The Savvy Session: Recent Episodes
Paula Kircher & Kirsten Ramos
The Savvy Session podcast is about Business, Life & Fun. A place for us to share our stories and connect with other women & entrepreneurs as we learn & grow as Savvy Business Professionals.
In today's fast-paced world, how we connect with ourselves and each other greatly impacts our productivity and well-being.
Join us for an insightful conversation with Emma Miele, an ICF-accredited coach with a master’s in Transformational Coaching and Leadership. Emma is the founder of The Breathing Room, and has nearly seven years of experience in being-based coaching.
What is Being-Based Coaching?
- Focuses on authenticity and self-awareness
- Goes beyond solving external problems or setting goals
- Helps understand our physical reactions, emotional states, and internal judgments
- Aims to build a strong relationship with oneself for deeper connections with others
Learn how these practices can help lead to a better understanding of yourself and foster deeper, more meaningful connections in your personal and professional life.
Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:
The Impact of Self-Awareness
- Enhances understanding of interactions with others
- Promotes honesty about emotions and experiences
- Creates a safe space for open and honest communication
Authentic Relationships
- Uncovers and values our true selves
- Fosters relationships built on trust and mutual respect
- Presents a truer version of oneself to others
The Power of Presence
- Enhances the quality of interactions and relationships
- Enhances the quality of interactions and relationships
- Promotes active listening and thoughtful responses
Practical Techniques for Teams
- Understands natural operating styles of team members
- Builds supportive structures aligning with team strengths
- Reduces misunderstandings and friction within the team
Emma is an ICF-accredited coach, with a Master's degree in Transformational Coaching and Leadership, and over seven years of experience in the coaching field. After spending a decade in the corporate financial space, Emma began to understand that in our hectic lives, it's all too easy to lose touch with our true desires and motivations.
Bringing together the skills she developed in the first part of her career, she founded The Breathing Room LLC, Coaching and Facilitating with the vision of creating a space for her clients to slow down, reflect, and connect with their inner wisdom.
Through her coaching, Emma supports work teams to collaborate more efficiently, aspiring managers to develop valuable communication skills, entrepreneurs to realize the ROI of authenticity, and individuals to discover their unique paths toward success and fulfillment.
You can connect with Emma Miele here:
Website: https://findyourbreathingroom.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-miele/
Let's Hang Out!: https://calendly.com/emmaemiele
Are you an entrepreneur or small business owner looking for authentic ways to attract your ideal clients?
Join us for an insightful conversation featuring the incredibly talented Chelsie Tamms, an award-winning artist and branding expert, who is known for helping clients visually express their passion projects & brands through impactful visuals that connect on a deeper level.
Chelsie has built a values-driven business that supports local causes and empowers small businesses to shine.
Here are 5 key takeaways from our conversation:
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The unconventional path Chelsie took by starting her own business straight out of college after winning startup funding, bypassing the traditional 9-to-5 corporate job.
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The importance of pursuing work that aligns with your personal values and passions, as it can lead to more meaningful impact.
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The power of intentional and thoughtful design to help organizations effectively communicate their uniqueness, connect with audiences, and raise awareness for their missions.
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The valuable advice to reach out directly to potential clients or partners you admire, even if they seem unattainable at first, to explore collaborations.
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The need to hold yourself accountable as a business owner to continued growth and learning, while also defining success on your own authentic terms aligned with your purpose.
Chelsie is proof that you can build a values-driven business focused on creativity + passion. Her example gives fellow female entrepreneurs inspiration to stay true to your purpose.
Chelsie Tamms is an artist, educator, and entrepreneur. She founded Lettering Works in 2016, combining her love of hand-lettering with her expertise in marketing. Since then, she’s grown her business to offer custom branding packages, courses for artists, and wholesale products and merchandise—all with the mission to bring more creativity into her community and beyond. She is especially drawn to cause-driven projects surrounding mental health, chronic illness, and underrepresented communities.
You can connect with Chelsie Tamms here:
Website: https://www.letteringworks.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsietamms/
Dr. Sina Smith had dreamed of being a surgeon since she was 5 years old. She went through years of intense medical training to achieve that goal. However, close to finishing her surgical residency, she suffered a sudden injury that changed the course of her career.
After over a decade of medical school and training, Dr. Smith woke up one morning unable to move her right arm. Despite treatment, tests, and time, she did not regain full function. This meant she could not continue her surgical training.
Devastated, Dr. Smith had to ask herself - now what?
Around this time, Dr. Smith tried acupuncture to treat her injury. She was amazed to find that it helped with her arm's function and her pain. She also found the emotional release profoundly powerful. This mind-body connection fascinated Dr. Smith and led her to pivot into studying acupuncture and functional medicine.
Now Dr. Smith helps patients as a licensed acupuncturist and functional medicine doctor. She focuses on complex, chronic health issues that conventional medicine doesn't always resolve - things like:
- Migraines
- IBS
- Menstrual problems
- Sleep issues
Her passion is uncovering the root cause and puzzles of each patient’s health picture.
An area Dr. Smith feels strongly about is nutrition. She shares practical tips for using food to control inflammation and pain. Her advice? Skip processed foods, shop the perimeter of the grocery store, and eat more omega-3s!
Even now, Dr. Smith continues learning new healing modalities like culinary medicine and homeopathy. She believes there are always new directions to explore in helping people achieve full health.
Dr. Smith's story shows that major pivots can lead to meaningful work. Her injury may have ended one dream, but it sparked the passion that guides her today. Through an openness to explore beyond the traditional path, she found her true calling.
Dr. Sina Leslie Smith is an international speaker, medical doctor, author, and educator who discovered acupuncture after pain and paralysis of her arm left her unable to be a general surgeon. Amazed by the power of traditional East Asian medicine, she became a licensed acupuncturist and over the years has mastered integrative medicine, culinary medicine, homeopathy, and functional medicine. In addition to her MD, Dr. Smith has earned three Masters degrees—Physiology and Biophysics, Medical Education, and Acupuncture—and has completed a Fellowship in Surgical Education.
She has delivered over 100 invited talks, workshops, and courses for conventional and alternative medical schools, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and governmental agencies, including the US Department of Defense and Walter Reed Medical Center. Dr. Smith was the founding Director of Integrative and Culinary Medicine at SIU School of Medicine, has been on faculty at several other medical and acupuncture schools, and has served on the boards of multiple state and national organizations.
She is the author of the book, “Demystifying Acupuncture: Modern Answers About Ancient Medicine.” Dr. Smith is the founder and medical director of Chicago Healing Center, offers courses and workshops online and around Chicagoland, is passionate about empowering people to understand how their bodies work, and emphatically believes that food is our best medicine.
You can connect with Dr. Sina Smith here:
Website: https://sinasmithmd.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinasmithmd/
We are buzzing with excitement for the upcoming The Savvy Summit on May 23rd in Chicago. We're all about empowering women to lead fulfilling careers AND lives!
On today's episode, we are sharing the scoop on one of our amazing keynote speakers - Beryl Greenberg, an accomplished executive and career coach. She’s turning the tides and helping women get "unstuck" in their careers and lives to pursue more fulfilling paths.
Do you feel stuck in your career or life? Unable to make a change or move forward, even though you want to? You're not alone. Many accomplished professionals get stuck in limiting perspectives that hold them back from achieving their goals.
Beryl understands feeling stuck all too well from her own career pivots. Now, with 15+ years of coaching experience, she helps women get unstuck so they can create the life and career they want.
Here are some key highlights from our conversation:
Embrace Your Pivot Points:
- Whether it's moving from one industry to another or stepping into a new role, recognize these moves as opportunities for expansion and self-discovery.
Analyzing Common Pain Points:
- "I only know how to do one thing."
- "I'm skilled in many areas—what should I focus on?"
Shift Your Perspective:
- Sounding stuck often means you need a new viewpoint.
- Take the time to understand this feeling of stagnancy.
Strategies to Get Unstuck:
- Introspect to realize what 'stuck' truly is for you.
- Use these realizations to see your situation with new eyes.
Beryl is a certified coach, leadership facilitator and group coaching leader in private practice. She works with individuals and groups privately and within companies, as well as leads groups through CHIEF, the women’s executive community.
Her career story involves two major career transitions for both career progression and lifestyle reasons: from advertising agency director to an executive recruiter and from executive recruiter to executive coach/solopreneur.
Her coaching philosophy is driven by the bedrock of self-awareness, clarity of vision, and uncovering internal obstacles. While she meets each client where they are at, she brings an order and framework to her coaching engagements that supports transformational progress and outcomes.
Beryl's next GET UNSTUCK cohort is forming now for the week of May 6 start!
GET UNSTUCK is a group coaching experience designed to support advertising and marketing professionals who are looking to make a career transition but feel stuck on how to make it happen.
- Perhaps you are in a job search and are not getting the results you want
- Maybe you desperately want to make a change and don't know where or how to start
- Possibly you are unclear on the direction you want to take your career
- Consider you know what you want but just haven't been able to make time for it
The key to addressing these situations really starts in a surprising way, and it's not with re-writing your resume or applying to jobs online. It's about shifting your mindset! In turn, you learn how to achieve your career goals with ease instead of stress.
Check out this link for more information. https://forms.gle/9oU779aGLRZ1RZwr5
You can connect with Beryl here:
Website: https://coachberyl.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berylgreenberg/
We are here to spill the tea on one of our stellar keynote speakers for the upcoming The Savvy Summit on May 23rd in Chicago. Jess Feldt, is a certified women's leadership coach who's all about self-compassion as a superpower!
Did you know that self-compassion can unlock doors you never knew existed? Jess has dedicated her coaching to empower women in mastering this art. As women, we juggle roles that span galaxies - and Jess gets that. Can't wait to dive into her insights at The Savvy Summit!
Jess emphasizes that self-compassion isn't about taking it easy; it's about giving yourself permission to succeed, to fail, and to thrive regardless. At The Savvy Summit, expect to explore strategies to turn that inner critique into your loudest cheerleader.
Many women feel pressure to perfectly balance caring for family while also leaning into ambitious careers. The notion that we can seamlessly "do it all" leaves many of us overwhelmed. Jess coined a motto that resonates - "screw the shoulds". We all sometimes make choices because we feel we "should," not because we actually want to. Giving ourselves permission to let go of societal expectations creates space to get clear on what WE really want.
Here are some key highlights from our conversation:
- Break free from societal expectations and 'shoulds' to pursue true happiness and fulfillment.
- Embrace work-life integration and empower yourself through intentional decision-making.
- Prioritize self-compassion to shape a positive mindset and sustainable self-care routine.
- Define meaningful relationships and grow both personally and professionally.
Early bird alert! If you're as excited as we are about learning & networking at The Savvy Summit, grab your tickets before April 22nd to snag that early bird special. It's not just about savings; it's about securing your space for growth among remarkable leaders.
Get your tickets here: https://www.thesavvysession.com/thesavvysummit
Jess Feldt is a Certified Life and Leadership Coach who helps career-focused working parents create their own versions of success. Her clients are C-suite executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs who want to nurture both their careers and families without the guilt.
Jess believes in the freedom to live life on your own terms and empowers each of her clients to figure out what this looks like for them.
She draws on her training and experience in organizational psychology, change management, and leadership development. Jess Feldt Coaching offers one-on-one coaching, group programs, and organizational workshops, and is the co-host of The Tightrope: Balancing Career, Motherhood, and Everything In Between podcast.
Learn more about Jess' Mastermind Group Program: https://www.jessfeldtcoaching.com/mastermind
You can connect with Jess here:
Website: https://www.jessfeldtcoaching.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicajaefeldt/
What if fully realizing your leadership abilities is less about developing new skills and more about discovering who you truly are?
Join us for an insightful conversation with Divya Ramachandran, an executive leadership coach, who shares her story of making a career pivot from technology to pursue her passion for people development. Now as a specialist in coaching tech founders, executives and managers, she helps talented leaders unlock their greatest creativity, resilience and impact.
By starting from a place of self-awareness, you’re able to build trust, foster curiosity and approach challenges with courage—ultimately transforming how you lead during good times and bad.
Divya helps executives navigate the challenges of growth by focusing on emotional intelligence and people development. By addressing the need for difficult conversations and actions in leadership, she supports clients in managing stress and burnout.
Here are some key highlights from our conversation:
- Importance of Emotional Intelligence: Learn how managing emotions can enhance your interactions, decision-making, and overall business strategy.
- Overcoming Challenges: Discover how to navigate difficult conversations, tackle complex problems, and build trust in the workplace.
- Embrace Change for Growth: Shift your perspective from obstacles to opportunities, unlocking your true leadership potential and fostering a culture of innovation.
You can find the 'How To Do Hard Things Guide' here:
https://content.divyalalitha.com/hardthingsguide
Divya Ramachandran is an executive leadership coach with a unique career trajectory from building tech products to empowering people. Raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, by hardworking South Asian immigrant parents, Divya excelled academically while cultivating a deep connection to her cultural roots through music. She began her academic career in computer engineering, but it was at the University of California, Berkeley, while pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science, that she found her passion: using technology to meet essential human needs in health and education. This revelation propelled her through a successful decade in Silicon Valley's tech startup scene, focusing on user experience and product design.
A transformative experience with an executive coach prompted Divya's pivotal shift to leadership coaching. Realizing her calling on the first day of coach training, she has since dedicated herself to guiding tech startup leaders. Divya believes in fostering trust and connection, offering her expertise as a coach, facilitator, and speaker to a broad spectrum of leaders across various departments. Her approach integrates energy awareness, cognitive behavioral coaching, and emotional intelligence, enabling leaders and teams to overcome challenges such as clear communication, conflict resolution, productivity, and team empowerment for better product outcomes.”
You can connect with Divya here:
Website: https://www.divyalalitha.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diramachandran/
Are you ready to take your presentation skills to the next level and captivate your audience like never before?
As a presenter, speaker, or facilitator, nailing the opening of your presentation is crucial. A standard "Hi, my name is..." might be safe, but it's often forgettable. Your introduction sets the stage – make it count!
Join us for an insightful conversation with Marianna Swallow, a renowned presentation skills expert and coach, dedicated to transforming individuals into confident leaders on stage, at conferences, and in meetings.
Here are some key highlights from our conversation:
- Embrace nervousness as a sign of caring and improve your public speaking with proven mental tricks and body-based relaxation techniques.
- Learn the art of crafting a strong opening that hooks your audience using videos, stories, interactivity, and startling statistics.
- Discover how to adapt your public speaking skills to virtual platforms by focusing on preparation, interactivity, and engaging your audience effectively.
- Uncover the secrets for creating impactful speeches with Mariana's top 3 speech cheat sheet for last-minute speeches.
Whether you're just starting or are a seasoned pro, infusing the magic of a good story can set you apart. It's about connecting, inspiring, and leading with authenticity. So if you're crafting your next presentation or speech, remember, your story has power.
Marianna Swallow is The Speak Easy Coach. Her mission is to make presentations easy and enjoyable for everyone – one speech at a time. Her expertise lies in helping clients share their story in a way that creates audience connection. She works with individuals, executives, and teams to help them develop and deliver clear and confident presentations, all while making the process fun.
A lifelong performer, she’s a graduate of the Second City Conservatory. She currently performs stand-up and storytelling in Chicago. She holds a BA from Northern Illinois University, and an MFA from Goucher College.
You can connect with Marianna here:
Website: https://www.mariannaswallow.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannas/
Have you ever thought about making a pivot in your business?
Running a business as a solopreneur comes with many rewards - the ability to be your own boss, work on projects you feel passionate about, and set your own schedule.
However, it also comes with challenges. As the sole person steering the ship, pivoting your business can feel risky and stressful.
Join us for an insightful conversation with Kerstin Martin, an expert solopreneur herself, as she discusses her lessons learned from her 3 successful business pivots made over her entrepreneurship journey.
Here are some key highlights from our conversation for anyone considering a business transition:
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Trust Your IntuitionWhen facing big changes, self-doubt and fear creep in. However, beneath those surface emotions, your intuition knows the right path. Kerstin advises tuning into that inner wisdom during pivots, rather than ignoring it.
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Create a Financial Safety NetOne strategy that enabled Kerstin to pivot with more peace of mind was building a safety net - both financial and emotional. Before transitioning her business, she made sure she had at least 6 months of living expenses saved up. Knowing the basics are covered allows you to focus fully on your new endeavor, versus worrying about paying the bills at the same time.
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Connect to Your 'Why'When things feel challenging, it's easy to lose sight of why you started down this path. Kerstin recommends journaling or writing a short mission statement to crystallize your motivations and vision. Revisiting this reminds you what called you to this work, and what awaits on the other side of the discomfort that naturally arises during change. It reconnects you to the joy and purpose that initially launched your solopreneur journey.
Navigating business pivots poses unique challenges for solopreneurs. However, by tapping into personal strengths like intuition, patience, and clarity of purpose, you can shepherd your company through seasons of change. What matters most is learning, listening, and taking the next right step from a place of courage and care - for both your business and yourself.
Kerstin Martin is an experienced Calm Business educator and late-bloomer solopreneur who built a successful internet business with only a small audience and no ads. As a neurodivergent HSP, she is passionate about teaching overwhelmed solopreneurs how to build, grow, and scale calm and profitable businesses without the hustle.
Her online courses and educational products focus on leveraging simplified systems, gentle marketing, and organic growth. Kerstin believes in acting from a place of integrity and kindness to build a business that fuels a joyful, rich, and grounded life.
You can connect with Kerstin here:
Website: https://mycalmbusiness.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstinmartin/
Have you ever noticed yourself falling into the same patterns of thinking or behavior and felt frustrated that you keep repeating those cycles? Or perhaps you have certain emotional reactions or triggers that seem disproportionate to the situation at hand?
Join us for an insightful conversation with Starla Sholl, a renowned clinical social worker, as we talk about how our unconscious core beliefs—often originating in childhood—can unintentionally direct our choices and relationships in adulthood. Starla explains why insight into these patterns is the first step toward rewriting old narratives that may be holding us back.
Join us as we explore: what key experiences may have laid the foundations for the stories we subconsciously tell ourselves, how to identify repetitive thought loops before they spiral, and tools to shift engrained neural pathways with compassion and consciousness.
Here are the key takeaways from our conversation:
- Gain clarity on unconscious beliefs and patterns that limit you
- Release stuck emotions and trauma to clear inner blocks
- Develop self-compassion and dissolve feelings of shame
- Discover your authentic self and reclaim personal power
- Create meaning and purpose aligned with your soul
Starla meets you where you're at with no judgment, only compassion. Her devotion is to help you remember the wholeness already inside you. Past clients often return to her years later for that unique caring presence as they navigate new chapters of life.
Starla Sholl, LCSW is a clinical social worker in private practice. Her approach integrates a foundation of psychodynamic psychotherapy with alternative and experiential healing modalities, including Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy, somatic work, subtle energy work, and breathwork. Her style of therapy also is influenced by her study of indigenous and shamanic healing.
Her 35+ years of experience, plus her training and experience with alternative healing methods, give her clients the opportunity to experience growth and healing in a very different way than with other therapists.
You can connect with Starla here:
Website: https://www.yourwellnessoptions.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/starlasholl/
Let's talk about a superpower we often overlook: Negotiation. Yes, it's not just for the office & boardrooms. Effective negotiation skills are essential in EVERY aspect of life – from parenting to boardroom dealings. Every day presents opportunities for us to practice and hone this skill. Negotiation is an art, and each of us has a unique voice to create win-win situations.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Alice Shikina, an expert mediator and negotiation coach, who is the founder of Shikina Mediation and Arbitration. Alice shares key strategies for effective negotiation in various settings - from negotiating salaries and work projects to everyday interactions. Listeners will learn the art of effective negotiation that will boost your confidence & unleash your negotiation potential.
Here are the key takeaways from our conversation:
- Always Ask - You miss 100% of the opportunities you don't take. Don't negotiate against yourself before you even start the conversation. Boldly pursue what you want.
- Everything Is Negotiable - From APR rates on your credit card to your company's software acquisitions - it's all up for discussion. Embrace this mindset and watch opportunities unfold.
- Know Their Goals - When negotiating internally, like pitching new projects or seeking approvals, align your proposal with your company's objectives. Show how your request can boost revenues or cut costs, and you're more likely to succeed.
- Make Offers, Not Just Asks - Pair your requests with valuable offers. Demonstrate what you can contribute in return for what you're asking. It's a give-and-take that often yields positive results.
Alice Shikina is a mediator and negotiation coach. She mediates workplace conflicts, divorces and family conflicts. Alice has a theatre background and she uses those skills to navigate interpersonal conflicts between parties. She also offers online negotiation and communication courses for entrepreneurs wanting to cultivate stronger skills to negotiate deals. Alice is in Oakland, CA and lives with her two teenage boys. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, movies and spending time with her kids.
You can connect with Alice here:
Website: https://shikinanegotiationacademy.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceshikina/
Have you ever looked back at your younger self and wish you had better guidance and support? We sure have, and I bet many of you can relate!
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Brenna Potter, the founder of Coaching to Confidence. Brenna specializes in empowering and supporting young women in their personal and professional lives, helping them navigate through the challenges they face. Our conversation touched on topics such as building confidence, finding one's path, and the importance of aligning personal values with career choices.
Brenna emphasizes the importance of guiding clients to find their own unique paths, whether through college, trades, or alternative routes. Success can be found in various fields, and traditional education is not the only pathway to fulfillment.
It takes courage to pursue what aligns with your personal values, even when it goes against societal expectations. Brenna encourages her clients to give themselves permission to change paths or make decisions, no matter their age. It's never too late to make a pivot and pursue what truly brings fulfillment.
Here are the key takeaways from our conversation:
- Reflect on your values
- Employ courage in your decisions
- Be flexible in your educational and career path
- Allow yourself the freedom to pivot
- Grant yourself permission to thrive on your own terms
Let's make 2024 a year of growth and empowerment!
Certified Life Coach, Brenna Potter is passionate about guiding young women through a transformative journey of self-discovery. With a focus on personal growth and topics such as self-love and self-compassion, she specializes in empowering her clients to become the best version of themselves while creating a life they love. As the proud owner of Coaching to Confidence, LLC, Brenna is dedicated to empowering young women as they navigate life's challenges and embrace personal growth, all while gaining confidence in the process. Her compassionate and empowering approach enables young women to discover their authentic selves, set their goals, and take action to create and live a life they love.
You can connect with Brenna here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingtoconfidence23/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenna-potter-563116150/
As we wrap up Season 2, we wanted to give a special thanks to all of our guests & listeners for making this an amazing 2nd season. We appreciate your support & look forward to bringing you more inspiring content & guests in 2024!
We would love to get your feedback. If there is any topic or guest you would like to recommend for us to have on next season, please go to www.thesavvysession.com for more details.
We wish you a very happy holiday & happy new year! We look forward to seeing you next year. Cheers!
Are you considering taking a leap into franchise ownership?
Join us for this inspiring episode as we talk with Kristine Givens, an experienced franchisee & business strategist. In our conversation, Kristine delves deep into the challenges, triumphs, and valuable insights gained from her experiences in the franchise industry. Ultimately, success in franchise ownership requires thorough research, a trust in one's instincts, and a commitment to learning and growth.
By leveraging resources like Kristine's course and podcast, prospective and existing franchisees can gain the knowledge and confidence necessary to embark on their own franchise journeys.
Here are the key takeaways from our conversation:
- Uncover the realities of franchise ownership and the skills required for success.
- Learn the importance of thorough research and assessing potential franchises.
- Financial requirements and options for funding a franchise purchase
- The pros, cons, and unexpected realities of becoming a franchisee
- Tools to determine if franchise ownership is the right fit for you
Kristine boasts over three decades of experience in the financial world, initially
launching her career at Ernst & Whinney, where her clients included both
individuals and businesses in variety of industries, setting a strong foundation for
her future endeavors.
Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Kristine founded a boutique accounting firm
catering to single-family offices, ultra-affluent families, and privately held
businesses. Her commitment to excellence and client satisfaction led to the firm's
acquisition by a global financial institution in 2009, marking a significant
milestone in her career trajectory.
Recognizing the potential of franchise ownership, Kristine made a pivotal move in
2015 by investing in a national franchise. This career path transformed her into
an entrepreneur and franchisee, exposing her to the multifaceted landscape of
business ownership.
Kristine's dedication to sharing her wealth of knowledge was a catalyst to her
launching a podcast titled "Demystifying Franchise Ownership," where she covers
topics relating to the franchise industry. Kristine is also creating a digital course
titled "Evaluating Franchise Ownership: the Good, the Bad, and the Unexpected”
which will be available in 2024.
You can connect with Kristine here:
Website: https://www.kristinegivens.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinemartzgivens
Are you an aspiring entrepreneur looking to make the leap from the corporate world to entrepreneurship?
Join us in this insightful episode as we sit down with Brittany Levesque, founder of The Cultivators, as she shares her personal journey of transitioning from a corporate job to entrepreneurship in the web design industry.
Discover the strategies she followed, including setting financial goals, building her business, and the importance of accountability. Whether you're a woman founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or interested in web design and branding, Brittany's advice and experiences will surely inspire and empower you.
Here are the key takeaways from our conversation:
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Setting Financial Goals: Learn how Brittany set secure finances before taking the plunge into entrepreneurship, giving her the confidence to pursue her dreams.
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Marketing Yourself Effectively: Discover Brittany's tactics for establishing a strong online presence and attracting potential clients to grow your customer base.
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Ironclad Contracts and Boundaries: Gain insights into why having a solid contract and establishing clear boundaries with clients is crucial for success in the web design industry.
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Consistent Branding: Understand the importance of consistent branding across all platforms and how it can attract potential clients to your business.
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Trusting Your Intuition: Learn how intuition plays a significant role in the design process and building productive client relationships.
Brittany specializes in strategic and intuitive website design, logo design and brand development. Your online presence and branding plays a crucial role in attracting clients, establishing credibility, and growing your business. Let The Cultivators take your website & brand to new heights!
You can connect with Brittany here:
Website: https://thecultivators.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecultivators.ca
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-levesque
As women entrepreneurs, we can find ourselves juggling numerous responsibilities, from managing our businesses to taking care of our families. It can sometimes feel overwhelming and lonely, making us wish we had a support system to lean on.
In our latest episode, we talk with Tanya Alvarez, a successful mom and business owner, who understands the struggles of starting and growing a business firsthand. Listen in to hear Tanya's inspiring journey from building a million-dollar business to founding OwnersUp - a weekly advisory board that helps entrepreneurs stay on track, brainstorm new and innovative solutions, and ensures that their business is never stagnant or plateaus.
Here are the key takeaways from our conversation:
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Establish accountability: Avoid the traps of overwhelm and perfectionism by creating a structure that keeps you focused, realistic, and on track with your goals.
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Maintain a healthy work-life balance: Discover how to thrive in both personal and professional aspects of life, avoiding burnout and prioritizing time for your loved ones and personal goals.
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Join an unbiased feedback loop: Experience exponential growth by actively seeking feedback, taking action, and learning from others, especially those outside your industry.
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Optimize your productivity: Owners Up offers exclusive software that enables you to track and evaluate your daily activities, delegate tasks efficiently, and make the most of your valuable time for business growth.
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Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs: Gain valuable insights, tips, and motivation from a supportive community of ambitious women on the same entrepreneurial journey.
OwnersUp is a place where small business owners come together to help each other achieve their goals in a supportive community. It is a platform to give entrepreneurs access to goal-setting tools and accountability groups.
OwnersUp gives you:
- Software to track goals and progress
- Weekly video calls to give you a sounding board
- A coach that keeps you accountable and helps you grow your company
- Membership in a small group that really knows you and your business
You can connect with Tanya here:
Website: https://ownersup.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyaownersup
Do you ever find yourself questioning your career choices? Wondering if there is more to work than just a paycheck? You're not alone. Many people are seeking to find their true purpose to have a fulfilling life, both personally and professionally.
In our latest episode, we sit down with Christy Rosen, a career coach and founder of Ikigai Career Coaching, to discuss the power of incorporating the Japanese concept of Ikigai into your career development journey and how it can guide us towards a meaningful and purpose-driven career.
At the core of ikigai is the idea of finding purpose and fulfillment by aligning four key elements: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. These elements create an intersection where your passions, skills, and potential for contribution come together.
The pursuit of Ikigai brings peace, direction, joy, and a purpose-filled life, Christy explained. By understanding and incorporating these aspects of oneself, individuals can find their place in the world and discover their ideal job.
Here are the key takeaways from this episode:
- Understand the Ikigai philosophy: Discover how Ikigai combines passion, mission, vocation, and profession to help you define and achieve your career objectives.
- Embrace a purpose-filled lifestyle: Explore how the Japanese philosophy encourages slowing down and intentional development to prioritize your main interests and overall happiness.
- Find your reason for being: Learn how Ikigai helps you uncover what you love, what the world needs, what you can be paid for, and what you're good at, ultimately leading to a fulfilling career.
- Transform your networking approach: Gain insights into integrating Ikigai into your networking goals to create genuine relationships, offer support, and foster professional connections that can lead to career opportunities.
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to transform your career and unlock your full potential!
Christy Rosen is an Ikigai Coach & Consultant, who uses her combination of entrepreneurial spirit and a deep desire to guide individuals, including adults and young professionals, in exploring, nurturing, and harnessing their distinct talents to pave the way for a gratifying and successful career. Her ultimate objective is to support others in their journey of self-discovery, skill development, and focused dedication, empowering them to achieve professional fulfillment.
In addition to career coaching, leading professional development classes and holding intensive career launch workshops, she also regularly attends professional and education based conferences, speaks on panels, podcasts, and write articles for HIRED.
You can connect with Christy here:
Website: https://ikigaicareercoaching.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-rosen
Are you ready to unleash your true pleasure potential and experience a life filled with joy and fulfillment? We have an exciting episode for you!
Join us for an insightful conversation with Tazima Parris, founder of Infinite Relating. Tazima is a sex coach and pleasure mentor who helps high-achieving women learn to prioritize pleasure and self-care. She shares her unique journey to becoming a sex coach, explains why pleasure is so crucial for women, and advocates for open and honest conversations about sex and intimacy.
Listeners will learn concrete strategies for setting boundaries, refilling their "pleasure cup", and embracing vulnerability.
Here are the key takeaways from the episode:
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Setting Personal Boundaries: Tazima's approach to coaching women focuses on understanding and meeting individual needs and desires. Discover the power of setting personal boundaries and how it can transform your life.
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Self-Care as a Priority: Learn why high-achieving women often put themselves last on their priority lists and find out how to change this pattern. Discover the impact of self-treatment on your interactions and overall well-being.
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Embracing Vulnerability: Tazima's emphasis on radical honesty and vulnerability will inspire you to have transparent conversations in your personal and professional life, leading to more joy and fulfillment.
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Group Coaching for Better Dialogues: Explore the benefits of group coaching in discussing sensitive topics like sexuality. Normalize the conversation and learn from the experiences of others to improve your own sexual relationships.
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Prioritize Pleasure: Discover how to differentiate between surface-level pleasure and deeper fulfillment. Learn to savor every moment and experience a more joyful and pleasurable life.
To help you dive deeper into this topic and start your journey towards a more pleasurable life, Tazima is offering her exclusive resource called the "Pleasure Cup." As a bonus, you'll also receive a complimentary mini-course. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity!
Tazima Parris is a Sex Coach & Pleasure Mentor for high-achieving people-pleasing women 35+ who overthink, over-give, and end up overwhelmed. She creates space for women to pleasurably prioritize their needs to go from resentful to radiant. Tazima uses communication tools and practices from her 25+ years of research and experience to help women increase confidence, clearly communicate their needs, and hold better boundaries.
You can connect with Tazima here:
Initial Chat Session (Zoom): https://calendly.com/infiniterelating/initial-chat
Sex Ed Refresh Starter Pack: https://tazimaparris.podia.com/sex-ed-refresh-starter-pack
Website: https://www.infiniterelating.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tazimaparris
Are you looking for a networking community that goes beyond just making business connections? Look no further! We are excited to introduce you to Women Belong, a dynamic networking group founded by Dorothy Rosen and Kate Alpert.
In a recent session of the Savvy Session podcast, we talk with Dorothy and Kate to discuss the impact and power of Women Belong.
Here are some key takeaways from their inspiring conversation:
- Authentic Connections: Women Belong is all about fostering deep connections among women. By creating a community that empowers and supports each other, the founders aim to change the conversation of networking and promote vulnerability and authenticity.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Women Belong believes in intentional diversity and inclusion. Curiosity, assumption of goodwill, and a sense of belonging are core values within the network. The founders acknowledge the challenges and continually strive for learning and growth to make the network as inclusive as possible.
- Personal and Professional Impact: Members of Women Belong have experienced positive transformations in both their personal and professional lives. The vibrant community prides itself on being the 'pebble in the pond', creating waves of change and recognition for its members.
- Relationship-Oriented Approach: Women Belong focuses on building meaningful relationships rather than transactional interactions. The emphasis is on being active participants in networking communities, joining multiple groups, and finding ways to contribute.
- Unlock Your Superpowers: Dorothy and Kate share their own journey of finding joy in work, embracing creativity, exploration, and growth. Discover your own superpowers and unleash your full potential within Women Belong.
Don't miss out on this incredible networking opportunity!
Women Belong
Women Belong was born out of a vision founders Dorothy Rosen and Kate Alpert had for bringing women together in an authentic way. When we come together and explore business honestly and vulnerably, relationships form and connections deepen. These relationships create space and opportunity for a higher vision of what we can collectively achieve. Women Belong is a membership organization with the goal of connecting a diverse group of working women at all stages and levels of their career.
Dorothy Rosen
Co-Founder & Fairy Godmother of Women Belong.
Kate Alpert
Co-Founder & Marketing Strategist of Women Belong.
You can connect with Women Belong here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/womenbelong/
Website: https://womenbelong.com/
Perimenopause is a key transition phase for women, often affecting their health and wellbeing in ways most people are unaware of. If you're in your midlife, you might have questions about perimenopause, its indications, and how it might influence your daily life. Well, you're in the right place!
Join us as we have a thoughtful & inspiring conversation with Kathy Batista, founder of Kathy Batista Coaching, to shed light on the little-discussed world of perimenopause and its diverse symptoms.
Kathy discusses how midlife is a transformative phase for women, a time when we have the opportunity to reflect, evaluate our priorities, and discover new passions. Kathy shares her advise on maintaining mood and mindset during this stage of life, while discussing the importance of preparing for midlife early on.
Don't miss this empowering episode designed specifically for women navigating midlife!
Key takeaways on Perimenopause:
- Perimenopause can last anywhere from 1 to 15 years.
- Perimenopause usually starts in your 40s, even 30s for some.
- Perimenopause is the long, winding journey leading up to menopause.
- Menopause is not the second half of your life, but rather one single day!
Kathy also offers a three-pillar quiz to help individuals assess their mood, mindfulness, and mindset. This strategy has been a game changer for many women, especially in mid-life!
The 3-pillars of success are:
- Mood: Begin with calming and stabilizing your mood. This includes your nervous system regulation.
- Mindfulness: Once your body is in a state of calm, focus on getting in touch with your inner self. This is the key to unlocking your intuition and understanding your needs.
- Mindset: Now that you are more attuned with your wants, work on your mindset. Overcome limiting beliefs and empower yourself to reach your goals.
To learn more & take the quiz: https://www.kathybatista.com/take-the-3-pillar-quiz
Kathy Batista is the go-to coach for midlife women. She believes midlife isn’t just based on age – it’s a phase of life and can be your best one yet! By tapping into your values and strengths, you can take aligned action to create purpose and joy, leading to that, often missing, sense of fulfillment. Now is your time!
Having navigated midlife changes and shifts, Kathy offers guidance and compassion to women asking themselves, “Is this it?” or “What’s next?”. She enjoys sharing the tools of her growth with her clients and peers.
With certifications in Life Designer Coaching, Thought Coaching, Quantum Time Technique, and Mindfulness Facilitation, Kathy coaches women to discover their midlife magic through conscious healing and self-discovery.
You can connect with Kathy here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachkathybatista/
Website: https://www.kathybatista.com/
Join us for this insightful conversation with Lisa Crosta, the Director of Wealth Management at BPP Wealth Solutions, to discuss the importance of financial planning to achieve long-term financial goals. Lisa explains how a comprehensive financial plan can provide a roadmap for your future success. This plan can help prioritize and create strategies for multiple goals, such as buying a home, funding your children's education, or retiring comfortably.
One of the cornerstones of Lisa's approach is optionality. She advocates for creating multiple choices and pathways to achieve your financial goals. This allows for flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and goals.
Sometimes, navigating the world of personal finance can be overwhelming and confusing. That's where Lisa comes in. With her expertise in financial planning and her passion for helping individuals align their financial plans with their dreams, Lisa has become a trusted ally for people seeking to secure their financial future.
Key insights from our conversation:
1️⃣ ALIGNED GOALS: Start by identifying your financial goals and ensure they align with your personal values. You may want to retire, start a new venture, or change your career path. Your financial plan should support your choices.
2️⃣ UNDERSTANDING EXPENDITURE: Everybody’s financial situation and lifestyle choices are unique. It's essential to comprehend that there's no 'normal' in personal finances. Acknowledge and respect your spending habits and work out a financial strategy that addresses them.
3️⃣ HARMONY BETWEEN LIFE & FINANCES: Your happiness in your work-life matters. Always consider if a higher salary is worth the stress and unhappiness, or if you'd be happier with a pay cut in a job you love. Your financial plan should allow for this flexibility.
4️⃣ EMOTIONAL MONEY: Finances are closely tied to emotions. Recognize the role your emotions play in spending, saving, and investment decisions. Make it your strength, not your pitfall.
5️⃣ HARNESS YOUR POWER: Understanding the specifics of your financial needs can empower you to negotiate better salaries or make necessary lifestyle changes.
A Certified Financial Planner Professional (CFP®) as well as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Lisa Crosta is the Director of Wealth Management of BPP Wealth Solutions, where she helps her clients better understand their financial picture so they can achieve their dreams.
Having gone through divorce and raising three kids on her own, Lisa aims to help other women who find themselves in tough situations. Lisa’s energy, unbridled determination & communication gives her clients the confidence they need to succeed, and empowers them to make great financial decisions. She enjoys guiding her clients through the confusion of complex financial jargon, bringing clarity to the financial realm of her clients’ lives.
You can connect with Lisa here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-crosta-cpa-cfp%C2%AE-mba-9b6b2434
Website: https://www.bppwealth.com/
Ever Felt Lost While on a Job Hunt?
Job seeking can be a tough path. But, let's change our perspective and see the job search as a golden opportunity.
In our latest podcast episode, we talk with Trisha Degg, a dynamic talent director, travel enthusiast, foodie and master connector. She shares her valuable insights on networking, relationship-building, and the art of making meaningful connections.
She highlighted the importance of maintaining relationships in your network and using this network proactively when job seeking.
Your network is your professional currency, it's more than just a group of people you know. It's a collection of relationships that can help pave the way to new opportunities and career advancements.
Key takeaways from our insightful conversation:
Harness the Power of Your Network
- Every connection counts.
- Take care of your network and maintain relationships with the people you meet.
- Follow up with a thank you email after meeting someone new.
Job Search Like a Job
- Treat your job seeking process as an actual job.
- Structure your days with robust plans.
- This will keep you focused and proactive.
LinkedIn – A Powerful Tool
- Leverage LinkedIn to connect with potential employers and influencers.
- Download your LinkedIn contacts and reach out with a personalized message, stating your intentions and capabilities.
- Set daily goals for reaching out to a certain number of people
The 'No Application' Route
- Here's something you might not have heard before - Trisha didn't apply to any jobs. Instead, she reached out to her network and active connections resulting in successful job opportunities.
Trisha Degg is the VP of Talent Platform for Jump Capital. Trisha helps Jump's 65-plus portfolio companies navigate the tight talent market to find the best of the best. With over 15 years of corporate recruiting, campus recruitment, and HR experience, Trisha excels at finding new ways to locate talent, and is passionate about networking. She works with the heads of HR/Talent and founders at portfolio companies to help develop and refine their procedures and processes. Trisha’s specialties are talent attraction and retention, organizational development, manager training, interview skills/resume writing, building and refining internship programs, and employment branding
You can connect with Trisha here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdegg
Job Opportunities at JumpCapital: https://jobs.jumpcap.com/companies
Are you a woman entrepreneur, business owner, or executive looking to start or take your business to new heights?
Join us for a trailblazing conversation with serial entrepreneur, Kiley Peters, as she shares her inspiring journey from corporate to entrepreneurship, and how she is leveraging her expertise to help women like you grow their businesses and achieve financial freedom.
Key takeaways from our conversation:
- Gain valuable insights from Kiley's own experience in starting her agency, Brainchild Studios, and then transitioning into her consultancy, Rayne IX. Learn how she successfully launched, scaled, and even exited her business, and how she can help you do the same.
- Discover the unique programs and services Kiley offers to support women entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey, whether you're just starting out, looking to scale, or considering a business transition.
- Uncover practical strategies to tackle common challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, such as lack of clarity on target audience. Kiley discusses the importance of coaching, consultancy, and community support in overcoming these obstacles.
Interested in learning more on how to love the work you do and live the life you want?
Rayne IX is offering a Sparkler Sale - through 7/16 or until they sell out. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity!
- 1:1 Defining Success 3-Day Workshop ($9,995 instead of $12,500)
- 1:1 Half-Day Intensives ($2,495 instead of $3,500)
- Fast Track Entrepreneur (FTE) 6-Month Training Program ($4,995 instead of $6,500)
Kiley Peters is a serial entrepreneur, small business strategist, executive coach, national speaker, and content marketer with nearly 15 years of industry experience.
She is on a mission to help 1 million women build more financially free and fulfilling lives through her founding of RAYNE IX–an executive consultancy helping women launch, grow, and exit their consulting businesses so they can have greater autonomy, financial freedom, and ownership of their lives – and The 100 Collective, a membership and directory for women service-based small business owners who are committed to helping other women succeed.
She’s also the host of Welcome to Eloma, a podcast for visionaries, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to become better leaders, people, and pioneers.
You can connect with Kiley here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kileypeters
Website: https://rayneix.com/
Are you ready to tap into your inner strength and unleash your full potential?
Join us for a thoughtful conversation with Tara McCallam, an Art of Being facilitator, as she talks about the importance of self-awareness, effective communication, and building stronger relationships in achieving personal growth.
Tara shares her unique perspective on personal growth & development by focusing on embracing one's past experiences and individuality.
Key takeaways from our discussion:
- Prioritize time for yourself: Be mindful of spending too much time pleasing others and not connecting with yourself. This can lead to burnout.
- The power within: Access the wisdom that lies within you by connecting with yourself to unlock new possibilities and opportunities in your personal and professional life.
- Boost your energy and vitality: By taking up more space in your life and being true to yourself, you'll experience increased energy and enthusiasm.
- Don't be afraid to face your fears: Hold space for yourself and be prepared to confront your past, desires, and fears. This will open you up to greater self-awareness and growth.
By prioritizing our well-being and practicing self-care regularly, we not only become better professionals but also better friends, parents, and partners.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about navigating life and relationships, and fostering deep connections with yourself and others.
Tara McCallam is a passionate mom of two teenage boys, dog lover, and dedicated partner. Through her private virtual sessions, Tara specializing in empowering teens, young adults, and parents to bridge the gap between therapy and coaching. Her mission is to help clients honor their past, harness its power, and create a future that truly reflects their authentic selves. As of January 2023, Tara's impact extends beyond her own practice as she certifies facilitators, to take these tools to as many people as possible.
Done are the days of being fixed, you are not a problem, you are to be awed in The Art of Your Being. Real results come from knowing how to function from the space of you and truly connect to who you are here to be! Let's make the difference that is needed in this world. Together we are the radical, radiant, very real change.
You can connect with Tara here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-mccallam
Website: https://www.taramccallam.com/
In our latest podcast episode, we talk with Marelda Rodriguez, a multi-talented professional who specializes in grief wellness through massage therapy. Marelda shares her unexpected journey with grief and how it led her to specialize in treating it.
The hosts discuss their own experiences with grief, particularly in light of aging loved ones and the recent loss of Paula's mother to cancer. This timely discussion sheds light on the importance of addressing grief and seeking support during difficult times.
Marelda discusses that grief is not only losing a loved one, but can also include losing a job, a relationship, or even a sense of identity. With a background in neuroscience and neuromuscular therapy, Marelda understands the connection between emotional and physical pain.
Marelda's passion for helping people with grief has led her to develop a unique approach with grief massage, that helps clients process their emotions and physical symptoms through massage therapy which provides comfort and relief during difficult times.
Marelda Rodrigues, is a Grief Massage Therapist, Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach, Massage Therapy Educator, Sleep Science Coach, Culinary Wellness Educator, Author, and Speaker.
She is a thought leader in Grief Wellness, and believes deeply that suffering in grief is optional. She has helped numerous clients feel comforted and empowered while moving through grief.
Her whole person wellness approach includes massage therapy, nutrition, movement, mindset, connection and sleep. From this, her clients emerge feeling revitalized, confident, and powerful.
In this episode, we are joined by Elisa Stampf, a true trailblazer who saw a need for greater equality in the insurance industry. Elisa co-founded Insure Equality to help protect the people's voices in the insurance space. She fosters conversations and helps others to find that safe space to have the tough conversations that will help make tomorrow's industry a better place.
Join us as we dive into Elisa's background & how she got into the insurance industry, what led her to create Insure Equality, and the top DEIB issues individuals face within the insurance community and how Insure Equality is helping to solve them.
Get ready to be inspired and motivated to make a positive change in your own industry!
Elisa Stampf worked in the insurance industry for 15 years, spending most of her time on the carrier side with regional and national carriers. Throughout her insurance career, she was a sales leader, a trainer, and an advocate for giving campaigns within her companies. She earned six designations, an MBA, and was named one of Insurance Business America's Elite Women in Insurance in 2022. She co-founded Insure Equality in 2021: a community that pushes everyone forward and welcomes everyone in.
Insure Equality is a nonprofit that advocates for an industry that values and empowers a workforce diverse in gender, race, sexual orientation, and economic status. Their commitment to insurance is to make it a more welcoming place by providing tools, technology, and resources for individuals and companies in this industry at any level. They create space for storytelling, ask for commitments from industry leaders, and create transparency in company culture.
Insure Equality is excited to be hosting their inaugural Summit on September 15th in Chicago. The Summit will bring together insurance professionals from all genders, races, and backgrounds to set an agenda for inclusion in the insurance industry.
Programming includes:
- Mental health in the workplace
- Recruiting and retaining diverse talent
- Measuring inclusion
- DEI for small businesses
- Building resilience
- Calling out discrimination
You can connect with Elisa here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisa-stampf-she-her
Website: https://insureequality.org/
To learn more about IE's 2023 Summit: https://insureequality.org/summit/
Are you aware that May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month?
This was one of our top episodes from Season 1 and a topic that is near and dear to us, that we are resharing this episode to remind our audience of the importance of detecting & protecting your skin.
If you have a history of sunburns or tanning bed use, you may be at risk for developing skin cancer.
In this podcast episode, we'll be joined by renowned dermatologist Dr. Kelle Berggren to discuss:
- The risks associated with tanning beds and sun exposure
- Personal stories of skin cancer
- The importance of regular skin exams
- Using the "ugly duckling" method to check your moles
Don't miss this important conversation on keeping your skin healthy and safe.
You can connect with Dr. Berggren here:
Duly Health & Care: https://www.dulyhealthandcare.com/physicians/kelle-berggren-md-faad
In this episode, we sit down with Felena Hanson, founder of Hera Hub, a co-working space and business accelerator designed specifically for women. Felena shares her journey as an entrepreneur and how she recognized the need in creating a space where women entrepreneurs can thrive, create, and collaborate.
Join us as we explore the benefits of co-working and community in business, and how Hera Hub is transforming the way female entrepreneurs work and succeed. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation!
Felena is a long-time entrepreneur and marketing maven. Her latest venture, Hera Hub, is a spa-inspired shared workspace and business accelerator for female entrepreneurs. This flexible work and meeting space provides a productive environment for growing businesses.
Hera Hub is the first international female-focused co-working space & business accelerator. Their platform supports members through education, mentoring, and collaboration, while the office environment gives them access to professional, productive work space where they can grow a prosperous business, built on the foundation of a powerful community.
The Hera Hub community is comprised of hundreds of female entrepreneurs who support one another through collaboration, resources, referrals, feedback and mentoring. From their platform, new businesses have been spurred, funding secured and life-long friendships built.
To learn more about Felena and Hera Hub, you can connect with her here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felenahanson
Website: https://herahub.com/
Are you ready to turn your passion and expertise into an online course? Look no further! Today's episode is all about creating and launching your very first online course! Our co-host Kirsten is in the midst of creating & launching her very own course and she will be sharing her journey with us. From concept to launch, you'll discover the key steps involved in creating a successful online course. Learn more about the different styles of online courses, the different platforms to choose from and how best to pick a topic for your course. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to take their first steps in creating an online course.
To learn more about Kirsten's course, you can connect with her here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-ramos-elevate
Website: https://www.elevateperformance.net/
Course Wait List: https://maven.com/forms/84870f
Are you looking to buy or sell a home in a today’s tough housing market? Do you want to work with a realtor who can provide expert advice and guide you through the process with clarity, confidence, and calmness?
In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with top-performing realtor Ressie Krabacher to hear about her journey from being a physical therapist to becoming a trusted advocate and advisor in the world of real estate.
Tune in to learn valuable tips and strategies on navigating the current market and finding the perfect realtor to guide you through the process. Ressie's passion for serving her clients with clarity, confidence, and calmness is sure to inspire and guide you towards a successful real estate experience.
Ressie understands that customer service and communication are critical in an emotional transaction like real estate. Decisions are often made quickly, at all hours, and when many are trying to list and buy simultaneously. Throughout all of this, she can serve as your sounding board, ally and partner every step of the way.
Ressie is a seasoned client advocate who puts her client’s best interests first, whether you are a:
- A first-time buyer
- Luxury home owner
- Liquidating assets for a guardianship account
She keeps her clients informed of the latest market trends and opportunities and understands that every client situation is different and customizes her marketing and advertising approach to meet their specific goals.
You can connect with Ressie here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ressie-krabacher
Website: https://ressiechicago.kw.com/
In this episode, we welcome Nancy Zitlin, a holistic nutrition health coach, who believes in taking a personalized approach to health & nutrition.
Join us as Nancy shares her insights on the connection between your story, your relationship with food, and your overall wellbeing.
Get ready to learn how to create a healthier and more balanced life.
So much of what we believe about food is a mix of past theories, and it takes a strong mind and heart to get past this place. It takes a desire to be good to yourself.
Nancy specifically helps people who have had a love/hate relationship with sugar, those who have been on countless failed diets, and who are looking for more energy in their lives.
By asking the right questions, we can uncover your story and unravel your health challenges, so you can start enjoying a more nourishing life.
Nancy’s services include:
•1-on-1 Personalized Coaching
•Intuitive Body Process
•Power Groups
Nancy offers a complimentary Discovery Sessions that you can find on nancyzitlin.com
You can connect with Nancy here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-zitlin-77aa7111b
Website: https://www.nancyzitlin.com
Unlock the secrets to financial success with Lori Mercaldi, Profit Strategist and owner of Financial Tally. On our podcast, Lori shares her expertise in cash flow management and reveals the strategies she's used to help business owners achieve profitability and financial stability. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to grow your business or simply want to create a financially healthy business, this is a must-listen episode!
Lori is a Certified Profit First Professional, who delivers the expertise to implement a proven system to help you:
- Improve your cash flow
- Increase your profit margin
- Manage expenses
- Clarify your financial dreams and goals
- Grow and scale your business
You deserve to have a profitable & financially healthy business!
Lori can help you strategize to:
- Pay you enough to support the lifestyle you want
- Provide for your financial security
- Generate enough cash to pay your tax liabilities
- Allow you to have time flexibility
You can connect with Lori here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorimercaldi
Website: https://financialtally.com/
Are you ready to set yourself up for success in the new year? Join us as on our latest episode as we discuss the strategies for setting & achieving your business goals in the new year. Discover the power of creating a plan of action that will help you achieve real, lasting success in the coming year.
Reintroducing Ourselves
Meet Paula, who specializes in project management & cybersecurity solutions for small businesses at Revolu IT Services. And Kirsten, the founder of Elevate Performance Solutions, who specializes in creating and delivering customized training programs for organizations and coaching individuals on leadership, management and presentation skills.
Collaboration Together
Get ready for an exciting announcement! Kirsten and Paula are happy to announce that they will be collaborating on a new, cutting-edge training course. They will be launching a live, interactive Security Awareness Training program for your employees that will empower them with the knowledge to protect themselves and your business. During this episode, learn more about the course and why they decided to collaborate together.
If you are interested in learning more about this training program, please send Kirsten or Paula a note.
New Year Resolution or Goal Setting
Don't miss out on this episode as Paula and Kirsten discuss their personal preferences on new year resolutions versus goal setting. They will also share their insights on setting SMART goals and how to keep accountable to achieving them throughout the year.
Do you prefer new year resolutions or goal setting?
Share your goals/resolutions for the new year on our LinkedIn page here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-savvy-session/
Learn more about Elevate Performance Solutions here:
Website: https://www.elevateperformance.net/
Learn more about Revolu IT Services here:
Website: https://www.revoluit.com/
As we wrap up Season 1, we wanted to give a special thanks to our listeners for making this an amazing 1st season. We appreciate your support & look forward to bringing you more inspiring content & guests in 2023!
We would love to get your feedback from our first season, and have included a link to a quick survey below. If there is any topic or guest you would recommend for us to have on next season, please let us know.
We wish you a very happy holiday & happy new year! We look forward to seeing you next year. Cheers!
Complete survey here: https://forms.gle/A5Aq4FhyFZgMMYTx5
Are engaging the right audience on social media?
Are you telling a meaningful story?
Join us on our latest podcast as we talk with Rose Mills, founder of Rose Mills Influencer, where she consults with clients big and small to authentically grow their social media presence.
Rose Mills Influencer is for small businesses:
· Looking to reach the right audience on their social media accounts.
· Those who want to authentically tell their story.
· Looking to raise their visibility.
· Gain clarity in their social media strategy.
· Want to build & connect with a loyal community.
Rose Mills offers:
· Social Media Strategies
· 1:1 Coaching
· Workshops
· Courses
Rose Mills is an experienced strategist, brand builder, speaker, and the Founder and President of Rose Mills Influencer, a boutique social media marketing agency that partners closely with business owners to develop and implement comprehensive social media strategies to help achieve their unique brand and business goals.
A seasoned sales and marketing professional with proven success building brand and business strategies for national corporations, prior to launching her business in 2019, Rose led six- and seven-figure strategic brand marketing partnerships with retailers Target, Walmart and Walgreens, consumer product company Procter & Gamble, and beauty brands Olay, Dove and Jergens.
It’s now her mission to educate and empower female founders to clarify their brand and the message, then use it to attract and build a loyal community they personally nurture, cultivate and convert.
You can connect with Rose here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rose-mills
Website: https://www.rosemillsinfluencer.com/
Are you struggling to break through to an executive leadership role, and feel like you have hit a plateau at the manager or director level?
Join us on our latest podcast as we talk with Katy McFee, a leading coach & consultant who helps women break through to leadership roles and create the career and life they want.
Katy McFee is the Founder & Principal of Insights to Action.
The Insights to Action community is for:
● Females who are looking to move up to an executive leadership role.
● Those who want to become a strategic leader within your career.
● Those who are looking to become successful & impactful executives.
● Females looking for a supportive space to uplift each other & help achieve their goals.
Katy is passionate about empowering women and helping to close the gender gap in senior leadership. She’s the Founder and Principal at Insights to Action Coaching and Consulting, where she works with women to break through to executive leadership and become the successful and impactful executives they want to be.
Katy spent 18 years working in tech/biotech sales and leadership, where she’s done everything from building a commercial organization from scratch to scaling a hyper-growth sales org to achieve 9-digit revenue growth in 2 years.
Despite this success, she struggled for years to transition from Manager to Director to VP, and even considered quitting. After finally figuring out what it took to break through to the exec level, she went on to become a successful VP and EVP.
Seeing so many other women struggle with this transition, she launched Insights to Action, with the mission to help others make the successful transition into senior leadership and show up as the leaders they want to be, all without burning out.
You can connect with Katy here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a
Website: https://www.insightstoactioncc.com/
When most of us think about “marketing optimization” we think about “click-through” or other ROI measurements. But do we think about optimizing the people who help optimize the project?
Join us for our latest podcast as we talk with Stephanie Rapone, a marketing project expert and entrepreneur who specializes in the human side of marketing success.
A key word that came up in our discussion was ALIGNMENT:
· Aligning the marketing goals to the organization’s overall strategic initiatives
· Understanding your key outputs.
· There is no silver bullet - sadly.
Stephanie Rapone is the founder and CEO of Rapone Solutions. In her consulting work, she helps marketing teams get more done and enhance performance through process optimization, project management, and team engagement. She has over 20 years of experience spanning marketing functions and in training and leadership development, supporting marketers and the c-suite at global, multi-billion dollar organizations.
Throughout her career, she has received several professional certifications and top company recognition. To entertain her creative side, Stephanie loves doing recipe development and food photography for four popular food websites. After school and on the weekends, you can find her running her two boys around and spending time outside with her husband.
You can connect with Stephanie here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-rapone/
Website: https://stephanierapone.com
How do you know when it’s the right time to sell your business?
Join us on our latest podcast as we talk with Kristine Givens, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who grew her boutique accounting firm and sold it to a large multi-national bank.
We asked her what some tips for those ready to sell are, and to give a preview, she said:
- Network, network, network within your industry. You never know who you’ll meet.
- Button-up your financials.
- Keep your employees happy, engaged and well-trained.
“Success is where preparation meets opportunity.”
Kristine started her 30+ year career with Ernst & Whinney as a tax consultant who served both individual and business clients in a variety of industries. She later founded a boutique accounting firm providing tax and accounting consulting and compliance services to single family offices, ultra-affluent families, and privately held businesses. Kristine sold the boutique firm in 2009 to a global financial institution where she worked as Managing Director for five years overseeing the integrated delivery of wealth management services to ultra-affluent families and single-family offices.
In more recent years, Kristine is using her entrepreneurial skills, financial expertise, and business experience in variety of ways including the development of a franchise concept, serving as a Co-CEO and CFO for a non-profit and strategic planning for scale up businesses. Kristine is also writing a children’s book.
Kristine serves on the board of Metropolitan Family Services, a Chicago-based organization which provides variety of social programs and services designed to strengthen families and help them realize their full potential. Kristine recently relocated from Chicago to Bloomington, Indiana where she is meeting new friends and finding ways to make an impact in the community.
You can connect with Kristine here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinemartzgivens/
Are you a woman interested in starting or growing a career in cybersecurity?
Join us on our latest podcast as we talk with Stacey Champagne, the Founder & CEO of Hacker in Heels.
Whether you're just launching your cybersecurity career or have several years of experience.
The Hacker in Heels community is for:
- Those looking for a strategic & efficient approach to growing their cybersecurity skills.
- Those seeking to get connected with inspiring people in cybersecurity.
- Women who want a safe place to ask questions and get support as they grow their career.
- Anyone ready to make the most of their career and life, alongside fellow ambitious, like-minded women.
Stacey Champagne is the Founder & CEO of Hacker in Heels, a company on a mission to increase the number of women in cybersecurity and influence greater societal change. By transferring the skills she developed as a graphic designer to the increasingly important and lucrative field of cybersecurity, Stacey dramatically changed the trajectory of her life. Now she is helping others do the same through her community and programs that help women launch and grow six-figure careers in cybersecurity.
Stacey is a subject matter expert in insider risk management, and holds multiple certifications including Security+, Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE), and Insider Threat Program Manager (ITPM).
Prior to entering the cybersecurity field, Stacey worked for the US Government Intelligence Community as a Visual Information Specialist. Her designs supported multiple stakeholders, from military leaders and policymakers all the way up to the President of the United States.
You can connect with Stacy here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceychampagne
Hacker in Heels website: https://www.hackerinheels.com/
Are you a woman in insurance looking to connect with fellow women in insurance?
Join us on our latest podcast as we talk with Kim Beach, Founder of InsureWomen.
Kim is not only a trailblazer & leader; she is someone who is a connector & supporter of women in insurance.
We loved talking with Kim and learning more about the InsureWomen platform and how the platform is growing & connecting women all across the country.
The InsureWomen group helps to educate, empower and service the needs of all women by not just providing insurance, but assurance too.
Kim has worked in sales and marketing for over 30 years. The large majority of her career was spent in the television industry and, more recently, the insurance industry. She started Village Insurance in 2018 (from scratch) and currently supports more than 300 clients. Village Insurance is where her passion for empowering women in the insurance buying process all began.
Kim launched InsureWomen on March 8, 2021 (International Women’s Day) to fill a need for female insurance buyers who did not feel comfortable with the insurance buying process.
The mission of InsureWomen is to empower women in the insurance buying process to feel confident, educated, and treated with the respect and attention they deserve.
On International Women’s Day 2022, Kim launched the InsureWomen Founding Member campaign nationally to create a network of female agents across the country who have a passion for serving these female buyers.
You can connect with Kim here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimbeach
InsureWomen’s website: https://www.insurewomen.com/
How do you respond to expectations?
Are you an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel?
Gretchen Rubin, author of The Four Tendencies and The Happiness Project, discovered that people fit into one of The Four Tendencies.
The Four Tendencies explain why we act and why we don’t act.
- Upholders - respond readily to both outer expectations and inner expectations. They don’t need deadlines or supervision; they keep themselves on track.
- Questioners - question all expectations, and will meet an expectation only if it’s justified, so that it becomes an inner expectation. Questioners want to know why a task should be done this way—and whether it should be done at all.
- Obligers - respond readily to outer expectations but struggle to meet inner expectations. They need deadlines, late fees, supervision, and accountability partners.
- Rebels - resist all expectations, outer and inner alike. They want to do a task their own way.
Are you curious which Tendency you might be?
Link to Gretchen’s quiz is here: https://quiz.gretchenrubin.com/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=4Ttakequizpage
Join us on our latest podcast as we talk about Gretchen’s book & find out which Tendency Kirsten & Paula are!
In this episode, we are joined by Tracy Coenen, CPA, CFF, MAFF, one of the top forensic accountants in the country. She focuses on finding hidden money in a divorce and shares her top red flags 🚩 to look for if you suspect financial fraud in your divorce.
Tracy is known as a no-nonsense forensic accountant who delivers the “real deal” to her clients. Let’s face it: When your money is on the line, there is zero time to dance around an issue. Her passion lies in helping people find answers. Answers to questions like “Where did our money go?”
After years of watching those who couldn’t justify the cost of a forensic accountant lose thousands of dollars in their divorces, Tracy knew she had to create a solution. That’s why she put her heart into creating the Divorce Money Guide.
Tracy created the Divorce Money Guide because she wanted everyone who is going through a divorce to have access to the insight and guidance needed to determine whether there is money missing.
Her guide is an online handbook with 10 steps. Each step has an introductory video, written materials, a video guide to the materials, and worksheets. There is also a Red Flag Quiz, which assesses the likelihood of financial fraud in the user's marriage.
Tracy works as a forensic accountant through her firm, Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting. She has been doing fraud investigations for more than 25 years, and is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant), CFF (Certified in Financial Forensics), and MAFF (Master Analyst in Financial Forensics). Tracy testifies as an expert witness around the country.
You can connect with Tracy here:
LinkedIn: Tracy Coenen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracycoenen
The Divorce Money Guide: https://www.divorcemoneyguide.com/
Join us on our latest podcast to learn about Amy’s journey from Politics to Pastry.
I have been so fortunate to know Amy since high school, and have watched her professional journey as a successful environmental lawyer & lobbyist.
When she made the exciting announcement on Facebook, that she was leaving her political career and starting her own business, I have been curious how & why she made the leap from politics to pastry.
Listen to our latest episode to see who & what inspired Amy to leave her political career.
It is a story & journey you don’t want to miss!
from politics to pastry was created by Amy DuVall, an environmental lawyer & lobbyist. Amy had a dream of helping to enact major federal environmental legislation and was lucky enough to be given that chance. When the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act passed in June 2016, she found herself in an unexpected place—immensely happy and proud but professionally lost and ready for the next chapter. After more than a year of soul-searching, Amy decided to focus on her creative side and try to turn her hobby of cooking and baking into her profession. In February 2018, she announced her departure from the lobbying world, and in March 2018 she began her journey to bake more. She didn't have an ultimate destination in mind except to put smiles on people's faces one cookie, one scone, one treat at a time.
You can connect with Amy here:
Amy: LinkedIn
from politics to pastry: Website
from politics to pastry: Facebook
from politics to pastry: Instagram
We had the pleasure of sitting down virtually with Josh Evnin and Tracy Cupper of Fixer to discuss how they are changing the landscape of the handyperson work. Their mission is We Fix Things. We Build People.
How do they do it? They believe that ALL people can do ALL things when trained properly, compensated fairly and supported throughout their career journey.
Their team of skilled handypeople specializes in common household repairs. They’re committed to excellence - in who they train and hire, in their values and in their work. With quick online scheduling, they make it easy to get your "do it later" list done now.
As a customer, I’ve enjoyed knowledgeable people helping get my list done and offering up advice on other items on the list for the next time.
You can connect with Josh & Tracy here:
Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jevnin
Tracy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-cupper-6728325
Fixer: https://fixer.com/
Join us for an inspirational conversation with leading marketing consultant & brand strategist, Dani Kimble, as we discuss:
- Her solopreneurship journey.
- Navigating life in business as women and some of the advantages of owning your own business.
- What are the top marketing & branding strategies new entrepreneurs should focus on first?
- Should you market on Tik Tok?
Dani Kimble is a marketing consultant, brand strategist and copywriter. She is the founder and CEO of Azelie Marketing, and is passionate about helping small and midsize businesses build profitable brand and marketing strategies. Dani formerly served as Chief Marketing Officer for an insurance firm, where she transformed the brand to focus on its people and its culture - supporting growth across the organization from talent attraction and retention, client retention, new business opportunities and referrals.
You can connect with Dani here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellekimble/
Azelie Marketing: https://danikimble.me/
If you could travel back in time and give your younger self some advice, what would you say?
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could go back in time and use all of the lessons we’ve learned to do things a little bit better, a little bit sooner, or a little bit more thoughtful.
Join hosts Kirsten & Paula as they discuss the advice they would give to their 20-year old selves. Learn their top advice and how the forks in the road have ended up shaping their lives today.
You can connect with Kirsten & Paula and learn more about their companies here:
Kirsten LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-ramos-elevate
Elevate Performance Solutions: https://www.elevateperformance.net/
Paula LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-k-99066219
Revolu IT Services: https://revoluit.com/
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month
Is Your Skin At Risk?
If you have a history of sunburns or tanning bed use, you may be at an increased risk for developing skin cancer.
Did you know that just ONE indoor tanning session before the age of 35 increases your risk of skin cancer by 75%?
Join us for a conversation with leading dermatologist Dr. Kelle Berggren, as we share personal stories of skin cancer, past history of tanning bed use, what to look for & using the ugly duckling method to check your moles and the importance of getting an annual skin exam.
May your day be as healthy as your skin!
You can connect with Dr. Berggren here:
Duly Health & Care: https://www.dulyhealthandcare.com/physicians/kelle-berggren-md-faad
In this episode on The Savvy Session, we discuss navigating physical space & how do we best deal with the changes of moving from virtual to hybrid to in-person.
We are joined by Cyndi Grobmeier, a truly amazing leader we have had the pleasure of working with during our Elevating Women conference that we hosted this past fall.
Cyndi is a Professor of Communication at Saint Xavier University here in Chicago, in which she focuses on Public Speaking and Strategic Communication. with courses in social media, persuasion, and organizational communication.
In addition to her teaching, Cyndi serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Maddog Strong Foundation. Founded with her husband, Frank, and daughter, Sam to honor the decision of their youngest daughter Maddie to be an organ and tissue donor, Maddog Strong focuses their efforts on educating teens and young adults on the importance of making an informed decision to register to be a donor and save lives. Cyndi also serves on the Board of Directors for the Donor Family Care Network—the voice of America’s Donor Families.
You can connect with Cyndi here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyndi-grobmeier-81a99312a
Maddog Strong Foundation: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-maddog-strong-foundation/
In this episode on The Savvy Session, hosts Kirsten & Paula discuss the evolution of their 25-year friendship from meeting in their early 20's to present day as solopreneurs. Learn how they first met while working at a car dealership in Iowa, to moving & reconnecting their friendship in Chicago.
You can connect with Kirsten & Paula and learn more about their companies here:
Kirsten LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-ramos-elevate
Elevate Performance Solutions: https://www.elevateperformance.net/
Paula LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-k-99066219
Revolu IT Services: https://revoluit.com/
Welcome to The Savvy Session! Meet co-hosts Kirsten Ramos & Paula Kircher as they discuss their entrepreneur backgrounds and learn why they are starting their podcast.
Thank you for joining us for this introductory session. We look forward to having you drop back in as we cover topics like, relationship-based selling, moving from corporate to entrepreneurship, navigating life as women and many more areas under our focus of Business. Life. Fun.