TranscendWithM

Racquel T. Knight is a social entrepreneur who aims to help the underserved pursue their dreams and passions. through business development, community engagement, and charity work ventures. Racquel T. Knight is the Central Massachusetts Women Business Center Director at the Center for Women and Enterprise. She is also the founder and board chairperson of a US-based nonprofit that provides comfortable learning environments for kids attending schools in rural and remote Jamaica. In addition, Racquel is the founder and CEO of RKnight All About Business Services, which provides business development, consultation, marketing, and branding services to for-profit and nonprofit businesses.

Knight has a diploma in secondary teaching, an associate of science degree in general agriculture, and a BA in Global Citizenship with a specialization in management, and is currently pursuing her master’s in business. administration with a specialization in marketing. Racquel considers herself a servant leader.
and enjoys networking, collaborating, and being involved in the business. In addition, she continues her passion for ensuring that kids attending school in rural and remote Jamaica receive a quality education.

Episode Highlights:

• What She’s most grateful for. (2:43)
• The shock of coming to the states. (5:01)
• The turning point in his life. (7:47)
• Why is this still happening in Jamaica? (12:07)
• How did you decide to change the name? (14:47)
• Education is a vocation, not a career. (17:45)
• The poor quality of food in the US. (22:20)
• Lunchtime on the weekend. (24:04)
• Education Resource Center for Jamaica. (26:12)

Key Takeaway:

"I'm telling you if you're not strong in what you believe in, sometimes you can be led astray. And I've learned a few lessons where I've had to, like, put my foot down, even knowing what the consequences will be. But it also, you know, brings forward better results from my experience."

Resources:

Facebook

Instagram

Website

A creative leader in communications and marketing with expertise in event management, brand activation, media relations, corporate communications, and audience engagement, Amy Peterson is Chief of Staff to City Manager Eric D. Batista in the City of Worcester, where she concentrates on communications and administration. Amy has held communications, marketing, and project management positions within the City Manager’s Office and previously served as the Director of Marketing for the DCU Center's Arena and Convention Center. She is a graduate of Worcester State University and now serves on the Board of Trustees as well as the Executive Board for Discover Central Massachusetts.

Episode Highlights:

• Challenging the status quo and breaking boundaries. (3:02)
• How she got her first job out of college. (8:47)
• Shout out to sandy Dunn, the first female Gm in the industry. (11:12)
• Do you ever have any regrets? (16:09)
• Evolving as a person. (18:45)
• The importance of focusing on the good. (24:11)
• How does a chief of staff become Chief of Staff? (26:44)
• Telling good stories, (30:52)
• The importance of having a chief of staff. (33:25)

Key Takeaway:

"Own your story and avoid comparing your journey to that of anyone else because the things you are going through are unique to you and cannot be compared to anything else because they don't happen the same way for everyone. So, own it. I believe that feeling in control begins the instant you take charge of the narrative and claim ownership of the story."

Resources:

Linkedln

Website

Blog

Heather Leah, As an accomplished and strong businesswoman, Heather wanted to create and attract the most important aspect of her life—an even match when it came to romantic love and partnership. Heather’s journey involves nine marriage proposals and her soul’s continued evolution catalyzed by being in a relationship with each of the men in her book, the recently released "Is He Mr. Right or Mr. Right Now? Consciously Create Your Love Story by Heather Leah

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"Love yourself first. Discover your passions, preferences, and boundaries. Embrace everything that makes you unique, and celebrate what you bring to any relationship. With a full cup, you will attract incredible people who appreciate and adore you."

Resources:

Website

Linkedln

Facebook

Shelley Kay is a leading career coach and speaker and an expert in changing the way women work so they can expand their leadership and maximize their impact at work—without burning out. Shelley leverages her 10+ years of work as a top HR leader for Fortune 100 companies like Google, PepsiCo, and GE to help women experience what it means to thrive in their careers. Shelley is committed to helping high-achieving women have it all: job satisfaction, career success, and a life outside the office.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"As you're approaching a transition, you get to choose between the discomfort of what you know and the discomfort of pursuing what you don't know yet. And just reminding you that there's going to be discomfort either way. Don't underestimate the possibility of what could happen if you pursue the other discomforts."

Resources:

⁠LinkedIn⁠

⁠Website

Suzanne Graham Anderson is the founder and CEO of Positively Suzanne LLC, a lifestyle brand whose tenets are to inspire, motivate, and empower. She has written a book called Detoxifying Leadership, hosts a podcast called Sit Down With Suzanne, and is a life and empowerment coach who focuses on empowering others to be the best versions of themselves. She is a passionate advocate of the "You are enough movement" and has mentored and guided individuals of all ages to pursue their dreams and be the best they can be. 

Suzanne is a woman of God, a wife, a mother, a minister, an entrepreneur, an author, a podcast host, a coach, a mentor, an event planner, an event host, a motivational speaker, and a mortgage loan officer. She is driven by her passion for helping others be the best versions of themselves and empowering women everywhere.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"Women have historically received little assistance and have not been welcomed into many spaces, much fewer rooms. This is especially true for women of color, black women, and women who resemble me or you, who are currently battling for access to such settings. For pay equity, the fight is still on. So many things still need to be won. Why should we fight each other? Another woman is not our rival; instead, she is a strength of ours."

Resources:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Website

Angel Guerra-Chagolla, MA, is the founder and owner of two small national companies that were created on the foundations of education, advocacy, empowerment, and connection. She holds 15 years of corporate experience, including that as director of an international risk and insurance program for a global company.

Her mission is to disrupt negative or hierarchal cultures that exclude women or minorities through inclusive and positive education that teaches unconscious bias, inclusion and a plan of action for improvement. The goal is to remove shame and blame, which opens minds and hearts. She supports individuals in strengthening their superpower and confidence to shine.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"I always tell people, and they're like, Oh, it's easy for you. It was those tiny steps that I took. By embracing these small steps and allowing myself to be open and vulnerable, we can experience significant personal growth and positive changes in our lives."

Resources:

LinkedIn

Website

Let's meet Ana Roque in this episode. She is a Brazilian Licensed Realtor at Re-Connect, LLC, and she has more than 18 years of expertise in the real estate business. She is married, a stepmother, a journalist, and the Vice President for the Central Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP). She is a trilingual woman (Portuguese, English, and Spanish). 

Ana is driven by her own ambitions, focused on achieving her goals, and committed to developing leadership skills via exceptional teamwork in order to leave a lasting legacy for her clients and her children.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"Do not let pessimistic opinions alter your plans for the future or your course through life. Never let their intervention stop you since You never know what will come your way"

Resources:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

K Sense Co.'s CEO and creator, Katherine Aguilar, was born in El Salvador but has lived in Worcester her entire life (Kommon Sense). She has a wealth of expertise in leadership, corporate growth, diversity and inclusion work, and speaking out for people who cannot speak for themselves. Katherine, a Quinsigamond Community College alum, graduated from Worcester State University with a bachelor's degree in finance and a double minor in economics and Spanish.

She serves as the Young Professional Women's Association of Worcester's Director of Community Outreach and Inclusion, the League of Women Voters of Worcester Chapter's Committee Chair for Equality, Inclusiveness, and Accountability, and the Administrative Executive for Worcester Pride. Katherine organizes many annual fundraisers for young girls and women in her hometown of Cuisnahuat, Sonsonate, El Salvador, and donates her time to her local church, New Wine Christian Center.

Brady, Khloe, and Benito are Katherine's three special dog children. She is also a proud aunt, sister, and daughter. She enjoys swimming, dancing, and cycling in her spare time.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"Determine your goals. Find a niche and stick to it."

Resources:

LinkedIn

In this week's episode, let's meet Veronica Madrigal, the designer, and founder of the Mekishico® clothing and lifestyle brand. Leader on the GeekGirlsMX® non-profit community that promotes women in business through technology.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"Believe that there will be a better time for you when things are tough because it will arrive, even if you can't see it now. Also, don't be terrified of the process; it's okay to feel discouraged. Feeling the pain while letting it go allows you to heal, allowing you to grow and continue to thrive."

Resources:

LinkedIn

Website

Twitter

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Rafaela Garreta knew early on that she would pursue a career in law. She came from a Christian family and received an education that was based on the values of justice and equality. She was raised in a highly educated environment and attended top-notch schools, including the Military-Fundamental School and the Technical Course in Accounting and Administration, where she received the support she needed to become an excellent professional. There will always be a family working to develop the profession behind a person of brilliance.

Rafaela Garreta made the decision to pursue a career in law and started her academic studies at Estácio de Sá in Rio de Janeiro in 2001. She is successful in obtaining her title granted by the OAB in 2006, which gives her permission to practice law and launch her own legal company in RJ. Rafaela Garreta established her legal profession in Brazil. She started her studies in the US in 2007 and graduated from Northeastern University Law School with a master's degree in American and international law.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"I constantly advise everyone to have an objective in mind. If you had no clear goals and only relied on what would happen, you would continuously be lost. I've found that meditation is one thing that has been quite helpful to me. My ability to recharge is substantially improved by meditation, which also makes me happy and creative."

Resources:

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn