Episode 8

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Published on:

14th Jan 2025

ROAR! Into Resilience - How Emotional Intelligence and Cybersecurity Create Unstoppable Leaders

In this inspiring episode of Empowered by AI, host Michelle Muncy Silva sits down with Marilise de Villiers Basson, founder of ROAR! Coaching & Consulting, bestselling author, and TEDx speaker. Marilise shares her journey from battling burnout and workplace bullying to becoming a beacon of resilience and empowerment for women leaders. They discuss the transformative power of the ROAR! framework—Recognize, Observe, Assert, Redirect—and its application in personal growth, emotional resilience, and even organizational change.

Marilise also explores how cybersecurity is fundamentally a people problem and shares actionable insights for creating a culture of psychological safety. If you’re an entrepreneur navigating disruption, balancing self-care with bold leadership, or seeking clarity in your purpose, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you thrive.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • The origins of the ROAR! framework and its application for overcoming inner critics and building confidence.
  • How to navigate difficult conversations with yourself and others using emotional intelligence.
  • Why prioritizing holistic well-being is crucial for women entrepreneurs.
  • How cybersecurity intersects with people-centric approaches and why it matters to businesses of all sizes.
  • Marilise’s advice on embracing failure as feedback and learning to adapt in a rapidly changing world.

Timestamps:

  • [00:00] Introduction to Marilise de Villiers Basson
  • [02:00] The power of emotional resilience in entrepreneurial journeys
  • [04:30] Breaking down the ROAR! framework
  • [10:00] Transforming silence into strength during challenging moments
  • [18:00] Practical habits for sustaining self-care while leading a business
  • [22:00] The intersection of cybersecurity and behavioral change
  • [32:00] Navigating AI disruption with resilience and adaptability
  • [39:00] Marilise’s personal mantra for balance: Peaceful, Present, Powerful
  • [41:00] Where to find Marilise and her work

To get even more value from this episode: Visit my website Innovative AI Studio to grab the free worksheet I developed to help you put advice from this episode into action! I'll give you a free tool and you'll get updates on future episodes.

More Links and Resources:

Explore the ROAR! podcast: ROAR Podcast

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About the Podcast

Empowered by AI
Women Entrepreneurs Leading the Way
Empowered by AI is the go-to podcast for women entrepreneurs and leaders who are ready to harness AI, no tech background required. Hosted by Michelle Muncy-Silva, founder of Innovative AI Studio and Executive Director of She Leads AI Academy, this show spotlights trailblazing women who are not just using AI; they're demanding a seat at the table in shaping it. From practical tools to ethical frameworks, every episode delivers real talk and actionable strategies for women building businesses and leading boldly in the age of AI. Whether you're automating your workflows, building a standout brand, or navigating the intersection of AI and equity, this is your community. Each episode features conversations with women at the forefront of AI and entrepreneurship, plus the tools, strategies, and stories you can put into practice immediately. We explore AI-enhanced storytelling, using AI to streamline and scale, and what it looks like when women lead the AI revolution on their own terms. Every episode ends with one question to our guests: What's next? Empowered by AI — your weekly dose of inspiration, strategy, and community. Hit subscribe and let's build the future together.

About your host

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Michelle Muncy-Silva

Michelle Muncy-Silva is an AI educator, innovator, and Executive Director of the She Leads AI Academy. She is also the founder of Data Parity AI and host of the Empowered by AI podcast. Her work helps educators, founders and institutions use AI with clarity, ethics, and purpose. With a background in curriculum design and human-centered data practices, Michelle makes emerging technologies practical and accessible for non-technical leaders.