The Female Insight Zone

Susan Sygall is the CEO and co-founder of Mobility International USA, an organization that seeks to advance disability rights globally. An internationally recognized expert in the field of international education exchange and leadership programs for persons with disabilities, she has co-authored numerous publications, co-produced several award-winning videos and lectured around the world.

A passionate advocate for disability rights and venerated civil rights leader, Sygall has received a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, the Kellogg Fellows Leadership Alliance Matusak Courageous Leadership Award and the 2014 Viscardi Achievement Award. She was named an Ashoka Senior Fellow in 2013 and served as part of the US Delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2015.

On this episode of the podcast, Sygall discusses Mobility International’s work to empower people with disabilities to gain their rights and specific initiatives the organization has implemented to help women with disabilities take their rightful place as leaders.

Key Interview Takeaways

The barriers faced by women with disabilities mirror those encountered by women in general. Women with disabilities encounter more violence and have limited access to education, health care and jobs. Mobility International USA seeks to eliminate those barriers with an initiative called the Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD), an intensive program in which 20 girls with disabilities from Africa, Asia and Latin America meet to learn about media, policy and legislation, health care and parenting. They then return to their communities as leaders who can empower others to understand their rights and how to access those rights.

Sygall offers strategies to build confidence in young women with disabilities. A wheelchair rider herself, she first emphasizes that the opportunity to connect with other women with disabilities fosters a sense of solidarity that breeds confidence. The second approach involves women with disabilities creating a new image for themselves by taking on pursuits they might not have believed were possible; the WILD program gives its participants the opportunity to participate in activities like a challenge course, river rafting, self-defense and sports.

One thing we can do today to transform our culture into one that is more inclusive for women with disabilities is to ask ourselves, “Is this program accessible?” Marketing materials should welcome people with disabilities, your organization’s website should be accessible to the blind, a sign language interpreter should be available at events, and events must be held in accessible places. Seek out groups of women with disabilities and meet with them to promote your programs and bring them into the fold.

 Connect with Susan Sygall

www.miusa.org

twitter.com/mobilityINTL

www.facebook.com/mobility.international

www.makers.com/susan-sygall

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Jennifer Wilkov is the founder and producer of Speak Up Women, a national conference to support women in understanding the importance and impact of speaking up in their personal, professional and philanthropic lives. She is also a best-selling author and popular keynote speaker who seeks to inspire women via her personal message, “You have the right to remain fabulous!”

Wilkov has 20-plus years of experience in strategic planning and business development. She utilizes her talents as a book and business consultant and literary agent “matchmaker.” Wilkov also hosts the popular “Your Book is Your Hook!” radio talk show on WomensRadio Network.

On this episode of the podcast, Wilkov discusses the goals of the Speak Up Women Conference and the reasons why we stop speaking up.

Key Interview Takeaways

“Magic really happens when you open your mouth.” Having the confidence to ask for what you want allows others to make contributions and help move you forward. After a 25-year struggle with Crohn’s Disease and two surgeries, Wilkov addressed her family, friends and primary care doctor to say, “I want to get off all the meds, and you’re going to help.” Six months later, she was pharmaceutical free.

There are a number of reasons why we stop speaking up. After initially being encouraged to “use your words” as toddlers, people are later told to be quiet or play along. Eventually, our dreams are stifled and we don’t feel as if we have permission to ask. This skill set needs to be revived to build the life you want to live. Give yourself permission!

It is important to build a lasting relationship with your money. To make thoughtful decisions regarding your investments, make the time to sit with your finances as you examine where you are and where you want to go. Wilkov’s book, Dating Your Money: How to Build a Lasting Relationship with Your Money in 8 Easy Steps, explains this process and provides a framework that doesn’t make you feel lesser, but allows you to approach your finances from a fresh perspective.

 Connect with Jennifer Wilkov

speakupwomen.com

jenniferswilkov.com

Resources

Subscribe to Speak Up Women Conference Mailing List speakupwomen.com/join-us

Wilkov Books jenniferswilkov.com/books

The Ask: How to Ask for Support for Your Nonprofit Cause, Creative Project, or Business Venture by Laura Fredricks: http://amzn.to/2fAIsb9

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Helene Lerner is the CEO of Creative Expansions, Inc., an award-winning media production company, and the founder of WomenWorking.com, one of the premiere online magazines for career women. For more than two decades, Lerner has worked to address the concerns of contemporary women and help them actualize their potential. As a prolific author, independent public television host, Emmy Award-winning executive producer and Fortune 500 workplace consultant, she covers a variety of women’s issues including work-life balance, health and wellness, relationships, breaking barriers and building self-esteem.

On this episode of the podcast, Lerner addresses “the confidence myth,” smart risk-taking and the characteristics of a strong woman.

Key Interview Takeaways

Successful women pick an issue that will change the conversation and get behind that idea, even with “shaking knees.” Lerner suggests that having confidence doesn’t mean you aren’t nervous, it means that you are willing to take a stand for an innovative idea – even if the process takes you out of your comfort zone.

“We need more women at all levels leading alongside men.” Lerner argues that in addition to being smart and strategic, women are also the “connectors.” In a world with too much divisiveness and violence, women leaders are essential in bringing people together.

Barter your strengths to gain new skills. Interested in learning about media production, Lerner offered her services as a marketing and sales consultant to a NYC media school in exchange for television courses.

Women are a strong, resilient and caring lot. When push comes to shove and there’s a need out there that we can fill, we’re there.

Connect with Helene Lerner

womenworking.com

facebook.com/womenworking

Resources

The Confidence Myth: Why Women Undervalue Their Skills, and How to Get Over It by Helene Lerner

Time for Me: Simple Pleasures for Women Who Do Too Much by Helene Lerner

Lerner Books

The Secret to Real Confidence Webinar: womenworking.com/secret-real-confidence-webinar/

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Kelly Ferrin is a gerontologist and longevity expert who is committed to educating the public about healthy aging. She was one of the first to receive a degree in the field from the esteemed University of Southern California’s Andrus Gerontology Center and has spent her career of over 30 years studying retirement issues and sharing a new image of aging.

Ferrin’s extensive work in the financial industry has led her to develop an expertise regarding longevity’s effect on retirement planning. She is a certified AARP retirement specialist, consultant, author, newspaper columnist and motivational speaker serving the senior market. She has been featured on radio and TV talk shows nationwide, including Oprah, Good Morning America and the Today Show. Ferrin seeks to motivate audiences with her unique perspective on how living long and living well is changing how we age and retire in America.

On this episode of the podcast, Ferrin explores how we can change our mindset toward retirement and shares stories of what she calls super seniors who are “blowing the doors off the image of aging.”

Key Interview Takeaways

Mindset matters. Because all the studies on aging in our country (up until the last 25 years) have taken place in nursing homes, we tend to assign “retirement” a negative connotation. Ferrin contends that we must change our perspective and begin to associate aging with terms like healthy, active, working, traveling and volunteering. A Yale study found that people with a positive perspective toward retirement and aging were likely to live seven years longer, while those with a negative outlook were twice as likely to die of a heart attack.

The best way to change people’s thinking is by sharing anecdotes of people who see aging as an opportunity rather than a time of decline. Inspiring stories like that of Ironman triathlete Sister Madonna Buder can help change our outlook on getting older.

Having a sense of purpose and keeping ourselves engaged are the secrets to living an extraordinary, long life. Retiring to something rather than from something is key in establishing that sense of purpose and facilitating living as opposed to simply existing. Volunteering to, i.e.: cuddle premature babies, gives retirees a meaningful responsibility and a reason to get up in the morning.

Mindset, attitude, and beliefs drive behavior, so don’t fear aging or try and fight it. Redefine it!

Connect with Kelly Ferrin

Website: www.ageangel.com

Resources

What’s Age Got To Do With It?: Secrets to Aging in Extraordinary Ways by Kelly Ferrin

What’s Age Got To Do With It? Volume II by Kelly Ferrin

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Amy Husted and Audrey Wallace are the creators of the babysitting exchange platform Komae. As young moms, they established a cooperative to exchange free babysitting services with other parents they knew and trusted. That idea grew into Komae, an app that allows more people to utilize the solution they found for themselves and form communities of trusted caregivers.

Husted brings a strategic mind to the company. She is responsible for internal management, social media marketing and content management. Wallace employs visionary thinking to the managing of public relations, networking and sales. Both earned Bachelor of Science degrees in psychology at Baldwin-Wallace College and pursued careers before becoming stay-at-home moms and now successful entrepreneurs.

On this episode of the podcast, Husted and Wallace explore the strengths they bring to the table as Millennials, explain how Komae works and share advice for turning an idea into an enterprise.

Key Interview Takeaways

Because millennials grew up with the gift of technology, they utilize available resources and innovate to develop creative, simple solutions. Husted and Wallace contend that apps like Airbnb and Komae illustrate efficiency and industriousness in a sharing economy.

Parents today spend more time with their kids than they did in the 1960’s! As we work to keep children safe and protected, we are more engaged in our kids’ lives and the activities they pursue. Komae gives parents guilt-free time to themselves by providing a “village” of trusted caregivers.

Set aside time every day to spend thinking about your goal. As first-time entrepreneurs, Husted and Wallace know how overwhelming it can be to realize an idea. Their advice is to take it one day at a time and “move to the next dot.” Soon, the dots begin to connect and the thought becomes a reality.

Need funding? Get creative. The founders of Komae began with a successful Kickstarter campaign and then learned about pitch competitions. To date, they have won six such contests in order to finance the development of their company.

 Connect with Amy Husted and Audrey Wallace

Website: www.mykomae.com

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Lori Webb is a professional speaker, writer and workshop facilitator who specializes in international entrepreneurial trends, tech innovations and the power of experience. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, she serves clients all over the world via her company, Indspark!, which allows Webb the opportunity to inform, inspire and motivate entrepreneurs and companies looking to innovate.

Webb’s coaching, training facilitation and publishing endeavors complement her belief in the power of experience to help people make a change, grow their knowledge-base, or simply increase their joy. She combines her zest for life with the way she crafts her client experience, and Webb has reached an audience of a million-plus utilizing both traditional and digital media.

On this episode, Webb addresses the importance of being inspired in your work and the benefits of bringing creativity and a cross-cultural experience to the table.

Key Interview Takeaways

While focus is necessary to achieve proficiency in a particular area, you don’t have to focus on just one thing throughout your life. Webb concedes that her extensive curiosity and desire to be “president of everything” may have caused her grades to suffer in high school, but the rich and varied life experience she gained through that wide-ranging involvement became a strength in that she can communicate with anyone, speaking to sports, leadership, etc.

“We need to be happy in this lifetime.” When Webb coaches clients, her focus is not just on helping them identify opportunity and make money, but also uncovering what they truly want to achieve. Only when we have acquired a certain level of joy do we have the resources within ourselves to be accept and be kind to one another.

The old model of delayed gratification (work, retire, then live your life) is broken in the 21st century. Rather than being loyal to a company, Webb argues that we need to be loyal to ourselves. “By doing what you feel good about … you create a vibration in the world that empowers others to do the same.”

Things you may think are insurmountable are not. Webb contends that very few things cannot be done with the right people, the right mindset and the tenacity to keep moving forward.

 Connect with Lori Webb

Website: lorimariewebb.com

twitter.com/loriwebb

Resources

Webb Books: https://www.amazon.com/Lori-Webb/e/B006PMR35M

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Katie Goodman is an award-winning musical comic, actress, author, speaker and social activist. As the creator and headliner of Broad Comedy, an internationally touring satirical show, is co-produced and co-written with her husband, Soren Kisiel, Katie’s edgy blend of politics, feminism and music makes her one of the most exciting comedians working today.

Born and raised in Brookline, MA, Katie was drafted into politics early. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Ellen Goodman, Katie was raised on the importance of addressing social issues. She made her directorial debut in the 2nd grade with the ironic choice of the musical Really Rosie, a story of a precocious child directing and starring in her own musical. And from there she set out on the path of writing and performing. Her subsequent projects have been, shall we say, a little edgier.

Along with her solo show, and work with Broad Comedy, Katie and her husband run a theater camp, now in its 21st year for 250 high-energy, theatre-obsessed children.

On this episode, Goodman talks about why some women are unwilling to call themselves a feminist and an experience that taught her the importance of speaking up where it makes a difference and when it’s worth it.

Key Interview Takeaways

Many younger women don’t want to call themselves a “feminist” because they’ve grown up in a feminist world and therefore take it for granted. Taking it for granted isn’t a bad thing but we need to remember that there is still work to be done.

Comedy is a great place to talk about social issues because it makes people step back and listen with perspective.

It’s important to identify the things that inspire you as well as the things that will create burnout.

For Goodman, it’s important to know where and when to speak up. Where it makes a difference and when it’s worth it.

The format of social media encourages bullying because many people feel like they aren’t doing it to real people.

Connect with Katie Goodman

katiegoodman.com

Twitter: twitter.com/katiegoodman

Instagram: instagram.com/thekatiegoodman

Facebook: facebook.com/KatieGoodmanComedian

Youtube: youtube.com/user/broadcomedy

Resources

Improvisation for the Spirit – By Katie Goodman

katiegoodman.com/tickets

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Stacy Hanke is a keynote speaker, writer, communications skills coach and executive mentor. She is the CEO and founder of Stacey Hanke, Inc., a team of mentors and consultants who equip leaders within organizations to communicate with confidence, presence and authenticity, day in and day out.

As an expert in executive presence and influence, Hanke has trained and presented to thousands in an effort to teach executives to choose their words carefully and rid business leaders of bad body language habits.

On this episode of the podcast, Hanke talks us through several important themes in her new book, Influence Redefined, including the importance of self-awareness and reflection, securing meaningful feedback, and practicing authenticity and consistency in daily communication.

Key Interview Takeaways

Leaders need the opportunity to see through the eyes and ears of their listeners. Hanke’s ‘Influence Model’ offers leaders practical skills and techniques to enhance their reputation and level of influence as they communicate with intention.

The three reasons why leaders have an inaccurate understanding of how they are perceived include flawed feedback, lack of self-awareness and failure to hold themselves accountable.

In order to secure honest, effective feedback, leaders must approach friends, family members and colleagues who will be upfront, asking these observers to look for specific communication skills in real situations.

Don’t wait for the ‘Big Gig.’ Hanke recommends that leaders cultivate communication skills daily and establish consistency – Monday to Monday. It is difficult to be authentic during a big presentation when you have not practiced the necessary communication techniques (i.e.: eye contact, connect and engage) in everyday interactions.

Take the time for self-reflection. Hanke suggests that leaders spend five minutes developing a 90-day action plan that identifies specific skills to work on (word choice, brevity, etc.), then meeting weekly with an accountability partner to assess progress.

 Connect with Stacey Hanke

staceyhankeinc.com

Resources

Influence Redefined: Be the Leader You Were Meant to Be, Monday to Monday by Stacey Hanke

Yes You Can!: Everything You Need From A to Z to Influence Others to Take Action by Stacey Hanke and Mary Steinberg

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Heather Ann Havenwood is a serial entrepreneur with an expertise in information marketing and business strategies. Named one of Huffington Post’s Top 50 Must-Follow Women Entrepreneurs for 2017, she is known as “The Wizard Behind the Curtain” who teaches people to leverage their knowledge and sell it to the world. As CEO of Havenwood Worldwide, LLC, she has coached and promoted hundreds of entrepreneurs, transforming their knowhow into marketable courses, seminars and Masterminds.

In 2006, Havenwood started, developed and grew an online information marketing and publishing company from ground zero to over $1 million in sales in less than 12 months. Then she lost it all. In this podcast, she shares her story of success and loss, revealing how she fought her way back from bankruptcy and foreclosure to achieve professional success once again – and discover her true passion in owning her own business and serving clients to help them achieve their personal goals.

Prepare to be inspired as Havenwood shares the story of how she tapped into her strengths and became her own Sexy Boss, working to educate, enlighten and empower female entrepreneurs to grow their own online business and to live a fearless and fulfilled life.

Key Interview Takeaways

“If you don’t get hit, you’re not playing hard enough.” In the world of business, expect to encounter setbacks. Havenwood was hit hard when a business partner emptied their accounts and left her with immense debt, but she started over and achieved great success once again.

Tap into what you’re good at. Entrepreneurship is about more than just making money, it’s about building a business around your strengths and helping other people achieve. Havenwood shares this lesson in her book, Sexy Boss.

Give yourself permission to fail. Though we’re taught as kids to avoid failure at all costs, the world of business requires that we give ourselves permission to miss the mark on occasion. It’s okay to create something that doesn’t work; the failure of a marketing funnel or a particular product does not reflect a personal failure.

See through a business lens. Though it can be difficult to avoid making decisions based on emotion, it is important to shift your mindset. Havenwood recommends gaining perspective by asking pragmatic questions: What’s working? What isn’t? How can we fix it? Is the timing right?

Connect with Heather Havenwood

heatherhavenwood.com

Resources

Sexy Boss by Heather Havenwood

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Eleanor Blayney, CFP is the Consumer Advocate for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board of Standards, reaching out to consumers to help them understand how financial planning and CFP professionals can improve their lives. A recognized conference speaker and author of the book Women’s Worth, she has played a pioneering role in shaping the financial planning profession. Blayney has taught for the College of Financial Planning and helped develop practice standards and ethical requirements for CFP professionals in the U.S.

The greater part of her career was spent as Managing Director of SBSB, where Blayney helped build one of the largest independent wealth management firms in the country. For twenty-plus years, she worked with individual clients to help them articulate and plan for their financial goals. As the only woman in the firm, she drew upon her intuition, communication strengths and facility for sustaining relationships to serve hundreds of clients in the Washington, DC metro area and around the country.

Passionate about finding ways to foster gender parity in the financial planning profession, Blayney helped spearhead the CFP Board’s Women’s Initiative (WIN) to address the industry’s “feminine famine.” On this episode of the podcast, Blayney speaks to gender disparity in the industry and discusses the CFP Board’s work to reach out to young women and attract a more diverse workforce.

Key Interview Takeaways

The two root causes of gender disparity in the financial industry are lack of knowledge and discriminatory firm culture. “You can’t be what you can’t see,” and until young women are made aware of opportunities and introduced to role models in the financial industry, Blayney argues that firms will have difficulty appealing to talented women.

Combat lack of awareness with advocacy partnerships that give industry representatives the chance to tell their stories. Through the ‘Faces and Voices of Diverse CFP Professionals’ campaign, the board is working with organizations like Invest in Girls and Rock the Street Wall Street to connect speakers with their target audience and give young women a sense of what the profession looks like.

The financial planning industry is a good fit for women because it offers a sense of purpose and meaning. Blayney contends that the profession allows for the opportunity to create meaningful relationships and provides a creative outlet that appealed to her as a young professional.

Educational opportunities in the industry must be both relevant and accessible. The CFP Board has approved 300-plus registered programs around the country, both traditional classroom and online.

Candidates for certification with a professional contact are far more successful. The CFP Board WIN-to-WIN mentor program provides the opportunity to connect prospective female professionals with advice and support.

Investing in a diverse workforce improves outcomes in terms of profit, productivity and morale. Blayney emphasizes the necessity of inclusiveness in the financial planning industry to build a sustainable workforce that truly represents those they serve.

Connect with Eleanor Blayney

Email: eblayney@cfpboard.org.

twitter.com/EleanorBlayney

CFP Board Website: cfp.net

Resources

www.investgirls.org

rockthestreetwallstreet.com

fortefoundation.org

irelaunch.com

Women’s Worth: Finding Your Financial Confidence by Eleanor Blayney: http://amz…

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