VEST Her Podcast

In this episode we talk to Shalynne Jackson, Oklahoma City's Chief Equity Officer, and Mikeale Campbell, Diversity & Inclusion Program Manager at Williams on the topic of Future of Work as it relates to inclusion. We talk about SHRM's decision to remove the word “equity” from DEI due to the anti-DEI movement. If and how companies should evolve DEI efforts. How executives can address the wrongful implication that DEI efforts mean giving preference to unqualified candidates and more.

This episode is brought to you by VEST Her Ventures, a peer network and investment fund for women building the infrastructure needed to unlock women's labor participation, career potential, and lifetime earnings. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co.

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Guest Bios

Shalynne Jackson serves as the City of Oklahoma City's first Chief Equity Officer. Prior to joining the City of OKC, Shalynne supported strategic Inclusion and Diversity initiatives for multiple Fortune 500 companies. She has served on various boards and is currently the Membership Chair for the Oklahoma Human Resources State Council (OKHR); serves on Schnake Turnbo Franks’ I&D Advisory Committee; and is on the board of ReMerge - a comprehensive diversion program. Shalynne is recognized as a 2024 Oklahoma Magazine 40 Under 40 honoree, and in 2023, Shalynne was recognized by 405 Business Magazine as a Notable DEI Leader and one of the Metro's most influential leaders. A graduate of The University of Oklahoma, Shalynne holds a Master of Human Relations degree. Additionally, she is a qualified administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), a cross-cultural assessment of intercultural competence. Most importantly, she is the proud mother of daughter Hollis, 6, and son Liam, 3.

Mikeale Campbell is a proud product of North Tulsa. After graduating from Booker T Washington, he attended the University of Tulsa, majoring in Business and Chinese. Upon graduation, Mikeale moved to Dallas, Texas, to participate in a program called, Teach For America (TFA). Teach For America is a program that takes aspiring leaders and supports them as classroom teachers for a minimum of 2 years. After five years in Texas's classroom and campus support roles, he moved back to the Tulsa area to create and lead TFA Greater Tulsa's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. During his 4 years with the organization Mikeale impacted the knowledge, skills, and mindsets of over 400 educators in the Tulsa area. Mikeale transitioned to the Williams Companies in November of 2020. Since then, he has immediately jumped in to support Williams in becoming a leader in the D&I space within our community. He is heavily involved in the Tulsa community, serving on several boards, including Tulsa Legacy Charter Schools, Pathways Adult Center, and Tulsa Regional Chamber’s 2023 Inclusion Chair. Mikeale prides himself on being an active volunteer in the community, supporting many womxn lead organizations, STEM programs and all things Greenwood. Mikeale says he’s lived a life rooted in a quote he lives by is, "Change is inevitable, but growth is optional.”

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If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button.

If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co 

In this episode VEST Member Terra-Branson Thomas, Senior Policy Advisor at Clause Law and former Secretary of the Nation for the Muscogee Creek Nation talks about the Status of Women in Politics with Kelly Dittmar, Associate Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University and Director of Research at the Center for American Women and Politics at Eagleton Institute of Politics. Kelly is a published author in the field of Gender and Politics. She is also an influential expert in the field, contributing to publications like Forbes Women and serving as a commentator for various media outlets.

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About our Guest(s)

Kelly Dittmar is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University–Camden and Director of Research at the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. She is a published author in the field, co-authoring "A Seat at the Table: Congresswomen’s Perspectives on Why Their Representation Matters" (Oxford University Press, 2018) and authoring "Navigating Gendered Terrain: Stereotypes and Strategy in Political Campaigns" (Temple University Press, 2015). Her work primarily revolves around gender and American political institutions. Dittmar also serves as a co-editor of Politics & Gender, an influential journal in the field. With a background as an American Political Science Association (APSA) Congressional Fellow and experience working for Governor Jennifer Granholm (MI), Dittmar is recognized as an expert in her field, contributing to publications like Forbes Women and serving as a commentator for various media outlets. She holds a B.A. from Aquinas College and earned her Ph.D. from Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

Terra Branson-Thomas, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, has over a decade of experience in federal Indian policy, government relations, and self-governance. At Clause Law, she leverages her expertise from her tenure as Secretary of the Nation for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, where she increased federal funding by $18 million, boosted grant funding by 40%, and provided strategic economic advice. Her career includes roles in national tribal non-profit management, federal negotiations, and legislative development, with prior experience at the National Congress of American Indians. Terra holds a BA in Native American Studies from Dartmouth College and an MPP from Georgetown University.

This episode is brought to you by VEST Her Ventures, a peer network of women professionals and investment fund for women-led companies building the future of work and care infrastructure needed to unlock women's labor participation, career potential and lifetime earnings. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co

Support the show

If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button.

If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co 

In this episode VEST Members talk to gender-inclusive culture expert Brad Johnson, Professor of Psychology at the United States Naval Academy and Faculty Associate at John Hopkins University, about the skills and benefits men earn when they engage in advocating for women at work. The misconceptions and challenges that often get in the way of men engaging in gender-equity advocacy and the economics of inclusive workspaces. Special thanks to VEST Member, Jessica Dietrich,  Director of Government Relations and Policy for Hunger Free Oklahoma for moderating this session. 

Join us as we delve into the multifaceted roles men can play as allies, mentors, and advocates. We also uncover the economic benefits of inclusive workspaces and how intersectionality further complicates women's professional journeys, especially for women of color. Our discussion reveals how evaluations often differ for men and women. We also dissect the evolving dynamics of remote and hybrid work, generational shifts in expectations for work-life balance and how men's engagement in domestic duties is crucial for supporting women's career growth. 

Show Notes

• Stanford Study on Language Bias in Performance Reviews
• Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys' Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Chang
• Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
  
  

Guest Bios

Jessica Dietrich is a VEST Member and the Director of Government Relations and Policy for Hunger Free Oklahoma. In her free time you can find Jessica spending time with her Little through Big Brothers Big Sisters, serving as a violinist and board president for Oklahoma Chamber Symphony, and enjoying time at her home in OKC with her spouse and small fleet of pets including dogs, cats, and chickens.

Brad Johnson, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Leadership, Ethics and Law at the United States Naval Academy, and a Faculty Associate in the Graduate School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. A clinical psychologist, Dr. Johnson is a mentoring expert specializing in developing gender-inclusive mentoring cultures for organizations around the globe. Dr. Johnson is the author of numerous publications including 14 books, including: Good Guys: How Men Can Become Better Allies for Women in the Workplace, Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women (both with David Smith), and The Elements of Mentoring 3rd Ed. (with Charles Ridley).

Support the show

If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button.

If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co 

In this episode we talk to Oklahoma State Senator Julia Kirt and Oklahoma State Representative Melissa Provenzano about why it is becoming harder and harder for people to engage in politics. Join us as we talk about why people are feeling disenfranchised and divided. How can we better navigate the process, skip the noise, and be more effective in our advocacy efforts? 

Together, we dissect the urgency of empowering women in politics and how recent shifts like the overturning of Roe v. Wade are reshaping perceptions of governance and personal autonomy. Our dialogue traverses the landscape of political engagement, revealing the potency of personal narratives in bridging divides and the transformative impact that comes from stepping into the political arena.

About Guest Speakers

Senator Julia Kirt was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 2018 representing District 30 in northwest Oklahoma City. She is an experienced community leader who has led statewide arts and culture nonprofit organizations for 20 years. As a mom of two, Senator Kirt knows first-hand the value of the investments we make in public education and in an economy that provides opportunity for all families. Senator Kirt currently serves as a Co-Chair for the Mental Health Caucus. Her committee work is largely focused on the state’s finances and the rules by which our government operates, which allows her to work for an Oklahoma built on fairness, where each person and community has what they need to thrive.

Representative Melissa Provenzano is a lifelong Tulsa area native, married mom to two and stepmom to two. Elected in 2018 to represent District 79 in Tulsa, she worked as a public school teacher and principal who grew exasperated with cutting her budget every single year until she decided to run. As a legislator, Melissa continues to bring this same commitment and voice, focusing on  common sense education policy and for the needs of families of Tulsa at the state capitol. She currently services as the Assistant Minority Leader for the Democratic Caucus, State Director for Women In Government (National), and co-chair of the Mental Health Caucus.  She was recently named one of Journal Record's 50 Women Making a Difference and is most proud of her work increasing access to diagnostic mammograms, student loan transparency, getting rid of the state grocery tax and separating occupational licensure renewals from tax status.

Support the show

If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button.

If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co 

In this episode we talk to VEST Members about how they've managed to navigate career transitions and setbacks, while rediscovering themselves and building meaningful connections. We discuss the importance of asking for help, leveraging peer networks, advocating for ourselves and other women unapologetically. Join us as we dive into double standards women face at work like self-promotion, work-life balance, and ageism. 

Guest Speakers:

Judy Reyes-Henderson COO at Freedom City OKC and owner of Focal Point Consulting & Interim Staffing (FCIS). Judy founded FCIS after having served as the Executive Director for Development at Ronald McDonald House Charities. Prior she served as the Asst. VP for development at Oklahoma City University, the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Langston University, the Development M anager for University of Central Oklahoma and the Division Director for the March of Dimes. 
 
Kendra Loper Fundraising Coach with the Veritus Group. Kendra’s professional experience includes serving as the Chief External Relations Officer at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, the Development Director for the Make A Wish Foundation and the Executive Director of Alumni Relations at Southern Nazarene University. Kendra is also a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, using the CliftonStrengths assessment to help organizations build stronger team dynamics, better conversations and increased collaboration.

Monica Ybarra Weedn Attorney at Rosell & Love PLLC. Prior she was the Director of Legal Affairs at TBS, and an Attorney at Phillips Murrah. From bartending to corporate counsel, Monica's ability to extract positive lessons and relationships from each career opportunity provides a strong foundation from which she now draws on to serve her clients in private practice. Monica is on the board of Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners, OKC Latino Young Professionals and StitchCrew.

Yvita Crider owner of Fox Crider Consulting Group, where she spearheads the Oklahoma Square One Project, a statewide criminal justice initiative. She is also the artist and owner behind Yvita Handcrafted Jewelry. Prior, she was Director of Statewide Engagement for Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, the Director of Leadership Development for Teach For America, and served in the United Nations and other INGOs.

Support the show

If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button.

If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co 

Remote-work has dwindled over the past few years as employers issue return-to-office mandates. But will that continue in 2024?

In this episode VEST Member Jess Kyle, Data Engineer Manager at Underdog Sports, a fully remote company with more than 350 distributed employees, talks to Lynn Greenberg, Founder of Pivt, a platform helping employers reduce turnover and enhance the social well-being of relocated, mobile, and remote workers and their families.

Listen to the conversation, we covered:

00:00:03 Remote Work Trends and Employee Satisfaction

00:19:21 Leveraging Technology for Remote Productivity

00:24:39 Addressing Employee Well-Being and Burnout 

00:34:50 Improving Work-Life Balance Through Company Culture

00:40:20 Shift in Purpose of on-Site Retreats

00:49:16 Remote Work and Gender Disparities

00:55:44 Work Alignment and Personal Boundaries


Pivt is a VEST Her Ventures Portfolio Company.

Support the show

If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button.

If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co 

More and more women are considering switching roles or leaving the labor force in general as a result of burnout. This burnout is in large part due to caregiving responsibilities. In fact, caregiving responsibilities are the number two reason (behind retirement), that people, mostly women, leave the labor force. This negatively impacts our nation’s workforce availability as well as women’s lifetime earnings. Making this not a women’s issue, but an economic one.

So what do we do about it? 

In this episode we talk with Adriene Prentice and Claudia Naim-Burt, founders of Keep Company, a ventured-backed company helping employers reduce burnout and turnover of employees with caregiving responsibilities. Join us as we talk about ways to identify and mitigate burnout, as well as how we can maintain productivity levels without driving ourselves and employees to feel depleted. 

Keep Company is now part of VEST Her Ventures portfolio. 

About Adrienne Prentice 

Adrienne Prentice is the co-founder and CEO of Keep Company, a group learning platform that helps employers care for, and keep, the parents and caregivers on their teams. After a successful career as a technology attorney practicing at top law firms, including Cooley and Pillsbury, Adrienne was recruited to build a global team of attorneys at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). While at HPE, Adrienne experienced firsthand the unique challenges of being a working parent and the power of coaching. She then shifted her career to talent management at Hogan Lovells and later became a leadership coach specifically for working parents and caregivers. After supporting countless clients battling loneliness and self-sacrifice, Adrienne leveraged her experience as a mother, coach and community builder as well as her background in talent management to build a solution that not only supports parents & caregivers, but positively influences the systems they live in. Adrienne holds a BS from Cornell University’s School of Industrial & Labor Relations and a JD from American University, Washington College of Law. While not working, she devours non-fiction and keeps company with her husband, two children and silver lab in Bethesda, Maryland.

About Claudia Naim-Burt

Claudia Naím-Burt is the co-founder and COO of Keep Company, a group learning platform that helps employers care for, and keep, the parents and caregivers on their teams. Previously, Claudia was a member of the leadership team at Framebridge, a direct-to-consumer custom framing company, where she led Brand and Communications. As the 10th employee to join the company, she helped scale the business to over 400 employees, retail locations and past $82M in venture funding. After Framebridge, Claudia served as an entrepreneur in residence at NEA, and as a strategic advisor to several high-growth businesses, including Poppy Flowers. Claudia has held marketing and communications roles at American Express and Edelman Public Relations. She holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a BA with honors from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Claudia lives in Washington D.C. with her husband and two boys.

Show Notes

• Women in the Workplace Report by Mckinsey & Co

About VEST

VEST is an investment fund and peer network for women. We invest in women-led companies providing solutions that enable employers to build more inclusive workspaces and support women's labor force participation. We also connect and

Support the show

If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button.

If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co 

In this episode Accountability Coach and Author of "Why Not You," Amanda McKinney shares tips, tools and resources with VEST Members on how to achieve goals through discipline and accountability systems. We also talk about the struggle we all grapple with: self-doubt, fear of failure, and decision fatigue. We share strategies to overcome these barriers and discuss how honesty about our fears and seeking support from trusted individuals can be game-changers.

We delve into how tracking progress and finding support networks can supercharge your success. We unpack the science behind accountability and its effectiveness, and discuss various levels of accountability - from using technology as a tool for repeatable actions, to investing in a coach or program. Amanda also shares how to set and track goals effectively, and provides a comprehensive guide to managing your time and boosting productivity.

About Amanda McKinney

Amanda is an Accountability Coach, Podcast Host (The Unapologetic Entrepreneur), and Best Selling Author (Why Not You? An Accidental Entrepreneur’s Guide To Success) on a mission to help passionate accidental entrepreneurs make progress towards creating a profitable and productive business that they’re proud of. Amanda is also a recognized thought leader and coach on Accidental Entrepreneurship & Accountability, author of Amazon Best Seller, Why Not You? An Accidental Entrepreneur’s Guide To Success and host of The Unapologetic Entrepreneur Podcast. She has personally helped hundreds of passionate, yet doubtful, entrepreneurs from around the globe step through self-doubt and create the business that integrates into their life instead of taking it over. She is the founder of a self-built, profitable and debt-free business and it’s through this experience along with her  Masters degree from the University of Florida and past corporate experience that she is widely regarded by passionate female entrepreneurs. As an accountability coach she helps entrepreneurs navigate self-doubt and life’s twists and turns so they can continue to make continued progress towards their business goals.

Show Notes

• Traction, get a grip on your business
• Amanda's Weekly Accountability Sheet
• Goals Toolkit Huberman Lab Podcast

About VEST

VEST is an investment fund and peer network for women. We invest in women-led companies providing solutions that enable employers to build more inclusive workspaces and support women's labor force participation. We also connect and provide executive coaching to women professionals across industries, regions and career levels so that together we can build the future of inclusive workspaces. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co

Support the show

If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button.

If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co 

In this episode we talk about overcoming fear of failure with Sarah Amico, Chair of Jack Cooper Holdings, North America’s largest car hauling company and Women-Owned Enterprise. We discuss Sarah’s journey building a company where she employs thousands of hard working union workers, in the midst of the auto workers strike. Her approach to managing setbacks when she was the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor in Georgia and ran alongside Stacey Abrams, as well as her 2020 senate race, and the bias women face when it comes to risk taking. 

About Sarah

Sarah Riggs Amico is the Chairperson of Jack Coopers Holding Corp., America's largest North America’s largest car hauling company and Women-Owned Enterprise. In this capacity, Sarah oversees the Company’s Board, Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Human Capital Development. Prior to joining Jack Cooper, Sarah was the Head of Strategic Planning at APA Talent and Literary Agency in Beverly Hills. Sarah, began her tenure in media at the William Morris Agency in both Beverly Hills and New York across a variety of departments, including The Mailroom Fund, a seed capital fund raised in partnership with AT&T, Venrock and Accel Partners. During her time in the entertainment industry, she worked on initiatives for some of the world's largest and most recognizable brands, including Time Inc., Reader's Digest, Amtrak, Harry & David, and Virgin America Airlines. Sarah received her B.A. in Politics from Washington & Lee University and M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Aside from her Corporate America career, Sarah was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in Georgia, running alongside Stacey Abrams in 2018. Sarah ran again in 2020 for the U.S. Senate. Click here for Sarah's full bio and show notes. 

Support the show

If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button.

If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co 

What if your career as a working parent came crashing down because of a lack of accessible childcare? Could you imagine being forced to choose between your profession and your child's wellbeing? 

We're peeling back the layers on a pressing issue - the Childcare Cliff - and how its domino effect threatens the progress women have made in the workforce. The expiration of $24 billion in funding puts more than 70,000 child care centers at risk, and with it, the livelihoods of millions of families.

Our discussion doesn't end there. We're throwing light on solutions and actions we can take, as individuals, communities, and policymakers. This issue isn't just a challenge—it's an opportunity for collective action. So, let's stay informed, share these insights with our communities, and actively participate in advocating for a sustainable solution to the "Childcare Cliff."

Support the show

If you enjoy the episode share it with a friend, leave us a review and don't forget to hit the subscribe button.

If you are ready to take your career and business to the next level, apply to join our community of professional women, all eager to help you get there and stay there. Learn more at www.VESTHer.co