Her Story of Success

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

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