On this episode of Fierce Lab, Tara talks with Kathy Hines who is the Chief Marketing Officer of Dickies. Dickies’ is a 100-year-old brand, and their purpose is to champion the dignity of work. Kathy held several international positions for the VF corporation before transitioning to her role as the CMO.  Kathy and Tara discuss personal responsibilities and creating a level playing field for all workers. Kathy also talks about taking jumps, rather than risks, how her international work has shaped her career, as well as the characteristics of leadership and the role of mentorship. Dickies and Kathy’s role as CMO Kathy describes the brand as humble and says that it represents people who are willing to roll up their sleeves, have grit, and are hard workers. The brand has been adopted by sub-communities such as the skate community, low-rider community, and musicians as it can serve as a blank pallet that can be personalized. Kathy discusses her international work experience for VF before moving to Texas and becoming the CMO at Dickies. As CMO, she is responsible for global marketing and has teams in North America, Shanghai, and Switzerland.  Risks vs. Jumps Kathy says she doesn’t consider anything as risky but rather thinks of moves or decisions as jumps. She describes risks as coming from a negative mindset, whereas jumps are seen as positive with forward momentum. With a risk, you consider what can go wrong, but Kathy prefers to think about what might go right. Kathy also talks about regrets and says she doesn’t have any as everything she’s done has fueled learning. Regret implies wishing that she hadn’t made the choice, but all her choices have led to a new or different place, and she has learned and grown from everything. The Characteristics of Leaders To be a leader, Kathy says you should have a heightened sense of self-awareness and empathy and that showing up with honesty and authenticity is important. Kathy tells us she is at her best when she’s 100% herself.  Good leaders support and lift those around them; doing this will only serve you well. Also, Kathy discusses focusing on being exceptional at what you currently do and not being too focused on advancing to the next position – those that are exceptional in their current position will advance. Mentorship and making friends everywhere Kathy has had formal mentors, but she says that the real impact has come not through a formal mentor role, but from individuals that she has a strong connection to, including bosses and peers. Throughout her career, Kathy has had people who love and support her and lift her up, and she tries to do this for others as well. For her, being a mentor happens organically. She tells us how she makes friends everywhere and has a genuine curiosity to connect with people and learn about different things.  GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Tickets are on sale now.  More details on our website. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram or LinkedIn for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website, www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com, and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

Fierce Lab

How to Turn Your Passion into Success with Kathy Hines

LaShae Baskin is Principal and Managing Director of the Austin office of Huckabee, an architecture firm. On this episode of Fierce Lab, LaShae tells us about the risks she's taken in her career journey, offering advice on "finding the gaps" to add value and planning for problems before they come fires.  She also offers her experience and tried-and-true tips to become a successful leader.  LaShae also shares how and why she's become a relentless advocate for her son and all children, leading her to her career at Huckabee. LaShae’s career journey and some advice Lashae started her career in hospitality design, which provided her with a design mindset that she values today and taught her about how a person interacts with a space. In 2008, with the Great Recession, the hospitality industry was hard hit, and LaShae was forced to pivot and began her retail journey. She tells us that when facing a stumble, it is okay to be scared and to not have all the answers, and stumbles provide learning opportunities. LaShae says it is important to learn to have thick skin, be adaptable, and to know what you are great at and to recognize what you don’t know.  Finding the gaps and planning for fires Growing up, LaShae was taught to find more efficient ways to accomplish something, and later, she received valuable advice from a mentor who told that if she wants to grow and develop, she should "find the gaps" and solve them. In this episode she teaches us how we can do the same. In solving gaps, you look for ways to work smarter, not harder. LaShae also discusses finding problems before they become fires, which is a valuable skill to any company anywhere.  Leadership LaShae offers her guidance for becoming the leader people want to follow, not one that they are forced to. She believes good leaders build good followers, but great leaders build better leaders. Being a successful leader means showing up every day and creating leaders that are better than you.  To help grow leaders, LaShae teaches how to organize thoughts and speak with brevity. She tells us that as a leader, it is okay to not have all the answers, and that it is important to know when it is time to lead and when it is time to push someone else forward. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Tickets are on sale now.  More details on our website. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram or LinkedIn for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website, www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com, and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

How Finding The Gap Makes You a Better Leader with LaShae Baskin

Andrea Paris is an attorney who has implemented a daily meditation practice into her life. She discusses with Tara what led to her adopting this practice, including the role that the pandemic played. Andrea describes how mediation is a practice of letting go rather than of achieving emptiness in your mind. She gives us tips for getting started and covers the benefits of mediation . At the end of the conversation, Andrea shares her plans for attending a 10-day silent retreat. Andrea’s background and why she started practicing meditation Andrea grew up in Thailand and discusses the disparities and events she witnessed and how those led to her to practicing law. She tells us about the stress that can come with litigation and how meditation can serve as a tool to help deal with work life and how meditation has made her both a happier lawyer and a happier person.  Changing your perception of meditation When thinking of mediation, many people may have the preconception that the goal of mediation is to get to a point of emptiness in one’s mind. However, Andrea encourages us to reframe it as a practice of letting go. Andrea describes the mind as a house, with repetitive thoughts gathering like dust, and mediation is the practice of clearing it out.  How to start Getting started with mediation takes just one breath. First, you can practice giving yourself space and you can try to create a habit – it can be when waiting for your coffee to brew in the morning or anytime you have a moment to yourself. Andrea talks us through taking one intentional breath and recognizes how such a small thing can make a big difference.  She suggests the technique of heart-centered breathing and describes the practice of loving kindness.  Meditation can either be guided or self-guided, and there are several apps that you can use including Headspace and Calm. The benefits of mediation Our brains are wired to notice the negative more than the positive, and as such, it is important to take time to acknowledge and soak in moments of positivity – this can have a snowball effect. Andrea says mediation is like a mental muscle, and the more you work at it, the easier it gets and the faster you can get to the place of not getting distracted by your own thoughts. For Andrea, mediation has altered her emotional baseline; she is calmer and it takes more to phase her.  The 10-day silent mediation retreat Andrea will be attending a 10-day silent meditation retreat at the end of the year. At the retreat, there is no writing, reading, nor talking for the duration of the retreat, and mediation is practiced in one- to two-hour blocks throughout each day. Andrea anticipates the biggest challenge will be making past the hump or wall as it is unnatural to spend so much time with yourself and your own thoughts.  GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Tickets are on sale now.  More details on our website. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram or LinkedIn for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website, www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com, and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up. 

The Art of Meditation with Andrea Paris

On this episode of Fierce Lab, Mita Mallick, Top LinkedIn Voice 2020 and thought leader in the diversity, inclusion, and equity space joins us to share her experience of growing her personal brand via the LinkedIn platform. Mita gives us tips on how to engage on LinkedIn and to maximize your visibility. She discusses the value of the LinkedIn community and the professional benefits. We also talk about career gaps due to caregiving and how the LinkedIn community can be an ally. Engaging on LinkedIn On LinkedIn, Mita puts out thought leadership with authenticity and purpose of the things that matter to her and things she’s learning about. Often, she will post her own take on others’ content, reading articles and providing a summary. She finds that she receives more resounding responses by posting things that she is authentic about, not just what she thinks people want to hear.  Maximizing visibility To maximize your visibility on LinkedIn, first, you should have a profile picture. Fill out your About section – Mita suggests making it personal – and you should add a strong headline. It also helps to add your experience, which isn’t a resume, rather it is a storyline of where you’ve been. Mita also suggests that you keep iterating your profile and that posting consistently is key.  The LinkedIn community LinkedIn is not just a place to go to find a job, it is also a place to build community and make connections. Tara and Mita share their story of how they connected over LinkedIn and how that connection has led to their friendship. If you are hoping to get on someone’s radar, you can follow that person and like and comment on their posts. For Mita, people get her attention when they reach out about something that she posted that resounded with them.  The professional benefits of LinkedIn Mita tells us about how she has received calls for job opportunities because of things that she has written and shared on LinkedIn. She also receives requests to do panels and keynotes. If you are hoping to find a job or to transition in your career, you can position yourself for the field that you want to be in. LinkedIn can also be a great talent tool and attraction for the company you represent. Career gaps Some women may be reluctant to set up a LinkedIn profile due to career gaps, usually due to care giving. Now, LinkedIn has an option to add that to your profile. With your profile, you can showcase that you are still a valuable asset. Also, you can add any volunteer work that you did, and Mita recognizes that caregiving and volunteering lends to a huge skillset that employers find valuable. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Tickets are on sale now.  More details on our website. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram or LinkedIn for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website, www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com, and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

Building Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn with Mita Mallick

Alex Williamson, CEO and co-founder of Asteya, and previously the Chief Brand Officer of Bumble, shares her transformative healing journey.  She started with Asteya, an insurance company that helps protect one's income, to bring income protection to the forefront.  During our conversation, Alex discusses the importance of mental and physical health as well as financial health. She tells her story of healing, explains her company’s mission and what income insurance can do for women.  Also, she speaks about the dynamic between women and men regarding family planning and their careers. Alex’s turning point and her healing journey Alex tells us about her passion for Bumble’s mission, yet how taxing her work and travel responsibilities were. Needing a break, and recognizing that she was a pivotal moment, she departed on an intense healing journey.  During this time Alex started to think about how she could help others find opportunities to heal from illnesses and pain as well as the role that finances play in mental and physical health and wellness. Upon her return, recognizing how beneficial her medical leave was to her, and in hopes of providing more people with access to products that could help them protect their finances while healing, she moved on from Bumble and started with Asteya. Asteya and income insurance Asteya is an income insurance company, and it is their mission to provide income insurance for everyone of every income bracket and every profession; they also aim to help bridge the gap and the cost difference for men and women. Asteya can help safeguard your financial future. It is the first of its kind as it is fully digital, and you can go from you quote to policy in minutes. It can be used as a supplemental policy or as sole income protection. The name Asteya Alex learned of the word Asteya during her wellness journey. It means non-stealing, or to not take more than you need or deserve from the earth, from others, or from yourself. Alex recognizes that you steal from your future if you're not taking care of your health today or if you're not taking care of your finances.  Family planning For women considering family planning, whatever you decide to do when it comes to motherhood and careers is the right choice for you. Alex suggests when family planning to manage your stress and to enjoy life as much as possible. She recognizes mothers as more tenacious in their career and as a force to be reckoned with. Alex and Tara also discuss the dynamic between men and women regarding family planning and careers, stating that if someone challenges how women are going to juggle their career and family, they should also challenge how men will show up for their family at home. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Tickets are on sale now.  More details on our website. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram or LinkedIn for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website, www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com, and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

The One Tool That Protects Both Your Health and Your Income with Alex Williamson of Asteya

Laura Baldwin is the Managing Director of Golden Seeds, an angel investment network that invests in women owned and women led businesses. In our conversation she share the foundational elements that every founder should know when looking to bring on investors to their business. Laura discusses more about Golden Seeds and their office hours, the types of businesses that need outside funding, the different stages of funding, and what investors look for when looking to invest. Golden Seeds Golden Seeds is a national angel network that invests solely in women owned and women led companies. Laura runs the Dallas chapter.  Golden Seeds offers monthly office hours to any women owned or women led businesses. They are informal, with members and guests listening to entrepreneurs give a pitch or talk about their business. Often, the companies that attend may not be right for Gold Seeds investment, and therefore they may suggest other resources to the companies and always offers feedback and recommends that the companies stay in touch. 101 of funding If starting a business and at the pre-revenue stage, first ask friends and family for funding. You should try to fully explore this option fully.  Next, when starting to generate revenue, you should seek outside capital in the pre-seed and seed rounds. First, seek investors who are willing to invest in riskier early-stage companies. Then, the next stage, when you have solid revenue growth, is seeking angel funding – this is where Golden Seeds comes in. Following this stage is VC funding for businesses that really want to grow and scale. VC funds make larger investments and require that you give up more control of your business, therefore you should ensure you choose a VC investor who you can have a good working relationship with. What investors look for and what you should include in your pitch For many investors, including Laura, it is about the jockey not the horse. They seek people who can take advice and are coachable, are willing to pivot, are confident and committed, and will do whatever it takes, not taking no for an answer.  You should know what the problem is that you are solving and how, what your product or service is, how you are generating revenue, and what the total addressable market (TAM) is. You should be aware of who your competitors are and what you company offers that others don’t. Also, you should discuss your exit strategy, whether you have patents or IP protection, who is on your team and what their background is, and you should have some idea of financial projections. Finally, you should have a specific ask.  This is an often overlooked step.  GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Tickets are on sale now.  More details on our website. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram or LinkedIn for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website, www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com, and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up. 

What Female Founders Need to Know About Outside Funding with Laura Baldwin of Golden Seeds

On this episode of Fierce Lab, Kate Tonda, Senior Director at Walmart, discusses how to navigate challenging career conversations, the importance of raising your hand for the right things, how to best allocate your time in professional relationships and projects, and the downside of women's desire to be liked. Challenging conversations Conflict and confrontation are often avoided, however, being willing to face conflict or confrontation means that you and/or the other person care enough to face the challenge.  When having a challenging conversation, realize that feedback and discomfort leads to growth and helps develop mental toughness, rather like how a sore muscle indicates you are getting stronger. Also, when having such a conversation, consider what it is that you want to achieve; have an intentional pause before responding, but don’t let too much time pass before you do. Kate uses the phrase “vent to invent,” stating that it is important to work through the emotional piece, but rather than dwelling in the negativity, turn it into something positive. Signing up for the right things Despite women working very hard, and even sometimes harder than their male counterparts, women tend to volunteer for activities or projects that are maybe important but less valued. Kate gives an example of how she handled being voluntold for a project and was able to segue the conversation, make the situation productive, and set a boundary. She speaks to the importance of signing up for things that give you opportunity, exposure, and experience, and states that important decisions for your career are made when you aren’t in the room. How to allocate your time Kate says that you say yes to something and no to something else – this goes for relationships as well as projects. Regarding relationships, it helps to prioritize where you spend your time so that you don’t overspend in one area, which can lead to unintended impacts downstream.  Establishing an emotional bank account can help free you up so that you may focus your energy elsewhere when needed.   A desire to be liked Tara and Kate recognize that women often exhibit a desire to be liked, however, it is more important to be respected. While being nice is not a bad thing, it is more important to demonstrate things like data-based decision-making, the ability to influence and negotiate, and being able to focus on a solution. Kate says to always try to solve for yes, but that doesn’t mean always doing whatever the ask is. It is okay to say no, but when you do, find out what is important to the person that is giving the request and use that in your positioning to make the client or partner feel like their need is served. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Tickets are on sale now with early bird pricing ($100 OFF) through June 30, 2021.  More details on our website. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram or LinkedIn for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website, www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com, and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

How to Navigate Challenging Career Conversations with Kate Tonda

Latese Hickson, a Senior Brand Marketing Manager at Foot Locker, sits down with Tara to discuss taking a risk by changing her career path.   She offers tips for owning the room, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable and how each of those can lead to success.  Also, Latese discusses being the only female voice on the Foot Locker Men’s team and her advice for leaning into that dynamic. Taking Risk Latese discusses the change she made from being a buyer to a marketer and the risk of changing careers and starting over.  For her, she listened to the signs and herself, the change felt like the right thing to do.  Latese believes in shooting your shot and suggests when evaluating risks, consider your passion.  She says you'll know it’s a good time to take a risk when you’ve given something your all and are no longer experiencing growth and development in return.  Latese tells us to not be afraid to raise your hand and ask for more – usually the worst that can happen is being told no. Owning the room and learning from others To be successful in a job, Latese says it helps if you know how to own the room. To do this, know what you know, be confident about what you know, own it, and be good at it. Also, transparency is key. Along with being confident in what you know, recognize and be honest about what you don’t know and ask for help in those areas. When asking for help, check in with those you are asking and request feedback.  Being uncomfortable Throughout her career, Latese has often found herself in uncomfortable positions, speaking to consumers that she doesn’t necessarily identify with. She is empowered to understand those around her, so she is always learning by consistently asking questions, listening, and trying to be a part of the different conversations. Latese states that it is good to get comfortable with being uncomfortable – you should always be looking to create passion and challenge yourself.  Working in a male-dominated environment Currently, Latese is working on the Foot Locker Men’s team, is the only female voice, and she owns it. In filling this role, in addition to owning the room and being confident about what she knows, she also aims to empower her team. She welcomes insight from team members, and when authentic and respectful male colleagues offer advice, she receives and applies that advice. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Tickets are on sale now with early bird pricing ($100 OFF) through June 30, 2021.  More details on our website. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram or LinkedIn for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website, www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com, and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

When Risk Feels Right with Latese Hickson of Foot Locker

Dee C. Marshall, CEO of Diverse & Engaged, is an influencer and award-winning business owner as well as a thought leader on equity, diversity, and inclusion. She is a serial curator with bright ideas that are an outgrowth of passion and her focus on women’s growth and development and not just living life by default. In this episode Dee discusses the importance of recognizing your own unique brilliance and being boldly unapologetic. Tara and Dee also discuss the necessity of having a personal brand for job success, starting your day doing something just for you and they explore what it means to be politically engaged. Women’s growth and development Dee wants to see women love their life and live their dreams. She describes many women as living by default – they are following the typical American story but are often left feeling unfulfilled by midlife/midcareer. To make the shift towards fulfillment, first you must gain clarity on who you want to be and what you want, and then you can work towards your goals. For Dee, Brian Moran’s The 12 Week Year has helped guide her with breaking down her goals, and she uses a breakout block, an activity scheduled midweek, to help raise her mindset and health and wealth sets. Starting your day right Dee and Tara, both early risers, discuss their morning routines and starting the day with time your yourself. Tara reads the Wall Street Journal in the morning, while Dee avoids news first thing and instead always reads something related to development. Dee describes starting the day with the golden hour whereby you take the first hour of the day to focus on yourself; she states that she first gives time to herself before giving herself away to others. Owning your unique brilliance and being boldly unapologetic To own your unique brilliance, consider what you are really good at; discovering this can come through clarity in the morning. Balance your recognition of what you are uniquely brilliant at with what you know little about – “I am uniquely brilliant at X,” and “I am completely clueless with this thing.” Dee also discusses how being unapologetic for who you are is becoming more of a norm. Having a personal brand and Dee’s retreats Dee and Tara discuss the importance of having a personal brand to get a job, keep a job, and to grow in a job. By having a personal brand, you highlight what you bring to the table that others don’t and what your value add and unique serving position is. In addition to running a course for personal branding for executives, Dee also offers the Win, Rock, & Rule retreat, a yearly conference in New York for midlife/midcareer corporate women and influencers, as well as the Utopia Retreat, a weekend retreat aimed at helping women do better and be better. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Tickets are on sale now with early bird pricing ($100 OFF) through June 30, 2021.  More details on our website. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram or LinkedIn for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website, www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com, and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

Owning Your Unique Brilliance with Dee C. Marshall

Lauren Hasson, the founder of DevelopHer, author of The DevelopHer Playbook, and a woman in the frontlines of tech, discusses the five simple steps she took to making a comeback and negotiating for higher pay.  She did by owning her outcomes and taking action, building her network before she need it, learning new skills and building her portfolio, communicating her value, and investing in herself.  And you can do it too!  On this episode she discusses defining and sharing your successes, how to network, how LinkedIn can be a great tool, and how to learn marketable skills and negotiate for higher pay. Lauren Hasson and DevelopHer DevelopHer was inspired through a podcast Lauren had hosted that was centered around women on the front lines of tech and by her own personal story. She shares her story of hitting rock bottom, when she was broke, had been laid off, and was lacking confidence. She was able to make a comeback and negotiate for higher pay after following the five simple steps which are outlined in her book: The DevelopHer Playbook. Defining and sharing your success Lauren discusses how defining success, tracking her accomplishments, and acknowledging how far she has come helped her make her comeback. With her book, she offers the At-A-Girl journal, an editable PDF for tracking what you are doing.  She also discusses the importance of visualization, whereby you make your goals a reality in your head first and later in real life.  Networking In discussing networking, Lauren and Tara discuss the strategy of setting a goal to meet three new people at an event or in a day. She suggests reaching out to your heroes and having a small ask and offer prepared to help create a mutually beneficial relationship. In networking, it is also important to play the numbers game and to reach out to many people. LinkedIn LinkedIn is a great tool for sharing your portfolio, meeting other people, and updating people on your accomplishments. Lauren discusses the importance of consistently posting something short, having content already queued up, and spacing your posts out.  Learning new skills and negotiating for higher pay To make yourself marketable, it helps to strategically learn new skills. Lauren calls such marketable skills “front of the line skills” which are skills that every company wants. Talk to recruiters and hiring managers to learn what skills are valuable, and then set out to learn them.  Lauren also offers advice on negotiating for higher pay via having multiple offers, though she cautions that it is important to know how to do this properly otherwise it could backfire.   GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Tickets are on sale now with early bird pricing ($100 OFF) through June 30, 2021.  More details on our website.  FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram or LinkedIn for the latest updates.  JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website, www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com, and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

How to Build Your Value to Stand Out and Get Ahead with Lauren Hasson

This episode of Fierce Lab, we're trying something different, what we're calling In Conversation With.  Tara sits down with her good friend Chelsee Adams, a creative consultant to discuss Chelsee’s background and starting their own businesses.  They discuss the value of being a generalist, networking, when it is time to take a break from stressful work, and how to visualize success.  Throughout they sprinkle in questions that were culled from Chelsee's Instagram followers and friends.  Chelsee Adams’ background and starting her own business Chelsee discusses how she got started as a food and lifestyle blogger before Instagram was a thing. Later, she started her own business as a creative consultant. She talks about the learning curve that goes with striking out on your own, how you are your own everything, and the importance of being prepared. As a creative consultant, she aims to always give her clients a thoughtful approach to creative direction, content strategy, and brand messaging, and how she can do as much or as little as is needed. Being a generalist Being a generalist, or a Jack of all trades, sometimes can have a negative connotation, but it is actually an awesome skill to have. Chelsee likens someone who can do more than just their area of expertise to being a unicorn. Being able to leave your ego behind, roll up your sleeves, and to do different things can open up a different world with more opportunities. Networking and building relationships Tara and Chelsee discuss the importance of building relationships and staying in touch with someone in a genuine way, and not just contacting someone when in need of something. Tara tells the story of how she joined Curves in attempt to network, and they tell the story of how the two became friends over Instagram. Time to jump back in, or time to take a break? Tara thinks that after the pandemic, it is time to jump back into work. But it is also important to know when it is time to recharge and take time for yourself if you have a stressful job. Chelsee recommends taking yourself on a creative date, and Tara discusses how solo trips help her reset. They also discuss that you should take full advantage of your vacation days, and when it is appropriate to negotiate PTO and sick days at your workplace. Visualizing success To help you set and achieve goals, visualizing your success helps. For Chelsee, creating a mood board/vision board helps her manifest her goals. For Tara, the book The Secret helped inspire her to incorporate a gratitude practice in her life, and she talks about setting big, scary goals and how others’ doubt helps feed her determination. SAVE THE DATE:  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Pre-sales for tickets start June 1, 2021.  More details to be released soon. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram for the latest updates:  https://www.instagram.com/fiercelab/ JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

In Conversation With...Chelsee Cunningham

The Community of SEVEN, a leadership development program, was created by Lan Pham to bring people together in a community to help change the world for the better. The pivots and risks Lan took throughout her life prepared her for her role in creating the program, and she believes that living your purpose and values will help you achieve success in your life and in bettering the world. On this episode we discuss her love of micro-learnings.  To help instigate positive change in a manageable way, Lan launched the 1% challenge whereby you improve some area of your life by 1% each day, which will in turn help you achieve your greater goals.   What is Community of SEVEN? The Community of SEVEN was created to bring people together to change the world for the better. It is an intersectional, purpose-driven executive leadership development program consisting of two main parts: the core community, which is an invite only membership comprised mostly of C-suite executives and founders, and the supporter membership, which is open to all growth minded individuals and is intended to be a more affordable option. Community of SEVEN aims to create a community for each other where knowledge and thought leadership can be shared. Lan’s background and the number 7 Lan has a rather unconventional background, beginning her career as an educator, working as a serial entrepreneur, and then landing in marketing. The pivots and risks she took in her life prepared her for the creation of the Community of SEVEN. Following layoffs due to COVID of Lan and her team of five individuals, they continued to meet, and with her daughter who often joined in on calls, they formed a team of seven. The number seven is also the ideal number of people for any meeting and productivity. Living your purpose and values Lan stresses the importance of living your purpose and your values – for her, that is focusing on family, friends, faith, helping others, and freedom. To achieve the goal of bettering the world, you must be in alignment with your values, purpose, and personal development. Micro-learnings and Let’s Talks The Community of SEVEN features Let’s Talk sessions as well as micro-learnings, which are open to anyone. Let’s Talks are conversations with a guest speaker where the audience can ask questions and participate. Micro-learnings are led by subject experts or career coaches who aim to teach you something. The 1% challenge Lan launched the 1% challenge, a challenge whereby you improve in some area of your life by 1% each day rather than attempting to make a major change that can often lead to failure. With the 1% challenge, small success can better stick and helps you to achieve greater success in a more manageable way. SAVE THE DATE:  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Pre-sales for tickets start June 1, 2021.  More details to be released soon. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram for the latest updates:  https://www.instagram.com/fiercelab/ JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

Building a Community with Purpose with Lan Phan

Channing Beumer, is the founder of CNK Daily an online community with the goal and purpose of serving, educating, and empowering women in the sneaker and streetwear space, with a focus on Black and Brown women. On this episode we discuss the how to evaluate personal and professional risk, the importance of building something greater than yourself and how putting a stake in the ground can lead you to your calling.  Channing lives by her values, leading with her "why" and shares her tips for building the life you want for yourself by never wavering.  With CNK, she and her team aim to make sure women feel seen, heard, and understood.  They are amplifying voices in a real and tangible way, having created  the CNK Marketplace, a curated collection of must-know black-owned businesses.   Channing breaks down how they built it, who she admires and even shares which sneakers are in her current rotation. KEY TAKEAWAYS The CNK Team Channing discusses her business partner and friend, Cassidy, and the newest member of the team, Jacqueline, and the importance of working with people that are not only good at what they do but also bring different perspectives and elements to the table. She also discusses her struggles with micromanaging and how giving an end goal and allowing people to go and do what they do results in better content. Advice and the Why To build a community and/or business around a passion, you really have to love it and not just be in it for the money or prestige or attention. Being in it to help people will always supersede any other goal, and it’s important to realize that there’s something bigger than you. Finances Figuring out what you can do with what you have sets you up to be financially sound; when you know that you can do something with little money, when you get big money, you know you don’t have to spend it all and can better manage the big money. You should be mindful of how you are making your money work and how you are paying your people. The CNK Marketplace and Designers and Sneakers The CNK Marketplace features everything from beauty and clothing to photographers and graphic designers and people who are in the creative space as well as favorite Black-owned businesses. Channing lists some of the up-and-coming designers she is excited about as well as some of her current favorite sneakers. SAVE THE DATE:  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Pre-sales for tickets start June 1, 2021.  More details to be released soon. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram for the latest updates:  https://www.instagram.com/fiercelab/ JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

When To Risk It All with Channing Beumer

On this episode we chat with Kim Smith about the challenges that parents face with raising teens today, how to deal with their access to technology, and we explore why kids are less interested in getting their driver’s license now. She is the founder of the ministry Beautifully Broken and author of Beautifully Broken: Forged through Fire, Up from Ashes, as well as the nonprofit she started with her best friend dedicated to kids and teens struggling with their own or a family member’s addiction.  The challenges parents face raising teens today It is important to give grace to others, yourself, and your kids – it is okay to make mistakes and giving grace will help you and your kids face whatever challenges arise. Kim recommends taking the time to really listen to your kids and to ensure that your kids feel safe coming to you and trust that you will be there for them, as well as setting boundaries. You should focus on and celebrate the good, while staving the bad, which kids get enough of from social media and their peers. Teens and technology Today’s technology presents new challenges to the parents of teens; Kim recommends that you take charge and have access to social media passwords and texts, and that you monitor your teen’s phone use. Parental control apps, such as Circle, can help limit kids’ internet and social media access. She also suggests it is important to give your kids a way out – using a phone tracking system or drug testing gives your kid a reason to turn down a friend if they are being asked to go somewhere or do something that they don’t want to do. Depression, anxiety, and suicide Teens can be very vulnerable to the effects of social media, and it is important that they have time away from their devices, especially at night. Make sure you know what is going on in your kids’ lives and watch for warning signs such as changes in their eating habits, sleep patterns, and grades, and if you notice anything, act on it. If something is awry, the school, or district, often has a department run by a therapist or psychiatrist who can direct you to the best resources in your community for counseling or support groups. Why kids today aren't as interested in getting their driver's license Kids seem to be more comfortable staying at home, perhaps due to a lack of mobility, exposure, and getting out. Encouraging your kids to stay active outside and maintaining some structured responsibility is critical for helping your child prepare for when they transition to adulthood and leave the house. SAVE THE DATE:  Fierce Lab, our full-day conference for women, will be live and in-person on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021.  Pre-sales for tickets start June 1, 2021.  More details to be released soon. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram for the latest updates:  https://www.instagram.com/fiercelab/ JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

Raising Teens Today with Kim Smith of Beautifully Broken

Gaining financial security can seem like an intimidating process, but the most important thing you can do is to just take the leap and get started, says Financial Content Creator, Ashley Kilroy.  On this episode of the podcast we discuss the building blocks of financial security.  From figuring out how much money you have coming in and going out to making a budget, building an emergency fund, to minimizing debt, we cover it all.  Ashley even shares her formula investing at any age and her guidance for proper insurance coverage to protect your assets.   Whether you're just starting out, doubling down on your efforts, or looking for a refresher on the topic of money – this podcast is for you. Recap The starting point: the money coming in and going out To get started on a path towards financial security, you must first understand how much money you are making and what your spending habits are. Take a look at what your fixed expenses (e.g., auto insurance or mortgage) and variable expenses (e.g., utilities) are. Once you have an idea of the money you have to work with, you can organize a budget to follow; 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings, debt, and investing is a good rule of thumb, but there is no one size fits all, and you can tailor your budget to your needs. Emergency savings fund Set aside an emergency fund for worst case scenarios such as a car accident or losing your job. Having money set aside will prevent you from having to use credit and possibly winding up in a sticky financial situation. The amount you should have set aside depends on your own situation, but generally, it’s good to have 3 to 6 months’ worth of necessary expenses (basic necessities) saved. Minimizing debt Debt can be challenging to get out of, especially with negative compounding interest. If you have credit card debt, student loan debt, etc., start managing your debt by first figuring out what is owed and what the payments will look like. Good communication with your lenders can be beneficial, and you can look into options for handling the payments – i.e., student loans may be deferred for a period if needed or payments can be configured based on income, or credit card interest rates may be negotiated. Investing There are many options for investing, and a good place to start is with your employer if they offer a 401k or other retirement savings plan; they may also offer a match program and may have a financial advisor who you can talk to for more information. With investing and saving for retirement, it makes a significant difference if you start early, even if it’s with a small amount, and to stay consistent over time. There are many apps for investing, with some offering fractional shares, and another good option to look into is a Roth IRA, which offers a tax advantage. Insurance It is important to have the right insurance for protecting your assets as well as yourself and your loved ones in case of catastrophe. Disasters, such as a fire or car accident, can cause you to lose everything you worked for if not properly insured. When looking into insurance options, it is important to understand what you have and what your needs are to make sure you get the best protection. FOLLOW FIERCE LAB Follow Fierce Lab on Instagram for the latest updates:  https://www.instagram.com/fiercelab/ JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes for Fierce Lab including tips, tools and resources, go to our website www.fiercelab.tarawilson.com and sign up for email list. Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Fierce Lab with women who are looking for community and tools for leveling up.

Money and Your Financial Building Blocks with Ashley Kilroy

Fierce Lab is a podcast series for women. It’s a space to focus on our whole selves - from mental health, to career development to financial intelligence. To be fierce is to be confident, capable and strong. Fierce Lab offers inspiration, tools, and community. It’s where we can explore new ideas and encourage discovery. Here, trying something new is celebrated. No one has it all figured out but together we can step fiercely into what’s next.

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