Humanitarian Fashion with Shahd Alasaly

Humanitarian fashion is more than a trend — it is a movement built on empathy, cultural preservation, and collective healing. Shahd Alasaly is a sociology instructor at the University of South Florida. Her work focuses on trauma, displacement, and collective healing through an anti-colonial lens. She is the founder and creative director of Blue Meets Blue, a slow-fashion label employing refugee women and partnering with Syrian textile producers. She is also the author of A Kids Book About Humanitarianism and is currently writing a new book series on refugee journeys. In this episode, Shahd shares how fashion became a tool for art therapy, empowerment, and cultural preservation — and why teaching empathy to children may be the most powerful humanitarian act of all.   What you will learn from this episode: Why slow fashion can support trauma healing, dignity, and empowerment for refugee women. Why children are naturally wired for humanitarianism — and how to nurture it. Why storytelling is essential for preserving marginalized voices and histories.   Topics Covered: 02:11 – Founding Blue Meets Blue as a response to the Syrian civil war and collective trauma. 05:03 – How slow fashion and artisan work became art therapy for refugee women. 06:10 – Blue Meets Blue relaunching with textiles sourced from newly freed Syria. 07:02 – Bestselling A-line skirts, brocade dusters, and the storytelling behind each piece. 08:40 – Why Shahd wrote A Kids Book About Humanitarianism and how kids understand empathy. 10:48 – Teaching children about refugees through simple, actionable language. 12:30 – Shahd's upcoming book From There to Here following refugee children's journeys. 15:52 – How Shahd's research explores trauma, resilience, and community healing. 17:20 – Humanizing refugee experiences through stories of everyday motherhood and dignity.   Key Takeaways: "Kids don't complicate relationships. Adults add politics, fear, and layers that make empathy harder." — Shahd Alasaly "These women weren't just sewing. They were healing together in a safe, trusted space." — Shahd Alasaly "You don't have to wait until you're older or important to be a humanitarian. You can start with a simple smile." — Shahd Alasaly "Community resilience comes from holding space for each other through trauma." — Shahd Alasaly   Ways to Connect with Shahd Alasaly: Website: www.bluemeetsblue.com Instagram: @bluemeetsblue Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/782300/a-kids-book-about-humanitarianism-by-shahd-alasaly/   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd  To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Failure is an unavoidable part of life — but for women, it often comes with heavier expectations, harsher judgment, and higher emotional tolls. Dr. Tamara McMillan is a seasoned facilitator, consultant, educator, and transformational speaker. With over 18 years of experience across corporate, government, and higher education, she specializes in leadership development, self-mastery, and innovative problem-solving. Her doctoral research examined the impact of failure on women entrepreneurs, exploring how creativity and resilience shape their ability to persist, rebuild, and thrive. She equips women and organizations with practical, universal strategies for personal and professional growth. In this episode, Tamara breaks down the three major themes that emerged from her research and shares the real stories behind how women redefine failure, ask for support, and stay persistently flexible — even in the face of constraints and gender expectations.   What you will learn from this episode: How women entrepreneurs redefine failure to create healthier mindsets and business practices. Why learning to ask for help is a critical skill for women leaders and founders. What it means to be "persistently flexible" and why rigidity can kill progress.   Topics Covered: 01:02 – Tamara's career path across corporate, tech, pharmaceuticals, and higher education. 03:14 – Studying the impact of failure on women entrepreneurs through creativity and resilience. 04:10 – How she designed her qualitative, multiple case study research. 05:20 – Redefining failure into opportunity, growth, and "necessary steps." 06:50 – Why asking for help is harder for women — and why it matters. 07:32 – Being persistently flexible in goals, strategy, and business pivots. 08:26 – Building a powerful network before you need one. 09:40 – Gender expectations, family roles, and constraints women must navigate. 11:05 – Tamara's work today in coaching, cohorts, and strategic learning for organizations. 12:30 – "Give what you did not get": Tamara's call to women supporting women.   Key Takeaways: "She doesn't even call it failure anymore. She calls it a necessary step." — Tamara McMillan "As women, we're sent messages that asking for help somehow means we're not good enough." — Tamara McMillan "They were persistently flexible. It wasn't rigid. It wasn't one way or the highway." — Tamara McMillan "You have to build your network before you need it." — Tamara McMillan "Give what you did not get. Many of us are here because we had to take it on the chin." — Tamara McMillan   Ways to Connect with Tamara McMillan: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-l-mcmillan-phd-strategy-and-change-management-4457736/    Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Fear-based leadership is on the rise, impacting an estimated 60-70% of organizations today. Understanding how these leaders operate—and learning strategic ways to protect your power and well-being—can help you move from just surviving to truly thriving, even in challenging workplaces. Kate Lowry is a CEO coach, venture capitalist, and author based in Silicon Valley. Her expertise on fear-based leaders comes from growing up in a hierarchical family and working in startups, private equity, management consulting, and big tech companies like McKinsey, Meta, and Insight Partners. She is the author of Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders. In her free time, she enjoys writing comedy and music, and cuddling her service dog, Annie. In this episode, Kate shares the science behind how power can corrupt and diminish empathy in leaders. She explains why fear-based leaders often feel deeply insecure and use control and manipulation as their main tools.   What you will learn from this episode: Understand the neurological science proving that absolute power corrupts absolutely and how positions of authority affect empathy centers in the brain. Learn to identify fear-based leaders through their characteristic behaviors and how they make you feel. Discover tactical strategies for navigating, surviving, and ultimately thriving under difficult leadership while maintaining your power and well-being.   "If you understand how they think and how they make choices, you can almost always predict what they're going to do."  – Kate Lowry   Valuable Free Resource: Pre-order Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders - Available now on Kindle, print edition releasing October 28, 2025   Topics Covered: 02:35 – Fear-based leaders as bullies: understanding their deep insecurity and how they motivate through fear 05:06 – Fear-based leadership in families: Kate's personal experience growing up in a household modeled after a dictatorship and how it prepared her for corporate environments 10:24 – Myths about fear-based leaders: debunking the illusion of their power and understanding the concept of fealty and orbit 12:38 – Coping with fear-based leaders: protecting your energy, maintaining multiple identities, and the "gray rock" strategy 16:24 – Fear-based leadership in workplaces: the rising trend from 3 in 10 to 7 in 10 managers and why you're not alone   Key Takeaways: "Fear-based leaders are really deeply insecure, and they try to motivate with fear." – Kate Lowry "You should never share what you actually care about. Even the smallest details about your life, your hopes, your dreams, all of that will be used against you if you actually share it." – Kate Lowry "If fear-based leaders see you as a non-entity, if they think that you're just a sheep amongst the herd, you actually have a lot of freedom to do what you want." – Kate Lowry "If you feel like you're going from bad workplace to bad workplace, it's not just you. A lot of people are dealing with this. It's just a very different set of rules. And once you learn the rules, you can protect yourself." – Kate Lowry   Ways to Connect with Kate Lowry: Website: https://www.katelowry.com/  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinejlowry/  Substack:  https://katelowry.substack.com/    Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd  To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Melissa Franks is a seasoned business strategist, Fractional COO, podcast host and speaker, and transformation leader with a track record of scaling businesses and driving operational excellence with a people-first approach that mobilizes teams for unprecedented results. A former Fortune 500 executive and OnCon Icon "Top 100 COO" Winner (2022-2024), she has led billion-dollar IT transformations, M&A initiatives, and revenue growth strategies, blending corporate expertise with small business agility.  As the founder of On Call COO, she empowers female entrepreneurs by optimizing operations and increasing profitability with her knack for helping business owners break through growth plateaus, implement scalable strategies, and build profitable, sustainable companies. Passionate about women in leadership and business innovation, Melissa is also an advocate for high-performing women, helping them design lives they love while achieving balance and success. She is a strong voice for domestic violence awareness and family court reform. When not strategizing, she enjoys running, traveling, and cheering on her three sons at their sporting events.  In this episode, Melissa shares her journey from 25 years in corporate to entrepreneurship after a major life setback. She reveals how to maximize limited mentorship time, align career goals with personal priorities, and why the best mentors may be outside your organization. Plus, practical strategies for managing financial uncertainty and pivoting after setbacks.   What you will learn from this episode: Discover how to maximize limited mentorship opportunities by being prepared with clear asks, specific examples, and alignment between professional and personal goals. Learn strategies for pivoting after major setbacks, including managing financial uncertainty and making decisions without panic. Understand why mentorship can come from outside your organization and how to seek experts who can help you develop specific skills you need to reach your goals.   "Mentorship doesn't always need to come from your chain of command or inside of your business. Often the skills that you need to acquire and the modalities of thinking that you might need to develop in order to reach your goals can be taught and learned and coached outside of the four walls of the business that you work in."  – Melissa Franks   Valuable Free Resource: Connect with Melissa at melissafranks.com for support in scaling your business and breaking through growth plateaus.   Topics Covered: 02:35 – What is a fractional COO: part-time executive support for seven and eight-figure businesses 03:50 – Becoming an accidental entrepreneur: pivoting after a domestic violence incident and job loss 05:00 – Shifting priorities: learning to say no after decades of saying yes to everything 08:50 – Building a business through intention: the first nine months of firefighting and steady growth 11:00 – Corporate career journey: from the Gap to financial services and climbing to global executive 12:00 – Learning without mentors: navigating a male-dominated environment through trial and error 14:00 – Dealing with failures: seeking education when hitting friction points 16:00 – How to take advantage of senior female executives: being prepared with clear asks and specific examples 19:00 – Aligning professional goals with personal life: understanding what your life really needs 21:00 – Managing financial uncertainty: worst-case scenario planning and avoiding panic decisions 23:00 – Having humility: taking advantage of available benefits and not keeping struggles secret 26:00 – Empowering female entrepreneurs: helping women build businesses that enable the lives they want 28:00 – Mentorship beyond the workplace: seeking experts outside your organization for specific skills   Key Takeaways: "Every woman in corporate America that is at a very senior executive level wants to help as many women as possible, which means that she is dividing a piece of pizza, not the pie, but the actual piece, across as many hungry mouths as possible. So you may just get a bite." – Melissa Franks "If you're looking for advice, come in with an actual example. Be specific. Have an ask, have an example if you're looking for advice." – Melissa Franks "Make sure that you're really clear on what your personal life really needs, how it needs to be structured, what your boundaries are. So that when you come forward and say, is this the next right step, you have additional context." – Melissa Franks   Ways to Connect with Melissa Franks: Website: https://melissafranks.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_franks Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissafranks    Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd  To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Many organizations still use outdated hiring methods that turn off top talent and fuel unconscious bias. This leads to bad hires and harms employer reputations. By updating interview processes and using undercover research, companies can reduce bias, improve candidate experiences, and build stronger, more diverse teams that succeed. Nora Burns, a keynote speaker and researcher, went undercover for over 350 interviews across industries to reveal broken hiring practices. Her research shows many companies conduct interviews like it's 1983—asking irrelevant questions, being unprepared, and favoring men even in female-dominated roles. As founder of The Leadership Experts, Nora helps companies redesign hiring and onboarding by focusing on candidates' potential and removing bias. In this episode, Nora shares surprising findings: she was offered jobs she wasn't qualified for due to bias, traditional interview questions waste time, companies accidentally share confidential info during interviews, and candidates decide whether to stay or leave within their first three hours on the job.   What you will learn from this episode: Why traditional interview questions like "strengths and weaknesses" are counterproductive and what to ask instead. How unconscious bias affects hiring decisions based on gender, area codes, college names, and even Zoom backgrounds. Simple fixes for interview preparation, confidentiality, and creating bias-free application processes.   "Interviews over time have gotten shorter and shorter and shorter, especially for frontline jobs. We're doing those interviews in 20 to 30 minutes. If I'm spending five minutes on what's your greatest strengths, what's your greatest weakness, that's a high percentage of my overall time to get to know this candidate that I've just wasted." – Nora Burns   Valuable Free Resource: Connect with Nora on LinkedIn for hiring process insights and visit theleadershipexperts.com for consulting services.   Topics Covered: 02:30 - The genesis of undercover research: How Nora realized she hadn't been interviewed in over a decade while designing hiring processes for clients, leading to her decision to go undercover as a candidate 05:15 - Research methodology and ethics: Creating character personas, funding the research independently, and ensuring candidates knew she wasn't a guaranteed hire to maintain ethical boundaries 08:45 - Outdated interview practices: Why organizations are still "hiring like it's 1983" with tired questions that waste time and generate predictable, unhelpful responses from candidates 12:20 - Better questioning strategies: Moving beyond strengths/weaknesses to ask about development priorities and industry knowledge that reveals actual capabilities and cultural fit 16:30 - Interview preparation failures: How hiring managers show up late, unprepared, and treat candidates poorly, damaging the employment relationship from the start 18:45 - Confidentiality breaches: Shocking examples of organizations leaving candidates alone with payroll records, P&L statements, and unlocked laptops during interviews 22:10 - Unconscious bias in callbacks: A-B testing results showing male candidates consistently receive more callbacks, even for traditionally female roles like receptionist 24:45 - Geographic and socioeconomic bias: How area codes, college names, and Zoom setups create unfair advantages and disadvantages for candidates 27:20 - The critical first three hours: Why employees decide to stay or leave within their first three hours on the job and how organizations fail at basic onboarding   Key Takeaways: "We need to stop hiring for comfort and start hiring for capacity and for what they actually will bring to the organization. A lot of our old school questions are really built around comfort and, oh, they think just like me." –Nora Burns "People were making the decision as to if they would stay a year within the first three hours of employment. We are shockingly bad at the first three hours." –Nora Burns "Whenever you say my gut tells me, bias is coming in. That's your stories that you've collected over time. There's something about me that reminds you of somebody else that you love." –Nora Burns   Ways to Connect with Nora Burns: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noraburns/ Website: https://theleadershipexperts.com Podcast: "Stories from the Break Room" (available on all podcast platforms) Book: "Stories from the Break Room" (upcoming publication)   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

High-achieving corporate women often feel trapped by golden handcuffs, spending countless nights traveling for work while missing precious family time. By building strategic short-term rental businesses with automated systems, women can escape the corporate grind and create both financial independence and time freedom on their own terms. Madeleine Raiford-Holland built three successful businesses while transitioning from corporate COO to full-time entrepreneur. As founder of MHM Luxury Properties and Madeleine Raiford-Holland Education, she helps aspiring investors start profitable short-term rental businesses focused on elevated guest experiences and automated systems that run in just 1-2 hours per week. In this episode, Madeleine reveals how she built a thriving short-term rental business while working full-time with young children. She covers three entry methods, her strategic corporate-to-entrepreneur transition, and why quality beats quantity for long-term success.   What you will learn from this episode: How to achieve financial freedom through strategic real estate investments without traditional long-term rental commitments. Three accessible entry points into short-term rentals: ownership, arbitrage, and co-hosting opportunities. The importance of finding an experienced community to avoid analysis paralysis and accelerate success.   "Whatever market you choose, you need to be able to get a top-tier property in that market. So the people who are not successful in the short-term rental space are the people who focus on quantity, not the quality of the property."  – Madeleine Raiford-Holland   Valuable Free Resource: Visit moderatelyhighmaintenance.com for lifestyle content and mhmluxuryproperties.com for property portfolio examples   Topics Covered: 01:10 – Financial freedom through rentals: How Madeleine discovered real estate as a path to wealth building after reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, and her transition from corporate executive making others money to building her own profitable short-term rental empire 06:46 – Short-term rental opportunities explained: Three distinct entry methods into the business - property ownership, rental arbitrage, and co-hosting - plus the advantages of direct booking websites over platform dependency 10:00 – Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship: Strategic approach to leaving the 9-to-5 by banking corporate paychecks for six months while living off rental income, using Profit First accounting principles to ensure financial stability during the transition 15:14 – Pitfalls for beginner investors: The critical importance of focusing on quality over quantity, choosing markets where your budget allows for top-tier properties, and competing on value rather than engaging in pricing wars 15:35 – Find your tribe: Overcoming analysis paralysis by connecting with experienced short-term rental operators, understanding that everyone starts as a beginner, and the power of community support in building a successful rental business   Key Takeaways: "I'm big on finding what you love in a business and then outsourcing the rest. But having somebody who's gone before you and set up all the systems, processes, automations, like it's a proven business model that you can put your own spin on." - Madeleine Raiford-Holland "We started banking our 9 to 5 paycheck and we put it in a separate bank account and we lived off of our short-term rental income... We got used to living off of the revenue from our short term rental businesses." - Madeleine Raiford-Holland "The biggest pitfall is people who get stuck in analysis paralysis and who think that they have to be an expert to get started... This business is better with friends. Find your tribe of people who are already doing it and then just take the lead." - Madeleine Raiford-Holland   Ways to Connect with Madeleine Raiford-Holland: Lifestyle Website: https://moderatelyhighmaintenance.com Property Portfolio: https://mhmluxuryproperties.com Education Company: MRH Education (Madeleine Raiford-Holland Education)   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Many high-achieving women struggle with perfectionism and maintaining authentic leadership while building successful businesses. Without intentional alignment between personal values and professional goals, leaders can become disconnected from their teams and lose the very qualities that drive meaningful success. By embracing vulnerability and leading with intention, women can create more impactful businesses while staying true to themselves. Bianca D'Alessio is the star of HBO Max's acclaimed series Selling the Hamptons, the top-ranked real estate broker in both New York City and state, and the founder of one of the highest-producing brokerage teams in the U.S. She oversees a $10 billion international real estate portfolio and writes a weekly column in Money Magazine. Bianca is a frequent expert voice in Forbes, The New York Times, Fox Business, Medium, and The Real Deal. Her new book, Mastering Intentions, 10 Practices to Amplify Power and Lead with Lasting Impact, combines personal experiences with practical tools for authentic leadership. In this episode, Bianca shares her transformation from a perfectionist leader to one who leads with vulnerability and authenticity. She discusses how aligning heart, body, mind, and soul creates more powerful intentions than traditional goal-setting, and reveals the daily practices that help silence the "brain bully" while building stronger, more innovative teams.   What you will learn from this episode: How to define and develop intentions beyond simple goal-setting. The importance of self-discovery and focusing on three key areas at a time. How to overcome perfectionism and create cultures that embrace risk-taking.   "Leading with intention is about having an alignment between your heart, body, mind, and soul. How are you moving with force where you're fully connected? That's where you find your intention." – Bianca D'Alessio   Valuable Free Resource: Check out Bianca's book "Mastering Intentions" for insights and strategies on amplifying power and leading with lasting impact   Topics Covered: 01:39 – Understanding Bianca's background: From leadership development with nonprofit work to discovering real estate through people skills 02:48 – Career transformation journey: Moving from helping women on college campuses to becoming a top real estate professional 05:48 – Book evolution and core message: How personal and professional experiences intertwine to create authentic leadership 07:04 – Defining intentions beyond goal-setting: The importance of heart, body, mind, and soul alignment for true power 10:19 – Leadership transformation through vulnerability: Breaking down perfectionism to create deeper team connections and organic business growth 13:54 – Team culture changes: How authenticity creates environments where communication, risk-taking, and creativity flourish 16:22 – Annual intention-setting practice: The process of identifying gaps and focusing on three key areas for meaningful change 20:02 – Self-care as competitive advantage: Why prioritizing physical and mental health is essential for sustainable business success 23:08 – Continuous growth and adaptation: The importance of staying current and relevant in rapidly changing business landscapes   Key Takeaways: "Very scary to be vulnerable. But it is the most rewarding when you can just unleash yourself and take down that armor and step into it because I promise you will find your most power by leading with that authenticity and vulnerability." – Bianca D'Alessio "I have figured out now at this stage in my career how to focus my highest and best use... I've stepped back on a lot of the micromanaging and really focus on the bigger picture." – Bianca D'Alessio "How do you focus on three things at a time really fully and focus on those being your intentions? I used to be crazy about making lists of goals that were three pages long. That's just not sustainable." – Bianca D'Alessio   Ways to Connect with Bianca D'Alessio: Website: https://www.biancadalessio.com/ Book: "Mastering Intentions, 10 Practices to Amplify Power and Lead with Lasting Impact": https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Intentions-Practices-Amplify-Lasting-ebook/dp/B0F7ZGR47T?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pMtqQgCdcF62FceO-FuAww.q6vRzX9bAOuPg3iriScc-gCmzhCa-_ITAy3wiB6lTcU&dib_tag=AUTHOR  HBO Max series: "Selling the Hamptons": https://www.hbomax.com/dm/en/shows/selling-the-hamptons/b425b881-93a3-49be-a896-dd8100edf12a    Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com  

Scattered doubts and self-criticism can hinder women from achieving their full potential in business. Without action, these feelings can lead to missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams. By taking small steps and seeking support, women can overcome obstacles and thrive in their entrepreneurial journeys. Theresa Slater, known as Terry, is the president of Empire Interpreting Services, which she founded in 2003. With over 300 interpreters and a range of customer-centric services, her company has become an award-winning organization. Terry is also a speaker, author, and advisor to new entrepreneurs. Her new book, The Language of Success: An Interpreter's Entrepreneurial Journey, is part autobiography and part how-to guide for aspiring business owners. In this episode, Terry shares her inspiring journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur. She discusses the importance of overcoming imposter syndrome, the value of self-care, and the necessity of hiring help to grow both personally and professionally.   What you will learn from this episode: Understand the impact of imposter syndrome and how to overcome it. Discover the importance of self-care and physical strength in empowering women. Gain insights into the significance of listening to your gut in decision-making.   "Stop caring what other people think. Become physically stronger. And start to care about being respected and not being liked." – Theresa Slater   Valuable Free Resource: Check out Theresa's book, The Language of Success, for insights and strategies on entrepreneurship.   Topics Covered: 01:48 - Understanding Empire Interpreting Services, Deep dive into what a language service provider (LSP) actually does and why it matters 02:48 - Terry's Transformational Journey into Business 05:48 - Mastering Sign Language and Expanding Services, Terry's journey learning sign language and building comprehensive language solutions 07:04 - Overcoming Critical Business-Building Challenges, Conquering personal obstacles, including the hidden enemy of imposter syndrome 10:19 - The Strategic Self-Improvement Journey, Why self-care isn't selfish — it's an essential business strategy 13:54 - The Story Behind Writing the Book, What inspired and motivated Terry to finally share her entrepreneurial blueprint 16:22 - Mastering the Art of Strategic Hiring, Critical importance of hiring support for exponential business growth and personal freedom 20:02 - Self-Care as Competitive Advantage, The devastating impact of neglecting self-care on health, performance, and success 23:08 - Continuous Growth and Adaptation, Why ongoing learning and adaptation are non-negotiable in today's business landscape 24:54 - Essential Advice for Women Entrepreneurs, The power of listening to your gut instincts for better decision-making   Key Takeaways: "You have to applaud how far you've come, especially when you come from a challenging background." – Theresa Slater "Self-care is not selfish; it's essential for your well-being and success." – Theresa Slater "Listening to your gut can save you from making poor decisions in business and life." – Theresa Slater   Ways to Connect with Theresa Slater: Website: https://www.empireinterpreting.com/  Email: [email protected]   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com

Workplace bullying isn't just uncomfortable—it's career sabotage. If you've ever felt targeted, diminished, or singled out by a colleague or boss, you're not alone. The harsh reality? There's likely at least one bully in every office, and they've honed their behavior over decades. Vicky Oliver is a leading career development expert and the multi-bestselling author of five books, including Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots (Sourcebooks 2008) and 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions (Sourcebooks 2005), named in the top 10 list of "Best Books for HR Interview Prep." She is a sought-after speaker and seminar presenter and a popular media source, having made over 901 appearances in broadcast, print and online outlets. In this episode, Vicky shares her insights on workplace bullying, drawing from her extensive research and personal experiences. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing bullying behavior and offers practical strategies for women to address it effectively.   What you will learn from this episode: Understand the definition of bullying in the workplace and how it can manifest in various forms. Learn the prevalence of bullying and why it often goes unaddressed in organizations. Discover actionable strategies for women to confront bullying behavior and advocate for themselves.   "If you feel that you are being teased, called out in any way, then you are being bullied." – Vicky Oliver   Valuable Free Resource:  For more information, visit vickyoliver.com.   Topics Covered: 00:00 - Introduction to the topic of bullying in the workplace and the ingrained nature of bullying behavior. 02:23 - Vicky Oliver discusses her book and how she became interested in the topic of bullying. 02:57 - Definition of bullying and the subjective nature of what constitutes bullying. 06:02 - Insights on why bullies often remain in power and how they can be skilled at their jobs. 09:11 - Strategies for women to address bullying behavior they are experiencing. 10:36 - Importance of documenting bullying incidents and approaching the bully directly. 14:07 - Steps to take if direct communication with the bully does not work. 19:09 - Mistakes to avoid when dealing with bullies, including emotional reactions. 20:43 - Advice for bystanders on how to support colleagues who are being bullied. 23:28 - Discussion on why bullies often get away with their behavior and the dynamics of power in the workplace. 25:44 - Final thoughts on modeling good behavior and building a positive reputation in the workplace.   Key Takeaways: On Bully Behavior Patterns: "It isn't that somebody like arrives at an office and then they start bullying people. No, it's an ingrained behavior. Maybe it's been going on for 30 years with that person." - Vicky Oliver On Changing People: "I also feel that it's very difficult to change people. Somebody has to want to change." - Vicky Oliver On Documentation: "There's a difference between somebody teasing you once and then a pattern of abuse. What you're trying to get in your list is showing a pattern." - Vicky Oliver On Workplace Dynamics: "Be the go to person who solves the problems and calms the waters. And as more and more people respect you, your reputation will rise." - Vicky Oliver On Recognizing Bully Power: "Recognize that you're up against something that's quite dangerous and that they know how to survive." - Vicky Oliver   Ways to Connect with Vicky Oliver: Website: https://vickyoliver.com/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-oliver-737219/    Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com

Scattered photos and digital clutter make it easy to lose precious memories. Without action, they risk being forgotten or destroyed.The longer we wait, the harder it gets, and disasters or time could erase them forever. By taking small steps and getting help, you can preserve, enjoy, and share your memories for generations. Bonnie Hillman Shay is a Certified Photo Organizer and founder of Mariposa Photo Organizing based in the Chicago area. She has been a photo organizer for 17 years. Bonnie loves helping her clients reconnect with their photographic memories and to tell their story which is part of their legacy. Clients tell Bonnie that she works magic, and they are so grateful for what she does. Bonnie's business tagline is "Curate Your Photos, Preserve Your Legacy." In this episode, Bonnie shares a step-by-step process for organizing and digitizing photos to preserve memories. She emphasizes the benefits of professional scanning, including backup, restoration, and easy sharing. She also encourages starting now, using small steps, and seeking help to make the process enjoyable and meaningful.   What you will learn from this episode: Learn a clear, manageable process for organizing and digitizing your photos. Discover insider tips on professional scanning, restoration, and outsourcing. Avoid overwhelm and get practical strategies to tackle photo clutter without feeling stressed.   "A curated collection of photos is a gift that keeps on giving; iIt's not just a one stop deal." - Bonnie Shay   Valuable Free Resources: Subscribe to Bonnie Shay's digital newsletter and receive the "Top 12 Ways to Curate Your Photo Collection" (6 for printed photos and 6 for digital photos). Click here: https://mariposaphotoorganizing.com/tips/ You can also schedule a complimentary 15-minute phone/Zoom chat with Bonnie Shay if you have questions. Ask here: https://mariposaphotoorganizing.com/schedule/   Topics Covered: 03:27 - What led Bonnie to start a business specializing in photo organizing 05:08 - How she never struggled with disorganized photos 05:40 - Explaining the first two steps in photo organizing process and why the need to discard some photos 07:47 - Sharing the third step in photo organizing and highlighting the benefits of scanning 09:48 - Why not scan the photos yourself and what you should do instead 11:07 - Vetting for reputable scanning service companies, check this out: https://thephotomanagers.com 12:27 - What it is like editing digital photos versus printed ones 14:09 - How to ease the overwhelm in getting started with gathering all the photos together  14:54 - Why organize your photos now rather than waiting for a later time 17:40 - Action step to help you reduce the mental overwhelm of an undefined project 18:25 - What makes photo organizing worth starting now   Key Takeaways: "You do an editing and you let go of photos to make sure that the best and the best are available to tell your story and be shareable." - Bonnie Shay "I want to tell people that all of us who are in the business, we're in this with our head, but we're mostly in here with our heart. We want people's precious photos to be kept, safe, and secure and shareable." - Bonnie Shay "It's like an insurance policy to have your collection captured and that you had the chance to see it." - Bonnie Shay "Don't think of it as just a to-do and that you're trying to get to the end result of having a finished collection. To me, part of the gift that you could give yourself is the journey, is going down memory lane and reconnecting with your story." - Bonnie Shay "I know time is hard to get in our world with our busy schedules, but it's such a gift to be able to go down memory lane and reconnect and add a richness to your life that maybe you hadn't realized in a long time." - Bonnie Shay   Ways to Connect with Bonnie Shay: Website: https://mariposaphotoorganizing.com/   Ways to Connect with Sarah E. Brown: Website: https://www.sarahebrown.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahebrownphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSarahEBrown To speak with her: bookachatwithsarahebrown.com