Femme Lead

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In this live session, Ceyda Atay Haga, Principal at Kearney Nordic shares pieces of advice on mentorship, moving abroad, and building a career across borders, as well as the state of recruiting and how can more women join this field.

Read Ceyda’s recent articles:  

https://finansavisen.no/nyheter/telekom/2020/10/02/7573195/kearney-mener toget-holder-pa-a-ga-fra-telenor-og-telia 

https://www.kearney.com/covid-19/article/?/a/10-ways-to-use-digital-to strengthen-your-customer-experience-amid-the-covid-19-pandemic 

https://www.kearney.com/communications-media-technology/article?/a/winning in-sales-through-technology

Episode Timeline:

01:30 Mentorship: How do you know it is time to find a mentor?

03:20 How can listeners find a mentor if they are not part of a mentorship circle with their employer?

05:40 How do you incentivize people to take time on mentorship when the client projects get overbearing? 

08:25 In terms of long term career progression, what has been some of the pros/cons of moving every 2-3 years?

11:20 What have been some personal consequences of moving around? In terms of building relationships or a private economy?

16:26 What mindset and values drove you in moving ranks?

20:21 How do you separate your professional life from your personal life? How did you balance your journey in different countries?

26:20 Were you able to choose projects that you would work with?

30:10 Why do management consulting companies generally receive a lot more applications from men than women? How to change that and make the industry as a whole more appealing to women?

35:00  What do you think about this sentence ‘Focus on what makes you different, not what makes you the same’?

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In this episode, we discuss the field of business development, how to work with high-level clients, how to communicate, and what questions to ask. The journey to navigate the corporate setup can be paved with challenges if the relationship with your customers is not strong. 

Ana Sarbu shares pieces of advice on how to build fruitful partnerships with business partners and ensure their needs are listened to and met while providing the service Palantir is best known for: the world's leading software for data-driven decisions and operations.

Ana has been living between the US and Europe for the past 12 years and is now based in London, UK. She graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University in 2012 with a double degree in Foreign Policy and Russian and is currently working in business development for the Silicon Valley technology company Palantir Technologies (https://www.palantir.com/). 

She is passionate about offering young people in Eastern Europe the same educational opportunities that she’s had abroad. While in college, together with her friends, she co-founded Aspire Education – an organization focused on discovering, developing, and connecting young leaders in Eastern Europe by offering them opportunities to engage with Ivy-league professors, inspirational speakers, and mentors.

Follow Ana Sarbu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-sarbu-51a53728/ 

Check out Aspire Education and find out more about the program: https://www.aspireacademy.ro/ 

Resources from Ana:

o   Podcast: NYT Rabbithole – about the effects the Internet has on our lives https://www.nytimes.com/column/rabbit-hole

o   Books:

§  “In Extremis” about the life and work of war journalist Marie Colvin; an impressive figure, courageous and fragile at the same time.

§  For some foundational work: "Plato’s Dialogues", especially Apology, Phaedo, Republic, Phaedrus, Symposium.

o   Speech: Angela Merkel tv speech at the start of coronavirus: https://ga.de/ga-english/news/angela-merkel-s-speech-about-the-corona-virus-in-full_aid-49639811;
Video with subtitles: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/03/angela-merkel-nails-coronavirus-speech-unlike-trump.html

o   Method: take time to reflect on yourself; write down a few things you wish to accomplish over the next years and put them in a box / a jar; set your mind to them. Revisit them in a few years (wait at least 3 years) and see how many you’ve accomplished. Then repeat the exercise. 

Episode Timeline:

03:40 What does your role of business cultivation mean?

05:50 What does business development mean to you?

08:36 How to research and connect with peers in your field.

13:30 What should people know when interacting with clients on a daily basis?

16:50 What questions do you ask your clients when starting to work together?

19:00 Using ‘prioritization’ in your personal life. What is it that you truly prioritize?

24:48 What do you think about the expression 'the customer is in charge'? How do you tackle situations when you know you need to advise your customers differently than they want?

27:43 How did your upbringing influenced & kick-started your career in Silicon Valley?

35:25 What is the most rewarding aspect of your current role?

39:00 What is Aspire Education? How is a program such as Aspire impacting the professional & educational world?

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From corporate to entrepreneurship. Personal growth in times of COVID-19 with Rachel Hayek.

In this special live session, we will discuss how to tackle the complete change in the environment that arises with the pandemic and express gratitude!

A newly turned entrepreneur, Rachel is a leadership coach and mindfulness facilitator passionate about helping people tune into their inner wisdom. She helps people discover the obstacles preventing them from living the life they desire. She believes that kindness, compassion, collaboration, and self-mastery are the keys to effective leadership. Fascinated by eastern philosophy and teachings, she is a life-long student of yoga, meditation, reiki, and Zen, along with other tools that promote self-awareness.

Tune in to hear about how a situation that could be seen unfortunate, such as losing a job, can be turned around into something unique and can be the beginning of an entrepreneurship journey.

Follow Rachel's coaching practice: https://www.rachelhayek.com/
Follow Rachel's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelhayek_/


Episode Timeline:

01:10 Introduction: Rachel Hayek, Life & Leadership Coach. 

01:50 The milestones of the learning and development career path.

08:02 Context for entrepreneurial ideas. Why now? 

12:05 Realizations to help you step into your own practice. 

14:02 Showing up. A discussion on how do you want to show up?

19:41 How to manage to focus on the new challenge in such uncertain times?

24:50 What are the challenges of starting a business during the pandemic?

28:30 Learnings from a career path in learning and development. Linking them with a new entrepreneurial path. 

33:23 What are the biggest struggles of people who are looking for the services of a leadership coach? 

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In this live Q&A session, we deep dive into planning your career with Anja Monrad, Senior Vice President & General Manager at Dell Technologies. Anja answered questions about steps to start planning your professional path, what can come out of taking advantage of opportunities and saying yes to new challenges. In the second part of the interview, we discuss how the pandemic accelerated digitalization, challenges for large companies, and how Dell Technologies transitioned to remote work. Lastly, we tackle the topic of how digitalization will shape the next decade.

Tune in on all major streaming platforms or check www.femmeleadpodcast.com

Episode Timeline:

01:35 How do you start planning your career? What should you look for?
04:34 Is there any realization in your professional journey where you felt this is not a linear path? Do you have an example in your career that can guide listeners?
10:01 What do you recommend to people who cannot see outside their current role or situation professionally speaking? 
13:20 What advice do you recommend for people who are now looking for a new job, considering the pandemic and the global setup?
16:40 How do we tackle difficult conversations at work around teamwork, setup, or dynamic at work?
21:28 Do you have any rituals or practices you follow?
24:24 How did the pandemic affect the environment at work? How was the transition to working remotely?
28:41 How do you see this process of digitalization shaping our next decade?

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Join us for a deep dive into building a career in science, challenges, and biases. Dr. Ghina M. Halabi is the first person to obtain a doctorate in astrophysics from a Lebanese university, a Space Scientist at the University of Cambridge, Programme Director at Cambridge Judge Business School's Entrepreneurship Centre, and the founder of She Speaks Science.

Through all of her initiatives, she aims to make science accessible and women in STEM more visible, one story at a time.


Episode Timeline:

01:04 How do you see the development of the scientific field in light of the pandemic?

03:21  How do you encourage people to look at news regarding events such as a pandemic? 

07: 40 Is there any reflection you’ve had in light of the last few months? This pandemic shifted the way we work and interact. How do you feel we are changed after this episode in the human mind?

12:53 You mention the need for changing the way we see scientists & who should they be. Where do we start to create this shift in perspective? You mentioned education, media, but where can we all individually contribute? 

20:11 Is there any framework that listeners should follow if they want to submit any articles on ‘She Speaks Science’?

22:22 When it comes to owning your stories, what do you tell young women who do not have yet the confidence to own their story? Where should they start?

25:15 Is there something you would have done differently knowing what you know now?

28:10 What was the biggest surprise of your career?

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Dr. Ghina M. Halabi is the first person to obtain a doctorate in astrophysics from a Lebanese university, a Space Scientist at the University of Cambridge, Programme Director at Cambridge Judge Business School's Entrepreneurship Centre, and the founder of She Speaks Science. Through all of her initiatives, she aims to make science accessible and women in STEM more visible, one story at a time.

In this episode, Dr. Ghina discusses the role of astrophysics in science, gender biases in showcasing science as a career option for girls, and steps to change the narrative so that more women join STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).

Throughout her career, Ghina believed that she had more to offer to the world and strived to receive the Award for Doctoral Studies at the American University of Beirut, becoming the first person to receive a Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics from a Lebanese university. Moreover, she was a postdoctoral research associate at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK, where she investigated the evolution of stars and the formation of elements.

Passionate about women in STEM, she founded She Speaks Science, a platform that features stories shared by contributors in science from around the world: "We want to increase active engagement with science by inspiring young people into STEM, and to make STEM inclusive by promoting women and minority scientists. Our vision is a world where all scientists are valued, and where science is at the heart of society not a luxury or accessory."

In 2019, Dr. Ghina was featured in Postscript Magazine as the Muse Urania, in an issue that aimed to deconstruct mythological muses & reimagine them as modern #WomenofColour.

Episode Timeline:

Introduction & Astrophysics starting at 02’:

00:02:19 Introduction to Dr. Ghina M.Halabi

00:03:36 Astrophysics: Research focus at the University of Cambridge

Career Path starting at 9’:

00:09:40 From the mountains of Lebanon to obtaining the first Doctorate from a Lebanese University

00:12:22 Inspiration for career path and steps to forging your own path

00:15:40 The importance of role models in science

00:17:50 Conversation about biases in STEM

00:27:15 Initiatives taken to showcase role models in science

00:32:02 Reimagining Greek Muses as Women of Color

Advice section starting at 35’:

00:35:33 Advice for the scientific path and tackling underrepresentation

00:39:00 Invitation to join the "She Speaks Science" mission

Connect with Dr. Ghina M. Halabi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghinamhalabi/

Resources:

• She Speaks Science: http://www.shespeaksscience.com/
• Interview with Women Making Waves: https://soundcloud.com/user-603229904/dr-ghina-halabi
• Interview with Interplanetary Podcast on Wormholes: https://www.interplanetary.org.uk/post/157-ghina-halabi-wormholes 
• Postscript Magazine Feature of Dr. Ghina M. Halabi as the Muse Urania: https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZJG4bgc4l/

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This session with Dr. Madalina Petrescu, Cardiologist, touches upon topics discussed in the 5th episode of Femme Lead Podcast on ‘’Living from the Heart." We discuss the importance of the morning routine, meditation & more practices to reduce stress, the lines between the spiritual speech in a scientific setup, and more on the medical system in the USA & challenges in the last few months.
This session was live-streamed via the Femme Lead Podcast Facebook page.

The podcast is available on all major streaming platforms. More details on femmeleadpodcast.com

00:38 What is the importance of the morning routine?
06:34 What techniques do you use to avoid carrying baggage?
15:06 How can you reduce stress naturally for patients that suffer from blood pressure diseases?

1.  Exercising for 30 mins & going in nature
2.  Diet & food choices
3.  External stressors

24:12 Where do you draw the lines between the spiritual speech in a scientific setup? Or do you think they intertwine, and if so, to what extent?
28:42 How do you approach cases more prone to heart diseases?
33:52 What do you recommend to people who did not find meditation or similar practices as resourceful for them, and they want to give up?
41:46 What are some of the exciting developments happening in medicine in the following years or at the intersection with holistic medicine?
45:40 What is the setup in the US medical system, and how did you work in the last few months? How do you manage to maintain patient compliance during this difficult time?
50:07 Can you develop friendships at the workplace considering the complexities of the field? What do you advise people who want to build a friendly ecosystem at work but they fear the competitiveness of their field?
56:00 What would you do with the wave of a magic wand? How do you see the health world and your own world?

1.     Awareness into the unconscious matrix: take the time for self.
2.     Be with your emotions.
3.     Coming to your authentic self with your heart.
4.     Act from the heart: aligned actions.

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In this interview, Madalina Petrescu M.D. is sharing what it truly means to live a heart-centered life. She goes beyond the traditional healing of the physical heart and dives deep into living life from your heart. She talks about how to live an aligned life, a whole, and balanced life, what true health really means, involving all aspects of self including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. 

Madalina has always been attracted to the space of the heart and the healing arts, becoming a cardiologist in 2004. She currently works at Swedish Medical Center, in Seattle Washington. She holds leadership positions in advanced imaging of the heart and has served as faculty at national conferences on cardiovascular topics. 

Her own personal challenges led her on a life journey into the heart, awakening her to the deeper meaning of conscious living and to what true healing means. She is also a Certified Consciousness Parenting Coach and an international best selling author. She is a certified practitioner and facilitator of heart-opening modalities such as Reconnective Healing, and Kundalini Activation Process.

Madalina shares her authentic life journey, how she came into her profession as a cardiologist, the walls she hit against, and how she discovered that her greatest challenges turned out to be the greatest gifts that led her on the path into her own heart connection, truth, and wisdom. 

In the process, she shares the pearls of how it is possible to show up to the world and serve others by first honoring oneself so she can serve from a full and overflowing heart. She is married to Cris and together they have two beautiful daughters. She loves connecting with nature through outdoor adventures such as hiking, camping, and much more. She also loves to travel, explore cultures, and engage in spiritual practices and heart-centered healing modalities.

Madalina co-authored 3 books that became international best sellers:

1) Ignite your Female Leadership. Thirty-five outstanding stories by women who are inspiring the world through feminine leadership.

2) Ignite your Parenting.  Real-life, heartfelt stories to help parents find balance and joy in raising happy children.

3) Ignite Love. Real-life stories of defining love and manifesting more of it in your everyday life.

Resources: 

1. Louise Hay "You Can Heal your life".
2. Wayne Dyer.
3. Michael Singer "Untethered Soul".
4. Eckart Tolle "The Power of Now".
5. Paulo Coelho "The Alchemist".
6. The Tao Te Ching, also known as Lao Tzu.

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This session with Antesa Jensen, emotional intelligence expert and coach, will deep dive into some of the topics she covered in the fourth episode of Femme Lead Podcast! We discuss taking charge of your environment, mirroring a behavior, and having the courage to look within for the answers to build the career that fulfills you and, ultimately, the life you want. This session was live-streamed via the Femme Lead Podcast Facebook page. If you want to know when the next live Q&A session happens, follow us @femmeleadpodcast on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Antesa's recommended resources:

1. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, Book by Cheryl Strayed
2. Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar, Book by Cheryl Strayed
3. Guiding Principles for Life Beyond Victim Consciousness, Book by Lynne Forrest
4. TedTalk: 100 Days of rejection: https://www.ted.com/talks/jia_jiang_what_i_learned_from_100_days_of_rejection?language=en

You can check the video of the live stream on multiple channels:

Facebook -http://bit.ly/LiveSession-EmotionalIntelligence
Youtube - https://youtu.be/rKHBd0ca43E
Website - https://www.femmeleadpodcast.com/post/live-q-a-session-2-emotional-intelligence-taking-charge-of-your-life-career-with-antesa-jensen

Discussion points:

01:47-  For those who perhaps will not have a coach for guidance, could you recommend some literature on the matter? What books would you say are a must-read of inspiration?

08:53 - How do you escape the victim's mindset? How can we move from this mindset?

15:43 - How to structure your transition in your career. Step by step discussion. 

21:30 - Realize that there is no arrival in your career path. It is not laid out for you. 

24:09 - How do you tackle the situation when you know it is time to start something new but you are not sure whether the timing is best. What do you tell people who always balance their need for security vs their need for adventure?

30:30 - What were your biggest emotional challenges in this process? And about those you might have been tougher, how did you approach them and came on top of them? What did you learn?

37:29 - How do you create trust in a new work environment?

42:10 - What would you recommend for lucidity in making decisions? How do you break everything down and reassembly yourself?

52:40 - How can women overcome the uncomfortable feeling in these conversations and which strategies work for women best? 

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How do you decide to start a business that would serve women in the financial industry? The answer? You quickly realize that women are underrepresented in the financial markets, and they generally retire with 35% less wealth than men. In Denmark, the number is 43% less for women. 

Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen is the co-founder of Female Invest, Northern Europe's leading financial educator. 

The goal of Female Invest is to help women become better at investing and managing their personal finances. They do this, among other things, through video courses and coaching sessions.

Since Female Invest was founded in 2017, the company has helped 25,000 women across 33 countries become better at investing.

In this episode, Anna-Sophie will tell us more about Female Invest, the company's missions, and vision, how did she decide to start a business, what are some of the challenges she had to overcome, as well as learnings she gathered.

Recently, Anna-Sophie won the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards in Europe, the world's largest startup competition for women entrepreneurs. and previously she was featured as Forbes 30 under 30. On top of that, Anna is a TedX speaker, and she often speaks about the financial gap and ways to move the needle and educate women about their financial future.

Upbringing

02:20 - Cartier Women's Initiative Award

06:55 - The ecosystem of learning about investment

08:20 - The reason for starting a company: What are the drivers for starting a business?

Career Path

13:00 - Milestones of building Female Invest

14:30 - Navigating the entrepreneurial journey

16:34 - The mission of Female Invest: Closing the financial gap

17:25 - Gender traits in investment

20:35 - The way Female Invest is educating women about investing

Advice

25:19 - Thoughts on starting a company: "You do not need a lot of starting capital"

28:50 - Lessons learned from the Female Invest journey so far: "Do everything thoroughly from the beginning"

31:00 - A team set up for success: The organizational structure of Female Invest

33:07 - Plans for expansion: Global reach.

Resources

• Find Anna-Sophie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-sophie-hartvigsen-46352611a/ 

• Follow Female Invest: https://www.femaleinvest.com/

• Anna-Sophie's TedX Odense Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enfUZR5Un9w&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

• The book written by the Co-founders of Female Invest (Danish): "Klar - Parat - Investér": https://www.bog-ide.dk/produkt/4431022/emma-bitz-klar-parat-invester

• Cartier Women's Initiative Award: https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/candidate/anna-sophie-hartvigsen