Bulletproof, A GLI Company - A conversation with Melissa Aarskaug, Global VP at Bulletproof
I recently had the absolute pleasure of talking to Melissa Aarskaug, Global VP at Bulletproof, about the unique challenges faced by female leaders in male-dominated industries, specifically in technology and engineering.Â
We explore the importance of resilience, supportive relationships, and effective strategies for career navigation. Melissa shares her own experiences, emphasizing the value of open communication with leadership about workload and personal needs.Â
This conversation highlights the necessity of curiosity, proactive engagement, and fostering a supportive environment to empower female leaders to thrive and advance in their careers.
Key Moments:
Resilience Through Sports (00:03:32)
Melissa discusses her experience in sports and how her father helped her pivot after setbacks.
Navigating Setbacks (00:09:05)
Melissa talks about her constant setbacks and the importance of leaning into challenges.
Supporting Female Leaders (00:14:01)
The conversation shifts to how to he...
Achieving Olympic-Level Focus: End of Summer Reset
Something I heard from a female executive client yesterday is: âWhile Iâm confident in my leadership abilities, I am not so good at pausing to reassess âwhatâs nextâ for me or resetting my goals and legacy that Iâd like to leave.âÂ
As the summer season draws to an end, I find it an opportune time to reassess and realign my personal and professional goals. In the video below, I share my personal approach to my own summer resetâhabits and goals I have focused on during these months.
The Myth of Perfection in Leadership
One of the key takeaways from this is the acknowledgment that even coaches and leaders are constantly evolving. I donât buy into the myth that leaders have everything figured out when it comes to habits and routines. Itâs important to understand that the journey towards improvement is ongoing and that perfection is not the goal. This perspective is crucial for female leaders who often face immense pressure to excel in all areas of their lives.
Reading
I have set a per...
Why not YOU?
Would you believe I recorded this video message for you BEFORE Noah Lyles won his gold medal and shared this quote on X, following his performance in the menâs 100-meter final on Sunday, Aug. 4?
Maybe thatâs why I absolutely LOVE what he said:
âI have Asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, and Depression. But I will tell you that what you have does not define what you can become. Why Not You!â ~Noah Lyles
As I walked along the beach in Little Compton, RI, I started contemplating success and personal ambition. Â
We were fortunate enough to be housesitting a spectacular home overlooking the ocean. Rather than think of myself as a visitor, even an imposter, in someone elseâs amazing home on 10 acres of land with a private beach, I thought âwhy not meâ?
The home, land, and ocean were speaking to me and saying, âStop looking at your feet for the shells, look out into the vast ocean for whatâs possible for you.â
I challenge you with the empowering question, "Why not YOU?"
What i...
The Importance of Women in Our Evolving Workplace - Interview with Katy Conway
I am so excited to share this Fearless Female Leadership Interview with Katy Conway, Chief of People Officer at RGP. It was such an engaging and compelling conversation.Â
Katy shares her inspiring journey to becoming a Chief People Officer, emphasizing the pivotal role of female leaders in the workplace. She reflects on the influence of her grandmother, who exemplified leadership without formal titles, and discusses the importance of resilience, curiosity, and user-centered design in her professional growth.Â
Katy also highlights the unique composition of RGP's leadership team, showcasing the company's commitment to diversity and its positive impact on business outcomes.
Key Takeaways
**The grandmother's leadership (00:01:10)**
Katy shares her grandmother's leadership qualities and resilience, emphasizing the impact of leadership beyond formal titles.
**Curiosity and judgment (00:09:03)**
The conversation delves into the value of curiosity over judgment, emphasizing the importa...
How Not Obtaining a Perfect Life Balance is Key
Iâve been talking a lot recently about resetting over the summer, and finding that counter-balance between work and home life. I believe that trying to achieve perfect work-life balance is impossible and incredibly stressful. There are times that family, friends, and our health deserve more of us, and there are also times when work will require us to devote more time and therefore less time with family.Â
Itâs very important to realize that you donât need to find a perfect balance. Far from it!
If you remember, I spoke to Michelle Ragusa-McBain at the beginning of the year, and she made some excellent suggestions about achieving a work-life âintegrationâ. It highlights the importance of making tough choices, investing in relationships and seeking integration rather than a perfect work/life balance.
Watch my interview with Michelle.
Itâs definitely worth a re-visit (and the particular point I would like you to listen to is around 19:00).
You see, we often look at others and think âtheyâve go...
Unlocking Customer Success: Building Relationships and Driving Growth - an Interview with Lara Barnes
I had the pleasure of speaking with Lara Barnes, a seasoned Customer Success executive with a distinguished career at Microsoft, Facebook, Oracle and Sitecore.
Lara shares her journey of building impactful Customer Success teams, emphasizing the importance of understanding the entire customer journey and key metrics for retention and growth in the SaaS industry.
We also explore Lara's personal development over the past six months, highlighting her newfound clarity and aspirations for executive leadership roles. This conversation provides valuable insights for female leaders aiming to build their focus and drive significant business outcomes through customer success strategies.
Key Takeaways:
Importance of Customer Success (00:02:30)
Discussion on understanding the customer journey and building value realization frameworks.
Consequences of Poor Customer Success (00:03:30)
Lara explains the risks of not guiding customers effectively, leading to churn and ultimately exposure to a de...
From Holding Back to Flying High - Interview with Rachel Madorsky
In this insightful Fearless Female Leader interview, I had the pleasure of speaking to Rachel Madorsky, a thought leader, clinical therapist, and coach, about her transformative journey and teachings.Â
Rachel shares her experiences of overcoming personal and professional obstacles, emphasizing the importance of self-love and small, actionable steps for growth. We discuss the concept of moving from a zone of excellence to a zone of genius, encouraging women to pursue their passions with joy.Â
Key Takeaways
Changing Direction by 2% (00:05:21)
The discussion focuses on the impact of small changes and mindset shifts on achieving excellent results and making progress.
Uncovering the Reasons for Holding Back (00:13:14)
Rachel explains how women hold themselves back due to the fear of risking love, safety, and belonging and the unconscious sabotage that follows.
Empowerment through Generosity (00:15:51)
The conversation centers around the idea that every door opened for oneself is als...
Cultivating an Influential Mindset Through Healthy Habits and Boundaries
You can be successful, and still feel like there is more. More for you to give and contribute, more impact to be made, and more joy to feel from your work.
Is it possible that it may be time to pivot?
There are many ways to successfully pivot, whether internally within your company or your current career, or an external pivot toward something entirely different. This is not typically easy and can require a great deal of personal influence.
Hereâs how to get started with an influential mindset reset, coupled with setting healthy habits and boundaries:
1. Believe in Yourself
Your ideas, your worth, and your contribution are valuable. If you donât believe you are worthy of influence in a new and often unfamiliar role, itâs unlikely youâll be able to influence others. The voice that we should pay attention to the most is our own, even when it is a negative voice. So a great place to start is with strong positive daily affirmations. For example, "I take consistent action towards my next level of...
Retaining Top Female Talent - Interview with Kristin Crossman
In this episode, I am SO excited to speak with Kristin Crossman, a seasoned expert in human capital management.
Kristin shares her journey, inspired by her fatherâs career at IBM, and her experiences at K2, a company with a significant female workforce. We discuss the importance of retaining top female talent, emphasizing the visibility of female leaders and flexible policies.
Kristin highlights the value of investing in oneself and nurturing relationships, especially in challenging economic times.
One of the most compelling points Kristen made was the significance of visible female leadership within organizations. The concept of "if you can see her, you can be her" underscores the importance of having female leaders at the highest levels. This visibility not only inspires emerging female leaders but also demonstrates that it is possible to balance professional success with personal responsibilities.
Key Takeaways
Leadership and Gender Equality at K2 (00:00:59) The positive impact...
Time for a Summer Reset: Reevaluate and Reenergize
Summer is the perfect time for a reset. With the slower pace and longer days, it's an ideal opportunity to step back, reflect, and make meaningful changes to enhance your well-being and productivity.
As we step into Q3, hereâs how you can set new boundaries, incorporate healthy habits, and explore new learning opportunities for both you and your team to ensure a productive and profitable second half of the year.
1. Pause and Reflect:
While it may not seem productive, pausing to reflect on the past 6 months is the best thing you can do to ensure productivity within your team. Take a moment to assess whether the pace you have been running at is sustainable, and importantly, is it still going in the right direction. Are you and your team able to keep going? Or will someone drop out of the race before the finish line? Is a little course correction needed to make sure everyone can stay in the game?
As a fearless female leader, your voice is needed, especially at this time of the year, s...
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