Bravefull

Joining me on the podcast today is an incredibly inspiring woman, Caryn Mefford, the CEO of the consulting company, My Pocket CEO. Caryn took a risk and started her consulting company, putting ideology into action. My Pocket CEO’s unique separating factor is that Caryn focuses on bringing her clients human power to guide them to success. 

In this episode, we discuss how My Pocket CEO came to be and how she has helped her clients tap into their human power to help their businesses soar. We dive into what she calls ‘zones of genius’, what her challenges have been, and what is on the horizon for her in 2021. 

Tune in to Episode 6 of Bravefull to hear more!

Some Questions I Ask:

• What in your head said “I can go out on my own and create Pocket CEO (7:16)
• What is ‘zones of genius? (18:36)
• What gave you the confidence to know you could go out and do this? (25:18)
• What has been your greatest challenge? (36:23)
• Do you have your word for 2021? (52:41)

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• About the value of human power in business (11:00)
• How Caryn helps her clients apply their human power (23:39)
• Why self-examination is where the freedom lies (29:33)
• Why emotion is behind every transaction (44:42)
• What Caryn sees on the horizon for 2021 (1:00:38)

Let’s Connect!

• Website
• Email: [email protected]

Connect With Caryn:

• LinkedIn
• Website
• Facebook

Resources:

• Book - Untamed by Glennon Doyle 
• Book - The New Jim Crow 
• Book - Limitless 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I wanted to take a moment to reflect. 

As the new year is right around the corner, it’s safe to say we’re all fairly pleased to be seeing the tail end of 2020. Though it’s been one of the most challenging years yet, we should all give ourselves the gratitude we deserve for making it through to the end and navigating past the challenges this pandemic has brought upon so many of us.

In this episode, I’ll be sharing what I hope to achieve throughout 2021, why the holidays, in particular, are such a special time for me, as well as how I’ve learned to see the beauty in the small things. 

Tune in to Episode 5 of Bravefull to hear more!

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• Why the holidays make me more appreciative of my family (0:37)
• What I’ve learned from Melody Ross’s ‘house analogy’ (2:35)
• Why the little things have brought me joy this Christmas (4:16)
• Why practicing gratitude is so important to me (6:24)
• How I’ve taken the initiative to fulfill personal goals (7:30)
• How I’m going to prioritize self-care in the new year (9:28)

Let’s Connect!

• Website
• Email: [email protected]

Resources:

• Website: Melody Ross Media

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining me on the podcast today is an incredibly insightful and well-informed individual within the recovery and substance abuse landscape. Executive Director at Hope Academy High School, Rachelle Gardner built her curriculum on trust, education and genuine connection with each of the students enrolled. 

In this episode, we discuss how her school is aiming to act as a preventative recovery program through their non-traditional classes. We also explore the existing stigma around substance abuse, particularly with young people, and why ‘normalizing’ certain drugs has made us move backward in our understanding of the significance of abuse. 

I encourage you to listen to today’s episode! I promise it will be one that will bring you insight and possibly challenge your perspective on substance abuse.

Some Questions I Ask:

• How many kids enrolled during your first year at Hope Academy? (8:13)
• What are schools doing today to help their students with substance abuse? (16:05)
• What’s the general demographic of your students? (19:46)
• What does a typical day at Hope Academy look like compared to a non-recovery focused High School? (23:50)
• Does every state in the US have a recovery High School? (27:38)
• What do you think Hope Academy needs in order to continue being successful? (35:37)

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• Some background on Rachelle Gardner & The emergence of Hope Academy (2:25)
• How cultural and societal stigma towards substance abuse and perceived risk has evolved (10:35)
• The differences between substance abuse and addiction (29:42)
• How Hope Academy aims to act as the road to preventing addiction (32:20)

Let’s Connect!

• Website
• Email: [email protected]

Connect With Rachelle Gardner:

• LinkedIn
• Website: Hope Academy High School

Resources:

• IMDb Page: Generation Found (2016)
• Music Video: Matt Butler - Just One

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As some of you may know, I am a proud board member at Malembe Rise — an organization dedicated to providing care, education, and sustainable resources to various communities across Africa. Joining me today is the Executive Director of the company's US chapter, Sarah Castor!   

Sarah has worked hard to ensure that her philanthropic ventures are rooted in compassion and understanding and is truly committed to helping others, particularly in the Congo. Throughout her tenure at Malembe Rise, Sarah has been a key voice for the pivotal rebrand which addressed internal biases within the cross-cultural sector. It was an important stepping stone to bringing the organization to what it is today and has allowed for an even greater connection with the community.   

In this episode, we discuss why Sarah is so passionate about this industry, how she adapted a school curriculum that took into account the cultural considerations in Africa, and how her personal background in the non-profit space led her to the work she is doing today.  

To hear more, tune in to Episode 3 of BraveFull!

Some Questions I Ask:

• What brought you to working at Malembe Rise? (2:47)
• What was the impetus for you deciding to invest so much in yourself? (7:07)
• How has the Coronavirus affected the Congo? (11:07)
• Do you think the work you’re undergoing could be applied globally? (16:57)
• How has your team responded to the poverty you’ve seen across the Congo? (32:10)
• Where do you see your work moving to beyond COVID-19? (34:42)
• How can young people around the world benefit from your work? (39:07)
• What do you want people to know in regards to what is happening in Africa (41:12)
• Why do you think it’s so difficult for us to celebrate our small achievements in the same way we do our big wins? (45:57)

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• Sarah’s perspective on happiness and resilience in the wake of adversity (8:59)
• How Sarah and her team have adapted their school curriculum with language and cultural barriers in mind (13:37)
• Why Giving Back to Africa was rebranded to Malembe Rise (20:46)
• How Sarah has created a sustainable, collaborative, and diverse company culture (25:27)
• The value Malembe Rise is bringing to African communities in the midst of this pandemic (28:22) 
• Some background on Dr. Jerry Kindomba and the work Sarah has done with him (35:51)

Let’s Connect!

• Website

Connect With Sarah Castor:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Resources:

• Website: Malembe Rise
• Charity Water
• Book: John Prendergast & Fidel Bafilemba - Congo Stories

Book: Dayo Olopade - The Bright Continent

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you focus on your goals and don’t let yourself get distracted by every obstacle that gets in your way, you are bound to have great success. You need to put yourself in the forefront because your voice is just as important as everyone else’s, and surround yourself with people that support and are there right beside you as you overcome the challenges that arise.

In today’s episode, I wanted to present a woman who has taken the leap of faith, trusted her guts, and partnered with a great group of individuals to create a successful company that delivers excellence to its clients.

Janet Stiller is the CEO and Founder of Lucidia IT – an engineering lead organization that focuses on its customers by understanding their challenges, their strengths, and their future goals. They provide architecture with both design and procurement of the solution, the implementation, and the support of that solution.

I can’t wait for you to meet this amazing woman whose desire for her company’s success speaks volumes with what she delivers to her employees, customers, and partners. We discuss her journey from leaving a successful career behind and venturing into starting her own business, as well as how women should start viewing themselves in order to achieve greater heights.

Tune in to Episode 2 of BraveFull, to find out more!

Some questions I ask:

• What got your brave pants on and got you going? (02:26)
• What were some of the blockers that were in your way? (04:06)
• What are some of the gifts that you have received from a business perspective by taking the leap and getting the certifications that you have? (15:00)
• If you had to give advice to your younger self, what would you tell her today, that would lead you straight to here? (20:34)
• What are some of your plans for Lucidia? (23:40)
• Why did you name your company Lucidia IT? (28:18)
• Do you think women have to struggle more than men to get validated in their fields? (30:06)

In this episode, you will learn:

• The importance of trusting your team and empowering them. (07:46)
• How to create a partner culture with your customers and manufacturers. (10:44)
• Why it’s important to make decisions with your employees in mind. (12:50)
• Why you deserve a seat at the table. (21:38)
• How women tend to run their businesses. (25:00)
• What the concept of putting your blinders on and focus means. (27:06)
• What Janet considers her greatest achievement is. (31:30)

Connect with Janet:

• Website
• LinkedIn

Let’s Connect!

• Website

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• NAWBO Organization (National Association of Women Business Owners)
• Book: Sheryl Sandberg – Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
• Book: Simon Sinek – Leaders Eat Last

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everyone and welcome to Bravefull - a podcast that aims to highlight the diverse and wondrous accomplishments of women all over the globe.

I am your host, Amy Ziegert, and I'm super excited to share my first episode with you! Join me, to hear about a few of the women who have inspired me throughout my life, why I’m so passionate about uplifting female creators, and how this show will give a platform to women across so many different fields and areas of expertise. This is a project that I’m so excited to share with all of you, as it’s a topic I hold very near and dear to my heart. Having grown up around so many influential female role models, I wanted to take this as an opportunity to not only give space to them, but the people I meet along this journey too.  

To hear more, tune in to Episode 1 of Bravefull! 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• My personal goal for this podcast (0:40)
• Some of the identifiers we use to refer to groups of women (1:38)
• The women in my life and throughout history who have inspired me (3:47)
• Why I want to learn more about gender diversity and women within LGBTQIA+ communities (6:24)
• My perspective on religious acceptance and spirituality (8:42)
• Why I’m eager to interview women within philanthropic spaces (12:21)

Let’s Connect!

• Website

Resources:

• IMDb Page: ‘Mrs. America (2020)’ 
• Youtube Video: ‘Runaway June - Buy My Own Drinks (Official Music Video)’

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.