Perfectly Imperfect

Today’s episode is a really important one. This is Part 1 of the interview I did with my friend Carri MqQuerry-Funk, a leader in the collections & recovery space for 35 years. Carri’s sharing with us the devastating and tragic story of the death of her 2 year old baby girl, Maddie.

As I record this intro, I’m reminded that TODAY would’ve been Maddie’s 19th birthday. And though she was taken far too soon, her death will not be in vain. Carri has turned her pain into purpose and tirelessly advocates so that no other child loses their life in similar preventable accidents.

This episode serves as a call to action, so I want you to listen to the whole episode, then share it with everyone you know who has small children in their homes. I’m calling on you to spread “Maddie’s Message” far and wide and potentially save the life of a child. It’s a REALLY small ask with a REALLY HUGE benefit. So, let’s all do our part in getting the message out.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1

  3:21  Maddie's Accident

12:15  Maddie's Message

13:12  The Sturdy Act

16:28  Anchor It Campaign

19:28  Life Net Health Grief Companion Program

How to connect with Carri:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carri-mcquerrey-funk-89788539/

Maddie's Message: https://www.maddiesmessage.com/

Learn more about the programs Carri mentions on the podcast episode:

Parents Against Tip Overs: https://www.parentsagainsttipovers.org/

The Sturdy Act: https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2023/CPSC-Adopts-Final-Consumer-Product-Safety-Standard-to-Prevent-Tip-overs-of-Dressers-and-Other-Clothing-Storage-Units

Anchor It campaign: https://www.anchorit.gov/about-us/

Life Net Health Grief Companion Program:  https://www.lifenethealth.org/healingthespirit/grief-companion-program

How to connect with Sandy:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Membership: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

On today’s episode I’m talking with Liz Schuerman, VP of Sales for MBSi. Liz has been in the consumer finance space for about 20 years and has climbed the ladder starting from the very bottom just like me (and maybe you too!) from part time collector as a teenager working her way through college, to rockstar boardroom executive.

She knows all too well the challenges that women endure on their journeys, and she’s here to chat with me about this idea that we cling to as women that we have to be perfect in order to find success. Spoiler alert, that calls coming from inside the house! And as always, stick with us til the end to hear her advice for the next generation of women coming up.  

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1

08:30  Bravery over perfection

17:06  Avoiding career tunnel vision

20:45  How to find mentorship

24:56  Why community is so important

28:18  Liz's advice for the next generation

How to connect with Liz:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-schuerman/

How to connect with Sandy:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

I'm flying solo in this episode so I can break down the McKinsey & Co 2023 Women in the Workplace Report and explore the reasons women are "breaking up" with their employers and leaving their jobs in droves.

The corporate landscape has changed in the past 4 years A LOT. Women's careers were disproportionately impacted during the pandemic. Some women didn't return to work at all. Some jumped back in head first. But most women returned with a renewed vision of what's important to them. They now require more from an employer and if they're not getting what they need, they're choosing to leave. And oh boy, are they leaving!

Hang with me all the way through if you want to learn The 3 Steps For Women To Navigate These Challenges and The 3 Solutions For Companies Trying To Retain These Talented Women in Leadership

Topics of Discussion

  1:36     Intro

  3:12     The Broken Rung Syndrome

  8:47     The Great Breakup

10:00     3 Steps For Women To Navigate These Challenges

13:37     3 Steps For Companies To Close The Gender Gap

18:37     Invitation to work with me

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1

How to connect with Sandy: 

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

 Cited sources: 

If you currently manage remote employees (or you want to take on a role that does) and you’re looking for ways to differentiate yourself and create that TEAM culture you’d get from having your whole team together in person , then my friend, this episode is for you!

My guest on this episode is Wendy Samuels. A Risk and Compliance professional and Six Sigma Black Belt with over 30 years of experience in the Financial Services industry. She has a strong background leading process improvement, technology, risk management, quality and training.

Now, that all sounds very fancy, but let me tell you about Wendy - and why you should listen to this episode.

I first met Wendy over 30 years ago. What was true about her then is still true now. She is a FANTASTIC leader! It doesn’t matter where she goes, what company she works for, or what kind of team she’s leading. She’s the kind of leader everyone wants to work for.

Today’s episode is an absolute masterclass on how to build an engaged, healthy, and thriving culture with virtual teams.

She’s sharing how she successfully created a remote culture that makes her global employees (who ARE NOT required to be on her calls) put their personal lives on hold for an hour and join her team meetings at ALL times of the day and night, just because they want to be a part of something so special.    

Her recipe for successful virtual teams is not complicated, but it does take the audacity to put your team ahead of yourself. That’s a tall order for most…. But are you “most”? Or are you someone who wants to make a difference. You decide after learning what it takes.

Wendy's book recommendation: "Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek

https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-Eat-Last-Together-Others-ebook/dp/B00DGZKQM8

How to connect with Sandy:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

Angel Gaddis is God-fearing woman and a debut author of the new book, “The Innocence of a Guilty Victim”, a book that speaks to those who have lost hope. In this episode, we’re getting a sneak peek into the book and learning how the search for love and acceptance led this single mother straight into a battle with addiction.

Your heart will break for her when she reveals what it was that changed EVERYTHING! And you’ll find yourself rooting for her as she fights to break her family’s generational cycle of addiction. I’ve put a link to her book in the show notes, so be sure to get yourself a copy today.

With over a decade in the healthcare field, Angel's passion is to help people. Now, she's on a mission to uplift young women, so stay tuned until the end to learn how you can work with Angel to break YOUR generational cycle of addiction and turn your pain into purpose just like she did.

How to connect with Angel:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angel.gaddis?mibextid=ZbWKwL 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/___angelg___?igsh=aDZycnYyYTBiNnNm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angel-gaddis-5b03aa304/

Angel's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Innocence-Guilty-Victim-Angel-Gaddis/dp/B0CY4WF2PD

How to connect with Sandy:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

In this episode, I’m talking with money mindset coach, Georgianne McConnell.

She’ll walk us through her corporate journey – from bank teller, to VP to entrepreneur.

She’ll explain how your relationship with money could be holding you back from the income you deserve, and why learning to manage your own finances as a woman is so important.

Stay tuned til the end, cuz she’s giving you some coaching GOLD in her 3 Money Mindset Practices for Financial Abundance.

She'll also break down the opportunity costs of not taking the next step in your career NOW!

I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

How to connect with Georgianne:

Website: https://www.georgiannemcconnell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgianne.mcconnell

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgianne_mcconnell/

Georgianne's book recommendation: Mindset by Carol Dweck --> https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322

How to connect with Sandy:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

Annemarie Strehl, Owner of Annemarie Strehl Visuals, is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, published author, solo travel blogger, speaker, content marketing specialist, personal branding expert, videographer, and virtual photographer.

She’ll explain what virtual photography is all about, but her larger message is that she wants you to be unapologetically yourself.

She’ll tell the story of growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, how she was told she was weird and different, and didn’t quite fit into the corporate mold despite having a university honors degree and speaking 6 languages.

She decided to leave corporate to preserve her mental and physical health. She set off on a solo travel adventure, then fell in love with entrepreneurship.

Like me, Annemarie's on a mission to empower women and help them see their own worth.

How to connect with Annemarie:

Website: https://www.annemariestrehl.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annemarie.strehl’

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemarie.strehl/

Book: Chaos packed to the ends of the earth: Adventures in Australia and New Zealand

Podcast – Biz on the Brain: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biz-on-the-brain

How to connect with Sandy:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

🫣 VULNERABILITY ALERT 🫣

I'm sharing the story of being fired, the lessons I learned from that experience, and how I bounced back. The universe was definitely trying to tell me something! 

Listen and share the episode with someone you know that is in this situation now.

If it keeps one person from giving up, it will have been worth it.

How to connect with Sandy: 

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

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/⁠⁠

Proximity Leadership Network Website: ⁠⁠https://www.proxleadnet.com/⁠⁠

Proximity Inner Circle Membership: ⁠⁠https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network⁠⁠

Kajabi Affiliate Link: ⁠⁠https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up⁠

If you've ever wanted to get inside the mind of a really successful entrepreneur, this episode is for you. Donna is THE definition of a serial entrepreneur, starting as early as 9 years old. 

She's a visionary like no one else I've encountered. She's a master at making something out of nothing and creating win-win solutions to everyday problems.

In this episode, Donna shares her journey from business owner to corporate America and back. Her perspective is so unique, yet so simple. 

She's been a fierce supporter of my mission for Proximity Leadership Network since we met, and I'm sure you'll find her energy as inspirational as I do. 

As always, stick around to the end for Donna's advice for the next generation of female leaders.  

How to connect with Donna: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-weaver-3925164/

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://h2htechnologies.com/

How to connect with Sandy:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

Sonia Macias could be the busiest woman I know. She's a full-time entrepreneur, co-founder of a construction company, part time corporate recruiting EVP, real estate investor, AND she's raising two girls.

How does she do it all? You're about to find out!

If you're burned out, overwhelmed, or under water, listen up as Sonia shares her tips for juggling all of her professional responsibilities, maintaining peak performance, and carving out time for her family. Her innovative strategies will surprise you!

She'll also touch on how finding genuine support and aligning herself with like-minded women of similar values changed her life.

As always, stick around to the end for Sonia's golden nuggets of advice for the next generation.  

How you can connect with Sonia: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009702279480

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soniagmacias/

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

Website: https://www.lunaconstrux.com/

InvestHER_Omaha: https://www.lunaconstrux.com/investher/

Sonia's podcast & book recommendations: 

https://www.therealestateinvesther.com/podcast

https://www.biggerpockets.com/podcasts/real-estate

https://nelygalan.com/author-2/

https://whonothow.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Never-Split-Difference-Negotiating-Depended/dp/0062407805

https://www.mindomo.com/

How you can connect with Sandy:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up