Episode 34 | In this episode of The Women in the Arena, host Paige Rene chats with Rachel Burr, executive coach and founder of Catamentum Leadership Coaching. Rachel, a people expert with over 20 years of experience, dives into the intricacies of authentic leadership, the importance of building trust, and the challenges leaders face in managing people effectively.

Takeaways:

1. Building authentic leadership means understanding yourself as a leader and aligning actions with your core values. Authenticity helps leaders influence and inspire teams more effectively.
2. Creating trust in new roles starts with listening. Leaders joining new teams can establish trust by truly understanding team members and their needs.
3. Using effective communication involves asking open-ended questions like “Help me understand.” This approach prevents defensiveness and promotes open, constructive dialogue.
4. Approaching leadership as experimentation allows growth as a journey, giving leaders the freedom to try new approaches and learn from each experience.

In this episode:

[00:01:00] Rachel outlines three challenges leaders commonly face: transitioning into strategy, needing an external thought partner, and developing people skills.

[00:05:59] Paige asks about building trust as a new leader, prompting Rachel’s insights on listening, understanding team culture, and respecting established workflows.

[00:08:10] Rachel recounts a story of coaching a high-performing leader who struggled with people management, demonstrating the importance of self-awareness.

[00:11:24] Rachel discusses the gap between leadership intent and team perception, encouraging leaders to bridge this by understanding how their actions impact others.

[00:21:00] Rachel provides actionable advice on active listening and emotional regulation in challenging conversations.

[00:28:33] Paige and Rachel reflect on curiosity, highlighting the value of admitting “I don’t know” to encourage openness and mutual learning.

[00:38:00] Rachel shares two key leadership lessons: the value of hiring people who challenge you and embracing constant learning.

Resources

1. The Women In The Arena

2. Rise Facebook Community

3. Listen on Apple Podcasts

4. Listen on Spotify

5. Watch on YouTube

6. Catamentum Leadership Coaching: Visit Rachel's website

7. Rachel’s upcoming book, Butterfly Goo: The Down and Dirty Truth of Transformation

8. Follow Paige on Instagram: @paige_rene15

9. Leadership is Language Book

10. Leadership Circle 360

11. Follow Rachel Burr on LinkedIn

Quotes

1. “As a leader, you may have something you need to work through. It’s not ready to talk through to maybe your leader or definitely not the board, if you’re the CEO. It’s not something you want to talk with your team about, it’s just not appropriate.” – Rachel on the importance of having a confidential thought partner

2. “Own the ‘I don’t know’…if you’re outside your comfort zone and you’re stepping out there, taking risks, doing new things, if you already know everything, you’re not outside your comfort zone.” – Rachel on embracing growth

In this inspiring episode of "The Women in the Arena," host Paige Rene sits down with tech strategist Blessing Richardson to discuss her journey from self-taught coder to successful entrepreneur.

Blessing shares her experiences in corporate tech and startups, emphasizing the importance of understanding technology's role in business operations. They explore how Blessing integrates AI and automation into business processes, providing valuable insights for women entrepreneurs.

The conversation covers practical tips on using tools like ChatGPT to streamline tasks and the importance of building efficient sales hubs. Blessing's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of passion.

Takeaways:

1. The importance of working in medium to large companies for exposure to scale and innovative solutions.

2. The potential of AI tools like ChatGPT in automating and streamlining business processes.

3. The value of integrating technology into business operations to improve efficiency and profitability.

In this episode:

[00:02:00] Blessing shares her journey into tech and becoming a tech strategist.

[00:04:00] Discussion on the benefits of working in medium to large companies.

[00:13:00] Insights on using ChatGPT and its applications in business.

[00:24:00] The concept of sales hubs and their importance for small businesses.

[00:42:00] The significance of having a unified system for managing different revenue streams.

[00:09:00] Blessing's experiences in different tech environments, from startups to Fortune 500 companies.

[00:18:00] How Blessing uses AI to simplify business operations.

[00:29:00] The challenges and advantages of integrating various business tools.

[00:33:00] Practical examples of automating client interactions and contract management.

[00:50:00] Blessing's personal story of overcoming obstacles and pursuing her passion.

Resources

1. The Women In The Arena

2. Listen on Apple

3. Listen on Spotify

4. Connect with Blessing on Threads

5. Read about Blessing on her website

6. ChatGPT: OpenAI

7. Other Tools mentioned: Airtable, Notion, Coda, SmartSuite

Quotes

1. "Keep saying yes and keep moving forward." - Blessing Richardson

Come along with Paige Rene in this delightful episode of "The Women in the Arena," where she chats about the little slip-ups that even the brightest entrepreneurs can make while selling their products or services.

With six years of business and coaching under her belt, Paige is ready to spill some practical tips to help you polish up your selling strategies. This way, you can connect more deeply and effectively with your clients.

Whether you’re into sales, marketing, or any part of the entrepreneurial world, this episode is brimming with useful guidance to help you dodge common mishaps and improve your business approach.

Takeaways:

1. When explaining your expertise, tailor your communication to the comprehension level of your audience, ensuring they understand and connect with what you're saying.

2. It's crucial to align your selling points with what your customers genuinely want, rather than merely presenting what excites you about your product or service.

3. Your passion for what you're selling significantly impacts your success. Be clear and enthusiastic about your offers to resonate more deeply with potential clients.

In this episode:

[00:27] Paige introduces the theme of the episode and the relevance to various professional fields.

[01:20] Detailed breakdown of the first selling mistake: Over-complicating your message.

[03:12] Discussion on the second mistake: Focusing too much on your passion instead of customer needs.

[11:31] Exploration of the third mistake: Lack of genuine enthusiasm and clarity in what you're offering.

[16:53] Closing thoughts and a reminder of how these insights can benefit your selling strategies.

Resources

1. The Women In The Arena

2. Rise Facebook Community

3. Listen on Apple Podcasts

4. Listen on Google Podcasts

5. Listen on Spotify

6. Watch on YouTube

7. Paige Rene’s Instagram

Quotes

1. “Confused buyers don't buy, confused people don't understand what you're trying to sell them.” - Paige Rene, Host

2. "You have to practice being able to translate all the knowledge you know, through the filter of being able to teach it to a fifth grader.” - Paige Rene, Host

3. “You have to sell the result to somebody. You can't sell the process. They're not excited about the process." - Paige Rene, Host

In this episode of "The Women in the Arena," host Paige interviews Coach Jordan Clark of the FAU Owls softball team. They discuss the team's recent top 25 ranking, Coach Jordan's journey to becoming a head coach, and the importance of building a positive team culture.

Jordan shares her experiences with challenging career transitions, the significance of having a supportive network, and the realities of leadership and decision-making in coaching. She emphasizes the need for self-confidence, conviction, and the impact of creating meaningful relationships with players. The conversation also touches on work-life balance and the long-term legacy she aims to leave.

Takeaways:

1. Success in leadership comes from the willingness to take risks, adapt to new environments, and capitalize on opportunities for growth, even when it means stepping out of comfort zones.

2. Building a strong team culture is crucial for success, focusing on personal development, mutual respect, and creating an environment where every member feels valued and motivated.

3. Achieving a healthy work-life balance is essential for long-term satisfaction and effectiveness. A meaningful legacy is built on how one impacts others, prioritizing relationships and positive influences over personal accolades.

In this episode:

[01:42] Jordan shares her career transition from education to coaching, embracing various roles and the challenges along the way.

[03:51] The leap of faith to the head coaching position at FAU, the uncertainties faced, and the decision-making process involved.

[06:35] Transitioning from assistant to head coach, developing a personal coaching style, and the significance of building a positive team culture.

[09:17] The importance of a support system in personal and professional life, dealing with challenges, and trusting one’s judgment.

[15:16] Facing and managing challenges as a head coach, including dealing with criticism and building relationships with players and staff.

[17:31] Legacy and impact aspirations beyond wins and losses, focusing on personal relationships and long-term influence on players.

[19:16] Work-life balance challenges in collegiate athletics and strategies for maintaining personal relationships alongside professional commitments.

[22:44] Handling difficult personalities and situations within the team, emphasizing emotional intelligence and objective decision-making.

[27:31] Jordan's definition of being a "woman in the arena," emphasizing resilience, conviction, and the ability to influence positively.

Resources

1. The Women In The Arena

2. Rise Facebook Community

3. Listen on Apple Podcasts

4. Listen on Google Podcasts

5. Listen on Spotify

6. Watch on YouTube

7. Jordan Clark

8. FAU Owls Softball Team

9. Watch the games on ESPN+

Quotes

1. "I just think that when you take a job, you have this vision and you think of all the reasons things can go right. And so when it came out yesterday, it was just a real moment. It's something that you put in all this time, and you see the girls work, your staff work, and so, to see it come up, I know that we're not done yet, but it was a moment of like, you did it. Like, you did it, they did it." - Jordan Clark, Guest

2. "It's reassuring that you need your people and you're not going to make everyone happy. But at the end of the day, you got to know that whether you listen to them or not, they're still gonna be your people. And it's okay that you don't always go with their advice." - Jordan Clark, Guest

3. “Your legacy is how you make people feel. And at the end of the day, wins are wins and losses are losses. Who you are as a person is your core and how you make people feel. That’s the legacy I want to leave." - Jordan Clark, Guest

In this episode of "The Women in the Arena," host Paige Rene offers a heartfelt conversation directly to listeners, emphasizing the importance of embracing the messiness of pursuing dreams and the pivotal role of persistence in achieving success. She discusses her own struggles with messaging in business and the enlightening moments that inspired her to persist.

Through a reflective exercise, Paige encourages listeners to confront their fears, evaluate the risks of pursuing their dreams, and imagine the regret of not taking those chances. She shares inspiring examples, including her addition to a list of people who dared to dream big. Paige stresses that success is tied to persistent efforts and the willingness to learn from failures, urging her audience to keep pushing toward their goals.

Takeaways:

1. Embrace Messiness: Paige emphasizes the importance of accepting and finding value in the uncertainties and challenges encountered while pursuing dreams.

2. Persistence is Key: The podcast highlights persistence as the essential ingredient for success, stressing the need for continuous effort despite obstacles.

3. Face Fears and Risks: Paige encourages listeners to confront their fears, evaluate risks, and take action towards their goals, suggesting that the regret of inaction is scarier than any risk.

In this episode:

[01:24] The concept of "Magic in the Mess" is introduced. Paige talks about her journey with messaging in her business and the challenge of communicating effectively with her target audience.

[03:16] Persistence is highlighted as the single word that guarantees success. Paige reflects on its importance and how it has impacted her journey.

[04:28] Paige prompts listeners to confront their fears by rating the scariness of pursuing their dreams on a scale of one to ten, encouraging reflection on the risks and potential regrets of not taking action.

[08:10] The introduction of the Rise Facebook Community is shared, offering listeners a space for support, coaching, and networking among like-minded women.

[09:03] Inspiration from Dean Graziosi and the concept of viewing one's life from a future perspective to gauge the importance of taking risks and pursuing dreams.

[10:12] The need for persistence, willingness to fail, and the importance of continual effort toward achieving one's goals are discussed, using Tom Brady as an example of success through repetition and perseverance.

[12:27] Paige emphasizes the underappreciated value of reconnecting with one's truth and the potential within, encouraging listeners to take steps towards what draws them in and excites them.

Resources

1. The Women In The Arena

2. Rise Facebook Community

3. Listen on Apple Podcasts

4. Listen on Google Podcasts

5. Listen on Spotify

6. Watch on YouTube

Quotes

1. "There's a lot of magic in the mess." - Paige Rene, Host

2. "Persistence...is the only guarantee of success." - Paige Rene, Host

3. "A winner is just somebody who tried one more time." - Paige Rene, Host

4. "You have to be willing to let your ego get hurt." - Paige Rene, Host