Women Thriving in Business

In an uncertain economy and a seismic shift in ways of working, organizations are feeling the impact of the great resignation and “quiet quitting,” while individuals are reporting unprecedented rates of burnout. As leaders, how can we transform the workplace for the better?

How do we create better workplaces where employees feel seen, heard, connected, engaged, and fulfilled? Where their purpose and passions are acknowledged and supported?

In this episode, Keren Tsuk,  keynote speaker, consultant, and a thought leader in 21st-century leadership, shares that mindfulness is the key to transforming the workplace into a better space. She explains that mindfulness not only means to be fully present in the moment but also refers to being aware of the experiences we are going through.

Listen to Episode 803 to learn more about mindful leadership!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Sanaya Roman’s Living with Joy: Keys to Personal Power and Spiritual Transformation
• Keren Tsuk's Mindfully Wise Leadership: The Secret of Today's Leaders

Thriving Points:

• I found that mindfulness is a crucial element that we need to embrace nowadays in order to lead our companies and be on the cutting edge and engage our employees. - Keren Tsuk 
• The coronavirus transformed not only global work but also workplaces and caused people to ask themselves tough questions, “Why do I want to invest my time? Why do I want to engage in this company?” - Keren Tsuk 
• I needed to go through this transformative process myself in order to be able to help other people to connect to themselves. - Keren Tsuk 
• Mindfulness actually helps us to manage [our emotions] and not be managed by our emotions. - Keren Tsuk 

Get to Know the Guest:

Keren is a keynote speaker, consultant, and thought leader in 21st-century leadership, as well as the author of the book Mindfully Wise Leadership. She founded the consultancy Wisdom To Lead which specializes in the development of senior management teams and corporate leadership. Keren helps companies and teams reach their full potential using mindfulness techniques. Checkpoint, Earnix, Plarium, Verint, Amdocs, Ex Libris, Google, and Siemens are all companies Keren has worked with. As a keynote speaker on the topic of the relationship between mindfulness and leadership, she also speaks at conferences worldwide and in fortune 500 companies.

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

A Team Dklutr Production

In an uncertain economy and a seismic shift in ways of working, organizations are feeling the impact of the great resignation and “quiet quitting,” while individuals are reporting unprecedented rates of burnout. As leaders, how can we transform the workplace for the better?

How do we create better workplaces where employees feel seen, heard, connected, engaged, and fulfilled? Where their purpose and passions are acknowledged and supported?

In this episode, Keren Tsuk,  keynote speaker, consultant, and a thought leader in 21st-century leadership, shares that mindfulness is the key to transforming the workplace into a better space. She explains that mindfulness not only means to be fully present in the moment but also refers to being aware of the experiences we are going through.

Listen to Episode 803 to learn more about mindful leadership!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Sanaya Roman’s Living with Joy: Keys to Personal Power and Spiritual Transformation
• Keren Tsuk's Mindfully Wise Leadership: The Secret of Today's Leaders

Thriving Points:

• I found that mindfulness is a crucial element that we need to embrace nowadays in order to lead our companies and be on the cutting edge and engage our employees. - Keren Tsuk 
• The coronavirus transformed not only global work but also workplaces and caused people to ask themselves tough questions, “Why do I want to invest my time? Why do I want to engage in this company?” - Keren Tsuk 
• I needed to go through this transformative process myself in order to be able to help other people to connect to themselves. - Keren Tsuk 
• Mindfulness actually helps us to manage [our emotions] and not be managed by our emotions. - Keren Tsuk 

Get to Know the Guest:

Keren is a keynote speaker, consultant, and thought leader in 21st-century leadership, as well as the author of the book Mindfully Wise Leadership. She founded the consultancy Wisdom To Lead which specializes in the development of senior management teams and corporate leadership. Keren helps companies and teams reach their full potential using mindfulness techniques. Checkpoint, Earnix, Plarium, Verint, Amdocs, Ex Libris, Google, and Siemens are all companies Keren has worked with. As a keynote speaker on the topic of the relationship between mindfulness and leadership, she also speaks at conferences worldwide and in fortune 500 companies.

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

Have you been sitting on a great idea or concept for a while, but you are hesitant to put it into action? What if, instead of being paralyzed by fear,  you decided to bet on yourself and your big idea?  If you decide to make your concept a reality, you have the potential to create a successful business and benefit others who can use your product or service. 

My guest this week, Shiloh Johnson, the Founder and CEO of ComplYant, a technology platform offering entrepreneurs stress-free guidance to manage complex tax rules and regulations year-round. Shiloh leveraged her tax practice experience and deep understanding of business tax challenges to found a technology firm focused on helping 31 million small businesses move from tax confusion to compliance.

Her big idea has paid off - Shiloh has raised over $12M in funding, making her one of the few African American women founders to raise over $1M. Not only is Shiloh living proof that taking full responsibility for your own journey will lead to a brighter future, but she is also a firm believer that when you have an idea, you should try it right away. If it doesn't work out, learn from it and use the lessons learned as motivation to keep trying until you succeed.

Shiloh shares the inspiration for her decision to start ComplYant, the beauty of taking full responsibility for your own ideas, and the challenges of making it a reality.

Listen to Episode 802 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• ComplYant
• Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson 

Thriving Points:

• I'm gonna try this thing. And if it doesn't work out, I walked away with a great set of experiences, and maybe a bigger network. - Shiloh Johnson
• I try not to get too hung up on the sadness of the result of the decision, but instead, use it as a lesson. - Shiloh Johnson
• I didn't give myself a chance to doubt myself. - Shiloh Johnson

Get to Know the Guest:

Shiloh Johnson, a long-time accountant, and financial trauma advocate, is the founder and CEO of ComplYant, a digital tax assistant to help small businesses organize, save, and pay for various business taxes. Rooted in the mission to remove tax barriers for small or underrepresented business owners, ComplYant offers unique solutions to not only help founders navigate their taxes but to anticipate owed taxes and budget ahead of time.

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

Have you been sitting on a great idea or concept for a while, but you are hesitant to put it into action? What if, instead of being paralyzed by fear,  you decided to bet on yourself and your big idea?  If you decide to make your concept a reality, you have the potential to create a successful business and benefit others who can use your product or service. 

My guest this week, Shiloh Johnson, the Founder and CEO of ComplYant, a technology platform offering entrepreneurs stress-free guidance to manage complex tax rules and regulations year-round. Shiloh leveraged her tax practice experience and deep understanding of business tax challenges to found a technology firm focused on helping 31 million small businesses move from tax confusion to compliance.

Her big idea has paid off - Shiloh has raised over $12M in funding, making her one of the few African American women founders to raise over $1M. Not only is Shiloh living proof that taking full responsibility for your own journey will lead to a brighter future, but she is also a firm believer that when you have an idea, you should try it right away. If it doesn't work out, learn from it and use the lessons learned as motivation to keep trying until you succeed.

Shiloh shares the inspiration for her decision to start ComplYant, the beauty of taking full responsibility for your own ideas, and the challenges of making it a reality.

Listen to Episode 802 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• ComplYant
• Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson 

Thriving Points:

• I'm gonna try this thing. And if it doesn't work out, I walked away with a great set of experiences, and maybe a bigger network. - Shiloh Johnson
• I try not to get too hung up on the sadness of the result of the decision, but instead, use it as a lesson. - Shiloh Johnson
• I didn't give myself a chance to doubt myself. - Shiloh Johnson

Get to Know the Guest:

Shiloh Johnson, a long-time accountant, and financial trauma advocate, is the founder and CEO of ComplYant, a digital tax assistant to help small businesses organize, save, and pay for various business taxes. Rooted in the mission to remove tax barriers for small or underrepresented business owners, ComplYant offers unique solutions to not only help founders navigate their taxes but to anticipate owed taxes and budget ahead of time.

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

A Team Dklutr Production

What is your next career move?  Should you go after that big promotion you have dreamed of? Or should you start that business you’ve always wanted to pursue?

No matter where you see yourself, whether it’s owning your own business or climbing the ladder in your organization, the question is this: do you feel powerful enough to make the next move toward your vision? My guest Lisa Baker spent over 30 years in corporate, ultimately becoming a Senior Vice-President managing a $2.5 billion P&L. She has had experiences and made connections that many of us dream of.  Yet, Lisa doesn’t consider herself extraordinary and believes that we all can achieve professional and personal success by leveraging our inherent greatness.

During our wide-ranging and engaging discussion, Lisa shared how her parent’s decision to migrate from Atlanta to St. Louis in the 1950s not only changed the trajectory of her family but also established the foundation for her future success. Lisa is the youngest of 8 siblings and grew up hearing about the impact that the move to St. Louis had on her older siblings. These stories of sacrifice and challenge motivated her to work hard to make her family proud.

Lisa is an ICF-certified coach, and her passion for helping others achieve success by identifying their strengths, passions, and purpose is what drives her as an entrepreneur. In this episode, she shares her stories of navigating the corporate world, starting her own coaching business, and some words of advice to help women of color thrive in a demanding corporate environment.

Listen to Episode 801 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Seth Godin’s Small is the New Big

Thriving Points:

• One of the things that I often say to people is to find what your area of greatness is and work in that space because that's where you're going to thrive. - Lisa Baker
• We, women, are often so accommodating. We don't wanna hurt anybody's feelings. We feel like we have to say yes to everything. But you cannot do that if you're going to run a successful business. You really have to know when to say no and limit your time and exposure to things that aren't driving you toward your goals.  - Lisa Baker
• You have to get really good at building meaningful relationships… Getting to know people, and more importantly, allowing them to get to know you. People would want to work with and promote folks that they know, like, and trust. And you can't build that trust without really investing time in building meaningful connections. - Lisa Baker

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

What is your next career move?  Should you go after that big promotion you have dreamed of? Or should you start that business you’ve always wanted to pursue?

No matter where you see yourself, whether it’s owning your own business or climbing the ladder in your organization, the question is this: do you feel powerful enough to make the next move toward your vision? My guest Lisa Baker spent over 30 years in corporate, ultimately becoming a Senior Vice-President managing a $2.5 billion P&L. She has had experiences and made connections that many of us dream of.  Yet, Lisa doesn’t consider herself extraordinary and believes that we all can achieve professional and personal success by leveraging our inherent greatness.

During our wide-ranging and engaging discussion, Lisa shared how her parent’s decision to migrate from Atlanta to St. Louis in the 1950s not only changed the trajectory of her family but also established the foundation for her future success. Lisa is the youngest of 8 siblings and grew up hearing about the impact that the move to St. Louis had on her older siblings. These stories of sacrifice and challenge motivated her to work hard to make her family proud.

Lisa is an ICF-certified coach, and her passion for helping others achieve success by identifying their strengths, passions, and purpose is what drives her as an entrepreneur. In this episode, she shares her stories of navigating the corporate world, starting her own coaching business, and some words of advice to help women of color thrive in a demanding corporate environment.

Listen to Episode 801 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Seth Godin’s Small is the New Big

Thriving Points:

• One of the things that I often say to people is to find what your area of greatness is and work in that space because that's where you're going to thrive. - Lisa Baker
• We, women, are often so accommodating. We don't wanna hurt anybody's feelings. We feel like we have to say yes to everything. But you cannot do that if you're going to run a successful business. You really have to know when to say no and limit your time and exposure to things that aren't driving you toward your goals.  - Lisa Baker
• You have to get really good at building meaningful relationships… Getting to know people, and more importantly, allowing them to get to know you. People would want to work with and promote folks that they know, like, and trust. And you can't build that trust without really investing time in building meaningful connections. - Lisa Baker

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

A Team Dklutr Production

"In the midst of all those different elements coming together, that crisis of courage, that crisis of confidence, the financial pieces, the health pieces - that's where the power and the gift of crisis kicked in." - Nikki Rogers

Life is full of peaks and valleys. We can plan as much as we can, prepare for the worst and map out our desired path down to the T. But there will always be crises along the way that cannot be averted.

I certainly couldn’t.

These past few weeks have been challenging for me personally and professionally. . I've encountered many obstacles recently, that forced me to pull out the magnifying glass, carefully inspect key elements, and recalibrate my approach to business and life.

While no one wants to experience a crisis, I did find a silver lining in the aftermath. Moving through the emotional and psychological effects led me to a heightened sense of power and resolve to pursue my goals and dreams.

In this episode, I share about different crises I faced recently that I have gratefully overcome. Through stillness, candid discussions, and reflection, I  assessed my situation and developed a way forward.

So Thrivers, as you listen to this episode, I raise a thought-provoking question for us all. What are some of the things that have helped you really lean into the idea of the power - and maybe even the gift - of crisis?

Thriving Points:

• I am unemployable. And by that, I mean I can't go back to not being the visionary and the key decision-maker around how I spend my time and my energy. 
• I had to deal with the facts of the moment as well as the feelings that were coming up as a result of viewing those facts, and that moment of crisis really scared me. But it also motivated me and pushed me out of my comfort zone.
• I started to think about how I can be more strategic about where I show up, when I show up and how I show up so that I am attracting the kind of partners and clients that can support and align with my vision.
• Start to get clear about what your vision is and what you're doing in your vision and your life. And some of that clarity will actually come in the doing. 
• Have that magnetism that attracts those people and those opportunities that are going to propel you toward your vision. These are your optimal connections.

Mentioned on the Show:

• The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – and Our Response – Will Change the World (by Ian Bremmer)

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

"In the midst of all those different elements coming together, that crisis of courage, that crisis of confidence, the financial pieces, the health pieces - that's where the power and the gift of crisis kicked in." - Nikki Rogers

Life is full of peaks and valleys. We can plan as much as we can, prepare for the worst and map out our desired path down to the T. But there will always be crises along the way that cannot be averted.

I certainly couldn’t.

These past few weeks have been challenging for me personally and professionally. . I've encountered many obstacles recently, that forced me to pull out the magnifying glass, carefully inspect key elements, and recalibrate my approach to business and life.

While no one wants to experience a crisis, I did find a silver lining in the aftermath. Moving through the emotional and psychological effects led me to a heightened sense of power and resolve to pursue my goals and dreams.

In this episode, I share about different crises I faced recently that I have gratefully overcome. Through stillness, candid discussions, and reflection, I  assessed my situation and developed a way forward.

So Thrivers, as you listen to this episode, I raise a thought-provoking question for us all. What are some of the things that have helped you really lean into the idea of the power - and maybe even the gift - of crisis?

Thriving Points:

• I am unemployable. And by that, I mean I can't go back to not being the visionary and the key decision-maker around how I spend my time and my energy. 
• I had to deal with the facts of the moment as well as the feelings that were coming up as a result of viewing those facts, and that moment of crisis really scared me. But it also motivated me and pushed me out of my comfort zone.
• I started to think about how I can be more strategic about where I show up, when I show up and how I show up so that I am attracting the kind of partners and clients that can support and align with my vision.
• Start to get clear about what your vision is and what you're doing in your vision and your life. And some of that clarity will actually come in the doing. 
• Have that magnetism that attracts those people and those opportunities that are going to propel you toward your vision. These are your optimal connections.

Mentioned on the Show:

• The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – and Our Response – Will Change the World (by Ian Bremmer)

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

A Team Dklutr Production

It is nerve-racking to relinquish control of something that you have created. As a business owner, you may want to maintain control of everything because you are scared to allow others to help you. However, the time you spend on tasks that do not generate revenue can be spent more effectively on growing your business.

It is in your best interest to delegate management of the operation to someone more capable, so that you may concentrate on the tasks that are most suited to your strengths. Hiring a remote team can be a  big advantage for your business as it will enable you to concentrate more on generating-revenue tasks. Rather than having to juggle multiple responsibilities, it will allow you and your business to flourish, generate MORE revenue, and enjoy your entrepreneurial journey.

The Thriver joining us this week is Nicole Grinnell, Founder, and CEO of Bosun Solutions, a staffing and recruiting firm that holistically solves clients’ problems by providing the right remote team members for all back-office roles who can operate a business. Nicole takes her passion for organization, assisting, efficiency, and providing the solution to her client’s problems. Thinking of her father who was forced to juggle it all, she now finds joy in providing the relief small business owners need allowing them to grow, be profitable and enjoy their passion.

Nicole shares with us the signs that business owners should look for when considering whether to seek more support and the value of having a remote team that allows you to focus on generating revenue for your business.

Be inspired. Be empowered. Listen to Episode 709 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works by A.G. Lafley and  Roger L. Martin  
• Bosun Solutions

Thriving Points:

• When you're first starting out, I guarantee you there is money in your inbox. -Nicole Grinnell
• Pivoting and really kind of going to that next step is scary, especially when this is your comfort zone. - Nicole Grinnell
• It's a trust fall, but it's actually an experience I'm thankful we had because now we can talk to that as well with our clients and say, I understand change is hard and I understand that this feels safe and secure, but I'm gonna need you to trust me and let's move into this. - Nicole Grinnell
• Our goal is to serve our clients, and so we wanna be really mindful of that and always keep our motives right. - Nicole Grinnell

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

It is nerve-racking to relinquish control of something that you have created. As a business owner, you may want to maintain control of everything because you are scared to allow others to help you. However, the time you spend on tasks that do not generate revenue can be spent more effectively on growing your business.

It is in your best interest to delegate management of the operation to someone more capable, so that you may concentrate on the tasks that are most suited to your strengths. Hiring a remote team can be a  big advantage for your business as it will enable you to concentrate more on generating-revenue tasks. Rather than having to juggle multiple responsibilities, it will allow you and your business to flourish, generate MORE revenue, and enjoy your entrepreneurial journey.

The Thriver joining us this week is Nicole Grinnell, Founder, and CEO of Bosun Solutions, a staffing and recruiting firm that holistically solves clients’ problems by providing the right remote team members for all back-office roles who can operate a business. Nicole takes her passion for organization, assisting, efficiency, and providing the solution to her client’s problems. Thinking of her father who was forced to juggle it all, she now finds joy in providing the relief small business owners need allowing them to grow, be profitable and enjoy their passion.

Nicole shares with us the signs that business owners should look for when considering whether to seek more support and the value of having a remote team that allows you to focus on generating revenue for your business.

Be inspired. Be empowered. Listen to Episode 709 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works by A.G. Lafley and  Roger L. Martin  
• Bosun Solutions

Thriving Points:

• When you're first starting out, I guarantee you there is money in your inbox. -Nicole Grinnell
• Pivoting and really kind of going to that next step is scary, especially when this is your comfort zone. - Nicole Grinnell
• It's a trust fall, but it's actually an experience I'm thankful we had because now we can talk to that as well with our clients and say, I understand change is hard and I understand that this feels safe and secure, but I'm gonna need you to trust me and let's move into this. - Nicole Grinnell
• Our goal is to serve our clients, and so we wanna be really mindful of that and always keep our motives right. - Nicole Grinnell

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube

A Team Dklutr Production