The Female Insight Zone

How do we change the culture of business to value both masculine and feminine attributes? How do we learn to recognize the unconscious bias that fuels inequality? Betty-Ann Heggie contends that mentorship and open dialogue are key first steps in understanding gender dynamics in the workplace and overcoming our subconscious conditioning. Heggie is a speaker, author and mentor in the realm of gender physics, the study of masculine and feminine energy present in each of us. A widely recognized thought leader, Heggie's work on gender dynamics has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Inc. Magazine and Huffington Post, and she has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women. Heggie is committed to helping men and women make progress together in the modern workplace, and she is the author of Gender Physics: Unlock the Energy You Never Knew You Had to Get the Results You Want. Today, Heggie describes the subconscious bias that informs our expectations of how men and women should act and explains how it makes impacts who we see as leaders in the workplace. She offers insight around making the conscious effort to overcome such conditioning, suggesting conversation and calling out inequality as the first steps in creating change. Listen in for Heggie's advice on building relationships with potential mentors, both male and female, and learn how to look at mentorship as being open for growth. Key Interview Takeaways Subconscious bias informs our expectations around how men and women should act. We tend to associate the skills of leadership with masculine traits like independence and self-sufficiency, and female leaders have to cloak those characteristics in feminine skills to be liked and accepted. Initiating the conversation is the first step in changing the culture of business. Women need both male and female mentors to navigate the workplace, and when men fail to treat their female colleagues as equals, we need to call them out on it. We must make a conscious effort to overcome conditioning and take baby steps forward together. Build relationships with potential mentors before you ask for their time. Professional women are particularly busy, so start by inviting them to coffee. Let them know that you admire their achievements and value their opinions—and see where it goes. Mentorship means being open for growth. If you are struggling to find the right mentor, look to other resources. President Lincoln, for example, leveraged reading to learn about military leadership during the Civil War. Consider formal programs in which prospective mentors have already volunteered their time. Explore your local Chamber of Commerce and online communities like Lean In for established mentorship programs. Heggie also suggests reaching out to people you admire on social platforms like LinkedIn. Connect with Betty-Ann Heggie Betty-Ann Heggie's WebsiteBetty-Ann Heggie on FacebookBetty-Ann Heggie on Twitter Resources Gender Physics: Unlock the Energy You Never Knew You Had to Get the Results You Want by Betty-Ann Heggie“Analysis of Human Brain Structure Reveals that the Brain ‘Types' Typical of Males Are Also Typical of Females, and Vice Versa” in Frontiers in Human NeuroscienceLean InLean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know that exceptional team members contribute to the success of a team. And yet, it takes more than a group of superstars to win a championship. How do you get people to put the team first? How do you create chemistry among players? How do you build a winning team that plays for each other, either on the field or in the workplace? Kristine Lilly served as a midfielder on the US Women's Soccer Team through five FIFA World Cups and three Olympic games. A member of both the US Olympic Hall of Fame and US Soccer Hall of Fame, Lilly is an expert on effective teamwork. Dr. Lynette Gillis specializes in corporate strategy and organizational behavior, serving Concordia University in the roles of professor, Dean of the College of Business and Associate Provost. Lilly and Dr. Gillis are also the coauthors of Powerhouse Teams: 13 Teamwork Tactics that Build Excellence and Unrivaled Success.  Today, Lilly and Dr. Gillis discuss how the characteristics of powerhouse teams translate from the playing field to the workplace. Lilly shares some of the factors that made the 1999 US Women's National Soccer Team successful, explaining how they built a winning mentality and put their egos aside for the betterment of the group as a whole. Listen in for insight around how leaders can unite a team with a big vision and learn how the opportunity to advance the game of soccer for women and girls inspired Lilly's team to win big! Key Interview Takeaways Powerhouse teams share the same characteristics, regardless of setting. The 1999 Women's National Soccer Team provides a model for excellence in teamwork that translates to any organization; the players exhibited trust, friendship, reliance on each other and a sense of resilience. A strong leader unites their team with a big vision. Lilly credits Coach Anson Dorrance with teaching the team to play for each other and inspiring them to go beyond winning to ‘sell the game of soccer.' For a team to excel, team members must put their egos aside. Lilly's team was successful because the players accepted each other's differences and bought into the idea that it's not about the individual, it's about the team. Team chemistry is created by a center set. Teams that work well together are united by a common draw. For Lilly's team, the players all bought into the mission of advancing the game of soccer for women and girls—and winning! Powerhouse teams build a winning mentality. Lilly and her teammates worked with a mental skills coach on imagery and intention, developing practices that helped players focus on what they needed to do on the field. Connect with Kristine Lilly & Dr. Lynette Gillis Kristine Lilly's WebsiteKristine Lilly on TwitterKristine Lilly on LinkedInLeadershipXDr. Lynette Gillis on TwitterDr. Lynette Gillis on LinkedIn Resources Powerhouse: 13 Teamwork Tactics that Build Excellence and Unrivaled Success by Kristine Lilly and Dr. John Gillis Jr. with Dr. Lynette GillisAnson DorranceTony DiCiccoDr. Colleen Hacker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corporate culture is creating an epidemic of loneliness. As humans, we are wired for community, yet most workplaces disregard this need for connection and leave us feeling isolated. How can we, as individuals and organizations, build social bonds and foster collaboration? How can we establish a balance between masculine and feminine energy to promote a sense of belonging AND improve the bottom line? Dr. Barbara Cox is a psychologist, coach and author who explores the power of the feminine archetype to build community, cultivate intuition and create lasting, positive change in organizations. Her work has appeared on NBC News, Euro News and MSN, among many other national media outlets, and Dr. Cox was a featured speaker at UNESCO's 2018 World Congress for the Organization of World Heritage Cities. She is also the author of The Muse Process: Unleashing the Power of the Feminine for Success and Fulfillment. Today, Dr. Cox explains how our bodies are wired to be in community, encouraging us to build in time each day to connect with friends and colleagues. She offers insight around developing an awareness of the times you DO feel like you fit in and finding one or two people you resonate with in any given situation. Listen in for Dr. Cox's advice on tuning in to the wealth of information your body can provide and learn how to activate your own inner success muse! Key Interview Takeaways Our bodies are wired to be in community. Humans have evolved to live and work in groups, and when we feel disconnected, we don't perform as well—and that impacts the bottom line. Build in time to connect with friends and colleagues. Dr. Cox argues that if you're feeling isolated, others are too, and she encourages individuals and organizations to devote at least five minutes each day to social activity. Be aware of when you DO feel like you fit in. Dr. Cox encourages us to bring attention to the moments when we feel connected and cultivate those relationships. In one case, a client improved her sales numbers 106% by leveraging this advice. Activate your inner success muse. Get in touch with your holistic, right brain to foster creativity and access your subconscious mind. Give yourself the validation to fit in anywhere. Dr. Cox believes that you can feel a sense of belonging in any situation once you realize that fitting in is a state of mind and commit to finding at least one or two people you resonate with.  Get in tune with your mind-body system. Most of us operate from the neck up, dismissing the intelligence of our bodies. Dr. Cox contends that if you listen to the signals, your body will tell you who to connect with and who to avoid. Connect with Dr. Barbara Cox Dr. Cox's WebsiteThe Muse Process on Facebook Resources The Muse Process: Unleashing the Power of the Feminine for Success and Fulfillment by Dr. Barbara Cox  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the secret to creating a successful personal brand? How do you make yourself memorable? Why do you need to share your WHY? What role does content marketing play in helping you connect with potential clients? Claire Akin is the founder of Indigo Marketing, a firm dedicated to helping financial advisors and third-party administrators grow their business. Prior to starting her own venture, Akin served as an Investment Advisor at Thomas J. Dobransky & Associates, and she earned her BA in economics from UC Davis and her MBA in marketing at UC San Diego. Akin is also the author of the popular book, The LinkedIn Guide for Financial Advisors: Six Steps to Identify Qualified Prospects and Generate Referrals. Today, Akin explains how she made the decision to start her own firm, describing how she created offerings around client needs. She also offers insight into running a business, discussing the importance of focusing on metrics that drive success and outsourcing everything you can. Listen in for Akin's advice on creating a memorable personal brand and learn how she balances career and family through strong routines and accountability partners. Key Interview Takeaways The riches are in the niches. Akin's side project, the Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource Center, has eclipsed her primary business in terms of revenue by establishing her as the go-to expert in that specialty. Focus on the metrics that drive success. Looking at her numbers (site visitors, webinar registrations, sales calls, etc.) on a weekly basis keeps Akin honest about the performance of her business. Outsource everything you can. Build a talented team and delegate anything that is not a good use of your time. Create memorable branding and tell your personal story. Make it easy for people to remember you and explain why you are passionate about what you do. The secret to content marketing is consistency. Akin's weekly blog posts keep her top-of-mind with financial advisors and drive her business. She contends that you should give away 90% of what you know about a subject in the spirit of helping people. To balance career and family, develop strong routines. Akin builds time into her day to get specific things done, and she outsources accountability to experts such as a business coach and personal trainer. Connect with Claire Akin Indigo Marketing Agency Indigo Marketing on Facebook Claire on LinkedIn Claire on Twitter Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource Center Resources The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert: Your Guide to Growing Healthy Ficus Lyrata Plants by Claire Akin Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek The LinkedIn Guide for Financial Advisors by Claire Akin The 2016 LinkedIn Guide for Financial Advisors by Claire Akin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tevis Trower is the founder and CEO of Balance Integration, a consulting firm dedicated to humanizing the work experience. Trower is a pioneer in the realm of cultural transformation, leveraging her expertise in mindfulness, leadership development and employee engagement to create an environment where people feel valued and in turn, develop a commitment to the organization's goals. Balance Integration boasts a client list that includes heavy-hitters like Disney and Morgan Stanley, and Trower's work has been featured in Forbes, Fortune and Business Week, among many other media outlets. Today, Trower explains why we cannot change work culture with policy statements, describing how leaders must move beyond proclamations around bringing the whole self to work and truly embody the authenticity they value. She also explores the idea of employee engagement, discussing the mistake leaders make in driving performance rather than engagement and outsourcing it as a problem to solve rather than a behavior to model. Listen in for Trower's insight on the significance of leadership alignment and learn how you can foster a new sense of possibility in an organization at large. Key Interview Takeaways We cannot change work culture with policy statements. To truly shift the environment in an organization, we must go beyond proclamations and take our powerful mission and values statements to heart. Code switching implies a fear of being authentic at work. Trower points out that bringing our whole selves to work serves as an elixir, while the fear of being ourselves creates an environment where we must conform in order to feel safe. Leaders must role model authenticity in the workplace. If there's a satisfaction gap in what you get out of work, then there is a contribution gap in what you're bringing to work, and Trower suggests that the authenticity in organizations begins with the leaders' willingness to show up as ‘more human.' Engagement is not a problem to solve. Corporate leadership tends to focus on driving performance, while they outsource engagement to someone else in the organization. Trower argues that to engage employees, leaders need to see engagement as a behavior to model. Leadership alignment enables cultural empowerment. When the C-suite works to close the gap between what they want to create and what they are manifesting now, such a shift creates a new sense of possibility in the organization at large. Connect with Tevis Trower Balance Integration Balance Integration on LinkedIn Balance Integration on Instagram Balance Integration on Facebook Tevis on Twitter Resources C-Suite Sessions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The confidence you gain from incorporating healthy habits translates far beyond the gym. When you are working out, eating well and getting restorative sleep, you experience a total transformation that improves your performance in every area of life. So, what are the first steps to making health and fitness a priority? What strategies can you use to stay on track, making tangible progress toward your wellness goals? And what is the best approach to finding a nutrition plan that's healthy for you? Becka Nieder is the founder of Becka's Boot Camp, a small group, circuit-style training program based in Chicago. Nieder offers clients individualized attention and every class includes a total body workout with a focus on functional movement. She received her BS in Physical and Dance Education from Northern Illinois University and a certification in Personal Training and Nutrition from the National Personal Training Institute. Nieder is also the creator of The Health & Fitness Journal, a system for tracking workouts, nutrition and progress toward goals along your wellness journey. Today, Nieder discusses why it's important to set actionable health goals that go beyond a number on the scale. She shares the power of accountability partners to help you stay on track and offers insight on using a health and fitness journal to gain an awareness of what you are eating—and why. Listen in for Nieder's advice on finding the best nutrition plan for YOU and learn how tracking your exercise, water intake, nutrition and sleep can support you in improving your habits and overall health! Key Interview Takeaways Set holistic health goals that go beyond a number on the scale. Rather than focusing on attaining a certain weight, for example, Nieder suggests taking actionable steps to improve your endurance, strength, nutrition and sleep habits. Stay on track with accountability partners. Nieder leverages small group training to build in a community of accountability. She also suggests posting your goals as a visible reminder. Improving nutrition habits begins with awareness. Nieder encourages clients to write down what they are eating and how they feel at the time. This strategy helps you recognize patterns and understand exactly how close you are to healthy. Elimination diets are one way to figure out what's healthy for YOU. Diets like the Whole30 or Plant Paradox require you to restrict what you are eating in the beginning—and then slowly add things back in to determine what foods are best for you. Connect with Becka Nieder Becka's Boot Camp Becka on Twitter Becka on Facebook Becka on Instagram Becka on YouTube Resources Becka's Health & Fitness Journal Becka's Blog Whole30 Plant Paradox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is naïve to think that gender bias is no longer an issue in the workplace. In fact, we ALL have stereotypes that we carry with us to work, and women often face the frustration of being at a disadvantage based on assumptions that have nothing to do with our actual ability to do a given job. So, how do we overcome these biases to achieve at a high level? Andie Kramer is an accomplished attorney, author and advocate for women in the workplace. Kramer served as founding chair of her law firm's gender diversity committee and cofounded the Women's Leadership and Mentoring Alliance to address the limited mentorship opportunities for young executive and professional women. A recognized authority in the realm of gender communication and women's advancement, Kramer was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America. She is also the coauthor of Breaking Through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work and the forthcoming It's Not You, It's the Workplace: Women's Conflict at Work and the Bias that Built It. Today, Kramer shares her approach to addressing biases and stereotypes in the workplace. She explains why the first step in breaking through bias involves a conversation with yourself and offers insight around the impact of nonverbal communication and language patterns in your communication with others. Listen in for Kramer's take on why women hold C-suite female colleagues to a different standard than senior men in the organization and learn how to navigate the assumptions and gender biases we all bring to work. Key Interview Takeaways When facing stereotypes and biases in the workplace, avoid confrontation—but allow people to learn. Kramer suggests addressing such assumptions with humor when possible and discussing truly inappropriate behavior in private. The first step in breaking through bias involves a conversation with yourself. Women must think through strategies for developing a coping sense of humor, demonstrating confidence and competence, and learning not to take the world too seriously. Pay attention to nonverbal communication as well as language patterns. Women tend to preface our thoughts with phrases like I'm sorry or This may be a dumb idea, but… Kramer argues that such language patterns diminish the power of the statement that follows. Women tend to hold C-suite female colleagues to a different standard than senior men in an organization. We perceive female colleagues as cold or unfeeling, even when they are treating us the same way the men treat us. Kramer believes that gendered workplaces and our own biases about how women should act contribute to this phenomenon. Develop the strength to address being interrupted. The assumption that women won't add value means that we're often talked over in meetings and on conference calls. Kramer recommends diplomatically saying, “Allow me to finish my point, and I'll pass it over to you when I'm finished.” Connect with Andie Kramer Andie and Al Resources Breaking Through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work by Andrea S. Kramer and Alton B. Harris It's Not You, It's the Workplace: Women's Conflict at Work and the Bias that Built It by Andrea S. Kramer and Alton B. Harris Andie & Al's Gender Bias Assessment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does the availability of big data truly give rise to better business decisions? Tabitha Laser argues that the answer is no. In fact, she believes that we get too focused on a single silo and make choices that increase risk in other areas. And this failure to learn is just one of the organizational culture killers that makes the modern workplace so dismal. Tabitha Laser is the CEL of TA Laser Consulting, a firm that collaborates with business leaders and industry organizations to reduce risks, support cultural improvements, and maintain sustainable growth. She has worked to build and/or fix management systems for industry giants including Shell, BP, 3M and the US Department of Defense, among many others. Laser is sharing the lessons learned in her 25 years of operations and consulting experience in the new book series, Organizational Culture Killers: How Leaders Build Cultures of Success. Today, Laser describes how seeing the same issues over and over in her work in management systems led to the creation of her book series. She explains how each volume serves as a guide to help the next generation of leaders avoid organizational culture killers, discussing how Deadly Expectations explores our failure to learn from past mistakes. Listen in for Laser's insight on how extreme focus in a particular area can increase risk in others—and learn her system for making thoughtful, balanced business decisions. Key Interview Takeaways You don't have to learn the hard way. Given the right mentorship, millennials can avoid the mistakes we made in the past. Laser's book series serves as a toolbox to help people go in to the workforce smarter and be successful sooner. The failure to learn is an organizational culture killer. With the advent of big data, we have so much information coming at us that we tend to make kneejerk decisions that are not thoughtful or balanced. And extreme focus in a single area increases risk in other areas we may not be aware of. Balanced decision-making involves considerations around people, the public and our performance. Rather than thinking on a scale of yes/no, making good choices requires that we explore how our decision will impact the workforce and our communities at large. The concrete barrier between senior leadership and the workforce results in a failure to learn. Communication breaks down when team members are afraid to tell the truth or incentivized to lie in order to meet certain benchmarks. To make positive change, you may have to rub people the wrong way. Laser knows that her book series will receive pushback from senior leaders who are set in their ways, but she is committed to building a positive future nonetheless. Connect with Tabitha Laser TA Laser Consulting Tabitha Laser on LinkedIn Resources Organizational Culture Killers Book 1: Deadly Expectations by Tabitha Laser Failure to Learn: The BP Texas City Refinery Disaster by Andrew Hopkins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I meet way too many women who are passionate and purposeful and committed to what they're about in the world. But they are exhausted.” Driven women, especially entrepreneurs, play full out to achieve their vision. But too many of us do so at the expense of our health, overriding our bodies' needs until we are too depleted to make our greatest contribution to the world or take any pleasure in the wins. What can we do to prioritize our wellbeing and find a little more balance in our lives? Brie Wieselman, LAc, MTCM, is the Clinical Director of Brie Wieselman Integrative Health, a practice focused on supporting women entrepreneurs in optimizing their health. Wieselman has 11 years of experience as a functional medicine and acupuncture practitioner, and she is dedicated to empowering people to resolve their health issues for good. Wieselman believes that good health is the springboard for living an inspired life, and she combines the best in Eastern philosophies with the best in Western medicine to heal chronic health problems.  Today, Wieselman describes how she solved her own health challenges through changes in lifestyle and nutrition as well as targeted supplements. She explains why it is just as important to develop a strategy for health outcomes as it is to develop a strategy to achieve results in business. Wieselman also discusses how our bodies respond to chronic stress and what we can do to treat adrenal fatigue and restore optimal function. Listen in for Wieselman's insight on prioritizing your health and sustaining the creativity and passion that motivated you to begin with! Key Interview Takeaways Your body has always got your back. Wieselman points out that your body is doing its best to help you survive and thrive. To solve her own health challenges, she listened to her body's clues and treated herself in a targeted way. Many ambitious women play full out—at the exclusion of their body's needs. Wieselman argues that when our health is compromised, we cannot make our biggest contribution, nor can we sustain the creativity and passion we had for our work to begin with. Prioritize your health and wellbeing. Developing a strategy to commit to your health and wellness is just as important as developing a strategy to achieve results in business. We are not designed to withstand the effects of chronic stress. The constant stimulation we experience releases extra cortisol and leads to adrenal dysregulation. A functional medicine practitioner can design a personalized supplement program to reprogram your body's function. Once testing has determined where your hormone levels are out of balance, herbs and nutrients can be used to ensure you're getting the right amount of cortisol at the right time of day. Connect with Brie Wieselman Brie Wieselman Integrative Health Brie Wieselman on Instagram Resources DUTCH Test Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Sharon McRill was laid off from her corporate job in 2003, she started a business running errands for busy professionals. Initially, she was doing a wide range of tasks from grocery shopping to organizing to pet care. But as the business evolved and her team grew, McRill realized that relocation management was their sweet spot. And now that she has niched down to a specialty, McRill's business is ‘growing like crazy.' McRill is the owner and president of The Betty Brigade, a business that helps busy professionals with moving, home staging, organizing and handyman services. McRill's 10-member team of ‘Betties' is committed to bringing peace and ease to organization and relocation, and their clients include individuals, realtors, trust officers and estate planners. McRill has been featured in a number of media outlets, including The Detroit Free Press, Crain's Detroit Business and Forbes. The Betty Brigade was recently named one of the Ten Growing Companies to Watch by The Ann Arbor Business Review and honored as the 2014 Affiliate of the Year by the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors. Today, McRill explains how getting laid off from her corporate job served as the impetus for starting The Betty Brigade. She describes how niching down to her team's sweet spot in organizing and relocation management has led to significant growth. McRill also shares her insight around the psychological aspect of her work, discussing the case study of a woman whose relationships are strained because of her hoarding tendencies. Listen in for McRill's advice on leveraging perseverance to build a financially viable business you believe in! Key Interview Takeaways Hone down to your sweet spot. In the beginning, McRill's team performed a wide range of errands for busy professionals, but she found that their strength was in relocation management. Since she niched down to organizing and relocation services, her business has taken off. It's about the stuff, but it's not about the stuff. In working with hundreds of hoarders over the years, McRill has learned that the psychological aspect of the issue is paramount. In fact, she requires that those clients be in therapy to work through their inability to let go. Running a business is not for the faint of heart. McRill contends that every day brings new challenges and celebrations, and she credits her success to perseverance: If you really believe in what you're doing, keep going and the reward will come. Maintain change with new behavior. Once McRill's team has finished a project, she encourages clients to develop new routines, like setting aside time once a week to put everything back where it belongs. Connect with Sharon McRill The Betty Brigade Resources Downsizing the Silver Tsunami: Who to Call and Where Does the Stuff Go? by Sharon McRill The 5 Love Languages Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you turn a part-time job in a call center into a career? How do you grow your business when everyone else is downsizing? How do you become a C-suite leader in an industry dominated by men? Laura Brandao contends that the answer lies in making the most of every opportunity. Brandao is the President of American Financial Resources, a wholesale firm that serves thousands of mortgage professionals and customers nationwide with their residential financing needs. Brandao was honored as one of 2018's Most Influential Women in the Mortgage Industry, one of 2017's Mortgage Business Hot 100, and one of the 50 Elite Women in the Mortgage Industry—three times! She has 20-plus years of experience building strong teams, consistently leading new divisions from launch to industry leadership. Today, Brandao shares her journey from the call center to the C-suite, discussing how she survived the implosion of the mortgage industry to become president of AFR. She speaks to the importance of a strong work ethic and passion for the work you do. Brandao also reflects on her achievements in an industry dominated by men, explaining how a laser focus on making a name for AFR contributed to her success. Listen in for Brandao's insight on making the most of every opportunity and hear her advice around differentiating yourself to remain relevant in your marketplace. Key Interview Takeaways Look for the opportunity in every role you take on. Brandao turned a part-time job in a call center into a career, and she attributes her success to the attitude that every position is what you make of it. Show up every day. Brandao's strong work ethic comes from her family, and she has always been committed to giving 110% every day, no matter who she works for or how much money she makes. Focus on getting the job done. Brandao rarely thinks about being one of the few women in leadership in the mortgage industry because she is too busy making a name for her company. Differentiate yourself. Brandao is proud to be a female leader in the mortgage space, and she argues that where you come from doesn't matter if you go beyond the day-to-day and find unique ways to be relevant in your marketplace. Understand your value. Brandao focuses on the fact that she gets to ‘bring families home every day,' and the opportunity to impact other's lives inspires her to do her best work. Connect with Laura Brandao Laura Brandao on LinkedIn AFR Wholesale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recent years, we have experienced a massive transformation in the way organizations relate to the people they serve. The focus has shifted from ownership to access, from transactions to relationships, from single payment to subscription pricing, and from one-way conversation to open dialogue. In this new Membership Economy, businesses are called on to build trusted relationships with customers in order to earn their loyalty. Robbie Baxter is the founder of Peninsula Strategies, a consulting firm that supports solopreneurs, venture-backed startups and industry leaders in developing business strategy. She has 20 years of experience working on growth initiatives with nearly 100 organizations in 20-plus industries, including ASICS, Netflix and The Wall Street Journal. Baxter is also the author of The Membership Economy: Find Your Superusers, Master the Forever Transaction, and Build Recurring Revenue, an Inc Top 5 Marketing Book of 2015, and she received her MBA from Stanford, where she serves as the Vice Chair of Stanford Women on Boards. Today, Baxter explains the Membership Economy, describing how she supports entrepreneurs and startups in building authentic relationships with their clients and customers. She shares her transition from corporate product marketing to independent consulting, discussing how being the mother of young children made it difficult for her to be an A-player in a traditional nine-to-five setting. Listen in for Baxter's insight on defining your area of expertise and learn how to choose a career path that works for your life. Key Interview Takeaways Businesses benefit from building relationships with customers. Baxter coined the term Membership Economy to represent the massive shift in how organizations relate to the people they serve, developing trust with consumers in order to win their loyalty. Independent consulting requires niching down to a specific area of expertise. Baxter fell in love with the Netflix business model and leveraged her understanding of the Membership Economy to build a successful consulting business helping entrepreneurs and startups establishing meaningful relationships with clients and customers. Integrity is key in the membership economy. Subscription businesses that don't treat their customers well will lose them. As an independent consultant doing knowledge work, it doesn't matter WHEN you work on a project, as long as you complete it on time. The flexible model affords more control over your career and may be ideal for women who are the mothers of young children. Connect with Robbie Baxter Peninsula Strategies Robbie Baxter on LinkedIn Robbie Baxter on Twitter Resources The Membership Economy: Find Your Superusers, Master the Forever Transaction, and Build Recurring Revenue by Robbie Kellman Baxter Stanford Women on Boards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brianna Sylver was facing a challenging time in her business. Seismic shifts in the industries she served translated to a shrinking client base. She was exhausted and unhappy with the way she was showing up as a businesswoman, wife and mother. That's when she found a new mentorship group that helped her tap into her spirituality—and cultivate it purposefully in her business. She found her center as an individual, and over time, she found the center of her business as well. Sylver is the Founder and President of Sylver Consulting, a global inquiry and innovation firm operating at the nexus of market research, UX design and strategy. The Sylver Consulting team supports Fortune 500 companies in the transformation of their brands by providing clarity and focus around their next steps of growth. Sylver has been recognized for her contributions to the fields of innovation and consumer insights, and she speaks regularly on topics such as innovation culture, hybrid research methodologies and entrepreneurship. She earned her Master's in Human-Centered Communication Design from the IIT Institute of Design in Chicago. Today, Sylver shares her journey as an accidental entrepreneur, explaining how her strength in understanding the strategic side of design and a partnership with LaSalle Bank led to the birth of her company. She offers insight around finding new clients by understanding how you best connect with people and describes how to look at sales as an opportunity to serve others. Listen in for Sylver's insight on bringing together the spiritual and business aspects of your life and learn how to reengineer your business systems for continuous, sustainable growth. Key Interview Takeaways Leverage how you best connect with people to find new clients. Sylver has grown her company by leaning into her relationship-based, go-giving spirit, expanding her client base by talking to people at conferences and networking on LinkedIn. You have been called to serve others by helping them solve problems. If you're uncomfortable selling your services, change your perception: Remember that you are helping people rise to the best version of themselves as an individual or organization. Don't be afraid to marry the spiritual and business aspects of your life. Sylver overcame a challenging time in her career by tapping into her spirituality and cultivating it in a purposeful way through her business. Re-engineer your business systems to support continuous, sustainable growth. The systems that brought you to a particular point of growth may not be the systems that are going to take you to the next level. Connect with Brianna Sylver Sylver Consulting Brianna Sylver on LinkedIn Brianna Sylver on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you consumed with work, neglecting yourself and your relationships? What if you made the choice to focus on what matters and cultivate connection—with yourself and others? What if such a shift in your priorities would allow you to lead with greater impact and influence? Relationship and Transformational Results Expert Wendy Darling is the founder of The Miraculous Living Institute. With 36-plus years of experience as a management and organizational consultant, master healer and coach, Darling has created the innovative Miraculous Living Method, a system that allows you to get the results you want with greater ease. She works with business leaders and their teams as well as private clients, and Darling trains other practitioners in her programs and methodology. She is the Amazon bestselling author of the groundbreaking book, The Miracle That is Your Life. Today, Darling explains how she works with executives and their teams to bring the happy back into an organization by way of engagement and contribution. She shares her Live-Love-Lead philosophy, describing the importance of fostering purpose and relationships first—before you can lead with maximum impact and influence. Listen in for Darling's insight around the Miraculous Living Method and learn how to overcome the misalignment that's holding you back, identify your unique gifts, and share your greatness with the world! Key Interview Takeaways Unhappiness is caused by living a life of SHOULD. Rather than doing what you think you're supposed to, ask yourself, “What can I contribute?” Live, love and then lead. As a recovering workaholic, Darling had to learn to put her own oxygen mask on first. Now she prioritizes living a life that matters and cultivating relationships, and that allows her to lead with greater impact and influence. Believe in miracles. Darling argues that each and every one of us is a walking miracle, and it is your job to share that greatness and make the mark on the world that only you can. Get your mind in alignment with what you want. Darling's Miraculous Living Method involves identifying what's holding you back and then retraining your brain to overcome health issues, grow your business, manifest positive relationships, and ultimately make your dreams a reality. Recognize just how special you are. Because your gifts are such a natural part of who you are, you may not realize your own uniqueness. Connect with Wendy Darling The Miraculous Living Institute Email wendy@wendydarling.com Wendy Darling on LinkedIn Resources The Miracle That is Your Life by Wendy Darling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What differentiates high-performing salespeople from all the rest? How do they use their time differently? What tasks do they prioritize? And what is their mindset toward the process? Kelly Roach is the founder and CEO of Kelly Roach Coaching, a consulting firm that supports small business owners in achieving exponential profit, sales and income growth. Her diverse resume includes experience as an NFL Cheerleader and Fortune 500 Executive. In her corporate role, Roach was promoted seven times in eight years, quickly becoming one of Randstad Holding's top-performing salespeople and eventually managing 100 people in 17 locations. In 2012, she made the decision to pursue entrepreneurship for its freedom and flexibility—and to fulfill her purpose in helping other entrepreneurs build profitable businesses around lives they love. Today, Roach shares her view of every life experience as a stepping stone, explaining how her time as an NFL cheerleader introduced her to strong empowered women and ultimately prepared her for entrepreneurship. She describes how to reignite a passion for work by reconnecting to your mission and offers advice on balancing work, family and a demanding travel schedule. Listen in for Roach's insight around the habits of high-performing salespeople and learn how to approach sales with a nothing-to-lose mindset! Key Interview Takeaways Every life experience is a stepping stone. Roach contends that her time as an NFL cheerleader prepared her for entrepreneurship, helping her learn how to put herself out there in a big way. Top-performing salespeople use their time differently. Roach had early success in sales because she prioritized the things that get results. She spent the majority of her time in conversation with prospects and clients, making it a point to follow up and follow through. Nurture a nothing-to-lose mindset. Roach's approach to sales begins with a recognition that the prospect is not paying her now, so a ‘no' isn't the end of the world. She frames sales as simply asking a qualified buyer to investigate your solution. Reignite your passion with a clear focus on WHY. If you've lost connection with your mission, Roach suggests beginning and ending each day with a reminder of your purpose, the meaning behind why you do what you do. Work toward balance by making family a priority. For every decision, Roach asks herself, “Is this the right thing for my family?” Connect with Kelly Roach Kelly Roach Coaching Unstoppable Success Radio Text biggerthanyou to 44222 Resources Unstoppable: 9 Principles for Unlimited Success in Business & Life by Kelly Roach Bigger Than You: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Building an Unstoppable Team by Kelly Roach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most effective way to attract business is through relationship or credibility marketing. Establish yourself as a thought leader in your field, and the clients will come to you! So, how do you step into the spotlight and position yourself as a credible expert in your little corner of the universe? Marie Swift is the President and CEO of Impact Communications, a full-service PR and marketing communications firm that serves independent financial advisors and allied institutions. A thought leader in the realm of financial services, Swift hosts the Thought Leader Roundtable series and writes the popular Best Practices in the Financial Services Industry blog. She served as the Director of Corporate Communications for the Worldwide Investment Network before establishing her own firm in 1993. In the past 25 years, Swift's work has appeared in Forbes, Barron's, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Advisor, and On Wall Street magazine, among many other publications, and she speaks regularly at professional conferences including TD Ameritrade Institutional, Pershing Advisor Services, Fidelity Investments, the Financial Planning Association, and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. Today, Swift shares her journey from corporate marketing to entrepreneurship, explaining how prioritizing her family led to the creation of Impact Communications. She walks us through the significant challenge she faced in having to let people go during the recession as well as her big win landing a contract with one of the top ten broker-dealer firms in the country. Listen in for Swift's insight around giving your team members a sense of ownership, attracting business through relationship marketing, and leveraging video to position yourself as thought leader in your field.   Key Interview Takeaways What matters most? Becoming a mother made Swift's life working in corporate communications for a wealth management firm unmanageable. She reinvented herself as a freelancer for the sake of her family, and Impact Communications was born. Entrepreneurship comes with significant challenges. Swift was forced to let people go during the Great Recession, right-sizing her business based on the economy. This was no easy task, but the business emerged stronger. Give your team a sense of ownership. Every individual at Impact Communications has a role that makes a difference, no matter where they fall in the consulting and service-delivery spectrum. Become a thought leader and business will find you. Impact Communications walks the talk, attracting clients by way of credibility and relationship marketing. Leverage multimedia to become a celebrity in your corner of the universe. Digital assets like video can help you step into the spotlight and position yourself as a credible expert in your field. Connect with Marie Swift Impact Communications Impact on Facebook Marie Swift on Twitter Marie Swift on LinkedIn Marie Swift's Best Practices Blog Resources The Advisor Thought Leader Summit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For survival's sake, we are hard-wired to scan for what's wrong. The problem is, when we focus exclusively on what we don't want and what's not working, we get stuck in the negative. What if we could shift the conversation to the things that ARE working and what we DO want—and solve our problems along the way? What if we could leverage everyday conversations to dramatically improve outcomes in both our personal and professional lives? Cheri Torres is an author, speaker and catalyst for change. She specializes in leadership and team development, partnering with clients to facilitate positive organizational change through Appreciative Inquiry. Torres is also an entrepreneur, founding the management consultancy Innovation Partners International as well as NextMove, a firm that helps organizations invigorate collaboration and create a culture of excellence. She is the author and co-author of numerous books and articles, including Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement. Today, Torres shares the Appreciative Inquiry conversation model, explaining how a focus on what IS working opens us up to higher-order thinking. She describes the top two components of conversations worth having: generative inquiry and positive framing. Listen in for Torres' insight on improving outcomes for our organizations and relationships by way of Appreciative Inquiry—and learn to make a conscious choice to scan for what's RIGHT!   Key Interview Takeaways Appreciative Inquiry is an approach to organizational change and design that focuses on the best of what IS and what's possible. Rather than looking at what's wrong and how to fix it, Appreciative Inquiry asks: What do we want? Where can we go together? How do we get there? By focusing on what's working, we open ourselves to higher-order thinking. Torres contends that we are energized by our successes, and directing our attention there leads to creativity and innovation. Worthwhile conversations begin with great questions. Torres explains that inviting people to share information (rather than making statements) breeds deeper understanding and connection. Positive framing means choosing a tone and direction that moves us toward what we want. The process of Appreciate Inquiry is not about ignoring the negative but finding the pockets in an organization where things are going right—and replicating what works through the system as a whole. Connect with Cheri Torres NextMove Innovation Partners International Cheri Torres on LinkedIn Cheri Torres on Twitter Cheri Torres on Facebook Resources Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement by Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres Jackie Stavros on LinkedIn Jackie Stavros at Lawrence Technical University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As an entrepreneur, you are guaranteed to face challenges. The difference between failure and success hinges on how you handle those setbacks. Do you throw in the towel? Or do you innovate past your problems and find a way to prevent them from happening again? Monica Eaton-Cardone is a powerhouse entrepreneur and business leader with expertise in technology, eCommerce, risk relativity and payment-processing solutions. She is the COO of Chargebacks911 and CIO of its parent company, Global Risk Technologies. Eaton-Cardone was a finalist for the 2016 Women in IT International Star of the Year and the 2016 ETA Technology Innovation Star Award, and she was recently named as a finalist for the 2018 Woman in PayTech Award. Today, Eaton-Cardone shares her unconventional path to entrepreneurship, explaining how being forced into computer programming electives as a high school student uncovered her aptitude for technology. She addresses why other countries are making strides we're not to promote women in finance, engineering and technology—and how we might reposition those careers to stress the design and relationship-building aspects of those fields. Listen in for Eaton-Cardone's insight on innovating past your setbacks and learn how to develop a shatterproof sense of self-worth!   Key Interview Takeaways To promote more women in fields like tech and finance, a bottom-up approach is most effective. Eaton-Cardone discovered her affinity for computer programming because she switched high schools, and the other electives were already filled. She believes that requiring courses in technology and engineering will help girls discover that they have an aptitude for those disciplines. The skills necessary for software development are very similar to those used in interior design. Eaton-Cardone argues that both involve creating something of artistic value, and if we reposition careers in finance and technology to stress the design and/or communication aspects, more women would show an interest. Innovate past your problems. Eaton-Cardone credits her success to persevering through the difficult times and finding ways to prevent setbacks from happening again. In fact, a product she developed to resolve her own problem as an online merchant has become Chargebacks 911, a thriving company in its own right. No one should be able to shatter your self-worth. Eaton-Cardone defines self-worth as an awareness of your achievements and confidence in your ability to learn. She trusts that there is no problem that can't be solved, and she doesn't allow other's opinions to hold her back. Connect with Monica Eaton-Cardone Monica Eaton-Cardone on LinkedIn Monica Eaton-Cardone on Twitter Monica Eaton-Cardone's Blog Chargebacks911 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If it's not important to do right now… Is it really important to do? It is easy for entrepreneurs and business leaders to get caught up in the busyness of our own design, letting a stack of What If projects grow until they consume us. But we don't have to get caught up in the ‘burden of the backburner.' We can stop, take stock, and build the life we want based on a clear purpose. We can start with WHY. Priscilla McKinney is the CEO and resident Mama Bird at Little Bird Marketing, a boutique agency based in Joplin, Missouri. Little Bird works with premiere brands, helping them gain clarity around messaging and develop an annual plan for content delivery and lead generation that aligns with their sales goals. McKinney also serves as the host of Ponderings from the Perch: A Modern Podcast for the Modern Entrepreneur. Today, McKinney explains how others saw her potential in the realm of marketing when she did not. She shares the lessons she learned when her creative studio burned to the ground and how the experience helped her to ponder the WHY—and build the business AND the life she wanted. Listen in for McKinney's insight on what she calls ‘the burden of the backburner' and learn how to let go of the What If projects and focus on what's important to do right now!   Key Interview Takeaways Listen to the people who see you. McKinney took over a local advertising firm when the woman who owned it pointed out that marketing is her native genius. Start with WHY. Little Bird Marketing is different because McKinney's team asks good questions up front to help clients get clarity regarding their desired outcome. Your business is the people. When McKinney's creative studio burned to the ground, it gave her the opportunity to carve out the business she wanted—and the life she wanted around that business. If it's not important to do right now, it's not important to do. It is easy for entrepreneurs to get buried under the pressure of What If projects—but rebuilding after the fire in her studio helped McKinney get free of the ‘burden of the backburner.' Team up with premiere brands. To avoid disingenuous marketing, Little Bird makes it a point to work with companies that deliver at an 8, 9 or 10, simply bringing their branding and content strategy up to the same standards. Connect with Priscilla McKinney Little Bird Marketing Priscilla McKinney on LinkedIn Email priscilla@littlebirdmarketing.com Resources Little Bird Marketing Free Resources Ponderings from the Perch Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To rise through the ranks of corporate leadership, women learn to fight. But that competitive attitude often means that we feel threatened by other women in the workplace and hold each other back rather than lifting each other up. How can we let go of a ‘me versus you' mentality and shift to a collectivist view that benefits us all? How can we be mindful about banding together as women in business? Jessica Higgins is an organizational workplace expert, strategic consultant and author of the new book, 10 Skills for Effective Business Communication. Huffington Post named her one of the Breakthrough Female Founders of 2017, and her work has been published in Entrepreneur, Thrive Global and The Ladders. Higgins holds executive and board positions in companies in the arts, consulting and technology space, and she regularly speaks on issues including women in the workplace, female entrepreneurs and the future of work. On this episode of The Female Insight Zone, Higgins discusses the ‘me versus you' mentality that fosters competition among women in business. She shares the mindset shift that helped her transition from being a fighter to being a leader and what she is doing to mentor other female business leaders and entrepreneurs. Listen in for Higgins' advice around banding together as women and taking on new challenges with confidence.   Key Interview Takeaways Women must break free from the ‘me versus you' mentality. To climb the corporate ladder successfully, female business leaders often live in fight mode. But we cannot achieve equality until we stop competing against each other and shift to a collectivist view. Lift up other women through mentorship. Higgins is working to promote women in business by mentoring other women to develop a leadership presence and supporting fellow female entrepreneurs. Put your hand up. Too many women keep their heads down, believing they are not qualified for a particular role or raise. Higgins argues that no one walks into a new project or position knowing exactly what to do, and our job is to minimize the window of time it takes to ‘fake it until you make it.' Connect with Jessica Higgins Jessica Higgins' Website Jessica Higgins on LinkedIn Jessica Higgins on Facebook Email jessica@cultured-group.com Resources 10 Skills for Effective Business Communication: Practical Strategies from the World's Greatest Leaders by Jessica Higgins, JD, MBA, BB Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg The Red Zone Leadership Foundation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While men are taught to build wealth and careers, marketing teaches women to spend money on the products and services that will make us beautiful. Jessica Higgins contends that this messaging actually pits us against success. So, how do we overcome this deep-seated cultural conditioning to develop a mindset of wealth accumulation? How do we learn to look out for ourselves first? Higgins is a researcher, consultant and marketing communications professional who supports business leaders and entrepreneurs in understanding the impacts of emerging cultural trends. Higgins holds executive and board positions in companies in the arts, consulting and technology space, and she is the author of the newly-released book, 10 Skills for Effective Business Communication. Today, Higgins explains how the pursuit of continuous learning contributes to her success. She shares current cultural trends toward cryptocurrency and AI, discussing the small number of women who are adopting these emergent technologies and the complex cultural motives behind our hesitation. Higgins also walks us through the themes of her forthcoming book, discussing the importance of communication skills like listening and empathy in creating influence at scale. Listen in for Higgins' insight on surrounding ourselves with a trustworthy team and developing a mindset of wealth accumulation. Key Interview Takeaways Women are less likely than men to adopt emergent technologies. Cultural trends toward digital currency and artificial intelligence have big implications for the way we work moving forward, yet only 8% of women are using cryptocurrency, for example. Marketing teaches women to spend money. While men are taught to build wealth, advertising encourages women to depart with our money to look pretty. Higgins contends that this pits us against financial freedom and wealth accumulation. Develop a mindset of wealth accumulation. Higgins advocates for women to look out for themselves first, setting intentions and then acting in selfishly as necessary to achieve success. Communication is key in creating influence at scale. To affect true change, business leaders must hone their skills in areas like listening, negotiation and empathy. Make communication as human as possible. Only 8% of the messages we send come from the words themselves, while the rest is communicated by tonality and body language. Surround yourself with people you trust. If we choose to work with someone who is unethical, it's only a matter of time before this will become a point of contention. Connect with Jessica Higgins Jessica Higgins' Website Jessica Higgins on LinkedIn Jessica Higgins on Facebook Email jessica@cultured-group.com Resources 10 Skills for Effective Business Communication: Practical Strategies from the World's Greatest Leaders by Jessica Higgins, JD, MBA, BB How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job by Sally Helgesen Coinbase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can Fortune 500 companies compete in a technology-driven era? As emerging startups adapt quickly and disrupt industry after industry, traditional businesses have no choice but to undergo a digital transformation, to be as agile as up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Nikki Barua is the founder and CEO of Beyond Curious, a sought-after consultancy that partners with large companies to accelerate digital transformation. Barua started the company in 2011 with the intention of helping big companies innovate like startups, and she has made it her mission to support business leaders in gaining a clarity of purpose as they guide organizations through change. Barua is an award-winning entrepreneur, and her story has been featured in national media including Fortune, Forbes and CNBC. She is also the author of Beyond Barriers: How to Unlock Your Limitless Potential. Today, Barua explains how she got into the business of ‘making elephants run,' discussing the challenging early days of her business and how she persevered despite a 100% rejection rate. She describes the work of Beyond Curious as a catalyst for change, walking us through the transformation of products, capabilities and culture facilitated by her team. Listen in for Barua's insight on diversity as the fuel for innovation and learn how digital transformation affords large companies the adaptability to remain competitive in a technology-driven world.   Key Interview Takeaways The #1 skill set is adaptability. Barua built her business on the idea of ‘making elephants run,' helping Fortune 500 companies develop the ability to be as agile and quick to pivot as emerging startups. Solicit feedback every time. Barua's RFP was rejected eleven times before she landed her first big client, and she credits her eventual success to the fact that she applied their feedback to make the proposal better each time—closing the gap between their needs and what she had to offer. Get to the island and burn the boat. Barua believed in her vision for Beyond Curious, and she didn't have a Plan B. This forced her to tap into a next-level resourcefulness, creativity and persistence that pushed her forward. To compete in a technology-driven era, traditional companies must undergo a digital transformation. Beyond Curious supports companies in rethinking their business model, translating ideas to products faster, and adapting their culture to facilitate innovation. Diversity is the fuel for innovation. Barua sees a connection between embracing diversity and adopting a growth mindset, and she argues that diversity is a competency companies need in order to thrive and adapt to change. Connect with Nikki Barua Beyond Curious Nikki Barua's Website Nikki on LinkedIn Nikki on Twitter Resources Beyond Barriers: How to Unlock Your Limitless Potential by Nikki Barua Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What keeps talented, hardworking women from attaining positions of leadership? Yes, there are cultural and structural issues at play, but how can we put ourselves in a position to influence and shape those structures? How do women identify—and break—the habits that hold us back? Sally Helgesen has 30-plus years of experience in the field of women's leadership. As an author, speaker and consultant, she helps women recognize, articulate and act on their greatest strengths. Helgesen's books include bestseller The Female Advantage, hailed as ‘the classic work' on women's leadership styles, and The Web of Inclusion, credited with bringing the language of inclusion into the business. She is a sought-after facilitator and keynote speaker for corporations, partnership firms and universities around the world, and Helgesen has consulted for the United Nations and led seminars at the Harvard Graduate School for Education and Smith College. Today, Helgesen walks us through several of the habits discussed in her new book, How Women Rise, explaining the value in promoting our achievements and the danger in overvaluing expertise. She offers insight around setting manageable goals and engaging allies for support as well as letting go of judgement by adopting an ‘oh well' approach to mistakes. Listen in as Helgeson describes how we can leverage our strengths as women and break the habits that hold us back!   Key Interview Takeaways Be clear about your contributions and claim your value. To move up in an organization, women must find a comfortable way to promote their achievements. Expertise will only get you so far. Mastering the details of the position you're in now can make you indispensable in THAT role and prevent you from moving up! Don't make the mistake of putting your job before your career. Start with one habit. Choose one manageable goal to work on first; for example, you might make it a point to communicate more concisely in a weekly meeting. Engage allies and ask for help. Women who recruit peer coaches and solicit feedback from others are much more successful than those who try to change habits on their own. Adopt an ‘oh well' approach. Let go of judgement—of yourself AND others. Every problematic habit is rooted in a strength. Don't overly react against your natural tendencies. Qualities such as conscientiousness, loyalty, modesty and concern for others are valuable; in fact, they got you where you are! Connect with Sally Helgesen Sally Helgesen's Website Sally Helgesen on LinkedIn How Women Rise Resources How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith The Female Vision: Women's Real Power at Work by Sally Helgesen The Female Advantage: Women's Ways of Leadership by Sally Helgesen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We often feel as if we must cut off certain parts of ourselves depending on the circumstances, especially when it comes to the way we show up at work. But Dr. Anita Sanchez contends that this separation and misalignment is what causes suffering, and if we want to do our best work, we need to tap into the four sacred gifts and maintain our wholeness—the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of ourselves. Dr. Sanchez has spent four decades sharing indigenous wisdom with executives and their teams all over the world. She draws on the teachings of her Aztec and Mexican-American heritage as well as the latest science to inspire and equip leaders to enjoy meaningful, empowered lives and careers. Dr. Sanchez serves as a transformational leadership consultant, speaker and coach, and she is the author of the bestseller The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times. Today, Dr. Sanchez explains the concept of transformational leadership, discussing the way that true transformational leaders inspire their teams rather than trying to manage them. She walks us through the four sacred gifts: the power to forgive the unforgiveable, the power of unity, the power to heal, and the power of hope in action. Listen in for Dr. Sanchez's insight around applying indigenous wisdom to business in a way that allows people to keep their wholeness, develop supportive relationships, and leverage hope as an energy source.   Key Interview Takeaways People don't need to be managed, they need to be inspired. True transformational leaders serve in aligning the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical aspects of every employee. Harness the power to forgive the unforgiveable. Rather than hanging on to hurt or mistreatment and being imprisoned by it, we must use our energy for what we want to create in the world. Connection makes everything possible. We need to see past the illusion of separation that is causing the current division and divisiveness in the world and move into positive action. As Dr. Sanchez puts it, ‘The GPS doesn't work if you're standing still.' We can't give what we don't have. For true healing to occur, we must first adopt an unconditional love of self. Hope is an energy source—and a choice. We can draw on the magic of hope if we sit still and allow the unimaginable to arise, and no one can take that away from us. Connect with Dr. Anita Sanchez Sanchez, Tennis & Associates Four Sacred Gifts Resources The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times by Anita L. Sanchez Libby Gill on The Female Insight Zone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To develop a reputation as a thought-leader in your industry, you must look at your life as a business and invest a significant amount of time and money in your own success. Are you willing to become your own Chief Strategy Officer? To hire coaches and a PR team? To practice your first presentation 40 times before taking the stage? Robin Farmanfarmaian is a professional speaker, serial entrepreneur and angel investor working in cutting-edge technology and medicine, and she has a deep understanding of how artificial intelligence is likely to impact and disrupt the healthcare space in the next ten years. Farmanfarmaian currently serves as the VP of Business Development at Actavalon, a startup working to cure cancer, and she is an angel investor in Dance Biopharm Holdings, a company developing inhaled insulin products to treat diabetes— among many other projects. Her book, The Patient as CEO: How Technology Empowers the Healthcare Consumer, is a bestseller on Amazon. Today, Farmanfarmaian shares the story behind The Patient as CEO, explaining how a misdiagnosis led her to take charge of her own healthcare. She addresses the advances that have been made in medicine to this point and how technology is dramatically accelerating our progress moving forward. Listen in for Farmanfarmaian's insight around developing the confidence to thrive and investing the necessary time, effort and capital in becoming a thought leader in your field. Key Interview Takeaways Become the CEO of your own healthcare. Farmanfarmaian's misdiagnosis at the age of 16 led to countless hospitalizations and multiple surgeries—before she took control. She was finally diagnosed correctly and went into remission overnight. The human body is an incredibly complex system. Yes, we have made great strides in our understanding, and life expectancy has doubled in the last 100 years. But we still only have treatments for a few hundred of the more than 10K known human diseases. Technology is dramatically accelerating human progress in healthcare. AI allows us to apply machine learning to massive data sets, providing insights that would otherwise take us years to discover. View your thought-leadership as a business. Farmanfarmaian invested a great deal of time, effort AND capital to become a sought-after speaker. She hired high-end coaches, designers and a marketing team, and she practiced her first presentation 40 times before delivering it on stage! You are that strong. Farmanfarmaian's secret weapon is confidence coupled with a strong sense of mission. Despite the extreme trauma she has experienced, Farmanfarmaian is determined to positively impact 100M patients worldwide. Connect with Robin Farmanfarmaian The Patient CEO Robin Farmanfarmaian on LinkedIn Robin Farmanfarmaian on Facebook Robin Farmanfarmaian on Twitter Resources The Patient as CEO: How Technology Empowers the Healthcare Consumer by Robin Farmanfarmaian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Businesses that thrive long-term continue to innovate, even when they are at the top of their game. If the Kodaks of the world don't disrupt themselves, someone else certainly will. So, the question becomes, how does an organization continue to drive growth and generate new ideas—even if there is no one in the rearview mirror? Dr. Natalie Nixon contends that the key to accelerating innovation lies in the ebb and flow between rigor and wonder. Dr. Nixon is the Founder and Principal at Figure 8 Thinking, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations accelerate innovation by connecting the dots between creativity and strategy. A design strategist and hybrid thinker, she leverages her background in service design, anthropology and fashion to support clients in cultural transformation, leadership development, and team collaboration. Nixon is also a Fellow at the Paris d.School and a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, and she created the Strategic Design MBA program at Philadelphia University. Nixon is a frequent contributor to Inc. magazine, and she has been a featured speaker at the Business Innovation Factory, 360 Possibilities and The Copenhagen Institute for Interactive Design. Today, Nixon shares the connection between her background in anthropology and fashion, explaining how she sees the world from a ‘worm's eye view.' She discusses how her business, Figure 8 Thinking, evolved from a talk on improvising at work she delivered at TEDx Philadelphia in 2014. Nixon describes how companies can accelerate innovation by driving growth based on consumer needs, hiring from a non-traditional wheelhouse, and benchmarking progress against a wide variety of sectors. Listen in for Nixon's insight around kinesthetic learning and the balance between wonder and rigor.   Key Interview Takeaways Drive the growth of your business based on the needs of the consumer. Nixon contends that if you focus on the end-user, profitability, efficiency and productivity will follow. Ensure thought diversity by hiring from a variety of sectors. More diverse inputs result in more innovative outputs, so companies willing to hire anthropologists, psychologists and artists will naturally accelerate innovation. Benchmark your team against other sectors. Rather than simply making comparisons with others in your industry, Nixon suggests casting a wider net to determine what ‘best in class' really means. A superiority complex can be fatal. Nixon argues that companies like Kodak fail when they lose their curiosity. A false sense of security and resistance to change leaves a company ripe for disruption. Physical activity helps balance the mind. Nixon's recent return to the dance studio is fueling her creativity and outlook in a positive way. Rigor cannot be sustained without wonder. Corporate culture emphasizes structure and processes, but problem-solving only happens when we balance that rigor with the time to daydream—to pause and suppose. Connect with Dr. Natalie Nixon Figure 8 Thinking Dr. Nixon on BigSpeak Resources Dr. Nixon at TEDx Philadelphia Strategic Design Thinking: Innovation in Products, Services, Experiences and Beyond edited by Natalie Nixon Dr. Nixon's Column in Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is #BackingYou? What would you do if you could take fear off the table and fully commit to yourself? Would it give you the courage to put yourself in the driver's seat and become an entrepreneur? To reach out and ask for peer support? To go after backing for your business through non-traditional models? Kimmie Greene is a finance expert and business mentor at Intuit and the spokeswoman for QuickBooks Self-Employed, a division of Intuit that provides freelancers and independent contractors with an easy and affordable way to manage their finances and save money during tax season. Prior to QuickBooks, Greene spent two years running her own PR firm, building a business that generated $250K in annual revenue. Today, Greene shares the inspiration behind her decision to become an entrepreneur and how that experience allows her to connect in an authentic way with clients at QuickBooks Self-Employed. She discusses her top takeaways from the recent Create & Cultivate conference celebrating female entrepreneurship, explaining the value of committing to yourself and learning from other women. Greene speaks to the fear of money, offering advice on how to discuss your fees with confidence. Listen in for Greene's insight around non-traditional funding models and tools to support your financial well-being. Key Interview Takeaways Entrepreneurship puts you in the driver's seat. Greene's had been cast as the ‘tech person' in corporate PR, but her decision to freelance gave her the chance to spread her wings and take on projects in other areas. Take fear off the table and commit to yourself. You cannot expect others to back you until you have moved past the fear and made the decision to back yourself—100%. Take advantage of peer learning. Reach out to other women entrepreneurs with questions and learn from their experiences. Overcome the fear of money by putting it in writing. Greene suggests that asking other freelancers in your market what they're charging and publishing your fees in the form of a contract will afford you confidence. Be sure you are on solid ground with your personal finances before you start a business. Financial well-being allows you to say ‘yes' to the right clients, projects and opportunities. Look into non-traditional funding models. Venture capital and bank loans are not the only choices. Consider self-funding and crowdfunding campaigns to finance your business. Connect with Kimmie Greene QuickBooks QuickBooks on Facebook QuickBooks on Twitter QuickBooks on YouTube Resources Mint TurboTax Create & Cultivate Indiegogo GoFundMe Kickstarter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are things you simply cannot control in your personal and professional life… But you CAN control your thoughts—and thoughts have the power to change reality. If you have been feeling like a victim of circumstance, it's time to shift your perspective, connect with the divine and harness your miracle power. MarBeth Dunn is a mindset, success and happiness coach with 30-plus years of experience in spiritual teaching. She trains business professionals to create personal and economic miracles, using her intuitive abilities and the powerful Miracle Activation Technology system to offer clients greater confidence, financial success and emotional freedom. Dunn has been featured on several media outlets across the US, including FOX, CBS and NBC. Today, Dunn shares the personal story of how she harnessed the ability to change her thoughts and attract miracles in her personal and professional life. She explains the value in cultivating peace in order to ‘ride the coattails of the divine.' Listen in for Dunn's insight on visualizing the situations you want to create and reframing negativity by asking, ‘What good could come of this?' Key Interview Takeaways Thoughts can change your reality. Many years ago, Dunn was struggling in her business and personal life, seeing herself as a victim. The moment she realized that the ability to change her thoughts gave her power, miracles started to happen. There is no such thing as an idle thought. Every thought has power. Cultivate peace. Dunn contends that you always have the choice to get embroiled in conflict or opt for peace, and peace affords a connection with the divine. Reframe a situation by asking, ‘What good could come of this?' A shift in perspective leaves you open to possibilities—and frees you from being locked into desperation. Visualize yourself in the situation you want to create. If you need new clients, for example, visual yourself interacting with new clients and feeling good about it. Connect with MarBeth Dunn Your Miracle Power Website Miracle Mindset on Facebook Free Consult Application Resources MarBeth Dunn's Free eBook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The business world often downplays the role of hopefulness in the workplace, maintaining that hope is not a viable approach. But if you'd ever worked in an office where people felt hopeless, you know that progress is not possible without it. Libby Gill believes that hope IS a strategy, and she uses research around hope theory to give her clients the discipline and competitive advantage necessary in today's rapidly changing world. Gill is an executive leadership coach, keynote speaker and bestselling author. After heading communications at media giants Universal, Sony and Turner Broadcasting, Gill left the corporate world to found Libby Gill & Company, a coaching and consulting firm focused on helping high-performing individuals and organizations navigate challenge and change. Gill's client roster includes Comcast, Disney, Honda, Microsoft, and Warner Brothers, among many others. She has appeared on CNN, NPR, and The Today Show, and Gill is the author of the award-winning YOU UNSTUCK. Her latest book, Hope IS a Strategy hits shelves April 10, 2018. Today, Gill shares her early achievement in the corporate world, explaining how a willingness to take on new challenges contributed to her success. She defines ‘riskophobia,' discussing how the predisposition for safety can hold us back personally and professionally. Gill speaks to hope theory and the need for hopefulness in the workplace to facilitate risk-taking and innovation. Listen in for Gill's insight on changing habits and staying hopeful with a daily meditation practice. Key Interview Takeaways Raise your hand. Gill attributes her corporate success to a willingness to take on new responsibilities and lean on her team. Even if you fail, you're not going to fall apart. Humans are hardwired to avoid danger, and we often give in to our predisposition for safety. But Gill contends that you need to get past the ‘riskophobia' and take on the next challenge. Hope is the jet fuel for life. Gill argues that hope is the missing link in the workforce, and she coaches leaders in building a sense of hopefulness that allows for risk-taking and innovation. It takes much longer than 21 days to form a habit. Research has determined that 66 days or longer is more accurate, and Gill suggests establishing a trigger that makes the new habit automatic—a hardwired part of our routine. Bring the entire team in on the coaching process. In Gill's work coaching leaders, she finds it useful to include the team in both identifying blind spots and recognizing behavior change. Stay hopeful with a daily meditation practice. Whether you choose to run, chant, pray or read, starting each day with the right tone helps you get past the fear, doubt and insecurity—and stay positive. Connect with Libby Gill Libby Gill & Company Libby Gill on YouTube Libby Gill on Facebook Libby Gill on Twitter Libby Gill on Instagram Resources The Hope-Driven Leader: Harness the Power of Positivity at Work by Libby Gill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

87% of employees experience physical, psychological or behavioral symptoms of poor mental health, resulting in between $17 and $44 billion in lost productivity. There is an epidemic of presenteeism in our culture, a phenomenon in which employees are physically present at work, yet high levels of stress prevent them from getting much done. This stressed mindset results in choices made out of fear that take us further and further away from the things we really want. What can we do to shift our thinking and respond to stress in a way that serves us in reaching our highest potential? Christine Monaghan is a human-potential champion who works with individuals and organizations to inspire a solutions-based leadership approach that boosts productivity, engagement and profits. She is passionate about influencing others to replace stress and tap into optimum performance through a focus on mindful commitments, conversations and choices. Monaghan came to this work after enduring emergency heart surgery and the extreme anxiety that followed, and now she is on a mission to help others access new levels of potential from a place of ease versus stress. Today, Monaghan explains how she was able to view herself as a clean canvas in the aftermath of her near-death experience, focusing on the opportunity to create a new life rather than what she had lost. She discusses strategies for responding to stressful situations as opposed to reacting out of fear, working ON your life rather than IN it, and getting comfortable being uncomfortable. Listen in for Monaghan's insight on calming your nervous system in stressful situations and making choices that get you closer to your goals. Key Interview Takeaways After a difficult experience, view yourself as a clean canvas. In the aftermath of Monaghan's near-death experience, she chose to focus on the opportunity to create whatever she wanted rather than dwelling on what she lost. Reprogram your mind to respond to stressful situations versus reacting out of fear. Ask yourself if this choice will move you closer to or further away from how you want to feel and what you want in your life. Work ON your life rather than IN your life. This is the key to closing the gap between goal-setting and goal-achieving. Who you become in the process of achieving your goals is the gem. Reaching the goal itself is a second reward. If you're feeling stressed, calm your nervous system and course correct. Touch the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth and take three deep breaths. Then, pause and make a choice that takes care of you and fulfills your responsibilities. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Discomfort is a signal that you're moving forward. Connect with Christine Monaghan Christine Monaghan's Website Daily Life Mastery on Instagram Christine Monaghan on LinkedIn Resources HeartBroke, From Uncertainty to Possibility by Christine Monaghan Forbes 2018 Trends Article Deloitte Report on Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Change is scary. It is also an opportunity. And if we are too busy resisting change, we may end up passing on the opportunities—without even recognizing it. Frankie Picasso has come to embrace change. After a serious motorcycle accident in 2003, she recreated her life and became a certified coach. Today, Picasso is an international SocialPreneur, talk show host and champion for change. She is the founder of The Good Media Network, a platform to help nonprofits reach a wider audience and connect with potential donors, and a professional artist whose work has been featured in the International Book of Contemporary Artists. Picasso is also the author of Midlife Mojo and No Bull Allowed. On this episode of The Female Insight Zone, Picasso defines what it means to be a SocialPreneur, explaining how her work makes a positive impact in the world. She discusses her coaching practice and how she helps clients navigate the danger and opportunity that accompanies change. Listen in for Picasso's insight around the significance of understanding what you value and how to leverage Midlife Mojo as a prescription for change. Key Interview Takeaways SocialPreneurs are dedicated to doing good things in the world. Picasso is passionate about having a positive social impact through her work as an artist and as the founder of The Good Media Network. Change happens best in chaos. Transforming your life involves both danger and opportunity, and Picasso's coaching practice is about helping people navigate the fear to take advantage of the opportunities. Understand what you value. Identify the places where your values and your life are not in alignment and you reveal where change is necessary. Midlife Mojo is a prescription for change. Picasso's book seeks to help readers identify the underlying automatic commitments that are holding them back, overcome their fears and become UNSTOPPABLE. Connect with Frankie Picasso Unstoppable Frankie Picasso The Good Media Network Frankie Picasso on Fine Art America Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As female entrepreneurs and business leaders, we have a lot to overcome. But the first step is to get out of our own way. Maybe perfectionism is holding you back, or maybe you're thinking too small. Today's guest is on a mission to give you WINGS—Women, Innovating, Networking, Growing and Scaling—and turn your small business into an empire. Melinda Wittstock is a serial entrepreneur, award-winning journalist and content marketer. She has more than 25 years of experience as a host, journalist and executive across the world's top media brands, and she has launched four successful media, tech and predictive analytics businesses of her own. Wittstock currently serves as the founder and CEO of Verifeed, a predictive social intelligence solution that helps businesses grow their brand and bottom line. She also hosts a podcast on female entrepreneurship called WINGS of Inspired Business to help women develop the confidence, connections and capital they need to achieve. Wittstock is a passionate advocate for women in business, committed to investing $10M in 100-plus female founded companies in the next ten years. Today she explains the concept of Return on Authenticity, discussing why talking to prospects as human beings leads to a higher return on investment. Wittstock speaks to the idea of building personal relationships at scale through social media marketing and the value in defining your ideal customer before you design a social media marketing campaign. Listen in for her insight around investing in female entrepreneurs and learn how her podcast is inspiring women to grow in business and in life.   Key Interview Takeaways Speak from the heart, and you will wildly outperform your competitors. Wittstock calls this idea the Return on Authenticity, and it is a much better measure of return than vanity metrics such as likes and followers. People do business with people. Companies do better when their leadership has a personal brand presence, and social media allows those leaders to build relationships with prospects at scale. Define your mission and your ideal customer FIRST. Verifeed's software cannot help you with social media marketing until you know yourself. Once you have identified your ideal client, the platform helps you understand and engage those people over time. Too many women succeed in silence. Wittstock's podcast, WINGS of Inspired Business, seeks to affirm and inspire female entrepreneurs and business leaders, exploring the connection between personal and business growth and manifesting the confidence they need to succeed. Successful women must give back to other female-owned businesses. Wittstock has plans to invest in 100 female-founded and women-run businesses in the next ten years. Connect with Melinda Wittstock Melinda Wittstock's Website Melinda Wittstock's Podcast Melinda Wittstock on LinkedIn Melinda Wittstock on Facebook Melinda Wittstock on Twitter Verifeed Verifeed on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Financial results drive corporations, and this laser focus on achieving monetary goals often means a neglect in the areas of personal development and emotional intelligence. But the fact of the matter is that honing these skills does have a positive impact on the bottom line, as authentic leaders can both create a higher level of engagement among employees and inspire teams to perform at a higher level. Mary Pat Knight is a sought-after transformation strategist, business coach, and EQ expert. Her training programs help corporate leaders sharpen their emotional intelligence to attain high-level, authentic leadership. As the founder and CEO of Leaders Inspired, Knight employs a transformational process to guide executives through times of change, motivate employee engagement and create healthy teams. She is passionate about helping executives lead from the heart while producing phenomenal business results. Knight boasts more than 30 years of experience in the areas of executive coaching, operations, strategic planning, marketing and HR. Today she explains the value of dedicating work time to personal development, emotional intelligence and leadership, offering her insight on the bottom-line impact this training can have on businesses. She discusses her experience watching women wear masks to protect themselves in the corporate environment, and how that led to her commitment to the development of authentic leaders. Listen in for Knight's take on using your voice to be the greater good in the world and making a commitment to your own personal development.   Key Interview Takeaways Organizations would do well to dedicate time to personal development, emotional intelligence, and leadership. Knight argues that this commitment would not only impact the corporate environment, it would positively effect families, communities and the world at large. Personal development and emotional intelligence training have a positive bottom-line impact on businesses. Organizations with a commitment to personal leadership create a high level of engagement among employees and retain leaders who inspire teams to perform at a higher level. Creating a heart-based culture has a positive impact on sales. Knight works with a large heating and air conditioning company that shifted their approach to customer interaction and saw an increase in profits as a result. Use your voice to be the greater good in the world. It is important for us women to find and then sustain our voices, rather than donning a mask that keeps us small. We lose when we protect ourselves. Knight experienced a game-changing moment watching her marketing team lose their authenticity in the board room, leading her to a career in HR training and development. Make a commitment to your own personal development. Knight continues to hone her own emotional intelligence through spiritual communities, heart-felt professional groups, coaching organizations, therapy, books and mentors. Connect with Mary Pat Knight Leaders Inspired Email mpknight@leadersinspired.com Resources EQ Quiz Nancy Wright on The Female Insight Zone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Then I've been parachuted in as the token woman who got added at the last minute by the newspaper sponsor to kind of sex up the coverage. So I'm in a desperately awkward position, trying to prove that I'm good enough to be on this mountain. And I was—but I hadn't come on the team in a way that made that at all clear.” Cathy O'Dowd was not a fan of sport until she discovered climbing in college. Being on the mountain was a deeply personal challenge—and one that she was good at. One of just two women in the rock climbing club at her university, O'Dowd thrived in the pushy, confident and ambitious environment. In November of 1995, O'Dowd answered a newspaper ad, and six months later she was part of a highly-publicized expedition to the summit of Mount Everest. Fraught by a failing team dynamic, the climb proved difficult. And when the group got caught in a storm during their descent, their success in reaching the top was overshadowed by an epic failure to protect each other. The traumatic experience, along with the media firestorm that followed, proved stressful. But it also opened O'Dowd's life in ways both extraordinary and important, leading her to a 20-year career as an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker and author. The first South African reach the top of Everest and the first woman to climb from both sides, O'Dowd draws on her Himalayan experiences to illustrate themes around leadership, team dynamic, project management and motivation. Today, O'Dowd is exploring the Pyrenees mountains near her home in Andorra while she launches The Business of Adventure, a project designed to help aspiring adventurers build their brands and secure funding for their projects. On this episode of the Female Insight Zone, she shares the valuable lessons she learned from the team failure of the first Everest expedition, explaining how it proved vital to her personal development and the insight around leadership she gained from the experience. Listen in to learn about her current adventure as an entrepreneur and how she is working to support the next generation of adventurers.   Key Interview Takeaways The greatest challenge of climbing Everest was navigating a failing team dynamic. O'Dowd was shocked at how badly adult professionals behaved in the situation, sabotaging themselves and the project. Dealing with the wave of negative publicity in the wake of her Everest experience was very difficult, but O'Dowd counts it as vital to her personal development. Enduring such a public failure made her realize how deeply limiting a life spent avoiding risk can be. You cannot control the entire narrative. The best you can do is to simply try and do the right thing by your own standards, knowing that the people who love you will believe you. Personal leadership implies that every person carries a responsibility to the group. It is not enough to identify the failings of the leadership that is in place; you must be willing to take responsibility for your own participation and to step into a temporary leadership role if need be. The best leaders are flexible, and they take the time to build credibility and trust throughout the process. If you want participants to follow your instructions quickly and without argument in a time of crisis, it is important that you take time early on to establish a consensus-driven team dynamic. The Business of Adventure acknowledges that funding is necessary to establish a career as a professional adventurer. Beyond the opportunity to connect with the younger generation, O'Dowd's new project seeks to help aspiring adventurers understand the preparation, planning and financial backing necessary to pursue a safe, successful career in the field—or on the mountain. Connect with Cathy O'Dowd Cathy O'Dowd's Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've all sat through that mind-numbing professional development seminar, the one where a presenter clicks through an uninspiring PowerPoint presentation while you daydream about being absolutely anywhere else. Karen Hough is on a mission to transform that experience, combining the principles of improvisation with neuroscience and psychology to bring fun and meaning to corporate training. Hough is the founder and CEO of ImprovEdge, an award-winning business training company that is changing the way we learn, employing innovative strategies to help employees think on their feet, come up with side-door solutions and communicate in ways that bring people together. One of the top 1% of women-owned businesses in the US, ImprovEdge boasts a client list that includes NBC Universal, JP Morgan Chase and ESPN. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Hough enjoyed a successful career in acting. She trained at the legendary Second City in Chicago and went on to appear in 100-plus theatre, film and television productions. Hough is also a bestselling author and the recipient of the 2012 Silver Stevie International Award for Most Innovative Company of the Year. Today Hough shares her experience with Second City, explaining how the improv abilities she practiced there led to the business she runs today. She offers her take on the current climate around sexual harassment in the workplace and discusses why it is time for women to initiate the conversation, even if it makes people uncomfortable. Hough speaks to the issue of inclusion, sharing the need for parity in the pool of candidates being considered for a position. Listen in for Hough's insight around using improv to revolutionize corporate training and the need for skills like agility and creativity in our changing world.   Key Interview Takeaways Improv skills are vital in our changing world. Hough contends that aptitudes for listening, creativity and agility that are honed through improvisation give workers an edge, especially in industries experiencing disruption. Creating the best team possible means providing women with the full ability to engage. A push for equality in the workplace is not an issue of ‘men vs. women,' it's an issue of allowing every person their full input. The institutions set up to keep women quiet are starting to tumble, thanks to the brave women who have come forward to tell their stories. Recent progress around preventing sexual harassment in business, entertainment and politics is only possible because of women who are willing to stand up and speak out. Feminism is not about extremism, it's about equality. Though the word ‘feminist' seems to carry a negative connotation, the true definition indicates a belief that men and women should be paid the same, have the same right to an education, and be able to do the work they want. Diversity is not just about hiring people who look different. True inclusion means creating an environment where everyone feels wanted and valued. Connect with Karen Hough ImprovEdge Books by Karen Hough YES! Deck Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of us are well-intentioned and don't believe that we are biased toward others in any way. But it is naïve—delusional, even—to think that we don't harbor unconscious bias. In fact, the issue of inclusion is an incredibly complex one, and until we recognize those complications and actively pursue change, the ‘illusion of inclusion' will persist. Dr. Helen Turbull's interest in diversity and inclusion was ignited after her move from Scotland to the US, where issues of race are front and center. At a National Training Laboratories Conference, Dr. Turnbull was inspired by a teacher who suggested that nothing would change until the dominant culture stepped up to become true advocates. Dr. Turnbull saw this as a call-to-action, and pursued research around stereotype threat, covering and internalized oppression across cultures. Now Dr. Turnbull is a world-recognized thought leader in global inclusion and diversity. She has more than 25 years of experience assisting businesses in enhancing organizational capabilities and creating an inclusive environment. She has worked with a number of blue chip clients around the world, including Texas Instruments, JP Morgan Chase, and Citigroup Europe. In May of 2013, Dr. Turnbull spoke at TEDx on ‘The Illusion of Inclusion,' and she regularly keynotes of the topic of embedding an inclusive workplace culture in Australia, Asia, Europe, the UK, and the US. Today, Dr. Turnbull explains the ‘illusion of inclusion,' exploring the complexity of the issue and why organizations must embrace diversity initiatives as part of an ongoing process. She discusses the immutable forces at play, including the dynamics of the dominant culture, the impact of unconscious bias, and the degrees of differences within groups, as well as the permeable forces—affinity bias, assimilation and political correctness. Listen in to understand how Dr. Turnbull works with companies to get past the illusion of inclusion and make long-term commitments to ensure that all employees are valued and involved.   Key Interview Takeaways Nothing will change until the dominant culture steps up to become advocates for true inclusion. Until we begin to understand the complexity of the issue and actively pursue change together, challenges around diversity will persist. For diversity initiatives to work, organizations must be in it for the long haul. Dr. Turnbull argues that a two-hour workshop is not the solution. A company must embrace inclusion as part of an ongoing process. Inclusion is much more complex than people realize. The dynamics of the dominant culture, unconscious bias, and the degrees of differences within groups are all at play. Reframe political correctness as ‘polite consideration.' Recognize your own affinity bias and consciously work to develop a curiosity about others' stories. Companies hire for diversity, but manage for similarity. Many organizations have a diverse workforce, yet the assimilation model entrenched in workplace culture requires employees to minimize themselves in order to fit in. Connect with Dr. Helen Turnbull Human Facets Email drhelenturnbull@humanfacets.com Resources The Illusion of Inclusion: Global Inclusion, Unconscious Bias, and the Bottom Line by Helen Turnbull Dr. Turnbull's TED Talk: Inclusion, Exclusion, Illusion and Collusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women in male-dominated industries like tech, finance and law enforcement may feel like it's unacceptable to reveal any vulnerability at work. This leads to compartmentalization, having a ‘work self' that's different from the real person on the inside. But this simply isn't working. Not only does this approach make us seem unapproachable, it leads to burnout and perpetuates the myth that we have to behave a certain way in order to lead. Lisa Marie Platske had a ten-year career as a Federal law enforcement officer, where she was one of the fastest-promoted women in the US Customs Service. But the road to authentic leadership was not easy for Platske: At a leadership training course, she was informed—in front of the class—that she had scored a zero on an interpersonal skills inventory. This painful moment forced her to get clear about who she was and what she valued and led her to ‘design her own destiny,' becoming an authentic, vulnerable feminine leader. Platske leveraged the skills she honed designing curriculum and teaching leadership development at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center to create Upside Thinking, an international leadership training and consulting company. An award-winning leadership expert and high-energy speaker, Platske has coached multi-million-dollar entrepreneurs, startups, seasoned executives and non-profit leaders in 20-plus global industries. Simply put, she creates effective leaders. Today, Platske shares her journey from Federal law enforcement to entrepreneurship, exposing the not-so-glamorous side of her job with US Customs. She explains how a willingness to explore what wasn't working in her approach to leadership led her to find a new, more authentic way of showing up at work. Listen in and give yourself permission to be vulnerable, designing your own destiny as an authentic leader!   Key Interview Takeaways ‘Design your destiny' by getting clear on who you are and what you stand for. Platske had an eye-opening experience at a leadership training course, scoring a zero on an interpersonal skills inventory. That led her to look at what wasn't working and become a different kind of leader based on her values. Effective leaders are curious and vulnerable. Platske realized that her social introversion made people perceive her as unapproachable, so she made a change by getting curious about her co-workers and sharing more about who she was as a person. People value authenticity. Women in male-dominated industries tend to compartmentalize and be tough, effectively cutting off that ‘real' part of themselves. Platske argues that vulnerable feminine leadership is healthier and more effective. Connect with Lisa Marie Platske Upside Thinking Design Your Destiny Live Email lisamarie@upsidethinking.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The vast majority of us have talked about writing a book. Problem is, the vast majority of us never make time to sit down and get the words on the page. Christine Kloser got immersed in publishing when her husband decided to write a book involving interviews with Major League Baseball players. She pored over Dan Poynter's Self-Publishing Manual, learning the nuts and bolts of putting a book together to assist her husband in becoming a published author. At the same time, Kloser was involved in the leadership of the Network for Empowering Women Entrepreneurs, and she often heard members talk about becoming authors—yet fail to take action. She decided to apply her knowledge of the writing process and help these women get published: Kloser offered to compile the book if each woman would agree to write one chapter. That book, entitled Inspiration to Realization, made the 2005 Entrepreneur Magazine's list of top reads for women, and soon other women were begging Kloser for help in writing a book of their own. Inspired to create a company that would help people write transformational books, Kloser designed the Get Your Book Done process. Ten years later, she has trained 70,000 writers in more than 125 countries, serving as a master facilitator and trainer in the area of excavating your message and writing books that positively impact the world. She is an international speaker and the author of 13 books herself, including best-sellers and award-winners such as Conscious Entrepreneurs, The Freedom Formula, and Pebbles in the Pond. Today she describes the first steps in becoming a transformational author, the structure of her Get Your Book Done process, and why it's important to write without editing. Key Interview Takeaways The first step in writing a transformational book is to ask yourself what transformation you want for yourself, your reader, your business, and the world. Kloser recommends defining the change you want as a result of your book and writing for your ideal reader. Kloser's firm affords aspiring writers the opportunity to build the necessary foundation, develop an appropriate outline, and design a plan to sit down and write. Her online course, coaching practice and writing retreats guide clients through this eight-module process. You don't necessarily have to be a writer to be an author. If you have a message and you are willing to practice, you can write a book. Give yourself permission to write an SFD. Kloser compares the writing process to that of a potter at the wheel: The writer's ‘shitty first draft' is like the initial messy clump of clay. Once you get the words on the page, they can be shaped into something beautiful. Connect with Christine Kloser Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of us were moved by the 2017 Audi Super Bowl commercial featuring a girl racing a boxcar, while the inspiring voice over touted the company's commitment to gender equality. But as a consumer, how would you know whether the company really supports women's empowerment? Where could you go to find out about their policies around family leave or how many women serve on the board? Veteran creative director Kristi Faulkner teamed up with journalist Amy Cross to design the Gender Fair mark, a designation to boost consumer awareness of companies that truly support gender equality. (Spoiler Alert: Audi isn't one of them.) They are passionate about creating a shift in the marketplace, rewarding businesses that believe in and champion women employees, investors and clients, and inspiring business lacking the logo to make a change for the better. In addition to serving as founding partner of Gender Fair, Faulkner is the president of Womenkind, an agency that helps clients engage women as consumers via enhanced marketing messages that demonstrate a respect for women. During her 20-year career as an award-winning creative director at the most highly-regarded advertising agencies on Madison Avenue, Faulkner recognized a disconnect: The vast majority of products target women, yet women represent only 3% of the creative directors in the industry.  She co-founded Womenkind to change the way advertisers address women, and she continues to conceive and produce multi-media, multi-channel campaigns for blue-chip clients on a global stage. Today, Faulkner explains the metrics Gender Fair uses to rate companies, how she came to partner with Amy Cross on the project, and the trend for consumers to demonstrate preference based on shared social values. Listen in and learn how to use your purchasing power for good, supporting only those companies with a commitment to gender equality!   Key Interview Takeaways Gender Fair inspires consumers to support companies advancing gender equality. Businesses that demonstrate a real commitment to women in areas such as employee benefits, advertising, philanthropic initiatives and partnerships with women-owned vendors receive the Gender Fair mark—similar to the Organic or Fair Trade designations. Of the 200 companies evaluated by Gender Fair, only 15% have earned the Gender Fair designation. Companies are rated based on the UN Women's Empowerment Principles, and you can look up any company by sector through the Gender Fair website or smartphone app. Consumers build brand loyalty with companies that share their values in a meaningful way. 85% of Americans have a positive view of companies that support causes they care about, and 79% would switch from one brand to another if the company shared their social values. Womenkind is an advertising agency focused on bringing respect to women. Women in America make 85% of the purchasing decisions, yet 97% of creative directors are men. Faulkner points out that women buy more computers, cars and beer than men, yet female characters in commercials for these products are generally either sexualized or ignored. Put your money where your mouth is. Both Gender Fair and Womenkind promote a shift in consumerism by way of awareness. Women have a great deal of purchasing power, and where we choose to spend our money makes a difference. Connect with Kristi Faulkner Gender Fair Gender Fair on Twitter Womenkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There may not be anything wrong with a little healthy competition, but at the end of day, human beings are social creatures with a need to connect and build community. Natalie Franke is on a mission to transform the way creative entrepreneurs see each other, moving away from a model of rivalry and opposition to one of collaboration for the common good. Raised by a single mother, Natalie Franke started photographing weddings in high school to earn supplemental income. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Visual Studies, she built a photography business from the ground up and celebrated a great deal of success. But Franke was lonely, and she realized that the only people who would understand exactly what she was going through were her competitors. A self-proclaimed neuroscience nerd, Franke had been introduced to the discipline as part of the visual arts program in college, and she understood that the human brain was wired for connection and collaboration. She created Rising Tide to foster a spirit of community over competition with other creative entrepreneurs, starting small with coffee meetups in Annapolis. By 2015, the organization had grown to 12 cities along the eastern seaboard, and today it encompasses a community of 70,000 creative entrepreneurs—84% of whom are women—in 400 local chapters all over the world. On this episode of The Female Insight Zone, she shares the role neuroscience plays in how she thinks about business, the achievements of the Rising Tide community, and the speak up, stand up philosophy that fuels inclusiveness in the organization.   Key Interview Takeaways Humans are wired to be social creatures. The female brain, in particular, is equipped for collaboration, having four times more connections between the hemispheres. Small business owners may compete on a financial level, but it is mutually beneficial to collaborate for the common good. The Rising Tide Society was founded to allow entrepreneurs to connect and innovate, rather than just compete. Rising Tide has built a network that transcends business. In addition to providing entrepreneurs with the tools they need to rise, the community has evolved into a support system that galvanizes in times of need. Rising Tide grew from a desire to change the way small business owners see each other. Franke was lonely, and she realized that only her competitors would understand the struggles she faced as an entrepreneur. She conceived of Rising Tide in an effort to shift the perspective from a lens of scarcity to one of camaraderie. To promote inclusion, elevate the voices that are often overlooked. Rising Tide makes it a point to ensure that its lineups reflect the beauty and diversity of the community. Connect with Natalie Franke Rising Tide Society Natalie on Instagram Natalie on Facebook Natalie on Twitter nataliefranke.com Email natalie@nataliefranke.com Resources The Buying Brain: Secrets for Selling to the Subconscious Mind by AK Pradeep Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘Don't grow a wishbone where your backbone ought to be.' Rather than running from conflict, Marilyn Suttle suggests that if you are willing to listen when a customer or colleague is angry, there is a real opportunity to grow and strengthen the relationship. Suttle is a customer service and communication expert who is known for helping teams make ‘Suttle Shifts' in thinking to achieve breakthrough success with customers. Her clients include Ford Motor, American Axle, and Visteon, among others. She is also a sought-after international speaker, presenting to global leadership teams with a focus on customer service and composure under pressure. Suttle is the best-selling author of the customer service guides Who's Your Gladys? and the 2016 release, Taming Gladys! Her advice has been featured on a number of well-known podcasts and TV news spots and in publications like Psychology Today, Fast Company, and US News and World Report. Today she explains how to reframe conflict, why political discourse shuts down the frontal cortex, and how simple changes can have a big-time impact. Listen in to identify your Gladys—and what you can learn from her!   Key Interview Takeaways  Your ‘Gladys' is the customer who points out problem areas. She requires more patience and effort, but you need her because Gladys is willing to speak up when others don't. Look for the simple changes that make the biggest impact. For example, your entire team should be aligned with the same definition of ‘response time.' Customers crave consistency of experience. Create a culture of customer service. Leadership must demonstrate customer service and model it internally. Don't grow a wishbone where your backbone ought to be. Conflict, well handled, leads to stronger relationships. Rather than avoiding it, shift your mindset to focus on staying calm and really listening. People don't always tell you when they're upset. If you are dealing with a global team, for instance, ask in advance what parts of your PowerPoint slides might be offensive, confusing or off-putting in translation. Political discourse requires that we manage the fear. When fear goes up, intelligence plummets—shutting down the frontal cortex. Stopping to breath reactivates your logic sensors, shifts your brain chemistry and puts you in a creative space. Don't take ‘grumbling' personally. For some, grumbling is part of their process when faced with a task they don't want to do. When you get upset and interfere with the process, you create unnecessary conflict. Connect with Marilyn Suttle marilynsuttle.com Marilyn on Twitter Marilyn on Facebook Who's Your Gladys on Facebook Resources Who's Your Gladys? How to Turn Even the Most Difficult Customer into Your Biggest Fan by Marilyn Suttle and Lori Jo Vest Taming Gladys! The Busy Leader's Guide to Creating Fierce Customer Loyalty by Lori Jo Vest and Marilyn Suttle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Very rarely does a sale simply fall into your lap. Sales is a process that requires patience, time and follow-up as you build long-term relationships with prospects. And if your company protects those relationships, you will be rewarded with a predictable pipeline moving forward. Caryn Kopp is the Chief Door Opener at Kopp Consulting, known for helping her clients secure initial meetings with high-level decision-makers at top-tier companies like Pfizer, GE, Merck, Time Warner, Target, and CBS, among many others. Kopp's team of experienced senior business developers assist clients in finding the right prospects, and then they follow the sales team through the process. Kopp Consulting is recognized on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest growing private firms in the country. Kopp is a best-selling author and nationally recognized speaker who has appeared in Inc., Fortune Magazine, Forbes and Newsweek. She has been named one of the Top 25 NJ Leading Women Entrepreneurs as well as Enterprising Woman of the Year. Kopp is passionate about helping business leaders understand the blind spots in the sales process and offering critical strategies for getting Business Development right. Today she shares the details of her Door Opener service, how to overcome objections, and the importance of understanding your sales cycle. Listen and learn to create a culture where follow-up is valued and to develop a predictable pipeline.   Key Interview Takeaways Ensure that your messaging doesn't suck. Differentiate your marketing copy (which is meant for the masses) from your sales copy (which speaks to a single person), and use the right language to move prospects from awareness to action. Anticipate objections and know the answers. For example, if your prospect already has a contract in your area, find out when the contract review period happens and whether the company is happy with their current provider. Understand ‘sales cyclenomics.' A true sales cycle involves a series of conversations with a number of stakeholders, and that takes time. If you don't really know the length of your sales cycle, everything you judge your metrics against may be incorrect. 98% of salespeople give up before the sales cycle has run its course. A sales team must protect their pipeline by thinking strategically and maintaining relationships-in-progress. Create a culture where follow-up is valued. If your company only compensates salespeople for meeting a quota at the end of Q1, that doesn't lend itself to building long-term relationships. And you need long-term relationships to build a predictable pipeline moving forward. Kopp Consulting's Door Opener Service helps companies develop the right messaging to get the tough doors open. A senior level business developer then watches how the salespeople carry the ball from that initial meeting through the process, and report any issues they may uncover along the way. Connect with Caryn Kopp Kopp Consulting Kopp Consulting Blog Resources Biz Dev Done Right: Demystifying the Sales Process and Achieving the Results You Want by Caryn Kopp and Carl Gould The Path to the Cash Manual by Caryn Kopp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Women want to be treated equally, not identically.” There is no shame in doing things #LikeAGirl, and Judy Hoberman's tagline sums up that sentiment quite well. Of course, women want the same opportunities as their male counterparts, but we do things differently—and that's an asset, not a liability. Hoberman has designed a series of workshops, seminars and coaching programs that put a positive spin on sales. With 30-plus years in the industry, she is adept at understanding the gender differences in management, recruiting and sales, and Hoberman has shared that expertise via appearances on CNN Headlines, ABC, CBS, CW33 and Good Morning Texas. She was recently named as a finalist in the Women of Visionary Influence Mentor of the Year. Hoberman serves as president of the company she created, Selling in a Skirt, and hosts a weekly radio show of the same name on The Women 4 Women Network. She is a sought-after speaker and a prolific author, delivering a 2016 TEDx talk on the topic of pre-judgement. Today she explains the SKIRT philosophy, why we need to incorporate the word ‘strategy' in professional conversations, and the secret sauce for making diversity initiatives work.   Key Interview Takeaways Hoberman is passionate about helping women live the Selling in a SKIRT philosophy. It encompasses standing out, identifying our keys to success, getting inspired, producing results, and practicing effective time management. Women want to be treated equally, not identically. We want the same opportunities as our male counterparts, along with the freedom to do the job our way. But prejudice is real, and women may have to be explicit in letting people know we are intelligent and capable. Use the word ‘strategy.' Aggressive women are often categorized in a negative way. Reframe the perception, i.e.: strategic thinking demonstrates intelligence and provides insight. Take a step back from pre-judgement and correct misconceptions. We all make judgements within the first .2 seconds of meeting someone. It is important to be conscious of this fact and give people the opportunity to show us who they really are. For diversity initiatives to succeed, an organization must 1) want it for the right reasons, 2) create a culture that is inviting, and 3) communicate effectively. To be truly inclusive, a company must ask employees why they are there and what their journey looks like—and then help them get there. Words matter when it comes to attracting diversity. For example, a job listing with words like collaboration and advancement is appealing to women. Connect with Judy Hoberman sellinginaskirt.com Selling in a Skirt on Facebook Selling in a Skirt on Twitter Judy Hoberman on LinkedIn Resources Always #LikeAGirl Video Judy Hoberman on TEDx: The Greatest Missed Opportunity Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell Selling in a Skirt: The Secrets Women Don't Know They Know about Sales by Judy Hoberman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a perfect world, we love the work we do. We find a career that affords us the opportunity to succeed, to be happy, to make a significant social impact. Today's guest argues that this kind of serendipity is possible for every one of us, and the secret lies in clarifying your purpose and designing a business model in alignment with that purpose. Nicola Grace, the Mission Mentor, is an award-winning strategist and bestselling author. She helps entrepreneurs, professionals and visionaries monetize their life's purpose to transform the world and build their legacy. Grace leverages her skill as an intuitive visionary to support business owners, social entrepreneurs and thought leaders in defining their mission and making a lasting impact. Grace credits her own mission with seeing her through a number of obstacles: She has overcome cancer and saved New Zealand's billion-dollar natural health industry from ruin. Today she shares her secret sauce with the Female Insight Zone audience, explaining the benefits of an inside-out approach to business, how mindset can prevent us from realizing our true purpose, and why the business model comes before marketing. Listen in and learn how to monetize your mission and make a meaningful contribution to humanity.   Key Interview Takeaways  You must clarify (and then monetize) your purpose to contribute to humanity. Everyone has something they are here to do, and if you can clearly define your mission, Grace contends that passion will lead to the success of your business. Take an inside-out approach to business. In the 1950's, a business was 48% likely to fail. Today, a business is 90% likely to fail, despite the fact that we know more than ever before. At issue is the business model. Start with the idea of how you will contribute to the planet, and that calling will keep you moving forward when things get difficult. Monetization is bigger than the exchange of products and services for money. Consider the legacy you want to leave behind, and leverage that to diversify—and stand the test of time. If you're struggling to define your purpose, examine the options you are discounting. Grace argues that our minds often prevent us from discovering our mission by acting as a baseball bat, whacking away ideas because we can't imagine we're capable. Define your business model first, market yourself second. Too many people start marketing before they have really ironed out their purpose. Grace suggests that you can't gain traction without a clear foundation in place. Connect with Nicola Grace NicolaGrace.com MonetizeYourLifeMission.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We work very hard to make the world think we have it all together. From the outside looking in, a successful woman with a good corporate job and a solid network of friends and family seems to be living the dream. It is possible, however, to have your ducks in a row – yet still feel like something is missing. What if you could create a business of your own, doing work that inspires you? Jessica Nazarali had the perfect life. She had just gotten engaged, and she had a great job in business development for an IT company, selling reward and recognition software. But as sat in her kitchen chatting with her best friend, Jessica had to admit that something was missing. She didn't feel as if her work made a difference, and though she genuinely liked her colleagues, the prospect of spending another 20 or 30 years at the company was downright depressing. In 2011, Nazarali started a blog to share her passion for health, wellness, and personal development with an online audience. She gained traction quickly, and after 18 months, health professionals who followed her blog were asking for advice about developing an online presence to attract clients. Nazarali leveraged her understanding how to grow a following in the online space to launch a consulting business, and seven months in, she was making enough money to quit her corporate job and build a business of her own, doing the work she truly loves. Today she explains the offerings available through It Girl Academy, including the Coaching and Business Mastery Certifications. Listen in to learn how Nazareli became an entrepreneur, and how she can help you develop a marketing plan for your online business or become a coach yourself!   Key Interview Takeaways If your life looks perfect from the outside, but you still feel like something is missing, it's time for self-reflection. While she was still working a corporate job, Nazarali started her blog to focus on health, wellness and personal development. Her experience in the online space introduced her to entrepreneurship and coaching – and eventually led to her current work with It Girl Academy. If you're leaving a dependable corporate job to become an entrepreneur, build your business as a side hustle before taking the full-time plunge into self-employment. Nazarali wrote her blog for 18 months before consulting opportunities began to present themselves. She maintained her full-time job for another seven months and didn't walk away from the corporate world until she was consistently making $3,000 to $7,000 a month through her consulting business. The It Girl offerings include a coaching certification, a business development program, and a personal development package. While the coaching certification program focuses on interpersonal skills, the business development coaching package emphasizes evergreen marketing and offers entrepreneurs a method for attracting consistent clients without the stress of a big launch. When people approach you for advice, PAY ATTENTION. Nazarali had gained traction quickly as a blogger, and 18 months in she had two people (in a two-week period) ask for help setting up a blog of their own to attract clients. She took this a sign and offered consulting services in her newsletter, selling 21 packages in eight weeks! Connect with Jessica Nazarali JessicaNazarali.com It Girl Academy It Girl Radio Jessica on Facebook Jessica on Twitter Jessica on... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quick, what's the first word that comes to mind when you hear the words tax office? I'm going to take a wild guess and assume that you didn't say fun. But there is one unique retail tax preparation firm that was founded on the idea of creating an atmosphere of fun in its franchises, and the creative marketing campaign they employ complements this idea – while establishing brand recognition that outshines the competition. Martha O'Gorman has been in the retail tax business for over 25 years. She spent seven years as the Director of Communications for Jackson Hewitt before co-founding Liberty Tax in 1997. She has served as the CMO for the past 18 years, leading their unique, community-minded marketing strategy to build Liberty's customer base and recruit new franchisees. O'Gorman mentors franchise owners to market their small business on a budget, and the Liberty Tax wavers appear not just on busy streets during tax season, but also at community events like fairs and festivals to keep the brand in the public eye throughout the year. Liberty Tax has 4,000 offices in the United States and Canada, and they prepare more than two million tax returns annually. The company's distinct approach to franchising offers a time-tested system of best practices to ensure the success of its franchisees and the satisfaction of its customers. Liberty has been ranked as one of the top franchises on Entrepreneur magazine's annual Franchise 500 list every year since 1998, earning a Best of the Best distinction in 2016. Today O'Gorman explains the shared philosophy of fun of the Liberty Tax founders and how it led to the company's continued success. She also covers the details of the Liberty Tax creative marketing strategy, why its franchise model is ideal for moms and husband-wife teams, and how it supports its franchisees via a roadmap of proven systems.   Key Interview Takeaways  Find something that you love to do and throw passion at it. O'Gorman attributes the success of Liberty Tax to this tenant of its founders. The best marketing tactics often happen by mistake. The Liberty Tax wavers originated when a franchisee asked to borrow the Statue of Liberty costume used in a commercial to attract customers. The wavers are an integral part of the Liberty Tax marketing strategy, bringing in one customer every two hours! Liberty Tax seeks to put the fun back in taxes. Customers respond to the image of the startup as a comfortable place to get your taxes done in an environment less intimidating than the traditional tax office. The Liberty Tax franchisee model is ideal for moms and husband-wife teams. The flexibility afforded by the model along with the seasonal nature of the work allows franchisees to work very hard from January through April (while children are in school), then spend time with their families in the summer. Being a franchisee gives entrepreneurs a roadmap. Liberty Tax eliminates the guesswork for its franchisees, providing the systems necessary to be successful. The creative marketing campaign employed by Liberty Tax keeps the company in the public eye all year long and contributes to its brand recognition. The Liberty Tax wavers do appearances at fairs, festivals and even schools, giving presentations about the Statue of Liberty. Connect with Martha O'Gorman Liberty Tax Liberty Tax Franchise Site LinkedIn Profile Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is true that money can't buy happiness… But if you've ever felt the stress of struggling to pay the bills, you might argue that having enough cash on hand to cover baseline expenses can, in fact, buy you the freedom to pursue happiness. Makaylah Rogers has always been a little bit of a rebel. When it came time to follow the rules and choose a career path, Rogers felt trapped by the idea of going to college. She took a gap year to consider her options and ultimately decided that no university had a degree plan for her true passion – humanitarianism. This led her to forge her own path to achieve success and financial freedom, and she has pursued a diverse career that includes entrepreneurship, real estate sales and keynote speaking. A thought leader for her generation, Rogers has launched a number of startups. Her current venture is MindShift.money, an online platform that is changing the way we think about money. As Co-Founder and CEO, Makaylah is on a mission to educate the public through MindShift.money's free content and training programs, shaking things up with a no-BS approach to finances and establishing a new normal. Listen in as she shares her philosophy around money, the two keys to financial freedom, and how MindShift.money can help you get out of the rat race. Learn to see your financial situation in a new way and design a fulfilling life – that isn't about money.   Key Interview Takeaways  MindShift.money is a movement that seeks to create a new financial normal. Rogers questions why we are so driven by money, yet afraid to talk about it, and she is on a mission to offer the public financial literacy and rewrite the rules about life and money. Life should not be about money. Life should be about finding fulfillment, and money should simply be handled by the systems we've put in place. Financial freedom is a number. If you need $5,000 a month to cover baseline expenses, you should have a source of income that provides $5,000 a month – that you are not trading for your time. Financial freedom is about cashflow. Net worth is less important than how much money you have working for you, so that you can do what truly inspires you. MindSet.money employs a multi-tiered approach to getting out of the rat race. 96% of people never reach financial security, so Rogers' site provides 1) free content to help them think differently about money, and 2) training programs to guide them through a customized step-by-step process within a private community. Entrepreneurs must create financial freedom outside of their business. Too many business owners don't have a consistent personal income from their business, so MindShift.money requires them to start with the end in mind, and create a plan tailored to their notion of financial freedom. Connect with Makaylah MindShift.money Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chances are you've been there, watching someone else get the promotion or the study abroad opportunity or the picture with Jay Leno that you really wanted, but didn't have the courage to ask. Perhaps you don't want to be seen as greedy or aggressive… But the truth is that making the big ask builds relationships and establishes trust. Today's guest is ready to help you ‘get your ask in gear' and make those outrageous requests. Linda Swindling is a ‘recovering' employment attorney who spent more than a decade honing her skills in negotiation, mediation and dispute resolution before founding the executive development company Journey On in 2000. She has spent the last 17 years working with business professionals to create better working relationships. A recognized expert in negotiation and strategic consulting, Swindling has worked with prominent organizations such as MetLife, the American Heart Association, and the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. A Board-Certified Coach as well as a Certified Speaking Professional, Swindling often serves as a keynote speaker and breakout presenter at regional and international conferences. She brought her expertise to the TEDxSMU stage, where she shared the principles of her latest book, Ask Outrageously: The Secret to Getting What You Really Want. Today she explains how to practice the big ask, the best approach to negotiating a raise, and how to deal with being seen as ‘aggressive.' Learn to get into the habit of asking, even when you are afraid, and start capitalizing on opportunities to get what you want.   Key Interview Takeaways Listen to what people say you do well and capitalize on it. It took 22 years of feedback for Swindling to realize that teaching people to ‘ask outrageously' was her talent. Get into the habit of asking. Practice negotiation at garage sales and flea markets. You'll be surprised how often it works! Determine who is the decision-maker. Go into a situation (e.g.: at the department store) seeking out the person who can say ‘yes.' If you're not hearing ‘no,' you're not asking for enough. When you are told, ‘No, I really can't do that,' ask one more time. Practice until you are bullet proof to the word ‘no.' When asking for a raise, talk about what you bring to the table moving forward. Rather than listing past accomplishments, explain the value you provide now and how you will continue to generate revenue and make the boss look good. If you are labeled as ‘aggressive' for making the big ask, rephrase the comment. ‘Did it sound aggressive, or did it sound like leadership?' We sabotage ourselves when we don't use the right language. Speak your strengths. Remind your colleagues – out loud – about the skills you bring to the table and the role you play in the organization. Ask for forgiveness rather than permission. If you feel you must clear you actions with a supervisor, articulate your plan and ask if you're missing anything. Courageous people feel the fear, but ask anyway. 33% of people who want something big but don't ask for it watch their opportunity go to someone else, so work through your fear and go for it! Connect with Linda Swindling lindaswindling.com Text ‘ASK' to 42828  Resources Linda's TED X Talk Ask Outrageously: The Secret to Getting What You Really Want by Linda Byars Swindling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've been taught to dream big, empowered to believe that you can accomplish absolutely anything. And then you get to work, and they've got you pushing paper. It's no surprise that companies struggle to retain Millennials who are uninspired and don't feel as if their work matters. The CEO of Double Forte PR & Digital Marketing, Lee Caraher is a lauded communication strategist, known for her practical solutions to difficult problems. She is a recognized expert in building high-performing intergenerational teams, and her work as a speaker and author seeks to demonstrate how businesses can shift the definition of company loyalty and embrace the qualities of different generations. Caraher gained this expertise the hard way, failing to retain newly hired Millennials at Double Forte when they entered the workforce in 2011. Unwilling to buy into the negative stereotypes associated with Millennials in the workplace, she created a culture where Millennials, Xers and Boomers could thrive together, and she shares this method in the book Millennials & Management. Caraher's next venture, The Boomerang Principle, hit bookshelves in April 2017. Today she discusses how the concept of loyalty has shifted in the current corporate climate and the five principles at the heart of her strategy to retain Millennials.   Key Interview Takeaways Articulate your company's rally cry. Millennials need to understand why you exist as a company and what they will learn from working with you. Provide context for each new project and ask for input. Address why the work is important and discuss each person's role. Establish a culture of appreciation. Teams who receive meaningful positive feedback outperform those who don't. Millennials anticipate having up to six careers. What an Xer or Boomer might see as job-hopping, Millennials see as career-building. Loyalty to a particular company is an antiquated idea. Rather than worrying about employees leaving, focus on how to make them as productive as possible while they are there. Work to inspire loyalty after an employee has moved on. The most impactful person in a recruiting situation is the former employee who posts a positive review of your company. Connect with Lee Caraher leecaraher.com Follow on Twitter Facebook Instagram Resources The Boomerang Principle: Inspiring Lifetime Loyalty from Your Employees by Lee Caraher Millennials & Management: The Essential Guide to Making It Work at Work by Lee Caraher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  We all do a certain amount of code switching, acting and speaking the way we're ‘supposed to' for the sake of others, as opposed to truly being ourselves. And though we may understand the benefits of a ‘to thine own self be true' philosophy, it is easier said than done in a world where your authentic self may or may not be accepted. Today's guest has spent her career providing a safe space where lesbians have the freedom to be out and authentic as they vacation in locales all over the world. Jill Cruse has been with Olivia Travel for the past 28 years, serving as the Vice President of Guest Experience. Olivia trips have afforded her the opportunity to see the world, and she has served as Cruise Director for more than 280 excursions and visited all seven continents. The company began as Olivia Records, a label exclusively for women. In 1990, it shifted its focus to the travel industry, and since then Olivia has served nearly 200,000 women on cruise, resort, adventure and riverboat vacations all over the world. The first cruises featured entertainment by artists from the Olivia record label, and they continue to deliver elite speakers and performers, including Patti LaBelle, Lili Tomlin and Billie Jean King. Cruse pursues photography as a hobby, and she has received much recognition for her work, including a first-place win in a national competition for InterContinental Hotels/National Geographic. She also serves as an OWN Ambassador, promoting the Oprah network via social media and attending several shows with Oprah herself. Cruse appeared as a special guest on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday, and worked on the promo team for the Belief series. Today she shares why it is essential to have a community where you are empowered to be your authentic self, how Olivia Travel is changing global attitudes toward lesbians, and the necessity for activism in the current political climate.   Key Interview Takeaways Being part of a community in which you feel comfortable enough to be completely who you are is an incredibly empowering experience. Olivia Travel affords lesbians the freedom to be their authentic selves as they travel the world. The best way to change perceptions of the LGBT community is to share your authentic selves as a community. Cruse explains that people from all over the world have a new attitude toward lesbians as a result of working with Olivia travelers. Cruse is a proponent of living with intention and gratitude, as your authentic self. These principles led her to work as an OWN Ambassador, promoting the Oprah Winfrey Network and programming she believes in like Super Soul Sunday and the Belief series. Though many young women feel comfortable traveling with the general population and don't see a need for the safe space provided by companies like Olivia Travel, Cruse feels that the service is as necessary as ever in the current political climate. What the world needs is kindness – and activism. Olivia Travel has incorporated an element of political engagement in its travel experiences, holding a leadership summit on its last cruise to discuss the current political landscape and what women can accomplish together. Connect with Jill Cruse Olivia Travel Olivia Travel on Twitter Olivia Travel on Instagram 1-800-631-6277   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘When I have the money, I'll work with a financial planner.' There is a lot of fear and stress around money, and a disproportionate number of women are intimidated by the prospect of working with a financial planner. It's never fun to be judged, and many of us operate under the mistaken notion that financial planning is reserved for the rich. Today's guest would argue that financial planners can help people in any income bracket, at any stage of their lives. Brittney Castro is the founder and CEO of Financially Wise Women, a financial planning firm that seeks to teach women and couples the art of managing their money the fun and simple way. She created the firm in an effort to help women get their financial lives in order, using an approach that is smart, compassionate and nonjudgmental. Castro is a Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, Accredited Asset Management Specialist, and a sought-after speaker and resource for national media outlets such as CNN, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Entrepreneur. Castro also serves as the Chase Financial Education Ambassador to promote financial literacy, and a CFP Pro spokeswoman on the CFP Board campaign to educate more women and minorities about the career of financial planning. Today she shares how working with female clients allows her to be more authentic in a male-dominated profession, why a career in financial planning is a good fit for women, and the benefits of getting your financial life in order regardless of the size of your bank account.   Key Interview Takeaways Because women speak differently about their financial goals, it may be beneficial for female clients to work with a female financial planner. Castro finds that she can be more authentic with her female clients, approaching the topic of money from a uniquely female perspective. The CFP campaign to foster diversity in the profession seeks to educate women and minorities about financial planning as a viable career option. As a spokesperson for the campaign, Castro leverages her own journey, inspiring the next generation to consider a career in financial planning. The benefits of being a financial planner include a flexible work schedule as well as the opportunity to make a significant impact in people's lives. Castro sees the career as a good fit for women, and hopes to change the bleak statistic that less than 20% of CFPs are female. The process of sitting down with a financial planner involves three major components: 1) An initial consultation call, 2) Data, strategy and implementation meetings to build a budget and educate clients about their options, and 3) Review meetings to assess progress and address changes. Financial planners can help people in any income bracket, at any stage of their lives. You don't have to be a millionaire to benefit from the advice of a professional. Designing a financial plan and implementing systems around your money provides freedom, stability, clarity and peace of mind. Connect with Brittney Castro financiallywisewomen.com Follow on Twitter Resources Financial Planning Demystified Blog Post Free Discovery Session Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices