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How do you rise and lead when you're experiencing grief, loss, and trauma? And my short answer today is, “I don't freaking know.” 

Today’s episode is a little different than those we’ve had so far. It's brief, more personal, and sometimes confessional. But always real, vulnerable, and created to leave you connected and inspired as a leader.

This past week, a friend died horribly and tragically, and I'm grieving the loss. I'm vacillating between sadness and rage and gratitude and pushing all those feelings down. I'm looking at the world with a particular set of eyes because this loss popped the top off so much bottled-up anguish that I feel as a human being in this country and on the planet. 

So that’s what I want to talk about. How to show up and lead (or not) when you’re dealing with loss, trauma, or any of the other hurdles life throws in our path when we’re least expecting it. And if that’s you too right now, my Good Woman, please know that I am sending you my love, support, and compassion - and especially sending you big hugs.

This episode at a glance:

[01:47] Dealing with the torrent of feelings that come with grief, loss, trauma, and life in 2022.

[03:05] Holding onto your feelings because of how you think you’re “supposed” to behave as a leader. People are counting on you, and there’s always stuff that “must get done.”

[04:58] Leadership does not mean showing up perfectly every time. Give yourself space and grace to process the emotions in front of you. 

More about the “My Good Woman” podcast
My Good Woman is a podcast for new and future female leaders hosted by Dawn Andrews!  I’m a happily married hockey mom, proud female leader, and founder and CEO of Free Range Thinking, where we turn founders into confident CEOs with strategic consulting and leadership training.

Grab a seat at the table with me each week for candid conversations with culture-shifting, glass ceiling-busting, trailblazing women who are leading enterprises that are changing the world. We discuss what makes them tick and how they get it all done. And we share actionable strategies to help you grow your company's profit and impact. 

If you liked what you heard, don’t forget to follow along, so you never miss an episode. And before you go, leave us a review!

Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

Send us a text

Quitting your dream job to start a business is a risky decision, especially if you’re in a high-ranking, visible position. And Nicole Marra, did just that.

As the CEO and Founder of Fixer Advisory Group, Nicole works with some of the world's most dynamic luxury brands.

Nicole led Gucci America's legal, real estate, compliance, security, and crisis management functions for over a decade before taking the leap and founding Fixer.

In this episode, Nicole and I discuss

• What prompts a person to leave a perfect-on-paper job to start their own thing
• Why women need to get better about asking for help
• Working with someone so closely that it feels like you’re sharing a brain
• Connecting with your inner child, your inspiration, and that part of you that wants to shine

This episode at a glance:

[16:29] When Nicole made the leap, support was coming from all sides. The people around her carried her over the launch line. 

[21:13] The most significant challenge she faced: wearing all the hats simultaneously. 

[25:13] When men build businesses, they surround themselves with help. Women often try to build systems so they don’t need to ask for help.

[31:52] ”The Power of the Pack”: the power that women have when they work together. 

[37:19] The foundations of running a business (or having any type of career) as a woman.

[56:03] What Nicole’s Times Square billboard would say: Enough of being afraid of everything. Put yourself out there. You can’t live in fear of what might happen.  

Resources and links mentioned in this episode

• Check out Fixer Advisory Group - and follow Nicole on LinkedIn or Instagram
• 10 Lives Exercise
• Check out Trello, a project management tool that works like digital post-its
• Get a waterproof notepad for the shower
• Get groceries delivered with FreshDirect - and everything else with Amazon Prime
• Chief, the Female Networking organization

You might also like

• My Good Woman Podcast Ep. 06 - Creating a Movement the World is Waiting For - with Elise Pettus
• How to Use Behavioural Styles to Better Collaborate & Communicate With Others

More about the “My Good Woman” podcast
My Good Woman is a podcast for new and future female leaders, hosted by me, Dawn Andrews!  I’m a happily married hockey mom, proud female leader, and founder and CEO of Free Range Thinking, where we turn founders into confident CEOs with strategic consulting and leadership training.

Grab a seat at the table with

Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

Send us a text

Burnout. You’ve most likely heard the term before - right now, it’s everywhere. Burnout is not just about being exhausted, overextended or needing to take more time off.; it goes so much deeper than any of that.

It’s connected to resentment, a lack of agency, and a lack of recognition of the work you do. It’s being required to sacrifice the things that are important to you and the values you hold closest because you believe there’s no other way to get what you really want from life.

The first time I faced burnout was in my twenties. It happened again in my forties. There will not be a third time. In this episode, I share my experience of two very different but equally devastating burnouts and what I learned from each of them.

In this episode, I discuss

• What burnout really is (and what it isn’t) 
• Why burnout is an especially big deal for women in leadership 
• The connection between burnout and trauma
• My personal experience with burnout and the 3 crucial things I’m STILL doing to fix it

This episode at a glance:

[02:03] Three Lies and a Truth About Burnout. 

[02:56] Burnout affects women more than men. We’re dealing with pay gaps and promotion blocks, and we often carry a larger portion of the mental load of home and life. And we tend to avoid the conversations that might make this better.

[15:22] Keeping your burnout a secret because you’re embarrassed about “not handling things” is the worst thing you can do. That’s when you need to cultivate connection the most.

[17:10] My second experience of burnout, in my forties - this time while running my own business. 

[19:09] The connection between burnout and trauma. 

[22:51] The three things I’m doing to make sure I avoid round 3 of burnout. 

Disclaimer:
In this episode, I share my personal experience with burnout. But… I'm a business strategist and executive leadership coach, not a mental health professional. This is not mental health advice. Please consult your preferred mental health professional for additional support.  

Resources and links mentioned in this episode

• The 2018 Montreal University study "Gendered Pathways to Burnout: Results from the SALVEO Study," by Nancy Beauregard et al.
• The movie that made me realize life was imitating art a little too closely - “Swimming with Sharks”

You might also like

• Episode 04: “How Perfectionism is Killing Your Business” (And How to Fight Back.)
• Read Greg McKeown’s “Essentialism.”

More about the “My Good Woman” podcast

My Good Woman is a podcast for new and future female leaders, hosted by me, Dawn Andrews. I’m a happily married hockey mom, proud female leader, and founder and CEO of Free Range Thinking, where we turn founders into confident CEOs with strategic consulting and leadership training.

Grab a seat at the

Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

Send us a text

When your nicely-planned life and career take a turn for the unexpected, it’s easy to let yourself get dragged down, crawl into a hole, and feel like a total failure. 

Or you could do like My Good Woman, Elise Pettus, and realize that the kind of support you need doesn’t exist yet, find a dozen kindred souls, and start building the movement you know your people need. 

Elise is the Founder and Editorial Director of UNtied, an online community that connects women navigating separation and divorce so they can support and educate one another through the process.

Elise took “the worst that could happen” and turned it into her inspiration and motivation to become a bold leader for the thousands of women in her community.

In this episode, Elise and I discuss

• How Elise’s divorce inspired her to found UNtied - now a thriving community with over 3000 members.
• How to be brave when you're shy, and why flipping your “leadership switch” can help you become more courageous on behalf of others. 
• Growing a small gathering of women into a community of thousands

This episode at a glance:
[06:44] When the worst has already happened, it removes a lot of the fear that would otherwise stop you from taking risks and doing extraordinary things.

[20:13] How growing a big movement can start small and organically - by filling a void and creating what your people tell you they need. 

[30:35] If what you want to offer (and what your people need) doesn’t exist yet, build your model and pave your own road. 

[42:06] Giving people you work with permission to boss you around and use their “stern math teacher voice” to stop being in your head and get more and better things done.

 [44:02] Helping your people feel safe enough to be vulnerable around you lets you have open conversations about the best way to work together.

[47:11] “Hard skills” directly impact revenue and move the needle. But a business is made up of people, and you need the “soft skills” to work with them effectively. 

[53:58] If Elise had a do-over, the only thing she’d change is to ask for help or find a strategic partner (or business coach) sooner. 

[53:58] The main element Elise loves to bring out in people is resilience. It’s hard work but so worth it. 

[01:04:50] Elise’s essential advice for women going through a divorce. 

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Check out UNtied - The Thinking Woman’s Divorce Resource
• Follow Elise on Instagram (@Untiedllc), LinkedIn, and YouTube
• Read the 2015 New York Times article that put UNtied on the map
• Tools Elise mentions: Asana, Google Drive, Dropbox, and ActiveCampaign
• Get the fantastic Year Task Planner that helps Elise get everything done
• Watch

Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

Send us a text

How can you stop waiting for permission and lead a community, a company, or a movement with confidence? 

How do you stay true to yourself and your dreams, when people say “no” more often than they say “yes” to you?  

And how can we stop wasting our talents, our time, and our energy so we can truly make an impact on the world? 

To answer these questions, I invited my friend, Broadway actress and podcast host, Ilana Levine to My Good Woman. 

Her podcast, Little Known Facts, gives people space to share their magnificence - because if there’s one thing Ilana excels at, it’s helping people unlock their true potential. Ilana has a gift for making her podcast guests and listeners feel at home because her conversations are unfiltered, raw, honest, and so freaking funny! 

And today the shoe is on the other foot. She’s in MY digital living room. Lucky me!

In this episode Ilana and I discuss

• Why podcasts are such a powerful way to find and elevate your voice
• Finding a way to do the work you love
• Fighting perfectionism
• How we can use humor as a tool to deal with challenges gracefully
• Giving people space to share their magnificence

This episode at a glance:

[09:36] Staying true to yourself and to your dream, despite the naysayers. How to hold on to the certainty that what you have to offer is unique and special - when many people are in your way. 

[12:45] Why women sometimes feel they need permission to do what they love (and how much talent, time and energy is wasted by that)

[23:07] Things that make your life move and work more smoothly: outsourcing what you don’t like to do.  

[39:45] Ilana looks at herself as a “producer”: someone who’s in charge of figuring out how to give everyone they work or live with the tools to bring out the best in them. 

[46:40] Why we need to own our roles as leaders - and how that starts at home, with our family and our community. (and the introduction of hashtag #uniquequal)

[50:52] The message Ilana would put on her Times Square billboard: “Believe!” We need to believe that we have every right to have our voices heard and ideas shared. That we are worthy of a place at whatever table we want to sit at. 

Resources and Links mentioned in this episode

• Check out the episode of Little Known Facts with Eduardo Braniff 
• Read “Leadership and Self-deception” by the Arbinger Institute
• Find the Little Known Facts podcast here, follow Ilana on Instagram and Facebook, or connect with her on LinkedIn or Twitter 

You might also like

• 4 books that make you a better leader
• Revisiting your

Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

Send us a text

Have you ever stopped to think about how much more we could accomplish if we weren’t trying to be perfect? How much time, energy, and talent goes to waste because we feel what we’ve got is not good enough? 

Today’s episode goes out to all of us trying to be perfect. The perfect mom, wife, friend and business owner. We want to make a change and make an impact, but we won’t settle for less or allow ourselves to make even the tiniest mistake. Yeah… no pressure, then! 

In case we haven't met yet: I’m Dawn, proud mom of two amazing kids, courageous leader, public speaker, and founder of a highly successful business consulting firm.

I’m also a former beauty queen. And nothing will make a woman try to be perfect more than being (literally) judged all the time. A lot of good things came from my beauty pageant days, but one of the not-so-great byproducts was a burning need to be perfect. I spent so many years feeling like I had to be prepared for every eventuality, be ahead of the game, and know all the answers every time.   

In this episode, I’ll show  you how to let go of perfectionism and

• Take messy, rapid action
• Go for it (whatever your particular “it” might be) in spite of your fears
• Feel confident and proud of your work, even if the results aren’t 100% perfect

This episode at a glance:

[04:05] How fear held me back in my first two years of business. Fear of not being perfect keeps us from taking risks, moving forward, and achieving our goals. 

[06:17] Join me in an exercise in choosing progress over perfection. What are you doing now (or soon) that will make a huge difference in your life or business six months from now? 

[07:50] Why believing in perfection means believing that there’s only one right way to do something.

[09:49] How the alternative to perfectionism is not failure; it’s honesty and vulnerability which create connection. Being real and vulnerable makes you more likeable and relatable. People are drawn to authenticity. 

[12:11] The difference between striving for excellence and being a perfectionist.

Let me know what awkward action you’re taking today and how you’re letting go of perfectionism; I would love to hear from you! 

You might also like this article I wrote about how to let go of perfectionism so you can lead with confidence.

More about the “My Good Woman” podcast

My Good Woman is a podcast for new and future female leaders, hosted by me, Dawn Andrews! 

I’m a happily married hockey mom, proud female leader, and founder and CEO of Free Range Thinking, where we turn founders into confident CEOs with strategic consulting and leadership training.

Grab a seat at the table with me each week for candid conversations with culture-shifting, glass ceiling-busting, trailblazing women leading enterprises making a change in the world. 

We discuss what makes them tick and how they get it all done. And we share actionable strategies to help you and your team get organized - so you can focus on your company’s growth, profit and impact. 

If you liked what you heard, don’t forget to follow along, so you never miss an episode. And leave us

Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

Send us a text

How can you stay true to yourself, even if the whole wide world is telling you to be different? 

From (not) networking in Hollywood as an introverted actress to turning an ADHD diagnosis into a wonderful opportunity to acquire new skills and techniques, Nicole J Butler does things her own way.

In the past 20 years, Nicole has appeared in over 100 commercials, television shows, and independent projects, including her self-produced web series, “Sister President”. 

But that level of success didn't come easily. Nicole moved to Hollywood with just $200. She got stuck with jobs that she hated, made it through terrible auditions, quit acting, and went broke. Then, after years of doing it wrong, she decided to stop following “the rules”… and started getting it right.

In this episode, Nicole and I talk about

• Being a leader and an introvert
• Iowa, intersectional invisibility and being a Black woman in Hollywood
• What working through burnout feels like
• A different perspective on being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult

This episode at a glance:

[10:34]  How Nicole turned political disenchantment into a compelling web series. 

[19:11] Getting through those "make or break" moments.  

[23:16] How to know if someone is a good match to work with: shared work ethics, values, and people who are a pleasure to be around. 

[27:58] Being a Black woman in Hollywood - from back when all the roles were bailiffs and policewomen... to now.  

[29:48] The conundrum of intersectional invisibility: being incredibly unique and visible - but at the same time finding it so much harder to get people to listen to you.

[36:18] Being an introvert in a traditionally extroverted field

[40:42] Why leadership is not about value or importance; it's about adding your unique talents to the big puzzle. 

[42:42] How even if leading is not your default setting, sometimes it’s necessary, a means to an end

[50:59] Working through burnout - mental and physical exhaustion

Resources and Links mentioned in this episode

• Check out Nicole’s website
• Follow Nicole on Instagram or Twitter
• Watch Sister President on YouTube
• Read about breast cancer and/or find support at the National Breast Cancer Foundation
• Richard Branson on Dyslexia and Imagination
• Read more about burnout prevention and treatment 

More about the “My Good Woman” podcast

My Good Woman is a podcast for new and future female leaders hosted by me, Dawn Andrews! 

I’m a happily married hockey mom, proud female leader, and founder and CEO of Free Range Thinking, where we turn founders into confident CEOs with strategic consulting and leadership training.

Grab a seat at the table with me each week for can

Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

Send us a text

No (wo)man is an island. 

Behind every successful female leader, there’s usually a group of women who listen, advise, support, coach, and lift each other up. Female business owners often face challenges that their male counterparts don’t, and they need a supportive community to ensure their success. 

Today, I’m being interviewed by one of my little group of Business BFFs - author, artist, screenwriter, and alignment coach, Rachel Archelaus. 

Rachel has seen me at my best and at my worst, and today we’re talking about the journey that led to this podcast. 

In this episode, Rachel  and I talk about

• My childhood role models and first steps in the entertainment industry
• Why it’s essential to have a community of  business friends who’ve got your back when you’re starting or growing something
• Growing pains (and crashing and burning) when you start a business… and how to avoid some of them
• How I created a training to help women in business uncover their true leadership potential
• The story of how My Good Woman came to be

This episode at a glance:

[04:52] Why I’m so passionate about helping women find their true calling as a leader and supporting each other to rise (because each of us is extraordinary in our own way, and the world needs to see that!) 

[10:20] How my mentor and former boss, Leanne, encouraged me to work out what I was really passionate about and use that discovery to start my own thing. 

[13:48] Why it’s so much harder to run a business when you want to do everything and help everybody ( the importance of finding your niche)

[17:46] How many women tend to sit behind the scenes and work out our ideas by ourselves, stuck in our own echo chamber, doing all the work to make it “picture perfect” before going into the world and road-testing something. And why it’s actually important to talk with others, and listen, before you develop your ideas. 

[19:23] What can go wrong when women try to lead like a man: the two sides of that coin

[23:10] How my mastermind group helped me overcome a burnout - and by asking the right questions, helped me uncover what I really wanted to do. Which, in the end, led to this podcast! 

Resources and Links mentioned in this episode

• Get clarity and confidence through art at Rachel Archelaus’ Intuitive Art Academy
• Follow Rachel on Instagram
• Find camp-inspired retreats for women at Campowerment.com

More about the “My Good Woman” podcast

My Good Woman is a podcast for new and future female leaders hosted by me, Dawn Andrews! 

I’m a happily married hockey mom, proud female leader, and founder and CEO of Free Range Thinking, where we turn founders into confident CEOs with strategic consulting and leadership training.

Grab a seat at the table with me each week for candid conversations with culture-shifting, glass ceiling-busting, trailblazing women leading enterprises making a change in the world. 

We discuss what makes them tick and how they get it all done. And we share actionable strategies to help you and your team get organized - so you can focus

Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

Send us a text

More about “My Good Woman”

My Good Woman is hosted by me Dawn Andrews! I’m a happily married hockey mom, proud female leader, and founder and CEO of Free Range Thinking, where we turn founders into confident CEOs with consulting and leadership training.

Grab a seat at my table for conversations with culture-shifting, glass ceiling-busting, trailblazing women making a change in the world. We discuss what makes them tick and how they get it all done. 

Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

Send us a text

Welcome to My Good Woman, the podcast that takes you inside the lives and minds of culture-shifting, glass ceiling busting, trailblazing women, to learn what it takes to successfully lead a company, team, community, or movement. Hosted by Dawn Andrews, Founder, and CEO of Free Range Thinking.

More: 

• Subscribe: mygoodwoman.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/mygoodwomanpodcast
• Strategy Consulting: freerangethinking.com

Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.