What happens when life forces you to choose between your dream career and family? Charlie Barker was living his best life in sports broadcasting until his sister’s cancer diagnosis changed everything. He walked away from his Florida dream job to care for her – and the very next day got a call that launched his sales career. Here’s how he turned fear into his biggest motivator and why kindness beats everything else. What You’ll Learn: How to turn fear from debilitating force into career fuel Why “there’s a million jobs but only one sister” mindset changes everything The power of taking a breath before reacting to difficult situations How near-death experiences completely shift your priorities Why working to live (not living to work) creates better success Key Moments: 3:24 – Sister’s cancer diagnosis: “There’s a million jobs but only one sister” 6:05 – Near-death experience 6 months after son’s birth changed everything 8:15 – “Fear is my motivating factor for success in sales” 12:25 – “You can only eat the apple one bite at a time” 15:26 – “Be open to change – I never planned on cybersecurity” 22:01 – Advice to younger self: “Just be nice to people” 23:43 – “When you’re tense, take a breath before reacting” Charlie’s Transformation Journey: Started in sports broadcasting in South Florida – dream job in his field Sister’s breast cancer diagnosis forced career pivot to move back to Minnesota Karma moment: Got perfect job offer the day after giving notice to help family Son Andrew born – discovered his life purpose was being a dad Near-death experience from internal bleeding shifted all priorities Cybersecurity sales leader – turned fear into positive motivating force Success through kindness – believes niceness gets you farther than anything Perfect If You’re: Facing major life decisions between career and family Struggling with fear and anxiety in high-pressure sales roles Looking for motivation techniques that actually work long-term Learning to respond vs. react in stressful work situations Planning for work-life balance and eventual retirement Charlie’s Life Philosophy: “There’s a million jobs on Earth but I only have one sister” “Fear can be debilitating or it can be your motivating factor” “Work to live, don’t live to work” “Kindness gets you so far in life – be nice to people” “Take a breath, step back, don’t react on emotion” BOOK MENTIONED: “Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It” – About forgiving yourself and embracing your future self “The Gift of Fear” – Learning to trust your intuition and use fear as a tool LIFE LESSONS FROM CHARLIE: Career pivots happen: What looks like a setback might be setting you up for something better Family first principle: Some decisions are easy when you know your priorities Fear as fuel: Turn anxiety into motivation by using it to drive performance One bite at a time: Break overwhelming goals into manageable daily steps Kindness matters: In harsh business world, nice people are remembered and rewarded ABOUT CHARLIE BARKER: Cybersecurity sales leader | Former sports broadcaster | Father who discovered his purpose | Believes fear can be a positive motivating force | Advocates for work-life balance | Lives in Texas | Son Andrew turns 14 tomorrow | Cancer survivor family member CONNECT WITH CHARLIE: LinkedIn:   / charliebarker21   ABOUT BECOMING YOU: Stories of transformation through life’s unexpected turns. Originally “Winning Wednesday” during COVID-19, now evolved into deeper conversations about how pivotal moments reshape who we become. Hosted by Katrina Fuhrman, The ConnectorQueen. Instagram:   / connectorqueen   LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen   TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Preview: “Million jobs but only one sister” 01:01 Introduction: Debut episode of Becoming You podcast 02:44 Sister’s breast cancer diagnosis changes everything 04:38 From broadcasting to sales: The karma moment 05:54 Birth of son Andrew followed by near-death experience 07:52 Fear as motivating factor in sales success 12:25 Managing progress: “Eat the apple one bite at a time” 14:26 Future self visualization and staying open to change 17:49 Life after retirement: Not wanting to work at 79 20:06 “Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It” excerpt 21:18 Advice to younger self: Be nice to people 23:43 Managing stress: Take a breath before reacting 25:09 Final thoughts: Believe you can be whatever you want 26:23 Thanks for watching and listening RELATED EPISODES: Winning Wednesday: Allison Wright – Managing How You Show Up at Work Future episodes on career transitions, family priorities, and sales success #CareerChange #SalesMotivation #FamilyFirst #WorkLifeBalance #CybersecuritySales #FearIntoFuel #Kindness #ParentingPriorities #CareerPivot #LifePurpose #BecomingYou #ConnectorQueen Subscribe for new episodes that prove your biggest breakthrough comes from embracing all parts of who you are!

Sixty episodes. One year and change of showing up every Wednesday with something worth saying. And for the finale of Winning Wednesday’s first chapter, the universe sent exactly the right guest. Elise Neel, VP of New Business Incubation at Verizon, professional tap dancer turned 5G frontier explorer, WAVE co-lead, mother of three, wife, and self-described lover of music and movement, closes out this season with the kind of conversation that makes you want to get intentional about every single thing — your time, your talent, your calendar, and your Wednesday. What You’ll Learn: What New Business Incubation at Verizon actually does — and why leading a team of explorers building toward a 3-to-10-year horizon feels like a roller coaster you chose to get on Why you don’t find time for what matters — you decide it matters and plan accordingly How auditing your last 30 days of calendar time reveals whether you’re living your values or just thinking you are Why WAVE’s 13,000 members across 32 countries represent far more than a women’s group — and how intersectionality makes it relevant to everyone Why knowing thyself is the first and most critical step to building a career that actually fits Key Focus Areas: New Business Incubation – What it’s like to lead frontier technology development at a Fortune 15 — from aerial robotics to distributed energy — with a timeline of three to ten years and permission to dream The Roller Coaster Metaphor – Why Elise describes her daily leadership life as exhilarating — and why that word encompasses the waiting, the anxiety, the click-click-click, and the whoosh of getting it right Calendar as Mirror – Why going back through the last 30 days of your time and sitting with what you find is the most honest leadership development exercise available Elise’s Approach: VP of New Business Incubation at Verizon — leading a team building software businesses that harness the future of 5G and mobile edge compute Former professional tap dancer with a home studio who still dances to decompress, create, and move — because the body and the mind are not separate Co-lead of WAVE, Verizon’s Women’s Association with 13,000+ members across 32 countries — finding the time by deciding it matters and planning accordingly Mother of three, wife, follower of Christ, extrovert, music lover — and a firm believer that we are not just one thing Wins Wednesday on horseback — riding her daughters’ horse after their lessons and letting whatever the week built up exhale through the animal Perfect If You’re: A corporate leader who wants to understand what innovation actually looks like inside a Fortune 15 — the blessing and the challenge of it Someone who keeps saying they don’t have time for what matters — and is ready to hear a different framework A woman navigating a big organization and wondering if advancing is worth it — Elise gives an honest, nuanced answer Anyone who needs permission to audit their own calendar and make changes accordingly Elise’s Philosophy: “You will know what is really important to you by the way you spend your time.” “You don’t find time for these things — you decide they are part of the time you need to spend.” “I was created on purpose for a purpose — and that gives me my own unique value proposition.” “The moment we start looking like everybody else it diminishes your value.” “Know thyself — figure out what you’re the best at and bring that to work.” A NOTE ON THIS EPISODE: This was the final episode of Winning Wednesday before Katrina paused the show to focus on her corporate career and help other businesses produce and launch their own podcasts. Three years later, she returned to hosting — and renamed the show Becoming You. Sixty episodes. One community. One connector queen. And a whole lot more story still to tell. ABOUT ELISE NEEL: VP, New Business Incubation | Verizon | WAVE Co-Lead | Former Professional Tap Dancer | Mother of Three | Frontier Technology Explorer | Helping teams build the future — one exhilarating roller coaster ride at a time CONNECT WITH ELISE: LinkedIn:   / eliseneel   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What happens when a high-performing sales leader who’s been running nonstop finally gets forced to slow down — and discovers she’s been suffering without even knowing it? Tina Gravel, channel sales executive, published author, public speaker, and women’s leadership champion, brings one of the most refreshingly honest conversations in the Winning Wednesday catalog. From her chapter in the pandemic leadership anthology to her conviction that partnering makes the world go round, Tina covers the full spectrum — business strategy, mental health at work, authenticity in leadership, and the simple morning ritual that sets her up to win every day. What You’ll Learn: Why Tina’s confidence is real now — but wasn’t always — and what the difference between a facade and genuine self-assurance actually feels like What the pandemic forced Tina to confront when the travel stopped and the stillness set in — and why she’s grateful for it Why channel sales is the most leveraged growth strategy available to companies — and how new logos are the only metric that really matters Why joining a women’s group is the single best move for any woman who doesn’t yet feel her voice is being heard Why gratitude first thing in the morning — before anything else — is the foundation of getting after it Key Focus Areas: Contagion as a Leadership Concept – Why what you show up with is what your team will feel — and how to be authentic without burdening the people who need your steadiness The Pandemic Existential Crisis – How being grounded for the first time in years forced Tina to face things she’d been running from — and what the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional work of recovery actually looked like Channel Sales as Leverage – Why no company can hire enough people to do what partnering can — and why new logos are the measure that matters Women Finding Each Other – Why Tina didn’t gravitate toward women’s organizations until she felt the direct experience of being asked to shrink — and what changed when she did Gratitude List, Then Get After It – Why starting the day with what you’re grateful for is the practice that makes everything else possible Tina’s Approach: Channel sales executive whose entire career was built on making the number — until she started feeling the pull toward disadvantaged women and local board work and realized a new purpose was forming One of 25 contributors to the pandemic leadership anthology Leading Through the Pandemic — her chapter a personal account of what enforced stillness revealed Public speaker on advancing women whose keynotes were cancelled one by one at the start of COVID — and who found meaning in the pause anyway Believes numbers are the great equalizer in sales — and that partnering is the great equalizer in business growth Starts every morning with a gratitude list — and finishes by getting fully after it, no half measures Perfect If You’re: A sales leader exploring channel as a growth strategy and wanting a practitioner’s perspective on what actually works A woman in a big role who’s been asked — innocently or not — to be a little less of yourself to fit in Someone who’s been running so fast you haven’t stopped to check whether you’re running toward something or away from it Anyone who needs a workout accountability story that will make you laugh and get back in the gym Tina’s Philosophy: “I was suffering and I didn’t even know it — I was just so used to it.” “Contagion is real — what you show up with is what you will cause your team to feel.” “Partnering makes the world go round — especially today where staffing is so hard.” “If you don’t feel like your voice is being heard — join a women’s group. Someone there has already been through this.” “Make a gratitude list — and then get after it. Really get after it.” ABOUT TINA GRAVEL: Channel Sales Executive | Public Speaker | Published Author | Women’s Leadership Champion | Helping companies grow through partnership, leverage, and the conviction that you’re never going to win alone CONNECT WITH TINA: LinkedIn:   / tinagravel   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What does it look like to spend 32 years at one company — starting with MCI before it became Verizon — and still show up every day like you have something left to prove? Shelly Ashwill-Powers, senior Verizon leader, WAVE champion, and the woman known for her Woohoo energy, brings a masterclass in longevity, leadership, and paying it forward. From Bill McGowan breaking up the Bell monopoly to Hans Vestberg’s fourth stakeholder philosophy, Shelly has watched Verizon evolve through every era — and distilled it all into one conviction: you’re never going to win alone. What You’ll Learn: Why Shelly has stayed at one company for over 32 years — and what she’s found there that kept her Why you can’t apply for the job when it posts — and how far in advance top professionals are actually working toward their next opportunity Why happy at home and happy at work aren’t separate goals — they’re the same goal How to make sure your above-and-beyond contributions actually get counted — and why your performance plan is the tool most people underuse Why women in leadership need to stop seeing each other as competition — and what happens when they do Key Focus Areas: 32 Years, One Company – What keeps a top professional loyal across decades — and what Verizon’s leadership evolution taught Shelly about finding what you love in each era The Fourth Stakeholder – Why Verizon’s mission to solve global problems requires leaders who attack tough issues — and why society belongs at the table alongside customers, employees, and shareholders Earn the Right Before the Job Posts – Shelly’s career development philosophy: be the obvious choice months or years before the role is even available Women Paying It Forward – Why the fixed mindset that there aren’t enough seats at the table is the real obstacle — and how shifting it changes everything Win-Win Wednesday – Why being happy at home is the foundation of being successful at work — and why giving yourself permission to take a break is a leadership skill Shelly’s Approach: 32-year Verizon veteran who started at MCI fresh out of college and never left — because she fell in love with what the company stands for and kept finding new reasons to stay Senior leader who takes personal check-ins, over-communication, and genuine interest in employee wellbeing as seriously as any business metric Champion for WAVE and the WOW development program — passionate about women earning the right to compete for top opportunities through preparation, not luck Believes the correlation between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction always points to the same actions — and leads accordingly Known for her Woohoo energy and a hat to match Perfect If You’re: A professional who wants to understand what long-term career success at one company actually looks like from the inside A woman in mid-career who’s been going above and beyond and wondering why it isn’t translating to advancement A leader trying to figure out how to stay close to the front lines from a senior position Someone who keeps work and home in separate mental buckets — and is starting to sense they might be connected Shelly’s Philosophy: “You’re never gonna win alone.” “You can’t apply for the job when the job is posted — you have to be working toward that next opportunity months and years in advance.” “There needs to be leaders that will attack the tough issues and innovate to make our lives better while we’re on this planet.” “Being happy at home is really important to being happy at work — that’s my win-win Wednesday.” “It’s our obligation to ensure equal representation across key opportunities — not just at Verizon, around the world.” ABOUT SHELLY ASHWILL-POWERS: Senior Verizon Leader | WAVE Champion | WOW Program Advocate | 32-Year MCI/Verizon Veteran | Female Leadership Champion | Woohoo Energy Certified | Helping the next generation of leaders earn their seat at the table — long before the job ever posts CONNECT WITH SHELLY: LinkedIn:   / shellyashwill   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen

What does it look like when a gay Salvadoran immigrant raises a two-year-old son, writes a children’s book about a rainbow bee, volunteers as a Trevor Project suicide prevention counselor, and gets promoted to lead employee engagement — all in the same month? It looks like Ricardo Gattas-Moras. A 14-year Verizon veteran, proud husband, and quietly extraordinary human, Ricardo joins Winning Wednesday during Pride Month to share what living your truth actually looks like when you’re doing it fully — at work, at home, and in the world. This one is warm, grounding, and genuinely moving. What You’ll Learn: Why Ricardo and his husband wrote a children’s book about a rainbow bee — and what they couldn’t find on bookstore shelves that made them create it themselves How Ricardo’s mom went from fear about grandchildren to grandmother of a two-year-old — and why that story matters What Trevor Project suicide prevention counselor training actually teaches you — and who the resources are designed to serve Why LGBTQ+ youth suicide rates are rising — and the specific environmental and social factors Ricardo sees driving it Why allyship starts with doing your own homework — and why it’s not the community’s job to educate you Key Focus Areas: The Rainbow Bee – How a birthday cake, a son who started repeating words from books, and a gap in inclusive children’s literature became a published story about belonging The Trevor Project – What suicide prevention counselor training looks like — and how Ricardo shows up monthly for youth up to age 24 who need someone to talk to Coming Out in El Salvador – Why growing up without language or resources for his identity made Ricardo deeply committed to creating that access for others Pride as a Fight, Not Just a Celebration – Why Ricardo’s understanding of Pride shifted from celebration to ongoing movement — and what worldwide legal realities make that necessary Lead With the Heart – Why creating workplaces where people feel like people produces the best version of everyone — and Ricardo’s simple framework for doing it Ricardo’s Approach: 14-year Verizon veteran recently promoted to Project Manager for Employee Engagement, Volunteering and Recognition for the BCG Sales and Operations team Born in El Salvador, moved to the US at 12, built his career through Verizon retail leadership before moving into operations Married five years, father of a two-year-old son — the family that his mom once feared coming out would cost her Trained Trevor Project suicide prevention counselor who volunteers monthly to support LGBTQ+ youth in crisis Co-wrote a children’s book about a rainbow bee to give his son — and other children — the inclusive stories he never had Perfect If You’re: A parent looking for inclusive, accessible children’s books that carry a message of belonging without being heavy-handed Someone who wants to support the LGBTQ+ community but doesn’t know where to start — Ricardo’s allyship framework is clear and actionable A leader who wants to create more inclusive workplaces and needs a simple north star to orient around Anyone who came out later than they wished they had — and wants to hear from someone building the world they needed sooner Ricardo’s Philosophy: “You won’t be able to feel loved by others unless you find love within yourself.” “Pride is not just about where we are now — it’s about where we still need to go.” “Don’t expect the community to teach you about it — take the time to learn.” “Here I am with a son — and my mom gets to be a grandma after all.” “Lead with the heart — that’s when you get the best version of who everyone is.” ABOUT RICARDO GATTAS-MORAS: Verizon Project Manager | Employee Engagement Leader | Trevor Project Suicide Prevention Counselor | Children’s Book Author | Proud Gay Salvadoran Immigrant | Husband & Dad | Creating inclusive environments — one conversation, one book, one phone call at a time CONNECT WITH RICARDO: LinkedIn:   / ricardo-gattas-moras   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen

What happens when a songwriter, non-binary creator, and self-described verified fool decides to just stop caring what people think — and builds a career out of it? Libby Larkin, New York-based songwriter and TikTok personality, brings one of the most refreshingly unfiltered conversations in the Winning Wednesday catalog. From writing briefs for major labels to going viral over a breakup EP, from understanding TikTok’s algorithm to redefining what Pride actually means — Libby is the kind of guest who says the thing everyone else is dancing around, and somehow makes it land with both honesty and grace. What You’ll Learn: Why TikTok is the one platform built for your organic weird self — and why artists especially need to stop being embarrassed about using it How Libby learned TikTok’s algorithm from the inside — and why understanding it changed everything about building a brand Why relationships don’t happen overnight — and why patience, not pressure, is the real networking strategy What it felt like to finally be called they/them — and why Libby’s advice for anyone exploring identity is that nothing is permanent Why Pride was never really for queer people — and whose voices Libby thinks it needs to center instead Key Focus Areas: TikTok as Liberation – Why the platform’s culture of being an idiot is actually radical — and why it’s done more for artists than any polished feed ever could Algorithm Literacy – How TikTok batches content to test audiences — and why understanding that changes how you create and distribute Get to Know the Person First – Libby’s networking philosophy: lead with humanity, follow with work — and why that’s how real collaboration gets born Non-Binary Identity as Exploration – Why trying on a pronoun, a sound, or a feeling isn’t a commitment — it’s just listening to yourself Pride’s Real Purpose – Why corporate rainbow logos miss the point — and why trans women and men of color are who Pride was always supposed to be for Libby’s Approach: New York-based songwriter who works with labels and artists as a kind of musical therapist — going into sessions, talking about life, and writing songs from it Went viral on TikTok with a breakup EP and learned that accountability plus art plus letting go of other people’s perception is the actual formula Identifies as non-binary using they/them pronouns — arrived there slowly, stayed because it felt like butterflies and being seen Believes the ego is there to protect you but will also destroy you — and that listening to instinct over ego is the creative and personal edge Wins Wednesday by picking up the phone and calling the person who matters most — not texting, actually calling Perfect If You’re: An artist, creator, or entrepreneur who keeps putting off TikTok because it feels undignified — Libby has something to say to you Someone in the middle of figuring out your identity — and needing permission to explore without committing A networker who leads with your pitch instead of your humanity — and wondering why it isn’t working Libby’s Philosophy: “TikTok is made for you being your organic weird self — and that’s transformative.” “Relationships don’t happen overnight — people have walls, boundaries, trauma. Respect it, and be patient.” “You cannot control how somebody sees you — so let it go.” “Nothing is permanent — you can explore something and come back out of it.” “Call the person that means the most to you — don’t text them, call them. Life is too short.” ABOUT LIBBY LARKIN: Songwriter | Non-Binary Creator | TikTok’s Verified Fool | Musical Therapist | Helping artists, creatives, and humans stop performing for other people and start making something real CONNECT WITH LIBBY: LinkedIn:   / libby-larkin-socialmedia   Wrong Places: available on all streaming platforms CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What does it look like to be Black, a woman, a lesbian, and a mom — all at once, every single day, with no days off for any of it? Irene DeRouen, Verizon V-Teamer, ERG advocate, dog mom, snowboarder, and self-described open book, brings one of the most grounded and generous conversations about Pride, intersectionality, and authentic leadership in the Winning Wednesday catalog. From explaining the evolution of the Pride flag to sharing the anxiety she carries every day as a mother of a nine-year-old Black son — this episode goes places most Pride Month conversations don’t. And it does it with compassion, humor, and a whole lot of truth. What You’ll Learn: What the colors of the Pride flag actually represent — including the newer additions for marginalized communities and transgender inclusion Why hiding who you are at work costs you more than just comfort — it costs you performance What “the talk” really means for Black mothers raising Black sons — and why a leader who finally listened made all the difference Why intersectionality means you don’t get to be Black on Monday and a lesbian on Tuesday — and why that matters at work How to move from allyship to advocacy — and why teaching moments beat shutting people out every time Key Focus Areas: ERGs as Permission to Show Up – How finding employee resource groups gave Irene the aha moment that she didn’t have to live a double life at work anymore Redefining Professionalism – Why the old definition of professional was always coded — and why COVID cracked it open for good The Talk – What Irene has to teach her nine-year-old son about interacting with police — and why her leader’s response to hearing it changed everything Intersectionality in Practice – Why labels exist to make other people comfortable — and why being fully human is always more important than being categorized From Ally to Advocate – Why compassion and education beat confrontation — and how choosing teaching moments over shutting doors actually moves the world forward Irene’s Approach: Verizon V-Teamer, ERG leader, and Pride advocate who came out later in life and uses that experience to create space for others — especially youth — to do it sooner Mom of a nine-year-old Black son who navigates the anxiety of his safety every day while still showing up fully at work Believes children who hear honest conversations at home first are better equipped to process what they encounter in the world Advocates for compassion over confrontation when someone uses outdated or offensive language — because education only happens when the door stays open Lives her truth unapologetically — knowing some people will love it, some will hate it, and she’ll have peace either way Perfect If You’re: Someone who wants to be a better ally to the LGBTQ+ community but doesn’t know where to start without getting it wrong A leader who has never heard “the talk” explained — and needs to understand what your Black colleagues are carrying into every workday A professional who has been hiding part of who you are at work — and is starting to feel what that costs Someone navigating multiple identities at once and looking for language to make sense of it all Irene’s Philosophy: “Unapologetically authentic — that’s how I win Wednesday and every other day.” “I don’t get to show up on Monday and be Black, Tuesday a woman, Wednesday a lesbian — this is all of me, all the time.” “If you can respect that at the core of who I am is a human being — that’s what I’m asking from an ally.” “I waited until later in life to live my truth — I want our youth to have that space now.” “Show up with compassion — because a lot of times people don’t have ill intent, and that’s a teaching moment.” ABOUT IRENE DEROUEN: Verizon V-Teamer | ERG Advocate | Pride Month Champion | Black Mom Raising the Next Generation | Dog Mom | Snowboarder | Showing up unapologetically authentic — every single day CONNECT WITH IRENE: LinkedIn:   / irene-derouen-0508b796   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What happens when one of the most prominent voices in evangelical Christianity transitions — and discovers that the cis-straight world is sometimes kinder than the LGBTQ+ community itself? Dr. Paula Stone Williams, pastor, pastoral counselor, TEDx speaker with 4.1 million views, Simon & Schuster author, and international speaker on gender equity, brings one of the most intellectually expansive and deeply human conversations in the Winning Wednesday catalog. Her message is both radical and simple: I’m a pastor who happens to be trans — and when that becomes incidental rather than primary, that’s when real connection happens. What You’ll Learn: How a Sunday morning sermon led to a TEDx talk that now has 4.1 million views — and what Paula learned working with TED’s head speaking coach Why humans are wired to create enemies — and what that biological reality has to do with legislation targeting transgender children The data behind post-transition wellbeing — and why 92% of those who transition are happy in their new gender Why the biggest driver of post-transition suicidal ideation isn’t the body — it’s how people are treated What the six countries that handled COVID best had in common — and why Paula believes collaboration and correction are feminine leadership superpowers Key Focus Areas: TEDx & The Power of a Honed Talk – How Paula went from mega-church stages to 4.1 million views — and what word-for-word precision taught her about communicating across cultures Tribal Biology & The Enemy We Create – Why humans as a eusocial species are wired to manufacture enemies when none exist — and how fundamentalism exploits that instinct The Data on Trans Lives – Why 96% of post-transition unhappiness comes from how people are treated, not how people feel in their bodies — and what that demands of all of us Feminine Leadership in a Crisis – Why the six countries that led the world through COVID’s first wave all had female heads of state — and what collaboration over hierarchy actually looks like The Sacredness of the Ordinary – Paula’s Wednesday philosophy: every moment is holy — the morning run, the client session, the phone call — all of it sacred Paula’s Approach: Pastor of Left Hand Church in Boulder County Colorado, pastoral counselor with a doctorate in psychotherapy, and international speaker on gender equity — published by Simon & Schuster Known in the evangelical world pre-transition and chose visibility over disappearance — for the sake of those internalizing transphobia in silence Believes allyship looks like letting trans identity be incidental — treating trans people as whole humans whose gender is just one part of who they are Perfect If You’re: Someone whose understanding of the trans experience has been shaped entirely by legislation and headlines — and is ready to hear it from a lived perspective A leader, pastor, or organizational figure wrestling with how to create inclusive community without making identity the only conversation Curious about the intersection of biology, religion, and gender equity — and ready for a perspective that goes far deeper than talking points Paula’s Philosophy: “I’m a pastor and I happen to be trans — and it’s nice that that’s not my primary identity.” “When you’ve talked to one transgender person, you’ve talked to exactly one transgender person.” “They solved a problem that didn’t exist and created another huge problem in the process — that’s what fundamentalism does.” “The sacredness of the ordinary — if you see every moment as holy, that is grounding.” “I wish I had learned the value of deference, compromise, correction, collaboration.” ABOUT DR. PAULA STONE WILLIAMS: Pastor, Left Hand Church | Pastoral Counselor | TEDx Speaker (4.1M Views) | Author, Simon & Schuster | International Speaker on Gender Equity | Screenwriter | Helping the world see the humanity behind every identity — one sacred ordinary moment at a time CONNECT WITH DR. PAULA: LinkedIn:   / dr-paula-stone-williams-2119b915a   TEDx Talk:    • I’ve lived as a man & a woman — here’s wh…   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen