TrailBlazers Impact

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 106 - Neelam Chahlia: Mrs. Washington America - A First! Oct 23, 2020

Show notes

Visualize yourself standing on the stage, wondering who will be crowned, and then . . . they call your name. Neelam Chahlia tells us what it is like to win Mrs. Washington America and then to go on to the nationals. She created history by being the first Indian-American woman to win the state title and the first woman of Indian origin to be at the nationals, Mrs. America. Her role represented hope and the symbol of equality for all women of all color and ethnicities. She is proud that a woman of color, an immigrant can represent a US state. As a first generation American, she has melded both cultures. Being a member of a military family, she was exposed not only to various regions She has met people all over the world and considers herself a global citizen. She has earned her Doctorate degree and received awards for her healthcare research findings.

Ep. 105 - Ruth White: What Do We Do with the Kids? Oct 16, 2020

Show notes

What's happening to children reaching an age to leave a foster home? What do we do with kids when there is not a good place to go? Ruth White is the Executive Director of the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare. Children need better homes where they’re protected either with their families or with people who will genuinely take care of them. Young adults coming out of foster also require a stable place to call home so they don’t become homeless. She champions young people in foster homes who have reached an age of majority and normally have to leave. However, many colleges during COVID allowed young people to stay, including foster students. She describes the benefits of the family unification program and her passion to help children.

Ep. 104 Bonus - Shaune Arnold: Sci Fi or Real? Oct 14, 2020

Show notes

In Episode 4 of TrailBlazers Impact, Shaune Arnold describes her emotional escape from an abusive household into the foster care system when she divorced her parents at age 14. From parental abandonment to foster care with sheer determination and grit, Attorney Shaune Arnold shares her journey. In Part 2, this episode, Shaune Arnold describes her extraterrestial encounters which resulted in her taking and passing the Mensa test. Mensa is the largest and oldest high IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test. These episodes will keep you spellbound!

Ep. 104 - Teaera Strum: Baltimore's 40 Under 40 Oct 09, 2020

Show notes

Teaera Strum is the COO of Strum Contracting in Baltimore city, she was selected as the Baltimore Business Journal 40 under 40 in 2019. She was recognized for her business and civic accruement contributed to Baltimore, Maryland. At the age of 36, Teaera has accomplished much including substantially growing Strum Contacting with the knowledge she acquired from the many professional development programs and trainings she participated in. Teaera also accredits the Coalition of 100 Black Women as having contributed to preparing her with business negotiation skills.

Ep. 103 - Cassandra Williams: Truth Telling in Hollywood Oct 02, 2020

Show notes

Meet Cassandra Williams, the CEO and president of WET PR (Write, Edit, Tell it), a public relations firm in Beverly Hills, California. It has a unique approach to enhancing the image of people in the realm of the entertainment industry. Cassandra was an opening act for Joan Rivers and talks about her experience of being fired. That experience framed her decision to open her business, WET PR, with a “for real person” helping others become successful. At an event they coordinated, Shaquille Rashaun "Shaq" O'Neal, an American former professional basketball player who is a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA on TNT, was the Chairperson of the event. He is widely considered one of the greatest players in National Basketball Association history, and Cassandra felt it was one of their most successful events. She also helped a famous young lady change her image from the reality show persona to who she really is – and she’s one of the top rated persons in reality TV today. She talks about her unique approach to being a publicist. Nan and Cassandra talk about racism and her dreams for the future.

Ep. 102 - Christine Crandell: Business in the New Normal Sep 25, 2020

Show notes

The future is uncertain and unpredictable, just like nobody would have predicted COVID-19. But a successful B2B marketing expert like Christine Crandell knows all too well what will fail in the business world and what will excel, especially in what she refers to as “The New Normal.” With more than 25 years of marketing and leadership experience, Christine Crandell, President at New Business Strategies, is a recognized B2B thought leader, advisor, speaker and author on enterprise marketing strategy and customer experience. She has created measurable value for over 100 business-to-business (B2B) private and public companies in North America, Australia and Europe as a recognized expert in customer experience, transformation and strategy. Her clients realize, on average, 40 to 50 percent increases in revenue and ROI.

Ep. 101 - Shannon Polson: True Grit Sep 18, 2020

Show notes

Ep. 101 - Shannon Polson: True Grit

Shannon Polson is a true Trailblazer, exemplifying courage, tenacity, and perseverance! She is a native of Alaska and at age nineteen she became the youngest woman ever to climb Denali, the highest mountain in North America. She then went on to summit Mt. Rainier and Mt. Kilimanjaro. She raced long-course triathlons and took journeys to Alaska's Arctic After graduating from Duke University, she entered the military, becoming one of the first women to fly the Apache attack helicopter in the US Army. Her career as an Army officer and attack aviation leader around the globe spans almost a decade. She led two flight platoons and a line company, serving on three continents before joining the corporate world. In addition to her military service, she spent five years leading and managing in the corporate sector, at Guidant and Microsoft. As a dynamic, in-demand speaker, Polson reaches thousands of people a year at major organizations and large public venues on topics related to leadership, courage, resilience, and grit.

Ep. 100 - Tony Markey: The Grand Leap Sep 11, 2020

Show notes

Tony Markey is one person that fully understands the advantages and disadvantages of taking the grand leap! He has taken many of them throughout his adult life and has never had second thoughts about it. Imagine applying for a science graduate job as an 18-year-old who just completed high school? Or maybe leaving a teaching job in the middle of a school year for a temporary singing job that will possibly be over in a month? Well, that’s Tony for you, the ever risk-taker who chases after his passion even if it means passing through the fire. Listen in to hear the incredible journey of Tony Markey that is narrated with so much humor and intellect of going after what you want in life – and discover his most recent job! Download his song here.

www.TrailBlazersImpact.com

Ep. 99 - Rita Venable: A Community Change Agent Sep 04, 2020

Show notes

When was the last time you volunteered in your community? Before COVID-19, Never? Did you know that by volunteering, you gain more experience and opportunities than you actually give? Rita O. Venable, community change-agent and women’s advocate with a 40-year history of activism is a champion for racial and gender equality both at home and abroad. She has been recognized for her volunteerism at home and abroad as demonstrated with awards such as the Global Guide /Work Exchange Program-Johannesburg South Africa (2003), and the nationally renowned Jefferson Awards for Public Service Certificate of Excellence. Rita Venable started volunteering as a young mother with the simplest thing as being her daughter’s scout troop’s leader when they couldn’t find one. She has four decades later, accomplished so much more after volunteering in causes dear to her. She has not only helped support many women in their healing and rediscovering journeys but also gotten the opportunity to meet and work with women leaders who taught her so much. Rita had previously broken barriers in her youth doing jobs like banking that were not prevalent among black people in her community. Don’t miss her discussion of Black Lives Matter and her thoughts about what can be done.

Ep. 98 - Jillian Ryan: Using a Business as a Force for Good Aug 28, 2020

Show notes

Jillian Ryan’s passion translates into action! She’s built a great business . . . but WHY? Because the proceeds help support teaching sustainable skills to abused women! Jillian stands up for what she believes in – corporate social responsibility. In her podcast, the Good Office Podcast, she gives companies the blueprint on how to use a business as a force for good. On her podcast website, she provides worksheets and assessments. She feels that, for the first time, we are really seeing large businesses and organizations care deeply about where the products they are giving out are made and who they are supporting. And she and her company, Marie Mae, with practical, professional gifts that give back, are perfect examples. She teaches skills to women who have been abused and sex trafficked to build their esteem and their earning power.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected