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When Women Speak Up & Embark on Adventures ZIVA VOICES SPEAKER EVENT “HERSTORY IN THE MAKING”
RAISE YOUR VOICE: WOMEN’S STORIES OF SPEAKING UP
LIVING A BOLD LIFE: REAL-LIFE STORIES OF ADVENTURE
CONTENTS WELCOME 03 EDITOR'S LETTER
PART 1: SPEAKING UP AND BEING ADVENTUROUS 08 FROM ADVERSITY TO ADVENTURE: HOW OVERCOMING LYME DISEASE INSPIRED ME TO SKI TO THE SOUTH POLE. 14 DEAR FEAR, A LETTER FROM ANDREA OWEN 21 STRONGWOMAN ADVENTURE
26 GENERATIONS OF SPEAKING UP TO ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS 33 RIDICULOUSLY AMBITIOUS 36 SAILING 40 EMBRACING SELF-LEADERSHIP IN THE WORKPLACE: FROM PEOPLE-PLEASING TO ENFORCING BOUNDARIES 45 BE MORE THAN A VOICE: BE INDISPENSABLE
48 INSUBORDINATE PANTS
60
50 IT'S NEVER TOO LATE: HOW I DISCOVERED A LOVE FOR RUNNING AT 50 AND CONQUERED THE GREENLAND HALF MARATHON
BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND: REBIRTHING A NEW WORLD
65
PODCAST RECOMMENDATIONS
57 TAKING CARE OF WOMEN IN THE “4TH TRIMESTER” WWW.ZIVAVOICES.COM
PART 2: ZIVA VOICES EVENT “HERSTORY IN THE MAKING” 68
HERSTORY IN MAKING EVENT
70
JO-ANNE GODDEN
71
AUBREY GIROUARD
72
KRISTY COOPER
73
LISA KING
74
HELEN MARCOS
75
LANDRA LEWIS
76
TUKEA TALBERT
77
YANIRE BRANA
78
TONTHOZA UGANJA
79
NYARI SAMUSHONGA
80
MARTINA BARKSDALE
81
RAQUEL E. CARTER
82
CRYSTAL GENTRY
83
LA’SHELLE ALLEN
84
SUSANNE PUERSCHEL
85
ELLA LUCAS-EVERETT
86
DR. KINGA MNICH
PART 3: JOIN THE MOVEMENT 89
THE 4 PILLARS OF ZIVA VOICES HERSTORY IN THE MAKING
90
MISSION AND VISION
91
OUR GOALS AND WHAT WE OFFER
PART 4: INSIGHT INTO THE ZIVA WAY SYSTEM
WWW.ZIVAVOICES.COM
94
CONTRIBUTORS
95
OUR STAFF
96
ZIVA VOICES BOOKAZINE
Editor’s Letter BY DR. KINGA MNICH
Dear Readers, In this issue of ZIVA VOICES, we are exploring two distinct themes: "Speak Up" and "Adventure." To me, these themes are not entirely unrelated – for many women in many circumstances, both require courage, tenacity and the occasional stepping out of one’s comfort zone. What does it feel like for you to “Speak Up” in the spaces you occupy? For some, it's a rallying cry to raise our voices and to give power to words that need to be spoken. For ZIVA VOICES, it’s always about amplifying the voices of women and sharing the stories that need to be heard. In a world where every voice matters, we believe it's our duty to provide a platform for those stories that have often gone unnoticed. In these pages, you will find inspiring accounts of women who've faced adversity head-on, and by speaking up, they've not only transformed their own lives, but also touched the lives of others. They remind us that our stories, our experiences, our struggles are not to be kept hidden. Rather, they are to be celebrated, because they have the power to ignite change. 03 | SEPTEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2023
Likewise, the theme of "Adventure" is one of sharing stories to inspire, to show what is possible.
At the heart of these themes and the stories shared within, we find a common thread of boldness and courage.
For each of us, life is a journey, and it's the moments of stepping into the unknown, taking risks, and persevering through challenges that truly define our spirit. In this section, we explore an array of adventures that our contributors have embraced in the face of challenging circumstances. From exploring uncharted territories to conquering personal challenges, I hope these women’s stories will encourage you to chase your own dreams and adventures, even when (especially when?) they against the grain.
It takes courage to speak up when silence feels like the safer choice, and it takes courage to embark on an adventure that holds uncertainty. As women, we have an indomitable spirit, a thirst for progress, and the power to make change happen. Our stories, your stories, are a testament to that power. As we delve into the stories and adventures of the remarkable women in this issue, remember that you, too, are part of this incredible journey.
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Your stories matter, your voices are important, and your adventures are waiting to be written. This magazine is a celebration of you, of us, and of the extraordinary women who continue to shape the world with their boldness and strength. Thank you for being a part of our community. We hope you allow these stories to inspire you to take action, to speak up and to create a life of adventure for yourself and in community with others.
Kinga Mnich
DR. KINGA MNICH EDITOR IN CHIEF
03 | SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2022 05 | SEPTEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2023
WOMEN DON’T SPEAK UP AS MUCH AS MEN DO IN ORGANIZATIONS, OFTEN BECAUSE THEY LACK CONFIDENCE. BUT THEY CAN GAIN CONFIDENCE TO CONTRIBUTE MORE IF THEY SEE WOMEN LEADERS SPEAKING UP FIRST. NEW RESEARCH FROM MARYLAND SMITH, FORTHCOMING IN THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY.
1 PART ONE
UNLOCKING YOUR VOICE: THE POWER OF SPEAKING UP AND EMBRACING ADVENTURE
FROM ADVERSITY TO ADVENTURE: HOW OVERCOMING LYME DISEASE INSPIRED ME TO SKI TO THE SOUTH POLE. by Genevieve Brown
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My story begins on an ordinary weekend in late February 2014. I hadn’t scheduled anything major that weekend because I knew I’d be washing and combing my hair, and as any black woman with a thick afro will tell you, this task requires time and patience. As I rinsed the conditioner out of my hair, I happened to glance down, and to my horror I discovered that masses of my locks were on the floor of the bath. I quickly reached up to feel my scalp and found a large bald patch near the front of my head. I was sufficiently distraught to make an emergency appointment with my local general practitioner (GP) on the following Monday. Given that I was rarely ill since registering with the surgery, I’d never actually met any of the GP’s. So, when I walked in and noticed that this particular GP was wearing a toupee, I was relieved and thought that he’d be sympathetic to my sudden hair loss.
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Instead, he listened distractedly as I described how my hair had fallen out, and then proceeded to explain that since I was young and didn’t seem to lead a stressful life it was probably dandruff or dry scalp and that I should just get some anti dandruff shampoo. He quickly ushered me out of his office, and I was too shocked at this confusing and rushed diagnosis to put up any kind of argument. This encounter marked the beginning of a harrowing three-year period of misdiagnosis and medical gaslighting. My health quickly deteriorated after that as I began to acquire a strange set of symptoms that I simply couldn’t explain, mainly: Severe fatigue bouts Brain fog Aphasia Memory loss Anxiety Depression Night sweats Joint ache Fevers and chills
My life spiralled out of control, and I felt like I’d fallen down a dark hole with no way out. It felt like I was being sent from pillar to post as many of the GP’s and specialists that I was referred to simply didn’t believe or understand my symptoms. Some told me it was all in my head, and others that I’d be on antibiotics for the rest of my life. My life spiralled out of control, and I felt like I’d fallen down a dark hole with no way out. I was signed off work for a period, as I struggled with even the most menial tasks. As time went on, I lost connection with many friends and for the first time since moving to London in 2008, I felt truly lonely and abandoned. So, when in 2016 - after 3 years of hell someone suggested I go see a Naturopath, and I was game. During our first consultation, the Naturopath went through my entire medical history since I’d moved to London, and her first comment was “why haven’t they tested you for Lyme Disease?” It seemed pretty obvious to her that it was the most likely cause of my illness, so we decided to test for this first. When the tests came back positive, I embarked on a yearlong intensive treatment plan. There is currently no cure for Lyme Disease so the best I could hope for was some sort of remission, managed by adapting my diet, regular detoxes and managing my stress levels.
What really struck me was that rather than feeling elated at finally figuring out what was affecting me, I sank into a deep depression. It was as if I came crashing down under the realisation that I’d been carrying a massive weight of uncertainty and misdiagnosis for 3 years. So, I started seeing a therapist to work through all the emotions I was feeling. It was during one of these therapy sessions that I realised that I could either become bitter at the medical professionals who had failed me, or I could do everything in my power to raise awareness about this debilitating disease. From London to the South Pole The idea to ski to the South Pole first came to me when I was introduced to Doug Stoup, one of the world’s leading polar explorers, at a work event. I shared my story, and he immediately encouraged me to consider doing an expedition in the Antarctic to highlight the difference that correct diagnoses and treatment had on my physical abilities. After all, to go from sleeping for 18 hours a day and needing care to skiing to the South Pole in the harshest conditions on the planet would be pretty epic! I could never have imagined just how much my life would change after that! I was born and raised on the Dutch Caribbean Island of Aruba, and doing any kind of cold adventure seemed completely out of my comfort zone. However, I’d been granted what felt like a second chance at life after Lyme and I was determined to make the most of it! THE ZIVA VOICES BOOKAZINE
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I’d initially planned to cross-country ski from the last degree to the pole, covering 120km in a group. But over the years I decided to change that to a solo and unsupported expedition, skiing 1200km from the coast to the pole. During the expedition, which can take up to 45 days, I’ll be pulling all my provisions weighing 80 - 100 kilos in a sledge without any assistance. To prepare for this, I’ve sought out people with specialist polar and ski skills as well as trainers and coaches who understand rehabilitation and training after chronic illness. Currently, my dream team consists of a personal trainer, various ski coaches and mentors as well as a masseuse, physiotherapist, and a nutritionist to ensure that I can keep my Lyme fatigue flare-ups to a minimum whilst building my strength and endurance. My training year is typically broken up into 6-month cycles. During the autumn/winter cycle, on weekdays I’ll start out with a 4:30am, 2-hour strength session at the gym. The best way to train the body for the intensity of sledge hauling is to practise by pulling tyres in different terrains. I do a few short 1.5 hour-long pulls during the week and a long 6-8 hour pull at the weekend. Each day I also spend an hour in the evening doing recovery work such as stretching, yoga and Pilates. In the spring/summer season I swap out the tyre pulling for running and roller-skiing whilst maintaining my strength training and recovery regime.
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Because I live in southern England where we have mild winters, I tend to go to Norway as much as I can during the winter months to build up my cross-country ski, winter camp craft and polar survival skills. To date, I have completed a winter polar basic skills course, 2 week-long group expeditions and 1 solo mini expedition. Next year, I plan on doing a ski-refresher course, as many weekend solo ski and camp trips as I can and most importantly, a 3-week qualifier expedition to be allowed to pursue my solo endeavour.
At present, my aim is to head to Antarctica in the winter of 2024/2025 to complete the expedition. I’ll fly to a base camp in Antarctica where I’ll spend a few days acclimatising and doing last minute dry runs.
When the weather is amenable, I’ll be flown to my agreed drop-off point where I’ll be left to navigate and ski to the South Pole. To be able to do this I will need to raise a significant amount of funds from sponsors to cover the cost of the specialist clothing and equipment required for harsh conditions, my training and qualifier expeditions as well as the logistics fees for the actual expedition.
Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on just how far I’ve come since being bitten in the Autumn of 2013, and I realise that this isn’t just about overcoming Lyme Disease anymore. It’s about representation and the importance of inclusion and diversity in the adventuring world. It’s about inspiring and encouraging others to pursue their dreams regardless of their circumstances. Most importantly, it’s about not allowing other people’s limiting beliefs to restrict what you can or can’t achieve!
Fundraising has proven to be the most challenging part of the expedition so far, but I have enjoyed the challenge, and I truly believe that I will get the funds in time to achieve this amazing goal!
Genny Brown is aiming to be the first Aruban and Black woman to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole to raise awareness about Lyme Disease. https://www.instagram.com/antarcticaruban/
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"YOU MUST GO ON ADVENTURES TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU BELONG."
-SUE FITZMAURICE
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
DEAR FEAR, A LETTER FROM ANDREA OWEN By Andrea Owen
Bookmobiles. If you’re a person of a certain age in the US, you might remember these minilibraries on wheels. They could be smaller vans up to a full-size RV-type vehicle. They often had carpet just like you may have had in your elementary school classroom, with small benches inside for small people, and a smell exactly the same as any library – that wonderful smell of books and imagination.
In my childhood, I remember laying on my belly on the floor with a book as my mom chatted with the bookmobile librarian, never rushing me. It was there that my love of books began and set the dream in motion of becoming an author.
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When I was still a child, I wrote short stories about babysitting, crafting dramatic scenes about earthquakes while the main character saves the kids she’s watching. As a teen, I wrote angst-filled poems as I experienced the emotional roller coaster of love and heartbreak with a boy whom I believed hung the moon. As adulthood and my career moved forward, my dream of becoming an author came true. By 2013 I had landed a traditional book deal, and my first book was published. It was every bit as exciting as I thought it would be - the process of finding a literary agent, her shopping and selling my book, and signing contracts. When the book came out, I went to a bookstore and saw my book on the shelf. My little girl heart soared like when she had walked into a bookmobile, I was absolutely ecstatic. That book did well enough for me to land a second book deal in 2016. To my surprise, that book garnered 19 foreign translations and was distributed and sold in 23 countries around the world. Although extraordinarily exciting, it was a lot of visibility, and with that, I felt tremendous fear and pressure. Outwardly, I couldn’t be happier. But, deep inside, I felt a need to hide. My little girl self retreated behind the card catalog.
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A few years later, I got the idea for my third book and started the arduous process of writing another book proposal. Book proposals are complicated, gigantic documents that editors at publishing houses read and decide if they want to buy your book or not. The proposal contains the summary of your book, who the book is intended for, and what magic you’re going to conjure up to help you sell the book. The way I usually describe writing book proposals is that it's like a school project that is enormously time-consuming, super boring, a crap-ton of work, and yet 99% of your grade is riding on it. Oh, and you fail if you don’t do it. No big deal.
So, as a self-help author, I did an exercise that I would have given to any of my clients in my position. I would write a letter to fear, as one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Gilbert, suggests. Instead of running from fear, writing a letter to fear is a way to face it, to acknowledge it, and to work with it. This letter is candid and direct, because that’s my style. Here is that letter. Dear Fear, I’m not sure why I’m addressing you as “dear,” as you’re hardly dear to me. Let me start with compassion, since you don’t necessarily deserve to be yelled at, berated, or chastised. This book was slightly different than my first two. It was still in the same genre of self-help, but it had an edge. It was more opinionated. More in tune with what was going on culturally and politically. It felt risky. It felt vulnerable. It felt like scooping my heart out with a knife and presenting it to Very Important People in hopes that they would love it. I dragged my feet for months writing the proposal. My agent was patient, but urged me to finish it. The truth was I was terrified and the fear was getting in the way at every turn.
I get it. I get why you’re doing what you’re doing. You know – or at least are very certain – that if I write a BIG book, …(and by “BIG,” I mean with lots of opinions. And by “lots of opinions,” I mean opinions that millions of women and men also have the same opinions. Oh, the irony.) …there is a huge risk involved. What if people disagree with me and write mean things about me on the internet? What if I don’t know enough about some of these topics and I’m criticized for that? But, I think the thing that scares you the most, is not bad reviews or haters…but the success of this book.
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With my last book doing so well, this book has big shoes to fill. And by big shoes, I mean 100,000 copies in 16 months. A big book advance to PROVE how worthy my creativity is. Numbers have weight, and there are so many numbers to contend with. To you, Fear, big numbers equal everything good and right in my life. There are so many What If’s and OMG’s and expectations. I understand your job is to know these backward and forward. To warn “GIRL, WATCH OUT!” at every turn, every second, and I believe your goal is to convince me to write a book that is so incredibly vanilla that it will be agreeable to everyone. Or, if you really had your wish, I wouldn’t write another book at all. We’d just leave the party with two books, blowing kisses to everyone and call it a day. I understand that you are convinced this risk is equivalent to my possible death– playing Russian Roulette with the general public. That any failure of this book will not only result in public humiliation but will be my death. Death by my haters, or death by massive shame. Or maybe both. Trust me, I feel all of this in my marrow. Every day as I sit down to write the proposal for this book, I hear you and feel you. I wring my hands and I worry. I make an anguished emoji face. I get digestive issues. So, we’re going to make a deal. You and me, Fear.
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But, I need to tell you first that while I get you and see your job, and even respect and admire your tenacity for doing said job, I have got this. If you remember, I used to sit in my room for hours writing stories from the age of 9. This continued well into my teens, and then for a decade or so I stopped writing because I lost myself (but that’s a letter for another day). But when I picked up writing again, it poured out of me. And for years this happened and then I wrote my first book. I actually did it, Fear, do you remember? You were there so much during that time. We wrestled, you pushed, I pushed back and in the end, I did it. And we didn’t die– in fact, it ended up being fantastic, so fantastic that I did it again. And like the good worker you are– always diligently showing up for your shift, on time, you came back that time and we made it through yet again. And that book was fantastic, too. Even more so to me because I understood so much more about the creative process, the publishing journey, about myself, and about you. So many times I write things that I don’t remember. God is writing through me, she knows what needs to be said, and she whispers it to me. And when you’re yelling, it makes it hard for her to be heard. Ya, ya, I know you’re doing your job and I’ll get to our deal in a minute, but I need you to understand just how much I have got this.
This is important. This book wants and needs to be written. There are women out there of all ages who need this clarity, stories, advice, and my sense of humor to reach the next level in their life. They have their own fear that’s putting the brakes on and listen, Fear, we can have NONE of that. These women are trying to do incredible things, live better lives, be influences on other women. And they can’t do that if you’re in the way and yelling so loud. So, back to our deal. I’m not banishing you or burning you at the stake. You can stay, but if you stay, we have to enlist some boundaries. First and foremost, I am in charge. The boss. The big kahuna. If it’s any consolation, remember this is our third time at this rodeo. I am fully equipped to be in the driver's seat. Second, since you have permission to come along, there needs to be rules around that. No blabbering, no worst-case-scenario, no comparison to my previous writing or to other authors. In other words, I need you to maybe at most whisper your worries when absolutely necessary. I promise I’ll acknowledge you. You can’t be in charge, Fear, that’s the bottom line. I call all the shots and my voice is the loudest, the most important, and the most loving. It has to be. We may need to have future meetings once in a while and that’s fine if you need to give me all the warnings. I’ll hear you out. But, that’s it.
Oh, and thanks for keeping me safe all those other times, you know when I legitimately could have died. You’re the best for that. Sincerely, Andrea
My invitation to you is to write your own letter to fear. Whether you’re scared to apply for that new job or promotion, to have that hard conversation, or put your art into the world. You’ve got this.
Deal? Deal.
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Andrea Owen is an inspirational writer, speaker, mentor and life coach. She got into life coaching when it was relatively unknown and has become a recognized leader in the self-help and coaching world. She empowers women to take control of their lives and break out of isolationism and reclaim the power to do what they want. She has successfully recorded and released over 300 episodes of her podcast and written two books (and there’s another on the way!).
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/heyandreaowen/ https://www.facebook.com/andrea.marie.owen/
“Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively." ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
LEADERSHIP
STRONGWOMAN ADVENTURE By: Samantha Davies
I am a 5-foot, 2-inch (and a bit!) woman with a can-do attitude. I love being fit and trying new things as I get bored easily, and I hate being told what to do. I don't know why, but that gets me particularly enraged then I get determined to do things my way. When I was in my late twenties, I trained before work in a gym, and as I was one of the few women there, I watched a lot of World Wrestling Entertainment (widely known as WWE) whilst I was on the treadmill. A man in the gym was commenting on it, and I mentioned that I thought it was really cool. He immediately replied that I certainly couldn't do it and wouldn't even survive the training.
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I really hate it when people tell me I can't do something. After tracking down a training gym for wrestling, I took myself to the darkest depths of Ilford (East London), and down a strange back alley in an industrial estate, I finally found my way in. Upon entry, a massive man asked if I was lost. Now I did look young for my age, and I am a smaller person, but I was in my late 20s and I was fit
I explained that we had been in contact and I was here to train. He looked me up and down and talked to me condescendingly, "Are you sure you want to train, why don't you start by watching? This is a contact sport, but you know it's staged right?" Well, that did it, I was all in! We went through some jumps, falls, and pins. I think he was surprised because at the time I was super fit and wellconditioned due to years of kickboxing training. The funniest part was when they had me pin a man on the floor. Picture this - he was massive, and laying on the floor in one of those wrestling unitards, and I was told to pin him by laying across his (not insignificant) belly. He was so big and I was so small that it felt like I was on a seesaw. I don’t think that move was very convincing. While my wrestling career didn’t go anywhere, the experience did facilitate the creation of my wrestling alter ego: “The Ice Maiden.” Time went by and I became a mother. After getting back in shape after having two babies in two years, I was bored with the usual classes and my routine in the gym. A male friend had been competing in local Strongman competitions and thought that it might be something I could use as a focus for my training. I initially said no, but after a couple of weeks of thinking about it, I decided to give it a go.
He immediately booked me into a competition five months ahead and we started training. I was surprised by how much I could lift, and slowly I worked my way up to my one rep max in various disciplines. As the weeks went on the other guys in the gym were noticing I was lifting heavier (not heavier than them, but heavy for a small person). I achieved a personal best in the gym, and I think it was purely because people were staring and thought I couldn't do it. I deadlifted 105kg, nearly 17 stone (and nearly double my body weight!). I have never managed to lift that weight since. One of the elements of the competition was what’s known as “the yoke.” I had never heard of it so I looked it up. It was like a medieval milkmaid carrying a massive frame on her shoulders. There was no substitute for this piece of equipment, so I had to go to a local spit and sawdust gym which was primarily a men's domain. The first time I went, some eyebrows were raised, and I felt under scrutiny, but after my warm up when I got started working with the strongman equipment I was more at ease.
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Soon the competition came around. It was a freezing February day, and I didn't know what to expect. It was so intimidating seeing both men and women who were built like bulls with muscles everywhere. I had my husband for support, but my training partner had to miss the competition due to a family emergency. Eventually, it was time to start. One of my childhood heroes, Geoff Capes, who had twice been the World's Strongest Man, was one of the judges. I couldn't believe he was chatting with me! The first event was pulling a 7.5-tonne truck for 20 metres with a time limit of one minute. I saw a few women go before me and it dawned on me that although men were categorised by weight, women weren't. I was competing against women who were two or three times my weight and size! I tried to put that to the back of my mind, and as my name was called and I was being harnessed to the truck, I tried to remember everything I had learned whilst pulling my training partner's car across the sports centre car park.
Andrea Thompson, a very successful British Strongwoman was at my side talking to me and encouraging me as the starting gun went off. She stayed with me the whole time, cheering me on as I leaned forward and started the truck moving, small steps, deep breaths, I couldn't believe I was doing it! I was pulling a truck! My time ran out before I got to the 20 metre mark, but I wasn't far off. Andrea started to console me but I was overjoyed and so excited that I had pulled a truck! It is still one of my proudest moments ever and I have the video to prove that I did it! The crowd was so supportive, cheering everyone on throughout the competition. I watched the last few women, they were amazing! Some of them actually ran with the truck - it was awe-inspiring. If you ever get the chance to go and watch a strongman competition in real life, GO!
I loved it, all these new ways of moving and lifting weights that were tailored to each event were giving me challenge after challenge, and although I felt like I had been hit by a bus after each session, I could see and feel that I was making progress.
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Samantha Davies is a talented boudoir photographer known for her unique and personalized approach to capturing sensuality and beauty.
https://boudoirwithpersonality.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/boudoir_withpersonality
Sam's current fitness obsession is pole dancing.
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SPEAK UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND EMBARK ON THE GREATEST ADVENTURE OF YOUR LIFE.
GENERATIONS OF SPEAKING UP TO ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS
by Lindamaria Ortega
This story starts in Guatemala. It might not end there, because I am a citizen of the world. Guatemala is a little but beautiful country in Central America, full of colors, culture, diversity, and amazing people. Half of the population lives below the poverty line and lacks access to basic needs, making the country one of the poorest in Latin America. The story I will tell you is about three generations, and the power of raising your voice to achieve a greater good. Early Inspiration: Grandmother Linda
In the 1950s, Guatemala was at the center of controversies regarding access to the Atlantic Ocean. The Cuban revolution and the palpable presence of the communism of the Soviet Union in the region turned the country into a strange land of political and social challenges.
Many people were threatened over their ideas or by working for the government. At that time, the presidential order dictated that all public workers were automatically “militants of the government party.” It was hard to defend yourself, your family, and your community. It was a time of revolution, the guerrillas, and the CIA intervention, between 1950-1954. By 1956, my grandmother was a rural teacher in a small community called ¨Los Llanos,¨ teaching kids of different ages in a single class in what is called a “multigrade classroom.” Her name was Linda, like me. The community did not have electricity or drinking water systems. Some places around the area already had these services, but the community where she was placed as a public servant did not have any of those basic needs. She was transferred there as a penalty for demanding rights for the population from an abusive politician in the previous community. She lived there with her husband, my dear grandpa, a rural teacher in a close community, and her 7-year-old genius kid (my dad), who learned to read and write at age three by attending his mother's classes! Eventually, my father would become a medical doctor.
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My grandmother was moved by the community's kindness despite its scarce resources. The people in the community seemed to always be happy and smiling,, and most importantly, they were interested and committed to their kid's education. But their voices went largely unheard in the system. So, my grandma decided to organize the community and start a movement to request electricity and drinking water systems from the government. It was challenging; advocacy is never easy, especially if you don't have a high-level network and have already been labeled as problematic for refusing to accept the status quo. She had to knock on many doors, and she received many “no’s,” but she finally made it through the system. She posted the request with the right people,, and the community got those basic needs requested. Today she is remembered as the community builder who taught people how to raise their voices and fight for their rights. This is only one example of my grandma’s greatness! She did many things like this while working as a rural teacher. She passed away in 2005, but her legacy lives in many small rural Guatemalan communities that still know who Seño Linda was.
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The Next Generation: My Mother When my youngest brother was born, she was completing a Master's degree, working full-time as director of Adult Education programs in a very important nonprofit organization. At this point, the 1980s had brought many social changes that turned the country into a new young democracy.
My mother had a tough childhood - death threats and an attack separated her family, and she had to run away with her siblings and her parents from their family home. My dad met my mother in a Health Community Center in the late 1970s; she was the social worker, and he was her boss. They teamed up to create many services and support the San Pedro Ayampuc community. Some psychologists suggest that people look for their match by finding familiar traits, personalities, appearance, or precisely the opposite. I am unsure what the case was, but he found a strong, determined, and hardworking woman like his mother. By the time I was born, my mother was a graduated social worker and had started an International Relations degree. By the time my brother was born, she was finishing her degree.
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It was hard for her, but she fought for her education, and she got scholarships and support from different angels that came across her life during the time she dedicated to her studies. She is from a small town called "Jocotan," on the border with Honduras. Her father was the town's mayor when all the problems arrived at their doorstep. Of the nine siblings, five had to leave the country during the 70's. The other four still live in Guatemala, and one is my mother. In 2001, she got her PhD in Sociology, and her dissertation was about her favorite topic, Education in Guatemala. Today she is a well-known international consultant in community development and education.
With over 50 years of experience, she has created, developed, and led important initiatives that have changed education in Guatemala. She is a passionate advocate for those who can't access basic needs, such as education, health, and food. Since childhood, during the '90s, I loved accompanying my mom on her tours all over the country. Her job was fascinating; the culture of the people was so gentle and kind, and this cozy feeling of community was delicious. I learned from everything - the conversations and observations. Everything was engaging, even the scary moments on the bad roads or some communities resisting the projects; everything was astonishing. At that time, my parents had their own consulting firm, working with multilateral organizations, and international cooperation agencies. By 2003, we got together a group of people, including my parents, and created ACUDE, a nonprofit with the primary goal of raising awareness and funds for the Chorti area, now known as the Dry Corridor. We worked with literacy projects, European volunteers, the World Bank, and eventually with the Canadian, Japanese, and US Cooperation Agencies. Until today, ACUDE has benefited thousands of families, not just in the Dry Corridor but also in other geographical areas across the country.
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Continuing the Legacy: Me
I eventually moved to the United States to open a market and operations for the organization I was working for, and that changed my life again. I am unafraid of changes; starting from zero is fine with me!
After college, I got a scholarship and left for Spain. It was before Easter Europeans joined the European Union; there was a significant immigration movement from Latin America, and I got a job in a European project, Integration through Participation. I was traveling through Europe, learning about immigrant association's best practices, and meeting incredible people. My eyes opened to unlimited possibilities. This feeling of community, belonging, and solidarity was my favorite part of the experience. After a while, I evolved, creating “Red and Green Connections, a non-profit organization that promotes connections that link sustainable development and economic prosperity.
At some point in this challenge, something changed me, and I felt the need to work with my fellow artists and entrepreneurs. As a visual artist, it is easy to understand the needs and the world of an artist entrepreneur. Even though my professional life was in international cooperation, it has always been linked with creativity, innovation, and sustainable prosperity. The power of education, creative economy, and, most importantly, human will is the blueprint for progress and evolution. The road hasn't been easy; as a Hispanic immigrant woman, I have faced many challenges, but I have learned to use my voice to raise awareness, create resources, build capacities with multicultural communities, drive diversity with equitable practices, and be inclusive in all my projects. In the end, I come from a lineage of strong, determined, hard-working women who have raised their voices to help, advocate, and cooperate.
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Lindamaria Ortega is a creative leader with international and multicultural experience managing and working in Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the United States, showcasing strong partnership coordination and networking skills. Over the past 25 years, she has worked with international organizations and multilateral agencies. She has helped launch or played an instrumental role in developing platforms and initiatives to advance local empowerment, women's entrepreneurship, creative and circular economy impact across the globe.
https://www.fralinorcreativeconsulting.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/fralinor/
The challenge is creating a network, building a new community, and joining a new society with different rules and styles. Family Pictures: Gonzalez, C. Historia de la educación en Guatemala. Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, 2007. ISBN 999396719X, 9789993967194 United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (Author). Ninth report of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala. Good Press (December 8, 2020). ASIN B08Q8HP4C3 31 | SEPTEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2023
SUCCESS IS NOT FINAL, FAILURE IS NOT FATAL, IT'S THE COURAGE TO CONTINUE THAT COUNTS.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Indian entrepreneur and founder of Biocon.
RIDICULOUSLY AMBITIOUS?
by Sonnie Linebarger
As a self-identified “Type A,” ambitious woman, I spent my days (and nights!) clawing my way up the corporate ladder. I was so focused on the next rung that I never stopped to appreciate my achievements. My eye was always on the next title, the next promotion, the next raise, and all of the accolades that came with it. Perhaps this will sound familiar to you? It took 20+ years for me to muster the courage to step out of the corporate world and the shiny golden handcuffs that accompanied it, to step into a soulful calling of launching my own company.
I was leaning so far in toward my career and ambitions, that I leaned out of everything else in my life.
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Picture being in a small paddle boat and trying to stay afloat while leaning halfway out of the boat. What happens? It eventually tips over. Family, friendships, and hobbies all fall to the wayside. Working 60+ hours per week starts to chip away at your mental health and then finds its way to eroding your physical health.
I want more women to have the courage to bet on themselves.
Fast forward to 2021. I was burned out, had Hashimoto’s Disease, brain fog, and was losing my hair. (What a pretty picture of success, huh?!) I had finally hit my tipping point, and made the decision to start betting on myself and building my personal brand. It started out as a side hustle and I launched a podcast called “Evoke Greatness.” It was driven by my curious nature and fascination with the champion mindset. I wanted to share the stories of myself and others, and how we navigate our journey towards greatness…all while stumbling through valuable lessons along the way.
The effort to make this a reality has led to some inspiring friendships, and paved the way for me to have the courage to step into the entrepreneurial venture to launch my own company. As someone who is passionate about the advancement of women in this world, I want to share my experiences with others in hopes they can avoid some of the costly mistakes I have made as well as pick out some lessons that may be able to propel them ahead. I want more women to have the courage to bet on themselves. This is what drives me. It is my most sincere wish to, as the quote says, “plant trees under which shade I may never sit.”
Imagine a world where successful leaders are authentic and transparent in sharing the ways they’ve failed and the powerful lessons that they learned in the process with the rest of the world to glean from!
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Sonnie Linebarger is the Founder & CEO of Evoke Greatness, a coaching and consulting firm. She stepped out of a COO role in the corporate world overseeing a 300+ million-dollar company to step into an entrepreneurial venture in the spirit of serving and positively impacting organizations and leaders in a larger, more meaningful way. Crafting and refining a people centered culture is a passion of hers as she is committed to the mentorship, development, and transformation of others.
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https://evokegreatness.com/about-sonnie https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/
SAILING By Nicole Breault
I am right now hurtling through a tunnel under the English Channel on the Eurostar, en route to Paris from London. I had been in London to race sailboats in a racing challenge hosted by the Royal Thames Yacht Club called the Cumberland Cup – I was one of two skippers for a team comprising multigenerational Yale College graduates.
For the past 15 years I have lived in pursuit of glory in the niche sport of competitive inshore sailing.
When I am home in San Francisco, California, I juggle the logistics of my various racing adventures along with volunteering as an organizer and coach, expanding access to sailing and upskilling of others in various aspects of the sport. Sailing…a life of great adventure Travel Sailing has taken me around the world. Some sailors may actually sail across the oceans, something I have yet to do. But I have done my inshore racing in more than 10 countries around the globe. Last year, I raced in the Women’s Match Racing World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand.
This train takes me to France where I will rendezvous with my Vela Racing team to compete in a “1v1 match” racing event, pitting us against some of the best women’s teams from around the world taking part in the 2023 Women’s World Match Racing Tour. My name is Nicole Breault, and for the past 15 years I have lived in pursuit of glory in the niche sport of competitive inshore sailing.
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Competitive sailing has been a shared passion for me and peers all over the world, connecting us. I have match-raced in Seoul Korea, Vladivostok Russia, and Lysekil, Sweden. As a kid, I raced the International 420 Class World Championship in Hungary, Croatia, France, Japan, and Italy. I have also raced an 8-day regatta in the Chilean Patagonia archipelago called the Chiloe Regatta. Competitive sailing has been a shared passion for me and peers all over the world, connecting us. It has also opened my eyes to amazing places and their diverse cultures, and has been the way for me to visit both iconic and remote destinations. Skill There are layers of challenge built into the game: the mechanics of boat handling, tests of athletic strength and timing, adaptation to changing variables, strategic decision-making, and tactical maneuvers. There is a division of tasks on board, but also reliance on cooperation among the crew. Communication knits it all together. We train in the gym and we log hours together on the water, practicing and competing. When we leave the dock for a day of racing, our skills are uniquely tested on multiple levels by the elements, by our own limitations, by our competitors.
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Endurance Like most sports, sailing requires a sustained effort and energy during competition and in the spaces in between. Just this year, I have participated in 14 events, some as a coach and organizer and most as a competitor. It is very busy! And there are a lot of moving parts. My teams are not all the same. I have travel and housing logistics to organize. There are mental and physical preparations for each event: what are the characteristics of the venue and the type of boat we will sail? what is the weather pattern we will see? who are the players we will race against? what are realistic goals? is the team collectively over the weight maximum… will we have to diet to make weight? These and many more questions occupy my time going in. And then there is the execution. We need to stay hydrated, warm or cool, upbeat, uninjured, strong and smart. We need to bounce back from misfortune, stay constructive, move forward and keep striving. Racing lasts for 6 to 8 hours a day. Regattas last 2 to 5 days.
Relationships Through sailing, I have built intense relationships with both teammates and fellow competitors. The complexity of the game poses special challenges to a team, and the deep dive into the group psyche can be quite an adventure. As a skipper, in addition to delivering skillful helmsmanship in the heat of battle, this has meant taming my ego, caring for my teammates, and exercising leadership. I also recognize the crucial part played by the race officials, umpires, and community of volunteers and supporters in creating this amazing sport. Nelson Mandela said it well: “[Sport] has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.” All of my adventures in sailing have demonstrated this to me.
The richness of my experiences traveling the world to race continues to be a great adventure, and by contributing to the sailing lives of others I hope to have added adventure into their lives as well.
Nicole Breault is American sailor who is a four-time winner of the U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Breault was named the 2017 St. Francis Yacht Club's Jerome B. White Yachtsman of the Year, the first women to receive the honor. As of 2021, she sails out of St. Francis Yacht Club. https://wmrt.com/skipper/nicole-breault/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-breault-38a6446/
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You don’ t have to change who you are, you have to become more of who you are.
ZIVAVOICES.COM
EMBRACING SELFLEADERSHIP IN THE WORKPLACE: FROM PEOPLEPLEASING TO ENFORCING BOUNDARIES By Dr. Maike Neuhaus
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Every tale of triumph begins with a journey, and in my role as a positive psychology and self-leadership coach, I've witnessed numerous journeys. These narratives often involve strong, resilient women who experience significant personal growth after they clarify their core values, overcome self-doubt, and channel their energy effectively. Sometimes, the thing holding them back isn't self-limitations, but the influences of others. Regrettably, this realization often comes after enduring months - or years - of striving to adapt and meet others' expectations. One such narrative is that of Kelly. Kelly's Journey: The Constant Criticism
Struggle
with
Kelly, a successful 32-year-old marketing manager, eager for fresh challenges, was promoted and transitioned to a new team within her organization. Not long after this transition, she found herself under consistent critical scrutiny from her new boss. His criticisms ranged from her choice of words in reports, to verbal hesitations in team meetings, and even her approach to team management. Being highly conscientious, Kelly acknowledged the feedback, apologized and adjusted her behavior.
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However, her changes seemed perpetually insufficient for her boss, a man with a paradoxical nature - stern and critically demanding at work, yet known for his goodhearted nature outside the professional arena. Unfortunately, the impact of his unrelenting work-related criticisms took a significant toll on Kelly. As the criticisms escalated to public belittlement, Kelly's self-confidence was shattered, leading her to seek help.
Kelly found herself on this precarious path, growing increasingly self-critical and less confident. Yet, she didn't connect these feelings to her boss's behavior. Instead, she internalized the criticisms, erroneously believing that she could improve the situation by changing her behavior. Over time, Kelly began experiencing an instinctual response to her boss's criticism not the typical 'fight or flight' reaction, but a 'fawn' response.
With teary eyes and a heavy heart, Kelly approached me. She had repeatedly adapted her behavior hoping to satisfy her boss, only to realize she had lost touch with her authentic self in the process. The continuous doubt and confusion she experienced were indicative of gaslighting (Ziarnik & Gubi, 2020).
Fight, Flight Response
Gaslighting: A Subtle Manipulator Gaslighting is an insidious form of psychological manipulation that is often hard to recognize, especially for the person being gaslighted. The manipulator plants seeds of doubt, causing the victim to question their memory, perception, and sanity (Sarkis, 2017). Gradually, the victim starts feeling less capable, less credible, or less valuable than they truly are, leading to persistent self-doubt and eroding selfconfidence.
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or
Fawn:
The
Hidden
In her bid to adjust and conform to her boss's expectations, Kelly embodied a behavior pattern known as the 'fawn' response, a concept identified by Pete Walker (2009) in his work on Complex PTSD. This survival mechanism involves the victim trying to appease or placate the abuser to avoid conflict or further criticism. The 'fawn' response often leads to peoplepleasing behaviors, as the individual attempts to make themselves more likable or less 'problematic' to the perceived abuser (Lisak & Beszterczey, 2007). This constant pursuit of external validation often results in neglecting personal needs and wants, ultimately causing the individual's self-worth to become dependent on the perceived abuser's approval, blurring personal boundaries.
Kelly’s consistent attempts to adapt and 'improve' were clear manifestations of this self-sacrificing behavior. She was bending over backward to meet her boss's everchanging expectations, neglecting her own needs and intuition in the process. The Toll of Constant Adaptation Kelly's pattern of continuous adaptation and self-neglect significantly impacted her emotional well-being. She found herself in a constant state of stress and anxiety, always worrying about her next 'mistake.' This chronic stress began affecting her work performance, personal relationships, and overall quality of life. More worryingly, Kelly was losing sight of her identity. She was so absorbed in fulfilling her boss's expectations that she lost sight of her own values and goals. Her professional life had devolved into a relentless quest for approval, leaving her feeling drained and unfulfilled. The Road to Recovery: Recognizing and Addressing the Issue Recognizing the issue is the first step toward recovery. In our coaching sessions, we focused on identifying the patterns of behavior that were causing Kelly distress. Kelly gradually started recognizing the toxicity in her work environment and the damaging impact of her boss's behavior.
She came to understand that her boss's unconstructive criticism and public belittlement were neither normal nor acceptable. Realizing she was being gaslighted and that her constant self-doubt was not a personal failing but a result of this psychological manipulation, she took the critical step towards recovery. Assertive Communication: Boundaries
Establishing
Establishing boundaries is essential to maintain healthy relationships. One useful tool for communicating boundaries is the “SBI-BI model,” which stands for SituationBehavior-Impact, Behavior-Impact (London, 2003). This model offers a nonconfrontational approach to deliver feedback, focusing on behaviors rather than the person, allowing for constructive communication. Using the SBI-BI model, Kelly learned to express her feelings and concerns more clearly. For instance, she learned to assert, “Yesterday in the meeting (Situation), when you critique my presentation publicly (Behavior), I felt belittled and undermined (Impact). If you could discuss such matters privately with me in the future (Behavior), it would be more constructive and beneficial to me (Impact).” The next step was to re-build her resilience.
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Building Resilience: Embracing SelfCompassion While establishing boundaries is crucial, building resilience is equally important. Self-compassion is a potent tool for building resilience. It involves treating oneself with kindness and understanding, recognizing that making mistakes is part of the human experience (Neff & Germer, 2013).
Through selfcompassion, Kelly learned to forgive herself for perceived failings. She learned to treat herself with the same kindness and understanding she would extend to a friend in a similar situation.
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This shift in perspective helped Kelly to stop blaming herself for mistakes, thereby reducing stress and boosting her self-confidence. Unfortunately, despite her repeated efforts to communicate her boundaries and improve the situation, she was unable to regain her confidence and realise her potential in her workplace. Making the Tough Decision: Learning and Moving On Eventually, Kelly made the tough decision to leave her job and join a different company. While she was excited about this fresh start, she also felt a twinge of regret for not addressing the inappropriate behaviors at the onset. “I wish I had spoken up and made my voice heard right from the start. I just had no idea what was happening - I thought it was me.” Of course, Kelly’s story is not unique. Many individuals, particularly women, find themselves in similar situations, dealing with gaslighting and falling into the trap of the 'fawn' response. Kelly’s journey serves as a powerful reminder that recognizing the signs of gaslighting and understanding the dangers of the 'fawn' response are crucial steps toward selfempowerment. Should you ever find yourself in a situation like Kelly’s I hope you’ll remember this story and make your voice heard right from the start.
Dr Maike Neuhaus supports individuals and organisations understand what humans need to flourish, so they can create realise their potential and create impacts that excite them.
https://www.theflourishingdoc.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-maike-neuhaus/
She does so through public speaking, coaching and educating. Dr Maike is a psychologist specialised in self-leadership as well as positive and coaching psychology; and, a researcher and lecturer at a top 50 university.
References: Lisak, D., & Beszterczey, S. (2007). The Cycle of Violence: The Life Histories of 43 Death Row Inmates. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 8(1), 23–32. London, M. (2003). Job Feedback: Giving, Seeking, and Using Feedback for Performance Improvement (2nd ed.). Psychology Press. Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2013). A Pilot Study and Randomized Controlled Trial of the Mindful SelfCompassion Program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(1), 28–44. Sarkis, S. (2017). Gaslighting: Recognize Manipulative and Emotionally Abusive People - and Break Free. Da Capo Lifelong Books. Walker, P. (2009). Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving. Azure Coyote Books. Ziarnik, N. J., & Gubi, A. A. (2020). The Impact of Gaslighting on Self-Esteem, Autonomy, and Trust in the Therapist. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 42(2), 157–171. THE ZIVA VOICES BOOKAZINE
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BE MORE THAN A VOICE: BE INDISPENSABLE BY S. LUCIA KANTER ST. AMOUR
There is a story that we’re not getting quite right as women. It’s a story about the past, and how important it is that we remember that story as we craft the story of our future. It’s a story that, if not told more accurately, poses the single biggest threat to the status of women as we currently experience it. So, what’s the story?
(Bear with me) . . .
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. It’s the prevailing narrative of feminism, and it goes like this:
Too many of us have forgotten how, for most of human history, the biological differences between men and women is what determined a sexual division of labor (which was logical at the time for survival), that was then generalized ideologically to subjugate women in society on moral and intellectual grounds. Women’s freedom only emerged very recently in most human societies, which had been characterized by imbalance for millennia. Then, all of a sudden, not only does it emerge, but it bears fruit. How did this happen?
“The process of women’s liberation has been long and painful, and stemming from the struggles of women who have mobilized, fought, and eventually obtained rights, which are still insufficient and even regressing. We must continue to fight!” Ok, that’s a true enough story. And, as I learn from experts in climate, anthropology, social sciences, this official narrative is entirely deficient. And the reason it’s a problem today is: (1) it’s ideological without accounting enough for the material elements that make those rights possible; (2) it fails to focus on the most fundamental threat to the preservation of rights.
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The Industrial Anthropocene):
Revolution
(aka
The
It’s not that previous struggles and protests were useless. They were useful in that they got into the subconscious to create a substrate of influence. But it really wasn’t until women’s time was freed by technology from the demands of agrarian domestic life;
Why am I telling this story? Because if the narrative of women’s equity doesn’t pivot tout suite, if it continues to draw mainly from ideology and a basis of grievance, it will close in on itself. by a dramatic reduction in infant mortality rates in the late 19th century (we no longer have to birth 16 babies to have eight who would survive and were needed to work a farm); and by medical advances (pasteurization, vaccinations, and later, antibiotics) that we - IN EXPLOSIVE FASHION - participated more in education, politics, the workforce, and society as a whole. (Honorable mention goes to the invention of the bicycle in that same era, which was instrumental to women’s physical mobility and freedom to travel!) To quote one expert, it was a bit of a “Copernican discovery” the way humans were realizing that we aren’t the center of the universe, women realized that our physicality doesn’t have to exclusively decide the social construct.
The very force that was the most emancipating for women is about to become our most destructive force by the crises of energy resources such as oil and metals (these forecasts are very well documented, and not reassuring). When I support UN Women to help advance women in, for example, rural Ghana, who are the main food providers and farmers for their communities (and who climate crises has disproportionately impacted), and without the material and economic equity of women in more industrialized societies, I’m acutely aware that they represent not a past that hasn’t caught up, but a harbinger of the near future as energy resources dwindle - the appliances that allow me to cook for my family; the machines that package the food that I cook; the fuel that jets me to lands where I “raise my voice” to “empower women;” and the roughly 60 different metals that allow me to sit on a chair to write this article on a computer and call it “work.” Women in places like rural Ghana are accustomed to a way of life where they perform skills that will be indispensable in the future, and in which women (like me!) in materially comfortable industrialized societies don’t have competency. So, how do we pivot the plot of the story?
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FIRST, be aware of it; and SECOND, take control of those material issues that ensure the infrastructure supporting our rights, rather than focusing only on rights relative to the present moment. HOW? By making ourselves indispensable. Become expert in a discipline necessary in the future: organic chemistry and biology, new antibiotics, climate and renewable energy, ecological construction, agriculture. Be competent in trades that will be vital, making it too dangerous to return us to just the role of guardians of the home. We are not served by extricating ourselves from the history that brought us to the current moment. It’s easy to do that because we were born into the comforts and conveniences of technology and industry. It’s easy to forget, and easy to parrot a superhero / underdog story that we got here by sheer force of will and raising our voice in protest marches. It’s easy to encourage each other in digital format to “speak up,” to “step into your confidence,” but remaining ideological and grievancebased without being more strategic and knowledgeable about the real threat we face, is to contribute to our own our demise. PS - hang on to your bicycle.
https://www.pactumfactum.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciakanterstamour/
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Lucia is a VP for UN Women USA; attorney; law professor; and author of the bestselling "For The Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation." She has been named a Top Woman Disruptor by Violet Simon media in the UK, and is a top voice activating more women in negotiation
INSUBORDINATE PANTS By: Retha P. Hicks
In 1971, my fellow teachers at school had a secret meeting and made a plan to wear pants suits to school the next day. We had heard that other female teachers in other Fayette County schools in Lexington, Kentucky were wearing pants suits to work, and we wanted to wear them, too. Before we got back to our classrooms, the principal came over the intercom and asked that all teachers come to the library for an emergency faculty meeting. There was only one subject on the agenda. He warned us that if any of the women ever showed up in pants, we would be fired on grounds of insubordination. It was clear that he had been tipped off. After school that evening, the phone lines were hot. In a show of unity, we all agreed to our plan that we would wear pants to school the next day. The next morning, I wore my best pantsuit, as it was a momentous occasion. Among the many details, I still remember that pantsuit.
It was a short-sleeved light blue top with white buttons, and a pointed collar with a white border. The loose-fitted pants were the same color as the top and cropped to my ankles. The pants pockets had the same white border. I was nervous while driving to school, but I knew I was doing the right thing. I was resolved in my goal to prove that women could make decisions about what to wear so long as it was respectful and in good taste. Apparently, the principal had other ideas on what that meant. As I stepped through the door, I immediately ran into two co-conspirators who were obviously not in pants. In shock I blurted out, “ I thought you were wearing pants today!” Sheepishly, looking down at the floor, they offered that their husbands had overheard their phone conversations and forbid them to wear pants to work. Walking toward my room, trying to process what I just heard, I realized that I was the only female teacher who had shown up in pants. THE ZIVA VOICES BOOKAZINE
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Before I could sit my bags down, the principal came on the intercom and called me to his office. I cannot describe my feeling of terror and the sick feeling in my stomach certain that I was going to be fired. I was out of breath and my heart was pounding. In taking what seemed an eternity to get to the principal’s office, I passed my fellow teachers who had let me down. They were standing in their doors - some with their hands on their hearts, and some with their hands folded as if they were praying. I felt as if my heart would leap out of my chest. Over and over, I said to myself, “Lord, don’t let me cry Lord, don’t let me cry.” As I approached the principal’s office, I saw that the door was open and he was waiting for me. He motioned for me to sit in the chair in front of his desk. He used his stern voice that I heard when he was discipling students, saying “I am the boss here, and what I say goes. It is important that teachers set a good example for students in the way they dress and act and follow directions from their superiors.” He grew quiet, took a deep breath and then gave me the surprise of my life. He said, “I'm not a dictator, as most of you think. I now realize that you are more covered up in those pants than you are when you wear short skirts. So, I'm going to let this slide this time, but from now on when I tell you that you can't do something, I will be watching to make sure you follow my directions.”
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As I left his office, I smiled at all the teachers standing in their classroom doors waiting for me. Seeing my obvious relief that was evident without words, some of them gave me a thumbs up, some threw me a kiss, and others nodded with smiles. I remember just wanting to go somewhere by myself to let go of the storm of tears I had held in. The next day, most of the teachers at my school wore their pantsuits. I felt that in a small way, I had made a difference for our lives moving forward. It wasn’t a complete victory, but an important step for all of us including the principal. I share this experience so that my grandchildren and others can understand that many of today’s socially acceptable behaviors, dress, and actions have changed a great deal in the past fifty years. When I first started working in the mid-1960’s women did not have all the decision-making freedom they have today. Almost all leaders and bosses were men. Those men often made decisions based on what they considered to be socially acceptable. It was important that working women dress and act in a dignified manner as determined by them. I think it is important that we know these stories as we pursue our dreams, and understand that each of us will have opportunities to be brave and bold.
It's Never Too Late: How I Discovered a Love for Running at 50 and conquered the Greenland Half Marathon by Nicky Chisholm
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When you picture Greenland you might think of snow, icebergs, ships and explorers. No one ever pictures a runner and a half marathon course, although the event at hand has been running for the past 18 years. The Polar Circle Half Marathon, often referred to as "the coolest marathon on Earth" takes place in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. The endless ice and arctic tundra of this vast country are the backdrop for this unusual race, in which runners race over and through the soundless arctic desert past glacier tongues and moraine landscapes. I never expected the race course to be so sandy or so soundless! When I signed up for the race, I knew this was totally out of my comfort zone, but I had over a year to get prepared. I made a plan, set up a spreadsheet, created a wish list of people I wanted to work with, contacted two local charities to start the fundraising, and then off I went. Greenland is the coldest and strangest country I have ever been to. It is not green, and it’s what I imagine the end of the world to look like.
I knew crossing the start line was going to be challenging, but it’s getting to the start line that is the hardest part!
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When I got to the start line, I wanted to be mentally strong, physically strong and plan to have some gas in the tank for emergencies. My Greenland plan went something like this: 7 months of pre training from January to July 2022: from a standing start up to 5Ks 4 months of specific half-marathon training programme July to October - race day was October 30th 2022 The 16-week half marathon training included 70 running sessions totaling 265 miles as well as 16 gym sessions, and training in The Environmental Extremes Laboratory at The University of Brighton, UK. This was a giant room that acted like a freezer. Inside the room was a running machine and various items of scientific testing equipment. Here I had multiple training sessions running in temperatures of -10C and -20C. These sessions provided the opportunity to test my kit, fine tune fuelling, and most importantly, understand how my body would react to these extremely low temperatures. At first the sessions were scary and zapped my emotional and physical energy, but with practice they became bearable! At -20C, breathing was hard and I developed a dry rasping cough, my teeth hurt and my nose hairs froze. I was also expanding my comfort zone with every session. It was ironic that I was training during a heat wave in the UK, with temperatures hitting 40 degrees Celsius, to go to a place with temperatures down to -20C. A 60-degree difference is hard to prepare for. I am not good in the heat, and ended up running at 6am before the temperature began to rise. I had a plan for the physical training, but I knew it was my mental preparation that needed addressing. My biggest barrier was keeping a lid on my fear monkeys! They were loud, negative, and always at their most boisterous in the middle of the night.
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I knew I needed help to power up my mindset. I knew I needed to manage my fear and not let it overwhelm me. Why was Greenland so scary? The course was very remote: literally at the top of the world – no crowds, no cheering, no people just you! I was running on ice with spikes: the course was icy, rocky and unforgiving. I had never run with spikes before and you can’t practise that in Brighton. The temperature can drop to -20C: that’s definitely scary, energy sapping and makes it hard to breathe. You run most of the course on your own: the race has limited places and very quickly the runners spread out. This scared me the most but actually was what I loved the best!!
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My strategy for the race was to “run steady,” and to LOVE every single moment, to be able to look about, embrace the enormity of the glacier, cherish every step I took, and bank what I saw and how I felt.
So, over the next year I worked with Zoe Carroll, a performance coach, to work on expanding my comfort zone, facing my fears and implementing a race strategy. My strategy for the race was to “run steady,” and to LOVE every single moment, to be able to look about, embrace the enormity of the glacier, cherish every step I took, and bank what I saw and how I felt. Now 6 months on, I can remember every mile of the course. This was not a race that you just run, this is a race that you slide on your bottom, skid, walk, leap, shuffle and clamber on all fours. At times it literally took my breath away and made my heart burst with the silence, beauty and remoteness of the race. At the last mile marker, I stopped and took it all in: just me and a 360-degree monochrome vista of ice and rock. I was both sad the end was near, and excited to cross the finish line. Over the last mile, I was getting slower and slower as the cold was creeping in, so I tapped into my race strategy, ate jelly babies and powered up my Inner Arctic Wonder Woman. For me it was never about racing to the finish line, but all the miles and experiences along the way. I remembered crossing the line, hugging my sister and looking back on the alien landscape feeling cold, elated and a little crazy. My finishers medal hangs in my kitchen and I see it every day, as a daily reminder of adventures done and to be had!
The unexpected surprises of my Greenland journey: Celebration: I had a photo shoot with a 9-foot inflatable polar bear that caused a stir on Brighton beach and made the local papers and local radio. I was presented with a polar flag from my sponsors, had an igloo cake made for me, had a song written for me and was given a gingerbread good luck charm. Uncomfortable: My experience with a rectal thermometer (a part of the safety protocol with the Laboratory team) was…interesting. The thermometer kept an eye on my core temperature and allowed us to track my body’s reaction to the extreme cold. It turns out my body likes the cold, but I won’t miss the thermometer! Scary: I learnt about the “3 degrees of frostbite,” and was scared at how my lungs reacted to -20C in my first training session in the Lab. I had a meltdown in the car on the way home. The whole experience was totally outside my comfort zone, and I had no point of reference to hold onto. Thankfully I enjoyed the other sessions as I knew what was coming. Managing the calls of nature on the ice cap: We must leave nothing behind, so we had to be prepared with environmentally-friendly wipes, nappy bags and hand sanitizer. I had to prepare to have a chilly bottom and leave my modesty at home.
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Fundraising was a big part of the journey: Through donations and sponsorship, I raised over £2500 for two local charities Safe in Sussex and Chestnut Tree House. The support from friends, family and the kindness of strangers was a powerful driver throughout my training. Meeting extraordinary people: One of the things that I loved the most was connecting with the race entrants that had travelled to Greenland from across the world. Walking in to meet everyone for the first time was seriously nerve-wracking. I had to walk back out, give myself a strong talking to, take lots of deep breaths and remind myself I had a much right to be in that room as everyone else. I was a novice, but had done all the training and was super prepared. I spent the next week listening and learning from an eclectic, interesting and humble bunch of runners. These included a Doctor from Delhi, an Everest Marathon runner, 2 accountants that had just done the Antarctica Marathon, helicopter pilots, runners in the 5 marathons on 5 continents challenge and 2 Mexican ultra runners. These all led to some very interesting conversations over breakfast. These were not your average bunch of people, and it slowly dawned on me that I was part of this bunch too!
The most asked question over the last year was “why are you doing such a crazy race?”
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I have recently turned 50, and my adventure journey has changed so many times over the years, from a 20-year-old canoeing and sailing instructor, to a Mum with young children teaching them to embrace the outdoors through camping, building dens and cooking on open fires, to a mum of young teens when we surfed, coast steered, climbed Ben Nevis and swam in the North Sea! My boys are in their late teens and are slowly leaving the nest. I find myself now ready to embrace the next stage of my adventure journey. I wanted to embrace my new chapter head on, and what better way than getting fit, running in Greenland, and stepping far outside my comfort zone. What have I learnt: It was a big race and far beyond my capabilities when I first read about it. By making a plan and breaking it down, coupled with determination and focus you can turn the impossible into possible. When I need to, I can unleash a powerful attitude and as it turns out making things happen is one of my super powers! What’s next for me: I have my eye on the North Pole Half Marathon. That is a whole new level of cold and scary! I have always believed that I am more capable than I know, and braver than I think I am!
Nicky Chisholm is a Greenland adventurer, Arctic Warrior, Charity fundraiser and tries and Adventure campaign queen.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%91 %8Anicky-chisholm-a177208/ https://www.instagram.com/daisyvw1/ https://www.facebook.com/nicky.chisholm
Nicky squeezes adventure into herlife every day. When she is not on adventures, she runs her own business hiring out her beautiful VW Camper Van called Daisy for Branding photo shoots. Daisy brings the WOW factor to make business stand out online.
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Taking care of Women in the “4th Trimester” By Dr. Sonal Patel, MD
God gave me four boys, took my alcohol away, and started a conversation.
I am blessed with four boys. Yes, it is a life filled with simple, beautiful chaos. No, it wasn’t planned, and no, we weren’t pining for a girl. I met my husband in college. We were long distance throughout medical school and then our careers landed us in New Orleans, Louisiana. In “NOLA,” I learned to be a pediatrician, to open my eyes to the beauty of life, and how to drink. Tequila on the rocks with a splash of tequila and a hint of lime was my go-to, and especially margaritas from Superior Grill or Hurricanes in the French Quarter. It felt like alcohol flowed through the rhythm of the city. Our careers led my husband and me to Boston, Massachusetts where hopes of becoming a tequila connoisseur were squashed by the outrageous drink prices. (Seriously, $20 for one drink!!) We ultimately decided to expand our family and move to Denver. Here, we were blessed with three additional sons.
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Six months after the birth of my fourth son, I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, a chronic, painful bladder syndrome. Healing required abstaining from all things wonderful - from chocolate to alcohol. Sleep, drastic change in diet, mindfulness, and a reduction in stress were mandated in the midst of raising four boys. Hilarious. How did I get here? In reviewing my history, all answers pointed to my postpartum period. Four deliveries had wreaked havoc on my body, physically, emotionally, and mentally. After each of my four deliveries, I obediently followed the medical system, hobbling diligently to the pediatrician appointments just days later. Concerns about my own healing were outweighed by the maternal instinct to make sure my newborns were healthy. My babies each had five appointments in their earliest days, while I received one six-week follow-up.
This current postpartum medical care structure placed a heavy emphasis on my baby's health in lieu of mine and caused me to trek under challenging circumstances to receive medical care. A medical system placing pressures on my doctor’s time led to missed education and diagnosis. Through my pregnancies and postpartum, I suffered several morbidities (the presence of multiple diseases and medical conditions – chronic or acute – in one person) and had two complications increasing my mortality risk. I am a physician, what about other mothers? Recently, maternal mortality has become the forefront of national conversation due to the United States maternal deaths ranking highest in developed countries (NIH 2021). High variability occurs state-to-state with Colorado ranked fifth lowest. However, Colorado’s maternal deaths have been rising with profound racial disparities seen within the BIPOC communities (CDPHE 2020). Moreover, the data do not capture maternal morbidity, birth trauma, or near misses. Trends of morbidity, similar to maternal mortality, are trending upward. Confounding factors include advanced maternal age, hypertension, and diabetes. Research and data related to race and other effects are still lacking. Plus, more common impairments such as urinary and bowel incontinence and pelvic dysfunction disorders tend to be underreported. (Reproductive Health 2018).
The postpartum period, traditionally defined as the 12 weeks following birth, is now sometimes called the fourth trimester of pregnancy. Dr. Harvey Karp coined this term in 2002, recognizing that “full-term” babies are actually born about three months early. Human evolution caused this disparity by favoring bigger brains and upright posture. Standing upright led to smaller pelvic sizes, resulting in early birth. Newborns now need an extra three months to adapt outside the womb, thus the fourth trimester (Karp, 2002). Society glosses over, and often dismisses, the postpartum period. Pregnancy is celebrated for 10 months when the baby is growing, but after delivery, a mother is expected to breastfeed, care for older children, and to simply “bounce back.” This might sound harsh, but it’s a reality for most women. For new mothers, the first obstetric appointment doesn’t occur until six weeks post-birth. A newborn, meanwhile, receives medical care just days after hospital discharge. Such fragmented, imbalanced postpartum care prioritizes infants and overlooks mothers, fueling maternal mortality and glossing over their morbidity. Postpartum obstetric appointments are changing. In its 2018 statement addressing maternal postpartum care, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) advocates “that postpartum care should be an ongoing process...with visits within the first three weeks” of delivery. The group also outlines an algorithm for women with higher-risk postpartum complications.
Two-thirds of maternal deaths occur after the baby’s birth during the postpartum period (CDC 2022). THE ZIVA VOICES BOOKAZINE
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In 2021, Medicaid expanded maternal coverage for postpartum up to a year; each state now has to decide implementation.
Dr. Sonal Patel, MD is a board certified Pediatrician and a Neonatogolist at NayaCare: Newborn Speciality Clinic. Her education has been centered on infant nutrition and its impact on infant development. Her own personal experiences have taught her the importance of maternal wellness. https://nayacare.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonal-patel-md-12982a141/
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BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND: REBIRTHING A NEW WORLD By Queen Mother Osunnike Anke
…Why NOW… Humanity has forgotten who we are, and the primordial womb that we have originated from. As a result, we have become fragmented disconnected, lost, angry orphans; victims of a collective amnesia who now violate, pollute, desecrate, and violently rape the holy womb of our Earth Mother and her daughters who gave us LIFE. …What NOW… You see our universe is undergoing an Evolutionary and Planetary shift and we’re in a time of major transition, and the momentum is building across the world to consciously “Rebirth a New World”. So, WE can RISE!!! …Why Me… This Sacred Knowing is what has guided me over the past 30 years in remembering, reawakening, and reigniting the seeds of The Sacred Sexual Feminine Mysteries that are sheathed within my womb, and many wombs around the world.
And several years ago, I was called to birth One Million Wombs United. A “critical mass” which through the process of conscious sacred sound frequencies, entrainment and coherence can affect universal resonance, and harmony for the “Rebirthing” of our world and beyond.
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…Why You…. Sister, do you really know what it means to be a womban? One who gives birth to All of humanity? The sacred calabash that holds the feminine vibration of and for creation within the sanctity of your mysterious womb. Sister it is you who is the Transmutational Alchemical container, which holds the life giving and sustaining nectar that nourished and gave birth to the Creator some have come to know as God. Do you Remember who and what you were and where you were 10 billion trillion lifetimes ago? Do you Remember your second dimensional self-45 million years ago as one of the aboriginal vibratory beams of molecular and atomic sounds rays and bands of light that formed the energetic grids spanning across the continents linking the north and south poles to the earth’s axis, anchored deep down within the womb of the Earth Mother whose breath still sustains life for all living beings today? Or do you really believe you just showed up 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 years ago? Do you have any conscious knowing of how many dimensions you have existed within prior to being a third dimensional being and what other universes you’ve traversed and why you chose to incarnate within this universe and on this planet as a womban this time? Sister, my dear sister, do you really want to Remember who you are and why you are here this time?
Are you willing to Reawaken the dormant ancient wisdom embedded within the recesses of your WOMB?
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…Your Story… What if this role you are playing is just that Imagine my sister that you are really a part of a much bigger story, the cosmic story with a much greater role. Perhaps the bigger cosmic story that you are starring in, auditioned, and rehearsed for is a part of Humanities story… and what if you are actually playing the role of Source/God… manifested in the form of YOU… but you forgot the real story. Locked within your Spiritual, Mental, Emotional and Physical body lives and breathes your individual and collective leading or supporting role and academy award winning Unconscious Storyline. This Limited view of your Infinite Source Potential, Creative Life Force Energy and Abundant Self-worth and value is what you have written, performed in, directed, and produced on the life stage lifetime after lifetime.
During this Earthy Ascension, “it’s time” my sisters as Consciously Evolving Empowered Women to Remember, Rediscover, Reawaken, Reconnect and Reembody your hidden Sacred Feminine Powerful Treasures, which are your inherent birthright, deeply embedded within your WOMB and FLY...
…Remember Who YOU Are…
As you journey deeper into the portal of your own ancient wisdom and your divine herstory, you will begin Rewriting your life story from the Inside Out… Like the butterfly, as you begin to Rewrite your true story from the inside out, and share these stories, it empowers other women to take control of their own narratives and in turn Evolve their lives. My sister it’s time to look beyond the veil of illusion and the old stories you’ve been hiding under.
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Do you have an innate longing to remember your divinity and original feminine greatness? Oh, my dear sister, it's time to remember.. YOU are the Sacred Feminine keeper of the ancient wisdom of the goddess... YOU hold the archetypal Creatrix, Nurturer and Transformer seeds within your sacred womb to birth a NEW world... The luminous mystery and magic that radiates within the temple of your sacred womb and gives birth to your highest potential and empowers your deepest desires... …Rediscover Who YOU Are… Are you longing to rediscover and actualize your purpose in this lifetime? Oh, my dear sister it’s time to rediscover... How to tap into your feminine radiance, and passionately co-create and manifest the highest octave of YOU... What your unique gifts are so that you can offer them effortlessly and have greater impact and influence in the world from the inside out... Ancient sacred principles, rituals, and practices to heal and liberate your womb so you can unleash and ignite bound up creativity... …Reawaken… Are you living a life where your sense of true worth has been compromised, undermined, 63 | SEPTEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2023
unrecognized and dishonored by you and those close to you? Oh, my dear sister, it's time to reawaken... Your intrinsic value, which is deeply rooted within sacred universal feminine principles... The queenly inheritance that is your birthright encased within your sacred feminine womb... To your erotic impulse and rise into the shining star that you are destined to become... …Reconnect… Are you feeling boxed in, displaced and out of sync with life and the boxes that you find yourself stuck in? Oh, my dear sister, it's time to reconnect... Into a sacred feminine community of like minded women where you have a deeper and greater sense of belonging, support, and communion... To a sacred feminine blueprint designed to bring you into Alignment with the natural cycles of the universe where you can manifest YOUR Absolute Truth with grace and ease NOW...
Now is the time for conscious EVOLUTION because Global Evolution begins with Personal Revolution. Let us Begin with the End in Mind and write and Re-embody a New story that gives birth to a New world. …Re-embody… As a Sacred Feminine being are you feeling inauthentic and confused about what it means to be a “real woman” in this day and time? Oh, my dear sister NOW is the time to re-embody.... Your own unique style of Goddess energy and live it without apology. Your feminine radiance and allow it to illuminate and manifest your hidden treasures. Your Sacred Feminine magic effortlessly, which allows you to move into your authentic wisdom while bathing in endless Self-love.
Queen Mother Osunnike is the founder of the “Healing Through the Arts” program. She is a natural healer who utilizes her poetry, performing arts and creative writing gifts, training in psychospiritual counseling, drama therapy, energy, and sound healing to assist others in rewriting their story.
https://www.manypaths1truth.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/queen-motherosunnike-scott-manna-ab321b33/
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PODCAST RECOMMENDATIONS We've added some podcasts that we enjoy, inlcuding women’s podcast all over the world.
1. THE HEY GIRL PODCAST | 2. THE WOMEN’S PROTECTION & EMPOWERMENT PODCAST | 3. SHE TALKS PEACE 4. PUT YOURSELF FIRST | 5. CONFESSIONS OF SUCCESSFUL ASIAN WOMEN I 6. HEAD OVER HEELS | 7. TALK TWENTIES PODCAST | 8. STUFF MOM NEVER TOLD YOU | 9. HOW WOMEN LEAD 65 | SEPTEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2023
2 PART TWO
HerStory in the Making Event
HerStory in the Making
HerStory in the Making Event
Z
IVA VOICES started as a movement to create more exposure for women in the media. We started with the Ziva Voices Bookazine. Throughout 2022, we wanted to extend our reach. The Ziva Voices HerStory in the Making speakers’ event was created.
WRITTEN BY
DR. KINGA MNICH EDITED BY
ELLA LUCAS-AVERETT
Did you know that only about 24% of news resources are women? That means that ~24% of what you are reading and seeing represents a female perspective. Moreover, under 33% of all actors are women. Recently, many major news outlets have terminated their womenfocused sections. A CNN article just reported on The Washington Post’s decision to close its hub for gender coverage called The Lily. This development follows The New York Times pulling the plug on its In Her Words newsletter dedicated to women. According to Luba Kassova, author of The Missing Perspectives of Women in News, “both outlets had cited the need to integrate gender coverage into reporting across beats.” THE ZIVA VOICES BOOKAZINE
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Z
IVA VOICES is 21c Museum Hotel here to change Lexington, who ensured this, to fill the gap that every guest felt in the media, and welcomed and taken care to amplify of. Multiple Lexington-area women’s voices. restaurants, such as In October 2023, Dudleys, LockBox, Zims at the Kentucky Cafe, and more, displayed Theatre in incredible hospitality. The Lexington, Kentucky, we team at Kentucky Theatre held our first mainstage made sure that the event event with this goal in mind. ran smoothly, and Lillie For this inaugural speakers’ Ruschell and the entire event, nine women from all Mahan Multimedia team over the world shared their made sure that the event stories with our audience was captured in world-class and a panel of women who quality audio and video. Our spoke about the topic of collaboration partners, It’s “belonging.” Time campaign and Central It is my pleasure to Bank of Kentucky, made it introduce you here to the possible for us to secure all women who joined us from of our guest speakers’ across the world to grow a travel. And many, many movement that will be the more supporters played a catalyst for change. Like significant role in making most meaningful efforts, this event a success. this certainly took a village. There are no words to This event was a describe how grateful the representation of what is ZIVA VOICES team is for possible when women come each and everyone who together, collaborate and supported this audacious share resources. The event idea and made this event was a celebration of not just possible, but diversity, creativity, and excellent. power. Soon we will be able to share the entire series in Some of them include: video on our site
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www.zivavoices.com, so be sure to get on our mailing list there. We are so glad that you are part of this journey together we will change how the world perceives women's stories.
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Sources: https://www.weforum.org/ agenda/2020/03/womenrepresentation-in-media/ Actors Statistics: https://www.zippia.com/act or-jobs/demographics/ https://www.statista.com/s tatistics/692465/distributio n-lead-actors-gender/
Less is always more
OUR SPEAKERS:
Jo-Anne Godden is a renowned fashion designer and sustainability advocate. With a deep passion for ethical fashion, she founded the brand "RubyMoon" in 2010, which focuses on creating swimwear and activewear made from recycled materials. Jo-Anne's commitment to sustainability extends beyond her products. Her innovative approach to fashion has garnered recognition and awards, showcasing her dedication to creating positive change in the industry. Jo Godden continues to inspire others to make conscious choices and embrace sustainable living. THE ZIVA VOICES BOOKAZINE
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Aubrey Girouard is a dedicated and compassionate advocate at The Nest - Center for Women, Children & Families. Aubrey is deeply committed to empowering women and children who have experienced trauma and abuse. She plays a crucial role in developing and implementing programs that address critical issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, and homelessness. Aubrey's genuine empathy, warmth, and expertise create a safe and supportive environment for those seeking assistance. Her tireless efforts help countless individuals find healing, safety, and hope. 71 | SEPTEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2023
Kristy Cooper, head of Team Cooper Entertainment, is a 6-time Emmy awardwinning executive producer and show developer, with over two decades of experience working in the media industry. Kristy shares elements that should be included in your story, recommendations for how to share it, and the power of women owning their personal narratives.
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Lisa King is a yoga teacher and Women's Wellness Coach certified in Menopause Movement. She provides Perimenopause and Menopause support to help women manage symptoms and build habits that will help them feel better and move better through their menopause journey and beyond. Lisa’s goal is to help women thrive and move confidently in the second season of life through education and raising awareness of menopause, building community, and teaching movement and mindfulness practices to women of all ages.
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Helen Marcos was born and raised in Mexico City. She currently works as a director of social projects, a therapist, psychodramatist, theater director, and writer and she conducts training courses for companies and educational institutions. Helen defines herself as an educator and believes education has the power to bring change in people. She has taught music and theatre for more than 15 years. She is also passionate about social change and volunteers in a number of social organizations.
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Landra Lewis draws upon her Native American heritage to find and foster unity and harmony in the world. Through her past work in politics, as a CEO, and as a promoter of the arts, her focus has always been based upon a vision of a better world. Landra is also a certified Myers Briggs Type assessor, certified energy healer, and a certified clinical hypnotist. 75 | SEPTEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2023
Tukea Talbert is a highly accomplished professional serving as the Chief Diversity Officer in the Office of the Executive Vice President of Health Affairs in Kentucky. With a deep understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Tukea plays a crucial role in promoting and implementing initiatives that foster a diverse and inclusive environment within the healthcare sector. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion within the healthcare industry is making a significant impact on improving health outcomes and creating a more equitable healthcare system.
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Yanire Brana is a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of MET Community, an organization dedicated to empowering Latin American women entrepreneurs and fostering their professional and personal growth. Through MET Community and the Women Entrepreneurship Forum DC, she has provided valuable mentorship, networking opportunities, and educational programs to empower women entrepreneurs to succeed.
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Tonthoza Uganja is a passionate social entrepreneur from Malawi who is dedicated to land restoration and environmental conservation. Her efforts not only contribute to environmental preservation but also have a positive socioeconomic impact on local communities.
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Nyari Samushonga is the CEO of WeThinkCode, a prominent coding academy based in South Africa. Under Nyari's leadership, WeThinkCode has flourished, becoming a leading institution for training and nurturing top-tier coding talent. Nyari is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment at WeThinkCode. She actively promotes equal opportunities for all aspiring coders, regardless of their background, gender, or socioeconomic status.
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Martina Barksdale is the Director of Communications at VisitLEX, the official destination marketing organization for Lexington, Kentucky. With extensive experience in the field of communications and marketing, Martina plays a crucial role in promoting and enhancing Lexington as a premier travel and tourism destination. With a dedication to promoting Lexington as a mustvisit destination, Martina collaborates with a diverse range of stakeholders, including local businesses, community organizations, and media outlets, to ensure that the city's message reaches a wide audience.
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Raquel E. Carter is the principal broker and owner of Guide Realty, a full-service real estate firm headquartered in Lexington, KY and The Best Chapter, a consulting firm specializing in leadership and business growth. She is a mother, wife, sister, friend and community advocate. Under Raquel’s leadership Guide Realty has expanded to over 40 REALTORS®, $50 million in annual real estate sales and has the best professional rental space, The Compass Center and is Kentucky’s largest African American owned real estate company. 81 | SEPTEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2023
Crystal Gentry is a Producer at ESPN, with more than 20 years experience in the media production industry. She is dedicated to producing high-quality content that engages and informs audiences, and her work has earned her numerous accolades and awards throughout her career. Her passion for sports and her exceptional skills as a producer make her a valuable asset to the ESPN team. THE ZIVA VOICES BOOKAZINE
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La’Shelle Allen, aka “Sistah LaLa” is a native of Baltimore, Maryland …she relocated to New York City to pursue her aspirations and was hired as a Soloist for the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble. This began her professional career performing nationally and internationally. Highlights of Ms. Allen’s work include appearances at St. Peter’s Basilica, Metropolitan Opera, Royal Danish Opera, and Israeli Opera, Tel-Aviv. She is not only a Classical Vocalist but also as Composer/Arranger, Producer, Actress, Recording and Voice-Over Artist. 83 | SEPTEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2023
Susanne Puerschel is the owner and CEO of R.I.S.E Media and the founder of Pointe to Rise, an empowerment society for dancers and other artists, wellness entrepreneurs, podcast hosts. After working in corporate America and running her own businesses, she dedicates her time to building community among dancers and artists, providing mindset and high performance coaching, and building a media company that will be the springboard to revitalizing the Arts. Her professional interests focus on building a successful business through launching a performing and learning platform for artists. THE ZIVA VOICES BOOKAZINE
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Ella Lucas-Averett is a professional speaker and host of the “On Air with Ella” podcast . She is also Managing Partner of The Trivista Group, a strategic communications consulting firm that she co-founded in 2003. Ella is a competitive age-group triathlete (qualifying for USAT national 5 times), and founding member of CHIEF Washington D.C. She is passionate about creating equality amongst women and amplifying their stories as a Board director for Ziva Voices, and Sr. Editor of the quarterly Ziva magazine.
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Dr. Kinga Mnich is an award-winning international social psychologist, educator, and speaker, specializing in emotions, positive psychology, bio-hacking, and gender. Additionally, social justice and gender equality have been at the forefront of her work. That’s why she has been involved in social entrepreneurship for almost 20 years now. She founded the Ahimsa Prison Yoga Project in South Africa, co-founded EcoBrick Exchange and Ziva Voices - HerStory in the Making. In her work, Dr. Kinga Mnich believes that we need to change systems to change the prevailing inequalities when it comes to cultural diversity and gender.
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"If you find yourself drawn to an event against all logic, go. The universe is telling you something." GLORIA STEINEM
3 PART THREE
Learn more about Ziva Voices
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
THE 4 PILLARS OF ZIVA VOICES
BOOKAZINE
VIDEO PODCAST
Start by getting to know yourself better and understand your feelings. It gives you the ability to self-assess by understanding your strengths and weaknesses and their effects accurately. And it builds self-confidence, having trust in yourself and being willing to be yourself.
Emotional Self-Control is an essential part of emotional maturity. Guiding your feelings and/or appropriately expressing them is a crucial skill. Being goal-oriented and being able to work toward your goals. Initiative, being self-motivated and having the ability to keep working despite setbacks.
ROUNDTABLES
COMMUNITY
Empathy is one of the core pillars of emotional intelligence because it helps you to understand and acknowledge others’ emotions. Organizational Awareness, meaning having the ability to explain yourself well and be aware of how you are being understood. Creating space for others to process information and listening to others.
Inspirational Leadership: being a good mentor, role model, and inspirational figure. Influence in a positive & effective matter Improve relationships, negotiate, and lead. Have the ability to settle disputes, differences of opinion, and misunderstandings. Be Change Catalyst!
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Ziva Voices – HerStory in the Making is committed to collecting women’s stories, amplifying their voices, and providing a network to connect women worldwide. We exist to show how women influence their communities and benefit their economies through their work, to demonstrate the power of women working together, and to create a protective space to allow for growth. We foster self-empowerment through sharing resources, building confidence, and helping women develop a growth mindset.
MISSION
OUR MISSION
VISION
VISION
Creating a world in which women’s contributions, creativity and voices are recognized and any opportunity barriers against them lifted. We exist to show how women influence their communities and benefit their economies through their work, to demonstrate the power of women working together, and to create a protective space to allow for growth. We foster self-empowerment through sharing resources, building confidence, and helping women develop a growth mindset. THE ZIVA VOICES BOOKAZINE
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OUR GOALS We highlight how women change communities, benefit the economies in which they work, and lift each other up by fostering diversity and authentic equality. The networking effect of this bookazine, our community and our workshops focuses on promoting women all over the world and providing them with highly effective and readily accessible support.
REMEMBERING THE END-GOAL
WHAT WE OFFER Community Events We organize regular in-person events for women to network, learn and get inspired.
Connection & Inspiration Online magazine, Quarterly Bookazine, Online & In-person Events, Workshops, Corporate Trainings, and Podcast (coming soon!)
Ziva Voices - HerStory in the Making bookazine Online quarterly publication with a focus on women’s stories, amplifying their voices, and providing a network to connect women worldwide.
91 | SEPTEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2023
Creating a world in which women’s contributions, creativity and voices receive equal opportunities & visibility.
Z I V A
V O I C E S
4 PART FOUR
Insight into the Ziva Way System
C ON T A I N S T H R E E P A G E S
SHAPING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS
SEPTEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2023
04 07
09 06
08 08
01 03 05 02
01
Dr. Kinga Mnich www.kingamnich.com
05
Retha P. Hicks
06
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fralinor/
Queen Mother Osunnike Scott-Manna https://www.linkedin.com/in/queen-motherosunnike-scott-manna-ab321b33/
02
07
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-
Nicole Breault https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-breault38a6446/
Genevieve Brown
S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciakanterstamour/
Andrea Owen https://www.linkedin.com/in/heyandreaowen/
04
Sonnie Linebarger 899b9a52/
https://www.instagram.com/antarcticaruban/
03
Linda Ortega
08
Dr Maike Neuhaus https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-maike-neuhaus/
Samantha Davies https://boudoirwithpersonality.co.uk/
09
Nicky Chisholm https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%91%8An icky-chisholm-a177208/
hello@theziva.com
Dr. Sonal Patel https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonal-patel-md12982a141/
Our Staff. Editor in Chief Dr. Kinga Mnich & Elizabeth “Ella” Lucas-Averett Executive Art Director Amanda Harper Contributors Genevieve Brown, Andrea Owen, Samantha Davies, Linda Ortega, Sonnie Linebarger, Nicole Breault, Dr. Maike Neuhaus, S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour, Retha P. Hicks, Sonal Patel, Nicky Chisholm, Queen Mother Osunnike Anke Chief Photography Editor Dr. Kinga Mnich Photographer Kinga Mnich, Jennifer Chang and Canva Associate Art Director Amanda Harper Associate Editor Carla Patricia Caguioa Photography Editor Amanda Harper Associate Photography Editor Janaya Combs
Feel free to reach out with suggestions, comments, Permanent contributors Connie Milligan MSW Kim Normand Dobrin
questions and inquiries: hello@zivavoices.com Instagram: @ZivaVoices
EDITORIAL OFFICES 624 Andover Village PL , Lexington, KY 40509 +1 864.814.8810 hello@zivavoices.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS hello@zivavoices.com
The bookazine is published by The Ziva Way, LLC. & Ziva Project Incorporated 501c3 Kingamnich.com and www.zivavoices.com
@Dr.KingaMnich @onairwithella LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkingamnich/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-averett/
Ziva Voices. Mind I Leadership I Community I Entrepreneurship
HerStory in the Making.
Ziva Voices bookazine.
HerStory in the Making.
Mind I Leadership I Community I Entrepreneurship Digest
More women are building successful communities and businesses everyday. They are shifting their mindset, using their leadership skills, mobilizing communities and turning a small business into an empire. In the Ziva Voices, we bring forth stories of experience and inspiration to highlight ways in which you can learn how to shift your mindset, change your habits, learn new skills, build your confidence, and learn to speak up. When we hear the stories of other women - overcoming the pain, social obstacles and self-doubt - it can become easier to understand that you have all it takes to make the next move, be the person that creates change, and feel connected and empowered.
EVERY DONATION IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED
