This week we interviewed and highlighted women trailblazers in the industry of Legal, AEC, Tech, AI Recruitment and Entrepreneurship. We asked how they blazed forward in their careers, breaking barriers, and the people that helped them along the way.
Kristy Bellingham, President and Founder, AI Recruitment Boost
How have you broken barriers to excel in your field and life?
Early in my career, I was a newly divorced single mom with two young sons, working part-time and trying to figure out how to build a stable future. When I was given the opportunity to step into a sales role at an IT staffing firm, it completely changed my trajectory. I knew I had to make it work—not just for myself, but for my children.
With no prior experience in staffing, I leaned on my relationship-building skills, my genuine desire to help others, and my commitment to providing the best service and value I could. Over time, I grew into my career, breaking through the barriers of self-doubt and the challenges of balancing (single) motherhood with professional growth. As I found success, I was able to fully provide for my sons and build a life I once wasn’t sure was possible.
While the journey hasn’t been without challenges, being able to create a career that allowed me to support my family and, later, empower others in the recruiting space has made it all worth it. Now, through my work in AI and recruitment, I continue to challenge industry norms and help businesses rethink how they attract and engage talent.
Lindsey Coulter, Editorial Director for WMH Media
What women have been instrumental in shaping your professional life?
Having worked in the non-profit sector, city government, higher education and publishing, the women I’ve found most instrumental to my own professional development have actually been the younger women I have managed and mentored over the years. I have learned so much about myself as a person and a professional through counseling people who are newer in their careers. While I have had some excellent mentors and women colleagues, and have certainly benefitted from their support and guidance, being a manager has helped me cultivate more grace, patience and humility.
At the same time, it’s made me more receptive to the ideas and perspectives my supervisees can offer and helped me identify my own blind spots. I’m trying really hard to be a person who leaves every door open to those who follow. I’m thrilled when the folks working under me advance in their careers; I love giving them glowing references, and I’m so proud of all the success they’ve earned.
Highlighting Industry Trailblazers:
Lauren B. Jones, Founder of Leap Advisory Partners
Lauren is blazing a trail at the intersection of recruiting, tech, entrepreneurship, and women’s leadership and serves as a global keynote speaker, author, and podcast co-host of “You Own the Experience.”
Marcie Borgal Shunk, President and Founder of The Tilt Institute
Marcie helps law firms develop strong leaders and serves as a board member of @BizDevGals, which is committed to connecting women professionals with revenue opportunities.
Leyla Samiee, Chief Product and Technology Officer of IntroHive
Leyla is accelerating the field of tech with her focus on product engineering and machine learning, developing advancements that solve complex challenges faced by professional service firms.