Day: November 21, 2022

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

In my opinion I think employers can contribute to employees’ wellness by implementing a mandatory annual wellness check covered by the employer along with nutrition/exercise counseling in order to enhance mental ad physical well-being which in turn would increase productivity and boost team morale. This in turn would focus on prevention rather than treatment which as we know, chronic illnesses are major burden on the Healthcare system so rather than treat we should be preventing disease.

How does a successful, strong, and powerful woman navigate work, employee relationships, love, and life in a world that still feels uncomfortable with strong women? In this interview series, called “Power Women” we are talking to accomplished women leaders who share their stories and experiences navigating work, love and life as a powerful woman.

As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Azza Halim.

Azza Halim, MD is a board certified Anesthesiologist as well as Aesthetic Medicine, Anti-aging, and Regenerative Medicine Physician.

Dr. Halim’s medical training began at Northwestern University in Chicago.

Dr. Halim did a research fellowship in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, she then went on to do her internship in internal medicine.

Dr. Halim completed her residency in Anesthesiology, along with subspecialty/fellowship training in critical care/trauma and pediatrics at Northwestern University along with Pain Management with leading authorities in the field. She went on to do further training at London Med.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you grew up?

I grew up in Manhattan and Princeton, with one older brother and very family oriented parents. My father, now a retired businessman, and my mother (stay at home mom) both always focused on work-life-health balance as well as proper nutrition, exercise and quality skincare.

We never ate processed food nor junk food/snacks as everything was freshly cooked. Also I was fortunate enough to travel the world with my parents, hence acquiring cultural diversity. As for staying active, that was also something I enjoyed as a child thanks to our family vacation adventures. I think this created a big foundation for my health awareness along with my mom’s emphasis on good skincare early on in life.

Was there a particular person or event that inspired you to live a wellness-focused lifestyle? Can you tell us about your main motivation to go all in?

I always had an interest in healthy living, beauty, and fashion since I was a teenager thanks to my upbringing and travel experiences. Both my parents were focused on a healthy lifestyle as well as maintaining natural aesthetic beauty, I truly believe our environment and family are very impactful early on in life as to how we perceive food, exercise, vitamins, attire, sleep patterns, our attitude towards life and so much more as they all become learned behavior.

Most people with a wellbeing centered lifestyle have a “go-to” activity, exercise, beverage, or food that is part of their routine. What is yours and can you tell us how it helps you?

I actually have few go-to activities that include: Yoga as it maintains flexibility, builds strength and incorporates meditation which all help with overall wellness and sleep. As for sports and other activities, I always enjoyed horseback riding, dancing, reading and painting.

The practice of yoga teaches you focus, which is very important for success. Painting is an art which I feel gave me the basis for my artistic eye as that is an inherent skill rather than a learned one. Many can learn art but not all can master it.

To live a wellness-focused life is one thing, but how did it become your career? How did it all start?

My interests always revolved around being a problem-solver, whether it was for technical, medical or personal challenges as it was a balancing act with work, family and recreational time. I always had a passion for helping others get their life on track yet didn’t do same for myself which taught me to take a step back and practice what I preach in order to be a better role model for others.

Also as I helped raise my nephews, I was very animate about their nutrition and exercise routines as well as skincare which helped translate to how I managed my teenage patients when parents brought them in for their acne which involved coaching them on how their diet affects their skin and their physical health.

Can you share a story about the biggest challenges you faced when you were first starting? How did you resolve that? What are the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

As a child I always took initiative and lead which carried on into my adulthood. That being said I was an overachiever and enjoyed being innovative and taking charge which was a challenge as a female in the world of Anesthesiology/Surgery. I worked twice as hard to attain credibility than my male colleagues, that taught me endurance and persistence which is why I take pride in all that I do and have achieved. Throughout my training and career, whenever I came across a medical dilemma or challenge, I strived to find a remedy which is what drew me into the world of Wellness/Integrative Medicine. I realized that the combination of traditional medicine and functional medicine enhanced my knowledge and options in finding solutions for my patients rather than a one size fits all approach. This is how I expanded my professional expertise.

Can you share with us how the work you are doing is helping to make a bigger impact in the world? Can you share a story that illustrates that?

I am constantly learning, growing and expanding my knowledge base when it comes to health, wellness and beauty as all are forever evolving and growing. For example, we have so many topical medications for various skin conditions yet as I have managed many in their 20s for acne scars and recurring acne, I take a different approach based on my functional medicine training that our gut microbiome and skin microbiome are responsible for our skin conditions that all take root as generalized inflammation. We know inflammation is cause of many ailments. This is where balance in our nutrition, wellbeing and lifestyle come into play. I first diagnose the cause so then I may formulate the proper customized plan for each individual to treat the cause not just the effect. I also apply this not just to skin health, but also to other ailments and beauty. I also focus on the positives we all have as unfortunately with all the social media pressure many feel, it’s important to not lose focus on reality to maintain stable mental and physical well-being.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

Currently I’m working on developing products and perfecting my trademark treatments that I created to tackle beauty and wellness challenges that I see on a regular basis in my practice for when a patient comes to me with a dilemma, I am determined to help find a solution for them as I enjoy seeing patient satisfaction and quality results. I am currently working on few products that I can not disclose at this time.

You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

My strongest traits that have helped me achieve my success, I think, are my determination (never giving up), positive optimism (something my parents instilled in me), and self-confidence which all allowed me to be assertive enough to achieve whatever I set my mind to.

All of these traits helped me achieve various leadership roles in major businesses.

OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. Let’s begin with a basic definition of terms so that all of us are on the same page. Wellness is an incredibly broad topic. How would you define the term “Wellness”? Can you explain what you mean?

Wellness by my definition encompasses not just being physically fit but also good mental health, good self-esteem, balanced nutrition, self care and quality relationships. All of these are part of life balance which equates to true wellness.

As an expert, this might be intuitive to you, but it will be instructive to expressly articulate this. Can you please share a few reasons with our readers about why focusing on our wellness should be a priority in our lives?

When one focuses on true wellness, as I defined above, then one is able to better appreciate, enjoy and reap the benefits of healthy lifestyle. If one does not have mental wellness and clarity then the physical wellness can be overshadowed, if one is missing the physical health and nutritional wellness components, that may contribute to low self-esteem which has a negative impact on mental health. So as you can see they all go hand in hand, which is why we do need to focus on attaining a healthy lifestyle from both a physical and mental perspective to attain balance and true happiness.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increasingly growing understanding of the necessity for companies to be mindful of the wellness of their employees. For the sake of inspiring others, can you share steps or initiatives that companies have taken to help improve or optimize their employees’ mental and physical wellness?

In my opinion I think employers can contribute to employees’ wellness by implementing a mandatory annual wellness check covered by the employer along with nutrition/exercise counseling in order to enhance mental ad physical well-being which in turn would increase productivity and boost team morale. This in turn would focus on prevention rather than treatment which as we know, chronic illnesses are major burden on the Healthcare system so rather than treat we should be preventing disease.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Health and Wellness Industry”? If you can, please share a story or an example for each.

1. Clinical experience/skills to properly assess the needs of each individual for customization

2. Having an Aesthetic Eye for natural beautification rather than looking “done” as beauty and wellness go hand in hand

3. Knowledge/Expertise to understand and interpret not just lab results but lifestyle impact and how to address/remedy things

4. Interpersonal skills to be able to develop good rapport, build trust and confidence as well as deliver the proper message to the patient

5. Proper Follow up for patient compliance along with setting Realistic expectations/goals for each individual

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would promote the most wellness to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

Educating the masses on how to Focus on supporting the immune system to boost health naturally with proper nutrition and exercise.

As I mentioned earlier I would like to see more prevention than treatment. Just as many are starting earlier in the Antiaging world of Aesthetics, also all should do same in regards to overall health as Antiaging in my book refers to not just the outer Aesthetic component but also Inner health as both are actually one.

This is why my practice focus has been integrating beauty and wellness together. As many of my patients who started feeling good internally then wanted to look equally as good externally and vice-versa so when I see a patient, my consultation is a complete consult from inside/out and head to toe.

We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

Gwyneth Paltrow is a great representation of healthy living with a focus on inner and outer beauty, health and wellness and I’m a big fan of the Goop products!

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Instagram : Azzamdbeauty

My website is in process of updates but link is Azzamdbeauty.com for future link

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

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Power Women: Dr Azza Halim On How To Successfully Navigate Work, Love and Life As A Powerful Woman was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Disruptors: Angela Goff of Copper and June Parlour On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

“Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually, you find a hairstylist that understands you.” Likewise, many extension guests not only look for a stylist who produces great work, but one they can also connect with on a personal level. My guests entrust me with their hair and their life problems and aspirations alike. Many of them feel like family to me. The hair extension industry is a service-based one by nature, so the relationship cultivated between guest and artist is a key aspect of what keeps guests coming back.

As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Angela Goff.

Angela Goff is the co-owner of Copper and June Parlour in Nashville, Tennessee. She has been installing extensions and giving her salon guests the hair of their dreams for over 20 years. Angela is also a fierce advocate of stylist education and launched the Angela Goff Collective, a mentoring program for new stylists looking to elevate their craft.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

I truly love the beauty industry, dark sides, sharp edges, and all. Unfortunately, there are many people who look down on those of us who work in this industry. They don’t believe we will amount to much or that we’re worthy of being paid well. When I told my father I wanted to go to hair school, he said, “Oh, you will never make any money.”

But there’s a shift on the horizon. Many of us are demanding respect. We are learning to run our salons like “real businesses,” hiring accountants, creating amazing websites, and seeking the highest levels of quality education. We are paying our salon assistants and staff well and investing in social media marketing. Hair salons have some of the best social media of any industry, and that’s not an easy thing to accomplish. We are not only stepping up how we work behind the chair, but how we work in front of it too. There’s a change coming, and it’s been needed for a while now.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

While most hair stylists master the art of the color and the cut first, I specialized in hair extensions at the very start of my career. I’ve learned every method of installing extensions — and there are quite a few — so that I can be armed with the best, most up-to-date knowledge to educate my clients and my salon staff with. I choose to level up my career every day and to challenge every business strategy I have.

I have been a huge advocate of higher education since the beginning. I’ve spent countless hours and many, many years becoming the best in my niche and creating the most luxury experience for my guests. I want them to feel as though they are the only thing that matters to me while they’re in my chair. I also want them to know exactly how to care of their new hair when they go home. That’s the most important thing: that my guests can maintain their look on their own day-to-day. After 25 years of delivering an amazing experience and the highest quality work, I know I am like no other in this industry. And I’ve worked extremely hard to get here.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I will never forget the day that I had a new guest walk through my door and her hair looked nothing like the photo she put on her intake form. She had mid-length hair that was straight and blonde in the picture she sent. When she showed up, her hair was short and curly. I about fell on the floor.

It was in that moment I learned to be very intentional with my initial consultations and collect every bit of information from the guest before they arrive for their appointment. I’ve actually had guests submit pictures of their hair from five years ago or longer in their intake forms. You can say it’s been a learning process from day one.

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

Britt Seva has made a huge impact on my business strategy. She is a very smart marketing strategist for stylists and salons. I have learned so much from her — I listen to her podcast every day and have taken several of her classes to advance my business.

But some of my biggest mentors are simply hard-working moms and dads who strive to be better every day. I love seeing my colleagues work extremely hard to become better versions of themselves.

In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?

Being disruptive can be an amazing thing, especially in this industry. In business, most people stick to the status quo. But making waves and bringing a new perspective to things is how we become better at business. It’s okay to to take your own approach. A saying I think speaks well to this question is: “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” Even though the destination might be the same, the path you take to get there doesn’t have to be identical to that of everyone else.

I like to switch things up so my guest can have a different, unique experience in my chair. After all, that’s what life is all about: new experiences. It’s a great thing when a system has withstood the test of time, but shaking things up peaks interest. It gets people’s eyes on you and what you are doing.

The hair and extensions industry is long overdue for a disruption. Forward-thinking stylists and extension artists are educating themselves on better business, elevating their crafts, and asking for the pay that they deserve. This is a change I am really excited about — styling hair is an art. It’s a transformative experience for the guest. And it’s time for everyone to recognize that, not for them to look down on the career.

While disrupting an industry is positive most of the time, disruption can have a dark side if it’s not executed in the right way. Trying to be different just for the sake of being different isn’t the answer. You have to be passionate and intentional about what you’re doing. That’s when people really love you for who you are.

Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.

• My mother always told me: “To whom much is given, much is required.” That rings so true for me today. When people give a lot to you, whether it be their money or time, they expect a lot in return. I always remind stylists in my education and shadowing programs that extension guests pay quite a bit for their appointments, so they expect the highest level of service in return.
• “Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is beautiful.” This is a lesson I’ve learned over and over again in the salon: it’s not always about the actual hair that my guests walk away with. It’s about the confidence they gain from finally having their dream look and the renewed energy they can attack life with.
• “Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually, you find a hairstylist that understands you.” Likewise, many extension guests not only look for a stylist who produces great work, but one they can also connect with on a personal level. My guests entrust me with their hair and their life problems and aspirations alike. Many of them feel like family to me. The hair extension industry is a service-based one by nature, so the relationship cultivated between guest and artist is a key aspect of what keeps guests coming back.

And one more:

“The best advice I can give to young stylists is to marry bald, so you have one less free haircut to do on your day off.”

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

I just started a membership-based collective of stylists who want to refine and master their craft and level up in their business. The Angela Goff Collective is a tight-knit group of stylists who get to learn all of the top tips, tricks, and best-kept secrets I’ve gained throughout my 20+ years as an extension artist. I’ve been all about education right from the start of my career and I want to serve as the judgement-free source of mentorship and knowledge I wish I had when I was fresh on the scene.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

I have always heard that women have a hard time working their way to the top in the workforce. But I feel differently. I have always felt empowered as a woman. As if I can do anything that I set my mind to if I work hard enough. I never felt that I won’t make as much money or be as successful because I am a woman. Instead, I know I can do much better than most men. Even though they can be physically stronger at times, women have the ability to be incredibly powerful business leaders.

Don’t ever think for one second that you, as a woman, can’t achieve something. You are powerful and strong. But if you don’t believe that, no one else will. Keep your chin up and keep pushing forward. You will do great things.

Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?

The book Profit First taught me so many lessons about being a great entrepreneur.

I also love the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad. It changed my entire mindset on money and saving for the future. We are taught to work hard and save from a young age. But that’s not always the way to get what you want. Sometimes, it’s worth taking a risk and investing money that you worked hard for. It’s scary, but once you accept that sometimes you have to go into things with fear, it changes you. Not every single thing you do will be a success. But if you have one success out of 10 tries, you have done great.

I am also constantly listening to uplifting podcasts, especially by other mentors in my field.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

Leading by example is one of the most powerful things you can do.

And I think kindness goes a long way. We are so busy in our daily lives that sometimes, we forget to be kind. Loving people right where they are in life is so important.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

To love is a choice.

I learned that as a child, again during my teen years, and yet again throughout my adult life. Now I’m learning this in my salon every day: to love people where they are and not pass judgment.

This industry taught me that women want to be valued and appreciated more than anything else. A lot of the salon experience isn’t about the actual cut or color. Women want to feel loved and appreciated, and sometimes the salon chair is the place they go to feel those things.

How can our readers follow you online?

Follow me at @angelagoffstyling on social media!

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

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Female Disruptors: Angela Goff of Copper and June Parlour On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Power Women: Author JJ DiGeronimo On How To Successfully Navigate Work, Love and Life As A Powerful Woman

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Be Present — For me to thrive, I must practice being present not only with what is happening around me but also within me. Assessing the energy within your body is essential to understand how you are holding and processing the flow that is likely impacting your thoughts and your next action. This is especially important if you sabotage situations that are opportunities to experience and align with more joy.

How does a successful, strong, and powerful woman navigate work, employee relationships, love, and life in a world that still feels uncomfortable with strong women? In this interview series, called “Power Women” we are talking to accomplished women leaders who share their stories and experiences navigating work, love and life as a powerful woman.

As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing JJ DiGeronimo.

Two-time award-winning author JJ DiGeronimo helps women raise their frequencies and empower their future impact through tried-and-tested strategies, mindfulness, and energetic practices. Formerly a leading woman in the tech industry, she now passionately strives to help women gain more seats at more tables by sharing the key findings that have helped her and countless others illuminate a path forward. Featured in publications such as Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Thrive Global, DiGeronimo is regularly an invited speaker for events and conferences. Her work includes three books, two podcasts, two global online communities, and in-person experiences. Discover her work at www.JJDiGeronimo.com.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?

We were not the poorest in our zip code but had our fair share of church cheese and lottery dreams. Naturally, at an early age, I adopted the belief that there was never enough money.

Although my parents struggled on many levels, they did praise my brother and me for our hard work. Because they struggled financially, we were encouraged to contribute at an early age. My parents’ appreciation and praise grew as I moved from pool cleaner to baker to waitress, helping to provide for our household. These early external approvals were noted by my ego and likely drove the internal stories that kept me chasing professional milestones and accolades, working late nights, and feeding my competitive nature.

When I was in high school, I was lucky to have a dedicated guidance counselor, Mr. Mancuso. Although my ACT and SAT scores were low due to an undiagnosed case of dyslexia, he actively encouraged me to go to college.

Looking back, his investment was one of those guided moments in life in which I could have gone left, but his momentum and sponsorship pushed me right. I may have eventually aligned my life in that direction, but I suspect it would have taken me years to get on this path without his genuine help and belief in what was possible.

Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?

I have learned that life is about opening doors, which can create different opportunities and pathways. Our commitments and how we align our time and funds create those pathways. I picked a computer information degree because I saw a college degree as a door opener that could lead to a better place. I was told during orientation that every student was hired out of the program. Back in 1991, I did not necessarily like computers, but after years of earning minimum wage, I wanted a well-paying job with more opportunities.

I signed up when I was assured that a four-year computer degree would land me a decent salary. I was uncertain of my abilities and fearful I would fail, but I was also determined to move beyond low-paying jobs that suck the life out of people’s dreams.

Even though the catalyst for a better salary drove me toward a degree and then a career in technology, I am lucky. As I found the work interesting and enjoyed the fast pace and ever-changing environment. However, I cannot tell you I would have selected this degree if my lack of finances was not driving my decision.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

After twenty-five years and numerous milestones, I had hit a wall from overproducing, over-delivering, and over-committing. Quite frankly, I was over it, questioning all aspects of my life.

Even after years of leadership training, I did not know where to start or how to get the heck out of my own way. I had been beating myself up for years — from the demands I put on myself to the many times I said “yes” when I should have said “no.” I was my worst enemy, and I was ready for a shift.

I tried drinking more wine, sabotaging my marriage, and even considered driving away and never coming back. Luckily, I did not follow through on any of those wishes, as I later learned that those sabotaging thoughts were reflecting how unsettled I felt on the inside.

This undermining energy had been building up for years, but I had just continued to do what I did best — pushing through my to-do list with my head down. The actions that usually distracted me from my internal whispers had me questioning all aspects of my life, landing me in a therapist’s office while wishing for a hospital bed. I’d had enough, and I was ready to check out.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

I RESEARCH:

I tried to convince myself that I was FINE. Yet my inner turmoil did not quit! It pushed me to seek new conversations, new classes, and new books. Not everything I discovered was aligned with and relevant to what my heart wanted, but throughout my seeking, I found new areas of excitement and new sources of energy, which I call fuel stations. These new activities energized my inner self and my Soul. This provided reprieve and balance as my fatigued mind continued to chase external metrics such as work milestones, titles, and accolades.

I SHARE:

At first, I questioned myself and felt nervous about sharing these new practices, yet I believe that my professional journey — which includes many moments of feeling uncertain, alone, defeated, and depleted — can inspire other women’s journeys. And maybe women will use the strategies to inspire others on their journeys as I have learned that Seeking often happens off the side of our desk; away from our jobs.

I SEEK:

Many people assume that when you are “successful” or when you get to a certain level at work or in life, you will experience bliss or joy. Well, this did not happen for me. Sure, I had moments of joy, but I also had many hours, even days on end, of feeling less than full. Little did I know, I had a sprouting purpose from within that was not satisfied by my external striving and goals. My internal guide, my Soul, was seeking alignment with my true life’s work.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. The premise of this series assumes that our society still feels uncomfortable with strong women. Why do you think this is so?

It is essential to note that, as women, we have not been able to show up at work with all our tools and unique talents. The existing societal matrix apparent in most corporate structures is primarily designed by masculine energies.

There is harmony when masculine and feminine energy work together, and each of us has both energies. Masculine energy is often categorized as getting, doing, and defining, whereas feminine energy is more often associated with knowing, connecting, and being. Either of these energies could be more or less pronounced in some people or even some situations. With millions of search results on the differences, you could research this for hours, but my point here is too much of either energy makes things lopsided.

You pose an interesting question, as strong women could be viewed as women leaning too much into their masculine energy, which could make people feel lopsided and even uneasy about these women. Even though they are doing exactly what they have been conditioned to do: align, position, and strive at all costs, chasing success, power, title, salary, perks, financial freedom, and so on.

Without saying any names, can you share a story from your own experience that illustrates this idea?

I now realize that this chase is an oasis. It creates an illusion that comes with a sea of obligations and expectations each week, requiring trade-offs and conditioning us to over strive for external metrics. As a result, these weeks turn into years that end up detaching us from our inner knowing, especially if we skip things that inspire us, which I refer to as our fuel stations.

It was not long before I found myself striving for this oasis of success, which drove me to rise early and go to bed late. My focus was defined by my schedule, relationships, and actions, and these unfolded into daily to-dos. I later came to realize that the path to professional success is rather predictable and often programmed into us at an early age.

Unfortunately, I did not think I had good examples of people ahead of me telling me to slow down, enjoy, or be present. That is not fair, because I may have had men and women sharing their wisdom, but I was too focused on and driven by chasing the oasis of success, power, and financial freedom that I did not listen to these whispers.

I justified my sacrifices and believed my schedule aligned with the “right” goals. However, I later realized that my focus was primarily motivated by stories I learned as a child and my fear of failure, which was deeply rooted in my ego.

As I look at these questions, I now realize that while I was working toward professional success, I was not present during most moments. Instead, I often planned for the future or reflected on the past. I worried about what I did or what was expected of me. I constantly questioned my actions and abilities.

I wish I had invested in a career coach much earlier in my professional life, as this could have helped me better understand who I was and what I was running toward.

What should a powerful woman do in a context where she feels that people are uneasy around her?

The reality is you cannot control how people feel around you. isIf women are sensing that people are uneasy in their presence, each woman has to decide if she are working in the right circles and doing the right work that brings out the best in them.

Unfortunately, for many women and men, our work environments can, over time, cultivate us into a person that does not align with our desired or prefer energies or experiences. If you are someone experiencing a mismatch, it may be time to explore other ways to show up at work or in life.

I remember hearing a few years ago that when we point our fingers at others, the other fingers are pointing back at us. It is a good reminder for me in many situations that if I did not like the view, experience, role, subliminal messaging, or unconscious bias, I had to decide if I was ready for my next. Then make the decisions or actions to make it so.

What do we need to do as a society to change the unease around powerful women?

To balance the masculine energy of the planet, the world needs more women at more tables to infuse more feminine energy and their truth, wisdom, and gifts into more discussions, decisions, laws, leadership, solutions, and offerings.

With perspective and personal growth, I am an active believer in a universal connection among all of us, providing numerous opportunities for us to help each other learn, grow, and awaken. For some of us, there are benefits in coming together, finding the space, and believing we are worth the time to explore our gifts to illuminate our paths.

This work empowers me, and hopefully you, too, to be more accepting, loving, and open to more women, young and old, sharing their knowledge, ideas, and wisdom.

The planet will shift, and it will do so with the help and likely leadership of women. So if this makes the majority uncomfortable, my words of advice for them is “get use to it!” As we need more women speaking their truth, leading the masses, and using both their masculine and feminine energy in more conversations, roles, and decisions.

In my own experience, I have observed that often women have to endure ridiculous or uncomfortable situations to achieve success that men don’t have to endure. Do you have a story like this from your own experience? Can you share it with us?

As the famous quote by Ginger Rogers highlights, “I did everything that my partner Fred Astaire did, but backward and in high heels.”

Sure, I could share a specific story, but I think most have their own story and experiences that is more impactful to them than anything I can share.

We all know it is unfair and it times embarrassing when you are made to feel less than or not an equal.

But let’s remember it hasn’t been that long ago that women only had a fraction of the opportunity that they have today. We have made strides and being a powerful woman is shifting too. Yes, there is negative connotation at times, but there are also very positive outcomes, experiences, and milestones too.

Times are shifting again, and we women are more ready than ever to lead, lean in, and lean on to get our voices and opinions on records, in law, and in motion.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women leaders that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

Everything!

I know women will understand this short but all-encompassing statement, whereas men may stop reading as they feel that I am not giving them the credit they deserve. Even with this, I think my one-word answer sums it up.

Let’s now shift our discussion to a slightly different direction. This is a question that nearly everyone with a job has to contend with. Was it difficult to fit your personal and family life into your business and career? For the benefit of our readers, can you articulate precisely what the struggle was?

I, like many women, left little time for myself. I was busy working, taking care of family, and helping everyone and everything else that came my way. As a result, I cut myself out of my schedule too often, leaving myself depleted and, at times, very unhealthy.

Through all the stories and journeys women have shared with me, there seems to be a common trade-off for success that often robbed them of enjoyment, family time, and fun. And many find themselves, just like me, taking out the activities that bring fulfillment so they can check another item off the to-do list to avoid the potential embarrassment or fear of not being good enough.

The illusion of success, with its sea of obligations and expectations, requires trade-offs. It essentially conditions us to over-strive for external metrics and detaches us from our inner knowing. This often leaves us disconnected and drained.

I realize that not all women or men have the support they need from family and friends to take their own leaps. Even Sheryl Sandburg, author, woman in tech, and philanthropist, talks about the importance of your life mate’s support of your goals. Luckily, the mate I married, at age thirty, was on board with me selling my company stock and leaving my tech career to become an entrepreneur with a mission.

I think he believed that getting me off the road and out of the constant stress of a high-flying tech company would be a plus for our family and our relationship. Little did he know, I thrived on the stress, the job, the title, and the pressure. So much so that I had no idea how much it defined me, and my self-perceived value, and frankly how much

What was a tipping point that helped you achieve a greater balance or greater equilibrium between your work life and personal life? What did you do to reach this equilibrium?

Funny, I believe I am still working on this and I am now fifty years old.

The pressure of time seems to be an issue when many of us think about making space for things that excite or inspire us. One trick I use to get out of my own way is scheduling reoccurring meetings inside my calendar to ensure it happens. To ensure I do not cheat myself of this precious time, I do not allow myself to dismiss these calendar invites and reminders until I spend that allocated time with people or on projects that fuel my light.

Those activities, off the side of my desk, also energized other aspects of my work and life. I later realized that those actions and activities fueled my internal light.

“Fueling My Light” became a term I coined in 2012 for aligning with meaningful activities that make you feel good, whole, and in the flow with things that matter to you. When you fuel your light, you create more momentum and positive energy in other areas of your life.

I work in the beauty tech industry, so I am very interested to hear your philosophy or perspective about beauty. In your role as a powerful woman and leader, how much of an emphasis do you place on your appearance? Do you see beauty as something that is superficial, or is it something that has inherent value for a leader in a public context? Can you explain what you mean?

Well, as much as I would like to sidestep this question or even pretend it doesn’t exist, it is an aspect women must consider based on the doors they want to open, roles they want to pursue, or messages they want to share.

How is this similar or different for men?

A few years ago, I saw how a newscaster wore the same suit for the entire year as a test, and no one noticed. Sure, men have to be put together but by no means have the same level of scrutiny, subjection, analysis, or judgment that women experience and especially as women age.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your opinion and experience, what are the “Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Powerful Woman?” (Please share a story or example for each.)

Be Present

For me to thrive, I must practice being present not only with what is happening around me but also within me. Assessing the energy within your body is essential to understand how you are holding and processing the flow that is likely impacting your thoughts and your next action. This is especially important if you sabotage situations that are opportunities to experience and align with more joy.

Intercept the Mind Chatter

There is no need to second guess where you are or have been. Now is the time to be honest about the fears that continue to creep up. Popular mind chatter fueled by fear is “I will not be ready or good enough.” In the past, I had been holding on to my stories, which created a flurry of mind chatter, and I had acted upon them as if they were non-negotiable. They had heavily influenced my confidence, decisions, and choices. I had not realized that I had the ability to manage my mind chatter.

Realign Energy

With more knowing, I have learned how to drop my internal focus from my head down into my heart — aligning with my heart chakra. Chakras are key points inside or outside our bodies that are focal points of circulating energy. It took me some time to learn how to focus on and then realign energy inside and around my body to create a more peaceful way of living.

Have Gratitude

Our lives are journeys with many steps and lessons along the way. Honoring where you have been and what you have learned is a vital piece of gratitude that is necessary before you can evolve toward new experiences and lessons. Being grateful for who we are and what we already have can empower us to look for the good, get inspired by what is, and even nourish our gifts.

Remembering Our Gifts

Each of us has unique gifts to share with the world. Don’t doubt yourself, your offerings, or your work. Your light is bright, and you are magical! Never forget that you have been hand-selected to share your gifts, wisdom, and insights your way.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

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Power Women: Author JJ DiGeronimo On How To Successfully Navigate Work, Love and Life As A Powerful… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Kathleen Adams of Second 50 Financial On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Invest in yourself continuously. This means health, learning, and fun. Spend money to take advantage of 21st century breakthroughs to increase vitality and improve health; think outside the box for your health and education; combine it with fun travel or time with friends. (this is easier to do when you “know your numbers”).

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kathleen Adams, Second 50 Financial

Kathleen Adams, CFP, CPWA, entrepreneur, co-founder of Second 50 Financial, LLC, and author of soon-to-be released “Second 50: Achieve Financial Confidence/ Increase Opportunity/Leverage Vitality.” She has been in the Lifestyle Preservation business for over 20 years, and together with her team, has developed a unique process to address the expanded needs of successful owners and entrepreneurs who are enjoying a wonderful lifestyle that requires a different type of plan.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

My story involves a significant career change triggered by my dad’s story of leaving a highly successful 40-year dental practice with an unsuccessful outcome. He enjoyed a fantastic lifestyle, loved what he did, and gave us an amazing childhood. He had no plans to stop working, however, an unexpected health issue forced him to do so. Despite having lifelong banking/tax/legal advisors, no one advised him of how to plan for a fantastic life without his business income. I was supposed to follow in his footsteps and practiced dental hygiene with him but did not have any interest in dental school. When things started going so wrong for him, I finally realized what I truly wanted to do and went back to school to study financial planning.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

Finding out how happy people were that we had left a prestigious partnership with a big firm and how much people liked the fact that my colleague David Swift and I co-founded Second 50 together. Over and over again people said that they felt they got the best of both worlds working with David (younger and male) and me (in my Second 50 and female). We found that we then easily differentiated our roles with clients and were able to specialize in doing what each of us loves doing.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

My first goal was to be a hero to dental practitioners, especially dental hygienists who earned a good income, were typically female working part-time, and rarely had any retirement benefits. Hoping to maximize their hard-earned income and gain more financial knowledge, I wrote a column for their professional magazine and spoke at conferences. But no one had any interest! Not one person even wanted my complimentary consultation! I thought I was the perfect fit financial advisor for them. My lesson is be ready to pivot when Plan A fails and don’t be upset with yourself for the mistake….just learn from it!

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

My Dad was the biggest inspiration; however, my business achieved the most success by working with Dan Sullivan at Strategic Coach. I had tried other coaches before that, but nothing compared to joining his community of big thinkers and utilizing his thinking tools. He and his members gave me incredible self-confidence; literally lit a fire in me to take strategic risks and move forward. It helped me feel “normal” because starting my own business later in life, as well as being female, often left me feeling alone and uncertain. There is nothing like having other successful entrepreneurs to brainstorm with because even your well-meaning family and friends won’t be able to help you in the same way.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this EY report, only about 20 percent of funded companies have women founders. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women to create companies. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from founding companies?

In my view, in the big picture for many younger women, it’s worrying about compromising time with their family, as well as lack of belief in what they can really do with their lives. We often, me included, don’t know what we really want to do, which is the absolute first step. Even if we change later, we need an initial destination.

The second issue is women don’t usually have a supportive team or community to help move them forward. To me this is critical for women in business, and it doesn’t have to be a women-only group. The third concern is the need for women to gain a better understanding of their own financial situation so they can move forward with more clarity and confidence.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

I believe that there should be more options for childcare including more quality day care and pre-school facilities. This is not an easy fix, however I feel there should be more help from local communities and states in this area, no matter what your level of wealth. There is a shortage of quality childcare.

I’d also love to see women have more exposure to fantastic coaching groups as that was a huge game changer for me. I do not believe they need to seek women-only groups as there is so much benefit in having a variety of mindsets and skill sets from men and women. As individuals, women need to believe in themselves and their capabilities — especially if they want to make a change later in life. The media and other authority sources must stop portraying women in their Second 50 years running around smiling on a beach or playing with grandkids. They are capable of so much more during this time in their lives.

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

I believe we are excellent at building relationships which is an essential component of running a successful business. We are also amazing at learning new things as we go. Keep in mind that most women with a family get through the first pregnancy, then manage a family while still running the show at home or work while figuring out how to become a great parent- those are natural leadership skills plus lifelong learning. Essential components of a successful business owner. Lastly, we love to problem solve (family life creates nonstop opportunities!) and the majority of successful business owners are there to solve a problem. Think about who usually steps in first when an elderly parent needs help.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

That you must “pay your dues” to become a founder. I disagree. There can be a lot of time and work involved but sometimes your entrepreneurial idea blossoms more quickly than you might imagine and you find yourself running a business in almost lightning speed. Often it does take lots of hard work and some failures, but be ready for either. Also, that you will need a huge skill set and advanced education; it’s more about your unique ability and how you put it to use by leveraging your innate understanding of collaboration and delegation. Lastly, feeling like you need to be the know-it-all expert on most everything that makes your business a success. Its always going to be a team effort or a collaboration and this can create exponential growth.

Is everyone cut out to be a founder? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful founder and what type of person should perhaps seek a “regular job” as an employee? Can you explain what you mean?

Founders are usually very entrepreneurial at heart and were either very restless being an employee or never wanted to be one. They are willing to take risks and not afraid to fail. This means maintaining your confidence, being ready to make decisions, and usually being a visionary who brings the future into the present. That isn’t for everyone. I firmly believe there are various kinds of people who become employees. The 9 am-5 pm group (do your thing and leave) or the “intrapreneurs” who see the importance of their position, take responsibility for it, have pride in their daily work, and feel they are a part of something bigger. In this case, they are fulfilled much as a founder, but with a risk level that lets them sleep well at night.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

1. Know yourself really well. Take the right individual assessments like Kolbe and StrengthsFinder. I did both and was shocked at my results — each showed me traits and strengths I hadn’t considered. I thought I did things simply to help others but I am actually also an achiever who thrives on doing well. It’s better to assess yourself as an individual — just for yourself versus to see how you fit on a board or a team.

2. Get a coach and community. My best move came joining Strategic Coach. The right coach gives you tools to problem solve and strategize; the right people in the room keep you connected to “big thinkers” which is VIP in our world. Most great coaches will start with telling you to “know your numbers” which is key to running any business.

3. Invest in yourself continuously. This means health, learning, and fun. Spend money to take advantage of 21st century breakthroughs to increase vitality and improve health; think outside the box for your health and education; combine it with fun travel or time with friends. (this is easier to do when you “know your numbers”).

4. Delegate. Hire a team member before you think you are ready since you rarely think you are ready financially with a new business. Step into the most important role for your business based on what you love to do and are great at, then delegate or outsource the rest.

5. Ask for help. As you grow in knowledge and success it might become hard to ask others for help and risk looking less capable — don’t let this stop you from raising your hand. Know that there are tons of people smarter than you who are ready to help if you ASK.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

We are focused on helping people in their second 50 years have the financial confidence they need to truly enjoy this time of life when they stop working. This means we are also promoting opportunity expansion to allow the great wisdom and wealth of this generation to continue creating a positive impact on the world the way boomers have always done — whether it’s through a new company that solves a problem, a philanthropic project that may generate revenue while teaching others to help themselves, mentoring young people who also want to change the world; possibly allowing for reverse mentoring as young and old can learn from each other. As we do this, we are exposing them to the newest health research, bio-hacks, and cures available through my extensive resources acquired from highly specialized professional groups. There’s no wealth, no real joy, without health. We want people to live with the most vitality and good health possible, so they have a zest for life and continue to change the world no matter what their age.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

My dream is to start the “Second 50 Movement” nationally, and then globally. The majority of people in their Second 50 years are boomers; one of the largest, wealthiest, most highly educated groups to ever enter this time in life. The 62–72 group will be filled with around 32 million Boomers every year. I want the world to stop viewing the aging population as a crisis and consider it an opportunity.

Boomers are by nature change makers and problem solvers. Imagine if we could start small communities across the country of like-minded people in the 60–90-year-old age group who are looking for something more to do with their money, time, and wisdom! Putting even a few brains in conversation groups or workshops together will create super brain power. Who knows what problems they could tackle around what they care most about — or what they might develop or create given their vast experience and wealth — or what they could learn together that they had never explored in their previous careers. My new learning passion is quantum physics and it’s opened a whole new world of possibility and people for me! The Second 50 Movement is ready to unite Boomers and help make the world a better place.

We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

Kathy Ireland! She has done such amazing things with her life and her wealth. I didn’t realize until recently that she is also involved with financial education. It would be such an honor to connect with her and possibly learn more about how she generates such interest in her causes and business ventures while doing so much to help others.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

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Female Founders: Kathleen Adams of Second 50 Financial On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Thriving As A Woman In a Male-Dominated Industry: Yea Ji Oh of Streamline Studios On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman In a Male-Dominated Industry

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Have the mindset that the pie is not limited. That we don’t have to compete for scraps. We have the power to create opportunities. Don’t feel threatened by your peers. Instead, celebrate their wins. Only some people will be bought into that idea, but the dynamic at work will change when enough do buy in. You will have a support network that can pull each other up.

In the United States in 2022, fields such as Aircraft piloting, Agriculture, Architecture, Construction, Finance, and Information technology, are still male-dominated industries. For a woman who is working in a male-dominated environment, what exactly does it take to thrive and succeed? In this interview series, we are talking to successful women who work in a Male-Dominated Industry who can share their stories and experiences about navigating work and life as strong women in a male-dominated industry. As a part of this series, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Yea-Ji Oh, Division Director for Streamline Studios.

Oh oversees the company’s global strategic initiatives for growth and expansion. In her seven years at Streamline Studios, Oh has progressed from a Project Manager across game dev disciplines to the General Manager of an 80+ team of 3D Artists, Localization, and QA (Quality Assurance) Developers, She now uses use this knowledge and expertise in game dev management, building professional teams, and executive leadership to oversee production process and talent acquisition.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?

I was born in Korea and raised in Malaysia. Twenty years ago, I moved my family to a new country because I wanted to live in a foreign country and learn languages other than my mother tongue. Languages and cultures were always a huge interest of mine, and as a kid, I wanted to see the world and be part of a movement that changes the world. To a 9-year-old, the dream of changing the world meant leveraging my linguistic skills as a translator/interpreter at the United Nations. Kudos to my parents for not brushing off my childhood ambition. Their sacrifice and upbringing are what make me who I am today.

Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?

The story comes full circle because being a Korean translator got me into the games industry. As for the childhood dream of changing the world, as the Division Director at Streamline Media Group, I’m creating social economic impact in emerging markets by connecting global talent with investment and projects in video games and beyond gaming.

Returning to how I got into games, I studied biomedical sciences, and a year before graduating, I realized that the career path in research just wasn’t going to bring the fulfilment I needed. So, I decided to take a gap year and came across Streamline’s job vacancy for a Korean translator. As cliché it sounds, the interview with Streamline was the pivotal moment that changed my life and eventually led me to discover that I enjoy working with people to help them find value and meaning in their careers.

Once in the company, I learned the production pipeline and management skills as a project manager. Being in the company during its period of rapid growth came with non-stop learning opportunities. I had years of real-life experience in brand and business management, so when there was an opportunity to lead a new brand under the Streamline umbrella as a General Manager, I had to take it.

As General Manager, I led two brands; an 80+ person team of 3D Artists, Localization and Quality Assurance (QA) Developers, and worked on huge game projects with global companies such as Capcom, Warner Bros., and Epic Games.

More recently, a new challenge presented itself as I was invited to work with the CEO’s Office as the company’s Division Director. In this new role, I oversee and guide special initiatives, including supporting the growth of Streamline’s latest production studio in Bogota, Colombia. Again, I credit my career and personal growth to being at the right place at the right time and with the right people at Streamline who weren’t afraid to take a chance on me.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

My most interesting, embarrassing, and special memory in my career was when my father interviewed my manager when I first joined Streamline. I was a Junior Project Manager and had decided not to return to school to study biomedical sciences.

Quitting school to work in video games was not an acceptable career path in the eyes of the parents who invested and sacrificed a significant part of their life to afford education for their child. My father wanted to set the office building on fire. That’s how mad he was!

My manager back then, thankfully, invited him into the office to sit down with him and help him understand the industry’s growth potential and my possible career options. Essentially, my dad interviewed the company and the manager to check that I wasn’t making a huge mistake. To this day, I’m so thankful that my manager accommodated this ridiculous arrangement, which speaks to the kind of company Streamline is. They understood that different cultures meant different family values and were willing to go the extra mile for their employees.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

One, I’m an optimist and a realist. I was raised to look at what I have realistically (both the problems and opportunities) and figure out how to make the most of them. This skill has proved to be extremely critical. There’s never a perfect scenario when running projects or businesses, so success often comes down to the ability to creatively problem-solve with limitations. The underlying optimism and faith in self (the glass-half-full approach) also helped me navigate difficult moments.

Two, being result-driven. While completionism comes with its own challenges, it kept me going and helped me be resilient.

Lastly, ability to turn ambiguous concepts or requests, into tangible next steps. Having this skill as a generalist made all the difference and really helped me work on cross-departmental projects and with teams that are super technical.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Can you help articulate a few of the biggest obstacles or challenges you’ve had to overcome while working in a male-dominated industry?

The biggest obstacle came from me. First, breaking out of my own perception of my limitations, and trusting in my capabilities to say yes to opportunities. There is a set image of what ‘leadership’ looks and sounds like, especially in a male-dominated workplace. I had to stop comparing myself to that and had to accept that leadership can look and sound different for everyone. That it didn’t matter whether you behaved like a stereotypical image of a leader with charisma and a booming voice. That it didn’t matter whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert. What it came down to was being authentic, and comfortable in your own skin. To understanding people’s desires and maximising their strengths to achieve organization’s goals while linking it back to their personal growths to help them achieve their own goals.

Can you share a few of the things you have done to gain acceptance among your male peers and the general work community? What did your female co-workers do? Can you share some stories or examples?

I focused on delivering work and creating the most impact to support my colleagues, the company, and the network. Acceptance (both male and female) followed naturally. My co-workers do the same. At Streamline, we emphasize the importance of creating a diverse environment for ourselves and the newer generation entering the industry. We’re lucky to work with open-minded Founders who embrace diversity, and we work to ensure we can keep the same open opportunities and environment for those who are willing to put in the work and grow.

What do you think male-oriented organizations can do to enhance their recruiting efforts to attract more women?

I often meet people involved in recruitment who say they don’t look at gender, just skills. While it’d be an excellent approach in an ideal world, that’s not the reality. Attracting more women and diverse minds into your organization requires conscious, deliberate, and continued effort. Here’s some practical advice on how to improve diversity and allyship efforts in your organization:

(1) Get an objective assessment of the current situation in the work environment. Several employees are women and/or from diverse backgrounds. Your perception of diversity may be biased or skewed depending on where you are in the organization.

(2) Review the interview process for unconscious bias. Talk to your hires from diverse backgrounds to get feedback on what discouraged them during the application process. Sometimes things like requirements in the job opening and where the ads are shown affect your diversity pool from the start.

(3) Create a culture where everyone pulls each other up. An environment with psychological safety and a culture of sharing helps those from non-traditional backgrounds enter the industry and create internal networks that support each other. After all, retaining diverse talents is equally as important as recruiting them.

Ok thank you for all of that. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your opinion and experience, what are the “Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman In a Male-Dominated Industry?” (Please share a story or example for each.)

(1) Have the mindset that the pie is not limited. That we don’t have to compete for scraps. We have the power to create opportunities. Don’t feel threatened by your peers. Instead, celebrate their wins. Only some people will be bought into that idea, but the dynamic at work will change when enough do buy in. You will have a support network that can pull each other up.

(2) Don’t fall to cynicism. Creating change is a continuous and arduous process that can wear you down. Having a realistic outlook and wearing a black hat of pessimism purposefully to problem-solve is needed, but cynicism is unproductive and makes you fall into a victim mindset. Choosing realistic optimism helps you get up every day and pick yourself up when you fall (and you will). At the end, getting up matters more.

(3) Confrontation is necessary. It is not our job to be liked or impress others. Speak up for what you stand for. Be respectful, but do not compromise yourself or your values.

(4) Leverage your emotional intelligence. Emotions are not a weakness but a strength you can use to create genuine connections. Building a trust bank this way will help you in so many ways, including when trying to make a network, close deals, manage teams, and especially when managing confrontations and conflicts which are a necessary part of your work.

(5) Embrace the imposter syndrome as your superpower. Feeling of not being enough often comes from the ability to introspect and understand one’s limitations. It’s what keeps us grounded, realistic and constantly improving. If you’re able to master and own this feeling, and leverage it as strength to improve, you will have the perfect balance of humility and confidence which will make you a great leader.

If you had a close woman friend who came to you with a choice of entering a field that is male-dominated or female-dominated, what would you advise her? Would you advise a woman friend to start a career in a field or industry that’s traditionally been mostly men? Can you explain what you mean?

Whether the male-dominated or female-dominated field should not be the primary driver of choice. Evaluate your purpose in life and how your career fits that purpose and goals. If the male-dominated field gives you meaning in life, and you’re honest and aware of the challenges you will inevitably face, then pursue it. We need more representation, so it should not be a deterrent if that’s where your passion lies.

Have you seen things change for women working in male-dominated industries over the past ten years? How do you anticipate that it might improve in the future? Can you please explain what you mean?

On the consumer level, there are improvements. According to a report by Accenture, the industry added 500 million new and more diverse gamers over the past three years. And the profiles of these new joiners have also changed: 60% are women.

Representation at the consumer level is important for creating awareness and interest in the industry, which helps tackle the issue from the grassroots level. I’m happy that the industry is recruiting more women, but we need to do better at retaining them. There is still much work to be done regarding representation at higher-level management and C-suites.

We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

Phil Douglas Jackson — his leadership and way of helping individuals to achieve their best daily inspire me.

Thank you for your time, and your excellent insights! We wish you continued success.

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Thriving As A Woman In a Male-Dominated Industry: Yea Ji Oh of Streamline Studios On The Five… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Dean Schwartz of BudClub: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Leading a Cannabis or CBD Business

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

I wish I understood the really tough challenge of trying to activate customers and getting them to buy. Selling a home grow kit is like convincing someone to take a cooking class. It’s something you think about doing one day but it’s hard to convince a person to commit. It’s just easier to go to nice restaurants rather than learning how to cook great food.

As part of my series about “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Leading a Cannabis Business” I had the pleasure of interviewing Dean Schwartz.

Dean Schwartz is a classically-trained brand strategist and marketing innovation consultant who works with both established and emerging consumer, healthcare, and technology companies.

Dean started his career in consumer advertising working for top global agencies where he drove global brand strategy and campaign development for leading consumer brands. He helped create numerous award-winning advertising campaigns including

“Aleve, All Day Strong All Day Long”, “Tough Actin Tinactin”, “Crest, Healthy Smiles for Life” and the Nyquil morning-after litany.

In 2000, Dean moved into strategic consulting helping companies transform their science into highly differentiated products and brands that customers love. Dean has expertise across all aspects of branding and innovation including research and strategy, product ideation and design, positioning and claims development, branding and packaging, website and advertising development (broadcast, digital, mobile, social, HCP, and trade).

More recently, Dean has changed his professional efforts to focus on his personal passion which is cannabis cultivation. His personal mission is to help the world learn how to grow high, quality organic cannabis. He has developed the BudClub kit, a super easy 3 step organic home grow system for “dummies”. It’s designed to teach beginners how to grow big, beautiful buds so they never have to pay for quality cannabis again.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you share with us the story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Sure. I’ve been lucky to have a 40 year career in marketing and advertising working with healthcare and pharmaceutical companies. I own my own marketing agency. But I’m not a big medicine guy. I’ve always been into eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle.. So I wanted to start a new business that’s more personally connected to my values and beliefs. I decided to focus on home cultivation of cannabis because I believe people, especially medical users shouldn’t have to pay dispensary prices for cannabis that’s inferior quality and less healthy than home grown weed. Research shows that over 50% of cannabis users want to grow their own cannabis but only 4% actually do. The reason they don’t home grow is that they don’t know how and they’re concerned they’ll screw it up. I launched the BudClub kit to fulfill my personal mission which is to teach the world how to home grow big beautiful organic cannabis buds so they never have to pay for cannabis again. I designed the kit for Home Grow Dummies so it’s easy to use and foolproof. It’s the only kit that comes with seeds, and components for growing and harvest.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I have run my own marketing and advertising company for the last 20 years. And I’ve managed and executed multi-million dollar TV and digital campaigns for large consumer products companies with very well know brands. But I never had a full appreciation for the pressure that clients feel until I started BudClub and started investing my own money, It’s particularly difficult when you’re launching a new business…which means you’re investing your own money in a business that produces no revenue. It’s even scarier when you start having to invest in paid advertising and social media. This has taught me a lot. I’ve learned about the importance of generating sales, and not just visibility in the marketplace. This means every tactic must be viewed and judged based on ROI. And, I’ve learned to be a lot smarter and more targeted about the way I spend marketing dollars…again making sure that every investment delivers to the bottom line.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When I first started the business I ordered a grow tent in order to start growing. The kit arrived in a very large box. Fast forward a couple of years and the grow tent is still sitting in an unopened box. To be honest, I just couldn’t deal with the complexity and hassle of setting up the tent. Which led to my first big lesson…that most people are intimidated by the cannabis growing process. And so while they’re interested in trying to home grow they need a simple, low cost system that will enable them to succeed. Thus, the BudClub kit was born…

Are you working on any exciting projects now? How do you think that will help people?

We’re about to launch our “Give one/Get One” holiday promotion bundle. It’s all about helping people grow together and discover the joy of home growing. We’re selling a complete 5 gallon bundle that includes a grow kit, harvest kit and seeds. And we’re giving away a second 5 gallon bundle kit for free so friends and family can grow together.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

Yes, I am very grateful to Treena, a personal coach I worked with when I started the business. She helped me understand the importance of being centered and focusing on the values that matter to me. I came to understand the joy that comes when you combine the work you do with the values and beliefs that define you as a person. The BudClub business lets me combine my love of marketing with my passion for helping others live healthy, more satisfying lives. I love what I’m doing now and believe I’m helping to improve the planet.

This industry is young, dynamic and creative. Does your company use any clever and innovative marketing strategies that you think large legacy companies should consider adopting?

We are a young company and we’re just getting started. We have a lot to learn. Though I’m lucky to have extensive experience as a marketing and advertising consultant. So I’m in a great position to apply marketing best practices to growing my business. The big thing I’m focused on is creating an omni channel presence by combining PR, paid advertising and SEO behind a simple focused message. And, we’re offering extremely high value product bundle promotions to activate the 50% of cannabis users who are interested in growing their own.

Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the Cannabis industry? Can you share 3 things that most concern you?

It’s exciting to see this huge industry come out of the darkness and form right in front of our eyes. The market is still in the early stages so it’s ripe for new ideas and product innovation. It’s exciting to be in an industry that helps people live healthier, happier lives. I’ve seen the difference that cannabis makes to people in physical and emotional pain.

My biggest concern is all the restrictions on cannabis marketing and advertising which make it much harder to build awareness and interest in products. I’ve created and deployed multi-million dollar advertising campaigns for powerful pharmaceuticals products with severe side effects in TV and other media with no restrictions. Yet, I can’t do the same thing for the magical and incredibly safe cannabis plant. It’s insane. I’m also concerned about Big Agriculture swooping in to dominate the cannabis industry.

Can you share your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Leading a Cannabis Business”? Please share a story or example for each.

I have 4 wishes:

1. Just how regulated cannabis marketing is and what a challenge it is to break through to customers.
2. How much fun it is to work in the business. The people are awesome and the process is a kick.
3. I wish I understood the economics of an eCommerce business and the high cost of acquiring a customer.
4. I wish I understood the really tough challenge of trying to activate customers and getting them to buy. Selling a home grow kit is like convincing someone to take a cooking class. It’s something you think about doing one day but it’s hard to convince a person to commit. It’s just easier to go to nice restaurants rather than learning how to cook great food.

What advice would you give to other CEOs or founders to help their employees to thrive?

Not sure I’m in a good position to give advice. This is still a young business and there’s a lot I need to learn. Honestly, I should be getting advice and not giving it now.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

The movement I want to inspire is a Home Grow Revolution. My personal mission is to teach the world to home grow cannabis. Home grown weed is healthier, stronger and more flavorful. It’s also a whole lot cheaper than buying in a dispensary. And, for people who use medical cannabis, home growing lets them have a steady, reliable supply of the chemovar they need for mental or physical relief. It’s absolutely crazy for people…especially now during challenging times…to be dependent on expensive dispensary weed that inferior to home grown product.

What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?

I’m just getting active on social media. People can join the BudClub community on our Instagram page.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

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Dean Schwartz of BudClub: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Leading a Cannabis or… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Alexandra Janelli of Modrn Sanctuary PA On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Learn more about anger. The feeling verse reaction of it. They are two different things. When we listen to our anger it can be a big clue into what we want and then moving toward a solution to find it.

As a part of my series about women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alexandra Janelli, hypnotherapist, life coach and founder of Modrn Sanctuary PA.

Alexandra Janelli, the founder of Modrn Sanctuary PA, is a premier health and wellness entrepreneur, hypnotherapists and coach who has worked with Academy Award Nominee actors, singers, athletes, and high-level professionals. After graduating from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, Alexandra founded her private hypnotherapy practice Theta Spring Hypnosis. She opened the critically acclaimed Modrn Sanctuary, the flagship luxury wellness center in Manhattan, in 2016 and Modrn Sanctuary PA in Philadelphia in November of 2022. Alexandra is married with two children and lives in downtown Philly.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I started my career in Environmental Consulting back in 2003. During that time I started to also explore alternative therapies to help me with TMJ and cuticle picking. Within two sessions of hypnosis I felt like my life had changed drastically in comparison to the years I spent in conventional talk therapy.

In 2009 I moved to Chicago with my partner and decided to go back to school for hypnotherapy, as it had impacted my life in such a monumental way. In 2010 I started practicing in Chicago and helping several Kellogg MBA students overcome blocks. In 2012 I moved back to NYC where I launched my career as a Hypnotherapist and worked hard to being Hypnosis to the forefront of the alternative therapy space as a viable option for creating some deeper and meaningful changes. During that time I was able to work with a variety of clients from kids to adults, professional to students and from smoking to anxiety and stress. My passion lead me to focus my skills in the area of anxiety and fear-based stress management hypnosis.

In 2015 I made the decision to continue my path in the wellness-sphere by exploring Halotherapy (Himalayan Salt Room Treatments), which resulted in the curation of what is now Modrn Sanctuary New York — a 15 treatment room oasis all surrounding a large Himalayan salt room. From alternative therapies such as crystal healing and reiki to Botox and micro-needling, Modrn Sanctuary soon became a beloved staple in the Manhattan community due to its unique offers, styling but approachable décor, and unique experiences. In 2022 I made the decision to move the business to Philadelphia and have loved growing the brand. From private practices, to marketing and program curation, I have experienced it all!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

One word wraps it all up-COVID. Did anyone ever think this would happen? No insurance policy, class, legal counsel or government entity could possibly have prepared me for this education/experience.

When COVID hit I was living in Philadelphia with a baby. The stress that the pandemic cause and slew of unknowns urged a wait-wait, but hurry mentality. I worried about my employees, rent, clients and of course, my health. What were we to do when our business was centered around helping people, and we had to close.

Navigating the pandemic, required the participation of creativity, community, faith (in the sense of knowing everything would work out the way it was supposed to), along with a ton of tears and coping mechanisms.

Without driveling too much into the story, I was amazed at what a community of people can do when their passions align and everyone works together toward the same goal.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I am not sure that I would call it a mistake, but if I could do it again I am not sure I would have done a Himalayan salt room or taken over a space so large.

With that said, I think there was much to be gained and some of the hardest lessons (difficult clients, the things that blindside you on a Tuesday morning- like floods in your office) truly teach you that nothing is unrealistic, everything has a solution, and at the end of the day, it too will pass.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

It appears that almost every day I turn on the news to hear a story about a mass shooting. Guns. Ugh. But is it the guns or is that the presenting issue? I believe it’s the presenting issue that is underlain by a mental health epidemic. People are unhappy. They are scared. They are angry. We have become a reactive culture and have lost our way. People have no idea who they are and tend to feel, in comparison to social media posts, that they are not good-enough.

I feel my work as a hypnotist and wellness-preneur is to help people find home within. To learn who you are, what you like, what you don’t like, what are your core belief systems and also rules you live by. The goal is not to never feel stress or always be happy. The goal is to learn how to move through stress and have good coping mechanisms that can shift those emotions and make them more tolerable. This can be in a facial- looking in the mirror after and feeling just a bit more beautiful. Post massage- feeling more relaxed and less pain. A hypnosis session- by finding an old belief system that no longer serves a purpose and changing it for another.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

1. You are not meant to be happy all the time. Constantly searching to be eternally happy will leave you consistently disappointed.

2. If you do want to be happier look at the simple math equation of your ratio of Reality to Expectation. How often is your expectation leading to disappointment compared to reality.

3. Learn emotional tolerance. How can you become more comfortable with your emotions. Feel them. We have lost our ability to feel so we can THINK.

4. Learn more about anger. The feeling verse reaction of it. They are two different things. When we listen to our anger it can be a big clue into what we want and then moving toward a solution to find it.

5. Change starts with awareness. Then it’s a choice of what you want to do.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I would like start a movement about solution-focused communication and emotional shifts to help you move through stress states quickly. We have as a society lost the ability to RESPECT others and listen. It all comes down to communication.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

1. Trust your gut

2. Always rely on your own data

3. Not every opportunity is worth your energy

4. At the end of the day no one will ever care as much as you

5. Don’t be greedy

Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Mental Health. The pain people are experiencing is real and no school is teaching coping mechanisms to shift it.

What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?

Website: www.modrnsanctuarypa.com

Instagram: @alexandrajanelli @modrnsanctuary

LinkedIn: alexandrajanelli

Facebook: ModrnSanctuary

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

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Women In Wellness: Alexandra Janelli of Modrn Sanctuary PA On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.