A Lesson in Leadership
Women have a unique relationship to power and leadership and this topic is of special interest to my guest today, Gloria Feldt. Her own story is inspiring and unique. Going from being a teen mom in rural Texas to the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Gloria has been described as “part den mother, part businesswoman, and part Mae West”. My conversation with Gloria today is a lesson in leadership as we discuss the current state of women leaders in business and politics, what tools are necessary for women’s leadership success, and how women relate to power.
Featured Guest
Gloria Feldt is a nationally renowned activist, speaker, and author on women’s rights, health, lives, and leadership.
Gloria’s most recent book, co-authored with actress Kathleen Turner, is the New York Times best seller Send Yourself Roses: Thoughts on My Life, Love, and Leading Roles. She’s currently writing a book titled Woman Unlimited: Your Power-to Tools for Life and Leadership.
People Magazine calls Gloria “the voice of experience.” A teen mom from rural Texas, Gloria became president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. At PPFA, she led the nation’s largest reproductive health and advocacy organization with almost 900 health centers and combined annual budgets approaching one billion.
Now an independent commentator for many media outlets and her website Gloria Feldt.com with its popular blogs: Heartfeldt Politics, Courageous Leadership, and Powered Women, she teaches at Arizona State University and serves on the board of the Women’s Media Center.
Listen to the January 5, 2010 show, or visit our VoiceAmerica archive to hear any of our previous shows.
The Importance of Defining Your Personal Brand
I recently did a radio interview with Lois Frankel, PhD, author of Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office and Nice Girls Don’t Get Rich and our discussion included some valuable tips from Lois on the importance of developing a personal brand for career success.
Here is an excerpt from my interview with Lois on personal branding.
“This is probably one of the most important things I think right now. As the economy has gotten tighter, as jobs have gotten harder to land, you need to see yourself as a personal brand. And when you think about brands, we buy brands because we trust them. We know them. If you’re a brand, then you need to be communicating why should people trust you. Why should they buy you? One of the ways you do this, and I actually have an acronym I use for this. It’s called WALLET to build your brand: W‑A‑L‑L‑E‑T.”
“What I say to women is “Write down” what you want people to say about you when you walk out of a room. There’s a word on the street about all of us. It’s what people say about us when we leave a meeting, but you can craft that. You can decide what you want that to be, so write it down.”
“The A stands for “act on it.” It’s not enough for me to write down what I want you to say. Now I have to identify the behaviors that I have to engage in for you to see those things about me. So if I want you to see me as self confident, what do I have to do? I may have to speak more loudly. I may have to speak more often. I may have to use numbers more often, which means I need to do the research. So write down the actions that you have to accompany the brand statement.”
“The first L stands for “Look to the edge.” That means look to the edge of your playing field. What are the women doing in your organization who are successful? because they’re playing their game at the edge of the playing field. Games aren’t won in the middle of the playing field. They’re won at the edge. So look at what the other women are doing, and most of the time, emulate those behaviors. There are always exceptions, as I said.”
“The second L stands for “Let other people know about it.” You could have the best brand in the world. But if you don’t talk about your achievements and your accomplishments, don’t expect other people to kind of dig them up. So there are subtle ways you can do that. There’s a wonderful book that’s called “Brag: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It” by Peggy Klaus that I recommend women read. Learn how to brag a little bit.”
“The E stands for “Elicit feedback.” All brands do brand research, or do focus groups. Well, your focus group is 360‑degree feedback. It’s getting feedback from the people who work with you, who work for you, who you work for, clients, customers all around you. Find out what they’re saying about you. What are they saying about your brand? That’s the only way that you can hone your brand and make it a better brand.”
“And then last, the T stands for “Treat others with abundance.” I’m just a firm believer in the more you give away the more you get. So make abundance part of your brand.”
To hear more from Lois Frankel, you can listen to the archived interview:
http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=42576
Also, check out my new January teleclasses:
Promote Yourself to Success (3 one hour sessions). $99. Class limited to 6
90 Day Action Marketing Group (6 one hour sessions). $99. Class limited to 6.
for more information and registration:
http://womenssuccesscoaching.com/services/group-coaching/
How to Capitalize on Being a Women Owned Business
Did you know that women owned businesses have a built in marketing advantage? Do you fully understand how to capitalize on your women owned status? My guest, Janet Christy, author of Capitalizing on Being Women Owned, will offer expert advice for women who have or are starting their own business. This show is packed with practical information on how to take advantage of your status and market your business to federal, state, and local governments as well as private industry. Learn the necessary steps to capture government business and how to find the best prospects for your products and services. This show is a must for women business owners who are looking to advance their business opportunities.
Featured Guest
Janet Christy has spent the majority of her professional career in marketing, sales and public relations positions. She has also worked on several economic development and technology initiatives in the Southeast.
In 2003 Janet formed Leverage & Development, LLC, a consulting firm focused on helping Small and Woman/Minority Owned businesses and government/education entities. The firm has several service offerings that assist businesses and governments in evaluating their assets and then developing plans to improve them and/or use them to accomplish specific goals.
In 2006, Janet’s book,Capitalizing On Being Woman Owned, was published.
Janet currently works with Women and Minority owned businesses to develop plans that will help them maximize their certification as a Woman or Minority Owned Business. She prepares a customized manual for her clients that includes: Market Assessment, Key Prospects, Prospecting Strategy, and a Step-by-Step Marketing Plan.
Listen to the December 29, 2009 show, or visit our VoiceAmerica archive to hear any of our previous shows.
‘Tis the Season to Celebrate YOU!
Pretty soon we’re going to be flooded with blogs that talk about creating new goals for the new year and the importance of making new resolutions for 2010. ‘Tis the season, right? I am not even going there. You will hear enough from myriads of others about setting your intentions.
Let’s focus instead of 2009. Let’s reflect back on the year and think about our successes this past year and write them down. What a great exercise!
You can categorize all your wonderful accomplishments in 3 major categories:
1. WORK: What fabulous things (big and small) did you accomplish at work this year?
2. FAMILY: What incredible things did you do for your family?
3. SELF: And last, but certainly not least, what empowering,, rewarding things did you do for yourself this past year?
As you look over your lists, it should be readily apparent where you focused the most energy in 2009. Surely, it will be the list that will have the most success entries. So, what does that say about you? Do you need to modify your focus going forward? What can you do to better balance your life in 2010?
Most of all, this is a time to celebrate YOU. Your achievements in 2009 contribute to who you are today. Make them a source of your self-confidence going forward. If you achieved all this in 2009, think about what wonderful things you can do this next year. There’s no stopping you!
Recording our successes is important. We often don’t take the time to acknowledge how wonderful and unique we are and celebrate who we are. The time is now.
Happy New Year!
Her Turn. Why it’s Time for Women to Lead in America
It’s time for women to lead in America and women need to make it happen. Women must hire women, promote women, vote for women. What holds women back from doing this? Why don’t we take our place at the head of the table? Today’s guest, Vicki Donlan, author of Her Turn: Why It’s Time for Women to Lead in America, will guide us through the evolution and progress women have made in leadership positions and offer some sound advice on how we, as women, can effect change.
Featured Guest
Vicki Donlan is a business broker with VR Business Brokers in Hingham, MA and she is President of Vicki Donlan, an independent consulting firm assisting entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and develop an exit plan.
Vicki is the former publisher and founder of Women’s Business, a 25,000 controlled-circulation newspaper devoted to women in business in the Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island region. The newspaper was founded in 1998, and sold to the Boston Herald in 2004.
Her first book HER TURN Why It’s Time for Women To Lead in America was published in September 2007. She is a regular guest discussing women in business on New England Cable News’ Business Day and a well-known speaker.
Vicki was the first Executive Director of The Commonwealth Institute, co-founder and first Executive Director of the South Shore Women’s Business Network and founder of The Alliance of Women’s Business and Professional Organizations.
Listen to the December 22, 2009 show, or visit our VoiceAmerica archive to hear any of our previous shows.
Womenomics
Recent research studies indicate a very strong correlation exists between corporate performance and gender balanced leadership; the more diverse the leadership team, the better financial performance of the organization.
Focus on the diversity of corporate boards has been viewed as an important step to a more gender balanced leadership. The intent of initiatives to increase female representation on boards followed the assumption that this would lead to the promotion of more female leaders within a company.
Now there is a new study – Womenomics 101, that focuses on the representation of women on the executive committee. This survey, done by 20-first, is designed to take a serious look at which companies are truly embracing gender balance.
The United States came up on top with 89% of companies having at least one women on their executive committee. However, when the study investigated further, they found that the women who are promoted to the executive committee are often in a support role like legal, HR, communications. Often these roles, do not have profit and loss responsibility.
According to Avivah Wittenberg-Cox of 20-first and co-author of Why Women Mean Business, “Companies that only manage to promote women into leadership through staff roles demonstrate that they have not yet worked out how to gender balance their leadership development systems and their talent pipelines”.
Wittenberg-Cox suggests that companies still don’t get it. They don’t get “womenomics”. It is mostly women who are purchasing their products and having more women in leadership positions is the key to understanding and tapping into this growing market.
Listen to my interview this Tuesday, December 15th 2-3pm EDT, with Why Women Mean Business co-author Alison Maitland as we discuss the next economic revolution: womenomics.
Listen live or download mp3.
http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=43110
WHY Women Mean Business: The Next Economic Revolution
According to Alison Maitland and Avivah Wittenberg Cox, co-authors of Why Women Mean Business, CEO’s need to get serious about sex. Why? Because there is a great opportunity now for corporate America to embrace the power and talent of women and research shows that taking action on this initiative will boost their company’s business performance. Gender is now a business issue, not a women’s issue. Today’s guest, author Alison Maitland, joins me for a lively discussion about womenonmics and how companies can create an environment of gender bilingualism that will benefit their bottom line and their employees. Learn how some companies and some other countries are tackling this issue and how it contributes to their success.
Featured Guest
Alison is a writer, speaker and conference moderator who specializes in leadership, women in business, and the changing world of work.
A former Financial Times journalist, she is co-author of the acclaimed book Why Women Mean Business (Wiley-Jossey Bass, 2008), which has just been published in an updated paperback edition (2009).
She directs The Conference Board’s European Council for Diversity in Business and is a Senior Visiting Fellow at Cass Business School, London.
Alison was a journalist for Reuters in London and Paris and then spent 20 years with the Financial Times. She contributes articles and columns to the Financial Times and other media. Recent speaking engagements include addressing the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC and moderating at the European Commission’s Gender Equality conference in Brussels.
Listen to the December 15, 2009 show, or visit our VoiceAmerica archive to hear any of our previous shows.
You’re Driven, But Where Are You Driving?
Most of the professional women I coach, whether entrepreneurs or corporate executives, are driven. I recognize certain characteristics that accompany this drive. Very often these type A personalities are totally focused on the work at hand and tend to be more reactive than proactive. Head down and nose to the grindstone.
Does this sound familiar?
If this is true for you, I would like to ask you, where are you driving and most importantly, who is driving?
The benefit of strategic thinking is to step out of your box and look objectively at yourself and your career. Strategic thinking moves you from reactive to proactive, is future/goal oriented, and allows you to see the bigger picture.
It is important to take the time to identify who you are. What are your strengths? How have these strengths helped you past positions and how are they helping you now?
What are some of your recent accomplishments and what do they say about you?
Create your own brand message and connect with your value and talent. This is who you are and what you need to communicate to others about yourself. Be clear about what you want others to know about you.
Next, identify where you are headed. What is your career goal? Who are the key influencers you need to be in front of in order for you to reach your goal?
Create an action plan to be visible and credible with these key people.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking your career will just happen without good planning and strategic thinking.
Who’s Driving? Know yourself. Be clear on your personal message and what you want people to know about you.
Where are you Driving? What is your goal? Who needs to know more about you for you to reach your goal and create an action plan for ongoing communication of who you are and your personal brand message.
Women’s Leadership Initiatives: How Three Companies are Working to Advance Women Leaders
Talking about the importance of having more women in leadership roles is one thing, but actually putting corporate programs in place that are not only supported by the organization, but effective in providing women with the necessary tools for advancement is another. Today my guests include women executives who are making this happen every day in their organizations. Susan Colantuono, the CEO of Leading Women, works with organizations to develop women leaders and she has facilitated the panel of guests for this show. Our panel includes Sherry Ulsh from Burger King Corporation, Djuana Beamon from Prudential Retirement, and Dr. Debra Hanna from Pfizer. Listen to their stories about how they have effectively moved women’s leadership forward in their corporations through a variety of successful initiatives.
Featured Guest
Dr. Debra Hanna, is a senior Principal Scientist at Pfizer Global Research and Development. In her current role, Debra’s laboratory focuses on characterizing the pharmacodynamics of new antibacterial molecules. Debra is a passionate advocate for the advancement of women at Pfizer and has worked to transform the Women’s Leadership Forum to serve Pfizer’s business goals through talent development by providing opportunities for leadership skill building, development of honed business acumen and by providing coaching opportunities for over 900 members.
Djuana Beamon is Senior Diversity Specialist for Prudential Retirement. She drives Prudential’s diversity and inclusion initiatives including diversity recruitment and retention activities. Djuana has over 22 years of financial services experience. She serves as an advisor to the Business Resources Group, Women’s Leadership Forum, People of Color Forums, and Employee Council within the Retirement Division.
Djuana received a BS degree in Business Management from Albertus Magnus College and her MBA as well as a Graduate Certificate in HR Management from the University of New Haven.
Sherry Ulsh is the Director of Global Marketing Finance and Procurement for Burger King. In this capacity, she directs all finance, accounting, procurement and business administration for marketing funds as well as gift card and licensing programs. She is co-Founder and current Chair of The Women’s Leadership Forum at Burger King and is actively involved in the community, participating and leading initiatives. Sherry holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from University of Miami as well as a Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Susan Colantuono is the CEO and Founder of Leading Women, founder of the Women’s Institute for Leadership at Bryant University and author of No Ceiling, No Walls: What Women haven’t been told about leadership. For over 20 years, she has specialized in leadership development solutions for leaders at all levels.She has advised women leaders in such organizations as Amgen, MetLife, SAIC, Fidelity, Dow Chemical, CVS/Caremark, and Marriott International how to use their strengths to leverage relationships, achieve strategic goals and lead for value creation.
visit our VoiceAmerica archive to hear any of our previous shows.
Body Language at Work: Your Secret Weapon
Did you know that you have a built-in competitive advantage ready to be deployed in any important professional situation? It’s literally at your fingertips and waiting for you to grasp and turn into a powerful, yet subtle key to success.Body language cues are especially important for women in the workplace, and they differ markedly from those of a man. Women are better than men at reading nonverbal signals, but women are less aware of how to present themselves in ways that optimize their credibility, confidence and power. My guest, Carol Kinsey Goman, PhD, is an expert in this field and will help us to understand how to use body language to our advantage in the workplace.
Featured Guest
Carol Kinsey Goman, PhD. is a keynote speaker and author of The NonVerbal Advantage-Secrets and Science of Body Language at Work. She is president of Kinsey Consulting Services. Carol has worked with over 130 organizations in twenty-one countries. Her work has been featured on CNN, Bloomberg Television, and NBC News. Carol addresses associations, government and business audiences around the world on this and other strategic business issues. Her website is www.NonVerbalAdvantage.com
Listen to the December 1, 2009 show, or visit our VoiceAmerica archive to hear any of our previous shows.
