Women Leaders on the Move - HerCsuite® Radio Natalie Benamou, Host and HerCsuite® Founder, C-suite leader

In a world where your network is your net worth, understanding the art of building influential connections is crucial for anyone aiming for the C-Suite or a Board Director role. Liesl Schmidt, a seasoned leader with decades of experience in commercial banking, offers a masterclass on cultivating connections to pay it forward.  

Discover how intentional relationship-building and strategic alliances can open doors to remarkable opportunities and career advancements.  Hear firsthand from Liesl as she shares: “Early in my career, I was mostly focused on routine tasks in banking, but the landscape rapidly changed with digital transformation. My advice to anyone listening is to always be prepared to evolve with your industry.”

Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Strategic Networking: Learn how to identify and engage with key individuals who can influence your career trajectory.
2. Building Lasting Professional Relationships: Discover tips on nurturing connections that are both meaningful and mutually beneficial.
3. Leveraging Leadership Roles: Gain insights into using your network to secure leadership positions and board roles.

Favorite Quotes from Liesl Schmidt:
"Every interaction in your career serves as a mini-interview; it's your chance to leave a lasting impression."

“Learning to adapt and embrace new technologies not only kept me relevant but also propelled my career forward.” 

"Connections have been key to paying it forward throughout my career. It’s about lifting as we climb and making sure we’re not climbing alone."

"Executive sponsorship is more than mentorship. It's about being someone's champion in the rooms where decisions are made.”

Tune in to harness the strategies that helped Liesl Schmidt advance her career and discover how you can apply these lessons to elevate your own career.

We would be grateful if you rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast player and share with a friend or colleague today.

We thank Liesl Schmidt for being a featured guest, speaker and member of HerCsuite® Boards Mastermind circle. Special thanks to Naomi Kent, HerCsuite® Boards Circle Chair for introducing us.

Keep shining your light bright. The world needs you.

About Liesl Schmidt:
Liesl Schmidt has spent over 30 years in commercial banking, with both Community and Super Regional banks. Currently, she is the Chief Operations Officer at River Valley Community Bank in Northern California, where she actively participates on their board. Before her current role, she was an Executive Vice President at U.S. Bank, the 5th largest bank in the United States. 

In addition to her banking expertise, she serves as a Director on the Adventist Health Community Board-Rideout Hospital, with a special interest in agriculture. Liesl specializes in organizational risk mitigation, growing companies while innovating and maintaining efficiencies, and has experience on the governance, audit, and compensation committees.
River Valley Community Bank
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How can we improve women's health outcomes? Take a listen to our featured guest, Anjana Sreedhar, a passionate advocate for women's health and a seasoned expert in organization development. Anjana sheds light on the historical and ongoing challenges women face in healthcare, while offering a hopeful outlook for the future. Her deep insights and thoughtful commentary provide valuable lessons for anyone interested in improving healthcare systems and supporting women's well-being.

Anjana Sreedhar talks with host Natalie Benamou about her book: Health Care of a Thousand Slights and the information she uncovered in both writing the book and also in the work she does now.

Key Takeaways:
1. Historical Context: Understand the long-standing male dominance in the medical field and its impact on women's health.
2. Present-Day Issues: Learn about the persistent challenges women face, including under-diagnosis and lack of research in women's health.
3. Future Optimism: Discover the growing recognition of the need for better investment and research in women's health.
4. Holistic Care: Explore the importance of providing safe, respectful, and clinically sound care for women.
5. Advocacy and Change: Gain insights into the steps needed to create a more equitable healthcare system for women.

 Quotes from Anjana Sreedhar:
1. "The past has laid bare everything that's going on in the present in women's healthcare."
2. "Women deserve to access care that is safe, respectable, and clinically sound so they can live the lives they deserve."
3. "As a society, we're starting to understand the need to invest in the questions around women's health."

Tune in to hear Anjana Sreedhar’s compelling perspectives on the evolution of women's healthcare and her vision for a brighter future.

This podcast is sponsored by HER HEALTHX, a nonprofit focused on ending medical gaslighting and improving health outcomes for women. 

We invite you to share, rate and review this podcast on your favorite streaming platform.

Keep Shining your light bright. The world needs you.
Special thanks to Priya Bathija, Founder and CEO of Nyoo Health, for introducing us!

About Anjana Sreedhar:
LinkedIn Profile
Anjana Sreedhar is the author of Health Care of a Thousand Slights, published in December 2020, about the history of health disparities among marginalized populations in the United States. She has a background in health care strategy and operations.
Website:https://anjanasreedhar.mystrikingly.com/

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HERHEALTHX
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Priya Bathija
Nyoo Health

Transformation starts with a personal experience and in the case of our guest, Brooke Dukes, a life altering event 30,000 feet in the air.  Take a listen to this conversation with host Natalie Benamou and Brooke Dukes, the CEO of BMD Consulting.  Brooke is not only an accomplished leader but also a torchbearer for individuals striving to carve a career and life away from feeling the crush burnout. 

Brooke takes us through her unique journey and shares profound insights from her new bestselling book, "Burn On, Not Out: Finding Fulfillment Beyond Success." Her book provides a comprehensive guide to those who are in search of a delicate balance between professional triumph and personal contentment.

The importance of authentic leadership, the power of vulnerability in fostering empowerment, and the art of charting a path towards inner tranquility amidst the corporate hustle, are all focal points of our discussion. Discover the secrets of leading a life that is fueled by fulfillment rather than being dimmed by exhaustion.

Key points
Learn how to burn on and burn forward into a life where there’s no more stressful striving for external rewardsRemove pressure to be perfect or “enough”,Discover how to stop trying to live up to the standards or expectations that emerged from your parents or your young, wounded self.
Favorite Quotes
1. "It's time to step off the hustle bus and into your life of flow you were naturally meant to be living in." - Brooke Dukes

2. "You can have success and fulfillment. It's not easy and it takes some work and it takes some discipline and some boundaries, but it can be done and I want more women to experience that." - Brooke Dukes

3. "We have to build that habit and then let the habit get the result." - Brooke Dukes

Thank you Brooke, for sharing these insights and for helping us all Burn On, Not Out!

Help others find us by rating and reviewing this show on your favorite player. Share it with a friend and help her burn on, not out!

Keep shining your light bright. The world needs you.

About Brooke Dukes
Brooke’s high-paced career in corporate reached a crossroads during her second pregnancy. Eight months pregnant and on bed rest, her boss gave her an ultimatum– fly 8 hours on an international flight to close a $500M deal or lose the entire commission she’d worked for months to earn. She closed the deal but went into labor on the return flight, 30,000 feet above ground on a plane full of men. Thankfully, the emergency response team that met them when they landed were able to stop the labor, ensuring she and her daughter, Ryann, were both healthy.

Endangering her unborn child for the sake of a commission became the wake-up call she needed to redefine her life and to start helping other women redefine theirs. From that point forward, Brooke has used her corporate background and her expertise in human behavior transformation to empower women to take back control of their lives, to align their career paths with their true values, and to realize that happiness leads to success–not the other way around.

Website: www.brookemdukes.com
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookedukes/
https://www.facebook.com/brookedukes/
https://www.instagram.com/brookedukes/

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Today we explore the intersection of knowledge and action with the insightful Dr. Margie Oleson. Take a listen to host Natalie Benamou and Dr. Oleson as she shares secrets of turning knowledge into meaningful deeds. Dr. Oleson, a renowned expert in applied psychology and behavioral science, will be our guide as we navigate the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.

Get ready to discover practical strategies, actionable insights, and inspiring stories that will empower you to bridge the divide between knowledge and action.

3 Key Points
1. Understand the Knowing-Doing Gap: Dr. Oleson explains details behind why we often struggle to translate knowledge into action. From cognitive biases to environmental influences, uncover the barriers that hinder our ability to apply what we know.

2. Strategies for Implementation: Explore evidence-based techniques and behavioral strategies that facilitate effective action. Learn how to overcome procrastination, cultivate habits, and design environments that promote consistent follow-through.

3.Harnessing Motivation and Willpower: Discover the secrets to sustaining motivation and bolstering willpower. Dr. Oleson shares insights on tapping into intrinsic drivers, setting compelling goals, and fostering resilience in the face of challenges.

Favorite Quotes:
1. "I've seen countless individuals who possess vast knowledge but struggle to translate it into tangible action. Understanding this gap is the first step towards bridging it." - Dr. Margie Oleson

2. "Action doesn't always require monumental efforts; sometimes, it's the small, consistent steps that lead to significant change." - Dr. Margie Oleson

3. "By aligning our actions with our values and aspirations, we can ignite a powerful sense of purpose that propels us forward." - Dr. Margie Oleson


"Understanding is the first step towards transformation is what we do with that understanding that truly defines us." - Dr. Margie Oleson"In the journey from knowing to doing, it's not just about taking action but also about being mindful and intentional in our choices." - Dr. Margie Oleson"True progress is not just about what we accomplish externally, but also about the growth and evolution that happens within ourselves along the way." - Dr. Margie Oleson
Thank you Dr. Oleson for being on the show today and a special thank you to Anastasia Lipske, Founder of Access Speakers, who connected us. Both Dr. Margie Oleson and Anastasia are members of HerCsuite® and we come full circle on our ecosystem with the original introduction from Bobbie Carlton, Founder of Innovation Women.
Keep shining your light bright. The world needs you.

About Dr. Margie Oleson:
Website URL: www.oleson-consulting.com
LinkedIn:http://linkedin.com/in/margieoleson
https://www.facebook.com/margie.oleson/
https://www.oleson-consulting.com/top-team-accelerator/

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Anastasia Lipske
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Bobbie Carlton

In this enlightening episode host Natalie Benamou welcomes Kendall Wallace, an expert in creating transformative experiences for leadership teams. Discover the importance of authentic human connections in fostering a positive and productive work environment. Kendall shares insights from her diverse career journey, from traveling the world to working in tech and facilitating team off-sites that foster deep, meaningful interactions. 

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in enhancing team dynamics and resolving interpersonal challenges in today’s often remote work landscape.

Key Points:
1. Invest in Human Experiences: There is a need for designing authentic experiences to help team members develop empathy and strengthen bonds.
2. Create positive Team Dynamics: When teams are immersed in beautiful environments, like Hawaii, can enhance team retreats, making them more effective in building connections and resolving conflicts.
3. Leverage the Power of Awe in Retreats: Using  awe-inspiring settings in team retreats can significantly boost morale and cooperation among team members, drawing on natural beauty to enhance psychological well-being and team cohesion.
4. Facilitated Conversations in Conflict Resolution: Open conversations during team retreats, allow for honest exchanges and help in addressing underlying tensions, thereby improving long-term team collaboration.

Memorable Quotes from Kendall Wallace:
1. "If we want people to care about each other, we actually have to design experiences for people to do that."
2. "People don't leave teams if they're feeling seen, valued, and heard."
3. “We are humans living a human experience.”
4. “There is a power of awe and nature does it all on its own.”

Kendall Wallace’s insights provide invaluable guidance on how to navigate and enhance the human aspects of working in teams in all work settings. Her approach combines empathy with strategic experience design to foster workplace environments where people feel connected and valued, paving the way for both personal and organizational growth.

About Kendall Wallace:
Kendall Wallace is a master at creating meaningful experiences that make you feel more alive, connected with yourself, with nature, and with one another. She creates movie-like magical moments not on a screen but in real life.
After reading Eat, Pray, Love, she traveled the world by herself for 2 years. 
For the past decade, she has thrown herself into personal growth. She went from waitressing to creating a thriving career in tech at Meta before it abruptly came to an end. Now, she designs bucket list corporate offsites that not only create magical experiences, but also create safety and honesty in the workplace.  Having helped over 1,000 people across 75 groups in improving communication, uncovering blind spots, minimizing recovery time between breakdowns, defining work-life balance and making decisions more in alignment with what moves them in order to become highly effective communicators & happier people.
In addition, she is an EFT practitioner and uses this in her coaching, helping people psychologically reprogram their subconscious. She now lives in the North Shore of Oahu, having been inspired to improve her surf skills and live her Blue Crush dreams. She also leads a monthly dinner club as well as a monthly entrepreneur circle.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-wallace/
Website: www.executiveoffsites.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kendall.wallace123
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/corporateoffsites/  https://www.instagram.com/kendallwallace123

About HerCsuite®
HerCsuite® is a powerful network community of ambitious women creating an ecosystem of limitless opportunities.
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Thank you for listening, rate and review the podcast.
Keep shining your light bright.

Unexpected traumatic events can alter the course of our future. It's up to us to make decisions on the path that we're about to take and move forward. On today's episode, I am sharing my personal personal story about seizing the moment, understanding that unexpected things happen, and it's what we do next as leaders that matters most.

In 2008, I suffered a traumatic brain injury. My life was forever changed and I have come to appreciate the smallest acts of kindness. It is why I believe we need to make every moment count. 

Key Takeaways:
As leaders, we have a choice. When faced with a challenge we can rise above it or let it consume us.  I hope that you will feel inspired to know that rising above is within your reach.

Finding Purpose:I found that when we are at the lowest point from an unexpected circumstance there is only upward momentum.  Volunteer, find a cause that lights you up and take on experiential leadership roles. 

The Power of a Strong Community: I discovered through my leadership journey with the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association how vital surrounding ourselves with the right people, who level us up to be our best selves matters.  

Stepping into Leadership: “Do something that scares you every day”- Eleanor Roosevelt. Joining the HBA board and becoming President was a big leap forward. I learned by doing, and found lifelong friends.  The journey is hard enough, don’t go it alone. Find leaders you admire and connect with them.  You will be surprised and delighted by the outcome.

Lessons from the Journey
When life throws unexpected challenges our way, we can find the strength to pivot and embrace change. I would not have been able to rise to leadership, succeed in my career without having the right people around me. There is power in external advisors and sponsors. Surrounding yourself with supportive people can make all the difference. In my rise to leadership, the secret to real success is it takes hard work.  You have to tap into your brave, embrace resilience, be persistent and find the courage to take on new roles, even when you're not sure you're ready.

"Only you can summon the courage to take a step forward to leadership. It is your courage that will empower you to persist when you are faced with a challenge.”-Natalie Benamou, Founder, HerCsuite®

"When you are faced with a choice, listen to the messages your heart is telling you, open yourself up to the possibilities, and embrace all that you are meant to be.”-Natalie Benamou, Founder, HerCsuite®

“The key to taking a new leadership role is to roll up your sleeves and put in the work. If you've been waiting for the right moment, I'm here to tell you there is no perfect moment- just do it." -Natalie Benamou, Founder, HerCsuite®

"One of the most important things we can do as a leader is to express gratitude. Be thankful to friends and colleagues and your team. Let them know they matter." -Natalie Benamou, Founder, HerCsuite®

A Message of Hope
This personal story proves that even in the face of adversity, we can shape our future. By embracing unexpected change and staying resilient, we can overcome obstacles and make a difference. 

Feeling inspired? Share this episode with a friend or colleague and don’t forget to rate and review the show. It helps other listeners find us! And remember, just as I discovered, anything is possible if you believe in yourself and stay open to possibilities. When doors close, windows open. It is us to us to fly through.

Join us April 30th and make Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Leadership a #1 Bestseller. Follow HerCsuite® on LinkedIn. Connect me Natalie Benamou on LinkedIn. Visit HerCsuite® to follow the book. Find the book on Amazon and click to buy for only $.99 the Kindle version of the book.

Keep Shining Your Light Bright. The World Needs You.