Reinvent Yourself: Recent Episodes
Lesley Jane Seymour
A podcast offering tips and tricks for reinventing yourself by former More magazine Editor In Chief and creator of CoveyClub.com, Lesley Jane Seymour.
In the final episode of Reinvent Yourself, Lesley Jane Seymour sits down with Brooke Dougherty and Evelyn Sprigg—two inspiring women who reinvented their lives and careers through a shared love of beauty and skincare. Brooke, a former creative executive, became a formulator at 68, while Evelyn, a longtime beauty marketer, found renewed purpose after leaving a high-pressure role. Together, they launched Just Us Skincare, a brand focused on the often-overlooked needs of aging and hormonal skin. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about resilience, reinvention, and creating community through meaningful, effective skincare.
About the Speakers:
Brook Dougherty is the author of the memoir, Nothing To Write Home About, and a longtime supporter of domestic violence victims. Brook became a formulator at the age of 68 and is Founder and Chief Alchemist at JustUs Skincare alongside Evelyn Sprigg.
Evelyn Sprigg, a veteran of the NYC advertising and PR industry working for some of the world's largest beauty brands, is now CEO and Co-founder of JustUs Skincare.
Connect with Brook and Evelyn:
Website
Evelyn on LinkedIn
Brook on LinkedIn
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
In this episode of Reinvent Yourself, Lesley Jane Seymour sits down with Marni Batista, a transformational coach and life strategist, who shares her incredible journey of reinvention. From her early aspirations of becoming a teacher and a news reporter to finding her true calling in coaching, Batista has navigated various career paths before discovering her passion for helping women live authentically. Together, they explore the common fears and societal pressures that hold women back from pursuing their dreams, as well as the importance of self-love and personal growth. Batista offers practical advice on how to break free from the notion that "work will love you back" and encourages listeners to embrace their own reinvention journeys with courage and intention.
About the Speaker:
Marni Battista is a life strategist, transformational coach, podcast host and author. Her straightforward approach helps successful women find the courage to stop letting life live them, so that they can start LIVING life on THEIR terms.
Connect with Marni:
Website
Decoding Your Destiny Quiz
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
n this episode of Reinvent Yourself, Lesley Jane Seymour talks with executive recruiter and author Al Poulson about how to stand out in today’s digital hiring landscape. With over 25 years in corporate America, Al shares practical tips on tailoring your resume, connecting with hiring managers, and communicating your value—especially for women and older candidates facing age-related bias. Whether you're pivoting careers or reentering the job market, this conversation is packed with actionable advice to help you land the role you deserve.
About the Guest:
Al Polson is a former Fortune 500 executive with over 25 years of corporate leadership experience and founder of The Colonial Group, a top executive recruiting firm serving the manufacturing industry across the U.S. and abroad. Guided by “The Golden Rule,” Al built a business known for integrity and respect, helping thousands of jobseekers find meaningful careers. He also taught management and supply chain courses as an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia and holds both a Bachelor’s and MBA from the University of Richmond. Now retired, Al enjoys writing, painting, traveling, golf, and fishing.
Connect with Al:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
In this episode of Reinvent Yourself, Lesley Jane Seymour engages in an inspiring conversation with Dr. Priyanka Venugoipal, a board-certified OBGYN turned stress and health coach for professional working moms. After years of fulfilling her role in medicine, Venugoipal realized it was time to pivot towards life coaching, a transformative journey that not only helped her lose weight but also redefined her purpose. She shares her personal struggles with weight gain during her medical career and the pivotal moment that led her to discover the power of coaching. Listeners will learn about the intricate connection between stress, hormones, and weight management, along with practical strategies for overcoming the challenges of perfectionism and self-criticism.
About the Guest:
Priyanka Venugopal is a board certified ObGyn physician turned Stress and Health coach for professional working moms. Priyanka is the host of The Burn Stress, Lose Weight Podcast and founder of The Unstoppable Mom Group, an intimate small group coaching program, where she has cultivated a holistic experience for professional working moms who want to experience a change from the inside out.
Connect:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
“Living with intention and having something that you’re working towards is crucial,” says Palak Dave, founder of In the Room (formerly Emberia), a sanctuary for women seeking to elevate their lives through meaningful connections. With a background in marketing and extensive experience hosting over 300 curated events, she emphasizes the importance of community and the health benefits of coming together, especially in a post-pandemic world. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Dave shares her journey from corporate marketing to creating spaces that foster genuine connections among women, urging listeners to prioritize real-life experiences over digital distractions. Discover how to navigate the challenges of building community, the power of intentional living, and the significance of investing in oneself.
About the Guest:
Formerly an award-winning marketer with senior-level positions at companies including the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and Indigo Books and Music Inc., Palak embarked on a new journey in 2017, founding Embiria, a sanctuary for women who want to elevate their life. Through Embiria, she inspires a shift away from digital distractions toward embracing the beauty of the present moment. With having hosted over 300 curated events, Palak champions intentional living, urging us to prioritize real-life experiences and connection over digital noise.
Connect:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"I learned about who my mother is by tracking down the plastic surgeon who killed [her]." In this episode, Lesley Jane Seymour talks with Susan Lieu, Vietnamese American author and performer, about her journey from corporate life to the creative stage. After losing her mother young, Lieu pursued success in academia and international development—until she found her calling in storytelling. Through her memoir The Manicurist’s Daughterand solo show 140lbs: How Beauty Killed My Mother, she explores identity, intergenerational trauma, and healing. With warmth and humor, Lieu shares how to reinvent yourself with reflection, community, and bold action.
About the Guest:
Susan Lieu is a Vietnamese-American author, playwright, and performer who tells stories that refuse to be forgotten. Her solo show "140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother” evolved into her memoir, The Manicurist’s Daughter (Celadon), which has been featured in The New York Times, NPR Books, Elle Magazine, LA Times, and The Washington Post.
Connect:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Menopause is a tunnel, not a cave. There’s goodness on the other side." So says Rachel Lancaster, author of "Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond." She joins Lesley Jane Seymour to discuss the often-overlooked journey of menopause and midlife reinvention. Lankester shares her personal story of navigating early menopause and the societal misconceptions surrounding it, transforming her experience into a mission to empower women. From her humorous Mutton Club magazine to her insightful podcast, Lankester emphasizes the importance of reframing menopause as a time of opportunity rather than an end. Listeners will discover the significance of self-care, the impact of lifestyle choices, and the value of community support during this transformative phase.
About the Guest:
Rachel Lankester is the author of Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond, recommended in the New York Times, host of the Magnificent Midlife podcast and editor of The Mutton Club magazine. She helps women create magnificent next chapters.
Connect:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
“You don’t have to wait for a rock bottom,” says Ruby Williams, a certified alcohol freedom coach from Northern California; “You can just decide that you want to feel better.” Williams shares her transformative journey from the wine industry to sobriety. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in the wine business, Ruby faced the challenges of alcohol use disorder, which she ultimately overcame after years of struggle. In this episode, Ruby discusses the pivotal moments that led her to recognize her unhealthy relationship with alcohol, the signs that indicated she needed to change, and the empowering steps she took to reclaim her life. Listeners will gain insight into Ruby's unique coaching approach, which emphasizes compassion, community, and personal growth. She highlights the importance of rewiring one's mindset regarding alcohol and shares tips for those looking to break free from their own cycles of dependency. Ruby's story serves as a beacon of hope for anyone seeking to reinvent their relationship with alcohol and embrace a healthier, more fulfilling life.
About the Guest:
Ruby Williams, based in Northern California, transformed her life by overcoming alcohol use disorder and now serves as a certified alcohol freedom coach, helping women achieve healthier, more fulfilling lives. With over five years of sobriety, she offers group programs and private coaching based on science, curiosity, and compassion.
Connect:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
Lesley Jane Seymour dives into the world of fashion in the digital age with national style and image consultant Allison Bruhn. Together, they explore the challenges of finding personal style in a landscape dominated by social media and shifting norms. With insights from her journey as a stylist, Bruhn shares how she empowers women to redefine their wardrobes and embrace their individuality. Listeners will gain valuable tips on navigating the evolving fashion landscape, the importance of dressing for confidence, and how to blend comfort with style as we transition back to in-person engagements. From the impact of COVID-19 on our clothing choices to the resurgence of power dressing, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to reignite their fashion sense.
About the Guest:
Alison is a national style and image consultant with clients across the country. She studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, and holds a Color certification from the Image Resource Center of New York. The purpose of her work is to empower women through creating a visual brand and transforming their style to ignite a new path of confidence and independence. She works with both private clients and groups. She has a decade of experience as a stylist and has access to an extensive network of connections inside the fashion industry. Alison started her personal styling business at 50, and later started The Style That Binds Us with her daughter!
Connect:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
Lesley Jane Seymour sits down with Sarah Dale, the visionary behind Project 1490, to discuss her inspiring journey from a successful career in advertising to creating a unique community for women seeking empowerment through outdoor experiences. After spending years in leadership roles at prestigious companies, Sarah realized the transformative power of nature and skill-building, leading her to develop a program that combines outdoor adventures with personal and professional growth. Listeners will discover how Project 1490 offers women the chance to step outside their comfort zones, forge genuine connections, and build confidence through activities like archery and wood chopping. Sarah shares insights on the importance of community, the challenges women face in the corporate world, and how her initiative addresses these issues head-on.
About the Guest:
After a 30-year career in advertising, Sarah Dale created Project 1490 through combining her years in leadership with her experiences living in Montana. She’s been fortunate to work at great brands like The Wall Street Journal, Fortune and Nativo where she led big teams and drove hundreds of millions in revenue. She’s been awarded a Cannes Lions, two D&AD Pencils, Folio’s Top Women in Media and the Stevies’ Gold Maverick Award, et al. While she’s had an impressive career, Sarah’s love of nature and experiences in the wilds of Montana are what started her wish to get other corporate women to build their own badassery and confidence by learning outdoor skills. Project 1490 now provides the opportunity not only for women to have unique, outdoor experiences that help them go beyond who they think they are, they build their corporate networks and confidence and have a ton of fun in the process.
Connect:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"There’s a real beauty in the individuality and the story that we carry with us that is not part of our medical system," says Andrea Nakayama, the founder of Functional Nutrition Alliance and host of the 15 Minute Matrix podcast. "When we can show up as the partner who knows about ourselves, that's where we're the best partner in our health and medical care." Nakayama shares her inspiring journey from personal tragedy to becoming a leader in functional medicine and nutrition. Driven by her own experiences with chronic illness and the healthcare system, she emphasizes the importance of understanding the root causes of health issues rather than merely treating symptoms. Listeners will gain insights on how this holistic approach empowers individuals to reclaim ownership of their health and navigate their wellness journeys with confidence.
About the Guest:
As the host of the 15-Minute Matrix Podcast and the founder of Functional Nutrition Alliance, Andrea is leading thousands of students and practitioners around the globe in a revolution to offer better solutions to the growing chronic illness epidemic. By highlighting the importance of systems biology, root cause methodology, and therapeutic partnerships, she helps historically underserved individuals reclaim ownership of their health.
Connect:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
“It is our responsibility to reach back behind us and make sure that we are coaching and mentoring whoever else is behind us,” says Audra Agen, a corporate veteran with over 25 years of experience, to explore her remarkable journey from finance to empowering women through her platform, Women in the Arena. Agen shares her insights on the unique challenges women face in male-dominated industries and the importance of recognizing and celebrating each other's contributions. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on the power of community, the significance of mentorship, and the need to challenge the competitive narratives often perpetuated among women.
About the Guest:
As a corporate veteran, Audra has 25 years’ experience of being one of the few women in the room, and in many cases, the only oneWhile the women may have been outnumbered, they were all uniquely exceptional. She became fascinated learning more about them and their experiences. It became increasingly clear that these women were contributing significant value to their organizations, families and careers. Their contributions were either being taken for granted or overlooked, sometimes even by themselves. Audra aspired to change that; from that, Women in the Arena was created. It’s a platform unlike any other- it’s a celebration.
Connect:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"When we can take charge over the elements of our life that we can control, we feel better,” says public health expert and author Jenny Albertini, whose new book, "Decluttered: Mindful Organizing for Health, Home and Beyond," offers a fresh perspective on the impact of clutter on our well-being. With years of experience in professional organizing, Albertini shares her journey from a career in public health to helping individuals reclaim control over their spaces. Listeners will discover how the act of decluttering can serve as a powerful tool for managing anxiety and stress, especially during uncertain times.This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to simplify their surroundings and enhance their mental clarity.
About the Guest:
Public health expert Jenny Albertini, MPH, author of the new book, Decluttered: Mindful Organizing for Health, Home, and Beyond. While putting in thousands of hours of professional organizing Jenny has been featured on PBS, NBC, in the Washington Post, Apartment Therapy and many other media outlets.
Connect:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
Lesley Jane Seymour welcomes Judy Pearson, a bestselling author and accomplished presenter, to discuss her remarkable journey of reinvention and resilience. Pearson shares her inspiring story, from being a high school French teacher and basketball coach to becoming a celebrated writer after overcoming breast cancer. Her latest book, Crusade to Heal America: The Remarkable Life of Mary Lasker, explores the life of a pioneering figure in cancer research and advocacy, highlighting the importance of courage and collaboration among women. Listeners will gain insight into Pearson’s personal trials and triumphs, the transformative power of storytelling, and the vital role women play in shaping history and health care. This episode is a testament to the strength found in adversity and the endless possibilities of reinvention.
About the Guest:
Judy Pearson is a best-selling author, an accomplished presenter, and a graduate of Michigan State University. Judy’s first two biographies told the stories of ordinary Americans who had been extraordinarily courageous during World War II. A diagnosis of breast cancer interrupted Judy’s career, but believing there is always treasure in life’s wreckage, she created an anthology of the articles and blogs called It’s Just Hair: 20 Essential Life Lessons. Crusade to Heal America: The Remarkable Life of Mary Lasker, was selected as the 2023 Florida Book Award Bronze Medal winner. Judy was named one of Chicago’s Most Inspirational Women, was selected as a finalist for the Arizona Healthcare Leadership Awards and named a Phoenix Healthcare Hero the same year. She and her husband, David, live in Nokomis, FL.
Connect:
Website
Amazon
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
Lesley Jane Seymour talks with award-winning renal dietitian Jen Hernandez, founder of Plant-Powered Kidney Inc., about the life-changing power of understanding your kidneys before it’s too late. Hernandez shares her journey from clinical dietitian to social media trailblazer, challenging outdated food restrictions and empowering people with chronic kidney disease to take back control of their health. Listeners will learn the early warning signs of kidney issues, what they wish they’d known a decade ago, and how simple, plant-powered changes can support kidney health and prevent disease progression.
About Jen Hernandez:
An award-winning renal dietitian with experience across all areas of chronic kidney disease, from prevention to early stages and dialysis, Jen has set the standard for renal dietitian experience. Jen has become a pillar in the renal community with her social media presence and testimonials from both private clients and course students. With Plant-Powered Kidney Inc., Jen continues to break barriers and challenge outdated "food rules" when it comes to all the foods that people with chronic kidney disease can eat.
Connect:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
Tiffany Knighten, creatorpreneur and host of Main Character Energy, believes in choosing self-worth over burnout and rewriting the script on success. After climbing the corporate media ladder and facing constant microaggressions and exhaustion, Knighten made a bold decision to quit her job—and her viral ‘QuitTok’ became a rallying cry for the Great Resignation. She shares how that leap led her to build an agency amplifying the voices of BIPOC creatives and women of color, and how embracing anti-hustle culture helped her reclaim her mental health, confidence, and purpose.
About Tiffany Knighten:
Tiffany's journey began by quitting her 9-to-5 to prioritize her mental health and starting a business that amplified the voices of BIPOC creatives and women of color. Today, she helps her network build their brand, confidence, and community effortlessly. As the host of Main Character Energy with Tiff Knighten, Tiffany delves into the journeys of entrepreneurs and creatives who have successfully navigated rewriting their scripts and channeling audacious self-belief.
Connect:
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
In this inspiring episode, Lesley Jane Seymour sits down with Patrick Buchanan, Senior Vice President at Lulu’s and one of Brand Innovators’ “Top 40 Marketers,” to talk about reinvention through the lens of creativity, leadership, and personal identity. Patrick shares how his career in the fast-paced world of entertainment and fashion marketing has required constant evolution—and how his most powerful reinvention came in embracing his identity as a gay man. With candor and heart, he reflects on the inner work of becoming who you truly are, the role of manifestation in shaping his path, and the importance of showing up authentically to lead with purpose and vision.
About Patrick Buchanan:
With over 15 years of experience, Marketing executive Patrick Buchanan has collaborated with big names in the music and entertainment industry, crafting culture-defining campaigns and leading high-performing teams. Patrick was named one of Brand Innovator’s “Top 40 Marketers”. He also earned a spot on the “Future 50” list by Nice Kicks, which honors fifty influential creatives shaping the industry's future. He is currently the Senior Vice President of Lulu’s.
Connect:
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
Mastering something new brings powerful mental and physical benefits," says award-winning journalist and author Gwendolyn Bounds. In this conversation she explores the transformative power of reinvention at any age. Bounds shares how a simple question at a dinner party led her, in her midforties, from a sedentary career in news to becoming a world championship competitor in the intense sport of obstacle course racing. Drawing from her new book, Not Too Late: The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age, she offers listeners practical tools and expert insights for embracing bold new challenges, reigniting passion, and rewriting the narrative of midlife and beyond.
About Gwendolyn Bounds:
Gwendolyn Bounds is an award-winning journalist and author. Her new book, NOT TOO LATE: The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age, explores how embarking on the long road of mastering something new and hard that you love can bring powerful mental and physical benefits. In the book, Bounds traces her own evolution from an unathletic desk-bound news executive glued to her screens into a world championship competitor in the daunting sport of obstacle course racing.
Connect:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"With the way we establish boundaries, it's all about how each person has a voice in the process to be heard and understood," says Jan Yuhas. Her sister Jillian adds, "Boundaries are a way of connecting because we're addressing the disconnect." Identical twins, psychotherapists, and authors of Boundary Badass—about how setting healthy boundaries can transform your relationships and your life, Jan and Jillian Yuhas offer practical tools to communicate with confidence, shift from trauma-based patterns to collaborative connections, and build a more authentic, empowered version of themselves—both personally and professionally.
About Jan and Jillian:
Jan and Jillian, Relationship and Boundary Experts, identical twins, are dedicated to helping individuals in navigating the intricacies of interpersonal dynamics. With their background in psychotherapy and family mediation, they are committed to resolving relationship disconnects, and as business consultants, leveraging their insights to assist companies in establishing thriving workplace cultures. As co-authors of Boundary Badass - it is more than a book; it's a transformative journey designed to empower readers to voice their value, fulfill their emotional needs, and cultivate valuable connections through mastery of setting boundaries. When Jan and Jillian aren’t embarking on their multi-entrepreneurial endeavors they continue to fulfill their passion for guiding individuals toward personal and relational empowerment
Connect:
Website
Book
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"The only thing that limits you from any type of change or transition is your mindset and belief," says architect turned marketing expert Hope Livonne Trory. In this sincere and thoughtful conversation she shares how she navigated the challenges of career reinvention, proving that problem-solving skills transcend industries. She opens up about overcoming sunk costs, following her instincts, and using her unique background to shape her approach to branding. Tune in for practical insights on embracing change and taking the leap into a fulfilling new path.
About Hope Livonne Trory:
Hope Livonne Trory, founder of HOPEWORKSDESIGN, brings a unique blend of architectural training and over a decade of marketing expertise to offer innovative marketing and branding solutions to service-based businesses in the AEC industry and beyond. Hope's unique approach has made her a sought-after speaker on SEO and marketing. At HOPEWORKSDESIGN, Hope expertly crafts marketing systems designed to amplify your brand, resonate with your ideal audience, and generate leads.
Connect with Hope Livonne Trory:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
“The quieter you get, the more you can hear that voice of your gut,” says master life and business coach Sherold Barr. In this conversation she shares how a near-fatal accident and near-death experience transformed her perspective on success, resilience, and healing. She opens up about overcoming societal pressures, choosing love and gratitude, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. With insights on the power of community and mindset shifts, Barr offers inspiration for anyone looking to reinvent themselves. Tune in for a conversation that will help you navigate life’s complexities with courage and compassion—plus, a glimpse into her upcoming memoir!
About Sherold Barr: Sherold Barr is a master coach and entrepreneur who built two successful six-figure plus businesses. After suffering a near-fatal car wreck and witnessing her own miraculous recovery, Barr decided that her mission in life was to help people stop suffering from their beliefs and thoughts that cause emotional distress. She writes about resilience, growing from adversity, spiritual awakenings, mindset, and reducing emotional suffering.
Connect with Sherold Barr:
Substack
Youtube
Time Stamps:
03:27 - Growing up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
10:00 - Leaving behind her creativity with her childhood
12:10 - How Barr healed her relationship with her mother before she could reinvent
17:10 - One of the biggest issues for women our age now is that they're not independent
21:29 - How her near-fatal accident was turning point for her career
25:52 - After three surgeries, here's what Barr has learned
28:50 - "I'm shocked at how many people have had near death experiences"
29:53 - A glimpse at Barr's memoir, which will come out in 2025
30:46 - Resilience during reinvention and giving up alcohol
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"You can use diagnosis as information, but you don’t have to amplify it with thought and feeling." So says Ashley Holmes, a holistic fertility coach who shares her personal journey through the challenges of infertility. Having experienced the emotional and physical toll of medical interventions, Holmes discovered the power of holistic practices that allowed her to conceive naturally. She emphasizes the importance of connection and support, revealing how many women struggle in silence while navigating their fertility journeys. She discusses the significance of nourishing both body and mind, advocating for a balanced approach to health that honors the unique cycles of women’s bodies. Tune in to learn how to empower yourself through community, self-care, and a deeper understanding of your body’s wisdom. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to transform their fertility experience and embrace the journey of motherhood.
About Ashley:
Ashley Holmes is a Holistic Fertility Coach with certifications in yin, hatha, restorative, and therapeutic yoga, as well as Reiki Level II. Drawing from her personal experience with fertility challenges, she specializes in using yoga, meditation, and energy medicine to help others release blocked energy and create space for natural conception. Through her compassionate guidance, Ashley supports clients in rebalancing their bodies and minds to navigate their fertility journeys with ease.
Connect with Ashley:
Website
Amazon
Time Stamps:
03:08 - Ashley's backstory
04:08 - How she transitioned into a fertility coach and her history with her own fertility issues
15:39 - What energy blockages are holding people back or preventing them from achieving goals?
24:56 - The number one thing is to seek support
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
“If you ask someone how something impacted them, it’s a very big question," says Somia Sadiq, founder of Narratives, Inc. “Say ‘tell me what happened’ - then the story starts." On my podcast, she dives deep into her fascinating journey from her roots in Abu Dhabi to becoming a leader in conflict transformation and environmental advocacy in Canada. With a rich background in negotiations and community engagement, Sadiq shares her unique insights on the intersection of environmental issues and conflict resolution. She discusses her work supporting Indigenous communities in reclaiming their rights and negotiating land access, emphasizing the importance of storytelling as a powerful tool for peacebuilding and understanding. Tune in to discover how Sadiq’s diverse experiences shaped her career and how her passion for community and storytelling can inspire your own path of reinvention.
About Somia:
With ancestral roots in post-colonial Punjab and Kashmir, Somia Sadiq holds experience in environmental sciences, natural resources management, negotiations, counterterrorism and countering/preventing violent extremism. Somia is the founder of Narratives Inc., a consulting firm based in Winnipeg focused on impact assessment, conflict transformation, and territorial planning. She also founded Kahanee, a non-profit dedicated to amplifying stories and promoting peacebuilding.
Connect with Sonia:
Website
Time Stamps:
01:07 - Somia Sadiq is a Canadian expert on conflict resolution
03:02 - Somia's reinvention story
06:26 - How did you get from environmental studies into conflict?
09:35 - Give us an example of a conflict resolution process in the modern world
15:01 - Do you think being a woman gives you any advantages in conflict resolution?
18:31 - Do you think it's a certain type of personality that goes into it?
19:32 - Do women have a bigger sensitivity to, in this area than men do?
22:21 - How about age? Do you get more respect as you get older?
24:26 - What's your biggest win?
26:13 - Telling stories can be a powerful tool for bringing people together
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
If you want to really become organized, you need to create operational systems at home." So says Lisa Woodruff, a productivity specialist and home organization expert. In this discussion of the transformative power of organization, Woodruff shares her personal journey from being a stay-at-home mom to founding Organize365, a thriving business dedicated to helping others declutter and reinvent their homes. “You need to think of your job as a household manager,” she tells Lesley Jane Seymour. “A CEO should look at everyone in the household and divide the resources equally.” With a focus on how organization can enhance productivity and mental clarity, she emphasizes the importance of adapting organizing strategies to different life stages. She outlines the psychological benefits of decluttering and offers practical tips for establishing operational systems that can simplify daily life. Tune in to discover how to navigate your own reinvention through the lens of organization and learn how to create a space that supports your goals and well-being.
About Lisa Woodruff
Lisa Woodruff is a productivity specialist, home organization expert, and founder and CEO of Organize 365. She’s the host of the top-rated Organize 365 Podcast where she shares strategies for reducing overwhelming thoughts, clearing mental clutter, and living a productive and organized life. Lisa has authored several Amazon bestselling books and has been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, US News and World Report, Women’s World, Ladies Home Journal, and more.
Connect with Lisa:
Website
YouTube
Time Stamps:
03:10 - How did you get into organizing?
07:15 - Organized 365 is the largest female owned business in Cincinnati
10:35 - What are the differences in how the household is organized by different generations?
13:14 - The height of materialism was the 80s - and now we're suffering from it
16:38 - Baby boomers are not moving out of their houses, which is causing a housing crisis
21:05 - The psychology of decluttering and organizing
25:31 - How would you organize and increase your closet for productivity?
29:33 - What is the Sunday basket? If you're productive, you probably have one
31:01 - Transitioning from an in-home professional organizer and to a full business
33:45 - Start thinking about your role as a household manager as a job
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"One voice becomes many voices; sometimes there's a blind spot within your organization," says Tony Bond, EVP and Chief Innovation Officer at Great Place to Work. In this episode, Lesley Jane Seymour speaks with Bond about his journey through four distinct careers and his expertise in workplace transformation. He shares insights on navigating challenges like ageism and sexism, offering strategies to foster change—from leveraging personal networks to building employee resource groups. Bond also breaks down how to assess your strengths, explore new career paths, and take control of your professional reinvention. Don’t miss this insightful conversation on advocating for yourself, influencing workplace dynamics, and creating new opportunities for growth.
About Tony Bond
Tony Bond is the EVP and Chief Innovation Officer at Great Place To Work. A strategist, innovator and facilitator, Tony has served as a trusted advisor for executives as some of the most successful global organizations
Connect with Tony:
Time Stamps:
02:48 - Tony Bond's history and growing up
03:35 - Transitioning from finance to corporate sustainability consulting
07:05 - Why women are not happy with the culture in their workplace
13:47 - What do you see for women over 50?
17:23 - Steps for reinventing into a consulting role
21:50 - "Getting to know potential clients is key to success in digital sales"
22:51 - Why some companies are walking away from equity and inclusion efforts
27:47 - Tony's practical steps to reinvent yourself as a consultant
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"We want to give you access to the cutting-edge medications that will help you to thrive as you get older," says Joanna Strober, CEO and co-founder of Midi Health. In this episode, Lesley Jane Seymour sits down with Strober to explore how she reinvented her career—from law and venture capital to pioneering a virtual clinic that ensures women receive the care they deserve through perimenopause and menopause. With a focus on accessible, insurance-covered treatments, Midi Health addresses midlife hormonal changes like anxiety, sleep disturbances, and libido shifts through hormone therapy, lifestyle support, and more. Tune in to hear how Strober is reshaping the future of women’s health and why no woman should have to suffer in silence.
About Joanna Strober
Joanna Strober is the co-founder and CEO of Midi Health, the leading virtual care clinic focused exclusively on women navigating midlife hormonal transition. The company brings insurance-covered expert care for the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause to women nationwide. A serial entrepreneur and recognized leader in the digital health space, Joanna has spoken at HLTH and the Fortune Most Powerful Women Conference, and was named to the Forbes 50 Over 50 list.
Connect with Joanna:
Website
Time Stamps:
02:29 - How Joanna Strober reinvented professionally through five careers
05:04 - MIDI is a virtual care platform for women ages 35 to 65
09:50 - What are people looking for when they go to MIDI for help?
14:25 - How estrogen decrease causes challenges for women in midlife
17:24 - Medications and cancer: the ins and outs
21:18 - How MIDI helps women thrive as they get older
25:19 - Midlife weight loss success stories
26:30 - Dealing with weight gain, hot flashes, and depression
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"I am so thrilled to be where I am," says Gary Wenstrup, a former advertising sales executive who reinvented himself as a music historian and educator. “It was not easy, but to do the things I love to do is a blessing,” In this conversation, Wenstrup shares his journey from the fast-paced world of advertising to teaching courses on legendary artists like The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel. He emphasizes the importance of starting your reinvention early and keeping an open mind, even when the path feels uncertain. “You have to go very, very wide even if it’s stupid or silly, whatever’s in your head,” he advises. With practical tips like creating a ‘selfie list’ of skills and interests, Wenstruop illustrates how curiosity and exploration can guide you toward a fulfilling next chapter. Tune in to hear how he turned his passion into purpose—and why taking the leap is always worth it.
About Gary Wenstrup:
After a rewarding career in advertising sales, Gary Wenstrup retired and developed courses on the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and Motown Records for the Continuing Education Department of College of DuPage. Gary has lectured at over 100 libraries across the country. Gary is also a reoccurring guest on the popular podcast “Something About The Beatles.”
Connect with Gary:
Time Stamps:
02:32 - Gary Wenstrup's background in advertising and corporate
07:45 - What is a "Selfie List"?
09:47 - How he coped with the false starts
14:49 - Gary started presenting at libraries to grow his lectures
17:47 - Why it's not always important to monetize your passions
20:05 - Scaling as a lecturer
21:29 - "Prepare early"
23:15 - Wenstrup's essential tips for reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
“Exploration is free,” says Misha Rubin, career educator and CEO of The Career Leap. He joins Lesley Jane Seymour to share his journey from a successful corporate career— including over 20 years at Ernst & Young— to founding his own coaching business. Drawing from his experience, Rubin unveils his powerful Career Leap Method, a framework designed to help professionals navigate transformation through discovery, pursuit, and foundational support. He explores the barriers to reinvention, from limiting beliefs to societal pressures, and highlights the unique challenges women face in the workforce. With a focus on thoughtful exploration and community support, Rubin offers actionable tips to make career leaps a risk-free endeavor.
About Misha Rubin
Misha Rubin is a career educator, and CEO of The Career Leap. His mission is to facilitate meaningful intentional changes at work and in life. He helps executives and professionals reinvent careers, find dream jobs and thrive at work. He was a Partner at Ernst & Young, where he spent 15 fruitful years of his career. His 20-year corporate experience birthed the The Career Leap method, a guided actionable inquiry that is structured for you to discover and pursue your next career move. Born and raised in Ukraine, Misha is on the board of Worldwide Orphans (WWO), a non-profit that supports children at risk globally, and in 2022 he founded Children of Ukraine to support children with trauma during and post Russian invasion. Misha received the 2022 Humanitarian Award for his work in Ukraine.
Connect with Misha:
Website
Time Stamps:
03:01 - How Misha Rubin reinvented as a coach
05:48 - Helping people in transition in midlife
12:24 - "You need to take everything into account to make a good career decision"
16:52 - What it really means to make decisions based on intuition
21:30 - "People don't know how to start exploring change because it's scary"
23:19 - Why more people are reinventing in midlife now vs. 20 years ago
24:40 - "For most people, career choice is unconscious"
27:47 - How your career choices impact you later in life
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Barbara Kotlikoff Harman, a master of reinvention who transitioned from leading luxury brands like Nina Ricci and Harry Winston to launching The Butler’s Closet, a bespoke storage business devoted to preserving your favorite fashion and lifestyle pieces. Harmon delves into the art of balancing high-level corporate leadership with innovative side hustles, sharing the challenges and triumphs of building customer loyalty and developing unique products in competitive markets. Listeners will gain valuable insights on navigating career shifts, embracing creative problem-solving, and finding their niche through perseverance and strategic innovation. Tune in to discover practical lessons that empower you to transform challenges into opportunities for lasting success.
Watch the interview or read the transcript
About Barbara Kotlikoff Harman
After a successful career as the CEO of Parfums Nina Ricci, the Managing Director of Harry Winston and CEO of Monet, the costume jewelry company, Barbara K. Harman ran Development and raised funds for The Paley Center for Media and The Steinhardt School at NYU. The Butler’s Closet was launched in 2011 when Harman decided she wanted to create her own business.
Connect with Barbara:
Website
Time Stamps:
03:03 - Growing up in New Jersey and early studies
04:45 - How Harman got into the beauty business
08:24 - Harman's first side hustles in design
10:26 - Starting The Butler's Closet as a side hustle
14:07 - Harman's best-selling preservation products
17:09 - The biggest surprise of entrepreneurship
19:30 - How the election impacted Harman's business
24:36 - Harman's tips for reinventing through a side hustle
30:59 - A glimpse at the more than 200 tips in Sollman's book
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Don’t let a problem that could potentially be solved in 30 days upend a career that could last for 30 years," says Kathryn Sollman, author of the groundbreaking new book, The Four Jobs Club: How Smart Women Care for It All. A seasoned career coach, Sollman shares her extensive research on the challenges women face in balancing their careers, children, aging parents, and household responsibilities. She emphasizes the importance of flexibility in the workplace and how women can redefine their success without the pressure to reach the C-suite. Listen in to hear the practical tips and strategies from high-powered women who have successfully navigated these complexities while maintaining their personal lives and discover how you can implement these insights into your own life and find the balance you seek.
About Kathryn Sollman:
Kathryn is a career coach who empowers women to always find work that fits their lives for long-term financial security. She helps women navigate 4 big jobs--a career, as well as caring for children, aging parents and households. She is the author of 2 books—The 4 Jobs Club was published in January.
Time Stamps:
02:08 - How women really can have it all - if they're flexible enough
05:21 - Why Sollman chose to write the book and how it relates to current events
10:13 - What are the four jobs and how do they differ?
13:22 - Sollmann was struck in her research by how close C-Suite women were to their children
16:58 - Women stay out of the workplace for an average of 12.5 years, according to research
19:37 - Are women still shouldering most of everything of the four jobs?
23:56 - How the gender gap is impacting the four jobs
24:55 - Why women felt less guilty about their work when they got their children involved
30:59 - A glimpse at the more than 200 tips in Sollman's book
Connect with Kathryn Sollman:
Website
Buy The 4 Jobs Club
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
I"Your intuition has all of the answers," says Jenn Beninger, founder and CEO of Genius Unlocked Institute. "Aligning your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors is key to success." Beninger shares her journey from a corporate career at WebMD to becoming a leading coach, revealing how her struggles with infertility and financial hardship led to profound reinvention. Listeners will learn how to trust their inner guidance, break through limiting beliefs, and take inspired action. "A coach can only take their clients as deep as they are willing to go themselves," Beninger advises. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on unlocking potential and creating meaningful impact.
About Jenn Beninger:
Jenn Beninger is the Founder and CEO of Genius Unlocked Institute, a board certified company where she coaches, mentors, and transforms leaders’ personal and professional lives. Through her thousands of hours of executive experience, Jenn has refined the art of coaching others on how to delve into what’s holding them back, and guiding them to successfully live in their purpose by calling on their intuition. With her deep understanding of energy work, intuition, communication skills, and mindset work, Jenn is able to produce more breakthrough results than she or her clients could dream of. From fortune 500 companies, to holding executive positions in the coaching industry, managing teams of coaches, developing coaching curriculum, teaching business development skills, and running transformational leadership events, Jenn has helped coaches in nearly every area reach their full potential. Jenn has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is also a board certified trainer at the master level in Neuro Linguistic Programs (NLP), NLP Coaching, Hypnotherapy, Time Line Therapy®, as a Certified Coach through John Maxwell, and a Master Reiki Teacher.
Time Stamps:
02:36 - How growing up in California impacted her career decisions
04:15 - Working as executive assistant to the executive vice president at WebMD
05:44 - How Beninger shifted into entrepreneurship
10:20 - "When you can integrate conscious and unconscious mind, then you can have dreams."
11:39 - Why Beninger chose to leave network marketing to become a coach
15:34 - How coaching allows you to create mind shifts
22:34 - "Coaching can open up that path to your genius"
27:13 - How to align your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors for success
Connect with Jenn Beninger:
Website
YouTube
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Our deepest fears contain the keys to our extraordinary lives,” says Craig Stanland. "Self trust is the deep inherent wisdom that regardless of how things turn out, we know we will be okay." After defrauding a tech giant and losing everything he once held dear, Stanland was sent to federal prison where his life - and mindset - were changed. Rather than succumb to despair, he found purpose in his struggles, emerging as a beacon of hope for those navigating their own midlife crises. Listen in as Stanland reveals what he learned about self-worth, identity, and the importance of community support in the face of adversity. Discover how he transformed his life by connecting with his authentic self and helping others do the same. Tune in for practical insights on overcoming fear, embracing change, and creating a meaningful second half of life.
About Craig
In 2012, Craig made a choice that would change the trajectory of his life; he defrauded a tech giant and landed in federal prison, losing everything along the way, including his will to live, but this was not the end. Today, Craig's mission is to help individuals master midlife so they can create their extraordinary second half by connecting to their authentic selves, discovering their Life Calling, and unleashing their full potential to live purpose-driven, meaningful lives.
Time Stamps
02:02 - Stanland's history as a personal trainer before entering sales
04:13 - "I was planning to commit suicide when FBI called."
10:25 - Getting help for depression while in prison
14:58 - Transforming to coaching and helping others find their identity in midlife
17:56 - "One of the most rewarding things that I can do from my work is helping others."
19:16 - How minimalism helps people find their authentic self
21:35 -The most challenging part of reinvention
25:28 - Self-trust is the key to a successful reinvention
27:28 - Stanland's advice for others experiencing crisis
Connect with Craig Stanland:
Website
Book
TedX Talk
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"You can change your life with just a tap," says Brad Yates, the renowned expert in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) tapping. Yates sits down with Lesley Jane Seymour to share his remarkable journey from aspiring actor to tapping wizard. Discover how EFT tapping can serve as a powerful tool for stress relief and emotional well-being, helping individuals reclaim their lives and navigate the challenges of modern living. Yates delves into the science behind tapping, explaining how it works to calm the nervous system and promote emotional freedom. He also discusses its versatility, making it suitable for everyone—from children coping with anxiety to health practitioners seeking to enhance their practices. Tune in to learn practical techniques, hear inspiring success stories, and find out how you can incorporate tapping into your daily routine for a happier, less stressful life.
About Brad:
Brad Yates is known internationally for his creative use of EFT/Tapping, and has over 1000 YouTube videos. He is the author of the best-selling children's book "The Wizard's Wish," a featured expert in the film “The Tapping Solution.” and a presenter at numerous events, including Jack Canfield's Breakthrough to Success. FREE GIFT: 5-Day Program for Cultivating Self-Worth
Time Stamps:
02:02 - How EFT tapping replaced hypnotherapy as Yates's main modality
05:01 - How EFT helps people overcome phobias
11:21 - Tapping lowers cortisol levels, studies have shown
14:02 - EFT works for anybody who's got an energy system
19:18 - To learn tapping only takes a few minutes in order to relieve stress
23:37 - Yates's personal reinvention into Tapping
27:00 - EFT/Tapping for children
Connect with Brad Yates:
- Website
- YouTube
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"You can't really change your kids, but you can change yourself in small ways," says psychotherapist and author Dr. Judith R. Smith. In this conversation she sheds light on the hidden struggles of mothers over 60 caring for adult children with severe mental health and substance use challenges. Drawing from her book Difficult Mothering, she explores the emotional toll, societal stigma, and isolation these women face. Listen as Dr. Smith discusses the complexities of caregiving, the guilt and shame that often arise, and the urgent need for self-care and support. With compassion and expertise, Dr. Smith offers practical strategies for setting boundaries and reclaiming a sense of self. A must-listen for anyone navigating the challenges of motherhood and reinvention.
About Judith R. Smith
Judith R. Smith, Ph.D., LCSW, is a New York City based psychotherapist, professor, and researcher on women’s issues as they age. She is a professor, Emerita, at Fordham University. She offers support groups online for mothers with difficult adult children. Her book, Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children through Conflict and Change, is based on a three-year research project and brings to life the stories of fifty women, each over sixty years old, whose lives were drastically altered by becoming the default safety net for their adult “kids.”
Links
Website
Time Stamps:
03:23 - Dr. Smith talks about mothering, challenging adult children
06:21 - "The most likely perpetrator of elder abuse is an adult child living at home"
10:36 - What percent of adult children fall into this category
15:51 - An awful lot of our homeless situation is due to untreated mental illness
18:26 - Several feminist researchers say parenting is different for men and women
23:27 - How to deal with guilt as a mother
28:42 - Parents who have a child with substance use disorder are eligible for subsidized housing
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"It feels good to be your best," says Robin Bobbé, a multi-talented professional who has seamlessly transitioned across various roles in the fashion and beauty industry. From her humble beginnings as a painfully shy girl on Long Island to becoming a successful print producer and model, Bobbé shares her inspiring journey of reinvention. Discover how she navigated barriers in her career, the importance of embracing change, and the power of community support for women over 40. She offers practical tips for those looking to make a similar leap, emphasizing the value of experience and the necessity of reaching out for guidance. Tune in to learn how to break free from self-imposed limitations and redefine your path with confidence.
About Robin
In 2001, Robin Bobbé began her casting company for print advertising working with among others, a plus size model (a term in those days for anyone over a size 2) named, Maye Musk. In 2017 Robin reinvented her site, ModernagerCasting to focus on real women of diversity over 40, where she and her husband, photographer, Leland Bobbé provide Getty Images with portraits of today’s modern mature women. She recently added coaching to provide women with the tools they need to become commercial models.
Links
Website
Time Stamps:
03:01 - Meet Robin Bobbé
07:02 - Her first fashion job
10:04 - "I found my dream job at 50 as a print producer for advertising"
11:05 - What modeling was like for older women in the '90s
21:25 - Giving the visibility to older woman that they deserve
25:50 - Creating opportunities for representation
26:47 - Why it's still very hard to find older women in stock photos
31:38 - Bobbé's advice for aspiring middle-age models or actors
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"You need to respect where you are in order to get where you need to be," says Laura Moore, M.Ed., Principal of ClutterClarity. Through her work Moore delves deep into the psychology behind clutter, exploring how shame and societal pressures can trap us in cycles of accumulation. In this conversation, she discusses how she transformed her passion for beauty and organizations into a mission to empower women to reclaim their spaces and their lives. Discover the ClutterClarity way, which emphasizes self-care, emotional management, and community support as essential tools for overcoming clutter challenges.
Want to dive deeper? Join us for a special class with Laura MooreThe ClutterClarity Way: It’s Your Mess, But Not Your Fault - Thursday, February 20 at 6pm ET
About Laura
Laura Moore, M.Ed, Principal of ClutterClarity, LLC evolved over 30 years from professional organizer, downsizing coach, and move manager to Life Skills Mentor for women who want to learn how to stay in a position of power to enjoy a decluttered home and life. Laura attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education, invested and renovated rental apartments, ran Moore Communications, a marketing company for small financial, legal, medial service companies. Laura co-authored the "Retail Revolution" with labor economist Barry Bluestone, et al, and wrote "Paper Clarity: What to Keep, Where and When to Shred," now in its 3rd edition. She’s currently writing, "Live with ClutterClarity: It’s Your Mess, But Not Your Fault.” She is neither a perfectionist or a minimalist. Laura resides in Metro-west Boston, USA, and loves people, collaging, beauty, homes, and stuff.
Links
Website
YouTube
Timestamps
02:53 - Laura Moore's history and how she got involved with decluttering
07:07 - Why it takes, on average, 66 days to change a habit
09:21 - How shame can impact your clutter
12:22 - What is the ClutterClarity method and why is it different?
16:37 - How ADHD can impact your ability to declutter
21:52 - Decluttering as self-care
23:41 - What to do with inherited clutter
27:25 - How do you deal with regret when going through your clutter?
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Bet on yourself," says Cate Luzio, a former banker turned CEO. "There's nobody better to bet on than yourself because you know you can make it happen." She founded Luminary, a global platform designed to support and advance women through every stage of their career, just before the Covid-19 outbreak. In this conversation Luzio shares her journey to adapt to the changing technology landscape and highlights the importance of community and collaboration. Learn how she worked to leverage networks and learn from her mistakes to create a successful business. Plus, learn her three essential tips for making your entrepreneurial dreams a reality.
Bio:
Cate Luzio is a former banker turned Founder and CEO of Luminary, the global membership-based professional education and networking platform created to uplift, upskill, and propel women forward through all phases of their career journey.
Links:
Website
Timestamps:
02:37 - How Cate segued from banking into entrepreneurship
05:34 - The original mission of Luminary was to advance women in the workforce
07:53 - Luminary is a co-working space that helps women build community
11:39 - Hosting as many as 25 events monthly
14:31 - "I feel like women are moving slowly in the workforce"
19:27 - Are employers attracting talent or paying them?
20:27 - The one thing Cate uses to gauge opportunities is priorities, purpose and path
24:03 - How Cate sees future of funding for women
25:32 - "I think we need to take a hard look at where all sources of funding come from"
26:51 - Men historically have larger networks than women, but women have smaller networks
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
Emma Andrews, an intuitive medium, joins the Reinvent Yourself podcast for a unique conversation about self-discovery in times of transformation. Andrews shares her journey from being a caregiver in a traditional suburban family to discovering her intuitive gifts through personal challenges, including chronic illness and the loss of her father. Through her intuitive method, Andrews teaches others how to connect with their inner compass. Learn how to tap into your own intuition for decision-making and self-discovery through this unique approach to navigating life's transitions. Tune in to learn her favorite techniques to help you make decisions that align with your values, and how your intuition can guide you toward your next chapter with confidence and clarity.
Bio
Emma is an Intuitive and Medium who teaches intuition development around the world. Emma helps individuals create positive transformations in their lives and in the world through her private sessions and courses online.
Connect with Debbie:
Website
Timestamps:
02:55 - How Emma first discovered she had intuitive gifts
05:52 - She developed chronic illness and chronic pain while attending college
13:10 - Why are some people are more naturally inclined to connecting with their intuition?
28:56 - Using your intuition to get guidance connects you with your higher self
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
Debbie Weiss asked herself, “If not now, when?”—and transformed her life. "I realized that I had the power within me to change,” she tells Lesley Jane Seymour on the Reinvent Yourself podcast. “It was just changing my approach and my thoughts." Her desire for change ultimately helped her make the leap from a conventional insurance career to becoming an advocate for personal growth. As a caregiver and mom to a son with autism, Weiss overcame immense challenges, finding reinvention through podcasts, mindset coaching, and community. Her memoir, On Second Thought, Maybe I Can, inspires others to take small steps toward their dreams. Tune in to learn how her journey can help you unlock your potential.
Bio:
Debbie, a seasoned life strategist with over five decades of experience, has faced some of life's most daunting challenges head-on and emerged as a beacon of hope and inspiration for others.
A tenacious entrepreneur, Debbie manages both a thriving insurance agency and her charming online store, "A Sprinkle of Hearts." As the host of the "Maybe I Can" podcast and an inspirational speaker, she generously shares her wisdom and insights on overcoming limiting beliefs and fears. As a dedicated family caregiver and mother, Debbie's resilience shines through in every aspect of her life.
Driven by her passion for helping others live their best lives, Debbie delights in laughter, dancing, reading, and staying active during her leisure time. Her unwavering spirit and infectious enthusiasm inspire others to pursue their dreams, regardless of the obstacles they face.
Connect with Debbie:
Website
Timestamps:
02:47 - How to handle the transition from a regular job to entrepreneurship
04:16 - Life as a caregiver
10:03 - "Every single thing that's happened to me...started with a podcast"
12:56 - Debbie says she was looking for a way to make more money
15:17 - How Debbie found her footing in podcasts
25:23 - Why learning is the key to being excited about the future
26:17 - Learn more about Debbie's books
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Even if it's a dumb idea or just a pipe dream, the more you put it out into the world, the more it starts to shape into something real and create opportunities." So says Steve Perkins, a former engineer turned career coach. Dissatisfied with his career, Perkins desired to find a more fulfilling path while maintaining financial stability. Discover how he navigated the transition from particle accelerators to leadership and coaching, and how he now helps others find their unique strengths and passions. This conversation offers practical insights into the financial aspects of career reinvention, emphasizing the importance of creating a financial runway and setting realistic milestones. Listen in to learn how to overcome fear, embrace your unique talents, and turn your dreams into reality.
Bio:
Steve is familiar with the feeling of untapped potential. He spent 12 years searching for his career calling while building superconducting particle accelerators and launching a culture transformation within a Fortune 500 company, yet he always had the nagging feeling he wasn't making his full impact. Born out of his own experience that people often sense new levels of growth waiting for them – in life or career – but lack the clarity or confidence to obtain them, Steve earned his certification as an Executive Leadership Coach and founded Greenhouse in 2017. As a coach, he brings a unique value based on diverse experiences across 14 industries and 17 different role types, including extensive knowledge in leadership, corporate culture, Agile and design thinking, work methodologies, and human behavior. Steve's experience allows him to relate to almost any situation as well as balance the "coaching mind" and "business mind" that are too frequently compartmentalized. A seasoned podcast host, TEDx facilitator, and keynote speaker, Steve energizes a room with his inspirational messaging and authentic, engaging personality.
Connect with Steve:
Website
Podcast
TikTok
YouTube
Timestamps:
02:36 - What to do when your work isn't fulfilling
07:03 - How Perkins shifted through different roles before starting his own business
11:48 - Leaving corporate voluntarily
13:54 - How creating a timeline with milestones makes starting a business much more manageable
21:15 - Introducing Greenhouse Coaching
26:00 - "What are the kinds of niches that you find work very well today?"
30:15 - Perkins offers three tips for people trying to transition from paycheck into coaching
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour:
- Website
- Substack
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join me on Substack. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Give yourself grace,” says Julie Hamilton, a certified fibromyalgia and life coach. "Accept your life now and look at the positive.” Hamilton joins Lesley Jane Seymour on the Reinvent Yourself podcast to share how she turned her 25-year HR career into a mission-driven coaching business for professionals managing chronic illness. Diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2009, Julie reveals how her personal journey shaped her approach to supporting others. She explains the power of finding your niche and using digital tools to create global impact, offering practical tips for building a business rooted in purpose. Her bestselling book, Chronic Illness at Work, provides actionable insights for fostering workplace inclusivity. Tune in to uncover strategies for thriving with chronic illness and transforming your passion into a career that makes a difference
02:16 Introducing Julie Hamilton a fibromyalgia coach and life coach
05:40 Understanding what fibromyalgia is
11:18 Did you know that your fibromyalgia was related barometrically?
14:05 What it means to work with someone who has fibromyalgia
17:20 What's the most interesting thing that you've learned being a fibromyalgia coach?
18:19 How to become a coach for others with chronic illness
20:16 Writing her book and dealing with fibromyalgia in general
24:41 Is working from home better or worse for someone with chronic illness?
27:55 The steps you need to take to become a coach
30:24 How to get certified as a health coach
Links
Amazon
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"You don't have to be this perfect specimen in order to have value," says Jennifer Gasner, a true force of reinvention. Diagnosed at 17 with Friedrich's Ataxia, a rare neuromuscular disease, Jennifer has turned challenges into triumphs—with humor, resilience, and a passion for advocacy. Now an Amazon bestselling author, she shares how she found joy and balance beyond her diagnosis. Her memoir, My Unexpected Finding Balance Beyond My Diagnosis, offers profound lessons in adaptability and mindset. Tune in to discover how Gasner's journey can inspire your own reinvention and remind you that possibility thrives even in adversity.
Bio
At seventeen, Jennifer Gasner was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia, a rare neuromuscular disease, but her determination and humor helped her navigate life’s challenges, from using a walker to a wheelchair. She earned a BA in English from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and an MS in Recreation from Western Illinois University, where she cultivated a love for music and student engagement. Her career includes advocating for disability rights with Wisconsin’s Independent Living Centers, mentoring youth, and co-chairing UC San Diego’s disability staff association. As a Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance Ambassador, she raises awareness and champions rare disease legislation. Honored by the International Memoir Writers Association, Jennifer’s work, including her published story Diagnosis, reflects her passion for writing as she crafts a coming-of-age memoir, Walking is Overrated. Living in San Diego with her boyfriend Gregory and their two dogs, Wyatt and Ki, she enjoys yoga, movies, and travel.
Links
Website
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
""Alcohol has really, like, gotten into every crevice of our society," notes Hilary Sheinbaum. A journalist turned advocate for mindful drinking, she joins the Reinvent Yourself podcast to share her transformative journey with Dry January. This conversation delves into the societal pressures of alcohol consumption and how Hillary's accidental bet led to profound personal change. Discover how this simple challenge improved Hillary's sleep, skin, and financial health, and how it can inspire your reinvention. With practical tips for navigating social situations without alcohol and a look at the growing trend of non-alcoholic options, this episode is a must-listen for anyone considering a lifestyle shift. Whether you're motivated by health, finances, or just curiosity, Hillary's story offers a fresh perspective on living alcohol-free.
TIME STAMPS
(02:59) Hilary Sheinbaum talks about how to control drinking at midlife
(07:05) "Did you feel like alcohol fueling your job?"
(09:52) Quitting alcohol for a month during Dry January
(15:24) "Having someone supporting your endeavor is so valuable"
(16:05) Sheinbaum says her sleep changed dramatically after removing alcohol from her life
(20:00) Alcohol is expensive no matter where you are, especially in large metropolitan areas
(22:09) How is the peer pressure today compared to previous generations?
(26:24) There are activities in Going Dry that can help you track your progress
Links
- Hillary on Instagram
- Hillary's Books on Amazon
"I've always taken the position of owning it all – good, bad, and indifferent," says Regina Young, a former model and now host of the Team Time Midlife Edition podcast. From the runways of New York to the corporate world of pharmaceuticals, Young’s story is one of continuous learning and adaptation. Discover how she transitioned into podcasting and get her tips on how to embrace midlife changes with grace and empowerment. “Dream a little. Dream a lot,” she says. “Go on and write a list about your midlife bucket list."
Time Stamps:
(02:07) Growing up in Philadelphia (and idolizing Cher)
(03:35) How Young started out in modeling
(08:16) Young's first reinvention
(13:43) Reinventing as a podcast host
(16:05) Why it's important to be a continuous learner
(17:44) How to deal with the changes in midlife
(20:17) There's so many people who are devastated by their body changes
(23:39) How to find out where you're stuck and then find a source to move forward
(26:07) Creating a midlife bucket list
Links
Podcast
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
“You can’t learn to write a book without writing it,” says New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Eva Lesko Natiello. From her early days as VP of Global Communications at Estee Lauder to becoming a self-published author, she shares her pivot to writing and provides invaluable marketing insights, advice on career reinvention, and the importance of granting oneself permission to change. Whether you're an aspiring author or looking to reinvent your career, her story will inspire you to embrace your passions and take that first step towards change.
Links
Website
Substack
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Fail forward, fast and often," says Caroline Dowd Higgins, an executive coach, consultant, and speaker who transformed her career from opera singer to career coach. In this episode of the Reinvent Yourself podcast she shares insights from her book Your Career: Overcome Challenges to Achieve a Rewarding Work Life and her award-winning podcast Your Working Life, offering practical advice on embracing change, overcoming fear, and leveraging transferable skills. Gain actionable tips to navigate career transitions, find fulfillment, and turn challenges into opportunities for growth and success.
Time Stamps:
(02:28) Life as an opera singer
(08:58) Transition from opera singer to public speaker was seamless
(10:51) "Women need to give themselves permission to fail"
(14:51) "We need to get back to basics. We can't be passive. We've got to be proactive right now."
(17:04) How to put yourself out there when you're afraid of failure
(22:43) How older women who are changing direction in the workforce
(25:38) A lot of younger people don't know what age you are
(28:09) Caroline says women need to get quiet to think about reinvention
Links:
Caroline Dowd Higgins Website
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Meet your resistance with compassion and understanding," says with Andrea Engstrom, founder of LilHabit.com and a trailblazer in digital media and habit formation. Engstrom shares her journey from producing for industry giants like MTV, NBC, and ABC to becoming an entrepreneur who helps others unlock their potential through the power of tiny habits. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by big goals or stuck in procrastination, this conversation will show you how starting small can lead to massive breakthroughs. Her practical advice on creating achievable habits, breaking through resistance, and building momentum will inspire you to stop overthinking and start taking action today. Whether you’re launching a business, chasing a personal goal, or simply trying to manage your day more effectively, this episode is packed with insights to help you ditch excuses, embrace progress, and get shit done.
Links
Website
Substack
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"What are the signals that our bodies are sending that all of a sudden is telling me to be happy?" This was the question that prompted author and multi-level reinventor Janice Kaplan to write her new book, What Your Body Knows About Happiness (Sourcebooks, January 2025). Kaplan, a former editor-in-chief of Parade Magazine and author of the national bestseller The Gratitude Diaries sits down with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to share her unique journey of balancing careers in television production, magazine editing, and writing. Listen in as she reveals what she learned from her gratitude research, including how our physical selves and a mindset of gratitude might just hold the key to lasting joy
Key Points:
- Embracing a multi-lane approach to reinvention and career development.
- The science behind gratitude and its impact on health and stress levels.
- Insights from her new book on how physical sensations influence happiness.
- The role of environment, posture, and sensory experiences in shaping our emotions.
- Encouragement to explore new experiences and environments for personal growth.
Links:
- Website
- Preorder What Your Body Knows About Happiness
- Buy The Gratitude Diaries
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"It's never too late to pursue a dream," says Yvonne Marchese, host of the Late Bloomer Living podcast. From aspiring actress to mother and later podcast host and photographer, Marchese’s path has been anything but linear. “Midlife is full of possibility,” she tells me. “We have this little golden moment in time where we can affect change.” Tune in to hear how Marchese embraced identity shifts, creativity, and storytelling to navigate her reinvention and inspire others.
Key Points:
- Embracing midlife as a time of opportunity and potential for change.
- The significance of community and coaching in fostering personal growth.
- The transformative power of curiosity and playfulness.
- Overcoming internal and external pressures to conform to societal expectations.
Links:
- Late Bloomer Living
- Late Bloomer Living Podcast
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
Voices for Change: Rebecca Hart Holder on Empowering Reproductive Freedom "Abortion is healthcare, and healthcare is a human right – full stop." So says Rebecca Hart Holder, president of Reproductive Equity Now and co-founder of the State Abortion Access Network. As the landscape of reproductive rights faces unprecedented challenges, Hart Holder joins Lesley Jane Seymour to shares her personal journey of reinvention and her relentless advocacy for reproductive healthcare as a fundamental human right. With a focus on state-level action and community engagement, Hart Holder offers insights into how individuals can make a significant impact, regardless of political climate or state affiliation. This episode is a call to action for listeners to harness their voices, support reproductive freedom, and ensure healthcare access for all.
Bio: Rebecca Hart Holder is the President of Reproductive Equity Now and a co-founder of the State Abortion Access Network. Rebecca has dedicated her career to ensuring all people have access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care. As President of Reproductive Equity Now, Rebecca and her team have secured critical legislative victories to safeguard and expand reproductive freedom in Massachusetts, and recently expanded the organization's advocacy work to New Hampshire and Connecticut. Rebecca has been recognized for her work as one of Out Magazine's 2022 Top 100 LGBTQ+ Policy Makers and Advocates and by the Boston Business Journal’s Power 50 Leaders.
Key Points:
-
Reproductive healthcare is a fundamental human right that encompasses more than just abortion access.
-
State-level advocacy is crucial in the fight for reproductive freedom, especially in the face of federal challenges.
-
Community involvement and local political engagement can drive significant change.
-
Sharing personal stories and experiences can shift the narrative and increase support for reproductive rights.
-
Reinvention requires resilience, support networks, and a refusal to accept "no" as an answer.
Links:
- Reproductive Equity Now
- State Abortion Access Network
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Our brains are set up to keep us safe, not to keep us happy, says Michelle Phillips, president of Key Performance and author of Happiness is a Habit. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour she shares her 23-year entrepreneurial journey and reveals how daily rituals boost energy, well-being, and joy. She discusses her shift from sales to becoming a corporate trainer for Fortune 500 companies, highlighting the role of mindset and small habits in creating big changes. Michelle's story emphasizes the power of positive psychology and supportive networks in personal and professional growth.
Bio: Michelle Phillips is the president of Key Performance and the author of Happiness is a Habit: Simple Daily Rituals that Increase Energy, Improve Well-being, and Add Joy to Every Day. With over 20 years of experience, she has guided Fortune 500 companies worldwide, including TAG Heuer, Pfizer, and Verizon, in leadership and positive psychology.
Time Stamps
02:15 - Michelle Phillips on her early career
06:18 - Reinvention is all about mindset - here's why
09:46 - Helping people with more than just their job has become the norm
12:35 - Tiny habits coaching helps people through transition
18:15 - Happiness gets a bad rap because people think it's fake
19:17 - Why women take themselves out of game too soon in corporate life
25:04 - Do you see any difference in how women see their future versus the men?
25:51 - Coming out of sales and to write a book
Key Points:
-
Mindset and tiny habits are crucial for personal and professional transformation.
-
Positive psychology and optimism can be learned and applied to enhance life satisfaction.
-
Women should embrace their value and potential, continuing to grow and contribute in their careers.
-
Supportive networks and mentorship can significantly impact one's journey of reinvention.
Links and Resources:
Visit Michelle Phillips' Website
Buy Happiness is a Habit
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
In this episode of "Reinvent Yourself," host Lesley Jane Seymour is joined by Jeannie Ralston, the dynamic co-founder and CEO of Next Tribe. Together, they explore Jeannie's journey of transforming a digital magazine into a thriving travel company for women over 45. Delve into the challenges and triumphs of pivoting from a passion project to a profitable business, and discover how Jeannie leveraged her background in travel writing to curate unique experiences that foster deep connections and lifelong memories. This conversation is a testament to the power of reinvention and the importance of community and adaptability in business.
A gift for podcast listeners! Get $250 off any NextTribe trip. Use code COVEY at checkout.Bio:
Jeannie Ralston is the co-founder and CEO of Next Tribe, a company that began as a digital magazine and has evolved into a travel company catering to smart, engaged women over 45. With her extensive background in travel writing and planning, Jeannie curates transformative trips that connect travelers with local women and cultures. Her work is driven by a passion for empowering women to age boldly and embrace new adventures.
00:48 - How Jeannie Ralston is turning a passion play into a real business
02:24 - Next Tribe started life as a digital magazine for women over 45
06:04 - Figuring out the reinvention that's right for you
06:29 - How Nextribe has pivoted from travel to a digital magazine business
10:21 - NextTribe caters to women who believe midlife is not the end of anything
17:53 - Navigating through multiple business pivots
21:59 - How Ralston met her co-founder Jeannie Edmonds
31:17 - Ralston's advice for women trying to turn their passion into a business
Key Points:
- Transforming a passion play into a viable business requires adaptability and innovation.
- Community and shared values can significantly enhance group dynamics and experiences.
- Strategic partnerships and collaboration can be vital for overcoming business hurdles.
- Understanding your unique strengths and market position is crucial for differentiation.
- Flexibility in business models can lead to discovering new opportunities and growth paths.
Links and Resources:
- Visit Next Tribe
- Explore Covey Club
If you found this episode insightful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"You are the only one that's responsible for your own happiness," says Karen Amster-Young, a strategic advisor, author, and journalist. She joins Lesley Jane Seymour to discuss the art of getting unstuck and the nuances of reinvention in today's fast-paced world. With her extensive background in communications and public relations, Amster-Young shares insights from her book, The 52 Weeks, and her personal experiences of overcoming life's hurdles. This episode delves into the reasons why people get stuck, particularly women over 40, and explores practical steps to regain momentum. From embracing baby steps to revisiting past passions and establishing new rituals, this conversation offers a treasure trove of advice for anyone seeking to navigate life's transitions with resilience and creativity.
Bio:
Karen Amster-Young is a strategic advisor for communications agencies, an author and a journalist. Her work has been published in The New York Times, Insider.com, Hamptons magazine and many other regional and national media platforms, and the author of the nonfiction book The 52 Weeks: Two Women and Their Quest to Get Unstuck, with Stories and Ideas to Jumpstart Your Year of Discovery (Skyhorse, 2013). She shares stories and gives back to various causes.
Timestamps:
01:28 - Karen Amster-Young's history as a public relations consultant and author
04:44 - Her year of getting unstuck and reinventing herself
05:24 - Why do women over 40 get stuck? What are they getting stuck on?
09:53 - What she learned about getting unstuck from interviewing experts
15:48 - "I think there's evergreen messages about getting unstuck and reinvention"
22:53 - What are the advantages of working remotely now versus 20 years ago?
24:05 - What else have you seen that can help people get unstuck today?
29:29 - How giving back is really important for keeping you mentally and physically healthy
Key Points:
-
Taking baby steps can help overcome paralysis and fear.
-
Revisiting past passions and trying new things can reignite joy and creativity.
-
Community support and friendships are crucial in navigating life's transitions.
-
The current flexibility and accessibility of resources make reinvention more achievable than ever.
-
Giving back can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Links and Resources:
Visit Karen Amster-Young's Website
Follow Karen on Instagram
Connect with Karen on LinkedIn
Explore CoveyClub
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Change is inevitable," says Niamh McAnally, an Irish-born author, speaker, and former TV director. "You've got to be ready for the next kind of reinvention." In this conversation McAnally shares her incredible journey of reinvention, from working in television to becoming a scuba instructor, to living on a sailboat with the love of her life. Discover how McAnally found her true calling and a profound love in the most unexpected places. This episode is a testament to the power of embracing change, following your passions, and finding love later in life.
Bio: Niamh McAnally y is an Irish-born bestselling author, keynote and corporate speaker, and former TV director. She is the youngest daughter of the late BAFTA award-winning actor Ray McAnally and actress Ronnie Masterson. Neif has traveled the world, living and working as a volunteer in many island nations in the Caribbean and the South Pacific. She is known for her adventurous spirit and her new memoir, "Following Sunshine: A Voyage Around the Mind, Around the World, and Around the Heart."
01:28 - Introducing Niamh McAnally
03:04 - Growing up in Ireland taught her that change is inevitable
04:06 -McAnally's background
06:09 - Work life and history
08:11 - How did you get published and where were you published?
12:53 - When you have a major change, it's very helpful to stop and think
15:27 - McAnally's through the middle age from homelessness to a captivating global quest
19:28 - One of the most important things as you get older is staying curious
25:17 - Stay present in the moment is the key to success in life
25:35 - McAnally's tips and tricks for older women traveling alone
28:21 - McAnally talks about saving money by traveling the world as a volunteer
Key Points:
- Embracing change can lead to unexpected and fulfilling opportunities.
- Following your passions can help you reinvent yourself at any stage of life.
- Finding love later in life is possible and can be incredibly rewarding.
- Volunteering and minimalism can provide a path to personal growth and adventure.
- Staying curious, adaptable, and grateful are essential habits for reinvention.
Links and Resources:
- Niamh McAnally's Website
- Visit Covey Club
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
“He was our true north,” says Marianne Leone of her son Jesse; “He was the best thing that ever happened to us.” An actress, screenwriter, and essayist, Leone shares her deeply personal journey of navigating profound loss and finding solace and purpose through writing and rescuing dogs. In this heartfelt conversation, Lesley Jane Seymour delves into Leone's story of losing her son Jesse at 17 and how she reinvented herself through art and advocacy. Discover how Leone's experiences with grief, love, and recovery led her to write her latest memoir, "Five Dog Epiphany," which beautifully intertwines her life with the joy and healing brought by her rescue dogs. This episode is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of creativity and compassion.
Bio: Marianne Leone is an accomplished actress, screenwriter, and essayist whose work has appeared in prestigious publications like the Boston Globe and Lithub. She is the author of two memoirs, "Jesse" and "Ma Speaks Up." Leone had a recurring role on HBO's "The Sopranos" and has appeared in films by directors such as Martin Scorsese and David O. Russell. She lives outside of Boston with her husband and continues to inspire through her writing and advocacy.
Timestamps
(03:50) - Introducing Marianne Leone
(07:04) - She stopped acting after she had her son ten weeks early
(09:29) - Jesse was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three
(13:20) - How dogs can help nonverbal individuals
(16:40) - Why rescuing dogs isn't easy - but is worth it
(19:42) - Where animals fit into Leone's family
(21:51) - How dogs are responsive in our lives
(22:18) - How signs from the universe impacted her grief
(26:13) -Seeing hawks and a fox: symbolism through animals
(29:45) - Marianne Leone's book about her son Jesse is called Five Dog Epiphany
Key Points:
-
Art and writing can serve as powerful tools for healing and transformation.
-
Rescuing animals can bring unexpected joy and help in the grieving process.
-
Personal loss can lead to advocacy and a deeper understanding of life's purpose.
-
Spiritual signs and connections can provide comfort and guidance during tough times.
Links and Resources:
Preorder "Five Dog Epiphany" by Marianne Leone
Support independent bookstores
Visit Covey Club
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"When God tells you it's time to reinvent, you listen," says Staci Wallace, best-selling author, speaker, and CEO of Fueled by Fire. In this episode, Lesley Jane Seymour sat down with Wallace to explore a unique perspective on reinvention driven by faith and divine inspiration. From her early days as a tough tomboy in South Dallas to becoming a business strategist who has shared the stage with five U.S. presidents, her journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Discover how she transitioned from a life of entrepreneurial success to leading a purpose-driven, faith-based consulting company that empowers others to create highly profitable businesses that glorify God. Wallace also shares her personal experience with physical and spiritual transformation, including a heartfelt discussion about her decision to remove breast implants for health reasons. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone seeking to reinvent themselves at any stage of life.
Bio
Staci Wallace is a best-selling author, speaker, and CEO of Fueled by Fire, a global faith-based consulting company. With 35 years of expertise in business psychology and leadership development, she empowers entrepreneurs, CEOs, and influencers to create purpose-driven, highly profitable businesses and nonprofit organizations. Stacey and her husband Larry are also the founders of Em Women, a nonprofit organization that rescues and restores the lives of women and girls facing life's most difficult challenges.
02:54 - Wallace started out in network marketing at 18 and has built multiple businesses
08:14 - The intersection of midlife and reinvention
14:51 - Wallace's health journey and miracle
18:25 - Wallace says God asked her to give everything away to the poor
24:08 - Fueled by Fire coaches entrepreneurs to become conduits of generosity
24:53 - How Fueled by Fire became a million dollar business
26:06 - Wallace's three tips for reinvention
Key Points:* Reinvention can be driven by divine inspiration and faith. * Physical transformations can lead to significant improvements in health and well-being. * Midlife reinvention requires embracing who you are now, rather than striving to be who you once were. * Purpose-driven businesses can be both highly profitable and a conduit for generosity.
Links and Resources:* Visit Staci Wallace's Website * Explore Covey Club
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"What to do when you feel like crap" is the unfiltered, honest theme of this episode, featuring the inspiring Heather Chauvin. A leadership coach and former social worker, Chauvin helps successful women live, work, and parent on their own terms. She shares her journey from an early motherhood at 18 to a life-altering stage four cancer diagnosis in 2013, which propelled her into a mission to uncover how cultural expectations sabotage our dreams. Join us as Chauvin discusses the concept of being "emotionally uncomfortable," the importance of self-awareness, and actionable steps to transform your life.
Bio:
Heather Chauvin is a leadership coach specializing in helping women courageously and authentically live, work, and parent on their own terms. She began her career as a social worker and pivoted to coaching after a stage four cancer diagnosis in 2013. Heather is passionate about helping women uncover how cultural expectations sabotage their dreams and has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Real Simple, MindBodyGreen, and Google.
(00:00) - Heather Chauvin is a leadership coach who helps women live on their own terms
(01:49) - The meaning behind "emotionally uncomfortable"
(02:19) - Six months after becoming self employed, Chauvin was diagnosed with stage four cancer
(07:58) - Danielle Laporte says burning out started when she became a mother
(15:13) - People often teach that you have to lead by example to change others
(22:17) - Chauvin discusses her health and where she is now
(24:10) - Heather says women are more open to talking about mental health and emotional wellness
Key Points:
- Embracing emotional discomfort can lead to profound personal growth.
- Self-awareness and personal responsibility are crucial for transformation.
- Taking consistent action is necessary to create lasting change.
- Midlife transitions often prompt women to seek change and prioritize their well-being.
- Heather's journey from a cancer diagnosis to thriving shows the power of resilience and self-care.
Links and Resources:
- Heather Chauvin's Website
- Heather Chauvin on Instagram
- Emotionally Uncomfortable Podcast
- Visit Covey Club
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Reinvention is not a straight path; it's a journey of unexpected turns and newfound opportunities," says Coco Brown, the founder and CEO of Athena Alliance. In this episode of the Reinvent Yourself podcast, CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour chats with Brown about her remarkable journey from a psychology major to a leading figure in the tech industry. Learn how she leveraged her passion for people and engineering to climb the corporate ladder, navigate the challenges of being a woman in tech, and ultimately create a platform that empowers women to achieve their executive career goals. Whether you're looking to pivot your career, break into the tech industry, or find inspiration for your next big move, Brown’s story offers invaluable insights and practical advice.
Bio:
Coco Brown is the founder and CEO of Athena Alliance, an organization dedicated to helping women advance their executive careers and secure board positions. With over 30 years of experience in Silicon Valley, Coco has a unique perspective on career development and the importance of building a diverse portfolio of impact.
Timestamps:
- (02:35) - Coco Brown's personal reinvention
- (03:58) - A woman building websites and doing other tech-related jobs
- (04:56) - How psychology and business intersected to form Athena Alliance
- (08:14) - Athena Alliance was founded in 2005 to help women get on tech boards
- (13:50) - Does Brown still do work of getting women on boards?
- (19:47) - Why do we still use the word retirement?
- (21:03) - Brown's tips and tricks for following her reinvention
Key Points:
- Reinvention often involves unexpected career pivots and leveraging diverse skill sets.
- Building a diverse portfolio of impact is crucial for long-term career success.
- Women should embrace a holistic approach to career development, beyond the traditional corporate ladder.
- Believing in your potential and taking incremental steps can lead to significant achievements.
Links and Resources:
- Visit Athena Alliance
- Connect with Coco Brown on LinkedIn
- Explore Covey Club
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Pets are more than just companions; they are catalysts for mental and physical well-being," says Dr. Karen Wolfe, an Australian-born physician turned health coach. In this episode of the Reinvent Yourself podcast I sit down with Dr. Wolfe to explore the profound impact pets can have on our lives, especially in midlife. From reducing loneliness and stress to improving heart health and mental clarity, discover how the unconditional love of a pet can be a transformative force. Whether you're a lifelong animal lover or considering adopting a new furry friend, this episode offers invaluable insights into choosing the right pet for your lifestyle and maximizing the health benefits of pet ownership
Bio:
Dr. Karen Wolfe is a physician, health coach, and recipient of the National Wellness Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. She is passionate about creating health through holistic approaches and making complex information accessible to all.
Time Stamps
(05:03) - Talking about the surgeon general's report on loneliness
(07:49) - Animals fill a spot in your life that is somewhere between spouse and child
(13:00) - The surgeon general says owning an animal can reduce your health risk
(19:55) - How a pet can improve your brain health in particular
(23:41) - The role of animals and that emptiness feeling in life
(25:52) - Doing some research is important when choosing a pet for midlife
(30:12) - Having an animal in midlife can have many health benefits, Dr. Karen says
Key Points:
-
Pets offer significant mental and physical health benefits, including reducing loneliness, stress, and heart disease.
-
Choosing the right pet for your lifestyle is crucial to maximizing these benefits.
-
Pets can help improve serotonin levels, leading to better mental health and reduced cravings.
-
Volunteering at animal shelters can be a great way to experience different types of pets before adopting.
Links and Resources:
Visit Covey Club
Read Dr. Karen Wolfe's Article on Pet Therapy
Surgeon General's Report on Loneliness
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Self-confidence is a choice and a mindset before it becomes a behavior," says Lisa Sun, CEO of GRAVITAS, a fashion brand dedicated to inclusivity and empowerment. She sits down with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to share her incredible journey from her immigrant upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur and author. Discover how Sun's mission to catalyze confidence through size-inclusive fashion has transformed lives and inspired her to write her book, Gravitas: The 8 Strengths that Redefine Confidence. Take her unique confidence quiz, learn about the six forces that affect self-esteem, and get practical tips for reinventing your look and your mindset at the same time.
Bio:Lisa Sun is the Founder & CEO of GRAVITAS, a company on a mission to catalyze confidence through size-inclusive fashion & inspiring content. Lisa is also the national best-selling author of GRAVITAS: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence.
Time Stamps(01:48) Lisa Sun grew up in the company of immigrant entrepreneurs
(07:46) The average age of successful entrepreneur, according to big think data, is 45
(11:20) Sun's mission is to catalyze confidence - what that means
(13:59) There are six forces that form the basis of an inner critic
(17:08) Why Gravitas doesn't have mirrors in their dressing rooms
(22:49) The product Gravitas is best known for is the suffragist newsprint collection
(25:42) Gravitas is launching a product named after our potential first woman president
(30:28) You look great at every size. It's just a number
(30:36) Take a confidence quiz to identify your talents and strengths
Key Points:* Merle Saferstein's journey highlights the transformative power of journaling and living intentionally. * Living your legacy is more important than the material things you leave behind. * Chance encounters can lead to life-changing opportunities; be open to them. * Practical advice on how to start journaling and creating legacy projects.
Links and Resources:* Visit Gravitas Online * Take the Confidence Quiz * Purchase Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence * Explore Covey Club
“If you want to be remembered in a certain way, then you need to be living in that way," says Merle Saferstein, an educator, author, and speaker who has turned her 40-year journaling practice into a profound legacy. Saferstein shares her journey from an elementary school teacher to the Director of Educational Outreach at the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center in South Florida, and how a chance encounter on a beach led to a life-changing career. Discover the transformative power of journaling, the importance of living your legacy, and how to create meaningful legacy projects. Whether you're contemplating retirement, looking to leave a lasting impact, or simply seeking inspiration, Saferstein’s story offers invaluable insights and practical advice.
Bio:Merle Saferstein is an educator, author, and speaker who served as the Director of Educational Outreach at the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center in South Florida for 26 years. After retiring, she developed the course "Living and Leaving Your Legacy" and has taught nationally and internationally.
Time Stamps02:04 - Saferstein began her career in education as an elementary school teacher
03:53 - Meeting Tom Osborne on a beach while jogging in 1982
06:34 - Starting journaling as teenager
10:16 - The purposes of her books
14:02 - Deciding to retire in 2011 when she turned 68
17:19 - The course that Saferstein developed about legacy
21:18 - Self-publishing on Amazon and hitting #1
23:19 - Saferstein offers advice on living and leaving your legacy
Key Points:* Merle Saferstein's journey highlights the transformative power of journaling and living intentionally. * Living your legacy is more important than the material things you leave behind. * Chance encounters can lead to life-changing opportunities; be open to them. * Practical advice on how to start journaling and creating legacy projects.
Links and Resources:* Visit Merle Saferstein's Website * Purchase "Living and Leaving My Legacy, Volume 1" * Purchase "Living and Leaving My Legacy, Volume 2" * Explore Covey Club
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"When women ran Fifth Avenue, they did more than sell clothes—they shaped American fashion and business," says Julie Satow, award-winning journalist and author. In this episode, CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour dives deep with Satow into her latest book, When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion. Discover the untold stories of the women who led iconic department stores like Bonwit Teller, Lord & Taylor, and Henri Bendel, and how they navigated the complexities of the early 20th-century business world. From their pioneering roles to the personal sacrifices they made, Satow paints a vivid picture of ambition, reinvention, and resilience. Whether you're fascinated by fashion history or looking for inspiration in your own career journey, this episode is a must-listen.
Bio:
Julie Satow is an award-winning journalist and the author of "The Plaza: The Secret Life of America's Most Famous Hotel," a New York Times Editor's Choice and NPR favorite book of 2019. She is a regular contributor to The New York Times and has written extensively on real estate and business.
Timestamps:
02:55 - The personal reinvention that led Satow to writing
05:42 - Covid is a social history of New York through the hotel
07:25 - These department stores in the early 20th century were not like what we think
10:24 - Three women became presidents of famous department stores by accident or design
14:51 - All three women had men who helped them pave the way in mentorship roles
18:08 - Why do you think these particular women were ambitious? Why?
23:33 - Did those ladies then pull up women behind them? What happened behind them?
26:04 - Dorothy Shaver helped establish American vogue
Key Points:
- Julie Satow's book highlights the significant yet often overlooked contributions of women in the early American fashion industry.
- The department stores of the early 20th century were not just retail spaces but cultural and social hubs for women.
- Despite working in a male-dominated industry, these women carved out powerful roles and left lasting legacies.
- The decline of department stores marks a shift in retail culture but also opens new avenues for entrepreneurship and innovation.
Links and Resources:
- Visit Julie Satow's Website
- Purchase "When Women Ran Fifth Avenue"
- Explore Covey Club
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"Life is a series of reinventions," says Alice Inoue, founder and Chief Happiness Officer of Happiness U. In this episode, CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour sits down with Alice to explore her extraordinary journey of continuous reinvention. From her beginnings in Taiwan and Japan to becoming a television star, an astrologer, a wedding officiant, and finally the creator of Happiness U in Honolulu, Alice's story is a testament to the power of following your heart and embracing change. Tune in to discover how Alice navigated each transition, overcame societal expectations, and found her true calling in helping others achieve mental and emotional wellness.
Bio:Alice Inoue is the founder and Chief Happiness Officer of Happiness U, an educational establishment in Honolulu, Hawaii. With a career spanning over two decades, Alice has helped individuals and organizations find clarity and purpose. She is a columnist, the author of nine books on self-growth and happiness, and the creator of an innovative psychometric assessment featured in her award-winning book, "Master Your Superpowers."
- 01:56 - Alice's history: where she's from and how she's reinvented
- 05:54 - Why being in the public eye was unfulfilling for you
- 07:26 - Getting fired from Japan TV news, going into wedding officiating
- 12:32 - From weddings to feng shui
- 18:01 - "Almost everything is about mindset, and we have the ability to change perspective"
- 19:09 - The struggles Alice found in her transitions
- 26:01 - "It was just trusting [myself] more than anything, and spending time with myself"
- 27:33 - The biggest surprise in Alice's reinventions? That it always worked out
Key Points:* Alice Inoue's journey highlights the importance of following your heart and embracing change, no matter how unconventional it may seem. * Her story underscores the value of self-awareness and the courage to pursue what feels right, even in the face of societal expectations. * Alice's work focuses on mental and emotional wellness, helping individuals and organizations navigate life's challenges through innovative methods. * The significance of mindset and perspective in achieving personal fulfillment and overcoming obstacles.
Links and Resources:* Visit Happiness U * Take the Psychometric Assessment * Explore Covey Club
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
"I know that I was not given this gift at the age of 50 to squander," says Dana King. After 25 years in broadcast journalism, she found her true calling as an artist sculpting black bodies in bronze. "I only tell the story of African descendants and their role here in America," she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. King shares her incredible journey, the challenges she faced, and the powerful stories she tells through her artwork.. Whether you're contemplating a career change or simply looking for a dose of inspiration, her story is a must-listen.
Bio:
Dana King is enjoying her encore career as a public artist who sculpts Black bodies in bronze. She began sculpting at the end of a 25 year run as an award winning broadcast journalist.
02:07 - How King reinvented herself out of broadcasting into art through commissions
07:27 - “So I loved my job until I didn't love it anymore”
10:18 - You didn't have any formal training before becoming an artist
11:56 - Being commissioned to create a bust of Ida B. Wells
15:05 - Why she chose bronze
16:37 - Why we always suck at something when we begin
25:14 - How to overcome the doubt struggles
33:39 - Three fast tips for women who want to make a big change
Key Points:
- Dana King transitioned from a successful broadcast journalism career to becoming a celebrated sculptor, proving it’s never too late to follow your passion.
- Her work focuses on sculpting black bodies in bronze, ensuring the stories of African descendants are preserved and honored.
- Dana emphasizes the importance of self-belief, patience, and not being afraid to start over, even if it means being “crappy” at first.
- She shares valuable advice on how to navigate transitions, listen to your inner voice, and pursue your dreams despite challenges.
Links and Resources:
Follow Dana King on Instagram: DanaKingArt360
Visit Dana King’s website: DanaKingArt.com
Explore Covey Club for more resources and community support: CoveyClub.com
"Gender is between the ears, not the legs," says Wendy Cole, a Transition Mentor with a focus on self-acceptance and personal empowerment. Knowing she was a woman since childhood, Cole transitioned at age 67 and was fully able to embrace her true identity. Now she helps others navigate their own life’s changes with compassion and mindfulness. “Life is about possibilities,” she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. “They have to change their beliefs of what’s possible.” In this conversation Cole discusses her courageous journey of self-love and transformation. She shares her story of confronting societal and familial expectations, overcoming decades of internal struggle, and finally finding joy in being herself. A must-listen for anyone facing personal challenges and seeking to reinvent themselves.
03:07 - Wendy’s background and life before transitioning
06:50 - What it means to be born transgender
11:06 - Dealing with depression and anxiety
15:33 - Wendy says she started cross dressing in 2014 after 30 years
21:56 - Starting hormone replacement therapy in March 2010
31:35 -What you need to do to change your beliefs
34:48 - Wendy says it's never too late to change your life
Key PointsWendy Cole transitioned at 67, proving it's never too late to be yourself.
Her journey highlights the importance of self-acceptance and confronting internal fears.
Wendy now works as a transition mentor, helping others navigate their own changes.
Mindfulness and shifting beliefs were crucial in Wendy's successful transition.
Despite societal pressures, self-acceptance is key to overcoming challenges.
Links and ResourcesMeet Wendy Cole - Connect with Wendy and learn about her services.
CoveyClub - Join a supportive community for women navigating change.
Love Knows No Gender – Parenting a Transgender Child
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com.
"There is throughout this theme of reaching a certain age and feeling like I'm entitled to the ground I'm standing on, at least," says New York Times bestselling author Ann Leary "Sometimes just being overly nice isn't authentic." CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour sits down with the writer to discuss her latest essay collection, "I've Tried Being Nice." Leary shares her personal journey of reinvention, her writing process, and the humorous yet poignant moments that inspired her new essay collection. Perfect for anyone navigating midlife changes, Leary’s stories resonate deeply, especially with women over 50. She discusses her childhood of frequent moves, which shaped her observational skills and writing talent, and offers invaluable tips like writing authentically as if to a best friend. Highlighting the episode is Leary’s candid talk about overcoming lifelong people-pleasing, finding her voice, and the empowerment found in her essay "I've Tried Being Nice." For aspiring writers, Leary’s practical advice includes starting the writing day early and maintaining flow. This episode is a must-listen for its blend of inspiration, humor, and practical advice.
Time Stamps:02:25: Ann Leary talks about her new book
06:18: What inspired you to go back to memoir after having written several novels?
10:15: How does moving play into being an observer and being a writer?
14:26: When did you decide that you were going to take your writing seriously?
18:45: Do you write every day or do you have a process?
23:34: Do you share your work with anybody while you're working on it?
25:28: Leaving the people pleaser club
28:30: The freedom of midlife
Key Points: Ann Leary's essay collection, I've Tried Being Nice*, is a must-read for midlife women, filled with humor and relatable insights. * Frequent moves during childhood helped Ann develop her observational skills, crucial for her writing. * Writing should feel like a conversation with a friend who gets you, making it more authentic and engaging. * Ann shares her struggle with being a lifelong people pleaser and the liberation that comes with age. * Having a supportive writing community is essential for feedback and encouragement.
Links and Resources: Visit Ann Leary's Website for more information and upcoming events. * Order I've Tried Being Nice* on Amazon or wherever books are sold. * Follow Ann Leary on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com. Until next time, keep reinventing!
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
"We should be treated like owners of our own bodies," says ER physician and CEO of Carte Clinics Dr. Gina Siddiqui. “The medical system should give you a map, and you can choose where you want to go. CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour sits down with Dr. Siddiqui to discuss her mission to transform the patient-doctor relationship. Dr. Siddiqui shares her journey from emergency medicine to founding a concierge-style medical service that offers personalized care, research, and second opinions for patients navigating the complex healthcare system.
Time Stamps3:33 How Dr. Siddiqui got into medicine
06:47 How Carté Clinics are a reinvention of the relationship doctors have with patients
08:07 Carté Clinics help consumers navigate the medical system and get the right help
15:12 How do people get help with breast cancer diagnosis through electronic medical records?
23:51 The difference between how men and women handle healthcare
26:27 Covey recommends women take more charge of their healthcare
29:31 How to get your doctor to listen
32:34 What do you do as a patient when you are feeling ignored
34:23: Gina Siddiqui is launching Carté Clinics to help women reinvent themselves
Key Points:* Dr. Gina Siddiqui is transforming the healthcare experience through Carté Clinics, offering personalized medical care and research. * Patients can access a range of services, from second opinions to comprehensive health management, tailored to their unique needs. * Carté Clinics aims to empower patients by providing unbiased, thorough medical advice and aligning with their health goals. * Women often face unique challenges in healthcare, and being proactive and assertive is crucial in managing their health. * Healthcare professionals and individuals in adjacent fields can find inspiration and practical advice for reinventing their roles within the system.
Links and Resources:* Visit Carté Clinics for more information and services. * Connect with Dr. Gina Siddiqui on LinkedIn and Twitter. * Explore Covey Club for resources, support, and community for reinvention.
If you found this episode inspiring, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com.
"Anxiety is like a cult leader in the home—it’s controlling and demands attention, but understanding it helps break its power." – Laura Morton.
In this compelling episode of the Reinvent Yourself Podcast, host Lesley Jane Seymour sits down with Laura Morton, co-director and producer of the award-winning documentary "Anxious Nation." Morton, a bestselling author and mental health advocate, shares her deeply personal journey of navigating her daughter's anxiety and how it inspired her to create a film that offers hope and strategies to families dealing with similar issues. This conversation is a must-listen for any parent dealing with anxious children, providing insights, encouragement, and practical advice.
Timestamps:
- 02:31 - 05:20: Lesley introduces Laura Morton and her impressive background.
- 05:21 - 07:45: Laura discusses the inspiration behind "Anxious Nation."
- 07:46 - 10:15: Laura shares her personal story about her daughter's anxiety diagnosis.
- 10:16 - 15:40: The impact of social media and modern challenges on children's anxiety.
- 15:41 - 18:30: The importance of open conversations about mental health in families.
- 18:31 - 22:45: Laura's advice on seeking help and the common mistakes parents make.
- 22:46 - 26:10: The making of "Anxious Nation" and Laura's experience with documentary filmmaking.
- 26:11 - 28:30: Tips for parents on managing their child's anxiety.
- 28:31 - 31:00: How to access and benefit from watching "Anxious Nation."
- 31:01 - 33:00: Laura’s final thoughts and encouragement for parents.
Key Points:
- Laura Morton’s documentary "Anxious Nation" sheds light on the crisis of anxiety among children and provides practical solutions.
- Open conversations and early intervention are crucial in managing children’s anxiety.
- Social media and modern societal pressures significantly contribute to rising anxiety levels.
- Parents should be aware of their actions and how they might unintentionally add to their child’s anxiety.
- Strategies such as mindfulness, therapy, and community support can make a significant difference.
Links and Resources:
- Watch "Anxious Nation" on Amazon and Apple TV.
- Visit the Anxious Nation website for more information and resources.
- Learn more about Laura Morton on her Instagram and LinkedIn.
If you found this episode helpful, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. For more resources and community support, join us at CoveyClub.com.
“Menopause doesn't have to be a silent struggle,” says award-winning author and health expert Dr. Barbara Dehn. With humor and expertise, Dehn – known as “Nurse Barb” on NBC's California Live – demystifies the symptoms of menopause, from hot flashes and hair loss to shifts in sex drive and sleep patterns. She joins me here for a candid conversation about embracing the changes in our midlife bodies where she offers a treasure trove of practical advice, including evidence-based solutions like lifestyle changes, natural remedies, and hormone therapy to alleviate the discomforts of menopause. Whether you're experiencing heavy periods, sleepless nights, or a waning libido, Dehn’s insights will empower you to take control of your well-being during this transformative phase.
Products Mentioned:
Black Cohosh under the brand name: Remifemin
Equelle - Soy metabolite for hot flashes and night sweats
Clitoral Stimulators: Lelo Sona and Womanizer
Vaginal moisturizers with Hyaluronic acid: Revaree and Rephresh
Coconut oil as a lubricant
Anti-depressants that work for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Effexor, Zoloft, Lexapro
The new medication for hot flashes: Veozah
Free Download: Equelle's Menopause Toolkit
Want to dive deeper? Join us Thursday, May 23 at 6pm ET!
Join us on May 23 for Nurse Barbara's class, "Has Anyone Seen My Hormones? Your Midlife Health Questions Answered," and bring along your burning questions for a session filled with laughter, learning, and liberation from menopause myths. Until then, dive into this episode and come away with a new perspective on how to navigate the unpredictable waters of midlife with grace and gusto.
Connect with Dr. Barbara Dehn:
Website
And if you're keen on reinventing more than just your approach to menopause, discover the resources, support, and community waiting for you at CoveyClub. Reinvention is a journey best shared, so don't go it alone – join us and let the reinvention begin!
02:17 - Rethinking your attitude about your changing midlife body is important
03:21 - After 35, your body starts to change in very small ways
06:32 - 50% of women will have irregular, heavy, heavy periods
11:30 - Talk a little bit about the racial, um, and ethnic disparities in hot flashes
18:59 - So let's talk about sex drive at midlife
22:17 - Vaginal estrogen is something that I highly recommend for improving sex drive
25:42 - What about things like hair loss? I mean, I never lost hair
28:29 - When women get enough sleep, studies show it reduces risk of dementia
Remember to follow Reinvent Yourself, check the show notes for product links, and explore coveyclub.com for more on reinvention. Share the love with a review, and we'll see you in the next episode. Until then, keep reinventing!
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
“I always come back to passion,” says Robin Salls, the pro-age powerhouse behind Tangled Silver magazine and the #IAmSilver beauty movement. “Look at what your passion is and see if you can turn it into something else where you can build a revenue to support yourself.” In an industry where glossy pages often tell tales of youth and retouching, her vision is a refreshing call to action. Lesley Jane Seymour sits down with the fierce entrepreneur to discuss the ins and outs of cultivating a niche magazine at a time when print is said to be on the decline. Salls shares her personal journey from a business-minded mom to a magazine founder, her insights on the gray hair revolution, and the unexpected challenges and triumphs of starting a magazine from scratch. For anyone contemplating a change – whether it’s your hair color or your career path – this conversation will teach you how you can turn your passion into a successful reinvention.
If you're inspired by Robin's story and seeking your own reinvention, join CoveyClub for resources, support, and community with like-minded women. Don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe for more inspiring stories of transformation!
Connect with Robin:
- Tangled Silver Magazine
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
“I spent years in therapy and my relationship with food was never touched,” says Jessica Procini, former ballet dancer and fashion industry professional turned emotional eating coach. “But it really is causing a lot of chaos in peoples’ relationships with food and their health.” Procini, who is the founder of Escape from Emotional Eating, opens up to host Lesley Jane Seymour about how her own struggles with food began at the tender age of six and evolved into a quest for healing. Learn her insights into the generational patterns of emotional eating, her approach to identifying and addressing these patterns, and how capturing data about our eating experiences and engaging in candid conversations can help us uncover the underlying issues. Whether you're grappling with your relationship with food or seeking inspiration to reinvent any aspect of your life, this conversation provides invaluable wisdom for transformative journeys.
If you're inspired by Jessica’s story and seeking your own reinvention, join CoveyClub for resources, support, and community with like-minded women. Don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe for more inspiring stories of transformation!
Time Stamps
04:17 - Growing up as a ballerina, developing food and body issues
12:00 - Why and how we begin emotionally eating
14:58 - High achievers and perfectionists are prone to emotional eating
18:20 - Do animals emotionally eat or is it only humans?
24:51 - Emotional eating during perimenopause
25:28 - How Jessica works with women from 30 to 70 with emotional eating issues
28:06 - Tips for healing your emotional relationship to food
About Jessica
Jessica Procini is on a mission to help high-achieving women heal the roots of their emotional eating. When Overeaters Anonymous and therapy weren’t enough to help her end her fight with food, she spent ten years in research before developing her signature healing framework, Escape From Emotional Eating®, which has helped women reclaim their power over food. Now that she’s been 100% free from her compulsions with food for over 5 years, Jessica helps female entrepreneurs and executives do the same at EscapeFromEmotionalEating.com. Connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Youtube
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
"She'll hate to hear this, but I'll say it anyway: she's developing into her mother." So says Dr. Shaula Yemini of her daughter Noa Arias. In a Reinvent Yourself first, Lesley Jane Seymour interviews this mother-daughter entrepreneurial duo who founded Bloomers Intimates together in 2020. Formerly a computer science professor, Dr. Yemini was isolating with her daughter Noa during the Covid pandemic when a laundry-folding session led to a conversation about the lack of full coverage, comfortable intimates that are also sexy and confidence-boosting. “I can't be the only older woman who still wants to wear pretty underwear,” says Yemini. When they realized there was an opening in the market they decided to take the leap. In this warm, witty conversation mother and daughter explain the exact process they followed – and how they manage to keep a healthy relationship while also running a business together.
Bio: Dr. Shaula Alexander Yemini is an entrepreneur, an angel investor, and an advisor to technology startups. In 2021 Yemini transitioned from software to soft-wear, co-founding Bloomers Intimates with her daughter Noa Arias.
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
“If a woman drops a tampon versus drops a pencil, there's a very different reaction,” says psychologist Dr. Alicia Grandey, Professor of Psychology at Penn State University, whose research is reshaping perceptions of the “three Ms” (menstruation, maternity, and menopause) in the workplace. In this episode, Dr. Grandey discusses the challenges women face during these stages, and how they impact careers and self-perception. “In addition to the challenge of trying to do your work, you're also trying to hide your symptoms,” she says, “which is a double whammy in terms of effort expended.” Listen in to learn the importance of self-advocacy, embracing menopause as a transformative stage, and fostering a more inclusive environment in the workplace.
Articles by Dr. Grandey mentioned in the interview:
Workplace Stigma Around Menopause is Real
Tackling Taboo Topics: A Review of the Three Ms in Working Women’s Lives
Bio: Dr. Alicia Grandey is an industrial-organizational psychologist, and was named Liberal Arts Professor of Psychology at Penn State University. Dr. Grandey has published over 60 articles and a book on workplace emotions, diversity, and health, as highlighted in Harvard Business Review, The New Yorker, NPR, and BBC. She started the H.I.P. (Healthy-Inclusive-Productive) Workplace Initiative to ensure impactful science for industry.
FREE GIFT! 31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
- Website
- Join CoveyClub
“I’m not one to take big risks,” says Ellie Steinbrink, a Midwest marketer turned fashion maven, “but for me it was a no-brainer.” When COVID hit, Steinbrink realized that her professional success didn't create personal fulfillment.”What I'm doing in my business is helping women develop their style brand,” she says. “I'm taking that marketing expertise [into the fashion area] because we all know that clothes have power, not just because they change how you feel about yourself, but they change how others perceive you”. In this episode she shares the pivotal moments that led her to photograph and post her outfit everyday on Instagram until her destination became clear. You’ll learn her hard-won strategies for building a new business from the ground up and why it's never too late to pursue what truly lights you up.
Don't miss her free gift to listeners — a Closet Detox Guide to help you clear out the clutter and make room for a style that's uniquely you. For more insights and to connect with a community of like-minded reinventors, visit CoveyClub.com. Remember to give us a review on Apple podcasts and subscribe for more stories of reinvention.
Join us on Wednesday, March 6 at 2pm ET live on Zoom with Ellie Steinbrink:
How to Use Style to Get the Results You Want
Ellie Steinbrink, owner of Style Decoded, is an Expert Stylist, Personal Brand Coach and Speaker on a mission to help professional women look like the bosses they are, without all the hassle. Working virtually out of her home in Omaha, NE, she started her business to help women define and embody a signature style brand, aligning their insides with their outsides, all while feeling 100% confident in their own skin. Styling is her passion but it hasn’t always been her job. Ellie spent 20 years of her career in client service, advertising, developing brands, blogging, podcasting, and creating marketing and social strategies for clients, ranging from Fortune 500 giants to individuals building their personal brands online. To say she knows a thing or two about marketing and branding is an understatement! In 2020, she had the opportunity to merge her professional experience and her passion into a personal styling business. Now, Ellie loves teaching women how to define and own their unique personal brand through style.
Website • LinkedIn • Instagram
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
"Authentic beauty and confidence come from within and radiate out," says Nick Gavrelis, founder of ieró Beauty, a holistic skincare line devoted to unleashing the sacred spark within. After decades spent as a corporate powerhouse behind some of your favorite prestige beauty brands, including MAC and Estée Lauder, Gavrellis shifted into entrepreneurship and created his line of plant-based and crystal-infused products that reimagine skincare as a sacred practice. In this thoughtful exploration of the ieró Beauty line Nick shares wisdom on embracing authenticity in beauty and urges listeners, especially women over 40, to rediscover their radiance from within. Learn how reevaluating your skincare routine and focusing on what truly makes you feel radiant and confident can help you tap into your own innate power. Don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and join CoveyClub to find a community of likeminded women who will hold space for you while you figure out what’s next.
About Nick Product development authority, make-up artist and visionary Nick Gavrelis has been a keen observer and dreamer since childhood. A beauty expert, with over 25 years in the industry, his passionate, sensitive approach earned him the title of “guru of skin and foundations” at the Estée Lauder Companies, where he helmed product development for the M·A·C Pro and Face Categories before becoming Senior Vice President of Global Product Development. His latest pride is iero Beauty™, a dazzling, clean, high-vibrational beauty and lifestyle brand that provides a multi-sensorial experience designed to nourish your whole self—not just your skin. iero Beauty™ holistic, multi-sensorial products and formulas utilize aromatherapy, chromatherapy, mindfulness cues combined with ritual to optimize and make each consumer's experience more robust and meaningful.
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“When you choose better men,” says author and dating coach Evan Marc Katz, “The whole world opens up the same way that if you ate healthier food versus eating junk food.” With more than 35 million readers on his blog, 2.5 million podcast downloads, and 13,000 women transformed through his Love U course, Katz is the go-to guru for smart, successful women seeking romance. Discover why Katz believes men look for sex and find love, why your next partner should complement rather than clone you, and how to navigate the dating world with confidence, not checklists. Plus, snag his FREE exclusive gift for listeners: a 25-page PDF on the seven dating mistakes you're likely unaware of.
About Evan: Dating coach Evan Marc Katz is the author of 4 books and has been featured in hundreds of media outlets since 2003. His blog has over 35 million readers, his podcast has over 2.5 million downloads and 13,000 women have taken Love U, his video course that helps smart, successful women find love. Evan is happily married and lives in Los Angeles. Connect on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Youtube.
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
"This whole idea of 50+ and reinvention – it's real. It's important," says author and speaker Jann Freed. "Because we're active, we're healthier, and we really want to continue to contribute." Freed spent 5 years transitioning out of her full-time teaching career of 30 years before shifting into entrepreneurship as a leadership development consulting. In this conversation with Lesley Jane Seymour she shares the result of her years of research and insights from her books to answer the most-asked questions about reinventing yourself through a personal or career transition. Learn about how grief plays a role in transition, how reinvention is easier for women, and the steps you can take to build relationships to support you. Plus, get Freed's recommended reading list for personal growth and the #1 trick you need to focus on when you're in transition.
Jann Freed
is a leadership development consultant and speake who focuses on change management and leadership development at all ages and career stages. She specializes in helping employees 50+ find meaning and purpose beyond their careers. She does this through the use of a concept she developed called The Breadcrumb Legacy™, which is now a book, all about creating new meaning for ourselves in our second half of life.
Dr. Freed is the author or co-author of five books, including Leading with Wisdom: Sage Advice from 100 Experts.
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“I see the way sports were covered, and it's a lot of BS, and it's just not genuine or authentic," says Emmy-winning TV host Kelli Moore. "I also saw how toxic it was. I was a young woman in my twenties in a male dominated culture, and I dealt with sexual assault, and I didn't feel good about myself. …So I left that career because of the sexual assault, because of the lack of value and worth I felt within myself.” After a 15-year career in television, Moore watched the #MeToo movement erupt into the mainstream and signal that it was her time to speak up. Giving voice to her experience made her a pariah in her industry but catapulted her into a reinvention with a mission to help other women. Now the host of two wildly successful podcasts, Moore continues to embrace the difficult conversations. She shares how journaling, podcasts, and self-empowerment helped her overcome fear, ditch the mean girls, and create her best life yet.
ABOUT KELLI I'm Kelli Moore. I like to think of myself as the master of helping women reinvent themselves. After leaving my 15 year award winning sports television career while simultaneously healing myself of chronic illness, I've been devoted to supporting women in their own self discovery process. Through potent conversations on my top ranked shows, The Naked Mama and OK, Babe., I lead women in their journeys of intimacy, motherhood, and clearing old stories and beliefs to step into who they are becoming. I'm a mama, wife, Co-Founder and CEO of the premiere podcast network, Soulfire Productions.
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“What if I launched my company from the hospital?” This was the question Christina Langdon asked herself as she began a year of treatment for AML leukemia. “I am no different than anyone else…I’m an example of what’s possible.” After multiple career transitions leading sales and marketing brands, including a 20-year stint with Martha Stewart Living, she decided to rewrite her definition of success. Now 5 years cancer-free and author of the book For Success Sake! Langdon now works as a high-performance success coach, helping leaders and business owners achieve their wildest dreams. Listen in to her conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to learn how Langdon took the steps to start her own business even in the midst of a health crisis. And join us at CoveyClub on February 1 for a special online class with Christina Langdon, A Rewrite of Success: A New Definition.
CHRISTINA LANGDON is a passionate entrepreneur, author of For Success Sake!, and high-performance success coach to C.E.O.s, Founders, and leaders. After thirty years of leading sales and marketing teams at media brands, including Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Fast Company, she now helps leaders and businesses achieve more than they thought possible. After a diagnosis of AML Leukemia in 2019, Christina decided to let go of the debilitating ‘should have, would have, could have’ mindset and start owning her success with her vision for living her extraordinary life. She’s written a book called For Success Sake! Simple Steps for Extraordinary Possibilities for Leadership and Life to help others achieve their extraordinary.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
"I don't know anybody who had what I had," says Maureen Lippe, founder and CEO of Lippe Taylor. "After losing him, I knew I was a business owner, I was a mom, but that other side of [...] my life was completely gone." What Lippe means is that when her beloved husband, Jerry, passed unexpectedly during the Covid epidemic, her life was shattered. In the years that followed she committed herself to friends, family, business, and – most importantly – her own recovery. Her new book, Radical Reinvention: Reimagine, Reset, Reinvent in a Disruptive World shares how to navigate devastating loss and recover your passion for life.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Maureen Lippe is founder and chairwoman of Lippe Taylor. Over the course of 30 years Lippe has provided brand-building counsel to leading companies including Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Revlon, Elizabeth Arden, Intel, and more. She began her career as a fashion editor at Vogue magazine and then served as beauty and health editor at Harper’s Bazaar.
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
"All the things I loved about being a therapist got overshadowed by the pain," says Sarah Fruehling, "I wish I actually didn't know people were capable of treating another human being like that." Despite a successful career as a mental health therapist that spanned over 20 years, Fruehling found herself burned out from the trauma she was exposed to through her work. At the height of her career she knew it was time for a reinvention. That was when a timely conversation with an old friend changed everything. Listen in to this enlightening conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to hear how Fruehling used her entrepreneurial skills to reinvent from her private therapy practice to become a master level coach. She'll share the tools she used to find her calling and the steps you can take to launch yourself into a successful, thriving coaching career.
Sarah Fruehling has achieved the highest level of Mastery in the field of Coaching as one of the few Master Certified Coach (MCC) in the world. Only .03% of coaches are MCCs, so they're a rare gem! That's why a Fortune 20 company came to her when they needed help creating engaged, fulfilled and passionate leaders. Her clients go deeper and are on the fast track to change. Website • Facebook • LinkedIn • YouTube
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
TW: Sexual abuse of a child, eating disorders
"I became incredibly skilled at disassociating," recalls dancer-turned-author, Antonia "Tunie" Deigan. With a lifelong passion for dance, Deigan used ballet to help herself cope with traumatic experiences at home and in school. She launched herself into a successful dance career despite trying to deal with her truama with substance abuse and an eating disorder. When Deigan became a mother her world was transformed. A bike accident forced a reinvention that made her look back at everything she had been through and find the threads to recovery. Listen in to this gentle, honest, and thoughtful conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to hear Deigan's phenomenal story of survival, how she navigated facing her traumas, and how she used writing to process her grief and heal her soul.
Antonia Deignan is a mother of five children by choice, a dancer by calling, and a writer by necessity. She was born on the East Coast but spent most of her life in the Midwest, where she danced with multiple dance companies and raised her children. She opened her own dance studio and directed a pre-professional dance company before a bike accident wish-boned her path, and her identity. Instagram
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
After a 40-year career in advertising, Patti Siegel decided to reinvent into a career that combined her passion and her skills: she wanted to work in the arts. "It's not for the faint of heart," she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. "I brazenly applied for three art jobs and they all turned me down." Now the executive director of ArtsATL, an Atlanta-based non-profit, Siegel recalls her 15-year journey to find her dream position and shares how she and her husband downsized to accommodate a lower income, and the exact steps she took to transition into her field. Plus, learn how she worked with a coach – one of our favorite CoveyClub teachers and members, artist-entrepreneur Jane Pollak– to stay accountable and achieve her goals.
Patti Siegel, executive director of ArtsATL, spent 40 years in advertising and innovation working with clients including Delta Airlines, American Cancer Society and Kimberly-Clark, among others. A long-time board member and volunteer in the arts, she pivoted in 2020 to combine her passion with her skills to run ArtsATL, Atlanta's only publication that provides comprehensive coverage of Atlanta's broad and diverse arts community. Instagram
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
Allie Egan is a queen of reinvention. She began her career in investing before transitioning into marketing for the beauty industry, became CEO of Cynthia Rowley – all before launching into entrepreneurship and establishing Veracity, a holistic beauty brand rooted in hormone health. "We've heard so many stories from our customers," she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. "Women will go to their doctors...and they don't really feel listened to. They feel like they're just prescribed a pill." Drawing from her own experience with Hashimotos, a little-known thyroid issue that occurs in 50% of women, Egan aims to help women identify their symptoms and treat their root cause. "We're meant to be the first stop in the journey and also to help empower people to have better, healthier relationships with their physicians." Listen in to get Egan's best advice on how to achieve open, reciprocal communication with your doctor, and learn the exact steps she made to transition her career through multiple reinventions.
Allie Egan is the Founder and CEO of Veracity Selfcare, a next-generation beauty and wellness brand empowering women to understand the connection between their skin and their broader health through at-home testing and a holistic, data-driven approach to skincare. Their products are at the forefront of clean performance, excluding all endocrine disruptors and safe for all life moments, including pregnancy and breastfeeding. Prior to founding Veracity, Allie was the CEO of the women’s fashion brand, Cynthia Rowley where she led the transformation to direct-to-consumer and more than doubled the business in two years. She has extensive experience in the beauty industry through her time at some of Estee Lauder’s best brands, including Origins, Clinique, and La Mer. She also has broad consumer experience through her time as an investor at L Catterton. She holds a BS in Finance and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and an MBA with high distinction from Harvard Business School. Instagram • LinkedIn
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
"You can have permission to make sexual decisions that serve you and serve your well-being," says Dr. Candice Nicole, host of the Fuck the System podcast that aims to dismantle how we view and talk about sex, pleasure, and reproductive health. After years of reproductive trauma, including fibroids to an ectopic pregnancy, Dr. Nicole felt her sexual wellbeing was compromised. "So the podcast was really me doing the reinvention reawakening to my sexual self," she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. Listen in to this fabulous, no-holds-barred conversation to learn more about Dr. Nicole's journey and her open advice on how to attend to your own sexual wellbeing. We'll explore this generationally taboo topic in depth, from masturbation and self-pleasure to partnered experience and why tending to your sexual self can improve your wellbeing in so many ways.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“2014 was sort of a personal Apocalypse for me,” says b-untethered founder Anissa Buckley. As a Fortune 500 marketing expert turned entrepreneur, Buckley was experiencing fabulous success when in the span of eight months she experienced divorce and the loss of both her parents. “I went from being a daughter and a wife…to nothing,” she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. In a radical bid for transformation, Buckley embarked on four years of global travel, participating in triathlons and climbing mountains across the world, living in an RV and carrying all her belongings in a backpack – all while navigating the physical and emotional changes of midlife. In this insightful conversation she shares how she supported herself on her journey around the world, what she has learned about fitness and healthy eating in midlife, and her recommended steps for anyone else wanting to take that leap of faith.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
About Anissa:
Anissa is a Fortune 500 marketer turned entrepreneur turned global adventurer. She shares her lessons on transitioning from first class business traveler and White House consultant to living in an RV with no water or electricity, culminating in steps you can take to determine new paths forward and achieve new goals in midlife and beyond.
Connect with Anissa:
Website
Time Stamps:
6:35 – Traveling, pushing limits, and aging
10:52 – How she changed her life after hormone decline and dietary changes
15:00 – The skinny on menopause, nutrition, fitness, and hormone balance
21:44 – Buckley's favorite recommendations on personalized health and wellness strategies
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“I think over time, I've learned an awful lot about myself, and knowing more about myself has led me to the point of being a [better] participant in the world,” says Rochelle Udell, whose career highlights have included artistic art director of Ms. magazine, art director of Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, president and creative director of Calvin Klein's CRK advertising agencies, and editor-in-chief of Self magazine – just to name a few. In this revealing conversation with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, Udell explores the challenges of her exemplary career, how she dealt with changes and fears, and ultimately how she worked to develop her memoir, "Adventures of the Baker's Daughter", for an online format. Listen in to learn her invaluable insights on making yourself heard, presenting your passion projects to the world, and what it takes to adapt to an ever-changing business landscape.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
About Rochelle:
There’s no Ivy League school on my resume. No money. No drop-dead beauty. No pedigree. I’m not intimidating. But I was born into a family of hardworking people, and I’m a good listener and observer. And in some ways, all the things I’m not gave me the strength and permission to accomplish what I have. To describe how I feel about work, I often quote Kahlil Gibran: “Work is love made visible.” I am married to book designer Doug Turshen and live in Westchester. we have two remarkable children, Doug and Julia, two brilliant daughters-in-law, and one awesome granddaughter—all of whom I love more than work.
Connect with Rochelle: Website
Time Stamps:
7:00 – How she used experimentation for personal growth and career development
12:30 – Rochelle's tips for overcoming fears during reinvention
19:39 – Starting a digital company and the importance of editors in a world of information overload
24:00 – Rochelle's tips for entrepreneurship and leadership success
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“In 2015, the influencer industry was a half a billion dollar industry,” says Aliza Freud; “This year it’s projected to be close to $25 billion.” As the founder and CEO of SheSpeaks, a global community of female influencers, Freud connects brands with the social media entrepreneurs who can help them amplify their message. “I think it’s giving women a huge opportunity,” she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. In fact, in a recent study her company spotted a rising trend of women embracing social media entrepreneurship as a side hustle. In women between the ages of 45 and 54, 30% said they already have a side hustle while 22% said they plan to start one. In this insightful conversation Freud explains why more and more women are looking at side hustles in midlife and how you can take the steps to starting your own!
Connect with Aliza:
Website
Podcast
Time Stamps:
2:58 – Leaving the job she loved for entrepreneurship
7:20 – How Influencer marketing has evolved
12:20 – The pitfalls of the industry: why women still face a pay gap and other challenges
19:00 – How content creation has changed since Covid
23:00 – The best monetization platforms and side hustles for women
27:30 – Social media and the search for work-life balance among women
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“Most people think that if somebody from the Philippines is marrying an American, maybe she only wants money,” observed Filipino-born Kristy Yoder. “I’m a living testimony that it’s not true…I hired my husband full-time.” When Yoder first moved to the United States she began working as a freelance virtual assistant in the hopes that entrepreneurship would allow her to spend more time with her loved ones. Yet, like so many of us, she soon experienced the overwhelm of being a one-woman show. After hiring a VA of her own she was able to increase her business tenfold, developing her own agency of virtual assistance based in the Philippines. Moving into a CEO position, Yoder was able to devote more time to her family and other creative pursuits, like hosting the Master Delegator podcast. In this fun and insightful conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour she shares her best tips for finding the right VA to support you, the documents you’ll want to prepare when hiring a freelancer, and the first tasks you should focus on delegating to get the most out of your VA.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
"The thing you might want to do may not be the thing you need to do in order to start the ball rolling so you can reinvent," says Izolda Trakhtenberg. "What is the thing that you need to actually change?" A former NASA Master Trainer, Trakhtenberg has reinvented herself as an author, educator, and master podcaster. She believes in the power of the Fives Cs: Creativity, Curiosity, Compassion, Confidence, and Communication. Thoughtful and illuminating, this conversation between Trakhtenberg and CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour offers both tangible how-tos and stimulating inspiration on how to make your move into your next chapter. Listen in for her best advice on getting started with podcasting, building a community, and telling your story.
Connect with Izolda:
WebsitePodcastMeditation for Busy PeopleLinkedInInstagram Timestamps:
2:30 - How her childhood shapred her future reinvention
9:00 - How she overcame her public speaking fear and developed her vocal persona
14:00 - Reinvention tips for women in their 40s and 50s
19:00 - Podcasting tips, techniques, and success strategies
28:00 - How to be consistent with podcasting and strategies for engagement
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
"As corny as it sounds, it really is about doing the inner work and knowing who you are," observes lawyer, author, and emotional well-being expert Poonam Bhuchar. "We put energy into going to the gym, we put effort into our relationships, why do we not honeymoon ourselves…why don't we spend the time to get to know who we are and what we want?" A powerhouse reinventor and master of resilience, Bhuchar overcame assault, bullying, and attempted suicide before dedicating her professional life to supporting others on their journey to better emotional health. She is the creator of the SAFE Retreat: Transforming Relationships Through Communication and Understanding, which utilizes holistic practices such as yoga and somatic therapy to help couples work through emotional pain and communicate so they can transform their relationships. Listen in to this rich conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to learn how Bhuchar took the steps to leave an abusive marriage and empower herself towards her best life.
The SAFE Retreat will take place in December in the Hudson Valley, New York. For more information, visit EmotionallySafe.com. Bhuchar’s book, SAFE from the Pain: Out of the Darkness Into a Life That’s Free, Happy, and Good is available now. Connect with Poonam Bhuchar on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Timestamps:
2:47 - Her personal childhood trauma and healing story
9:00 - Leaving her arranged marriage, pursuing therapy, and improving her communication
16:00 - How therapy and other practices helped her heal her relationships
20:00 - Financial awareness in a marriage (why we culturally assign finances to men)
25:00 - Learn more about the SAFE Retreat
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
Is it possible to reinvent yourself as a writer in your second act and also make a sustainable living? Journalist and writing coach Rebecca Weber is proof that you can. Her reinvention took her from Washington, DC to Cape Town, South Africa where she covers social justice, travel, the environment and the arts. Listen in to her conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour as she shares her hard-won insights, expert hacks, and the exact steps you can take to finally make your passion for writing into a fulfilling career.
Connect with Rebecca: Website | Podcast
Join us in NOLA: CoveyClub's Connection ConventionConnect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
As an entrepreneur, Barbara Viteri was wildly successful: she was regularly featured on magazine covers and television, and yet she didn’t feel fulfilled. “I noticed that the passion we tell everyone to have…was not really a passion,” she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour in this candid conversation. “It was a bit scary.” Listen in as she shares the personal reinvention that took her on a career whirlwind, how she chose to leave the world of celebrity interior design on a high note and developed the confidence to embark on a new career as a corporate recruiter. Now CNA International’s fastest-growing senior executive recruiter and building a million dollar portfolio in her first year of business, Viterari shares all her tips and tricks that helped her make her reinvention a reality.
Connect with Barbara:
Time Stamps:
2:57: Creating Designerlebrity and becoming a social media star
7:52: When her marriage began to fail and her career didn't feel like enough
12:45: Reinventing after heartbreak
18:00: How to pivot into a new business
22:53: How self-awareness can help your career reinvention
Join us in NOLA: CoveyClub's Connection ConventionConnect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
"If you look at [menopause] in a positive way, you could do anything," says Michelle Jacobs, co-founder of Womanness, a wellness brand dedicated to supporting women going through menopause and perimenopause. "The women I have found are happiest at this time look at it as an opportunity and not the end of something. And that's really what Womanness is all about." When her longtime friend Sally Mueller started to struggle with the unexpected symptoms of menopause, Jacobs and Mueller decided to team up to create real solutions. They reinvented themselves as startup entrepreneurs to create Womanness and grow it into a powerful brand. Listen in to this conversation between Jacobs and CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to learn how Jacobs reinvented herself, her top product recommendations during menopause, and the surprising insights she found in her research.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Join us in NOLA: CoveyClub's Connection ConventionConnect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“I am everything without the job. I am everything without the title…I’m a badass. I’m a trailblazer. I’m a lighthouse.” This was the manifesto that led Shelley Paxton to leave her job as Chief Marketing Officer of Harley-Davidson in search of what set her soul on fire. “I didn’t believe it for a while,” she tells me, “I had to keep rereading it and saying it out loud.” Now she's on a mission to lead a reinvention REBELution through her coaching and bestselling book, Soulbattical: A Corporate Rebel's Guide to Finding Your Best Life. Listen in as she tells me all the details that supported her journey and shares the exercises from her book that can take you from unfulfilled to utterly empowered.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Join us in NOLA: CoveyClub's Connection ConventionConnect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“I can make money and live a good life rather than trying to figure out how to make money,” says Kim Daly, creator of the Millionaire Mindset program, “because it's in that trying time that most startup businesses fail.” Before becoming one of America’s top franchise consultants, Daly had a successful career as a sought-after entrepreneur in the health and fitness industry. Having experienced life at both ends of the career spectrum, she shares her observations in this insightful conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. Listen in to discover the ways franchise business ownership can revolutionize your life and why it’s not just about flipping hamburgers anymore. Plus, gain all of Daly’s tips and tricks to find out if franchise ownership is right for you: she’ll give you everything you need to get started.
Time Stamps:
4:10 - How her personal reinvention led to entrepreneurship
6:00 - Franchising as a career option
11:00 - Finding the right franchise for you
17:00 - Franchise opportunities for older women
22:00 - What you need to know before you start
31:00 - Achieving entrepreneurship, franchsing, and business success
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Join us in NOLA: CoveyClub's Connection ConventionConnect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
When Sharon Linder saw a need gap, she left a 32-year career at IBM to jump into the world of entrepreneurship and fill it. After her mother and sisters survived breast cancer, Linder became more diligent about her own exams. It was in the waiting room where she saw the need gap. “The skinny girls were freezing in their little gowns and the big girls were basically falling out of their bigger gowns,” she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. “I thought, ‘there has to be a better way.’” As a result, she created Get Janes, a collection of dignified and comfortable hospital gowns designed for women and men in inclusive sizes and styles. In this detailed conversation Linder shares the exact process she went through, from exploring the manufacturing necessities of hospital gowns to getting funding for her business. Listen in to get Linder’s best advice for taking action on your own entrepreneurial journey.
Time Stamps:
2:50 - How she saw the need gap during a breast exam
7:56 - Improving patient experience in hospitals
14:46 - The research she did to understand what needed to be changed
20:15 - Becoming an entrepreneur and developing her product
26:46 - Creating Get Janes and selling to hospitals before going public
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Join us in NOLA: CoveyClub's Connection ConventionConnect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“I was a stay-at-home mom, became addicted to drugs, lost custody of my children, got into long term recovery, and started a New Orleans recovery community.” So begins this revealing and vulnerable conversation with Felicia Montiforte Kleinpeter, co-founder and CEO of Imagine Recovery, one of the foremost recovery communities in New Orleans. After a car accident, Kleinpeter developed an addiction to painkillers that led to a years-long spiral. Her greatest reinvention came when she sought treatment at an all-female recovery center. "It's such a great opportunity to learn about ourselves and dig deep and create a whole new life," she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. Learn how Kleinpeter turned her greatest struggle into her life’s work. If you are struggling with addiction, Kleinpeter invites you to reach out to her directly via cell phone at (225) 937-1132 or email at felicia@imaginerecovery.com.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Join us in NOLA: CoveyClub's Connection ConventionConnect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
While in law school at the age of 27, Donna Cryer found herself with colon cancer and in need of a liver transplant, all the result of a rare autoimmune disease born of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). “It is really an honor to use my lived experience, especially the painful part of my journey, to help solve problems in the the healthcare system,” she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour in this vital conversation. Cryer founded the Global Liver Institute, the only patient-driven liver health nonprofit operating in the U.S. and Europe. Discover how Cryer (and women like her worldwide) are developing advocacy nonprofits to help other patients cut through the fear and confusion of various health issues. Learn how to priortize your liver health, the unexpected colon cancer symptoms you should look out for, and how to advocate for yourself in any doctor’s office.
Timestamps:
2:50 - Discovering she had colon cancer in her 20s
8:31 - Understanding the importance of liver health
14:50 - How many people suffer from liver disease?
21:30 - How to transition from patient to patient advocate
27:22 - Learning how to talk to your doctor and take care of yourself first
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Join us in NOLA: CoveyClub's Connection Convention Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website
Join CoveyClub
Imagine carrying a women’s fashion label dedicated entirely to reinventing workwear through a global pandemic that shuts down offices worldwide and makes “work from home” the new normal. “The only way through was forward,” remembers Sarah LaFleur, who founded the MM LaFleur womemswear brand in 2013. By relying on the purposefulness of their pieces and reframing their presentation, MM LaFleur was able to thrive through the hardest of times – and come out the other side more evolved. Now dipping her toe into the business coaching world, LaFleur herself is ready to share the hard-won strengths she’s learned along the way. Listen in to this intimate conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to learn her best advice for identifying your post-pandemic priorities and moving forward with clarity. Plus, the tips you may not know about how to dress for Zoom!
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Join us in NOLA: CoveyClub's Connection Convention Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website
Join CoveyClub
"It's our responsibility to be more vocal and visable about who we are," says Celebrate the Gray founder Stephanie O'Dell. "So when you're asked your age, say your age...because then perception and reality start to get closer." A true reinventor, O'Dell is changing the way women 50+ are represented in media and everyday advertising. She started Celebrate the Gray as a blog before revamping the business into its current iteration: an agency that promotes real, midlife women as models and spokeswomen for brands and advertising agencies. Listen in to her conversation with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, to hear how her personal reinvention led her to advocacy and how the world of fashion is shifting to include women who look like us.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Connect with Stephanie O'Dell
Website
Join us in NOLA: CoveyClub's Connection Convention Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website
Join CoveyClub
"Almost all women will have to reinvent," says veteran journalist and author Joanne Lipman. "There's no guidebook for us...that's what I wanted to do." During the pandemic she embarked on the journey of writing her bestselling book, Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work, to be such a guide. Listen in to her enlightening conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to learn Lipman’s secrets for revamping your life and career through practical tips and empowering stories drawn from her groundbreaking work on closing the gender gap. You’ll discover the foundations of Lipman’s four-stage process for reinvention and the steps you can take today for lasting change.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Connect with Joanne Lipman:
Website
Join us in NOLA: CoveyClub's Connection Convention Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website
Join CoveyClub
"If you're thinking about reinventing...keep your network strong," advises journalist turned career coach Katie Fogarty. "You need to tell people what you want to be doing, what you're excited about, what you're looking towards...because then they can be helpful." Fogarty has gracefully navigated various reinventions in her own life - from TV news writing to global PR firms, Capitol Hill, and teaching in Japan. Her secret? A deep love of learning and a fearless willingness to embrace discomfort. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Fogarty explores how her career reinventions led her to starting her own business, The Reboot Group, and her popular podcast, A Certain Age. Listen in as she shares her insights on owning your age, adapting to change, and embracing the magic of reinvention.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Connect with Katie Fogarty:
The Reboot Group
Let's Age Loud Community
Follow Katie's Podcast:
A Certain Age Podcast
Join us in NOLA: CoveyClub's Connection Convention Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website
Join CoveyClub
She was called the one with the Midas touch, but for Shilpa Kulshrestha, having four graduate degrees (!!) and a decades-long successful career didn't feel like enough. "I realized that no, this was not something that was going to get me to the greatest heights in life," she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour in this important conversation. "In the hustle and bustle of life, somewhere I started giving my bare minimum." Learn how Kulshrestha took the leap to leave her rote job and travel the world, engage with world-renowned thought leaders, and finally discover and remove the blocks that were holding back her happiness.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Connect with Shilpa Kulshrestha LinkedIn Instagram
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Join CoveyClub
"Find the one thing [your competitors] aren't doing that other people would like," says serial entrepreneur Sean Castrina, "and carve your complete business model around that." The founder of the Weekend MBA, author of four bestselling business books, and host of the "10-Minute Entreprenuer " podcast has started more than 20 companies in the last two decades. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Castrina reveals his secrets for successful startups and how he decided to commit to starting one business venture every year.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
Connect with Sean:
Website
YouTube
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Join CoveyClub
LeeAnn Marie Webster's life is truly a one-woman show. Multiple reinventions took her through a series of careers that include lawyer, speed dating event owner, and business coach. Next week she will add "star of the stage" to her list. Her autobiographical stage production, "Fancy Meeting Me Here", which plays at Chicago's Den Theatre from June 22-24, recounts her journey of coping with the loss of her brother when she was a child, searching for her calling, and the personal transformation that happened along the way. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Webster shares the hard-won lessons of reinventing across the years and explains why she refused to stay in a professional box. "I want to do something that makes my heart sing," she says. "The more women can tap into their story and inspire and encourage others...the better the world is."
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
About LeeAnn Marie Webster
LeeAnn Marie Webster is the creator of No Regrets Formula™, host of the Full Self Expression Forum, and star of Fancy Meeting Me Here, an autobiographical stage show. She is an attorney turned international keynote speaker, Moth Story Slam winner, and entrepreneur with 20+ years’ experience in marketing and business development. LeeAnn guides accomplished women leaders to live with no regrets so that they can have more impact, fulfillment & fun. LeeAnn is also an Ironman® finisher and she recently summited Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro
Connect with LeeAnn Marie Webster
Website
YouTube
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Join CoveyClub
“The more you experience an emotion versus resist the emotion…you create self-confidence.” Career strategist, executive coach, and renowned speaker Jill Griffin has been on a personal odyssey to reinvent her relationship to uncertainty. After an 18-year quest to understand the traumatic brain injury that changed her life, Griffin developed not only clarity around her personal health, but also a collection of tools to deal with anxiety. In this intimate conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour she shares the mindset shifts, non-negotiable needs, and crucial insights that helped her heal.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
About Jill Griffin
Jill D. Griffin has a 20+ year history of creating strengths-based cultures of innovation and is responsible for creating repeated and consistent results. Her passion is building inclusive workplaces and helping individuals, and teams increase well-being while developing positive and productive team dynamics.
Jill’s executive coaching, strategy, content development, and innovation have generated multi- millions in revenue for the world's largest agencies, start-ups, and well-known brands. She has worked with the brands we all know and look up to, including Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Samsung, Citibank, Unilever, American Honda Motors, Martha Stewart, Mondelez, and Hilton Hotels.
Advertising Age recognized Jill as one of the "25 Women to Watch", and she was named one of the "50 Most Influential People in Content Marketing" by NewsCred. She’s also a two- time winner of AdWeek-Mediaweek's Media Plan of the Year.
As a founding member of 212, NY's Digital Advertising Club, Jill was a recent visionary award recipient along with the other founding members. Jill has written articles for HuffPost, Fast Company, Glassdoor, and Metro UK. She’s been featured on WorkLife podcast with Adam Grant, from the TED Collective and quoted by leading media outlets like AdWeek, Advertising Age, Forrester Research, The New York Times, Newscred, MediaWeek, and The Wall Street Journal.
Jill hosts The Career Refresh podcast and is an experienced ICF® Professional Certified Coach and a Gallup® Certified Strengths Coach. She works with organizations to create strengths- based cultures to increase performance, profitability, productivity, and retention.
Connect with Rebecca:
Website • Facebook • LinkedIn • Instagram
Time Stamps:
4:48 - Dealing with sensitivities and navigating healthcare
7:15 - Understanding functional medicine
11:11 steps for getting clear on your strengths
13:45 - What Griffin has learned about brain health
21:46 - How (and why) the brain makes up stories and how to rethink a situation
27:10 - Determine your own non-negotionables
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Join CoveyClub
"What purpose can this pain serve?" asks serial reinventor Rebecca Contreras. From childhood abuse and neglect to poverty and addiction, Contreras has risen above all manner of challenges in her life. She recounts these experiences in her book, Lost Girl: From the Hood to the White House to Millionaire Entrepreneur, and in this intimate conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. A must-listen for anyone who has ever contemplated leaving their corporate job and venturing into the unknown, her insights will empower you to embrace change, find the tools you need, and ignite your entrepreneurial spirit.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
About Rebecca Contreras
Rebecca Contreras is currently the President & CEO of AvantGarde LLC (AG), a consulting firm she cofounded in 2011 which focuses on HR, organizational development, business operations, and technology. Her company has grown to over 110 employees spread all over the country and their offices in the Austin and Washington DC area have clients in 26 different government agencies. Rebecca is also an author and thought leader. She recently launched her new book LostGirl: From the hood to the White House to Millionaire.
Connect with Rebecca:
Website • Facebook • LinkedIn • Instagram • Book
Time Stamps:
9:00 - Surviving childhood trauma, navigating poverty and wellfare
13:00 - Working as a commissioned officer for President George W. Bush
15:00 - Leaving government work for entrepreneurship
21:00 - How to get involved with your local Chamber of Commerce to grow your business
23:00 - The obstacles women 40+ face when starting their own businesses
26:00 - Advice for physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing after 50
29:00 - How mindset applies to success
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Join CoveyClub
When the pandemic shook the world in the spring of 2020, Stacey Birch, a career bartender with a special-needs son, was in Bali working on a 12-month plan to reinvent her life. “Bringing Bob his beer and ranch dressing was no longer fulfilling,” she observes wryly. So after turning 50, she entered a contest to learn social media in Bali. Then Covid struck. “I crashed hard,” she CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour in this wildly candid and humorous conversation. Hear how Birch pivoted her goals, made the decision to uproot her life to Mexico, and reinvent herself as a retreat host and social media entrepreneur.
About Stacey: This Canadian single mama and career bartender turned her passion for puppies, margaritas and the 'gram into a total midlife pivot. At age 50 I moved to Mexico, healed myself through dog rescue and started a thriving social media business. It took a lovely combo of luck, determination, insanity and, well, the magic of IG to completely start anew. And now I would like to in turn take all that I have learned and help others rewriting their stories, starting anew to truly embrace this free marketing tool and community builder! I am launching a full course called the Midlife Social Savvy Course as well as hosting 1:1 personal branding retreats in Tulum Mexico...a content creator's dream.
Connect with Stacey:
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Join CoveyClub
Do you ever wonder how the most popular speakers and coaches land guest spots on top podcasts? Writer and podcast publicist Alice Draper knows the secret sauce. “Let’s say you’re leaving corporate and you’re starting a business,” she says. “Look at the examples around you…you’re bringing your own unique value.” With podcasts becoming the new platform for information and visibility, it’s important for entrepreneurs to understand how to use podcast guest-speaking to enhance their personal brand. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Draper shares her practical advice on creating the perfect pitch to secure great podcast appearances. She also provides a downloadable outline for crafting a compelling pitch and shares actionable steps to get started.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
About Alice Draper
Alice Draper is a podcast publicist who is on a mission to make publicity easy and accessible for underrepresented women entrepreneurs at all stages of their businesses. When Alice started building her business, she knew that publicity, in the right places, would garner her the authority she needed to position herself as a high-end copywriter. And so, she started pitching magazines like VICE, Refinery29, HuffPost, and Business Insider. This came with an unplanned skill — the art of the pitch — which is how she ended up pivoting her business towards publicity. She has been running Hustling Writers for over two years and in this time, she has secured her clients in over 500 podcasts including countless top 1% and top 0.5% podcasts. When Alice isn’t building out publicity strategies or thinking of new story angles, she is taking advantage of her location independence by house-sitting with her partner in places like Tbilisi, Nairobi, or Cape Town.
Connect with Alice: Instagram | Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Join CoveyClub
“My family was advised that they needed to come very quickly to say goodbye," says Geralyn Ritter. "My brother packed a dark suit for my funeral.” For Ritter, a near-fatal experience on the 2015 Philadelphia Amtrak derailment was the life-altering catalyst for a complete life and career reinvention. Her 2022 book, Bone by Bone: A Memoir of Trauma and Healing, details the story of her remarkable journey to recovery, moving through grief, trauma and healing. “The main reason I wrote it was to try to help other survivors,” she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour in this candid conversation. “It has been enormously healing for me to be able to share my story.” Listen in to hear her insights on overcoming and the resources that supported her along the way.
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
About Geralyn Ritter
Geralyn's doctors use the word "miraculous" to describe her survival and recovery. Today she lives a full life inspired by gratitude and offers hope and healing to many others. She is known for her distinctive laugh that fills a room and determined resilience in the face of personal and professional challenges. A recognized expert in healthcare policy, Geralyn was determined to re-start her career after years of disability leave following the accident. She is currently executive vice-president at Organon & Co., a new company dedicated to women's health. Prior to the launch of Organon in 2021, she was a longtime senior vice president of Merck & Co., Inc., one of the largest biopharmaceutical companies in the world. At Merck, her passion was leading the Company's engagement on social and community issues and supporting forward-thinking governance at the highest levels of the company. Geralyn and her husband Jonathan have been married for almost 25 years. Jonathan and their three sons traveled every step of the recovery journey with her, and their experiences as unexpected caretakers are an important part of her story.
Connect with Geralyn: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Join CoveyClub
What would you do if, as a healthy 20-something on the verge of achieving your dreams, your world was shattered by a health diagnosis? Elena Sonnino thought her body was broken and her life as she knew it was over. Through years of treatments and mystifying test results, she was determined to reinvent her relationship with her body and transform her health. In this intimate conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Sonnino shares her incredible story of overcoming. "I realized along the way that I wasn't broken, my heart and my soul weren't broken,” Sonnino observes. “I was just experiencing some things, and all of those experiences led to the reinvention of who I am today."
Free gift! Grab our new ebook, 5 Days to More Time for You! We've packed it full of our favorite time management hacks to help you conquer your to-do list and create more time for the things that matter most.
About Elena
Elena Sonnino is a life coach, yin yoga teacher, and author. But what most people say about Elena is that she brings delightful sparks of energy to everything she does. Elena is on a mission to help you transform the walls of survival mode into doors of possibility so that you can step into the spotlight of your life as your most rooted and nourished self. Her work helps you get out of your head and into your body as your source of wisdom, and moves you from beyond shoulds and into delight, one day at a time. At home, Elena enjoys watching the sunrise, tending to her many plants, riding her Peloton bike, and impromptu kitchen dance parties.
Connect with Elena
Website
Book
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
"When I think about reinvention, I think about finding talents, hidden parts of you that need to come out and be front and center," says Dr. Joan Fallon. With over 20 years of experience researching autism and related disorders, Dr. Fallon founded Curemark, a pharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutic treatments for neurological disorders. In this inspiring conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Dr. Fallon explains how her personal reinvention led her to changing the world of autism. Pass it along to anyone who needs to know about the groundbreaking work being done in the treatment of this disorder.
About Dr. Joan Fallon:
Dr. Fallon began her research on Autism and related disorders over 20 years ago and founded Curemark as a platform to develop product candidates to address her findings. Dr. Fallon has both clinical expertise and academic experience—the former from running a private practice specializing in pediatric development, and the latter as an Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Yeshiva University.
Dr. Fallon has played an integral role in two very successful (and unprecedented) medical ventures. She was an Oxford Health Plans board member and helped achieve underwriting authority from New York State, for alternative and complementary medicine where none had yet existed. She also helped implement a cost-effective, interdisciplinary health plan for Oxford that increased the level of quality care for all children enrolled there. Dr. Fallon has written numerous scholarly articles, lectured around the world on developmental problems in the pediatric population and served on the Board of Directors of the ICA and Kentuckiana Children’s Center. She serves as a Senior Advisor to the Henry Crown Fellows at The Aspen Institute, as well as a Distinguished Fellow at the Athena Center for Leadership Studies at Barnard College/Columbia University. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Franklin & Marshall College. Dr. Fallon holds a B.A. degree from Franklin and Marshall College, a DC degree from Palmer University, and has completed the coursework for the MSc in clinical investigation from Harvard University’s joint program with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with Dr. Fallon:
Website
Publisher
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“You can give in to just sitting around or you can do something creative, do something wonderful, do something for other people, which really makes you feel good.” So says Judy Katz, who found her dream career in her 60s and is still living it up in her 80s! Actively working, dating, and inspiring others, Katz is a professional ghostwriter, publisher, and marketer. If you have any inkling that you feel that you’re getting old in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or beyond, listen in to her fabulous conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour which will inspire you to toss that old idea out. As Katz says, “There's just so much you can contribute up to the last breath.”
About Judy
Judy Katz is an award-winning ghostwriter, editor, book publisher and promoter of 50 books, and still going strong. She also writes a blog called CelebrEighty to help change perceptions about “old age.”
Connect with Judy
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
"Just follow your curiosity,” says expert reinventor Claire Campos-O’Neal, daughter of a first generation Mexican-American who ran for Texas State Representative for House District-51 in 2022. “If you want to know about the school board, just go to a school board meeting.” For Campos O'Neal, following her curiosity took her from volunteer work to politics to real estate and beyond. "Women don't self-nominate as much as men do and they run because they care about their community, not because it's a stepping stone to something else.” In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour she shares what running for office without a political background taught her. Listen in to learn her tips for stepping into the political scene as a civilian and what she learned about making your voice heard.
FREE GIFT! Let CoveyClub support your 2023 goals with our 2023 Intention-Setting Workbook!
About Claire Campos-O'Neal
Claire Campos-O'Neal is a former candidate for the Texas House of Representatives, an education advocate, mother to two young boys, and budding entrepreneur. Since running for public office Claire has had a passion to share her campaign journey and give others a glimpse behind the political curtain.
Connect with Claire:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
"For me, in the beginning, it was a journaling practice," says Katty Douraghy. What it became was a gateway to understanding and processing her own grief. Now her memoir Butterfly Years: A Journey Through Grief Towards Hope serves as a beacon for anyone struggling to deal with the regret and sadness of loss. After losing her whole family in the span of six months, Douraghy was blindsided by grief and forced very suddenly to find the resources to cope. In this inspiring conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour she shares the experience of discovering her own resilience and her advice for others on learning to let go and move through the grieving process. "Don't think you're the only one who's going through this," she says. "There's a whole community of people out there who are feeling your pain, who will celebrate your joy, and they will celebrate your growth."
FREE GIFT! Let CoveyClub support your 2023 goals with our 2023 Intention-Setting Workbook!
Connect with Kathy:
Buy the book
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“Older individuals in general are better at prioritizing time,” says Ashley Whillans; “But one thing I’ve also seen in some of my data is that older adults struggle a little bit to change their habits around work and meaningful pursuits outside of work.” An assistant professor at Harvard, a rising star in behavioral science, and author of the book "Time Start, Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life", Whillans is a wealth of information. But even for Whillens, there was a period when time stress was impacting her life. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour she shares her fabulous tips that will help you break down your time into three areas so you can manage time and not let time manage you.
FREE GIFT! Let CoveyClub support your 2023 goals with our 2023 Intention-Setting Workbook!
Connect with Ashley Whillans:
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
"I think many of us are living by what we decided we wanted 10 or 20 years ago and we're too afraid of course-correct." That's how Jackie McDougall felt after years in the television industry. After deciding at a young age that she wanted to be in television she left Boston for California at age 23 with $700 in her pocket and she never looked back. Years later, however, she noticed the 40+ demographic being overlooked in the talk show field, and she decided to do something about it. Now a coach and host of The Grown Ass Woman podcast. "My work has morphed not just for the creative folks," she says, "but for a variety of women who want to do something. They know they want something...but they're not exactly sure how to get there." In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, McDougall shares her insights for taking the knowledge gained in corporate life and twisting it to fit your personal practice. Listen in for her tips on dealing with imposter syndrome, positioning yourself as an expert, and facing the fear so you can do more of what you love.
FREE GIFT! Let CoveyClub support your 2023 goals with our 2023 Intention-Setting Workbook!
Connect with Jackie:
Website
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
What do you do when your biggest source of revenue is also your biggest source of serious, detrimental stress? Monica Froese found herself in that position 11 years into her career in technology. She was managing $15 million marketing campaigns while unknowingly suffering from postpartum PTSD. “The fear of failure is what holds us back,” says Froese now. “I fail all the time…but here’s the thing: when I set my mind to something, I don’t fail.” Listen in to her conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to learn how she reinvented her career by becoming an entrepreneur and healing her postpartum trauma, how a visit to the White House inspired her to take action on an important cause, and her advice for navigating your own career reinvention.
FREE GIFT! Let CoveyClub support your 2023 goals with our 2023 Intention-Setting Workbook!
Connect with Monica:
Website
A special gift from Monica! Visit http://monicafroese.com/reinventyourself for the latest updates, downloadable content, and more
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“It was more than just, 'Oh, I need a break,'" says Stephanie Smirnov. "It felt like something deeper than that." Many of us know the nature of burnout; that malaise between exhaustion and depletion that can raise it's ugly head in either your work or personal life. Smirnov, who loved her work in PR for 30 years, suddenly found herself burned out and in need of a big change. “When I started to think about the things I loved outside of PR that fueled me,” she says, “I realized…I would love to do for others what executive coaches did for me. I love helping people discover their best.” But she loved the people she worked with and didn’t want to uproot everything. What did she do? She reinvented herself from within. Smirnov changed her perspective on her workplace by bringing a big new idea to her boss. That allowed her to completely reimagine and reframe her work within her agency as an executive coach. Listen in to her conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to learn how she navigated overwhem and reimagined her role inside the business she loved without leaving.
FREE GIFT! Let CoveyClub support your 2023 goals with our 2023 Intention-Setting Workbook!
Connect with Stephanie:
Time Stamps:
2:50 - What drew Smirnov to a 30-year career in PR
11:00 - Experiencing burnout, her "Aha Moment" and how she made her pivot
19:20 - Smirnov's mindset around failure
21:00 - Networking for beginners
26:20 - How to make a pivot within an organization
29:00 - Therapy and coaching - what's the difference?
33:00 How do you know if you need an executive coach?
Connect with Lesley Jane Seymour & CoveyClub:
Website
Join CoveyClub
“I think the normal career advice we get is, if you have a lot of passions, you’ve got to choose just one,” says author, speaker, and teacher Sarabeth Berk. “Otherwise, how are you going to be successful if you’re trying to do 10 things at once?” Berk needed to answer that question. Feeling pigeonholed in her career, she set off on a series of research interviews with people who have multiple expertise and are successful. She dubs it "The Hybrid Career" which she outlines in her new book "More Than My Title: The Power of Hybrid Professionals in a Workforce of Experts and Generalists." Listen in to her conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to learn how she built an online course to help others find their momentum so they can look beyond their title to uncover the diversity of work they’re truly passionate about.
FREE GIFT! Let CoveyClub support your 2023 goals with our 2023 Intention-Setting Workbook!
Time Stamps:
9:09 - What it means to be a creative disruptor
13:05 - What are professional hybrid identities?
17:17 - How to find your own professional identity
21:00 - What is a hyprid elevator pitch and how can it help you reposition yourself?
32:58 - Sarabeth's favorite resources and suggestions
Connect with Sarabeth Berk:
Website
Amazon
Connect with Covey:
Website
Taina Bien-Aimé has always been a groundbreaker. As a journalist, she spent years witnessing, researching, and documenting injustice against women around the world, especially the things that were holding them back and the areas where they most needed support. After years of fighting in the trenches for women's equality, Bien-Aimé returned to school in her 30s to earn a law degree so she could take her advocacy to the next level. Today, Bien-Aimé is the Executive Director for the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women. Listen in to her conversation with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, to learn how she left the financial security of her corporate career to pursue the work that she felt called to do.Bio:
Taina Bien-Aimé (she/her) has three decades of experience defending the rights of women and girls at the national and global levels. She is currently the Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), one of the oldest international organizations dedicated to ending trafficking in women and girls and commercial sexual exploitation as practices of gender-based violence and discrimination.
Prior to this position and for twenty years, Taina was involved with Equality Now, a global organization working to promote the human rights of women and girls, first as a founding Board member and subsequently as its Executive Director for ten years. She was also a Director of Business Affairs at Home Box Office and practiced international corporate law at the Wall Street law firm, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.
Taina holds a Juris Doctor from NYU School of Law and a degree in Political Science from the University of Geneva/Graduate School of International Studies in Switzerland. Taina has extensive media experience and was honored with a number of awards for her work and campaigns to uphold the human rights of women and girls globally. In 2021, she was listed on the inaugural 2021 Forbes’ 50>50 Women Who Have Made a Social Impact.
Connect:
Website
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Social & Website
CoveyClub website
"For some of us, we need to fall back into what we're doing," says Traci Schubert Barrett. "And for some of us, we need to leave." As a founding team member for HGTV, Schubert Barrett had reached the proverbial top of the corporate mountain and had everything she could want — success, a happy marriage, a family, even financial freedom. Yet she found herself wondering, “Is there more?” Despite being able to walk the C-suite of one of America's largest TV networks, she chose to leave and pursue the answer to that question. In this intimate conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Schubert Barrett discusses how she discovered her “more” and found true, sustainable fulfillment. Listen in for her insights on how to navigate your own journey of career reinvention, even if you're not sure where to begin.
JOIN TRACI SCHUBERT BARRETT FOR A COVEYCLASS
We’ve gone through all the predetermined mile markers set before us, checked all the boxes, and now society tells us we have only one mile marker left to pass - retirement. Or do we? We are living in an age that has begun to redefine retirement along with how and when we work. What does this mean for us at midlife and how can we reimagine the second half of our life in a way that matches who we are today? And what about those pressing questions that arise at this stage of our life: Who am I really? What do I want? Is there more out there for me? Wrestling with these questions is natural, especially in this post-pandemic world. Having the answers is not. Traci Schubert Barrett, entrepreneur, podcast host, and author of the new book What If There's More: Finding Significance Beyond Success, will give us a framework to redefine success on our own terms, decide what we want from the second half of life, and challenge us to embrace a life that is significant to ourselves and those around us.
Bio
Former HGTV executive Traci Schubert Barrett has been there. As a founding team member of the cable television network, Traci achieved what most would define as the pinnacle of success—office in downtown Chicago, traveling all over the country for work, rubbing elbows with HGTV talent—but, the longer she held that position, the more dissatisfied she felt with her life. She began to wonder, “What if there’s more?” So, she took the risk of her life, walked away from her comfortable corporate job, and devoted time to finding significance in her life beyond professional success.
Now, as a woman in midlife, Traci has found her purpose. As an executive coach, podcast host, and author, Traci helps other women who are asking themselves “what if there’s more?” navigate the second half of their lives.
Time Stamps
[8:06] Creating HGTV
[13:18] Leaving her executive position to look for fulfillment
[24:26] How to cope with fear of the unknown and fear of losing your identity
[28:56] What she chose to do after discovering her "more"
[34:31] Schubert Barrett's advice for getting out of the "golden handcuffs" when you think you can do more
“Reinvention is sexy and glamorous, but it doesn’t have to be a huge transformation,” says business strategist, coach and serial reinventor, Diann Wingert. Wingert, who likes to be challenged by the new and unfamiliar, has reinvented her marriage, her career, and even her religion. “I’m the kind of person who can make big, bold sweeping changes in a very short period of time,” she tells CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour. “But frankly, most people don’t need to do that.” Listen in to this conversation in which Wingert reveals what made her decide to transform her beloved career as a psychologist (backward looking) into becoming a life coach (forward looking) when she felt stifled by a traditional practice. Follow her tips for examining your own career and shifting into a model that feels more challenging and new!
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio: Diann Wingert became a business strategist, coach, and consultant after a 20-year career as a licensed psychotherapist. Her mission is to help women with big ideas and busy brains become focused, fired up, and flame-retardant. Diann is the creator of The Boss Up Breakthrough and host of The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Podcast.
Connect with Diann:
Website • LinkedIn • Facebook • Instagram
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Social & Website
CoveyClub website
It’s harder to work towards your goals when you’re surrounded by people who make you question them, says Elizabeth Rosenberg, founder of The Good Advice Company. A large part of every successful reinvention is having the support system to encourage you to hang in there So how can you be kinder to yourself and hold space for yourself while you’re in the reinvention transition? Listen in to Rosenberg’s conversation with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, to learn how she cultivated the difficult practice of allowing herself grace while creating necessary change, and how you can best support yourself on the journey towards your own reinvention.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Connect with Elizabeth:The Good Advice Company • LinkedIn • TwitterJoin CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Social & Website
CoveyClub website
We’ve all had that seemingly unrealistic dream that seems to be waiting on the other end of corporate life. The lawyer who wants to be a novelist; the accountant who longs to be a chef. For Jennifer Turbo, her reinvention took her into that dream space – and made it a reality. Previously a technical writer for engineers and software developers, Turbo’s heart was in stand-up comedy. Listen in to her conversation with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, to find out how, using a step-by-step approach (including relocating to a new city after a personal tragedy), she turned her dreams into a reality. “Here's a spoiler alert,” says Turbo: “Nobody knows what they're doing. And quite frankly, that's what makes it fun.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Connect with Jennifer: Instagram, YouTube
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Jill Granoff is no stranger to career reinvention. As a student at Duke University, Granoff was convinced she would pursue a career in psychology, but somewhere along the way she found that it just didn’t fit. Granoff reinvented her career with an MBA in organizational behavior, moving from industrial consultation to the beauty industry. She spent a decade at Estee Lauder where she found herself desiring another transition. Shifting from the corporate world to the business of retail and later into the fashion industry, Granoff was responsible for internationally-recognized brands like Victoria’s Secret, Liz Claiborne, Kate Spade and Juicy Couture. Now the CEO of Eurazeo Brands, her latest reinvention has led her into the world of private equity. In this conversation with Covey Club founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Jill Granoff shares her experience of reinvention through a different lens, navigating a national financial crisis, and more. Listen in for her advice on how to leverage your relationships to pursue the work you truly want.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio: Jill Granoff is Managing Partner of Eurazeo, a leading listed European investment firm with over $30 billion in assets under management, and CEO of Eurazeo Brands, its global consumer division focused on growth equity. Based in New York, she is responsible for leading investment activities and overseeing the performance of Eurazeo Brands’ portfolio companies globally. Ms. Granoff has a distinguished 30-year career leading consumer-driven companies and is best known as a strategist and brand builder in the beauty, fashion, and retail industries.
Connect: LinkedIn
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Social & Website
CoveyClub website
“I can’t control what happened, but I can control how I react to it.” This was Jane Enright’s guiding thought as she navigated the worst year of her life. When three consecutive tragedies occurred in the span of a year, Enright found herself recovering from physical injury, caregiving for a loved one, and grieving her best friend - all at once. A committed “glass half-full girl,” she was determined to become the CEO of everything. She wrote her first book, Butter Side Up, about the challenges she faced in that year while overcoming a traumatic brain injury. “When disaster strikes,” she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, “having a positive mindset is our best defense against getting swallowed up in that hamster wheel of dread and grief and loss. That’s not denying the feelings, but rather letting them go.” Listen in to her conversation to learn her advice for not just surviving but thriving through unimaginable sudden change.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!” Bio: Jane Enright is an ordinary person who has survived some extraordinary things. An inspiring and humorous inspirational author, speaker, and positivity expert, Canada-based Enright is a former kindergarten teacher, strategic planner, and university lecturer, as well as the founder and CEO of Everything at My Super Awesome Life Inc. She is also the author of Butter Side Up: How I Survived My Most Terrible Year & Created My Super Awesome Life and Jane’ Jam: Inspiration To Create Your Super Awesome Life.
Jane speaks to audiences seeking answers to overcoming a fear of the unknown, grief, stress, loss, depression, anxiety, stagnation, indecision, sadness, and more. From top executives to stay-at-home moms, she is helping audiences throughout North America land “butter side up” find joy, successfully manage change, and learn how to create their super awesome after unexpected change.
Key Links: Website
Books
My Super Awesome Life
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations.
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
What if your entire life fell apart in the space of a single year? For Claudia Dreifus, that what-if became a reality. Growing up in New York, Dreifus was a student at NYU in the ‘60s and deeply involved in the Civil Rights movement. She built a career as a journalist, a craft she had practiced since she was a teenager. But in 1992, her life was upended. Dreifus broke up with a toxic boyfriend, sold her house, left her job, and was forced to start over. Listen in to her conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour as she explains why this “trifecta of personal change” forced her to reinvent both her career and her personal life. "You have to look around, you have to see what's possible," advises this writer and professor at Columbia University. "You've got to plant in different fields so that one of them bears fruit."
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!” Bio: Claudia Dreifus is an American journalist, educator and lecturer, producer of the weekly feature “Conversation with…” of the Science Section of The New York Times, and known for her interviews with leading figures in world politics and science. She is adjunct associate professor of international affairs and media at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) of Columbia University.
Key Links: Website
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Suzanne Randolph has lived a life surrounded by art. Growing up in Harlem, she would tag along to dinner parties with her mother’s artist friends. Later, Randolph majored in art history and received an MBA in design strategy before going on to work for the New York City government and the not-for-profit art world. Art became a comforting presence and she traveled the world in pursuit of it. Although she had a successful career as a fine art advisor, Randolph felt that there was something missing from her life. She turned to reinvention. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, Randolph shares how her reinvention led to recognizing a travel needgap for executive women, and how she set out to fill it with the Alix Experience, a company that creates unique travel experiences. Randolph reveals her advice for other women setting out to turn their passion into a business.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!” Bio: Suzanne Randolph’s well-established career in the visual arts began with an early commitment to bringing the works of individual artists from around the world to corporate settings and public spaces within the public and private sectors. More recently, she has integrated the forward-looking principles of “design thinking” as a way of expanding SRFA’s business strategy and as the framework for development of ALIX, a global resource, which addresses the specific needs of executive women through the creation of meaningful experiences for its members.
Key Links: Alix Experience
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Follow CoveyClub:
CoveyClub website
Born in Queens, Laura Noel moved to the Pennsylvania Amish country at 10 years old. Restless and troubled, she longed to get away from her difficult home life. College found her spinning her wheels until she discovered the Army ROTC. A former Marine, her father suggested the Air Force. Twenty-eight years later, Noel was a seasoned service professional with a master's degree in arts administration. During her time in the service she felt a longing to find her purpose and began teaching yoga, and mindfulness. Noel learned that following her curiosity was just as important as following her career path. In this conversation with Covey Club founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Noel discusses the reinventions that led her to creating Stretch Into Success, a consulting firm that combines leadership techniques with mindfulness coaching to help entrepreneurs find success and fulfillment.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Laura Noel is a Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt and certified Proctor Gallagher Institute coach and facilitator who works with individuals, groups and companies in reaching their potential and achieving their personal and professional goals.
Key Links: Website Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Follow CoveyClub:
CoveyClub website
“My junior year [of college], I was struggling with anxiety attacks, and [in] my senior year I had a major depressive episode,” says Caralena Peterson. The reason? “It's essentially this expectation that you're supposed to have the perfect grades, perfect body, perfect future plans, perfect everything,” she explains, “but of course, it doesn't take any visible effort.” Peterson, knows this struggle is real for so many young college-aged women. At her alma mater, Duke University, the term “effortless perfection” was coined to describe the struggle that leads to these experiences. Peterson decided this was such an important topic that she authored the new book, The Effortless Perfection Myth. Peterson went on to research effortless perfection and interview countless young adults, pouring all of her findings into her new book. Listen to her conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to understand how this race with perfection is causing a heartbreaking mental and emotional health struggle in our younger generations and how your daughter/niece/friend might be hiding it. Pass this conversation on to your peers, your daughters, your granddaughters, your sisters, and help end the effortless perfection cycle.
JOIN US FOR A COMPANION CLASS WITH CARA PETERSON on October 27th at 6pm ET. Sign up here.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!” Bio:
Caralena Peterson is the author of the forthcoming book The Effortless Perfection Myth (release date September 20, 2022) about the gender issues today’s women run into in college. She graduated from Duke University in 2015 with majors in Women’s Studies and Public Policy. She has published articles with Inside Higher Ed, The Week, She Knows Media, Ms. Magazine, Rewire News, Bustle, Garnet News, Women’s E-News, and Elite Daily. She is also a mixed-medium artist whose work has appeared in the New York Times and Washington Life Magazine. Check out more of her work and sign up for her newsletter at www.caralenapeterson.com. Follow her on Instagram at @effortlessperfectionmyth.
Book:
The Effortless Perfection Myth: Debunking the Myth and Revealing the Path to Empowerment for Today's College Women
Key links:
Website
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Social & Website
CoveyClub website
"The thing that's holding you back is what you think you know for sure," says Wendy Perrotti, one half of the dynamic coaching duo behind Camp Reinvention. Her co-founder Dana Hilmer agrees: “We humans don’t love uncertainty, but being in that place…that is the birthplace of possibility.” After years of running their own independent coaching practices, Hilmer and Perrotti created Camp Reinvention to help women over 50 stop “should-ing” and live their best lives. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, they break down the many barriers women face to reinvention (including pre-set ideas of what’s possible), how they can correct them, and what they need to take the first steps towards their dream careers. Listen in as they explore topics like redefining success, giving ourselves permission, debunking the myth of fulfillment, and much more.
Join Camp Reinvention for their free live webinar, How to Make a Professional Pivot When You're Over 50. Times include Tuesday, October 18th at 9pm ET or Thursday, October 20th at 7pm ET. Sign up here!
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
DANA HILMER is a certified coach, positive psychology consultant, speaker and trainer and is passionate about helping women live courageously so they can build their dream and love their life. Dana is no stranger to reinvention herself as “middlescence” is when she finally listened to her heart and stopped “shoulding all over herself” to do the work that she loves today. Dana has been featured on hundreds of radio and television shows across the country and she speaks on topics related to mastering your mindset, optimal living, the habits of success, and creating the life and work you love. Dana lives in Madison, CT with her husband and their three teenage boys. To receive free tips and videos to help you create the life and work you love, go to DanaHilmer.com.
WENDY PERROTTI is a Certified Professional Coach, speaker, and leadership trainer with over 25 years of experience in helping individuals and groups nationwide to affect change in themselves and others. Wendy believes anything is possible when you know what you want and “you’re all in” and she navigated her own successful reinvention when she realized her vision of success had nothing to do with the company she spent years building. Wendy is a sought-after speaker and the author of the forthcoming book, Reclaiming Muchness: Tap into a Life of Love, Purpose, and Connection. To receive big doses of actionable inspiration, sign up for her Mindful Monday Newsletter at WendyPerotti.com.
Key Links:
Website: https://www.campreinvention.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campreinvention
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campreinvention/
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Time Stamps
5:07 - Should fulfillment really come from your job?
8:37 - The Great Resignation is becoming the Great Regret
14:45 - Why Dana left advertising for positive psychology
17:00 - What holds women back in their second half
25:38 - Turning the Great Regret into the Great Reinvention
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
“The truth in your heart is more real than the one that you see.” These are the words that catapulted Jessica Joines from a high-powered marketing professional to a service-based business owner. After college, the Bay Area-native did what many young people do: she chose an advertising career out of necessity. But by her mid-30s, burned out and poised for a reinvention, Joines traveled the world in search of her passion. “I was seeking to find that place that would make me happy,” she says, “not realizing that it was an inside job.” In this conversation with Covey Club founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Joines reveals the unique strategy that helped her get out of her head so she could follow her heart, found the Women’s Purpose Community, become an author, motivational speaker, retreat leader, and spiritual executive coach. Listen in to discover her tips for preventing fear to guide her.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!” Bio: Jessica Joines is a former Global CMO turned bestselling author, spiritual coach and international speaker who helps women awaken to their true power and potential. Through speaking, coaching, and a community platform she empowers women to transform their lives by mastering their own spiritual journey.
Key Links:
Website
Women’s Purpose Community
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Social & Website
CoveyClub website
When Jane Pollak began taking art classes in college, she never expected to launch a 30-year career off of a creative Slavic tradition. In 1973 she created her first Ukrainian Easter Egg, was profiled in the New York Times, opened her business, and in less than 10 years was commissioned by the White House. Thereafter known as The Egg Lady, Pollak built a career on the intricate carving of designs into an egg form before reinventing her creativity in textiles. Throughout her journey, Pollak faced a challenge many creative entrepreneurs struggle with: having the courage to price her work at value. Listen in to her insightful and vivacious conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to learn how Pollak overcame her fears and created a luxury business from her own creativity.
A gift from our speaker! Go to our website for an opportunity to receive a free copy of Jane Pollak's 7 Strategies from a Lifestyle Entrepreneur - AKA Artist!
Bio: Jane Pollak is an artist who creates limited edition, luxury custom textiles that enchant and wow their owners. Her mission is to bring works of beauty to the world using the finest materials, original designs, and a lifetime of spirit and creativity. Jane’s unique sense of color and composition make her wool appliqué creations worthy additions to top designer rooms, collector’s acquisitions, and tastemaker’s recommendations.
Key Links:
Website
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Doug Noll claims he can calm an angry person in 90 seconds or less. Growing up in an affluent Southern California community, he was born with many disabilities: partially deaf and almost blind, he couldn't walk until he was three years old. Although he had a loving family, the community and society at large didn't fully understand how to interact or connect with a disabled child. Noll cites learning to overcome his physical disabilities and emotional turmoil as his introduction to reinvention. Watching his father go through bankruptcy and rebuild himself as a stockbroker gave him a second window into reinvention. Eventually, Noll went on to become a trial lawyer for over 20 years, learning martial arts, tai chi, and energy healing work in his free time. By his mid-40s he had chosen to go back to school for a master's in peacemaking and conflict studies. Walking away from a ten million dollar law practice, Noll chose to become a mediator. Working in prisons, courtrooms, and beyond, he developed a simple technique for calming anger in less than a minute and a half. “Once you start doing this, you start to change yourself,” Noll observes. Listen in on his conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour to learn how you can adopt this simple technique and bring more peace, compassion, and authenticity into your life.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio: Doug Noll speaks about and teaches people how to solve difficult, intractable, and highly emotional problems. He was a business and commercial trial lawyer for 22 years before turning to leadership development, problem-solving, and peacemaking. He is a Senior Consultant with Mobius Executive Leadership and maintains a high-level mediation and arbitration practice.
Key Links: Website Book Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Social & Website CoveyClub website Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn
"If a company is looking past you then you don't want to work there anyway," says Gillian Williams. "It's almost a way to avoid working at a place that would have probably been incredibly toxic." These are words of wisdom from someone who knows a thing or two about job placement. After moving to Maine to pursue an unsuccessful romance, Williams found herself back in New York in her 20s with no career, no connections, and a growing battle with depression. With nothing else to do but take a risk, she founded her own recruitment firm, Monday Talent. Almost 20 years later, Monday Talent has grown into a thriving business focused on marketing communications and creative strategy across multiple industries, from consumer to healthcare and beyond. The “why” of Monday Talent is focused on diversity and inclusion, with people of color making up 50% of the company. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Williams discusses everything she’s learned from her industry and shares the most important job search tips she’s uncovered for women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Gillian Williams is a Partner and Founder of Monday Talent, a recruitment firm with a deep commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, that specializes in finding talent within the marketing, communications & creative arenas. Coming from a creative/editorial background herself, Gillian brings her in-depth understanding of these industries to the search process. With over seven years of recruitment experience and an inherent understanding of people, Gillian has become a trusted thought leader in the talent acquisition space. Her expertise and insights have been featured in several iconic publications including Forbes, Marie Claire, Business Insider, BuzzFeed & Well + Good. Raised in a multi-racial family in the heart of New York City, Gillian is a fierce social activist who sits on the Board of Directors of Ardea Arts and can often be found rallying for change.
Key Links: Website Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Social & Website CoveyClub website Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn
"If a company is looking past you then you don't want to work there anyway," says Gillian Williams. "It's almost a way to avoid working at a place that would have probably been incredibly toxic." These are words of wisdom from someone who knows a thing or two about job placement. After moving to Maine to pursue an unsuccessful romance, Williams found herself back in New York in her 20s with no career, no connections, and a growing battle with depression. With nothing else to do but take a risk, she founded her own recruitment firm, Monday Talent. Almost 20 years later, Monday Talent has grown into a thriving business focused on marketing communications and creative strategy across multiple industries, from consumer to healthcare and beyond. The “why” of Monday Talent is focused on diversity and inclusion, with people of color making up 50% of the company. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Williams discusses everything she’s learned from her industry and shares the most important job search tips she’s uncovered for women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Gillian Williams is a Partner and Founder of Monday Talent, a recruitment firm with a deep commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, that specializes in finding talent within the marketing, communications & creative arenas. Coming from a creative/editorial background herself, Gillian brings her in-depth understanding of these industries to the search process. With over seven years of recruitment experience and an inherent understanding of people, Gillian has become a trusted thought leader in the talent acquisition space. Her expertise and insights have been featured in several iconic publications including Forbes, Marie Claire, Business Insider, BuzzFeed & Well + Good. Raised in a multi-racial family in the heart of New York City, Gillian is a fierce social activist who sits on the Board of Directors of Ardea Arts and can often be found rallying for change.
Key Links: Website Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Social & Website CoveyClub website Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn
When Carrington Smith had a traumatic experience in college, she found very little support from family and friends. Her mother told her to never speak of “it” again. Burying the memory, she went on to become a lawyer before reinventing her career as an executive search consultant for Fortune 500 companies and law firms. With a successful career and a fabulous social life, Smith had it all. But unhappiness led her to finally uncover and take ownership of the experiences she had avoided long ago. Through therapy, writing, and “doing the work” she began to heal, ended her unhappy marriage, and created a life with a new sense of self. Unfortunately, some friends, threatened by her reinvention,rejected her for giving up a seemingly ideal life in order to live her truest self, forcing her to move communities and change schools for her kids. “It’s those experiences that help us build emotional resilience,” she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour in this intimate, vulnerable conversation. “People who pretend to be perfect are oftentimes the people who are hiding the most,” she says. Listen in to learn how Smith overcame adversity and trauma, embraced her identity, and told her story in her new book, Blooming: Finding Gifts in the Shit of Life.
A gift from our speaker! Go to our website for an opportunity to receive a free copy of Carrington Smith’s Gratitude Journal and create your own 30-Day Gratitude Challenge
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Carrington Smith is a single mom, attorney, business owner and executive search professional. In her debut best-selling memoir, Carrington combines wit and wisdom to share her journey through life’s tough moments, with a positive attitude and a shift of mindset, into a life bursting with joy, opportunity, and purpose. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Tulane Law School, Carrington resides in Austin, Texas, with her two teenage boys.
Connect with Carrington: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube LinkedIn
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Time Stamps
9:29 - Leaving a law career to begin her first reinvention
11:49 - What happened in college that her mother told her never to speak about
16:20 - Writing about and reliving the trauma
18:28 - Ending her marriage and being rejected by her friends
22:54 - Giving up her dream house to escape toxic relationships and starting over
26:26 - Learning a growth mindset at any age
30:00 - Why gratitude is important and how to start a 30 Day Gratitude Challenge
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
When Carrington Smith had a traumatic experience in college, she found very little support from family and friends. Her mother told her to never speak of “it” again. Burying the memory, she went on to become a lawyer before reinventing her career as an executive search consultant for Fortune 500 companies and law firms. With a successful career and a fabulous social life, Smith had it all. But unhappiness led her to finally uncover and take ownership of the experiences she had avoided long ago. Through therapy, writing, and “doing the work” she began to heal, ended her unhappy marriage, and created a life with a new sense of self. Unfortunately, some friends, threatened by her reinvention,rejected her for giving up a seemingly ideal life in order to live her truest self, forcing her to move communities and change schools for her kids. “It’s those experiences that help us build emotional resilience,” she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour in this intimate, vulnerable conversation. “People who pretend to be perfect are oftentimes the people who are hiding the most,” she says. Listen in to learn how Smith overcame adversity and trauma, embraced her identity, and told her story in her new book, Blooming: Finding Gifts in the Shit of Life.
A gift from our speaker! Go to our website for an opportunity to receive a free copy of Carrington Smith’s Gratitude Journal and create your own 30-Day Gratitude Challenge
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Carrington Smith is a single mom, attorney, business owner and executive search professional. In her debut best-selling memoir, Carrington combines wit and wisdom to share her journey through life’s tough moments, with a positive attitude and a shift of mindset, into a life bursting with joy, opportunity, and purpose. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Tulane Law School, Carrington resides in Austin, Texas, with her two teenage boys.
Connect with Carrington: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube LinkedIn
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Time Stamps
9:29 - Leaving a law career to begin her first reinvention
11:49 - What happened in college that her mother told her never to speak about
16:20 - Writing about and reliving the trauma
18:28 - Ending her marriage and being rejected by her friends
22:54 - Giving up her dream house to escape toxic relationships and starting over
26:26 - Learning a growth mindset at any age
30:00 - Why gratitude is important and how to start a 30 Day Gratitude Challenge
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Ivy Slater always wanted to be a dancer. She earned a degree in dance and went on to become a professional dancer, something many young ballerinas don’t achieve. But at 23 years old, an injury brought her dance career to an immediate halt. Heartbroken, Slater knew it was time for a reinvention. Living in New York City with no idea where to begin next, she went through several reinventions, as an exercise instructor, as executive assistant to the powerhouse woman behind a global athleticwear brand, and more. At 27, Slater entered into the hardest negotiations of her life - with her father. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Ivy Slater discusses what it was like to reinvent from the wreckage of tragedy to build a multi-million dollar company. She explores her midlife crisis at 45 and the secrets for success that led to her newest reinvention, Slater Success Coaching, a firm that helps women scale and grow their businesses. A truly resilient force, Slater gives listeners insights into tapping into their power and taking ownership of their lives and careers.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Ivy Slater is an entrepreneur, internationally-bestselling author, speaker, podcast host, and professionally-certified business coach. As the CEO of Slater Success, Ivy works closely with C-Suite executives and upper-level managers to advise and create clear strategies that provide instant and longterm impact on businesses. From generating team synergy and launching new sales initiatives, to holding mastermind retreats and corporate trainings on communication, finances, or strategic planning, Ivy is an expert at cultivating and facilitating relationships that are the hallmark of any successful business.
Key Links: Website
From the Barre to Boardroom - Ivy’s book
Podcast
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations.
Time Stamps
3:00 - How her parents inspired her to believe that anything was possible 7:00 - Losing her career at 23 after an injury 11:30 - Becoming the right-hand assistant to business owners 18:00 - Asserting herself to become a partnership in her family's business 20:50 - Navigating a midlife reinvention as an empty nester 22:18 - Finding your "what" 28:00 - How to stand out in the coaching industry
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Ivy Slater always wanted to be a dancer. She earned a degree in dance and went on to become a professional dancer, something many young ballerinas don’t achieve. But at 23 years old, an injury brought her dance career to an immediate halt. Heartbroken, Slater knew it was time for a reinvention. Living in New York City with no idea where to begin next, she went through several reinventions, as an exercise instructor, as executive assistant to the powerhouse woman behind a global athleticwear brand, and more. At 27, Slater entered into the hardest negotiations of her life - with her father. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Ivy Slater discusses what it was like to reinvent from the wreckage of tragedy to build a multi-million dollar company. She explores her midlife crisis at 45 and the secrets for success that led to her newest reinvention, Slater Success Coaching, a firm that helps women scale and grow their businesses. A truly resilient force, Slater gives listeners insights into tapping into their power and taking ownership of their lives and careers.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Ivy Slater is an entrepreneur, internationally-bestselling author, speaker, podcast host, and professionally-certified business coach. As the CEO of Slater Success, Ivy works closely with C-Suite executives and upper-level managers to advise and create clear strategies that provide instant and longterm impact on businesses. From generating team synergy and launching new sales initiatives, to holding mastermind retreats and corporate trainings on communication, finances, or strategic planning, Ivy is an expert at cultivating and facilitating relationships that are the hallmark of any successful business.
Key Links: Website
From the Barre to Boardroom - Ivy’s book
Podcast
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations.
Time Stamps
3:00 - How her parents inspired her to believe that anything was possible 7:00 - Losing her career at 23 after an injury 11:30 - Becoming the right-hand assistant to business owners 18:00 - Asserting herself to become a partnership in her family's business 20:50 - Navigating a midlife reinvention as an empty nester 22:18 - Finding your "what" 28:00 - How to stand out in the coaching industry
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
“Money is power,” Eleanor Beaton’s mother told her at a very young age. “Always make your own.” Growing up in Nova Scotia with an economist father, Beaton learned all about finances. She began her career in advertising, where she opened her own communications consulting agency before later reinventing herself through business journalism. By her mid-20s she had brought her love of storytelling together with her passion for personal development and founded SafiMedia. An acronym for Self-Actualized Female Innovator, SafiMedia aims to double the number of female founders who scale past $1,000,000 in revenue by 2030. Ten years after creating SafiMedia, tragedy struck when her father passed away from a sudden illness. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Beaton discusses the dissolution of ambition she experienced at the loss of her father, how her grief became the catalyst for reinvention, and her advice for women who are ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Now the host of the Power + Presence + Position podcast, Beaton helps other women reinvent their lives and their careers on a daily basis.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!” Bio: Eleanor Beaton is the founder of Safi Media, a business coaching and advisory firm for women entrepreneurs. Eleanor and her team provide business coaching, learning programs and custom content to thousands of women entrepreneurs globally, as well as the conferences, associations and corporations who champion them. Eleanor and her colleagues at Safi Media are on a mission to advance global gender equity by doubling the number of women entrepreneurs who scale past $1M in revenues by 2030. In addition to running Safi Media, Eleanor hosts one of the country’s top-ranked podcasts for women entrepreneurs, Power + Presence + Position. Eleanor’s work has been published or quoted in publications including The Globe & Mail, The Atlantic, CBC, Chatelaine and Readers Digest. She has spoken at conferences and events throughout Latin America, North America and Europe.
Key Links: Website
SafiMedia
Podcast
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations.
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
“Money is power,” Eleanor Beaton’s mother told her at a very young age. “Always make your own.” Growing up in Nova Scotia with an economist father, Beaton learned all about finances. She began her career in advertising, where she opened her own communications consulting agency before later reinventing herself through business journalism. By her mid-20s she had brought her love of storytelling together with her passion for personal development and founded SafiMedia. An acronym for Self-Actualized Female Innovator, SafiMedia aims to double the number of female founders who scale past $1,000,000 in revenue by 2030. Ten years after creating SafiMedia, tragedy struck when her father passed away from a sudden illness. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Beaton discusses the dissolution of ambition she experienced at the loss of her father, how her grief became the catalyst for reinvention, and her advice for women who are ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Now the host of the Power + Presence + Position podcast, Beaton helps other women reinvent their lives and their careers on a daily basis.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!” Bio: Eleanor Beaton is the founder of Safi Media, a business coaching and advisory firm for women entrepreneurs. Eleanor and her team provide business coaching, learning programs and custom content to thousands of women entrepreneurs globally, as well as the conferences, associations and corporations who champion them. Eleanor and her colleagues at Safi Media are on a mission to advance global gender equity by doubling the number of women entrepreneurs who scale past $1M in revenues by 2030. In addition to running Safi Media, Eleanor hosts one of the country’s top-ranked podcasts for women entrepreneurs, Power + Presence + Position. Eleanor’s work has been published or quoted in publications including The Globe & Mail, The Atlantic, CBC, Chatelaine and Readers Digest. She has spoken at conferences and events throughout Latin America, North America and Europe.
Key Links: Website
SafiMedia
Podcast
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations.
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Liz Lange was fresh out of college when she landed her dream job as an assistant at Vogue. With a degree in comparative literature from Brown, Lange never expected her career path to lead her into fashion design. Nevertheless, after watching her pregnant friends struggling to fit into regular clothes, she couldn’t let the need for fashionable maternity wear go by. In 1997 she reinvented herself as a designer, launching Liz Lange Maternity. Ten years later, the brand became the biggest-selling maternity line in the US. Now the Creative director and CEO of the Figue fashion brand, Lange is also the co-host of the Just-Enough Family podcast, a series in which she chronicles the rise and fall of her once-untouchable Stienberg family in 1970s New York City high society. In this conversation with Covey Club founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Lange discusses what it was like to work with Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, how she navigated her many career reinventions, and what advice she would give to aspiring entrepreneurs
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Liz Lange is a retail and fashion pioneer. In 1997, out of a one-room office, she created Liz Lange Maternity, changing forever the face of maternity fashions. A decade later in 2007, after dressing every major pregnant celebrity, forging license deals with Nike and Target, and opening three flagship Liz Lange boutiques, Lange sold her business. She is the author of “Liz Lange’s Maternity Style: How to Look Fabulous During the Most Fashion-Challenged Time” (Random House, 2003). Lange is actively involved in many charities and is spokesperson for cervical cancer awareness. She lives in Manhattan with her 12-year old son, Gus and her 10-year old daughter, Alice.
Key Links: Instagram LinkedIn The Just-Enough Family on Spotify
The Just-Enough Family on Apple
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Time Stamps
02:30 - Vogue, working in fashion and pioneering maternity wear 09:45 - Acquiring FIG, a French fashion line of travel wear 11:10 - Developing her "memoir" as the Just-Enough Podcast 15:00 - Exploring the history of her famous family 20:00 - Navigating indecision in career reinvention 25:00 - Liz's advice for pursing an idea even when you don't feel supported 32:46 - Where to find Liz online
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Liz Lange was fresh out of college when she landed her dream job as an assistant at Vogue. With a degree in comparative literature from Brown, Lange never expected her career path to lead her into fashion design. Nevertheless, after watching her pregnant friends struggling to fit into regular clothes, she couldn’t let the need for fashionable maternity wear go by. In 1997 she reinvented herself as a designer, launching Liz Lange Maternity. Ten years later, the brand became the biggest-selling maternity line in the US. Now the Creative director and CEO of the Figue fashion brand, Lange is also the co-host of the Just-Enough Family podcast, a series in which she chronicles the rise and fall of her once-untouchable Stienberg family in 1970s New York City high society. In this conversation with Covey Club founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Lange discusses what it was like to work with Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, how she navigated her many career reinventions, and what advice she would give to aspiring entrepreneurs
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Liz Lange is a retail and fashion pioneer. In 1997, out of a one-room office, she created Liz Lange Maternity, changing forever the face of maternity fashions. A decade later in 2007, after dressing every major pregnant celebrity, forging license deals with Nike and Target, and opening three flagship Liz Lange boutiques, Lange sold her business. She is the author of “Liz Lange’s Maternity Style: How to Look Fabulous During the Most Fashion-Challenged Time” (Random House, 2003). Lange is actively involved in many charities and is spokesperson for cervical cancer awareness. She lives in Manhattan with her 12-year old son, Gus and her 10-year old daughter, Alice.
Key Links: Instagram LinkedIn The Just-Enough Family on Spotify
The Just-Enough Family on Apple
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations. Time Stamps
02:30 - Vogue, working in fashion and pioneering maternity wear 09:45 - Acquiring FIG, a French fashion line of travel wear 11:10 - Developing her "memoir" as the Just-Enough Podcast 15:00 - Exploring the history of her famous family 20:00 - Navigating indecision in career reinvention 25:00 - Liz's advice for pursing an idea even when you don't feel supported 32:46 - Where to find Liz online
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Kathleen Smith’s first career was as a lawyer, particularly an assistant prosecutor working in juvenile justice in New Jersey’s Hudson County. Smith loved her work, but after giving birth to the second of her three children her career became overwhelming, and she gave it up to raise them. After fifteen years away from her industry, Smith found herself with no connections and no idea what to do next. Feeling stuck, she decided to reach out to other women in the same predicament for inspiration. She traveled around the country interviewing women on video, a project that grew into the lifestyle website MorphMom.com. Smith went on to teach classes and speak at conferences before launching a radio show, a podcast, and most recently a television show. Listen in to her conversation with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, to learn how she handled the challenges of starting all over from scratch and mastered working from home in a post-Covid world. Smith also shares her advice for starting your own business and for avoiding the mistakes most people make when first stepping into entrepreneurship.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Kathleen Butler Smith is the founder of morphmom.com. After graduating from Holy Cross and from Georgetown Law, she served as an Assistant Prosecutor in Hudson County, New Jersey for six years. She stopped working following the birth of her second child, and later discovered that re-entering the workforce would be difficult. Kathleen quickly noticed that she was not alone and that there were, in fact, many women who found themselves in a similar position, struggling to discover their next step, be it work related, volunteer-based, or simply rediscovering their passion. She began to chronicle the inspirational stories of women (whom she named "Morphmoms") who had managed to chart their own course with the hope of helping other women do the same. Since its launch in 2012, Morphmom has become a platform to promote and to support these women and their remarkable stories. Kathleen and her husband, Jim, have three children in various stages of leaving the nest.
Key Links: Website
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations.
For Stephanie Raffelock, reinvention runs in the family. After her parents divorced when she was four, she watched her mother constantly reinvent herself as a single woman in the ‘50s, moving across the country every year. At just 17, Raffelock dropped out of school and moved to LA, where the drug-laden culture of the ‘60s and ‘70s led to self-medicating and homelessness. A passion for writing inspired her reinvention and she became a college freshman at 35. But life intervened and it would be three decades before she wrote her first book. In her conversation with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, Raffelock explains how it’s never too late to reinvent–she attended a Buddhist college, interviewed luminaries such as Allen Ginsberg, and ultimately began her publishing career at 63.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Stephanie Raffelock is the author of Creatrix Rising, Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women. (She Writes Press in August, 2021). She also penned the award winning, bestseller, A Delightful Little Book on Aging. A graduate of Naropa University’s program in Writing and Poetics, Stephanie was a contributor to The Rogue Valley Messenger, in Oregon. She’s blogged for Nexus Magazine, Omaha Lifestyles, Care2.com as well as SixtyandMe.com.
Key Links: Books by Raffelock: A Delightful Little Book on Aging on Amazon Creatrix Rising on Amazon
Social media:
Website LinkedIn Facebook
Instagram Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe for more inspiring conversations.
Time Stamps
[00:3:02.00] Becoming a writer and working in journalism
[00:5:18.00] Struggling to work freelance and landing current job
[00:14:30.00] First book and burying stories
[00:16:06.00] Revision and reproduction
[00:19:12:00] Sexual violence and #MeToo
[00:22:02.00] The importance of telling your story
[00:29:15.00] Skills learned throughout writing life
Social & Website CoveyClub website
Ellen Snee grew up in New Jersey, the oldest of five children in an Irish Catholic family. When she was 12 years old, a priest friend came to the house for dinner and gave everyone a blessing. Young Ellen then announced to her family that she wanted to become a priest when she grew up, for the opportunity to bring peace and joy to others. When her elders enlightened her to the fact that women are not allowed to become priests in the Catholic church, a young rebel was born. Snee decided instead to become a nun, discovering the Sacred Heart community while attending Fordham and going on to teach for Sacred Heart University. One of many reinventions caused her to transition to a career in women’s development, and after 18 years she left her convent. In this conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Snee recounts the reinventions of her life, including launching a Fortune 500 business, moving to California and meeting her husband, helping women claim leadership roles in the business world, and writing her book, “Lead: How Women in Charge Claim their Authority”. Learn Snee’s steps for dealing with fear of transition and how to take the leap to follow your passions.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Ellen Snee has been at the forefront of women’s leadership for more than 25 years. Dr. Snee brings strategy, research and executive experience to global companies and their top female talent. Her original research at Harvard University on women’s experience in roles of authority formed the foundation of her consulting and coaching work with Fortune 500 companies such as Cisco, Goodyear, Marriott, Pfizer and Schwab. Later, as the Global VP of Leadership Development at VMware, she launched the company’s groundbreaking business initiative, VMwomen, designed to attract, develop, advance and retain talented women. Her new book Lead: How Women in Charge Claim Their Authority makes her wisdom and experience accessible to all women seeking to accelerate their careers. Dr. Snee lives in the San Francisco Bay Area where she continues to coach and advise women leaders and executives worldwide, and frequently speaks to companies and conferences.
Key Links: Website
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, please support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub.com for more inspiring conversations.
Jennifer McKay is no stranger to reinvention. Born and raised in New Orleans, she completed a communications degree before moving to Los Angeles and starting a twenty-year career in marketing. Later, married with children, she moved with her family back to Louisiana and a new career as a stay-at-home mom. After five years, however, McKay was restless. She knew she needed to get back to work but the idea of returning to corporate America was daunting. Her reinvention as an entrepreneur began when her sister started a direct sales company. Soon, McKay was part of the #1 skincare brand in the country, raising a team of consultants and building her own organization within the company. Listen to her conversation with Covey Club founder Lesley Jane Seymour to discover how McKay rediscovered her passion for fine art in her 50s and embraced her identity as an artist. “It’s such a personal thing to create,” McKay advises. “And it’s such a generous thing to offer for the world.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Jennifer McKay is a Louisiana artist currently living in Lafayette, LA. Her abstract art consists of mixed-media paintings and sculptural pieces.
Key Links: Website
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations.
New York City native Caitlin Meister began teaching even while she was still learning herself. A lifelong learner, she developed a passion for igniting the curiosity in young minds. Her first reinvention came when her son was born, giving her a new understanding of working with children – but as a mom. She went on to create The Greer Meister Group, a NYC-based private educational consulting and tutoring practice. And, like many of us, when Covid hit in March 2020, Meister was forced into another reinvention. She saw the loss of community that kids were experiencing and witnessed the need for connectedness in her own son. In her conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Meister explains how she reinvented her approach to teaching, bringing a sense of connection to children in the time of Zoom calls and quarantine. Most importantly, she shares her insights on how parents can reinvent their approach to educating their children, how you can find the “teachable moments”, and most importantly how you can foster a lifelong love of learning in your child.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Caitlin Meister is the Founding Director of The Greer Meister Group, a New York City-based private tutoring and educational consulting practice. Her interest in education began when she was young, and she began teaching children and teens while pursuing her own education. Inspired by her own educational experiences at the Little Red School House, Stuyvesant High School, and Wesleyan University, she went on to receive additional training through the Harvard Graduate School of Education and in the Orton-Gillingham approach for teaching students with language-based learning differences. Meister has extensive experience working with gifted learners and supporting neurodiverse students, and she is dedicated to a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming approach.
Key Links: Website
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations.
Time Stamps
01:04 - How giving birth to her first son changed her relationship to teaching
03:10 - Reinventing her personal identity as a mom
6:03 - Launching her consulting practice and pivoting after Covid
9:01 How children are born with a lifelong passion for learning
11:16 - Reinventing a teaching platform during COVID
19:52 - Understanding the diversity in kids today
22:21 - Best ways for you to get involved in your child’s academics
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Kate Eckman assumed she’d follow the rest of her family into a medical career. Quickly, however, she realized the path wasn’t for her and she turned to journalism. Eckman’s career took her from red-carpet reporting in Hollywood to covering politics in DC, courts in Chicago, and even wildlife in Florida and Africa. When she moved to New York for a television job, Eckman was forced to reinvent–and quickly–after the job unexpectedly fell through just one week later. Being in New York City allowed Eckman, who happened to meet the physical qualifications, to begin modeling for the plus size industry, which brought her face-to-face with her own insecurities about body image. In her conversation with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, Eckman explains exactly how the trajectory of her life was changed by loss and spiritual upheaval and how it finally led to her telling her story in a book.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Kate Eckman empowers high-achieving individuals to actualize their full potential. She leverages her experience as a well-known communications, performance and mindfulness expert, accomplished entrepreneur, and elite athlete to equip leaders with the tools, methodology, and energetic boost they need to excel at the game of life.
Key Links: Website
Full Spirit Workout Website
Full Spirit Workout on Amazon
Social media:
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe for more inspiring conversations.
Time Stamps
19:00 - Growing up, going to Penn State, starting her journalism career
20:43 - Moving to New York
21:54 - Modeling, body image struggles, and beginning to write more vulnerably
22:58 - Losing two people to suicide and focusing on public speaking
24:54 - Writing Full Spirit Workout
31:04 - Sample exercises and meditations from her book
35:08 - The transitions that lead to Kate’s reinventions
42:33 - Kate’s advice to listeners
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
With a family of 12 physicians, Hasti Nazem didn’t hesitate before going pre-med. Her beloved aunt’s passion for medicine and emigration from Iran had sparked a family-wide love of healthcare. But for Nazem, lifelong struggles with anxiety and depression left her feeling burned out, and she did what few in her family had done before: she chose to put her mental health first and reinvented. Unfortunately, she moved into the world of finance just before the 2008 market collapse. When a personal loss prompted her to return to school, she found herself connecting with two partners and starting a wellness company focused on sleep. Today, Nazem is the head of product and education for CoveyClub sponsor Kindra, a women’s wellness company that focuses on menopause. Listen in to her candid conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour as they dig into the science of how to fall asleep–and Nazem’s secrets to staying asleep during these years of hormonal disruption.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
With nearly 10 years of experience at the intersection of life sciences, health and wellness, and consumer brand-building, Hasti Nazem integrates product development with technical advancements. She is particularly passionate about drawing from deep scientific communications experience to empower consumers to better understand their health, encourage engagement with the medical community, and bridge gaps often overlooked in menopause.
Key Links:
Kindra special offer to podcast listeners:
Try any of the specially-designed Kindra products for 20% off using the coupon code COVEY20.
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations.
Time Stamps
07:10 - Growing up pre-med; reinventing for mental health
10:16 - When her aunt dies, Nazem decides to return to school, meets partners, launches a wellness business
12:02 - Leaving her start-up 10 days before the pandemic shut-down
12:31 - Learning the signs of burn-out
16:33 - Discovering Kindra; exploring the underlying relationship between sleep and menopause
20:00 - Why is there a lack of visibility for women going through menopause and post-menopause?
25:00 - Nazeem’s 5 unexpected tips for falling asleep
28:23 - Journaling for menopause and better sleep
32:19 - Finding the right bath products during menopause
36:34 - Stay-asleep tips
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Mississippi native Janet Gurwitch was destined to join the fashion industry. Her father owned a chain of shoe stores and she herself graduated college with a degree in retail. After spending 14 years with Houston department store Foley’s, Gurwitch went on to become the Executive Vice President for Neiman Marcus. While there, she met make-up artist Bobbi Brown, then just beginning to launch her make-up line. Although she never intended to become an entrepreneur, Gurwitch was inspired by Brown to start her own business. At the age of 42, Gurwitch left Neiman Marcus and sought a makeup artist with whom she could build a beauty brand. After networking with beauty editors at Vogue and other magazines, she made her choice, invested her life’s savings, and created Laura Mercier. But after 13 years, when Nemain Marcus was sold to a private equity company, their 51% investment in Laura Mercier went with it. Gurwitch was forced to sell and she once again faced a career reinvention. Listen in to her conversation with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, to learn how Gurwitch joined the private sector and bought five beauty brands in the course of ten years.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Janet Gurwitch is an operating partner with Advent International, where she serves on the board of Olaplex, Inc. Gurwitch is the founder and former CEO of Laura Mercier Cosmetics & Skincare, a global brand of high-end niche cosmetics. Prior to founding Laura Mercier, Janet Gurwitch was the Executive Vice President of Neiman Marcus, where she developed strategy and managed 80% of Neiman Marcus’ $2 billion sales volume across 35 doors.
Key Links:
Social media:
Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe for more inspiring conversations.
Time Stamps
[00:01:28.130] Leaving Neiman Marcus, exploring entrepreneurship [00:02:43.670] Networking with beauty editors, discovering Laura Mercier [00:05:16.730] Getting investors, taking the risk [00:05:58.430] Neiman Marcus sold to private equity, forced to sell Laura Mercier [00:07:36.050] Invited to private equity; renting a villa in Tuscany [00:11:34.550] Joining Castanea board of directors [00:12:49.550] Joining board of directors at La-Z-Boy [00:15:26.570] Moving to Advent International, diversity in private equity [00:17:18.830] Starting Olaplex [00:25:53.350] Advice to other women: what does it take to make it big?
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Susan Schoenberger always knew she wanted to be a writer. After graduating from Dartmouth with a degree in English, she launched her journalism career in newspapers. But when the market crashed in 2008, the publishing industry faltered, and Schoenberger’s career of over 30 years came to a standstill. As she applied for new work (more than 50 applications over the next 2 years), Schoenberger never gave up on her writing. Listen in to her conversation with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, to learn how a personal trauma informed her stunning new novel.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Bio:
Susan Shoenberger serves as Director of Communications for Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, a graduate school with an interfaith dialogue focus. Her first novel, A Watershed Year was published in 2011. She is also the author of The Virtues of Oxygen, published in July 2014 and The Liability of Love, published in July 2021.
Key Links: Susan’s novel The Liability of Love on Amazon LinkedIn Website Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe for more inspiring conversations.
Time Stamps
[00:01:45.650] 2008 market crash and career upheaval
[00:08:50.990] Writing conferences, building her own MFA
[00:12:04.560] The story of her first book, A Watershed Year
[00:13:39.870] The story of her second book, The Virtues of Oxygen
[00:14:49.380] Introduction to third book, The Liability of Love
[00:16:45.870] The Me Too Movement, Susan’s article for CoveyClub
[00:30:14.720] The letter from an agent that inspired Susan to persevere in her writing
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Paula Floyd is no stranger to transition. After seventeen years working with giants of the beauty industry such as MAC, Benefit, and Urban Decay, she felt the need for a shift. In her 50s, she was making $500,000 a year with an incredible title, but something didn’t feel right. She decided to look at what stood to be changed within the industry, and she found self-reinvention along the way. Leaving her six-figure job and selling her house, she founded HeadKount, a retail education service for small beauty brands looking to get their products into big retail stores. Things were going well...until the global pandemic. “Part of my business model was planning for the worst,” Paula says. Worried she might have to lay off the team-members who were relying on her, she stepped back and figured out how to shift her approach during a once-in-a-lifetime disruption. “How do you sell a skincare item you can’t open up and smell or touch on your hand?” she asks. In this conversation with Covey Club’s Lesley Jane Seymour, Paula explains how the many transitions in her professional life have impacted how she lives and thinks. “Follow what you love,” she advises us. “It’s really true: you’re worth it.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Business was a driving focus for Christine Bader from a young age. Growing up in Manhattan with two parents both working in corporate America, she followed their lead and received her MBA from Yale. Community interest was also a focus for her, working both with AmeriCorps and in NYC government to support misplaced youth. Bader enjoyed serving in communities that needed support, but when John Browne, then-CEO of BP, spoke to her business class in 1998, Bader knew she’d found her company. She went on to work for BP for eight years and fell in love. But then the Deepwater Horizon explosion spilled over 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and everything changed.
Bio: Christine calls herself a “Thought leader, community/program builder, consigliere/facilitator/advisor/evangelist on all things business and society.” She is the Co-Founder, Storyteller, The Life I Want.co.
Key Links: Christine’s Book: The Evolution of a Corporate Idealist When Girl Meets Oil. LinkedIN
Her website: Storyteller, The Life I Want.co For everything reinvention: Join the lifelong learners at CoveyClub
FREE! Download: CoveyClub’s starter guide “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Please leave us a review or 5 stars! Subscribe to the podcast and share with friends who are reinventing!
Timestamps [00:03:02.650] Falling in love with her job in sustainability at British Petroleum, BP. [00:07:52.990] Working on human rights and community issues in Indonesia [00:14:27.820] What happens when the Deepwater Horizon rig explodes [00:17:35.210] Writing her book: The Evolution of A corporate Idealist When Girl Meets Oil [00:26:13.140] Quitting Amazon and giving up the identity she’d worked to build for 20 years [00:26:45.040] Moving the family to Bali [00:35:50.140] Christine’s 3 best steps for people transitioning from corporate life (plus one you’ve never heard before)
Social & Website
CoveyClub website
Toronto native Ariel Garten was 23 when she had her first collection showcase at Fashion Week. The owner of a budding clothing label that was making newspapers around the city, she was bewildered when her father suggested she leave the industry. Garten went to school while producing her designs at the same time, eventually graduating with a degree in neuroscience Something in her was prompted to follow her father’s advice, and she found herself on the cusp of a radical reinvention. Having worked in neurological research and early brain computer interface systems, Garten decided to commercialize the technology - a process that involved raising millions of dollars from investors. The result was the award-winning Muse Headband collection, a brain-sensing headband that gives real-time feedback during sleep and meditation. At 5’2”, a petite female in a male-dominated industry, Garten was able to fund and create a product that has now been used in studies by Mayo Clinic and other major research institutions. “I was so scared,” she says, “that it wouldn’t be good enough…but at the same time, I had this deep confidence in myself and I had the ability to really silence my inner critic.” In this candid conversation with Covey Club founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Garten explains her choices and the passion that inspired her along the way.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Kristine Deer knew from childhood that she was meant to create, and when her mother gave her a box of fabric, some duct tape, and a stapler, she unlocked her passion for designing clothes. Fast-forward to college: Deer, of course, majored in fashion design before moving to New York City to pursue her career as a designer. But when The Great Recession hit in 2000, the industry changed. Deer found herself working menial tasks for other designers and witnessing a harsh corporate environment devoid of creative freedom. When she later lost her job, she was disillusioned and bereft. Leaving the city, she moved back in with her parents, determined to begin again. But how? After discovering her passion for hot yoga, Deer began to design her own yoga clothes—in particular the multi-striped rainbow leggings for which she eventually became famous. Eleven years later, she is the founder and CEO of the activewear brand K-DEER. In an intimate conversation with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Deer shares her journey of reinvention both personally and professionally.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
For Laurie James, giving birth to four daughters in five years called for necessary life changes. Leaving her career as a recruiter, she took on the role of a full-time mom. “My third pregnancy were a set of identical twin girls,” she says, “so that was a pretty big shock to the system.” An even bigger shock came when her mother developed dementia. This meant Laurie now found herself raising four children while also managing her mother’s care. “I became one of the first people in my friend group to enter into the Sandwich Generation.” The Sandwich Generation, Laurie says, is described as having at least one child you are supporting and at least one parent that’s over the age of 65. Her attention diverted, Laurie also found her marriage struggling. Turning to therapy and yoga for support, she was inspired when an acquaintance suggested she write a book. Laurie James talks to CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour about how she poured her struggles, her accomplishments, and her lessons along the way into Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go. The book chronicles her personal journey through the sandwich generation while also revealing many of the dangerous flaws within the caregiving industry. As a result of writing the book, Laurie found new strength in the power of writing and reflection. “Find that time to reflect,” Laurie advises us, “because that’s where our growth happens.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
What do you do when you have an MBA from Stanford with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, but you’re also loving your corporate job? That was the conundrum Nicole Malcolm-Manyara faced after spending ten years at P&G. “I worked in their oral care portfolio for kids...the Gillette business. I worked in their incubator...so it was pretty much like working for a startup but at a big company,” she says. She also worked on their CVS customer team and at Duracell. But Malcolm-Manyara always had “the entrepreneurial bug.” After Duracell, she took a job working--mostly remotely-- for Organic Girl, the salad company. “During that translation this whole idea came to me for Rad Royals,” cool satin pillowcases for young Black girls. Her three-year-old daughter was refusing to tie her hair in a satin scarf or bonnet to protect it from getting tangled overnight. “And so I thought, well, why don’t I get her a satin pillowcase.” But Malcolm-Manyara couldn’t find anything that was made sustainably or whimsically designed to intrigue her daughter. For two years Malcolm-Manyara, who lived on the east coast, worked her day job on California time and used her mornings for motherhood and Rad Royals: “It evolved very quickly into a business, a brand.” She says: “If you really want to do something, you figure out how to do it...That has driven me to carve out time...and be really really focused….I try to say, ok, if i can spend one hour a day on Royals then, you know I’m good.” One of the things Malcolm-Manyara learned when working in the incubator was the concept of figuring out your killer issue. “If you have an idea, you sit down and try and figure out what the two or three things that absolutely have to be true in order for [you] to be successful with this idea...and you solve for those things.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
When Ann Dowsett Johnston attended her son’s graduation from Smith College she felt a “deep pang” that she says sounded like, “I will die and never have done this.” With her son’s encouragement, Johnston applied to Smith and moved into the student dorm with 25-year olds the next year. “I had broken my ankle and was in a wheelchair,” she says. “I was as old as many parents or grandparents. It was a phenomenal experience.” After graduating Johnston, a Canadian, who had been a journalist, then vice-principal of McGill University, launched her career as a psychotherapist at age 67 dealing with women in transition--”to post-retirement, wrestling with substance abuse or career disappointment”. When she found she missed writing, she dug into a topic she knew well: alcohol addiction (she is now 13 years sober). In 2013, she wrote the best-selling book, “Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol.” Today she runs memoir-writing workshops (“Writing Your Recovery”) in which she encourages women to tell their own stories of triumph over grief, substance, or burnout. “We have book proposals in the alumni group before international agents now,...articles in major magazines... pieces submitted to contests,” she says. “My approach to life is that we live in chapters. When friends are retiring, mine is fresh and inspirational. It’s very new. I plan to work until I’m eighty to pay off my student debt!”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
“First thing: get clear on what you want,” says Jennifer Pate, the very practical founder of FealAgeless.com, a site dedicated to making women feel good about aging. “Take out paper and pen and write down how much time [you can dedicate to your reinvention]. Be realistic about what you can do.” Ask yourself, she says: “How much money do I need [to make]? What do I want to do? Can you name it? What are you good at? What do people compliment you on? The more you can define these things—things will start opening up.” That’s exactly how Pate made her way from being a professional dancer to casting director, co-author of a book ( “The Mothers of Reinvention”), and television contributor. Facing empty nest and turning 55 forced Pate to reassess what she wanted to do next and when she discovered “so many women at the height of their creativity and drive [who] felt we weren’t being talked to….I want to change the narrative of what it is to age today.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
“When someone wants to recreate themselves it’s not easy,” says Marlene Wallach, author of “Wellness is in Style--An Easy Guide to Body & Soul”, former co-owner (for 17 years) of modeling agency Wilhelmina International Partnership and founder of GleemBeauty.com. “You have to stick with it whatever it is--changing jobs, careers, industries. Go to conferences and walk up to the speaker and say, ‘I really admire you. I loved what you said and would love to contact you with an idea I had.’” That’s exactly how she snagged an interview with LinkedIn founder, Reid Hoffman for her book. “I wrote to him and his secretary said, ‘He doesn’t have time.’ That meant no. I wrote back four more times and sometimes just wrote a joke.” Wallach says she never looked at her moves as reinventions which sounds “overwhelming” but as next steps. “For me the next step is close, is easy. When I saw things not working, I went to the next step.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
“People go for their ‘type’ and that’s the worst for them,” says Sandy Weiner, dating expert and CEO of LastFirstDate.com. “Women I work with are now in their sixties and they go for CEO types. They say, ‘I’m really attracted to his resume.’ But that doesn’t make for a good relationship. You need to focus on the long term: can this person talk to me, resolve conflict? Have they created a life for themselves or are they stuck blaming someone else for who they are today?” Weiner, who is also a life coach and founder of the site, Women of Value, finds many dating clients are too “airy fairy” in their profiles which confuses men. She helps them create profiles designed to get men to think, “I’d love to meet this woman.” Quite a strange turn for a woman who graduated with a degree in art therapy, wandered through businesses in illustration and painting furniture, authoring children’s books, becoming a head writer for Nickelodeon, and eventually returning to school for her degree in coaching. When her 23-year marriage went south, Weiner found herself in midlife transition and dating again. “My friends were, too. But I was better at it and guiding them because of my training in coaching.” What has she learned? “Pay attention to your intuition. It holds the key to your ‘why’. Try things. Be bold. Make mistakes.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
When Debra Shriver left her native Alabama for Washington, DC, she was 26, newly married, and ready to step into a high-profile PR job. She spent the next 25 years overseeing public relations at Hearst Media, a role she still appreciates for the growth opportunities it offered. But when she felt called to reinvent her career, she acted on it. “If I didn't like the situation, I was a really good cut and run artist,” she says. “I have perfected the quit." She chose to exchange the fast-paced New York life for The Big Easy. An avid Francophile, she saw in New Orleans what she loved about France: the slower pace, the exquisite arts, and the almost Caribbean-like ease that softens each day. The city inspired a series of reinventions that led her to creating her own publishing firm, delving into photography, and writing several books of her own. Her latest, The French Leave, is an homage to both Paris and New Orleans, the cities that inspired her reinvention and captured her heart. In this conversation with Covey Club founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Shriver explains how she embraced the unbuttoned freedom of New Orleans life with a Lucy Ricardo sense of adventure. Her advice? “Don’t be the Ricky,” she says. “Life is too short.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
"I just turned 50, I was having my own perimenopausal challenges, even though I didn't really understand that that's what they were, and I wanted to go back to my roots of access to healthcare and supporting women," says Catherine Balsam-Scwaber. "But I was so far along in my career that it was hard to imagine stepping out of what I did to try something different."
The Connecticut native grew up thinking she wanted to be a doctor. And after jobs in politics, news, movies, media, toys, and even crafting, she actually did end up back in Connecticut, working in healthcare. The CEO of Kindra, a women's health and beauty company focusing on menopause, talks to CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour about breaking down taboos and building up women's confidence to find what's right for them.
SPECIAL OFFER! TRY ANY KINDRA PRODUCT FOR 20% OFF BY USING THE CODE COVEY20 AT CHECKOUT ON OURKINDRA.COM.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Half of all podcasts reach 14 or fewer episodes and so I’m thrilled to be celebrating my 150th episode of Reinvent Yourself with Lesley Jane Seymour as we approach our 100,000th download as well! That’s quite a record. For this special episode I’m talking with CoveyClub’s reinvention coach Dana Hilmer, who, with coach Wendy Perrotti, runs Camp Reinvention, about all that I’ve learned and synthesized from the amazing women I’ve interviewed. Here’s the reason I keep going: because women 40+ deserve to be heard and their successes and tips for reinvention need to be recorded and shared. I deliberately speak with the famous (such as Gretchen Carlson, the Fox newscaster who sued Roger Ailes and got him fired for sexual harassment) and regular people who have reinvented from every direction possible--with and without money, with and without schooling or special degrees, with or without a supportive spouse or social group, with or without fear, with or without a clue. The message? You can do it, too--no matter who you are or where you come from. Thanks as well to my wonderful podcast producer, Jonathan Alba, and to Covey’s fabulous admin, Marisa Vilarino, without whom I’d never have gotten CoveyClub or the podcast off the ground.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
When Lynda Bouchard left her publicity job with CBS to become a flight attendant, she was chasing a dream. “I’ve always seen my life through the prism of story,” she says, “and I always want it to be a continual process of reinvention.” Her willingness to take a risk resulted in a 20-year career caring for passengers all across the world. In an eloquent and thoughtful conversation with Lesley Jane Seymour, Bouchard explains how her wanderlust led her to the American South, where she fell in love with the culture and history. After 9/11, Bouchard decided it was time to embark on another reinvention - another leap of faith - and another career change. After meeting hundreds of authors during her flights, she became aware of the common thread: New York publishing houses were not giving their authors exposure in the Southern markets. For Bouchard, this was an opportunity; she became the first literary agent to focus specifically on Southern authors, bookstores, and events. Her first client? James Patterson. Now, Bouchard is a sought-after resource for major publishing professionals. “There will be naysayers,” Bouchard advises, “but you know what? This is your dream, your passion, and it takes courage to be different. Hang on to that.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
Kristen Carbone had always wanted to work in an art museum, but after landing her dream museum job she soon faced a harrowing reality: her mother’s breast cancer had returned with a serious metastasis. Packing up her life, Carbone moved to Baltimore to be closer to her ailing mother. Heartbreakingly, her mother passed before turning 50. After her mother’s death, Carbone uprooted herself again and continued her museum work. But just three months after her 30th birthday, Carbone made the brave and terrifying decision to have a preventative mastectomy and reconstruction. “I felt really committed to the choice,” she says. As she learned to live in her new body, however, she experienced first-hand the challenges that many women face after treatment. Carbone reached out to hundreds of women experiencing the same issue before founding Brilliantly, a lifestyle brand whose programs and products are designed to support women living in post-mastectomy bodies. In this episode of Reinvent Yourself, Carbone talks with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour about how cancer radically changed her life and inspired her to make an impact on the lives of other survivors.
“Depression is the number one reason in the world for disability,” says Audrey Gruss, Founder of Hopefragrances.com and Hopefordepression.org. “Thirty-five percent of people don’t respond to the meds out there.” Gruss, who began her career as the assistant to the Medical Director at the Revlon Research Center, says that since 1985, every medication has been a spinoff of Prozac, which doesn’t work for everyone. One of those who Prozac failed was her mother, Hope, who had struggled with depression since her thirties. “It was called a nervous breakdown,” Gruss says. “It had stigma.” When visiting her mother at the hospital Gruss would ask why there was no cure and why the top companies in the brain science business were not doing research. The answer she got: research “was too expensive and it was too lucrative to simply repurpose drugs.” After her mother passed away in 2005, Gruss, who had spent the majority of her career in the beauty sector working for name brands like Elizabeth Arden and creating the Doral Saturnia Spa in Miami, launched Hope Fragrances to fund her research foundation, Hope For Depression. “We put together a group of leaders in each discipline of neuroscience and cellular biology,” she says. “They are collaborating and sharing research. We are in clinical trials at Columbia University Medical Center and Mount Sinai with a brand new category of medications for people who don’t respond to Prozac.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
“[I was at] my gynecologist’s office,” says Kristin van Ogtrop, author (“Did I say that out loud? Midlife Indignities and How to Survive Them” (https://amzn.to/3effm1a), literary agent, and former Editor-in-Chief of Real Simple magazine. “My enthusiasm for daily life had diminished. I was having an annual exam and I said,’ I’m depressed or going through perimenopause or need a new job’. She said, ‘Maybe all three.’” Up until that point, van Ogtrop had been a high-flying editor in the magazine publishing world who had worked her way through some of the toniest jobs in the industry--beginning at Premiere, then to Vogue, Travel & Leisure, and then to running Real Simple for 13 years. “The reason I loved [Real Simple] was because it was the first time I’d worked for a magazine where I was the reader,” she says. “The demos were basically me: busy working mother[s]...who had great full lives and needed ways to run [them] smoother.” Since Van Ogtrop grew up with a mother who was a home economics major, she knew how to make a casserole and hem a skirt--valuable skills she imparted to her harried readers. What was not so fun: when Real Simple got caught up in corporate spin-offs and industry-driven down-sizings. “Time Inc. was a public company [and there] was great pressure,” Van Ogtrop says. “[‘For] creative people [like me] in the company…[it] felt like every day you died a little inside.” After she left, Van Ogtrop became a business Goldilocks, trying on various new careers, but struggling to find her path. “One benefit of reinventing in middle age,” she says, “is not to be embarrassed to be the dumbest person in the room. I know I’ve accomplished something...in my last life and in my mid-fifties I don’t care if I look like an idiot.” Tune in to see where she ended up and how she did it.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
“I was working in interior design, I had this new language, and I started seeing things in my clients homes or in their life that was reflected one with the other,” says Carrie Leskowitz, founder of Carrie Leskowitz Interiors. “So if there was something going on in their life, often I found it reflected in their home. And if there was something going on in their home, I had often found it reflected in their life. To some degree, one mirrored the other. So I started coaching design clients, and it was just so fascinating to me the things that I saw and learned.” It became a “cool niche” and she says she was “able to give my design clients not only a transformative solution to their home, but ... a transformation of their heart or their mind.” When Leskowitz was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that left her bed-ridden, she pivoted to placing all of her interior/exterior wisdom into a book, “Om for the Home”. “That [is] really the message that I wanted to send out in my book,” she says. “That home--our home, our soul, our body...it's all one. It's all connected.”
“I had a wonderful childhood,” says Sarah Nannery (sarahnannery.com). “But I could never figure out why I didn’t fit in. I played differently and didn’t pick up social cues. I didn’t get the point of jokes. All through college, I studied different things.” She also struggled with prioritization and sudden changes in the workplace. Two years ago, Nannery was diagnosed with autism which she says, ”is quite a journey as an adult.” For Nannery, who decided to share her story in the new book, What to Say Next: Successful Communication in Work, Life, and Love--with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the diagnosis of her son with autism was the turning point. “I started to notice his heavy dependence on routine...Going to school he would ring the doorbell to get in, wait for the teacher to open the door. [Once] another family rang the doorbell and he had the biggest meltdown.” Knowing how she also gravitated towards quiet and order and shied away from peers who were messy or not following the rules, Nannery decided to check herself out. “Diagnostic tools have evolved a lot,” she says. “They’re still missing women and girls and women of color. It’s still based on white boys as is all of the medical system.” What Nannery hopes her book will accomplish? “We have to let go of preconceptions. We’re not all ‘Rain Man’. We’re very diverse. I’m still me before and after the diagnosis. I know who I am. Now.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
What does a girl from Queens with a degree in PR do when she and her friends can’t find a date? She writes a dating guide: “How to Marry a Mensch”. What about when she becomes a mom at age 35? “I felt there was judgement about being a later-in-life mom,” says author, Tony-nominated producer, and love coach, Robin Gorman. “There was no sense of community.” To increase connections she created the site, motherhoodlater.com. “It’s not like I launched it and thought it would be a thing. It was very personal at the time.” In fact Gorman uses her personal pain points to invent solutions for others. “I connect people for the greater common good,” Gorman says. “I’m a little type A. Definitely a do-er...I’m not afraid to put things out there.” Gorman says she also tends to think big. “I think, ok, if I tried. I’m not afraid to fail if I really believe in what I’m doing. I go for it. It’s a personality thing.” To wit, her motherhood work led her to think there was a trend for mom shows. A highschool theater buff, she picked up the phone and called a theater in California that was producing a mom show. “I left a cryptic message introducing myself to the producers of the show. Weeks later they called me back.” When the show came east to New York, the producers invited Gorman onto the project: “I had a background in PR and a life-long love of theater and an understanding of the parenting space. It was a perfect fit.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
“I was playing a lawyer. Fake blood was coming out of my mouth. Fifteen hours into the shoot lying on a filthy floor waiting for the director and sound, [I said to myself]: ‘What am I doing here? Is this what success looks like? I need to do something different...I have to do more.” So begins Lesley Jane Seymour’s discussion with Alexa Fischer, an actress (NCIS, CSI, Numb3ers, Bones), coach, and motivational speaker who is on a quest to “give wishes the power they need to become a reality.” Fischer said “a prayer to the universe” and a friend called looking for a media trainer. 126k students from around the world took Fischer’s courses on confidence and communication. Then one day in the shower she “heard and saw” the name Wishbeads. “I knew it was intention-setting jewelry,” she says. Dripping wet, she ran to the computer and grabbed the trademark and dot com and tried to figure out how to pull it off. Today Wishbeads (wishbeads.com) allows customers to visualize their wishes, write them down, and roll them up and place them in a bracelet. “You wear the wish every day,” Fischer says. “When you see the wish you can focus on it.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
At 53, Tammi Leader Fuller left her big-time producer’s job in television news to go back to her “childhood happy place”--camp! Well, back to a grown-up version called Campowerment, a place for “women to learn, connect, and grow.” Says Fuller, who was in the news business for 34 years: “I was Tammi from Miami. I covered riots, the boat lift, drug dealing...I’m a storyteller at heart.” Ten years ago, Fuller moved to Los Angeles and while continuing in the entertainment field, wrote a book “about how having it all is not having it all.” In 2013, she decided it was time to produce something else: “I wanted to bring women back to the time of their life when they were carefree.” Fuller says her summers loving camp in the Poconos and invented Campowerment to bring back that sense of joy. “We take over empty shells of camps...go in 24 hours with a team and jeuge it up and make it suitable for women to live in cabins,” she says. “ [We like to] let them be a bit uncomfortable to grow.” And yes, there are color wars and campfire songs, even a snoring cabin! “It’s heavily programmed. But in the off time people connect.” Fuller sold her home to finance her business. “I sacrificed my life to make it happen… Now it’s eight years later.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
“We launched Franklyn West in the middle of the pandemic,” says Ashley Miles of her Business Growth Collective which is committed to transformation and sustainable growth for businesses and leaders. “We have an incredible portfolio of companies. Simultaneously, I’m also president of New York Women in Communications (NYWICI), the 91-year-old organization that hosted it’s 51st --but the first digital only--Matrix Awards”. Miles, who grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as a serious equestrian, discovered her passion for journalism and advertising early on and decided she “needed to get to New York.” “I sent hundreds of resumes to people on the mastheads of magazines to get an internship,” she says, “and only one person called me back. It was Teen People.” From there Miles went off to In Style, then helped to scale Refinery 29 into a “nine-figure business”, eventually landing as Global Chief Business Officer at Thrive Global. What makes her business approach different? Using optimism as leverage. “We have to shut down the inner critic,” she says. “We all have that inner voice saying, ‘I’m not worthy of making positive change in my life’ Shut it down! Ask: What is the bold picture? What do I want to be? How do I want to evolve? What is my action plan to make it happen? Get out there and network. Seeing things through an optimistic lens means anything is possible.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
“When you figure out your ‘why’ everything else is smooth around you.” That’s what Azra Khalfan-Kermali says is the secret to success when taking over a family business. Her father, a commercial artist in Tanzania, was a successful sign maker. When he and his wife moved to Queens, NY, he opened a sign and plaque-making family business, naming it after his daughter, Plaques by Azra (https://www.azra.com/). “I grew up watching [my father and mother] balancing company, community, and business.” she says. “They were passionate...They socialized a lot...They were part of the community. It was nice having that childhood.” The business targets the muslim community. “This is one of the only Islamic award compan[ies] in the world,” Khalfan-Kermali says. Though she didn’t grow up expecting to take over the family business, after a divorce from her first husband, she decided to get her college degree, apply for the Goldman Sachs 10000 Small Business program and the Tori Burch foundation. She negotiated a price for the business from her parents (“so it was fair to my siblings”) and they accepted. As a woman who observes the Islamic veil Khalfan-Kermali says her biggest challenge was deciding to show herself outside the home because it might lose clients. “I didn’t want my parents to suffer a loss because I was going out to meetings,” she says. “Before Google, you can’t find a picture of me. I would talk to clients and no one knew who you were or what you looked like. It was like that for a long time.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinveintion Without Fear!”
“I didn’t go into [animal rights],” says Tharaka Sriram, founder of Ocean Education. “The topic found me and was a stage five clinger!...a little flame spark that got into me and created this whole different path.” In fact, Sriram, whose parents emigrated from Sri Lanka to Germany, grew up wanting to be an interpreter. “I speak six languages fluently. But when I had an internship as an interpreter in the office, I found it so boring. All you do is translate what other people do or say. There’s no place for your own thoughts...and I wanted to have my own opinion out there.” After Sriram escaped from her strict, conservative Tamil family, she went on to work for NGOs focused on women’s rights around the world. She worked on bringing micro credit to women in India and domestic violence Peru. In the small town of Tortugas, she discovered the connection between overfishing and domestic violence and her interest in marine ecology was born. “The home of marine animals is being polluted and overfished,” she says. “There’s not enough space to be free and procreate. I want to give them a voice and make them important.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
“I’m a classic case of reinvention in the middle of life,” says Elizabeth MacBride, founder of the Times of Entrepreneurship (https://timesofe.com/), a website that reports on entrepreneurship, and co-author with Seth Levine of the new book, “The New Builders: Face to Face with the True Future of Business” (https://amzn.to/3g50weh). “Seven years ago I went through divorce that left me without a job….I had seven thousand dollars in my bank account. The mortgage was $2500 dollars and my only career was as a part time writer.” MacBride, however, noticed a hole in the market at the intersection of finance and entrepreneurship and wondered why no journalist was covering it. “[The website] worked because it’s business and finance,” she says. “It was the only area that paid writers at all….I was willing to combine the storytelling with finance.” MacBride speaks with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, about how to ask for employment help from friends and associates and how to really know your value.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
“When I left [corporate] it was a difficult transition,” says Kate Isler who’d spent 20 years (most of them overseas) in international executive leadership and as a CEO for a digital health startup. “I always identified myself as a corporate executive. I had business cards and a persona. When I left I had nothing. People stopped returning my calls. I was just Kate Isler….It made me look across my life and reevaluate: what did I want to do?” Her first steps? Kate reached out to people on LinkedIn to set up coffees or phone calls: “98% of them said yes.” She then asked them to tell her about their job: “what are your aspirations? What did you learn? I got to know people who did a variety of things,” she says. When the calendar rolled around to International Women’s Day, however, she realized that while the holiday is a major celebration of women around the world, it’s not very big in the U.S. What was missing: A market place focused on women’s small businesses. So Isler co-founded TheWMarketplace, an eCommerce platform which supports women-owned businesses, service providers and gender balanced companies. “The site is [an] economic engine for women,” she says, “and [we] earned revenue from the launch day.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
13 years ago Danielle Butin, founder of Afya Foundation (afyafoundation.org) which rescues and collects discarded medical supplies to ship to 83 nations, had a significant senior job in health care. “It did not fit what I wanted to do any longer,” she says. “I was ready to make a change. I kept making that clear. Ultimately I got a severance package to launch Afya.” Divorced, with her kids at summer camp, Butin decided that instead of looking for a job, she would travel to Tanzania to clear her head. “In the Serengeti I saw a woman bawling her eyes out. I sat down with her,” she says. The woman was a doctor in London who volunteered in Africa. She was upset because she was watching children die because she didn’t have IV starter lines. “There are moments in your life when you hear something and something inside rumbles and you have to do something about it,” Butin says. “That’s what happened to me.” Though Butin knew nothing about international health or shipping, she knew she could “bring programs to life and inspire people.” Back home, she began dumpster diving in hospital alleyways to see what their garbage looked like. “Because of [U.S.] hospital regulations, anything in the [operating] room has to be discarded because there could be germs or exposure,” she explains. “There are millions of pounds of [discarded] supplies.” Listen to Butin explain how Afya weathered the storm of Covid19--where hospitals who used to supply her actually called her for PPE (personal protective equipment)--and how she skirted the red tape to get supplies where they were needed.
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”
“I grew up with a disability. I had an artificial leg since age four. I didn’t realize it was anything. The goal was to pass and be as normal as possible. At puberty that screeched to a halt.” So begins CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour’s fascinating conversation with Emily Rapp Black, author of the upcoming book, “Frida Kahlo and My Left Leg.” Black, whose previous memoir, “Sanctuary” is a brutally honest portrait of a mother struggling to balance the joy of motherhood with the tsunami of grief of losing her first born to Tay-Sachs disease-- says her disability meant she was “always really open. I never had really any privacy. People were asking me rude questions in elevators since age four.” Black, who is now an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at UC-Riverside and at UCR School of Medicine intended to follow in her minister father’s footsteps by attending divinity school, says she was in Korea on a Fullbright when she “had a breakdown...I’d never thought about being a disabled woman.” Her new book was inspired by a visit to Frida Kahlo’s home La Casa Azul and the exhibit of the corsets and braces and artificial limbs Kahlo wore that she saw on display. “I had a huge body emotional reaction,” Black says. “I had a back brace and the leg…[Kahlo]’s such a pop culture icon. There are CVS socks with Frieda Kahlo’s face on it. But what does it mean? No one remembers she was an amputee.”
FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinveintion Without Fear!”
After college Kerrigan Behrens, now Co-Founder and CEO of Sagely Naturals (https://www.sagelynaturals.com/), grabbed a job at UBS because her brother seemed to like banking. Her hobby was creating lists of restaurants from which she advised friends and co-workers like a concierge. Deciding restaurant management would be more fun, Behrens entered business school, eventually landing a stint with Wolfgang Puck and later Taco Bell. “I loved new experiences, the high and the low,” she says. “But I found myself writing my own job descriptions for restaurants which couldn’t pay me.” Behrens met weekly with a friend from business school (Kaley Nichol) who was thinking about quitting her own banking job. “Then I used CBD,” says Behrens who had long suffered from endometriosis and lower back pain. “I realized I could feel better, not because I took a Vicodin!” With CBD products hard to find in 2015 she and Nichol quickly launched Sagely Naturals, a collection of CBD, hemp-derived roll-ons and creams, and rose quickly into 15,000 stores across the country (including CVS, Sprouts and Ulta). Then Covid19 hit and Sagely Naturals had to pivot to online. “Pain, stress, trouble sleeping; every problem was exacerbated during Covid19,” she says. Luckily too, “people were looking for help.”
Imagine that at 45 you nab your first TV show, your second at age 50. You snag your first book deal at 53. Now imagine that you decide your passion project is acting. You get called in for one scene but they like you so much they call you in for a second episode. As Beverly “Bevy” Smith, author of the new memoir, "Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie" (https://amzn.to/3qVjRAZ), claims: “There is one mantra to live by: it gets greater later.” And she’s got the receipts to prove it. Smith grew up a nerdy, shy but “spoiled” kid in Harlem trying to fit in with “a bunch of mean girls.” She broke into the cliques by dressing well, dancing, and having a quick wit. Attitude served her well and made her tons of money as a fashion advertising executive when she landed at Vibe Magazine, just as hip-hop was scaling. “They didn’t have luxury advertising,” Smith says. “Systemic racism assumed that black and brown people would not be interested in fabulous clothes. And if they were interested, they couldn’t afford them.” Smith showed them otherwise, hobnobbing in Paris and Milan, breaking Gucci and Dior and Dolce & Gabbana. She left to do the same for Rolling Stone magazine until she left there to reinvent again, or as she told her boss—“to write, act, juggle, be a helicopter pilot.” Smith says: “When pivoting, be an explorer. We don’t know where the [next] gift is going to come from.”
“Life was good,” says Laila Tarraf. She was head of the internet division at Walmart, then Chief People Officer for Peet’s Coffee and Tea. “I had a good circle of friends, a daughter. I was strong and capable.” Then one day her husband passed away accidentally of a drug overdose--a mixture of alcohol, pain pills, and antidepressants. “He always drank a lot,” says the daughter of immigrants who moved to the US from Lebanon when she was seven. “I never really understood there was a problem.” Tarraf says she “was really numb. Nothing like that had happened to me. I tried to tuck it away but feelings kept coming back. And I had this little girl who was grieving...I didn’t know how to comfort her.” So began Tarraf’s journey into therapy, deep work and her examination of the stories she had always told herself about not needing anyone or anything: “My mother was more like a child...I jumped in to take care of her. But I didn’t want to do that with my daughter.” A short while later Tarraf’s father and then mother passed away. “In four to five years I’d suffered three big losses,” she says. Tarraf left her corporate job to get certified as a coach and write her first book, “Strong Like Water: How I found the Courage to Lead with Love in Business and in life” (https://amzn.to/2Qji649). “I grew up in a home where mom and dad fought a lot and I didn’t want to feel. It happens that qualities that saved you once, now hold you back...You have to go through the valley and break down to come out,” she says. “If you don’t there is no healing or transformation.”
Linda Fears had been the Editor-in-Chief of Family Circle magazine for 12 years when four years ago, she was suddenly laid off. “It was the biggest shock of my life,” she says. “Was I stupid? Naive?…I felt sorry for myself for a few months and was really depressed.” But Fears, who was only in her early 50s, wanted to keep working. “It was clear the magazine industry was on a deep downward slide,” she says. “Of all the magazines I worked at only one is still in existence.” Fears took her interest in health and food (she loved cooking since a child), grabbed a nutrition certification at her alma mater Cornell, and started coaching friends, then clients on how to eat better and lose weight. Later, she began the blog GoodFoodRx.net, a weekly themed newsletter that dissects a nutritional issue and offers a corresponding recipe. Covid forced her coaching online but Fears now has clients from different states. “The silver lining for me in the pandemic is that people are eating poorly and not moving or exercising,” she says. “I thought I’d really miss my old life. But I’m really happy to be in charge of my own hours and not clock in."
So here’s the problem. You’re teaching Spanish in highschool for a total of 24 years, and early on you notice your students are bored out of their minds. “I was, too,” says Jennifer Degenhardt. “I said, they need a story.” So she gathered up the “themes” and the vocabulary demanded by the curriculum and made up more interesting stories that put characters who mirrored her students--Hispanic, from underserved communities, a boy in a wheelchair, LGBTQ, or from economic disparities--and put them at the center of the action. “After three to four years of teaching [my first] book, I published it and kept writing,” says the author of now 17 books in Spanish, 6 in English, one in German, and three translated into French. Encouraged by her students, she self-published her first book on Kindle Direct, a subsidiary of Amazon. “It’s made my life very easy,” says Degenhardt. It’s a “step by step process...and you’re in charge of your own products and you can fix your own mistakes.” Her favorite quote which she put on her refrigerator and looked at every day? “If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working toward it.” And that’s just what she did.
When Joyce Shulman, CEO of 99walks.fit (https://www.99walks.fit/aboutus), came home in a bad mood one day during high school, her father suggested she go for a walk. “I didn’t know what was bugging me. I waked out the door and walked for two miles. I vividly remember feeling that when I walked back into the house my whole mood had shifted.” Shulman now offers her 12,000 members daily walking classes with coaches and meditations, and preaches the research that shows just regular walking can add seven years to an individual's life. But her path to walking wonderland was not a straight one. Shulman began life as a commercial litigator in New York City. After marrying, she and her husband launched the “world’s first nutrition bar for dogs. which grew to include cats and horses.” The business eventually fell apart and these serial entrepreneurs began creating the first pizza boxes with 4-color advertising. Fifteen years later they launched an e newsletter for kids and families, and then, upon noticing the health crisis among women, 99walks. “The country was getting bigger and less well,” Shulman says. “And I was watching the rise of the loneliness epidemic…For me, walking with friends and for community has tremendous value.” Best of all, walking engages those “left behind from the fitness industrial complex.” She says: “Some older women never had a meaningful fitness program. They don’t feel like they have a place for them.” Shulman hopes that walking can also help be an answer to the depression and lack of movement caused by the pandemic.
Rebecca Moses knew from an early age she wanted to be a fashion designer. Graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), she landed her first job at Pierre Cardin and launched her own clothing line. On a trip to Italy to check out a factory, she fell in love with the owner. For 20 years Moses lived and worked outside of Milan and raised her two boys. But when her husband died suddenly in 2010, she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, her world turned “upside down.” Returning to New York City to raise her boys, she wrote a book (Rebecca Moses: A Life of Style https://amzn.to/3sYyC8k), and dove into painting, illustration and animations for organizations like the Fragrance foundation and Bergdorf Goodman. The pandemic was “a frightening time for the entire world,” she says. “My family in Italy was in a very bad way. I could hear the sirens of ambulances which drove me crazy.” Feeling “helpless” and like she had to do something, Moses went onto Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/rebeccamosesofficial/) and asked women to share the stories of their lives during the pandemic. She offered to draw them. “Letters flew in—humorous, sad, inspirational from six continents.” Moses “painted like a mad woman and didn’t sleep.” 400 portraits later, her project which she calls the Stay Home Sisters is going strong. “These women come from all walks of life: there is diversity in backgrounds, religion, careers. What happened next is the women connected with each other and said, ‘you’re not alone.’ It became a movement.” Moses is still taking entries! Some of the series will be shown at the Guggenheim and the portraits of nurses will be touring a hospital. “This past year witnessed lost of people revaluation gather lives,” Moses says. “Ask yourself, ‘is this the life I want to live?’"
For 20 years, Dara Kurtz had a successful career in finance. “It was based on society’s definition of success—done with dollar signs and size of house.” At age 42, the words “you have cancer” stopped her dead in her tracks. “After that I changed. I decided I [didn’t] want to go back. [Finance] didn’t speak to my heart.” Despite resistance from her husband, Kurtz quit her job and began to write a blog. “I didn’t know what I was doing....I didn’t know how to get from point A to point B.” Kurtz had always been a journal writer, penning her thoughts about the day to her daughters and placing her journal on their pillows to read. They would write back. “Going through breast cancer, that stopped. None of us were in that space to communicate,” she says. Years later she rediscovered the journals tucked away in a desk drawer. Also uncovered, a Ziplock bag of letters from her mom and grandmother. “I was blown away by how much wisdom they contained. I had a conversation with my mom 20 years after her death. I sat and sobbed... I could feel her personality and hear her words….I knew after reading those, she would have never wanted me to be stuck in grief or let her death impact my life. It was permission to go on with my life.” From that insight, her second book, “I Am My Mother’s Daughter: Wisdom on Life, Loss, and Love” was born. (https://amzn.to/3qkV0pY)
“I use the heart chakra in relationship to money,” says Leisa Peterson, Founder of wealthclinic.com and author of "The Mindful Millionaire”(https://amzn.to/35ZzkZ8). “The heart is about receiving. How great are you at receiving money? It plays out when you’re running a business and you don’t feel comfortable being paid for the value you offer to an employer or [to a] client. When we understand that this is a symptom, we look inside.” Peterson, who grew up in Northern California, began her career as a fit model to pay the bills, eventually segueing into an MBA in finance. In 2014, after losing her father, she decided to merge her interest in spirituality with her interest in finance and helping others build their businesses, create their brands, and messages. “The journey of maturing in life is what chakras — really an ancient form of psychotherapy — inspire… I found money is merely a physical manifestation of who you are.” For some, Peterson says, "fear is what’s under it all.”
When Broadway shut down on March 12, 2020, Margaret Skoglund was on the cusp of realizing her dream—of becoming a Broadway general manager. She’d already handled big shows from Mamma Mia! to The Lion King. “There are 41 disparate theaters on Broadway,” she tells CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour. “There is no NFL, no MLB organization to mobilize all of us. There is a trade organization but no headquarters….I thought, 'we’re not going to figure out how to get back into the theater any time soon'. People thought July…I decided it would be a year.” So Skoglund and a co-founder got busy, setting up a company called Virtual Broadway (www.virtualbway.com)which “connects dancers, actors, music directors to corporate America.” She started by knocking on the doors of her college alumnae and asking: “Do you need a Hamilton actor to come teach motivational tips?” Turns out they did. A multinational financial firm celebrated their sales team with 45 minutes of specially designed online content. A group of attorneys were led in a stress-relieving wellness activity from actors in the Lion King. “The most fun is putting artists together who get to work at a moment that is devastating,” says Skoglund.
“I've set up over 33,000 dates. And I’m responsible for 4200 marriages.” So says Andrea McGinty, founder of 33000dates.com who says she knows how to psych out the online dating sites in a sophisticated—and now during Covid19, safe—manner. “It’s about being proactive. If you’re in your 40s or 50s you have to learn to work the system.” McGinty says there are 104 million single people and "great men out there.” But the number one factor for success is to set the filters and, counterintuitively, ignore all those who respond in the first round. Answer those in the next round instead. Then, "Do a 5 to 10 minute FaceTime call or video chat—very safe,” she says. "Do[es the guy] look like his photo? What are his mannerisms? Does he smile? Do you like his eyes?” Keeping it short is the key. “You’re not looking for a chat buddy,” McGinty says. "The longer you stay on the phone with someone having fun, the higher your expectations for the date.” McGinty, who created and sold the dating site for busy professionals called “It’s Just Lunch”, says that during the pandemic you can use attitudes toward social distancing as a cue: ask the potential date how they feel about social distancing. What do they do? “You’ll know if this is a safe person you want to meet” for an outdoor brunch, walk, or sitting around a fire pit.
Rebecca Warner grew up reading Cosmopolitan Magazine, believing Editor Helen Gurley Brown's mantra: You can do anything you want to. “It proved to be true,” she says today. By age 28 Warner had worked her way up to VP at the largest commercial bank in Florida, was raking in the bucks, and buying a condo. “But like lots of women in banking in the 70s, 80s, and 90s,” she says, "I was overcoming sexism and jealousy.” When the governor of the state called a special legislative session to enact stricter abortion laws, Warner was infuriated and sat down to write a book about it. “I stayed in banking but enjoyed the life of writing,” she says. That's even though the book was rejected by publishers. Subsequent years took Warner into caring for her ailing parents. She self-published the rejected book, then wrote another self-help manual for women seeking relationships, and now, “My Dad My Dog” (https://amzn.to/3t1jE1b) about caregiving. “I had the feeling I should be the person to talk about caregiving because I’d done it. I could bring people together with resources and support and lift up these in-home caregivers.” Warner says 1/6 of the country takes on “caregiving in some capacity” and that’s only been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Getting control of your finances gives you a sense of “independence" and “self-reliance” says Claudia Mott, CFP, CDFA (Certified Financial Planner and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst). She should know. After spending 13 years as a sell-side analyst on Wall Street with copious travel, she burned out and decided to stay home to raise her three kids. Her husband, who also worked in finance, did the taxes and like many women, she says she "simply signed off”. While driving her daughter to preschool, she heard a radio add for financial planning and decided to go back to school. One day she looked deeper into her family’s finances and discovered her husband had a secret bank account supporting a girlfriend. For that reason, Mott says she can understand the “shame” very successful women feel who have not grabbed hold of their financial wellbeing. “If I had a dollar for every time women say ‘I’ve been stupid’” she says, she’d be rich. But Mott believes everyone can benefit from taking hold of their financial security. “The first step is acknowledging , ‘Am I going to be all right?’” she says. “Lots of divorcing women are fearful of the first year and how to manage the financial picture….But you can learn to be on your own and you’re managing.”
“I started [the gallery] on a shoe string,” says Marguerite Oestreicher “A friend was an artist in an old townhouse in [New Orleans]. The front half was a gallery and so I set up shop and found artists.” Since she didn’t want to go “commercial,” she says that "the gallery supported itself but it didn’t make money.” To keep herself financially afloat she landed a job as a magazine editor, later, becoming the publisher. She had just moved all her art from her gallery to her home when Katrina hit. It was her home that flooded. Oestreicher shuttered the gallery and evacuated with her son to North Carolina where she landed a job working for a conveyor belt company. “Katrina was a reset—in thinking, in resilience, in reinvention,” she says. "No one died in my family. But seeing how people suffered. I knew I couldn’t do a corporate job. I wanted to do something to make [New Orleans] a better place.” And she did that. Today Oestreicher is Chief Advancement Officer for the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. Her key to reinvention? “Find your strengths and ask, where would these skills be good?”
“I had two little girls and my husband had cancer and my brother had AIDS. They died in the same year.” So says writer Rosemary Keevil, who spent the next six years as a “high functioning alcoholic.” Unable to understand her own pain and to manage her high-powered career as a TV news reporter, she turned to alcohol—and, after a night with “Mr. Wrong”, a dip into cocaine. “It was shameful,” she says. “I was driving the kids while high.” One day she blacked out in behind the wheel. “I got a letter from the police that I was seen driving erratically,” she says and that sent her to a friend’s spiritual retreat where she learned about rehab. “I knew this was the next step.” That’s where she began to understand that the “only way to get past [grieving] is accepting it….It was the same with addiction: I had to accept my abominable behavior as a mother.” Today, her memoir, “The Art of Losing it; A Memoir of Grief and Addiction” (https://amzn.to/387UFS1) shares her struggle in the hopes that others will realize they are not alone—and that they can change the outcome. “Acceptance…doesn’t let you off the hook,” she says. But it “allows me to move forward. It’s what I do today that is important.”
Anne Bokma spent four years writing a column about people who are spiritual but not religious; then she spent a year actually trying 24 different ideas for her book called “My Year of Living Spiritually” [https://amzn.to/3lqB03D]. “I did drumming circles, reiki, singing in choirs, and a pilgrimage to Thoreau’s pond,” she says. “I gave up booze. Did witches. Learned to read tarot cards and even did magic mushrooms!” All of which is surprising if you know Bokma’s religious heritage. She grew up in a town of 1000 people in Ontario, the daughter of Dutch immigrants in a very religious household which taught her that we are all born sinful and should not mix with those outside the culture. Bokma went to journalism school and in her 20s, left the sect:“My family was devastated by my departure…. I had to struggle with my loss of family—especially my mother; I felt I’d lost my best friend.” Bokma talks with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour, about how she reinvented herself spiritually, found her way back to a relationship with her mom, and how she designed a morning routine to change the way she approaches each new day. “None of us get to midlife without loss,” she says. “It’s a universal truth. But if you can speak honestly about loss, you can connect."
At age 29, Linda Olson was strapped inside a van that stalled on a railroad track. A train hit the van and she went on to live her very full life as a mother, radiologist, and triple amputee. At 71, she has published her first book, a memoir called GONE (https://amzn.to/2TQf85q), and is newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. After the train accident, she says, “I had a choice to make: Do I want to be happy or not?” There were people standing at the end of her hospital bed unable to look her in the eye when she decided “I want to make them happy and so I focused on their mental attitudes. It worked. They put me in a wheelchair, I went out to the garden and started making lists of what I am going to do when I got back home.” Growing up, Linda’s mother would post a list of her daily required activities on her door and the focus—both then and after the accident-- helped her get through each day feeling accomplished. “I still have the lists [I made that day],” she says. “They got me back into rehab and after four months I walked a mile with my prosthetic legs.” Today she is still pushing the boundaries of her physical abilities. “After 41 years there are new things I have to figure out,” she says, "—like filing my nails with one hand.” Her husband used to do it for her, but just the other day, Linda says she designed a way to do it herself. “It’s about accepting, adapting, innovating. Make a game of it, “ she says.
“I’m a very passionate person,” says San-Juan-born Cindy Golbert, 77, who has just begun a new Vlog called Original Cin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k972fDJ5ekQ&feature=youtu.be). Passion informs all of her reinventions throughout her lifetime as she moved from beginner at Young & Rubicam to tennis pro, to PR for a jet set hotel, to real estate, to aerobics instructor (“I was the Jane Fonda of Puerto Rico!”), to fashion designer, to furniture restorer, to property manager, and through a variety of marriages.“The opportunities for reinvention are not just career-based, you can reinvent how you think and how you react to situations.” What she loves is watching the shy, unsure woman hide in the back of aerobics class eventually migrate to the first row as she gains confidence or restoring a broken heirloom to look like new. “My motto is, 'Leave people and places better than you found them,’” she says.
“I didn’t set a stone ’till I was 55,” says Susan Lister Locke, who owns the eponymous gallery on Nantucket (https://susanlisterlocke.com/) and was voted Best Jeweler on Nantucket from 2017-2020. “Real estate had slowed to a crawl. I had been there for the booming years. But it wasn’t working and I didn’t see it coming back.” Metalsmithing had been a passion which Susan had explored in schools and workshops in the States and Italy. She had a studio at home and when the real estate dried up, a great location for a shop came up, and she decided to take the leap. “I didn’t have a lot of money so I let the big boys do diamonds,” she says. “The first stone I bought was a colored stone. I worked with pearls and Australian bolder opals. I wasn’t a gemologist.” What Locke especially loves about the engagement and wedding rings she creates: “Those are heirlooms; they get passed down….You’re part of their story.” Her advice for those trying to make the leap from corporate to art:” Be prepared for greatness. I wasn’t.”
Linda Mauro went from FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) to showroom sales, fashion forecasting, a buying office, and eventually running a New York showroom for west coast designers. “I was Carrie Bradshaw [of Sex in the City],” she says about the crazy, fashion-infused hard-charging lifestyle. “I paid my dues.” When she got fired, she regrouped her life outside of the city and applied to Berkeley College which had an opening in admissions and recruiting. “They listed the same skills that I was using in the showroom: sales, managing a budget, goals,” she says. "I was able to bring those skills into higher education.” Today, Mauro is the COO of Berkeley College of New Jersey and she’s been there 20 years. She says: “Lots of the students are career changers like me."
“Your career is a journey. It’s rare to find a person for whom it’s a direct line,” says social entrepreneur, CEO and Founder of Working for Women (https://www.workingforwomen.org/), Beth Bengtson. Indeed, Bengtson studied to be a photographer at the Fashion Institute of Technology and jumped into the early dot-com universe and even lived through the bust. After meeting her husband and starting a family, she “realized that business could be a force for social good” and took a position as VP of Social Responsibility—teaching that corporation “how to think about doing good and being a good citizen.” Laid off during the Great Recession, she decided to pursue the idea of social responsibility by creating W4W, a service that helps for-profit business invest resources in social initiatives that benefit women. Her leadership awakening happened when she was scouring the world for the perfect W4W CEO because “my definition of a leader is everything I wasn’t: charismatic, outgoing, with sales and business development,” she says. A coach to challenge her to lead. And the rest, as they say, is her-story.
I didn’t know who Rob Moore was before his Public Relations person approached me. But what a wonderful discovery! His podcast, "The Disruptive Entrepreneur", has over 5 million subscribers, he has written dozens of business books, and coaches and mentors thousands of entrepreneurs. But what I love about him most is his awareness of his personal drivers: “I’m always trying to prove to my dad that I’m a worthy son and to the world that I have value.” He also describes himself as a “constant learner” (sound familiar?). Moore, who studied to be an architect, grew up working in his father’s bars and pubs, eventually getting himself into five-figure debt. When his beloved father had a nervous breakdown, Moore says it “changed my life.” He felt he “was a victim, was bitter, jealous and defensive.” But he figured out how to dig himself out of it all through entrepreneurship. At 41, he’s on his 5th “retirement” which he describes, as “not about doing nothing — but doing something new.” And he has a lot to teach women like us who are wondering if entrepreneurship is for us — or how to stay at it without burning out.
Alexis Mersel of Instant Pot cookbook fame ("Everyday Instant Pot"; "Healthy Instant Pot"; "Instant Pot Soups") grew up “fueled for fashion.” After studying in Paris, she landed dream jobs at Elle, Harper's Bazaar, In Style and Mirabella. When the digital boom hit, she abandoned print and jumped in, working for fashionmall.com and later Martha Stewart and the Food Network. Moving between San Francisco and London allowed her to connect with a London roommate who ran a bookstore with a cafe which lured Alexis into cooking. Still lacking “family responsibilities,” she quit her job to attend a cooking school in Ireland eventually landing back in San Francisco as a baker. Baking moved her into food styling, which moved her into cookbooks. “Even though I’m a classic type A, I wasn’t thinking of a plan,” she says. “The best thing in retrospect was NOT to have a plan. It let things be.” Her advice for other type As who want to play it free-spirit: “If your gut says yes, say yes. It’s scary. But that’s where you build confidence for your next role."
Cyndie Burkhardt was living the corporate dream: handling $100,000 marketing campaigns, meeting incredible people, and traveling the world. But she was also working 60 hours a week, experiencing night sweats, black outs, and brain fog so bad that she couldn’t read the newspaper. Self care, she says, “wasn’t on my radar.” One day after leaving work exhausted, she got into bed, and couldn’t get out. “I was paralyzed; I couldn’t move.” With no doctor able to diagnose her, she sought help from alternative practitioners and a nutritionist who called it adrenal fatigue. After recovering, Burkhardt entered nutrition school (“to help others...so they won’t get sick!”), pursued her interest in writing and photography (www.photo-diaries.com), and became a health coach. Last year she wanted to study alternative medicines around the world. She sold all her possessions and booked a trip for 12 months in 12 places but was forced to end her trip at the 3/4 mark when the pandemic pinned her down in Split, Croatia. “A pandemic stopped me dead in my tracks and it’s wonderful,” she says, noting that she walks to the beach every morning at dawn for a swim before settling down for work. " I’m going to listen for the answer [about what’s next] and figure things out.”
“I was pregnant with my third kid when I opted out,” says Kelley Biskupiak, co-founder of PrepareToLaunchU.com, a one-stop source for instruction, inspiration and community for women navigating a maternity leave, mid-career pivot, or childcare break. “I didn’t realize when I made the choice what a sense of loss it was going to be. I could go all in on momhood...but it was not so fulfilling. I had to ask: who are you and where do you want to go?” She joined forces with Susan Rietano, a mother of four with experience in tech and placement and launched the site. “Women approach the next [job] opportunity with too much gratitude and apology,” says Rietano. “[We] want them to thank you for being at the opposite side of the table.”
Enrollment in Prepare to Launch U's Fall Career Relaunch Course is open until September 21st. Here is the link to a recording of a recent info session Susan and Kelley hosted to overview the program and answer prospective students' questions:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/WocwR3_OOulW0Xtehk9NfntE32Ja1y_D7GYckMUT4pKyxXid0-B1ZD2AO6zdgWwH._BNR24RrUlwBlHgn?startTime=1599666775000
If you are interested in securing for a spot in their 10-week program (9/28-12/4), you can apply here: https://bit.ly/Fall2020CohortApplication
Resources: 8 Question Next chapter Questionnaire: http://bit.ly/NextChapterFreebie
Explore and Access Your Next Career Path Freebie: http://bit.ly/EXPLOREANDASSESSFREEBIE
“I’ve been OCD my whole life,” says Anita Devlin. “I realized that was why people liked having me come stay with them—because I reorganized their homes.” Devlin who has been a casting director, co-produced films, and sold luxury real estate put all her experience together and created We Heave Ho (https://weheaveho.com/), a company that will do anything you need help with—from organizing your closet to cleaning out your barn or helping young adults decorate their first apartment. But even better: she makes comedic reality-show-style films about the process—starring you (and her!) of course! “I love working with people my age and helping them downsize,” she says. “The dynamics between the husband and wife…you’re the therapist, too.” The videos, she says, “get the conversations going.” She says: “It’s very rewarding to help people and when you walk away they feel orderly and clean.”
“Fun and excellence are not mutually exclusive,” says Melanie Curtis, who grew up with a pilot father and sky diving hanger and “drop zone" in her back yard but did not take her first jump out of an airplane until she was 18. “I believe love and hilarity are the two most important things in life. When doing deep work, we can hold space for each other and bring lightness and humor into the work as well.” Curtis, who competed professionally, believes that people can use physical bravery as a “stepping stone into emotional bravery” or it can be an avoidance tactic. She also believes teammates and learning helps us transverse “fear and feeling paralyzed.” Find out more about her at www.TrustTheJourney.today or mel@melaniecurtis.com
Kathi Sharpe-Ross, CEO and President of The Sharpe Alliance, decided that it wasn’t enough to help every top brand from Coca Cola and Mall of America to Walt Disney World create giant and inventive events, she wanted to teach others how to succeed, too. Born in Australia, but living all over the world before settling in Hollywood’s 90210 (yes, she went to Beverly Hills High!), Sharpe-Ross knew she always wanted to work for herself and opened her agency right out of school. Thirty-four years later, she’s written a book (Re:invent Your Life, https://amzn.to/3fUhjxt), to share inspiration and concrete tools for what she calls her “continuous reinvention.”
For years I’ve been saying that midlife is the same as adolescence—but in reverse. Your body is doing strange things, you can’t stop crying, you notice all your relationships are changing, you no longer know who you are or what you want, and you don’t know why. Life-stage expert, gerontologist and author, Barbara Waxman, decided to make that observation official with her book “The Middlescence Manifesto: Igniting the Passion of Midlife” [https://amzn.to/3fOeZbb]. “In 1900 life expectancy was 47,” she tells me. “Now, it’s in your 80s. The [extra] years are not at the end of life, the decrepit years, but are showing up in the middle markers. It starts at 45.” Waxman says, “women gain power in Middlescence…[have] more agency. They want to do what [they] care about and care less about what others think.” Waxman believes now is the “time to discern what you care about…so you can show up with a powerful ‘yes!’”
“My twitter handle is ‘Warrior,’” says Heidi Diamond, “You want to be in the foxhole with me.” And a foxhole is exactly where she found herself on her first day at work as President of Martha Stewart Living Ominimedia in August 2002. Stewart was in trouble for insider trading and the television partner wanted out. “Every day I went to the court house,” says Diamond of the trial. “Every evening at five it was crisis management.” By being a “good communicator” and “transparent with the team,” however, she was able to pivot the brand and save the jobs of people who depended on Stewart’s show. “There were days when my eyelashes hurt,” Diamond says. “But we rose [Martha] back up like a phoenix….She’s still relevant to popular culture today.”
“In medical school, they don’t teach you much about nutrition or lifestyle,” says Jeanne Rosner, M.D., former pediatric anesthesiologist and now founder of SOULfoodSalon.com, community-based get-togethers that teach about healthy living and eating. “But kids were receptive. That was my ah-ha moment.” Rosner says she “loved her [surgery] patients” and being a source of comfort for their parents for twenty years. But after her third child was born, the workload became “too stressful to be 100% [doctor plus] mom and wife.” When a life-coach friend asked her to put together a vision board (which she still uses for inspiration) she knew she had to create a more balanced lifestyle. Rosner began by teaching science, health and nutrition to her son’s 5th grade class and the rest, as they say, is her-story.
She had an engineering degree and an MBA. She had 15 years in leadership roles at companies like IBM and Kodak, a career she was “passionate” about. But Candace Freedenberg also had a baby who had flown 13 times before age 1, just to keep up with her mom’s commute from Washington, DC to upstate New York where Kodak was based. Amidst corporate changes and with a third child along the way, she realized, "Logistically I couldn’t do it,” she says. “My husband said, one of us should opt-out.” And so she did. Fifteen years later she opened up Untapped Potential, Inc. to help women like herself relaunch. “Corporations, businesses, and the GDP are missing out on capital—in women!” she says. "We curate roles with corporations, startups, non-profits.” Post Covid19, Freedenberg sees opportunity: “Companies would be smarter to work with skilled, mature, flexible talent which offer a cost advantage and low risk."
"To find your fit, it’s not a linear path…but a fluid process,” says Mary Lou Heater, who worked her way up to a Doctor of Nursing Practice at age 60. “It’s not a puzzle piece that fits neatly into one spot.” Heater left school for early marriage before working for 15 years in sales for a steel company. Around age 40 she asked herself: “Am I giving back? Am I doing the right thing?” After diving into the new age wave of meditation and philosophy, she quit her job to help her husband. When he lost his job (“we had zero income”), she returned to school to study gerontology and get a certificate in aerobics. She later snagged her RN, then followed her interest in psychiatry to her doctorate. At 66, she’s still asking herself “what’s next?” “Women don’t retire,” she says, “they reinvent themselves."
What do you learn by talking with 100 reinventors from every state, industry, financial status, and starting point? The answer is: That anyone can do it — as long as you have the guts to put your heart’s desire out there and can risk abject failure. And that reinvention is a contact sport — but it can quickly catapult you into a life you love. Here, Lesley Jane Seymour, founder of CoveyClub.com, looks back at her 10 most interesting moments in the podcast so far, where unbelievably interesting and honest women share their most heartfelt learnings with all of us.
Bonnie Chan Woo, Founder of WomanBoss, grew up in Hong Kong and the UK, moving into banking because “it sounds successful, like what a high achiever would do.” After segueing into the marketing and branding area of the bank and working with “the biggest brands in the world”, Woo found herself frustrated when a client would reject her ideas. She left to create her own space where she could “feel creative, feel I was building something”. It’s called WomanBoss.com, a platform "for women seeking the goodlife who are looking for merchandise from mission led female-owned businesses.” Currently highlighting 26 brands from around the world, WomanBoss also tells the stories of the entrepreneurs who create the product and engages customers in the designer's journey. “Now a days it’s all about being authentic,” Woo says. “Our Zoom calls are revealing what our houses look like. We are no longer dressing up. We have to bring our real self.”
Cherie Buziak had a cosmetology and aesthetician license plus a BA from Fashion Institute of Technology, and managed global product development for Avon. Then she lost both her parents when she was 36, “which left a legacy for me and my siblings,” she says. For 14 years she “struggl[ed] with infertility” and found herself in “a great position to become pregnant.” She went to her supervisor and HR and told them she “wanted the company to know, I don’t need another position. I’d be happy to leave with a package.” After the birth of her son at 44, she “took the leap and became a consultant”, eventually opening BeautyEdge, LLC “to help brands launch from concept to product.” Now she had both a new company and an infant. “I had no mom to ask, what do I do,” she says. “My girlfriends pulled me through."
“I was not feeling the fulfillment [in the writing business],” says Diane Bruno. Her mother had died — suddenly and traumatically — and Bruno was impressed with the “eloquent and kind” funeral director, speaking with him at length, learning that he felt he was performing an important service that made him feel needed. Bruno decided that “Death is part of life. I became comfortable with it. [And] I’m not squeamish.” So she enrolled in an online Mortuary school. Three years later she was working as a funeral director in Cape Cod. Even though an accident forced her to boomerang back into communications, Bruno learned a lot that made her kinder, more empathetic, “more at peace". “I lived this journey,” Bruno says. “Having been on the side of darkness and death, I can deal with anything."
Her father was a lawyer; her mother went to law school when Shai was 6. “I didn’t make a conscious choice,” Littlejohn says about why she picked law as a profession. “My selection process was: the job was high-paying and there were lots of women [at the firm]!” After 14 years, however, it was time to pursue her “nagging bucket list thing.” She didn’t like her boss, her mother had brain cancer, and she felt, “this is the time….I don’t want regrets about not spending time with music.” Though Littlejohn had only played piano as a child and sung in a quartet, she knew music made her super happy. So she booked an unconventional summer vacation with The Berklee College of Music and eventually packed up for Nashville. “I was back to being a beginner,” she says. “I was writing songs and recording in the studio with top people. But I felt like I was the weakest link.” After a year spent touring as a musician, however, Littlejohn explains to CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, how she found her way back to balancing both professions plus a family.
“In 2008 I got hit hard. I lost my derriere,” says Marla Ginsburg, CEO of The MarlaWynne Collection (https://www.marlawynne.com/). “So I bought a sewing machine and started Googling ‘How do you thread a sewing machine.'” Ginsburg had spent her previous career on the production side of television, but taught herself how to create the kinds of clothes she wanted to wear, eventually selling them into Nordstrom, QVC and even Chicos. “I’m an accidental success,” she says, noting that the collection which she owns “has no debt” and will make $60 million in retail, even during the pandemic turmoil. “It takes passion to fuel change,” she advises. “But you’ve gotta do your homework….And the most important thing is to ask questions and ask for help.”
“I come from 7 generations of restaurateurs,” says Ariane Daguin, owner of D’Artagnan gourmet foods, which 35 years later has 260 employees and $132 million dollars in sales. “I grew up gathering mushrooms in the forest. But it became clear that my brother would take over the business and the girl would leave home.” Daguin moved to the US which she believed was “the land of the cowboys,” where “the country was behind the leader and united and doing things.” She says the name came from a similar belief in Gascony: “We have a one for all, all for one [attitude]. It’s the [principle] the Three Musketeers lived by. We think we are descendants of [D’Artagnan].” She says D’Artagnan products are sourced from heritage breeds which she says "have better taste and use no medication."
She fell in love with the energy on the trading floor; it led her to Salomon Brothers as a Bond Options Trader and a Managing Director at Bank of America. When she left, she found her way into a coaching certification class. “What made me a success at my [former] job was getting people to do what they needed to do,” Ezekiel says. “I saw an opportunity to help people.” Before she even had her certification, Ezekiel was working 80-100 hours per week coaching 30 clients. Not wanting to be limited by her physical capacity, she opened Conductive (https://www.conductivecoaching.com), which allowed her to scale coaching with staff. Post Covid, Ezekiel believes consumers will need more coaching than ever. “”It’s hard to embrace the unknown,” she says. “But that is where the magic is. It will unfold and …let the reveal of the reinvention happen."
“It’s important to understand that you must go through life happy,” says Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum. “If you wake up every day and are miserable, it’s not right.” So says this unconventional cardiologist who just left big-hospital life to join an acupuncture and Ayurveda group to create a more “personalized” kind of care for her patients. "I believe no one needs to get heart disease,” she tells CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour. “Using genetics, physiology, anatomy and data” she says she can figure out where her patients are on the spectrum toward heart disease and create a specialized prescription for diet and exercise that helps arrest, or even reverse, the progression. “People see me when they are ready to feel good and be the best they can be,” she’s says. "When they really see changes they are motivated.”
Or so says Julie Foucht, owner of Biz Coaching for Female Entrepreneurs (https://juliefoucht.com/about/) who talks with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour about how she pulled herself out of an abusive marriage by “leaning in” to her spirituality and deciding to change her beliefs about herself. “I finally took responsibility for getting married at 18, choosing to have four kids, choosing not to have a career. I asked myself how to take control and make it different.” And she did. Foucht divorced, moved back to California where she had been born, got certified as a coach and launched her business that teaches “wildly different women how to build heart-centered businesses."
“You look at the way the fates dangle tiny golden threads and you grab them!” That is how Meg Jordan, PhD, RN, CWP, NBC-HWC, Chair and professor of integrative Health Studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies explains why — as the acronyms after her name show — she just can’t stop reinventing. “My mindset says there is no such thing as failure,” she says. "Everything is a learning opportunity.” Jordan, who calls herself a “social activist at heart,” began by working as a waitress in the Black Panther pubs, did LSD, rode motorcycles, became a journalist, “wrote commercials for celebrities with sagging cue numbers,” and created documentaries that aired on PBS. Her ability to reinvent comes from "the gumption" she got as a kid from an uncle who believed she could do anything. “I had the gaze of an adult who says you’ve got that it takes.”
“Women 50,60,70, 80 have already experienced so much uncertainty, have already had so many rugs pulled out from under our feet, that [we] know how to recreate and reinvent,” says Dr. Dintino, co-founder of TwistingThePlot.com (https://www.twistingtheplot.com/), a website and podcast that employs techniques borrowed from theater and art to help women answer the question of “What’s next?” In fact, Dintino and her co-founder Hannah Murray Starobin—who met each other in college and have been friends for 40 years--believe the coming "reboot, will require innovation…and getting out of the normative curve.” They are encouraging women to take on uniquely creative projects during the pandemic to bust out of the sense of invisibility and discover their true, inner-selves. “Be an outlier,” they tell Lesley Jane Seymour, founder of CoveyClub.com in this conversation. “Do something that wasn’t possible before."
*NOTE: This episode was recorded on February 17, 2020. Any upcoming events mentioned in this episode have been postponed until further notice. For information on our upcoming virtual events over Zoom, please check https://www.coveyclub.com under the “Attend” tab. Thank you so much and I can’t wait to connect with everyone in person soon. Stay safe! “I’m learning how much we need to feel not alone,” says Amy Giddon, co-founder and Chief Connection Officer of Daily Haloha (https://dailyhaloha.com/), a mobile app that allows people to connect more deeply and compassionately to themselves through a shared experience of reflection. "We’re wired for connection. It’s poignant that a two minute ritual can make people feel belonging.” Each day the app asks users to answer a simple question or fill in the blank, such as “I’m becoming __________”; shared answers create a kind of group connection. Through her work in strategic and financial planning at Bain & Company and women’s leadership development at Barnard College, Giddon discovered how the voices of “women and others can be marginalized and not heard.” After the 2016 election she sensed people “felt silenced and separated.” She says Daily Haloha became “like a calling” and was birthed at her kitchen table.
“Until I was open and honest [about my Parkinson’s Disease] I couldn’t unlock my reinvention,” says Terri Bryant, makeup artist and founder of GUIDE BEAUTY, a company that is rethinking the ergonomics of beauty tools and products for all users. Bryant, who had done makeup for fashion runways, films, print ads and cosmetics got her diagnosis five years ago and found herself having to sit on her shaking hands during television interviews. And when she could no longer hide them, she decided to rethink and redesign the beauty tools that she used on her job. Gone is that pesky eyeliner brush that requires perfect small motor skills. In came a Precision Tip applicator that looks like a surgical tool that allows anyone to create a perfect cat eye in seconds. “The opportunity to embrace [your disability] is the opportunity to find your community,” Bryant Says. "Then you are not alone.”
Deborah Jackson, Founder and CEO of Plum Alley investments, had a father who worked for IBM (often jokingly called I’ve Been Moved). And so, as a child, she moved every few years to another place in the US. “Moving made me resourceful and adaptable,” she says. “I realize in my 60s, it is a good skill set for navigating change.” After business school, Jackson “stumbled” into investment banking at Goldman Sachs in municipal finance. After 20 years, she retired, found her way onto five non-profit boards and even explored her bucket list. “I flunked retirement,” she laughs. Jackson had been mentoring entrepreneurs and investing when she decided to create a business out of it. “I wanted to change the experience of how investing is done,” she tells Lesley Jane Seymour, founder of CoveyClub. “How do we get women excited about investing? How do we create joy beyond the financial transaction?” Plum Alley, a private membership that gives investors “access to influence innovation and shape the future by investing in private companies” does just that — and has already invested in 19 companies in 24 months. “Wise women over 60 have so much to give back,” Jackson says. “Age and wisdom are really significant together.”
What do you do when you’re raised in Canada and Europe with a father who is a professor of applied mathematics and chemistry who hobnobbed with the most famous scientists on the planet? What do you do when you have a PhD in electrical and electronics engineering from Stamford and have already helped make health treatments available to kids with muscular dystrophy and own a handful of patents? And when you have created and sold a company and now invest in others as a VC? Why, you tackle the beauty business of course—using your scientific eye to create a range of totally sustainable products (you can eat them)—that are good for your skin and beautiful to use! Join CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, in this enlightening conversation with one of the most innovative beauty (and beautiful) minds on the planet, Barbara Paldus, CEO at Codex Beauty (https://codexbeauty.com/).
“It’s been 20 years since I left Good Morning America,” says Joan Lunden, author of the new book, “Why Did I Come Into This Room?: A Candid Conversation About Aging” (https://amzn.to/39rNtxV). “I have an incredibly robust career in health. This is my new reinvention.” Lunden speaks with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour about her three keys to happiness: 1. Staying engaged in life; 2. Keeping social connections well beyond the family; 3. Cultivating a sense of purpose—"that can be as simple as planting a garden". Lunden believes that with 76 million Boomers at this pivot point we need to have open discussions about reinventing. To have a “life well-lived” Lunden says we need “to let go of things that don’t matter. Ask yourself: ‘Am I kind? Am I there for people?’ That will let you pivot.”
Journalist Dana Rubin had been writing speeches and op-eds and coaching executives on how to present themselves at conferences and commencements. One client was struggling with how her voice sounded on stage and Rubin “wanted to give her speeches as inspiration.” She climbed out of bed and grabbed one of the 102 speech anthologies on her bookshelf and noticed that every speech in there was from a man: from Cicero to Lord Asquith to Lincoln, FDR, Martin Luther King. “My head exploded,” Rubin says because she realized that women’s voices are “not valued.” That’s also when her new job as "advocate for women’s speech and voice" was born and her web bank, SpeakingWhileFemale.co , with 1800 speeches was created to support it. “I reinvented myself and this is what I do,” she says, noting that she funds the bank with speech writing and speaking fees.
“Neither of my parents exercised; they were both functional alcoholics,” says Suzanne Frank, CEO of Frank Wellness Health Coaching, who had her first drink at age 10. “I don’t think of myself as an alcoholic. But I wasn’t my best self and I was just following in the footsteps of my family.” One night, after her son entered the 4th grade D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, Frank decided she had had enough and quit her bad habits. But she realized she needed to replace them with things that still helped her relax and focus. Running a marathon had been a lifelong dream. So when a friend asked her to join a Super Sprint Triathlon — her career as a 50+ triathlete was born. “It took me one year of training to run 2.2 miles,” she laughs. Frank says getting unstuck is as simple as these three steps. 1: Let go of something old. 2. Try an intellectual challenge. 3. Try something totally new. “Just do it!”
“Change is a given,” says Chip Conley, author of “Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder” (https://amzn.to/2SDjkG2) and founder of Modern Elder Academy (https://modernelderacademy.com/), “the world’s first midlife wisdom school". “You need to adapt to it and be resilient.” Conley who sold his first business (a boutique hotel brand) and went on, after age 50, to become a mentor/intern at Airbnb speaks with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, about how to use your accumulated wisdom and connections to create a leg up in the job world. “Become an SME: Subject Matter Expert — the librarian, the person who knows how [an industry runs] and who is in that industry,” is one of his pieces of advice. Conley says women adapt better to the modern workplace than men because we have “less sense of entitlement…and know how to do the work.” And it all begins by asking yourself: “What mastery can you offer to the world?” Now ask it 5 times until you get a real answer.
Goradia says she grew up with yelling, screaming, and physical violence at home and thought that was the way it was. Then she got pregnant and "realized I didn’t want to hurt this 6 week old baby.” She tried six therapists until she found the right person to help her implement the “dream of the way I’d like to be parented.” To share her learning, Goradia created the global foundation Raftcares.org (Resilience for Advocates Through Foundational Training) so that anyone can listen to her free classes and break these terrible cycles. Or you can start with “The Power of a Positive No" by William Ury (https://amzn.to/2SoCi1G), one of her “favorite tools".
When Sonsoles Gonzalez, founder of hair and skincare line Better Not Younger (Better-NotYounger.com), worked in corporate (L’Oreal, P & G) the researchers came in regularly to point out that women 40+ were an underserved market. But the corporations didn't want to go there. “We used to joke in meetings: ‘What happens to women 45+? Do they disappear?’” she says. Last year, at age 54, she rushed into the gap with her own line of haircare and scalp products that cater directly to aging hair; she also created oral supplements to promote healthy hair growth. Sonsales says entrepreneurship is so “exhilarating” she now “realize[s] how much I had stopped learning." Her advice for anyone launching off of a corporate job: 1. Gravitate to what you love to do. 2. Talk to people doing something similar. 3. Be prepared not to look back.
“The wonderful thing with sibling love is that it comes with a deep, deep trust. You know almost everything about each other.”
So says Julie Pinkwater, co-founder, with her sister Royce, of Oathlife.com, a new premium oat milk with 15 grams of plant protein. Pinkwater, a former magazine publisher (who launched More Magazine), reinvented first into the real estate business, joining Royce, a real estate veteran, to create Pinkwater Select, a boutique agency sourcing luxury properties around the world. When Royce needed a new “level of learning and challenge”, she reinvented into the “highly competitive” drink business with a product called Bonta.
“We know each other’s skill sets and don’t overlap,” she says, noting that the sisters also have “a challenge all siblings have—you bring all your childhood baggage with you,” says Julie: “There’s lots of joy, laughter, and tough days, too. But there’s no backbiting or infighting. Our biggest problem is constant snacking.”
How does a professional musician and self-described “book worm” start a fabulous niche beauty product for under $20,000? By noticing a “glaring hole” with a “low barrier to entry” and jumping in. Amanda McIntosh, was on her way home from a concert when she realized she didn’t have any more washcloths for her special skincare routine. She was grossed out by the grey, half-wet wash cloths left on her shower rail. “My practical brain got started, asking, ‘How do you change the process?’” McIntosh began by researching how to make a washcloth that was stain-resistant, quick drying, and would “feel fancy.” Dozens of trips to the fabric store led her to an incredibly soft polyester used in baby blankets that met all of her qualifications. Her washable makeup remover clothes called Take My Face Off, Inc (TakeMyFaceOff.com) was born. Today, Take My Face Off products disrupt the unsustainable makeup wipe business by selling amusing reusable wipes that last for 4-5 years. “I invested a good portion of my retirement account” to get started, she says. “I never wanted to lose more than I could earn back in a year.”
“Women [who have had a career break] feel dislodged from the rest of the world and they feel everybody sees it,” says Mika Brzezinski co-host of TV’s Morning Joe, founder of KnowYourValue.com, and co-author with her sister-in-law Ginny, of the new handbook “Comeback Careers” Rethink, Refresh, Reinvent Your Success at 40,50, and Beyond” (https://amzn.to/2NqJBUM). “I want to tell them, it’s all right not to know what’s next. They have value. They may have to take a big step back, use a side hustle or go sideways in the door.” Listen in as Mika and Ginny divulge some of their research on how to network more strategically, how to pitch your volunteer work to a corporate recruiter, and how to short circuit your negative mindset.
“Overwhelm is not having too much to do, it’s not knowing where to start,” says Tonya Dalton, serial entrepreneur and author of “The Joy of Missing Out: Live More by Doing Less” (https://amzn.to/2sa7598) a “mini course” in a new organization paradigm. Dalton believes most productivity manuals fail women because they are written by men who can’t account for or understand the multi-faceted, multi-pressured lives real women lead. “Women have a lot more guilt, lean in more to productivity and process things differently in our brains,” she says. Join this insightful conversation with CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, where Dalton explains that you must put your purpose, passion and priorities at the center of your life so you can “create structure for the weeks and days”. She explains how to create a “priority list” with “Escalate" at the top, “Cultivate" in the middle, and “Accommodate" at the bottom. "Most of us get stuck at the bottom in the accommodate area," she warns. “Screaming fires get done but are not so important.”
“It’s not that marketers are stupid,” says Vaughan Emsley, founder of Flipside, a startup ad agency dedicated to flipping marketer’s perceptions of men and women 50+ away from images of people “sitting home watching daytime TV” to what he calls “The Second Coming of Age”—in which people 50-70 act and feel like they’re 17 again. “It’s just muscle memory. [We’re taught] that the rising generation is more interesting than the previous generation—and that was always true. “ Emsley, a 25-year veteran of Saatchi & Saatchi, believes we’ve reached a “tipping point” where businesses are stalling by focusing only on millennials. “Boomers are sitting on 60 trillion of assets, 10 times the amount held by millennials…and only 5-7% of marketing dollars are directed at them.“
When your adult children have finally moved on to their own lives, some women find the only way to jumpstart their own bliss is by relocating. “I'd always imagined we’d live forever in our big, beautiful suburban home where I'd given birth to my daughter two days after moving in 24 years earlier,” says CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour in conversation with Covey Editor at Large, Deborah Marquardt. “But once she and my older son had vacated the nest, the house felt like a mausoleum to sadness; every inch reminded me of their childhood and reinforced how they were now finally gone. Plus the town is so kid-focused that I could walk down the street naked and if I didn’t have a child with me no one would notice.” Seymour and her husband downsized in New Orleans, a city they’d visited on vacation for 30 years. “We wanted warm weather, a university town—where we can teach or learn, interesting culture, diversity of age and economic backgrounds, beautiful housing, a lower cost of living, and people open to newbies. We got them all—and more. Plus we have a 31-year old marriage. Sometimes you just have to jump off the high dive in order to start learning and rediscovering yourself—and your spouse-- again.”
What do you do after you work in your family printing business for twenty years and you make it successful enough to sell? You realize you are “loosing [your]self” and you need to reinvent. Because you "love solving customer problems”, you start a digital ad agency named Rauxa. (Never mind that you have zero experience in advertising). And you fill it with 70% women (in a sector that is known for male dominance and is rife with #MeToo issues and complaints). “Being a woman is an advantage for building relationships and trust,” CEO Jill Gwaltney tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. “That’s an important part of the business.” Gwaltney says she lives by the mantra her mentor father gave her: “Don’t work with a**holes."
When (now) Broadway Producer Candy Gold (The Heidi Chronicles, Hadestown, Jagged Little Pill & more) was a novice reporter in Boston flying around the country to cover everything from politics to entertainment discovered she was pregnant, she knew she'd have to cut back her crazy job. She chose the perfect “mom job”: freelance. Which worked fine until the economic downturn of 2008, when all freelance dried up. A random television ad for a local cable station inspired her to pitch (and win) a slot for a self-produced show called “Neighborhood Cooking with Candy Gold”. Ten years later she leveraged that know-how and her experience producing local children’s theater into becoming a producer on Broadway, eventually winning several Tony awards. The trick to it all, she says: “Persisting."
“High achievers say that all they have to do is work harder or out perform everyone around them in order to succeed,” says Dr. Nayla Bahri, PCC, Leadership and Development coach, Columbia University. “But it may not be productive. [My research shows people] do best if they’re willing to do the inner work [before they] open LinkedIn and apply to 100 jobs. Burnout is why it’s not working. People are addicted to interviewing—[to the point where] they don’t want to get out of bed.” Bahri tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour that you must “start with a practice of reflection—journaling, walking in the words. Find out what you miss, what you’re glad is over, what brought you great joy, flow, productivity. Then divide your search into thirds: 1/3 applying to appropriate work, 1/3 strategic learning, 1/3 doing the work.” You also have to reframe how you speak. “I rarely talk about jobs,” she says. “I talk about work, which we carry with us. If the work you do in the world is yours, then you have a better chance of saying it’s about me finding a place to offer my work; it changes from a place that needs me to a place where I can add value.”
What do you do when you’ve been “Miss Singapore” and an image consultant, owned a successful cafe retail chain, and have a quarter life crisis? If you're Genecia Alluora, it means you decide to spend $100,000 in online courses from around the world to learn how to “function in my zone of genius.” Today Alluora runs the Soul Rich Woman, South East Asia empowerment network (https://www.soulrichwoman.com/). She says it's “for Women who love the ‘F’ word”— “being Fabulous, having Freedom and Financial independence” . Her programs teach, support and train women in the Philippines to have "confidence, tenacity and grit.” “My calling is to serve women” she tells CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour. “I tell them that alone you’re strong, but together we’re unstoppable.”
“For fad diets you’re relying on discipline, motivation and willpower,” says award-winning uber fitness expert, trainer and author (“Healthy As Fck” https://amzn.to/2VvndML) Oonagh Duncan. “But that eats your energy. So you fall of the rails and fall into a fck-it spiral. These binge/purge relationships are corrosive to your sense of self.” Oonagh, a former “passionate smoker” and anti-sweat-er, talks to CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour about how to disrupt your habit loop by identifying your triggers and using your guilty pleasures to create new reward cycles (watching the Jerry Springer show got her onto the treadmill the first time.) It all begins with throwing out the clothes that don’t fit. “You think they inspire you,” she says, “but they make you feel like sh*t. You’ve gotta love yourself to get to where you want to be.”
What do you do when you’re a beautiful, high-flying, financial reporter for the top networks in the country (MSNBC, CBS, CNBC) and suddenly your segments are dropped from the air because all anyone wants to watch is Trump and politics? You fight back by creating a daily newsletter called NonPoliticalNews.com which covers—you guessed it—everything but politics! Gibbons talks with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour about how she downsized her apartment to pay for her launch, how she’s gathered an audience of 25,000 and how she’d be the perfect guest at Thanksgiving to sit next to anyone!
She’s so famous that she goes by a single name: Carolee. And you probably knew her jewelry company of the same name because the designs were available in over 700 retail stores nationwide. She sold that business in 2001 and created AccessCircles.com, an invitation-only network for thought leaders that focuses on wellness, health, and life planning and funds major projects with American research centers in the areas of sleep and heart disease. Carolee Friedlander talks with CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour about never taking no for an answer (without being “brash”), how being “off center” led to her success, and how her network of high-powered women bolstered her business and now her life. Her reinvention tips include: 1. Become a great list maker—of things you love to talk about, be involved with, and do. Keep refining that list until it leads to something to explore. 2. Ask for help: people want to offer help and wisdom. 3. Test things you’ve never thought of: move to a new city, take a course in film making, work in a nursery. She also give negotiation tips for getting to “yes” with naysayers.
“Every narrative about the army is negative,” says romance novelist (the Coming Home series (https://amzn.to/2HnBANt)) and former officer in the army, Jessica Scott. “It’s about PTSD. For women it’s about sexual assault. I wanted to tell stories of how fun the army is, to tell ourstories.” Scott details for CoveyClub founder, Lesley Jane Seymour, how she began writing romance novels because she was bored in officer-training school, wanted to change how women in the army were portrayed, and to find a way to work out the serious emotional issues (like life and death) presented by her previous profession. She talks about learning to edit and revise from Stephen King’s “On Writing” (https://amzn.to/2LiABPZ) and doing a “beta read” while deployed to Iraq. “[Novelist] Robyn Carr gave the best advice,” Scott says. “Write the story only you can tell.”
“Control is a coping mechanism,” says author (Wait, It Gets Worse https://amzn.to/34rUTPM), cancer survivor, and total life reinventor, Lydia Slaby. “It works until it fails.” And it failed when Slaby was 33, a freshly minted JD/MBA with a new job in Chicago and was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma that featured a tumor the size of a grapefruit on her sternum and heart. Two years of emergency care—including open-heart surgery—left her clear that her high-powered, uber-stressful life had to change. “The old path fell away; it was a gift,” she tells CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour. Now at age 40, the “process of dismantling and dismembering” has allowed Slaby to find her true voice and her ability to share her journey and story in writing. “Disease picks and chooses,” she says. “I think it does show up when there are lessons to be learned."
“A personal brand is how we sell ourselves. If you’re not clear about [what it is], you can’t move forward,” says personal branding expert Joanne Tombrakos. “There is a degree of bragging that comes with it. Women hate it. They look at it as boastful and they feel like an imposter.” Tombrakos, who teaches branding at NYU and runs her own branding agency, talks to CoveyClub founder Lesley Jane Seymour about how she has reinvented herself several times and has created a free downloadable workbook, “Getting Your Personal Brand Story Straight,” that will help Coveyclubbers get your branding going. Find it at www.JoanneTombrakos.com .