Avoiding Self-Sabotage in Our Professional Lives

In this episode, herdacious host Lorelei chats with Michelle Hoover about avoiding self-sabotage through self-mastery. Time and time again, the hand of self-sabotage notoriously pulls us down by the sleeves. Michelle teaches us how to release the grasp self-sabotage has over our professional development by proactively fighting our learned habits, and instead, making favorable choices. From identifying triggers to the oh-so-limiting perfection trap, Michelle calls attention to the self-sabotaging behaviors born of gender-specific expectations set by society. With a commitment to defying self-limiting behaviors, we can learn to master our gut reactions in ways that benefit our personal and professional lives. 

Host: Lorelei Gonzalez
Co-host: Michelle Hoover, MEd

Michelle Hoover, Founder and Principal of Baem Leadership, is a leadership-development strategist, facilitator, consultant, and coach. She has designed, delivered, and facilitated talent-development programs for more than 15,000 learners across five continents and has worked with Fortune 500 companies in a variety of industries, including professional and financial services, technology, consumer goods, beauty, and luxury. She now lives in New York, where she enjoys Hamilton, Central Park, and soaking up creativity, motivation, and energy that emanate from the city!

Things you will learn in this episode (chapter markers available):  

• What is self-sabotage? 2:50
• Self-mastery is the way 4:00 
• Gender-specific challenges 7:05 
• Realizing our own habits 13:15
• More than a feeling: Self-Mastery 18:20
• Hitting pause 23:19
• Techniques and actions 24:43 
• Femme fact: Female Author Pseudonyms 28:40 

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

• How Women Rise by Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen (book)
• Triggers by Marshall Goldsmith (book)
• Stop Self-Sabotage by Dr. Judy Ho (book)
• Baem Leadership (Michelle’s consulting firm) 

Episode sponsors:  

• HERdacity   
• Moonray  

Looking for additional resources on this topic? Check out our blog “Why Women Need to Take Credit for Their Work”

Loved what you heard on herdacious and want to share with friends? Tag us and connect with HERdacity on social media:
Twitter: @herdacity
Facebook: @HERdacity
Instagram: @herdacity
LinkedIn: HERdacity 
Email: herdacious@herdacity(dot)org

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Disclaimer: While we appreciate our sponsors' support in making this show possible, herdacious content is curated with integrity and honesty.

The Importance of Giving and Receiving Feedback

In this episode, herdacious host Lorelei chats with Stacey Rudnick about effectively giving and receiving feedback in the workplace. Feedback is an informative tool to have in our professional development toolbox, as such, Stacey spills the beans, or more applicably, the Oreos, on how feedback underscores the strengths and weaknesses necessary to improving our career performance. From being more specific when offering feedback to bulldozing those stubborn defensive walls, Stacey reminds us that feedback does not equate to judgement, instead, it mirrors the truth of our abilities. It’s only with an accurate reflection of ourselves that we can collect the information needed to become the confident, assertive leaders we are meant to be! 

Host: Lorelei Gonzalez
Co-host: Stacey Rudnick

Stacey Rudnick serves as the director of the Center for Leadership and Ethics at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. In her role, Stacey provides MBA students with the tools to become the effective leaders necessary to business’ success. Prior to overseeing operations at the Center for Leadership & Ethics, Stacey served as director for MBA Career Management at UT Austin where she led 530 full-time and 600 executive working professional MBA students. She graduated with an MBA in Marketing from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and with a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Duke University. 

Things you will learn in this episode (chapter markers available):  

• Healthy feedback 1:42
• Challenges and solutions 3:25
• Oreos belong everywhere...except in feedback 7:40 
• Gender-bias and performance 11:32
• Building trust between managers and employees 15:00
• Deterring defensiveness 17:00
• Fixed vs. Growth Mindset 23:24
• Femme fact: Women in Comics 30:20

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

• Ethics Unwrapped at University of Texas (website) 
• The Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University (website)
• The secret to giving great feedback by LeeAnn Renninger (TED Talk) 
• Harvard Business Review (news) 

Episode sponsors:  

• HERdacity   
• Moonray  

Looking for additional resources on this topic? Check out our blog “5 Ways to Create Space for Feedback” by Leanna Sauerlender 

Loved what you heard on herdacious and want to share with friends? Tag us and connect with HERdacity on social media:
Twitter: @herdacity
Facebook: @HERdacity
Instagram: @herdacity
LinkedIn: HERdacity 
Email: herdacious@herdacity(dot)org

For up to date information on HERdacity events, webinars, podcasts, and community activities, join our newsletter here. 

Disclaimer: While we appreciate our sponsors' support in making this show possible, herdacious content is curated with integrity and honesty.

The Importance of Professional Development and Mentorship

In this episode, herdacious host Lorelei chats with Telesa Via about the effects of authentic mentorship and how prioritizing your own professional development will lead to greater career success. With the countless trailblazing women in the workforce today, Telesa relays the benefits of connecting with these women who can act as a source of guidance on our career journeys. From recognizing the red flags of unconscious bias in mentorship to making bold “asks” from the get go, Telesa reminds us that our career trajectories need not be travelled alone but in the company of women willing to drive us to the top alongside them!

Host: Lorelei Gonzalez
Co-host: Telesa Via 

Telesa Via is the Vice President of Sales at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants where she oversees sales activities from coast to coast and beyond, within North America. Her latest endeavor is co-chairing Kimpton’s newest internal committee, Black Lives Matter: Act to Action where she leads a diverse Kimpton committee, takes action to create real change and promotes opportunities and advancement for Black People and People of Color. She is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, Professional Conference Management Association and International Association of Exhibition Executives, among others. 

Things you will learn in this episode (chapter markers available):  

• Women supporting women 3:31 
• Overcoming gender stereotypes 5:00 
• I come first 9:11
• The door of opportunities 12:40
• Start with The Ask 15:10
• Trust the process 18:10
• Unconscious bias in mentorship 21:53
• Red flags 25:40
• Femme fact: Asian-American Women 29:10

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

• Invisible Women by Caroline Perez (book)
• Just Do You by Lisa King (book)
• In This Together by Nancy O’Reilly (book)

Episode sponsors:  

• HERdacity   
• Moonray  

Looking for additional resources on this topic? Check out our webinar “Leadership through Virtual Mentorship | Lesley Robinson”

Loved what you heard on herdacious and want to share with friends? Tag us and connect with HERdacity on social media:
Twitter: @herdacity
Facebook: @HERdacity
Instagram: @herdacity
LinkedIn: HERdacity 
Email: herdacious@herdacity(dot)org

For up to date information on HERdacity events, webinars, podcasts, and community activities, join our newsletter here. 

Disclaimer: While we appreciate our sponsors' support in making this show possible, herdacious content is curated with integrity and honesty.

Getting Over Being Liked in An Interview

In this episode, herdacious host Lorelei chats with Tyann Osborn about prioritizing organizational fit in the job interview. Many women tend to approach interviews with an emphasis on charisma, but TyAnn explains why focusing on likeability above self-advocacy and intuition can be detrimental to finding an ideal fit. From dodging the good girl phenomenon to redirecting bad behavior, TyAnn reminds us we interview to speak on our strengths, skills, and expertise not to show off our charm. Let us go forth and abandon the “like me, like me not” daisy from the school days, and instead crack down on our homework to get the dream job!

Host: Lorelei Gonzalez
Co-host: TyAnn Osborn

TyAnn Osborn has spent her career enabling business leaders, managers and employees to improve their performance and effectiveness through innovative professional development and strategic talent solutions. Prior to launching her consulting practice, Ty was the Global Director of Human Resources for the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, an organization with a $2B+ endowment dedicated to improving the lives of children in urban poverty. She has also held executive and global leadership positions for Dell, PepsiCo Food Services, and CSC Consulting. Ty currently lives in Dripping Springs with her husband, 2 daughters and furry, farm family members. 

Things you will learn in this episode (chapter markers available):  

• Organizational fit 1:55
• Likeability and its setbacks 2:55
• "Good Girl" phenomenon 6:36 
• From interviewee to interviewer 9:50
• Calling out misinterpretation (respectfully) 13:34
• Onions have layers 19:26
• Responding to red flags 23:00
• Homework: How to Nail the Interview 24:34
• Femme fact: Women’s History Month 28:20

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

• Gavin de Becker (author)
• The Curse of the Good Girl by Rachel Simmons (book)
• StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath (book)
• Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham (book)
• Own It. Love it. Make it Work. by Carson Tate (book)
• Where Are the Women? (report by National Women’s History Museum)

Episode sponsors: 

• HERdacity   
• Moonray 

Looking for additional resources on this topic? Check out our blog “How to Show Off Your Strengths During the Job Search” by Dawn Shaw.

Loved what you heard on herdacious and want to share with friends? Tag us and connect with HERdacity on social media:
Twitter: @herdacity
Facebook: @HERdacity
Instagram: @herdacity
LinkedIn: HERdacity
Email: herdacious@herdacity(dot)org

For up to date information on HERdacity events, webinars, podcasts, and community activities, join our newsletter here. 

Disclaimer: While we appreciate our sponsors' support in making this show possible, herdacious content is curated with integrity and honesty.

Being Your Own Best Friend

In this episode, herdacious host Lorelei chats with Sapna Aggarwal about looking within oneself and loving who you find. Sapna highlights the need to spend more time learning about our own needs and goals, allowing us to bravely move forward from a place of self love. Whether we're adopting a growth mindset or pinpointing borrowed goals, Sapna reminds us of the importance of self-empowerment: loving who we see in the mirror and giving that person the grace to become the best version of ourselves. We’ve all got a lot of love to give, and in this final episode of the season, let’s learn to give more of it to ourselves!

Host: Lorelei Gonzalez
Co-host: Sapna Aggarwal

Sapna Aggarwal is an Austin-based ICF Professional Certified Mindset NeuroCoach, Master Business Coach, Self-Leadership Coach with additional training in TCM modality and neuroscience. Through a clearly laid out process using neuroscience principles steeped in neuroplasticity, Sapna helps women fine tune their intuition, access their wisdom, reveal the unconscious beliefs and rewire their brain for success so they can define their priorities, actions, and direction with ease. Sapna also teaches courses on taking personal inventory, “a business of one” mindset and customize evidence-based coaching tools and training for her private and group coaching clients.

Things you will learn in this episode (chapter markers available):  

• Self love?! 2:00
• The morning routine 5:08
• Time is of the utmost essence 9:40
• The virtuous cycle 12:42
• Mindset for personal success 15:12
• Defining parameters 21:00
• Individual empowerment 26:52
• Femme fact: Women in 2020 30:40

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

• INCITE (app)
• I Choose Bold (Sapna’s guidebook)
• Dr. Joe Dispenza (neuroscientist) 
• JOURNEY8 (app) 
• Just-a-minute.org (meditation resource)
• Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg (book)

Link to show transcript here. 

Episode sponsors:  

• HERdacity   
• Moonray  

Looking for additional resources on this topic? Check out our blog post “Women Crushing It Wednesday | Sapna Aggarwal” 

Loved what you heard on herdacious and want to share with friends? Tag us and connect with HERdacity on social media:
Twitter: @herdacity
Facebook: @HERdacity
Instagram: @herdacity
LinkedIn: HERdacity 
Email: herdacious@herdacity(dot)org

For up to date information on HERdacity events, webinars, podcasts, and community activities, join our newsletter here. 

Disclaimer: While we appreciate our sponsors' support in making this show possible, herdacious content is curated with integrity and honesty.

Responding to Workplace Harassment

In this episode, herdacious host Lorelei chats with Amy Averett about how we can respond to workplace harassment. As the head of the SAFE Institute, Amy brings her leadership expertise to guide us through a variety of responses when witnessing harassment of others and for ourselves. With the conversation ranging from distinguishing the difference between harassment and misconduct to developing an interruptive, managerial response, Amy emphasizes the unique responsibility each of us holds responding to harassment. Together, we can support our co-workers and protect ourselves, ensuring that we all feel valued, secure in our workplaces, and most of all, safe.

Host: Lorelei Gonzalez
Co-host: Amy Averett

In her current role as director of SAFE Institute, Amy leads a team of trainers and consultants to provide harassment prevention support to companies in Central Texas and beyond. From working at the Alamo Drafthouse to starting her own nonprofit, Amy's experience allows her to successfully lead the SAFE Institute and manage the revenue generated by SAFE's work to support services for people experiencing sexual and domestic violence. Amy founded her own nonprofit organization, Austin Voices for Education and Youth, where she aimed to engage stakeholders in improving public schools and supporting healthy youth development. When Amy isn’t offering a helping hand, she is an avid practitioner in the wonderful world of improv!

Things you will learn in this episode (chapter markers available):  

• What is harassment? 4:32
• Leadership response 7:05
• Fear of retaliation 11:27
• From bystander to "Upstander" 13:16
• Being targeted 16:43
• Coping strategies 21:15
• You just got served! 25:14
• Femme fact: Suffragette White 28:10

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

• SAFE Institute (workplace harassment training)
• SAFE Alliance Austin (helpline) 
• RAINN (hotline) 
• Filing A Charge of Discrimination (guided article)
• Spot (incident documentation)

Link to show transcript here. 

Episode sponsors:  

• HERdacity   
• Moonray  

Looking for additional resources on this topic? Check out our blog post “HER Side: Toxic Work Spaces”

Loved what you heard on herdacious and want to share with friends? Tag us and connect with HERdacity on social media:
Twitter: @herdacity
Facebook: @HERdacity
Instagram: @herdacity
LinkedIn: HERdacity
Email: herdacious@herdacity(dot)org

For up to date information on HERdacity events, webinars, podcasts, and community activities, join our newsletter here.



Disclaimer: While we appreciate our sponsors' support in making this show possible, herdacious content is curated with integrity and honesty.

Conquering Self Doubt

In this episode, herdacious host Lorelei chats with Velera Wilson about overcoming those nagging feelings of self-doubt that many of us harbor. Velera explains that the road to confidence requires us to abandon negative attitudes and patterns that we use to gauge our self-worth: from seeking "perfection" to comparing our achievements to those around us. Velera reminds us that the courage we need to be our best selves grows from within, when we fight the temptation to drag ourselves down. Instead of constantly asking ourselves if we’re enough, let’s look our inner critics straight in the eye, and say “I've got this” with conviction!  

Host: Lorelei Gonzalez
Co-host: Velera Wilson

For over fifteen years, Velera Wilson has generated millions in revenue leading teams, launching products, and driving marketing strategy for Fortune 100 & 500 brands including AT&T, First Data (now Fiserv), and Verifone.  She has received industry-wide recognition for her leadership, being named as a Money 20/20 USA Rise Up Woman in 2018. In addition to her current role as the Director of Marketing at Fiserv, Velera is an author inspiring women to own their greatness and to show up with a greater level of confidence in their careers, their relationships, and in everyday life! Her latest book, "You're Absolutely Worth It," is a handbook for all women to navigate their own greatness and overcome self-doubt. 

Things you will learn in this episode (chapter markers available):  

• Self-Doubt shade 3:14
• Leadership: masculine or feminine? 7:00 
• Internal swirl 8:27 
• Confidence 12:19
• The Conviction of Courage 19:12
• Coping with the No 21:46
• Owning the Yes 24:38
• Femme fact: Oversteegan Sisters 27:20

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

• You’re Absolutely Worth It: Release Self-Doubt, Embrace Confidence, and Own Your Yes by Velera Wilson (book)
• Tiffany Dufu (leader) 
• Jen Sincero (leader)

Link to show transcript here.

Episode sponsors:  

• HERdacity   
• Moonray  

Looking for additional resources on this topic? Check out our blog post “How Women Can Develop Their Confidence”

Loved what you heard on herdacious and want to share with friends? Tag us and connect with HERdacity on social media:
Twitter: @herdacity
Facebook: @HERdacity
Instagram: @herdacity
LinkedIn: HERdacity 
Email: herdacious@herdacity(dot)org

For up to date information on HERdacity events, webinars, podcasts, and community activities, join our newsletter here. 

Disclaimer: While we appreciate our sponsors' support in making this show possible, herdacious content is curated with integrity and honesty.

Female Entrepreneurial Leadership

In this episode, herdacious host Lorelei chats with Lauren Fritsch about the intersecting path of entrepreneurship and leadership. Lauren brings her experience as a lifelong female entrepreneur to talk about the differing gender expectations, the challenges, the return on emotion, and much more. Whether you’re launching your first birdhouse venture as a budding 12-year-old or you’re a seasoned business owner who’s written more proposals than you care to share, Lauren spills the deets on moving forward in your business in bigger and more joyful ways.

Host: Lorelei Gonzalez
Co-host: Lauren Fritsch

Lauren Fritsch is a speaker, entrepreneur, artist and mom. After nearly two decades running her boutique management consulting firm, Lauren created and operates the Joy|Money Matrix and Magnetic Customer Experience. The Joy|Money Matrix and Magnetic CX teach leaders to build joyful organizations and use psychology-driven acquisition strategies to drive revenue and improve retention of both customers and employees. Lauren lives in the Dominican Republic while her team works out of their Millbrook, NY office in the Hudson Valley. Above all, Lauren believes that we are all more than enough, in the power of people to change, and that art and yoga could achieve world peace. You can find her at JoyMoneyMatrix.com, LaurenFritsch.com and MagnetismFactor.com 

Things you will learn in this episode (chapter markers available):  

• Challenges for female business owners 3:30 
• Solutions 8:33
• Intersection of entrepreneurship and leadership 12:30 
• The Final Battle: ROI vs. ROE 17:10 
• Cultivating joy 20:19 
• Why it matters 23:23
• Femme fact: The 1619 Project 32:25 

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

• Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu (book)
• Lesley Austin (creator) 
• Luminary (community) 
• My Social Canvas (community) 
• The 1619 Project

Link to show transcript here. 

Episode sponsors:  

• HERdacity   
• Moonray  

Looking for additional resources on this topic? Check out our blog post “The Ultimate Guide to Setting (and Achieving) Your Goals”

Loved what you heard on herdacious and want to share with friends? Tag us and connect with HERdacity on social media:
Twitter: @herdacity
Facebook: @HERdacity
Instagram: @herdacity
LinkedIn: HERdacity

For up to date information on HERdacity events, webinars, podcasts, and community activities, join our newsletter here. 

Disclaimer: While we appreciate our sponsors' support in making this show possible, herdacious content is curated with integrity and honesty.

Elements to Include in Your Management Routine

In this episode, herdacious host Lorelei chats with Jennifer Farris about all things management. Jennifer brings forth her extensive HR expertise to advise us on being successful managers in the workplace, and how to find the very best of the best for the job (ladies, this is your cue). From developing our leadership skills to the six C’s of management, Jennifer teaches us that being a kickass manager requires mentorship, dedication, and never ending practice! "Practice is the hardest part of learning, and training is the essence of transformation." -Ann Voskamp

Host: Lorelei Gonzalez
Co-host: Jennifer Farris

Jennifer Farris currently works between Austin and the Bay Area. She gained experience through working with some of the fastest growing start-ups in the Bay Area; building HR departments and teams that could scale from series A to IPO. Now she helps her clients work through defining their mission, vision, values, talent strategy, establishing core philosophy and process around recruiting practices, accelerating talent through goal alignment and feedback loops, management training/coaching and compensation leveling.

Things you will learn in this episode (chapter markers available):  

• A company’s critical role 4:40 
• Supporting managers 5:34
• Management, leadership, and mutual exclusivity 8:15
• Desirable characteristics 9:00 
• The 6 C’s 12:50
• Tips for increased gender diversity 14:40
• Keys to successful management 17:45
• The Yin to your Yang 20:20 
• Femme fact: The Mother of Thanksgiving 24:02

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

• The Upskilling Imperative by Shelley Osborne (book)
• Multipliers by Liz Wiseman (book)
• Curious Minds by Gayle Allen (podcast)

Link to show transcript here.

Episode sponsors:  

• HERdacity   
• Moonray  

Looking for additional resources on this topic? Check out our blog post “How Women Can Develop Their Confidence”

Loved what you heard on herdacious and want to share with friends? Tag us and connect with HERdacity on social media:
Twitter: @herdacity
Facebook: @HERdacity
Instagram: @herdacity
LinkedIn: HERdacity 
Email: herdacious@herdacity(dot)org

For up to date information on HERdacity events, webinars, podcasts, and community activities, join our newsletter here. 

Disclaimer: While we appreciate our sponsors' support in making this show possible, herdacious content is curated with integrity and honesty.

Allyship with Women and Parents in the Workplace

In this episode, herdacious host Lorelei chats with Harold Hughes about being an ally to our co-workers with less privilege. Harold highlights his experience as an investor seeking out women-led businesses, his intentionality regarding supporting unique and diverse perspectives, as well as engaging with the unfamiliar. Harold encourages us to leverage our influence and power to propel women and parents forward in their professional endeavors. From hiring diverse talent to being the first “yes” one needs for successful entrepreneurship, Harold calls to both men and women -- your allyship holds more power than you would believe. Use it unapologetically, as if it was the best bottle of ketchup you’ve ever encountered (if you know, you know). 

Host: Lorelei Gonzalez
Co-host: Harold Hughes

Harold Hughes is the founder & CEO of Bandwagon – a venture-backed identity infrastructure company that helps its customers transparently manage, aggregate, and store valuable consumer identity data. A man of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Harold is actively involved in his community participating on the Board of Directors for Rebuild Upstate and Visit Greenville. He serves as a board member for Women@Austin, a non-profit that focuses on the advancement of women entrepreneurs as they grow their companies. Harold is an active angel investor, investing in women, people of color, and Black founder-led companies. Harold Hughes is a “Triple Tiger” graduate of Clemson University where he received Bachelors degrees in both Economics and Political Science, before pursuing a graduate certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Stanford University. 

Things you will learn in this episode (chapter markers available):  

• Why this matters 2:30 
• The evolution of allyship 6:55
• Intentional language 8:40
• The male role 13:00
• Some fatherly advice 19:20
• Future generations 23:15
• Femme fact: Women in the Armed Forces 28:35

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

• Women@Austin (community) 
• The Fourth Floor (community)
• Harold’s Twitter (social media)

Link to show transcript here.

Episode sponsors:  

• HERdacity   
• Moonray  

Looking for additional resources on this topic? Check out our blog post “5 Ways to Create Space for Feedback” 

Loved what you heard on herdacious and want to share with friends? Tag us and connect with HERdacity on social media:
Twitter: @herdacity
Facebook: @HERdacity
Instagram: @herdacity
LinkedIn: HERdacity 

For up to date information on HERdacity events, webinars, podcasts, and community activities, join our newsletter here. 

Disclaimer: While we appreciate our sponsors' support in making this show possible, herdacious content is curated with integrity and honesty.