WIL Talk (Women in Leadership Talk)

How do you get more done by doing less? Join us for a conversation with Amber McCue as she shares her best on how to do just that. Amber has a background in corporate consulting and studied at John Hopkins Organization Development MBA. Putting all things “How to Clone Yourself” to work, she grew her first business from a side hustle to a multi-million dollar company and operated in 26 US cities. 

During our conversation dive into how after 15 years she shifted her career to create space to have a family and begin this journey of change and evolution. She worked on how to work smart and not hard as she built her businesses and her family. We dive into some of the challenges that women face especially as it pertains to the “invisible workload”, we just do it and make sure things run as they should but there can be a price if we don’t leverage our strengths. Amber shares how she uses her key strengths of achiever and adaptability to help her navigate but also a skill she has developed over time which is coming from a space of optimism. 

She offers some great examples of how life gets messy and the importance of reminding yourself of your values and checking in to see if you are in alignment with those values. She provides some great tips on how to break down that massive to-do list by either,  doing it, delegating it, or deleting it. Your choice and so important to get to that place that you feel no guilt or shame. Building in margin becomes key to shifting our view on how we work and again she shares many great examples of how to shift the reality.

 One example is with managing your calendar: 

1. What do you have control over? 
2. How do you build in the margin, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually?
3. Research and educate others about building in the margin. Many resources are available.

Those are just a few of the examples she shares. Let us know your thoughts on this episode. You can find Amber on LI, IG, FB or YouTube.

If you are ready to unleash your full potential as a leader, join us for our fall cohort. To learn more, visit our website at www.wilempowered.com. This is a wonderful opportunity to enhance your power skills, learn more about your strengths, and how to put them to work.

In this episode of the Women in Leadership Talk podcast, host Vicki Bradley welcomes Orchid Jahanshahi, a seasoned commercial leader in the biopharma and tech sectors. Orchid shares her journey from working in pharma to founding her venture, ThinkrBelle, which focuses on connecting the dots between Canadian health tech and life sciences. She discusses her passion for advancing early-stage companies using AI and tech to improve patient access to healthcare, her role as a connector and networker, and her mentorship within the tech and pharma industries. Orchid also touches on her experience with ageism in tech and her drive to foster Canadian talent while making a global impact.

This episode highlights the importance of curiosity, resilience, and creating meaningful connections in leadership and entrepreneurship.

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In this episode of the Women in Leadership Talk podcast, Vicki Bradley welcomes Michelle Tran, an inspiring leader in the fintech space, calling in from Oakland, California. Michelle, the founder of NYC Fintech Women—a thriving community of over 12,000 women—shares her insights on the growing intersection of fintech and wealth management.

Join Vicki and Michelle as they dive into the importance of financial literacy and the democratization of access through fintech. Michelle discusses how fintech is reshaping the financial landscape by empowering women, providing them with the tools to take control of their wealth, and making complex financial concepts more approachable. From her experiences at BlackRock to her passion for promoting inclusion in the financial system, Michelle offers practical advice on navigating wealth transfer and selecting the right financial advisors.

This conversation also highlights the challenges women face in the venture capital space, where only a small percentage of funding goes to female founders. Michelle shares how NYC Fintech Women is working to amplify the voices and achievements of women in fintech, including their annual Inspiring Fintech Females awards at the New York Stock Exchange.

Tune in to hear more about how fintech is making a difference and how women can harness these tools to grow their wealth and make informed financial decisions.

We’re thrilled to have you with us today, and we have an amazing guest joining us: Jillian Gibbs from Aspen, Colorado!

Jillian is the founder of the world’s largest advertising production consultancy, APR Consulting. What’s fascinating is that she started her journey in the arts, training in opera and musical theatre, and even performing on cruise ships.

Jillian's story is one of incredible adaptability and perseverance. From taking a freelance job in advertising to landing a full-time role at Unilever, Jillian quickly rose through the ranks to become a production supervisor by the age of 25. She learned the ins and outs of advertising production and discovered a passion that led her to where she is today.

We’ll dive into Jillian's unique career path, how she made the leap from the arts to advertising, and the lessons she learned along the way. So, sit back, relax, and let’s jump into this inspiring conversation with Jillian Gibbs.

How does one navigate the world with a hidden disability and still thrive in a successful career? Join us as we speak with Monica Dreger, Monica oversees all worldwide research initiatives for Airbnb where she has created a foundation for company growth and inspired a new insights-driven philosophy. She built the team and vision for the first centralized research function for Airbnb and manages diverse sub-teams of Consumer Insights, UX research, Trends & Foresight, and Neuroscience research. She has previously held roles with other iconic brands including Mattel – where she oversaw the Barbie transformation, Unilever and Nickelodeon.

 Monica learned at a very young age that she had a hearing impairment and could only make out a few words when speaking with others. She shares with us that there are many shades of grey when it comes to a disability and luckily, she was able to get the support she required to have one of the best hearing aids. This helped her to persevere and carry on with her life. She learned to remove the focus from herself and on others and she became an advocate for enabling her to give to others. Eventually learning not to be concerned with what other people thought of her helped her begin to lead with empathy and to never fall to a victim state.

She realized that most organizations are not equipped with the infrastructure to support those with a disability much less a hidden disability and that became even tougher after covid with most people working hybrid. Airbnb has worked really hard to create an environment that is diligent in finding the best possible outcomes by trying a variety of things to enhance the experience. Not perfect but a focus on inclusion has helped them to adapt.

Monica has dedicated her career to research as she is fascinated with the details and nuances being shared. She started her career as a group therapy leader and her focus has always been on listening which is remarkable considering her hidden disability. Her fascination with irrational thinking and the brain makes her the perfect person to dive deep into the details and facts that present themselves. We gain insight from her into how the brain works and how accelerated everything is today in our attention-deficit society.

To wrap up our conversation she shares some of her favourite insights regarding the transformation of the Barbie brand and how other organizations might take a look at how they can become more inclusive, which requires risk, but the payoff may be bigger than you realize.

If this episode resonates with you, please do share it with a friend or colleague.

Interested in better understanding how you show up as a leader? Visit our website at www.wilempowered.com and take our free leadership quiz or if interested in learning more about the WIL community subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

#hiddendisability #disability #womenleaders #empathy #wilempowered #wiltalk #womeninleadershipempowered

We’re thrilled to have Karen McMahon with us, a high-conflict divorce strategist and the founder of Journey Beyond Divorce. Karen brings a unique perspective to navigating the tumultuous waters of divorce, focusing on how our behaviours, beliefs, and traumas shape our relationships and can impact the breakup process.

Today, we’ll dive into Karen’s remarkable journey through her own experiences with divorce and her transformative approach to helping others through these challenges. We’ll explore the intricacies of high-conflict divorces, the importance of personal healing, and how examining our patterns can lead to profound growth. Whether you’re facing divorce or simply curious about the process, Karen’s insights will offer invaluable guidance on reclaiming your confidence and finding new possibilities beyond the end of a marriage. So, let’s jump in and get started!

Visit our website at willempowered .com and you can subscribe to our monthly newsletter. We don't bombard you with lots of information. It's more about what free master classes or networking are on the horizon, but it'll give you a lot of insight into how to be more empowered. 

What are the learnings young people need to understand when they are ready to hit the job market? And what is your money story? Lynn Herrick, COO of Bluecrest joins us again on the WIL Talk podcast to dive into these very important topics. Lynn previously joined us for episode #109 and today we are back to take a deeper into these topics. Lynn by trade is an international lawyer and has been able to use her skills in many different industries and today she is on the mission to find a business to take over and turn it around. Her experiences are incredible and her passion for sharing how to support our younger generations is priceless.

Kids need role models and to know they can be whatever they choose. Today we have endless possibilities but there are some foundational skills they must require to better navigate the real world. In our discussion, we discuss energy and what you are putting out – does it match what you want in life? You must pay attention and change it if it’s not going the way you want. We raise our kids to believe that if they get good grades, they will be fine and that is not reality. Once you enter the working world they must be prepared. Having a customer service mindset is helpful and what she means by that is going above and beyond, it’s not a check off the list, it is immersing yourself into the work and learning, asking for opportunities, having a great attitude and just doing it. Saying “yes” is super important and the willingness to try things.

 She recommends preparing a 3-5-10 minute elevator pitch with a mindset of “I AM”. She shares some amazing examples of shifting failure to opportunity. When we don’t get what we want such as a job, what do we learn from it? How would you present differently next time? 

 Be aware of your communication. Kids are so used to social media and texting, but older adults might find the language rude, so check yourself regularly and ask someone to criticize you. A few tips she shares are about being able to carry on a conversation with an adult, ask questions, and be curious.

 What is your money story? Money provides many options so how do you prepare yourself with strong financial acumen? 

There are many myths about money, and it is our responsibility to educate ourselves on money and know our money philosophy. You can do that by reading books, listening to podcasts, attending conferences, or bank events on wealth management. Do not leave money decisions to your partner. You must know and consciously plan together for the future. She shares a great example about a woman who reached out after our last podcast and the experience they shared talking about money.

 If you have questions about money reach out to Lynn or me, we are happy to share our own experiences or connect you with someone professionally trained.

 Curious about what is happening at WIL Empowered? Visit our website at  www.wilempowered.com and subscribe to our monthly newsletter. 

#moneytalk #confidence #pitch #emergingleaders #wilempowered #wiltalk

Welcome to today's episode of "The Power of Discovery," where we delve into the transformative potential of embracing the unknown. Today, we're privileged to sit down with Karen Golden-Biddle, an award-winning researcher whose work shines a light on the oft-overlooked leadership capacity of discovery.

Karen's groundbreaking research in organizational ethnography reveals the profound impact of cultivating a practice of discovery within leadership. But what does it mean to be an organizational ethnographer? It's not about observing from afar; it's about immersing oneself in the everyday lives of people within organizations, experiencing their joys, struggles, and challenges firsthand.

Through her extensive studies, Karen has unearthed the essence of discovery as a dynamic process, not just an outcome. It's about asking the right questions, challenging beliefs, and embracing surprise and doubt. In a world where organizations often prioritize predictability and efficiency, the power of discovery can be overlooked. But Karen's work illuminates its vital role in driving innovation and lasting change.

During our conversation, we delve into the meaning of an organization ethnographer. What it’s like to work within verses on a topic or organization. How the art of discovery lies in the process not the actual outcome. How the inventive process is emergent and what it is like to shift as a human being when you focus on the relational outcomes. 

To learn more about what is happening at WIL Empowered, visit us at www.wilempowered.com and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

#discovery #joyofinquiry #wilempowered #wiltalk #possibility

What is the medicine for chaos? Join us as we speak with Maria Carpenter from South Africa as she shares her story of finding her way and how her personal journey of navigating tragedy helped her to find joy and purpose. Maria has had a diverse career spanning software development, management consulting, executive leadership, and entrepreneurship. Maria has spent her career creating an environment of expectation that cultivates a culture of results.

She takes us on a journey of success, then burnout, then back to finding her true place of happiness and how that happened after she had children. The lessons they have taught her in being the leader she is meant to be. We discuss the challenges women face when they are conflicted with their masculine energy and the consequences when they are out of alignment with their feminine side. This showed clearly when she experienced burnout at such a young age. Then one of her 6 brothers was killed tragically, and she felt like her world had ended, not even love could bring her back for a while.

Then she found plant medicine and mindfulness work bringing her back to the world and her family.

In 2018 she was sought out to run a large tech team and was baffled as to why they had contacted her only to realize this is what she needed. Given her experiences with connecting her masculine and feminine, she was able to quickly realize some wins for the team and aligning the expectations with the results. She talks about getting clear with what you want and how to communicate that to others and align the team on a common vision. But you must emotionally connect and be engaged with that vision for it to come to fruition.

Want to better understand your leadership, visit us at www.wilempowered.com and take our free leadership quiz.

 #mindfulness #wilempowered #wiltalk #chaos

What does it take to navigate the labyrinth of challenges that women confront daily in our work and in our lives? Dr Andrea “Andi” Simon joins us to discuss just how we might do this. Dr Andi is a pioneering corporate anthropologist renowned for guiding companies through transformative change.  She is the author of two acclaimed books and now a third which she co-authored in order to amplify the wisdom of over 102 women. She is joined by Edie Fraser and Robyn Spizman in the creation of “Women Mean Business”. She is also the CEO of the award-winning, Simon Associates Management Consultants, where she brings theories, methods, and the tools of anthropology into businesses to help them “see, feel, and think” in new ways, revolutionizing change.

Dr. Andi and I take a deep dive into understanding what drives her passion for transformative change and what prompted her approach of using ethnography and the observations garnered from anthropological research to help companies to change and also this focus on empowerment of women by sharing their wisdom and expertise. So what exactly is an anthropology approach, it is an approach that is focused on observing, being curious, and just watching what happens before we make any conclusions or assumptions. There is great power in being ok with uncertainty and just watching to see what unfolds. Her mission is to help organizations not only see what needs to happen but to be able to feel and think it through. If you pay attention there will always be themes that emerge.

So why are so many of us resistant to change? Change is scary and it is the unknown. We as humans like to feel safe and so three things, she shares with us to know:

1. Know your mind has a story – whether it is true or not is dependent on you.
2. You live it and therefore it becomes a habit.
3. Makes you feel consciously incompetent.

We are not sure how to play the game so change seems scary. The pandemic is a great example of how we quickly adapted to the uncertainties and so the important thing is to manage your mind and just show up.

In her latest book, “Women Mean Business” she and her co-authors celebrate and elevate women by showcasing their wisdom and stories to help us better navigate the complexities in life. She reminds us if we cannot see our role models it’s hard to be one. We must engage on all levels and be aware of what and how we show up. Her own personal mottos include that it’s not about me but about us, to make change your friend, and build your resilience so that you can thrive. Such a great episode packed with many examples of how change can help you to thrive.

Interested in knowing how you might be showing up as a leader? Visit us at www.wilempowered.com and take our free leadership quiz.

#change #anthropology #celebratewomen #womenleaders #wilempowered #wiltalk