Potential to Powerhouse: Success Secrets for Women Entrepreneurs

Andréa Bendewald discovered the power of circling early on in her acting career. Upon moving from New York to Los Angeles, she attended her first circle, which was comprised of actors, singers, writers, and producers, and found out that these successful and self-empowered women had the same complex inner emotional landscape as she did. She instantly felt less alone and more supported. She is now a circle facilitator and brings that same life-changing magic into her business, The Art of Circling. In today's episode, Andréa and Tracy come together to explore how the authentic sharing of ourselves strengthens our intuition, increases our self-esteem, and enhances our overall expansiveness.

Key Points:

• How Tracy and Andrea met.
• Andrea grew up in the Lower West Side of Manhattan during the 80's and this provided an incredible basis for an inspiring childhood and young adulthood.
• Andrea began acting at a young age and even attended a high school for performing arts.
• Andrea dives into what both of her parents were like and how their work ethics shaped her into who she is today.
• Stop forcing things and start fitting into the flow so you can begin to enjoy life and trust the process.
• The mindset of enjoying the process helps Andrea tremendously through her acting career, as the audition process is tedious; if you don't love and enjoy auditioning, you are in the wrong job market.
• LOVE WHAT YOU DO.
• Andrea revisits the beginning of her friendship with Jennifer Anniston.
• Andrea tells the story of her first acting gig on a sitcom alongside Harland Williams and Jason Bateman.
• Andrea explains that she wasn't in her "Zone of genius" and decided to cave into her obsession of circling.
• Andrea tells her story about her first circling experience in Laurel Canyon right after she moved to LA from NYC.
• Tracy and Andrea bond over their shared experience with talking sticks.
• Burning Man led Andrea to fall in love with art for art's sake again, and upon returning home from the festival, she decided to buy a teepee and create a sacred space for circles in her backyard in Beverly Hills.
• Today, Andrea rides on the joy of having the best of both worlds through knowing what to say yes to, and what to say no to with respect of keeping the energy flow moving.

Memorable Quotes:

"In a circle, we get to remember who we truly are and reconnect with who we truly are before everyone told us who we were supposed to be."

"When women gather, shift happens!"

"Self-made people many times have children who are self-made people… they understand that there are a lot of moving parts"

"I spent so much extra energy trying to force things… sometimes you force and you get it, it does move the needle, but I wish I could back and do it again, and just try and enjoy."

https://www.instagram.com/andreabendewald/

https://theartofcircling.com/

The Potential to Powerhouse podcast features conversations with experts, thought leaders, and trailblazing entrepreneurs who share their success secrets to help lift others up. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And don't forget to rate and review!

Jessica Huie MBE is an entrepreneur and the author of the bestseller PURPOSE: Find Your Truth and Embrace Your Calling published by Hay House. Jessica enjoyed a glittering career as a journalist and publicist and has worked with some of the world's biggest stars and business people, including Samuel L. Jackson, Simon Cowell, Kelly Rowland, and the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle. In 2006 Jessica launched Color Blind Cards, a multi-award winning multicultural greeting card company that drove an early conversation around the importance of ethnic representation in retail and became the first independent brand to secure a high-street presence for black cards in the UK. Her first book, Purpose, as well as her transformation evolved from the profound space between life and death in which she found herself as a caretaker for her beloved father.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:03:07]: Jessica Huie believes that you do not have to fit into one label at a time and answers Tracy's question on if she would consider herself an entrepreneur or an author.

[00:04:22]: What was Jessica like as a child and what was her perspective like on her future career possibilities?

[00:08:19]: Jessica tells the story about getting expelled at 15 years old.

[00:14:43]: How did Jessica deal with growing up mixed race in London?

[00:16:31]: Jessica became a single mother at 17 years old and had a rocky beginning to her career that was made even harder by the shame her father felt for a daughter that did not reach what he believed was her true potential.

[00:23:23]: Jessica's post-grad experience after deciding to go back to school with her abundance of determination and breaking into the field of PR and journalism

[00:28:13]: Tracy and Jessica conversate about how they believe having a degree affected their path to success.

[00:30:18]: Jessica tells the story behind Color Blind Cards, a greeting card company she founded after a pivotal experience she had with her young daughter.

[00:35:30]: After Jessica's success with Color Blind Cards, she decided to start her own PR agency, bringing her back to her career roots.

[00:38:12]: In 2016, Buckingham Palace presented an award to Jessica Huie, given to her by the Queen.

[00:39:42]: How Jessica's father's journey with terminal cancer led her to write her book, Purpose, and what the writing experience was like in such a challenging time for her and her family

QUOTES:

"I always had the strong ability to dream… I kind of found safety in my imagination."

"I have this gift of being able to see people in ways that they cannot yet see themselves, and then supporting them and bringing that out."

"I was driven by this desire to have my daughter see herself and know that she is enough; she doesn't need to aspire to be anyone other than who she is."

RESOURCE LINKS

Jessica Huie Instagram

Jessica Huie LinkedIn

Taking a family business into the future can be a daunting venture. How do you best balance history with vision? And when that business is winegrowing in Oregon's Willamette Valley, home to more than 600 wineries, how do you stand out and continue to innovate?

For Alison Sokol Blosser, Co-President, CEO, and second-generation winegrower of Sokol Blosser Winery, the answer lies in staying true to yourself no matter the conditions. Wine wasn't necessarily in Alison's blood, so she studied other fields including marketing, but all paths led back to pastoral Willamette Valley, where her parents ventured decades earlier and, without prior experience, built a world-class winery.

In today's episode of the Potential to Powerhouse Podcast, Alison walks Tracy and the audience through her journey, which now includes running her parents' namesake winery with her family. It's a fascinating conversation that showcases how the next generation can take businesses in exciting new directions when given the proper amounts of care, support, and attention.

Key Points:

• What inspired Alison's parents to start the vineyard and winery, and how did they go about purchasing the land and equipment as recent college graduates?
• The family struggled working in an industry that was not established in Oregon like it is today. How did the stress of growing a family business affect Alison's childhood?
• Alison talks about the risk that went into the development of the winery and how the collaborative culture of Oregon helped the state rise in the wine industry.
• Alison discusses her journey during college and post-grad when she thought she did not want to be involved in the family business, and then what finally led her to change her mind.
• How an executive coach helped Alison and her brother, Alex, maintain a healthy and successful dynamic in the family business in the process of making decisions and growing the future of the business.
• Alison discusses the experience of divorce in a family business.
• Alison walks the audience through the thought process that led to the idea of having her and her brother run as co-presidents.
• Tracy and Alison talk about their shared experience of being a mother while running a business, and the resources they turned to when they were struggling.
• Is Alison excited about the future growth of the business?
• How did Covid change the way the business was ran and the direction that the business is going?
• In a family-run business, how do you prepare the upcoming generation to take over? How do you get these kids to learn about and have a healthy love and respect for the business?
• Alison speaks on her family's move to Boston, while the vineyard and winery are across the country in Oregon.

Parenting is difficult. It is even more challenging when you are trying to be the best, most well-rounded parent you can be but you are still carrying the generational trauma that has been passed onto you by your own family. The good news is that it's never too late to reset your approach to parenting, and today's guest is a sage expert who can help guide you along this journey.

Katherine Sellery is the founder of Conscious Parenting Revolution, an organization that helps parents become more conscious and thoughtful about how they communicate with and raise their children. In today's episode, Katherine speaks about the challenging relationship she had with her own mother and the journey she went through to free herself from it. Our conversation also covers the power of celebrating mistakes, why we need to become aware of our trigger points, and the difference between punitive and restorative justice in the context of parenting. Addressing your past can be a complex process, but with a strong support system and experts like Katherine, it is a rewarding endeavor like no other.

Key Points From This Episode:

• How our upbringing impacts the way that we parent our own children
• The percentage of children who are able to overcome the psychological differential between an adult and a child
• Why it is problematic to raise children to be obedient and compliant
• A real-world example that epitomizes the concept of "the tragic expression of an unmet need"
• The way we should react when to a trigger that someone activates in us
• Katherine explains the difference between punitive and restorative justice and how these approaches relate to parenting.
• How we can gain control of our thoughts and feelings so that we can subsequently gain control of our actions
• The book that helped Katherine understand her own upbringing
• Tragedies that Katherine has experienced in her life and how she responded to them
• Generational trauma that Tracy has become aware of in her family
• Work that Katherine had to do to separate herself from her generational trauma
• Why Tracy and Katherine both have baby pictures of themselves on their desks
• The value of having difficult conversations with our children, and celebrating their (and our own) mistakes

Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:

Conscious Parenting Revolution

Katherine Sellery

Katherine Sellery on LinkedIn

Katherine Sellery on Instagram

The Drama of The Gifted Child by Alice Miller

A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman

Potential to Powerhouse

Tracy Holland on Instagram

Victoria Thain Gioia, affectionately known as Tori, is the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Perelel, the first OB/GYN-founded wellness company that offers women dynamic prenatal vitamins, supplements, resources, and community tailored to the varying stages of motherhood. As you'll discover in today's episode, Tori was inspired to launch Perelel with her co-founders, Alex Taylor and Dr. Banafsheh Bayati, in 2019 when she learned that her second daughter, who she was pregnant with at the time, would be born with a cleft lip. Left with a deep desire to know exactly what might have caused this birth defect that affects roughly one in every 2,800 babies born in the US, Tori embarked on a journey to understand nutrition and health in all stages of a woman's life and developed an offering that extends far beyond just a pill subscription in the form of an intimately supportive community and personalized resources at every step of the pre- and post-natal journey. Tuning in, you'll gain insight into Tori's background, the Perelel founder story, and what Tori has come to realize about the emotional aspects of owning her own business. She also shares her advice for founders, which includes setting clear work-life boundaries and creating a network of trusted advisors as you build your business and beyond. Make sure not to miss today's episode for a practical, candid, and intimate conversation with Tori Thain Gioia!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Learn more about Tori Thain Gioia, her company, Perelel, and her co-founders.
• The journey that Tori is on to repair her daughter's cleft lip
• How Perelel is empowering women with knowledge, resources, and community
• Details on Tori's education, entrepreneurial journey, and how she and Alex Taylor work together
• The Perelel founder story: Find out what it was like launching a business during a global pandemic as a mother of three!
• Insight into Perelel's organic launch strategy, from press to gifting and word of mouth
• The scrappiness that was required of Tori when fundraising during COVID
• Why it's easier to raise capital today than it was with a "Powerpoint and an idea" in 2020
• What Tori has realized about the emotional aspects of being a business owner
• Understanding the importance of setting boundaries when it comes to work-life balance
• Looking into the future, Tori shares how she sees Perelel evolving and what to watch out for.
• How Perelel is building out its board and where Tori and Alex find the support they need

Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:

Victoria Thain Gioia on LinkedIn

Victoria Thain Gioia on Instagram

Perelel

Potential to Powerhouse

Tracy Holland on Instagram

Marcia Kilgore, a Canadian-born entrepreneur and founder of several global companies in the beauty and footwear industries, joins Tracy Holland today on this episode of the Potential to Powerhouse Podcast.

Marcia discusses her life growing up with a single mom after losing her father at a young age and how that defining experience led to her path to entrepreneurship. From bodybuilding, skincare, and makeup, to revolutionizing Bliss Spa and the women's footwear industry, Marcia's most recent business venture, Beauty Pie, disrupts the typical business model. Tune in to learn more about Marcia's journey to worldwide success on this don't-miss episode.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [03:41] Marcia talks about her life growing up with two older sisters and losing her father at age 11.
• [08:41] Getting interested in skincare and makeup and discovering bodybuilding as a teen
• [18:00] Marcia discusses the opening of her first location of Bliss Spa.
• [24:31] Being approached by investors looking to partner with her and her companies
• [37:06] The idea and concept of Beauty Pie
• [47:08] What's on Marcia's bucket list

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Be open to new ideas as they can help you connect new experiences and ideas that work out to be a great opportunity.
• Use your intuition and don't be afraid to follow the breadcrumbs for new opportunities that could lead to your next business idea.

RESOURCE LINKS

Twitter @marciakilgore

Instagram @marcia.kilgore

Blog Post: FIVE MINUTES WITH: MARCIA KILGORE

Potential to Powerhouse

Tracy Holland on Instagram

BIO:

Marcia Kilgore is a Canadian-born entrepreneur who has founded several global companies in the beauty and footwear industries. Her ventures include revolutionizing Bliss Spa, which was sold to LVMH only three years after its launch; bath, body, and cosmetics brand Soap & Glory, sold to British Drugstore giant Walgreens Boots Alliance; biomechanics-meets-fashion footwear brand FitFlop; and naturally derived bath and body product brand Soaper Duper.

QUOTES:

"I think one of the things if I was going to give advice to somebody coming up is, in the heat of a moment, you'll often forget that not everything needs to be responded to, and you don't have to react to everything." -Marcia Kilgore

"Keep all of your antennas open because all of those dots that you can put down are just all opportunities and your unique set of blocks. Yours will be different than anybody else's in the world. That is actually your entrepreneurial opportunity because it's your unique blueprint." -Marcia Kilgore

Gender disparity in the C-suite remains a pervasive issue, even as strides in closing the gender gap are made elsewhere in the corporate world. Our guest on the Potential to Powerhouse Podcast has defied odds and overcome obstacles with her hard work, determination, and vision. Linda Duncombe is the executive vice president and chief marketing, product, and digital officer of City National Bank, and today, she walks us through her journey from being the first in her family to graduate from college to being nominated as class president at Harvard Business School to finally landing her dream position, which brought her to the U.S. from Australia. Linda shares some of the profound lessons she learned along the way, including wisdom imparted by her late brother and father, her time spent at National Australia Bank, and during her years studying at Harvard. Tune in to hear more about this inspiring woman's trajectory, as well as why she places so much value on advocacy and mentorship, as well as adopting the mindset of assuming what she calls innocent intent. "What if" was never a question for Linda, nor should it be for you!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Linda Duncombe's personal and professional background that took her through the ranks of the banking industry
• The community spirit of City National Bank
• The invaluable life lesson Linda learned in college
• Linda's greatest "a-ha" moment in her academic and professional career
• Linda's career trajectory; how her career informed her degree
• The opportunities she was provided with at National Australia Bank
• What Linda learned as CEO of a private bank through the 2008 financial crisis
• Her personal experience of navigating the crisis
• The responsibility of banks to protect your data and your money
• The mantra Linda lives by
• What catalyzed Linda's move to America
• The value of advocates, sponsors, and mentors
• What convinced Linda to move from Citibank to City National Bank
• The commendable diversity of City National Bank's leadership team
• A profound piece of advice Linda got from her father about conflict
• The power of assuming innocent intent
• Linda's ultimate secret to success

Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:

Linda Duncombe on LinkedIn

City National Bank

City National Bank on LinkedIn

City National Bank on Twitter

City National Bank on Instagram

Roy Gori on LinkedIn

Kelly Coffey on LinkedIn

Potential to Powerhouse

Tracy Holland on Instagram

On this episode of Potential to Powerhouse, we welcome Pat Mitchell, an incredible media mogul and the editorial director of TEDWomen. As a journalist, Pat focused on sharing women's stories throughout her career. As the author of Becoming A Dangerous Woman, Embracing Risk to Change the World, Pat advocates for women, creating platforms, networking, and helping others shine. Today she chats with Tracy about her incredible career and how she continues to advocate for women by providing them a platform to share their stories. Tune in to learn more from Pat and Tracy!

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [04:02] Pat talks about her upbringing and the impact it had on her life
• [05:14] Falling forward and using that as fuel to overcome things in our lives and careers
• [20:20] Pat and Tracy discuss the pressures they faced as women in their industries
• [28:48] Pat describes changing the work environment for women, including maternity leave and bringing your children to work
• [30:57] Creating the TEDWomen platform
• [43:25] What Pat is involved in now and her involvement in non-profits

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• We shouldn't be afraid of falling on our faces sometimes - it's an opportunity to learn and grow and have the strength to overcome obstacles in our lives and careers.
• One of Pat's most significant accomplishments from her work with women's advocacy platforms is putting together a cohort of global women leaders. These women have shown to be incredible at collaborating, supporting, and problem-solving.
• The balancing act that mothers perform is something we all struggle with. Whether it's at home or work, there are times when you can't take care of everything and need some separation from your responsibilities in order to recharge.

RESOURCE LINKS

Pat on Instagram

Pat Mitchell Media

BIO:

Pat Mitchell is the editorial director of TEDWomen. Throughout her career as a journalist, Emmy-winning producer, and pioneering executive, she has focused on sharing women's stories. She is a trustee of the VDAY movement, the Skoll Foundation, and the The Woodruff Arts Center, chair emerita of the Sundance Institute Board, and the Women's Media Center board. She is an advisor to Participant Media and served as a congressional appointment to The American Museum of Women's History Advisory Council.

QUOTES:

"In particular around being an advocate for women and hoping that everything I have done and will do has the ultimate outcome of opening doors and opportunities from other women. That's that has been the touchstone of my life." -Pat Mitchell

"At least falling on your face is a forward movement." -Pat Mitchell

Being a prominent woman in power is not easy. You are constantly scrutinized by the media, and there are plenty of bad-faith actors who will criticize you no matter what you do. Nowhere is this judgment more apparent than with the experience of Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States and the first woman of color to hold this esteemed level of office. Today on the Potential to Powerhouse Podcast, we speak with Hitha Palepu, mother of two, CEO of Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals, early-stage investor, and author of the new book We're Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris. With so much going on in her life, it's no wonder that Hitha calls herself a multi-hyphenate. Tuning in you'll hear from Hitha about her journey as the only child of immigrant parents, how feminism has shaped her, and how she continues to navigate the many facets of her life and career. Learn about the life-saving product that is being developed by Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals, what it was like writing a book in two-and-a-half months, and why she dedicated it to the women who won't take no for an answer. We also talk about the limiting beliefs that society puts on women, the crucial role that women play in the economy, and why it's time for women to speak their truth. Be sure to tune in for this inspiring conversation!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Learn why Hitha describes herself as a multi-hyphenate, and what she is focusing on for this chapter of her life
• An intro to Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals
• Hitha's experiences as the child of immigrant parents and what made them feminists
• How Hitha became involved with pharmaceutical development
• The story of how Hitha first tried to manifest her husband and the valuable advice her cousin's wife gave her
• Intergenerational views on women, intimacy, marriage, and dating, no matter your background, and the psychological impact this has on women
• The power of romance novels, why they deserve to be recognized, and how shows like Bridgerton are prioritizing female pleasure
• Hear about how Hitha became an author, her books How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip (How To Series) and We're Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris, as well as her upcoming children's book
• How Kamala Harris is portrayed in the media, and why it takes courage to serve in the public eye
• Hitha's hopes for the future and what she is looking forward to

Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:

Hitha on the Go

Hitha Palepu on Linkedin

We're Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris

How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip (How To Series)

Potential to Powerhouse

Tracy Holland on Instagram

Since co-founding Sakara Life at the age of 26, Whitney Tingle has become a tour-de-force, named in Forbes' 30 under 30, MindBodyGreen's 100 Women in Wellness, Goldman Sachs' Most Interesting Entrepreneurs, and Oprah's SuperSoul 100. Join us today as we talk to Whitney about her journey into entrepreneurship and what inspired her and her Co-Founder Danielle Duboise to launch Sakara Life, an organic meal delivery program based on a whole-food, plant-rich diet that includes fresh, nutrient-dense, and delicious ingredients. Whitney gives some fantastic insights into the life and challenges of being an entrepreneur, the importance of matching your aesthetic to your customers, and how she balances individual customer needs with the company's capabilities. We also hear some crucial advice about the risks and rewards of using venture capitalists and how Sakara Life is tackling social issues like maternity leave and food waste. So, for all this and so much more, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Welcome to Whitney Tingle, co-founder and co-CEO of Sakara Life, author of Eat Clean Play Dirty, and co-host of the Sakara Life podcast
• Why Whitney feels you have to be a jack of all trades as an entrepreneur
• The importance of attractive branding and matching clients' aesthetic tastes
• How Whitney maintained an entrepreneurial spirit growing up, her path from Spain to New York, and sharing an apartment with her business partner, Danielle
• The lifestyle diseases that Whitney and Danielle were exposed to that motivated them to start eating clean
• Turning a personal habit into a business: how Whitney and Danielle started fundraising
• The importance of surrounding yourself with a team who believes in your idea
• How Whitney has balanced the company growth with meeting customers' needs
• How Sakara Life tackles the pervasive issue of food waste
• Important advice for women entrepreneurs regarding venture capitalists and the risk of losing your company to investors
• A snapshot of where Sakara Life is now and how the company balances supportive maternity leave with company interests
• The advice Whitney would give to her younger self: Have faith in yourself
• Where you can learn more about Sakara Life and clean eating
• Why spiritual nourishment is as important as physical nourishment

Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:

Whitney Tingle on LinkedIn

Sakara Life

Sakara Life Podcast

Eat Clean, Play Dirty: Recipes for a Body and Life You Love by the Founders of Sakara Life

The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results

Potential to Powerhouse

Tracy Holland on Instagram