Brave Women at Work Jen Pestikas

Have you ever been afraid to speak up at work for fear of being labeled bossy, pushy, or aggressive?

I have, and for the longest time, I stayed quiet because of it. I was too busy criticizing my own thoughts and worrying about what others thought, rather than sharing my ideas, asking questions, or stating my opinions based on my education and experience.
When I have shared my opinions, asked questions, or presented ideas, I've been labeled as "too this or that," but it doesn't stop me anymore. I've probably even been called a bitch behind my back, and that's okay. My guest today, Dr. Alessandra Wall, and I discuss how to be a powerhouse, avoid negative labels, and stop worrying about backlash.
During our conversation, Dr. Alessandra and I discuss:
●       Her transition from a full-time counseling practice to her work as an executive coach for women
●       What led her to start her company, Noteworthy
●       The importance of visibility for women who want to get promoted
●       How women can be visible and own their authority without being called a bitch
●       The science behind this process
●       The internal resistance that executive women face when seeking visibility and authority, and how to overcome it
●       The systems that executive women need to put in place
●       How Dr. Alessandra works with her female executive clients
Believe me, I learned some valuable lessons during this conversation that I wish I had known when whispers of "she’s a bitch" were being said behind my back. Let’s learn together how to artfully gain visibility, get promoted, and own our authority. Shall we?

According to a Harvard Business Review Study, 40% of executives and leaders are introverted. Korn Ferry completed a similar study, and in their study, they found that 40-50% of leaders are introverted.
 
So, what does this mean? It means that it is important to talk about this because if you are an introverted employee or people leader at work, the chances are that someone you work with is as well.
 
Just like many of us land in leadership roles without training and fake it until we make it, it can be similar to an introvert. In a working world that is designed for extroverts, it can be difficult for introverts to navigate. My guest today, Julianna Yau Yorgan, a self-proclaimed introvert, former corporate leader, and career strategist and coach, provides us with guidance on how to do just that.
 
During our conversation, Julianna and I discussed:
 
The difference between a career strategist and a career coach.Her journey to a director-level role while being an introverted leader.The difference between introversion and shyness.How to network successfully as an introvert.How we can get to a place where we are unapologetically introverted.Navigating various difficult personalities at work as an introvert. We chat about narcissists, backstabbers, and more.Julianna also shares what her Introverted Leader Community is all about.

Who knew that I would be so excited to talk about perimenopause and menopause today? The truth is, I have been searching for the right expert to chat with about this important topic. And Georgie Kovacs, my guest today, is exactly the right person to lead us through this.

Why? Well, selfishly, I am in perimenopause, and I want to understand how to deal with this. Many of my coaching clients have shared they suffer from brain fog, tiredness, and more, which I learned can be attributed to this stage of life.
As Maya Angelou said, “Once we know better, we can do better.” We can do better by understanding our bodies and how this change impacts all women. We can do better by advocating for ourselves at the doctor’s office. We can do better by spreading the word to other women. So, let’s jump in!
During our conversation, Georgie and I chatted about:
What the symptoms of perimenopause are and how long this transitionary period can last for women.Why Georgie thinks talking about perimenopause at work is taboo and what we can do about it.How much perimenopause costs U.S. companies per year.Standing in our values in professional and personal situations.How I may have confused my burnout symptoms as part of early perimenopause. Or maybe it was a mix of both?How we can advocate for ourselves along this journey, including finding practitioners that look at various remedy sources for our symptoms.Georgie’s podcast FemPower Health, her free resources on her site, and where she’s taking FemPower Health next.

For my U.S. listeners, Happy 4th of July! As we celebrate the holiday, it has me thinking about personal and professional freedom. And even better yet, it motivated me to do a solo show. It’s been a while! Hopefully, you will hear more solo shows from me going forward.
 
Today’s show will focus on my top tips for freedom in five areas of your life:
 
Money FreedomTime FreedomMindset FreedomBody FreedomWork Freedom 
Before we get started, if you are enjoying Brave Women at Work, please make sure to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
 
If the show has made an impact on you, please share it with a friend or colleague. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!
 
Also, if you haven’t yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com. I have created three for you:
 
24 career and leadership affirmations,5 Ways to Manage Your Imposter Syndrome, andMost popular, Getting Paid: 10 Negotiation Tips. 
They are workbook-style guides, so you can complete them on your own time.
 
Again, go to bravewomenatwork.com to learn more.
 
And a little disclaimer. I am not a financial advisor, doctor, etc. We are going to cover some basic monetary and health principles in today’s show. If these topics pique your interest, speak with your medical professional or financial advisor.
 
Okay, let’s jump in!

Since getting back from a season of heavy travel, I have been bombarded with to-dos and meetings. It’s like I’m being penalized for taking a vacation. Have you ever felt this way? I’m in a blizzard of activities this summer at work and with the kids, that I find I’m breathing a bit shallower and not paying attention to what I need to say yes and no to on my calendar.
 
So, if you follow me on social media, you know I have been thinking about time a lot lately and how I’m allocating it to various areas in my life. As we all know, time is our most precious resource. As an ambivert, or someone who is more naturally introverted but has trained themselves to be able to be extroverted for short stints, I’m craving more stillness to tap into myself. To read a few books this summer. To crank up my internal wisdom. All these activities make me a better person, wife, mother, friend, and of course, leader.
 
So, I gladly welcomed my conversation with guest, Christy Pretzinger. While Christy and I never met before the show, you would think we were old friends with the way the conversation just flowed. Christy reminded me that I do need to get still and know my values, remember my Enneagram, go to therapy if needed, and more so that I can lead as a kind, compassionate, and growth-oriented leader.
 
During our conversation, Christy and I chatted about:
 
Values, the importance of them, and how to find our ownThe Enneagram, what it is, and what our types areStanding in our values in professional and personal situationsHow values are at play at workWhat EQ is and why it is important in leadershipA few book resources, including Christy’s upcoming book, so listen in!

So, I met today’s guest, Dominique Luster, at a Women’s Leadership Retreat in Lake Las Vegas earlier this year. I took Dominique’s workshop, Your Mother’s Mother’s Mother, which I found fascinating. The premise of the workshop was to learn how to start tracing the powerful lineage of the women in our family, so we can better understand our brave roots. Maybe your mother went to college when it wasn’t popular, maybe your grandmother or your great-grandmother was a first-time immigrant to the U.S. or another country. Whatever the stories of the women in your family, they start to light a fire of power underneath you, showing you that you, too, can do brave and amazing things. I know that when I started learning more about the women in my family, I was inspired. If you take the time after this show to start tracing your herstory, I’m sure you will be, too.
 
During our conversation, Dominique and I chatted about:
 
What led Dominique to be an archivist and why the work is so important.A piece of poetry Dominique shared from her site, the lustercompany.com.Some tips and tricks Dominique shared to get started tracing our female lineage.Why doing this is important for our personal and professional lives.And how she can help you if you don’t know where to start.