Lead Like a Woman

Mary Abbajay is the Author of the best-selling book Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss. She is also the President of Careerstone Group, a full-service organizational and leadership development consulting agency that provides facilitation, training, consulting, and coaching services to businesses and government entities. Mary is a highly-regarded author, speaker, consultant, and trainer, helping clients develop the strategies and skills needed to stimulate professional and personal excellence, growth, and success in the 21st-century workplace. She is also the Co-host of the workplace advice podcast Cubical Confidential and is a contributor for television, radio, and print publications, with her work and advice appearing in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and Forbes, among others. In this episode… Are you a junior staff member on your team who feels like your boss isn't valuing your ideas? Are you a senior member of your team feeling dissatisfied with your job? Mary Abbajay is a trusted author and consultant with over 20 years of leadership experience. As a former bar and grill owner, her background helped her launch Careerstone Group, an organizational leadership consulting firm focused on helping companies create effective and productive workplaces. Now, Mary is here to make sure that you can take control of your own career. You'll learn tips on maintaining a positive workplace attitude to manage relationships, make professional decisions, and communicate effectively, straight from her best-selling book Managing Up. In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston joins Mary Abbajay, Author of Managing Up and President of Careerstone Group, to discuss personal workplace authority. Mary talks about maintaining control of your career, how to navigate professional relationships effectively, and how to persist in your role.

Niki McKay is the Founder and CEO of Seattle-based Blue Danube Productions. She has been a dynamic, noteworthy leader in the event production space for over 20 years. Niki's expertise is demonstrated through the rapid growth of her company and the industry-wide recognition for her excellent work. She has served partners such as Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Facebook Reality Labs, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Having founded Blue Danube Productions in 2007, Niki has grown the company into one of the premier event technology companies in the Pacific Northwest. She has an exceptional ability to fuse vision with development, bringing about stunning results that combine the best of technical and logistic elements. She leads a team that transforms client relationships into powerful partnerships. Together, they pinpoint goals, target demographics, and achieve the best possible results for their clients. Niki is an influencer and a thought leader. She has been featured in Special Events magazine and has served as a keynote speaker for numerous associations including Meeting Professionals International and the International Live Events Association. In this episode… When starting a business, it's important for entrepreneurs to have a good understanding of their target audience and the value they will provide to that audience. This helps you find clients who share your values, and in the process, helps you build amazing relationships with them. So what does it mean to know your value? As a business leader, understanding your value means that you know what you deserve and what you need — and you are willing to go for it. It also means that you are not afraid to get paid for your expertise and precious time, and you get compensated for who you are and what you bring to the table. You also have to decide and choose the types of clients you want to work with. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Niki McKay, the Founder and CEO of Blue Danube Productions, to talk about the importance of knowing your value. They discuss Niki's company philosophy, the most challenging event she has worked on, and what she loves about her job. Stay tuned.

Elise Holtzman is a former practicing attorney, certified executive coach, and the Founder of The Lawyer's Edge, where she and her coaching team work with law firms to grow thriving businesses by helping lawyers become better business developers and leaders. Prior to practicing law in large New York law firms, Elise earned a BA in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and her JD from Columbia Law School, where she was a member and Senior Editor of the Columbia Law Review. In addition to providing consulting, training, and coaching for clients, Elise speaks frequently for women groups and legal organizations such as State Bar Associations, ABA Women Rainmakers, and the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. She writes articles on the subject of business development for publications such as the New York Law Journal and Law360. She is also the host of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast. In this episode… Building a successful business requires managing many key pieces, from handling finances to tackling sales and marketing, hiring and managing employees, and scaling the business. However, no one can be an expert in all of these areas — regardless of how smart they are. So what should growing entrepreneurs do? According to Elise Holtzman, this is where having a coach or mentor comes into play. Connecting and learning from a mentor who has gone through similar challenges is invaluable. It helps business owners network with like-minded people, grow both personally and professionally, and learn how to take on uncomfortable situations. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Elise Holtzman, the Founder of The Lawyer's Edge, to talk about the importance of coaching and working with a mentor. Elise shares her journey to entrepreneurship, her secret to success, and the value of networking with like-minded people. Stay tuned.

Stephanie Camarillo is the President of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), Idaho. She sits on a global subcommittee for membership and serves on the Leadership Council for the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Stephanie started her career working in international business and academia. She had an "aha moment" one day and realized she was building programs in large organizations and could probably do the same on her own as an entrepreneur. With a dream of financial and time freedom in her mind and heart, she and her husband bought a residential cleaning business 15 years ago. Since then, it's been an unexpected journey. She has learned that success often requires overcoming personal blocks. In order to be a better leader, she had to face and recover from decades of abuse as a child. On the other side, Stephanie now knows that the secret is learning to live in a place of responsibility and in the present moment. Her 40 employees — most of them single moms with troubles much greater than hers — have shown her the way. She wants to share her journey with other entrepreneurs to help them see how their business can become a vehicle for personal and social change (and make money). She is currently writing a book called SHINE: How Empowered Employees Can Transform Your Workforce, and recently graduated from EO's Global Speakers Academy (GSA). Stephanie and her family love to travel, and she is working toward expanding her business to different countries. In this episode… Are you aware that empowering your employees is one of the best things you can do for your business? It can help motivate them, increase their productivity, and give them hope for the future. This is what Stephanie Camarillo did in her residential cleaning business. She concentrated on empowering her employees to become better people, giving them a sense of purpose, and guiding them to work independently. She hired brilliant employees, and over the years, worked on honing their leadership skills. This has enabled her to step away from the business' daily operations and focus on other aspects of her life. Stephanie Camarillo, the President of Entrepreneurs' Organization, Idaho, joins Andrea Heuston in this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show to talk about her business and her inspiration to empower employees. Stephanie also talks about servant leadership, her strategies for working herself out of her business, and the importance of paying it forward. Stay tuned.

Alexis Krisay and Melissa DiGianfilippo are the Co-founders of Serendipit Consulting, a full-service creative and PR agency. Alexis has an extensive background in online and offline strategic marketing operations and has developed her innate talent and flex for all things marketing. After more than 15 years in a fast-paced, ever-changing industry, Alexis has adopted a deep understanding of what makes people, brands, and organizations tick. She is the President of Marketing at Serendipit Consulting, known for her out-of-the-box thinking and contribution to fresh ideas. She has helped dozens of clients across a wide range of industries, effectively identifying market opportunities and pairing them with strategic and impactful results-driven marketing. Melissa DiGianfilippo is the President of Public Relations at Serendipit Consulting, where she leads all of the agency clients' PR and communications efforts. She leads a highly skilled team to help clients achieve their goals. Under Melissa's direction, Serendipit's clients have achieved millions of dollars in positive press coverage across international, national, and local media outlets, including CNN, Nancy Grace, Entrepreneur magazine, The Late Show, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Reuters, Associated Press, Huffington Post, along with broadcast and print outlets in all US markets. In this episode… For many women, starting and building a business in a male-dominated industry can be very challenging. They may face intimidation and be treated in an unacceptable manner. So what can women do to be on a level playing field with men? Having started a consulting agency at a young age, Alexis Krisay and Melissa DiGianfilippo found themselves in such situations. But through confidence and belief in themselves, they pushed through those challenges. They kept going, stayed true to their mission, and went for their dreams. Now, they're here to share their strategies and empower women across the globe. Alexis Krisay and Melissa DiGianfilippo, the Co-founders of Serendipit Consulting, join Andrea Heuston in this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show to talk about their entrepreneurial journey in a male-dominated industry. They also talk about their ideal clients, why they started a business during a recession, and their advice to women looking to work in an industry traditionally led by men. Stay tuned.

Dame Stephanie (Steve) Shirley is a workplace revolutionary and successful IT entrepreneur-turned-ardent philanthropist. In 1962, she founded an all-woman software company that pioneered remote working, upending the expectations of the time. It was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion and made 70 staff members millionaires. Since retiring, Dame Stephanie's focus has been on philanthropy — especially autism and IT. She's brought three significant autism charities to sustainability, which together employ approximately 1,000 people: Autistica, Prior's Court, and Autism at Kingwood. Her TED Talk, "Why Do Ambitious Women Have Flat Heads?" has over 2 million views. She is the Author of two books, Let It Go and So To Speak, and every penny from the books sold goes to Autistica, the medical research charity she founded. In this episode… Women undertake many responsibilities in both their professional and personal lives. These may include being an entrepreneur, business leader, and mother. All of these responsibilities present unique challenges that women have to face and find solutions for. Dame Stephanie Shirley has gone through these phases in her life. A child refugee at five years old, she procured determination and resiliency at a young age. Eventually, Dame Stephanie started a company to help women in the IT space operate in more inclusive and diverse workplaces, became a mother, and started a foundation to provide support to autistic kids. She embraced all the challenges she faced, became stronger and wiser over the years, and continues working toward a more equitable, generous future. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston interviews Dame Stephanie Shirley, an IT entrepreneur and philanthropist, about her life story, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy. Dame Stephanie talks about her motivation to start a software company in 1962, her books, and the importance of value recruitment. You don't want to miss these inspirational, insightful stories.

Caity Cronkhite is the CEO and Founder of Good Words LLC, a technical communications consulting firm based in Seattle, Washington and remotely around the globe. Good Words was created to help produce, edit, and deliver communications content for organizations, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. The goal is to intersect both technology and communication to relay complex, specialized information to any audience. Caity was born and raised on a farm in rural Indiana before leaving her prairie roots to attend Carnegie Mellon University. After college, she moved west to start her career as a technical writer and eventually, an entrepreneur. Caity is passionate about using her personal and professional experience to uplift others, which includes advocating for rural policy change, advocating for increased labor and wage protections for freelance workers, and creating a company that empowers its employees with meaningful career opportunities, no matter where they live. In this episode… How can you carve your own career path? What does it take to become a trailblazer and turn your passion into a business? Coming from a small town, Caity Cronkhite faced many struggles in the journey to build her career. Looking for new jobs out of college was repetitive, and Caity was searching for something new and exciting. That's when she decided to step into freelancing, which led her to start a business, continue growing, and achieve her dreams. Do you have a woman in your life who inspires or empowers you? In this episode of the Lead like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston talks to Caity Cronkhite, Founder and CEO of Good Words LLC. Caity discusses leaving her career to start freelancing and, ultimately, create her business. She explains how each day looks different and sometimes you can only do so much — because your best looks different every single day. You don't want to miss this inspiring story!

Peggy O'Flaherty is an accomplished entrepreneur, author, and community-centric business leader with over 30 years of experience managing and growing female-founded and mission-driven businesses and organizations. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Startup Hustle, Business Insider, Women's Wear Daily, Modern Retail, and more. In her current venture as the Co-founder and Chief Community Officer of Mavely, Peggy has merged her experience in consumer engagement, fundraising, sales, and account management with data-driven and growth-oriented functional solutions. In 2017, Peggy co-authored the book Living Your Calling vs. Chasing Your Craving, a reflection and guide dedicated to high-performing women who are seeking to find the balance between their personal ambitions, families, and spirituality. Through detailed exercises, Peggy helps readers discover the joy and harmony that often seems unattainable in running a successful business while raising a family. She often reminds other women to learn the difference between when you make decisions from your head and when you need to use your heart. She is an Illinois native and lives in Downers Grove, Illinois. She holds a BA in government and business from DePaul University and is the proud mother of five children. In this episode… When building a company, it is important for business owners to take note of their data and key performance indicators. These factors demonstrate how the business is performing and can help identify new opportunities in the industry. For Peggy O'Flaherty, it is also crucial for business owners to know when to use their hearts and when to use their heads when making a decision. This has helped her build a great brand and make better decisions in both her professional and personal life. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston interviews Peggy O'Flaherty, the Co-founder and Chief Community Officer of Mavely, about her work in helping women build their businesses and balance work with their personal lives. They also discuss how women struggle with imposter syndrome and talk about living an intentional life.

Erin Keam is the Host of Conversations About Closets With My Closest 1000 Friends podcast and has interviewed over 160 women, mainly entrepreneurs, and she interviews them about what they do and why it matters. She loves to showcase and connect women, as she believes they are the answer to everything. The more money they make, the better the world will be. Erin also offers mentoring and marketing services. There's nothing she loves more than exploring The Shero's Journey with her businesses so they can create content that resonates with clients, strategize ways to develop growth, or clarify core messaging. Her word of the year is "clarity," and that's what she brings to her clients. When not creatively brainstorming, Erin is rewriting sexist lyrics to popular songs and learning to rap. In this episode… To become a great leader and businesswoman, you need clarity in everything you do. You need to know what you want, where you are heading, and what steps you should take to get there. In business, you have to understand your target audience in order to create the right marketing messages for them. One way to do this is to work with professionals and surround yourself with a community of like-minded people. This is what Erin Keam did while growing her marketing and mentoring business. Now, she's an inspiration to professionals everywhere, working with women to help them gain clarity in their lives and realize just how amazing they are. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Erin Keam, the Host of Conversations About Closets With My Closest 1000 Friends podcast, to talk about her coaching and mentoring work and the importance of clarity. Erin also explains how she helps women improve their lives, talks about her podcast, details The Shero's Journey, and explains why mental health is important. Stay tuned.

Andrea Heuston is the CEO and Creative Principal of Artitudes Design, an award-winning creative agency. She has over 20 years of experience in the design industry and has won several awards such as the Puget Sound Business Journal's 40 under 40, the Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards for Enterprising Women Magazine, Cambridge Who's Who, and the Key4Women Achieve Award. Andrea holds a degree in communications and design from the University of Washington. She is a speaker, author, and a volunteer who helps plan, purchase, prepare, and serve meals for the members of The Matt Talbot Center. Andrea is also the host of the Lead Like a Woman Show where she features top women leaders in order to share their inspirational stories on life and leadership. In this episode… Andrea Heuston has had the privilege of interviewing many smart women on her podcast, the Lead Like A Woman Show. These have included top business leaders, philanthropists, and political leaders. She has also talked to female Ironman athletes, football stars, yoga instructors, as well as women in the wine industry. Over the course of the podcast, Andrea has unearthed different perspectives about starting and running a successful business and leading like a woman. She has also seen how important it is for women to build resiliency in both their personal and professional lives. On this 100th episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Dr. Jeremy Weisz, the Co-founder of Rise25, to talk about the key lessons she learned from some of her podcast guests. They also talk about the importance of pivoting, supporting women in the male-dominated wine industry, and explain why women in leadership often return a higher ROI. Stay tuned.