Lead Like a Woman

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.

Rosalyn Taylor O'Neale was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America, Top Executives in Diversity, 100 Top Executives in America, and 100 Most Influential LGBT People of the Year. From the segregated South across five continents, this African-American woman has filled her life with interesting people and complex subjects. The former chief diversity officer, executive VP of diversity initiatives, and principal consultant specializes in facilitating courageous conversations about race, culture, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Rosalyn is the Author of four books including 7 Keys 2 Success: Unlocking the Passion for Diversity and The Power of Passion, Courage, and Faith. She has been quoted in Black Enterprise Magazine, Cable World Magazine, and Harvard Business Review. Rosalyn received a master's of social work from the University of Louisville and has three dogs and three cats. In this episode… What does it take to manage a diverse workforce? What can you do to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in your organization? According to Rosalyn Taylor O'Neale, a courageous leader is bold enough to talk about topics that may make others feel uncomfortable. They do not let fear stop them and are passionate about what they stand for. A courageous leader learns how to manage a diverse workforce, creates a safe place for their team, and recognizes their biased thoughts. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Rosalyn Taylor O'Neale, a speaker and author, to talk about having courageous conversations. They discuss how diversity has evolved over the years, how Rosalyn creates diversity and inclusion programs, and how she promotes courageous conversations about unconscious bias.

Helena Gibson is a serial entrepreneur, creator of The 7-Figure Salon, Founder of STRUT Hair Solutions, and a single mom. She is also an educator, author, master NLP practitioner, and podcaster. Her parlay into entrepreneurship began with an auto repair shop back in 2002, Manhattan Motors. She completely changed paths after she saw her mother struggling with hair loss. Helena watched her mom try to find solutions for her hair loss and realized that many other women were struggling with the exact same thing. In short, she saw a need, so she started STRUT Hair Solutions. Hazel Ortega is a leading expert in vocational rehabilitation for injured workers. As a formerly injured worker herself, she understands the importance of providing hope, resources, and services to injured workers. She knows first-hand how education changes people's lives and keeps families together. Hazel earned her master's degree in educational psychology and proceeded to open the Ortega Counseling Center in 2001, ensuring the delight of her clients by fighting for their rights to education. She has owned nearly a dozen businesses including one of LA's top restaurants, the Nixon, in Whittier, California, and the designer sensation, Savvy Sox. Helena and Hazel are both featured authors in the book Lead Like a Woman: Tales From the Trenches. In this episode… What can you do to create your dream life? How can you control your mind, especially when doubt creeps in and tries to sway you from your dreams and goals? For Helena Gibson and Hazel Ortega, the answer is perseverance and believing in miracles. Instead of spending all your time figuring out the 'how,' you have to live as if everything is a miracle. Once you do that, you'll start to notice and appreciate life more. Your brain gets programmed to make miracles happen, and doors start opening. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Helena Gibson and Hazel Ortega, featured authors of the book Lead Like a Woman: Tales From the Trenches, to discuss how to create a mindset of success. They also talk about the value of perseverance and share advice on living a miraculous life.

Lauren Reed is the Founder and President of Reed Public Relations. She earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation in 2010 and has been a long-standing member of the Public Relations Society of America, serving as President of the Nashville chapter in 2017. Lauren is a member of the Women Presidents Organization (WPO) and serves on the board of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO). Dr. Kristin Kahle, aka Dr. K, is the CEO and Founder of NavigateHCR, a full-service Affordable Care Act (ACA) and compliance technology company. Dr. K has been published multiple times, and her first book, NOtivation: Use the Power of NO to Make Your First Million Dollars, highlights her experience as a serial entrepreneur, speaker, coach, and mentor. It's a transparent and honest guide to how she used the power of no to make her first, second, and third million. Lauren and Dr. K are both featured authors in the book Lead Like a Woman: Tales From the Trenches. In this episode… Despite the success women achieve in their lives, many face self-doubt, imposter syndrome, rejection, and a myriad of other challenges. However, it's important to know that you don't have to take on the challenges alone, and you won't be stuck fighting these battles forever. To help you get out of the trenches, we're sitting down with fellow women leaders who have learned crucial lessons the hard way. Tune in to hear how they pulled themselves out of the trenches — and how you can, too. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Lauren Reed and Dr. Kristin Kahle, featured authors in the book Lead Like a Woman: Tales From the Trenches. Together, they talk about how failure can become a stepping stone to your next great achievement. They also share tips for getting over the fear of asking for help, advice to help women find their way out of the trenches, and explain how they lead like women.

Jessica Fialkovich is the Co-founder and CEO of Exit Factor, which teaches entrepreneurs how to buy, build, and sell their small to midsize companies. She is a business expert, author, speaker, and small business advocate. When Jessica sold her first business a decade ago, she had no idea where to start. Fortunately, she was able to exit successfully and buy her next company — a business brokerage office. For 10 years, she has built the fastest growing and most successful business brokerage firm in the US, but realized that most business owners who decide to sell are not prepared. In founding her education firm, Exit Factor, Jessica decided to pull back the curtain about how the business sales process works and give buyers and sellers the tools to successfully and profitably complete a transaction. She is an entrepreneur at heart and has successfully built and sold two startups along with her husband and business partner Al. In this episode… As an entrepreneur, the journey to success is often challenging as you encounter obstacles, make mistakes, and face your fears. So how can you facilitate this process effectively? Jessica Fialkovich says you don't have to try every strategy to find what works and what doesn't. Instead, learn from other's mistakes to make better decisions. This advice has helped Jessica successfully acquire, sell, and exit many businesses. Now, she's developed educational resources to help entrepreneurs in their process. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Jessica Fialkovich, the Co-founder and CEO of Exit Factor, to talk about helping entrepreneurs sell and exit their businesses. Jessica also talks about her book, her speaking engagements, and the lessons she learned in her entrepreneurial journey.

Stephen Shortt is the Managing Director of ETC Consult and is involved in different industries including leadership development, psychometric selection, entrepreneurship, and education both nationally and internationally. He is the former Global Chair of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, which supports student entrepreneurs around the world. He's also served on the global committee for the Entrepreneurs' Organization Accelerator Program. Stephen spent many years fine-tuning his "why" to help him get more clarity about what he wanted to do with his life. And it all boils down to two words: aspire and empower. He wants to help individuals and teams aspire to a better future and empower them to get there. Stephen has delivered seminars and workshops, moderated panel discussions, and acted as the emcee for a range of international events on the topics like entrepreneurship, international communication, leadership, social media marketing, audiovisual marketing, and more. In this episode… When it comes to leadership, women are often judged not based on their skills, value, or the results they can bring — they're often judged based on gender stereotypes. So what can we do to address these issues and reach a more equitable world? Oftentimes, our unconscious bias leads us to make generalized assumptions. But it's our job to challenge those assumptions in order to create a better, more equitable future. We have to move past the labels and understand that each individual has a unique skill set, no matter their gender. In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston sits down with Stephen Shortt, Managing Director of ETC Consult. Stephen shares how he became a feminist father for his daughters' future, how one seemingly ordinary conversation with his sister changed his whole perspective on men's roles in supporting women leaders, how to challenge unconscious bias and limiting beliefs on gender, and so much more!

Jodi Daniels is the Founder and CEO of Red Clover Advisors, a privacy consultancy. The firm brings data privacy strategy and compliance together with its flexible and scalable approach that simplifies data privacy complexity, refines, updates, or builds privacy structure, and makes both the business and the legal issues accessible and actionable for all. Jodi is a Certified Informational Privacy Professional and serves as the outsource privacy office for companies. Jodi is also a national keynote speaker and Host of the top-rated She Said Privacy/He Said Security podcast. She has been featured in The Economist, Forbes, Inc., Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, and more. She holds an MBA and a BBA with a concentration in accounting from Emory University's Goizueta Business School. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, two girls, and a big, fluffy, beautiful dog named Basil. In this episode… Owning a business makes it possible for you to control your time and manage your life as you want. However, it does not mean that your work-life will always be balanced. According to Jodi Daniels, the best thing to do is focus on what has to be done right now. Additionally, it is important to recognize your achievements despite all the challenges or frustrations you may face. Celebrate your wins and successes as much as you celebrate other people's success. Make it a habit. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Jodi Daniels, the Founder and CEO of Red Clover Advisors, to discuss why data privacy is essential for all types of companies. Jodi also explains why women need to celebrate their achievements and talks about her experience hosting a podcast and working with her husband.