TrailBlazers Impact

Ep. 101 - Shannon Polson: True Grit

Shannon Polson is a true Trailblazer, exemplifying courage, tenacity, and perseverance! She is a native of Alaska and at age nineteen she became the youngest woman ever to climb Denali, the highest mountain in North America. She then went on to summit Mt. Rainier and Mt. Kilimanjaro. She raced long-course triathlons and took journeys to Alaska's Arctic After graduating from Duke University, she entered the military, becoming one of the first women to fly the Apache attack helicopter in the US Army. Her career as an Army officer and attack aviation leader around the globe spans almost a decade. She led two flight platoons and a line company, serving on three continents before joining the corporate world. In addition to her military service, she spent five years leading and managing in the corporate sector, at Guidant and Microsoft. As a dynamic, in-demand speaker, Polson reaches thousands of people a year at major organizations and large public venues on topics related to leadership, courage, resilience, and grit.

Tony Markey is one person that fully understands the advantages and disadvantages of taking the grand leap! He has taken many of them throughout his adult life and has never had second thoughts about it. Imagine applying for a science graduate job as an 18-year-old who just completed high school? Or maybe leaving a teaching job in the middle of a school year for a temporary singing job that will possibly be over in a month? Well, that’s Tony for you, the ever risk-taker who chases after his passion even if it means passing through the fire. Listen in to hear the incredible journey of Tony Markey that is narrated with so much humor and intellect of going after what you want in life – and discover his most recent job! Download his song here. 

www.TrailBlazersImpact.com

When was the last time you volunteered in your community? Before COVID-19, Never? Did you know that by volunteering, you gain more experience and opportunities than you actually give? Rita O. Venable, community change-agent and women’s advocate with a 40-year history of activism is a champion for racial and gender equality both at home and abroad. She has been recognized for her volunteerism at home and abroad as demonstrated with awards such as the Global Guide /Work Exchange Program-Johannesburg South Africa (2003), and the nationally renowned Jefferson Awards for Public Service Certificate of Excellence. Rita Venable started volunteering as a young mother with the simplest thing as being her daughter’s scout troop’s leader when they couldn’t find one. She has four decades later, accomplished so much more after volunteering in causes dear to her. She has not only helped support many women in their healing and rediscovering journeys but also gotten the opportunity to meet and work with women leaders who taught her so much. Rita had previously broken barriers in her youth doing jobs like banking that were not prevalent among black people in her community. Don’t miss her discussion of Black Lives Matter and her thoughts about what can be done.

Jillian Ryan’s passion translates into action! She’s built a great business . . . but WHY? Because the proceeds help support teaching sustainable skills to abused women! Jillian stands up for what she believes in – corporate social responsibility. In her podcast, the Good Office Podcast, she gives companies the blueprint on how to use a business as a force for good. On her podcast website, she provides worksheets and assessments. She feels that, for the first time, we are really seeing large businesses and organizations care deeply about where the products they are giving out are made and who they are supporting. And she and her company, Marie Mae, with practical, professional gifts that give back, are perfect examples. She teaches skills to women who have been abused and sex trafficked to build their esteem and their earning power.

Have you ever wondered what life on the Queen Elizabeth II cruise ship was like? Christine Markey was an entertainer on that ship and recalls some fascinating stories about life on the ship. Truly, you won't want to miss this one!

Top Takeaways:

• What people wore and did on the QE II in a different era of cruising! How fun! • How the weather influenced the direction and destination of the cruise ship Christine was on • Comparing cruise ships today and back in the 1980s for both the guests and entertainers • The importance of learning new things when you are uncomfortable and never giving up

Listen in to hear the exciting experience of being a cruise ship singer especially in an age when things were more formal than today.

Are you worried your child may be abusing substances? Is your child being bullied? Have you heard about teenage suicide and worried? Listen to this episode of one mother's journey through that world. Hear Jamie talk about what she tried - what worked and what didn't. Philanthropist and entrepreneur Jamie Amelio has dedicated her life to helping children—from founding the ground-breaking charity Caring for Cambodia to leading the front on teen suicide prevention, and ultimately starting the Staying Bothered movement.

Ep. 95 - Florence Champagne is Chairperson and CEO of the Open My Heart Foundation. Florence suffered a heart attack in 2012 and, as a result, she had emergency open heart surgery. Due to being uninsured at the time, she did not readily receive the necessary diagnostic testing and life-saving treatment. She found that she was not alone and met other African-American women along the way, who were either uninsured or underinsured, which impacted their ability to receive treatment, thus, creating a life-threatening disparity. Being a heart survivor, she found purpose in her pain as she provides support, advocacy, and leadership to women living with heart disease. Florence is also a spokesperson for WomenHeart: A national coalition of women who support women living with or who are at risk of heart disease. The mission of the Open My Heart Foundation is to help eliminate heart health disparities among African American Women and Women of Color.  

Hear her story from growing up without lunch money to advising millionaires today on investments. Regardless of how much money you have, her advice will help you set a plan in motion to get rich. Successful entrepreneur and investor, she mixes fun, wit and wisdom as she shares practical, easy-to-understand financial advice. From her Financial Diva podcast to her book, "It's All About the Money, Honey" to her successful investment business, ChappelWood to her "how to's" on her website, she's a dynamo you won't want to miss!

Sarah Rodriguez Amador was born and raised in México. She grew up between 2 worlds: Mexico the country of her mother with a strong sound of fiesta and Cuba the island of her father with a powerful rhythm. The versatility of her voice allowed her to become one of the lead singers of the production shows of the 5 stars resort Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya and also as singer on a Big Band playing in luxurious resorts in the Mayan Riviera México such as Mayakoba. The experience on the resorts lead her to a dream job as lead singer in a trio on board a cruise ship around the world for the last 3 years. She tells what life is like living and entertaining on a cruise ship. Riviera Sounds: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSoHd9qpfgG9SJ0ANrRZKPA

Laura Yamanaka has an extensive history of leading and supporting women in business as the past president of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), President of the Los Angeles chapter, and Chair of the NAWBO Institute. She has been featured in Los Angeles Business Journal and a Los Angeles Times article “Nurturing Female Entrepreneurs.”  She is president and co-owner of teamCFO, partnering with startups, and small to midsize businesses to improve company performance and growth by providing quality financial accounting and business consulting services. Laura talks about how to tell the story of a business in numbers.  She feels her success is founded in the lessons her great grandmother shared with her. Most recently, teamCFO received the Asian Business Leadership Award, a national award sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank and the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation.