Lead Like a Woman

Sejal Lakhani-Bhatt is the CEO of TechWerxe, a leading IT company working to bridge the gap between quality and affordability with customized solutions for small to medium-sized businesses. After graduating from the University of Buffalo with a degree in legal studies, Sejal began her career working for major global banking institutions in the regulatory and compliance divisions, as well as on the trading floor. For 12 years, she traveled around the world, working for leading financial firms in Japan, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. In 2012, she left the banking industry to join TechWerxe, an IT company founded by her husband in 2008. In 2014, Sejal took over the operations, sales, and marketing of TechWerxe and became CEO while her husband focused on its IT services. Under her leadership, TechWerxe earned recognition as a top 100 MSSPs (Managed Security Service Providers), top 500 MSPs (Managed Service Providers), and received numerous other industry awards. In March of 2019, Sejal's husband suddenly passed away from a heart attack at age 39. Committed to upholding their company mission, she spent months dissecting all aspects of TechWerxe to analyze knowledge gaps and determine the changes needed to move the company forward. She spent the past year and a half restructuring TechWerxe to preserve her and her husband's long-term goals for the company. As a result, TechWerxe did not lose a single client during the transition period. Sejal is devoted to her two young boys and committed to showing them the strength women can have in the face of adversity. In this episode… While grieving the loss of her husband, one of the best pieces of advice Sejal Lakhani-Bhatt received from a friend was, "Every decision you make will be the right decision." It was a difficult time, and she wasn't sure if her choices were right for her family and business. Her friend's words helped her realize that she could always change things later if she didn't like how something turned out. Through her experience working in different companies and industries, Sejal learned the importance of not making excuses and the value of trusting herself. She advises women not to stress about doing everything perfectly the first time because it's okay to make mistakes and learn from them. The idea is to get as much done as possible and to keep refining it. Sejal also encourages women to ask for what they want without fear of rejection because she believes that you get what you ask for and what you go for. In this week's episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Sejal Lakhani-Bhatt, the CEO of TechWerxe, is interviewed by host Andrea Heuston about how she leads like a woman professionally and personally. Sejal also talks about the importance of women taking care of themselves, taking charge of their lives, and embracing their imperfections. Plus, Sejal reveals how to tackle the trash in your head. Stay tuned!

Almira Bardai is a seasoned senior communications professional with over 20 years of experience creating powerful narratives for domestic and global brands. As a thought leader on PR industry issues, Almira is a frequent commentator in the media and is an actively-sought out speaker on both PR and entrepreneurial topics. With an enviable network of influencers and a storied career, Almira's expertise lies in developing strategic communications and social media plans focused on brand experiences, building brand awareness, and user engagement. She's delivered results-driven campaigns for the likes of Granville Island Brewing, Flight Centre, Nike, Best Buy, Future Shop, Molson, and TELUS. Almira co-founded and was Co-CEO of Jive PR + Digital, one of Canada's top boutique PR and social media agencies. After launching her career as a PR consultant at one of Canada's leading PR agencies, Wilcox Group, she spent many years working abroad as head of global PR at Cobra Beer, one of the UK's fastest-growing beer brands. She's also practiced corporate public relations and communications in both Australia and South Africa. Almira is active as an entrepreneur, consultant, mentor, and board director in organizations such as Brands For Better, Aga Khan Foundation Canada, Entrepreneurs' Organization, and Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver. In this episode… As a woman in business and leadership, you create your future. Almira Bardai believes that women need to be intentional about their time, their actions, and the breaks they take so they can continually build toward their future. After living and working abroad and finding it difficult to land a job upon returning to Canada, Almira knew that she had to do something for herself. So she started her own agency with a friend. Almira advises women who are starting their careers to be flexible and to always say yes. They should volunteer for extra work and give more of their time whenever they can. She encourages them to say yes to new opportunities that come their way because that's how they'll get noticed. In this week's episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Almira Bardai, a thought leadership and communications consultant, to discuss Almira's work supporting women entrepreneurs and her experience living and working in different countries. She also talks about being a member of Entrepreneurs' Organization and living with gratitude every day.

Michelle Venorsky is the Founder of Hello, an engagement agency that helps build relationships between brands and consumers. Michelle, a mother of two, has over 20 years of hybrid PR & social marketing experience, mainly focusing on moms, consumer product goods, and housewares. Prior to founding Hello, Michelle launched the social media marketing practice at Rosetta Publicis, which was one of the top five digital agencies globally. Before Rosetta Publicis, she spent 10 years at Marcus Thomas in the PR group and launched that agency's social media practice. Michelle once authored the largest food blog in Ohio. She is also a freelance writer for Forbes Travel, an accredited member of PRSA (Public Relations Society of America), and a fellow for The Society for New Communications Research. In this episode… Is there something you have always wanted to do but are scared to take the first step? What's holding you back? Are you afraid of failing? The fear of failure holds back many women from doing things they want. However, according to Michelle Venorsky, failure is part of the road to success. In her own company, Michelle admits that she hasn't always known what she's doing and advocates for transparency and honesty when dealing with employees and clients. She advises fellow women not to be afraid to take chances and to seek help from other women—including herself. If you don't try, you'll never know. Michelle Venorsky, the Founder of Hello, is Andrea Heuston's guest in this week's episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show. Together, they discuss the intersection of running a business and attending to the needs of employees, clients, and family. Michelle also talks about her company's culture, some of the big clients she works with, and her experience being a food blogger.

Sheila Attari is the Founder and CEO of SheBird. With the company's creation, Sheila utilizes her strategic and brand-building skills to solve issues women face when getting dressed. After two-plus years in product development, SheBird launched in October 2019. Their goal is to make women happy by freeing them from their uncomfortable bras by designing wardrobe essentials with built-in bra layers. Sheila gained substantial experience growing world-class brands and developing and launching new products in the beauty, health, and home cleaning categories. She spent the majority of her career in consumer products brand management, advertising, and new product development roles. She has worked with multimillion-dollar companies such as Procter & Gamble; SC Johnson; and Foote, Cone & Belding. Sheila holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BA in Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University. Now, she's on a mission to help women free the girls. In this episode… When you wear comfortable clothes, you will be more productive in your work and feel more confident in yourself. Confidence is essential in every woman's life—personally and professionally. In life, you have to identify what you need and take the steps necessary to get it. The same case applies in business. If you feel the desire to go into entrepreneurship or start your own business, you should go for it. You'll face a number of challenges along the way, but you have to believe in yourself and your abilities. In this week's episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Sheila Attari, the Founder and CEO of SheBird, to talk about Sheila's journey from consulting work to creating and running a women's clothing company. They discuss the common reasons women have for going braless, the benefits of getting comfortable being uncomfortable, and the difference between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs.

Oksana Esberard is a mental wellness expert, mindfulness and meditation trainer, international speaker, and best selling author. She is the Founder of SattvaMe, a global virtual training organization that's focused on stress management, productivity, and wellness for employees, business leaders, and entrepreneurs. Utilizing her extensive practice and multicultural background, Oksana leads online corporate programs and in-person training in small businesses and Inc 500 companies around the world. She has worked with companies like Microsoft, Sandler's Training, BuzzFeed, YPO, EO, Petra Coach, and New Horizons Computer Learning Centers. After overcoming her struggles with severe anxiety and suicidal thoughts, Oksana shares her story in her best selling book, Next Level You. She is also a member of EO's Accelerator Program which helps businesses grow through learning and networking. In this episode… Like other women, Oksana Esberard used to believe that success and stress came as a package deal, that you can't be successful without having gone through a seemingly insurmountable amount of stress. But she learned through vast travel experiences that you can be productive and successful without sacrificing your mental wellbeing. She says that it is possible to work towards your goals and enjoy the material and financial fruits of your labor while being happy with your choices, your interactions with people, and the decisions that you're making. Oksana advises women to use their feminine power in their businesses to create an energy flow that creates less resistance in everything they do. This will open them up to more business opportunities, attract the right people, and find the best solutions to issues. She also encourages women to go with the flow, express gratitude, and be kind to themselves in every way possible. In this week's episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston is joined by Oksana Esberard, a mental wellness expert, to find out how women can use their femine power and energy to build better business. Oksana talks about her inspiration to write her book, Next Level You, her journey to founding SattvaMe, and how she helps her clients improve productivity and handle stress. Stay tuned.

Lisa Rueff is the Founder and CEO of Collective Hearts. She is a multi-faceted community leader, inspirational speaker, wellness expert, jewelry designer, Sparked board game creator, and entrepreneur. She created Collective Hearts to connect, inspire and amplify love in the world. As the Founder and Chief Love Warrior Lisa Rueff knows what it means to love with purpose, and she is on a heart-based mission to spread kindness and generosity worldwide from leading international humanitarian trips to raising millions of dollars for women and children. And from her heart jewelry designs to signature workshops, retreats and talks, Lisa inspires collective hearts worldwide. Lisa is also a Co-founder of The Jacmel Children's Center which offers love, a home, education, and a better future for the orphans in Jacmel, Haiti. She also served as the Executive Director of the Do It For The Love Foundation which was founded by musician Michael Franti and his wife, ER nurse, Sara Agah Franti to grant live concert music wishes to people living with life-threatening illnesses, children with severe challenges, and wounded veterans, including those diagnosed with PTSD. In this episode… Lisa Rueff loves people. And her love for humanity and her desire to continuously be able to help others led her to Haiti to help victims of the 2010 earthquake that ravaged through the country. She was inspired by the people's spirit and perseverance, and she wanted to do more for them. This paved the way for her to help fundraise and start a children's home and later started a jewelry business whose proceeds help support the children's home. So why is Lisa so passionate about helping others and filling every project that she gets her hands on with love? Well, Lisa believes that when you follow your heart and do things that make others happy, more doors will open for you in the future. And women have a higher propensity to lead with love because they tend to be more tuned-in to their hearts in whatever it is that they're working on, allowing them to have a kinder, more generous, more supportive, and more nurturing approach on their projects. Lisa Rueff, Founder and CEO of Collective Hearts, is Andrea Heuston's guest in this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show. Tune in as Lisa talks about her humanitarian work in Haiti and how it led to the founding of a children's home and jewelry business, how her jewelry pieces have made its way to top female leaders like Patrisse Cullors and Michelle Obama, and find out how doing things with love can make the world a better place.

Cherri Prince is the Executive Vice President, Head of Client Growth at Seed Strategy. Since 1990, she has been the strategic brains behind building some of the most successful brands that market to women. She has been awarded 5 Effie awards, the only award in the ad industry based on marketing effectiveness. In 1998, Cherri co-founded an agency with Leo Burnett designed to unlock new insights into women. In this capacity, she honed unique strategies to challenge how marketers think about specific female relevant topics including beauty, motherhood, and aging. Her expertise landed her a consulting role with the creators of the 2000 hit movie What Women Want starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. In 2016, Cherri joined Seed Strategy, a brand growth acceleration firm that marries creativity and business strategy to grow client business from startups to Fortune 500 firms. She created the SheQ™ Test which is the company's insight and growth initiative to empower clients with insights and strategies to grow their businesses with women. In this episode… Cherri Prince believes that everything in life happens for a reason. Growing up, she didn't see it that way. But as an adult, she has come to appreciate the wisdom behind the words that her mother shared with her early in her life. In life, there are many things that you'll encounter that may seem like amazing opportunities. But things don't always go as planned and there is always that risk for disappointments to happen. But when things don't go right, what do you do? Especially in terms of your career and your business, how do you turn an upside down situation right side up? Cherri Prince, Executive Vice President of Seed Strategy is Andrea Heuston's guest in this week's episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show. Cherri shares her marketing expertise with Andrea, why she loves working with and focusing on women in her career, and why it's important to learn to pivot during challenging times. She also talks about Seed Strategy's Leading Ladies Networking Event and how her mother has inspired her to do her work the way that she does. Stay tuned.

Adi Klevit is the leader and visionary behind Business Success Consulting Group. Her 25 years of knowledge and experience as a trained industrial engineer, management consultant, and business executive gives her a unique understanding of the challenges that businesses face. She utilizes her practical know-how and wisdom to successfully help organizations and companies of any size to dramatically improve their efficiency and performance. By leveraging her ability to understand business processes and people, drawing on her high-caliber skills, and utilizing her knowledge and experience on vital areas of personnel management, finance and operations, Adi can help virtually any business owner to achieve their goals and bring order to their lives. When she isn't busy running the Business Success Consulting Group or directly working with clients, Adi enjoys spending time with her husband and son, volunteering in the community, traveling, being outdoors and cooking healthy food. In this episode… Adi Klevit is a successful woman who surrounds herself with people who trust and believe in her. She believes in the power of networking and building connections because she recognizes how powerful these can be in different aspects of your life, particularly in business. Adi is also a firm believer of having a support group, especially for female leaders. She explains that it's important to have a group of people who knows what you're doing and can offer you support when you need it. This, along with continued learning through books and mentors, can help spell you become the kind of leader that you want to become. In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Adi Klevit, the Co-owner of Business Success Consulting Group, joins Andrea Heuston to talk about the benefits of networking and how your network can potentially determine your net worth. Adi also discusses how she helps fellow women leaders in scaling their businesses, why having systems and processes in place is good for any business, and what it takes to become a good leader. Stay tuned.

Stephanie Sims is a capital strategist, startup advisor, and the Founder of Finance-Ability, where she helps founders build economic stories that make dollars and cents. After nearly a decade in investment banking and having worked with the likes of Goldman, Lehman and CSFB on over $5 billion of transactions, Stephanie rode the high tech startup rollercoaster in Europe, complete with angels, venture capitalists, and the coveted exit to a publicly traded company. Stephanie has educated and mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs across three continents and has helped her clients raise over $30 million dollars in early stage capital. She is frequently asked to judge startup competitions and to speak about venture capital, angel investment and alternative sources of funding. Stephanie is also the host of the "What's Your Ask Podcast', where she talks to investors and entrepreneurs about the different ways they've asked and been asked for money, references, introductions, and more. In this episode… Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on many people's lives, especially on women in business. They've been forced to work from home and juggle business with motherhood. However, these circumstances could provide a good opportunity for women to figure out what their businesses actually need. At this time of limited movements and interactions, it is important for women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the situation, sit down and get clear on what you want. You need to remember what got you excited about your work in the early days of your business and find out what gives you joy right now. This way, it will be easier to figure out what works well for you and use that to improve both your personal and professional life. Stephanie Sims, the Founder of Finance-Ability, is Andrea Heuston's guest in this week's episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show where she shares her expertise on entrepreneurial finance and venture funding. She also talks about her own entrepreneurial journey that led to the founding of Finance-Ability and her work with organizations that serve startup founders. Stay tuned.

Faith Koen has been in the procurement profession for over 20 years across multiple industries. She is currently the Procurement Manager for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and she is responsible for overseeing the procurement team and supporting the wineries and facilities that are located in Washington, California, and Oregon. Faith joined the Women of Wine (WoW) Employee Resource Group within Ste. Michelle in 2015 and she currently serves as the Chair of the organization. During her tenure with WoW, she has embraced the opportunity to collaborate and learn from other amazing women in the organization, which has allowed her to grow as a leader and more importantly, a supporter. Christina Starr is a communications and public relations professional with 17 years of experience working with luxury brands from hospitality to tourism and wine. Currently, she's the Senior Communications Manager for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates' luxury and imported wine portfolio. She oversees the communications in the U.S. for Champagne and Villa Maria in New Zealand, along with several other domestic and important wine brands. She is also the Vice Chair of Ste. Michelle's Women of Wine (WoW), which supports events and programming to support professional development, collaboration and knowledge sharing within St. Michelle. Christina holds a level two certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and is currently pursuing her level three certification. In this episode… Unlike men, most women avoid taking some actions because they feel that they do not know enough about certain subjects for them to make a move. They are unable to recognize themselves as leaders or experts in their fields and they often forget that even being a successful business owner is a continuous learning process that everyone goes through. This failure to see their own achievements and skills as enough puts a limit on them and the things that they can do, and these all stem from one thing: fear. Fear is a real thing but instead of embracing it and facing it head on, many women allow it to take over their lives. This reaction to fear prevents them from moving forward and learning from potential experiences that can elevate them and propel them towards success. So what can women do to help cope with their own fears and how can they get over their own limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome in order to unlock opportunities in their career and in their life? Join Andrea Heuston in this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show as she interviews Faith Koen and Christina Starr of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates to talk about women in the wine industry and how they can assuage their own fears and realize that they are enough. They will also be discussing their company's sustainability goals, what the Women of Wine Employee Resource Group in Ste. Michelle is all about, and how the wine industry has evolved through the years to be more inclusive of women. Stay tuned.