MARCH-APRIL 2019
THE TECH TREK How Kyle took over her father’s antenna manufacturing company and is tapping the military market. Kyle Swiat CEO of STI-CO
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Contents March • April 2019
Owned & Operated by Women’s Association, LLC Mailing Address: PO 3908 Suwanee, GA 30024 Editorial Editor: Dalana Morse dalanam@leadupforwomen.com 817-405-4058
The Tech Trek
Contributing Writer: Jennifer Sussman jennifers@leadupforwomen.com 973-979-6169 PR and Social Media: Shannon Polvino: shannonp@leadupforwomen.com 716-597-5188
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Founders Corner It’s our responsibility to pave the future for Women that follow Advisory Board Editors Note Step Into Fear Celebrating women in history and learning how to #leadwithoutpermission
LEADERSHIP
16 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Servant Leadership
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Shattering the Glass Ceiling: How Real Estate Can Close the Gender Leadership Gap Falling in love with hospitality How near death can change your future and those you serve 10 Tips on Organization
BUSINESS
LIFESTYLE
20 How Hannah Mong ended up creating the Lead Up for Women Logo
26 Taking care of YOU
Lead Up for Women
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Founders Corner
It’s our responsibility to pave the future for Women that follow Our rights as Women, and why we are able to be leaders today, started with daring women in history such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks and Mother Teresa, to name a few. Some led by violence, some led by courage, and some led with love, but there’s one thing they all had in common, these historical women not only paved the way for us to be here today, they had the courage to speak up. They knew that unless they changed the status quo and lifted others up by taking chances, then nothing would change. Today, we are able to vote, hold leadership positions in the workplace, and drive because of these brave women that fought for our freedoms and rights before us. They fought for those that were sick, served others with love contagiously, and were willing to be arrested and lose everything they had for another. It is our responsibility as women today to pave the future for our daughters, granddaughters, and greatgreat-great granddaughters to live in a world where women residing as CEO, in Executive Leadership positions, Presidents and entrepreneurs is an everyday occurrence. Where decisions are being made, we need a woman’s voice. We are hard at work every day spreading the word about what Lead Up means to us with everyone we meet. Monthly luncheons are in full swing, our radio show; Lead Up for Women: Speak Up to Lead Up launched March 27th and is already 4
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creating buzz around the everyday and influential women leaders we interview during the show. We invite you to be inspired to lead without permission through the inspiration of our guests’ stories of survival, overcoming adversity, and their celebrations in business, community and their personal lives. We are passionate and focused on what we can do to CONNECT, INFLUENCE, and LEAD every woman. We know we all long to belong and to have a community that accepts and celebrates all of our identities. We have worked diligently to create an organization for you and all women looking to lead without permission, be the badass leader that you know you are, gain the courage through strong support from other women to live your best life. If that means stepping out and starting the business of your dreams, we’re here to take that journey with you. You are the only you there has ever been and you are the only you that will ever be. Be you and be strong because you are brilliant and the world needs you. We align with this so much, but it means nothing if you don’t hold yourself accountable on a daily basis through concrete daily actions. Those choices can make or break us. All of the members of Lead Up for Women are here to offer you support and sisterhood to leading your best life and the journey starts today. What are you waiting for? Join us.
Colleen Biggs
Sabina Ramsey March-April 2019
Advisory Board
Marilyn Brennan
Sawrie Becker
Dr. Tammy Bialek
Associate Director of Business Development American/Interstate Signcrafters
Founder SBB Life Coaching
Isyol Cabrera
Aly Chally
Dee Daniels
Director of Design and Construction FOCUS BRANDS
Manager, Store Planning and Design Aaron’s, Inc.
Executive Vice President VoiceAmerica™
Rebecca Easton
Jennifer Grieser
Gina Noda
Founder Easton Law, PLLC
Senior Solutions Manager Projectmates
Founder & Principal Consultant Connect Source Consulting Group, LLC
Founder Bialek Chiropractic
Shannon Polvino PR and Account Manager Insight International LLC
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Lead Up for Women
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Editor’s Letter
Step Into Fear Whether it is the fear of losing money or fear of failure, many people allow fear to hold them back from achieving their dreams. Even some of the most successful people in the world today did not find success initially. For example, Bill Gates’ first business failed with a net loss of almost $3,500. Walt Disney was fired from his newspaper job because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” So how do you overcome this fear of failure to achieve your own dreams? One of the keys to overcoming fear is stepping outside of your comfort zone. Some of the best things in life happen when you are willing to do something that makes you a little uncomfortable. Sometimes, taking a risk is the only way you can achieve your dreams. How do you do it you ask? By taking one step at a time. Step 1: Make a list of the things you fear doing. It could be something as simple as talking to that person who works in the cubicle next to you, or it could be something bigger like skydiving or starting your own business. Start out small so you can avoid getting discouraged. As you get more comfortable expanding your comfort zone, reaching for the things you really want out of life will become easier. Step 2: Do not be afraid of failure. While it is important to not fear failure, it is also important to not dwell on the possibilities of failure. Instead of only focusing on how many things can go wrong, focus on positive thoughts and all the things that can go right. Focus on your strengths. Write them down! Avoid negative self-talk. When you find yourself engaging in negative self-talk, think of something positive about yourself or the task at hand instead. Step 3: Think logically to avoid allowing fear to cripple you. Of course, that is often easier said than done. One of the keys to overcoming this is to think of all the possible outcomes. Imagine how you want things to turn out, as well as what could go wrong. Once you are thinking logically about things, you might realize that even the worstcase scenario could still be worth the risk. Step 4: Pick one fear per day and step into that fear to overcome it. Even if you do fail the first time (or even the second, third, or 45th time), learn from the experience, and take a different approach the next time. Failure is there to teach us and help us grow. Sometimes failing at something is the only way to ultimately find success. Failure also means you will have greater appreciation for the success you worked so hard for.
Dalana Morse is the editor of Lead Up For Women magazine. You can reach her at (817) 405-4058 or by email at dalanam@leadupforwomen.com. 6
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Step 5: Surround yourself with a strong support system, like the sisterhood of the Lead Up for Women members, can help you overcome fear when you are having doubts or feel like you aren’t good enough. Your friends, family members and colleagues can all play a specific role in helping you achieve your goals. Enlist their help. You need people to lean on to share your successes, failures, and concerns with. Courage is not about being fearless. It is about doing something despite fear. March-April 2019
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hits the radio waves every week Whoever makes the statement that endless opportunity doesn’t exist needs to stop limiting themselves by their beliefs that exist between their ears. Our goal with Lead Up for Women is to empower as many women as we possibly can to be the best version of themselves! Having a radio station allows us to do just that! VoiceAmerica™ is the single largest producer of original Internet talk radio programming in the world, with unparalleled scope and reach. Are you ready And that’s why we teamed up with them! On March 27th 2019 we launched Speak Up to Lead Up with co-hosts Colleen Biggs & to lead without Sabina Ramsey, along with our special weekly in studio guest Dee permission and Daniels, Executive Producer of VoiceAmerica. Whether you want take the steps to start the business of your dreams, or celebrate your present and future accomplishments, our radio show will dive into deeper needed to live subjects as we interview weekly guests that have already walked your best life? in your shoes. Let the experts guide you for a clearer path to your most successful future. Our show will be the perfect platform for all of our members to advertise their businesses, network, hear about all of our upcoming events as well as a recap and live interviews that were recorded at all of our monthly luncheons around the nation. With millions of listeners, we have the opportunity to pioneer change for women today, as well as in the future.
We invite you to tune in to Lead Up for Women: Speak Up to Lead Up, as we celebrate the influence of women in business and beyond. Your hosts, Colleen Biggs and Sabina Ramsey, speak with guests who have stories to share, have faced adversity and have become success stories in business, in their communities and in personal accomplishments. Join the strong and the brilliant ones, and understand that the world is ready for you to be at your best. Lead Up for Women is heard live every Wednesday at 1 pm eastern time, 10 am pacific, on Voice America Empowerment.
Visit our website www.leadupforwomen.com/lead-up-for-women-speak-up-to-lead-up/ or visit www.voiceamerica.com/show/3872/lead-up-for-women-speak-up-to-lead-up to bookmark our show and listen in live each week.
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March-April 2019
The Tech Trek How Kyle took over her father’s antenna manufacturing company and is tapping the military market. Give us a snapshot of the Sti-Co Industries brand? We are a small antenna engineering and manufacturing company that takes part in a large industry. We go to market and brand ourselves based on providing niche solutions. Our value is in providing safety to our customers. We serve markets such as law enforcement, homeland security, passenger rail, and the United States Armed Forces.
Tell us about what makes Sti-Co brand so unique? One of our strengths is that we provide custom electromagnetic wave solutions. Additionally, we have a strong background in mechanical engineering. We customize antennas to fit on everything from locomotive roof tops to police vehicles. We have to develop a range of innovative methods to fit all solutions.
What types of customers are you targeting? Our customers are located across the globe, centered around large populations. We serve federal law enforcement, state and local clients. We work with Class I railroads and passenger transportation vehicles. For example, after the communication issues that arose during 9/11, we developed a solution for police officers and firemen to be able to communicate on different frequency bands. leadupforwomen.com
What strategies have you implemented to become successful in your company? We do a lot of networking and maintain relationships with our customers, all to focus on a long-term relationship. We try to be there to create solutions for their problems. I believe we observe and listen well. From there we get a lot of great ideas.
What hurdles have you overcome as a woman in business? I think showing others that I am credible and that I know my business. Even though I am not an engineer, I know our products. Communication is
key. Women are rare in this industry, but I am not afraid of speaking up and raising questions that othersdid not think about. At trade shows most people won’t even come up to me, so when they realize I am the owner they are surprised. Another challenge is networking. Most guys are supportive, but I can’t go to the bar and hangout at all hours of the night. A lot of connections are built that way. I am aware that a lot of networking and connections happen on the golf course, but I don’t golf.
What do you do to give back? My family is most important to me and trying to raise three kids and run a business takes a lot of time. I travel Lead Up for Women
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a lot. There tends to be a double standard with women traveling and raising children. My spare time is spent focusing on my kids and being there for them. We do most of our giving back at work. We have supported organizations who fight cancer and even helped families during Christmas. We have also helped fallen law enforcement officers because we have been connected to that community for years.
What do you see as some of your biggest opportunities moving ahead? The military market is an under-tapped area here. We started in that market and have started to get a few contracts.
What is your method to stay connected with other women in business? The University at Buffalo’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. The organization connected me with other women business owners, connections that I did not have before. I have been in other groups, but they have been mostly made up of males. Meeting women in business, that share the same challenges, is important.
What mentors, sponsors, or coaches have played an important role in your success? Mindy, my step mother, has been a huge coach. She ran the business after my father died in 1979. I was 16 years old. She took over the operation of the company completely. I used to work there as a child, but I came back to the business in 2009 part-time. That is when I realized I really liked it. My step mother needed someone to take over the business, and she has mentored me since then. I have also used a lot of marketing consultants to lean manufacturing etc.
My team is pretty tight knit. It is important that I can be approachable and transparent, and that they know that their opinion matters and that I value their input.
How do you stay current with today’s trends? I attend conferences. I really enjoy working with customers and reading trade journals. It is hard to stay on top of technology since it is moving so fast but it is important to stay relevant in the field. People are using cell phones today and it is really a critical time to stay ahead.
What is your growth plan? Our growth plan is to develop our presence in the military market - to move our market towards military. We also want to partner with railcar builders and develop more covert custom built antenna solutions.
What’s the biggest item on your to-do list right now? Honestly to build the military market. We are building it from scratch.
What’s the most rewarding part of your career? I guess it is knowing that we provided a solution for the customer that they are happy with. It is exciting to know that we really meet our customers need. I love hearing that they consider us as an extension of their company. It makes me feel that we are really succeeding.
Describe a typical day? It is not really that exciting. We have a lot of meetings. I like working collaboratively with people. The more brains I have in the room the better. I really like to weigh in on what others’ opinions and strategies are. Listening is important, but trusting your gut is even more important. I believe in really listening to myself and what I am comfortable with. Everything lands on you when you run a company. The management at Sti-Co provides great leadership too. I have the best team and I feel very fortunate for that.
What is your secret to success? Honestly, persistence. It is so true. Even though you are told no several times you just stick with in. Eventually it will go your way. 12
Lead Up for Women
March-April 2019
One-on-One with...
Kyle Swiat, CEO STI-CO
Tell us about your family? I have three children. I have been married almost 33 years. I have a son that is 27, a daughter that is 23, and my youngest daughter who is 18.
How do you balance your health, family and career? It is not always easy. Trying your best taking your hat off when I leave the office. It is important to be a mom and a wife. To flip that switch and be there for your family is important.
What motivates you everyday? Partially, it is somewhat internal. It is important to carry on the legacy of my father’s business. That motivates me. Also, providing a job opportunity to my employees. I have around 50 employees. I like being able to provide for them, and know they are happy here.
and that they know that their opinion matters and that I value their input.
How are you mentoring/sponsoring others? I mentor my employees. I try to mentor more how I think and approach things. To be customer focused is important. High quality is important to me, and I am trying to coach people on how to work together and not in silos to solve a customer’s problem.
What book are you reading now? I just finished a great book called the Inevitable: Understanding the Twelve Technological Forces in the Future, by Kevin Kelly.
What are your favorite hobbies? I don’t have hobbies. Exercise, I guess - cardio and lifting weights.
What inspires you?
How do you like to spend your down time?
My customers inspire me. Getting those little pats on the back are important.
I just like to relax and do nothing. If I can get a Saturday morning to myself, that down-time is very important to me.
What’s the best thing a consumer/client ever said to you?
What was the best advice you ever received?
A federal agency, which I can’t disclose, considers me a part of their family and it was so important for me to hear.
What are your strongest traits as a leader? What traits of other leaders inspire you? I think people know I care. My team is pretty tight knit. It is important that I can be approachable and transparent,
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Early in my sales career I was told that the worst thing they can say is no. The other thing was to keep throwing it until something sticks. You have to keep doing it. It is simple, but those are the two things I live by.
What does “Lead Up” mean to you? I think it means to lead, and bring other people along with you to become leaders as well.
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LUNCHEON
Celebrating women in history and learning how to #leadwithoutpermission
It was a beautiful sunny day in Times Square when the inaugural Lead Up for Women luncheon launched at the AMA Conference Center in New York City. The afternoon quickly got off to a great start with a session in “Speed Networking” to present the attendees with an opportunity to connect with as many women in the room as they can and exchange business cards to increase their contact portfolio. Not to mention it is just fun to meet new people. Sabina Ramsey, CEO, Insight International, Inc., updated us on the current statistics of women leaders in Corporate America and why the deficit of women in business still exists today. “We are making progress in the areas of education, politics, and business, however, there are gaps that need to be filled", says Sabina. Ramsey continues with statistics, stating that of the Fortune 500 companies, there are only 24 female CEO’s, which is less than 5%. “On the political front, we continue to make strides increasing our presence in congress to 23.7% from the depleted 19% in the past years”, states Sabina. As the session came to a close, the attendees celebrated that women exceed men as college graduates and it continues to be on the rise. 14 Lead Up for Women
As the women attendees fueled on their mid-day meal, Colleen Biggs, Partner, Lead Up for Women, took us back in time with an in-depth description of strong women trail blazers from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, to Social Activist Rosa Parks. Biggs continued the presentation sharing that some of these women led by violence, some by courage, and others by love, but there’s one thing they all had in common, they had the courage to speak up and choose to not wait for another to give them permission to lead. “These women in history not only paved the way for March-April 2019
women today, they used their political connections, platforms they stood on, as well as had the courage to face adversity, to change the future landscape for women’s rights”, Biggs states. Biggs continues to explain that as women it’s our responsibility to pave the future for other women that follow. “Individually we need to fight harder for what we want in the workplace to push against the long history of a biased culture or the gap will not close.” shared Biggs. As discussions continued in the room, several women shared that society has conditioned us to live within a culture that limits women, and it needs to change. Lead Up for Women provides the platform for women to come together and have a network of other women that will support them in that journey, celebrate their identities, and assist them in navigating those tough hurdles in business that we all face. Robyn Hatcher, Communications Consultant, Speaker and Author, and CEO of SpeakEtc., fired up the room as she led an impromptu single flash mob with the song “Brave”, by Sara Bareilles, inviting the women in the room to hop to their feet and join her! “What roles are still trapping you and preventing you from being brave?”, Hatcher asked as she indulged deeper into her past and how she was able to migrate into Hollywood as an actress after “shedding” her ‘shy’ younger self that existed in her early childhood. Hatcher goes on to challenge the group to understand that fear can hold us back. She explains that she defines “FEAR” as the Failure to Envision an Alternate Reality, and challenged the group of attendees to envision what that alternate reality looks like for them. Robyn explained that her certification in neuro-linguistic programming was really the backbone for her understanding that if you tell the brain that you have an alternate reality it starts finding ways to envision that. She continued the discussion with greater details regarding creating a “vision avatar” for yourself. A Vision Avatar is creating what an alternate reality looks leadupforwomen.com
like for your person - for example, how do you dress, how your hair looks, and how you speak and stand as this new avatar. Unless you create your future through envisioning an alternate reality, your brain will continue to repeat what you have today. In closing, Robyn Hatcher asked us to join her in a new movement to “Cross our Hearts and Celebrate Women”. As the luncheon came to a close, the attendees left motivated and optimistic that organizations as Lead Up for Women exist to not only encourage women to lead as women, but provides the tools and support for women be their best self! Lead Up for Women
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LEADERSHIP
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Servant Leadership Janice Jackson shares how Plexus Worldwide builds up its female employees and independent business owners by embracing its mission to spread health and happiness. By Erica Fetherston Janice Jackson
Direct selling. Social selling. Network marketing. These are just some of the different names for the industry that focuses on recruiting independent sales representatives to sell their products and services. However, there is one thing that the industry is commonly known for: offering people an opportunity to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams while providing a strong support network. For Plexus Worldwide®, a leading direct-selling health and wellness company focused on health and happiness, part of their mission is to help women and men create and build their own businesses. This is one of the reasons why Janice Jackson, who currently serves as President of Sales and Marketing for Plexus, was drawn to the industry and joined the Plexus executive team in 2018.
Becoming a Leader in the Direct Selling Industry Many of us recall taking aptitude tests during our school years to get a better idea of what kind of career or industry to pursue. For Janice, these tests are what set her on a path for a career in the direct selling industry. “Before starting my career, I took a few aptitude tests and all the results pointed to a career in marketing, so I took an international marketing position 16 Lead Up for Women
in pharmaceuticals,” said Jackson. “A few years later, I was recruited by a global direct selling company and I’ve been in the industry ever since.” Janice, who was born in Scotland and is fluent in both German and French, has built an exceptional career as a leader and successful executive in the direct selling and consumer products industry across the globe. Her resume includes impressive titles at a variety of companies, including Vice President of Global Brands at Amway, Executive Director of AstraZeneca, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at JAFRA Cosmetics International, Chief Brand Officer at ViSalus, and Chief Marketing Officer at WorldVentures. Janice’s prestigious expertise ranges from global product development, global brand marketing, corporate affairs, consumer insights, and more.
“As I continued to grow in my leadership roles with different companies and organizations, I fell in love with the direct sales model and with an industry that empowers so many people to become entrepreneurs globally,” said Jackson. “When an opportunity came to join the Plexus leadership team, I jumped at the chance to work with one of the most respected direct selling companies in the world.”
Spreading Health and Happiness Across the Globe Plexus has a growing catalog of science-backed products for weight management, nutrition, skincare and personal care as well as more than 400,000 Ambassadors, or independent business owners, across the globe who have built their own businesses through the Plexus model. Plexus’ excellent reputation within the direct selling industry March-April 2019
was a significant attraction in Janice’s desire to join their leadership team. While some direct sales companies receive a bad reputation for operating non-compliantly, too fast, too loose or with a get-rich mentality, Plexus is determined to do direct selling the “right way,” honestly, with integrity, and building a strong foundation for longevity and sustainability. “We believe in creating a business opportunity that has no barrier to entry for those interested in entrepreneurship. That’s the type of commitment that inspires me and makes me proud to be part of this company,” said Jackson. “It also speaks to the company’s values-based business practices and the level playing field we create for our Ambassadors. The culture here is very special, both in the office and in the field; it’s built on trust, respect, and a win-win mentality.” In true dedication to its mission, Plexus launched its Nourish One™ initiative in 2018, which has already helped provide over 6 million meals to children and families in need through its partnership with Feeding America®, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to fighting domestic hunger through a network of food banks. “With Nourish One, when you shake up a serving of Plexus Lean, you’re also helping a child or family who might not otherwise receive the meals they need to thrive,” said Jackson. “It’s exciting because for every serving of Plexus Lean someone purchases, Plexus, through our philanthropic organization Plexus Charities, gives the monetary equivalent of one meal to Feeding America®. You can nourish yourself and help another in need at the same time.” In line with Plexus’ global expansion in Canada and Australia, Plexus also established an on-going partnership with Mary’s Meals, a global charity focused on combating childhood hunger in the world’s poorest communities. “Plexus’ philanthropic efforts are critical to our mission in spreading leadupforwomen.com
health and happiness,” said Janice. “Just as we want to ensure that it is easy for anyone to join Plexus as an Ambassador, we also want to do our part to help feed hungry children and families around the world.”
An inspiring and dynamic leader, Janice has a passion for developing talented teams who strive for excellence. She is notably skilled in building relationships across boundaries in
personal enhancement courses on fitness, health, and financial planning. “As a servant leader that supports teams of employees as well as independent business people, I know that everything I do and everything my team does creates a ripple effect,” said Jackson. “We touch the lives of so many people and we see the impact daily; this is why I love working at Plexus and in this industry.” Janice credits a lot of her success in the industry and with Plexus to putting together great teams that strive for excellence and are passionate about what they do. Janice offers
order to drive growth and support strategy, while leading her teams to exceed deliverables. For these reasons, Janice was a natural fit for Plexus, where their culture (known officially as “One Plexus”) dictates that the company leadership incorporate the interests of those in the field, as well as the company, into every decision they make. This leads to constant collaboration across departments and with Ambassadors and Customers, to support anyone wanting to develop personally and professionally. These types of efforts include management training and leadership curriculum in areas such as communication, team building and software skills. Plexus also offers
some additional advice for developing great teams: Embrace the principals of servant leadership, ensure your team understands the company vision, develop guiding behavioral principals, share how success will be measured, support teams with resources and advice, and empower them to achieve their full potential. “Hiring excellent leadership talent enables great leaders to develop great leaders,” said Jackson. “It is important to cascade a collaborative and positive leadership culture from top down. The success I’ve experienced throughout my career has never been about me as an individual, but always about ensuring my team’s and the company’s overall success.”
Supporting Female Colleagues and Entrepreneurs Through Servant Leadership
Lead Up for Women
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LEADERSHIP
Shattering the Glass Ceiling: How Real Estate Can Close the Gender Leadership Gap The Coldwell Banker Examining Women and Leadership Survey found that 34 percent of Americans working in female-dominated industries agree that women face a “glass ceiling,” making it more difficult for them to reach executive or senior-level positions.
By Zoë Horneck
Coldwell Banker Real Estate kicked off 2018 with a commitment to address the upward mobility challenge women agents face in the real estate industry. According to the NAR 2017 Member Profile Report, women account for 67 percent of all real estate agents, yet only 46 percent of non-selling broker-owners are women. I think real estate is an industry with a welcoming culture where women can easily thrive and grow to be leaders with the right support. As a former agent, I saw firsthand how hard other women work – and they’re often successful because of their strong negotiation and interpersonal skills. When I learned about this gap in real estate leadership, I thought how can I help more women rise to leadership? I challenged myself and the Coldwell Banker network to accelerate the real estate industry’s progress in narrowing the female leadership gap. We encouraged everyone to have open conversations about difficult issues around diversity and inclusion and to create opportunities for women to lead. In 2019, Coldwell Banker is taking our plan of action on this issue one step further. We started by gathering as much information about the female leadership gap as we could. It turns out that this gap isn’t just a problem in real estate, but it touches other female-dominated industries such as healthcare and education.
18 Lead Up for Women
The Coldwell Banker Examining Women and Leadership Survey found that 34 percent of Americans, both men and women, working in female-dominated industries agree that women face a “glass ceiling,” making it more difficult for them to reach executive or senior-level positions. Armed with this knowledge, I want to bring this number to zero. Using the March-April 2019
information gathered from this survey, Coldwell Banker is probing the causes of the gender leadership gap in our industry and is working to demolish the glass ceiling. I encourage all real estate leaders to make that commitment. We’ve begun to redefine what leadership looks like in the real estate industry. Here’s how…
Start Conversations: The Women in Leadership Series We are giving a voice to the women leaders in the Coldwell Banker network through our Women in Leadership Series which started as a series of monthly calls and blog posts and will soon add a podcast. We’re providing female trailblazers with a platform to share their success stories and empower others to do the same. What does female leadership look like? As Leesa Harper Rispoli explained on a Women in Leadership call, it’s challenging the “Good Ole Boys Club” and championing women who aspire to top leadership positions. It’s the determination to be a full-time mom and a successful businesswoman, according to Kate Rossi. For Sheri Arnold, it’s about celebrating other women’s accomplishments and helping them to succeed in any endeavor they choose. Each year Coldwell Banker holds Gen Blue, where real estate professionals across our global network come together to learn, network and celebrate. At this year’s Gen Blue, we made it a priority to have a dedicated Women in Leadership session, where our network can hear why empowering women is critical for our success. Real estate leaders can educate men and women on the importance of women’s empowerment by holding conferences, panels and speaker series – with plenty of opportunities for questions.
Build a Community: Coldwell Banker Women in Leadership Month As a follow up to our survey, the Coldwell Banker Women in Leadership Month leadupforwomen.com
will take place in May and will celebrate women-owned companies and encourage more women to become leaders within their organizations. Throughout the month, we’ll publish educational content designed to address the issues we’ve identified head on. We’ll be offering tips, best practices, how-tos and more. Our goal is to support women-owned brokerages and women that want new opportunities in real estate. Building an online and in-person community of women professionals is an easy way for real estate leaders
Coldwell Banker is supporting current and aspiring women leaders by providing management training, online courses and in-person networking opportunities at events including our annual Leadership Summit and Gen Blue® conference. Leadership training and networking is a critical step in bringing more women to the next level.
Our mission Women in real estate do not always feel empowered or supported, and the Coldwell Banker Women in
Real estate leaders can educate men and women on the importance of women’s empowerment by holding conferences, panels and speaker series – with plenty of opportunities for questions to help forge relationships and foster career growth among women.
Foster Connections: Training and networking opportunities Open dialogue about women as leaders in the workplace, mentorship and training, combined with opportunities to grow and lead, are critical to empowering women in all industries. However, among all employed U.S. adults, 40 percent say their company does not offer formal leadership training programs or sessions.
Leadership initiative aims to change that. Our mission is to ensure that no woman within the Coldwell Banker network ever experiences a glass ceiling. We’re taking direct aim at the leadership gap, we want all women in real estate to feel unstoppable. To learn more about the Coldwell Banker Women in Leadership initiative and our goal of ensuring a path to ownership and leadership for the women who want it, visit https://blog.coldwellbanker.com/ category/women-in-leadership/
Zoë Horneck, VP of Product Marketing and Communications at Coldwell Banker Real Estate, is serious about connecting people through technology. She’s a customer-centric global marketing and strategy leader with a proven track record of driving growth through customer insights, innovation, process optimization and technology. As a former real estate agent, Zoë brings a unique perspective to her role, mixing digital expertise with real estate acumen. She’s responsible for all Coldwell Banker platforms and products as well as how the brand communicates across its network of close to 100,000 brokers, managers, agents and corporate teams. Lead Up for Women 19
BUSINESS
How Hannah Mong ended up creating the Lead Up for Women Logo Hannah Mong, 24 years old from Buffalo, NY, is the creative designer behind the Lead Up for Women logo and brand. She developed the first issue of the Lead Up for Women Magazine cover.
Hannah Mong
In developing the logo for Lead Up, she wanted to create something simple, yet meaningful that women would find inspiring. She says: “Focusing on the typography of the logo was my main approach. I altered the L and U in Lead Up through directional arrows to express moving forward while prospering together. The overall brand is meant to create a movement for women of all ages who are excited to be a part of something different that is relatable and real.” She continued the vision for the logo with creating the first Lead Up magazine cover. An important part was to keep the brand consistent in color and typography. Hannah explains: “I wanted to highlight Connie by removing the background to make her the focal point. I added the tagline Connect. Influence. Lead. in addition to the colored bars to add an extra layer and pop of color. The cover was intended to give the reader an exciting glimpse of what’s to come next, and more importantly what the Lead Up brand visually conveys.” 20 Lead Up for Women
Design has always been a part of Hannah’s life. She says, “I love design not just for its own sake, but for what it can do for people. I am a passionate and driven graphic designer dedicated to communicating ideas that inspire and captivate viewers. I love telling an organization’s story through exceptional design, thought provoking ideas, and problem solving.” She continues, “My purpose in life is to be the best designer, with an even better attitude. As an extrovert, I am driven by other people. I like to surround myself with passionate individuals who love what
they do, encourage me to learn, and push me outside of my comfort zone. There is always room for improvement, in my career and in life.” Hannah attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and received a BA in Graphic Design. In addition to her academics, she played on the DII Women’s Lacrosse team and received the scholar athlete award for her four years at the University. As if that weren’t enough, she also had a job on campus as the Graphic Designer for the Athletic Department where she worked closely with the Director of Marketing. Her role was to design and develop print collateral, advertisements, and social media for upcoming athletic events to help inform family, friends, and students. As a collegiate athlete, she learned the immense importance of time management, leadership skills, and communication - both March-April 2019
on and off the field. She concludes, “I am very grateful for my experience at Edinboro because it has prepared me for my future and brought me to where I am today in my career.” Hannah’s mom is the main reason why she is such an ambitious and hard working young woman. She explains: “I’ve looked up to my mom my whole life because of her drive and inspiring attitude to strive for greatness every day. I have her to thank for my artistic abilities and undeniable confidence which has got me to where I am today. She is an extremely talented decorative painter and an even better mom. She
Your clients might not love everything you create, so you can’t be too attached to it. Learn from the feedback and don’t dwell on the negatives. is my inspiration, my role model, and my best friend.” Hannah is currently working at Insight as the Art Director, but is moving to Chicago to work with in the Chicago White Sox graphic design department. She says, “I started at Insight as a Graphic Designer, but grew into my role at the company over the years. After a year under my belt,
I became the Art Director and was in charge of marketing campaigns, social media, account management, and print production, in addition to design. I was taken out of my comfort zone and pushed to try new things and learn as I go, but in the end I evolved into a more well-rounded and skilled designer than I ever could have imagined.” According to Hannah it was her first project that she is most proud of. “I developed and designed the Top Seedz logo, print collateral, and packaging, which is now a leadupforwomen.com
Lead Up for Women
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BUSINESS
product sold in Wegmans and Whole Foods in the Western New York area. There is something exciting about going into your local grocery store and seeing your hard work displayed for customers to purchase. I remember my mom running to Wegmans so she could buy a dozen boxes and brag to our family and friends that her daughter made this!” Hannah is excited about her new job with the Chicago White Sox. She says, “I am very excited for the opportunity and look forward to my next chapter in life! As a Graphic Designer, I will be working closely with the design, social media, and marketing departments to produce print materials for the White Sox, including logos, posters, flyers, yearbooks, bobble heads, packaging and much more.” As a young professional, she is excited to move to another city and start her new career with such a well acclaimed and successful organization, but she is
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also scared. She explains, “I know it’s not going to be an easy transition to say the least, but I am ready for a big change without the curiosity of every wondering what if.” Hannah reflects back and shares, “The culture at Insight has positively affected me in a tremendous way. It
“In the design industry, your work will always be critiqued and you have to have a backbone. Your clients might not love everything you create, so you can’t be too attached to it.”
has shown me that no matter what gender, age, or race you are, you are valued and respected. I will forever carry the values and beliefs I’ve learned at Insight in my jobs to come.” Over the years she says she learned about not being afraid of failure or rejection. “In the design industry, your work will always be critiqued and you have to have a backbone. Your clients might not love everything you create, so you can’t be too attached to it. Learn from the feedback and don’t dwell on the negatives. My work has completely evolved over the years because of collaboration and I am extremely thankful for those situations where I had to go back to the drawing board, problem solve and find the solution. At the end of the day, it makes you a better designer!” For anyone who is just starting out, she highly recommends joining a small team with a great culture. She explains, “When you’re applying for jobs and researching companies, understand and see what sets them apart from other organizations. You have the opportunity to choose a job you feel is the right fit. They might want you, but do you want them? Always remember, you’re in the driver seat!” March-April 2019
BUSINESS
Falling in love with hospitality Lauren Jenney
Lauren Jenney was first introduced to the hospitality industry while working as a teenager at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. During her time at the resort, Lauren had the pleasure of serving Mr. and Mrs. Marriott on the beach during their Christmas Holiday vacations. Listening to Mr. Marriott show genuine care for all associates throughout the property and being in tune with even the smallest of details regarding hotel performance, Lauren knew that she wanted to be involved in hotel success on a much bigger level. After graduating from Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, in 2004 and taking a path of journalism and sports broadcasting, Lauren found a way back to hospitality through the guest services division of the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, in Franklin, TN. From there, she quickly knew that the sales & marketing path was calling her name. 24 Lead Up for Women
More than just a hotel Her career in sales management began in Louisville, KY, where she was the youngest major-market sales manager within the downtown market. After six years working with Hyatt and Starwood Hotels, Lauren decided joined White Lodging, one of the leading hotel development and management companies in the United
States. Over the course of her seven years with White Lodging and their continued growth in Louisville, Lauren has been given the opportunity to create her desired career path and fortunate enough to work for a company that was committed to getting her there. White Lodging’s commitment to constant innovation and the redefining of hospitality is not just confined to the hotel rooms and meeting spaces. Lauren and her team are branding their hotels as offering what travelers are wanting now more than ever - experiences. They are drawn to unique food & beverage concepts, the fastest internet speeds and comforts of home in their rooms. One of her favorite parts of her job is that she can offer guests something that they have not March-April 2019
experienced before - something far beyond their expectations of what a hotel or ballroom is supposed to be.
Learning to “Lean In”
Louisville Business First recently named Lauren as one of the “20 People to Know in Hospitality” in 2018. Being one of only two female Directors of Sales of a large downtown hotel, Lauren takes advice from a book written by one of her mentors, “Lean In,” by Sherly Sandberg. A woman brings a different perspective to several aspects of the hospitality business and it is a necessity to not be afraid to lean in and be heard. As the industry becomes increasingly digital, Lauren’s position focuses on making it personal. “A digital proposal is pretty, but now more than ever, the use of direct mail and face-to-face conversation is most important to get in front of the client. No medium can replace the feeling of having something in your hands to review. Mail a proposal, remember
your client’s birthday and send a card, writing a thank you card when a contract is signed, are all little things that can make a huge difference.”
Becoming a mentor to the younger generation The hospitality profession continues to gain popularity worldwide. Each year more universities are adding hospitality degrees to their catalogs. With this, comes a new, young group of professionals eager to grow in the business. Lauren is learning that as her team is ever-changing, it is important to change with them. Lauren admits to being a different leader today than she was last year…and that is OK. “As a mentor, it is important to listen - let your team know that you hear them and give them the opportunity to show you their potential in areas you may not have been aware of.” To Lauren, being able to watch several members of her sales teams continue their careers and grow to become operational leaders, Senior
Sales Managers and Director of Sales in Louisville and throughout the country has been a proud accomplishment.
New opportunities in an ever-changing market Recently, Lauren has been appointed the Market Director of Sales for the Whiskey Row Hotel Collection where she is now responsible for positioning three of Louisville’s hottest, new hotels (Hotel Distil (www.hoteldistil.com), an Autograph Collection Hotel, Moxy Louisville and Aloft Louisville Downtown) as the premier destination for guestroom and meeting space needs. The Whiskey Row Hotel Collection represents 490 guestrooms and over 22,000 square feet of unique meeting and event space, as well as roof-top entertainment space on Louisville’s famed Whiskey Row. The work Lauren and her team are doing in Louisville will change the public’s perception of hotels and become the new standard for luxury when traveling.
LIFESTYLE
Taking care of YOU
Vanessa Siren
This is all part of my present life, let me tell you about how I got here… I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and had challenging circumstances growing up. I lost my father to a heart attack when he was only 29, and while my mom was pregnant with my (only) sister. This presented us with many tough times, but my mom, a true warrior, went back to college without any help from my dad’s family. She is now a Psychologist. Her only sister was a huge help and was always there for 26 Lead Up for Women
us. She showed us the important of hard work. Who I have become today comes from my mother. She taught me to value honesty, be punctual, give 100% at all times, and appreciate good, clean work. As a teen, I started working as a model. Modeling gave me the opportunity to travel the world and take care of my mother and sister financially. It wasn’t as glamourous as most of Top Model stories. Each
job came with the struggle of chasing an audition, catching overfilled buses and struggling to always maintain a certain “body expectation”. Even at a very young age I remember measuring my food, measuring my hips, and worrying about appearances. Around 1994/1995, during one of my first trips to either Japan or Switzerland, I discovered yoga - before yoga became “hip”. Yoga was peaceful. It wasn’t about “burning calories” or “winning”. I remember leaving the March-April 2019
Photography by Kate Moore (Above, top right)
My name is Vanessa Siren, I am 43 years old and live in Gilbert, Arizona. I have 5 kids and enjoy working as a Yoga and Group Fitness Instructor (AFAA certified Athletics and Fitness Association of America) and trying to grow my own company, SIREN yoga. I also work with others to bring yoga to as many people as I can (G-Fit Solutions is one of them). I teach locally, at gyms and studios around Phoenix and teach private classes as well. I have always been into fitness and dancing as a child (classic ballet and jazz), which I now incorporate into my classes. I also teach Barre classes!
Photography by Morgan Rogers (family)
class feeling much calmer and content - truly joyful. Despite my 6’ height, I was never into sports growing up. Of course, that is mostly due to the poor quality of physical education of my school or its facilities. We moved from Sao Paulo to a smaller town about 60 miles away, called Indaiatuba. Resources there were worse, especially compared to a big city like Sao Paulo. I took yoga as a student but never considered teaching it until 2002-2004. In 1996 I met my husband, Troy, and it was love at first sight. We modeled in Japan together and after 4 years of dating we got married in Miami, Florida. We lived there for about 12 years and had 3 children. My husband is from Arizona and always wanted to go back. So, in June 2010 we moved west. It was only 116 degrees the day of the move but we both love the heat and really didn’t mind. Plus, his family was in Arizona, while mine were mostly in Brazil. My only sister, Melissa Stefanutti, is in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and 3 children. Yoga was always present to me. Even in Miami I was practicing 3-4 times a week. I tried running and did some triathlons, but always came back to yoga as my “safe haven”. It was only a matter of time for me to study to become a Yoga Instructor. I acquired my first certifications through Yoga Fit in 2014 and 2015, and began teaching soon after. In 2015 I received 200 hours of certification with LifePower Yoga (led by Lifetime Fitness). I continue to take workshops and my “need” for learning never ceases. I care more about training and becoming a better version of myself. It is important that I am constantly improving so I can share the latest with my students, while becoming the best version of me that I can possibly be. While I don’t model much these days, I am represented by Ford Robert Black Agency and enjoy when I do get to work for them. I leadupforwomen.com
Who I have become today comes from my mother. She taught me to value honesty, be punctual, give 100% at all times, and appreciate good, clean work.
also have representation in Chicago and in Miami. Yoga is a big part of my day, and not just the physical one. I try to live by the eight limbs of yoga, and find it very fascinating trying to understand and explain these to my children. I am a much calmer and kinder mother because of yoga. We had twins exactly 10 years after our oldest, and I believe they came to teach me all the things that I “didn’t get” before.
Motherhood is the best job, but yoga makes me happy, joyful, present. Still, I’m no saint. I joke with my husband saying, “Yes, I am a yogi. No, I am not Mother Theresa.” I get my hot blood from being Latina but I think that is what makes me interesting. Much like me, my classes are fiery, loud and funny. I like to crack jokes and make yoga accessible to everyone, especially since most people are afraid of the “seriousness” behind the practice. I love that my classes feel like a celebration - just friends having a great time. Even the Yin classes are a celebration of “silence” and a celebration of you, taking care of you. Simple! I hope we can practice together soon. Give yoga a try. I promise you, it will change your world! Trust the YOGA, not me. Visit www.sirenyogaaz.com or follow Vanessa on Facebook sireyoga. Lead Up for Women
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How near death can change your future and those you serve I’m often asked what made me get into massage therapy. I didn’t grow up knowing this was my path or know anyone in the field. I had never even had a massage before I decided to make it my career.
Stephanie Garcia
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I was born and raised in southern California, the youngest of an eclectic bunch of 6. My parents both worked hard and still managed to put a home cooked meal on the table for us all. We spent weekends at the beach and on our sailboat. I was a good student and very social. I loved live music, and still do, along with the average weekend hangout with my best friends. I was also in Business Academy, where we developed a Virtual business as a class during my senior year. We had to execute every detail besides a physical structure. We went to trade shows and trips to businesses similar to our virtual
ones. One business was a Day Spa, so we visited Glen Ivy Hot Springs. I immediately loved the feeling there - so raw, natural and revitalizing. The spa offered a “Massage Under the Oaks”, an outdoor massage space with several rooms with oak doors and walls where the ceilings opened to the oak trees above. I felt a real connection there. Too bad I wasn’t listening to the little voice in my head then. I applied to colleges, assuming that was the right next step. Some I applied to in hopes of attending with my best friend. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do when I grew up, but I was March-April 2019
going through the motions. I applied for CalState University planning for a music Business major. My parents planned to retire and move to Washington state after I graduated. Since I was the last to leave the nest, they offered for me to join them, but the thought of leaving California and leaving my best friends sounded absurd to me. Sometimes the universe needs to force you in the right direction. In 2010, about 2 weeks before graduating I was forced to listen! I was passing classes, hanging out with my best friends... maybe partying more than I should. I was so focused on everything except my body. I remember having back pain and thinking nothing of it. The pain evolved to feeling more like I had the flu. I stayed home from school for a few days until my parents made me go to urgent care. Upon walking into urgent care, I went into convulsions. The physicians said they couldn't help me. I needed to go to the ER. I was taken there in an ambulance but I have no recollection of it. After some time later, I came to but time was all mixed up. I was in the hospital for 7 days but I spent most of it out of my body. Physicians determined I probably had a UTI (that I didn’t pay attention to) that eventually spread to my kidneys. That evolved into a kidney infection that spread to my blood causing me to become septic. My core was 109 degrees and my body was dying trying to fight this infection. The doctors prepared my parents for brain damage, on the off chance survived the sepsis. I recall being out of my body like it was yesterday. I was like a fly on the wall while doctors and nurses packed my gurney with ice, constantly asking me questions trying to solve the problem. My eyes were open but I wasn’t there. A lot more happened to me while I was in that in-between place, out of my body. The most important experience I had was meeting the healer within me. From that point on, I changed. I suppose near-death experiences have a way of doing that. leadupforwomen.com
I was raised to be independent, hardworking, and to have class while doing it – I hold those values close. I absolutely love what I do and where I am going! I survived and I am fine today. I lost a lot of memories from that period, but I survived. My siblings dropped everything to come to the hospital during that week. I don’t remember seeing them but I felt their presence and it helped pull me through. Meanwhile, I missed my graduation that I worked so hard for. My friends went on to graduation night and into summer, having fun while I was home for 2 weeks straight with a PICC line for my antibiotics. It gave me a lot of time to think, to listen. I felt called to do something better. Life threw me down so I could learn to listen to my body. I knew I needed to help others listen too! I decided to go into massage therapy and get out of California. I moved to Washington. There happened to be an amazing
school there, Port Townsend School of Massage, near where I moved. That school will always have a special place in my heart and I hope to go back there to teach in the future. I learned that massage therapy is just the start. Our bodies are so intricately designed. Massage is a way to facilitate your own network of healing inside the body. I knew I needed a team of passionate health and body workers, working together and decided that I would own a Wellness Collective for this purpose one day. In 2012, I moved to Arizona and worked for Elements Massage for several years while doing in-home massages. I slowly grew my business without much conscious effort and realized that I finally had the clientele, but no brand or network yet. In August 2016, I began to branch out of Elements and was fully on my own by March 2017. Since then I have continued to expand in network, space, and clientele. Word of mouth and networking with like-minded professionals have been my source of marketing. I am part of an amazing team that is working to grow GFIT Solutions while building the Three Point Collective brand. Things continue to fall together naturally. Perhaps my true passion and fascination for the human body, as well as listening to my intuition, is what makes me successful. We all are born with strong intuition but grow up and tend to stop listening. That is the goal of my work, to help people listen to their bodies. And If I have done that, then I am successful. I was raised to be independent, hardworking, and to have class while doing it – I hold those values close. I absolutely love what I do and where I am going! I am a homemaker at heart and I definitely stay busy, but I would be bored otherwise. I love to cook and make a cozy home for me, my dogs, and my supportive man. His 4-year-old keeps things fun and adds to the busy schedule. Life and our bodies are in a constant need for balance. So, I take a deep breath, work hard and enjoy it. Stay classy ladies. Lead Up for Women 29
Lead Up Tips
4.
Keep a journal on what you accomplished each day and take note on how that made you feel.
Create your own positive reinforcement so you continue to follow up on your goals.
1. 2. 3.
5.
Project yourself into the future.
6.
When you make your to-do list, find one task that you can delegate to someone else.
Sunday’s usually work best. Take time to do your laundry, clean your car out, meal prep, and to schedule the rest of your week so you aren’t scrambling each morning when you head out the door.
7.
Carry a small notepad everywhere you go
Color code your calendar
8.
Have one day a week dedicated to organization
Based on categories such as meetings, personal time, exercise or meditation, bill due dates, events, time with family etc. This way when you view your week at a glance you can see where you allot most of your time, and how you can improve your work-life balance.
Block off time in your calendar to take breaks By integrating short breaks into your routine, you will create a regular schedule and keep your mind organized.
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9. 10.
For example, play out a future meeting in your head, and create tasks around what would improve that meeting, how you could better prepare, then add these tasks to your calendar. Don’t overthink it.
Just knowing you took something off your plate will make you more efficient and organized.
Use it to write your shopping list, to-dos, random thoughts, and ideas. It’s portable, dependable, and never needs to be re-charged.
Keep your workspace organized
Keeping a neat desk reduces distractions, and motivates you to keep other areas of your life organized.
Categorize your emails
Most email programs allow you to stow messages into different categories. Have 10 different clients? Organize your emails by client for easy access. Subscribe to business newsletters? Keep those in a separate folder.
Declutter
Every month when you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, there is no better therapy than purging. Create piles of clothes, books, cd’s etc., to either donate or toss to the curb. A decluttered space means a decluttered mind.
March-April 2019
The Women’s Series The Women’s Series The Women’s Series
Internet Radio Shows & Corporate Podcasts For Today’s Empowered Women
Internet Radio Shows & Corporate Podcasts For Today’s Empowered Women
Leadership is channeling voice.For Speak UpEmpowered to Lead Up. Internet Radio Shows & Corporateyour Podcasts Today’s Women Elevate your platform. Leadership is channeling your voice. Speak Up to Lead Up. Elevate your Leadership is channeling your platform. voice. Speak Up to Lead Up. Elevate your platform.
www.voiceamerica.com
www.voiceamerica.com www.voiceamerica.com