Meet Gizem Salcigil White, aka the Turkish Coffee Lady! She is the Founder & CEO of Turkish Coffee Lady, the first and only authentic Turkish coffee brand in the U.S., dedicated to building a global community of coffee explorers and empowering women. With a brick-and-mortar coffee house in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, Gizem has created a space to share 500 years of Turkish coffee traditions—offering delicious coffee, cultural connection, and community.

Her journey began over fifteen years ago with a coffee truck and a mission to "bridge cultures over coffee conversations.” After studying Global Marketing Communications at Emerson University, she realized many people were unfamiliar with Turkish coffee culture. She started organizing social coffee events, which evolved into a “digital coffee house” with fellow entrepreneurs. While working at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., she expanded her events into pop-ups, eventually launching her own coffee truck first at GWU and then around the world.

Gizem shares the history of Turkish coffee—how it's made, served, read (yes, read!), and enjoyed. In an era of to-go cups and laptop work sessions, she encourages guests to slow down, savor their coffee, and connect with one another. She also champions the concept of Culinary Diplomacy—bringing communities together over food and drink.

Despite facing personal challenges, including the pandemic, Gizem remained resilient, diving back into her business with renewed purpose. She founded The Turkish Coffee Lady Foundation, dedicated to community engagement, and has since launched her own coffee blend, opened her dream coffee shop, and continues to empower women to start their own businesses.

We know you’ll want to immediately go brew a cup after listening to this episode, or better yet, if you’re in the Alexandria area, stop by the Turkish Coffee Lady on King Street, where you will feel as though you’ve been transported to Turkey.

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With a clear vision for empowering women, we are joined on the podcast by author and speaker, Leslie Grossman, a trailblazer in leadership, gender equality, and women's empowerment. After decades of coaching and mentoring women leaders in America, Leslie is now largely focused on helping women gain sight of and reach their vision. Her interest in the topic of vision and vision formation stems from a study she once conducted as a researcher, asking women whether they had a vision within their role as leaders. More often than not, they did. It’s the next step, trying to get to their vision, where many often get stuck.

What Leslie has learned after years of working with women in business, is that a crucial step is often to simply get out of one's own way. Leslie describes a phenomenon where people become complacent when things are going "fine." Sometimes, it's only when we're pushed out of our comfort zone that we truly discover our vision, and where we want to get to. One important thing to keep in mind? No one reaches their vision alone. Having a “circle of collaboration” around you is vital in creating your vision.

Leslie provides tools for creating a vision, explains the difference between visions and goals, and discusses how visions can evolve over time. We left this conversation inspired to re-evaluate our own visions, and we believe you will too. You can read Leslie's latest book, "Start with Vision," to help you start considering your own vision.

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We are joined by Rebecca Henson, Founder and Director of the Springsong Museum in Silver Spring, Maryland, which promises to be a world-class community museum dedicated to the life and legacy of Rachel Carson. With a background in history and environmental policy, and as a Silver Spring local, Rebecca tells us about Rachel Carson—a writer, biologist, and Montgomery County resident who is often regarded as the “Mother of the Modern Environmental Movement.” She also shares her own journey to discovering this visionary and the importance of connecting with the place where one lives.

With a shared interest in history, environmental work, the world around her, and the interconnection between humans and nature—and especially the fact that Rachel Carson touched so much of the very community Rebecca and her family call home—Rebecca felt a deep kinship with Rachel. This connection inspired her to learn more about the woman and eventually dedicate her time to bringing the Springsong Museum to life. Rebecca shares a personal struggle and how the idea of material immortality—something she discovered is a tenet of Rachel Carson’s work—along with her own connection to the seashore, helped her heal and led her to the work she does today.

Surrounded by 25 acres of nature, the Springsong Museum is being designed to merge nature and accessibility through the efforts of many community members. It stands as a true celebration of renewal, nature, and community.

We hope you enjoy listening to Rebecca’s journey of discovering Rachel Carson, and, along the way, learning so much about herself and the community around her. We encourage you to follow the Springsong Museum’s journey and visit it once it opens!

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