Brave Women at Work: Recent Episodes

Jen Pestikas

A show for women who show up brave every day.

What is your Plan A?

My Plan A was to go to college, get married, have 2 kids, and have a great career. I didn’t know that I would have post-partum anxiety and secondary infertility with my family and burnout on the path to career success.

As the cliché goes, life can throw us curveballs, and it up to us how we handle these challenges and pivot to Plan B.

Plan B is always seen as the back-up plan or the plan that isn’t as good as Plan A. As I get older and farther along in my life and career, I don’t think that’s true. Sometimes our Plan A wasn’t right for us anyway. Plan B, C, or D are just as good or even better than Plan A.

My guest today, Jackie Cetera, and I talk about this very concept. When we are younger and just starting out, we have this vision for how things are going to go personally and professionally. We can’t anticipate the bumps or bruises along the way. Jackie’s story is an encouraging one of finding joy in the pivot to a different way or living and working.

I am so excited for my guest today, Amy Quesenberry. Amy and I met through Shelia Higgs Burkhalter and the Infuse Compassion into Companies Conference.

When we met, Amy shared her Start with Compassion model, and I was blown away. If we start with compassion with ourselves, with one another, and within companies, it truly can drive better relationships, more productivity, higher satisfaction, happiness, and so much more.

As a recovering perfectionist, starting with compassion is easy to understand and difficult to implement. If you struggle with perfectionism or wear a mask or leverage other armor like people pleasing to look or move through the world and work a certain way, this conversation is for you!

I loved this conversation because Amy was vulnerable and so brave. Thank you, Amy, for being the amazing person you are!

During the podcast, Amy and I chatted about:

What led her to participate in the latest Brave Women at Work women’s anthology, Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go.
Why her chapter is called, “No More Hiding” and what she hopes readers take away from her story.
The story that led to the development of her model, Start with Compassion, and her company of the same name.
What starting with compassion means to Amy, and why it is important.

On this weeks episode, Meghan Grace

https://www.meghanmgrace.com

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/genz/id1377915856

https://www.amazon.com/Generation-Goes-College-Corey-Seemiller-ebook/dp/B019YNNZAA?ref_=ast_author_dp

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K52C97N/ref=mes-dp?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=TPIuC&content-id=amzn1.sym.8572ac08-6096-4eb6-b32e-2c759cc3eb5b&pf_rd_p=8572ac08-6096-4eb6-b32e-2c759cc3eb5b&pf_rd_r=45RW287DPDEC2QRG3ZMQ&pd_rd_wg=Z91Kx&pd_rd_r=91bbc826-603f-4a8b-945b-60d46c96d05f

https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanmgrace/

Generation Z Goes to College

Generation Z: A Century in the Making

I am so excited for my conversation with my guest, Amanda Kenderes. Amanda has discovered something entirely new about communication that I am pumped to share with you.

It’s called Talk Types.

What if the way we talk and who we are as people are intrinsically linked? If we understand our talk type and others, we can understand how to better communicate with one another, and as a result, have better personal and professional relationships.

During the podcast today, Amanda and I chatted about:

Why we communicate to begin with; what are the goals of communication?
What Talk Types are and the six different talk types that exist.
How we discover our personal Talk Type.
How we bridge the gap between Talk Types if we are on one of the Type and our spouse, partner, boss, friend, or colleague on the other.
How we can leverage our talk types during a key presentation or negotiation.

Here is more about Amanda:

Amanda Kenderes is a professor of interdisciplinary studies at Humphreys University. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Science and Comparative Education from the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. She grew up in North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please be share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Also, if you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com.

When we grow up, we think we have it all figured out, don’t we? We believe we should go to college, get a good job, find our perfect partner, be fit, have a good circle of friends, maybe have kids, etc. All before the age of 35. We have these insane expectations for ourselves and what our lives will be.

And then, we learn. Maybe the job or career path we originally selected isn’t right for us. Maybe we find ourselves without a partner or kids. Maybe life faced us with health challenges. Whatever it is, life tests our ability to pivot and reinvent ourselves into something new.

It’s like the Japanese art of Kintsugi. With Kintsugi, Japanese artists take broken pieces of pottery and carefully pour gold into the cracks to put it all back together. So, the bowls that were once broken are now even more beautiful than before. Look it up. Kintsugi is so beautiful even though it is technically broken. It has been made new.

During my conversation with my guest today, Nicole Meline, I was reminded about the power of reinvention.

Have you ever thought about the concept of baggage at work? I have a dear friend, Pam, that always tells me “Wherever you go, there you are.” If you don’t do the lessons, you bring everything with you from job to job or company to company. You bring your habits, patterns, and mental and emotional baggage.

The question that my guest, Tamara McLemore, and I chat about today is how can we release this baggage so we can take control of our careers?

During my conversation with Tamara, we chatted about:

How did Tamara become an accidental project manager
What is Tamara’s definition of corporate baggage?
How can we drop our corporate baggage?
How do we let go of roles that don’t serve us such as “office mom”?
What is Tamara’s Project Management Certification and work with women all about?

Here is more about Tamara:

Tamara McLemore is the “Accidental Project Manager.” She has over 20 years of experience in tech, wireless, software application and infrastructure project management for the United States Federal Government, Airline & Travel, Banking & Mortgage, and Raw Material Industries leading and advising programs and projects upwards $150M in budget.

And guess what? Tamara has a degree in Journalism. She was able to learn and master the art of Planning, Execution, Implementation and Risk Management. I’ve been working with amazing companies and individuals identifying that innate Project Management Strength and developing those talents into high-performance individuals that equate to high performing organizations.

If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please be share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Also, if you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com.

My guest today, Tonya Herb, is welcoming me and anyone else that struggles with this, to try a new way. What if we turned to others and delegated during stressful times, and really all the time? I know, monumental for perfectionists like me. What if we engaged in kindness towards ourselves?

Tonya dives into her proprietary BIKE method and how she leverages that with the work she does with her clients.

During my conversation with Tonya, we chatted about:

Tonya’s walk with perfectionism and how and when she pivoted
How delegation can assist us with perfectionistic tendencies, and if we struggle with delegation, where we start
The fun story behind the BIKE acronym
What the BIKE Method is and how Tonya uses it in the work she does today

Here is more about Tonya:

Tonya Herb once navigated the corporate maze, then became completely obsessed with the “Lead From Where You Are” philosophy and flipped the script from corporate climber to your go-to biz bestie.

Hard-knock lessons, relentless self-development, and unwavering resilience fueled Tonya’s journey from corporate to entrepreneur and she could not be more excited to help you discover what fuels her clients!

Tonya has lived the overworked and overwhelmed, and she’s here to tell you the truth about why you might be stuck. Together, she works with her clients to break through those barriers with an out-of-the-box approach that will leave them feeling empowered and ready to pedal through at full speed!

Today, Tonya wears many hats – leadership coach, keynote speaker, devoted wife, proud mama, paddle-board enthusiast, Grams, and she loves every minute of it!

Tonya is not just here to guide, she’s here to be a mentor, coach, and her clients’ biggest fan, teaching the art of “Leading you First” in true Tonya Kay style.

It’s all about her clients! Their journeys to being undeniably, and unapologetically themselves, beginning right here, right now.

If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please be share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Also, if you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com. I have created three for you:

24 career and leadership affirmations, (2) 5 Ways to Manage Your Imposter Syndrome, and (3) most popular, Getting Paid: 10 Negotiation Tips.

They are workbook style guides, so you can complete them on your own time.

One other very exciting announcement! Our keynote speaker at Thrive in’25 Women’s Conference is Erin Gallagher.

Erin is the CEO and founder of Ella, an inclusive network expanding women’s access to human, social, and financial capital, and the Founder of the Hype Women Movement and Podcast.

With 20 years of experience in global marketing, business development, organization and and culture change, she is a small business owner, entrepreneur, and mother of two.

Erin was named a 2023 Top 100 LinkedIn Creator, Top 10 DEI Voice (#5), and recognized for the Top 100 Most Influential LinkedIn Posts of the Decade.

Her book Hype Women: Breaking Free from Mean Girls, Patriarch and Systems Silencing is out in the world this Fall.

I am asking all of you to invest in yourself this year and attend the Thrive in ’25 Conference from June 25th-28th in Chicagoland. This conference is a 12-month experience that includes 3-days of the conference, 6+ months of coaching with yours truly in the Brave Circle, a 12-month membership in HerCsuite, a powerful women’s networking platform, and a 12-month membership to Innovation Women, a female led speakers bureau. I don’t know about you, but I have never been to a conference that pours that much into each attendee. Typically, it’s a 2–3-day conference and you’re thrown back into your life. Not Thrive in ’25. We want to walk alongside you to incorporate your learnings from the conference personally and professionally.

Here’s a fact: For many years, I didn’t know that our money mindset has a direct relationship with how powerful we feel and how we move through our professional and personal lives.

I didn’t get the connection, and I have been in financial services for over 25 years. After I dove into all things on leadership, self-improvement, and energetic management, I learned that there is a positive correlation between our money, speaking up, and the energy associated with feeling powerful as a woman.

If we feel good about our money, we will speak up more. We will feel more confident. We will make powerful choices. We will be braver at work and at home.

My guest today, Aja Evans, is the first financial therapist I have interviewed. I have interviewed financial coaches before, but not financial therapists. After learning more about Aja’s important work, I was excited to dive into this discussion!

During my conversation with Aja, we chatted about:

The story behind Aja’s financial awakening
What financial therapy is and how it is different than financial coaching
What the thoughts, feelings, and attitudes are behind someone who may need a financial awakening of their own
What is the story behind people that are trying to keep up with the Joneses? What about money hoarders? What is the story there?
Her book, Feel Good Finance: Untangle Your Relationship with Money for Better Mental, Emotional, and Financial Well-Being.
Aja provides an overview of her freebie to Your Guide to Getting Financially Naked

Where are my readers? Or what about aspiring readers? If you are a reader, this show is for you! When I was introduced to Melanie Bell and her work with Leaders Who Fiction, I knew she had to be on Brave Women at Work.

I am a non-fiction reader and often struggle with getting into a fiction book. When I heard Melanie talk about the benefits of fiction, I knew I had to give it another try.

In addition, according to an article in Inc, “How Reading Fiction Can Make You a Better Leader,” “There’s a growing body of research that suggests that getting lost in well-written stories actually can actually make you better leader. Fiction works as an empathy workout, these studies find, helping bosses better understand diverse viewpoints and boosting their EQ.”

During my conversation with Melanie, we chatted about:

Why Melanie started Leaders Who Fiction?
What is the research about exercising different parts of our brain while reading fiction and leadership?
What are the benefits of reading fiction on our work performance?
What are some of Melanie’s favorite fiction reads?
How you can join Leaders Who Fiction, a free online book club!

Here is more about Melanie:

After completing a degree in International Development from McGill University in Montreal, Melanie’s earlier career included marketing positions at Waste Management and Ecom Access, a marketing software startup.

Returning to Houston to earn her MBA from Rice University, she then became Director of Marketing for the SURGE Accelerator/SURGE Ventures).

In 2014, she decided to pursue her own entrepreneurial vision, founding Marketing Interface to help growth-stage companies achieve their business goals by reaching their target market, converting potential customers into paying customers, maintaining these relationships, and measuring the results of their marketing initiatives using technology.

In 2019, she merged Marketing Interface with her husband Matt’s consulting practice to create Strategic Piece. She is an active reader and writer, and founded Leaders Who Fiction, an online book club that helps leaders exercise a different part of their brain, learning relevant skills by reading and discussing works of fiction.

She is also an active mentor at Rice University’s entrepreneurship programs.

If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please be share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Also, if you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com.

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” —Martin Luther King Jr.

If the term Brave Women at Work were in the dictionary, (why isn’t it? LOL), Robyn Malone would be part of the definition. I met Robyn through a dear friend and colleague, and we hit it off pretty quickly.

As you will learn during our show today, Robyn has done some scary things, including:

Following her heart and leaving her established community in New York City to be with her now husband in Chicago.
Re-establishing her entire personal and professional community after the move while maintaining her community in New York.
Recognizing that even though she didn’t plan on being an entrepreneur, a business was building itself around here, so she took note and build a thriving boutique PR agency.
Not being afraid to be a truthteller in her industry because she has decided to stick to her values.
And more!

Robyn was a like a jolt of motivation to my system and a beautiful reminder that we can do things that scare us. I’m now wondering how I’m going to stretch myself next! Anyone want to go with me to Bali?

Just kidding. Well, maybe not.

Here is more about Robyn:

Robyn Malone is the EO & Chief Partner Officer of RJ Communications, a boutique health, tech, and wellness PR agency. Robyn's communications career includes experience across various sectors, industries, therapeutic areas, and brands. Her passion for health, however, led her to focus on work that has the potential to impact lives. A storyteller at heart, Robyn spent her career in healthcare PR and communications, launching familiar healthcare brands and partnering with global powerhouses like Pfizer and P&G.

Robyn has worked extensively in corporate and brand communications in the consumer health and pharmaceutical sectors – often managing large, multinational, and multi-regional teams to develop and execute successful campaigns that deliver tangible business results. These include "You Don't Know Jack About MS," – a public awareness campaign featuring newly diagnosed MS patient Jack Osbourne, and "Relieve My Fever," – a children's contest featuring Angie Harmon to re-launch Pfizer's Children's Advil. The integrated, communications-led effort garnered more than 135 million media impressions in top-tier print and broadcast media, including Fox & Friends, The Rachael Ray Show, Parade, and People.

Today, RJ Communications works with a range of clients ranging from tech startups to large, well-established multinational companies, using our experience in all things health to tell health stories and grow healthy brands.

A native NYer turned Chicagoan, Robyn marries heart, head, and humanity to tell the stories that compel people to action.

If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please be share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Also, if you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com.

On Being a Sacred Changemaker in the Corporate World with Jayne Warrilow

Summary: Welcome to the Brave Women at Work podcast. This is your host, Jen Pestikas. I’m so glad you’re here.

Hello everyone! How are you doing out there?

Happy Spring to everyone in the Northern Hemisphere! I am so happy that we are starting to have slightly warmer and longer days. We had snow here in my area even in March, so fingers crossed that we are done with that business.

Well, if you didn’t listen to one of the January episodes, I mentioned that my words of the year for 2025 are energy and woo. Well, I met my guest, Jayne Warrilow, former corporate executive and now founder and CEO of Sacred Changemakers and learned that you can indeed mix corporate life and woo in one. It was so refreshing to freely talk about energy and other spiritual concepts intermingled with leadership.

During my conversation with Jayne, we chatted about:

What is a sacred changemaker?
How did Jayne’s health journey with cancer and her healing lead her to do this work?
How Jayne protects her energy as a channel
How she mixes in the sacred with leadership in her work with corporations
What resonance codes are and how we discover our own
And so much more!

If you are into the idea of mixing the sacred, spiritual, or woo with leadership, you will love this conversation!

Here is more about Jayne:

Jayne Warrilow is a global speaker, bestselling author and sought after business and executive coach, who is passionate about building the foundations of a more equitable, loving and resonant world.

Jayne is an incredibly curious human who likes to push the membrane of possibility in our world. She is devoted to making unprecedented impact. Financial, human and social impact.

For nearly 30 years, Jayne has brought purpose to business and guided the transformation of iconic businesses alongside extraordinary leaders.

Who we are being matters.
What we stand for matters.
Who we partner with matters.

As Jayne says, these are soul-defining times in our history, and the decisions we make today will shape our collective future.

If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please be share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Also, if you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com.

When I was growing up in my career, I received my first management position because I was a hard worker and drove results as an individual competitor.

As I have risen through the corporate ranks, no one told me that leadership is an inside job. I learned that through the school of hard knocks, many bouts of Imposter Syndrome, tough feedback, and more.

This is why I wanted to talk about this very topic with my guest today, Dana Maor. Dana knows firsthand the importance of looking within to determine and harness our strengths, our leadership style, and more to be the best leader we can be not only for ourselves but for our teams.

During my conversation with Dana, we chatted about:

The importance of looking within as a leader.
The story behind Dana’s book, The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside Out.
How do we assess our personal leadership approach and style?
What is our personal mandate?
What is a personal commitment plan, and why is it important?
Why is failure an important part of leadership?

I am confident you will find a nugget of wisdom in my conversation with Dana!

Here is more about Dana:

Dana Maor is a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, the global cohead and European leader of McKinsey’s People & Organizational Performance Practice, and a member of the McKinsey Knowledge Council. Whether working in aerospace, financial services, pharmaceuticals, or telecommunications, Dana has helped clients pursue successful large-scale operational and organizational transformations and successful M&A integrations. Passionate about talent and leadership, Dana has guided many organizations through the process of establishing leadership-development platforms for top executives and has helped architect capability-building programs to reskill employees for changing workforce needs. Dana took a major role in McKinsey's research to build an effective understanding of talent management for the 2018 book, Talent Wins. She is a co-author of the 2024 bestselling book, The Journey of Leadership.

If Brave Women at Work has made an impact on you, please share it with a friend or colleague. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Also, if you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com. I have created three for you:

24 career and leadership affirmations, (2) 5 Ways to Manage Your Imposter Syndrome, and (3) most popular, Getting Paid: 10 Negotiation Tips.

They are workbook style guides, so you can complete them on your own time.

One other announcement. I am asking all of you to invest in yourself this year and attend the Thrive in ’25 Conference from June 25th-28th in Chicagoland. This conference is a 12-month experience that includes 3-days of the conference, 6+ months of coaching with yours truly in the Brave Circle, a 12-month membership in HerCsuite, a powerful women’s networking platform, and a 12-month membership to Innovation Women, a female led speakers bureau. I don’t know about you, but I have never been to a conference that pours that much into each attendee. Typically, it’s a 2–3-day conference and you’re thrown back into your life. Not Thrive in ’25. We want to walk alongside you to incorporate your learnings from the conference personally and professionally.

Invest in yourself today.

You can learn more about the conference and register at www.thrive-in25.com.

Well, I’m excited! I have a repeat guest on the podcast, Tamsen Webster. Tamsen was here the last time she wrote her first book, Find Your Red Thread, and today she is here to talk about her newest book, Say What they Can’t Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change.

You know when everything is smooth sailing and you are enjoying an easy, breezy ride for a while? I know those times, and 2025 is not one of them for me. I am in a period of significant change professionally, so I was excited to talk with Tamsen about her book.

The idea of saying what people cannot unhear resonates with me because I want to get my point across strong enough that it gets buy-in and is a good use of my time. As a resident intranpreneur in corporate and entrepreneur outside of corporate, idea buy-in and making friends with change management is crucial.

During my conversation with Tamsen, we chatted about:

What is the ding for Tamsen?
The importance of giving our audience a reason to believe.
Why is story the foundation for understanding?
Tamsen gives an overview of what a persuasion proverb is and how to use them.
What if someone cannot hear our story or refuses to listen? Then what?
Her doctoral studies at NYU. She almost gave me the academic bug!

Here is more about Tamsen:

Part message designer, part English-to-English translator, and now part doctoral student, Tamsen Webster helps leaders craft their case for large-scale change. A sought-after speaker and consultant, she’s spent more than 25 years developing the field and practice of persuasive message design, with a particular focus on the principles and processes that build buy-in that lasts.

In addition to her work in and for major organizations such as Harvard Medical School, Fidelity Investments, and Klaviyo, she built and delivers the message design curriculum for Elemental Impact, a leading investor in impact startups. She’s a judge and mentor for the Harvard Innovation Labs and a professional advisor at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. She’s also spent over 10 years as the Idea Strategist for one of only nine legacy-level TEDx events and was named to the Thinkers50 Radar in 2022. She's the author of two best-selling books, Find Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible, and Say What They Can't Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change which was named one of the top 10 management books of the year by Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper.

Tamsen was a reluctant marathoner… twice; is a champion ballroom dancer (in her mind); and learned everything she knows about messages, people, and change as a Weight Watchers leader. True story.

She lives in Boston with her husband, two sons, and her two brindle Greyhounds, Hazel and Walnut.

If Brave Women at Work has made an impact on you, please share it with a friend or colleague. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Also, if you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com.

At the end of my first podcast with guest, ER nurse and author, Jenn Johnson, I asked her what I ask all guests. “What are 1 to 2 ways women can be braver at work?” Jen proceeded to tell me, “Enter your villain era.”

I stopped in my tracks. What did that mean?

It means loving yourself enough to consider your needs.

It means that you are drawing and holding your boundaries.

It means relishing in self-care.

It means putting yourself first.

I have to say that I felt guilty easing into this concept. I’m sure you can relate. We as women are used to putting ourselves lower on the list. Everyone else comes first.

Not with this dare I say scandalous concept!

During my conversation with Jenn, we chatted about:

What embracing your villain era means to Jenn.
How do we embrace our villain era
If you could be any villain character, who would you be?
What are the first steps to embracing our villain era?
How do we deal with shame or guilt that will inevitably pop up when we decide to do this?
How can women support other women in their villain eras?

Here is more about Jenn:

Jenn Johnson is the founder of Rx for Growth and the author of Nursing Intuition.. Her career is a testament to dedication, resilience, and compassion. With 16 years of experience as an ER nurse, Jenn has navigated the most demanding and high-pressure healthcare environments, consistently delivering exceptional care to patients in critical need. Her deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of nursing has fueled Jenn’s passion for advocating for nurse wellness and professional growth. Her leadership at Rx for Growth is marked by her commitment to transforming the landscape of nurse support services. Jenn has spearheaded initiatives that focus on mentorship, continuing education, and holistic wellness, ensuring that new graduate nurses are equipped with the skills, confidence, and resilience needed to thrive in their careers.In addition to her clinical and leadership roles, Jenn is an accomplished author. Through her writing, Jenn shares her wealth of knowledge and experiences, offering invaluable insights and inspiration to nurses at all stages of their careers. Her work highlights the importance of self-care, resilience, and continuous learning, reinforcing the core values that drive us.

If Brave Women at Work has made an impact on you, please share it with a friend or colleague. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Also, if you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com. I have created three for you:

24 career and leadership affirmations, (2) 5 Ways to Manage Your Imposter Syndrome, and (3) most popular, Getting Paid: 10 Negotiation Tips.

They are workbook style guides, so you can complete them on your own time.

One other announcement. I am asking all of you to invest in yourself this year and attend the Thrive in ’25 Conference from June 25th-28th in Chicagoland. This conference is a 12-month experience that includes 3-days of the conference, 6+ months of coaching with yours truly in the The Brave Circle, a 12-month membership in HerCsuite, a powerful women’s networking platform, and a 12-month membership to Innovation Women, a female led speakers bureau. I don’t know about you, but I have never been to a conference that pours that much into each attendee. Typically, it’s a 2–3-day conference and you’re thrown back into your life. Not Thrive in ’25. We want to walk along side you to incorporate your learnings from the conference personally and professionally.

Invest in yourself today.

You can learn more about the conference and register at www.thrive-in25.com.

There is a book called Carry On, Warrior: The Power of Embracing Your Messy, Beautiful Life by Glennon Doyle.

When I think about the concept of “carrying on, warrior,” I think of Emily Zarecki. As you will hear in today’s podcast, Emily is a warrior that has endured many trials and tribulations in her life. When I met Emily, I knew she would have a story of bravery to inspire all of us that we can do hard things.

During my conversation with Emily, we chatted about:

How the passing of her mom and her husband impacted her.
How she reacted after hearing of her own breast cancer diagnosis.
What prompted her to write her book, Golden Scars: How the Death of My Husband Prepared Me to Battle Cancer.
How Emily took care of herself while raising young kids on her own, including her twins!
The story behind her beautiful book cover and the concept of golden scars.
Emily also shared her work with Clarion Communications and the importance of having a personal brand.

Before we get started, here is more about Emily:

Emily Zarecki is a seasoned communications and public relations professional. Her 25-year career spans global Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies, nonprofit, and agency settings.

Completing treatment for breast cancer not only gave Emily a new perspective on life but the experience ignited a flame to do more writing and storytelling. After parting ways with a marketing agency in 2021, she founded Clarion Communications and is its lead consultant and chief storyteller.

Passionate about a few causes close to her heart – mental health, suicide prevention, and breast cancer awareness – Emily has served on the board for Unison Health in Toledo and led fundraising efforts for the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) Toledo in memory of her husband, Steve. Emily is enthusiastic about advocating for research and education about breast cancer and eliminating disparities in access to diagnostics and treatment. She serves as an advocacy ambassador for Susan G. Komen.

*TRIGGER WARNING - This episode discusses traumatic death

Welcome to the Brave Women at Work podcast. This is your host, Jen Pestikas. I’m so glad you’re here.

Hello everyone! How are you doing out there?

Let’s talk about a topic that’s not talked about often: using our intuition at work.

When you make key decisions at work, do you exclusively use data, research, and analysis?

What about when you hire someone? Do you sole rely on a hiring assessment?

Or do you use your gut or intuition too? For the longest time, I was exclusively “head” based. What I learned, however, is that I need to check-in with my gut or intuition as a source of wisdom too. I’m no longer exclusively head based, but I don’t ignore my internal knowing either. Everytime I have ignored it, it’s led me in the wrong direction.

What about you? Do you consult your intuition?

I was recently introduced to Jenn Johnson, an ER nurse and author that wrong about using her intuition in nursing. I thought that she was so brave to share that perspective, especially in the medical field. I was intrigued and was excited to have her on the show.

Today, we are chatting about shiny objective syndrome and how it hurts us.

So, what is shiny object syndrome?

According to Google, Shiny object syndrome (SOS) is the tendency to be distracted by new ideas or opportunities, often at the expense of current tasks. It can affect people in many contexts, including business, personal development, and relationships.

It can look like this. You are working on a project and get another idea that is even better than what you are working on. You decide to pursue that idea and now have two open projects going at the same time. You may be afraid of missing out or FOMO about this idea, so you don’t want to say no to it. You think you can handle both ideas at the same time.

What are the symptoms of shiny object syndrome?

The symptoms are:

Constantly starting new projects but rarely finishing them
Difficulty focusing
A never-ending to-do list
Getting more excited about new opportunities than implementing existing strategies

It is very common among high achievers, entrepreneurs, leaders, and creatives who get a thrill from new ideas.

Well, I have come full circle! In 2013, I started a leadership group for my corporate organization. My CEO requested that we center the first leadership group on the book, Start with Why, by Simon Sinek. And almost 12 years later, I am still obsessed with the book. The basic premise of Start with Why is that if a person or a company starts from the point of why they do what they do and they communicate that clearly, the how and what (aka the operations or tactical pieces) will come. It all starts with understanding and knowing our why.

Well, guess what? I was pumped to get introduced to Monique Helstrom, the professional that was behind the author and speaker, Simon Sinek, during the Start with Why heyday. It was fun to learn what was happening behind the scenes, and what has prompted Monique to branch off on her own.

During my conversation with Monique, we chatted about:

What it was like to move from being Chief of Simon Sinek to running her own business.
Her mindset shift from feeling like being an executive assistant was simply #2 to moving to being #1 personally and professionally.
Why she sees life as a potluck.
She dives deeper into her mission with the work she does today with Executive Assistant recruiting and executive coaching clients.
What are the signs we need an executive assistant and how do we look for our own?
And more.

Before we get started, here is more about Monique:

Monique has dedicated her life to helping humans understand their own unique role in making great ideas - and great partnerships - come to life.

After nearly a decade as the Executive Assistant, Producer, and “Chief of Simon Sinek,” New York Times Best-Selling author and TED celebrity, along with her adventures as an event planner and a two-time small-businessowner, Monique has had unparalleled experiences and gained unique perspectives from thought leaders, executives, middle managers, celebrities, educators, military, social activists, and the general workforce that this world depends on. These encounters have equipped her with the tools necessary to decipher and disentangle common issues plaguing humans and businesses around the globe.

And now, as a Speaker, Activator, and Unlocker of Human Potential, she consults, coaches, and speaks internationally to teach people the most important skills that no one ever taught them before. She has helped individuals and teams understand and utilize their innate talents, master their communication, conquer their organizational roadblocks, and build powerful relationships that will actually progress their career.

As an expert on communication and feedback, human (not “soft”) skills, personality types, performance enhancers, skill building techniques, executive presence, and ways to motivate, she offers a practical and honest approach to subjects like change, teamwork, collaboration, conflict and communication!

She has cultivated an ability to identify patterns, diagnose the gaps, and establish a workable solution. She is experienced in taking take large complex problems and breaking them down into bite-sized, achievable nuggets.

If you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com. I have created three for you:

24 career and leadership affirmations, (2) 5 Ways to Manage Your Imposter Syndrome, and (3) most popular, Getting Paid: 10 Negotiation Tips.

They are workbook style guides, so you can complete them on your own time.

One other announcement. I’m co-hosting my first ever women’s leadership conference called Thrive in 2025! Yes, you heard that right! Hope Mueller of CLIMB Conferences and I are hosting the conference in Chicagoland from June 25th-28th, 2025. You can learn more about the conference and register at www.thrive-in25.com.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Monique Helstrom - Coach, Speaker, and Recruiter of Talented Assistants for Busy Executives

I am so excited for my guest today, Jenn Smith. Jenn and I met in a very interesting way. Jenn was listening to the Brave Women at Work Podcast, especially the show with Heather Eck. This show was just rebroadcast as the best of 2024 episode on 12/26/2024. If you haven’t listened to that one, you must go back and check it out!

Jenn was intrigued by my conversation with Heather, an artist with the amazing story of owning her gift of synesthesia, or the mixing of the senses. Heather is a former HR professional who bravely left the corporate world to pursue her work as an artist and specifically to own her ability to heal with color. She intuitively sees people as colors and creates prescriptive Spirit Portraits to help her clients. My portrait is magenta, gold, and violet, and is so beautiful!

After the podcast, Jenn got her own spirit portrait and asked to connect with me via Heather. And the rest is history!

During my conversation with Jenn, we chatted about:

What does flourishing in your career mean?
What are the signs you need a career change, whether that it inside or outside your organization?
What is HEART centered career planning? What does H.E.A.R.T. stand for?
What is the Gathering Ground?
What about the Greenhouse? What is that?
What is five minutes to flourish?
Jen tells us all about her treehouse and why she has themed her business with nature or growth terminology.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

The Flourish Careers Podcast Podcast - Apple Podcasts

Career Coaching, Career Change Coaching, for Professionals, and HR Consulting for Business Leaders, Flourish Careers LLC

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Over the years at Brave Women at Work, we have talked about our mindset, how we feel about our bodies, our family histories, and more and how these issues impact how we show up at work. Now, we are covering how our sexual past and potential wounds in this area can impact our ability to speak up, go for a promotion, believe we are worthy to get paid what we are worth, and more in the professional arena.

At first, before Jaitara Jayde, my guest and I, hit record today, I wondered if this subject was a fit for Brave Women at Work. I realized that of course it was because we bring our whole person to work. And after all, we are sexual beings. If we are hurting in this area, how could we not be impacted in all areas of our lives?

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Feminine Artistry

Your Sacred Pleasure & Prosperity™ Blueprint

Amazon.com: The Four Sacred Laws of Sexual Enlightenment: 9781999540302: Jayde, Jaitara: Books

Pleasure & Prosperity™ Retreats

My guest today - Patty Altman has over 30 years of corporate experience, and brings a wealth of knowledge, vulnerability, and fun to our conversation.

Patty has an extensive work experience in the consumer and shopper insights field, starting her career in 1993 as a Sr Project Manager at NPD. Patty then worked at IRI as a Vice President, leading a team in selling and delivering syndicated and custom panel research projects. At Ipsos Connect, she held roles as Vice President and Senior Vice President, managing client relationships and overseeing research projects across multiple international markets. Patty also worked at Schlesinger Associates as Senior Vice President, focusing on client development and enhancing research quality. Patty joined The NPD Group in 2017 and served as Senior Vice President of Client Development and Global Analytics, before becoming Executive Vice President in 2020. Currently, they are the President of Consumer and Shopper Insights and E-Commerce at Circana.

Patty Altman has an MBA in Business from Dowling College.

If Brave Women at Work has made an impact on you, please share it with a friend or colleague. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Also, if you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com. I have created three for you:

24 career and leadership affirmations, (2) 5 Ways to Manage Your Imposter Syndrome, and (3) most popular, Getting Paid: 10 Negotiation Tips.

They are workbook style guides, so you can complete them on your own time.

One other announcement. If you haven’t heard, I’m hosting my first ever women’s leadership conference in 2025 called Thrive in 2025! Yes, you heard that right! Hope Mueller of CLIMB Conferences and I are hosting the conference in Chicagoland from June 25th-28th, 2025. You can learn more about the conference and register at www.thrive-in25.com.

Alright, let’s welcome Patty to the show!

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Unlock Growth with Complete Consumer Insights

Please join me in welcoming Andrea Sampson to today's episode! Andrea is the mastermind behind Talk Boutique and the Thought Leader Academy, joins us to unravel the profound impact of storytelling in leadership. Learn how Andrea's extensive background in advertising and her passion for simplifying complex ideas through TEDx Toronto have equipped her to guide visionaries in sharing groundbreaking work. Her journey emphasizes the transformative power of introspection and adaptability in building a fulfilling career, illustrating how storytelling is not just a tool but a pathway to connection and inspiration.We explore the art of weaving narratives in business to capture and hold attention in an age of distractions. Discover how Andrea's insights into brain science can turn ordinary presentations into memorable storytelling experiences. By focusing on the core message and using narrative "breadcrumbs," leaders can ensure their ideas resonate with both creative and analytical minds. With practical strategies for overcoming the fear of storytelling, Andrea demonstrates how confidence and authenticity can be projected in any setting, from corporate boardrooms to public talks.

Transform your career narrative with storytelling techniques that inspire change and spark engagement. Andrea shares a blueprint for connecting ideas to powerful narratives, using sensory associations and relevant analogies to retain audience attention. Whether you're navigating annual reviews or crafting a memorable career narrative, the power of perspective can shape impactful interactions. Embrace the art of storytelling as a means to project your potential and create lasting influence in your professional journey.

Connect with Andrea through the Talk Boutique

I cannot wait to discuss with you this week how Nicole has helped me change how I approach my day to day. So let's meet this transformational retreat leader and energy coach, Nicole Smith-Levay, returns to illuminate the power of somatics and breathwork in both professional and personal spheres. Together, we discuss the journey of reconnecting our minds and bodies, a path that has profoundly influenced my own productivity and clarity. Nicole introduces the innovative Forward Momentum program, designed to empower corporate women through a unique combination of bodywork, breathwork, and coaching, and shares a powerful somatic practice to help listeners center themselves amidst the chaos of daily life.

Our conversation ventures into the realm of healing trauma through somatic practices, featuring a compelling story from a former dancer who founded "Power Within Healing." After a life-changing injury, she pivoted to somatic therapy, helping countless women reclaim their inner strength. We explore the body's natural wisdom and its unparalleled potential for healing beyond conventional medical methods, emphasizing the crucial role of intentional breathing in regulating the nervous system and fostering self-awareness.

As the discussion unfolds, we explore the cyclical nature of life and the concept of "wintering," encouraging reflection and intentional planning. Nicole shares insights from the Embodied Purpose Process, a transformative program that harmonizes somatics with traditional coaching and meditation. We close with a focus on embodied self-care, guiding listeners through grounding practices to bolster authenticity and bravery at work. Join us for this heartfelt exchange as we embrace the new year with embodied courage and community support.

https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Connect with Nicole -

https://justkeepmovingbook.com/

https://courses.thepowerwithinhealing.com/somatic-boundary-work-meditation-and-journal

https://www.instagram.com/nicolesmithlevay/

https://www.amazon.com/Wintering-Power-Retreat-Difficult-Times/dp/0593189485/ref=asc_df_0593189485?mcid=0af868c3c5e13c11be730916473ec8b9&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693422720760&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3344813855203361019&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021458&hvtargid=pla-977612031306&psc=1

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times

On today's episode I am excited to have award-winning author and TEDx speaker Jennifer Mrozek-Sukalo redefine swagger, transforming it from its traditional association with arrogance to a beacon of self-confidence and authenticity. Her insights encourage us to let go of perfectionism and past mistakes, making room for vulnerability as a powerful leadership tool. Jennifer’s personal journey, combined with my background in behavioral change and leadership consulting, offers valuable lessons on overcoming setbacks like burnout and imposter syndrome, proving that growth often lies in embracing our imperfections.

We dive into the concept of "swagger" with a fresh perspective, using it as a tool for self-discovery and empowerment. Jennifer introduces an empowering acronym for SWAGGER, helping listeners cultivate self-worth, appreciation, gratitude, grounding, empowerment, and renewal. This episode is filled with practical strategies to assess and boost your own swagger levels, inviting you to reflect on your personal journey towards authenticity and self-confidence.

Uncover ways to reclaim your inner worth and identity with Jennifer's upcoming three-book series and the "Emerge Journey" program designed to empower women through workshops and the "Swagger Sisterhood." We explore how to integrate practices like meditation, affirmations, and gratitude into daily routines to maintain self-worth and resilience. Dive into this journey of self-discovery, learn to walk with swagger in everyday life, and discover how embracing authenticity can make us braver and more effective in our personal and professional endeavors.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Swagger U

Claim Your SWAGGER: Mrozek Sukalo, Jennifer: 9781636980669: Amazon.com: Books

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Happy New Year! As we start 2025, I have two interesting topics to share with you during this solo episode. First, why should you consider a Word of the Year Practice? In the first portion of the show, I share how to find your word of the year and the benefits of doing this.

Second, I reflect on the name of the podcast, Brave Women at Work, and the interesting juxtaposition the podcast name has between the male and female pieces of ourselves. During the show, I share the definitions of brave and courage, why being brave is accessible to all of us, and tips on taking bolder and braver action this year.

You don't want to miss this show! Take notes and learn how you can be brave personally and professionally.

Happy Holidays! Let me start by saying that I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends. As we end the year, I also wish you much love, health and happiness in the New Year.

This week, I am replaying one of my favorite episodes from Brave Women at Work. This week, I would love for you to learn (or re-learn) about the power of color with Heather Eck.

I met Heather via a podcast placement agency. The magic of podcasting is that you can make amazing connections simply by chatting with other podcasters and guests. When I met Heather, there was an immediate connection. I felt our conversation was magic, and I’m sure you will too!

After this podcast originally aired, Heather sent me my personal Spirit Portrait. You will learn more about that shortly. This piece of artwork sits proudly in my office and is a fond memory of our podcast and connection. In addition, I met another podcaster, coach and colleague because of the show.

See? You never know where connections and conversations can take you.

During my chat with Heather, we discussed:

Heather’s journey from being an HR Manager to synesthesia artist
What synesthesia even means
How Heather helps women go from stuck to intention through her work
What a Spirit Portrait is and how the process works
Heather talks about her gift and what certain colors mean

As we get closer to the end of the year, we typically think about our New Year’s Resolutions. One resolution that ends up on many people’s lists is to get out of debt and save more money.

What we don’t often talk about is the powerful connection between our wealth and our health. Like my guest today, Krissina Wise, we may take our health for granted in the pursuit of wealth and not even know we are doing it.

Krisstina spent between $250,000 and $500,000 getting her health back after a major health scare while at the pinnacle of her career success and has made it her mission to help people not only have a love affair with their money, but also with taking care of themselves so they can lead fulfilling lives.

This conversation is power-packed, so get ready!

During my conversation with Krisstina, we chatted about:

The pivotal moment in which she almost lost her life.
What Krisstina needed to learn to get her life back on track.
What wealthywellthy means and why it is important.
Does wealthy have to mean having a lot in your bank account?
How do we find our financial sweet spot?
What does it take to be a millionaire?
What steps we can take to fall in our love with our money without sacrificing our health.

Ok, I have a secret. When the Matrix movies first came out with Keanu Reeves, I went to the movies to see them. And you know what happened? I fell asleep. They were so exciting and full of new technology and film effects, but I could not stay awake. I guess I did “get” them.

Well, my guest, Susanne Goldstein, not only gets them, but she also helps women wake up and break free from the prisons the world and their prior choices have put them in.

Susanne says that she watches the Matrix movies on New Year’s Eve. Who knows, now that I better understand the point behind the movies, I may watch them too. And this time, I won’t fall asleep. Fingers crossed!

During my conversation with Susanne, we chatted about:

The tools she uses with her clients, including metaphysics and energetics.
Why she loves the Matrix movies and watches them every year.
What an upgrade is and why we can have multiple upgrades throughout our lives and careers.
If upgrades are conscious and planned, subconscious or both.
What steps we can take to break free from our own version of the Matrix.

A quick note for you concerning today’s show: Susanne and I let the language rip, so listen to the show with your earbuds or other microphones and away from little ears.

What if stepping away from your career wasn’t a sign of failure but a powerful tool for growth? That’s the perspective Laura Nguyen brings to the table as she shares her journey of overcoming burnout through a planned break.

Happy December! Can you believe that we are almost to the end of 2024? I cannot. Either way, I hope you have a wonderful end to your year filled with love, joy, health, and happiness.

Speaking about year-end, things get super hectic with all the planning, celebrations, over buying, gift wrapping, opening, and clean-up. I have had years when I get to the end of the year after the holidays and I’m happy I’ve survived. You feel me?

Being the superwoman at the holidays is simply a metaphor for how we can be in life with doing all the things. And as you know, it can lead to burnout. My guest today, Laura Nguyen, has a fresh take on this. And that fresh take starts with a question.

What if taking a planned break was ok? Even better, what if it was welcomed?

I’m going to let that sink in a minute. A planned career break. Yes, please!

During my conversation with Laura, we chatted about:

What drove Laura to take a planned career break. She also shares her burnout story.
Any fear related to taking a planned career break and what judgment or commentary she received from others as a result.
How this impacted her as a chronic self-achiever
What if you can’t take a career break because you are the primary breadwinner, a single parent, and more.
What happened during Laura’s career break and how she leveraged it to her advantage.
Her book, Career Break Compass: Navigating Your Path to a Balanced Life Through Intentional Time Off
Her Spark Community

In the earlier stages of my podcast, I often found guests on LinkedIn. Then, I found podcasts through public relations firms and placement agencies. Now, I find them through other podcasters, former guests, friends, and colleagues in the personal development space. I am so excited about the evolution of the show and plan to continue to bring you powerful guests, like my guest, Alicia Zielinski Straub, today.

Alicia and I met through former podcast guest, colleague, and somatic breathwork teacher, Nicole Smith Levay. Alicia and I have been on a breathwork journey together, and now we are taking a meditation and breathwork mentorship (certification together)! It has been wonderful to get to know Alicia, and I am happy to have her as a guest on the show.

During my conversation with Alicia, we chatted about:

Her experience many years ago with Hurricane Sandy, and how it cracked her wide open and started her healing journey.
Alicia’s vision for her life and how she suggests other women go about finding their own bigger vision for their life and career.
The idea of not knowing and how we can be as calm as possible in the middle of that phase of transformation.
How we soften into our hearts when we are on a healing or change journey.
The advice Alicia would have for any woman who is looking to tap into herself, find stillness, and get prepared for transformation.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “If I had a nickel every time someone did (fill in the blank), I’d be rich?” My guest, Andie Kramer, might say, “If I had a nickel for every story of workplace bias against women, I’d be rich.”

I feel incredibly fortunate to have Andie join me on Brave Women at Work to tackle such an important and timely topic. Reflecting on my own career, I can clearly see moments where I experienced bias—whether it was someone else taking credit for my ideas in a meeting or being passed over for a promotion in favor of a male colleague, despite having all the qualifications.

As I always say, this isn’t about man-bashing—I love the men in my life. But on this show, my goal is to help you take braver, bolder actions in your career. Sometimes that means addressing tough topics like breaking bias, understanding why women, especially women of color, face more challenges in their careers, and—most importantly—exploring what we can do to create a better future for our daughters.

In this episode, Andie and I dive into:

What inspired Andie and her husband, Al, to focus on breaking gender bias in the workplace
The types of bias that women encounter at work and how they manifest
Practical steps we can take to break through bias and build thriving careers
Andie and Al’s PATH program and how it helps address bias in organizations
Why women sometimes struggle with other women in the workplace
The crucial role men play in helping to eliminate workplace bias

Well, I’ve just met another sister from another mister in Jenny Mitchell. The other funny thing is that I have another dear friend named Jenny Mitchell, so this is going to get confusing. True story!

Jenny and I chat today about the concept of embracing our ambition and not stepping away or being afraid of it. Jenny and I had such a fun time during this conversation, and I am sure you are going to enjoy it as well.

During my conversation with Jenny, we chatted about:

What embracing ambition means to Jenny.
What prompted her to write her book, Embracing Ambition: Empowering Women to Step Out, Be Seen, & Lead.
How she built a unique experience for all participating authors in the book.
How we can lean into our ambition without burning out.

The great story behind Jenny’s company, Chavender.

Happy November! It’s starting to get cold outside here in Chicago. And guess what? I love it! Yes, I’m one of those people that loves fall and even cooler temperatures. I feel like I come alive when everything begins to hibernate. Maybe my clocks are off. Or maybe that’s just me.

Well, today, I have found another wonderful guest, Anne Shoemaker, who loves sports metaphors as much as I do. You may or may not know that one of my favorite movies is Rocky. I’m starting to date myself because the Rocky series of movies began in 1976. Wowzer! 1976.

Well, I’d like to share my favorite quote from the Rocky series to get us kicked off:

“The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place, and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is going to hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done."

During my conversation with Anne, we chatted about:

Her time in sports and how it shaped and defined her.
How she learned to let go of all things feminine and her voice became a whisper in the wind.
She also shares some of her top tips and tools to level up professionally, including how we can save up to 150 minutes per day, how we can level up our game on LinkedIn, and the top questions to ask during our next performance review.
Anne also shares her career fulfillment score assessment and how she works to help women reach their professional goals.

If you have been a longtime Brave Women at Work listener, you know that I have a soft spot for discussing burnout. If you are joining the podcast for the first time or just a few episodes here and there, I personally experienced burnout in 2019 and have faced some health issues as a result.

I’ve said on the show and with my clients, that if I can help one woman prevent or recover from burnout, then I’ve done my job for the day. I don’t want any other women or men for that matter to go through this. It’s scary, lonely and in my case, even confusing. I didn’t know I was about to hit the wall of burnout until it already happened. I crashed into the wall and was forced to recover.

My guest today, Hannah Tackett, has had her own experience with burnout and is also passionate about helping women in this area. Hannah really “gets it”, and I feel fortunate we have met, and she was available for this show.

During our conversation, Hannah and I talked about:

What serene success means to Hannah
What the success traps are and when they go from helping to hurting us – what is the tipping point
Hannah’s PEACE Method as part of her Serene Success Program
How we protect our energy so we can continue to produce at a high level without falling apart physically, mentally, and emotionally

It’s been a season of transitions, with both endings and new beginnings. I’ve been fortunate to travel all over the world this year, including Greece, Croatia, Portugal, Ireland, and Aruba. After a period of constant movement, it feels good to know that I’ll be home for most of the time moving forward. The crazy travel is coming to an end, at least for now. My birthday just passed, marking my 47th trip around the sun. 47 years old! Another new beginning. Wow! Remember when that used to feel old? Well, not anymore. There have also been some significant beginnings and endings in my corporate work. While I won’t dive into the details, I’ve found that transitions in work can stir up emotions too. I’m sharing this because it’s important to acknowledge that we bring our whole selves to work. When things are in a state of flux, it’s okay to feel excited, sad, worried, frustrated—whatever feels right for you at the moment.

My guest today, Jennifer Mulholland, joins me for a conversation on a much-needed topic—what it means to practice Conscious Leadership. As the memes say, anyone can be a manager, but it takes radical honesty, self-awareness, a sense of responsibility for ourselves and our people, a willingness to put in the work, and so much more to truly be a leader.

During our conversation, Jennifer and I discussed:

The story behind Jennifer co-founding Plenty Consulting
What ThetaHealing is, and how it’s similar and different from Reiki
How Jennifer integrates both the practical and the spiritual in her work with individual clients, groups, and corporations
Why passion—what gets us up in the morning—is so important to Jennifer
Her book, Leading with Light: Choosing Conscious Leadership When You’re Ready for More, and the four lights of conscious leadership
How surrender plays a crucial role in Conscious Leadership

“Connection is why we’re here. We are hardwired to connect with others; it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it, there is suffering.” – Brené Brown

There have been times in my life when I believed the best way to handle a project or situation was to do it alone, like a lone wolf. Sometimes that approach works, but when it becomes a habit, it doesn’t.

As Brené Brown says, we are wired for human connection. According to my guest today, Jennifer K. Hill, if we are not connected to ourselves, others, and our purpose, it can lead us down a path of disconnection—potentially turning us into what Jennifer humorously refers to as a “jerk.” Just kidding… or maybe not!

In our conversation, Jennifer and I discussed:

How Jennifer is a “recovering jerk”
Why human connection is so important to her
What the Golden Path of Connection is
How we can connect with ourselves, others, and our purpose
How her company, Optimatch, helps in understanding human connection
Jennifer’s free resources, including her book 101 Spiritual Tools for Uncertain Times and her podcast Regarding Consciousness
Why fun, including watching Minions, is crucial

This conversation was incredibly enjoyable—you’ll hear us laughing throughout. I hope this episode brightens your day and, more importantly, inspires you to recognize the importance of human connection and take steps on your own connection journey.

Happy 200th Episode of Brave Women at Work! Can you believe it has been 200 episodes? I can’t! What began as part of my burnout healing journey has evolved into something that brings me immense joy. I want to thank you for being here, whether this is your first episode, you’ve listened to a few here and there, or you’ve been a longtime listener—I am so grateful for you. The show has been downloaded over 70,000 times in more than 30 countries. WOW!

To celebrate the 200th episode, I’m raffling off a copy of Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Leadership and Brave Women at Work: Stories of Resilience! All you need to do is email me at hello@bravewomenatwork.com, and I’ll enter your name into a random book raffle! I’ll draw the winners’ names by 10/31/2024, so email me today for a chance to win!

I have a special guest on the show today, Dr. Ronicka Briscoe. Dr. Ronicka was a contributing author in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Leadership and is a welcome, wonderful addition to the Brave Women at Work community.

During our conversation, Ronicka and I discuss:

What winning on the road means for working women.
What prompted Ronicka to participate in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Leadership.
Ronicka’s Gallup Strengths assessment compared to mine, and how rare it is for our strengths to be so similar.
The difference between Gallup Strengths and the Myers-Briggs assessment, and how Dr. Ronicka uses them with her coaching clients.
Ronicka’s leadership development programs, including The Winners Circle.

I have a wonderful repeat guest today, Churni Bhattacharya. Churni and I can talk for hours, and every time I speak with her, I feel like I’m talking with an old friend.

Churni has so much wisdom to share in today’s show and her prior appearance, episode 141, which launched on August 31st, 2023. You’ll definitely want to grab a notebook and listen to both of these shows twice to catch all of the great advice and information.

During our conversation, Churni and I talked about:

Her journey to becoming a contributing author in the women’s anthology, “Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Leadership.”
Churni’s learnings throughout the publication process.
How Churni has changed because of this experience.
What recommendations Churni has for anyone who wants to step out and try something new, whether it’s writing a book, starting a project, beginning a new job, and more.
Churni’s advice for other women navigating the IT/Digital Industry.
Her favorite book.
What’s on the horizon for Churni moving forward.

Have you ever thought about leadership as a recipe? Imagine adding a dash of this or a pinch of that to create your own unique leadership style. What if you could learn the perfect leadership ingredients from the leaders you encounter throughout your career?

I had never considered leadership in this way, but I love this delicious metaphor!

My guest today, Mylene Barizo, is a powerful leader, communicator, connector, and now a best-selling author of Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Leadership. I invited Mylene to share her inspiring perspective on leadership and her key takeaways from being part of our recent book project on the topic.

In this episode, Mylene and I discuss:

● What inspired her to contribute to Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Leadership

● What Mylene has learned throughout the process

● The key lessons she hopes readers will take from her chapter

● Mylene’s concept of the Leadership Recipe and how we can identify the ingredients in our own personal leadership style

● Insights about The Leadership Ladder, what it means to Mylene, and the services her company offers for both individuals and businesses

Are you ready for a firecracker of a conversation with my sister from another mister, Diana Patton, my guest today on the podcast? Diana and I met during an online presentation I was giving for another women’s organization, PINKK, led by another Brave Women at Work podcast guest, Athena Golianis. Athena sure knows how to connect people! There was energy immediately between Diana and I, and we knew we needed to be in one another’s orbits.

During our conversation, Diana and I talked about:

Diana’s challenging past and how it forged who she is today.
The pivotal moment in Diana’s life when she knew she needed to run her own business and not stay solely focused on law.
What rising means to Diana.
What challenges Diana sees that prevent women from rising.
Books and other resources that Diana used in her own rising journey.
Her All Rise Live Summit here in Chi-town – Chicago!

Sorry to start a show so heavy, but this is one of the most real, raw, and brave interviews I have held in almost 200 episodes of Brave Women at Work.

As I will explain in today’s show, I met Bryn Freedman, my guest today, in a most interesting way. On an airplane. What would unfold after that has shocked and awed me. I would like to thank Bryn for being on the show today, especially after losing her husband, Steve Freedman, just a few short weeks ago.

Bryn has had an amazing career in investigative news, making documentaries, being a TED curator and coach, and simply helping make the world a better place with her non-profit, Voices4Freedom.

I learned so much from Bryn and our conversation, and I could feel my emotions well up in my heart several times during the show. It was a mixture of sadness and grief for Bryn who lost Steve so unexpectedly, and gratitude for the time we spent together during our discussion.

During our conversation, Bryn and I talked about:

More of the juicy details behind the story of how Bryn and I met on a plane to Portugal.
The story of Steve’s recent passing.
The background story behind Bryn’s amazing investigative news, and documentary film/TV career.
Bryn’s relationship with yes, no, and now, how am I feeling today.
How Bryn’s relationship with her mom and how it has improved after her passing.
Bryn’s thoughts on burnout.
And more.

Ok, let’s start with the elephant in the room. Why am I talking about life insurance on this show? You may think – BORING with a capital B or next podcast! I am asking you to open your mind and listen in.

To be a brave woman at work and in your life, I am a firm believer you need to have a solid financial foundation and an understanding of your finances. This includes insurance.

You will also hear in the show that I am passionate about this topic because it hit my family, and my mother, directly. I grew up in a middle-class family in the 80’s. My mom and dad worked hard to give me a great childhood. Then, my dad was diagnosed at 40 years old with cancer. Two to three years later, the cancer came back after remission and was terminal. My dad ended up passing away at the early age of 48. My dad didn’t have enough life insurance, so my mom continued working 2 jobs until her late 50s to provide a life for my brother and me.

I don’t want you to go through something similar. And while this story is not meant to scare you, it is meant to get your attention. By having enough life insurance on yourself and your loved ones, it frees up the power of choice if something unforeseen were to happen to you or someone else in your family.

When I met my guest, Danielle Burch, today, I knew I needed to have her on my show. She also geeks out on life insurance and has seen her fair share of situations like my mom’s.

During our conversation, Danielle and I chatted about:

How Danielle entered the world of insurance
Why women need to have life insurance as part of their financial plan
A high-level overview of the two major types of insurance
The flexibility of insurance in comparison to a 401(k) plan where many of us have our retirement dollars going
The differences between group insurance through work and individual insurance policies
And unbiased resources we can turn to learn more about insurance.

Join us as we dive into a topic that is often overlooked.

One disclaimer about today’s podcast is that Danielle and I are not financial advisors or insurance agents. We are not referring individual products and services to you. This podcast should be taken as educational. Please speak with a trusted financial advisor or insurance agent to determine the best course of action for your situation.

Have you ever thought about your purpose and what that means? What about the company you either work for or run? What is its purpose?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition of purpose is “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.”

My guest today, Carol Cone, has been called the purpose queen and understands this at a cellular level. As you will hear about in her bio, Carol has worked with companies such as Rockport, Reebok, Dove, Aflac, and more.

During our conversation, Carol and I chatted about:

What purpose strategy is and what prompted her work in this area.
What purpose means to Carol and how it compares to the idea of brand.
Social purpose movements Carol has led with Rockport shoes, the American Heart Association, Aflac, and more.
Carol’s key learnings in her years of experience in social-purpose work.
The benefits both individuals and companies alike diving into their purpose.

As a Type-A overachiever and recovering perfectionist, I will come clean about something:

I often override my body’s signals to get one more thing done.

How does this look in real life?

• It may be squeezing in another hour of work when I am tired and know I should go to bed.

• It may be me being consistently late for appointments which causes my heart to race.

• It may be me crashing into the couch on Friday evenings because I didn't take enough breaks for rest and play during the week.

Does this resonate? When we wear the badge of busy, we can often neglect our health and well-being. My guest today, Dr. Susan Lovelle, explains why it is time for us to invest in our health and well-being as much as we do in our careers.

During our conversation, Dr. Susan and I chatted about:

The building blocks for optimized health and well-being
The signs and symptoms that may pop up when your well-being is out of whack
What benefits are for us and our companies when we are in a balanced state of performance
What the LeanHormone Metabolic Reset is and how it works
What the Hormones in Heels Masterclass is and how it leads deeper into Dr. Susan’s work
And we touched on Dr. Susan’s book, Thrive: The Five-Week Guide to Mastering Your Energy at Any Age

There’s a lot of powerful information that we packed into this interview, so listen in!

It's a big day at Brave Women at Work! I am excited because I have my first Scottish guest and Australian resident, Mags Bell, joining me today. Besides having a beautiful accent and being a wonderful conversationalist, Mags brings the goods during our show. She is very knowledgeable on all things related to mindset and confidence, which are foundational for self-aware leadership. Listen in as Mags explains her easy-to-understand models and tools. You’ll want to take notes during this conversation or listen to the show twice!

During our conversation, Mags and I discussed:

What led Mags to go from a corporate role to coaching and keynote speaking.
Her early ego journey in management and how it has changed over time.
What being in the movie means and how we can snap out of it to a more balanced ego.
Her LeadingMe® model and how it is critical to the middle ego path in leadership.
The 4R’s Release Model® and how it helps us silence our inner critics and Imposter Syndrome.
And other ways we can release our “shite” aka shit to be better leaders.

To be a strong leader and a brave woman at work, I am confident that we need to know what our strengths are and how to harness them. I don’t know about you, but for the longest time I thought I needed to shore up my weaknesses to be “right” for a particular role. On top of that, I was convinced I had to know everything about the role too, all the ins and outs.

Wrong. After over 20 years in corporate, I have learned that we all have a balance sheet of strengths and weaknesses. I need to double-down on my strengths, not waste time trying to shore up my weaknesses. In place of doing that, I need to find people in my team that complement my strengths. Maybe these team members are strong in my areas of weakness. And no, I cannot know everything about a job.

My guest today, Dr. Cheryl Lovell, helps me further understand the CliftonStrengths Assessment by the Gallup Organization. This was an awesome conversation, and one I am sure you will enjoy.

During our conversation, Dr. Cheryl and I chatted about:

What the CliftonStrengths assessment is and why knowing our strengths is important
If we need to take the assessment again after taking it the first time
What we do next with our results to improve our personal and professional lives
How leaders and teams can use CliftonStrengths to their advantage
The ROI of the CliftonStrengths assessment
How the assessment can help you navigate challenging personal and professional relationships

Have you ever wondered if we can get better and more high-performing as leaders and teams with time? Like a fine wine? With the proper ingredients, support from our companies, and the work we do on ourselves, we can reach a new level of emotional maturity. With this emotional maturity, we don’t stand behind our egos as they lead. We stand with humility, grace, self-respect, and self-trust. That’s the kind of leader I want to be, and I’m sure that’s the type of leader you want to be, too.

My guest today, Margie Oleson, and I chatted about a new topic: the leadership waterline. I had never thought about leadership in this way, and it was fascinating for me to learn. Like I said in our conversation, chatting with Margie was like taking a master’s class in leadership!

During our conversation, Margie and I discussed:

Her background and how it contributes to the work she does today
The key attributes of a high-performing leader and team
What holds companies back from fostering more high-performing teams
What the leadership waterline is and how we can lower ours
What neuroscience has to do with all of this
How Margie’s Top Accelerator Program helps leaders make changes and have them stick

Have you ever been afraid to speak up at work for fear of being labeled bossy, pushy, or aggressive?

I have, and for the longest time, I stayed quiet because of it. I was too busy criticizing my own thoughts and worrying about what others thought, rather than sharing my ideas, asking questions, or stating my opinions based on my education and experience.

When I have shared my opinions, asked questions, or presented ideas, I've been labeled as "too this or that," but it doesn't stop me anymore. I've probably even been called a bitch behind my back, and that's okay. My guest today, Dr. Alessandra Wall, and I discuss how to be a powerhouse, avoid negative labels, and stop worrying about backlash.

During our conversation, Dr. Alessandra and I discuss:

● Her transition from a full-time counseling practice to her work as an executive coach for women

● What led her to start her company, Noteworthy

● The importance of visibility for women who want to get promoted

● How women can be visible and own their authority without being called a bitch

● The science behind this process

● The internal resistance that executive women face when seeking visibility and authority, and how to overcome it

● The systems that executive women need to put in place

● How Dr. Alessandra works with her female executive clients

Believe me, I learned some valuable lessons during this conversation that I wish I had known when whispers of "she’s a bitch" were being said behind my back. Let’s learn together how to artfully gain visibility, get promoted, and own our authority. Shall we?

According to a Harvard Business Review Study, 40% of executives and leaders are introverted. Korn Ferry completed a similar study, and in their study, they found that 40-50% of leaders are introverted.

So, what does this mean? It means that it is important to talk about this because if you are an introverted employee or people leader at work, the chances are that someone you work with is as well.

Just like many of us land in leadership roles without training and fake it until we make it, it can be similar to an introvert. In a working world that is designed for extroverts, it can be difficult for introverts to navigate. My guest today, Julianna Yau Yorgan, a self-proclaimed introvert, former corporate leader, and career strategist and coach, provides us with guidance on how to do just that.

During our conversation, Julianna and I discussed:

The difference between a career strategist and a career coach.
Her journey to a director-level role while being an introverted leader.
The difference between introversion and shyness.
How to network successfully as an introvert.
How we can get to a place where we are unapologetically introverted.
Navigating various difficult personalities at work as an introvert. We chat about narcissists, backstabbers, and more.
Julianna also shares what her Introverted Leader Community is all about.

Who knew that I would be so excited to talk about perimenopause and menopause today? The truth is, I have been searching for the right expert to chat with about this important topic. And Georgie Kovacs, my guest today, is exactly the right person to lead us through this.

Why? Well, selfishly, I am in perimenopause, and I want to understand how to deal with this. Many of my coaching clients have shared they suffer from brain fog, tiredness, and more, which I learned can be attributed to this stage of life.

As Maya Angelou said, “Once we know better, we can do better.” We can do better by understanding our bodies and how this change impacts all women. We can do better by advocating for ourselves at the doctor’s office. We can do better by spreading the word to other women. So, let’s jump in!

During our conversation, Georgie and I chatted about:

What the symptoms of perimenopause are and how long this transitionary period can last for women.
Why Georgie thinks talking about perimenopause at work is taboo and what we can do about it.
How much perimenopause costs U.S. companies per year.
Standing in our values in professional and personal situations.
How I may have confused my burnout symptoms as part of early perimenopause. Or maybe it was a mix of both?
How we can advocate for ourselves along this journey, including finding practitioners that look at various remedy sources for our symptoms.
Georgie’s podcast FemPower Health, her free resources on her site, and where she’s taking FemPower Health next.

For my U.S. listeners, Happy 4th of July! As we celebrate the holiday, it has me thinking about personal and professional freedom. And even better yet, it motivated me to do a solo show. It’s been a while! Hopefully, you will hear more solo shows from me going forward.

Today’s show will focus on my top tips for freedom in five areas of your life:

Money Freedom
Time Freedom
Mindset Freedom
Body Freedom
Work Freedom

Before we get started, if you are enjoying Brave Women at Work, please make sure to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

If the show has made an impact on you, please share it with a friend or colleague. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

Also, if you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com. I have created three for you:

24 career and leadership affirmations,
5 Ways to Manage Your Imposter Syndrome, and
Most popular, Getting Paid: 10 Negotiation Tips.

They are workbook-style guides, so you can complete them on your own time.

Again, go to bravewomenatwork.com to learn more.

And a little disclaimer. I am not a financial advisor, doctor, etc. We are going to cover some basic monetary and health principles in today’s show. If these topics pique your interest, speak with your medical professional or financial advisor.

Okay, let’s jump in!

Since getting back from a season of heavy travel, I have been bombarded with to-dos and meetings. It’s like I’m being penalized for taking a vacation. Have you ever felt this way? I’m in a blizzard of activities this summer at work and with the kids, that I find I’m breathing a bit shallower and not paying attention to what I need to say yes and no to on my calendar.

So, if you follow me on social media, you know I have been thinking about time a lot lately and how I’m allocating it to various areas in my life. As we all know, time is our most precious resource. As an ambivert, or someone who is more naturally introverted but has trained themselves to be able to be extroverted for short stints, I’m craving more stillness to tap into myself. To read a few books this summer. To crank up my internal wisdom. All these activities make me a better person, wife, mother, friend, and of course, leader.

So, I gladly welcomed my conversation with guest, Christy Pretzinger. While Christy and I never met before the show, you would think we were old friends with the way the conversation just flowed. Christy reminded me that I do need to get still and know my values, remember my Enneagram, go to therapy if needed, and more so that I can lead as a kind, compassionate, and growth-oriented leader.

During our conversation, Christy and I chatted about:

Values, the importance of them, and how to find our own
The Enneagram, what it is, and what our types are
Standing in our values in professional and personal situations
How values are at play at work
What EQ is and why it is important in leadership
A few book resources, including Christy’s upcoming book, so listen in!

So, I met today’s guest, Dominique Luster, at a Women’s Leadership Retreat in Lake Las Vegas earlier this year. I took Dominique’s workshop, Your Mother’s Mother’s Mother, which I found fascinating. The premise of the workshop was to learn how to start tracing the powerful lineage of the women in our family, so we can better understand our brave roots. Maybe your mother went to college when it wasn’t popular, maybe your grandmother or your great-grandmother was a first-time immigrant to the U.S. or another country. Whatever the stories of the women in your family, they start to light a fire of power underneath you, showing you that you, too, can do brave and amazing things. I know that when I started learning more about the women in my family, I was inspired. If you take the time after this show to start tracing your herstory, I’m sure you will be, too.

During our conversation, Dominique and I chatted about:

What led Dominique to be an archivist and why the work is so important.
A piece of poetry Dominique shared from her site, the lustercompany.com.
Some tips and tricks Dominique shared to get started tracing our female lineage.
Why doing this is important for our personal and professional lives.
And how she can help you if you don’t know where to start.

Quick personal update here. This year, I have been telling people that I am living my best life. During COVID and even beyond, I feel like I was holding back just a little bit and not really going for it. By going for it, I mean take the trip, eat the gelato, make the call, take the action. Yes, I was making an effort, but a little bit of my magic was missing, and I felt like I needed to get it back.

Well, as we are coming to mid-year in 2024, I’ve got my mojo back, baby! And I’m going for it. I’m taking trips I’ve always wanted to take. I’m taking bolder and braver action, just like I teach my coaching clients. And you know what? It feels so good!

So, it feels appropriate that today’s guest is just as motivating and inspirational. When I met Vera Quinn, my guest today, I felt like a fire was lit underneath me. I love Vera’s energy, grit, and perseverance. She is a woman who achieves her goals, but also gives back, which is inspiring to see. I’m sure you will be inspired by Vera’s personal story of her road to CEO, just like I was.

During our conversation, Vera and I chatted about:

Why perseverance and drive are the backbone of who Vera is
Vera’s personal and professional values and why they are the underpinning of everything she has done in her career
What strategic and people-centered leadership are and how Vera has used these principles to become the CEO of Cydcor
The book that Vera has been reading for 23 years in a row and why
We also touched on the foundation that she runs called the MyTQuinn Foundation, which is an amazing story in and of itself

Do you ever feel like you're constantly giving in to others' needs, but your own go unmet? Are you tired of conversations that leave you feeling unheard and undervalued? Boundaries are the key to creating healthy, fulfilling relationships. Today,Jan and Jillian Yuhas, the authors ofBoundary Badass: A Powerful Method for Elevating Your Value and Relationships, discuss the different faces of boundaries and how they evolve. These identical twins are Relationship and Boundary Experts who can guide you into navigating into creating healthy and fulfilling relationships. If you are ready to become a Boundary Badass, tune into this episode now! Join Jan and Jill Yuhas to help you build the respectful relationships you deserve.

During my conversation with Jan and Jillian, we chatted about:

What are boundaries?

The many faces of boundaries

How can you spot when boundaries are violated?

Boundary Badass: A Powerful Method for Elevating Your Value and Relationships

Boundaries vs. ultimatums

Can a disrespected boundary be repaired?

When I was coming up in the ranks of corporate, I didn’t know what I was doing. I faced inordinate amounts of Imposter Syndrome and fear. I didn’t have the mental capacity to make purposeful decisions to put self-care at the forefront of my routine, to know what to say yes and no to, to have boundaries, and to determine what type of leader I would become.

Well, buckle up for a beautiful master class in leadership today with my esteemed guest, Carrie Hansen. As you will hear in a minute, Carrie is the Chief Operating Officer at Assetmark and was named COO of the Year at the 2023 OnCon Icon Awards. Carrie openly and authentically shares so many leadership lessons in this show that I would encourage you to listen to this one twice. Or make sure to take notes. Or both!

During my conversation with Carrie, we chatted about:

Her rise to the C-suite at 30 years of age, and she’s been there ever since.
The conscious and unconventional decisions Carrie made with her spouse to support her career path.
The challenges she faced in different cultures as a senior leader.
How her history in sports helped her to have steady and unwavering confidence throughout her career.
Her principles of strategic leadership.
Why servant leadership and making real connections with our employees and what is important to them is what it is all about.
And why authenticity and vulnerability are so important as a leader.

Let’s start with a story. Many years ago, I started as an operations specialist to support a team of financial advisors. (If you are new to Brave Women at Work, I have been in the financial services industry for over 20 years.)

After my first day on the job, my husband asked me where I was sitting in the building. To this day, I don’t know what prompted him to ask, but I told him that I sat with all the other administrative assistants. He told me to move immediately because I wouldn’t be seen as having “more potential” or the ability to move up in the organization.

I didn’t want to rock the boat, so I didn’t ask to move. And you know what? My husband’s prophecy came to pass. It was difficult for me to advance in the company and during talent management reviews, I wasn’t seen as leadership material.

When I met Jamie Vanek, my guest today, I knew I had to have her on the show. The fear of being perceived as “just an admin” is wrong and the myth that administrative assistants are not capable of more needs to be debunked.

During my conversation with Jamie, we chatted about:

Her career history and why she is so passionate about helping administrative professionals.
What led her to write her book, Buried in Business: Find Freedom by Unlocking the Power of Your Admin Team?
The gap between administration and leadership.
Why being an admin has been considered “a dirty word” for so long.
Why administrative staff are the heartbeat of the company.
And more.

This show is dedicated to the almost 2.5 million administrative professionals in the U.S. today, of which over 87% of them are female. Let’s give our admins the opportunities for growth they deserve!

None

Are you ready for this statistic?

On average, we spend 90,000 hours at work throughout our lives. This represents over 1/3 of our lives.

If we spend that much time at work, I’m sure you would agree that we want to be happy while doing it. But many times, we stay in jobs because we are comfortable, we have golden handcuffs, and more. We may not factor our happiness into the equation. My guest today, Lori-Ann Duguay, believes we should. By focusing on creating happy work environments, we will be more productive as a result.

During my conversation with Lori-Ann, we discussed:

How Lori’s book, The Happiness Factor: How to Create a Positive and Productive Workplace, came to be.
What is the happiness factor culture check?
Why 1 in 4 people are looking for another job at any given time?
Positive vs. negative work environment signs and if they are overt or not always perceivable.
The 10 needs of a happy worker.
How much of this is the responsibility of management vs. the individual employee?
What role do feedback and recognition factor in positive work environments?

As a mid-career professional, what has your experience been working with or leading Gen Z employees? How would you manage and work with Gen Z employees? My guest today,Stephanie Joong, is a friend and colleague who shares her experiences with Gen Z employees and co-workers. Since Stephanie is a millennial and I am Gen X, I thought it would be helpful to hear her perspective. I learned a thing or two from Stephanie during our conversation!

During my chat with Stephanie, we discussed:

Her work history and experience as a Millennial.
The differences Stephanie has seen between Millennials and Gen Z people.
Gen Z expectations for work and how they differ from Millennials and Gen X.
How Stephanie has flexed her leadership style to support her Gen Z employees.
The stereotypes of Gen Z and how we can defend and even learn from this generation.

Hello everyone! How are you doing out there?

I wanted to provide you all with a personal update. It’s been a whirlwind so far this year. We’ve done some remodeling on our house after having some water damage issues for the last several years. I traveled to Las Vegas in February to co-host a women’s leadership retreat. And now, I am about to go to Europe with a dear friend for two weeks.

Two weeks! I have not been to Europe this long without my family, well, ever. The last time I went to Europe without my husband and family was 16 years ago. To tell you I’ve had a little bit of travel anxiety and mom guilt would be an understatement. I have gone through all the feelings. What kind of a mom am I to leave my kiddos that long? Ouch. That Imposter Syndrome and shameful voice has been loud. I’m sharing this with you because I’m not immune to this work. I have to do it too. And I’ve had to let all that go because if I fill my cup, I know I will be a better mom to my girls. I will also be a better wife, daughter, friend, podcaster, and the list goes on.

I would like to thank my friend, Jennie, for inviting me on this trip. If you are curious about where we are going, we are traveling to Croatia, Montenegro, and Portugal. I’m collecting those passport stamps this year! I would also like to thank my husband, John, for encouraging me to do this. And of course, a thank you to my girls for being excited for me too.

So, let’s switch gears. During the show today, I speak with my guest, April Roberts, about time freedom and having a Vixen Voice. I don’t know about you, but anything to do with time freedom, and owning my voice interests me. I’m a free spirit at heart, obviously with the upcoming trip to Europe. I like the idea of having as much autonomy as possible over my time and life.

During my conversation with April, we chatted about:

What drove April to do the work she does today
How we can structure our calendars to achieve time freedom
What you should be adding and removing from your calendar
How time and energy management are directly related
What the Vixen Voice is and how we can claim it for ourselves

So, we talk about superheroes with their superpowers in the movies, in books, and when playing with toys with our kids. We may have even believed we had the ability to authentically be ourselves and claim what makes us special and unique, what makes us stand out from the rest of the crowd. Then we grow up and stop believing in make believe and a lot of magic.

What if we turned back to that and started believing in ourselves again? In our superpowers? In our ability to be authentic? In our dreams? In careers we love to go to each day?

Erin Hatzikostas, my guest today, was so fun to interview and a firecracker of energy. She shared so much wisdom about how we can follow and lead with our authenticity. It’s through this path that we can uncover our professional superpowers and land in positions that truly light us up from the inside out.

During my conversation with Erin, we chatted about:

What strategic authenticity is all about.
What the compromise calculation is and how we’ve all done it.
The BS Burnout Wall and why it’s a real thing.
More about her book You Do You(ish): Unleash Your Authentic Superpowers to Get the Career You Deserve.
How we can identify our own workplace superpowers.

Here’s what I thought about my career in my twenties.

I need to get a job so I can leave on my own and prove to my mom and myself that I am an adult.

In my thirties, here’s what I was thinking about.

I need to hustle and work hard.

I’m not stopping until I get to the top.

And then I hit my forties, and something shifted. Yes, I am still ambitious, but my priorities are changing. I want to be more present for my kids when they are young. My older daughter, Charlotte, is already twelve years old, and it feels like yesterday that I gave birth to her. I don’t want to lose those moments. I’m sure you can relate.

I had a lovely, thought-provoking conversation with my guest, Soon Hagerty today. We were all over the page in our topics, but somehow it all made sense.

During my chat with Soon, we discussed:

Her experience fleeing Saigon with her family when she was little and what long lasting impacts this made on her.
Her role at Hagerty Insurance and the impact of personal and professional brand.
What led to her decision to move away from a large role at Hagerty and focus more of her energy on her daughter.
Moving beyond resume virtues and towards eulogy virtues.
Her other business endeavors, including the charitable restaurant, The Good Bowl, and her non-profit, Boundless Ventures.

The underlying theme of today’s show is how we can give back to others and ourselves, how we can be truly present and not simply on the hamster wheel. I hope you take some time to reflect on your resume virtues vs. eulogy virtues after today’s conversation.

Study shows that color is a powerful communication tool used to signal action, influence mood, and influence physiological reactions. The colors yellow, red, and orange sometimes trigger our appetite, which is why fast-food chains use those colors to paint their establishments. But who knew that color could be a healing tool? In this episode, Heather Eck, a Synesthesia Artist and Color Alchemist, talks about the healing power of color and explains the process of how she uses its power to heal. Tune in to further explore the great healing power of color.

During our chat, we discussed:

Heather’s journey as an HR Manager to Synesthesia Artist
The Meaning of Synesthesia
From Being Stuck to Intention
How a Spirit Portrait process works
Heather’s gift and the meaning of colors
Jennifer’s color.
Getting a Spirit Portrait!

Crafting a career story goes beyond just listing your work experiences on a resume. It’s about weaving a compelling narrative that showcases your skills, experiences, and aspirations in a way that resonates with potential employers. In this episode, Gina Riley, the Creator of CareerVelocity System, shares her insights on the importance of crafting your career story during career transition. In today’s job market, career transition takes internal reflection and some soul searching to ensure that the next move for us is the right one, especially when we are in mid-career and looking for managerial-level roles or higher. Join us in unpacking more golden nuggets in today’s conversation. Tune in to this episode now!

During my chat with Gina, we discussed:

How Gina helps her clients during a career transition
What a career story is and why it is important to craft yours
How we can leverage our career story, especially during times of career transition
What a leadership language and how we identify ours
What Gina’s CareerVelocity System™ is and how we can use it to our advantage
The meaning of “You are a business within a business.”

According to Merriam-Webster, “authentic” means to be “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.”

As you will learn during my conversation with guest, Emily Drake, the word “authentic” was also 2023 word of the year. It was one of the most looked up words in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary last year.

And the word “authentic” showed up as a top character trait of executive/leadership presence in a 2022 study referenced in a recent article on executive presence by the Harvard Business Review.

And finally, I recently reviewed my personal and professional values, and authenticity and integrity are two of them. I need to live and work authentically to me at this point in my life. Here’s a quick plug if you haven’t reviewed your values lately. Just like you go to the doctor for your annual check-up, you need to review your values annually. Know your values is so important because it drives clarity, especially when you need to make key personal or professional decisions. Google Brene Brown’s values exercise for awesome tools!

The bottom line is that we can’t get away from authentic leadership!

During my chat with Emily, we discussed:

What authentic leadership means to Emily.
What prompted her to start her company, The Collective Academy.
How we can determine what success means to us and how it changes over time.
How we can avoid career complacency, especially when we hear others encourage us to slide into our comfort zones and stay there.
Emily shares some of the hurdles that she has seen ambitious women face and how to overcome them.
And she shares signs of organizational cultures that don’t foster authenticity and what to do about it.

Are you ready for a power-packed episode today? Get ready to take notes or listen to this show more than once. My guest, Shelmina Abji, shared so many wonderful tools on what it takes to show your worth, build your confidence, and emerge as a leader. I wish that I had known Shelmina earlier in my career. Her story was inspiring and motivating to me, and I am sure it will be for you!

During my chat with Shelmina, we discussed:

Show Your Worth: 8 Intentional Strategies for Women to Emerge as Leaders at Work

Redefining short-term and long-term success.
The most valuable resource.
How to say no to things that don’t fit our top priorities?
The importance of personal brand.
The role of sponsorship in emerging as a leader.
Strategy to build a work-life balance.

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According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “Employers slowed hiring and handed out smaller raises in recent months, signs of fading momentum in the job market that have some forecasters expecting unemployment to rise in 2024.”

This is being done to help the U.S. economy have a soft landing, meaning the Fed is trying to avoid a recession. The Fed is trying to have the labor market cool without it collapsing.

What does all this mean in lay terms? It means that if you are looking for a job right now, it is a tough labor market. And this tracks with the conversations I’m having with my dear friends and other colleagues out there looking for jobs.

They are interviewing, interviewing, and interviewing some more without hearing back from recruiters. Their confidence is taking a hit. They wonder if they have the chops to get hired.

And while this is happening, we have a changing work environment with continued demand for hybrid or remote work, human resources professionals being battered and bruised from the challenges of COVID and beyond, and recruiters getting a bad rap.

My guest today, Theresia Intag, is setting the record straight on all these issues.

During my chat with Theresia, we discussed:

The story behind Theresia’s companies, IntagHire and Tag4HR.
What Theresia is seeing in the recruiting industry right now.
Why you may not be contacted after your interviews right now (and hint, it’s not your fault).
How you can stand out from the crowd when interviewing.
How you can stay confident and engaged when it’s taking a long time to find the next best role in your career path.
What’s going on with hybrid work and how companies can attract top talent in the changing face of work.
Why middle managers are facing burnout. Theresia also shares some creative and interesting ways that companies can support their employees.
And the benefits that top talent is expecting moving forward.

According to a 2022 article in Psychology Today, “80% of women in the U.S. are responsible for household healthcare decisions.” Today’s guest tries to make the medical community’s job easier by centralizing patient data.Carolyn Ward, Director of Clinical Strategy atParticle Health, shares the important role of women in the advancement of medical care, breaking down barriers in the medical system and fostering innovation. With over eight years of experience in healthcare, Carolyn talks about how patient data will create better medical outcomes. Tune in to this episode and be an advocate for yourself in medical situations. Join Carolyn Ward and be inspired by her journey.

During my chat with Carolyn, we discussed:

· Carolyn’s career path and how it led to her work at Particle Health.

· Why women will have an important role to play in breaking down barriers in the medical system and fostering innovation.

· How women can best advocate for themselves in medical situations

· Why Carolyn is so passionate about patient data and how it will help create better medical outcomes.

· Carolyn’s perspective on traditional medicine vs. holistic & functional medicine related to medical data and patient care.

· Why understanding what is happening in this field is important for working women today.

Are you an intrapreneur in your organization? Have you dreamed of being your boss and jumping into the entrepreneurial pool? Or do you already have a side hustle and straddle both roles? In this episode, Kiley Peters, a master of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, shares tips to thrive in your intrapreneurial and entrepreneurial journey and become successful at both. Her wealth of experience allowed her to navigate and lead others into their journey. If you are an aspiring intrapreneur or entrepreneur or are simply curious about the topic, I am confident you will love this show. Tune in to this episode so you won’t miss a thing.

During my chat with Kiley, we discussed:

Ø Kiley’s history as a serial entrepreneur.

Ø The differences between intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship.

Ø The benefits and drawbacks of intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship.

Ø Why we need both intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs.

Ø The journey from intrapreneur to entrepreneur.

Ø What it takes along the way to achieve success.

Ø Burnout and redefining success.

Ø The hurdles intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs face.

Ø Tips to overcome the hurdles.

Ø The great resources Rayne IX provides for intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs.

Sometimes, our lives are like candles with flickering light, but at times, that spark goes out, and reigniting those flames can be difficult. Reclaiming vitality after burnout can be a journey, but it's absolutely possible! In this episode, sharing her burnout story, Sara Spencer shares the details of her journey to reclaim her vitality. She delves into the warning symptoms of burnout and how the Burnout Cafe came about and what it does. Sara also shares the resources you use today to prevent and recover from burnout. Do not deprive yourself from this chance to move past burnout and reignite your spark because you deserve to reclaim your vitality and live a fulfilling life! So, why don't you tune in to this episode and join Sara Spencer and Jennifer Pestikas today?

During my chat with Sara, we discussed:

Reclaiming Vitality

The details of Sara's burnout story and what she needed to do to reclaim her mental, physical, and emotional health

The warning symptoms of burnout

The Burnout Café

How women continue to experience burnout in record numbers and lean out from their careers?

The resources you can use today to prevent and recover from burnout

Hello everyone! How are you doing out there?

Here are some scary statistics:

In the United States, 6 in 10 or 60% of Americans have 1 chronic condition.

4 in 10 or 40% of Americans have more than 1 chronic condition.

This information is from the Centers for Disease Control.

This is unbelievable.

When I met my guest, Julie Hamilton, fibromyalgia coach, I knew that I needed to talk with her about this silent epidemic.

During my chat with Julie, we discussed:

● Julie’s diagnosis of fibromyalgia and her healing journey

● How she advocated for herself, especially being in Human Resources and understanding her rights

● Julie shared more information on FMLA policies and other advice she would provide employees with a chronic illness, as well as managers and employees supporting those with chronic health conditions.

● How we can build more inclusive workplaces that support so many people in the United States and worldwide.

We touch on Julie’s book, Chronic Illness at Work: How Managers Can Support Employees with Chronic Illness.

And more.

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“Time is the only commodity that matters.” - Randy Pausch.

Since Jennifer is entering a busy season with Brave Women at Work and her corporate work, she has been thinking a lot about delegation. In this episode,Jennifer Pestikas shares the three hurdles to delegation she faced. She also shares tips to get started with delegation. Jennifer Pestikas brings a treasure trove of insights. Tune in to this episode so you won’t miss a thing today.

These are the questions Jennifer Pestikas asked herself:

• What things am I currently doing that I should not be doing?

• What feelings come up when I think of delegating something?

• What else could I be doing with my freed-up time?

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s happening with Brave Women at Work in 2024. I am working on building a course for you. Yes, that’s right, a new course with a group coaching component is coming your way. I am looking for women to interview about professional confidence, so if you would like to be part of my research, email me at hello@bravewomenatwork.com. You can also always find me on LinkedIn and send me a private message there too.

One of the key themes I am finding in my research is women struggling with communication at work. It may be fear of sharing because they don’t want to be seen as incompetent, having to twist their communication a certain way to get others to do things, act like they don’t know something and play the damsel in distress, so they don’t come off as a know-it-all or intimidating, I feel like I’ve heard it all. And you know what? It’s sad that in 2024, we as professional, capable women often feel like we can’t own our voice and stand in our power. This and so many other things act as large barriers to our ascent into leadership.

So, let’s change that, shall we?

My guest today, Jennifer McCollum, and her new book In Her Own Voice: A Woman’s Rise to CEO: Overcoming Hurdles to Change the Face of Leadership, aims to do just that.

During my chat with Jennifer, we discussed:

Jennifer’s own professional journey to CEO of Linkage.
What stirred Jennifer to write the book.
Why she believes only 10% of women are Fortune 500 CEOs and less than 30% are senior leaders.
What are some of the barriers that hold professional women back and what we can do about it.
How our male counterparts and companies as a whole can support women and their professional growth.
And the benefits of women-led companies.

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I’m excited to share that we have a repeat guest today! Mikelann Valterra, a money coach, and more specifically the Seattle Money Coach is back on Brave Women at Work.

We’ve had a few shows on money lately. I think that is because, at the beginning of the year, we are thinking about our money. According to an article in USA Today, the top resolution in 2024 is to save more money, especially with inflation and how expensive our cost of living is today.

If you enjoy this conversation, and I’m sure you will, I also encourage you to go back into the Brave Women at Work vault and listen to episode 107. During that show, we touched on the money fog. Now that Mikelann has written an entire book on the subject, we dive much deeper into the topic in this conversation.

During my chat with Mikelann, we covered:

Her book, Rise Above the Money Fog, The Key to Confidence, Clarity, and Control Over Your Life
We dove deep into what the money fog is and where it comes from (hint, hint, it’s childhood)
The money stories we inherit from our families
How trauma and even so-called perfect families can leave a mark when it comes to how we manage our money
How we can start to overcome our money stories and build a better relationship with money
We chat about money traps such as overspending, underearning, and even over-earning or golden handcuffs
And we round out our conversation with the concept of receptive surrender, which was fascinating.

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Hello everyone! How are you doing out there?

Quick Pestikas household update. I need more time off after the holidays. LOL. I’m sure you can relate. I’m not ready for everything to get into the swing of things again, between school drop-offs and pick-ups, my older daughter is in Poms and theatre, so I feel like my husband and I are taxi drivers all over town. And we’re not even a sports family like so many other families I know. Much respect for the traveling sports families. Much respect. Anyway, I am not ready for things to get to full speed this January.

Speaking about expectations, perfectionism, and parenting, I loved my conversation with Dr. Anne Welsh today. Dr. Anne not only is a trained psychologist and executive coach, but she is also a mom of 4. FOUR. I can barely keep it together with two kiddos, let alone four. Regardless, Dr. Anne shared great nuggets of wisdom during the show that I’m sure you will enjoy.

During my chat with Dr. Anne, we discussed:

The difference between coaching and therapy
Signs you may be struggling with perfectionism or a pattern that is no longer serving you.
Why Dr. Anne created the Working Mothers Lifeline
How we can let go of unrealistic perfections at work and home
How companies can retain working parents
And more

Let’s start with a quote from my guest, Dr. Romie Mushtaq’s website:

Calling all high-achieving professionals. It’s time to put an end to relentless cycles of stress, anxiety, and burnout.

Umm, yes, please. That gets my attention. I want less stress, anxiety, and rebound burnout cycles. I want more joy, ease, and peace in my life. You know what I’m talking about. It’s our rise-and-grind culture that is killing us. There has to be a better way. And the great news is that Dr. Romie has a tool that will show us how to better manage our stress and heal our brains and bodies. We are not meant to work insane hours Monday – Friday, crash into the couch on Friday – Sunday, only to have the Sunday scaries to do it all again on Monday. Do you feel me? I know you do. There’s a better way.

During my chat with Dr. Romi, we discussed:

● The story behind her move from being a doctor of traditional medicine to stress management.

● The creation of her book THE BUSY BRAIN CURE: The Eight-Week Plan to Find Focus, Tame Anxiety & Sleep Again?

● What a busy brain is.

● The signs of the busy brain and how it is not an addiction like work or achievement addiction. It’s our brains and bodies signaling to us that healing needs to take place.

● Dr. Romie’s definition of burnout and why it occurs (and I have to tell you, I loved her explanation of it all)

● Steps that you can take today to start healing our busy brains

● And why all of this is important to take into consideration in leadership at work.

Can you believe we are already through the month of January? Quick update on the Pestikas household. Keep us in your thoughts because my daughter, Charlotte, and her Poms team are up for state champions this month. We are very excited for her since this is her first year on the Poms team at her school. It’s all about practice, practice, and more practice as her team prepares for the competition. She’s showing me a thing or two about tenacity and grit during this time.

With all the practices we are taking Charlotte to and picking her up from, it doesn’t feel like we are slowing down in our household anytime soon. My guest today, executive coach, Susan Ireland, and I talk about different seasons in our lives. I’ve mentioned this topic of seasons on Brave Women at Work before, but it’s been some time, so I’m bringing it back with Susan. With Americans being raised in a hustle or “rise and grind” culture, we are accustomed to pushing through no matter what our season in life or work, how we feel, where our energy levels are at, you name it. Susan and I dive deeper into this topic, and it was fascinating.

During my chat with Susan, we discussed:

● Susan’s 30+ years as an executive at Boeing and what that was like being in that environment.

● The transitions that Susan has had to deal with in her corporate career, and we touch on the concept of seasons in our work and life.

● If we are in a season of wintering, how can we stick with it and not try to rush through it with overthinking or over action. This part of our conversation is for me and all the overachievers out there!

● How Susan has weathered challenging times, including two divorces, raising her kids, deciding to retire a bit early from Boeing to start her business, and more.

● Susan’s thoughts on personal assessments, what the Tilt365 assessment is, and how she uses it with her clients.

Women will be in charge of their financial future, but not many are equipped with the knowledge to control their money. Today, let’s talk about money and women. Barbara Provost and Maggie Nielsen, the hosts of Women and Money: The Shit We Don’t Talk About, talk about money and how to face your money fear. They explain why women don’t take control of their finances and how society and relationships contribute to that. Barbara and Maggie share insights and concrete steps to get your money together. So, get started today by tuning in to this episode. Be brave and financially fearless today!

During my chat with Barb and Maggie, we discussed:

The story behind their company, Purse Strings.
Their thoughts on why women don’t take control of their finances.
How society and our relationships contribute to that fact.
Life changes that make us face our money fears.
More about their podcast Women and Money: The Shit We Don’t Talk About.
Concrete steps we can take today to get our money stuff together.
And how we can pass these learnings to our kiddos.

Happy New Year's Eve everyone (a few days early)! Welcome to the second in the Brave Women at Work holiday series. This is the next show that I hand-picked for you to listen to again (or listen to for the first time) as we are about to start a new year. Tending to ourselves and our nervous systems is a great way to rest, rejuvenate, and prepare for the year ahead.

The nervous system plays a big part in our health. A dysregulated nervous system contributes to stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. If you’re prone to being on the verge of breaking down, you’re going to want to tune in. My guest, Nicole Smith Levay, a somatic energy and health coach, shares easy and effective breathing exercises in this episode. These exercises help regulate the nervous system and prevent burnout. Nicole knows first-hand what it’s like to burn out and have your body breakdown. Following the principle of “trauma to dharma”, she is now passionate about helping people, and especially women, deal with the same problem. In this conversation, she educates us on how important breathing is to keep our nervous systems and our stress in check.

She also discusses:

What somatic psychology is and what a somatic coach does;
How breathing can help regulate our nervous systems; and
How breathing exercises make a positive difference in our professional and personal lives.

Tune in and listen to (or relisten) and learn how as simple a thing as your breathing can make a massive impact on your life!

https://bravewomenatwork.com

https://thepowerwithinhealing.com

The holiday season is finally here! What that means is a near year-end closing, filling up the air with reflections of what has gone by and what we have learned. In this period of much-deserved rest, peace, and quiet, I am sharing the first of two of my favorite Brave Women at Work episodes of 2023. Today, we relive the wisdom shared by Lydia Fenet, author of The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You and Claim Your Confidence: Unlock Your Superpower and Create the Life You Want. Lydia was a joy to talk with and she really motivated and inspired me, and I’m sure she will do the same for you. If you have already listened to this show, it bears repeating. And if you haven’t listened to this episode, you are in for a treat!

During our conversation, Lydia and I talked about:

Her backstory as a powerful auctioneer at Christie’s and how she navigated Imposter Syndrome regularly to find success in her career.
What led her to write her books, especially when she was working full-time and is a mom of three kiddos.
Why self-promotion is absolutely critical for all working women.
What the gavel strike is and how we can find our own to command attention in any room.
How learning to love failure is a necessary part of success and growth.
And finally, Lydia’s thoughts on the mythical work-life balance.

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The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You: Command an Audience and Sell Your Way to Success

How do women leak their power at work? Today, Jennifer Pestikas flies solo to share the five power leaks she sees among women from time to time, whether that be within herself or when coaching her clients. Take back your power once you notice that you are giving your power away, and as a result, you can stand in your power personally and professionally. So, what is a power leak? What happens when you are in a state of power leak? Join Jennifer in this episode as she gives the answers and shares some of the things that cause the power leaks and what we can do about it to plug those holes and move forward.

I have talked to many successful women in corporate, business owners, authors, speakers, doctors, lawyers, and more, but I have not talked with a socially conscious influencer. But today, I brought you Rachel Lauren. After today's conversation, I learned we can all be influencers with our platforms and voices. It's up to us to find what we are passionate about and go and do something good. Rachel's story motivated and inspired me, and I'm sure you will be, too.

During my chat with Rachel, we discussed:

She is multi-passionate and has many different professional and personal roles.
How she landed in her current role as Chief People Officer at Dream.org.
Her long history in serving marginalized groups, whether that is through prison reform, supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, or foster-to-adoption.
What a conscious influencer means and how Rachel has grown her following.
How we can all use our voices to support one another and be conscious influencers.

Harnessing the power of managing your stress is essential to our health. But when we fall into the abyss of trauma, pain, and chronic disease, it reshapes our body and brain. In this episode, to lead us into the path to recovery and explain the value of healing the gut, Dr. Erika La Vella sits with Jennifer Pestikas. Dr. Erika brings so much wealth in today’s conversation to further understand how the Body Keeps the Score. Tune in to this episode and be a Brave Woman at Work today.

During my chat with Dr. Erika, we discussed:

What led her to her work of helping others heal their guts and take control of their health?
What is the gut-brain axis? Why is it bi-directional? And why it's important?
Symptoms of gut dysfunction and what we can do about it
Sugar, oh beloved sugar, how it can wreak havoc on our health, and how we can learn to manage our need for it.
The role that stress plays in all of this.
And how healing our gut helps us be a braver women at work.

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

As we inch closer to the end of 2023, are you starting to think about year-end or 2024 goals? When the leaves fall and the weather turns cold, I start turning inward and want to reflect and plan. One of the things that I always think about is my health. I thought it would be perfect timing to talk with Caitlin Spears, a coach who specializes in health and well-being. Caitlin also focuses on building the routines you need to reach your goals, which can benefit everyone, no matter your health situation. To be the best and bravest version of ourselves, we need to focus on health.

During my chat with Caitlin, we discussed:

The power of our failures and how they redirect us to the correct paths in our lives
How can we prevent our self-perceived failures from stopping us and keeping us stuck?
How Caitlin pivoted from being on America’s Next Top Model to running a health and wellness coaching firm
How routines, both big and small, play a big part in our health and how we feel on a day-to-day basis
The difference between traditional and holistic medicine and how we can leverage both for wellness
Caitlin shares some of her routines that help her feel her best.
Caitlin shares her advice for busy working women to take control of their health.

Let’s kick off our show with a quote today:

“It’s lonely at the top. 99% of people are convinced they are incapable of achieving great things, so they aim for mediocre. The level of competition is thus fiercest for ‘realistic’ goals, paradoxically making them the most competitive.” -Tim Ferriss

When I was introduced to my guest, Shilpa Kulshreshtha and her concept of murdering mediocrity, I took pause. The term even made me uncomfortable, but it stuck, and I knew that I needed to speak with Shilpa.

I started asking myself if I was living in mediocrity. Was I living in my comfort zone or really going for it in my life and career?

And what did I need to do to eliminate mediocrity in all areas of my life?

If you suspect that you may be hiding out in a comfort zone, playing second fiddle, or not taking center stage and shining your gifts and talents for all the world to see, listen in! You will gain inspiration and motivation from our conversation.

During my chat with Shilpa, we discussed:

What does mediocrity mean? What are the signs of being mediocre vs. extraordinary?
How do we know if we are in the 1% or 99% as Tim Ferriss said in the above quote I shared to kick off the show?
What does murdering mediocrity mean to Shilpa? Why did she decide to use the term “murdering”? It definitely stuck out to me.
What are the telltale signs that we may be in a rut personally or professionally? How does Shilpa help her clients get out of these ruts?
How can we take center stage in our own lives and not push ourselves to the side or act in that “support” role vs. a leadership role?
What does it mean to play it full in our lives and careers? Shilpa has a book specifically on this topic called Play It Full: 7 Steps to Unlock Your Extraordinary Career.

We talk a lot about perfectionism at Brave Women at Work, and how it can truly cripple us in achieving our goals and dreams. As Brené says, there is no perfection. I often tell my daughters, “Do your best and leave the rest.” I say this so I can hopefully break the cycle of perfectionism in my family. What about you? How has perfectionism affected you, your life, or your work?

I met my guest, L’Oreal Thompson Payton, in an interesting way. L’Oreal is a freelance writer and an author, so I stumbled on one of her freelance pieces and was enthralled by it. I connected with her on LinkedIn and asked her if she wanted to be on the show. It just so happened that her book, Stop Waiting for Perfect, was coming out soon, so she agreed. How about that for coincidence! On top of that, L’Oreal is a Chicagoan just like me. The synergies are crazy!

During my chat with L’Oreal, we discussed:

● What drove L’Oreal to write her bookStop Waiting for Perfect: Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and into Your Power?

● How was this book her own personal lesson in not being perfect?

● What’s a success junkie and how can this book help them?

● Where does our lack of self-trust come from? How can we trust our dopeness?

● How black and other women of color face different societal and cultural expectations and how we can help them succeed in all places and spaces.

● How we can step out of our comfort zone and take our power back.

● And what black girl magic means to L’Oreal! I’ve seen it on memes and hashtags, but I wanted to hear it firsthand from someone truly creating black girl magic!

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To be a brave woman at work, you need to bring your whole self to work. This means the personal side, the professional side, the physical side, and the emotional side.

Today, we are going to talk about relationships, especially after divorce, with my guestRenée Bauer. Renée is passionate about helping women stand strong in their relationships, recognize red flags, determine when parting may be better than staying, and discover what comes next after divorce. This was an eye-opening conversation for me, and one that I’m sure you will benefit from, no matter what your relationship status.

During my chat with Renée, we discussed:

Why did Renée choose to be a divorce attorney to begin with?
What was Renée’s life and work like after her second divorce? How did it shape her purpose?
What motivated Renée to write the She Who Wins book? And what learnings about grit and resistance she had throughout that process?
How this book was her own personal lesson in not being perfect?
How rejection is not something to feel bad about, but something to learn and grow from?
How each of us have our own version of bullshit, and what to do with it.
How expectations can hamper our ability to grow and win at whatever we are doing.
And more.

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What is a brave woman if not taking up space to shed light on conversations that are important to our experiences today? The subject of trans or non-binary can be very polarizing and stir up emotions, making this episode even more important because it helps us further understand the journey of the trans community. Hear about the trans journey, how we can make our workplaces more inclusive, and how self-respect and mutual respect of others are the names of the game with Courtnei Lee, a trans activist and the CEO of OYT Cosmetics. Courtnei’s story and the work that she is doing are so inspiring that we couldn’t have a better guest to share her trans journey and how she thrives in the workplace. She offers advice for women to grow confidence and claim their voice. So, what are you waiting for? Be bold, be beautiful, and be you in today’s episode.

During my chat with Courtnei, we discussed:

How she felt trapped in her male body for 25 years and what prompted her to start her transition
What the impact of her transition to a trans female has been on her life and her work
How we can start conversations in our workplaces to create more support environments for people who have decided to go through the trans journey
How Courtnei felt as a gay male at work, during her transition to female, and now as a female trans activist and entrepreneur
The story behind her cosmetics, cleaning, and tech companies (yes, three companies!)
And what advice does she have for any woman looking to grow her confidence and claim her voice

“The way you dress is an expression of your personality.” - Alessandro Michele.

In this episode, Angela Foster brings her magic in building your personal brand through your style, including the clothes you wear, how you put them together to flatter your height, your natural waist, and more. Angela’s area of expertise is working with petite women, but fear not, women over 5’4”, because Angela and I covered topics that will apply to you! Aside from raising awareness about height equity, Angela also reveals her shopping and styling strategies. Knowing your favorite feature allows you to accentuate it, and creating an illusion of balance on your body shape will help you position yourself with what to wear. So why don’t you tune in to this episode to witness the power of looking sleek and embracing the magic of the fabric?

During my chat with Angela, we discussed:

What personal brand means, and why it’s more than simply the color you wear?
How many things do people notice about you in the first 7 seconds?
Why we are not a fruit salad, I’m not a pear, apple, or kumquat
What is the 1/3 2/3 rule and find our visible waist
What are shopping and styling strategies for petite women?
What’s in style this year, fall 2023?
And bonus, Angela shares a freebie for our group at the end.

Have you ever held your vacation time back to use towards the end of the year? I have several weeks off coming up, and boy, do I need it! I am feeling the burn a little and can’t wait for my upcoming travels. I have a trip with a dear friend to NYC, and we are also going to Disney as a family, so we are excited! What about you? Have you been taking your vacation? If not, here’s your reminder. Take your time off and don’t waste your vacation time before year-end. Enjoy and make sure to take breaks, especially as we are entering Q4 of the year, which is always a busy time!

Today on the show, I have Nancy Lyons, who owns multiple business and is also an in-demand keynote speaker on the future of work.

During my chat with Nancy, we discussed:

How leadership has evolved since Nancy started her company, Clockwork, back in 2002.
What the role of companies and individuals is when discussing the future of work?
Her thoughts on work-from-home in a time when many employers are asking or mandating their employees to come back to the office.
How we can start using ChatGPT if we haven’t already and why AI is important to know for the future at work.
How companies can win the war for top talent.
How we can keep our “new employee” energy and why that is important.

You’ll notice this conversation has a focus on the energy that we feel and bring to our jobs is what matters and is the foundation for the future of work. It’s no longer simply about our output, but it’s also how we show up at work as whole people, with feelings, families, dreams, and more.

Hello everyone! How are you doing out there?

Let’s start with a quote:

“We have to listen to the child we once were, the child who still exists inside us. That child understands magic moments. We can stifle its cries, but we cannot silence its voice. The child we once were is still there.” – Paulo Coelho

This quote directly relates to my conversation withJay Fields, somatic coach, today. Funny enough, I connected with Jay after she shared an interesting post on LinkedIn about the inner child. I also completed coaching with one of my clients a few years ago, and one of her big a-ha moments was the fact that the scared and angry little girl was indeed still inside her. With all of this pointing to the inner child and how we need to take care of it so we can be the best version of ourselves, I am excited about having Jay as a guest on the show.

During my chat with Jay, we discussed:

What motivated her to become a somatic coach and how tapping into our bodies can help us tremendously.
What Jay’s quote, “I believe people want to feel at home in their own skin and have fulfilling lives, but they just don’t know how to actually do it” means.
What Jay references when she talks about “take your child to work day”.
The signs that our inner child may be cranky or running the show rather than the calmer or cooler versions of ourselves.
How we can be authentic to ourselves at work and in life.
Jay also shares the Basic Exercise, which supports our nervous system regulation.

As I am recording this in late August 2023, we just got through the first week of school in the Pestikas household. And I’m tired. What about you? How are you at the start of school or this new season? I think the end of summer and the beginning of fall is the beginning of a new season for everyone, not just kiddos and parents.

Speaking about new seasons, what about when life or work throws you a curveball? What happens when you get messed with and feel off your “A” game? My guest today,Josselyne Herman-Saccio, has a mission for helping her clients with being unmessablewith. Being unmessablewith sounds like being grounded in yourself, having a strong spine or core to who you are, and possessing the courage and bravery to stand true to who you are and your purpose. That’s my definition of it, but let’s dive in to learn about Josselyn’s perspective!

During my chat with Josselyne, we discussed:

What does it mean to be unmessablewith?
How do we reach the state of being unmessablewith?
What happens when our personal or professional lives derail us? How do we get back on track?
How can we make sure our word is our wand?
How do we find our dream source so we can create magic in our lives and world?

Do you remember the movie The Wizard of Oz and the moment when Dorothy, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man go behind the curtain to see what the Wizard is doing? We’re doing that today by getting a behind-the-scenes look at the job interview process. My guest today is Megan McCann, the founder and CEO of McCann Partners, an IT recruitment firm. Megan knows her stuff when it comes to recruiting, so I thought it would be fun to pick her brain so we can nail our next interviews, whenever that may be. So let’s dive right into this insightful conversation.

During my chat with Megan, we discussed:

What recruiters are looking for when searching for top talent.
If recruiters are looking for candidates to LinkedIn, a good old-fashioned resume and thank you note.
What about the cover letter? Is that still needed?
What makes a candidate stand out?
What is a turn-off for a recruiter?
What Megan is looking for with executive candidates?
How can we retain top female talent, regardless of industry?

How does the body play a huge part in how we show up in our work and lives? There are so many areas of study on this, including somatic psychology, neuropsychology, and more. Lindsay Briner, an Executive Coach and Leadership Development Trainer, explains how the stabilized flow leads to a new path to leadership development. She adds more fields to look into, including Transpersonal Psychology, a sub-field of the school of psychology that seeks to integrate the spiritual and transcendent aspects of the human experience with the framework of modern psychology and neurophenomenology, which refers to a scientific research program aimed to address the hard problem of consciousness pragmatically. Our bodies steer us in the right direction according to our motivations, desires, and values. The tough part is ensuring we get still and listen. This is a fascinating conversation that many can learn from, so don’t forget to tune in to this episode today!

During my chat with Lindsay, we discussed:

The backstory that drove Lindsay to the work she does with her clients

What are flow states and its difference?

The positive byproducts of being in a stabilized flow

The stabilized flow when people meditate

The importance of Self-Work for everyone, especially leaders.

How do family systems drive the negative narratives we carry around with us all the time?

Lindsay’s morning routine to stay in a stabilized flow

And more!

Today on the show, I have my guest, Sarah Wallace, an enneagram expert, to cover the Enneagram again with a new twist. We hit harder on how each of the nine Enneagram types acts under stress. If you haven’t been listening to that show that long and this particular episode interests you, I have two other shows that cover the Enneagram. The first one is on the Enneagram and work clutter with Lori Palau. The second is an in-depth review of what the Enneagram is and how to use it with Erin Baute. And now this conversation with Sarah. Even if you have listened to these shows, stick around because we haven’t covered the Enneagram in this light before. The Enneagram is so nuanced, I could have several shows on the topic!

During my chat with Sarah, we covered:

What led Sarah to get into work with individuals and teams on the Enneagram
What the Enneagram numbers are and an overview of each one
The Enneagram numbers under stress and where we go in times of stress
How fixed and growth mindsets relate to the Enneagram
If certain Enneagram types struggle more than others with fixed mindset
Resources that Sarah recommends to learn more about the Enneagram and find your Enneagram type

What is your true north in life? How will your inner wisdom get you there? In this episode, we talk with Churni Bhattacharya, Chief Application Officer at AssetMark. You might want to get a pen and paper as she shares her learnings and what has led to her having a fulfilling career and life. I’m pumped for you to hear this one as it relates to every working woman out there!

During my chat with Churni, we discussed:

Her amazing career history and how she got to where she is today
Her thoughts on ambition and success
How leaning into love and passion has been more of her true north in life and work
How we can let go of the need to control the outcome of our careers
Questions we can ask ourselves to ensure that we are tapping into our wisdom, having fun, and experiencing joy
How we can reframe perceived failures into learnings
Why failures are more interesting in life, not just successes
How our definitions of success can change throughout our life
How we can have a voice at the table
And so much more!

It’s an exciting day at Brave Women at Work! Our second book baby,Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Confidence, comes out in hardcover today! Woo hoo! This book was such a joy to write. I hope that you are inspired and motivated by all the authors’ stories to build your confidence so you can reach the professional and personal fulfillment and success you deserve.

Also, we are hosting a Brave Women at Work Virtual Author Summit today, August 24th, from 12:00 – 1:30 pm CT/1:00 – 2:30 pm ET today. At this event, the authors and I are sharing the 5 Steps in the Building Your Confidence framework. These steps will help you identify what may be holding you back from getting that promotion, speaking up at work, getting recognized, and more. You will receive tangible steps you can take today to build your confidence.

And spoiler alert, this content is NOT in the book! Visitbravewomenatwork.com for more details and to register.

I’m also so excited that I get the opportunity to chat with one of the authors,Marilyn Vetter! Marilyn is not only an author in the book, but my friend and colleague. Marilyn’s chapter, Why Not Me?, is the first chapter in the book and so powerful. I am pumped that she’s with us!

During my chat with Marilyn, we discussed:

How she has had three distinct parts of her career, starting with journalism, then to the pharmaceutical industry, and now to non-profits
Why she decided to write a chapter in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Leadership and what she gained from the experience
She provided an overview of her chapter on how asking and thinking why not me can make a big difference in our careers
How her chapter helped someone get a promotion just by reading it.
What mental hurdles she faced as she decided to become the CEO of the current non-profit organization she leads.
Marilyn’s top tip for developing confidence

Have you ever experienced the incredible power of being motivated, pushed, and inspired by someone's energy? And that's exactly what my guest accomplished on today's episode! Besides delivering an enlightening speech, Martha Aviles, the Marketing VP at Gigster in Austin, and I share a profound bond. As a woman, sitting at the top can be lonely, but I found Martha. She even pushed me to get a tattoo! If I have the courage to get it, I’ll share it with you!

During my chat with Martha, we discussed:

● Her history as a first-generation Latina in the U.S. and the hard work it took for her to get where she is in her career.

● Her perspective on being a Latina executive in the technology space.

● The story behind Martha’s “bold” tattoo and what the word means to her.

● How we can all be bolder professionally and personally.

● How we can speak up at work, especially asking for the pay and benefits we deserve.

● What the future of work looks like for talented professional women.

Tune in to this episode and be bold with Martha!

Human capital is an important element to achieve business success. But how can business leaders implement empowering work cultures and guide HR officers to perform at their best? Today, Dr. Keri Ohlrich presents her book, The Way of the HR Warrior: Leading the CHARGE to Transform Your Career and Organization. Regardless of whether you are in HR or not, her book and message surely have something for you. What are you waiting for? Hit that play button and don’t miss this chance to transform your trusted team into resilient HR Warriors!

During my chat with Dr. Keri, we discussed:

What motivated her to co-write her book, The Way of the HR Warrior
What the CHARGE framework is, and how we use it in our careers, whether we work in the HR field or not
Why HR aligning their goals and values with the organization is critical
We also talked about leadership and how self-awareness is so important at any stage as a leader
Dr. Keri also shared her top books and resources to develop leadership muscles in your career
She also left us with her advice for anyone who wants to get into the HR field (here’s a spoiler alert – it’s not for the faint of heart)

The Way of the HR Warrior: Leading the CHARGE to Transform Your Career and Organization

I’m going to start being personal and vulnerable today. When I went through burnout in 2019, I went through the dark muck of depression and anxiety. I had no idea how to leave that place, so I am thankful for medication and therapy. While I went through this experience, I also felt a little weird and secretive about it at the time because I didn’t want my team to think that I was less than them. I didn’t want them to wonder if I could still do the job or lead the team. I didn’t come forward with my story until thispodcastand my first book,Brave Women at Work: Stories of Resilience. I realized that sharing the story was a braver thing to do than keeping it hidden.

My guest today,Kimi Culp, also brings a similar, yet different, story to the show.

During my chat with Kimi, we discussed:

● More about her backstory and her career in film and television production.

● Her experience working with Oprah and the OWN Network in its heyday.

● What led Kimi to keep her bipolar disorder hidden throughout her career and to begin talking about it publicly.

● The reaction of the public and her friends, family, and colleagues after she shared her personal story.

● How we can be compassionate with others that may be silently struggling with mental illness or other challenges.

● And what led Kimi to start her podcast,All the Wiser.

I’m doing this show today because it’s real, it’s honest, and so many of us are facing mental health challenges. I’m confident that if we bring this out in the open, it will be less and less stigmatized. It will be an act of bravery to say that you have a mental illness. It will be an act of love towards others who may be suffering silently. And it will make our workplaces more inclusive and drive a sense of psychological safety that many of us yearn for at work.

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Here’s a quick personal update. It’s official. I have a kindergartener and a middle schooler. It’s interesting being a mom of kids that are 6 ½ years apart and seeing their different transitions. Just like other moms know, you get a handle on one season and think, “I’ve got this” and then another season comes. And we’re in one of those new seasons in our household. If you are in one of these new seasons, whether it's with parenting, at work or personally, have compassion and grace with yourself. That’s what I’m planning to do this summer as I navigate tween conversations. Walk up and down the aisles of Target to buy all the school supplies, and cry as my little one goes off to the big school.

Thinking about transitions, have you ever had one of those moments in your life where you get to where you thought you wanted to be and said, “Is this it?” I’m successful, I’ve reached my goals, now what? Why am I not happy? And what do I need to do to get happy?

My guest, Shirin Etessam, and I are going to talk about that uncomfortable realization when we realize we have followed our parents’ or society’s programming. And hit the gold stars but realized we weren’t happy and need to reclaim our souls and who we are. It’s a topic that I don’t think we talk about enough.

During my chat with Shirin, we discussed:

What led Shirin to write her book, Free to Be: A Six-Week Guide to Reclaiming Your Soul.
What soul work means and why we need it.
What spiritual bypassing is and is not.
How Shirin identified the categories for reclaiming your soul and breaking them up into six weeks.
What info-xication is, and how does it fuel our feelings of disillusionment and discontent? How does it impact our productivity?
What a spiritual coma is and how to avoid one.
How spiritual work relates to your professional life.

Hello everyone! How are you doing out there?

Happy Summer to you! It’s beautiful out in Chicago as I’m recording this. In fact, I’m going to take a walk out there with my dog, Jake. My buddy Jake is almost 17 years old. Yes, that’s right 17-years young. He’s still kicking though and we show him all the love.

I will also tell you something else that my husband, John, gifted me with this week. He and my daughters went to visit his parents, so I have the house to myself. You heard that right too. Even though I’m working this week, it feels like I’m on vacation! I’m loving every minute of the peace and quiet before they get home tomorrow. I miss them, but mom still needs some silence every now and then.

Speaking about the younger generation, that is something that I cover with my guest, Tammy Dowley-Blackman. When I met Tammy, I knew I had to have her on the show because she is focusing some of her awesome work on Gen Z and how they will shape future generations of work. Tammy is busy though because she has multiple companies including the TDB Group, the Looking Forward Lab, and more.

During our conversation, Tammy and I talked about:

How wearing multiple hats, including CEO, board member, consultant, and more helped her in her career.
Tammy’s thoughts on Gen Z and what changes they are bringing to work.
We also touch on Gen Alpha because my little one, Olivia, is a Gen Alpha.
What other leadership and leadership development trends Tammy is seeing with the companies that she works with day in and day out.
And how Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB) and racial equity (RE) are critical in today’s workplaces.

I recently shared an article by Forbes on executive presence on my social media channels. I thought that would be it on that topic, but nope, I have decided to complete a whole podcast on it because (a) I’m still thinking about it and (b) it’s not talked about enough. So, let’s dive in.

What exactly is executive presence and why should we care?

According to one definition, Executive Presence is the ability to project confidence, competence, and charisma as a leader. An alternate description from the Forbes article is “the capacity to connect with others in a way that inspires.”

You inspire confidence in others. You command authority. People want to listen to you and they respect your knowledge and opinions. You have a voice at the table, and you will be considered as a “hi-po,” an employee having high potential for future promotions. In summary, I call it the “It factor.”

Hearing this, do you have executive presence? Do you have the “It factor”? If you do, awesome. Keep going! If not, no worries!

The good news is that this is a skill that can be honed. And no, you do not need to be a people leader to have executive presence. You can possess this skill at any level in your career, so listen in!

I’m super excited about our guest today,Lydia Fenet. As I mentioned during the show, it was fate that I had Lydia on. So many people kept recommending that I read Lydia’s finished book,The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You, so I took it as a sign and grabbed a copy. I loved the book and thought Lydia would be a good guest for the show. And do you know what happened? Poof! I received an email from Lydia’s podcast placement agency asking if she could be on the show. I was like, yes please!

And after the recording of this show, I recently finished her second book,Claim Your Confidence: Unlock Your Superpower and Create the Life You Want. The lessons in that book hit me even harder and I must admit, I shed a few tears while reading the end. I highly recommend both books. And you can read them independently, so you can start with Claim Your Confidence if it appeals to you more or vice versa.

Either way, Lydia was a joy to talk with and she really motivated and inspired me, and I’m sure she will do the same for you.

During our conversation, Lydia and I talked about:

Her backstory as a powerful auctioneer at Christie’s and how she navigated Imposter Syndrome regularly to find success in her career.
What led her to write her books, especially when she was working full-time and is a mom of three kiddos.
Why self-promotion is absolutely critical for all working women.
What the gavel strike is and how we can find our own to command attention in any room.
How learning to love failure is a necessary part of success and growth.
And finally, Lydia’s thoughts on the mythical work-life balance.

The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You: Command an Audience and Sell Your Way to Success

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I’ve been on a communication kick lately with the podcast. I believe that clear and concise communication is an important ingredient to being a brave woman at work. I’ve brought on a communications expert, Jennifer Furlong, that brought a new and interesting spin to being an effective communicator. Jen talks about communication styles. And this got me thinking about my own communication style and how it has helped and hurt me in my professional and personal interactions.

During our conversation, Jen and I talked about:

The four different communication styles.
Why being mindful of your communication style is crucial for strong and healthy communication.
How men and women have more in common than differences in terms of communicating.
How listening comes into play.
The BPI technique with tough conversations at work.

This show applies to everyone, so make sure to share this one with all the people in your life. Everyone can benefit from learning their communication style, how to improve their listening, and more.

Learn more about Communication TwentyFourSeven LLChere!

Take the assessment and find out your communication stylehere!

Check out our website:Brave Women at Work

Here’s a confession. I think I bought into a lie early in my career. I thought I needed to contort myself into one of the boys to get ahead. I thought if I kept my head down and worked hard, I would be recognized. I thought if I brought up my accomplishments in front of my boss during my annual review, I was being boisterous or not humble.

Guess what? These learnings, and many more, were lies that were fed to me and so many other women. We were not taught that self-promotion was a good thing because if we don’t market ourselves, who is going to? We were not told to be clear about our intentions with our expectations at work. We were not taught to advocate for ourselves in performance reviews or any other negotiations. We weren’t taught these things, but it’s better late than never to learn these things.

I am honored to have my guest Sally Helgesen, on the show today. Sally is a pioneer and has been named by Forbes as one of the premier experts on women’s leadership. It was a pleasure to speak with Sally and to learn from her extensive experience, research, and the eight books that she has written over the last 30+ years.

During our conversation, Sally and I talked about:

What rising means.
What habits prevent women from rising personally and professionally.
What rising together means for organizations.
What are the patterns inside organizations that trigger us.
How women can build and leverage allies.
How we can repair organizational divides to build more inclusive workplaces.

What do you think about the term mid-life crisis? When I think of that term, this is what comes to mind:

◦ A mid-life man buys a Porsche.

◦ He gets a divorce.

◦ He gets a hairpiece or alters his appearance to look younger.

◦ He starts dating a younger woman.

This is a stereotype, and it isn't what every man goes through. But what about women? Do we have mid-life crises? Does the term "mid-life crisis" even exist, and how does it impact our ability to thrive in this part of our lives? My guest today, Barbara Waxman, specializes in this topic, so I was grateful to have the opportunity to speak with her.

During our conversation, Barbara and I talked about:

◦ ◦ Her journey to studying and becoming an expert in gerontology.

◦ ◦ What middlescence is and how we can use it to our advantage.

◦ ◦ Why a midlife crisis is a myth; we can thrive during this second adolescence.

◦ ◦ I share some personal examples, and Barbara coaches me on the difference between 3 terms: mid-life crisis, burnout, and resilience.

◦ ◦ We talk about the “used up” feeling after a long day at work and how this may be a sign that our energy management is off kilter.

◦ We talk about her 5 Essential Elements Quiz and her book, The Middlescence Manifesto: Igniting the Passion of Midlife, available on her website.

Are you living your purpose?

Do you know what your purpose is if you let yourself really go there?

So many of us get out of college and pursue a job because we need to pay the bills, right? We forget our dreams and do the 9-to-5 because that is what we were taught to do. And we’re good at it. And we do well because we are ambitious and work hard. And we’re successful. And we think we are fulfilled. We do this day after day but eventually wonder, “Is this all there is to life and work?” and “Is this it?”

My guest today, Alise Cortez, says there is more. And that something more is our purpose. My conversation with Alise was magic, and it makes me want to dive into the study of purpose more right alongside her.

During our discussion, Alise and I chatted about:

What purpose is and how it is different than goals, passion, or meaning.
Alise’s path to purpose and how it’s not all roses and rainbows; it’s difficult and not for the faint of heart.
What post traumatic growth is and why it’s important.
How purpose can be found at any age.
What stops us from pursuing our purpose.
How we can live our purpose and get paid.
And how purpose is a choice. You can live “awake” or be the living “dead”.

What are we talking about today? We are going to discuss that uncomfortable feeling when things slow down at work and you aren’t running around with your hair on fire or if a project is winding down or about to complete, and you feel like you can breathe.

Here’s how I feel during these times:

I feel bad for not running at a million miles per hour.
I wonder if something is wrong because I have space in my day and time to think.
I wonder what I need to take on to fill that gap.
Self-doubt and the feelings that there is something wrong with me creep in.
I feel guilty or almost at a loss after the end of a project.
I feel lost and not as productive in this lull period.

Does this resonate with you? I don’t think this is talked about enough. Here’s what I think this is. We are all so used to running on adrenaline, achieving, achieving, achieving. Hustling for our worth. Running so fast we don’t have time to think, let alone feel. Addicted to the sense of achievement we have by being the “go-to” gal at work, the one who gets things done, the person that leads the projects.

And when things slow down, we feel uncomfortable. Because we have time to think. We don’t have adrenaline coursing through our veins. We have space to just be with ourselves, which let’s face it, can be scary if we haven’t tapped in and listened in a while.

In this show, I review the steps I take to get more comfortable with the lulls or spaces in our professional and personal lives.

Protecting your energy is crucial for building confidence and achieving success. The 'power container' is a tool to maintain energy, avoid burnout, and prioritize what truly matters in your career and life. For today’s episode, we have Jenna Banks, an author and thought leader whose work has been featured in media outlets that include Forbes, POPSUGAR, ABC, NBC, and CEOWORLD Magazine. Today, she discusses the concept of the "power container" and how it can be used to maintain your energy levels and avoid negative influences. She also delves into common challenges that women face in the workplace and shares strategies for building confidence and resilience, even in difficult situations. Throughout the conversation, Jenna emphasized the importance of your energy to your confidence, self-worth, and quality of life. That’s why we should protect it at all costs. Tune in now and discover the power of protecting your energy!

Get Your Free Guide Here: https://bravewomenatwork.com

I’m very excited about our guest today! Annie Leib is someone I met via LinkedIn after watching her create awesome, real, and vulnerable content on LinkedIn. If you have been on LinkedIn in the last few years, real and vulnerable content is starting to emerge, but it wasn’t always that way. Annie was one of the pioneers of keeping it real on this professional platform. And that’s what made her stand out to me and I wanted to connect with her. When we met, Annie didn’t disappoint. She’s as real in person as she is in her content.

During our discussion, Annie and I chatted about:

Her road to becoming an executive leadership coach.
What her BREATH Framework™ is and why it is important
Why reclaiming your power and control can be challenging steps in healing
How authenticity plays a role in her framework
How Annie organically grew a network in LinkedIn of over 35,000 followers. Yes, 35,000.
And how you can do it too!
And finally, how working within the BREATH Framework™ is not a one and done type of exercise. It is something that you need to learn and repeat.

Do you believe you are a feminist?

Does the word “feminist” have a bad connotation to you?

Here’s the definition of feminist:

“Of relating to, supporting, or compatible with feminism. feminist theory. the feminist movement. The act of speaking is a way women come to power, telling our stories, sharing history, engaging in feminist discussion.”

This may sound funny, but even though I run this podcast and am a leadership and career coach for women, I didn’t self-identify as a feminist. Why? I have no idea. Maybe I didn’t think what I was doing was “big” enough. “Important” enough. Not a “big” enough platform.

My guest today, Latanya Mapp Frett, the President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women, set me straight. She told me during our conversation that I am absolutely a feminist. In fact, I fit her definition of an everyday feminist.

And why is this important? Because after all the recent struggles during COVID-19, with the millions of women deciding to or being forced from their jobs because of childcare or care for a sick or elderly family member, because there are still so many employers that don’t give a hoot about flexibility and other important benefits. This is why it is critical that we all stand up and do our part as everyday feminists.

I believe that by taking this stand, we will improve our work environments. We will help our sons and daughters. And we will be acting in the very definition of what it means to be a brave woman at work.

During our discussion, Latanya discussed:

What motivated Latanya to write her book, The Everyday Feminist: The Key to Sustainable Social Impact- Driving Movements We Need More Than Ever.
What an everyday feminist is and why you or many women you know could fit into that category.
Why Latanya believes that feminists are the key to driving social impact.
Examples of movements we need movement in more than ever.
If being an everyday feminist is a young professional woman’s game, or if you can be an everyday feminist in middle or even late career.
And how we can support the work of other everyday feminists.

Have you had that moment where time seemed to stand still, and you had a ton done without little effort? Like you were in a state of flow? I love it when this happens to me. It feels so good to effortlessly get stuff done and the day is not a slog.

Last year, I was introduced toHortense le Gentil, an executive coach and author. I picked up her book, Aligned: Connecting Your True Self with the Leader You’re Meant to Be, and I was inspired by it and knew I needed her on the show. I wanted to pick Hortense’s brain to learn how I can multiply these states of flow so that I’m in alignment more often. As we know, being in this state of alignment is better for our health and happiness. It drives better results and makes us better leaders.

During our discussion, Hortense and I talked about:

What alignment means at work.
Signs or symptoms of not being aligned.
What prevents us from being aligned, including mental hurdles?
The steps we need to get back on track.
How intuition and mindfulness play a role in alignment in leadership.
How our work environment and the people we surround ourselves with impact us.

Have you ever had sweaty palms before a speech? Have you ever felt like you could get sick before a big presentation because of nerves? If you answered yes, you are not alone. Yet, speaking in front of others is a necessary skill, especially if we want to have visibility and success at work and in life. This may sound dramatic, but I believe it’s a life skill. Both of my daughters go to swimming classes because it’s a life skill I want them to learn. And I talk about presenting like a boss because it is a skill I think we all should learn and continue learning throughout our lives.

My guest today, Bobbie Carlton, is someone I consider to be very skilled in speaking. Bobbie and I have been running in the same circles for a while and she owns not one, two, or three businesses but FIVE of them, so I am grateful she made time to join me for this conversation.

During our discussion, Bobbie and I talked about:

How Bobbie came to own and run FIVE businesses and how she does it
Bobbie’s tips on how we can move past our fear of public speaking.
How Toastmasters and even an improv class can help.
Why speaking can help us up our visibility personally and professionally.
Why waiting for someone to notice our hard work is a mistake and how we need to speak up and advocate for ourselves
How Innovation Women can be a great way for women to dip their toes into speaking and get the exposure they need.

Do you like to take risks? How are you with change? Do you adapt easily, or is it difficult for you? Today’s guest, Christie Hunter Arscott, the author of Begin Boldly: How Women Can Reimagine Risk, Embrace Uncertainty, and Launch a Brilliant Career, dives into a different thought behind career risks and acting boldly at work. Self-doubt and other negative behaviors will hold us from taking good risks that can pay off in our careers. Christie shares the three mindsets that can benefit us at any point in our careers and how we can begin boldly.

I recently read the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. If you haven’t read that book, definitely check it out. As I was finishing up this book, I was introduced to my guest today, Tamara Castelo. Tamara has written several books, but it’s her most recent work, The Power of Rituals, that caught my eye.

When I think of rituals, I originally thought of witchy or woo-woo. That was a bit closed-minded. And I was wrong. My conversation taught me that rituals are simply habits with intention. There is a mindfulness behind the habit. I wanted to have Tamara on to share that we can and will show up better at work with selecting the right rituals for us. All of a sudden, that cup of coffee you have each morning becomes part of the way you take care of yourself. You feel better prepared to tackle your day and are more productive as a result. And it all started with how you drank your cup of coffee a bit differently that morning. You did it with intention. Maybe you journal a bit. Maybe you took a few deep breaths. Whatever you do, these small rituals can make a difference.

During our conversation, Tamara and I also discussed:

Why are rituals important in our lives and at work?
What led Tamara to study Chinese Medicine. She also clarified it’s more than acupuncture.
What the three Ayurvedic body types are – vata, pitta, and kapha and the main characteristics of each.
How all of these ties into better health and as a result, a more powerful existence, both personally and professionally.
And I even asked Tamara for some help on where to travel when I go to Portugal. I haven’t gone yet, but Lisbon and Porto are definitely on my list.

Do you remember middle school and how painful it was with friendships? Ugh, I shudder at the thought. I will admit I wasn’t a popular kid in middle school or even high school. I always found friendships difficult to navigate. I would attach myself to one or two girls and then be devastated if the friendship didn’t work out. I didn’t feel like I was on solid footing with friendships until college. I would like to thank my longtime friends like Pam and Emily and others for sticking with me. I love you!

In speaking with my guest today, Shasta Nelson, I learned once again how important friendships are. Both women and men alike need friendships. These connections are crucial for our physical, mental, and emotional health. It was a privilege to have Shasta on the show!

During our conversation, Shasta and I also chatted about:

How her work as a pastor was a natural start to her current work with friendship.
We did a brief tour of her books, including Friendships Don’t Just Happen, Frientimacy, and The Business of Friendship.
We talked about the friendship triangle, which was so important that I shared it with my daughter, Charlotte, and will share it with my little one, Olivia, when she gets older.
Why we need friendships at work, even when we are managers or in other leadership positions.
The impact that friendships or a lack thereof has on our health.
And how we can foster friendships in remote or hybrid work environments.
And more

We packed a lot of juiciness into our conversation and covered a lot of ground!

For this episode, we have a return guest! Neen James, an Aussie who loves luxury, including Tiffany mugs and especially champagne, is back on the podcast! And this time, she’s going to talk about luxury. What do you think when you hear the word luxury? Does it feel unnecessary? Does it feel indulgent? How about amazing? Or even necessary? As you will hear in my conversation with Neen, she set out to learn how having one can benefit us personally and professionally and what's behind a luxury mindset. Neen has used her research to work with large, well-known companies all over the world.

During our conversation, Neen and I discussed:

What a luxury mindset is, and why was Neen interested in studying it?
What the results were from the study that she completed on luxury mindset with a research firm.
What the luxury mindsets are and how they impact us at work and personally.
If we need to be “rich” monetarily to possess a luxury mindset?
Various examples of living with a luxury mindset.
How we as working women can adopt a luxury mindset if we don’t have one.
The benefits of a luxury mindset, and more!

Are you ready for a scary statistic? Only 9% of women are female CEOs of the biggest companies on the S&P 500. That is 45 spots out of 500, folks. But let’s be positive. It’s up from August 2018, when there were only 24 women in the CEO spot. The question is, WHY? Why aren’t more women in that top spot? And if they go there, why aren’t they sticking?

Jenna Fisher, my guest today, decided to find out how we as women can find a path to the top. She interviewed top female executives at Nike, Visa, IBM, Salesforce, Atlantic Records, just to name a few, to find out.

During our discussion, Jenna and I talked about:

1.Why she decided to write her book, To the Top: How Women in Corporate Leadership are Rewriting the Rules for Success?

2.What key themes popped out when she interviewed these female executives?

3.Jenna’s perspective on how COVID changed the game for working women and what we need in our workplaces to flourish now and in the future.

4.We discussed the thought of “having it all”? Is it really possible?

5.What leaving loud means for women? I loved this part of our conversation.

6.And how compassionate command is the new name of the game for both male and female leaders.

How do you feel about stress? Do you think it’s good or bad? What have you been taught about stress? If you’re anything like me, you have been taught that stress is bad or the enemy. That stress needs to be managed and it will cause all types of issues physically and emotionally. It almost feels like an enemy or a monster that we are afraid of. Well, today we’re going to flip the idea of stress on its head. My guest today, Dr. Deborah Gilboa, or Dr. G., has an entirely different perspective on stress and one that intrigued me. During our conversation, Dr. G. and I discussed: 1. Why what we’ve learned about stress is a lie 2. What the stress continuum is and the signs and symptoms to know where we are on it 3. Where burnout fits on this stress continuum 4. How stress can be an asset and drive our resilience 5. Techniques on how we can make our stress work for us instead of against us. 6. How our ability to handle stress has changed as a result of COVID-19 7. And more.

The nervous system plays a big part in our health. A dysregulated nervous system contributes to stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. If you’re prone to being on the verge of breaking down, you’re going to want to tune in. In this episode, Jennifer Pestikas is joined by somatic coach Nicole Smith Levay, who shares incredibly simple and effective breathing exercises that help regulate the nervous system and nip burnout at the bud. Nicole knows first-hand what it’s like to burnout and have your body breakdown. Following the principle of “trauma to dharma”, she is now passionate about helping people, and especially women, deal with the same problem. In this conversation, she educates us on how important breathing is to keep our nervous systems and our stress in check. She also discusses:

What somatic psychology is and what a somatic coach does;
How breathing can help regulate our nervous systems; and
How breathing exercises make a positive difference in our professional and personal lives.

Tune in and learn how as simple a thing as your breathing can make a massive impact on your life!

Would you like to be more productive? AKA get more done with less stress. What if I told you that this is possible? You would probably tell me I was joking, but I’m not.

My guest today, Dr. Nicole Byers, is an expert in neuropsychology. She helps all of us recovering high achievers get off the hamster wheel of to-do lists, self-doubt, and other limiting behaviors in favor of being more productive without overworking and burning out.

I say a big “yes” to all of this!

During our conversation, Dr. Byers and I discussed the following:

A look at the burnout cycle through the lens of neuroscience.
How we can be more productive by using our brains differently.
Productivity hacks so we can get more done with ease.
Her #1 productivity tip for women today.
And she shares her recent favorite book on the topic, which I read immediately following the show and loved.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork/?multi_permalinks=1278095969643348¬if_id=1668529930282213¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif

Dr. Nicole Byers: https://www.drnicolebyers.com/ Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals Book: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Management-Mortals/dp/0374159122

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

On a scale of 1 to 10 with my excitement level today, I am definitely at a 10. I completed a Google Survey last year in preparation for the 2023 Brave Women at Work podcast season. I asked who you wanted to hear from and if you had any dream guests. Well, today is one of the dream guests on your list!

My guest today, Andrea Owen, is a very accomplished coach, author, and speaker. Andrea and I met in 2014 when I hired her as my coach to help me work through some difficult personal stuff.

I accomplished my goal with Andrea's facilitation of Brene Brown's Daring Way Program. That work helped me heal relationships with my mom, family, and, more importantly, myself. This felt like a fun reunion, and it was great to reconnect with Andrea.

During our conversation, we chatted about:

What led Andrea to do the work she does with women
What shame is and how it can really take us down and prevent us from reaching our goals
Brene Brown and the Daring Way Program
Shame resilience – what it is, why it is essential, and some tips on how to move through it
How shame affects men and women differently
And so much more

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Andrea Owen: https://andreaowen.com/

How Not to Feel Like Shit: How to Stop Feeling Like Sh*t: 14 Habits that Are Holding You Back from Happiness - https://www.amazon.com/How-to-Stop-Feeling-Like-Sh-t-audiobook/dp/B078JCLKKT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=M9L4786THSF0&keywords=andrea+owen+books&qid=1674597531&sprefix=%2Caps%2C251&sr=8-1 52

Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life: 52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life: BS-Free Wisdom to Ignite Your Inner Badass and Live the Life You Deserve - https://www.amazon.com/52-Ways-to-Live-Kick-Ass-Life-audiobook/dp/B06WRSK6R8/ref=sr_1_3?crid=M9L4786THSF0&keywords=andrea+owen+books&qid=1674597552&sprefix=%2Caps%2C251&sr=8-3

Make Some Noise: Make Some Noise: Speak Your Mind and Own Your Strength - https://www.amazon.com/Make-Some-Noise-Speak-Strength/dp/B08SPBPJL5/ref=sr_1_2?crid=M9L4786THSF0&keywords=andrea+owen+books&qid=1674597552&sprefix=%2Caps%2C251&sr=8-2

52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life: BS-Free Wisdom to Ignite Your Inner Badass and Live the Life You Deserve

How to Stop Feeling Like Sh*t: 14 habits that are holding you back from happiness

Make Some Noise: Speak Your Mind and Own Your Strength

“Your profession is not what brings home your weekly paycheck; your profession is what you're put here on earth to do, with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling.” ― Vincent van Gogh

Wow. Can you say that you are living and working in your calling? If I’m honest, that hasn’t always been the case.

My guest today, Rha Goddess, is an expert in this area and has written an entire book on the subject.

During our conversation, Rha and I chatted out:

What does staying true, getting paid, and doing good mean
. The tell signs when we’re in our calling
. What holds us back from pursuing our highest calling
. What pulls us off track with our callings and how can we get back on the path
. Rha’s feelings on inspiration and how long it takes
And more

As I said during our conversation, I could listen to Rha’s wisdom for hours. Let’s dive into the journey of finding our callings together!

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Move the Crowd: https://www.movethecrowd.me/

The Calling: Stay True, Get Paid, Do Good: https://www.amazon.com/The-Calling-audiobook/dp/B07TL1XGTH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4ZTH5AIT3055&keywords=the+calling+rha+goddess&qid=1672606806&s=books&sprefix=the+calling+rha+goddess%2Cstripbooks%2C136&sr=1-1

The Calling: 3 Fundamental Shifts to Stay True, Get Paid, and Do Good

We’ve had an eventful January in the Pestikas household. Our family is in full swing again between kids in activities, post-holiday parties (yes, that’s a thing), and more. But you know what? I love the start of the new year. It’s a new chapter with a clean white page with fresh opportunities. What about you? How has your new year started?

I had a great conversation with my guest today, Susan Mackenty Brady. Susan is an expert in helping women excel in leadership, no matter what their career levels. Susan is also a wealth of knowledge in managing our inner critics, which is something we all struggle with at one point in our lives.

During my conversation with Susan, we discussed:

Susan’s experience and what led to the writing of her book, Arrive and Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership
Susan’s thoughts on finding the best version of yourself through awareness and your response to it
Susan mentioned a few of the practices from her book that can help women
What stops women from really flourishing in leadership roles
We also touched on Susan’s work with the inner critic and her books on the subject, including Mastering the Inner Critic and the 30-Second Guide to Coaching Our Inner Critic.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Susan M Brady Coaching: DEI Expert & Leader - Susan MacKenty Brady (http://susanmbrady.com )

Arrive and Thrive: https://www.amazon.com/Arrive-Thrive-Impactful-Navigating-Leadership-ebook/dp/B09MV5T7Q6?ref\_=ast\_sto_dp

Mastering Your Inner Critic: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Inner-Critic-Hurdles-Advancement-ebook/dp/B07HYFB551?ref\_=ast\_sto_dp

The 30-Second Guide to Managing Your Inner Critic: https://www.amazon.com/30-Second-Guide-Coaching-Inner-Critic/dp/099096230X?ref\_=ast\_sto_dp

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Have you ever gone through an unplanned job loss?

With so many people going through layoffs in various industries today, today’s show with Brave Women at Work is right on time. My guest today, Sara Webb, is a go-getter and an accomplished professional in the financial services industry. Sara was brave in her willingness to share how it’s been difficult to be in the messy middle between one job and the next. She decided to pay it forward for other women (and people) going through the same situation, and I am grateful for it.

During our conversation, we chatted about:

Sara’s history with work and why she was so blindsided when she was let go at her recent position.
All the feelings that came up as she has navigated finding a new job.
Sara’s personal feelings about work and worth.
How this experience has changed what she is looking for in a job and how she plans to find a new “balance” moving forward.
And Sara shares her advice for any woman that is facing a similar situation.

Again, I’m so humbled that Sara was gracious enough to share her thoughts on the subject. I’m confident that you too will find value in this discussion, no matter where you are on your career journey.

Resources: Brave Women at Work:

Brave Women at Work - Helping you take braver action at work Sara Webb LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-webb-clu-3ab4092/

Are you looking to have an amazing 2023? If so, plan, plan, plan for it! My guest today, Anna Runyan, is the owner and CEO of Classy Career Girl, a platform to help women love the work they do in the world. Anna is a successful coach and is a great example of someone who knows how to plan, create systems, and make her goals a reality! If you need some help or a nudge in this area, listen in!

During my conversation with Anna, we talked about:

An overview of her planning process
How often Anna revisits her plan
How we can pivot and look inward for answers if we're not hitting our goals
Affirmations and routines that Anna uses to keep a positive mindset throughout the year 5. How batching and delegation can help anyone maximize their time

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Classy Career Girl: https://www.classycareergirl.com/ Planning

Workshop: https://www.classycareergirl.com/planningworkshop-fp

Here’s a fact about me. I’m a nerd for making a list and setting a plan. How about you? Planning is not making a resolution. It’s putting pen to paper, setting goals, and executing.

My guest today, Anna Runyan, is the founder and CEO of Classy Career Girl, a career and leadership coaching platform for women. Anna and I met through another colleague in the personal development space.

When I met Anna, I knew I had to have her on the show. Two of her superpowers are her planning tools and the systems she creates not only for herself but for her clients.

During my conversation with Anna, we discussed:

Her thoughts on her quarterly and annual planning process
How often Anna revisits and reviews her plan
The roadblocks to successful planning
The affirmations that we can use daily to help us with our plan execution
The systems that Anna uses to run her business that we can use if we have a corporate job, a business, or both
Her 2023 Planning Workshop, which is an evergreen course you can take at any time if you are eager to build your own personal or professional plan

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Classy Career Girl:

Classy Career Girl - https://www.classycareergirl.com/

Classy Career Girl Planning Workshop: https://www.classycareergirl.com/planningworkshop-fp

Does having tough or let’s call them “sticky” conversations make you uncomfortable? Yeah, me too! It makes me sweat and want to procrastinate having them because I anticipate how uncomfortable and awkward they will be.

Here’s the great news.

Jill Shroyer, my guest today and CEO of HR Expeditions, loves these tough conversations and has a system for you to learn how to master them!

Today’s show was so instructional for me, and I’m sure it will be for you too.

During my conversation with Jill, we discussed the following:

Examples of sticky conversations we may want to avoid
Jill's formula for dealing with these tough discussions
What to do if the conversation goes in the wrong direction
Some timely sticky scenarios, including asking for a raise, more flexibility, and more

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Expedition HR: https://www.expeditionhr.com/

Conquer Sticky Conversations Book: https://www.amazon.com/Conquer-Sticky-Situations-Empowering-Approach/dp/1736213407/ref=sr_1_5?crid=12172DCJ1PWDD&keywords=sticky+conversations+book&qid=1670593198&sprefix=sticky+conversations+boo%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-5

Conquer Sticky Situations: A Fresh and Empowering Approach to Tough Talks at Work and in Life

Today on the show, I have a special guest, Shelia Higgs Burkhalter.

Shelia and I met the last year while we were working on the Brave Women at Work: Stories of Resilience book. Shelia is an absolutely rockstar author, professional, and person, and I appreciate her time during today's episode.

During our conversation, we chatted about:

Shelia’s experience on the Brave Women at Work project
What she learned about herself, the ability to be vulnerable and share her story, and the publishing process as a whole
Hope Mueller and her boutique publishing company, Hunter Street Press
The upcoming Writers and Spa Retreat co-hosted by Brave Women at Work and C.L.I.M.B. Conferences
How this writers retreat is for all aspiring authors and is an excellent opportunity to meet and learn from other authors.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work:

https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Shelia Higgs Burkhalter Coaching: https://shiggsbcoaching.com/

Shelia Higgs Burkhalter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheliahiggsburkhalter

Writers and Spa Retreat – C.L.I.M.B. Conferences: C.L.I.M.B. - Hunter Street Press (hopey.net)

Many of us start the new year with resolutions. And saving a certain amount, paying debt, or creating a financial or retirement plan may be on your resolution list.

My guest today, Mikelann Valterra, is Seattle's money coach. Mikelann helps women with their thoughts and feelings around money; after our conversation, I learned that how we feel about money, saving, debt, etc., has a lot to do with reaching our financial goals!

During my conversation with Mikelann, we discussed:

Why do women feel anxiety when it comes to money
Money fog and why we get trapped in it
Financial anxiety is not only about overspending; it can also be about money hoarding too
How to deal with golden handcuffs
The role money plays in relationships
The importance of women having a retirement plan

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Mikelann Valterra site: https://www.seattlemoneycoach.com/

Happy Holidays! I am practicing what I preach at Brave Women at Work and taking a break over the holidays. I am bringing back one of my favorite episodes before the end of the year to remind you to take care of yourself during this busy season.

During this episode, my guest, Courtney Carver, blogger, author, podcaster, and speaker talks about the importance of minimalism and being more with less. I

n a season of "all the things," it's a breath of fresh air to think we can simplify and declutter our professional and personal lives.

During this conversation, Courtney and I discuss the following:

What minimalism is, and why it is important
What led Courtney to minimalism
How simplifying can help us professionally and personally
And much more!

Resources:

Be More with Less - https://bemorewithless.com/

Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More https://www.amazon.com/Project-333-Minimalist-Fashion-Challenge-ebook/dp/B07X6RPYL3/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Be+more+with+less&qid=1614711932&sr=8-2

The Simplicity Space: https://courses.bemorewithless.com/the-simplicity-space/

Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More

Happy Holidays! I am practicing what I preach at Brave Women at Work and taking a break over the holidays. I am bringing back two episodes for the end of the year to remind you to take care of yourself during this busy season. If you haven't yet listened to Stress Reset with Sarah Marie Liddle, it's a must. Sarah is an expert in stress management and burnout recovery.

During my conversation with Sarah, we discussed:

The blatant and subliminal signs of stress.
The relationship between stress and overwhelm.
Ways that we try to override our stress.

They can be positive and not-so-positive. Netflix binge or Ben and Jerry’s, anyone?

Micro steps we can take today to start resetting our stress.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Sarah Marie Liddle: https://sarahmarieliddle.com/

There's a commonality between Brave Women at Work guests, they've all discussed the importance of mindset. If you don’t believe in yourself, you can’t be brave. And that’s what this show is all about.

My guest today, Dr. Zenobia Tantra, takes it a step further. Yes, mindset is essential, but it also is your overall energy. Zenobia is a dear friend and colleague. She is also a physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor therapy and an expert on chakras on how the state of our energy affects every area of our lives.

During my conversation with Zenobia, we discussed:

What the chakras are, and why we should care.
The solar plexus or power/self-confidence chakra and how we know when it’s out of balance
The heart chakra and knowing when this one is out of balance
And finally, the throat chakra and when do know when it’s off
What steps can we take to maintain chakra balance

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Zenxuality - Dr. Zenobia Tantra's site:

https://www.zenxuality.com/

I'm so excited about my guest, Cait Donovan, today! Cait speaks about burnout in an entirely different way, one that is more forgiving and filled with grace.

As you may know, I have already experienced one round of burnout. I had no idea what was happening to me, but I thought it was entirely my fault. I carried the guilt and weight of the question, “How could I let this happen?” Here's the excellent news. From my conversation with Cait, I learned that this might be a bit of our genetics, upbringing, living and work environment, and choices. And if you’ve experienced burnout before, you know how difficult it is to heal. Starting with a dose of self-compassion is a beautiful place to begin.

During my conversation with Cait, we discussed:

The origin of burnout and why looking at the last 3-5 years of history before a bout of burnout can share some clues
What burnout is and isn’t according to the medical community
The symptoms of burnout
How repeat burnout is a real thing
What you can do to heal from burnout proactively.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work:

https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Cait Donovan: https://www.caitdonovan.com/

Fried: The Burnout Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fried-the-burnout-podcast/id1469939920

As we’re approaching the end of 2022 (I can’t believe it), my conversation with Shanna Hocking was motivating to me, and I’m sure that it will be for you as well.

During our discussion, Shanna and I chatted about:

Her book, One Bold Move a Day: Meaningful Actions Women Can Take to Fulfill Their Leadership and Career Potential
Examples of one bold move a day
How our bold moves each day don’t have to be huge; they can be small and personal to every one of us
What holds us back from taking these bold moves
How can women start taking these bold actions today, as in right now
And why women often don’t feel brave and how we can change that

Get ready to take bold moves!

Brave Women at Work:

https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Shanna Hocking: https://www.shannaahocking.com/

One Bold Move Today: One Bold Move a Day: Meaningful Actions Women Can Take to Fulfill Their Leadership and Career Potential: https://www.amazon.com/One-Bold-Move-Day-Meaningful/dp/1264278071/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1WYUUZZ9XQNKC&keywords=one+bold+move+a+day&qid=1669388468&sprefix=one+bold+move+a+day%2Caps%2C265&sr=8-1

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I hope you have a beautiful Thanksgiving with your family and friends today. Take a break from turkey eating and pre-Black Friday shopping and listen to the latest episode of Brave Women at Work!

In this episode, I cover something very timely….gratitude! Gratitude is the answer at work, whether that’s one-on-one with your colleagues, if you are a people leader working with teams, or if you run a business and have the privilege and responsibility of setting the cultural tone of your organization.

During this show solo, I also share my thoughts on how gratitude may be an anecdote for the Quiet Quit and the Great Resignation. We all know that competitive pay and benefits are important, but employees today are demanding more than that. Maybe they want to feel valued, and that all starts with gratitude.

Brave Women at Work: http://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Are you ready for it? Let’s party!

We have officially reached 100 episodes! 100 episodes! I CANNOT believe it! If you had told me two years ago that I would eventually record 100 podcast episodes with Brave Women at Work, I would have told you that you were crazy.

Well, here we are! I want to share my key insights after 100 episodes. These learnings are universal, so you can use them for whatever your personal or professional goals. And don't forget to listen in for a special offer for all podcast listeners!

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

What do you think of when you hear the word power? Does it sound off-putting? Too masculine or dominant? Do you think women can be powerful or hold positions of power? I do, but I know that I often give my power away, whether through self-doubt, Imposter Syndrome, or my old standbys, perfectionism and people-pleasing.

I’m so excited about my guest today, Dr. Sharon Melnick, and to share this conversation with you!

During the podcast, Dr. Sharon and I discussed:

What being in your power means
What it feels like to be outside of your power
How you can vacillate between being in and out of your power
We can take steps to reclaim our power if we've lost it
What to do when your spouse, family or friends don’t support the new powerful version of you
What the difference is between being a thermometer and a thermostat
And so much more

This conversation blew my mind in so many ways, so I’m pumped for you to hear it!

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Dr. Sharon Melnick site: https://sharonmelnick.com/

In Your Power Book: https://inyourpowerbook.com/

Jacob Brown, a keynote speaker, marketing manager, and LinkedIn influencer, recently said: The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let things go. Isn’t that a beautiful reminder?

My guest today, Tara Horstmeyer, talks about how you need to let things go in specific seasons of your life, so you can fit work into your seasons and not the other way around.

Many women, myself included, believe we must work harder during tough seasons. Maybe we need to be willing to walk away and say no…or like the trees are teaching us, to let things go.

During my conversation with Tara, we talked about

How can you leave a company without leaving the people
How to build emotional boundaries at work
Making tough decisions to fit certain seasons of your life
What led Tara to develop her company, Happy Words Sell, and what the heck is ghostwriting
And why everyone should be creating content to participate in the online conversation

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Happy Words Sell: Happy Words (happywordssell.com)

Have you met someone who stopped you in your tracks significantly? “Wow, I can’t believe she’s doing kind of way?"

My guest today, Miriam Lawrence, is a beautiful example of an inspiring and brave woman, and I knew I had to have her on the show. Why, might you ask? Miriam’s LinkedIn profile is unique because she’s also a powerlifter. Like in 200-pound+ weights.

Miriam started powerlifting at 48 and competing all over the world by the age of 50. And she’s finding a way of integrating her work and her strength training. I love how authentic Miriam is and the moxie she has gained by being in the world's top third of female powerlifters.

During my conversation with Miriam, we discussed the following:

How can we find something that lights us up at any age
Imposter Syndrome and how to manage it
The correlation between physical strength and how we move through the world
Our Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) at work
How stoicism helps Miriam train her mind and live her life

Resources: Brave Women at Work:

https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Miriam Lawrence Site: https://thatbadassbroad.com/

Miriam Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-lawrence-6a3764/

Glute Lab: https://www.amazon.com/Glute-Lab-Art-Science-Training/dp/1628603461/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3M4CY9UP18Z1G&keywords=booty+by+brett&qid=1662603751&s=audible&sprefix=booty+by+brett%2Caudible%2C109&sr=1-1 Ryan Holiday Book: https://www.amazon.com/The-Obstacle-Is-Way-Ryan-Holiday-audiobook/dp/B00K5JUNSU/ref=sr_1_3?adgrpid=1338106221327991&hvadid=83631710809864&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=103346&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-83631995884220%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=21871_10482322&keywords=holiday+ryan&qid=1662603282&sr=8-3

Glute Lab: The Art and Science of Strength and Physique Training

The Obstacle is the Way: The Ancient Art of Turning Adversity to Advantage

I learned about today’s guest, Kathy Miller, from another guest, Alison Martin, with Engaged Mentoring. Alison purposefully contacted me to say that Kathy should be a guest.

When I met Kathy, I have to say her background in manufacturing was unique from all of my other guests. I can only imagine the challenges she faced as a female plant manager.

When I heard her story, I knew she was a great example of a brave woman at work.

During my conversation with Kathy, we discussed:

Kathy’s background in manufacturing and how she was a manager and higher in a plant environment in her early 20’s
What is applied positive psychology and how can we leverage it at work
The importance of positive workplace relationships
When gender biases start and their impact at work
The steps we can take to improve our relationships at work
Kathy’s book - Steel Toes and Stilettos: A True Story of Women Manufacturing Leaders and Lean Transformation Success.

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Kathy Miller site: https://opsisters.com/

Steel Toes and Stilettos Book: https://www.amazon.com/Steel-Toes-Stilettos-Manufacturing-Transformation/dp/1032053119/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1645719818&refinements=p_27%3AKathy+Miller&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Kathy+Miller

Steel Toes and Stilettos

If you had told me that I would be at my book signing a year ago, I would have told you to get out of town. Writing a book was always a dream, but I always put it in the “someday” category.

Well, now it is a reality! I just completed my first book signing, and it was a humbling and joyful experience. I’m here to tell you as living proof that you can do whatever you want to do.

Whether writing a book, starting a business, or pivoting to a new career, you’ve got this! This fits right into my conversation with my guest today, Liz Brunner.

Liz has had a fantastic arc in her career and is yet another example of a woman who took bold and brave actions in her career to discover her next chapter.

During my conversation with Liz, we covered:

Finding and connecting the patterns in our professional and personal lives
How these patterns can inform our next chapters and how no skills or experiences are truly wasted
What drove Liz to write her book, Dare to Own You
What it was like for Liz to be in the public year for over 20 years
How to craft an elevator pitch and why it is important to have at the ready
And much more.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Brunner Communications: https://lizbrunner.com/

Brunner Academy: https://www.brunneracademy.com/

Dare to Own You: Taking Your Authenticity and Dreams into Your Next Chapter - ttps://www.amazon.com/Dare-Own-You-Authenticity-Chapter/dp/B09PC719ZK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3AZSPUH32RW5T&keywords=dare+to+own+you&qid=1664318534&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjA4IiwicXNhIjoiMC41OSIsInFzcCI6IjAuNjMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=dare+to+own+you%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-1 15% off all Brunner Academy: BESTYOU

Today is a special day with a very special guest. My guest for today’s show is Helen King. Helen is important to me in so many ways. She is my podcast producer and helps me stay on track with Brave Women at Work, and she is a wonderful example of a brave woman. Helen was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer at age 37, even after medical professionals told her that she was too young to get diagnosed with cancer.

During her healing process, she was also diagnosed with ADHD, which made sense to her and was news many years in the making. From there, she completely rebuilt her life and work.

During my conversation with Helen, we talked about

What it was like to hear that she had cancer so young
What she did professionally before the cancer diagnosis and what led her to pursue podcast production as a career
What other changes she went through after she achieved remission of her cancer
What it was like to also be diagnosed with ADHD in her thirties
What motivated Helen to start her own podcast, The C Word
What being a podcast producer is all about and what it’s like to produce the Brave Women at Work podcast

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Helen King Productions: https://www.hkproductionsnz.com/

“Spending time around people who inspire you will not only affect your career, it will change your life.”

Shannon Siriano Greenwood

My guest today, Shannon Siriano Greenwood, was inspiring throughout our conversation. It felt like Shannon was my older sister, and I was learning from her wisdom. She’s made bold choices in her personal and professional life after experiencing postpartum depression and burnout.

We have a lot in common, so it was great to talk with someone that truly gets it.

During my conversation with Shannon, we covered:

What hyperfunctioning, overdriving, and chasing all the gold stars means
What prompted Shannon to start the Rebelle community
How Rebelle is different than Chief, another female membership community
What inspires Shannon and the book she gives away to all of her friends
The power of friendships and close community
How we can burn it down, change our habits, and start paying attention to our happiness

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Rebelle: https://readytorebelle.com/

Rebelle Magazine: https://readytorebelle.com/summer-issue-2022

Playing Big by Tara Mohr: https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Big-Practical-Wisdom-Create-ebook/dp/B00INIXMW4/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1663713631&sr=8-1

Public Enemy Women's Cotton Short Sleeve T-Shirt, Sweat Absorption, Breathable,no Deformation

“Spending time around people who inspire you will not only affect your career, it will change your life.”

Shannon Siriano Greenwood

My guest today, Shannon Siriano Greenwood, was inspiring throughout our conversation. It felt like Shannon was my older sister, and I was learning from her wisdom. She’s made bold choices in her personal and professional life after experiencing postpartum depression and burnout.

We have a lot in common, so it was great to talk with someone that truly gets it.

During my conversation with Shannon, we covered:

What hyperfunctioning, overdriving, and chasing all the gold stars means
What prompted Shannon to start the Rebelle community
How Rebelle is different than Chief, another female membership community
What inspires Shannon and the book she gives away to all of her friends
The power of friendships and close community
How we can burn it down, change our habits, and start paying attention to our happiness

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Rebelle: https://readytorebelle.com/

Rebelle Magazine: https://readytorebelle.com/summer-issue-2022

Playing Big by Tara Mohr: https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Big-Practical-Wisdom-Create-ebook/dp/B00INIXMW4/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1663713631&sr=8-1

Public Enemy Women's Cotton Short Sleeve T-Shirt, Sweat Absorption, Breathable,no Deformation

Here's the bad news: we all get stuck at some point in our lives. It's part of the human condition.

My guest today, Shira Miller, certified coach, and communications executive, knows the signs of being chronically stuck. Shira has many examples from her own life where she was stuck but found a back to break free and regain her health, financial security, love, and happiness. And here’s the good news: you can get unstuck.

If you’re feeling stuck in any way, there’s a lot you can learn from this show. During my conversation with Shira, we discussed:

What the difference is between being acutely stuck and chronically stuck
What it took for Shira to change in her own life
The signs of being chronically stuck and how to notice them
What steps we can take to get unstuck
What motivated Shira to write her book, Free and Clear. Shira also shares other resources for our listeners to take action.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Brave Women at Work Virtual Summit: https://bravewomenatwork.com/brave-women-at-work-virtual-summit/

Shira Miller Site: https://shiramiller.com/

Shira Miller Book: https://www.amazon.com/Free-Clear-Unstuck-Live-Life/dp/B09XWH1NH5/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=shira+miller+free+and+clear&qid=1662601688&sprefix=free+and+clear+mil%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-5 Shira Miller TedX Talk: https://shiramiller.com/tedx/

None

Here's the bad news: we all get stuck at some point in our lives. It's part of the human condition.

My guest today, Shira Miller, certified coach, and communications executive, knows the signs of being chronically stuck. Shira has many examples from her own life where she was stuck but found a back to break free and regain her health, financial security, love, and happiness. And here’s the good news: you can get unstuck.

If you’re feeling stuck in any way, there’s a lot you can learn from this show. During my conversation with Shira, we discussed:

What the difference is between being acutely stuck and chronically stuck
What it took for Shira to change in her own life
The signs of being chronically stuck and how to notice them
What steps we can take to get unstuck
What motivated Shira to write her book, Free and Clear. Shira also shares other resources for our listeners to take action.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Brave Women at Work Virtual Summit: https://bravewomenatwork.com/brave-women-at-work-virtual-summit/

Shira Miller Site: https://shiramiller.com/

Shira Miller Book: https://www.amazon.com/Free-Clear-Unstuck-Live-Life/dp/B09XWH1NH5/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=shira+miller+free+and+clear&qid=1662601688&sprefix=free+and+clear+mil%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-5 Shira Miller TedX Talk: https://shiramiller.com/tedx/

None

I have been seeing articles about the quiet quit all over lately. Many friends and colleagues have also asked for my thoughts on this topic, so I decided to record a show on it.

In this solo show, I talk about:

What the quiet quit is and is not
What’s driving the quiet quit?
How is the quiet quit related to the Great Resignation?
My thoughts on it
My hopes for the future of work.

As a recovering workaholic and someone without solid work boundaries, the quiet quit challenges and inspires me at the same time.

What about you? Where do you stand on the quiet quit?

Resources:

Forbes article - https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2022/08/23/quiet-quittingwhat-is-it-and-where-do-you-stand-on-it/?sh=74a8448920df&fbclid=IwAR3ySXBYwdjxdmZJL0SeVkUEAUr1FWuO0IMT-bLcObS6-v1VOTf16lvEMPY

Buy the book: Brave Women at Work - Helping you take braver action at work Brave:

https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Women-Work-Stories-Resilience-ebook/dp/B0B82XV3R5

Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

None

I have been seeing articles about the quiet quit all over lately. Many friends and colleagues have also asked for my thoughts on this topic, so I decided to record a show on it.

In this solo show, I talk about:

What the quiet quit is and is not
What’s driving the quiet quit?
How is the quiet quit related to the Great Resignation?
My thoughts on it
My hopes for the future of work.

As a recovering workaholic and someone without solid work boundaries, the quiet quit challenges and inspires me at the same time.

What about you? Where do you stand on the quiet quit?

Resources:

Forbes article - https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2022/08/23/quiet-quittingwhat-is-it-and-where-do-you-stand-on-it/?sh=74a8448920df&fbclid=IwAR3ySXBYwdjxdmZJL0SeVkUEAUr1FWuO0IMT-bLcObS6-v1VOTf16lvEMPY

Buy the book: Brave Women at Work - Helping you take braver action at work Brave:

https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Women-Work-Stories-Resilience-ebook/dp/B0B82XV3R5

Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

None

TRIGGER WARNING

My guest and I have a powerful conversation which includes domestic violence and suicide. Please listen with care.

Have you ever met someone that you were in awe of? That’s my guest and me today, Susie Carder.

I don’t want to spoil it, but Susie has faced quite a few odds to get to where she is today. Let me give you a few of her past challenges:

Being a single mom
Running a business while parenting two girls
Have a failed business that left her in financial ruin
Having to rebuild her business from scratch.

And with that, Susie has not been willing to let her circumstances stop her. Susie has built two $10 million companies, even after facing these challenges!

This conversation was so "feel good" to me because it reminds me that no matter what I’m facing, I can get through it. And whatever challenges you're facing, you can get through them too.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Susie Carder: https://susiecarder.com/

Power Your Profits: How to Take Your Business from $10,000 to $10,000,000: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Your-Profits-Take-Business/dp/B081VS9HCB/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=power+your+profits+susie+carder&qid=1658009101&sprefix=Power+your+profit%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1

Power Your Profits: How to Take Your Business from $10,000 to $10,000,000

TRIGGER WARNING

My guest and I have a powerful conversation which includes domestic violence and suicide. Please listen with care.

Have you ever met someone that you were in awe of? That’s my guest and me today, Susie Carder.

I don’t want to spoil it, but Susie has faced quite a few odds to get to where she is today. Let me give you a few of her past challenges:

Being a single mom
Running a business while parenting two girls
Have a failed business that left her in financial ruin
Having to rebuild her business from scratch.

And with that, Susie has not been willing to let her circumstances stop her. Susie has built two $10 million companies, even after facing these challenges!

This conversation was so "feel good" to me because it reminds me that no matter what I’m facing, I can get through it. And whatever challenges you're facing, you can get through them too.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Susie Carder: https://susiecarder.com/

Power Your Profits: How to Take Your Business from $10,000 to $10,000,000: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Your-Profits-Take-Business/dp/B081VS9HCB/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=power+your+profits+susie+carder&qid=1658009101&sprefix=Power+your+profit%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1

Power Your Profits: How to Take Your Business from $10,000 to $10,000,000

It’s almost fall! My favorite time of year. I’ve been working with Charlotte, my 5th grader, on her fall wardrobe. I don’t remember being as concerned about what I was wearing to school when I was in 5th grade, but I have a budding fashionista.

We’ve recently discovered Plato’s Closet and thrifting at Goodwill for the latest “cool” trends. Charlotte is already building her pre-teen brand and doesn’t even know it!

Well, the school year prep that I’m doing with Charlotte fits right in line with my conversation with my guest today, Cari Rutkoskie. Cari is the owner of not one, but 2 businesses. Cari is an expert in communications, whether that’s with your words or your wardrobe.

Today, we’re going to talk about both of her businesses, but there’s a special focus on her business with Cabi, an online clothing specifically serving women.

During my conversation with Cari, we covered:

Why our professional image is so important
What are the building blocks of a professional image?
How what we wear affects our confidence
How having “go-to” or loved pieces in our wardrobe helps
And much more

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Words Matter Consulting: https://wordsmatterconsulting.com/

Cari Rutkoski Cabi Online Site: https://carirutkoskie.cabionline.com/

Today, we talked about a hot-button topic on LinkedIn and in all work environments. DEI or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

You may be very familiar with this subject, but I didn’t feel like I was. So, I asked Martine Kalaw, an expert in this area, to join me.

During my conversation with Martine, we discussed:

What DEI is and why it’s important for individuals and companies
Reverse resentment about DEI among employees who don't see the value
How DEI initiatives can positively impact a company's revenue
What steps we can take as individuals to support DEI initiatives in our companies
And so much more

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Martine Kalaw: https://martinekalaw.com/

The ABC's of Diversity: A Manager's Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the New Workplace: https://www.amazon.com/ABCs-Diversity-Managers-Inclusion-Workplace/dp/B09V6NWLH8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18DY2UVBFQQB9&keywords=Martine+Kalaw&qid=1658009579&sprefix=martine+kalaw%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1

Did you know that men and women negotiate differently?

For example, if you want and deserve a raise and go to your boss and strongly ask for it, it may not be received well. Why? Because it may be seen as you come off as too strong or adversarial.

Unfortunately, this is not the same for men. Mind blown! My guest today, Kathryn Valentine, of Worthmore Negotiations, teaches women how they can negotiate for salary and up to 75 other important items with success.

During my conversation with Kathryn, we discussed:

Why women need to learn to negotiate
What led Kathryn to conclude that men and women don’t negotiate the same way
The mistakes women commonly make and how we can learn from them
What we can negotiate for beyond salary
How allies help, including mentors and sponsors
How companies can help women negotiate better

Resources:

Buy Brave Women at Work: Stories of Resilience https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B82XV3R5/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_AWXZVCQ86K5RP48ECWGH

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Worthmore Negotiations: https://worthmorenegotiations.com/

75 Things You Can Negotiate:

https://worthmorenegotiations.com/our-1-most-popular-post-75-things-you-can-negotiate/

You may or may not believe this, but I was really shy as a kid. A true wallflower. It was so painful. I was the kid that didn’t know why I felt so out of place.

After meeting Claire O'Hanlon, writer, entrepreneur, coach, and speaker, I felt like I met a kindred spirit. Claire is a wealth of knowledge on what it means to be shy or introverted.

She explained to me that you can be a shy or introverted leader, and they are not one and the same. If you are shy or are naturally introverted, this show is for you!

During my conversation with Claire, we discussed:

What the difference is between shyness and introversion
If shyness is a learned behavior or genetic
The moment when Claire decided she was no longer going to be shy
Claire’s favorite quote and how it guides her actions
How you can be a shy or introverted leader
The Shypreneur Society Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Claire O’Hanlon:

Home - https://claireohanloncoaching.com/

ShyPreneur Society: https://claire-o-hanlon.mykajabi.com/shypreneur-society-8248a084-f184-4ecc-bfe0-d485784aac6f

Happy Brave Women at Work Thursday! Do you have a fixed or growth mindset?

After reading more about this, I knew that I had to share it on Brave Women at Work.

Cultivating a growth mindset as often as possible can have a significant impact on our success at work.

So, let’s dive in! In this solo show, I discussed:

What is the difference between a fixed and growth mindset?
How do we know when we are in a fixed or growth head space?
What are the benefits of a growth mindset?
What can we do to move ourselves to a growth mindset?

If you find yourself resistant to change or struggling to receive feedback (hello, perfectionists), I am talking to you! I can say this with authority because I am a recovering perfectionist.

Even if you are open-minded or consistently in a growth frame of mind, it never hurts to sharpen our skills, so listen in!

Resources:

Free Brave Women at Work Screensaver https://bravewomenatwork.com/free-brave-women-at-work-screensavers/

Brave Women at Work - Helping you take braver action at work

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

If you’ve been listening to Brave Women at Work for a while, you know that I love the Enneagram. If you’re new to the show, welcome to my obsession.

The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing system, and it helps us better understand ourselves and others in the world. My guest today, Erin Baute, is an expert on the Enneagram and is even writing her PhD thesis on the topic.

During my conversation with Erin, we discussed:

What the Enneagram is and how it’s different than other personality assessments
The Enneagram numbers between 1-9 3. The differences between the primary type, the dominant wing and the dominant subtype
The instincts of the Enneagram - preservation, social and relational
How women can discover their personal Enneagram number
How we use our Enneagram knowledge personally and professionally

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Living the Enneagram: https://livingtheenneagram.com/

The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Enneagram-Paths-Greater-Self-Knowledge/dp/1938314549/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=enneagram+beatrice+chestnut&qid=1652019244&sprefix=enneagram+beat%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1

The Road Back To You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery https://www.amazon.com/dp/0830846190/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=3d65688eab5d921b746ff0dabc87c983&hsa_cr_id=8108096160501&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=45898321-c0b6-4436-a4b8-7fefb7f27160&pd_rd_w=qFNVE&pd_rd_wg=VG3rb&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_0_img

The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge

The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery

You all know that I love a good negotiation.
I believe knowing how to ask for what you want is so critical.
Today’s guest, Penny Rosema, is an expert in negotiation, so I’m excited for you to listen to our conversation.

During my discussion with Penny, we covered:

The components of a successful negotiation (and a not so successful one)
Why preparation is so important
The power of being quiet and listening
What happens when you receive a counteroffer?
Going beyond pay in our negotiations
What happens if you can’t come to agreement?

If you feel like you’re not a good negotiator or if you would like to hone your skills, this conversation is for you, so listen in!

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/
Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork
Penny Rosema: https://www.pennyrosema.com/
Penny's Free Negotiation Resources: https://www.pennyrosema.com/resources-2/

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About the Show Welcome to the Brave Women at Work podcast. In the podcast, you will get resources and tips along with real-world stories and humor to empower and inspire you to take bolder and braver action in your career and life.

Let's face it. Being a first-time manager is hard.
It can be confusing, scary, and even lonely because we're often thrown into the role with no formal training or guidance.

I wanted to share 5 tips for new managers as a blueprint for the first 90, 120, 180 days. I also share several book resources, so make sure to listen in to that as well.

During today's show, I cover a few of the following tips:

Getting clear on your priorities as a first-time manager.
How to build trust with your employees.
Why self-doubt and Imposter Syndrome can be a killer as a new manager.
And more....

Resources:
Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Crucial Conversations: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=crucial+conversations&i=stripbooks&sprefix=crucial+conver%2Cstripbooks%2C101&ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_14_ts-doa-p

1,501 Ways to Reward Your Employees: https://www.amazon.com/1501-Reward-Employees-Nelson-Ph-D/dp/0761168788/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=1501+ways+to+reward+employees&qid=1657369145&s=books&sprefix=1501%2Cstripbooks%2C122&sr=1-1

The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter: https://www.amazon.com/First-Days-Updated-Expanded-Strategies/dp/B00CH7FE1O/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+first+90+days&qid=1657369196&s=books&sprefix=the+first+%2Cstripbooks%2C99&sr=1-1

1501 Ways to Reward Employees

The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, Updated and Expanded

Are you stressed? Annually companies in the U.S. spend over $300 billion on employee health care and missed days at work due to high levels of stress.

In addition, around 75%–90% of healthcare visits in the United States are connected to stress-related issues in some manner. We all need to learn how to manage our stress better (myself included).

My guest today, Sarah Marie Liddle, is an expert in stress management and burnout recovery. Sarah is a repeat guest on Brave Women at Work and was awesome to have on once again. If you didn’t listen to Sarah’s first show with me, go back to episode number 54.

During my conversation with Sarah, we talked about

The blatant and subliminal signs of stress.
The relationship between stress and overwhelm.
Ways that we try to override our stress. They can be positive and not-so-positive. Netflix binge or Ben and Jerry’s, anyone?
Micro steps we can take today to start resetting our stress.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Sarah Marie Liddle: https://sarahmarieliddle.com/

Stress Reset Program: https://sarahmarieliddle.com/stress-reset-coaching Sarah Marie Liddle

Episode 54: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-54-discover-your-strengths-with-sarah-marie-liddle/id1547856593?i=1000546491763

Welcome to the second part of my conversation with Kristin Harrison!

If you haven’t listened to episode #79 (the prior episode on Moving Through a Man’s World), this show will make even more sense if you go back and listen to it.

If you want to jump in here, you will still get something out of our conversation.

During this second part of my conversation with Kristin, we discussed:

The silent coping mechanisms women use to fit into male environments
Why when a woman speaks up or takes a big leap she’s labeled aggressive or a bitch, while men in the same scenario are considered driven?
How we can stop this movement of women acting a certain way to fit in with male bosses or colleagues. How can we be ourselves and still be successful at work?
Why do you think when a woman speaks up or takes a big leap she’s labeled “aggressive” or a “bitch”, but men are considered “driven”?

As a reminder, this show is marked explicit, so please make sure to listen to this away from little ears or on your earbuds.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Kristin Harrison LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-harrison/

My girl, Kristin Harrison, is back on Brave Women at Work!

This time, we’re talking about each of our experiences moving through a man’s world and what that has felt like to us. We had so much to say in fact that this conversation had to be split up into 2 episodes.

During this first conversation with Kristin, we discussed:

How each of us has navigated an industry that is predominantly male (whether that’s male bosses or colleagues)
How do women tend to change or contort themselves to fit into the male environment
The stories we told ourselves about this before pursuing personal development or working on ourselves to know that we are enough exactly the way we are
How where you grew up or your spiritual upbringing can have an impact on how you feel about being a woman at work and at home.

This conversation with fiery on both sides, so if you are listening to this show around little ears, please make sure to use your earbuds.

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Kristin Harrison LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-harrison/

I am excited for my guest today, Liz Kislik! Liz was an executive coach and consultant before it was even an industry. She brings over 30 years of experience in developing high-performing leaders and organizations to our conversation, so I'm very happy that she took some time out to be a guest on the show!

During my conversation with Liz, we discussed:

How you and other employees can transition back to the office with ease
How to navigate work environments where some employees are pro-remote, some are pro-in-office and some want hybrid
How we can build relationships with our colleagues and even bosses remotely
What companies can do to support various employees’ flexibility needs
And most importantly, how we can support one another

As you know, this is a real hot potato conversation. Admittedly, it’s difficult to return to the office if you’ve been working remotely and either enjoy it or find that you are more productive. It’s also a challenge for employers to serve various employee needs.

Dive into this conversation to see how we can find a middle ground with this divisive topic.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Liz Kislik Website:https://lizkislik.com/

Why There’s So Much Conflict at Work and What You Can Do to Fix It | Liz Kislik | TedX: https://www.ted.com/talks/liz_kislik_why_there_s_so_much_conflict_at_work_and_what_you_can_do_to_fix_it?language=en

Free Ebook: How to Resolve Interpersonal Conflicts in the Workplace: https://lizkislik.com/resolve-conflict/

Have you ever felt stuck or powerless in a situation? Have you started believing your inner critic's monologue about how you're not good enough, smart enough, accomplished enough, blah, blah, blah?

If so, you need to listen to my conversation with Lia Garvin, author, speaker, and coach. Lia and I had an awesome conversation about her book, Unstuck: Reframe Your Thinking to Free Yourself from the Patterns and People That Hold You Back.

During my conversation with Lia, we discussed:

What motivated Lia to write her book.
What are some of the patterns that cause us to get stuck
Ways we can get unstuck
The reframe and how it works
Real world examples of getting unstuck

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Lia Garvin You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlJ3Z-ulrQk&t=216s

Lia Garvin: https://www.liagarvin.com/

Reframe with Lisa: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Sx-ppBe8gx1Jad2ubshwQ

Today, I talk about a concept that I'm still learning. It’s the phrase “I love me more”. I bristle with the idea of putting myself and my own self-love before anything else.

What about you? It’s for this very reason that I knew that I needed to talk with my guest, Jenna Banks.

During my conversation with Jenna, we discuss:

Disempowering social norms and stories that hold women back
How we can love ourselves more
What to do when family members aren't on board
What led her to write her book, I Love Me More: How to Find Happiness and Success through Self Love

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

I Love Me More Book: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Me-More-Happiness-Self-Love/dp/1956072004/ref=sr_1_1? crid=D5H630OTKEEE&keywords=jenna+banks&qid=1645722814&sprefix=jenna+banks%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1

Jenna Banks' site: https://jenna-banks.com/

Love Me More playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/i-love-me-more-official-book-playlist/pl.u-XkD04oJFD78qmj Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5kZvL2vpc1JKXWN7Vs7VXH?si=8164f2373c4e4bf4&nd=1

I Love Me More: How to Find Happiness and Success through Self-Love

Do you have a favorite quote, movie, or book that motivates you or inspires your work?

My guest today, Carla Taylor, has a quote near and dear to her heart from Marianne Williamson. A famous snippet of the quote is, "Our deepest fear is not that we feel inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure."

Carla is a serial entrepreneur, creator, trainer, speaker, and mentor. Her current company, Bring your Brilliance, has the purpose of "bringing brilliance to your work, team, and organization". The concept of "bringing your brilliance" was the core of our discussion. During my conversation with Carla, we talked about:

How you can bring brilliance to everything you do personally and professionally
How can we can bring out the light in others
How we can leave a legacy
Spirituality and its throughline with bringing your brilliance
What dims our light and how to avoid those behaviors and attitudes

Brave Women at Work

Brave Women at Work FB Community

Bring Your Brilliance

Flow Dynamics

Today, my guest is Sharla Frost, an accomplished trial attorney, entrepreneur, and author.

I not only talk about having a seat at the table at work but how you can have power at the table. In our conversation, we discuss:

The difference between having a seat and power at the table
How you can cultivate power at the table, no matter what your level in your organization
The attitudes and behaviors that prevent you from having power at the table
The power of asking
How to get the power at the table back if you lose it
Sharla's two books, Power at the Table and Frogville This conversation challenged me to think differently about how I show up at work.

I hope it does the same for you.

Here's to having more power at the table!

Resources:

Brave Women at Work site: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Power at the Table book: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Table-Marketing-Maverick-Business/dp/1637920113/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1YDOJZ04LPPR1&keywords=power+at+the+table&qid=1643892366&sprefix=power+at+the+table%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1

Frogville book: https://www.amazon.com/Frogville-Quest-Frog-Sharla-Frost/dp/1637921365/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1AUU7FJWA9ED4&keywords=frogville&qid=1643892389&sprefix=frogvill%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1

Sharla Frost LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharla-frost-0b22b29/

Brave Women at Work Build Your Personal Brand Story episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-48-build-your-brand-story-with-athena-golianis/id1547856593?i=1000542321920

Do you have a problem saying NO? Do you take on unnecessary projects at work because you believe extra work is going to reward you? Are you afraid of saying no because you want to please others or don’t want to disappoint them? Been there, done that, and have the t-shirt. My guest, Laurie Weingart, explained what prompted her and some of her colleagues to write the book The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women's Dead-End Work. Dead-end work?

This got my attention! During my conversation with Laurie, we discussed:

What prompted her and her co-authors to form their No Club - How the No Club transformed into writing the book
What is non-promotable work is and why we should care
How we can say no to non-promotable work

I had so many a-ha’s during this conversation, and I know you will too!

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

The No Club Book: https://www.amazon.com/No-Club-Putting-Womens-Dead-End/dp/1982152338/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+no+club&qid=1646920707&s=books&sprefix=the+no+club%2Cstripbooks%2C329&sr=1-1

The No Club Website: https://www.thenoclub.com/home

None

Laurie Wessels and I met each other via another one of my guests, Natalie Benamou. Laurie has been a coach, trainer, and speaker for many years. I love that her purpose is to put a smile on corporate America. You can also tell during our conversation that Laurie truly enjoys helping leaders grow. Listen in to benefit from Laurie’s passion and experience! We hone in on the steps you need to take to identify yourself as a leader in any organization.

During my conversation with Laurie, we chat about:

How anyone can be a leader. You don’t have to be a manager to be a leader. You know I’ve mentioned this before, so it was fun to talk about this with Laurie.
Values work. You know I like me some values work. It’s foundational to everyone. I’m linking up an exercise from Brene Brown’s website on values so you can do this work for yourself.
The “I am” exercise. No spoiler alerts here! You just have to listen.
Leading during challenging times. And I think right now qualifies as a challenging time, don’t you?

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

The Wessels Group: http://lwessels.squarespace.com/

Laurie Wessels: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-wessels-51b5114/

Brene Brown Values Assessment: https://brenebrown.com/resources/living-into-our-values/

I’m excited about today’s guest. Tracy Edmonds and I met on LinkedIn after yes, she wrote an amazing post about burnout and her pivot to business ownership. Tracy has an amazing story and creates powerful content to empower women. I truly enjoyed our conversation and I’m confident you will too.

During my conversation with Tracy, we discussed:

Her burnout story and how she recovered
What led her to her own Wild Hair moment
The challenges black women face in the corporate world
Authenticity and its impact on anxiety and depression in our culture
How we can all have more wild hair moments
Tracy's book: Wild Hair: A Courageous Woman's Guide to a Bold and Authentic Career

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Tracy Edmonds: https://tracyjedmonds.com/

Wild Hair book: https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Hair-Courageous-Womans-Authentic/dp/1952654165/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31UYH6IUNSBW9&keywords=tracy+edmonds&qid=1644670282&sprefix=tracy+edmonds%2Caps%2C266&sr=8-1

Tracy Edmonds LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyjedmonds/recent-activity/

Wild Hair: A Courageous Woman's Guide to a Bold and Authentic Career

It's Brave Women at Work Thursday!

Do you remember the childhood story, The Tortoise and the Hare? I'm reflecting on it this week after receiving some feedback during one my recent performance reviews. The feedback I received was to have patience and essentially slow down and temper my expectations.

During this solo episode, I talked about:

My feelings on the Tortoise and the Hare
Black and white thinking around tortoise and hare energy
The need to act from one energy or another
Checking-in with yourself in different seasons personally and professionally
The mixture of energies to "win the race"

Apple Podcast: https://buff.ly/3xxNoaU

Google Podcast: https://buff.ly/3vkjFQ4

Brave Women at Work: https://buff.ly/3KOuQGZ

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

During today's podcast, I’m talking with Tosca DiMatteo, a coach and corporate changemaker who wrote her own manifesto called the Corporate Culture Revolution.

I think it’s fair to say that we’re all in some sort of corporate revolution regarding how, when, and where we work.

I love Tosca's perspective on what's happening today and what we need to do to find more joy and ease in our workplaces.

During my conversation with Tosca, we discussed:

Her backstory with feeling different and how she navigated it
What drove her to write her own manifesto (and we’ll link up to it in the show notes)
How we can recognize toxic work environments
Why marketers are on the front lines of corporate change
What we can all do about this, so we work in better environments
How companies can put people first Learn more about how we can all put people first and be the change we want to see at work.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Tosca DiMatteo Coaching and Consulting: https://toscadimatteo.com/

The Corporate Culture Revolution: https://toscadimatteo.com/corporate-culture/manifesto/

Well, I have to tell you that this may be the most special interview I’ve done in my almost 70 shows here at Brave Women at Work.

My guest, Kate Wills, shared a beautiful post on LinkedIn in December 2021. Her post was about the pull between being ambitious and wanting to contribute to work and the world with her fight against stage 4 breast cancer.

I truly enjoyed our conversation and the lessons she imparted to me during the show.

During my conversation with Kate, we discussed:

Balancing the need to give back with the limits of health or other important boundaries
How it’s difficult to accept help, even when we need it
How we can live with more joy in our lives
Kate’s thoughts in retrospect and her message for her family.

If you don't listen to another Brave Women at Work show this year, listen to this one. It will be a great reminder to be present in your life and squeeze as much joy out of it as you can.

After all, that's all that matters!

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Kate Wills LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-wills-4225023/

Kate Wills Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katewillsb/?hl=en

Malaria No More UK: https://malarianomore.org.uk/

Does the idea of quitting something make you cringe?

Do you equate it with failure or doing something wrong? I'm sheepishly raising my hand over here.

I struggle with quitting anything, sometimes even when it doesn't serve me anymore. This is an interesting feeling, especially when millions of Americans have been quitting during The Great Resignation.

During today's show, I'm exploring the concept of good quits. It's a topic that I'm dealing with in real-time, so bear with me if this show is rawer than most!

During this solo episode, I talked about:

My definition of good quits
The telltale signs of a pending good quit
Taking a balanced approach
Quitting with class
Giving ourselves permission to quit As long as you are listening to your gut and taking a balanced head and heart approach to your decisions, I believe that good quits can make a huge difference in our health and happiness.

Resources:

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../brave-women.../id1547856593

Google Podcast: Brave Women at Work (google.com) Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/556570-quitting-is-not-giving-up-it-s-choosing-to-focus-your

I’m pumped about our guest today, Andrea Holyfield.

Andrea and I met like many of my other guests, on LinkedIn. Andrea is different than almost all my guests because she’s allowed the “woo” to enter her career and it’s part of her business.

And for those that know me, they know I’m all over the woo. So, what am I talking about?

The woo simply means unconventional beliefs related to spirituality, mysticism, or alternative medicine. You may think, woo talk has nothing to do with my career. I would challenge you to think again and expand your mind a bit by listening to our conversation.

During my discussion with Andrea, we touch on:

What a wealthy well woman is
How your money mindset is formed and what impact it has on your career
What role manifestation has in achieving our goals
How energy management is crucial to evoke the future version of ourselves
And the signals we should listen to as indicators for change

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

The Wealthy Well Woman: https://thewealthywellwoman.com/

Andrea Holyfield video on evoking the future version of ourselves: https://www.linkedin.com/video/live/urn:li:ugcPost:6871146361299976192/

Let's welcome Melanie Pump back to Brave Women at Work!

I asked Melanie to come back on to talk with me about the mean girl's environment. You know the one. It's when a fellow female colleague says something backbiting in a meeting or doesn't support you if you get a promotion or if something great happens at work?

I don't know about you, but I have personally experienced this before and it stinks. It's definitely not encouraging to say the least.

Here's the great news! Melanie and I have both experienced a shift away from this. We have seen women supporting one another more than ever! Hopefully, you have experienced that as well.

During our conversation, we touch on:

What the mean girl environment is
Why it doesn't serve us to foster this type of environment personally or professionally
What we can do to better support one another
The benefits of women supporting other women

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Episode #41 with Melanie Pump: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-41-detox-your-workplace-with-melanie-pump/id1547856593?i=1000537826638

Melanie Pump: https://www.melaniepump.com/

As we continue to navigate the Great Resignation, I thought it would be great to speak with a career coach on the Brave Women at Work.

After all, when we’re applying for jobs, we know that our resume or online application can just go to the bottom of a long list of candidates, especially now with so much movement in almost every industry.

My guest today, Lisa Virtue, is a career coach, speaker, and author, who focuses on helping women find their purpose and stand out in the crowd when they are looking for their next role.

During my conversation with Lisa, we talk about her interesting background in sports management and what led her to coaching, her advice for women to find work they truly enjoy, and how women can stand out among other candidates when looking for a position.

Lisa knows what she’s talking about, so listen in!

More about Lisa:

Lisa Virtue is an international career coach, entrepreneur, and storyteller leveraging 20 years of leadership experience at exclusive community-based organizations to help businesswomen around the world feel confident and competent in their career changes.

She is the creator of Her Career Studio, author of the book Career Mama – COVID Edition; normalizing the conversation around mom’s career changes, is wildly in love with nature, and is now a recovering extreme sports athlete.

Lisa is a Senior Professional Career Coach through the International Association of Career Coaches and a Certified Change Practitioner through Prosci.

Visit lisavirtuecoaching.com for more information.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Lisa Virtue:

lisavirtuecoaching.com

Career Mama: COVID Edition Book: https://www.amazon.com/Career-Mama-COVID-Lisa-Virtue/dp/173695430X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2R1GTHGFZC0P2&keywords=lisa+virtue&qid=1641932884&sprefix=lisa+virtue%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1

Career Mama - COVID Edition

Hi Everyone! I have to tell you, I’m really excited about our guest today! Claire Wasserman, author, speaker, and entrepreneur, is talking about something that women don’t talk about enough. Are you ready for it? It’s M-O-N-E-Y.

We’re all taught not to talk about money because it’s rude, right? Wrong. Women need to learn more about the way they feel about money, their foundational stories with money, and how their feelings may be impacting how much they make and their future earning potential.

During my discussion with Claire, we talk about how you can uncover your own personal money mindset and what steps you can take today to make strides in this area so you can make more money. Because let’s be real, who doesn’t want to get paid more? No one!

More about Claire:

Claire Wasserman is an educator, author, and founder of Ladies Get Paid, an educational platform, global community, and book that champions the professional and financial advancement of women.

She holds a Master’s Certificate in Behavioral Finance and Financial Psychology and is the host of the John Hancock podcast, Friends Who Talk About Money.

A highly sought-after expert for Fortune 500 companies working to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, Claire has traveled the country teaching thousands of women how to negotiate millions of dollars in raises, start businesses, and advocate for themselves in the workplace.

She was named one Marquis Who's Who 75 Most Influential Financial Leaders of 2021, as well as Entrepreneur Magazine's 100 Most Powerful Women. Claire has spoken at places such as Harvard Business School, Facebook, NASA, and the United Nations, and has appeared on Good Morning America and in the New York Times, among others.

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Claire Wasserman: https://www.clairewasserman.com/

Ladies Get Paid: https://ladiesgetpaid.com/

Ladies Get Paid Book: https://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Get-Paid-Ultimate-Breaking/dp/1982126906/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ladies+get+paid&qid=1641926755&s=books&sprefix=Ladies+Get+Pa%2Cstripbooks%2C195&sr=1-1

Ladies Get Paid: The Ultimate Guide to Breaking Barriers, Owning Your Worth, and Taking Command of Your Career

With the Great Resignation, everyone is talking about leaving their jobs and finding a new job that better aligns with their values, is in a better work environment, is higher-paying, has more flexibility, or offers better benefits. What I’m not hearing much about is what happens once you get to the new job. You start at this new, shiny job, and then what? Does the magical feeling wear off after the first week? What does it really take to get off on the right foot with a new company in the first 90 days?

During this conversation, I talked about

Why are the first 90 days so important
Tips to excel in your new role
Why self-compassion is the most important tip of all.

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://bravewomenatwork.com/

Join the Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Have you ever felt like you’ve made a mess of things? Or that you can’t possibly turn things around because of your past mistakes? I’ve been there. Well, I’m here to tell you that my guest today is living proof that you can turn your personal or professional mess into your message. Christie Ruffino, my guest, has had her share of ups and downs in her life, like we all have.

One of Christie’s superpowers is her ability to be vulnerable and just a good human. She’s authentic and doesn’t try to armor up and cover up her stories to look perfect in front of others.

I’ve known Christie for a few years now after completing a book project with her, and this authenticity has shone through in all of our interactions.

During my conversation with Christie, we talked about some messes she’s made in her life and how she’s pivoted instead of staying stuck to make something out of tough times.

She’s scrappy and has built multiple successful businesses. This show isn’t about how to run a business, but it is about how you can reflect on your own messes to see what you can make of them.

What are some mistakes or regrets you’ve had in life that you may want to bury, but could really help you or someone else? Keep that in mind during our conversation.

About Christie: Christie Ruffino works with Speakers, Authors, and Coaches, to get them seen & heard in a BIG way by providing them multiple platforms to share their Signature Story, Ninja Tips, and Compelling Offer.

She is a Best-selling Author, Divergent Business Strategist & Breakthrough Speaker. Christie is a student of human nature, avid reader, serial smart ass, closet rebel, and a proud grandma of the two most adorable kids ever!!!! (And she has thousands of photos to prove it.)

Christie loves ideas, but loves idea implementation, even more, can roll her tongue, swears she will NEVER skydive but is addicted to triple-digit speeds down open country roads on her 2013 Harley Davidson Streetglide.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Christie Ruffino: https://christieruffino.com/

Overcoming Mediocrity Podcast: https://christieruffino.com/ Christie Ruffino Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Christie+Ruffino&crid=2G0HU730PEY7R&sprefix=christie+ruffino%2Caps%2C136&ref=nb_sb_noss

As this episode airs, you may already be feeling the dragging feeling of winter, especially if you’re in the north of the US like me. Well, I’m super excited for today’s guest because this conversation will be a pick-me-up in your day. It will supercharge you! Marisa Santoro is one of the many podcast guests that I've met on LinkedIn. She has a book, Own Your Authority, which we dive into during our conversation.

We talk about the courage it took for Marisa to build her business, what owning your authority means, and the tangible steps we can all take to be gutsy leaders, no matter what our circumstances. Buckle up and settle in for a very motivational discussion with Marisa!

More about Marisa:

Marisa Santoro is a TEDx Speaker, leadership and diversity, equity and inclusion trainer, speaker, career coach and columnist, and business author of the upcoming book on how to own your authority (McGraw Hill, Spring 2021) and recognized as a leadership expert for the Gutsy Leadership method, creating a paradigm shift on how professionals successfully approach their careers.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Marisa Santoro: https://inrshoes.com/about-marisa-santoro/

Gutsy Leadership Academy: https://inrshoes.com/all-access-pass-savings/

Own Your Authority Book: https://www.amazon.com/Own-Your-Authority-Confidence-Communicate/dp/126425816X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13QZQXJP07RNX&keywords=Own+Your+Authority&qid=1641924613&sprefix=own+your+authority+%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1

Own Your Authority: Follow Your Instincts, Radiate Confidence, and Communicate as a Leader People Trust

I absolutely love today’s guest and she’s the closest person I have to a sister. I asked my friend, Pamela Fierst-Walsh, to come on Brave Women at Work. Pam and I talked about how our friendship has supported us professionally over the years, what a Personal Board of Advisors is and why you may want to consider having one, and why friends often can’t be on your board because they tell you what you want to hear rather than pushing you out of your comfort zone.

Spoiler alert, I got lucky with Pam. She has no problem stretching and challenging me to use the logical part of my brain instead of my heart and intuition all of the time, for example!

This was such a fun conversation and I learned things about Pam and our friendship that were new to me. I hope you enjoy this show and reflect on your own friendships as a result!

About Pamela Fierst-Walsh:

Pamela Fierst-Walsh is the Vice President of Traceability for PVH. Before that time, she was the Senior Advisor for the U.S. Department of State’s team responsible for policy and implementation on conflict and critical minerals. She was also the U.S. representative to the Kimberley Process.

Over the course of her career, Pamela has focused on critical national security issues, including security and counterterrorism issues, atrocities prevention, and humanitarian assistance. She has extensive experience in Africa, particularly the Horn.

In her work on minerals, Pamela routinely engaged private sector counterparts on supply chain concerns and obligations under U.S. law.

She is a graduate of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and the National Defense University’s National War College.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Pamela Fierst-Walsh LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-fierst-walsh-ab79415/

As you know, I find a lot of people to interview for Brave Women at Work either in my personal network or via LinkedIn. Megan Witherspoon, my guest today, is no exception. The interesting thing about Megan is that she is similar to you listening to the show. She doesn’t have a book or a business. She’s still working a “normal” 9-to-5 job. She’s a working mom.

The one big difference is that she made a decision within the last year to give back by creating an online platform via LinkedIn. Her purpose with this platform is to further the conversation about work-life flexibility.

Megan posts at least 1 time per day and receives many likes and comments. In fact, one of Megan’s posts garnered millions of views, almost 105,000 likes, and 2,257 comments! Apparently her thoughts on work-life flexibility resonated with people.

When I read that post, I knew that I had to meet Megan and hear her thoughts on this subject first hand.

Here’s more about Megan:

Megan Witherspoon is the VP of Communications at Altria and has been at the company for 17 years. She’s a mom and executive leader and she’s passionate about building culture, bringing humanity into business, work/life harmony, and pushing for positive change. Her post on LinkedIn on flexible working hours went viral resonating with many working parents juggling demands during and post-pandemic, https://www.mother.ly/life/viral-linkedin-post-flexible-work/.

Her ongoing posts bring relentless optimism and best practices for leaders to create a flexible working environment for all.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work:

https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie:

https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Brave Women at Work Community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Megan Witherspoon LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6841686990073688064/

Megan Witherspoon Viral Post:

https://www.mother.ly/life/viral-linkedin-post-flexible-work/

Have you ever met someone and immediately connected with them? When I met my guest for this episode that's exactly what happened!

Dion Johnson, AKA the Womanologist, has an amazing story of struggle and triumph that I'm excited for you to hear.

Do you stay in a job or a relationship because it's just comfortable or safer to stay? So many of us struggle with wearing masks and not letting our true selves shine. Dion has worn both a physical and metaphorical mask which caused her to lose confidence, the ability to speak, and held her back from success.

In this episode, you'll hear Dion's story and learn how to drop your mask, especially to succeed as a woman in higher management.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Dion Johnson: http://thewomanologist.com/

My guest today, Janet Fouts, is an expert on taking care of ourselves and others. Janet and I talked about her new book, Micro Dosed Mindfulness (the book isn't out yet, but soon!), and how we can apply small techniques throughout our day to increase our awareness, lower our stress and increase our productivity.

Unlike many of my guests, Janet and I did not meet on LinkedIn. I was introduced to Janet via a podcast placement agency, and I’m so glad that I’ve had the opportunity to get to know her. Janet is a calm presence, but also a tell it how it is person, which I love.

I want to stress here that when we talk about mindfulness during this show that you don’t need to be a yogi or meditation expert to apply mindfulness. Just taking a breath before taking a phone call or having an important meeting can make a big difference in how that call or presentation goes. And by stacking up these moments of mindfulness, you can have a positive impact on your work and life.

Here’s more about Janet:

An accomplished entrepreneur, business leader, executive coach, speaker, and corporate trainer, Janet Fouts skillfully works at the nexus of tech, neuroscience, and mindfulness. She believes deeply in the value of self-awareness and emotionally intelligent communication at all levels of business.

Her focus is on creating and executing effective human-centric strategies for leadership and relationship management which opens the door for clients to live a more fulfilling life at work and at home.

Resources: Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Janet Fouts: https://janetfouts.com/

Microdosed Mindfulness: https://janetfouts.com/microdosed-mindfulness/

Janet Fouts' books:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=janet+fouts&crid=1RUO4H518J69J&sprefix=janet+fouts%2Caps%2C96&ref=nb_sb_noss

We’ve touched on the topic of emotional intelligence during the podcast before, but not as the depth as today’s show.

So, what is emotional intelligence or EQ for short? Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.

Why should we care about emotional intelligence? If you just focus on getting tasks done without keying into your emotions or the emotions of others you can really miss the undertone of a work or personal situation, be perceived incorrectly, miss opportunities, and more. Being a good leader (whether that’s an individual employee or a leader of a group) isn’t just about completing tasks.

As we know, we can have robots complete tasks. It’s the emotional component and learning how to understand ourselves and others that set us apart. And here’s the great news! You can learn and develop your emotional intelligence skills!

During my conversation today with my guest, Sonal Sheth-Zawahri, we go into more detail on emotional intelligence, how this skill is important in today’s changing workplace, and how we can hone it to reach our goals personally and professionally.

Listen in to this show to hone your emotional intelligence muscles!

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Join the Brave Women at Work community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Sonal Sheth Zawahri: https://www.sonalshethzawahri.com/

The Tru You Crew: https://www.sonalshethzawahri.com/tru-you-crew

Stretching for Success Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/Stretching-Success-Workbook-STRETCH-Comfort/dp/1735134910

Stretching For Success Workbook: 7 Steps to STRETCH Beyond Your Comfort Zone and Harness Your Power in Life and Work

I’m really excited for our guest today, Sarah Marie Liddle. Sarah is a certified life and corporate coach with a specialization in positive psychology. Positive psychology is the scientific study of human flourishing and an applied approach to optimal functioning.

As part of this functioning, Sarah and I talked about finding and leveraging our strengths. We so often are focused on our weaknesses and how we can improve them that we completely ignore our strengths. I believe that each one of us has unique strengths that we can leverage at work.

I used to think that if I was going to get a job or a promotion that I had to know every part of the job description. And if I had a weakness, I had to fill the gap so I was “well rounded”. What an error in my thinking! To be great, we need to know where we shine.

Sarah and I also talked about various strengths assessment tools so you can learn more about your strengths right after this podcast. If you haven’t taken a strengths test, I highly recommend that you do this! There are so many options out there, and many of them are free. Take this time and invest in yourself! I promise it will make a difference.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Sarah Marie Liddle Coaching: https://sarahmarieliddle.com/

Clifton Strengths Assessment: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx

VIA Character Strengths Assessment: https://www.viacharacter.org/

High 5 Test: https://high5test.com/strengthsfinder-free/

What is the difference between grit and grind?

I heard this concept referenced recently in a “We Can Do Hard Things” with Glennon Doyle and Brene Brown and I wanted to share my own spin on this concept. Like I’ve mentioned in this podcast before, working women have the tendency to take on all the things without thinking about how it makes us feel.

So I wanted to talk about the difference between working in the grind vs. grit and how working with grit is a game-changer.

In the show, I talk about the following: - the definition between grit and grind - the hallmarks of being in grit vs. grind - ways to move towards living and working with grit The bottom line is that when we’re operating in our place of grit, it makes work feel like play. We feel full of life and in our highest place of power. And working and living from that place makes all the difference.

Resources: Brave Women at Work:

https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie:

https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Brave Women at Work Facebook Community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

We Can Do Hard Things Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-bren%C3%A9-brown-on-holding-boundaries-facing-our-fear/id1564530722?i=1000543696295

Andrea Holyfield:

https://thewealthywellwoman.com/

I know that I feature a lot of books on the Brave Women at Work show, but the book Heart Boss by Regan Walsh really stole my heart. It's a great mix of Regan's personal stories and wisdom that get you thinking about how you can start trusting your intuition more.

I know that I often get caught up with being in my head instead of my heart. And while thinking logically will take us very far, sometimes you just have to go with your gut. During this conversation, Regan shares examples from her life and career when she did just that and proves that when you listen to your heart, you will always land in the right place.

Listen in to be inspired and motivated to take a deeper look at your own stories and to learn to trust yourself more than ever before.

Here’s a bit more about Regan: Regan Walsh is an NYU-certified executive and life coach who focuses on helping women who are over-programmed and underwhelmed to reclaim their lives, both personally and professionally. She contributes to Harvard Business Review and Forbes, and has been featured in Fast Company, Smart Business, NBC.com, and Today. She has coached thousands of women through her one-on-one and group coaching programs, and she is regularly asked to give keynotes, facilitate workshops, and speak on panels for Fortune 500 companies, industry associations, and foundations.

She has done so for clients like Nike, QuickBooks, JPMorgan, Nationwide Insurance, and more, for audiences ranging from 50 to 1,000.

She is also the author of Heart Boss: Trust Your Gut, Shed Your Shoulds and Create a Life You Love.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work:

https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Heart Boss: https://reganwalsh.com/heartboss

Regan Walsh: https://reganwalsh.com/

We’re going to talk about a very important topic - living and working in diverse and equitable cultures. You may have heard about this as DEI or diversity, equity, and inclusion.

DEI is a term used to describe programs and policies that encourage representation and participation of diverse groups of people, including people of different genders, races and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, religions, cultures, ages, and sexual orientations and people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and skills and expertise. It’s a hot button at work today for sure and for good reason.

We will get farther ahead personally and professionally if we build the concept of “we” rather than staying in our own groups. It is important to understand the perspective of people that don’t believe what you believe or have different roots or a different upbringing. If we work towards a culture of acceptance, we can truly live, work and interact better together. I recently met someone who has lived in other cultures and is striving towards “we building".

Laura Kriska, is an expert on cross-cultural relations with more than 30 years of experience bridging gaps in diverse workplaces. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies on four continents helping thousands of professionals build trust across Us versus Them differences based on nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, age, or any factor of identity.

Laura’s We-building framework provides practicable and actionable insights for creating a more inclusive and productive world.

Laura and I talked about the following during our conversation:

How many of us grow up and live in homogenous towns
Ways we can branch out and encourage "we building" in homes and workplaces
How a lack of "we building" can happen between many different groups, including different cultures, races, religions, sexes, etc.

I was educated and encouraged by Laura’s words and I’m confident you will be too.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work Website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

DEI Definition: https://trainingindustry.com/wiki/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-dei/

Laura Kriska's Website: https://www.laurakriska.com/

Laura Kriska's Assessment: https://www.laurakriska.com/assessment

The Business of We: The Proven Three-Step Process for Closing the Gap Between Us and Them in Your Workplace: https://www.amazon.com/Business-We-Three-Step-Process-Workplace/dp/140021680X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+business+of+we+book+laura+kriska&qid=1636489483&qsid=132-4956091-0978944&sr=8-1&sres=140021680X%2CB00R92CL5E%2CB00M9K7L8S&srpt=ABIS_BOOK The Accidental Office Lady: An American Woman in Corporate Japan: https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Office-Lady-American-Corporate/dp/4805311568/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2WMM3NRNTED8W&keywords=the+accidental+office+lady&qid=1636489531&qsid=132-4956091-0978944&sprefix=the+accidental+office%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-1&sres=4805311568%2CB09HN7NBFQ%2CB095N688F6%2CB091G2ZNS2%2C1946978159%2CB08LL8DYXF%2C1786818590%2CB07N69CLB9%2CB08WRNXQ9B%2C1786818574%2CB09BDKC839%2CB01GSNU76E%2CB07B8X6FFS%2CB08W5HMCQ9%2CB07M6FLWZR%2C158333582X&srpt=ABIS_EBOOKS

The Business of We: The Proven Three-Step Process for Closing the Gap Between Us and Them in Your Workplace

The Accidental Office Lady: An American Woman in Corporate Japan

So, you’re probably wondering, “What is the red thread?” A red thread is the through-line of any story. It’s the answer to why people should care. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve blurted out my ideas without fully thinking them through. The words fall out of my mouth because of habit or because I’m afraid I’m going to forget my idea if I hold onto it. Can you relate?

During my conversation with Tamsen Webster, author of Find Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible, TedX speaker, and consultant, we discussed the importance of fully forming our ideas and presenting them with impact. When we follow these steps, people will buy into our ideas and endorse them. And who doesn’t want that?

Tamsen and I also discussed:

The back story behind the red thread
A few tips on how we can find our own red threads
What the idea gap is and how we can fill it
What mental hurdles may be stopping us from sharing our big ideas

This was such a fun and enlightening conversation. I hope you enjoy it and find your red thread as a result!

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Tamsen Webster: https://tamsenwebster.com/

Find Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible: https://tamsenwebster.com/book/

With many working women feeling a bit drained around this time of year, I thought it would be a good reminder for all of us to put our oxygen masks on first. So, what do I mean by this? The phrase comes from the information that flight attendants give everyone before flying. The flight attendants say to put your mask on before helping everyone else, even your children and family members.

So, what does this mean in reality? It simply means to make sure you are taking care of yourself before others. I know. Scandalous! We are so used to taking care of our boss’s needs, our partner’s needs, our children’s needs, our family and friends’ needs, and on and on.

When we take care of everyone else, we can get pushed to the wayside. Neglecting ourselves can lead to illness and burnout, which doesn't benefit anyone. So, I’m here to remind you that you need to put yourself at the top of the list in small ways every day. Listen in to learn how!

Brave Women at Work Site: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Download the 10 Ways to be Braver at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

I have a quote for today’s discussion on personal branding. It is “Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you're than you!”

This quote is from Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss was right. There is no one you-er than you. And each person that you encounter has their own unique strengths and perspectives. You can call it their personal brand. Today we’re going to explore what a brand is and why you should care about your own personal brand.

If you are thinking, “Jen I have no idea what you’re talking about,” no worries. My guest today, Athena Golianis, and I will also share the steps you can take to find your own personal brand. I’m going to give you a spoiler alert on why this topic is important. Your brand is important because it’s the perception that people have of you. It’s the story they tell themselves in their heads about you. And while I’m not saying that we should be overly concerned about the opinions of others, we should be cognizant of the story we’re contributing to because it can impact whether we get the new job, the promotion, the opportunity to lead the project, whatever.

Remember, "You too are a brand. Whether you know it or not. Whether you like it or not." This quote is from Marc Ecko, a fashion designer, and entrepreneur. Enjoy this episode and take action today to build and reinforce your personal brand!

Here’s more about Athena:

Athena Golianis: CEO, Creator PINKK LLC and President, Founder of AGW Idea Group, Inc. She has worked on venerable blue-chip brands like Arthur Andersen, Sears, Kraft Foods, Wal-Mart Sam’s Club, Hillshire Farms, Sara Lee, Midas, Alberto Culver haircare brands, (Unilever) Beltone, the City of Chicago in addition to name a few for many formative years. In 2005 she became a dedicated entrepreneur and opened her own agency AGW Idea Group and has successfully run her marketing consulting and branding agency for over 15 years and continues to do so.

She has launched start-ups and helped to grow and rebrand others like VENeffect, BreatheAmerica, Precision HealthCare, Citadel Healthcare, Kiva Recovery, Diamond Bank (now Wintrust) amongst others. At this time as she is also taking her understanding of building brands to create PINKK and using her experience and knowledge to empower, inspire, coach, mentor, and provide resources for women with this brand experience and platform.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free Brave Women at Work Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Athena Golianis - PINKK - https://pinkknow.com/

Flying by the Seat of Their Skirts Book: https://www.amazon.com/Flying-Seats-Their-Skirts-Inspiring/dp/1944027386

Start Withy Why Book by Simon Sinek: https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Start+with+Why&qid=1635623977&qsid=132-4956091-0978944&s=books&sr=1-1&sres=1591846447%2C6020628833%2C1074149793%2C0143111728%2CB00DGZKQM8%2C1736117904%2C0991081420%2C0735211299%2C1949759229%2C1416622632%2C1984820389%2C0066620996%2CB08JJRZ3Y4%2C0615895778%2C1250007550%2C1984878107&srpt=ABIS_BOOK

CliftonStrengths Assessment: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx

Myers-Briggs Assessment:

https://www.mbtionline.com/?utm_source=MBF&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=online

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Flying by the Seats of Their Skirts: Powerful Stories Centered in Kindness by Inspiring Women

Have you ever had a situation where you shrank back and let fear win? You didn’t pursue the thing or the next step personally or professionally because you let fear or Imposter Syndrome get the best of you? Well, this story is not about fear taking center stage.

This podcast is about feeling the fear and taking steps anyway. I think we can all agree that fear is a natural part of life. We all feel fear at some point in our lives, and often at many points. It’s what we do next that can define us.

My conversation with Natalie Benamou, owner and President/CEO of HerCsuite, was about just this. Natalie provides us with several examples of how she felt fear and still took steps towards her goals. She never thought that she “couldn’t”. It was more about the question, “Why not me?” I think if we all asked that same question, “Why not me?” when we are facing something scary head-on, it would often, if not always, have a different outcome.

So, if you’re facing something scary in your world right now, ask that question. “Why not me?”

During my conversation with Natalie, we also discussed:

What the career lattice is and how it's different than the career ladder - How networking and building a community of women can help you in your career
How to take failures or disappointments and turn them into something positive
The superhighway to success and the qualities of top leaders Resources:

Brave Women at Work Website:

https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

HerPower 2Lead: https://herpower2.com/

HerCsuite: https://go.hercsuite.com/

HerCsuite Radio Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/hercsuite-radio-for-women-leaders-on-the-move/id1560722516

HerCsuite Radio Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80ZmZlZTc5Yy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Have you ever looked in the mirror and called yourself fat or ugly? Have you felt body shame because you didn’t feel good in the body you are in? I’ve definitely been there. There were years that I felt like I wasn’t thin enough or tried to hide out in baggy clothes. I would over-exercise because I thought if I exercised more than enough, it could make up for how I felt.

I’m sure I’m not alone here as I say this out loud on the podcast for the first time. When I met Emily Nolan, a true body awareness advocate, I felt like I met someone that really understood.

On today’s show, Emily and I talked about

• Her story with modeling and being every size to try to fit into the modeling world

• How body-shaming can impact our self-concept and have very negative repercussions on how we show up in the world, and that also means how we show up at work and what our productivity looks like

• What steps we can take to radically accept who we are right now at whatever size and look we are

Here’s a bit more about Emily: Emily Nolan is the host of Brave Talks, a podcast sharing radical honesty and self-acceptance. She’s been recognized as one of the “Most Influential Thought Leaders in Wellness” by Mind Body Green (MBG), “Women to Watch: The Body Reformer,” by Ocean Drive, and one of the “Rockstar Yogis Leading the Body-Positive Movement,” also by MBG. Her work as a model at 16 sizes (0-16) and founding Topless Yoga, a bras-on bellies-out self-confidence event, has been recognized by hundreds of global leaders and media sources.

Emily has presented in four countries to thousands of women, students, and athletes. A former model and Division 1 athlete who struggled deeply with disordered eating, body dysmorphia, and plastic surgery–breast implants, followed by full-body liposuction, and a breast explant–Emily regularly shares her story and message via her award-winning blog, EmilyNolan.com, and across multiple social media platforms, where she has over 250,000 combined followers.

She’s been featured in Elle, Elle Canada, Cosmopolitan, ESPN, Ocean Drive Magazine, Popsugar, Seventeen, Women’s Health, and Yoga Journal, among many other places, and has appeared on the Today Show. She holds a BA in Entrepreneurship and Business Development and Leadership Studies from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, a Masters Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell, and is a Registered Yoga Teacher. She lives in Virginia with her husband, Matt, son Oliver, and rescue dog, Spunky.

Important Links:

Brave Women at Work Website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Emily Nolan: https://emilynolan.com/

Brave Talks Podcast: https://emilynolan.com/category/brave-talks/

I’m sorry for the inconvenience. Maybe that was a bad idea. Does that make sense? I was just….fill in the blank. I’m sorry I bumped into you. That was good, right? I’m still policing myself for using weak language.

Weak language takes us out of our power at work and puts us in a lower position of credibility. Weak words don't help us get our point across, present our ideas, sell the thing and help us rise up the ladder or lattice of our careers.

I welcome you to listen to the list I’ve compiled of weak words we all use and to reflect if you use any or all of these. If you recognize yourself in this list, don’t beat yourself up over it.

We are conditioned when we are little girls to use this language, whether it’s at home, school or at work. It’s cultural and environmental. All I ask is that after you listen to this show that you start to notice your language. If you start to notice your language, you’re already on the path to changing it.

When you notice you are using weak language, you can change it. And standing in your power and using powerful language are key ways to being braver at work.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work site:

https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Sources for Podcast: https://www.careercontessa.com/advice/powerful-language-at-work/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bonniemarcus/2011/12/09/do-you-sabotage-yourself-by-using-weak-language/?sh=2dc9f42b1987

https://www.fastcompany.com/90562682/4-words-that-make-you-sound-weak-to-your-co-workers

https://koolkanya.com/blogs/career/heres-how-you-can-avoid-using-weak-language-at-work/

In this special episode, I'm joined by my daughter, Charlotte, to talk about what she learned from running a lemonade stand this summer.

Making this episode was such a special memory for us, I call Charlotte 'little Yoda' because she is wise beyond her years!

Charlotte will tell you what motivated her to keep going even when it seemed like customers had dried up. And what makes her a brave (young) woman.

Resources: Brave Women at Work Website:

https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

When someone asks you how you are, what do you say? Most likely, you say that you’re busy. All this busyness and this going, going, going is stacking up to a lack of sleep among most Americans, which includes us working women out there.

I looked up what the average American worker gets in terms of sleep each night and it is 6.8 hours. That is less than what we need. According to the National Sleep Foundation, we need 7 – 9 hours of sleep each night.

On the show today, I talked with Debbie Vyskocil. Debbie is the founder of Optimal Edge Performance and an expert is sleep and its impact on personal and professional performance.

During our discussion, we talked about: • How sleep impacts performance • Ways you can improve your sleep tonight • Why naps are important • Why I may have “anger issues” after naps • What revenge sleep procrastination is • What steps people with insomnia and other longstanding sleep issues can take to improve their sleep.

Here’s more about Debbie:

As President of Optimal Edge Performance, Debbie works with individuals and leading corporations coaching clients to become more resilient, increase their performance and take their brains to an optimal balance. Passionate to help as many as possible, Debbie speaks regularly to corporations, organizations. Debbie leverages her expertise in neuroscience to coach clients on how to reach peak levels of achievement. With a focus on productivity and creativity, she delivers an understanding of how neuroscience can enhance performance for leadership and their teams. “Building high-performance teams by winning individual head games” is the basis of Debbie’s work.

Debbie has an electrical engineering background, a psychology degree, extensive neuroscience training, and is board certified by the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance. Her unique combination of science and emotional acumen led her to work with some of the business world’s highest performers. She has trained with coaches who focus on the “head game” for Olympiads and World Cup champions. Debbie shares her expertise as a TEDx speaker and writer for the Naval Institute publication, Proceedings, along with online publishing platforms, Medium and Thrive Global.

Important Links:

Brave Women at Work Website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Optimal Edge Performance: https://optimal-ep.com/

Sleep Your Way to Success: High Performance Through Restorative Sleep - https://debbievyskocil.mastermind.com/masterminds/18551

Have you ever had a time where you met someone and they felt like an instant friend? That’s the situation that happened to me when I met Kristin Harrison. Kristin is someone that I’ve worked with and eventually connected with via email and phone. We’ve never met in person and we live pretty far apart from one another, but I’m sure that if we lived closer we’d be hanging out on the regular. In this show, we talk about: • Kristin’s parenting journey of 4 children, including one set of triplets! • Her gut-wrenching decision to end her marriage after entering into a surprising relationship with a woman • Navigating divorce and a new family unit • Rebuilding your career and taking steps even when you’re afraid • Continuing to build your skills and challenge yourself, especially during uncertain times During my conversation with Kristin, we talked about her back story and what’s lead to where she is today, how she’s had to be brave in her decisions to the point of completely re-envisioning her personal and professional life and how her story is very similar to that of Glennon Doyle of Untamed. Glennon Doyle is a famous author and her book Untamed has sold over 2 million copies. I had such a fun time talking with Kristin! I’m sure you’ll get something from the show, no matter where you are in your life or career. The underlying theme of this show is to take brave steps personally and professionally. That’s what Brave Women at Work is about! As a final note, this show is explicit. Kristin and I let the language fly a bit, so listen to this away from little ears or on your earbuds. Important Links: Brave Women at Work Website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/ Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com/ Untamed: https://untamedbook.com/ Kristin Harrison LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-harrison/

Have you heard about the great resignation happening in the workplace right now? Here’s what Google has to say about this term: The Great Resignation, a term first coined in 2019 by Texas A&M's Anthony Klotz to predict a mass, voluntary exodus from the workforce, is here, and it's quite real. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, during the months of April, May, and June 2021, a total of 11.5 million workers quit their jobs.

And it’s definitely not over. One of the reasons I believe that the Great Resignation is happening is that employees are not willing to accept toxic workplaces or places that don’t really align with their values, what they believe they are worth, how they want to work, or where they want to take their careers. And what’s interesting is that employees are not afraid to go and get it. The concept of a toxic workplace may not be new, but I think it’s definitely top of mind.

When I met Melanie Pump and learned that she’s writing a book about detoxing our workplaces, I knew I needed to have her on Brave Women at Work.

In this show, we talk about: • The physical and emotional symptoms of a toxic work environment • What steps we can take to resolve a toxic workplace; spoiler alert, it’s not just a management issue • How toxicity can directly feed into Imposter Syndrome • How COVID-19 has created new toxicity at work and what we can do about it • Melanie’s new book, Detox: Managing Insecurity in the Workplace

Before my conversation with Melanie, I hadn’t given much thought to toxicity in the workplace. Now I see my past work experiences and how we’re moving through this Great Resignation period in an entirely new light! Important Links: Brave Women at Work Website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/ Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork Melanie Pump: https://www.melaniepump.com/ Detox: Managing Insecurity in the Workplace: https://www.melaniepump.com/book

We’re back with the discussion on getting paid.

Who doesn’t want to get paid what they’re worth? I know I do, and I’m sure you do too! The pay conversation is absolutely critical when negotiating a new job. Don’t just accept the first offer because it will set the tone for your place in a company and in your career. I know this conversation can feel uncomfortable, but it gets easier with practice.

In this show, we talk about: • Questions you can use when discussing pay with a hiring manager or recruiter • Reminders about what to share and what to hold back during this conversation • Resources you need to have when going through a salary negotiation Go get the compensation you deserve in your next role!

If you use this information and feel great about your next job offer, please make sure to connect with me on LinkedIn or Facebook and send me a DM!

Important Links: Brave Women at Work Website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Contact me in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-pestikas-51aa8a6/

Let’s talk about something very important today – getting paid for what you’re worth in an existing job. If you find out that you are being underpaid in comparison to your peers and especially based on the duties you are completing in your role, how do you broach the conversation with your manager or Human Resources?

This podcast explores this scenario and provides you with a step-by-step blueprint of how to face this situation. In this show, we discuss the following:

How to compare your current compensation against similar jobs in your industry
Why remaining calm is absolutely crucial
Why a brag list isn’t bragging at all
What to say to your boss (I even review a script!)
Delivering your message
Surrendering the outcome

If you’re in this situation or approaching your semi-annual or annual review, you don’t want to miss this important conversation!

Important Links:

Brave Women at Work Website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/05/25/gender-pay-gap-facts/ - Pew Research Gender Pay Study, 2020

We have all faced difficult times in our lives. There are some periods that are extraordinarily challenging, such as losing a partner or child, facing a scary diagnosis, losing a job, and more.

During my conversation with Jody LaVoie, she shares her story of losing her husband, Steve LaVoie, after a workplace violence crime at his organization ArrowStream in July 2014. Steve ultimately succumbed to his injuries and passed away in October 2014.

During my conversation with Jody, we discussed how she was faced with being a leader of ArrowStream all while being a mom to three daughters. Jody shares how she walked through that time to find clarity and peace on the other side.

She also shared her experience as the CEO of Female Strong, an organization that empowers girls to step into leadership at work and in life.

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

10 Steps to Being Brave at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Jody LaVoie Coaching: https://jodylavoiecoaching.com/

Female Strong: https://femalestrong.org/

Do you have a mentor? If not, have you ever had one? Before I had a mentor, I had no idea how a mentor could benefit me personally or professionally. I thought my boss was automatically my mentor. And for those of us that have had a bad or incompetent boss, we’ve learned that this is definitely not the case. Not all managers are mentors or leaders. A mentor is a person that is there to push you and is invested in your professional growth. They are there to celebrate your wins, but they are also present to stretch you to meet your goals.

During today’s conversation, I spoke with Alison Martin of Engage Mentoring. Alison founded the company as a way to help other organizations do a better job of attracting, retaining, and developing diverse talent. After serving as Chief Mentoring Officer at Diverse Talent Strategies, a firm she started in 2011 to help companies, nonprofits, and other organizations build programs from scratch, Martin knew there had to be a better way. So she took everything she had learned from constructing programs from scratch and built it into a software platform that provides a structured and turnkey mentoring program that is scalable and easy to implement. Alison also offers individual mentoring programs for women, African Americans, and LGBTQ employees.

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://lnkd.in/esnSb-s

Engage Mentoring: https://engagementoring.com/

Project Lead for Women: https://engagementoring.com/mentorship-women/

If you listened to my prior episode with Courtney Carver of Be More with Less, you know that I’m an aspiring minimalist. A minimalist is a person that thinks about what they bring into work and life. Instead of having or doing all the things, they purposely remove things that no longer serve them.

You might be wondering, how does this impact my work? As it turns out, I think it impacts our work a lot. Whether you have a cluttered desk with paper or a messy email inbox (guilty as charged over here), it can affect your productivity, your mindset, and your career success.

So, I had to have Laurie Palau on our show! Laurie is the founder of Simply B Organized (SBO) where she writes, teaches, and works with people of all ages helping them to declutter and work smarter. She also hosts This ORGANIZED Life, a weekly podcast where Laurie chats with awesome guests about life, work, parenting, and the role that organization has in their lives.

During this show, Laurie and I talked about:

the different types of clutter
how clutter has a direct impact on your work
different tips to tackle clutter at work and at home
what the Enneagram is and how it relates to clutter

Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

10 Steps to Being Brave at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Simply B Organized: https://simplyborganized.com/

ESP Method: https://simplyborganized.com/2014/05/19/do-you-have-esp/

Hot Mess: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized: https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Mess-Practical-Getting-Organized/dp/0692921621

Enneagram and Clutter Course: https://simplyborganized.com/enneagram-clutter-course/

Hot Mess: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized

Are you a manager (either at work or home)? Would you like to be a manager in the future? Do you want to return to management after a break? If any of these scenarios apply to you, listen in to my discussion with Makeda "Mak" Andrews.

During my conversation with Mak, we talked about why the first 90 days of a new management opportunity are important, what the difference is between a leader and a manager, what the biggest challenges are for new managers and how to overcome them and so much more!

Here's a bit more about Mak:

With over 15 years of experience as a mentor, guide, manager and leadership coach, Makeda is on a mission to help more businesses thrive and meet their mission by training their managers how to effectively lead their teams, perform strategic planning and produce outstanding, consistent results.

Online Resources:

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

10 Steps to Being Brave at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Makeda Andrews: https://www.makedaandrews.com/

Books:

The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity

https://www.amazon.com/Choices-Path-Extraordinary-Productivity/dp/1476711828/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1624928532&sr=8-3

Start with Why

https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1624928771&sr=1-1

The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter

https://www.amazon.com/First-90-Days-Strategies-Expanded/dp/1422188612/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1624928625&sr=8-3

Dare to Serve: How to Drive Superior Results by Serving Others

https://www.amazon.com/Dare-Serve-Superior-Results-Serving/dp/1626562350

Dare to Serve: How to Drive Superior Results by Serving Others

The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, Updated and Expanded

Are you facing challenges personally or professionally that you think you can't overcome? Then listen to this discussion with Hope Mueller. Hope's story really inspired me, and I'm sure it will inspire you too.

Hope Mueller grew up in a commune in Indiana and had a rough childhood and first marriage. She faced many obstacles but found strength in her work and eventually triumphed and built a successful personal and professional life. During our conversation, we discussed how awareness is important for overcoming struggles, how taking small steps of improvement can add up to big, positive changes and how we often don't know the impact we can have on people. A stray comment of encouragement or acting as a mentor for someone can change the trajectory of someone's career as it did for Hope.

Here’s a bit more about Hope:

Hope Mueller is an author, inspiring speaker, pharmaceutical executive, wife, mom, and grandma. Hope is the founder and president of Hunter Street Charity and is an active non-profit volunteer. Hope runs a pharmaceutical consulting firm H2M LLC and she lives the value of the tag line Let's Do This. She is passionate about community service, female empowerment, and career development. Hope’s unique childhood instilled the capability of being able to create order out of chaos. She lives with her husband and shares her life with her four daughters and grandson. Ten percent of all proceeds from sales will be donated to Hunter Street Charity.

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Hope Mueller: https://hopey.net/

Hopey: From Commune to Corner Office: https://www.amazon.com/Hopey-Commune-Corner-Hope-Mueller/dp/1950685047/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1628907397&sr=8-1

Counting Hope: https://hopemueller.square.site/

Become: An Inspirational Journal: https://hopemueller.square.site/product/pre-sale-become-paperback-journal-/19?cs=true&cst=custom

Hunter Street Charity: https://www.hunterstreetcharity.com/

Hopey: from Commune to Corner Office

Do you have a friend or colleague that has a compelling and brave story? Well, my conversation with Ilhiana was a shining example of how you can overcome challenges and push past your comfort zone to find success.

Ilhiana is a Transformation Strategy Coach and Consultant, a Diversity and Inclusion Catalyst, a Hispanic advocate and an international motivational speaker. She is a possibility thinker and a firm believer that nothing is impossible.

Her mission is to empower professionals to move from ordinary to extraordinary through meaningful transformation by helping them embrace their purpose, elevate their voice, expand their potential and thrive through personal empowerment. She specializes in leadership development, diversity and inclusion practices, enabling high-powered teamwork, strengthening personal skills and personal brand development. All essential to maximize workplace performance, engagement and collaboration.

With over 20 years of executive experience leading and coaching professionals, teams and businesses into success for notable Fortune 500 companies, Ilhiana understands the mindset, skillset and behaviors required to achieve success. Always attached to unconventional challenges, she owes her accomplishments to being open to new opportunities, constantly moving out of her comfort zone. Throughout her journey, she has learned that being good at a job is not enough to achieve a successful and fulfilling career. It’s also essential to be aligned with your purpose.

During my conversation with Ilhiana, we talked about finding your purpose, getting out of your comfort zone (I love to live there most of the time – let’s face it, we tell ourselves it’s safer and therefore more comfortable), and taking brave and bold leaps in our careers and lives, even when we’re afraid.

You’re not going to want to miss this powerful conversation!

Brave Women at Work Website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

10 Steps to Being Brave at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

BeLIVE Coaching and Consulting Website: https://www.belivecoachingandconsulting.com/speaking

International Women of Color Who Boss Up Book: https://www.belivecoachingandconsulting.com/womenofcolorwhobossup

Your Path to Extraordinary Book:

https://www.belivecoachingandconsulting.com/book

Extraordinary Latinas Book:

https://www.extraordinarylatinas.com/

The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Leap-Conquer-Hidden-Level/dp/0061735361/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1625598766&sr=8-1

The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level

Do you want to manage your stress better? I know I do! In this episode, I spoke with Colonel Deb Lewis. Deb taught me that we can make stress work for us and not against us. Stress doesn't have to be the enemy. Along with this, I learned more about Deb's experience at West Point, her position as a colonel in the Army and more. What I loved most about this conversation is how Deb shared her tips with us so we can make stress our superpower and learn how to be more mentally tough in professional and personal situations.

Here's a bit more about Deb:

Colonel Deb Lewis is a West Point graduate from its first class with women. A retired Army Colonel and Harvard MBA, Deb commanded three US Army Corps of Engineer Districts, including a $2.1 billion reconstruction program in combat. She survived the 9/11 Pentagon attack while serving on the Joint Staff anti-terrorism team. Colonel Deb's experiences leading while under fire inspired her "Mentally Tough Women" (MTW) program to help women handle more stress - not de-stress- and put it to work for them. MTW arms women with the proven strategies, insights and tools they need in good times and times of crisis.

As Deb says, "The better you get at handling stress, the easier it becomes to do insanely hard things and really love doing them."

Brave Women at Work Website: www.bravewomenatwork.com

Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

10 Steps to Being Brave at Work: www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Mentally Tough Women Website: www.mentallytoughwomen.com

Why is Pono Not Pono Today? book: www.mentallytoughwomen.com/ponobook

Mentally Tough Women Stress Training Tools: www.mentallytoughwomen.com/stresstools

I recently heard the quote from actor Chuck Norris, "You need to slow down to move faster." What? We can slow down to move faster? I didn't even know that was possible. I'm so used to speeding up to try to get everything done. Are you like that too? If so, there's another way.

In this show, I talk about how moving faster doesn't work, drives up our stress levels, and lowers our productivity. I share tips on how to slow down at work and at home and what the benefits are of living a "slow down to move faster" life. Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Positive Intelligence: https://www.positiveintelligence.com/

Positive Intelligence App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.positiveintelligence.xmobile&hl=en_US≷=US

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pq-app/id1525390977

Ralph Simone TedX Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Aly07FNiFA

Forbes Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinamilanesi/2021/04/21/the-price-we-pay-for-back-to-back-meetings/?sh=46ad75bb52f1

Book Recommendations:

Boundary Boss: https://www.amazon.com/Boundary-Boss-Essential-Guide-Finally/dp/1683647688/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1626536663&sr=8-1

Ladies Get Paid: https://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Get-Paid-Ultimate-Breaking/dp/1982126914/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1626536692&sr=8-1

Procrastinate on Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/Procrastinate-Purpose-Permissions-Multiply-Your/dp/0399170634/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1626536720&sr=8-1

Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time

Ladies Get Paid: The Ultimate Guide to Breaking Barriers, Owning Your Worth, and Taking Command of Your Career

Boundary Boss: The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen, and (Finally) Live Free

Do you want to be happier? I'm guessing the answer to that question is a resounding yes. Most of us, including me, have lived our lives thinking when I finish my degree, I'll be happier. When I get a promotion, I'll be happier. When I leave this company and start a new job, I'll be happier. And so on.

And you know what? When we get a taste of success, we are happier for a short while. Then the dance of seeking happiness outside ourselves starts all over again because that bit of excitement wears off. The great news is that we can learn how to improve our happiness!

During this episode, I spoke with Barbara Leggett, owner of the Happiness Center of WNY, and certified professional coach about the following:

What is the happiness set point?
How can we improve our personal and professional happiness?
What does it mean to redefine our success
How we can get off the happiness hamster wheel

If you would like to learn more about Barbara's work with happiness, please visit her site at www.wnyhappiness.com.

Visit Brave Women at Work here: www.bravewomenatwork.com

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work community:

www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Have you ever thought that asking the right questions of yourself could make a difference in your career and life? Well, my conversation with guest Laura Steward proved just that. Laura and I talked all about this very topic and how she has had an innate ability to cut to the chase and get to the very heart of the matter with questions since she was a little girl.

You might be thinking, “Well, what if I don’t ask all the right questions?” What if I spin and spin around the issues and make the pro and con list and don’t seem to make the “right” decisions. (in air quotes). I’m so that person, making decisions with my head often and not my heart. Polling my mom, my brother, my sister-in-law and all the people without trusting myself. And bonus, not asking any other questions that could lead me to the right answer for me and my personal situation.

Here’s the good news: We can all learn to ask these questions and be heart-led. So no matter where you are in your life and career, there’s something for you here in this discussion.

Laura and I discussed the following during the show:

What prompted her to write her bestselling book, What Would a Wise Women Do?
What autopilot means and how we can stop living and working in autopilot mode
Examples of how asking the right questions made a difference in Laura's life
How writing a letter to yourself, God, the Universe or whoever you would like can help you find clarity you need in your life and career

Show Resources:

Brave Women at Work Website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com

10 Steps to Being Brave at Work Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Laura Steward Website: https://www.laurasteward.com/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/What-Would-Wise-Woman-Questions/dp/B00RKGNV3U/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=What+would+a+wise+woman+do%3F&qid=1624229127&sr=8-1

The Impostor Syndrome Files Podcast: https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Imposter+Syndrome+Files+podcast&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS793US793&oq=the+impost&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j69i59j35i39j46i433j46i131i433j0l4j46.2916j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

What Would a Wise Woman Do?: Questions to Ask Along the Way

Have you ever experienced the “mean girl” voice in your head, especially when you’re moving to a new level of success? I definitely have. This mean girl voice is also called the Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is the feeling like you’re a fraud, even when you’ve experienced success in the past. You feel like you can’t possibly be successful again or that people are going to see through your act. The Imposter Syndrome voice in our heads can prevent us from taking big and bold steps in our careers and personal lives. It can hold you back from speaking up, going for a promotion, or investing time and energy in ourselves. In short, it can keep us playing small.

During this episode, Kim Meninger, certified professional coach and owner of Your Career Success, and I talked about real-world tips on how we can start noticing the Imposter Syndrome and managing it. Definitely listen to this valuable show!

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Your Career Success: https://yourcareersuccess.com/

The Imposter Syndrome Files: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-impostor-syndrome-files/id1503572581

Leading Women Free Discussion Group: https://yourcareersuccess.com/leading-women-discussion-group/

Imposter Syndrome 7-Day Challenge:

https://yourcareersuccess.com/impostor-syndrome-challenge/

Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com/

Did you know that 87% of recruiters actively use LinkedIn? Did you also know the average network size on LinkedIn is 930 connections? If you are completely new to LinkedIn, have a network you'd like to grow or are looking for your next position, then LinkedIn is a powerful tool for you to use.

During this show, I spoke with Barbara Mason, CEO and founder of Career Pathways Consulting. Barbara shares her top tips to improving your personal profile so it can get noticed, how you can take 5 minutes a day to grow your network, why a network size of 500 or more is important, why participating in the LinkedIn conversation will help you get noticed by recruiters and more. This is a great, practical conversation packed with great tips that you can start using immediately after listening. Enjoy the show!

Brave Women at Work website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Brave Women at Work freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Career Pathways Consulting: https://www.careerpathwaysconsulting.com/

You heard it here first. Your mother was right! During this podcast, I welcomed Sandra McDowell, applied neuroscience educator and founder of the eLeadership Academy, back to Brave Women at Work. We talked about Sandra's book, Your Mother was Right: 15 Unexpected Lessons About Leadership and the Brain and more:

Sandra redefined neuroleadership and shared some practical tips from her book
We discussed why we're so disengaged at work and how we can take personal responsibility to drive our engagement
I shared how the "It's Not the End of the World" chapter struck me, and Sandra explained why worrying and living in a negative bias mindset aren't helpful
We chatted about self-esteem and its importance with leadership
Sandra shared a few small steps women can take today to be better leaders at work and at home

Sandra is such a wealth of knowledge and a great guest. You don't want to miss this conversation!

Join the Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork/member-requests

Learn more about Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

eLeadership Academy: https://www.e-leadershipacademy.com/speaking

Sandra's book: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Mother-Was-Right-Unexpected/dp/1775040402/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=your+mother+was+right%3A+15+unexpected+lessons&qid=1618173331&sr=8-1

Your Mother Was Right: 15 Unexpected Lessons About Leadership and the Brain

Have you ever tried to achieve work-life balance? Spoiler alert: it's not possible. In this episode, Kacey Hartung, working mom and owner of Balanced Heart Coaching, and I talk about the concept of work-life flow and how this is much more achievable than work-life balance. Kacey also shares what led her to start her side-hustle, how she redefined success after becoming a new mom, and the one exercise she completes with her clients to help them move through work and life with more ease.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Brave Women at Work: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Big Rocks Exercise with Franklin Covey: https://resources.franklincovey.com/the-8th-habit/big-rocks-stephen-r-covey

Balanced Heart Coaching: http://www.balancedheartcoaching.com/

Balance Heart Coaching Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/balancedheartcoaching/

Working Mom S.O.S. Card Deck: http://www.balancedheartcoaching.com/store/p3/Working_Mom_S._O._S._Card_Deck_-_Reminders_to_Save_Our_Sanity.html

As a high achiever, I have always had this blueprint or set of checkboxes that I needed to hit or “check off” in my life and career. Can you relate

Here are some examples of the checkboxes I’m talking about.

• Get a degree.

• Get my first job.

• Advance in my next job.

• Advance some more.

• Get a management job.

• Get a bigger management job.

• Get married.

• Have children.

• Have scheduled birthday parties for my kids every few years.

• Schedule play dates for my kids, including swim lessons and sports.

• Be the family’s event planner and general touchstone for everything.

• And the list goes on.

In this episode, we explore where these checkboxes came from and what we can do about them to allow ourselves some much-needed rest. If we give ourselves a break from checking these boxes, we will be better for it.

Brave Women at Work site: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Get the Freebie: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/freebie

Madeleine Albright quote: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2013/03/madeleine-albright-women-have-it-all.html

Arianna Huffington quote: http://www.morefamousquotes.com/topics/quotes-about-stress-and-burnout/

Burnout episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/back-from-burnout/id1547856593?i=1000508580387

Perfectionism episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindset-matters-overcoming-perfectionism/id1547856593?i=1000524057557

"Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order." - Anne Wilson Schaef

In this episode, we talk about perfectionism, something I've struggled with my whole life. Perfectionism is self-abuse because it drives you to chase an ideal that is unachievable. It is an effort in futility that is fraught with self-loathing and being paralyzed by procrastination or fear.

The good news is that this often silent issue can be managed with ongoing awareness, setting expectations, and more. Learn the impact of perfectionism on our lives and careers and what you can do to overcome it.

Excellence vs. Perfection Comparison: http://thebluecollarsuccessgroup.com/

Brave Women at Work: www.bravewomenatwork.com

Free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: facebook.com/broups/bravewomenatwork

Have you ever heard of both male and female energy archetypes? This was an exciting and entirely new topic of conversation for me, and one that blew my mind. I had so many a-ha moments about my own work history and how I move through and work in the world. I’m excited to share my conversation with Emma Djemil. Emma is a certified coach that helps women in leadership to practice rebellious self-acceptance and be unstoppable in the pursuit of what they really want.

During our conversation, Emma and I dove into so many great topics, including how bullying at work was a contributing factor to her leaving the corporate world and starting her own company, Be Unstoppable, what the superwoman archetype is predominantly made up of male energy and why it’s not sustainable, and how we can leverage feminine energies to have a more balanced sense of leadership at work and at home.

Emma was also gracious enough to provide a free feminine archetype consultation to 5 lucky listeners! This will be given to Brave Women at Work listeners on a first-come, first-serve basis, so jump on this! You can get in touch with Emma at emma@beunstoppable.uk.

Be Unstoppable - http://www.beunstoppable.uk/

Brave Women at Work - https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Join the free, private Brave Women at Work Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Getting to a place where we can be at home in our skin can be quite the journey. During my conversation with Janelle Anderson, life coach and owner of Emerging Life Coaching, we talked about early trauma in her life that caused her shame and a feeling of not being good enough. Some of the traumas that Janelle shared include being raped in college, meeting a young man that lead her into prostitution, having an unwanted abortion, and more.

Her story of bravery and redemption is unbelievable. Through her stories, Janelle shares the winding road of her career, listening to her inner nudges for change and how she uses many different tools, including the Clifton Strengthsfinder and Enneagram assessments, to help her clients find confidence and move beyond imposter syndrome. Janelle talks about how this inner work can help us take center stage in our lives and careers so we can live with more freedom and ease.

Resources:

Clifton Strengthsfinder Assessment: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253868/popular-cliftonstrengths-assessment-products.aspx

Enneagram: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/

Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com/

Emerging Life Coaching: https://www.emerginglifecoaching.com/

Be Confident. Be Real. Be You. Free Course: https://emerginglifecoaching.activehosted.com/f/3

Women Emerging Fearlessly Podcast: https://www.emerginglifecoaching.com/podcast

Have you ever heard of corporate gaslighting? I didn't before my conversation with Laura Weldy, professional coach for women who are looking for more in their careers. Corporate gaslighting is when you are praised for your personal performance at work, but you are not given an opportunity to advance or are told that you're not ready for advancement. Corporate gaslighting can leave you feeling stuck in place in your career. Laura and I had an extensive conversation about this and the following other topics:

Male and female communication styles at work
Communication breakdowns for women at work
How women need to often communicate like their male counterparts to get ahead in the corporate world
How to overcome corporate gaslighting
How Laura works with her clients on the Personal Power Code
Laura's insights on how women can be braver at work

If you are interested in joining the Brave Women at Work Facebook Community, please click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

To see the latest happenings with Brave Women at Work, visit the website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Laura Weldy Coaching: https://lauraweldy.com/

Laura Weldy Free Communication Guide: https://lauraweldy.com/free-communication-guide

What's the secret sauce? Is it one of my special recipes? As you will learn in this fun episode, it has absolutely nothing to do with cooking. LOL.

In this episode, we will discuss the special skills and talents that make you different and set you apart from others. Most people don't think about this and blend into the crowd. I'm challenging you to think about your personal brand, what your secret sauce is, and how you can communicate it.

And bonus! I created a special secret sauce worksheet for you along with this podcast episode. With this worksheet, I guide you through a few important questions for you to discover your own personal secret sauce.

Secret Sauce Worksheet: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/resources

Brave Women at Work Website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com/

Join the Brave Women at Work Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Welcome to the 18th episode of Brave Women at Work. We have a special guest on our show today, Nanci Wilson.

Nanci is known for having an outgoing personality with a knack for connecting with others. She applied to be a teller at a Credit union, all she knew was that she had been treated kindly and wanted to do that for others. After graduating from credit union education, Nancy quickly learned what it meant to feel the spark of when purpose and passion truly collide. She began to navigate the waters of advocating for herself and speaking the truth even when your voice shakes. Nancy is an advocate of cheering for others, kindness, empathy, and being brave enough to suck at something new.

Nanci will be talking about how she built her perfect job, the brave steps she took to get there, how we can ALL live the flawsome quality, and most importantly, why kindness is such a critical quality in leadership.

Many of the questions and topics covered during this episode relate to managing new levels in your career. Nanci speaks about not having to settle down or limiting your dreams, but thinking about where you want to be, chasing your heart's burning desires, and just going for it. If you’re not an advocate for yourself, who’s gonna be?

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Brave Women at Work.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com

Brave Women at Work Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Imposter Syndrome: A collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success. Imposters suffer from self-doubt that overrides any feelings of external proof of their competence.

Welcome to a new episode of Brave Women at Work. In today's episode, I share my own experience with imposter syndrome and how I managed it. I don't think impostor syndrome can be something you can simply "get over," but you can definitely learn to manage.

I suffered from impostor syndrome a couple of years ago when I was moving up from a mid-management role to a senior-management role. I was honestly very afraid of this position and had a mean inner voice that would constantly say "you're gonna fail" "you're not good enough for this" "what happens if it doesn't work out?".

It wasn't until I talked to my husband and he asked me "do you really want to stay were you're at? Do you want to stay stuck?" that I knew I had to make a move.

Having all of this in mind, I've decided to list a few tips to help you manage impostor syndrome:

Name it. Name that impostor syndrome that is trying to take the steering wheel away from you.
Ask yourself if that doubt or inner voice is real? "Can I really not do this?"
Play out all of the scenarios, even the worst one.
Refrain it. How can you think about your situation differently?
Talk to a friend, and if not, talk to yourself.
Make a list of your accomplishments.

Resources:

Brave Women at Work website: https://www.bravewomenatwork.com

Brave Women at Work Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/bravewomenatwork

Maya Angelou quote: https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2014/04/03/impostor-syndrome/?sh=4491755748a9

Meryl Streep quote: https://www.thnk.org/blog/3-tips-to-overcome-imposter-syndrome/

Mel Robbins' high-five yourself: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins/photos/a.502275269868362/3411720382257155/?type=3

Phil Jackson mindset: https://crm.org/articles/zen-and-the-art-of-winning-phil-jacksons-team-leadership

Minimalism: Purposely living with your items so we can make more time and space for what’s important to us all in our careers and our lives.

In today’s episode, blogger, author, and speaker Courtney Carver joins us at Brave Women at Work. We will be speaking about the importance of minimalism, not only for personal reasons but also for professional. Courtney explains why she got into minimalism, what it is, and a few tips to help your thoughts and careers.

About our guest:

Courtney Carver is one of the most known bloggers, authors, and speakers within the minimalism world. She has also written two books called Soulful Simplicity and Project 333. She also has a simplicity blog bemorewithless.com.

Resources:

Be More With Less - https://bemorewithless.com/

Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More

https://www.amazon.com/Project-333-Minimalist-Fashion-Challenge-ebook/dp/B07X6RPYL3/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Be+more+with+less&qid=1614711932&sr=8-2

Soulful Simplicity:

https://www.amazon.com/Soulful-Simplicity-Living-Less-Lead-ebook/dp/B06XZJFDWJ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1614711969&sr=8-1

The Simplicity Space:

https://courses.bemorewithless.com/the-simplicity-space/

Soulful Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Much More

Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More

In this episode, we talk about pitching your ideas with success at work. It’s so frustrating when you shared your ideas, and they go unheard. We delve into some examples and tips to get your point across, whether it’s a personal request or a project idea. I also discuss the different ways to present your ideas with mid-level managers and the CEO.

In this episode, we talk with Sandra McDowell about leading with heart and backbone when in leadership. This also applies to others not in leadership positions. Sandra goes over the importance of having a holistic leadership approach by utilizing both heart and logic when making decisions.

Sandra has nearly two decades of executive experience and advanced certifications in Leadership, NeuroLeadership, and Human Resources. Sandra is an expert on the application of neuroscience for leadership. Sandra is the author of Your Mother Was Right: 15 Unexpected Lessons About Leadership and the Brain.

Resources mentioned in episode:

eLeadership Academy - https://www.e-leadershipacademy.com/ OR https://www.sandramcdowell.com

Your Mother Was Right: 15 Unexpected Lessons About Leadership and the Brain

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Mother-Was-Right-Unexpected-ebook/dp/B07PFTGZ8M/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=sandra+mcdowell&qid=1614112246&sr=8-1

Start With Why - Simon Sinek

https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone-ebook/dp/B002Q6XUE4/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=simon+sinek&qid=1614112604&sr=8-3

The Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto

https://brenebrown.com/downloads/

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Your Mother Was Right: 15 Unexpected Lessons About Leadership and the Brain

In this episode, we talk with Pattie Grimm about kicking the glass in your career and life. Being self-aware is so important and why perfectionism could be doing you more wrong than good. Pattie is an empowerment expert for teams and women. She has over 25 years of experience working with large corporations such as Microsoft. We talk with Pattie about hitting rock bottom and how she utilized burnout leave to find herself and establish herself as an entrepreneur.

Resources mentioned:

Pattie Grimm's website: https://advantage-training.com/

Book: Quiet Women Never Changed History Be Strong, Stand Up and Stand Out: Let's Go Kick Some Glass!

Vision Statement: If you would like follow-up resources to create your personal vision statement, contact Pattie at pattiegrimm@live.com.

Quiet Women Never Changed History Be Strong, Stand Up and Stand Out: Let's Go Kick Some Glass!

In this episode, we talk with Cara Pollard about how parent coaching can help women in the workforce. Cara Pollard is a Certified Parent Coach. She offers coaching services to families, couples, women, teens, and companies. Covid has strongly impacted our work-life balance, especially those working from home or unemployed and spending more time at home with the kids. We delve into the importance of having mindfulness practices and self-care.

Resources mentioned in episode:

Cara Pollard website - www.carapollardcoaching.com

Mindfulness at Work Podcast - www.carapollardcoaching.com/category/podcast/

In this episode, we talk about owning the room. What does owning the room mean? Does this only apply to public figures? We delve into tips to make you feel confident whether it’s speaking at a presentation, virtual meeting, with colleagues, or friends.

In this episode, we talk about slowing down and paying attention with Neen James. Neen James is the author of Folding Time and her most recent book, Attention Pays. She is frequently named one of the top 30 Leadership Speakers by Global Guru because of her work with companies such as Viacom, Comcast, Cisco, Virgin, Pfizer, BMV, the FBI, and others. Neen shares with us how paying intentional attention lets us get more done both at work and home.

Folding Time by Neen James (Complete Book)

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__t.sidekickopen85.com_s2t_c_5_f18dQhb0S7kF8cFC00VnTZKk59hl3kW7-5Fk2847sD3qkVNxvrw7w3-2DhvW2dykdP1n0Lht101-3Fte-3DW3R5hFj4cm2zwW41RjcR3VWt0kW4cg7sG3-5FrjH0W1Gy-2DqY4fGC1KW1LFz3l43N9LSW1L6zDG22TdLsW1Lg-5FH03H6wV1W1GrKP13JF3SVW1GpcB741nZgkF3-5FSNXRPDdn1-26si-3D7000000001156569-26pi-3D6b36fcc1-2Dcc38-2D47d1-2Dfa97-2Db9fb126a272c&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=rlA1j0AkegbWI60GGcdCyhBZlplYFRV3-qxZ2-7-fQ0&m=9iDtgsiGD10nAwjn8v_cowkdLpzJFOXQLqi7HG-V_tE&s=-5F6X1jj0RnyuyshpuXdP0hs3md0SjMm-N9-YZnfIpk&e=

Attention Pays by Neen James (Sample Chapter)

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__t.sidekickopen85.com_s2t_c_5_f18dQhb0S7kF8cFC00VnTZKk59hl3kW7-5Fk2847sD3qkVNxvrw7w3-2DhvW2dykdP1n0Lht101-3Fte-3DW3R5hFj4cm2zwW4cj79h3-5FR6GJW41PGWL1JxwY5W1LvdXT3K78gSW43TCZB4rF77tW43SmPX3-5FYlyBW3F7xMM4fGCnGW1LdXLK3K78gSW43TvW83zkyn7W32wWrg3ZV65JW3QZngs3K8R3x4PDdn1-26si-3D7000000001156569-26pi-3D6b36fcc1-2Dcc38-2D47d1-2Dfa97-2Db9fb126a272c&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=rlA1j0AkegbWI60GGcdCyhBZlplYFRV3-qxZ2-7-fQ0&m=9iDtgsiGD10nAwjn8v_cowkdLpzJFOXQLqi7HG-V_tE&s=KkJSVPcq0lpyluAWvGXt6p8tPSwaPCZIgnpcjUnrbzc&e=

Moment App

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/moment-cut-screen-time/id771541926

Freedom App

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/freedom-block-distractions/id1269788228

In this episode, we talk about setting healthy boundaries at work. Are you always saying yes to others and every request? Do you have a problem saying no to others? Are you working through your lunchtime and working long hours in order to please others? I share 7 tips to build better boundaries at work, this can also be applied to other areas in your life.

Resources mentioned in episode:

Brene Brown Quote:
“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others. We can't base our own worthiness on others' approval. Only when we believe, deep down, that we are enough can we say, enough!”
Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours
https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Productivity-Boost-Results-Reduce-ebook/dp/B007HBLNSS?tag=wwwfccom-20
18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction and Get the Right Things Done
https://www.amazon.com/18-Minutes-Master-Distraction-Things/dp/0446583405/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1612916776&sr=8-1
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0143126563/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Getting+Things+Done%3A+The+Art+of+Stress-Free+Productivity&qid=1612916878&sr=8-2
Anne Lamott Quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/24553-no-is-a-complete-sentence

Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours

18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

In this episode, we talk with Natalie from Small Town Leadership and author of Let Her Out: Reclaim Who You Have Always Been. Natalie describes her book as life story meets life coaching. She shares how she discovers who she was by calling out her inner child. Natalie connected with herself again by reflecting on childhood journals, exercises and questioning what she wanted out of life.

Resources mentioned in episode:

Small Town Leadership and author of Let Her Out: Reclaim Who You Have Always Been https://www.amazon.com/Let-Her-Out-Reclaim-Always-ebook/dp/B08N5H5LLN/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&geniuslink=true

Small Town Leadership: www.smalltownleadership.com

Let Her Out: Reclaim Who You Have Always Been

In this episode, we talk about burnout. Burnout is even more common now during the COVID pandemic. Many employees have taken on new roles because of company cut downs. I share my personal experience especially and what situations led me to feel burnout. Burnout can manifest as health symptoms and affect our mental health. We further discuss burnout signs and how to set healthy boundaries to avoid burnout.

Resources mentioned in episode:

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Arianna Huffington

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle

In this episode, we talk clarity with Motivational Speaker Debbie Peterson. Debbie shares how she left the corporate world after years of frustration and burnout that manifested as health issues. Debbie shares the steps she took to go from working a job that damaged her health to have clarity of direction in her career. We covered all things mindset, from releasing limiting beliefs to creating new positive thoughts.

Debbie Peterson Website

www.debbiepetersonspeaks.com/getting-to-clarity

CLARITY: How Smart Professionals Create Career Success www.debbiepetersonspeaks.com/debbies-book

In this episode, we talk about interviewing tips to help you land the job, whether it's in a person or virtual interview. The interview is the time to showcase the value you bring and why they should hire you. We discuss the importance of preparing for the interview and practicing your interview skills even if you are not actively looking.

Welcome to 2021! It has been a whirlwind hasn't it? Even though January is flying by, I have been taking this entire month to personally plan my 2021 year. Tune in to this episode as I talk about New Year's Resolutions, personal planning, and creating a 2021 that fits you. Enjoy!

You are brave and a rockstar at work but please know that YOU CAN NOT DO IT ALL. Spoiler Alert: You aren't supposed to. Remember that you have a support system and what better example to show than that it is okay to ask for help.

Perhaps the most powerful and underutilized gift women possess is truly asking for what they want. In this episode we will break down the stigma behind "the ask" and give you ways to feel empowered and support when you are not only asking for things you want, but things you need or deserve.

Welcome to Brave at Work the Podcast! In this episode I will talk about how the podcast came to be and what I hope you gain. We are all brave and it's time to embrace it and shine.