The women of my family, young and old are sharing their thoughts on leadership, love, relationships, growing up and motherhood. We are joined by Lucia and Sophia Flynn, Kerri and Vanessa Sulminski and Erin, Danya and Eiryanna Gachuma to celebrate the past year and ring in the New Year with a fun, touching and humorous episode. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Describe your daughter to me.
You are raising a son and a daughter. Are there any considerations you have for your daughter that you don’t have for your son?
What are the challenges you’ve faced as the mother of a daughter?
What are your thoughts on raising your daughter to be a leader?
What do you wish for your daughter?
What wisdom would you pass on to other moms who are pregnant with a girl?
How would you describe yourself?
Describe your mom to me.
What do you like about being a girl?
What does it mean to you to be a leader?
What are you looking forward to when you grow up?
If you could change anything about the world what would you change?
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Gayle Brown is the co-owner of Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury, Vermont. She has 15 years of experience running the family business with her husband Paul. The mill is a popular tourist destination that welcomes more than 350,000 visitors a year. She has a bachelor's degree in Geology from the University of Vermont, where she was also the captain of the 1979 ski team.
When Gayle’s children were young, their bookkeeper got angry after she had simply asked for a statement. Gayle realized that the bookkeeper was manipulating her and her husband against each other. She did not want this to hurt her marriage and ended up pushing back her instinct that something felt ‘off’. Gayle remembers realizing how much manipulation took place across the years, because she was scared of losing the bookkeeper as an employee, which would have led to controversy in the business.
Gayle had taken a class with successful local business leaders and she might not have had any fancy letters after her name, but realized what she had to say was just as important. Gayle and her husband did not have to run their business any other way than they intended to.
Gayle likes to lead by example. She and her husband are both very hands on at the cider mill, so they can set the example. Gayle also makes sure to always give someone 5-10 minutes of face-to-face time or phone calls, if there is no way to meet in person.
Gayle is excited about their hard cider project and she describes her taste profile process. She would also like to create a new taste profile with bittersweet fruit from Great Britain. They are currently working with growers to figure out what is the best fruit to grow there for cider, to help with the shortage.
Gayle takes 3-5 minutes a day to allow her brain to quiet the noise. She has so many things up in the air at once that it helps to have the quite for a few minutes.
Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson
Gayle would tell herself that if you want something in your heart enough, and your heart and brain are connected – it’s okay if you don’t have a fancy degree – don’t let it affect what you want to go after.
“Our thoughts are magnets.”
Laura Roeder is the founder of Edgar, a new social media automation tool designed to prevent updates from going to waste. Laura began her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 22, when she quit a design job and decided to launch her first business. Since then, she founded B-School with Marie Forleo, has run successful courses of her own such as Creating Fame and Social Media Marketer; and she was named a Top 100 Entrepreneur under 30, in America. Edgar was created out of a need Laura had in her own business to more effectively manage social media – and so in 2014, Laura pivoted her business to dive into the SaaS world. Since launching in mid-2014, Edgar has hit over $150,000 in monthly recurring revenue, all the while bootstrapping the entire way. More than 3,000 customers are now using Edgar to help manage their social media.
Laura always felt self-conscious, because she looked too young. She would go to various chamber of commerce events where she did not typically meet anyone close to her own age. Laura always felt like she stuck out. She attended a speed-coaching program at a conference where the coach laid into her and picked her apart – she needed to change her clothes and her voice. Eventually, Laura realized she had lived through her biggest fear and was not changed by it; she had survived.
When Laura first moved to LA, she was doing social media consulting and helped her friend – an actor on Heroes – create a presence on social media. She walked home after a brainstorming meeting, realizing she didn’t fit into the mold she had created for that route.
Laura leads by giving ownership and letting her team truly own their projects. Most people start out by delegating but you’re still doing a lot. The way Laura leads, she has someone in charge of Customer Service and that person gets to make all the calls for their domain.
Laura is excited about Edgar, which launched a year ago. Edgar has grown super fast and they are now hiring a bunch of people. Meetedgar.com is a new approach to social media that handles your content differently than anything else out there.
Using a quarterly survey to ask, what should we stop doing, what should we keep doing, and what should we start doing allows employees to share their opinions on an ongoing systems.
Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity, by Hugh MacLeod
Focusing more time on the things she enjoys; bringing more value to her business.
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." ~ Annie Dillard
Dr. Carri Drzyzga (Driz’ ga) is world-renowned as ‘The Functional Medicine Doc’– the go-to expert on finding the root causes of health problems so you can feel normal again. She is a chiropractor and naturopathic doctor, and host of the popular podcast, The Functional Medicine Radio Show with Dr. Carri.
Once Dr. Carri had rebuilt her private practice, she knew she had to write a book to get her name out there. That is when the stress set in and fear over the thought of the possibilities became paralyzing. She got on a Mastermind call and laid out all of her feelings. Dr. Carri’s group assured her it was completely normal, and told her to write one paragraph at a time. Afterward, nothing could hold her back!
It was December, and Dr. Carri realized she was holding herself back and letting her excuses drag her down. She had a 3am realization that she was all-talk and no action, and felt she had to make changes right away.
Dr. Carri’s leadership style is still a work in progress. She tries to lead in a way that she would appreciate as a patient. Dr. Carri listens and reads between the lines and leads her team members the same way.
Dr. Carri has a new course that just came out, called Entrepreneurial Fatigue: How to Fill Your Brain and Body for Entrepreneurial Success, an at-home program designed to help the brain and body while building your business.
Dr. Carri makes sure to look her team in the eye and to thank them personally. Simply providing those two words, “Thank you”, it means so much to them.
Think and Grow Rich for Women, by Sharon Lechter
Dr. Carri would tell her younger self to find a mentor and ask for help. “It’s ok to ask for help; people want to help you.”
“Discovery is seeing what everybody else has seen, and thinking what nobody else has thought.” - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Emi Kirschner has helped successful, joy driven executives and entrepreneurs take the leap into the healthy lifestyle they desire. As a board certified Holistic Health Coach (CHHC), she unlocks the “Why” that keeps them stuck in stress filled lives and unhealthy eating habits. Emi’s compassionate, innovative, and fun approach to coaching will harness your inner energy and transform your life.
Right out of college, Emi took a job without any thought or negotiation. Soon after, she turned down a second job offer because she thought simply having a job was the goal. Looking back, she realizes she should have negotiated with her first employer, and at least considered the path that the other job could have brought.
Emi had her wake up call when she decided to get a divorce, and came to terms with doing things that benefit her. During marriage counseling, they reached a point where change was not happening and a decision had to be made. It was the right call for her and her children to make that healthy change, and it was something that allowed her to parent the way she wanted to.
Emi views herself as a mentor and a teacher. No matter who it is, she will take the time to talk to them and offer suggestions to help get to the next step. Emi believes we need more uplifting and support to help each other in this world.
Emi has a 4 Module e-course called French Fries to Foodies, launching in January. She got tired of negotiating and bargaining with her picky eaters, until she decided she was done. She created this program around that and strategies she has used.
Emi believes in the importance of meditating, centering and grounding. She is always open to new systems, techniques, and ways of doing things. Emi always tries to gain by learning from others.
The Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle LaPorte
“Just do it.” Emi thinks about everything a lot, so she would tell her younger self just to do it. If you have good intention, it will all work out.
“It's All Good!”
“The Point of Life is Happiness” - Dali Lama
https://twitter.com/empressemi
https://www.facebook.com/Emi-Kirschner-CHHC-216673468399843/timeline/
Makeda Ricketts founded PinkThink, an education technology company, in 2013. PinkThink is an interest-oriented and peer-supported web and mobile platform that makes (S)cience, (T)echnology, (E)ngineering, and (M)ath education powerful, relevant, and engaging for girls. PinkThink has won numerous awards, and Makeda was recently named Maker of the Year by the International Alley Awards. On a personal note, Makeda has a passion for education and has taught in Ethiopia and Harlem, New York. Makeda graduated from Wellesley College, with a degree in Political Science and Economics. She is currently an MBA candidate at Chicago Booth, with a concentration in Entrepreneurship.
Makeda grew up around people with big voices, so she struggled to find her own voice and her own space while growing up. When Makeda got her first job, she was so excited to be picked for the position that she settled for the salary they offered her, even though her father had taught her not to do that.
Makeda attended Wellesley College - an all women college - and she found it very empowering. A genuine sisterhood at the College allowed students to speak up and have a voice. It was an environment where women valued women and pushed each other in a healthy way. There was no room for backstabbing or catty attitude, so the community spirit was engrained in them. This environment has shaped how Makeda has lived her life.
Makeda has had to get more forceful in her leadership. Her approach to life has always been to ‘live and let live’. Makeda found herself giving people space to grow, learn, and do; then bringing them in at the end to see what they need. Well, that had to change so she has begun leading with conviction and remaining the ‘calm in the storm’.
Makeda is excited about PinkThink’s new product, cStyle Bracelets that are codeable and wearable, for girls. The bracelet teaches girls how to code in a stylish way, which they can control.
Makeda believes in leading by example. Be the best person on your team and others will want to follow in your steps. You really need to have your leadership face and be the calm, steady leader.
The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
Makeda would tell her younger self she would be fine. Just keep going because you can.
“Listen to the mustn’ts. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the never-haves. Listen to the wont’s. Listen to me child. Anything can happen; anything can be.”
Indiegogo: http://igg.me/at/cStyle
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinkthinkgirls
twitter: @pinkthinkgirls
Instagram: @pinkthinkgirls
Hey everyone and welcome to this 6th bonus episode!! How have you been?
I’m going to start off with some exciting news for Women Taking the lead, I’m going to thank my reviewers, highlight a member of our community and then I’m going to dive into the topic for this week – It Starts with You.
Okay, so some background – I belong to a community of podcasters called Podcast Paradise. There are currently has about 2300 members. I found out this week that Women Taking the Lead was nominated for a Podcaster Paradise award for “Best Interview-Based Podcast. I was blown away and incredibly honored and I wanted to be sure to thank you for listening and making this podcast so popular. You inspire and motivate me to improve as an interviewer to provide the best content for you.
So Yay us!
At this time I feel it the right time to start bringing on sponsors for the podcast. I want to be more creative with the podcast and try out some new things but that’s going to take more support and more support is going to take funding. If you’d like to be a sponsor of Women Taking the Lead shoot me an email. I’m at Jodi@womentakingthelead.com. More to come on that!
First let me say I am so appreciative to those of you who have left me a rating and review on iTunes. Each rating and review, each new person who subscribes to the podcast and downloads previous episodes, they make the podcast more visible in iTunes and thus easier for those like you to find it so THANK YOU.
I wanted to share some of the ratings and reviews I’ve received recently:
Eddie Donato – “A fantastic podcast for inspiring you to break free and have a go at doing something that makes you want to jump out of bed each morning. This is why I love podcasts - I can feed my brain positive shows like this that will make a difference in my life!”
Alex B-P – “Jodi does an incredible job at creating a show with tangible takeaways and compelling insights. She asks great questions and charts a unique path with her shows. If you feel that it’s time to step up and take the leading role in your life. Needed conversation. Excited to see this continue.”
If you haven’t already, I would be honored if you would go to iTunes to leave a rating and review, and next time I’ll give a shout out to you.
And if you have already left a review, thank you, thank you, thank you!!
For the longest time, I've turned to complaining --- because I didn't know any other way to release that energy pent up by being frustrated about an outcome (or behaviour of certain people). Now that I've realised that there is always a way to channel that energy in a positive way.
The main frustration that helped me put in a lot of energy in [this] project was that there are a lot of people that think that behaving like a jerk (or worse bullying others) is acceptable behaviour. But because I had come across one of Simon Sinek's talks --- I realised that one way I could help was finding ways to encourage others (that these people are likely feeling disconnected). And isn't life more fun when you do it with others? So, I created this project to bring in people who are similarly frustrated about the same things as me --- and want to do something about it.
The best place to find all about the 10,000 Notes of Encouragement project is through the official page gofundme.com/10knotes) and there will be a link to learn more about me.
~ Leigh (Lay) Lim
Do you have a project that inspires and is making the world a better place? Email me Jodi@womentakingthelead.com and let me know what you have going on. I’d love to share some of these projects in my newsletter, on social media and perhaps in a future bonus episode.
When I was interviewing Alexandra Black-Paulick of the Positive Impact podcast in episode 77 she hit on a theme that I love and it was summed up in the quote she shared from Mahatma Gandhi, “be the change you’d like to see in the world.”
What this quote is saying is it all starts with you. This is something I often talk about with my clients.
If you want to have more peace in your life you need to take on being peaceful. If you want people in your life to be more considerate you need to practice being outrageously considerate.
I was laughing with a couple of women in my BNI chapter when we gathered recently for a holiday partly. We all shared personal examples of how we on occasion do the opposite of this.
For instance, it drives me crazy when other people are being judgmental. But it only drives me crazy because I’m judging them for being judgmental. Have you ever found yourself doing this?
It can look like getting angry at people who are easy to anger, being intolerant of intolerance, gossiping about people who gossip, or complaining about people who complain. The list goes on…
Let’s all laugh at ourselves and our humanity. Let’s take a breath. And now let’s commit to practice being what we’d like to see in the world. It starts with us.
What would you like to see in the world? It all starts with you.
That’s it from me for now.
If there are any topics in particular you would like me to cover you can shoot me an email, Jodi@womentakingthelead.com or send a message through the website or any social media platform. I am a click away.
Have a great week and here’s To Your Success!
Dr. Christine Maguire earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Providence College, and her Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, MO. She is also a Certified Chiropractic Wellness Practitioner (C.C.W.P.). Dr. Maguire is the author of HOPE 30 Tips to Overcome Cancer Naturally, and a contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Chiropractic Soul, where she highlights a patient’s story. A long-time speaker at the Cancer Community Center and with twenty years of practice, she is in her dream job at Scarborough Family Chiropractic where she enjoys adjusting people of all ages, especially children; allowing them to experience the many health benefits of chiropractic care.
After waking up with debilitating back pain as a teen, doctors told Christine that she would probably never play sports again. Losing her friends and team aspect was difficult for her. She actually believed she would never play again and felt sorry for herself.
At each job, Christine found herself tolerating different things - for longer than she should have - before moving on to other jobs. Once she realized this was happening again at her last job, she started visualizing what she really wanted to do. Christine got the perfect opportunity, which she has found to be her dream job as she is helping more people than ever.
Christine leads by making closer relationships with people. She likes to give people hope and encouragement and takes the time to get to know them, whether it is an employee or a client.
Currently, Christine is excited about her book HOPE 30 Tips to Overcome Cancer Naturally, which has an easy read resource to help people heal.
Daily affirmations set the tone for Christine’s day, and for the future.
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Christine believes that setting goals is powerful for achieving success in your personal or professional life.
“Everything happens for a reason.”
drmaguire@scarboroughfamilychiro.com
http://www.amazon.com/HOPE-Tips-Overcome-Cancer-Naturally-ebook/dp/B00COVGZV6/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-christine-maguire-1657987
Alexandra Black-Paulick is a business junkie at heart. Formerly working for nonprofits, she transitioned to marketing. Still feeling the pull of the nonprofit mentality, she stumbled into the world of social entrepreneurs. Inspired by individuals creating meaningful change in the world, she started the Positive Impact Podcast. This was the perfect blend of her nonprofit background, love for business and marketing outlets.
This new show elevates the work of movers, shakers and change makers creating a positive impact on the world, inspiring individuals like you and me to make our positive mark.
Alexandra and her husband relocated and were unfamiliar with their surroundings and didn’t know anyone in their area. She got a job at a nonprofit, the pay was terrible and leaving it was the hardest thing she has ever done because of her loyalty.
Alexandra's husband was listening to Zig Ziglar books in the car, and he sat her down and asked how she was going to impact lives. She struggled while mulling over that question.
Alexandra strives to model her leadership after her mentor. Her mentor gave her undivided attention during meetings and it was just an extra step to say, “I am focusing on you.”
Alexandra is holding a Virtual Conference in January 18-22 on Blab with Corps alumni who have moved on and become impactful change makers.
Alexandria uses Love Languages in her leadership. Basically, it’s a test to define how people around you perceive love. It empowers her to know how people like to receive feedback so she can implement the proper delivery.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dan Carnegie
Looking back, Alexandra’s favorite memories were the moments she was present and enjoying her life. She would focus more on those moments and be open to possibilities
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” ~ Gandhi
http://positiveimpactpodcast.com/
https://twitter.com/impact_podcast
https://instagram.com/positiveimpactpodcast/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/positiveimpactcommunity/
http://journeytosocialentrepreneurship.com
Lee Caraher started Double Forte in 2002 as a new kind of communications firm designed to provide the best service in the business. Previously EVP at Weber Shandwick, president and founder of Red Whistle, and VP of SEGA, Caraher has managed multiple offices and hundreds of people of all ages, and was named in the 40 under 40 by industry publication PRWEEK. She serves on the boards of KQED Public Media and Grace Cathedral, and is a member of Entrepreneurs Only. Caraher holds a BA in medieval history from Carleton College, which she finds useful every day. She lives with her husband and two sons on the San Francisco Peninsula.
When Lee worked and lived in LA, she didn’t know anyone. She worked in a place that was demeaning. Though she won many awards through them, the people she worked for diminished a lot of her work. Lee saw a lot of opportunities but everything was being second guessed.
Her most recent wake up call was when Lee as sick a few years ago and kept working through it to the point she needed surgery. During her time off, she trusted her team to handle everything. After 3 weeks, she was feeling better but when she saw herself in the mirror, it became evident that she was a mess! She realized then that she had to rearrange her life.
Lee would describe her leadership style as enthusiastically encouraging. She doesn’t feel the need to check everyone’s work; she trusts the people she hires. Her purpose is to help good people do great things.
Lee is excited about her book, Millennials in Management.
Taking care of herself makes her a better leader. Lee makes sure to move around, stay hydrated and get enough sleep.
Leadership and the Art of Conversation by Kim H. Krisco
Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman
The Advantage by Patrick M. Lencioni
Don’t pay attention to what people say about you.
“And will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed.” –Dr. Seuss