LeadHer Lessons Podcast

Rachael Hoffman is one of those people who everyone in the room gravitates towards. 

She is vibrant and magnetic. She speaks with authority, but listens with intent. Best of all, she goes above and beyond to help those around her in any way she can, regardless of how well she knows them and regardless of if she will get anything in return. 

I was first introduced to Rachael from a mutual friend and before she even met me she had agreed to come on the podcast and then offered to help me throw the launch party! I was truly taken aback and extremely grateful for her willingness to help someone she barely knew. But I’ve come to learn that that is just who she is. 

Rachael grew up in a suburb of Chicago and after dealing with some trauma in her late teens she turned to music to help her cope. She got into radio broadcasting and DJ’ing which  eventually led her to a job in nightclub promotion. The experience she gained from creating and marketing events in the nightlife industry led her to a business partnership with a good friend. Together they created marketing and ad campaigns for brands such as FlyWheel and Exhale Spa. Rachael eventually landed her current position as the VP of Marketing for Keune Haircosmetics North America where she leads a team talented women. 

Rachael is extremely knowledgeable about marketing and advertising. In this episode she shares her insight into the best practices for marketing a small business or brand. We also dive into the blessings and struggles of motherhood, the power of gratitude and how having a growth mentality is the key to achieving your goals. 

Here is more of what you can expect: 

- How marketing and advertising has evolved over the past decade 

- The importance of being relevant and engaging to your audience 

- How she landed her job with Keune Haircosmetics 

- The best way to use social media to market yourself or your business 

- A big mistake brands make when it comes to their social media marketing 

- Tracking the analytics of your marketing 

- Staying true to yourself and your brand 

- Tailoring your marketing strategy to your business and brand 

- The idea that you have to GIVE to your audience before you can ASK from your audience 

- How Rachael juggles motherhood and business 

- Taking action every single day to have a growth mindset and cultivate the life you want 

- Her practice of gratitude and how it shapes her life and her family dynamic 

- The power of vulnerability

More about Rachael: 

Keune Haircosmetics

Rachael's Linkedin

Naomi Ziva's story

When it comes to health and wellness, it can feel like you are navigating a maze. One person says fat is the devil while another says a full scoop of butter in your coffee is the way to go. Enter Raiyah Elahi. As a certified health coach, Raiyah’s goal is to take the confusion out of health and wellness. She creates personalized regimens to fit her client’s needs while also helping them to focus on treating the mind, body and soul as one. Raiyah’s passion for overall wellbeing is what lead her to create two wellness based businesses. The first, Flourish Mind and Body, is Raiyah’s wellness consulting business. And the second, Food for Tiny Thoughts, is geared toward children and helping them to develop and learn healthy habits at a young age. Raiyah is a wealth of knowledge and a networking queen. 

Here are some of the things we discuss: 

- How her Pakistani heritage impacted her childhood and increased her desire for education

- How your health changes when you start viewing the body as a whole: mental, emotional and physical health all connected 

- Raiyah’s tips for helping you stay committed to your health plan

-The different factors that effect weight-loss 

- The need Raiyah saw in the health industry that lead her to start her consulting firm “Flourish Mind and Body”

- The power of networking and Raiyah’s tips for increasing your confidence at networking events

- Raiyah’s passion for re-educating children on what healthy food is 

MORE ABOUT RAIYAH: 

The Center for Internal and Integrative Medicine 

Food For Tiny Thoughts 

Books mentioned: 

How Successful Peopel Think by John Maxwell

Leigh McNeil was the only female in her office for 2 years when she first began working at Power Home Remodeling Group in Atlanta, GA. Being the only woman in a male dominated industry has its challenges, but Leigh did not let that stop her from becoming a powerful voice in the office and eventually in the entire company. 

After 3 years of working as the Office Manager for the Atlanta office, Leigh worked her way up to becoming the director of 27 office managers throughout 13 offices. 

Leigh goes above and beyond her job description on a daily basis and that is ultimately what has led her to the success she has had with Power. 

Here are some of the things we discuss in this episode: 

- How getting denied from her dream college ended up being one of the best things 

- The ups & downs Leigh went through after graduating from college that ultimately lead her to Power Home Remodeling Group 

- Accepting criticism and learning to truly accept feedback 

- Creating processes that make your day-to-day tasks easier and allow you to focus on your big picture 

- Going beyond the specified duties of your role 

-Leigh’s top interview tips 

- The one thing to NEVER say in an interview

- What Leigh learned from being the only female in her office for 2 years 

- Building relationships with your co-workers in order to communicate more effectively 

- The most important piece of advice Leigh has for those looking to advance their career in the corporate world

MORE ABOUT LEIGH:

Leigh McNeil LinkedIn

Power Home Remodeling Group

Today’s episode is part 2 of my conversation with The Moxie Project founder Shelly Brockman. 

Shelly Brockman is a numbers person. She says she is just as happy with a calculator and a pencil as she is with a new pair of shoes. Along with her love of numbers, Shelly also has a deep enthusiasm for examining human behavior and figuring out what drives people. 

Shelly began working in the financial industry in Atlanta at the height of the 2002 stock market downturn. Then in 2008 when the housing market crashed along with the stock market Shelly witnessed first-hand how quickly someone’s life savings could be taken away from them through no fault of their own. It was in that time that Shelly had an epiphany. Were these people, who just lost all their hard earned money, really happy doing it or were they just doing it so they could retire? She realized that life was too short to settle and knew she wanted to make a change. 

Fast forward to Shelly’s daughters second birthday and she had left what she refers to as her “former life” in the financial industry behind to start The Moxie Project.

The Moxie Project is a women’s small business and entrepreneurship training initiative with the mission to help women free themselves from the status quo and start living their life on their own terms. 

Shelly is so full of research based knowledge and real life experience helping women. We talked for so long that I felt it was best to split our conversation into two parts. Here are some of the things we discussed in Part 2 of our conversation:

- The talents and roadblocks associated with the 3 types of entrepreneurs: outsiders, innovators and trendsetters 

- The process Shelly goes through with her clients to get them from idea to launch

- The importance of getting customer feedback 

- What Shelly has seen can be the number 1 killer of success

- Tapping into your fearless self and learning to trust your intuition 

- The importance of building processes and systems into your business upfront in order to avoid burnout

More about Shelly: 

The Moxie Project

Instagram: @themoxieproject 

The Moxie Project Facebook Page

Shelly Brockman is a numbers person. She says she is just as happy with a calculator and a pencil as she is with a new pair of shoes. Along with her love of numbers, Shelly also has a deep enthusiasm for examining human behavior and figuring out what drives people. 

Shelly began working in the financial industry in Atlanta at the height of the 2002 stock market downturn. Then in 2008 when the housing market crashed along with the stock market Shelly witnessed first-hand how quickly someone’s life savings could be taken away from them through no fault of their own. It was in that time that Shelly had an epiphany. Were these people, who just lost all their hard earned money, really happy doing it or were they just doing it so they could retire? She realized that life was too short to settle and knew she wanted to make a change. 

Fast forward to Shelly’s daughters second birthday and she had left what she refers to as her “former life” in the financial industry behind to start The Moxie Project.

The Moxie Project is a women’s small business and entrepreneurship training initiative with the mission to help women free themselves from the status quo and start living their life on their own terms. 

Shelly is so full of research based knowledge and real life experience helping women. We talked for so long that I felt it was best to split our conversation into two parts. Here are some of the things we discussed in Part 1 of our conversation:

- How witnessing two major economic downturns while working in the financial industry influenced her to start The Moxie Project

- The idea of making small changes in your life that when added up will have a big impact 

- The 3 fears that typically hold women back from pursuing their dreams

- Getting clarity in your mind in order to make your ideas a reality 

- What traits and actions make the happiest and most successful people

- Living with and moving through your FEAR

- The importance of determining your WHY

More about Shelly: 

The Moxie Project

Instagram: @themoxieproject 

Books Shelly mentions:

- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell 

- 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey 

Walking into what Wendy affectionally refers to as her “70’s disco condo” for our interview I could tell right off the bat that Wendy and I were going to get along. Her carefree spirit and welcoming energy made me instantly feel like we had been friends forever. 

This ability to make people feel comfortable and at ease plays a major role in her business. Wendy has been in marketing, branding and advertising for years, but a year and a half ago she decided to leave the agency life and go out on her own. Within a year Wendy was matching her corporate salary and doing it all from the comfort of her own home. 

In this episode we talk about so many different things, but the heart of the conversation is centered around the idea that you don’t have to settle for a job or work environment that doesn’t fulfill you. Wendy took the courageous steps to create a brand of her own and although she had fears and doubts she pursued her vision and now works helping small businesses make their mark. 

Here are some of the things we discuss: 

-Wendy’s experience going back to work 6 weeks after having a baby 

- The 5 year question Wendy’s business coach asked her that gave Wendy a more clear picture for her business

- Eliminating toxic people and anything that cause you to doubt yourself

- Why Wendy needed to mentally and physically cleanse herself of everything from her former agency life to allow her true talent to shine 

- Learning to truly believe it when people compliment you and your work 

- Setting up “sacred times” for you and your business

- Creating workflow processes that will allow you to manage stress 

- Where Wendy’s inspiration comes from 

- The process Wendy goes through with her clients to flesh out what it is they actually want their business and message to convey 

- The ONE thing you should absolutely be doing to build a successful brand 

- Where Wendy’s love of Black & White cookies came from and where you can find the best Black & White cookie in Atlanta 

Contact Wendy:

wendypruittcreates.com 

Wendy’s business coach: Shelly Brockman of themoxieproject.com 

https://www.facebook.com/wendypruittcreates/

Books that have inspired Wendy: 

The E Myth

You are a Badass

Quinn Copeland Fordham is a force to be reckoned with. Don’t let her sweet southern accent fool you… at the age of 33 she has managed to build a hugely successful childcare business from the ground up and be a super involved mom to her two adorable little boys. 

After graduating from college and securing an entry level job in Atlanta Quinn found herself in need of what she jokingly refers to as “shoe money,” some extra cash to supplement her entry level income. She naturally gravitated toward babysitting and after a while she found herself with more babysitting jobs than she could handle. One Google Docs sheet later Quinn had begun building a network of babysitters and families in need and started connecting them on a regular basis. Quinn’s first baby, First Steps Network, was born. Fast forward almost a decade later and First Steps Network has become a wildly successful business that has helped connect countless families to flexible and reliable childcare in a more personal way. 

“I SAW A PROBLEM AND I KNEW THERE WAS A BETTER WAY TO DO IT…I DIDN’T GET BOGGED DOWN BY WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE WAS DOING… STAY IN YOUR OWN LANE AND GIVE IT A TRY BECAUSE THE WORST YOU CAN DO IS FAIL AND IT’S BETTER TO FAIL THAN NOT TRY” - Quinn

Here are some of the things we discuss:

- How Quinn came up with the idea for First Steps Network

- When she realized her “side hustle” could become her full time job

- How Quinn built a massive client list from a GoogleDoc sheet

- How her business has changed over the years and how she leveraged her connections to build a network 

- The ways Quinn balances running a successful business and raising two small boys 

- How not having a background in business actually benefited her initially 

- How staying in your own lane will benefit you and leave you with more time to focus on what really matters to you 

- Quinn’s favorite workout routine 

Our conversation is super candid and real. Quinn is a go-getter in every sense of the word and I hope that you are inspired by her ability to see a problem and want to find a solution to fix it. 

MORE ABOUT QUINN: 

Instagram: @1stepsatlanta 

First Steps Network Website

Quinn’s favorite workouts: Tone It Up

You guys! THIS IS IT… episode 001 of the LeadHer Lessons Podcast! 

I am so excited you are here. And what better way to kick things off than by sharing with you the inspiring conversation I had with Huff Post Managing Editor, Robyn Malcolm. Robyn grew up in Atlanta, GA, but always had dreams of moving to the Big Apple. After high school, Robyn was accepted to NYU and her dreams of moving to NYC became a reality. Having been in New York City for 10 years, Robyn’s friends have jokingly told her she is a REAL New Yorker now. The road from journalism student to managing editor at a major media organization wasn’t always a smooth one. Robyn has learned a lot of lessons along the way. 

Here are some of the topics we discuss: 

- How living in NYC has changed Robyn for the better
- Robyn’s tips to crush a job interview
- Robyn’s best advice for negotiating a raise at work
- How to build your confidence in the workplace
- The two phrases to remove from your vocabulary
- The unexpected things Robyn found out when talking to ordinary people from cities all over the United States during Huff Post’s Listen To America Tour
- How taking a break from watching/reading or listening to the news can help you gain perspective
- How to deal with “Mansplaining” at work
- Nap Rooms at Huff Post… does Robyn use them? 
- Robyn’s experience reporting overseas in Vietnam
- Ways women can help each other out at work - mentorship/sponsorship 

Robyn is a true go getter and I hope the passion she exudes for her work and the gusto with which she chases her dreams inspires you as much as it inspired me. 

MORE ABOUT ROBYN: 

Ask A Manager : One of Robyn’s go-to blogs 

Veterans And Anti-War Activists Make Peace With Vietnam - And Eachother : The article Robyn wrote after journeying to Vietnam to take part in a tour with Veterans for Peace. 

Follow her on Twitter

I’m Samantha Gabriel and I love podcasts. I especially love podcasts that inspire me. I love the fact that I can listen in my car, at the gym, or while I’m folding laundry. I love that an opportunity to gain knowledge and learn new lessons can be found just about anywhere. 

Some of my favorite podcasts include: The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes, The Dais Podcast by Rachel Hollis and The Goal Digger Podcast with Jenna Kutcher. These are the podcasts that inspired me to start my own. 

As a mom who wants to spend time with my son and a budding entrepreneur who cringes at the thought of a 9 to 5, My desire to create, build and inspire is at the heart of who I am and the place where ‘mom’ and ‘entrepreneur’ meet.

I don’t have all or even most of the answers but I do know that the way to get inspired is to listen. It’s listening to stories of lessons learned, about people who struggled and sacrificed and who are absolutely killing it and the lessons they had to learn along the way. Which is why I sought out women who are crushing it in their respective careers. I want to learn from them. And hear about every aspect of their lives and careers. I ask them to teach me about their failures as well as their wins and give me the low down on what it takes to follow your dreams without hesitation, because ultimately, life is short and why shouldn’t we spend it happy and fulfilled?

LeadHer Lessons Podcast extracts lessons from women who have learned valuable lessons in the course of their lives, whether professional, personal, or life in general, and share them with you in the hopes that something someone says will galvanize you to put yourself out there, and live your dreams out loud!

Are you ready? It’s time for a LESSON.

New episodes of the LHL Podcast will air every other Monday starting on February 5, 2018

LeadHer Lessons podcast is hosted by Samantha Gabriel, an Atlanta-based entrepreneur, mom and LeadHer. Episodes feature conversations with women from all walks of life about business, personal growth, healthy, family and everything in between. OFFICIAL LAUNCH FEBRUARY 5, 2018 New episodes on SoundCloud and iTunes every other Monday GUESTS FOR SEASON ONE OF LEADHER LESSONS INCLUDE: - Managing Editor at HuffPost Robyn Malcolm - VP of Marketing for Keune Haircosmetics North America Rachael Hoffman - Creative entrepreneur and mom Wendy Pruitt - Talented hair stylist Amanda Hill - Health and Wellness LeadHer Raiyah Elahi - Boss lady and LeadHer momma Quinn Fordham AND MORE!

SUBSCRIBE NOW!