Women of Denver Quarterly: Fall 2017

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HOW TO OWN YOUR BUBBLEGUTS

DENVER MAYOR’S MESSAGE

SHERYL LANGLEY FIT36 NETWORKING

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COME ONE, COMAL!

EDUCATION

DENVER’S REFUGEE KITCHEN

THEWOMENOFDENVER.COM

LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER When I launched the very first Women of Denver meeting in September 2014, I had no idea this community would become what it is today. My mission was simply to create authentic connections between women, and we accomplished that goal through meetings where I facilitated conversations about topics we as women don’t normally get the chance to discuss.

Our first topic was called, “The Stories We Tell Ourselves,” and we discussed the effects of our limiting beliefs and ways we can challenge ourselves to get beyond them. Topics like this are what brought us together and allowed us to truly connect past the shallow conversations that networking groups are known for.

Since then, Women of Denver has evolved to become a place where women connect, share ideas, support each other in reaching goals, and build their resumes for a successful future.

2017 FALL QUARTERLY CONTRIBUTORS EDITION EDITOR JOCELYN BLAKE COPY EDITORS AMBER TUCKER LINDSAY MICHKO CONTRIBUTORS BENNIE S. COVINGTON STEPHEN GLITZER, CHWC SUSAN GOLICIC, PhD, CPIC CREATIVE DIRECTOR BROOKE GRACZYK

This magazine is a central part of that evolution. Through the Women of Denver Quarterly we’re able to bring our message and mission to new audiences—people who have yet to experience our community. We’re also able to use this platform to showcase the stories of the people who are empowering women and businesses that are making strides to help women succeed in taking their place as leaders and earning what they’re worth (as opposed to being underpaid).

As the voice of this magazine develops I want to hear from you, our reader, to know what you need from this publication.

Tell me about your journey and the kinds of insight and support you want to find here. My door is always open.

Thank you for being part of our community!

Krystal Covington, Founder krystal@thewomenofdenver.com

A LOOK INSIDE 1

HOW TO OWN YOUR BUBBLEGUTS with MAYOR MICHAEL B. HANCOCK STYLE FEATURE CAYLA JEAN

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READY FOR THAT RAISE? TIPS FOR NEGOTIATING 5 WAYS TO BOOST POSITIVITY

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FIVE WAYS TO LIVE AN UNINHIBITED LIFE WOMEN’S ADVOCACY IN THE OFFICE

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WOD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT SHERYL LANGLEY: FIT36 COME ONE, COMAL! DENVER REFUGEE KITCHEN

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TURN IDEAS INTO ACTION WOD QUARTERLY ACTIVITY GUIDE

THEWOMENOFDENVER.COM

HOW TO OWN YOUR

BUBBLEGUTS Mayor Hancock talks about passion, networking, and prosperity in Denver

by Jocelyn Blake & Amber Tucker

Do you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night with an overwhelming need to succeed? When you think about that idea you have, that business you want to start, do you get a sick feeling in your stomach? If you answered, “Yes” to either of these questions, then you have what Denver Mayor, Michael B. Hancock calls “the bubbleguts.”

During the Women of Denver Quarterly Networking Party, Mayor Hancock spoke to a group of women about owning that bubbly feeling in the pit of your stomach.

He identified it as, “that thing that you’re so suffocated by, that you have an unwavering desire to get it done, so you will do anything to get there.” For professional women in 2017, the bubbleguts are a good thing!

Photo by Walnut Street Photography, Noah Berg

For Mayor Hancock, the bubbleguts led him and his wife to start businesses. The

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WOMEN OF DENVER QUARTERLY FALL 2017

HOW TO OWN YOUR BUBBLEGUTS with MAYOR MICHAEL B. HANCOCK

bubbleguts “drive him to be successful in politics.” And even though they are uncomfortable, the bubbleguts mean that you have something that you are passionate about. “Your passion and your sense of desire to breathe is what is going to drive you to be successful,” said Mayor Hancock.

Push through the discomfort and birth something great!

Hancock also touched on the importance of entrepreneurs leveraging their relationships and networks to build successful businesses. He opened with a dose of reality: Only 1% of society will become independently wealthy.

And then he posed the question: What is one of the most valuable assets the rest of us can acquire and leverage to begin to grow and reach our dreams. He answered, “Your networks – your relationships.”

To illustrate his point, he told an anecdote about a visit to Plug and Play, a startup

accelerator and investor that has developed brands such as PayPal, Dropbox, and other Fortune 500 companies. He asked one of the leaders about the qualities they are looking for in a startup company.

The leader replied, “All you need to do is have the willingness to fight for your company, have a great idea, and have at least one or two friends who are willing to invest in your business...because if you don’t have a friend who will invest in your business, then you probably shouldn’t be in business.”

Is there anyone close to you that will believe and invest in your vision? If you’re not sure where to start, look at the people around you – your friends, family, your professional network…the women’s group that you joined.

Now is a great time for women in Denver to come down with a case of the bubbleguts and reach out to their networks,

according to the mayor.

“The city of Denver today is experiencing the greatest economic resurgence this city has ever seen and has experienced in its lifetime. Over the next 15-20 years, this city is going to engage in some five to six billion dollars of expenditure. From capital projects to service programs, five billion dollars of new money will be entering this market,” he said, “And as a person of color who has made a commitment to women and minorities growing, I want you to know that there will not be a window or door open larger for women and minority businesses to thrive than the area we are living in today.”

Mayor Hancock closed with a call to action. He said, “Think about who you’re mentoring, who you’re bringing along. There is no greater legacy than the human legacy.”

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STYLE FEATURE

Cayla Jean

by Jocelyn Blake

“Fashions fade, style is eternal.”

—Yves Saint Laurent

Women have an innate sense of style defined in so many ways. For most women, their style is used to communicate their feelings and opinions. We wanted to highlight one of the many stylish and trendy women of the Mile High City.

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reaking society’s definition of beauty, Cayla Jean is at the forefront of redefining the Denver fashion scene to make it more curvaceous. Colorado’s capital is known for it’s fit and thin culture so if you are beyond a size 6, it is hard to fit in any room. Cayla does not want to fit in though and that’s what makes her phenomenal.

This transplant from Orlando, FL is determined to encourage the Denver fashion industry to be more inclusive of curvy women.

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Her mantra, “Be Yourself” is the cornerstone of her passion.

Cayla is a firm believer that your size should not keep you from being your true self.

Cayla was recently a part of an amazing campaign created by photographer, Bruna Lacerda. Bruna’s concept behind “I Choose Me” is to allow people to believe in the power of self-esteem without any fear. Cayla’s message is simply to just keep going no matter what.

Photos by (featured left) Bruna Lacerda, (top left) Eric Crosby, (top middle) Kayla Klein, (top right) Eric Crosby

FASHION FEATURE CAYLA JEAN

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We asked top business leaders to share their best tips for negotiating pay rates. Here’s what they shared with us:

“One of the biggest missed opportunities for female executives is not focusing on the collective experience you bring to the table.

Many focus on their goals or achievements only at the current company. When positioning yourself for a senior role, add up the collective impact numbers from your career. How many people have you led, deals have you closed, or projects you have managed?

Don’t be afraid to go beyond the current role. Due to time constraints, people often put others in a box where they only see a certain part of their value. Be sure to articulate the larger picture.”

Kimberly Faith

Author, Keynote Speaker, & Executive Coach

“The most important thing for women to do when negotiating pay is to actually ask for it. There are too many women that are afraid to ask for additional compensation, whether it be pay, benefits, position in the organization, etc.

And when you do ask, ask with confidence. If you don’t believe in yourself then no one else will.

Another tip when negotiating compensation is to know your minimum total number. Remember, when you are asking for more pay, it is a negotiation, so you have to start by asking for more than you know you will get. Know in advance what you will be willing to give up. Remember, any negotiation, especially compensation, needs to be a win-win situation. You want your employer to feel just as good about the outcome as you do.”

Blair Koch, CEO

The Alternative Board Denver West

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“Set up time with your direct boss and start the meeting by letting your manager know that you’d like to discuss your compensation and as a starting point, would like to walk him/her through some of your accomplishments over the last year. Come with a specific number in mind, based on research around your level and industry standards.

Put that number out there and ask your manager if she/he is open to discussing that as a possibility.

Understand that it may take several meetings to have a resolution – your direct manager may not have power to just make a decision in that conversation and many factors, including overall company performance, go into raise decisions.

Ask your manager for a timeframe in which she/he will have an answer and ask if it is ok to calendar that follow up meeting now, so it’s on both of your schedules.

If you don’t receive the answer you want, ask your manager to walk you through the factors that went into the decision and talk through a plan that you can both agree to get you there.”

Megan Driscoll Founder and CEO EvolveMKD

READY FOR THAT RAISE? TIPS FOR NEGOTIATING

“This is not a glamorous tip, but planning for a negotiation is the single most important thing you can do to improve your negotiation outcome. I would encourage readers to search/Google “negotiation planning templates” and select one that is most helpful for the negotiation for which they are preparing. This exercise shifts the focus from ourselves to the needs and interests of the party with whom we will be negotiating.

Such a shift in focus ensures that we concentrate on our impact – how what we do helps the other party – as opposed to merely focusing on how good we think we are. It also leads us to pay attention to what is of importance to the person we are negotiating with.

Going through this type of exercise makes sure

that you do your homework by researching, for example, pay sites like salary.com, payscale.com, and glassdoor.com, which are especially important if you are negotiating on salary or pay rates for freelance work.

As important as it is to map out your negotiation, you should also consider preparing yourself psychologically by channeling your inner power. Prior to going into the negotiation, if you spend some time reflecting on three events in your life where you displayed assertiveness and defended your own interests, research indicates that you will be more successful in the negotiation.”

Leanne Meyer Director of Leadership Development Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University

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5 BOOST POSITIVITY WAYS to

by Susan Golicic

PhD, CPIC | Holistic Life Coach Uninhibited Wellness

We are bombarded daily with pessimism and cynicism—from the news, society, and even family and friends. If we are not cognizant of this, it can affect our outlook and attitude, and even potentially impact our behaviors. Occasionally, it can even derail us from our path toward the life for which we are striving.

What can we do to ensure that we do not let the negativity in and disrupt our journey? The best defense against its influence is positivity, and here are five ways to boost it in your life:

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WOMEN OF DENVER QUARTERLY FALL 2017

Music uplifts the soul, and going to concerts puts you in a crowd of people who are dancing and singing and enjoying the moment. Michael Franti is a musician whose message is all about spreading love.

His hope for the world is that everyone is happy, healthy, and equal. You cannot help but get a huge dose of positivity at one of his shows!

SEE A MICHAEL FRANTI SHOW!

Spend an afternoon volunteering. Buy a cup of coffee for a stranger. Send someone you have not spoken with in a while a message that you are thinking of them.

Give someone a compliment. Smile at everyone you see. These simple acts can improve someone else’s day, and it feels good to know that you can have that kind of impact on the world!

ENGAGE IN A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS!

5 WAYS TO BOOST POSITIVITY

Spend quality time with someone who is a positive influence, see a speaker who inspires you, or take a class on something you would like to learn. You could also join a networking group to be around like-minded people who will let you know that you are not alone in whatever you are trying to accomplish. Bonus: You will get the opportunity to meet amazing people!

GET INSPIRED!

What better way to turn around a moment than to do something you enjoy like getting a massage, soaking in a hot spring, going to the gym, or whatever you do that you appreciate and that makes you feel good about yourself? Giving yourself love is a great way to fuel confidence and positive energy!

TREAT YOURSELF TO AN EXPERIENCE YOU LOVE!

When you express gratitude for cherished connections, skills you have developed, experiences you have had, and accomplishments (even the small ones) in your life, you boost the hormones (such as oxytocin) in your brain, as well as your immune system. Your body will automatically feel better!

EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF THE WONDERFUL GIFTS IN YOUR LIFE!

In addition to these, be sure to filter the sources of information (gadgets, people, media) and experiences in your life, to concentrate on those that lift you up rather than bring you down. Set boundaries for yourself about how you want to create more positivity in your life. Ultimately YOU are the master of what you let in and how you respond to it; so practice positivity!

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FIT36

WOD MEMB ER SPOTLI GHT

WOMEN OF DENVER Q317 WOMEN OF DENVER QUARTERLY FALL 2017

by Jocelyn

Blake

SHERYL LANGLE Y

ber spotli ght WOD mem

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The great Mile High City is listed as #5 among the healthiest cities in the United States, according to Forbes Magazine.

Every area in Denver has a host of gyms, golf courses, parks, and recreational areas, and of course, the beautiful Rocky Mountains set the scene, serving as a background and a playground.

With so many ways to stay fit, there is always a new and innovative trend in the fitness world. Whether you are a health nut or someone seeking a customized routine, feeling comfortable and enjoying your workout are most important, but not every space offers that experience. However, our very own Women of Denver member, Sheryl Langley, loved the fitness plan at FIT36 so much, she decided to open a new location after a year of highintensity interval training.

Over a year, Langley dropped three sizes, and she says that it is all thanks to the

“work harder and smarter” mantra that rings throughout the FIT36 locations. In just 36 minutes, the goal is to provide an intense but fun workout regimen perfect for any Mile Higher ready to see results and work hard. The 53-year-old entrepreneur and guru opened her FIT36 studio with hopes of inspiring others to “train to live” because she knows how great the muscle memory program works.

Inspired by this transformation, we asked Langley how it started. This Woman of Denver told us, “The moment I decided to stop going the safe route and follow my passions to create the life I had only dreamed of. My year of transformation followed a divorce and there was a whole new life I was ready to create.”

Langley recalls reading books that helped her overcome fear and self-doubt. She also attended workshops on how to discover her calling and truest life passions. Langley went on to say, “I also joined a mentorship program to get the support and internal work I would need in making this big change in my life and believing in myself. I created a plan and knew I was willing to do whatever it took. Support was crucial, both with my circle of friends and my business mentors. In a short year, my experiences were beyond any

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT SHERYL LANGLEY

Social sciences have proven that giving a woman resources provides stronger benefit to the world. The resilience and strength that women exude is quite inspiring. That applies to Sheryl Langley. She too believes that as she shared with us, “Women have a sense of compassion and depth of being in touch with their inner-self that allows us to connect on levels I feel some men struggle

“Women find & build their tribe and the level of support and love we give each other and the trials and tribulations we are willing to share with each other is a very special thing.”

The Women of Denver was created to help achieve that very goal. For Langley, finding other women who shared her yearning to learn from each other has been amazing. “This group supports each and every member in every way you can imagine, personally and in business matters as well.

To be able to share my story and experience with other members and inspire them has been something that truly transformed my life. Having a

powerful support network has been a major ingredient for my personal transformation and WOD has been a part of that.

The relationships you build at WOD can truly transform your life,” the Women of Denver member exclaims.

Becoming more passionate about inspiring others on a deeper level, you can expect to see Sheryl Langley doing more speaking and oneon-one life transformation coaching and mentoring.

Langley believes that transformation challenges will be an integral part of her fitness business while integrating a full on mind and body transformation program that can be duplicated and used to help women and men who are ready to do the work on themselves both inside and out.

She says, “It’s going to be about focusing on the entire being and for me about slowing the aging process and helping others to focus on happiness that starts from within.

From self-care and self-love.” We are excited for Sheryl Langley’s continuous transformations as she continues to make the world a more passionate place. ography

For every powerful transformation, there is a moment that is life-altering and Langley recalled that moment happening at a workshop in Chicago. At this juncture in her life, she was considering her next move after being unhappy with her job at the time. “We all talked about what our greatest passions were and put them in the order of most important and I realized during that time that I was spending very little time in what really mattered to me,” Langley says. In that moment she asked the facilitators about mentorship and ironically they had just started a program designed for people like Langley who were looking to redefine their life. According to this brave woman, “That was the start of my journey.”

with (okay, most men). Women find and build their tribe and the level of support and love we give each other and the trials and tribulations we are willing to share with each other is a very special thing.” Above all things, we loved when the Mile Higher said, “We dream big and love to pursue those dreams. We are soft yet strong. Yes, being a woman is incredible!”

Photos by Andr ew Clark Phot

challenges I had overcome in my entire life, and this was the transformation that has led me to where I am today—a stronger and more confident woman who is driven to live her passionate life.”

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COME ONE, COMAL!

by Jocelyn Blake

DENVER’S REFUGEE KITCHEN CHANGES LIVES

Picture a kitchen full of refugees working on lifelong, empowering skills—that kitchen is Comal Heritage Food Incubator in Denver’s TAXI development, located in the River North neighborhood. These young women are more than just refugees, they are also bright, intelligent entrepreneurs determined to change the world. Initially, the space was used to provide Hispanic women with job and language skills; it is now a safe place for Syrian women, as well. In the eyes of these strong women, intense ambition is their only choice, leaving behind a bombridden home in pursuit of their goals and dreams.

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We had the opportunity to have a conversation with Slavica Park, Director of Economic and Workforce Development at Focus Points Family Resource Center. Park was also once a refugee, so she understands the feeling of the unknown, and that understanding fuels her passion to pay it forward.

Focus Points is responsible for the program at Comal, and it is more than deserving of the spotlight. We also spoke with one of the refugees, Sara Nassar, to see how this program is truly affecting lives.

COME ONE, COMAL! DENVER’S REFUGEE KITCHEN

What is Focus Points Family Resource Center?

Park: Focus Points Family Resource Center is a Denver nonprofit organization whose mission is to build better communities by strengthening families. Focus Points achieves that by providing programming in the following areas: School Readiness, Adult Education, Economic and Workforce Development, Health and Wellness, and Community Engagement.

What are five things you want the world to know about the community outreach program?

Park: The Focus Points community outreach program helps ensure the following: Develop relationships with community members; Understand and articulate

How did you get involved in the Focus Points Family Resource Center?

Park: I started working at Focus Points in May of 2016 as their Director of Economic and Workforce Development. I was very drawn to the mission of the organization and excited for an opportunity to re-engage in community work.

What is the importance of the community outreach program?

Park: Community outreach is important because it gives organizations a pulse on the community they are serving. If community outreach is not properly conducted, organizations are often unaware of what the community truly needs and how to best serve its members.

community needs; Design programming to meet those needs; Engage the community voice in the planning phase of programing; Work together with the community; Celebrate success together and create a bond!

Where do you see the program in 10 years?

Park: I would love to see our graduates realize their dreams of launching their food-related businesses. Additionally, I would love for Comal to grow and become a true cultural center that bridges the cultural gaps in the city by engaging all communities in a conversation around food. I believe that our misunderstandings stem from simply not knowing other cultures that make up the fabric of our city.

Why did you choose Comal Restaurant as the spot to start this creative kitchen?

Park: I think Comal chose me! When I first started working at Focus Points, I met a group of community members who were interested in starting food-related businesses like catering, small restaurants, and food trucks. They had talent and passion; the only thing missing was the commercial kitchen. It was at that time I learned that Zeppelin Development had a vacant kitchen space that they wanted to use for social purposes. After meeting and planning for three months, Comal opened in October of 2016!

Photos by Walnut Street Photography, Noah Berg

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5 FOCUS POINTS OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS

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UNDERSTAND AND ARTICULATE COMMUNITY NEEDS

DESIGN PROGRAMMING TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS

WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY

CELEBRATE SUCCESS TOGETHER AND CREATE A BOND

Photos by Walnut Street Photography, Noah Berg

COME ONE, COMAL! DENVER’S REFUGEE KITCHEN

How did you come up with the idea to teach classes to the community spanning from cooking to culture?

Park: It was what the community asked for. Crosscultural interactions are something I am truly passionate about. I have lived in three different countries, and learned that integration is a difficult process. One must have an international mindset in order to create spaces and opportunities for integration to occur. We have so much to learn from each other in order to help us grow.

try. Their food was fantastic, and so were they. I am so impressed with the level of compassion, resilience, and drive that Sara has! I know she will be successful, no matter what she chooses to do!

How has working and learning at Comal restaurant affected your life?

Nassar: Working at Comal makes me feel welcome in Denver, and helped me to learn more about the people here. Comal is such an amazing program—I love everything about it, from learning how to cook and serve in a restaurant, to meeting nice people. It’s hard to pick my favorite part, but if I have to it will be the happy feeling I have when I see the joy on the people’s faces while eating what we are cooking. I am happy because they come every Friday. I am happy because we made something that makes other people feel good.

Why do you think the program is essential to women?

Park: In addition to providing women with an immediate earning potential (50% of our revenue goes directly to women in the program), the experience gained sets them on a trajectory to successfully own their small businesses. Entrepreneurs in Comal are able to test out recipes, marketing strategies, and This taught me that management styles. They build What would you like people to know about confidence and experience, all everything is possible your life as a refugee? while having the opportunity and life has so much more Nassar: As a refugee, I have been to share their culture and their in hardship, but achieving my goal to give than we’ll ever know by coming to a safe place and being families’ recipes.

I will work so hard, so no here in Denver is priceless. I thank Why Hispanic and Syrian women? the God of the Universe every Park: Focus Points predominately one will ever lose hope.” single day. This taught me that serves a Hispanic population, and —Sara Nassar, local Syrian refugee everything is possible, and life has therefore our first cohort was very so much more to give than we’ll ever representative of our community. know. I will work so hard, so no one As our operations got settled in the will ever lose hope. first few months, we realized we had the capacity to take on another day of lunch How has moving to Denver affected your service, and decided to extend out to the refugee growth and passion? community. We focused specifically on Syrian women Nassar: The first thing I noticed when I was at the Denver because of the current political climate. We wanted to airport was the sky—so big, so close, so beautiful. This show them that they are welcome here, and since their city just gave me peace and hope. I am so excited to wake first day in Comal, our customers have been huge fans! up every morning to continue living life again. I thought it was just because it’s a new place, but no, it’s real. I have How did you meet Sara Nassar? been here for 8 months and I am not just feeling the same, Park: I met Sara through Colorado Refugee Network but I am feeling better every single day!

Services. I reached out and asked them if they had any newly-arrived refugees who had a passion for cooking What makes you feel empowered as a woman? and wanted to be a part of our program. The very next Nassar: What makes me feel empowered as a week Sara and her friend Waala came to Comal and woman is having equal opportunities, and not brought some delicious, authentic Syrian food for us to being judged, or stereotyped.

“

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F I VE WAYS T O

AN

LIVE LIFE

Stephen Glitzer, CHWC Holistic Life Coach, Chef

Susan Golicic, PhD, CPIC Holistic Life Coach Uninhibited Wellness

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Most of us have grown up living our lives according to what we were taught by our families and in school, which was likely to live up to the norms of our communities and society. However, many of us struggle with this, if we find that it does not match who we are authentically, and it therefore inhibits our growth and happiness.

When we break out of the mold and live uninhibitedly (i.e., expressing our true selves without constraint), we become more empowered to have the wellness, success, and happiness we are striving for. Our lives can be so much more fulfilling and impactful when we pursue an uninhibited life.

Here are five ways to do that:

5 WAYS TO LIVE AN UNINHIBITED LIFE

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KEEP AN OPEN MIND! Remember that there are many ways of achieving the same result. Reserve judgment for discovering what’s right for you, not what’s right for everyone else. Turn the spotlight you hold on yourself and begin your discovery of self!

There’s a whole universe IN there!

BLAZE YOUR OWN TRAIL! You don’t have to walk in someone else’s shoes or shadow to find your greatness! It’s healthy to have mentors and role models, as well as a base of knowledge to start from, but our conditioning tells us that we must act a certain way and be a certain way…but what’s YOUR way?

LET GO! Sometimes it’s a matter of forgiving someone who hurt you, and sometimes it’s a matter of forgiving yourself. Find the truth, have heavy and hard conversations with the players in your life, and find out what the REAL story is. You may even discover that there is no one who needs forgiveness!

LEAN INTO YOUR FEARS! Fear is an instinctual mechanism that tells us to beware, to fight, to run, and to play dead. We are generally far removed from life-or-death situations in which it is a lifesaver to have such a mechanism. We are often afraid of public speaking, enclosed spaces, dogs, heights, social interactions, and much more. Sometimes professional help is needed, but many figure it out for themselves. Do you experience excitement living in your comfort zone? Challenge yourself and allow for some discomfort; you may find yourself downright exalted and living with a new set of limits!

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EXPRESS YOURSELF WITH AUTHENTICITY! People-pleasing, not setting personal boundaries, and allowing yourself to be taken advantage of are sure ways to stifle the very essence of who you are! It’s hard to reset the perception of yourself which others have witnessed for so many years, but people CAN change, and you can be one of them! This requires bravery, patience, and empathy, of which I’m certain you are 3 for 3! Use your voice and ask for support if you need it!

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Some or all of these suggestions can seem daunting, and the great news is that you are not alone! There are groups, classes, professionals, forums, blogs, books, research, and articles that can help you propel yourself towards a life lived uninhibitedly. Remember, you are worth it!

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WOMEN’S ADVOCACY IN THE OFFICE

by Jocelyn Blake

PERSONAL POWER, PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT & COMMUNITY-MINDED CONNECTION

Carolyn Hosna is the Senior Director of Marketing and Distribution for White Lodging, one of the most innovative and fastgrowing management companies in North America. With 165 hotel properties nationwide, 12,000 associates throughout the company, and 15 hotels across the state of Colorado, we felt their program, WL Women, was a perfect example of companies making positive change to empower women.

According to Hosna, “WL Women’s mission is to drive personal power, professional advancement, and community-minded connection for members. I wanted to create a safe space for women at our corporate office to come together, have dialogue, create relationship, and empower one another.” White Lodging Women achieves this by meeting for an hour each month, intentionally at the office. Hosna explains, “Yes, we could meet at a coffee shop or in the many nearby restaurants, but I felt it was important to create space within our office so that 1) we’re visible, and 2) we start to build and connect personal power within the office environment. Each month, people self-select to be a discussion leader and talk about whatever is inspiring

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WOMEN OF DENVER QUARTERLY FALL 2017

or interesting to them.”

She also told us that the meetings range from salary negotiation, to the “amplification” strategy, to PERMA and positive psychology, to why Brene Brown and Elizabeth Gilbert’s theories on creativity and vulnerability are awe-inspiring. “The meetings are the heartbeat of the program, but we also have monthly Executive Committee Meetings with just our co-chairs, to discuss more administrative issues (budgets, events) and how we plan to expand beyond our corporate chapter in 2017 to potential field chapters in 2018 in our major markets like Austin, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Denver,” Hosna said.

To keep the momentum going, Hosna believes the end-game is predicated so much on the start. “The founding members and I learned from the very beginning that in order for WL Women to gain approval and become our company’s first employee network resource group, we need to present ourselves as more than just a passion project,” says Hosna.

WOMEN’S ADVOCACY IN THE OFFICE

While the goal wasn’t to be an example for other businesses, Hosna is excited about the thought of it. Hosna believes that any example of women standing strong together is noteworthy.

“My advice for anyone Photos by Jeremy Bustos

thinking about starting a similar program is to just start—stand up, stand out, and it’s okay to be a little vulnerable. It was scary for me to send an invite to the original members, with nothing more than an ask to meet me in one of our boardrooms, because I wanted to connect on a professional/ personal level.” Hosna wasn’t even sure anyone was going to show up for the meetings—but she was pleasantly surprised when they did. Hosna says, “Every person I invited came through the door because, lo and behold,

DON’T

IGNORE SPARK

that

The goal was a serious matter, so they used monthly meetings to research how female leaders and boards of directors positively impact a company’s outcome. They also took into account what other hospitality companies had successful ERGs, what objections they might hear, and what their responses needed to be. “From there,” Hosna explains, “we created our official purpose document, which included a mission and vision statement, a roadmap, budget, and how WL Women aligns with the company’s overall vision on inclusion, engagement, and leadership.

All of this is to say we came to the table strong, proud, and prepared; it not only left an impression on our CEO and Executive Committee but, honestly, on ourselves.

This was one of the first times we really collaborated on something of this scale and scope, and the strength of that vibe is the energy that we’re all using to drive our mission forward.”

they were craving connection at the workplace too. So, if you are reading this and a little spark ignited within because you believe this is something you can and should do within your company and for yourself, fuel that fire. Don’t ignore that spark.”

Hosna received advice for women seeking financial success in the workplace from Victoria Budson, Founding Executive Director of the Women and Public Policy Program at the John F. Kennedy School of

Government at Harvard University.

Budson spoke at the official WL Women Launch Event in April 2017.

Hosna recalls, “We were so privileged to have a pioneering dynamo like her speak at our event, and she talked a bit about the ‘Glass Cliff,’ which really resonated with me regarding how to set myself up to be successful in my career, financially and holistically. The ‘Glass Cliff’ refers to the phenomenon of women being appointed leadership roles under very different circumstances than men.

More specifically, women are more likely to be offered or promoted to leadership positions—especially at the C-suite level—during periods of crisis or downturn.” Hosna continues to say, “And while most of us would jump at the opportunity, would we insist from the beginning that we have the right support structure to ensure we can be successful? For example, would we ask for the right team, the right resources, clear goals and milestones? And if we don’t meet the defined initial milestone, would we ask for what Plan B could be to set clearer expectations? Learning more about this theory galvanized for me and others the idea that being financially successful in the workplace means that you have to advocate for your success in advance. Be gracious for whatever is offered to you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t refine, ask, or insist on how an offer needs to be tailored for your professional and, in turn, financial success.”

”

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TURN IDEAS INTO ACTION WOD ACTIVITY GUIDE

TURN IDEAS INTO ACTION

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Developed by Bennie S. Covington

One of the goals of Women of Denver Quarterly is to spark conversation and inspire action. The activities below were created to facilitate those conversations and give you actionable ways that you can incorporate the lessons we’ve shared into your own life.

ADVOCACY AND VALUE PROPOSITIONS Carolyn Hosna of White Lodging started a strategic women’s advocacy group for her organization to help empower the women in her office.

To achieve this goal, Hosna and her team focused on making certain that the group had a clear purpose. This enabled them to clearly articulate it to leadership, and helped them keep their actions in alignment with their goals.

Here’s a template you can use for creating a value proposition for the goals you’d like to achieve within an organization you work for.

My goal is to support ________________________________ (the group you’ll be helping) in achieving _____________________________ (what you’ll help them to do), so they can _______________________________ (their achievement as a result of your support) and this will benefit the organization because _______________________________________ (sell the organization on why they should invest in your idea).

CLOSET THERAPY Cayla Jean is being herself through her own fashion choices. How can you use your fashion to express who you are and what you believe in?

To begin this journey spend about 5–10 minutes auditing your closet to identify one item that no longer fits who you are today.

Using this item, answer the following questions.

What about this article of clothing no longer fits who you are?

Since the clothing didn’t change, what about you has changed to make this article of clothing unfit to represent who you are today?

What item would you like to replace the outdated article of clothing with to better fit who you are today and why is choosing the new article of clothing symbolic for choosing you?

EMPATHY FOR THE FUTURE YOU Bubbleguts is all about having empathy for your future self. What can you do today to create a better life for the future you?

To get in the right mind-set, close your eyes and imagine that you are your best self 10 years from now. Imagine what you look like, the conversations you are having, how you are spending your time, and who you are positively impacting.

With this image in your head write your current self a letter from future you. In the letter be sure to tell your current self:

What you truly believe is important for her to do.

What action you need her to take to get where you are.

What she will find to be the biggest benefit if she does it.

Why doing it will have a positive impact on others around her.

NASSAR’S LESSON ON GRATITUDE

YOUR DEVELOPMENT IS EVERYTHING

Nassar talks poetically about her hardships and her hope for a better day because she is now living in Denver. Throughout all she has endured in her past, she is grateful for the opportunities she has now.

Sheryl Langley invested in personal development and it led to her opening a Fit36 franchise here in Denver. Becoming the best version of yourself requires growth. Do you have a plan to invest in developing yourself?

What are you grateful for?

Write a list of the ways you’d like to develop yourself in the next year. Include work skills, emotional and character development, and even creativity growth.

Try stream of consciousness exercise. Grab a pen and paper and time yourself for 30–60 seconds to quickly write down everything that comes to mind when you think of gratitude.

To share those positive feelings, take a picture of your list and share it with your friends on social media. Tag #WODGratitudePost to share with our Women of Denver community.

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WOMEN OF DENVER QUARTERLY FALL 2017

As you scroll the internet each week, keep your eye out for developmental workshops, seminars, and opportunities that can help you grow in the ways you’ve prioritized.

MEMBERSHIP WOMEN OF DENVER

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FIND YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK Join Women of Denver and tap into a network of strong, ambitious leaders who help each other reach success.

We have over 40 events each year that include workshops, strategic mastermind sessions, and networking events.

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