Welcome to today’s episode! In this candid conversation, Joanne Ferguson sits down with leadership expert Sofia Costantini to explore the true essence of leadership. As a top educator, presenter, and leader in the wellness field, Sofia is deeply passionate about helping others achieve both personal and professional success while emphasizing the importance of self-care. With over 30 years of experience in empowerment and leadership management, Sofia shares invaluable insights on how to build a successful team through positive leadership, all while maintaining a balanced, healthy mindset.

Sofia’s approach is all about motivating individuals and teams to tap into their full potential, showing that a compassionate, positive leadership style can lead to immediate and impactful results. As she often says, “Compassion is a huge piece to leadership” and “Leaders empower learners.” Tune in to learn how Sofia’s thoughtful guidance and strategic word choices inspire teams to go beyond their perceived limits.

Also, stay tuned as Sandra Margolese reads Chapter 4, “Leading Your Team” from Best Practices: A Handbook for Advisors and Their Teams, Third Edition.

Tools from Chapter 4

In this episode, Joanne Ferguson chats with Katie Attard, the person founders and executives turn to when they need a reliable partner to help their business thrive. Whether you're launching a new venture or scaling your operations, she is here to provide the strategic support you need to make your business scale with confidence. katieattard.com 

Sandra Margolese reads Chapter 7 'Powerful Process Management' from Best Practices: A Handbook for Advisors and Their Teams.

Tools from Chapter 7

In this episode, Joanne Ferguson chats with Chris Crocker, a seasoned consultant in web development, digital and educational marketing, and sales. Chris's authentic approach to clients supports their needs and excels at helping them reach their goals. He is the Owner and Director of Campfire Digital Marketing and a partner at BakingBread, which offers Education-based growth programs for Financial Professionals. 

Sandra Margolese reads Chapter 13 'Building a Powerful Online Presence' from Best Practices: A Handbook for Advisors and Their Teams."

Tools from Chapter 13

In this episode, Joanne Ferguson chats with Derek Convington. Head of Performance Optimization, Well-being and Mindfulness ~ Olympic and High Performance Leader, Throughout his 20+ years in Olympic sport over nine Olympic Games, He has helped elite performers and teams across the globe achieve success. As a former competitive hurdler and coach, he has learned first-hand the importance of mindfulness in achieving success – more than a series of techniques, but a personal journey. This episode is paired with Chapter 22, 'The Big Picture' from Best Practices: A Handbook for Advisors and Their Teams." read by Sandra Margolese.

Tools for chapter 22 can be found here.

In this episode, Joanne Ferguson chats with Brent Moody, with over 35 years of experience in the financial industry as a Director, Associate Portfolio Manager, and Senior Advisor with a full-service brokerage firm, Brent brings to us his start in the industry and his passionate about a healthy succession. This episode is paired with Chapter 20, 'Succession Planning' from Best Practices: A Handbook for Advisors and Their Teams." read by Sandra Margolese.

Chapter 20 Tools

In this episode, Joanne Ferguson chats with Sandra Margolese, Vocal Coach, Writer, Singer, and Voice Actor - Vocal students worldwide have been inspired by Sandra to explore possibilities and reach objectives in their chosen professions. With passion and a commitment to excellence, she shares her vocalization techniques to help people unleash their potential, move beyond fears, and utilize their unique instrument – the voice.

Sandra Margolese reads Chapter 16 'Telling Your Story' from Best Practices: A Handbook for Advisors and Their Teams."

In this episode, Joanne Ferguson, Coach and Consultant in the Financial Services Industry since 2001, chats about how she came upon Kolbe Wisdom, Insights, and the power of this assessment, the power of people. 

Sandra Margolese reads Chapter 2, “Instinct, Drive and Talent” from Best Practices: A Handbook for Advisors and Their Teams,Third Edition. The power driving our actions is human instinct. Despite its prime importance, assessment tools have historically focused on two other areas. One area of focus is cognitive (IQ), which is influenced by the learning opportunities someone has had and does not necessarily predict a person’s level of success. The second traditional focus is on personality traits (the affective parts of the mind); these can be affected by a given situation and, again, do not necessarily predict how well a person will perform in a job.

Check out the book Do More More Naturally: Empowering Effortless Success and the Freedom to Be Yourself by David Kolbe and Amy Bruske.

In this episode, Joanne Ferguson discusses the essential best practices for financial services teams, emphasizing the importance of focus, clear roles, and effective processes.

Sandra Margolese reads the preface and Chapter 1 'Designing Your Team' from Best Practices: A Handbook for Advisors and Their Teams.

Hello everyone, my name is Joanne Ferguson. I have been in the financial services industry since 1990, working in a variety of roles—from branch operations to regional platforms, as well as in technology and training, conducting roll-outs across the country. One of the most impactful elements has always been the concept of Best Practices, and I have had the privilege of sharing this valuable information with advisors and their teams throughout North America for the past few decades.

As a long-time coach and author, I am excited to share insights from the third edition of *Best Practices—A Handbook for Advisors and Their Teams*. These tips and guidelines have helped teams grow, become better organized, and hone in on their unique qualities within the industry.

The best part of this podcast will be the guests who contribute to each topic or interview, providing rich insights that can support your business, your team, and your life!

Thank you for tuning in!