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  • Master Conflict So It Works for You

    Karen Valencic is the Founder of Spiral Impact, where she blends physics and martial arts to manage conflict and enhance performance. With over 30 years of experience in the martial art Aikido, she created the Spiral Impact method, which guides people on mastering conflict, fostering positive engagement, and driving innovation. Karen is also the author of Spiral Impact: Black Belt Edition.

    Karen Valencic apple spotify pandora amazon music Deezer iheartradio playerfm .podwrap img{margin-right:20px;}.center-block{margin:0 auto;float:none;display:block;text-align:center;} height:53 .elementor-element-9f9cfc5 a .wp-image-1318{ width:183px; max-width:183px; min-height:5px; height:53px; } .elementor-10888 .elementor-element.elementor-element-76df018, p{text-shadow: none !important;}

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

    • [3:30] Karen Valencic shares her entrepreneurial path through martial arts
    • [7:58] An alternative definition of conflict
    • [11:59] How Aikido transformed Karen’s career and mindset
    • [15:04] How to master conflict
    • [26:28] The connection between Aikido and conflict resolution
    • [30:42] Karen details her conflict mastery course

    In this episode…

    Conflict is often viewed as negative, especially by women who feel they lack positions of power to resolve conflict. However, conflict can foster innovation and growth when managed effectively. How can you shift your approach to leverage conflict to your benefit?

    As a third-degree black belt in Aikido, Karen Valencic defines conflict as the tension between force and power. Recognizing this tension is the first step to mastering conflict since it allows you to develop emotional intelligence and mindfulness to solve problems. You must then determine where and how to focus your energy, which may involve asking questions to gain more information about the issue and foster a positive dialogue. 

    Tune in to this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show as Andrea Heuston invites Karen Valencic, the Founder of Spiral Impact, to speak about mastering conflict in your personal and professional lives. Karen shares the connection between conflict resolution and Aikido techniques, how to join her conflict mastery course, and how Aikido altered her perspective.

    Resources Mentioned in this episode:

    Quotable Moments:
    • “Conflict doesn’t have to be an awful thing. Sometimes, it is just getting your voice heard or getting your ideas considered.” 
    • “We don’t evolve or innovate without conflict. It’s the source of all innovation and all beauty.” 
    • “Power is something that you own for yourself, and you can develop that.”
    • “Recognize when you feel uncomfortable or anxious; that’s often where conflict starts.” 
    • “True mastery isn’t about perfection, but about trying, failing, and trying again.”
    Action Steps:
    1. Recognize conflict early: Pay attention to the signs of tension in yourself and others to identify conflict early. This awareness allows you to address issues before they escalate, fostering a more harmonious environment.
    2. Practice centering techniques: Use centering techniques from martial arts like Aikido to maintain calmness and clarity during conflicts. This helps keep discussions productive and prevents reactive behaviors that can exacerbate tensions.
    3. Ask questions instead of making statements: Shift from making declarative statements to asking questions during a conflict. This approach opens up dialogue, encourages understanding, and shifts the focus from blame to problem-solving.
    4. Set clear intentions: Define what you want to achieve from a conflict without focusing on others’ actions. This clarity in intention guides the direction of the conversation and aligns efforts toward a constructive outcome.
    5. Embrace the Spiral Method: Use the Spiral Method to move with the conflict instead of against it, applying rotational power rather than force. This technique, inspired by Aikido, reduces resistance and creates momentum toward resolution and innovation.

    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.

  • What’s Your Mantra?

    Helena Smolock is the Founder, President, and CEO of Velocity Athletic Training, an award-winning company that helps professionals gain strength through resistance and functional training and meditation. As a fitness professional and master athlete, she has over 35 years of experience in the fitness industry. Helena has assisted corporate clients, semi-pro athletes, and post-rehab clients with injuries in her studio. 

    Helena Smolock apple spotify pandora amazon music Deezer iheartradio playerfm .podwrap img{margin-right:20px;}.center-block{margin:0 auto;float:none;display:block;text-align:center;} height:53 .elementor-element-9f9cfc5 a .wp-image-1318{ width:183px; max-width:183px; min-height:5px; height:53px; } .elementor-10888 .elementor-element.elementor-element-76df018, p{text-shadow: none !important;}

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

    • [4:20] How Helena Smolock pivoted from becoming a trial lawyer to health and fitness
    • [10:48] Helena’s inspiration for naming her company Velocity Athletic Training
    • [16:19] Balancing remote work with mental and physical fitness
    • [19:27] Helena talks about her book The Athletes Mantra Journal
    • [25:26] Advice for women to discover their true potential

    In this episode…

    Pursuing optimal health often focuses on physical fitness, but what role do mental and emotional well-being play? For individuals in the corporate space, achieving ideal health requires both physical activity and a mindset that fosters resilience and positivity. How can you align your mental and physical health to thrive?

    Helena Smolock, a seasoned fitness expert, has dedicated her career to understanding this balance. Drawing from her experience as a master athlete and corporate wellness work, Helena emphasizes the importance of mindset in driving physical health. Her method includes using affirmations and visualization techniques, such as mantras encouraging individuals to focus on empowering words and positive goals. 

    In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston speaks with Helena Smolock, the Founder, President, and CEO of Velocity Athletic Training, about fostering health and wellness in both personal and professional settings. Helena shares her journey from aspiring criminal lawyer to fitness entrepreneur, her strategies for addressing the mental health challenges of remote work, and how her tools help individuals and teams optimize their well-being.

    Resources Mentioned in this episode:

    Quotable Moments:
    • “Your mindset is the most important thing, the most powerful thing that your body can follow.” 
    • “I am fascinated with speed. Believe it or not.” 
    • “The mind is the most powerful tool.”
    • “When you have love, you have everything. It bypasses everything.”
    • “Learn research. Is it you? Is it really you?”
    Action Steps:
    1. Develop a positive mindset: Helena Smolock emphasizes the power of mindset in achieving health and wellness goals. By maintaining a positive attitude, individuals can overcome barriers and stay motivated, which is crucial for achieving optimal health.
    2. Engage in regular physical activity: Helena’s journey from a youth athlete to a master athlete highlights the importance of consistent physical activity. This addresses the challenge of inactivity and promotes a lifestyle that fosters physical and mental health.
    3. Foster social connections: Social interactions are crucial for mental well-being. Joining group fitness classes or engaging in team sports can enhance social connections, reducing feelings of isolation experienced by many remote workers today.
    4. Incorporate mantras for motivation: Helena’s use of mantras, like “I am fast,” demonstrates their effectiveness in building self-belief and focus. This practice can help individuals overcome mental hurdles and reinforce positive self-perception, contributing to overall wellness.
    5. Embrace continuous learning and adaptation: Helena’s pivot from pursuing law to fitness underscores the value of adaptability and lifelong learning. By researching and embracing new information, individuals can find paths that align with their true selves, leading to personal and professional fulfillment.

    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.

  • Inclusive Leadership Starts With You

    Jennifer Brown is the Founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Speaks, where she focuses on keynote speaking and coaching organizations on creating inclusive workplaces. As a globally recognized DEI thought leader, speaker, award-winning entrepreneur, and bestselling author, she has 20 years of experience consulting with leaders. Jennifer is the author of Inclusive and How to Be an Inclusive Leader. She has also spoken at institutions and organizations like Google, LinkedIn, and Toyota about building cultures of belonging and envisioning the future of work.

    Jennifer Brown apple spotify pandora amazon music Deezer iheartradio playerfm .podwrap img{margin-right:20px;}.center-block{margin:0 auto;float:none;display:block;text-align:center;} height:53 .elementor-element-9f9cfc5 a .wp-image-1318{ width:183px; max-width:183px; min-height:5px; height:53px; } .elementor-10888 .elementor-element.elementor-element-76df018{text-shadow: none !important;}

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

    • [2:57] Jennifer Brown’s journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship 
    • [6:38] How Jennifer built her consultancy
    • [9:10] Jennifer talks about her company’s merger
    • [12:19] The consequences of the Supreme Court banning affirmative action
    • [20:39] How to build a more inclusive world
    • [26:13] Jennifer opens up about facing stigma

    In this episode…

    The Supreme Court recently banned affirmative action in college admissions, indirectly impacting businesses’ efforts to foster equal representation and inclusion. With inclusivity and diversity becoming increasingly important, what does it take to lead with authenticity and impact?

    As an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, Jennifer Brown faced stigma and discomfort in the corporate world after coming out, leading her to suppress her identity. Rather than minimizing your or another’s identity, she emphasizes aligning with your true self and fostering an inclusive environment for others. This involves embracing your diverse characteristics and sharing those experiences with others, which can alter established paradigms and empower others facing similar struggles.

    In today’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston talks with Jennifer Brown, the Founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Speaks, about cultivating diversity and inclusion. Jennifer discusses her company’s merger, the current state of DEI programs, and how she built her consultancy from the ground up.

    Resources Mentioned in this episode:

    Quotable Moments:
    • “I just wanted to shed all of that administrivia and just be directly working with people; it’s my happy place.”
    • “There is nothing wasted in your experience. At some point, that skill, that resilience, will make you a different leader.” 
    • “The arc of the moral universe is long. It bends toward justice.”
    •  “Each one of us knows something about diversity, and we need every story and identity.” 
    • “Am I using what I’ve been given? Am I giving voice to what needs to be voiced?”
    Action Steps:
    1. Embrace authenticity in leadership: Jennifer Brown emphasizes the importance of showing your true self in leadership roles, which can create more inclusive and supportive work environments. By being open about your identity and experiences, you can foster a culture of trust and authenticity, encouraging others to do the same.
    2. Seek out diverse perspectives: Jennifer highlights the value of learning from those with different life experiences to enhance understanding and innovation. Actively seeking out and engaging with diverse voices can help you challenge your biases and make more informed decisions.
    3. Commit to continuous learning: Jennifer’s journey in diversity and inclusion underscores the importance of ongoing education. Regularly updating your knowledge on inclusion and equity issues can better equip you to lead in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, chaotic, and ambiguous) world.
    4. Foster a culture of belonging: Jennifer discusses the need for workplaces where everyone feels welcomed and valued. By creating initiatives that support marginalized communities, you can ensure all team members have equal opportunities to thrive.
    5. Challenge the status quo: Jennifer speaks about the importance of pushing back against systems that maintain inequality. Take proactive steps to identify and address institutional biases within your organization, leading to more equitable and just outcomes for all.

    Sponsor for this episode…​

    This episode is brought to you by Lead Like a Woman SpeakHer. 

    Lead Like a Woman SpeakHer is an online speakers resource dedicated to empowering women in leadership. 

    This subscription platform is designed to empower and equip women with the tools and resources they need to excel as speakers and influential leaders.

    Its mission is to support women in harnessing their strengths, amplifying their voices, and making a lasting impact on their industries and communities. 

    To enroll in Lead Like a Woman SpeakHer, mention this episode by name and sign up on leadlikeawoman.biz/speakher

  • Creating Clarity

    Ann Latham is the Founder of Uncommon Clarity, a consulting firm helping professionals gain cognitive clarity. As a clarity consultant, she has worked with notable businesses, including Hitachi, Boeing, and Medtronic. Ann is also the author of The Power of Clarity, The Disconnect Principle, The Clarity Papers, and Uncommon Meetings. Her insights have appeared in The New York Times, Bloomberg, and Management Today.

    Ann Latham apple spotify pandora amazon music Deezer iheartradio playerfm .podwrap img{margin-right:20px;}.center-block{margin:0 auto;float:none;display:block;text-align:center;} height:53 .elementor-element-9f9cfc5 a .wp-image-1318{ width:183px; max-width:183px; min-height:5px; height:53px; }

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

    • [4:05] Why Ann Latham founded Uncommon Clarity
    • [8:30] How Ann developed The Disconnect Principle
    • [14:27] The latest definition of clarity and the habits that impede progress
    • [19:14] Ann’s experience giving a TEDx talk about communication
    • [21:18] Tips and techniques for accelerating results and hosting meetings
    • [27:01] What brings Ann joy?

    In this episode…

    The word “clarity” is used frequently in business contexts, but what does it mean? For entrepreneurs and leaders, clarity involves identifying your goals and methods for achieving them. How can you gain clarity in all aspects of your professional life?

    Widely recognized “Clarity Queen,” Ann Latham has discovered the common roadblocks to goal progression, including a lack of specificity and clear communication. She maintains the importance of gathering enough information to make informed decisions about the next steps. This involves identifying specific decisions and action steps and developing detailed plans to execute them.

    In this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston sits down with Ann Latham, the Founder of Uncommon Clarity, to discuss how to gain clarity in your professional life. Ann explains how to accelerate results and optimize communication in meetings, the takeaways from her TEDx talk, and insights from her books.

    Resources Mentioned in this episode:

    Quotable Moments:
    • “I cut to the chase and figure out where we need to start and what we need to do to move things forward.” 
    • “People don’t understand that clarity leads to better business results.” 
    • “All you know for certain is that things didn’t happen the way you expected.” 
    • “Clarity is knowing exactly, very specifically, what you’re trying to accomplish and how you’re going to get there.” 
    • “The best thing you can do is just try to be on the steady incline that goes through the middle of all those peaks and valleys.”
    Action Steps:
    1. Ask specific questions for feedback: Instead of vague requests for feedback, specify exactly what information you need, such as asking for permission to start a project. This approach eliminates uncertainty and accelerates decision-making, addressing the challenge of miscommunication.
    2. Use destination verbs in meetings: Replace “treadmill verbs” like “discuss” and “review” with “destination verbs” like “decide,” “plan,” or “approve” to make meetings more productive. This action addresses the common issue of unproductive meetings by ensuring every agenda item has a clear, actionable outcome.
    3. Adopt the disconnect principle: Frame difficult conversations as identifying a “disconnect” rather than assigning blame, which reduces defensiveness and promotes constructive dialogue. This method is effective as it shifts the focus from personal failings to problem-solving.
    4. Practice clarity in decision-making: Implement a structured decision-making process by clearly defining the decision at hand and the criteria needed for making that decision. This step tackles the prevalent lack of systematic decision-making in organizations, ensuring decisions lead to clear and actionable steps.
    5. Embrace open-ended questions: Use questions like “What needs to be different when we’re done?” to clarify objectives and next steps in any project or task. This approach fosters a clearer understanding of goals and helps identify the specific outcomes needed to drive progress.

    Sponsor for this episode…​

    This episode is brought to you by Lead Like a Woman SpeakHer. 

    Lead Like a Woman SpeakHer is an online speakers resource dedicated to empowering women in leadership. 

    This subscription platform is designed to empower and equip women with the tools and resources they need to excel as speakers and influential leaders.

    Its mission is to support women in harnessing their strengths, amplifying their voices, and making a lasting impact on their industries and communities. 

    To enroll in Lead Like a Woman SpeakHer, mention this episode by name and sign up on leadlikeawoman.biz/speakher