CONNECTING& INSPIRINGWOMEN
THECHANGING DYNAMICS OF PREGNANCY AND MATERNITY LEAVE PAGE4 THEENTREPRENEUR CHANGINGTHE WORLD ONE ADVENTUREAT A TIME PAGE6 WOMEN OF DENVER QUARTERLY SPRING2019
The Beauty & Chal l enges OF BEINGA WOMAN PAGE14
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WHAT'S INSIDE COVER STORY 4 | The Changing Dynamics of Pregnancy and Maternity Leave
LOCAL 6 | Business Spotlight: Changing the World One Adventure At a Time
4 14 | The Beauty & Challenges of Being a Woman
MONEY 22 | Dealing with Debt & Getting Ahead
6 LIFESTYLE 20 | The Women-Founded Colorado Companies That Fuel My Healthy Lifestyle
23 | 4 Ways to Brighten Your Intellectual Wellness
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SPRING 2019
Editorial Contributors Lori DeBoer Krystal Covington Laura Christman Pilcher Maureen Kelley Chelley Canales Rachel Salvay Phylecia Jones Susan Golicic, PhD, CPIC Stephen Glitzer, CHWC Copy Editor Rachel Donelson Proofreader Alexandra Coughlin Correll Publisher & Layout Designer Krystal C2ovington
Social Media facebook.com/Womenofdenver twitter.com/womenofdenver instagram.com/thewomenofdenver Subscriptions Join our annual subscription for $27. Visit WODMag.comto subscribe. Advertising For advertising inquiries contact Krystal@TheWomenofDenver.comor call 720-515-3078. Ads start at $150.
Letter From the Founder More than a ClichĂŠ I was part of an era. The 1990?s to 2000?s were crucial years in my development and a huge moment for women in filmand media to embrace a new formof female power. I loved the Spice Girls, TLC, Destiny?s Child, and shows like Living Single, Girlfriends and Sex & the City. They provided me with empowered role models and anthems that represented the power of femininity. Those women were fierce, and I was proud to bask in their glow. At the time, I believed I was a feminist. I refused to allow boys to open doors for me, choosing to walk ahead and try to catch it first for them. I was proud to pay my own way and scoffed when someone tried to pay for me as if I didn?t earn my own money. I stood up for women as equals on date night, but only then. What I eventually learned is that all of those images of feminine power focused more on the social world. When I was sent out to the world to begin ?adulting,?I still had no schemas for what a feminist should do to fight inequality at work or in the systems that guide our daily actions. I was a clichĂŠ of feminismborn frommedia with no true knowledge or power to make change. Real change comes fromunderstanding how the systems around us work, bringing light to injustices, and taking steps to bring a tribe along to create progress. Understanding those systems starts with sharing our stories. This issue of Women of Denver magazine offers a number of stories that bring light to the journeys we face as women. As you read these stories, think about the common threads and how we can come together to create a stronger future for women everywhere.
Krystal Covington 3 Ryan Kane, Hashtagitude
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Lori DeBoer offers marketing, editing and ghostwriting services; visit her at www.lorideboer.com
THE CHANGING DYNAMICS OF PREGNANCY AND MATERNITY LEAVE When Katie Hanke, Denver, was pregnant with her first child, she worked right up until the day she went into labor. ?I feel like I had to do that, because you do not get your maternity leave or your vacation leave all at once. . . .you are gathering themup into a bucket.? She says she wishes that she could have stopped working when she was eight months along ?and not have to worry about the time afterwards.? She added: ?I think that what goes through your head is, what if your water breaks? Can you even performyour duties, because your mind is in a different space.? She considers herself fortunate, because she was able to take 12 weeks of maternity leave and her boss approved her coming back as a part-time employee. ?That was more doable,? she says.
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Brandie Koskie, Lakewood, also considers herself fortunate, because she was working at a startup when she got pregnant and the male owners were ?incredibly supportive.? They offered to pay her for a six-week maternity leave, though they said she could take as much time as she wanted. In fact, at one point, when she tried working during her maternity leave, they told her they would change her passwords if they saw her working online again. Koskie says the fact that they were proactive made her experience of early motherhood less stressful. ?Before they came to me, I really did have a lot of anxiety about what was happening; I couldn?t really afford to take a maternity leave.?
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Tara Tubb, Arvada, had her first child when she was in graduate school, working two part-time jobs, and didn?t have any benefits. With her second child, she was working for the city and took the job when she was pregnant. She was able to take six weeks of short-termdisability and, since she was slated to return in December, her supervisor used her discretion to give her more time off during the slow season, allowing her to work fromhome. While her new workplace was accommodating, she said that if she and her ex-husband had both had more time off for child care, things would have been less stressful. ?I have a friend who lives in Germany and she had twins last February and she is just now going back to work. Part of me wishes that I would have had the opportunity to do that. I really love working but would have liked that option.?
Women Negotiate Leave Individually Women have vastly different experiences when it comes to pregnancy and maternity leave, but that they all worry about patching together enough support to make things work. The United States is the only industrialized country that does not have a national paid family leave program. The Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid leave to workers at companies with more than 50 employees. Only two-thirds of working Coloradans can use the FMLA, because they either work for a smaller company or can?t afford to take unpaid time off, according to a study by the National Partnership for Women and Families. This leaves women to fend for themselves, relying mostly on state-based and privately paid leave programs. Compounding this problemis the rise of the gig economy, with nearly 42 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds freelancing instead of working a steady job with benefits. According to a 2017 study by the Freelancers Union and Upwork, 36 percent of the United States workforce is freelancing. And those numbers are going to continue to grow. Our lack of pregnancy and maternal leave has an outsized impact on women. ?Essentially, in the United States today we are some of the worse of all industrialized nations with how well we care for our mothers and our babies,?says Judith Knowlin, Longmont. ?That?s not only true with the outcome for maternal morbidity and mortality, especially with premature births. The premature birthrates are extraordinary.? She says that our country could benefit from making sure women are supported after childbirth, physically and emotionally. ?Because right now there is kind of a cliff where, after she has her baby, she?s dropped fromcare, she?s often dropped fromresources and she?s left to figure it out on her own.? This causes many women to drop out of the workforce altogether; a large number of women say they are going back to work and, after the baby arrives, they do not go back to work because they are not supported enough to make
things work. ?There is a strong cost associated with the loss of those employees,?says Knowlin, adding that there is also a strong cost if women get back on their feet too quickly. ?Even with the healthiest and most straightforward birth, the body has done a lot, it has gone through a lot, it has done something miraculous and it needs time to heal.?
"I really did have a lot of anxiety about what was happening; I couldn?t really afford to take a maternity leave." Brandie Koskie Another challenge that women face is the time prenatal visits take; and a few women either can?t afford to take time off or are healthy and prefer to save their time off for after the baby comes. Knowlin is the chief growth officer for Babyscripts and her company has implemented a technology for low-risk pregnancies that reduces office visits. Babyscripts offers remote monitoring and virtual care for pregnant mothers. ?We collect a lot more data on her health and well-being than would otherwise be collected through the face-to-face visits, which leads to earlier intervention if something is going on.?It needs to be prescribed by a physician or midwife. Knowlin feels that the Babyscripts technology is a game-changer for many women, but that more needs to be done. ?Many women in the United States are back on their feet after giving birth, and are back moving,?she says. ?But the rest of the world will always be there. The amount of time you spend now, attending to your physical recovery and your emotional stability, and working on bonding with your baby, will be given back to you tenfold if you take the proper amount of time. If you rush it, you will be paying for it tenfold.?
Efforts to Provide Family Leave in Colorado Underway Some politicians in Colorado are taking it upon themselves to address the family leave problem. Faith Winters, a congressional representative fromWestminster, is one of the co-sponsors of the FAMLI (Family Medical Leave Insurance Program) Act, which would create a pool that could be used to supplement workers who need time off to care for a family member. The bill has been introduced twice before, though it failed. This year, the bill will most likely be introduced in March and Winters believes it will pass. ?The reason is, that in Colorado one in four moms need to work,?says Winters. She says the measure will help all family members because it extends beyond maternity leave. She knows of cancer patients who are foregoing chemotherapy because they can?t afford to take time off and has even heard of family members taking their parents off life support over the phone, because they can?t afford to be there. She says that the bill is important because health outcomes improve with family leave measures in place; even breastfeeding rates go up. The bill creates an insurance pool where everyone, employers and employees, pay in. When you need leave, you draw fromthat pool for wage replacement. The FAMLI Act also addresses the rise of the gig economy, she adds. ?If you are a freelancing 1099 employee, you can opt into the program, and the benefits are portable. So if you are driving Lyft at night and a teacher during the day, you pay in for both jobs, and would have access for wage replacement fromboth jobs.? As a momherself, she knows how important it is that we support women through pregnancy and childbirth. ?For both my pregnancies, I was on bedrest before I gave birth, and I was lucky enough that my employer let me work from home, but I didn?t have enough leave to cover bedrest before giving birth,?says Winters. ?My second job, I didn?t. In an attempt to make my leave last longer, I started going back to work three weeks after giving birth. I can?t imagine these moms having to go back after two weeks, giving birth.?
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FROM ROCK BOTTOM
TO 8 FIGURES THEPOWEROFRADICAL SELF-CAREANDLOVE
CHANGING THE WORLD
One Adventure at a Time Seeing the world can be a catalyst for change by bringing greater awareness of global communities and a connection to all of humanity. The empathy we earn through traveling and talking with diverse groups of individuals allows us to see past our own cultures and to be more compassionate. For Matilda and Kelly, the millennial founders of Adventurist Backpack Co., their awakening came during an overseas backpacking trip where they witnessed first-hand the challenges of poverty and hunger. Driven by their desire to bring compassion and support to those struggling with food insecurity, they began a journey to develop a social enterprise company that has provided 65,000 meals to families across the country so far. Launched in September 2017, the company has been in hyper-growth mode, quickly surpassing the coveted 6-figure mark with just a $7,000 starting investment. Adventurist Backpacks can now be found in over 40 retail locations across the country. We caught up with Matilda Sandstroemto learn more about her journey as a co-founder of this inspiring Colorado company.
Krystal Covington, Founder of Women of Denver www.KrystalCovington.com 6
We want to spread the message that it is a company's responsibility to not only make a great product or service, but to start something that matters. WOD Was there something special about the Colorado business community that helped you on your journey to starting a company like this? Were there local resources you utilized that helped you?
samples made and contact a manufacturer, so we turned to Alibaba.com(a website that connects companies looking to create a product with manufacturers all over the world). After sending messages with our design to dozens of manufacturers and getting a handful of replies back, we had a lot of samples made (many that were extremely bad). We continued this process until we found a manufacturer that was able to create a high-quality backpack using the materials we wanted, while also having the certifications necessary so that we could rest assured that they treated and paid their employees fairly as well as offered above-average work conditions.
Colorado has been a great place to start a company. Coloradans love to support local businesses, and entrepreneurs that we've met in Denver and across the state are incredibly supportive and collaborative with one another. After gaining a bit of press around the state and country, we had Visit Denver,the marketing agency for the City of Denver, reach out to us about becoming a vendor. Now Visit Denver orders hundreds of backpacks fromus each year, helping our business (and many other companies) have a chance to grow. We've also found that all sorts of shops across the state have been excited to teamup with us. [They?re] very supportive and happy to have a Colorado-based brand and product in their shop.
After we found the right manufacturer, we placed an order for about 1,000 backpacks and contacted a freight forwarding agent in order to transport the backpacks fromthe factory to our 600 square foot apartment. Our initial funding was $7,000, $3,000 which we had saved up ourselves and $4,000 that Kelly's parents invested in helping us start the company.
WOD You originated fromSweden and even traveled to many countries around the world. How has this global perspective impacted the way you lead your business and live your life?
WOD What has been the impact of leading this company, and what advice can you share for others following your journey? The business has definitely been a huge part of our lives since launching in September 2017. Abig impact that the company has had is making us very passionate about being at the forefront of brands that give back as part of their business model. We truly believe that entrepreneurship and business is the best way for Americans to be able to solve problems, whether environmental, social, etc.
Being born and raised in Sweden, I never imagined that I would come to the U.S. and stay to start a business. Since I moved away from home and my family at 19, it can definitely be tough at times, though it has forced me to be braver, bolder, and more independent. Traveling has also impacted our business and life in numerous ways. Travel inspires through exposure to different cultures, types of fashion, design, language, food, and traditions. It can definitely broaden your views about the possibilities that are out there. Travel also teaches you to take risks, which I think is a big part of living life to the fullest, and growing in life and in business.
We want to spread the message that it is a company's responsibility to not only make a great product or service, but to start something that matters. I think the best advice that I'mable to give is that there will never be a perfect time to start a business or travel or move halfway across the world, so you might as well give it a shot and do it now.
WOD How did you know how to design a backpack and source a supplier? And how did you fund your business in the beginning to purchase inventory? Neither Kelly (my husband/co-founder) nor I had any experience at all in product design before starting the company. After coming up with the idea to design a backpack that was fashionable, high-quality, and affordable, we sat down at the kitchen table with a pad of graph paper and a small pencil and just started to sketch out the measurements, materials, etc. until we had a design that we were happy with. We also knew that we would need to have
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FROMTHE CLASSROOM TOTHE BOARDROOM In a boardroom dominated by men, Allison Sievers is the youngest executive at the table. With confidence and assertiveness, she proposes new innovation and changes that have the potential to dramatically increase the growth of the organization. The board members trust her leadership and decision-making. She impacts change. What does Allison attribute to helping her advance in her career and achieve credibility and success in her role? Getting her M.B.A. at Colorado Christian University. ?I knew that obtaining this credential would be the route to develop my skills in leadership and management, broaden my career opportunities, increase my networking opportunities, and strengthen my overall knowledge of key business practices,?says Sievers. It isn?t just the credentials that earned her a seat in the executive board room, but the business acumen and wisdomthat she possesses. She has set herself apart. Allison writes, ?Without a doubt, there are numerous employees and managers who have risen through the ranks without completing their graduate or doctoral degree. However, in today?s crowded marketplace, an MBAdegree is a powerful differentiator between candidates, if not a required minimumqualification for managerial and executive leadership positions.?After earning her Master?s Allison was appointed to a Vice President position in the organization. Now serving in this executive role, she is applying the skills she has learned on a daily basis. ?The skills I found most strengthened and valuable were servant leadership, strategic research and analysis, critical thinking and problemsolving in stressful environments, effective communication, cross-cultural awareness, and how to navigate today?s most prominent human resource management issues and trends,?she says. So, not only did the degree help her to land the job, but also to excel in it and drive record growth. This has earned her the respect and admiration fromfellow executive leaders, and the employees that serve under her. Allison Sievers is an example for young female executives aspiring to rise to that executive position or seeking to impact greater change in their organizations. She is confident and humble; knowledgeable and a lifelong learner; a leader and a servant. She proves that effective leadership requires more than business knowledge and skills, but also character, integrity, and a servant-heart.
To take the next step in your career perhaps you too need to take the next step in your education. Consider an undergraduate or graduate degree through CCU Online. Courses are offered 100% online in a format designed for busy adults. Women of Denver members qualify for a 10% 8tuition discount. Learn more at ccu.edu/ pep10
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ANDI SIGLER FOUNDER, VIVEFLOAT STUDIO+ | CHERRY CREEK Leading a fast-paced career, Andi Sigler experienced first-hand the personal and professional exhaustion that comes along with life in Corporate America. While the experience gave her access to valuable business knowledge, it also helped her to recognize the value of mental and physical simplicity, which became the foundation of her business. Opening her first wellness center in 2015 at the age of 52, VIVEis now a national company specializing in Float, Cryo, Infrared, VAT, and Halo therapies. These alternative therapies provide mental and physical RESTand RECOVERYfor individuals, athletic organizations, and employee wellness programs. Visit a VIVE studio to find your mental and physical balance through the power of REST, which ultimately leads to personal and professional SUCCESS. www.VIVEFloatStudio.com \ Twitter @ViveCherryCreek
CHRISTINE DASPRO FOUNDER & CEO, CURATINGCONNECTIONS Curating Connections focuses on the development of women leaders through life-long learning, creating valuable connections, and curating impactful, thoughtful discussions with women and men to enhance workplace cultures. Christine has a passion for helping leaders grow their careers through learning, listening, sharing, and connecting. Curating Connections offers you the resources and talent to unleash leadership potential in individuals, teams, and organizations. Christine previously held the position of Chief Gratitude Officer and Vice President of Programs for The Leadership Investment. The Leadership Investment provided expert leadership development tools and supported an inspiring community of peers and mentors. Prior to that, she worked for Merrill Lynch for thirty years in New York as a Vice President and was one of the top performing relationship managers supporting the largest institutional clients residing at Merrill Lynch. www.curatingconections.com \ www.LinkedIn.com/in/christinedaspro Twitter @CurateConnects
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The women featured in this profile are members of Women of Denver. To join visit www.JoinWOD.com.
TEDDI ANN BARRY, ESQ. FAMILY LAWATTORNEY AND MEDIATOR Teddi Ann is a woman for others, a child advocate, a family law attorney and mediator throughout Colorado. With offices in Cherry Creek, Castle Rock, Thornton, Avon and Steamboat, Teddi Ann has a successful and forward-thinking practice focused on client empowerment and resolution. Her results-driven approach to divorce leads to more creative ideas for settlement and child-centered parenting plans with strong advocacy and transparency during the family law process. She has vast knowledge and experience with high-end asset marital estates, and has developed a professional teamto serve your best interests during a most difficult time. Twitter: @TeddiAnnBarryPC\ LinkedIn: TeddiAnnBarryEsq. www.DivorceInColorado.com \ www.UnifiedDivorce.org
TERESA ADAMS EXECUTIVEHEADHUNTER Teresa Adams is the founder of Executive Career Consulting, a premier Denver-based boutique firmfor which she also serves as lead talent matchmaker and executive headhunter. Over the last 20 years, Teresa has created an exclusive process by which she connects people to their callings and companies to human solutions. Teresa has secured more than $90Min employment agreements for positions ranging frompresidents and COOs to civil engineers. Arecognized expert in executive search, employee development, and career-transition coaching, she has cultivated a reputation as an anti-recruiter?s recruiter who partners primarily with companies earning $3M-$75Mand professionals earning $100-$500K. Teresa is an ideal fit for both organizations and individuals seeking unconventional transformations, renewed passion, meaningful and financially rewarding work. www.ExecutiveCareerConsulting.com \ Social: @CareerExecCoach www.Linkedin.com/in/ExecutiveCareerCoach
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The women featured in this profile are members of Women of Denver. To join visit www.JoinWOD.com.
IRINA VLADA, PCC CERTIFIED WOMEN'S CONFIDENCECOACH ?I believe that self-love is the answer to every challenge in life.? Originally froma small town in the Soviet Union, Irina moved to America when she was 19, with only $200 and speaking little English. Now bilingual, she has three degrees frommultiple institutions and a professional coaching certification. As a foreigner so far fromhome, Irina?s life experiences have taught her how to embrace challenges and fall in love with her story. Irina created a coaching practice that focuses on empowering women by giving themthe tools to embrace their individuality and find their personal truths. By teaching women how to become confident, she has given numerous women the ability to identify self-limiting beliefs and manifest the highest vision of themselves. Follow Irina on Instagram & Facebook: @IrinaVladaCoaching Schedule a complimentary session at www.IrinaVladaCoaching.com
MEG SEBASTIAN EVANS INTERIOR DESIGNER Meg Sebastian Interior Design is the only design firmin Denver specializing in residential interior design and staging for homeowners and realtors. Meg started the firmafter working in New York City, Chicago, Vail, and her hometown of Grand Rapids, MI. With a degree fromthe New York School of Interior Design and vast experience with several designers, her projects have traveled across the world. Meg has the experience to help you with your interior design projects, frompaint color consultations and staging your home to sell, to furniture placement, or kitchen and bath renovations. Facebook: @MegSebastianInteriorDesignLLC Instagram: @megsebastianid \ Twitter: @4friendsdesign www.megsebastianinteriordesign.com and www.4friendsdesign.com
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JANA AXLINE, MBA, PMP FOUNDER, CHIEF PROJECT OFFICER Founder and Chief Project Officer of Axline Solutions, a leading project management consulting firm, Jana Axline, MBA, PMP, ACP, CSM, SA, DTM, works with some of Colorado?s largest and most progressive firms. Jana?s expertise stems frommore than 20 years experience in leadership and 10 years in project and portfolio management in health insurance, healthcare, investing, mining, retail, and supply chain management. An internationally recognized speaker on leadership, employee engagement and project management, Jana serves as President of the Project Management Institute Mile Hi Chapter. She authored the book, ?Becoming You,?in 2013 and is a well-recognized blogger on living your dream. She has presented to students at Aspen Academy and has initiated a mentoring programfor women in technology. Learn more at www.AxlineSolutions.com or www.linkedin.com/in/janaaxline
MARY GROTHE CHIEF EXECUTIVEOFFICER At age 22, Mary began working with a Fortune 1000 Payroll/HRcompany. Starting in an administrative role, she quickly advanced into mid-market sales, and rapidly found success by listening to her clients, always solving their needs, and putting their agenda before hers. Even in times when her sales approach was the direct inverse of what corporate was enforcing, she knew in her heart what was right, leveraging emotional, intellectual, and behavioral intelligence. After multiple #1finishes and millions in revenue sold, she founded Butterfly Creative, LLCin 2011to become a business strategist for entrepreneurs of all ages. Her vision expanded into sales strategy consulting in 2017 and rebranded as Sales BQTM. Her driving goal is to help CEOs ($1-$5M) avoid losing what many CEOs lose on their first few sales hires; over $1Mas a result of no sales infrastructure, bad hires and lack of time to manage the teameffectively. Learn more at www.SalesBQ.com or www.MaryGrothe.com
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The women featured in this profile are members of Women of Denver. To join visit www.JoinWOD.com.
KIMBERLY FRASHER DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Kimberly Frasher was a sales and marketing professional in the information security, retail, and advertising sectors for over a decade before taking a break to raise her daughter. In 2017 her husband and business partners began crafting a new type of auto collision center designed especially for smaller accidents and hail damage, reducing turnaround times and providing a welcome solution in a city known for severe weather. Approximately 65% of auto body customers are women, but most auto body shops are designed by and for men, so Kimberly stepped in as the Director of Customer Experience to craft a customer focus that provides a brand and shop experience that puts women first. Her quickly growing business seeks out and happily employs female repair technicians in a male-dominated industry. www.axiomrepair.com \ Facebook: @axiomrepair
KATIE WAFER FOUNDER, HYDRATEIV BAR Katie Wafer is a proud 5th generation Colorado native who is deeply involved in the Denver community. At the age of 26, Katie founded Hydrate IVBar, which offers vitamin-infused IVtherapy treatments with three locations in the Denver Metro Area. Since opening in 2016 Hydrate IVBar has serviced clients ranging from professional athletes, celebrities, and traveling musicians to business professionals and every day health conscious adults. Katie and her medical teamhave been featured on local and national news channels including Denver?s Channel 9, Channel 7, Fox 31, Colorado?s Own 2, and Colorado?s Best Show and in local print including BusinessDen, Westword, 303 Magazine and Denver Lifestyle Magazine. Hydrate IVBar received the 2017 Cherry Creek Chamber Business of the Year and has plans to expand to additional location in 2019. www.hydrateivbar.com \ Social media: @hydrate_ivbar
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The Beauty and Chal l enges Of Being a Woman Personal Essays from our Community
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I COULDN'T FIND A JOB OFFERING FAMILY-FRIENDLY FLEXIBILITY -- SO I CREATED MY OWN By Laura Christman Pilcher Owner/ Marketing Director of Pique Digital
For a seemingly liberal town, Denver has surprisingly limited options for working mothers to get both the flexibility and the title they want. I learned this firsthand when I moved to the mile-high city in 2011along with my husband and five month old son.
and asked about flexibility, I was promptly turned away. Even a company that exclusively sold baby products scoffed when I asked for two days a week working remotely. I felt I was not only missing out on milestones in my toddler son?s life, but I was also paying through the nose to have someone else experience those with him. Knowing I wasn?t going to achieve my dreams by climbing the corporate ladder, I completed my MBAand left to start my own business in 2013.
Armed with a degree in journalismand more than seven years of experience, it didn?t take long to find a position in downtown Denver. I was part of an internal marketing teamfor a health and wellness company. While doing the "9-to-5" thing, I received more backlash than I ever could have imagined fromcoworkers, simply because I had family commitments that required me to arrive and leave exactly on time. So, my full-time job was really an ?8-6:30" position that did not provide much leeway for those needing flexibility. In fact, I remember a female coworker at one point say loudly, "I guess the only way you can arrive late and leave early is if you have a kid." On top of all that, despite leading a department and exceeding all benchmarks for success, my requests for a promotion were denied again and again.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago...a student at Regis University interviewed me for a class project. She asked asked how I rose to the rank of Marketing Director. I told her this: Give yourself the promotion you want. By starting my own business, I have been able to give myself the title I want. It has allowed me to make more than I was making at my full-time job, add teammembers if my workload is too full, take a maternity leave when I had my second child without having to "return" to work at any given time...truly the best of both worlds.
Frustrated, I searched endlessly for a job that would offer me a flexible schedule as well as the growth I was looking for. I did interview after interview, and every time I was in a final interview 15
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WOMEN BREADWINNERS FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES By Maureen Kelley, MADREFinancial Well Being for Women As gender equality continues to improve in the workforce, more women than ever now find themselves in the position of family breadwinner. Women are having a now moment, asking for advice on how to best handle greater earnings and career success while maintaining a healthy marriage. Often surprised by a combination of negative emotions and dissatisfaction at home, attempting to find balance in their powerful new role is a lonely journey for many. Take Melissa, a 43-year-old breadwinner, who is conflicted by the issues that financial success have brought upon her marriage and feels guilty about unpleasant feelings toward her husband. When entering her marriage, she assumed she would have a balanced partnership, but has lost respect for her husband and become resentful, questioning whether her career is preventing himfrom being ambitious.
Why then, if women are having career and financial success, are they so dissatisfied at home? A2013 study of 4,000 married American couples by Marilyn Bertrand at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business found that regardless of amount, once a woman earns more in a marriage, the divorce rate increased. The conflict typically arises fromthe discussions around money, which are often more intense and take longer to recover fromthan other arguments. Studies also reveal that gaps in housework actually widen when a woman is the primary breadwinner, leading men to do less childcare and work around the house. Some suggest this results froma perceived threat to male masculinity, so women overcompensate by doing more. Some couples are able to navigate this new financial model successfully, but it takes work and mutual understanding.
Seeking support, she opened up to her 63-year-old friend and Couples need to work together to evaluate who and where they are. mentor about the pressure and strain that outearning her husband Disagreements about money are normal, but they can be difficult to had put on her marriage - to a highly-charged, emotional response. navigate when couples have different expectations for their futures Unable to recognize or understand Melissa?s pain, she was told to, together. ?Just deal with it and stop whining.? After all? opportunity, equal pay and breaking the glass ceiling are what women fought for over 16 many years.
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I WANT MORE WOMEN TO STEP INTO THEIR POWER By Chelley Canales, Founder of lighthouse/ haven I know you?ve seen her. That woman with the million dollar smile and a presence so big that you?re almost knocked off your feet as she passes. She walks with effortless confidence. She speaks with authority and trusts that what she has (and loves) to offer, is making a difference. She?s compensated handsomely. She knows her purpose, and you can only watch in awe as she takes off on her trajectory, fully on fire, changing the world. I find it heartbreaking that we live in a world where if a roomfull of women showed up like this, it would be odd, threatening even.
So how do we get there? Here are a few key areas we can each focus on to achieve this: Self-care - You can?t pour froman empty well. Schedule in your ?you?time - meditation, baths, exercise, reading, anything that brings you joy. Self-development - Find the internal obstacles to your success and growth. What can you heal and clear out of your system? Sisterhood and community - We are taught to distrust each other, but we are actually stronger together and more alike than we realize.
Instead, we have a world where boardrooms filled exclusively with men make decisions regarding our bodies. Where our voices are turned down or silenced, where we are expected to take up as little space as possible, and where we ask for permission to lead because we?ve been trained to do so our entire lives. The great news is that the tide is shifting and each passing day reveals evidence that women are believing in the value of their voices more and stepping into their power to reclaimtheir space and time (Thank you, Maxine Waters!). I imagine a world of switches turning on, woman by woman, until they light up the room, fully in their power, and it isn?t unusual.
Seek inspiration from those who embody your values - For me, it?s Michelle Obama, RBG, and Kristen Bell. Live your best light, girl! You were meant to share your own special brand of magic that would never exist in this world if you hide it. Honor your gifts and remember that by doing so, everyone around you will benefit fromthemtoo.
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EXPLORING MY FEMALE GENDER IDENTITY & EXPRESSION By Rachel Salvay
Society has not always let me claimmy female gender identity unchallenged. That may seem an odd thing for someone born cisgender to declare. I identify as female, I always have, and... I have never thought of it as a particularly big deal. I was quite young when my self-awareness expanded to the recognition of an undoubtedly female identity, but the intensity of that affiliation paled in comparison to others coming into focus: ?child,??human,??caring,? ?creative.?Other people, surely meaning to assist me, encouraged me to play more strongly into stereotypical gender expressions. Frustrated by the unsolicited advice t, I would recoil or lash out. Through my teens and early twenties, I was faced with the challenge of identifying into and accepting the body I occupied, for nature had given me a full figure in an hourglass shape that attracted a lot of attention I absolutely did not want. My shape and size felt inconvenient, and, thus, so did I. I loathed the complexity of maintaining a head of curls, something that I now understand to be a complete contrivance (the beauty industry will surely never reveal what it took me years to discover: curls love to be left the hell alone). I was interested in makeup only so far as its ability to make imaginary characters come alive. I deplored wearing a skirt in any formother than my
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bathrobe, yet it was impossible to avoid donning a dress for the weekly religious services I attended out of parental mandate. I happened to really love rainbows (and still do), but that association only added to others? confusion about my gender and my sexual orientation. As my own attitude shifted oh-so-gradually into recognizing the many good intentions packed into society?s suggestions ? odd as they sometimes strike me, even still ? the unrest of my youth dwindled. I came into self-acceptance, by way of relationships that gave me a judgment-free forumfor discussing my confusion with others. I discovered my human right to be supported by community as my candid self. And I recognized the teary shouting matches of my youth as having healthily thickened my skin. Today I live freely and more peacefully because I understand how I simply do not strongly self-identify through the facet of gender, and that my valuable time and energy are best spent far, far away frombeing concerned with what anyone else thinks of me. I ammy own self, which includes my completely unique version of female gender expression. Just as I know myself better than anyone else does, so do you know yourself the absolute very best. You do you better than anyone else does or will ever be able to. You deserve to be you, and be supported in that.18
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THE WOMEN-FOUNDED COLORADO COMPANIES THAT FUEL MY HEALTHY LIFESTYLE Krystal Covington, Founder of Women of Denver | www.KrystalCovington.com
Bobo?s Oat Bars Founded by Beryl Stafford When gluten intolerance ended the enjoyment of my favorite granola bars, I went on a desperate hunt for a replacement. I found Bobo?s Oat Bars on a grocery store trip to grab snacks at Whole Foods for a flight I was headed out on the next day. My tactic was to buy as many randomfood bars as I could (spending about an hour reading labels in the aisle), and try themout on the plane to see if they held up to my taste buds and need to feel full. Bobo?s was a winner. Founded in Boulder, this homemade treat was developed as part of a mother-daughter baking tradition, but became popular in the local community. The gluten-free bars can now be found in over 7,000 grocery stores nationwide. The company is booming too. In 2018, the company expanded into a new facility after experiencing 70% growth in 2017 and 45% in 2018.
After a recommendation on a Fox TVsegment with one of Natural Grocers?resident nutritionists, I decided to try Goddess Gardens. They have a continuous spray mineral sunscreen that?s reef safe, so I can bring it along on trips to the ocean. So far no rash, so I?msuper happy with this light and natural product. It?s no wonder the product worked for me since the inspiration for Goddess Garden came along when Nova?s daughter Paige had an allergic reaction to the synthetic chemicals in sunscreens and other body care products. She sought a solution for her own child 14 years ago, which in turn became one of the leading reef safe sunscreen brands on the market for sensitive skin, carried at over 25,000 stores.
Teatulia Founded by Linda Appel Lipsius No health journey is complete without learning to savor a sip of tea now and then ? at least that?s how I see it. Tea is a staple of a healthy lifestyle and a great way to replace a soft drink or two throughout the day. I ran across my first bag of Teatulia tea when someone handed me a gift basket at work full of health conscious foods for me to sample. I ended up falling in love with the concept of steeping tea with a real loose leaf infuser and began purchasing the product as a daily staple to drink at my desk. One of the Denver Business Journal?s Top Women in Business, Teatulia Founder Linda Appel Lipsius also founded the Mama?hood, which was featured in our Summer 2018 magazine issue.
Victoria?s Gluten Free Kitchen Founded by Victoria Wolf After several years of missing one of my favorite treats due to gluten and dairy intolerance I had the opportunity to meet Victoria, the founder of Victoria?s Gluten Free Kitchen. I was hosting a show on public access TVand she came to record an episode where she showcased her award-winning recipe for a dairy-free chicken, bacon, ranch pizza using her gluten-free crusts. I was taken aback by how incredible the meal tasted and my love for pizza was reawakened. I now buy the crusts to create my own pizza creations at home to share with my family. I?ve had the opportunity to watch the brand grow from self-distributing to a small number of Natural Grocers stores and local restaurants to now being available in about 80 stores and 150 restaurants. I?mexcited to see what?s ahead for this local brand as they continue to reach across the U.S.
Teatulia is a certified Benefit Corporation and supports the reduction of poverty in the Tetulia region of northern Bangladesh through the cultivation of one of the largest organic tea gardens in the world. Their teas can be found in restaurants as well as popular stores such as Whole Foods, Kroger, Wegmans, Safeway and Natural Grocers.
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Goddess Garden Founded by Nova Covington When my skin first became super-sensitive, I remember nervously picking up new products and crossing my fingers that I wouldn?t get an itchy skin reaction after trying themout ? it was that bad.
Contribute to Col orado Women's History Nominate an amazing woman, watch the latest stories, and inspire Colorado Girl Scouts with a new patch. History as Our Teacher Help Inspire a Colorado Women?s History Project History helps us learn who we are, but when we don?t know our own history, our power and dreams are immediately diminished. American women have been overlooked in most mainstreamapproaches to U.S. history, so the Colorado Women?s Hall of Fame (CWHF) champions the accomplishments of great Colorado women and leads the drive to help write women back into history.
Girl Scouts of Colorado (GSCO) and CWHFhave joined forces to create a patch for Girl Scouts of all ages. The history of women isn?t taught in Colorado schools. Since the Girl Scouts provide opportunities for girls to learn by exploring their interests, passions and dreams, the exposure to great Colorado women ? both historic and contemporary -- provides role models to begin to fill that gap.
Nominate an Amazing Woman to the Hall In March 2019, CWHFbegins its ?call for nominations?fromamong the citizens of Colorado to nominate amazing women for its next group to be inducted into the Hall. Representing the ?Class of 2020,?up to ten women will be inducted in March 2020 during a special celebration in their honor. Every two years, the CWHFinducts contemporary and historical women with significant ties to Colorado who have made enduring and exemplary contributions to their fields, elevated the status of women and helped open new frontiers for women and society, and inspired others, especially women and girls by their example. Set Your DVRs; Don?t Miss an Episode Also, on February 28th, CWHFpremiers Season Two of its highly-acclaimed and Emmy award-winning series, Great Colorado Women, on Rocky Mountain PBS. This multi-part television documentary series will run through early April. These stories provide role models to remind women and girls; men and boys, that they can aspire higher to reach their dreams.
?As Girl Scouts, girls prepare for a lifetime of leadership, success, and adventure in a safe, no-limits place designed for and by girls,? says Stephanie Foote, President and CEOof GSCO. ?The idea is to learn by doing and be inspired to discover her talents and passions in a safe and supportive all-girl setting. Along with other Girl Scouts and people in her community, our girls have the potential to change the world.? Hall inductees are women who, through grit and grace, have advanced the roles of today?s women to levels of heightened recognition and models of inspiration. ?Who better than CWHFto provide an adventure in learning about contemporary and historic Colorado women,?asks Beth Barela, CWHFboard chair. ?The mission synergy between our two organizations is uncanny. The Colorado women in the Hall are leaders, trail blazers, pioneers and even unsung heroes who have endured challenges, discrimination, hardship, loss, but also great successes. They are shining examples of the potential of all women.?
The Season Two premier airs statewide on Thursday, February 28 at 8:30pmMTThe first episode features the story of Helen Bonfils: ?Miss Helen: Bringing Culture to ACow Town.? ?So many women in the Hall are unsung heroes, hidden figures who have endured with superlative strength, beauty and love. They deserve absolute respect and acknowledgment,?says Betty Heid, CWHF?s executive producer of the series. ?They are shining examples of the potential of all women. Their accomplishments are worthy of 21 being emulated and have shaped history and transformed lives.?
www.CoGreatWomen.org
DEALING WITH DEBT ANDGETTINGAHEAD
Phylecia Jones, Budgetologist & Solopreneur Money Management Expert www.keepupwithmrsjones.com
It is safe to say that, in America, debt is a national crisis that many of us choose to ignore. However, this is an issue that women cannot afford to avoid. The negative consequences of the national debt are amplified for women because of the gender pay gap.
responsible, demanding better pay, and avoiding the pitfalls of sleek gender-based marketing.
stay on top of the amount of debt that you have, and create mini-plans to improve monthly.
Here are a few steps you can take right now to regain control of your bank account and financial future:
Stop paying the Pink Tax.
According to the Institute for Women?s Policy Research, women are paid 80 cents for every dollar a male counterpart makes. Minority women take home even less with African-American and Hispanic women taking home 60 and 53 cents for every dollar respectively. The gender pay gap is more than a political talking point or a way to draw sides in a debate on the equality rights of women. It is a real-world issue where women are taking on more debt to advance their careers and taking home less money at the same time.
Negotiate your worth.
Currently, women are carrying two-thirds of the $1.5 trillion student loan debt and 60% of the $1.03 billion credit card debt. This debt is fueled in part by the ?Pink Tax.?Yes. Women are charged up to 13% more for daily self-care products fromshampoo to razors to clothes in order to conformto social norms about the appearance of successful women. It?s clear from women?s overall financial state that we need to do better when it comes to being financially
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Women fall into the trap that their work and skills will speak for themselves when it comes to being recognized for raises and promotions. To get the salary you deserve, you will have to be more vocal about your skills and your added value to projects. You will need to demand more pay. Manage your debt and expenses Avoiding debt, or not knowing your current living expenses, does not make themmagically go away. Many women are living day to day, paycheck to paycheck, and are clueless with how much they are spending each month. If you don?t have a systemto check in with your finances on a regular basis, it will lead constant overspending, more debt, and increased stress. To get ahead, take 1hour each month to have a financial review to manage 22 your living expenses,
Great marketing has a way of making us separate fromour hard-earned dollars quickly. Gender-based marketing has done an exceptional job of making us spend more on basic daily needs when it comes to grooming, gadgets, and clothing. Start looking beyond the pink and pastel packaging for basic everyday goods that are used by all genders. Reduce your monthly expenses and save on items such as deodorant, soap, razors, haircuts, by doing a bit of internet research on the actual differences between the items that are offered to women versus to men. Despite the debt numbers, women have a major impact on the economy. We control more than 60% of personal wealth and, in some cases, out earn our male spouses. The gains are much needed, but what if we worked toward the shared goals of ending the gender pay gap and being smarter consumers? We?d achieve the economic influence we need to get the financial security we deserve.
4 WAYS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR
INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS Susan Golicic, PhD, CPIC, Holistic Life Coach and Stephen Glitzer, CHWC, Holistic Life Coach, Chef www.uninhibitedwellness.com
Most people don?t think of intellectual wellness as an important piece of being and living well, but it definitely is! Our brain drives a great deal of what we do in each moment ? decisions, actions, communication. It allows us to learn and to function in society and in business. Though we don?t always use the full capacity of our brain, most of it is active almost all of the time (using only 10% is a myth)! And we have the power to harness the unused potential and increase intelligence by exercising and training the brain. Think of it as a muscle that can get stronger if you work on it. In order to take care of the brain, we need to feed it ? literally and figuratively. Though only 2% of the human body by weight, it requires up to 20% of the body?s energy. Antioxidants and healthy fats are the best brain foods; blueberries, chocolate, coffee, seeds (like flax and pumpkin), nuts (like walnuts), and fish (like salmon and cod) are all brain-boosting foods to integrate into your daily eating routine. What depletes our brains on the other hand? Processed foods, fried foods, sugar, alcohol, and dairy can contribute to the rise and fall of blood sugar, which can spark mood swings and depression. Feeding the brain figuratively comes from challenging it, so new pathways can develop and grow. Exercising your brain helps enhance your intellectual well-being. Here are four things you can do to ?feed?your brain.
Master an important skill. Give your brain breaks. Dedicate yourself to developing a skill that is important to you and your life. If you are an accountant, are there new regulations you need to know? If you are an artist, do you need to become more adept with a particular medium? We can always learn more and improve what we know. Become the go-to expert on something you are passionate about! Cultivate a new hobby.
As with any sort of exercise, recovery time is needed for the muscles to repair and strengthen. Rest helps prevent excess stress that can happen with overloading. It is important to shut off the brain at times, and that gives you a bit of a mental break as well! Meditating, going to a yoga class, watching a movie, reading a book ? anything that you consider ?mindless?stills the mind and relaxes the brain.
Finding something that sparks your imagination and keeps you engaged with life when all the other things quiet down helps to feed your natural energy levels. You may choose a hobby as complicated as learning a string instrument or as simple as creating a game night with your friends. Whatever it is, it?s something you look forward to that stimulates your mind.. Practice a new mindset. How you see the world is often vastly different than the person standing right next to you. You have experiences, and you make agreements between yourself and your environment. Those experiences and agreements can be inflexible, but if you consciously choose, you can gain new perspectives. Through reading books on subjects that challenge your belief systems, by volunteering with those who suffer from something you?ve never been exposed to, by joining meetups that don?t seemto fit your general lifestyle, you can find a new mindset and open new pathways in 23 your brain.
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