Her Story of Success

Taking the Next Best Step with Shannon Litton Jun 10, 2021

Shannon Litton thought she’d spend her whole career working as an English teacher, but when she fell in love with marketing and kept moving forward with the opportunities presented to her, she eventually decided to start her own agency. Today, Shannon is president and CEO of 5by5, a marketing and digital agency which serves change makers and delivers messages with undeniable clarity, reach and results. 5by5 was named to the Inc 5000 list for 2018, 2019 and 2020, and it was named a Nashville Business Journal Best Place to Work in 2017 and 2018.

Shannon has worked on technology, social media, branding and communications for hundreds of organizations including the Christian Leadership Alliance, Amazima, LifeWay, the United Methodist Church and more. She’s also a speaker on leadership, marketing, branding and business strategy.

In This Episode: Shannon describes the unexpected career journey that led her to create 5by5. She also shares practical examples of what it looks like to put people first, give back as a business leader, and manage your schedule as a busy working mom.

Episode Highlights:

Taking the next best step (2:47)
Managing your schedule as a working mom (11:28)
Drawing inspiration from other women (22:22)
The importance of off-boarding employees (27:04)
Giving back as a business owner (32:26)

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

Believing in Yourself with Bailey Spaulding Jun 03, 2021

Bailey Spaulding first fell in love with homebrewing while attending Vanderbilt Law School, and she decided to start working toward opening her own brewery after graduation. Along with co-founder Robyn Virball, who Bailey met while studying abroad in Scotland, she started Jackalope Brewing Company in 2011. Since then, the company has grown tremendously, opening a second taproom and brewery in Nashville, becoming the first Nashville craft brewery to can its own beer, and distributing to New York, Vermont and Arkansas. Jackalope is also committed to sustainability, with innovative practices like the CO2 recapture system they use to make their beer while minimizing waste.

In This Episode: Bailey shares her story of deciding to pursue her passion and building a successful, woman-owned brewing company. She also opens up about the behind-the-scenes realities of running a business, from finding the right partner to becoming a working mom to pivoting during COVID-19.

Episode Highlights:

Finding the right business partner (4:36)
Embracing new opportunities during COVID-19 (8:54)
Starting a family while running a business (22:08)
How to deal with guilt as a working mom (25:35)
The importance of strong peer mentors when starting a business (27:36)

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

Finding Purpose By Giving Back with Laura Hutfless May 27, 2021

When Laura Hutfless was struggling to find her purpose as an employee, she decided to create new purpose for herself by starting a company dedicated to giving back. Laura co-founded FlyteVu, a Nashville-based, full-service entertainment marketing agency that uses the power of pop culture to connect brands with customers. Since starting the company in 2015, Laura has helped grow FlyteVu’s client roster to include companies like American Red Cross, Barefoot Wine, Cracker Barrel, Drybar and Spotify. They also created the first ever Super Bowl Ad with an all-woman team for Bumble with Serena Williams. FlyteVu was named to the Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America list, and their campaigns have even won a GRAMMY and an Emmy.

In spite of all of these accomplishments, Laura is most proud of the way FlyteVu has been able to help others. The company has donated more than $750,000 to a wide range of nonprofit organizations in the past five years. Laura is especially passionate about mental health, substance abuse disorder, addiction and trauma, and she serves on the board of The Onsite Foundation, where she helped develop a trauma-informed therapeutic program called “Triumph Over Tragedy,” which provides tools, support and community for survivors of mass shootings.

In This Episode: Laura discusses some of the most important lessons she’s learned about leadership in the past five years of building her company, from managing different communication styles to dealing with self-doubt. She also shares about her passion for giving back to the community and investing in others, and she explains how a painful loss has inspired her to develop a new resource for mass shooting survivors.

Episode Highlights:

How to do more of what you love as an entrepreneur (2:27)
Laura’s journey of deciding to hire a leadership coach (10:19)
Finding new ways to innovate (12:58)
The importance of maintaining a sense of purpose (15:30)
Dealing with failure and self-doubt (24:55)
Working with others who have different communication styles (33:53)
Finding the gift after loss (46:11)

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

Empowering Girls through Sport with Dr. Kimberly Clay May 20, 2021

Dr. Kimberly Clay started Play Like a Girl for a project in her PhD program, but when she saw volunteers coming together to carry on and grow its mission, she realized the organization could become something bigger. Play Like a Girl takes the transferable skills learned from playing sports and uses them to propel young women into STEM careers. To date, Dr. Kim and her team of volunteers have impacted more than 25,000 girls and young women around the world.

Even outside of her role as CEO of a non-profit, Dr. Kim is dedicated to serving the Nashville community. She’s a member of boards for the YWCA Nashville, the Junior League of Nashville, Tennessee Girls Collaborative and Ellevate Network’s Nashville Chapter. Dr. Kim has been honored for her work with numerous awards, including the 40 under 40 from Xavier University, the Daily Point of Light Award, Toyota’s Everyday Hero Award, and more.

In This Episode: Dr. Kim tells her inspiring story of starting and growing Play Like a Girl, including some of the biggest success stories she’s seen through her work. She also discusses the importance of partnering with men who want to support other women, and she explains how mentorship can help women of all ages become more confident and successful.

Episode Highlights:

Dr. Kim’s story of starting Play Like a Girl (11:50)
Play Like a Girl Success stories around helping girls build confidence (22:25)
Engaging men in the work of empowering women (29:15)
Using your success to uplift others (33:28)
Lessons on failure, confidence and mentorship (37:50)

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

Learning to Lead with Lisa Powers Struble May 13, 2021

When Lisa Powers Struble first started pursuing a career in fashion, she made up for her lack of industry connections with a willingness to work hard and take on any role. Eventually, she worked her way up to become a vice president at Abercrombie & Fitch and then UnderArmour. While taking a career break to care for her aging parents, Lisa discovered BANDED, a fashion accessory company that gives back by providing meals to children in need for every product sold. Lisa joined the company as executive vice president and then purchased it in 2018, becoming owner and CEO.

An industry expert with more than 25 years of experience, Lisa has been featured in Sourcing Journal, Nashville Fashion Week, Textile Excellence and more. To date, BANDED has donated more than 13 million meals to undernourished children, and they also partner with U.S. based companies that help vulnerable women learn to thrive.

In This Episode: Lisa shares her inspiring story of building a fashion career from scratch and working her way up to vice president roles at two major companies. She also talks about the lessons she’s learned since becoming a business owner.

Episode Highlights:

Lisa’s story of breaking into the fashion industry without many connections (5:00)
Building a tribe as a young working mom (9:04)
How to know when it’s time for a new season (15:30)
Transitioning from corporate executive to small business owner (23:13)
Pivoting during COVID-19 (39:32)
Entrepreneurship lessons Lisa has learned in her time at BANDED (46:29)

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

Simplifying Your Life with Emily Ley May 06, 2021

Overwhelmed by the stress of running a business on Etsy while raising a new baby, Emily Ley sat down to create a planner that would make her life easier. What started as a binder, paper and Sharpie evolved into Simplified, a multi-million dollar brand of planners and home organizational tools for busy women, which also includes product lines in Office Depot, Staples, Walmart and Target. Along with running her company, Emily is the author of four books, including Growing Boldly, her latest release that shares five key practices for building a life you love.

Emily has been featured in Forbes, Family Circle, Better Homes and Gardens, Glamour and Good Housekeeping. She’s been honored with awards including Entrepreneur of the Year, Female Owned Business of the Year and Small Business of the Year from Studer Community Institute, and her products have won Best New Product at the National Stationery Show.

In This Episode:

Emily shares her inspiring story of growing her business from a side hustle into a multi-million dollar brand. She also unpacks the five practices she’s used to build a life she loves and explains how leaning into different areas of your life at different times can help you maintain balance.

Episode Highlights:

Emily’s story of starting her side hustle on Etsy while working full time (1:44)
Growing without burning out (15:00)
BUILD the life you love (18:30)
Finding balance as a busy entrepreneur (24:50)
How to imagine your dream life (32:55)
Practical advice for working moms (36:23)

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

Equipping Women Survivors with Alexis Isham Apr 29, 2021

While taking time off from college to receive treatment for Lyme disease, Alexis Isham was also forming deep friendships with people experiencing homelessness in Nashville and looking for new ways to help them. Alexis and her co-founder turned that passion into Resera (formerly known as Unlocked), an ethical jewelry brand that employs women survivors overcoming homelessness, domestic violence, incarceration and forced relocation. Beyond just offering them jobs as makers, Resera also helps women access housing, therapy, career counseling and other services that will help them build successful futures.

Before starting Resera, Alexis attended Vanderbilt University, where she received a bachelor’s in human and organizational development and a minor in economics. She also spent a gap year after high school working at five different non-profit internships in five different countries, learning more about poverty through the eyes of those experiencing it. Alexis is focused on using her leadership to increase opportunity and elevate the voices of marginalized women, creating pathways for sustainable change.

In This Episode:

Alexis shares the incredible story behind Resera’s creation, from a difficult diagnosis, to a conversation with a friend-turned-cofounder, to the company’s unexpected first investor. She also offers advice to other young entrepreneurs and talks about some of the inspiring transformations she’s seen in the lives of her employees.

Episode Highlights:

Alexis’ inspiration for Resera and the story of how it was started (4:26)
Building a jewelry company from the ground up (11:58)
Partnering with local non-profits (19:09)
The importance of mentorship and other advice for new entrepreneurs (31:17)

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

Peer Mentorship with Anna-Vija McClain Apr 15, 2021

Activating the Four Types of Mentorship

When Her Story of Success CEO Leah Glover Hayes was looking for mentorship to help her grow in her career and eventually start a company, she quickly realized that not all mentorship is created equally. And while experts tend to agree that mentorship makes a major difference in determining someone’s career success and fulfillment, few people are sharing specifics about how to find the right mentor and build a mutually beneficial relationship. Leah believes that there are four types of mentorship: Passive mentorship, peer mentorship, traditional mentorship and mentoring others. No matter where you are in your career journey, you can benefit from implementing one or all of these in your life.

In part three of this four-part series, Leah is joined by Anna-Vija McClain to discuss the importance of peer mentorship.

Her Story of Success…

Anna-Vija McClain didn’t intend to start Piccolo Marketing, but when she needed a source of income after leaving the hospitality industry, she realized that many business owners could benefit from her digital marketing skills. Anna-Vija grew that early work into a successful company that helps small business owners create scalable businesses with great culture. Today, Piccolo Marketing includes Piccolo University, a series of online courses that teach business owners how to market, and Piccolo Marketing Mentor, a service that provides outsourced marketing professionals to business owners.

Outside of Piccolo, Anna-Vija sits on boards for the Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and Nashville Emerging Leaders. She’s also a mentor at SCORE Nashville and a founding mentor for Vanderbilt Women in Business. In 2019, Anna-Vija was a finalist for the Nashville Emerging Leader Chamber of Commerce Award.

In This Episode:

Leah and Anna-Vija discuss the ways that they’ve used peer mentorship to help expand their networks and learn from other business owners. Anna-Vija also explains how you can develop an abundance mindset and view your relationships through the lens of “cooper-tition.”

Episode Highlights:

Anna-Vija’s story of starting Piccolo Marketing
Using referrals to focus on the work you do best
The importance of developing an abundance mindset around peer mentorship
How to get the most out of your mentoring relationships

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

Choose to Challenge: A Live International Women’s Day Panel Apr 01, 2021

In honor of International Women’s Day 2021, Her Story of Success was honored to join Collective615 for ChallengeHER, an event celebrating women who are affecting change in Nashville and beyond. As part of the event, Her Story of Success CEO Leah Glover Hayes hosted a panel discussion with three incredible women who are affecting change in Nashville and beyond — Mignon Francois, Domonique Townsend and Alexis Isham.

They discuss some of the challenges they’ve faced as women business owners, especially during the difficulties of COVID-19. The women also share some amazing lessons about the things that have kept them going in times of hardship, and they talk about some of the ways we can all help each other succeed.

Their Stories of Success

Mignon Francois was living on her last $5 when a neighbor asked to order cupcakes from her home bakery. Mignon took that $5 and continued to multiply, eventually building The Cupcake Collection into a multi-million dollar business. Mignon’s bakery helped revitalize her Nashville neighborhood, and she’s been honored as a Woman of Legend and Merit by Tennessee State University and an Emerging Business Leader of the Year. The Cupcake Collection, which now includes locations in Nashville and New Orleans, also won Black Enterprise Magazine’s Family Business of the Year Award. Listen to Mignon’s full episode here.

Domonique Townsend spent years being undervalued by the companies she worked for, and when she decided to take the leap to start her own business, she knew she was ready to reach a higher potential. Domonique is the founder of We Optimize Work, a company that creates strategies and systems to help working moms and mom CEOs. As an operations coach and workflow expert with more than 10 years of engineering experience, Domonique is able to help moms manage their work and raise a family without compromising their sanity or goals. Along with her years of industrial engineering experience, Domonique has trained or coached more than 3,100 people, and she’s a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

Alexis Cook Isham had to take a break from college after being diagnosed with Lymes Disease, and during her time off, she built friendships with people experiencing homelessness in Nashville. Alexis and her friend Corbin decided to build a business that would help people overcoming homelessness and other challenging circumstances. The result was Unlocked (recently rebranded under the name Resera), an ethical jewelry brand that employs and empowers women survivors overcoming homelessness, domestic violence, incarceration and forced relocation. Alexis is an Ingram Scholar alumna who graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2018, and she’s passionate about using her leadership to increase opportunity and elevate the voices of marginalized women.

Sponsors: The ChallengeHER event was sponsored by HeyHey Creative, White Door Events, nFocus, Kathy Thomas Photography, OneHope, Walker Brothers, Johnson Squared, Copperheart Creative, WesterHouse Weddings, Nashville Audio Visual, Our DJ Rocks, Suzie Marketing and Bibs Balloons

Getting Back to Business with Nancy McSharry Jensen and Sarah Duenwald Mar 18, 2021

When Nancy McSharry Jensen and Sarah Duenwald were preparing to re-enter the workforce after taking career breaks, they each realized that women face significant challenges when trying to find a new job after a break. To help with this, Nancy and Sarah co-founded The Swing Shift, a company dedicated to lifting barriers that impede women from finding meaningful work. The Swing Shift provides workshops, coaching, accountability, educational resources and other tools to help women with the job search. Most recently, the two women also co-authored a new book, Back to Business: Finding Your Confidence, Embracing Your Skills, and Landing Your Dream Job After a Career Pause.

Before becoming co-founder and CEO of The Swing Shift, Nancy spent her career helping businesses expand, working with the International Data Corporation to open new businesses and launching products like SharePoint at Microsoft. She also worked as an account director at Sterling Communications. Nancy has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, at Seattle’s F-Bomb Breakfast Club and at the Female Founders Alliance Champion Awards.

Sarah, who’s now co-founder and head of operations, programming and partner relationships at The Swing Shift, has extensive experience working with growth operations in the technology consulting industry. She managed teams at ADP and for a gaming technology consulting company. Sarah’s work has been honored with awards including multiple Presidents’ Clubs.

In This Episode: Nancy and Sarah explain why it’s so important for companies to help women transition more effectively when re-entering the workforce, especially in the midst of COVID-19. They also offer practical advice to women who are looking to find a new job after a career break or to pivot into a new industry.

Episode Highlights:

How The Swing Shift is equipping women to navigate career transitions (02:07)
The importance of a personal brand (13:37)
Nancy and Sarah’s story of creating The Swing Shift (25:53)
How COVID-19 is affecting working moms (30:22)
Important steps for preparing to reenter the workforce (37:44)

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

Lessons Learned through Traditional Mentorship Mar 04, 2021

Activating the Four Types of Mentorship

When Her Story of Success CEO Leah Glover Hayes was looking for mentorship to help her grow in her career and eventually start a company, she quickly realized that not all mentorship is created equally. And while experts tend to agree that mentorship makes a major difference in determining someone’s career success and fulfillment, few people are sharing specifics about how to find the right mentor and build a mutually beneficial relationship.

Leah believes that there are four types of mentorship: Passive mentorship, peer mentorship, traditional mentorship and mentoring others. No matter where you are in your career journey, you can benefit from implementing one or all of these in your life. In this four-part series, Leah will provide you with all the tools and resources you need to start seeking out mentorship for yourself.

In This Episode: Leah shares some of the life-changing lessons she’s learned from mentors in her life, including Pat Shea, Marcie Allen Van Mol and Sherry Deutschmann. She also offers practical advice to anyone looking to find traditional mentors for their own lives and careers.

Episode Highlights:

Why traditional mentorship matters (02:00)
Inspiring business lessons with Sherry Deutschmann (04:12)
Setting boundaries and optimizing your schedule with Marcie Allen Van Mol (10:23)
Building a mutually beneficial mentoring relationship with Pat Shea (14:27)
How to find a mentor (18:50)

Listen to the Full Interviews Featured in this Episode:

Leading an Employee-Centric Company to Success with Sherry Deustchmann

A Music Industry Visionary Redefines Success with Marcie Allen Van Mol

Building a Tribe to Change the World with Pat Shea

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

The Power of Story with Fawn Weaver Feb 18, 2021

Fawn Weaver is a serial entrepreneur and bestselling author, and when she learned about the story of Uncle Nearest Green — the slave who taught Jack Daniel how to distill whiskey — she decided to create a company that would bring his legacy to life. Since she launched Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey in 2017, it has become the fastest growing independent American whiskey brand in U.S. history. Uncle Nearest Whiskey was named “World’s Best” by Whisky Magazine in 2019 and 2020, and it earned the Double Gold in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Along with Uncle Nearest, Fawn is also the founder and CEO of Grant Sidney, Inc. — a privately held investment company — author of The Happy Wives Club and co-author of The Argument Free Marriage, and a popular Ted speaker. She’s also a dedicated philanthropist who created the Nearest Green Foundation, a non-profit that offers scholarships to every descendant of Nearest Green and supplied more than 300,000 masks to frontline workers and disadvantaged communities during COVID-19. In 2020, Fawn partnered with Jack Daniel’s to create the Nearest and Jack Advancement Initiative, a program working to elevate people of color within the American whiskey industry. Fawn has appeared on hundreds of popular shows including FOX Business, the TODAY Show and CBS This Morning, and she’s been featured in outlets like Fast Company, Inc. Magazine and The New York Times. She’s also a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.

In This Episode:

Fawn shares the inspiring story of Nearest Green and Jack Daniel and discusses some of the important lessons it can teach us as we navigate the conversation around racism today. She also explains how she’s built a culture of confidence and radical candor as a CEO, and she shares some of the daily habits that have helped her find fulfillment and success.

Episode Highlights:

Bringing the story of Uncle Nearest Green to life
The importance of radical candor in all areas of life
Building a culture of confidence
Fawn’s morning routine that sets her up for success
Why Uncle Nearest’s story matters for America today

Resources Fawn Mentioned:

The Happy Wives Club by Fawn Weaver
Fawn’s TedTalk on “The Argument Free Marriage"
Radical Candor by Kim Scott
The Miracle Morning and The Miracle Equation by Hal Elrod
Think Up app
Write It Down Make it Happen by Henriette Anne Klauser
The Power of the Subconscious Mind by Dr. Joseph Murray
Uncle Nearest cocktail recipes

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

Knowing Your Value with Domonique Townsend Feb 04, 2021

Domonique Townsend spent years being undervalued by the companies she worked for, and when she decided to take the leap to start her own business, she knew she was ready to reach a higher potential. Domonique is the founder of We Optimize Work, a company that creates strategies and systems to help working moms and mom CEOs. As an operations coach and workflow expert with more than 10 years of engineering experience, Domonique is able to help moms manage their work and raise a family without compromising their sanity or goals.

Along with her years of industrial engineering experience, Domonique has trained or coached more than 3,100 people, and she’s a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Domonique also serves on boards for Purpose Preparatory Academy, the WBENC Next Gen Initiative and WomenGetIT, and she’s a Senior Scholar Instructor for #BlackTechFutures.

In This Episode: Domonique shares her inspiring story of feeling undervalued at her job, getting laid off and turning her experience into a business that’s helping working moms optimize their lives and work. She also explains how she’s found mentors to support her throughout her journey and offers practical advice to other working moms.

Episode Highlights:

Supporting working moms through We Optimize Work (2:49)
Building a business as a working mom (7:46)
Domonique’s story of turning a layoff into an opportunity for growth (11:24)
The importance of clients who align with your own values (22:27)
Finding mentors who remind you of your worth (25:45)
Advice for working moms who are feeling overwhelmed (43:50)

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Evolving Your Business with Gabby Male Jan 28, 2021

Since starting her business in college, Gabby Male has transformed her interest in fitness into a passion for helping women to ditch dieting and feel empowered in their bodies. She’s a content creator, certified personal trainer and entrepreneur who’s built a large social media following and multiple successful businesses. In addition to her social media, Gabby is the creator of SWITCHIITUP — a monthly exercise platform based on building confidence— co-founder of The Rose Retreats — a series of events that help women find self-love and empowerment — and founder of relic96 — an upcycled apparel shop.

Gabby is a firm believer in the idea that health involves so much more than just fitness and nutrition, and she’s using her platform to help women find greater mental, emotional, social, financial and sexual health. She joined Her Story of Success for our first live podcast of 2021 to share her inspiring story.

In This Episode:

Gabby explains how she inadvertently started her fitness business in college and then made the courageous decision to shift her focus toward a more holistic form of wellness when her values started to change. She also shares some of her best advice for overcoming imposter syndrome, building community within your industry, and setting boundaries around what parts of your life you share on social media.

Episode Highlights:

Gabby’s story of turning a college hobby into a business
Working through imposter syndrome
Learning to outsource
Building community in your industry
Getting vulnerable while also setting boundaries
Creating a new business during quarantine

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

The Power of Passive Mentorship Jan 21, 2021

When Her Story of Success CEO Leah Glover Hayes was looking for mentorship to help her grow in her career and eventually start a company, she quickly realized that not all mentorship is created equally. And while experts tend to agree that mentorship makes a major difference in determining someone’s career success and fulfillment, few people are sharing specifics about how to find the right mentor and build a mutually beneficial relationship.

Leah believes that there are four types of mentorship: Passive mentorship, peer mentorship, traditional mentorship and mentoring others. No matter where you are in your career journey, you can benefit from implementing one or all of these in your life. In this new, four-part series, Leah will provide you with all the tools and resources you need to start seeking out mentorship for yourself.

In This Episode:

Leah explains how passive mentorship can help you grow in your career, relationships and life. She also shares some of the resources that have been most beneficial as she’s built her business, and she explains how you can find the right passive mentors for your specific goals and passions.

Episode Highlights:

Why mentorship matters
How passive mentorship can kickstart your mentorship journey
The importance of finding the right resources
Leah’s favorite passive mentorship tools

The Books Leah Mentioned:

Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
100 Days of Believing Bigger by Marshawn Evans Daniels
Overcoming Underearning by Barbara Stanny
The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst
It’s About Damn Time by Arlan Hamilton
Chasing the Bright Side by Jess Ekstrom
Thrive Through It by Brittany Cole

The Podcasts Leah Mentioned:

Other Online Resources Leah Mentioned:

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com.

Integrating Your Work and Purpose with Sherri Kottmann Jan 14, 2021

Her Story of Success…

Sherri Kottmann believes that developing a strong sense of self is one of the most important things you can do for your career. She’s the Chief People Officer at Forrester, a research and consulting company that helps organizations grow through customer obsession, where she’s worked for the past ten years. Sherri initially started her career in sales, but upon being promoted to a sales leadership role, she realized her true passion was people. Sherri also served as the Director of HR at EF Educational Tours.

In her work as Chief People Officer, Sherri’s role extends beyond traditional conceptions of HR to include leadership over the employee experience organization, talent strategy, leadership development, executive coaching, experience design and cultural transformation. She’s excelled at helping her employees all over the world feel safe and supported during the challenges of COVID-19, and she’ll share some strategies other leaders can use to care for their teams.

In This Episode:

Sherri explains how she’s learned to integrate her life’s purpose into the work she does as a chief people officer, and she offers advice to women who are looking to find their purpose or direction. She also offers an insight look at the strategies she’s developed while leading an international company through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Episode Highlights:

Sherri’s story of discovering her passion for human resources
How to identify your purpose
The importance of “solving with, not for.”
Cultivating community during COVID-19
Letting go of a need for control

The Books Sherri Mentioned:

How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

Good to Great by Jim Collins

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Sustaining Innovation with Stephanie Cartin Jan 07, 2021

Her Story of Success…

Stephanie Cartin has a gift for staying ahead of the curve and executing on great ideas. She’s the co-founder and co-CEO of Socialfly, a social-first digital and influencer agency that’s worked with major brands like Girl Scouts, Samsung and Univision. Through the process of growing Socialfly and wanting to inspire other women, Stephanie and her co-founder Courtney also launched Entreprenista Media, where they co-host the Entreprenista Podcast and co-authored Like Love Follow: The Entreprenista’s Guide to Using Social Media to Grow Your Business. Stephanie has appeared in or been featured on media outlets including Bloomberg, Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, Refinery29 and CheddarTV. She’s been recognized for her work with the SmartCEO Brava Award and a Stevie Award for Women Run Workplace of the Year. Additionally, Stephanie is the co-founder of Markid, a marketplace app where parents can sell gently used kids items.

Along with all of her innovation and business success, Stephanie has also dedicated herself to raising awareness through sharing her own struggles with infertility and a complicated pregnancy. She’s an incredible example of a woman who’s achieved both success and personal fulfillment, all while continuing to innovate and change the way companies approach marketing.

In This Episode:

Stephanie shares her inspiring story of starting a company at a young age and offers advice for other women business owners based on the lessons she’s learned along the way. She also opens up about her health struggles and explains how going through a difficult pregnancy helped shape her into a better CEO.

Episode Highlights:

Stephanie’s story of starting Socialfly and growing it into a successful company
How to work on multiple brands or businesses at the same time
The benefits of mentorship, coaching, and peer networks
Stephanie’s story of struggling with infertility and finding answers through sharing her story
Marketing advice for women business owners

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Celebrating Success in 2020: Our Year in Review Dec 31, 2020

Celebrating Success in 2020

Even though 2020 was an incredibly difficult year, it also provided a unique opportunity for changes in perspective. As we come to the end of 2020, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the ways Her Story of Success has grown and changed amidst the challenges of the past year. We’re grateful for the opportunity to play a role in helping you define and pursue your own version of success, and we’re excited to continue living into that mission in 2021!

In This Episode:

Her Story of Success CEO Leah Glover Hayes sits down with her Executive Producer Claire Bidigare-Curtis and Production Coordinator Bronte Lebo to take a look back at some of the ways Her Story of Success has changed throughout 2020. They also explain how they’re defining success for themselves and the company as they look ahead to the new year, and they share some amazing insights that were submitted by some of our listeners.

Episode Highlights:

A look back at how Her Story of Success has changed in 2020
Listener Submissions: “Which podcast episodes were especially meaningful to you this year?”
Empowering your team to succeed
Listener Submissions: “What lessons did you learn from listening to the podcast this year?”
A look back at some of our favorite guests of 2020
Listener Submissions: “How do you define success today?”
Celebrating our successes and looking ahead to the future

You can catch up on all the episodes mentioned in this podcast by listening to this playlist.

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Goal Setting for the New Year with Kim Jones and Samantha Lane Dec 17, 2020

Kim’s Story of Success...

Kim Jones wants to help women find the freedom and confidence to remake their careers on their own terms. She’s a career transformation coach and the founder and CEO of Kim Jones Alliance, which she built out of her own experience of changing careers after experiencing personal tragedy. Before starting her business, Kim held executive level positions for multiple Fortune 250 clients, which gave her the experience she needed to work as a consultant for corporate clients and a coach for high-performing women. Kim is also a speaker and facilitator about topics including women in IT, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and navigating career change.

Samantha’s Story of Success…

Samantha Lane believes that by building more productive habits and time management skills, women can achieve greater success while also experiencing balance in their personal lives. Samantha is the Founder of Origami Day, a company that offers speaking, training, and consulting services, along with a product line centered around the Origami Day planner. Samantha is also a time management coach and keynote speaker, and she built her business out of her experience of struggling with workaholism and needing to take time to recover from an intensive surgery.

In This Episode:

Kim shares her story of leaving behind a successful career in corporate America to chart her own path, which led her to her passion for helping other women navigate career transformations. She also explains how overcoming limiting beliefs can help you discover your new trajectory and build the confidence to pursue it. Then in the second part of the episode, Samantha shares some practical tips and resources you can use to chart out your goals and practice better time management. She’ll also explain how goal planning can help you take your goals from an abstract idea into actionable, day-to-day steps.

Episode Highlights:

Kim’s story of deciding to embrace the desire to take her career in another direction
Overcoming limiting beliefs
Creating a plan before you take the leap
Samantha’s advice for setting SMART goals based on your vision for the next year
How to practice goal planning
Building a system based on your unique motivations and personality
The importance of setting SMART goals

The Books Leah and Kim Mentioned:

Thrive Through It by Brittany Cole

Believe Bigger by Marshawn Evans Daniels

It’s About Damn Time by Arlan Hamilton

Overcoming Underearning by Barbara Stanny

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

The Success Principles and The Success Principles Workbook by Jack Canfield

Gabby Bernstein’s books

The Resources Leah and Samantha Mentioned:

The Origami Day planner
Origami Day digital downloads
Gretchen Rubin’s “The Four Tendancies Quiz”
Individual consulting with Samantha Lane

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Unlocking Contentment with Leisse Wilcox Dec 10, 2020

Leisse Wilcox believes the key to greater contentment is found through healing your relationship with yourself. She’s a coach who works with high-achieving, purpose-driven women, and she’s changing the global conversation around self-love and emotional health. Leisse is also a TedX speaker, podcast host, certified NLP practitioner, and author of To Call Myself Beloved: A Story of Hope, Healing and Coming Home. She’s been featured on season 2 of Amazon Prime’s The Social Movement and interviewed for media outlets including ABC, The Toronto Star, NPR and Thrive Global.

Leisse’s deep understanding of the human experience comes not only from her education, but also from her ability to turn difficult experiences like divorce, narcissistic abuse and breast cancer into something beautiful. Because of her own experience of learning to love and accept herself, she’s uniquely equipped to help other women do the same.

In This Episode:

Leisse shares inspirational advice for how you can start healing your relationship with yourself and live in alignment with your deepest values. She also explains why working with a coach can help you find greater fulfillment as an entrepreneur, and she shares her story of growing her coaching business by investing in herself and her career.

Episode Highlights:

What to do when you realize you’re still feeling discontent in spite of your success
How to scale with intention while staying aligned with your values
Understanding your limiting beliefs
Leisse’s process of writing To Call Myself Beloved
Expanding your business as a solopreneur
The power of investing in yourself

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Revolutionizing Skincare with Kate Kimmerle Dec 03, 2020

Kate Kimmerle is on a mission to make high-quality, effective skin care accessible to everyone, regardless of race, age, skin issue or income. As the founder of Miss Spa and president of Revolution Beauty USA, Kate has fostered incredible innovation in the beauty industry, from being the first to bring sheet masks into the U.S. market in 2012 to focusing on clean beauty long before it was popular to do so. Most recently, Miss Spa expanded to offer an entire line of serums and other skincare products at the start of 2020, and they’re continuing to develop new innovations for the future.

In addition to her success in the beauty industry, Kate is also passionate about helping other women grow their businesses without giving away all their equity. She’s built her company with an emphasis on mentorship and a dedication to empowering other women, including customers and employees alike.

In This Episode:

Kate offers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the secrets to Miss Spa’s success, including Kate’s own entrepreneurial story, details of how Miss Spa products are made, and more. Kate also explains how building a strong team has empowered her to succeed as a leader and innovator, and she offers advice to other working moms who are struggling with feelings of guilt.

Episode Highlights:

Kate’s story of turning her lifelong passion for beauty into a successful business
Building a strong team
Secrets behind the affordability and effectiveness of Miss Spa’s products
Overcoming mom guilt and seeing the long-term benefits for your kids
Investing in other women business owners

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Mental Health and the Holidays with Jennifer VanOrman Nov 26, 2020

Jennifer VanOrman recognizes that the holidays can be a difficult time for many women when it comes to mental health and family relationships. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, Jennifer helps people find ways to appreciate the beautiful parts of life even in the midst of hardship. In her own life, Jennifer has dealt with many challenges, including abuse, the death of a spouse, and divorce, and she’s worked hard to build a beautiful life for herself in the midst of all of those things.

In This Special Holiday Episode:

Jennifer shares some practical strategies you can use to better care for your own mental health this holiday season, along with practices that will help you treat yourself with kindness in daily life. She and Leah also discuss the importance of therapy and offer advice for anyone looking to find a therapist.

Episode Highlights:

Normalizing the struggles of the holiday season
Advice for managing difficult family relationships
Understanding the role trauma can play in our lives
Why therapy matters
The power of self-kindness

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Knowing When to Outsource: Our Story of Success Nov 19, 2020

Her Story of Success began out of CEO Leah Glover Hayes’ desire to grow in her own career and find mentors who could help her on her journey. Through the process of searching for direction and purpose, Leah realized that something powerful happens when you get to hear stories, lessons learned and celebrations from other women. She created Her Story of Success to multiply the amazing conversations she was having, so that women like her could access new mentorship and the women she interviewed could multiply their legacies.

Soon after launching the podcast in 2018, Leah began receiving overwhelming feedback about the positive impact these interviews were having on the lives of her listeners. She knew her dreams had even bigger potential and decided to expand the brand and multiply the reach of Her Story of Success. It was then that she asked Melissa Aldridge to join the company, bringing over a decade of business strategy, finance, and operations experience to Leah’s vision and tenacity.

With this two-part Our Story of Success series, Leah will share the story of how Her Story of Success came to be, and she offers advice and inspiration to listeners who are building their own businesses or looking to find more fulfillment in their lives and work.

In This Episode:

Leah explains how she built the team behind Her Story of Success and is continuing to grow the company to empower women around the world. She also offers advice to business owners about the importance of outsourcing, how to build loyalty with your team, and why clarity is one of the most important things you can provide.

Episode Highlights:

Moving on from a vendor that isn’t the perfect fit
Building a team that believes in your vision (with Claire Bidigare-Curtis and Bronte Lebo)
How to help your employees succeed and grow
The difference between outsourcing for specific skill sets and outsourcing for clarity
Overcoming self-doubt and learning to celebrate your own success

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com.

Building Confidence with Toni Purry Nov 12, 2020

Toni Purry wants to be the hype woman who reminds people to celebrate their wins. She’s an entrepreneur, visibility strategist and speaker who helps women build their confidence and find new ways to show up in the world. She’s also the author of My Hype Book, a motivational journal that guides readers to self-discovery through recognition and reflection.

Toni has more than 20 years of public relations experience, and the agency she started, Purry Communications Group, represented major brands like Marriott, Disney, Habitat for Humanity, Alabama State University, and many more. After 11 years of running that agency, Toni pivoted to helping individuals build confidence and elevate their personal brands. She has helped her clients land placements with The Today Show, Food Network, USA Today, The LA Times, O Magazine and more. Toni has also been honored with awards including a PRSA Prism Award and multiple AVA Awards, and she earned a spot in the exclusive O Magazine and Chase Bank “Stay A Step Ahead” program.

In This Episode:

Toni shares her inspiring story of building a successful PR career and offers insight into some of the lessons she’s learned along the way. She also explains how you can build confidence and elevate your brand in the process.

Episode Highlights:

Toni’s story of discovering a love for public relations
The importance of asking for new opportunities
Building a business during an economic crisis
The power of having a hype man
Leaving the business you started and overcoming guilt
How to build confidence
Toni’s story of breaking down barriers as a Black woman and pageant contestant in the South

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Finding Partners to Support Your Vision: Our Story of Success Nov 05, 2020

Our Story of Success

Her Story of Success began out of CEO Leah Glover Hayes’ desire to grow in her own career and find mentors who could help her on her journey. Through the process of searching for direction and purpose, Leah realized that something powerful happens when you get to hear stories, lessons learned and celebrations from other women. She created Her Story of Success to multiply the amazing conversations she was having, so that women like her could access new mentorship and the women she interviewed could multiply their legacies.

Soon after launching the podcast in 2018, Leah began receiving overwhelming feedback about the positive impact these interviews were having on the lives of her listeners. She knew her dreams had even bigger potential and decided to expand the brand and multiply the reach of Her Story of Success. It was then that she asked Melissa Aldridge to join the company, bringing over a decade of business strategy, finance, and operations experience to Leah’s vision and tenacity.

With this two-part Our Story of Success series, Leah will share the story of how Her Story of Success came to be, and she offers advice and inspiration to listeners who are building their own businesses or looking to find more fulfillment in their lives and work.

In This Episode:

Leah describes the inspiration behind Her Story of Success and provides an in-depth look at the early days of turning the podcast into a business. Along the way, she shares some of the wisdom she has learned about finding the right business partner, hiring people when you don’t have a large budget and seeking out mentors to help you reach your goals.

Episode Highlights:

The inspiration behind Her Story of Success
Finding a business partner with (Ellen Hoffman)
Giving people opportunities to grow in their careers (with Isaac Jones)
Moving into new seasons of life (with Ellen Hoffman)
Knowing when to take on a business partner or investor
Building a partnership agreement (with Melissa Aldridge)

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com.

Empowering Women to Heal with Becca Stevens Oct 29, 2020

Her Story of Success…

Becca Stevens believes that when women help each other heal, it can ripple out to change entire communities. She’s the founder and president of Thistle Farms, an organization that helps survivors of trafficking, addiction and prostitution. Thistle Farms began as a community of five women in 1997. Since then, it’s grown to include a residential program, three social enterprises that provide jobs and leadership opportunities for survivors, and a national network of like-minded organizations. Becca is also a speaker, priest, author, and founder of nine other justice enterprises around the world.

Becca is a survivor of abuse herself, so she recognized the need for a space where other survivors could heal and find freedom and peace. She also started Thistle Farms to help change the wider culture, which still supports the secrets of abuse and the commodifying of women. By providing a safe place to live, meaningful jobs and a lifelong support system, Thistle Farms is proving every day that “Love Heals.”

In This Episode:

Becca shares her story of finding hope and healing after experiencing abuse, and she explains how she’s spreading that healing to other women through her work at Thistle Farms. She also offers encouragement to listeners who want to help change the culture around abuse and violence but don’t know where to begin.

Episode Highlights:

Why we should empower women to come off of the streets rather than criminalizing them for being there
Being a host instead of a hero
Partnering with your spouse to raise a family while building a business
The importance of purchasing products that help other women
How to get involved in helping women survivors

Products Leah and Becca Mentioned:

Thistle Farms candles
The Cafe at Thistle Farms
Thistle Farms Immunity Oil
Fair trade tea and coffee
Love Welcomes Mats made by women refugees
Love Heals by Becca Stevens

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners. Piccolo Marketing is our go to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Inspiring Stories from Women in Fashion and Retail: Her Story of Success in Review Oct 22, 2020

Inspiring Conversations, Revisited

Her Story of Success recently went through a rebranding process to help us better reflect where our company is today while also preparing for Season Next. But even as we look ahead to where we want to go, it’s important to also remember where we came from. With Her Story of Success in Review, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations, giving you another chance to be inspired by the amazing women who helped mentor and shape Her Story of Success into the company we are today.

In this episode, Maggie Tucker, Nicole Wegman and Jess Ekstrom share their inspiring stories of starting, growing and running successful companies in the fashion retail space. They also offer practical advice and encouragement for anyone who wants to start their own business.

Their Stories of Success

Maggie Tucker is the owner and founder of the Nashville-based retail stores magpies baby and magpies girl. The magpies stores provide clothing, gifts and more for young girls and their families in a uniquely joyful and fun environment. Maggie has been featured in Southern Living, Cottage Living and Gift Shop Magazine, and she won HGTV’s award for top retail merchandising and design. Maggie is also passionate about serving the Nashville community, both by partnering with entrepreneurs and creatives and by giving back to organizations like Preston Taylor Ministries and the Dream Center. Listen to Maggie’s full episode here, and her episode about navigating COVID-19 as a small business owner here.

Nicole Wegman is the founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, a jewelry company that’s making luxury accessible to the masses. Ring Concierge is run by women, for women, and it is disrupting the traditionally male-dominated jewelry industry with its all-female team and thriving e-commerce business. Nicole was inspired by her own experience of shopping for an engagement ring and realizing the industry lacked the perspective of millennial women. Ring Concierge has amassed a large social media following, where Nicole blurs the line between retailer and influencer to provide engaging, accessible content for her customers. Listen to Nicole’s full episode here.

Jess Ekstrom is the Founder and CEO of Headbands of Hope, a social enterprise that donates one headband to a child with cancer for every headband sold. Since its founding, Headbands of Hope has donated more than half a million headbands to children’s hospitals in 16 countries around the world. Jess is also a speaker, founder of Mic Drop Workshop, and author of Chasing the Bright Side. She’s been featured in major media outlets like Entrepreneur, Forbes, Good Morning America and The Today Show. Listen to Jess’ full episode here.

Episode Transcript

Embracing What’s Next with Lori Allen Oct 15, 2020

Her Story of Success…

Lori Allen has built an incredible career as an entrepreneur, TV personality, author and speaker, all because of her ability to say yes to new opportunities that align with her goals. She’s the owner of Bridals by Lori and star of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta and Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids. Lori started her store just two weeks after graduating from college, and in the last 40 years she’s built a reputation as one of the world’s leading experts on bridal couture. After growing Bridals By Lori into a thriving business, Lori and her shop went on to star in 11 seasons of Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta and four seasons of Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids. Lori’s shows have aired in more than 120 countries, and brides from all over the world travel to Atlanta to shop at her store.

Most recently, Lori became an author with her book Say Yes to What’s Next: How to Age with Elegance and Class while Never Losing Your Beauty and Sass. Her openness about her experience as a breast cancer survivor has made her a sought-after speaker, as well as a voice for outlets like CNN, ABC’s Good Morning America and The Wall Street Journal. Lori’s 2012 TLC special “Say Yes to the Cure: Lori’s Fight” won the Realscreen Award for Best Health & Well-Being Programming.

In This Episode:

Lori shares her inspiring story of starting Bridals by Lori in her twenties and gradually growing it into the globally recognized business it is today. She also explains how Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta came to be, and she opens up about some of the struggles she’s faced, like battling breast cancer and raising kids while running a business.

Episode Highlights:

Lori’s inspiration for writing Say Yes to What’s Next and her message of encouragement for women over 50
The importance of building a business gradually, especially when you start at a young age
Lori’s battle with breast cancer and the power of finding a team who will rally around you when you need to step away from your business
The challenges of growing a business while raising children and how to overcome mom guilt
The story behind Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta
Avoiding gray divorce and learning to prioritize your own health and happiness

Business Advice from Women Marketers: Her Story of Success in Review Oct 08, 2020

Inspiring Conversations, Revisited

Her Story of Success recently went through a rebranding process to help us better reflect where our company is today while also preparing for Season Next. But even as we look ahead to where we want to go, it’s important to also remember where we came from. With Her Story of Success in Review, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations, giving you another chance to be inspired by the amazing women who helped mentor and shape Her Story of Success into the company we are today.

In this episode, Joy Altimare, Morgan Canclini-Mitchell, Kristin Carver-Smith, Nekasha Pratt and Krista Ripma tell their stories of how they ended up in their current careers, and they offer practical advice about how to build a brand, communicate in times of crisis, and more.

Their Stories of Success

Joy Altimare is a successful brand strategist who has worked with companies like L’Oreal, Verizon, Colgate-PalmOlive and Conde Nast. She’s currently the Chief Engagement and Brand Officer at EHE Health. As the only woman and the only person of color on her company’s executive team, Joy knows how hard it can be to deal with discrimination in the workplace, but she hasn’t let that stop her from building a career on her own terms. Joy is a passionate advocate for mentorship, and she serves as Marketing Chair on the board for Women in Need, Inc. Listen to Joy’s full episode here.

With Two|PR, Morgan Canclini-Mitchell and Kristin Carver-Smith are working hard to amplify messages that matter. Morgan is the firm’s Principal and Founder, and she hired Kristin to help grow the business as the marketing principal. The pair have built an impressive roster that includes best-selling authors, professional athletes and Grammy award-winning artists, and they’ve earned bookings with CNN, Fox & Friends, Forbes, PBS and more. They’ve grown the business without ever needing to advertise, relying on their networks and word of mouth. Listen to Morgan and Kristin’s full episode here.

Nekasha Pratt is an award-winning marketer, speaker and thought leader who’s passionate about helping brands define their strategies to maximize impact. She works as the Director of Marketing for Tennessee Tourism and is the Chief Strategy and Brand Officer for her own firm, Bright Advisory Group. Nekasha has been honored with awards including 3 international Cannes Lions Awards, Nashville’s 2019 Women of Influence Award, a BizWomen Economic Develop Headliner, and more. She also serves her community on boards like Women Can Be Angels, and she’s an advisor for the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and a Business Mentor for Pathway Women’s Business Center. Listen to Nekasha’s full episode here.

Krista Ripma is the President and Co-Founder of Authentic Audience, a digital marketing agency that helps brands tell their honest stories. She started Authentic Audience with her husband and has grown it into a thriving company that offers brand strategy, content creation, email marketing, social media and more, all with the goal of helping brands “sell the truth.” Krista has been featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur, hosts The Authentic Audience Podcast and recently developed an online course in Marketing Fundamentals to further share everything she has learned. Listen to Krista’s full episode here.

Navigating the Career Journey: A Live Event with Conexion Next Oct 01, 2020

Their Stories of Success…

Erika Matallana, Daniel Oppong and Alessandra Alegre joined Her Story of Success CEO Leah Glover Hayes for a live panel discussion about “Navigating the Career Journey and Building the Right Support System to Thrive.” This event was created in partnership with Conexion Next, a network for Nashville’s young professionals.

Erika Matallana is the Director of Communications at Amedisys, a publicly traded healthcare company that provides home health, hospice and personal care. Before joining Amedisys, Erika spent almost 10 years working at HCA Healthcare, and she led the communications strategies for HCA’s Cultural Development and Inclusion group. Erika’s story of moving to the U.S. from Bogotá, Colombia and working her way up the corporate ladder is so inspiring. She’s been honored for her communications work in both English and Spanish with awards including the Lovell Ethics Advocacy Award and the Literacy David Mejia Velilla Award.

Daniel Oppong is an EX Strategy Specialist at Limeade and the founder of OhanaHealth. He first developed a passion for healthcare innovation while working at Jumpstart Foundry, a seed-stage healthcare innovation fund. With OhanaHealth, Daniel is helping health tech companies find the top talent around the country through an innovative college student and recent graduate placement program. OhanaHealth also just launched its first product, a new tech platform that connects students with job opportunities.

Alessandra Alegre is the Senior Manager of Special Services and Royalty Compliance at Tri Star Sports and Entertainment, where she works to help artists and entertainers connect all of their royalties. Alessandra moved to Tennessee from Lima, Peru for college 8 years ago, and she’s been an active member of the Nashville community ever since. Alessandra currently serves as the Chair of Professional Development for Conexion Next, and she’s also served with organizations like Musicares and the YWCA Junior Board.

In This Episode:

Erika, Daniel and Alessandra open up about the challenges that come with being a person of color or an immigrant in the workplace, and they explain how they’ve overcome those challenges to build successful careers. They also offer advice for young professionals looking to build a stronger network or find a mentor.

Episode Highlights:

Taking pride in yourself and your work
The power of mentorship
What it’s like to be a person of color in corporate America
How to build your network
The importance of self-care

Inspiring Women in Finance: Her Story of Success in Review Sep 24, 2020

Her Story of Success recently went through a rebranding process to help us better reflect where our company is today while also preparing for Season Next. But even as we look ahead to where we want to go, it’s important to also remember where we came from. With Her Story of Success in Review, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations, giving you another chance to be inspired by the amazing women who helped mentor and shape Her Story of Success into the company we are today.

In this episode, Vicki Saunders, Hayley Dickson, Maria Aspen and Arlan Hamilton share their stories of working in finance, an industry predominantly led by white men. They explain how they’ve used their success to empower other women, and they share some of their best advice about raising money as a female founder, overcoming imposter syndrome and more.

Their Stories of Success

Vicki Saunders believes that empowering women to practice radical generosity is the key to changing the world. She’s the founder of SheEO, a global initiative that supports, finances, and celebrates women who are working on the world’s to-do list. This unique model brings together 500 women activators in each cohort who contribute $1100 each to loan out to 5 women-led ventures. The organization is working to build a $1 billion perpetual fund by 2026. Before starting She-EO, Vicki built and ran companies in Europe, Toronto and Silicon Valley. She’s been honored as a UBS Global Visionary, Toronto Regional Board of Trade’s Business Leader of the Year, and a World Economic Forum Global Leader for Tomorrow.

Listen to Vicki’s full episode here.

Hayley Dickson is on a mission to help women, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals achieve greater financial success She carries this out in her role as a Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual, and she quickly set herself apart as one of the company’s top advisors. In her first year, Hayley was No. 1 in the Western Region among advisors with fewer than five years at the company, and in 2019, she was named one of the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Most Influential Wealth Managers. Hayley also worked tirelessly with the corporate office to launch a family planning policy that allows more flexibility and better benefits for moms. That policy is now used nationwide at Northwestern’s more than 250 offices.

Listen to Hayley’s episode here.

Maria Aspan has spent years as a reporter and editor covering finance and gender, so she’s seen firsthand the need for greater diversity in finance. Today, she’s a senior writer at Fortune, writing about finance, the intersection of policy and business, and gender. She’s also the author of Startup Money Made Easy: The Inc. Guide to Every Financial Question About Starting, Running, and Growing Your Business, and she writes the weekly Lady Business newsletter. Before joining Fortune, Maria was an editor at large at Inc. Magazine, where she oversaw the annual Female Founders 100 List. Maria has won multiple Best in Business awards from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and she was a finalist for a Jesse H. Neal award.

Listen to Maria’s full episode here, and her “HSS Live from NYC” episode here.

Arlan Hamilton understands the importance of investing in underrepresented founders, because less than five years ago, she was one herself. Arlan is the founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital, which she started while experiencing homelessness. Since then, Backstage Capital has raised more than $10 million and invested in more than 130 startup companies led by people of color, women and/or LGBT individuals. Arlan also co-founded Backstage Studio, which runs accelerator programs for underestimated founders. Arlan is the author of It’s About Damn Time and host of the “Your First Million” podcast. She’s been honored on lists like Forbes’ “40 Under 40” and Business Insider’s “Most Powerful LGBTQ+ People in Tech,” and she was the first non-celebrity Black woman to be featured on the cover of Fast Company.

Listen to Arlan’s full episode here.

Reclaiming Empathy with Rana el Kaliouby Sep 17, 2020

Rana el Kaliouby, co-founder and CEO of Affectiva, believes technology has enormous potential to improve people’s lives, but she wants to make sure it doesn’t dehumanize us in the process. She’s a pioneer in the field of Emotion AI, and she’s working to create technology that can detect human emotion and cognitive states. Rana holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and a Post Doctorate from MIT. Through her research and her work at Affectiva, she developed a product that helps people with autism learn to read other people’s emotions and facial expressions, and she’s working to find new ways to help people with mental illness as well. Rana has also given a TedTalk, hosted a PBS Nova series on artificial intelligence, and authored the book Girl Decoded: A Scientist’s Quest to Reclaim Our Humanity by Bringing Emotional Intelligence to Technology.

Rana has become a highly respected figure in the tech world, due to both her groundbreaking research and her advocacy for greater diversity in the industry. She’s been listed on Fortune’s 40 Under 40 and Forbes’ Top 50 Women in Tech. She’s also been honored as World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.

In This Episode:

Rana shares her story of growing up in the Middle East and making the uncommon decision to move to England and pursue a career in technology. Along with sharing some amazing stories of ways her technology is improving people’s lives, she opens up about some of the struggles she’s faced on her journey, including divorce, imposter syndrome and raising money as a female founder.

Episode Highlights:

Rana’s experience of growing up around technology in the Middle East and moving past cultural norms to pursue her career
The importance of overcoming imposter syndrome to realize you have something important to say
What it’s like to raise money as a female founder
How to cultivate diversity of background and perspective in a company
Rana’s story of adapting her technology to help people with autism, and her larger vision for a world where technology can use empathy

Leadership Lessons from Women We Admire: Her Story of Success in Review Sep 10, 2020

Her Story of Success recently went through a rebranding process to help us better reflect where our company is today while also preparing for Season Next. But even as we look ahead to where we want to go, it’s important to also remember where we came from. With Her Story of Success in Review, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations, giving you another chance to be inspired by the amazing women who helped mentor and shape Her Story of Success into the company we are today.

In this episode, Sherry Deutschmann, Pat Shea, Sharon Reynolds, Marcie Allen Van Mol and Laquita Stribling describe some of the key experiences that shaped them into the leaders they are today. Each shares important lessons she’s learned, like the power of mentorship, the importance of self-care, and why you should always look for ways to give back to your industry.

Their Stories of Success

Sherry Stewart Deutschmann built LetterLogic out of her basement and grew it to $40 million before she sold the company in 2016. She did this by putting her employees first, paying them a living wage and creating an excellent company culture. Sherry has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes Magazine, Fast Company and more, and she was honored by President Barack Obama as a White House Champion of Change in 2016. Her newest venture, BrainTrust, is dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs grow their businesses to $1 million in annual revenue and beyond. Sherry is also the author of Lunch with Lucy.

Listen to Sherry’s full episode here.

Pat Shea believes her mission in life is to “help others help others,” and she knows firsthand the power of mobilizing a tribe to achieve a common goal. Pat served for 11 years as the CEO of YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee, where she turned the fight against domestic violence into a city-wide campaign. Today, Pat serves as CEO and president of Givful, a tech company that provides employers and their associates with the opportunity to support a culture of giving. She’s been honored for her years of important work with awards like the Nashville Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs, the 2017 Women of Influence/Trailblazers List, and Cable’s Promote Women Award.

Listen to Pat’s full episode here.

Sharon W. Reynolds runs four successful companies, and in each one, she’s driven by a passion to help others. She started with DevMar Products, a company that distributes eco-friendly janitorial products and later expanded that business to manufacture the products as well, with DevMar Manufacturing. Sharon also leads DevMar Global Healthcare Solutions, and she most recently started Bryla J Couture Clothiers, a fashion line that empowers women with fashion for a purpose. Sharon serves on boards including Second Harvest Food Bank, West End Home Foundation and WBENC South. She’s been honored with many awards for her work, like the WBENC 2019 Women Business Enterprise Star, the 100 Black Men and Women Presidents Organization Women of Color Achievement Award and Power Moves’ Best Entrepreneur of the Year.

Listen to Sharon’s full episode here.

Marcie Allen Van Mol has more than 25 years of experience in the music industry, and today she’s the President and Founder of MAC Presents, a music sponsorship and experiential agency that connects artists, brands and fans. Throughout her career, Marcie has worked with brands including Sony, Southwest and Verizon and artists like The Rolling Stones, Chance the Rapper and Billy Joel. Marcie teaches as an adjunct professor at NYU Steinhardt and is on boards for the Country Music Association and Berklee College of Music. She’s also a partner at Anzie Blue, a luxury CBD oil company and coffee shop that she started with her husband.

Listen to Marcie’s full episode here, and her bonus episode on starting a business during COVID-19 here.

Laquita Stribling strives to be a leader who opens doors for others in every area of her life. She’s a senior vice president at Randstad USA, the number one staffing company in the world. Laquita started at Randstad as an entry level associate 23 years ago, and since then has worked her way up to one of the highest positions in the company. She also served as the Tennessee District Governor for Rotary International, becoming the first Black woman to serve in that position. Laquita is an active member of her community as well, serving on boards for Second Harvest Food Bank and the Nashville Sports Council.

Listen to Laquita’s full episode here.

Creating Inclusive Spaces with TRILUNA Wellness Sep 03, 2020

When Ashley Brooke James and Elizabeth Moore first became interested in wellness, they both struggled to feel like they belonged in a space that seemed dominated by thin, white women. Elizabeth was recovering from an eating disorder and felt triggered by the lack of representation for different body types. Meanwhile, Ashley was noticing that she was often the only Black woman in her yoga classes. The duo met during a yoga teacher training and decided to combine their interests in movement, cooking and health coaching to form an experiential wellness company, TRILUNA Wellness. TRILUNA is all about building healthier, more inclusive communities, and they partner with corporations to host events, retreats, training and more.

In the past few years, Elizabeth and Ashley have also gained recognition as leaders in their local Nashville community. They frequently host events, speak at conferences and lead workshops on topics ranging from diversity and inclusion to meditation for stress management. Both women came from high-level corporate backgrounds, so they understand the challenges of employee wellness, and they work directly with their clients to build customized curricula that help groups and individuals improve their overall well-being.

In This Episode:

Elizabeth and Ashley explain why they left high-level corporate jobs to start a wellness company, and they offer an inside look into the work they’re doing to help companies and individuals improve their health. They also discuss the importance of having difficult conversations about race and explain how they’re bringing diversity and social justice to the wellness community.

Episode Highlights:

Ashley and Elizabeth’s journey of recognizing the need for more diversity in the wellness industry and leaving their corporate jobs to help create it
The importance of practicing wellness in a community setting
How COVID-19 has impacted people’s mental and emotional health
Why having a difficult conversation about race transformed Ashley and Elizabeth’s relationship
Finding sources of inspiration during difficult times

Non-Profit Spotlight: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is working hard to end childhood cancer and other life-threatening pediatric diseases. In the past 50 years, the treatments they’ve developed have helped move the childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80%. They also make sure that families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food.

Letting Fear Fuel You with Kathy Thomas Aug 27, 2020

Kathy Thomas never let lack of experience stop her from taking bold leaps to new career paths. After taking a fashion retail job to supplement her income, Kathy worked her way up through the industry to become a high-level operation and talent acquisition expert for Lucky Brand Jeans and Louis Vuitton. She then left that career path to start her own business as a completely self-taught photographer. Today, Kathy Thomas Photography is an internationally published brand, and Kathy has traveled all over the world to shoot weddings, corporate events and family portraits.

As a small business owner and a mom, Kathy realized early on that working from home made it difficult to establish a healthy work-life balance. After moving to Nashville and struggling to find the right coworking space for her business, Kathy decided to build her own. With Collective615, Kathy created the first coworking space for women in the state of Tennessee.

In her roles as a business owner and mentor, Kathy is often asked how she became so confident, but she believes her real motivator is actually fear. She joins Leah for a conversation about how she uses that fear as fuel that drives her to take calculated risks, and she shares some of the biggest lessons she’s learned throughout her unique career journey.

In This Episode:

Kathy explains how she’s learned to repeatedly take big leaps in her career, working in multiple industries to achieve her goals and do work she enjoys. She also describes her motivation behind creating Nashville’s first coworking space for women, and she explains how she’s empowering her daughter to believe she can reach her biggest dreams and goals.

Episode Highlights:

Why working from home is difficult for women, and Kathy’s experience that inspired her to start Collective615
Kathy’s story of working her way up in fashion retail to become an executive at Louis Vuitton
Turning fear into a motivational force and taking calculated risks
How Kathy built a global brand as a self-taught photographer
Building an office space to help women thrive
Kathy’s passion for showing her daughter that she can achieve her dreams

Non-Profit Spotlight: YWCA is one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the nation, serving over 2 million women, girls and their families. They’re on a mission to eliminate racism, stand up for social justice and empower women.

Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Trailblazers in the Food and Beverage Industry: Her Story of Success in Review Aug 20, 2020

Her Story of Success recently went through a rebranding process to help us better reflect where our company is today while also preparing for Season Next. But even as we look ahead to where we want to go, it’s important to also remember where we came from. With Her Story of Success in Review, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations, giving you another chance to be inspired by the amazing women who helped mentor and shape Her Story of Success into the company we are today.

In this episode, Mignon Francois, Jessi Baker, Laura Lea Bryant* and Maneet Chauhan share their stories of carving out space for themselves in the historically male-dominated food and beverage industry.

Their Stories of Success

Mignon Francois was living on her last $5 when a neighbor asked to order cupcakes from her home bakery. Mignon took that $5 and continued to multiply, eventually building The Cupcake Collection into a multi-million dollar business. Mignon’s bakery helped revitalize her Nashville neighborhood, and she’s been honored as a Woman of Legend and Merit by Tennessee State University and an Emerging Business Leader of the Year. The Cupcake Collection, which now includes locations in Nashville and New Orleans, also won Black Enterprise Magazine’s Family Business of the Year Award.

Listen to Mignon’s full episode here.

While working full-time as an attorney, Jessi Baker started Ole Smoky as a side hustle with her husband and two friends, never imagining what it would one day become. Today, Ole Smoky is the most visited distillery in the world, and its moonshine is sold in all 50 states and 53 countries. Jessi now develops Ole Smoky food products, recently writing a cookbook that features cocktails and family recipes for true Southern food. She and her family have become serial entrepreneurs, opening four distilleries and businesses like Bootleggers Homemade Wine and Yee Haw Brewing.

Listen to Jessi’s full episode here.

Laura Lea Bryant fell in love with cooking when she was a recent college graduate, struggling to enjoy her life in New York City and looking for ways to heal her body and mind. That personal journey soon turned into a deep passion for food and wellness. Laura Lea attended the National Gourmet Institute to become a certified holistic chef, and has since built a career as a successful recipe developer, writer and voice behind the website LL Balanced. Laura Lea also just released her second cookbook, Simply Laura Lea.

Listen to Laura Lea’s full episode here.

Even as a child growing up in India, Maneet Chauhan always knew she wanted to be a chef. With her parents’ encouragement, Maneet attended hospitality school in her home country, and then moved to the U.S. to attend the Culinary Institute of America. Today, Maneet is a world-renowned restaurateur, Food Network Star and writer. After working as a chef at top restaurants in New York and Chicago, Maneet and her husband co-founded Morph Hospitality Group, and she’s opened four restaurants and two breweries in Nashville. Maneet is also a regular judge on Food Network’s Chopped, and she’s the only Indian woman to ever compete on Iron Chef.

Listen to Maneet’s full episode here.

*Correction: In the episode we referred to Laura Lea Bryant with the incorrect last name. We apologize for the error.

The Power of Resilience with Brittany Cole Aug 13, 2020

Career Thrivers Founder Brittany Cole believes every experience is an opportunity for continuous improvement, and she brings that attitude into all of her work as a speaker, coach and consultant. At Career Thrivers, Brittany partners with organizations to engage, develop and retain diverse talent through targeted leadership development. She’s also a TEDx speaker and host of the Career Thrivers Podcast.

Before starting her company, Brittany spent 12 years working at Pfizer, where she started as an intern and grew to become a high level sales and marketing leader. In August of 2019, she left the security of that job to start her own venture, because she wanted to spend more time pursuing her passion of helping others grow and thrive. Brittany also brings that passion to her local community, serving as a mentor for Pathway Women’s Business Center, the marketing director for NSN Nashville and a coach for TEDxNashville.

Brittany’s decision to take the leap into entrepreneurship was a difficult one, and she shares how experiencing grief and loss transformed her into a person who had a new perspective on her purpose in life. As a highly respected thought leader around diversity, inclusion and equity, Brittany also offers her perspective on some of the challenges women of color face in the workplace, and she gives advice to leaders who are looking to intentionally create more safe and inclusive environments.

In This Episode:

Brittany shares some of the biggest lessons she’s learned about career and family while working in corporate America and starting her own company. She also discusses the importance of allyship in the workplace and provides practical advice for anyone looking to build greater inclusivity in their organization.

Episode Highlights:

How Brittany decided to take the leap and start her own company
Defining diversity, inclusion and equity
The six components of allyship in the workplace and why it matters
The importance of allowing yourself to grieve losses in career and family
How Brittany’s husband has been her biggest champion
What it means to redefine resilience and learn from loss

Resources Brittany Mentioned:

The Awareness and Actions of Allies
Career Thrivers Podcast and its vault of free resources
Brittany’s TEDx Talk on Redefining Resilience

Non-Profit Spotlight: Girl, unKnown Inc. provides hygiene and education for disadvantaged girls around the United States. They also hold educational events to spread awareness about women’s issues and highlight some of the amazing things women are achieving all around the world.

Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Her Story of Success: Season Next Aug 06, 2020

Here at Her Story of Success, we are on a mission to help women — business owners, leaders and professionals build their tribe and reach their next level of success — connecting them to one another, equipping them with resources and empowering them along their journey.

We’re excited to announce the Her Story of Success brand relaunch, which speaks to not just where we are today, but where we are going. We want our company’s look and feel to match the authenticity, belonging and confidence inspired by women’s stories that we are so honored to share. A special thanks to Kindly By Kelsea for bringing our brand vision to life!

In This Episode:

In today’s episode, you can hear from our CEO and Podcast Host, Leah Glover Hayes, as she shares exciting information about what Season Next looks like for Her Story of Success and what being a part of our journey will mean for you.

Activating Your Own Potential with Lucinda Cross Jul 23, 2020

Lucinda Cross wears many hats in business, but all of them center around her passion for empowering women to reach new levels of success. She’s the Founder and President of Activate Worldwide, a small business consulting firm that caters specifically to women. She also sells vision board kits and is an acclaimed author, keynote speaker and educator. Lucinda has worked with brands like NIKE and TJ Maxx to host women and youth empowerment programs, and her work has been featured in ESSENCE, The New York Times, CNN, BET and more. Lucinda also created a nonprofit organization called Activate Your Life, which helps women re-enter their communities and become entrepreneurs after being involved in the Department of Justice System.

Lucinda always felt passionate about business and marketing, but it took her years to realize that she needed to stop doing behind the scenes work for other, successful entrepreneurs and start activating her own power as a speaker, leader and marketer. She rebranded her entire company around the idea that she was her own “best kept secret” and has built her success around empowering other women to embrace their own talents and abilities.

In This Episode:

Lucinda tells her inspiring story of learning to take credit for her work and stop limiting herself. She also opens up about some of the biggest struggles she faced and lessons she learned in the process, from practical concerns such as delegation to larger issues like making the money she deserves in a male-dominated field.

Episode Highlights:

Lucinda’s story of realizing she was a “best kept secret” and deciding to start her own company
The power of mentorship and putting in sweat equity while starting your business
Recognizing what you need to delegate and finding the right team to support your growth
Empowering women to reach new levels of success in male-dominated industries
Envisioning your wildest dreams and making them a reality

Books and Resources Mentioned:

Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath

The Big ASK by Lucinda Cross

Free vision board template download
Upwork: Hire freelance professionals

Non-Profit Spotlight: Activate Your Life works to celebrate, support, educate and connect women, helping them to integrate with their communities and re-enter the workforce after hardship and difficult transitions. They help women to rebuild, restore and re-invent themselves, all while promoting entrepreneurship as a means of economic advancement.

Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Becoming an Asset with Arlan Hamilton Jul 09, 2020

Backstage Capital Founder and Managing Partner Arlan Hamilton understands the importance of investing in underrepresented founders, because less than five years ago, she was one herself. Arlan started the venture capital fund Backstage Capital in 2015 and built it from the ground up, all while experiencing homelessness. Since then, Backstage Capital has raised more than $10 million and invested in more than 130 startup companies led by high-potential founders who are people of color, women and/or LGBT. In 2018, Arlan co-founded Backstage Studio, which runs accelerator programs for underestimated founders in Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and London.

Arlan quickly became a star in the venture capital world, and in 2018, she became the first non-celebrity Black woman to be featured on the cover of Fast Company. She’s also been honored on lists like Forbes’ “40 Under 40” and Business Insider’s “Most Powerful LGBTQ+ People in Tech.” In May, Arlan released her book It’s About Damn Time, sharing some of the biggest lessons she’s learned throughout her career and teaching readers “how to turn being underestimated into your biggest advantage.” She also hosts the “Your First Million” podcast and speaks at events around the country.

In This Episode:

Arlan talks about some of the biggest lessons she’s learned while growing her business, along with some of the affirmations that inspired her to keep going through the challenges she faced. She also shares the importance of becoming knowledgeable while still continuing to take action.

Arlan and Leah are joined by guest co-host Brittany Cole. Brittany is a speaker, coach and consultant who founded Career Thrivers, a leadership development firm that partners with organizations to engage, develop and retain diverse talent through targeted leadership development. You can hear more from Brittany by listening to the Career Thrivers Podcast.

Episode Highlights:

Why Arlan decided to write her book
Developing a commitment to learning, but also knowing when it’s time to take action
Why imposter syndrome is an unhelpful concept
Two key affirmations that have helped Arlan build her business and her confidence
Staying resilient in the face of difficult circumstances

Non-Profit Spotlight: Thistle Farms provides healing and hope for women survivors of trafficking, prostitution and addiction. The organization’s residential program includes two years of free housing, along with education, healthcare and employment. Survivors work at Thistle Farms’ three social enterprises, which include a bath and body care brand, a café and a Global Shared Trade program.

Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Designing Your Dream Life with Diana Sumpter Jun 25, 2020

Diana Sumpter helps women design and live out their dream lives, and she believes it all starts with a positive mindset. She’s an author, motivational speaker, and Independent National Sales Director at Mary Kay, and she speaks and teaches all around the world. Diana started her career in the Air Force, but she left to join Mary Kay in search of a better life where she could work from home, make more money, and be happy all at the same time. That bold decision transformed her life, as the mentors and experiences she gained helped her to grow into the confident, powerful leader she is today.

Diana’s first book, Step Out of the Box: Your Dream Life is Waiting, teaches women to “erase and replace” the old labels that have defined them and kept them from living their dream lives. She also developed IGNITE, a program designed to train and motivate church volunteers to encourage, equip, and energize their teams.

Diana’s incredible story of transformation is a great example of how investing in your own life can inspire and motivate countless other women. She joins Leah on Her Story of Success to talk about how she moved past old mindsets and habits into living her dream life, and she shares helpful advice for how you can learn to do the same.

In This Episode:

Diana describes the process of transforming from a person who was controlled by negative mindsets and labels into a leader who’s living her dream life and speaking into the lives of others. She shares wisdom from her book about investing in yourself, and she talks about some of the biggest lessons she’s learned in her marriage.

Here are some of the highlights:

Diana’s story of serving in the Air Force and then starting to work for Mary Kay
Why your thoughts make the biggest difference in helping you reach your goals
How to have a healthy marriage when you share different faiths
The importance of surrounding yourself with uplifting people
How to erase and replace old labels so you can start to dream bigger
Finding a dream that impacts and inspires others

The books Diana and Leah mentioned:

Step Out of the Box: Your Dream Life is Waiting by Diana Sumpter

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Sponsored by: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Non-Profit Spotlight: Friendship Bridge helps women in Guatemala start their own businesses. They know it takes more than loans to help women get out of poverty, so they designed a unique microedit loan program that also includes education, training and health services to empower women holistically.

Selling Your Brand’s Honest Story with Krista Ripma Jun 18, 2020

Krista Ripma is the President and Co-Founder of Authentic Audience, a digital marketing agency that helps brands tell their honest stories. Krista fell in love with marketing through a unique combination of experiences — learning storytelling in Hollywood before ultimately leaving because of the toxic work environment and then learning how to market a business in the yoga and wellness industry. She then started Authentic Audience with her husband and has grown it into a thriving company that offers brand strategy, content creation, email marketing, social media and more, all with the goal of helping brands “sell the truth.” Krista has been featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur, hosts The Authentic Audience Podcast and recently developed an online course in Marketing Fundamentals to further share everything she has learned.

Since Krista built much of her business as a solopreneur, she’s learned firsthand about the importance of setting boundaries around work — even when you love what you do — and finding ways to have a positive mindset and a full life outside of your career. She joins Leah on Her Story of Success to tell the inspiring story of how she got to where she is today, and they talk about some of the most important things people should think about when they want to start prioritizing marketing and brand storytelling for their businesses.

In This Episode:

Krista shares how she’s helping companies to tell their honest stories and make money in the process with Authentic Audience, and she offers advice for leaders and business owners looking to be more intentional about building their brands.

Here are some of the highlights:

Starting out in Hollywood and deciding to leave
Working with yoga brands and learning to do business with heart
Having a strong product, separating yourself from your brand and other tips for telling your business’ story
Learning to embrace the slow burn over high growth and extreme stress

Non-Profit Spotlight: AWAKE Tennessee works to advance opportunities for women and kids with education and policy change. In the six years since they started, AWAKE has helped 8 bills into law, launched a state-wide campaign for child abuse prevention and created a curriculum for middle school kids to learn about healthy relationships and financial independence.

Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Providing Accessible Birth Control Delivered with Dr. Sophia Yen Jun 11, 2020

Dr. Sophia Yen is the co-founder and CEO of Pandia Health, the world’s only doctor led, women founded, and woman led birth control delivery company. With more than 20 years of experience in medicine, Dr. Sophia is board-certified in Adolescent Medicine, with a Doctorate of Medicine from UCSF Medical School and a Master’s of Public Health from UC Berkeley in Maternal Child Health. She started Pandia Health out of a desire to make women’s lives easier by reducing “pill anxiety,” the stress that comes with having to refill birth control every month. As a respected thought leader and educator, Dr. Sophia is also passionate about educating women about topics like #PeriodsOptional, sexually-transmitted infections, acne, and other adolescent health issues. She has spoken at SXSW, TedxSilicon Valley Women, TedxBerkley, and at universities around the U.S., along with teaching as a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford Medical School.

Even though Dr. Sophia is incredibly qualified to run Pandia Health, she has often struggled to get the same level of funding as her male counterparts, and she’s had to navigate the difficult regulations around practicing medicine in different states. She joins Leah on Her Story of Success for an honest conversation about the struggles so many female founders face, especially when pitching female-focused products and services to male venture capitalists. Dr. Sophia also explains how you can partner with Pandia Health to help bring affordable, stress-free birth control to women across the U.S., especially those who may struggle to afford it on their own.

In This Episode:

Dr. Sophia shares insight into the ways pill anxiety and periods can negatively affect women and describes how Pandia Health is actively working to solve those issues. She also opens up about her experience of being the only female founder and CEO of a birth control delivery company, and she and Leah discuss the importance of pushing through frustration that can arise when you have a big vision but change is happening slowly.

Here are some of the highlights:

How Pandia Health is getting rid of pill anxiety for women
The health benefits of #PeriodsOptional and getting affordable birth control through Pandia Health
The unique challenges of running a FemTech company and trying to get funding
Pushing through the frustration of slow-moving change and continuing to stay passionate about your goals

Non-Profit Spotlight: In Her Shoes helps girls and women around the world live courageously. In addition to hosting an annual women’s summit, they also provide workshops and leadership training for high school girls. Everything In Her Shoes does is centered around one question: “What would you do if you were 1% more courageous?” With this mission in mind, they help girls to understand their passions, express themselves and pursue possibility in every area of their lives.

Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Leading an Employee-Centric Company to Success with Sherry Stewart Deutschmann May 28, 2020

Sherry Stewart Deutschmann built an incredibly successful career out of the belief that empathy could be the key to a more profitable business model. She put that idea into practice with LetterLogic, Inc., a company she built out of her basement and grew to $40 million before selling it in 2016. LetterLogic, which was named an Inc. 5000 company for ten consecutive years, was built on a unique model of putting employees first, starting with the dedication to paying employees a living wage and trickling into other areas like profit sharing and allowing people to bring their kids to work. Sherry has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes Magazine, Fast Company and more, and she was honored by President Barack Obama as a White House Champion of Change in 2016. Her newest venture, BrainTrust, is a company dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs grow their businesses to $1 million in annual revenue and beyond. Sherry is also the author of Lunch with Lucy, a book that teaches business owners to “maximize profits by investing in your people.”

Sherry joins Leah on Her Story of Success to share some of the practical steps she took to create an employee-first business model, including the Lunch with Lucy program that she talks about in her book. She also opens up about what it was like to sell her company and gets real about the mourning process that went with letting go of something she’d built from the ground up. Sherry’s passion for leading well and empowering others is such an inspiration, and her story of finding new ways to invest in other women — both through her own venture firm and through BrainTrust — is such a great example of how women can lift each other up while also achieving their own personal success.

In This Episode:

Sherry tells her inspiring story of starting a company as a single mom with only a high school diploma and finding success through her intentional choice to put her employees first. She also breaks down the specifics of what that business model looked like, from paying people a living wage to becoming a more approachable CEO. As a newly published author and founder and CEO of BrainTrust, Sherry explains how she’s continuing to empower women business owners in every area of her career.

Here are some of the highlights:

Creating an employee-centric company, and what it means to pay people a living wage
Becoming an approachable leader with “lunch with Lucy”
Sherry’s experience of selling the company she built and looking for new ways to fill her time
Empowering other women business owners with BrainTrust

Non-Profit Spotlight: The Pandia Health Birth Control Fund provides financial assistance for women who need help paying for their birth control, furthering Pandia’s mission of creating confidential, convenient and affordable access to birth control for all women.

Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Preparing for Next: Expanding in the Midst of COVID-19 with Erica McMannes May 21, 2020

Erica McMannes is the founder and COO of Instant Teams, a company that builds and manages remote teams for companies across the U.S.. She and her co-founder, Liza Rodewald, started Instant Teams out of Erica’s own experience as an Army spouse who had to get creative about finding career opportunities that could accommodate her lifestyle. At Instant Teams, military spouses can create a free profile and be matched with remote work. Instant Teams recently closed a $1.5 million round of VC funding and has been able to continue expanding even in the midst of COVID-19 losses. Erica is also a speaker and thought leader around military spouse employment and serves on the advisory board for the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs.

Though Instant Teams has lost a few clients during COVID-19, the company has also been able to bring on about 30 new employees, and they’re continuing to offer solutions for businesses that need remote work more than ever. Erica shares her optimism around the innovation that she believes will come out of COVID-19, and she explains how she’s learning to seek work-life harmony instead of balance, even in chaotic times.

In This Episode:

Erica shares some of the biggest lessons she’s learned while building her company, from the importance of flexibility and remote work options to the power of networking. She also stresses the importance of staying true to yourself and your business, even when you’re a woman in a male-dominated space like venture capital.

Here are some of the highlights:

Building remote solutions for clients
How COVID-19 is fostering innovation in the workplace
Seeking harmony instead of work-life balance
Lessons Erica has learned through the fundraising process

Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Preparing for Next: A Live Interview with Maggie Tucker May 14, 2020

Maggie Tucker is the owner and founder of the Nashville-based retail stores magpies baby and magpies girl. The magpies stores provide clothing, gifts and more for young girls and their families in a uniquely joyful and fun environment. Maggie has been featured in Southern Living, Cottage Living and Gift Shop Magazine, and she won HGTV’s award for top retail merchandising and design. Maggie is also passionate about serving the Nashville community, both by partnering with entrepreneurs and creatives and by giving back to organizations like Preston Taylor Ministries and the Dream Center.

When Maggie realized her store would have to close because of COVID-19, she and her team shifted the entire business online, providing curbside pickup and shipping orders to families across the country. She’s also had to stay flexible with her plans around ordering new products, marketing her business and still providing an incredible experience even when people can’t come into the physical store. In the process, she’s witnessed the power of people’s support for small businesses, and she offers words of encouragement to other women who find themselves struggling during these difficult times.

In This Episode:

Maggie opens up about the difficulties she’s faced as a small business owner during COVID-19 and explains how she’s shifted her operations to stay in business. She also encourages women to support and empower each other and talks about the importance of learning to accept help from others when they offer it.

Here are some of the highlights:

Transitioning to stay in business during COVID-19
Staying true to the heart of magpies even when selling online
The importance of supporting other women business owners
Learning to accept help from others

Businesses Leah and Maggie mentioned:

Listen to Maggie’s First Her Story of Success Episode

Preparing for Next: Marketing for the Next Phase with Nekasha Pratt May 07, 2020

Nekasha Pratt is an award-winning marketer, speaker and thought leader. She works as the Director of Marketing for Tennessee Tourism and is the Chief Strategy and Brand Officer for her own firm, Bright Advisory Group. With almost 20 years of marketing experience, Nekasha has worked in a wide array of roles and industries, servicing both small and large clients. Today she specializes in digital marketing, branding and multicultural marketing. Nekasha has been honored with many national and local awards, including 3 international Cannes Lions Awards, Nashville’s 2019 Women of Influence Award, a BizWomen Economic Develop Headliner, and more. She also serves her community on boards like Women Can Be Angels, the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, and Together Digital, and she’s an advisor for the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and a Business Mentor for Pathway Women’s Business Center.

In the midst of COVID-19, Nekasha believes marketing is more important than ever, and she’s helping clients to shift their messaging to building awareness and relationships, rather than hard selling in a time of so much uncertainty. While she advocates for the importance of a strong marketing strategy, she also encourages business owners to plan in a way that allows future flexibility, especially when looking ahead to the upcoming phases of COVID-19 recovery.

In This Episode...

Nekasha offers practical advice for marketing effectively during COVID-19 by shifting the focus from hard selling to relationship building. She also breaks down some of the basics of how to develop a strong but flexible marketing strategy and explains how you can know that it’s time to outsource some of your marketing efforts.

Here are Some of the Highlights:

Why marketing matters during uncertain times
Developing a strong core message and communicating your value
Adapting your strategy to focus on relationship building
Planning for recovery
How to build a marketing strategy and how to know when it’s time to outsource

Sponsored by: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Controlling the Narrative of COVID-19 with Nicole Wegman Apr 30, 2020

Nicole Wegman is the founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, a jewelry company that’s making luxury accessible to the masses. Ring Concierge is run by women, for women, and it is disrupting the traditionally male-dominated jewelry industry with its all-female team and thriving e-commerce business. In 2013, Nicole left a career in the fashion industry to start Ring Concierge, inspired by her own experience of shopping for an engagement ring and realizing the industry lacked the perspective of millennial women. Ring Concierge has amassed a large social media following, where Nicole blurs the line between retailer and influencer to provide engaging, accessible content for her customers.

Since the start of COVID-19, Nicole has had to pivot her business strategies multiple times, first by finding packaging manufacturers outside of China, and most recently by shifting to fully remote work when it became unsafe to go into the company’s New York City office. Because of her innovative, e-commerce approach to jewelry retail, Nicole has been able to keep selling product in a time when many other jewelry companies are struggling to adjust to selling online for the first time.

In This Episode:

Nicole shares her strategies for staying calm and leading her team well in the midst of COVID-19, and she describes how she’s adapted her business to accommodate working from home. She also offers insight into the gradual way that many businesses will have to approach reopening once government mandates allow them to do so.

Here are some of the highlights:

Building a company by women for women
Pivoting quickly throughout COVID-19
Staying calm in the face of uncertainty
Looking ahead to a gradual reopening
Developing a brand around innovation

Sponsored by: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Controlling the Narrative of COVID-19 with Gail Peace Apr 23, 2020

Gail Peace is the Founder and CEO of Ludi, Inc., a healthcare technology and physician-advocacy firm that helps hospitals manage payments to their physicians. She has more than 25 years of experience as a healthcare executive and entrepreneur, serving in leadership roles at companies including WebMD and Vanguard Health Chicago. With Ludi, Gail created DocTime Log, Ludi’s software that helps clients keep track of their complex contracts with the independently employed physicians who work for them. Gail has been honored as a Female Healthcare IT Leader to Know by Becker’s Hospital Review in 2018 and 2019, and she’s a published author, blogger and speaker.

In the midst of COVID-19, Gail wants to help all hospitals pay their physicians properly, even those that aren’t Ludi clients. She and her team developed a free version of DocTime Log to help hospitals keep track of the practitioners who may be working different hours or in different areas than normal. She’s also working to keep her employees informed about the facts of COVID-19 with weekly newsletter updates, and she’s adapting to changes within her own business as a result of the pandemic.

In This Episode:

Gail shares how she’s navigating COVID-19 as a small business owner and continuing to provide important services in the healthcare industry. She also reminds listeners that new opportunities may arise from this crisis and encourages them to learn from these unusual circumstances.

Here are some of the highlights:

How COVID-19 is impacting the healthcare industry
Over-communicating to help employees navigate this pandemic
Releasing a new product to serve the industry and invest in future clients
Learning from the challenges of COVID-19

Sponsored by: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Controlling the Narrative of COVID-19 with Christine Owenell Apr 16, 2020

Christine Owenell is an executive coach, consultant and speaker who’s passionate about helping leaders cultivate presence, compassion and self-awareness. She’s the founder of Owenell Global Consultancy, where she works with CEOs, high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs and people in transition to help companies scale without losing their souls. She’s also a partner at Evolution Service Corp, a coaching organization that specializes in working with high growth startups and companies. Christine has advised and coached leaders at high-profile organizations including Slack, Vanderbilt, LinkedIn, Northwestern Mutual and more.

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, Christine is helping executives to navigate all of the unknowns by reminding them that it’s OK to not have answers and giving them space to be vulnerable and talk about their fears and questions. She’s also launched her first group coaching program, where she’s working with high level leaders to help them transform the chaos of COVID-19 into new opportunities.

In This Episode:

Christine shares how she’s navigating the challenges of parenting while working full-time from home and continuing to be a resource for her clients. She also encourages leaders to deal with this crisis one step at a time, instead of spending too much time planning for things that are completely unknown.

Here are some of the highlights:

Adjusting to working from home while parenting
Creating space for executives to be vulnerable
Giving your family grace in this time
Taking it day by day instead of trying to plan in the midst of so much uncertainty.

You can listen to Christine’s episode where she breaks down the executive coaching process here.

Sponsored by: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Controlling the Narrative of COVID-19 with Nina Stanley Apr 14, 2020

Nina Stanley is the Chief Creative and Neuromarketing Officer at MOD, a human experience agency. She helps brands bridge their physical and virtual expressions with an innovative approach that uses applied neuroscience principles. MOD has worked with an impressive portfolio of clients, including Comcast, CVS and Whole Foods. Nina is also an advocate for women’s heart health issues and the American Heart Association, and she works alongside the Quell Foundation to eliminate societal stigmas around mental health.

MOD started in 2004 and had to survive the Great Recession, so Nina has experience with leading her team through crises. However, COVID-19 has presented new challenges for MOD, as they’ve had to adapt to completely remote work for the first time. Nina and her team have risen to the challenge by maximizing the effectiveness of digital communication and producing helpful and engaging content for both the MOD team and their clients.

In This Episode:

Nina explains how her team has been proactive about engaging with clients and tackling the new challenges of virtual work during COVID-19. She also shares encouragement for other women who are struggling right now, whether it’s because of business stresses or the challenge of parenting during this time.

Here are some of the highlights:

How MOD is taking its in-person culture online during COVID-19
Leading a team through a frightening time
Getting creative with your kids’ schedules
Developing inspiring content for clients and employees

Sponsored by: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Controlling the Narrative of COVID-19 with Marcie Allen Van Mol Apr 09, 2020

Marcie Allen Van Mol is the President and Founder of MAC Presents, a music sponsorship and experiential agency that connects artists, brands and fans. With more than 25 years of experience in the music industry, Marcie has worked with brands including Sony, Southwest and Verizon and artists like The Rolling Stones, Chance the Rapper and Billy Joel. Marcie teaches as an adjunct professor at NYU Steinhardt and is on boards for the Country Music Association and Berklee College of Music. She’s also a partner at Anzie Blue, a luxury CBD oil company and coffee shop that she started with her husband.

When COVID-19 started to keep people from going to restaurants or wanting to visit Anzie Blue, Marcie and her team had to figure out how to pivot the business, adding takeout, curbside and local delivery for coffee, food and CBD Products. Marcie also moved to online marketing, using Instagram to engage with customers and educate them about Anzie Blue’s products. Since then, the shop has rapidly adjusted to new challenges, getting its liquor license and expanding its menu to meet their customers’ needs.

In This Episode:

Marcie explains how she’s served the community during COVID-19 by pivoting her business and adding new services. She also talks about leaning on her team for support and parenting in the midst of coronavirus.

Here are some of the highlights:

Marcie and her husband’s inspiration for starting Anzie Blue
Adapting a brand new business to survive COVID-19
Advice for other business owners
Homeschooling during coronavirus

How to Support Anzie Blue:

Nashville residents can order takeout, curbside or delivery by calling (615) 866-9545
Anyone in the U.S. can order CBD products at www.anzieblue.com
Follow Anzie Blue on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on new offerings.

Sponsored by: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Controlling the Narrative of COVID-19 with Angela Proffitt Apr 07, 2020

Angela Proffitt is an entrepreneur, wedding and events expert, productivity consultant, speaker, writer and coach. She’s the founder of productivity company GSD Creative and cofounder of Collective615, the first coworking space for women in Nashville. Angela has published eight books, created many online classes and live events, and hosts the Business Unveiled podcast.

Angela is not new to disasters putting a halt on business. During the 2010 Nashville flood she learned the importance of having important documents backed up online and a team that could work virtually. This experience helped her create a new business teaching other companies how to do the same.

Today a majority of Angela’s revenue comes from live events so she had to pivot again and find a way to keep earning revenue.

In This Episode:

Angela shares her story of creating multiple businesses that help companies stay productive and reach their goals, and she explains how she created programs to make live events virtual and help companies take their businesses online to keep earning in the midst of COVID-19.

Here are some of the highlights:

Angela’s story of creating GSD Creative after the Nashville flood
Developing a virtual solution for clients
Moving Collective615 online during COVID-19

Tools and Resources Angela and Leah Mentioned:

Zoom
GSD Creative
Collective615’s virtual opportunities: Follow Collective615 on Instagram for updates
Marco Polo

Sponsored by: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

COVID-19 Controlling the Narrative with Jacqueline Au Apr 02, 2020

In this new series from Her Story of Success, we’re highlighting the stories of women who are controlling the narrative around their businesses during COVID-19. Jacqueline Au is the founder and creative director of The LOFT Bridal, a Hong Kong-based boutique where brides can experience a personalized, intentional shopping experience.

Jaqueline shares how coronavirus drastically impacted her business and how wakeboarding has helped her learn to ride the wave known as COVID-19. They have gotten creative to find a new way to do virtual appointments and have implemented new health and safety policies so she can continue serving brides while also protecting her employees.

Redefining Hustle with Lily Hansen Mar 16, 2020

Lily Hansen has built her career around her passion for conversation. As an author, writer and speaker, she has interviewed more than 1,000 people all over the world, and she’s an advocate for better conversation and deeper connection in an increasingly digital age.

After working as a freelance music journalist, Lily found herself at a crossroads in her career and decided to pursue a new creative project. She started compiling interviews and portrait photography into a book, called Word of Mouth: Nashville Conversations.

Since then, Lily has written two more books under the Word of Mouth umbrella, including one to celebrate the 50th anniversary of HCA Healthcare. She also gave a TedX Talk in December, called “Talking to Strangers is My Self-Care,” which was all about the wisdom she’s gained from her interviews.

Lily is an inspiration not only because of the work she does, but also because of her ability to find success in the pursuit of her own passions and happiness. She joins Leah on Her Story of Success to talk about some of the lessons she’s learned in her career, how she’s redefined hustle culture for herself, and the importance of developing strong relationships with people in your community. Lily also describes the practical process of finding work and knowing how much to charge as a freelancer.

In This Episode:

Lily shares her unique story of building a career that’s all about connecting with and getting to know people. She talks about some of the inspiring lessons she’s learned along the way, including the common threads of humanity she finds across all the interviews she does.

Here are some of the highlights:

Lily’s life story and the process of deciding to write a book after she found herself lacking inspiration (1:49)
What it’s like to work as a freelancer, knowing how much to charge and managing your expectations about finances (9:14)
Connecting with people all over the world and seeing common humanity in everyone (15:51)
How we can redefine hustle culture to prioritize building relationships and living a full life outside of work (20:59)
The process of becoming a public speaker (33:10)
Finding success in being happy and proud of who you are (40:13)

The Books and Brands Lily and Leah Mentioned Are:

Word of Mouth: Nashville Conversations by Lily Hansen

Word of Mouth: More Conversations by Lily Hansen

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

Judith Bright Jewelry

Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Non-Profit Spotlight: My Bag My Story provides backpacks and duffle bags for kids in foster care so they don’t have to carry their belongings around in trash bags. They provide dignity and something that kids can call their own.

Moving from Stuck to Courage with Hayley Dickson Mar 02, 2020

Hayley Dickson has always been driven to find “success” in her career. After a decade in the entertainment business, rising from executive assistant to SVP at Fremantle Media, the largest media production and distribution company in Europe, she realized she wasn’t fulfilled.

While exiting the entertainment arena, a conversation with her financial advisor led to an offer from his company, Northwestern Mutual. In her first year, Hayley was No. 1 in the Western Region among advisors with fewer than five years at the company, and in 2019 she was named one of the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Most Influential Wealth Managers.

During that time she also worked tirelessly with the corporate office to launch a family planning policy that allows more flexibility and better benefits for financial advisor moms. That policy she helped create, is now used nationwide. And it has changed the face of family planning for parents at Northwestern Mutual

Hayley primarily works with women, LGBTQ+ and diverse communities. She’s passionate about empowering these typically underserved groups to achieve greater financial success and find a place in an industry that’s traditionally been focused on a small, elite group of men.

Hayley joins Leah on Her Story of Success to share about her inspiring journey from feeling stuck, to making a courageous decision, to finding fulfillment. She also encourages women to stop undervaluing themselves and be confident in the worth they have to their company.

In This Episode:

Hayley opens up about the courage it took to leave the entertainment industry in search of a new career, and she shares some of the key factors that have helped her to be successful, like resilient confidence and a determination to prioritize her own intuition.

Here are some of the highlights:

The biggest challenges to self-confidence and how to overcome them (6:10)
Hayley’s inspiring journey from stuck to courage (13:18)
How to trust your intuition, even when the people around you are encouraging you to do something different (18:11)
Taking a risk, but making sure it’s a calculated one (23:10)
How Hayley created widespread change for other women and found supportive men to back her and empower her (25:47)
Finding the impact you want to make instead of focusing on external validation (31:08)
A rapidfire mentorship session, including how to connect with mentors, the most influential books and the best investments Hayley has made into herself (35:50)
Finding success in prioritizing the right things at the right time (41:39)

The Books Hayley and Leah Mentioned Are:

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero

The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington

Moving from Stuck to Courage with Hayley Dickson Mar 02, 2020

Hayley Dickson has always been driven to find “success” in her career. After a decade in the entertainment business, rising from executive assistant to SVP at Fremantle Media, the largest media production and distribution company in Europe, she realized she wasn’t fulfilled.

While exiting the entertainment arena, a conversation with her financial advisor led to an offer from his company, Northwestern Mutual. In her first year, Hayley was No. 1 in the Western Region among advisors with fewer than five years at the company, and in 2019 she was named one of the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Most Influential Wealth Managers.

During that time she also worked tirelessly with the corporate office to launch a family planning policy that allows more flexibility and better benefits for financial advisor moms. That policy she helped create, is now used nationwide. And it has changed the face of family planning for parents at Northwestern Mutual

Hayley primarily works with women, LGBTQ+ and diverse communities. She’s passionate about empowering these typically underserved groups to achieve greater financial success and find a place in an industry that’s traditionally been focused on a small, elite group of men.

Hayley joins Leah on Her Story of Success to share about her inspiring journey from feeling stuck, to making a courageous decision, to finding fulfillment. She also encourages women to stop undervaluing themselves and be confident in the worth they have to their company.

In This Episode:

Hayley opens up about the courage it took to leave the entertainment industry in search of a new career, and she shares some of the key factors that have helped her to be successful, like resilient confidence and a determination to prioritize her own intuition.

Here are some of the highlights:

The biggest challenges to self-confidence and how to overcome them (6:10)
Hayley’s inspiring journey from stuck to courage (13:18)
How to trust your intuition, even when the people around you are encouraging you to do something different (18:11)
Taking a risk, but making sure it’s a calculated one (23:10)
How Hayley created widespread change for other women and found supportive men to back her and empower her (25:47)
Finding the impact you want to make instead of focusing on external validation (31:08)
A rapidfire mentorship session, including how to connect with mentors, the most influential books and the best investments Hayley has made into herself (35:50)
Finding success in prioritizing the right things at the right time (41:39)

The Books Hayley and Leah Mentioned Are:

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero

The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington

Moving from Stuck to Courage with Hayley Dickson Mar 02, 2020

Hayley Dickson has always been driven to find “success” in her career. After a decade in the entertainment business, rising from executive assistant to SVP at Fremantle Media, the largest media production and distribution company in Europe, she realized she wasn’t fulfilled.

While exiting the entertainment arena, a conversation with her financial advisor led to an offer from his company, Northwestern Mutual. In her first year, Hayley was No. 1 in the Western Region among advisors with fewer than five years at the company, and in 2019 she was named one of the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Most Influential Wealth Managers.

During that time she also worked tirelessly with the corporate office to launch a family planning policy that allows more flexibility and better benefits for financial advisor moms. That policy she helped create, is now used nationwide. And it has changed the face of family planning for parents at Northwestern Mutual

Hayley primarily works with women, LGBTQ+ and diverse communities. She’s passionate about empowering these typically underserved groups to achieve greater financial success and find a place in an industry that’s traditionally been focused on a small, elite group of men.

Hayley joins Leah on Her Story of Success to share about her inspiring journey from feeling stuck, to making a courageous decision, to finding fulfillment. She also encourages women to stop undervaluing themselves and be confident in the worth they have to their company.

In This Episode:

Hayley opens up about the courage it took to leave the entertainment industry in search of a new career, and she shares some of the key factors that have helped her to be successful, like resilient confidence and a determination to prioritize her own intuition.

Here are some of the highlights:

The biggest challenges to self-confidence and how to overcome them (6:10)
Hayley’s inspiring journey from stuck to courage (13:18)
How to trust your intuition, even when the people around you are encouraging you to do something different (18:11)
Taking a risk, but making sure it’s a calculated one (23:10)
How Hayley created widespread change for other women and found supportive men to back her and empower her (25:47)
Finding the impact you want to make instead of focusing on external validation (31:08)
A rapidfire mentorship session, including how to connect with mentors, the most influential books and the best investments Hayley has made into herself (35:50)
Finding success in prioritizing the right things at the right time (41:39)

The Books Hayley and Leah Mentioned Are:

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero

The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington

Moving from Stuck to Courage with Hayley Dickson Mar 02, 2020

Hayley Dickson has always been driven to find “success” in her career. After a decade in the entertainment business, rising from executive assistant to SVP at Fremantle Media, the largest media production and distribution company in Europe, she realized she wasn’t fulfilled.

While exiting the entertainment arena, a conversation with her financial advisor led to an offer from his company, Northwestern Mutual. In her first year, Hayley was No. 1 in the Western Region among advisors with fewer than five years at the company, and in 2019 she was named one of the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Most Influential Wealth Managers.

During that time she also worked tirelessly with the corporate office to launch a family planning policy that allows more flexibility and better benefits for financial advisor moms. That policy she helped create, is now used nationwide. And it has changed the face of family planning for parents at Northwestern Mutual

Hayley primarily works with women, LGBTQ+ and diverse communities. She’s passionate about empowering these typically underserved groups to achieve greater financial success and find a place in an industry that’s traditionally been focused on a small, elite group of men.

Hayley joins Leah on Her Story of Success to share about her inspiring journey from feeling stuck, to making a courageous decision, to finding fulfillment. She also encourages women to stop undervaluing themselves and be confident in the worth they have to their company.

In This Episode:

Hayley opens up about the courage it took to leave the entertainment industry in search of a new career, and she shares some of the key factors that have helped her to be successful, like resilient confidence and a determination to prioritize her own intuition.

Here are some of the highlights:

The biggest challenges to self-confidence and how to overcome them (6:10)
Hayley’s inspiring journey from stuck to courage (13:18)
How to trust your intuition, even when the people around you are encouraging you to do something different (18:11)
Taking a risk, but making sure it’s a calculated one (23:10)
How Hayley created widespread change for other women and found supportive men to back her and empower her (25:47)
Finding the impact you want to make instead of focusing on external validation (31:08)
A rapidfire mentorship session, including how to connect with mentors, the most influential books and the best investments Hayley has made into herself (35:50)
Finding success in prioritizing the right things at the right time (41:39)

The Books Hayley and Leah Mentioned Are:

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero

The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington

Why You Should Care About Personal Branding with Cynthia Johnson Feb 17, 2020

Cynthia Johnson, Co-Founder & CEO of Bell + Ivy wrote Platform: The Art & Science of Personal Branding for “normal people.” She is on the podcast today to share whether we are a CEO, entrepreneur, or employee why it is important for us to own our personal brand and some steps we can take audit our online brand. Cynthia shares why it is important for us to advocate for ourselves, our work, and learn how to ask for what we want.

Let us know which tip or quote is your favorite @herstorysuccess and @cynthialive

We write about all of our podcasts. Check out the full post and learn what I learned from Cynthia at https://www.herstoryofsuccess.com/podcast/episodes/cynthiajohnson

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe (for free) to “Her Story of Success” rate and review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Radically Generous Women Changing the World with Vicki Saunders Feb 03, 2020

Vicki Saunders is Founder & CEO of SheEO, a radically redesigned ecosystem that supports, finances, and celebrates female innovators.

Vicki has co-founded and run ventures in Europe, Toronto and Silicon Valley and taken a company public on the Toronto Stock Exchange. She was recently named as 1 of 30 “World-Changing Women in Conscious Business” by Conscious Company Magazine, one of the 100 most influential leaders of 2015 from “EBW – Empowering A Billion Women”, and in 2001, was selected as a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum.

In this Episode

Vicki shares stories of growing up in the farm version of Disneyland, her experience living in Europe when the Berlin wall fell, importance of finding your tribe, when she learned your environment will determine who you become, and her entrepreneurial journey that led to to start SheEO.

The highlights:

Vicki explains how she “mashed together” microfinancing, crowdfunding, and other funding concepts to create SheEO (9:08)
Why they give a 0% loan instead of funding the ventures and what happens when 500 women choose you, become customers, and become an influencer for you. (10:10)
process of applying to be a “venture”
She talks about being in Europe when the Berlin wall and how she became a catalyst for entrepreneurship before telephones and email were a thing. (18:20) -
Starting an incubator back in Canada and heading to Silicon Valley (22:05)
Everyone has something amazing to contribute, but what kind of environments stop you and what frees you. (23:05)
How she is seeing women rise to the occasion. (38:05)

The SheEO companies Vicki mentioned were:

Abeego food preserver wrap made of beeswax
Alinker walking bike for those with limited mobility
Loliware disposable straw made of seaweed

Sponsored By

Insperity HR that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people. Helping business owners succeed since 1986.

Non-Profit Spotlight. Center for Women & Enterprise: CWE provides opportunities for women entrepreneurs and women in business to increase professional success, personal growth, and financial Independence.

Chasing the Bright Side with Jess Ekstrom Jan 06, 2020

Jess Ekstrom , Founder & CEO of Headbands of Hope joins Leah in the Nashville studio for a fun conversation about the humble of Headbands of Hope, why she started a social enterprise instead of a nonprofit, and some of the lessons learned from her book Chasing the Bright Side.

They discuss some of the challenges Jess faced growing Headbands of Hope, how she redefines what entrepreneurship means, and how she is passionate about humanizing the hustle of success and normalizing the mess in the middle.

Jess tells the story of hearing Blake Mycoskie from Tom’s Shoes speak and how he inspired her to believe that we don't have to choose between making a living and making a difference.

She shares how taking improve classes helped her look at life in the expansiveness of possibilities instead of just making strategies and plans, and that some of the turning points in her life happened because she said yes and showed up.

We also talk through the process of writing her book Chasing the Bright Side and the humbling experience of receiving the feedback. She said the rough draft of your book isn't supposed to be perfect,and that message helped her realize it is true in life too.

Through Chasing the Bright Side, teaches us how to “Believe in Better” and then go create it. We hope you enjoy this conversation!

Today’s episode is sponsored by Givful,philanthropy company that provides employers the ability to engage their workforce through volunteering and giving, helps nonprofits raise funds and awareness, and makes individual giving simple and fun though their technology platform. If you are looking to enhance your corporate giving or community involvement strategy, you can find more information at https://www.givful.com.

Our nonprofit spotlight today is Girls Inc. inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

Their programming focuses on the development of the whole girl. A combination of research-based programming, long-lasting mentoring relationships, and a pro-girl environment that equips girls to lead fulfilling and productive lives, break the cycle of poverty, and become role models in their community. You can find more information at https://girlsinc.org.

Growth & Belonging Dec 23, 2019

Melissa N. Aldridge is the Director of Corporate Strategy and Development for Unum Group and the new COO and CFO of Her Story of Success. These roles allow her to fulfill her twin passions of deriving actionable insights to transform businesses and positively impacting women and families.

A talent for seeing the big picture and executing on details has enabled Melissa to have unique experiences in corporate strategy, investment portfolio management, technology commercialization, operations and finance for startups, and venture and angel capital funding. She is a trusted advisor and partner of business leaders and has held leadership roles in organizations ranging from not-for-profits to Fortune 500 companies.

Melissa serves as an investment committee member of the Launch Tennessee Innovation Capital Continuum Fund.

In this episode

Host, Leah Hayes, introduces Melissa Aldridge as her new business partner with Her Story of Success. They discuss Melissa’s background, what led her to join Her Story of Success, and what they are excited about in 2020 for Her Story of Success.

Melissa gets personal and shares how the experience of becoming a single mother and the process of doing the inner work necessary to move forward led to growth both professionally and personally.

She shares what she learned as a listener of Her Story of Success and how the common theme she felt in all the episodes was a sense of belonging, which was inspiring & motivating during that time of growth in her life.

Melissa and Leah reflect on their accomplishments and share some of the exciting opportunities coming in 2020 for the Her Story of Success community.

In This Episode:

Melissa discusses why she chose to return to a corporate position and while ultimately Unum was the best fit for her (1:43).
Melissa talks about how company culture affected her growth, “I never realized how much culture mattered, until I didn’t have a good one” (14:10).
Leah outlines all the work and research she and Melissa did to vet their compatibility, and why they were ultimately a match as business partners (23:20).
Why Melissa ultimately made the time to assess what she wanted from her career, by taking herself on as a client and “decoupling her passion from her paycheck” (26:22).
The AH-HA moment that turned a switch for Melissa and gave her the feeling that we are all in this together (30:46).
Leah and Melissa tells listeners about the great additions to Her Story of Success coming in 2020 (33:00).
Leah and Melissa talk about how the community and connectivity of Her Story of Success can help each listener grow, learn and give back (36:20).

From a Woman’s Perspective Dec 09, 2019

Marcie Allen and Maria Aspan joined host, Leah Hayes for a lively and fun conversation recorded live in New York City where they discuss starting, running and growing a business from a woman’s perspective. They cover the types and amounts of financing needed as you start and grow a business, common struggles of entrepreneurs, unique challenges women face as business owners, and why you need to start planning for your exit early.

Marcie Allen is the Founder and CEO of MAC Presents, a music sponsorship and experiential agency that connects artists, brands and fans. She’s built an impressive portfolio of programs for brands including Sony, Southwest Airlines, AT&T, Microsoft, Capital One and more, and she’s worked with artists like Chance the Rapper, Lady Antebellum, Green Day and Billy Joel.

Maria Aspan is the author of Startup Money Made Easy: The Inc. Guide to Every Financial Question About Starting, Running, and Growing Your Business. When we recorded this episode, she was working as the editor-at-large at Inc. Magazine, writing features about startups, finance, technology, gender and international business. She recently moved to Fortune, where she is a senior writer covering finance and the intersection of business and government policy.

In This Episode: Maria talks about the inspiration behind her book and some of the important lessons it teaches (4:50), and Marcie shares her story of building a company culture that empowers employees to grow and move on to other jobs (6:55). She and Maria discuss some of the common problems business owners face, especially when it comes to cash flow and lending (13:54), and Maria offers insight into the challenges that come from running a business as it expands (23:52). Marcie describes how she learned to overcome these challenges and take things one day at a time (25:05), and she shares some of her favorite things about owning her own business (28:12). Maria also gives advice about how to plan and save for retirement even when your business is just starting out (42:20), and Marcie emphasizes the importance of loving the work she does (44:15).

Choosing Happiness with Joy Altimare Nov 25, 2019

Joy Altimare is a successful brand strategist who worked with companies like L’Oreal, Verizon, Colgate-PalmOlive and Conde Nast. Her took her skills to EHE Health where she became the Chief Engagement and Brand Officer.

As the only woman and the only person of color on her company’s executive team, she knows how hard it can be to deal with discrimination in the workplace, but she hasn’t let that stop her. She’s built her life and career on her own terms. As a working mom in NYC, Joy understands the importance of surrounding herself with a tribe of amazing women and has learned that the choices she makes for her family might look different than how she was raised. Joy is passionate about mentorship and connecting kids with great opportunities, and she’s such a great example of strength and resilience.

In this episode, Joy explains how mentorship shaped her career, and she shares about her passion for mentoring others (3:39). She opens up about dealing with racism and sexism in the workplace and encourages listeners to choose happiness even when people treat you poorly (10:32). Joy also shares practical advice for dealing with an issue that so many women face: realizing you aren’t being paid fairly (17:07). She describes her inspiring story of changing her career path in college after she fell in love with advertising and offers insight into the way her parents taught her the value of work at a young age (24:24).

As a top executive working in New York City while also raising a young daughter, Joy has learned to find work life integration instead of work life balance (35:28). She gives some great advice about learning to do things differently from the way her mom raised her (36:02), and she describes how she’s learned to set boundaries with her company so she can live a full life (37:42). Joy also talks about the value of having multiple tribes of women, including a group that reminds her of who she was before she became a mom (41:20). For Joy, success is about choosing to be happy and proving to her daughter that you can be kind and still be a boss (45:03), and her example is such an inspiration for other smart, ambitious women.

Becoming a Self-Aware Leader Nov 11, 2019

Terry Humphrey, CPC is an executive coach that helps people develop the skills and mindset they need to adapt and compete in today’s constantly changing business world.

Terry’s story is great for anyone focused on leadership or personal development. She is passionate about helping people find deeper satisfaction and personal fulfillment. For Terry, that includes taking time to rest and enjoy life while still achieving great results in the workplace. She’s full of so much wisdom and practical guidance, which allows her to help leaders find new levels of success, whether they’re stepping into a position, dealing with organizational change or just looking to get better results.

In this episode, Terry describes some of the most important lessons she took from her time as a manager, such as

the value of finding mentors, learning to slow down and engage with people, and making smart hiring decisions (6:15).

After her mother’s passing and a period of feeling exhausted, Terry decided to

shift her career in a different direction, going back to school while also starting to consult and volunteer at her son’s school (14:28).

In her work as a consultant, Terry learned about

the value of being an intrapreneur (22:28), and
she offers advice to anyone who is looking to start something new within their company (24:00).

As a coach who has spent years working with other leaders, Terry has seen some

common struggles everyone deals with (26:19),
and she talks about the importance of self-awareness and how to practice asking for feedback (27:32).
Terry also describes some of the common struggles she’s seen among women leaders, and she encourages listeners to continue working on their own development and not give up on dreams of becoming an executive (33:53).
As the nature of work continues to evolve, Terry gives advice about how to find the right work environment for you (39:51).
She also stresses the importance of rest and taking care of yourself so that you can be a more effective leader or employee (49:00).

Please share this episode with anyone you know also looking to learn about leadership, personal growth, finding the right work environment, or considering a new career.

Leading from the Heart with Sarah Giblin Oct 28, 2019

Sarah Giblin has seen firsthand the power of a great education, and she’s passionate about helping a diverse community of students have access to a great education. As the Managing Director of Schools at Valor Collegiate Academy, Sarah and her team are proving each day that any student can be successful no matter their ethnicity, socio-economic status, or background.

Today, Sarah oversees three of Valor’s five public charter schools, where she’s helped students achieve incredible academic results. Her school was one of only 15 in all of Tennessee to rank in the top 5% in both academic growth and academic achievement. Valor also focuses on developing students and teachers holistically, growing in mind, body and spirit. In 2018, Sarah was honored for all of her amazing work as the Tennessee Charter School Center’s Administrator of the Year. She’s a passionate educator, driven achiever, and her story is a great example of what can happen when you find your life’s purpose and pursue it everyday.

In this episode, Sarah shares the sacrifices her dad made to afford her amazing education and that it is what fuels her passion to empower other children with the same gift (16:43). She is proud of the stereotypes the Valor community is debunking every single day (20:48), and though she’s primarily focused on investing in her students, Sarah describes how working at Valor has helped her grow and learn to lead from the heart (26:32).

Sarah believes the most important thing is for people to find their noble purpose and to live it out (40:09). She and Leah discuss the importance of creating a safe space for people to show up and learn, whether it’s in the classroom or in the workplace (43:00). Sarah also opens up about her journey of realizing success is about more than just achieving great results, it’s also about helping others grow and feel confident along the way (49:04).

Creating Your Own Path to Success with Dr. Lamees Hamdan Oct 14, 2019

When Dr. Lamees Hamdan struggled to find a safe and effective stretch mark oil to use while pregnant, she decided to make her own. That project grew into Shiffa, a luxury, organic skincare line that focuses on healing the skin from within. Dr. Lamees took a major risk when she left her job in the medical field to launch Shiffa, but her efforts paid off. Today, the brand is sold in Sephoras in the Middle East and in Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s in the U.S., and Dr. Lamees’ products are also used by spas around the world.

Dr. Lamees recently re-entered the medical profession and is now working with the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Health, promoting integrative healing. She also launched a new company, DL.MD, where she used her knowledge to develop a liquid multivitamin. Dr. Lamees has achieved so many things while also raising her four children and committing to continue learning about holistic health, and she serves as a huge inspiration.

In this episode, Dr. Lamees tells her story of discovering a new passion for clean, safe beauty products (4:44). After developing an organic stretch mark oil for herself, she realized she could build a business around it, so she decided to launch Shiffa (6:10). Even though leaving the medical field to start a new business involved major risks, Dr. Lamees learned to overcome the fear of “what if” and start new projects without having all the answers (7:48). She offers advice about moving past fear of failure and learning from the people who tell you “no” (11:45). Dr. Lamees also explains how watching her father’s entrepreneurship taught her important lessons about taking smart risks and making sacrifices for your business (17:15).

Because she started Shiffa while also raising young children, Dr. Lamees leaned heavily on the support of her husband and family, and she shares how their help allowed her to grow her business from products she made in her kitchen to the successful brand it is today (21:06). Though being a mom of four while also running her businesses comes with plenty of challenges, Dr. Lamees has learned to communicate openly with her kids so they can know that she’s involved in their lives (30:32).

Dr. Lamees has still struggled to make time for herself, though, and she opens up about learning to overcome guilt and prioritize rest and self-care (34:35). Today, Dr. Lamees tries to focus more on enjoying the journey rather than racing toward achievements, and she talks about how she’s applying that philosophy to her new company (39:25). Dr. Lamees also shares some of her favorite wellness trends and advice, from oil pulling to finding the right supplement for you (45:17).

Building a Tribe to Change the World with Pat Shea Sep 30, 2019

Pat Shea knows firsthand the power of mobilizing a tribe to work toward a common mission. She learned this skill through her experience in corporate America, when she started and ran three consulting divisions at the largest for-profit healthcare company in the U.S.. Pat then took her skills to the nonprofit sector, where she became CEO of YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee. During her time there, Pat implemented new initiatives like MEND, the YWCA Advocacy committee, the junior board and more. By bringing people together for a common goal and then allowing those people to take action in their own ways, Pat helped turn the fight against domestic violence into a city-wide campaign, where individual leaders have stepped up to create even more widespread change than she could have on her own.

Today, Pat serves as CEO and president of Givful, a technology startup that provides employers and their associates with the opportunity to support a culture of giving. She’s been honored for her years of important work with awards like the Nashville Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs, the 2017 Women of Influence/Trailblazers List, and Cable’s “Promote Women Award.” Pat is passionate about finding ways to empower others so they can give back to the community with radical generosity, and she does it in a way that’s so inspiring.

In this episode, Pat shares how her experience working in corporate America helped her realize her passion of “helping others help others” and leadership skills (6:15). That realization led her into the nonprofit space, where she learned how to fundraise by mobilizing people to help achieve a common good (9:47). Pat tells the powerful story of how she became the CEO of YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee and was able to turn the struggling organization around (12:01). During her time there, she implemented new initiatives and raised money to help achieve the organization’s mission of ending racism and violence against women (14:39).

Pat and Leah also discuss practical advice for finding a way to give back to the community that aligns with your own individual passions (24:55), and Pat shares some incredible stories of how other women helped her continue her work, even when she made mistakes along the way (33:00). After 17 years in the nonprofit world, Pat moved on to Givful, and she opens up about how she knew it was time to leave the YWCA so that someone else could carry on her work (38:55).

As an experienced mentor and leader, Pat has seen many women struggle with comparison and negative thinking, and she explains how she works to overcome that struggle in her own life (46:09). She also offers encouragement to listeners about the value of radical generosity (49:40), shares the books and podcasts that have impacted her the most, such as anything Brene Brown and Michal Singer (50:57), and she encourages women to find success by being present in every moment (52:35).

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone: Jennifer Faught Sep 16, 2019

After selling her company, Jennifer Faught found herself with a loss of identity. Through internal work and with the help of a women's mastermind group Jennifer found her passion in helping others succeed and became an executive coach with PETRA Coach. Jennifer finds fulfillment in helping business owners develop themselves and their employees personally as well as professionally to see the impact on the success of the business.

Jennifer is a great example of what can happen when women take the time and effort to invest in themselves through coaching, finding a community, and doing the work of getting out of their comfort zones. She has so many great things to say for any leader or person who’s looking for new ways to grow and develop.

In This Episode: In this episode, Jennifer explains how she helps leaders develop a growth mindset through her coaching work. She shares her journey of moving from healthcare to entrepreneurship to coaching, including the difficult process of finding her identity and her tribe after she sold her second company. Jennifer and Leah both believe it’s important to share experience instead of giving advice, and they break down the difference between the two to explain why that matters.

When Jennifer decided to become a coach, she first had to overcome her limiting beliefs and a fear of failure, and she opens up about how that process gave her more confidence. Through coaching, she’s learned to get out of her comfort zone and she explains how she coaches others to do the same. Jennifer also teaches listeners how developing a one-page personal plan can help them find direction and know what type of coach they should hire. Leah and Jennifer discuss the things and people that have impacted them the most, from mentors and champions to books to self-care practices.

Investing in Yourself to Impact Others: Ginger Jones Sep 02, 2019

Ginger Jones developed her passion for helping others at a young age. Growing up with two deaf parents, she saw firsthand how valuable speech pathology and other therapy services could be for individuals with special needs. After working as a speech pathologist, Ginger decided to further her impact by starting her own company, Jones Therapy Services. Today, that company includes nine locations that offer a wide range of pediatric therapy services.

As founder and CEO of Jones Therapy, Ginger gets to help change lives every day, but she hasn’t stopped there. She also runs her own consulting service, speaks about her experiences and writes about parenting, business and therapy on her blog. Ginger has been recognized for her work with honors like Nashville’s “40 under 40” and Enterprising Women’s 2018 Woman of the Year Champion. Most recently, she was named a Woman of Influence in Nashville by the Nashville Business Journal. Through all of her experiences, Ginger has learned the importance of investing in yourself, whether that’s through coaching, self-care or finding meaningful work at a company you love.

In this episode, Ginger explains how her desire to change the world more quickly inspired her to start her own clinic (4:40), and she shares the challenges of building a company in the midst of an unexpected pregnancy (7:04). The stressful nature of Ginger’s job made it clear to her that she needed to start investing in herself, and through that she learned to shift her mindset, re-framing fear and anxiety by focusing on the exciting opportunities in front of her (11:11). Ginger also breaks down the difference between mentors and coaches and describes the impact her coaches have had on her career and personal life (16:11).

Ginger’s commitment to personal development has helped her become an incredible leader at Jones Therapy Services and beyond, and she gives listeners advice about learning to delegate, trusting your team and not taking things so personally in a business environment (21:41). She also addresses the very real issue of burnout (31:56) and emphasizes the importance of loving both the work you do and the environment you do it in (35:41).

Ginger views success as the ability to do the work she believes she was meant to do, and she’s passionate about doing that in a way that sets an example for her two young sons (48:29). A living example of what you can accomplish when you take the time to ask for help and focus on your own growth, Ginger provides so much practical advice and inspiration in this episode.

Creating a Legacy to Empower Others: Sharon W. Reynolds Aug 19, 2019

From making clothes for 30 customers when she was a senior in high school to founding four successful companies, Sharon W. Reynolds’ whole life is a testament to the power of hard work and not taking no for an answer. Today, Sharon runs four companies: DevMar Products, DevMar Global Healthcare Solutions, DevMar Manufacturing, and Bryla J Couture Clothiers. In everything she does, Sharon is driven by a passion to help others, whether that’s through her companies, community service or her work to empower other women business owners.

Each of Sharon’s companies is devoted to making the world a better place in its own way, from creating environmentally-friendly janitorial products to providing breast milk for premature babies in the NICU to empowering women with fashion that’s for a purpose. She also serves on boards of directors such as Second Harvest Food Bank, the West End Home Foundation and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council South. Sharon has received many honors and awards for her incredible work, including the WBENC 2019 Women Business Enterprise Star, the 100 Black Men and Women Presidents Organization Women of Color Achievement Award and the Power Moves Best Entrepreneur of the Year. Sharon has so much to offer other women through the lessons she’s learned about business, service and finding success.

In This Episode: Sharon shares her inspiring story of entrepreneurship she learned from her family and expanding that into the four companies she runs today (3:11). She explains why serving the community has always been important to her and how the difficulties she faced when she was younger motivate her to help others (13:32). Today, Sharon is most passionate about empowering other women in business, which she does through organizations like Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and Enterprising Women (18:28).

Though all of these things keep her incredibly busy, Sharon has learned to take time for herself without feeling guilty, and she encourages other women to do the same, whether that’s through getting enough sleep or through taking a day off to go to a spa (27:31). She also shares her sources of inspiration, including books that have changed her outlook and mentors like her Aunt Gloria and Oprah (33:16).

As she enters a new season of life, Sharon believes success is about more than just doing great things, it’s about empowering others to get to the next level, too (38:52). Her passion for helping other women is such a powerful demonstration of how a combination of achievement and service can change the world.

Lawyer turned Moonshiner: Jessi Baker Aug 05, 2019

When Jessi Baker opened a moonshine business with her husband Joe and two of their friends, she never expected it to grow into a nationwide phenomenon. But almost 10 years later, Ole Smoky is the most visited distillery in the world, and its moonshine is sold in all 50 states and 53 countries. After leaving her career as an attorney, Jessi has found her passion in developing Ole Smoky food products, and she recently released a cookbook called Shining: Ole Smoky Moonshine Family Cookbook, which features delicious cocktails and family recipes for true Southern food.

Jessi and her family didn’t stop with Ole Smoky, going on to open businesses like Bootleggers Homemade Wine and Yee Haw Brewing. Most recently, Ole Smoky opened its fourth distillery in Nashville, which features tastings, food and live entertainment. Though growth has not always been easy, Jessi has seen the rewards for her family and community, and she loves getting to carry on her family’s legacy of entrepreneurship and tourism.

In this episode, Jessi explains how Ole Smoky grew from a side hustle rooted in her in-laws’ tradition of making moonshine into a successful company with over 500 employees (7:06). She describes growing up surrounded by tourism and learning entrepreneurship from her grandmother, who ran Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen (16:12). As a mother and an entrepreneur, Jessi knows how difficult it can be to design a life that brings those two worlds together, and she opens up about what it’s like to be in business with her husband and show her kids the value of hard work (21:47). Jessi also bravely shares the story of how her grieving process after a miscarriage led her to create the Ole Smoky cookbook, and she offers advice for learning to feel strong again after a difficult loss (22:57).

Though she knows some people think Ole Smokey’s success came easily, Jessi gets real about the struggle that goes into expanding a business, and she offers advice for how to know when it’s the right time to grow (33:35). She explains how the rewards of bringing growth and joy to her community and family have made it all worth it, and describes how those things have become the markers by which she now views success (39:20).

As a special gift for Her Story of Success listeners, Jessi also shares a recipe for one of the cocktails from her new cookbook, the Beer Shinearita (28:16):

Ingredients

1 can frozen limeade
1 cup Ole Smoky Original Corn Moonshine
1/2 cup Ole Smoky Margarita Moonshine
1 cup water
1 Yeehaw Cerveza
Lime Juice

Instructions

Stir limeade, moonshine and water together in a pitcher until the frozen limeade dissolves
Add in beer and lime juice
Pour over ice and serve with a lime wedge

To find more delicious recipes like the ones Jessi and Leah talk about, check out Ole Smoky’s website or order Jessi’s cookbook.

Purpose, Passion, & Perseverance: Mixtroz Jul 22, 2019

In 2014, mother/daughter duo Kerry Schrader and Ashlee Ammons realized there was something ineffective about the way we network at events. Out of their frustrations, the pair came up with the idea for Mixtroz, a highly customizable tool for that increases attendee engagement and collects data for event hosts and sponsors. In less than five years, Mixtroz has revolutionized the way companies and individuals approach & execute networking at events.

Because of Mixtroz, Ashlee and Kerry were invited to join Alabama’s prestigious Velocity Accelerator, won the Birmingham Rise of the Rest pitch competition led by AOL Co-Founder Steve Case, and even starred in an episode of A+E’s “Rooster and Butch.” In 2018, Ashlee and Kerry became just the 37th and 38th black women to ever close a million dollar round of funding. The company has also been featured by Forbes, Inc., The New York Times, Business Insider and more.

In this episode, Kerry and Ashlee break down how Mixtroz works, where it is today and where they hope it’s going (3:25). Since people often tend to focus on their mother-daughter relationship, they explain how they’ve made their partnership work and how having family in your business can be a helpful asset (10:12). Though they recognize that entrepreneurship tends to be a sport for the elite — a fact which they see as a major problem — they also know what it’s like to have to live off of your savings while trying to grow a business, and they share some relatable stories about making financial sacrifices along the way (12:10).

Before starting Mixtroz, Kerry and Ashlee both built successful careers that they then left behind to start their company (18:00). Ashlee shares how her mom went from working at McDonald’s to doing HR for large companies, and she describes how growing up with a hardworking mom shaped her own life in significant ways (24:23). The pair also offers practical advice about how they make time to give back to the community and still live life fully outside of Mixtroz (46:03). Ashlee and Kerry have both had their share of difficulties since starting their company, and they open up about dealing with depression, learning to avoid comparison and battling breast cancer all while building a business (50:48).

Amplifying Messages that Matter: Two|PR Jul 08, 2019

When looking for a new challenge Morgan Canclini-Mitchell took a leap of faith at 28 and started Two|PR, a publicity and marketing firm that has worked with best-selling authors, professional athletes and Grammy award-winning artists. After working on a mutual client with marketing consultant Kristin Carver-Smith, Morgan asked Kristin to come on as Two|PRr’s marketing principle.

Since then, the company has seen enormous success, building an impressive roster and earning bookings with CNN, Fox & Friends, Forbes, PBS and more. With Morgan and Kristin’s combined marketing and publicity experience, they’ve been able to develop great relationships with reporters and clients alike, and they do it all without even having to advertise other than by word of mouth.

In this episode, Morgan shares her story of building a company at such a young age (2:48), including how she decided to bring Kristin in because of her complementary strengths (8:13). The pair describes the difference between public relations and marketing (13:25) and offers advice for how to know that it’s time to hire a PR firm (22:14).

Since they first started out in the industry, Morgan and Kristin have both learned a lot about how to prioritize their spouses and take time away from work, even when it feels like they always have to be available to clients (38:09). They talk about practical tips for doing this, like choosing clients who share their values and only checking their emails at certain times on vacation. All of this stems from their evolving definitions of success, which are now less about working with the most famous people and more about having freedom to work in the way they want with people they believe in (54:56).

Making a Difference Through Passion & Creativity: Milkglass Creative Jun 24, 2019

When Mary Hooper and Amy Stroup were looking for alternatives to the traditional career path in each of their fields, they decided to take their friendship to the next level by going into business together. The result, Milkglass Creative, is a unique blend of a design company and an independent record label, which works with everything from recording artists to authors to lifestyle brands. Since it started in 2010, Milkglass has evolved as Amy and Mary have learned to lean into their individual strengths and be open to new changes and experiences. They both keep busy doing creative work in their respective fields, with Mary running the art and design side of the company and Amy heading up the record label while also pursuing her own music career.

Because Milkglass is a values-driven company, Mary and Amy are also intentional about giving back to the community around them, both through volunteering at Y-CAP and by mentoring younger women in their fields. They’ve learned important lessons along the way about taking time for themselves and only taking on clients that spark their creativity and passion.

In this episode, Amy and Mary explain how they transitioned from being friends to working as business partners, starting Milkglass so they could both have space to be creative and work for themselves (2:41). One of Milkglass’ biggest assets today is the founders’ ability to take on clients who respect their vision, functioning as a truly creative entity and not a “Band-Aid company” (13:24), and Mary and Amy explain how passion and a strong value system make that possible.

Since creativity is part of the job description at Milkglass, Amy and Mary also talk about how they’ve made space to allow themselves to be creative and avoid burnout (22:16), all while being intentional about investing in their own identities and lives apart from the company (26:55). This has allowed them to each finds a tribe of friends and supporters (30:49) and develop their own personal definitions of success, which center around personal fulfillment and wholeness (44:34). Mary and Amy exemplify the magic that happens when you create

Laquita Stribling: Opening Doors for Others Jun 10, 2019

Laquita Stribling knows the value of engaging in a wide variety of experiences. She works as senior vice president for Randstad USA, the number one staffing company in the world, and serves as a district governor for Rotary International in Tennessee. Laquita does all of this on top of being a mom, an active member of her community, a mentor, and a lifelong learner. In all of those roles, she strives to be a leader who opens doors for others.

Professionally, Laquita worked her way up over 22 years at Randstad, where she started as an entry level associate. She accomplished this by always being willing to tackle new challenges. That same attitude led her to engage with Rotary, starting out as a young woman in a club that was mostly made up of older white men. Rising to become the first African American district governor, she now uses her position to create greater diversity within the organization.

In this episode:

In this episode, Laquita explains why she decided to stay at Randstad for so many years and how having a supportive boss has made a huge difference in her career (3:32). She also encourages listeners to be lifelong learners, a value which she learned from her family at a young age (6:56). As an experienced mentor, Laquita offers practical advice for finding a mentor or a mentee, saying no to opportunities that aren’t right for you, and getting the most out of your mentoring relationships (15:02). As she describes her experience with Rotary Club (21:40), Laquita also encourages listeners, especially women, to become more comfortable with being uncomfortable, a skill which she believes is essential for networking and finding new opportunities (32:42).

To close out the episode, Laquita talks about how she defines leadership and success (37:58). In both areas, she focuses primarily on how she can use her own skills, abilities and experiences to help others succeed. Whether it’s at her company, in her community or through raising her kids, Laquita embodies this type of servant leadership in everything she does.

Creating Work-Life Blend: Courtney Jones May 27, 2019

As a mom of two kids, Courtney Jones started MomSource Network to help other women find opportunities she felt like she didn’t have when her son was born. Courtney is passionate about helping other women find a healthy work-life blend, and she knows that looks different for everyone. Whether you’re planning to become moms, looking to shift your work schedules to spend time with your kids or want help re-entering the workforce after a career break, MomSource Network helps women find flexible work options that fit with their schedules and their personal ideas of fulfillment.

Since its launch in 2013, MomSource Network has grown to include 10,000 women in 48 states. The company also partners with progressive organizations who want to find the best talent and helps them to create flexible work options for potential employees. Because of her work, Courtney has been featured by CNN, Bloomberg, Working Mother and more.

In this episode:

In this episode, Courtney explains how she recognized the amount of talent that was being wasted because women didn’t want to work full time and also be a mom (3:34), and how she started MomSource Network to help solve this problem (6:26). She offers practical advice about finding organizations that might be willing to give you flexibility in your work (8:20). While describing her personal philosophy of striving for “work-life blend” instead of balance, Courtney encourages listeners to accept the fact that different chapters of life will have different focuses, and she suggests that everything doesn’t have to be perfectly balanced all the time (18:25).

Courtney also outlines five different options for working other than the traditional 9-to-5 job (31:16). She ends the episode by offering helpful tips for finding flexible work options (51:30). But if you’re looking for more help, or if you’re curious about how to start providing flexible work options at your company, check out http://momsourcenetwork.com for more information!

Receptionist to CEO: Sabrina Cowden May 13, 2019

As CEO of Milepost Consulting, a sustainability-focused strategy and engagement firm, Sabrina Cowden exemplifies leadership and the value of finding a career you’re passionate about. While her path was not easy Sabrina shares how starting out her career as a receptionist at a computer software company that had great leadership and a culture of learning, she was able to take a seven-year career break to raise her kids, and still come back confident in herself and abilities.

When it was time to return to work and after turning down many jobs Sabrina settled on a temporary position that ended up lasting for six years. She eventually got her MBA and rose to the rank of CEO.

In this episode Sabrina explains the lessons she learned at her first job out of college that shaped the rest of her professional life (4:20). From creating a space where people can feel safe to fail (8:19) to finding good mentors (12:46), Sabrina unpacks helpful advice, both for leaders and for those who are just getting started in their careers.

Sabrina also points out that the lessons she learned during her career break were just as valuable as the ones she learned at work, and she describes the process of reentering the workforce with the goal of finding a job she was passionate about (31:11). Her success in doing this banked on Sabrina’s courage and ability to bet on herself even when it seemed risky or uncertain, and in the process, Sabrina realized she was capable of becoming a great leader (35:13).

Sabrina encourages other women to explore many different opportunities without feeling guilty, and she highlights the importance of being able to take responsibility for your own professional growth.

Finding Your Passion with Sarah Scarborough Apr 30, 2019

Sarah Scarborough CEO of Firepot Nomadic Teas took the path less traveled to becoming the successful business owner she is today.

Spending summers off the grid and living on the land with her family in Finland led her to realize that when all of her friends were buying suites and going on interviews in college, she just wanted to be somewhere farming. This led her on a journey across the world and introduced her to a passion for practicing and sharing the ritual of tea.

In this episode Sarah shares how her aversion to being a “business person” led her on a journey of finding her purpose, confidence, and how she realized being successful in business can help you make an impact in the world.

Sarah shares how following her passion for fair trade and sustainable farming led her to tea and across the world from Nashville to Montana to California and New Zealand. Sarah believes incorporating a rituals such as tea, yoga, or medication can help you make the room in your life to realize what you love and the next steps needed to make it happen.

You can check out her teas, Sunday tea ritual and her passion for Women and Wildlife.

Empowering the Entrepreneur in Everyone with Maria Aspan Apr 16, 2019

Her Story of Success...

As an award-winning business journalist and editor-at-large at Inc Magazine, Maria Aspan strives to ensure that the pieces that she writes are both practical and enjoyable. She’s written about startups, technology, finance, and gender in her roles at the New York Times and American Banker, and in her book Startup Money Made Easy, she creates an inclusive entrepreneur guide to show how success can happen to anyone.

In this episode…

We dive into the key take aways from the book that make this a great guide for entrepreneurs in all seasons of their business from idea to exit.

Maria also shares the importance to find joy in the job you’re in right now, and how she looks for a place that will challenge her out of her comfort zone, where she can engage in work that’s meaningful to her, and where she can work with people she trusts.

Leslie DiPiero: Championing Fearlessness and Vulnerability Apr 02, 2019

Leslie DiPiero’s job is to find and develop talented songwriters through her role as General Manager at Tree Vibez Music, and even after being in the music industry for the past 25 years, she still wakes up excited to go to work each day. She grew up in the entertainment world as the daughter of a singer and a comedian, but she decided to start her own business at age 14 after her mom was diagnosed with cancer.

Leslie finds meaning in being able to give back to an industry that has given so much to her, and she enjoys creating a safe space for her songwriters to thrive. The main qualities she looks for in people are a willingness to live in both fearlessness and vulnerability, and she lives both of these out in her own life. She believes that everyone has their own unique skillset and that sometimes they just need someone to take out the highlighter pen and help them see it.

Danielle Ontiveros: Staying True to Your Vision Mar 19, 2019

Danielle Ontiveros had the mindset of an entrepreneur from a young age. As a 16-year-old, she created the recipe for a delicious and filling gluten-free protein bar. Though her Grab the Gold bars were a hit, Danielle’s entrepreneurial spirit generated “10 ideas a day” for other endeavors — she became a massage therapist for the New Orleans Saints, started an aromatherapy line and launched a cleaning business, all while making and selling her popular protein bars. It was only when she committed to “choosing one road and taking it” that she was able to lead her business to the next level. Today, Grab the Gold products have thousands of enthusiastic fans and are sold in more than 5,000 stores across the U.S. In this episode Danielle tells us how Hurricane Katrina forced a dramatic turning point for her New Orleans-based business. After losing her home in the storm, she responded to offers of help and support from the Nashville area and moved to Franklin, Tennessee. She recalls the deep emotional upheaval of that time and credits her mother’s encouragement with helping her get past “hopeless, helpless” feelings and get back in business. Danielle also shares her intuitive style of leadership, her focus on giving back to the community and her hopes for mentoring other women with entrepreneurial dreams. Above all, she says, her emphasis is on treating her employees and others with concern and respect. “Making a product — that’s a function, it’s a thing. But how you treat people … that is the essence of morality. It’s who you are.”

Karee Hays: A Skincare Expert Shares Her Secrets to Success Mar 05, 2019

At the age of 38, Karee Hays went back to school to pursue her passion for skincare and launch a new career as an esthetician. “I was definitely the oldest one in the entire school,” she recalls, but pushing past her comfort zone proved to be worth the risk. Starting with a one-room salon and word-of-mouth recommendations from clients, her business quickly blossomed. Today, Karee Hays Esthetics has a state-of-the-art facility, a sought-after product line and a client roster that includes celebrities like supermodel Lily Aldridge, reality star Kristin Cavallari and musician Kacey Musgraves.

Karee explains how a recession motivated her to make a career change, why she decided to open her own business and why she found it difficult to relinquish personal control and bring new employees into her company. She reflects on the effects her working life has had on her children and expresses gratitude for the support of her husband, “who has always been my biggest cheerleader.” As a bonus, listeners will also get Karee’s tips on the must-haves in an effective skincare routine, from retinoids to exfoliation.

Following Your Personal Passion to Make a Difference Feb 19, 2019

As Executive Director of the Nashville Food Project, Tallu Quinn uses her passion for food as a tool for creating community and defining pathways out of poverty. Her grassroots organization recovers edible food from grocery stores and other sources and uses it to prepare more than 5,000 high-quality, made-from-scratch meals each week for people in need. In this wide-ranging conversation, Tallu shares the nitty-gritty challenges of launching a nonprofit, being a boss and simultaneously fulfilling her roles as a wife and mother. She also acknowledges that there are “many amazing ways to make a difference in the world” outside the nonprofit sector — from volunteering to donating to entrepreneurial endeavors.

Tallu tells us why she decided to return to her hometown to launch her food ministry, why working at a nonprofit isn’t always easy or glamorous and why it’s important that women take a long view of work-life balance. She also shares what she’s learned about the importance of self-care and attending to what’s beneath the surface. “The healthy, life-giving things that you do for yourself, those are good things for your family, too.”

Christine Owenell: Life Changing Lessons from our Executive Coach Feb 05, 2019

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a life coach who would help illuminate your path to success and fulfillment? In this conversation with Leah and Ellen, Executive Coach Christine Owenell offers an inside look at the coaching process. Using issues from the lives of the two co-hosts as examples, she shows how small changes in perspective and routine can lead to big gains in personal happiness and career achievement.

Founder of Owenell Global Consultancy and a partner at coaching firm Evolution, Christine explains why self awareness is a crucial trait for anyone who wants to work with a coach. Then she breaks down her coaching method and explains how intentional exercises can help us let go of internal issues that are holding us back. Whatever your concern — perfectionism, self-discipline, self-doubt — the key lies in turning a negative approach into a positive one. Christine also shows how incremental changes can lead to rewarding new pathways. Want to start a daily meditation practice, for example? Something as simple as lighting a candle each day might be a good way to start. Making major life changes or landing a big promotion doesn’t have to be your goal. Christine says that “giving yourself the space to enjoy who you already are” can be the most successful strategy of all.

Letting Go of Your Doubts to Achieve Your Dreams Jan 22, 2019

Five years ago, Maggie Tucker was working part-time at Lululemon. Today, she’s the owner of magpies nashville, whose three popular children’s stores offer a “joyful and welcoming” environment to their clientele. In a heartfelt and emotional conversation, she reveals how she overcame roadblocks to start her dream business and why she practices gratitude every day.

Maggie gets real about the obstacles she’s faced in starting and running a business — from the negative voices in her head to the strains that her long hours put on her marriage. She shares the steps she’s taken to put less pressure on herself and explains how she’s used her company’s success to give back to her community in amazing ways. “It’s been a huge challenge juggling it all and I don’t by any means do it perfectly, but that’s what grace is for,” she tells us.

Our Top 10 Lessons on Creating Your Own Success Jan 08, 2019

Looking for a quick dose of inspiration as you start the new year? Join us for a rundown of the top 10 lessons we’ve learned in our first year of conversations with successful women. We distill the hard-won wisdom these guests have shared and reflect on what it takes to reach the top while doing what you love. If you have big dreams and goals for 2019, don’t miss this look back at 22 amazing women who’ve achieved their own version of success!

We identify the themes that keep popping up in our interviews — from persevering through roadblocks to the importance of exploring and trying new things. We look at how the definition of success changes over the course of a career and the strategies women use for combining work and family. And here’s a point that will resonate with those stuck in less-than-desirable jobs: several podcast guests have pointed out that hating their jobs motivated them to make a major change. It’s never too late to find a new direction — success could be just around the corner!

Julia Polk: How to Take a Career Break and Come Back Confident Dec 11, 2018

How do we balance the demands of work and family? It’s a dilemma most career women face, and one that Julia Polk confronted when she had two young daughters at home. Her solution would take her on a non-linear journey to success as an investment banker and healthcare executive. “I’ve come and gone a bunch of times” from the workforce, she says. “I think my children benefited from it — I know I did.” Today Julia is chief financial officer of healthcare startup IQuity and a valued mentor to many healthcare entrepreneurs.

In this episode Julia explains why she was lucky to have female role models early in her career and what she did to stay connected during her extended breaks from the workforce. She also tells us about the value of diversity in leadership teams, the issues women face in raising capital for a business, how to overcome the imposter syndrome, why the first step for any startup is understanding its customers and why she thinks younger generations will have more opportunities for flextime work.

Maneet Chauhan: Lessons on Career and Family from a Celebrity Chef Nov 27, 2018

Maneet Chauhan left her native India to attend the Culinary Institute of America and has gone on to become a culinary ambassador for Indian food in her roles as a chef, restaurant owner, cookbook author and Food Network star. She made it to the top of the male-dominated food world as the mother of two young children, including a son who was born on the day her first restaurant opened in Nashville.

The irrepressible Maneet shares how she discovered her love of cooking as a child growing up in India, the synergy of working closely with her husband, how she managed a new restaurant while her newborn son was in neonatal intensive care, how she compartmentalizes each aspect of her life to be 100 percent present in whatever she does, and the advice she offers aspiring young chefs.

Caroline Hobby "Getting Real" Navigating Fear to Find Peace Nov 13, 2018

As a member of the Top 40 country music trio Stealing Angels, Caroline Hobby thought she’d landed just where she always wanted — on the top rungs of the music business. But when the trio broke up and her dream crumbled, she was forced to re-envision her life and begin a journey toward a meaningful new career.

Host of the popular celebrity podcast “Get Real!” and entertainment correspondent for CMT, Caroline tell us what she learned about the meaning of success during her two appearances on the CBS TV show “The Amazing Race.” She also shares the lucky break that landed her a job as a song plugger and brought her back to Nashville, how she copes with the hills and valleys of life, why it’s important to make your self-talk more positive and affirming, and how she’s learning to feel more comfortable during periods of rest. “Say your life is a train, you either hop off on that first breakdown and you live there — you live in that failure and you think you’re done, or you grab a lesson, you pick yourself up … and you start walking forward.”

The Voices Behind Her Story of Success Oct 30, 2018

Why would two busy young women with career, family and volunteer commitments take on the challenge of starting a podcast? Find out what launched Leah and Ellen on their journey to share the stories of high-achieving women, an endeavor that’s become all-the-more relevant in the #metoo era.

This time around, our podcast hosts turn the tables and interview each other about their career paths and the personal challenges they’ve faced. For Leah, a turning point came when she found the courage to leave her small-town Tennessee home and make a life-changing new start as a flight attendant. For Ellen, landing her dream job on Wall Street didn’t bring the personal fulfillment she’d hoped for. Together, they’ve pursued a shared dream: creating a supportive community where women can connect and support one another on the road to success.

Cordia Harrington: The ‘Bun Lady’ Shares Her Recipe for Success Oct 16, 2018

After establishing herself as a successful McDonald’s franchisee, Cordia Harrington was determined to take her career to the next level by becoming a supplier for the world’s largest restaurant chain. Her efforts were rejected 31 times before McDonald’s finally gave her the go-ahead to launch a bakery business. Today Cordia, also known as “the bun lady,” is CEO of The Bakery Cos., which sells more than $100 million of buns and other baked goods annually to McDonald’s, grocery stores and other institutional clients.

Cordia relates the inspiring story of running her first McDonald’s as the single mother of three young sons. She tells us how her company strives to help its employees reach their full potential, why she tries to be transparent about the struggles she’s faced, and why helping others in the business world make connections has become the most fulfilling part of her work.

Retta Gardner: The Importance of Raising Your Hand Oct 02, 2018

Retta Gardner’s career proves that you don’t have to leap from company to company to work your way to the top. For more than two decades, Retta has stayed with Guaranty Trust Mortgage Co., one of the top 100 mortgage companies in the U.S., making herself visible along the way and seeking out challenging new assignments whenever she could. She’s now CEO of the billion-dollar mortgage lender, and she credits a strong work ethic and continuous learning as key factors in her rise to the top.

Retta gets real about leaving a newborn baby to go back to work and shares her thoughts on the importance of taking credit for your own ideas, what she learned from her predecessor as CEO and the best way to deliver bad news.

Diana Warner: The Taylor Swift Effect Sep 17, 2018

Fashion and jewelry designer Diana Warner learned something special about success from observing Taylor Swift, who surrounds herself with fiercely loyal and protective people. Diana calls it the “Taylor Swift effect” — the desire to build a network of supporters who protect you so you can give back to the world. “I wasn’t really aware of how to say no,” she tells us, and unless you learn how to say no, “you don’t have anything left to give.”

Diana shares the story behind the 2005 launch of her successful fashion and jewelry brand – a favorite of red carpet celebrities and TV shows like “Gossip Girl.” She tells us why you have to be vulnerable to be creative, what our clothes communicate to the world about who we are and why she strives to make customers feel comfortable in her stores.

Jessica Harthcock: Pushing Past the Obstacles to Success Sep 04, 2018

At the age of 17, Jessica Harthcock suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury during a gymnastics training session, leaving her paralyzed from the chest down. Though doctors told her she would never walk again, she learned to walk unassisted after six years of intensive therapy. That same determination led her to launch Utilize Health, a growing business that helps patients find the best treatment for neurological conditions.

Jessica tells us what it was like to be thrust into the fragmented world of recovery and rehabilitation, why her family was instrumental in helping her bounce back, how she and her husband Adam combine their roles as spouses and company executives and how she persevered in the long search for angel investors to finance her business.

Mignon Francois: Believing in the power of your own ideas Aug 21, 2018

Mignon Francois’s family was drowning in debt and down to their last $5 when a neighbor knocked on the door and placed an order for 600 cupcakes from her fledgling home bakery in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood. Mignon decided to take the last few dollars she had and buy ingredients to bake more cupcakes, a decision that ultimately “got us out of debt, out of brokenness and turned us into the number one bakery in Tennessee.”

Founder and CEO of The Cupcake Collection and mother of six, Mignon tells us how she followed through on her dream of starting a business, how her company has created a legacy for her children and why she wants to hold the ladder for others climbing the rungs toward success.

Misty Mayes: A CEO in the Role of Servant Leader Aug 07, 2018

Misty Mayes believes that every organization and every person is capable of positive change — an attitude that led her to launch a management consulting firm that has garnered national business awards and won acclaim for its commitment to community service. Misty formed Management Solutions in 2002 after a successful career as an industrial engineer and project manager, all while raising three sons with her husband Sam. She once turned down an opportunity to meet with President Obama so she could attend her son’s championship soccer game in Tennessee. “ I think we as women can beat ourselves up over all the things we miss, but I try to focus on the things that I was there for. Its a day-in, day-out struggle,” she says of her efforts to combine parenting with her management role.

Marcie Allen: A Music Industry Visionary Redefines Success Jul 24, 2018

After a decade in the music business, Marcie Allen “saw a huge void that was waiting to be filled” and launched MAC Presents, an agency that creates partnerships between leading brands and top artists like the Rolling Stones and Foo Fighters. The agency's success has made Marcie a powerful figure in the music industry, but she’s quick to reveal that her climb to the top was marked by challenges, stumbles and setbacks — as well as a personal reappraisal of what success really means.

Marcie tells us how attending 16 different schools made her a stronger person, why it takes “a stomach of steel” to start a business from scratch, how she put the pieces of her life back together after a divorce and why she never schedules a meeting before 11 a.m.

Holly Coltea: When Career Meets Motherhood Jul 10, 2018

Holly Coltea moved to New York City as a young woman and achieved many of her lifelong goals — working for a Madison Avenue ad agency, earning her M.B.A and succeeding in the corporate world. But like many young women, she found that having children forced her to re-evaluate the direction of her career. “When you have kids, it is clear as day — what you need to be doing and what you don’t need to be doing,” she says. Holly chose to get off the corporate treadmill, move back to her hometown with her husband and three daughters and become a franchisee for a fitness studio, a transition that brought her both success and flexibility.

Holly tell us about the importance of having a mentor, the challenges of re-entering the workforce after a break, the benefits of being a franchise owner and the opportunities that come with finding work-life balance.

Amy Tanksley: From Boardroom to Barbershop Jun 26, 2018

Amy Tanksley grew up thinking that risk was a four-letter word and that choosing a job in corporate America was following a safe path. But after a rough and tumble experience in the volatile oil and gas industry in Houston, she set out on a quest for risk she could control, and in 2008 opened Uncle Classic Barbershop, which now has 5 locations in Nashville. In today's episode, Amy discusses the wake-up call of almost starting her career at Enron, the challenge of finding funding for a startup, making room for both motherhood and entrepreneurship, and taking an idea from maybe to reality.

Erica Rains: Success Is Not A Number Jun 12, 2018

Erica Rains has made a career out of constantly finding new ways to connect with people. After nearly two decades working in public relations, advertising, radio, and TV, Erica decided to seek out a new challenge by opening a restaurant and catering business, The Chef & I, with her talented chef husband, Chris. Erica and Chris celebrated the restaurant’s new location, which offers cooking classes and a chef training program, in downtown Nashville.

In today’s episode, Erica talks about the rewards of starting a business with her husband, the importance of making a human connection in our digital world, and the value of knowing when to strive for success and when to enjoy it.

"Success to me is not a number, or a number of years, or a certain word. It’s just a feeling that you’ve done the best you can with what you have, and you’ve exercised all options to do good, to help others, to make your way."

Tonya Lewis: Trading Complacency for Courage May 29, 2018

Five years ago, Tonya Lewis chose to leave a safe career in school counseling to open a business in one of the most risky and challenging industries: restaurants. But after a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, Tonya’s coffee shop and café, The Post East, has blossomed into a neighborhood favorite for healthy eating, great coffee, and a community space for bringing neighbors and friends together.

In this episode, Tonya talks about the challenge of walking away from a career with certainty and routine to one of the most unpredictable lines of work, learning the importance of trusting her team, and realizing the happiness and fulfillment that taking risks can bring.

BONUS EPISODE - Kathleen Burns Kingsbury: Achieving Expert Status May 22, 2018

In this bonus episode hosted by past Her Story of Success guest Rita Mitchell and recorded before a live studio audience at a women and wealth conference in Nashville, Kathleen Burns Kingsbury talks about how she made the journey from clinical psychology to financial empowerment counseling, becoming a published author with nothing more than a copy of “Writing for Dummies”, and the overlap between self-esteem and financial success.

As a wealth psychology expert, Kathleen believes financial success isn’t just about how much money you have in the bank. Just as important are our thoughts and feelings about money that shape our financial decisions. An internationally published author and speaker, Kathleen has devoted her career to empowering women and the financial advisers who serve them by training them to examine their money talk mindset and feel more comfortable talking openly about money. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, PBS News Hour, Money Magazine, TODAY Money, Forbes, and CNBC.

Thank you to First Tennessee Bank for letting us interview Kathleen during your conference and share the conversation with our audience!

Rita Mitchell: Overcoming the Nos May 15, 2018

Rita Mitchell (IG: @ritapmitchell_oyp) summarizes her story with one word – determination. And her career proves it. A 35 year veteran of the financial services industry, Rita went from being told she didn’t have enough experience to be a waitress at Red Lobster to a top executive at First Tennessee Bank, breaking barriers at every step along the way. In that time, she passed the Series 7 broker exam with a 6 month old baby, started her own financial advisory company, and left all of her doubters in the dust.

In this special live episode, Rita talks about the struggles of being an African-American female in a traditionally male-dominated industry, the value of recognizing your potential, and how the succession of "nos" she faced motivated her to teach other women to say yes to opportunity.

Courtney Whitmore: Turning a passion into a lifestyle brand May 01, 2018

After finishing college, Courtney Whitmore (IG:@pizzazzerie) took a safe, secure job as a career counselor, but she soon realized she wanted something entirely different — a creative pursuit where she could be her own boss. Looking back on that time in her life, she says, “I knew I wanted to work for myself but I didn’t know what that looked like.” Since hosting dinner parties was a favorite activity, she decided to launch a website in 2010 to focus on entertaining and party planning. Today that website, Pizzazzerie.com, is the centerpiece of Courtney’s expanding role as an entertaining expert, one whose food styling and tablescapes are in demand by companies from Target and HGTV to Lindt Chocolates.

In this episode, Courtney tells us about starting a job in an industry that doesn’t exist yet, managing her brand’s social media presence, the ways in which her definition of success has changed over time and the importance of what she calls the Monday Morning Test — “If what you are doing doesn’t get you up and out of the bed on Monday morning, then you shouldn’t be doing it.

Corbette Doyle: The career rewards of lifelong learning Apr 20, 2018

Corbette Doyle describes herself as a “serial expert,” one who consistently pursues new information and builds new skills. It was this career approach that brought her leadership roles at Aon, a Chicago-based consulting and risk management firm where she built a health care industry practice from the ground up and served as Chief Diversity Officer. Now a Senior Lecturer in Organizational Leadership at Vanderbilt University, Corbette says it’s vital that women lay the groundwork for career advancement ahead of time by building new competencies. “You can’t wait until you’re ready for a change to create the opportunity for career change,” she says. “We all have to be lifelong learners now.”

In this episode, Corbette also tells us about the importance of corporate culture, why women need to let go of their stereotypes about men and what it was like to start a new job when she was seven months pregnant.

Ruta Sepetys: An acclaimed writer finds her voice Apr 19, 2018

Ruta Sepetys (twitter:@rutasepetys) is one of the most admired writers in contemporary children’s literature — with the bestsellers Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray among her riveting historical novels for young readers. But it was only after a 22-year career as a music business manager that she finally found the courage to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. The turning point was a trip to her father’s homeland in Lithuania, where she discovered a long hidden family secret. Though she had tried to write novels before, “It was only when I started harnessing my own story that people started to respond,” she tells us.

In this episode, Ruta retraces her unlikely journey to becoming an internationally bestselling author and offers her thoughts on working with challenging clients, the importance of mentoring, the power of stories and the enduring value of failure.

Marcela Gómez: The joyful journey of a Latina entrepreneur Apr 18, 2018

As a young single mother, Marcela Gómez (IG:@marcelagomez_1234) started a marketing firm in 2002 to focus on strategies for reaching the growing Latino community in the U.S. Launching her business was a turning point for Marcela, a native of Colombia who moved to North Carolina with her family as a teen. When she was laid off from her marketing job with a major Christian publishing house, she finally decided to take the reins of her own career. “I never wanted anyone else to have my destiny in their hands,” she says.

In this episode, Marcela also shares her ideas on building a support network when you move to a new city, making the decision to leave a job that diminishes you, the myths of work-life balance — and why she goes to bed each night with "total peace of mind."

Britnie Turner: Using financial success as a force for good Apr 17, 2018

Raised on a farm in South Carolina, Britnie Turner (IG:@britnieturner) was a beauty contestant (and Miss North Carolina) who showed her passion for helping the disadvantaged by doing mission work in Africa and Latin America. Today, at the age of 30, Britnie is the CEO of Aerial Development Group, a multimillion-dollar real estate business she started literally from the ground up to pursue her vision of helping others on a broader scale.

In this episode — recorded before a live audience in Nashville — Britnie tells us about living intentionally, thriving as a woman in a male-dominated industry and using the growth of her business to accomplish philanthropic goals. “Frustration is one of the best things you could ever have,” she says, “because it means you have the vision of a higher standard.”

Laura Lea Goldberg: Making a life-changing leap to a new career Apr 16, 2018

The misery she felt working in corporate jobs proved to be a strong motivator for Laura Lea Goldberg (IG:@lauraleabalanced), who took a leap of faith when she left the traditional business world and began her journey to become a Certified Holistic Chef, a successful cookbook author and the voice behind the popular healthy eating website, LL Balanced.

In this episode, we talk to Laura Lea about how she found the courage to make the change, how she overcame the self-limiting beliefs that held her back and how her approach to healthy eating has changed her own life and the lives of her readers. “My life just opened up,” she says about the joys of pursuing her passion. “I went from black-and-white to color.”

Coming Soon – Her Story of Success Apr 10, 2018

Success can be defined in many ways. Our conversations with trailblazers, entrepreneurs, artists and business leaders explore how diverse women have paved their own way forward. Many have launched profitable companies; others have walked away from successful careers to pursue their dreams in other fields. As you listen to the stories of these determined and talented women, we hope they will inspire you to overcome the obstacles in your path and create your own unique version of success.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected