There's MORE in STORE in 2024!! GET INSPIRED by our first episode of the new year with New York Times bestselling author and global communications expert, David Murray. The head of the Professional Speechwriters Association talks to Pivotal Moment about making sense of today's issues and how to communicate effectively in our response to them. Murray, author of "An Effort to Understand: Hearing One Another (and Ourselves) in a Nation Cracked in Half" shares insight for speechwriters, communicators, industry leaders, and professionals at every stage looking for greater impact and influence in 2024. 

Books by David Murray:

• An Effort to Understand: Hearing One Another (and Ourselves) in a Nation Cracked in Half

Blog:

• Subscribe to Writing Boots

Website:

• Professional Speechwriters Association - Prorhetoric.com

New book "Soccer Dad" coming up! 

“Burning out is not a badge of honor,” Judy West told Pivotal Moment. “Find an environment where your gifts can flourish.” West is the head of Women Executive Pastors, an international group of more than 160 women executive pastors from around the world. In this episode, she shares her insight on unlocking your spiritual gifts, walking in your God-given purpose, and finding your “rhythm” in life, rather than balance alone.  

West is an executive pastor at The Crossing Church in St. Louis where her focus is on coaching, counseling and consulting. For West, leading WXP is an extension of her desire to serve and her gift to lead. If you're a woman in leadership or looking for inspiration and guidance, listen to this episode of Pivotal Moment for the lessons that help women unlock their greatness:

• Find an environment where your gifts can flourish.

For this and so much more, tune into this episode of Pivotal Moment with Nikitta Foston.

The Crossing Church

Women Executive Pastors

Two years ago, Eventnoire beat more than 200 startups to clinch the #1 spot in Mountain Dew’s Real Change Challenge. Earning the win, and a part of the $1M pool, positioned the company as a leading voice in digital solutions and a national brand in the event marketplace. Eventnoire Co-Founder Jeff Osuji talks about his vision for the company as a premier gateway for experiences that celebrate and embrace Black culture - opportunities that improve the quality of life for marginalized and underserved groups.

In this episode, Osuji discusses his journey as an entrepreneur, brand architect and  growth driver. Watch to learn more about: 

• Eventnoire’s selection as the official ticketing platform for TechChicago Week 

For more information on Eventnoire, visit eventnoire.com.

“Sit up. Speak up. Stand up.” For Retired Rear Admiral Annie B. Andrews, this is more than a slogan - it’s a lifestyle. Now, after 32 years in the United States Navy, the third African-American woman in the U.S. to hold the post of rear admiral - is starting a new chapter.

• Her former role as the assistant administrator for Human Resource Management at the Federal Aviation Administration 
  

Listen to the full episode for the pivotal moment that made the biggest impact on her journey. Learn the three keys to maximize your leadership skills every day.

If you’d like to be a part of the next cohort, visit: andrewsconsultingenterprise.com

"That's what I love to do.” Tolu Samuels talks to Pivotal Moment about his incredible growth spurt, from 5-foot-11 to 6-foot-7...in one season. Just outside of Chicago, Hillcrest’s star player and college-bound senior talks about dominating on the court, including epic wins at key tournaments. Now, he’s looking ahead to the future, to the program and players that fuel his energy - and his faith.

What you’ll learn about Tolu in this episode:

• The comeback performance that turned the tide

Follow Tolu on IG @12k.tolu

Listen to Pivotal Momoent here and everywhere you find your podcasts, including Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 

“I don’t let fear paralyze me from making moves,” Rockland Page told Pivotal Moment. “Fear is normal in entrepreneurship, but when you see the fruit of your labor, it propels you beyond them. That’s living the dream.” 

Combining style, culture and storytelling, the founder and CEO of ROCKaBLCOK lifestyle brand is making a worldwide impact in the fashion industry. From his humble beginnings making T-shirts in his basement, to fielding TV interviews and design awards, the Chicago native recognizes the opportunity of the moment and the power of his platform.

Page’s app-enabled clothing is a reflection of his truth. One of his most popular pieces is the Freedom Fighters T-shirt, representing heroic figures who led historic battles in the fight for freedom. 

“I wanted to create a platform for people to have discussions about what these heroes fought for,” he said. “About race, history, equity and how we fought so hard to have a voice. With a simple T-shirt, we can do that.” But T-shirts are only a part of his growing empire. ROCKaBLOCK sells a variety of merchandise including home goods, tote bags, art prints and sporting goods like skateboards. 

Page talks to Pivotal Moment about seeing his name on billboards, the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, and the famous entertainer he’d most like to work with in the future. Check out the full episode to find out who!

For the latest collections and hottest styles, browse ROCKaBLOCK!!

ROCKaBLOCK - Website

https://www.rockablock.com/

ROCKaBLOCK - Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/rockablockbrand

ROCKaBLOCK - LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/rockablock/

ROCKaBLOCK - Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/rockablockbrand/

ROCKaBLOCK - TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@rockablock

ROCKaBLOCK - Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/rockablockbrand/

CONTACT:

[email protected]

219-472-8483

“You help people achieve their goals. That’s leadership,” Dr. Kelly Elmore told Pivotal Moment. “When you realize the impact you can have on people, you show up.”

As chief wellness officer, Dr. Elmore travels the world, leading people to healthier lives - spiritually, physically, financially, mentally and emotionally, or “SPF ME,” part of her VivaLife global health and empowerment movement. 

“VivaLife is designed to educate, encourage and inspire men, women and youth to live their best lives,” Dr. Elmore said.

As a certified OB-GYN, Dr. Elmore is especially focused on quality care for women. “The most pressing issue today for women is access to high-quality, safe, equitable, evidence-based and inclusive care.”

Dr. Elmore said she’s committed her life’s work to the delivery of care. VivaLife is the global extension of her mission and an accelerator for her message. 

As we prepare for Women’s History Month in March, we celebrate women leaders who are making history today. 

#WomensHistoryMonth #BlackHistoryMonth #physicianleaders #VivaLife #leadership #wellness #health

"History is made by the people who have power," Dana Rubin told Pivotal Moment. "So much of our story is told by men and through men's voices."

But Rubin's book, “Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches by American Women," debunks the myth that men were the only powerful speakers in our country's history.   

"Women in America have been speaking out for nearly four centuries," Rubin said. "And their speeches have contributed to the formation of the nation, even if they’ve been written out of the history books.”

According to Rubin, the anthology "charts the story of America as it unfolded through decades, showing that at every critical juncture, women were speaking. It's a long-needed corrective to the story we have always told ourselves about whose ideas and voices shaped the nation -  a search for long-buried truths, a celebration and an inspiration."

But the historic collection is also a galvanizing tool, empowering women today to move beyond their fears of speaking to the power behind their voices.

"You don't have to be a speaker to use speaking skills in your daily life. Rather than run away from those opportunities, take advantage of them, find them and use them," Rubin said. "To use your voice is to lead. If we're not all contributing, how can we be heard?"

To learn how to use your voice to lead, watch the full episode here.

Follow/Contact Dana Rubin:

https://speechstudio

SpeakingWhileFemale.co

✉ [email protected]

https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/history-nonfiction/speaking-while-female/

Dr. Constance Shabazz, CEO of Salaam Community Wellness Center of Chicago, has devoted her professional life to health care and social justice.  As COVID-19 swept through the city, she witnessed the devastating impact on communities of color. Long-standing health inequities in marginalized populations were exacerbated. People with underlying health conditions were at greater risk. Those who contracted the virus were separated and isolated. Many died alone.

Shabazz had an answer: culturally competent care that recognizes and responds to the social determinants of health. She also had a vision: the Salaam Community Wellness Center of Chicago. “This is more than a center,” Shabazz said. “This is a movement.” In this episode of Pivotal Moment, Shabazz reveals the four key modalities included in her integrative approach to wellness for vulnerable populations. 

Shabazz is the former CMO at Aunt Martha’s Youth Services in the south suburbs of Chicago. She received two master's degrees from St. Xavier University and a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. For more than 17 years, Shabazz has provided technical assistance and program development to the federal government’s Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), helping 300+ health centers across the U.S.

For more info, visit: salaamcwc.org, [email protected], (773) 435-9493

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME! Too many of us wait for the right time to start or expand our business. We wait to be motivated or inspired to take our vision to the next level. But TODAY is a new day! Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer and SVP, Marketing & Member Experience at the American Medical Association says, "It's not about you, it's about the value your brand will bring to others." In this episode of Pivotal Moment, learn how to define your audience, pick your platforms, build your brand - and find more joy in the process. #brandbuilding #pivotalmoment