WIL Talk (Women in Leadership Talk)

How do you know when it is time to pivot or be pivoted in your career?  Join us as we speak with Jenn Smith, founder of Flourish Careers as she shares her thoughts on how to make that transition when you are ready to pivot or if you are being pivoted. We spend 90,000 + hours working in our careers, and it is so important to be doing what you love. During our conversation Jenn shares how to reconnect from the heart as you navigate the complexities of transitioning, being aware of the energy you are generating and the impact you have on those you lead.

Value alignment is so important and to break that down between your core values and your lifestyle values.  To set yourself up by asking yourself what is next in your career?  What industry aligns with where I want to be? Do they share the same values that are important to me or am I just drifting along because it is easier? What is the role I want to play and how do my skills transfer to this role? How do I want to impact this industry?

 She suggests taking an energy audit, find the patterns or clues that support you with what brings you joy, how does it align with who you are being. And that having only one career is not the goal in today’s world. Seeing the many possibilities available to you is so important. There is a broken system when it comes to how resumes are received, and AI helps to filter but when you receive 1000’s there is no way to get back to every person who is applying so what is a person to do? 

 Tap into the “Hidden Job Market” – building a strong and vibrant network is key. If you are looking for a role, determine who you might know in that organization and if you don’t know someone make it a point to get to know the people that work there. Find out what the company is like and how they operate to determine if it is the right fit for you. Finding a job is a full -time job and requires intention. 

Such a great conversation and Jenn shares so many stories and ways to support your career pivot. She also hosts her podcast “ The Flourish Careers” podcast with helpful tips and resources. Let us know your thoughts on the podcast and if you have questions please do reach out.

https://www.wilempowered.com/virtual-and-online-courses/

Ready to dip your toe into graciously bragging? Or maybe expand your vocabulary with a few new terms or words such as bragologue, brag bites, and brag bag. Join us as we speak with one of America’s most sought-after communication and leadership experts, Peggy Klause. She is the author of 2 best-selling books, BRAG! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It and The Hard Truth About Soft Skills: Workplace Lessons Smart People Wish They’d Learned Sooner. Peggy has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, HBR, and O Magazine. 

Peggy takes us on a journey from aspiring to be a lawyer, to a producer in Hollywood, the work she does so passionately today. As she shares with me in the podcast you can’t make it in Hollywood or anywhere else for that matter without learning to toot your own horn and doing it graciously. We dive into the myths of bragging, and why so many of us suffer from imposter syndrome, why looking out for #1 is imperative and how to ensure you are able to create a punchy and interesting brag to promote yourself. This is an art and especially as women we must learn to high light our accomplishments, and also how to plant those seeds consistently with others around you. We also address how you can do that virtually and getting comfortable shifting the story. So many wonderful lessons and tips to take in. 

If you find this to be an interesting episode please do take time to leave us a review and share with someone in your life that could use some extra support finding their brag story. We mention 2 additional tools to use at the end of the podcast, be sure to check those out as well at: PeggyKlaus.com or Wilempowered.com. And if you are interested in learning more about your leadership take our free quiz, here at www.wilempowered.com/quiz. 

Adult ADHD is not new and often goes untreated especially in girls and women until much later in life, if ever. Christina Crowe joins us for a conversation to unpack Neurodiversity in all its forms and the range of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits. Christina is a registered Psychotherapist and Valid Clinical Supervisor (OAMHP), she hosts the Christina Crowe podcast: Making the Invisible Visible and is the owner of Dig a Little Deeper, Psychotherapy and Counselling which is a modern mental health group practice with over 20 associate mental health professionals, including psychiatric nurse practitioners and graduate interns, dedicated to bringing seamless multi-model mental health care to Ontario, Canada.

In this conversation, Christina emphasizes the need to create a supportive work environment where individuals can succeed and leverage their natural strengths, whether one should disclose whether they have ADHD, and what might be the impact both positive and negative. She decided for herself that it would be in her best interest to disclose especially after spending 20 years in pharma and not realizing why she would get so bored or distracted once she had launched a product. As she began to understand what was happening to her, it enabled her to work within her strengths and design her work to keep her more fully engaged. She discusses how ADHD affects individuals differently, it's not a one-size-fits-all all, including the balance between impulsivity and creativity. There is a stigma often associated with ADHD and it's important to have the awareness of what is going on and how to leverage your strengths and to do that faster, especially with your work colleagues. 

We also get into how women might experience shame, a sense of judgment, and how to make sense of what is happening. There are many people who navigate different neurodiverse issues and it is important to find the support you need to best navigate. If you or a loved one is struggling with ADHD and seeking support, ask questions and be sure to find the proper help that specializes in what you might be dealing with. Christina offers a lot of free resources on her website at digalittledeeper.ca to educate those interested in learning more. I know the information she shared with me about what adults, girls, and women might experience was super helpful in supporting my own family. If you have questions or are not sure where to turn, reach out and connect with Christina.

 If you are curious to learn more about your leadership, visit us at wilempowered.com to take our free leadership quiz. 

#ADHD #Neurodiversity #invisiblevisible #wilempowered

Ready to make a shift from working hard to working smart? Join us for a conversation with Liz Hartke from Luminary Leadership as she shares how she has gained 20+ hours back to her schedule. She and her husband have built a wildly successful business helping entrepreneurs gain more time in their busy schedules. She grew up in a family of entrepreneurs from an early age and learned how time was seen as money but not freedom and this was not the way she wanted to experience her own work/life balance. Her mom made it to all of her activities but after getting the kids to bed at night she would often find her with her briefcase spread across the table, working to catch up on her work. She saw that her parents had flexibility but not freedom in their careers and she knew she wanted a very different life for herself and her family.

 Liz shares her tips for how to make that shift by planning for growth and that there are seasons of growth. Think about it as the strategy of your life and be proactive about how you approach the big things or leverage the high-value items. Most of us live by our to-do list and as CEOs of our lives, we need to shift to being focused on the business not in the business. Think about what it’s worth to you. What are the non-negotiables? Being tied to your purpose and linking everything to that is crucial.

 Two tips to get time back:

1. Having systems in place personally and with your team such as the Leader morning checklist, removes any decision-making issues, and things that are repetitive and gives to others to complete.
2. Usage of AI – She shares the link for her ebook for you to check out luminaryleadershipco.com/chatgpt

Great conversation Liz and thank you for joining us.

 If you are interested in learning more about your leadership, please visit the wilempowered.com website to take our free leadership quiz.

Do you ever think about if it is possible to be “happy even after” something has happened? Renee Bauer, divorce attorney, author, International speaker, and co-founder of The Tarot Bridge joins us for a discussion about perfectionism, her new book: “She Who Wins” and the many stories we tell ourselves about money lack, why we avoid uncomfortable conversations, worthiness, being people pleasers and how it all comes down to gaining clarity and knowing. When we hold on it prevents us from moving forward whether that is with a divorce, career, etc. and we don’t want to live with regrets. 

Renee shares two very key takeaways about 1) Decision points and 2) Acknowledge the excuses. And this fabulous quote by Loverly.com

              “ It’s so freeing when you stop letting the weight of other people’s opinions weigh you down.”

# decisionpoints #vulnerability #noregrets #wilempowered 

 Want to increase your ability to network with anyone like a pro? Join our on-demand Networking: Love it or Hate it webinar to build the skills like a pro, live Q&A sessions monthly, and the opportunity to grow your network. To learn more visit www.wilempowered.com. 

How brave are you especially when it comes to saying no? Join us as we speak with Nicole Trick Steinbach, International Bravery Coach as she shares her journey about being in a high-performing global tech organization and what happens when she finally says “NO”.  This is an episode you will want to listen to and share as she shares her methodology on the 3 steps to bravery and why accountability is so important when being brave. She is heartfelt, intelligent, and speaks with an open heart. Nicole understands the challenges we face especially as women, as we navigate boundary setting, saying no, and holding our breath to find out how we might have to pay the price when saying no. It might surprise you so be sure to listen to the end. She also offers a few freebies on her website at TrickSteinback.com to help you on your bravery journey.  

If you are interested in how you might be showing up as a leader, visit the wilempowered.com website to take our free leadership quiz. This free quiz will give you wonderful insight and a few additional resources to help you on your leadership journey.

 #womenleaders #bravery #leadership #wilempowered #wiltalk 

Can you have it all, career, parenthood, loving relationship? Our guest, Jessica McClain, CFO of Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital, speaks with us about her own journey navigating a male-dominated industry, being unapologetically ambitious, and how she makes it all work for her and her family. 

Jessica spent 11 years in the public accounting industry before transitioning to the not-for-profit industry, where she came home to her roots. She herself was a girl scout and anxiously awaited her own daughter becoming a girl scout. I love her authenticity and vulnerability as she shares some of the challenges she faced in her career, how she defines success, and how imperfections are okay. That we take each day and live it to the fullest. Her reminder to us that we only die once but have the opportunity to live fully each and every day. She shares the importance of building your personal brand and ensuring others speak about you the way you would like. Also emphasises the need to build deep and lasting connections as those are the ones that will carry your message about who you are to the world. 

If you are wondering if you can have it all, tune into this episode of the WIL Talk podcast today. And if you know someone who is struggling with guilt or asking themselves the question please do share this episode with them. You can reach Jessica on LinkedIn for additional questions or just reach out and let her know how this episode impacted you.

If you need support learning how to deepen those connections and building a strong network, check out our on-demand course, Networking: Love it or Hate it at www.wilempowered.com. We work with you through on-demand video training and workbooks, and the best part is monthly live Q&A sessions to ask all of those burning questions and practice your skills by connecting with other amazing individuals. This allows you to grow your support system in real-time, virtually of course. We have so much fun bringing great people together each month. 

Why do hormones play such an important role in our bodies and overall health? Tylar Brannon, CEO of Optimal Bio joins us to discuss all things hormones, especially for women, and the impact it has on our bodies when our hormones are not regulated and balanced. 

 We discuss the stigma for women as it relates to menopause and other hormone-related issues. HRT (hormone replacement therapy) vs. BHRT (bio-identical hormone replacement therapy) and many natural alternatives to support overall good health. She shares the impact of low estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in our bodies and why you have to be your own advocate as it relates to your health. Educate yourself on the many factors that will contribute to and increase health risks if you don’t have enough of these hormones.

 Many symptoms are often overlooked as we just think it’s normal when we could be providing our bodies with the support we desperately need and starting this early on in our lives. For women, we can reduce the risk of dementia, heart disease, etc. by paying attention and doing regular blood work.

Optimal Bio provides a number of free resources to help you arm yourself with information about hormone replacement and symptoms. Visit their website at OptimalBio.com and download their free handbook or listen to their podcast to learn more about bio-identical hormone replacement therapies.

 Want to better understand how you show up as a leader? Take our free leadership quiz to learn more by visiting wilempowered.com.

 #menopause #BHRT #hormones #wilempowered #womenshealth #optimalbio

What are your thoughts on the burn-out pandemic being experienced over the last few years? How often are you or your team experiencing burnout? Join me in conversation with Dawn Bloomer, Founder of “Productive Pressure”, where Dawn speaks to the importance of balancing between drive and well-being. During our conversation, we get into the pressures we put on ourselves and how key our mindset is in discovering choice and possibility thinking. 

 Dawn’s philosophy and method masterfully balance the drive for success with a safeguard against burnout. She has vast experience as a Veterinarian, spearheading growth, fostering strategic alliances, and orchestrating successful acquisitions. She has a keen understanding and certification as an exit planning advisor, her MBA, and years of experience working with business owners in the legal, engineering, healthcare, and architecture sectors. Working in male-dominated industries has expanded her own perspective as to how men and women think and behave differently in business enabling a proactive approach to how we face burnout and exit planning. 

In this discussion, we talk a lot about the importance of building your support network, finding your “think time”, masterfully delegating, and why walking your talk is so important. This is an episode you will want to listen to and share with a friend or colleague facing burnout.  You can find Dawn on LinkedIn or her website at Productive Pressure.

And if you struggle to build your connections or support network, check out on on-demand “Networking; Love it or Hate it” webinar at wilempowered.com, https://www.wilempowered.com/virtual-and-online-courses/. 

 #supportnetwork #burnout #networking #womenleaders #wiltalk #wilempowered

Women are facing challenge after challenge in the workforce especially when it comes to the systems in place and the situations that work environments create. So how do we navigate with ease and grace? Join us as we speak with Kim Meninger, who is a leadership coach with her MBA and BA in Psychology. She focuses her attention on strategies to overcome imposter syndrome, and growing overall confidence, visibility, and influence.

 During our conversation, Kim shared some stories of her own journey working in high tech and then making a move to something more in alignment. She discusses the challenges women have with the double bind of being competent and likable. Her own journey experienced many of the challenges we speak about such as lack of support, high stress, lack of understanding, knee-jerk reacting, and how we must take personal ownership to control what we can control. Self-preservation is key especially when in the hustle culture of working all the time. 

She offers tips and tools to utilize in those high-stakes games and why being proactive can set you up for success. We would love to hear your thoughts on what challenges you might be experiencing. You can reach out to kimmeninger.com or wilempowered.com to get those questions answered.

If you are curious about your own leadership, visit wilempowered.com and take our free leadership quiz.

 #womenleaders #impostersyndrome #leadership #allies #wilempowered