Not everyone is going to see your vision. This one stops you from being so frustrated when people don’t understand your plans or way of thinking.
As a part of our interview series called “Women Of The C-Suite,” we had the pleasure of interviewing April Showers.
April Showers is a lead-by-example creator who works to uplift, advocate and inspire all to achieve greatness. She is focused on fusing her passions with her life’s purpose to help other entrepreneurs on their journey. Founder and CEO of Afro Unicorn™, a brand designed to remind women and children of color how unique, divine and magical they truly are.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! 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 am a serial entrepreneur. In addition to being the founder of Afro Unicorn I am also the owner of an insurance agency and a licensed real estate broker. My superpower however is that I am a single mom of two amazing honor students ages 16 and 11.
From pre-teen years I always had a desire to work for myself. Always wanted to be the boss. “Who’s the Boss” was actually one of my favorite childhood shows.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?
Back in August 2022 after a viral video of a little girl wearing my Afro Unicorn shirt I received an email from a merchant at Walmart with the subject title “Afro Unicorn x Walmart” collaboration; have you ever considered party supplies? This by far is the most interesting story that is directly leading towards our success.
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 cousin Chelsea has always been instrumental in the success of Afro Unicorn. Before it was even a brand we would spend late nights on the phone where I would be crying over some stupid situation and she would say “are you donkey or a unicorn”…lol She always had an interesting way of putting things back in the proper prospective for me. She pushed me so hard to get this brand going, believing that I was bigger than me and the world needed it.
As you know, the United States is facing a very important self-reckoning about race, diversity, equality and inclusion. This may be obvious to you, but it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you articulate to our readers a few reasons why it is so important for a business or organization to have a diverse executive team?
We are woman owned and black owned. Our brand is of representation so it only makes sense that we are represented.
As a business leader, can you please share a few steps we must take to truly create an inclusive, representative, and equitable society? Kindly share a story or example for each.
To have a more inclusive, representative and equitable society we first have to recognize that we are ALL different. A lot of people say they don’t see color, but I believe that is part of the issue. I want to be seen and heard as most people of color do. Once you recognize our differences then you can clearly see me and know how to include me.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Most of our readers — in fact, most people — think they have a pretty good idea of what a CEO or executive does. But in just a few words can you explain what an executive does that is different from the responsibilities of the other leaders?
As founder of Afro Unicorn I am the visionary. I see what the company will look like 5–10 years from now. I then employ other leaders around me to carry out and execute that vision.
What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a CEO or executive. Can you explain what you mean?
A lot of people think that the CEO doesn’t do any work, that we just sit in the corner office. However, that is far from the truth. As the visionary we don’t rest, we are constantly planning. I don’t think real CEO’s get more than 3 hours of good sleep a day. Lol; our brain never stops.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women executives that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?
Honestly I don’t know. I don’t focus on what others are doing. I just go hard for whatever it is I’m working towards. And if there is a fence or wall blocking me, I just plow right through it.
What is the most striking difference between your actual job and how you thought the job would be?
As I stated before, I always wanted to be my own boss, so I’m actually doing exactly what I always knew I would.
Is everyone cut out to be an executive? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful executive and what type of person should avoid aspiring to be an executive? Can you explain what you mean?
Only visionaries who are willing to stay consistent can be CEO. It is not for the faint at heart. Your success is measured by your consistency.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)
Not everyone is going to see your vision. This one stops you from being so frustrated when people don’t understand your plans or way of thinking.
Your failures are not fatal. They actually help toughen you up for what’s ahead.
Write down everything you want to happen. Goal manifestation is key as soon as I started doing it, everything I wanted started happening.
Don’t give up. Because if you do , you will never know if you could.
Consistency is key. Even if you don’t see immediate results, you just have to remain consistent.
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?
I believe you should show up how you feel. Meaning spend more time working on the inside (reading, journaling, healthy eating, exercise) and you will automatically want to show on the outside how you feel on the inside.
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.
I have already started a movement. Afro Unicorn is a lifestyle brand reminding women and children of color how unique, divine and magical they truly are. Our goal from the beginning was to normalize black beauty and advocate entrepreneurship while giving our black and brown women and girls a unicorn that represents them. Encouraging them to love the skin that they are in and embrace the crowns on their heads.
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
I would love to sit down with Viola Davis. She doesn’t know this but it was because of her sharing the initial viral video of the little girl wearing my shirt why I am now the first black woman and black brand to enter into party supplies for a major retailer. I just want to tell her THANK YOU!!!!
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
Attend as many small intimate cannabis events as you can. You can meet industry people, hear their stories, learn what is missing, and you can start to build your community. Example: When I started in this industry, I would attend Women Grow meetings in Orange County. To this day, I’ve made some of the best connections attending those meetings versus going to say a High Times event where it’s too big to actually get to know people.
As a part of my series about strong women leaders in the cannabis industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Tamara Anderson, Founder of Culinary & Cannabis.
Tamara Anderson is Founder of Culinary & Cannabis, an all sensory interactive cannabis event production company. Tamara oversees daily operations and growth for Culinary & Cannabis including online content, marketing, and brand partnerships. A pastry chef, registered nurse, and MMJ patient herself who progressively and knowledgeably understands the complex intersection of medical cannabis and traditional healthcare, Tamara’s focus helps educate folks on total plant use by providing unique experiences for learning and education. Through luxury Culinary & Cannabis Events, Tamara brings together healthcare professionals, advocacy groups, and food & wine experts within the community for a great cause. One of the highest goals of Culinary & Cannabis Events is to refute the stigma associated with medical marijuana treatment by exploring its many delicious culinary possibilities. From online modules and social media engagement, to in-person classes, culinary, and wellness spa functions, Tamara specializes in making people comfortable with working with cannabis and its myriad wellness applications. Tamara’s consulting work and Culinary & Cannabis engagements (like Canna Cool Lounge and Harrington Wellness) are headquartered in Southern California with demand rapidly growing across North America, the UK, Australia, and Asia. Follow Tamara online at https://www.culinaryandcannabis.com
Culinary & Cannabis is an all sensory interactive cannabis event production company, covering all things cannabis with an emphasis on luxurious self care, health, wellness and beauty. Founded by nurse Tamara Anderson with a mission to showcase cannabis’s positive impact on people’s lives, Culinary & Cannabis is where the canna-curious feel comfortable to learn and explore along with conscious cannabis consumers who celebrate a sophisticated stoner style. Access to education is the key to change — Culinary & Cannabis harnesses this passion to meet consumers where they’re at. For more information and to attend upcoming Culinary & Cannabis events, please visit: https://www.culinaryandcannabis.com
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the “backstory” about what brought you to the cannabis industry?
The lack of knowledge available in regards to infusing with cannabis brought me here, but what keeps me here is the desire to spread awareness on the variety of ways in which this plant can be used.
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?
When we had Drummer Boy attend one of our events, I learned he had been smoking since his teenage years but wasn’t even aware of what CBD was until we introduced it to him. That’s when I discovered that celebrity and talent don’t always have access to information and education because it’s rare that they can be in this space with their peers allowing them the chance to learn something new.
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 don’t know if I have gotten to the point that any of my mistakes were funny!…except maybe when we produced our first Coachella event many years ago, and the owner locked half of our party out of the property. Turns out, he didn’t tell us he gave the gate key to another guest. Lesson learned: always make sure you have the venue secured.
Do you have a funny story about how someone you knew reacted when they first heard you were getting into the cannabis industry?
My son’s reaction was the best. He was super excited and very proud, and even more excited than when I graduated from nursing school.
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?
There are a couple of people, including my event production mentor Renea Martoff. She was one of the first people I called when I came up with the concept. She is the one who helped me mood board my vision of cannabis sophistication. She’s given a lot and to this day believes in my mission.
Are you working on any new or exciting projects now? How do you think that will help people?
Yes, we are working on the launch of our CannaSpa Parties, a new service that is directly for consumers. They can order a cannabis-inspired wellness pamper party for themselves and their friends. Think girls night-in: the infused version. I think it will give cannabis consumers the option to have an event created with their friends and family where everyone can feel included even if you don’t consume. Cannabis consumers don’t have a lot of options available when it comes to creating experiences but we want to change that.
Ok. Thank you for all that. Let’s now jump to the main core of our interview. Despite great progress that has been made we still have a lot more work to do to achieve gender parity in this industry. According to this report in Entrepreneur, less than 25 percent of cannabis businesses are run by women. In your opinion or experience, what 3 things can be done by a)individuals b)companies and/or c) society to support greater gender parity moving forward?
More consumers seeking and supporting women-owned brands.
More companies highlighting and bringing awareness that they are women-owned, as well as creating experiences where consumers can connect with the women behind the brands.
Society can support greater gender equality moving forward by sharing needs with women in cannabis who are business owners. Let us know what we can be doing more of or what you’re looking for, so we can serve you better.
You are a “Cannabis Insider”. If you had to advise someone about 5 non intuitive things one should know to succeed in the cannabis industry, what would you say?
Attend as many small intimate cannabis events as you can. You can meet industry people, hear their stories, learn what is missing, and you can start to build your community. Example: When I started in this industry, I would attend Women Grow meetings in Orange County. To this day, I’ve made some of the best connections attending those meetings versus going to say a High Times event where it’s too big to actually get to know people.
Don’t stray too far from your passion. This industry is very new and needs everything, so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just turn it green. Example: If you know how to write professionally, then you can turn it into becoming a cannabis specific journalist but you have to know how to write thought provoking articles first.
Visit other places where cannabis is legal. It is a very eye opening experience. Example: I live in California and we have access to education, experiences and a variety of flower strains. In Atlanta, many people still don’t even know the difference between CBD and THC.
Document your cannabis consumption experience by keeping a diary. You can experiment with different methods. Then, write how it made you feel, the time it took to take effect, how long it lasted, and so on. Example: Grab a journal (Goldeaf makes a few different types) or notebook and make it your personal consumption tracker.
Work with people who are good at whatever it is that they specialize in. That doesn’t always mean cannabis first. You can take the time to learn about cannabis. The rules and regulations are constantly changing and that may mean we don’t really have any experts in the industry (Oooo that might get me in trouble). Example: You should be a chef before you become an infusion chef or at least know how to authentically cook first.
Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the cannabis industry?
The versatility of products in the industry especially the beverage sector (I like Saka Vinfusions, a cannabis-infused beverage made from alcohol-removed wines from Napa Valley).
That cannabis education has been added to many nursing curricula.
More schools are providing education on the plant.
Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?
The talk of social equity but the lack of actual social equity or support.
Lack of women-owned brands and funding for them.
Legacy operators are being left behind, and it’s a shame that some or still have to operate in the legacy market.
The solution? I would suggest a true social equity program, one that implements assistance all the way through the process and includes the full scope of running a cannabis business with expansion of the ancillary services with options for land or shared spaces.
What are your thoughts about federal legalization of cannabis? If you could speak to your Senator, what would be your most persuasive argument regarding why they should or should not pursue federal legalization?
People may not like me for this, but I think once we have federal legalization we will also be able to do true research on the plant and what type of diagnosis it can help, and finding out which cannabinoids can substitute certain medications. The research could be self-funding if done the correct way.
Today, cigarettes are legal, but they are heavily regulated, highly taxed, and they are somewhat socially marginalized. Would you like cannabis to have a similar status to cigarettes or different? Can you explain?
It will be heavily regulated just based on the fact of how it can affect each person differently. Regulations are important to safeguard those who are not responsible. We are already highly taxed but there needs to be a balance so that the industry can strive and grow. I think cannabis can have a status in-between cigarettes and alcohol but it’s a fine line.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“No” just means “not right now.” I’ve found a lot of times people say NO for a variety of reasons but usually there is something you can do that changes their mind. So never take NO as a negative, take it as the opportunity to show and improve. On a regular basis, I receive calls from brands that decline to participate in one of our events but then see the recap or hear about the experience and have since wanted to do events with us.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
It would be to provide cannabis education through experiences around the world. We don’t know what we don’t know. You can make informed decisions with more knowledge about cannabis and its benefits. We want to share that.
Thank you so much for the time you spent with this. We wish you only continued success!
Women In Wellness: Erica Hornthal of Chicago Dance Therapy On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadice
Ask yourself, “how am I moving today?” This encourages us to redefine how we see movement and how it is related to our current mood or emotional state. It also uncovers the judgments and assumptions we make about how we move.
As a part of my series about women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Erica Hornthal.
Erica Hornthal, known as “The Therapist Who Moves You” is a board-certified dance/movement therapist and licensed clinical professional counselor. She is the founder and CEO of Chicago Dance Therapy and creator of the Dance Therapy Advocates Summit.
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 am a board-certified dance/movement therapist and clinical professional counselor. Being a dancer since I was 3, I have always loved movement, but it wasn’t until I was in college that I was introduced to the field of dance/movement therapy. I then went on to pursue my MA in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling and have since dedicated my career to helping people rediscover their mind-body connection and redefine movement in order to support their mental and emotional health.
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?
I was invited to speak at a Dance for Minds event in LA. I was Zoom-ed into the program as I was in Chicago and when the video connected I found myself talking to non other than Maria Shriver! She asked me about my work and how movement can help with Alzheimer’s. It was definitely a highlight of my career. The lesson I learned is that you never know what is possible but it starts with exploring, collaborating, and connecting with others.
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?
A “mistake” I made early on in my career was focusing on the positive. While that sounds like a healthy or positive thing, I realized that it minimized or gaslit some clients situations. I needed to meet them in their discomfort, disappointment, sadness, grief, and frustration, not take it away from them. People don’t always need a silver lining. They need to be heard, feel supported, and able to express how and what they feel. It’s not my job as a therapist to take it away. It’s my job to help clients help themselves and learn to manage their uncomfortable less desirable feelings.
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?
I believe that we are how we move and if we want to change aspects of ourselves then it begins within the body. Movement is so much more than exercise. There is so much of our movement that is on autopilot and unless we become more aware of it, it can actually keep us stuck in the situations that are causing tension, stress, and dis-ease. I want people to become more invested in their mental health by focusing on the inherent body-mind connection.
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) Ask yourself, “how am I moving today?” This encourages us to redefine how we see movement and how it is related to our current mood or emotional state. It also uncovers the judgments and assumptions we make about how we move.
2) Embrace micro-movements. Small movements lead to big changes. This can be taking a breath, stretching your body, or shifting your posture. Small changes are always possible through the body.
3) Move more, not better. It is not about moving better but simply moving, period. We are so stagnant and confined in our environments and bodies that we inevitably will be confined in our minds as well. When we look for more opportunities to move, we allow our emotions to flow through us rather than get stuck.
4) Move your body to move your mind. If you are feeling stuck on unmotivated, get moving. Take a walk, stretch your body, or even wiggle your fingers. This is enough to get synapses in the brain firing which leads to clarity, focus, and improved attention.
5) Take body aware breaks. It is imperative that we take time to connect to our bodies throughout the day and not just for exercise. Set a reminder on your phone if you have to. Releasing tension and stress begins in the body and in order to listen to what the body needs, we need to take breaks, pause, and interrupt our autopilot.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
It would be a “Body Aware” Movement! Body Aware is the title of my award-winning book and it is already moving people toward greater awareness, mental health, and overall satisfaction. If everyone was more body aware, the world would be a healthier happier place.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
1) Mistakes are a necessary part of success. This is a vital part of learning and what’s worse is if we are afraid of making mistakes, we limit our potential and are too afraid to take risks that can lead to opportunities for growth and connection.
2) There is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is simply an illusion and keeps us from achieving. We fear that we are not good enough or that we will be exposed rather than appreciating who we are, flaws and all!
3) Take risks. If we always play it safe, then we are leaving so many opportunities on the table. We cannot always expect to walk through open doors. Sometimes we have to be willing to open them ourselves.
4) A step back is NOT a setback. A step back allows us to re-evaluate, change our perspective, and slow down or pause.
5) It is necessary to slow down and take breaks. This prevents burnout.
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 is my life’s work. Mental health is physical health. It’s not a trend that we need to buy into, but a part of our health that we need to invest in. We all want to live better and that truly starts with becoming aware of our thoughts, mood, mental status and how we care for ourselves in the face of adversity and hardship.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
Instagram is a great way to connect and keep up with my work. Find me at @the.therapist.who.moves.you.
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
Women Of The C-Suite: Nicole Castillo of WordHampton Public Relations On The Five Things You Need To Succeed As A Senior Executive
An Interview With Candice Georgiadice
Patience is key! I tend to be an impatient person as I prefer to finish tasks and move on to the next task. However in my business not all of my clients are responding in a timely fashion or deliver the elements I need immediately. This used to cause me angst, however once I realized that as long as I executed the task within the deadline I could still be successful.
As a part of our interview series called “Women Of The C-Suite”, we had the pleasure of interviewing Nicole Castillo.
Nicole Castillo, Executive Vice President and partner of WordHampton Public Relations, has been an integral part of the company over the last 25 years. An expert in both media and client relations, she continues to garner positive publicity for major events, food and beverage products, and lifestyle and hospitality services. Castillo has a roster of several award winning campaigns which includes two Public Relations Society of America’s New York Chapter Big Apple Awards. Since her first day at WordHampton she has been stimulating company growth through new initiatives and business development.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! 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?
While in college I chose to pursue Communications as a major. At that time public relations was a fairly new industry, at least when it came to a course of study in college. When I began to take classes in the public relations field I was very interested in the idea behind working with brands to promote them and creating strategies to gain editorial exposure for them. For a senior project I was assigned to interview someone in the public relations field and I chose to interview a PR firm owner in my hometown of The Hamptons, NY. Upon conducting the interview of WordHampton owner Steve Haweeli I indicated my interest in a job or internship with the company upon my graduation. Upon graduation I contacted Haweeli and was hired. From that day on I continued to grow with the company into the owner that I am today.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?
Several years ago we had a client who was celebrating a milestone anniversary and was looking for a creative way to gain publicity. Ben’s Kosher Deli launched the first matzoh ball eating contest and our firm was tapped to organize and run the entire event. It was a smashing success garnering publicity on every major network television station, newspaper and magazine. It became an annual event and began to attract the serious competitive food eaters, a very unique culture. We began to learn the ins and outs of competitive food eating and it became such a highly successful event that after a few years Ben’s ceased having the event. It was a great learning experience for our firm and myself in thinking outside the box and learning the amount of work that goes into running an event. Everything from the legal side of it to the necessity of having an EMT on site, it was a true experience!
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. 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?
At our company we work with several restaurant clients and are often writing about menu items. We had a client that was featuring a special dessert for the holidays “baked Alaska.” However when I was writing the press release the “b” and the “n” are right next to each other on the key board and I inadvertently typed Naked Alaska in the press release. Since it was not an incorrectly spelled word, spellcheck missed it and the press release went out with “Naked Alaska.” Although it was embarrassing it solicited a chuckle from most of the writers we sent it to. The lesson is to ALWAYS have someone proof your press releases before sending them out!
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 day one mentor has been Steve Haweeli, the founder of WordHampton Public Relations. The day I walked into Steve’s basement office to interview him for a PR class project, I was immediately taken by his charisma and dedication to grow his small PR firm. Twenty five years later I am honored to be carrying on Steve’s legacy of WordHampton. He built the company from the ground up 30 years ago and was an incredible mentor to me and always believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. I am the publicist and business owner I am today because of all his years of wisdom and guidance. He taught me one of the most valuable lessons: “Work Hard, Laugh Hard.”
Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story with us about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader?
All businesses have moments of prosper and struggles. At a time when our company was prospering, we expanded to open a second office and employ a second set of staff. However as the economy took a turn, we had to make the difficult decision of closing down the second office, and laying off staff to focus on maintaining the company’s headquarter office. It was difficult to let those team members go, but at the time it was the right decision for the company.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Most of our readers — in fact, most people — think they have a pretty good idea of what a CEO or executive does. But in just a few words can you explain what an executive does that is different from the responsibilities of the other leaders?
Although our company is small and we do not have many layers of management, leadership and levels of leadership have their place amongst our team. Since stepping into the role as an executive of the company my leadership role has developed into focusing on the growth of the company both internally and externally. Internally as an executive I have developed systems and platforms for our team that allow them to grow and develop into leaders themselves. I feel that it is incredibly important that each and every member of our team have a voice in things we can do to better our company. In order to foster that collaboration I developed our annual company retreat where we go off site and focus on improving our company internally from new systems to our own marketing and staying current with trends in our industry. As well, as an executive my role focuses on new business development. Sourcing new clients, networking with potential clients and developing strategies for reaching new clients.
What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a CEO or executive? Can you explain what you mean?
In today’s day and age many CEO executives are portrayed in the mainstream media as ruthless and asserting power over the staff. I believe the contrary, as being a leader of a company it is important to be collaborative with your team and also be receptive to feedback from them as well. Those who work for executives will have much more respect for an executive who is approachable and open-minded when it comes to feedback. Again a company is strongest with a strong and dedicated team, therefore the role of the executive is to create an environment that fosters that behavior.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women executives that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?
I feel that women in executive positions and a position of power may be viewed negatively as opposed to men in executive or powerful positions. Men have been associated with power since the early days, so when a woman is in a position of power it can often have a negative connotation. Women may be seen as standoffish or unapproachable as they assert their power whereas men are expected to be powerful and bold and it more acceptable.
What is the most striking difference between your actual job and how you thought the job would be?
When I began in the public relations industry social media was not in existence so I always believed my focus would be working with journalists at newspapers and magazines primarily. However due to the onset and prevalence of social media, my work has shifted quite a bit to incorporate managing social media. Developing content on social media for clients is allowing me a direct line of communication to the customers of my clients as opposed to working with writers and editors. For this reason I need to adjust my messaging when working on social media versus working with writers on editorial.
Is everyone cut out to be an executive? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful executive and what type of person should avoid aspiring to be an executive? Can you explain what you mean?
Not everyone is cut out to be an executive. As a leader not only must you employ the skills to lead a company, but you also must have compassion for each and every member of your team as you are responsible for fostering your team to succeed. All companies are built on the foundation of their staff and it is imperative that the team is dedicated and motivated to produce for the company. If one does not have the patience and compassion to work with team members on developing that dedication and drive to deliver results for your company, than they will likely struggle as an executive.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)
Love. It is so important to love who you are, what you do and who you work with to be successful. From being confident about who you have become and how you find success to loving the people on your team, it truly makes you a better leader. I feel it is so important to share successes of your team members and develop an environment where everyone is celebrated. It creates a much better work environment for all. We like to share wins of great placements for our clients amongst our staff and on our social media platforms.
Dedication is a quality to seek in your team members. In order for your company to be successful you must have dedicated staff. They are the ones who are producing for you on a daily basis and in order for them to be dedicated they need to be appreciated. The more you appreciate them the more dedicated to deliver for your company they will be. For example we often hand out gift cards to our team members after a busy season as an extra added bonus.
Patience is key! I tend to be an impatient person as I prefer to finish tasks and move on to the next task. However in my business not all of my clients are responding in a timely fashion or deliver the elements I need immediately. This used to cause me angst, however once I realized that as long as I executed the task within the deadline I could still be successful.
Confidence generates success! The more confidence you have as a leader the more success you are bound to have. You must strike a balance between being overconfident and under confident, but once you assert confidence with a client you are often given more respect and therefore win more clients. I recall in a meeting a client asking if we could execute a task that we did not have a skill level in, however being that I wanted to win the account I asserted that we absolutely could execute the task and I knew that we could be resourceful to make it happen as it was not so far beyond our abilities.
Balance in your life will lead to success. I always thought that the most successful business owners were the ones who dedicated all of their time to their work. However I have realized that it is important to balance work and life and the more you take time out for yourself the more productive you are when you are at work. I know there is always something I could be doing for work, but I also know it can wait. I prioritize making time for myself, my family and my friends to maintain that healthy balance.
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.
Free college education for all. Many people are unable to attend college due to the exorbitant cost, thus less and less young people are able to further their education. If our country is able to foster more educated youths, the next generation will be afforded more opportunities for success in their lives.
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
I would love to sit down to a one on one conversation with Oprah. I believe that she is so inspiring coming from a very challenging background and becoming so incredibly successful in so many ways. She maintains integrity and humility in her role as a powerful woman and I would love to hear about all of her secrets to success.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
Female Disruptors: Judie Nuskey of Advanced Driver Training Services On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry
An Interview With Candice Georgiadice
Silence has Its Own Sound ~ This is something we have all done or needed to do. Note, there are times to be silent, and times to speak up. Sitting in a classroom, conference room, or a meeting, being silent, will not get you noticed. I once was the first one in the room with the speaker, smiled, said hello, and he THANKED me, said he could go hours in a day without someone just saying a simple hello.
As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Judie Nuskey.
As Director of Operations, Judie is making larger companies re-evaluate the risks and costs of their current safety programs and is progressively creating custom driver training programs to lower (or keep low) their crash rates. She wants to be known for sharing the message of safety and is dedicated to changing driver behavior. With her creative ability and fresh perspective, Judie offers new areas of improvement that will provide personal, corporate, and commercial organizations with vehicle fleets, the benefits to maintain, improve, optimize, develop and implement visions and goals that will keep drivers safe on the road.
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 have a knack on being chatty, especially when I am excited, so thank you for this opportunity! My background is finance, mostly corporate. I am self-taught in Canadian, Government, and Non-Profit accounting. I love balancing and crunching numbers, but I began to think more about the big picture, and I decided to look for opportunities to move into challenging executive roles. A friend introduced me to Advanced Driver Training Services, and the dance began. A successful fleet safety initiative requires a strong partnership between the client organization and the safety program supplier. I know it may sound cliché, but I am always impressed by the “work hard and play hard” mentality. It’s like a light turned on, and I knew I was in the right field.
Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
I’m concerned. We need to raise awareness among both the drivers and their employers. Risky driving behavior continues. Unacceptable and irresponsible driving while at work is becoming a threat to many businesses’ brand and reputation, with a significant impact on its Corporate Social Responsibility commitments. I am disrupting the industry to build a relationship with these companies to take stock in their current driver safety programs and gauge the relative maturity of CSR policies across the organization. It is imperative to assess existing programs, policies, metrics, and engagements within the company. At Advanced Driver Training Services, I, as well as our dedicated instructors, whom are all current and retired law enforcement, are dedicated to teaching our program that targets any questionable driving practices quickly and helps establish the importance of maintaining safe driving habits. It is a natural fit when MVR’s discover a potential concern or liability. It doesn’t matter what car you drive; you cannot change the driver’s behavior. We can monitor, develop a baseline, coach, and educate, and most importantly, recognize and reward positive behavior.
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?
As I mentioned, all our instructors are in law enforcement. Oh, the stories they can tell! The evaluations they write when they perform the 1 to 1 observations of drivers are specific in what they observed and are narrated in the form of a police report. The only thing that has saved me as the “civilian” of the company is that my husband (retired) was a police officer. Trying to teach them what a federal meal reimbursement per diem is (no, you do not add the breakfast, lunch and dinner into one dollar amount and have one large meal), and that the approved mid-size SUV company rental car does not start with a P for Porsche. In order to know the ins and outs of our program, I was evaluated driving through our skill courses. I attended wearing flip flops. Yikes! Flip Flops are not the ideal footwear for one of the three courses I would be tested on, threshold breaking, not to mention acceptable footwear for any driver. To perform this skill, I had to take them off. I learned from the lecture I received why it was dangerous to drive with flip flops on and didn’t realize the dangers of them getting caught on the gas pedal. I learned a valuable lesson that day regarding safety behind the wheel, and it was also the ice breaker, that started my working relationship with our passionate instructors. We would NOT be the company we are without them. The pictures and emails that were sent throughout the company were a little hard to take, but the message was received — no flip flops.
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?
My life has been filled with mentors, both personally and professionally. Each mentor had a unique set of talents, and I am fortunate to apply what they taught me. They helped build my confidence, and to do the right thing, and to do it sooner than later. I met Jan Peterson when I was searching for a second job to make ends meet. Jan was the owner of Peterson Kitchens and was looking for a bookkeeper. She knew the industry was changing, and was ready to adapt to change, and took the leap forward into the world of electronic emails, cell phones, and computerizing the company accounting software system. She taught me how to send my first text, how fair she was to the other designers, and what she expected from them, as they were representatives of her brand. I watched her raise her 5 children, work full time, and be a caregiver to her mother when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, never imagining that one day I would be taking care of my own mother with the same disease. Jan took a chance on me, and we learned together. A mentor is a person who can support, advise, and guide you. A person who takes the time to get to know you and the challenges you are facing, and then uses their understanding and personal experience to help you improve. Everything Jan had accomplished was from being ahead of her competition and building her brand. I watched her passion and her attention to detail, but it was her interaction with her clients that was special. The clients walked in as clients but left as lifelong friends. She taught me anything is possible, but if you really want something, you must figure out how to make that happen. I need to be successful in getting my message of safety to new clients, to build my company brand. Like her, I will be the one that makes things happen, I will not wait for things to happen. Fast forward to 2022, and as a member AFLA’s Women in Mentorship Program, I have been paired with Corey Woinarowicz, Chief Revenue Officer at NoCell Technologies. Corey is dedicated to solving the problem of distracted driving. Our passion for saving lives, with industry leading technology, and live driver training, is a good pairing, and I look forward to a working partnership in the future with Corey and NoCell.
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?
Isn’t it interesting in the English language how a word can have both a positive and negative (not so positive) meaning? I can almost guarantee my answer to your question will relate to many of your readers, especially the story I must tell. I had always had the philosophy to connect and work as a team, producing positive results. When you interact with those who feel empowered with a title, managers, superiors, you will be faced with a problem you have never faced before. In one industry I worked in, I tried to be a distributor in the industry:
Procedures~ follow them as outlined in instruction manuals and in instructional videos
Knowledge ~ have the tools to complete your job duties
Innovation ~ you are growing with your company, and you offer suggestions to evolve with the growth.
This was the negative affect of trying to be a positive disruptor with what I had to offer:
Procedures → Failure → I had expressed to my supervisors concerns early on regarding the withholding of information, secrecy, and inadequate training.
Knowledge → Failure → I had been helping other employees follow a purchasing manual, and realized the manual was outdated. Suggesting updating the manual created a hostile, oppressive and intimidating working environment.
Innovation → Failure → I felt comfortable offering some suggestions, which went ignored, and new processes were created without any communication to myself on decisions that would impact the process, including my roll. Withholding information is a form of bullying.
And then the nightmare started. I was battling with bullies. I was the unlucky one for no good reason. I approached my supervisor with great caution, not to ever outshine her (or even shine), not to ever engage in any form of conflict, and to abide by the company organizational structure as my role as a subordinate and my bully’s role as a superior. I am not passive by all accounts. I am smart, have a great personality, well accomplished and extremely assertive, in a good way. I followed all the proper procedures, reported to my superior, but it was always explained as “personality conflict”. There was always a fundamental lack of respect. I was constantly having to explain myself and justify my right to be there and to do my job, AND the constant defending of myself, when I was going above and beyond. I started to prioritize and take care of myself, build up my reserves, and make the decision that I made to resign. I wanted to make a difference, but I was the one that was pushed out. With all I had endured, was my resignation a stumbling block or a steppingstone? Best-selling author Susan L. Taylor correctly observed, “Not everybody is healthy enough to have a front-row seat in your life.” In other words, the best way to deal with some difficult people is to distance yourself from them. Each new day offers countless opportunities. I had to make my star shine brighter, prove my talents were unique, and change industries. I was welcomed into the Driver Safety Training Industry, and now, I am a positive disruptor:
Desire ~ Continuously learn and take on new projects
Creativity ~ Generate solutions to different challenges
Project into the Future ~ Project how a decision may or may not impact the future. This is a critical thinking skill that is difficult to teach employees. I am in a different role, a director. I work closely with the President of our company, Karl, but most important, he respects me, and sees the value I have to offer. I have trust in the future, and yes, I AM a Positive Disruptor in the driver safety training industry.
Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
Silence has Its Own Sound ~ This is something we have all done or needed to do. Note, there are times to be silent, and times to speak up. Sitting in a classroom, conference room, or a meeting, being silent, will not get you noticed. I once was the first one in the room with the speaker, smiled, said hello, and he THANKED me, said he could go hours in a day without someone just saying a simple hello.
Never Stand In The Back Of The Room ~ I loved the Zumba group class at my local gym, so much that I went through the certification process and became an instructor myself. My instructor for the certification taught me dance steps and music selection, but she taught me how to get the Zumba class out of their comfort zone when they were selecting the same “spot” to dance in each class. In my class, each row would move up during several songs, so they would eventually be in the front of the class. I adopted this in my own life. How am I going to stand out and introduce myself and promote my company if I am standing in the back of the room? It makes it a lot easier to shout out “Let Me Tell You About My Company” from the front of the room.
What Can I Do For You Today ~ I make my message be the star: what can ADTS do to help lower your company crash rates, traffic infractions, insurance, etc. I can quote statistics, but they are based on a formula. Clients don’t want to hear a sales script; they want to know what we can DO to get the results they are looking for.
We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?
Yes! Love this question! I have a catch phrase, ready? Wait and see what we are going to do in 2023! ADTS will be in business for 40 years, and we have survived the market crash of 2008, and more recently, Covid and the Government shutdowns. Not only did Covid affect our company and our live training programs, but our clients and their fleet divisions, and the new protocols they had to adhere to. 2022 we rebuilt, 2023 we market: Our Strategic Plan, Framework model, Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, GSA contract, trade show presence. Updates to our existing programs, changing driver behavior, as well as creating a customized electric vehicle safety program ~ THOSE are the future! Whew, I KNOW that sounds like a lot, but this is what I went back to school for! Did you know by the year 2028, 76% of the workforce will be millennials? We need to be a part of the social media platforms they use, technology and infrastructure they will implement. I have the qualifications, and the motivation, so stay tuned!
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?
Women lead with ears, not egos. I was in Tucson this past October for a conference. The audience was mostly male, and I was finding it difficult to engage in the conversation with my male counterparts, as I didn’t speak their “language”. There was a question-and-answer section during one of the keynote speaker’s presentations, and I had the opportunity to ask a question. Later that evening, I spoke to the President of a large fleet organization, and he remembered me because of my question. As we sat and spoke, once he felt more comfortable speaking with me, and I with him, it felt more like a conversation amongst friends. We will always be faced with challenges, but we do share the same message with our male counterparts in whatever industry we are in.
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. 🙂
I went back to college, West Chester University in Pennsylvania, at the age of 52, and I wouldn’t be honest if I said the adjustments were easy, but they weren’t as difficult as I expected. The effort has been more than rewarding. I needed to adapt to new technology. I stood out in class, but I set goals ~ I always sat in the front of the class, I participated with professor and students, and I have maintained straight A’s. I will graduate in May of 2023 with my BA in Communication Studies, and I can assure you, to me, it is not just a piece of paper. It is gratification, finishing something I had started years ago. For those that are reading this, it is possible, go beyond any excuses you try to make, a far better strategy is this: do the work, enroll, go to class, study, and engage with your classmates and professors. You will be rewarded for all your hard work, a college degree in your name.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Is the sky really the limit?” Why put a limit on how high I can go? I learned at an early age what grief was, how to a single mother, and find love again. I have taken a burlesque class, went to WrestleMania at the age of 45 (please don’t pass judgement, I am a HUGE wrestling fan!) I have not done everything I want to do in life yet. Whatever success I have reached, I know I can achieve more. Maybe I will continue school further and get my master’s degree (I just got accepted to travel abroad for the winter semester, stay tuned!). Perhaps I can become a Vice President of ADTS (hope you are reading this President Karl!) travel to many foreign countries, or even something so simple, retire and spend the rest of my life with my family…..I just know, actually I am confident, there is no limit.
Modern Fashion: Stephanie Rado Taormina of Have Some Fun Today On The 5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand Today
An Interview With Candice Georgiadice
You need the right support. If it’s a team, if it’s backers plus a team, you need more than just yourself. Find your team, be clear on your expectations, know what everyone on the team does, at the end of the day you are the one ultimately responsible so choose your team wisely and lead by example.
Many in the fashion industry have been making huge pivots in their business models. Many have turned away from the fast fashion trend. Many have been focusing on fashion that also makes a social impact. Many have turned to sustainable and ethical sourcing. Many have turned to hi tech manufacturing. Many have turned to subscription models. What are the other trends that we will see in the fashion industry? What does it take to lead a successful fashion brand today?
In our series called, “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand Today” we are talking to successful leaders of fashion brands who can talk about the Future of Fashion and the 5 things it takes to lead a successful fashion brand in our “new normal.”
As a part of this series I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Stephanie Rado Taormina.
Stephanie Rado Taormina founded Have Some Fun Today in 2014 shortly after the loss of her father. The brand was named after four words he had shared with her throughout her life — “have some fun today”. Guided by her father’s words and his memory, Taormina began to visualize a painting that embodied his message of spreading joy & positivity. The painting was just beginning and in the blink of an eye, Taormina began designing t-shirts, beach totes and hats. The infectious spirit of positivity that sparked the brand’s creation has defined HSFT and fueled its growth. In her current role as the brand’s CEO & lead designer, Taormina has injected that passion for bringing joy to others into her creative practice and is evident in every item she’s designed.
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 into a traditional Italian American family, the oldest of 5; 4 girls and a boy to two hard working parents. My dad was a teacher & a coach at our local Catholic High School and my mom owned a hair salon that she ran out of our home. The values my parents showed me were hard work, dedication & commitment and so as I grew and matured; I modelled my own path with the same values I learned from them. Early on I had a proclivity toward art, design, fashion and leadership. Going to Catholic School we didn’t have much of an opportunity to be creative with fashion even though I loved fashion, design & art from a very early age. Art was always a major part of every era of my development, but I didn’t make the move to study art & design fully until after I graduated from Penn State University in 1987. It was a summer spent as an au pair in the south of France while on summer break that I found the space to finally listen to my inner voice that moved me to apply to the Fashion Program at Parsons School of Design.
Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?
I believe I always knew I would become a designer. I remember filling sketchbooks with designs of clothing, shoes and jewelry and even designing the rooms to put them in. But as college approached the art & design schools were cast aside for more academic pursuits. I opted for The Pennsylvania State University at Main Campus as my higher education choice. A lawyer perhaps? Or maybe something more creative like an advertising exec? I did all I could to move in that direction, except one summer in between my junior & senior year of college I went to the south of France to be an au pair and while I was away spreading my wings I realized I had packed up my dreams of design too soon and when I came back to the states I created an art portfolio to apply to the famous Parsons School of Design Fashion Program in NYC and later that year I was accepted and moved to NY upon my graduation.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I almost answered this question by telling you about the time I was feeling down about if this brand was even relevant and I looked up to the sky as if talking to my late father and said “Dad, give me a sign please?” and a minute later I get a call from my sister saying Kate Hudson just posted your hoodie on her Instagram, I mean that was kind of cool to me. But, what is actually most interesting is the transformation I have undergone since starting this brand out of a vision one morning. It wasn’t like I thought about the idea for weeks, months or years. It was literally that minute one morning when I was meditating and I saw a vision of the painting, and then the tote bag, the wristlet, the tee shirt, the hat and so on. I called my mom and told her I was going to start this brand and that was it. That was now almost 9 years ago. And so what is most interesting to me is the evolution I have gone through as a human is extraordinary from a psychological perspective. The opportunities to grow & evolve have been tremendous. The ability to open my world to new possibilities has taught me that anything is possible if you are curious enough about where the path could lead and if you are tenacious in doing what others aren’t willing to do. Something my dad taught me and my
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?
The Three traits that I think have helped me the most would be 1. Courage 2. Risk Taker 3. Confidence
Courage is the number one thing I think you need to be a successful entrepreneur. So often over the years I had to do things that took so much courage for me to do on a daily basis. From production decisions, to doing my own marketing that involved me really putting myself out there in a way that I knew would provoke a certain community of people but knowing if I didn’t have the courage to boldly market my brand it would only hurt me and keep me small. Then there is being a risk taker, another essential trait that you have to have. I think the most successful visionaries were the people who had nothing to lose so they went all in. That concept has fascinated me so much in my journey. I had many fears of failing and losing everything I have in the process. That is truly what is at stake here; but I had to move past my fears of losing everything and step into the power of my destiny and so I have cultivated a stronger ability to take risks and be in my power instead of succumbing to the fear.
Lastly, there is confidence. You must be confident in yourself to be successful. If you don’t believe it in your bones, then no one else will believe in you. For me as a designer and an artist and also in my role as founder, I am 100% confident in my work. I invented this brand; it’s mine and I like it and that’s all that matters. I love seeing and admiring other designers work and I am certainly influenced by other designers in my own work, but my age, my experience, my talent and technical abilities have allowed me to have a certain ease with the brand and I know that the more it is seen the more people will gravitate to the new yet timeless qualities of the designs.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
The boldness of the statement is where it starts; it’s a super simple phrase that once you read it you have to agree with it and smile. We use a bold font on our classic tee shirt styles for instance and put it on a very luxurious woman’s tee silhouette. This graphic also looks amazing on our classic luxe tote. Using very organic but luxe materials and just the bold graphic applied onto an ivory canvas in a lush lambskin leather; this bag has been a best seller since we launched the brand in 2015.
The best stories are the ones customers of the brand share, I get emails, texts and dm’s from people saying they met someone on a flight who was wearing the brand. People also tell me that only when they wear HSFT do people comment on how much they love their hat or bag or tee shirt. A month ago, I was coming back from a trip to Italy when the girl who was working for the airline stopped me and my mom and wanted to know what bags we were carrying and how she could get one. I think the brand is refreshing and bold and happy.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that was relevant to you in your life?
Persistence by Calvin Coolidge:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On!’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
I first read that quote when I was about to graduate from Penn State prior to heading to NYC back in my early 20’s. As I started down the path of creativity as my livelihood, I realized this wasn’t going to happen overnight. There are people smarter, richer, more talented & more connected than me, but I was going to persevere. I’ve always believed in perseverance because I look at life as a marathon, not a sprint.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Do you see any fascinating developments emerging over the next few years in the fashion industry that you are excited about? Can you tell us about that?
Yes, I do see Fashion as a platform for social good, education, climate awareness and a way for people to feel more connected with each other. Especially with circular fashion, recycling, repurposing, and even inventing new materials from natural sources.
A few years ago, when we were all experiencing the effects of the pandemic, I educated myself about sustainability and I feel we are just at the forefront of using alternative sources for things like leather and for taking recycled materials from the oceans and landfills and creating new materials from them that help save our planet from excessive trash. It’s also a really exciting opportunity to promote these practices on our own products wherever we can. Right now, we use only recycled cotton to manufacture our canvas bags instead of milling new cotton.
Can you share how your brand is helping to bring goodness to the world?
I think it’s important to be a positive force in the world and not only talk about the material aspect of fashion. I ended up leaving the fashion industry not long after I became a designer initially because I felt it was too materialistic. But with HSFT our whole mission is to make people smile because of the message we put on all our products in a bold purposeful way. People today are struggling with mental health now more than ever. Our country is polarized with politics, hate and inequality and if we can be a force in a sea of materialism that sends a powerful, positive message from the heart on accessible, quality products that act as a billboard for joy then I’m so proud to spend my time doing this on this planet.
Can you share with our readers about the ethical standards you use when you choose where to source materials?
At HSFT, we have chosen to work with manufacturers who respect our decision to care about the environment and who will procure materials such as recycled cotton for our canvas bags and to dye the leathers with vegetable dyes instead of the harsh chemicals that have been the standard for so long.
Fast fashion has an advantage, that it is affordable for most people, but it also has the drawback that it does not last very long and is therefore not very sustainable. What are your thoughts about this? How does your company address this question?
When we made the decision to switch our manufacturing practices it was during the pandemic. We had been manufacturing in China for a time because it was more affordable for us and we had a much higher profit margin, but once the pandemic happened we pulled all our production out and searched for manufacturers that would work with us to find recycled material sources as well as leather that could be dyed in a less toxic way even though for us it also meant much higher costs, possibly losing the customers that were used to less expensive prices, but it was the right thing to do and also aligns with our ethos as a brand. As we design and manufacture new product, we will only work with companies with ethical labor standards, we will only use natural, organic or recycled materials and we will try whenever we can to source local.
Thank you for all that. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand”. Please share a story or example for each.
An Authentic Story & Vision for your why. If I didn’t have true meaning behind what I am doing I wouldn’t be able to do what I do 7 days a week.
A Need for the Brands Vision — In this crazy world I believe the world needs what we do at HSFT. For our mental health, our motivation for living a healthy life and to show the world how important enjoying your life is for happiness.
You need an identifiable look that differentiates you from all the rest. There is not one brand out there that incorporates a single simple positive message on high end contemporary fashion pieces. We are unique and that is ultra-important in standing out amongst the incredibly saturated fashion space.
You Need to know it is your purpose. Maybe this should be #1, but to create a fashion brand is not easy. You better feel it is what you were born to do to stay with it at the level it takes to turn it into a legacy.
You need the right support. If it’s a team, if it’s backers plus a team, you need more than just yourself. Find your team, be clear on your expectations, know what everyone on the team does, at the end of the day you are the one ultimately responsible so choose your team wisely and lead by example.
Every industry constantly evolves and seeks improvement. How do you think the fashion industry can improve itself? Can you give an example?
I think the fashion industry is trying to rethink a lot of issues that have been long ignored. With the emergence of circular fashion, there is increasing awareness about the nonstop demand for new products from the retailers. It is up to the designers, the brands, and the retailers to readjust this model. I for one have simply said no. I don’t need to make a new collection every 3 months; no. I have decided to make my own rules. I have an 80% direct to consumer brand. I want to keep making many of the same designs I founded the company with, they are classics to me. I think there needs to be more awareness and education about sustainability and recycling. These concepts are very interesting to me as a designer, and I feel the more we educate up and coming designers at the start on sustainability and the issues that result from over production we can start to find alternatives that are better for everyone.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start 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. 🙂
It would be so exciting to create a movement of people who are looking for a better way of life. So many people are struggling financially, mentally, spiritually, and so on. If HSFT through our message on our products can be a small vehicle to catapult a larger community to go inward, to find a moment each day for gratefulness, to share their thoughts and ideas for healing and connectivity it would be monumental to me.
A festival, a spiritual journey triggered by the concept of HSFT, a community of people who are there for each other in a mental health capacity, a foundation for creativity, a employee owned factory where they manufacture HSFT and are given decent housing, a way to train the homeless to have employment, or a way to give battered women a vocation to have a decent wage and life. These are ideas that do come to me when I think on a much bigger scale.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Inspirational Women in STEM and Tech: Astronaut Sharon Hagle On The Leadership Lessons She Learned From Her Experience
An Interview With Candice Georgiadice
Get outside your comfort zone: I never dreamed as a 12-year-old girl in elementary school in 1961, listening to the radio broadcast of Alan Shepard being the first American in space, that one day I would have an opportunity to launch on the New Shepard rocket named after him. Traveling to space was completely outside of my comfort zone, and it has challenged me to use this life lesson to inspire kids that anything is possible.
As a part of our series about “Lessons From Inspirational Women in STEM and Tech”, we had the pleasure of interviewing Sharon Hagle.
Sharon Hagle, entrepreneur and astronaut, founded SpaceKids Global™ in 2015 with the mission to inspire STEAM+ Environment Education, with the goal of bringing the possibility of space to children. Sharon shares her journey to space and inspires students through speaking engagements at schools, nonprofit youth organizations, science centers, universities and space organizations. To date, Sharon has reached over 357,000 students globally.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
When I signed up to be a Virgin Galactic Future Astronaut in 2007, a group of us formed a nonprofit called Galactic Unite, a subsidiary of Virgin Unite. My focus with the foundation was education. In doing research, I discovered data from the International Education Index indicating that U.S. students ranked 38th in math and 41st in science. How could one of the wealthiest industrial nations be ranked so low in two of the most important economic indicators in education? Something had to be done.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started SpaceKids Global?
In February of 2022, SpaceKids Global launched a national essay competition with the theme of “Why I Want To Go To Space.” The competition was open to United States students ages 8– 12, enrolled in public, private, parochial or home schools. We received essays from students in 22 states and 46 cities across the country, and half of the submissions were from girls, including one of our winners, Milan, a spectacular 5th grader from LA.
The other essay winner was an 11 year-old named Brian, who is homeschooled by his mother. Each essay was reviewed by a judges panel comprised of some of the biggest names in the space industry including Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and SpaceX . Those who read Brian’s essay were convinced that it was written by one of his parents, due to the advanced vocabulary and writing skills of someone his age. As part of the selection process, we had a video interview with Brian. Within the first minute of the conversation, it was obvious that Brian wrote the essay himself. He aspires to be both an astrophysicist and a space lawyer, and is already taking college classes. In his spare time, he volunteers teaching English to first-generation American kids.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. 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 speaking in schools about my journey to space, I wanted to make sure I got the kids’ attention. I brought my dog Saba, a 5-pound Pomeranian, dressed in his own flight suit. As soon as Saba came out of his carrier, the kids went crazy. He certainly got their attention. However, the focus was on Saba for the remainder of my time with the students. I learned to bring him out at the end of presentations from then on.
What do you think makes your organization stand out?
One of the main differentiators of SpaceKids Global from other national STEM/STEAM education nonprofits is that our focus is on elementary students, ensuring girls are equally represented. Studies show that if you don’t get kids hooked on math and science by 6 or 7, it’s unlikely they will develop an interest in space exploration. This is why we focus on this age group where we can make the biggest impact early on.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
It was announced in September that I am returning to space on a future Blue Origin New Shepard flight. Eight lucky kids (and one chaperone each), ages 8–12, can win an opportunity to fly to Texas and view the flight from Astronaut Village.
Participants will submit an entry form. Eight winners will be selected as follows;
Five of the winners will be selected from five separate geographic regions across the United States.
One of the winners will be the child of a first responder, one will be the child of an active-duty member of the U.S. military, and one will be from Canada as part of SpaceKids Global’s partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada.
Ok super. Thank you for all that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. Are you currently satisfied with the status quo regarding women in STEM? What specific changes do you think are needed to change the status quo?
To date, out of the 8 billion people on earth, only 612 humans have been to space. When I was launched over the Karman Line in March of this year, I was the 72nd woman to go to space. We encourage space companies to reference humans versus gender, in an effort to make significant progress in engaging more women in human space flight.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women in STEM or Tech that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts? What would you suggest to address this?
Women make up 13% of all engineers in the United States. Studies also show that women stay in the engineering field less than one year due to isolation. More peer-to-peer engagement and women mentoring younger women is one suggestion to address this. Companies need to be more proactive as early as elementary school in getting girls excited about their futures in engineering, and create a pipeline through middle school, high school and ultimately college to ensure an equal number of women in STEM or Tech.
What are your “Leadership Lessons I Learned From My Experience as a Woman in STEM or Tech” and why. (Please share a story or example for each.)
#1. Get outside your comfort zone:
I never dreamed as a 12-year-old girl in elementary school in 1961, listening to the radio broadcast of Alan Shepard being the first American in space, that one day I would have an opportunity to launch on the New Shepard rocket named after him. Traveling to space was completely outside of my comfort zone, and it has challenged me to use this life lesson to inspire kids that anything is possible.
#2. Age is just a number:
You can start a new career, hobby or dream at any age. As a society we are living longer, healthier lives, and continue to contribute to work and home life in ways never thought possible just a few decades ago. I encourage all women of any age to pursue their passions.
#3. Learn something new every day:
As cliché as that saying is, it’s very true. Learning = growing. Technology is changing so fast, it seems impossible to keep up. There are so many resources to keep us at the top of our games in media, technology and science. Keep an open mind to learning a new skill or even new career path. Challenge yourself and your mind.
#4. Don’t fall prey to the naysayers:
You’ve earned a seat at the table based upon your experience and contributions. Use your voice. Be proud of your accomplishments. You belong here.
What advice would you give to other women leaders to help their team to thrive?
Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and who have different life, career and education experiences than you do. Then give them the support and resources they need, and let them do their jobs.
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?
Throughout the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to be introduced to a wide variety of influencers in the space industry. There have been a village of supporters who have inspired me along the way. My biggest champion has been my husband, Marc, who continues to provide guidance and encouragement in my efforts to expand SpaceKids Global programs across the globe.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
I have spoken to over 357,000 kids across the globe since launching SpaceKids Global in 2015. During my speaking engagements, I challenge kids to think about what their personal mission is, and how they can make the world a better place. Early on, my focus was what does it take to go to space, and today I get to share what it’s like to go to space. It’s my life’s work to bring the possibility of space to kids everywhere.
You are a person of enormous 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. 🙂
STEAM education has to become the number one focus and priority of all public and private schools in our country. It’s important to include the A in STEAM, because art is a huge part of creativity, especially in technology. Design and science are inextricably linked.
Parents, educators and employers have an unprecedented opportunity to join forces to ensure our kids are number one in math and science, and are all focusing on and considering careers in STEAM to fill the pipeline of 3.5 million STEAM job vacancies that need to be filled by 2025.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re too small.” — Richard Branson
Richard Branson has been a friend and colleague of mine for years. He inspires me in many ways, but this quote really resonated with me. He pushed me out of my comfort zone, and literally into space. I will be forever grateful for our friendship.
We are very blessed that very prominent leaders 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 🙂
Dr. Michio Kaku — I had the opportunity to hear him lecture at Rollins College, and was captivated by his passion and perspective on physics and science. In his speech, he stated that studies show that if you don’t get kids hooked on math and science by age 6 or 7, you’ve lost them. He was part of my inspiration to focus SpaceKids Global on elementary age students.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
Female Founders: Nicole Pane of The Social Media Butterfly On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder
An Interview With Candice Georgiadice
Words of affirmations are huge for me. I will look at myself in the mirror and tell myself I am a badass almost 100x a day. Try it… IT WORKS! If you are reading this right now… YOU ARE MOST DEFINITELY A BADASS!
As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nicole Pane, Founder & CEO of The Social Butterfly Media.
Nicole Pane is the CEO and Founder of The Social Butterfly, a New Jersey-based Social Media Marketing & Photography Company. The Social Media Butterfly’s goal is to help clients elevate their online presence through high-quality content creation and professional photography. She helps her clients feel comfortable, confident and beautiful behind the camera and had made it her goal to make others feel like their best self when working with her.
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?
Prior to starting The Social Butterfly, I have always had an immense passion for Photography and Marketing. After attending Towson University’s School of Business with a major in Marketing, I knew from the start that I wanted to be my own boss. I had a passion for ambition and desire so from there, I started my own marketing company: The Social Butterfly Media.
Fast forward two years after launching, I am fully booked with clients who I support in marketing and photography. Every month, I find myself continuing to grow with new business. My business creates engaging content for multiple companies, helping them elevate their online presence and boost their sales through professional photography, videography and branding.
While also doubling as a full time photographer, I am given the opportunity to help people feel comfortable, confident and absolutely beautiful! It is my goal in life to leave a positive impact on others and have them feeling better than when I met them. Through my talents, I am able to help people feel seen and special through the lens of my camera.
Throughout my childhood, I always carried some sort of camera in hand — making sure I documented every moment in my life and the lives around me. Life is too precious to forget every special moment and let them slip away! I am beyond grateful to have created a business where I get to do this for a living. Seriously, it’s a freaking dream!
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?
The most interesting success throughout leading my company was seeing my restaurant client officially published in Industry Magazine with my photos. Another incredible story was driving down the highway and seeing my photos published on a billboard for an awesome realtor and mortgage lender! It’s a beyond exciting feeling to help my clients stand out amongst their competitors through professional and high-quality photos.
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?
During the first few months working in marketing, I took every single job I was offered at any price range. I remember taking on a client who sold Lubricant and was constantly taking marketing photos of nude couples with a bottle of lube and wasn’t even being paid close to a quarter of what I’m making now. I would always think to myself, “what the heck am I doing!?”.
A few weeks into this campaign, I broke the news to my client that I believed I was worth more than what they were charging and so I fired them. I strongly believe in knowing your worth and to select clients that you feel passionate about. Don’t accept clients that don’t align with your vision and don’t say yes to cheap clients! Lesson learned!
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?
There is something that I am forever grateful for and that is, MENTORS. Mentors are so important to have when you first begin a new chapter in your life, especially one as big as starting your own business.
I have many inspirational people surrounding me that have led me to success including photography experts to business gurus to family and friends that have stuck by my side along my journey. I am forever grateful for everyone that led me to this exact moment.
Public figures such as Gary Vaynerchuk pushed me to get out of my comfort zone. My parents encouraged me to be confident in myself and with that, I’ll attract new clients. My close friends in the photography and entertainment industry have believed in me since day one and gave me a chance by trusting in me to work with their clients and that forced me to learn quickly and grow as an individual.
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?
Women are often looked down upon in the business industry. At times, we can feel scared to fail amongst the many men around us. We can look for the safer route and/or lack the confidence needed to stand alone as a female entrepreneur, or we can prove that we are badass.
Women are often the caretakers of a home and so, society has made us believe we are incapable of starting a business because we need to focus on nurturing our families. But, why can’t we do both? Why can’t women chase after their passions and desires and accomplish their wildest dreams? The truth is we can.
A big factor also has to do with MONEY. Women, myself included, sometimes feel inferior to men when dealing with money because we are often taken advantage of or ridiculed. I have been taken advantage of many times throughout my career and I have learned two words that have stood out to me and brought me confidence: STAY FIRM. These two words helped me overcome those fears and stand up for myself and for my business.
Words of affirmations are huge for me. I will look at myself in the mirror and tell myself I am a badass almost 100x a day. Try it… IT WORKS! If you are reading this right now… YOU ARE MOST DEFINITELY A BADASS!
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?
To help women feel seen and heard. To encourage them for wanting more out of life and going after what they were put on this earth to do!
Help women feel seen, be heard and encourage them for wanting more out of life and going after what they feel they were put on this Earth to do. As a society, we need to support one another and help each other overcome any obstacle, no matter what.
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?
Women should chase after their goals and dreams! If you want to start families and achieve a passion in life — do it. Women are also known to be extremely compassionate and nurturing because it’s in our blood; we will put our entire heart into what we feel passionate for, including building a successful business.
What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?
The biggest myth comes down to the thought that when you quit your 9–5 to start your own business, you’ll have more free time on your hands. That is absolutely not the case. The reality? You will work 24/7 to succeed in your dream business, which cannot compare to any other feeling. When you are truly passionate about the business you start, you will enjoy every second of the journey.
It may be corny but it’s true: When you do what you love, you’ll never “work” a day in your life.
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?
I believe being strong, social and passionate will take you a long way. When you decide to go against the norm to take a risk, you may be brought down by others and even rejected multiple times — but no matter what, stand up for yourself and continue to work extremely hard.
The past two years I have spent building relationships and putting myself out there in hopes of meeting new clients, building new relationships and branding myself as an expert in the industry. My passion for Marketing & Photography gave me the desire to work harder and harder each day to create the life of freedom that I always dreamed of having.
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. Being an entrepreneur is a rollercoaster of emotions.
2. INVEST IN YOURSELF!
3. It is okay to decline clients that won’t pay you what you’re worth.
4. Feel the fear and do it anyway.
5. Be firm.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
As a Photographer, I have been able to show people their true beauty and to become their number one cheerleader. I have such a passion and love for making people feel truly amazing about themselves and I am able to channel that through my work as a photographer.
I have dealt with friends and family members that have experienced horrible moments due to mental health and that is something I take to heart. I get to make people feel whole again through the work that I do and it is seriously the most rewarding thing on earth. I wouldn’t change what I do for anything.
One day, I hope to use my success to give back to Mental Health Programs and do what I can to help as many people as possible fight the terrible illnesses out there. Everyone deserves to be happy and I hope with my role in this world, I am able to impact them and touch their hearts any way I can.
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 movement would be to help support those suffering with mental illness. I believe everyone deserves to feel loved, to know they are never truly alone and that whatever they are currently going through WILL GET BETTER. I believe everyone was put on this Earth with an assignment from God and my mission is to serve others by making them happier, feel loved and to always be a shoulder for them to lean on. Through Photography, I am able to help individuals love themselves again by showing them their true beauty inside and out.
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.
WILL SMITH! I have always loved Will Smith’s outlook on life.
A few years ago, Will Smith had shared a video on skydiving and fear and explained how the two correlates to everyday life. He speaks of the fact that when we take the first leap out of an airplane, we immediately are faced with immense fear, but when soaring through the sky — you feel more alive than ever before.
Within that split second as you fall into the air, you are faced with the most blissful experience of your life: ZERO FEAR. You realize that the point of maximum danger is the point of minimum fear. “IT’S BLISS!”
Will goes on to ask, “What was there to be afraid of? Why were you scared in your bed the night before? What do you need that fear for? God placed the best things in life on the other side of terror. On the opposite side of terror are the best things in life. LIFE HAPPENS on the OTHER SIDE OF FEAR.”
Moral of the story: Get out of your comfort zone and LIVE. Live the life you were meant to live. If you are reading this @WillSmith… yes, I will go out to dinner with you.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
Women In Wellness: Kris Adair of Adair Family Clinic and MedSpa On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Cancel out the noise — take moments to disconnect from technology and social media. Our ability to have clarity is clouded by all the noise we hear and see daily. Being able to disconnect for those moments and purposefully listen to yourself and your body helps you collect yourself, your thoughts, and feel more centered withing yourself and your own needs.
As a part of my series about women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kris Adair.
Kris Adair is a seasoned family nurse practitioner and owner and medical director of Adair Family Clinic and MedSpa, a full-service healthcare clinic with multi-specialities focusing on skincare and wellness from the inside out. A graduate from Grand Canyon University with a master’s degree in nursing education and a post-master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner, Kris has over 12 years of experience as a registered nurse in internal medicine, wound and skin care, operating room, PACU, cardiology, progressive care and telemetry. Additionally, she has over two years’ experience as an aesthetic provider and injector performing a full range of services from facial rejuvenation and optimization with Botox, hyaluronic acid fillers, laser skin procedures as well as collagen-inducing plasma treatments! She is very passionate about skin care and educating her patients on proper management of their skin as well as evaluating and treating a wide range of skin concerns from acne, melasma, rosacea, hyperpigmentation to even hormone or medically induced skin disruptions.
Kris believes the skin is a reflection of what is happening on the inside, so taking care of your health is just as important as taking care of your skin. She is also an Air Force veteran with 22+ years of military service and is currently serving in the Air Force Reserve in a supervisory and leadership role. Kris is truly passionate about helping people improve their health and livelihood through educational and medical intervention. Her GLOW up truly is an impressive story, but her focus has always been centered on family. She shares a last name, two beautiful children, and an office with her business partner and husband, Dony.
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’m thrilled for the opportunity to share my story with Authority Magazine and your readers — it’s a unique one and one I’m so proud of. I walked into an Air Force recruiting office in 1997 and told the recruiter I wanted to join the military and get into the medical field. He said, “Great! I’ve got just the category for you to enlist in called Open General, you’ll get to pick the career you want.” I was ecstatic. So, I joined and the job opportunities I was limited to were admin, security forces, and Aerospace Control and Warning Systems. So, I chose the Aerospace Control and Warning Systems career field. I went through training, and when I got to my first duty station, the first chance I got, I enrolled in college and started working towards my degree. Finally in 2009, after several deployments and duty stations, I was able to enroll into a nursing program. In 2010 I graduated and became a registered nurse. Fast forward eight years and two more degrees, I was working on my post master’s degree for Family Nurse Practitioner and was trying to figure out what I wanted to do once I graduated. All my other classmates were landing jobs and planning for their transition, but I didn’t have one hint of a potential offer. One day talking with a classmate, she was telling me about a friend that opened her own business after she graduated, and I thought, I want to do that. So, I talked to my husband that night and he was so supportive and said, let’s do it! I didn’t know anything about owning a business, let alone operating one but I was so pumped about the prospects of doing it that I spent a lot of time researching and reading to figure it out. In August 2018, we opened what was then Glow by Kris Medspa. In 2021 we changed the name to Adair Family Clinic & Medspa, I retired from the Air Force Reserves after 22 years of military service and have now put my sole focus on running and growing the business.
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?
I definitely have some interesting stories from my time in the military. One of the elements that was a constant in my career was being the sole female in Aerospace operations. I worked with military pilots, and educators that supported all things air operations and there weren’t that many women that worked in that environment. I was challenged early on in my career because it was like “who is she? Does she know what she’s talking about? Is she qualified to support this task, mission, operation?” I made sure I put in the time to learn, study, train, and shadow mentors which helped me find my voice, give commands, demand respect, and eventually become a subject matter expert in my area. Before long, my reputation preceded me, and I was requested by name for specific operations and missions. The experience and self-awareness I gained from this was immeasurable as it influenced every aspect of the rest of my military career and now my civilian career.
That knowledge and understanding I gained in the military became the perfect segue for me into my career as a registered nurse and now as a Family Nurse Practitioner and business owner. This is because in the beginning it was still those questions like, “who is she? Does she know what she’s doing? Is she qualified?” And the answer to all those questions, I can say confidently, is yes, I am. I have trained, studied, and continue to grow in my knowledge as a medical professional to help care for my patients today. So, my takeaway from all of that is, prepare for the possibility so you can handle the magnitude of the moment.
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?
Mistakes are opportunities to get it right the next time. They are by design meant for you to stop, reflect, gain clarity, and grow. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes in my career, and I have learned an equal share of valuable lessons. Pulling from my military experience: after every aerospace mission, the performance was reviewed, the audio, everything. You were evaluated on this — not for the purpose of pointing fingers but for the purpose of improving the mission, meeting mission objectives, and most of all keeping people safe. If you made a mistake, you acknowledged it, owned it, and talked about what you could have done differently to improve the outcome. There was a tremendous responsibility that was placed on me, and I took it seriously ever time. Now as a civilian taking care of patients, there is significant responsibility in helping people get better, feel better. They’re looking to me for answers, and I don’t take that lightly. I like to do what I can to help each one of my patients. That’s my mission objective and I evaluate myself on how well I do that so I can continually improve, achieve a good wellness outcome, and keep my patients safe.
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?
My main focus is empowering patients to take care of their health and skin by way of educating and caring for them in an individualistic way, taking care of their health needs in a way that truly informs them of what they need to do to get better and feel better. Helping them address their skin concerns–teaching them the proper way to take care of their skin, use products and receive skincare treatments. For me, it’s all about helping people really feel better. It’s such a rewarding feeling when you accomplish that because it radiates outward and is infectious in a good way.
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.
Cancel out the noise — take moments to disconnect from technology and social media. Our ability to have clarity is clouded by all the noise we hear and see daily. Being able to disconnect for those moments and purposefully listen to yourself and your body helps you collect yourself, your thoughts, and feel more centered withing yourself and your own needs.
Be flexible to your own needs — We bend and move to the many needs of others — whether it’s job, spouse, kids, etc. Rarely do we tend to our own needs when it comes to taking care of our health. Stop that. Do it. Be intentional about this, you’ll thank yourself later that you did.
Treat yourself — Do that one special thing for yourself and don’t feel guilty about it. There’s something empowering about treating yourself and showing yourself appreciation. Because first, you deserve it. Second, if you start doing it for yourself, you’ll set the bar higher for the person you want to do it for you in the future. And, if nothing else, at least you know you can do it for yourself.
Sleep, because your body needs it — Sleep is so important to our body, health, and wellness. Without proper sleep, our body doesn’t recover properly, our brain doesn’t get to fully rest and reset and those protective mechanisms in our body like our immune system don’t fully recover.
Think of yourself as an investment — If you think of yourself as an investment, you start to take care of yourself differently. Much like an investment, it’s something that you categorize as special, you take care of it, you preserve it and keep it safe. That is how you should take care of yourself (your body and overall wellness) as it ensures you do all the right things to keep yourself protected.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
The movement that I would start would be free universal health navigators. These are providers that are designed to help people understand health concerns and point them toward care facilities or provide health recommendations to empower people towards wellness. I think this is something that could really benefit a lot of people and provide them with knowledge that helps them make better informed decisions about their individual health needs that ultimately can have a community and societal benefit as well.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
1. I wish I knew initially not to be afraid to focus on wellness. It’s like in healthcare you must choose between health or wellness, but that’s not the case. They are intertwined and should be for a reason because your wellness can dictate your health and vice versa.
2. I also wish I knew more of the resources that were available to me before I started. It took a while for me to initially branch outside of my comfort zone of what I know wellness to be. Once I started seeking out more information, it was right there for me to obtain all along and now I believe I’m a better practitioner for it.
3. I wish someone told me it’s ok to make your own path in wellness. Often, we’re trying to replicate one specific business model or be more competitive to clinics in the area, but I realized about a year and a half into my business that I wanted to do something different and focus more on health and wellness and I’m glad I did.
4. I wish I was told early on the importance of listening before I started in wellness. It seems like that would be a no-brainer but in healthcare the focus is often placed on time. You have 15 minutes, 20 at best, for a medical visit. That’s not enough time to really figure it out the needs of a patient, provide recommendations and education, especially from a wellness perspective. Once I started placing the emphasis on listening, I noticed my ability to diagnosis, recommend treatment options and educate improved as did patient compliance. Patients often stated they felt heard and listened to for the first time and that was a good feeling.
5. Finally, I wish I knew that wellness is fluid. There’s no rigidity in it nor should it be. In healthcare, we follow a pathway to diagnosis and treatment. Wellness is different and the pathway that’s taken is unique to the individual’s health and wellness needs, so that typical pathway we put them on in healthcare may not work or even be applicable. It’s ok to change and go with the flow of the individual’s needs because the likelihood of a successful outcome is higher if we do.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
All of these topics play a role in my daily life, but I’d definitely say, mental health is dearest to me. I have a personal family history of mental illness and to watch their daily struggles and not be able to “fix it” for them is disheartening. I have recommended resources and even found professionals to help them through their mental illness but to even navigate mental health resources with my knowledge can still be challenging to obtain so I can only imagine what it’s like for everyone else trying to get help. More needs to be done to improve access to mental health resources and even ongoing care.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
Readers can follow my on Facebook and Instagram @adairclinic or www.adairclinic.com
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Female Founders: Simone Oppenheimer Mandel and Rachel Segall of NBZ Partner On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Simone: Identify and define your superpower. If someone handed you a microphone, what topic could you talk about for two minutes without any preparation? That’s your business. It’s how we came up with NBZ and how Rachel and I define our superpowers within our partnership. If you find the intersection between something you know and care about, you have the expertise and passion for making people believe in you.
Rachel: Face your fears. Being an entrepreneur requires you to do things you’ve never done before. Simone and I are always looking for ways to level up our business, which comes with fear of change. Luckily, we’ve found ways to let that fear propel us forward instead of holding us back so we can emerge smarter and savvier.
As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Simone Mandel Oppenheimer and Rachel Segall.
NBZ Partner Co-Founders Simone Mandel Oppenheimer and Rachel Segall have spent decades building brands and driving performance at the biggest agencies in the game. The more they learned the rules of entry, the more the duo wanted to rewrite the playbook for success. So, they transformed their experience into a growth engine that helps small to midsize businesses compete with the big guys. They assist companies in keeping pace in a fiercely competitive market by giving them an ownable brand, a winning growth strategy, and an expansive network.
Simone co-founded NBZ Partner, a growth partner for the marketing industry. With 15 years of experience driving new business for agencies, she helps her clients address their most significant growth challenges to compete for the win. She lives in New York and is the proud mom of ten-year-old Jake and seven-year-old Sophie.
Rachel co-founded NBZ Partner, a growth partner for the marketing industry. With 15 years of experience in branding and marketing, she helps her clients set their businesses apart and capture industry-wide attention. She lives in Oregon and spends most of her free time chasing her toddler, Zev.
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?
Rachel: I never liked having a boss. I always enjoyed figuring things out on my own. It was never about the climb but about the hustle. I got an informal education in branding when I moved to New York at eighteen, working with creative leaders to launch restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels. It introduced me to the power of a brand and its ability to make or break a concept.
The energy of collaboration and creativity attracted me to agencies, where the challenge was taking a creative idea and executing it. I knew how to get shit done and became the coordinator of that chaos. I fell in love with that world and became a natural ambassador for it, telling anyone who would listen why they had to hire my agency for their next project. It’s no wonder that I ended up in the business development space!
Simone: I was never groomed to be an entrepreneur. I met Rachel, took a leap of faith, and it worked out in our favor.
I went to school for acting, but when I realized I’d have to wait tables to make a living, I knew I needed to find a new dream and pivoted to TV production. That first job for Chelsea Pictures made me realize that my network is net worth. For every call I answered, I built a relationship that’s still part of my network today.
Things crystallized when one of the partners started his own agency. I quit office management on the spot and told him to hire me. When he scored his first extensive magazine cover, I sent it to prospective clients and put myself in that new business role. The rest is history!
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?
Rachel:
I became a mom and founder at the same time. I was sending proposals from my hospital bed as I went into labor! The two are very demanding, but I’m dedicated to both, so balancing them can be challenging.
Simone:
For me, it’s been helping agencies find their superpower. Helping leaders figure out their strengths and weaknesses can be very emotional. Sometimes it takes a deep psychological dive, and we’ve seen senior leaders break down in front of us. There are so many things that block talented people from attaining what they want. The wonderful thing about being female leaders is that we have the emotional EQ to make our clients comfortable enough to open up. We never thought of that as part of our offering, but it’s become a huge part of how we help agency leaders push through their biggest challenges.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you first started? What lesson did you learn from that?
Rachel:
Some of our earliest invoices were humorously budget friendly. It’s clear that we didn’t know the actual value of our perspective when we started NBZ. Otherwise, we would have tripled our previous salaries much sooner!
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a person you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Simone:
Growing up on Long Island, I told my family I would be on Broadway. My dad took me to every class, open call, and audition. He made me believe in myself in a significant way at that age.
Over the last twenty years, many people have contributed to getting me where I am today. When we launched NBZ, the first thing we did was call our combined network. People came out in droves to support, hire, and talk about us. Different people will work for you when you focus on your network simultaneously.
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 excellent 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 women back from founding companies?
Rachel:
Women are conditioned to think they’re as valuable as their male counterparts. Corporate culture embraces men, and there are innumerable powerful men in business. For women, there’s a real lack of inspirational role models. The less we see women like us founding companies, the harder it is for us to do it ourselves.
Please help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government to help overcome those obstacles.
Rachel:
The onus falls equally on men and women. Women in older generations are starting to realize that their ideas could have come to fruition much earlier if they had listened to their intuition. They can inspire younger generations to push forward from an earlier age. Because the professional world is still so male-dominated, the men who recognize the importance of change can show their support by investing in female-led businesses.
Simone:
To that end, we need to invest in the qualities of entrepreneurialism from a very early age. It’s great that schools push young girls to think creatively, but they must also learn how to execute their ideas!
This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder, but it will be helpful to spell it out. Please share a few reasons why more women should become founders.
Simone:
The world needs to start seeing through a female lens. As women, we have many qualities that make us excellent leaders, from our EQ to our perseverance and ability to multitask. It’s time for us to stop emulating and start recreating so we see how the industry evolves in the hands of female leadership.
What “myths” would you like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?
Rachel:
# 1: Work-life balance doesn’t exist. If you see your job as something that brings you joy, your work becomes your life, and that’s ok. It’s not that I don’t have a life. I have a life; a considerable part is doing what I love. It never feels like a sacrifice because I live it and breathe it.
Simone:
# 2: Entrepreneurs are born, not made. I could have been climbing the corporate ladder for the rest of my life if COVID didn’t make me take a leap of faith.
Rachel:
I was lucky enough to have parents who modeled entrepreneurship from an early age. They warned against succumbing to a nine-to-five I didn’t love. I always quit a job as soon as I felt it wasn’t right anymore because I knew I would land on my feet no matter what. That’s also why creating a curriculum around entrepreneurship for young people is so important.
Simone:
# 3: A great idea is all it takes. In the creative environment, we come from, ideas are a dime a dozen, but executing them is just as important. I always tell clients that you must push themselves out of the dream and into the hustle. The dream may get you excited, but the hustle makes you rich.
Rachel:
# 4: You need a college degree to succeed. I was self-conscious that I didn’t go to college until I realized that entrepreneurial skills could be learned outside the classroom. If you can master confidence, resourcefulness, and self-reliance, you’re just as prepared to take on the world as anyone else (with less debt)!
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?
Rachel:
The possibility exists for anyone who wants it. It comes down to where the source of your passion is. When I think about a job, I think about taking out the garbage. When I think about my passion, I think about my work.
Simone:
Exactly. Some people want a job that pays the bills, and that’s fine. Others want to be empowered to execute their ideas. Before we founded NBZ, we had plenty of ideas, but someone else was always in charge of implementing them. Becoming an entrepreneur was about creating something from scratch with all of the blood, sweat, and tears attached to that.
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.)
Simone:
# 1: Identify and define your superpower. If someone handed you a microphone, what topic could you talk about for two minutes without any preparation? That’s your business. It’s how we came up with NBZ and how Rachel and I define our superpowers within our partnership. If you find the intersection between something you know and care about, you have the expertise and passion for making people believe in you.
Rachel:
# 2: Face your fears. Being an entrepreneur requires you to do things you’ve never done before. Simone and I are always looking for ways to level up our business, which comes with fear of change. Luckily, we’ve found ways to let that fear propel us forward instead of holding us back so we can emerge smarter and savvier.
Simone:
A great example of that is the NBZ app, which we’re in the process of launching. Even though it’s connected to the foundation of our business, technology is not an area of our expertise. Is it scary to invest in something new? Of course, but it’s also how we grow our business. If it weren’t frightening, someone else would have done it already.
Rachel:
#3: Find partners with complementary skills. Research shows businesses receive more funding when they have multiple founders with complementary skill sets. No one is bulletproof, but you feel like you are when you’re part of a team that can tackle anything together. NBZ’s mission unites Simone and me, but we deliver on it differently. We can take in a broader range of clients and work by complementing each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Simone:
#4: Your network is your currency of growth. You never know when the intern you gave a pep talk to will become your next client. Make it a practice to nurture your contacts as you grow. We started NBZ by combining our Rolodexes and reaching out to contacts that fit our target audience profile. Half of them ended up hiring us during our first year. It’s incredible what your network can do for your business, and it’s why we continue to invest in ours every single day.
Rachel:
#5: Get your support team in place. Entrepreneurs tend to think they can do it all, but they can only do it with reliable support. Don’t rely on people to help you earn money for free. Invest in high-quality help to set expectations and ensure they’re met. Even if it lowers your immediate profit, consider it an investment in the long-term success of your business. Simone and I aren’t superheroes, but we have superpowers and need time and space to hone them.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
Rachel:
We live generously. The industry has been kind to us, and we pay it forward, from introducing our clients to each other to matching talented people in our network with businesses needing their expertise.
Simone:
We democratize the win. NBZ was born out of a mission to be an equalizer for the industry by helping smaller agencies and businesses compete for the win. We’re in a position to do that by passing on the expertise and tools from our holding company days.
Rachel:
The more successful we are in our business, the more successful we are as moms. By modeling the attributes of entrepreneurship, we can give our children the skills they need to succeed in every area of their life.
You are a person of significant 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.
Simone:
An educational program that prepares young girls to succeed as entrepreneurs in business. When you think about the qualities of female-led entrepreneurship, they apply to many areas in life, from building a business to running a household.
Young girls represent more than half the population, so we need to empower them to see the future through a female-led lens. We’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of what that world looks like!
We are blessed that some 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.
Rachel:
Oprah is the ultimate representation of resilience and success in the face of unimaginable obstacles. She embodies what it means to live generously by giving back to her community and showing women everywhere that we can be vulnerable and strong simultaneously. She continues to blaze her own trail and is never afraid to be her authentic self. These are the qualities Simone and I try to emulate.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
