Maureen Rystrom – 334

December 18, 2025December 18, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

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In the beginning, I was usually the only woman in the room. That was great, because it was memorable, and it was also bad, because it was memorable. -Maureen Rystrom

Meet a woman who is at the top of her game in a male-dominated field. As Partner & Vice President of Marketing at J. Calnan & Associates, jcalnan.com, Maureen Rystrom oversees the construction management company’s comprehensive marketing and communications initiatives. At a time when commercial messaging is often in your face, Maureen describes herself as a “thoughtful brand strategist” who takes a softer path. Her focus? The good work being done by J. Calnan & Associates and their customers in the communities where they build. Says Maureen: “It’s not necessarily what we build, it’s how we build that makes us special.” In this interview, she also shares the skills she honed to make her corporate climb a success story:

Roll up your sleeves.
Get out there and be seen.
Be respectful of others’ time.
Always follow through.
Make an impact.

A pro at breaking glass ceilings with her own brand of grace and grit, Maureen is also a rock star connector and the co-founder of PLA, the Professional Ladies’ Association. A three-sport varsity captain in high school, Maureen says that playing sports prepared her for success in business and credits her parents for teaching her the importance of an unstoppable work ethic. “If you want something in life, you’ve got to go out there and get it. You earn what you have. Nothing is handed to you.” For 24 minutes of the kind of fire that can spark YOUR success story, just hit that download button. #corporate #marketing #constructionmanagement

Christine Anastos -333

December 11, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

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I don’t do well with injustice. -Christine Anastos

10 years ago, environmental engineer Christine Anastos knew something was wrong with her health. When tests came back normal, her care team suggested Christine see a psychiatrist. Her answer? “There’s nothing wrong with my brain. I know my body well.” It wasn’t long before Christine was diagnosed with breast cancer. The suspected cause? Environmental hazards. The company Christine was working for as an environmental engineer had been dumping toxins into the Hudson River, and she became a whistleblower, reaching a settlement and using those funds to do good. Today, she is the founder of a public benefit corporation called www.connect-and-thrive.com. The mission? To bridge the gap between conventional medicine and a holistic approach to healing. Says Christine: “true healing is not a destination. It is a lifelong journey. Balancing mind, body, and spirit is the key to becoming healthy again.” Her website is a marketplace where women find evidence-based healing modalities and products not usually covered by insurance. Crowdfunding campaigns called “Kitty Funds” make powerful healing possible. Says Christine: “Success is making a positive difference in the lives of people who are suffering. Kindness matters.” #healing #breastcancer #hope #candyoterry

Dafna Krouk-Gordon -332

December 4, 2025December 4, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

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Don’t expect people to be who they seem on the surface. – Dafna Krouk-Gordon

In 1980, Dafna Krouk-Gordon founded her human resources agency in one room above a drug store, with just one employee. 45 years later, Toward Independent Living and Learning (www.tillinc.org) is thriving, with 1,000 employees throughout Massachusetts and into New Hampshire, and the noble goal of improving clients’ lives, one day at a time. Dafna is also the co-author of the book: Moving Out: A Family Guide to Residential Planning for Adults with Disabilities. Recognized as a Top 100 Women-Led Business, TILL is providing innovative ways for people with disabilities to lead rich, fulfilling, independent lives. Says Dafna: “Our parents want to know that we are not just there for the moment. We will be there for the long term.” Born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt, by hardworking parents, Dafna and her sister were taught: “if you promise someone you are going to do something, you better do it.” Her Jewish family escaped Egypt under dire circumstances and immigrated to the United States. In this interview, Dafna recalls arriving in America: “We were told that there was money, gold in the streets, but we didn’t find any!” When reflecting on her career in human services, Dafna has always followed the guiding principles of her faith: community, social conscience, and “to fix the world, because for good or for bad, there is a lot to fix.” For 24 minutes of information and inspiration, just hit that download button! #disabilities #differences #leadership #Jewish #nonprofit #candyoterry

KaLea Lehman -331

November 21, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

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Our SOF warriors, or Special Operations Forces, are never really home. They are either deployed or in training for 9 months out of the year. As a spouse, you have to figure out how to connect through the distance and build your community where you are. -KaLea Lehman

As a military spouse, this week’s guest understands what the words “service” and “sacrifice” really mean. Meet KaLea Lehman, Executive Director and Founder of the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative www.msofc.org, a non-profit dedicated to strengthening and supporting the families of our nation’s most elite warriors. She is also the co-author of The Warrior’s Table, a powerful cookbook and storytelling project created by a group of special operations wives who call themselves “The Cast Iron Crew.” Designed to share recipes and stories about their military service, The Warrior’s Table is a beautiful testimony to the strong women who wrote it. The mother of seven, including a special needs child, KaLea wishes that Americans truly understood the toll this level of military service and training takes on these warriors. “The dirty little secret is: there is no stop. There is no break. There is no taking a knee, only hard-charging, all the time. It’s constant stress.” Under her guidance, the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative has identified 8 SOF Pitfalls and 8 Checkpoints. What’s one of the most powerful ways for these brave men and their families to connect and heal? Sharing a meal and conversation around the family dinner table. For a 25-minute story full of devotion, love, service, purpose, and pride in America, just hit that download button. #militaryfamilies #SpecialOperations#womeninspiringwomen

Noel Foy aka Neuro Noel -330

November 12, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

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Let’s transform the classroom into a place where mistake-making is an opportunity to learn and children feel a sense of connection, value, and belonging. -Noel Foy aka Neuro Noel

Meet neuroeducator, anxiety/executive function coach, and author, Noel Foy. She travels the country, sharing her skill set with children, parents, and teachers. Today, in any given classroom, about 30% of students are neurodiverse. “There are many brains in these classrooms, says Noel, including children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and mental health issues. Teachers are overwhelmed, and that’s where I come in.” Her latest book, 15-minute focus, provides brief counseling techniques that work, accompanied by downloadable resources, with a focus on executive function. www.neuronoel.com. What is executive function? In her book, Noel explains that EF involves the highest aspects of brain function, including the ability to organize, prioritize, and manage daily life. The fact is, underdeveloped EF skills can derail a child. In this interview, Neuro Noel discusses the built-in distractions our children encounter throughout the day—phones, social media, and screens —and suggests that play is a great way to develop executive function. Creating games without an adult doing the thinking for you is the key to helping a child experience conflict resolution, resiliency, creativity, and memory. Neuro Noel’s advice for all of us? “Be mindful. Talk less and listen more. Take a moment to pause and reset so that your thinking brain, not your emotional brain, is running the show.” For 25 minutes of coaching from a neuroeducator, just hit that download button. #neurodiversity #children #executivefunction #education #womeninspiringwomen #thestorybehindhersuccess

Catherine Maloy -329

November 7, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

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There’s a stigma around the word “underwear”. You don’t talk about it until you don’t have it. -Catherine Maloy

This week’s guest is a mom who saw a simple need for children in crisis and made it her mission to do something about it. Catherine Maloy is the Founder & Executive Director of a non-profit called Cocotree Kids www.cocotreekids.org. Let’s all agree: underwear is not glamorous, but it is fundamental. Without it, children may feel shamed, vulnerable, and excluded. Conceived during the pandemic and launched as a neighborhood clothing drive, Cocotree Kids has established 30 partnerships with hospitals, shelters, and schools, distributing 430,000 pairs of new underwear to 60,000 children throughout Massachusetts. “Underwear is an essential human need,” says Catherine. We want to give children in crisis the dignity, hope, comfort, and confidence they need to succeed, despite their circumstances.“ Originally from Miami, Florida, Catherine was raised in a home where philanthropic acts of service connected family to community. A 14-year veteran of Deloitte with a focus on Consulting and Human Resources, Catherine offers this advice: “Be a part of something bigger than yourself. Success is something you are supposed to be proud of.” For 20 minutes of empathy and innovation, just hit that download button. #children #non-profit #crisis #community

Lorna Brunelle -328

October 29, 2025October 30, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

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Facing an illness is very much like being a buoy: we have to rise up, we have to learn to float, and carry ourselves in the storm. While we’re staying afloat in the storm, we are also a beacon for others. -Lorna J. Brunelle

There are lots of stories about the ties that bind mothers and daughters. When Lorna Brunelle’s mother, Wanda, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, she turned heartbreak into hope by telling the story of her mother’s courage, character, wisdom and lifelong influence in the book: The Buoy Projects: A Story of Breast Cancer, Bucket Lists, Life Lessons, Facebook and Love. A two-time cancer survivor herself, Lorna is a renowned performer, teacher, and three-time author whose work is rooted in recognizing gifts and talents, creativity, and self-determination. A graduate of The Boston Conservatory, she is the owner of The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts, The Alley Theatre, and The Patio in Middleborough, Massachusetts. www.burtwoodschool.com. Through her writing, philanthropy, and mentorship, Lorna has changed the lives of thousands of performing arts students who have passed through her doors over the last 30 years. The Buoy Projects is a love letter to her mother, and a testament to the power of the mother/daughter connection. For 26 minutes of engaging conversation and brilliant storytelling, just hit that download button. #womeninspiringwomen#lornabrunelle #TheBuoyProjects #breastcancerawareness #TheStoryBehindHerSuccess #CandyOTerry #Legacy#Resilience

Hank Phillippi Ryan -327

October 23, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

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That little girl in the hayloft always wanted to be a writer. I’m the poster child for following your dreams in midlife because I didn’t write my first book until I was 55. -Hank Phillippi Ryan

Imagine a 43-year career as an investigative reporter with 37 EMMYs and 14 Edward R. Murrow awards. Now imagine a brilliant midlife move, where all that experience manifests itself into writing mystery novels that are nail-biting thrillers. Welcome to the incredible story of Hank Phillippi Ryan. This queen of invention sat down in my living room with a cup of tea and the willingness to share a story filled with life lessons in bravery, curiosity, imagination, and just plain smarts. The author of 16 books, her latest is called All This Could Be Yours. The story follows Tessa Calloway, a debut author on a book tour, with a stalker who threatens everything she holds dear. Raised in rural Indiana, Hank (real name: Harriet Ann) admits she was a nerdy kid who wanted nothing more than to read her Nancy Drew books up in the hayloft. A Shakespeare major at Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio, her career has taken her from politics to writing for Rolling Stone Magazine to radio and television, where her news director at WHDH in Boston tapped her as the station’s investigative reporter. “I’m not the funny one, says Hank. I hate to be lied to, and I love discovering the truth. Every one of those 37 EMMY awards represents a secret somebody didn’t want me to tell.” In this interview, she shares wisdom from her mother, and plenty of her own, including: “Worry is glue under your feet” and “success to me is one good idea a day.” For 27 minutes on the joy of reinvention, just hit that download button. #reinvention #mystery #author #television #investigativereporter

Jenna McCarthy -326

October 16, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

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When the scariest thing happens and you get through it, you realize that you’re stronger than you ever thought you could be. -Jenna McCarthy

Making that appointment to schedule her first mammogram was on Jenna McCarthy’s mind for a while. At 41, she just wanted to get it over with and “check that box.” What she didn’t expect was what happened next. In this up-close and personal interview, Jenna shares her diagnosis with DCIS, or ductal carcinoma in situ, an early-stage breast cancer. The mother of 4-year-old twin boys and a 9-year-old daughter, Jenna was more concerned about their state of mind than her own. Surrounded by a large and supportive extended family, she had a double mastectomy and implants just 3 months ago and is now cancer-free. In this interview, Jenna gives thanks to the Ellie Fund elliefund.org, a local non-profit devoted to supporting breast cancer patients by funding care and providing hope. Determined to spread the word about early detection, Jenna says, “Schedule your mammogram today. What if I had waited another year? If there were some way to know that a person hearing my story went out and got her mammogram, I would heal so much.” #breastcancerawareness #mammogram #thestorybehindhersuccess wife, mother & breast cancer survivor elliefund.org

Dayla Arabella Santurri -325

October 9, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

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There’s a difference between doing what you’re good at and doing what you love. -Dayla Arabella Santurri

In this week’s episode of The Story Behind Her Success, I welcome longtime friend Dayla Arabella Santurri into my living room for a masterclass in reinvention, fearlessness, and the power of “yes”. From running the iconic Scullers Jazz Club to producing live events worldwide, she’s built a career around creating unforgettable experiences, and connection is her superpower. Her latest venture is Bella Adventures, bellaadventures.com, a luxury travel brand where she’s been able to merge her lifelong love of travel with her decades-long success as an events architect to create once-in-a-lifetime journeys for her clients. In this episode, we talk about: the courage it takes to reinvent yourself, why travel can be a force for good in the world, and the absolute joy of doing what you love. Dayla is living proof that reinvention is the ultimate adventure. #thestorybehindhersuccess #candyoterry #travel #WomenInBusiness #Reinvention #BellaAdventures#FemaleFounders Bella Adventures bellaadventures.com @bellaadventures