Your story matters. Stories unite us, stories are how we make sense of the world, and stories have the power to help us reflect, connect, and thrive.

Each of us has a unique story to tell, and in this week’s episode, Rebecca Fleetwood Hession — the CEO and founder of WEthrive.live — shares a bit of her story. In her keynote address to the women of “Rise and Thrive” Indianapolis, she talks about the power of our stories to reflect and connect. After 19 years in a highly successful sales career, she chose to leave the company and start a new chapter in her story.

Listen in to learn more about how she realized her value and worth and started to thrive, instead of strive.

And tune in each week to hear from another speaker about how to stand tall in your story and rise and thrive during these difficult times.

Last year, Rebecca Fleetwood Hession — the CEO and founder of WEthrive.live — developed a process to help high achievers prevent and overcome burnout.

In September of 2019, she launched a Rise and Thrive, a seven-month experience with a small group of women designed to ban burnout, build community, and boost their business. During their transformation, these women grew, flourished, prospered, and learned how to thrive, not strive. At the end of the experience on March 5, 2020, these women shared their stories in a Ted-like talk. This 8-week series podcast will highlight and share the inspirational stories told that night.

Tune in each week to hear from another speaker about how to stand tall in your story and rise and thrive during these difficult times.

Courtney Carter is the founder of Carter Media Group (CMG). CMG represents and partners with inclusive creators to build innovative, story-driven businesses and brands. Carter serves as manager and production partner to creator sensation Liza Koshy; culinary collective Ghetto Gastro; strategist, host, and former Obama White House advisor Carri Twigg; and comedian and writer Matt Bellassai. Carter has multiple scripted and non-scripted projects in development with her clients; including serving as an active Executive Producer for all seasons of LIZA ON DEMAND, YouTube Original's most successful show to date.

Previously, Carter served as an Agent in Digital Talent/Packaging and Brand Partnerships at Creative Artists Agency (CAA). There, she worked to package and sell multiple shows across television and digital. Prior to CAA, Courtney served as Director of Sports Management and Branded Content at ESPN, garnering multiple awards for her precedent ideation and execution of integrated marketing solutions and creative work in the advertising and branded content spaces for ESPN advertisers. Courtney began her career in ad and partnership sales working for Madison Square Garden and Major League Soccer before joining CAA.

Not the wedding she had planned, Ally Ryan and her husband Cameron opted to move forward with their vows in spite of the quarantine. I didn't know Ally well but her social media pictures of that special and very intimate day brought me to tears. Seeing two people so committed to each other the love and connection more important than the party and celebration was a beautiful bright spot in some very dark times. I asked Ally to share her experience.

Shelly Towns is such a great example of living life intentionally. She makes self awareness look easy in the way she has used her unique gifts and talents and skills she's picked up along the way to pivot her career and capitlize on opportunities.

Tim is the CEO of Gibson Insurance and author of Revolution - Turning Crisis into Clarity to Ignite Growth. In this episode: The importance of community as a means to invite vulnerability Moving past the winner take all mindset to How can we all get better How our vulnerabilities connect us The importance of being curious about ourselves and others Living more holistically, not the hustle and grind Gibson Insurance is a company that looks out into the future to prepare their clients and their employees in meaningful ways. The stories of their clients and how they tell those stories says everything about how Gibson runs their business. for Tim Lehman.mp3

The lines between personal and work should have been blurred a long time ago. We are one person living one life. We go to work to use our gifts and talents and to earn money to fuel our story, be valuable and relevant. Our lives have challenges, hurt and struggle.

I find it refreshing and frighening that in 2020 we're finally rising up to the challenge of acknowledging how we handle our hurts are a part of the workplace responsibility.

Liesel is taking her story of pain and loss and helping leaders know the right response to their employees when pain and struggle comes to their team. Liesel is a beautiful example of using your story to serve another.

I know I'm not supposed to play favorites but this was my favorite interview to date. I want to be Carol's neighbor and BFF. She lights my heart and my brain on fire with perspectives we all need to hear.

Carol shares a framework for humanity: family, careers and connection.

My 3 favorite takeaways:

Her framework is built around our uniqueness, what she describes as essence.

Clinging to Industrial Age BS isn’t helping us

Honoring the curiosity and discovery of our lives

Buy her book!

And, she has a plethora of resources on her site!

www.carolsanford.co

Ryan Berman is the author of Return on Courage. "Ryan Berman, founder of Courageous, spent 1,000 days with many of the most courageous leaders and people on the planet. He went behind the curtain and learned how each of these companies operationalized courage."

Wendy Noe Executive Director of Dove Recovery House for Women has been a part of the Rise and Thrive Indianapolis experience.  She talks about the impact the last 7 months has had on her, her business and her family. 

Wendy and the rest of the women will be on stage at The Cabaret sharing their stories in a TED like talk.  We'll have food, drinks and live music to celebrate Women's Month!  

 

Buy Your Ticket!  Event is March 5th! 

 

Consider next year's Rise & Thrive experience starting in September 2020