Woman Owned: The Growth Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs

On the Fierce Feminine Leadership podcast, we talk about empowering women. Claiming your power is incredibly important to becoming successful in your business or organization, but how do you transition from the corporate world into a top leadership role? Keep Reading >> It is my pleasure today to speak with my guest Cheryl Wood founder of Cheryl Wood Empowers who is a globally known speaker, guru, author, and coach. She found her way out of a functional role in the corporate world into the highly satisfying realm of entrepreneurship and is instrumental in inspiring women around the world. Today Cheryl tells her story about how she went from being a legal secretary for fifteen years to successfully switching gears to become an ambitious and successful mompreneur. Knowing she was destined for greatness she began her new journey in 2009 which ultimately satisfied her spirit as a mother, wife, and entrepreneur. If you never get started you can never be great. Cheryl Woods Here's a Breakdown of Today's Show: How running a small business detoured Cheryl's life. Her first opportunity that took her from a set routine to an exciting and profitable venture. The universal take away from breaking out of a stereotypical role. How women level up from the mindset of being 'enough' to the point of believing they are worthy to reach for the stars and beyond. Cheryl's insights about her work as an international speaker and as a strong and fierce woman leader. Her message to women in various roles about their inherent greatness. Mentioned in This Episode: Cheryl Empowers Cheryl Empowers on Instagram Cheryl Empowers on Twitter Cheryl Empowers on Facebook Cheryl Empowers on LinkedIn Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave your review to enter your name into this month's drawing! And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness… Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover

One of the most important aspects of growing a business or advancing in your career or organization is to consistently plant the seeds to success. In episode 78, we heard from thought-leader and entrepreneur, Pamela Slim talk about why she does to maintain momentum in her business, and one of the key points she made was to consistently plant seeds of success. Keep Reading >> But, how do you do that as a new entrepreneur? How do you do that while working within an organization? Why is it critical to continually plant these seeds each and every day and what type of impact can you expect in your life, your business, and your career? In today's episode, I'm going to share with you nine things you can do every day to consistently plant seeds of success, whether you're an entrepreneur or work within an organization. You reap today what you planted previously. You must have an 'invest in yourself' mindset. 9 Ways to Plant Seeds of Success Daily: Have connection calls. Reach out to your network. Gather testimonials and recommendations. Start speaking. Publish more often. Take a course. Cultivate relationships with influencers. Choose an area of expertise. My Invitation to You Let's make 2017 your year for success, for courage, for being the fierce feminine leader you know you can be! Reserve your seat to join me and other fierce feminine leaders on November 18 through 20 for a 3-day retreat in Toronto, Canada to crystalize your vision, create a powerful 90-day action plan, and get the tools you need to help you seriously uplevel your life and business. Visit the Fierce Feminine Leadership Intensive website to reserve your seat now! Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave your review to enter your name into this month's drawing! And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness… Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover

Taylor Swift is probably one of the most successful celebrities in the world today and I'd like to think she owes her success to her squad. That's right, her group of powerful femme fatales isn't just for display, girls. No, Taylor chose them for a reason and today's show will highlight the importance of forming your own squad to become successful. Keep Reading >> Here's a Breakdown of Today's Show: Taylor Swift's career skyrocketed when she formed her squad as she transitioned from country to mainstream pop. Many country fans got disappointed but her current success was definitely worth the transition. It is important to surround yourself with people who are where you want to be, who will support not just who you are today but also your past as well as the person you are becoming. The right squad is the most important thing when it comes to supportive relationships. Your income or success is dependent on the people you spend most of your time with. Loneliness is as harmful to health as smoking. Find time for friends and building relationships despite having a busy business or career, they are the sustenance to keep you going. A squad is a wedge and it's powerful enough to overcome fear and doubt when chasing your dreams. A good squad is made up of like-minded friends who are independent in their own way, knows what you're going through, understands your transformation, and will always love and support you through it all. A squad is helpful when it comes to controversial choices in your life, important to your wellbeing when pursuing ambition, and is able to shove a wedge in the door of opportunity. My Invitation To You! Put yourself into situations and environments where you are going to have an opportunity to be around this type of squad. To help you with that, I want you to check out my upcoming Fierce Feminine Leadership live intensive. It's a face-to-face, 3-day life changing retreat for ambitious women in business. You will have an opportunity to be part of a tribe of smart and positive women who get it and will be there to support you in achieving your life goals. It will be held at Hockley Valley Resort in Toronto on November 18 to 20 2016. If you're ready to make some big things happen for yourself, if you're ready to say yes to yourself and prioritize your big success and not just the needs of other people, head on over to the Fierce Feminine Leadership Intensive website and register! If you want to reach out and see if you're a good fit for this group, go to EleanorBeaton.com/discover. Fill out an application, tell us about yourself, and we'll get in touch with you totally free of charge. Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave your review to enter your name into this month's contest!

On the Fierce Feminine Leadership podcast, we often talk about ways to step into and claim your power. Claiming your power is incredibly important to become successful in your business or organization, but what if you're ready to pivot from the corporate world into the entrepreneurial world? What do you do if your professional history is filled with a lot of experience across multiple industries or your resume shows several different – and unrelated – skillsets? How do you make the pivot? Today's guest, Pamela Slim, is an award-winning author, speaker, and entrepreneur and innovative thinker with a passion for helping people make sense of their professional background, pivot from the corporate world into the entrepreneurial one, and tell their story in a way that makes sense to potential clients and customers. Keep Reading >> Pamela is the founder of K'é, a small business incubator space located in Mesa, Arizona and the former director of training and development at Barclay's Global Investors. In the first 10 years of business, she worked as a consultant to many large companies including Hewitt Packard and Charles Schwab before pivoting her focus on helping small businesses launch and grow. She has been quoted in numerous publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Forbes, and The Entrepreneur. Today, she shares her story, insight, and tips on why it is critical for small business entrepreneurs to identify and claim their body of work. "If you don't view yourself as the hero of your own story, how will you tell a credible story to someone else?" Pamela Slim Here's a Breakdown of Today's Show: Who is Pamela Slim and why is she so passionate about helping small business entrepreneurs? How did she build a significant online presence? What was the most significant turning point in her business since pivoting to helping small business owners? What is the New World of Work and what skills will you need to help you succeed? Why is storytelling and getting your story out there in a way that makes sense so important? How will telling your story impact your life, your business, and your career? What is the "thread" that connects Pamela's body of work? What does it take to consistently "ship" your ideas? What are the three success factors that fulfil her passion, vision, and dreams in her business? Mentioned in This Episode: Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live by Martha Beck Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don't by Jim Collins Connect with Pamela Slim: com Escape from Cubical Nation Body of Work: Finding the Thread That Ties Your Story Together Pamela's blog post: "An Open Letter to CEOs Across the Corporate World" Facebook Twitter LinkedIn My Invitation to You Let's make 2017 your year for success, for courage, for being the fierce feminine leader you know you can be! Reserve your seat to join me and other fierce feminine leaders on November 18 through 20 for a 3-day retreat in Toronto, Canada to crystalize your vision, create a powerful 90-day action plan, and get the tools you need to help you seriously uplevel your life and business. Visit the Fierce Feminine Leadership Intensive website to reserve your seat now! Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Firece Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave your review to enter your name into this month's drawing! And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness… Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover

Taylor Swift is an amazingly fierce feminine leader and woman in business. Not only is she a great role model for young girls, but she also has incredible business sense. This year, she has topped the Forbes Celebrity 100 list, earning an incredible $107-Million. But, have you ever thought about what strategies she uses in her business to reach such amazing success? Keep Reading >> On today's episode, I'm going to share with you the 5 key moves that Taylor Swift is making in her business to propel her game – and her brand – to the next level. Taylor Swift's Top 5 Business Strategies: Elevating the level of her business by leveraging her brand. Mastering the art of the pivot. Understanding visibility is critical. Having a solid technical background. Balancing reputation, authenticity, and emotional attachment to criticism. My Challenge to You: Think about where in your business you can leverage your assets – your brand – to strike bigger deals. Cultivate the courage to make powerful moves that are in your best interest and align with the vision you have for yourself. Let yourself be visible. Have a solid game and master your technical skills. Be aware of what people thing about you – but don't invest in it. My Invitation to You Let's make 2017 your year for success, for courage, for being the fierce female leader you know you can be! Reserve your seat to join me and other fierce feminine leaders on November 18 through 20 for a 3-day retreat in Toronto, Canada to crystalize your vision, create a powerful 90-day action plan, and get the tools you need to help you seriously uplevel your life and business. Visit FierceFeminineLeadershipIntensive.com to reserve your seat now! Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave your review to enter your name into this month's drawing! And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness… Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover

As a coach, I have had the opportunity to work with many great women leaders in business. The most exciting part about working with these highly skilled, motivated, thought-leading women is listening to their dreams, what is possible for them, their desires, and what they want to build. But, where there is sunshine – rain clouds sometimes follow. And in my career, the rain clouds come when we get down to their fears – what they are afraid of and is preventing them from accomplishing their goals. Most of us are dealing with the same fears. Keep Reading >> Today, we're going to talk about one of the biggest fears disrupting the success of many fierce feminine leaders – the fear of giving yourself permission to go for what you want. The only thing standing between the life you dream about and the life you have is an invisible gate you need to pass through. Open the gate. Here's a Breakdown of Today's Show: The number one fear preventing high-potential women in business is the fear of giving themselves permission to go for their dreams. Women often are not nearly as confused as they think they are. You may feel like you know what you want, but are unsure of whether it is practical, realistic, or achievable. You may feel crazy for wanting what you want – but you're not! The keys to unlocking opportunity's gate is in your pocket. Give yourself permission to walk through it. My Challenge for You: You walked down the road on your own two feet. You arrived at the gate and saw the life on the other side. You created the vision. Give yourself permission to walk through the gate. My Invitation to You Let's make 2017 your year for success, for courage, for being the fierce female leader you know you can be! Reserve your seat to join me and many other fierce feminine leaders on November 18 through 20 for a 3-day retreat in Toronto, Canada to crystalizing their vision, creating a powerful 90-day action plan, and getting the tools you need to help you seriously uplevel your life and business. Visit FierceFeminineLeadershipIntensive.com to reserve your seat now! Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave your review to enter your name into this month's drawing! And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness… Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover

Welcome back, fierce tribe! On Friday, we discussed how you can work less and earn more through negotiating what you want in a warm and firm way. Today, I am joined by Knightsbridge Robertson Surette's partner and my dear friend April Howe. April has 15 years of consulting and coaching experience, has played an instrumental role in the development of Knightsbridge Robertson Surette's career transition and HR consulting practice, and works as an instructor in various business schools. She serves on the board of several organizations, including the one that we serve together – The Black Business Initiative – which aids in fostering a dynamic black presence within the business community. Keep Reading >> She joins me on the show to discuss how you can claim and hold your power at the big tables and shares her interesting stories about how she learned to step into her power and negotiate for what she wants. She also shares her interesting insight on female diversity in leadership roles and offers powerful tips and advice that you can use to claim your power at the negotiation tables. You have two choices. To show up like you belong there, or show up like you don't. Here's a Breakdown of Today's Show: April shares her diverse background and how she got started in her industry. She explains how losing her job lead her to her current line of work. She talks about what she does now to help organizations through the transitioning period of a humane termination processes. She shares her opinion on whether the cliché "when one door closes, another one opens" is true for people transitioning from corporate careers into entrepreneurship. We talk about best practices for entrepreneurs needing to downsize their business. Research shows that inauthenticity is mentally exhausting and can impair a person's cognitive function. She explains why she is a huge advocate for women entrepreneurs to find a mentor. She offers tips on preparing for contract negotiations. We talk about what diverse women can do to position themselves as elite female leaders. Tips for Owning Your Power During a Negotiation: Stop asking yourself "if I can" and start asking "how can I." Get your head into the "I belong here" space. Believe your authenticity is Connect with April: Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette Website Are you ready to be more courageous, focused, and FIERCE this Fall? Are you interested in stepping into the Fall season with more courage, more focus, more direction, and more fierceness? Are you ready to ramp up your business or make more money within your organization? We'd love to help you! Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month's drawing!

Today, fierce ones, I'm talking about money. I'm talking about freedom. I'm talking about money and freedom and how money can create more freedom for you beyond merely unknotting time constraints. Money has a way of freeing emotional burdens. What emotional burdens? Money helps you spend more quality time with the people you love. Money helps you achieve your dreams – perhaps you've always wanted to go to Hawaii. Money helps you find financial, and emotional, freedom. Keep Reading >> That's why on today's episode, I want to talk to you about how to work less and earn more. Let's dive in! When we own our worth, claim our value, and hold our power in negotiations, profound things can happen. Here's a Breakdown of Today's Show: Women often work more and earn less because we feel we have to prove our value. We feel we aren't entitled to ask for more money. Research shows that when it comes to money and time – women don't negotiate. Too many women put off the internal work we need to do to communicate and negotiate for more money. Women are powerful negotiators – with themselves. Do you do any of the following? Convince yourself that you need to prove your worth before asking for more money. Tell yourself that you need to be better, achieve more, or that you are lacking experience or skills to ask for more money. Tell yourself that efforts are rewarded. Two Powerful Negotiating Rules to Always Follow: Remind yourself that you are 100% enough exactly the way you are. Stop negotiating with yourself. Now. My Challenge to You: Completely absorb the two rules of negotiating. Tell yourself "I am enough!" Pay attention to when you are negotiating with yourself. Ask for what you want. Are you ready to be more courageous, focused and FIERCE this Fall? Are you interested in stepping into the Fall season with more courage, more focus, more direction and more fierceness? Are you ready to ramp up your business or make more money within your organization? We'd love to help you! Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/Discover Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month's drawing!

Do you plan out your work week? Do you take the time to sit down and plan out your activities for each day of the week, or do you fly by the seat of your pants, keeping a mental check list or buying enough Post-It Notes that you should really consider taking up stock in the company? Keep Reading >> I'm frequently asked about what my weekly schedule looks like. As many of you wonderfully fierce ladies know, I have two kids, a husband, some pets to take care of as well as my own health to take care of and a business to run. We drop three podcast episodes each and every week, have a full roster of clients, and I run group coaching programs. Plus, I frequently speak and present at events all over the world. We definitely have a lot going on! Today I want to share with you what I do to keep it all together – keep it all straight in my mind. Sometimes it can be incredibly powerful and insightful to have the opportunity to peek behind the curtain of other people's business and schedules – to see what the "pros" are doing to keep everything on track without sacrificing their health or free time. So, grab a cup of coffee, my fierce ones. Prop your feet up and get comfortable as we dive into how I schedule my busy week, and how you can do the same! If you are a business owner, you have a lot of hats to wear! It is critical that you wear them all. Here's a Breakdown of Today's Show: A breakdown of my day-to-day home life routine consists of from about 5 a.m. How I schedule my week to include every aspect of being a CEO of a company, leading team members, handling sales and marketing, as well as fulfillment and administrative tasks. My Weekly Schedule: On Mondays – Mondays are entirely dedicated to my leadership role within my organization. This is when we have our weekly team meetings, team trainings, and set targets and goals for the week based on our monthly goal plans. On Tuesdays – I typically spend about a day to a day and a half taking care of sales tasks. On Wednesdays – Wednesdays are my marketing days. It's when I look at our "Big Picture Marketing Strategy" and start executing different things from that plan. Thursdays and Fridays – These are my fulfillment days. This is when I am coaching my clients and leading group coaching programs. This is when me and my team are fulfilling the work our wonderful clients have hired us to do! I also spend about half a day throughout the week taking care of administrative tasks – getting with our accounting team, etc. Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month's drawing!

One of the biggest career-limiting factors affecting women in business and in the workplace is gender bias – whether done consciously or unconsciously. And although times have changed over the last several decades, the types of gender bias situations that women often face is now much more insidious and harder to spot. Keep Reading >> Today on the show, I'm chatting with gender bias experts Andie Kramer and Al Harris. Andie and Al are adjunct professors at North Western University School of Law, both experts in their respective fields of law, as well as experts in communication techniques women can use to overcome gender bias. Andie is a partner in the international law firm McDermott, Will, and Emory where she heads the firm's products, training, and derivatives group. She is a nationally recognized authority on gender communications, has mentored thousands of women on the subject, as well as written several articles on the topic of gender bias. She has co-authored the article What You Need To Know About Negotiating Compensation for the American Bar Association's Guide and she is the co-founder of the organization Women's Leadership & Mentoring Alliance where she currently serves as the organization's Chair of the Board. Andie was named one of the 50 most influential women lawyers in America by the National Law Journal, has received the prestigious Gender Diversity Lawyer of 2014 Award from Chambers USA, and she is the Chair Amerida for the Chicago Foundation for Women Al is the founding partner of the Chicago law firm Angaretti and Harris, which is now part of Nixon Peabody, LLC. While with Angaretti and Harris, he was the firm's managing partner numerous times, has served on their executive and compensation committee as a member, and was the Head of Corporate and Securities Practice Group. Currently, in addition to being an adjunct professor at North Western University of Law, Al sits on the Board of Directors of a billion-dollar technology corporation and has served as a mentor, coach, and counselor to many successful women in business. They join us today to share their thoughts and insights into how women can use various communication techniques and strategies to overcome gender biasness in the workplace, to enable them to be the shining star we all know they can be. "If you can't get acknowledge, it is much better to be seen as strong and forceful than weak, timid, and modest." – Al Harris Here's a Breakdown of Today's Show: What inspired them to take a stand against gender bias. How women "buy-into" gender stereotypes when it comes to presenting themselves for compensation and promotion purposes. What are some gender stereotypes many women buy into? What subtle gender stereotypes may often be overlooked in the workplace and how can it limit a woman's career? How can women effectively manage home and work life integration. How domestic responsibilities divided evenly between spouses or significant others can positively impact both professional careers. What do women in powerful career positions all have in common that the rest of the female leadership population can learn from? What is the "Goldilocks Dilemma" Al and Andie's thoughts on the idea of "fixing the women" versus "system reform." Practical Strategies & Tips for Women to Break Through Gender Bias at Work: Maintain a strong posture – body language. Stand up while talking to command attention. Claim your fair share of space. Claim your ideas. Claim your ability to speak. Support other women in meetings. Stand your ground and stick up for yourself. Al and Andie's Powerful Advice for Women in Business: Remember the Goldilocks Dilemma. Recognize you can't change who you are, but you can't be either too soft or too hard. Find a way to reach into parts of yourself that will be most effective in the situation you are in to get it just right. Likability and perfection is overrated. Reach for the stars, even if it means you land on your butt. Connect with Al and Andie: AndieandAl.com Breaking Through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work e-book by Andie Kramer and Al Harris Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month's drawing!