Women Worldwide with Deirdre Breakenridge

Have you been walking your path but feeling like it’s not as good as or “right” like someone else’s? Believe it or not, your path and purpose are yours alone. Your success is dependent upon the things that make you happy. Here to chat about leaving the Jones’s behind in favor of finding your success is Laura Gassner Otting.

Laura is a lawyer and serial entrepreneur who has made a career out of figuring out what makes her happy and then going for it. She is the Chief Catalyzing Officer of her business and helps others to start taking action and find their path. 

There is no right or wrong way to be successful. As you grow and change your values mature and strengthen, your view of success oftentimes morphs as well. Laura says you should lean into those moments and realize that you are right where you are meant to be. 

Too often we shame ourselves for not focusing on one path, but as women, there are so many different entry points and doorways in our lives. From young adulthood, through college, marriage, children, career, etc. women have the luxury of spending their entire lives being given the opportunity to change their path.

Laura gives the absolute best advice to all women on how they can reach their “limitless” and you won’t want to miss it. From the beginning of the episode to the end, her ideas will make you think and take stock of what you think success should be. Listen in and prepare to feel the punch to the face, wrapped in a warm hug.

Show Notes:

  • [01:08] Welcome to another episode of Women Worldwide.
  • [03:37] How do you become a chief catalyzing officer? 
  • [05:11] Why is Laura a “punch wrapped in a warm hug?” 
  • [07:46] What are the takeaways Laura hopes her readers get from her book? 
  • [09:23] Being limitless doesn’t mean you have to make huge strides. It means following your path.
  • [11:26] Learn what holds people back from finding their “limitless.” 
  • [14:23] How does Laura emphasize empathy in the workplace? 
  • [17:45] Laura shares one of the most poignant aha moments in her career.
  • [21:38] ...which led to her becoming a speaker and author. 
  • [24:25] Where does our exhaustion come from and how can you overcome it? 
  • [26:04] Connect with Laura.

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW258.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

These days most people have no intention to stay with a company for more than a couple of years. In fact, if you go into any business class across the nation, you’ll hear the students being encouraged not to stay with a company for more than a few years. Crystal Martinez, however, has climbed the ladder at one company from high school to now. Listen as she shares why she’s stayed, how they’ve built a family, and the challenges she has faced by taking on more responsibility.

When Crystal started at Fieldwork Anywhere she was in high school and had no clue she’d still be there, all these years later. She met her husband and best friend while working there and has managed to climb the proverbial corporate ladder all the way to becoming the President of Fieldwork Webwork. All of this has been made possible by the family-style culture that has been built over the years.

Climbing the corporate ladder has not been without its challenges though. As she’s gained responsibility, she’s had to adjust her relationships within the Fieldwork family. She shares how she’s managed to do that and maintain close friendships with her employees. 

Crystal credits Fieldwork’s values of inclusion and diversity for making it a company she’s wanted to stay with. Rather than keeping her employees in the dark on decisions, she lets them sit at the table. It has been this way since she started and feeling like she’s been a part of the growth of the company has contributed to her lasting investment. 

While it’s less and less common for companies to hold onto their employees, it is possible. Crystal’s story is inspiring for anyone who thinks it is impossible to climb the ladder at one company. You just have to find the right company that will allow you the freedom to do it.

Show Notes:

  • [01:21] Welcome back! We hope you feel empowered to share your challenges with us.
  • [02:45] Joining Deirdre is Crystal Martinez to discuss workplace culture and having people stay.
  • [04:18] When Crystal started with her company, did she intend to stay? 
  • [05:28] What are they doing at Fieldwork to keep people? 
  • [07:10] Do they do anything specific to attract the younger generation? 
  • [08:57] How does Crystal manage the hard conversations while still fostering the feeling of family? 
  • [12:08] Listen as Crystal shares how she incorporates emotional intelligence every day at Fieldwork.
  • [14:44] What are some of the challenges that Crystal faces in her role? 
  • [17:22] Has Crystal had any big AHA moments where she learned something about herself?
  • [20:08] Crystal shares her advice for building teams that want to stay.
  • [23:01] Connect with Crystal.

Links and Resources:

Episode Sponsor: Feel First Test

Direct download: WW257.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Wherever you're communicating, leadership in communication means bringing all thoughts and ideas into a seamless framework; it's the ideal give and take. Valerie Simon is a communications and marketing role model for Atlantic Health System. Listen in as she shares her strategy for building teams and strong communication across a national network with more than 17,000 people.

Valerie knew at a young age that she wanted to be an attorney. Every decision she made as a young person took her steps closer to that goal. She worked multiple jobs, completed unpaid internships, and worked to move the needle toward becoming an attorney.

When she didn’t get into law school she realized that she just wanted to be a voice for people who weren’t being heard. She took all of the experience she’d gained while working to become an attorney and dove into communications.

Listen in as she chats about her story and shares what it has taken to be a C-suite executive as well as a wife and mother. Learn why you have to balance sacrifice in your career and your family in order for both to be healthy, happy, and thriving. 

Show Notes:

  • [01:54] What does it take to be a communications leader today? Learn more from Valerie Simon.
  • [03:31] How did Valerie choose a career in healthcare and communications? 
  • [07:47] Valerie’s unpaid internship helped her realize she wanted to be a voice for people.
  • [11:29] What characteristics does Valerie look for in her team members? 
  • [14:05] How did Valerie manage to get her doctors and team members to be more involved in social media?
  • [17:06] What does being a trusted confidant mean to Valerie? 
  • [20:08] Valerie shares how she manages to be a wife, mom, and C-suite executive.
  • [24:56] How does Valerie manage the stress of the job?
  • [27:05] Learn more about the development process for Valerie’s team.
  • [28:01] Hear about the resources that feed Valerie’s soul.
  • [29:25] Valerie gives a bit of advice for being a great leader. 
  • [30:54] Connect with Valerie.

Links and Resources:

Atlantic Health System

Valerie on Twitter
Valerie on LinkedIn

Episode Sponsor: Routledge Publishing

Direct download: WW256.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Do you tweet? I know that for many of us, Twitter seems to be that platform plagued with controversy and turmoil, but did you know that it can be the backbone of the social media in your business? Samantha Kelly, the Tweeting Goddess, shares her tips and tricks for using Twitter correctly, but also why it is one of the best platforms for building relationships.

Samantha started her entrepreneurial journey at a very tumultuous time in her life. She’d recently lost her father, gone through a divorce, and her daughter was becoming a woman. It was as she was trying to find some information for her daughter that she realized there was a huge gap in the women’s health market. 

She created her first business by building a box of goodies designed for young girls to coach them through those first few milestones of puberty. Samantha quickly learned that successful businesses have strong social media strategies and began studying all about it. This was when she first discovered Twitter. 

Samantha realized she’d found her calling when other entrepreneurs began approaching her to learn more about Twitter and overall strategy on social media. Listen as she discusses going from the Funky Goddess to the Tweeting Goddess and how her life has done a complete 180 at the same time.

Building great business relationships requires work and effort from all parties. Be kind to others and that kindness will come back to you. Samantha is full of wonderful advice that you won’t want to miss. Also check out her book, The Tweeting Goddess Little Book of Twitter Magic for more actionable tips and advice on creating meaningful relationships on social media.

Show Notes:

  • [01:08] Thank you for tuning in, showing up, and shout out to Leah.
  • [03:34] Welcome to the show Samantha Kelly.
  • [04:03] Learn how Samantha became an author, speaker, social media strategist, and Tweeting Goddess.
  • [06:58] How creating a taboo starter box for young girls turned into finding her passion of creating connections.
  • [10:34] From Funky Goddess to Tweeting Goddess, what did that journey look like? 
  • [13:16] What is the big takeaway Samantha hopes her readers find in her book? 
  • [15:31] Why kindness is such an important thing to show to others.
  • [17:54] How does Samantha incorporate emotional intelligence in her work? 
  • [20:11] Samantha shares a few quick tips on how to optimize Twitter.
  • [23:47] What are the challenges and “aha” moments Samantha faces every day? 
  • [26:48] There are a lot of women who can do it all, but why don’t they delegate? 
  • [29:38] Focus on the platform that is working with you. You don’t have to be everywhere.
  • [30:36] Believe in yourself and what you have to offer and you will shine.
  • [32:01] Connect with Samantha.

Links and Resources:

Samantha Kelly

Women’s Inspire Network 

Samantha on Twitter
Samantha on LinkedIn

The Tweeting Goddess Little Book of Twitter Magic by Samantha Kelly

Episode Sponsor: Feel First Test

Direct download: WW255.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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