In this conversation, Dr. Katie sits down with Marina Ivanov, co-founder and CEO of Apex Transit Solutions, a transportation and logistics company. They explore what it really means to lead as yourself—especially when the room, the industry, and the playbook weren’t designed with you in mind.

They talk about the inner work it takes to step into your own power, how to find purpose in an industry that doesn’t look “sexy” from the outside, and what it really means to be the only (or first) woman in the room—and refuse to shrink.

What You'll Learn:

• Why “I just help…” is a red flag
  How and why so many women instinctively downplay their leadership—and what shifts when you finally name what you actually do.
• How empathy becomes a leadership superpower
  Why Marina stopped hiding her deep care and emotion and how showing it has made her a stronger, not weaker, leader.
• Moving from hustle to alignment
  The belief Marina let go of about hard work—and what she’s replaced it with instead (hint: relationships, systems, and the right “who,” not just more “doing”).
• Being the only woman in the room
  Practical ways to walk into spaces with grounded confidence, prepare yourself energetically, and remember it’s not about proving your worth—it’s about shifting what’s possible for the women who come after you.
• Reframing power
  How to move from power-over and scarcity to a more expansive, shared model of power rooted in agency, impact, and collective rise.
• Why allies matter
  The role supportive men and colleagues have played in Marina’s journey—and how we can all champion women leaders in more intentional ways.

About Marina:

Marina Ivanov is the co-founder and CEO of Apex Transit Solutions, a transportation and logistics company she helped build from a single truck into a thriving business that supports dozens of families. A first-generation woman leader in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Marina advocates for drivers and small carriers at both the state and national level, serves on multiple advisory boards, and is passionate about creating workplaces where people feel valued, seen, and safe to be themselves. She is a powerful example of what happens when a woman stops playing small, owns her leadership, and chooses to lead with both strength and heart.

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Marina on LinkedIn
• Explore Apex Transit Solutions

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com.