Lead Like a Woman

Helena Gibson is a serial entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and the Founder and CEO of The 7-Figure Salon and STRUT Hair Solutions. Her parlay into entrepreneurship began with an auto repair shop, Manhattan Motors, back in 2002. After she saw her mother struggling with hair loss, she completely changed paths. Helena watched her mom look for solutions to her hair loss and realized others were struggling too, and that’s when she started STRUT Hair Solutions. Fast forward to almost 20 years of being in the hair loss industry. Helena has done everything from styling celebrities' hair to writing a book about hair to being an educator for top hair replacement manufacturers. She has done it all, including new products, new types of extensions, the latest wig crazes, and DIY hacks. Helena started noticing gaps in the industry, so she created a new product line — Unveil Restorative Hair Care. From the services business to the creation of a product line, Helena is constantly looking for new solutions. In this episode… What drives your entrepreneurial spirit? How can you use empathy to provide better solutions to your customer's needs? Building a successful business takes time. You will face many challenges, so you must develop patience, persistence, and resilience. As a successful entrepreneur, Helena Gibson's advice is to stay ahead of the curve and take control of what you can. Take care of yourself, run your businesses guided by your values, and be willing to help others. These are the strategies Helena uses to scale her businesses. In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Helena Gibson, a serial entrepreneur, author, podcaster, educator, and the Founder and CEO of The 7-Figure Salon and STRUT Hair Solutions, to talk about using empathy to solve customers’ problems. Helena explains why she started her businesses, her future plans, and the power of perseverance.

Riah Gonzalez is an accidental entrepreneur, a taco enthusiast, and a lover of 90s pop. As a young mom with minimal support, Riah quickly learned that her success would be different from that of her peers. The life lessons she learned through trial and error led her to encourage others through her debut book, Successful as F*ck: A No BS Tale of Screwing Up and Succeeding Anyway. When she's not writing, Riah empowers female entrepreneurs with her virtual assistant matchmaking company Linq Consulting Solutions. She lives happily in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and three daughters. In this episode… What does success look like for you? Do you find it difficult to express your true self or emotions when it comes to business? The fear of being ridiculed, judged, or seen as a failure prevents many women from expressing their emotions. However, according to Riah Gonzalez, screwing up does not mean you are unsuccessful. Instead, embrace your failures and learn from your mistakes. Be authentic, express your emotions and true self, and recognize that you are enough. In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston interviews Riah Gonzalez, an author and entrepreneur, about defining success on your own terms. Riah discusses the value of expressing your emotions, being authentic, and her experience building a virtual assistant matchmaking company.

Kate Hancock is a self-made entrepreneur who has built highly successful businesses in less than 10 years. She started these companies from the ground up with no funding, working in various industries such as e-commerce and beauty. Her first venture was an e-commerce web 2.0 business that began when she had only $20. Within one year, it grew to over a million dollars in revenue and eight figures in total sales online. Kate is a strategist, business advisor, and the award-winning creator of a beauty company that has been nominated as an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company twice in a row. Her newest and latest venture is Metaverse XYZ, where she sees the opportunity to create collaboration between entrepreneurs in the web 3.0 metaverse, as well as to elevate talented players from Asia looking for an opportunity like no other. Known as “The Pivot Queen” by those who know her tireless work ethic, Kate is a serial entrepreneur, TEDx and international metaverse speaker, and a mom of two amazing boys. In this episode… Have you ever considered adopting the metaverse in your business? Do you know what it takes to build a business using virtual reality? The growth of the metaverse has brought about numerous changes and new opportunities in how businesses are run. Many consumers are embracing the technology to drive more sales, grow business, and scale. Metaverse expert Kate Hancock sees the benefits of virtual reality in onboarding and training employees, virtual work, e-commerce, and providing services in the health and medical sector. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Kate Hancock, a business strategist and advisor, to talk about the future of the metaverse in business. Kate shares details about her upcoming conference on blockchain, what attracted her to the metaverse, and how she uses her voice to elevate women.

Amy Boone Thompson is the Owner and Chief Executive Officer of IDEA Health & Fitness Association. She has a three-decade career as a fitness professional, wellness advocate, and business owner leader. Amy has held every role from practitioner to presenter to executive, and leads from a place of connection, service, and purposeful impact. Her early experience training women to be the best versions of themselves in body, mind, and spirit set the foundation for an incredible professional trajectory. Amy was named the 2019 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year before she took over as Vice President and later CEO and Owner. She was also a nominee in the San Diego Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business, an award that recognizes dynamic women business leaders who have demonstrated significant contributions to the local economy. She has served on numerous industry committees and currently sits on the California Fitness Alliance Advisory Council. Amy was just appointed as Vice Chair of the World Active Forum to work alongside the World Health Organization in uniting global efforts to promote physical activity. Her husband and children, along with a very supportive extended family, help keep her grounded. In this episode… What does it mean to lead a business with character? How can you gain clarity and create an efficient structure for running your business? For Amy Boone Thompson, leading a business with character means tapping into your curiosity and leading with kindness, respect, and care. Having spent many years as an athlete, she has learned the value of working in a team and showing up with grit. She encourages leaders to be coachable, lead with confidence, and empower others to succeed. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston interviews Amy Boone Thompson, the Owner and Chief Executive Officer of IDEA Health & Fitness Association. Amy explains what it means to lead with character, curiosity, and confidence. She also discusses the role athletics play in her life and business and shares her future plans for IDEA Health & Fitness Association.

Vicky Heldreich Durand is the Author of the book Wave Woman: The Life and Struggles of a Surfing Pioneer, which tells the story of her mother, Betty Pembroke Heldreich. Vicky first fell in love with Hawaii at age 12 when she spent a summer with relatives on the island of Moloka’i. Returning home, she talked her mother Betty into a Hawaiian trip the following summer. By the following winter, the adventurous Betty had moved her two young daughters to Honolulu. Vicky spent her teenage years surfing with her mother. They competed in the annual Makaha International Surfing Championships and were invited to Lima, Peru, to promote women's surfing. Looking back at Vicky and Betty's evolving relationship, Betty always told Vicky that every day was an adventure. Never afraid of the difficult challenges ahead, Betty inspired Vicky to take on new challenges and share her mother's story. In this episode… As poet Betty Pembroke Heldreich wrote, "Life is a journey full of changes and surprises." We all face various challenges in life which we have to take on courageously. These challenges make us stronger, build our character, and help prepare us for future success. After moving to Hawaii and becoming a surfer and entrepreneur, Vicky Heldreich Durand learned that the most important thing towards success is to take the first step. She believes that fear is a choice and it is never too late to start doing something new. You have the power to choose courage and follow your dreams. Vicky Heldreich Durand, an entrepreneur and author, joins Andrea Heuston in this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show to talk about courageous exploration and creativity. They discuss Vicky's experience moving from the USA to Hawaii, entrepreneurship, and the lessons Vicky learned from her mother.

Danielle Johnson is an executive coach, leadership consultant, and the Founder of Cannon Leadership Group. Her work is focused on helping entrepreneurs and high-performing leaders define and achieve what's possible for them. Danielle has spent the past two decades coaching high performers and leading global and regional business organizations across high tech, retail, and finance industries. She has built a reputation with clients for being relationship-centric, intuitive, and masterful at knowing when to push outside of their comfort zones. Danielle received her executive coaching certifications from the Hudson Institute of Coaching and the Coaches Training Institute, and she has a systemic team coaching certification from the Global Team Coaching Institute. In addition, she holds a PCC accreditation from the International Coaching Federation, the most rigorous and respected in the industry. As someone who thrives in personal and professional growth, her ideal day typically starts with a great French press and something that challenges her mind. Often asked what led her to coaching, Danielle will tell you that nothing lights her on fire more than witnessing another person showing up with her whole heart, leading with love, passion, excitement, and purpose to do something they have always dreamed of. In this episode… How often do you give your team feedback? Is your feedback driven by your own insecurities or is it for the benefit of the employee? Having worked with many leaders through one-on-one coaching and group training, Danielle Johnson advises leaders to create an authentic company culture that gives employees the room and tools to grow. Constructive feedback is a great starting point. Employees desire to work in an environment where they feel safe and are given the opportunity to explore their leadership potential. She, therefore, advises leaders to build trust with their team and give praise where it is due. Danielle Johnson, the Founder of Cannon Leadership Group, joins Andrea Heuston in this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show to talk about strategies for creating an empowered, motivated, and deeply connected workforce. Danielle discusses her process for working with clients, shares the benefits of giving feedback, and explains what a coaching culture means.

Rick Gillis is a speaker, author, trainer, and innovator. He has been in the business of employment since 1997 when, as “employee number one,” he was involved with the launch of the first local employment website to serve the greater Houston, Texas market. Due to being first in the field and his sales acumen, Rick accidentally became the go-to local internet job search expert, which led to invitations to speak in the city of Houston and then across the United States while doing media along the way. His book, Leveling the Paying Field, is the sum of his varied and colorful career in sales, as a manager, author, speaker, award-winning media host, and now as an indisputable thought leader and champion of pay parity across gender lines. Rick also created the QTNT process to help workers and their employers identify and assign value to individual performance and accomplishments. In this episode… What is the value of your contribution to a company? How can you measure your achievements? If you have been working at a company for over a year, then you are bringing value to that business. Rick Gillis advises women to talk about their achievements without fear — which is something men do on a regular basis. He also advises people to identify and write down their accomplishments on a daily basis. The same applies if you are in business. Recognize your achievements and price your products based on the value you provide your clients. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Rick Gillis, a speaker, author, trainer, and innovator, to talk about pay parity and how to level the paying field. Rick shares his first encounter with pay parity as a child, the lessons he has learned over the years, and how he has been helping solve pay parity.

Ulyanna Chung is the Owner of Chung Insurance Agency Inc. Prior to that, she was a federal law enforcement officer for six years. She worked with the US Customs Service for four years and then as a Federal Air Marshal for two years. During her time in federal law enforcement, she was accepted into the federal leadership program, received two customs commissioners awards, and numerous expert shooter awards. Ulyanna is originally from Southern California and a proud UCLA alumnus. She has been married for over 18 years and is a mother to two teenage boys. She has served on the board of several nonprofit organizations such as the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Las Vegas, and Entrepreneurs' Organization Las Vegas. She has also served as a council member on the Nevada Division of Insurance Commissioners Asian Advisory. Ulyanna has been an insurance agent for over 18 years as a chartered financial consultant. Her agency's mission is to be a difference in the lives of the people and their team, agency, and community. In addition, she's the Author of the book Culture of Agency, which helps insurance agencies achieve success by developing and fostering their unique, dynamic culture. Chung Insurance Agency Inc. continues to provide insurance and financial services in the Las Vegas area. In this episode… Being a leader can be difficult when you have to juggle your professional and personal life. You have to think about your family, business partners, company culture, and mentors. On top of that, you have a lot of responsibility, which could dissuade you from taking risks throughout your career. Ulyanna Chung believes that to be a successful leader, you have to let go of guilt and learn from your failures. Use your past experiences to improve. She also advises women afraid of venturing into the unknown to take the leap, follow their passion, and not get comfortable where they are. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston hosts Ulyanna Chung, the Owner of Chung Insurance Agency, to talk about leadership and culture. Ulyanna shares her experience in federal law enforcement, talks about giving back to the community, and discusses different types of company culture.

Lisa Riggs, known as the Sock Queen, is the Founder of Spirit Sox USA, a company focused on making a difference in the world with each pair of customized socks. By collaborating with their customers to design unique socks and incorporating their branding, Lisa has found a niche that allows her to use her background in fundraising, HR, and management. As a mom of two children, she has been involved in fundraisers for a variety of activities and sports. After creating a sock fundraiser for her daughter's school, she realized this success could be replicated in other businesses, and Spirit Sox USA was born. Today, Lisa has helped thousands of businesses with branded socks that can be sold, provided as a corporate gift, or offered as a customer giveaway. While Spirit Sox USA customizes socks, they never lose sight of their mission — to make the world a better place. One way they do this is by donating 5% of all profits towards providing socks for the homeless in America. To date, they've donated thousands of socks to the homeless across the country. Lisa, a lifelong resident of California, has been married for 25 years and has two college-aged children, two dogs, a 30-year-old box turtle, and an active lifestyle. She and her family enjoy spending time at the beach, going hiking, and playing sports. In this episode… Many women working in the corporate world often face challenges that limit their success. To overcome this, some choose to go into business. However, acquiring customers, dealing with competitors, and finding the best strategies to grow a business in the early days can also prove difficult. So what can business owners do to solve these challenges? While starting her own company, Lisa Riggs learned the value of perseverance. She sought advice from other leaders and now advises fellow women not to be afraid of leading like a woman. You have to lead with integrity and authenticity. You also have to set realistic expectations and be ready to embrace rejections. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston hosts Lisa Riggs, the Founder of Spirit Sox USA, to talk about creating value through socks. They also talk about using socks to fundraise and give back to the community, the challenges women working in the corporate world face, and the strategies Lisa used to grow her business.

Cathey Kuo is a real estate broker, investor, and entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in commercial real estate leasing and sales, real estate investing, asset management, and 1031 exchanges. As a business owner and investor, she has an innate grasp of the real estate market and entrepreneurship which allows her to be solution-oriented and empathize with all parties in a deal to structure a win-win resolution. Her immense desire to help others fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams and grow their investment portfolios stems from her own family's humble beginnings. As the child of first-generation immigrants, Cathey experienced firsthand the countless goals and opportunities that could be achieved through grit and hard work and strives to empower others to fulfill their dreams. She began her career in real estate working alongside her mother, who has her own successful 30-year track record in the industry as an agent and investor. After high school, Cathey went on to gain her BBA in real estate from Baruch College - Zicklin School of Business in New York City. She began her professional life in New York but moved to Las Vegas in 2014 to expand her career. In this episode… How can you lead with kindness? Is empathy important? What leadership traits do you embody? For Cathey Kuo, leading like a woman means leading with empathy, kindness, and integrity. When you don't know something, admit it — but don't let anyone make you feel inferior. It is also important to be authentic, know who you serve, and provide value to make people’s lives better. Cathey Kuo, a real estate broker, investor, and entrepreneur, joins Andrea Heuston in this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show to talk about building a business through grit and determination. Cathey shares her experience in the real estate industry, the limiting beliefs she had to overcome, and how she uses her skills to give back to the community.