Women, Wine & Leadership

Rachel Braun Scherl has passionately focused on driving the conversation on the business of women’s sexual and reproductive health. She spends a lot of time speaking publicly, loudly and passionately in an effort to drive the conversation around the business of female health in all of its complexity. Her bestselling book called Orgasmic Leadership reflects a wellspring of deep personal experience in pharmaceuticals, consumer products, women’s health as well as in depth interviews with leaders in the sexual wellness field.  Rachel doesn't like to drink wine, in fact her favorite beverage is Stewart's Diet Root Beer, which I believe can be consumed from a wine glass to make it more festive. I love what Rachel is doing to accelerate women's health. If you have a business that needs a spark, I hope you'll give her a call. Contact Rachel at rbscherl@sparksolutionsforgrowth.com or www.sparksolutionsforgrowth.com.

Debra Valentina, founder of Creativing (Cre-A-tiving), is a holistic intuitive coach for female entrepreneurs and executives, as well as an international speaker and author. Her memoir Beyond Chaos: Journey to Freedom and Joy was published in March by Write Path Publishing. One of her greatest delights is to empower women to get beyond their doubts and fears to fully express their unique talents, experience freedom and joy, and claim their seat at the table. Debra Valentina supports high achieving female executives and entrepreneurs who look good on the outside, yet secretly struggle with overwhelm or doubt on the inside. Debra partners with these women to empower them to move forward on their journey to find freedom and joy. In her book, Beyond Chaos, Debra  vulnerably shares her journey from a chaotic, dysfunctional childhood to a thriving, satisfying life. More about Debra and her book at https://www.creativing.info/ and https://beyondchaosbook.com/.

Debra Valentina introduction bio: Debra Valentina, founder of Creativing (Cre-A-tiving), is a holistic intuitive coach for female entrepreneurs and executives, as well as an international speaker and author. Her memoir Beyond Chaos: Journey to Freedom and Joy was published in March by Write Path Publishing. One of her greatest delights is to empower women to get beyond their doubts and fears to fully express their unique talents, experience freedom and joy, and claim their seat at the table. Debra Valentina supports high achieving female executives and entrepreneurs who look good on the outside, yet secretly struggle with overwhelm or doubt on the inside. Debra partners with these women to empower them to move forward on their journey to find freedom and joy. In her book, Beyond Chaos, Debra  vulnerably shares her journey from a chaotic, dysfunctional childhood to a thriving, satisfying life. More about Debra and her book at https://www.creativing.info/ and https://beyondchaosbook.com/.

Erin Ardleigh is the founder and president of Dynama Insurance. She has worked in the insurance industry since 2002 and founded Dynama Insurance in 2014 to make the insurance planning process more transparent and more accessible for her clients. Erin personally oversees each client’s plan design and says that the best part of her job is meeting smart, successful people. She lives in Manhattan, where she tries to keep up with the city’s culinary and artistic happenings.  Erin shares in our interview a bit about her work on the Advisory Board of the World Music Institute where they continue to enjoy music through wmi+ at home. Check it out at http://www.worldmusicinstitute.org/. A lifelong passion for travel has led Erin across all seven continents. She finds that traveling and running a successful business have much in common – planning well, listening, continual learning and last minute problem solving when the unexpected happens! In fact, Erin runs a weekly virtual networking group for entrepreneurs. If you want to stay in touch with her, contact Erin at erin@dynamainsurance.com or 212-933-9456. We talked a bit about the pandemic experience in New York. Where she lives in Manhattan, she has observed the pandemic up close and in living color, from the makeshift hospital in Central Park to the temporary morgue on the street below. So many of us have a limited view of the pandemic, gratefully, and it's important to make ourselves aware of what's happening globally so we can walk this out in emotional support of the world. She suggested we check out the stories in the NY TImes stories, to get a clear picture of the pandemic. On a more cheerful note, talking about getting out of our own experience to understand a bit of the world, Erin describes her experience with Susanna Balbo, the first woman winemaker in Argentina, and I am seeing myself there. Maybe a women's wine retreat in the future. Find yourself there now: https://en.susanabalbowines.com.ar/ Or bring the wine tasting home. Navarro winery is providing COVD-friendly wine tasting at home. I can't wait to give this a try. If you want to join this tasting event, contact donna@360lifestrategies.com and we'll put you on the list.

Kristen Denzer is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Tierra Encantada, a Leader in Spanish Immersion Early Education® for children ages six weeks through six years of age, focusing on the growth of the whole child. The program utilizes proprietary language-immersion curriculum focused on teaching a respect for diversity, and includes fresh-cooked, organic meals designed to expand children’s young palates. Kristen started her first entrepreneurial endeavor in 2008 – an event rental company. She grew that company from 20 events to 500 events annually in just six years. While operating the successful event rental company, she started a second business in 2010 with a childhood friend called The Woof Room – a dog daycare and boarding facility. She managed to grow both into profitable companies serving thousands of clients annually. In 2013, while searching for quality early education for her young child, she founded Tierra Encantada’s first location in Eagan, Minnesota. She continued to operate all three businesses until 2016 when she sold her event rental company and dog daycare facility to focus solely on Tierra Encantada’s growth. In Spring of 2019, she launched Tierra Encantada’s franchising expansion to provide access to language immersion education to families across the country. Today, Tierra Encantada is an Inc 5000 company with four corporate locations in Minnesota, almost a dozen franchise centers in site development, and over 100 full-time employees. Learn more at https://www.tierraencantada.com. Her choice wine comes from Croatia! Go to Stina wines, inspired by stone, here at https://winefromcroatia.com.

Everything you need to rocket out of this pandemic with success is within you. I've always talked about turning tragedy into strategy. That's exactly what Jacqueline Nagle does. She helps people craft their story into a purpose. You must listen to this conversation in creating your crisis strategy. More on Jacqueline at https://speakableyou.com/lets-meet.

Karen Brown sat in front of the TV in 1982 in tears, jarred emotionally by the performance of a woman in the Ironman triathalon. Why the tears? "Wasted potential," she told me. She had convinced herself this level of achievement was outside of her grasp. For 28 years she repeated the same pattern, talking herself out of realizing a future that was already hers if she would just own it.  It was in a business class where she learned about human behavior patterns that the clouds parted and the angels sang. In her 40s, she learned how to transform limiting beliefs to unlimited beliefs. Our unconscious beliefs run 150,000 mph, processing 2 billion bits per day. We think that we're making sound conscious decisions, but the conscious mind contributes .006%. Karen did hire a coach and train for the Ironman at 48, then she entered the Ultraman. I asked her how much of her life she had to reorder to train for these events. "Everything," she said. Training transformed how she planned her day, how she handled e-mail, how she ran her team as a CEO. It impacted everything and she was already operating at a pretty high index. This experience led her to create a coaching experience that would add the same velocity for you and me. “On my journey to the Ironman World Championships as an amateur athlete,” explains Karen Brown, “I discovered that the key to greater performance and effectiveness lies in identifying and addressing blind spots – repeated behavioral patterns that impede success. Using a professional coach and neurolinguistics as a tool, I achieved astounding results.” The scientifically proven Velocity Power Pathways™ approach uses ground-breaking neuroscience techniques to help executives become more effective and impactful leaders, opening unconscious blocks in order to create new and lasting neural pathways to success. You can access more resources at a special page she created for you: http://www.velocityleadershipconsulting.com/greater. When she's not training, she does enjoy a good red wine, especially a Barolo from Italy, but she's formed a new taste for a high quality, lower calorie tequila these days. Hey, we're all about strategies! Grab a friend and enjoy this conversation with Karen.

It's never easy to lose your job, but for Annie Scranton it was the gateway to a totally new career. She was 28 when she lost a coveted role as a TV producer and started calling friends to see if anyone knew of any work. One offer to place a personality on a TV show, led to another and another. This year Pace Public Relations celebrates its tenth anniversary, booking geniuses and business leaders on CNBC, Fox News, HLN, MSNBC, Fox Business Network, Bloomberg TV, and many other networks. One of her clients wrote a book that turned into a made-for-TV movie starring Rob Lowe. (Wish I could have been a fly on that wall. I'm not sure whether I want to quote West Wing here or Parks and Rec, so I'll just move on .... ) As a leader in her field, Annie is committed to raising up women of influence, so it isn't surprising that she was invited at the inaugural  Women Impact Tech Conference to introduce Arianna Huffington (you've heard of Huffington Post, which is affiliated with Thrive Global, where I happen to have a women's leadership column). In this interview she tells a story about her encounter with Huffington that every one of us needs to embrace. In support of women, her firm is offering a free PR consultation to any small business navigating these uncharted waters. Contact them online at www.pacepublicrelations.com or reach out to Annie directly, at annie@pacepublicrelations.com. Annie and her husband Michael live in Manhattan raising their adorable young daughter Rose. In her free time (which isn't much) Annie enjoys puzzles, audio books and riding her Peloton. Her favorite wine tonight is Whispering Angel Rose, in honor of her sweet daughter, but she typically goes to a buttery Chardonnay. It's clear in the white wine category we can drink together. Please grab a friend and get to know Annie with me. Look for a summary of this and a few other recent podcasts on Thrive Global.

Nikki began her career in 1997 with Champion Nutrition. In 1998, she joined her father  and  brother  to  add  her  expertise  to the successful start-up of CytoSport / Muscle Milk, where she  was  instrumental  in creating the  infrastructure  of  their  operation  which became a 200,000 square foot headquarters housing business operations, marketing and a  state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.  She began to direct the Brandin early 2001 and was named Chief Marketing Officer in 2009. She led all brand activity including innovation, packaging, advertising, sports marketing, collegiate programming, lifestyle marketing, national events and sampling. The  family  sold  the  award-winning business  to  Hormel  Food  Company,  where  Nikki stayed in her role. In 2016, she joined her father and brother at another startup, then fast forward to  2019, when the entrepreneurial family launched the ALTWELL line of CBD products where she again leads the brand and marketing  efforts.   Nikki lives  in Alamo  with  her  husband  and  four  children. When  not  running  from  sports  to  dance, they love to travel.

Nikki began her career in 1997 with Champion Nutrition. In 1998, she joined her father  and  brother  to  add  her  expertise  to the successful start-up of CytoSport / Muscle Milk, where she  was  instrumental  in creating the  infrastructure  of  their  operation  which became a 200,000 square foot headquarters housing business operations, marketing and a  state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.  She began to direct the Brandin early 2001 and was named Chief Marketing Officer in 2009. She led all brand activity including innovation, packaging, advertising, sports marketing, collegiate programming, lifestyle marketing, national events and sampling. The  family  sold  the  award-winning business  to  Hormel  Food  Company,  where  Nikki stayed in her role. In 2016, she joined her father and brother at another startup, then fast forward to  2019, when the entrepreneurial family launched the ALTWELL line of CBD products where she again leads the brand and marketing  efforts.   Nikki lives  in Alamo  with  her  husband  and  four  children. When  not  running  from  sports  to  dance, they love to travel. Get to know more about the business at altwell.com.

What a way to start the day! I am just blessed beyond words to meet Mia Hewett and share this conversation with you. Mia helps you to confidently create your own reality by accessing your innate power, shift your self-image, and clear the misconceptions and misunderstandings that have been getting in your way. We use all the same words about alignment of your head and heart to create synergy... but what I love most is that she uses her own story to talk about the traps in our heads that keep women from breaking the million dollar barrier in business. She talks about when she broke the million dollar barrier and asked herself, "Is this all?"  You will want her free book.  Go to http://miameantformorebook.com/ Password: Freebook Learn more about Mia at https://www.miahewett.com/

Dr. Marla Richard incorporates the latest in neuroscience, evidence-based practices of psychopharmacology and western medicine, interpersonal neurobiology, and the Enneagram to help individuals, groups and professionals to become their “best self”. She's a board-certified, Stanford-trained psychiatrist with a specialization in an integrated health paradigm using, traditional psychopharmacology, equine rehabilitative therapy, and interpersonal neurobiology practices. "Integration is a key factor to health. I help balance all centers from your physical health exploring diet, exercise/movement, stress and disease management. Mental health focusing on building flexibility and mindfulness. Spiritually to honor the differences of those we love, live and work with to offer kindness and compassion. All so that we can rest peacefully, play with joy and work with gusto!" She currently practices clinical geriatric psychiatry at UC San Diego and is building a program to take her wisdom to the world. You can contact Dr. Marla at drmarlarichard.com

Randi McCallian never intended to run for political office. With a careerin public health, Randi's #1 concern has been for babies and mothers. It was her anger over the things that are broken in public health that moved her to say, "Wait, this is my government. I own it! I'm going to fix it." Randi is running for Colorado Senate in 2020, an uphill battle against a longtime incumbent. I don't get into politics in this podcast, but I do provide a platform for women to live their calling with confidence. You can learn more about Randi at www.randiforcolorado.comand follow @randiforco on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Five years ago Sonja tried to end her life by taking 200 pills. "I didn't want to leave my life," Sonja told me in our interview. "I wanted to leave the pain." Suicide rates have increased 30% since 2000. I asked why. Sonja talks about the stigma, the embarrassment, being told in her own ER that she and her husband might want to seek a hospital where they won't be noticed. Depression is the leading cause of disability in the world, yet there are not many groups for mental health in schools, businesses and communities. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline reports that the FCC recommended that 988 be designated as a national crisis hotline, but 988 is NOT CURRENTLY ACTIVE and will not connect callers to the Lifeline. Please continue to share 800-273-TALK (8255) and our chat page with anyone wishing to connect to the Lifeline. In her book, "An Impossible Life," Wasden takes you into her story. "If you are holding this book in your hands, you are holding my life in your hands." This comes at a time when many people are at the end of their rope in a global health crisis. I hope Sonja's story brings you back to why you're here so you can design a forward-focused recovery plan. I hope you will join us for this interview and checkout www.360lifestrategies.com for articles this month providing you strategies to navigate mental wellness.

Five years ago Sonja tried to end her life by taking 200 pills. "I didn't want to leave my life," Sonja told me in our interview. "I wanted to leave the pain." Suicide rates have increased 30% since 2000. I asked why. Sonja talks about the stigma, the embarrassment, being told in her own ER that she and her husband might want to seek a hospital where they won't be noticed. Depression is the leading cause of disability in the world, yet there are not many groups for mental health in schools, businesses and communities. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline reports that the FCC recommended that 988 be designated as a national crisis hotline, but 988 is NOT CURRENTLY ACTIVE and will not connect callers to the Lifeline. Please continue to share 800-273-TALK (8255) and our chat page with anyone wishing to connect to the Lifeline. In her book, "An Impossible Life," Wasden takes you into her story. "If you are holding this book in your hands, you are holding my life in your hands." This comes at a time when many people are at the end of their rope in a global health crisis. I hope Sonja's story brings you back to why you're here so you can design a forward-focused recovery plan. I hope you will join us for this interview and checkout www.360lifestrategies.com for articles this month providing you strategies to navigate mental wellness.

Here's a switch. I had so much fun with Heather Aardema on my podcast, I joined her podcast and NOW I want to share that with you. We had so much fun! Heather is an Aspiring Minimalist and Host of Simply Full — a Whole-Body Wellness and Weight-Loss Sisterhood. She's a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach (FMCHC), but don't tune out if weight loss is not your thing. We talked about whole body health, from the inside out, and strategies for turning stress into energy in these crazy times. It was a really deep conversation filled with strategies YOU need as we enter this recovery phase of COVID 19. Join us! And share it with a friend.

Right now food plays an important role in our immune health. Suzanne Carpenter is an approachable, sincere, fun-loving, and passionate leader who loves to see personal improvement and transformation in those she teaches.  Through her successful ten-year nutrition career, Suzanne saw a gap in the industry and a trend in society.  Americans are more confused and overwhelmed than ever when it comes to actually losing weight and keeping it off.  She created a virtual nutrition education company called CarpenterOne80 whose mission is to provide affordable and simple programs that can clear  up food confusion so that people can win at losing weight. Suzanne  is a Certified Nutritional Consultant, the CEO and Founder of CarpenterOne80, as well as the creator of SOS (Suz On Your Shoulder), Babysit My Plate, and The Food Peace University, three different virtual bite-sized nutrition courses.  They were designed to  teach you what you need to know to create sustainable results.

MIKAELA KINER is an experienced HR / People Operations professional, founder/CEO, and executive coach. In 2015, Kiner founded Reverb, creating a healthy, inclusive culture in startups and growing companies in the Pacific Northwest. In Female Firebrands, Kiner shares stories of 13 successful professional women from diverse backgrounds (including women of color, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+) and industries as they recount the challenges they've faced in their careers and how they have overcome bias, sexism, and the power imbalance. Chapter checklists provide invaluable to-do lists for women, men who want to be their advocates, as well as HR and business leaders. I just had to close our our March series of women making history with this podcast. We are unstoppable, ladies. Remember that.

I met Dr. Gina Johnson at an Ellevate Network happy hour in Bellevue, Washington. We bonded over Pinot Noir before we bonded over integrative health. Gina provides personalized lifestyle / functional medicine on the phone. Her virtual telemedicine clinic and concierge service helps people optimize and manage their total health. This interview comes at a perfect time to provide strategies during the stay-home mandate.  Here's the short list: #1 Avoid the virus. Stay home. #2 Wash hands, don't touch your face. #3 Recognize the word vulnerable encompasses more than just elders Here are a few signs your immune system is not well You get sick frequently. You can say "yes" on lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking, vaping, poor diet. You have a medical condition like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, even sinus infections. Gina shares how to be the curator of your own health and what to watch for before you call the doctor during this pandemic. Most importantly, if you have symptoms, call your doc. If you have difficulty breathing, call 911. Listen for more details and Gina's own strategies for staying sane in the shut in. If you want to contact Gina, go to https://www.vitalmindbody.com/or connect on Facebook. If you live in Bellevue and you want to support a local business, order dinner from https://www.cepae.com/ tonight.

Boy, what a time in the world to talk about customer experience. I've spent hours this week cancelling flights and rental cars because of forced closures and I'm so surprised to hear the lack of human connection in the voices on the phone. I asked Stacy Sherman, a Cx (customer experience) leader to comment on why companies allow this human disconnect in the call center and what we can do about it. Stacy is a Cx leader, strategist and blogger. When she's not running Cx for Schindler Elevator Corp, she's running a blog, Doing Cx Right, all about humanizing business and leading with a heart. I can tell that comes naturally to her. When I asked how she connects with her team during this lock down, she told me that part has actually been easier than connecting with her teenagers home from college. Her approach begins with listening, connecting, being conscious of the context and intentional to connect. She's modeling what they need to do to help customers feel safe and cared for right now. I'm a big fan of inspiring more companies to train their people to lead from the inside out, care for customers from the heart and be fully present as humans in the workplace. That's why I'm so happy to share this podcast with you. You can learn more about the Vivino wine app she talked about here. If you are interested in one of the meditation apps she mentioned, here they are: Calm and Simple Habit. You can find a link to the label of her Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc on my Wine Palace.