IntHERrupt

Am I a Bad Mom Because I'm Career Centered?

Balancing a career and being a mother is challenging. In this episode, we talk to Jenny Davis, who worked with large companies before starting her own firm. She is also the mother of five kids. In our discussion with Jenny, we will talk about the obstacles that can come from trying to have a career while raising children. 

Balancing careers

Jenny has had great familial support during hard times in her career. At one point, she was laid off from Microsoft just as she found out she was pregnant. It wasn’t the best time for her to raise a child but it all worked out as her family rallied. When she worked  for a start-up company the support of her family made it possible for her to juggle being a mother and a career woman. When she was pregnant with her 3rd child she was getting ready to purchase a publishing/event company. It was one of the most challenging times of her life as she navigated having a newborn and a new company. 

Putting the head in the game

Time is an important factor in balancing a career with home life. Jenny’s career keeps her busy, but she makes sure that she knows how to prioritize the many needs. With her husband’s prompting, she decided to hire some help for the marketing and communications departments so she didn’t have to do it all. Jenny also makes sure to have time for her family and when she can, she brings them along when doing off-site visits.  Downtime allows them to go to a park or do something else fun as a family. 

Being interrupted

Throughout her career, Jenny has worked with different kinds of people. She learned that when interacting with people is challenging, it’s more about what they’re going through, and not about you.  Jenny approaches these relationships from that perspective so she’s likely to get upset and it frees her to get things done.

Don’t Interrupt Me! – Handling Male Interruption in the Workplace

As a woman, it can be difficult to convey your thoughts and ideas in a workplace that is dominated by men. How should you handle yourself when faced with so many barriers? In this episode, we’re going to talk about ways to control the controllable and overcome any obstacles that may get in the way of your goals.

Lee Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a content marketing and social media firm. Over the pandemic, Lee managed to successfully transition her company online. 

Being interrupted in the workplace can be a common scenario with so many dominant personalities. It can be disconcerting and for some women, after happening multiple times, it can plant a seed of doubt that maybe you don’t have something important to say.  At least, not compared to the men. It’s important to reclaim a foundation of confidence in order to be able to contribute well and be a strong part of the team. 

Pave your own path

Women tend to be more cautious. They want to make sure all the boxes are checked before making a move. Men, on the other hand, tend to jump before being so deliberate. When you see a man apply for the job and get it, this can feel like an interruption.  A job that looked perfect for you, with all your qualifications, has ended up in the hands of someone less qualified. Don’t let this send you backward.

Women are conditioned by society to doubt themselves. We are, however, better about helping each other and forming alliances.  As a woman, it’s easy to dwell on this doubt but you have the opportunity to interrupt that thought pattern.

How? By surrounding yourself with empowered women who will stand by you. Interrupt your thoughts and determine your value. You may need to make sacrifices to assert your value. Lee Ceharer even started her own company and paved her own path. 

When interrupted

What you do and how you respond with interruption depends on who interrupts you. The first thing, however, is to not make a scene. Let the person talk and bring it back to yourself. Give them the benefit of the doubt. If it happens a second time, it may be better to put a stop to it and ask that you be allowed to finish your thought. If it happens a third time, stand up and take a breather.

Introduction to Int-HER-rupt Podcast

Linda Yates is the image energizer and host of the new podcast, Int-HER-rupt. Linda’s career spans over 30 years and with so much experience, she comes as a leader, consultant, and coach. 

In this season, Int-HER-rupt will consist of 12 episodes that will showcase women who are empowered leaders sharing their experiences as they offer their knowledge and expertise.

The birth Int-HER-rupt

Linda was visiting her friend, Donald Kelly, the CEO and founder of TSE studios, home to The Sales Evangelist podcast, and a few others. They were talking about Linda’s experiences in leadership training and helping other organizations set up management teams. During their conversation, Donald talked to Linda about his vision of a new leadership podcast and after months of working with the TSE team, Int-HER-rupt has become a reality. 

The goal of this podcast is to help women hone their leadership skills, help women who are looking to expand their careers, and offer women in existing organizations an opportunity to consider shifting into new roles. This podcast will be about breaking boundaries and getting out of your comfort zone. 

Why Int-HER-rupt

As suggested in the title,Int-HER-rupt, is a podcast that puts focus on how women and their experiences can be interrupted in their personal and professional life. 

This podcast is produced by TSE studios. Mark your calendars for the launch of Int-HER-rupt on September 21, 2020. There will be three episodes per week and will be available every Monday morning.