Potential to Powerhouse: Success Secrets for Women Entrepreneurs

We're in luck today! We are joined not only by one powerhouse woman but two, Lily Diamond and Rebecca Walker. These two women joined forces to co-author a book called "What's Your Story? A Journey for Everyday Evolution."

First, we will be speaking with Rebecca, she is an American writer, feminist, activist, and you likely know her as the daughter of Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple." Rebecca made it her mission to revitalize feminist movements to ensure the fight for women's rights were heard, she knew when she or other people were not being treated correctly. Lily Diamond is our second speaker today. She is a writer, photographer, and advocate for harnessing the power of digital media. Lily is all about democratizing wellness and empowering women through storytelling. Lily began questioning the ideologies and beliefs she grew up with and starting changing those perceptions as she got older. Rebecca and Lily have paired together, creating this awe-inspiring book, with the call to challenge the status quo, to think about the way in which we view race & gender, and to think about the way in which we navigate our journeys through the world and offer hindsight regarding who we are as humans.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [03:08] Rebecca starts off today by revealing which role she took on as a child; rule breaker or rule follower.
• [08:25] Lily joins the conversation, divulging her status as a rule breaker or follower as a child.
• [12:34] Comparing the meaning of the statement: being a rebel versus challenging the status quo.
• [16:46] The story that Rebecca and Lily have created in their book and how they are wanting to be perceived.
• [20:31] A moment of awakening in Rebecca's life began in her early twenties, participating and immersing herself into feminist movements.
• [29:31] Lily's pivotal moment as a young adult, questioning how she was perceiving beliefs and principles in life and starting to change those perceptions.
• [42:54] The day Lily and Rebecca met was perfectly aligned in their lives.
• [46:53] Rebecca feels a strong sense of duty to help people express their real feelings and to be authentic to their true selves.
• [53:02] After finishing the book, what was the biggest lesson they've learned through that process?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Rebecca always felt from a young age that she knew when she or other people were not being treated correctly. She would take on the role of becoming an advocate for herself and others.
• Rebecca made it her mission to revitalize feminist movements to ensure the fight for women's rights were heard.
• Lily began questioning the ideologies and beliefs she grew up with and starting changing those perceptions as she got older.
• The relationship between Rebecca and Lily has evolved into a powerful friendship and comradeship, from being open and honest with each other to authentically supporting one another.

QUOTES:

"Our relationship has evolved into one of powerful friendship and comradeship." - Rebecca Walker on her friendship with Lily "From a very young age, I felt the need to either speak about those things to other people and try to be an advocate of some kind, on their behalf, or to just note in myself that what was happening to me was not okay." - Rebecca Walker "When I started to listen to my peers talk about their experiences of feminism, it always came that they felt there was a kind of rigidity and a kind of totalizing ideology that made them very uncomfortable and that was an awakening." - Rebecca Walker "I think many of us have this desire to be accepted and to belong and that transforms often into an ability to not be completely honest with ourselves." - Lily Diamond I think the most significant thing that I have learned that has also been a gift in the process of creating "What's Your Story?" is that it takes time and it takes extraordinary patience." - Lily Diamond

CONNECT WITH US:

Find Lily Diamond on Instagram, Rebecca Walker on Instagram, and "What's Your Story?: A Journey for Everyday Evolution" Book

Check out our website, Potential to Powerhouse, for more details and to learn about past, present, and future guests. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and join our Facebook Community for a deeper connection with the P2P tribe.

Grab your free copy of our guide, 4 Daily Habits Essential to Becoming a POWERHOUSE Entrepreneur, and don't forget to subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review. Do you know any other female powerhouses that could benefit from listening? If so, please let them know to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever they like to listen to valuable audio content.

Until next time… High Five!

Joined with us today is powerhouse CEO, Jennifer van Dijk. Jennifer van Dijk was named the chief executive officer of Hoonigan, an automotive lifestyle and content company. Hoonigan uniquely sits at the intersection of car culture, digital content and lifestyle apparel and has pioneered the model for influencers using digital platforms to sell a range of products directly to their passionate fans. Jennifer has spent her career in a very male-dominated world as she was formerly the Vice President of digital at IMG, where she created a digital media business. She served the NBA, as Vice President of Team Marketing & Business Operations and from there she moved to a position with the Los Angeles Clippers as a Chief Strategy Officer. She spent time as an Executive Vice President for Wasserman athletes, leading a digital revenue strategy for talent and helped to design a new area of service for brands to access athletes and their highly engaged social audiences.

When Jennifer was a teenager she realized she was gay after having a pivotal conversation with a high school counselor. She spent a couple of years in self-discovery before coming out to her family and starting her freshman year in college. In our conversation, I appreciate Jennifer's vulnerability, openness, and her leadership as a gay woman in a male-dominated world. Finally, you won't want to miss the advice she wants the younger generation listening to about how to approach their life.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:33] As a child, Jennifer teetered the line between rule breaker and rule follower.
• [07:47] Transitioning from high school to college, what did Jennifer's personal life look like at that time after she realized she was gay?
• [13:43] Jennifer's college years; what she studied, how her experience during that time was.
• [17:46] Her first professional move after leaving college was starting a career at IMG.
• [26:21] Being in the corporate world, did she have to hide her sexuality, living two separate lives?
• [29:31] The transition from IMG to her role at Wasserman.
• [35:23] Starting her career at the NBA and the different job roles she held while she was there.
• [48:05] How she became the CEO of Hoonigan, an automotive lifestyle and content company.
• [53:21] Jennifer paints a picture of where she sees herself in five years.
• [59:29] The advice about being present in the moment Jennifer wants others to know.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Being true to herself after realizing she was gay, led to Jennifer being happier, more align and in tune with herself.
• Taking something you're passionate about and using that to form your career and business ventures. For Jennifer that was the business of sports, deal making and leadership.
• Finding companies and businesses that value culture and value their employees and drive you to put forth your best effort at work.
• Be present in the moment. Life is such a whirlwind and it's important to stop and enjoy the journey instead of racing to the finish line.

QUOTES:

"My job at IMG was everything. It's what ignited my passion, that while I love sports, the business of sports was even more interesting and exciting." - Jennifer van Dijk

"I think part of coming out in school {as gay} and then going into the corporate life, I decided that I'm going to be out from day one because if I start to hide it I'll have to make decisions about hiding it everywhere." - Jennifer van Dijk

"Being a CEO is my dream job. I default to really being strategy, vision and where can we take something to? Being CEO is the first time I actually feel like I have the ability to look at all the pieces and put them together." - Jennifer van Dijk

CONNECT WITH US:

Find Jennifer van Dijk on Twitter and at Hoonigan.com

Check out our website, Potential to Powerhouse, for more details and to learn about past, present, and future guests. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and join our Facebook Community for a deeper connection with the P2P tribe.

Ignite the Powerhouse Within Summit! Wednesday, June 23 - Thursday June 24, a 2-day live interactive summit for seekers, visionaries, and unstoppable entrepreneurs on the rise.

Grab your free copy of our guide, 4 Daily Habits Essential to Becoming a POWERHOUSE Entrepreneur, and don't forget to subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review. Do you know any other female powerhouses that could benefit from listening? If so, please let them know to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever they like to listen to valuable audio content.

Until next time… High Five!

Today, we are speaking with a digital transformation and analytics powerhouse, Sheila Talton. Sheila owns Gray Matter Analytics, a healthcare data analytics company founded in 2013. She is here to share with us her perspective on important topics such as the lack of women in the big data and big tech industry, raising working capital in a business, and what it means to be an entrepreneur. As an African American woman, Sheila is an ardent advocate for African American rights. She currently serves on three public boards, two of which are John Deere and Cisco. Finally, Sheila is a thoughtful leader who attributes much of her success to her daily workouts and ensuring stillness in her day by taking time to read the Bible.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [03:37] Sheila reflects on her childhood, labeling herself as a rule follower until she realized she wasn't accomplishing as much as she wanted to quickly enough.
• [05:44] Marching and demonstrating in protests, making sure her voice was heard around important issues facing African Americans.
• [08:52] The point when Sheila knew she wanted to pursue a career in technology.
• [16:57] Not getting the support of her then husband as Sheila's career started to grow exponentially.
• [19:16] Sheila's next steps as she transitioned and pivoted her focus to becoming an entrepreneur.
• [21:18] How Sheila negotiated and structured the deal to get her business started.
• [27:59] Hindsight of Sheila's career, she spent 50% as an entrepreneur and 50% in corporate America. Does she feel the time she spent in corporate was beneficial?
• [30:31] Sheila speaks about her current company and what she expects the future of this company to look like.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Sheila marched and demonstrated during the civil rights movement to ensure her voice was heard regarding the different issues facing African Americans during that time.
• How Sheila found success in Big tech and Big Data, even though the odds were stacked against her, being a woman and a woman of color.
• Working in corporate America before she became an entrepreneur - Sheila felt this was beneficial to her because she was able to observe what good and bad management looked like.
• We can never achieve success alone, having a support system is necessary to finding success.
• Negotiating the deal and investment for her business - Sheila looks back to that moment and knows she took all the right steps in formulating that deal.

QUOTES:

"I spent a lot of my time marching, demonstrating, and making sure that my voice was heard around the issues that were important for African-Americans during that time." - Sheila Talton

"I feel that I learned what good management looks like and what bad management looks like. A lot of times entrepreneurs have to figure that out themselves because they don't have role models." - Sheila Talton on working in corporate America

"I believe that none of us get to where we are alone. A support system is really important, a support system of women and a support system of men." - Sheila Talton

CONNECT WITH US:

Find Sheila Talton on LinkedIn and at GrayMatterAnalytics.com

Check out our website, Potential to Powerhouse, for more details and to learn about past, present, and future guests. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and join our Facebook Community for a deeper connection with the P2P tribe.

Ignite the Powerhouse Within Summit! Wednesday, June 23 - Thursday June 24, a 2-day live interactive summit for seekers, visionaries, and unstoppable entrepreneurs on the rise.

Grab your free copy of our guide, 4 Daily Habits Essential to Becoming a POWERHOUSE Entrepreneur, and don't forget to subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review. Do you know any other female powerhouses that could benefit from listening? If so, please let them know to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever they like to listen to valuable audio content.

Until next time… High Five!

SHEILA G. TALTON:

Sheila G. Talton is currently the President and CEO of Gray Matter Analytics, a healthcare data analytics company that she founded in 2013. Her latest mission at Gray Matter is to encourage clients to take ownership of their data, maximize its value and more effectively standardize data across large, complex enterprises to address interoperability challenges that proliferate in healthcare.

She is an innovative global leader and Big Data strategist with over 30 years of experience in helping organizations increase value, build successful businesses within larger companies and expand into emerging markets. She is recognized for her expertise in developing and executing bold initiatives.

Her experience in governance extends to corporate, civic and not-for-profit sectors; currently serving on the boards of Deere & Company, Sysco Corporation, OGE Energy Corp., Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital Foundation, The Chicago Network, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and The Chicago Urban League.

In this episode of Potential to Powerhouse, we have a true powerhouse entrepreneur, founding member, and Chief Scientist -- Dr. Acacia Parks. Acacia is the Chief Science Officer of Happify Health, a digital therapeutics company, which brings cutting-edge research-based behavior change strategies to businesses, consumers, and health plans. Acacia not only studies the areas of joy and happiness, she brings those studies to fruition, helping powerhouses like ourselves find joy. As someone who lives with bipolar disorder, she is passionate about leading by example, modeling the same self-care that she expects her team members to practice.

Today, you're going to hear about Acacia's story, not only how she overcomes her bipolar disorder by being in the know about her diagnosis and addressing her symptoms, she has built a multi-million dollar company despite having bipolar disorder. She is at the forefront of the company as an entrepreneur, founder, mother and thought leader, talking openly and honestly about her bipolar disorder and how she manages it through therapeutics and addressing her diagnosis head-on. Tune into to learn about this true powerhouse episode with Dr. Acacia Parks!

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:46] Acacia is a woman wearing many different hats. What does she tell someone when they ask her the question "what do you do?".
• [04:12] People in the media are starting to speak up about their anxieties and putting their mental health first.
• [11:09] In Acacia's youth, did she follow the rules or break them? A look at her story growing up.
• [21:48] At what point in her life was Acacia diagnosed with bipolar?
• [30:09] Building Happify and building her academic career at the same time.
• [40:13] What it means to find joy and happiness and break down that happiness into different parts.
• [46:23] What is the measure for happiness?
• [51:21] How the impact of your perspective and how you see the world can completely shift how you feel.
• [59:22] Feedback for those who have bipolar disorder.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Acacia is in the business of reducing the total amount of distress in the world by helping people with depression and anxiety reduce what they're feeling and finding people living in stressful situations and teaching them resiliency and everything in between.
• Giving people researched based practices that have been out there for decades, and putting them into the hands of the people who need them most.
• Finding ways of coping and addressing Acacia's bipolar disorder that have enabled her to live her life as normal and productively as she can.
• Science shows that people who are happy live around SEVEN YEARS(!) longer than people who are not.
• How the impact of your perspective, how you see the world and your circumstances, can completely shift not only how you feel, but what your outcome is, what your performance is, what your level of satisfaction is and how you can find the greatest parts of who you are in your day to day.
• There is a shortage of therapists today and two thirds of the people who need treatment aren't getting it.

QUOTES:

"I like to tell people that I'm in the business of reducing the total amount of distress in the world." - Acacia Parks

"It's difficult to convince a business person that science is worth the effort." - Acacia Parks

"If we live a life that is all negative emotion, we're going to be missing a whole aspect of thinking, a whole way of thinking and looking at things." - Acacia Parks

CONNECT WITH US:

Find Acacia Parks on LinkedIn and at Happify.com.

Check out our website, Potential to Powerhouse, for more details and to learn about past, present, and future guests. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and join our Facebook Community for a deeper connection with the P2P tribe.

Ignite the Powerhouse Within Summit! Wednesday, June 23 - Thursday June 24, a 2-day live interactive summit for seekers, visionaries, and unstoppable entrepreneurs on the rise.

Grab your free copy of our guide, 4 Daily Habits Essential to Becoming a POWERHOUSE Entrepreneur, and don't forget to subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review. Do you know any other female powerhouses that could benefit from listening? If so, please let them know to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever they like to listen to valuable audio content.

Until next time… High Five!

BIO:

Acacia Parks is Chief Science Officer at Happify Health, a digital therapeutics company that brings the cutting edge in research-based behavior change strategies to large businesses, health plans, and consumers. She earned her Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and studied under the famous Dr. Martin Seligman, she was a tenured professor before switching to the private sector. As someone who lives with bipolar disorder, she is passionate about leading by example, modeling the same self-care that she expects her team members to practice.

Annie McAdams is waging a legal battle against Facebook, Instagram, Craig's List and other tech companies,for allowing the sex trafficking of minors utilizing their digital platforms to lure and exploit children. Up until now, big tech has enjoyed the luxury of liability protection by hiding behind the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (CDA) which says that media publishers are not necessarily responsible for the information they publish or disseminate. Recently, a federal court ruled that sex trafficking victims are going to have their day in court. Annie speaks about her journey from being an inquisitive child to now owning a large law firm and taking on some of the most difficult cases in the country to stop abuses of minors. Annie is a very high profile, trial lawyer taking on massive public companies to shed light on what has become a serious issue globally. We talk about how child sex trafficking is happening on social media right under our noses, in our neighborhoods and all around us. Tune in as Annie explains what to look for when checking your children's digital footprint. If you are a parent of a preteen or teenaged child - this podcast is mission critical to hear. 60 Minutes broke this story in March, 2021, and shortly thereafter, Annie McAdamssat down with Tracy Holland on this very important conversation to share with listeners on Potential to Powerhouse, Success Secrets of Female Leaders. In This Episode:

• [02:45] About Annie's significant win in her battle against big tech and sex trafficking.
• [06:40] As a child, Annie was a disruptor and a talker, she loved to ask questions and push against the status quo. She reveals which qualities led her to become a successful lawyer.
• [12:30] How financial motivation played a role in Annie's journey.
• [25:30] Annie explains why having a female boss was the best gift she could have been given.
• [27:55] How Annie learned that sex traffickers target their victims on social media platforms, she knew she had to do something about it.
• [36:10] About the prevalence of sex trafficking in the United States. Annie reveals how predators pick their victims, how they groom them, and what happens to them after they are abducted.
• [41:55] About the ways that predators will move into the grooming phase – even spending years building trust with children.
• [52:30] Annie explains what happens after a child has been sex trafficked.

Key Takeaways:

• Over 100,000 children in the United States are trafficked online - lets collectively find a way to stop this.
• To avoid danger, your kids should not be allowed on social media - she said prevent it.
• Keep your kids safe by talking to them about online safety; teach them to be smart about strangers.

Bio:

For her entire career, Annie McAdams has exclusively represented plaintiffs who have been victims of injury or harm due to the negligence or acts of others. After working for Steelman & McAdams for 10 years, she formed Annie McAdams PC on the premise of providing exceptional legal services to hard working people. Her practice focuses on representing those who have been a survivors of human trafficking, killed or seriously injured in major trucking and motor vehicle accidents, by dangerous drugs and medical devices, or whose lives have been seriously disrupted or even destroyed by the bad faith conduct of an insurance company.

CONNECTIONS:

For more Annie McAdams, follow her on Twitter. Also be sure to check out Annie McAdams PC.

Check out our website, Potential to Powerhouse, for more details and to learn about past, present, and future guests. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and join our Facebook Community for a deeper connection with the P2P tribe.

Grab your free copy of our guide, 4 Daily Habits Essential to Becoming a POWERHOUSE Entrepreneur, and don't forget to subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review. Do you know any other female powerhouses that could benefit from listening? If so, please let them know to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever they like to listen to valuable audio content.

Until next time… High Five!

Today we are joined by a true entrepreneurial powerhouse, Joanna Riley, aka Jo. Jo has a diverse and rich background as an entrepreneur, investor, and technology advocate. During her undergraduate year in college, Jo was recruited by the FBI and deployed to Africa and the Middle East to work on case management, terrorism, and drug investigations. After her stint in the FBI, Jo pivoted her focus into entrepreneurship, where she built and sold her first company after only two years in her early twenties. Jo pursued the next chapter in her life by jetting off to China and founding another company called 1-Page. However, she, unfortunately, lost that business to a hostile takeover shareholder situation which we discuss today.

Jo and her many accomplishments have been featured in Fortune, Fast Company, Forbes, The Financial Times, and Huffington Post. Starting again from the ground up, Jo is the epitome of perseverance as she has created and co-founded the company Censia, which is growing exponentially. Tune in to this episode as Joanna shares the experiences and mindsets that helped her become braver, rebuild after setbacks, and how to stay fearless in the face of daunting obstacles.

In This Episode:

• [05:14] In order to feel like she would fit in as a child, Jo was a bit of a rule breaker.
• [11:32] How Jo ended up at UVA in Foreign Affairs and then began a career in the FBI.
• [23:51] The lack of being able to drive her own destiny at the FBI created a new opportunity for Jo to become an entrepreneur.
• [30:26] Jo's company 1-Page that was inspired by her father's book
• [45:15] What Jo's main takeaway from working at her company 1-Page for six years
• [48:15] An unfortunate witch hunt directed at powerful female CEOs happening around the world today
• [53:24] Preserving from the loss of her company 1-Page and building a new, successful company called Censia, that set out to build a database of people helping organizations find, keep, and grow the best talent in the world.
• [1:00:03] The advice and words of wisdom Jo would give to her younger self.

Key Takeaways:

• The world is so much bigger than you can imagine: Jo was born into a family of entrepreneurs, and the opportunities and hardships she witnessed growing up gave her a tangible sense that the world is so much bigger than she could imagine, and that there is always an opportunity waiting to be seized.
• Every experience counts: women often look at their past experiences as failures, Jo has learned to view them as building blocks in every phase of her life and career.
• Don't worry about what others think: the secret of life is that most people are too busy thinking of themselves to actually care about what you may be doing wrong in your life.
• Be brave enough to be really good at one thing: once you discover and embrace the one thing you're good at, you can find others to create a well-rounded team to fill in the gaps of where your weaknesses lie.
• The world has tons of problems to solve: don't be afraid to charge forward and tackle those problems head-on, regardless of what others may think.

Bio:

Jo Riley is not one to shy away from a challenge. As a collegiate athlete, Jo's singular goal was to become an Olympic rower, but when fate intervened and an injury left her unable to compete, she began her journey to create a new dream: First as part of the international training unit at the FBI, and then as an entrepreneur determined to solve the biggest problem plaguing businesses today.

Today, Jo is an entrepreneur, advocate, a mentor for diversity in technology, and the CEO and Co-Founder of Censia, an AI-powered Talent Intelligence platform designed to eliminate unconscious bias from talent decisions by providing companies with clean and structured talent data that looks past job titles (which are often biased) to reveal people's true abilities and their future potential. Her technology is delivered into any existing talent software via API, giving all companies access to the best talent and unbiased talent decisions.

Jo was named one of the Most Powerful and Influential Women by the California Diversity Council and Forbes Next 1,000. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Young Presidents Organization (SF Bay Chapter) and is an active angel investor in early-stage companies. She sits on the Advisory Boards of CerraCap Ventures, Veterati,

Perksy, DroneShield Ltd, and is a mentor at Singularity University and Founder Institute.

Connections:

Find Jo Riley on LinkedIn and Twitter or visit Censia.

Check out our website, Potential to Powerhouse, for more details and to learn about past, present, and future guests. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and join our Facebook Community for a deeper connection with the P2P tribe.

Grab your free copy of our guide, 4 Daily Habits Essential to Becoming a POWERHOUSE Entrepreneur, and don't forget to subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review. Do you know any other female powerhouses that could benefit from listening? If so, please let them know to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever they like to listen to valuable audio content.

Until next time… High Five!

How do fashion, art, and pop culture mix with candy? Find out today as we joined with Dylan Lauren, founder, and CEO of Dylan Candy Bar. She is more than just the daughter of the famous fashion designer Ralph Lauren. She is a dynamic entrepreneur who mixed her competitive nature with her love for creativity, art, and aesthetics to create the world's largest confectionery emporium and lifestyle brand. Dylan's Candy Bar has forever changed the face of the candy industry and how people view candy. Her stores have become a must-see cultural icon across America.

Dylan opens the show by recalling her past, observing her father develop his famous designer line, Ralph Lauren. As she watched him create his business, she knew she wanted to strive for something creative in her life. For Dylan's 6th birthday, her parents screened Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, which later became the inspiration for Dylan to make her dream a reality by creating a one-of-a-kind adult retailtainment store. Tune in as Dylan reveals the advice that she would tell a former version of herself and listen as she paints a picture for the future of Dylan's Candy Bar.

In This Episode:

• [03:55] Growing up, Dylan was very competitive. She speaks about watching her dad build Ralph Lauren.
• [21:00] Dylan made her dream a reality with Dylan's Candy Bar. She speaks about the inspiration behind her brand and reveals how she brought it to life.
• [29:05] Running an empire takes a lot of work; Dylan explains how she finds time for her personal life.
• [31:30] The advice that Dylan would give to a former version of herself.
• [39:20] Dylan is lucky to have close family and friends who serve as advisors.
• [47:45] The future for Dylan and Dylan's Candy Bar.

Key Takeaways:

• Exposing your children to some form of art makes them think outside of the box.
• Follow your dreams; it's possible to enjoy something and make it your career.
• When building a business, make sure you have a strong support system behind you.
• Keep up to date with technology; if you don't understand something, take a lesson on it.

Bio:

In 2001, Dylan Lauren pioneered the world's largest confectionery emporium and lifestyle brand, Dylan's Candy Bar. Its mission is to merge fashion, art and pop culture with candy to ignite the creative spirit and inner child in everyone that visits. This innovative concept has changed the way the world experiences candy today. Dylan's Candy Bar houses over 7,000 confections, boasting an unparalleled selection of candies and candy-related gifts from around the world. Dylan's Candy Bar continues to attract people of all ages with its state of the art décor and trend-setting product mix.

Connections:

Find Dylan's Candy Bar on Instagram and visit Dylan'sCandyBar.

Check out our website, Potential to Powerhouse, for more details and to learn about past, present, and future guests. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and join our Facebook Community for a deeper connection with the P2P tribe.

Grab your free copy of our guide, 4 Daily Habits Essential to Becoming a POWERHOUSE Entrepreneur, and don't forget to subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review. Do you know any other female powerhouses that could benefit from listening? If so, please let them know to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever they like to listen to valuable audio content.

Until next time… High Five!

In this episode, Tracy Holland talks to Katie Echevarria Rosen Kitchens, Co-Founder of FabFitFun, as she opens up about her childhood, reveals how she became a journalist, and then eventually an entrepreneur. Her entrepreneurial journey started with a big idea, for a lifestyle direct-to-consumer subscription box, which has grown to be so much bigger than ever she ever imagined. We discuss how the concept for Fab, Fit, Fun went from a simple blog, to a digital editorial business, to a "ship to your home" subscription box. Katie talks about her evolution as a business leader, progression of FabFitFun, and the realities of having children while an active, growing entrepreneur. Katie dives into the nuts and bolts of the brand, as she explains the importance of storytelling to make her business come to life in the eyes of the consumer. Tune in as Katie reveals the advice that she would give to a former version of herself.

In This Episode:

• [02:20] Katie was outgoing, creative, curious, and full of energy as a child. She has never been the kind of person to play it safe.
• [07:00] Consumers want to understand the inspiration behind the brand; it's critical to tell your story.
• [11:30] How Katie got started with FabFitFun and why they decided on a subscription box model.
• [20:45] As Katie started FabFitFun, she talks about having a baby, what it took to run the business and her sensitivities to people thinking she could not 'do it all' but she made it happen
• [33:30] The pandemic helped remind Katie that she needs to practice self-care and wellness.
• [35:40] The evolution behind FabFitFun and what it was like to bring in outside capital.
• [50:45] Katie starts her morning every day with a workout; it helps her have a clear mind when heading into work. Plus, Katie reveals the advice she would give a former version of herself.
• [52:00] Katie reveals the advice she would give a former version of herself.

Key Takeaways:

• You can have babies and be an active, growing entrepreneur - listen carefully to how I managed to do both. Not always easy, but I would be a lot more graceful with myself during this time.
• Telling authentic stories will make your brand come alive; it's a critical element of your business.
• Take time for yourself; it will help you be a better leader and a better mom.
• Make an effort to do what you're least looking forward to first; that way, those tasks will actually get done.
• A morning workout will help clear your mind and increase your positivity for the day.

Bio:

Co-founder of FabFitFun, Katie Echevarria Rosen Kitchens has led its evolution as a

female-focused media brand, from writing about great lifestyle products to getting them into people's hands. Since launching the FabFitFun lifestyle box 2013, she has shifted her energy toward curating fresh and exciting brands for FabFitFun members, with the seasonal subscription box as its anchor experience.

Building on this, to place the brand at the intersection of content, community and commerce, she has spearheaded FabFitFun's evolution into one of the most-loved membership services that spans beauty, fashion, fitness, home, tech, and more. As Editor-in-Chief, Katie continues to oversee all of FabFitFun's content, including its quarterly lifestyle magazine, video, online and social posts. She also spearheads FabFitFun's charity initiatives.

After earning English and Sociology degrees from George Washington University, Katie joined the fashion, beauty, and nightlife guide, Scheckys.com as its L.A. editor. She has written for an eclectic variety of magazines, newspapers and websites, including the Los Angeles Times, Art and Living, Women's Life, Dining Out, Pasadena Mag, LA Splash, and Venice News. In addition to blogs and articles, she has also worked in TV production on several shows, including It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Jackass, and has also had a few of her own plays produced.

On any given day, Katie is testing out protein bars, experimenting with exfoliators, swinging kettlebells, seeking out sex secrets, hailing high/low styles, interviewing fit-lebrities, examining fast & slow food, investigating mood boosters, working out at work, cycling, and more; all to find the best in beauty, fashion, fitness, nutrition and wellness for her FabFitFun subscribers.

When Katie is not at FabFitFun, she can be found hiking, experimenting in the kitchen, and spending time with her husband, Daniel and their daughters, Summer and Sienna.

Connections:

Find Katie Echevarria Rosen Kitchens on LinkedIn and visit FabFitFun.

Check out our website, Potential to Powerhouse, for more details and to learn about past, present, and future guests. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and join our Facebook Community for a deeper connection with the P2P tribe.

Grab your free copy of our guide, 4 Daily Habits Essential to Becoming a POWERHOUSE Entrepreneur, and don't forget to subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review. Do you know any other female powerhouses that could benefit from listening? If so, please let them know to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever they like to listen to valuable audio content.

Until next time… High Five!

Anna Magzanyan is Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman and Head of Strategy and Revenue for the Los Angeles Times. In our conversation, Anna speaks about her childhood and her move from Armenia to the United States. We learn about Anna's journey from agency work to her success in media, including CEO of the Los Angeles Business Journal, and most recently, Chief of Staff at the Los Angeles Times. Notably, despite her awards and title success, Anna doesn't feel like she has made it (yet!). She reminds herself that everyone's position is replaceable, so never stop learning! Tune in as Anna reveals what advice she would tell a former version of herself. Plus, we talk about the importance of listening to your body, taking rest days, and creating an energizing morning routine.

In This Episode:

• [02:30] Moving from Armenia to the United States – Anna speaks about her childhood experiences.
• [12:15] Anna speaks about her journey from working at an agency to becoming the Chief of Staff for the Los Angeles Times.
• [29:15] Anna still hasn't felt like she made it; everyone's position is replaceable, so you have to learn continually.
• [33:25] How Anna measures her success at the Los Angeles Times.
• [40:05] What Anna would tell a former version of herself.
• [50:00] Anna gets up at 4:30; we talk about her successful morning routine.

Key Takeaways:

• Lifelong learning will help you adapt to unforeseen changes.
• The ability to negotiate is critical for women in the workplace; never settle for less.
• Pay attention to your thoughts and be less self-critical.
• Listen to your body and rest when you need to.

Bio:

Anna Magzanyan is Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman and Head of Strategy and Revenue for the Los Angeles Times. Having previously served as The Times' Vice President of Advertiser Marketing and Events, Magzanyan returned in 2020 following nine years working in digital, broadcast and print media.

Prior to rejoining The Times, Magzanyan was the publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Business Journal where she led year-over-year audience and revenue growth during her three-year tenure. She has also held executive roles in marketing and partnerships at the Hollywood Reporter and iHeart Radio, and was a strategy and business development consultant for the Houston Chronicle, Cretan Pearl Resort and Omnia Media, among others.

Before beginning her career in publishing, Magzanyan worked in marketing and advertising with clients including Ketel One, Crystal Cruises, Tourism New Zealand and Union Bank. She was honored by the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce as Corporate Woman of the Year in 2011 and recognized with the Los Angeles Times' Publisher's Award in 2006 for the launch of The Envelope portfolio and in 2008 for the Tribune Pre-Print Initiative.

Connections:

For more Anna Magzanyan, follow her on Twitter. Also be sure to check out the LA Times on Instagram.

Check out our website, Potential to Powerhouse, for more details and to learn about past, present, and future guests. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and join our Facebook Community for a deeper connection with the P2P tribe.

Grab your free copy of our guide, 4 Daily Habits Essential to Becoming a POWERHOUSE Entrepreneur, and don't forget to subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review. Do you know any other female powerhouses that could benefit from listening? If so, please let them know to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever they like to listen to valuable audio content.

Until next time… High Five!

Rhonda Vetere, whose mission is to use her experience and leadership to drive change in the world, wants to positively impact IT, businesses, and institutions - and the people they serve. She has over 25+ years of experience and having managed IT divisions of global companies with over 20k+ people across multiple continents. She has lived and worked all over the globe with people from a variety of cultures and managed up to 162 countries. She is an expert in building world-class teams and has led the charge for Digital Transformation within more than +23 mergers and acquisitions on her career path. In today's episode, Rhonda speaks about how she learned the power of hard work and discipline from a young age, and reveals the Ah-ha moment she had after making it in the tech industry. Tune in as we talk about crazy moments in Rhonda's life, including running in the Serengeti and a close kidnapping in India.

In This Episode:

• [06:50] Rhonda speaks about her childhood. She was always disciplined in sports and had been working since her teenage years.
• [11:00] How Rhonda ended up with her first gig in the tech industry.
• [20:35] Rhonda remembers the bankruptcy of the Lehman brothers; it was a total meltdown.
• [25:10] The Ah-HA moment when Rhonda realized that she had made it.
• [36:40] How Rhonda motivates her teams – it includes exercise!
• [40:30] Crazy moment! People told Rhonda that she can't just go running through the Serengeti; well, she did.
• [47:00] Big highlights in Rhonda's life that helped her leave a legacy.
• [49:55] Rhonda had a close encounter with kidnappers in India.

Key Takeaways:

• There are certain things in life you can just do the bare minimum. However, you should go above and beyond! Think about the legacy that you want to leave behind.
• The really worthwhile things in life are the ones that require more preparation, not less.
• Find your purpose in life. That way, you wake up every morning motivated about what you are doing.
• Every day, you need to take a moment, slow down, and pay attention.

Quotes:

"I wasn't money-driven. I wanted to make sure it was purposeful, meaningful, and how I can learn." - Rhonda Vetere

"There's always going to be something off-balance." - Rhonda Vetere

"Deal with the hardest things early in the morning; don't wait till noon." - Rhonda Vetere

Bio:

Currently, Rhonda Vetere, the Chief Information Officer of Herbalife Nutrition, She is a 2x author, speaker, and Ironman 70.3 Triathlete who ranks among the Top CTO/CIOs in the country.

She is tenacious, she has grit and she knows how to manage crises. Once you hear her story, you will understand why it is no surprise that she was recruited to head the technology SWAT team that would eventually bring networks back online after the tragic events of 9/11.

Rhonda is a thought leader and tech innovator. She has inspired executives at top-ranked organizations such as Estee Lauder, Barclays, Lehman Brothers, JPMorgan Chase HP, and AIG.

Based on her best-selling book Grit & Grind, Rhonda provides an impactful yet practical framework that enables leaders, organizations, and individuals to navigate complexity and time-sucks with a simple 10-part practice for living an extraordinary life.

CONNECTIONS:

Find Rhonda Vetere on Instagram. Visit RhondaVetere.com.

Check out our website, Potential to Powerhouse, for more details and to learn about past, present, and future guests. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and join our Facebook Community for a deeper connection with the P2P tribe.

Grab your free copy of our guide, 4 Daily Habits Essential to Becoming a POWERHOUSE Entrepreneur, and don't forget to subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review. Do you know any other female powerhouses that could benefit from listening? If so, please let them know to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever they like to listen to valuable audio content.

Until next time… High Five!