How can we advance more women in the middle to executive levels? Today on Women Leaders on the Move, host Natalie Benamou sits down with Rachel Ernst, a passionate advocate for women's leadership, to explore the challenges and opportunities women face as they rise to senior roles. Rachel shares her journey from a dedicated HR professional to launching her own venture focused on accelerating women in leadership.

The discussion covers strategies for staying relevant, navigating the demanding expectations of higher leadership roles, and the importance of setting boundaries for work-life balance. Rachel also offers practical advice on leveraging skills to transition into leadership positions and how women can authentically assert their power in the workplace.

Three Career Advancing Strategies:

1. Skills Over Experience: Women should focus on identifying and showcasing transferable skills rather than solely relying on experience. In a skills-based economy, demonstrating how your skills align with organizational needs is crucial for career advancement.

2. Strategic Boundary Setting: Setting clear boundaries around work hours and personal time is essential for maintaining work-life balance, especially in demanding leadership roles. Women can be highly effective by focusing on productivity within defined timeframes.

3. Authentic Leadership: Lead in a way that feels true to their strengths and values, rather than conforming to traditional leadership expectations. Embracing authenticity can empower you to thrive in leadership positions.

Three Quotes favorite Rachel Ernst:

1. It's not just about staying relevant; it's about understanding what relevance means to your organization and how you can uniquely contribute to its success.

2. "Leadership isn’t about fitting into a mold. It’s about carving your own path with the unique strengths you bring to the table."

3. "The journey to leadership is not just about climbing the ladder. It’s about knowing your worth, setting clear boundaries, and advocating for yourself and others."

Pay it forward: If you know a woman who could use this advice, we would be so honored if you would rate, review the show and share the episode.

Thank you Rachel for being our featured guest today.

About Rachel Ernst:

Rachel Ernst progresses women in leadership using expertise gathered from 20 years in HR leadership. She was featured on Jane King's "Innovators" at the Nasdaq site, is a published Forbes author, and has been a guest on multiple HR leadership podcasts. She is committed to working on the movement for gender equity across all leadership levels.

Connect with Rachel Ernst:

Website: www.accelherate.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-ernst-b6ba273/

Connect with Host Natalie Benamou, Founder HerCsuite®

Natalie Benamou is the host of "Women Leaders on the Move '' and the Founder of HerCsuite®, a powerful women's network providing connect circles for women’s careers and businesses. She is dedicated to making it easier for women to achieve success in all aspects of their lives. Natalie is also the Founder and President of HER HEALTHX, a nonprofit focused on improving health outcomes for women.

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Keep shining your light bright. The World needs you.

How can we use storytelling to transform workplaces into more inclusive environments? Join host Natalie Benamou and featured guest Priya Nalkur, E.d.D. President of Roundtable Institute as they explore the power of being vulnerable using storytelling. Priya shares highlights from her book ‘ Stumbling Towards Inclusion: Finding Grace in Imperfect Leadership. The two explore strategies that include how to listen, empathize, and build inclusive, high-performing workplaces.

Through an insightful case study, discover how curiosity and understanding beyond problem-solving can foster a supportive and innovative work environment. When leaders prioritize learning and growth over productivity they create teams that feel valued and connected. Find out how emotions can act as a universal language, bridging gaps and facilitating a positive, productive business culture.

Priya shares her LEAD framework and how to apply it to leadership. Personal storytelling is a powerful tool for fostering shared humanity and connection. Reflecting on her experiences in writing the book, Priya reveals how vulnerability and sharing personal stories can inspire and empower others.

Favorite Quotes:

"When you're curious, you're going to listen differently and you're going to ask a very different type of question. You're going to try to understand the person, not the problem."- Priya Nalkur, E.d.D.

“Storytelling asks us to be very vulnerable. And when we're vulnerable, we invite others to share their story too. When we share our stories together, we create a foundation from which we can really create something beautiful.”-Priya Nalkur, E.d.D.

Don’t miss out on this transformative conversation. Listen to the full episode and join the movement towards inclusive leadership.

Listen, rate and review the show: Women Leaders on the Move by HerCsuite® Radio

Thank you Priya, for being our featured guest today!

About Priya Nalkur, E.D.D.

Harvard & Yale-educated Psychologist, DEI facilitator and author talks leadership development practices for creating high-performing and inclusive workplaces

https://www.priyanalkur.com/

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Connect with Host Natalie Benamou, Founder HerCsuite®

Natalie Benamou is the host of "Women Leaders on the Move '' and the Founder of HerCsuite®, a powerful women's network providing connect circles for women’s careers and businesses. She is dedicated to making it easier for women to achieve success in all aspects of their lives. Natalie is also the Founder and President of HER HEALTHX, a nonprofit focused on improving health outcomes for women.

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Keep shining your light bright. The World needs you.

Have you ever heard of Reuse? Join Natalie Benamou for an inspiring episode with Jessica Gonzalez, CEO of Happen Ventures. Jessica shares her remarkable journey from facing near-bankruptcy during the COVID-19 pandemic to building a successful business dedicated to sustainability and reuse. Learn how she transformed personal and professional challenges into opportunities, pivoting from event management to waste management innovation. Jessica's innovative approach ensures no resource is wasted while minimizing costs and amplifying sustainability.

Key Takeaways

Empowering Sustainability Through Reuse

- Jessica shares her journey of turning near-bankruptcy and personal challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic into a successful business focused on sustainability and reuse.

- She discusses how she repurposed excess COVID-related waste, such as hand sanitizers and face masks, to help communities in need, leading to the founding of Happen Ventures.

Connecting Nonprofits to Surplus Resources

- Jessica explains how leveraging AI and technology can efficiently match surplus products from retailers with the needs of local nonprofits.

- The hyperlocal approach minimizes logistical costs and maximizes sustainability, making it a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional recycling.

Balancing Growth and Personal Life

- Jessica discusses the remarkable growth of her company and how she balances professional success with personal life.

- She shares insights into managing rapid expansion, undergoing IVF, relocating to Puerto Rico, and redefining success through quality time with her family.

Inspiring Women in Business

- Jessica's story is a testament to the power of adaptability and creativity in challenging times.

- She encourages listeners to rethink recycling and consider reusing materials, aiming to inspire sustainable and proactive approaches in their own lives and businesses.

Thank you Jessica for being our featured guest today.

QUOTES

Empowering Sustainability Through Reuse

- "Reuse is helpful for all people, it’s less expensive than recycling, better for the environment and has tax benefits. I'm proud to say that we are pushing for the new frontier of sustainability with both companies and homes, through reuse first as an option when it comes to finding homes for products that you no longer want." - Jessica Gonzalez

Connecting Nonprofits to Surplus Resources

"We've been able to have our nonprofit partners go and pick it up. We do it hyperlocal. Our AI tech platform connects the needs with thousands of nonprofits.” Jessica Gonzalez

Expressing gratitude to our listeners. Please rate and review the show! Keep shining your light bright. The world needs you.

Thank you Jessica for being on the show!

Connect CEO & Entrepreneur Jessica Gonzalez, leads Happen Ventures as it transforms landfill-bound waste into valuable community resources. She possesses 16+ years of experience building & scaling international startups from the ground up. Jessica is a Latina woman and proud single mother to her amazing children, and she embraces that the path to building a business has never been easy for her, but she lives and works with the attitude that "nothing is impossible.”

Happen Ventures bridges the gap between companies and communities by diverting reusable products wrongly going to landfills and provide them to people in need.

LinkedIn

www.happenventures.com

Natalie Benamou is the host of "Women Leaders on the Move '' and the Founder of HerCsuite®, a powerful women's network providing connect circles for women’s careers and businesses. She is dedicated to making it easier for women to achieve success in all aspects of their lives. Natalie is also the Founder and President of HER HEALTHX, a nonprofit focused on improving health outcomes for women.

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This show is sponsored by our HerCsuite® Connect Circles for individuals and business owners. Learn more HerCsuite