Share Your Story

Share Your Story

By Michael de Groot - @stayingaliveukBusinessEducationSelf-ImprovementCareers
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Share Your Story episodes

  • Laurie Sjostrom - Coach to parents with children who have serious medical challenges

    Laurie Sjostrom is passionate about empowering parents to advocate effectively for their children with a serious medical diagnosis. As an intercultural communication expert working 21 years with top executives from multinational companies, Laurie trained experts on how to effectively get results from counterparts in other countries.

    After her first child was diagnosed with a very rare condition, Laurie encountered all of the overwhelming emotions and the disorientation of no longer knowing what was best for her kid. After her second child was diagnosed with 3 different serious issues, she experienced the transformation that today gives her the confidence to set up events for businesses that support families, speak on the radio, and raise awareness for Scoliosis treatment.

    Along with this experience, Laurie chose to learn more about coaching and is a certified Mindvalley Life coach working one to one with parents who reach out to her. While her schedule is filled with speaking engagements, she always finds time for those who are truly struggling.

    Website: https://laurisjostrom.com
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriesjostromcoaching
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurieSjos
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurie.sjostrom
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurieSjostromCoaching
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lsc_coaching_parents
    Positive Intelligence: https://www.positiveintelligence.com

    1 hr 11 min
  • Erika Zeigyte - Founder and Remote Teams Expert - Prosana

    I’m a Neuroscientist! The brain has always interested me, and somehow along the line I transitioned into Marketing and Business development and have been enjoying every moment of it.

    I started working with a digital marketing agency over three years ago (I was one of the first few team members!) and have helped to build the operations and talent from the ground up, from 3 people to 85 at its peak.

    My interest has always been in education, and I always leaned towards the side of strategy rather than execution, and I wanted to take my knowledge and skills to help other eCommerce and digital agencies achieve high-performing back-end operations so that they can grow and develop into scaling businesses.

    Out of all of this, I founded a company called Prosana (consisting of 5 team members and myself, to provide all of these services to those startups. In the beginning, we were focusing on operations, but I saw that the need was far greater, so my consultation expanded into more areas and new services (We also offer recruitment now!)

    Website: https://theprosana.com
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-zeigyte
    LinkedIn Company page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-prosana
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ezeigh
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeigyte

    47 min
  • Michael Unbroken - Founder of Think Unbroken

    My journey is not dissimilar to that of millions of people around the world. I grew up in chaos. My mother was a drug addict and alcoholic. My father abandoned me when I was barely 2 years old. My step-father was hyper abusive, and the kind of guy that you pray never enters your life. We grew up in The Mormon Church where I was molested by one of the Ward’s mothers in the night. Since we were often homeless and the church partitioners took us in I wasn’t allowed to say a word. By the time I was 11 I had been entirely stripped of my childhood. Between the beatings, belittlement, molestation, and homelessness I was ready to kill myself. By 12 I was using drugs daily. One of my brothers and I were adopted by our racist grandmother.

    My businesses were booming, but everything else around me was in shambles. I was addicted to sex, porn and love, I was drinking and getting stoned every day, and seeking validation from every external source I could find. I was also in the worst shape of my life at over 140 lbs overweight and morbidly obese. I was stricken with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and suicidal thoughts. Then one day everything changed.

    After another drug and alcohol-fueled night, I woke up hating myself. I hated who I was, and I hated who I had become. As a child, I promised myself that I would be better than the people that brought me into the world and I had broken that promise. I decided in a single moment that everything had to change. Fast forward 6 years and I am the happiest and healthiest that I have ever been.

    I no longer seek validation from drugs, booze or women. I have transformed my body and my mind through hard work, dedication, persistence, and unwavering belief that I can do anything.

    Today I educate people around the world on the effects of trauma and how to get out of THE VORTEX, take their lives back, and become the person that they know they are. The most important piece of that puzzle is taking the first step.

    ---

    From homeless to hero, Michael Unbroken is the founder of Think Unbroken, a serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, award-winning speaker, podcast host, business coach, and advocate for adult survivors of childhood trauma. Michael started his first business at only eight years old, became an executive at thirty-three, and has worked with multi Fortune 500 brands, small business owners, and entrepreneurs to get clarity on their brand positioning, marketing value, and missions. 

    Website: http://www.thinkunbroken.com
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traumasurvivormentorandcoach
    Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/michaelunbroken
    Podcast: https://www.thinkunbrokenpodcast.com
    Academy: https://www.thinkunbroken.com/academy
    Book: https://www.thinkunbroken.com/store/paperback

    49 min
  • Arti Kumar-Jain - Diya Holistic Life Care

    Arti Kumar-Jain, Executive Director, is passionate in providing quality care and accessibility through the lifespan. She has over twenty years of experience in the education and mental health settings.

    Arti also is the Founding Director of Love & Light 4 Kidz LLC which provides parent, child, family coaching through contract services and support. Arti is a Certified Health Coach, Certified Holistic Cancer Coach, Certified Professional Coach, Death Doula, Master Reiki Teacher and Holistic Health Practitioner. She also is a Children’s Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher and facilitates workshops with inclusion of guided relaxation and ways to build positivity in one’s work environment.

    Arti believes in collaboration in partnerships and is currently the Transformative Education Coordinator for Pause Inc. located in Boston, Massachusetts. As a strategic alliance partner, the Founder and CEO of Pause Inc. Dahria Williams-Fernandes and Arti believe in education and advocacy to make shifts and change in individual, family, community, and global ways. Arti is also a Reiki Ambassador with the Reiki Healing Foundation and attributes much of the vision behind Diya to this organization. Arti as a Holistic Wellness Practitioner finds looking at the person’s mental, physical, and spiritual health is key to the happiness quotient we all hope to lead.

    Arti believes wholeheartedly in the ability of the person to create their best lives with a safe and comfortable space where alternative healing methods are engaged and activated. Through empathetic listening and compassion, Arti facilitates conversations and alternative health practices to provide comprehensive services through the lifespan.

    Experienced Presenter, Consultant, and Mental Health professional with a demonstrated history of working in the professional training & coaching industry. Skilled in Early Childhood Education, Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Child Development, and Career Counseling. Strong media and communication professional with a Master of Arts (M.A.) focused in Community Counseling from Marymount University.

    How Diya came to be?
    Diya which means “Light” in Hindi came to be out of the vision of the written word of Arti’s mom. When Arti’s mom was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in the winter of 2018, Arti began to focus on cancer support, wellness, nutrition and everything to help support her mom. When Arti’s mom passed in the summer of 2019, Arti found her mom’s Bhagavad Gita, the Hindu scripture. There on a piece of paper, Arti found the life stages written down by whom she referred to as “Mummy”. Arti took a look and a few weeks later with her intuition, timing, and Reiki she realized that her mummy was calling to service the life stages through Diya Holistic Life Care and the rest is history in the creation..vision.. And mission. Arti realized in her grief journey she was called upon to do this work as a legacy project and tribute to her parents, ancestors, and those lives that she encounters. The Diya to Arti and team symbolizes being held to carry and light our lives up. Diya’s dedication comes from providing care to lead our best lives possible and to evolve in better health and wellness.

    Diya as a Legacy Project
    Diya Holistic Life Care is Arti’s family of origin legacy project. A legacy project is something you create or an activity you do to honor the life of a loved one. With the passing of Arti’s mom and reflecting on her Papa’s death as well, Arti realized her purpose in life is to serve through the transitions of life. Arti realized that great success comes from being supported, heard, and validated and that is exactly what Diya was designed to do.

    Website: https://diyaholisticlifecare.org
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artikumarjain
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diyaholisticlifecare
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diyaholisticlifecare
    Podcast - Pause: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm6TdLr7mlYWv3jyr1dQUl6ZglYgD59lP
    Dare to be Authentic Vol. 6: Finding Your Purpose: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09BY815GB

    55 min
  • Kellie Williams - Business Coach, Mentor and Outsourcing Solutions Specialist

    Kellie Williams is an outsourcing solutions specialist running a successful consultancy called At the Drop of a Hat. ATDOAH provides Virtual Assistant and Online Business Manager support to clients all over the world.

    Her journey started in 2019 when she was fed up with the 9-5 and she needed more time and flexibility for her family. Kellie is also a dedicated VA Mentor running a set up course and a membership supporting VA's to start and scale their businesses.

    Kellie has over 20 years business experience. She specialises in recruitment, increasing revenue and profit margins for well-known agencies. Her expertise is in business development, organisation, process development, and leadership.

    Kellie started At the Drop of a Hat to have more flexibility for her family life. Her mission is to help other busy business owners gain the work-life balance they crave.

    Providing business owners with vision, strategy and support. Starting with the vision, building you a strategic plan then providing you with the practical support from my specialist team of Virtual Assistants and Online Business Managers. Whether you need help managing your emails, generating sales leads or launching an online course. We also have specialist social media managers and designers on hand to provide you with the online presence and engagement your business deserves.

    Our professional mentoring service for VA's and OBM's offers 121 packages as well as 4 week online group courses to help you start your VA business.

    Website: https://atthedropofahat.co.uk
    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kellie-williams-02831b1a
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/atthedropofahat
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/atthedropofahatpa
    Facebook Group: https://facebook.com/groups/thevaacademygroup
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/atthedropofahat
    Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/atthedropofahatva

    48 min
  • David Avrin - Customer Experience Keynote Speaker

    One of the most in-demand Customer Experience speakers and consultants in the world today, David Avrin, CSP, Global Speaking Fellow, has shared his content-rich, entertaining and actionable presentations with enthusiastic audiences across North America and in 24 countries around the world. David helps organizations better understand and connect with their changing customers and clients to help future-proof their businesses. 

    David's insights have been featured on thousands of media outlets around the world.

    He is also the author of five books including the acclaimed: It's Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You!, Why Customers Leave (and How to Win Them Back) and his newest book: The Morning Huddle -- Powerful Customer Experience Conversations to Wake You Up, Shake You Up, and Win More Business. 

    The ideal opening keynote speaker
    Kickoff your meeting or conference with a bang! As your opening keynote speaker, platform pro David Avrin sets the stage for profound learning and meaningful engagement with his thought-provoking content delivered with an entertaining, energetic, and humorous style. David will provide both the content and context for your audience to help set the stage for all the learning and connections to come!

    A memorable closing keynote speaker
    As a powerful closing Keynote speaker, David Avrin will reinforce the learning and value received by your conference participants, while challenging them to forgo ingrained behaviors and think beyond the traditional business mindset. With the right mix of humor and energy to keep audiences engaged and in their seats, participants will stay until the end and leave with a smile on their face, along with a clear idea of what’s next and how to get there.

    Website: https://davidavrin.com
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidavrin
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealdavidavrin
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidAvrinFans
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtH4DdaOhbturnA9OI80kPw
    Podcast: https://www.davidavrin.com/podcast

    52 min
  • Lucy Howell - Executive Virtual Assistant, Admin Ninja and Social Media Maven

    My name is Lucy Howell. I have been a virtual assistant for nearly 2.5 years, following leaving my profession as a Dental Nurse during the Covid-19 pandemic. I had my son Jacob during the first lockdown, and didn't want to return to nursing again for safety. I decided that I could put some of the skills I have learned over the years to better use, and work from home at the same time, and here we are!

    I am here to make business owners life a little bit easier! - I know how hard being a working mum can be … so that’s why I want people to reach out and find out Howell I Can Help You!

    Website: https://www.howellvirtual.co.uk
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howellvirtual
    Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/howellvirtual
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellvirtual
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howellvirtual
    Approved Virtual Assistant on the BeMyVA directory: https://www.bemyva.co.uk/directory/lucy-howell
    Accredited virtual assistant with the Association of Professional Virtual Assistants (APVA)  https://findyourva.co.uk/listing/howell-virtual

    1 hr 5 min
  • Kate Strong - World Champion Triathlete, Plant-Based Adventurer, Coach and Consultant, Strong Voice Podcast

    Kate Strong leads by example when it comes to peak performance whether that’s climbing Mont Blanc, developing a sustainable business with a global reach or breaking 3 cycling world records. She is a widely sought after coach, enabling individuals and teams to redefine what’s possible and introduce flow into their daily way of being.

    Kate has lived and travelled all over the globe, earning a double Masters in Engineering while living in France & Italy, She’s set up micro businesses in indigenous communities in Central America & Asia as well as founding a hospitality business in Australia. It was during her time in Australia that she discovered triathlon. Within 14 months of taking up the sport, she was crowned age-group World Champion and later went on to break 3 cycling world records.

    She has faced her fair share of difficulties along the way, from being trapped in a toxic relationship to working herself out of the million-dollar debt her ex left her. However, she is not defined by these challenges and she uses these darker days to fuel her to always striving to be the best version of herself.

    In 2023, Kate is planning to cycle 3,000 miles around the coast of UK, planting 3,000 trees along the way and raising awareness of the importance to protect our global health.

    Website: http://www.katestrong.global
    Tour de Wales: https://katestrong.global/tour-de-wales
    Challenge 3000: https://katestrong.global/challenge3000 Podcast: http://www.katestrong.global/podcast
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/katestrong01
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katestrong01
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/katestrongTV
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateStrong01

    1 hr
  • Ina Bakalova - Business Development Consultant and Content Accelerator Creator

    Ina Bakalova is an Online Marketing Expert focused on organic content strategies and social media. Through her signature program, the Content Accelerator, Ina helps online business owners and educational creators to create and market a profitable consulting offer, and ultimately sign clients.

    After experimenting with different business ventures in her early twenties, Ina officially started her career as a property investor. She created the Content Accelerator after freelancing as a copywriter and social media manager for other property entrepreneurs. She saw that many of them were struggling to communicate their uniqueness online, at the same time that she experienced success in her own consulting practice. This led her to merge the two, and help other consultants, mentors and educational creators to monetise!

    Having emigrated from Bulgaria to the UK when she was five, Ina has witnessed the incredible opportunities that entrepreneurship opens up. This experience fuels her desire to help her students monetise their unique skills through online consulting.

    Website: https://inabakalova.com
    Content Accelerator: https://www.cocoonsocial.com/freetraining
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ina-bakalova
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inabakalova
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inabakalova
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCykp1-0zuyVl5Th39rgsWqQ

    58 min
  • Andrew Miller - Business Enjoyment, Multiple Author and International Speaker

    A qualified insolvency practitioner, Andrew spent 16 years in the Restructuring department of the global accountancy firm, KPMG, as well as being seconded to Barclays Bank's insolvency unit.

    Taking on leadership roles highlighted to Andrew a passion and flair for working with individuals and the issues that affect them at a personal level. Through working with company owners who were in the process of losing everything, he became acutely aware of the emotional connection that exists between a business and its owner, something that is not always recognised or appreciated.

    Andrew believes that 'you', 'your environment' and the interaction between the two should be looked at as a whole, rather than in isolation. Andrew works with business owners and their team to get all three areas right – which then allows you to truly enjoy what you do on a day to day basis.

    Andrew has worked for himself for over 10 years in which time he has written eight books, won numerous awards and was also invited to be a policy advisor to the government around business failure.

    He has been with his wife for over 26 years and loves what he does.

    Website: www.businessenjoyment.com
    TEDx Talk: https://andrewmiller.groovepages.com/tedx/mtjm
    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewrmiller
    Facebook:
    Personal: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.miller.359
    Business: https://www.facebook.com/BusinessEnjoyment
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpXIUc8iRjfJ_z4UlIEfpQA
    Business Enjoyment Podcast – The Tingle Zone: www.bit.ly/tinglezone
    Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B07VNYN6J9

    Bibliography:

    Hope Won't Pay the Wages
    How to deal with the personal impact of a struggling business
    (Winner - Business Game Changer Magazine Editor's Choice: Top Three Books of 2020)

    Successful Startups
    Get going. Stay going.

    The Successful Business Owner's Guide to Reducing Stress
    How to avoid these 13 common pitfalls

    Multiply Your Success (with Phil Grundell)
    245 Proven Ways to Take You to the Next Level

    MLM Revisited
    How to Fall Back in Love with Your Network Marketing Business

    More Than Just Money
    An Introduction to the Business Enjoyment Model

    Transforming Your Life III (Various Authors and Sai Blackbyrn)
    20 Incredible Stories Showing the Strenght of the Human Spirit
    (International Bestseller in 11 Countries)

    At The Sharp End (Various Authors and David Norrington)
    Advice and Tips from Small Businesses

    Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B07VNYN6J9

    1 hr 21 min

About Share Your Story

From the publisher's feed

The ‘Share Your Story’ podcast are interviews with small business owners. They begin by sharing their personal back story and their business growth journey, often sharing challenges along the way.…