Mindset For Success

Guest Jill Faherty Lloyd grew up athletic and a tomboy with an investment banker father who encouraged her to become a female banker. An “ADHD Survivor,” Jill’s father taught her early that her differences made her special; they were her “superpower” and would lead her to decades of success on Wall Street. Jill “leaped before” she, “thought,” was thrilled by risk, didn’t get stuck in the negatives, enjoyed the “game”, and she loved being the only woman in the room. Through her studied clear communication, Jill found ways to lead and to “grow things;” she learned to “fill her shoes” and to be powerful and smart in the boardroom. In her current role at UBS Private Wealth Management, Jill helps founders and their families navigate successful financial transitions. Jill uses her banking expertise and personal experience to help women normalize their power, ambition, and money, and their need to ask for help. To model this, Jill generously shares her Rolodex, encourages founders to seek out mentors, even surrogate moms, and dads, and recommends when you meet with a potential contact you close by asking how you can help them, even those more experienced than you.

Guest Christine Astorino was five years into her career as a trained landscape architect when she had an aha moment. Human-Centered Design and innovation were her passions, and creativity was her “north star." Christine joined her family business to redesign a children’s hospital and saw how transformational Human-Centered Design could be; even just entering a brightly colored parking space can create an emotional connection and contribute to a healing hospital experience. A long-time champion of solving challenges from different perspectives, Christine founded Fathom, a company that reflects passion and creativity through Human-Centered Design and development, allowing her to assist businesses she loves while inspiring her employees to lead. While holding a unique perspective can cause discomfort, Christine benefits from not being boxed into a single perspective. Her drive to develop emotional connections fosters collaboration, as Christine has developed her mindset for success by reaching out to people whom she knows well, being disciplined, and trusting her voice.

Guest Jennifer Freed founded her own company after obtaining her film degree at Stanford. Twenty years later, Jennifer decided to start a second business. An early realization of wanting to thrive at work, while still having a flexible schedule for her and her family helped to shape her entrepreneurial choice. Jennifer’s business success relies on finding the right people to help her grow her business. A top priority for Jennifer is for her employees to feel invested in the company. To do this, she chooses employees with strengths in areas that her company needs. Expanding her areas of expertise mitigates Jenifer’s fear of failing or not knowing enough. Jennifer takes care of herself by letting others help her and being with family and friends.

Guest Tiffany St. Bernard was a competitive figure skater from the age of eight to eighteen. Skating taught her determination, discipline, hard work, and the importance of getting help. Tiffany's father and grandmother were entrepreneurs, helping pave the way for her to become an entrepreneur herself. Since childhood, Tiffany preferred to “go against the grain” and not fit in. Instead, she sought challenges, thrived on doing innovative things, and was comfortable getting the answers to all the “stupid questions.” Tiffany can experience the fear of failing, but her conviction that she will accomplish what she sets out to do always pulls her out ahead. A female techie can be a lonely business, but parents, siblings, friends, and her puppy help her reset.

Guest Kate Pletcher grew up in a family of nine siblings and knew early on that she wanted to be an entrepreneur. Her large family taught her to barter for things that she didn’t have and accept what wasn’t available - both have helped her shape her boutique executive search firm. Companies needed amazing but part-time employees and moms wanted flexibility in their work schedules. Kate saw this as an opportunity to place moms in companies that needed their talent part-time – a win for both parties. Kate’s drive to learn and create empowering relationships helps her meet business challenges. To build her team, she seeks people with different skills than hers to problem solve. Kate also draws her support on the difficult days from her husband, family, friends, colleagues, and a flexible schedule.

Guest Ashley Reed had a successful marketing career for eighteen years when she felt something was “off.” A health crisis led her to reevaluate how her personal values needed to be reflected in her work. She went on to found her own business to support personal success in high-performers. Ashley’s curiosity, independence, and comfort with questioning the norms have helped her forge her path. Ashley is keenly aware of the toll of work stress. She sees a crisis as an opportunity to take care of yourself and to “scale back things without falling.” Supportive friends, colleagues, and coaches are how Ashley takes care of herself.

Guest Dr. Katie Kam is a vegan wanting to end animal slaughter by creating the win-win solution of providing cultured meat that avoids harm to animals and the environment. Her role as founder and CEO of BioBQ is the culmination of 25-years of cumulative experience as a biologist, chemist, civil engineer, community planner, business owner, science teacher, and engineering research professor. Through her experiences with the development of BioBQ, Katie has leaned into becoming comfortable in uncertainty. She highly values engaging her mind and is not afraid of pursuing what she feels is right.

Guest Jennifer Harris is the founder and CEO of Technology Management Concepts (TMC), a Gold-Certified Microsoft Partner specializing in ERP & CRM, and the “premiere” Microsoft Dynamics Partner in Southern California. With her solid foundation of over thirty years in the field, Jennifer is known as a visionary leader as she leads one of the fastest-growing women-owned technology companies in the nation. She believes that unknown strengths can be found in adversity, ultimately leading to the idea of failing forward. Jennifer relies on both gut feelings and her ability to pivot to embrace the possibility of failing.

Guest Victoria Betancourt currently runs Coneybeare, LLC, a staffing and recruiting firm she took over from her mother in 1990, and "Boutique Eco Resort" in the coffee region of Colombia, South America. With a bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University in New York, her business mission is to "create entrepreneurs" by teaching her employees how to run a business and sharing the company's financials. Her eco resort in Colombia demonstrates how to live sustainably, beautifully, and in harmony with nature. After her many experiences with near crises in her professional career, Victoria embraces the idea that persistence is born in necessity to make success happen.

Guest Dr. Cherie Banks is an Award-Winning Global Leader, International Speaker, Business Investor, and Enterprise Entrepreneur. She’s a Founder & CEO to many successful companies with a multi-million dollar brand dedicated to building businesses, creating generational wealth, and living-in-legacy. As an honored recipient of prestigious awards in business, law, education, and community, she has mastered the ability to trust not only her instincts, but also the journey her life brings her on. Dr. Banks excels at radiating happiness and confidence through times of hardship as she fearlessly pursues her interests. Understanding that failure feeds the pool of life lessons, she looks towards challenges for personal and professional growth.

Guest Linda Mbagwa moved to London from Nigeria at the age of six, where she and her six siblings and mother faced some financial and mental health hardships. At eight, Linda decided she needed to become rich to take care of her family and herself. After university, Linda achieved phenomenal financial success in a record-breaking six months, which demonstrated her determination and independence. Linda’s intuition – fostered by beginning to meditate at eleven - has been the bedrock of her decisions and self-confidence. To take care of her family, Linda learned to see criticism not as personal. She knows she is good enough but that the sometimes-unconscious bias limits how women of color’s capabilities are seen. Supportive female friends, family, coaches, meditation, and living by the ocean are how Linda takes care of herself.

Guest Kirsten Hund Blair enjoyed a culturally diverse and racially aware upbringing. Her parents modeled how to help people in different ways. Kirsten’s parents moved for her father’s work to Taiwan from the ages of 3 to 7. Kirsten understood that she didn’t fit in Taiwan, yet she benefitted from the culturally diverse community of support that her parents created. To this day, Kirsten is most at home in diverse settings. She seeks the contributions of different people to problem solve. Risk for Kirsten is offset by a deep, long-term commitment to make a difference in the world. Kirsten, like her parents, is invested in the education and empowerment of how people take care of themselves. She draws her support on the difficult days from her husband, family, friends, and the collaboration she obtains from the teams she builds.

Guest Samantha Lee’s father had epilepsy which prevented him from driving; as a young girl, Sam and her father talked about how automobile technology could change his life. Sam’s early independence and her drive to learn new things – even those not available to her – paved her journey to become an entrepreneur. Two years ago, Saw realized her mission was to help people who are not autonomous; she founded Meili Technologies. Sam’s stubbornness to figure things out on her own results in her obtaining the resources and networks she needs to meet challenges. Expanding her areas of expertise mitigates her fear of failing or not being smart enough in the room. When she is overwhelmed, Sam resets by learning how to be kind to herself, letting others help her, and being with friends, and her dog.

Guest Denetrias Charlemagne grew up in a non-traditional household of immigrant parents and strong female role models who valued education. At 13 Dee was accepted to an elite boarding school. There she experienced homesickness, in part because she didn’t always fit in with her peers. Dee’s determination to not be labeled means she doesn’t dwell on her or others’ differences. Instead, her innate enthusiastic curiosity for new people and experiences allows her to flow in and out of groups. Dee’s pursuit of independence led her to start her own business and, even if, for the first time, her success is not a guarantee. Dee’s passion for work is fueled by wanting to help close the black female gap. Her love for her family, the appreciation of the sacrifices made by her immigrant mother and grandmother push Dee to look forward.

Guest Amanda Hamilton left a successful 10-year career in Corporate Retail when she understood that she wanted to be more authentic and control her work. Amanda’s search for independence was tested when her new business website debuted the first month of the pandemic. Her remembering mitigates the risk that she has always been able to figure things out. Amanda also draws strength in her 27-member team at work. On those days where self-doubt crops up, her team’s support and reliance on her give her a sense of purpose and confidence. Her sometimes struggle with loneliness is also on the mend as she has learned to take care of herself with meditation and make time for friends and family.

Guest Sara Stender Delaney’s family lived in Anguilla for a year, where Sara remembers being the only white student in her classroom. Early diverse experiences shaped Sara’s awareness of being different from others. After a traumatic event in college, Sara saw a film on genocide and rape in Rwanda. Lost and unfulfilled by her traditional business degree Sara moved to Rwanda to open a restaurant with war survivors. Their warmth and inclusiveness, “no matter who you are,” made an impact on Sara. She returned to the States a year later, gave her first Ted Talk on hope and resiliency, and founded a non-profit to raise money for trauma survivors in Africa. Sara’s commitment to mental health and trauma evolved into her second company, “3Mountains.” Family, supportive, open colleagues and, a healthy lifestyle inside and out all contribute to how Sara takes care of herself and those around her.

Guest Kristin Lust figured out early that she yearned to be an entrepreneur. Always a self-starter and driven to do things her way, Kristin began a dog walking business as a young girl. Her independence and determination were tested when she first went to law school and nearly risked losing her hard-won scholarship by a falling GPA. Kristin realized that she did not want to work for a traditional law firm in her first law firm. Kristin’s strategy for her success is to stay true to her independent perspective to resolve conflict for others. As a female business leader, she shares the importance of choosing to do what you love, not what is expected of you.

Guest Angie Conley knew from childhood that she wanted to do something meaningful. Her father, a cardiologist, fostered an interest in science and biology and helping people. Angie realized in her first medical device consulting job that she thrived when challenged, not when she stood still like “a cog in a wheel.” Five years ago, Angie founded Albitech Medical, which helps people with disabilities live better lives with artificial devices. Angie’s long-term social capital skills enable her to ask for help when she needs it, and it makes her resourceful. When faced with the imposter syndrome, Angie tries to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Family, dear friends, a supportive husband, professional groups for women in medicine are all ways in which Angie enjoys her life.

Guest Alexa Hampton has always invested in doing hard things that she knew she wouldn't fail. A successful ten-year run in venture capital gave Alexa the "applause" she worked for, and it "made her look good on paper." In 2021, Alexa was ready for a new challenge and became a co-founder of SelfMade. In this new role, Alexa realized for the first time in her professional life that she chose a demanding role in which she is not guaranteed to succeed at. When Alexa is overwhelmed by things she doesn't know how to do, she focuses on the company's mission: to sell beauty products that are good for mental health. Alexa's passion for this mission fuels her desire to make the world a better place for the next generation, including her two small children.

Guest Zahra Al-Harazi’s inspiring childhood instilled an early need to find her path. Born in Uganda as an only child and raised in Yemen to a Yemeni father and an Indian mother, fostered a sense of deep loneliness and an outsider. It never occurred to Zahra that she would remain an outsider. Each new experience was an opportunity to try to fit in, even at the expense of breaking the rules. A marriage allowed Zahra to move to Canada, and, suddenly, a path came forward, which she took to find her life’s passion and independence. Zahra’s determination was not about courage but about what she knew she needed for her story to be complete. Family, dear friends, philanthropy, cooking, and eating well are ways that Zahra enjoys her life.