Alicia Sable-Hunt | Empowering Women to Follow | Exeleon Magazine

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I N - F O C US

ROBIN ALBIN: THE BRASH AND BOLD ENTREPRENEUR I N - F O C US

Interview with Model and Entrepreneur ReShonda Parker

Carrie Colbert A ST O RY O F C O LO R S AND MORE

Alicia Sable-Hunt PAT I E N T - C E N T R I C M O DE L L EA D S TO S U C C E S S

Empo w ering WOMEN TO FOLLOW

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CONTENTS

12 ALICIA SABLE-HUNT

CONTENTS

32 CARRIE COLBERT

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50 AK BROWN

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Cover Story

Alicia Sable-Hunt Patient-Centric Model Leads to Success

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E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

Founder & President Edwards-Hunt Group

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Cover Story

Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship empowers progress, prosperity, and sustainable solutions for social problems. In fact, modern trends show that women are the driving force of entrepreneurial growth — not just in the present but also for the future.

One such powerful woman that dictates her own de inition of business success is Alicia Sable-Hunt. She is the President of Edwards-Hunt Group (EHG) — an organization focused on the development of patientcentered clinical research programs in cancerous and other disease conditions. Additionally, she is also a registered nurse and has invested over 25 years working in the ields of clinical research and nursing.

As an experienced businesswoman, Alicia believes her 'power' stems from knowing herself. “There comes a moment in a woman's life when she looks in the mirror and inally applauds her successes and is no longer ashamed of her failures, identi ies her many strengths and acknowledges her insecurities, feels worthy but is not willing to settle, just yet. At that moment with an overabundance of emotions, I inally felt powerful. The trick is to have more and more of these moments,” she shares.

Speaking on behalf of all entrepreneurs, Alicia feels that everyone is in a perpetual state of achieving their vision and the next milestone — for their customers, employees, investors, and lastly, themselves.

Inspired by this belief, she integrates the same thought into her leadership. Perhaps, the most dif icult lesson she learned was that leadership does not come with the job title.

“Opening a business and donning the title of President, did not make me a leader,” she clari ies. Leadership requires knowledge, experience, humility, empathy, and con idence.

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“Putting patients first in clinical research.”

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Leadership is a state of mind and a way of existence.

MOVING THE NEEDLE IN LIFE SCIENCES SPACE

Alicia had never intentionally set out to become a registered nurse or

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an entrepreneur. In fact, her mother, an optician, co-owned an optical store. “I was working for my mother as the assistant to the eye doctor.

The patients regularly referred to me as the nurse. Simultaneously, my boyfriend's sister was in nursing school,” she fondly recalls.

She credits the universe that had her back and put her in the right place at the right time which resulted in her being accepted to nursing school. “Truthfully, I didn't know what nursing entailed until I was in school.”

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Cover Story

Rise of a High-Powered Entrepreneur While many entrepreneurs indulged in thoughtful experiments throughout their prime years —like starting a lemonade stand, or girl scout cookies sales —it does not hold true for Alicia.

She says, “I grew up with a single, entrepreneurial mother blazing her own pathway before doing so was acceptable to society at large. Creating my own future is the only way I know to exist. Is it nature or. nurture?

No idea and I don't care!”

Soon after, Alicia dipped her toes into the traditional healthcare environment working at a big hospital. She tried to conform to both — society's and her profession's expectations — of a nurse. When that didn't work, she applied to a big pharmaceutical company and was rejected. The supervisor that interviewed her said something to the effect of “You're not going to be happy in this structured environment.

You need to work for yourself.” She recognized an unusual spark about Alicia, one that she wasn't aware of yet.

Later, Alicia turned towards travel nursing, wherein she was in control of her career. She says, “I had the honor of working in some of the best hospital systems and with the best healthcare professionals in America.” This enabled her to grow her clinical research knowledge and make an impact on the oncology population from one patient at a time (in a hospital setting), to a small group of patients receiving new oncology treatments in a single clinical trial, to participating in the clinical trial development process that impacts the entire patient community.

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Taking a trip down memory lane, she recalls two seminal moments in nursing school. The irst was during her irst semester where her clinical instructor accused her of being intellectually lazy and told her to either step up or not return. “I was shocked. To this day I can still feel the fear and subsequent determination to succeed that she instilled in me at that moment. I chose to step up,” she asserts.

The second was during her last semester of nursing school. She shares, “I was a student in the pediatric oncology unit helping to care for a child that received a bone marrow transplant. It was detailed, complicated care that we were providing the child while teaching the parents about the treatment plan. By the end of the shift, I realized that my actions helped someone in need.”

She continues, “For the irst time ever, I understood what it meant to be a nurse. I am still humbled that I had a brief opportunity to be part of that child's and family's experience. I still feel the joy and sense of wonder of caring for that child. It was on this day that my passion, career, and life's journey began. It was on this day that I became Nurse Alicia.”

LAUNCHING HER PASSION PROJECT — EDWARDS-HUNT GROUP

As a young, single woman with a grand idea to create a line of nutrition bars for adult cancer patients, Alicia made the decision to quit her high-pro ile job for a leading nonpro it organization that was founded by a patient determined to cure a little known cancer through patient-directed and patientfunded clinical research.

“I had no plan, no temporary source of income, just an idea and more arrogance than money. When I submitted my resignation to my boss, the CEO and Founder, she elucidated the numerous ways I was failing her

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You don’t need to be less of a woman to be more successful.

organization at a critical time point and my ignorance of what bringing a business idea to fruition entailed,” she recalls.

The Edwards-Hunt Group (EHG) was formed to offer temporary consulting services to her prior employer while they searched for her replacement. So, she quit her job and opened two businesses simultaneously: One to develop a nutrition bar for cancer patients

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and Edwards-Hunt Group.

“My former employer became a client for 7 years and taught me more about building a business than my business school and how to be in service to the patient community than any healthcare setting. I quickly realized that my clinical research work under the Edwards-Hunt Group was an extension of my nursing career and illed me with joy more than

creating a food product. EHG has now been open for 16 years.”

Regardless of where she stands, Alicia holds client satisfaction close to her heart. This also re lects in her company's tagline, “Trusted Clinical Research Operations Professionals.”

She says, “Our clients trust that we will prioritize their project, trust that we know the nuances of the

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Cover Story experience into the clinical study design and still achieve the client's scienti ic end points within the expected timeline and budget.

WEAVING HER WORK INTO HER LIFE

Alicia does not believe in the concept of work-life balance. “This concept escapes me!” she remarks.

There are days where she spends a big chunk of her time simultaneously responding to emails, managing her home renovation, planning a fun weekend getaway, and wondering if she should expand EHG into a new sector or open another business. “I am multitasking in my business and personal lives but don't feel bad for me, I love my life!” she quickly points out.

disease and regulatory environment, and most importantly, trust that we will put the patient irst in the study design and logistics.” Therefore, there is only one rule in her company – The patient comes irst.

This is her mantra, her approach, her process, and all things in between. She constantly asks, “Are we doing right by the patient?” because she believes that she can successfully integrate the patient's

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“I wake up and return to bed at the same time every day. I prioritize my health with exercise, vitamin regime, and a strict diet. I make time to play with my kitten, a Ragdoll named Sky. I have a special date night every two weeks. I attend church services regularly with my family. The continuity of my schedule allows me to sanely manage what others may view as chaos,” she elaborates.

her own world.

On the lip side, she also feels that “Entrepreneurship is very lonely.” It is easy to lose yourself in the development phase, then the launch phase, then the growth phase, rinse and repeat, always de-prioritizing yourself for the sake of the company.

It is important to ind ways to remind yourself why you chose this pathway in life. It's about inding perspective. It's about reconnecting with your passion.

For Alicia, giving back to the patient community through acts of service, by being Nurse Alicia to a patient in need, reconnects her to her “why”.

It reminds her that her company's work is impactful to the patient community, not just to her clients.

“It reinvigorates me and challenges me to do more, better, and faster because there is a patient at the end of every project and program my company develops,” she shares.

THE BEST BUSINESS ADVICE FOR WOMEN

CREATING VALUE FOR OTHERS

Alicia feels that being a woman is a strength. She goes one step further and adds, “You don't need to be less of a woman to be more successful.”

Alicia became a dynamic leader when she realized that femininity is a strength; when she embraced the nurse within her; when she realized that her ultimate goal is to sel lessly serve the patient community; and when she decided to reject society's de inition of success and created

Another piece of sage wisdom Alicia offers: Have an honest

As much as societal norms can take a toll on you, she insists on carving your own way. While this journey will demand a lot of sacri ice to bring your vision to life, she suggests to “never let go of your femininity or your moral compass.”

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conversation with yourself on the de inition of success as a woman and as a business leader. Know that your de inition of success will change with time and experience and, that this is okay.

PLANNING A CLINICAL REVOLUTION

An entrepreneur will always have a set of business goals in their mind to leverage the organization.

According to business needs, these goals may differ. For some, the initial goal will be to get the right resources to kickstart the company; while for others, the goal could be

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to keep the company operating at full capacity, taking care of the revenue and pro its.

Alicia inds herself asking how EHG can be more impactful to the patient community? Her mind is puzzled with questions like: Should I expand upon the Nurse Alicia brand by becoming a nurse practitioner? Will another nursing degree help me be more impactful to my clients and patient community? Should I expand EHG to include direct-to-patient care by opening a brick-and-mortar clinical research center? How can EHG build more effective clinical

research programs for the diseasespeci ic non-pro it sector? Should EHG expand into other phases of drug and device development? Or, should EHG focus on developing and executing larger scale clinical research programs that have greater patient reach? Can I do all these things and if so, how quickly and in what order?

Above all, she is most excited about demonstrating— through her actions, that this female, nurse, entrepreneur is not done working on behalf of the patient community.

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IN – FOCUS

T H E

B R A S H

B O L D

R O B I N A L B I N

A N D

E N T R E P R E N E U R

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ntrepreneurship is a journey full of twists and turns, and for some, like Robin Albin, it's the thrill of unpredictability that drives them to be better.

For Robin, unpredictability is a catalyst for creativity. She thrives on the unknown, using it as a driving force to push her business to new heights.

From her love-hate relationship in the corporate space to her falling in love with branding, from building her own brand to becoming a globally recognized entrepreneur, Robin Albin's journey has been anything but predictable.

In this Interview, Robin discusses her journey, the highs, and the lows, and how instead of resisting on unpredictability, she leaned on it to thrive as an entrepreneur.

What according to you makes one a powerful woman? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

A powerful woman – or for that matter, a powerful man - is someone who is comfortable in her or his own skin. She – or he – doesn't need to be the hero of the story.

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That's why I chose the title “Brand Sherpa”. A Sherpa is someone with terri ic experience. A Sherpa not only charts your path up the mountain, but knows the logistics, tools and resources needed to scale.

Sherpas are focused, resilient, and tough, yet possess a great deal of empathy. A Sherpa is a caretaker – who understands the abilities – and limitations of the entire team.

The role of a Sherpa is to empower and inspire people through courageous and thoughtful leadership. They de ine success by how many climbers they help reach the summit.

Supporting and challenging the team so they become the best. In business, that means having the patience to pause when conditions seem unfavorable. And having the clarity and perspective to keep everyone on-mission.

Talk to us about your growing up years.

What is your earliest memory as a leader / entrepreneur?

Leadership came late to me. I struggled with Imposter's Syndrome for a good part of my early career. Constantly believing that someone – or everyone – would ind out that I was a fraud who couldn't write her way out of a paper bag.

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I came into my own when I became a Creative Director and head of both women's accounts and new biz at a medium size agency. By that time, I was in my 30s.

What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into the branding space?

I have always been something of a MissFit. A square peg in a round hole. And for many years, I struggled trying to follow the rules versus trusting my instincts and ideals.

I've since learned that being an outsider can actually be a huge creative advantage and an inspired form of leadership. It's been my secret sauce and a key ingredient in my personal happiness, creativity, and success.

As a consequence, my entire career has been a series of detours and unpredictable disruptions followed by moments of incredible serendipity. Being in the right place at the right time and open to opportunities that some seem risky. I've become a master of the jig and jag.

For instance, I quit a toxic agency job where I was a VP Creative Director managing a team of 12 with no idea what was next. It turned out great and changed my life.

Less than 2 weeks later, I landed a sweet engagement to form a Skunk Works for a former client which morphed into my irst agency BRASH (an acronym of By Robin Albin and Susan Hunter). We created a virtual model long before the idea existed.

Our job was to once a month bring our client white space business opportunities.

For three years, we brought them ideas for new products, new brands, promotions, and retail store concepts. When the company was bought by P&G, the gig was up. But we had built our agency and reputation. And wherever our former clients went

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afterwards, they called us. As a result, we worked for a who's-who of brands for many years.

During that time, I was ired from one account for being too outspoken aka BRASH. Which led to an introduction to another Skunk Works project this time at Esté e Lauder where I became one of the Founders of the Origins Brand. This role led to tremendous visibility and again changed my life and my career.

Through these experiences I fell madly in love with branding. I love inding the needle in the haystack. The kernel of creativity that will stand out of the sea of sameness. I love solving big hairy challenges, the stumpers and head scratchers that keep clients up at night. And I love inspiring and challenging teams to go beyond their comfort zones.

Talk to us about your agency – Insurgents. What was the idea that led to its start?

After BRASH disbanded (my partner chose to retire), I accepted the “perfect job on paper” as SVP of Conceptual Innovation on the Esté e Lauder brand. Essentially an inhouse entrepreneur charged with creating the future expression of the mothership brand. I knew the players and the politics. I'd been a consultant there for over 25 years. I igured I had less than a 10% chance of succeeding. But what did I have to lose?

While I de initely did not succeed, I learned a ton.

After I left Esté e Lauder, I thought I'd just be a “gun for hire”. But soon found myself competing for projects against some pretty cool and established boutique agencies. I decided to form a band of pirates, essentially BRASH 2.0. And named it INSURGENTS.

I wanted to do an agency my way. I only work on projects I believe in. There has to be

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there, there. I only work on brands that do something good for the world. And I will only work with nice people.

As a serial entrepreneur, what have been some of the biggest learnings for you in this journey?

I believe the messed-up things that happen in life - the stuff you think is going to sink you forever – actually present moments of incredible opportunity.

Here what I learned along the way. Ÿ Don't be afraid to take a baseball bat to the piñ ata. There are some wonderful surprises inside ready to shower you.

Ÿ Fitting in is overrated. It makes a nice corporate PDP (Professional Development Plan) that may get you a small raise and bonus. But having a strong point of view makes you interesting. It creates conversation and causes people to feel something. Beige is boring and it rarely looks good on anyone.

Ÿ Above all, give a shit! Being passionate about your work is the only way to make it successful. If you don't give a shit about the product or the service – the work will likely be shitty. When you fall in love with the work, you develop high standards and will ight for what's right – down to the last detail – even if everyone else thinks that you're absolutely nuts.

Looking at this journey, what would you have done differently

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if you were to start again?

I never had a ive-year plan that said, “travel up this corporate ladder and with the goal of becoming an Executive Creative Director at some advertising agency. And given my 3-year stint in Corporate America, I doubt I would have succeeded.

Despite the relative autonomy my particular role at Esté e Lauder afforded me, I felt sti led. The structure, the politics, the slow pace, the endless meetings, and never-ending No's frustrated me.

And my grumpiness became obvious. So much so that my boss told me in my semi-annual review, “Robin you are not corporate.”

She was 100% right. I am de initely not corporate. Give me freedom to call my own shots. Make my own hours. Binge work then take a break.

I thrive on the networking and the ability to meet new people and do something different every day. The unpredictability excites me.

My greatest accomplishments,

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WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR ASPIRING AND EMERGING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN THE BEAUTY AND LIFESTYLE SPACE?

The world is not waiting for another beauty brand. Today, beauty brands are a dime a dozen. With each new one a slight variation on the previous one. Copycats. Who cares!

Your brand value must go beyond what you do – or make – or sell.

Have an authentic idea and point of view that you are willing to go to the mat for. Ask yourself: “What's not good enough about the status quo?”

Then tell us how you will ix it.

Be able to answer these 5 whys. Why is this a great idea. Why is it unique. Why is now the perfect time for it. Why do you understand the problem better than anyone. And why will it succeed.

insights, and creative efforts have come as a direct result of a disruption to the status quo, of being pushed to think out of the box, quite simply, because the box suddenly disappeared into thin air.

So, I de initely would not do anything differently.

What does a day in the life of Robin Albin look like? How do you ensure worklife balance?

I am a workaholic. I'm up and at my desk generally by 5:00 a.m. 7 days a week with 8 shots of expresso to get me going. That's when I do my

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Make an emotional connection with your audience. What you stand for is what makes you stand out. It drives customer loyalty and trust.

Then execute the bejesus out of it. Vividly. And consistently. At every touch point. In product development, brand experiences, PR, services, web, and store design.

Develop a culture, customs, gestures, behaviors, and idiosyncrasies that are distinctive and truly unique to your brand.

The result will be a beloved brand with the power to burn its way into the hearts and minds of your teams, stakeholders, partners, and customers so they believe what you believe and become diehard evangelists.

best thinking and writing.

But, when an idea strikes – no matter time of day – or situation, it demands immediate attention. I often awaken in the middle of the night with some random epiphany that I must attend to.

As master of my own schedule, and because I frequently work for clients in different time zones, I can duck out 3-4 days a week to do my Cross-Fit class. I'm addicted to it.

And when I can, I sneak in a short afternoon power nap with my 3 dogs.

Finally, what does the future look like for you and your brand?

I want to keep doing what I'm doing. The way I'm doing it. I'm having a great time. I'm meeting fabulous people. I keep moving forward. I'm a big believer in serendipity. I try to always keep myself open to possibilities.

Especially for projects that would seem out of my wheelhouse.

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A S T O R Y O F

COLORS &MORE –CARRIE COLBERT

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n a world where creativity and business often seem to be at odds, Carrie Colbert stands out as a shining example of how the two can seamlessly intersect. A digital in luencer, Carrie has made a name for herself by empowering women to succeed in business and entrepreneurship.

As the founding and general partner at Curate Capital, she is on a mission to provide capital, mentorship, and strategic planning advice to female entrepreneurs and female-driven companies.

Additionally, through her work as a fashion and lifestyle in luencer, Carrie has become known for her bold and vibrant use of color, and she has made it her mission to help other women embrace color and

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express themselves boldly.

With a proven track record of driving results, it's no wonder that Carrie is a sought after speaker, panelist, mentor, and advisor. In this interview, we to learn more about her journey, her passion for empowering women, and how she is using the power of color to inspire and uplift others.

What according to you makes one a powerful woman? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

To me, power begins with a deeply rooted sense of self-awareness.

Knowing who you are and playing to your strengths are two keys to embracing your power.

Beyond that, I may be biased as an investor, but I think being in charge of and knowledgeable about one's inances makes a woman powerful.

I grew up in a very small Texas town where it was impolite to talk about money, which I think is a similar story to many women's upbringings.

When I began working for a rapidly growing energy company, that changed quickly. Hilcorp embraced a very entrepreneurial culture. Two key components of that culture were an open book management style and an ownership mentality.

All employees knew how their actions could impact the bottom line - and thus our own inancial success, because we all had equity in the company. I quickly realized the power of ownership.

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Founding & General Partner Curate Capital

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Though I now work in a completely different industry, I've carried many of those lessons forward in how I run Curate Capital, wherein I share all inancial updates, both good and (heaven forbid) not so good with our internal team and investors.

Transparency is so critical for women to feel more invested, both iguratively and literally, in the outcomes.

Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as a leader?

One of my irst jobs growing up was at the small-town golf course where of course it was predominately men that played day in and day out. Very quickly I learned to speak con idently, upsell at the Pro Shop, and hold my own even when surrounded by those with much more life experience than myself. I think that was one of the irst opportunities for me to learn how to get comfortable with failure, which is an absolutely vital skill as an entrepreneur.

Beyond that, I was always a high performer. I was my high school class valedictorian, the top of my engineering class, an of icer in organizations many times over, and so on and so forth. For me, performance was a way to rise above my meager beginnings.

Your branding uses a lot of vibrant and expressive colors.

What is your association with colors and what it represents?

Yes! I have always loved color! Early on in my career, I succumbed to the

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workplace norms to wear (in my mind) boring neutrals. But soon thereafter, I learned to embrace my individuality and express my personality via my style selections.

On Instagram I coined the hashtag #MoreColorPlease because I truly believe surrounding yourself with vibrancy and positive energy is the only way to live your life. It sounds corny, but something as simple as slipping on a bright pink dress or rainbow sweater can totally turn my day around.

From a business perspective, it was super important to me when launching Curate Capital to use color and bold branding as a way to stand out from the crowd. At the time, just a few short years ago, the sea of venture capital irms was pretty monochromatic. VC websites all had very conservative, traditional colors and branding.

Navy blue was everywhere! So, my branding was an opportunity to set ourselves apart from the very irst impression!

From spending almost two decades in the corporate sector to starting a venture capital fund that supports and empowers women entrepreneurs. What has been the journey like for you?

It's been a rollercoaster, that's for sure. Up until the point that I started Curate Capital, I had really been very blessed to see a steady positive progression in my career. I rose in the ranks at an oil and gas company, I “retired” and grew an Instagram following and in luencer status, and then as more and more female founders were approaching

me on social media with their incredible investment opportunities, I realized I had to do more.

Little did I know that I would hear more “no's” in my irst fundraise with Curate than ever before in my life. There were tears of frustration and joy, moments of fear and triumph, and in the end, we were just ecstatic to surpass our initial goal of $10 Million by 50%! Our portfolio companies are each thriving as they grow at their own paces, and we believe so strongly in the women behind them.

While my professional experience may seem really disjointed, it's actually not. Experience teaches us lessons all the time if we are open to learning. In hindsight, I can look back and connect all the dots. No experience is lost or wasted. It has all contributed to what I'm doing now - which I consider to be my professional sweet spot, the culmination of many years of hard work.

Looking at this journey, if you were to start again, what would you do differently?

Technically speaking there are a few details of structuring a venture capital fund that I would probably do differently, but those were lessons I had to learn the hard way.

Overall, I can honestly look back and say that every moment in my life has led me to where I am today.

My husband and I are raising two phenomenal children while I grow Curate Capital, and while it's wildly busy and chaotic at times, I

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Finally, talk to us about the impact of Curate Capital, not only in terms of supporting womenowned businesses but also how it is increasing awareness about the untapped potential of this market.

We're extremely unique in the sense that 80% of our investors are women, and the vast majority are individual investors, not giant private equity irms or inancial institutions. We've also seen that our investors are primarily from Texas and the Midwest, whereas most venture capital dollars are coming from the East or West Coast, as you might imagine. I think all that data supports our gut feeling that Curate Capital is opening the eyes of a whole new demographic and generation of women who want to put their money where their mission is, so to speak.

wouldn't change a thing. I'm grateful for the chance to craft a life I love.

As an entrepreneur, speaker, in luencer, and mother, what does a day in the life of Carrie Colbert look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?

Well, while there are certainly times of chaos, I'd say age has taught me to iercely ilter through opportunities. I don't try to be all

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things to all people. I'm very clear on my priorities during this season of life. My priorities are (1) taking care of myself, (2) taking care of my children, and (3) building my business. Any invitations or opportunities that come my way have to bene it one of these three priorities - or it's a no for me. A different season of life may look differently. But for now, my focus on these three things is of utmost importance to me.

If no one else is going to invest in female founders, of course it's going to be our fellow women! We know for a fact that companies led by women outperform their male counterparts, so we're not only creating a movement, but we're also making excellent business decisions as well. And the best part is, the sky's the limit!

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Cornerstones of a Positive Work Culture Having a positive work culture is one of the key aspects of a successful and productive organization. Here, Nina Vaca, the Founder of Pinnacle Group, shares the secrets behind the same.

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hen I founded Pinnacle Group, I set out to create a place where people wanted to come to work, where our associates would be supported in all areas, and, as a result, would never want to leave.

I truly believe the most important thing you can provide for someone is a job. We’ve seen tremendous growth over the years as some of our interns have become trusted associates and later executives while other associates have changed roles, developed new skills, and truly driven their careers forward. On the personal front, we’ve seen so many of our associates start families, buy houses, and truly flourish in all aspects of their lives while working at Pinnacle Group.

Witnessing these stories is by far the most rewarding part of what I do. As we’ve grown over the years, I have worked diligently to preserve and develop our culture — a culture that is focused on putting people first. It has made all the difference and is one of the cornerstones of Pinnacle Group’s enduring success. Culture starts at the top, so I take my responsibilities as keeper of our culture very seriously. The power of the silent example cannot be overstated in both business and life.

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Central to maintaining our unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit and family feel is to create an environment where no work is beneath anyone. We maintain a fairly flat corporate structure, meaning that anyone can jump in and perform any task that needs doing. I say it all the time and I truly mean it — if I need to grab a broom and sweep, then get me the broom!

There’s an old saying that if you take care of your employees, they will take care of your customers. We embrace that idea at Pinnacle Group and make sure that we integrate the wellness and career development of our associates into our business model. This is what differentiates us from many other companies and allows us to attract and retain the best talent.

Our people-first approach manifests itself in so many ways, from customary health and financial benefits, to fun things like theme weeks and contests, to health fairs and wellness activities, to training opportunities and so on. One thing that may sound frivolous, but we find is so important and appreciated, is our snacks. It’s hard to top Pinnacle’s snack game! While that might seem silly, it’s a fact that people work better and feel happier when they are well-fed, and it shows how much we value our team

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We want our associates to be lifelong learners, so we put a lot of time, energy, and financial resources into training and helping grow their careers. While I’m the entrepreneur that started Pinnacle Group, everyone at our company can be an entrepreneur (sometimes called an “intrapreneur”). Part of being an entrepreneur within a company is growing and developing yourself. To help with this, Pinnacle provides many different resources, from in-house training, to an online platform associates can use to access thousands of online courses, to industry certifications, to training programs, to college tuition reimbursement. There is no ceiling to anyone’s opportunity for growth and development if they are motivated to take advantage of the resources we provide!

members when we listen to what they like and adapt to provide it.

Although snacks are fun to talk about, you could have a well-fed workforce that accomplishes very little if you’re not investing in the future of work as well. We invest in technology to automate as much of our routine tasks as possible. This allows our associates to focus their creativity and judgment on solving problems and growing their part of the business. When people’s days aren’t taken up with mundane tasks, they are free to use the talents and skills for which they were hired in the first place, like creativity, service, and entrepreneurial drive.

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ime and t e h t l l a t I say i need to I f i — t i n a I truly me weep, s d n a m oo grab a br e broom! h t e m t e then g

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To thrive and help the company thrive, employees need a strong, inclusive, positive work culture. They need an environment that allows them to develop a sense of ownership in the work they produce and in the organization as a whole. That entrepreneurial attitude permeates our company. We want everyone to feel a sense of ownership. Some associates really feel that way because it was their original idea that got us involved in the part of the business that they run, or it was their outside-the-box thinking that helped us leap over a hurdle that was in the way. And our associates know that each of them may be the next person with a great idea or a great fix for a problem we are facing. When associates feel empowered to take chances, innovate, and constantly seek improvement, the entire company flourishes.

One key element to our success is that we work with our associates and put them first. We understand that each person has a set of unique needs and skills, and we work together to find how these can best be addressed and utilized. Because, in the end, we are all a part of the same mission. And we listen to our associates as they work closely with our customers. If a customer has a problem that needs to be solved, our associates are the ones who hear about it first. So, everyone at Pinnacle is in constant communication with both the customers and other team members to make sure that everyone is heard, and every potential problem is solved quickly and efficiently. We pride ourselves on our responsiveness, agility, and creativity.

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IN – FOCUS But none of this would work if we weren’t hiring the right people from the start. Indeed, finding people that fit your company culture is one of the most important and difficult things to do. We have a rigorous hiring process that doesn’t just consider technical skills and accomplishments (though, those are important), but takes into account culture fit and attitude. Is the candidate driven to be excellent at what they do? Can they move at the pace of our fast growth? Do they have a sense of humor? Are they a lifetime learner? We consider all of these factors when bringing someone on board at Pinnacle. Like I said, we want to be a place that no one wants to leave, and, on the flip side of that, we bring in people that we’d like to be here for a long time, too.

Today, I can proudly say that Pinnacle Group is a company whose work culture radiates innovation, entrepreneurship, and appreciation for our staff. This extends beyond the HR department and is carried throughout the organization by leaders at all levels. We are committed to preserving and promoting our culture throughout the company. We focus on it and invest in it.

Our executive team places a high value on making sure that everyone believes in and contributes to a positive culture.

Diversity in the workforce is another of Pinnacle’s values and one of the cornerstones of our success. We are a certified-minority- and women-owned business committed to seeking talent from all backgrounds while developing a robust and diverse supply chain. And when

I say “diversity,” I mean it in every sense of the word.

This includes diversity of thought, diversity of experience, and diversity of background.

We hire successful and talented people from within our industry, but we also look for people who are excelling in other fields, whether that is technology, HR, legal, project management, or any other field where we find excellent talent. Our workforce is also incredibly diverse in another sense: over 65% of our corporate employees are women and 40% are minorities. They come from over a dozen countries and all over the United States.

Why do we spread such a wide net when looking for talent? Because we are in the business of providing and managing top talent in a rapidly changing business environment in which new technologies are released on a daily basis. We have to stay ahead of the game at all levels, and we need the best people in every single role.

We continue to grow year-over-year, and I sincerely believe that our success can be credited first and foremost to our dynamic and hard-working team.

Of course, every company is different and will thus need its own carefully-crafted culture. But in any industry, it’s important to remember that company values and philosophies significantly impact the way employees think, act, and perform — and that all starts from the top.

Originally Published in Medium

Author Bio Nina Vaca is the Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Group, a leading global workforce solutions provider. In addition to her business leadership, Vaca is also a civic leader and philanthropist, working relentlessly to expand opportunities for minorities and women in business and for women and girls in STEM fields. Her dynamic leadership over the past 22 years has propelled the company from a niche IT services firm to the workforce solutions powerhouse it is today.

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Alliso n Wals—h

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DRIVING d e h c t a m Un RESULTS L

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eadership is a unique and multifaceted blend that inspires and fuels progress.

At the forefront of this dynamic force are leaders who drive results, the catalysts of change who infuse their teams with purpose and determination.

Allison Walsh is an example of a powerful leader who knows how to drive results to ensure optimal client satisfaction. In this Exclusive Interview with personal brand and business coach – Allison Walsh shares about her journey and ideas of entrepreneurship.

What according to you makes one a powerful woman? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

A powerful woman is ALL WOMEN ALL THE TIME. The Most powerful woman, though, is one that sees her passion and her craft through to happiness and success. The Most powerful woman prioritizes her needs and her goals and makes them happen! I hold myself accountable and teach all of my clients

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the importance of happiness and passion in success, and how it takes action in order to achieve it all.

What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into the consulting and coaching space?

I started as Miss Florida in 2006 and quickly realized that I have been able to ind success in many things that I do. After gaining that title for myself, I knew I wanted to help others achieve amazing results pursuing their goals because I am a huge fan of both personal and professional development.

I had a few clients that I was working with, but it wasn't until 2009 that I jumped in and started treating the company as a priority. My irst business was truly born during the recession because I needed to igure out how to help us dig ourselves out of the hole that we were in as a result of my husband losing his job.

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I knew I had experiences that I could share and that there were clients who wanted to learn what I had to offer, so I igured out a pricing structure and started hustling. They were getting great results and word of mouth referrals were coming in. I knew it had even greater potential and so I decided to partner with a dear friend to expand the business, which was such an incredible experience.

In 2015, I returned to a solo practice and evolved what I offered to reach a new clientele. Fast forward to 2021, and my niche has continued to evolve as I have. In addition to running my own business, I've built other very successful businesses along the way. Consulting has always provided so much joy and I am eternally grateful to the amazing clients I've had the chance to work with.

What is the approach followed by you when offering your services to ensure optimal client satisfaction?

I am constantly evolving, growing, and learning. Everything I've ever done or experienced that's moved the needle is incorporated in my training and work.

I've seen a lot of coaches pull back and not share, at the risk of over-sharing and not having anything new to sell. I'm the opposite and a complete open book.

I also know how to drive results, and always give 110% to my clients. If I can't provide what someone needs, I will refer them out. To me, results are what matter and if I am not the woman for the job, I'll connect you with someone who is and cheer you on as you chase your next goal.

What does a day in the life of Allison Walsh look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?

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4:30 AM: Rise and shine, meditate, light exercise and journaling.

5:15 AM: Working on a passion project or something that lights me up and ills up my cup.

7:00 AM: Getting my 3 kids ready for school.

8:00 AM: One-on-one coaching sessions with my clients 9:00 AM: Team meetings and one-onones with my team 12:00 PM: Lunch, meetings and reprioritizing the afternoon to ensure deliverables are able to be completed.

3:00 PM: Grabbing a snack, meetings and praying that my kids don't zoom bomb any videos calls (which happens at least once a week).

7:00 PM: Doing the dance mom shuf le, picking up and dropping off, and getting my little guy ready for bed.

9:00 PM: Fast asleep. I'm an early to bed, early to rise kinda gal.

Balancing work and life are extremely hard, as I'm sure most of the FemFounder readers know! One of the main ways that I work to ind balance is by knowing and understanding what is in alignment with my goals. This is both professionally and personally. When I understand and acknowledge what is working with me, instead of additional work, I am able to cut what does not serve me and focus on what does. I focus on integration and alignment over balance.

Looking back at your journey, what would you have done differently when starting out?

Stop overthinking and just go for it. I learned so much when things didn't go right and one of the biggest lessons is that procrastination, especially around launching something new, will never result in sales (it only delays progress).

I got in my own way, more ways than I care to share but now I've adopted the mentality that it's better to put things out there than to talk myself out of doing what I know I need to do.

What would be your advice for women entrepreneurs in today's work environment?

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Finally, recommend / mention one thing in each of this category: One Book Entrepreneurs must read: Scale of Fail by Allison Maslan

One Productivity Tool that everyone should use: Jasper.ai One Mobile App that you use the most: Instagram.

One Movie / Show that you would recommend: Schitt's Creek

One Quote that Motivates you the Most: “The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.” Oprah Winfrey

One Investment Advice that you Follow: Hire an experienced advisor to help you.

I see way too many women with brilliant ideas fail at execution - not because they weren't capable - but because they allowed their excuses to be way louder than their WHY. Once you lay out a plan for what you want to do and why you want to do it, the most important and critical step is HOW. You grow stronger, more resilient, and more capable each and every day as an entrepreneur, and I promise you will be so impressed

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with your results if you commit to your “why” and “How” and stay crystal clear on your vision.

What does the future look like for you and your brand? What are you most excited about?

This year will allow me to cross an exciting goal off my list as my irst book will be out this Fall! I've dreamed of this opportunity since I was a teenager, so I'm thrilled that it's coming to fruition.

I am also really excited to continue speaking and contributing, and I've also looking forward to my company scaling. Our methods and approach work, and not only am I excited to work with new clients, I am excited to bring new coaches into the company to help us scale.

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EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

INTERVIEW WITH

CEO OF BRIDGE YOUR STYLE Please tell us a little bit to introduce yourself and your company Bridge Your Style.

I refer to myself as a seasoned professional. In addition to having an expansive family, that I love, I have built a career based on relationships. My early days in sales nurtured my love of fashion which inspired me to launch Bridge Your Style. The essence of my brand is to ensure that women feel con ident regardless of where they are going; I say from carpool line to cocktails. Your wardrobe can be your armor of con idence or an expression of that con idence shining through. I prepare my clients for what they need on any given day.

What according to you makes one a powerful woman? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

Power comes from con idence. When a person feels con ident, they carry themselves in a certain way, they engage with people, and they

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have the courage to take on new things. I believe that con idence is an important ingredient in leadership.

I work with a lot of powerful women leaders. We curate a wardrobe that supports their con idence and style in any aspect of their lifestyle. We inspire one another and my leadership style

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grows out of my experience and what I learn as this journey continues.

What was the idea that led to the start of Bridge Your Style?

The designer collections that I carry represent some of the highest quality fashions that will take you from the workplace to the weekend.

Before I launched Bridge Your Style, I realized that my reputation was closely aligned with working women and an assumption in the marketplace that I only carried working wear.

Bridge Your Style is a promise to my clients and community, that we can build a wardrobe that is tailored to their personal style regardless of

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their lifestyle. I want my clients to have the con idence that we will build a wardrobe over time that will support them in every aspect of their life. It will include elements that are on-trend and integrate timeless pieces that never go out of style.

What does a day in the life for you look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?

There is no blueprint for my day, and for the record, I don't believe in work-life balance. I am fortunate that I created a career that I love, so it does not feel like work. However, I have to protect my wellbeing, so I will strategically block my calendar for dinners with my husband, babysitting opportunities with my grandbabies, time with girlfriends, and to travel.

Regarding the average workday, it varies by season. As a new collection is rolling out, I gather as much information as I can about the pieces. I begin to mentally pull pieces for clients as I know they will it into their wardrobe, or for an upcoming event they told me about.

This time is very client focused.

When the I have the trunk shows in residence, my days are a lurry of private appointments. I love these times with my clients because I get up to date on their lives, learn about new adventures, or just enjoy a glass of wine with them.

In other times of the year, I network feverishly. I love meeting new women, hearing about their journeys, and inding new causes that I can support. A big part of my

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business that I have not mentioned, is our charitable work. In connection with my larger sales and appearances, I donate a portion of the proceeds to a charity or cause.

As a female entrepreneur, what have been the journey like for you? If you were to start again, what would you do differently?

As a 'seasoned' professional, my journey started when women did not have as many options as they do today. Up until the Women's Business Ownership Act in 1988, women were not able to get a business loan without a male cosigner. Thankfully, that has changed.

Today, social media, affordable digital advertising, and SaaS based business tools have made starting a business so much easier. But don't be fooled, keeping a business running and growing takes a lot of work. If I were starting out today, I would do things differently. I would become an entrepreneur much earlier, if not from the start. It's not easier but there is much more lexibility.

What would be your advice for women entrepreneurs struggling to take that leap of faith in starting their own business?

experience, and I think this holds true across the board, invest in building relationships. The number of overnight successes or venture capital unicorns is extraordinarily rare. Diligently search for networking opportunities and begin to religious engage in them with a purpose.

Find people who are growing their companies and collaborate. Find people who have some success on their resume and ask them for advice or to serve on an Advisory Board. It takes time and diligence, but you do not have to be alone.

Finally, what does the future look like for you and Bridge Your Style?

We all recently went through incredible changes, both personally and professionally. We had to revisit our business and how we deliver services. I am optimistic because my business model is very aligned with how more and more women want to shop. However, I believe that my continued success will be gained not because I sell products but because I sell a concierge service that builds con idence.

Con idence never goes out of style.

Have a plan; not the type of business plan that sits in a binder on the shelf but rather a plan around how to introduce the company to the target audience.

Also have a plan that will keep you inancial stable for a 6-12 month, depending on your net receivables.

In the lines of business that I have

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fashion onnector C 50

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AK BROWN IS A SEASONED FASHIONPRENEUR WHO IS USING HER JOURNEY TO GUIDE AND INSPIRE FASHION BRANDS AND CREATIVES IN DEFINING THEIR SUCCESS IN THE INDUSTRY. READ HER FULL INTERVIEW WITH EXELEON MAGAZINE, WHERE SHE TALKS ABOUT HER JOURNEY AND THE FASHION INDUSTRY.

What according to you makes one a powerful woman? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

I believe power comes with true genuineness and authenticity.

Essentially, there's no way to act or look powerful, but more so being authentic in your actions and what you set to put out into the world.

For me, my power comes from my determination and my circle knowing if I say I'm going to do something or manifest something, then it's going to happen.

I think, especially with women, we are told we have to be tough, and almost mean in order to be taken seriously as a leader (I think of it as the Miranda Priesley act in The Devi; Wears Prada). I'm not a rude person, I'm not a mean person, and I am more of an empath than people realize. I refuse to implement scare tactics into my leadership that contribute to the toxicity of the fashion industry we so desperately need to get away from.

Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as a leader?

Highschool, senior year to be exact as I was one of the cheerleading

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captions and was the year I really started to come out of my shell. Fast forward to college where I was the student council president and really got involved in the fashion scene there, and that may be why I am now back as an adjunct professor.

What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into the fashion space?

Fashion for me was second nature, growing up with a mother and several aunts and cousins who either had the same interests as me or nurtured my interest. As I moved along in my degree and early on in my career, I realized that fashion can, should, and is meant to be inclusive.

There's a way for everyone to participate in fashion and make it their own, and I'm someone that doesn't necessarily like to “follow the rules”. So being able to create what my version of what fashion was is how I really developed what my brand is today.

As a fashionpreneur, how are you helping people ind clarity and direction in the industry?

One example of this is really promoting the “fashion expert” and move away from the in luencer culture. I believe social media has forced many of us to become the content creators and in luencers we don't want to be, and many of us have a wealth of knowledge in so many different niches in fashion.

We need more experts that can share their knowledge and experience, even when the day

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comes that social media is not bene icial to us anymore, and this is one of the areas I focus on when I work with multifaceted fashionpreneurs.

What does a day in the life of AK Brown look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?

Each day is different because of everything I am involved in. A lot of my days consist of meetings and consultations, as well as lecture series and panel events. Some days may consist of creating content for my magazine, and some days consist of blogging on my website. I learned after getting my master's that I need at least 2 days to myself and my daughter. Sundays usually are my clean up days and relaxation days, and Mondays are my “let's get organized” days.

Looking at your journey as an entrepreneur, what would you have differently if you were to start again?

The only thing I would do differently, or change is building my presence outside of St. Louis sooner. Part of my brand is to bring visibility to the wonderful things happening in St. Louis' fashion industry, but my fear held me back from traveling early on or making connections outside of my city, and I now know how bene icial it could have been for my efforts and bigger goal.

Sustainability and entering into the digital second world. Sustainability is something that you'll see come down the pipeline as bills and laws, something that should have been done years ago. I think this will eventually weed out what we know of as fast fashion. If there's a certain level of ethics, backed by law, put into place on really, how cheap a piece of clothing can be made, the price will go up and it will take longer to make.

With AI technology, you now have the capabilities to try on fashion and even wear fashion in another world. There are also other ways besides the classic factory to make clothes, which circles back around to the idea of fashion being inclusive and giving other designers and brands opportunities to create product in a way that makes sense for them.

Finally, what does the future look like for you and your brand?

What are you most excited about?

I sometimes don't like to speak of the future because, as we know, the future is unpredictable, but I am hoping my future includes the growth and progression of my studio brand and non-pro it, as well as continuing to be seen as The Fashion Connector that I am.

Whatever the future holds, I just hope fashion is involved.

With new technologies and innovations entering the market, what do you think is the future of the fashion industry?

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Interview with Model & Entrepreneur

ReShonda

Parker

Can you please introduce yourself and your background as a woman entrepreneur.

Hi! Mt name is ReShonda and I am a 45 year young mother of 3 beautiful children ages 24, 19 and 11!

I have been a professional fashion model for 20 plus years now. I also create one of a kind and custom jewelry pieces and I've been a vendor at an open-air market for 6 years now.

The name of my jewelry business is " Sugar"!

I also enjoy cosplay modeling where I become different characters from X- Men's Storm to Morticia Addams! I've always been a creative and because I have a background in fashion as well, I create costumes. I have always loved jewelry and decided to start my own business back in 2012. It was so amazing to see people get excited about my work and even more exciting to see them wear my pieces!

Talk to us about your brand. What is the nature of your service or solution?

My business " Sugar " is an accessory business where I create quirky, fun, classy, one of a

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kind pieces that speak to the wearer.

Being a woman entrepreneur, what are some of the biggest challenges that you faced in your journey?

One of the challenges I faced was not so much being a woman as it was competing with big chain stores that people already knew about. It was a little dif icult starting out because not everyone will see your vision, but I put in a lot of work to get my name out there. Also sometimes being a woman, people may not take you seriously.

You have to just show them different.

What according to you makes one an empowering woman?

A woman who stays true to self and doesn't allow others to sway her from her dreams. Someone who has been through many struggles and at the end of it still stands. A woman who lives by example, relies on God, and doesn't give up when things get hard.

What would be your advice for aspiring and emerging women entrepreneurs?

Follow your heart and chase your dreams.

Give it your all and do what you love. It'll never feel like work. I also say do your research, never stop learning. And pray often.

Where do you see your business or your brand in the near future?

I see myself doing bigger things with my modeling because I enjoy networking at all my events. I want to start an organization to help young girls and women do what they are passionate about and to never stop striving to be their best. I also want my jewelry to be in those big stores I use to look in for jewelry!

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