Lead Like a Woman

Karen Valencic is the Founder of Spiral Impact, where she blends physics and martial arts to manage conflict and enhance performance. With over 30 years of experience in the martial art Aikido, she created the Spiral Impact method, which guides people on mastering conflict, fostering positive engagement, and driving innovation. Karen is also the author of Spiral Impact: Black Belt Edition. In this episode… Conflict is often viewed as negative, especially by women who feel they lack positions of power to resolve conflict. However, conflict can foster innovation and growth when managed effectively. How can you shift your approach to leverage conflict to your benefit? As a third-degree black belt in Aikido, Karen Valencic defines conflict as the tension between force and power. Recognizing this tension is the first step to mastering conflict since it allows you to develop emotional intelligence and mindfulness to solve problems. You must then determine where and how to focus your energy, which may involve asking questions to gain more information about the issue and foster a positive dialogue.  Tune in to this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show as Andrea Heuston invites Karen Valencic, the Founder of Spiral Impact, to speak about mastering conflict in your personal and professional lives. Karen shares the connection between conflict resolution and Aikido techniques, how to join her conflict mastery course, and how Aikido altered her perspective.

Helena Smolock is the Founder, President, and CEO of Velocity Athletic Training, an award-winning company that helps professionals gain strength through resistance and functional training and meditation. As a fitness professional and master athlete, she has over 35 years of experience in the fitness industry. Helena has assisted corporate clients, semi-pro athletes, and post-rehab clients with injuries in her studio.  In this episode… Pursuing optimal health often focuses on physical fitness, but what role do mental and emotional well-being play? For individuals in the corporate space, achieving ideal health requires both physical activity and a mindset that fosters resilience and positivity. How can you align your mental and physical health to thrive? Helena Smolock, a seasoned fitness expert, has dedicated her career to understanding this balance. Drawing from her experience as a master athlete and corporate wellness work, Helena emphasizes the importance of mindset in driving physical health. Her method includes using affirmations and visualization techniques, such as mantras encouraging individuals to focus on empowering words and positive goals.  In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston speaks with Helena Smolock, the Founder, President, and CEO of Velocity Athletic Training, about fostering health and wellness in both personal and professional settings. Helena shares her journey from aspiring criminal lawyer to fitness entrepreneur, her strategies for addressing the mental health challenges of remote work, and how her tools help individuals and teams optimize their well-being.

Jennifer Brown is the Founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Speaks, where she focuses on keynote speaking and coaching organizations on creating inclusive workplaces. As a globally recognized DEI thought leader, speaker, award-winning entrepreneur, and bestselling author, she has 20 years of experience consulting with leaders. Jennifer is the author of Inclusive and How to Be an Inclusive Leader. She has also spoken at institutions and organizations like Google, LinkedIn, and Toyota about building cultures of belonging and envisioning the future of work.   In this episode… The Supreme Court recently banned affirmative action in college admissions, indirectly impacting businesses' efforts to foster equal representation and inclusion. With inclusivity and diversity becoming increasingly important, what does it take to lead with authenticity and impact? As an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, Jennifer Brown faced stigma and discomfort in the corporate world after coming out, leading her to suppress her identity. Rather than minimizing your or another’s identity, she emphasizes aligning with your true self and fostering an inclusive environment for others. This involves embracing your diverse characteristics and sharing those experiences with others, which can alter established paradigms and empower others facing similar struggles. In today’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston talks with Jennifer Brown, the Founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Speaks, about cultivating diversity and inclusion. Jennifer discusses her company’s merger, the current state of DEI programs, and how she built her consultancy from the ground up.

Ann Latham is the Founder of Uncommon Clarity, a consulting firm helping professionals gain cognitive clarity. As a clarity consultant, she has worked with notable businesses, including Hitachi, Boeing, and Medtronic. Ann is also the author of The Power of Clarity, The Disconnect Principle, The Clarity Papers, and Uncommon Meetings. Her insights have appeared in The New York Times, Bloomberg, and Management Today. In this episode… The word “clarity” is used frequently in business contexts, but what does it mean? For entrepreneurs and leaders, clarity involves identifying your goals and methods for achieving them. How can you gain clarity in all aspects of your professional life? Widely recognized “Clarity Queen,” Ann Latham has discovered the common roadblocks to goal progression, including a lack of specificity and clear communication. She maintains the importance of gathering enough information to make informed decisions about the next steps. This involves identifying specific decisions and action steps and developing detailed plans to execute them. In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston sits down with Ann Latham, the Founder of Uncommon Clarity, to discuss how to gain clarity in your professional life. Ann explains how to accelerate results and optimize communication in meetings, the takeaways from her TEDx talk, and insights from her books.

Libby Wagner is the President and Chief Visionary Officer at influencingOptions®, a business consulting and training firm that creates high-performance teams and leaders. She is also the Co-founder of The Studio, a change consultancy that fosters innovation through artistry. As an entrepreneur, mentor, and leadership coach, Libby helps executives create impactful organizational cultures. She is the author of The Influencing Option, What Will You Do With Your 90,000 Hours, and three poem collections, including Like This, Like That, Somehow, and Dancing on the Summer Lawn. In this episode… Women are well-recognized for their innovation, empathy, and communication, especially in leadership roles. How can you own your voice and strengths to become a high-performing leader? Writer, poet, and speaker Libby Wagner has harnessed nature and art to connect with her inner self and deliver authentic work. She notes that women leaders often struggle to trust themselves and question their intuition based on negative past experiences. When you become confident in your voice, you can deliver impactful messages that build trust and authority with teams and audiences. In today’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston chats with Libby Wagner, the President and Chief Visionary Officer at influencingOptions®, about cultivating high-trust leadership. Libby shares how connections with nature foster creativity and leadership, her nonlinear career path, and how she honed her strengths to launch her business.

Chanie Gluck is the CEO of 4D Global, a medical billing staffing company. She is also the host of the Growing Global and Leaders in Medical Billing podcasts. As an Inc. 5000 entrepreneur, Chanie has been voted The Next 1,000 CEOs to Watch by Forbes and Inspiring CEOs 2021 by InSight Magazine. In this episode… While female leadership styles are becoming more accepted, women still embody male characteristics when leading, especially during stressful periods. How can you embrace your feminine energy in your personal and professional life? For global entrepreneur Chanie Gluck, leading like a woman means embracing her role as a female in business. Women share unique traits like intuition and strong instincts that allow them to balance work and life effectively. When struggling to maintain composure during high-stress situations, rather than reverting to masculine tendencies, you can delegate tasks to simplify your work-life balancing act. This may involve offshoring talent to streamline responsibilities. In the latest episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston invites Chanie Gluck, the CEO of 4D Global, who talks about offshoring talent and embracing your feminine characteristics. Chanie discusses the future of offshoring, how she balances work and motherhood, and how she dispels myths about offshoring.

Donna Griffit is a corporate storyteller and Communication Coach at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, where she works with students to improve their communication, executive presence, writing, storytelling, and pitching. For 30 years, Donna has worked with Fortune 500 companies, startups, and investors in 30 countries, helping them create, edit, and deliver powerful presentations. She is also the author of Sticking to My Story: The Alchemy of Storytelling for Startups. In this episode… While women entrepreneurs have received significantly more funding in recent years, less than 2% of all VC funding goes toward female founders. How can you amplify women’s voices to ensure they receive fair funding? According to pitch and storytelling alchemist Donna Griffit, the key to capturing investors’ attention is a compelling pitch. Her four-acts formula is based on universal archetypes startups can leverage to simplify their pitches. It involves identifying the villain as the problem, the solution as the hero, the business plan as the hero’s course of action, and the vision for the future as the happy ending. This creates a well-structured pitch that positions you as an authority figure. Founders should also prepare lists of answers to potential investor questions. In today’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston chats with Donna Griffit about crafting winning startup pitches. Donna shares why she embraces serendipitous moments, how to generate more sales, and the essential elements of corporate storytelling.

Leah Diteljan is the Founder of MindSpa, a global movement of leaders. As a transformative coach and retreat facilitator, she has over 16 years of experience awakening emotional awareness and fostering personal growth in Fortune 100/500 CEOs and EO and YPO entrepreneurs. Leah spent over 13 years at the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), working with aspiring leaders across 30 countries and six continents. In this episode… When high-performing leaders experience a personal setback, they often focus more on their business while ignoring their private upheaval, leading to excessive burnout. How can you tend to your emotional needs to continue excelling in business? Emotional awareness coach Leah Diteljan urges entrepreneurs to treat their personal calamities like their business. This may involve developing a 90-day strategy to heal your emotions after a breakup. Leah has helped high-achieving women reconcile their emotions and create a sense of self-belonging through interactive retreats and experiences. Through introspective moments, leaders can learn to embrace and love every aspect of themselves. In this week’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston chats with Leah Diteljan, the Founder of MindSpa Movement, about emotional awareness for high-achieving leaders. Leah shares advice for women struggling with self-identity, the importance of intuition, and what she loves most about her career.

Jaime Mann is the Founder of The Amaryllis Project, a coaching and advisory firm for growth-oriented, high-performance women. As an advisor, coach, and connection cultivator, she helps women strengthen and grow their leadership skills and works with organizations to create a culture of connected leadership. Jaime is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF). In this episode… High-performing leaders often restrict their potential by engaging in limiting self-beliefs and negative dialogues. How can you step into your full potential without letting internal voices hold you back? Having struggled with internal and external bullying, high-performance coach Jaime Mann learned to accept and embrace her strengths. This involved altering her inner narrative, which requires practicing self-compassion by treating yourself as you would a close friend or relative. Jaime also recommends developing a close network of personal and professional connections who can support you in your leadership journey and engaging in exercises like the Johari window, which allows you to view yourself objectively. Tune in to this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show as Andrea Heuston welcomes Jaime Mann, the Founder of The Amaryllis Project, to talk about redefining leadership through connection and self-love. Jaime delves into her leadership style, why she views sensitivity as a core strength, and how her psychology background led her to become a coach.

Connie Kwan is the CEO of 4Storyteller, where she helps leaders tell their stories. As a former product executive, she worked with companies like Microsoft, Atlassian, and six product startups. Connie has crafted and delivered thousands of stories to investors and boards to set company visions and motivate teams. She has spoken on stages at Cornell University, the Product Management Festival, and Google Tech Talk. In this episode… Many women are stuck in the Smurfette paradigm, where they compete with other women for a single leadership position in a male-dominated organization. Yet as more women fight for a seat at the table, amplifying each other’s voices becomes increasingly vital. How can you encourage women to find their voice and stand out? Master storyteller Connie Kwan has identified four storytelling methods to help women amplify their reach and carve a niche for themselves. The champion and sage storytellers reach their audiences through emotional connections, whereas visionary and professor storytellers use logic to convince their audiences. Identifying your and your audience’s storytelling methods allows you to craft a message that conveys your needs while resonating with your audience. In today’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston chats with Connie Kwan, the CEO of 4Storyteller, about how women can hone their storytelling techniques. Connie describes the psychological aspects of effective communication, how she leads like a woman, and her mission to amplify women’s voices.