She's Talking Back

Michelle McGlade is baaaaack after a short break. And she’s stronger than ever! Michelle wanted to take some time to just talk about fear and its blocking abilities to your transformation. You can’t get from one place to another without facing a bit of fear, but the trick to all of this is to do it anyway. As adults, it becomes easier and easier to completely stop dreaming and because of this, we start to lose alignment with ourselves. Don’t wait till a divorce or illness for you to start this journey of creation.   Key Takeaways Michelle needed a break! And now she’s back stronger than ever! Michelle wanted to read a blurb from the book Fear by Thich Nhat Hanh. A modern leader will be an inside-out leader. Are you going nowhere in your business and your life? You have the power inside of you to create. Creation creates transformation, and that transformation creates evolution. Our pesky mechanisms keep us safe, but they also sabotage us. Most of us wait to have the confidence to achieve our dreams. We need to first address the fear. Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear. Most people let go of dreaming, altogether, as life starts to get too busy. Keep your head out of the past or in the future. You need to keep yourself present. Success is on your terms! Michelle shares a couple of examples of how you can transform yourself. When you take action, despite the fear, a huge transformation and cascading effect can start for you. When Michelle was working her way up the corporate ladder, she had to take pause. “Wait, is this what I want?” To create something from completely nothing is a powerful transformation tool. The only thing that’s standing in the way is fear!   Resources: Evolutionizemedia.com Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm, by Thich Nhat Hanh   Quotes   “The way out is in. If you get deeply in touch with the inside, you get in touch with the outside, too.”   “You have everything you need. You are a creator and whatever you put your intention to, you have the power inside of you to create.”   “Because of that one choice, to do it despite the fear, to take a risk, my transformation began.”

Sherry Lowe is an award-winning print and broadcast journalist turned Silicon Valley marketing executive. She has experience in building marketing programs for rapid-growth tech companies. As a professional that served both in sports journalism and tech companies, she was completely used to being the only woman in the room. Today, she shares how she was proactive in searching for powerful mentors and being very conscious in bringing up younger professional women.   Key Takeaways Sherry shares her first experience with being the only woman in the room. Sherry focused her efforts on mentoring younger women and preparing them to fill leadership seats. How does someone find a good mentor? Don’t wait for a mentor to find you. Sherry’s mentors made her feel safe and allowed her to take risks without feeling like she’d lose her job for it. How did she create that/find that? What does Sherry do to work on herself? A stable and strong support network was huge for Sherry’s career. Give people the space to find the best way to do a task or the job. When it comes to Zoom calls, it’s important to look professional despite it being a ‘work from home’ day. Get ready for work. Sherry started in the sports industry; did she see a lot of workplace discrimination? Whatever you do, speak out. You will pay a price for it, but do it because it is worth it, not only for you but for future employees, too. How do you find good companies to work for? Interviews are two-way streets. They want you, but you should always want them. Trust your first impressions about people!   Resources Expanse.co Sherry on LinkedIn   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “Most great leaders work on themselves so that they’re more stable within and they’re showing up more powerfully.”   “The mentorship started with me watching [successful women] and trying to learn, and then asking a lot of questions.”   “Don’t wait for your mentor to find you.”   “Getting space around yourself where you have time to think and create is very important.”  

Jody DeVere is an internationally recognized speaker, trainer, often-quoted industry pundit and spokesperson for the automotive industry on the women's market. Jody’s company, AskPatty.com, Inc. serves as the first point of contact for many women who are seeking the very best experience to buy a car and service by visiting Certified Female Friendly® automotive retail locations across the United States and Canada.   Key Takeaways Everything needs to be filled with compassion and empathy so that you can properly support your team. How do you shift as a leader and tap into your creativity in times of overwhelm and crisis? Jody takes an hour every morning to meditate and tap into her creative self. What do you want to be known for? Like truly? Jody has had to start over a few times. If your goal is to just make money, it’s not going to be enough. So many women have negative self-talk. Stop it! Why are you still doing this? Is it still valuable to you and your goal? You stop yourself more than the world is stopping you! What is your concept and relationship to money? Is it helping you or hurting you? Women are starting their own businesses about 10X the rate of men! Why? What was Jody’s very first car buying experience? Twenty years in, Jody is still passionate and loves what she does.   Resources Askpatty.com Jody on LinkedIn   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “Whether you’re choosing it or not, your team becomes like you.”   “What do you want to be known for? With that, you crystalize that thinking and that vision for yourself, everything else becomes easy.”   “Women I talk to, they talk themselves out of a big audacious vision because they feel like they lack something. You stop yourself more than the world is stopping you.”   “I have partnered with numerous large brands, joined together on a mission, to make our industry a place where not only women want to work, but know they can break the glass ceiling and work at the highest levels.”  

Michelle is back with another solo episode and she wants to share with you her strategies to finding clarity when you’re so clearly lost in the fog. She has a couple of mechanisms she uses, and would you have guessed it, one of them includes breathwork! Really, really do not underestimate the power of your breathing because a lot of great nuggets of wisdom can flow through you.   Key Takeaways True leadership is an inside-out game! Everyone struggles with clarity! From the startup founder to the CEO running a multi-million dollar operation. What is the definition of clarity? Michelle talks it out when she needs to find more clarity. Michelle finds a lot of her answers when she is out in nature. Another positive mechanism that helps for Michelle is… breathing! Breathing helps with a couple of things, like getting your head out of the past/future. It took Michelle a while to get clarity on this podcast show name. When it comes to you, hear it, trust it, and take action on it. In the end, remember to trust your intuition.   Quotes   “Every time I get quiet, every time I take a walk, go for a drive, and start talking it out, insights start coming to me and they will come for you as well.”   “Breathing gets you out of the past, it keeps you from thinking ahead, and it gets you into the present moment.”   “Whatever would come to me, would be correct.”

Catherine Hamilton is the Vice President of Consumer Services and Strategic Planning at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. Catherine is also a certified yoga instructor and prides herself on prioritizing her wellness first before serving others. In this episode, Catherine encourages women to not apologize for having good ideas. Be confident in the way you talk, and don’t second guess yourself. If you’ve ever wondered how a superwoman ‘can do it all,’ then you’re asking yourself the wrong question!   Key Takeaways How do you do it all? Catherine has never really been a perfectionist. We put so much pressure on ourselves to appear perfect. Why? So many women want to be strong and powerful leaders, but then they also want to be the good girl and not rock the boat. Why do smart women feel like they have to apologize for making a good point? Speak your truth and do not apologize. You have to train your inner voice to speak up and talk. As an overachiever, Catherine needs the support of her female friends to help her keep balance. Catherine gets asked, “How do you do it all?” But she doesn’t think that’s the best question to ask. Catherine creates time for herself and that helps her get more done. When Catherine was 40, she had twin boys. Her pretty stable life was thrown out of control and it took some time to adjust to. How was Catherine able to maintain and respect the boundaries she set for herself? It’s your responsibility to take care of yourself inside before you can show up as a leader. Catherine shares how she has adapted her self-care practice now that she is at home and working remotely. The more that Catherine gives, the more energized she feels. Everyone needs to be careful of their social media use and watching someone else’s perfect life. How can women better support other women?   Resources Drsamcollins.com Catherine on LinkedIn Wonder Women: Sex, Power, and the Quest for Perfection, by Debora L. Spar   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “I’m not going to let you off the hook. Going inside and taking care of you, establishing practices for wellness day in and day out creates that stable foundation that you need as a leader.”   “Although women and men both suffer from perfectionism, women tend to ruminate more and feel pressure to live up to the perfectionist standards they have to fill.”   “I make the mistake of trying to please everybody at work and not say anything that anyone objects to.”   “If we want to change the world and our organization for the better, we have to be willing to say things that not everyone will like.”

Dr. Sam Collins works with communities and organizations to create the right conditions for empowerment, equality, and change. Throughout her 20 years of experience, she has worked with women and has seen some common themes appear over and over, like lack of confidence, fear to speak out and share their voice, and being fit into a blueprint that women have to take on all of life’s responsibilities. However, it doesn’t have to be this way! Dr. Sam shares her thoughts on this week’s episode.   Key Takeaways Sam has been doing this for over 20 years. How did she get into this field? When Dr. Sam first got into this, well-intentioned people were worried she was alienating half of her target market. Her dad was worried people would call her a — gasp! — feminist. As women, we have very unique skills and talents that have not been valued up until now. The good news is, things are changing. The whole system needs to change right now. We’re at a time where we all want change. Sometimes we ask ourselves the wrong questions. Women have been given a blueprint that says, if you do this, you will have to sacrifice something else. Over the years, Dr. Sam has not seen a lot of progress in a woman’s confidence. By us sharing our stories, you inspire other women to speak up, too. People think you’re born brave, the truth is, you have to learn it. Sam has consciously worked on being bolder and not worrying about what people think. It’s a lifelong journey. Sam shares what her experience was like when she first visited the Congo. Do not compare yourself to others. You are on your own journey. Take your own steps, and they can be small ones! You don’t need to take huge leaps and bounds in order to feel productive. Sam recognizes it can be challenging to speak up, but people need to hear your voice. What does Dr. Sam like to do in her free time?   Resources Drsamcollins.com Dr. Sam on LinkedIn   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “It’s a time to start challenging ourselves and one another to come together, but to think differently.”   “Let’s measure empathy. Let’s measure femininity. Have you seen a performance review measuring our level of feminism? I haven’t.”   “There will be a consequence to the things I say, and I am okay with it.”   “It’s a huge deal to speak up at a meeting when you wouldn’t normally and there could be all sorts of judgment and consequences happening as a result of doing that. So, the more we make that okay, that’s how we learn and grow.”

Tricia Halsey is the thought leader behind Generous Leadership® and the Founder of Big Idea Project®. Tricia is a recovering overachiever and has seen, and felt, its nasty side effects up close and personal. She refuses to let anyone on her team be in their ‘striving self’ because it only does more harm than good! That doesn’t mean they don’t show up and work hard, but there is a conscious balance and effort that gets put into how you feel about yourself. You might be a people pleaser or a perfectionist, Tricia says stop! Take time for yourself and become comfortable in your own skin. Tricia covers all this and more on this week’s episode.   Key Takeaways Are you a perfectionist? People pleaser? Do you overwork yourself? This podcast is for you. Have people in your life that are truth-tellers, not just a friend or a colleague telling you what you want to hear. Tricia has always been an overachiever. As an athlete, it’s all about being in discomfort and pushing yourself. … And then Tricia got sick. Tricia was forced to recalibrate her values. No one on her team is allowed to live in a ‘striving’ mode. That doesn’t mean they don’t work hard. Why do we overwork ourselves to near-death? Why do we do it? Sometimes, there has to be a death before a rebirth can happen. When Tricia slowed everything down, that’s when she became reborn and healthy again. When you incorporate reflection, your productivity goes up! Be brave. You need to be brave to reach for the things you don’t have yet, but you know it’s in you to achieve. Michelle shares how her ‘striving self’ shows up in times of overwhelm. Why do we make things so much harder than they need to be? There is so much power and calm in just being who you are. Tricia would cause herself so much stress because she was such a people pleaser. Now, she has so much peace and comfort in her own skin. If Tricia is faced with an uncomfortable situation, she puts herself in their shoes, asks questions about what they might be feeling, and she leads with love instead of fear. Tricia has seen the results personally of just letting love lead. People are receptive to it and calm down immediately when they know you are on their side! People trust her more because of it. Belief determines behavior. Tricia explains what generous leadership is. We all go through seasons in life. Sometimes you have to put all of your energy into a project, but you just have to be conscious and know your limits, know when to take pause, and take a break. Be okay with the little stuff. Tricia breaks down how to practice generous leadership.   Resources Generousleadership.org Bigideaproject.org Tricia on LinkedIn   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “Before we can make a change and see a shift within ourselves, we have to be able to identify.”   “In farming, there is a death before a rebirth. We see it, winter comes before spring. It’s all over in nature and it’s true for us too.”   “Our thoughts move a whole lot faster than our heart.”   “We can’t really truly change behavior until we change what the person believes underneath that behavior.”

Jen Coken is an executive coach and recovering stand-up comedian. Jen at an early age knew that she had to be the funny one because she never fit into the traditional archetype of the ‘pretty girl.’ She went down a journey of self-discovery a few years ago and discovered all of this was a byproduct of imposter syndrome. Today’s episode covers what is imposter syndrome, why everyone has it, and how to overcome these thoughts that are weighing you down.   Key Takeaways What is imposter syndrome? When our brain feels a signal that we’re threatened, we start to develop coping mechanisms to help us overcome them. Jen learned early on that she was going to be the funny side-kick. She didn’t fit into the model of the ‘pretty one.’ Everyone has imposter syndrome. Jen takes the lead and begins to coach Michelle on her own show! Men struggle with speaking out just as much as women do. However, they’re not as verbal about it as women are. When Michelle’s in a meeting, what is she afraid of? Don’t let your inner upset eight-year-old ruin your entire life. It’s only natural that we develop brain patterns to protect ourselves and to play it safe. If you didn’t have these thoughts holding you back, what kind of person would you be? What we see in others, a lot of times, is what we see in ourselves that we don’t like. What you can’t be, robs you of your power. If we are angry and reactive, our power gets robbed from being proactive. How do you get your power back? You look within. Jen shares a childhood story about anger when she was 15. The desire to help women overcome imposter syndrome and the framework to empower women started a long time ago for Jen because of what she had to overcome.   Resources Jencoken.com Jen on LinkedIn Impostorsyndrome.com The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, by Julia Cameron   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “As you further yourself on the ladder of success, the better chance you have that you will struggle with imposter syndrome to a greater degree.”   “If you feel like you have to do it alone because if you asked for help, people would know you really didn’t have what it takes — that’s imposter syndrome.”   “She is looking for people to be critical of her, which is completely shutting down her voice.”   “If I wasn’t having all of these stupid thoughts questioning myself, who would I be?”

As a shy kid growing up, Michelle had to develop mechanisms to help her better show up and ‘perform.’ This is something she developed when she was just in 7th grade! Her method has slightly evolved since then, but she shares how you can slow down and create space for yourself so that you can speed up and rock it… even when you’re feeling down or sick or tired!   Key Takeaways Leadership is defined from the inside out! How are you cultivating the leader inside of you? Michelle was painfully shy when she was younger. The first time Michelle was on stage was in 7th grade. Music helped her get out of her shell. Because Michelle was so shy, she created mechanisms in place to properly prepare her for the stage. One of those things was ‘space.’ Michelle always liked being at things ‘first’ so that she could begin to create space and feel ready for whatever was going to be thrown at her. Even when you’re struggling, healthwise, you must find a way to make your dreams come true. When Michelle was struggling, these were the methods she used: creating space, diversion activity, breathing, mantra, and ‘present moment.’ Even if you don’t feel powerful, use these tactics to create space. When you’re coaching high performers, you need to help them slow things down.   Quotes   “These little sneaky mechanisms that seem to hold you back or get you in a downward spiral of no opportunity really can be turned around with a flip of a switch.”   “There are many of you out there, like me, who have struggled with chronic autoimmune challenges, and maybe that day you just don’t have it in you. But, you need to find a way. You need to make it happen.”   “You might not be feeling your most powerful self. I have those days. I use this process to create space.”

Michelle McGlade is back with another solo episode! You might get a couple of these over the next few weeks. Michelle shares her story with fibromyalgia and how she was able to overcome her health diagnosis. The main cause of it? Michelle’s tendency to overwork and not put herself first. When she started to focus on herself, her symptoms slowly began to fade away.   Key Takeaways Michelle is happy to be hanging with you again on this solo episode! Every time Michelle is able to slow things down and dial things back, she comes back stronger in self-confidence. It can be that simple! But it’s so difficult to put into practice. When you’re strong inside of you, you can lead yourself more fully. It seemed to Michelle that overwork was the only way to really succeed. Overworking held Michelle back. By the time Michelle went to university, she was already struggling with ‘doing all the things.’ It was showing up in Michelle’s health and she ended up becoming very, very sick. She couldn’t function and she was having seizures. How did she get out of it? Fibromyalgia is a life sentence and there’s no path out of it. But Michelle prevailed! Michelle had to focus on herself first. Stop underpaying yourself and pay yourself first. Michelle shares an example of overwork and how it shows up with us in a sneaky way. Do you feel like you can’t stop? When you take a step back, you can take several steps forward. Breathe! Take a conscious, deep breath.   Quotes   “When you’re strong inside of you first, you can then step into the next level of leadership for others.”   “While it appeared as if, pushing, pushing, and pushing, and using that mechanism of overwork, was serving me. Looking back now, it was holding me back.”   “Mechanism of overwork, mechanism of holding in the emotions, and mechanism of putting myself last. These are the elements I can see now.”

It’s just Michelle this episode! Michelle gets a bit emotional this episode because she recalls a bit of her traumatic past and why she felt like she needed to ‘not be heard.’ She’s been practicing breathing three deep and meaningful breaths lately because one of the negative mechanisms she has developed was to hold her breath. More on how to work on your mechanism in this week’s solo episode!   Key Takeaways You need to go into the mental gym and work on yourself from the inside. You have exactly what it takes to change the world. You always have a choice! How do you go to the mental gym? Michelle’s parents were teenagers when she was born. Because they were so young, they were still figuring out how to communicate with one another. There was a lot of yelling. Michelle thought if she was quiet, the yelling would stop. And this is how ‘Seen but not heard’ came to be in her mind. Michelle gets a bit emotional remembering why she stopped breathing. Michelle’s mechanism of not breathing is not serving her! So, how is she trying to stop it? The mechanisms you have in place today served you at one point.   Resources “Don’t Be Afraid to Fall” — Brené Brown   Quotes   “I believe in leadership from the inside out.”   “You have exactly what it takes to change the world, but it won’t be on your terms or your timeline.”   “We have negative and positive mechanisms in place. The negative ones have served you in some way, but they’re not serving you right now.”

Susan Eick thought she had to act like a man in order to get invited into the corporate boy’s club, but it wasn’t working! The harder she tried, the fewer things she got invited to, and to top it off, it was exhausting! Why pretend to be something you’re not? Susan has learned over the years that being your authentic self is the best way to lead and have people respect/admire you. Women/Men have natural talents and we should leverage them, not try to act like each other.   Key Takeaways ● Leadership is a people’s game. ● Leaders are having time now to really take a step back and analyze where their time is going. ● As leaders take more digital meetings, they’re not scheduling time for breaks and so they end up feeling more exhausted than before. ● Sometimes it can be difficult to innovate, there’s a lot of testing that goes into it or they might not have a budget so they don’t prioritize it, but Susan is seeing that so many leaders had to innovate overnight due to the pandemic. ● They didn’t think they had innovation in them, but they were wrong! They were able to get things up and running with no budget, within a week. ● Susan explains the difference in culture in Canada vs. the U.S. ● What risks are out there for a modern leader? ● There’s a pent up demand for getting this back to normal as quickly as possible and leaders are forgetting that you still need to communicate to your team! ● Susan’s first employee retreat, she didn’t know if it went well or not. Fast forward to her latest one and she’s never felt more connected. The biggest shift in this was Susan and being more open/authentic to her team. ● When Susan was coming up in her corporate career, she had to look like a guy and show no emotions. ● Susan realized she couldn’t be someone she wasn’t, so when she started opening up and showing more of her personality, that’s when more doors opened for her. ● What’s next for Susan? ● Susan’s daughters have better female role models than she did when she was growing up. She is very hopeful for the future.   Resources Refineryleadership.com Susan on LinkedIn   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “There is a level of importance around keeping the intimacy around human connection and leaders with their team.”   “Leadership’s a people’s game and we’ve forgotten that. In the past we thought it was a title, status, responsibility, and people get pushed down.”   “Leaders I’ve been talking to have said that they’re forced to innovate overnight. We have this need and we have to act on it now.”   “Work says they want your best you, but what if your best you is something that is not as beautiful and polished as what they’ve experienced in the past?”

Michelle Tenzyk advises and coaches CEOs and senior-level executives to create company cultures that attract and retain critical talent at all levels. Michelle shares something so important in today’s episode — Tell your story and speak your truth. It’s going to be difficult; there will be many people who judge you online, but the more of us that share our story, the easier it will be to bring those walls down!   Key Takeaways ● The ability to live in the moment helps manage the constant uncertainty around us. ● For most of us, life tends to be more certain. We have routines and there’s a sense of comfort happening. ● How can women better manage this feeling of ‘everything is out of control’? ● Look at your feet. Where are your feet right now? This helps bring Michelle back to the present. ● What you’re experiencing right now is temporary. It will get better. There will be an ending. ● Put your oxygen mask on first! Really! Do it! ● Leaders are not worried about their people, but about themselves and their family. There’s a lot going on. ● People are now seeing the inside of your homes and it’s opened up for more connection because people can ask about the pictures, etc, that are in your background! Embrace this connection. ● We need to break the walls down! ● Michelle talks about how online criticism really affected her and how she was able to manage through that. ● When Michelle’s story went viral, she was ready for everything that would get thrown at her because she had done the work. ● Sharing your story gives people hope! By telling our story one at a time, the walls will come down. ● There will be judgments made against you. Michelle can’t tell you that the path will be rosy.   Resources Easttenthgroup.com Michelle on LinkedIn Brené Brown   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “It’s really an honor to be able to create meaningful conversations with powerful women that exude compassion, thoughtfulness, and truth.”   “Look at my feet. Where are my feet right now? I’m planted right here, right now. To help me bring me back to the moment.”   “The situation I’m in right now is temporary. They will be another side to this. Most of the time I don't know how long temporary is.”   “In the corporate and the business world, we need to hear stories like this. We need to know we’re not alone. We need to know there’s hope.”

Karen Leland is a Branding and Marketing Strategist and Implementer. There are a lot of things she’s seeing right now in the online space that are making her go, ‘Oh, no!’ As people are starting to get used to working from home and going digital, some of the ‘standard’ ways of how we are doing business are going away, like wearing professional clothing during a meeting! Your personal brand can do so much for you during this time as more people are looking online to find the right candidate to get the job done.   Key Takeaways ● Karen’s theatrical background helped set her up for success in her career because she could speak and present topics and ideas really well. ● How many times have you been to a cocktail party and you still don’t know what that person does after 30 minutes of talking? People everywhere struggle with being clear in what they do. ● It can take Karen three to six hours just to help people articulate their brand clearly. ● After the pandemic, there are going to be so many opportunities for branding clarity because people are moving to a more digital model. ● Should people really care about LinkedIn? ● Companies that don’t have a social media presence are missing out. ● CEOs are having their own personal website to showcase more of who they are. ● It’s important to do the research so that you know what to focus on and when. You only have a limited number of resources. ● People have been working on their ‘brand’ for six years, but are surprised that they can get clarity and vision within one day after working with Karen. You just need to ask the right questions. ● It’s so important to be precise in your language so you can get interest and the right kind of interest from the right kinds of people. ● When does it make sense to hire a branding consultant or coach? ● Journalists don’t want to interview or feature people with a poor social media presence because it makes them look bad as a writer/researcher that they didn’t properly ‘vet’ their sources. ● The key is to have a strategy that’s based on research. ● Color plays a huge role in our daily life, which is why it’s important to get your color schemes down right in a webinar. ● Also, how you dress and what’s behind your background is super important too!   Resources Sterlingmarketinggroup.com Karen on LinkedIn Karen on Twitter   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “All you need is one great insight to go, ‘Ah! I can now go implement or make the shift.’”   “One of the post-COVID-19 changes is going to be, people are really going to be digging into the substance of who that person is, what do they know, rather than just the hope and the hype.”   “People make these assumptions but they’re not based on anything. They’re just based on their opinion and not on research.”   “If you ask the right questions and people are looking in the right places, you can come up with what you need.”

Sylvia Rohde-Liebenau is a leadership development expert and an EMCC accredited coach. Her expertise and insights will blow you away. Although she originally started on a path of international relations, she found her calling towards helping women find their strength and the confidence to lead. She talks about why expressing your personality/quirks is a blessing, how to find stillness within yourself, and that leadership is always going to be a continuous journey.   Key Takeaways Sylvia shares what her colleagues are concerned about when it comes to virtual teams. It’s more important than ever to communicate clearly and have empathy with your team as we work virtually. What are the biggest risk leaders are facing when things go back to ‘normal’? Sylvia got her start as a scholar in international relations and did her Ph.D. in East/West conflict and systemic change. Sylvia has seen that when people are in the corporate world, people are asked to stay in a certain mold that suppresses your true personality. Sylvia was able to reconnect with herself by enjoying hobbies outside of her work, like art and dance. It’s important to not lose sight that high-achieving executives are still people at the core and have the same needs and wants as you do. In Sylvia’s heart, leadership really matters. When working with the younger generation, Sylvia is so hopeful for the future. Sometimes Sylvia doesn’t always get the leadership piece down right. She shares an example and a bit of vulnerability on how she could be better at this. Why is stillness so important for leaders? Sylvia loves the idea of hosting a movement or dance workshop to help leaders find stillness. How do you know in your gut/heart what you’re doing is the right thing? Sylvia’s improv teacher told her to stop mixing feelings and thinking together! Sit down and feel, do not think.   Resources Connect4impact.eu Sylvia on LinkedIn   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “At the core of Sylvia is leadership. You’re going to hear her say, leadership matters, and taking a lead and standing up for what you believe is the core of her being.”   “One of my students said, ‘I have to take leadership for my own life.’”   “Live our lives to the full; that means we have to take courage and step up and make decisions that might not feel comfortable.”   “Today there’s much more talk about doing what's right for you. Who are you? What do you want?”  

Susan Frew felt like hiding under a rock after her employee stole from her and took a considerable amount of money out of the business. Despite winning 43 awards and winning Inc. 500, her mental health struggled and so did her business while all of this was going on. The biggest takeaway was that she let her ego get in the way and it didn’t allow her to properly recover from the incident, but after taking deliberate and intentional action on her miracle journal and being grateful, Susan has come out of this more successful than ever.   Key Takeaways ● Unfortunately, the internet wasn’t too good and the interview got cut a little short, but because this information is so timely, we’re releasing it! ● When an elephant is giving birth, the other female elephants in the tribe surround her to protect her. ● When Susan’s company came under attack from a cybercrime, she let her mental health go. ● Susan won Inc. 500 and her business dreams were coming true, but she felt like she was a fraud because of what was really going on underneath it all. ● Susan started a miracle journal where she would write down all the miracles that were happening in her life. ● What did Susan need to see differently that she couldn’t see at the time? ● Susan was forced to downgrade the business and sell some of her possessions because of this cybercrime. ● The initial response is wanting to hide, but in crisis, we have to not let our egos get in the way.   Resources Susanrobertsfrew.com   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “We are in a time of crisis and Susan has applicable experience of leading self and others through crisis!”   “I found community and then I really I ended up finding, the one word is hope.”   “When you put gratitude up into the clouds, the clouds will rain down blessings.”   “The more I wrote my miracles down and the more I became profoundly and intentionally grateful, that’s when things started turning around.”  

Chinwe Esimai, an award-winning lawyer and the first person to hold the title of Chief Anti-Bribery Officer at Citigroup, has achieved many great things throughout her career. Her story will inspire you and help you overcome any challenges you might be facing today! This podcast episode highlights why leadership is critical to your success as a woman, the importance of mentorship, and coming to the U.S. as an immigrant!   Key Takeaways Chinwe right now is trying to figure out the best ways to navigate the uncertainty that we’re dealing with right now. Chinwe had to take a step back and ask herself, ‘What am I being called to do today? To be today?’ There are always events in our lives that are calling us to act, but we need to be intentional on how to act and if it’s true to how we want to show up in the world. Chinwe’s path as a lawyer wasn’t exactly ‘traditional.’ She tried out different things to find her passion. Chinwe compares her experience at Goldman Sachs vs. Citigroup. Chinwe explains how she transitioned from basically operating as a solo-women to all of a sudden having a global team to back her up. It comes down to empowering and mentoring your people to do good work! Ask yourself proactive questions like, ‘What have I learned from that?’ or ‘What could I have done differently?’ and take those lessons and move forward. It’s a delicate balance when it comes to social media. You want to promote what you’re doing, but you also want to be authentic and true to yourself. Chinwe was teaching a class and noticed that out of the 2 women in a 15-person class, they never spoke up during class! What can immigrant women leaders do better to support other immigrant women? What were some of the challenges that Chinwe experienced when she first came to the United States? At the most senior levels, women are not breaking through!   Resources Chinweesimai.com Chinwe on LinkedIn “How immigrant professionals can make a perceived disadvantage their biggest strength”   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “It’s bringing up the emotions of how proud I feel about this woman and how thankful I am that I now get to call her a colleague, friend, and guest of the show.”   “Leadership is always relevant.”   “Part of the transition is trusting and being able to empower people to make decisions.”   “The men spoke all the time. They always had an opinion and were incredibly confident. And then, here’s this woman with the best ideas but was not speaking up.”

Deborah Rosati is an accomplished corporate director, entrepreneur, Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Corporate Director with more than 30 years of experience in technology, consumer retail, private equity, and more! Deborah shares what women can do today to prepare to get on a board and how to navigate these unclear waters while managing your full-time executive job. No matter what, do not get discouraged. You are in the position you’re in for a reason!   Key Takeaways Successful and well-accomplished women are struggling with confidence. How did Deborah get started as a corporate director? Deborah went into business because she wanted to be a businessman like her father. Knowledge is power, which is why Deborah strives to be a life-long learner. Deborah shares her story of how she got into helping women get on boards before it became ‘trendy.’ What were some of Deborah’s personal challenges being in a room full of men? Deborah made sure she showed up before the meeting would start and made sure she could attend every meeting in person. Deborah broke down barriers when she joined a board where everybody knew each other for years and years and she was the outsider. Building relationships hasn’t changed. You need trust in almost anything you do. What types of challenges are women facing right now when trying to be on a board? You can’t have a laundry list of what you’re offering. You have to niche down and be very intentional on what skill sets you want to bring to a board. Highlight just your top skills. How can a woman relatively new in her executive career get on a board five to 10 years from now? Deborah sees a lot of women in her workshops struggle with confidence and some do not feel qualified to take the next step in their career. You deserve to be in the boardroom! If you get a ‘no,’ ask them why. Use it as a learning opportunity and stay positive. What are you doing to prepare and create that runaway for your future?   Resources Evolutionizemedia.com/podcasts/shes-talking-back Deborahrosati.ca Womengetonboard.ca   Quotes   Michelle’s quote: “The most common area of support Deborah has to offer her members, women who are seeking corporate board positions, is around the area of confidence.”   “I had to find other ways to build communication and build rapport. I wasn’t golfing with the men or racing sports cars with them, or smoking cigars and drinking scotch with them. I had to find other ways to build trust.”   “I made that conscious commitment to keep showing up and being present and not going away. People started seeing me as contributing and trusting.”   “I didn’t get discouraged by it. I knew I was there for a reason.”  

Afifa Siddiqui runs three companies and they’re all remote. Although this was not planned, Afifa comes in at an excellent time to discuss how to set your company up for success if you’re not usually used to remote work. She shares her tips and strategies to keep her employees engaged and ready to face a new day. She also shares how she handles self-doubt and how she has built resilience throughout her professional career.   ● We’re living in uncharted territory and people are looking to their government and leaders for guidance. ● Afifa has been running a remote company for a while now and can offer advice on how to better manage remote workers. ● Set up a proper communication channel with your team and then check in with them to ensure everybody is rowing in the same direction. ● Take this crisis a day at a time. We don’t really know when it will be over. ● This is a stressful time, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little bit of watercooler talk. It’s okay to share memes and funny tidbits throughout the day to keep things fun. ● You have to relax the expectation and really work through this together. ● Remember to bring more of the human element in when engaging a remote workforce. ● Why should people consider going remote? ● Afifa shares how she got started in her career field. ● How does Afifa handle self-doubt? ● Every company right now is discovering their pivot point and discovering on the fly where their next opportunity is. ● Afifa has taken on the risks of being a remote company and so she is fortunate that she is set up and well-prepared during this time.   Evolutionizemedia.com/podcasts/shes-talking-back/ Afifa on LinkedIn Careerleaf.com Canadianpayrollservices.com Slack.com

Whatever way you might choose to frame it, freedom is something that, at the end of the day, all people do seek. Whether it’s personal freedom and liberation from an oppressive environment or financial freedom, attaining freedom is a vital part of your journey because it opens up your world and your choices. Helen Raleigh is the Founder and CEO of Red Meadow Advisors, LLC, a wealth management firm. Together with Michelle McGlade, Helen tells her story of attaining freedom in all the most important aspects of her life. Don’t let your world be limited; find the freedom to be who you want to be.

People, especially women, are often warned against taking risks, all in the name of preserving their safety from whatever harmful things lurking around. But the truth is if you stay inside the “safe” zone if you straight-up refuse to take risks no matter how calculated the risk is, then you’re also decisively shutting the doors to growth and ultimately, success. Carol Meyers is a board member and advisor to several high-growth companies. Drawing from her experience as a leader in her field, she talks to Michelle McGlade about the necessity of risk in one’s life. You may not realize it yet, but the next risk you take might just be the one that skyrockets you to the success you’ve been seeking all your life. Risks can be smart – you just have to have the right tools for the job – so why stop yourself?

What do you want to ask for yourself that you need today? Women especially give so much to others but yet don’t give to themselves, and in this conversation Michelle McGlade, Kathe Crawford emphasizes why that has to change. Kathe is an author, speaker, and master life coach who left her corporate gig behind to live what she calls a Truth(FULL) Life. She now works with individuals, leaders, entrepreneurs, and startups supporting them to realize their purpose, possibility, and impact. Diving into her book, Unlocking Secrets, Kathe reveals how she’s been keeping her life a secret in the sense that there are pieces of her she couldn’t really show the world for fear of judgment. Bring all of yourself forward today. Discover how Kathe was able to heal her broken heart, become whole, and began living her truth.

In an attempt to protect ourselves in our day-to-day lives, we often end up working from a place of fear, not realizing how much that fear limits us in our various endeavors. But working through the fear allows us to achieve new heights of freedom in the way we conduct ourselves in our lives. Kathe Crawford is an author, speaker, and master life coach. She joins Michelle McGlade is a frank discussion about how one gets over the fear they feel in their day-to-day lives. It’s time to stop letting fear be the thing that stops you.

Are you looking for tips around how to do have less stress and how to have more productivity? Meditation is actually critical for decreasing stress and increasing productivity. Today, Michelle McGlade talks to Karen Newell, the Co-Founder of Sacred Acoustics and innovator in the emerging field of Brain Wave Entertainment Audio Meditation, and the co-author of Living in a Mindful Universe with Dr. Eben Alexander. Karen provides us with tactical techniques for dealing with stressful situations and becoming more productive and s high achiever. She also talks about the idea of feminine and masculine intuition and how it works. If you are a high performer, you’re going to find this conversation insightful.

Part of the system we build for success as high-performers is we keep ourselves safe by not allowing anyone in. We end up feeling alone as if we’re facing everything on our own and we only rely on ourselves. It has been a reliable system for many years, but there comes a time that we need to acknowledge when it’s not working for us anymore. Our guest for this episode is Tatiana Dudyez. Tatiana was the mastermind business owner behind a multi million-dollar Canadian franchise that she built from the ground up. Today, she joins Michelle McGlade to share her journey around building and exiting that company, finding that she was completely disconnected from her material external success. She talks about how you can unleash the high achiever in you, and uses her own experience and reflects on that around the question of why some women don’t support other women and where this jealousy comes from. If you are at your core a driven high-achieving woman or man, this is the episode for you.

It can be challenging to find your worth in your job, especially when you are just starting. Having that level of self-awareness to accept and realize your value in the work that you put in tends to come very late for others. As such, we are often caught in between that gap of not feeling enough when we actually are and more. Guest for this episode, Wendy Thomas, tells us to get past the imposter syndrome and be comfortable in your own skin. Having spent years in the financial data and technology industries and later on becoming the founder of Wendy Thomas Coaching, Wendy shows her breakthroughs in a male-dominated industry and inspires us to know that we are capable of anything as long as we realize our full potential. Diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2018 that fueled her coaching company, Wendy is also passionate about finding the work-life balance and especially helping working moms achieve that. Don’t miss out on this great discussion that is never short of inspiration and empowerment.

There was a long period of history wherein women were segregated, placed in a different class in society, treated as possessions, themselves unable to hold on to their own possession. That time has passed, and now, it’s not uncommon to see women attaining success every single day. Jennifer Love is an award-winning entrepreneur who sits down with Michelle McGlade to discuss how women can find themselves in a state of limitlessness to find the same success that other women are now gaining for themselves. They also talk briefly about Taylor Swift’s documentary on Netflix and spiritual bypassing, and cover the spiritual meaning behind the year 2020. If you are a woman who is a high achiever but you’re feeling unfulfilled on the inside, then this episode is for you.

It can be hard for women to break in and climb the social and corporate ladder in male-dominated industries. Those who have pierced through the veil are definitely a kind of their own. In this empowering episode, Michelle McGlade interviews the amazing Laura Timm—an international speaker who has worked in a number of diverse industries including construction, motoring, and IT, to name a few, defying both personal and professional expectations in each of them. Here, Laura shares to us the ways she walked into a boardroom as the only woman there, touching on topics from female jealousy in the workplace to female empowerment. Bringing in her leadership style, she talks about the importance of intuition—of intuition leadership and intuitive management—where trusting oneself is paramount. Whether you are female or male, this episode brings you so much knowledge that will make you appreciate the powerful perspectives we have around.

Relationships are vital for growth, be that personally or business-wise. This episode’s guest, Megan Gutman, knows this to be true. An LA-based producer and owner of the production company, Mega G Productions, Megan knows too well how her industry is curated and rooted in relationships—anchoring very much on who you know. Sitting down to be interviewed by Michelle McGlade, Megan expands our knowledge on relationship-building, sharing her techniques on building a connection quickly in a very authentic way. Coming from an industry where looks, for the most part, matter, she then talks about women’s appearance in the workplace as well as the good ole boy network in business. Join in on Megan and Michelle’s courageous conversations and find out how they handle their lives day in and day out.

When we all are working at our highest and best creative genius, we can solve all the world’s problems. This is what Dr. Minette Riordan personally believes. An artist, writer, award-winning entrepreneur, and an advocate for creativity as essential to the well-being of all people on our planet, Dr. Riordan is a modern-day Renaissance woman. Today, she joins Michelle McGlade to talk about creativity in the workplace and how we can overcome the challenge of letting our authentic voice to roll right out of us.

Women can have it all, and Paige Goss is a perfect example of that. A woman in technology and a perfect example of leadership from the inside out, Paige founded Point Solutions Group, also known as PSG, a technology professional services firm that addresses the need and demand for holistic delivery in information technology and engineering in the government as well as commercial organizations. If you’re somebody who is asking yourself the question, “Can I have it all as a woman?” you don’t want to miss this episode as Paige talks about vulnerability-based leadership and shows how she has figured out that she can be both a great CEO and a great mom.

Mean Girl Culture – it’s widespread and it’s harmful, but it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. The shame is that this same culture is what reinforces the grip of the patriarchy over workplaces all over. Shirley Bloomfield is the CEO of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association. She chats with Michelle McGlade about the proliferation of unkind cultures and practices in workplaces. Pulling on her experience, Shirley talks about how she conquered this culture, and how you can beat it in your own workplace.

Corporate boards are composed of some of the most powerful entities in any given corporation, but even in the present, they still lean disproportionately male. Though strides have been made worldwide to remedy the matter, the fact still stands that having women on corporate boards, especially in equal measure to their male counterparts, is still a rarity. This is what Michelle McGlade discusses with Michele Ashby, one of the most powerful women in business in Colorado. Michele’s journey towards leadership was a rough one, but it’s a story you can learn from. Let Michele’s experience inform your own corporate board journey!

Women in workplaces are so often conditioned to be small. Hence, impostor syndrome is not uncommon among women who come into positions of power. Overcoming impostor syndrome is such an important part of the process of owning your leadership and becoming effective at your post. Michelle McGlade interviews Verizon’s Kathleen Grillo about her climb to the top, and what it took to get there. Impostor syndrome could be affecting your capacity to lead more than you think. Kathleen’s story could help you make your way towards taking complete ownership of who you are and what you do.

Though conditions for women in the workplace have consistently gotten better over the decades, supporting other women – women supporting each other – is still a huge key to having more successful women in the world. Support is the key to the continued emergence of strong, successful women. Investment adviser Genna Garver talks to Michelle McGlade about ways that women can succeed in their workplaces. While there is much to be done, support is really found at the very core. Let Genna show you how you can support your female colleagues.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a woman in the workforce now as a rising entrepreneur, as a mom, as a sister, as a friend, or as a colleague? Welcome to the She’s Talking Back podcast, a place where you get to have the opportunity to get to know some amazing women who are at the top of their game. The Modern Leader’s Maven, Michelle McGlade is an award-winning, three-time business owner and bestselling author. Learn all about the challenges women like you everywhere is facing, and discover the pivots they’ve taken to become experts in their own fields. Take part in this community and find a safe space where you can express yourself, your emotions, needs, wants, and desires.