TrailBlazers Impact

Inez Ribustello placed as second runnerup in the Best Sommelier in America competition held in New York, is a member of the Alumni Hall of Fame for the Institute of Culinary Education, and was Beverages Director at Windows on the World before 9/11. She’s passionate about wine, beer, and food. In this episode, Inez talks about her passion for wine and her career in the sector over the years. Listen in to learn how 9/11 impacted Inez Ribustello both professionally and personally and how she pivoted after the tragedy. You will also learn how taking on some opportunities can open even bigger doors for you.

Key Takeaways:

• How to pivot and take opportunities no matter how many times life knocks you down
• Learning how to sacrifice some opportunities to succeed in what you believe in
• How to follow your passion and do what you love despite the roadblocks

Elaina Zuker and Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell - If you’re struggling with goal setting and scaling your business as an entrepreneur, then this is your episode. Our guests explain a few simple strategies that will help you get started in your process of successful goal setting and low-budget business scaling. In this episode, Elaina explains the process of successful goal setting while Lynita explains the steps to a successful business scaling strategy. Listen in to learn the power of creative visualization and positive thinking in the process of making and accomplishing goals as a business owner. You will also learn about the five most important components of scaling a business without a large budget.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn to forgive your past mistakes in business and let them go so you can move on
• How to do creative visualization – see the future you desire before you can be it
• The power of positive visualization in making your goals come to fruition
• How to differentiate yourself as a leader who truly cares about your best people

Jayne Benkendorf is a certified health coach, author, speaker, and national marketing director at Juice Plus. She wrote and published five books focused on health and wellness over 30 years ago. She’s keen on educating adults and children on the value of health and how to attain better health. In this episode, Jayne explains how we can improve our health and wellness by eating good quality foods and the importance of self-care for entrepreneurs. Listen in to learn the importance of adopting an organic diet to provide your body with the necessary fuel you need to lead a healthy life. You will also learn how to approach starting a family or a general partnership business.

Key Takeaways:

• Start consuming organic plant foods and grass-finished animal products to preserve your health
• Provide your body with the right tools to work for you by eating quality healthy foods
• Never start a family or a partnership business if there’s existing friction between the involved parties
• The importance of having a self-care routine as a busy entrepreneur

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A respected leader with forty-five years of combined executive, nonprofit, and leadership experience, Elizabeth A Jones serves as the National President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW). In this role, her focus is on implementing core values that will encourage NCBW members to strive for excellence beyond what they think they can achieve in service. In this episode, Elizabeth demonstrates how she utilizes her leadership position to empower women and make a positive impact in her community. Listen in to learn why more women need to run for political and corporate offices to advocate for the pay gap.  You will also learn how to be prepared, ambitious, determined, committed, and resilient to reach your goals and succeed as a female leader.

Key Takeaways:

• Always look for growth and development opportunities as a leader to improve things for you and others
• Why women need to put themselves first in all the economic decisions they make
• Why more women need to run for political and corporate offices to advocate for the pay gap 
• Learn to speak up for yourself, be committed, and be resilient to succeed as a woman leader
• The importance of being prepared, having ambition, and knowing yourself to achieve your goals
• How planning, prioritization, and support can help you balance your work and family
• Embrace change, be a lifelong learner, and understand that your journey is yours alone

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Lynne Hardin is the Founder/President of Justice4All and a certified professional facilitator. Mary Rounds is the managing partner of the LegalShield Division where she is an attorney in the general practice of law, with emphasis on adoption, family law, employment law, special education law, and business law. In this episode, Mary Rounds talks about employment and business law and how to be vigilant in protecting yourself as a business owner. Listen in to learn the importance of getting professional guidance to help you choose and protect yourself in the way you operate your business. You will also learn how to approach documentation in a way that clearly and respectfully communicates your expectations from your employees.

Key Takeaways:

• Learning how to find your sweet spot in a career instead of struggling where you don’t thrive
• Why having an LLC is more advantageous than a general partnership or a sole proprietorship
• How to be clear and careful when asking people to work overtime without pay
• The importance of documentation to clearly communicate your standing as the employer

https://TrailBlazersImpact.com

If you’re having second thoughts on whether to go against the grain and choose the path to your purpose, this is your episode. DeLisa Guerrier shares how she made a career turnaround from a biology premed to a successful real estate developer. Listen to this powerhouse who is creating the Storyville Gardens Theme Park in Nashville as the youngest addition to the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame. DeLisa Guerrier is the managing partner of Guerrier Development and one of the few Black women in the state of Nashville licensed as a general contractor for commercial, residential, and industrial development. In this episode, she talks about her career path in real estate development and how she’s actualizing her passion project, Storyville Gardens theme park. Listen in to learn how DeLisa’s vision of bringing a reading cultural element into a theme park where kids read for fun is actualizing. You will also learn how to establish a better system of people, packaging, and purpose in your business to take it from an idea to a plan.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of diversifying in business to cover your bases in different areas
• Why it isn’t always a bad thing to go against the grain to find your success path
• The power of establishing the people, packaging, and purpose to build a successful business

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Terry Neese is a serial entrepreneur, small business advocate, international relations executive, and past NAWBO national president. She’s also the founder and CEO of the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW), which is focused on educating women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and Rwanda. I had the pleasure of getting to know Terry and her fantastic operation when I was invited to podcast women during their Leadership Summit. I soon become a big fan of both Terry and IEEW. They are doing more for women's empowerment than just raising money and lip service. They have “boots on the ground” and have accomplished real progress within the countries. In this episode, Terry explains how the IEEW supports women entrepreneurs in Rwanda and Afghanistan plus the effects of the recent Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan. Listen in to learn how women entrepreneurs are being impacted by the takeover and how the IEEW is helping them be in a better place. You will also learn how to support Afghan women entrepreneurs mentally, financially, and educationally in any way you can.

Key Takeaways:

• How you can become a mentor to women business owners in Afghanistan and Rwanda
• How to support Afghan women mentally and educationally plus consider becoming their e-mentor
• The importance of donating money to crucial courses that support those in need

https://TrailBlazersImpact.com

What would it be like to be responsible for negotiating a trade agreement with China or Japan or any other world country? Imagine yourself about to take a high-level job with the Federal government when the news came on about the Saturday Night Massacre. Carla Hills takes us on a journey through her very interesting life, working directly with several United States Presidents. Carla A. Hills is a high-profile, powerful woman, having been U.S. Trade Ambassador under President Bush Senior and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary under President Ford, the first woman to serve in that position and the third woman cabinet member. She also served as Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Ambassador Hills is now the chairman, and CEO of Hills and Company, specializing in international strategy and trade consultants. The firm provides advice to US businesses on investment, trade, and risk assessment issues abroad, particularly in emerging market economies.

Top Takeaways:

• • How to fight for what you want- how she went after a law career amid major objection
  • The experience of serving the government during uncertain political and economic times like the Watergate scandal
  • The difference between law and trade negotiations when practicing both at the same time
  • The importance of investing in human infrastructure through education and training

Experience first-hand the environment where a decision had world consequences.

https://TrailBlazersImpact.com.

Suzanne Webb started her career in healthcare at Universal Health Services more than 3 decades ago. She’s the founder of Exclusive Surgery Solutions, a surgery benefit for self-insured employers that focuses on offering a bundled surgery product. In this episode, Suzanne talks about the dos and don’ts of healthcare insurance by employers and the benefits of using a surgery benefit like Exclusive Surgery Solutions. Listen in to learn the importance of using the Ambulatory Surgery Center as a patient to avoid infections like Covid during surgery. You will also learn how to plan and prepare for an exit strategy that also benefits your clients.

Key Takeaways:

• How to pivot your business during a crisis to remain relevant
• Ensure your quality healthcare by checking your doctor’s certification and a hospital’s infection rate
• Stop fully depending on health insurance brokers and accepting what they tell you as an employer
• How to make the right decision for yourself and clients when planning your exit strategy
• The importance of attending as many trainings as you can to become an expert in your field of business

https://TrailBlazersImpact.com

Riah Gonzalez is the Founder and CEO of Linq Consulting Services, a female-focused, heart-centered Virtual Assistant Matchmaking company. She empowers her fellow business-owner clients with the right connections, positive energy, and meaningful relationships. Her Virtual Assistant Matchmaking service connects business owners to strong and powerful women who will be there for them every step of the way. Her motto is “If you want to go fast, you go alone. If you want to go far while doing it right, you go with your fellow women.” After a long career in health administration, she started a whole new venture and found her niche. Listen in to learn the importance of being mindful with your finances as a new business owner to avoid undercharging and going into debt. You will also learn the value of hiring an affordable virtual assistant to help you with some tasks as you’re starting a business.

Key Takeaways:

• How to be mindful about your capital to avoid undercharging or failure at the beginning of your business
• The value of having a virtual assistant as a starting entrepreneur preferably one within your price range
• How to start and grow an affordable podcast without sacrificing accessibility and value
• The importance of availing yourself to free resources to avoid going into debt or financial burdens

https://TrailBlazersImpact.com