday, this talented singer cannot be found singing at all.  For the past ten years, Sheilah has been earning a living in healthcare systems management and administration.  Her life story is a rich tapestry of experience in two very different worlds.  As it turns out, Sheilah is not the only biotech pro who loves music.  She is fronting a band called Almost The Cure and will be singing for charity at the famous Battle of the Biotech Bands May 30, 2019, at Club Royale in Boston.  In this interview, Sheilah shares her life philosophy:  “Don’t ever let fear stop your goals and dreams.  Once you have life and breath, the possibilities are endless.”  Download this one today. You’ll be glad you did!    #biotechbattle  @bostonwomeninmediaandentertainment   #storybehindhersuccess    #16LifeLessons    #mydoveproductions

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Are you ready for a masterclass in entrepreneurship?  Meet Sharon Kan.  She has spent the last 20 years incubating and launching successful businesses in high potential markets.  And we’re not talking about the small stuff.  Sharon has nurtured and developed ideas that have been acquired by giants like Barnes & Noble, Microsoft, SSA Global, and Oracle. Born and raised in Israel, Sharon’s early life experience was shaped by five wars and countless terror attacks that left her feeling constantly on edge, but always resilient and hopeful for a brighter tomorrow.  Educated in the UK and France, Sharon is also the co-founder of the WIN Lab at Babson College.  Her latest project is a unique company called Pepperlane where she serves as CEO.  The mission is to create a movement focused on 24 million stay-at-home moms in the United States alone.  Sharon wants to build a thriving “mother economy” and her philosophy about entrepreneurship might surprise you because it is not about the money, it is always about the power of ideas.  Get out your pen and paper for this episode because there is a lot of wisdom here! @bostonwomeninmediaandentertainment   #storybehindhersuccess    #16LifeLessons    #mydoveproductions