Woman Owned: The Growth Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs

While taking up digital marketing in college, Amanda Tress was already doing her fitness business on the side. Today, Amanda is the creator of the best lifestyle-changing fitness program in the market called Faster Way to Fat Loss and the founder of a digital marketing agency, The Agency Side. Keep Reading >> Amanda joins me on this episode to share how to scale a seven-figure fitness business. She discusses the strategies that work in today’s digital marketing, how to work with other entrepreneurs to create profitable partnerships, and the mindset you need to focus and sustain your business consistently in the long run.   “Confidence comes after getting into forward motion.” - Amanda Tress   Today on the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast: Why failing is significant to the growth and success of your business How her fitness program started What makes her fitness program the best of its kind Why she chose to work with women entrepreneur How she manages to boost and sustain her confidence level How she built her audience Game-changers for her in helping entrepreneurs market more effectively Why micro-influencer marketing is the most important strategy to leverage How partnerships can become distractions The two biggest digital marketing mistakes people make   Amanda’s Advice for Fierce Feminine Leaders: Surround yourself with people who can dream bigger than you. Set clear and specific goals. Have a bigger purpose for a “why.”   Resources Mentioned: Periscope Facebook Live Video Instagram Live Video   Connect with Amanda Tress: Amanda Tress on Instagram Amanda Tress on Facebook Email: info@amandatress.com   Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month’s drawing!    And, if you really  want to ramp up your fierceness… Reach out to us for a free  30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/discover.    

Throughout every industry, we frequently hear successful entrepreneurs say that it’s important to be authentic in the way you present yourself to the world. But, oftentimes, the reason why being authentic and being yourself is so important and the impact it can have on your career or business is rarely discussed. Keep Reading >> My guest today is Amanda Coolong. She is the Senior Digital Media Executive, content strategist, and serves as the Co-Chair and Head of Content for the company, Women in Technology International – a global organization and leading authority for women in the technology trade. Additionally, she is a founding partner and COO at Tech Zulu, an established podcaster, and has interviewed hundreds of the top leaders in the tech ecosystem for a wide variety of events including CES, South by Southwest, and Blog World. Amanda joins me today to share her insight and experience on how being you – unapologetically – and being unafraid to be seen, heard, and network with others can help you grow your network and give your career and business the success boost you need in 2017.   “It’s okay to toot your own horn. Do not be afraid to own your own work.” – Amanda Coolong   Today on the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast: The things Amanda has done throughout her STEM career to excel in a technical field as a woman with a diverse, alternative background The evolution of her career and the most significant turning points The changes and adaptations she has made throughout her career to achieve success The “soft skills” she developed and the payoffs of building a network Her biggest career challenges and how she overcame them The importance of having “personal cheerleaders,” mentors, coaches, and a strong support system The benefits of positioning yourself as an angel investor   Amanda Coolong’s Advice to Women in STEM: Join WITI Support other women’s organizations in tech by joining and attending events Don’t be afraid to speak on panels Write about women in technology, the issues, the challenges, and the opportunities Get active on social media Start investing in women-led companies Invest in mentorship   Amanda’s Top 3 Success Tips: Be authentically you. Don’t be afraid. Fear is the mind-killer. Reach your hand out to help another woman.   Resources Mentioned: AngelList   Connect with Amanda Coolong: WITI Women In Technology International’s Annual Summit – June 11-13 in San Jose, California Email: acoolong@corp.witi.com   Download the tip sheet HERE.    Love the show? Let us know!                              Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton!                               What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month’s drawing!                                               And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness…                               Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team!                                

Being a fierce feminine leader can sometimes be exhausting. High performing leaders often wear so many hats in our professional and personal live, thinking about other people’s needs and wants, that we often forget about our own. Whether you are running a business or climbing the corporate ladder, you need to stay in peak physical and emotional condition to continue to perform well. Keep Reading >> But, how do you keep in top physical condition to have the energy you need to stay at the top of your game? What does it take to have the energy and vitality to underscore your ambitions? As your professional career grows, the self-care needs that once worked for you may change and grow with you. My guest today, Kristen Nolan, is a powerhouse in the woman’s health industry. Kristen is a high-performance health mentor and fitness and metabolism expert that is passionate about helping busy professional women take control of their bodies and feel energized, physically fit, and confident in their business and life. We discuss what you need to do to take better care of yourself as a high-performing female professional and the physical and dietary changes you may need as you advance in your career.   “When you increase your energy and brain focus, you have so much more power and presence in your area of work and at home.” Kristen Nolan   Today on the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast: How to identify when you need to tweak your diet to perform at a higher level. How stress affects your metabolism and overall health. Ways to bring mindfulness into your day and how it helps reduce stress and improve performance.     Stress-Reducing Strategies for High-Performing Women: Move your body for at least 5 to 10 minutes per day. Eat at regular intervals and balance your snacks. Spend 5 to 10 minutes per day meditating – focusing on something that calms you.   Connect with Kristen Nolan: com       Love the show? Let us know!     Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton!     What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month’s drawing!        And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness…     Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team!     Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover.    

Have you ever felt as though you were sabotaging your own success? Many women in business – especially those in leadership roles – unknowingly, unintentionally, unconsciously self-sabotage their potential for success and drastically limit the scope of what is possible for themselves in their careers, their income, and their lives. Keep Reading >> On today’s episode, I want to share some of the top five ways many high-performing, highly motivated, fierce feminine leaders tend to sabotage their own potential for success – and what you should do to avoid making the same mistakes. When you use the word ‘can’t’ – you make it true.   Today on the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast: The first step to avoiding self-sabotaging actions and behaviors is to understand the most common ways it happens. You have a choice. The choice to deal with the discomfort of playing small, or the choice to deal with the pain and discomfort of being seen.   How to Avoid Self-Sabotaging Your Success: Instead of saying “can’t” – ask yourself: “How might I…” If you have a goal, go for it. The time is now. Make the time. Ask yourself what assumptions you are making. Be scientific and rigorous about applying logic to the ideas and beliefs that you are assuming to be true. Click here for the Stopping Self-Sabotaging Behaviors worksheet    Love the show? Let us know!        Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton!        What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month’s drawing!                    And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness…             Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team!              Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover.               A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors             This episode was made possible by our wonderful sponsors, BMO – Bank of Montreal – The Bank for Women.       Join the conversation at BMO for Women to gain the insight, knowledge, and support you need to succeed and to truly understand how to manage your money!   

Kishau Rogers started her career as a programmer 24 years ago. Today, she is a serial technology entrepreneur and the CEO of Websmith Studio, Inc., a company that develops software for its partner organizations worldwide. Kishau is an active advisory board member of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Engineering and WAAW Foundation. She has been honored with the Wells Fargo STEM Award and the Lyn McDermid Community Impact Award and spends her time building her tribe and working on tech projects that can solve real problems. Keep Reading >> Kishau joins me on today’s episode to share her mission to make thinking sexy again by applying computer science thinking principles as tools in building real solutions that matter. She talks about how leaders can effectively wrangle with complexity by hiring thinkers as well as her insights on the power of building tribes with the latter being the key to unlocking true diversity and inclusion, not only in the workplace but also in the world.   “If people help you define it, then they own it with you.” - Kishau Rogers   Today on the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast: The critical elements of keeping women in STEM The “secret sauce” that allowed her to thrive in the industry When she realized she needed more thinkers in her group The advantages of having thinkers in the team What a “tribe” is How to start building a tribe Where things go wrong when creating a team What triggered her to start her own company How she developed the discipline to restructure the business and do what she’s good at How the business shifted when she restructured her organization Why scaling and having big ideas you can’t execute are the biggest challenges for her What gave her the desire to open another startup business   Kishau’s Advice for Fierce Feminine Leaders: You have to be clear about what you’re good at, what you can offer, and what people need. Resourcefulness gives you creativity and helps you figure out how to stay alive. Be transparent and clear on outcomes.   Connect with Kishau Rogers: Websmith Studio Website Time Study Website Big Thinking Project Website   Find Your Voice. Change Your World!  Do you want to be a confident, influential leader that others highly look up to and promote in your industry? If you aspire to have your voice and your message heard as a respected influencer, do not miss this 3-day leadership retreat Your Million Dollar Message: Find Your Voice, Craft Your Strategy, Change the World that’s happening on March 23, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona! Grab your tickets today by registering at YourMillionDollarMessageRetreat.com.   Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month’s drawing!    And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness… Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover.    

Elissa Shevinsky is a successful serial entrepreneur, cybersecurity expert, and public speaker and is the author of Lean Out: The Struggle for Gender Equality in Tech and Start-Up Culture. Driven by her love for making software, she focuses on cryptocurrency and the history of women in computer science.     Keep Reading >> Today, Elissa joins me to share the power of leaning out -- how to set yourself free by doing things your way as you create your own company, systems, and culture. She shares what allowed her to rise quickly in Silicon Valley and how her belief as a young child that ‘homes are protected by grandmothers with frying pans’ molded her outlook on the fierceness of women.   “I think the most reliable way to have a great work environment is to build it yourself.” - Elissa Shevinsky   Today on the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast: The core experiences that shaped Elissa’s ability and willingness to challenge the status quo What inspired the creation of her book What Silicon Valley and Hollywood have in common What kept her going through all her hardships Why she loves working so much Insights she gained from her failures and setbacks Why entrepreneurs have coping mechanisms An atypical yet empowering exercise she does Strategies she used to become more visible Why she decided to establish a company of her own   Resources Mentioned: Dreamers // Doers Facebook Community Lean In Book by Sheryl Sandberg   Elissa’s Advice for Fierce Feminine Leaders: Take a lot of risks. Make a lot of choices explicitly to try to level up. Be visible.   Connect with Elissa Shevinsky: Lean Out: The Struggle for Gender Equality in Tech and Start-Up Culture Book That's It — I'm Finished Defending Sexism In Tech Article on Business Insider   Find Your Voice. Change Your World!  Do you want to be a confident, influential leader that others highly look up to and promote in your industry? If you aspire to have your voice and your message heard as a respected influencer, do not miss this 3-day leadership retreat Your Million Dollar Message: Find Your Voice, Craft Your Strategy, Change the World that’s happening on March 23, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona! Grab your tickets today by registering at YourMillionDollarMessageRetreat.com.   Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month’s drawing!    And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness… Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover.  

Katie Burke is the Chief People Officer of HubSpot, an organization famous for an exceptional culture that emphasizes inclusion, diversity, and support. Due to Katie’s efforts, Fortune.com included HubSpot in the list of “100 Best Workplaces for Women.” While Katie runs several teams in the human resources department, at a high level, her primary focus is the candidate and employee experience. Keep Reading >> Katie joins me on today’s episode to share how to advance your career as you network with senior leaders and the significant life-altering lessons she learned in her career journey. She talks about when the ideal time is to think about your next career move and how to create an outstanding culture that is female-friendly and supports inclusion and diversity.   “Do anything that shows that you’re willing to take the jump from intent to action.” - Katie Burke   Today on the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast: Katie’s career journey from something she endured to something close to her heart What gave her the courage to make the jump and shift careers Why you should pay attention to the things you do when no one’s watching What to do when you stop believing in the leadership of your organization The challenge of having Impostor Syndrome Redefining “do your homework” The one thing that’s going to make a significant change in the workplace culture Her top three success factors   Katie’s Advice for Fierce Feminine Leaders: Be willing to make a risky jump in your career. Do your homework first if you plan to network with senior leaders. Meeting people where they are physically is good, but be open to their preferred channel to network. Maximize your in-person time. Don’t ask them basic day-to-day questions.   Connect with Katie Burke: Katie Burke on HubSpot Katie Burke on Medium   Find Your Voice. Change Your World!  Do you want to be a confident, influential leader that others highly look up to and promote in your industry? If you aspire to have your voice and your message heard as a respected influencer, do not miss this 3-day leadership retreat Your Million Dollar Message: Find Your Voice, Craft Your Strategy, Change the World that’s happening on March 23, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona! Grab your tickets today by registering at YourMillionDollarMessageRetreat.com.   Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton!   What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month’s drawing!    And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness… Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover.    

According to Ken Blanchard, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” While dealing with supportive and genuinely constructive feedback is productive, learning to deal with annoying feedback takes discipline and practice. Mastering the art of tuning out this negativity is what makes the difference between a runner-up and a champion. Keep Reading >>   On today’s episode, I want to share five strategies that will help you tune out annoying feedback. I talk about the criteria of an annoying feedback and how to cope with it so it won’t get in the way of your productivity or keep you from moving forward.     “Feedback is sometimes a reflection of the other person’s own worldview.”     Today on the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast:   What feedback is and when it happens Kinds of feedback people give How to cope by asking questions before redirecting the conversation How to use a fun outlet to process your negative thoughts and emotions Why turn to your role models when being bombarded with negativity How to develop a ranting ritual The significance of discipline in handling counterproductive feedback   5 Steps to Tune Out Annoying Feedback:   Smile. Say, “Interesting points.” Redirect the conversation. Choose a theme song or playlist. Cultivate friendships with other women who have a great “I don’t care what others think” attitude. Have a ranting ritual. Practice redirecting.     Find Your Voice. Change Your World!    Do you want to be a confident, influential leader that others highly look up to and promote in your industry? If you aspire to have your voice and your message heard as a respected influencer, do not miss this 3-day leadership retreat Your Million Dollar Message: Find Your Voice, Craft Your Strategy, Change the World that’s happening on March 23, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona! Grab your tickets today by registering at YourMillionDollarMessageRetreat.com.   Love the show? Let us know!    Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader,  head on over to  iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a  free  coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you  waiting  for? Head on over to  iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month’s drawing!    And,  if you  really  want to ramp up your fierceness…   Reach out to us for a  free  30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how  you  can be the  fiercest lady-boss possible.  Visit  EleanorBeaton.com/Discover.    

Debbie Halvorson Bush started her career in politics in 1993 when she ran and won as a clerk in the state of Illinois. She is the first female Senate Majority Leader of Illinois and a former representative for Illinois’ 11th Congressional District. Debbie is currently the President and CEO of Solutions Unlimited, a government relations firm, and American Eagle Logistics.   Keep Reading >> Debbie joins me today to share the values she has learned from her upbringing that gave her the confidence to play ball with the big boys in politics. She also shares the importance of time management, giving your all in everything you do, and remembering your values in the growth and success of your career and your business.     “You can’t do anything halfway. You have to throw yourself in, and you can’t rely on anybody else to do it for you.” - Debbie Halvorson Bush       Today on the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast:   What prompted her to work in politics What she learned about herself in the process of getting in there, competing, and doing the legwork What it takes to win professionally The relationship between confidence and commitment How vital time-management and planning out your day is Why there’s a reluctance for women to run for public office The biggest challenge while she was a public servant Lessons from the political sphere that help her be a stronger leader in business The benefits of keeping a journal and writing your experiences The challenges of transitioning from public office to a logistics company   Debbie’s Advice for Fierce Feminine Leaders:   Look at yourself in the mirror and remember your values. Don’t ever give up on your values. Don’t let anybody change you. Never forget where you came from.   Connect with Debbie Halvorson Bush:   American Eagle Logistics Playing Ball with the Big Boys book     Find Your Voice. Change Your World!    Do you want to be a confident, influential leader that others highly look up to and promote in your industry? If you aspire to have your voice and your message heard as a respected influencer, do not miss this 3-day leadership retreat Your Million Dollar Message: Find Your Voice, Craft Your Strategy, Change the World that’s happening on March 23, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona! Grab your tickets today by registering at YourMillionDollarMessageRetreat.com.   Love the show? Let us know!    Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton!   What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month’s drawing!    And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness…   Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover.    

Vidya Narayanan is the CEO of UrbanAMA, an Ask-Me-Anything video platform where they take audio-visual interactions to the next level. Being part of the mobile evolution, Vidya worked at Motorola, Qualcomm, and Google where she led a team of 30 engineers and has issued 50 patents with 100 more pending applications. Keep Reading >>   Vidya joins me on today's’ episode to share some of the key factors that helped her develop confidence in making her voice heard at the table which led her to be a powerful voice and advocate for women in tech. She also shares the significance of being able to spot and overcome failure as a leader, what compelled her to create an app that’s both visual and interactive despite the popularity of existing social media platforms, and why it’s crucial and necessary to talk about diversity in technology at a young age.   “The most important thing is to make sure that we hear all the ideas being presented, be respectful in both directions, and that our voices are heard.” - Vidya Narayanan   Today on the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast:   Vidya’s career journey from Motorola to Google What gave her the courage to ask managers for clarity on what she would be working on The skills she learned from leading a mostly-male team and having male mentors Effective strategies for making your voice heard What gets in the way of spotting failures How she personally copes with setbacks What is UrbanAMA Why we need to address the problem on diversity The right time for children to learn about diversity in tech What inspired her to be a great voice and advocate for diversity in tech What she thinks was missing with social media and the problem she wanted to address What made her decide to start her business   Vidya’s Advice for Fierce Feminine Leaders: Be persistent, but learn to walk away from something that’s going to fail. Learn to spot failure. Look at failure positively. Turn it into something that will cause you to move forward more successfully. Know what is just good enough because, at times, great can be the enemy of good.   Connect with Vidya Narayanan: UrbanAMA Website I’m An Ex-Google Woman Tech Leader And I’m Sick Of Our Approach To Diversity! Article on Medium   Find Your Voice. Change Your World!    Do you want to be a confident, influential leader that others highly look up to and promote in your industry? If you aspire to have your voice and your message heard as a respected influencer, do not miss this 3-day leadership retreat Your Million Dollar Message: Find Your Voice, Craft Your Strategy, Change the World that’s happening on March 23, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona! Grab your tickets today by registering at YourMillionDollarMessageRetreat.com.   Love the show? Let us know!    Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton!   What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month’s drawing!    And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness…   Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover.