Find Your Voice, Change Your Life Dr. Doreen Downing

Today, I interview Jennifer Arthurton, whose childhood was a quest for acceptance and attention within her family. Born in England and raised in the Caribbean, Jennifer's early years were serene until her parents' divorce. Feeling overshadowed by her younger brother, she continually sought approval through conformity and achievement.

As Jennifer matured, she excelled academically and pursued a successful corporate career, fulfilling societal expectations. However, nearing her 50s, a midlife crisis struck, prompting her to question the significance of her accomplishments. Despite outward success, she felt unfulfilled and disconnected from her true self.

Jennifer's turning point occurred when her life unraveled—divorced, unemployed, and bedridden with stress-related illness. Stripped of her identity, she confronted her vulnerability, realizing she had lived by societal norms rather than her inner voice. Staring at the ceiling, she began asking herself fundamental questions, finally acknowledging the importance of her own voice and intuition.

To overcome her struggles, Jennifer embarked on self-exploration, learning to trust her inner voice. She began writing, launching the Old Chicks Know Sh*t blog and podcast to share her journey. By connecting with other midlife women, she found empowerment and purpose and now helps other women navigate their next chapters with confidence and authenticity.

__________________

Jennifer Arthurton is the founder and creator of Old Chicks Know Sh*t, a community and podcast aimed at inspiring and supporting midlife women in pursuing their dreams and navigating their next chapter. As a former Fortune 500 marketing executive turned midlife mentor, podcast host, writer, and speaker, Jennifer draws from her own experience of surviving a midlife crisis to empower other women.

With a passion for helping women uncover their inherent power and wisdom during a time often characterized by doubt and feeling overlooked, Jennifer is an inspirational speaker and leads a community of powerful midlife women crafting their kick-ass next chapter.

__________________

Find Jennifer here:
https://www.instagram.com/oldchicksknowshit/ 
https://www.facebook.com/oldchicksknowshit/ 
https://www.oldchicksknowshit.com/ 
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/old-chicks-know-sh-t-podcast/id1461186926 
Support the Show.
I’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Susan RoAne who faced challenges early in childhood marked by her brother's battle with polio, which demanded much of her family's attention and resources. This experience, while difficult, taught her the importance of communication and advocacy, as she often found herself speaking up on her brother's behalf. 

Susan also shared how she was thrust into social situations from a young age, which laid the groundwork for her future expertise in mingling and networking. Her journey to becoming the Mingling Maven was not without its struggles as she had to navigate the complexities of social interactions as the older sister of a sibling with a disability, which often meant fending for herself and learning to be heard. 

Today, Susan uses her experiences and insights to help others overcome their social anxieties and challenges. She has authored several books, including "How to Work a Room," which provides practical advice on socializing and networking. Susan emphasizes the importance of being oneself, engaging in genuine conversation, and including everyone in social interactions. 

Her approach to networking is about making connections that are both meaningful and beneficial, rather than being purely transactional. Her strategies for overcoming social challenges and her dedication to helping others find their voice and confidence in any room have made her a respected figure in the field of communication and networking.
__________________

Susan RoAne is a keynote speaker, Mingling Maven, best-selling author, and business networking expert. Her most notable work is “How to Work a Room,” first published in 1988. The 25th Anniversary edition of this book, titled “How To Work a Room: The Ultimate Guide to Making Lasting Connections In Person and Online,” has sold over a million copies and achieved international acclaim.

Susan’s impact extends beyond her written work. As a keynote speaker, she has addressed Fortune 20–500 companies, conventions, and prestigious universities. Her insights connect the formalization of social networking rules to the women’s movement. In 2015, she was recognized as one of the 25 Professional Networking Experts to Watch.

Susan’s legacy lies in her ability to empower individuals to navigate social interactions with confidence, fostering meaningful relationships that transcend business boundaries. Her impact continues to resonate, making her a trailblazer in the art of networking and communication.
__________________
Find Susan here:
https://www.susanroane.com/
https://www.threads.net/@susanroane
https://x.com/susanroane
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanroane/
https://www.facebook.com/SusanRoAneBiz/
https://www.instagram.com/susanroane/


Support the Show.
I’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Julia Stege, who struggled to find her footing amidst doubts about her artistic abilities and societal expectations. Growing up in a family where creativity was both encouraged and stifled, Julia found herself navigating conflicting messages about her abilities. Despite doubts about her artistic prowess and pressures to conform, Julia pursued her passion for graphic design.

As Julia ventured into the world of design, she encountered further obstacles. Traditional marketing methods felt inauthentic to her, prompting a deep soul-searching journey. Rejecting the dishonest tactics prevalent in mainstream marketing, Julia decided to forge her own path. Her commitment to authenticity led her to establish the New Renaissance Business School, a platform dedicated to empowering spiritual entrepreneurs to embrace their multi-passionate nature and build businesses aligned with their values.

Through her teachings, Julia emphasizes the importance of listening to one's inner voice and staying true to oneself. Her message resonates deeply in a world where conformity often prevails. In Julia's story, we find inspiration to embrace our uniqueness and make a positive impact with our voices, despite the challenges we may face along the way.
__________________

Julia Stege, known as The Magical Marketer, specializes in assisting spiritual business women and conscious entrepreneurs in clarifying and expressing their purpose through branding and marketing strategies that enchantingly attract their ideal customers online. 

She is the mastermind behind the Branding from the Heart™ System and the acclaimed author of "Branding from the Heart: How to Share Your Purpose through Marketing that Attracts Your Tribe and Inspires a Revolution." 

Julia's expertise as an award-winning branding artist and writer has earned her collaborations with prestigious clients such as NYC MOMA, Carnegie Hall, the U.S. Postal Service, Birkenstock Shoes, OWN Network Show Host Iyanla Vanzant, and the renowned Restaurant Franchise Cafe Gratitude.
__________________
Find Julia here:
https://magical-marketing.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JuliaDrosteStegeArtist
Support the Show.
I’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Elona Lopari, who was misunderstood and restricted by societal norms early in her childhood. Growing up in Albania, she grappled with being labeled as mischievous and stubborn for her independent thinking and curiosity. Despite these hurdles, Elona found solace in her innate drive for achievement and a determination to break through limitations imposed by others.

Upon immigrating to the United States, Elona continued to face challenges but found support and encouragement from her father, who instilled in her the belief that she could achieve anything she set her mind to, eventually rising to success in the corporate world.

However, as her career progressed, Elona began to feel a sense of unease and anxiety, signaling to her that she was no longer aligned with her true purpose. This inner turmoil led her to transition into entrepreneurship, where she discovered her passion for helping others align their purpose with their professional endeavors.

Today, Elona is a visionary CEO, speaker, and bestselling author, empowering leaders and entrepreneurs to grow purpose-driven businesses through inner alignment and strategic leadership. Her journey from adversity to triumph serves as an inspiration to others, demonstrating the transformative power of following one's intuition and embracing purposeful living.

__________________

Elona is a speaker, bestselling author to numerous books, show and speaking events organizer to an audience of over 30,000 heart-driven service-based entrepreneurs and corporations.

She is both a servant community builder and a people connector, a Prior Fortune 500 CEO, who was featured in Disrupt, NY Weekly, Business Insider, CEO Weekly, The Business New, and Famous Times.

As the visionary CEO of The Life School, she helps visionary leaders and CEOs grow legacy purpose-driven businesses through inner alignment, branding, marketing, sales and team so that they can maximize their Impact and Income to do more good in the world.

__________________

Find Elona here:
https://www.elonaloparicoaching.com/
https://www.facebook.com/elonaloparicoaching/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elona-lopari/
Support the Show.
I’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Matt Mueller, who talks about how he went from being a very creative child to facing the tough rules of grown-up life that often stop us from being imaginative. He shares important times when the fear of what others would think made him quiet his own new ideas. 

This story of change is not only about Matt; it's something many of us can relate to when we think about how often we've had to hold back our creativity because of the pressure to fit in.

Matt delves into the challenges he faced in his professional life, struggling against the urge to conform and reclaim his voice and creative spirit. He offers invaluable lessons on innovation, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness in the creative process, and introduces a simple yet profound framework for innovation, anchored in identifying real problems, crafting impactful changes, and securing acceptance for these solutions. 

Matt’s approach not only revolutionizes how we think about innovation but also serves as a guide for anyone looking to make meaningful changes in their personal or professional life. His journey from suppression to expression offers hope and inspiration to those feeling stuck in cycles of conformity.
__________________

Matt Mueller is a keynote speaker, best-selling author, columnist, mindfulness instructor, and innovation consultant. He works with some of the world's biggest brands to help leaders focus on innovation with purposeful growth. 

He has over a decade of experience in product and service innovation, and he has uncovered deep insights, executed strategy, and facilitated change in industries that have not changed in centuries. Matt questioned the culture of innovation and he learned that every innovation has three key variables, and it is not about disrupting before being disrupted. Rather, Matt teaches that if we slow down to be mindful, we can innovate faster with purpose.

__________________

Find Matt here:
https://themindfulinnovator.com 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmuellerinnovation/ 
https://www.facebook.com/Matthew.F.Mueller/ 
https://www.instagram.com/mattmuellerinnovation/ 
https://twitter.com/MattMuellerInv8 
Support the Show.
I’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Linda Ford, who shares her journey from a challenging childhood in Ireland, characterized by poverty and emotional turmoil, to becoming a master-certified coach. Linda's early experiences were marked by economic hardship, lack of education, and a deep-seated sense of insecurity and self-doubt.

Her breakthrough came when she moved to America, which sparked a transformative journey towards self-confidence and understanding her true potential. Linda realized that confidence and the ability to express oneself are innate qualities, clouded by negative conditioning and false beliefs. 

Now, as a coach, Linda Ford dedicates herself to helping women overcome insecurity, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome. She combines deep spiritual insights with practical actions, guiding her clients to trust in their inherent worth and capabilities.
__________________

Linda Ford is a master-certified coach, instructor, and author. She is the co-author of Women and Confidence: The Truth About the Lies We Tell Ourselves, and the creator of her signature programs, If I’m So Smart, then Why Don’t I Feel More Confident? and The Magnetic Woman.

Linda has been personally trained by Dr. Martha Beck, New York Times best-selling author and contributor to Oprah Magazine. Linda has recently relocated from the US to Ireland where she plans on having small group retreats for women.
__________________

Find Linda here:
https://www.lindafordcoaching.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/Lindafordcoaching 
https://www.youtube.com/@lindaford-themagneticwoman1429/videos
https://open.spotify.com/show/1bgOWzfP4Nz52XgZfw7NwV (podcast)
Support the Show.
I’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.