The Rutledge Perspective Podcast

We all have days or weeks or MONTHS where we question what we are doing and if we are where we are supposed to be. It's ok. What we also do is often fail to extend the same grace to ourselves that we extend to others. When we need a minute. When we are questioning our purpose. We need time to regroup and reassess with no judgment and with compassion. We need GRACE to be human.

Why is happiness the end goal? Do we REALLY want our family, teams, employees to be "happy" or are we really wanting people to feel safe, supported and valued? Happiness is fleeting and easily impacted by outside things and people. Contentment is long term and deeply rooted in self. I'd argue the latter is the greater pursuit.

Nurturing an idea or a strategy or a person/thing can become smothering. Pushing can become counterproductive. But leaving something alone and allowing it AND YOU to adjust to new information or a new environment can bring amazing results. This is a key part of clarity – knowing the different between letting go and letting rest. You haven't given up, you are just waiting for additional information before taking the next steps. And this waiting is a good thing.

"I think therefore I am." I must wonder because it doesn't seem link thinking about things is very important anymore. The speed at which we move has pushed deep thinking to luxury reserved for very few. But THINKING is critical to doing things that are aligned. It is critical to leadership. It is critical to existence. So why do we do so little of it?

Women's History Month 2022 is in the books and it was AMAZING! Sharing my Village with all of you was an incredible honor! We talked about finding YOUR village, about being discerning about who you have in your village (not everyone is your friend). We talked about having a safe space to just take the mask off. About celebrating each other, empowering each other and standing in our power as women! These women are some of the most amazing humans on the planet. I encourage you to listen to their guidance and read their bios. You'll come away richer for it!

There are few things more powerful or more critical in your career than your posse. They may be part of your personal BOD. They are definitely part of your Village. They are your safe space. They are your mirror. They are your sounding board. If you don't have one, you need to find one. But be discerning. Not everyone is posse material.

Dina L. Clark

In May 2021, Dina Clark began her role with Skanska USA Building as the company's first Senior Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. As a member of the senior leadership team, Dina works to develop, implement and align the inclusion strategy for the business.

Dina also served as Covestro LLC's first Head of Diversity & Inclusion at their North American headquarters based in Pittsburgh. In this role, Dina spearheaded the development and implementation of Covestro's diversity, equity and inclusion strategy across the United States, and in collaboration with Covestro's office in Mexico. This included leading efforts to engage employees across the business as well as established and managed the company's diversity councils and employee resource groups. Dina also worked in partnership with the company president and executive leadership team to align Covestro's diversity and inclusion goals with the business goals, and served on Covestro's global diversity and inclusion council, and the global core team, based in Leverkusen, Germany.

Prior to her role with Covestro, Dina served as the Senior Director of Equity & Advocacy with the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh, where she ran the YWCA's Center for Race and Gender Equity. Prior to this position, she served as the first Executive Director of the Western Pennsylvania Diversity Initiative (WPDI). Dina also served as Regional Education Project Director for the Anti-Defamation League, which serves Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Dina is very involved in the Pittsburgh community. She is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh Inc (Class XXIII), and she currently serves on several boards and advisory committees. In addition, Dina has also worked as a professional tester for housing discrimination for the Fair Housing Partnership of Pittsburgh and as a diversity/anti-bias trainer for the Anti Defamation League. In 2012, she was selected as a participant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Citizen's Academy, Class XIII and served as a board member of the FBI Citizen's Academy Alumni Association for six years. Dina has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology/Child & Family Studies from Syracuse University, a Master's Degree from Duquesne University, with a focus on global leadership and she is currently working on her Doctorate in Education at Point Park University, with a focus on leadership and administration, and in 2019 Dina completed The Advanced Leadership Initiative, Executive Leadership Academy at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business.

Dr. Aleta Richards

Aleta Richards is the global head of Specialty Films for Covestro. The global business is headquartered in Dormagen, Germany, and includes a team from three regional headquarters, six production sites and six technical centers. Having started her career at Covestro (then part of Bayer) in 1990, Aleta is well acquainted with the organization and has 30 years' experience in marketing, sales, product management, human resources and general management. She has held various leadership positions throughout the company, including time spent in the Polyurethanes, Plastics and Inorganic Basic Chemicals businesses. Aleta also served as head of the Bayer U.S. HR/Services organization, which provided HR administrative services for roughly 14,000 Bayer employees. Most recently, she served as head of the North American Coatings, Adhesives and Specialties business unit.

As a passionate supporter of DEI, Aleta supports Covestro's employee resource groups and serves as the executive sponsor of ACCESS ERG. She also co-hosts leadership and cultural exploration sessions for multiple employee groups throughout the global organization.

In 2021, Aleta joined the Board of Directors for Crime Science Technology in Lille, France. In addition and in recognition for her efforts, Aleta has been selected to as a Women of Excellence award recipient by the New Pittsburgh Courier. She has also received the Pittsburgh Most Powerful and Influential Women Award by the National Diversity Council and a Minority Achievers Award from Talk Minority Advocacy Group.

A Pittsburgh native, Aleta received both her bachelor's degree and M.B.A. in marketing and international business from the University of Pittsburgh. She has also received a Doctorate in Business Administration from Georgia State University. She continues to support the Pittsburgh community and her passion for education as the Vice President of Operations for the PBAN Board of Directors, a group dedicated to ensuring diversity within the PITT Katz Business School MBA program, and as a Board member of Pittsburgh Promise. Aleta also serves on the Board of Distinguished Visitors for Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.

Lanier Robertson

Lanier Robertson is a Human Resources Executive with 20+ years of people leadership experience in the chemicals industry. Since joining SABIC in 2019 as the Human Resources Leader of the Americas Region, her responsibilitieshave most recently grown to include global leadership of Future of Work and New Norm! Lanier is also proud to listamong her accomplishments having survived 2 Pittsburgh, PA winters prior to joining SABIC. It was there she served as Vice President of Human Resources at Covestro, LLC where she was primarily responsible for the successfuldevelopment and integration of the North American regional Human Resources function to support the success of the employees and the business following the carve-out from Bayer. From 2000-2014, Lanier held increasing roles ofresponsibility and leadership beginning with local, progressing to regional arenas with LANXESS Corporation. She also spent several months at Honeywell Chemicals and Materials in 2015 before joining Bayer in the summer of thatsame year.

As a people leader, Lanier is passionate around culture, development, diversity and inclusion. Her career path andexperiences at every level, have been seminal in her proven track record of impacting leadership, culture and change. She is regarded as a trusted advisor, business partner, coach and mentor to emerging HR professionals and executivesacross the globe. A true "Texan" born and raised, Lanier holds a BBA with honors, from Lamar University,Beaumont, Texas. The people function is her career passion, she is especially zealous about all things DIE&B!

About the Host:

Laurel Rutledge's human-centered approach, empathy, and understanding of individual needs make her a top-notch personal advisor and women's leadership coach.

Her care and compassion have made her an indispensable guide for countless women navigating the next phases of their lives and careers. Add to that her intimate knowledge of the HR landscape, and it becomes clear why her HR clients have had such transformative experiences. Just as Rutledge has helped countless others get out of their rut and off of the ledge, so too can she help you.

After receiving her MBA, Laurel moved from accounting and consulting to human resources, driven by a desire to do good in a business environment. It quickly became apparent that the switch had been a good choice — she flourished professionally and became happier, satisfied with the difference she could make through her work.

After a 30-year career, she left the corporate world, but her passion for HR and helping others has only grown. Now, she works one-on-one with clients, leveraging her experience in leadership and personal development to help them get the most of out their lives and careers.

From her beginnings as a consultant at Deloitte to her time as VP of HR at Covestro, Laurel has seen more sides of the business world than most. She's achieved technical mastery of HR, with a deep knowledge of the rules and regulations that must be followed.

She's also a people person, perceptive and outgoing, with a sixth sense for helping others to see the difference between what they want and what they need. The culmination of this is in her personal philosophy: "lead with your heart, act with your head."

Find out more at: https://laurelrutledge.com

Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, GooglePodcast or Stitcher. You can also subscribe from the podcast app on your mobile device.

Leave us a review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on the platforms, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

Sometimes you just need to be around black women. The story that black women don't support each other is a myth. The story that we are infinitely strong and resilient is also a lie. Sometimes, you need to lay aside the strength and let go of the resilience and just take a pause. Take off the mask. Take off the armor. And just have a little banana pudding and peach cobbler. And a few adult beverages. And talk about the stuff that just makes you crazy without having to explain the backstory.

About the Guests:

Catherine Clack

Born in Germany to an Army officer and elementary school teacher, Catherine joined the Rice University community in 1981 after receiving her Bachelor of Arts from St. Edward's University in Austin. She began her career at Rice as an Assistant Director of Admission and recruited students from across the nation in that capacity for 5 years before becoming to become the Associate Director of Admission. In 1988, a gift from the ARCO Foundation made it possible for Rice to establish an Office of Minority Affairs, and Catherine was hired as its inaugural Director. In 1993, she earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Houston, Clear Lake, while still serving as Director of what is now known as the Office of Multicultural Affairs. She currently serves as Associate Dean of Undergraduates with supervisory responsibility for the Offices of Student Success Initiatives & First Year Programs, Student Publications and University Bands, all while still serving as Director of Multicultural Affairs, where she works tirelessly to improve the Universities efforts at diversity, equity, and inclusion for historically underrepresented communities. Her students call her "Lady Catherine" or "Lady C."

Dorothy Jones

Dorothy is a High-Energy Executive Leader with multi-faceted and diverse background working with small-to-large companies, budgets, and teams. Proven business and analytical acumen for outperforming goals by establishing standards of operational excellence while applying sound judgment for strong decision making and accountability management. Accomplished in identifying untapped business opportunities, leading transformative change, and monetizing breakthrough insights. She is a recipient of 'The Women of Visionary Influence' Mentor of the Year, 'Grand Ogilvy' Outstanding Ad Research, 'Silver Reggie' Lay's Playmaker/Subway Combo Challenge, 'Silver Effie' Ad Effectiveness, Cheetos, and the 'PepsiCo Chairman's Award." Dorothy holds a BS in Finance from The American University in Washington, D.C., and an MBA from Haslam College of Business at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Lanier Robertson

Lanier Robertson is a Human Resources Executive with 20+ years of people leadership experience in the chemicals industry. Since joining SABIC in 2019 as the Human Resources Leader of the Americas Region, her responsibilities have most recently grown to include global leadership of Future of Work and New Norm! Lanier is also proud to list among her accomplishments having survived 2 Pittsburgh, PA winters prior to joining SABIC. It was there she served as Vice President of Human Resources at Covestro, LLC where she was primarily responsible for the successful development and integration of the North American regional Human Resources function to support the success of the employees and the business following the carve-out from Bayer. She is regarded as a trusted advisor, business partner, coach and mentor to emerging HR professionals and executives across the globe. A true "Texan" born and raised, Lanier holds a BBA with honors, from Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas. The people function is her career passion, she is especially zealous about all things DIE&B!

Joy Sewing

The public outcry after the murder of George Floyd was a pivotal moment in history. In Houston, where Floyd was raised, the spotlight on culture also served as an opportunity for a new voice to emerge. Joy Sewing, a longtime Houston Chronicle lifestyle writer, became the paper's first culture columnist, writing personal stories that reflect the mood and character of one the nation's most ethnically diverse cities. The Houston native has earned her first Pulitzer Prize nomination for commentary for her heartfelt columns.

The Houston native is the author of "Ava and the Prince: The Adventures of Two Rescue Pups," a picture book about her own rescue boxer dogs. She is also the founder of Year of Joy, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, to spread joy to children from underserved communities Her Year of Joy Figure Skating Scholar program was launched in 2021 and provides free ice skating lessons to children. A former competitive ice skater, Joy became Houston's first African American figure skating coach while in college. Joy is also an adjunct journalism professor at University of Houston and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Veronique Shipley

VeroniQue was born in Wiesbaden, Germany and traveled extensively with her family and a Father that served in the Air Force. She ultimately found her roots in Houston, TX and went on to dance professionally for the Houston Oilers as a Derrick Doll (5-Years) and the Houston Rockets as a Power Dancer (8-Years)~ VeroniQue held the Title of Miss Black Houston and Miss Southeast Texas and continues to work with contestants within the Miss America local pageant system.

VeroniQue has worked in Commercial Real Estate for 11 years and has now taken the leap to start her own Real Estate business, VJS Holdings, LLC. With her experience and certification, VeroniQue is able to offer her clients both Commercial and Residential Real Estate services and expertise. Adding to that unique combination is her experience as a project manager enabling her to take her client from land purchase, through build, to sale. As she says, "You dream it. I bring it!"

Cheryl Vienna

Cheryl Vienna is an actress, model, and business executive

Act I -An Executive leader in the Aerospace industry for Rolls Royce, Lockeed Martin Aeronautics and Pratt and Whitney (in Singapore)

Act II - Sought after Commercial Actress, print model, Jazz saxophone player, and 12 year breast cancer survivor. Recent National commercials include Paychex and Floor and Decor. She also is the executive producer of an award-winning documentary Sunshine, Noodles and Me, which was filmed in Malaysia and Singapore as well as domestically.

About the Host:

Laurel Rutledge's human-centered approach, empathy, and understanding of individual needs make her a top-notch personal advisor and women's leadership coach.

Her care and compassion have made her an indispensable guide for countless women navigating the next phases of their lives and careers. Add to that her intimate knowledge of the HR landscape, and it becomes clear why her HR clients have had such transformative experiences. Just as Rutledge has helped countless others get out of their rut and off of the ledge, so too can she help you.

After receiving her MBA, Laurel moved from accounting and consulting to human resources, driven by a desire to do good in a business environment. It quickly became apparent that the switch had been a good choice — she flourished professionally and became happier, satisfied with the difference she could make through her work.

After a 30-year career, she left the corporate world, but her passion for HR and helping others has only grown. Now, she works one-on-one with clients, leveraging her experience in leadership and personal development to help them get the most of out their lives and careers.

From her beginnings as a consultant at Deloitte to her time as VP of HR at Covestro, Laurel has seen more sides of the business world than most. She's achieved technical mastery of HR, with a deep knowledge of the rules and regulations that must be followed.

She's also a people person, perceptive and outgoing, with a sixth sense for helping others to see the difference between what they want and what they need. The culmination of this is in her personal philosophy: "lead with your heart, act with your head."

Find out more at: https://laurelrutledge.com

Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, GooglePodcast or Stitcher. You can also subscribe from the podcast app on your mobile device.

Leave us a review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on the platforms, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

In this second installment of the WHM2022 series, you will meet my Fierce Five! These are the women who came into my life during transitions. High School to College. International grad School. Post grad school work. Big city moves. But there was just something about a shared spirit and a common connection. And, my common connection built their common. Who said women cant be FIERCE and FRIENDLY?

About the Guests:

Suzanne Anderson

Suzanne Anderson is an experienced Senior Talent professional with broad competencies developed while supporting multiple business units, service lines and geographies in professional services and consulting organizations. She's been in the talent organization at EY for almost 20 years and is currently the Strategic Talent Consultant for the National Tax Infrastructure business unit. In her current role, she serves as business partner, advisor and coach to senior leaders on strategies for performance and development, retention, total rewards, employee relations, and change management. Suzanne has been recognized for her significant contributions in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky communities and has served on several boards and committees. Her passion is revitalizing playgrounds, parks and green spaces in urban core neighborhoods, supporting kids and families in need, and feeding programs. A native Texan and longtime friend of Laurel's, she lives in Covington, Kentucky with her husband Jeff, her son Carter, and Westie dog, Lady Bird.

Valaree Tisa Hawkins

Valaree Tisa Hawkins was born in Odessa, Texas. She attended Permian High School (Mojo) and graduated in 1986 where she was the first black female president of a senior class. Tisa received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of North Texas and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Special education is near and dear to her heart. She was a special education teacher for nine years. After that, she was an assistant principal and principal for a total of ten years. She had an opportunity to return to special education a few years ago and is currently serving as a special education supervisor for the Ector County Independent School District.

Tisa is passionate about community service. She has been a member of the Junior League of Odessa, Inc. since 1998. In 2007-2008 she led the organization as its first and only black president. Tisa is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, and has held several leadership roles in her local chapter, including president. Tisa does her best to live by a quote from Dr. Maya Angelou which states, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

Angela Landrum

Angela Landrum currently serves as the Principal Consultant for Assessment Systems at the Colorado Department of Education. She led the design and implementation of the 2009 Colorado Academic Standards revision process, and led the Colorado Race to the Top Program. In 2013 Angela developed the Colorado Assessment Literacy Program which includes online professional learning modules and a workshop series on developing high-quality classroom assessments. Currently she is leading the development of the performance assessment component of the Colorado Graduation Guidelines Menu of Assessment Options. Angela has been in the classroom at the preschool, high school, and university levels, and has served in executive leadership roles in the university and non-profit sectors. She holds a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University and a M.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Lela Panagides

Lela Panagides provides organizational change consulting and HR advisory services to some of the most admired global companies. Recognized for her deep resolve and unwavering passion to create environments where everyone can contribute and thrive, Lela harnesses the power of design thinking, service excellence, and authentic communication to help individuals and organizations develop pathways to solve complex problems, strengthen performance, and build capacity. Lela has consistently been rated as an influential community leader, speaker, and educator on topics ranging from manager effectiveness to mindfulness at work, from corporate leaders to first responders. She is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and was a featured speaker at the Electronic Security Expo.

Lela believes service to others is paramount. She is Board President of Rapid Response Housing Solutions, an all-volunteer nonprofit focused on preventing homelessness in North County San Diego. She was a founding member of the The Springfield Area Coalition for Responsibility, Equity and Dignity and gives her time and financial resources to various nonprofits such as the San Diego Zoo, Project Concern International (PCI), the Environmental Defense Fund and the NAACP. In 2013, she was recognized with the Most Influential Women Award by the Springfield Business Journal.

Veronique Shipley

VeroniQue was born in Wiesbaden, Germany and traveled extensively with her family and a Father that served in the Air Force. She ultimately found her roots in Houston, TX and went on to dance professionally for the Houston Oilers as a Derrick Doll (5-Years) and the Houston Rockets as a Power Dancer (8-Years)~ VeroniQue held the Title of Miss Black Houston and Miss Southeast Texas and continues to work with contestants within the Miss America local pageant system.

VeroniQue has worked in Commercial Real Estate for 11 years and has now taken the leap to start her own Real Estate business, VJS Holdings, LLC. With her experience and certification, VeroniQue is able to offer her clients both Commercial and Residential Real Estate services and expertise. Adding to that unique combination is her experience as a project manager enabling her to take her client from land purchase, through build, to sale. As she says, "You dream it. I bring it!"

About the Host:

Laurel Rutledge's human-centered approach, empathy, and understanding of individual needs make her a top-notch personal advisor and women's leadership coach.

Her care and compassion have made her an indispensable guide for countless women navigating the next phases of their lives and careers. Add to that her intimate knowledge of the HR landscape, and it becomes clear why her HR clients have had such transformative experiences. Just as Rutledge has helped countless others get out of their rut and off of the ledge, so too can she help you.

After receiving her MBA, Laurel moved from accounting and consulting to human resources, driven by a desire to do good in a business environment. It quickly became apparent that the switch had been a good choice — she flourished professionally and became happier, satisfied with the difference she could make through her work.

After a 30-year career, she left the corporate world, but her passion for HR and helping others has only grown. Now, she works one-on-one with clients, leveraging her experience in leadership and personal development to help them get the most of out their lives and careers.

From her beginnings as a consultant at Deloitte to her time as VP of HR at Covestro, Laurel has seen more sides of the business world than most. She's achieved technical mastery of HR, with a deep knowledge of the rules and regulations that must be followed.

She's also a people person, perceptive and outgoing, with a sixth sense for helping others to see the difference between what they want and what they need. The culmination of this is in her personal philosophy: "lead with your heart, act with your head."

Find out more at: https://laurelrutledge.com

Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, GooglePodcast or Stitcher. You can also subscribe from the podcast app on your mobile device.

Leave us a review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on the platforms, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

Launching Women's History Month with a conversation with 4 women who were the first members of my Village. We have known each other since we were a twinkle in our mothers' eye. And this conversation is about how those shared beginnings and shared values built a bond that has been a foundation and support as we have moved through our lives. It's about women supporting women!

About the Guests:

Natalyn Daniels

Born in Odessa, TX to Napoleon and Temple Daniels, Natalyn attended First Baptist church pre-school (where she and Laurel first met), Burnett Elementary, Bonham Jr High and Permian High school. After high school, she left Odessa and moved to Houston to attend Texas Southern University. Natalyn has been working in the Pharmacy industry for 34 years. With the years of experience she has, her passion for ensuring the right medication every time and her philosophy that it is important to care about the patient first, 2-legged and 4-legged, she is now entering entrepreneurship. Stay tuned! 2022 is the year.

Valaree Tisa Hawkins

Valaree Tisa Hawkins was born in Odessa, Texas. She attended Permian High School (Mojo) and graduated in 1986 where she was the first black female president of a senior class. Tisa received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of North Texas and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Special education is near and dear to her heart. She was a special education teacher for nine years. After that, she was an assistant principal and principal for a total of ten years. She had an opportunity to return to special education a few years ago and is currently serving as a special education supervisor for the Ector County Independent School District.

Tisa is passionate about community service. She has been a member of the Junior League of Odessa, Inc. since 1998. In 2007-2008 she led the organization as its first and only black president. Tisa is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, and has held several leadership roles in her local chapter, including president. Tisa does her best to live by a quote from Dr. Maya Angelou which states, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

Jannifer Mays

Although Jannifer's educational background and work experience led her on a winding path of engineering and project management, her heart for meaningful "quality above quantity" relationships supersede worldly perspectives of success…so, who is Jannifer Mays?

Yes for 6 years (during and after college), she worked for an engineering/design firm and then 18 years for a major construction management company resigning to start her own business of consulting in the same industry which she now totals 30 years of design/engineering/ construction experience. After resigning from corporate, in addition to consulting, she took a role as women's ministry events coordinator for a church congregation of 1000's while also managing new and renovation construction projects at the same church.

She has received exemplary accolades for her detailed project management and event planning skillsets, but what she holds most rewarding in the highest regard as her major life accomplishments are her relationship roles as a wife, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, bonus mom/mimi and FRIEND!!

Wrenee Whitaker-Terrell

Phelicia (Wrenee) Whitaker-Terrell. Is currently serving in the greatest capacity every – being a caregiver for her 80-year-old mother. Before taking care of her mom, Wrenee was an Elementary School teacher teaching 1st grade for 22 years & 2nd grade for 1 year. Wrenee continues to exercise her creativity in her incredible craft room. Having become a master seamstress by making a good majority of her clothes as she grew up, she now completes creative projects for family and friends and has shown her crafts at a number of arts and craft shows. She has been married for 10 years to her Wonderful Husband Kenyon Terrell who is a Supply Chain Manager of an Oil & Gas company Penthol. They reside in Richmond,Texas.

About the Host:

Laurel Rutledge's human-centered approach, empathy, and understanding of individual needs make her a top-notch personal advisor and women's leadership coach.

Her care and compassion have made her an indispensable guide for countless women navigating the next phases of their lives and careers. Add to that her intimate knowledge of the HR landscape, and it becomes clear why her HR clients have had such transformative experiences. Just as Rutledge has helped countless others get out of their rut and off of the ledge, so too can she help you.

After receiving her MBA, Laurel moved from accounting and consulting to human resources, driven by a desire to do good in a business environment. It quickly became apparent that the switch had been a good choice — she flourished professionally and became happier, satisfied with the difference she could make through her work.

After a 30-year career, she left the corporate world, but her passion for HR and helping others has only grown. Now, she works one-on-one with clients, leveraging her experience in leadership and personal development to help them get the most of out their lives and careers.

From her beginnings as a consultant at Deloitte to her time as VP of HR at Covestro, Laurel has seen more sides of the business world than most. She's achieved technical mastery of HR, with a deep knowledge of the rules and regulations that must be followed.

She's also a people person, perceptive and outgoing, with a sixth sense for helping others to see the difference between what they want and what they need. The culmination of this is in her personal philosophy: "lead with your heart, act with your head."

Find out more at: https://laurelrutledge.com

Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, GooglePodcast or Stitcher. You can also subscribe from the podcast app on your mobile device.

Leave us a review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on the platforms, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

We have not because we ask not. But at some point during our careers, it becomes taboo to ask questions. At least questions to gain clarity or to ask for help. Yet, its that lack of clarity or determination to do it ourselves that can create the very situation we are trying to avoid – failure. So why can't we just ask the question? Let's talk about it!

About the Host:

Laurel Rutledge's human-centered approach, empathy, and understanding of individual needs make her a top-notch personal advisor and women's leadership coach.

Her care and compassion have made her an indispensable guide for countless women navigating the next phases of their lives and careers. Add to that her intimate knowledge of the HR landscape, and it becomes clear why her HR clients have had such transformative experiences. Just as Rutledge has helped countless others get out of their rut and off of the ledge, so too can she help you.

After receiving her MBA, Laurel moved from accounting and consulting to human resources, driven by a desire to do good in a business environment. It quickly became apparent that the switch had been a good choice — she flourished professionally and became happier, satisfied with the difference she could make through her work.

After a 30-year career, she left the corporate world, but her passion for HR and helping others has only grown. Now, she works one-on-one with clients, leveraging her experience in leadership and personal development to help them get the most of out their lives and careers.

From her beginnings as a consultant at Deloitte to her time as VP of HR at Covestro, Laurel has seen more sides of the business world than most. She's achieved technical mastery of HR, with a deep knowledge of the rules and regulations that must be followed.

She's also a people person, perceptive and outgoing, with a sixth sense for helping others to see the difference between what they want and what they need. The culmination of this is in her personal philosophy: "lead with your heart, act with your head."

Find out more at: https://laurelrutledge.com

Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, GooglePodcast or Stitcher. You can also subscribe from the podcast app on your mobile device.

Leave us a review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on the platforms, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.