Freeman Means Business' Wonder Women in Business Podcast

Susan Freeman

Amplifying Women's Voices Through Storytelling Why is storytelling important? Stories have a transformative power to allow us to see the world in a different way than we do if we just encounter it on our own. Stories are an entry point to understanding a different experience of the world. Storytelling – presenting a different perspective of the world – is important when it comes to connecting with each other. It gives us an opportunity to learn from another person’s experience and it can shape, strengthen, or challenge our opinions and values.

  1. 05/30/2024

    Wonder Woman in Business, Gena Cox

    Organizational psychologist Dr. Gena Cox is deeply interested in the human experience at work. She believes respect is the antidote to most workplace discontent and has codified this in her “Respect to Lead” offerings.  Gena’s work encompasses executive coaching, speaking, and advising business leaders. The common thread of her work is sharing nuanced, memorable, and actionable insights that her clients highly value. She is the author of the award-winning and Amazon-bestselling nonfiction book Leading Inclusion, which shows how to counter the typically disappointing outcomes from “diversity, equity, and inclusion” work. Gena’s keynote speech equips leaders with strategies and techniques to boost employee engagement, performance, and results during turbulent and disruptive times. Her TEDx Talk, for a general audience, Yes … and Careers, encourages an exploratory approach to building a purposeful career. Her second book, to be published in 2024, explores the human condition through the lens of workplace interactions. Gena’s work has been featured widely, including Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Fortune, Forbes, US News & World Report, Market Watch/Barrons, Business Journals, BBC Worklife, and Readers Digest. Gena holds a Ph.D. in Organizational psychology. She currently serves on the American Psychological Association (APA) Committee for the Advancement of General Applied Psychology (CAGAP) and the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP)’s Editorial Board for its Professional Practice Series.

    59 min
  2. 05/24/2024

    Wonder Woman in Business, Margaret King

    Cultural analyst Dr. Margaret King is Director of Cultural Studies & Analysis, a think tank based in Philadelphia.  Since 1990, Cultural Studies has developed a broad concept of culture to include the brain, body, and behaviors that have shaped human culture over thousands of years and back into prehistory.  Her original models of gender, diversity, aging, social connection, and cognition are used by Fortune 50 companies, nonprofits, and professional and industry associations to understand the cultural dimensions that affect their offerings. The cultural dimension is the most powerful strategy source for development of ideas, services, products, and experiences.  Cultural analysis can reset companies’ idea of what they do by clarifying their scope of cultural influence.  Culture is the most complex, wide-reaching, and long-running invention of mankind, so big and so potent that it is difficult to see, appreciate, approach--or even model. My work is to analyze business and policy problems from a cultural base using resources others don’t think to tap, which is why other consultancies access our approach to make sense of their own findings, together with NASA, Disney, P&G, The Smithsonian, the National Constitution Center, International Dairy Foods Association, and Dale Carnegie, among other leading organizations. The Curtis Institute of Music engaged me in a study of cultural competence for performing professionals. Most recent work was a DEI course developed for the California Lawyers Association, as well as an ongoing study of bi as for its definition and dynamics.

    38 min
  3. 04/06/2024

    Wonder Woman in Business, Lisa Sellers

    Lisa V. Sellers, PhD, CEO of Vector Laboratories, is an accomplished leader and mentor in life sciences with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. Sellers drives expansion and business strategies for Vector Laboratories, a trusted reagent and critical component manufacturing partner that empowers biopharma, life science tools and diagnostics companies to accelerate their ability to provide value to their customers. Sellers has a stellar track record of spearheading successful business strategies based on unmet market opportunities, while prioritizing the development of a people-first work environment. This winning combination has created unstoppable forward momentum at Vector Laboratories. Before joining Vector Laboratories, Sellers provided consulting services for numerous life science companies to guide them in accelerating product development and commercialization to enter new markets. Sellers has served in executive and senior management roles in marketing, sales, and specific product lines for companies such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, 10x Genomics, Life Technologies, and Applied Biosystems, among others.  While Sellers has earned notable success as a top life science industry expert, she has always believed in the importance of giving back. Sellers serves as an Advisory Board Member with the LEAD Scholars Program at Santa Clara University, a board member with Notre Dame Belmont High School, and an Advisory Board Member, Master of Biotechnology at San Jose State University. She has a personal passion for coaching professionals to navigate job choices in STEM to achieve their potential and to provide the utmost in career fulfillment. As such, Sellers has been a speaker at ISPE, Navigating Your Career Amidst Uncertainty in Dec 2020; Women in Product, SF Bay Area, for Go-to Market Series in May 2019; and was featured in CMO.com, Best Leadership Advice I Ever Received publication in Feb 2019. Sellers was also named A Women of Influence in 2022 by the Silicon Valley Business Journal.  Sellers earned a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Colorado Boulder and a BS in Chemistry, ACS Certified from Santa Clara University.

    51 min
  4. 10/25/2023

    Wonder Woman in Business, Serena Mastin

    Serena's journey is a testament to the indomitable human spirit, serving as a beacon of hope for those grappling with self-limiting beliefs. Her life began in the shadow of witness protection and unfolded in the tumultuous landscape of foster care, where she navigated the treacherous waters of nine different homes. The challenges she faced led her down a path of teenage addiction and homelessness, culminating in the heart-wrenching tragedy of her husband's suicide. Despite these harrowing trials, Serena's story is one of triumphant ascent. What truly sets Serena apart is her unwavering strength, resilience, and authenticity. Her career spanning over two decades in the corporate world is a testament to her unyielding determination. She weathered setbacks, repeatedly climbing back to executive leadership roles within Fortune 500 companies. In 2013, she boldly carved her own path by founding Pulse Marketing Inc., a venture that has since flourished into an award-winning marketing and advertising agency. Serena's agency excels in creating content that forges meaningful connections between people and brands, utilizing purposeful graphics, thought-provoking web designs, and heart-touching advertising campaigns. Beyond her entrepreneurial acumen, Serena has penned her compelling life story in a memoir titled "Exposed: You Can't Heal When You Hide." In this raw narrative, she delves into her experiences with assault, addiction, homelessness, infidelity, mental health challenges, and, ultimately, profound healing. Her memoir is a powerful testament to the human capacity for resilience and growth.  Serena's story resonates deeply with audiences, offering a thought-provoking reminder that challenges can be confronted with passion and purpose. She has dedicated her life to personally and professionally empowering others, demonstrating that self-limiting beliefs can be shattered and replaced with unwavering self compassion. Serena's journey is a living testament to the power of the human spirit and inspires all who encounter it.

    38 min
4.9
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Amplifying Women's Voices Through Storytelling Why is storytelling important? Stories have a transformative power to allow us to see the world in a different way than we do if we just encounter it on our own. Stories are an entry point to understanding a different experience of the world. Storytelling – presenting a different perspective of the world – is important when it comes to connecting with each other. It gives us an opportunity to learn from another person’s experience and it can shape, strengthen, or challenge our opinions and values.