Arlene Dickinson is one of the stars of Canada’s Dragon’s Den television show and has been gaining a lot of notoriety because of the way she handles herself both on air and off. She is proving to the world and most especially, to women, that you can balance work and life in a manner that still allows you to be a massive success. She is the CEO of Venture Communications, … [Read more...]
Being Womencentric Rocks!
When you meet a woman who has a vision that doesn’t quit, it makes sense to hang out with her. That is what I am doing with Pattie Simone. She is a spicy gal from New York who grew up when women were still on the quiet side; yet she could not be put in a playpen. She saw opportunities and ran with them. She still does! Her vision is a site for women: entrepreneurs, … [Read more...]
GUTSY Woman and a Vision
What do you get when you mix five thousand women and counting; two hundred national chapters and counting; and energy that doesn’t quit? You get a powerful organization that has fun while doing good. Meet Mary Jo Wallo, a woman for these times. She runs an investment firm in San Diego, so who could be more perfect to count the growth and increases as her dream is coming … [Read more...]
Superwoman and Strong Shoulders
I know rebels when I meet them. This is a vital pattern in “Don’t Bring It to Work”. They love to ask “Why not” rather than just “Why”. Even better are those who can flip rebel to its positive opposite behavior, that of being a community builder. Meet Carla Calizaire, Regional Business Director at Novo Nordisk. Carla has an aura, a presence that immediately makes people … [Read more...]
A Woman’s Place is in the Classroom
I was recently invited to speak at Purdue University and had the absolute pleasure of spending time with Dr. Beverly Davenport Sypher. Dr. Sypher had some important statistics for us to consider before we moved into the fascinating reasons she chose higher education as her vocation. We all go to school, most of us graduate. School is a good place to be. There used to be a … [Read more...]
Community Builder Par Excellent
I had the opportunity to interview a mover and shaker, whose passion for reaching out into the community made me want to quit my job and work with her. Susan Bass Levin is the head of the Cooper Hospital Foundation in New Jersey. A lawyer by training and an entrepreneur and community advocate in her hear,t she listened to an internal drum beat that said “see a problem-fix a … [Read more...]
Leadership Challenges: Start with a Strong Spine
When we meet people, we are always looking for the core of who they are. Sometimes we just observe, other times we ask lots of questions. When I met Peggy McColl at the 21st Century Book Marketing Conference in San Diego, I first observed. A seasoned speaker she was engaging and had a wealth of important information about the power of online marketing to capture … [Read more...]
Getting Beyond Unconscious Bias
We are all guilty of bias. It is part of being human. One of the issues facing women in business is continued stereotyping , unconscious bias and the unintended consequences that result. This is one of the most difficult issues organizations face when they are working on culture shifts that must take place if women are to participate on an even playing field. The most … [Read more...]
How to Increase your Search Results through Social Media
Are you just "managing" your online social profile? Or are you taking a lead by collaborating and participating with others through comments, wall posts, Twitter feeds, blogging, and discussion threads? By adding a layer of proactivity onto our social media, we have the opportunity to use our social posting as a great way to increase the number of search results associated … [Read more...]
Leadership and Meryl Streep
I must admit, that while Sandra Bullock is a super actress, I was so sad and unhappy that Meryl Streep did not win the “Best Actress” Oscar at the Academy Awards Ceremony last night. I’ll go on the assumption that both films are worthy. I’ll go on the assumption that both actresses are wonderful. And yet, maybe it’s my own sentimentality, maybe even a bit of loyalty. Meryl … [Read more...]