Momentum Matters

🎙 Takeaways from 30 Years of Digital Ventures with Cindy Martin

In this episode of Momentum Matters, host April Benetollo sits down with Cindy Martin, a true pioneer in digital media and entrepreneurship. With a career spanning three decades, Cindy has led transformative ventures that shaped the way we consume news and connect online.

From her early work at AT&T and Magellan—one of the first commercial search engines—to her leadership as founding CEO of AL.com and President of Alabama Media Group, Cindy has been at the forefront of innovation in digital media. Today, she continues to inspire as the Founder and CEO of Bham Now, The Bama Buzz, and Hville Blast, creating fresh, community-driven media across Alabama.

In this conversation, Cindy shares:

1. Key lessons learned from navigating the ever-changing digital landscape
2. How she turned challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation
3. Why community connection and local storytelling remain central to her mission
4. Insights for leaders looking to thrive in times of disruption

Whether you’re a seasoned professional, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about the future of digital media, Cindy’s wisdom and experiences will leave you energized and inspired.

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The Momentum Matters podcast is back—with fresh voices, powerful stories, and a bold new direction. In this inaugural episode of our relaunch, CEO April Benetollo is joined by new co-hosts Katie Hannah and Raven Holloway for a heartfelt conversation about what’s ahead for the podcast and the mission behind it.

You’ll hear personal reflections on leadership, legacy, and transformation—and get a behind-the-scenes look at how Momentum continues to expand its impact across Alabama and beyond. Whether you're a long-time listener or brand new to the Momentum community, this episode is your invitation to lead with purpose, clarity, and authenticity.

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share—and join us in amplifying the voices of women in leadership.

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Welcome to the latest episode of the Momentum Matters Podcast: Courageous Conversations. In this inspiring episode, Christine Roberts, owner and CEO of Create Your Best Life, engages in a heartfelt conversation with Momentum's April Benetollo. Christine shares her incredible journey from her humble beginnings in Rochester, New York, to becoming a successful entrepreneur in Atlanta, Georgia.

Discover how Christine transformed her life story into her life's work as the CEO and Founder of Create Your Best Life, where she offers Executive, Leadership, and Life coaching with a holistic approach. With over 25 years of corporate experience, including roles at Disney Institute and The John Maxwell Company, Christine provides invaluable insights for high-achieving leaders.

Join us as Christine discusses her pivotal decision to transition from a successful sales career to starting her own company, and the significant takeaways from her year-long travels across the USA. Learn about her structured approach to executive leadership and life coaching, and how she integrates work-life integration into her coaching practice.

Don't miss out on Christine's free tools, mindset quiz, and resources available on her website. Plus, sign up for her upcoming Free Virtual Training with Momentum on August 14th, 2024 from 12-1 CST, focusing on personal and professional development. Christine also offers free consultations and frequently speaks at various engagements.

Connect with Christine at:
christinemroberts.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-m-roberts/

Visit our website: www.MomentumLeaders.org 

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In this episode, April Benetollo, CEO at Momentum sits down with Clinical Psychologist and Performance Coach Josh Klapow, PhD. They explore his career journey, experiences, and invaluable insights on organizational consulting and leadership coaching.

The discussion delves into the nuances of male and female leadership styles in the workplace, shedding light on communication challenges and societal influences that shape these dynamics. Josh emphasizes the importance of respecting individuality and humanity in all interactions, transcending gender stereotypes.

Through his expertise, Josh underscores the vital role of effective communication and emotional intelligence in successful leadership. He shares practical strategies for cultivating these essential skills, enabling leaders to navigate complex situations with empathy and clarity.

Whether you're a seasoned leader or aspiring to take on a leadership role, this episode offers invaluable wisdom and actionable insights to help you unlock your full potential and foster a more inclusive and empowering workplace culture.

Stay tuned for more insightful episodes on Momentum Matters, where we explore the intersection of leadership, personal growth, and organizational success.

Resources mentioned: 

Forbes Feature: How Clinical Psychology And Performance Coaching Help Women Navigate A Competitive Male Dominated Workplace

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bonniemarcus/2024/02/01/how-clinical-psychology-and-performance-coaching-help-women-navigate-a-competitive-male-dominated-workplace/?sh=6aa73b0b2ab9

Josh's bio: https://momentumleaders.org/people/josh-klapow/

Josh's website at www.mentaldrive.com.

To learn more about Josh's work and the performance mindset, visit mentaldrive.com or follow Josh on social media. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshk/

Instagram:@mentaldrive https://www.instagram.com/mentaldrive/

TikTok: @mentaldrive  https://www.tiktok.com/@mentaldrive 

Visit our website: www.MomentumLeaders.org 

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In this episode we interview Sharon Melnick, PhD, on the topic of power. Dr. Melnick is a global authority on leadership, confidence, resilience, and power. Dr. Melnick is the premier expert at creating fast and lasting behavioral change in accomplished but overwhelmed professionals, enabling them to expand their leadership impact and become change agents across the enterprise. With her psychological tools, clients harness their emotional makeup to create an inspiring culture under stressful conditions, and use their influencing capacities to achieve outsized results.

Dr. Melnick is the best-selling author of In Your Power, as well as two earlier books, Confidence when it Counts and Success Under Stress. 

Dr. Melnick's work is inspired by 10 years of research at Harvard Medical School. She offers coaching, training, and consulting to more than 50 Fortune 500 companies. She is a frequent speaker and facilitator at Momentum, for which we are so grateful! 

You can find more resources from Dr. Melnick on her website at sharonmelnick.com.

Visit our website: www.MomentumLeaders.org 

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In this podcast, Executive Career Coach and Leadership Development Speaker Lenetra King, FACHE, shares her background and current mission with Momentum CEO April Benetollo. Lenetra is the founder and CEO of her company, Watch Me Excel, whose mission is to help organizations to engage, promote, and retain exceptional talent. Her mission's primary focus is to serve leaders in underrepresented communities. 

Lenetra's book, Unwritten Insights: A Career Playbook for Leaders of Color, is an excellent resource for leadership growth in the workplace, and can be purchased on her website. 

Helpful Links:

Website: www.watchmeexcel.com

Connect with Lenetra on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenetra-king/

Follow Watch Me Excel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/watchmeexcel/about/

Visit our website: www.MomentumLeaders.org 

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In this podcast, Momentum CEO April Benetollo interviews CBS42 Chief Meteorologist Ashley Gann in Birmingham. Ashley shares about being a woman in a dominantly male career field, her influences along the way, and what her plans for the future are.

Ashley's career has spanned 3 states and 3 major cities. From Montgomery, to Atlanta, to Birmingham. Ashley has covered some of the most historic weather events of our life time, including the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak. 

After receiving her Aerospace Engineering degree from Auburn University, Ashley went on to Mississippi State where she earned her Masters in Meteorology. During her career she became the 795th Certified Broadcast Meteorologist in the nation. 

As the first female chief meteorologist not only in Birmingham, but in the state of Alabama, Ashley has used that accomplishment to highlight the importance of equity, not just equality, in the work place.

To learn more about Ashley, visit https://www.cbs42.com/author/ashley-gann

Visit our website: www.MomentumLeaders.org 

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PeggyLee Wright is a former US Army UH-60 Blackhawk pilot, having served at the 82d Airborne Division, Honduras Central America, and Fort Lee, Virginia. Following her military career, PeggyLee used her experience in DoD, logistics, leadership management, behavior analysis, and education to create a new approach to business development, ultimately establishing her own business development consulting firm, THE COMPANY YOU KEEP, in 2019. In this episode, PeggyLee shares what led her to join the military, what she learned about service to others from her father, instructors, and mentors, and how she manages a successful career, community service, and four children. 

Visit our website: www.MomentumLeaders.org 

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Leslie Claybrook currently is the General Manager for the Birmingham Squadron, the G League affiliate to the NBA New Orleans Pelicans. She is one of only a small handful of women to hold that title in men’s professional sports. In her current role, she manages all aspects of business operations including corporate partnerships, ticket sales, marketing and public relations. The Birmingham Squadron also has a heart for the community and will be featuring special game nights including a Women's Empowerment Night on March 9, 2023. Scheduling information and tickets are available at BirminghamSquadron.com. 

Prior to The Birmingham Squadron, Claybrook served as the President of CrossRoads331, a consulting business for the athletics industry. From 2011-2020, Claybrook served  as an Assistant Commissioner at the Southeastern Conference. At the SEC, she was responsible for the oversight of women’s basketball, soccer and softball, including ticket sales and corporate sponsor engagement. Claybrook also collaborated strategically with athletic administrators, coaches, SEC staff and outside constituents in developing a COVID-19 Return to Competition Plan and teamed with the SEC Council on Racial Equity and Social Justice to develop the “TOGETHER. It Just Means More” campaign on racial equity and social justice, developing resources and strategies for campuses, national engagement, and change.

In her spare time, Claybrook has been actively involved in refereeing basketball at the collegiate, WNBA and international levels. Her expertise allowed her to represent USA Basketball as a referee at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.

A native of Luverne, Alabama, Claybrook is a graduate of the University of Alabama where she was a four-year letter winner for the women’s basketball team and a three-time selection to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. She received a master’s degree from Mercer University while an assistant women’s basketball coach. She is married to Perry Robinson who is the varsity volleyball coach at Pelham High School. They have one daughter, Lillian.

Visit our website: www.MomentumLeaders.org 

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Ulrike Seminati is a leadership and communication coach with over twenty years of experience shaping award-winning communications and leadership programs around the world. Building on her experience as C-level executive, Ulrike combines her knowledge of how to succeed in the corporate world with powerful self-development techniques to help women lead with charisma and authenticity.

Visit our website: www.MomentumLeaders.org 

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