Empowering Positive Impact through Innovation & Connection: an interview with Sue Bevan Baggott of Power Within Consulting

Sue Bevan Baggott is an executive coach, angel investor, speaker and board member, who is skilled at uncovering deep human insights and making non-obvious connections that lead to impactful innovations and results.Sue shared that she is the oldest of three sisters, and grew up in a home that stressed the importance of education. She was always interested in math and science, and initially thought she would study to be a veterinarian or a doctor. Once she was in college, however, she decided to study engineering, which she saw as a path to financial security.After a summer internship with an oil company, sitting in front of a computer all day running mathematical models, she realized that she needed a career that was more people oriented. After college, Sue joined P&G, a consumer products company, in their beauty care division, and stayed with the Company for over 18 years!Sue took advantage of a voluntary separation package offer, and a meeting with a former colleague, to dial back her hours and consult part time. This enabled her to spend more time with her young sons, as well as to get involved with some emerging philanthropic endeavors. Through her strategy consulting work, she was introduced to Queen City Angels, an angel investing group, and was shocked to learn that only about 3% of venture capital goes to female founders."When I realized the imbalances in the venture world and the fact that that's really holding back innovation for many things that would serve women better and would serve the world better, honestly, I was like, okay, I have to get on the playing field and get more involved in this."  Sue Bevan Baggott.Key Takeaways:- Understand the activities that give you energy when thinking about the next role you might want to take on. In Sue's case, she enjoyed science and mathematics, but realized she needed to interact with people rather than sitting in front of a computer all day in order to enjoy her job. - Know the value of persistence. Sue shared how she was determined to be involved with sports when she was in high school, though she suffered from asthma and wasn't a natural athlete. She ultimately ended up playing lacrosse and loving it! Similarly, she applied for an internship with P&G when she was in college and didn't get the position. She reapplied post-college and was hired in P&G's beauty care division, which began her long career with the company. - Our challenges can be the source of our greatest strengths. Sue shared that when she was young, her mother faced a battle with mental health. Sue believes that this helped her develop sensitivity to other people's emotions. Empathy, Sue says, is her greatest strength. - Seek out mentors. Sue named, in particular, two female sponsors that helped her career at P&G. Her advice to us: if you don't have this kind of support, seek it out. Sue leveraged the network she had built when deciding whether to take advantage of a severance package and leave P&G. She talked to a former colleague who had started his own consulting business, which helped her make the decision to make a change.About the guest:In her career journey from Global Innovation Leader at Procter & Gamble to Founder of Power Within Consulting to “accidental” Angel Investor and Startup Advisor, Sue discovered the power of empathetic human connections to drive more meaningful leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurial success.  Her strategic leadership and innovation expertise helped grow mega-brands from Pantene to Pampers as well as accelerated success for several high-growth startups.Sue strives to empower positive impact and drive meaningful change in our world through her speaking, workshops, executive advising, angel/impact investing, and board roles - all in collaboration with purpose-driven leaders and organizations.  Linkedin:-https://www.linkedin.com/in/suebaggott1/Website :- http://www.powerwithinconsulting.com/ Interested in booking a free consultation? Schedule a call.Stay connected:Connect with Laura on LinkedIn@Rotters5 on TwitterConnect with Laura on FacebookSubscribe to my YouTube channelSubscribe to my newsletterGet your free copy of Unlock Your Money Blocks Workbook : Your step-by-step guide to unlocking your blocks to financial freedom.Disclaimer: Please remember that the information shared on this podcast does not constitute accounting, legal, tax, investment or financial advice. It’s for informational purposes only. You should seek appropriate professional advice for your specific information.