Speaking with Women

In this episode, I discuss why humility is not a good thing for women and should not be a value you hold dear.

Being "humble" and not wanting to "talk about myself" is something I hear from the vast majority of my clients and the women I interact with. Often it is code for something else and it does not have the positive impact we think it does.

In today's episode we will explore what the real problem behind this belief is, the impact it has and last but not least we will talk about some ideas to reframe and change.

This is Deepa Narayan's TED talk I mention in the episode

If you loved this episode, please rate and review on iTunes!

If you want support with your visibility head to www.thebeauvoirgroup.com

or book a chat with me here

I love to hear from you! Let's connect:

www.linkedin.com/in/bibigi-haile
Instagram @bibigihaile
[email protected]

This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dorie Clark, a renowned speaker, writer, consultant, and executive coach. Dorie has been honored as one of the top 50 business thinkers globally by Thinkers 50 and shares her expertise with institutions like Columbia Business School and Harvard Business Review. Dorie played a pivotal role in shaping my perspective on visibility work, and in this episode, I'll share the story of how I successfully invited her on the podcast. Join us as we dive into the realm of personal branding, reinvention, and embracing the "long game."

01:22 - I kick off the episode by recounting my journey to secure Dorie Clark as a guest on the podcast. It began with a less-than-ideal request but ultimately led to success through a heartfelt apology email.

08:05 -Dorie shares her insights into how individuals react to the concept of reinvention: some embrace it as an exciting opportunity, while others view it as a daunting necessity.

09:50 - We delve into Dorie's personal journey of reinvention, marked by a trial-and-error approach. She reflects on her initial resistance to the idea and the moment she realized reinvention was not just a choice but a necessity due to broader industry challenges.

12:15 - Dorie emphasizes the importance of recognizing opportunities for reinvention before they become urgent necessities. She shares a personal anecdote about almost missing out on a significant career opportunity.

16:22 - Our discussion shifts to how people seek solutions. Dorie highlights that individuals often seek guidance for specific, narrow problems rather than abstract longings.

19:56 - I ask Dorie about her approach to choosing her areas of focus. She underlines the significance of aligning one's efforts with personal enjoyment, playing to one's strengths, and maintaining consistency to build and sustain an audience over time.

22:06 - Dorie shares her decision to prioritize her latest book, "The Long Game," and give it the attention and time it deserves in the marketplace.

23:28 - Our conversation shifts to the impact of age on one's perspective regarding long-term goals. Dorie shares a poignant story illustrating how self-limiting beliefs can hinder personal growth and why it's essential to challenge them.

28:24 -In her three-minute of advice to women, Dorie encourages them not to compare themselves to the most exceptional figures in their field but to those already in the marketplace, fostering self-confidence and a sense of purpose.

You can find Dorie, her work, and her books on her website

If you loved this episode, please rate and review on iTunes!

If you want support with your visibility head to www.thebeauvoirgroup.com

or book a chat with me here

I love to hear from you! Let's connect:

www.linkedin.com/in/bibigi-haile
Instagram @bibigihaile
[email protected]

Today’s episode of Speaking with Women is with Rohene Bouajram who was a participant in the summer session of Voices & Visibility. Until very recently, I never asked my clients to do case studies like this and in fact I did not even ask for testimonials!!! I thought it was me being discreet, respectful or even (ugh) humble. But truly, it was another rung in my own visibility ladder that I was not ready to climb. Rohene came to the program with 20 years of experience in higher education. She wanted to figure out her next steps, and I can’t wait for you to hear from her how the program has helped bring clarity and fuelled her next steps into her journey.

04:38 - Rohene begins the interview with a land acknowledgment, explaining its significance to her and why it might be a potential challenge for many people.

09:11 - She delves into her impressive 20-year career in higher education, highlighting her growth, diverse experiences, leadership roles, and her exceptional ability to connect with people.

12:38 - I ask Rohene about her career transition journey, exploring the pivotal moment when she realized it was time for a change and what fueled that desire.

17:36 - Rohene shares the value that she received from the 5-hour strategy session that we had together, before the beginning of the program.

19:10 - Rohene elaborates on how working with Voices and Visibility, enabled her to structure her ideas into a clear framework that she plans to use to create various products such as workshops, presentations, and keynote speeches.

29:26 - Highlights of Rohene's positive journey with the Voices & Visibility group, emphasizing the immense value of collective learning among women and how shared perspectives have deepened her understanding.

35:50 - Rohene shares her vision for Unspeakable Leadership, rooted in the influence of strong matriarchal figures from her upbringing. She discusses her mission to recognize and support the leadership of women of color.

44:22 - On how Rohene overcame her initial reservations about LinkedIn by viewing it as a systematic platform aligned with her background in enhancing systems for effectiveness.

50:04 - Rohene opens up about two key challenges in her journey: the balance between self-discipline and seeking external validation, and how a straightforward time management tip propelled her forward.

53:14 - We discuss the importance of not being the sole source of answers but rather empowering women to take the time to find their own path and what works for them.

58:28 - Rohene concludes the episode by unveiling her goal of launching a podcast in the fall of 2023. She also shares a concise three-minute piece of advice for women aspiring to embrace unapologetic visibility.

If you loved this episode, please rate and review on iTunes!

If you want support with your visibility head to www.thebeauvoirgroup.com

or book a chat with me here

I love to hear from you! Let's connect:

www.linkedin.com/in/bibigi-haile
Instagram @bibigihaile
[email protected]

This week I have the pleasure of speaking with Lindsay Lashell, a marketing activist and founder of Open Lines Marketing. Lindsay's story is a testament to the power of resilience, the value of iteration, and the importance of clear communication. Join me this week as we explore her unique insights on delegation, empowerment, and the changing landscape of social media marketing. I had so much fun on this episode, and I hope you leave the episode feeling empowered to trust your instincts and unapologetically embrace your path to success!

06:12 - Lindsay defines herself as a marketing activist, and explains how she uses marketing to promote justice and equity, focusing on underserved individuals and organizations.

09:00 - She discusses her journey from being a teacher to entering the marketing world, emphasizing her tendency to follow the "next right thing."

17:10 - Lindsay shares her framework and how her business evolved over time, from a marketing agency to a consulting model.

20:56 - I ask her about her Intellectual Property (IP), and she explains how it began through a collaboration with another agency, and how that provided the groundwork for a restructuring.

24:52 - Lindsay emphasizes the importance of not waiting for perfection and the significance of starting something to create momentum.

31:43 - We discuss the importance of delegation in the context of women navigating the balance between likability and effectiveness.

35:18 - Lindsay introduces her delegation script that prioritizes clarity in roles and expectations, whether one is the “asker” or the “doer”, highlighting its versatility in various interactions.

39:26 - She challenges the notion that everyone must be on social media, advocating for efficiency and audience-centric strategies.

43:47 - Lindsay shares her three-minute advice for women who want to be unapologetically visible: trust your gut, embrace your authenticity, and stop conforming to others' expectations.

You can find Lindsay on LinkedIn, and on her website Open Lines.

Here’s her $10 Social Media content course on how to walk away without sacrificing opportunity.

If you loved this episode, please rate and review on iTunes!

If you want support with your visibility head to www.thebeauvoirgroup.com

or book a chat with me here

I love to hear from you! Let's connect:

www.linkedin.com/in/bibigi-haile
Instagram @bibigihaile
[email protected]

This week I have the pleasure of speaking with Michelle Osbourne, also known as Uncomfortable Bliss. Michelle is a passionate communications professional, educator, and change agent dedicated to empowering marginalized communities and building socially conscious brands. From discussing her journey of self-discovery to managing trolls on social media, Michelle shares valuable insights on embracing authenticity and becoming unapologetically visible.

05:11 - Michelle delves into the space between her public persona on social media and her private, everyday life, explaining how she launched her platform as a response to the George Floyd incident, seeking to create positive change and empowerment.

09:18 - She reveals how the end of her marriage served as a transformative catalyst, motivating her to live authentically as she approached her 40s.

11:55 - Michelle likens life before 40 as a dress rehearsal, and emphasizes the incredible opportunities that emerge with age.

14:25 - I ask Michelle to take us back to the beginning of her career, and to explain how she first started her career in finance and accounting, and the pivot to community work and marketing.

20:30 - Michelle explains how she tapped into her authenticity by embracing a “zero fucks” mindset, facing her past traumas and removing unnecessary clutter and people from her life.

27:26 - On how Michelle discovered her authenticity through action, trying out 40 things before her 40th birthday, and embracing what worked while leaving behind what didn't.

30:49 - Michelle addresses the sense of disconnect that can arise as we evolve through life, and offers guidance on how to manage that transition.

33:10 - She shares strategies on how to remain centred while active on social media, and how to manage trolls and negative comments.

38:50 - Michelle imparts her empowering three-minute advice for women aspiring to become unapologetically visible: face your traumas, declutter your life, and set boundaries

43:07 - We finish the interview with Michelle sharing the three words that describe her, and why she does the work that she does.

You can find Michelle on her website and Instagram

Mentionned in this episode: Episode 31 - Reclaiming your time

If you loved this episode, please rate and review on iTunes!

If you want support with your visibility head to www.thebeauvoirgroup.com

or book a chat with me here

I love to hear from you! Let's connect:

www.linkedin.com/in/bibigi-haile
Instagram @bibigihaile
[email protected]

Today's episode is kind of a celebration episode. I finally shut my consulting computer for good and now I am 100% in this visibility game. 
I have learned so much from consulting. The experience has been good, bad and ugly. And there are things I learned that have so much relevance for this visibility work....so I wanted to bring that to you. 
Enjoy! 

P.S: registration for September 2023 Visibility is in progress. If you are building your own consulting practice, this might be the opportunity to benefit from both my consulting knowledge and my visibility obsession. 

If you loved this episode, please rate and review on iTunes!

If you want support with your visibility head to www.thebeauvoirgroup.com

or book a chat with me here

I love to hear from you! Let's connect:

www.linkedin.com/in/bibigi-haile
Instagram @bibigihaile
[email protected]

In this week’s episode of Speaking with Women, I have the honour of speaking with Carrie Severson. Carrie is the author of Unapologetically Enough, a self-love & burnout recovery expert and speaker. As you might have heard on previous episodes, I had my own experience with burnout and depression, and so this episode with Carrie is close to my heart. She shares her story, how this led to a 8-year journey writing a book, and the lessons learned that she now shares with women to help them avoid burnout. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and that it makes you think about how to create breathing room in your life!

06:14 - Carrie shares her burnout story, reflecting on the pivotal moment that urged her to take a much-needed break

10:06 - We discuss the surprising connection between success and burnout and how to establish non-negotiable boundaries for a healthier lifestyle

12:59 - Carrie opens up about the physical symptoms and signs of burnout and the transformation she underwent to align her organization with her newfound approach to life (

17:26 - Carrie shares her origin story overcoming bullying, and how it led to the creation of her impactful nonprofit, Severson Sisters

21:28 - We explore the link between women's incessant need for external validation and its correlation with burnout

30:21 - Get valuable strategies for creating breathing room in life, regardless of whether you're an entrepreneur or have a 9-to-5 job

35:13 - How Carrie's incredible eight-year journey writing Unapologetically Enough fueled her to establish a publishing house for women to share their stories

40:23 - We finish the interview with Carrie’s exciting future projects and her advice for women to be Unapologetically Visible

Link to Huberman Lab episode on Cold Showers

You can find Carrie on LinkedIn and her publishing company, The Unapologetic Voice House

If you loved this episode, please rate and review on iTunes!

If you want support with your visibility head to www.thebeauvoirgroup.com

or book a chat with me here

I love to hear from you! Let's connect:

www.linkedin.com/in/bibigi-haile
Instagram @bibigihaile
[email protected]

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Stacy Mayer, an executive coach and promotions strategist. As Chief Corporate Badass, 

Stacy helps executives reposition themselves to advance their careers, build confidence in their problem-solving abilities, and communicate more strategically so their ideas can truly be heard. She is also a best-selling author, and the podcast host of Women Changing Leadership. 

I really enjoyed this conversation where Stacy shared how to approach promotions in the corporate workplace, gain actionable insights, and leverage your expertise to create opportunities for yourself.

04:52 - Stacy explains how she became a promotions strategist, and the connection between energy and action, highlighting the importance of believing in oneself.

10:32 - She shares an example of guiding a client through a conversation to get a promotion, emphasizing the combination of energetic confidence and specific action steps that lead to success.

15:12 - Stacy describes her three-step process on getting a promotion from VP to the C-Suite: how to become strategic in your current role, 3X your vision, and 15 min ally meetings.

31:26 - I ask Stacy about her book Promotions Made Easy, and she how she overcame her writing fears by collecting her book.

35:30 -On mastering the art of asking good questions by being curious about yourself, the person you're conversing with, the company, and the industry.

41:16 - We discuss how women can leverage their thought leadership now, create assets with their expertise, and unlock opportunities both internally and externally.

44:13 - Stacy shares her advice for women who want to be unapologetically visible: embrace that you are a corporate badass, recognize your potential, and build on your strengths.

Here are the 20 good questions from Stacy Mayer that were mentioned in the interview.

You can also find Stacy on LinkedIn, and on her website

Here is the link to register for the content webinar 

If you loved this episode, please rate and review on iTunes!

If you want support with your visibility head to www.thebeauvoirgroup.com

or book a chat with me here

I love to hear from you! Let's connect:

www.linkedin.com/in/bibigi-haile
Instagram @bibigihaile
[email protected]

Today I am starting on a new(ish) path where I dive into all things entrepreneurship. I am officially stepping into the fact that I want to support women who are looking to leave corporate and strike out on their own.

I know what it is like to be an entrepreneur and I have done ALL the mistakes. There are certain things that we can avoid to make the experience a little less difficult.

This episode is going to be the first of 2 because it is all about 10 mistakes to avoid and it was way too much for one episode.

Enjoy!

P.S: I am taking registrations for Voices & Visibility in September (2023). If you want support from me and a very small curated group of like minded women, reach out.

Register here for the State of Ambition for black women 

If you loved this episode, please rate and review on iTunes!

If you want support with your visibility head to www.thebeauvoirgroup.com

or book a chat with me here

I love to hear from you! Let's connect:

www.linkedin.com/in/bibigi-haile
Instagram @bibigihaile
[email protected]

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Lesley Antoun, an accomplished executive, leadership coach, consultant, and speaker. This conversation takes us in an interesting direction with visibility. We look at how to get on a corporate board.

I think all women should start thinking about whether they want to get on a corporate board at some point in their career and start crafting a strategy to do that. 

So I am really excited to have Lesley on the podcast to talk about all things board. We go from the very strategic to the very tactical and I am sure you will learn so much from my conversation with Lesley.

With over 25 years of experience in strategic planning, program management, and stakeholder engagement, Lesley has worked with a wide range of organizations, including multinationals, private corporations, governments, First Nations groups, and non-profits. 

She's also an active board director and external advisor, alongside running her boutique consulting and coaching practice.

04:43 - Lesley starts us off by doing a land acknowledgment and explaining why this is important to her

09:30 - We then discuss her personal evolution from starting her career as a mechanical engineer and eventually leading her own consulting practice.

13:30 - We dive into her transition into board positions, and the importance of conducting research to understand the available options.

16:23 - Lesley highlights the contrasting dynamics between for-profit and non-profit boards, exploring the unique responsibilities that board directors hold in each setting.

21:56 - She shares how women can prepare for board positions by understanding their specific skillsets, and the skills matrix that the corporate boards need.

30:39 - Lesleys explains the difference between a board CV and a regular resume, and how it can help showcase your qualifications.

32:01 - Lesley gives us an insight into how boardroom conversations unfold and how directors diligently prepare for these crucial discussions.

39:03 - We discuss the drawbacks of pre-wiring within boards and how to foster healthy communication and collaborations.

44:28 - Lesley leaves us with some advice on how to become unapologetically visible by: investing in yourself, embracing opportunities, and persistently pursuing board positions.

For reference:

• In this interview, I referenced my episode with Helene Blanchette on Strategic and Creative Visibility
• The State of Ambition for Black Women - the conversation that I will be moderating on Thurs, June 29, 2023 | 3 PM – 4:30 PM CST

Here are some links that Lesley generously shared with us:

• Spencer Stuart report on Becoming a Non-executive (board) Director
• Governor in Council Board member Openings
• www.icd.ca Job board

If you loved this episode, please rate and review on iTunes!

If you want support with your visibility head to www.thebeauvoirgroup.com

or book a chat with me here

I love to hear from you! Let's connect:

www.linkedin.com/in/bibigi-haile
Instagram @bibigihaile
[email protected]