Lead Like a Woman

Gillian Muessig is a serial entrepreneur noted for her ability to form indelible brands, claim critical markets, sustain fiercely loyal customers, and attract investors and best-in-class talent. She co-founded and built SEOMoz.org into Moz.com, turning it from a blog site and directory to the world's leading provider of marketing applications and metrics reporting software and the global hub for digital marketers. A thought leader in the startup industry, global keynote speaker, author, Gillian enjoys a global reputation for her ability to forecast trends in technology in established and emerging markets. She also helps companies understand how to develop and package new and existing product lines to nudge and ride those trends and successfully navigate these new markets. She is a sought-after counselor and has guided companies and inspired audiences as a keynote speaker in 50+ countries. Gillian serves on boards of directors of technology, biotech and global marketing firms on four continents and she was a former advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In this episode… One of the best pieces of advice Gillian Muessig has ever received is "Listen, lurk, and learn". She learned the benefits of observing what other leaders did and learning from it before engaging into her own work. This advice has enabled her to grow her businesses and succeed in industries dominated by men. Gillian has a great passion for investing in women-led tech startups and advises women on the best techniques for growing, leading, and scaling globally competitive companies. She has the ability to connect women to each other to help improve their businesses and the companies they lead. Gillian Muessig, the CEO of Outlines Venture Group, gets interviewed by Andrea Heuston in this episode of Lead Like a Woman about how women can successfully manage and lead global companies. Tune in as she talks about founding and scaling Moz, an SEO company, leading a top venture capital firm, and her advice on finding the best companies to invest in.

Jennifer Scott is the Founder, CEO, and Chief People Officer of HireEffect. She brings a unique view to small business leadership after moving from corporate roles to solopreneurship and then to owning and running a growing multi state consulting firm. Jennifer and her team helps business owners create and sustain the kind of culture that promotes growth and success whether it's through the deployment of technology to improve efficiencies or focusing on people to improve effectiveness, Jennifer received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Connecticut and has earned a certificate in Human Resources Management from Florida Atlantic University. She presently resides in Frisco Texas with her husband and her son. In this episode… The journey of entrepreneurship is challenging and entrepreneurs are bound to make a couple of mistakes along the way. To reduce the risk of making costly mistakes, business owners are better off working on their businesses as opposed to working in their business. But what is the difference and how does focusing on the former affect the way that their business is run? In this episode of Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston talks with HireEffect Founder and CEO, Jennifer Scott, about the value of outsourcing business services to other companies who are experts in that field. They talk about which business services are most commonly outsourced, the benefits of outsourcing and running a virtual company, the importance of values and culture in the hiring process, and what lead Jennifer to start her company, HireEffect. Stay tuned.

Dr. Cortney Baker is an award-winning entrepreneur, host of The Women in Business podcast, TEDx speaker, and a nationally-recognized authority on women's leadership. She's been featured on Fox News, Forbes, iHeartRadio, and Huffington Post, among other publications. As a leadership expert, mentor, business coach to female entrepreneurs and mother of three, she is passionate about empowering women to close the gender gap through the power of entrepreneurship. Dr. Cortney Baker is also the author of the best selling book The 10 Dos and Don'ts for Business Leadership: Lessons to Lead Effectively and her most recent book Unlimited: Conquering the Myth of the Glass Ceiling. She was named the 2016-2017 Texas Businesswoman of the Year and the top 100 in HealthCare in America. She's the Founder and CEO of KidsCare Home Health, a multi-million dollar healthcare organization with 11 locations across Texas, Colorado and Idaho. She holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University, where she concentrated her studies on understanding and advancing women to the highest levels of leadership. In this episode… When a young lady approached Dr. Cortney Baker after an event and asked Dr. Baker to be her mentor, she readily agreed because she is a big advocate of women supporting other women. Dr. Baker mentored the young lady who ended up achieving much success in her career and eventually starting her own business. And so being an award-winning entrepreneur and leader, Dr. Baker decided to take up coaching to be able to help other women in their entrepreneurship and leadership roles. In this week's episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston talks with Dr. Cortney Baker about the importance of women mentoring and supporting each other, the before and afters in Dr. Baker's life, and why women don't need to have it all to be happy and successful. Stay tuned.

Pastor Chanda Mills Crutcher is the President and CEO of the American Senior Assistance Program, Inc. (ASAP). She began her career as a certified nursing assistant in Louisiana and continued working in nursing homes to help pay her way through college. In 2004, she founded the American Senior Assistance Program whose primary focus is to provide services to the aging disabled adults and children in regards to transitioning and finishing well. In 2014, Chanda became an ordained minister. In 2018 founded the Legacy Center, which helps aging adults continue to live life with independent purpose and provides comprehensive support for caregivers. Not only is the Legacy Center the first facility of its kind in the state of Alabama, but Chanda is the first certified geriatric care manager in the state. With over 25 years of professional experience in the geriatric care industry, Chanda shows no signs of slowing down. As a wife and mother of seven children and three grandchildren, she's always up for a challenge. She currently serves on the Governor's task force for Alzheimer's and health literacy, and is an executive council member with AARP, an advocate for seniors and their caregivers. Chanda shares her expertise with thousands annually from the White House to rural communities all over the world. In this episode… While working for a large long-term care provider, Chanda Mills Crutcher was disappointed by the gap in services that were offered to older and disabled adults. She later resigned and started the American Senior Assistance Program (ASAP) through which she now provides transformational life opportunities for the elderly. In addition, Chanda's great desire to help other people has driven her to be of service to her community. She recently distributed over 60,000 pounds of food in her community as her way of helping out in the midst of the current COVID-19 health crisis In this episode of Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston interviews Chanda Mills Crutcher, President and CEO of the American Senior Assistance Program about her advocacy work and her commitment to providing quality care for the elderly and disabled adults. Chanda discusses why she founded the American Senior Assistance Program and the Legacy Center, her decisions to become an ordained Minister, and why women should believe in themselves. Stay tuned.

Zoey Mann is a fourth generation jeweler and President of Fox's Seattle. She graduated from Whitman college with a Degree in Theater and Elementary Education and joined the family business full time after earning her Degree in 2003. After working in Fox's Seattle for 10 years, Zoey took over as the majority shareholder and President in 2013. She's a member of Seattle Executives Association, and the Women Presidents' Organization. She was also on the board of the Seattle Children's Theatre for 14 years. On a personal note, Zoey and her husband, Jordan, have three kids aged 3 to 11. She has been through a lot in the last few years, having battled BRCA1 genetic mutation after finding out that she was a carrier of the gene when she was 36 and her youngest was only nine months old. She had a preventative oophorectomy and hysterectomy four months later, and a radical breast reduction after a year. In March 2020, she had a preventative double mastectomy with her husband by her side. When she woke up, guests were no longer allowed and non essential surgeries were cancelled as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode… Oftentimes, when people inherit or take over the leadership mantle in their family's businesses, they tend to do what the leaders before them did as opposed to creating their own course. Zoey Mann made the same mistake during her early days in their family business, Fox's Seattle, until she realized that they were in a bad place business-wise. It was then that she decided to pivot and make several changes which turned out to be very much in their favor. Zoey currently works with a number of designers and jewelers who ensures that she supplies top quality products to her clients. After taking over the leadership of the company, she not only moved the business to a new location but she has also changed its business model, leading it to the growth and expansion that it currently enjoys. In this episode of Lead Like a Woman, Andrea Heuston is joined by Zoey Mann from Fox's Seattle to talk about jewelry and conquering adversity. They'll be discussing the changes Zoey brought about in their family business, how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the company, and how they're supporting their employees and community today. She also shares her experience of overcoming BRCA1 gene mutation and how this has affected her personally and professionally. Stay tuned.

Jaci Russo is a brand strategist, author, podcast and radio host, and the co-founder & CEO of brandRUSSO, a strategic branding agency. Jaci began her career in Hollywood as a Junior Talent Agent at Creative Artists Agency working with clients such as Helen Hunt, David Letterman and Gwyneth Paltrow. After that, she worked as the Executive Assistant to Chairman and CEO Barry Diller, adding strategic value to his many companies including the Home Shopping Network and Ticketmaster. Jaci has years of experience in branding and marketing on a national level and is a sought-after speaker on the topics of branding and social media. She has four children and is married to Michael Russo, co-founder and Creative Director of the agency they launched together in 2001. In this episode… To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to be a lifelong learner and be willing to do more in order to grow. The mindset you have as your business grows is crucial because your beliefs and the way you think serves as either the nudge you need to push boundaries or the wall that limits you from moving forward. Jaci Russo loves change and the uncomfortability that comes with it. Her daily mantra is 'check yourself before you wreck yourself' and she believes that it is only through suffering and being uncomfortable that one can open up space for self-improvement. Join Andrea Heuston in this episode of Lead Like a WomanShow as she talks with Jaci Russo, Co-founder of brandRUSSO, about creative branding and the importance of having an abundance mentality. Jaci also shares why she and her husband, Michael Russo, started their own branding agency, what sets their agency apart from other players in the industry, what it's like to work in Hollywood, and how your mindset can be the key that sets you up for success. Stay tuned.

Erin Branche is a lifestyle expert who has merged her background in luxury hospitality with her passion for makeup into a successful lash and beauty brand. She is the Founder and CEO of Lash Bash and has a passion for lashes, beauty, and the latest trends. Lash Bash opened its first location in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square in 2015. Erin Branche graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 with a B.A. in Communications and a post-graduate diploma in Hotel & Restaurant Management from École Hôtelière de Lausanne. She is a licensed aesthetician and a graduate of Esthiology from the Jean Madeline Institute of Philadelphia. She is certified in both classic and Russian volume lash extensions. Erin also recently completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses incubator program. Erin is active in her community and is passionate about the arts. She serves on the executive board of the Young Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In this episode… Many female entrepreneurs and leaders have been working from home for these past few months because of the lockdowns that took effect as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has given them a lot of time to think about their work, family, and future plans; and many of them say that despite working from home, they have found themselves to be more productive during the lockdown. This has been the case for Erin Branche, who was able to sit down, research, and develop online courses which had taken a backseat to her numerous other projects over the years. She has also coined a new motto, 'there's no someday on the calendar' and the time she spent at home has allowed her to not only revisit shelved ideas, it has also allowed her to spend more time with her family. In this episode, Andrea Heuston is joined by Erin Branche, Founder and CEO of Lash Bash to talk about her passion for beauty and luxury, and the impact and power of determination. Erin shares how she started her entrepreneurial journey which led her to Lash Bash, the challenges she faced growing her business, and why it is very important for her to create quality connections with her clients. Stay tuned.

Sarahbeth Yeli Marshall is the Founder and Chief Chocolate Officer of Yelibelly Chocolates. She started her career as a registered dietician with a Master's Degree in Nutrition and Food Science, and worked for 15 years in the food service industry before falling into the dark side of chocolate. Yeli has been studying and performing the art of Middle Eastern belly dancing since 1999, and on one of her travels to Italy, she discovered flavor-infused chocolates. She brought back that inspiration and started making her own chocolates in 2007 and since then, she has worked at perfecting various flavors to entice her family and friends. Yeli started selling her chocolates around the Metroplex and at a dance studio where she taught belly dancing. After searching for a name that truly told the story about her chocolates, a friend suggested melding her name and her passion for dance, thus Yelibelly Chocolates was born. Yeli still performs from time to time around the Dallas area, and she also teaches nutrition and healthy cooking classes. In this episode… Sarahbeth Yeli Marshall fell in love with flavor-infused chocolates while on a trip in Italy so much that she was inspired to start making her own when she got back home. When she no longer found happiness in her career as a dietician, her husband encouraged her to start a chocolate-making business and since then, there's been no turning back for Yeli. The journey of entrepreneurship has been enlightening for Yeli and things she learned in the process is something that she hopes to share with other women. Join Andrea Heuston on this episode of Lead Like a Woman Show where she interviews Sarahbeth Yeli Marshall about chocolate and about chocolates and belly dancing. Yeli talks about how she came to start a business enterprise around chocolate, the challenges she faced growing her business, and the lessons she learned that she hopes other women can learn from. 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… For the last couple of months, the world has seen a lot of sudden and unexpected changes in people's lives as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This crazy and uncertain time has cost people their employment, their health, and have essentially forced them to pivot from their usual routines so abruptly. One of the most common pivots done by many companies who remain operational is shifting their workforce from working in the office to working from home. However, not everyone is conversant with working virtually, and taking part in online meetings has proved to be a challenge for many. In addition, balancing work and family time for women has proven to be another challenge. In this episode, Andrea Heuston shares a recording of a webinar she did with a group of 200 women from different industries. In this webinar, they share the best tips for working from home, preparing and effectively taking part in online meetings, and the importance of empathy, patience, and communication when working remotely from your team. They also discuss solutions to the challenges they're facing and how they're staying connected to their work colleagues and family during the quarantine. Stay tuned.

Jasmine Donovan is the President and CFO of Dick's Drive-In Restaurants. Being the granddaughter of one of the founders, she has worked in the business several times since she was 16 years old and started working full time on the executive team in 2013. Jasmine stepped into the role of President when her father, Jim Spady, retired in March of 2019. Jasmine is on the board of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Mary's Place, and The Forum Foundation. She was recently recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as a Woman of Influence for 2019. She graduated from Hillsdale College with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Chemistry in 2006. Jasmine joined the Navy after college and was assigned as an instructor at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Charleston, South Carolina. During her service, she was the Public Affairs Officer, earned her Master Training Specialist certification and was the Division Director of the physics teaching division. While in Charleston, she also earned her Master's degree in Business with an emphasis in Finance at Charleston Southern University. She currently resides in North Seattle with her husband and two sons. In this episode… Being in the military is a great experience and there's a lot to learn from being in service. Things such as discipline, leadership, and being of service to others are learned while in the military, and it's a great place to start practicing persistence and how to manage through a crisis. Jasmine Donovan knows this first hand because her time at the Navy was one filled with enriching experiences that prepared her for when she eventually took the helm of their family business, Dick's Drive-In Restaurants. Being part of the business for a long time and developing the need to serve others has led her to make decisions that has not only allowed their company to help others in times of crisis, but also to maneuver beyond the challenges posed by being in one. Join Andrea Heuston in this week's episode of Lead Like a Woman as she talks to Jasmine Donovan, about what it's like to be the first female President of one of Seattle's top restaurants. She also talks about the philosophies her grandfather had for the business and how it made their business stand out from competition, how she applies the things she learned while in the Navy to their company, and her future plans for Dick's Drive-In Restaurants. Stay tuned.