InnovativeLeadersarethegemsandpearlswith
precioustraitsthatdefineanorganizationandcorrelate withprofitabilityandsuccessbecauseofthewayhow managementplanstoorganizethecompany'sbusinesswith itsesteemedclients.Thisalsoresultsindrivingthebusiness toachieveitssharedgoalsandobjective,resultingin scalingthesuccessratetogreaterheights.Itdependsonthe approachthatdrivesabusinesstoembarkuponthe unendingpossibilitiesthatmakeitsuccessfulinthemodern eraofadvancements.
Whiletechnologyisdrivingchangesfasterthanever,being abletoquicklypickupnewskillsandtakeachangein strideisindispensable.Acuriousnatureandloveofstrategy aretheholygrailofleadership,andtheymakeadaptingto industrychangeseasierandmoreintuitive.
Attheorganizationallevel,beingadaptablemeans understandingthatobjectives,schedules,andplansare subjecttochange,assuch,developingadaptabilityallows youtopivotwhennecessaryandtakethebestcourseof actioninanygivensituation.Allgreatleadersare passionateabouttheirareasofexpertise.
Curiosity,thedesiretoimprove,andaloveoflearningare commontraitsamongthebestleadersintheworld.By demonstratingadesiretoimprovethemselves,leaders inspiretheworkforcetodothesame.Thedesiretoimprove isaclearindicatorofgrowthandsuccessinafast-paced, ever-changinglandscape.Oneofthesignificantand remarkabletraitsisbeinginfluential.Amongthevery hardesttocultivate,thereasonisitreliesonone'sabilityto inspirepeoplearoundthembymakingthepeoplecatcha reflectionofsuccess.
Likeanycharacteristic,leadershipqualitiesarethe combinedaspectsofinnatepersonalitytraits,andonaquest
toshowcasesuchstaunchleaders;InsightsSuccessfeatures someoftheenchantingstoriesofextraordinaryleadership charismasinitslatestedition,'The 10 Most Innovative Leaders Reforming Business.’
Flipthroughthepagesandembracethetraitsthatare enablingtransformationsintheever-evolvingbusiness world.
Have a Delightful Read!
CarlyBenewith Co-ownerand SEOExpert
MountainAirMarketing mountainairmarketing.com
DariaDubinina
CEOandCo-founder
DougZarkin, VicePresident&CMO
ElissaWeimer
Owner&Professional Trainer
KarenSimon President,&Managing Partner
KarinaTiwana GeneralCounsel, VicePresident,and CorporateSecretary
LouiseHampton
Owner&Head Chiropractor
Crassula crassula.io
PearleVision pearlevision.com
Paw&OrderDogTraining pawandorder.com
MountainAirMarketingthinksofitsvaluesasacompass. Mutualrespect,encouragement,andhonestyarecorevalues thatguideitsteamasweworkwithclientswhosharethesame valuesinordertomaintainprosperousrelationship.
Crassulaisconstantlydeveloping,growingandimproving. ThishelpsCrassulatomoveandbealiveecosysteminan always-changingenvironment.
PearleVisionoffersstate-of-the-arttechnologywrappedina levelofpersonalattention.
Paw&Orderoffersavarietyofdogtrainingprograms; includingin-homedogtrainingprograms.
EmersonsCommercial RealEstate emersonscre.com
ALEUSAInc. al-enterprise.com
Attend2Health attend2health.co.uk
RachelGomez Co-owner
TessaWhite ChiefExecutiveOfficer andFounder
TracyLamourie
FounderandManaging Director
MountainAirMarketing mountainairmarketing.com
TheEmersonsplatformisaculminationofmorethan100years ofcommercialrealestateexperience.
ALEiscommittedtodevelopingtechnologysolutionsthat workforitscustomers,connectingpeople,machines,things andprocesseswhilecreatingamoresustainablefutureforall.
Attend2Health'smissionistoprovidethebestpossiblecareto ourpatientsthroughanevidence-basedpracticewithan emphasisonqualitycare.
MountainAirMarketingthinksofitsvaluesasacompass. Mutualrespect,encouragement,andhonestyarecorevalues thatguideitsteamasweworkwithclientswhosharethesame valuesinordertomaintainprosperousrelationship.
TheJobDoctor thejobdoctor.com
LamourieMediaInc. lamouriemedia.com
Knownasthe“JobDoctor”ontelevision,Tessabrings powerfulexpertiseintothecompanyandpeopledynamicsthat createengagement,accountability,anddevelopinternalchange agents.
TracyLamourie,ahigh-profileinternationalaward-winning publicist,istheFounderandManagingDirectorofLamourie MediaInc.
Karen Simon President, and Managing Partner, Tarrant County Division, Emersons Commercial Real Estate
One of the things I always say is that you should be willing to work as hard as, if not harder than, your neighbor. Nothing is more valid than simply being willing to work harder.
“What is the calculus of innovation? The calculus of innovation is really quite simple: Knowledge drives innovation, innovate on drives productivity, productivity drives economic growth,” –WilliamBrody,Scientist.
Intheworldofrealestate,knowledgeiseverything. Theonewhoknowsthecurrentmarketcanmakethe bestpossibletransaction.Especiallywiththenew normalandthenextnewnormalandthenext,thatkeeps arriving.Therealestateindustryisinanupheaval,andthe timeisrighttodrivegrowthwithinnovation.
KarenSimon,athree-decadeveteranintherealestate industry,hasbeendrivinggrowthatEmersons
CommercialRealEstateasitsPresidentandManaging Partner.Specializinginoffice,retail,industrial,andland sectorsinleasingandsales,Karenbeganherjourneyinthe real-estatesectorwhenwomenrarelyoptedforthepath.
ShewasthefirstwomanintheTarrantCountytopractice industrialrealestateandthefirstfemalebrokertobecome oneofthehighestproducersstatewideintheindustrial departmentoftheTarrantCountyoffice.
InAugust2021,Karenwasinductedintotheprestigious MarquisWho’sWhobiographicalregistry,whereshewas recognizedasthe ‘Businesswoman of the Year’ onthebasis ofherposition,noteworthyaccomplishments,visibility,and prominenceinthefield.
Insights Success in conversation with Karen Simon get to know the woman behind the title:
Karenstartedasacommunitycollegeteacher,whereshe taughtforfouryearsbeforeshequalifiedasGS14115.She gainedthepositionofExecutiveAssistanttotheRegional ManagerfortheDepartmentofHousingandUrban Developmentinregion10.Karenhandledthepublic relationsandintergovernmentalrelationsforthestatesin regionten,whichareTexas,NewMexico,Oklahoma, LouisianaandArkansas.
Duringthistime,Karencametoknowofanopportunityto obtainarealestatebrokeragelicense,andsheonlyneeded tocompleteninehoursoftrainingandtakeanexamtoget it.Shetookatwo-weekleaveandgotlicensed,which meantthatwhenshegotajobofferfromthefifthlargest realestatecompanyinthecountry–HenryS.Miller Company–sheimmediatelyjumpedatthechanceand acceptedthejob.
KarenwashiredbytheMillerCompanytocreateandlead theindustrialandlanddivisionintheTarrantCountyoffice. Shebecamethefirstwomantoleadanindustrialrealestate firmintheDallas-FortWorthmetroplex.Anyresistanceshe facedasafemaleinthemale-dominatedfieldwasfrom othermalebrokers;theclientscaredonlyabouther competenceleadinghertobecomeoneofthehighest producersinthedepartmentstatewidemorethanonce.
AftersixyearsatHenryMillers,from1990-93,Karen becameapartnerandsignificantshareholderattheR.E GroupAdvisorsInc.DBAtheRealEstateGroup,awoman andaminority-ownedcompany.
Postthatstint;sheheadedtheindustrialandlanddivisionat WoodmontCompany,managingsitedevelopmentand addressingtheindustrialneedsoftheirretailclients.
Thenext12yearsKarenspentattheBradfordCompany’s TarrantCountyoffice,makingitasuccessfulventure.Still, whennoopportunityforownershippoppedup,shefounded herownofficeforTIGinTarrantCounty,alsoanindustrial andofficebrokerageandmanagementcompany
Itwasin2016thatKaren’spathcrossedwiththepartnersof Emerson’sCommercialRealEstate–RichardWebb,a formerbanker,andMattPrice,aCPA.Theyknewthey wantedtoformapartnershipinsteadofanemployeerun officeinTarrantCounty TodayEmersonsmanagesandor leasesoversevenmillionfeetofassetsinTexasandisa partnerwithPriorityPropertiesinacompanycalled1045 whichmanagesover100millionsquarefeetandoperatesin morethanseventeenstates.
Inthecurrentscenarioofchangingworktrends,Karen thinksonehastobeunderstandingofthefactthatnot everyonewantstocomeintotheofficeandworka9to5 job.Peoplearemoreconcernedaboutthecostofdriving sincethecostofgasolineandgeneralexpensesare10or 15%higher,butthesameamountofworkneedstobedone tocompletetransactions.
Karensays, “We just need to get used to the fact that people dress more casually, don’t come into the offices as frequently, and prefer to do their work on their computer or phone rather than in person or in meetings.”
Karenthinksthatpeoplewhoarelesstechnologicallysavvy thanothersbutarestillreceivinglessdirectassistancefrom employeesneedtoworkonhoningtheirownskillset.This isbecause,inordertoachievethesamegoals,anemployee wouldwantmoremoneytobephysicallypresent,with remoteworkbeingthecurrentpreference. “As a result, we must be more independent and establish our own standards for our workers.”
Karensays, “One of the things that is happening right now is that interest rates are a little uneasy after the Fed raised interest rates two weeks ago. And threatening to raise rates again when they meet, I believe on November 1st or so. Deals that were teed up in the marketplace are questionable because, while loan rates can already be stabilized and proposed, development costs will rise as interest rates rise.”
Asaresult,thetransactionthatwasoncewortheight milliondollarsmaynolongerbewortheightmillion dollars.Inotherwords,onemustfactorinthecostof interestratesnotonlyontheacquisitionbutalsoonthe developmentandconstructioncosts.Andwhetherornot rentalrateswillbejustifiediftheyare10%to15%higher thaninitiallystatedatthestartofatransaction.
Karendrawsherinspirationfromhermother,whodidn’t retirefromherprofessionuntillateinlife–onlywhenit becameaquestionofmobility–shefeelsgratefulforthat legacy
Karenalsodrewimmensesupportfromherhusband,who shemarriedat19,asaseniorincollege.Shesays, “He was supportive of my going to graduate school with an 18month-old baby, as were my mother and my father. They’ve always been there for me to count on, even at a time when education beyond college was not as common as it is today And I always got the encouragement to further my education and further my career.”
Karenconcludeswithadviceforaspirantslookingto ventureintotheindustry, “One of the things I always say, and it may sound a little repetitive, is that you should be willing to work as hard as, if not harder than, your neighbor. Try to become an expert in a geographic area or a specific segment of the real estate market, such as retail, industrial, office, or land. Try to know more than your competitors so that people will look to you for answers. Nothing is more valid than simply being willing to work harder. Even if it’s convenient to work from home on occasion, come into the office, drive if possible, and try to know more than your neighbor.”
BBuildingabusinessoftenrequiresentrepreneursto
pourmostoftheirtimeandenergyintotheir venturesandthatisexactlywhatCarlydidatthe ageof25.Unlikemostmillennials,Carlywasreadyto buildherownempireandreaptherewardsofherlaborand timeatanearlyage.Carly’sgoalwastocreateabusiness thatofferedrecurringrevenuethatwouldeliminatethe stressofhavingtofindnewbusinessmonthaftermonth.In addition,Carlywantedtocreateaculturethatofferedan opportunitytoteammemberstodowhattheylove, empowerthemtobethebesttheycanbeandoffer flexibilityforaworklifebalance.5yearsago,the workforcewasstillinthemundaneofficespacewitha9-5 schedulethatofferedlittlecompassiontotheiremployees. Carlyknewthiswasnotthetypeofbusinessshewould everwanttorun.
Today,MountainAirMarketing(MAM)isasuccessful nichedigitalagencythatoffersitsteammembersthe opportunitytoworkremotethreedaysaweekandtwodays withthefullteamatlocalcoffeeshops,herhomeandother funlocationstocultivatecommeroderity,compassionanda positiveworkingenvironment.“As a business owner and mother, it seems there aren’t enough hours in the day Having the ability to work and multi-task my life at home and also block out days to work with our team at fun local coffee shops is the best of both worlds. Rachel and I love and appreciate our team members and we look forward to the days we can all work together.”
Needlesstosay,thefirstfewyearswerehard.Carlyandher businesspartnerRacheldideverythingontheirownasmost newentrepreneursdo.Carlyemphasizedtherealityof startingabusiness,“When Rachel and I started Mountain Air Marketing, it was just the two of us doing it all. We ran our own books, we did all the sales, we attended every meeting, and we did all the work, all while raising babies and having families that needed our attention.” Carly continuedtosay“Finding the balance of work and personal life was the biggest challenge, and as most people who have started a business understand, your whole heart and soul has to go into it. Blood, sweat and tears, many late nights and early mornings. Many days of non-stop working to try and grow.”
ThehustlewasrealandCarlywasstandingbyfor everythingandanythingthatneededtobereviewed, managedanddeveloped,evenifthatmeantsleeplessnights betweenworkandwakinguptofeedthebaby Astime
wentonandtheagencygrew,CarlyandRachelwereable tostartbringingonmoreemployeestohelpoffsetthe demandsofwhatMAMwasneedinginordertogrow
Yearafteryeartheagencydoubledandsoonbecame recognizedasoneofthetopagenciesinColoradoandTop 30DigitalMarketingAgenciesintheUS,2019–UpCity
Currently,MountainAirMarketingisinagreatspotwhere Carlyhastheabilitytospendmoretimewithhergrowing familyandfocusonbuildingateamofhighlyskilled professionals.“ We have a lot of young women who will be growing their own families soon and we are excited to provide them an opportunity to work with us and also raise their babies and enjoy the experience of everything motherhood has to offer. When creating MAM, that was one of my goals, and I am thrilled to see it come to life.”
MountainAirMarketinghasneverandwillneverbean agencywitharevolvingdoorofclientsandemployees.With over90%clientretention,MAMhasdonetheirbesttobuild longlastingrelationshipswiththeirclientsandteam members.WeaskedCarly,howsheasaleaderand entrepreneurathearthasnavigatedthestrugglesof everythingCOVIDandhowithasimpactedtheagency “COVID-19 has been hard for everyone. It’s unrealistic to say that our connections both personally and professionally haven’t struggled with the new change from in person gatherings to video chat applications like Zoom and FaceTime. There was a point, we had new clients whom we had actually never met (face to face) for over a year. Connecting with our clients is and has always been a big part of our success. During these uncharted times, we would still try to drop o fftreats and flowers to our local clients. We focused on processes and controls within our company and hired team members who had the discipline to work remotely without a concern of taking advantage of our kindness and flexibility. Rachel and I had a plan.
As soon as we were able to reconnect with our community and team in the same way we did when we started the business, we were going to be ready to scale and support as many businesses as we could. With lifted restrictions here in Colorado, we try to meet with our clients as often as possible. Even if that means stopping by to say hi and support their business. ” Carlyadvised.
Overthelastfewyearssocialmediaplatformshavemoved moretowardsaudiobasedandshortvideotrendsthanever before.Gonearethedaysofcreatingapostwith150 charactersandasimpleemjoi.WeaskedCarlywhatshe expectstobethenextbigchangewithsocialmediaand howMountainAirMarketingispreparingtokeepup.“At some point, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and (insert today’s trending platform) will become dismal. Many platforms have come and gone, and that will always happen, so making sure we stay up to date on new and emerging social platforms is very important for us. Different social media platforms will bring their only challenges with having to learn them, understanding which platform makes the most sense for our clients and how to properly advertise on them will be a big part of keeping us competitive among other agencies.” Carlyfurther expressedthat“Artificial Intelligence is definitely going to play as a big factor of change over the next few years, as technology is constantly booming and bringing new features into all aspects of life. I know facial recognition will play a big role in how apps will determine what consumers like and do not like.”
Technologyplaysapivotalroleindigitalmarketingand howdataanduserbehaviorisusedtoconnectthebusiness andconsumer Advancementsintechnologyareconstantly changingandit’simportantforeverymarketing professionaltobeontopofthesechangesandalgorithm updatesfortheirclients.
Carlyishighlyattentivetochangesinanalytics,new behaviorsofconsumers,andthehighsandlowsinwebsite traffic.Carly’suseoftrackingtoolsandherpreciseintuition builtonyearsofexperiencegivesMountainAir Marketing’sclientsahugeadvantage.Carlyfocusesher SEOstrategiesonmappingmarketsanddevisingnewways ofdevelopinguniqueandsuccessfulcampaigns.Thoughit oftentakesextensiveresearchandendlessA/Btesting,she isdedicatedtokeepingherclientsafloatinthemost saturatedpartsoftheInternet.
AsCarlycontinuestoclimbmountainsinthedigital marketingworldandthevastonlinelandscapeofSEO,she putsafocusonalgorithmsandtheseeminglyendless amountsofdatashetracksonamonthlybasis.Newupdates
insearchenginealgorithmsistheprimaryboxon Carly’schecklist.Carlynoted, “We stay up-to-date as best we can on upcoming changes that have been whispered around. Education and consistent training is the cornerstone of MAM’s success. It is also important to us to educate our clients on what is happening in the digital world, and make sure they are aware of the pieces we are incorporating into their marketing strategies.”
WeaskedCarly,ifgivenachance,whatchangeshewould bringtothesocialmediaindustry,towhichsheanswered, “If I could bring one change to social media, it would be to make platforms more positive and uplifting. Lots of people tend to hide behind their profiles and create a lot of negativity in the space. People's lives get affected by this, which is so horrible. I would love to see more filtration of hate, and more utilization of lifting people up to create a kinder world.”
Womenhavemadeenormousstridesinthe
financesector.Theircontributionsinthespace arestrengtheningthefinancial-servicesindustry andhelpingbusinessesstayaheadofchallenges.Onesuch womanshapingthefutureoffinanceisDariaDubinina
Beforedivingintoentrepreneurship,Daria'sjourneyhas beenfullofdiscoveriesandindustryresearch.Shehasbeen workingintheFinTechandpaymentsfieldforfiveyears, doinge-commerceandonlinepayments.Thisallowedher togettoknowtheFinTechindustryandstrengthenedher desiretolearnanddevelopinFinTech.
Dariahasdedicatedmorethannineyearstomastering payments,e-commerce,andbusinessdevelopment.Asa leadingstrategistandentrepreneur,shehasalsoledmajor partnershipdealswithtopinternationalcompanies.Today sheistheCEOandCo-founderofCrassula.
Let'sunveilmoreaboutDaria'sjourneyandhowCrassulais deliveringtheworld-classproducts.
Crassula'sstorybeganwhenDariametAlexNovozhenov andVladNikolayev.Theyallareco-foundersofCrassula.
ThedecisiontofoundCrassulawasanaturalprogressionof thedesiretoputtheaccumulatedknowledgeintoaction. Theystartedwithasimpleideatoprovidefastandeasy coretechnologyforlaunchingFinTechs.Andtoday CrassulaWhiteLabelsolutionsaretrustedbytheindustry leaders.ThecompanyallowsuserstobuildtheirPSP, Banking,FXproductsindaysandprovidesaccesstoworldclassproductstoover5millionusers.
AllowingCompaniestoCreatetheirProductsand Services
CrassulaWhiteLabelsoftwareprovidesthetechnical infrastructurefortheFinTechcompaniesthatallows creatingtheirservicesandproducts.WithCrassula, companiescanconcentrateonbuildingtheirbusinesses withoutspendingyearsandhugebudgetsdevelopingtheir solutions.Also,thisapproachreducestheriskswhentesting abusinessidea;nowthecompanycanbegintoimplement itsideaonCrassula'splatform,attractcustomersandenter themarket.
Crassulaallowsitsclientstolaunchtheircryptobanksand wallets,acceptingcryptopayments.Usingitssolutions, clientscanstarttheircryptobusinessindays.
Dariaisplayingacrucialroleinsupportingthelaunch, growthanddevelopmentofFinTechsaroundtheworld throughCrassula. Firstly,CrassulahelpsFinTech companiestobringtheirideastolifequicklyandsavetheir budgets.Italsocreatesawholeinfrastructureofsolutions andproducts,akindoftechhub,stimulatingthecreationof newproductsandservicesdevelopment.
"We also do a lot of R&D and there is a clear trend of FinTech penetration into most tech industries. Social media, retail, gaming, and other industries are developing FinTech components. Thus, our solutions are also becoming more global, which allows us to develop the global market," Darianotes.
FurtherDariamentionsthatCrassularesearchesandtests thelatesttechnologicaladvancestocreatethemost effectiveproductsforitscustomers.Today,theCrassula platformoffers3mainproducts:CoreBankingSystem, CryptoBankingSystem,andPSP.
CoreBankingSystemprovidesledgerswithIBANs,card managementsystem,KYConboardingandverification module,AMLfinancialmonitoringmodule,SWIFT& SEPAtransfers,Currencyexchange,andmore.
CryptoBankingproductallowsCrassula'sclientstolaunch theircryptoprojects,manageandopenaccountswith uniquecryptoaddresses,exchangefiattocrypto,make cryptotransfers,investincrypto,issuecardsforprivateand businessclients.
PSPishelpingcreateaglobalpaymentgatewayattributed withalternativepaymentmethods,anti-fraud,risk management,merchantintegration,smartrouting,and virtualcurrencies,enablingpaymentcompaniestomake onlinepaymentssecureandsmartformerchantsand payers.
StatingtheimportanceofcultureDariastatesthatthemost
“We are constantly developing, growing and improving.”
importantvalueforCrassulaisitsteam.Foritscommunity, oneofthekeyprinciplesiscalled "Freedom And Responsibility".Itdoesnotcontroleveryminuteofworking time,givingitsteammatesfreedomtocreatewheneverthey want,butexpectsresponsibilityoffinishingtheprojectson timeandwiththehighestquality.Itcreateditsproductwith theabilitytothinkoutoftheboxandtriestoencouragethis skillinitsteam.
AsaCEO,DariatriestomotivateCrassula'scommunity,be arolemodel,shareherexperienceandstimulatecreativity intheareaofresponsibilityofCrassula'steammates.
Dariabelievesthatthebasisforbuildingateamistowork withthebest.Tocooperatewiththebestprofessionalsfrom aroundtheworld,Crassuladevelopedremoteworking practicesevenbeforethepandemic.So,whenCOVID-19 flippedtheworkplacesupside-down,Crassula hadalready embracedaremoteworkmodelbeforehiringprofessionals onlinebegantogetpopular Thisapproachenabledtheteam todoubleinsizein2021.Currently,Crassulaisatechnical hubbringingtogetherprofessionalsfromallovertheworld. Itsdreamteam isworkingremotelyfromLatvia,theUK, Russia,Ukraine,Kazakhstan.
WeaskedDariaheropiniononthenextbigsignificant changeintheFinTechspace,towhichshesays, "Pandemic, lockdown, and society changes led to radical changes in technology. Technologies today are developing rapidly as never before, and the FinTech industry is growing as well. Online banking is becoming a transforming tool in finance. And it's not just about the cashless economy. Digital banking offers more innovative services and products, improves security and transparency. It is important to mention white labelling as one of the main trends. White Label FinTech solutions allow the market to develop faster, and the businesses to launch their own solutions, minimize risks and costs.”
AccordingtoDaria,oneofthemostimportantfinancial innovationsandoneofthemaintrendsiscrypto.Trends suchasroboticprocessautomationandvoice-enabled paymentscannotbeignored.Noonecouldevenimagine howquicklyitcouldevolvewhenonlinebankinghasjust started.Bigdataprojectsarestillanimportanttrend,as peoplecreateanincredibleamountofdataeverysecond. Crassulaisatthecuttingedgeoftechnologydevelopment, anditisgoingtoworktoletitsproductskeeppacewith worldtrendsandpossiblyleadthem.
Lookingbackward,Dariaseesalotofamazingclients, successfulprojects,andcollaborations.Therefore,sheis lookingforwardtoworkingonnewsolutionsforCrassula's clients,tonewintegrations,nominations,and collaborations.
Inheradvicetoemergingentrepreneurs,Dariasays, "Building your own business is one of the most hard yet exciting journey. This is a chance to give rise to new trends that may one day change the world. Therefore, you should be open to new opportunities, work hard, and develop your networking skills. You should always take care of yourself, of your team and keep moving to the new goals.”
Ifyouareapetowner,youmayunderstandthatthe
bondbetweenadogandownerisimpeccable.You mighthavecomeacrossseveralvideosonsocialmedia whereadogishappy,carryingouthisshenanigans, spreadingsmilesonmillionsoffaces.However,many effortsgointotrainingthesedogs,consideredasan essentialpartofcaninecompanionship.ElissaWeimer takesdogtrainingtoherhearttodeepenthebondbetween theownerandthedogtowidentheirsmile.
ElissaistheOwnerofPaw&OrderDogTrainingandis aProfessionalTrainer,withnumerouscertificationstoher name.ThroughPaw&Order,sheoffersprofessional, balanced,dogtrainingandbehavioralproblemsolving throughoutthePittsburgharea.Paw&Orderrecently expandeditsreachtoSouthwestFlorida,Houston,TX,and CentralOhiothroughfranchising.
InsightsSuccesscaughtupwithElissainourendeavorto find “The 10 Most Successful Businesswomen to Watch 2022” andtalkedabouthowsheisinstillingprideindog owners,aswellasmakingdogssaferinthecommunityasa whole!
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Briefouraudienceaboutyourjourneyasabusiness leaderuntilyourcurrentpositionatPaw&OrderDog Training.Whatchallengeshaveyouhadtoovercometo reachwhereyouaretoday?
IjoinedthemilitaryrightoutofHighSchool.Beinga MilitaryPolicewomanledmetothepathIamonnow. Duringcollege,Iacquiredapaidinternshipwiththe AttorneyGeneral’sofficeandlaterwiththeFederalBureau ofInvestigationsontheirViolentDrugandGangsquadin Philadelphia,PA.Aftertwoyearsofinterningthere,I appliedforaSpecialAgentposition,butquicklyrealized thatjustwasnotwhatIgenuinelywantedtodofortherest ofmylife.Iwantedtohelppeopleandwantedpeopletobe excitedwhentheysawmearriveattheirhomes—a
differentfeelingthanseeinganagentorpoliceofficerat yourdoor.
IknewIwantedtobeanentrepreneur,butIdidnotknow wheretostart.IspentalongtimefiguringoutwhatIwas goodatandrealizedIamgoodatteachingpeople.Ijust hadtodecidewhatIwouldbeexcitedtoteach!Irealized thatIloveanimalsandthattheyhadthepowerofmaking peoplefeelgoodinsomanyways.Irealizedthatsomany peoplehavedogs,soIdecidedtoshadowmanyotherdog trainersandattendedatonofschoolstolearnasmany techniquesaspossibletohelppeopleENJOYtheirdogs.To thisday,Icontinuetolearnandbettermyselfandmyteam oftrainerstohelpasmanypeopleaspossible.Wenotonly continueoureducationwithbehavioralproblems,butalso
withotherareasofdogtrainingsuchastricktraining, TherapyDogTraining,CanineGoodCitizen,agility training,largefieldsocializationclasses,andK9Detection training(myBelgianMalinoisandIwon1stPlace Narcoticsatlastyear’sPoliceK9Competitionin Kentucky).Werealizedhowmuchwehavetoofferand howuniqueourcompanyisthatwedecideditwastimeto franchisein2019!
Tellussomethingmoreaboutyourcompanyandits missionandvision.
Paw&Order’smissionistoimprovethelivesofasmany familiesaswecanbyprovidingqualityandeffective individualizeddogtraining.Ourvisionistocontinue spreadingPaw&Ordernationwideandhaveanamazing trainingprogramtoensurethatthequalityofourlocal Pittsburghmarketismirroredineverymajorcityinthe UnitedStates.Wetrainourtrainerstothehigheststandards andtreatouremployeeslikefamily.Allourtrainersare extremelyvaluabletous,andwemakesurethattheyare welltakencareof.Itbuildstheirloyaltytoourbrand, makingthemwanttoworkevenhardertoensurethatour clientsarehappyandexcitedtoreferustotheirfamilyand friends.
Enlightenusonhowyouhaveimpactedthetraining nichethroughyourexpertiseinthemarket.
Ourtrainingisuniquetoeachdogandfamily.Wehavealso madetrainingsimpleandeffectiveforfamiliesanddogs.So often,wehearthat“mydogwillonlylistenifIamholding treatsortheleash/someotherpieceoftrainingequipment.”
Oraclientwillsaythattheirdogknowsallbasic commands(sit,down,come,stay)butwillnotdoitwhen thereareotherdistractionsaroundortheenvironmentdoes notlookthesameeverytimeforthedog.
Dogsdonotgeneralizethingswellandneedhundredsof repetitionsinasmanysituationsaspossibletoreliably understandwhatyouareaskingthemtodo.Wehave masteredourcommunicationwithdogsandtheirownersto
trainSIMPLE.Wehavefoundthatoverloadingourclients withabunchoftrainingjargonthatmeansnothingtothem isnothelpful.Dogownerswanttheirdogtobeagood familydogtheycantrustandbeproudof!Theyarenot competinginshowswiththeirdogwheretheyneedtolearn fancytricksandunrealisticpositionstotheirfamily situation(thereisnothingwrongwithcompetitions,but mostpetownersdonotcareaboutthat).Mostpeopledonot haveperfecttimingwhenitcomestocommunicatingwith theirdog,soweusemethodsthatallowadelaybetween rewardsandconsequencesoncetheirbehavior,like/dislike, hasbeenidentified.Thishelpstremendouslysothattheir dogwilllisteneveniftheirownerdoesnothavefoodora leashintheirhand.
Weprideourselvesonsolvingbehaviorproblemsand teachinggoodbehaviorsforthelongterm,notjustforthe moment.Ourclientshavelifetimeaccesstoourtrainersand theyhaveaccesstoafreeprivateadventuregroupafter theirtrainingiscompletetomakesurethattheycontinueto besuccessful.Itintroducesthemtoanamazingcommunity ofotherdogsandownerstoexperiencefunthingswith.At leastonceaweek,wemeetupattrails,parks,stores,lakes, bars,etc.,andgohiking,camping,kayaking,orjustenjoya nicedayoutsidewithourdogsandadrink!Wewantpeople toexperiencehowlife-changingourdogtrainingprograms are.Onceyourdogiswelltrained,yourworldbecomes morefulfillingandexciting!
Wheredoyouenvisionyourselftobeinthelongrun, andwhatareyourfuturePaw&OrderDogTraining goals?
Werecentlystartedopeningnewlocationsnationwideand wanttocontinuedoingso.WestrivefortheQUALITYof ourtrainersinsteadofquantity.Paw&Orderismy“baby,” andwewillonlyexpandwithindividualsthatmatchour integrityandmotivationtoworkhard,beproudofwhat theyaredoing,andcontinuetoimprovethequalityofthe business.
“We pride ourselves on solving behavior problems and teaching good behaviors for the long term, not just for the moment. We will investigate and solve your dog's behavior problems.”
It takes dedication and laser focus to find success, not
to mention rolled-up sleeves and dirt under your finger nails”, statesanardentleader,KarinaTiwana Asthe GeneralCounsel,VicePresidentandCorporate SecretaryofALEUSA–theU.S.entitynameofAlcatelLucentEnterprise-Tiwanahasbeenanintegralpartofthe successofthecompany.Herpassionforthebusinessside oflawandsheerdedicationhasledTiwanatowheresheis today
Afterspendingalmost15yearsatAlcatel-Lucent,firstasa ContractManagerforfiveyears,Tiwanamovedupthrough theranksofthelegaldepartment,whereshelandeda corporatecounselpositionsupportingthemostinnovative businessdivisionsofthecompany.Eventually,becamea primarylegalresourcetooneofthesedivisions,the Enterprisedivision,in2006.Thereafter,shewastappedto supportoneofthehighestrevenue-producingdivisionsin thecompany.Shedidthatupuntil2014whenshewas invitedtosupporttheplanneddivestitureoftheEnterprise divisionasGeneralCounselintheUnitedStates.Tiwana wouldbechargedwithbuildingadepartmenttosupportall thelegalneeds ofAlcatel-LucentEnterprise,thenew stand-alonecompany,inNorthAmerica.Thiswasnosmall featbut,shesaid,“manytalentedandprofessionalpeople carriedmytorch.”
Reflectingontheexperience,Tiwanarecognizesshe’s gratefulforthemenandwomenalongherpaththatbuoyed herupwhenshefeltshemightbedrowning.Helpinganew companybebornisadauntingtask.TheEnterprise BusinessDivision,turnedAlcatel-LucentEnterprise, containsaclose-knitgroupwithmanyemployeesboasting longtenureswiththecompany
Let’sknowmoreaboutTiwanaandhercontributiontothe industrythroughaninterviewconductedbetweenherand InsightsSuccess.
Below are the highlights of the interview: Asabusinessleader,whatisyouropinionontheimpact ofthecurrentpandemiconthetelecommunications industry?
Thepandemic’simpactonpeople,insomecases,hasbeen horrifyinganddeadly.Iwillinnowayminimizemy feelingsofempathytowardfamiliesthathavelostloved onesandthosewhohavefallenillfromthevirus.And,of course,toparentstryingtocopewithbothat-homeworking andat-hometeachingofchildrenrippedfromschoolsand theirfriends.Thisat-homeworkingandteachinghas createdanincreaseintheneedfortoolsliketheAlcatelLucentEnterpriseRainbowUnifiedCommunication Platform,aswellasinfrastructuresolutions,suchasthe company’sOmniAccessStellarwirelessLANandthe OmniSwitchnetworkswitchesthatmakeeverything connecttosupporttheincreasedcommunicationneeds spawnedbythecrisis.Inthisway,manytelecomindustry segmentsarereapingthebenefitsofthe“newnormal”. It’s ashiftfromin-officetohomeworkingandfromin-person schooltohomeschool.Eveneventsandwhatusedtobe liveentertainmenthavegoneonlineaswealltrytocope withtherestrictionsrequiredtokeepallofussafethrough thepandemic.Ihearthroughnewsreportsthatmany companieswillcontinuethework-from-homeoptionsin someformorotherso,itlooksliketheneedfortelecom industrytools,solutionsandinfrastructureisgoingto continuetogrow.
Whatisyouropiniononthenecessityforbusinessesto aligntheirofferingswithnewertechnological developments,especiallywhenitcomestoDigital Transformation?
Ithinkthatwhenitcomestodigitaltransformation, businessesthataligntheirofferingstoadvancesin technologyfurtherdrivetheevolution.Technology
continuestobeinstrumentalinourlivesandthegrowthof business.Inparticular,Ithink,asastrategy,aligning businessinfrastructurewithCloudtechnologybuildsa mindsetthatpushesinnovation,agilityandproblemsolving.Ourcompany’sCloudtechnologyproductsand serviceshavehelpedourcustomerspushbeyonddigital transformationplansandovercomethechallengesof workingthroughapandemic.It’scleartomethatCloud deliversthebenefitofscaleandadaptstoopportunities, whilebeingreliableandsecure.Itjustmakessensetome howflexibletechnologyenablesbusinessestoadaptthe workenvironment,ensureefficientoperationsandmanage costs.
participateinthetoyandfooddistributionportionofthe event.Istronglybelieveintheempowermentprovidedby servingacausemuchgreaterthanyourself.Igetthis empowermentthroughworkingwithinourAmerican LegionFamily.IcurrentlyserveontheExecutiveBoardas Sergeant-at-ArmsandhaveservedinthepastasPost Commander AtthetimeIservedasCommander,Iwasthe veryfirstwomanevertoserveasCommanderinthePost’s 77-yearhistory.Today,I’mproudtosay,asothernotable “firstwomen”leadersaresayingmoreandmore,“Imay havebeenthefirst,butIwon’tbethelast.”
Ifgivenachance,whatchangewouldyoubringin providinggrowthopportunitiestoWomen?
Idothisinmanyways,butoneofmygreatestpleasuresin therecentpasthasbeencontributinglegaladvicetoour teamofwomenandmenthathavecreatedtheDiversityand InclusionEmployeeResourceGroup(ESG)underour CorporateSocialResponsibility(CSR)program Withthe executivesponsorshipofRukminiGlanard,ourExecutive VicePresidentofWorldwideSales,Servicesand Marketing,theESGhostedoursecondglobalonline summittohighlightthatdiversityandequalityarelife issuesand,definitely,abusinessissueimpactingfinancial results.Anequalworldinbusinessresultsinanenabledand betterworldforbusiness.Weneedallofourmindsandall ofourhands,asacompany,tocompeteandsucceed. Diversityandinclusion–acrossgender,ethnicity,age, religion,etc.–enableabetter,balancedenvironmentfor economiesandcommunitiestothrive.
Inwhatwayshaveyoucontributedtothecommunity?
Inmycommunity,asawomanVeteran,Iamveryactivein ourAmericanLegionandAmericanLegionAuxiliary.This “AmericanLegionFamily”providessupporttolocal Veterans,theirfamiliesandthegeneralcommunitywhere Veteransliveandwork.Oneexampleofarecentprojectin 2020,werecognizedtheneedsofsomanychildreninour communityaroundChristmastime.Wesponsored,locally, ToysforTotssupportedbytheUnitedStatesMarineCorps Reserve.Weservedover300childrenandallofthem receivedgiftsandafooddonationfortheirfamilies. Supportingthiskindof“all-volunteer”communityevent bringsmegreatjoybecauseIsawthepowerofgivingin action.Collegestudents,homefortheholidays,stood alongsidetheirParents,GrandmothersandGrandfathersto
IamveryluckytohavebeengiventhechanceatAlcatelLucentEnterprisetoeffectrealchangeinmyroleas GeneralCounselatALEUSA.Ihiredstudentinternsin 2014asacreativewaytoaugmentmystaff.Weshowedso muchsuccesswithtrainingandutilizingstudentinternsin ourlegaldepartmentthatitinspiredthecompanytoadopt anInternshipProgramandnow,manydepartmentsare hiringstudentinterns.Infact,arecenthireisgoingto supplementourglobalCSRendeavors.Shewillbe graduatingfromcollegesoonwithadegreeinEthnic Studies.Ithinktheseinternshipprogramsarevitalto creatingopportunitiesandsuccessforeveryone,especially
HowdoyoubringyourGeneralCounselskillsin establishingstrategicdirectionanddeliveringresults globally?
forwomen.Inmycase,allofmyinternsmovedonto becomepracticinglawyersandhavesecuredpositionsin lawfirms.I’mveryproudofallofthem.
Asanestablishedbusinessleader,whatwouldbeyour adviceforthebuddingwomenentrepreneurs?
Makesureyouknowagoodlawyer!Notashamelessplug. No,seriously,it’sveryimportanttobuildastrongnetwork ofdiverselytalentedindividualsthatcanbeaskedforthe helpyouneedalongtheway.Beyourselfbecauseyour authenticselfisyourbestface.Haveaclearpictureofwhat yourauthenticselfis.Remember,therewillberoadblocks onyourjourneytosuccessandsomemayberelatedtoyour gender,yourageoranynumberofthingsbutthe roadblocksarejusthillstoclimbandthereareplentyof peopletogiveyouahelpfulpushsoyoucankeepgoing. Leverageyourmentorsandallies.Theseareyourfriends, yourclassmates,yourteachers,yourfamily,your
colleagues,andyourprofessionalnetwork.Theywillhelp younavigate.But,aboveall,dowhatyoulove.Doitalot. Ifyoudowhatyouloveandyoudoitalot,youwillget reallygoodatit.Ifyougetgoodatit,youwilllikelymake moneyatitandyouwillbewealthy Wealthisnotmoney alone.Wealthincludesnotonlyprofessionalsuccessbut alsoself-fulfillmentandrealizingyourdreams.
Thejourneyofchoosingaprofessionstartsvery youngwhenwearetryingtodefinewhoweareand whatwechoosetobecomewhilewegrowup.We lookaround,searchingforrolemodels,andcontemplate becomingfirefighters,nurses,policewomen,andothers. SuchwasalsothecasewithLouiseHampton.
Growingup,Louiseknewthatshewantedtohelppeople butdidnotlandtheexactcareertopursueuntilshesawa chiropractoratwork.Observingthechiropractorhelp elevatepeople’spainleftadeepimpressionon15-year-old Louise,andshewentontogetadegreeinchiropractic studiesfromthe University of South Wales.
Today,LouiseistheproudOwnerandHeadChiropractorat Attend2Health,asuccessfulclinicemploying4Chiropractors,3Physiotherapists,1Osteopath,1Podiatrist,3Sports MassageTherapists,aHypnotherapist,aNutritional Therapist,andaPrivateGP.Sheisalsoatrusteeofthe ChiropracticResearchCouncilandhaswrittenabook called‘Howtoeliminatelowbackpainandachievelongtermrelief.’
Louise Hampton shared her quest to help people be painfree with Insights Success:
Louise,brieflydescribeyourprofessionaltenureinthe nicheupuntilnow.
IgraduatedfromtheUniversityofSouthWalesin2004in Chiropractic.Ifirstsetupaclinicwithacolleaguein Birminghamandwaspartofthatclinicuntil2007.Ithen soldmyshareofthatclinictomovetoBuntingfordand
startedAttend2Health15yearsago.Atthattime,Ialsosat ontheBritishChiropracticAssociationsCouncilandwas awardedafellowshipbytheBritishChiropracticAssociation.
SincestartingAttend2health,ithasexpandedovertheyears andmovedintonewpremisestwoyearsago.Ihavealso justbecomeatrusteeoftheChiropracticResearchCouncil andamlookingforwardtoraisingfundsforthisworthwhile cause.
WhenIfirststartedAttend2HealthinBuntingford,Iwas newtothearea,andsoittooktimetobuildupapatient base.Itwasveryscaryastherecessionof2008soonhitas wellastryingtoaffordrentandpayareceptionist.
Our clinic is a real team efort with lots of fantastic people working to help. Listening and compassion are the most important things you can do as a leader.
Ihadmyfirstchildin2009,sothatalsomeanttryingto juggleworklifewithbeingamum.Itwasatrickyfew yearswhenthechildrenwereyoung,butitisamazingwhat youcanfitintoaday!Astheclinicgrewinpopularity,we onlyhadasmallreceptionareaatthefirstclinic,sowe werelimitedtojustonereceptionistworkingatatime.The firstclinicalsogotveryhotinthesummerastherewasn’t anyairconditioning.
Wedecidedtomovepremisesattheendof2020,which wasacrazytimeduetocovid,butitalsomeantthataswe hadnothingelsetodo,wecouldspendthetimepainting anddoingworkatthenewclinic.Nowweareinthenew premises,itiswonderfulhavingtheextraspace,but obviously,ourcostsarehigher,andsowithanother recessionlooming,itwillbeatoughyearorsowiththe higherenergypricesandinterestratestodealwith.
Whatsignificantimpacthaveyoubroughttothe healthcareindustry?
IfeelthatAttend2Healthallowsmanyhealthcareprofessionalstocometogetherunderoneroofandworktogether Wealllearnsomuchfromeachotherintraining,anditis greattoseehoweachprofessionalworksandwhatareaswe areallbestattreating.
TellusaboutAttend2Healthanditsfoundationpillar.
Attend2Healthhasmanyhealthcareprofessionalsworking fromthesameclinic.WehaveChiropractors,anOsteopath, Physiotherapists,aPodiatrist,MassageTherapists,a Hypnotherapist,aCounsellor,anAcupuncturist, Reflexology,GPservices,andanAudiologist.
HowdoesAttend2Healthpromoteworkforceflexibility, andwhatisyourroleinit?
Everyonetendstoworkacoupleofshiftsaweekatthe clinic.Theyhavechosenwhatshiftsworkbestforthem, andthediaryhighlightswhentheyareavailablesopatients canbebookedin.
Whatisyourtakeontechnology’simportance,andhow areyouleveragingit?
Wenowhaveonlinebookingforsomedisciplines,andwe arelookingatpatientsfillinginformsonaniPadtoreduce theamountofpaperweuse.Allourdoorslockwithkey
fobsmakingtheclinicverysecure,andweusearingalarm thatcanbeaccessedviaamobilephone.
Treatment-wise,wehavealasertreatment,andtheGPis usingsomenewtechniques,suchasThermaVein,whichis excellentattreatingblemishesontheface.Healsousesa procedurecalledPRPtotreathairloss.
Whatwillbethenextsignificantchangeinthe healthcareindustry,andhowareyoupreparingforit?
IthinkastheNHSbecomesmoreoverwhelmed,people realizetheymayneedtobepaidtoaccesssometreatments, andsowecanhelpreducetheirwaitforPhysiotherapy,for example.WearealsolookingathavingprivateGP appointmentsinthefuture.
Weareslowlystartingtousemoreoftheupstairsatthe clinic.Wewillberunningmorefirstaidcoursesandhavea massageroomupstairsaswellasthe roomup counsellor there.
IamalsothroughtothefinaloftheNationalWomen’s BusinessAwardsforthe Influential Business Woman of the Year.
Whatadvicewouldyouliketogivethenextgeneration ofaspiringbusinessleaders?
Ourclinicisarealteameffortwithlotsoffantasticpeople workingtohelp.Listeningandcompassionarethemost importantthingsyoucandoasaleader.
Whenyouunderstandyouremployeesandotherpractitioners,youcanmakesuretheyareashappyaspossibleand canthenprovidethebestpossibletreatmentforpatients.It isalsoveryimportanttogivebacktothecommunity
Attend2Healthdoesthisbysponsoringlocalteamssuchas theBuntingfordBowlsClubandtheBuntingfordCricket Club.Wealsotryandraisemoneyforcharityandraised over£600fortheBuntingfordFoodBankinMarch.
Co-Owner
There’snostoppingthegrowthofwomen inbusinesstoday,includingthosewho doubleasmothers.Especiallyintoday’s ultra-connecteddigitalworld,womenare leadingandsupportingeachother throughgrowth,commitmentandteamworkinorderto keepupwithanever-changinglandscape.
Havingbeenrecognizedamong“Top20Unstoppable WomanEntrepreneursof2021,”Racheltellsthestory ofherjourneyasthefirstfemaleof21generationsto graduatecollegeandownabusinessinherfamily.
“As a young Hispanic woman working in male dominated industries, needless to say, I wasn’t exactly handed anything until it was ‘earned’, Racheltoldus, reflectingonherexperienceinthecorporateworld. Sheworkedexceptionallyhardtobetakenseriously whenshehadnewideasandstrategic recommendations. “I was first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave. I took the initiative and made it clear to whoever was in the room that I was a strong asset and someone to be respected and appreciated. I always came prepared.”
Frombeingthefirstfemaletoownafranchisefora largenationalpaintingcorporationinhighschoolto
maintainingtherelationshipsbetweenIndianreservations andLockheedMartin’sDepartmentofRenewableEnergies beforegraduatingcollege,Rachel’shardworkstartedto payoff.Attheageof23,shewasmanagingthemarketing effortsforaninternationalminingfirmandits11 internationaloffices.
Fastforwardafewyears,Rachelwasscoutedbyseveral largecompaniestoruntheirmarketingefforts.Throughthe exponentialcourseofdoublinghersalaryineveryposition shetook,Rachelgrewtobeastrongandhighlydesired professional.
Rachelexclaimed, “Loyalty wasn’t really something I was concerned with. It was the money. I had doubled my salary
in every position. For me, it was the excitement and ability to be pushed and try something new. At the age of 26, I was a well-traveled young professional who worked with high level delegates and leaders.”
FoundedByTwoWomenWhoWantedMore MountainAirMarketing(MAM)wasfoundedbytwo youngwomenwhowantedmore.OwnersRachelandCarly wereyoungwomenwhowereeachgrowingtheirown familyandgrowingabusinesstogetherallatonetime.“We wanted the best of both worlds,” notedRachel. “We wanted tobehomewithourbabiesANDbesuccessfulwomenin theworldofentrepreneurship.”
AstheystartedbuildingthebusinessandcreatingMAM’s culture,theysoonrealizedwhattheirmissionwas.Their missionwastocreateanopportunityforlike-minded
professionalswhoalsowantedthebestofbothworlds. Whateverthatmeant.Rachelinsisted,“itisn’tjustforthe mamaswehire,it’sforthosewholookforbalance, inspiration,creativityandwantingtobepartofahardworkingteam.”
WhenweaskedRachelwhathervisionisforMAMshe readilyreplied“Our vision often changes for us, and that’s okay. Carly and I are always talking about the future of the company. Even at dinners out with our husbands and on vacation, that topic seems to always arise. We don’t really know what we ‘vision’the company to do. Life happens. What we do know for sure is that we envision building a team of highly skilled individuals who love where they work and appreciate the opportunity. We look for members in our company to take key roles in the agency so that Carly and I can find more balance. Currently as a women owned and women operated agency, we look to set a good example that smart women who work together and fix each other’s crowns, create magic.”
MountainAirMarketingisathrivingbusinesswithateam ofhighlyskilled,youngwomeninColoradoSprings.In lessthanfiveyears,theboutiquemarketingagencywon 15+awards,including“Top30DigitalMarketingAgency intheUS,2019byUpCity.”MAMhasbeenrecognizedfor itsleadershipandnicheofferingsinthedigitalspace.
WeaskedRachelaboutherthoughtsontheeverchanging landscapeofprivacyrightsandhowitimpactsMAMand theirclients.“Privacy Rights are something we read about every day. As you all already know… you spend A LOT of time on your phones. You post about everything you do. You research and search about your wants, desires and needs and up until recently, that behavior has been meticulously tracked. It’s clear there is a growing awareness of digital privacy. Come 2023, Google will be eliminating cookies on websites which track users’behaviors and offer a bit more privacy options for consumers. Facebook is taking away over 40% of its audience types to target, Google Analytics isn’t as informative as it used to be and with the big iOS update, things are quickly changing for both the customer and business when it comes to targeting. Now is the time for businesses to use a marketing company and get as much data on their user’s behavior before they lose the opportunity,” Racheladvised.
Rachel’srichexperienceinbusinessandentrepreneurship yieldslighttowhyMAMhasbecomenothingshyofa successfulagencyinjustafewshortyears.Shedescribed thatherpartnershipwithCarlyhasbeenthebestbusiness decisionshehasevermade.Rachelcontinuedtosaythat runningabusinessistoughandneedsalotofattentionthe firstfewyears,andhavingabusinesspartnerthatworksjust ashardthroughthelongdaysofgrowingabusinessis exactlywhatabuddingentrepreneurmayneedtogetoff theirfeet.Rachelcontinuedtosay,“Finding a partner that has strengths in your weaknesses is key Successful entrepreneurs never do it alone. If you think they do, you’re mistaken.”
Inadditiontofindingthatcomplimentarybusinesspartner, Rachelemphasizedtheimportanceofsystems,controlsand processes.Sheemphasizedherthought“If a business isn’t organized internally, how can it successfully support the customer? 2021 was the year of controls for MAM. We knew that if we built the right team and a VERY streamlined internal system, we will be able to significantly scale in 2022. With Forbes calling 2021 the Year of Resignation, we anticipate 2022 to bring in new businesses and opportunities into the market.
Whenlifethrowschallengesatyou,it’suptoyou;
youeitherlivewithitorriselikeaphoenix. TessaWhitedecidedtoconquereveryhurdle alongherway,beateveryodd,andrise.Today,sheisa successfulentrepreneur,keynotespeaker,andanacclaimed careerexperthelpingothersfindtheirpeaceandpurpose.
TessaistheFounderofTheJobDoctor,wheresheputall herenriching,hard-earnedexperience.Throughher company,sheismovingemployeeperformancefrom averagetoextraordinaryandbuildingstrongcompany leaderswithhighlyengagedemployees.
Inspiredbyherpassionforfillinginthepuzzlepiecesof talentinordertocreatecohesiveteams,weatInsights SuccesshadaconversationwithTessatolearnmoreabout herjourney
Below are the highlights of the interview: Briefouraudienceaboutyourjourneyasabusiness leaderuntilyourcurrentpositionatTheJobDoctor. Whatchallengesyouhavetoovercometoreachwhere youaretoday?
Istartedmyjourneyasasingleparent,justpasttheageof 30,whenIfoundmyselfamotherofthree,andnow responsibleforcaringforthreechildren,makingahouse payment,withoutacollegedegreeorformaltraininginany particularcareer.Inoneofthemostfortuitoushappenings inmylife,IendedupworkingwithlegendaryStephenR. Coveyandhiscompany,whereIlearnedsuccessprinciples thatstillguidemetoday.Ifyoufastforwardtwentyyears,I becametheheadofhumanresourceswithinFortune50 companyandinfast-growingpubliclytradedcompanies.
IleftattheheightofmycareerasheadofHuman ResourcesatVivintSolartopursuebusinessonmyterms.I firstledouthelpingwomenfindtheirfooting—especially thosewhomayhavebeenimpactedbydivorceor unanticipatedlifeevents.
Ayearlater,whenthepandemichit,Iwaslockedinmy houseandhadtore-imagineabusinessmodel,andTheJob Doctorwasborn.IrealizedIcouldhelpbothmenand womenreclaimtheirworkplacesatisfactionandcometothe othersideofthecorporatefence,showingpeoplehowto navigatetheircareers.Withinoneyear,Ihavealmost 1,000,000followersacrossmultiplesocialplatforms,andI havemadeguestappearancesonGMA,TheDoctors,as wellaslistedasoneofthetopentrepreneurstowatchin 2022byUSATodayandDisruptorMagazine.
TellussomethingmoreaboutTheJobDoctor,its mission,andvision.
Mygoalistohelppeoplegetthejob,getthepay,andget theconfidencetheyneedtopursuethecareerthatbrings themfulfillment.Havingsatonthecompanyside,Iknow howpeopleriseorfallincompanies,andmygoalisto educateabouthowtowinintheworkplaceandcreate frictionlessgrowth.
“Never give up”TessaWhite ChiefExecutiveOfficer, Founder TheJobDoctor
Enlightenusonhowyouhavemadeanimpactinthe HRnichethroughyourexpertiseinthemarket. Youalwayshopeyouaremakingadifference,andforme, it’sthe200emailsIgeteachdayfrompeoplewhoare eitherseekinghelporhaveusedmyprinciplestohelp improvetheirwork-life.SometimesIgettoseeupclose andpersonalaclientgetsthebigpromotion,ortakethestep awayfromworktocommittoalivingdreaminanother facetoflife.Seeingaformersextraffickingvictimfinda careerisjustoneexampleofmanythatIhave.
Undeniably,technologyisplayingasignificantrolein almosteverysector.Howareyouleveraging technologicaladvancementstomakeyoursolutions resourceful?
Technologymademybusinessscalable.IuseaCRM,and severalplugins,inordertofulfillclientrent-my-brain sessionsanddeliversmallgroupmasterclassmentoring. WhileIthoughtIwouldbeoverbuildingwhenIfirst started,thedayweturnedonmywebsite,Ibegangetting orders.Ithasallowedmetoservepeopleacrosstheworld, notjustinmyowncommunity
Andsocialmedia,especiallyTikTok,whichIhadalways thoughtwasaforumforteenagepranksanddance-offs haveconnectedmetoexecutives,writers,newcollege graduates,andsomanyotherindividualswhoenrichmy lifeandmybusiness.
Ifgivenachance,whatchangewouldyouliketobring totheHRindustry?
I’dliketomovefromhumanresourcestoHUMANE resources,whereemployeesaren’tacoginthemachinebut insteadawholeperson,withneeds,emotions,andalife outsideofwork.Whenweseeemployeesinsteadaspeople, itmakesahugedifference.
What,accordingtoyou,couldbethenextbigchangein HRindustry?HowisTheJobDoctorpreparingtobea partofthatchange?
Businessesarenotrespondingfastenoughtothechanging needsoftoday’sworkforce.MillennialsandGenZarenot ourparent’sgenerationwherelongtermbenefitslike pensionsor401k,orlifeinsurancewereneeded.Today’s workforcecaresaboutmentalhealth,notlong-term disability,andvariablepaythatrewardsimmediatelyfor performanceratherthanannualincreases.
Theemployerswhorespondtotheflexibilityrequirements, amoreimmediaterewardsystemforexcellence,andthe painpointsaroundgettingbasicneedslikehousingand transportationsecured,willhaveaccesstopreviously untappedworkersandwillwintheheartsandmindsofthe mosttalentedpeople.
Wheredoyouenvisionyourselftobeinthelongrun andwhatareyourfuturegoalsforTheJobDoctor? Somepeoplehavejustajob.Somehaveafulfillingcareer, andafewluckyothers,likemyself,haveacalling.Iwant tochangepeople'slivesandcreatethemeanstohavea goodlifeandprovidefortheirfamilies.Iseetherealization ofadreamtohelphundredsofthousandsofpeoplethrough ashowsimilartoHomeMakeover,whereItakeindividuals andin24hours,doamakeoverontheirresumeandtheir interviewtohelpthemimprovetheirlives.
Whatwouldbeyouradvicetobuddingentrepreneurs whoaspiretoventureintothebusinesssector?
Evenifyoudon’tknowwhattodonext,dosomething everysingledaytocreateenergy.Whenyoutakeaction everysingleday,itWILLmoveyouforward.Youdon’t havetoseethewholevisionatonce.Youonlyneedto knowwhatthenextFIRSTstepis.
Thepowerofmediaisveryimpactful.Itcandrive
severaltransformativechangesthatareessentialfor humankind.Thevoicethatmediacangiveaperson holdsthesignificantpotentialtoamplifyessential messages.Beingalong-timeadvocateonamyriadof criticalworldwideissues,TracyLamourieispassionate aboutbeingavoiceforthosewhomostneedone.
AstheFounder&ManagingDirectorofLamourie MediaInc.,Tracyhasbeenattheforefrontingettingmajor mediaattentiontohelppeople.Sheisanaward-winning internationalpublicistworkingacrossbordersand industries,frommajorentertainmentprojectstosmall businesses.
Letusunveilherimpactingjourney
TheImmenseRise Tracygarneredvariousskillsetthatultimatelyledherto startabusinesshelpingotherentrepreneursandcreatives buildtheirglobalbrandsandreputationsforthought leadershipasayoungadvocateforcausesshecaredabout. Withnofinancialresources,noformalbacking-nothing morethananinternetconnectionandanoldcomputerinthe apartmentsherentedatthetime-andawholelotofselfbeliefandwillingnesstoputtheworkin.
Tracystartedworkingasafreelancer,whichquicklyledto herfirstcompanyLamouriePR,withherhusbandand businesspartner,DaveParkinson.In2020,they incorporatedLamourieMedia.Shementionsthatinthe earlydays.Thebiggestchallengewasclimbingthat mountaintoproveherselfwithoutthefive-yeardegree behindhername,withoutthousandsofdollarstospendin advertising.
Afterspendingallthoseyearsofconductingbusiness, COVIDhit,andabout80percentofTracy'scontracts relatingtoentertainment,events,andtravelweregrounded -soshehadtopivottofindnewclientswhoneededtheir messagesamplified.Shemanagedtodothatvery successfullytothepointthatthelasttwoyearshavebeen herbestyetfromafinancialandbusinessgrowth perspective-eventhoughmostofthetravelisstill grounded!
Inessence,LamourieMediaamplifiestheincrediblethings itsclientsacrossindustriesfromthecreativetothe entrepreneurialtoexpertsofallkinds-aredoingandgive themaglobalpresence.Intermsofvalues,thistrulyisa companythatgrewoutofitsfounders'values,from learningtowritethatfirstpressreleasethatledtoa19-year campaignthatultimatelyfreedaninnocentmanfromdeath row ThisexperiencetaughtTracythevalueofmedia attentionandhowdifficultitisforsometomaketheir voicesheardwithouthelp.Sheasserts, "Though today we are a for-profit business, we still make the choices about whom we will represent and what kind of messaging we will put into the world with our values at the forefront."
AstherecentwinneroftheWomenofInspirationawardin Media,Tracyheardmanyaffectingwordsfromwomenshe workedwith.Thesewomencomefromallbackgrounds, levelsofeducation,andcultures-thankingTracyforthe differenceshehasmadeintheirlivesandbusinessesby givingthemavoice.
Cherishingthisremarkableachievement,Tracysays, "I think we have been successful in what we set out to do. Elevate And Celebrate what these incredible people are doing and sharing it with the world. I've also heard from many women who tell me that my career trajectory over the last decade, watching me create this company, and seeing the success I am having with it has inspired them to find their own confidence to put their passions forward and work to create lives for themselves out of those passions!"
Likemostindustries,thewayTracydoespublicandmedia relationshasbeenchangingfasterthanmanycankeepup. Shebelievesthattechnologyisthenameofthegame,from newsocialplatformstoservicesthatconnectpeoplewith thousandsofmediacontactsandbeyond.Keepinguponall thatisavailablecanseemlikeajobinitselfbutultimately makesyourprocessesmoreaccessible.
Tracymentionsthatthemediaindustryischanging,andit isstartingtoreachasignificantmilestone.However,it needstodomorework-continueddiversevoicesand experiencesneedtoreachthepublic.Thoseinthepositions ofprivilegeneedtocontinuetodotheworktolevelthe playingfield.
Tracystatesthattheworldwillcontinuetoseetheeffectsof peoplecreatingtheirmediaandeffectiveformsof expressionwiththeevolutionofblogsandpodcastsand socialplatformslikeclubhouse.Itwillgetmoreeffective, allowingpeopletoreachtheirgrowingaudiencesand mainstreammediarespondingtoandoftentakingcuesfrom that.
Tracylooksforwardtotheworldopeningupfortravel againtoseeherselftravelingagain.
Shesays, "I am blessed that I can do most of my work from anywhere and after two years of being mostly locked down travel-wise in cold Canada. I'm looking forward to more trips back to Malta in the Mediterranean: one of her favorite destinations for business and pleasure. She gives a huge shout-out to the incredible BE hotel that I feel like is my second home!)."
Tracywantstovisittheworldthatalignswithherbusiness. Sheintendstocontinuepursuingherandherclients'goals withtherelentlesspassionthathasgotherthisfar!
Tracyadvisesupcomingentrepreneursaspiringtoventure tostarttheirentrepreneurialjourneyto "Don't Dream It, Be It." Itisoneofherfavoriteinspirationalquotesfromthe RockyHorrorPictureShowsoundtrack.
