Category: Women Empowerment

Why We’re Building A Modern Business The Old School Way

Entrepreneurship

06/04/19

Nicole Wood

I’m building a modern business the old school way. My business is the antithesis of the Silicon Valley golden child. We haven’t raised a multi-million dollar funding round. We’re not 100% tech. People are a big part of our process. We value sleep as much as we value hard work. Most investors would give us a hard pass. When you think of an entrepreneur, what comes to mind? A 20 something Stanford dropout in a hoodie? A tech genius in an office with beautifully spray painted quotes on the wall? Someone riding a Segway to work and then staying until 3am coding the next release? Yeah… me too actually. What about your local plumber? She’s an entrepreneur too. Or the restauranteurs on your corner that just expanded to a second location because they are a local favorite? They’re entrepreneurs too. What about the thousands of businesses which were built brick by brick for years and years before venture capital was even a thing? They’re entrepreneurs too, and a lot of them are damn good ones and formed the businesses which are now household names. And what about the two women down the street from you who are building their modern business happy client by happy client? We’re entrepreneurs too. Now I love a good hoodie and a quote on the wall as much as the next person (see photo above). And I’m sure as heck not saying it’s fun or ideal to start a modern business with very little capital (I can speak from experience!). The point I am trying to make is that there is more than one way to measure success of a business. You have to find the measures that make the most sense for you and what you’re trying to build – both in business and in life. And then, you need to not feel like you have to fit the mold that the media (and just about every conference I’ve gone to in the past year) touts as successful. Here’s what our modern business is doing differently: 1. Geography I have heard multiple people advise that if you want to build a startup, you have to move to California. There is certainly benefit to being in the thick of things, rubbing elbows with fantastic talent and investors. And I do believe that surrounding yourself with smart, driven people is a great strategy to keep you on your toes and help you level up. But there are smart, driven people everywhere, and there are pockets of innovation and startup ecosystems bubbling up in many cities throughout the country. So why Chicago? Well there’s that piece about us being from here. But it’s more than that. Chicago has an amazing sense of community that supports female founders. Chicago is an affordable and enjoyable place to live while making financial sacrifices to build a modern business. Also, deep dish pizza. And to take it a step further, we chose to not even be in the heart of the Chicago business or tech scene. We’re not in the loop or in the West Loop. We’re in Lincoln Park. We want to be part of the community where our clients feel at home. We’re not overspending for a brag-worthy office. We’re spending within our budget for an office that gets the job done but also feels like a warm, happy place, not an intimidating, cold one. 2. People first, tech second Having a solution which is too people-intensive can be a kiss of death for many investor meetings. People are expensive, difficult to train and manage and unpredictable. People don’t scale. And yet, people are at the core of our service delivery. We tried selling our programs as tech only, specifically our career transition program. As with most eLearning programs, we saw low engagement and completion rates. This didn’t sit well with us. Our business objective was not to create a model that would be suitable to raise money. Our objective was to solve a client problem that we had faced ourselves, one that we were obsessed with and determined that we could find an affordable way to solve. And so we landed on a people/tech hybrid solution Our clients complete eCoaching modules in our platform in between live coaching sessions. This not only makes our programming more affordable and scalable than traditional coaching, but it also makes the coaching more effective. Our program completion rate is now 90%. People are also at the core of our growth strategy. We set out to solve clients’ problems via coaching, and along the way we found ourselves solving a major problem for another user group: coaches. The International Coach Federation (ICF) estimates that there are over 50,000 coaches worldwide (I personally think this number is VERY understated), and the vast majority of them are self-employed solopreneurs. In the midst of a noisy marketplace, they are struggling to stand out, market themselves, find clients, deliver service and operate a modern business. We provide an opportunity for the nation’s top coaches to join our team and focus on coaching alone. We market on their behalf and provide them with the tools and resources they need to do their job seamlessly. This has attracted a volume of coach applications that we never saw coming, and with each talented coach we add to our team, our momentum builds, our whole team of coaches becomes more qualified through knowledge sharing, and we become a better company. I will absolutely keep iterating on how to create more tech-based solutions that are incredibly effective. But not just because I want to scale. Because I want affordable solutions for everyone. However, people are and likely always be an important part of our strategy. And I have to say, our people are amazing. 3. Self-funded We put in a modest amount of capital to get our initial tech built and get Ama La Vida off the ground. Since our launch in 2016, we have grown as a result of our

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Intuition Knows Best

Achieving Goals

05/21/19

Kristin Vierra

*Kiss on the cheek* welcome to the company…*kiss on the cheek* onboarding session…*kiss on the cheek* new coworker…*kiss on the cheek* training…*kiss on the cheek*…team lunch. While the kiss on the cheek is a cultural greeting here that I love, it was a bit overwhelming on Day 1 of my new HR technology role in Argentina. There were so many new people to meet, so much onboarding to be done, and on top of that, deciding: “Do I go in for it or not?!” Well, this was just the beginning of drastic change – months full of challenges and discomfort branching outside of my comfort zone along with months of learning and growth. But wasn’t this what I came here for? What was my intuition telling me? Change can be overwhelming This isn’t always a negative thing, but people often view it as scary and intimidating. When going through significant change, you might crave familiarity and comfort. However, once it calms and you settle in, you’ll be able to reflect on all of your learnings and growth. Then gratitude follows. The difficult things become easier, your biggest fears calm and you come out stronger than before. You could say that is a brief summary of my first few months living and working in a new country. It involved a lot of deep breaths and a “You’ve got this!” mantra. I was overwhelmed with a flurry of new people, a new work culture, and the challenge of a technical role that involved almost 100% self-training. I said I wanted a challenge, and oh boy, did I get one – I entered the role thinking this was my dream job in my dream location. Despite this, in my first few weeks, I had a gut feeling that something didn’t feel right. Why wasn’t I excited to walk in every morning? Why did I feel so out of place? Where was the passion? I quieted the messages from my intuition and reassured myself that this would all come in time. After all, I was still una nueva (a newbie) and these feelings are surely part of any learning curve. Inner Voice However, months passed and my inner voice only grew louder. I found myself fearing walking into the office door in the morning. I was taking quick bathroom breaks to get a good cry out before my next challenging technical call. And I was rushing out the door at 7 to make my evening tutor sessions, still with a long list of open items to finish later that night. At my Spanish sessions, I was too mentally drained to get out much more than a “Hola, como estás?” “Estoy muy cansada.” I’ve talked about the familiar “stuck” feeling I’ve had in the past that was my signal to make a change. However, this felt different. I felt out of place and out of alignment. The tech workplace had once felt like my home, but now I felt like an outsider. Self Check-In The New Year rolled around and I kicked off 2019 with a serious self check-in. As I drafted my intentions and goals for 2019, I realized that I’d need to make some big changes to accomplish the list I had set out for myself.  About two years before moving to Argentina, I fell in love with the self-development space. I read books, followed blogs and utilized the tools I gained to better myself, create mindset shifts, and make significant changes in my life. My fascination with the coaching space led me to take myself on as a personal project, starting with the move to Argentina. I documented all of the struggles, challenges, and realizations with the hopes of later using them in a coaching practice for others. As I sat down to write my intentions for 2019, I wrote out “complete a coaching certification program.” It was time for a reality check. I knew there was no way to enjoy an abroad experience, complete a coaching certification, and work in a role that often required 10-11 hour days. So, I decided to dig deep into the root cause of why I felt out of place and unhappy in my current role. I realized a huge part of my struggles in the role came down to misalignment of values and lack of mission. While the company offered an amazing HR platform, it did not have a mission working towards a greater social good, and I wasn’t seeing the larger impact of the work I was putting in each day. I also felt that some of the company’s practices had contradicted my values of honesty, transparency, and empathy. For the first time in my career, I realized how vital mission and values alignment were to my happiness and success in a role. After the harsh realization that none of this would change, I knew the only answer was to leave. Leaving Stability Leaving a stable role in your home country is scary, so you can imagine how terrifying it is to leave a role in a foreign country where your community and friendships are centered around work. However, over the years I’ve learned that my biggest dreams and aspirations have been on the other end of the most terrifying leaps. So, after a lot of thought and reflection, I leaped once again. Thankfully, I kept my friendships with colleagues and hustled to find a temporary job teaching English online. Going from corporate calls to video lessons with young children using basic English was certainly a change of pace. I also started coaching local candidates on interview preparation in English. The energy and fulfillment I get from coaching confirmed that it is the right path for me, and I’ve added, “find a 100% remote role that aligns with my passions and values, and allows me to work towards a coaching certification” to my 2019 intentions. My end goal is to become a certified coach and support others in finding work that aligns with

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Founding Females: Comeback Magazine

Achieving Goals

05/14/19

Nicole Wood

Welcome back to Founding Females where we share the inspiring stories of passionate women who declared their independence and stepped out on their own to build the company they wanted to see in the world. Today we meet Iris Zhou of Comeback Magazine, a digital and print magazine for young creatives. I actually met Iris a couple of years ago when she interviewed me for her magazine, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to finally interview her! I was impressed with her immediately, and I think you will be too. Iris was still in high school when she launched her business, and believe it or not, this was not her first business venture! IZ: I started many tiny businesses as a kid, posting little drawings on Etsy and selling them as printable art. What made me so interested was the fact that even the problems I faced engaged my mind and motivated me to figure them out. I didn’t know until much later, however, that what I was doing was trying to be an entrepreneur. As Iris approached the time to make decisions about what to do after high school, she looked around her for inspiration. However, what she found was that everyone seemed to be taking the same path. Graduating. Moving. Going to college. She felt like the options were limited in terms of the paths and lives that could be pursued. She was fascinated by the decision making process. How did people decide what to do? What factors did they consider? What was their thought process, and was there something she could learn from it that would be relevant for her life and choices? Already blogging at that time and with a keen eye for design, she decided to just ask these people and translate those questions into a publication. She also decided to seek out those on a less traditional path. ALV: What inspired you to start your business/brand? IZ: As a young blogger back in the day, a question I always asked myself was why anyone would want to read my posts or hear my opinions. This thought prompted me to think of what content I felt was still missing in the world. I had connected with a lot of creatives over the years and decided to compile all their amazing experiences into a magazine. Comeback Magazine focuses on helping creatives set and achieve their goals through thought-provoking articles and new perspectives. *** Iris’s focus and her company’s reflection of it, has evolved over time. She started by appealing to creatives of all ages and focused exclusively on the print version of the magazine. But like any good entrepreneur, when she got feedback from her audience and learned more about them over time, she pivoted. Now Comeback specifically targets young creatives, and it is a digital community in addition to being a publication. IZ: One challenge has been defining the focus of Comeback. I’m interested in many areas of being a creative and the content I was collecting covered many categories. I knew that I needed to be specific and that has made me constantly evaluate where I want the magazine to be. While that has caused many shifts and uncertainties, it has made me a better decision-maker. *** When building a business, it is not easy to say, “My company is for this kind of person and not that kind of person.” It feels limiting. You worry you could be excluding someone who may benefit from what you’re creating. But if there’s anything I’ve learned in my 3 years of building Ama La Vida, it’s that focus is key. But determining how and where to focus can be confusing, and making the decision to pivot or become more niche is intimidating. As you have to make these difficult decisions time and time again, you become a better decision maker, which is what Iris has been experiencing. IZ: I want to make good decisions, and I don’t want decisions to drag on. For me, it is about balancing researching and looking into possibilities with the gut feeling of, “Does this feel right?” *** That gut check is so important. People have lots of opinions about how you should run your business and which opportunities you should be pursuing, but at the end of the day, you know your business best, and sometimes you need to just go with your gut. It can be difficult to listen to your gut, though when you are making these decisions all alone. Often you contemplate an idea and aren’t sure if you are an absolute genius or totally insane. Having a great group of people around you who can help weigh in and help you find the right solution for you is key. ALV: If you could start your business over again, what would you do differently? IZ: I would search for a solid team early on in the business. Running Comeback on my own has given me a lot of freedom to experiment and make quick changes as I see fit. I do lack, however, a support group that can provide input, be invested in the future of the business, and take on some of the work needed to propel the business to new heights. Even just the discussion is helpful to my process. *** So when you don’t have a team to help you get your business of the ground, what do you do? You ask for help. ALV: Who has been most helpful to you on your journey? IZ: The willingness of others to share their experiences with me. Whether with content for the magazine or answering my questions about different parts of my business. I’ve grown more comfortable with asking help from strangers and I’ve found that most people are more than happy to offer a helping hand. At this point in the story, you’ve likely forgotten the small detail that Iris is still a teenager. In fact, I hope you have. Because while

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Networking 103 + Networking Groups For Women: Sacramento

Women Empowerment

05/06/19

Randi Hill

We’re back! It’s been a blast chatting with you about networking and networking groups. If you missed it here’s Networking 101 (with a feature of networking groups in Chicago) and here’s Networking 102 (with a feature of networking groups in Seattle). I’m not going to spend too much time chatting about what once was, because today, we’re moving right along into Networking 103 with a feature of networking groups in Sacramento! Let’s talk about the typical networking questions that never seem to sustain the conversation and ways to replace them with some creative and informative ones. Instead of… “So, what do you do?” Try… ”What’s your passion project?” I hate being asked “so, what do you do?” What does that even mean? What do I do in the mornings? At work? On the weekends? With a broad question like that you may as well ask someone to pour out their life story to you. Now passion projects, we all have them. Or if you don’t, we can at least talk about what you are passionate about. The purpose of this question is to get people talking, and while I may do a lot of things, I’m not equally passionate about them all. When someone asks me what my passion project is, the answer is simple! Photography. Which usually gets us on a conversation about how I got into, what I shoot, and where they can see my work. Before long I usually have a new lifelong IG friend. Instead of… “What does your company do?” Try… “How does your company make a difference in the world today?” The thing with this question is that they ask virtually the same thing, but if you asked me to describe what Ama La Vida does, I usually say coaching. Whereas if you asked me how we’re making a difference, I would say we’re creating ways to people to love every aspect of their lives through coaching. You suddenly know a lot more about the work we do instead of the industry we’re working in. Instead of… “What do you want to be doing in 5 years?” Try… “If you had unlimited time and resources how would you spend your days?” Anyone else not know what they want to be doing in 5 years? Because truthfully, I’m not always sure what I’ll be doing in 5 minutes! (You feel me on this one?) So, instead of stalling a conversation because someone doesn’t have an answer, why not ask about what keeps them going? Let’s get past the awkwardness of the unknown and lean into the things we already love doing! Instead of… “What are your hobbies?” Try… “If you could only do one thing every day until you died, what would you do?” This is one of my favorites because truth be told we all have a lot of hobbies, but how many of them actually invigorate and fuel us? Chances are, not all of them. This question is a super great one that makes people come alive when they start thinking about what they would do. Instead of… “What do you like to do in your free time?” Try… “What gets you out of bed on a Sunday Morning?” This question is so vague I don’t always know where to start. Are you talking about my free time at work? My free time on my commute? My free time in the evenings? The answer to all those times is sadly pretty boring, it’s usually spent scrolling social networks. But, if you’re looking to understand me as a whole, asking a question directly to free time that we all have, Sunday Mornings is a big deal. We each choose to spend Sunday mornings differently, so this is a much more insightful and deep ask. So be bold, I have faith you’ll make a more friends this way! And lastly, instead of… “What’s your favorite part about the work you’re doing? Try… “What’s an accomplishment that makes you proud?” Let’s face it. We all do some cool stuff that we like to talk about, but those cool things aren’t always what make us the proudest. For me, I do lots of cool stuff, but the moments that make me feel the proudest are the little things I do! I love making our clients feel really valued and ensuring they have an amazing experience. If I can accomplish that it makes me prouder than running 15 miles, or moving to a new city, or reading 12 books. All those things are cool, but they don’t resonate with me as much as loving people well. I want to provide one cautionary tip with all of these questions. Use them with care. The conversations that these questions will prompt will be radically different than the networking you’re used to. Only ask if you’re really ready to change the tune and get to know people in a whole new way! Now it’s time to put all these into practice! Below are my top picks for Networking groups in Sacramento. Group Name: WeMeet Where You Can Find Them: WeMeet Eventbrite! Why I like it: WeMeet is on a mission to bring social back to networking. It makes perfect sense that they are typically events hosted over happy hour to get people They meet every month and admission is free. If you’re looking to get connected to a group of focused, determined, and fun individuals grab a friend and get your name on the list! Group Name: Broad Room Where You Can Find Them: @broad_room Why I like it: Broad room is a unique networking opportunity for women. There is a group that meets every Sunday to practice self-care, and they hold tons of creative events ranging from artist events, to diy’s, and so many more! They’re a community space slash creative working space slash wellness center so really you can’t go wrong checking them out. Group Name: Urban Hive Where You Can Find Them: Urban Hive Why I like it:

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Founding Females: Gathr

Founding Females

04/16/19

Nicole Wood

Welcome to our second installment of Founding Females, where we share the inspiring stories of passionate women who declared their independence and stepped out on their own to build the company they wanted to see in the world.   Today we meet Lindsay Lenard, founder of Gathr, a platform to help busy hostesses and hosts streamline their event planning and plan the parties that everyone talks about.     When I first heard about Gathr, I was like, “Oh heck yes.” I’m the type of person who wants the Pinterest-worthy party but doesn’t want to put in the work. I’m all about doing something a bit different, experiential and fun, but research and planning just aren’t my things. Enter, Gathr. The game changer. Gathr is an automated party planning service. They have local vendors in food, drinks, styling and entertainment to help fulfill all of your party needs. They don’t list any franchise companies; therefore they support independent freelancers and small businesses which in return supports Chicago and Chicago families. You can even search by mood on Gathr! If you’re feeling wild they’ve got fire breathers that’ll put on a show for you and your friends. If you’re feeling cozy you can book something like a hot cocoa bar. You can filter by category and occasion which makes it SO MUCH easier for anyone to plan a unique event be introduced to new vendors that you wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Genius, right?! One of those I wish I came up with that type of ideas. ALV: How did you come up with the idea for Gathr? LL: I had this idea for a while of creating experiences in the world of entertaining. My husband and I have always been invested in experiences over things, so starting something in this realm felt natural to me. The concept for Gathr really hit home when my husband and I threw our house warming party. I found from my own personal experience that throwing a party can be a ton of work. I wanted to create a seamless way for customers to plan a party without having to put in all the upfront work researching vendors and running errands. On the plus side, when someone hosts a Gathr during their party they can enjoy the company of their guests. *** Though she’s passionate about entertaining and creating one-of-a-kind experiences, Lindsay didn’t set out to create them herself. She set out to enable others to achieve this through innovative technology and a hand-picked community of vendors. LL: Everyone thinks I am trying to become an event planner. They’ll say things like, “Have you always wanted to be an event planner?” I am not an event planner, I am the founder of a tech company. I wear all the hats from designing our user interface design to being the finance department and the sales guru. In some respects, I see where the misconception is because I do help others plan the ultimate party in conjunction with our catalog of incredible vendors!     *** From the moment she entered the corporate world, Lindsay knew she wouldn’t be there forever. She didn’t quite fit exactly into the 9-5 mold. She was far too excited about pursuing her own passion projects and doing the things that brought her joy. She eventually left her corporate career and became a full-time traveling freelancer. This experience validated for her that she was on the right path. Going back to Corporate America was not in the cards. Creating her own destiny was. But she faced a massive challenge that many of us entrepreneurs encounter. We’re not just sitting on unlimited funds to continue to keep the lights on and food on the table while we bring our visions to life. LL: I had to make some sacrifices in my career and in my personal life to get where I wanted to be, and I am still living this truth. Initially, I did not have unlimited funds built up, so starting a business with little to work with was a challenge in itself but it’s definitely doable. You learn to take risks, decide where to be frugal in your business, and discover how to scale quickly. This challenge has taught me to hustle out of necessity. I needed more money to release a new site and to put out a better product. I needed more money for advertising. I wanted to reach the correct audience so I got to work.     *** If I could enter the praise hands emoji into this blog post, here is where they’d go! Some of our most creative solutions to date have been born from the fact that we have very limited funds. You get creative. You get scrappy. I always say (and hope we honor this when ALV is a huge success!), don’t spend the budget because you have it. Find the most creative solution because it’s possible. And that’s what Lindsay has been doing every step of the way!     Looking back, there have certainly been lessons learned but no regrets. ALV: If you could start your business over again, what would you do differently? LL: I don’t think I would change much. There were things I wish I could have had sooner like a custom site but that sort of project was outside my budget at the start and I didn’t have the resources. It’s all a learning process and it’s so hard to prepare yourself and know what’s right. You figure it out as you go. You just have to get started. It’ll never be the right time or you’ll never have enough money. I think this applies to a lot of aspects in life such as traveling and starting a family. It can be intimidating but sometimes you just have to take the leap. *** I love this mentality. So many of us are waiting for the perfect moment to start living the lives we want and chasing

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Founding Females: Grace and Grit

Women Empowerment

03/12/19

Nicole Wood

There is no better way to kick off our Founding Females: I Declare My Independence series than with Heather Stark, founder of Grace & Grit. Grace & Grit is a subscription box service designed to empower young girls. Each Grace & Grit box highlights a special character trait of a historic female who achieved great things. Girls are learning about women in history, the contributions they have made to society and how powerful the female narrative can be. In addition to the boxes, Grace and Grit also provides a curriculum for school counselors to use in their girl groups or for guidance lessons. One amazing aspect of the gift boxes and curriculum is the “Play It Forward” cards. After the girls learn about the historic woman and what she accomplished in her life, the girls are asked to “Play it forward”. Every box has nine play it forward cards that encourage girls to share the lessons with other girls. Some cards ask girls to recognize other girls who show courage, leadership, and/or empathy. Other cards ask girls to buy another girl a drink at the local coffee shop, assist a girl who is having a hard time, or encourage the girl to be curious about her community. Heather didn’t always know she was going to be an entrepreneur. She, herself, was a school counselor and thought she would be for life. One day her husband came home and said, “I think you are supposed to start a business for girls.” She laughed it off. But she couldn’t shake the thought, and the idea began to build inside of her. ALV: What inspired you to start your business? HS: For the majority of my life I thought I was broken. I was unworthy, I didn’t belong, the story of my life was shame. I went through an eating disorder, anxiety, depression, thoughts of ending my life. I believe every female needs to know she is worthy. She matters, her story matters. Every girl should feel empowered. The stories of our lives- those formative experiences that shape us- place a huge role on our self-worth and I want females everywhere to know that you get to be in control of your story. Your story is not a place of shame. It is a place of growth, wisdom, and empowerment. I want every young girl to know she is worthy and her potential is limitless. I do this through telling the stories of women. I believe people’s stories should be celebrated- no matter how gritty, muddy, or marred we need to use our stories to connect and empower instead of shame. I was inspired to start Grace and Grit when an influential woman gifted me the idea of a subscription box company for girls. Telling the stories of women throughout history who overcame adversity and obstacles to become the women we know them to be today is a powerful tool for today’s young girls. Too many times in life we start comparing ourselves to one another and we forget that everyone has a dry season and a fruitful season. Understanding that everyone has the same seasons helps us be resilient and resilience leads to empowerment. *** Fast forward two years and Heather had started a nonprofit and written a curriculum to help girls overcome self-doubt, work through “drama” and build authentic relationships with other girls. Nine months later, she started a separate LLC called The GgBox – Grace and Grit Box – that works to empower girls through the stories of women in history that overcame adversity. Then two years later she started the blog and podcast series – This Is Me – that celebrates the stories of women. While Heather says it “all happened so naturally,” we know that an incredible amount of work and courage went into making it happen. But when you absolutely love what you do and know you’re on your path, all the sweat and tears are worth it. “I could never go back to my traditional job. The love and passion I feel now when I work it is beyond anything I could have ever imagined feeling.” ALV: What are you most proud of in your business: HS: I am most proud of the impact Grace and Grit has had on our customers. I get the most precious stories from moms, dads, and counselors about how the girls have enjoyed the learning and empowering experiences in each box. A few years ago a grandmother bought our Devotion Box for her granddaughter who is visually impaired. Our Devotion box features Anne Sullivan who was Helen Keller’s teacher. I was able to meet this sweet girl a few weeks later. Sitting and talking to that sweet young lady was a very impactful experience for me. I remember her telling me how she liked reading about people like her because she knew she wasn’t alone. Whoa. This summer I had the opportunity to travel to India and work with 38 girls living in an all girls home. At this home, they are given an education, medical and dental care. I was there to help them work through some of the traumatic events in their lives. In doing so they started to understand their potential and work to change the narrative of their story. From now on, they get to decide how their story will be written. Hearing these stories and was an honor. While I was in India I also had the opportunity to speak to a group of women about what I do for a living. Afterward, several women came up to me and asked me to pray over them. One of the women brought her older daughter up to me. Her daughter wanted to attend college and asked for prayers of support. *** If you’re anything like me, Heather’s words have given you chills by now. Her genuine passion for making others feel supported loved and not alone is truly inspiring. And her business is undeniably making an

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The First Step Is Taking The Leap

Women Empowerment

02/26/19

Kristin Vierra

It was 2017, and I was a seasoned SF resident living in one of the most sought after neighborhoods, working in a high-paying job in the tech industry. I had lived in the city for over 6 years and was way past the post-college city life honeymoon stage. I had gone through huge career transitions, fallen in and out of love, experienced different neighborhoods, and bounced around bars and restaurants. I was living in a beautiful apartment in the heart of the Marina, making a great salary and surrounded by all of my best friends. What more could I have asked for?? Exactly… yet I felt like something was missing. I found myself struggling to get up in the morning, throwing myself together and dragging myself to my stable 9-6 job. I was feeling uninspired in my career, demotivated and lacking direction or growth. I noticed my biggest concerns on a weekly basis were when I could book my next mani/pedi, who my ex was now dating, or what I was going to wear out that night. No joke, first world problems. I was noticing a pattern with my life in San Francisco, and this wasn’t the first time I had this feeling. It was a feeling of being stagnant, stuck, trapped, and outright bored. I was constantly searching for something to look forward to and filling the gaps with nights out, city events, or weekend getaways with friends. However, I came to learn these were all just temporary fixes. The feeling started two years back when I was working in a previous role. My company was acquired and I was lucky enough to receive a generous severance package. I was antsy and itching for a change and used the severance as an opportunity to find adventure, booking a one-way ticket to Spain for my first solo trip. It was the most amazing month of new cities, new friends, new experiences, and Spanish immersion. I traveled throughout the country, learning the history of each city and connecting with like-minded travelers. I came back reinvigorated and excited to re-assimilate into SF life with stories to share. I thought I was there to stay. Fast-forward a year and a half later, there I was again with the all too familiar stuck and stagnant feeling, wasting my weekends recovering from a night out or scrolling my social feeds and comparing myself to what this or that friend was doing. I was consuming myself with the smallest problems and once again craving a change. Luckily, all it took was one conversation at a friend’s birthday to plant the seed for my best plan to date. While chatting with a friend about my situation (unhappy in my job, over SF life, wanting to travel, move cities, etc etc) he put it so simply – “If you’re moving cities, why not just leave your job, pack up your things, travel, and come back and figure it out?” It sounded so obvious, yet so terrifying and exciting. It sounded perfect. As you can imagine, leaving a stable salaried job, home base, and a comfortable lifestyle was not the easiest decision. My inner critic was at an all-time high. Is this a poor career choice? How will I explain this when I return and look for a new opportunity? Am I letting my team down? What will my family think? As someone who is career-driven and a bit of a perfectionist, these thoughts were cycling through my head. I had to reflect on the root cause of the stagnant feeling. I was in a role with no growth opportunity in my desired career direction and living in a city I knew like the back of my hand. I soon learned that when you follow your passions/dreams, the universe and all others support you. So after a lot of self-reflection and internal freakouts, I made a plan. The main goal, initially, was to spend time in a Spanish speaking country for an extended period of time. I asked a close friend and avid traveler for advice and, “Lake Atitlán in Guatemala”, he said, “you’ve got to go.” That was all it took and then the universe did the rest of the work. I saw how it supported me as one after another thing fell into place once the decision was made. One-way ticket to Guatemala: booked. Notice to work: given. Apartment move-out date: confirmed. Life in a backpack: packed. Bittersweet hugs & goodbyes, an emotional airport drop-off and…I was off. It’s amazing what happens when you push past the barrier of fear and head into the unknown. Little did I know, this decision would forever change my life. The first step was taking the leap. If you’re finding yourself in a similar place, dreaming of an adventure but scared to take the leap, here is my advice: When you’re feeling stagnant, narrow in on the root cause of the feeling and start working on actionable steps. The situation will not change until you make moves to change your circumstances. I wish I had learned this earlier and focused on how I could change my situation instead of focusing on what I disliked about my life in San Francisco. Be your own advocate. Don’t be afraid to be selfish with big decisions. Think of your personal goals, dreams, and aspirations. Try not to let others’ judgments cloud your vision or hold you back. Follow your intuition – your gut feeling knows best. Trust it. Taking the Leap & Leaning into Fear We are often afraid of the things we want most. It took leaning into my fears for me to finally take the leap. I was terrified that leaving my stable job would hurt my career and finances. This experience taught me that this was far from true. “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” – Jack Canfield Be honest and transparent about your decision. Working on a close-knit team, I was dreading giving notice. However,

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The Traits I Learned Being A Female Founder

02/20/19

Nicole Wood

Starting a business has been the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. I knew it would be hard. Cognitively you understand that when you set out to build a business. But I don’t think I fully grasped how this business would impact every aspect of my life, from my finances to my marriage to my friendships to my confidence… in such challenging but also such beautiful ways. It has grown me in ways I don’t think any other situation could. It has brought me close to people I otherwise wouldn’t have met. It has allowed me to make learning my full-time job. It has given me the humbling opportunity to help others reach their goals. It has been a wild ride already, and it has been worth every bit. Whether you’re developing an app, starting an auto shop or launching a clothing line, there are certain traits I see great founders having. I think these are amplified for female founders. We’ve all seen the stats that women receive 2% of venture funding, and so the creativity and drive it requires to start a successful business as a woman is even more astounding. Here are three of those traits: Stubborn. I mean this in the best possible way. To even want to start a business means that you were unhappy with the way something in the world existed. You have to be stubborn enough to not be able to get it out of your head that this thing could be better and bold enough to think that you’re the one who can change it. You need to have that relentless drive when everyone else tells you you’re nuts. You need to be so fixated on your idea and your dream that you’re willing to make big sacrifices and take scary risks to see it come to fruition and not give up when things get really tough. Scrappy. There’s a level of resourcefulness required, particularly for those with little or no funding. You have to find a way to create something from nothing. Quite literally. Whether it’s googling your way into a new skillset, hustling your way into an event or finding a way to piece something together that looks a lot more expensive than it was, you’ve got to get creative and know that there’s always a solution just waiting to be thought of. Saleswoman. Like it or not, as a business owner you are always selling. Even if you’re not selling your product or service yourself, you’re likely selling your vision to investors. You’re selling your company to employees. You’re selling your impact to the media. As a founder, you can try and fight this reality or you can embrace it. You can shamelessly sell what you’re building to everyone you meet. I know you believe it or you wouldn’t be doing what you’re doing, so it’s simply a matter of getting comfortable putting yourself out there and telling the world why it needs to be a part of what you’re building. I mention this all to you as we prepare to launch a new series on our blog, Founding Females: I Declare My Independence the first week of March. I can’t wait to share the stories of some perfectly stubborn female entrepreneurs. Stay tuned and stay scrappy! This week’s challenge This one’s a two part-er!  Channel your inner founder and start something new. It could be a new Employee Resource Group at work or a new tradition for your family to partake in around the dinner table. Think of something you feel could be enhanced or that is missing in your life or work and create it!  Nominate your favorite #foundingfemales for our new blog series! We want to showcase the stories and voices of the brave women who are out there building businesses. Send them to this short interview page to tell their story! We know you want to learn more. Here are some of our favorite additional resources: Get innovative: 5 Ways You Can Become an Intrapreneur For those founders thinking about funding, an alternate perspective: Venture Capital Kills Businesses Listen to new episodes: Season 3 of the Masters of Scale Podcast is Here  In case your inbox has been building up: No, You Can’t Ignore Email. It’s Rude.

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3 Books I Can’t Put Down!

Self Awareness

01/30/19

Teague

I’m not ashamed to point out my flaws – I don’t exercise regularly enough, I take on way too many projects and then get cranky, and I’m always a consistent 5 minutes late to meetings. However, I never hesitate to pat myself on the back when it comes to my reading habits. Books have always been friends to me – I love transporting myself into new worlds, learning new concepts, and living the world through someone else’s eyes. I love spending a few quiet moments each morning with a hot cup of coffee and a chapter of a book, and wake up hours before the sun rises in order to make this happen. Creating that space for myself is a non-negotiable. In no particular order, here are three books that were worth waking up for as I made my way through them over the last few weeks. Refinery29 Money Diaries: Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Your Finances… And Everyone Else’s by Lindsey Stanberry. I’m an avid reader of the Refinery29 Money Diaries series, probably because it satisfies my need to be nosy into other people’s lives. However, I loved the book version of this project as it weaved in important financial lessons along with comprehensive records of how people spend their money. I particularly appreciate the focus on women’s financial success as Stanberry walks you step-by-step through the process of getting your money (and life) together. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. To be honest, I’m not even sure where to begin with telling you about this book. My appetite for this novel was absolutely insatiable and I found myself creating pockets of time to get through just a few more pages. However, when I realized I was approaching the final chapter, I closed the book and it sat on my coffee table for almost a week – because I just wasn’t ready for it to end. This novel is devastating and raw, and I highly recommend it (so does Oprah, as it was one of her 2018 Book Club selections). Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. If you’re a client of mine, or – let’s be real – if we’ve ever even had a brief conversation, you know how much of an influence Brené Brown has had on me. When I learned she was writing a book focused on leadership, I was embarrassingly excited. Her data-driven and heart-led work asks us to be courageously vulnerable role models at work and to be willing to dig in and do this difficult exploration alongside each and everyone one of your team members. In particular, I truly appreciate her Engaged Feedback Checklist and have utilized this powerful tool when I know I need to check myself. If you’re not convinced, let me share this last tidbit – each of my family members got a book by Brown for the holidays and were conveniently subjected to a mini-lecture about how much I love her and how they need to as well. This week’s challenge Books are the way I learn new things and explore concepts unknown to me. They align with my commitment to ongoing personal growth and development. How about you – how do you learn and grow and experiment with fresh ideas? This week, engage in whatever helps you progress. If it’s a walk in the woods with a good podcast, a silly chat with your toddler by which you can see the magic of the world through their eyes, or a phone call to a wise older relative, make that happen this week. Keep learning, growing, and receiving new knowledge that takes you outside of your comfort zone. We know you want to learn more. Here are some of our favorite additional resources: When you realize it’s time for a bold move: How I Used a Cold Email to Find My Dream Career Mentor We loved this no-nonsense interview: “A lot of businesses, though, however, typically they hold things close to their chest. They think everything’s proprietary and important, and it’s not. So we just share.” If you’re ready for creative growth: Morning Pages by Julie Cameron Shoutout to CEO Nicole’s alma mater: “Research suggests that about 40 percent of our well-being and happiness is within our control, something we can adapt through our actions and the way we behave.”

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Are You Waiting For The Dust To Settle?

Women Empowerment

01/25/19

Teague

Buckle up and get ready to take some notes, today we hear all about my interview with ALV Co-Founder, Foram.  Foram and her family moved to the United States from India when she was 9 years old, and she had the impactful experience of watching her parents make incredible sacrifices in order to create a full and happy life for her and her brother. Foram’s drive to do things well for others led her to a career in healthcare consulting, and she ultimately knew coaching was her best next step when she worked with a leadership coach during her master’s program. She states, “Change was always hard for me, and I hadn’t made any significant improvements in myself personally even though I’d read books and articles and attended workshops. I experienced the power of coaching and its impact when I was being coached. I immediately began making behavior changes and I fell in love with the impact that coaching can have. I knew I needed to go into coaching to be a catalyst for individuals in their development.” I love that Foram’s career path wasn’t crystal clear when she started out. It was a big leap to go from healthcare consulting to business and leadership coaching – and an even bigger leap to co-found her own company. Fortune certainly favors the bold! When I asked her about what wisdom she would share with her younger self (one who I bet looked a lot like her absolutely precious six-month-old daughter), she had a lot to say. “You have a gift for paving your own unique path – so own it, and don’t doubt it, and remember that everything happens for a reason. And for the love of God, calm the F down and enjoy life a bit more!” If I was planning on a new tattoo, those might be the very words I’d get on my body. But I digress. Foram also notes, “Enjoy the journey when you’re on your way to achieving something and take pride in being a learner.” What really struck me during my interview with Foram is that she continually lives out Ama La Vida’s culture commandment #7 – if you’re waiting for the dust to settle, you’ll be waiting forever. Her plans didn’t always guarantee success, and in both business and in life, she takes big leaps without always knowing where she’ll land. Foram’s courage is a driving force in our company, and we are so glad to have her. I hope this glimpse into her world and her wisdom serves as inspiration for you in your next great adventure.   This week’s challenge We’d love for you to experience the power of our Ama La Vida culture commandments. This week, we challenge you to live out #7 that Foram does so well with. In what area of your life are you waiting for the dust to settle before taking your next leap? Maybe it’s your job, or your relationship, or your home environment – this week, we want you to get crystal clear on where you’re dragging your feet. What can you do to kick the dust up and keep making progress?   We know you want to learn more. Here are some of our favorite additional resources: Watch: “Do you know why you get out of bed every morning?” Read: 13 Ways to Encourage Employee Development (and Strengthen Your Team) Read: “I realized I had allowed small moments, hurtful words, and painful memories from my childhood to create the soundtrack by which I would live my most sacred relationships.” Listen: Gimlet’s The Pitch podcast (because Foram is no stranger to making her start-up dreams a reality)

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It’s Time that You Come First

Confidence

01/23/19

Nicole Wood

I don’t pee on planes. Usually. Not because I hate the bathrooms or anything like that. Well, I don’t love them, but that’s not why. I feel bad making the people next to me get up. Yet, for some reason, I always book a window seat. Probably because I optimistically think I might be able to sneak a nap in, which almost never happens. But what almost always happens is I end up spending 3 hours squirming and trying to will the people next to me to have to go too so I can get up. Weird… I know. I don’t send back food. I feel bad. I also don’t care for spit sandwiches. I don’t have any food allergies so anything I’d send back would be just a preference thing, and luckily I’ve never been served anything unsafe like raw chicken. It’s not that big of a deal to me to eat something not made exactly to my liking versus inconveniencing the staff to fix it or make me a new one. I’m sure there are more examples, but I think you get the point. Judging by many of my daily actions, I’m a pushover and probably a wuss. I’m willing to eat a steak not cooked exactly to my liking. I’m willing to torture my bladder (though I should probably stop doing this – it definitely isn’t good for you). I’m willing to make small concessions throughout my day so as not to inconvenience others or be a nag. But when it comes to my career, my family, my hard earned cash – I’m not willing to concede. I know my worth, and it’s enough to inconvenience someone for when it’s not being properly represented. I’m not willing to risk losing out on a great opportunity. I’m not willing to stay in a place where I’m unhappy because I feel bad. I’m not willing to accept less than I deserve because I don’t want to rock the boat. And neither should you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve spoken with someone who is receiving a lower compensation package than they’re worth because they don’t want to come across cocky or ungrateful or make someone jump through hoops. Or how many times people tell me they are staying in a job they dislike and where they feel unappreciated because they feel guilty leaving their team. I completely understand and empathize with the twinge of guilt. But I also know there are certain times when you have to look out for yourself, your pocketbook, your career, your life. I’m not advising anyone to eat an undercooked food or hold their pee for 2,500 miles. I am, however, advising you to also stand up for yourself when it really truly matters. The small stuff I leave to your discretion. As for the big stuff, it’s time that you come first.   This week’s challenge Think of an aspect of your life where you haven’t been putting yourself first but think maybe it’s time to. Take one step forward toward doing so. Maybe it’s telling your team that you will be unreachable during certain hours. Maybe it’s asking your partner to help out with a certain household chore. Maybe it’s doing some research to prepare for a compensation discussion. Whatever it is, commit to it this week. You can do this! Struggling to work up the courage or want some support helping you plan the conversation?   We know you want to learn more. Here are some of our favorite additional resources: Go along and order: You are a Badass: How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life All about the Benjamins: How to ask for the raise you deserve If you’re changing careers: Download our comprehensive career transition guide complete with tips for negotiating your offer

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Someone in a hammock forest bathing

Forest Bathing – How Talking To Trees Helped Me Heal

Mental Health

12/04/18

Elyssa Whaley

2017 should have been an amazing year. After a variety of exciting professional experiences, I set a goal to go back to school. I was achieving that goal, graduating from college and on the honor roll. But it turned out to be a terrible year. I was assaulted a few weeks before my final semester. On the surface, it didn’t seem like a big deal (to me). I had been hurt before, and my motto was, “Just buck up babe.” Because that had been my experience. I started taking care of myself at 6 years old. I have a strong will. I am a fearless woman, but I have never been able to obtain for myself what I have provided for others; nurturing love and protection. Things got dark. The level of stress resulting from the attack took its toll. And it wasn’t even that particular experience, but that event surfaced for me other abuses I had previously had to endure that I avoided acknowledging for many years. I turned into girl who couldn’t leave her apartment. I didn’t feel safe. I wouldn’t sleep for days. I was plagued with headaches, vomiting, infections, cold sores, while psoriasis took over my scalp, back, and arms. I even went a few days without food multiple times. I didn’t tell anyone for a while. My therapist, my boyfriend, and two others were it. I was determined to keep being “perfect.”  I didn’t want the label of a victim and the inevitable badge of shame that comes with it. I wanted to be normal and to be treated normally. I didn’t want the unbearable awkward moments of sharing and watching someone stumble for words. There are few people in this world who can truly empathize with what I have experienced. So most of the time I avoided sharing. How I started healing My therapist, Tami, suggested that I go on a camping trip in West Texas surrounded by bison and canyons. And she wanted me to talk to a tree. I asked her if she was on drugs. She laughed, said no and preceded to tell me about all the benefits and blah blah blah. Resolved, I said I would do the trip, but I wasn’t going to do tree talking. I felt this was a ridiculous request at the time and completely stupid. Fueling my refusal to talk to a tree was the fear of allowing myself to experience imagination. Something I felt I lost a long time ago. Finding my tree There was a hike Tami made me lead from our campsite. I found a spot in an empty river bed to take a break. She read a poem to me while we soaked up warmth from the sunbaked rocks. After that, she sent me off alone. She said go find your tree. As I was packing up my gear, I told her no. Tami responded, “You’ll find one.” I walked off and a few 100 feet away I yelled, “I’m not talking to any fucking trees!” I looked back with a half-smile and she watched me walk off. I walked along the riverbed looking at trees wondering how one talks to a tree. Like how would I know which of these is my tree? And finally, it happened. I was looking up the side of a steep cactus covered incline when I saw her, my tree. I remember saying, “Oh, you’re pretty.” It was nearly impossible to get to her, but I eventually did and sat down next to my tree.   It was awkward. I looked over the horizon as I was sulking with the assignment. I told the tree, “Tami said I had to talk to you, and I think this is stupid.” My tree and I chatted for a while, and the moments that followed were transformational. I had unlocked the sway of Forest Bathing. What is Forest Bathing? Well, it’s not a spa treatment and it also doesn’t require water or suds. The practice originated in Japan in the 1980s. There it is called shinrin-yoku and translates to you guessed it…Forest Bathing! Forest bathing is simply being in nature. This practice evolved as a Japanese work culture led to an abundance of stress and health issues from being overworked and constantly indoors. What I love about this practice is the simplicity of it, walking amongst nature allowing my body and mind to wander. The only thing this practice requires is time and maybe a small commute to a public garden or park (at minimum). The only intention you set is to be in nature; the rest of it is letting yourself follow your senses. Your practice of Forest Bathing should be a reflection of you. How I reap the benefits of Forest Bathing may not be the way you do. I particularly have an affinity for our beautiful hill country here in Texas, where you may prefer a lush manicured garden or forest. In my practice, I roam with the intention of seeing the moment as a child would. Curiosity takes over, I’ll follow a butterfly, talk to a turtle, birds, trees. There is a rhythm, and you will develop yours. If my way doesn’t resonate with you there are other ways you can enjoy your practice in nature:     Write in a journal     Do something artistic like sketch the scene in front of you     Practice meditation or yoga     Do some breathing exercises     Even take a nice nap How forest bathing helped me At first, I didn’t know if it was working. I rambled aimlessly, but what stood out was my realization that I’m always rushing to get somewhere, rushing to please someone, rushing to be happy, rushing to accomplish something. In talking to my tree, I finally slowed down. I started reflecting on the dynamic I needed in relationships, and I realized that I needed to become my own person. I needed to stop being the chameleon that transformed into what my partner, agents, or employers

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