Breaking the Barrier: A Woman’s Ascent in Aerospace & Beyond
Release Date: 04/21/2025
The Southern Spark: Leading Boldly & Balancing Gracefully
Spark Sessions
In this powerful episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, we welcome Jennifer Bodner, the trailblazing Founder and CEO of Babbit Bodner Public Relations. Known for her signature blend of bold leadership and Southern warmth, Jennifer has built one of Atlanta’s most respected PR agencies while raising three children and redefining what modern executive presence can look like. Jennifer opens up about the spark that ignited her journey. From writing her first book in college to leading global campaigns at Edelman, and eventually taking the leap into entrepreneurship, she shares how Babbit...
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Wearing Many Crowns: Leading with Grace in Pageants and Practice
Spark Sessions
In this episode of Spark Sessions, host Sonya Locke sits down with the remarkable Emmaline Farmer, Miss Georgia USA 2024 and a freshly minted Family Nurse Practitioner graduate from Emory University. From stethoscopes to sashes, Emmaline is rewriting the narrative of what it means to lead with both strength and softness, intelligence and elegance. Together, Sonya and Emmaline dive into the roots that shaped her from growing up in small-town Georgia to discovering her calling in both service and self-expression and navigating the pressures of dual identities in healthcare and pageantry....
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Building Crowns & Legacies: The Woman Behind Positive Pageantry
Spark Sessions
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya welcomes Jackie Watson, the founder and CEO of USA National Miss, for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation. Jackie is a woman who did not inherit a legacy. She built one. What began as a mother’s love for her daughter turned into a national platform now known as Positive Pageantry, which has helped thousands of young women step into their confidence, purpose, and leadership. Sonya and Jackie discuss the early spark that ignited Jackie’s mission to transform the pageant world, and the bold steps she took to launch a new kind...
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The Power Behind the Spotlight: Building Legacy Through Vision, Talent & Intuition
Spark Sessions
In this insightful episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya is joined by Keela Starr, a visionary entrepreneur who turned a bold leap of faith into a legacy. Keela shares the moment she walked away from corporate life, offered to intern for free, and began building what would become KStarr Management and The Nova Center. Their conversation dives into the early sparks that shaped Keela’s journey, the challenges that refined her, and the healing practices that now guide how she leads. From discovering global fashion talent to integrating Reiki and energy work into her business model...
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Breaking the Barrier: A Woman’s Ascent in Aerospace & Beyond
Spark Sessions
In this inspiring episode of Spark Sessions, Sonya Locke sits down with Ruth Garcia, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at AllClear Aerospace & Defense and Vice President of the Women in Defense Greater Los Angeles Chapter, for a raw and remarkable conversation on breaking barriers. From her beginnings as a first-generation American in Saginaw, Michigan, to leading global communications for a major aerospace company, Ruth’s story is fueled by determination, resilience, and purpose. Together, they explore Ruth’s unconventional path to executive leadership, how...
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Three Generations, One Fire: Women Leading with Purpose
Spark Sessions
In this powerful debut episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, we’re turning up the heat with a full panel of women who are shaping the future of leadership, each from a different generation, but united by one shared fire. Join Sonya Locke as she sits down with Alba Andrade (Corporate Regional Recruiting Manager), Griselda Botello (Director of Talent Acquisition), and Gabriela Rader (Human Resources Director) for a candid, deeply human conversation about what it means to lead, grow, and thrive across generations. From the firestarter moments that launched their careers to the evolving...
info_outlineIn this inspiring episode of Spark Sessions, Sonya Locke sits down with Ruth Garcia, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at AllClear Aerospace & Defense and Vice President of the Women in Defense Greater Los Angeles Chapter, for a raw and remarkable conversation on breaking barriers.
From her beginnings as a first-generation American in Saginaw, Michigan, to leading global communications for a major aerospace company, Ruth’s story is fueled by determination, resilience, and purpose.
Together, they explore Ruth’s unconventional path to executive leadership, how she carved space for herself in a male dominated industry, the bold decisions that defined her career, and the power of mentorship and showing up as your full self in rooms where you’re the only one who looks like you.
Ruth also opens up about choosing ambition over societal expectations, finishing her degree in her 40s, and how representation can reshape an entire industry. She shares her work with Women in Defense, advocating for greater inclusion and inspiring the next generation of leaders through mentorship and visibility.
Ruth’s journey is proof that growth doesn’t expire. It evolves. If you’ve ever felt underestimated, overlooked, or outnumbered, this one’s for you.