The Savvy Session

How can the mistakes we make as entrepreneurs become our most valuable lessons for growth and success?In this special episode of The Savvy Session, Kirsten and Paula are joined by fellow entrepreneurs Marianna Swallow and Kristine Givens to reflect on the missteps that shaped their entrepreneurial journeys. From vendor mishaps to ignoring intuition, we dive deep into the lessons learned from our mistakes and how they’ve made us stronger, more resilient leaders. This candid conversation offers valuable insights for women entrepreneurs navigating the highs and lows of business ownership.Key Takeaways:Avoiding Vendor Pitfalls: Marianna shares a story about working with a vendor to implement a CRM system that didn’t deliver. The lesson? Take time to vet vendors thoroughly and test before committing.Trusting Your Intuition: Kristine emphasizes the importance of listening to your gut, especially when red flags appear during big business decisions.Delegating for Success: Paula discusses how trying to do everything herself in her early days led to burnout and how learning to automate & micro-outsource allowed her to thrive in managing the podcast.The Importance of Due Diligence: Kirsten reflects on her costly experience with a PR consultant who failed to deliver.  She learned the importance of research, seeking references, and trusting her instincts before big investments. Join us as we share the lessons we’ve learned the hard way, empowering you to navigate your entrepreneurial journey with confidence, resilience, and wisdom!Marianna Swallow is The Speak Easy Coach. Her mission is to make presentations easy and enjoyable for everyone – one speech at a time. Her expertise lies in helping clients share their story in a way that creates audience connection. She works with individuals, executives, and teams to help them develop and deliver clear and confident presentations, all while making the process fun.Kristine Givens began her career as a tax consultant with Ernst & Whinney before founding and selling a boutique accounting firm.  Transitioning to franchise ownership, she gained hands-on expertise and a deep understanding of the industry's challenges and opportunities. Combining entrepreneurial experience, financial expertise, and a results-driven approach, she is passionate about empowering franchisors and franchisees to navigate the complexities of the franchise model and achieve sustainable success.You can connect with Marianna here:Website: https://www.mariannaswallow.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannas/You can connect with Kristine here:Website: https://www.kristinegivens.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinemartzgivens

How can you navigate the complexities of guardianship while balancing the emotional and practical challenges of caring for aging parents?In this episode of The Savvy Session, we’re thrilled to welcome guardianship expert Jenny Jeltes, an attorney with over 15 years of experience specializing in guardianship law. Jenny shares her invaluable insights on the legal and emotional aspects of guardianship, offering guidance on understanding guardianship roles, managing family dynamics, and balancing personal responsibilities. Whether you're a woman, a business owner, or both, Jenny’s expertise will empower you to make informed, compassionate decisions for your loved ones.Key Takeaways:Understanding Guardianship Types – Jenny explains the distinctions between guardianship of the person (health decisions) and guardianship of the estate (financial decisions) and provides advice on how these roles can be shared or divided effectively.Facing Emotional and Practical Challenges – Discover strategies from Jenny for managing the emotional strain of seeing a parent lose independence, balancing time, and making difficult decisions while fulfilling your own responsibilities.Family Communication and Mediation – Jenny emphasizes the importance of open communication and, when necessary, mediation to maintain family harmony during the guardianship process.Self-Care and Support Resources – Jenny highlights the importance of connecting with caregiver networks and prioritizing your own well-being as you navigate this challenging journey.Join us as Jenny provides expert guidance on navigating guardianship, empowering you to approach this responsibility with clarity, compassion, and confidence.Jenny R. Jeltes is the founder and managing partner of the Law Offices of J. Jeltes, Ltd., practicing law since 2007. Recognized as a top attorney in client satisfaction and an “Emerging Lawyer,” Jenny is known for her integrity, assertiveness, and commitment to her clients. Having experienced the challenges of divorce firsthand, she brings empathy and dedication to helping clients navigate the legal and emotional complexities of family law.You can connect with Jenny Jeltes here:Website: https://jelteslaw.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeltesfamilylaw/

How can embracing authenticity and investing in yourself unlock your true potential as a business owner?In this episode of The Savvy Session, join us for an insightful conversation with Meka Hemmons, founder of SpiderMeka Portraits. Meka shares her incredible journey from working at Harpo Studios to building her own personal branding photography business. Throughout the conversation, she highlights the importance of authenticity, finding your passion, and helping clients feel comfortable in front of the camera.  Meka's story is a testament to investing in yourself and aligning your work with your purpose, all while bringing joy and fun into the process.Key Takeaways:Finding Your Authentic Purpose – Meka explains how her transition from retouching celebrity photos to capturing authentic portraits allowed her to align her values with her work.Building Confidence Behind the Lens – Meka’s approach focuses on making her clients feel seen, celebrated, and comfortable during their portrait sessions.Investing in Your Passion – Meka shares how taking the leap to start her own business has brought her joy and fulfillment, proving the value of following your purpose.Empowering Clients – Meka's unique style helps entrepreneurs and professionals showcase their personal brands through genuine, empowering photography.Tune in to hear Meka's inspiring journey and learn how to embrace authenticity and passion to elevate your business and life!Portrait Photographer “Spider” Meka Hemmons wields her camera like a heart surgeon’s scalpel, revealing deep truths and inner light. With 25 years’ experience in communication, branding, and human studies, she moved from celebrity retouching at Harpo Studios and The Oprah Winfrey Network to building a platform of artistry, consulting, and speaking to help everyday people celebrate their natural attributes and break myths within toxic cultural industries, proving that beauty is more than skin-deep.You can connect with Meka Hemmons here:Website: https://www.spidermeka.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spidermeka/

How can harnessing your inner power unlock your true potential as an entrepreneur?In this episode of The Savvy Session, join us as we sit down with Bertina Power, an author, speaker, and success strategist. Bertina shares her incredible journey from corporate roles to entrepreneurship and discusses how she helps others harness their inner power both personally and professionally. Through her diverse experiences in industries like real estate, construction, media, and consulting, Bertina provides invaluable insights on overcoming obstacles, aligning with purpose, and taking actionable steps toward success.Key Takeaways:Embrace Career Pivots – Bertina's journey highlights the importance of flexibility and adaptability in navigating different industries, allowing for growth and resilience.Unlock Hidden Potential – Bertina shares strategies to help clients recognize their strengths, overcome limiting beliefs, and step into their authentic selves.Prioritize Self-Care and Support – The discussion emphasizes the value of self-care and seeking help when needed to maintain balance and sustain success.Align Purpose, Passion, and Gifts – Bertina explains how aligning personal values with professional pursuits leads to fulfillment and empowerment.Tune in to discover how to unlock your unique power and embrace your entrepreneurial journey with authenticity and purpose, guided by the inspiring wisdom from Bertina.Bertina Power is the Founder and President of Queen B Consulting, LLC and CEO of Queen B Construction & Rehab, Inc.  She is a professional Real Estate consultant with over 20 years of real estate experience and new construction sales experience. Bertina is a trusted advisor in the urban real estate markets. She also coaches business professionals as a Success Specialist and is a highly sought-after coach.You can connect with Bertina Power here:Website: https://www.bertinapower.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertina-m-power-59847511The Power of You: https://www.shepublishingllc.com/store

How can organizations effectively navigate change to foster growth and empower their teams?Join us as we dive into an inspiring conversation with Cathy Ach, founder of Learning Paradigms.  In this episode, Cathy shares her expertise in leadership, strategy, and change management, offering invaluable insights for women entrepreneurs and business leaders. Learn how to align your team, overcome resistance to change, and lead with authenticity as Cathy provides actionable strategies for navigating organizational transformations.Key Takeaways:The Power of Strategic Planning – Cathy emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision and strategy to unify teams and guide decision-making, enabling organizations to thrive during times of change.Communicate the “Why” – Successful change starts with explaining the rationale behind it. Cathy discusses how understanding the purpose of change fosters buy-in from employees and reduces resistance.Overcoming Resistance with Empathy – Cathy shares how addressing skepticism and resistance with empathy and clear communication can turn obstacles into opportunities for growth.Leverage External Expertise – Cathy highlights the value of bringing in outside consultants to provide fresh perspectives and guide organizations through complex change initiatives.Tune in to this insightful discussion and discover how to embrace change and lead your organization to success with practical strategies from Cathy Ach!Cathy is the founder and President of Learning Paradigms, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in strategy, leadership development, and organizational change.  She is recognized for her ability to work visually with clients in mapping outcomplex business problems and in developing customized solutions to drive growth.  With nearly 20 years of corporate leadership experience at BankBoston, Andersen Consulting, and Baxter Healthcare, she launched her business in 2000.Cathy provides high-impact consulting and coaching services across diverse industries, including health care, pharmaceuticals/ life sciences, aviation, media, retail, and professional services, to clarify strategic direction, drive leadership growth, and enhance team alignment.  LPI’s clients over the past ten years have included Baxter International, Walgreens, W.W. Grainger, Horizon Therapeutics, Starcom Worldwide, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and United Airlines.Cathy holds a BA in Social Psychology from Amherst College and an MS in Learning & Organizational Change from Northwestern University. She is a Professionally Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation. Additionally, she is certified in the use of the TypeCoach Verifier Communication & Influence System™, the Leadership Circle Profile 360™, the Balanced Scorecard™, and Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead Methodology™.You can connect with Cathy Ach here:Website: https://learningparadigms.com/about-us/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-ach-7b4731/Building Your Blueprint: https://www.amazon.com

How can successful women entrepreneurs overcome 'reverse imposter syndrome' when starting their own businesses?In this episode of The Savvy Session, we explore the challenges corporate women face when transitioning to entrepreneurship. Join us as Katharine Campbell Hirst, founder of Katharine Campbell Hirst Coaching & Advisory, shares her expertise in empowering female entrepreneurs and executives.Katharine explores "reverse imposter syndrome," where successful women entrepreneurs feel "bigger" than their new ventures. Unlike traditional imposter syndrome, this occurs when experienced professionals, used to running large campaigns or leading teams, feel overwhelmed by simpler tasks like building a website. This can lead to self-doubt. Katharine advises embracing the process of starting small and being comfortable as a beginner again, even after achieving success in other areas.Katharine’s journey—from management consulting, through burnout, to working for Tory Burch and finding her passion for coaching—provides a powerful backdrop for the discussion. She’s committed to helping women executives scale their ventures by reimagining strategies, emphasizing delegation, and focusing on high-value activities for growth and success.Tune in to discover 5 key takeaways from our conversation:1. The distinct challenges of transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship.2. Essential mindset shifts for women starting their own businesses after corporate success.3. Rediscovering your passion and falling back in love with your business.4. The transformative power of group retreats and mastermind sessions.5. How to integrate fun, authenticity, and work-life harmony into your business development.This episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration for any woman ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship.Katharine Campbell Hirst’s eclectic life spans six countries and a variety of careers, including strategy consulting at Accenture, speechwriting for Tory Burch, and co-creating a spy museum.As a coach today, Katharine works at the intersection of psychology and business, helping women entrepreneurs and executives build joyful and impactful careers that surpass the expectations of their lineage, our society, and even their mentors.She deeply believes that we can heal capitalism by empowering women and using business as a tool to enhance our shared humanity.You can connect with Katharine Campbell Hirst here:Website: https://www.katharinecampbellhirst.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharine-hirst/

In today's fast-paced world, how we connect with ourselves and each other greatly impacts our productivity and well-being.Join us for an insightful conversation with Emma Miele, an ICF-accredited coach with a master’s in Transformational Coaching and Leadership.  Emma is the founder of The Breathing Room, and has nearly seven years of experience in being-based coaching.What is Being-Based Coaching?Focuses on authenticity and self-awarenessGoes beyond solving external problems or setting goalsHelps understand our physical reactions, emotional states, and internal judgmentsAims to build a strong relationship with oneself for deeper connections with othersLearn how these practices can help lead to a better understanding of yourself and foster deeper, more meaningful connections in your personal and professional life. Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:The Impact of Self-AwarenessEnhances understanding of interactions with othersPromotes honesty about emotions and experiences Creates a safe space for open and honest communicationAuthentic RelationshipsUncovers and values our true selvesFosters relationships built on trust and mutual respectPresents a truer version of oneself to others The Power of PresenceEnhances the quality of interactions and relationshipsPromotes active listening and thoughtful responsesPractical Techniques for TeamsUnderstands natural operating styles of team membersBuilds supportive structures aligning with team strengths Reduces misunderstandings and friction within the teamEmma is an ICF-accredited coach, with a Master's degree in Transformational Coaching and Leadership, and over seven years of experience in the coaching field.  After spending a decade in the corporate financial space, Emma began to understand that in our hectic lives, it's all too easy to lose touch with our true desires and motivations.Bringing together the skills she developed in the first part of her career, she founded The Breathing Room LLC, Coaching and Facilitating with the vision of creating a space for her clients to slow down, reflect, and connect with their inner wisdom.Through her coaching, Emma supports work teams to collaborate more efficiently, aspiring managers to develop valuable communication skills, entrepreneurs to realize the ROI of authenticity, and individuals to discover their unique paths toward success and fulfillment.You can connect with Emma Miele here:Website: https://findyourbreathingroom.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-miele/Let's Hang Out!: https://calendly.com/emmaemiele

Are you an entrepreneur or small business owner looking for authentic ways to attract your ideal clients?Join us for an insightful conversation featuring the incredibly talented Chelsie Tamms, an award-winning artist and branding expert, who is known for helping clients visually express their passion projects & brands through impactful visuals that connect on a deeper level.Chelsie has built a values-driven business that supports local causes and empowers small businesses to shine.Here are 5 key takeaways from our conversation:1. The unconventional path Chelsie took by starting her own business straight out of college after winning startup funding, bypassing the traditional 9-to-5 corporate job. 2. The importance of pursuing work that aligns with your personal values and passions, as it can lead to more meaningful impact.3. The power of intentional and thoughtful design to help organizations effectively communicate their uniqueness, connect with audiences, and raise awareness for their missions. 4. The valuable advice to reach out directly to potential clients or partners you admire, even if they seem unattainable at first, to explore collaborations.5. The need to hold yourself accountable as a business owner to continued growth and learning, while also defining success on your own authentic terms aligned with your purpose.Chelsie is proof that you can build a values-driven business focused on creativity + passion. Her example gives fellow female entrepreneurs inspiration to stay true to your purpose.Chelsie Tamms is an artist, educator, and entrepreneur. She founded Lettering Works in 2016, combining her love of hand-lettering with her expertise in marketing. Since then, she’s grown her business to offer custom branding packages, courses for artists, and wholesale products and merchandise—all with the mission to bring more creativity into her community and beyond. She is especially drawn to cause-driven projects surrounding mental health, chronic illness, and underrepresented communities.You can connect with Chelsie Tamms here:Website: https://www.letteringworks.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsietamms/

Dr. Sina Smith had dreamed of being a surgeon since she was 5 years old. She went through years of intense medical training to achieve that goal. However, close to finishing her surgical residency, she suffered a sudden injury that changed the course of her career.After over a decade of medical school and training, Dr. Smith woke up one morning unable to move her right arm.  Despite treatment, tests, and time, she did not regain full function. This meant she could not continue her surgical training. Devastated, Dr. Smith had to ask herself - now what? Around this time, Dr. Smith tried acupuncture to treat her injury. She was amazed to find that it helped with her arm's function and her pain. She also found the emotional release profoundly powerful.  This mind-body connection fascinated Dr. Smith and led her to pivot into studying acupuncture and functional medicine.Now Dr. Smith helps patients as a licensed acupuncturist and functional medicine doctor. She focuses on complex, chronic health issues that conventional medicine doesn't always resolve - things like:MigrainesIBSMenstrual problemsSleep issuesHer passion is uncovering the root cause and puzzles of each patient’s health picture.An area Dr. Smith feels strongly about is nutrition. She shares practical tips for using food to control inflammation and pain. Her advice? Skip processed foods, shop the perimeter of the grocery store, and eat more omega-3s!Even now, Dr. Smith continues learning new healing modalities like culinary medicine and homeopathy. She believes there are always new directions to explore in helping people achieve full health. Dr. Smith's story shows that major pivots can lead to meaningful work. Her injury may have ended one dream, but it sparked the passion that guides her today. Through an openness to explore beyond the traditional path, she found her true calling.Dr. Sina Leslie Smith is an international speaker, medical doctor, author, and educator who discovered acupuncture after pain and paralysis of her arm left her unable to be a general surgeon. Amazed by the power of traditional East Asian medicine, she became a licensed acupuncturist and over the years has mastered integrative medicine, culinary medicine, homeopathy, and functional medicine. In addition to her MD, Dr. Smith has earned three Masters degrees—Physiology and Biophysics, Medical Education, and Acupuncture—and has completed a Fellowship in Surgical Education.She has delivered over 100 invited talks, workshops, and courses for conventional and alternative medical schools, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and governmental agencies, including the US Department of Defense and Walter Reed Medical Center. Dr. Smith was the founding Director of Integrative and Culinary Medicine at SIU School of Medicine, has been on faculty at several other medical and acupuncture schools, and has served on the boards of multiple state and national organizations.She is the author of the book, “Demystifying Acupuncture: Modern Answers About Ancient Medicine.” Dr. Smith is the founder and medical director of Chicago Healing Center, offers courses and workshops online and around Chicagoland, is passionate about empowering people to understand how their bodies work, and emphatically believes that food is our best medicine.You can connect with Dr. Sina Smith here:Website: https://sinasmithmd.com/Learning Platform: https://chicagohealingcenter.podia.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinasmithmd/

We are buzzing with excitement for the upcoming The Savvy Summit on May 23rd in Chicago.  We're all about empowering women to lead fulfilling careers AND lives!On today's episode, we are sharing the scoop on one of our amazing keynote speakers - Beryl Greenberg, an accomplished executive and career coach.  She’s turning the tides and helping women get "unstuck" in their careers and lives to pursue more fulfilling paths.Do you feel stuck in your career or life?  Unable to make a change or move forward, even though you want to?  You're not alone.  Many accomplished professionals get stuck in limiting perspectives that hold them back from achieving their goals.Beryl understands feeling stuck all too well from her own career pivots. Now, with 15+ years of coaching experience, she helps women get unstuck so they can create the life and career they want.Here are some key highlights from our conversation:Embrace Your Pivot Points:- Whether it's moving from one industry to another or stepping into a new role, recognize these moves as opportunities for expansion and self-discovery.Analyzing Common Pain Points:- "I only know how to do one thing."- "I'm skilled in many areas—what should I focus on?"Shift Your Perspective:- Sounding stuck often means you need a new viewpoint.- Take the time to understand this feeling of stagnancy.Strategies to Get Unstuck:- Introspect to realize what 'stuck' truly is for you.- Use these realizations to see your situation with new eyes.Beryl is a certified coach, leadership facilitator and group coaching leader in private practice. She works with individuals and groups privately and within companies, as well as leads groups through CHIEF, the women’s executive community.Her career story involves two major career transitions for both career progression and lifestyle reasons: from advertising agency director to an executive recruiter and from executive recruiter to executive coach/solopreneur.Her coaching philosophy is driven by the bedrock of self-awareness, clarity of vision, and uncovering internal obstacles.  While she meets each client where they are at, she brings an order and framework to her coaching engagements that supports transformational progress and outcomes.Beryl's next GET UNSTUCK cohort is forming now for the week of May 6 start!GET UNSTUCK is a group coaching experience designed to support advertising and marketing professionals who are looking to make a career transition but feel stuck on how to make it happen.Perhaps you are in a job search and are not getting the results you wantMaybe you desperately want to make a change and don't know where or how to startPossibly you are unclear on the direction you want to take your careerConsider you know what you want but just haven't been able to make time for itThe key to addressing these situations really starts in a surprising way, and it's not with re-writing your resume or applying to jobs online.  It's about shifting your mindset! In turn, you learn how to achieve your career goals with ease instead of stress.Check out this link for more information. https://forms.gle/9oU779aGLRZ1RZwr5You can connect with Beryl here:Website: https://coachberyl.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berylgreenberg/