Podcast Blog

Hear an incredible story of courage, kindness and resistance

Mimica Tsezana-Hyman is our guest on this podcast today. It is difficult to tell you about all that we discussed in a short paragraph. I encourage you to read the transcript and listen to the entire podcast, or watch it, which is even better. Mimica has a great story to tell which will move you deeply. The question is, how does an entire Jewish community escape the atrocities of Hitler’s 1943 occupation of Zakynthos, a small island in Greece? Because of courage, and kindness, they all survived, which is why Mimica is alive today. She will tell you about her own personal discoveries and what she is doing to keep our understanding of that horrific period alive so we don't find ourselves doing that again. It's an amazing story. I urge you to listen and be changed.

Hear how you can remove unfair obstacles to access to capital

In this terrific podcast (one of my favorites) originally broadcast in 2019, Jill Johnson and I discuss the challenges faced by women of color in starting a business, from finding the capital to underwrite growth to developing the business acumen to successfully take ideas and turn them into brilliant innovations. Getting a fledgling company off the ground is never easy, but the obstacles put in front of entrepreneurs of color, especially women, is not merely unjust but bad business. There are so many important perspectives to absorb from our conversation that I just had to share it with you again, because sadly, so many of these problems still persist today.

Hear how to build workplaces where everyone is valued 

This podcast interview is exceptional. Just listen to Maria Colacurcio tell you about her journey and think about your own. Her career has spanned many different industries, propelling her to leadership positions in innovative companies. Our conversation took us through those profound experiences and unexpected moments that can transform our lives in new ways. Others often accelerated her career, seeing her talent and advocating for her. She speaks about learning on the job and being excited when new career opportunities opened up for her. She also provides wisdom to other women and men trying to build more diverse, equitable and inclusive organizations, and how women are changing our society, a step and then a leap at a time. Enjoy.

Hear how to refuse to be held back, especially as a woman 

I listened to Kerry Flynn Barrett give a marvelous talk recently about burnout for the Westchester Business Council and couldn’t wait to share her ideas and insights with our fans. Careers like hers are common among many women I know who have started in a corporate job, moved up the ladder to higher positions in leadership, and then took off to form their own business. Kerry has done just that, and now she is building an exceptional business serving as a fractional CHRO officer and also a business partner and solutions provider. Do you wish to do this too? Listen in!

Hear how to make the most of your choices, at work and in life

Meet Christina Sistrunk, former President and CEO at Aera Energy. You are going to love listening to her wisdom for thriving in the male-dominated energy industry. As Christina will share with you, she found that the hardest problems to solve usually were the ones around how well people work together, or don't, that made the problems more complicated. She explains how figuring out how to bring people together and enable them to be as successful as they had the potential to be was the most challenging part of being a leader, especially a woman leader. A lot to learn!

Hear how to identify your values and live them every day

Today you will meet Shayna Bergman, a terrific executive leadership coach with big ideas to help you find your way during these challenging times of change. Her goal is to empower you to unlock your personal potential. Shayna specializes in helping people achieve deeper meaning and fulfillment in their personal and professional lives through authentic leadership and clarity of purpose. She believes, as do I, that you have to have a purpose-driven life. There has to be something that really motivates and drives you, a North Star. Need help finding yours? Listen in!

Hear how to boldly take control of your own career path

Dr. Vicki Baker's sixth book in five years solidifies her standing as a nationally recognized expert in the unique issues faced by mid-career faculty in higher education. As she coaches numerous professionals, she has discovered a recurring theme: academicians get their degrees and often their tenure, but then get stuck or stalled in their career advancement. Is it that they need better mentors? Or do institutions need to identify and sponsor their high-performing stars earlier, and coach them along their pathways to career advancement? And this is happening not just in the world of academia. Industry is struggling with the same dilemma. Are you stuck or stalled in an academic position or a corporate career trajectory? Make a point to listen in for Vicki's solutions.

Hear how to really live diversity, equity and inclusion 

This was a very special podcast with Dr. Rohini Anand, a global strategic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) leader. A published author, Dr. Anand’s new book, Leading Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Guide for Systemic Change in Multinational Organizations, sets the stage for her own journey as a pioneer in DEI and a woman helping global companies transform their organizations, one person at a time. You are going to enjoy learning from Dr. Anand. Open your notebooks, iPads or computers and get ready to capture the innovations, the insights and the impact she is making, and which you can as well. I just love women who are changing the world!

Learn how to face adversity, change your thoughts, and smile

Do you ever wish you could handle your emotions better? In difficult conversations at work or in life, do certain words or attitudes trigger negative reactions, maybe from years ago? We've all been there, which is why I'm so happy to bring to you today Paula Guilfoyle, an expert in change management, a transformational leader, and a wonderful lady. She will teach us all to PBS: pause, breathe, and smile. Another tip from Paula: when that voice in your head is trying to make you feel bad, just NBC: notice, bounce, and change. Sound simple? It is, and it isn't. Listen to our conversation and I guarantee that afterward, you will be more peaceful, more focused and more productive, at home and at work. Change is hard but you can do it! I know you can.

Hear how to rediscover your curiosity to "see" new ideas!

Today I have a fabulous speaker for us, Dr. Debra Clary, who is here to talk with us about curiosity. What a great topic, and also a great lady to have you listen to. Debra shares how we should stop assuming we know the answers to our questions or the solutions to our problems. Rather, it is time to begin to think and listen differently, to open our minds to possibilities. You might be asking: But how do I become and remain curious? (There is actually research on a person's CQ—curiosity quotient). Have you thought about it? Do you love new things? Or does your brain fight the unfamiliar and flee away from it? Many great things to think about. Listen in!

Hear how to harness your inner CEO and prioritize your happiness 

Are you the CEO of your life? What does that mean? In this podcast, I bring to you Becca Powers Vaughn. Her story, like those of so many women, is in part about discovering your own self-worth, in part realizing that you should not let others define who you are, and in part turning your purpose into something to benefit others. But this podcast is not just for women. Men, listen carefully. Becca’s message is as relevant for you as it is for women. Why? So you can help women thrive in your personal and your professional life. A wise woman with a lot to teach us.

Hear how gratitude can change your life and your business 

Michele Bailey and I had such a terrific interview discussing her own life’s journey and how to be a successful woman entrepreneur. She is the founder of The Blazing Group, a brand and culture agency born of her strategy-first approach to business, her flair for sharing stories, and her desire to enhance employee wellness while pursuing business goals. Now she has a new program to improve employee mentoring and wellness called My Big Idea® which accelerates business growth while addressing the challenges of balancing work and personal life. Listen in!

Hear how to really think about the conversations you're having

What if you could see the world through a fresh lens? In today’s podcast, I interview Rose Fass, an author, a business executive, and an inspiration to me and to you. Rose has written one book and is on her way with her next one. Her first book, The Chocolate Conversation, focuses on how our conversations become who we are, what we hear, and how we build relationships. Great conversations help us craft clear messages, build a shared worldview, uncover concerns and uncertainties, and help you and others move forward together. As you listen to Rose and her own personal journey, you are going to rethink your own conversations, paying attention to both what you say and what others reflect on your thoughts. Listen in because there is so much to learn!

Learn how to become the person you really want to be

I met Linda Vettrus-Nichols through her lovely husband Terry Earthwind Nichols, with whom I've done two podcasts. Here is our most recent one. Linda brings you a different perspective on how you can take control of your life and become the person you have always wanted to be. She talks about her own journey and how she got to where she is now, as a coach, as a person really into thought leadership, and as someone who inspires people to do what they might otherwise not have done (like write a book in 30 days). Linda's a really special person to hear from. Listen in!

Hear how to build a culture that values men and women 

There are times when you are fortunate to meet exceptional women. Kim Graham Lee is one wonderful woman who is moving in a very important direction — how to build allyship for men and women. Kim is the CEO of Integrating Women Leaders (IWL) which is joining with Women Business Collaborative, of which I am a member, to conduct the first nationally-focused study to measure the practice of allyship with women in corporate America today. The primary focus of IWL's 2022 benchmark study is to take stock of where we are in building better cultures where men and women can support each other. This is truly groundbreaking...please plan to listen.

Hear how you can build wealth AND a happy life 

Laura Rotter and I met through the Business Council of Westchester, a wonderful organization that brings together great people, men and women. Laura is the founder of True Abundance Advisors, a financial life planning and wealth management firm. As she tells you her life journey, her story will resonate with you. She is a great woman to interview and share her journey with our listeners. I know you will gain knowledge about yourself, your business, and what makes you truly happy. Are you living to work or working to live?

Hear how to navigate change so you can grow and thrive

Laurie Hirsch Schulz did something quite awesome: she left corporate life to pursue her calling as a coach and a champion for small businesses, particularly for women solopreneurs. She had a great job, only to discover that she had had enough. Sounds like a recurring theme among many of our podcast guests. They are talented women ready to steer their power and their energy in new directions. Laurie's creative genius is in seeing unmet needs in her markets and finding innovative ways to solve them—rather Blue Ocean style. So much to learn from her! Enjoy.

Learn how to grow your business through your employees

What is a great performance coach? Meet Kathy D’Agostino. Kathy and I met through the Business Council of Westchester where I was giving a talk about my book, Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business. Like so many women, Kathy had a great corporate job until it wasn’t such a great corporate job. Her passion was in coaching people. As she earned her professional certifications, Kathy realized that she had, indeed, found her calling. Her particular focus is helping leaders improve their employees' performance. Listen in, learn and share. Enjoy!

Hear how to rethink your life's journey and find your purpose

Meg Nocero has several books that reflect her own journey from grief to a meaningful life. Her latest book, Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief, takes you through her story which could easily be your own. How many of you are doing a job you thought was your purpose in life, only to realize that you are bored, frustrated, unfulfilled, and searching for something more meaningful? What do you do, deal with it or reach for another pathway? In our conversation today, Meg shares her own discovery about how she could do something that mattered more to her. She needed a crisis in her life, the loss of her mother, to be that catalytic moment propelling her forward. Maybe you are going through something similar? Have a listen.

Learn how you can reach or exceed your income goals!

Jessica Yarborough brings to you, our listeners, her highly successful approach to helping consultants and businesses significantly accelerate their growth. Her process is an interesting one. In today's podcast, we talk about the challenges people face who have created courses or are selling low-end programs who are not reaching their income goals. Listen in and let’s think about how to help you build your sales, create long-term clients, and hit your income goals.