This week we empower ourselves to find a connection to our soul and our own truth as we live our dreams. Shelley Paxton, Chief Soul Officer and author of Soulbbatical, joins us for a beautiful conversation about how learning to “surrender” is an important aspect of true success. Success in life should be measured from the inside, by listening to and following your soul. This conversation will begin to give us the tools we need that can lead to becoming successful versus being “success-empty”.

Shelley Paxton spent 26 years as a highly regarded marketing and advertising executive stewarding some of the world’s most iconic brands like Harley-Davidson, Visa, McDonald’s, and AOL. In 2016 she walked away from the corporate world to nurture her soul and discover her purpose. She christened herself Chief Soul Officer and called the journey her Soulbbatical. It did more than change her life, it became her calling.

In 2018, Shelley opened the doors of her own company with the mission to liberate the souls of leaders and organizations, by inspiring them to realize their greatest purpose and potential. Shelley’s intention is to help her clients discover, as she did, a way of being that is aligned with their authentic self (soul) and deeply rooted in a commitment to living and leading courageously. As a certified professional coach, she works with individuals, entrepreneurs, and executives at Fortune 100 companies like Lowe’s, Inc. and Mars, Inc.

(4:50) What does surrender mean to Shelley and we begin our discussion around the power of it.

(9:50) How can we embrace the idea of surrender without viewing it as a weakness or accepting defeat?

(13:12) How does Shelley help people to embrace the idea of trust & surrender? She shared with us her own journey to learning how to embrace it.

(22:00) We discuss about how to “dance with fear”, leaning into it so you can learn to control it.

(28:40) What expressions/mantras has Shelley found herself embracing more often than others?

(35:00) How do Shelley’s old identities (like CMO at Harley) find their way into her current one as Chief Soul Officer?

(44:50) A discussion about understanding who you are, at your core, and learn to love what you discover.

(49:30) Chatting about “becoming Shelley Paxton” and talk about her successes and what the future holds for Soulbattical.
Connect with Shelley Paxton
https://soulbbatical.com/

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This week’s conversation with Allyson Hernandez starts with a discussion about her new book, Ballad of Dreams. From there she shares her life experiences, the highs and lows, but also what it means to be a “multi-passionate creative” person. We learn to shed fears and hesitation and jump into the passions that bring us joy in life. We also touch upon the importance of giving ourselves space and self-care while living our best creative lives. Learning to balance ourselves when creating and bringing ourselves forth into the world is just as important as taking that first leap.

Allyson is a multi-passionate creative entrepreneur. What does that even mean? It means she is not just one thing. None of us are.

She is an author, Executive, Career & Life coach, actor, singer, composer, Keynote Speaker, and mom.

Her debut novel that originated as a Musical, Ballad of Dreams, was published in January 2022 thanks to New Degree Press! You can get your paperback or ebook copy on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com today here: https://www.allysonhernandez.net/book.

She also founded AH Coaching Group, LLC, to work with rock-star leaders to embrace their extra, develop their leadership muscle, crush their creative and professional goals, and turn their dreams into reality. She believes, when people are their most authentic selves, they are the most successful in leadership and in life.

(5:38) What does Allyson most identify with in her life and what does it mean for her as a “multi-passionate creative”?

(7:49) She shares her experience expanding her footprint in the world through her new novel.

(12:33) Who are the people she brought into her circle during the early days of writing her musical/novel?

(17:26) What were some of the obstacles that she had to overcome in those early days?

(21:13) What are some of the key messages she wanted to share through her novel?

(25:25) How did she capture the personalities and life experiences that her characters embody? She shares how tapping into her own experiences helped her create the world in her novel.

(30:15) What does she think her grandmother and aunt, whom the novel is based upon, would feel about her experience writing it.

(32:15) She shared with us some of her recent successes, like being on the Tamron Hall Show.

(38:00) What is important and happening in her life “right now”?

(44:50) Who are the people that Allyson follows and admires? Why?


Connect with Allyson Hernandez
https://www.allysonhernandez.net

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In our May conversations we focused on looking inward, allowing us to bring the best version of ourselves forth through conversations with individuals who are talented at igniting gifts in the people around them. As we move into June we continue this journey of discovery by experiencing the beauty of being truthful with ourselves. How when life brings uncertainty, it can also open up possibilities and big ideas. Join us as we continue to be curious and young at heart with a beautiful sense of wonder.

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Our open conversation with Lauren Jensen this week is about redefining leadership in our current environment. We spend some time exploring the past few years and the crucial role it has played in exposing our individual leadership styles and skills. Lauren shares her own style of “extreme transparency” in leadership, talking from your heart and being authentic in your professional life. We learn that this can lead to a work environment where others can let their guard down and improve their relationships with each other.

Lauren Jensen is an Experienced Business Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. Strong consultative approach. A professional skilled in Strategy, Business Transformation, Enterprise Communication, Leadership and Culture change and Account Management. She is focused on creating the next generation of meaningful customer experiences at Prudential.

(10:00) What does leadership look like to Lauren in today’s environment? She describes were concept of “be the leader you wish you had”.

(14:31) In this environment, what does she find leaders are doing well and not so well.

(16:25) What does she find are her own strengths and weaknesses?

(18:50) Learn who you are, know yourself, before you can explore being authentic with others. Continuing the superb discussion about being authentic through leadership & relationships with colleagues.

(21:50) Lauren discusses that a mentor once told her “You are driven by harmony and our environment up here is driven by discord” and how that drove her to better understand her leadership style.

(23:04) Extreme Transparency, how being real and authentic can put people at ease.

(26:27) How can we help to manage mental health in leadership positions?

(31:26) What is important to Lauren?

(33:22) We discuss the important role that the word “love” and learning love languages can play in the workplace.

(35:45) Who is Lauren following and admiring in her life right now?


We will continue our conversations each week as we move into the summer months and explore stories of inspiration and open heartedness.

Connect with Lauren Jensen
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jensenlauren/

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Our conversation this week is with Marni Sclaroff, a life guide whose mantra “Welcome to your wild knowing…I am an inner wilderness guide” embodies her coaching method that helps people to find their way through life. She shares with us how to transform our suffering into something meaningful and beautiful. She strives to help us move away from the conditioning of running from pain and conflict, and see the power in embracing and learning from those experiences.

Marni Sclaroff is a life coach, writer, artist and yoga teacher who brings a lifelong passion for living a creative and purposeful life to people all over the world. With over 30 years of experience in the holistic, visual and movement arts, and a Master’s Degree in Art Education, she is well-versed in the languages of artistry and transformation. In addition to holding 3 certifications in yoga & having received formal initiation as a practitioner of meditation, she is also a certified Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coach. Her work is influenced and inspired by earth based spirituality and nature's cycles and rhythms.

She is the founder of Yoga.Soul.Magic, an online school dedicated to the practice of yoga and meditation as a path of embodied wisdom and joyful living.

We will continue our conversations next week to shed light on the importance of being mindful of your emotions and wellbeing during National Mental Health Awareness Month.

(4:30) We start the conversation learning about Marni and her life’s work and experiences.

(8:10) “Welcome to your wild knowing…I am the inner wilderness guide” – what does this mean and how does she teach others about its importance

(11:00) We are often disconnected from our instinctual and intuitive wisdom. How has this happened in our culture?

(13:10) What are the most common emotions Marni works with and why does she think this is the case?

(16:12) How does Marni help people find their sense of purpose?

(20:00) The importance of our emotions that go unaddressed, how they manifest themselves and Jeanie shares her own personal experiences recently.

(22:25) A discussion about emotions, how healthy ones flow and unhealthy ones can block and manifest in negative ways

(25:00) Why are we not encouraged to explore emotions, especially in our professional lives?

(27:25) Finding a balance between healthy emotions and learning how to be productive while exploring the unhealthy ones.

(30:16) Techniques that can help you channel your emotions

(32:36) Who are the people in Marni’s personal life that help keep her grounded, and who does she admire?

(37:15) Marni shares her message of how important it is to connect to our inner dignity & each other’s.

Connect with Marni Sclaroff
https://www.marnisclaroff.com/

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This week we have a conversation with Barbara Best & Nancy Rizzuto from Capital Strategies. They started Cap Strat to fill a gap in the institutional retirement field and to provide “holistic support” to their clients that was lacking in similar businesses. You’ll see throughout the conversation how their fundamental principal of “trust & transparency” is important to them and why building relationships, instead of simply being a transactional business, is key to being the best.

Barbara Best and Nancy Rizzuto are both Founders and Principals of CAP STRAT, and the Founders of the CAP STRAT Women's Forum.

Their primary focus is to cultivate awareness and business opportunities for their firm’s institutional investment advisory, private wealth advisory, and asset management services and to co-lead the Capital Strategies Women's Forum. The Forum’s mission is to support the personal and professional success and fulfillment of women. Their passion is to financially empower others, especially women, so they attain the freedom to live the life of their dreams and create a meaningful legacy. They are active philanthropic leaders in their respective communities; and one of Barbara’s personal passions is being a mom to her daughter Cate, and Nancy’s to her 6-year-old Havanese, Chauncey.

It has been our pleasure to bring to you the incredible journeys of so many Fierce Females. Join us again next week as we begin conversations that can have a positive impact on our wellbeing during National Mental Health Awareness Month.


(3:21) The beginning of Capital Strategies and what was it like starting out 19 years ago

(6:30) Barbara & Nancy discuss the “crystal clear” vision that they shared when starting out

(10:09) What did they see in each other that allowed them to feel they were the right team to work together to create Cap Strategies

(15:08) How did they push through the fear and uncertainty when starting out?

(20:27) What decisions were important to them during the early days?

(29:52) What is their partnership like? How do they interact with each other, resolve differences and more?

(33:18) What advice did they receive that was instrumental to them starting on this venture?

(36:40) We learn about their “Doesn’t Matter, Get Better” internal hands-on meetings and how influential they are for them professionally and personally

(42:19) They share how & why they started the Women’s Forum

(49:01) How do they, professionally and personally, want to help influence the future?

(57:20) Once again it’s our fun speed round where we learn some of their favorite words and expressions, pet peeves and who they would love to have dinner with

Connect with Barbara Best & Nancy Rizzuto
https://www.capstratig.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyrizzuto
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbest1

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This week we speak to Terri Rockovich, co-founder & CEO of Jinx, a holistic nutrition dog food company. The conversation starts with some blockbuster headlines about the elite of Hollywood investing in Jinx in 2020, but comes back around to learning about the team behind the brand whose goal is to create healthy “dog food worthy of your best friend”. From the early days of three friends sharing their dog parent stories to investors to becoming “the internet’s favorite nutrition brand for modern dogs” we learn how they stayed grounded throughout the journey in their lives and mission for Jinx. We discuss the importance of balancing intellect and intuition with Terri, and sharing experiences in launching a brand during the tough COVID years.

Terri is a seasoned executive with 14+ years of combined agency and client-side experience at fast-moving companies. Proactive and results-driven leader adept at managing multi-million dollar projects, with a solid history of generating impressive growth and profitability on media investments for a range of small businesses to major corporations. High comfort level executing diverse strategic mandates with killer teams that demonstrate intelligent risk-taking, cross-departmental project management, sharp organizational skills, creative and analytical thinking, and problem solving. Advanced experience driving the vision, strategy and execution of marketing activities.

It is our pleasure to bring to you another story of the incredible journey of a Fierce Female Founder.

(3:50) Our conversation starts with the early years of Jinx and how being a co-founder is different than the leadership seat that Terri occupies

(7:10) How to create a unique brand that goes beyond the product itself, but also creates a something more as we learn about the culture of working at Jinx

(10:14) Insight into what motivated investors to invest in Jinx and how did the co-founders approach presenting their product

(15:14) The dynamics of Jinx co-founders relationship and how they made early decisions while working together

(21:45) Covid hit in the early days, how did this affect the team and their journey to launching Jinx

(27:11) Terri shares with us how her team reflects on the highs and lows of their journey as they recently celebrated their 3 year anniversary

(31:14) How does the team experience and teach a balance between intellect and intuition in making business decisions

(37:38) Who are the people in Terri’s life that are “keeping it real” for her, and keeping her grounded

(44:20) Looking into the future, how does Terri see Jinx and herself influencing that future

(48:18) Fun speed round of favorite words, quotes, pet peeves and more/

Connect with Terri Rockovich
https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrirockovic
https://www.thinkjinx.com/

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Jeanie speaks to Carolyn Childers & Lindsay Kaplan, co-founders of Chief, a network with a powerful mission to move more woman into the top and keep them there. Their discussion this week moves from learning about the early days, their individual experiences with creating the vision and purpose of Chief to hearing how “keeping it real” can be a powerful mindset for success. We see how creating Chief was born out of a need to find something that was lacking in other leadership programs, an experience that could be impactful and worth the time of women executives that had value and purpose.

Chief is a private network designed for the most powerful women in executive leadership to strengthen their leadership, magnify their influence, and pave the way to bring others with them. Launched in 2019 by Carolyn Childers and Lindsay Kaplan, its mission is to drive more women to the top and keep them there. Chief has been recognized as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2021, and its diverse membership includes 10,000 of the most senior executives in the United States.

It is Jeanie’s pleasure to bring to you the story of two incredible women and the beautiful gifts they are bringing to the world every day! This interview is fun, interesting, inspirational and from the heart. Warriors, meet Chief!

(6:41) We go back to the beginning of Chief, in Tribeca. What was their biggest worry in those first moments?

(9:37) When did Chief get to their first 100 members and how did they find the confidence that people would want to join?

(13:40) Why do they think there has been such growth in their network?

(16:37) They discuss how Chief is different in giving women an experience, make it impactful and delivering a value that they can take back to their own lives & careers.

(18:06) What was the beginning of their partnership like?

(22:23) Carolyn & Lindsay discuss their personal & professional readiness in starting a new business.

(28:25) How have they evolved from when they first started to now?

(37:19) Jeanie discusses with them their philosophy of “keeping it real” to see how they weave this into their relationship as co-founders, partners and friends.

(41:26) They share highs & lows of the last few years.

(43:22) What are they focused and working on right now?

(46:23) Lindsay shares their campaign launch for Women’s History Month that asks “What does the future look like, when women lead the way”. How do they want Chief to influence the future?

(49:33) Fun speed round asking about their favorite words, movies and more.

(55:50) If they could have dinner with anyone, who would they be and why?

Connect with Carolyn Childers & Lindsay Kaplan
https://chief.com/careers#story
https://www.linkedin.com/company/joinchief

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To begin the month, Jeanie taps into what makes these Fierce Females successful, why does it matter and what they want their impact to be in the world. They share their experiences and bring an incredible honesty to each conversation. We bring together different women, different ages and backgrounds but they all have a powerful alignment with their why.

We are honored to share these conversations with our Warriors At Work community. Grab your notebook, watch & listen!

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This week we have a very rich conversation about leading and living in the now with Susan DeVore, former CEO of at Premier Inc. Susan & Jeanie discuss different types of leaderships philosophies and styles including “Leading from Within”, to discover a style that allows us to be productive and confident in our careers. Susan also shared invaluable advice and wisdom from the many successes and low points in her 40 year career.

Susan DeVore is the Former CEO, and ongoing Advisor to Premier with approximately 40 years of experience. DeVore’s tenure with Premier has centered on driving innovation in healthcare and leading the industry through profound change by engaging stakeholders to co-develop solutions that support high-quality, efficient, and sustainable care delivery models.

DeVore is an industry-leading thinker who has consistently been named multiple times to Modern Healthcare's 100 Most Influential People and Top 25 Women in Healthcare lists. She is the recipient of the Charlotte Business Journal’s 2018 Women in Business Lifetime Achievement Award, was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2017 100 Great Healthcare Leaders to Know and was recognized as a 2016 UNC Charlotte Distinguished Alumnus.
DeVore serves on the board of directors of Advent Health, Unum Group and the Anthem, Inc. board of directors. In addition, DeVore also serves as the chair of the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees. Previously she served on the board of directors of Premier Inc. and served as the chair and member of the board of trustees of the Healthcare Leadership Council, a DC based policy organization.

Under DeVore's leadership, Premier has been named as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the past 14 years and received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Please join us again next week as we continue our conversations with other “Fierce Females”.


(5:08) Susan shares her “continuously distributed” leadership style and how other styles can lead to unwanted results

(7:30) At what point in Susan’s life did she realize that leadership and becoming a CEO was her goal

(11:07) A conversation about facing fears and how to overcome them

(14:35) The importance of proving your worth through actions and not just words

(15:32) Susan shares how to “love the issue, love the problem, love the challenge” instead of fighting against the unpredictable experiences in career and life

(18:57) Becoming the “smarter big sister” to colleagues and gaining respect

(23:16) “Making rules that work for you” - a belief that Susan shares to help deal with the challenges in finding a balance between work & life

(28:15) Say “Yes” and often as you can and “No” when you really need to

(32:56) Life is short, live in the moment!

(37:15) Susan shares the highs and lows over her 40 year career


Connect with Susan DeVore
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-devore

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