What Lights You Up?

Stephanie Sims

Stephanie Sims is a capital strategist, startup advisor, and the Founder of Finance-Ability, where she helps founders build economic stories that make dollars and cents. After nearly a decade in investment banking and having worked with the likes of Goldman, Lehman and CSFB on over $5 billion of transactions, Stephanie rode the high tech startup rollercoaster in Europe, complete with angels, venture capitalists, and the coveted exit to a publicly traded company.

Stephanie has educated and mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs across three continents and has helped her clients raise over $30 million dollars in early stage capital. She is frequently asked to judge startup competitions and to speak about venture capital, angel investment and alternative sources of funding.

Stephanie is also the host of the “What’s Your Ask Podcast‘, where she talks to investors and entrepreneurs about the different ways they’ve asked and been asked for money, references, introductions, and more.

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

  • Stephanie Sims explains why she started Finance-Ability and how she helps small businesses with their finances, getting funding, and telling their stories
  • Stephanie recalls her entrepreneurial journey and shares some of the projects she is currently working on
  • Current shifts in women founders seeking venture capital funding and how the COVID-19 pandemic has aided that
  • Stephanie’s advice to women who are looking for venture capital funding
  • Why Stephanie wrote Funding Your Business Without Selling Your Soul and who her target audience was
  • Stephanie talks about the difference between owning her own firm versus working for a large investment company
  • What Stephanie loves about her work and why she’s excited about her business being an investment opportunity for others
  • Stephanie discusses the importance of taking the next step in your plan and her advice to women who are struggling to do just that
  • Stephanie explains why her superpower is being the finder of lost things

In this episode…

Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on many people’s lives, especially on women in business. They’ve been forced to work from home and juggle business with motherhood. However, these circumstances could provide a good opportunity for women to figure out what their businesses actually need.

At this time of limited movements and interactions, it is important for women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the situation, sit down and get clear on what you want. You need to remember what got you excited about your work in the early days of your business and find out what gives you joy right now. This way, it will be easier to figure out what works well for you and use that to improve both your personal and professional life.

Stephanie Sims, the Founder of Finance-Ability, is Andrea Heuston’s guest in this week’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show where she shares her expertise on entrepreneurial finance and venture funding. She also talks about her own entrepreneurial journey that led to the founding of Finance-Ability and her work with organizations that serve startup founders. Stay tuned.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Artitudes Design by Andrea Heuston. Artitudes Design is an award-winning creative agency that has been creating visual communication for Fortune 500 companies for over 25 years. They have worked with notable companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Expedia, and have also served startups and nonprofit organizations.

They specialize in connecting speakers with audiences by creating visual value with presentations and through the creation of motion graphics, video, and content.

To learn more about Artitudes Design, visit their website today. Checkout their portfolio to see their previous projects, and contact them today to find out how they can help you bring your business a cut above the rest.

[Women of Wine] Find Your Ally

Faith Koen

Faith Koen has been in the procurement profession for over 20 years across multiple industries. She is currently the Procurement Manager for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and she is responsible for overseeing the procurement team and supporting the wineries and facilities that are located in Washington, California, and Oregon. Faith joined the Women of Wine (WoW) Employee Resource Group within Ste. Michelle in 2015 and she currently serves as the Chair of the organization. During her tenure with WoW, she has embraced the opportunity to collaborate and learn from other amazing women in the organization, which has allowed her to grow as a leader and more importantly, a supporter.

Christina Starr

Christina Starr is a communications and public relations professional with 17 years of experience working with luxury brands from hospitality to tourism and wine. Currently, she’s the Senior Communications Manager for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’ luxury and imported wine portfolio. She oversees the communications in the U.S. for Champagne and Villa Maria in New Zealand, along with several other domestic and important wine brands. She is also the Vice Chair of Ste. Michelle’s Women of Wine (WoW), which supports events and programming to support professional development, collaboration and knowledge sharing within St. Michelle. Christina holds a level two certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and is currently pursuing her level three certification.

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

  • How Christina Starr and Faith Koen began their careers in the wine industry.
  • How Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’ sustainability goals translate to Faith’s work in procurement and Christina’s work in communication.
  • What changes did Ste. Michelle go through in order to address and serve different customer demographics?
  • How has the wine industry evolved to become more inclusive of women?
  • Faith and Christina talk about the Women of Wine Employee Resource Group in Ste. Michelle and how it has changed through the years.
  • The concept of enoughness and how women can deal with imposter syndrome.
  • Faith and Christina’s advice to women who are held back by fear and those who feel like they are not enough.
  • Faith and Christina talk about their superpowers and share how people can get in touch with them.

In this episode…

Unlike men, most women avoid taking some actions because they feel that they do not know enough about certain subjects for them to make a move. They are unable to recognize themselves as leaders or experts in their fields and they often forget that even being a successful business owner is a continuous learning process that everyone goes through. This failure to see their own achievements and skills as enough puts a limit on them and the things that they can do, and these all stem from one thing: fear.

Fear is a real thing but instead of embracing it and facing it head on, many women allow it to take over their lives. This reaction to fear prevents them from moving forward and learning from potential experiences that can elevate them and propel them towards success. So what can women do to help cope with their own fears and how can they get over their own limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome in order to unlock opportunities in their career and in their life?

Join Andrea Heuston in this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show as she interviews Faith Koen and Christina Starr of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates to talk about women in the wine industry and how they can assuage their own fears and realize that they are enough. They will also be discussing their company’s sustainability goals, what the Women of Wine Employee Resource Group in Ste. Michelle is all about, and how the wine industry has evolved through the years to be more inclusive of women. Stay tuned.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Artitudes Design by Andrea Heuston. Artitudes Design is an award-winning creative agency that has been creating visual communication for Fortune 500 companies for over 25 years. They have worked with notable companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Expedia, and have also served startups and nonprofit organizations.

They specialize in connecting speakers with audiences by creating visual value with presentations and through the creation of motion graphics, video, and content.

To learn more about Artitudes Design, visit their website today. Checkout their portfolio to see their previous projects, and contact them today to find out how they can help you bring your business a cut above the rest.

Just Ask!

Jenna Lange

Jenna Lange is the Founder and CEO of Lange International. She specializes in high stakes communications and is a key partner for executives and their teams on how to make the most out of short but critical communication moments. Jenna has been transforming people into great communicators for over 15 years through her work with executives from the world’s leading brands. In addition to working with the C-suite, she also coaches sales teams on how to pitch to win key accounts, and takes the stage for keynotes. Her experience crosses countries, industries, and communication challenges.

Jenna is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and has delivered keynote presentations to global teams throughout Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Jenna’s book, Please Don’t Picture Them Naked, takes readers on a humorous tour of public speaking do’s and don’ts. When she’s not working, you can find her running, eating, biking, skiing, or relaxing with her husband and two children.

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

  • Jenna Lange shares how her climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro led her to take the leap and start her own business 16 years ago 
  • The types of clients that Jenna  works with and how she helps them in their businesses.
  • Jenna explains how she helps people handle tough conversations and how she leads like a woman at Lange International.
  • How can women represent themselves in order to be the leaders of their lives?
  • Jenna discusses the role of core values and boundaries in her company, and why she’s curious about how the old and new world will come together for future generations.
  • Jenna talks about her mentors and the best piece of advice she has received from them.
  • Jenna discusses why fellow women leaders should not be afraid to ask for her things and why her superpower is infusing people with confidence.

In this episode…

Unlike men, most women fail to advance in their careers and leadership roles because they are often afraid to ask for the things they need to move forward in their profession. They fear asking for referrals, asking for that promotion they’ve been working hard for, and asking for advice from the people who can guide them in their careers.

Jenna Lange encourages women to work on their confidence and be ready to ask for things when the opportunity arises. She helps them network and communicate better, and she also encourages them to explore their world, be curious, be open minded, avoid judging themselves or other women, and get better at encouraging and advocating for other women.

But why is she so passionate about this and how does she apply this to her own life and business?

In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston talks to Jenna Lange, Founder and CEO of Lange International, about entrepreneurship and creating your own success. Jenna explains why women leaders should not always say ‘Yes’ to everyone and everything, why they should advocate for fellow women, and how she leads like a woman in her business which she started 16 years ago. Stay tuned.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Artitudes Design by Andrea Heuston. Artitudes Design is an award-winning creative agency that has been creating visual communication for Fortune 500 companies for over 25 years. They have worked with notable companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Expedia, and have also served startups and nonprofit organizations.

They specialize in connecting speakers with audiences by creating visual value with presentations and through the creation of motion graphics, video, and content.

To learn more about Artitudes Design, visit their website today. Checkout their portfolio to see their previous projects, and contact them today to find out how they can help you bring your business a cut above the rest.

[Women Presidents’ Organization] Find Your Authentic Voice

Nancie-McDonnell-Ruder

Nancie McDonnell Ruder is the owner of Noetic Consultants, a marketing consulting firm providing consumer research, brand strategy, marketing process and training expertise to BtoB and BtoC firms. Nancie has more than 25 years of marketing experience. She began her career at the Leo Burnett Company before starting Noetic Consultants in 2002. The word ‘noetic’ is related to one’s intellect and thinking. Nancie chose this name for the company because it reflects her team’s commitment to helping clients strategically think through their challenges, so that together, they can take the actions necessary to get the best possible outcomes.

Noetic Consultants’ clients have included Samsung, PepsiCo, Nike, Marriott, Mayo Clinic, and Discovery Inc, amongst others. Nancie also serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, and is the creator of the Noetic Art and Science Assessment.

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

  • Nancie McDonnell Ruder shares how she started Noetic Consulting 18 years ago and what led to the company’s success.
  • Nancie talks about her brand building framework and explains how she finds clients for her consultancy.
  • What Nancie’s ‘brand health diagnostic’ tool is and how it benefits her clients.
  • Nancie explains why she decided to use the word ‘Noetic’ for her brand and why she wrote the book Jack and Jill Went Up the Hill: How Senior Marketers Scale the Heights Through Art and Science
  • Nancie recalls a pitfall or mistake she made in her business and what she learned from it.
  • What’s the most challenging part of Nancie’s job and what does she love most about it?
  • How to lead like a woman when working with high end brands.
  • Nancie’s advice for women who are struggling to find their voice and be heard.
  • Nancie explains why superpower is perseverance.

In this episode…

According to Nancie McDonnell Ruder, a woman does not have to talk loudly when working with men in order to be heard or to establish herself as a good leader. A woman can effectively lead in her own unique and feminine way because leading doesn’t have to involve dominating a conversation or being masculine. It’s all about attitude and knowing how to inspire people to do what needs to be done.

Being a good leader involves collaborating well with other people and not being afraid to express who you are, most especially your feminine side. Although you should be assertive and express your opinions where necessary, what’s most important is you finding your authentic voice which can be and will be heard by those around you. You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room for you to be heard–you just have to be the one that makes the most sense and offers the best options for people to choose from. And the only way that you can do this is by defining who you are living by this standard everyday.

Nancie McDonnell Ruder, Founder of Noetic Consultants, is Andrea Heuston’s guest in this week’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show where she explains why women leaders should find their own authentic voice in order to become good and successful leaders. Nancie shares her own experience as a woman leader among men and how she started company. She also talks about her brand building framework, and how her brand health diagnostic tool can help her clients. Stay tuned.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Artitudes Design by Andrea Heuston. Artitudes Design is an award-winning creative agency that has been creating visual communication for Fortune 500 companies for over 25 years. They have worked with notable companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Expedia, and have also served startups and nonprofit organizations.

They specialize in connecting speakers with audiences by creating visual value with presentations and through the creation of motion graphics, video, and content.

To learn more about Artitudes Design, visit their website today. Checkout their portfolio to see their previous projects, and contact them today to find out how they can help you bring your business a cut above the rest.

[Women of Wine] It’s Not About What We’re Handed, But How We Handle It

Stacy Lill is the Co-founder and CEO of Cashmere Partners, focusing her efforts on corporate networking, marketing and strategic partnerships. She provides strategic consulting in wine industry education and development for many wineries. In 2007, she founded O Wines, which she sold to Chateau Ste Michelle Winery. After the sale of O Wines, Stacy founded the Opportunity for Success Scholarship Program which funds educational college scholarships for deserving young women. To date, they have awarded 71 full scholarships.

Stacy’s career includes 25 years of sales and marketing experience for numerous Fortune 500 companies including Ernst and Young. She has received many honors including the Women’s University Club Businesswoman of the Year, Soroptimist Award for Outstanding Community Service, Women for Wine Sense National Rising Star Award, Seattle Magazine’s Community Service Award, and the Puget Sound Business Journal Woman of Influence Award. She is highly regarded for her philanthropic efforts and is known as a community leader in both business and philanthropy. 

Stacy is a graduate of University of Washington, a member of the International Women’s Forum, and most recently became a founding member of the Puget Sound Business Journal’s Leadership Trust. Ensuring young women have an opportunity for quality education is a pillar in Stacy’s legacy.

Recently, Stacy and her husband, Greg, recently co-founded Lill Family Wines as another brand in their wine portfolio.

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

  • Stacy Lill talks about how she started in the wine industry 25 years ago.
  • Stacy explains how the O Wines brand led to a scholarship program for women.
  • How students can find and apply for the Opportunity for Success Scholarship Program.
  • Stacy discusses the motivation behind Lill Family Wines and Cashmere Partners.
  • How Stacy chooses who to serve in her philanthropy work.
  • Benefits of having mentors and some of the best advice Stacy has received from her mentors.
  • Stacy’s advice to other women who are interested in working in the wine industry.
  • Stacy shares her curiosity on what the future looks like for families, businesses, and industries.
  • Why Stacy’s superpower is connecting people.

In this episode…

Wine is a delicious and wonderful way of bringing people together. It’s capable of connecting people from different walks of life and different industries, and allows them to enjoy something good together. The wine industry is also an incredibly inclusive industry, allowing both men and women to contribute to its growth through their individual knowledge and skill sets.

While it is a fun industry to be a part of, it is not for the faint of heart. It takes determination and a lot of collaboration, and it often challenges people to go beyond their known limits. But once you learn the ropes and fully immerse yourself in all the things it has to offer–both the good and the bad–it’s not impossible to find success. Of course, it all really depends on how you handle the cards that you’re dealt with.

In this week’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston interviews Stacy Lill, the Co-founder and CEO of Cashmere Partners, about entrepreneurship, marketing, and wine. Tune in as they discuss Stacy’s career in the wine industry and the new brands that she has recently launched with her husband, the scholarship program she offers for college kids, and her best tips for success in the wine industry.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Artitudes Design by Andrea Heuston. Artitudes Design is an award-winning creative agency that has been creating visual communication for Fortune 500 companies for over 25 years. They have worked with notable companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Expedia, and have also served startups and nonprofit organizations.

They specialize in connecting speakers with audiences by creating visual value with presentations and through the creation of motion graphics, video, and content.

To learn more about Artitudes Design, visit their website today. Checkout their portfolio to see their previous projects, and contact them today to find out how they can help you bring your business a cut above the rest.