Lead Like a Woman

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.

Daisy Jing is the Founder and CEO of Banish, a natural skincare line targeted in treating acne scars. Daisy suffered acne all of her life, and traditionally prescribed treatments didn't work for her. She studied pre-med and dermatology at Duke University and while there, she started her YouTube channel reviewing skincare products. Through her vulnerability and story of her skincare journey, the YouTube channel garnered over 70 million views. She started formulating her own products to help her skin, and before long, her audience wanted to buy whatever it was she was using. And so Banish was born. Today, Banish is a multimillion-dollar business and its products are sold all over the world. Daisy is a TEDx speaker, Inc. 500 entrepreneur, Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, and most importantly, mom to a daughter and a Labradoodle. In her free time, Daisy loves fitness and teaches lagree pilates. In this episode… Despite all the pressure women face as entrepreneurs, business leaders, and mothers, it’s very important for them to be authentic and show up as their best selves. This may not be easy, but from experience, Daisy Jing knows just how valuable it is. While struggling to find a solution for her acne, Daisy created a YouTube channel where she shared her journey and struggles. She did this honestly and authentically and ended up amassing a big audience that was going through the same problems. When she started creating her own products to treat her acne, this audience asked for the products, eventually leading to the launch of Daisy’s skincare brand. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston interviews Daisy Jing, the Founder and CEO of Banish, about how she built her natural skincare business authentically. They also discuss Daisy's TEDx talk, share tips for dealing with imposter syndrome, and talk about the value of being your true self when building a brand. Stay tuned.

Mori Taheripour is a negotiation expert, globally recognized and highly sought-after speaker, and award-winning educator. She has worked with some of the most iconic sports leagues and Fortune 100 corporations over the past 20 years. She also teaches negotiation and dispute resolution at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is a seven-time recipient of awards for excellence in teaching. Mori's work has been featured in top business publications and media outlets including ESPN, Forbes, Inc., and NPR. She is also a contributor to sports discussions on SiriusXM’s Wharton Business Daily. Some of her current and past clients include the Goldman Sachs Foundation, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Players Association, National Football League, the Timberland company, United Parcel Service, Wasserman, Wells Fargo, and the White House Fellows Program. In March of 2020, Mori's first book, Bring Yourself: How to Harness the Power of Connection to Negotiate Fearlessly was published by Penguin Random House. In this episode… In the course of building a business or becoming a leader, women often receive advice from others who have gone through the same experiences as them. However, most women aren’t aware of their great qualities and don't realize that others see these great qualities as well. Just because you don’t see your value, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Mori Taheripour advises women to trust in themselves and trust that the world has a lot in store for them. Fearlessly go after new opportunities as they arise, because they could lead to great success and achievements. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Mori Taheripour, a negotiation expert, to talk about negotiation skills and empowering women to become better. Mori also talks about the value of following the road less traveled, the mission of her book, and explains how negotiation helps in finding a person's voice. Stay tuned.

Dr. Wenwen Ni is an Assistant Professor at Sonoma State University. She has a Ph.D. in social psychology from UCLA, and her work broadly examines the experiences of underrepresented groups including women in leadership and college students from low socioeconomic status backgrounds. She focuses on how social and environmental cues can affect identity and feelings of belonging, particularly when members of underrepresented groups are interacting with majority group members. Dr. Ni was a Senior Project Manager with Artitudes Design before pursuing her doctorate at UCLA. In this episode… Did you know that there are many social, economic, and environmental factors that have a big impact on women leaders? These include social status, feedback from both male and fellow female leaders, and being surrounded by other female leaders in the workplace. Dr. Wenwen Ni's quest to understand the social psychology of underrepresented groups has helped her learn so much about how different psychological factors influence such groups in society. She encourages women leaders to have mentors and female role models to help guide them get to where they want to be. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Dr. Wenwen Ni, an Assistant Professor at Sonoma State University, joins Andrea Heuston to talk about the various psychological factors that affect women in leadership roles. Dr. Ni shares her thoughts on gender bias in the events industry, explains how social and environmental factors influence women in the workplace, and talks about the importance of taking small steps to reach your goals. Stay tuned.

Diana Fryc is the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Retail Voodoo, a US-based branding firm that helps food, beverage, wellness, and fitness companies address their toughest growth challenges. As the daughter of parents who endured unimaginable hardship before emigrating from Eastern Europe to the US, Diana is built for a higher purpose. From working with Jane Goodall to source sustainably made paper, she went on to a career helping corporate America normalize the use of environmentally responsible products and materials before working with Retail Voodoo. Diana believes that businesses should be a force for good and uses her networking powers to drive change, specifically in the areas of employment diversity, food equality, and the promotion of a sustainable supply chain. She founded and hosts the Gooder Podcast, where she interviews powerhouse women leading on every level in food, beverage, and wellness categories. In this episode… One way leaders can hone their skills, grow, and become better leaders is by asking questions and learning from others, especially those with more established businesses who have been in leadership roles for a long time. However, not every piece of advice received will be good and applicable to an aspiring leader. While working at a leadership development firm, Diana Fryc was told by one of her male superiors that being nice would not get her far in business. However, she found out later on that the piece of advice did not align with her values and who she was. She now advises fellow women leaders to have big hearts, be humble, and be clear on what they want. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Diana Fryc, the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Retail Voodoo, to talk about running a CPG-focused company and branding in high heels. They also discuss Diana's Gooder Podcast, how to be a better female leader, and the interesting projects Diana has worked on at Retail Voodoo. Stay tuned.