HAZARD GIRLS

There is a distinct difference between building a sellable business and building yourself a glorified job. Returning to the show to preach the importance of starting with the end in mind and planning your exit, is the admirable Michelle Sieler Tucker. Michelle is a world-renowned expert in the field of mergers and acquisitions, and a leading authority on buying, selling, and improving businesses. She is the Founder and CEO of Seiler Tucker Incorporated, a frequent guest on CNBC and Fox Business, and the bestselling author of Exit Rich (which is now available as an Audiobook)! In this episode, she walks us through the top mistakes that business owners make and how to avoid them. We learn about the importance of ensuring multiple revenue streams, marketing channels, and client bases, as well as trademarking your products separately. Michelle explains the role of processes and patents in scaling and selling a business and what makes a business more appealing to prospective buyers. Tune in to find out why your business should be built according to the criteria of your target buyer and what you need to do to increase your chances of exiting rich!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Futurists are people who plan for the future by looking at trends and identifying what’s coming instead of only looking at the past. To explain more about this profession and the profound value it offers, today we are joined by Rebecca Ryan, a top 50 professional futurist, as well as an economist, best-selling author, and entrepreneur. She is also on the executive committee of the Global Association of Professional Futurists. As the founder of NEXT Generation Consulting, she partners with private and public sector leaders across the country. Through looking at the generation ahead, she outlines strategies in urban planning, economic development, and workforce development to ensure communities are well equipped for future trends and challenges. Tuning in today, you’ll learn more about futurism and how it differs from strategic planning. You’ll also hear about the four-phase process Rebecca uses to craft a vision with a client and how she uses this in her own life too. To find out why she insists on looking 10 years into the future instead of 5, how she helps clients get past their own egos when planning for the future, the benefits of considering the worst-case scenario even if you don’t want to, and so much more, tune in today! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is Libby Mendiratta, the Executive Vice President at G.E. Frisco Company, a family-owned business specializing in supplying lumber and building materials across the Mid-Atlantic region. Libby has been in the construction industry for over 20 years and she oversees the entire division of the business that serves state and federal contracts. She is also the chair of the Women Building Washington Committee, an active member of the Washington Building Congress, and on the programming and stewardship committee of the Annual Women in Construction Conference in DC. Libby teaches younger generations about the construction industry and trades, and is passionate about inspiring more women to enter the construction industry and elevate to leadership positions! Tuning in, you’ll hear more about her background, how she became the CPO and what that means to her, how she believes we can increase awareness of jobs in construction for women, and approaches that can elevate women into leadership positions in the industry. For all this, and more, join us for today’s episode of Hazard Girls!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining us in conversation today is Kuma Roberts, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Arrowhead Consulting. Tune in to learn the difference between ‘DEI’ and ‘D and I’, and why the focus has shifted from the latter to the former. You’ll hear why everyone has something to contribute to the conversation around diversity, and how it doesn’t begin and end with skin color. Kuma is more concerned about policy than changing hearts and minds, and believes that when the culture of an organization changes, hearts and minds will follow. Next, we discuss fears organizations experience around communicating their values around diversity, and why it is necessary to overcome this in order to become successful. Kuma unpacks the business case for diversity and inclusion and reveals that much of her wisdom in this arena stems from her own years of experience. We discuss employee perception, inclusive language, pronouns, and email signatures, before exploring the role of top leadership buy-in on a personal and company level. Kuma explains what tokenism is, how to avoid it, and why prioritizing diversity can’t be understood as ‘helping’, but goes far deeper than that. Join us today!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few years ago, a house in Utah was built by a team made up entirely of women. Today’s guest, Mollie Elkman, is the owner and president of Group Two, and she and her team were responsible for the sales and marketing side of the build. As the project was nearing an end, Mollie saw the potential of this story to positively impact the lives of so many women and girls, and she embarked on a journey of writing The House That She Built. The book highlights 18 of the trades that are involved in building a house, from excavators to plumbers to landscapers, and it has become an invaluable tool used to educate women and girls and other underrepresented groups about the career paths that are available to them. Tune in today to hear Mollie’s story; what led her to the construction world, what she loves about working in this industry, and how she hopes the future of the construction industry will be impacted by The House That She Built.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The "command and control" leadership style is common within many organizations, but in today’s episode, we’re going to be discussing why a more inclusive and collaborative form of leadership holds so much value. Today’s guests are Shannon Karels and Kathy Miller, both of whom have had many years of experience leading manufacturing operations and implementing lean transformations. A lean transformation involves building an efficient, sustainable organization that is based on a foundation of respect for its people. The approaches that Kathy and Shannon have used (and the lessons they have learned) while successfully transforming businesses in this way have been documented in their book, Steel Toes and Stilettos, a must-read for any women (or men) in leadership positions!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Architecture is a unique career that bridges the gap between the worlds of construction and art, and most architects have creative hobbies. Today’s guest made her creative hobby a full-time job when, after 15 years as an architect, she transitioned into the world of sustainable fashion in 2019. Namita Reddy is a professional architect and the founder of Samsara Sari, a sustainable clothing brand made from pre-loved saris. In today’s episode, we find out how Namita found her passion for architecture and the twists and turns of her architectural career. After being inspired by both her mother and a strong female leader at the same architecture firm, Namita shares why she never really felt limited by her gender. We also discover how Emily and Namita met and how the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator helped them both. Tune in to hear where Namita wants to take Samsara Sari in the future, how she is focusing on the sustainability aspect, and so much more in a fascinating conversation ranging from fashion to architecture and all things in between!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the latest and greatest trends in business is to hire a coach to help you streamline your company and clarify your thinking. Today’s guest is Coralee Beatty, a business coach, a consultant, and a mom. Coralee was the owner of a mechanical contracting business before she moved into coaching, where her specialty is helping women leaders in construction. Join us as we find out how she found her passion for the construction industry, and why she moved from psychology to trade school, to entrepreneurship, and now to coaching! We learn what some of the biggest challenges facing women in the construction industry are, and it's crucial to have systems in place in a business. Coralee gives some great advice on why and how you can master your thoughts and feelings, and why there is a need for women in construction. Tune in to hear the common misconceptions surrounding the construction industry, the women in it, and so much more!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nouchelle Hastings thought she was going to be a doctor, but when got to college she realized what she really wanted was a different kind of challenge and chose to pursue a career in business development. Today she is the holder of two prestigious accolades; Women of the Year and Most Powerful and Influential Black Professional in South Florida! In today’s episode we discuss what Nouchelle’s fascinating career path has looked like, including her 12 years in the construction management industry, working with Paul Newman, running Omega Tactical with her husband, and founding her own organization; Women Empowering Women in Development. Nouchelle also opens up about the abuse that she experienced at the hands of her ex-husband, and how took back her power and stepped into her boldness to become the influential leader that she is today!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Katya Echazarreta moved from Mexico to the United States at the age of seven, she couldn’t speak a word of English. Three years later she was as fluent as a native. Eight years after that she was beginning her Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering at UCLA, and to date, she has worked on five NASA missions (including the Mars rover) and is currently pursuing a master’s! The influence of Katya’s mother (who always encouraged her to pursue her dreams), the support from her teachers, and her strong will and passion for learning, have allowed Katya to overcome the challenges that she has faced as a woman in STEM. She has made it her goal to instill confidence in other women in STEM, and ensure that they do not feel isolated, which is a key factor that causes many to leave their chosen fields. Tune in today to hear Katya’s inspiring story!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices