In this episode of The She Lift Project, Cynthia Kirkpatrick sits down with Melissa Gragg of Bridge Valuation Partners for a deep dive into what it really takes to win high-stakes negotiations. From complex business sales and mergers to high-net-worth divorces and closed mediations, Melissa shares how her background in business valuation, forensic accounting, expert testimony, and investment banking shaped an unconventional negotiation approach. Through real-world stories from boardrooms, courtrooms, and mediation rooms, she reveals why most negotiations fail, how power imbalances form, and why traditional back-and-forth bargaining often leads to bad outcomes.

Melissa breaks down the psychology behind winning negotiations and explains why outcomes are driven by preparation, data, timing, and patience rather than pressure or compromise. She introduces a repeatable framework for anchoring the deal, controlling leverage, reading behavioral “tells,” and using silence as a strategic tool. The key takeaway is clear: winning isn’t about overpowering the other side, it’s about setting the foundation so the outcome becomes inevitable. Whether you’re negotiating a business deal, navigating a divorce, or advocating for yourself in any high-stakes situation, this episode offers a powerful blueprint for negotiating with confidence, clarity, and control.

Accountability That Unlocks Potential features a powerful conversation between Cynthia Kirkpatrick and Angie Lovatto, Vice President of Human Resources at KCI Construction, about leadership, non-linear career paths, and building a people-first culture in a male-dominated industry. Angie shares her journey from starting on a construction job site at 18 to becoming an executive leader, navigating HR, education, family life, and personal growth along the way. Her story challenges the idea that leadership follows a straight line and highlights how grit, curiosity, and support can shape meaningful careers and strong organizations.

Throughout the episode, Angie reframes accountability as a positive and essential leadership tool, not rooted in fear or compliance, but in coaching, care, and belief in people’s potential. She explains how accountability, when done well, builds confidence, psychological safety, and trust, allowing individuals and teams to grow. From redefining the role of HR at KCI Construction to leading with empathy, humility, and integrity, this conversation offers practical insight for leaders, managers, and anyone seeking a workplace culture where people are supported, challenged, and empowered to be their best.

In this episode of The She Lift Project, Cynthia Kirkpatrick sits down with Lisa Govro, founder of Big Heart Tea Co., to explore how a deeply personal mission turned into a nationally recognized, values-driven brand. Lisa shares the journey of building Big Heart Tea Co. from a trailer at local farmers markets to shelves at Whole Foods and boutique shops across the country, all while staying rooted in authenticity, ethical sourcing, and human connection. With a background in social work and a belief that healing should be accessible, Lisa explains how intuition, storytelling, and heart-led leadership shaped a business that refuses to compromise its values.

This conversation goes far beyond tea. Lisa opens up about self-worth, redefining success, resisting comparison, and learning to trust yourself as a woman, a founder, and a mother. She reflects on the courage it takes to say no, the importance of aligning business decisions with personal values, and how true leadership starts with self-belief. Listeners will walk away inspired to bet on themselves, embrace authenticity over perfection, and remember that success is not just what you build, but how you live while building it.