Women Features

why?

I believe everyone has asked the question "why?" before. Why did they say that? Why would he or she act that way? Why are we all so curious? I think there are as many answers as there are questions or at least many different opinions. Mara had asked me what I was thinking about for the next edition of amuse. We talked about what was happening in the world and if we wanted to go there. Discussions of who or what could be cool on the next cover. A women's only issue is where we landed. In this issue, I share some poetry, concert shots, and some short articles from new friends. You will also discover the differences between the seven women as they answer the same five questions in their own words as it relates to them. Let me know what "Black and White" means to you. I'm already working on the next concept and would love your input.

kristin taylor

How do you empower yourself & the women around you? I try to learn from the women around me and lead by example. I’m always asking for guidance and advice from women I trust. Whether that’s professional or personal, if their advice helps me, I try to pay it forward to other women. At work, I’m always seeking mentors and those whom I can mentor to keep the knowledge and empowerment moving forward. And always celebrate the successes! What makes you a strong woman? Sometimes I don’t feel strong, but I keep pushing ahead. I believe that in itself is strength. I love a challenge and usually rise to the occasion but have learned over time to ask for help and say “no” when needed. Strength means something different to all women, but for me it’s knowing I can do the hard things, but I don’t have to do them alone and it’s not up to me to do it all.

What would you tell younger women that are just now starting a career in your field?

same field? I read a book called, How Women Rise by Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen. The biggest takeaway I would pass on would be to accept those stretch assignments, but only when they get you closer to YOUR goals. Some women take on everything just to be seen or make an impression, but that will lead to burnout. Be strategic when accepting additional projects so your skills really shine and put you in a position for advancement. What progress have you seen on gender equality in your life and work? While I’ve been fortunate to be around women in leadership roles for most of my career, I definitely saw a lack of women in executive leadership positions. That has really changed over the past few years. I’m excited to see more women with a “seat at the table” and making a big impact in the business. Why do we need more women in leadership positions? Being a working professional with my own daughter, leadership representation is important, so women know and believe we can attain those positions. We can then show our daughters that they can reach their goals, no matter how high.

Kristin is a Sr. Manager of Business Process Design & Improvement at Cox Communications in Pensacola, Florida. She supports software design and rollout to users across the enterprise and develops processes to increase user efficiencies. Kristin is a member of the Cox Women’s Employee Resource Group and participates in regular mentor sessions with women across the country. She enjoys traveling, exercising, and spending time with her husband Steven and daughter Sophie. Kristin can be found on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/kristinrtaylor/

giavona williams

How do you empower yourself & the women around you? I surround myself with talented and strong women. Who you have in your corner matters, and I have found over the years that those people keep me energized. We support and empower one another by encouraging positive thought patterns, showing up, and being our authentic selves. What makes you a strong woman? I try to be open and honest with myself and know my limits while keeping a glass-half-full outlook in business and life. I'm not perfect and cannot do it all, which is okay. I have taught myself to become comfortable with the need to say “no” sometimes and move on. In short, I choose to learn from my mistakes and turn failures into future victories.

What would you tell younger women that are just now starting a career in your field?

same field? Choose to be a warrior, NOT a victim. What progress have you seen on gender equality in your life and work? Since I have gotten out of college, I think women's pay has moved closer to men's rates, but I don't feel it's equally consistent across the board yet. So we still have some work to do to achieve gender equality in life and employment. Why do we need more women in leadership positions? Putting more qualified women in leadership brings different talents, new views, and structural and cultural diversity, which I believe will result in more successful solutions. Diverse experiences and viewpoints from women will significantly foster innovation and growth for upcoming and existing companies.

Giavona packs so much into everything she does that she goes by one letter — G. Before starting her agency, Grova Creative, in 2016, she previously worked at O, The Oprah Magazine, Sachs Media Group, BowStern Marketing and Communications, and served in the United States Navy. G’s award-winning work has covered everything from print, T.V., radio, digital, and social. Her agency was awarded “Agency of the Year” in 2019 and 2020 in the Tallahassee area. In addition, she recently was bestowed the “RockStar Award” at the 2021 Women Who Mean Business Awards. She holds a B.S. degree in graphic design from S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Outside working hours, G is an avid motorcyclist, soccer enthusiast, and volunteers with the American Advertising Federation.

Sabrina McLaughlin

How do you empower yourself & the women around you? Our greatest gift to one another as women is to lift each other up, especially the generation coming behind us. It’s also incumbent upon us to challenge each other, in love, and bring out the very best of who we are. What makes you a strong woman? My faith. Not only does it keep me grounded, but it serves as a reminder that my strength comes from something much bigger than myself. When I let my faith move my feet, I’m guided in the right way and for the right reasons. It’s not that it necessarily makes things easier, often, it presents more significant challenges, but with faith, you know all things work together for your good.

What would you tell younger women that are just now starting a career in your field?

same field? They should keep three critical principles in mind – perspective, integrity and change. I believe that perspective is important because it reminds us to look at the world not as we are but through the lens of others. That’s how we see the world as it really is. Integrity is imperative because it means you are going to do what you say you are going to do. It reveals your character…especially when no one is watching. More often than not, it’s choosing to be courageous, even if that means being uncomfortable. Change, as they say, is inevitable, and it’s essential always to be prepared for it. That may mean having a side hustle in an unstable economy or simply learning ways to be agile in how you handle situations. Learn how to adapt and overcome! What progress have you seen on gender equality in your life and work? I’ve worked in a variety of industries over the last 25 years, and I believe we have made progress in terms of discrimination, equal pay and harassment issues based on gender. I think some industries are more plagued with inequality than others, which can be exacerbated with larger organizations or within certain geographic locations. Why do we need more women in leadership positions? Obviously, the more women we have, the more we can close the gap on inequality. However, I think we have to be very careful that it’s not simply about the number of women in positions of authority. I think it’s more about the quality of women we have in leadership positions.

With 25 years of experience, Sabrina McLaughlin is currently the Owner and Executive Creative Director of 3125 Communications. Under her leadership, the firm provides strategic marketing, branding, creative and public relations services to clients in various industries across the country. Sabrina and her talented creative teams have been honored with hundreds of local, regional and national awards. She has also served in numerous leadership positions with the industry’s top professional organizations and remains an active member of the Pensacola Bama Club alumni chapter’s Executive Committee. Sabrina is a proud graduate of the University of Alabama with a BA in public relations and a double major in American studies. She also holds an MSA in public administration from UWF, and in 2003 she received her Accredited Public Relations (APR) designation, making her the second-youngest accredited practitioner in the country at the time.

Bo Yung King

How do you empower yourself & the women around you? Being a female minority doctor sets an example to others that it is possible to succeed as a woman. I feel empowered each day I walk into my office and work with an all female team. What makes you a strong woman? I embrace change and growth. One of the biggest events in my life that allowed me to grow was when I moved South to Atlanta. I was completely outside my comfort zone since growing up mostly in New York City.

What would you tell younger women that are just now starting a career in your field?

same field? Don’t be afraid to start your own practice early on in your career. Once you figure out where you want to live, establish your practice there. The rest will fall into place. What progress have you seen on gender equality in your life and work? My mother raised my brother and I as a single mom since we were in college. She came from a traditional Korean society and broke many barriers in being a strong business woman. Optometrists are now mostly female. My graduating class of 2002 was 80% female. Why do we need more women in leadership positions? Many women are already CEO's of their families and households. Growing up in the 80's I did not meet many women in leadership positions. It is important to set an example for young ladies growing up nowadays to see that women can lead in the real world just like they do inside their home.

Bo's Biography - I have lived in South Korea, Paris, New York City, and Atlanta but now I am proud to call Florida my home! I enjoy being a woman entrepreneur and own South Walton Eyecare in Walton County. I love to curl up with a good book, enjoy drinking wine, and travelling.

carlee charbonneau

How do you empower yourself & the women around you? Empowerment to myself and the women around me comes in many different forms of support, praise, pride, respect, and appreciation for all that we accomplish in our day to days lives. Empowerment also comes with noticing the admirable qualities that each individual woman offers within themselves and to those around us. We have so much to celebrate and appreciate from one another! What makes you a strong woman? What makes me a strong woman, is that I am confident within myself and what I have to offer. I am not afraid to take risks, and I will reach out and grab any opportunity that may be presented my way. What makes me a strong woman is by being fearless, because no matter the outcome, good or bad, I will either win or learn from it!

What would you tell younger women that are just now starting a career in your field?

same field? To the younger women who are finishing up school and entering their careers, I would advise you to take pride in who you are and what you have to offer! You have a lot of strengths that those around you will admire and will want to learn from. On top of having your own strengths, still continue to be a teachable person and learn from those around you. Find someone who is successful in your career and make a mentor out of them! What progress have you seen on gender equality in your life and work? As a young woman who has been in my career for almost 4 years now, I am thankful to say that I have been able to witness many different women and men in leadership positions. I have seen women excel not only at a local level, but also at corporate levels. I have worked for and worked with women in president positions and owners of extremely successful businesses. It’s empowering to be able to join the work force knowing that I have other women to admire, learn from, and look up to. Why do we need more women in leadership positions? We need more women in leadership positions so that we are promoting inclusivity and demonstrating possibilities for women at all levels. Including diverse populations and backgrounds are the key to creating innovative ideas that can make meaningful change!

kelly hall

How do you empower yourself & the women around you? I’ll start with empowering others, because self-empowerment is a more delicate matter to unpack. Becoming a better listener has enhanced my ability to connect with other women on a more meaningful, empathetic level. The power of empathy in our relationships and strength that is derived from sharing the feelings of others creates a unified momentum greater than the sum of our each individual's contributions. And while empathy clears a space to nurture and empower others, this transfer of energy is mutually beneficial and the ultimate boost for my own empowerment. What makes you a strong woman? My inner strength is inherently bound to my willingness to forge my own way out here in these streets. Strength is often confused with success, and unfortunately we typically hold ourselves to a standard of success defined by the world around us. Digging deep to define my personal convictions and beliefs around success, and making mindful choices that align with those beliefs gives me the ultimate high. This mindset is what makes me strong.

What would you tell younger women that are just now starting a career in your field?

same field? My advice to women in business development, or any field for that matter, is strive to over-deliver. I cringe when I hear "that's above my pay grade" or a generational favorite, "that's not in my job description". These are limiting, shortsighted sentiments of which we convince ourselves, and ultimately those who hold the keys to our success. Allow your ambition to shine and set you apart from the pack. I am by no means suggesting that you should have to work harder than your male counterparts for equal recognition, and if this becomes a pattern you should definitely address it with your leadership team. But going above the call, especially in the early stages of your career, will give you an edge in both experience and subject matter expertise that propels your professional journey. What progress have you seen on gender equality in your life and work? Having worked in male dominated industries throughout my career, my personal success is a proof of concept of sorts of what women are capable of achieving. There is a movement of focused, sustainable work to foster equality in our personal and professional gender roles, and my journey has been richly influenced by female powerhouses and male allies who exemplify these values. I see more women breaking their own winning streaks, and the world is noticing and adapting in a more meaningful way than at any point in our history. Why do we need more women in leadership positions? This ties back to my earlier commentary around the power of empathy. Data across a number of studies suggests that women are more empathetic and better at really processing the feeling that the other person is having, enabling female leaders to take better care of their teams. In addition to the improved contributions that come from individuals being seen by their leaders, women bring structural and imaginative differences to the table that are critical to building a diverse identity and culture. These differences lead to a broader sense of executive awareness and generate more effective, comprehensive solutions. There are some badass women in powerful roles, empowering their employees and constiuents, and their results speak for themselves.

Bio - Spending the past 22 years building a diverse track record in technology and managed services, I have witnessed a number revolutionary changes in the marketplace with women at the forefront of these movements. My passion for collaboration with other tech-forward individuals and brands has allowed me to work side by side female powerhouses who have enlightened me along the way. After over two decades of service, I’m still filled with curiosity and outrageous aspirations of what is possible through our collective potential.

neko stubblefield

How do you empower yourself & the women around you? My process of selfempowerment is rooted in self-love and that which I share with the amazing women that I surround myself with. The foundation of empowerment is built when you seize learning opportunities, adopt a positive mindset, remain confident in who you are, and take risks knowing that you won’t fail you either win or learn. What makes you a strong woman? Having a strength that is in grounded in faith. Possessing an unwavering conviction in who I am and how I set out to navigate the world underpinned by my core values, beliefs and goals. I am clear about what I want to achieve in life and intentional in my actions.

What would you tell younger women that are just now starting a career in your field?

same field? My advice to all women (and what I would love to tell my younger self) is to view challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. The path to success is rarely a straight line. While it may be filled with hurdles, those will all be looked upon as gifts one day, when you have overcome them. Start fostering your own confidence so when the opportunity arises, you can put yourself in the room and have a seat at the table. What progress have you seen on gender equality in your life and work? While there has been some progress in gender equality in the workplace, we have yet to reach a level where “all things are equal”. To make meaningful and sustainable progress toward gender equality, organizations need to go beyond table stakes. The aim of gender equality in the workplace should be to achieve broadly equal opportunities and outcomes for women and men, not necessarily outcomes that are exactly the same for all. Gender equality in life as well as in the workplace will be achieved when people are able to access and enjoy equal rewards, resources and opportunities regardless of gender. Why do we need more women in leadership positions? Among other things, women in leadership positions bring fresh perspectives. Our diverse experiences and viewpoints play a significant role in fostering innovation since varied perspectives lead to better decision-making. As a result, companies with higher degrees of leadership diversity tend to outgrow those with lower diversity percentages. When women become leaders, they bring talents, new views, alongside structural and cultural diversity to the companies they work for, resulting in more successful solutions.

Neko's Bio - Ms. Stubblefield serves as the Vice President of Membership and Community Development for Eglin Federal Credit Union. She oversees all membership, community, and financial education efforts across their footprint. Her extensive career within the financial services industry, serving in various management and leadership roles, has afforded her the opportunity to partner with area non-profit organizations, military installations, businesses and schools throughout Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties. Aside from her career and volunteer roles, Neko credits her role as “Mother in Chief” as her most valued role to date and it is her love and devotion to her children, Joshua and Madison, that sustains her.