Americas Women Magazine - Tania Luna

We Support Diversity and Gender Equality – An Issue Greater Than Just “Equal Pay in the Workplace”

The story behind Miami Women Magazine and Website has always been to empower, inspire and support women in our local communities and the workplace.

We believe in diversity and gender equality, equal pay for equal work and believe that no woman should have to be in fear of harassment or assault in her community or workplace.

Women have made unquestionable advances — from American boardrooms and courts of law, to political and sports arenas — but inequality remains,  especially in poor or rural areas. By simply being inclusive of an equitable number of women in an organization, it has availed itself of a larger talent pool, increased its attractiveness to potential talent, increased its ability to retain talent and has brought an insightful eye to market to potential users and clients of the organization’s products or services.

While outcomes of equality in the workplace should be achievable equally among genders, these outcomes may not necessarily be the same for all. Still, it’s essential to advance the trend of acceptance and advancement in gender equality to ensure that access and enjoyment of the same rewards, resources and opportunities are available to all. This includes freedom from gender discrimination and its stereotypes, pregnancy and parenting, freedom from discrimination in fields of employment where women have traditionally been excluded or discouraged and the systemic undervaluing of work traditionally performed by women.

Workplaces need to provide equal opportunities and pay for equal work; there is no justifiable reason based on gender not to do so. There should never be limits to the equal participation of women in the workforce. All should have access to all positions and industries; including leadership roles regardless of gender.

Women represent nearly half of the U.S. workforce and the number of women in politics is increasing rapidly. At some point in their career, one in four women has been subjected to harassment at work. Management has a responsibility to ensure they act early to both identify and stop harassment, but unfortunately, in many companies, occurrences are often ignored. If there are signs of harassment taking place within the workplace– no matter how big or small – it should be rectified immediately, and preventative processes reevaluated to avert such occurrences from happening again. Organizations have a responsibility to maintain an environment that is free of sexual harassment.

Today we are asking that our communities’most prominent workplaces and community organizations take a step to join Miami Women Magazine and its website to advocate for respectful, fair and digni-fied treatment of women.

Thank You

Rich Borell Founder & Publisher

Americas WOMEN

magazine

Founder & CEO Rich Borell

CONTENTS

She Has Built Multiple Companies, Including LifeLabs Learning, a Leadership Development Resource That Serves Thousands of the World's Most Influential Companies

TANIA LUNA

Special Feature WOMEN IN HISTORY

Women are PuttingIntelligencein Artificial lntellegence

Americas Women Magazine LLCpublishes city editions in select cities throughoutthe United States. Reproduction in whole or in part of anytextorphotographs withoutthe writtenpermission fromthe Publisher isstrictlyprohibited.The Americas Women MagazineLLCCity Editionsare not responsible forunsolicitedmanuscripts, artwork, or photographs.The opinionsexpressed in Americas Women Magazine LLCCity Editions areof the authorsanddo notnecessarilyreflect the viewsof Managementor Owners.The Americas Women Magazine LLCCity Editions assumesno responsibility orliabilityforclaims madebyadvertisers in anycityedition magazine.All rightsreserved. Publishersand/or Advertiser shall beheldblameless foranyandallpricing errors, along withanyexpireddates, typingerrorsor trademark infringements.If anyerrorsare found, we will correctthem whenbrought along withanyexpireddates, typingerrorsor trademark infringements. If anyerrors are found, we will correctthem whenbrought to our attention within 72 hours. For advertisingandeditorialinquires, contactusat info@americaswomenmagazine.

Empowering Women in Government Meet Pamela H. Richards, Newly

Elected President of Federally Employed Women

Q: First, congratulations on being elected President of FEW. For those in our audience not familiar with Federally Employed Women, can you tell us about the organization?

PR: Thanks to you and Americas Woman Magazine for the congratulations and allowing me to share.

FEW is a private non-profit advocacy organization working for the advancement of women in the government. FEW was founded in 1968 shortly after the government issued Executive Order 11375 which added sex-discrimination to the list of prohibited discrimination within the Federal Government.

Q: Can you share with us some of the accomplishments FEW has made over the years?

PR: FEW recently enacted a new membership category:

Associate Membership for college students and young professionals just getting started in their careers. It allows them to access many of the member benefits and learn what it means to be a Federal employee in the U.S.

FEW has championed several pieces of legislation benefitting the American people:

The Speak Out Act which prevents the enforcement of non-disclosure agreements in cases of sexual assault and harassment, the Pregnant Worker’s Fairness Act allowing reasonable accommodations for pregnant women, and the Fair Labor Standards Act enabling breast feeding protections for nursing mothers. FEW’s Legislative Scorecard informs our members about recently passed or pending legislation affecting us as Federal workers or as women; we also provide tools for anyone to access and communicate with their elected members of Congress. Our legislative

advocate represents us and our interests on Capitol Hill.

While we are committed to fighting for Equal Rights, Pay Equity, and universal Paid Parental leave there is still a lot of work to do in those areas.

We recently encouraged Congress to create a permanent bipartisan solution to the yearly threat of government shutdowns.

Our monthly webinars and annual National Training Program give stakeholders the tools they need to be empowered and advocate for themselves, while also building skills in critical executive core qualifications.

We are also proud of our annual STEM Day Program to support

the next generation of leaders and the FEW Mentoring Program, supporting aspiring leaders.

Q: Is FEW open to the public and are you accepting you members?

PR: Yes, we welcome anyone who believes in the mission and vision of FEW. Diversity is important to us; the more inclusive we can be, the stronger our organization will become.

Q: Tell us why you decided to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice.

PR: I had two uncles who served in the military; from a young child I dreamed of being a police officer and a soldier. I did both when I enlisted in the U.S. Army as a military police officer. A strong network of other women in the military encouraged me to get my college degree while I was serving overseas in Europe. Criminal justice was a natural fit for me.

Q: At the start of your career, what do you wish you had known?

PR: I wish I had known about Federally Employed Women sooner. I also wish I had understood the importance of having both a mentor and a career champion. It is helpful to have someone coach you and help boost you to the next level.

Q: What is one word of advice you can offer to young women who want to reach your level of success?

PR: Be a woman of your word so your reputation and work ethic create a path for you.

Q: What’s your advice for women in male-dominated fields?

PR: Roll up your sleeves and get to work. Do not shy away from leadership opportunities and take up enough space to make your presence known. Speak up for yourself and others; sometimes you will be given opportunities to do so. Other times, you will have to create those opportunities for yourself. Mirror alpha energy with alpha energy; do not back down, especially when you know you are right.

Q: Which woman inspires you and why?

PR: There are women in almost every historical era who inspire me. However, Sojourner Truth, a former slave, abolitionist, and suffragist greatly inspires me. Her strong personality and charisma stole the show at the Women’s Convention of 1851. She wasn’t on the agenda to speak but was given a platform; she ended up wowing the crowd with her passionate “Ain’t I A Woman?” speech. Her words still ring true today.

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work life balance?

PR: I have a strong team; I delegate projects in their areas of expertise and allow them to shine in those areas. This frees me up to focus on more of the strategic thinking and planning. Although my team is a high performing one, we work hard to build a family atmosphere where we care for and support one another. When I need time to handle personal matters, I know I can rely on the team; likewise, each of them knows I am here for them and support them when they need time away from the work. It is also important to love what you do and remember the reasons why you signed up for the job. Keeping my personal mission and sense of purpose in the forefront helps me prioritize what is important.

Women are Putting Intelligence in Artificial Intelligence

Women have played a significant role in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), although their representation has been historically limited. Over the years, efforts have been made to encourage more women to pursue careers in AI, and their contributions have become increasingly recognized and valued.

In the early days of AI, women made notable contributions, such as Ada Lovelace, who is considered the world’s first programmer. However, as the field developed and gained prominence, the number of women involved declined. This decline can be attributed to numerous factors, including societal norms, gender biases, and limited opportunities for women in STEM fields.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion in AI. Research has shown that diverse teams lead to more innovative solutions and better outcomes. Consequently, there has been a concerted effort to increase the representation of women in AI.

Organizations and initiatives have been established to support and empower women in AI. These include conferences, workshops, and mentorship programs specifically designed for women. They provide platforms for networking, skill development, and knowledge sharing, helping to bridge the gender gap in the field. Women have excelled in various domains within AI. They have contributed to machine

learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics, among others. Their expertise has led to advancements in areas such as healthcare, finance, and social sciences.

Additionally, women have been influential in addressing bias and ethics in AI. They have raised awareness about the potential dangers of biased algorithms and have advocated for the responsible development and deployment of AI systems. Their perspectives have been instrumental in shaping policies and guidelines to ensure AI technologies are fair, transparent, and accountable.

Despite progress, gender disparities still exist in AI. Women continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions and face challenges such as implicit biases, gender stereotypes, and worklife balance issues. Ongoing efforts are needed to create an inclusive environment where women can thrive and contribute fully to the field.

In conclusion, women have made significant contributions to AI throughout its history, from Ada Lovelace to present-day experts. Efforts to increase gender diversity in the field have resulted in more women pursuing careers in AI, and their contributions have proven invaluable. However, continued efforts are required to promote inclusivity, address gender disparities, and ensure that women have equal opportunities to shape the future of AI.

What is Femtech?

Brief History

Femtech is a health and software movement started by a group of women who wanted to make better digital products for women.

Founded by Ida Tin, her goal was to create technology that would serve the needs of their gender, and Femtech has since grown into an industry with billions of dollars in revenue.

Meaning and Importance of Femtech Femtech is a large tech industry that helps women in different ways. The industry is helping to empower women’s health by working with doctors and others from the medical field to create more effective solutions that help women manage their health issues more efficiently.

These ways include:

Better Birth control: Femtech companies are developing better birth control. Glow is a period-tracker and fertility app that notifies women when they are fertile based on their cycle, so they know when to have sex.

Lighter Periods: The moon cup is a reusable menstrual cup that gives a woman more freedom and privacy during her period. She doesn’t have to worry about leaking pads or tampons because she can wear them to swim, work out, and run around without feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable.

Better Flexibility: Fundtech is flexible to women’s varying schedules and lifestyles. They create apps that are compatible with a woman’s schedule, and they offer an easier way to deal with health issues.

Better Medicine: Femtech is also helping women and doctors work together to create better medicine. Femtech brings women into medicine because they can understand a product better. After all, it’s for them.

Sex Tech: Femtech is also an option for people looking for a sex robot, and manufacturers are trying to find a way to make sex toys more accessible and of good quality.

Motivation: Femtech companies are also trying to change women’s mindsets to be more motivating in their lives. They are trying to help women be better at work by making them feel more motivated and less stressed out.

Education: This is also an essential part of Femtech because it changes people’s minds about education. Women are less likely to pursue higher

education and technology because of their gender, so Femtech is helping change that mindset.

Better Fitness: Femtech is also working to empower women by helping them reach their fitness goals. The female fitness tracker works with women who are concerned about their weight and fitness level because it helps them monitor everything they eat and exercise.

Better Home Technology: Femtech is making the home more comfortable, and it’s also allowing them to be more efficient in their daily lives

Better Office Technology: Femtech is helping to change the office by making it more comfortable and less stressful. It helps women feel better in their job because they feel less stressed.

Better Health Tracking: Femtech is also creating a better way for women to track their health by making more efficient products for them and for doctors who want to help them.

Women’s health is a global issue, not just a ‘feminist’ issue. The lack of women in STEM fields and business is a global issue. It is important to note that Femtech has been used as a tool to solve problems that have dominated the healthcare industry for years now. Still, Femtech has also been used in many areas within society due to its role in marketing women’s products and services. It has helped solve issues for women that have been persistent for years within the healthcare industry. Femtech has been a way to lean into and fill in the gap that has always existed in the male-dominated tech industry.

Conclusion

FemTech is a global industry that is changing how technology is used in women’s lives. It helps women to take control of their health and allows them to focus on their well-being.

The FemTech industry will continue to grow as more and more women wake up that technology can be a significant player in their personal growth and happiness, not just in the workplace. It has helped solve issues for women that have been persistent for years within the healthcare industry. Femtech has been a way to lean into and fill in the gap that has always existed in the male-dominated tech industry.

However, this is still not the case with FemTech, as the industry still has a long way to go until it reaches its full potential. The second wave of FemTech is coming, which will help move the industry into another level of connection with women.

A Special Conversation With Dana Brownlee,

A Dynamic, Energetic, Results-Oriented Corporate Trainer & Speaker, Ms. Brownlee Provides Thought Leadership in The Areas of Antiracism, Leadership, And Individual & Organizational Effectiveness.

Q: Can you share with our audience about your Fortune 500 corporate experience in project management and business strategy consulting?

DB: I started my career in the telecom industry and transitioned into management consulting after obtaining my MBA. As a business strategy consultant, I managed and supported large IT projects primarily in the media and entertainment sector. These roles were a natural fit for my academic and professional training (math, industrial engineering, business, project management) and provided invaluable real-life experience (and tons of hilarious anecdotes) for my next chapter – speaking, writing, and training.

Q: Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?

DB: After about a decade of traditional corporate experience, I gravitated to the role of trainer/facilitator. This new role would afford me the opportunity to leverage my subject matter expertise but now instead of doing the work, I’d be teaching and guiding others. At this point in my career, I’d developed enough expertise to now consciously choose the type of work that I wanted to do, and I truly loved facilitating and training (which I’d done frequently during my work as a business strategy consultant), so I dove in headfirst. I’d also grown accustomed to a significant level of autonomy working with a high performing consulting team, so I wasn’t eager to transition back into a traditional, highly structured corporate setting. I knew I was an amazing trainer, so I decided to hang my own shingle and give it a shot. 18 years later I’m so glad I did.

Q: Tell us about what led to the writing of your book “Unwritten Rules About Managing Up”

DB: Most people tell me that it’s so hard to find a publisher. In my case, my publisher (Berrett-Koehler) found me. I’d been speaking on the general topic of “managing difficult bosses/personalities” for nearly a decade when a publisher reached out to me to tell me they wanted to attend my talk at an upcoming conference. I wrote the book pulling on many years of experience as a project manager having to satisfy and navigate many different senior leader personalities. I conducted a survey as part of my book research and was shocked to receive over 1100 responses in a few short weeks. There was a ton of interest in the topic. I definitely feel that managing up/managing challenging stakeholders is a real problem that doesn’t get discussed enough in public settings.

Q: What led to your decision to become an executive speaker?

DB: After focusing most of my entrepreneurial career in training, about five years ago I decided to pivot to focus more so on speaking. It was a slight pivot with tremendous upside. I’d essentially be taking some of the most exciting parts of my training session (usually the stories and anecdotes) and just repurpose them into a 1-2 hour talk (instead of a 5-6 hour training event). It made the events more exciting and less labor intensive. With two small kids at home, that slight shift in my business model made it easier for me to conduct an event out of town in the morning and still make it back for afternoon carpool.

Q: What is it about your job that most excites you?

DB: In the past few years, I’ve become much more of a writer. While

I’ve been published in many outlets over the years, I’ve been a Forbes Careers Senior Contributor for more than two years now, and it’s been quite thrilling actually. It’s such an honor to be able to participate in the national discourse on current events, trends, etc. as well as interview many leading voices and thought leaders on such a wide range of topics.

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to purse their dream and start a business?

DB: I think that starting a business can sound glamorous, but it’s often harder than you think so I’d advise one to definitely pursue your passions but also be strategic and practical. Save at least enough to support yourself while the business is getting off the ground for the first year. Optimize your business model to maximize profitability (e.g., targeting corporations vs. individuals or developing offerings for groups vs. individuals, etc.). Remember that just because you’re great at something doesn’t mean that you can run a successful business doing it. Monetizing a skill or hobby isn’t the easiest thing in the world. That said, there are often great ways to turn a unique skill or talent into a profitable business. You just have to be methodical and strategic in determining what that business model should look like.

Q: Can you tell our audience one of your most memorable moments your career?

DB: I think that the first time I was quoted in The Wall Street Journal back in 2012 was pivotal for me. My business is focused around my subject matter expertise and credibility as a thought leader so my bio is everything. While I’d conducted training events and talks in several countries and I certainly knew my stuff, there’s a certain confidence that develops when you begin to be cited in major, well-respected publications. That specific article led to an appearance on CNN. Then over the years, I received citations in many publications like FastCompany, the Economist, Redbook, etc. and published articles in Working Mother, Entrepreneur, HuffPost and Forbes. In many ways it was my very first citation in The Wall Street Journal that boosted my confidence and allowed me to begin to truly view myself as a thought leader.

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work life balance?

DB: I think that one of the biggest mistakes people make is allowing everyone else to dictate their calendar (then trying to find time for our personal priorities with what is left over). Instead, I try to flip the script and focus on my key commitments, then work everything else around those. One of my best moves though was deciding to work for myself. While entrepreneurship can be all consuming (particularly in the early years), it does typically offer tremendous autonomy and flexibility. I think that if one parent has tons of flexibility, it makes running a household (with children in particular) much easier. While I was single with no kids when I started my business in 2003, years later with a family I was really grateful to have the flexibility that entrepreneurship provides.

An Exclusive Interview With Former President of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Lynn Jeffers

Q: You recently served as President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Can you tell us what this meant to you and did you accomplish what you set out to do?

LJ: Being President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons was an honor and a privilege. Despite the COVID pandemic, we were able to accomplish what we set out to do.

At the beginning of my presidency, I wanted to focus on technology/innovation/disruption and on valuing our physician members. I created a presidential task force on technology that will build an infrastructure within ASPS that will not only address technology used by the society in our work, but also support our members interested in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. We are also looking at the big ideas such as artificial intelligence, biosensors, block chain, etc. and making sure that we keep our society well-positioned to address potential opportunities and threats. In addition, we had a deliberate focus on making sure to recognize and engage our volunteer physician leaders. At the end of the day, this is a member organization, and we are thankful for their dedication and time that they give to ASPS and our specialty. Of course, we could not have anticipated COVID-19 and I am very proud of ASPS’s response to this pandemic. We were able to set up a COVID resource page for our members with regular webinars. We set up a clearinghouse for members to offer PPE and ventilators to other facilities in need. This caught the attention of the White House COVID Task Force which ultimately led us to help source over 6 million masks to New York alone as well as working with FEMA and other governor’s offices. When it was time to consider reopening, we responded to our members’ needs for access to PPE by having ASPS buy PPE in bulk and thus allowing our members access to PPE. Ultimately, I am so proud of the response of our physicians and our staff in coming together, being proactive, and responding effectively to the COVID pandemic.

initiatives such as our clinical registries, task forces, and research endeavors that will lead to data that we need to better address topics such as implant safety, surgical safety, proper training, and best practices. ASPS is here also for our members to provide resources for their everyday practices both operationally as well as clinically and also helps to facilitate communication, networking and camaraderie among our members.

Q: Can you tell us about your current positions as Chief Medical Officer at St John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital, and Medical Director of the Integrated Breast Center at St. John’s?

LJ: I currently serve as the Chief Medical Officer at Dignity Health St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital which is a part of CommonSpirit Health. During the COVID crisis, I covered an additional hospital while their CMO was out. The Integrated Breast Center offers a community-based team-based approach to breast cancer care. The Center is nationally accredited and has been the recipient of a number of national grants. For the last 11 years, we have held a Breast Symposium that has grown from 30 attendees to 300 attendees last year. This year, of course, we will host a virtual symposium, but we look forward to being hold one in person next year (hopefully!).

Q: Tell us about your private practice you have as a plastic surgeon in Ventura County, Calif, and why you chose to become a plastic surgeon.

Q: Why is it important for a plastic surgeon to be a member of ASPS?

LJ: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest plastic surgery organization in the world. We are here not only for our plastic surgeon members but also our patients. Our advocacy, research, education efforts (of the public as well as plastic surgeons) promote patient safety, ethics, and excellence in plastic surgery. We continue to promote collaboration and science not only in the US but globally with our global partners. We continue to support important

LJ: I am in solo private practice and share the office with my husband who is an Orthopaedic surgeon . I specialize in breast surgery, as well as non-invasive and minimally-invasive procedures such as injectables (Botox/fillers). I was drawn to plastic surgery because in plastic surgery, you create and rebuild. That really appealed to me. One of my first exposures to plastic surgery was watching one of my research mentors in the operating room build an ear for a patient who was born without one, using the cartilage from her rib. It was fascinating and I was hooked. Today, I am so grateful to be able to help people every day. Many of my breast cancer reconstruction patients, I have known for years and there really is no comparison to the satisfaction you get, knowing that you make a difference in people’s lives.

Q: Most of your medical education was done in Michigan … how did you end up in Southern California?

LJ: I grew up in southern California. I went to Michigan because I was accepted into medical school out of high school

and thus did my undergraduate education, medical school education, and residency training in Michigan. I returned to California after finishing my training, and I now live in the same community in which I grew up.

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work life balance?

LJ: It is definitely a day-by-day, even hour-by-hour, adjustment. I am fortunate to have a very supportive family including having my parents living nearby. My husband and I joke that our children did ok, DESPITE us. For better or worse, we were too busy to helicopter parent our kids and they had to learn independence and resourcefulness early in life. I have many stories that we laugh about now. Balance is a moving target, but I would say that it starts with self-assessment and being aware of what is really meaningful--what are your real priorities. I don’t sleep much, but even so, more recently, I find that I have had to set limits and recognize that you can’t do all things all of the time.

Q: What’s one lesson you’ve learned in your career that you can share with our audience?

LJ: Never underestimate the importance of relationships. It is the personal connections that not only make the work we do meaningful but also, I believe, personal connections are the key to success. I also believe in the importance of leaving things better than you found them both in terms of the organization itself but the people. I have certainly benefited from the mentorship of many people and I hope to be that for others.

Q: Can you tell our audience one of your most memorable moments in your career?

LJ: Some of the most meaningful milestones in my career

were starting my own practice, spearheading the Integrated Breast Center, assuming my Chief Medical Officer (in addition to my practice), being elected as one of 11 members of the American Medical Association’s Council on Medical Service, and most recently, my term as president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. In fact, at the end of my presidency, I was chosen for two awards: the ASPS Patients of Courage and the Young At Heart award that really meant so much to me as it really reminded me why I do what I do -advocating for my patients and mentoring those after me.

Q: What are some of the challenges you feel women face today?

LJ: Sometimes, women may have a difficult time finding mentors and seeing role models in leadership, depending on the arena. Also, it can take some work to understand how to navigate a particular environment and finding ways to be heard that are effective. Studies have shown that women cannot employ the same tactics in the boardroom as men do, as they are not as effective for women. With more recognition of these differences, more work is being done as to effective strategies specifically for women, we can promote better functioning teams and organizations.

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue a career as a Doctor?

LJ: Being a physician is such a rewarding profession. Every day you can look in the mirror and know that you can help people directly. However, know that the number of years of education, training, and sacrifices can be daunting, so find your mentors and find your “why”. Make sure to pay attention to self-care and to not neglect the other portions of your life as those are just as crucial to a whole, meaningful life.

AMA meeting during her first campaign for a seat on the AMA Council on Medical Service

Kate Delaney

An Emmy-Award Winning Journalist and Speaker Who Has Interviewed More Than 16,000 People, Including U.S. Presidents, Top CEOs and Hall of Fame Athletes

Q: As an award winning talk show host, can you share with our audience what it was like the moment you became one of the first woman to ever host a solo syndicated sports talk show?

KD: After being rejected 500 times in five years it was overwhelming. So many well-meaning friends wanted me to give up and stick with television news. I heard it over and over again. Tune out the negative and believe was my mantra. The perseverance and patience paid off. Cracking the mic open the first day at a huge all sports station in Dallas with the backing of all the male hosts was exciting.

Q: You have done over 16,000 interviews thus far. Between U.S. Presidents, CEOs, and Hall of Fame athletes, who is your most memorable interview with and why?

KD: This is an impossible question for me as I have so many. I’ll go with self-made billionaire John Paul DeJoria, cofounder of the Paul Mitchell line of hair products and Patron Spirits. He grew up destitute, was in a gang and had very little in the way of a future. However, he believed he could pull himself out of it and find his way to success. Part of what fueled his fire was a teacher who said he would never succeed at anything in life. He set out to prove him wrong.

He’s now involved in too many companies to mention, has a net worth of $3.1 billion and in 2008 became a partner with Nelson Mandela in his Food4Africa program which feeds more than 17,000 orphaned children in Africa.

Q: Why did you choose to become an Author?

KD: There is nothing more gratifying than sharing your experiences and knowledge to help others on their journey. Especially with my Forbes book, Deal Your Own Destiny. Increase your odds, win big and become extraordinary. I hope that people who read it will be inspired and use the tools I’ve included to chase their dreams and shut out the critics.

Q: Can you tell us about the work you’ve done with Children International?

KD: I liked the mission of Children International and decided to get involved. The non-profit that’s supported more than one million children to date has medical, dental services, homemade food, libraries, computer labs, tutoring programs and scholarships for children in communities who desperately need the help.

I talked about it on air and sponsored a young boy, Mathew Alexander in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The hope was to raise awareness about these kids and families and how cheap it was to sponsor and help. I had the opportunity to visit and see the community. We brought all kinds of necessities. I still remember how proud he was to take me into his small thatched roof house to meet his brother and mother.

We climbed up the wooden ladder and he pulled out his report cards to show me how well he was doing. I saw how they lived; just one giant drum of water filled twice a week to use for baths, cooking and drinking. CI had a video crew following me capturing many of the moments. The community centers were amazing and I saw the impact that what is now $39 bucks a month has on these people’s lives.

Q: After graduating from College, where did you think your career path would take you?

KD: My goal at the time was to be the next Jessica Savitch. A popular television news host in the Philadelphia area that I watched as a kid. I wanted to cover stories that impacted people’s lives or were just fun to do. I started to head in that direction and then took a big turn by jumping onto talk radio.

Q: What is one word of advice you can offer to young women who want to reach your level of success?

KD: I mentioned it earlier. There is no overnight success, it’s a myth. Patience and perseverance are critical. Shut out the critics and remind yourself there is no ladder. Careers are like jungle gyms. You may have to climb in a lot of different directions so hang on and believe in yourself.

Q: Which woman inspires you and why?

KD: There are so many but one of my favorites is Judy Guido. She is the Chairwoman and founder of Guido & Associates and the former CMO of Landcare USA. I met Judy through Susan Packard, the Co-Founder of HGTV. We were both Speakers at Leadercast a few years ago.

Judy is one smart cookie, who is always willing to share her expertise on a myriad of topics from culture to strategy to team building. There is a reason Judy is one of the most sought after experts in the green industry. She calls herself a ‘learnaholic,’ meaning she’s curious and always asking questions. We are kindred spirits as I am the same way. She also has a great sense of humor.

Q: What’s your advice for women in male-dominated fields?

KD: It can be very lonely, find role models. Look to the women who created their own path. How did they get there? What can you learn from their journey? Join a group or association if that’s possible in your field or in the career you want to pursue. Look for podcasts and blogs that inspire you and offer tips to help you deal with obstacles. Find a mentor. It might be a male ally who can be a sounding board and advocate for you. Believe in yourself, skills and talent and never be afraid to ask for what you want.

She Has Built Multiple Companies, Including LifeLabs Learning, a Leadership Development Resource That Serves Thousands of the World’s Most Influential Companies

Tania Luna

TANIA LUNA is an entrepreneur, psychology researcher, and author of LEAD TOGETHER: Stop Squirreling Away Power and Build a Better Team. She has founded and grown multiple companies, including Scarlet Spark, a nonprofit that creates human-friendly workplaces for organizations that help animals; LifeLabs Learning, one of the world’s fastest-growing leadership development companies; eLab, an accelerator for edtech entrepreneurs; and Surprise Industries, an organization that designed surprise experiences. Her other books include THE LEADER LAB and SURPRISE. Tania is also a writer for Psychology Today, co-host of the podcast Talk Psych to Me, and a TED speaker on the power of perspective. Across her work, she strives to inspire interconnectedness among all living beings, humans included. She lives in a micro-sanctuary with rescued pigs, goats, dogs, roosters, cats, and the love of her life. To learn more about her work, visit TaniaLuna.com.

Q: Tell us about your childhood and moving to the United States. What surprised you the most when you came here? Did your childhood impact your career as a leader and entrepreneur?

TL: My family received asylum status in the U.S.

after we were impacted by the Chernobyl accident in Ukraine. I was six years old when I got on my first airplane, saw my first supermarket, and tasted ketchup for the first time. In fact, the entire memory of my first year in America (New York City, of all places) tastes like ketchup packets because we got them for free and couldn’t afford much else. But I never felt poor. In fact, it wasn’t until our 10-year anniversary in the U.S. that we tried to rent a room at the “hotel” we stayed in when we first got here and found out that it was a homeless shelter.

Everything back then was full of surprises, wonder, and possibilities. The only significant downside was that we moved to a neighborhood in Brooklyn that was xenophobic all the way down to the kids on the playground. School was also a struggle because I didn’t speak English; plus, I am dyslexic and have a rebellious streak.

But even these painful experiences came with silver linings. As an outsider, I learned to do things my own way – the ultimate entrepreneur education. And I developed constant vigilance and compassion for anyone who is ever left out – a tendency that has served me well when it comes to building inclusive and collaborative workplaces.

Q: You recently founded the nonprofit Scarlet Spark. What is its purpose? Why did you start the organization?

TL: Scarlet Spark (scarletspark.org) exists to help build human-friendly workplaces for organizations that help animals. We offer free leadership workshops and people systems consulting to pro-animal companies and nonprofits.

Each year, there are more animals living miserable lives in factory farms than there are people on earth. Their suffering is intertwined with the horrible conditions of farm workers and the devastating harm factory farms cause to our health and our planet. There are trillions of wild animals suffering from habitat loss and the spread of new diseases.

As an animal lover, I felt overwhelmed and helpless in the face of

such unimaginable suffering. I boycotted animal products by eating vegan, but I wasn’t sure what else I could do. Little by little, I learned more and realized that there are hundreds of wonderful organizations all around the world helping to create more compassionate laws, corporate practices, and cultural norms. The trouble is that most of these nonprofits don’t have the necessary skills and resources to build strong, sustainable organizations. As is the case with most companies, these nonprofits have inefficiencies and people problems that hold them back from reaching their missions.

My co-founders and I wanted to help eliminate these obstacles and spark the full potential of the animal protection movement. This is how Scarlet Spark was born – with the company name inspired by our late dog Scarlet. Scarlet was a scarred-up pitbull with a painful past who managed to melt the hearts of everyone she met and spark community among our neighbors in Harlem. Inspired by Scarlet and the tireless efforts of animal advocates around the world, our mission is to help create a world where all animals can flourish, humans included.

Q: What other projects are you working on now?

TL: As a recovering workaholic, I’ve been trying hard not to start more new projects. That said, I do dedicate my heart and time to our micro-sanctuary, which includes 34 rescued animals. Each resident – from Bubba Ray the pig to Sweet Stan the rooster – get individualized attention, love, care, and their favorite snacks. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t expect to be spending four hours a day cleaning animal sheds and carrying water buckets after selling my business, but it is deeply fulfilling and fun work, and my hay-hauling muscles keep getting stronger!

When I’m not consulting our clients at Scarlet Spark or hanging out with our animals, I teach edtech nonprofit and startup founders through Columbia University’s eLab, advise the amazing animal rescue software platform Buzz to the Rescues, and write horror-comedy screenplays on the weekends.

Q: You are the co-founder of LifeLabs Learning, a leadership training company that struggled during the Covid pandemic but ended up coming out stronger. You eventually sold the company. Tell us about your experiences and what you would like other women to know about starting and leading a business. TL: Despite all the odds, 2020 ended up being our best year to that point in time and paved the way to our eventual exit. Many of my lessons learned are captured in my book LEAD TOGETHER, but the crux of it was sharing power across the organization.

The most persistent advice I received at the time was to become a “wartime leader” and “get the troops to fall in line.” In other words: take control and tell everyone what to do. Thankfully, I did the opposite and leaned further into distributing responsibility, sharing decision-making authority, and

urging new ideas to come from everyone. I believe it was – at least in large part – what got us through the toughest times and created a stronger organization. By the time I transitioned from my role as co-CEO to chair of the board in 2021, we had reached $30 million in revenue and had an incredible team of 150 employees, with 96% employee engagement and less than 2% attrition. Sharing power is not the way most men are socialized to lead, so I think women and nonbinary leaders tend to have an advantage when it comes to building collaborative cultures. We just have to find the courage to step away from common practice and find our way to better practices. Despite all the advice you might get or “inspirational” stories you might read, we do not have to do it all alone and it does not have to be lonely at the top. In my experience, building a successful business isn’t about standing on a podium with a bold vision. It’s about moving with your team toward a vision you figure out together.

Q: What is the core message of your book LEAD TOGETHER? Is it a sequel to your earlier book? Why did you write LEAD TOGETHER in the form of a story?

TL: LEAD TOGETHER: Stop Squirreling Away Power and Build a Better Team is all about using our power as a way to grow people’s capacity to get things done rather than using power as a means of control. Shared power teams are more capable, creative, resilient, and just plain joyful. And sharing power as a leader prevents burnout and unlocks our capacity to achieve amazing things.

While LEAD TOGETHER isn’t a sequel to my earlier book, THE LEADER LAB, the two go hand-in-hand. THE LEADER LAB: Core Skills to Become a Great Manager Faster equips readers with small, specific skills that will help them bring out the best in others. LEAD TOGETHER offers readers a leadership philosophy to put those skills to the best use possible.

Unlike my earlier books, I decided to write LEAD TOGETHER in the form of fiction because research shows that we learn best through story. Power, in particular, can feel so uncomfortable to talk about that I wanted to give readers a safer and more playful way into this critically important topic. Last but not least, I wanted to create more fun for readers than the typical business book offers. Leadership can be stressful and exhausting work, but it becomes a whole lot more energizing when we can turn our workplaces into playgrounds – places to experiment, innovate, and learn about ourselves and each other.

Q: You write about the psychology of power in LEAD TOGETHER. What happens when people have too little power or too much?

TL: The healthiest and more resilient organizations and teams have a good balance of power, where no one holds too little or too much.

Studies in psychology consistently show that having too little power causes stress, disengagement, and even illness. On the other hand, holding too much power can mute our empathy and push us to make overly impulsive and risky decisions. Ideally, we work to grow power in each individual (including their skills, confidence, knowledge, and authority) while also creating checks and balances so that power is never too concentrated in any one person or group.

Q: Who is the leader or person who influenced you the most and helped you achieve success? How?

TL: The greatest source of support in my life comes from my husband and partner in all things, Brian Luna. He has always been a cheerleader and coach for me, but most meaningful of all is his willingness to jump into the deep end on all my pursuits, no matter how unconventional.

When we met, I was in the first year of running my first startup, Surprise Industries, where we created surprise experiences for individuals and companies. Brian was the first (and often only) person to test out every one of our surprises, from stunt falling to fire eating – even though he is afraid of heights. He ran through Times Square in a chicken costume for me, and he worked longer hours at his job so we could save enough money to bet on my businesses.

These days – fifteen years later – we still work, play, teach, write, dream, and care for our pigs, goats, roosters, dogs, and cats together.

Brian is an exceptional leader and teacher, and I have learned so much just by watching him in action. But the biggest lesson he’s taught me is simply the power of showing up for others. When we actively demonstrate our belief in people – especially in the tender stages of new ideas, projects, or businesses – we nourish their belief in themselves. Why does that matter? Because believing in the impossible is the very thing that makes it possible.

Q: No one’s career is a smooth path. What are some of the roadblocks or mistakes that stood in your way and that you were able to overcome? How did you deal with them? What did you learn?

TL: I still have neck pain from all the bumps along the road in my career! Probably the biggest mistake I made plenty of times was doing too much and dumping too many responsibilities onto my own shoulders. I wanted to solve everyone’s problems all at once and make everyone’s frustrations go away. This interpretation of “servant leadership” brought me to the brink of burnout more times than I can count without embarrassment.

I have since learned (and continue to learn) how to share power – including responsibility – and ultimately treat people like adults who do not need my protection. The more I see and respect the strength in others, the stronger they get and the stronger we all become together.

On a related note, I’ve also learned to commit to far fewer things than I wish I could take on all at once. Instead of having a great big YES painted on my forehead, my default now is to say, “I wish I could, but I am fully committed.” I don’t paint this on my forehead, but you get the idea. Going all in on a smaller number of areas rather than spreading myself paper-thin has allowed me to make a bigger impact while loving life a whole lot more along the way.

Q: What does success look like to you? What advice do you have for other women who are struggling with their careers or businesses and feel stuck?

TL: Success to me means living a life that is deeply aligned with my values. For me, this is a combination of making a difference in the world, spending quality time with the people and animals I love, continuing to learn and grow, and using my imagination. When I manage to invest in each of these areas (while also keeping my home reasonably tidy and my body in decent health), I feel fulfilled. There have been times in my life when I worked 80+ hours a week, flew all around the world, received a bunch of external recognition, and made loads of money – in other words, the kinds of stuff many people associate with success these days. Yet, these were not the times I felt most successful. These were the times I felt the most tired. I am grateful ev-

ery day that I’ve been lucky enough to leave that lifestyle behind and to move closer and closer toward my personal definition of a life well-lived.

As for my career advice, I believe that when we find and follow our values, everything else follows. We don’t have to be confident. We don’t even need to be competent (at least not right away). But when we have conviction, it gives us the courage and energy to find our path forward. So, if you’re ever feeling stuck, try looking at the world through the lens of what you believe. What do you believe must change? What do you believe must be better? Let that conviction be your fuel, and you’ll figure out everything else along the way.

Q: What is the legacy that you aspire to leave?

TL: I feel a great sense of urgency to get all the things I’ve learned about leadership, workplace culture, and organizational design out of my head and into a place where it can be widely accessible to others. I often think about how much more effective and delightful my own career could have been if I knew then what I know now.

I want to help organizations that make our world better to run smoothly and joyfully – delivering on their missions and serving as meaningful communities to all who are a part of them. While I don’t believe that work must be the most important part of our lives, it should be a place of learning, connection, and play, leaving us with more energy on Friday than we had on Monday. I hope some of the work I’ve done and continue to do now makes great workplaces the norm rather than the exception, especially among mission-driven organizations.

If I dare to dream bigger, my hope is that I will contribute to a change in our culture from division to all living beings perceived as members of one community. What if we saw all animals (humans included) as individuals worthy of our love and consideration? What if we recognized how inextricably interconnected, we all are? What if each interaction we have could bring us closer together rather than pushing us farther apart? That’s the world I envision and continue to work toward every single day.

Women in History Who Changed The World!

Women have been at the forefront of history, creating change they want to see, in ways both big and small. Empowering women is essential to the health and social development of families, businesses, communities, and countries.

There are millions of Americans who have women in their lives they count on and rely on. Women who, no matter what, always seem to balance unimaginable pressure, yet still make sure they’re that they’re there for others. Women see the potential of this country and donate their time, money, and energy to fight for it.

Over time women have fought tirelessly to find a place for themselves as equal partners, experts and leaders in their workplace, culture, and society. Whether championed by others or empowering others, women in history like Sandra Day O’Connor, Coretta Scott King, Kalpana Chawla, Helen Keller, Rosa Parks, and Susan B. Anthony have served as inspiration for generations. Women like these and many others demonstrate the significance of securing agency for one’s future.

Along with celebrating Women in History month this March, let’s celebrate those in our daily lives. Let us take a moment to celebrate those women who may not have their names in the history books, but deserve a space, nonetheless.

Presenting Sponsors

Women in History Who Changed The World!

Kalpana Chawla

Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-born American Astronaut and Mechanical Engineer, who was the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997.

Chawla was one of the seven crew members who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster when the spacecraft broke during its re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts on board. on February 1, 2003.

Between her two missions, Kalpana logged a total of 30 days, 14 hours, and 54 minutes in space. Soon after, scientists named seven asteroids after each crew member as a celestial moment.

After her death, Kalpana Chawla was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for her history-shaping contributions to the field of aeronautics.

Women in History Who Changed The World!

Sandra Day O’ Connor

At sixteen, she was admitted to Stanford University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics. In 1950 she was admitted to Stanford Law. During her time at Stanford Law, she worked on the board of editors for the Stanford Law Review. She completed law school in just two years as opposed to the usual three years.

After her receiving her law degree from Stanford University, Unable to find employment in a law firm because she was a woman—despite her academic achievements, one firm offered her a job as a secre-

tary she became a deputy district attorney in San Mateo California.

Soon after she served as Assistant Attorney General in Arizona from 1965-1969.

On September 25, 1981, O’Connor was confirmed unanimously by the Senate and was sworn in as the first female justice to serve on the Supreme Court.

In 2006 O’Connor retired from the Supreme Court.

O’Connor has said she felt a responsibility to demonstrate women could do the job of justice.

Women in History Who Changed The World!

Helen Keller

American educator Helen Keller overcame the adversity of being blind and deaf at just 19 months old to become one of the 20th century’s leading humanitarians, as well as co-founder of the ACLU. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, Keller tackled social and political issues, including women’s suffrage, pacifism, birth control and socialism. In 1915, along with renowned city planner George Kessler, she co-founded Helen Keller International to combat the causes and consequences of blindness and malnutrition. In 1920, she helped found the American

Civil Liberties Union.

In 1955, at age 75, Keller embarked on the longest and most grueling trip of her life: a 40,000-mile, five-month trek across Asia. Through her many speeches and appearances, she brought inspiration and encouragement to millions of people.

During her remarkable life, Keller stood as a powerful example of how determination, challenging work, and imagination can allow an individual to triumph over adversity. By overcoming difficult conditions with a great deal of persistence, she grew into a respected and world-renowned activist who labored for the betterment of others.

Women in History Who Changed The World!

Rosa Parks

Called “the mother of the civil rights movement,” Rosa Parks invigorated the struggle for racial equality when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama.

On December 1, 1955, Parks was riding a crowded Montgomery city bus when the driver, upon noticing that there were white passengers standing in the aisle, asked Parks and other Black passengers to surrender their seats and stand. Three of the passengers left their seats, but Parks refused. She was subsequently arrested and fined $10 for the offense and $4 for court costs,

neither of which she paid. Instead, she accepted Montgomery NAACP chapter president E.D. Nixon’s offer to help her appeal the conviction and challenge legal segregation in Alabama.

After Parks died in 2005, her body lay in state in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, an honor reserved for private citizens who performed a great service for their country. For two days mourners visited her casket and gave thanks for her dedication to civil rights. Parks was the first woman and only the second Black person to receive the distinction.

Women in History Who Changed The World!

Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony was an American social reformer and women’s rights activist who played a pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement.

Following the Civil War, Anthony began to concentrate exclusively on woman’s issues and, especially, the campaign for suffrage.

Anthony spent her life working for women’s rights. She was a champion of temperance, abolition, the rights of labor, and equal pay for equal work, Susan Brownell Anthony became one of the

most visible leaders of the women’s suffrage movement.

Anthony died in 1906, 14 years before women were given the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

On October 10, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coin Act into law, known as the Public Law 95-447. This law did not only make a woman’s face appear on a circulated coin but also added some changes to the size and look of coins.

Women in History Who Changed The World!

Coretta Scott King

Coretta Scott King was the wife of the famous civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., and was a civil rights activist known for her advocacy in ending injustice within the country. Her known passion was to work for peace and justice organizations within America.

Coretta Scott King joined her husband in civil rights activism, taking part in the Montgomery Alabama bus boycott, along with efforts to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

After the assassination of her husband, she continued her work to be active in the civil rights movement. In addition, she created her own legacy in the movement to end injustice. She was the founder of the Martin Luther King jr., center for nonviolent social change. Throughout her life, she dedicated most of it to empowering women to play a significant role in shaping society, and to fight for the unheard and the voiceless.

Advisory Board Members

Kate Delaney

Kate is a speaker, author, and Emmy Award winning talk show host. Kate’s interviewed over 16,000 people, including U.S. Presidents, Fortune 500 CEOs, and Hall of Fame athletes.

Elinor Stutz

Elinor is the CEO of Smooth Sale. She’s also an International Best-Selling and Evergreen Author, Top 1% Influencer, Inspirational Speaker.

Andrea Simon

Andrea Simon is a writer and photographer based in New York City. She has worked as an editor, writer, and manager on diverse projects, and was the co-owner of an editorial/production company that specialized in health-related educational materials.

Millen Livis

MILLEN LIVIS is International Holistic Financial Independence mentor, International best-selling author, investor, and entrepreneur.

Janice McLean DeLoatch

Dr. Janice McLean DeLoatch is a passionate advocate for entrepreneurs and women in the entertainment industry. She created the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame to honor women whose work represents the heritage and legacy of the world’s music songbook. She serves as the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman. Janice is also a Tv Host, Radio Personality, Entrepreneur and Author.

Jessica Cox

The World’s First Licensed Armless Pilot, and First Armless Black-Belt in The American Taekwondo Association

Cover photo by Jessica Korff | Feature images Amy Haskell

Jessica is best known for becoming the first armless pilot in aviation history. Her achievement earned her a Guinness World Record medal, invitations from six continents, and featured on TV programs like Ellen, Inside Edition, Fox and Friends, Oprah Winfrey Network, CNN, CBS Evening News, and the BBC.

Described as a speaker “no one will ever forget,” she shows audiences around the globe how to inspire enthusiasm and build authentic confidence. With the goal of showing people how to go home from work every day feeling excited for tomorrow, she teaches how to courageously tackle new challenges with creativity and unrelenting drive.

Since she was born without arms, she became fascinated by the limitless ways the human body can adjust to a variety of circumstances. As she learned to conquer physical barriers, she developed mental skills that allowed her to go on to achieve the seemingly impossible in her own, unique way.

Q: Flying a plane, walking a tightrope – when do you first remember challenging yourself to do things the typical person never attempts?

JC: I don’t see myself as someone who does things because other people don’t do it. My mom overcame extreme poverty to graduate from college, immigrate to the United States, she traveled the country as a nurse and she never sat still for very long. In my mind, my drive to try new things and go on adventures comes more from her spirit.

Q: How often have you encountered naysayers in your abilities to accomplish your goals and what has been your response?

JC: Every day. While it’s not always blatant, it’s obvious in how people react to me. It challenges me to try to prove them wrong. It fuels me. You only need to look as far as some of the comments on my YouTube videos to see the pushback people give for me flying or being a black belt.

Q: Describe how you encourage your audience to find their motivation to achieve their goals?

JC: I find that most people are well motivated, but they allow excuses, over-complication, and habits to get in the way. Normally, motivation isn’t the problem, it’s the perceived limitations that often aren’t as difficult as we make them out to be.

Q: Have you ever had to modify a goal and how do you address this subject to your audiences?

JC: Every goal was modified at one point. As long as you get the job done, it doesn’t matter which way you attack it. In my speeches, I talk about “thinking outside the shoe.” It’s a metaphor for when I learned to first tie my shoelaces. I remember watching my Kindergarten teacher show us how to tie our shoes with her foot inside her shoe and using her hands to tie her laces. Since my feet have become my hands, I couldn’t simultaneously have my foot inside the shoe and tie the laces. I could have given up, but who said your foot has to be inside the shoe when you tie them? I eventually figured out how to tie my shoelaces with my toes and then slip my foot inside the shoe. The goal shifted from tying my foot inside the shoe to simply tie the laces loose enough for me to later slip my foot in.

Q: One aspect of your motivational speaking addresses diversity, can you tell us more about that?

JC: Diversity has become a regular part of social justice conversations and those conversations have become more common, which is great. The problem is that while we talk about race, gender, or orientation, disability is often forgot-

ten or diminished in the conversation. I often remind people that the disability community is the only minority that you could join, not everyone is born into it like me. We also make up 25% of the US population and more than 1 billion people globally will experience a disability in their lifetime. That is a lot of people that need to be in more conversations.

Q: The obvious question, have you and your team done anything unique to adapt to the COVID videoconference environment?

JC: Everything has switched to Zoom and other platforms, so I did too. I think I had a head start because I was already recording video content. We upgraded some equipment and our bandwidth to make sure my clients received the best possible stream. Not traveling meant that I had a little more time on my hands - or feet - so I’ve been expanding my coaching services. I’ve worked with amputees in the past to be a mentor for them but now I’ve opened up my one-onone time to the general public.

Q: You write an occasional blog, including one on inspirational porn, probably not a subject that a lot of people have studied. What would you like to say about it and how has it evolved?

JC: I’m more than happy to inspire someone because I fly an airplane, earned a black belt, surf, scuba dive, and slack-

line. Inspiration porn is when someone’s inspired because I can function as a human being. I once had a woman in the checkout line at the grocery store say, “It’s inspiring to see you, people, out and about.” People shouldn’t be inspired because someone with a disability eats food and needs to buy toilet paper. I think it comes from an assumption that people with disabilities are inherently unable to do regular things or the person without a disability assumes they couldn’t cope with the disability they see. In reality, the disability community is the only minority you can join and represents about twenty percent of the global population. Inspiration porn only exists because we as a society haven’t a normalized disability.

Q: Do you ever give in to asking someone to do something that’s somewhat difficult for you – difficult, but something that you’re capable of doing? How does that feel?

JC: Yes, I do. For example, with my husband, but I think it further perpetuates laziness and is a disservice to me because then my ability to do something can be impacted. I’ve been asking my husband to reach for things that were at the edge of my flexibility. Unfortunately, as a result, I’m not stretching my limits and therefore my flexibility has lessened.

Q: You’re a Third Degree Blackbelt – without it would you ever feel physically vulnerable?

JC: It’s sometimes hard for even me to believe but I’m a fourth-degree black belt. I started training when I was 10 because I had some anger issues as a kid and sometimes kicked my siblings or my bedroom door. Channeling that energy certainly helped. I think without a black belt I would feel vulnerable because people would see my armlessness as a vulnerability. Despite being a black belt, though, I naturally maintain a higher awareness of my surroundings and try not to present myself as an easy target.

Q: Of your many avocations, which are your most enjoyable and which are you most proud of, and why?

JC: My most enjoyable activity is cycling because it’s a sport where I can just relax and enjoy the breeze on my face. I usually find myself always moving so it’s an activity that matches my personality, I think. I’m most proud of learning to fly. It not only challenged me physically but also emotionally. It represented one of my greatest fears and I had to overcome that to fly solo. I’ve been a certified pilot for 12 years now and no one can say I didn’t earn it, and no one can take that achievement away from me.

Q: Aside from martial arts, is there a particular activity that you and your husband enjoy most together?

JC: We both love to travel and unique experiences. I’ve visited 26 countries so far and he’s been with me for most of them. We’ve had ginseng chicken in Korea, flown in small planes all over Alaska, had fish and chips outside the Tower of London, been invited by princes, had breakfast with a baboon in Kenya, and even fed hyenas in Ethiopia.

Q: In the trailer for your documentary, Right Foot, you mention that you wouldn’t have chosen to have arms because of the many people you’ve met and whose lives you’ve touched. If you had been born with arms, how do you feel that your life would have been different? Do you think you would have been equally motivated and had the same interests?

JC: Nick Spark deserves the credit for the documentary. It was his vision; I was just the one in front of the camera. I think there would have been some things that would have stayed the same, like the sense of adventure in me. But whether I would be equally motivated is something I question. Those naysayers fueled a certain level of motivation. My mom was the youngest of thirteen kids in an impoverished family in the Philippines. She beat the odds and immigrated to the United States as a nurse. Even after her cancer diagnosis, it was hard to slow her down. I’d like to think I got a lot of my drive from her.

www.jessicacox.com

Melissa Stockwell

The Power Of Choice, Her Journey From Wounded Warrior To World Champion

A first lieutenant, Melissa Stockwell was the first female soldier to lose a limb in the Iraq War. She lost her left leg when a roadside bomb exploded when she was leading a convoy in Baghdad. For her service in Iraq, she was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Q: Why did you decide to join the ROTC at the University of Colorado?

MS: As soon as I knew what wearing the uniform stood for I wanted to wear one. To give back to a county I felt had given me so much. Freshman year I saw cadets around campus and decided to become one of them sophomore year. I never looked back!

Q: Did you have any idea that you would be deployed to Iraq March 2004?

MS: After Sep 11, 2001, I knew I would most likely be deployed at some point. So, when orders came down that my unit would be deploying in early 2004 it wasn’t a big surprise.

Q: As first lieutenant, you were the first female soldier to lose a limb in the Iraq War … can you share with our audience how that day started out for you?

MS: It started out just like any other day over in Iraq. We are always up early. Getting ready for the day and then getting our daily briefing for the day and casualties from the previous day. Then we went over our mission for the day, got into our vehicles and we were off.

Q: Can you tell us about the training you did to prepare yourself for the 2008 Paralympic Games?

MS: I moved out to Colorado Springs and the Olympic Training Center to train full time in hopes of making it a reality. I swan thousands and thousands of laps and lived and breathed swimming. I am proud to say all the hard work paid off. The training for 2016 and 2020 was just as intense, your days revolve around it!

Q: When you were growing up, did you ever dream you would become a world class athlete?

MS: I always wanted to be an Olympic gymnast. I was at the elite level but never at the top. So, when I got injured and found out about the Paralympic Games it was almost like I had a second chance to compete on the worlds biggest athletic stage.

Q: Tell us what it was like to join former President George W Bush on Bush’s W100K ride for wounded military veterans. MS: An incredible experience. Myself alongside 20 other wounded Veterans and the President on a three-day mountain bike ride on his ranch down in Texas. President Bush holds himself accountable for the lives of the Veterans that served under him and does what he can to let us know that we are not forgotten. Whatever you believe in politics, he is an incredible man, and I was honored to have him as my commander in chief.

Q: Your Co-founder of the Chicago-based Dare2tri Paratriathlon Club. Can you tell us how it started and the services it provides?

MS: I co- founded Dare2tri with two friends back in 2011 with the mission of getting athletes with physical disabilities into the sport of triathlon. We knew the impact sports could have on anyone’s life but especially someone with a disability. We take away all the barriers someone has for getting into the sport: expensive adaptive equipment, coaching, training, sometimes just transportation to the

race and the self-confidence and self-worth our athletes get is incredible. Our athletes inspire many both on and off the racecourse.

Q: Tell us how you manage your work life balance?

MS: I find what I’m passionate about and put my hours into that. I have an incredible husband who wants me to go for my dreams. I have a team of family and friends that believe in me and support me in any way they can, and I just feel like the luckiest girl to get to do what I love!

Q: What would be the title of your autobiography?

MS: I have one! It’s called the Power of Choice and it was released last year. The Power of Choice is so applicable in all of our lives, and we can all choose to live the life we want regardless of the obstacles that come our way. My choice to accept the loss of my leg propelled me into a life I never could have imagined.

A Special Conversation With Empowerment Author & Speaker, Zeeda Michele

Q: Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?

ZM: I don’t believe it was something that I set out to do I just knew I had a creative force in me that was supposed to be doing something independently, and opposite of what everyone else was doing, and with that being said I needed to be able to control the narrative of my creativity without restriction. And just like that Making Power Moves was born!

Q: Can you share with our audience more about your career and your brand Making Power Moves?

ZM: Making power moves is a women’s empowerment movement that consist of books, apparel, empowerment events, interior design, event planning, and décor. There are so many intricate details to MPM that it can’t just be summed up in a title or a few sentences, it’s about empowering women and even men on levels that are not mediocre on levels that are super creative! And some in different areas as I mentioned above.

Q: Tell us about what inspired you to write the book “From Pain to Power”

ZM: Growing up I had an extremely rough life that consisted of me being molested as a child, being a high school dropout, teen pregnancy, mental, physical, and sexual abuse, also selling drugs in so much criminal activity which led to my incarceration, and also even being a negligent parent… a young negligent parent, and even being suicidal. There were so many layers of pain that I experienced but through God, my husband and writing, the book From Pain to Power was where my healing begin. Not to mention being a Christian hip-hop artist that shared her testimony before performing on stage, after each performance I was often told why you don’t write a book, so one day I picked up a pen and I begin to write!

Q: Tell us more about the meaning behind “I am not what I’ve been through … I am who I was called to be?

ZM: Often society labels us… you know Zeeda?! Ida’s daughter the one that always gets in trouble lol, Or the little girl that got pregnant at 16, the thief, drug dealer… the drop out, who was molested as a little girl. All those things I just named above yeah all that happened to me, and people like to label you! yes, I did that, I’ve been through that, but let me enlighten you I also came out of all that! So, honey I’m not what I’ve been through! I was called to be something greater, and the greater call is Everything that I’ve been through all the bad was working for my good, it enables me to share with someone else …that yeah… all that happened but look who I am now I’m not what I’ve been through! I was called to be who I was created to be. When things are being created, we never know what the outcome is, but when we begin to pay attention to the intricate details of what’s being molded and shaped.…the end process is stunning, that’s the kind of God we serve, and though we start out one way, mushy, lumpy, ugly, scarred… in the hands of the Potter, we are created to be something extraordinary!

Q: What would you say was your lowest point in life and why then did you decide to make a change?

ZM: My lowest point in life was after a big fight with my sons’ father, who was very abusive, and who was abusing me physically and sexually for so long, behind closed doors… no one knew what I was going through, I was so tired of fighting and not just with him but with life, my life was in shams… and then one day the police knocked on my door and arrested me in front of my kids. I found myself locked up and pregnant… with no direction for my life, a single young black mom That just found out that I was pregnant again for a third time… pregnant and in jail!!!!. And right before my incarceration I had a failed suicide attempt… come on! Low couldn’t get no lower, I couldn’t even accomplish killing myself! And as I sat on my prison bunk bed, I thought to myself there has to be more to life than this. I was not designed to live a mediocre life; my kids were not supposed to have a mediocre mom. So, when they see me! and they see me! In so many different lights … on so many different levels. Nevertheless, the beautiful, amazing thing about all of that is my lowest moment proved to my family that you don’t have to stay down anything is possible with God.

What advice would you give to young women who want to purse their dream and start a business?

ZM: Never share your dreams with people that don’t have vision, never allow anyone to put restrictions on the way you dream. Dream in HD on a movie screen! Your dream will definitely try to intimidate you whether that is with finances, resources, or manpower. But no matter what you keep pushing and you keep trying, and you step out on all the faith that you have even if that’s only the size of a mustard seed … believe God! you also have to invest in yourself, often time entrepreneurs start out working for others it’s called seed money. You need seed to grow anything! Also be mindful how you invest your seed. If you give me a dollar the average thinker would say “Oh I have a dollar” whereas I would say I have 4 quarters! I’m going to invest a quarter here a quarter their quarter here etc. scared money doesn’t make money!

Q: Can you tell our audience one of your most memorable moments of your career?

ZM: The most memorable moment was when God first gave me the vision and the guts to give my first power gala. I remember standing on stage in front of 300 people, Yup the Power gala is what he told me to call it! This Power gala included a three-course dinner, Crystal awards, a live New Orleans style brass band, Stilt walkers, and a live DJ… all that at the time on a Zumba instructors’ salary, making only $27 a class at the time!!!! True story! On that night I stood before the people that night September 2016 and I said wow y’all came lol that was one of my proudest moments!

Q: What’s one lesson you’ve learned in your career that you can share with our audience?

ZM: Presentation is everything! How you present yourself how you present your product what you represent and what you stand for is important! I don’t care what you think they see you! even when you’re trying to pretend or cover up, they see you! Presentation is everything, be honest with yourself and who you are, but don’t ever allow the lines of communication to be blurred, never let anyone control the narrative of what it is that you are called to do. Listening to the voice of others put fear in me, and it also put doubt in me as well. There were things That I not only allow people to talk me out of it, but I talked myself out of opportunities, experiences, and potential deals. I’ve learned to be fearless and to take calculated risk! never start building without A blueprint! And make God the CEO…because he is!

Q: Which woman inspires you and why?

ZM: I honestly would have to say there are so many, but at this stage in my life the very young but powerful Sarah Jakes Roberts is the one that truly inspires me! she is fearless, and she does not care what people think of her, and she Gives you the good. News in a way that’s full of innovation and swag!!! I Absolutely love it!! empowering women, preaching the gospel and with style and fashion that isn’t the norm! woman evolve woman evolve!!!

Q: What are some of the challenges you feel women face today?

ZM: Being heard … I mean being really heard and being taken seriously by our male counterparts! in my 2nd book PowHerful … there is a chapter called the Oprah Stedman syndrome! It talks about how with the right man standing alongside of the right woman, not being intimidated by who she is but embracing the qualities of all God created her to be, that’s power! as the head he has the ability to ignite greatness in one of the most intricate beautiful complex but very strong creatures that God has created! And although people talked about Stedman He knew, and he knows what he has in Oprah Winfrey… that’s power!

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work life balance?

ZM: God, Time, and discipline. God has given us all an allotted time here on earth! There are a lot of things you can get back, you can get a refund, you can exchange a pair of shoes. but you see time, you can’t get that back, so I’m very detailed when it comes to time… my schedule is planned, from the time I get up in in the morning. I know I need at least 15 minutes of worship and just meditating. I know I have to take 30 minutes to walk and feed my dog, I have 45 minutes to work out, I have 30 minutes to shower and get ready. I have 15 minutes to get my coffee and pumpkin. Bread (guilty pleasure). And another 18 minutes to drive to work. If you are going to be successful at anything time is a resource that you are going to have to pay close attention to! And discipline is not something you’re born with it’s something you create!

A Conversation With American Author, Speaker and Rocket Scientist, Olympia LePoint

Olympia LePoint is an award-winning NASA rocket scientist, author, TED Talk speaker, and journalist. Most recently, Olympia created a human decision-making scientific theory called Quantum Deciding, revealing the secret science to achieve your best future.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in science and technology?

OL: I believe science and technology are powerful tools that give answers to life’s most pressing situations. As a result, I built my AnswersUnleashed.com platform around finding answers, and it is based on my personal story of where science and faith meet.

At the age of 6, I went to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory where I saw rocket engines, and I told myself that I would be a rocket scientist. I did not know the challenges I would face as a woman of color entering the field with men. I did not know the challenges I would face in educating myself for this mission.

I am a scientist who prays to God for answers. Everyone handles life differently; prayer shows me how science can answer problems and the methods to use science and technology ethically to help people in life-changing ways. I know that may sound strange to some. For my friends and supporters, they know it is my gift. I turn to God for answers, and the solutions that come are in the forms of math and science. With this approach, and after a tough ordeal growing up, I helped build a career which started with rockets and continued with books and live lectures. I helped build innovative NASA engineering and technology solutions that we have successfully flown to space in 28 NASA Space Shuttle Missions. I have also created a science educational book series, Answers Unleashed. Through challenges, I witness that God shows people like me how to improve lives using STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).

This philosophy started in my youth. While I was growing up, I literally struggled to stay alive. I speak about my experience in my TEDx talk, “Reprogramming Your Brain to Overcome Fear,” and in my episode on the TV show “Impact Theory.”

I was raised in South Central Los Angeles in the 1980s in the middle of gang violence and the crack cocaine epidemic. Next door to my childhood home was a crack house, and I would see drug addicts light up their drugs out of my bedroom window. I knew what I was seeing was mentally sick, and I knew that I needed to heal myself from what I was seeing. I prayed to God for help: To help my mom, to help me, and to help people realize they had a choice and could turn to a better future.

My prayers gave me the answers to change my thinking, pursue an education, and generate a better future for myself.

Math and theater were the two subjects I loved most in school. Math was the career choice where I would be able to eventually pursue my dream of being a rocket scientist. After failing algebra, geometry, calculus, and chemistry, I received help from a teacher. With encouragement, I decided to pursue a university degree in mathematics.

Under Affirmative Action, I entered California State University Northridge, where I worked hard to compete with the other male students as a math major. At my university in the early 1990s, I remember being the only young woman in my math classes. I was determined to be the top performer. I told myself that I would be a woman to break barriers in STEM for the rest of my life. I was later one of the top five students in a 6,500 graduating class with the Karen, Leo, and Rita Saulter Memorial Award.

For me, math and science were the answers that God provided to me. Later, while writing my second book, I discovered that learning math and science helped rewire, reconnect, and reprogram my brain’s frontal lobes.

While at California State University Northridge, I studied under award-winning math professors Dr. Mark Schilling and Dr. Michael Neubauer. Dr. Magnheld Lien also helped

me enter graduate school in mathematics, where I earned a master’s degree in applied mathematics. I also became a Notable Alumni and won the 2003 National Engineer of the Year “Modern Day Technology Leader” Award.

Since then, I have won several awards. I won the 2023 Top 100 Women of the Future “Emerging Technology Leader” Award, the 2023 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books IRWIN Award “Most Influential Science Book Series,” the 2017 Rotary International Business Executive Leadership Award “Paul Harris Fellow,” and the 2003 National Engineer of the Year “Modern Day Technology Leader” Award.

By studying STEM, I was able to educate myself and change my future. The logic I learned helped me rewire my brain to overcome my fears. It still helps me reprogram my mind today. As a result, I help others do the same in my Answers Unleashed book series. I help K-12 Students, college students, and STEM professionals find answers in their everyday experiences.

I choose to walk in my calling. We each have a calling in our lives. My calling is to show how science can answer life’s toughest situations. Used ethically, science and technology give hope and life to humanity.

Q: Why is it important for people to understand AI?

OP: If you use AI correctly, it’s super powerful, but AI wholly depends on the information fed to it. Artificial intelligence is helpful when it is humanitarian based, and I believe people must use AI in ethical ways, so as to prevent harm and dangerous results. Artificial intelligence is simply a tool to help people find patterns quickly, but not all AI operates the same. Some AI helps people, and other types take people’s data and identities. In the wrong hands, AI can take your identity and give false information. If there are companies that are not legitimate, be aware.

As a history to AI, I will give a background. There have been three major types of artificial intelligence seen thus far.

Traditional AI. This is used for fraud detection, medical diagnosis, and to prevent terrorist communication and attacks.

Predictive AI are used to forecast outcomes based on historical data patterns and existing information. This is used in the way we forecast the weather in the stock market.

Generative AI is the new AI in the news. It takes a different approach, focusing on cutting from preexisting content to create new content. It uses large datasets, and engineers

create large language models (known as LLMs) using math algorithms to generate new text, images, music, and even videos. These are called deep-fake videos and images.

There were three events that caused the explosion of generative AI. First, in 2019, three scientists—Yoshua Bengio, Geoffrey Hinton, and Yann LeCun—won the Nobel Peace Prize, as well as the 2018 Turing Award for Machine Learning. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic caused people to use video conferencing. All the data had to be processed by computer graphics cards made by technology companies who had tools to analyze all the image, voice, and text data. Graphics cards companies like Nvidia and Intel also make computer chips. After all three events, generative AI technology exploded, and the three types of AI began to merge. However, AI does not always give you the correct results.

To better explain with an example, self-driving cars use reinforced and unsupervised machine learning AI together.

When the car AI software calculates, it sees objects and predicts if, for example, a deer is going to run across the street or stay still. It may run across, and your self-driving car may not break. Your safety is dependent on a machine getting the probability right. Not all AI gets the correct answers, which is why we have witnessed deaths on the news within self-driving car accidents.

But the probability game with machine learning is not just limited to self-driving vehicles. It extends into new, generative AI.

Artificial intelligence is only as accurate as the information that goes into LLM, which is the math program it uses to handle the data and give results. Plus, AI is only as good as the programmer’s ability to understand the issues of the initial data used to build the LLM that AI uses to give results.

Not all AI gives correct answers, and it can even spread fake information and propaganda by making up data when no data exists. It is called “AI hallucinations” when AI makes up false data to prove its point.

If the information that it starts with is biased, flat, or wrong, it can give results that are plagiarized or outdated. This can lead to lawsuits.

Plus, if the beginning data does not fairly reflect women and people of color or uses false information in facial recognition, AI can be used to falsely imprison people, take identities, steal company proprietary data, and give dangerously wrong results. So, AI can be regulated internationally to ensure this does not happen to people across the world. This is where AI can be dangerous.

There are companies that take your data on purpose, and

there are also companies that safeguard it. We must work with ethical companies, build governing AI agencies, and know how these systems work to produce safe and ethical uses of technology.

The method by which we bridge the gap between today’s limited AI results is to include human beings in the ethical process. Humans can check the results and see if and when the AI is accurate—or not.

Q: What would you like people to take away from you and your career?

OP: I would like people to take three things away from my career as an author and speaker: First, God has a calling for your life. Second, I would like you to know that you can overcome obstacles. Keep focused on your mission, even if the odds are not in your favor. You will succeed. Third, I’d like you to know how science can be used, so we can have innovators across the world who can save human lives with science and technology for centuries to come.

Q: How was your time working with NASA and what did you learn?

OP: I learned that no one person has all the answers. There are teams of brilliant thinkers who come together to do great things. The most important thing is to find people who have the same values as you.

Q: Tell us why you left your career at Boeing to become a College Professor?

OP: When I was 30 years old, I was in a meeting discussing NASA rocket engine development with fellow scientists. I looked to the left and right. I was the only woman. I was the only person under 30. Everyone in the room was scheduled to retire in 3-5 years. I thought, Who is going to help launch rockets when they retire? Who is going to recruit new scientists to eventually sit in this room? I began to realize the gravity of this situation.

Then, it felt like God was tapping me on the shoulder! I was the person to promote math and science to do great things.

At first, I brushed it off. Then there was a nagging in my conscience to follow through with the mission to inspire people to go into STEM careers and use STEM to find answers.

A few months later, I left.

I started my own STEM educational business and went through financial difficulties as I funded my own products. I still do, but I knew someone had to invest in what I was doing, so I started with myself.

were making my information go viral.

That TEDx talk led to my next book, Answers Unleashed: The Science of Unleashing Your Brain’s Power. The content of this talk educated 2 million people online within a study video.

That book led to global technology forum talks that I gave in 2019 to over 6,000 AI professional engineers in the audience at the SAS Global Technology Forum. That experience also led to my latest book, Answers Unleashed II: The Science of Attracting What You Want.

Starting this fall 2023, I am returning to teach at two new campuses as a part-time professor while I continue to build my book-publishing business. The schools are California State University Northridge and Santa Monica College.

I teach as a Research Methods professor at California State University in the Africana Studies Department. There, I teach a research-methods upper-division class. I am also developing statistics classes with a team that investigates national data pertaining to health care data, AI facial recognition data, employment data, and housing data, as well as how it can be fairer and more equitable for women and people of color in government systems.

During this time, I went to teach math as a professor at a local community college. There, the retired math chair had me do a series of math lectures and workshops to help people overcome their math fears. The contents from my workshop led me to write my first book, Mathaphobia: How You Can Overcome Your Math Fears and Become a Rocket Scientist.

The book later turned into my TEDx talk, “Reprogramming Your Brain to Overcome Fear.” That TEDx talk educated over 1 million people online—and my students are the ones who promoted it online.

That talk led to me sharing space and science information as a guest science expert on TV news programs on ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS, as well as within People and the Huffington Post, to millions of viewers. Again, the very students I was training to enter medical schools and engineering schools

I also teach as a Political Science and Emerging Technology professor at Santa Monica College in the Emeritus program. My class is open to all members of the public for all ages, and I inform professionals and retired audiences about new emerging technologies, how these technologies are currently being used, and the policies that help keep people safe.

I love helping people learn and use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Q: What steps do you take to ensure the security of the systems and applications you work on?

OP: For my business, I have U.S. trademarked my learning programs Mathaphobia®, Answers Unleashed®, and Quantum Deciding®. In these training courses, I create methods for people to know how to solve problems, innovate, and keep their data secure.

Q: How do you see yourself contributing to the growth and advancement of the technology industry in the future?

OP: I see myself educating people today through live keynote talks and in the future through hologram technology. Currently, my Quantum Deciding training program helps

leaders make effective decisions for the future using science and technology. With issues such as climate change, cyber security, and world health concerns facing the planet, we can together invent solutions for the future by making effective decisions today. Visit: https://www.AnswersUnleashed.com/ QuantumDeciding

Q: What is your goal for the future?

OP: With God’s favor, I’d like to become a world-renowned scientist, author, speaker, and inventor; for centuries to come, I’d like to be an iconic Nobel Prize-winning figure representing science and humankind making the right decisions with science and technology. I’d like to speak in stadiums in the future with my book series and collective multimedia works. I’d like to become a prosperous philanthropist who can help save lives across the world with education and new, innovative forms of science and technology.

Q: How do you see yourself contributing to the growth and advancement of the technology industry in the future?

OP: I see myself helping people with STEM using hologram technologies. In the next 10 years, society will be dealing with quantum communication. Digital platforms will be updated. We will have quantum internet, which will provide hologram technologies and teleported video communications. I have a mind like Albert Einstein, and I devise ways for people to use science in effective ways.

I see myself being one of the pioneering leaders in hologram technology and helping to build STEM educational platform systems that will reach people around the world with 3D hologram educational platforms.

Q: What would you like people to take away from you and your career?

OP: With God, anything is possible. You can even become a rocket scientist.

Q: Can you share with our audience why you started two educational websites?

OP: I started my first educational website, Mathaphobia.com, where I helped people with math tutoring. The platform was a way to give math education online to people in various areas of the world.

My second educational platform, AnswersUnleashed.com, was developed to help adults embrace innovation by applying their faith in science applications. The Answers Unleashed® platform was first established as a college campus radio show to help people look at science in new ways. The podcast was used to interview guests, so audience members could reshape their brains to find answers to life’s most pressing problems. I helped students unleash their brain power and find innovative solutions. My students fell in love with the platform, and

the platform extended itself into producing an award-winning book series, TV shows, and news content. I have worked with amazing news producers and writers from NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, Buzzfeed, and PBS to produce exciting, accurate, and educational news stories.

My latest platform is on QuantumDeciding.com, (technically on AnswersUnleashed.com/QuantumDeciding). It helps executives, managers, and leading professionals make effective decisions for the future. The system uses keynote talks, my third book, and a yearly planner that I created. The Quantum Deciding® System helps people understand their values and resources, so they can create the future that they want.

Q: Tell us about some of the things you’re planning to work on in the future?

OP: I am an author, so I see myself writing books for my entire life. I produce and host educational TV programs. I am thankful to my agent, Babette Perry at Innovative Artists, who works to secure new opportunities with TV hosting. I am working on my upcoming 4th book which will help people mentally get through life’s most emotionally dark times, using their faith and the science of light. This is one book that will be amazing. So, I am working on this amazing book now. More details are to come soon.

Female Ground Breakers in Professional Sports

Women in sports have come a long way since the inception of Title IX in 1965. In an industry that had for so long been dominated by men, women have assumed their rightful place as being able to hold their own both on the field and in the front office, even obliterating the glass ceiling in some instances. Here are just a few cases in point:

Michele Roberts: National Basketball Association

Michele Roberts was ranked Numero Uno by a panel of sports insiders for the top spot on a list of “The 25 Most Powerful Women in Sports,” and for good reason. As the current executive director of the NBA Players Association, Roberts represents the interests of over 300 of the best basketball players in the world. Michele is the first woman to ever hold the position and is first woman to head a major professional sports union in the United States. A graduate of UC Berkeley Law and former trial attorney, Roberts success is an inspiration to women everywhere.

Sarah Thomas: National Football League

NFL Down Judge Sarah Thomas has made making history a habit. In 2007 she was the first ever female official to work in a major college football game. Since then Sara was the first ever female official to work a college football bowl game, the first ever full-time female official to work in the National Football League and in January of 2019 Sarah became the first ever female official to participate in an NFL playoff game. Aside from making football history, Sarah lettered five times playing high-school softball and received a basketball scholarship to the University of Mobile where she was an academic all-American.

Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird: Women’s National Basketball Association/Team USA

Legends in the making and double trouble for opposing teams, point guards Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury and Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm account for a combined eight Olympic and seven FIBA World Cup gold medals and will again team up for the 2020 Olympics. Taurasi was the first WNBA player to score 8,000 points and is the league’s all-time leader in field goals. One of the highest paid female athletes in the world, at 38 years old Sue Bird is still a backcourt phenom with ball-handling skills that rival those of any basketball player, male or female, at any level. Unless one of them breaks a leg, the 2020 gold medal should be a lock for Team USA.

Alex Morgan: Women’s Professional Soccer

Very few players can start out at the top and stay there, but Alex Morgan has made it look easy. Soccer fans will never forget Alex Morgan’s game-winning shot in overtime that beat Canada and sent the USA Women to the gold medal match vs Japan in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Since her juggernaut debut, Alex has played professionally at home and abroad, including a stint with the French Olympique Lyonnais, where she helped the team win a French Cup and UEFA title. Most recently, in July of 2019, Morgan once again help the U.S. team win the FIFA Women’s World Cup and was awarded the Silver Boot.

Serena Williams: Professional Tennis

Ranked as Number One in the world eight different times, Serena Williams has won more combined Grand Slam tennis titles then any active player, with 39 major victories. Serena is the most recent female player to hold all four of the singles Grand Slam titles at once, is only the third player in professional tennis history to do it more than once and is also the most recent player to win a championship on hard court, grass and clay in one year. With over $28 million in earnings in 2016 and again in 2017, Williams was the only woman to make Forbes’ list of the 100 highest paid athletes. At 37 years old in 2019, Williams is ranked 8th in the world and will arguably go down in history as one of the greatest female athletes of all time.

She Wows Audiences With Her Contagious Smile & World- Class Hand of Magic! An Exclusive Interview With Las Vegas Magical Headliner Jen Kramer

Q: You were first fascinated by magic at age ten. Can you share with our audience what captivated you about magic?

JK: My Uncle Steve gave me a book called The Royal Road To Card Magic as a 10th birthday present and I was endlessly intrigued. It’s a sleight-of-hand card magic classic first published in 1948. I would spend hours sitting cross-legged on the green carpet of my childhood bedroom, keeping this magical, orange-bound book open with my knee as I held a deck of blue Bicycle playing cards in my hands, adjusting the positions of my fingers around the cards as I read the instructions. From the moment my uncle gifted me The Royal Road, I loved the process of learning and practicing these card magic techniques, then sharing the magic I learned with family and friends.

My reasons for loving magic have evolved over time, but – at the beginning, as a kid – there was something especially exciting about learning magic secrets and being able to wow even the seemingly all-knowing grown-ups. Over the years, I realized that the real secret of magic is in genuine human connection. Connecting with people and sharing the experience of wonder that magic evokes is what keeps me captivated by magic.

Q: What did your family and friends think when you talked about magic at such an early age?

JK: I’m fortunate to have such awesome, supportive family and friends who encouraged my passion for magic. My mom and dad regularly drove me to the various events where I performed early on and they (along with my two younger sisters) were my first test audience when I was working on a new piece of magic. Around age 11, I joined a group called The Society of Young Magicians, the youth chapter of The Society of American Magicians. Then, a few years later, I attended Tannen’s Magic Camp. So

early on, through the magic community, I met great friends who were also magicians and we connected over our shared love of magic.

Q: Who was your mentor growing up and how do they remain important to you today?

JK: I’m really grateful to have had wonderful mentors in magic while I was growing up, who will always be so important to me. My first mentors in magic were my Uncle Steve, Albert Lasher, and Tom and Janet Verner.

My Uncle Steve had studied magic for many years, so we would have a blast with our “magic jam sessions” whenever we’d meet up, talking about magic techniques and showing each other what we had each been working on lately. He also gifted me my very first magic books, starting with The Royal Road To Card Magic, the book that first piqued my interest in magic and totally changed my life.

Albert Lasher, the leader of Assembly #69 of The Society of Young Magicians, was a wonderful mentor as well, always so kind and generous to me and our entire group of young magicians. He would teach us about magic and performance, encourage us, and find great opportunities for us to perform in the community. One of my favorite places where we’d perform was on KidZone TV, an interactive studio which would broadcast our shows to pediatric patients at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Albert arranged these performances, which was just one example of his ever-present kindness, dedication, and generosity over the years.

When I was 12, I also met Tom and Janet Verner, who founded the organization Magicians Without Borders. From the moment we first met, I’ve been inspired by the work they do entertaining, educating, and empowering people all around the world and spreading hope and happiness through magic. I

first had the opportunity to work with them when I was in high school and later connected Magicians Without Borders and the Yale Magic Society. We ended up doing a joint trip to Mumbai and rural Gujarat, India, to perform magic together. That was such a special experience.

Q: At what point did you realize this was your career calling?

JK: I had always loved magic and been interested in pursuing it full-time. When I was in college, I started thinking more seriously about how to work out the practical realities of making magic my full-time career.

Throughout middle school, high school, and college I had worked as a magician, starting with birthday parties, then regular shows at our local Barnes & Noble bookstore, private events, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, college shows, corporate events, and more. So, over the years, I had the opportunity to gain “flight time,” as Lance Burton would say. That experience performing magic for people in various environments, from stage shows to close-up strolling magic, was so valuable.

In the summers after my freshman

and sophomore years at Yale, I interned with Nathan Burton’s show in Las Vegas. I had a great experience working with Nathan and his team, learning about the Vegas showbiz world. Then, during my junior and senior years, I started reaching out to properties in Las Vegas to pitch my show. When I graduated in 2014, I moved to Las Vegas to do magic full-time.

Q: Do you still remember your first public performance? Tell us what it was like.

JK: My first public performance was when I was 11 years old, at my little sister’s birthday party. I was paid in pizza and was thrilled with that arrangement! I also performed at my cousin’s Sweet 16 around that time, then soon after that I started performing regularly at parties. With each performance, I learned more and more and became more comfortable and confident in the magic and my performance chops.

My first regular gig as a magician was at our local Barnes & Noble bookstore. During my lunch period at school around age 14, I called Barnes & Noble to ask about performing my magic show on their Storytime stage in the kids’ section on a regular basis. I went into the store to do an audition show and it went well, so I started performing my show there on a biweekly basis. I loved doing these shows. It was such a great opportunity to get that “flight time” and led to other opportunities as well, like performing at a Harry Potter book release party (which was especially fun for me, as a Harry Potter fan).

Q: How did you get your break to perform in Las Vegas?

JK: During my junior and senior years at Yale, I started reaching out to properties in Las Vegas (cold-calling and cold-emailing from my dorm room in New Haven, Connecticut) to pitch my show. I expected to get many no’s – it wasn’t anything to take personally, they didn’t know me personally – but I was going to be proactive and persistent. All I needed was one yes. If I got one yes, then it was a win.

My goal was to sit down in person with the decision-maker, as I thought my best chance of making something happen would be to meet them face-to-face and pitch my concept in person. After many no’s, I got my first potential yes. I flew out to Las Vegas during the spring break of my senior year for an in-person

meeting. It went well and they agreed to give the show a shot, so I knew when I moved out to Las Vegas that I had one weekly show I could count on. I could then work my other performances around that.

Once we had a working model at that property, Wyndham’s Grand Desert Resort, I secured a second weekly show at another property, Marriott’s Grand Chateau. Soon after that, I had a third weekly show at a third property, Cancun Resort. I would also perform regularly at corporate events, theaters, private parties, college events, trade shows, and more, traveling around the country and the world, working these performances around my regular shows in Las Vegas.

I did these shows for the next four years until the opportunity came along to headline my show at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. It had been my long-time dream to have a magic residency in Las Vegas and I’m so grateful to have the chance to perform my show at such a special, historic property – the same property where Elvis Presley performed hundreds of sold-out shows. My show at Westgate opened on May 16, 2018, and we’re now approaching 600 shows at Westgate.

Q: What was your first thought when the COVID shutdown hit Las Vegas? What changes did you work on during your time off?

JK: It was such a surreal time. When the Las Vegas shows were on pause, I missed performing for live, in-person audiences. During that time, I worked on adapting the content of the show to our “new normal” for when we would reopen. I wanted the show to be just as fun and engaging as ever, which meant adapting many of the routines so they would work well in this new environment. Many of the touch points in the show – moments when an audience member would join me on stage or touch props – required rethinking. Sometimes this meant coming up with an entirely new method for a piece of magic. At the time, the regulations and guidance were changing almost daily, so I worked out different performance options. Adapting the magic to these limitations was a creative challenge, but one that pushed me outside my comfort zone and resulted in magic that I’m proud of. Some of the solutions that were originally devised for COVID-related reasons ended up being improvements to the show overall, elements that I want to keep in the show in the long term.

Advisory Board Members

Kate Delaney

Kate is a speaker, author, and Emmy Award winning talk show host. Kate’s interviewed over 16,000 people, including U.S. Presidents, Fortune 500 CEOs, and Hall of Fame athletes.

Elinor Stutz

Elinor is the CEO of Smooth Sale. She’s also an International Best-Selling and Evergreen Author, Top 1% Influencer, Inspirational Speaker.

Andrea Simon

Andrea Simon is a writer and photographer based in New York City. She has worked as an editor, writer, and manager on diverse projects, and was the co-owner of an editorial/production company that specialized in health-related educational materials.

Millen Livis

MILLEN LIVIS is International Holistic Financial Independence mentor, International best-selling author, investor, and entrepreneur.

Janice McLean DeLoatch

Dr. Janice McLean DeLoatch is a passionate advocate for entrepreneurs and women in the entertainment industry. She created the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame to honor women whose work represents the heritage and legacy of the world’s music songbook. She serves as the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman. Janice is also a Tv Host, Radio Personality, Entrepreneur and Author.

as the “Female Jerry Maguire,”

Molly Fletcher

Us To Talk About Her Career as a Sports Agent & Motivational Professional

Q: You acknowledge that you’re a trailblazer. For women entering the sports agent field, do you feel that there are any fewer hurdles to overcome than when you started? If so, what are they?

MF: I would say there are fewer hurdles, but they still exist. Visibility matters and I think seeing other women thrive in the space has opened the doors for others and broken down some of the barriers. Overall, I think people are starting to understand the business value of diversity. Sports has been slow to evolve, but now we are seeing women in the front office and on coaching staffs. That’s important, because for today’s athletes that’s now the norm not the exception. We still have a ways to go, but there is a powerful shift happening!

Q: Your website mentions working with big egos. What is the most powerful skill to possess when guiding a talent toward what’s most beneficial in the long run versus what might provide immediate gratification?

MF: It all starts with the ability to connect with people, and I think you do that by showing up, adding value and shooting straight. In the world of pro sports, it’s easy for athletes to get surrounded by “yes” people. As an agent, you have to be able to tell your clients what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear. Storytelling is a powerful vehicle because it helps show them why it’s important to play the long game. If you give them real examples of the “one and done” who focused on the short-term gain or made bad decisions in the moment, they connect with that. Most athletes made it to this level because of their discipline, so helping them understand they might have to make short term sacrifices for long term gain is something they understand.

Hailed

Joins

Q: If you were still a sports agent today, what do you think you would miss most about the way business was done when you first entered the field?

MF: When I started in the space, there was no social media. It obviously has tremendous advantages in terms of being able to tell your story, connect with your fans, and get deals—but I think most of us can relate to having days where we wish it didn’t exist! It’s definitely an added pressure for them to navigate.

Q: How many of your athlete clients are still your clients today?

MF: I no longer represent clients as a sports agent; however, I am grateful to stay connected with most personally as friends. Today I spend the majority of my time as a speaker, author, podcast host, and founder of the Game Changer Training company.

Q: 60+ keynotes a year! Tell us about your time management, i.e., your Energy Clock–how you balance your personal and work lives?

MF: I don’t love the word “balance” because I think it creates a lot of unrealistic expectations and guilt for people. I am big on energy management more so than time management. Energy management starts with clarity around what matters most to you, and then having the discipline to say “yes” or no” based on the clarity you have created. In my book, The Energy Clock, I walk people through an energy audit to help you get clear on what gives you energy and what drains your energy and how to make the adjustments you need to make. The book was a result of my own experiences being overscheduled, working 24/7, and feeling at times like I wasn’t my best self with the people in my life who mattered most. If you don’t decide where your energy goes, the world decides for you.

Q: Has there been a client with whom you just couldn’t connect? How did you negotiate your separation and what might you have done differently?

MF: Yes, earlier in my career there was one or two but not many thankfully. Whenever you feel disconnected, I see that as a signal to shift from defensive-

Molly Fletcher speaking at Leadercast 2017. She will be speaking again this year at Leadercast 2022.”

ness to curiosity. It’s easy to get defensive in those moments; it’s much more productive to get curious. Curiosity creates connection. You also have to be willing to embrace difficult conversations so that you can attempt to align on expectations and move forward. And know that sometimes, it’s OK to walk away.

Q: Do you expect your online training to continue post pandemic?

MF: Absolutely. Nothing is more important to me than meeting people where they are and the demand for learning is higher than ever. For individuals, we will continue to offer our virtual group coaching program, Game Changer Leadership Huddles, and we will be launching our first on demand course in 2022! For organizations, we’ll continue to offer both our Game Changer Negotiation Training and The Energized Leader Training virtually and in person.

Q: Who have been a few of your favorite guests on your podcast, Game Changers with Molly Fletcher, and why?

MF: Now this is a tough one! We’ve been blessed with so many amazing guests and there’s nothing better than getting the emails, texts, and comments from listeners about how a conversation impacted them personally. But to answer your question, Matthew McConaughey was special, because he was so engaged, so present and so real. The conversations I’ve had with coaches like Dabo Swinney (Clemson), Tom Izzo (Michigan State) and Geno Auriemma (University of Connecticut) were so enlightening from a leadership perspective—just their authenticity and willingness to share, you really see why they are so successful. I always love getting inside the mindset of world class athletes, like soccer star Carli Lloyd, WNBA champion Candace Parker, NFL Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, and World Series champion Dansby Swanson. And given the amount of

Molly Fletcher coaching clients on how to up their leadership game.

resilience needed in our world right now, I’d also recommend my conversations with Angela Duckworth on grit and Inky Johnson on overcoming adversity. It’s almost like the last one is my favorite because the insight, inspiration, perspective from all our guests is just awesome and to share these conversations with the world is what it is all about! I guess you have to listen to them all!

Q: You have addressed some very noteworthy big businesses. What’s the best way for an individual or small company to access your skills and knowledge?

MF: We work with organizations of all sizes! Beyond keynote speaking and training, there are lots of ways to engage. My podcast, Game Changers with Molly Fletcher, is a great free resource for anyone who wants to up their game. I’ve written five books, most recently The Energy Clock, and we’ll be launching our first on-demand digital courses in 2022. My website mollyfletcher.com is

the best place to start and you can follow me on all the social media channels @MollyFletcher for more free content!

Q: How do you keep your own delivery sharp and which of your programs trains others how to stay on top of their game?

MF: I take the athlete mindset to preparation! I do a lot of reps and spend a lot of time preparing on the front end. Every keynote is customized to address the behavior change we are driving for with the audience—that’s important to me. All of our programs at the core are about helping people up their game—whether that’s a keynote, a digital course, or our negotiation and energy management training. Stay tuned for our first on demand course, coming out in 2022!

“Molly Fletcher leading a Game Changer Negotiation Training™ workshop based off of her experience negotiating over $500 Million in contracts a sports agent.”

Awarded The Presidential Early Career Award For Scientist & Engineers. It’s a Pleasure To Introduce, Professor Of Engineering At Purdue University, Haiyan Wang.

Q: Can you share with our audience a little on your life story and how you became interested in Engineering?

HW: I was born and raised in China and moved to the US for a Ph.D. study in the field of materials science and engineering in 2000. I was fascinated by the field of materials research and its ability to fuel new discoveries and technology innovations and thus decided to pursue my career in materials research. Taking an example, all the integrated circuits that enable versatile personal devices and computing power we have today, are based on silicon, an earth abundant material and a semiconductor, as well as our ability to grow it well in thin layers and dope it with other elements to change its conductivity in different parts of the devices. I am currently focusing on new materials design and processing for microelectronics and photonics, and energy applications.

Q: When did you know you wanted your career to include teaching along with research?

HW: I have always dreamed to be a teacher as many of my teachers throughout my study are my role models. The dream

become much closer to me when I joined Los Alamos National Lab as a postdoc research fellow. I got to mentor multiple graduates and undergraduates through research. I very much enjoyed the teaching/learning process with them and thus applied to faculty positions after my postdoc work.

Q: Tell us about some of the patents you hold and how they are used.

HW: I currently hold 12 US patents. One of the earlier ones developed in 2005 was on the designs of multilayer stack for the high quality growth of high temperature superconductors coated conductors for superconducting cables and generators. This patent has been licensed by multiple superconductor companies and generated great industry interests in the field. These superconductors coated conductors are very important components for energy efficient generators, motors and electrical transmission lines that transmit electricity or convert energy without energy loss in electrical resistance.

Q: Can you tell us about the research your currently doing? What do you hope it will accomplish?

HW: My research group is currently working on many research directions in the areas of new ceramic and ceramic-based composite materials for more compactable microelectronic devices, new photonic structures, thin film Li-ion batteries, and efficient fuel cells. Another interesting and fundamental direction is to design and processing ductile ceramics through defect engineering. Usually, ceramics will break into pieces easily under high impacts, i.e., poor toughness, despite the fact that they are very hard, much harder than most of the metals. They behave very different from metallic materials, where metals generate various defects to accommodate the external high impacts, and then deform without breaking into pieces. We are designing ceramics with those defects to mimic “metals” and making them “tough” and unbreakable.

Q: In 2008, you received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers. Can you tell us more about this along with the presentation of your award?

HW: That was one of my most memorable moments in my career. I was among the top 60 early career scientists and engineers in the U.S. to receive this award. The awardees were selected and recommended from various federal agencies. I was invited to the White House and met with President Bush. Luckily, I was standing right next to him and had a short discussion with him during the group photo session.

Q: During Covid-19 you developed a hybrid plasmonic thin-film. Can you tell us what led to this design and how it’s being used?

HW: The COVID time was challenging for all the researchers as all the labs had restricted access with only one researcher allowed at any given time. We were able to design and process a range of hybrid plasmonic thin films. These are a group of hybrid materials with two or more materials combined as one material. At least one of the phases possesses plasmonic properties and the other phase(s) presents other functionalities. Typical processing methods involve processing one material first, then etch and integrate the second phase in. Our method is to directly grow two materials simultaneously and self-assembled into nanostructured hybrid materials. This poses great challenges to the growth process as the deposition parameters are vastly different for the different phases and finding a common processing window to effectively grow two or more phases requires deep understanding on the self-assembly process, i.e., materials science of self-assembly.

Q: What’s the greatest fear you’ve had to overcome to get where you are today?

HW: Materials science and engineering as a relatively new and cross-disciplinary area is filled with talented researchers from Chemistry, physics, biology, and nearly all the engineering fields. How to distinguish my research from others and identify critical research topics that are unique and impactful, have been a constant question I am asking throughout my career. Instead of fear, I consider this as the motivation to innovate continuously. Luckily, I am never alone by working with a group of talented graduate students and postdocs in my research group, and many collaborators at Purdue and other institutions, nationally and internationally!

Q: Can you tell our audience one of your most memorable moments your career?

HW: I recall many memorable moments in my career. But the most memorable ones are the Ph.D. graduation ceremonies where I grant the Ph.D. regalia on the shoulder of my Ph.D. students on stage. In the past 16 years, I have graduated 38 Ph.D. students and they are now working as professors in universities, researchers at national labs and senior processing engineers at semiconductor industries, such as Intel, Micron, IBM, Applied Materials. I am so proud of their achievements and witnessing their growth!

Q: What are some of the challenges you feel women face today?

HW: One of the major challenges is simply so few of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field. For instance, there are eight women faculty out of thirty-five faculty members in my home school of Purdue MSE. In the undergraduate classes I am teaching, typically there are 5-8 female students among the total of 30-40 student. The ratio of 1:4.5 is of concern but it is comparably better than many other engineering fields. There are a lot of work we have to do to slowly make the changes. I am hiring 1-2 female Ph.D. candidates each year to ensure my group diversity and gender balance. Another challenge is that the stereotype on “the boys are better than girls in STEM” continues to influence our young generations. My 13-years-old daughter always doubts about her ability in math and science despite she has excellent scores in all her classes. More work is needed to help girls gain their confidence. Such efforts can initiate from every one of us. For all the women in workplace, career-family balance is another major challenge. Because of the extensive periods of childbirth, breast-feeding, and raising family, many of the working women have to quit or temporarily quit jobs at the very early stage of their careers, which influences their long-term career. There shall be effective work and employment policies to protect women in workplace.

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to succeed in the workplace?

HW: We women engineers and scientists have strength in multi-tasking, soft inter-personal skills, and very detailed thinking. Utilizing the strengths, you will excel! Everyone is made differently. Use your own expertise and strengths to distinguish yourself, among others. Do not let any stereotype influence your career decisions and never limit your own potential! When you are deciding between family and career, do remember that these two are always coupled together and you can make them well balanced! A supportive family is also very key to such balance.

Q: After high school, where did you feel your career path would take you?

HW: I have always wanted to do something impactful and useful to the society. After high school, I had a vague picture of my career working in an engineering field but was not very sure on what exactly I would work on. After my bachelor and graduate studies, the picture became clear, i.e., a scientist in the areas of materials discovery.

Having Been Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as One of the Greatest Winners in LPGA History, Our Exclusive Interview with Golf Legend, Annika Sorenstam

Annika is often regarded as the greatest female golfer of all-time. During her 15-year, Hall-of-Fame career, she rewrote the LPGA and Ladies European Tour record books, won countless awards, and changed the way women’s golf was played, viewed and covered.

She amassed over 90 worldwide victories, including 72 on the LPGA and 10 Major Championships. Annika holds a record number of Rolex Player of the Year awards (eight) and Vare Trophies for the lowest scoring average in a season (six). As the only female to break 60 in an official event, she has been nicknamed “Ms. 59.” Perhaps most notably, Annika received worldwide media attention

when she became the first woman in 58 years to play in a PGA TOUR event at the 2003 Colonial Invitational. Annika stepped away from professional golf after the 2008 season to focus on her family and the ANNIKA brand of businesses, which include the ANNIKA Collection of high-end women’s golf apparel and ANNIKA Course Design. In 2007, she created the ANNIKA Foundation, which provides golf opportunities at the junior, collegiate and professional levels while teaching young people the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition.

The Foundation annually conducts six major tourna-

ments in the United States, Sweden (2), China, Argentina and New Zealand for aspiring junior girls along with the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M, a college tournament featuring 12 top Division I schools. It has annually enjoyed the strongest field in all of college golf since its inception. With the support of Stifel and the Haskins Commission, the Foundation created the ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel in 2014, which is given annually to the best collegiate female golfer.

Her global success in golf and knowledge of business has enabled her to become the first and only female golfer to create a successful brand of businesses, as featured in Duane Knapp’s book BrandStrategy, Inc. Annika’s brand has also been featured in Brandweek, the New York Times, Fortune Magazine, SportsBusiness Journal, Success Magazine, USA Today, and Wine Spectator to name a few non-golf publications.

Annika still tops the LPGA’s All Time Money List despite not competing since the 2008 season. She represented Europe as a player in eight Solheim Cups, as a vice-captain three times and captained the European team in 2017. Annika has received many accolades throughout her life. She was the recipient of the Patty Berg Award in 2003 for her contributions to women’s

golf. She was the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year from 2003-2005, and the Golf Writers Association of America Female Athlete of the Year in 1995, 1997 and from 2000-2005. In 2008, Annika joined Arnold Palmer as only the second Ambassador of the United States Golf Association. She and Jack Nicklaus were named Global Ambassadors by the International Golf Federation to help with golf’s successful bid for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games. Annika won the USGA’s prestigious Bob Jones Award in 2011, which is presented annually to someone with distinct character on and off the course. In 2013, she was named the First Lady of Golf by the PGA of America. The following year the LPGA, in partnership with Rolex, created the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award. It recognizes the player who, during a current LPGA season, has the most outstanding record in all five major championships. In 2015, Annika was named the top female athlete of all-time in her home country of Sweden. In 2016 Annika received the KPMG Inspire Greatness Award from the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit advisory council, with the support of the PGA of America and the LPGA. In 2016 Annika received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the business of golf at the HSBC Golf Business Summit. She is also the

Annika and players at the gala dinner to kick off the ANNIKA Invitational USA presented by Rolex hosted at the World Golf Hall of Fame.

first female golfer and only the third female in sport to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Annika is a very popular motivational speaker and many corporate executives, CEOs and meeting planners utilize her talents to entertain important clients, reward top performing employees, and build camaraderie amongst their teams. Annika is a driven, leader with a vast network of contacts throughout the world of business, sports, and entertainment.

In addition to expanding her brand and growing the game, Annika and her husband, Mike McGee, have two children, Ava (9/1/09) and Will (3/21/11). Annika represents world-class companies like 3M, AHEAD, Callaway, Cutter & Buck, Cabot Saint Lucia, Golfing World, Lexus, Mastercard and Rolex. Her Twitter handle is @ Annika59 and Instagram handle is @annikas59. For more information: www.annikafoundation.org.

Q: You started playing Golf at a young age, what

inspired you to pursue it professionally?

AS: As a kid, I loved all sports. I played soccer, badminton, did downhill skiing and my first love was tennis. I didn’t start playing golf until the age of 12 and was introduced to it because my parents played a lot. My sister, Charlotta and I would ride my parents’ pull carts like a horse and get ice cream at the turn. I didn’t take it seriously until the age of 16. That’s when I focused on golf, rather than tennis.

Fellow Swede, Liselotte Neumann won the US Women’s Open in 1988 and that really inspired me. If she could do it from our small country, why couldn’t I? I continued to work hard and went to the University of Arizona on a golf scholarship and after two years there I decided it was time to turn professional and give it a shot.

Q: For those in our audience not familiar with the Annika Foundation, tell us what kind of opportunities it provides for young women.

AS: We started the ANNIKA Foundation in 2007 to

Annika and her family having fun at a photo shoot.

provide golf opportunities at the junior, collegiate and professional levels while teaching young people the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition. It has partnered with key organizations to promote healthy, active lifestyles for children. Some initiatives are SPARK, the Florida Hospital for Children in support of its Healthy 100 Kids initiative and The First Tee in development of the Nine Healthy Habits curriculum for children.

The Foundation annually conducts six major golf events for aspiring junior girls. They are the award-winning AJGA tournament, the ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla.; the ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills, the first all-girls junior tournament in China; the ANNIKA Invitational in Europe; and the ANNIKA Cup, a team event for the top juniors in Sweden. In partnership with The R&A, the Women’s Amateur Latin America, and the ANNIKA Invitational Australasia at the famed Royal Wellington Golf Club in Wellington, New Zealand.

With the support of Stifel, the Haskins Commission and Golfweek, the Foundation created the ANNIKA Award Presented By Stifel in 2014. It is given annually to the best collegiate female golfer. In concert with the award, the Foundation launched the ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented By 3M, a college tournament featuring 12 of the top Division I schools. This tournament takes place at Royal Golf Club and has had the strongest field in all of college golf since its inception.

Q: Have any of your alumnae gone on to pursue a professional career in Golf?

AS: Each year we have over 600 girls from over 50 different countries compete in our global events. We have had over 60 of our alumnae play on the LPGA Tour, and over 150 on the Symetra Tour.

Q: You’ve accomplished so much as a Professional Golfer, Businesswoman, and mentor to many young women. Has it been a smooth road?

AS: I think the lessons I have learned from golf certainly

apply to life. It teaches you integrity, how to overcome adversity, how to make goals and accomplish them. There are a lot of correlations. Each day brings you new challenges. Some days you get good breaks and some days bad ones. I stepped away in 2008, which in hindsight was a difficult time to start businesses. There have been ups and downs and we have learned a lot. I enjoy working with my husband, Mike on all of our businesses. We have a great team around us, and we have narrowed our focus to the foundation, the ANNIKA Collection of clothing with Cutter & Buck, and golf course design.

Q: What’s one lesson you’ve learned in your career that you can share with our audience?

AS: My dad taught me when I was a young girl that there are no shortcuts to success. It was raining and I didn’t feel like practicing, so I called my Dad to pick me up. As we drove out of the course, we passed the driving range, and there were still kids hitting balls in the rain. My dad turned to me and said that to me. I will never forget that, and it still drives me to this day.

Q: Can you tell us one of your most memorable moments in your career?

AS: I have been fortunate to have a lot of very memorable events of which I’m proud. I would say shooting a 59 in 2001, playing against the men on the PGA TOUR in 2003 at Colonial, and being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to succeed in the workplace?

AS: I would tell young ladies in the workforce to find their passion. Life is too short to do something you don’t love. Work hard and put in the time. Again, there are no shortcuts to success. Surround yourselves with good people and network as much as possible.

Q: What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume alone?

AS: I am a normal Mom and wife. I love to hang with our family and kids. I cook probably six nights a week and love it. I enjoy housework and chores and am constantly busy.

A Trust Strategist, Body Language Expert, Former Undercover Police Officer & Federal Prosecuting Attorney

Q: After high school, where did you feel your career path would take you?

PB: After high school, I attended university to study politics and economics. I wanted to have a degree completed before entering law enforcement. My grandmother and mother did not have the opportunity to attend college or university. They were adamant that I go and at least get a bachelor’s degree before becoming a police officer. I was the first person in my family to attend university.

Q: What was your first job? And how did it shape or impact you?

PB: I had several part-time jobs and full-time summer jobs while I was a student. Everything from being an operator for the phone company to working at a bookstore and a beer store. However, my first “real” job was as a uniform police officer. I know from experience that policing is one of the most challenging and underappreciated jobs there is. But it is also the most rewarding. One moment you may be in a life-threatening situation, and the next, you’re responding to a call about a minor event. In policing, you learn a lot about people, and

at the same time, you learn a lot about yourself. Specifically, that you can accomplish more than you ever thought you could because you have to. You’re the police. You can’t wait for someone to come and save you – that’s why you’re there.

Q: Can you share with our audience about the opportunity you had to become an undercover police officer?

PB: I started my policing career as a uniform patrol officer. I worked with a great platoon and had the opportunity to respond to everything from murder to traffic stops and everything in-between. But I was always drawn to criminal investigations, especially narcotics work. After completing three years in uniform, I was transferred to the drug enforcement section, where I worked as an undercover officer. Working as an undercover police officer is not for everyone. You’re required to work odd hours and live away from home for months at a time, which is probably one of the reasons why I was one of two women in a unit of eighty-nine officers.

Q: While working full-time undercover, you also completed law school … was this always your career goal?

Pamela Barnum

PB: Practicing law was not always my career goal. I’ve always enjoyed being a student. When I finished my B.A., I began my studies at Police College. After graduation, I enrolled in graduate school and attended classes at night and on my days off. After completing my master’s degree, I enrolled in law school. That was a bit more challenging to manage because I was enrolled in law school full-time (they didn’t allow part-time studies), and I was working full-time as an undercover police officer. I couldn’t tell my professors or classmates what I did for a living, which made conversations interesting, especially in my criminal law classes. I married my undercover partner in what we jokingly call our government prearranged marriage. Fortunately, I graduated from law school just as we were starting a family. Being an undercover police officer is not a very mom-friendly job, and my law degree allowed me to leave policing and begin a career as a prosecutor.

Q: Tell us about the responsibilities you had as a Federal Prosecuting Attorney.

PB: I primarily prosecuted drug offenses like trafficking and importing. It was an exciting career, and I enjoyed the new challenges that came with it. My experience as an undercover police officer gave me a perspective that most attorneys do not have.

Q: You’re writing a book and are doing a lot of speaking engagements … what else do you have on the horizon?

PB: I am currently writing a book about the negotiation and communication techniques I learned and developed over a twenty-year career in the criminal justice system. Pre-COVID-19, I traveled throughout North America, delivering keynotes on negotiating, communicating, and building trust through intentional communication and body language. Now, I am delivering virtual keynotes and workshops. Although I miss the live interaction of in-person events, I can manage more events now that I don’t have to leave my home studio.

Q: What’s your advice for women in male-dominated fields?

PB: Care more about being respected than being liked. Being heard and seen in male-dominated professions is more effective when you communicate confidence and empathy with what you say and with your body language.

Q: What do you like doing in your spare time?

PB: I love spending time with my husband Kevin and our son Kaleb. We enjoy hiking and skiing in the beautiful Rocky Mountains where we live. I also enjoy reading mystery novels and anything by Malcolm Gladwell.

She Barely Survived a Deadly Mountain Plane Crash That Took The Lives of 160 Passengers. Making Her Second Chance of Life Count, An Exclusive Interview With Motivational Speaker,

Mercedes Ramirez Johnson

In 1995, Mercedes Ramirez Johnson narrowly survived a commercial airplane crash where about 160 people died, including her parents. As one of only four survivors of this tragedy, she vowed that she would make her second chance at life count… and that she has – not just for herself, but also for the tens of thousands of people who have heard her story and her message.

Mercedes has received national awards for her work, influence, commitment to helping others. People Magazine’s Spanish edition, People en Español, named her one of the country’s top young Hispanic up-and-comers. INROADS, Inc., an international organization dedicated to developing talented minority youth, voted her Alumni of the Year. She was also awarded Volunteer of the Year for Christ Haven for Children, a Texas-based home for neglected children. In memory of her parents, she established a scholarship for minority students at Northwest Missouri State University, where she actively served as an Executive Member of the university’s Foundation Board.

Q: Every year, we’re incredibly lucky to have and celebrate our birthday. For you, it’s also an anniversary of an incredibly sad event that happened on your 21st birthday. Is there something special you do for your birthday that you can share with us?

MRJ: Every year, my birthday is always bittersweet. The reason for this is that I feel a little guilty celebrating my birthday since it’s the anniversary of my parents’ death. But my birthday is also incredibly life-affirming since on that very day in 1995, I was given a second chance to live life with my heart and mind wide open. It has taught me to appreciate the beauty of life, family, friends and fulfilling my dreams, not just for myself but for my family.

Q: What type of injuries did you sustain and how long was your recovery?

MRJ: I was hospitalized for nearly three months after the plane crash. Initially, the doctors in Colombia told my family I had a 2030% chance of survival due to the severity of my injuries. I broke my right femur bone, fractured my lower spine, broke quite a few ribs, and sustained massive internal injuries in my stomach, so I had to undergo many surgeries to repair the fractures, skin grafts, and do some rerouting of my intestinal tract.

Q: Do you still keep in contact with your fellow survivors?

MRJ: No, unfortunately, I lost track of most of the survivors. Occasionally, I see family members of Mauricio Reyes, but I’d love to get reconnected with them all. I know that everyone has accomplished success in their lives, and I consider myself privileged to be a part of such a remarkable group of people who have made the most of their life.

Q: How long did it take before you felt you could fly again?

MRJ: I used a baseball game in St Louis against my favorite team, the Atlanta Braves, as an excuse to board a plane just about a month and being released from the hospital. It was terrifying, but it was under an hour-long, and I knew I needed to start the process of getting over my newfound fear of flying. Every little bump and dip felt frightening, but every flight from that point forward became a little less scary. I’m glad my sister convinced me to take that first flight because the world is too beautiful of a place to not enjoy it with the people I love.

Q: What was your first thought when you learned the flight crew had failed to adequately plan and execute the approach to runway?

MRJ: For months, I was filled with bitterness and anger. I was trying to make sense of it all, trying to figure out what would have led to their numerous mistakes and oversights. I kept wondering why

they weren’t more careful and mindful of their responsibilities. But after months of prayer and therapy, I grew to accept it wasn’t because of bad intentions. I didn’t want to live the rest of my life as a jaded negative person; because that’s NOT the type of person I’d like to be WITH, so why would I allow myself to BECOME that? The pilots were two good men who just had a really bad day at work that day. They had friends and family that were devastated by their loss just as much as I was devastated from losing my parents.

Q: When did you realize that you wanted to become a motivational speaker?

MRJ: I would never have pictured myself being a “motivational speaker.” Just the title makes me cringe… it makes me think of smoke machines, thumping music, and crazed audiences willing to pay half of their life savings for some guru to tell them how to live their life. I’m a storyteller; I’m an eternal student — my favorite part of my work is researching my clients’ industries, victories, and problems, then crafting a program that catapults them to working and living with a clearer outlook better tools to succeed.

In 1996, a schoolgirl scout troop invited me to share my story about my plane accident in the basement of a church, which happened just weeks after being released from the hospital. From there, my career as a storyteller blossomed. It’s inspiring to see how it’s turned into such a fulfilling career. It helps give me so much purpose.

Q: Can you share with our audience when and to whom your first speech was given?

MRJ: The first time I openly talked about my plane crash to a group was the girl scout troop, but my first real speech was in Chicago at a collegiate Hispanic leadership conference. It hit close to home because I was a member of this same Hispanic leadership organization throughout my high school and collegiate years. I felt like I was in the audience watching myself. It was emotionally overwhelming, and I had to regain my composure to finish the speech through tears. After that, I realized I had to learn how to give a genuine, emotionally compelling talk while at the same time emotionally removing myself from the talk. It’s too painful not to.

Q: You’ve given many speeches since that terrible accident over 25 years ago. Is there one question that you’ve been asked that is still difficult to answer?

MRJ: The first time someone asked me if I felt guilty that I survived and not everyone else really threw me back. Honestly, at first, I felt insulted because I thought that person was insinuating I could have done something to save others, which I couldn’t. I was knocked unconscious at impact and didn’t wake up in the wreckage until the following day. But instead of guilt, I feel responsible for living a life of kindness, generosity, and adventure. I feel that if I live a FULL life, that it’s a life worth being proud of. Not just for me to feel pride, but for all the people who would were denied that second chance to live out their days.

Q: Tell us what the Second Chance Living concept means and how it has helped those you’ve shared it with.

MRJ: God, the universe, and all the rescue/medical staff that played a role in saving my life are responsible for the second chance at life I was given. Sadly, it took losing my parents, nearly losing my own life, and living through the hell of a plane crash to make me realize that every day on this earth is a precious gift. Each day we wake up, we’ve been given a brand new second chance at life. What an incredible opportunity that is! To wake up with a clean slate and a fresh start to right your wrongs and be the truest version of yourself that day. When we value each day as a new chance, that’s when we can muster the courage and the energy needed to slay the dragons in our way and make our little slice of our worlds better by our actions, our words, and our interactions by being intentional.

Q: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted you and your family? Have you made use of video conferencing to continue speaking?

MRJ: This is going to make me sound so weird, but I LOVED being home with my sons. These past few years, I went through many changes in losing two sons that were born with a genetic terminal condition, ending my marriage of 21 years, and navigating motherhood of two teenage twin boys. So, quarantine gave me a chance to finally breathe. I had been running nonstop for so many years that this gave me a chance to focus solely on people in my inner circle. It gave me time to grieve, time to heal and celebrate the loves in my life. From March until early summer, all my speaking engagements had been canceled or indefinitely postponed. Then little by little, my clients came back with revamped conference and meeting plans, and my master bathroom has now been permanently transformed into my live virtual keynote studio. I’ll be all dolled up in a suit, full makeup, great lighting, and using all kinds of professional jargon to make myself sound smart — but my client has no idea that it’s all smoke and mirrors in front of my bathtub just a few paces away from my toilet! Although I miss interacting with my clients in person at their amazing events, it’s still a blast to play a role in their endeavors.

I’m looking forward to the day where I can meet and hug my audiences again. In the meantime, my bathroom studio has been a hit which I’m grateful for!

Q: Is there a lesson you’ve learned in your career that you can share with our audience?

MRJ: Without authenticity, gratitude, and drive, there won’t be anything such as long-term success or happiness. When

you are REAL, then you’re trusted; you go within yourself to fight for your dreams and experience success by being true to yourself. When you have a grateful heart, you are able to savor the milestones (big and small) along the journey and feel so much more fulfillment in the process. You can forge your own path, set your own goals, and break your own barriers when you have drive; without it, there is no direction, and you feel like the never-ending hamster in the wheel.

Q: What advice would that you give to young women who want to succeed in the workplace?

MRJ: Don’t make yourself small for ANYONE. Not in your personal life, not in your professional life — nowhere. Don’t wait till you meet all the qualifications, have enough confidence in your own abilities to learn as you go.

Speak up!

Quit apologizing!

Don’t ask for a seat at the table. Take it.

Spend your time with people that speak words of goodness and encouragement, with people that bring out the best in you. You don’t have to use money to invest in yourself. Instead, to broaden your perspective and deepen your knowledge base, you should listen to podcasts, watch documentaries, and attend free online classes. Find a hobby of your OWN that brings you joy that doesn’t revolve around your partner or your children.

Buy the shoes, the suit, or the lipstick that makes you walk with a bit more swagger when you’re about to walk into a room or situation that scares you. You’ll feel like you own the room by the time you leave, and you’ll wonder why you were ever intimidated in the first place.

Q: After high school, where did you feel your career path would take you?

MRJ: I majored in International Business in college, so I hoped I

would be in a fast-paced career traveling the world. My father used to work for TWA, so as a family, we used to fly around for free, so that was a big reason why I went into International Business was to incorporate my love of traveling, my drive for business, and my knowledge of foreign languages for life.

Q: What was your first job? And how did it shape or impact you? My very first job was in high school when I worked for a family-owned jewelry store. My friend in high school’s parents owned the store, so I worked there as a cleaner. I was surrounded by gorgeous jewels, so my eyes are always sparkling since I inherited a love of jewelry from my parents. It taught me about receiving instruction/constructive criticism in a way that I didn’t take it personal. The first time my boss told me I didn’t clean the display cases well enough, I remember I went down to the basement of the jewelry store and bawled my eyes out since my parents used to have me do chores around the house all the time, so I always consider myself a cleaning and polishing expert. This first job also taught me that I am terrible at time management. I couldn’t handle working there and getting all my homework and studies done to the level I was accustomed to. However, I quit the job after three months.

Q: If we interviewed all your clients … what is “one” common word that comes up when they describe working with you?

MRJ: Real. I’ve had so many clients afterward tell me, “when you were on stage, I felt like you were talking directly to ME.” I’ve been told that they felt like I was a friend who was having a one-on-one conversation with them. There are all kinds of speakers/experts who go on stage and have a certain persona or branding that they stick to, and it feels like an incredibly awesome production, but sometimes people may think, “I wonder what they’re really like.’ Well, when people see me, they get the real me, scars, bumps, limp, and all. That’s just the truth.

Q: What’s the greatest fear you’ve had to overcome to get

where you are today?

MRJ: My biggest fear after the plane crash has been losing the people I love. Sadly, my youngest set of twin boys were born with a rare genetic terminal disorder (Mucolipidosis Type 2). According to the doctors, they were given a life expectancy of 3-7 years when they were born. Wynn lived to be six years old, and Dorian lived to be ten. Those sweet little angels transformed me into a better human being. They made my two older sons more empathetic and caring. They made their father more appreciative of the little things since little victories were all we had with them. I think God gave me those two earth angels because he knew I could handle it, that I wouldn’t drown myself in all that was “wrong,” and that I’d take the time to relish all that was right. I’m so thankful the Lord entrusted me with those boys for the short time that we had them.

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work life balance?

MRJ: Work-life balance is a beautiful myth because our brains cannot do more than one thing at a time. Instead of trying to juggle it all, have it all, and do it all; I’ve learned to say no. I’ve learned to focus on one thing at a time. If I’m watching a movie with my sons, I’m going to ignore the email alerts or the phone calls, and I’m going to enjoy that movie with my boys. Suppose I’m prepping for a client’s keynote. In that case, I’m going to lock myself into my room with a sign posted on the door that says “don’t come in here unless you’re bleeding or in need of immediate medical attention” because my sons wouldn’t call their dad and expect him to drop a client meeting to ask what’s for dinner so why would I let them do that me?

Q: What’s one lesson you’ve learned in your career that you can share with our audience?

MRJ: Sometimes your biggest failures or biggest sources of fear can turn into the most rewarding opportunities. You can’t be scared, intimidated, or overwhelmed. You can FEEL scared, intimated, or overwhelmed, but don’t BE those things. You feel it, then release it and get back to the business of being badass.

Q: Can you tell our audience one of the most memorable moments in your career?

MRJ: The first time I spoke in front of a huge audience was life-changing. While I was still a college student, I was asked to speak at the National Catholic Youth Conference. They were anticipating 15,000 attendees. I had to go to my college speech professor and asked him, “how do I craft a speech for 15,000 teenagers?” He patiently coached me through the process. The night before I gave the speech, I had a dream that I was in a lecture hall giving a presentation in class in school, and while I was giving the speech, I was going row by row, making eye contact with all of my classmates. When I got to the 3rd row, I saw my parents sitting there smiling and watching me proudly. In my dream, I said, “Oh my God! What are you guys doing here!” and I wanted to run up and hug them, but they put their fingers over their lips in a gesture to be quiet, and they both waved their hand to signify carry on. I could remember waking up that morning from that dream in tears, but when I hit that stage, I didn’t feel a single once of nervousness because I could feel their love and encouragement with me on that stage.

Q: Which woman inspires you and why?

MRJ: My paternal grandmother was an incredible woman — brave, loving, kind, tenacious in caring for her children, and humble. My mother — she was a joyous person, courageous to come to the United States without knowing a soul, and she took care of her family in Nicaragua financially until the day she died. My mother took a lot

of pride in helping people, and I always had so much fun watching how she had this magnetism that drew people to her, made people laugh, and knew how to make people feel loved and welcomed. And my sister, Sylvia. She’s nine years older than I am, and she took on the role of caretaker and comforter for me after our parents died. Amid her own grief, she took care of me, and she’s never stopped caring for me since. I’ll never be able to truly express how much she means to me. I wouldn’t be me without her.

Q: What are some of the challenges you feel women face today?

MRJ: Being a woman isn’t meant for the weak. I don’t need to remind women of the insurmountable expectations we put on ourselves to the mama bears of our family, the school volunteers, and community/ social action leaders, the leaders in the workplace, and rock a swimsuit at the pool. I would still come back as a woman in my next life, just that this time, I would just come back as a woman who didn’t care what other people feel or think of me. How freeing that would be if we all just frolicked around being kind, doing what makes us happy, and making our world a better place with our heads held up high.

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to succeed in the workplace?

MRJ: Learn as much as you can, find a mentor, hang out with success-minded people, and bring your full self to work. Don’t create a work persona — be your true self.

Q: What is your coaching philosophy for success?

MRJ: Make yourself proud every single day.

Q: How do you know if a client is right for your service?

MRJ: I work with clients that have open hearts and open minds. It’s like being in a relationship — if you meet someone that already knows it all, why would they need to hang out with you? Same with clients — all organizations have blemishes and problems they need to fix. If they are honest enough to address them, then we can roll up our sleeves and be brave enough to fix them.

Women & the World Economy

Trade is one of the significant factors that stabilize the world economy. However, some countries have been economically excluded from advances in technology, the creation of jobs, and expanding supply chains across borders. Natural disasters, climate change, and geopolitical tension among nations is a risk to emerging countries. Despite the setbacks and turmoil in many regions, there is some good news for the worldwide economy. Women around the globe are engaged in economic activity, which could increase the GDP to $28 trillion as soon as 2025. Here are some of the prominent women who affect the world economy.

Christine Lagarde is a French lawyer and politician who began serving as the President of the European Central Bank in November 2019. She previously held the positions of Minister of the Economy, Finance, and Industry, Minister of Commerce, and Minister of Agriculture and Fishing. Lagarde was the first woman to be named the Finance Minister of a GB economy. As a prominent labor and anti-trust lawyer, she was the first woman to be appointed Chair of Baker & McKenzie, a leading international law firm. In 2019, Lagarde was named by Forbes as the Second Most Powerful Woman in the World.

Christina Romer is the former vice-president of the American Economic Association; She earned her Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She worked as an assistant professor at Princeton before accepting a position as a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Romer

has done extensive research on monetary and fiscal policy from the time of the Great Depression to the present day. In 2008, she joined the Obama Administration as the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors. Professor Romer currently teaches at the University of California Berkeley Department of Economics.

Thea Lee was the first woman ever to be named as the President of the Economic Policy Institute. She began her career working as a trade economist at the Institute during the 1990s and later worked with the most prominent labor organization in the country, the AFL-CIO. She earned an appointment to the Congressional United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission in December 2019. The commission was established in 2000 to oversee the details of the trade war. As a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center, a non-profit organization, she assisted with finalizing the details of the Green New Deal, proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Dr. Stefania Paredes Fuentes is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Warwick. Dr. Fuentes is a noted lecturer who coordinated Economic modules at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. She is involved with research in Macroeconomics and Development Economics, Institutional Economics, and Economics and Economic History of Latin America. In January 2020, Dr. Fuentes is organizing the first workshop of its kind on Economics for Women Students at the University.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez majored in economics and international relations at Boston University and graduated cum laude in 2011. Her platform includes free trade school and public college, a federal jobs guarantee, Medicare for all, and abolishing the ICE agency. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts co-sponsored the Green New Deal legislation which addresses the issue of economic inequality among different countries and groups of people, and the long-term effects of global warming.

DR. AMY YOUNG

The First Woman to Become Executive Director of The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Q: Growing up, when were you first intrigued by the health sciences?

AY: I think we all have role models that influence us in our life choices. I was lucky enough to have a female pediatrician in the mid-60s in Mississippi which was quite rare. My mother revered her (she took care of my 6 siblings). My parents had lost one of those siblings to leukemia, so they were well versed in health care and were respectful of the profession. My mother influenced my choices greatly. I also was raised in a home where learning expectations for my female siblings were not different from my male siblings. I was not burdened with the idea that girls were not good in math and science, so from an early age, all subjects interested me. However, I was drawn to science and math. My mother’s much younger brother, my uncle, was going through medical school when I was in elementary school and was also an individual I looked up to. I declared early that medicine was something that I would do. I liked to understand, and still do today, how things work, and this applies to human anatomy and physiology.

I also recognized and valued the relationships that doctors had with patients from an early age, as I was also influenced by some wonderful health care professionals as a child. I never really detoured from that vision. One of the unique things about my career choice, and especially the field of women’s health, is how important advocacy for your patients can be. I should mention that as a teenager, I flirted with the idea of being a career politician, but that interest did not last long.

Q: Did you consider another field of healthcare before deciding on women’s health?

AY: I loved all my rotations in med school except for one specialty. I had a very difficult time deciding

what to be. I was lucky in my med school in that we had a program that took your preferences and input from those close to you and matched them to those preferences and practices of those that were active professionals in their respective fields. I loved specialties where you could provide the ultimate care - for the most part - to the patients (surgical and medical) and where continuity and relationships were important. I enjoyed preventive medicine. I was initially so undecided that I applied in three different areas for residency programs and eventually eliminated the other two. One was not procedural enough, and the other was too specialized. To be able to care for a woman through her lifecycle is a privilege, and when you are lucky, you may also provide care to her mother and her daughter in different aspects of their lifecycles. Although I did not recognize it at the time, the variety that women’s health care provides on a day-to-day and longitudinal trajectory also was and continues to be very appealing. The nature of being able to be on both the medical and surgical side enables communication with other disciplines and has led to many rewarding leadership opportunities.

Q: Did you have family that was in the healthcare field to inspire you?

AY: As I previously stated, I have an uncle who is still a practicing physician who influenced me greatly. He is an infectious disease doctor who has worked globally for most of his career. He is an expert in leishmaniasis, malaria, and HIV. I was lucky enough to have just visited him in Cambodia where his team is undertaking important preventive work in HIV transmission.

Q: Do you consider mentorship a contributing factor to your success?

AY: Mentorship, or rather sponsorship, has been essential to me in my career, and it is something that I try to pay forward. One unique aspect of my career, I think it is unique, is that I have not had one single mentor, but I have been fortunate enough to have had exposure to many great leaders, and for me, great female leaders, and I have taken advantage of learning and sometimes emulating some of their best assets. Sponsorship is very important because it is not just having someone show you the way, it is someone opening doors for you and sometimes pushing you through. I have also been fortunate to have had a great executive coach for many years, and I think this relationship has been helpful to me in helping me prioritize what is important. She has also been able to hold a “mirror” up for me to be able to see myself as others see me, both the good and the bad, in a way that is nonjudgmental and impersonal. She has helped me see the impact that I can make and worry less about imperfections and missteps.

I also want to take a moment to credit the teams with which I have worked. Having a great team with what I like to call “The Three Musketeer” mentality is so important. They have your back, and you have theirs. This type of team is empowering and allows one to be their best self. These teams can be elusive, so if you have one or built one, hang onto it. You do not know when you will find your next one.

Q: Why do you think it took so long to name a woman to your position?

AY: ABOG has a long history of great leaders, and it

would not be what it is today without their vision and execution. Many of those individuals have provided mentorship and sponsorship for me. I have seen the specialty transition to recruit more women over my career, so women being in the majority is a relatively early phenomenon for the board and other leadership positions. In academic medicine, women are often underrepresented in the professorial levels which is multifactorial and speaks to the need for mentorship and sponsorship by our senior leaders.

Q: In 2021 and 2022, ABOG pledged its support to a full spectrum of reproductive healthcare. Do you anticipate any changes to that commitment in the future?

AY: At the time of writing these interrogatories, I have not yet started in my role, but I anticipate that ABOG will continue to support the full spectrum of reproductive health care. ABOG has a process whereby they survey their members and understand what is important in the diplomates’ day-to-day practice to ensure the content of the Qualifying and Certifying Exams as well as Maintenance of Certification reflect the knowledge and skills and professional attitudes that practicing OB-GYNs need to master and maintain for the safe care of women in our country. Reproductive healthcare is a critical component of that safe care. This was reaffirmed and published in April 2023 (Shivraj, P., Chadha, C., Novak, A. R., Dynis, D. N., Ramin, S.M., Macones, G. A., & Wendel, G. D., (2023). Knowledge, judgment, and skills in reproductive health care and abortion are essential to the practice of obstetrics and gynecology).

As Executive Director of ABOG, I hope to lead our team in partnering with the board to both preserve the great work and legacy before us but to also use the resources of the board to innovate for a bold future in certification to further safe and effective care for women.

Q: ABOG certifies a number of specialties. Do you foresee any new treatments or technologies coming under the purview of ABOG in the near future?

AY: ABOG’s role would be to certify specialty and subspecialty diplomates in the knowledge and skills of any emerging treatment or technology as it always has. As explained previously, by surveying its diplomates and by having diplomates participate in committees that develop the exam processes and Maintenance of Certification, it ensures that what is being tested or selected for education is current and balanced with a focus on providing ongoing safe care for women.

Q: With declining numbers of family practitioners, what role does or will the OB/GYN play in the coming future to address some of those needs?

AY: Through manpower assessment analysis that I have previously done both in Texas and Louisiana, there is an evolving mismatch between women’s health providers and patients who need care. The supply and demand problem already exists in many regions. Any decrease in numbers of capable providers such as a decline in family practice providers will have further impact on that mismatch. Luckily, there are other types of women’s health providers that can fill part of that gap and, as such, we will need to think differently about how and by whom care can be provided in the future. We have adjusted our training and assessments to include systems-based practice, which includes leading teams and systems that are critical competencies in addressing future work force shortages.

Q: What considerations do you recommend to young people considering a career in OB/GYN?

AY: First, I would congratulate them on picking such a rewarding specialty. What joy this career has brought me! The variability of day-to-day work and year-to-year work is widely ranging, and what I do today and enjoy can be different from what I did when I started my career. I have always evolved and, in some ways, reinvented myself to the work before me as that has changed over time. This ability to reinvent is very energizing. Another piece of advice is to jump in with both feet. My reservation about the specialty initially was about work-life balance and I have found that manageable. I have the hindsight now that I have grown children and I’m a grandmother to see that it is possible to intertwine a family and OB GYN as a career.

A career in medicine is such a privilege that other careers cannot bring. Medicine offers an opportunity to improve the lives of others day in and day out. Being a health care provider gives purpose and meaning to my life every day. Medicine also offers versatility, not just for OB-GYN but all specialties. As one’s career evolves, opportunities arise.

Q: How can women achieve more prominent roles in their organizations?

AY: Both male and female mentors are important. You never know who you are going to learn something valuable (even if it represents something you don’t want to be or do) from if you open your mind and are accepting. Sponsors and networks are even more important. And as I pointed out previously, if you can work with your organization or institution in obtaining additional resources such as executive coaching, this can be a valuable asset.

I also have a passion for reading and learning about leadership in business. Cross-pollenating advances in other sectors to medicine is important. Lastly, we all have self-doubts, but we must be brave. I try to live out the question, “Do I have the skill to contribute and or make impact?” If the answer to that question is yes, I move forward. Sometimes, I should also ask do I have the bandwidth… somehow, I have always been able to make it work.

Q: What are some of your favorite interests and hobbies that you enjoy?

AY: I have so many outside interests it is hard to limit them. I love to garden (not when it is over 100 degrees outside). I love growing my orchids and seeing them bloom. I enjoy cooking and baking and making jellies and jams. Cooking to me is like a great chemistry experiment but in the end, the product is so much better.

I love entertaining and having people in my home. I think having people in your home is intimate and maybe a little old-fashioned but is a way of making others comfortable and showing your own vulnerabilities. I often intertwine entertainment at home with my business and personal life.

Committed to Help Her Audience Communicate Well to Empower Their Business Growth & Future Sales. Read Our Exclusive Interview With International Best-Selling Evergreen Author & CEO of Smooth Sale,

Elinor Stutz

Q: What was your first job? How did it shape or impact you?

ES: Upon graduating college, a friend and I began a party planning business named, Details Details. Our first client was KFWB, the premier rock ‘n’ roll station in Los Angeles, CA. We arranged a party at Universal Studios for the station, which proved highly successful. Shortly afterward, we were featured on the cover of Mademoiselle Magazine. But then the stock market tumbled, KFWB became a news station, and I needed to find a job.

My first job was secretarial for a marketing agency in Los Angeles, and the CEO was a genius from my perspective. He realized my creativity to ask me for an idea for a billboard. My advice was to showcase skydivers, and he did – the billboard was visible on the Sunset Strip!

Shortly afterward, I asked why he believed he was so successful, as the client roster was impressive. His advice was repeated throughout the years by marketing and speaking professionals. It rang true for the remainder of my career: “Share your story with clients as if you were having coffee with them in your kitchen.” The conversation becomes enjoyable and advances from there. His words of wisdom helped me advance through my sales career and later entrepreneurial endeavors.

Q: As the CEO of Smooth Sale, tell us about what you all do along with your role as CEO?

ES: I enjoy learning about new trends and applying them to business development. As an earlier adapter of social media, Kred named me a Top 1% Influencer. I’m still active today, providing new content almost daily and growing followers. Next, no one understood my work or why I was still attempting it, so I began blogging to allow my thoughts to roam free.

The blog became another form of community service work as leaders from varying fields provide stories about how they overcame hardships to achieve

success. The purpose is to help readers find their way more readily and reach new heights.

Before COVID, I enjoyed delivering inspirational keynotes at conferences as they apply to business. Les Brown heard my talk early on, tweaked it, and the delivery unanimously received standing ovations. Also, in the past, I created an entire product line and workshops to train teams of professional salespeople plus entrepreneurs to advance to new heights. On the side, I always provided talks on how to sell oneself in interviews for job seekers to help move their careers forward.

Q: You are also an International Best-Selling Author. Can you share with our audience some of the topics you’ve written about?

ES: Book Background Story: In my hometown, I was successful as a sales trainer, familiar with the area’s companies. However, humiliation took over upon moving and attending a significant networking event. Upon announcing that I was a sales trainer, the crowd laughed me off the stage, believing it was absurd that a woman would know enough about sales to train others. Humiliating is the word! But thankfully, someone approached me to say, ‘to establish credibility, you have to write a book!’

My phone wasn’t ringing, so I diligently wrote a corporate tell-all (all names were changed to protect the guilty) about the horrific corporate treatment directed at me to get me to quit – in order as the events occurred. Each month as I was at the top of the sales scoreboard, the treatment got nastier. The high spot was enjoying my clientele. Yearly, my accounts were given to the men and my quota tripled for the following year. Accordingly, I became an expert at interviewing upon experiencing eleven years of the same.

Nice Girls DO Get The Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results details:

The stories included how I innocently built relationships with gatekeepers,

secretaries, and a guard with a gun threatening me never to return (I never listen) and how they all got me into the C-Suite.

Topics included:

Story-sharing with clientele

Building relationships and enjoying laughter together

Treating prospects and clients to snacks and meals

How to influence a returning and referring clientele – the essence of The Smooth Sale!

Vs.

Sales On the backend

Probing questions asked in the sales arena upon hearing demeaning commentary or pronouncements

How to get your point across with questions

Business development strategies

Successful sales strategies

HIRED How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews:

After I quit corporate sales to become an entrepreneur, my community service work became speaking to audiences on how to sell themselves in interviews. The hundreds of thank you notes that poured in thanking me for helping them acquire their desired job encouraged me to write the book after the market decline in 2008 and people needing to return to work.

Becoming the chosen candidate includes:

Familiarity with the sales cycle

Doing the necessary research upfront

Begin the interview with a direct question.

Questions to ask and how to respond if something is unfamiliar.

Handling ‘ridiculous questions’ to pique interest.

Ending the conversation, aka ‘trial close.’

Arranging 2-3 interviews within a short timeframe to negotiate a better salary.

My lesson learned: Our worst experiences are our ‘gifts in disguise’ when we are willing to learn from the hardships to advance.

The next phase was to begin blogging, and I still do today. My previous experiences led to a well-received blog, contributing authors, and clients. And due to the ill-treatment in the corporate environment, I agreed to join the social media committee for Inclusion Allies Coalition devoted to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. My fondest hope is that we may correct the previous wrongs for younger generations to benefit.

Q: Were there moments in your career that were pivotal to getting where you are today?

ES: Although prospective clients welcomed me into their offices beginning on day one, I was very nervous about selling. My nerves suggested I register for a three-month-long Dale Carnegie public speaking class. I could barely state my name to the group on the first night in the classroom. Without training or knowing what to do or say, I ‘winged it’ by sharing stories with the people I visited.

Two strategies emphasized in class were:

I would exercise to be enthusiastic-energetic when speaking and in meetings - before appointments.

Share stories, the good and bad showcasing the lessons learned. My horrific corporate stories earned much laughter.

By the end of the three months, I was proclaimed the Grand Prize winner! The book How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie became the springboard for my success.

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work-life balance?

ES: I adhere to my laser goal-setting system. With my long-term goal in mind, I work backward to set goals aligning with my ultimate vision—for example, annual, quarterly, monthly, and daily goals. And a running task list is always at hand.

The advantage is that there is no forgetting of what needs to complete, and it eliminates wasted time. The personal commitments align with the business goals of the day, so it is all completed on time.

Q: What’s your advice for women in male-dominated fields?

ES: First and foremost, remain true to your principles and ideals. My pinned tweet states, ‘Trust is the Soul of Sales and All Else that You Do.’ The qualifier is to remain calm, speak in a respectful tone of voice, and provide alternative ideas when possible. If something sounds concerning, ask for the reasoning behind the suggestion. Listen carefully for oversights in the other person’s logic and ask pointed questions to achieve a better outcome.

The business phrase, ‘personal branding,’ is an excellent reason not to follow suit. People identify with what we portray; consistency is essential for everything we do. Most of all, stand your ground and prove ‘Yes, You Can!’ The way to do so is to always adhere to the 3 P’s: Purpose, Passion, and Perseverance.

Q: What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute to your success?

ES: I’m observant, listen well to everyone in my presence, and ask many questions, and then I mull over situations privately to come up with a better solution. Adding creativity to the mix, some people enjoy my unique ideas.

For the highly negative moments, I learned to environ myself wearing a ‘Wonder Woman’ cape well-oiled for the darts to fall to the ground behind me. I use the negativity pointed at me as a green light to walk away and work my way.

Q: As a woman, what is the most significant barrier to becoming a leader?

ES: Returning to the thought that our worst experiences can be our gifts in disguise, I’m thankful for my near-death experience due to an ‘irreparable broken neck.’ Two visions came to me while on a stretcher waiting for admission. In the moment, I pledged to begin giving back to communities however I may. But being a sales professional, I negotiated complete healing to do my best in assisting communities at large. Miracles happened that night in preparing me for surgery. The entire medical staff was in disbelief that I had survived the operation. They all visited my room after surgery, referring to me as ‘the walking miracle.’

Accordingly, my motto became ‘Believe, Become, Empower’ ~ Believe you can do it, Become that person, and then Empower others to do the same.

Liza Pavlakos

She Has Overcome the Worst Adversities, Including Abuse, Homelessness, Abduction, Disfigurement, & Human Trafficking by Terrorism.

Q: Do you regularly relive or re-experience the events?

LP: Sadly, trauma survivors relive traumatic events, and I am no different. Because my childhood transition into young adulthood was so traumatic, I was diagnosed with complex PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder), and it’s so sad to realize that this is all because of the violence I was subjected to by other people against me.

The impact of repressed memories surfaces and that is so debilitating in your journey to trauma healing. I often relive and re-experience events through dreams and nightmares. People with PTSD are known to have a high rate of nightmares, it’s like flashbacks on constant replay. I often wake at 3 am in the morning in a state of extreme terror with my heart pounding.

Even training with my personal trainer in the gym can evoke unpleasant memories. They can creep back into the present, even replacing it. Since the brain registers trauma when my heartbeats hit a certain high, we play music as a therapeutic intervention. It’s called Music Therapy and can benefit those who suffer from PTSD significantly.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy is the most effective treatment for both short and long term symptoms of PTSD, which is why I founded Positive Breakthroughs, a coaching and counselling service because I know how critical it is to receive support. No matter how bad the situation may seem, I believe we have the ability to overcome almost anything as long as we accept them and develop solutions to recover and heal.

Q: Was there a period when you withdrew from genuine friends, family, or other loved ones?

LP: When there is a situation that the body deems unsafe, the part of your brain accountable for memory, emotions, and survival kicks into gear with instinctive and protective measures to safeguard you. What happens when there is no danger deemed and you still find yourself hypervigilant, trauma becomes an invisible factor causing an over reliance on survival instincts. This is referred to as the fawn response, the need to appease and please. People pleasing and co-dependency became a way of life for me.

I was so dependent on my friends, overstepping the mark on more than one occasion. I was the person who threw lavish dinner parties without a second thought. I was the friend who was overcommitted, overcompensated and was overly needy. I was also the friend who unknowingly and unintentionally hurt those around me by overstepping boundaries. We all make mistakes in life, but the key is to acknowledge them and have open conversations to get to the bottom of them.

Childhood and growing up for me had no boundaries. When an uncle molests you, a cousin rapes you, a boyfriend hits you, a stranger kidnaps and abuses you, your boundaries are non-existent. This trauma caused major issues in my life,

and it wasn’t until I stepped back and began therapy that I came to understand the ramifications of PTSD and the fawn response. The “people please” response was because I craved love and affection, wanting to be protected and loved, until I realized that what I craved from others was already within me.

Decades of work ensued, healing was gradual, but eventually the needy, fawning Liza metamorphosized into an empowered woman, one with boundaries.

The new Liza did not appeal to everyone. When I became a keynote speaker, most of my closest friends and family left my life. Was it because I was no longer a victim? Was it because I became successful? One thing is clear to me though. Those who left were meant to leave, and the people who truly loved and embraced me throughout my traumatic journey were meant to stay.

Q: Do you avoid certain people, situations, or places?

LP: A central symptom of PTSD is avoidance, but it took me years to realize that I was actively avoiding people, places, and situations. Avoidance is often the result of limiting contact with triggers for anxiety, fear, or traumatic memories, as the result can be high emotions and extreme distress.

I find that when someone makes me uncomfortable, I avoid them at all costs. The same can be said for walking in places where I feel unsafe.

As a keynote speaker, I travel internationally a lot, and I could never understand why I didn’t embrace sightseeing. Even the stunning Mallorca in Spain didn’t interest me. My friends would laugh and say they couldn’t believe I didn’t take in the sights, or why I barely left the hotel I was staying in. It wasn’t until years later when I was diagnosed with complex PTSD that I understood.

Today I just go with what feels right for my mind, body, and spirit. This is Self- Care. Mind you, I am still conscious of my surroundings and acutely aware of those behind, in front and beside me, but progress is being made and let’s face it, life is for living.

Thanks to my kind and patient husband, who truly understands the impact of trauma on me, I have many things to be grateful for.

My family and friends know not to take me to see a movie that involves violence, tension, or murder. The toll it takes on me is simply not worth it. Comedies, romance, and lighthearted films top my list for an enjoyable, uplifting experience.

I’ve learned from experience to stay out of trouble and to make the most of every situation. No matter the challenge or disability I believe we have the power to better ourselves. The power of a positive mindset has the power to change our world.

The power of her words touches the hearts of her audience to show them that they are capable of overcoming any challenge.

Q: What do you believe is the greater good of your story?

LP: My story is about love, rebirth, conviction and finding undeniable strength. My story is of hope and possibilities. We all suffer at one time or another on our life’s journey, but we all have the opportunity to grow. It’s all about the F word. Forgiveness, fortitude, and Forget about what others think about you. It’s about being the best YOU can be and taking control of your destiny.

My story may be a trauma littered minefield, but it’s far from sad. It’s guts and glory peppered with business, success, and the triumph of the human spirit.

Q: Do you have a hard time remembering certain features of the events?

LP: Dissociation is yet another symptom of PTSD when people may lose their sense of time, place, and sense of self. Automatic functions include consciousness, identity, memory, and self-awareness.

Once I was a victim, and during that time I was so numb I couldn’t even feel the pain, but I was able to disassociate in order to survive unspeakable crimes against me.

My imminent book took me more than seven years to write. In order to be precise, I worked hard to trace back all events. Painful, mind-numbing, soul-destroying events. It was like putting together a complicated puzzle. Recalling events, speaking with friends and people, and pulling together medical and legal paperwork, the process expedited memories and now my mind is sharper than ever. I can’t go back and change the events, but what I can change is the way I view the world with positive thoughts, goodness, and kindness.

Q: Is there one single thing that is most important for people to know?

LP: You don’t have to forgive the perpetrator of heinous crimes against you, but by holding on to it, you’re giving them power, and at that point you become powerless. Forgiveness may come with time, but justice must be served. Every perpetrator should face the consequences of their actions.

Seek help to commence healing, and if none is available contact Positive Breakthroughs, my organization of dedicated therapists and coaches. Our subscription model will allow other therapists and coaches internationally to join our business model and help assist others with the healing process.

Q: Do you imagine what path you might have taken had you not experienced the trauma?

LP: I adore cooking, so maybe a chef like my mother. A doctor, or perhaps a teacher, but then aren’t those all the things we do as mothers and fathers?

Every day I count my blessings that I am a keynote speaker encouraging people to grow. I truly love the life I’m living, and if I had to live my life all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. You see, compassion comes from pain, empathy from understanding, love from heartbreak and strength from adversity. Even with PTSD I have found purpose in life, trust in myself and my capabilities, success against all odds, and along the way, a better version of myself. We all have the power within us to do the same.

Q: What services/resources/people helped you in your recovery?

LP: My recovery included so many services and resources in-

cluding working with some of the psychologists and counsellors. In Australia, we have a 24-hour hotline called Lifeline, a team dedicated to supporting others with depression. I’d call them at 3.00 am after waking from a nightmare and being deep in depression. Family, friends, and my parents, who didn’t always get things right, but who reached out and tried to help. My husband and children, empower and teach me to be a better person every day.

Spirituality was a major resource for me. It has helped me heal in so many ways. For example, meditation fosters calmness, and prayer rewires my brain. Positive psychology and affirmation mean we are able to dream a bigger dream and ask God to guide us to a better pathway. Prayer is a major factor in my life.

Q: What were the barriers to you coming forward?

LP: Presenting myself to the world and speaking about topics that are tough to digest. Some people accepted what I said, others judged me harshly. People would say I was hurting my children simply because I spoke the truth. They’d make snide remarks about the violence revolving around my first-born son’s father, but he is born from love, and I have loved him since I first laid eyes on him. Acknowledging the truth only brings us closer. What people tend to forget is that I am in the business of empowering and giving hope.

Although judgment from others has been my biggest barrier, it’s self-judgement that matters the most, and I couldn’t give a toss about what others think of me.

I don’t want to raise my children in a bubble, these topics are real and raw, and my children must know that horrors exist in this world, but they must have the skill to know how to avoid trouble, how to stay safe and vigilant and most importantly, how to harness love and empathy.

Other barriers include the stigma of a person who has suffered abuse, but we can’t control how people think, victim or otherwise. One more hurdle to jump is being able to name the perpetrators that abused us. Unfortunately, in Australia there is a law that prevents the victim from naming and shaming the predator, so to many, it is our fault, or our story is total fiction.

Q: Do you imagine taking a different path ahead to achieve a personal dream or goal?

LP: The privilege of presenting to corporate organizations and empowering their teams is nothing short of a blessing, however, it would be a dream to see Positive Breakthroughs expand internationally.

This is the legacy I can leave behind. As a keynote speaker, the time will eventually come when ageing or health will slow me down. Along with my book, I can continue to give hope and transform lives long after I’m gone.

It has taken so long to build my keynote speaking business and Positive Breakthroughs and there is still a lot of work to be done, but then again, everything worth building takes time.

A world-renowned keynote speaker, Liza excels at motivating individuals and teams to overcome challenges with a blueprint to become stronger, more resilient, and ultimately greater human beings.

Q: What suggestions do you have to make it safer for victim-survivors to come forward?

LP: Take your time to process what has happened. Speak up about your trauma, as abuse is not just physical and sexual. Trauma can be psychological through childhood bullying, body, and mental health shaming. Know that you’re not alone and there is always someone who cares. Be brave enough to stand up for what is right for you. Don’t be afraid of what others will think. Put yourself first and prepare to do what you have to for healing, and in doing so, create a better life. To be vulnerable and real is strength. To be real you have to be willing to make a stand against the judgment.

Q: What suggestions do you have to teach pre-emptive and preventive strategies to avoid trauma?

LP: The best strategy is to seek help, talk about your situation and get clarity on what you are experiencing, and go with your gut feeling. Seek continuous contact and support from loved ones, and start identifying as a survivor, not a victim.

Never be afraid to share your story. Speak with a doctor or psychologist and make sure you keep a paper trail that can be utilized to support your story.

Preventive strategies would be to avoid dangerous situations. Know your surroundings, be vigilant with who you trust, and most importantly ensure to vocalize that is happening to you at all times. Educating children on abuse would also be a step in the right direction.

Photo Credits: Sal Gomez & Renee Silverman

She’s Known For Her Quick Wit, Humor, & Insightful Rockstar Interviews. An Exclusive Interview With Television Host, Executive Producer & VP of Programming at AXS TV

KatieDaryl

Katie Daryl is the Vice President of Programming for AXS TV, a title she has held since September 2022. As one of the network’s longest-tenured employees, Daryl initially joined AXS TV (formerly HDNET) in 2001 and has thrived in a wide range of roles. In addition to her duties as vice president of programming, she continues to serve as both an executive producer and on-air host, overseeing some of AXS TV’s most popular original series.

Аs vice president of programming, Daryl is responsible for all aspects of AXS TV’s programming, development, and content spanning across the network’s linear and digital platforms. This includes guiding the daily operations of AXS TV’s original productions and overseeing scheduling, acquisitions, on-camera talent development, and content strategy.

Under her leadership, AXS TV has evolved from a linear-only channel into a major player in the digital content arena. Developing effective strategies with an emphasis on original programming that appeals to a wide and diverse audience, Daryl has successfully introduced and implemented dynamic, fresh, and unique formats, topics, and themes that have paved the way for AXS TV’s direct-to-consumer platforms, social platforms, and first-ever FAST channel AXS TV NOW.

Utilizing almost two decades of experience in music and advertising, Daryl has forged vital partnerships with some of the industry’s top stars and most recognizable brands. This has resulted in the development and production of a slate of acclaimed programs and specials, headlined by the award-winning At Home

And Social interview series. Highlights include exclusive moments by Mick Fleetwood, Finneas, Nancy Wilson, Lady A, and Dionne Warwick, to name only a few. Daryl’s impressive credits also include network favorites such as The Top Ten Revealed; The Very, Very Best of the ‘70s; The Very, Very Best of the ‘80s; and Stranded, all of which feature Daryl as executive producer and on-air talent.

Daryl first entered the media landscape at the age of 15 as a part-time radio DJ. She parlayed this experience into a role as a morning show producer for Clear Channel Radio while attending Arizona State University on a Scripps Scholarship. Following this, Daryl worked as a reporter for MTV’s Choose Or Lose –covering the 2000 presidential election and providing updates for the channel’s iconic TRL program – before moving to Dallas to co-host an FM radio show. This led to her co-hosting The Mark Cuban Show for two seasons.

Building on her successful partnership with Cuban, Daryl was brought aboard the entrepreneur’s burgeoning HDNET team as host, producer, and creator of the weekly True Music series, which aired from 20022007. During this time, Daryl produced and hosted more than 250 episodes of Deadline! for HDNET as well. In addition to her roles with AXS TV and HDNET, Daryl has worked as a producer and host with some of the industry’s leading networks and brands, including VH1, CBS, REELZ, and Anheuser-Busch — the latter of which found her touring with racing icon Dale Earnhardt Jr. for Budweiser. She was also instrumental in the launch of TMZ On TV in 2007, where she served as a producer and voiceover talent managing daily radio call-ins and fulfilling live flash cam needs for the show’s national affiliates.

Q: You seemed destined for a career in media. Were there other career paths that you ever considered? KD: You figured out my master plan! There were a variety of media avenues I considered, from radio to news reporter, but the end goal was always the same: having a voice in the media.

Q: Do you consider mentorship a contributing factor to your success?

KD: Yes! I’ve had some really great people in my corner from the start. My parents and sisters were early champions for me. My dad helped me get my first gig on the radio, while my big sister told me MTV was hiring! Within the industry itself, I’d have to say my favorite mentor has been Mark Cuban. I’m not sure he ever saw himself as a mentor to me, but I truly studied him, asked questions, and took every note he gave me straight to heart.

Q: What areas of study would you emphasize to a young person who is just entering college with hopes for a career in media? Do you recommend anything different or supplementary for a young woman?

KD: I was lucky enough to go to Arizona State University, where they have the Walter Cronkite School Of Broadcasting (and Hugh Downs School Of Journalism). I highly suggest you find a great program. But, even more than that, don’t be afraid to think bigger. Make yourself slightly uncomfortable. I could have easily stuck with Broadcast

Dee Snider/Front Man, Twisted Sister, Katie Daryl

Journalism as my major, but I tweaked it a bit and did Broadcast Management. Writing and storytelling have always come easy for me, so I figured it was best that I learned what was going on in the corner office… just in case someone ever tried to get in my way.

Q: One of your early jobs was as a reporter for MTV’s Choose or Lose, covering the 2000 presidential election. Does that kind of work provide future intrigue?

KD: I loved this experience! Getting to have a voice — especially a young voice — in the political field was amazing. Traveling with the candidates, being with the press corps, feeling the cold of New Hampshire! It was a job that helped me realize there really are a lot of broadcasting avenues to explore. That being said, I found the rock ‘n’ roll stuff — like what I’m doing now — to be slightly more intriguing. (Although, McCain did throw quite the rock ‘n’ roll party, complete with confetti cannons, when he landed in South Carolina!)

Alice Cooper, Katie Daryl

Q: You’ve held a number of positions within AXS TV and are now the vice president of programming. What kind of entertainment do you think will captivate your audiences in the near future?

KD: Classic Rock is once again exploding in popularity — just watch any of the Marvel Movies! I think AXS TV will continue to highlight the artists that shaped rock ‘n’ roll, creating programs and experiences that are truly multi-generational. The “Classic Rock onion” can be peeled in so many different ways and AXS TV plans to hit every angle.

Q: Can you recall a live interview that went awry and how you pivoted to bring it back into focus?

KD: I’ve had more than my fair share of interviews that went awry or simply felt boring. For me, the key is doing my homework in advance and knowing my facts before sitting down. I also like to dig up some fun tidbits about my guest, so when something starts to feel “off” I can lean into a lighthearted question or bring up a subject that might feel off-topic but, in reality, is helping to put us back on track.

Q: What notable people do you hope to feature in the future on your various series?

KD: This is the part of the interview where I shout Dolly Parton as loud as I can! DOLLY!!! But in all seriousness, I want guests that helped shape the Classic Rock world, or artists that have created timeless music. There is an open invitation to Tommy Lee and Mick Jagger — I’m ready to hear some of their wild road stories! And, of course, I’d drop everything for a chat with Sir Paul McCartney.

Q: What would you like to share about AXS TV’s Band Together program that provides grants to music education programs and how the schools are chosen?

KD: I really love this program! It’s so important, because it gives grants to exemplary music education programs across the country — vital funds that they can then use to buy new instruments, make improvements to the classroom, or do anything else they need to build up their programs and really help these talented kids develop crucial skills and a lasting love for mu-

sic. Thank goodness Spectrum chose the schools and markets for us… I couldn’t have done that. I would have picked everyone that applied!

Q: Tell us about the process to select the theme for The Top Ten Revealed.

KD: In the beginning, I didn’t think I would be able to come up with 20 episode themes. Now, here we are at over 120! I keep a running list that I continue to add to – and it’s huge! Inspiration comes from so many places. When I’m driving, a song might come on with a great sax solo and I think, “Wow! What other songs have great sax solos?” Boom! List! Or I hear a song with a girl’s name in the title… Boom! List! My favorite is when other AXS TV co-workers suggest ideas to me, or when fans send in tweets and emails with ideas. Although, I do have to say that my husband is the list-making king. He’s come up with some really good ones!

Carnie Wilson/Singer, Wilson Phillips, Katie Daryl

Advisory Board Members

Kate Delaney

Kate is a speaker, author, and Emmy Award winning talk show host. Kate’s interviewed over 16,000 people, including U.S. Presidents, Fortune 500 CEOs, and Hall of Fame athletes.

Elinor Stutz

Elinor is the CEO of Smooth Sale. She’s also an International Best-Selling and Evergreen Author, Top 1% Influencer, Inspirational Speaker.

Andrea Simon

Andrea Simon is a writer and photographer based in New York City. She has worked as an editor, writer, and manager on diverse projects, and was the co-owner of an editorial/production company that specialized in health-related educational materials.

Millen Livis

MILLEN LIVIS is International Holistic Financial Independence mentor, International best-selling author, investor, and entrepreneur.

Janice McLean DeLoatch

Dr. Janice McLean DeLoatch is a passionate advocate for entrepreneurs and women in the entertainment industry. She created the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame to honor women whose work represents the heritage and legacy of the world’s music songbook. She serves as the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman. Janice is also a Tv Host, Radio Personality, Entrepreneur and Author.

Emmy Award Winning Journalist & Best Selling Author, Leeza Gibbons, Shares Her Insights on Today’s Challenges

For Caregivers & Maintaining a Positive Outlook.

Q: It’s safe to say that you’re best known for your TV work on Entertainment Tonight, Leeza, and 2015’s Celebrity Apprentice. What thoughts come to mind about that body of work?

LG: I’m a lucky girl. I have had a career that has been challenging, fulfilling, and fun! I studied broadcast journalism and have been on a path of wherever the stories took me ever since. After reporting in TV and radio news, I became an entertainment correspondent and anchor before the advent of social media, which allowed celebrities to break their own story. Until then, it was pretty much right what they used to say about ET, that we provided an “all-access pass” to all things Hollywood.

One of my early professional dreams was to have some of Dick Clark’s abilities to host virtually anything and make audiences feel welcome. I was blessed to have met Dick, worked with him, and become his friend. Now, when I host something like The Rose Parade, I often keep his mentoring in mind. Even though I have a Ph.D. in drama avoidance, I loved being on Celebrity Apprentice! Competing on the show allowed me to use my business skills to win the grand prize and invest it in opening Leeza’s Care Connection in my South Carolina hometown. It was a dream come true to offer our free services for family caregivers in Columbia, where I grew up.

Q: Tell us how your education contributed to your success and how that path is the same or different for new journalists?

LG: I was trained as a broadcast journalist. Barbara Walters was one of my big inspirations. When I began reporting at ET, I was accustomed to a reporting style that was objective; providing only a conduit through which the stories made their way to readers, listeners, and viewers. When I was hosting and producing a single topic talk show, The LEEZA show, the format required that I editorialize and offer an opinion and lead with it too often, it was liberating and allowed for the kind of passionate energy that I admired about Barbara Walters. Many storytellers take a variety of paths to get to where they want to go. I believe how you do one thing is how you do all things, so if excellence is your goal, buoyed by curiosity, then you’ll get there.

Q: Did PBS’s My Generation, which addressed a more mature audience, represent a shift for you; if so, why?

LG: It was a deliberate choice to address topics that were relevant to an audience that found itself at a turning point ...an audience like me. Boomers are reinventing and eager to explore all kinds of transformations. We believe that who you were yesterday is not who you have to be tomorrow, so we’re looking for the inspiration to recreate ourselves.

Photography by Caroline Greyshock & Jeff Annenberg

“My Generation” delivered the stories of celebrities and others who had accepted the challenge to re-boot and re-create their lives and re-write their narratives.

Q What do you see that is different from interviewing styles from the period you were on the air to today?

LG: Today, things are much more transparent than when I first began Viewers’ insatiable appetites to “get inside” and “lift the veil” led to more raw reporting and a genuinely authentic exchange preference.

There is still brokering for interviews and negotiating for access. Still, the expectation is for in-

terviewers to uncover more than “just the facts” and interview subjects to drop any facade and get real. Today, the best way to do that is to bypass a reporter and go straight to fans through social media.

From skilful politicians to creative celebrities of all kinds, intimate relationships are built on social platforms, but interviews with reputable outlets or with interviewers who have perceived gravitas can often maintain, boost, or augment them. Look at Donald Trump Twitter was more important to his victory than his political advisors and mainstream media exposure. However, events like the interviews with Lester Holt and George Stepanopolis can still do damage.

Leeza with her Dad looking at one of his poetry books. “Pops has written thousands of poems, so I began putting them together in books. We’re up to Volume 8, but he’s only 92, so he’s got a lot more writing to do!”

Q: You have published books about having a positive attitude and self-care, particularly for caregivers; would you remind our readers what those books are about and what they represent to you?

LG: On our journeys through life, I often need to remember that our strength comes from being vulnerable. Our power comes from how we are connected. My books honour those connections; whether it’s a daughter caring for a sick parent, or a divorced woman who needs a Take 2, we can all find our strength by giving ourselves permission to change and grow.

Q: Tell us about Leeza’s Care Connection.

LG: A couple of years ago, I wrote a book called FIERCE OPTIMISM and nowhere is that more relevant than when applied to our community at Leeza’s Care Connection. We help families cope with Alzheimer’s and other chronic illnesses by offering tips, resources, and coping strategies. We are a community of those who understand the journey, and we’re dedicated to making sure that no one walks alone. Caregivers have to be fierce, optimistic, and radically resilient to move forward. This past year, we all learned how to pivot and redirect, but caregivers are used to those things. They have to be.

My mother died of Alzheimer’s disease, the

“Breathe, Believe, Receive” is our mantra at Leeza’s Care Connection. This is a group of caregivers making that philosophy come to life at our Providence St Joseph Medical Center location in Burbank.

same as her mom, my dear Granny. Our family struggled with the same emotions as every other; we were stressed and depressed, isolated, and sad. When you become a caregiver, you take on an enormous assault on your emotions and your immune system. You often unravel and deplete spiritually, physically, and financially. When that started happening to our family, I created what we wish we had, and that became Leeza’s Care Connection. I promised my mother I would tell the story of our struggle, and I would use it to help others. It is the most rewarding work I have ever done, and I feel blessed to be able to do it.

Q: Does writing energize or exhaust you?

LG: Both!

I think it’s true that we often write what we need to learn. Valuing self-care and finding empowerment is a lifelong pursuit. When I write about the power of kindness or the benefits of optimism I am fortifying my commitment to those values.

I have kept journals, on and off, since the ‘70s! At the tune, I was travelling quite a lot for Entertainment Tonight and interviewing the biggest names in the business. I was also young in my career, and I took notes from others about how to find balance and grace to go along with my ambition.

I have discovered that writing helps us find answers (and better questions) to guide our actions. It shows us patterns and ways that we sabotage or subvert. I recently facilitated a Leeza’s Care Connection virtual course on journaling for caregivers. It was an exercise of self-awareness, self-care and gratitude for our

gifts and our burdens. Our everyday experience provided the solace of a support group and the benefits of clarity and stress management that come from writing.

Q: What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

LG: I was competing in an essay contest in high school. We were given a speech topic and an hour to prepare before delivering our speech in front of judges and attendees. The topic was “What’s Right About America”. I believe I won the competition because of my ability to appreciate and express language, which made my oration memorable. At that time, I also had

Proudly holding an Emmy for Best Host for the PBS show, My Generation .

quite a thick southern accent which was either a distraction or an endearment!

Q: What is your favorite childhood book?

LG: I loved The Secret Garden - it was magical and sad and uplifting all at once. Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree” was a favorite too, but it’s The Velveteen Rabbit that resonates deeply still because of its message about what real love is.

Q: You’ve maintained a hectic, career, can you share with our audience how you manage your work-life balance?

LG: I gave up trying to balance! Whoever cre-

ated that concept was evil and cruel! If we seek the ever-elusive middle of the see-saw, we will be bitter and disappointed. Instead of balancing time, I think of investing time. As with any business venture, I look for dividends. For example, if you’re a working woman (there’s a redundancy for you!), you may not always feel that you have the ideal balance. Still, you’re providing for your family, setting an example of the value of work, and growing into the next phase of life when you may feel you have more autonomy. You’re investing in your future, and those dividends will come due.

“Memories Matter. When someone you love has Alzheimer’s disease sharing those memories in scrapbooks can be very soul-satisfying”

Our Exclusive Interview with Influencer

Kim Ford

Kim Ford Is A Keynote Speaker, TV Host & Media Consultant. She Has Appeared On CNN As An Entertainment Correspondent Where She Shares Her Take on What’s Relevant in Film, Television, & Celebrity News.

Q: After college, where did you feel your career path would take you?

KF: Honestly, I wasn’t really sure. All I knew was I wanted to live in Atlanta. I knew I’d figure it out when I got there. It took a while, but I finally figured it out.

Q: What was your first job? And how did it shape or impact you?

KF: My jobs after college were random and all over the place. I first worked at Macy’s in the handbag department

until I locked in a “real” job after college. After Macy’s I entered the Management Trainee program at Enterprise Car Rental. Working there taught me a lot about owning a business, sales calls, and teamwork. The hours were long and sometimes I had to wash cars in my suit. I hated it back then. Now I understand the lesson was to get the job done no matter how uncomfortable I was. That’s a skill I use today.

Q: Can you share with our audience some details about your role as a CNN/Headline News entertainment contributor?

KF: I appear as a guest Entertainment Contributor on CNN/HLN to give my take on what is relevant regarding film and television. Typically, when there is a special segment.

Q: In March 2019 you were accepted into AAFCA (African American Film Critics Association). Can you tell us what it meant to you?

KF: AAFCA isn’t an award. It’s the world’s largest organization of

African American film critics. Being accepted as a member meant a lot because we get access to the team and talent behind films that mean the most to our culture.

Q: Tell us about Jubilee Mag, how it started and where you see it going.

KF: Jubilee Mag was an online mag I started in 2007 that covered faith, culture, and style. I created it because I saw a void in the industry for positive media. I built my own website and gained access to events like the BET Awards, Essence Fest and countless press junkets affiliated with NBC, CBS, Sony, Warner Bros, and many others.

In March 2020, the growth of my audience led to me to leave Jubilee Mag behind and evolve from just an online magazine. My audience wanted more of me as a personal brand instead of a magazine. As a result, I launched iamkimford.com covering entertainment, personal development, and lifestyle.

Q: You must keep a hectic schedule between speaking engagements and TV commitments. How do you maintain a healthy work life balance?

KF: It’s all about prioritizing. The commitments my children have come first. I schedule everything else around that. My kids are older, so that makes it a lot easier.

Q: What’s the greatest fear you’ve had to overcome to get where you are today?

KF: Since I didn’t study media in college, I was concerned about what I didn’t know that should know. I’m in grad school now, but for many years it was a concern in the back of my mind. It’s definitely possible to do it without grad school, but it was a personal goal of mine.

Q: Which woman inspires you and why?

KF: It’s hard to narrow it down to one woman. There’s definitely a village of women I admire for various reasons. A few are: Oprah, for obvious reasons. Myleik Teel for her entrepreneurial journey. J Lo because she’s been timeless for decades.

Q: What are some of the challenges you feel women face today?

KF: I’m actually writing a book about that right now. It’s called “It’s Never Too Late”, releasing late summer 2020. A lot of women think just because they’ve had major setbacks, it’s too late to pursue their dream life. If God called you to it, “It’s Never Too Late”.

Q: What is one word of advice you can offer to young women who want to reach your level of success?

KF: Do your research. Pay attention to the greats. Find your lane and dominate.

Wycleff Jean interview at Andrew Young Leadership Awards.

NBC press dinner for ‘This Is Us’.

Heather Monahan

An Exclusive Interview With 2X Best-Selling Author & Top 50 Keynote Speaker in the World.

Q: As a 2x Best Selling Author … can you share with us what inspired you to become an Author?

HM: Oh my gosh! I never thought I would be an author; I was crystal clear on my path to becoming a CEO. I was a CRO at the time and I was unexpectedly fired when the CEO I worked for became ill and he elevated his daughter to replace him. She fired me immediately.

Q: Why do you think your publishing of “Overcome Your Villains” was such a success?

HM: After 20 plus years climbing the corporate ladder as a sales leader, I leveraged my termination as a career pivot. The first thing I did was write Confidence Creator which taught me so much about the book business and what resonated with my

audience. Over the last 4 years, I have built a solid community and I pay attention to what resonates with them. Using the information, I gained over the years I was able to write Overcome Your Villains with real-life examples and the successful tactics I used to make it to the c-suite to help others do the same.

Q: You had some pretty big life things happen to you during 2017, can you tell us about them?

HM: Yes! At the end of the third quarter, I was named one of The Most Influential Women in Radio and just a month later I found myself unemployed. There were so many highs and lows that year it was like a roller coaster. While it was devastating at first, it has turned out to be the biggest blessing in my career. I had a non-compete which meant I could not go back to the industry I had expertise in for 18 months. I had to find a way to earn an income as a beginner somewhere new. That was a tough time. Then I posted I had been fired and that landed me on the Elvis Duran Show. Halfway through that interview, Elvis told me that I was writing a book. I left the show, googled how to write, and book and my career trajectory changed that day and I have not looked back.

Q: What are you currently working on?

HM: The pandemic turned my business upside down. When the pandemic hit the majority of my business was coming from my speaking engagements. Due to covid, I launched my consulting and coaching business which landed me my first Board Seat with Healthlynked Corporation. As the speaking business is now coming back, I am trying to find a balance between my consulting, writing, Board engagements, podcast, and speaking. It is challenging to project as things are changing so quickly but I am so happy to have live events back again. I am also excited about a new product that I am launching very soon!

Q: For those in our audience not familiar with Boss in Heels LLC, can you share some of the history on what it’s about?

HM: Years ago, I remember thinking that I didn’t feel fulfilled with my c-suite position. My job was to make shareholders wealthier and while I was good at it I didn’t always feel good about it. So, I started spending a lot of time outside of work, doing charity work. While the charity work was great, I was never home with my son. I decided I needed to find a way to do good in the world that didn’t take away my time with my child. I launched Boss In Heels as a way to give back to those that wanted to know how to get ahead but didn’t have the roadmap. I launched Boss In Heels for the younger me. My website shared the tactics and strategies to get ahead in business and life. The company I worked for hated it and threatened me. I refused to take my website down and for the next year, I was put through so much scrutiny and eventually fired. I always would check in with myself and ask if I felt good about what I

was doing. I am so proud I stood up to the people that wanted me to stop sharing my hacks to get ahead. I didn’t know it at the time but Boss In Heels was about to be the end of one career and the beginning of living and working with my true purpose to elevate others.

Q: Looking back, what attracted you to pursue a career in Radio sales?

HM: Believe me I was not attracted to pursuing a career in radio sales. It actually makes me laugh to see that written. What I was attracted to was making money. I had graduated college and knew I could sell, and I had taken the first job that was offered to me. I started off in the wine business and ended up getting harassed at work by a superior. I quit. I had no idea what I was going to do next, so I put myself out there. I attended a networking event and met the owner of a radio station. He offered me a job and I started the next day. He ended up becoming my partner in an equity deal we did together netting our company over $25 Million dollars. That partnership ended up paying major dividends.

Q: We all have low moments in our career or even life. How did you personally create confidence and lift yourself back up?

HM: That is exactly why I wrote my book, Confidence Creator! I explain the steps to take to create confidence in any low moment. There are so many things’ people can do! Here are a few:

Take a look at other low moments and remind yourself that you came back from those. When we realize that we have seen this movie before and overcome it, that gives us the perspective that we can overcome what we are facing now. Next, fire the villains in your life immediately! You will never be able to bounce back quickly with negative people around you. When you are constantly worrying about people and what they are going to say or do, all of your energy goes to them and not to you. Fire your villains! Put yourself first and start investing in yourself. Begin each day with gratitude to get yourself focused on what is going well and attract more of that to you. Listen to your voice and opinion over everyone else. Do things and be with people that you love. It is fine to say, “Unfortunately, I am not available that day. Thanks for understanding.” Stop apologizing! So many of us apologize for things that are not our fault. That puts us beneath others and put us in a position of blame. Unless you tripped someone intentionally, stop apologizing.

Q: In 2015 the Florida Diversity Council presented you with the Glass Ceiling Award, can you tell our audience why you were chosen and what it meant to you?

HM: That was such an honor! The Florida Diversity Council recognizes people who have achieved success in the community and have created opportunities to advance others along the way. To be recognized alongside such impressive and accomplished people who are all committed to creating a fair and diverse working environment was an incredible honor I will always be proud of.

Q: 2020 was an awful year dealing with the Covid-19 shutdown. How do you and your business do?

HM: My son was in virtual school for the entire year, so like many mothers, it was a very tough time to be working at home while cleaning, cooking, and trying to keep him focused on zoom classrooms. My speaking business disappeared overnight, so I re-invented myself as a virtual speaker and started my consulting and coaching business. It was definitely a challenging year, to say the least.

Q: What’s the greatest fear you’ve had to overcome to get where you are today?

HM: There isn’t one fear that sticks out to me. It is more accurate to say that as I go for more and attempt to achieve bigger and bolder things those fears creep right back in. As you become skilled at something and familiar, you become comfortable. When you are comfortable, you are not growing. I have learned to push myself into fear on the daily. If we are always in uncertainty and unknown, we are constantly growing. I choose to see fear as a green light that means go and go faster. I was scared when I got fired, scared when I was about to publish my first book, scared to give my TEDx talk, scared to write my second book, scared to launch my podcast, scared to show up for my first board meeting, until I did those things they were the unknown. Today, those things are no longer scary to me. The action is the answer.

Q: Can you tell our audience one of your most memorable moments your career?

HM: Years ago, I was working for a radio company, and I saw a huge need in the company that I knew I could fill. I spoke to a few people about my idea, and they all said I was crazy that the company would never go for it. I went for it anyway. I sat down with the President of the company and pitched myself for VP of Sales. He smiled. He thanked me for the great work I was doing and declined the opportunity. I left. I called a few companies and found a few jobs offers. I met with the President again but this time I let him know I would be leaving. He asked why. I let him know that I was meant for more and if I couldn’t accomplish that with him, I would accomplish it elsewhere. He excused himself from our lunch and came back 5 minutes later. He went to call his father to get permission to award me this newly created role of VP of Sales. I learned an important lesson that day: Never take a NO from someone who can’t give you a YES.

Q: What are some of the challenges you feel women face today?

HM: Raising children in virtual and uncertain environments while you need to work. This has been incredibly challenging and has forced so many women to leave their jobs to stay at home and take care of their families.

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work life balance?

HM: There are times work is going fantastic and I have so much more time to be with my son. There are times my son needs me, and work needs to take a back burner. The key is to take care of myself first, every day that way I can take care of everything else.

She Serves as Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of The

Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Read Our Exclusive Interview With

Dr. Janice McLean DeLoatch

Q: What was your first job? How did it shape or impact you?

JMD: My first job was working at my family’s restaurant - McLean’s Carry Out & Restaurant. My job was to fill the potato chip and soda racks. My niece and I did this every summer from about 7-11 years of age. I watched my mother, father, grandmother, aunts, cousins, and neighbors in the community come together to support this local community restaurant and store.

Our restaurant was the only neighborhood restaurant, carry out and store within a 20 mile radius. My mother, father and cousins always felt it was important to invest in the community and people. There were days when this was not easy and there were many moments where you can never imagine the impact and difference you can make in your community if you just try. When no one else wanted to support the community, my family did. They would give people food on credit (as this was not a very wealthy area), donate dinners to local churches and businesses and give some of the kids in the neighborhood summer jobs.

I learned first-hand about role models that looked like me. I learned that we don’t have to always wait for someone to fix our situation, that we can also help fix our lives too!

My mother and father were my first role models. They showed me that if you work hard, strive for your dreams and goals even when you get knocked down that if you are persistent you will achieve your dream and you can make a difference for yourselves and others right where you are.

To this day, every now and then when I see old neighbors, friends of my family and our family business they always tell me how much my family meant to their lives.

Nothing to me can replace this feeling of meaningful relationships and making a difference for the good of others. This has been the impact.

Q: For those in our audience not familiar with your TV show, “The Entrepreneurs Edge” tell us about it.

JMD: Entrepreneurs Edge Tv was a tv show that was started in 2000 out of my search to find answers to help support and grow my pantyhose vending machine. I was looking for funding to pay for having the vending machines made, manufacturing products, etc. and never could really find resources or funding that could help business startups really starting up from the ground floor with no money, team, etc.

I started doing interviews with businesspeople who would share their stories about overcoming obstacles and becoming really good at it. So, my ex-husband and I created a television show that would address some of the hurdles and obstacles that entrepreneurs and small business owners faced. This was before The Apprentice, Shark Tank, Undercover Boss and The Profit.

Do I believe my television show along with a handful of other small business shows that were around at the time set precedent for what we see today in television programming related to business? ABSOLUTELY! At least that is what I like to think anyway. Smile here

Q: What are some of the topics you cover on your radio show Its Janice?

JMD: Some topics include Business Basics for Startups, Tools for Entrepreneurs (Accountants, Attorneys, Bank Relationships), Navigating Social Media to promote your business, B2B Relationships and how they can help your business succeed and Import/Exporting through departments of commerce, to name a few.

Q: How did the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame start?

JMD: Women Songwriters Hall of Fame began with research for Its Janice Radio. Its Janice Radio Show focuses on women, business, and community. In 2020, I was working with my segment coordinator on statistics for the women in music. When review-

ing the statistics for how women fare in several areas of the music business and after looking at some of The Annenberg Center report about women in business it seems we both came up with the same conclusion.

Women have lagged behind their male counterparts in almost every area within the music industry ranking at 7.7%. within the music industry. In some instances, the women who have been acknowledged for their work were acknowledged twice. Not really sure about the logic behind those who have been acknowledged twice in some areas, but the more I thought on this, the more it became clear there should be a way to acknowledge Women in Music.

Partnering with women who understand why supporting and healing women in one area helps women and communities in other areas and a way to raise funding for scholarships that will enable women to pursue education and career goals through music.

One main point to clarify is that the mission of Women Songwriters Hall of Fame is not to bash men, music industry or other organizations. Solely our purpose is to be of help to women, music, and the world as a whole.

Q: Can the general public become a member of the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame? What are some of the member benefits?

JMD: Yes - Women Songwriters Hall of Fame is open to the general public and seeking new members. You can select membership at our websitewww.womensongwritershalloffame. org

Women Songwriters Hall of Fame is new, exciting, and building what we hope will be the next great organization in music. Currently, there are three levels of membership, Basic

$50, Premium $100 and Platinum $250.

When asked why some of our membership options may cost more than other organizations. Simply the answer is we have not had 50 years to grow and WSHOF memberships WILL include some or all of the following types of benefits that other organizations may/may not offer such as: (see below), but in addition - Women Songwriters Hall of Fame is working to bring back FUN in creating and celebrating music and women!!!

Discounted/Free Tickets to Award Show

Discounted/Free Master Classes with Industry Professionals

Discounted Instruments

Discounted Music Lessons

Travel Club - AAA

Complimentary Breakfast

Discounted Hotel Fees

Swag Bags

T-Shirts

Hats

Q: You’re also an Author. Can you share with our audience some of the topics you’ve written about?

JMD: So far - I have written one book - “The Autobiography of an Entrepreneur.” This book is a combination of personal business experience learned from my family and other entrepreneurs. Personal hurdles made in pursuit of fulfilling my dreams and even tribulations because of my dream. Tips and advice from Business thought leaders such as Magic Johnson, Ariana Huffington, Vint Cerf, Daymond John, Marcus Lemonis, and Bethenny Frenkel to name a few. As well as other celebrities and entertainers.

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue their dream and start a business?

JMD: I would tell them to TOTALLY GO FOR IT!!! We all have something to offer in different areas. But first, find mentors who can give you important guidance from the start. It may save time, money, and mental exhaustion from reinventing the wheel when someone who already has the roadmap can give you a head start.

Q: Were there moments in your career that were pivotal to getting where you are today?

JMD: Sure - Meeting Deloris Jordan (Yes - that

one), mother to basketball great - Michael Jordan and Donda West (Yes - that one), mother to well depends on which day it is and how we feelKanye West.

I was going through divorce and was really at a low point when I met Deloris Jordan on Capitol Hill where I was doing the Entrepreneurs Edge Tv Show. The love she showed me and inspiring words of wisdom to go after my dreams and goals and never quit until I get where I want to go despite all obstacles always stuck with me. Donda West really was an amazing woman and she too showed me such kindness and love and also imparted words of wisdom to always strive for what makes me happy. It is easy to understand how Kanye can feel out of sorts with her absence. She truly was a remarkable lady! Both of these women I always say are the surrogate mothers sent to help me find my way and continue the journey of allowing me to give back to young women and older women. To let them know that no matter what age we areNEVER FORGET TO KEEP DREAMING AND STRIVING FOR YOUR GOALS.

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work life balance?

JMD: Yes - I answer my emails, voicemails, regular mail, and phone calls at crazy times of the night and early morning. It is one of the ways I keep up. But I am also really good at strategy planning (so I can have balance in my life) and delegating to the few volunteers that help me currently.

Q: What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute to your success?

JMD: LOVE!

I just recently realized through the pandemic - era ughhhh! that Love drives everything I have ever done. Either because I don’t want to be inconvenienced or anyone else to be inconvenienced. Love is what inspires me to create businesses and resolutions that help me and others.

Q: Which woman inspires you and why?

JMD: ALL WOMEN. But In particular - My mom who is deceased nowFannie Bell McLean.

My mother embodied and exemplified a woman of such depth. So many lessons, so little time with her. She is always in my heart! I love you Mom!

Helping Women Be Financially Independent. An Exclusive Interview With Author, Financial Speaker & Wealth Retreat Leader Millen

Livis

Q: What was your first job? How did it shape or impact you?

ML: I was born and raised in the former Soviet Union. My first job was working at a data-entry center. It was a very boring, meaningless (to me) work, with a minimum wage pay.

There were only women in our department… of all ages.

Working at this job taught me to be grateful for any job (because I was helping my parents with my wages), shaped my perception about any job as a stepping stone to something bigger and better (not the final destination), and motivated me to get knowledge and experience in the area of my interest (at that time it was physics), so that I could enjoy meaningful work that pays well and creates a positive impact on other people’s lives.

I decided to be SO good at what I do that my gender (women were inferior workforce in the former Soviet Union) and my ethnicity (I come from Jewish heritage and was discriminated because of it in the Soviet Union) will not be used to dismiss or ignore me.

Q: What changes in your life led you to become an International Holistic Financial Independence mentor?

ML: I had a pivotal moment (phase) in my life after I walked out from my financially comfortable by loveless marriage and my financially comfortable but meaningless Wall Street career, and “jumped” into entrepreneurship – started my real estate investment company with a couple of business partners.

My intention (my North Star) was to experience FREEDOM – freedom of money, choice, time, location. To achieve that, I had to become financially free, so that I won’t depend on any partner, boss, or government with my financial security.

My “parachute” didn’t open when I jumped. I crushed… became financially broke, emotionally broken and deeply depressed.

However, by the grace of God, I was introduced to a life coach who helped me shift my perceptions on success, self-leadership, and what’s possible (among many other things).

Working with this coach helped turn my “sinking ship” 180 degrees…

I learned the tools that helped me develop a wealth

mindset, become a savvy manager of my money, and, eventually, a strategic investor.

This experience also led to my spiritual awakening.

Within 7 years I became financially independent, from ground ZERO….

Then published my two bestselling books.

Eventually I decided to become a mentor to women who want to control their money (so money won’t control them); who want to live without constant money worries, stress, and anxiety; and who want to create their own unique path to financial independence.

Q: Tell us something about the MILLENaire Method you have adopted.

ML: The MILLENaire Method is my holistic system for becoming financially independent.

This method was born by reverse-engineering my path to Financial Independence.

It includes four pillars - fundamental skillsets - that one must develop in order to become financially independent:

1. Wealth Mindset

2. Savvy Money Management

3. Strategic Investing

4. Practical Spirituality

All my work with clients and students is based on this method.

Q: What is one reason you hear that will lead women to seek your mentoring services?

tery program – helps clients develop Wealth Mindset (as opposed to Consumer or Scarcity mindsets) and become savvy managers of their money.

This program helps my clients truly transform their relationship with money, their money story, and their bank accounts. They have more money with less stress and less risk.

Q: Were there moments in your career that were pivotal to getting where you are today?

ML: Yes. Here’re some of them.

- I would have perished, like many of my colleges and friends, on 9/11 2001 (I used to work in World Trade Center) if I didn’t listen to my intuition and didn’t resign a couple of months prior to this tragic day.

- While being in a very dark place in my life, I made a scary decision to invest in myself and work with the life coach, when I was lost, fearful, and broke.

ML: Many women like my holistic approach to creating lasting wealth. I teach “hard” (very practical) money skills (savvy money management and investing) as well as “soft” money skills (wealth mindset and spiritual principles of creating financial wealth). And they like that I “walk the talk” - embody what I teach, have achieved what they are aspired to achieve.

Q: Are your mentoring sessions private or in a class setting? What are some of the topics you cover?

ML: As of now, I offer both - private mentoring and group programs.

One of my group programs – Awakened Money Mas-

- After years of living “by default,” I recognized the importance of living “by design” - the importance of knowing your goals. Because I started with the end in mind (financial independence).

- I used to struggle with making quick decisions and realized the importance of knowing your values in life in order to be decisive. Because it helped me be clear about my priorities and make decisions that are aligned with my values and goals.

Q: You’re also an author, can you tell us about some of the topics you’ve written about?

ML: I published two bestselling books of my own, and two collaborative books.

- A Shift Toward Purpose: Secrets to an Amazing Career

- A Shift Toward Abundance: Secrets to Financial Freedom

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

ML: Failure is not a person. It’s an experience. And it has the beginning and the end. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel…just keep going.

She Has Devoted Her Writing Efforts to Fiction & Literary Nonfiction. Meet Author & Photographer,

Andrea Simon

Q: After high school, where did you feel your career path would take you?

AS: When I graduated from high school, I did not have a career path. I only knew that I would go to college. After I completed two years, the guidance counselor contacted me to discuss selecting a major. He asked me what I enjoyed. I answered, “writing and art.” He said, “As a woman, you have two options: teaching or social work.” So, I majored in sociology, which had nothing to do with social work, but was the recommended course of study.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

AS: Even as a young child, I made up stories with distinct plots and roles that my friends and I enacted. As I grew, I composed poems and designed greeting cards for my friends and relatives. I also dabbled in short stories and essays. I was always creative and

tried to include a visual aspect to my writing. But I never considered writing as a career. It was part of me as a means of expression.

Q: Can you share with our audience about the books you have written? Which is your favorite?

AS: I have written several books, three of which were published and won awards. They include: Bashert: A Granddaughter’s Holocaust Quest, a memoir/history about my trip to my family’s ancestral village in Eastern Europe and the fate of our murdered relatives in the Holocaust; Esfir Is Alive, a historical novel, based on a true story of the only recorded survivor of a massacre of 50,000 Jews; and Floating in the Neversink, a novel-in-stories about a young girl’s coming-of-age in the Catskill Mountains and Brooklyn in the 1950s to 1960s.

It is impossible to choose a favorite. Each book is like my child, reflecting a distinct and significant theme at a particular time. I still feel very “maternal,” and wish them a long and fruitful life, with unrelenting affection and love.

Q: What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

AS: It all depends on what I am writing. If it involves a lot of research, I may read reference material and take notes. If it is fiction, I normally have a rough outline of my overall theme, plot, and structure. I might write a scene or edit. Whatever the form of writing, I usually begin my day after finishing my breakfast and reading the newspaper. I take my coffee into my study and open the computer file from the previous day. I go over the notes or composed work and then plunge in.

Q: What is the most difficult part of writing a book?

AS: There are so many difficult aspects to writing a book. Of course, the hardest is coming up with a concept or overall arch, an idea or set of circumstances that can sustain a larger work, something that has heft and literary merit. Then comes the perseverance to stick with the project and work at it even when discouraged. This involves a certain amount of self-confidence and resilience, which are often very difficult to sustain.

Q: What important advice would you give a first-time author?

AS: It’s such a cliché to say that to be a writer, one must write. It’s like saying a worker must work, or a doctor must doctor. There is a difference between a writer and an author in that a person can write advertising copy, instructions on a cereal box, a play, a letter to the editor, or just about anything. Normally, this would require a specific assignment and hopefully some monetary reward. But once a writer tackles a long piece, whether it’s a short story, a novel, or a nonfiction subject, he or she becomes an “author,” a professional. If this undertaking is self-motivating, it often means a great deal of rejection and financial sacrifice. I would ask the first-time “writer” if he or she is certain that the ambition is essential, if he or she can put up with sacrifice and debt. I wouldn’t discourage the desire but stress the awareness of potential pitfalls ahead—and emphasize the benefit of maintaining a day job!

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

AS: I am a very creative person and enjoy photography and art. I used to have a darkroom and was a serious black-and-white practitioner. Lately, I have been taking art courses and am now into abstract painting. No surprise that as a writer/author, I love to read. Before COVID, I enjoyed traveling and visiting friends and family.

Q: Which woman inspires you and why?

AS: This is a tough question to answer as there are so many women I respect. In general, women who have accomplished something significant in the arts or science are on my admirable list. I am awed by women who succeed in heavily masculine professions. On a personal level, I have always been inspired by my grandmothers, both immigrants from Eastern Europe who escaped religious persecution and restarted their lives under difficult conditions.

Q: What would be the title of your autobiography?

AS: I have been working on a book of personal essays for at least thirty years. It contains humorous and serious observations of lived events, including everything from verbal tics to not having a gifted child to shopping for a wig during chemotherapy. I entitled this book, Nobody Sprays Me in Bloomingdale’s, after one of my essays. Though tongue in cheek, the title encapsulates something about me. If I am lucky, it will be my next published book.

A Conversations with Katie Jacobs Stanton, CMO of Color & Former Vice President of Global Media at Twitter

Q: Can you share with us your experience working at the White House and State Department?

KJS:  Working in the Obama Administration was the honor of a lifetime. At the White House, I served as the Director of Citizen Participation, trying to make it easier for citizens to engage with the government using digital platforms like Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. At the State Department, I worked in the Office of Innovation, helping the government use 21st century tools to address 21st century challenges. For example, we organized Town Halls for the President in China where participants could Tweet and text questions (even when these tools were blocked in China).

Q: Of the 8 countries you’ve lived in, which was your favorite and why?

KJS: I’ve greatly appreciated all the countries I’ve been fortunate to spend time in, but I’ve always felt a strong personal connection with France. I like the way Thomas Jefferson put it; “a walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty and the point of life.”

Q: What was your experience like working as Vice President of Global Media at Twitter?

KJS: Twitter was one of the highlights of my career. When I joined, we didn’t have any employees, offices, revenues or partnerships outside of the U.S. My role was to help build our teams globally and then lead the Media team which was responsible for partnerships across government, news, sports, music, and TV. We brought the best content from each of our markets to the platform and tried to help build the most vibrant and safest digital town square. I worked with exceptional people at Twitter and I’m proud of how much we were able to achieve.

Q: You were an Angel Investor for Color Genomics … what made you decide to step in as Chief Marketing Officer?

KJS: There are 4 core values that help me decide on new roles:

1. Are the people smart and ethical?

2. Is this a product I would use?

3. Is this an opportunity I would be proud of?

4. Can I make an impact?

Color checked all of these boxes. Othman Laraki, our CEO and co-founder, is one of the smartest and most ethical people I’ve ever known. Cancer has hit my family, as it has so many others, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join a movement to help beat cancer and other hereditary conditions.

Q: Can you share with us some of the advancements and discoveries Color Genomics has made?

KJS: When you buy a car, a home or a phone, you get an owner’s manual. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with our bodies! Color is making it easier to unlock the DNA inside of us to make it easier to stay healthy. Specifically, Color has made access to medically actionable genetic testing easier and more affordable. We’re empowering people to learn their risk of hereditary conditions and use that early knowledge to take control of their healthcare and develop personalized plans to prevent illness or detect it early.

Q: What would you like to see Color Genomics accomplish in the next 5 years?

KJS: I would love to look back in 2023 to see that Color helped eliminate all hereditary conditions, including breast and ovarian cancers, caused by genetic mutations.

Q: Which woman inspires you and why?

KJS: My daughters, Ellie and Kiki. They’re passionate, fearless, strong, curious, and funny. Most importantly, they are focused on making a positive difference in the world!

Q: What are some of the challenges you feel women face today?

KJS: One of the biggest challenges for women is economic power. It’s also one of our biggest opportu-

nities. I’m thrilled that the Gates Foundation has committed $170 million towards improving economic leverage for women worldwide. According to Melinda Gates, “when money flows into the hands of women who have the authority to use it, everything changes.”

Q: What are some strategies that can help women achieve a more prominent role in their organizations?

KJS:

1. Build your own personal Board of Directors. Cultivate relationships with people you admire, seek out their advice and collaborate with them on projects you’re passionate about. For example, I’m a founding partner of #Angels, which I started with five of my friends from Twitter. We share access to deals, networks and opportunities. I also lean on entrepreneurs and execs including Tina Sharkey, Dan Rosensweig, Dick Costolo and Elad Gil for career and industry advice.

2.  Pay it forward - help women at all levels. I’m pretty sure I’m going to work for the women on my team at Color one day and am really excited about that!

3. Make sure women’s voices are heard and presences are felt. Work to ensure that they’re seated at the table and included in the conversation.

4. Have conviction in your beliefs and share them. Don’t be afraid to bring new ideas forward.

5. Be passionate about what you’re doing. Life is short.

6. Choose wisely. Look for a manager and team that help you be your best self.

7. Don’t worry about the job title - do your best work and the title and prominence will follow.

Q: What’s one leadership lesson you’ve learned in your career?

KJS: My media team at Twitter had a great motto: Dream big, do big, act big. Follow these principles as a leader and you can’t go wrong.

Q: What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership?

KJS: There is still plenty of gender bias in our society and structural barriers that make it difficult for women to rise to the top: lack of access to paid leave, affordable childcare, and equal pay. We’re making progress, but not fast enough. We need to keep pushing and make it easier for women to stay in the workplace, advance quickly, and get paid fairly.

Q: Can you offer advice to parents with daughters graduating from high school?

KJS: Not yet! My older daughter graduates this year. Please send me advice on Twitter: @katies!

Q: Tell us about your hobbies outside of work?

KJS: I love Zumba with Ula Ghosheh. She’s the best instructor. I’m the worst in the class.

Q: Is there an interesting fact that most people wouldn’t know about you?

KJS: I wanted to be a pilot and was briefly in Air Force ROTC in college. Maybe one day I’ll finish getting my pilot’s license!

Q: How do you achieve work-life balance?

KJS: There’s no such thing as a balance - it’s more of a mashup. I try to prioritize the most important things and be present wherever I am.

Q: What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment thus far?

KJS: I can Tweet reasonably well. :)

Q: What do you enjoy most about living in the Bay Area?

KJS: The Bay Area is a magical place filled with smart, optimistic people who want to make the world a better place and have the skillset to have massive positive impact at scale.