ATHENA: Holly Smithson - Embracing the Unknown, Welcoming Vulnerability, & Voicing Your Power
“So many people are not voicing their power.” - Holly Smithson
What if your biggest strength is the thing you’ve been told is your greatest weakness?
In this episode, Ted sits down with Holly Smithson, CEO of Athena, a global leadership platform dedicated to fast-tracking women in STEM (short for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). This is an incredible organization that is partnering with some of the nation’s top corporations by strengthening their executive pipeline, fostering cultures of innovation and impact, and accelerating workforce readiness for the future economy.
Holly shares how a childhood spent watching news with her dad and idolizing Carol Burnett sparked a lifelong passion for storytelling and advocacy. She walks us through her journey—from Capitol Hill to a cancer diagnosis—and how embracing vulnerability, authenticity, and innovation became central to her leadership.
You’ll hear how Holly’s nonprofit, Athena, grew from a regional incubator into a global confidence lab, why innovation is a critical skill for nonprofits, and how “embracing your power” can fuel stronger impact and more confident leadership.
Whether you're navigating growth, burnout, or a call to lead more authentically, Holly’s story is a powerful invitation to something better.
Links
- Historic Agency
- Connect with Athena on Instagram, Facebook, or their website
Key Takeaways
- Beware of losing touch with those you serve. Holly shared a common saying: “The higher up you are, the less connected you are to the customer.” It doesn’t need to be that way. By seeking out feedback, checking in with your team, and listening to other perspectives, you can lead and innovate more effectively.
- Embrace your vulnerability. In life, vulnerability gives us space to consider what “armor” we’ve had to wear in order to fight for what we believe. This armor serves a purpose in helping you go to places where other people won’t. But there comes a time when you need to tend to yourself. A time when that armor needs to come off.
- Embrace innovation. There are so many things in the world you cannot control. When you encounter challenges or crises in your organization, you can’t avoid them. But what you can do is innovate, create, and problem-solve for the situation you are in.
Meet the Guest
As CEO of Athena, Holly leads efforts to advance women in STEM and drive gender equality across global industries. Under her leadership, Athena is emerging as a global movement, dedicated to equipping female leaders and male allies to succeed in science and technology fields. Holly's career spans transformative roles, including leading the launch, merger, and financial turnaround of three companies in cleantech, biotech, and STEM.
Previously, Holly served as a Presidential Appointee in President George W. Bush's administration, advancing critical legislative initiatives at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and State Department. She was also a delegate in California Governor Jerry Brown's Cleantech Trade Mission to China.
Her exceptional leadership has earned widespread recognition. She was inducted into the San Diego Women's Hall of Fame in 2023 and named among San Diego's Top 500 Most Influential Leaders from 2018–2024. Additionally, she's been honored as CEO of the Year and Businesswoman of the Year.
