In this episode of the Influential Women Podcast, Jodie O'Brien sits down with Deborah Sass, CEO and Founder of SpaceVrse, a global community platform connecting leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and emerging professionals across more than 150 countries.

After spending 25 years building platforms and communities at companies including Amazon, Shazam, Spotify, and SpaceHero, Deborah made an unexpected career pivot into the space industry—with no technical background, no aerospace credentials, and no roadmap. Instead of waiting for permission, she trusted that the skills she'd spent decades developing could create value in an entirely new field.

Today, Deborah is helping redefine who belongs in the space economy while inspiring professionals everywhere to embrace change, trust their instincts, and pursue opportunities beyond their comfort zones.

In this conversation, Deborah shares:

• Why transferable skills are often more valuable than industry experience
• How she found the confidence to leave a successful career behind
• What it was like being one of the few women in rooms where she wasn't expected
• Why building a company from Ibiza taught her that geography doesn't define opportunity
• The importance of storytelling when building communities and brands
• How delegation creates better leaders
• Why intuition deserves a seat at the decision-making table
• How to stop waiting for someone else's validation
• Why reinvention is possible at any stage of your career
• What it means to build a legacy by opening doors for others

This is an inspiring conversation about courage, reinvention, leadership, and trusting yourself enough to pursue the next chapter—even when no one else sees the vision yet.

If you've ever wondered whether your experience is enough, questioned your ability to start over, or felt called toward something completely new, Deborah's story will remind you that your next chapter doesn't require permission.