Diving into government contracting is no small feat—it’s a bold undertaking requiring courage and a deep grasp of the intricate landscape of policy making and implementation. As this challenging yet rewarding path unfolds, Jennifer Hanks, CEO of MMC Consulting and Co-Founder of Fed Propel Institute, seizes the opportunity with determination.

In this episode, Jennifer shares strategies for building and managing cost-effective teams, navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the unexpected twists of starting MMC Consulting amid pregnancy and parenting during the pandemic. Discover her commitment to shaping the next generation of acquisition professionals and the impactful initiatives of the FedPROPEL Institute, designed to empower women, veterans, and minority-owned businesses.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

Tune in to learn more about how she sheds light on the imperative of staying informed, adapting to constant policy and technology changes, and the strategic development necessary to thrive and remain relevant in the ever-evolving government contracting arena.

Thriving Points:

• Imposter syndrome is real. And it's like, as confident as we can be, there are going to be those moments where you doubt yourself. - Jennifer Hanks 
• Even in your own business, there's going to be things that don't go as planned. And in that moment, we just had an attitude of we're doing this. - Jennifer Hanks 
• You're writing proposals and all of those things. It's those things that just make you stronger, more resilient. And you just gain a new respect for yourself, your partner, and your team. - Jennifer Hanks

Get to Know the Guest:

Jennifer Hanks, CFCM, NCMA Fellow, is a dedicated small business advocate and is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of MMC Consulting, LLC. MMC Consulting provides acquisition, program, and human capital management to federal and commercial clients with a commitment to delivering innovative solutions to challenges facing the federal government. Jennifer oversees the operations of MMC’s commercial and federal practice with a portfolio that exceeds $1B in value.

As a former warranted contracting officer with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), she obtained domestic and international contracting experience in Afghanistan, Guatemala, and Germany. She has also worked for several large federal contractors that gave her a complete understanding of the full buyer/seller experience and how to provide effective and creative solutions for clients. In addition to her responsibilities as CEO of MMC Consulting, Jennifer is also Co-Founder and Senior Advisor of The FedPROPEL Institute whose mission is to help 10,000 minority-led firms become elite federal contractors over the next decade.

Connect with Jennifer Hanks:

• Website
• LinkedIn

A Team Dklutr Production

A different result requires a different approach.

Aspirations of growth often require a change in methodology in order to achieve new goals. But the mere thought of change scares us. Even when others are willing to give advice or share their experiences, we often cling to the familiar.  Our old ways can serve as a comfort blanket.

While it can be uncomfortable to be in a new environment or unfamiliar situation, I want to remind you:

“Don't automatically discount that new way just because it's new or unfamiliar to you.”

Trust the wisdom of those who've walked the path before. Their guidance can help you avoid pitfalls and find shortcuts, ultimately leading you to your destination quicker.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

In this episode, I encourage you to ask three important questions to exercise your power of choice effectively:

• What guidance have you been overlooking or ignoring?
• What would your life or business look like if you followed that advice?
• What's getting in your way and causing resistance to taking that advice?

Be open to exploring new routes and suggestions from other people as it may lead you to bigger and better opportunities. There is more than one way to get to your destination. Some are shortcuts, some have barriers or challenges along the way, and some are longer but provide a better vantage point. 

A rich experience is awaiting you if you follow guidance provided by those who have been where you want to go.  You never know which new path will help you thrive even more in life and business!

Thriving Points:

• When you ignore the advice of those who are around you or the guidance that you've been given, you may still get to your goal but it's going to take up more resources.
• You always have the power to choose when there's an option for a new way.
• Don't automatically discount that new way just because it's new or unfamiliar to you.
• You may uncover or discover something that you never knew was there just because you're trying a new way.

About the Show:

 Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

A Team Dklutr Production

The beauty of the human experience lies in how its meaning evolves over time. For Ronnette Meyers, it all began with her grandmother's front porch beauty salon, where she learned the art of braiding as a young girl. This was her first taste of earning through her skill – the spark that ignited her entrepreneurial journey.

From these humble beginnings, Ronnette became a senior leader in the federal government, which eventually led to her joining her mother's government contracting firm. From there, she forged her own path, founding an IT consulting company, and continuing to blaze trails in govcon for over 13 years. Ronnette has leveraged her business acumen to guide her company in obtaining numerous certifications and flourishing year after year. She’s building an empire that includes, govcon, real estate, hospitality, and performing arts.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

Amidst her impressive accomplishments, Ronnette firmly believes in the power of relationships. She emphasizes the significance of trust and confidence in her partnerships, an essential factor in striking a harmonious balance between her professional and personal life.

Listen in to learn more about Ronnette’s journey and how you can apply her insights to your own experiences.

Thriving Points:

• Starting as a subcontractor allowed me to build past performance so that I could go after a prime opportunity. - Ronnette Meyers
• Partnerships are key to developing good partners who actually care about you and the services you bring. - Ronnette Meyers
• You meet so many different people who are already in the business who may have more experience and you want to learn and partner with them on different opportunities. - Ronnette Meyers
• Being a subcontractor is a way to learn the business. Learn all the pieces and parts and not be the person on the hook for it. - Ronnette Meyers
• Pay attention to your subcontract agreement. Ask and clarify clauses you don’t agree with. - Ronnette Meyers
• The key is socialization outside of business because you really have to know people and understand their values. - Ronnette Meyers
• And now, we are hotel investors. We invest in Broadway plays, apartments, and brand new condo construction.  Once you’re at a certain playing field, you can actually support these different efforts. - Ronnette Meyers

Get to Know the Guest:

Ronnette Meyers, President and CEO, has leveraged her extensive experience as a former federal employee and as a senior executive with a multi-million dollar, award-winning government contractor to create JLAN Solutions, a premiere provider of superior IT and management consulting services. Ronnette’s reputation in the government contracting sector is unparalleled, and she is a sought-after partner for engagements of all types. Ronnette is laser-focused on providing superior service and peace of mind to government customers at all levels.

Ronnette is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program,  the Small Business Administration Emerging Leaders Program, and the Inner City Capital Connections program.

Connect with Ronnette Meyers:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

A

Revamping your career is no small feat; it requires strategic thinking and unwavering determination. In a journey marked by calculated risks and meticulous planning, Tasha Jones serves as a role model for transforming apprehension into achievements. She isn't just building a business; she's crafting her legacy through an intentional approach to achieve her envisioned future.

After dedicating more than two decades to government consulting following her service in the US Navy, Tasha made a defining choice to seize control of her career and embark on an independent professional path. This bold decision unearthed a profound purpose: her overarching mission is to create an investment fund by the year 2039 that will provide capital support to businesses and communities.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

Tasha’s insights on planning, establishing robust support systems, and exploring the unknown will inspire you to reassess your own career journey.

Don't miss out on this episode; prepare to be captivated by Tasha's compelling story.

Thriving Points:

• Having that consistent support structure, planning in advance, and having alternative options for the things that are very important ensure that I'm not taking too much high risk when I transition careers. - Tasha Jones
• Sometimes we glamorize what we don't know, but talking to people who are in those roles helps a lot. - Tasha Jones
• Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there to ask and show that you're still curious and you're trying to learn. - Tasha Jones
• It's a different kind of grind, with all the regulations, it's not enough to just win contracts—  you have to build infrastructure. - Tasha Jones
• I always had systems and processes and things in place. If I made the decision to grow, I wanted to have things in place for that so I did put those in place upfront. - Tasha Jones
• I'm glad I had the confidence to try and grow a business because it's helping me to see some things that I didn't even realize I had already been exposed to. - Tasha Jones
• Since I want to create a product that makes services more accessible at a broader scale for businesses that don't have the revenue, I need to do it smartly so it doesn't break me financially. - Tasha Jones
• I always try to ensure that I'm engaged in the industry organizations that tend to yield the best results versus just being a member. - Tasha Jones

Get to Know the Guest:

Tasha Jones is a U.S. Navy Veteran and Founder of Twenty39, a data-focused professional services firm leveraging over twenty years of experience primarily in the U.S. Federal, Defense and Intelligence market space. From scaling multi-million-dollar, functionally diverse global portfolios to spearheading multiple high-visibility project turnaround efforts for major IT systems and processes at the US Department of Justice, Ms. Jones is an industry-recognized leader in developing data-informed solutions, turning around “off the rail” projects and “just getting the job done!"

Tasha founded and co-hosts Unveiled: GovCon Stories podcast – to spotlight the true experiences and learned lessons from small business founders in government contracting; and is a Citrine Angels board member, a DC-based angel group of women investing in women.

Connect with Tasha Jones:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Unveiled: GovCon Stories Podcast
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It may seem like the worlds of aerospace systems design and organizational development exist in entirely separate realms. But what if we told you they actually are connected in a fascinating way? Well, they are, and in this episode we're diving deep into this convergence with Sonya Hopson.

Sonya is an expert at working within systems, and she sees the world through that lens. Whether at NASA engineering rockets, or assisting various government agencies and commercial clients with strategic planning, she's all about putting the pieces together to develop a cohesive solution.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

Join us as we embark on Sonya's remarkable journey, from her early days as a practicing engineer to her impactful work at NASA. Discover how she transitioned into an unexpected role that led to teaching resume writing in a detention center, and eventually founded her own consulting business. Throughout her story, you'll learn what it truly means to perceive the world as a series of interconnected systems and how you can leverage that perspective in your own business.

This is an episode you don't want to miss, as it offers valuable insights into Sonya Hopson's career and worldview.

Thriving Points:

• I see the world in systems. I see them as pieces being integrated together. - Sonya Hopson
• We help design, build and launch people, products and processes into their proper orbit. - Sonya Hopson
• We focused on what we did well. We built systems. So it's just seeing the world as a series of gears and pieces. - Sonya Hopson
• Your child is unique. You have unique relationships, but it really requires a system for everybody to make it out happy, healthy, and whole. - Nikki Rogers
• Our job helps put everybody back to the North Star, identify what is their role and contribution to making things happen. - Sonya Hopson
• We come in, we work shoulder to shoulder with our government partners to give them the solution that they can implement. - Sonya Hopson

Get to Know the Guest:

Sonya Hopson is a Strategic Partner of DVIRC and the CEO of Sage Services Group LLC. For over 20 years, Sonya has provided leadership on mission-critical projects with a diverse range of public and private organizations to improve performance and strengthen organizational effectiveness.

Over the last 13 years, Sonya has provided Training and Development, Organizational Design and Development, and Strategic Planning support to nearly twenty different Federal agencies, State government offices, and commercial clients. Sage has established a history of helping leaders and organizations in navigating challenging situations. They excel in bringing leaders and their teams together to identify strengths and limitations and agree on goals.

Connect with Sonya Hopson:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Other resources mentioned:

• QBQ! The Question Behind the Question: Practicing Personal Accountability in Work and in Life by Jo

How do you transition from working in the corporate to finally starting and leading your own business?

While it’s not entirely impossible—I know a lot of people who took a leap of faith and started their own entrepreneurial journey—it takes a special kind of courage, especially for women and women of color to transition from the corporate setting to leading their own companies.

So really, how do you do this?

For Lesa Adeboye, CEO of Alliance Group, it’s a matter of presenting your authentic self and building genuine relationships. With her mantra of “where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Lesa reminds us that it’s not about being good at everything, but it’s about knowing how to make real partnerships and identify the best people to engage when opportunities arise.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

In this episode, Lesa and I talk about her knowledge of govcon and how the desire for freedom motivated her to start her successful business after over 20 years in corporate.

Thriving Points:

• I wasn't fearful about anything. But I made a lot of mistakes. Coming out of corporate, I thought I knew everything, so I had to learn that business is a whole other beast. I had to humble myself, but that took some time. I made a lot of mistakes but I learned a lot from the mistakes that I’ve made. - Lesa Adeboye
• What I have learned—and it's taken a while—is bringing my authentic self to the table and making genuine relationships, doing business with the people that my personality resonates with. - Lesa Adeboye
• I love women-owned businesses because I see it as an avenue to freedom. Entrepreneurship is an avenue to freedom. - Lesa Adeboye

Get to Know the Guest:

Lesa Adeboye, the CEO of Alliance Group, has over 25 years of federal government contracting experience. Alliance Group's corporate capabilities include management consulting, professional and administrative services, and visual communications (film, animation, and graphic design). Before becoming a business owner, Lesa served in roles that include Director of Contracts and Procurement, Director of Business Development, and Executive Program Director, for Fortune 500, mid-sized, and small businesses.

Connect with Lesa Adeboye:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Other resources mentioned:

• The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz 

About the Show:

Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn

Studies tell us that on average, humans spend more than 30% of their lives at work.

Given that work is such a significant aspect of our lives, it is important that we work in an environment where we feel valued and appreciated.

But how can we ensure that we work in a healthy environment where we can thrive?

In episode 810, we discuss this topic with our guest, Dr. Melba Nicholson Sullivan, CEO of Freedom Flow Solutions. Melba believes that creating a culture where individuals feel seen and heard is the first step toward achieving a healthy work environment. With her clinical psychology background and passion for the performing arts, she customizes a solution based on each organization's unique challenges, recognizing that different industries require different approaches.

If you want to find out more about Dr. Sullivan’s distinctive approach to a sustainable workplace, tune in to this episode!

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

Thriving Points:

• Avoidance is one of the key ways that we navigate trauma. - Melba Nicholson Sullivan, Ph.D.
• We're very committed to creating a space for wisdom that sits in every seat. - Melba Nicholson Sullivan, Ph.D.
• When I'm working with somebody individually, I'm working with them to navigate the impact of a work environment that needs to change. When I'm working with the organization as the client, I'm changing the context in which that individual is working. - Melba Nicholson Sullivan, Ph.D.

Get to Know the Guest:

Dr. Melba Nicholson Sullivan is a licensed clinical community psychologist, Executive Coach, and vocalist. She uses theater arts, contemplative practice, and body-based approaches to navigate systemic oppression while promoting resilience and liberation. Melba grew up as one of 3 Black children in her graduating class of 300 in Deerfield, IL. She earned her BS in Psychology from Howard University and her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She completed postdoctoral studies in child and family trauma and social policy at Duke University, as well as global mental health at Harvard Medical School/Istituto Superiore di Sanità. Prior to creating her own companies, Melba worked for more than 20 years in nonprofit leadership and as clinical faculty at Northwestern University, Bellevue Hospital Center, NYU School of Medicine, and Ackerman Institute for the Family. She created a university counseling center at the American University of Nigeria, in Yola, Nigeria. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, NY.

Connect with Melba Nicholson Sullivan, Ph.D.:

• Website
• LinkedIn

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn

Have you ever wished for a "recipe" for business success? Imagine the efficiency and effectiveness you could achieve if your organization's processes were documented and communicated. Imagine what could be possible if everyone on your team understood what work needed to be accomplished and how to do it.

But how do we document processes and establish consistency that benefits our businesses?

This week, we're joined by Alicia Butler Pierre, the Founder & CEO of Equilibria, Inc., and the bestselling author of Behind the Façade—the world's first published book on business infrastructure. Alicia is an evangelist about the importance of operations and infrastructure management for companies of all sizes and types.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

To achieve business success, it's essential to clearly identify every individual activity involved in delivering your product or service—from initial client interaction to final delivery.

Want to learn how to enhance your business processes from an expert? Tune in to Episode 809 and listen to Alicia's insights today!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Behind the Facade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success
• How to Win Friends & Influence People

Thriving Points:

• “You are naturally skilled and talented at where your joy and your passion lies.” - Alicia Butler Pierre
• “By joining different networking groups that would meet fairly regularly, I was able to build that base of contacts.” - Alicia Butler Pierre
• “The concepts and basic principles that I learned in engineering enabled myself to apply them to the world of business.” - Alicia Butler Pierre
• “Process ensures consistency in the way that you provide your services or produce your goods.” - Alicia Butler Pierre
• “Blame the process before you blame the person. You have to take the time to train them, to onboard them; otherwise, you will lose them.” - Alicia Butler Pierre

Connect with Alicia:

• Website
• Instagram
• Linkedin
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Youtube

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE

Societal messages often suggest that women must choose between taking care of their families and taking care of themselves. This, coupled with persistent wage inequality, false assumptions about women's financial literacy, and previous laws that restricted women's money-related activities, can inhibit women from creating wealth and achieving financial freedom.

In this episode, our guest Sarah Walton challenges these limiting beliefs and empowers women to take control of their financial lives. As Sarah puts it, "Women need each other." She helps women to become financially independent and make decisions that align with their values and goals.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

Sarah is the founder of Sarah Walton Coaching, and in this conversation, she shares her inspiring journey from humble beginnings to successful entrepreneur and business coach.

Tune in to Episode 808 to hear more about Sarah's story and her insights on how women can build financial prowess and reclaim their power.

Other Resources Mentioned:

• The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

Get to Know the Guest:

Sarah Walton is a success coach and business mentor who’s been featured on The Today Show speaks at women’s conferences all over the world and has helped hundreds of women start and grow businesses they LOVE.

Originally from Salt Lake City, Sarah spent her 15-year corporate career in New York City, navigating the male-dominated world of tech, managing a P&L worth hundreds of millions of dollars, working closely with Marianne Williamson, mentoring dozens of women, and balancing motherhood at the same time.

She’s the voice behind the Game On Girlfriend Podcast, and she's known for her weekly "Coffee With Coach" streaming video conversations on Monday mornings.

She offers comprehensive online courses including The Sales Mastermind and The Abundance Academy. She also runs her exclusive quarterly “Sprints” where you work on one goal, for one quarter, designed for women who are serious about growing and staying focused.

Sarah has become the go-to source of inspiration, no-nonsense teaching, and practical integration for women in business.

She’s created a successful business and now speaks across the nation, offering her courses and workshops, which are designed to put more money in the hands of more women.

Connect with Sarah:

• Website
• Instagram
• Linkedin
• Youtube

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn

The approach to diversity and inclusion within corporate workplaces has evolved over the last four decades. Organizations have moved beyond compliance to a current focus on creating inclusive environments that engage and empower employees. All change begins at the top and leaders must take initiative to incorporate equity and inclusion in their organizations.

My guest, Celeste Warren, a global executive in diversity and inclusion, shares her insights and experiences in promoting diverse and inclusive workplaces. In this episode, we delve into the million-dollar question of how individual leaders can influence others to cultivate inclusive workplaces where everyone feels they belong. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on this important topic.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

Listen to Episode 807 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• How to be a Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador

Thriving Points:

• “And so you have to look. Your policies, your procedures, your practices, because sometimes you might have the policies and the procedures, but if the managers and the leaders aren't actively practicing it with their employees, the policy's not even as good as the paper that it's written on.” - Celeste Warren
• “As a leader, you have to make sure that you understand what is happening from a cultural standpoint, from a social standpoint, from a political standpoint externally, and the impact that it's having on certain communities of employees within the workplace, and if you don't understand that, then you talk about the war for talent, you're not gonna be able to thrive.” - Celeste Warren”
• “You have to understand where people come from no matter whatever, their walk of life. Everybody comes to the workplace from different spaces with these deeply held beliefs that they were taught from childhood.” - Nikki Rogers
• “What is it that I need to do? What am I missing? What skills, what capabilities, and what biases do I have? Get in touch with yourself and understand you as a person.” - Celeste Warren

Connect with Celeste:

• Website
• Amazon
• Linkedin

About the Show:

 Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. 
Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

A Team Dklutr Production

Starting a career or a new job does NOT come with a manual. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for adapting to a new workplace. There are multiple factors to adjust to, including workplace dynamics, organizational values and practices, and new responsibilities. This transition might take a long time before you can actually feel comfortable and stable in your new environment and role. You have the smarts and skills to succeed, but do you know what else is important?

To really thrive, you have to be aware of and understand the expectations and perspectives of others. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence are keys to climbing the corporate ladder or leading an organization.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

Gracing the podcast this week is Carice Anderson, career woman and author of Intelligence Isn't Enough, A Black Professionals Guide to Thriving in the Workplace. Besides being an author, she is now in the fourth phase of her career, as she would like to put it. She has undergone several career transitions, worked among diverse groups of people across continents, and taken all that she has learned to write an informational and inspirational career guide.

Carice opens up about her journey from one work environment to another—from corporate to freelance, from the USA to South Africa. She takes us through her ups and downs of being a Black professional, how her identity and circumstances shaped her experiences, and the stories and lessons she picked up along the way.

Listen in to our enlightening discussion!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Intelligence Isn’t Enough: A Black Professional’s Guide to Thriving in the Workplace

Thriving Points:

• “There are people who cannot put your values aside. They rule everything about the way you interact with people and how you expect people to interact with you. So if you're in an environment full of people who have no values, it's just not gonna work. “ - Carice Anderson
• “If you can't understand, recognize, and manage your own emotions, you can't understand and influence the emotions of others.” - Carice Anderson

Get to Know the Guest:

Carice Anderson is a major in Business. She is the author of Intelligence Isn't Enough: A Black Professional's Guide To Thriving in the Workplace and published it in South Africa and the UK last 2022.  She holds a MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Alabama. Carice enjoys traveling, and massages, and she is obsessed with mangoes, chocolate, and laughter. 

Connect with Carice:

• Website
• Linkedin

About the Show:

 Women Thriving in Business is a weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. 

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

It’s undeniable that even though the workplace is an exciting place to grow, mature, compete, and excel, it is also a place where harassment, oppression, inequality, racism, sexism, and many other problems can occur. These are problems that many employees face in the workplace. How can those who experience these issues fight back and obtain justice?  How do we make people understand these are not individual problems, but systemic issues that need to be addressed?

This gives the legal aspects of things a big market for a startup, but the big question is: how do we approach the needs of the employees in a legal aspect, and how do we make investors understand that it is a purposeful area to pursue?

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

In this episode, Danae Shell, co-founder and CEO of Valla, shares with us the impetus for starting Valla, a startup that makes legal support accessible and affordable for everyone, the challenges of integrating technology and legal services, the issues encountered by women tech founders, and more lessons learned from her extensive startup experience.

Listen to Episode 805 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• The Compassionate Mind

Thriving Points:

• Valla is a platform that helps people represent themselves in court or tribunal if they can't afford a traditional law firm—which means that it's for most people because most people can't afford a traditional law firm. - Danae Shell
• The problem wasn't finding the lawyer, the problem was affording the lawyer. - Danae Shell
• Who you choose to back you as a company really matters at those [early] stages because an investor who doesn't understand early-stage startups could have easily tried to push us to rush to revenue too quickly. - Danae Shell
• All female-founded companies like mine receive less than 2% of all the venture capital that's deployed… That the way that that manifests in terms of difficulty is you have less access to networks. - Danae Shell

Get to Know the Guest:

Danae Shell is the co-founder and CEO of Valla, a tech startup that is  making legal support accessible and affordable for everyone. Danae is a developer-turned-marketer and a Tennessean who has worked in Scotland's (UK) startup scene for over 17 years. She has extensive scale-up experience, joining as an early employee in Scottish startups FreeAgent and Care Sourcer and helping to build and scale their marketing teams. Danae is passionate about building inclusive, kind companies that support high-performing teams.

Connect with Danae:

• Website
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

About the Show:

 Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. 

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

What allows a business to thrive and be successful in the face of constant change in the market and the world? What propels organization leaders to achieve ambitious goals?

There’s no one perfect answer to these questions, but rather a myriad of options and strategies that can be employed to create success. The real question is—which strategy should you start with?

In this episode, Elisabeth Embry answers our inquiries about strategies and the road to success. A strategic thinker with 25+ years of executive experience at Fortune 500 companies, startups, and everything in between, Elisabeth shares with us the foundation of every successful organization’s strategy—its people and culture.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

Listen to Episode 804 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Eliyahu M. Goldratt’s The Goal

Thriving Points:

• It's important to be relevant and understand that the things that are important now are going to help set the tone and the temperament of where the company, department, or yourself is going. - Elisabeth Embry
• At the end of the day, it is all about people. - Elisabeth Embry
• When we are leaders, we have to be aware of our strengths and our weaknesses. - Elisabeth Embry
• What needs to be more explicitly stated in organizations is that we are all going toward this goal. And here's your role to play in it. - Nikki Rogers

Get to Know the Guest:

Driving transformation and delivery at scale and at pace, Elisabeth Embry has helped enterprises, divisions, and individuals achieve massive success. Elisabeth is a strategic thinker, able to grasp and articulate the big picture and translate it into meaningful and effective actions. She possesses unique skills based on 25+ years of executive experience at Fortune 500 companies, startups, and everything in between. Through her experiences in companies such as Expedia, Amazon, IBM, and T-Mobile, she has led effective strategy and execution at the portfolio, project, and product levels. She has hands-on experience leading product organizations, business operations, strategic and organizational planning, as well as SAFe and Agile transformations. She enables teams to deliver more, with quality, while increasing speed and predictability, with a metrics-driven approach.

Connect with Elisabeth:

• LinkedIn
• Crosslake Technology LinkedIn

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

In an uncertain economy and a seismic shift in ways of working, organizations are feeling the impact of the great resignation and “quiet quitting,” while individuals are reporting unprecedented rates of burnout. As leaders, how can we transform the workplace for the better?

How do we create better workplaces where employees feel seen, heard, connected, engaged, and fulfilled? Where their purpose and passions are acknowledged and supported?

In this episode, Keren Tsuk,  keynote speaker, consultant, and a thought leader in 21st-century leadership, shares that mindfulness is the key to transforming the workplace into a better space. She explains that mindfulness not only means to be fully present in the moment but also refers to being aware of the experiences we are going through.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

Listen to Episode 803 to learn more about mindful leadership!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Sanaya Roman’s Living with Joy: Keys to Personal Power and Spiritual Transformation
• Keren Tsuk's Mindfully Wise Leadership: The Secret of Today's Leaders

Thriving Points:

• I found that mindfulness is a crucial element that we need to embrace nowadays in order to lead our companies and be on the cutting edge and engage our employees. - Keren Tsuk 
• The coronavirus transformed not only global work but also workplaces and caused people to ask themselves tough questions, “Why do I want to invest my time? Why do I want to engage in this company?” - Keren Tsuk 
• I needed to go through this transformative process myself in order to be able to help other people to connect to themselves. - Keren Tsuk 
• Mindfulness actually helps us to manage [our emotions] and not be managed by our emotions. - Keren Tsuk 

Get to Know the Guest:

Keren is a keynote speaker, consultant, and thought leader in 21st-century leadership, as well as the author of the book Mindfully Wise Leadership. She founded the consultancy Wisdom To Lead which specializes in the development of senior management teams and corporate leadership. Keren helps companies and teams reach their full potential using mindfulness techniques. Checkpoint, Earnix, Plarium, Verint, Amdocs, Ex Libris, Google, and Siemens are all companies Keren has worked with. As a keynote speaker on the topic of the relationship between mindfulness and leadership, she also speaks at conferences worldwide and in fortune 500 companies.

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Have you been sitting on a great idea or concept for a while, but you are hesitant to put it into action? What if, instead of being paralyzed by fear,  you decided to bet on yourself and your big idea?  If you decide to make your concept a reality, you have the potential to create a successful business and benefit others who can use your product or service. 

My guest this week, Shiloh Johnson, the Founder and CEO of ComplYant, a technology platform offering entrepreneurs stress-free guidance to manage complex tax rules and regulations year-round. Shiloh leveraged her tax practice experience and deep understanding of business tax challenges to found a technology firm focused on helping 31 million small businesses move from tax confusion to compliance.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

Her big idea has paid off - Shiloh has raised over $12M in funding, making her one of the few African American women founders to raise over $1M. Not only is Shiloh living proof that taking full responsibility for your own journey will lead to a brighter future, but she is also a firm believer that when you have an idea, you should try it right away. If it doesn't work out, learn from it and use the lessons learned as motivation to keep trying until you succeed.

Shiloh shares the inspiration for her decision to start ComplYant, the beauty of taking full responsibility for your own ideas, and the challenges of making it a reality.

Listen to Episode 802 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• ComplYant
• Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson 

Thriving Points:

• I'm gonna try this thing. And if it doesn't work out, I walked away with a great set of experiences, and maybe a bigger network. - Shiloh Johnson
• I try not to get too hung up on the sadness of the result of the decision, but instead, use it as a lesson. - Shiloh Johnson
• I didn't give myself a chance to doubt myself. - Shiloh Johnson

Get to Know the Guest:

Shiloh Johnson, a long-time accountant, and financial trauma advocate, is the founder and CEO of ComplYant, a digital tax assistant to help small businesses organize, save, and pay for various business taxes. Rooted in the mission to remove tax barriers for small or underrepresented business owners, ComplYant offers unique solutions to not only help founders navigate their taxes but to anticipate owed taxes and budget ahead of time.

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

What is your next career move?  Should you go after that big promotion you have dreamed of? Or should you start that business you’ve always wanted to pursue?

No matter where you see yourself, whether it’s owning your own business or climbing the ladder in your organization, the question is this: do you feel powerful enough to make the next move toward your vision? My guest Lisa Baker spent over 30 years in corporate, ultimately becoming a Senior Vice-President managing a $2.5 billion P&L. She has had experiences and made connections that many of us dream of.  Yet, Lisa doesn’t consider herself extraordinary and believes that we all can achieve professional and personal success by leveraging our inherent greatness.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers.

During our wide-ranging and engaging discussion, Lisa shared how her parent’s decision to migrate from Atlanta to St. Louis in the 1950s not only changed the trajectory of her family but also established the foundation for her future success. Lisa is the youngest of 8 siblings and grew up hearing about the impact that the move to St. Louis had on her older siblings. These stories of sacrifice and challenge motivated her to work hard to make her family proud.

Lisa is an ICF-certified coach, and her passion for helping others achieve success by identifying their strengths, passions, and purpose is what drives her as an entrepreneur. In this episode, she shares her stories of navigating the corporate world, starting her own coaching business, and some words of advice to help women of color thrive in a demanding corporate environment.

Listen to Episode 801 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Seth Godin’s Small is the New Big

Thriving Points:

• One of the things that I often say to people is to find what your area of greatness is and work in that space because that's where you're going to thrive. - Lisa Baker
• We, women, are often so accommodating. We don't wanna hurt anybody's feelings. We feel like we have to say yes to everything. But you cannot do that if you're going to run a successful business. You really have to know when to say no and limit your time and exposure to things that aren't driving you toward your goals.  - Lisa Baker
• You have to get really good at building meaningful relationships… Getting to know people, and more importantly, allowing them to get to know you. People would want to work with and promote folks that they know, like, and trust. And you can't build that trust without really investing time in building meaningful connections. - Lisa Baker

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

"In the midst of all those different elements coming together, that crisis of courage, that crisis of confidence, the financial pieces, the health pieces - that's where the power and the gift of crisis kicked in." - Nikki Rogers

Life is full of peaks and valleys. We can plan as much as we can, prepare for the worst and map out our desired path down to the T. But there will always be crises along the way that cannot be averted.

I certainly couldn’t.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers. 

These past few weeks have been challenging for me personally and professionally. . I've encountered many obstacles recently, that forced me to pull out the magnifying glass, carefully inspect key elements, and recalibrate my approach to business and life.

While no one wants to experience a crisis, I did find a silver lining in the aftermath. Moving through the emotional and psychological effects led me to a heightened sense of power and resolve to pursue my goals and dreams.

In this episode, I share about different crises I faced recently that I have gratefully overcome. Through stillness, candid discussions, and reflection, I  assessed my situation and developed a way forward.

So Thrivers, as you listen to this episode, I raise a thought-provoking question for us all. What are some of the things that have helped you really lean into the idea of the power - and maybe even the gift - of crisis?

Thriving Points:

• I am unemployable. And by that, I mean I can't go back to not being the visionary and the key decision-maker around how I spend my time and my energy. 
• I had to deal with the facts of the moment as well as the feelings that were coming up as a result of viewing those facts, and that moment of crisis really scared me. But it also motivated me and pushed me out of my comfort zone.
• I started to think about how I can be more strategic about where I show up, when I show up and how I show up so that I am attracting the kind of partners and clients that can support and align with my vision.
• Start to get clear about what your vision is and what you're doing in your vision and your life. And some of that clarity will actually come in the doing. 
• Have that magnetism that attracts those people and those opportunities that are going to propel you toward your vision. These are your optimal connections.

Mentioned on the Show:

• The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – and Our Response – Will Change the World (by Ian Bremmer)

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

It is nerve-racking to relinquish control of something that you have created. As a business owner, you may want to maintain control of everything because you are scared to allow others to help you. However, the time you spend on tasks that do not generate revenue can be spent more effectively on growing your business.

It is in your best interest to delegate management of the operation to someone more capable, so that you may concentrate on the tasks that are most suited to your strengths. Hiring a remote team can be a  big advantage for your business as it will enable you to concentrate more on generating-revenue tasks. Rather than having to juggle multiple responsibilities, it will allow you and your business to flourish, generate MORE revenue, and enjoy your entrepreneurial journey.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers.

The Thriver joining us this week is Nicole Grinnell, Founder, and CEO of Bosun Solutions, a staffing and recruiting firm that holistically solves clients’ problems by providing the right remote team members for all back-office roles who can operate a business. Nicole takes her passion for organization, assisting, efficiency, and providing the solution to her client’s problems. Thinking of her father who was forced to juggle it all, she now finds joy in providing the relief small business owners need allowing them to grow, be profitable and enjoy their passion.

Nicole shares with us the signs that business owners should look for when considering whether to seek more support and the value of having a remote team that allows you to focus on generating revenue for your business.

Be inspired. Be empowered. Listen to Episode 709 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works by A.G. Lafley and  Roger L. Martin  
• Bosun Solutions

Thriving Points:

• When you're first starting out, I guarantee you there is money in your inbox. -Nicole Grinnell
• Pivoting and really kind of going to that next step is scary, especially when this is your comfort zone. - Nicole Grinnell
• It's a trust fall, but it's actually an experience I'm thankful we had because now we can talk to that as well with our clients and say, I understand change is hard and I understand that this feels safe and secure, but I'm gonna need you to trust me and let's move into this. - Nicole Grinnell
• Our goal is to serve our clients, and so we wanna be really mindful of that and always keep our motives right. - Nicole Grinnell

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

"Owning and running a business and being an entrepreneur is truly one of the hardest things that you can do just because there’s so much culpability and pressure and there's so much understanding required. It's a big, big responsibility. So I think just being able to keep weathering the storm and showing up day after day is an accomplishment in and of itself." - Kat Eckles

How many times have we heard this story: a serendipitous event or an unplanned decision led to the genesis of a thriving business. What you’ll hear on this episode is one of those inspiring and captivating stories.

Kat Eckles, Co-founder of Clean Juice, and her husband thought about starting a business for only 24 hours before making decisions that would ultimately transform their lives. That’s not to say that they made their choice at a whim, but were driven by their desire to be together and start their own venture. Fast forward to today, Clean Juice has grown from a single location to a multi-million-dollar franchise corporation.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers.

Listen to this episode and hear Kat discuss the importance of being willing to evolve in business, overcoming major challenges, and facing your fears. Learn key lessons such as not being too dogmatic about anything - be it in business or in life, avoiding the trap of perfectionism, and the amazing world of agriculture.

Thriving Points:

• We really started to dig in on what franchising was. We got connected to people. And we really figured out that it was probably the best way for us to grow. - Kat Eckles
• Go back to trusting your gut and be intuitive in business. - Kat Eckles
• Farming is amazing. When you really dig into all that goes into it - the hard work and just the intricacies and the small margins - it's really incredible when you figure out how our food is grown. - Kat Eckles
• We've matured a little bit as a business. We went for having a more consistent, offering versus just chaotic growing at lightning speed.  - Kat Eckles
• I'm a big believer in meditation. The benefit is you're going inside. You're very quiet. You're silent in yourself. - Kat Eckles

Get to Know the Guest:

Kat Eckles is the Co-Founder of Clean Juice, the first and only USDA-certified organic juice and food bar franchise. When clean eating expert Kat Eckles approached her husband Landon with an idea to start an all-organic juice bar, Landon quickly quit his corporate job and the couple relocated to Charlotte with a plan to open Clean Juice.

Connect with Kat:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

When we hear the word etiquette, what comes to mind? What emotions are evoked? Is it inspiring? Or is it stifling? Do you look forward to situations that require etiquette or do you avoid them because you're anxious about an embarrassing "breach" in etiquette? The truth is, you are practicing etiquette every day as you go about your daily activities.

This week’s episode sheds light on how etiquette, or having an accepted code of behavior for particular situations is a great foundation for enhancing a person’s leadership skills. Jacqueline Baker, speaker, author, and founder of Scarlet, helps debunk some of the myths that surround etiquette and shares how modern etiquette, protocol, and leadership can harmonize to bring out the best in each person.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers.

Jacqueline insightfully notes that there are 7.7 billion people in the world and we will be a better workforce and build better communities if and when we figure out a common way to operate together.

Listen to this episode to learn more about the connection between etiquette and leadership.

Thriving Points:

• If the rule is unethical, if the rule is stifling, if the rule and the etiquette and the protocol just flat out does not make sense for the world that we are now versus the world that it was first introduced in, I am not above challenging something and I'm not above other people challenging things that just flat out don't make sense. - Jacqueline Baker
• There are layers to everything. But when we are incapable of, not interested in, or refuse to have the conversation or refuse to even understand why something is, nobody wins at all. - Jacqueline Baker
• One of the most memorable mistakes that I made is not accepting the role and the opportunity to lead when clearly I was the person to lead in that situation. - Jacqueline Baker
• Just because you are a leader, whether it is by title, by position, or status, or if you are a self-leader, does not mean you won’t be out there making these mistakes. - Jacqueline Baker
• There’s a whole self-sabotage component of not accepting your role, not accepting the opportunity to lead, or not accepting really just a quick congratulations. This can be a huge problem on your journey as a leader. - Jacqueline Baker
• Social media is a beautiful lie. When you don’t know the behind-the-scenes, you're like, this is a miracle that is happening over here. But that is the public face of this. When you know what's behind the scenes and you can take it in stride and understand what people have had to do in order to make that happen. - Nikki Rogers

Mentioned on the Show:

• The Unexpected Leader: Discovering the Leader Within You

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

When was the last time you took a moment to reflect and say, "Let me put my own health and happiness first?" Self-care can seem like an impossible task for most entrepreneurs nowadays when there are so many responsibilities and to-dos on an ever-growing list. We always want to push things forward and manage all the details, and when you’re extremely busy, self-care may be the last thing that comes to mind.

It’s important to focus on taking care of yourself, as it has a big impact on your mental, emotional and physical health. We cannot run and grow a successful business if we feel stressed, anxious, or depressed, as it can only lead to burnout and fatigue. Self-care is not a luxury, but it mainly focuses on the introspective work of being able to understand what you are feeling, allowing yourself to experience it, and being aware of what your mind, heart, body, and spirit really need.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers.

Making self-care a priority will help you feel better and support you in creating success in business and life!

The Thriver joining us this week is Jan Hice-Smith, Founder, and CEO of Heart’s Joy Consulting, LLC, a boutique firm specializing in joy and well-being. She is also the author of the book Soul Work: Excerpts from My Journey. Jan connects deeply with employee groups and leads with empathy and compassion. She works with a variety of clients from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

Jan shares with us the significance of engaging in self-care practices, being aware of whether or not we are in an unhealthy environment, listening to ourselves, and paying attention to the aspects of ourselves that demand our full attention. She also discusses how to recognize when professional help is necessary to improve our well-being.

Be inspired. Be empowered. Listen to Episode 706 to learn more!

Thriving Points:

• This is a place of our own care where it's not that others are doing this for us,  but we have to fill our own cup. -Jan Hice-Smith
• Self-care is needed because we are human beings. So it's that we don't just need self-care when we're in a burnout situation or we're in a crisis. We don't just need self-care because we're in a pandemic or we've gone through a transition. It is the fact that we're humans. -Jan Hice-Smith
• My stance always with anyone is, you know yourself best. So, you know when you feel certain things and you know the symptoms and if you are finding yourself depressed, that is a reason to seek help. -Jan Hice-Smith
• You really are your best advocate because you have to know yourself and what's going on with you. -Jan Hice-Smith
• I know that it takes effort to find a therapist. Nobody wants to do it. Yes, it takes effort. But we have to remember that we're worth that effort. -Jan Hice-Smith

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

When you are striving to develop your corporate career, it is easy to be so focused on work that self-care gets overlooked.  In addition, it can lead us to neglect important people around us, and we can find ourselves successful, yet disconnected from those we love and care for.   Living a “work first” attitude can put a halt to our personal and even professional growth. It can also hamper our financial stability and affect the relationships we have in our lives.

In this episode, guest Stephanie Taylor shares how she realized that the important moments in life were passing her by and that she was capable of much more in all aspects of life, whether financial success personal relationships or self-care.  She was able to achieve her dreams by transitioning from corporate employee to owning her own real estate business.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers.

Listen in to learn how you can take hold of your life and pursue a more fruitful path to success.

Thriving Points:

• Your relationship with a person is your thoughts about them. It's not what that person does. - Stephanie Taylor
• I know there are so many things that we can complain about, but we also have so much privilege and so much opportunity, that it is really an incredible blessing. - Stephanie Taylor
• We can't appreciate what we don't know about. - Stephanie Taylor
• Your life increases in satisfaction the more you are able to make those tough decisions. - Stephanie Taylor

Get to Know the Guest:

Stephanie Taylor is a UK-based real estate investor, co-founder of award-winning real estate management and development company, HMO Heaven, and co-founder of Rent 2 Rent Success, which has inspired thousands of non-traditional investors to get started in real estate. Along with sister and business partner Nicky, they grew their real estate management business, secured contracts worth over £2m in under three years, and bought their own multi-million-pound portfolio of multifamily blocks and commercial property.

Connect with Stephanie:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook

Other Resources Mentioned:

• HMO Heaven
• Rent 2 Rent Success
• Blow Up Your Life

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

A 

Your life including your responsibilities and daily routine changes the moment you become a parent. It's not an easy task to take care of a child, as it comes with sleepless nights and requires a significant amount of energy, emotional commitment, and a great deal of patience. The adjustment to parenthood can be challenging, especially during the first year.  During that time, many parents need support from their family, friends, and most importantly, their employers. 

The transition to being a working parent is challenging to navigate, and it is so important to have support from your company or organization. Despite the well-known benefits associated with parental leave for both employees and employers, many organizations have not yet adopted parental leave policies. Parental leave contributes to the healthy development of children,  improves the health of mothers, and increases the economic security of families. . This benefit allows parents to return to their organization with their most productive selves, which in turn increases overall participation in the workforce.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers.

In this episode, we are joined by Amy Beacom and Sue Campbell from the Center for Parental Leave Leadership (CPLL), the first consultancy in the United States that primarily focuses on parental leave. Dr. Amy Beacom is the Founder and CEO of the Center and is the United States' premier expert on the personal and professional interplay around parental leave for employers and employees. Sue Campbell is the Communications Director for the Center and is a writer, author, and coach. Her work is often focused on issues important to parents.

Dr. Amy Beacom and Sue Campbell authored a book called The Parental Leave Playbook: Ten Touchpoints to Transition Smoothly, Strengthen your Family, and Continue Growing your Career that aims to “help parents take control of their leave and make the most of what’s considered a career time-out, but is actually a vital “time-in” for your life."

Listen to our conversation as Amy and Sue share with us their practical tips and advice about creating the best possible parental leave experience within a broken system. Their guidance is based on Amy’s doctoral research and their collective work with Fortune 100 companies to improve parental leave policies and programs.

Listen to Episode 704 to learn more!

Thriving Points:

• The mission is to really make sure that everyone in this country, regardless of their role or their level of job has a paid and supported parental leave process. - Amy Beacom
• If we can nurture and support parents through this process, they just become these rock stars on the other side of it.  If we can sell them on that message, train the managers on how to support the parents. This is just going to go so far into improving parental leave culture and the country as a whole. - Sue Campbell

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

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Entrepreneurs embark on every business venture with the intention of eventually growing a healthy and sustainable business. But the million-dollar question is, how do you get there?

Managing your finances is one of the most important aspects of a business. Many business owners avoid their finances and don't try to understand and manage the numbers. The management decisions you make regarding your business will determine its success or failure. Depending on those decisions, your business finances could either propel you forward or cause your business to collapse.

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers.

When you are financially savvy, you will have more control over your business. When you understand the meanings of various financial statements, including balance sheets and profit-and-loss statements, this will provide a crystal clear picture of the health of your finances, and give you the ability to make smarter decisions on growing your business. Having the right person to assist you with finances can help you overcome the challenges that you will inevitably face on your journey and realize the goals that you have set for the future of your business.

In this episode, we are joined by Kathy Svetina, Founder, and CEO of NewCastle Finance. She has 14 years of experience working in the finance industry. She was encouraged to start her own business after observing how small businesses handled their financial matters and how difficult it was for women-owned businesses to find the right financial advisor. Kathy helps women grow sustainable and profitable businesses by providing them with the same powerful financial insight that Fortune 500 companies use to their advantage.

Kathy shares with us the significance of establishing internal controls over our finances and how to know when to hire a fractional CFO. She also discusses advice for small business owners on how to generate a million dollars in revenue, as well as some lessons from Fortune 500 companies that female business owners can use in their own businesses.

Listen to Episode 703 to learn more!

Thriving Points:

• If you have a lot of growth that you want to go and have in your business,  you have to plan for that and you have to plan for it appropriately. Otherwise, the business can really suffer. - Kathy Svetina
• When you own your business, it's not just the things that you're good at. You also have to now start doing things that you're not good at. - Kathy Svetina
• As I'm working with clients, I'm starting to understand more about the things that I love to do and things that I don't want to do.  - Kathy Svetina
• What other people are doing in the business might not be appropriate for your specific business. - Kathy Svetina
• You cannot have a fractional CFO, a good fractional CFO, in place if you do not have a bookkeeper and an accountant. - Kathy Svetina

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help yo

Are you tired of working for an organization whose purpose, mission, and vision don’t align with yours? Do you envision running a business that is different and guided by your core values and goals? If that is your dream,  then creating your own business and being your own boss might be the thing for you.

However, entrepreneurship isn’t always easy and fun. It does have its challenges along the way and you have to ask yourself, are you willing to navigate through those bumps on the road to have the dream lifestyle you’ve always wanted?

Self-employment is a huge undertaking and a lot of uncertainty surrounds it. For example; How do you consistently pay yourself?  How do you find opportunities that align with your skills? How do you market your product or service to an ever-changing marketplace?

ADVERTISEMENT: If you are ready to explore entrepreneurship and looking for guidance, book a discovery call with me! With my extensive experience and knowledge, I can help you make a plan before you leap. Visit bladen-group.com/ to book a discovery call with Nikki Rogers.

In this episode, we are joined by, Maggie Karshner, a self-employment coach for small business owners. The driving force for Maggie to start her self-employment journey was a desire to help small business owners solve problems and to coach others on starting their entrepreneurial journey.

Maggie shares how she went from employed to self-employed and how she navigated through the ups and downs of her chosen career path. She also provides advice on how to start your own self-employment journey and practical tips for those already in business.

Listen to Episode 702 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Drive by Daniel Pink

Thriving Points:

• I do the stuff that my heart's really involved in and it gets you interacting with different people, you start seeing connections, you build these relationships. A relationship is not transactional. -Maggie Karshner
• Test the advice against your own knowledge and experience, because what works for one person might not work for another. -Maggie Karshner
• One size doesn't fit all. Because I think one of the things, if you have to, you do have to change, right? In some ways, you do have to try different things and, Be outside of your comfort zone and some air in some instances. But if it's something that's just so out of character, it's not going to work because you're not going to be able to sustain it. - Nikki Rogers
• That's a great reminder. So if you think about a plow horse, he's plowing a field and at the end of the day, now you have this freshly plowed fill and, there's that sense of accomplishment. And if you're not doing that, then you don't have the ground to sow your seeds. -Nikki Rogers

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
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• Yout