Episode #12
Rebellious Success with Toni Will
What if the life that looks successful on paper… doesn't actually feel successful anymore? For many women, particularly in midlife, that question can be unsettling. We've spent years building careers, checking boxes, meeting expectations, and following paths we were told would lead somewhere meaningful. Then one day, we find ourselves wondering: Is this still the life I want? In this episode of the Empowering Women Podcast , Shannon sits down with Toni Will , General Manager and Governor of the Kalamazoo Wings, TEDx speaker, executive coach, podcast host, and author of Rebellious Success . Toni's own path has been anything but conventional. From banking to professional hockey, through difficult relationships, career setbacks, sobriety, leadership, and reinvention, she has learned that there isn't one right way to build a successful life. And that is exactly the point of Rebellious Success . Shannon and Toni talk about recognizing when you've outgrown a version of success that once worked for you, questioning the expectations we've inherited, knowing when to push and when to pull back, and finding the courage to follow a path that other people may not understand. They also explore why setbacks can sometimes redirect us toward opportunities we never would have chosen for ourselves, why Toni believes in "mission over money," and why women need to stop waiting until they feel completely ready before trying something new. This conversation is an invitation to get curious about the rules you've been following — and whether they still belong in the life you're building. Because rebellious success isn't about rebelling simply for the sake of it. It's about defining your own path — and being willing to own it. Gems from Toni: “I feel like the definition of success can be whatever we want it to be... There's no one right path.” “Rebellious success means define your own path, and... really embrace it, and be okay with it.” “Just be who you are.” “We want to be ready, we want the blueprint, we want the certainty.” “Mission over money. If I love what I do, the money will follow.” “My greatest wish in this is that women are showing up exactly how they are.” “There's enough room for all of us to do whatever it is we dream to do. The only thing that is scarce is time.” “We're not competition, ladies... there's more than enough for all of us.” “Become a learner.” “That is how you continue to truly grow, and not get stagnant, and you can see there's possibility in other people's stories.” Episode Resources & Links: Connect with Toni · Website: https://www.toniwill.com/ · Toni’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonildaniels/ · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonilentini · IG: https://www.instagram.com/imtoniwill/?hl=en · Kalamazoo Wings: https://kwings.com/ Resources Recently Released Book! Strategic Visibility , Rebellious Success: Six Truths to Release Perceived Weaknesses and Become Unstoppable Women In Podcast: https://www.toniwill.com/women-in-podcast This Naked Mind: https://thisnakedmind.com/ EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKS Empowering Women in Industry Annual Conference Sept 30_New Orleans Empowering Women in Industry Membership Empowering Women in Industry Magazine Empowering Women in Industry Website Empowering Women in Industry Virtual Events
