Leading with Values with Rachel Formaro

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/NOTE: Feminist Founders is a listener-funded podcast. Your contributions enable us to continue bringing you these important conversations. To support the mission and receive bonus content, sign up for a subscription at https://feministfounders.substack.com/ SUMMARY: Today we are joined by Rachel Formaro, a seasoned entrepreneur who navigated the tumultuous journey from overwhelmed solopreneur to thriving CEO. Rachel shares her profound insights on transitioning from the solopreneur mindset to embracing empowering business leadership. We delve into the fear of delegating and the essential mindset shift necessary for sustainable business success. Rachel illuminates the distinction between leadership and management, advocating for values-driven decision-making and building a supportive work culture. She emphasizes the importance of investing in a team for sustainable business expansion and shares strategies for navigating short-term challenges while prioritizing long-term gains. Moreover, Rachel candidly discusses prioritizing self-care, overcoming imposter syndrome, and setting boundaries to maintain work-life balance during periods of growth. Join us as we explore Rachel's empowering journey of resilience, growth, and redefining success as a values-driven CEO.----- Rachel Formaro (she/her) is the founder, CEO and a senior consultant at Blu Pagoda. With more than 25 years of broad career experience, Rachel is a top-performing communications and business management professional. She is known for her creativity, compassion, and commitment to achieving results.While Rachel’s specialty is financial services, she also has experience with technology and consumer goods. She has assisted Fortune 500 with their business and communications challenges—particularly in the area of complex programs. Rachel has experience in both the United States and Canada and has assisted companies with initiatives in both countries, including mergers and acquisitions. Outside of her work at Blu Pagoda, Rachel loves being a mom, wife, cook and avid reader. She stays engaged with her local community through volunteering and is a board member with the Chrysalis Foundation for Girls and Women. Website | LinkedInDiscussed in this episode:Rachel’s relationship with feminism and how it became more intersectionalHer journey from Corporate America to self-employment, back to Corporate America, and finally starting Blu PagodaHow Rachel balances her anti-capitalist beliefs with serving clients in Corporate AmericaThe ways Rachel is trying to buck capitalist norms inside her businessGetting comfortable with the CEO title by redefining what it meansThe importance of enlisting experts to help you grow as a CEOModeling the self-care behaviors she wants her employees to feel empowered to doSetting boundaries around time and not making assumptions about others’ needsThe weight of responsibility for other people’s livelihoodsNavigating an economic downturn without losing sight of people-first valuesCreating a legacy and owning the word “philanthropist”Navigating aging and ageism as a woman business ownerResources mentioned in this episode:“Hood Feminism” by Mikki KendallSister.isClifton StrengthsDrive to Survive on Netflix“Rest is a Resistance’ by Tricia HerseyMoms Demand ActionChrysalis Foundation for Women and Girls“This Chair Rocks” by Ashton ApplewhiteLearn more about accountability coaching with host Becky Mollenkamp at https://beckymollenkamp.com