Author of Strategic Networking 2.0, Juliette shares her insights on keeping professional relationships alive during the summer. Based on her own experiences and her three books on networking, she offers practical tips for business professionals and entrepreneurs on how to use the summer months to build deeper connections and expand their networks.

She talks about why summer is the perfect time to get to know colleagues and potential partners beyond the office. Juliette also shares some great stories about how personal interactions can lead to powerful connections.

Episode Highlights

04:01 - I think that summertime, quite honestly, is a perfect time to deepen the relationships because people are often in a space of, even if they're at work 90% of the time, they are typically in a better place because, one, the sun is out.

08:03 - Summer is a perfect time to get to some of those tasks that you may have been putting off and make sure that they are optimized in a way that will help you to be more effective. So one thing that you can do is if you haven't already done it, take the time to make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date, that it's professionally done, and it reflects what you do.

14:44 - Be mindful of where people are on their journey and with their energy. And in some cases, the vacation that somebody takes may be the only time they've had all year, and so be respectful of those times. If somebody's on vacation, unless it's truly an emergency, do not tell them it's urgent and you need a response.

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In this powerful episode, Juliette Mayers engages in an enlightening conversation with Herby Duverné, President and CEO of Windwalker Group, and co-founder of RISE. Herby shares his remarkable journey to entrepreneurial success, delving into the trials and triumphs that shaped his path. Together, they explore the themes of leadership, responsibility, and the impact of positive workplace culture, offering invaluable insights for business professionals and entrepreneurs.

Herby talks candidly about his early days in the US, overcoming language barriers, and seizing every opportunity to learn and grow. His story serves as a testament to resilience and the importance of staying committed to one's goals, no matter the hurdles.

He also touches on his passion for closing the economic gap and creating housing opportunities through RISE, emphasizing the significance of giving back to the community. Additionally, Herby discusses his role as Chair of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts and the importance of supporting strong leadership within the organization.

Episode Highlights:

15:30 - Curiosity, which is a big thing for me, a big word that I would like to talk about,. Curiosity, that's something that's always kind of a part of me, feeling like I want to know more. I want to learn more.

21:45 - Five years ago, a former client of mine, who's my business partner right now, called me and said, "Hey, Herby. What are you doing? Can I come see you in the office?" I said, "Yeah." He came to see my office and he said, "Let's do a business together. I'll do construction because I know construction very well. You can do the development side, and then we call it RISE together," which is he has a RISE Construction part of the business, and I do the RISE Development side of the business. So that's how we come together. Part of it is, one, not just to close the wealth gap, but really to try to create, you know, we have a housing crisis in the state, how we can create more housing and opportunity for people.

23:03 - Without that opportunity, I would not be in this position that I'm in right now because I'm really able to get in, because I could not afford to pay the full rent. To be able to go to school, driving a cab, and then really pay as little as I can because I couldn't do that. So that's why development is always a big thing for me.

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Rise Boston

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Welcome to a riveting episode of Entering The Inspiration Zone with your host, Juliette Mayers. In this episode, Juliette sits down with Elzie D. Flenard III, the renowned Mayor of Podcast Town and a beacon of inspiration in the industry. Together, they explore Elzie's incredible journey from humble beginnings to becoming a podcasting powerhouse, amplifying voices that matter, and empowering entrepreneurs around the word.

Listen in as Elzie shares valuable insights on the power of mindset, clarity of purpose, and the importance of self-mastery in achieving success. Discover how Elzie's Podcast Academy is democratizing podcasting and creating a platform for all voices to be heard.

Join us as we uncover the keys to enhancing leadership, fostering inclusivity, and making a lasting impact in the world of podcasting with the one and only Elzie Flenard III. Stay tuned for an episode filled with wisdom, inspiration, and a roadmap to entrepreneurial excellence.

Episode Highlights:

05:04 - Eventually one of my guests said, "You know, Elzie, you're pretty decent at this whole podcast thing. You should help other people do it."

07:30 - Transformation, it happens based on 3 things: your level of education times your level of motivation times your level of inspiration, that equals your level of transformation.

09:17 - I've found that no matter what you do, how you do it is the thing that matters most.

17:16 - The biggest thing that I always like to leave people with is self-mastery on a surface, people will look at it and they say, "Well, that's selfish." But really, there's a reason why when you're on an airplane and they're giving you the safety instructions. They say if, the Lord forbid, the oxygen masks come down, put yours on first. Because if you don't and you can't breathe, then you're no good to anyone else.

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Juliette Mayers is joined by Leverett Wing, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Seminar, a trailblazing advocate for marginalized communities. Leverett's extensive experience in public service, including being the first Asian American staff member at the Massachusetts State House, and his numerous awards make him the perfect guest to delve into empowering communities of color.

Leverett discusses the historical power dynamics that have pitted minority communities against each other, highlighting the model minority myth, immigration policies, and the need for diverse education.

Tune in to learn about the importance of solidarity among people of color, the work of the Commonwealth Seminar, self-education about one's history, and taking control of your narrative through thought leadership. Don't miss this chance to learn how to shape your community's future through civic engagement.Get inspired and get involved to be a part of positive change!

Episode Highlights:

06:48 - Our 20th anniversary kickoff celebration is called, "In the room and at the table," and because that's where our communities need to be. It's not good enough to just be in the room. You have to be actually at the table when decisions are made, so you can voice your opinion. You can give your perspective. You can influence decision-makers.

12:52 - The reason I do all this writing and the reason I do a lot of these podcasts is because we need to share our stories. Because the traditional media, the traditional outlets don't often cover or want to cover, or just traditionally don't cover these types of stories. And so, we as communities need to tell our stories jointly. And we need to tell stories of solidarity. We need to tell stories of collaboration.

14:20 - It starts with the youth. It starts with educating young people, whether it's high school or college, but most importantly, at the elementary school level, so that they know that we've been, from a very young age, that we've all been working together.

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Leverett Wing

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Email-Commonwealth Seminar

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Juliette engages with the visionary Shellee Mendes to uncover the secrets of resilience and success in this episode. From humble beginnings to owning two esteemed salons on Newbury Street, Shellee shares her inspiring journey of overcoming adversities and making remarkable strides in the business and beauty industry.

They explore Shellee's transformative decisions, from venturing into cosmetology to handling the unique challenges faced during economic downturns like the 9/11 aftermath and the pandemic.

With an unmatched passion for networking and community involvement, Shellee also delves into the pivotal role these elements have played in her sustained success and influence.

Episode Highlights:

06:08 - The pandemic slowed us down business wise. I actually started my business after 9/11, but I did work on Newbury Street for 9/11, and things like that really slowed down business.

10:05 - When someone comes to my salon, it's not just the style. I examine their hair, their scalp. Probably after 10 years of being here, I really became intrigued with the scalp, the follicles, and the bulb that the hair grows out of. And I realized sulfate shampoos that we are washing our hair with are not just damaging our hair. They're damaging our hair from the root, the follicles.

10:59 - My vision for the future is to instill a little bit more education into hair and cosmetology schools. I feel that's important. I learned it after cosmetology school, but it's the reason why so many women, men, and especially women of color are losing their hair. So, I would love to see a stronger education in cosmetology schools.

12:31 - I really feel that mentoring is extremely important. Sometimes we can be selfish and not want other people to get ahead, but, honestly, it comes from my heart. And what I do, I do it from my heart. And half the things I do, I don't even remember when people tell me. I'm like, "Oh, wow. Yeah. Okay." But when you do it from the heart, you're not counting how many people you've helped in the past.

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Juliette talks with visionary leader, Eneida Roman, about the transformative power of Amplify Latinx in fostering Latino economic empowerment. Eneida shares insight into the organization's mission to propel the visibility of Latino leaders and the growth of Latino-owned businesses, emphasizing community involvement and public policy advocacy.

Eneida also discusses Amplify Latinx's strategic initiatives designed to uplift an entire community by amplifying less visible leaders and supporting micro businesses.

Episode Highlights:

07:36 - Expanding Outreach in the Latino Community: "Because we understood that the Latino community is the fastest growing population in the nation. And if we're only looking at women, we're missing out on half of that significant growth."

09:46 - Leadership and Economic Empowerment: "We really have honed in on supporting Latino-owned businesses, helping them obtain access to procurement opportunities and access to capital."

14:40 - Empowering Growth: "Because at the end of the day, Latino prosperity is American prosperity because when a community does well, everybody does well.

17:59 - Impact of Recent Supreme Court Ruling on DEI: "And now there's been a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that limits that progress somewhat and that has given pause to many leaders about what to do next."

18:36 - Promoting progress for the American economy is about giving equal opportunity, then let's do that. Right? Let's make sure that we are looking at what our country looks like and making sure that we're not giving preference to anybody. We're just looking at what the landscape is like and what we need to do as leaders, as business leaders, to ensure that the next generations do well.

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Email: Info@amplifylatinx.com

Juliette talks with diversity powerhouse Colette Phillips about the untold narratives of white male allies in the movement for equity. Colette details the seven traits of culturally savvy anti racist leaders from her book, The Includers, as they delve deep into the uncharted territory of inclusion while challenging the status quo.

Colette brings her unique blend of cultural intelligence and heartfelt anecdotes from her own experiences as a trailblazer in the field.

Episode Highlights:

10:10 - I believe very strongly that one your network is your net worth and number two that people do business with people they know, people they like, and people they feel add value.

10:53 - Get Konnected was born out of a necessity to see diversity reflected in every room, at every event. Face-to-face networking, to me, is the backbone of creating lasting, valuable relationships – it's where opportunities are seized and solidified.

19:24 - If we are going to move the dial on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, in this country we cannot do so and exclude white men from the conversation or from the table, it just does not make sense.

22:32 - Eric and Bob's work behind the scenes illustrates the silent yet impactful role of allyship. Their efforts epitomize the courage and commitment needed to facilitate real change in our society.

29:00 - The concept of the '7 C’s of Inclusion'. Building bridges requires certain foundational qualities. It all starts with character — without it, you can't hope to genuinely promote diversity.

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Juliette sits down with Lesli Suggs, President and CEO of The Home For Little Wanderers. Lesli shares her inspirational journey of advocating for at-risk children and families for over 35 years.

Lesli's commitment to community service and the power of relationship-building shines through as she shares her leadership lessons and offers practical advice for leveraging networks and building authentic connections.

Episode Highlights

06:34 - Education is the great equalizer and we'll never have equal access to education if we continue to fund education through property taxes.

08:49 - We've come to understand and know that child welfare does not do a good job of raising children. It's there to provide a critical service for children who need it, children who experienced abuse and neglect.

16:24 - To have influence, people have to be able to want to listen to me, be able to listen to me, which means I need to be in a relationship and have connection. And the power of relationships having being authentically interested in other people's journeys and what they have to say and their own perspectives, which may be similar to mine or different.

19:08 - Mentoring is sort of a strange word, I think, actually, because it implies that somebody's mentoring the other person. I always find that relationships that are connected in that way are so reciprocal. I learned everyone learn where I still have folks that I reach out to all the time who mentor me.

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