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Rebecca Minkoff: Be Fearless & Follow Your Passion

May 3, 2021 Comments Off on Rebecca Minkoff: Be Fearless & Follow Your Passion

Welcome to Episode 100! We’re ending Season 4 of When Women Win with a fearless bang – talking with world-renowned & industry-leading fashion designer, Rebecca Minkoff. Her massively popular line of handbags, accessories, and footwear are distributed in over 900 stores worldwide as well as her website.

Rebecca started creating her own clothes at just 8 years old. The moment that propelled her talent into the spotlight occurred when she was 21, days after 9/11… A famous actress wore Rebecca’s handmade ‘I Love NY’ tee on the Jay Leno Show, and the name drop changed her entire life. Suddenly there was immense demand for her debut five-piece capsule collection. But what looked like an overnight success to most, was really years of passion, grit, and fearlessness.

On This Episode of When Women Win:

Rebecca and I talked about designing your life according to your passions. We discussed the roles that self-awareness and courage played in her success, and the impact the pandemic has had on her company. Rebecca shared the inspiration behind her new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage and Success. I love the structure of the book: 21 rules we should all break if we want to achieve success. We got into 7 of them, so you have another 14 to discover in the book!

Notable Quotes:
  • “Never not use your womanhood to your advantage.”
  • “You may have to separate that what makes you happy doesn’t make you money.”
Book Recommendations:

Rebecca’s book Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success drops on June 15th, and if you pre-order it now at readfearless.com, you’ll receive 7 bonus goodies! If you buy it elsewhere, email a copy of your receipt to Fearless@RebeccaMinkoff.com , she’ll still send you the goodies!

Talking Points in This Episode:
  • Pursuing your passion with or without permission
  • Dealing with instant success
  • Adapting a retail business during a pandemic
  • Trusting your gut
  • The myth of balance

You can learn more about Rebecca by checking out rebeccaminkoff.com.

Please get in touch with me at When Women Win and let me know what you think of this episode or the show in general. You can reach me via LinkedIn or the web contact form. Thank you!

 

 

How to Lead Diverse Teams – Sebnem Avsar Tuna

April 26, 2021 Comments Off on How to Lead Diverse Teams – Sebnem Avsar Tuna

Sebnem Avsar Tuna is the Senior Vice President at Novo Nordisk, a global pharmaceutical company and the world leader in treating diabetes. She is based in Dubai and runs the Asia Pacific region (APAC) – an extremely diverse territory.

On This Episode of When Women Win:

I talked to Sebnem about leading a culturally diverse team – and doing it remotely. Over the past 11 years, she has learnt to flex her leadership style because it is important to her that each employee feels valued and respected. Sebnem emphasized the need to “hold space” for others, especially in meetings… yes, zoom meetings! We also talked about the importance of leading by example, how to handle disappointments that inevitably arise while doing business, and how to shift your work energy towards what really matters. Based on her experience, Sebnem encouraged us to do business with a positive attitude.

Notable Quotes:
  • “Lead by example.”
  • “If you really want to target a higher position, continuously ask for feedback.”
Book Recommendations:

Sebnem recommends reading The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak, one of my recent guests. Check out Elif’s episode while you’re at it!

Talking Points in This Episode:
  • How to be decisive
  • Opportunities for growth and learning
  • Managing remotely
  • Giving and receiving feedback
  • Awareness of your team

You can learn more about Sebnem by connecting with her on LinkedIn.

Please get in touch with me at When Women Win and let me know what you think of this episode or the show in general. You can reach me via Instagram, LinkedIn – or the web contact form. Thank you!

 

Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram: How to Build a Business That Saves Lives

April 19, 2021 Comments Off on Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram: How to Build a Business That Saves Lives

Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram is a doctor and entrepreneur: she is the founder and CEO of Proximie, a technology platform that allows surgeons from across the world to collaborate and assist virtually in any operating room on the planet. The process sounds like a SciFi movie – but it is here, now! Doctors can virtually “scrub in” on Proximie and, through augmented reality, they can literally point their holographic hands where to make incisions. It’s an immersive experience beyond anything the medical field has ever seen.

On This Episode Of When Women Win:

Nadine and I talked about her journey through medicine and business – it involved inspiration, resilience and breaking boundaries. As a teenager in Lebanon, Nadine saw how access to quality healthcare changed communities. While Proximie started out as an experiment to create positive impact, it has become a global company that epitomizes “the future of surgery.” Nadine discussed her solution-based thinking processes and how that mindset helped her become an entrepreneur. Finally, she talked about how to prioritize commitments to ensure you follow through with your goals.

Notable Quotes: 
  • “Prepare, perform and perfect.”
  • “Create a solution for a problem, not the other way around.”
Book Recommendations:

Nadine recommends reading Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore, a guide for marketing and selling in high-tech industries. 

Talking Points In This Episode: 
  • Global health
  • Courage in entrepreneurship
  • Digitizing surgical care
  • Augmented reality
  • Stories of success (including a robotic surgery during the pandemic)

If you’d like to know more about Nadine and her work, you can connect with her on LinkedIn and check out the Proximie website.

Please get in touch with me at When Women Win and let me know what you think of this episode or the show in general. You can reach me via Instagram, LinkedIn – or the web contact form. Thank you!

 

Bola Adesola: Crafting Your Own Corporate Path

April 12, 2021 Comments Off on Bola Adesola: Crafting Your Own Corporate Path

Bola Adesola is the Senior Vice Chair of Standard Chartered Bank, Africa. She is also on several boards including the United Nations Global Compact and the Women Corporate Directors (WCD), an organization that represents female business leaders around the world. Bola co-founded Women in Management, Business and Public Service (or WIMBIZ) in 2001, and it is now Nigeria’s most renowned gender-oriented network for women. Her high energy and positive outlook are infectious!

On This Episode Of When Women Win:

Bola talked about how determined she was to craft her own path through corporate, and how she was discerning about where to work and what to do. Although she started out to become a lawyer just like her father, after a few years she turned to banking instead. Throughout her 30-plus-year career, Bola learned leadership lessons that she shared on this podcast, such as introspection and reflection… She gave tips for making career choices based on value alignment and purposefulness, and defined what those terms really mean. Bola also examined the defining periods of her life and why those times were so influential to her current position in work and family life.

Notable Quotes:
  • “Be discerning about where you work.”
  • “Failure happens, but it’s not fatal.”
Book Recommendations:

The last book Bola gifted to a friend was Eight Laws of Leadership , a leadership book based on Christian principles.

Talking Points In This Episode:
  • Having a plan
  • Aligning your values with your work
  • A successful career and “childlessness” in Nigeria
  • Bola’s opinion of failure
  • Being a sponsor
  • Giving second chances
  • Build your own table

If you’d like to know more about Bola and her work, you can connect with her on LinkedIn.

Please send me a message to let me know what you think of this episode or the show in general. You can reach me via Instagram, LinkedIn – or the web contact form. Thank you!

 

 

Catriona Wallace: Artificial Intelligence 101 and The Heroine’s Journey

April 5, 2021 Comments Off on Catriona Wallace: Artificial Intelligence 101 and The Heroine’s Journey

Dr. Catriona Wallace is the Executive Chair of Boab, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) accelerator, and the Founder of Ethical AI Advisory. Catriona is a serial entrepreneur, having started a consulting business, a research business and a co-working space. She was also the Founder and CEO of Flamingo AI, the second woman-led company ever to list on the Australian Stock Exchange. Catriona has been recognized by the Australian Financial Review as the Most Influential Woman in Business & Entrepreneurship, and she is one of the world’s most cited experts on AI & Responsible Technology. She is a proud mother of five.

On This Episode of When Women Win:

Catriona demystified Artificial Intelligence and made it easy to understand for someone like me, who has no background in AI. We examined how machines are set to change the world, ethical AI, and her role in ensuring diversity and inclusion is programmed into the future. Catriona shared how her childhood trauma has shaped her as a businesswoman, and how mindfulness has helped her surmount life’s greatest obstacles. The Heroine’s Journey is a 7-part journey that all women take, and Catriona invites you to find out where you are on that journey.

Notable Quotes:
  • “Our journey to great leadership is based around truly knowing ourselves.”
  • “I want to stand in my power so that I can effect change.”
Book Recommendations:

Catriona recommends reading The Heroine’s Journey by Maureen Murdock to get a more in-depth understanding of the concept.

Talking Points in This Episode:
  • Dreams of being a farmer’s wife
  • The police force
  • Computer technology is replacing human leaders
  • AI’s effect on human jobs
  • From abuse to awareness to peace
  • Yearning for the feminine

If you’d like to know more about Catriona and her work, you can connect with her on LinkedIn. And if you want to learn about Ethical AI Advisory, check out the website at https://ethicalai.ai.

Please get in touch with me at When Women Win and let me know what you think of this episode and the show in general. You can reach me via Instagram, LinkedIn – or the web contact form. Thank you!

Farah Foustok: Invest in Yourself

March 22, 2021 Comments Off on Farah Foustok: Invest in Yourself

Why must you invest in yourself?

On the Forbes list of power women every year since I’ve known her is Farah Foustok, the CEO of Lazard Asset Management in the Middle East. She is also the founder of the Middle East’s 30% Club, Reach Mentoring and TARA speed-mentoring – all platforms designed to help women achieve their professional goals.

On This Episode of When Women Win:

Farah & I discussed taking risks, losing it all, cultivating grit and rebuilding from scratch. Farah talked about her move from corporate to a wild 4-year entrepreneurial adventure in Argentina and Spain, and then back into the corporate world. We discussed why it’s important to invest in yourself and what that looks like. Finally, Farah shared how working in the male-dominated world of Middle Eastern finance fueled her passion for mentorship and her desire to help more women rise to leadership positions.

Notable Quotes: 
  • “I learned to lose everything and then find a way to rebuild.”
  • “It’s important to surround yourself with people who have similar values because you don’t always have the answers on your own.”
Book Recommendations:

Farah recommends reading Open: An Autobiography written by professional tennis player Andre Agassi.

Talking Points in This Episode: 
  • Major changes from young life to motherhood
  • Defining failure as an individual and as a society
  • Living in the Arab world
  • How to bounce ideas off others
  • Collaboration and acceptance in team sports

If you’d like to know more about Farah, you can find her at https://poweroftara.net/tara-team/ and on LinkedIn.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback, so please do drop me a note or take this 1-minute survey.

Thank you!

Zélika García: The Business & Pleasure of Art

March 15, 2021 Comments Off on Zélika García: The Business & Pleasure of Art

Zélika García is the founder and director of Latin America’s biggest art fair, ZONAMACO. She has been running this fair in Mexico City for the last 20 years and her journey certainly did not come without obstacles. Despite literally hundreds of “no”s, Zélika persevered and turned her idea into a massive annual event.

On this episode of When Women Win:

I talked to Zélika about the business side of art – art smarts, if you will. We discussed how to build credibility as a young businesswoman and stressed the importance of patience in navigating obstacles. Though Covid has thrown a wrench in her plans, Zélika is excited by the opportunity to innovate and is hosting an all-new version of ZONAMACO next month in Mexico City. Finally, Zélika explained why you don’t have to study art to enjoy it.

Notable Quotes:
  • “Everybody is good at something different, and you need to explore that in order to make a good team.”
  • “Everything is negotiable. Everything.”
Book Recommendations:

I recommend reading a book by Zelika’s friend Luis Bustamante: New Perspectives featuring beautiful interior designs.

Talking points in this episode:
  • Setting up the art fair
  • Business “the Mexican way”
  • Running an event in the midst of natural disasters & pandemics
  • Creativity in the workplace
  • The pleasure of living with art

If you’d like to know more about Zélika and ZONAMACO, you can check out her website at https://zsonamaco.com and find the event all over social media @ZONAMACO.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so drop me a note or take this 1-minute survey. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Rana’s 5-minute POV: How to Network Remotely

February 25, 2021 Comments Off on Rana’s 5-minute POV: How to Network Remotely

In my second “point of view” episode, I explore how to build a business network remotely. Even after Covid passes, online networking will remain strong and necessary – so let’s get better at it!

For more points of view, you can find me at my website, Instagram or LinkedIn.


Silvia Davila: How to Evolve Your Leadership & Confidence

February 15, 2021 Comments Off on Silvia Davila: How to Evolve Your Leadership & Confidence

Silvia Davila is the Regional President of Latin America for Danone Dairy & Plant-Based, one of the biggest food companies in the world. They own brands like Activia, Silk, Alpro and many more… Next time you see a Danone yoghurt in your supermarket, think of Silvia!

She started her career at McDonald’s in Mexico before joining Procter & Gamble’s Marketing department. In 2004, she joined Mars Mexico where she rose to General Manager for the Chocolates division and General Manager for the Pet division. In 2014, she became the Food Chief Marketing Officer of Mars globally, based in Belgium. In 2017, she returned to Mexico to join Danone.

We talked about the dance that we do at work every day – having fun and also taking difficult decisions; being a committed professional while also being a full-time mom, wife and daughter. We discussed the challenges that one faces in the workplace and how they change over time. We talked about networking, confidence, picking your battles and not settling for the status quo.

Silvia’s book recommendation was The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, and if you’d like to reach her, you can find Silvia Davila on LinkedIn.

I’d love to hear from you… Please drop me a note or take this 1-minute survey. Thank you!

Jennifer Petriglieri: How Dual Career Couples Can Work

February 8, 2021 Comments Off on Jennifer Petriglieri: How Dual Career Couples Can Work

Jennifer Petriglieri is an Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD, and one of the world’s leading researchers on dual career couples. In fact, she recently released her first book Couples That Work, a study of how dual-career couples can thrive in love and in work. Jennifer’s award-winning research and teaching focus on identity, leadership, and career development.

This episode is full of practical advice: we discussed the 3 major transitions in a working couple’s life, and how to navigate them. We explored what differentiates dual career couples that succeed from those that don’t. We talked about the money trap when it comes to geographical moves, and the surprising impact Covid has had on working couples.

My favorite quote of the episode was “Desire doesn’t come when you’re sat next to someone and they’re in their pyjamas with their laptop on their knee”.

Jennifer’s TED talk on the subject can be found here, and you can find more at her website.

I’d love to hear from you… Please drop me a note or take this 1-minute survey. Thank you!

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The Podcast

When Women Win is a weekly podcast where boss ladies and female role models from around the world share their inspirational stories and practical tools and strategies for success. The podcast is currently the most listened to podcast in the Middle East.