Elevating Women in Trading and Leadership — with Candace Pendleton

Episode Summary

In this powerful conversation, I sat down with Candace Pendleton, a dynamic force in commodities trading and a passionate advocate for financial empowerment—especially for women. We tackled the persistent underrepresentation of women in leadership roles and financial markets, particularly the trading sector. Candace shared her deeply personal mission: helping women break into commodities trading as a path to wealth-building and independence.

We explored critical elements of successful trading—pattern recognition, emotional intelligence, and the role of technology—along with the mindset required to win in a traditionally male-dominated field. From discussing the psychology behind trading to reflecting on real-world leadership examples (including Mary Barra’s journey at GM), this episode dives into the real skills that make a difference—not only in trading but in life and leadership.

Key Takeaways & Next Steps

✅ Candace’s 90-Day Trading System: She's developed a results-driven program where students must achieve 70% accuracy before going live—showcasing the power of discipline and data-backed strategy.

✅ Financial Empowerment for Women: Candace continues to make commodities trading accessible to women, demystifying the field and challenging gender norms.

✅ Robo Trading & AI: With her custom robo trader and Quantum AI exploration, Candace is innovating how people approach futures trading—making it smarter and more intuitive.

✅ Michael’s Commitment: I’ll be diving deeper into commodities markets, exploring how pattern recognition and strategic discipline apply to investing—and sharing those insights with the Breakfast Leadership community.

✅ Reach Out & Learn More: Want to connect with Candace or explore trading for yourself? Visit commoditiesuniversity.com or email her at [email protected].

Topics Covered

🔹 Women in Leadership: Why female representation in executive roles still lags—and how that’s shifting post-Lean In.

🔹 The Trading Advantage: Why women’s natural abilities—emotional regulation, attention to patterns, and discipline—give them a unique edge in commodities trading.

🔹 From Grief to Growth: Candace’s personal journey of resilience after losing her husband to cancer—and how that catalyzed her success in futures trading.

🔹 Mindset & Motivation: We discussed the emotional intelligence needed for trading success, from embracing losses to developing inner characters like “Mr. Discipline” and “Xena Warrior.”

🔹 Tech-Enabled Trading: How multiple monitors, custom algorithms, and AI tools are reshaping trading workflows—and what it means for the future of investing.

🔹 Parallel Lessons in Leadership: From real estate to golf to the boardroom—why pattern recognition and strategic thinking are the currency of success.

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t just a conversation about trading—it was a call to action. Empowering women financially changes families, communities, and entire economies. Candace isn’t just teaching trading—she’s building a movement. And I’m excited to amplify that mission wherever I can.

Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting to explore investing, there’s wisdom here for anyone ready to bet on themselves—and win.

Resources & Contact

📧 Candace Pendleton

Email: [email protected]

Website: commoditiesuniversity.com

🔗 Stay connected with me

For more thought leadership on workplace culture, burnout prevention, and leadership transformation:

🌐 BreakfastLeadership.com