Earned Wisdom! For Accomplished Leaders

#30 Earned Wisdom! For the Accomplished Leader: Zero Ego

Zero ego was at the top of a list about qualities that make a great leader. Unfortunately, it is something that is pretty much impossible to live up to for any of us human beings. Seriously…to understand what it means check out Eastern philosophies or any philosophy that speaks to what an ego is for us. Personally, I get tired of the lists that are put out without considering that it takes such a deep level of self-awareness that many may give up before they begin.

It doesn't mean you shouldn't try to deconstruct your ego, you can (but survival is its goal). I think when people say "zero ego," they mean zero arrogance. And arrogance or hubris is a construct of an insecure person whether they are a leader or not. The ego contains these characteristics, as fragile as they are and the individual hides behind them hoping their insecurities disappear. They don't.

To elevate yourself to living to a standard that no human can is a recipe for disaster and frustration. Its better to work toward self-acceptance (another term most of us scratch our head on "how" to do) and upping your value just for breathing. Tune in to my podcast episode to hear how I take this apart and put it back together in a way that you can walk away with tools on becoming more of the leader you already believe yourself to be.

#29 Earned Wisdom! For Accomplished Female Leaders with Kristi Kaylor

Kristi Kaylor is a renowned entrepreneur in the celebrity and influencer marketing industry for more than 20 years. In 2006, Kristi founded The Loft Entertainment to connect brands, celebrities, and influencers through strategic content and marketing initiatives. Kristi’s hands-on leadership has led The Loft to work with 100+ brands and 500+ celebrities and influencers, launching brands, products, programs, content, and new entrepreneurs. Kristi's strong connections, business acumen, and sharp eye for trends have enabled her to build a successful career by connecting the right talent to the right brand, delivering on promises, and producing results. She recently wrote a booked called Steel a Yes, Dispatches from a Celebrity Brand Builder Who Gets Sh*t Done, coming out this spring.

 

In this inspiring and insightful podcast episode, Kristi shares her experience and knowledge on what it takes to succeed as a woman in business, and the importance of having belief in oneself. She discusses how to overcome fear and doubt, get out of your own way, and create the message in your mind that you want it to be. 

 

"Don't be afraid to speak up for what you believe in. Even if you get a lot of 'no's,' eventually you'll get a 'yes' or you'll pivot and create something else and get a 'yes'."

 

"Create the message in your mind that you want it to be. Don't wait, put fear aside. If it's not working, pivot and reinvent. Be willing to have 'no's,' but know that you're getting 'yes'es."

#28 Fear in Managing Others

Are you a female leader who struggles with making tough decisions because you don't want to come off as overly aggressive or insensitive? Do you find yourself constantly second-guessing your abilities and decisions due to a lack of confidence? If so, this episode is for you.

We dive into the surprising truth about female leadership and how personality traits like agreeableness and neuroticism can actually hinder your career success. Using the Big Five Personality Dimension as a framework, we explore why being too nice can be problematic for women in management positions.

But it's not all doom and gloom - we also offer practical steps for building confidence and trusting yourself as a leader. The first step is being honest with yourself and noticing the false stories you tell yourself, which often stem from old beliefs. We also suggest doing deeper emotional work to undo these beliefs and build true confidence.

Don't let being too nice hold you back in your career. Tune in to this episode and start taking the reins to become a confident and effective leader. And if you need help doing the deeper emotional work, we encourage you to reach out for support at business@tracycrossley.com.

#27 Earned Wisdom! For Accomplished Female Leaders with Lorey Zlotnick

Join me on this episode of Earned Wisdom! For Accomplished Female Leaders, as I speak with Lorey Zlotnick, the CEO of Zequity Marketing, a full-service advertising and marketing agency. She has held high-profile executive roles at organizations such as the National Football League, News Corporation, Disney, and NBC Universal, and has launched multiple cable television networks and digital startups. Zlotnick most recently served as the Chief Marketing and Brand Officer of Team Rubicon and the Veterans Coalition for Vaccination, where she led the elevation of the brand presentation, built a robust communications and media division, and developed new original content. Lorey shares her experience navigating the male-dominated world of advertising and offers insightful advice to women seeking to advance in their careers.

Listen in as Lorey discusses the importance of resilience in leadership, the value of women leaders coming together to create a supportive and collaborative environment, and practical advice for female leaders. This episode is filled with valuable insights and advice for women seeking to excel in leadership roles. Whether you're starting out or have years of experience, tune in to this engaging conversation and gain actionable tips to take your career to the next level.

“I believe that you shouldn't compete with other women. I think that as women, we need to hold each other up and provide opportunities when it's available.”

“I think resiliency has not been a challenge, but it's worked to my benefit because I've often had to step down and rebuild and reinvent.”

Learn more about Lorey here:

http://www.Zequitymarketing.com
https://www.loreyzlotnick.com/in/loreyzlotnick
https://www.principalpost.com/in-brief/lorey-zlotnick

#26 Build Yourself up From the Inside Out To Lead With Confidence

As female leaders, we can lead with confidence even if we don’t have it all figured out…because none of us really do. Pangs of insecurity are normal, but when we feel threatened by other women, a common response is to judge them harshly (even if it’s only in our own head). It comes from a place of fear: afraid we don’t measure up or afraid we’ll be “found out.”

Instead of tearing other women down to artificially boost our confidence, we can build ourselves up. In this episode we’ll talk about the insecurities, attachments, blame and expectations that block us from feeling confident. Because as harshly as we may judge other women, we’re even harsher on ourselves. By addressing our insecurities we not only lift ourselves up, we’re able to champion other women too.

#25 Same Problem Different Day; The Cure for the Challenge

You are a wealth of knowledge and experience. Other people know it, but when the same challenge pops up over and over, you might start to question your effectiveness as a leader. Whether it’s another slow month or another new hire quitting, you wonder if this is the time it’ll finally go down the toilet.

As a leader it can be not to personalize, so this podcast is about looking deeper into what’s triggering you so you can turn things around. Looking at problems as your responsibility to solve rather than your fault is a game-changer. One is empowering while the other is deflating. Listen in for more steps you can take to change your behavior patterns and fully embody the accomplished leader you are.

#24 Earned Wisdom! For Accomplished Leaders with Robin Zucker

Named a 2022 Business Insider CMO to watch, Robin is the Chief Marketing Officer at Codeacademy where she leads a brand-building team that delivers results and drives growth. Cutting her teeth in digital-first businesses gave her the ability to constantly challenge the status quo and pivot in an ever-changing landscape. As a strong female leader, Robin understands the different dynamics and expectations that exist for men and women—something she has been able to successfully navigate throughout her career.

“The more senior I get, there are fewer women that are my peers.”

Listen as Robin talks about how to work with gender, cultural, and generational differences by meeting people where they are, and how understanding yourself can drive you to excel so you’re always ready for what’s next.

Learn more about Robin here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinzucker/

#23 Earned Wisdom! For Accomplished Female Leaders with Michelle Penczak

Michelle Penczak is a military wife, mother of two boys, and co-founder of the virtual assistance agency, Squared Away. Growing up as a sassy kid in North Carolina, Michelle believed that brick walls were made to be broken down. That determination would serve her well into adulthood when several career obstacles tried to trip her up.

Listen as Michelle shares her journey from a laid-off personal assistant to the founder of a virtual assistant agency with more than 350 employees, mostly military spouses. As a military spouse herself (she married a Marine pilot and was named MCAS Miramar Military Spouse of the Year in 2021), Michelle experienced devastating rejections for jobs she was fully qualified for…because she was “just” a military wife who would likely leave in a few years. Seeing a huge gap in the marketplace for talented, capable workers who were being overlooked, Michelle built a fully remote business that gave military spouses a place to work, build their skills and feel valued. Squared Away, which Michelle currently runs from San Diego, offers everything from phone support and bookkeeping to event planning, social media management and a whole lot more.

“Never be afraid to say, ‘I don’t know.’ It shows you have integrity as a leader.”

Learn more about Michelle and Squared Away here:

Website: https://www.gosquaredaway.com/

Instagram: Squared Away (@awaysquared)

Facebook: Squared Away

#22 As a Female Leader I Can’t Ask For Help

You see a post in your LinkedIn newsfeed: a woman you know merged her business and people are congratulating her. Then you see a post from a friend who started at the same time you did, but now she’s the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company. You start spiraling. Even if you’ve accomplished a lot, it doesn’t feel like nearly enough. You doubt yourself, but who can you admit this to? No one. It feels shameful. What’s wrong with you? Why can’t you do better?

When it feels like everyone has it figured out but you, it can be incredibly lonely. But no one can help you if you continue to hide your fears and insecurities. That’s what we’re talking about in this week’s episode because it keeps women separate from one another. It hampers your leadership potential because you believe there isn’t enough topline success to go around. When you’re afraid to reach out, you miss out on insight that could be invaluable to you and your business. It’s time for women to open up and connect with each other, honestly, vulnerably and courageously.

#21 Earned Wisdom! For Accomplished Female Leaders with Johna Burke

Johna Burke has almost 30 years of experience in PR, communications and marketing, handling everything from production, sales and HR to finance and overall client experience. As a self-professed “outgoing introvert,” Johna believes our energy is our biggest asset, and that celebrating ourselves and each other is something we can all get better at.

Listen in as Johna and I talk about how competition and collaboration can coexist; the importance of compassion, grace and kindness; the danger of labels and much more. She’ll also share what she believes is the most beautiful word in the English language, and how it can benefit all of us.

“If you’re always in a room of violent agreement, you’re probably in a dangerous room because you have identified the bubble, and you are in it.”