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S5 E13: Learn How To Course Correct with Dr. Jerrica Dodd Nov 26, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to She Leads Podcast Season 5, Episode 13! This episode of She Leads Podcast features Dr. Jerrica Dodd founder of Your Pharmacy Advocate. Dr. Jerrica Dodd is Coach, Pharmacist, and Speaker who leads her life like the Boss she is. To hear Dr. Jerrica's take on leadership, listen to her interview as she discusses the importance of giving, leading with grace, and the necessity of making difficult decisions.

Dr. Jerrica Dodd Bio

Dr. Jerrica Dodd is a pharmacist, entrepreneur, coach and leader.

She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, a Master of Science in Pharmacy Administration from The Ohio State University, and a Master of Science with a focus in Applied Pharmacoeconomics from the University of Florida. She completed her pharmacy practice and administration residency at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

Dr. Dodd has been a pharmacist for 21 years and transitioned into full time entrepreneurship after a 17-year career in the pharmaceutical industry in multiple roles in Medical Affairs. She has also managed a hospital pharmacy, and has experience in retail pharmacy.

Her recent educational pursuits has been the completion of a Nutrition Health Coaching Certificate from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Currently, she is enrolled in the Institute of Functional Medicine and aiming to introduce a functional medicine perspective to the pharmaceutical management of member patients of Your Pharmacy Advocate, LLC where she is the founder and CEO.

Dr. Dodd has been requested to serve as a speaker for numerous and diverse professional and community events. Her experience also includes speaking to diverse audiences including health care providers. Jerrica's most recent speaking engagements were as a speaker and panelist at entrepreneurial events at the 2019 Essence Festival in New Orleans, LA. She is a co-author of the recently published book, I Survived and has been featured on MizCEO, Glambitious and UpWords magazine covers in 2019.

Dr. Dodd enjoys traveling, reading, teaching Zumba, cooking, and attending cultural events.

With her background in pharmacy, leadership training and her passion for people, Dr. Dodd enjoys encouraging people to be their best and to get the most out of every opportunity that life presents. Her favorite scripture is Luke 12:48…"to whom much is given, much is required" and Dr. Dodd endeavors to live life giving back from the abundant ways in which she has been blessed.

Nicole Walker's Interview Commentary

I really enjoyed this interview with Dr. Jerrica and I hope you did as well.

I agree with Dr. Jerrica's notion that leaders must be able to make decisions, sometimes without the insight and support desired at the time. If we aim to move forward as leaders, we must understand that decisions are required! As Dr. Jerrica suggested, we must learn to rely on and be confident in our experience, intuition, and knowledge to guide us. When we become comfortable with the possibility of failing, we understand that failure is just an opportunity to course correct if we keep pushing. A quote by Winston Churchill reads, "The price of greatness is responsibility."

I admire Dr. Jerrica's decision to put herself first by adding self-care into her morning routine so she can be a better leader. Taking time to nurture ourselves, is not only smart it is required if we want to show up at our best. Dr. Jerrica shared three things she does for herself daily, which is meditate, pray, and work-out. These are great ways to take care of ourselves so we are healthy and on-point. Dr. Jerrica suggested we schedule all of our priorities, with self-care being at the top of the list, to ensure we accomplish our goals and stay focused. A quote by Eleanor Brown reads, "Self-care is so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel."

I can relate Dr. Jerrica's analytical yet optimistic mindset, as I have the same. Dreaming can be difficult for a person whose mind works off of facts and figures, yet it is essential if we want to reach our highest potential. Positivity can't be quantified in numbers, but it can be quantified in observation. When we expand our horizons we open our minds to the possibilities we have. When our dreams energize and excite us, we should follow them. As Dr. Jerrica said, when we start thinking about what is possible, we can build anything we want. A quote by Walt Disney reads, "If you can dream it, you can do it."

Nicole Walker's Takeaway of the Week

Dr. Jerrica mentioned the importance of having shared values with those we do business with, to ensure we have the same priorities and goals. When our expectations differ from those around us, we view things differently and are driven by different measures which can leave room for disappoint in the long run. If we want to be aligned with those we work with, we have to ensure our values are similar and we are operating on the same "frequency".

I will make it my business to dig deeper in my conversations with others to see if we have the same values before moving forward. I understand that my idea of complete and superb is not a universal view; so, I will do my due diligence to mitigate the risk of misunderstanding be seeking those in alignment with my values.

A quote by an unknown author reads, "Sometimes…The issue is simply that their ceiling is your floor."

Nicole Walker's Leadership Challenge

My leadership challenge for you would be to think about the one thing you can take away from this episode and adopt into your life. I know it's hard to absorb too much information at one time and it's even harder to try and implement too many changes at once. When I attend a training or listen to podcasts I aim to walk away with a least one thing that stuck out to me and one way that I can change as a result. I challenge you to do the same!

Don't forget to subscribe to She Leads Podcast for first access to future episodes. And also, like and share this episode of She Leads Podcast entitled "Learn How To Course Correct with Dr. Jerrica Dodd".

Thanks and until next time "Be Empowered and Empower On"!

S5 E12: Embody Your Message with Shareen Rivera Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to She Leads Podcast Season 5, Episode 12! This episode of She Leads Podcast features Shareen Rivera founder of Rising Above Writing Services. Shareen Rivera is an Author, Speaker, and TV Host who leads her life like the Boss she is. To hear Shareen's take on leadership, listen to her interview as she discusses the importance of leading with vulnerability, letting go, and being a living testament of your message.

Shareen Rivera Bio

Since birth, Poet, Shareen Rivera, has had to overcome hurdles that have tested her strength, both physically and mentally. She was born to homeless, mentally ill and addicted parents. Thankfully, God's undying mercy came forth in her life, and with it, Shareen's grandparents were given the strength to raise her in a home of love. Although she was safe with her grandparents, life still had more heartache to throw on her path.

Shareen married young into an abusive marriage, and not long after the abuse escalated. The births of her two children, however, was more than enough encouragement to end her marriage and start a new life. For years, Shareen felt like her vulnerability was her greatest weakness. However, through bringing all of her insecurities, fears, and doubts to the surface, she has not only grown as a woman and mother but has also helped other women to do the same through her poetry, writing and story of survival. Shareen is on a never-ending mission to show other women who have faced similar trouble that they are not alone. It is possible to start anew, just as she has done.

Nicole Walker's Interview Commentary

I really enjoyed this interview with Shareen and I hope you did as well.

I agree with Shareen's suggestion to release control and seek the help we need to achieve our goals. As Shareen mentioned, this can be difficult to let go especially when we know what we want and how we want it. However, if we desire to achieve more we must place our focus on the things we do best, outsource the rest. Having the ability to accomplish a task, does not mean this is where we should be putting our efforts. Understanding what's really important, making the necessary decisions to let go where needed, and choosing to focus on our gifts and passions is how we can live a fulfilled life. A quote by Naval Ravikant reads, "Most of life is a search for who and what needs you the most."

I admire Shareen's decision to add an element of social entrepreneurship into her business by hiring other women who have overcome domestic violence. Shareen's choice to use her business as a platform to elevate other women is a selfless act. Leaders reach back and pull others up, and Shareen is definitely exhibiting her leadership skills by doing just that. Shareen discussed how times are changing and women are supporting each other like never before, which is awesome to see and amazing to be a part of! A quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reads, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is 'What are you doing for others'?"

I can relate Shareen's experience with loosing herself in her marriage and forgetting who she was, as I experienced the same. What I find most interesting about losing myself, is that I didn't realize I lost myself until I started to find myself again. Love can be a beautiful thing in a nurturing environment, then unfortunately it can be dangerous when broken people decide to connect. It is extremely important that we continue to love and nurture ourselves while also loving those around us. IF we forget to include ourselves in the equation THEN we allow ourselves to live unhealthy lives. A quote by Ernest Hemingway reads, "The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too".

Nicole Walker's Takeaway of the Week

Shareen mentioned how being vulnerable makes us better leaders. Accepting the fact that we will never please everyone, provides the courage we need to be our unapologetic selves. We must focus on our intentions and follow our hearts, and avoid trying to fit into a mold that does not suit us. This is how we live our best lives!

I will make it my business to not worry about what others think, because I want to attract the people that love me for me. I aim to live a life of freedom while having genuine connections with those around me, and I will continue to remind myself that being vulnerable is how I can make this happen.

A quote by Michelle Obama reads, "I have learned that as long as I hold fast to my beliefs and values – and follow my own moral compass – then the only expectations I need to live up to are my own."

Nicole Walker's Leadership Challenge

Don't forget to subscribe to She Leads Podcast for first access to future episodes. And also, like and share this episode of She Leads Podcast entitled "Embody Your Message with Shareen Rivera".

Thanks and until next time "Be Empowered and Empower On"!

S5 E11: Figure Out What Works For You with Ebony Vaz Nov 12, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to She Leads Podcast Season 5, Episode 11! This episode of She Leads Podcast features Ebony Vaz founder of Above Promotions. Ebony Vaz is an Author, Speaker, and Writer who leads her life like the Boss she is. To hear Ebony's take on leadership, listen to her interview as she discusses the necessity of figuring out what works best for ourselves, being aware and considerate of others viewpoints, and the value of servant leadership.

Ebony Vaz Bio

Ebony T. Grimsley-Vaz is the Founder and Chief Strategist of Above Promotions, a digital marketing, public relations and promotions company in the Tampa, FL area. She is also the author of the book titled, "Because You're Small: Effective Marketing Strategies for Immediate Implementation," a marketing instructor for Jolt and an expert consultant for Coach the World.

For over 15 years and 80+ brands, Ebony has had the opportunity to work on campaigns for businesses such as AT&T, AAA, AOL, Cold Stone Creamery and Verizon Wireless to smaller national and international organizations and large non-profits such as the University of South Florida.

She is a diversity and tech contributing writer for Moguldom.com and has been featured on MSNBC.com, Food and Wine, Social Media Today, Food Fanatics, BizBash, AdWeek, PR Daily, Yahoo.com, the Retail Customer Experience, Business 2 Community, NewsOne.com and other publications, panels and hosted events. Invited to speak on diversity in tech, marketing strategies, crisis communication issues, leadership, and organizational techniques and professional journalism, Ebony leads colleagues across the U.S. through crisis communication topics and the creative community. She has educated those in the business and entertainment communities, and her expertise is well-respected in her field.

While many of her clients and reach go beyond the Tampa Bay area, she continuously gives back to her local community by organizing and volunteering at events for Techstars Startup Week Tampa Bay, Hospitality Hackathon, Ignite Tampa Bay, Bar Camp, and is a member of (ISC)2 Tampa Bay, InfraGard and the Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists.

She is also a Board Advisor for the Bright Young Minds Coalition and a Kauffman Fellows Academy and Techstars Venture Deals participant.

Nicole Walker's Interview Commentary

I really enjoyed this interview with Ebony and I hope you did as well.

I agree with Ebony's suggestion to use servant leadership as our guide to being an effective and successful leader. An effective leader feels that no task is beneath him or her, and serves by giving what is needed to reach the goal. Some of the core principles of servant leadership include having empathy for others, being a good listener, being able to resolve conflicts, and being aware of yourself and those around you. Ebony shared a gem with us, which was the resource she uses as her blueprint to servant leadership. This is the tool she uses to fully understand and encompass the essence of a servant leader. I am super excited to check it out and I suggest you do the same! A quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reads, "In a servant leadership culture we learn by choice or example that if we want to be great, we have to serve others respectfully."

I admire Ebony's decision to run for class president in high school, as well as her achievement of this honor. Having the courage, desire, and willingness to take on this type of duty considering all it entails, as a teenager, is commendable to say the least. Although Ebony did not see herself as a leader in high school she most definitely was, and her becoming class president is the proof. Even today, although she still has a hard time considering herself as a leader, she most definitely is and the proof can be seen in both her personal and professional roles. As Ebony mentioned, our callings and gifts come second nature to us. When we embrace and exercise our gifts, we will be led into the roles that were created for us. A quote by Estée Lauder reads, "I never dreamed about success. I worked for it."

I can relate Ebony's experiences with assuming people felt the way she felt and thought the way she thought, as I experienced the same. As with Ebony, I had to realize and accept that everyone doesn't think or operate the way that I do, which was a hard reality for me! I have come to realize that understanding this concept is key understanding others, and it helps us to be considerate and mindful of their needs. Communicating openly and asking questions will aid us in discovering the expectations, feelings, and viewpoints of those we interact with. A quote by Audre Lorde reads, "It's not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences."

Nicole Walker's Takeaway of the Week

Ebony told us about the weekly and daily routine she uses to be productive, and I absolutely loved it. I have battled with figuring out the best practices for myself as the many tactics I employed have not been suitable to how I operate.

I will make it my business to create a weekly to-do list because I often have a large daily to-do list which spills over into other days of the week, so having a weekly list makes sense for me. I will also categorize my tasks to ensure I can covering items for each area, as I desire balance in my life and agree that this is a good tactic to ensure I met my goal.

A quote by Michael Jordan reads, "Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."

Nicole Walker's Leadership Challenge

Don't forget to subscribe to She Leads Podcast for first access to future episodes. And also, like and share this episode of She Leads Podcast entitled "Figure Out What Works For You with Ebony Vaz".

Thanks and until next time "Be Empowered and Empower On"!

S5 E10: You Can't Do It All Alone with Dr. Melissa Noland Chester Nov 05, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to She Leads Podcast Season 5, Episode 10! This episode of She Leads Podcast features Dr. Melissa Noland Chester founder of Black Educators Rock, Inc. Dr. Melissa Noland Chester is an Author, Educator, and Motivational Speaker who leads her life like the Boss she is. To hear Dr. Melissa Noland Chester's take on leadership, listen to her interview as she discusses the value of validation, the importance of self-care, and the necessity of delegation.

Dr. Melissa Noland Chester Bio

Margaret Meade once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has". Dr. Melissa Chester is a part of that small group of thoughtful people, committed to serving and impacting the lives of those in our community. Dr. Melissa Noland Chester is a former professor who taught on the collegiate level for approximately fifteen years and is a two time best-selling author. She is committed to serving and impacting the lives of others by improving the situations of others through consulting, facilitation, and motivational speaking. Her dedication and passion to assist individuals and organizations is evident in the many seminars, workshops, and programs she has participated in and implemented with local, regional, and national nonprofit organizations, and businesses.

Dr. Melissa Chester is the Co-Founder and CEO of Black Educators Rock, Inc., a national nonprofit which boasts over 155,000 minority educators its Facebook group. BER, Inc.'s goal is to further the academic success of our nation's minority students by closing the "attitude gap" that exists among educators and students. It accomplishes this goal through its local chapters, partnerships, and collaborations with other local, regional, and national nonprofits and their flagship event, the ROCK Conference. The ROCK Conference is a summer professional development conference and hosts the top educational consultants and educators in the country. Dr. Chester also runs the Black Educators Rock Network and its three Internet and talk radio stations, Enlighten Media, Elevate Media, and EmpoWEr Media. BER, Inc. is also in the process of creating BER Publishing, a platform to create educational materials that correctly reflects today's society.

Dr. Chester attained her B.S. & Master's degrees from Florida A&M University and her Ph.D. from Florida State University. She has taught at several universities, including Florida A&M University, Florida State University, Grambling State University, University of North Florida, and online at Southern New Hampshire University. While residing in Tallahassee, she was very active in the community. Some of her community outreach includes co-creating the grassroots program Positive Proof Mentoring at Raa Middle School, serving as event coordinator for the 1000 Men Rally, and working with the City of Tallahassee Parks & Recreation to create and present numerous programs, seminars, and workshops. Her volunteerism also includes The Black History Program at Dade Street Community Center (planning committee), The March on Wellness and Obesity Health Seminar (planning committee), Youth Teen Summit (presenter), Youth Talent Show (planning committee), and mentoring and tutoring preteen and teenage and college young ladies.

Dr. Chester currently resides in Jacksonville and is actively involved with many organizations and her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Chester is a board member of the nonprofit, The Center, One Foundation, a member of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund's (JPEF) Community Advisory Team (CAT), Urban Education Symposium (UES) steering committee, and is a certified instructor for the national initiative known as Adult Mental Health First Aid (AMHFA). She has also served as the Assistant Program Manager for the Mayor's Summer Jobs Program (a program that employed hundreds of youth), served on the planning committee for Operation Save Our Sons (a nonprofit for at-risk males), and assisted former Jacksonville Jaguar Donovin Darrius create and run his non-profit organization from 2011 to 2017. She has also presented at many conferences, seminars, and workshops at numerous universities, businesses, nonprofit organizations, K-12 schools, including but not limited to Character Development, Increasing Self-Esteem, Mental Health Awareness, Personality Assessment, Communication & Conflict Resolution, Health and Physical Fitness, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, and High school graduation/college preparation. Dr. Chester is married with two sons and is currently a broker and the Director of Training and Education at Premier Coast Realty, LLC and the Lead Instructor at Premier Coast Real Estate School, LLC.

Nicole Walker's Interview Commentary

I really enjoyed this interview with Dr. Melissa and I hope you did as well.

I agree with Dr. Melissa's viewpoint on the importance of validation and learning to complement each other without minimizing each other's efforts. We all deserve to know that others feels we are doing or have done well. It's a human instinct and natural to value this type of input. For whatever reason it can be hard for us to wholeheartedly recognize ourselves as well as others. As Dr. Melissa stated, we need to understand that it takes nothing away from us to celebrate others, and in doing so we not only give to another person we also give to ourselves. A quote by Rhonda Byrne reads, "Love is appreciating, complimenting, feeling gratitude, and speaking good words to others."

I admire Dr. Melissa's understanding of the importance of getting to know those we interact with to assist in creating better relationships and a winning environment for all parties. Dr. Melissa a great tool we can use to aim in this process, which is personality assessments. Everyone is not the same and must be dealt with on their levels to maximize their strengths and increase productivity. Understanding the need to know people individually is the foundation necessary to give us the information required to provide proper motivation. A quote by Jack Welch reads, "Take time to get to know people. Understand where they are coming from, what is important to them. Make sure they are with you."

I can relate to Dr. Melissa's personal commitment to put in the work and do what it takes to be great, as I believe the same. As with Dr. Melissa I do not see myself as bigger than any task, and will do what it takes to ensure attainment of the goal at hand. As Dr. Melissa suggested, the best leaders are the best and hardest workers. When we remain humble in our journey to the top, we are able to put ourselves aside and focus on what needs to be done as opposed to who needs to do it. Understanding that the least of us is the greatest of us and the greatest of us is the least of us, aid in this process. A quote by Vanessa Hudgens reads, "Work hard and follow your dreams, but never forget where you came from."

Nicole Walker's Takeaway of the Week

Dr. Melissa told us that it is okay to be the leader and we should learn to embrace and walk in our light. Taking note of the things that make us great and focusing on our strengths as opposed to our weaknesses is how we stay positive and motivated to be and do better. We are all great and must learn to maximize our greatness!!

I will make it my business to be bold and stand strong in my greatness as I know this is needed to impact others and be the leader I am destined to be. I will continue to embrace myself, and not hide by watering myself down out of fear or the need to make others comfortable.

A quote by Lao Tzu reads, "When you accept yourself, the whole world accepts you."

Nicole Walker's Leadership Challenge

Don't forget to subscribe to She Leads Podcast for first access to future episodes. And also, like and share this episode of She Leads Podcast entitled "You Can't Do It All with Dr. Melissa Noland Chester".

Thanks and until next time "Be Empowered and Empower On"!

S5 E9: Learn To Love Yourself with Kierra The Goddess Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to She Leads Podcast Season 5, Episode 9! This episode of She Leads Podcast features Kierra The Goddess founder of The Spiritual and Paid Academy. Kierra The Goddess is an Author, Business/Mindset/Spiritual Strategist, and Speaker who leads her life like the Boss she is. To hear Kierra The Goddess' take on leadership, listen to her interview as she discusses how being authentically you helps to find your tribe, learning to be strong willed, and the necessity of self-love.

Kierra The Goddess' Bio

Kierra Turner, known as Kierra The Goddess, is a spiritual, mindset and business strategist, speaker and course creator that specializes in helping women create a healthy abundant relationship with money, remove limited beliefs through a unique method, start and build sustainable businesses.

Kierra is the author of The Spiritual Boss Babes Guide To Being Spiritual and Paid. The creator of From 9-5 to CEO course, The Spiritual and Paid Manifestation Bootcamp and Spiritual and Paid Course Creation. She was introduced into the financial world at the age of 19 when she became the assistant manager at a local payday loan/check cashing establishment, and then went into banking and insurance. Before leaving corporate America to be a full time entrepreneur Kierra managed save $50,000 in 4 years on a $41,000 based salary.

Kierra used these skills along with her life experiences and her years of studying metaphysics and the law of attraction to build her consulting agency. Since 2016 Kierra has helped many women leave their 9-5, create a healthy relationship with money, increase their income and make life changing results.

Nicole Walker's Interview Commentary

I really enjoyed this interview with Kierra and I hope you did as well.

I agree with Kierra's belief that we need to love ourselves first to effectively love others. As Kierra stated, an effective leader leads with love which must begin with self-love in order to extend to others. If we do not have a healthy love relationship with ourselves, then we are not capable of having a healthy love relationship with anyone else. Kierra gave great advice for ways we can learn to love ourselves that I not only agree with, I also use in my continual journey of self-love. A quote by Wayne Dyer reads, "If you don't love yourself, nobody will. Not only that, you won't be good at loving anyone else. Loving starts with the self."

I admire Kierra's viewpoint on the importance of being comfortable with ourselves, especially when we have to walk the path less traveled. According` to Kierra, leaders go against the grain and do not use the norms of society to dictate their paths. As leaders, we must be strong willed and not waver in search of popularity. Being able to stand for what we believe in, differentiates the strong from the weak. It is often said that true leadership can be a lonely, yet rewarding journey. A quote by Hugh Macleod reads, "The price of being a sheep is boredom. The price of being a wolf is loneness. Choose one or the other with great care."

I can relate to Kierra's experience with not having previous knowledge of the field she is now in as I experienced the same. Before becoming a consultant Kierra did not know much about the industry, as I did not know much about podcasting before becoming a podcaster. As with Kierra, hiring a business coach was a pivotal point in my life and opened me up to a whole new world. Kierra suggested that, nothing happens to us, everything happens for us which I completely understand as I have witnessed this truth in my life. Although things may not seem right at a given time, or may not go the way I envisioned; everything works out the way it should. A quote by Richard Branson reads, "Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision and change."

Nicole Walker's Takeaway of the Week

Kierra shared how her corporate background influenced the way she showed up in entrepreneurship, because she initially associated a certain persona with credibility. There are many times when we can feel we have to live up to expectations or fit some preconceived notion of how to live and run our businesses. Learning to fully accept who we are not worry about those that do not agree with or appreciate us is key to breaking past this limiting mindset and finding the people who truly embrace us as individuals.

I will make it my business to continue to become comfortable with myself, as I also come from a corporate background and have been conditioned to believe somethings are acceptable, while others are not. I want to find my tribe of people who love me for who I am, and I know the only want to do so is to be unapologetically myself.

A quote by Lori Deschene reads, "Find the courage to be authentic. Not everyone will like you, but no one can if they don't get a chance to know you."

Nicole Walker's Leadership Challenge

Don't forget to subscribe to She Leads Podcast for first access to future episodes. And also, like and share this episode of She Leads Podcast entitled "Learn To Love Yourself with Kierra The Goddess".

Thanks and until next time "Be Empowered and Empower On"!

S5 E8: We Lead In Different Capacities with ReeJade Richmond Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to She Leads Podcast Season 5, Episode 8! This episode of She Leads Podcast features ReeJade Richmond founder of Search For Her Existence. ReeJade Richmond is a Business and Legal Strategist, Speaker, and Women Empowerment Advocate who leads her life like the Boss she is. To hear ReeJade Richmond's take on leadership, listen to her interview as she discusses the importance of mentorship, leading with integrity, and adjusting to the transitions of life.

ReeJade Richmond's Bio

When women are finally ready to put on their Big Girl Business Panties and protect their business ASSets, there is only one woman in the world they can call. And her name is ReeJade Richmond.

An acclaimed business and legal strategist, ReeJade is empowering women to embrace their true power bossness, turning their businesses into empires. By taking the complexity out of the legal side of business, with ReeJade, clients soon realize that the epic ideas and extraordinary skills in their heads and hands today will be worth multi millions in their bank accounts tomorrow. From rock-solid business structures to impenetrable contracts, she shows them how to get legal, legit and profitable.

After landing an office in one of the top intellectual property firms in the Detroit Metro area, ReeJade quickly earned her superstar spot, working on coveted accounts such as the U.S. Postal Stamp that preserved Rosa Parks's legacy, intellectual property and estate matters for Aretha Franklin and the continued preservation of Malcolm X's and Alex Haley's heirs' legacy. Yet the constant pressure to overbill hours and talk over clients' heads left her feeling like she belonged somewhere else.

After a complicated labor left her 1.3 lb. baby in the NICU and ReeJade on dialysis to rebuild her failing kidneys, she found herself with no money, career or concrete plan for the first time in her life. Bankrupt, she risked it all to have it all, putting everything on the line to build her first six-figure business, a personal and professional development company for women. Realizing that her destiny was really to help those women to birth their Business Babies, she veered back into her legal lane, but this time it was all about helping women build something big. To understand all of the words above the dotted line and the value of the assets that could make or break their bottom line. To believe in their business dreams until they happen.

Nicole Walker's Interview Commentary

I really enjoyed this interview with ReeJade and I hope you did as well.

I agree with ReeJade's viewpoint on the necessity to comprehend failure in an effort to handle failure better. As ReeJade stated, failure does not mean that we are not good enough; it actually means that we need to change our strategy. Learning to step back and access each situation is vital to determining where we can improve. Being introspective and asking ourselves questions to determine what we can do better next time is how we gain from our failures. A quote by Winston Churchill reads, "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."

I admire ReeJade's decision to take time and get to know herself, so she could lead her life more effectively. ReeJade mentioned how she found herself living up to the standards her family wanted, instead of what she wanted which did not actually serve her. This is a great realization because it gave ReeJade the ability to create her own story and lead herself the way she determined. When we do not take the time to figure ourselves out, we can fall into the trap of making decisions that are not in our best interest as individuals. It is easy to listen to what others tell us we should be doing; however, if this is not in alignment with who we really are then it will not bring us the contentment we need within ourselves. A quote by Aristotle reads, "Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."

I can relate to ReeJade's realization that she was a leader once she started helping other women, as I experienced the same. As with ReeJade's non-profit showing her what she was capable of, She Leads Podcast has showed me what I am capable of. I find it truly amazing how aiming to help others in turn helps us individually as well. I have been truly blessed by She Leads Podcast, just as ReeJade was truly blessed by helping other women develop personally and professionally. When you know that your efforts to foster change as making an impact, it is a soul satisfying experience that cannot be explained. This is the embodiment of leadership! A quote by Mahatma Gandhi reads, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

Nicole Walker's Takeaway of the Week

ReeJade mentioned the importance of having a personal mission statement to help guide our lives. According to ReeJade, when we know who we are and what we stand for, we will attract what we define. Knowing where to focus our work and efforts leads to success. A personal mission statement give us this foundation.

I will make it my business to officially create my personal mission statement, as I understand the importance of being driven by a clearly defined mission. This is something I stress for businesses, yet, I never thought to make one for my personal life. I am glad I know my values and my goals, so now it's time to turn this into my statement.

A quote by Zig Ziglar reads, "Outstanding people have one thing in common: An absolute sense of mission."

Nicole Walker's Leadership Challenge

Don't forget to subscribe to She Leads Podcast for first access to future episodes. And also, like and share this episode of She Leads Podcast entitled "We Lead In Different Capacities with ReeJade Richmond".

Thanks and until next time "Be Empowered and Empower On"!

S5 E7: Find Your Voice with Achea Redd Oct 15, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to She Leads Podcast Season 5, Episode 7! This episode of She Leads Podcast features Achea Redd founder of Real Girls F.A.R.T. Achea Redd is an Author, Mental Health Advocate, and Speaker who leads her life like the Boss she is. To hear Achea Redd's take on leadership, listen to her interview as she discusses the importance with leading with love as opposed to fear, how finding her voice changed her life, and acquiring a team to increase productivity.

Achea Red Bio

Achea Redd is a mental health advocate, author of Be Free. Be You. and founder of Real Girls F.A.R.T.

In early 2016, Achea Redd was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. After hiding her condition out of fear and shame, Achea quickly realized it was only getting worse, affecting her physically to the point of a nervous breakdown. It wasn't until she acknowledged the situation with her loved ones, seeking out treatment from her therapist and doctor, that things started to get better.

As a form of self-expression and healing, Achea Redd created her own blog, sharing her feelings about mental health and authenticity. The flow of support she received from the community compelled her to create Real Girls F.A.R.T.—a space to empower and equip women with the necessary tools to use their voices and become their best, most authentic selves.

Achea uses her life experience and mental health disorder to help women find their voice and let it out. Those goals are central to her new book Be Free. Be You. She is the official sponsor of Nationwide Children's Hospital On Our Sleeves Movement.

Nicole Walker's Interview Commentary

I really enjoyed this interview with Achea and I hope you did as well.

I agree with Achea's advice to "be present in the moment". With all the distractions of today this can be challenging; however, it is essential that we learn to focus on what's really important at the time. Mindfulness is another word that means being in the moment. Learning to control our minds from wandering is how we can be mindful of what's happening around us. Living in the moment allows us to live a happy and healthy life. If you want to reduce stress, decrease anger and fear then be mindful of your focus. A quote by Eckhart Tolle reads, "Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life".

I admire Achea's realization that she was doing herself and others a disservice by trying to be everything for everyone. When we overextend ourselves, we limit our ability to show up the way we intend. Achea referenced the directions we receive when on an airplane as our guide to also taking care of ourselves on a daily basis. On a plane we are told to put our oxygen mask on before helping those around us, and this is what we must do in life as well. Trying to be everything for everyone leads to exhaustion, which makes us useless for ourselves and others. As Achea stated, we need to be intentional with what we put on our schedule and conscious of the commitments we make to ensure we are not trying to do too much. A quote by Paulo Coelho reads, "When you say 'yes' to others make sure you are not saying 'no' to yourself."

I can relate to Achea's experiences with finding her voice, telling her truth, and valuing her opinion as I experienced the same. For me this was a long and hard journey, with a priceless outcome. It's a great feeling when you believe in youself! As with Achea, I also enjoy when my thoughts and ideas are valued and appreciated by others. For me it serves as a confirmation that I am on the right path. It also helps to keep my confidence up, which is needed every now and again. A quote by Neil Gaiman reads, "The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can."

Nicole Walker's Takeaway of the Week

Achea mentioned the importance of asking questions and being curious about ourselves. The more we know about ourselves the more effective we are at leading our lives. According to Achea, we should be curious about our past, our triggers, and the occurrences that take us to certain places. Having this knowledge of ourselves is the foundation to making the best decisions for our lives. Getting to know yourself is not always easy, as you may discover things you are pleased with; however it is necessary to make the changes required to be and do better.

I will make it my business to continue to ask myself questions, as I want to know all about me. I will be curious to understand why I behave certain ways and what leads me to those behaviors. My goal is to be and stay whole, and I know I must continue to get into me for this to happen.

A quote by Michelle Sandlin, "There is no greater journey then the one that you must take to discover all of the mysteries that lie within you."

Nicole Walker's Leadership Challenge

Don't forget to subscribe to She Leads Podcast for first access to future episodes. And also, like and share this episode of She Leads Podcast entitled "Find Your Voice with Achea Redd".

Thanks and until next time "Be Empowered and Empower On"!

S5 E6: Step-Up To Embody Your Power with Angela Anderson Oct 08, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to She Leads Podcast Season 5, Episode 6! This episode of She Leads Podcast features Angela Anderson founder of Angela Anderson. Angela Anderson is a Cash Flow Conduit, Personal Development Coach, and PSYCH-K® Facilitator who leads her life like the Boss she is. To hear Angela Anderson's take on leadership, listen to her interview as she discusses the importance of planning, how our perception shapes our reality, and the necessity to stop hiding and speak up.

Angela Anderson Bio

Angela Anderson helps entrepreneurs, coaches, and health & wellness professionals rapidly scale beyond 6 figures, massively scale their cash flow, explode their growth … and have the freedom & abundance to live the life they adore. With over 20 years in personal development and entrepreneurship in the areas of subconscious mind reprogramming, health & fitness, and business, Angela shows her clients how real change happens in their minds.

As a PSYCH-K® Facilitator and former employee at the PSYCH-K® Centre International, and a leader in subconscious reprogramming, Angela teaches how to leverage proven neuroscience using mind management tools. She gives her clients the guide to unlock and transform the vault of self-limiting, self-sabotaging and negative beliefs about money.

When Angela is not working with clients from all over the world through the power of the internet, she is living the good life with her husband and two boys in Colorado, nestled at the base of Sangre de Cristo Mountains and overlooking the Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve ... and world traveling.

Nicole Walker's Interview Commentary

I really enjoyed this interview with Angela and I hope you did as well.

I agree with Angela's concept of our birth order having an impact on our characteristics. According to Angela, more times than not our circumstances and surroundings have more to do with our leadership style, as we are not often groomed from the positions we innately have to play. I understand this completely because this is how I "fell" into my leadership role growing as the oldest of three children. Survival is our core instinct as humans, consequently we do what we have to do with what is presented to us. When we accept who we are and figure out how to maximize our position, we win! A quote by Toni Morrison reads, "Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another."

I admire Angela's experience of growing up internationally, and being immersed in diversity. Not having racism in the forefront of your mind as a person of color is a gift. This experience gives Angela a different perspective of people, which impacts how she views her life experiences. Angela looks at her interactions on a person level as opposed to a race level, which is a very liberating viewpoint. I agree that interactions are individual and speak more to the limitations of each person, which should not be attributed race. Angela's upbringing allows her to have a neutral viewpoint which is necessary to rise above the stigmatism of racism. When we learn to focus on the behavior while not equating it to our color we avoid classifying ourselves and others by color. A quote by Joni Eareckson Tada reads "Perspective is everything when you are experiencing the challenges of life."

I can relate to Angela's struggles with accepting feedback, as I experienced the same. When we only desire praise and confirmation from others, it's hard to be receptive to growth opportunities. Focusing only on receiving accolades blocks the opportunity to learn about areas of improvement. As with Angela, I would beat myself up when things did not go as planned as opposed to learning from the experience and moving on with my new knowledge. It is imperative that we stop viewing failure as negative and embrace the new insight received to grow and expand. When we have pity parties about our failures we are distracting ourselves from moving beyond our failures to reach our goals. The longer we sulk the longer it takes to get where we are supposed to be. A quote by Jack Canfield reads, "I am welcoming, appreciating, and using the feedback I get, as I accept it as a valuable gift."

Nicole Walker's Takeaway of the Week

Angela mentioned the importance of having confidence in ourselves and our decisions. As Angela mentioned, we must speak up and take action if we want to be successful. This is an area I struggle with as I've had the tendency to hide, which stops my shine.

I will make it my business to become so comfortable with myself and my abilities, so I can speak up more often and take action more swiftly. I need to exercise my confidence muscle, as I know this is required to reach the levels of success that I aim to acquire.

A quote by Arthur Ashe reads, "One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation."

Nicole Walker's Leadership Challenge

Don't forget to subscribe to She Leads Podcast for first access to future episodes. And also, like and share this episode of She Leads Podcast entitled "Step-Up To Embody Your Power with Angela Anderson".

Thanks and until next time "Be Empowered and Empower On"!

S5 E5: Take A Stand with Genecia Alluora Oct 01, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to She Leads Podcast Season 5, Episode 5! This episode of She Leads Podcast features Genecia Alluora founder of Soul Rich Woman. Genecia Alluora is a Business Mentor, Speaker, and Women Empowerment Advocate who leads her life like the Boss she is. To hear Genecia Alluora's take on leadership, listen to her interview as she discusses being confident in our abilities, giving ourselves a second chance, and the power of self-discovery.

Genecia Alluora Bio

Genecia Alluora is former Miss Singapore and Southeast Asia Woman of Excellence 2010. She is the Founder of Soul Rich Woman, the #1 female entrepreneur network in Southeast Asia that connects more than 12,000 women across the region, with presence in 7 countries including Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

The Soul Rich Woman network helps women build their brand and online reputation for more customers, confidence, and credibility — while making a positive impact in the world. Prior to this, she was an owner of a cafe retail chain with presence in 3 countries and successfully exited to a public listed company.

Genecia has been profiled in CNBC and China Daily, and she is also an expert public speaker and has spoken in recent major events, including the RISE Conference in Hong Kong, Success Conference and Expo Asia 2018 in Hanoi, and National Achievers' Congress in Manila.

Nicole Walker's Interview Commentary

I really enjoyed this interview with Genecia and I hope you did as well.

I agree with Genecia's notion of the importance of self-leadership. Mindset is the key to leading ourselves effectively, so we must first control our minds if we aim to control our reality. Self-leadership helped Genecia breakthrough her limiting mindset in an effort to be and do better. As Genecia mentioned, we need to be more confident and operate outside of our comfort zones if we want to successfully face what life presents to us. A quote by Maria Montessori reads, "The real preparation for education is a study of one's self. The training of the teacher…is something far more than a learning of ideas. It includes the training of character; it is a preparation of the spirit".

I admire Genecia's understanding of the requirements to reach the next level, and her decision to seek education and use outsourcing to continue to grow herself and her business. In Genecia's quest for success, she realized that it is more efficient to seek help from others to do more with less as opposed to trying to do everything ourselves. As Gencia stated, we are not an island which means we need people to make things happen. Being able to relinquish control is not easy, so it is definitely admirable that Genecia was able to do so as a teenager. According to Genecia, we may not choose the right people initially; however, we must not let this deter us as those that are down for the cause will come if we continue to seek them.

I can relate to Genecia's experiences with being bullied, as I experienced the same. I love how Genecia turned this negative experience into a positive outcome by choosing to continue forward while dealing with the adversity she experienced due to not having the same financial background as her peers while growing up. Genecia used her experiences to gain the strength to focus on teaching others how to live a life of financial freedom. As Gencia suggested, we must turn our mess into our message. This is the notion that I used when I decided to start She Leads Podcast. She Leads Podcast is my effort to combat the negative experiences I had with women during my life. Instead of allowing my experiences to make me bitter and mean toward others, I used it to show that love and collaboration is so much better and creates a win-win situation for all involved.

Nicole Walker's Takeaway of the Week

Genecia mentioned the importance of understanding sales and knowing how to sale. As Genecia suggested, it is important to market and not just do operational work. This is an area that I can grow in as operations is my strength and sales is not.

I will make it my business to respect the importance of sales so I can be a better sales person for my business. I now understand that operating in excellence will only get your so far, as sales is needed to close the deal.

A Chinese Proverb reads, "Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still".

Nicole Walker's Leadership Challenge

Don't forget to subscribe to She Leads Podcast for first access to future episodes. And also, like and share this episode of She Leads Podcast entitled "Take A Stand with Genecia Alluora".

Thanks and until next time "Be Empowered and Empower On"!

S5 E4: Throw Something At The Wall Until It Sticks with Dionne Ross Sep 24, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to She Leads Podcast Season 5, Episode 4! This episode of She Leads Podcast features Dionne Ross television host for ShopLC. Dionne Ross is an Author, Fitness/Personal Development Coach, and Speaker who leads her life like the Boss she is. To hear Dionne Ross' take on leadership, listen to her interview as she discusses having a sense of urgency about life, the importance of a marketing plan, and being willing to fail in order to succeed.

Dionne Ross Bio

Whether Dionne Ross is igniting a crowd with impactful storytelling, instructing and motivating in a fitness class, or persuading an audience on national shopping television, her passion remains the same: pushing and motivating people to work harder, dig deeper, and dream bigger in order to maximize their potential. Dionne Ross is a certified speaker, corporate trainer, personal development coach through the John Maxwell Academy, and national TV shopping host on ShopLC. Dionne also spent nearly the last two decades as a personal trainer and fitness instructor certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE). The same skills and techniques that Dionne has used to impact and improve the lives of thousands of people in the fitness realm she applies while speaking and empowering her audiences.

Dionne's Story:

Dionne has transformed her greatest challenge to her greatest blessing as she handles the rigorous demands of a single mother. She has experienced public scrutiny, financial hardship, and feelings of isolation. Despite the obstacles, Dionne made a vow to her son, her God, and herself to pursue a life of purpose, peace, and prosperity. Dionne impacts and inspires people who have come to a crossroad in life: will you choose self-pity, or greatness? She empowers her audience with the understanding that adversity is the foundation of success.

Dionne's most requested topics include:

Creating the RIGHT Momentum; how making right choices in small things gives you the confidence needed for great victories.
Getting out of the Blame Game – Understanding the difference between fault and responsibility.
Goal Setting – Practical strategies to get organized and laser focused in order to crush your goals
How Successful People Think – Uncovering the secrets to working toward living the life you say you want
Don't Put a Period where God up a Comma – daring to dream beyond your complacency

Education and Training

Bachelors of Science in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin
Masters of Arts in Speech Communication from the University of Houston
Certified Speaker, Leadership Trainer, and Success Coach with the John Maxwell Academy
Certified Personal Fitness Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine
Accredited Jewelry Professional with the Gemological Institute of America

Nicole Walker's Interview Commentary

I really enjoyed this interview with Dionne and I hope you did as well.

I agree with Dionne's concept of life being a numbers game, so we should keep trying to reach higher heights. Dionne advised us to, throw something at the wall until it sticks because each time we do so we get better. To get to the next level we must become comfortable with the possibility of failure and decide to move forward anyway. The more we try, the more likely we are to succeed. A quote by Pete Wentz, "Life is merely a numbers game, a series of odds, and eventually we all lose. To think otherwise is foolish. But if we didn't, why would anyone ever bother getting out of the bed in the morning?"

I admire the insight of and respect for leadership Dionne had at such at young age. When we understand what's really important and choose to position ourselves accordingly, we are laying the foundation for our greatness. Knowing and doing this as at a young age was not common in my circle of influence growing up, so I was not on this level during that time of my life. This is why I admire those who were, what I would consider, ahead of the game. This shows that Dionne had a sense of urgency about her life during a time that many others do not.

I can relate to Dionne's realization of the necessity to lead by example once she knew she had someone looking up to her, as I experienced the same. Dionne's son was her catalyst, while my younger sisters were my catalyst. As Dionne stated, one of the most fundamental and basic things that a leader can do is practice what they preach and walk with integrity. Successful leaders understand that people are watching, so they choose to walk righteously. "Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the ONLY means".

Nicole Walker's Takeaway of the Week

Dionne mentioned the importance of marketing ourselves to increase awareness and generate more profits. According to Dionne, being the best is awesome; however, if we are not making ourselves visible then we are missing the mark. Focusing on advertising and marketing expands our reach and probability of success.

I will make it my business to focus on marketing first, as this is definitely a growth opportunity for me. Once we know better, we have the opportunity to do better. Now that I know marketing should be first, I will realign my priorities in an effort to increase my rate of success.

A quote by Mari Smith reads, "Content is king, but engagement is queen and the lady rules the house".

Nicole Walker's Leadership Challenge

Don't forget to subscribe to She Leads Podcast for first access to future episodes. And also, like and share this episode of She Leads Podcast entitled "Throw Something At The Wall Until It Sticks with Dionne Ross".

Thanks and until next time "Be Empowered and Empower On"!

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