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In this podcast episode, Elena Armijo speaks with Carolyn Swora, a leadership consultant, team coach, and author, about her journey into coaching and her focus on social justice and trauma-informed leadership. Carolyn shares her passion for working with leaders and organizations committed to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, highlighting the importance of connecting with the body and nervous system as a leader.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
Carolyn emphasizes the somatic aspects of leadership and transformation, discussing how the body stores emotional wounds and trauma that can impact cognitive and physical performance. She encourages leaders to listen to and partner with their nervous systems in order to regulate their states and show up more fully. Carolyn provides practical suggestions for individuals to explore somatic practices, such as community connection and grounding exercises.
Ultimately, Carolyn's vision is for more people to understand the power of the nervous system and somatic wisdom, in order to address systemic challenges and create positive change in the world. She believes that by disseminating this knowledge widely, especially to the next generation, we can build the internal resources and collective capacity needed to make a difference. This podcast episode offers valuable insights and practical tips for leaders looking to incorporate somatic practices into their work.
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Learn more about The C-Suite Collective
Follow The C-Suite Collective on Instagram
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Carolyn Swora:
Instragram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Website | Podcast | Amazon
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
Jo van Eeden, Project Manager
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In this episode, Elena Armijo and Jason Frazell dive deep into the concept of blind spots and how they affect our daily lives. Blind spots are not just limited to driving situations, but exist in all aspects of our lives, including communication, decision-making, and self-awareness. By understanding the psychological mechanisms behind blind spots, individuals can start recognizing and addressing them.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
Jason shares his personal journey from a sales-focused career to becoming an executive coach and facilitator. He opens up about the challenges he faced when starting his own business and the need to separate his identity from the work. Jason also expresses his desire to delve deeper into men's work, exploring vulnerability, emotional expression, and the importance of men connecting with their spirituality and plant medicine. He envisions a world where men feel seen, heard, and validated, breaking free from societal pressure to conform to traditional masculine norms.
Providing a thought-provoking conversation on blind spots, self-awareness, and the evolving landscape of identity and masculinity, this episode emphasizes the importance of creating a more inclusive and empowered world for individuals of all genders. Jason recommends resources such as the "Anti-Racism Daily" newsletter and books like "Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People" and "How to Be an Anti-Racist".
Let’s Get Social!
Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Learn more about The C-Suite Collective
Follow The C-Suite Collective on Instagram
Connect with Elena on LinkedIn
Jason Frazell:
Instragram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Website | Podcast
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
Jo van Eeden, Project Manager
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In this episode, Elena Armijo interviews Ned Hanlon, the president of AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists) union, about leadership and the future of the arts industry. Ned shares his journey to union leadership, starting with his involvement in negotiating his contract with the Metropolitan Opera. He found his calling in the legal and negotiation side of union leadership and has been actively involved for the past 10 years.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
The pandemic has served as a wake-up call for artists, making them realize the importance of taking care of each other through unions. Companies cannot always provide stability, and artists need to rely on collective action to protect their interests. Ned's goals as AGMA president are to build solidarity through alliances with other unions, empower artists to speak up, and protect them from retaliation.
One of the key focuses of the union is diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. This is addressed both internally within the union and during contract negotiations with companies. By addressing these important issues, the union aims to create a safer environment for artists, tackling problems like harassment and discrimination.
Ned sees his role as a facilitator rather than the sole leader. He believes in harnessing the collective power of union members and building consensus. Effective negotiations involve understanding all perspectives, finding common ground, and being willing to exert collective power if necessary. However, Ned emphasizes the importance of avoiding "scorched earth" tactics that can harm all parties involved.
Looking to the future, Ned's hope is for the arts industry to survive its current difficulties. He wants all artists to feel empowered to improve their work conditions without fear, and he believes the union can play a crucial role in creating a safe and supportive environment for artists to speak up and advocate for themselves.
Let’s Get Social!
Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Learn more about The C-Suite Collective
Follow The C-Suite Collective on Instagram
Connect with Elena on LinkedIn
Ned Hanlon:
Instragram
LinkedIn
Facebook
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
Jo van Eeden, Project Manager
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In this episode, Elena speaks with Brittany Cotton, an innovative leader in professional coaching. Brittany is the Head of Coaching at 7CTOs and also runs her own executive coaching business called Coach EXE. She shares how she stumbled into coaching after finishing her master's degree and feeling uncertain about pursuing a PhD program. Brittany talks about the fulfillment she found in coaching and how it allowed her to tap into something that was already inside her. She emphasizes that coaching is not about having all the answers, but rather supporting others to cultivate their own answers.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
As the Head of Coaching at 7 CTOs, Brittany is responsible for creating leadership content and facilitating peer coaching groups. She discusses how her work focuses on helping tech leaders develop heart-based leadership skills in addition to technical skills. She also shares some trends she has noticed, highlighting that leaders are now more comfortable embracing discomfort and sitting with problems instead of running from them.
Brittany offers advice on developing courage, encouraging leaders to step out of their comfort zones, embrace vulnerability, and learn from setbacks. She believes that small steps over time can lead to significant personal growth. She also emphasizes the importance of difficult conversations and sitting with uncertainty, as personal growth can have a profound impact on organizations.
Brittany emphasizes the importance of personal growth in navigating professional challenges and global difficulties. She believes that leaders who prioritize their own development can bring about positive change in their companies from the inside out. She shares stories of clients who experienced unexpected transformations long after coaching ended. Overall, Brittany's holistic approach centers on the humanity of leaders, emphasizing the importance of personal growth over technical skills.
Let’s Get Social!
Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Learn more about The C-Suite Collective
Follow The C-Suite Collective on Instagram
Connect with Elena on LinkedIn
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
Jo van Eeden, Project Manager
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In this final episode of 2023, Elena Armijo reflects on the year at The C-Suite Collective, the executive coaching company she founded, discussing the importance of slowing down in order to go fast. As a fast-paced leader, Elena realized that taking the time to ensure people were on board and understood expectations was crucial. Throughout the year, The C-Suite Collective intentionally focused on building strong foundations, including processes, values, and fostering community conversations.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
Elena also shares her personal journey of working internally and from the inside out. She highlights the transformative power of working with a coach for an entire year, focusing on healing, boundaries, self-acceptance, and receiving support. By accepting herself more, Elena was able to effectively lead and serve others, encouraging them to also do their inner work.
The company's commitment to inclusion and belonging was another key lesson learned in 2023. The C-Suite Collective explored new approaches, engaged in difficult conversations, and emphasized the importance of everyone's right to belong. They prioritized connection over conflict and disagreement, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
Elena also emphasizes the significance of celebrating the journey, not just the end goals. With the guidance of her coach, she practiced daily self-appreciation and joy throughout December. This shift in mindset allowed her to find fulfillment in the process rather than solely focusing on achieving outcomes.
Looking ahead to 2024, Elena plans to simplify her goals by narrowing them down to just five things. This strategic approach will allow her to fully immerse herself in each goal's journey and ensure their successful realization.
Finally, Elena expresses deep gratitude for the support she has received from her family, partner, friends, colleagues, clients, and listeners. She wishes everyone a peaceful and restful end to 2023, while also encouraging them to embrace the possibilities that lie ahead in the new year.
In summary, Elena shares the key lessons that guided her growth and The C-Suite Collective's development in 2023. These include the importance of slowing down, engaging in internal work, promoting inclusion, celebrating the journey, simplifying goals, and expressing gratitude. It has been a year of self-reflection, growth, and building a strong foundation for continued success.
Let’s Get Social!
Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Learn more about The C-Suite Collective
Follow The C-Suite Collective on Instagram
Connect with Elena on LinkedIn
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
Jo van Eeden, Project Manager
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In this episode, Elena speaks with Nomsa Khalfani and Amy Moy, the co-CEOs of Essential Access Health, to discuss their unique approach to co-leadership and their vision for transforming organizational culture. Nomsa and Amy have a long history together, having worked side by side in senior leadership roles for the past 10 years. When the previous CEO left, the board made the groundbreaking decision to appoint Nomsa and Amy as co-CEOs, recognizing their strong partnership and dedication to the organization's mission.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
As co-CEOs, Nomsa and Amy prioritize the well-being of their staff. They lead by example, practicing mutual support, flexibility, rest, and vulnerability. This shift in mindset and focus on staff wellness has resulted in a more trusting, safe, and humane organizational culture. They also emphasize inclusion, community health, and freedom for all. Through coaching, fair compensation, and involving staff in decision-making, they empower their team to make a meaningful impact.
However, with this new style of leadership also come challenges. Nomsa and Amy stress the importance of being open to feedback, even when it's uncomfortable, and using it as an opportunity for self-reflection rather than defensiveness. They also recognize the need to embrace imperfection and allow for evolution in their leadership approach.
To measure their success, Nomsa and Amy look at metrics such as staff retention, feedback from employees about feeling valued, and recommendations of the organization. They believe that by creating an empowering culture, they can support their staff in doing their best work and ultimately make a significant impact.
Above all, Nomsa and Amy's vision for Essential Access Health is centered around respecting bodily autonomy and fundamental human rights and dignity for all. They believe that true freedom cannot exist as long as some individuals lack it. Their goal is to amplify voices and improve outcomes through courageous and pioneering leadership. Tune in to this enlightening episode to learn more about their journey and the transformative power of co-leadership.
Let’s Get Social!
Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Learn more about Essential Access Health
Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.
Connect with Nomsa on LinkedIn , Facebook and Instagram.
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
Jo van Eeden, Project Manager
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Today, Elena talks with Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, speaker, and author, Oakland McCulloch, about principles that can transform your leadership and your team.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
Listen to their conversation here!
How can we continue to grow as leaders? We’ve all heard the phrase, “leaders are readers,” and yes, reading is a huge part of growing. But this is not the only way we leaders can and should grow. Whether it’s learning from other people, nourishing yourself, letting go of preconceived notions, or creating new avenues for growth, your development as a leader can take many forms. In fact, one of the more overlooked ways you can grow as a leader is by continuing to practice what you preach. After all, if you’re not applying the principles you espouse to your own life, why should anyone else?
In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena shares three key ways you can focus on your personal leadership development, while strengthening your character at the same time. In her interview segment, she talks with Retired Lieutenant Colonel Oakland “Oak” McCulloch. With over 40 years of leadership experience and almost 25 years serving in the US Army, he is a leadership powerhouse. In this conversation, you’ll be reminded of key leadership principles and learn new ones, like the brilliant 75% Rule that Oak learned from his father, how the environment you’re in during interactions with your team can build trust, the importance of curiosity as a leader, why people bringing problems to your attention is actually a good sign, and more! They also discuss Oak’s book, Your Leadership Legacy: Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be, and how it can impact leaders, regardless of their age or stage.
Let’s Get Social!
Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Visit Oak's website to book him as a speaker and buy his book.
Connect with Oak on Instagram.
Follow him on LinkedIn!
Contact Oak on Facebook.
Learn more about Oak on YouTube.
Message him on X.
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:
John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting
Sam De Santo, Creative Director
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager
Raejan Noh, Content Writer
Jennifer Harshman, Content Writer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
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In this episode, Elena speaks with psychotherapist and coach, Claudine Chiarmonte, about leading holistically, living with integrity, and engaging in self-healing.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
What does wholeheartedness mean as a leader? Being authentic as a leader and bringing all of who you are to the table can be difficult to put into practice. However, part of being wholehearted as a leader means cultivating authenticity and being open about the fact that you don’t know everything. You have to be okay with making mistakes and being human. You’re not the Terminator. In fact, one of the most powerful, albeit difficult, ways to embrace wholehearted living is by cultivating rest and play in your day-to-day life. In a world that is all about the “hustle,” this might seem counterintuitive to your productivity and your ability to lead. Nevertheless, this practice actually frees you to be able to embrace joy and gratitude, not just in your work life, but in all areas.
In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena delves into what it means to live wholeheartedly, so you can thrive in every aspect of your life. In her interview segment, she speaks with her friend, Claudine Chiarmonte, a coach, psychotherapist, senior executive trainer, and podcaster, who has been helping people transform their lives for over 30 years. From an early age, Claudine was called to help others navigate difficult situations, which led her to become a social worker and child advocate. Her life took an unexpected turn when she was struck by a drunk driver. This incident caused her to reevaluate her life, career, and relationships, prompting her to change directions and become a coach. In this conversation, Elena and Claudine talk about the journey of finding your purpose, the difference between principles and values, what it takes to lead with self-awareness, how to live and lead with vulnerability, and more.
Let’s Get Social!Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Learn more about Claudine's psychotherapy practice.
Listen to Claudine’s podcast.
Connect with Claudine on Instagram.
Follow her on LinkedIn!
Friend her on Facebook.
Check out Claudine’s YouTube.
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting
Sam De Santo, Creative Director
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager
Raejan Noh, Content Writer
J. Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
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Today, Elena talks with coach and founder, Melanie Paez, about the C-Suite Collective Retreat, being an inclusive leader, and checking your prejudices at the door.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
What does it mean to create an environment of belonging? We hear this phrase a lot in the world, but what does it really mean? Well, it starts with awareness—awareness of yourself, of others, and of your environment. We all have blind spots that we need to address in order to have a full understanding of ourselves so we can create belonging. In fact, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you create belonging, not just with others, but within yourself, as well. This includes journaling, determining your wants and needs, figuring out where you are withholding, and highlighting the areas where you are afraid of being different.
In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena explains how you can begin to understand your own needs, wants, and desires, so you can be more attuned to others. In her interview segment, Elena talks with coach and founder of Chief Executive Angel, Melanie Paez. Melanie is also the Director of Coaching at the C-Suite Collective and is instrumental in helping the C-Suite thrive. In their conversation, Elena and Melanie talk about how to navigate being inclusive without excluding others, the balance of masculine and feminine leadership in the world, and owning who you are. They also cover highlights from the C-Suite Collective Retreat and share applicable steps you can use on your personal journey of self-discovery and belonging.
Let’s Get Social!Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Find Melanie Paez on Facebook.
Connect with Melanie on Instagram.
Follow her on LinkedIn!
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting
Sam De Santo, Creative Director
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager
Raejan Noh, Content Writer
J. Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
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Elena speaks with the leader of TalentXponential, Andria Taylor. They discuss compassion and competence in leadership, creating a sustainable workforce, and more!
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
You know those times when we enter a difficult conversation and our guard goes up? Our bodies are taut, our hearts start racing, and we begin sweating. We get defensive. But how do we work through that defensiveness so we can engage in those tough conversations and truly hear and see other people? There are some key things that we can do to refocus and have discussions on topics that may make us uncomfortable. However, one of the most important things to remember is that the person we are talking with is just that—a fellow human being—and we want to move forward together.
In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena details three practices you can implement to work through your own defensiveness during difficult conversations, so you can be heard and hear others. In her interview segment, Elena speaks with Andria Taylor, a winning consultant who helps mid-sized, high-growth businesses develop their leaders and maximize avenues for growth. Andria is the head of TalentXponential, holds certifications in Myers-Briggs, DiSC, Crucial Conversations, Change Management and executive coaching (CTI), and is a mom to twins. In this conversation, you’ll discover how Andria’s experience being a mom of twins has helped hone her as a leader, why leading with compassion and competence is critical to developing a sustainable workforce, how leaders can sharpen one another, and what it means to give people the opportunity to grow into their role.
If you want to be encouraged in your leadership capacity, you don’t want to miss this episode!
Let’s Get Social!Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Check out Andria's consulting firm, TalentXpontential.
Connect with Andria on LinkedIn!
Contact her here.
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting
Sam De Santo, Creative Director
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager
Raejan Noh, Content Writer
J. Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
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Today, Elena talks with pianist and coach, Robert Kuang, about being open to self-discovery, expanding your abilities, and resting in your natural strengths.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
Everyone wants an innovative team, but, as a leader, are you creating a space for innovation to thrive? Maybe you’re not having as many creative conversations with your team, or maybe they’re not as eager to share their ideas as they have been in the past. Here’s the thing: you need to make sure you enable an environment for innovation and creativity to be present. So, ask yourself, are you willing to be surprised by your people? Are you shutting down your team or uplifting them so they can express their ideas? Are you highlighting areas where they can be creative? Don’t be afraid to be honest with yourself and your team.
In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena shares how you can conduct a self-examination, so you create an open, creative environment and lead your team to fearlessly innovate. In her interview segment, Elena speaks with pianist and coach, Robert Kuang. Shortly after immigrating to America from Beijing, Robert discovered his natural aptitude for music and piano at the age of 9. This discovery led him on an unexpected journey that impacted the rest of his life and propelled him into a fulfilling and impactful career. Through this conversation, Robert shares his story of self-discovery and creative expression, and you’ll learn why it’s so important to continually expand your abilities, be open to taking new paths, and rest in your natural abilities.
Let’s Get Social!Want to hear more from Elena? https://elenaarmijo.com/ and https://thec-suitecollective.com/
Learn more about Robert's coaching business and listen to his podcast here https://www.robertkuangcoaching.com/
Connect with Robert on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/robertkuanghome/
Follow him on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-kuang-84345aa3/?msgOverlay=true
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting https://www.imaginepodcasting.com/
Sam De Santo, Creative Director https://www.sandgstudios.com/
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer https://www.ryetaylor.com/
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer https://alanmeaney.ie/
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-mccarley/
Raejan Noh, Content Writer https://www.linkedin.com/in/raejan-noh/
J. Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist https://hollatchaboykin.com/ and get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jaaron_hi/
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In this episode, Elena interviews Alycia James, a coach and healer who focuses on emotional freedom, intuitive development, and self-liberation.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
What does celebrating Women’s History Month - and beyond - look like? Elena has thought a lot about how it would look to not only celebrate this month every year but live this month intentionally throughout the year. After a particularly draining workshop, a loving voice message from Aaron reminded Elena that women can’t leave men behind in the fight for equality. Her advice and Weekly Coaching Tip are to surround yourself with allies – people who can see you and hear you (even if they don’t understand you), and honor what you’re up to in the world. Think about who makes up your collective sisterhood, and if you are not intentionally looking to create sisterhood with other women, where could you find them, and gather them for support?
In her interview segment, Elena talks with Alycia James, whom she first met online to create a coaching show. Alycia’s physical beauty, inner soul and kind heart concealed a very different inner feeling…that of hating being a woman. Alycia experienced internalized misogyny for much of her life, and believed being born a woman was a hinderance. As she began to explore coaching and mindset work with Elena, she realized nobody knows her better than herself, and gained confidence in standing up for her own opinion, even if it meant challenging a man’s authority. Cultivating relationships with men who allow her to be her authentic self empowered her and made her more present.
The conversation then turns to intuition and the tremendous power it has in our lives. It’s easily accessible to both men and women - men follow their gut instinct while women need to lean into their femininity. Alycia explains that for women, fear is often mistaken for intuition. They must be clearly distinguished, and learning to act on one or dismiss the other is crucial. For Alycia, it’s very clear which is which, because intuition comes with a sense of peace and a feeling of acceptance. Always follow peace. As a tip to the listeners to tap into their intuition more, she asks the simple question “If there was no right or wrong, what would you do?”, and the answer will usually come.
If you’re interested in realizing your inner voice/intuition in a more profound way, you’ll enjoy this episode!
Let’s Get Social!Want to hear more from Elena? https://elenaarmijo.com/
Alycia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alycia.clare.voyant/
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting
Sam De Santo, Creative Director
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager
Raejan Noh, Content Writer
J. Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
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In this episode, Elena and Isaac Quiroga talk about the importance of vision, valuable leadership principles, and why a willingness to try new things takes you on an incredible journey!
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
What does leading with your heart mean? This is a question that Elena has pondered multiple times over the past two years. Many leaders are afraid to lead with their hearts and are even more uncertain in our ever-changing world. Her evaluation has led her to hone in on three qualities that are evident when you lead from the heart. They are: vulnerability, active listening, and creating a space where all voices matter. When we lead from the heart, we can create environments where we are not only leading from our strengths, but we are also giving strength to our team.
In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena shares the three qualities that are evident when you lead from the heart and how to demonstrate them as a leader. In her Interview Segment, Elena talks with her long-time friend Isaac Quiroga, a fellow NMSU graduate, New Yorker, and singer turned Mattel executive. Isaac’s adventurous spirit and innovative nature have propelled him to try new things and reach new heights in the corporate world. Isaac started out as a singer in New York, but soon realized he lacked the business acumen to truly excel as a performer. So, he dove into the business world as an executive assistant and eventually climbed the corporate ladder to become the Vice President of Digital Engagement at Mattel. In this conversation, Elena and Isaac talk about the importance of vision, the unique strengths performers have in the business world, Isaac’s challenges and lessons as a leader, and the importance of purpose in your work.
If you’re interested in business, leadership, or digital marketing, you’ll enjoy this episode!
Let’s Get Social!Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Connect with Isaac on LinkedIn.
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting
Sam De Santo, Creative Director
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager
Raejan Noh, Content Writer
J. Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
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Are you a recovering perfectionist? In this episode, Elena speaks with Shirin Eskandani, a former opera singer and coach who helps others see their self-worth and beat perfectionism.
2020 was the year of pivoting. Pivoting from working in the office to working at home. Pivoting from celebrating birthdays, graduations, and weddings to delaying them. Pivoting from relationships and careers to adapting to uncertainty. As 2023 begins with layoffs and a looming recession, it seems the pivoting will not stop. The thing is, life is infused with pivots. They aren’t a recent phenomenon. They are just more evident. So, the question is, who would like to be when pivots happen in your life? You see, you can’t always control your circumstances, but you can determine who you will be. So, who will you choose to be?
In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena provides a game plan so you can begin to strategize who you will be when pivots happen in your life. In her interview segment, Elena speaks with coach, writer, podcast host, and public speaker, Shirin Eskandani. Shirin has been featured as a wellness expert on “The Today Show,” The New York Times, The Doctors and Shape magazine. Before becoming a fantastic coach, Shirin was a professional opera singer and performed at Carnegie Hall as well as the Metropolitan Opera. Now, Shirin uses her unique perspective to catalyze thoughtful discussions, help others live on their terms, and embrace a softer, intentional, yet adaptable life. In this conversation, Elena and Shirin talk about recovering from perfectionism and workaholism, choosing the beauty of slow, determined living, fostering curiosity in the day-to-day, and understanding your own self-worth.
Let’s Get Social!Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power in you.
Learn more about Shirin’s coaching business and listen to her podcast.
Connect with Shirin on Instagram.
Follow her on LinkedIn!
Contact Shirin here.
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting
Sam De Santo, Creative Director
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager
Raejan Noh, Content Writer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
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In the first episode of 2023, Elena speaks with coaches and podcasters Bay Leblanc Quiney and Laura Westman, who host West of Wonderland, a podcast about magic, wonder, and leadership.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
What dream have you forgotten about? This is the start of a new year, so what do you want to accomplish with it? Wouldn’t it be amazing, at the end of this year, to say, “I’m achieving my dream?” The thing is, many of us have forgotten our dreams. We allow the stress of life and the seriousness of reality to dampen them, so we often set them aside as our childish hopes and forget about them. As we begin 2023, let’s rekindle those long-lost dreams. Let’s examine ourselves and remember what our dreams are. Then, let’s put them into action, so we can add wonder to the world!
In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena shares action steps you can use so you can be closer to achieving your dream in just one month. In her interview segment, Elena talks with her friends Bay Leblanc Quiney and Laura Westman. These two bright, powerhouse ladies are professionally certified coaches, who bring wonder, joy, and magic to every conversation—including those they have on their podcast, West of Wonderland. During their chat, Bay, Laura, and Elena talk about how West of Wonderland began, the importance of restoring audacious optimism, why wishing is actually a good thing, and how many of the Disney characters we all know and love exemplify vital leadership qualities. Their conversation will be sure to make you smile and empower you to dream!
Let’s Get Social!Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Subscribe to West of Wonderland!
Connect with these ladies on Instagram.
Follow them on Facebook!
Contact them here.
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting
Sam De Santo, Creative Director
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager
Raejan Noh, Content Writer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
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I want to thank you all who have listened to this show this year. The people that I've interviewed and brought to you are very dear and close to my heart and leaders in the world I see having a huge impact on disrupting the norm and creating a world that they envision for all of us in the future.
Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for listening. I want to wish you all a very warm and healthy holiday season. We're going to take a short break and be back at the beginning of the year with some amazing new guests all around leadership, development, growth, and us as a collective in the world bringing more love, light, and authenticity to the world.
And until then, I will be slowly saying goodbye to 2022 and resting for the new year. Thank you again. I wish you the most beautiful, warm, loving holidays and a joyful holiday season.
Elena
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Why do we stay committed to our dreams? Elena and Angela Shanker discuss this question as they talk about being a successful musician in NYC and following your dreams despite hardships.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
What is your current relationship to commitment? For some, commitment is a burden. For others, it’s an obligation or responsibility. But let’s dig a little deeper. What is your commitment based on? If it is based on external things, like perceived wrongs you see in the world that you are committed to fixing, that’s good! However, we all have a finite amount of time, so we can’t fix everything that we believe is wrong in the world, no matter how hard we try. Elena shares that when our commitment is based on something that is happening solely outside of us, that can cause us to eventually burn out. She notes that when your commitment comes from your core—from who you are and what you are passionate about—that passion-fueled commitment can be easier to fulfill, even when you run into challenges and obstacles along the way.
In this episode, Elena talks with Angela Shanker, who is a beautiful example of a passion-driven, musically-gifted, dream-chasing woman. She and Elena talk about how Angela’s love for her craft and her family fueled her to consistently achieve goals that others deemed impossible, including making a sustainable living as a musician and music teacher in New York City, pivoting from her work in classical music to musical theater as she successfully learned how to play multiple new instruments during the pandemic, and becoming a musician in the orchestra for the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular for the past two years!
If you want to be inspired to stay committed to your dreams and push through the hard days, you do not want to miss this episode of The Collective Corner!
Let’s Get Social!Want to hear more from Elena? https://elenaarmijo.com/
Check out Angela’s website: https://angelashankar.com/
Connect with Angela on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/angshankarmusic/
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting
Sam De Santo, Creative Director
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager
Raejan Noh, Content Writer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
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Can you be a strong leader and feel deeply? In this episode, Elena and her guest, Lauren Borden, discuss the leadership strengths of HSPs, the benefits of emotional awareness, and more!
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
What gifts would more emotional awareness allow you to receive? Deeper relationships? Better communication with others? A stronger business? When you become more aware of your own emotional state, you can have more opportunities for self-reflection and growth. The thing is, self-evaluating can be uncomfortable and, oftentimes, it can be easier to push past your emotions instead of dealing with them. So, why should we engage in this practice of self-evaluation at all? Stay tuned, because, in this episode’s Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena details three reasons why practicing more emotional awareness can benefit your mental health, your leadership skills, and your relationships.
In this episode, Elena talks with her friend, Holistic Leadership coach, and member of the C-Suite Collective, Lauren Borden. Not only is she armed with a PCC, M.A., and Ph.D., Lauren is an authentic and mindful person who truly sees the beauty in everyone she interacts with. Together, these two vibrant women discuss the power of highly sensitive people in leadership, new methods for understanding and honing your team’s strengths, how individuals can come together by recognizing the collective beauty of humanity, and the story behind Lauren's rebranding of her coaching business! To top it off, they also share their experiences of healing, growth, and relational development at Elena’s first-ever C-Suite Collective Retreat.
If you’re a highly sensitive person (HSP) who wants to tap into your leadership strengths and communication skills, you don’t want to miss this episode!
Let’s Get Social!Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!
Check out Lauren’s coaching services. https://www.laurenbordencoaching.com/
Follow Lauren on Instagram!
Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn.
Contact Lauren here!
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting
Sam De Santo, Creative Director
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager
Raejan Noh, Content Writer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
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On this episode, Elena speaks with screenwriter and podcast producer, Eric McKeever, about his show, The Coach, why audio comedy is important, and how to stop resisting creative ideas.
What creative project or idea have you been resisting? If you’re a creative or an entrepreneur, it seems new ideas are always coming to mind. Oftentimes, this can result in us acting on all of our new ideas, which keeps us from moving forward because we’re going in so many directions. Or, in response to spreading ourselves too thin by chasing so many ideas in the past, we keep our heads down and resist our new creative ideas. However, both responses can result in paralysis and we aren’t able to accomplish what we need to. So, how do we distinguish between the ideas that we really love and should pursue, and the ideas that are great but aren’t what we need to seize right now?
In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena shares three steps you can use to recognize the creative ideas you’ve resisted, but need to act upon. In her interview segment, Elena talks with her friend and former opera colleague, Eric McKeever. Not only is Eric an accomplished baritone opera singer, he is also a talented artist with a portfolio that includes screenwriting and podcast producing. During their conversation, Elena and Eric reminisce about their first opera together, discuss the pivots that singers and artists had to make during the pandemic, and the catalytic conversation that launched Eric’s new audio-drama podcast, The Coach. Eric shares his inspiration behind the podcast, the ways humor addresses real life, how he has grown as a leader and an artist through the podcast production process, and more!
Let’s Get Social!Want to hear more from Elena? Click here: https://www.elenaarmijopodcast.com/episodes/
Connect with the talented Eric McKeever: [email protected]
Listen to “The Coach” here: https://thecoachpodcast.squarespace.com/
Follow “The Coach” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.coachaudiopodcast/
Check out “The Coach” on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCoachcomedy
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting
Sam De Santo, Creative Director
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager
Raejan Noh, Content Writer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist
For more, visit Imagine Podcasting at https://www.imaginepodcasting.com/
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John Biethan discusses the power of being heard, and podcasting’s unique ability to make that possible, because we all have something of value to say.
What do you want to be known for in the world? What would you want people to say “thank you” for when you’re gone?
In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena provides insight on how to look into the future, consider the qualities you want to be remembered for, the legacy you want to leave, and how to work backwards from there to start making them a reality today.
In her interview segment, Elena speaks with John Biethan, President and CEO of Imagine Podcasting.
John weaves a unique and fascinating lesson in audio for the listener, covering topics from podcasting’s beginnings, to music, to the creation of soundscapes and the feelings behind them. As the producer of Elena’s podcast, they discuss the dynamics of how to grow and maintain a media presence in today’s crowded landscape, as well as the current state of social media and where it’s going. You’ll hear about the newest “thing” in podcasting - private podcasting – and how it allows people to go deeper in their conversation and give the audience a more intimate experience. John also offers insight into leadership, responsibility and stewardship for women CEOs - that women often make better leaders than their male counterparts, and how everyone in business can benefit from slowing down and making an effort to really listen and hear what others have to say.
Let’s Get Social!John Biethan
Website: https://www.imaginepodcasting.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbiethan/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/imagepodcasting
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imaginepodcasting/
This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:
John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting
Sam De Santo, Creative Director
Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager
Raejan Noh, Content Writer
Jennifer Harshman, Content Writer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
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