How Women Inspire: Invest, Lead, Give How Women Lead

We often talk about scaling your business and team members but lack when it comes to planning and preparing for your exit. This week’s episode 41 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about planning your exit strategy!
In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Stephanie Gaffin discuss the upcoming wave of exits for women-owned business owners and actionable steps you can take right now to prepare your exit strategy BEFORE you’re ready to leave your business behind. 
Today’s guest is an accidental entrepreneur that leveraged her passion for helping people and integrated it into every aspect of her very successful career. After spending her career in healthcare, Stephanie Gaffin became the co-founder and Managing Partner of SLS Capital Investors and the Gaffin Group, where she now works with companies to innovate and build infrastructure for growth and successful exits. She is a proven executive with a strong track record for driving change in organizations. Stephanie helps create a common vision and a pragmatic plan to get there so everyone involved wins. She has such a unique ability to bring people together and, let’s be clear, we’re all more effective, find common ground, and solve problems better when we come together. 
Some of the talking points Julie and Stephanie go over in this episode include:
The rate at which women-owned businesses and women-owned firms have grown over the years. Advice for women-owned business owners planning their exit strategy.Scaling goals you should prepare to hit in order to have a higher chance of selling your business. The challenges women entrepreneurs face when it comes to securing funding.Stephanie’s mantra that covers the 3 elements that, in the right proportions, are critical to doing anything worthwhile. Before you settle on closing your business, I invite you to see the value in the company you’ve built and consider selling it to continue your wealth. 
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!
CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE GAFFIN:
SLS Capital Advisors & The Gaffin Group
LinkedIn
CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:
LinkedIn - Julie
How Women Lead
How Women Invest
How Women Give
Instagram - HWL
LinkedIn - HWL
Facebook - HWL

When we take calculated risks, we are rewarded with new opportunities and experiences that will have an impact both personally and professionally. This week’s episode 40 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about taking calculated risks!
In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Racquel Harris are sharing how Racquel has designed her life around finding curiosity and joy through a fulfilling career and the encouragement you need to open yourself to taking risks and reaping the rewards that come. 
Today’s guest, Racquel Harris is an experienced leader with over 25 years working with Fortune 500 companies under her belt, including expat assignments in Canada, the UK and Switzerland. She has been a brand builder, leader, and former VP of merchandising for a billion dollar adult beverage business and the SVP of marketing for Sam’s Club, the $500 billion division of Walmart. If you thought she was impressive already, Racquel also spent 15 years leading the marketing portfolio of several grocery brands at Kraft Foods, working in brands like Digiorno Pizza, Kraft Singles, Cheez Whiz, Cool Whip, Jello and more. Now that she is retired, she spends her time as an independent director, mentoring aspiring executives, and most important of all- enjoying her life. She is the director on the board of Beta Rudder, an advertising and marketing services company and also serves on the Board of Trustees of our favorite theatre company, the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The list goes on. Racquel is also on the advisory board of a family owned industrial products company and recently joined me and our community on the Chicago Executive Board for How Women Lead. She has one of the most impressive resumes and I am honored to call her my friend. 
Some of the talking points Julie and Racquel go over in this episode include:
The top leadership skills that allowed Racquel to have such a huge impact everywhere she went. Taking risks to further yourself in your career and how to know which risks are right for you to take. Advice for people looking to travel and get the gift that experiencing other cultures brings. The 3 question buckets to ask yourself in figuring out if you are on the right career path. What you need to know and do if you are preparing to retire early.We encourage you to life your life fully with intention, be open to evolving, and focusing on becoming the happiest version of yourself by taking whatever risks it takes to get you there. 
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!
CONNECT WITH RACQUEL HARRIS:
LinkedIn


CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:
LinkedIn - Julie
How Women Lead
How Women Invest
How Women Give
Instagram - HWL
LinkedIn - HWL
Facebook - HWL

As empowered women in thought leadership, we spend the majority of our careers making an impact in the industry we serve. But what happens after you retire? Retirement opens a new set of doors for you to explore your interests, find your passion and expand your impact in new ways, using what you’ve learned in your career to do so. This week’s episode 39 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about repositioning yourself after retirement and extending your impact beyond your professional career. 
In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Violet Clark are sharing how you can reposition yourself after retirement and giving you the permission to explore and experiment with your interests to find what it truly is you want to do with your life.  
Today’s guest is undoubtedly a ceiling breaker. Violet Clark has been with Laner Muchin since 1988 and has been a partner at the firm since 1994. She collaborates with CEOs and their management teams to really focus on designing strategies, helping them achieve all of their business goals regarding human resource management to avoid the pain of labor issues and employment liability. She has more than 3 decades of experience representing both for-profit and nonprofit companies of all sizes and industries, as well as working with and for government and regulatory bodies, both on the local and federal levels. Violet was the first female and the first African American partner in her firm and has continued her legacy as a role model showing other women that they too can break ceilings and be successful in any position they set their goals to. 
Some of the talking points Julie and Violet go over in this episode include:
The resilience it took for Violet to become the first female and the first African American partner at her firm and stick with that same firm for 35 years before retiring. Advice for making the greatest impact on society this season. Permission to play with your interests and release the things that are no longer adding value to your life. Extending your impact beyond your professional career through mentoring or using your knowledge and experience and applying it to something new. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!
CONNECT WITH VIOLET CLARK:
LinkedIn
Laner Muchin
CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:
LinkedIn - Julie
How Women Lead
How Women Invest
How Women Give
Instagram - HWL
LinkedIn - HWL
Facebook - HWL

Inclusive leadership is more important than ever. But what does it actually take to be a leader that shows the skills needed to be a good and inclusive leader? Our guest this week shares practical tips and strategies for being a better leader. This week’s episode 38 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about the essential skills needed to become an inclusive leader! 


With high hopes and tons of aspiration, fresh from business school, Dr. Debra Clary started her career as a  Frito-Lay Route Driver. In this role, which required long hours of physical labor, she learned the value of hard work and the value of an education. Dr. Deb has nearly three decades of experience with Fortune 100 Companies, holding executive roles at Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Brown-Forman (marketing Jack Daniel’s), and currently, Humana, a leading health and well-being company.  

Her roles span from sales management, operations, and marketing, to strategic planning and executive leadership development. While serving as the VP of Strategy for Brown-Forman, Dr. Deb earned her doctorate degree at George Washington University in Leadership and Organizational Development. Today, she works with leaders that want to improve their impact and contribution. She is a student and teacher of narrative leadership (storytelling), resilience, transformation, and change. She draws on her corporate experiences, academic research, and her performance as a standup comic to inspire others striving to live with purpose.


In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Dr. Debra Clary share the importance of leadership skills if you want to join boards and actionable steps you can take right now to be a thoughtful leader who truly listens to those around them. 


Some of the talking points Julie and Debra  go over in this episode include:
An innovative approach to inclusive leadership and why it’s so important.The four characteristics of inclusive leadership, which are visible commitment, humility, awareness of your blind spots, and curiosity.Structural ways to put these into practice so that you can become a better leader.Building these leadership skills through asking good questions and being curious.
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!


CONNECT WITH DR. DEBRA CLARY:
LinkedIn
Twitter
Website


CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:
LinkedIn - Julie
How Women Lead
How Women Invest
How Women Give
Instagram - HWL
LinkedIn - HWL
Facebook - HWL

In major cities, there is no more room for landfill. In NYC alone, they are trucking their waste 6 hours north. The single-use products contribute significantly to the environmental crisis. This is no longer a tomorrow event. This is a current issue, and we need to do something about it. This week’s episode 37 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about using the circular economy to tackle global challenges! 
In this episode of the How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Caroline Vanderlip share the importance of the circular economy and what it means for climate change.
Caroline Vanderlip puts her passions and creativity into building businesses like Re:Dish, and is excited to be able to tell its huge environmental impact story. A successful entrepreneur, Caroline has launched businesses within parent companies (CNBC, AT&T Personal Online Services), as well as independent entities like the publishing technology company, SharedBook. Armed with a BA from Vassar and an MBA from NYU, Caroline is a life-long learner, now focused on sustainability and the huge impact that Re:Dish can have as it supports a shift from a linear to a circular economy.
Some of the talking points Julie and Caroline go over in this episode include:
Starting a company at the start of the pandemic.Using transferable skills and a great team to grow a new business.The product that causes the most issues with climate change and has the biggest impact.The transition from tech to operationally heavy businesses in where future investments and funding will be going.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!
CONNECT WITH CAROLINE VANDERLIP:
LinkedIn
Re:Dish
CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:
LinkedIn - Julie
How Women Lead
How Women Invest
How Women Give
Instagram - HWL
LinkedIn - HWL
Facebook - HWL

With the Western Hemisphere consisting of the majority of the world’s Latinx population, it’s important that we think about how we can ensure that there are Latinas in political leadership positions both locally and throughout the hemisphere. What are we doing collectively as Latinas– especially executive Latinas– to support each other to ensure there is a broader vision for Latina leadership? This week’s episode 36 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about ensuring political and economic equality for Latinas with Helen Torres! 
In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Helen Torres share the importance of helping to create opportunities for more Latinas in leadership positions. They also discuss actionable steps you can take right now to support Latinas from both leadership and political stances. 
Helen Iris Torres is CEO of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), where she leads one of the state and nation’s most influential Latina organizations. She has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the HOPE Leadership Institute (HLI), a program that prepares adult Latinas for their next level of civic participation. HLI has resulted in more than 180 Latinas being appointed to state and local commissions, and over 200 Latinas serving on nonprofit boards to improve local communities.
Some of the talking points Julie and Helen Torres go over in this episode include:
Leadership lessons learned over 20 years of political equality work.What it takes to get more Latinas into politics.The challenges and barriers facing Latinas in getting and keeping leadership roles.Three ways to truly deliver on the mission to ensure political and economic equality for Latinx folks. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!
CONNECT WITH HELEN TORRES:
LinkedIn
Twitter
Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE)
CONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:
LinkedIn - Julie
How Women Lead
How Women Invest
How Women Give
Instagram - HWL
LinkedIn - HWL
Facebook - HWL