Owning Your Legacy

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Lori Hilson Cioromski, founder & CEO of HC Strategic Advisors, president of Essential Water Technologies, and award-winning author of You Hold the Power: Igniting Your Fire for Success.

As the episode title suggests, Laurette and Lori discuss how to scale a company in the face of adversity, as well as the necessity for women leaders to step into their power to unlock growth and potential.

Lori shares stories of her earliest entrepreneurial endeavors as a young girl motivated by a need for money, to working with her dad and receiving backlash from her male counterparts, to the most catalytic moment in her life: a near-death experience during the birth of her youngest daughter, and what would later become the impetus for her award-winning book.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:

• Anointed vs. appointed: proving your worth in a family-owned business
• Scaling a business against tough financial times
• The power of “catalytic moments”
• Supporting our next gen of female entrepreneurs with Female Strong
• Why it is absolutely necessary to step into your power

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Brandon Casteel, vice president of partnerships at SPINS, to discuss the leadership tenets that have allowed him to build a successful, multi-decade sales career. They also discuss how SPINS is leveraging point-of-sale data to unlock powerful consumer insights.

Brandon is a master of building authentic relationships through trust, vulnerability, and curiosity, artfully moving past the surface to get to the heart of any conversation, whether it be with a team member, sales partner, or one of his five kids. This gift along with his concept of an “emotional bank account”—the idea that he is giving as much as he is receiving—makes him a standout partner, leader, and father.

Drawing from nearly 30 years of experience, Brandon now leads multiple teams at SPINS, a leading wellness-focused data technology company that provides retail consumer insights, analytics, and consulting for the natural, organic, and specialty products industry.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:

• The importance of physical presence
• How to leverage curiosity as a leader
• Balancing your emotional bank account
• The value of performance improvement plans
• Using sales data to unlock powerful consumer insights

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down with Jennifer Bell, CMO of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant Group, to talk about the importance of professional development, risk-centered leadership, and the invaluable benefits of betting on yourself.

Laurette and Jennifer walk through the various obstacles of a journey to the C-suite, leading by example to multiply your team’s enthusiasm and effort, and what she did to skyrocket the business’s revenue to $300 million after the pandemic demanded a pivot.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:

• Making a major career pivot based on passion & purpose
• Key factors in building & leading a diverse, talented team
• Being your own biggest cheerleader
• Where leaders should challenge themselves more for growth
• The best tools to leverage strengths & foster better feedback

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes colleague George Southworth, executive director of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA). George’s extensive experiences as a government programs executive with IBM, a director and regional manager with the National Association of Manufacturers, and now executive director at FEMA have fueled his passion as a leader that drives change, fosters collaboration, and elevates the success of his peers.

Laurette and George explore how their career trajectories unfolded and how to harness the numerous benefits that come with joining trade associations: networking, leadership opportunities, a truly supportive community, and more.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:

• The personal and professional benefits of trade associations
• How to choose the best trade association to join
• Leveraging the value of industry experts
• Strengthening your own leadership abilities
• Paying it forward to help future leaders grow

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette talks all about transparency, reflection, and potential with entrepreneur, life coach, and food industry executive Christie Myers.

A strategic visionary, Christie’s generational tie to the food ingredients industry has helped her embrace her history while defining her own unique career path. Today, she carries on her family’s penchant for innovation and creativity in two major ways: as the Business Development Manager at Cache Creek Foods, and also as the founder and consultant through her coaching practice that helps leaders transform their aspirations into reality.

Laurette and Christie dive into the shared human experience of insecurity and struggle, how to develop better self-awareness, and the simple mindset shift to adapt for a more impactful company culture.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:
*Accepting discomfort and sacrifice in leadership
*Why struggle is a good thing
*Handling criticism, constructive or otherwise
*Reframing failure as a foundational win
*Christie’s simple practice for reflection & redirection

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes Chicago-based food & lifestyle entrepreneur D.C. Crenshaw to talk through his purpose-filled journey to creating culinary businesses that fuel the next generation of tastemakers.

D.C. founded Little Diner’s Crew to partner with local restaurants to curate inspiring dining events for young children that help develop their palates and approaches to health, nutrition, and happiness while fostering community and education.

His major passion for flavor led him to start Fête Select TV, a production company where he earned two Emmy nominations as the host of his original food competition show, Game Time Dine. He also owns and operates Fête Lifestyle Magazine, a digital publication that educates and inspires others to live a life of quality, covering a variety topics and perspectives from female contributors.

Laurette and D.C. chat more about his optimistic outlook on the food industry, the positive domino effect of new experiences, and how he embodies his values to inspire others naturally.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:
*D.C.’s journey from athlete to multifaceted businessman
*The powerful connection between sports, food, and memories
*Creating opportunities for enthusiasm and education
*D.C.’s experience with fatherhood and his parenting advice
*How to live by example and lead with empathy

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

In the season 6 premiere of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes philanthropist and entrepreneur duo Amy and Pete Kadens for an incredibly powerful and transparent conversation about the need for more accountability in life and leadership. Because without it, we are only solving for symptoms instead of the core issues.

Amy is the founder of MOD Collective and Share Our Spare, which respectively work to support women and families affected by poverty who are in need of basic necessities, including diapers, clothing, and more. Pete is the founder and co-chair of HOPE Chicago, an organization focused on improving economic mobility through college and workforce access. Together, Amy and Pete both serve as chairpeople for The Kadens Family Foundation, a nonprofit they started to provide more equitable opportunities at all stages of life, starting with education.

With Laurette, Amy and Pete discuss the intersections and realities of their philanthropic endeavors, the collective success that comes from moving through discomfort, and how they support their shared passion for change (and each other!) through their very different approaches.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:

• Amy and Pete’s powerful philosophies on truly giving back
• Why there’s no such thing as “self-made”
• How to take accountability in all aspects of your life
• Transforming tragedy into thoughtful, aligned action
• Nuances to consider in your efforts to find purpose & help any community

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

In the Season 5 finale of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette welcomes executive food & beverage professional Mary Wagner. From General Mills to Taco Bell and more, Mary’s impressive career is a testament to her standard of excellence and passion for progress. She has provided invaluable food science operations & strategy guidance for top brands in the industry, most notably and recently as the former Senior Vice President of Global Product Innovation, Food Safety, and Quality at Starbucks. Since retiring, Mary has launched and led her global food science consulting firm MK Wagner & Associates, where she and her team leverage 40+ years of expertise to deliver extraordinary results to global food brands.

Laurette and Mary discuss the power of science for executing innovative ideas, the underrated yet incredible aspects of a professional role that involves flavor and nutrition, and how to weigh your options between certain business and career situations.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:
*The fascinating nuances of food science, flavor, and nutrition
*Prioritizing research, transparency, and sustainability in the industry
*Mary’s observations on private vs. public business pros and cons
*Navigating individual career decisions and sacrifices
*How to maintain perspective on your impact as a leader

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette sits down to talk with certified life coach Suzanne Nance. Since starting her company Create 4 You, Suzanne has worked with some of the top leaders across the world, including those at the helm of Fortune 500 companies and mission-driven nonprofit organizations, to help reframe their perspective on the inevitable promise of challenge ahead and strengthen their approach so they can reach their personal Mt. Everest.

Laurette and Suzanne discuss the phenomenon of the loneliness that comes from reaching new heights, the benefits of pushing past your usual thresholds of capabilities, and the expansive power of continuing to pursue new achievements despite all odds.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:
*Suzanne’s biggest lessons from her ambitious expeditions
*Common insecurities that Suzanne sees in her executive clients
*Learning to listen to & understanding your limiting beliefs
*Finding harmony between your responsibilities & your dreams
*How to become your own biggest supporter & coach

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Laurette is joined by Beth Smith, founder and CEO of Simplicity Cold-Pressed Juice & Cocktails. Made with fresh fruits and vegetables, Beth expanded the brand’s offerings from only juice and added spirit-infused drinks based on her belief that fun and freshness aren’t mutually exclusive. As a result, she launched the country’s first ready-to-drink, cold-pressed cocktails—because you should be able to raise a glass without sacrificing your well-being.

Laurette and Beth talk transparently about her journey to healing through continued physical and emotional hardships, some of her most frustrating experiences working in food & beverage, and why she’s so passionate about transforming the way we view and implement nutrition.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:
*How Beth’s fertility struggles inspired her business
*Beth’s mission to detach shame & guilt from nutrition
*Navigating modern food & beverage industry obstacles
*Why prioritizing your wellbeing & joy isn’t selfish
*How to let go and trust the timing of your life

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.