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Archives for May 2026

See Things in a Positive Light

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Michelle Scribner is the CEO of Sum of All Numbers, a financial analysis and planning company specializing in bookkeeping and the Profit First methodology. With over 30 years of business experience, she is a Certified Mastery Level Profit First Professional, Pumpkin Plan Strategist, and Fix This Next Strategist. Michelle works with entrepreneurs to help them achieve greater profitability.

Michelle Scribner
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Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

  • [2:46] Michelle Scribner explains how her passion for serving others led her to lead Sum of All Numbers
  • [7:41] How Michelle introduced company-wide cash flow management training
  • [12:05] How the Profit First system applies behavioral psychology to help entrepreneurs manage cash flow
  • [15:59] Michelle’s talent for interpreting financial statements to reveal client fears and habits
  • [22:00] The role of risk tolerance in financial management
  • [26:26] Challenges Michelle faced managing rapid growth using Profit First principles
  • [29:21] The core leadership value Michelle brings to Sum of All Numbers

In this episode...

Entrepreneurs often launch their businesses with dreams of making an impact, building wealth, and enjoying freedom, but the reality is often far messier. Between cash flow crises, unpredictable risks, and the emotional toll of leadership, many struggle to balance profitability with purpose. How can business owners align their finances with their values to create sustainable companies?

Profit First professional Michelle Scribner maintains that professionals must understand the numbers and behaviors behind financial management. She advises entrepreneurs to implement proactive cash flow strategies, tailor financial plans to their risk tolerance, and set clear boundaries on spending and saving. By focusing on client relationships, aligning team values, and embracing constant improvement, you can turn financial chaos into stability and growth.

In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston sits down with Michelle Scribner, CEO of Sum of All Numbers, to discuss leveraging a Profit First mindset for long-term growth. Michelle talks about the role of risk tolerance in finance strategies, the importance of servant leadership, and her cash flow management training.

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments:
  • “I thought, ‘this is wrong for us to not encourage this’… it was up to them.”
  • “Somehow you manage to be full on a smaller plate
  • “If firing someone is easy, then what does that say about humanity and me, right?”
  • “You still need to have a marriage and a life and your hope and a community.”
  • “I just choose to focus on what is good, which absolutely makes me feel grateful.”
Action Steps:
  1. Apply Profit First cash flow strategies: Separating income into distinct accounts ensures you prioritize profit and owner pay before spending. This system builds financial discipline and helps prevent overspending that threatens long-term business survival.
  2. Align your team around shared values: Ensuring everyone buys into core company values creates a unified, motivated workforce. This alignment improves team resilience, especially during times of change or growth.
  3. Understand your risk tolerance: Knowing how much uncertainty you can handle lets you make smarter, more sustainable financial bets. This prevents emotional decisions that can undermine your business and personal well-being.
  4. Set clear financial boundaries and goals: Establishing targets for savings, spending, and reinvestment helps you stay focused and accountable. It also creates a roadmap that protects you during downturns and supports intentional growth.
  5. Focus on continuous improvement: Embracing constant learning and refinement helps leaders and teams stay adaptable in changing markets. It also fosters innovation, which drives both individual and organizational success over time.

Sponsor for this episode…​

This episode is brought to you by Lead Like a Woman, a podcast dedicated to empowering women to unlock their leadership potential and amplify their voices.

We’re excited to introduce our new newsletter, which brings you exclusive access to past podcast episodes, products and services from our incredible podcast guests, unique Lead Like a Woman merch, and valuable opportunities to help you grow and lead.

To sign up for our newsletter and stay connected, send an email to andrea@leadlikeawoman.biz, and we’ll get you on the list today.

And the easiest way to find us? Simply type #LeadLikeAWoman into your search bar.

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How To Ask for More and Get It

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Dia Bondi is the Founder, Communications Coach, and Advisor at Dia Bondi Communications, where she works with senior leaders, founders, and other professionals to help them identify and lead with their voice. With over 20 years of experience as a leadership communications coach, she has worked with world-class brands like Intel, Mozilla, Dropbox, and Salesforce. Dia helped Rio de Janeiro secure the 2016 Summer Olympics and has coached world leaders at United Nations gatherings. She is also the author of Ask Like An Auctioneer, which aims to empower one million women to ask for more and get it.

Dia Bondi
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Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

  • [2:50] What led Dia Bondi to write Ask Like an Auctioneer?
  • [6:45] How auctioneering taught Dia to build trust with an audience before making requests
  • [9:28] Dia shares her core belief to speak from who you truly are
  • [12:48] Behind the scenes of Rio de Janeiro winning the Summer 2016 Olympics bid
  • [17:01] How fear of asking for too much limits opportunities, and the difference between price and worth
  • [23:39] Why having a plan for handling rejection transforms how you approach major requests
  • [25:15] Dia’s six-step ask plan framework for designing bold asks

In this episode...

Many women professionals struggle with asking for what they truly want, often fearing rejection, seeming too aggressive, or being seen as “not worth it.” This hesitation limits earning potential and stifles personal and professional growth. If making bold requests feels intimidating or unrealistic, how can leaders and entrepreneurs shift their mindset to embrace their value and move confidently toward their goals?

According to communications expert and auctioneer Dia Bondi, the key lies in understanding the difference between value and worth and designing requests that challenge your comfort zone. By leveraging the “zone of freaking out” (ZOFO) concept, women can view fear as a sign of stepping into new potential. Dia suggests creating a clear “ask plan,” which includes setting a tangible goal, identifying bold moves to reach it, and preparing for rejection as an obstacle rather than a failure. By separating your worth from the outcomes of an ask, you can make substantial requests to receive more.

In this week’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston chats with Dia Bondi, the Founder, Communications Coach, and Advisor at Dia Bondi Communications, about how to make requests to achieve your goals. Dia discusses the difference between price and worth, her core belief, and leadership lessons learned from auctioneering.

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments:
  • “You are your most powerful when you speak from who you truly are.”
  • “Rejection feels like an existential threat, period.”
  • “Price is a measure of value, not worth.”
  • “If you’re not in your comfort zone, you’re in your zone of freaking out.”
  • “Confidence is an outcome of action; it can’t be a prerequisite.”
Action Steps:
  1. Develop a personal ask plan: Designing a strategic plan for your asks clarifies your goals and boosts your confidence to pursue them. Knowing your next big move keeps you focused and intentional rather than waiting passively for opportunities.
  2. Recognize the difference between value and worth: Separating how others value your asks from your self-worth helps prevent rejection from feeling personal. This mindset shift empowers you to keep asking boldly without internalizing setbacks.
  3. Embrace the zone of freaking out (ZOFO): Feeling uncomfortable signals you’re pushing the limits of what you think is possible. Recognizing and leaning into your ZOFO leads to greater personal growth and breakthrough achievements.
  4. Prepare a plan for handling rejection: Having a response strategy in place makes hearing “no” less intimidating and keeps momentum moving forward. It turns rejection into a detour instead of a dead end.
  5. Speak authentically from your true self: Leading with authenticity increases connection, trust, and impact in high-stakes conversations. People respond more positively to communication that feels real rather than overly rehearsed.

Sponsor for this episode…​

This episode is brought to you by Lead Like a Woman, a podcast dedicated to empowering women to unlock their leadership potential and amplify their voices.

We’re excited to introduce our new newsletter, which brings you exclusive access to past podcast episodes, products and services from our incredible podcast guests, unique Lead Like a Woman merch, and valuable opportunities to help you grow and lead.

To sign up for our newsletter and stay connected, send an email to andrea@leadlikeawoman.biz, and we’ll get you on the list today.

And the easiest way to find us? Simply type #LeadLikeAWoman into your search bar.

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