Grit & Growth | Stories from Resilient Women

Empower.ology in partnership with Coaching Conversations is excited to bring together female professionals to hear candid, real-life stories from accomplished local businesswomen who have navigated setbacks or career pivots and emerged stronger. Our goal is to move beyond polished success stories and instead share honest conversations about resilience, decision-making, and growth, in a safe space.

Empower.ology, a Dayton-based women’s group focused on empowering women to take action personally, professionally, and financially.

Coaching Conversations, a Cincinnati-based women’s network that connects early- to mid-career women and entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders through coaching, mentorship, and community.

Barbara A. Turner | Chief Executive Officer & Founder BT Rise

Barbara Turner is a seasoned business executive with a distinguished record of leadership in financial services, community transformation, and strategic philanthropy.

With more than 40 years of experience in the financial services industry, Barbara served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ohio National Financial Services, a $1.5 billion company with $42 billion in assets under management. During her 25-year tenure, she held numerous senior leadership roles, including Vice Chair, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Compliance Officer. She also served as President and CEO of the company’s broker-dealer and investment advisory subsidiaries and as President of multiple affiliated boards and operating companies. Earlier in her career, Barbara held leadership roles at Cox Financial Corporation and Reynolds DeWitt Securities.

Barbara has contributed extensively to the broader financial services industry through service on the boards of LIMRA/LOMA Global (LL Global) and the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). She also served as a FINRA District Committee and Nominating Committee member, as well as an arbitration and disciplinary hearing panelist and chair.

In November 2022, Barbara resigned from Ohio National. In 2023, she founded BT RISE, an organization grounded in the values of Resilience, Integrity, Strength, and Equity. As Founder and CEO, she leverages her corporate expertise and deep community engagement to drive innovative solutions that empower women and individuals from under-resourced communities to achieve financial independence and long-term success.

Barbara currently serves on the boards of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., Swiss Re Americas Holdings, and The Christ Hospital Health Network. She also co-chairs the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati Mission Forward Campaign and serves as Chair of the Board of the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio.

Barbara is married to her best friend, Daman, and is the proud mother of three adult children and grandmother to six. She enjoys spending time with family, cooking, traveling, reading, engaging in the arts, and giving back to the community.

Ann Mooney | Executive Director - Sedler Xavier Center for Experiential Learning in Business

Rachel Desrochers | Founder of Grateful Grahams, Incubator Kitchen Collective, Power of Pursue

Rachel DesRochers is a strategic advisor, community architect, transformational leader, consultant, connector, and the visionary founder of Power to Pursue, the Incubator Kitchen Collective and The Gratitude Collective – and she's passionate about empowering women and supporting entrepreneurs to build sustainable, purpose-driven businesses!

As an international speaker and recognized thought leader, Rachel shares her insights on entrepreneurship, strategic leadership, community building, gratitude, and women's empowerment with audiences worldwide. Her collaborative leadership style is key to her role as advisor for the Queen City Game Changers, an executive leadership program for women, where she develops and facilitates programming that mentors and guides emerging entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.

She's also the author of The Mourning Light: Reflections on Love and Loss and Shift to Light: 90 Days to Grateful, and creator of Gratitude Grams – a 54-card deck designed as practical tools for personal and professional transformation.

When she's not consulting, speaking, or building community, Rachel is being a mom to three wildly wonderful children who keep her grounded, grateful, and endlessly inspired!

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Host or Publisher Hannah Myhre-Gaskill and Peggy Collins with Northwestern Mutual