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Courageous Conversations with Fran Pastore

Courageous Conversations with Fran Pastore

Through her work as the Founder and CEO of the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) in Connecticut, Fran Pastore has had the privilege of knowing and working with remarkable and accomplished leaders who have invaluable insights and strategies for success in the business world and beyond. In every episode, guests share lessons they’ve learned through their personal journeys as they and Fran delve into topics such as financial empowerment, economic equity & access to capital, advocacy for women, growing a business, and more. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, Fran and her guests offer practical advice and inspiration to help you overcome obstacles, conquer your fears, and achieve your goals.

Recent Episodes

S4/Ep3 Revolutionizing Retirement with CT State Comptroller Sean Scanlon & MyCTSavings

March 24, 2023

Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon is on a mission to make financial literacy and saving for retirement more accessible for the state’s small businesses and their employees. He sits down with Fran in today’s episode …

S4/Ep.2 It Starts With A Business Plan

Feb. 16, 2023

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” – Ben Franklin   Mr. Franklin certainly knew what he was talking about – especially for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs! That’s why Fran is joined by WBDC Bus…

S4/Ep1. Unlocking Connecticut

Jan. 19, 2023

Unlocking Connecticut is a blog, Instagram account and website created by Lora Karam and Bev Canepari, which explores the places and faces of Connecticut. Fran recently had the pleasure of meeting Lora and Bev and invited th…

S3/Ep.3 The Impact of Elections on Women Entrepreneurs

Nov. 17, 2022

The 2022 mid-term elections took place just over a week ago. While we don’t fully know all of the results or what they will mean for the balance of power in our country, it is clear that female voters came out in force to ma…

S3/Ep.2 Accelerating The Growth of Women's Entrepreneurship in CT

Oct. 20, 2022

25 years ago, Fran Pastore & Dorothy Bratchell embarked on a mission to create a resource for women entrepreneurs in Connecticut. They were at the forefront of forging a path to accelerate the growth of women’s entrepreneurs…

S3/Ep.1 Women in Banking: Meet Four Connecticut CEOs

Sept. 22, 2022

What does it take to reach the pinnacle of success in a male dominated arena? Of the more than two dozen banks that are licensed or headquartered in CT, six are led by women in the CEO position. Four of those extraordinary w…