Life Empowered Living with Celeste Cuffie

Celeste Cuffie sits down with the ever-inspiring Sara Junio, a Transformation Executive and Strategic Leadership Coach, best-selling author, and Organizational Change Management Consultant at Trissential. Sara has dedicated her career to guiding companies through significant changes using technology and data governance. If you're seeking wisdom on understanding behavioral patterns and improving organizational change, this episode is brimming with valuable insights.

Sara highlights the importance of discerning the intentions behind actions, along with the role of technology in today's business environment. She shares personal anecdotes about resilience, from her humble beginnings on a farm to overcoming personal and professional challenges, all while maintaining an unwavering sense of hope and empowerment.

What motivates someone to shift from agricultural pursuits to becoming a top-notch transformation coach guiding executive teams? Tune in to discover Sara's compelling journey and learn actionable advice for your own career transformation.

Episode Highlights

30:49 - What I do is business transformations, typically involving technology or data, data governance, data management. And a lot of that is companies are coming in with this whole industrial revolution and recognizing in order for us to do more with data, we have to have systems to collect that data, and we have to have more automation. And so, I get involved in those business transformations, either leading the technology initiative as a program manager or specializing in, if it's a large company, how do I help them let the technology people implement the system, but then how do I work with the business to accept that and adopt that technology? 

38:57 - I think I'm trying to tell myself that asking for help and I think it's okay now. I'm that sandwich generation where with my parents, they don't ask for a lot of help. That's just not natural for them. The younger generation, my kids, who are in their 20s, almost to 30, it's very natural for them to ask for help, and it's very natural for them to say, "Hey, we're a team. How do we do this together?" 

48:10 - Evaluate your actions in anything that you're doing. And if you don't like the result that you're getting, understand, you can change an action, but you've got to get to the root cause. And your actions are derived from your thoughts. Your thoughts are derived from your belief system. So what is the limiting belief that's creating your thoughts, that's driving your actions? And ask that question, who says I can't do that? At the end of the day, if you get frustrated or you're not far enough along in something or you're telling yourself no, no shouldn't be in the vocabulary. It should be like not now or something like that. Ask your question. Well, who says I can't do this? 

Guest Bio

Sara Junio is a seasoned expert in Strategic Leadership, Transformation, Organizational Development, and Customer Experience, with over 20 years of progressive experience. She partners with mid to large-sized organizations, guiding executives, senior leaders, and HR managers through business transformations that drive growth and success. Sara specializes in cultivating highly engaged teams, resolving conflicts constructively, and developing strategic solutions to overcome challenges. Known for her empowering approach, Sara has authored "The Identity Effect" and is working on a new book focused on organizational change.

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HTTPS://www.joule-strategies.com

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website: www.celestecuffie.com
email: [email protected]
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lecsembraceempowerelevate

Celeste Cuffie and Kenge Adams discuss the journey of finding self-worth and setting boundaries in this episode of Life Empowered Living. Yearning for more than just a traditional career path, Kenge shares her transformation from a corporate role to becoming an empowered entrepreneur—a courageous leap many of us can relate to.

Kenge's insights into recognizing personal triggers offer a roadmap for fostering mental well-being amidst life's challenges. From leaving draining environments to rediscovering passions, she unveils strategies that have allowed her to build a fulfilling life brimming with intention and purpose.

Keen to hear how Kenge revamped her life at 50, tackling entrepreneurship with no solid plan but unyielding confidence? Tune in to catch her pearls of wisdom on transitioning mindsets and pursuing personal fulfillment.

Episode Highlights

14:11 - I think your body knows those triggers. When you start feeling anxiety or sadness, or you don’t feel like yourself around someone, when you can’t be your authentic self—like they try to dampen your joy, your laugh, or anything that makes you feel good—you realize this is not a person you want close in your life. 

25:30 - My journey, but it is like I did put in the work. I did the research, I networked, and I talked to other entrepreneurs and people in this area. That's one thing I think is important—coming up with a plan for whatever your pivot is. I kept a spreadsheet and a board for all my projects. I still did all the things I did in a company, but I did them for myself. All the lunches, coffees, events, and networking—I went to them on behalf of myself and my business. It was a different mindset; now, I wasn’t wearing a badge or hat for a company. I was wearing it for me.

42:39 - I don’t have to run everything. I can take a step back and let other people lead. As an entrepreneur, you have to wear all the hats, but if there’s a hat I know I’m not good at or need support on, that’s when I call on friends or bring in another consultant for that part. Not having to do everything all the time myself has been helpful.

Guest Bio 

Kenge Adams transitioned from her corporate career to successful entrepreneurship after recognizing her dissatisfaction and need for a fulfilling life. With more than 20 years of experience, Kenge now mentors women entrepreneurs, infusing her journey with resilience and confidence. She balances multiple ventures, including her latest endeavor, Nkenge's Gallery, breathing new life into African artifacts through community engagement.

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website: www.celestecuffie.com
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lecsembraceempowerelevate

Celeste Cuffie sits down with Thaddeus Hannah, the Vice President Strategic Partnership Manager at U.S. Bank, to decode the art of managing life’s transitions and striking a work-life balance. 

Thaddeus shares how his grounding in core values has guided him through major life changes, from marriage to fatherhood and shifts in career paths. He uncovers the transformative power of community support, strategic planning, and the relentless pursuit of excellence despite imperfections.

Ever wondered how one person can balance family, career changes, and personal growth while maintaining positivity and resilience? Tune in to hear Thaddeus’s “boulders of wisdom” on living an empowered life.

Episode Highlights

09:19 - I believe that you can train a person on products and services. You can't, in my opinion, train a person on really how to have people skills, how to be a good leader, and how to lead with compassion. Either you have it or you don't. Sometimes it just becomes a front, and eventually, what's in you is going to come out of you. So for me, even in that case, if it's an individual that I can see the potential and they're showing me they want it, I want you with me because I believe we're helpers one to another. We're better together.

24:52 - For me, legacy is not always about really what you leave behind. Some people will tell you, "I want to leave x amount of money for my children, houses and stocks, and all of that." But for me, it's really what do people say about you when you're gone. How do people feel about you? How did you make people feel when they were in your presence? 

33:45 - I just believe all things work together. So though I may have fears or things that are making me a little bit anxious, I always remember who I serve. And I always remember that I can do anything that I put my mind to. We can do all things through Christ. So it's important for me with navigating life, keeping my eye on the prize.

Guest Bio

Thaddeus Hannah, with a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Concordia, transitioned from a retail career at Walgreens to banking to enhance his work-life balance. As an assistant pastor and dedicated family man, Thaddeus blends leadership with deeply rooted values. His story is a testament to resilience, community support, and strategic life planning.

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website: www.celestecuffie.com
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Celeste Cuffie sits down with Tiffany Dillon, the Vice President of IT Infrastructure & Operations at Landmark Credit Union, for a conversation about navigating career shifts and finding self-acceptance. If you're figuring out how to pivot your career or seeking to understand how to be true to yourself at work, this episode offers valuable takeaways.

Tiffany recounts the pitfalls of focusing on just one job opportunity during college and how she learned the importance of networking. She also discusses her journey into cybersecurity, the signs that indicate it's time to change jobs, and the art of balancing career aspirations with family obligations.

Curious to learn how Tiffany shifted her focus from tech roles to leadership positions while staying true to her authentic self? Tune in to gain insights on managing career transitions and embracing who you are.

Episode Highlights:

08:22 - One of my rules was do not waste my time. I can't buy it, steal a bottle of time back. Once it's gone, it's gone because I could be using that time to better me and to better my community. In my view, if you can explain to people the value of time, that's where you can get them to really understand. This is how you can grow because you can pull that time back and say, “You know what? How can I better my life? How can I better my financial situation? How can I help my family? I think time is the key piece to that because I don't think everyone values time because they think we got so much of it, and we don't.

19:33 - I'm going to be genuine in whatever message I deliver. Some people dance around it a lot of things, and sometimes it waters down the message because they're doing a smoke and mirror show. That was one feedback I got long ago in my career. They're like, "When you told us, 'Raise the flag, something's wrong,' we believed you because you never had smoke and mirrors. You never danced around stuff. So if you said it, we trusted it." So that was huge for me. That was really good feedback because I was like, "Well, I just naturally do that. I didn't realize it was a trait." So for sure, stand on that because even if I have to deliver bad news, there's a way to deliver bad news, but you got to be genuine and tell the truth.

32:25 - You have to give back to your community so that it sustains for the next generation and the generation thereafter. Because so many things are falling off the rails because we're losing human kindness. And I think if people naturally were giving back and just touching the community and understanding it, not being so many levels away from it, that we would be in a better place.

Guest Bio

Tiffany Dillon is the Vice President of IT Infrastructure & Operations at Landmark Credit Union, where she has worked for over a year and a half. She is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. With a solid background in IT and a passion for cybersecurity, Tiffany balances her significant career responsibilities with a strong commitment to family and mentorship. Her journey is marked by resilience, continuous learning, and a dedication to community service.

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website: www.celestecuffie.com
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Struggling with how to balance work, family, and personal growth? You're not alone. In this episode, Celeste Cuffie welcomes guest Noleta Franz to share her expert insights on building a support network, managing expectations, and prioritizing self-worth. 

If you've ever felt overwhelmed juggling multiple roles, you won't want to miss Noleta's strategic approach to seeking advice and handling priorities as they arise.

Curious about Noleta's framework for a successfully blended family or how she mentors younger generations while managing a demanding career? Tune in for practical tips and personal stories that will inspire you to reevaluate how you approach your own challenges.

Episode Highlights:  

17:15 - Be bold. Just do it, almost like Nike. Those experiences rattle you, and you become a little more reserved, a little more strategic in thinking super long term. What I would do differently is not just go after the safe stuff. I would have probably tried to see what life would be like out of state. I would have tried to advance myself in ways I didn’t because of fear of failure.

22:04 - Don't second guess yourself. You got this. So being my own cheerleader as well. You said you can't say work-life balance, but I really took that to heart because what is the priority at the time? Handle what you need to handle when you need to handle it, and everything else will take care of itself. You don't have to do it all. You just have to do what you need to do when you need to do it. 

27:38 - Everyone's not meant to be on speed dial for everything. I'm big on giving what I have to give when I can. You have to be strategic and thoughtful in that approach because people have lives. What I like to do is, once I've identified my village, my circle of people I go to, I've also identified who I go to for what.

Guest Bio

Noleta Franz, Assistant Director of Legal Processes and a passionate board member, is also the founder of "Beautifully Blended," where she offers coaching and counseling for blended families. A Southern belle from Bay Springs, Mississippi, Noleta built her career in law while nurturing diverse personal and professional networks. She is dedicated to empowering women and fostering inclusive communities, making her a beacon of support and inspiration.

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website: www.celestecuffie.com
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Celeste Cuffie chats with Greg Oberland, a seasoned executive with a 36-year career at Northwestern Mutual, to discuss the delicate balance between personal life and a long-term career. If you're looking for practical advice on maintaining strong relationships while building a lasting career, this episode is packed with insights.

Greg emphasizes the vital role of communication and mutual respect in a strong marriage, sharing candid anecdotes from his own 44-year relationship. He also talks about staying adaptable in your career and the need for continuous learning in today's ever-changing job market.

Curious how one man has managed to juggle a successful career with deep family bonds and community engagement? Listen in to learn Greg's secrets to longevity in both personal and professional spheres.

Episode Highlights: 

12:29 - My parents really instilled this, the importance of education, understanding the truth, speaking the truth, and justice. I think about the work we're doing at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation today in racial equity and inclusion about trying to create a Milwaukee for all. For me, why I'm so excited about that is it really does tie in with the way I was raised back home in Chicago.

19:58 - I'm very understanding of the fact that, again, the world is changing very, very fast and the pressures, stresses, different things you have to deal with demand a different approach. And what worked for us years ago is not necessarily going to work today.

35:14 - I hope that one of the legacies is that they see how important family is and they keep that together as they move forward in life. The last thing is, I'm a big believer in you have to be part of your community. Even though family is important, you can't take family out of the broader community. I hope they see through the actions of both Rhonda and me that we believe in community and we want to make community better, and that there are things you can do so that they have that same drive and motivation to make their community better than it is today.

Guest Bio 

Greg Oberland joined Northwestern Mutual in 1982 as an attorney and transitioned to the business side, taking on increasing executive responsibilities. He served as President from 2014 until his retirement, overseeing sales, marketing, and agency functions. His leadership was instrumental in driving the company’s growth and innovation. Beyond his corporate role, Greg contributed to the community, including serving as board president for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. His career reflects a commitment to excellence and impactful leadership.

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website: www.celestecuffie.com
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Welcome to the Life Empowered Living Room.  Join me as I sit down with JB, as we discuss family, faith, and finances.  And yes, we need them all to successfully navigate this life. 

website: www.celestecuffie.com
email: [email protected]
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lecsembraceempowerelevate

This is such a transformational conversation, recorded a couple of years ago, but resonates today. Listen in as she speaks about bravery and vulnerability. We will be better!!!!  My face is in awe of this conversation!

website: www.celestecuffie.com
email: [email protected]
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lecsembraceempowerelevate

Navigating life, goals, and grief simultaneously. Whew! Listen to this thought leader, business professional, and entrepreneur share her insights as she journeys through life to fulfill her purpose. 

website: www.celestecuffie.com
email: [email protected]
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lecsembraceempowerelevate

Whew,  what can I say... If you want to hear some lessons, boulders of life, because they are so much bigger than nuggets... then Listen in. Kenge, a corporate professional who is now an entrepreneur, discusses her transition and truths.  Listen in!

website: www.celestecuffie.com
email: [email protected]
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lecsembraceempowerelevate