On the Up and Up

If there's one conversation we're never putting on mute, it's about the real value of diversity on your team. Not because 'diversity' has been a trendy buzzword since 2020, but because we've got recent and cited stats to prove that diversity really is better for your business.In today’s episode, we're diving into why diversity is a major win for your bottom line, and we’ll show you how to champion it authentically, not performatively. Tune in now! SOURCES AND FURTHER READING "Corporate Diversity Data: What Fortune 500 DEI Reports Reveal." Purpose Brand, purposebrand.com/blog/diversity-report-examples-fortune-2023/.Parker, Kim, et al. "On the Cusp of Adulthood and Facing an Uncertain Future: What We Know About Gen Z so Far." Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends Project, 14 May 2020, www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/05/14/on-the-cusp-of-adulthood-and-facing-an-uncertain-future-what-we-know-about-gen-z-so-far-2/#fn-28453-1."Gender Pay Gap Statistics You Should Know." Built In, builtin.com/recruiting/gender-pay-gap-statistics."U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6 Feb. 2024, www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/womens-earnings-were-83-6-percent-of-mens-in-2023.htm."Understanding Organizational Barriers to a More Inclusive Workplace." McKinsey & Company, www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/understanding-organizational-barriers-to-a-more-inclusive-workplace.Wilson, Reid. "Diversity Defines the Millennial Generation." Brookings, Brookings, 24 July 2014, www.brookings.edu/articles/diversity-defines-the-millennial-generation/."Women in Tech." Built In, builtin.com/women-tech.

Happy Juneteenth! Today we’re honoring the end of slavery, celebrating Black freedom, and celebrating the slow strides we're making. But part of our celebration as non-Black Americans is recognizing the work we have to put in to keep pushing the needle for racial equity.Now, I recognize it’s not my place as a white woman to speak about the experience of Black Americans. But it is my place to spotlight the ongoing struggles and discrimination Black Americans face, particularly in the workforce.So, keeping it in my lane: let’s dive into what Juneteenth means for businesses and HR. How can we, as leaders, better support and impact other people’s experience in the entrepreneurial world?Join me today to explore some key statistics and lessons I’ve learned on being true allies in the fight for racial equity.And follow along on our Instagram as we share Black creators we love to follow, laugh with, and learn from.REFERENCESBureau of Labor Statistics. “Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey.” Accessed June 17, 2024. https://bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm.Yahoo Finance. “Black CEO Representation in Fortune 500 Companies.” Accessed June 17, 2024. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/black-ceo-representation-fortune-500-103000820.htmlPew Research Center. “How Americans View Their Jobs.” March 30, 2023. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/03/30/how-americans-view-their-jobs/#:~:text=Black%20workers%20are%20the%20most%20likely%20to%20say%20they%E2%80%99ve%20been%20discriminated%20against%20in%20the%20workplace%20because%20of%20their%20race%20or%20ethnicity.National Bureau of Economic Research. “Paper w29053.” Accessed June 17, 2024. https://www.nber.org/papers/w29053.Built In. “Examples of Unconscious Bias in the Workplace.” Accessed June 17, 2024. https://builtin.com/diversity-inclusion/unconscious-bias-examples.

Think your career's best moments are in the rearview? Think again! Join us as we dive into the transformative journeys of women who are turning decades of experience - in and out of the office - into entrepreneurial gold.Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter of Encore Empire are flipping the script on what it means to be a “seasoned professional.” Together, we explore their unique approach to coaching late-blooming entrepreneurs: transitioning from the corporate ladder to the entrepreneurial journey, shedding the employee mindset for a CEO’s vision, and managing the limiting beliefs that often comes hand-in-hand with a significant pivot. Remember, it’s never too late to chase what lights you up. These ladies will prove that your prime years could still be ahead, fueled by a bit of grit and a lot of passionTune in now!About Carmen and Deirdre: With over 45 years of combined corporate experience, founders of Encore Empire, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter, work with women who are ready to own the power they’ve spent decades building by guiding them through the process of mastering their big ideas, wrangling their doubts, and taking action with smart, actionable strategy.They're a duo of a CPA and a Certified Online Business Manager & Whole Person Coach, each with their own entrepreneurial background, who have teamed up to help other women in their age bracket cash in on their life experience. Carmen and Deirdre are committed to honoring the perspective and insight women over forty bring to the table because real magic happens when we devote our time and energy not to taking care of everyone else—but to finally realize our own goals and ambitions. Links Mentioned:The Marketing Methodology Workshop: How would it feel to ditch the marketing overwhelm so you can spend your precious time growing your business? Build out your custom marketing framework and create a simple-to-follow system to achieve your business goals in three easy steps.https://encoreempire.com/upandup

As a creative entrepreneur, do you ever feel like your job completely transformed overnight? One moment, you’re working in your creative zone of genius, and the next, you’re knee-deep in job descriptions, payroll, team performance reviews...the whole People Ops shebang. Not exactly what you had in mind when you branched out on your own, is it?Not everyone loves this shift. Some folks thrive, while others feel a little lost. If you’re gearing up to hire a team or have already taken the leap into leadership, how do you handle this new reality of growth?Today, I’m chatting with Kristin Richards, CEO of In Flow Design Co. She’s here to share her journey from creative entrepreneur to people leader and how she keeps her creative passion alive through it all.We dive into:-Taking accountability when things go wrong- Empowering your team to discover what excites them-Balancing leadership with finding joy in your business-Staying true to your values, no matter what-Rethinking the employee vs. contractor debate-Building trust with a network of experts to grow your businessJoin us for a candid, empowering conversation that’ll inspire you to embrace your evolution as a leader while staying true to what lights you up. About KristinKristin Richards is the CEO and creative director of the branding and website design agency In Flow Design Co. Kristin launched her business while living overseas in Australia, and has grown it beyond a one-woman show into having a team and selling digital products. Her company In Flow specialties in working with clients in the coaching, consulting and luxury travel industries. She is also a certified mindset & success coach, and believes in building a business based around your values and lifestyle.Links MentionedIn Flow Design: https://inflowdesignco.com/ Steal Kristin's step-by-step website launch process! This is the same process she and her team use with her website design clients - all in one handy dandy free checklist: https://inflowdesignco.com/website-launch-checklist Launch your website workshop: https://inflowdesignco.com/intentional-website-workshop 

Are you checking in with yourself and your mental health?We know Mental Health Awareness Month has been all about how we, as leaders, can support our employees. But let’s flip the script for a moment: what about your own mental health? What's at risk when you're always operating at full throttle without a break?This week, we have a story you don't want to miss from Mary Beth Storjohann, Co-CEO of Abacus Wealth Partners.It's powerful to hear a woman who's achieved so much career success talk openly about mental health struggles. It reminds us that no matter where you are in your career, mental health is crucial.Mary Beth shares her journey of success in a male-dominated field, candidly discussing what led her to a mental health breaking point and how she bounced back with a fresh perspective on boundaries and protecting her peace.She also dives into the unique pressures on women in leadership and the impact we, as female leaders, can have on the people we lead.Tune in to hear Mary Beth's story and get inspired to prioritize your own mental health while leading with compassion and strength.About Mary Beth StorjohannMary Beth Storjohann is Co-CEO of Abacus Wealth Partners. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, and speaker with 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. She joined Abacus in 2019 as Chief Marketing Officer after successfully launching and growing her own RIA firm and in 2022 was appointed as Co-CEO.A believer that “actions speak louder than words,” Storjohann is known for sparking conversations and modeling change in the financial services industry by leaning into uncomfortable dialogue and decisions in order to leave the world and our industry in a better place. She is a fierce advocate for women, diversity, equity & inclusion, and making financial advice accessible to underserved populations and has been invited to speak at various industry and consumer-focused conferences about the work Abacus is doing in these areas. Mary Beth has been featured in major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, NBC, Glamour, NPR, The New York Times, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, CNBC, Forbes, and more.Her accolades include the “Top 40 Under 40” by Investment News, being listed as a 2023 MO 100 Top Impact CEO by Big Path Capital, and she was named a Top Ten Most Influential Advisor by Investopedia – a list celebrating financial advisors making significant contributions to critical conversations about financial literacy and wealth management.Mary Beth lives in San Diego with her husband, a 5 & 7-year-old who are constantly demanding snacks, and two rescue dogs. Links MentionedFind Mary Beth and Abacus Wealth online: WEBSITE: https://abacuswealth.com/ <- make sure to check out their free course for business owners getting started with their finances!PODCAST: “If Money Were Easy”: https://abacuswealth.com/podcast/if-money-were-easy/On this podcast you’re going to learn from leading authors, business owners, professionals, and many of our very own in-house financial professionals from Abacus. Expect to hear about money and values, growing your wealth, creating an impact, leadership, financial wins and (some losses), and more. Our goal is that you walk away from each episode with at least one takeaway that you can implement on your financial journey.Available on your favorite streaming platform.INSTAGRAM: @Marybstorj on IGBOOK: “Work Your Wealth: 9 Steps to Making Smarter Choice With Your Money on Amazon” https://www.amazon.com/Work-Your-Wealth-Smarter-Choices/dp/0692627332 Get a free copy of the book! Here’s how: Give On The Up & Up a 5 star review and let us know what you loved about this episode. Then take a screenshot of the review and DM it to us on IG (@theparadigmm) and we’ll make sure you get a copy of the book for free!

You know what feels ickier than having that awkward underperformance chat with an employee in a stuffy conference room? Having to do it over Zoom. We’re huge champions of remote work, but it definitely throws in some extra hurdles for managers. Especially when you don’t have the benefit of connection from in-person settings. Addressing underperformance is never straightforward, no matter where your team is. But when you’re dealing with it remotely, knowing the right (and wrong) way to handle it makes all the difference.Today’s episode is all about how to identify underperformance, when to bring it up, and how to address it with 14 quick and easy DO’s and DONT’s.Tune in now!LINKS MENTIONED:Conversation Log: Use this as a framework for documenting situations and behaviors on your team that should be recorded as part of your team member's employee file.

Say it with me:“My past experience in corporate America won’t dictate how I conduct employee performance reviews. I’m not here to give negative feedback just for the sake of documentation.” Performance reviews have a bad rap, but they don’t have to suck. When we rethink the purpose of the review process, it can actually become something everyone looks forward to.Today, we’re offering a new perspective that will make performance reviews positive and productive, without the dread or anxiety.We’ll cover:Why performance reviews are still a mustHow to set the stage for a productive review conversationUnderstanding the difference between compensation reviews and performance reviews, and when to combine and/or separate themThe impact of your company’s culture on your performance reviews;A common mistake in evaluating employee performanceHow to use performance reviews to boost employee engagement and satisfactionBasically, we’re here to show you that performance reviews can be beneficial for the company, uplifting for the employee, and empowering for you as a leader. As a modern leader, you have the unique opportunity to reshape this process to fit your business and your team. That’s what effective leadership is all about!Tune in and let’s reset the standard for performance reviews together!LINKS MENTIONEDJoin our Set To Scale membership: https://the-paradigm.com/settoscale

Performance management: Love it? Hate it? Wondering what the big deal is? It can be a real mixed bag. Maybe you skip into those meetings, giddy to shower your team members with glowing feedback and praise. Orrrrr maybe you’re dragging your when the feedback is a bit more…complicated.But what if there was a way to make performance evaluations less of an emotional rollercoaster…Today’s episode is all about how to shift from that dreaded annual review to continuous, two-way feedback that genuinely nurtures growth.We're talking all about: Reframing the role of a performance evaluation;The magic of continuous feedback in promoting collaboration;How to cultivate a coaching culture that meshes with your team's dynamic and your company's operations;3 practical strategies our clients have successfully implemented to keep feedback flowing smoothly, without sacrificing their unique cultures or leadership styles.And, yes, why face-to-face meetings still matter, even for remote or asynchronous teams.We’re not here to convince you of the benefits of performance evaluations. We’re acknowledging the nuance of not wanting to do them, and how to put mechanisms in place to make the process a more natural, productive part of your workplace.SHOW NOTES:Schedule a free consultation to learn more about The Paradigm Solution, our 90-day HR-in-a-box service: https://the-paradigm.com/contact 

We're baaaack baby! Kelli Jones and I are at it again with more Bravo legal drama, more HR disasters, and more fun. And maybe a little snark. I mean, we ARE talking about Bravo afterall.Kelli is a trademark attorney, a fellow reality TV aficionado, and my go-to friend for Bravo drama and lawsuit breakdowns. This time, we're covering:Trademarks and why they matterUpdates on the Caroline Manzo / Brandy Glanville lawsuitOur thoughts on the blatant racial discrimination within the Bravo networkKristen Doute’s controversial comeback after being canceled (with lots of snark and eye rolls) Performative actions and the lack of accountability among Bravolebrities Safety concerns on setAnd, of course, we're breaking down the legal and HR implications of it all.If you're looking for some real world examples of what can go wrong when a business skirts around strategic HR, look no further.Come gossip with us!SHOW NOTES:Find and follow Kelli online!Website https://www.lawyerkelli.com/IG: @lawyerkelli_TikTok: @lawyerkelli

They might just be faces on a screen, but your employees are real, living humans who need more than KPIs and goals to truly thrive.Don’t get us wrong — clear goals and expectations are 100% crucial for measuring success. You'll never catch us telling you NOT to clearly communicate goals and expectations. But true leadership goes beyond just tracking performance. It's about filling each team member’s cup with motivation and engagement in ways that suit their unique work styles.This doesn't just boost their productivity, it contributes to your ability to lead effectively. Filling those cups means really getting to know your people beyond the checkboxes on their task lists.Let’s talk about this invisible layer of culture building that many leaders overlook, especially when managing remotely.SHOW NOTES:Take the Leadership Archetype Quiz to discover your unique leadership style and get personalized tips for leaning into your natural skills and abilities: https://the-paradigm.com/quiz