Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life®

ALL THE WAY FROM SCOTLAND!!! 5 YEARS ANNIVERSARY SERIES Check out our previous conversation titled, More Than Enough (episode 75). Emma Dhesi writes women's fiction. She began writing seriously while a stay at home mum with 3 pre-school children. By changing her mindset, being consistent and developing confidence, Emma has gone from having a collection of handwritten notes to fully written, edited and published novels. Having experienced first-hand how writing changes lives, Emma now helps beginner writers find the time and confidence to write their first novel. www.emmadhesi.com   Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com   Copyright ©2024 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM UNITED KINGDOM!!! 5 YEARS ANNIVERSARY SERIES Check out our previous conversation titled, Challenge Yourself To Think Differently (episode 108). Olson Aguirre is a travel content creator and cultural storyteller based in London. Originally from New York City, Olson moved to the United Kingdom where he is a Product Management and Marketing Sciences professional traveling the world. Olson started Olsonoverseas, to inspire others to challenge their thinking and upgrade their surroundings. Through his content Olson shares his experiences challenging cultural ideas and bringing a different consciousness about traveling.   www.instagram.com/olsonoverseas   Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com   Copyright ©2024 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved  

ALL THE WAY FROM SOUTH AFRICA!!! 5 YEARS ANNIVERSARY SERIES Check out our previous conversation titled,  Think About What You Think About (episode 89). Ntokozo Ncogwane is a dynamic force with a global perspective. As the Global Communications Manager in a major international organization, she wields her sharp mind to craft innovative strategies, managing media relations, and amplify brand impact in the Automotive space. Beyond the boardroom, Ntokozo thrives as a mother, seamlessly blending the challenges of parenthood with expanding company reach and driving business success. She's not just a professional powerhouse but a strategic maestro balancing the global stage and the joys of motherhood.    Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com   Copyright ©2024 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM NORWAY!!! 5 YEARS ANNIVERSARY SERIES Check out our previous conversation titled, My Purpose Unfolding (episode 88). Rometris is a renowned Motivational Speaker, Relationship Expert, Author, Leadership & Wellness Coach and Host of “Living Your Best Life, Now!” Podcast.  She has achieved over 20 years of experience and extensive study in personal self-development and healing with a strong background in leadership.  As a dynamic speaker, her passion includes engagements that encourage living an inspired life of authenticity, empowerment, and confidence.  As an author, writing has provided a healing outlet in which Rometris openly shares her personal journeys with her readers.  Her passion also includes public speaking engagements that address living an inspired life of authenticity, empowerment and confidence.  As a Leadership and Wellness Coach, she assists her clients with finding solutions to life challenges and to live their best lives now.  Rometris is also a relationship expert providing counselling and support for individuals, family and children.  With her professional and knowledgeable background and thorough way of working Rometris will assist you with having the confidence to “live your best life, now!” and breakthrough challenges to remember who you truly are.  Rometris has helped inspire and transform the lives of thousands of clients internationally, from many different walks of life and backgrounds and offers in-person, 1-1 and online events and consultations and is a lifelong lover of everything beauty, lifestyle , international food, travel and music. www.rometris.com   Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com   Copyright ©2024 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM GHANA!!! 5 YEARS ANNIVERSARY SERIES Check out our previous conversation titled, Follow Your Heart (episode 102). Kenric Brooks is always asked, when did you start traveling? Well, I can say that I always remember traveling. We would always travel to the family farm on the weekends or the beach every summer. I joined the boy scouts; we also traveled to different campsites and states. Some of my fondest memories as a child were at places I have traveled. There were terrific memories from outdoor activities to beaches. My love for travel continued throughout my military career. I lived in Germany for over three years. While there, I took a trip to Pairs, Netherlands, and more. Driving along the countryside, beautiful green fields and vineyards in the distance France and many places in Europe is where my love for travel and food flourished. In 2018, after retiring from the military and working in the private sector for two years. I suffered a mental break. I was in search of myself. Within the last seven years, I experienced several significant life-changing events. It was then that I turned back to travel. In 2018 I started my journey to travel to all 206 countries and territories. And like everyone, 2020 happened. 2020 helped me realize the genuine connection we have to each other and the need to feed that connection with family, friends, and experiences. I'm more determined than ever to see this journey, though. I am on a long and challenging process of personal change and development. I travel through unfamiliar countries to learn about or familiarize myself with the culture and share the experience with others. I intend to connect with the people who have been dispersed from their original homeland to understand the connection with the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of the particular nation.  Check out our previous conversation titled, The Ultimate Mindset (episode 1).   Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com   Copyright ©2024 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

5 YEARS ANNIVERSARY SERIES   Check out our previous conversation titled, The Ultimate Mindset (episode 1).   Ashley Shaw was the very first guest on the show 5 years ago and has returned to the podcast to drop some new gems for the audience.  Ashley is an author, public speaker, certified master life coach, certified personal trainer, and health/wellness coach.  Founder and owner of AshFit Solutions, she focuses on holistic total body lifestyle transformation to ensure her clients are their best selves.  A tragic traffic accident ended her career in law enforcement as an LA County Deputy Sheriff, so Ashley had to reinvent her life.   After neck and back surgery and re-teaching herself to walk, Ashley ultimately rehabilitated herself from using a walker to becoming a body competitor.  From that experience, AshFit Solutions was formed and Ashley created a groundbreaking program, the “Ultimate Mindset Experience”, to share her story of going from depression to triumph for the purpose of inspiring and motivating others and to truly change lives through total mind, body, and spirit fitness.     Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com   Copyright ©2024 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM THAILAND!!! 5 YEARS ANNIVERSARY SERIES Zachariah is a passionate Personal Development and Dating Coach who has been helping thousands of people live their ideal life for seven years. His goal is to create more love and happiness in the world, and he does this by empowering his clients to become a match to their ideal partner. Zachariah's approach to personal development and dating is unique, focusing on change from the inside out. He believes that through self-improvement and inner growth, people can attract their perfect match. He helps his clients create unique emotional states that attract love powerfully, and also teaches them how to create their own happiness, regardless of external circumstances. Zachariah has been featured in Huffington Post, Success Magazine, and Addicted2Success.com, and is the author of the upcoming book "Love By Design."  https://www.zachariahbourne.com https://www.youtube.com/zachariahbourne   Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com   Copyright ©2024 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

SEASON 4 DEBUTS JANUARY 8, 2024!!!   I can't believe its been 5 years since I launched the first podcast episode.  I'm so excited to be celebrating the 5 year anniversary of my Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® podcast this month. It's been an amazing experience speaking with 61 international guests representing 47 countries.  Together we curated 111 episodes with listenership in 73 countries and 6 continents.  I'm so grateful for such a spectacular accomplishment and thankful for all of my guests and listeners. I'm delighted to announce the 5 year anniversary series featuring a few return guests.  We will catch up on how their lives have progressed and do a deep dive to dig up some gems for the audience.  And of course we'll talk about some recent layers they had to peel. You can catch this new series starting January 8th on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Audible, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Amazon Music, Audible and other platforms where you listen to podcasts.   Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com   Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM JAPAN!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Originally from London, Jordan Green made the international leap to Tokyo Japan to seek a life different from what he once knew.  He works for a PR firm that deals with influencers and local governments.  Jordan seeks to help others who wish to make the same international leap.  As well as, inspire those who want to experience a life of travel and explore through his Instagram and YouTube page under the name,  "AfroInJapan".  www.instagram.com/afroinjapan       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM KUWAIT!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Attorney Wesley J. Harris was determined to experience life abroad and searched tirelessly for the ideal opportunity.  He currently lives and works in Kuwait. Harris plans to retire in New Zealand and is already exploring and researching the lifestyle.  Wesley isn't the first generation to travel.  He had an Uncle that was in the Army who spent his entire career in Germany until his death.  Wesley plans to explore the things his Uncle didn't get a chance to do.        Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM MEXICO!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Dr. Gerald C. Hassell is a clinical/spiritual psychologist, life coach, and author. He earned a B.A. in psychology from Talladega College and received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Wright State University in 1999. Concerned that traditional mental health providers fail to meet the needs of people of color, particularly men, Dr. Hassell started his private practice twenty years ago and has worked with hundreds of African American men, boys, and families. www.instagram.com/drghassell       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM UNITED KINGDOM!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Olson Aguirre is a travel content creator and cultural storyteller based in London. Originally from New York City, Olson moved to the United Kingdom where he is a Product Management and Marketing Sciences professional traveling the world. Olson started Olsonoverseas, to inspire others to challenge their thinking and upgrade their surroundings. Through his content Olson shares his experiences challenging cultural ideas and bringing a different consciousness about traveling.   www.instagram.com/olsonoverseas       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM VIETNAM!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad JK Hobson hails from New York City, where he dove headlong into the music scene in the 80's and 90's. He first caught the traveling bug upon joining Crisis, a prominent metalcore band in the NYC underground scene. After moving to Los Angeles, releasing an album with the band, and years of touring, JK began more academic pursuits and in 2016 was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for teaching English. The Fulbright ETA program brought him to the Mekong Delta city of My Tho where he spent an academic year before moving to Saigon. After completing the Fulbright ETA program, he moved to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam.  Since moving to Saigon, JK co-founded comedy collective Saigon Funny People, founded Asia Out Loud and has performed in Los Angeles, New York City, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam and was a finalist in the 2018 Vietnam Comedy Competition. With his confrontational standup comedy, JK has opened for International standup comedians Lars Callieou, Garrett Millerick, Corey Marx, Dwayne Perkins, and Mark Lucas and has guest-hosted VTV4's Vietnam Discovery. JK was also the very first guest on the podcast “Seven Million Bikes: A Saigon Podcast.” In 2019, JK launched the Asia Out Loud social media site where he posts videos of his exploration of Vietnamese culture and food. He also runs a standup comedy series called The Outsiders under the banner of Standup Comedy Asia Out Loud. In late 2020, VN Express ran a video profile on JK which is featured on their website. He also hosts his own podcasts, “The We Outchea Expat Podcast,” and “Asia Out Loud Presents: The Outsiders Podcast!”  JK has just returned from a run of comedy performances in NYC, culminating in a set at the legendary Bitter End in Manhattan's Greenwich Village! instagram.com/jkhobson       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com  

ALL THE WAY FROM SAUDI ARABIA!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad My name is Meres J. Weche, and I came of age as an '80s kid in Montreal, Canada. My parents moved to Canada with my younger sister and I from my native Haiti, in the Caribbean, during the 1970s, when I was four years old. Back then, I could only speak Creole and French, but I started learning English when I was 12 by listening to Micheal Jackson's Thriller album. After spending my summers throughout my teenage years in New York City with relatives (the Bronx ... where I 'may' have come across J-Lo at some point in the 6 train on my frequent trips to Manhattan), I became completely fluent by 16. I later called Ottawa and Toronto home. After shocking my family at 17 with a 2-year stint in the Canadian army reserves between school semesters as a Grenadier Guard (yeah, with the red suit and black bearskin hat), I first got the travel bug when I jetted off to London, England at 19 for a 4-month working holiday, followed by a backpacking tour of Europe. Before long, I started feeling the wanderlust calling again. So, I decided to write to the Chairman of the National Bank of Egypt, entirely out of the blue, successfully asking for a summer internship in Cairo, Egypt, at 21 while in university. Sometimes, you just have to ask. www.meresofarabia.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM BELGUIM!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Harry Kennedy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but he grew up in Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B.S. in Information Technology. His interest in IT began at age 11 when he disassembled his first PC. His career in IT and his interest in life abroad officially started in 2014 as an intern at a global company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. There, he gained experience in Computer Networking, Systems, Security, and interacting with employees abroad. This eventually paved a pathway into being offered a full-time position.  Harry working both with his local and foreign colleagues sparked curiosity in all sorts of ways regarding life abroad. In 2016, he finally went abroad for the first time to Denmark, Poland, and France on business travel shortly after starting full time. This experience made an immediate impact which grew into a passion for life abroad and learning about different cultures. In 2018, he jokingly got the opportunity to live and work abroad for the company's office in Belgium. He decided to take advantage of learning Flemish (Dutch), one of the country's official spoken languages. He became the sole IT resource for the EU offices. This, along with his new founded language learning skills, both impressed and won over the support from his Belgian colleagues. After realizing the impact reaching people in their native language had and the value it brought, this motivated him to learn more languages. He decided to aim to become multilingual. Since then, he's learned Dutch, French and Spanish to conversational fluency all within 4 years. He also serves as Chairman of the board for Passport For Change, a non-profit startup aiming to use global exploration to help black and brown youth between the ages of 5 and 18 to become global citizens. His experience abroad has been truly eye opening. He's absolutely grateful for taking on this challenge as it's helped him grow exponentially as a person. He's learned how to take on new approaches to life. With this knowledge and experience, he's using his time to give back to youth and others. He hopes to inspire them to pursue life changing experiences just like he had done. He also wants to share his story, and help others get into language learning and travel. Instagram:  www.instagram.com/hkpro_ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZdyM7FThrdjH0jDaEKN1Q       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM NEW ZEALAND!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Greg Thomas a former Marine and a professional security consultant with 11 years of experience in his field. He recently moved to New Zealand in April 2022. His goal is to show life in New Zealand from a black perspective and settle down in his new chosen home.  His YouTube channel can be found here: https://bit.ly/3MymgwH www.instagram.com/blacktonystarks       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM COSTA RICA!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Michael Ruth is a world traveler, teacher and mentor. He is co-founder of Sun People Yoga. He teaches Ancient African and Egyptian methods of yoga that benefit physical health as well as holistic, mental, and spiritual health. He is a Navy veteran coming from a career first in IT and then as a surgical first assist in orthopedic surgery. Michael's yoga practice blends accessible, meditative movement with internal martial arts for liberation of mind, body and spirit. www.instagram.com/ramses_amun_ptah/       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM HONDURAS!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Kenric Brooks is always asked, when did you start traveling? Well, I can say that I always remember traveling. We would always travel to the family farm on the weekends or the beach every summer.  I joined the boy scouts; we also traveled to different campsites and states. Some of my fondest memories as a child were at places I have traveled. There were terrific memories from outdoor activities to beaches.  My love for travel continued throughout my military career. I lived in Germany for over three years. While there, I took a trip to Pairs, Netherlands, and more. Driving along the countryside, beautiful green fields and vineyards in the distance France and many places in Europe is where my love for travel and food flourished.  In 2018, after retiring from the military and working in the private sector for two years. I suffered a mental break. I was in search of myself. Within the last seven years, I experienced several significant life-changing events. It was then that I turned back to travel. In 2018 I started my journey to travel to all 206 countries and territories. And like everyone, 2020 happened. 2020 helped me realize the genuine connection we have to each other and the need to feed that connection with family, friends, and experiences. I'm more determined than ever to see this journey, though.  I am on a long and challenging process of personal change and development. I travel through unfamiliar countries to learn about or familiarize myself with the culture and share the experience with others. I intend to connect with the people who have been dispersed from their original homeland to understand the connection with the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of the particular nation. linktr.ee/countryboytravels206       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM AUSTRIA!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Christopher Squires grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He graduated from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and was a pitcher/closer for the baseball team. He was drafted by the Miami Marlins and spent his time as a journeyman, traveling the country from Rookie Ball to Double A, as well as a few Independent ball stints in leagues stretching from Canada to Mexico. His baseball career eventually led him to Austria where his dream of starting a fashion label and creative studio would come to fruition. Off‐seasons were spent further developing his passion for fashion and style, a bloodline trend cultivated by the small boutique and personal shopping service started by his Grandmother and Great Aunt in New York City. He took on roles as a personal stylist for men's clothier J. Hilburn, he has explored the modeling world from coast to coast as well as abroad, and worked for the independent luxury label, Weber + Weber that is now based in Vienna, Austria. Luvet Lifestyle was born in 2016 as a blog to connect others to content centered around international life and boutique fashions and styles, while encouraging them to embrace their uniqueness, chase their dreams and design a life they love. Soon after, it was time to move the closet design work into the foreground and begin creating garments that embodied the Luvet attitude. Mr. Squires continues to play and coach baseball for the Dornbirn Indians in Austria. His style reflects his passion for baseball, and sits at the intersection of hard and soft, rigidity and fluidity, rugged elegance. He encourages a minimalistic base infused with personality. Throughout Luvet Lifestyle's pieces and content, you will find authentic and original details created and produced solely by Mr. Squires. These include, but are not limited to photos, music, logos, and much of the overall aesthetic. Inquiries on these topics, including styling and image consulting, for personal use, your website, business or brand, can be discussed by contacting Mr. Squires. www.luvetlifestyle.com www.instagram.com/luvetlifestyle www.instagram.com/christoph_wade       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com  

SEASON 3 DEBUTS AUGUST 1, 2022!!! Thank you so much for listening to Season 1 and 2. I greatly appreciate your support!         Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com

Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Host Loronda C. Giddens is interviewed by Ashlee Braxton for the 100th episode. Loronda finds out what it feels like to be on the other side of the mic. Ashlee appeared as a guest on Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® podcast, Black Women Living Abroad Series. She is also the host of The Happy Choice podcast and Founder of Quantum Leap Consulting. PODCAST MILESTONES -Inaugural episode debuted January 17, 2019 -100 Episodes -Listenership in 73 countries -50 international guests representing 36 countries -Listeners and guests from 6 continents -Internationally syndicated show Loronda C. Giddens is an Army veteran who worked as a corporate professional for over a decade before transitioning to state government.  She is a national conference speaker and certified instructor who educates on wellness in the workplace, youth empowerment women's empowerment, and personal development.  She holds a Masters degree in Forensic Psychology and is Founder and CEO of EnerPeace Creations, a business that provides training and speaking services.  Loronda is a 3x self-published author and creator, host, and producer of two internationally syndicated podcasts. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in her final year of graduate school, Loronda rediscovered her life purpose.  She is a teacher, a healer and a life changer who uses the power of her words to elevate the consciousness of humanity.   LEARN MORE ABOUT LORONDA C. GIDDENS www.lorondacgiddens.com LEARN MORE ABOUT ASHLEE BRAXTON www.ashleebraxton.com ALSO AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE https://youtu.be/-05Y0c0D5T8     Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens    Copyright ©2021 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM PERU!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Liz Jones a certified yoga teacher, sound healer and spiritual mentor. She's passionate about all things travel and spirituality for people of color. She feels that travel is a tool to reconnect with our lineages, reclaim our traditions, activate our joy, expand our consciousness, and expand as humans.    Liz  worked at Uber as a Learning and Development Specialist for 5 years. In Dec of 2019 she was breaking up with a woman she was dating, feeling unfulfilled, anxious, and depressed. Liz quit her job and backpacked through Southeast Asia which was the spark of her spiritual awakening. Her awakening led her to yoga, sound, meditation, understanding the chakras, and energy work.    Now she hosts healing retreats around the world.  Liz teaches people of color how to activate joy, play, pleasure and their vision.   www.instagram.com/bylizjones       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM MEXICO!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Amber C. Edwards is a systems builder and integrator who created 30 Day Blaxit, a personal coaching program that teaches Black women how to efficiently experience overseas life - for a month, for a year, or forever. Not only does she work with her clients to create their blaxit plan, but she's also there for the first month in their new country.    www.30dayblaxit.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM HONG KONG!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Angel Olausson is originally from Los Angeles but with the world as her playing field. She is a banking professional working within technology in the financial services sector in Hong Kong for over 14 years.  She is passionate about the intersection of technology and finance.  In her current role at a major financial institution, she develops and executes strategic initiatives set by global and regional leadership teams. She is equally passionate about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) and has worked extensively with these opportunities for progress throughout her career. Apart from DE&I and her work in finance and technology, Angel is married to a Swede in Hong Kong and they have a three year old boy they adopted in early 2021.  The family lives in the middle of Hong Kong island with their two dogs.    Connect with Angel on Facebook and LinkedIn:  Angel Olausson       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com  

ALL THE WAY FROM LEBANON!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Malikah Kelly is a serial expat, frequent traveler and content creator. She was born in New York and has traveled to over 20 countries. Malikah first moved abroad to Italy, and is currently living in Beirut, Lebanon. You can find her on Instagram and YouTube at Where is Malikah to learn more about how to make travel part of your lifestyle and plan for your move abroad.    www.youtube.com/c/whereismalikah   www.instagram.com/whereismalikah       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM SPAIN!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Lori L. Tharps is an award-winning author, freelance journalist and podcast host. She is a recognized voice in the areas of race, identity politics and African American culture.  The author of three critically acclaimed nonfiction books, Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America (St. Martin's Press) Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love & Spain (Atria) and Same Family, Different Colors: Confronting Colorism in America's Diverse Families (Beacon), Tharps uses her words to ignite social change.  A newly arrived expat in the south of Spain, Lori is turning her activism and community building skills to the menopause space. In September 2021, she launched My Bloody Hell, an online platform that houses a podcast and inclusive membership community for women on their menopause journey.  www.loriltharps.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com  

ALL THE WAY FROM ICELAND!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Jewells Chambers is a native New Yorker who fell in love with an Icelander and eventually moved to the country in 2016.  Iceland quickly captured her heart.  Her fascination with learning about the rich culture, history, language, and nature led to her starting All Things Iceland - an award-winning podcast and YouTube channel. Showcasing life as an expat who is learning the Icelandic language and providing travelers with insight on what to see and do certainly keeps her life interesting and exciting. www.allthingsiceland.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com    

ALL THE WAY FROM GERMANY!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Lisa Vanterpool's PR background means she's licensed to take people out and chat them up over drinks; her time in London means she can do it in a British accent. She got started in PR in New York working with authors and book publishers at InkWell Management.  After almost two years she had built the PR department from the ground up and secured press for clients in publications such as Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, CNN, New York Magazine, Refinery29 and many others. Additionally, she became instrumental in organizing Lena Dunham's NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL European book tour, securing and working with foreign press. Lisa has ambidextrous skills as account manager and publicist and thrives on the research and creative thinking it takes to create opportunities that speak to women; millennial and otherwise. She's got Southern roots and transatlantic tendencies after spending close to two years in London, earning her Master's Degree in Publishing at Kingston University.  She's a firm believer in the transformative power of red lipstick and just so happens to be a certified etiquette consultant. www.lisavanterpool.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens  www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM SPAIN!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Ashlee Braxton began her passion for coaching after spending 10 years working in various industries.  She started her journey in the music industry evolving into talent and tour managing. After moving to Paris, she transitioned into a communications role in education and leading company culture with supporting leadership in the fintech and blockchain sector. After 5 years in Paris, she now pursues entrepreneurship in Barcelona with her own coaching company, Quantum Leap Coaching, catering to company and career coaching. She is the host of her own podcast: The Happy Choice, and mentor. She is dedicated to helping humans find their complete personal happiness. www.ashleebraxton.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens    www.lorondacgiddens.com 

ALL THE WAY FROM GHANA!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Dagny Zenovia is a digital creator based in Accra, Ghana. She produces lifestyle content showcasing short stories and fashion, documenting her journey as a Diasporan living and working in Ghana, and discussing topics ranging from holistic lifestyle to cultural identity. Dagny is also the founder of Bandele Muse, an inner-galactic African life and style experience featuring exquisite style, magical stories, and a wholesome community. She geeks out on Afrofuturism books, gadgets for media production, and Korean dramas.  www.dagnyzenovia.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens    www.lorondacgiddens.com   

ALL THE WAY FROM ALBANIA!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Karen M. Ricks is a Christian wife, Worldschooling mom, and a nomadic chef. Teaching for 25 years, she has been a Montessorian since her own preschool days. She holds Montessori teaching certifications for guiding children from infancy through elementary. She has cooked professionally, in restaurants, commercial kitchens, and private homes on four different continents over the last decade.    After 10 years of teaching in central Japan, where Karen founded and operated her own international Montessori school, she sold it all to begin a nomadic life of full-time travel with her family. They've spent the last 5 years living in a dozen different countries on 4 continents, and in more than half a dozen different community languages.   Karen spreads her message of embracing a Slow Food Lifestyle, a lifelong love of learning, and education for peace by teaching people of all ages how to cook for themselves and why they need to share that gift with those they love. You can learn more about her, her family's edible exploits, and the lessons they are learning on their Culinary Worldschooling Adventures as they gallivant around the globe over at Our Kitchen Classroom dot com.   For more fun and deliciousness from Our Kitchen Classroom, find us all over the web! Website: ourkitchenclassroom.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens     www.lorondacgiddens.com 

ALL THE WAY FROM GERMANY!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Dynamic with a global view, Ntokozo Ncogwane is gifted with a sharp mind and an innate ability to connect with others. She is the  partner marketing manager in a global organization, where her responsibilities include  developing strategy, managing co-marketing campaigns, maximizing brand equity and creative to deliver business and customer value. She  thrives on her role as a mother, which she credits to helping her manage challenges, particularly those that expand the company's reach & deliver business results. Equal is her passion for African art and culture, which she shares through African brands on Lalelani. WEBSITE:  lalelani.de       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com 

ALL THE WAY FROM NORWAY!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Rometris Davis-Wright is an Inspirer, Speaker, Author and Mentor with over 20 years of experience and extensive study in personal self-development and healing with a strong background in leadership. Her passion also includes public speaking engagements that encourages living an inspired life of authenticity, empowerment and confidence. Rometris has helped inspire and transform the lives of thousands of clients internationally, from many different walks of life and backgrounds through her speaking events, private sessions and courses both online and in-person. In Rometris's work she uses her innate leadership qualities and empathy to provide clarity, guidance, support, motivation or whatever is required to create lifelong tools that best assists you in your life. As a teacher herself, she believes we must always be willing to learn as students in order to increase our ability and capacity to guide others. As an author, writing has provided a healing outlet in which Rometris openly shares her journeys with her readers. With her professional and knowledgeable background and thorough way of working Rometris will assist you with having the confidence to live an inspired life and become more of who you truly are. WEBSITE:  www.rometris.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com 

ALL THE WAY FROM SWITZERLAND!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad   Najoh Tita-Reid is the Global Chief Marketing Officer for Logitech, where her responsibilities include worldwide marketing, brand equity, creative, branded and DTC ecommerce sites, and marketing transformation. Tita-Reid was inspired to join the technology industry in order to directly contribute to the meaningful advances the industry can make in improving lives. Prior to joining Logitech in 2020, Tita-Reid was Global Chief Marketing Officer and Member of the Executive Board at Hero AG, where she built the company's first truly global innovation pipeline, removing silos to foster cooperation across 11 global and regional food brands, while leading significant growth across key markets. Earlier, Tita-Reid held diverse general management, marketing and product development roles with some of the world's largest pharmaceutical, health care and consumer product companies, including Bayer, Merck and Procter & Gamble. As SVP at the GlobalHue Advertising Agency in New York, Tita-Reid delivered the largest communication effort for African Americans in US government history, working on a cross-cultural national team for the 2010 Census. Throughout her career, Tita-Reid has developed groundbreaking initiatives, including the award-winning My Black is Beautiful platform and community.       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com     

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE SITTER!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad At age 41, Stephanie Perry quit her job as a hospital pharmacy technician to travel the world for a year on her savings. She visited 12 countries in 12 months all on just $1200 per month. Now she's a year-round house sitter and pet sitter who helps Black women take a career break to travel on a budget by house sitting on her website Vaycarious.com.    Get your House Sitter Toolkit to travel more and spend less. housesit.vaycarious.com/toolkit Social Media: YouTube:       youtube.com/stephanieperry Instagram:     instagram.com/vaycarious Twitter:          twitter.com/vaycarious Facebook:     facebook.com/vaycarious   Exodus Summit: exodussummit.com House Sitter School:      housesit.vaycarious.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com 

ALL THE WAY FROM CHINA!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Kisha Hugh-Abban is a first-generation American born to Jamaican parents and is a product of the New York City Public School System. Kisha has a deep passion for school counseling and enjoys helping students navigate through the college application process. A firm supporter of Historical Black Colleges and Universities, she credits the NBC hit series “A Different World” and Spike Lee's “School Daze” for shaping her college experience. She is a graduate of the College of New Rochelle, where she earned a BA in social science and an MS in Guidance and Counseling. Kisha also received an M.Ed in Secondary Education/Social Science from Alabama A&M University. She can currently be booked for social/emotional counseling, college and career advising, conferences, webinars, and training for schools and other organizations.  Kisha works with clients in person and virtually in New York, China, Nigeria, and Ghana.  www.successwithpathways.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com 

ALL THE WAY FROM TAIWAN!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series  #blackwomenlivingabroad Vegan enthusiast Juanita Ingram is an American licensed attorney, filmmaker, author, and actress currently living in Taipei, Taiwan, and formerly residing in London She is a wife, mother of two, and is the Founder and CEO of Purpose Productions Inc., a 501(c)3 women-led production company. Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, she received her Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Tennessee State University and her MBA and Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Memphis. She is also the founder of Dress for Success Greater London and Dress for Success Chattanooga. Juanita grew up performing in local theater productions and has several IMBD credits as an actress, and Indie film director, writer, and producer in the US, UK, and Hungary. In 2019 she launched PURPOSE Productions as President & Founder producing two award-winning short films, BXAUTIFUL NIGHTMARX and TABLXS and received numerous film festival awards. She is the creator, star, and EP of the hit Telly Award-winning smart-reality docu-series The Expats International Ingrams which debuted with 2.3 million streams it's the first month (Dec 2020) on Amazon and is currently under distribution negotiations. Juanita created a multi-cultural Christian children's series – The Wonderfully Made Pals Presents which is a series of books with a mission of introducing the word of God to kids. The series currently includes Kind Kinsley, Wonderfully Made Wanita, Confident Keynan, and Generous Gregerio and her two newest additions– Heng and the Holy Spirit & Carisa's Curls! She also published three Christian inspirational books for women, Winning with Christ – Finding the Victory in Every Experience, Beauty for Ashes – Transforming Testimonies for Every Woman, and Fabulous, Faithful, & Free. In 2019 Juanita released Fabulous, Faithful & Free: The Workbook. It is an 8 week comprehensive guide to a journey of self discovery and reflection. Juanita recently finished an international multi-city book tour with Barnes and Noble. Her latest book is Peace over Panic – a 14-day devotional workbook offering tips to women and moms during the COVD-19 crisis with proceeds benefiting charity. As a Tennessee and Indiana licensed attorney with over 18 years of experience, Juanita has been recognized by the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2018 and 2019 as an Attorney For Justice Award. She was also recognized in the Dai'namic Women series in 2017; awarded the Power of Women in Law Award in 2016, received the Up and Coming Leadership in Law Award in 2007; and was named Top 40 under 40 in 2004. As an advocate for young girls and women, Juanita travels internationally speaking on various topics regarding female empowerment and self-worth; delivering motivational messages to women and children throughout the US, Europe & the UK. She has competed and won numerous regional and international pageant titles in the past (including Mrs. UK World 2011, Mrs. UK Universe 2013, and Ms. World International 2012) and was recognized by the Madame Noire publication as one of the Top 7 Black Women in Pageantry to turn Beauty into Business along with Halle Berry, Oprah Winfrey, and Vanessa Williams. www.iamjuanitaingram.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com 

ALL THE WAY FROM MALAYSIA!!! Natasha Shazana Evans is co-founder of Soko, a female empowered bra brand based in Malaysia. Soko prioritizes comfort, represents everyday women and makes bra shopping fun.   Natasha is a first-time founder that left her corporate role in New York City behind to pursue the entrepreneurship route because she strongly believes that bra shopping demands a new standard – one that aligns to the values of women today, feels relatable, and brings joy to an otherwise frustrating experience.    Natasha is also passionate about supporting local brands and startups, sharing stories through her IGTV series of founder interviews called satu-on-satu. Prior to founding Soko, Natasha was a private equity principal at Morgan Stanley. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Marketing from Northeastern University.    www.wearsoko.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com 

ALL THE WAY FROM CANADA!!! Zehra Mahoon is a master mindset and law of attraction coach and manifesting expert. She is the author of twelve books on these subjects and the creator of the Unlimited 40 day law of attraction workout and the Unlimited 365 Mastermind. After committing to completely transforming her self-worth in 2006, she went from being massively in debt to owning multiple properties and creating a thriving business, as well as healing her relationships.    Zehra's books are based on a visual, diagrammatic approach to law of attraction.  She breaks down complicated concepts into small bite size pieces linked to analogies that make them easy to remember and apply.  Zehra's courses and programs helps individuals to identify the blockages that are keeping them from achieving success.  She helps them to change their self-talk and develop new thinking habits that open up a world of new possibilities.   Zehra believes that all things are possible, and that you can start from where you are and create a better future once you start understanding how to use basic law of attraction concepts. She is committed to making it easy for you to understand and apply the law of attraction.   www.zmahoon.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com   

Tayo Rockson is a writer, speaker, consultant, podcaster, professor, co-founder and brand strategist at UYD Management - a strategic consulting firm that empowers organizations to incorporate sustainable diversity and inclusion practices.   As the son of a diplomat, Tayo grew up understanding  the nuances of multicultural diversity while living on four continents. He leveraged his experiences to establish himself as an authority in communicating effectively across cultures and personal branding.   He graced various stages to share his knowledge including TEDx, the prestigious Chautauqua Institution, and the United Nations. Tayo is the host of As Told by Nomads, a podcast ranked in the top 5 tier of the Top 25 Business Podcasts for Entrepreneurs on Entrepreneur.com. He's the author of Use Your Difference To Make A Difference, and in 2020, he launched the national anti-racism campaign called #LetsTalkBias.   In 2021, Tayo was named in Remote Weekly's list of The 100 Most Influential Remote Experts and starred in the award winning movie, IMPACT which is about three people who embark on a personal journey to transform the way they communicate on their quest to impact the world.   www.tayorockson.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com 

ALL THE WAY FROM INDIA!!! Shreya Sharan Pawar is an online marketing strategist & a business coach who empowers creative women entrepreneurs in India.     Shreya is the founder of Womenpreneur Academy - India's first online learning platform for solo Womenpreneurs through which she aims to help women learn various aspects of building an online business like branding, social media marketing, designing etc.    Her mission is to help women feel supported, and confident as she provides them knowledge that they can use to grow their business, be financially independent and have high self esteem.   www.shreyasharanpawar.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com       

ALL THE WAY FROM HONG KONG!!! Sommer Nisbet is an Australian expat who has been living in Hong Kong for the past 15 years.  She is the Regional HR Director for a publicly listed recruitment agency.  Sommer spends the  majority of her time making sure the agency has the right people with the right skills and values to help the company succeed.   In addition, as a member of the HR community in Hong Kong, she invests time sharing connections, experiences and advice with a wide range of people across a number of sectors and walks of life.    In her personal life, Sommer is happily married and busy raising three energetic, creative and adventurous children.   https://hk.linkedin.com/in/sommer-nisbet-0713235       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com 

ALL THE WAY FROM NEW ZEALAND!!! Kirsty Salisbury is a speaker, podcaster, and coach who speaks straight from the heart. Her talks explore the topics of death, resilience, and regrets, and how we can create opportunity through effective habits. Through her own story of overcoming death and paralysis at a young age, Kirsty is inspiring many people to make meaningful change in their lives. Today, Kirsty blends her experience as an established wellness professional, her private coaching business, and her research in the areas of resilience, habits, and long-term happiness to help empower others with practical tools and strategies to embrace living at their best. Through her podcast ‘Let's Talk Near Death' (www.letstalkneardeath.com), Kirsty connects with guests to discuss life, death, and experiences in-between. Kirsty is the host of the Auckland Death Cafe and believes when we embrace the concept of death we are then able to truly live. www.kirstysalisbury.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com     

ALL THE WAY FROM ENGLAND!!! Dr. Maame Afua Nikabs is a linguist, race and equity consultant, and a cross-cultural communication specialist. She is the founder of LingLab Consult, specializing in business communication, diversity, inclusion and equity training and consultancy. She has extensive experience using linguistics to answer and solve challenges in various disciplines such as Science, Engineering, Technology, & Mathematics (STEM), and the media. She hosts a weekly Language Matters podcast and is also an academic fellow at Africa No Filter.  Maame holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from Queen Mary, University of London and is also a women's career and success coach. www.linglabconsult.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com 

Aprille Franks, CEO & President of Aprille & Co. is a master community builder and digital product launch strategist to WOMXN. Her super power is galvanizing online communities, social media content marketing and sales. Aprille's mission is to close the gender pay gap by helping women make more money through entrepreneurship; which allows her clients to also create job opportunities that pay women fairly. Her clients are coaches, subject matter experts and speakers looking to change their life, impact others and make a great living while doing it WITHOUT subscribing to hustle culture. Driven and non-negotiable when it comes to success, Aprille honed her business acumen while managing eight-figure real estate portfolios for real estate investment teams. She was earning multiple six figures as a sought-after consultant when the market crashed in 2008 and she went bankrupt. Determined to rebuild, she discovered a love for transformational business coaching and training. Aprille did what big-picture thinkers do and created a model to teach other women the way -- without sacrificing their sanity, families or integrity. Also a five times author and a two times film producer, Aprille creates powerful content across various platforms and believes sharing content is the best way for women's stories/expertise to be told. Aprille really enjoys travel, family and connecting with friends while living in Las Vegas. www.buildandlaunch.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM SCOTLAND!!! Emma Dhesi writes women's fiction. She began writing seriously while a stay at home mum with 3 pre-school children. By changing her mindset, being consistent and developing confidence, Emma has gone from having a collection of handwritten notes to fully written, edited and published novels. Having experienced first-hand how writing changes lives, Emma now helps beginner writers find the time and confidence to write their first novel. www.emmadhesi.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM AUSTRALIA!!! Sheila Vijeyarasa has mastered the art of blending two diametrically opposite careers. She is a Corporate Leader, Spiritual Teacher and Mentor and exceptionally talented Medium and Psychic Reader. Sheila is the founder of Empowering Intuition. She was also the CFO of a global publishing company. Sheila's natural mediumistic and psychic abilities have been passed down through multiple generations in her family. Sheila has cultivated her skills in mediumship at the prestigious Arthur Findlay College (London), college of spiritualism and psychic sciences. She has immersed herself in learning Reiki and multiple mindfulness techniques at Esalen (Big Sur, California) with, Dr Shauna Shapiro and has studied Bhakti Yoga and the Vedic teachings of Kripalu Maharaj in Mangarh, India. She has been taught by world renowned medium James Van Praagh at The Omega Institute (New York). She has studied Executive Coaching and NLP with the Tad James company. She has appeared on Australian Television on Psychic TV. Sheila's corporate smarts are combined with her deep intuition to provide grounded practical advice in her sessions. https://www.sheilav.co/     Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens https://www.lorondacgiddens.com/

ALL THE WAY FROM JAPAN!!! Natsune Oki is the host of LifeUpEducationTV, a public speaker, the author of the book called "The Game Of Self Domination," and the managing director of an international project management service called ForeignConnect. After graduating from high school, Natsune went to the U.S. and studied business & economics. She's worked in and with multiple small to middle-sized tech companies while she was still a student where she realized her passion for entrepreneurship & her life mission to contribute to the progress of humanity. She then worked as a digital marketer at a business consulting company all while founding her own clothing business and building her own business agency.  She now runs all of the operations of ForeignConnect and creates all contents for LifeUpEducationTV to make people feel happy, smile, worthy, confident, and inspired.  www.lifeupeducationtv.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com

ALL THE WAY FROM SLOVENIA!!! Simona Spilak is an executive coach to world-class leaders who need a coach and confidant to help them successfully navigate their world of responsibilities, opportunities and high stakes decision making. "As a world-class leader you're bound to leave a legacy, let's make sure it's a positive one." Her insights on how top leaders can navigate their careers and the far-reaching consequences of their decisions - at work and at home - have been featured in various business magazines and podcasts for leaders and entrepreneurs. Simona helps powerful business leaders and executives make a big impact in both their organisation and community, without compromising their personal values or their confidentiality. In addition to two decades of corporate and entrepreneurial business experience, Simona holds a Masters of Science in Economics and is an Erickson Coaching International certified coach, a Saville Assessment® certified coach using Saville performance profiling tools and a Process Communication Model certified coach for PCM personality profiling. For the last 15 years, Simona has been a guest lecturer on the International Business course at the School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. She is also a steering committee member for the International Business MBA at the University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business. When she's not helping her clients and guarding their secrets, you'll find her living in Ljubljana, Slovenia, with her long-term partner. She is a passionate traveller and loves the colour black. She enjoys watching old classic movies, and her favourite director is Alfred Hitchcock. She is also a big fan and supporter of local jewellery makers and buys the majority of her clothes from boutique shops. She coaches and mentors clients in five different languages – English, Slovene, Serbian, Croatian and German. www.simonaspilak.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com  

ALL THE WAY FROM ITALY!!! It’s no secret that working in a male-dominated industry as a woman has its drawbacks. From getting screamed at by bosses to being overlooked by male colleagues and judged by other women, René Murata has experienced it all. But after 15 years of navigating the challenges of working as a female physicist alongside male chemical engineers, she began to realize that the mold she had been forcing herself into just didn’t fit. Then, once she set up her own consulting business in the area of process safety management, she started to play around with her management style, and soon found something that was empowering both to herself and the people she was leading. Now a Transformational Leadership Coach, too, she draws on the experience she has gained in learning to lead with compassion, and has developed a teachable methodology to help others do the same.  She understands that the essence of our being is rooted in love, and that in order to get the best out of people as a manager, we must draw on that. It is her belief that feminine power is very often missing from leadership, and as a result she has found that combining business strategies with the “soft skills” so often attributed to women is the best way to effectively manage both teams and individuals. With plenty of credentials to her name, including an MBA in Global Enterprise Management, two Bachelor’s degrees in Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics and several years in management roles, Rene’ is the ideal coach for women who want to lead with both power and compassion, without giving up who they are. Born in Colorado and now living in Italy with her husband, she applies her leadership ethos to everything she does, determined as she is to live her life with consideration and self-belief. www.renemurata.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com

Sherrell Hubbard is an experienced actor, television & radio personality, master of ceremony, and model. Her on-camera work has been featured on FOX, ABC, and NBC affiliates across the country. On radio, she is experienced as on-air talent and covers traffic & weather as an anchor and producer for iHeart Radio. A professional emcee and interviewer, she has effectively engaged guests from all walks of life all across the globe. www.sherrellhubbard.com       Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer:  Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondacgiddens.com