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Having a supportive community full of inspirational people surrounding you can be the difference between success and failure. You can find your community online, through social networks, but it’s even better to find a group local to you to get that inspiration face-to-face. Today’s guests, SC Moatti, Darryl Grant, Anne Devereux-Mills, are all founding members of women’s communities who find great comfort and support within their groups. SC Moatti is a technology visionary, entrepreneur, and investor. She founded Mighty Capital, a tech company based in Silicon Valley, and Products That Count, one of the largest networks for product makers in the world. Her companies focus on creating products that people love. Darryl Grant was born and raised in Harlem, NYC, and has 20 siblings! Through his involvement in the Merrill Corporation, he founded Inspiring Connectivity, a community of C-level executive women based in San Francisco. Darryl takes his inspiration from his mother, Eloise Grant, who raised hundreds of children and mentored dozens of women, sometimes in the middle of the night. Anne Devereux-Mills is a driving force behind making change possible and showing women where to start. She’s the founder of Parlay House, a national affiliation of thousands of diverse and inspirational women. Anne praises collaboration over competition and believes that women are oftentimes guilty of rejecting other women. In this episode, we’re talking about the power of social communities, how these leaders have built their groups, what value they have, and how other members have received support from within. You can absolutely bring a group together and embrace the resulting empowerment, and each leader explains how they’ve cultivated that for themselves. We discuss what it’s like to nurture and advise young women, and transferring these skills to working with business executives across a diverse range of industries. Establishing relationships among your community is vital to creating a harmonious environment that promotes support and inclusivity, as well. Community relies on strong leadership and consistency in order to grow and develop trust. Everyone wants more community, the key is finding people that actually inspire you. Do you have a community of powerful women who support you? How have you embraced all the ups and downs that life has given you? When is the last time you met up with a local person who inspires you? In This Episode: How to reframe what’s important in your life after everything changes How you can bring a group of diverse women together to embrace empowerment What it’s like being an advisor to young women Why you need to build and nurture relationships across the board How you can build a network full of support and trust Why you need to run events on a consistent schedule in order to build community Why you need to embrace both the highs and lows that come on your journeys Why it’s more important to meet the people that inspire you, rather than the people who just bolster your numbers Quotes: “There’s so much judgment in this world. So many times that women reject other women, either because they’re competitive with them or they don’t feel they’re right for a job, that I didn’t want to cultivate a place of rejection or encourage a choice to be included.” (8:24) “I think so many of us that are successful want to present ourselves as perfect, whether it’s on social media, or in our work lives, or to our families and not wanting to show that there are struggles. And the fact that we can create these environments where people who you might view as role models are saying ‘here’s what was really going on behind the scenes’... it makes everyone not feel alone when they have their own struggles.” (11:53) “Find your tribe, surround yourself with great people, focus on one thing that matters, and find others that want to be part that with you.” (35:55) “Sometimes trying and failing is more insightful than trying and succeeding.” (42:23) “Continue to be ambitious in your dreams and reshape that image in the mirror. Always evolve. Anchor yourself in what you want to be and continue to reach for that. No matter what the people around you say.” (55:24) Links Find Anne Devereaux-Mills on | Find Parlay House | | | Find SC Moatti on | | Find Mighty Captial | | | Find Products That Count | | | Find Darryl Grant on Find Toppan Merrill | Follow Monica on | | |
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If you want to write a book, the best advice out there is that you really need to like writing because the whole process is time-consuming and, to be perfectly honest, kind of hard! My guest, , joins me to talk about the process she went through writing Bumpin’ while she was pregnant and some of the best parts of her book. Leslie is an entrepreneur who works with start-ups, co-founded her own selling sustainable protein made from crickets, and is a member of an advisory board. She’s a published author with her book Bumpin’ which is a modern woman’s guide to pregnancy. Leslie has had some tumultuous pregnancies and when she was finally pregnant with her first son, she knew she had to document these experiences for other women to talk about the new normals. Leslie was 36 when she was pregnant with her first child, and one day her doctors told her they were going to induce her. She didn’t agree with this advice, sought out a doula, and is a firm believer that you need to become your own medical and birth advocate. Only you know your body the best! Bringing your partner into your pregnancy is also something healthy for your relationship and family that you should make sure you’re doing. Leslie shares the best ways she’s found to integrate your partner into this new life, because, let’s face it, both of your lives are going to change when the baby is born. Leslie also explains how you can talk to your employer about what your needs are when you’re pregnant and what expectations you’ll have on your return to work. Childcare is also something you need to consider, maybe even from before you get pregnant. Leslie believes that we should all be campaigning for government-funded childcare, similar to an initiative started in France. When you’re a new parent returning to work, you might find that you become better and more productive at your job. Leslie says this is because of your priorities change, so obviously you’ll want to spend as much time as possible with your child. For Leslie, having a doula is the best thing she did during her pregnancy. This is a person who advocates for you throughout your pregnancy and birth, and even after you’ve had your baby. Having a doula also made Leslie more comfortable asking for help. She encourages all women to start asking for help - we’re all better when we work together. Have you thought about writing a book? How can you integrate your partner into your pregnancy? Do you feel confident asking for help? In This Episode: What the process of writing a book is Why you need to be your own medical and birth advocate How you can integrate your partner into your pregnancy and how your life is going to change How you can communicate with your employer what you need when you’re pregnant and when you return after maternity leave Why we need to champion for government-funded childcare How becoming a parent can make you better at your job What the benefit of a doula is in pregnancy and childbirth Why we should become more comfortable asking for help Quotes: “I think until we as women and families really demand the system change, it’s not going to. We have to go into appointments asking questions.” (23:16) “Your partner is not a mind reader, you’ve got to sometimes just tell them what you need.” (32:06) “If you want to talk about the parts of the book I didn’t enjoy writing as much, it’s definitely the financial planning and insurance stuff because it’s kind of the last thing you want to think about. But in some ways, it’s the most important because it is what dictates whether or not having a family is a net positive or net negative for you emotionally as a parent..” (40:05) Links Find Leslie Schrock on | | | | Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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Black women exist in corporate America and the more we talk about, advocate, and acknowledge them and their differences, the better their experience will be. is here to talk about how black women can be their own advocates to advance in their life and career. Minda Harts is the CEO of The Memo LLC, a career development platform for women of color. She’s written the best-selling book, The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table, full of career advice for women to climb the ranks in their jobs. While Minda started losing her self-identity at work, her desire to stop sexism in the workplace was born. The more we open the conversation about workplace politics and sexism in the workplace, the more awareness, and eventually change, we bring to the problems. For women of color especially, having that sense of belonging in the workplace is vital. It impacts everything from self-belief to job performance. Minda shares some of the secrets she’s written about in The Memo about what women need to do in order to advance in business. Part of the future is about recognizing when a woman, especially a woman of color, is doing a remarkable job in their industries. Social media helps make these acknowledgments easier and more accessible. That’s one of the reasons Minda is so active on social media, particularly Twitter. She’s built an engaged following, community, and network who have helped further her career in a number of ways. Social media also helps women become their own personal advocates. But it’s not just through social media that women can advocate for themselves. When we speak up and ask for what we want, as many of our male counterparts do, we’re often surprised when we get it. Minda shares why you need to make a name for yourself at your workplace by attending social functions and putting yourself in the sight of key people who can help further your career. Do you feel like you’re flying solo at work? How can you start advocating for yourself today? Have you felt like you’ve lost a piece of your identity at work? In This Episode: How you can lose pieces of your identity when you go into a corporate workforce Why we need to talk about workplace politics and sexism in the workplace Why having a sense of belonging in the workplace can make a difference to your job performance What you need to do in order to advance in business Why it’s important to acknowledge the women, especially women of color, who are doing an exceptional job in their industries What power there is in being your own personal advocate Why you should be active on the social media platforms you enjoy to build a network Why you need to hold fast to your virtues and find the right audience for your work Quotes: “Success is not a solo sport. We can all be successful. I can help you get there faster and you can help me get there faster. Who wants to be at the table as the only one?” (7:41) “Even if I don’t think I might be worth whatever the amount is in my head, I know that I’m doing myself a disservice if I don’t ask for it. That’s the part of the equation you get to control: What you ask for.” (26:27) “One way or the other, we need to know if our companies are invested in our success and the only way to do that is to keep having those conversations and advocate for ourselves.” (33:32) Links Find Minda Harts on | Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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Opening the conversation about gender equity in and out of the workplace is the first step to creating productive and positive allies. Women have always been in positions that promote a culturally feminine leadership, often behind the scenes or beside strong men. Historian joins Powerful Conversations to discuss feminine modes of leadership in today’s political climate. Julie has written multiple books about strong women who changed history, including her most recent work about Missy Meloney, who you should definitely know. She has also recently started Credas, a consulting firm that helps American corporate companies introduce gender equity. Using Missy Meloney as a strong example, Julie explains why feminine modes of leadership are needed, especially in the current political climate. Having a culturally feminine way of leading allows for less divisive politics, leading to a wider voting pool and clearer objectives. Historically, women have lead from behind the scenes, advocating and encouraging for other women and male allies. In corporate America, women who climb the ladder and get to positions of leadership need to reject the notion they’ve joined a prestigious boy’s club. Instead, they need to help other women coming behind them rise the ladder with them. Change doesn’t happen when we have more women in leadership positions and leave it at that, change happens when we reimagine what these positions of leadership look like. For many women, this looks like being a mother and sharing the struggles they’ve gone through to get to the top. There is power in language, especially in gendered language such as “fireman” and “manhole cover”. When we remove gender from language, we’re removing a barrier and bringing more power and possibility for gender equality. The world has been built around men, but they weren’t the only ones who created it. Making your workplace more gender-neutral and equitable is possible. Julie genuinely believes that most people desire equity, they just don’t know how to get there. That’s why women need to be open to having the hard conversations with men so they can learn how to become a productive ally, instead of living in fear of saying the wrong thing. Have you heard of Missy Meloney? How do you make sure you’re a productive and encouraging ally? What does leadership mean to you? In This Episode: Why feminine modes of leadership are so needed, especially in our current political climate What it means to have a culturally feminine way of leading How there is power by being behind the scenes Why women in leadership roles need to help other women rise the ladder What power there is in the language we use How you can make your workplace more gender-neutral and equitable Why women have to create space for men to ask the hard questions so they can learn how to make positive changes to be a productive ally Quotes: “I would say in American corporate culture, there’s this idea that for a woman to succeed and move up the rungs of the corporate ladder, they have to get in with the boys and play the game like the boys are playing it. And that doesn’t always necessarily mean bringing the women up with you. I strongly urge successful women to reconsider that proposition.” (22:30) “To solve the woman in science problem or the woman in any workplace problem, you can’t just throw more women into that culture, stir, and think that the problem is going to be solved. It is a culture problem. You have to find a way, from the ground up, to reimagine not just what the scientist looks like, but what our very notions of science are at a fundamental level.” (28:02) “There are such subtle ways that we have infused these gendered presumptions into even the most seemingly neutral terms and concepts that this is something we need to start changing in work environments.” (36:46) “Intention means everything. Let’s have a meaningful conversation where everybody in the room, no matter what their perspective is, has to be mindful of where they’re coming from in the conversation.” (45:36) Links Find Julie Des Jardins on | Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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The state of our nation’s food industry is in complete disarray. From pesticide use to over-farming to ads for sugar-laden drinks and snacks targeting our children, we need to completely overhaul the system. is here to talk about food sustainability, health, and justice. Anna is a best-selling author and advocate for food justice and sustainability who is working to implement systemic changes to improve our food chain. While she’s making a lot of positive impacts and helping people realize the role they play in the food system, many don’t believe they can afford to eat healthy food. Anna knows that the real issue isn’t the cost of food: it’s the policies around housing, healthcare, and food, including the cost of living and what constitutes an actual living wage. Anna explains how the food industry has ended up in its current state of crisis. Sadly, it’s had a lot of influence from chemical companies and other industries seeking to keep the nation in the state that it’s in. She shares what we can do, as consumers, to help change the industry. Unfortunately, our current society isn’t truly built to allow us total control over our food choices. Unlike the European Union, America hasn’t banned many toxic chemicals, artificial flavorings, and antibiotics that seriously impact the quality of the food. We also don’t have easy access to fresh food markets like many European countries do. The biggest question Anna gets asked is where you’re supposed to find the time to create healthy meals for your family when you work full-time, have a commute, and frankly can’t afford a lot of the healthier choices. Anna has a lot of empathy for parents in this situation and encourages batch cooking and freezing of easy meals you can make when you’re short on time. Anna also explains what impact pesticide use is having on our nation’s biodiversity. We are in a state of crisis: from the very real climate threat to the insect population being just half of what it once was. It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Anna shares who her most unlikely partners are - farmers making complete organic changes to the way they farm. She also tells us how we can start to improve our and our family’s diets starting today. Do you eat organic food? How can you be a more conscious consumer? What ways can you start building your family’s healthy eating habits? In This Episode: Why the cost of food isn’t the main issue; we need to look at the policies around housing, healthcare, and food How the food industry and nutrition has gotten into the state it’s currently in What you can do as a consumer to help change the food industry What impact our built and economic environments have on our food choices Where you can find the time to make healthy meals for your family What impact pesticide use is having on our nation’s biodiversity Where you can start to improve your diet Quotes: “The real crisis in our food system isn’t a crisis in our food system, it’s a crisis in our democracy.” (4:14) “None of us, as individuals, should feel any sense of failure if we’re unable to make the meals we dream of having with our families.” (35:00) “The level at which we use pesticides in this country is creating a crisis for public health as well as for biodiversity, which I would argue is at the basis of public health.” (45:46) Links Find Anna Lappé on Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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Being the only woman in the boardroom doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, thinks this situation can actually be something positive and memorable. It’s all about making a difference, standing out, and being recognized, something every professional woman should aspire to. Anita has created a portfolio career for herself after leaving the banking industry. She sits on multiple tech boards in Silicon Valley. Anita is sharing her experiences as a woman in boardrooms and tech and how you can get the most out of your experiences. Especially in the constantly changing tech scene, remaining current, educated, and relevant is essential to actually make a difference from a board point of view. Anita explains how you can stay relevant. She also shares how you can be a better mentee to make the most out of a relationship with your mentors. Anita says that the most valuable business investment you can make is your network. Your network truly is your net worth and can open up opportunities for you that you might never have even considered. How do you nurture and grow your network? Being on a board means you have a responsibility for talking about and asking the hard questions. Anita explains how she takes on this role in order to question, stay relevant, and address underlying issues that might be at play. But as sometimes the only woman in the room, Anita has learned what gender inequality looks like. She talks about how she’s combatted the unequal playing field and actually has reframed what this role entails. For Anita, she uses her unique space in the boardroom to her advantage by being even more memorable. One of the biggest factors in business is gaining recognition and being recognized for your hard work. After all, how are people going to know who you are and what you do if you don’t tell them or celebrate your successes? Lastly, Anita talks about how having a sense of belonging in the workplace is so important for your success. That’s part of the reason she left the banking scene, she didn’t feel comfortable, welcome, or in any way that she actually belonged to that work. Anita encourages you to rethink your work situation if you don’t feel a sense of belonging. Do you feel like you belong at work? How do you make sure you’re getting the most out of the relationship with your mentors? What do you do every day to remain relevant? In This Episode: Why you have to remain current and relevant to make a difference on the boards you sit on How you can be the best mentee for your mentors Why your network is one of the most valuable things you can invest in What responsibility board members have to talk about the hard things What can happen when you’re the only woman in the room How we can tackle gender inequality in the workplace Why it’s so important to gain recognition for your work How you can reframe being the only woman in the room as an advantage The importance feeling like you belong at work has on you mentally & physically Quotes: “Life is not about learning a lot from a small number of people, it’s about learning a little from a large number of people.” (12:40) “The job of a good board director is to ask the right question at the right time in the right tone.” (21:53) “You have to work in a place where you feel, on some level at least, that you really belong.” (40:49) “Being an authentic leader is being yourself, comma, skillfully.” (42:12) Links Find Dr. Anita Sands on | | Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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Do you remember what you were passionate about when you were 24? Do you still have those dreams? What about when you were seven years old? What did you want to be when you "grew up"? I believe it is never too late. If you haven't started following through on your dreams yet, I hope this episode will inspire you to start now. We are going to hear from three young entrepreneurs who share their passion and engagement with us and the stories of their journeys and their incredible accomplishments. About Christine Souffrant A globally recognized speaker, Christine Souffrant is a Haitian American entrepreneur with 7 years of business management experience across 30+countries. As the founder of Vendedy (a mobile network connecting global travelers to street vendors of developing countries), she has been featured with IBM, Microsoft, Fast Company, Manatt Ventures, etc. Learn more about Vendedy at Vendedy was selected as a Poverty Alleviation commitment by the Clinton Global Initiative and won global competitions for social impact including the 2015 Digital Entertainment World Competition, Master Card Priceless Pitch, and the $1 Million Dollar Chivas Venture USA competition. As the Managing Director of Startup Grind Dubai, she works with dozens of leading CEO’s within the Middle East and around the world. She has spoken on leadership, disruptive entrepreneurship and tech social impact innovation at conferences located in Trinidad, Dubai, New York, San Francisco, Russia, Romania, LA, and more. About Daniel Fine Daniel Fine is the founder & CEO of Team Brotherly Love and The Fine Companies, which includes sunglass company Glass-U, medical app Dosed, and Boston based tutoring firm NexTutors. Team Brotherly Love has raised over $2.1 million for Type-1 diabetes research. Glass-U makes fully-folding sunglasses and is licensed to hundreds of universities and many greek organizations in the US. It has been featured at events ranging from The Rose Bowl to Lollapalooza and this past summer was an official licensee to produce sunglasses for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Dosed is a mobile solution intended to revolutionize the way that diabetics manage and track their insulin dosage. Learn more about Daniel at . Fine has been named one of TIME Magazine’s Top 25 International Leaders of Tomorrow and one of the World’s Top 5 Young Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneurs Organization. He has received the “President’s Volunteer Service Award” twice and is a Fellow of the Kairos Society. About Ladislas de Toldi Ladislas is a 26-year-old biotech engineer, passionate about computers, robotics & spearfishing. He is the founder of Leka, a young startup whose goal is to develop smart and innovative educational toys for children with disabilities. Learn more about . Leka is currently developing Moti, an interactive spherical rolling robot specially designed for children with autism spectrum disorders. Ladislas is in charge of hardware design & technical development. After graduating as a biotech engineer he learned robotics on his own to build the first prototypes of Moti. Links: Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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Don't miss this interview with leading innovators in virtual reality as they share how it is being used and future opportunities to connect to a new world through VR. About Daniel O'Brien Dan joined HTC in 2008 and is currently Vice President of VR Planning and Management leading where he manages the strategy and go-to-market efforts of the Virtual Reality portfolio at HTC. He is responsible for the Vive content and developer engagement, as well as marketing and sales of the HTC Vive. With more than 18 years in the wireless industry, Dan brings to HTC a strong understanding of sector economics, multi-million dollar/multi-level development lifecycles, and integrated product and application implementations. Having introduced inaugural LTE, Android, Windows and World smartphones into the marketplace on behalf of numerous leading wireless carriers, Dan has a depth of experience in working with pioneering technologies, shaping products value to the marketplace and identifying industry impact. About Iva Leon Fashion/wearable tech designer. Co-founder of VRLab. VR community builder. Early retailer of mobile VR headsets. Co-organizer @AR/VR women, @VRO2 and @VRLab.com About Adam Bruce Adam Bruce is an advisor and co-founding partner with VRLab. He consults with start-ups and pioneers companies with user acquisition focused social products. He co-founded Vidiac a pre-YouTube UGC video service that scaled to millions of monthly unique users across thousands of SaaS powered domains. They pioneered concepts such as embed video players and UGC video encoding. This technical success propelled their brand StreetFire through two rounds of Sand Hill Road venture financing and eventual exit via sale to a major media company. He has incubated and advised a couple of venture-backed deals since, including an early YouTube MCN funded by Google and am presently an Advisor and development Partner creating solutions at a Virtual Reality start-up in the Bay Area. Links: Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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Will the actions you take today have a positive impact on tomorrow’s society? That’s a question that Sandra Lopez, VP of Intel Sports Group asks herself every day. She’s not only creating a new world of sports technology, but she’s also a diversity advocate for women in C-level careers. Sandra was named one of the 50 most powerful women in technology. One of her visions and missions is to educate the world on how to use technology correctly, in a healthy way that uplifts all of society. Overall, Sandra believes that technology creates storytelling platforms for people to truly express themselves. Technology is helping to bring our world forward by sharing knowledge and intelligence with regions that wouldn’t previously have had access to it. But what implication does tech have on our societies? Sandra explains how we can use tech in a healthier way. Sandra wants us all to think about our role in the next level of technology. How do you use technology now? Will you embrace emerging techs? Sanda believes we can all help create a dialogue just by the way that we act and do things. She’s active in bringing more diversity to the boardroom and knows she is helping to pave the way for other women in C level careers. And when there’s not adequate representation present, Sandra asks those difficult questions to find out why. Being one of the only women at C-level in her current role, and having come through corporate America as a minority, Sanda encourages more women to follow in her footsteps. But not without a caveat: you need to be mentally ready to play on an uneven playing field. How are you championing diversity and inclusion? Do you lead by example in any area of your life? How do you share your vulnerability? In This Episode: How technology is bringing our world forward in terms of knowledge and intelligence sharing What the implication of our current technology has on our societies Why you should think about what your role in the next level of technology is How you can open a dialogue by changing the way you do things How much diversity needs to be represented to get a true and objective input Why it’s important to have uncomfortable questions about diversity How you can be mentally ready for existing on an unlevel playing field Quotes: “Really think about your little actions every day. Do you really need to engage in tech or can you put it away? How much do I share on social media platforms and how much do I not share?” (15:02) “How do we make sure that we continue to use technology to lift every person up and not leave people behind.” (15:35) “The good stories are stories worth sharing because for sure it’s going to transform another person’s life.” (21:24) “Being vulnerable is okay. In the process, you build trust with your colleagues and then they know when they’re going through a tough time, I’m going to be empathetic and I’ll recognize that.” (39:20) “You can’t be talking about diversity and inclusion when you have all white men in the board room.” (42:38) Links Read Sandra’s article: Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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Jane Chen is the co-founder and CEO of , a social enterprise that aims to help the millions of vulnerable babies born every year in developing countries through a low-cost infant warmer. Unlike traditional incubators that cost up to $20,000, the Embrace infant warmer costs around $200. The device requires no electricity, has no moving parts, is portable and is safe and intuitive to use. Jane Chen has spent years working on health issues in the developing world. Listen in and learn more about the impact she is making in the world so that mothers don't lose their babies because of a lack of access. About Jane Chen: Jane Chen is the co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Embrace Innovations, a social enterprise that aims to help the 20 million premature and low birth weight babies born every year, through a low-cost infant warmer. The Embrace Infant Warmer costs less than 1% of a traditional incubator and has helped over 50,000 babies to date. The company's vision is to create a line of affordable healthcare technologies for women and children around the world. Chen is a TED Senior Fellow and was selected as one of Forbes' Impact 30 in 2011. She was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2012, and a Schwab Social Entrepreneur in 2013. She and her co-founders recently won the 2013 Economist Innovation Award. Links: Follow Jane on Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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Are you an entrepreneur lacking the money and resources you need? Don't miss this expert VC line-up. Learn how to get connected to the mentors and advisors who want you to succeed. In this episode you'll get expert advice from the women who connect entrepreneurs to money and traction. They've done it and they share with you their strategies and experience on what works. Expert line-up: Nancy Hayes of Golden Seeds, Alicia Castillo Holley of Women Get Funded, and Jory Des Jardins, co-founder of BlogHer. About Nancy Hayes: Nancy Hayes mentors women and men starting or growing small businesses, as well as those launching high growth technology-based firms. She is also an angel investor and member of Golden Seeds angel group. She is cofounder of MoolaHoop, a rewards-based crowdfunding site for women-led small businesses that launched in July 2013. Nancy left the IBM Corporation, where she was a senior executive to become CEO of a national nonprofit serving seriously ill children. She later was CEO of a nonprofit that served the elderly. She was then Dean of the College of Business at San Francisco State University, and later CFO and VP of the university. She has an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago. About Alicia Castillo Holley: Alicia Castillo Holley is an angel investor, speaker and academic. Castillo Holley’s career started as a young scientist and professor on Agronomy before becoming involved in product development for a Bayer-Shell joint venture and eventually turning into an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and angel investor. Along the way, she has authored numerous articles and books and taught at many universities worldwide. As an entrepreneur, she has started nine companies -successfully exiting from five of them- and two non-for-profit. She played a pivotal role in the Development for the Entrepreneurial Curriculum and the Venture Capital Industry in Chile, where she lived between 1996 and 2002 and founded the country’s first Seed Capital micro VC. An avid traveler, she has lived in 6 countries and visited more than 100. Her latest initiative “Women Get Funded” seeks to demystify funding for women, and empower them to be in control of their funding process. About Jory Des Jardins: Jory Des Jardins co-founded BlogHer, a venture-backed, category-defining women’s digital lifestyle company that was sold to SheKnows Media in late 2014. She spent 10 years on the founding team, enabling strategy from pre-venture funding through post-acquisition phase. While with BlogHer, Jory evangelized best practices in social and influencer marketing to Fortune 500 Marketing Leads and digital/media agency leadership. She served for six years on the Board of Directors of the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB). She started her career in print editorial, as an editor for Penguin Books, The New York Times Syndicate, and Time Inc. Custom Publishing. Jory is a tireless crusader for women entrepreneurs and business leaders, sharing her personal growth story, contacts, and insights learned from 10 years of growth hacking, digital community building, strategy development and fundraising. She sits on the boards of several female-led or founded startups. Links: Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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What is the power of using the Internet to lift 30,000 people out of poverty through the creation of jobs? That is what did with SamaSource and that is just the beginning. She is the Founder and CEO of Sama Group and Laxmi and an award-winning social entrepreneur. She created an international nonprofit that is now a consortium of three organizations, created jobs, crowdfunds medical procedures, and trains employees at job centers in the US and in Kenya. Join us as she shares her growth from nonprofit to for-profit, the challenges, and risks of entrepreneurship, and the lessons she has learned along the way. About Leila Janah: Leila Janah is the founder and CEO of Sama Group and an award-winning social entrepreneur. Prior to Sama Group, Leila was a visiting scholar with the Stanford Program on Global Justice and Australian National University's Center for Applied Philosophy and Public ethics. She was a founding director of Incentives for Global Health, an initiative to increase R&D spending on diseases of the poor, and a management consultant at Katzenbach Partners (now Booz & Co.). She has also worked at the World Bank and as a travel writer for Let's Go Mozambique, Brazil, and Borneo. Leila is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, a Director of CARE USA, a 2012 TechFellow, recipient of the inaugural Club de Madrid Young Leadership Award, and in 2014, was the youngest person to win a Heinz Award. She received a BA from Harvard and lives in San Francisco. Links: Follow Leila on | | | Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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What does it take to work your way to the top of an organization? Do you have an intention of being a CEO someday? Shellye Archambeau is the CEO of MetricStream, a governance, risk, and compliance company. She had a 15-year career at IBM where she worked her way up to run IBM's Asia Pacific business for the public sector, making her the first African American woman to be sent on assignment internationally by the company. In this episode, Shellye shares with us her experiences as we dive into the attributes of a great leader and identify the benefits of women leaders and the need for more diversity at the top. About Shellye Archambeau: Shellye Archambeau is a leader in both business and community. In her tenure as CEO of MetricStream, a Silicon Valley-based governance, risk, compliance and quality software company that enables corporations to comply with rules, regulations and mandates such as FDA regulations and Sarbanes-Oxley, the company’s sales have grown 100 percent year after year. MetricStream has been recognized for growth and innovation over the years and was awarded the highly acclaimed international business award, the “Stevie,” for innovative business model in 2007. In 2008 MetricStream was named a leader in Governance, Risk and Compliance by Forrester Research and Gartner. Shellye has been recognized as a leader by several organizations including being ranked a Top Women of Influence in Silicon Valley and recently named a Game Changer by The Registry Bay Area. Links: Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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In this episode, I am thrilled to feature Joe Plumeri whose impressive career includes serving as vice chairman of the First Data Board of Directors and previously as chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings plc and as CEO of Citibank North America where he held a 32-year career. He drove the deal to rename the Sears Tower as Willis Tower, then the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. In 2015 Joe published his first book, a national best seller, The Power of Being Yourself: A Game Plan for Success – by Putting Passion into Your Life and Work. In his book, based on his life experiences, Joe offers simple yet profound guidance on how to stay positive, motivate yourself and others and achieve success in your life and work. All of the author’s proceeds from the book will be donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. A widely admired leader, he has received several honors and accolades for his work. Links Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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Female founders are statistically less likely to receive investments from venture capitalists. While there is a growing diversity of investments, it’s still going to take substantial time before industry changes take place. , managing partner at Andreessen Horowitz and author of Secrets of Sand Hill Road, joins me to talk about venture capitalism and the changing face of the investment industry. Scott has been with Andreessen Horowitz since it began in 2009. He’s now working with $10 billion investments to help start-ups get their feet off the ground. In this episode, Scott’s sharing how he makes investment decisions, if there are any investments he regrets or missed out on, and how you can make your business more appealing to potential investors. First, Scott chats about why women-led businesses are less likely to receive investment support. But he is hopeful for the future. Companies like Andreessen Horowitz are making positive changes for diverse investments. Scott gives us the inside information on how businesses get to be in those top percentages of businesses that get funding from venture capitalists. He explains what advice you should get from VCs, investors, and business advisors before you do your first pitch. Many VCs are open to providing information and feedback before you pitch, it’s all about how you ask. There are several big market hubs in the United States currently, some of the most well-known being Silicon Valley and Austin, Texas. But new markets are in the process of being built up. Scott explains why this is taking time. What makes these new markets work? And how does remote work fit into the picture? New business hubs are faced with challenges existing markets don’t have, such as the availability of experienced people at senior levels of management. Have you been thinking of pitching for investors? Who can you approach today to ask for advice for your potential pitch? Do you have an idea for the next Airbnb? In This Episode: Why women-led businesses are less likely to receive investment support What does the future of investment look like for female founders How does a business get to be part of the percentage of businesses that get funding How is the future of venture capitalism changing to be more diverse What advice you should get before and after your first investment pitch Why it’s taking time for new markets to build up that rival or equal Silicon Valley What you need to make new markets work What challenges do new markets face that established markets don’t experience How important timing is when you have an innovative business idea Quotes: “80% of funding in the United States goes to male founders, 2% goes to female founders, and 18% goes to hybrid male/female teams.” (4:17) “In many cases, to be successful as a founder, you do have to willfully suspend disbelief and have an outlook, in terms of optimism and your ability to approach the future, that is unconventional and different from how other people might think about what is likely to succeed.” (16:47) “I think most companies tend to be remote a little bit more when they’re at a stage that’s more relevant when they get a little more mature, rather than when they’re in a start-up phase.” (45:30) Links Fina Scott on | Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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When the fashion and technology worlds combine, remarkable and advanced creations are made. But we need to encourage more women and minority groups to embrace technology. , fashion model, blogger, and CEO of 360 Fashion Network is creating beautiful wearable technology while paving the way for diversity. Anina Net is an absolute inspiration. She approached major tech companies with her ideas to combine fashion and technology at an early age and has been guided, mentored, and educated along the way to making her dream happen. Anina Net knew what value her thoughts and ideas could bring to the fashion industry. She believes in the power of amplification and wholeheartedly thanks for being an advocate for her in a male-dominated industry. In the same vein, women in positions of power should always bring other women with them to the top - that’s the power of a mentor. With the advances in fashion technology, companies are learning more about who their customers actually are, and in a lot of cases, the results are surprising them. Anina Net shares some insights into this side of the fashion industry. Wearable technology is not solely about light-up clothes and self-heating jackets. Technology meeting fashion will also transform the home medical industry. Imagine a world where you’re not having to hide in your house wearing monitors and wires, but one where that’s all built into a cozy sweater you can head outside in. Anina Net is advocating for more diversity in fashion technology. By elevating women and minorities, discussion and opinions that differ from others in the room lead to more creativity. That’s why we should be endeavoring in every aspect of our lives to create a more representation. In This Episode: Why you need to know your own value How having a male advocate to amplify your voice can impact your career How fashion technology is showing designers who their customers really are How wearable technology can have a positive impact on home medical care What fashion technology kits are bringing to the future of medical technology Why we need to expose more minorities to technology to create diverse ideas and views What happens when we have a more diverse panel How a mentor should help lift you up Quotes: “I think as women, we don’t maybe all the time see how fabulous we are. I think women need to get some kahunas and be more bold!” (4:44) “I decided that we needed more women in technology. I thought we needed more women to create technology. And how could I get women even interested in technology? Because through their upbringing, they have been trained to be technophobic. So I thought fashion is the right platform to attract women. Because women in fashion are powerful.” (31:09) “We have to cleanse our minds and be conscious of our unconscious bias, to specifically go where we may feel uncomfortable or out of place.” (36:11) “I just really tried to put together a useful event, that when you go in you had one way of thinking, and when you come out, you have solutions that you can implement into your business that can bring you forward into a more sustainable and inclusive and diverse world that we’re moving into.” (53:00) Links Fina Anina on | | | Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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Who says the fashion industry has to stay the same as it always was? With remarkable advances in technology, the industry is entering a renaissance period, with many designers and models at the helm. We’re speaking with Anina Net, Pablo Starr, and Dale Noelle to find out how they’re revolutionizing the fashion industry with wearable technology. Anina Net was the first model blogger. She’s the CEO of 360 Fashion, a company dedicated to fashion technology and wearable tech. Pablo Starr is a fashion editor who has recently released his first book: RNWY, A Fashion Week Space Adventure. Dale Noelle is a model manager and instructor at The Fashion Institute of Technology. While all three guests come from different parts of the fashion industry, their mission is in sync. Together, they speculate and share what they think the future of Artificial Intelligence looks like, especially for the fashion industry. Pablo goes one step further to explore a world where we live and work in harmony with Artificial Intelligence. Dale is looking at the benefits technology brings to the fashion industry, starting with creating clothes to fit all body types. In fact, diversity in fashion and technology is important, and not just for representation. Removing the barriers to fashion technology opens up so many possibilities for diverse opinions, expressions, and possibilities. Anina shares how hearing phrases like “that’s impossible” have pushed her to make greater things. She’s used her experience as a model to become an entrepreneur, as so many of the aspects overlap. For her, fashion technology is the present and future. Do you own any wearable technology? How do you feel about the future of fashion and artificial intelligence? What does diversity in fashion mean to you? In This Episode: What the future of Artificial Intelligence might look like Why you should be open to the concept of sharing the world with Artificial Intelligence How technology is helping the fashion industry create clothes that fit more body types Why more diversity in fashion and technology is important What can happen when you remove the barriers to fashion technology Why hearing “that’s impossible” is actually a great motivation for making things happen How modeling can give you all the skills you need to become an entrepreneur How the modeling industry is helping defy gender stereotypes Quotes: “It’s through our dreaming and through our storytelling that we actually understand the products and things of the future that we want to develop.” (8:36) “If we continue to ignore the idea of things existing that our more powerful or faster than us and we don’t give them some sort of security, then we’re inviting all the problems that we see in science fiction novels.” (13:07) “The world is finally moving forward in the right direction when it comes to “fit for all” and trying to help the world be a more environmentally friendly place.” (19:11) “If we had more people from diverse backgrounds developing the tech, we would have even more services that would help them out.” (22:58) Links Fina Anina on | | Find Pablo on Find Dale on | | Find Powerful Conversations on | | |
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Join me for an interview with award-winning author as we delve into the world of creativity and explore some of the themes he has covered in his second book released Fall 2016, "The Language of Man: Learning to Speak Creativity." About Larry Robertson Larry Robertson is the 8-time award-winning author of "" and the founder of two ventures, one for-profit, and one non-profit. He is a highly respected thought leader in creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship, advising individuals and organizations across a broad spectrum. He is also the author of the highly acclaimed book "" newly released by Daymark Press in the fall of 2016. Larry is a graduate of Stanford University and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a former Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. In short, he’s an innovation advisor. He recently appeared on MSNBC to discuss Links Follow Larry Robertson on | | | | Follow Monica on | | |
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What does it take to make it as an entrepreneur? What do you need to know to create rapid, sustainable growth while also being a boss who everyone loves and respects? How do you create a vision and culture that is connected to your values while always trying to get ahead? Can you win through collaboration?Join me in an interview with leading entrepreneurs and venture capitalists - Bill Reichert, managing director of Garage Technology Ventures, and Tim Draper, founder of Draper Associates, DFJ, and Draper University. About Bill Reichert Bill Reichert has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and operating executive. He joined in 1998 and focused on early-stage IT and materials science companies. He has been a board director or board observer at CaseStack, WhiteHat Security, ClearFuels Technology, Simply Hired, ThermoCeramix, and several others. Prior to Garage, Bill was a co-founder or senior executive in several venture-backed tech startups, including Trademark Software, The Learning Company, and Academic Systems. Earlier in his career, he worked at McKinsey & Company, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., and the World Bank. Bill earned a B.A. at Harvard and an M.B.A. from Stanford. He was a founding board member and a Chairman of the Churchill Club, and a Board Member of the Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Small Fund Roundtable of the VC Taskforce and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. About Tim Draper: Tim Draper, legendary Silicon Valley venture capitalist founded in 2012 with a vision and belief that in order to change the world we have to change education.Draper University aims to teach entrepreneurship globally in an entirely new way. Through hands-on training, an innovative curriculum and thought leadership Tim Draper brings together young entrepreneurs, startup founders, executives and investors all under one roof.Tim Draper has deep roots in entrepreneurship and venture capital with a rich background that started by founding Draper Associates in 1985. Venture successes include Skype, Overture, Baidu, Tesla, Theranos, Parametric Technology, Hotmail, Digidesign, Twitch.tv, and hundreds of others.Tim is thrilled to be leading the charge to disrupt entrepreneurship education and is excited to have Draper University as the star of the show in the new ABC Family series: StartupU. Links: Follow Monica on | | |
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Under the direction of Larry Baer, the San Francisco Giants developed and constructed AT&T Park - the first privately-financed Major League ballpark. Since opening in 2000, AT&T Park has been widely praised as one of the "best ballparks ever built." In 1968, former all-star pitcher Jim Bouton and Rob Nelson who were both then teammates with the Class A Portland Mavericks, came up with the idea to invent Big League Chew, the bubble gum synonymous with baseball. These are the entrepreneurs of baseball, those who show their love of the game so much that they are willing to take risks and go for it. Join us for an incredible conversation on Entrepreneurs of Baseball and the Love of the Game. About Larry Baer A fourth generation San Franciscan, Larry Baer has gained a national reputation as one of professional sports' leading visionaries. Baer joined the team in 1992 as the executive vice president after he and Peter Magowan led the effort to assemble a new ownership group and negotiate the sale that kept the Giants in San Francisco. A limited partner of the ownership group, Baer was named COO in May 1996, team president in October 2008 and CEO on January 1, 2012. In his first year as president and CEO, the Giants won their second World Series Championship in three years. In 2014, the Giants won their third World Series title in five years. Under his direction, the Giants developed and constructed AT&T Park - the first privately-financed Major League ballpark. Since opening in 2000, AT&T Park has been widely praised as one of the "best ballparks ever built. About Rob Nelson Rob Nelson is a game designer and former Portland Mavericks minor league pitcher who created Big League Chew bubblegum along with his business partner former pitcher Jim Bouton who sold the idea to a division of the Wrigley company in 1979. Links Follow Monica on | | |
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