Meetings... interviews... brainstorming... networking... and more... Many of our workplaces are unfavourably biased towards introversion and extroversion is seen as the ideal.

This episode is a recording of a LinkedIn Audio event where myself and a panel of speakers had a discussion about changing the narrative about introversion in the workplace.

Being fired whilst pregnant led Akosua Cassaberry (residing in the US), to follow her dream and passion by starting her own company 'Brand Authority Publishing” for Licensed Professionals in search of local, regional, or national recognition.  Akosua developed her passion for writing and publishing from her father who was an English teacher and published author.  She entered the publishing world in 2014 as an editorial intern and spent 8 years working with international publishing and media companies until being fired and starting up her own company.  Akosua believes that as an introvert, whether you work as a leader in the corporate world or looking to become a published author, applying an entrepreneurial mindset and adopting 'self promotion' is key and that you can self-promote in ways that are authentic to who you are through being intentional, patient, persistent and consistent.  In this podcast Akosua shares her journey to becoming the 'Brand Authority Publisher' and her passion for helping others write.  She also expands on the 5 principles she believes licensed publishers need to build brand authority (publishing, professionalism, social media, testimonials and website).

About Akosua Cassaberry

Born in Ghana, raised and presently  living in the US, drawing on her experience and dissection of the 5 most common principles of the brands she had worked with from 2014 until being fired whilst pregnant earlier this year (2022) Akosua created “Brand Authority Publishing” for Licensed Professionals in search of local, regional, or national recognition. Akosua developed her passion for writing and publishing at an early age from her father  (Kaakyire Akosomo Nyantakyi) who was an English teacher and published author.   Akosua believes that as an introvert, whether you work as a leader in the corporate world or looking to become a published author, applying an entrepreneurial mindset and adopting 'self promotion' is key and that you can self-promote in ways that are authentic to who you are through being intentional, patient, persistent and consistent.

https://www.cassaberry.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/imakosua

Bahar Taşkın Öztürk doesn’t define herself as an introverted woman; she stepped into senior leadership positions at an early age and did not feel comfortable and confident at the beginning. Her sponsor, who was also her supervisor, enhanced that insecurity by emphasising that she needed his protection, and she felt that she owed her career success to him. She overcame this obstacle with the support of her female mentors. They helped her understand that everyone needs a sponsor for moving up the career ladder, and this is when she gained her confidence back and became more successful and independent.

This experience led her to the idea of how powerful women's support is, even if sometimes women have negative feelings for each other. Most of the time it’s society to blame for that. But Bahar is convinced that we should not allow our negative emotions and unhealthy competition to take over our minds. That’s why she started a movement aimed at creating awareness among women.

If you agree that women should support and empower each other, start from yourself and be part of the movement, and show it on LinkedIn. Thus, everyone can understand that you believe in women's support, and don’t let yourself act and behave by allowing your negative feelings to rule your world.

About Bahar

After several marketing-related experiences, Bahar Taşkın Öztürk, at the age of 27, started working at Tupperware 2014, an essential brand operating in the consumer goods industry, as the Country Manager for the MENA area. She then took over the roles of Turkey Sales Director and Marketing Director within the same organization. In 2021, Öztürk appointed as Chief Sales Marketing Officer at Twiser, an influential and quickly growing company in the HR-Tech industry. She continues to work in the same company as Chief Growth Officer to lead Twiser's growth in global markets. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also holds an executive MBA degree from Koç University.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bahar-ta%C5%9Fk%C4%B1n-%C3%B6zt%C3%BCrk-b70b1914/

Self-awareness really is a superpower.  Once you have the belief in yourself (regardless of what others assume about you), magic happens.  In this episode we meet introvert, Catrina Franklin, a Senior Manager in R&D for a pharmaceutical company in Lake County, Illinois. Catrina shares her story of being told by a senior VP that they personally would not hire her as a project manager as her 'character' did not fit.  She was deemed to be too quiet and not assertive.  Luckily that did not deter Catrina and with her strong belief in herself as an introvert, and administrative arts background, she became her own self-advocate seeking out mentors and voluntary roles in which she could develop and gain experiences in being a leader.   Catrina truly believes that in the corporate world, being quiet, not 'considered vocal enough', and speaking up - should not be seen as a lack of leadership quality.

About Catrina Franklin

Catrina Franklin is Senior Manager in R&D of AbbVie Pharmaceuticals in Lake County, Illinois. She previously worked for other companies such as Baxter and AmerisourceBergen as a project manager and in regulatory affairs for over 15 years.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/catrina-f-248b5724/

In a recent discussion, the question should introverts change to fit the environment or should the environment be changed to fit introverts arose. In this episode I share my views on the matter.

One thing I often see in introverted women leaders (and extroverted ones as well), is the overuse of apologetic language. Often at the root of it is a fear of rejection, or a fear of being negatively judged. Being over apologetic can undermine you as a leader. In this episode I talk about this, and share tips on how to use more assertive language instead.

Certified Coach, Trainer and Speaker, author of several books and study manuals, and Co-Pastor/ Founder of Triumphant Church International in London, UK, Reverend Marjorie Esomowei is often told by many people she meets that they don't consider her to be an introvert because she is prolific in the public arena.

In this week's episode, Marjorie who believes that being an introverted woman in leadership can be very challenging, shares her experience of coping with her introversion, how she gets a lot of her strength from within, her faith, support and encouragement from her husband and those she has developed a close bond with, plus her optimistic and positive outlook on life.  She loves to see women grow into their maximum potential and through her book 'The Leading Lady Her Life and Her Influence' she shares her own personal experience of serving in, and navigating leadership.  Her book aims to provide strategies that will help women become better leaders.

About Reverend Marjorie Esomowei

Marjorie is a certified Coach, Trainer and Speaker. She is the author of several books and study manuals. She is also a graduate of Economics from one of Nigeria’s premiere Universities, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and an Alumni of the Oxford University Said School of Business. Before joining her husband in full time Church Ministry, she was a very successful Investment Banker.

Marjorie is an ordained minister and Co-Pastor/ Founder of Triumphant Church International in London, England. She and her husband of over thirty-five years, the Reverend Clem Esomowei, minister together, having Apostolic oversight of Churches and outreaches in the United Kingdom, Europe, South Africa and Nigeria. 

She is also the president and founder of the dynamic WISDOM FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL, W4WI the prolific WISE WOMEN AWARDS, COMFORT HOME ORPHANAGE and ILEAD ICHANGE AND IINFLUENCE, which is the mentoring and coaching arm of W4WI.

A dynamic, proactive, ingenious and resourceful woman. Pastor Marjorie is a natural leader whose abilities have been enhanced with almost forty years of being in leadership, both in the Ministry and the marketplace and this makes her a sought after International conference speaker.

Recently listed on the Keep the Faith magazine hall of twenty Most Influential Black Christian Women in Great Britain, Pastor Marjorie is a recipient of several awards and has made appearances on BBC, ITV, and many Christian TV, Radio channels and print media.

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/marjorie-esomowei-033b0a18b

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LEADING-LADY-HER-LIFE-INFLUENCE/dp/1665598239

Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, Libby Arnold, had listened to a recent episode in which I shared some techniques about helping introverted women to ace their next job or promotional interview.  Libby gained some good insights and in this episode,  as an aspiring C-level Marketing Executive, she shares her own story and experience.  Libby sees herself as a woman who is on a never ending quest to harness her super power of introversion, which she believes allows her to listen fully, understand deeply and formulate great ideas.  Her superpower of introversion also enables her to help others step out, discover their aspirations and thrive.   About Libby Arnold In her role as a Senior Marketing & Communications Manager,  Libby is head of marketing and communications for the Road Usage Charge (Government R&D) SaaS line at Azuga Inc, a Bridgestone Company in the US. Libby is an aspiring C-level Marketing Executive on a never ending quest to harness her super power of introversion.  She believes quietness allows her to listen fully, understand deeply, and formulate great ideas. In her free time, Libby organises group gatherings for mothers to provide them a space in which they can connect with like-minded women. She believes introversion gives her the power to help others step out, discover their aspirations and thrive. Libby is seeking a new role in marketing management and is open to sharing ideas, and also seeks professional connections. You can find Libby on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/libbyarnold/

Charlotte Hillenbrand worked as an international airline pilot for 15 years before losing her pilot job in the pandemic.

Before becoming a pilot Charlotte obtained a Master of Laws from Uppsala University in her native Sweden. She had just finished her clerkship at the Administrative Court in Stockholm when she was admitted to a pilot school hosted by the Swedish Air Force in conjunction with Lund University.

No stranger to change, having changed careers and continents previously in her life, the loss of her pilot career became yet another cause for change for Charlotte. This time she wanted to explore what her strength and positive outlook was made out of, and has spent the last two years studying applied neuroscience and positive psychology, and talking to women especially about their view of strengths and confidence in themselves and others.  Her belief is that being curious about yourself and life when wanting to, or having to change direction, will lead you to where you need to go.

About Charlotte Hillenbrand

Charlotte worked as an international airline pilot for 15 years before losing her pilot job in the pandemic.  She moved to Australia in 2002, where she lives in Queensland, with her family.

Before becoming a pilot Charlotte studied and obtained a Master of Laws from Uppsala University in her native Sweden. She had just finished her clerkship at the Administrative Court in Stockholm when she was admitted to a pilot school hosted by the Swedish Air Force in conjunction with Lund University.

No stranger to change, having changed careers and continents previously in her life, the loss of her pilot career became yet another cause for change for Charlotte. This time she wanted to explore what her strength and positive outlook was made out of, and has spent the last two years studying applied neuroscience and positive psychology, and talking to women especially about their view of strengths and confidence in themselves and others. 

Charlotte is also in the final stages of writing a book about her experience of change, to help others who have to or want to change directions in small or big ways. She runs a coaching and mentoring business and is available as a speaker.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-hillenbrand/

www.charlottehillenbrand.com.au/invite

In this week's episode, Patience Ogunbona (known as The Visionary Introverted Woman) using her own personal journey, shares some of the ways in which introverted women feel disempowered because of the pressure to conform to certain stereotypes.  On discovering and realising in her early 30's that she was an introvert, Patience believed that it was something she had to overcome and cure.  She walked around with a mask, pretending to be who she wasn’t until she became aware that being an introvert isn’t an all-or-nothing stamp on your personality.   As a a Transformational Personal, Business and Leadership Coach,  Patience also discusses ways in which you can be empowered to step out and step up to accomplish your goals, lead and thrive - through developing the 3 C's - courage, conviction and capacity.

About Patience Ogunbona

Patience Ogunbona (aka The Visionary Introverted Woman) is a Transformational Personal, Business and Leadership Coach, Corporate Trainer, Inspirational Keynote Speaker, Best Selling Author and Member of the Presidential Advisory Council of the Maxwell Leadership Team

Patience believes that Introversion gives her purpose and inspires other introverted women to overcome self-doubt, feel empowered by their introversion, discover their strengths, step out and step up to accomplish their goals, lead and thrive.

Patience also works with businesses to create diverse teams where potential is maximised, leaders are developed, so that everyone feels included and empowered to make a difference and lead, thereby achieving performance and profitability goals.

https://www.patienceogunbona.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patience-ogunbona