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
Welcome to Empowered by AI, where women entrepreneurs harness the power of AI to transform their businesses, break new ground, and lead confidently. Hosted by Michelle Muncy-Silva, founder of Innovation AI Studios, this podcast is your go-to resource for stories, strategies, and tools that help women combine creativity with cutting-edge technology to build the brands of tomorrow.
In each episode, we sit down with trailblazing women who are not just embracing AI—they’re unapologetically ensuring a place at the table in leveraging AI to redefine their industries, spark innovation, and elevate their businesses. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting your journey, Empowered by AI delivers real talk and actionable insights from women who have been where you are, tackled the challenges, and demanded that AI be a tool for women’s progress.
This isn’t just a tech podcast—it’s a platform for women looking for like-minded collaboration and support to build standout brands, gain clarity on how AI serves their strategy, and discover the tools to take their businesses to the next level. We dive deep into topics like AI-enhanced storytelling, using AI to streamline and scale, and the future of creativity in a world where technology is rewriting the rules.
Join us for:
Conversations with women leaders at the forefront of AI and entrepreneurship.
Practical advice on how to integrate AI into your business, even if you’re not a tech expert.
The latest AI tools and resources you can use to build a brand that stands out.
Empowering stories from women who are balancing the demands of running a business with navigating the world of AI.
Each episode is packed with actionable takeaways that you can put into practice right away, whether you’re automating your workflows, enhancing your visual branding, or discovering the next big AI tool that will give your business a competitive edge.
We’ll talk about:
How AI and creativity collide to drive innovation.
The real-life stories of women paving the way in AI, who prove that you don’t need a tech background to master the future.
How AI can help you build a strong, memorable brand.
The AI tools every entrepreneur should have in their toolkit.
The power of mentorship, community, and women supporting women in the AI space.
Our goal? To empower you with the knowledge and tools to embrace AI confidently—no tech degree required—and inspire you with the voices of women who are actively participating in shaping the future of AI - all so we can collaboratively create AI-driven solutions that empower you to transform your business into something that not only thrives but leads the way in your industry.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Tune in, get inspired, and learn how to use AI to amplify your creativity, streamline your processes, and build a brand that’s not just innovative, but unstoppable.
And every episode ends with the same question to our amazing guests: What’s next?
Empowered by AI is more than just a podcast—it’s your community, your resource, and your weekly dose of inspiration to become a leader in the future of entrepreneurship.
Hit subscribe, and let’s transform your business together!

About your host

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Michelle Muncy-Silva