Women in Sales Leadership

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithmeYou have the experience. You have the results. So why does it feel like you keep getting overlooked? In this solo episode of Women in Sales Leadership, executive coach Amy Evans reveals the one thing high-performing sales leaders miss that costs them roles they are more than qualified for: they lead with their resume instead of their story.In this episode you'll get:- Why your resume, packed with quota attainment and titles, may actually be putting people to sleep in the room- The exact difference between a resume and a story, and why story is what gets you hired, promoted, and remembered- Amy's What/Why/Who framework to build your own story starting today- A live story-building exercise you can do right now- Amy's personal leadership values (integrity, joy, growth) and how to uncover yoursThis episode is for you if you're in an active job search, preparing for a promotion conversation, looking for more visibility inside your current company, or you just haven't thought about how you talk about yourself in a while.Your results don't speak. You do.Subscribe to Women in Sales Leadership for weekly episodes packed with coaching, strategy, and straight talk for senior sales leaders who are ready to make real moves.Connect with Amy: amyevanscoaching.com⏱️Episode Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Career Advancement Strategies03:11 Understanding the Resume vs. Your Story06:04 The Importance of Context in Storytelling09:01 Crafting Your Leadership Philosophy11:54 Building Your Narrative: Problem-Solving Framework14:48 Telling Your Story with Confidence18:01 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Work with Amy: https://amyevanscoaching.com/workwithmeAmy Evans shares her raw journey of launching her business, overcoming self-doubt, identity shifts, and the importance of action and perspective in entrepreneurship. Learn practical tools and inspiring insights to ignite your own path.Key Topics:- The journey from corporate sales leadership to entrepreneurship- Overcoming self-doubt and identity crisis- The importance of perspective and visualization in career change- Practical reflection exercises to recognize your achievements- The role of action and embracing imperfection in growthEpisode Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Journey02:47 Facing Self-Doubt and Identity Crisis06:02 The Dream and Reality Check09:06 The Turning Point: Embracing Change11:55 The Decision to Start a Business15:02 Investing in Yourself: The Role of Coaching17:58 Identity Transformation and Letting Go20:51 The Power of Reflection and Accomplishments23:59 Taking Action and Overcoming Fear26:52 Conclusion: Embracing the Journey#entrepreneurship #self-doubt #identityshift #action #perspective #leadership #careertransition #personalgrowth #coaching #businesslaunch

Work with Amy: https://amyevanscoaching.com/workwithmeHave you ever had a voice in your head telling you that you are not ready, not good enough, or that speaking up is too risky? Leslie Vickrey calls it the "Evil DJ" and in this episode, she is here to help you shut it off for good.Leslie Vickrey is the founder and CEO of ClearEdge, a marketing agency serving the staffing, talent, and HR tech space, and the co-founder of ARA, an organization dedicated to attracting, retaining, and advancing women in technology. She is an author, investor, podcast host, and one of the most authentic voices in women's leadership today. Named one of Enterprising Women of the Year, inducted into the UIC Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, and recognized as a Top 50 DEI Influencer, Leslie has spent her career building brands, championing women, and proving that you can lead with both grit and grace.In this conversation, Amy and Leslie go deep on what it actually takes for women to rise into executive leadership: the confidence battles no one talks about, the power of your network, and why using your voice could be the single most important career move you make this year.In this episode, you will learn:- What the "Evil DJ" is, why it keeps so many high-performing women stuck, and the practice Leslie used to finally silence it- How to build and leverage a network that opens doors at every stage of your career, and the costly mistakes most women make with their networks- What it means to "see it, say it" and why learning to use your voice in the room is non-negotiable for women who want to lead at the highest levels- The truth about imposter syndrome as a CEO and how Leslie moved through it without letting it stop her- What the leadership gap for women in tech and staffing is really about, and what you can do right now to change your own trajectory- How Leslie built a company of 55-plus people, became a mom at 42, and learned what it truly means to lead yourselfWhether you are a senior sales leader, an aspiring executive, or a woman building something of your own, this episode will challenge you, inspire you, and send you back into the world ready to lead differently.Connect with Leslie Vickrey:Website: https://meetclearedge.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lvickrey/Podcasts: TheEdge | Honestly, We're LearningBooks: Together We Rise | Rising with Courage: A Women's Guide to Life and LeadershipConnect with Amy Evans:Website: https://amyevanscoaching.comFree Career Planning Call: https://amyevanscoaching.com/workwithmeWomen in Sales Leadership is the podcast for high-performing women in B2B sales who are ready to lead with authority, earn what they are worth, and build careers they love. Follow the show so you never miss an episode.

What if the thing you've been waiting to feel ready for is the exact thing you need to start right now?In this deeply personal episode, sales leadership coach Amy Evans pulls back the curtain on her own entrepreneurial journey — the real, unfiltered version that nobody posts about on LinkedIn. From a layoff at Salesforce on the first day of the fiscal year, to navigating a divorce after 17 years of marriage, to building what is now a top 10 global podcast and thriving coaching practice, Amy shares exactly what it took to make the leap she'd been dreaming about for 25 years.This episode is for you if you're standing at the edge of your biggest leap — whether that's going after the executive role, making a career pivot, launching something of your own, or finally betting on yourself in a way that scares you. Amy talks candidly about the "messy middle," the identity shifts that every major career move requires, and why the wait-until-I'm-ready strategy will cost you more than you think.In this episode, you'll learn:• What it actually feels like to be called to something before you're ready — and why that timing might be exactly right• The behind-the-scenes story of how this business and podcast were built — including what failed, what pivoted, and what finally clicked• The identity shift that Amy wishes someone had told her about a decade ago — and how it governs 98% of your behavior whether you're aware of it or not• Why the messy middle isn't a sign you're failing — it's a sign you're figuring it out• The one mindset shift that turns anxiety and overwhelm into action, every single timeIf something in this episode stirs something in you — a question, a what-if, or that thing you've been thinking about but not doing anything about — that's your signal.Connect with Amy:• Free Career Planning Session: [amyevanscoaching.com/work-with-me](http://amyevanscoaching.com/work-with-me)• LinkedIn: Amy Evans• Website: [amyevanscoaching.com](http://amyevanscoaching.com)

Work with Amy: https://amyevanscoaching.com/workwithmeConnect with Amy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alynnevans/It's the end of Q1. A full quarter of 2026 is gone. And if you've been telling yourself the same thing since January — "I know I need to make a move, but the timing isn't right" — this episode is for you.In this solo episode, Amy breaks down the pattern she keeps seeing in her one-on-one conversations with senior sales leaders: high performers who are stuck, who know they've outgrown their current role, and who keep finding reasons to stay. The promotion above them is occupied. The company flattened. They absorbed the reorg to protect their team. And now they're doing more for the same pay with no clear path up.Amy identifies the three fears that keep strong leaders in roles they've already outgrown: the Identity Fear (who are you without the company name?), the Devil You Know Fear (watching colleagues leave and struggle), and the Golden Handcuffs Fear (there's always a financial reason to wait another quarter). She challenges listeners with a five-question Q1 Gut Check, including the Sunday Night Test and the one question that tells you everything you need to know about whether it's time to go.If you recognized yourself in this episode, you're not alone. Amy is gifting every listener a complimentary one-hour Next Career Move Planning Session. Grab yours at amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme.Know someone who needs to hear this? Forward this episode to a friend who's been feeling stuck. It takes ten seconds and it might be the push they need.#WomenInSalesLeadership #SalesLeadership #CareerGrowth #ExecutiveCoaching #SalesLeaders #Q1Review #WomenInTech #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerTransition #SalesManagement

Work with Amy: https://amyevanscoaching.comNetworking. You know you need to do it. You also kind of hate doing it. Even the most accomplished sales leaders, women running hundreds of millions in revenue, will admit they find it uncomfortable. You are not alone. And in this episode, we fix that.Amy Evans just wrapped a live workshop with senior sales leaders at one of the world's largest tech companies and the number one thing that came up? Networking. How hard it feels. So she brought the whole conversation here for you.In this episode you'll learn:- The exact agenda to run a 30-minute networking call so you show up with confidence- How to introduce yourself in under 3 minutes and actually be remembered- The 3-part leadership story framework that makes executives stop and pay attention- What to say when you need a job right now vs. when you're playing the long game for a promotion- Why reaching out to a C-suite leader is a service, not an imposition- How to cold outreach like the sales leader you are and get the meetingEpisode Chapters:00:00 The Importance of Networking02:53 Overcoming Networking Challenges05:53 Setting Objectives for Networking Conversations09:06 Crafting Your Leadership Story11:51 Effective Networking Strategies14:46 Navigating Job Searches through Networking21:08 Building Meaningful Connections26:53 Taking Action and Moving ForwardWhether you are going after a VP or CRO role, looking to move companies, or building your bench of executive sponsors, this episode gives you a simple repeatable playbook you can use today. Amy issues a challenge at the end. Come ready to act.If you are a high-performing sales leader in B2B tech and you are ready to step into a second-line executive role, Amy's Unlocked Executive Sales Leadership Program was built for you. Grab a free planning session with Amy at amyevanscoaching.com.Subscribe to Women in Sales Leadership so you never miss an episode.#WomenInSalesLeadership #SalesLeadership #NetworkingTips #CareerAdvancement #ExecutivePresence #B2BTech #WomenInSales #SalesCareer #CareerGrowth #LeadershipCoach #GetPromoted #ExecutiveCoach #SalesLeader #AmyEvans #Networking

Work with Amy: https://amyevanscoaching.comYou're closing multi-million dollar deals. You're running organizations. You know your business cold. So why does your own money still feel like this uncomfortable thing you avoid?In this episode, Amy sits down with Carolin Helff, money coach and founder of The Financially Fierce, to have the conversation most high-earning women never get to have. Not about investing. Not about 401ks. About your actual relationship with money.Carolin walked away from a six-figure Silicon Valley role, took a nine-month sabbatical to travel the world solo, and landed her dream job at Stripe. And she did it because she planned for it financially and emotionally. In this conversation, she breaks down exactly how.What you'll take away from this episode:- The real difference between a financial advisor and a money coach (and why you probably need both)- Why high-performing women keep feeling financially insecure no matter how much they earn- The dangerous trap of lifestyle creep and how it quietly works against you- The one exercise Carolin gives every client to start giving your money direction this week- Why the goalpost keeps moving and what to do insteadEpisode Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Financial Empowerment02:50 The Courage to Take a Sabbatical06:11 Navigating Career Risks and Societal Expectations09:04 The Emotional Journey of Transitioning11:56 Understanding Money Mindsets14:49 The Role of Financial Advisors vs. Money Coaches18:09 Common Money Behaviors of High Performers20:58 Transformative Outcomes of Financial Coaching23:50 Actionable Steps for Financial ClarityIf you've ever said "I'm just not good with money" or "I can always make more" this conversation is going to hit close to home. And that is exactly the point.Carolin's coaching business: The Financially FierceFind her on LinkedIn: Carolin HelffAre you a high-performing sales leader ready to step into your next level? The Unlocked Executive Sales Leadership Program is for ambitious women in B2B tech who are ready to move into VP, CRO, or second-line leadership. Learn more and apply at amyevanscoaching.com.#WomenInSalesLeadership #MoneyCoach #HighEarningWomen #FinancialEmpowerment #SalesLeadership #WomenInSales #ExecutiveWomen #MoneyMindset #FinanciallyFierce #WomenAndMoney #SalesLeader #B2BSales #CareerGrowth #FinancialWellness #LeadershipWomen

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.comBrene Brown says that telling someone they need more executive presence is some of the worst career advice she has ever received. And the moment I heard that, I knew exactly what she meant.Because if you have ever been on the receiving end of that feedback, you already know how frustrating and unhelpful it is. More executive presence. Okay. But what does that actually mean and what are you supposed to do with it?In this solo episode of Women in Sales Leadership, I break down why the traditional definition of executive presence was never built for women like us, and I give you a five step practice you can do in five minutes or less that builds real presence from the inside out.Not a performance. Not a costume. You, fully grounded, fully prepared, and walking into any room ready to lead.WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:- Why Brene Brown calls traditional executive presence one of the worst pieces of career advice out there and why she is absolutely right.What your brain is actually doing in the seven seconds after you walk into a room and why you cannot afford to wing it no matter how experienced you are.- The five step pocket presence practice you can use before any high stakes meeting, panel interview, difficult conversation, or quarterly business review.- How to clear the mental clutter from your last meeting so you are not dragging it into the next one.- Why naming your power out loud is not cheesy. It is a reset that gets you back into the facts of who you actually are as a leader.- How to set an intention for every single conversation so you walk in with a goal and walk out having created exactly what you came for.- Why presence is not about how you look in a room. It is about how grounded, clear, and deliberate you are when the pressure is on.This episode is for you if you are a sales leader in B2B tech who is moving fast, running from meeting to meeting, and showing up on autopilot when the stakes are actually really high. You have worked too hard and come too far to walk into the rooms that matter most without being fully ready.READY TO GO DEEPER?If you are a sales leader ready to make your next big carreer move in B2B tech and earn $500K to $1M or more, the Unlocked Executive Sales Leadership Program was built for exactly where you are right now. Amy works with ambitious sales leaders to help them build powerful executive presence, position themselves strategically, and land the roles they have already earned.Book your complimentary one-on-one career planning session at amyevanscoaching.comCONNECT WITH AMY:Website: amyevanscoaching.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alynnEvansSHARE THIS EPISODE with a woman you know who has been told she needs more executive presence and had no idea what to do with that feedback. This is her answer.SUBSCRIBE to Women in Sales Leadership so every new episode is waiting for you the moment it drops. And if this episode helped you, please leave a rating. It helps other women find this show.#WomenInSalesLeadership #ExecutivePresence #SalesLeadership #WomenInSales #BreneBrown #CareerAdvancement #SalesLeadershipCoaching #WomenInTech #LeadershipDevelopment #VPSales #CRO #B2BTech #HighPerformingWomen #AmyEvans #UnlockedProgram #MindsetForLeaders #SalesCoaching #PocketPresence #CareerGrowth #executivecoaching

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.comWhat does it actually look like to lead a global sales team, raise a son, protect your wellbeing, and still triple your win rates? My guest today shows us exactly how it's done.In this episode of Women in Sales Leadership, I sit down with Erica Ettore, a top performing global sales leader at Workiva who built her team from the ground up, scaled it from five to fifteen sellers, tripled win rates, and was named Manager of the Year. Before tech, Erica started her career on Wall Street working with some of the world's most recognizable brands. Today she leads a global team spanning the US, Europe, and Latin America.But what makes this conversation so powerful is not just the results. It is the honesty Erica brings about what it took to get there without losing herself in the process.WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:Why letting go is the hardest and most important shift you will make going from individual contributor to leader, and how to do it without losing control of outcomes.How Erica structures her Sunday nights to take command of her entire week before it starts, including how she decides which meetings actually need her and which ones do not.The self-respect philosophy behind protecting time blocks on your calendar even when the pressure to say yes to one more meeting feels relentless.What it looks like to be physically present but mentally absent as a working mom, and the moment Erica realized something had to change.The daily and weekly rituals that keep a global sales leader performing at the highest level without running on fumes.Why a bad quarter does not define you and a good quarter does not make you, and how to build the mental balance that creates longevity in this career.The one place to start if you feel like your sales quarter is running your life instead of the other way around.This episode is for you if you are a sales leader in B2B tech who is delivering results but quietly exhausted, if you are trying to figure out how to show up fully at work and fully at home, or if you are ready to stop white-knuckling your way through every quarter and start building a rhythm that actually works for you.READY TO TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP UP?If you are a first-line sales leader in B2B tech who is ready to step into a VP, CRO, or second-line executive leadership role earning $500K to $1M or more, the Unlocked Executive Sales Leadership Program was built for you. Amy works with ambitious women to position themselves powerfully, build the right executive relationships, and land roles that match the leader they have already become.Book your complimentary career planning session at amyevanscoaching.comCONNECT WITH ERICA:LinkedIn: Erica EttoreCONNECT WITH AMY:Website: amyevanscoaching.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alynnEvansSHARE THIS EPISODE with a woman you know who is trying to do it all and needs permission to do it differently.SUBSCRIBE to Women in Sales Leadership so every new episode drops right into your feed. And if this resonated with you, please leave a rating. It helps other women find this show.#WomenInSalesLeadership #SalesLeadership #WomenInSales #WorkingMom #Burnout #SalesLeadershipCoaching #CareerAdvancement #VPSales #B2BTech #AmyEvans #UnlockedProgram #WorkLifeBalance #Workiva

You performed just as well as your male counterparts. You might have even done better. And yet you rated yourself 33% lower. That's not a confidence problem. That's conditioning. And it is costing you real money and real promotions.In this episode of Women in Sales Leadership, I'm breaking down the research behind why high-performing women consistently undersell themselves at work, and more importantly, I'm giving you the exact framework to change it starting this week.This isn't about becoming someone you're not. It's about telling the truth, your truth, in a way that gets you seen, recognized, and paid what you're worth.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:- The Harvard Business School and Wharton study that reveals the exact cost of not talking about your wins, including how it affects your salary and your hiring outcomes.- Why self-promotion feels like bragging to women and does not feel that way to men, and the mindset reframe that changes everything.- The simple three-part "What, Why, Who" framework you can use immediately in your next one-on-one with your boss, in team meetings, on LinkedIn, and in your performance review.- How to share your wins in a way that also lifts your team and builds your reputation as a strategic, executive-level thinker.- Why staying quiet about your results is not humility. It is invisibility. And visibility is what actually gets women promoted.- The 30-day challenge that will build your confidence, close the self-promotion gap, and help you stop leaving money on the table.This episode is for you if you are a sales leader, a high-performing individual contributor, a director, a VP, or an executive in B2B tech who knows she is delivering results but is not getting the recognition, the promotions, or the compensation that reflects the value she brings.Episode Chapters:00:00 The Importance of Celebrating Wins02:53 Understanding Gender Disparities in Self-Promotion06:08 Mindset Shift: Sharing Wins Authentically09:04 The Framework: What, Why, and Who11:56 Practical Applications in Conversations15:09 Building Confidence Through Acknowledgment17:56 Overcoming Fear of Self-Promotion20:53 The 30-Day Challenge to Share Wins23:46 Conclusion: Embracing Your AchievementsREADY TO GO DEEPER?If you are serious about stepping into a VP, CRO, or second-line executive sales leadership role in B2B tech earning $500K to $1M or more, the Unlocked Executive Sales Leadership Program was built for you. Amy works with ambitious women to help them position themselves powerfully, build the right executive relationships, and land the roles they have already earned.Book your complimentary career planning session and get your personalized 90-day action plan at amyevanscoaching.com.CONNECT WITH AMY:Website: amyevanscoaching.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alynnEvansSHARE THIS EPISODE with a woman you know who has a hard time talking about her wins. She needs to hear this. This is how we all rise together.SUBSCRIBE to Women in Sales Leadership so every new episode drops right into your feed. And if this episode helped you, please leave a rating. It helps other women find this show.#WomenInSalesLeadership #SalesLeadership #WomenInSales #SelfPromotion #ExecutivePresence #SalesLeadershipCoaching #WomenInTech #CareerAdvancement #VPSales #CRO #B2BTech #HighPerformingWomen #AmyEvans #UnlockedProgram #CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #SalesCoaching #PromotionTips

🎯 Ready to lead at the next level? Book a call: https://amyevanscoaching.comYou're killing it on the outside—hitting numbers, leading your team—but on the inside you feel disconnected, spent, or just going through the motions. Sound familiar? This conversation is for you.Today I'm joined by Joshua Roberts—leadership and performance coach, author, and former U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant who spent 20 years developing leaders in high-pressure environments. His nickname was "The Soul Reaper." But today he helps high performers lead from within so success doesn't cost you your peace.In this episode, you'll discover:✓ Why leading yourself FIRST is the foundation of everything✓ The difference between confidence and arrogance (and why it matters)✓ How to build a leadership identity that isn't tied to your title✓ The real reason delegation feels so hard—and how to fix it✓ Why people obey out of fear but FOLLOW out of respectIf you've been leading everyone else while quietly neglecting yourself, this episode will stop you in your tracks—in the best possible way.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 - The Gap Between Outer Success and Inner Truth2:15 - How "The Soul Reaper" Became a Leadership Coach5:30 - The #1 Mistake New Leaders Make8:45 - Why You Must Lead Yourself Before Leading Others12:20 - Confidence Without Humility is Dangerous16:00 - Self Leadership in Practice: What It Actually Looks Like20:30 - When Success Looks Great But Feels Empty Inside24:15 - The Delegation Question That Changes Everything28:00 - Signs It's Time to Ask for Help32:45 - How to Build an Identity Beyond Your Performance🎓 ABOUT JOSH ROBERTSJosh Roberts is a leadership and performance coach, author, and former U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant with 20 years of experience developing leaders in high-pressure environments. He helps high performers lead from within so success doesn't cost them their peace.📌 Connect with Josh:🌐 Website: https://fusewellstrategies.com📱 Instagram: @joshua_roberts80💼 LinkedIn: Joshua Roberts💼 ABOUT AMY EVANSFormer VP at Salesforce, now coaching high-performing sales leaders in B2B tech to get promoted or hired into executive leadership roles earning $500K-$1M+. After 25 years in the trenches, Amy helps ambitious sales managers step into second-line leadership with authority, clarity and confidence.🌐 https://amyevanscoaching.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amylineevans📌 KEY TAKEAWAYS• Leadership starts with self leadership—if that's failing, everything else will follow• Confidence + humility = the leadership sweet spot• People will obey a fearful leader but only CHOOSE to follow one they respect• Delegation isn't weakness—withholding it is actually selfish• Your title is not your identity. Your values are.• Ask yourself: WHO do I need to be as a leader—not just HOW do I lead?🎯 READY FOR YOUR NEXT LEVEL?I open 3 spots monthly in my Unlocked Executive Sales Leadership Program for leaders ready to step into VP, Director and CRO roles earning $500K-$1M+.👉 https://amyevanscoaching.com#SalesLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #WomenInSales #ExecutivePresence #SelfLeadership #LeadershipCoaching #WomenInLeadership

Hit your number but still got passed over? Your results are just table stakes. Learn the 3 things that actually get sales leaders promoted to VP+ roles. You could hit 120% of quota and STILL not get the job you want. I've been the hiring manager who chose a different candidate despite someone's amazing track record—and I'll tell you exactly why. In this episode, you'll discover: ✓ Why "head down, execute" is keeping you invisible ✓ The 3 things that matter MORE than your results ✓ How to shift from tactical manager to strategic executive ✓ The networking approach that doesn't feel like networking ✓ How to tell your story without feeling like you're bragging If you're a high-performing sales leader ready to break through to VP, Director, or CRO roles earning $350K-$1M+, this episode will change how you approach your career. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - The Uncomfortable Truth About Promotions 1:45 - The Perfectionist Trap Keeping You Stuck 4:12 - Why Certainty is Your Enemy 6:30 - What Executives REALLY Evaluate 9:15 - Relationships vs. Politics (There's a Difference) 12:40 - The Power of Your Career Story 15:20 - How to Talk About Results Without Bragging 18:45 - The Presence Question That Changes Everything 21:30 - Strategic Questions That Get You Noticed 24:15 - Your 3-Part Homework Assignment 27:50 - Schedule 2 Relationship Conversations 29:30 - Rewrite Your Introduction 31:00 - Show Up With Insights 🎯 READY TO MAKE YOUR MOVE?I open 3 spots monthly in my Unlocked Executive Sales Leadership Program for leaders ready to step into second-line leadership roles earning $500K-$1M+. Book a call: https://amyevanscoaching.com 📊 FREE RESOURCE: Year-End Career Reflection Tool https://amyevanscoaching.com/reflection 💼 ABOUT AMY EVANS Former VP at Salesforce, now coaching high-performing sales leaders in B2B tech to get promoted or hired into executive leadership roles. After 25 years leading sales organizations, Amy helps leaders who "lead with love and high trust but aren't always great at bragging about themselves" step into their full executive potential. 📱 CONNECT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amylineevans Website: https://amyevanscoaching.com 💬 Need help identifying who your next 2 relationship conversations should be? DM me on LinkedIn—I'll help you create your list. 📌 KEY TAKEAWAYS - Results are table stakes—everyone has great numbers- Relationships + Visibility + Presence = What gets you promoted- Executive roles are almost always filled before they're posted- Tell your accomplishments as facts, not bragging- Lead with the IMPACT you create, not just what you do- Ask yourself: How do you want people to FEEL in conversations with you? ✅ YOUR HOMEWORK (Do This Now): 1. Schedule 2 relationship conversations this month with people who make you nervous 2. Rewrite your introduction to focus on IMPACT, not just title 3. Show up to your next 1:1 with insights and strategic questions Drop a comment if you're committing to the homework—I want to cheer you on! #SalesLeadership #CareerAdvancement #WomenInSales #ExecutivePresence #SalesPromotion #LeadershipDevelopment #B2BTech #SalesManagement #CareerGrowth #WomenInLeadership #VPofSales #SalesNetworking #ExecutiveSalesLeadership

Work with Amy: www.amyevanscoaching.comLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alynnevans/In this episode of the Women in Sales Leadership podcast, host Amy Evans and guest Donna Lin discuss the critical role of coaching in leadership, particularly for women in sales. They explore the common misconceptions about coaching, the disconnect between managers' self-perception and their actual coaching effectiveness, and the importance of creating a psychologically safe environment for feedback. The conversation also delves into practical strategies for effective coaching, including time management, the use of open-ended questions, and the significance of self-awareness in leadership. Donna shares her personal experiences and insights from her extensive career in sales leadership, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement in coaching skills.#coaching #selfawareness #professionaldevelopment Key Takeaways:- Women make up 50% of sellers but only 30% of sales leadership roles.- Coaching is essential for effective leadership.- There is often a disconnect between managers' self-assessment and their actual coaching skills.- Self-awareness is crucial for effective coaching.- Creating psychological safety is key for giving and receiving feedback.- Coaching should focus on helping others reach their own conclusions.- Time management is a challenge for leaders trying to coach effectively.- Using open-ended questions can enhance coaching conversations.- Leaders should assess the urgency of situations to determine when to coach versus when to direct.- Continuous learning and improvement are vital for leaders. -----------------------------Connect with Donna Lin, Founder of On Target Learningshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-a-lin/https://www.ontargetlearnings.com/https://www.ontargetlearnings.com/blog @ontargetlearnings-----------------------------Episode Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Women in Sales Leadership00:59 The Importance of Coaching in Leadership05:11 Understanding the Coaching Gap09:59 Time Management in Coaching11:55 Effective Coaching Questions18:09 Personal Experiences in Coaching23:54 Donna Lynn's Coaching Journey and Insights26:10 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

In this episode of the Women in Sales Leadership podcast, host Amy Evans discusses the underrepresentation of women in sales leadership roles and emphasizes the importance of setting actionable goals for the new year. She introduces four foundational pillars for personal and professional transformation: identity shift, crafting a compelling career story, building a strong sponsorship network, and showcasing value creation. Amy encourages listeners to take control of their careers and embrace their unique gifts to achieve their aspirations.Website: www.amyevanscoaching.com#leadership #careergrowth #networking Key Takeaways:- Women hold just 30% of sales leadership roles.- Setting goals is more effective than new year resolutions.- Nothing changes if nothing changes.- An identity shift is crucial for growth.- Your career story should highlight impact, not just responsibilities.- Mentorship and sponsorship are key to career advancement.- Showcasing your value is essential for recognition.- You have unique gifts that can drive your success.- Take action to build your network and relationships.- This is your year to take control of your career.Episode Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Women in Sales Leadership02:23 Setting Goals for the New Year04:47 The Four Foundational Pillars of Transformation10:05 Pillar 1: Identity Shift20:07 Pillar 2: Crafting Your Career Story30:11 Pillar 3: Building Your Network40:03 Pillar 4: Showcasing Your Value Creation44:59 Recap and Call to Action

Key Takeaways: - "It's not just a dream; we're going to talk about how it could be real for you." - "You have to be ready to lean into the support, especially for the type of executive assistants that we work with." - "Every single task in every organization should be pushed down to the lowest hourly rate." - "This is actually how I amplify myself by sharing the load." - "You deserve the help; you're not imposing on someone else to ask for their help." Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Takeaways:  - Women hold just 30% of sales leadership roles. - The 'Sunday Scaries' can indicate a need for change.- Clarity about career goals is essential. - Assess your feelings about work regularly. - Growth should be prioritized over comfort. - It's okay to feel uncertain about your next move. - Networking can open new opportunities. - You deserve to work in a fulfilling environment. - Listening to your gut is crucial for career decisions. - Exploration is a key step before making decisions. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Key Takeaways: - Women hold just 30% of sales leadership roles.- Company culture is crucial for employee satisfaction.- Scaling from 2 million to 10 million is challenging but rewarding.- Executive coaching can help leaders navigate uncertainties.- Hiring based on past experience can be misleading.- Understanding your ideal customer profile is essential.- Performance and execution require different skill sets.- Transformations in startups need experienced leadership.- Pipelines are critical for managing change effectively.- Creativity in leadership can enhance team dynamics. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Key Takeaways: - Women hold just 30% of sales leadership roles.- Setting goals is crucial for a fresh start each year.- Clarity in goals leads to better outcomes.- Identify your single biggest goal for each life area.- The 'why' behind goals is essential for motivation.- Health goals should focus on energy and vitality.- Career goals can include promotions or new roles.- Relationships with family and friends require nurturing.- Financial goals can lead to greater stability and freedom.- Personal development is about growth and evolving. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Key Takeaways: - Women hold just 30% of sales leadership roles despite being 50% of sellers. - The holiday season can be particularly challenging for sales leaders. - Reflection is crucial for personal and professional growth. - Planning ahead can alleviate holiday stress. - Sales leaders often struggle to balance work and family during the holidays. - It's important to acknowledge both wins and losses from the past year. - Setting clear goals can help guide future success. - High performers should avoid repeating past mistakes. - Creating a vision for the new year is essential for motivation. - Every day offers a new opportunity to start fresh. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Key Takeaways: - The last 24 months in tech have been challenging due to layoffs and AI concerns. - Women hold only 30% of sales leadership roles despite being 50% of sellers. - Meerkat is an AI-powered conversation navigator that enhances team collaboration. - AI should be viewed as a collaborative tool rather than a threat to jobs. - Joy in the workplace is essential for productivity and morale. - Women in tech face unique challenges but also have opportunities for growth. - Investing in personal development is crucial for career advancement. - Mentorship and community support are vital for women in leadership. - Building relationships is as important as achieving results in business. - Leaders should create environments where teams feel valued and engaged. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Key Takeaways: - Women hold just 30% of sales leadership roles. - Investing in yourself is not just a luxury, it's essential. - Growth requires giving yourself grace and permission. - Mistakes are part of the learning process, not failures. - Seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. - Personal development can lead to significant career advancements. - Therapy and coaching can provide invaluable support during tough times. - Building relationships is key to success in sales. - You are worthy of pursuing your dreams and investing in yourself. - Taking action towards your goals can lead to transformative changes. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Key Takeaways: - Intuition often speaks when we are in a relaxed state. - Energy healing can be a life-changing experience. - Women hold only 30% of sales leadership roles despite being 50% of sellers. - Energy medicine is based on measurable evidence. - Our energy fields can absorb the emotions of others. - Trauma can create disconnect and impact our energy systems. - Stillness is essential for connecting with our energy. - Heart-centered living balances the ego and authenticity. - Breathwork can help in connecting with our energy body. - Personal experiences shape our perceptions and career paths. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

- Weigh your options carefully before making decisions.- Don't talk yourself out of an opportunity before exploring it.- Job descriptions often list unrealistic qualifications.- You only have a decision to make when you have an offer.- Loyalty should primarily be to yourself and your values.- It's okay to be loyal to your company, but prioritize your own needs.- Living a fulfilling life involves loving your work.- Self-exploration is key to finding the right career fit.- Your current job doesn't limit your exploration of new opportunities.- Align your career choices with your personal values.   Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Key Takeaways: - Women make up 50% of sellers but only 30% of sales leadership roles. - Healthcare is a significant barrier for independent professionals. - Melissa Blatt founded Indie Pop to address healthcare challenges. - The healthcare marketplace can be complex and confusing. - Membership-based healthcare offers a transparent alternative to traditional insurance. - Understanding your healthcare options is crucial to avoid surprise bills. - Pre-existing conditions can complicate healthcare coverage options. - Access to virtual care can save time and money in healthcare. - It's important to stay informed about changes in healthcare plans and networks. - Entrepreneurship involves continuous learning and resilience. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Takeaways: - There are common challenges in any sales team. - Talent on the team often needs to be up leveled. - Coaching and training are essential for team improvement. - Some team members may not be a good fit. - It's important to identify hidden talent. - Managers should focus on uplifting their teams. - The goal is to have A players across the board. - Regular assessment of team dynamics is crucial. - Effective talent management leads to better sales performance. - Creating a high-performing team requires ongoing effort. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

The difference between networking and “community-ing” — and why one builds real influence. How to ask for help and create meaningful visibility without feeling pushy or self-promotional. Why women struggle to share their wins — and how to reframe “bragging” as leading by example. The origin story of Wednesday Women — from a viral LinkedIn post to a movement that’s elevating thousands of women executives. Simple strategies to protect your energy as a connector and leader. 💼 LinkedIn: Leslie Greenwood 🌐 Website: WednesdayWomen.org 💬 Leslie welcomes thoughtful LinkedIn DMs and connection requests. You can also follow Wednesday Women on LinkedIn for daily inspiration, events, and spotlights on incredible women leaders. Amy Evans Leadership Coaching Women in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedIN Host Amy Evans @LinkedIN  

Key Takeaways:- Women hold just 30% of sales leadership roles. - Executive presence is about how you show up. - Empathy is a natural advantage for women. - Confidence can be developed as a skill. - Building trust is essential for executive presence. - 93% of communication is nonverbal. - Focus on how you want your audience to feel. - Commanding attention is better than demanding it. - Empower others to manage their time effectively. - Preparation is key in crisis communication. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Key Takeaways: - Women hold just 30% of sales leadership roles despite being 50% of sellers. - Recognizing when you're stuck is crucial for career growth. - Fear can motivate but also hinder career decisions. - Real failure is not giving yourself permission to grow. - Trusting your gut is essential for making career choices. - Embrace change as a part of personal and professional growth. - You have the power to change your career path. - Networking and exploring opportunities are not definitive decisions. - There will always be a demand for great sales leaders. - Letting go of fear can lead to empowerment and success. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Meet Jenny BeresJenny Beres is the co-founder and president of Pink Shark PR, a Los Angeles-based PR agency championing female leaders in fintech and innovative industries. She's personally sold millions of dollars in PR services and has trained female leaders to leverage their stories to generate six and seven figures, raise VC capital, and finally get comfortable with visibility and sales.Jenny is known for her authentic, no-nonsense approach to personal branding and her belief that women do storytelling better than men—we just need to give ourselves permission to own it.Key Takeaways1. You Already Have a Brand—The Question Is Who Controls ItYour personal brand exists whether you actively manage it or notThe internet and algorithms are shaping your narrative right nowTaking control of your story is one of the few things fully within your powerWomen excel at storytelling—we just need to own it objectively2. Stop Confusing Objectivity with BraggingMen have no problem listing their strengths; women often respond with "deer in headlights"You can't be objective about where you need to improve if you can't acknowledge where you're a geniusPractice "objective hype girl" energy: own your strengths AND areas for growthAuthentically sharing your story is not the same as being obnoxious3. The Power of the "Brutal Challenge" StoryEvery compelling personal brand includes a challenge-overcome-triumph narrativeLook for stories so difficult you can "almost laugh about them now"Share challenges that are already resolved—audiences don't respond well to messy, unresolved dramaYour darkest professional moments often reveal your greatest strengths4. Separate Your Identity from Your AchievementsAchievement without inner self-worth creates an endless chase for validationRadical self-acceptance means: "I'd still like myself just as much if I achieved nothing else"Meditation and mindfulness help you stay "middle ground" through business highs and lowsThe confidence that "nothing can really mess with you" comes from knowing you can overcome anything5. Care Less, Sell MoreHolding on too tightly to outcomes kills sales momentumLead with genuine enthusiasm about what excites you, not what you've accomplishedFind your way into getting excited about anything—that's the real sales superpowerStay even-keeled about good news, bad news, and everything in between6. Pick One Platform and Own ItTrying to maintain presence on every platform creates "half-abandoned graveyards of mediocre content"Choose the platform where you feel most comfortable being yourselfLinkedIn is ideal for B2B leaders because it's less visual and more business-focusedJournalists have migrated from Twitter/X to LinkedIn—making it prime territory for visibility7. Turn Your Repetitive Conversations into Content GoldTrack what you're saying to clients, prospects, and team members multiple times per weekCommon misunderstandings in your field are content opportunitiesDon't let valuable conversations "marinate in private"—make them accessibleUse Apple Notes or similar tools to capture topics and questions throughout your day8. Leverage Your Company's PR Machine (If You're in Corporate)Volunteer to be a brand ambassador with your company's PR teamThey'll love the enthusiasm and provide media-ready talking pointsEarned media is perfect for sharing on LinkedIn and builds your personal brandThis benefits both you and your company—and they're paying for it9. Start Building Reporter Relationships NowFind headlines that give you FOMO—that's where you want to be featuredResearch reporters who cover your industry and read their recent workSend a short, no-ask introduction: compliment their work, introduce yourself briefly, offer to helpBuilding these relationships before you need them opens future doors10. Substack + LinkedIn = Authority Building Power ComboSubstack functions as podcast, email list, blog, and LinkedIn tool in oneGoogle and ChatGPT love Substack content—it shows up in search resultsUse it to publish longer-form thought leadership that showcases your expertiseCross-promote your Substack articles on LinkedIn for maximum reachResources MentionedPink Shark PR: pinksharkpr.comJenny Beres on LinkedIn: Connect with Jenny for PR insights and personal branding tips Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Listen to learn how to:Think and operate like a leader of leadersTurn your wins into a career story execs rememberUse the 10-10-10 tool for tough decisionsBuild executive sponsorship that gets you on the shortlistDetach identity from title so you lead with confidencePerfect for high-performing B2B tech managers ready for VP-track roles. Follow the show and grab the free workshop at amyevanscoaching.com. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Leadership🎧 Episode Summary:In this solo episode, Amy Evans explores the evolution of career growth—especially for high-performing women 15+ years into their careers. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s okay to pause, shift, or stay instead of always chasing the next title, this conversation is a breath of fresh air.Amy breaks down:The 5 things high performers actually want in their careersWhy growth doesn’t always mean promotionThe tension between ambition and life outside of workRed flags (and gray areas) when hiring in salesWhat real growth looks like beyond the resumeWhether you're a rising sales leader or a seasoned executive rethinking your next chapter, this episode will help you reconnect with what truly matters in your career.🔑 Topics Covered:Career trajectory shifts after 15+ yearsInternal vs. external markers of successHow to evaluate job-hopping as a hiring leaderFinding mastery and purpose in your current roleThe myth of “hitting the ground running”When to embrace change—and when to stay put📌 Resources Mentioned:Amy Evans Leadership CoachingFree Leadership Breakthrough Call: DM Amy on LinkedIn Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

In this powerful episode of Women in Sales Leadership, Amy sits down with Dr. Alexandra Stockwell—relationship and intimacy expert, physician, and author of Uncompromising Intimacy—for a raw, eye-opening conversation about what really happens behind closed doors in the lives of high-achieving women.🎧 We talk about:Why successful women often feel disconnected in their relationshipsHow leadership habits at work can destroy intimacy at homeThe emotional cost of out-earning your partnerThe four types of relationships—and how to move toward conscious partnershipThe one communication shift that can reignite desire and trustWhy managing your marriage doesn’t work—and what to do insteadWhat it really means to be seen, supported, and desired💡 Whether you're married, divorced, or still searching for your person, this episode offers powerful insights and practical tools to help you create a relationship that feels as good as your career looks.📚 Connect with Dr. Alexandra:Website: alexandrastockwell.comBook: Uncompromising Intimacy on Amazon & AudiblePodcast: The Intimate Marriage Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Alli Rizacos transitioned from a sales leader at Salesforce to a coaching business owner.She discovered her passion for coaching while grappling with imposter syndrome.Starting a business was a daunting task for Alli, but she overcame her fears.Personal branding is crucial in today's job market, especially for career transitions.Vulnerability and authenticity resonate more with audiences than perfectionism.Building a community is essential for support during entrepreneurial journeys.LinkedIn is a powerful platform for personal branding and networking.Sharing personal stories can enhance engagement and trust on social media.Sales leaders should leverage their experiences to create valuable content.Networking events can be a great way to build connections and community.   Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Cindy Nagel is a trailblazer at the intersection of finance and human behavior.Effective communication is crucial for client retention in financial services.Advisors should focus on practice management to streamline their operations.Understanding client communication styles can enhance advisor-client relationships.Women represent only 23% of financial advisors, highlighting a diversity gap.A financial planning approach is essential for meaningful client relationships.The fiduciary standard requires advisors to act in the best interest of their clients.Proactive communication from advisors is vital during market fluctuations.Choosing a financial advisor should involve understanding their approach to planning.The financial services industry is evolving towards more holistic planning. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

TakeawaysAlexis emphasizes the importance of owning your power in the workplace.Mentorship can come in both formal and informal settings.Networking should be done when you don't need it, to avoid desperation.Visibility is crucial for career advancement; keep your camera on in meetings.Community service can provide growth opportunities outside of your job.Delegation is an essential skill that can be learned over time.It's important to cultivate relationships with your inner circle for mentorship.Confidence can be built through community involvement and leadership roles.Alexis shares that people often want to help when approached for mentorship.The media industry offers unique opportunities to connect with influential figures.---------------------------------------------------------------------Full Transcript:Amy Evans (00:00.88)So welcome to Women in Sales Leadership. I am so excited about today's guest. just, I'm gonna confess right away that she's a friend of mine. So, and I'm so lucky that she's one of my friends. So let me introduce you to my friend, Alexis Hambrick. So Alexis is an absolute powerhouse in the world of media and marketing. As a vice president at Warner Brothers Discovery, Alexis (00:10.414)you Amy Evans (00:28.436)She's led major growth initiatives, built high performing teams and driven strategies that fuel billions in revenue. She really knows what it takes to lead at a very high level. And today she's going to share her real story behind her incredible journey with you. So Alexis, thank you so much for being here. Welcome to the show. Alexis (00:52.354)Well, thank you for that wonderful welcome. I'm going to bring you everywhere to introduce me from now on. Amy Evans (00:57.136)No problem. I can do it. I would do it for you anywhere, anytime. Absolutely. Yeah. So Alexis, I would love for everybody listening to get to learn a little bit more about you and hear more about your story. So yeah. Alexis (01:02.478)Sounds like a plan. Alexis (01:13.848)Sure, sure, let's see. I grew up in Massachusetts in a small town outside of Boston, right on the water. Had a very idyllic life growing up. When I went to college, I went to Union College in upstate New York in Schenectady. I decided that of all things, I was going to become a Russian major because at some point I was going to translate for the sick Russians. That was my plan in life, which I'm sure my parents were thrilled with. So I was also very independent and tired of my small town, small school, so wanted to do something different. Did a term abroad in Moscow, which was really pretty great. Got to learn a lot about myself, a lot of independence, doing things on my own and exploring a city by myself in a language that, quite frankly, I never mastered. And then when junior year rolled around, all of my high-powered finance friends, were starting to get internships and then subsequent jobs right after early senior year. And here I was like, well shoot, what have I done? I got this Russian major, which I never really mastered. And here I am. So fortunately I had a connection with a company called Turner at the time. My uncle worked, he was a cable guy. And so he helped me get an interview. He said, I can get you an interview at Turner. And I said, the salad dressing guy? I thought he meant Paul Newman, you know? So I went down to Turner in Atlanta. I interviewed and didn't get the job. I was actually told that the job had just been given to somebody, but come on down and interview anyway. And I was like, okay. But back then, AirTran gave $50 flights to students and said, sure, why not? So I met the woman who became a mentor of mine and Amy Evans (02:42.938)Perfect. Alexis (03:09.582)She called me and she said, you know, the job's already been offered to somebody, I'll let you know if it falls through. And sure enough, about a week later, she called and she said, the person didn't accept the job and we would love to have you. So that was the start of my career. And that was 25, almost 26 years ago at Turner. And through a series of acquisitions and mergers, we became, I'm gonna forget one of them, but we were Turner. Amy Evans (03:23.472)Wow. Alexis (03:39.394)we became WarnerMedia, then we became ultimately Warner Brothers Discovery. So lots and lots and lots of changes over the 25 years, handling, know, starting off with brands like CNN and TNT and Cartoon Network, ultimately morphing into HBO and now Max, which is what I do now. So now I am the VP of Partner Marketing for Max, and I work with providers, distributors to help sell Macs on their platforms. Amy Evans (04:13.296)my gosh. Okay, so I'm just gonna confess right now that Alexis is my friend that knows everything about pop culture and what's happening like in TV and on streaming and she gets to rub shoulders with famous people. So she's very, very humble about it. But I have to say that you're the person that knows everything about what's going on in the streaming world. I love that about you. Alexis (04:31.939)Ha! Alexis (04:39.138)Well, I mean, I'm so lucky. do this really awesome. I get to be part of this really awesome industry where it is part of pop culture. I mean, what is everyone talking about right now? Parker Posey in the white lotus, right? And I was lucky enough to be a part of the junket where our press, our distribution partners, people like Comcast and Apple interviewed Parker Posey. And so I attended virtually. So it's really cool to be a part of those things. And I, I don't take any of it for granted. It is such a, Amy Evans (04:49.848)Yes. Yes. Alexis (05:08.694)a blessing to be involved in such a fun, fun industry. Amy Evans (05:12.62)my gosh. Well, I want to ask all about famous people that you've met. we might save that to the end if we've got time. I might surprise you with that question. I'm warning you in advance about the surprises. OK. Sorry. Thinking. Thinking about that. a couple of things I noticed. As you were describing your career journey, I heard you mention it. You said you had a mentor in your career. in speaking with the people that I coach, Alexis (05:23.404)All right, I'll have to start thinking of all the people. Amy Evans (05:41.232)and the executives that I consult with. Mentorship is almost always a theme and then there's always people who are really wanting more mentorship than they typically have. So I would like you to share for our listener, share about what your mentorship experience was about and what an impact that was for you and your career. Alexis (06:09.164)Well, I am a huge advocate of mentorship. It is something that is so very important to me. And I think it's so important to me because I've been so fortunate to have really great mentors in my past. And there's two kinds of mentors, right? There's the formal kind of mentor where it's a program that you're set up with a curriculum. Those are fantastic. I've been a part of those on both sides. But there's also informal mentors. And some of my bosses, I've considered my mentors. people in a different department that, you know, I ask out for coffee and then that relationship just blooms over time and they start to get to know you and can give you some really great advice. I think that anyone that's lucky enough to have a mentor, especially early in their life or have many of them, sort of have a responsibility to give back as they get older and become more of a leader to help guide some of these young. women and men, I've had some men mentees, but typically for me it's been women. And it's just, it's actually more fulfilling to me as a mentor, I think, than the mentees get out of it. There was a period of time where it just sort of fell off my radar and for whatever reason, business priorities changed and it wasn't as much of a focus and I didn't have that. And... I didn't even realize how much I missed it until it came back into my life and I was like, this is the piece that I've been missing. This is what I really love to do. Amy Evans (07:40.548)Yeah. You shared with me about a mentor that had a really big impact on you. Alexis (07:47.142)Mm-hmm. I have had a lot and I've had a lot of impacts, but I've been probably thinking of Pat Falatico. Shout out to Pat who helps run a mentorship program in Atlanta called Path Builders. And Path Builders was a program, it was a year long mentorship program. So every month for a year, I met with Pat as a mentee and she was outside of my industry. She at the time worked for IBM and she also met with my boss. Amy Evans (07:49.198)Yeah. Alexis (08:14.894)to understand what were some of the challenges that I had. And I think what I shared with you is as a young person growing up at Turner when I was 22, I was very self-deprecating. I was sort of apologetic coming into media. I'm sorry, but I was the ditzy blonde. I was the punchline of a lot of jokes. I liked it. I leaned into it. didn't upset me or anything, but. it became my brand, it became who I was. And so that was a roadblock for me in developing into a leader. And so Pat, after meeting with my boss at the time, Heather, they said to me that I need to own my power. And that I think is the single most important piece of advice that I have ever received in my career. And at the time I was like, what does that mean? What does own your power? I have no idea what that means. And they were like, well, we can't really explain it to you. You just sort of have to figure it out. I was like, okay. So it took a long time. It took about six months. But after a while I said, I get it. This is what they mean. I need to be, rise to the occasion, have a stronger point of view, sit at the table, know that I can take up space and that what I have to say is valuable. Amy Evans (09:11.312)You're kidding. Alexis (09:41.45)It was like a light switch after that. That was the turning point in my career and it is definitely the piece of advice, not everyone needs that advice, but a lot of women who are lacking in confidence, that's the piece of advice that they need. Amy Evans (09:56.72)Well, and thank you for sharing that. I know that all of us need that kind of mentorship. I need it right now today still, right? I still use. I have coaches I've got mentored. You can mentor me, Alexis. I would love that. I'd be honored. And I appreciate what you shared about you feel like the people that you're a mentor for, that you feel like you get more out of the relationship than. Alexis (10:06.702)I'll be your mentor. Alexis (10:11.662)You Alexis (10:24.037)I do, hands down. Amy Evans (10:25.646)Yeah, say more about that. Alexis (10:29.356)I think, well, my most recent mentee, I won't mention her by name, but she was also in Path Builders. So was a year long program with her. And she came into the program sort of just bummed, just bummed out. She wasn't being seen. She wasn't getting where she wanted to go. And just, you know, after meeting her and seeing what she was going through together, we just, just developed a plan to gain more confidence and helped her realize how much value she brings and elevate her a little bit so that she was more of a strategic, viewed more as a strategic thinker rather than the doer. Gosh, she blossomed so much this past year. I mean, you could just see it. It was so wonderful to see. She even did a dance performance at the retreat, like a karaoke dance performance in front of the whole company. It was a requirement for like initiation, which sounds so strange to me, but. Amy Evans (11:26.704)Okay. Alexis (11:27.054)Yeah, so she did. mean, she just it was amazing. And so just seeing that, you know, and I know I had a small part of that. I know that she did all the work, but seeing what she was able to accomplish just made me feel so great for her. So that's what I love. Amy Evans (11:42.96)I hear you. I absolutely get that. there there is something about bringing and sharing your gifts and your journey with others who are young who just almost everybody I know did need a little encouragement. Right? Somebody to have faith in them. And to say, Hey, look, I see your gifts. I see it right there in front of you. And if Alexis (12:02.541)Yeah. Yup. Amy Evans (12:12.552)You could just kind of let go of some things that are keeping that you from seeing it, then the minute you can appreciate that for yourself, you're just gonna be even more unstoppable than you already are today. Alexis (12:23.702)Yeah, it's amazing how much we can see that, you know, when people could see in me that I couldn't see in myself. And there's another woman who was also really amazing. she just, she's incredibly smart, incredibly smart, like had her master's from Columbia, I think. And she was just painfully shy, so shy that she would break out into hives when she started talking in front of a group. And so we started working together and one of my, you'll hear me say one of my big things is visibility. You've got to be visible. And I don't want to be annoying, like, you know, you have to keep your camera on, but seriously, keep your camera on because that's how people know who you are. And my other thing was always, if you're going to start, if you're starting a meeting series, you've got to say something the first or second meeting. Otherwise you become the girl who never says anything, right? And then it gets harder and harder to say something. So. Amy Evans (12:53.967)Mm-hmm. Alexis (13:16.374)in working with this one woman who was so shy and she had her camera off all the time. She was also stunningly gorgeous. And like, can you not use this to your benefit? Like have your camera on, you are so pretty. And so after some time, she kept her camera on and she started saying something in the beginning that was organic, not forced. And over time, you could see that she finally was like chiming in on the conversation. She was bringing her point of view. She had opinions. People started asking her. I mean, it was amazing. It was amazing to see. All she needed was that encouragement and that push. Amy Evans (13:52.142)I love it, I love it. I'd be curious to know, bet I can like feel the question that the people listening right now would have is, A, I bet they're gonna start looking up your group Pathfinders that you've mentioned a couple times. Yeah. And then the other thing is, know, for somebody to, Alexis, for somebody who's not, Alexis (14:09.814)They should. Amy Evans (14:22.33)doesn't have a mentor today and isn't quite sure how to go about it or wants to think about doing that. What recommendations would you have? Alexis (14:31.144)here's the thing. People want to be sought after. They want, like, if you were to reach out to someone and say, I'd love to meet with you, people think that that person's too busy or they don't want to help or, you know, why would they want to meet with me? No. If someone reached out to me and said, hey, I'd love to get to know you, I would love that. That is, you know, that is so flattering and I don't know anybody that would not... have time for somebody. I would say, know, here's what I would say actually. So when I talk about networking, networking is really important to me. And I think about it in three circles. I'm sure somebody taught me this. But if you think about that inner circle, that's your board of directors, right? So that's the people that would go to bat for you no matter what. You want strong connections in there. Those are your people. Those are like when they say, You know, Alexis is up for the promotion. They say, she's amazing. We want her, right? Then you get this outer circle, and these are the people that are like acquaintances that, you know, they like you, but they're probably not going to like, go to bat for you, right? But they like you. And then you get this outer ring of people that don't really like you, don't really care about you, whatever. So let them go. But the people on the inside, those are the ones in that second rung that I would cultivate. and I would try to get to start a mentoring relationship. And it's, you know, it's as easy as saying, hey, I'd love to get to know a little bit more about your background. And networking is so important. You have to do it when you don't need it. If you do it when you need it, you just reek of desperation. Nobody wants to meet with you when you're just looking for a job. But if it's really organic and authentic and it's just, hey, I'd love to learn a little bit more about you. And then if it feels good, if it feels natural, then it's... Amy Evans (16:09.008)you Alexis (16:25.452)I really enjoyed this conversation. Could we meet again? And then it just couldn't develop from there. Or you could be completely honest and say, I'm looking for a mentor. Would you be open to that? Amy Evans (16:35.952)Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I tend to agree. I love that. I love that encouragement to be fearless about it. I think that's correct for the people who are in a position to mentor you. They are likely not too busy or even if they are, they may know somebody really awesome who would have time to spend with you. Yeah. Alexis (17:04.084)Absolutely. Yeah, they might have someone on their team who's looking to develop their mentorship skills. You know, it might not be them, but they might have someone else that it would be a win-win for both of you. Amy Evans (17:16.228)Yeah, yeah. And to me, think I said this earlier, I think mentorship isn't just for the, you people who are early in your career. think mentorship continues on as we were all going to be going through continued changes were at different life stages. We are still encountering things that are new. And all of us are growing, you are growing and having the voice of a person that's been there before as a guide who is just third party, selflessly being helpful to you, right? Alexis (17:55.854)And they can see things a little differently that you can't see. know, they're going to see that, there's that girl that you think is your best friend, but she's clearly being competitive with you and maybe you're not seeing it. You know, like they'll see things for you. Amy Evans (18:00.058)Yeah. Amy Evans (18:08.323)Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You and I also spoke about, and I think this is a topic that you could spend a lifetime figuring out how to do the right way. Or maybe there's not a right way, but like more of it and properly. And that is delegation. You told me that you feel that you have figured out things that work for you for delegation. Alexis (18:37.526)Much to my team's dismay, I have. Now I remember when I was a young, I was in a program called, I think it was called Rising Leaders or something, and I went to this program and I said, I just can't figure out how to delegate. I don't know how to do that. And no one really could tell me how. Again, I think delegation is one of those things that you have like an aha moment and all of a sudden you're like, I got this. Amy Evans (18:39.408)Well, yeah. Alexis (19:06.694)And I imagine there's a thousand books I'm delegating, but I don't know that you ever really know how to do it until you do it and it feels right. So yeah, that was something that I struggled with early in my career and I fortunately got really good at really fast, so quickly that people on my team turned my name into a verb and started saying, I got hambricked. Amy Evans (19:29.104)What would that mean if someone said they got hand-wrecked? What are they talking about? Alexis (19:30.753)in a very loving way. Alexis (19:34.924)That means I told them to do something for me. So I just dumped a bunch of junk on their desk, probably. Amy Evans (19:41.648)Yeah. Have you in your learning how to delegate, have you found some things that worked, like didn't work so well in experimenting and learning? Alexis (19:51.246)I always had a rule that, okay, so you know how people have like to do lists and there are some people who love a to do list and they'll just write on the to do list to have the to do list, right? I always, my rule of thumb was always like, if you can do it in five minutes, just do it, take care of it. Don't even put it, don't spend your time putting it on the list. But for those things that do have to go on the list, I think that you're also, you know, getting help gives a couple of things. It someone else a chance to do, do something to step up. Amy Evans (19:57.391)Yeah. Amy Evans (20:07.408)Mm-hmm. Alexis (20:20.446)And it also expands the way that could be done. I could do it this way, but maybe so-and-so on my team might do it this way. If you're going to delegate, you also have to be okay with that and you lose control, which is very hard for control freaks, which I can be. So you have to be okay with doing it the other way, letting your friends do it or your team do it. But yeah. Amy Evans (20:36.72)Me too. Yeah. Amy Evans (20:46.404)Yeah. One of the things I, I think I went to like a two day long leadership training and there was one thing and you know, if you, if you spend two days in a leadership training and get one thing, maybe it's worth it because this is the one thing I got. And it was on delegating and the question to ask yourself about for control freaks like me, right? To help identify. Alexis (21:09.613)Later. Amy Evans (21:13.228)if something can be delegated. And the question that I learned in that training was, am I the only person who can do this? Yeah. And if the answer is yes, then hello, I need to be the one doing it. If the answer is no, then it's time to find somebody else who can do it. Yeah. Alexis (21:22.754)Right. Right. Alexis (21:33.518)Yeah, for sure. And another way to look at that is you sit down and you figure out your hourly rate. How much is the company paying you per hour? Right? So say, say it's a hundred dollars per hour. Is this task worth a hundred dollars an hour or is this really worth $70 an hour? Right? Like how much is this task worth? And then when you start thinking about that, it can Amy Evans (21:41.58)Amy Evans (21:54.234)Uh-uh. that about that way. Alexis (21:59.412)it can make you feel badly for not delegating. Like, why am I spending the time on this if this company's paying me for that? Amy Evans (22:05.634)Mm, I love that. I love that. So I'm going to a couple more questions for you. one of them is, is there, beyond the networking and the mentorship, is there anything else that you would share with? Talk to my listener, Alexis. What would you share giving advice to someone who's earlier in their career? Or maybe even at a point where They're not early in their career, but they're ready to start growing again. What comes to mind to you of something you would say to keep in mind? Alexis (22:38.157)Mm-hmm. Alexis (22:42.242)I would say that you don't have to grow within your career to keep growing. I think community service and just community support, it looks like, doing things in your community can really help you grow in ways that are even bigger than you could at work because you're given bigger responsibility. Tasks or jobs are outside of your current scope where you can really develop. those skills. I also think that that's a great place to practice leadership because oftentimes if you're volunteering, you're given a seat at the table that you might be at the seat of the seat at the table with, you know, CEOs or people from other organizations who you're all equals then you're all the same level and your idea is worth the same as the CEO or the head of a foundation or something else from this other group, you know. And so it builds that confidence and it helps you understand that you do have great ideas and you do have value to bring. Even if you're not able to show that at your current role in your current job, those are, those are great options. And also they're really fun to be involved with your community. It's, it's another thing that fills you up. You know, you feel like you're giving back and I think I can't I can't say enough good things about being involved in your community. I was on a board in Atlanta that I loved, I'm sure you went to events with me, for I think eight years. It was called Horizons Atlanta that underserved children. It was a summer learning program. And it was just such a great experience because I was on the board with the heads of schools from all these private schools and all these foundations and big corporations. And eventually I was probably like 33 and I was, well, I'm definitely doing the math wrong if I said eight years. So I was a little bit older than that, but I was the head of the executive committee. So, you know, I had a big role on this board and I was young. And so with really influential people around Atlanta, was an awesome opportunity. Amy Evans (24:57.658)Yeah, my gosh. I'm so glad that you brought that up. I think that's an absolutely hidden gem of opportunity for growth, development, and you're going to meet some really amazing people. And of course, most importantly, the fulfillment of bringing something back to the community. All right, so I warned you was going to do this. I feel like I have to now because I set everybody's expectations. I was going to ask about this. So. Alexis (25:03.0)Mm-hmm. Alexis (25:15.363)Yeah. Amy Evans (25:23.728)Do you have some like favorite celebrities that you've met or rubbed rubbed with like? Alexis (25:31.426)Well, since we're living in a virtual, since we were living in a virtual world, I haven't been in person with many, but I'm on virtual junkets a lot. You know, one that I loved, and of course she didn't meet me. I was a lurker in the background, but just walking. But somebody who I was so impressed with was Jodie Foster. She was, she was just, she plays a lot of darker roles. And so the face that you're seeing is sort of like a, Amy Evans (25:35.609)Right. Amy Evans (25:39.364)Yeah. Amy Evans (25:49.989)Wow. Alexis (26:02.382)just a darker, darker role. don't know how to describe it, but she was so bright and happy and her eyes were sparkling and she's smiling. And I was like, this is amazing. This is the side of her that you don't see in the movies as much. And she was just this really positive ray of light. And I really loved seeing her. She was great. Yeah, I'm trying to think. I don't know. have to think some more, but these junkets are really fun to participate in because Amy Evans (26:22.522)So cool. Anybody else? Alexis (26:30.466)I'm a fly on the wall in these interviews. And then when they turn the cameras off, then they're just talking with their staff, which is always very kind and benign. Nothing's weird. But it's just neat to see people in their own environment. Amy Evans (26:45.014)I it. love it. Well, Alexis, you have been speaking of kind and sparkling. I'm so grateful for the time that you spent today and for this really excellent insight and advice that you have for anybody who is curious about how do they continue to grow, how do you continue to develop and learn how to become more comfortable and confident in delegating. So thank you so, much for joining today. was such an absolute pleasure to have you. Thank you so much. Alexis (27:18.488)Aw, thank you for asking me. I appreciate it. Amy Evans (27:21.36)Yes, alright. Well, I'll let us go. Thank you. Alexis (27:25.262)I   Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

In this conversation, Amy Evans discusses the challenges high-performing women face with perfectionism and the importance of overcoming this mindset to elevate their careers. She introduces a masterclass aimed at helping individuals navigate their careers and shares personal insights on how perfectionism can hinder productivity and well-being. Amy emphasizes the need for delegation and empowering others to achieve a better work-life balance. Amy Evans Leadership Coaching Women in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedIN Host Amy Evans @LinkedIN  

Amy Evans on LinkedInAmy Evans WebsitePromoting yourself mentally is crucial for growth.Leadership requires an agreement of trust with your team.Leading with heart enhances team connection and effectiveness.Clear communication is essential for kindness in leadership.Being the leader you aspire to be is a continuous journey.Self-reflection is key to recognizing your achievements.Trust takes time to build and must be earned repeatedly.Caring for your team fosters a positive work environment.Leadership is not about perfection but about evolution.Emotional intelligence is vital for effective leadership. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Taylor Martino @Linked InTaylor's journey began in competitive diving, which instilled perseverance.Transitioning into sales was challenging after a spinal injury.Building trust with a team requires vulnerability and authenticity.Investing in team dynamics is crucial for success.Leadership often comes with no formal training, leading to mistakes.Incentivizing the right behaviors can drive team performance.Managing up is essential for effective communication with executives.Work-life balance is vital, especially for new parents in leadership.Mentorship plays a key role in developing future leaders.Leaders should set an example by being open about personal challenges.  Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Find Karen Muldoon at Linked IN Karen Muldoon (00:00.172)Okay, amazing. Amy Evans (00:00.797)Yes. Yeah. So Karen, it's such a pleasure to have you today and welcome to the Women in Sales Leadership Podcast. Thank you for being here. Karen Muldoon (00:11.234)Thank you for having me, Amy. Amy Evans (00:12.901)Of course, wonderful. Well, I thought we could start at the beginning and, you know, just tell a little bit about your story, please, and start at the beginning. Where you grew up, school, how did you get to this point? Karen Muldoon (00:26.08)Okay. Karen Muldoon (00:31.03)Okay, amazing. So I'm originally from Dublin, Ireland. I have a little bit of twang as I call it, because I lived in the US for quite a while, but I'm originally from Ireland. And like many Irish, we went to the Catholic Coven schools, right? But I won't get too much into any of that now. And then for university, I actually ended up studying computer programming. And that was quite a while ago. That was when a lot of women, especially women, didn't really enter into those professions. And also was when it was really before the bubble as well. So I'll give my age away, but I was actually a COBOL programmer. And so I learned how to code. And then when I finished college, I was offered what we call a, I guess, a lottery green card. There was a lottery back years ago in Ireland because it was a big... There was a lot of unemployment in Ireland and there was also a lot of them moved to the US and lived illegally. so the US government allotted a certain number of visas to the Irish. I wasn't living in the US at the time, but I was very lucky to get one. So I thought I should have this amazing opportunity. So when I finished college, I moved to Atlanta, where you're from, Amy. Amy Evans (01:57.331)Right. Karen Muldoon (01:58.426)And from there I went into coding. I was a programmer for probably nearly nine years and that brought me into the Y2K era, which was great because I was a mainframe programmer and that's where a lot of the issues were. there was a lot of work, a of consulting, but then there was a transition and we had the whole... Shortly after that, the whole dot com era happened and technology changed, Java, C++, all of that was becoming really popular. So I two paths I could go on. I could either go back and continue to educate myself into these new languages, or I could go into consulting and make some really good money for a while. And I chose the money. I'm not sure if that was the right decision, but that's the path I chose. So I went into consulting for a while. Amy Evans (02:49.98)It's okay. Karen Muldoon (02:53.07)And I worked with Toyota and Lexus. actually had moved to Los Angeles by then. So I was working at those companies out in Los Angeles. And then I really enjoyed the aspect of doing more customer facing roles. And yet I had that technical background. So the next transition was moving into sales. So, and that's actually when I moved to San Francisco, because I loved the Bay Area so much. And I started in inside sales and tech sales into probably that was probably about 2004 and work for a company called Embarkadero Technologies. And then I continued at that for another eight years. And I decided in 2008, my mother, fortunately, was very ill and was given a certain amount of time. So I decided to make my way back to Dublin. That was a pretty tough time because it was 2008. 2001 was tough and then 2008, as many of us know, was pretty tough and it probably was a tough time to make a move, quit a job and make a move. So I ended up actually working in a startup for a while, which that wasn't probably my greatest experience, just I think just because of everything that was going on at the time. And then I took some time out, got some amazing time with my mother. And then I joined Salesforce in 2010 in Dublin as an account manager, a mid-market account manager, where you also worked Amy, and in different countries, but the same company. And then I worked my way up to what we call the GB, account manager, strategic account manager, and then moved to London in 2015 and moved into original vice president role. Amy Evans (04:29.075)That's right. Karen Muldoon (04:47.63)And I stayed at Salesforce till 2018. I loved those eight years. It was an amazing time to be at Salesforce. And then just like, you know, we kind of get to point our career and we kind of think, well, maybe it's time for a change. And so I moved, I joined Zendesk as a sales leader, which are customer service, which a lot of the same, a lot of Salesforce people also work for. my God, my doorbell is just rang. Amy Evans (05:13.959)We can just you go deal with it. can edit it out later No worries Karen Muldoon (06:46.222)I was actually thinking they were trying to deliver yesterday, and I thought they better not deliver on the call. And then of course he couldn't scan the code. I mean, you can't make it up. Never. Amy Evans (06:54.355)inevitable. So where you were, so let's just get you back settled. Everything's fine. Don't worry about it. Well that's what editing is for. So you had started to share, you had just moved to Zendesk. Yeah. Karen Muldoon (07:03.457)Exactly. Karen Muldoon (07:09.998)Okay. So let me go. Yeah. So I, so I joined Zendesk in 2018 and I was there for about two years, which was amazing, based in London as well. And then of course, 2020, we all kind of know some of the things that happened from a global perspective in 2020. We're all sent home to work and lots was going on in the world. I don't think I need a podcast to tell about it, but I also was going through my own little, challenge during that time and it was called perimenopause. Yeah. So I was really struggling during that time. I was really struggling with energy, motivation. I kind of didn't know what was going on, right? So as part of that, I felt, you know, what's a good thing to do is when you're not feeling great is change jobs because, you know, change your scene, then just go find another job, right? Because Amy Evans (07:41.843)Yes, my gosh, yes. Karen Muldoon (08:07.778)That will fix everything, right? So I left Zendesk. I loved working there. I really missed the team. I really missed working in the office. I really enjoy that. So the company I actually joined had, were going back sooner into the office and that was part of the attraction as well. It was a very early stage startup and I worked with them for about a year, which was interesting. I learned an absolute ton. I learned a ton. was during that time that I started to go back and study functional nutrition because I was really struggling, realized the job didn't fix the problem. So I needed to fix the problem. So I started studying functional nutrition. I'd always had a passion for like health and wellbeing. Just personally, I was always someone that was just trying to do as much as I could, right? And research lots of things. And so this time I decided, couldn't figure it out, trying to do it myself. So I thought, well, I'm just going to go study. And so while I was studying, I didn't actually think of doing it as a career. And then there was a shift really in the industry and technology. took some time out to kind of figure out what I was going to do, what I would take this career to the next level. And then like many of us, I got scared. I thought, I'm not ready to go out on my own. I'm not ready. I'm, you know, I'm... Financially, I just don't think I'm in a position. I'm too scared. What if I fail? All the things we say to ourselves, right? So an opportunity came to work with Coupa, which was amazing. I love working for Coupa, right? And you, many of us know that are in the Salesforce space, right? The procurement tool. They got acquired by private equity, like a few months after I joined. And, you know, we often know kind of what happens with that. So. It wasn't until the following May that they actually, the department that they started in Europe financially, it wasn't really scaling at the pace. So naturally costs get cut quite quickly in those situations to try to then scale back, to scale up. So I was offered redundancy and then I said, was my opportunity to go, you know what? It's time. Karen Muldoon (10:22.67)I've spent a lot of time now in researching, fixing myself as I call it, don't know if fixing is the right word, but helping me heal and helping me feel better. And so I, the passion was getting stronger and stronger and then the opportunity came. The job was no longer there. I could go back and I've had a few opportunities since to go back in and every now and then, sure, the fear creeps in, but I am so far. into what I'm doing now and could not love my job any more than I do. That working now as a functional nutrition practitioner full time and focusing on professional women who are struggling with perimenopause while juggling everything. So that's now my focus 100 % and couldn't be happier, couldn't feel better about it. Amy Evans (11:08.515)I can see that. I can see it on your face. It's so refreshing. And your energy just absolutely comes across that you love what you're doing. I would love to pause for a second, Karen. Help me understand. What is functional nutrition? I don't really know. Karen Muldoon (11:29.248)Yeah, and many people don't, right? So I think when you look at, say, a doctor, right? When you go often to see a doctor, they're usually looking at, you know, what are you feeling? What's wrong? What's the issue here? Like, well, I've actually sore back or, you know, my stomach or whatever's going on, right? So they will often give you something to fix the pain or the symptom, right? Here's something to make the pain all go away. Here's say, you know, You know, we can get into all kinds of discussion around drugs right now, but just oftentimes, and that's how they're trained, right? They're trained to make you feel better. And if it requires a prescription, great. Whereas with functional nutrition or it can be a functional doctor as well, right? You're looking at the root cause. You're looking at the function of the body. You're looking at the whole picture, right? So, Amy, you're, you know, Karen, I'm not feeling great. I'm having some gut issues. won't just necessarily, okay, well, let's look at the gut. Let's look at the whole body. Let's look at the brain. Let's look at everything, right? And see you as a whole person and understand what is the root cause of that. Now for me, as a nutrition side, I treat with foods and nutrition, right? I'm not a doctor. Whereas a functional doctor would also perhaps. perhaps prescribe alongside understanding the root cause. So it's really seeing that person as a whole person and understanding them and their entire systems and how they function and helping them overall really is the difference between say a nutritionist and like a doctor, right? Or something like that. Amy Evans (13:11.539)Wow. So how does it work? Karen Muldoon (13:16.526)Good. Amy Evans (13:18.035)I'm sitting here, Karen, and so number one, I talk to so many, I have the privilege of getting to meet and talk to so many women, very high performing. Karen Muldoon (13:20.395)Yes. Karen Muldoon (13:32.898)Mm-hmm. Amy Evans (13:33.463)women who are leaders and just they are at the top of the game in their career and in sales leadership is where I get most of the folks that I meet. you know, I just last week was talking to one of the people that I'm working with and she shared that, you she said, I finally took the step to get some help. because I realize that I've been going through paramenopause and I thought it was just me for so long and I didn't understand, know, that there was, I was feeling so bad, so poorly and I didn't understand it for a while and I was so busy and I finally slowed down enough to say there's something. Karen Muldoon (14:17.964)Yeah, yeah. Amy Evans (14:27.087)not right here and I've got to get a solution. And so when I think about supporting women as you talk about that's what you're doing who are in perimenopause and in that time of their life where in my own personal experience, there's not a lot of, you have to work hard to find good support and treatment and somebody who really knows what they're talking about. Karen Muldoon (14:28.45)Right. Amy Evans (14:56.669)I'll just share candidly, probably, I know I went through about five years of knowing something was off and I went to my regular OBGYN and she was female and she was extremely intelligent and well-educated and delivered both of my babies and I really liked this woman as a human being and a medical professional. However, when I went to her and said there's something wrong with me or something's not right, I feel irritable, you know, I've got weight gain, you know, I can't remember anything and it was really the irritability for me was the major problem. Like I could keep it together at work, but when I got home, every single ounce of patience that I had had been spent at the office or at my desk with and then Karen Muldoon (15:36.428)Anyone? Karen Muldoon (15:46.168)Mm-hmm. Amy Evans (15:50.447)the people that I love the most were getting this absolute like worst version of me when I got home and it what you know it happened sort of gradually and so you know I attributed it to stress I attributed it to all these other things and then finally began to feel like something was physically off and I went to the doctor and she handedly just didn't want to test me by doing any blood work tests. She was reluctant to do it and wanted to put me on an antidepressant right away, which I didn't want to do. Anyway, experienced it myself. I talked to other women who were dealing with it. And so when I hear you share about functional nutrition, I'm so intrigued because this is every woman that's, it can depend on the ages. Like Karen, what are the ages of women that are affected? Karen Muldoon (16:52.174)Yeah, let me, me, let me delve into that. Can you just give me one second? I just realized something. One second. Amy Evans (16:56.723)Sure, you got it. Karen Muldoon (17:13.774)Okay, I will take it from here now. I'm even going tell you what happened there. Amy Evans (17:18.354)Perfect. That's it. No worries. No worries. So what age do you start to see, do women start to be impacted by perimenopause? Karen Muldoon (17:31.054)Yes. So let me, yes, I will, Amy, let me even talk about even as you say, how does it work? Right. And I think that's a great question. Let me kind of delve into a little bit of the whole, the whole picture. So generally perimenopause, generally the starts to kind of early to mid forties, it can, it can happen earlier. And that's really when the hormones, estrogen, progesterone really kind of start to decline. Amy Evans (17:38.259)Yes. Karen Muldoon (17:59.18)And the issue and why I focus very much on perimenopause, it's the fluctuations that really are what cause the problems. So many people say, well, men's testosterone, know, that declines. Absolutely. But what makes it such a roller coaster for women is this constant, where literally our estrogen could be, if we measured or you got your estrogen tested now in an hour, could be completely different, could be really high, could be really low. And that's what causes, that's why you get hot flushes, that's why you feel brain fog, you have night sweats. And that's what makes that period so hard. Now, I just was speaking to a woman this morning and she's already in menopause. And menopause occurs when you are one year without a period. An average age is 51, 52. She was 48. And she only actually now, is experiencing many of the symptoms. She's experienced more brain fog, more hot flushes, which is hence why we had a call. She's got a very high pressure job. She's embarrassed in meetings when she feels the hot flushes. She feels like she's not on her A game when she's on calls and she's, it's never been like this. Right? So when you ask me kind of how does it work from a functional nutrition standpoint, there are many ways you can go about helping women. And one of them is HRT or it's often called MHT in North America, which is hormone replacement therapy or menopause replacement therapy. That is super helpful. I do not prescribe HRT. I'm not a doctor. I can certainly talk about my experiences and I can off review, but I would never ever make any recommendations or give any view. That would be way out of my scope. What I do is I try to understand how you live. So this morning I had this call. Amy Evans (19:34.406)Okay. Karen Muldoon (19:54.03)with this woman who was saying was, you know, she had, went through a menopause at 48, 52, now really struggling high pressure job, just feeling like, as I said, she's just not in her A game and just needs someone to help her. And I started to look at the whole picture of not just when I say the whole picture of her, you know, of her life. Tell me about your life. Tell me about your earlier years. Tell me about your life now. You know, she was telling me she works, she often does Australia calls. So she just at her, she's on a call by 6 a.m. every morning. She's in the UK. And first thing she does is get up and she has a cup of coffee. And I'm like, okay, so do you have anything in your stomach? No. Okay, do you, when is, when, when will you eat? Well, I usually am on meetings like for three or four hours. I might eat around 11. Okay, so you've just put coffee. in someone whose hormones are, you know, you're having a lot of hormonal imbalances. Your body's under a lot of stress right now and you've just put fuel to the fire when you woken up with coffee. And we could do that probably, you know, 10 years prior or maybe a couple of years prior. But when you're in that state, you've got to be, you've got to really nourish and look after yourself. Right? So I find out this picture of how they're living, how they're eating, how they're moving, their stress levels. the whole picture of what's going on in their life, their relationship with their husbands, their children. know, many women right now are struggling with the, you know, many women, you know, like our mothers, my mother had children, which was 21, 23, 25, right? Many women now are having well into their 30s. So they're often dealing with teenage or younger children, and then their parents are older. So they've got so much going on in a high pressure job. They don't even have time to think about, yeah, they're eating well because we're dealing with, you know, people who are well-educated. They know what's good, right? But as a woman said to me this morning, I know what's good, but I just don't have the time. I just need someone who's going to hold me a little bit accountable, who's going to help me tweak some of the things that I need, make sure I'm nourished, make sure I'm getting enough protein, fat, fiber, all those different things, right? But my calls would consist of really understanding kind of that life. Amy Evans (22:18.003)Mm. Karen Muldoon (22:18.06)really understanding what's going on and then building something for them. I mean, I do have a program in place, right? And that program is very much based on the foundations of how I got through my journey and how I regain my energy. But I also offer very intimate sessions along with that. And I was really, I was reflecting this morning after that call, what's more crucial to the women I'm working with is not even the, yes, the program's got the foundation, which is amazing. It's having the accountability with someone. It's having someone who's kind of there with them. You know, we use the word quarterback a lot in Salesforce. I didn't grow up in the U S but it's kind of a little bit like that. It's someone, know, they're their champion, someone rooting for them because they're just struggling. They're like used to being on top of their A game. They're used to like. You know, and all of a sudden they're just starting to question everything. They're starting to question their confidence. They're starting to question what people are thinking of in the room. And they're just like, I just need help. And I just need someone to just kind of, cause money is usually not an issue, right? It's not the issue with time and just someone to just kind of like steer them through it and knowing what to do and knowing what's going on in their life is so crucial to making it, you know, effective for that individual. Amy Evans (23:43.992)okay. So I am sitting here listening to you talk about the coffee and I'm reflecting on the fact that I just drank, I just drank a very large, you know, this, I don't know. Karen Muldoon (23:53.71)I it. I knew it. Karen Muldoon (24:01.855)in American large coffee, which are usually pretty large. The coffees in America are large. Amy Evans (24:04.723)huge mungus, it's like four cups, it's like four cups of coffee. I don't know how many ounces, whatever, a ton. And my plan for today, I'm just gonna tell you, is to not eat until like 11 because I personally have found what works for me is I like to do fasting. I want a 16 eight fast every day, right? Karen Muldoon (24:21.826)Okay. Karen Muldoon (24:30.926)Okay, okay. Amy Evans (24:33.087)I have a window of eight hours that I'll eat food and then the rest of the time I'm fasting because I read somewhere that that was good for me. What... Karen Muldoon (24:37.409)I'll eat. Karen Muldoon (24:45.708)No, no, no judgment here. And, you know what I mean? It's not the say to say that is not okay. It can be for others. And they also, lot of the tests were really, they've most of them have been done in men, you know, but I just find that, with women who are really struggling, they need more, they need food, especially they need more fat. They need more protein. and you know, I think we've over the years, we've been so scared about. Amy Evans (24:59.529)Mmm. Karen Muldoon (25:15.522)fat thing. And so, you know, for the brain, it's so important to feel nourished, to feel satiated, all of those things. But as I say, there's no judgment here. And everyone's an individual. What works for everyone at the end of the day, if that you feel good, you feel your brain feels stronger by doing that. You feel energized by doing that. That's the right thing for you, right? Amy Evans (25:16.819)Mmm. Amy Evans (25:37.703)Well, I wasn't asking for, you know, I was just like, well, I don't know. We are, we are. So I might as well try to get some free advice, I guess. But, well, I guess I was just, I was just sitting there thinking and then I also was reflecting, you know. I also try to drink an absolute, what I think is a very high volume of water every day. I'm probably drinking, you know, three 32 ounce things of water every day. And so maybe that helps. What do you find, are some of the like, and I understand it's a personal individual to every woman that you are working with and supporting. What do you find though, were some of the primary like, mistake, like, I hate to call it that, but really like things to look at that are like, boy, maybe reconsider doing this. Are there two or three things that you see generally that could be quickly done and Karen Muldoon (26:27.913)Yeah. Mm-hmm. Amy Evans (26:37.423)and adjusted, not ever to replace having the support and accountability of you, Karen. But, you know, if I'm listening to this show and I'm thinking, okay, what could I do today or what could I do tomorrow that might help me feel better if I'm dealing with perimenopausal, you know, if I'm in perimenopause or I'm in menopause and wherever along that incremental journey, what would you say to that? Karen Muldoon (27:05.858)Well, and even though I do help them along the journey, I do offer those kinds of foundational elements, right? Because there are some of that. What comes in the one-to-one is more around, okay, so I've tried that. How can I tweak it? Or how can we evolve this? Right? And, God, I, you know, I need a little, I need a little rooting here to keep it going. But what I'm finding is, you know, there's a lot on social media right now. If I'm sure I'm seeing more of it, right. Cause my algorithm, but But there's a lot of social media about eating enough protein. And I think that is super, super important. I'll break into the other ones a little bit. But I think the challenge with protein is people, a lot of people know what they say we should do. a lot of my clients are not eating processed food, right? And I think I also deal mostly with UK and Ireland. We probably eat less processed food in general anyway, as a nation, right? No judgements, but... Amy Evans (28:04.761)It's okay. We invented all this fake food. Karen Muldoon (28:07.086)Right? So they're not necessarily eating, but what they are eating, we grew up eating also like the US, a lot of cereals, but now they're shifting from cereals into maybe like, you know, if they're Irish, they're eating nice brown whole breads and they're having, you know, a nice piece of toast and they're having some jam and butter on that. And okay, it's not the worst, right? But they're not getting any fat. They're usually probably not getting enough fiber in that bread because most of those breads do not really contain a lot. and they're getting zero protein, right? And then they say to me, well, I'm, you know, this morning the ladies said, I'm having two eggs, you know, so I'm getting protein. There's six grams of protein in an egg, right? So two eggs is 12 grams. You should be getting on average unless, you know, I mean, on average, you probably should try to get 25 to 30 grams of protein at each meal to keep you strong, keep your muscles, your muscle mass decreases. I know it's hard. It's hard, I know. It's hard, especially at breakfast, right? Like traditionally, most of us have, you know, we haven't grown up often eating a savory breakfast. Most of us are growing up eating what we call a sweet breakfast, right? So getting in at breakfast has to be, can be a challenge. So you can have a sweet breakfast. You can just have a bowl of Greek yogurt, or you can have some kefir. If you like cottage cheese, a lot of people don't. Amy Evans (29:07.313)My mouth just dropped. I'm like, what? Amy Evans (29:18.152)Yeah. Yeah. Karen Muldoon (29:34.294)I don't is a great source, but you know, so if you are having eggs, you need quite a few of those eggs, the cholesterol thing I'm not that concerned about. You can also supplement with other things. Now that's difficult if you are, you know, you're Amy, you're going into the office every day or you're jumping on calls at six a.m. in the morning, right? So you have to plan so you can do things like you can. have something you can make them for. You can do shakes. I don't love protein shakes. I don't love protein powder, but they're a great, if you just buy a clean one, they're a great way to get a lot of things in them. Your coconut oil, your fiber, your frozen fruit, your whey protein or whatever that is. Just make sure it's a really clean one, not filled with all these sweeteners and sugar. So I'd say, It's getting all of those protein, fat and fiber components each of the meal. And it's educating people. What is that? When you say protein, okay, well, you think we'll piece of chicken, right? But there's more to it and understanding that there's also lots of plant-based sources, right? It's not only animal protein, right? So can get a lot of plant sources. So it's getting those nourishment. And if you do have, if your meal is made up of all of those things and making it simple, of course, because you're busy. And most people take those boxes at dinner because traditionally and culturally we've been, we eat that, you know, meat, vegetables and, and carbohydrate, right? has been very traditional type of a dinner food. So educating everyone of kind of what that is. And when you do that, you'll feel more energized. You feel satiated. You will actually lose weight. You probably will eat more, but you will lose weight. And I think that is the biggest myth that people have. Amy Evans (31:22.032)How does that work, Karen? Because I'm sitting here listening to you describe this and I'm thinking about like, how would I fit in my pants? Karen Muldoon (31:26.19)It's so true. It's the myth. It's because you are giving yourself, are satiating, you're giving yourself all the nourishment. You're also eating a lot of fiber. The fiber will help you detoxify the excess estrogen, will also help you be very regular. All of that are going to be components. But the challenge is when you have perimenopause, the decline in estrogen affects your blood sugar. It also affects your muscle mass. So all of these is part of the reason when women say they start feeling that middle, they start to their belly is a little, because everything starts to shift and change. So if you could manage your blood sugar with good fat, good protein, fiber, all of those things that'll, and if you, many women have what we call an estrogen excess, which means more estrogen progesterone. It doesn't mean their estrogen is not declining. It's just out of balance with their progesterone. And that helps detoxify a lot of that too. So all of the combination of all that, you'll feel more energized. You also want to exercise more because you'll feel better. You'll feel more energetic. All of that will help. I know it feels like it's not and it's like that. It's a little bit like the keto thing, you know, where I'm not into keto. I love carbohydrates. I love sourdough bread. I love potatoes, but I don't eat biscuits or cookies or Amy Evans (32:38.663)Wow. Karen Muldoon (32:54.206)I eat dark chocolate, right? I don't eat sugar, very high sugar foods, but I eat nice. I live in Spain right now. I love bread. And, you know, I don't have it all the time, but I enjoy. And I think that's the key thing. It's about creating a plan where people can enjoy, they can sustain, they don't feel deprived, and they can fit it into their schedule. That's the golden ticket. And they have someone... who's rooting for them. And then there's a community of other women that they work with because they all join as a community. I have group coaching calls. also have a couple of Facebook groups, one in my program, one for free. And they get to, you know, there's a community where they, and I think often that's part of the challenge. You know, I had a conversation with another woman a couple of weeks ago in a financial services, very senior in. in one of the biggest financial services companies, she asked me, was it just me? And I just was, I was just floored. She's so in her world, she's so busy, nobody's talking about it at that level, right? Because what if the CEO found out that this lady is struggling? She just doesn't talk about it. She doesn't have time to be on social media and looking at every influencer talking about menopause. She doesn't have time. So she thinks she's the only one really struggling, right? And that was a moment for me when I realized I know there's a lot of silence and stigma around it, but asking me that question, I was absolutely shocked, absolutely shocked. So we can get into a whole nother conversation about the corporate side of it, but yeah. Amy Evans (34:38.963)Yeah, well. My goodness. Karen, I'm so intrigued and I certainly, you this is a topic that's very close to my heart. First of all, every woman is going to experience this. And secondly, only just now it feels that the conversation has become more common to acknowledge the reality of the challenges, both physical, emotional, Karen Muldoon (34:53.709)Right. Amy Evans (35:10.933)mental that all are part of the package of going through this, you body change and it's no longer, I'm really hoping that it no longer becomes this thing that nobody talks about. However, I know that's not true. There's still not enough acknowledgement. There's still not enough. even sharing by the older, like our mothers or our older sisters may or may not really come clean and tell us the truth about what to expect. It's like a mystery. And so I'm so thrilled to learn just a little bit about what you're doing and more importantly also about the community component, be above and beyond what you're offering to the ladies that you work with. to give them a chance to really have that chance to connect because one of the things that I know for myself is as we are now at this phase in our lives, we've got busy jobs, busy careers, we've got children who are not yet out of the house but are also very busy. Like every moment of the day is typically accounted for. And so the opportunities to connect with other women who are maybe similar experience of their lives, not just physically, but they have the similar pressures from work. And it's a chance to just build community and have support going through that experience of life. I think that's so powerful. Karen, how would someone, a listener, get in touch with you and learn a little bit more about the programs that you offer? Karen Muldoon (37:02.51)Thank you, Amy. Well, I'm actually redoing my website right now because as I've evolved, I've kind of changed in terms of what I'm seeing or conversation I have. So I want to, I'm to build something out for January 2025. But the best place to find me is on LinkedIn, Karen Muldoon. I have links there to more information about, can access my guide in terms of what I call my top three daily practices. around for me to keep me energized, motivated, stabilize my waist so you can find that on my LinkedIn. I'm also, I know this is more of a business focus, but I am on Instagram, Karen Louise Muldoon. I'm also on Facebook. I'd love if you are any of the lady listeners to join my free Facebook community. I've close to 900 amazing women on there right now. and that is you can just go and click on find my profile. Karen will do it on Facebook and the link to my group is in there. And actually my post today on LinkedIn, I linked to all the different things in the comments. So you can access that as well. But my website will be, my revised website will be coming out very soon. Amy Evans (38:18.771)Okay, and then also for everyone listening to today's conversation, I'll make sure to share in our show notes if you want to go to the podcast or need to refer to the podcast, we'll make sure that the links to Find Karen are available to you. Karen, what a pleasure it has been to get to learn about you, your journey and... coming, you know, evolving your career from this amazing career starting as a programmer, evolving into, you know, sales and big technology, you know, firms along the way. And it sounds to me as if you had this calling in your heart to do this kind of work. And it's so powerful to see you pivot and launch this much, much needed service. for women to support them. And I just want to acknowledge you for the difference and the impact that you're making in the world. I'm so honored to get the chance to meet you today. Thank you for the conversation. Karen Muldoon (39:24.014)Thank you, Amy, and thank you. was a pleasure. was absolutely a pleasure. It was great. Amy Evans (39:28.359)Yeah, wonderful, wonderful. Well, thank you.   Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Help overcoming fear to step into your power.  Everyone struggles with self-doubt and fears that are real and imagined.   References:Suzanne Wistrick, Energy Healing of AtlantaAllison HareBest On Demand Personal DevelopmentGrowthDay*https://www.growthday.com/?via=amyevansNOTE: I receive a referral fee from Growth Day.  I've been using Growth Day every day for the past 3 months- it's made a positive impact on my productivity, alignment to my why and ability to move the "some day" list to some thing that is actually happening. TakeawaysIt's okay to feel and look stupid when trying something new.Most people are more concerned with themselves than you.Growth often requires stepping out of your comfort zone.Listening to your heart can guide you in decision-making.Investing in yourself is crucial for personal growth.Coaching can provide valuable support and perspective.True fulfillment comes from pursuing what you care about.Planning can be a challenge, but it's essential for productivity.Daily recharge practices can enhance focus and presence.Fear can be managed by questioning its worst-case scenario. Transcript:Amy Evans (00:03)Hey everybody, welcome to the show. I am so delighted to have you with me today. Thank you for tuning in. So here's what we're gonna talk about. Here's what you're gonna get out of today. this episode. is actually the 10th episode of the Women in Sales Leadership Podcast. And why is that significant? Well, it's a nice, beautiful number, 10. Also happens to be the day of my birthday, coincidence. What I wanted to give you today was a journey of what it's been like since I started to have this idea of creating a podcast and how I did it, what happened, and most importantly, the lessons that I did not anticipate learning along the way. And I think you're going to find it interesting. Thank you for being here. Okay. So today, what have I learned since starting the Women in Sales Leadership podcast? These are things I hope you can take with you wherever you are in your journey today. So Here we go. Number one, just start. If you have been waiting to do something or wanting to do something or dreaming of doing something, you know the only day that you have to do it, the only day that actually exists, it's this one, right now, today. Don't let that freak you out. Don't let that freak you out, but it should freak you out just a little bit. Getting started is exactly that. It's a start. It's a mental commitment to get going on something that you want to do. And when I was starting this podcast and wanted to start it, I didn't even know quite exactly yet what the podcast was going to be about. It was not clear in my mind. In fact, it wasn't clear at all. So. Getting started doesn't mean that everything's all perfectly baked out and you have this like perfect vision of what it's gonna be and how it's gonna look, whatever it is that you wanna do. All you gotta have is that desire and that pull, if you will, by the universe to do something that is in your heart. And once you just start the rest of it, it figures itself out, I promise you. So, just start. So I got started, and in that, I got some help, and yet again, I knew I needed help, I didn't know how to start a podcast, I didn't know anything about it. man, I looked at YouTube, I looked at the internet, I looked at all this stuff, and I was just like, give me a break, I don't have forever. to figure this out and plus if I give myself too long, I'll lose interest and I'll move on or I'll decide it's too hard and I'll move on. So what happened for me instead, Amy Evans (03:22)So what happened for me instead? was I decided I needed to get help, okay? I don't know how many of you feel like I feel about getting help, but it's just not how I was raised, okay? And not because I didn't have a happy childhood or amazing family because I had all those things. But I was not raised to ask for help. I was raised to figure stuff out and get stuff done, right? just like you figure stuff out and get stuff done. And getting help or asking for help or admitting I need help, I'll just come straight up and tell you I suck at it. I'm awful. I'm really awful. And this is something I am working on for myself. In fact, I have a coach and we talked about this specifically and that's a whole nother conversation of the episode of focused on. asking for help and running experiments of doing it and understanding the story that you're telling yourself for the reasons that you aren't asking for help. But forget all that. We're talking about the podcast. And I asked for help. So I knew a woman, Alison Hare. she introduced herself to me. She sought me out over a year and a half ago. She spent a lot of time building relationship with me and she's a remarkable human being and so impressive. She runs her own consulting company, coaching company, and she also on the side, she has her own podcast called The Late Learner, which has evolved and grown as she has evolved and grown. And she happened to have a course, a coaching course on launching your own podcast. And I thought, okay, can, Allison can help me. It was like the universe kind of just put Allison there for me a year before I even decided to do anything with it. So I reached out to Allison and I was kind of sputtering around in circles, figuring out exactly what I wanted to do in our conversation. Then I finally told her, said, hey, I really want to start a podcast. Can you help me? And she just dove right in. and she had an excellent program and I made an investment. Another thing that has been something that's been a growing opportunity for me is to give myself permission to make investments in me, right? I'm a mother. I was the breadwinner for my family. When I was married, I was the breadwinner. In fact, I was the sole provider. I was taking care of everybody. And I took care of myself. I wasn't a complete and total disaster, but I was a mild, mostly disaster disaster. Amy Evans (06:40)investing in myself was something that I always struggled with. Like, my gosh, Lord, even getting my nails done was somehow this inner conflict of like, should I be spending money like this on myself? mean, here I was, successful senior sales executive at one the largest software companies in the world, and I am like, giving myself crap over should I get my nails done or not? Come on. Anyway, this gives you a sense of the mindset that I was carrying around with me. I made the investment. I hired Allison and she took me through this really powerful course and I was dedicated to doing it. I was like, this is what I'm doing. I don't know what it's gonna look like. I don't know anything other than I'm called to do this. And through that evolution, this podcast was born. She helped me get refined on what I wanted to call it, which is the very self-explanatory Women in Sales Leadership podcast. She helped me get clear on the mission, which is to empower women and connect them with their stories and inspire women to support each other. to inspire each other and ideally inspire other women to grow in their leadership or become a leader. There aren't enough women in sales leadership out there today. Some of you know the stats, some of you may not, but what's fantastic is that in the round, in the world of sales, 50 % of salespeople are women. That's fabulous, great. But where you get into sales leadership, is a real disparity. Those numbers get to be more like 30 % of sales leaders are women. And there's an opportunity to improve that. I'm committed to that. so get, just start, get help. That's what we've covered so far. So, and then the other thing is I'm evolving the podcast and some of you can look back if you ever were, noticed some of these early things. Like you just gotta put it out there. Nothing is perfect the first time you take a whack at it. Think about it. Every time you learned something in your life, you had to fall down, you had to skin your knees, you had to make mistakes, bump around in the dark, fill in whatever colloquialism here fits your personal preference, and it's gonna be messy. We as women are Typically not messy. We don't enjoy being messy. We were not rewarded for being messy. We were not praised for being messy. We were praised for being perfect. Perfect, perfect, perfect all the time. Must be perfect, must be better than the boys, must be pleasant, must be perfect. Well, you know what? When you're creating something new, it's never gonna be perfect. When you're learning something new, it's never gonna be perfect. So I had to put stuff out there. So I will never forget putting out the first episode and it took me, my gosh, I think it took me like a day and a half just to put the episode out. I don't have a production team, folks. It's me, myself, and I currently. Maybe someday that'll change, but this is my passion project, so it's by me, from me, for you. And you gotta be just willing to put it out there. when you're trying something new. Don't worry about looking perfect. Because here's the reality. Nobody's really looking at you. They really aren't. There might be a few people watching you, maybe. But you know what most people are just really concerned with? Themselves, naturally, right? That's normal human behavior, okay? So the other thing that I learned in this journey was, my god, I felt so stupid so many times. and so, gosh, uncomfortable, uncomfortable. Isn't that the phrase that everybody says, like, growth happens when you're uncomfortable. If you're not uncomfortable, you're not growing. these are wonderful things to say, but when's the last time you really got yourself uncomfortable? and you got yourself uncomfortable because you said you were gonna do something, you said publicly you were gonna do it, and then, ooh, you're now on the hook to do it, and not only do it, but do something you've never done before in your life, right? You've never done something before in your life. Should it scare you? I don't know, maybe. What's the worst thing that could possibly happen? Eh. I put out a podcast, nobody listens to it. I tried an experiment and it failed, right? I tried an experiment and maybe it failed. That was the worst thing that could have happened. I would have spent some time building this thing. I would have spent some money hiring the amazing Alison Hare to help me out. And I would have wasted some time and some money. my goodness, how much time and money have I wasted my whole life doing things I didn't even care about? I'll just confess right now, it's been a lot. But this I cared about. And so... I've really just figured out that the only person I'm doing this for is one person. I'm doing it, if I can make a difference for one person, then that's good enough for me. And if happens to be more people, more women that benefit, wow, I'm totally winning, totally winning. Okay. So be willing to feel and look stupid when you're trying something new. And it's okay. All you're doing is running experiments. Okay, so what else did I learn? I really learned a lot about listening to my heart. And I didn't really get the power of listening to my heart until, like it's always been there, right? Like your heart's always there, you know. There's certain decisions that you have in your life or you're approached with options. You're approached with people and situations and you call it your gut, your heart, whatever you want to call it, listening to that. The heart is different than the gut though when you're looking at decisions and you're looking at following something. And I didn't get into that distinction until earlier this year when I was working with an energy therapist. my goodness, I didn't anticipate I was going to be talking about this, but I will. So here we go. I was working with this phenomenal energy therapist in Atlanta, Georgia. Her name is Suzanne Wistrick. Suzanne Wistrick. my goodness. I'd never done anything like this before. Chakras, energy healing. I had no idea what this stuff was. I didn't understand it. I wasn't sure if I believed in it, yet I was called. I felt some calling to find this out. was going through my divorce at the time. was going through, if anybody's gone through this kind of stuff, there's all these steps. Very stressful the whole thing is. And it's very difficult to remain grounded emotionally. Difficult to remain grounded mentally. and physically even grounded in yourself and keep yourself in a place of calm and presence and patience, which is what I needed for myself and my own well-being and also for my children. Anyway, so I found Suzanne Wistrick and I worked with Suzanne, again, you're hearing a theme of investing in yourself. I worked with Suzanne and she is just, You talk about people that she would recommend to everybody you know, she's on the list. And I don't get anything out of recommending her services anyway. But Suzanne taught me, taught me how to meditate and how to really meditate and put my awareness into my heart. And when you put your awareness into your heart, there's this saying that the heart never lies. And what that means is that the heart never lies, right? Like you are, that is the single source of truth. There's no other influence other than the core of your being, your energetic, know, spiritual self centered right in your heart, wherever your spiritual beliefs may or may not be. She taught me how to do this meditation and so when I meditated and I listened to my heart, I felt called to create this as, chance to be creative out in the world too and create something. I always thought I was going to be a rock star ladies and you know I guess I can claim to be a rock star. I feel like a rock star. I really do because I feel like I'm rock star in a lot of things they do. I'm a rock star friend. I'm an amazing daughter. I feel most days I'm rocking it at being a mom but some days I'm not great. You some days I need work too. Anyway she taught me how to follow my heart so know, following my heart was a big part of the learnings that I had in going through this journey of a podcast. And if you're at a place where you're not sure what to do or you're trying to make a big decision for yourself and evaluate it for you, is this right for me or do I want to do this or what do I need to take action on? Whatever that question might be. You can Google all kinds of meditations that help you get access to your heart. And those will help you just get some clarity. Get some clarity. I think we all need clarity every day. I certainly do. So I've hired, in my story I've hired two coaches already along the way. One that helped me on like a personal project that I had called. get divorced as peacefully as possible, which was a personal project, and another project called Launch a Podcast. if you're hesitating, hmm, if you're hesitating, it's okay, because it's normal to hesitate. We all hesitate, it's fine. But if you want to do something, or take on something for you, You don't have to do it alone. You don't. There is somebody out there who has done what you want to do. There's somebody out there who can help you navigate your unique situation or your unique dream or your unique challenge and help you work through it. We are communal beings. We are social beings. We exist to help each other. That's the whole purpose of human beings is to help one another survive and get through. So coaching can really matter. One thing I thought would happen when I started this podcast and I didn't understand how truly amazing it would be and like life changing it would be and really fill up my bucket, like fill me up, like fulfilled. When is the last time you were fulfilled? It had been a while for me. I'll be honest, by my work, by something I was working on, true fulfillment, joy, like wow, so fun. I'm having fun, legit fun. And that was the chance to just get to meet these ladies and hear their stories. Some of them I've become friends with and we're in communication frequently talking. Others... You know what? I don't need to be friends with them every single day. You know what? I'm going to hold a space in my heart for them for forever because I know their story and where they came from and they had the audacity to get in a public forum and share about themselves, right? To be bold and set aside fear and be willing to offer something for you all. That's really powerful, those connections. Let's see, the last thing I'll hit on, I've got two more actually, I might as well tell you all of them. That's what I'm here for, right? So the one that I'm working on right now that's getting better and better for me, and I've hired another coach. I've hired a high performance coach now. Because I had had my energy coach at the beginning of the year, I had my podcast coach in the kind of middle of the year, and. What I've learned about myself is that I do my best work when I have a coach. I never used to have a coach as a sales leader, ever. I was the one doing the coaching, and in fact, I coach people today, and I absolutely love it. It's remarkable. I get so much joy in working with the folks that come to me and work with me for coaching. But I have my own coach, because if I'm going to be a vitamin for somebody else, I've to take my own vitamins and fill myself up. So my coach has me working on this thing that has just been a stumbling block for me like my whole life. And people who may know me would listen to this and they would laugh. But in my heart, right, where the truth is all the time, I know it's true. So the thing is this, I do not like planning my work. I don't like planning my schedule. What is that about? Because if you want me to plan a vacation, my gosh, folks, I could share some itineraries of some absolute killer trips that I've planned for my family and for my friends. And I mean, it's everything from the curated great place to stay in budget, right? The great place to stay, the restaurant. and the place to go after the restaurant that's within walking distance for drinks or dancing or whatever and you know when it was with my kids and we went out to Sedona right before I moved like normal people do go on vacation right before they move you know I have this amazing ability to plan and I love it I get a lot of joy out of planning a vacation but when it comes time to sit down and plan my calendar. Like, take everything I want to get done. map it out into the week, there is just something in my body that just kind of, or it's not my body, it's really all in my head. It revolts against this. I don't want to be controlled, I don't want to have to do that. What the hell, I don't know. But here's the thing I'll tell you, just like exercising, just like eating right, just like not drinking alcohol, when you do those things, my gosh, the results are amazing. So this is what I'm working on. The experiment that I'm running now is making a commitment. and here I am out here putting it out here for y'all. So great, I have got to do this now. Thank you, self. Anyway, making a commitment to plan my week. I'm experimenting with what works. It's either Sunday night. or first thing on Monday morning and I like carve out an hour on Monday morning to plan it out. The difference of planning your week and taking your time to look at all that to do, I have these task lists that I put in, I use Google Tasks. So I put all my tasks in there, like all the random to do, so try to get them off my brain, because otherwise my brain is, you know, have this tallying list of a whole bunch of stuff to do. And I schedule it. Everybody calls it time blocking, that's fine, great. Well, when are you gonna time block? Well, you gotta plan. You gotta plan your schedule, time block. So this is a tool that I'm taking on a practice, a habit that I'm taking on doing that's come out of my high performance coaching that I'm getting from Growth Day, which is Brendan Bruchard's organization. I'll offer this one quickly. If you don't know Growth Day or haven't heard about it. It's like having a coach in your pocket on your phone whenever you need it, like on demand coaching, and then more importantly, a 10 to 15 minute motivational pep talk every single day, every single day in this app called Growth Day. I began using this tool, let's see, about three months ago. And I can't think of a day when I don't use this thing. Everything from I log in, I listen to the daily fire, which is Brendan Bouchard. If you don't know Brendan, go look him up. He's one of the foremost personal development gurus, thought leaders, experts out there. I get a daily fire from Brendan. And then I do my journaling for the day in this app. And my goodness, it's been remarkable. It's been remarkable. Some of the best investment I've made in myself in doing this thing. If you're curious, I do have an affiliate link. I'll put it down in the show notes, but you don't have to have that. You can just go to growthday.com, check it out. I think they give you like a week free and see if you like it. It's been hugely powerful for me, especially When you are just running so hard you're trying to figure out how the hell would I fit another thing into my life? But I need something to help me and I want something to help me just Have a different perspective Leaders need coaching to leaders need coaching to So the last three things I'll give you, one is something that you might just look at me and laugh and that's okay, but it's been a game changer in my productivity. And that is being willing to schedule a, not lunch, this is not lunch, this is a 30 minute meditation slash nap. in my day every day. And I do this every day somewhere. It's usually about two o'clock, but if I've got to run the carpool that week, or if I don't have to run the carpool, it's three o'clock. So between two and three, I have it on my calendar, and I am laying down on my couch, and I'm setting a timer on my phone. And I close my eyes and I lay down. And sometimes I meditate. Sometimes I just lay there and just relax and kind of fall into a little bit of a light nap. Never get fully asleep, but just a little bit asleep. And what I have noticed is when I wake up from that little sweet little nap, I am ready to rock and roll for another three hours. I don't get run down. I'm not cranky, I'm not anxious, I'm fresh, I'm focused, and I can be present, which is what our people need from us, to be fresh, focused, and present at all times. So if you consider, by the time you hit about two or three o'clock in the afternoon, your brain has been working for many hours already with no recharge. It's like plugging your phone back in again. We need to be plugged back in again and the way that our brains recharge, we all know, is sleep. So anyway, I offer that to you. Give yourself permission, try it out. Run an experiment. Try it for a day. Do it once. Do it once. See how goes. You gotta set the timer though. You don't wanna fall all the way asleep. You wanna just get that nice little recharge, get back up, and get ready to rock. In fact, I took a nap just a few minutes before I got on this recording. So the last two things I'm gonna ask you to... to take away from today. And this is what I kept telling myself the whole time that I was building this podcast. And going through the transformation that I've had going on for really the past two years. And that is. There are no rules. The rules that you've been living by were made up by somebody else. Most of them. So if there are no rules, and you can get access to your heart, and you can get help to get done what you want to get done. What could you possibly do? I think it's pretty much anything. Pretty much anything. And then the last one I'll leave you with, and this is one that I have to ask myself a lot, especially when I'm bumping up against a wall of fear, which just happens. mean, it's gonna be there. You can't escape it. It's just gonna be there. And what I've learned is how do you get better? How do you acknowledge it? What I've noticed about me is when I am afraid, I become a very nasty, ugly, mean, grumpy person. I'm short, I have a short temper, I think nasty thoughts, and my gosh, mean about other people, it's like the worst version of me. It's so ugly and terrible. And anytime I catch myself, because that's what I have to do, have to. and like seeing myself like what why do you feel so crummy why are you acting like such a jerk Typically I'm afraid of something. I have some sort of fear that's percolating in my brain and it's just getting me all worked up. And so this is the question that I ask myself to help me snap out of it if I can. It usually works. that is, first off I like to journal about it, but this is the question. You know, if you don't have time to journal, you don't have time for that. You've got so much going on. What's the worst thing that could possibly happen? That's the question. What's the worst thing that could possibly happen? And when you break that down for yourself of the worst thing that could possibly happen, almost always, whatever thing that is scaring you kind of gets cut down to size. of perspective and becomes most times something that you can actually face and deal with and do so in a way that isn't driven by this angst and anger and lizard brain reaction. So there you have it. Those are the things that I've learned since launching this podcast. There are so many more things to come. We have wonderful guests. For those of you who have been with us since the very beginning, I am humbled by you. If this is your first time listening to the Women in Sales Leadership podcast, I am so glad you spent some time with us today and with me. If you want to share this podcast with a friend, Please do that. Take a second on the app that you're using to listen and forward it to somebody you know. They might get something out of it, right? If you even just send that person the message, whether they listen to this show or not, they're gonna feel love and connection from you. And I think we all need more love and connection, especially right now, more than ever. I you have a fantastic day. Be good. Stay well.    Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Kim's background as a competitive figure skater shaped her work ethic.Education can lead to unexpected career paths.Sales is about building relationships and understanding clients.Mentorship plays a crucial role in professional development.Work-life balance is essential for long-term success.Leadership coaching can help identify blind spots.Feedback is vital for personal and professional growth.Sales strategies must adapt to changing market conditions.Emotional intelligence is key in leadership roles.Success is defined by personal fulfillment, not just career achievements. Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

00:00Introduction to Wendy Harris01:47Wendy's Journey: From Ireland to Tech Leadership07:34The Importance of Process in Sales Leadership09:09Lessons from Female Leadership11:23The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership14:58Understanding the Cost of Loyalty19:45Protecting Energy as a Leader26:07The Joy of Empowering Others28:14Choosing the Right Boss Find Wendy at https://www.thewendyharris.com/and on Linked In at https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyharrisirl/ Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

 Embrace a fearless and go-for-it attitude in sales and business.Hire the right people who are hard on themselves and willing to improve.Give feedback and support to employees instead of scolding them.Recognize and address areas for improvement while also accepting limitations.Utilize the strengths of a team to fill in weaknesses and provide support.   Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

TakeawaysNo one dreams of being a salesperson as a child.Transitioning from law to sales was a significant change.Working in sales can be both competitive and rewarding.Leadership roles can come with intense pressure.Personal health challenges can reshape one's perspective on work.Effective communication and delegation are key leadership skills.Maintaining a neutral mindset helps in stressful situations.It's important to focus on serving customers rather than just hitting numbers.Finding balance in life is crucial for long-term success.Career aspirations should not overshadow personal well-being. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background02:22 Discovering Sales as a Career05:21 Early Success and Falling in Love with Salesforce07:15 Lessons in Leadership at Salesforce09:48 Struggles and Life-Changing Diagnosis13:17 Finding Perspective and Growth19:32 The Power of a Neutral Mindset22:35 Prioritizing What Matters in Life and Career   Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Guest Wendy Leggett:Retirement Readiness [email protected]://confluxretirementcoaching.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyleggett/TakeawaysFocus on the non-financial aspects of retirement, such as emotional, mental, physical, and social well-being.Practice positive intelligence by recognizing and quieting negative emotions and activating positive emotions.Use PQs (positivity quotients) as a tool to calm the mind and gain clarity.Be true to yourself and lead yourself before leading others.Give yourself time and space during transitions to reflect and let go of patterns or habits that no longer serve you.Create a retirement by design, focusing on your values and what brings you fulfillment. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Wendy's Story05:45 The Work of Retirement Coaching09:18 Wendy's Experience as a Sales Leader18:54 Introduction to Positive Intelligence27:15 Advice for Women in Leadership31:40 The Power of Transitions Show Transcript:Amy Evans (00:01.564)wonderful. Hi, Wendy. Wendy Leggett (00:04.253)hi Amy me, how are you? Amy Evans (00:05.996)I'm excellent, I'm excellent. I am so glad to be here with you and thank you for joining me today. I was really thrilled to get the chance to meet you when we met a week or so ago and you shared with me a little bit about you, what you've done in your life and what you're doing now. And I'm really thrilled about our conversation that we're gonna have today and I was hoping to kick us off, we would start. at the very logical spot, which would be the beginning for you. Tell me if you don't mind, introduce yourself and tell me little bit about your story. Wendy Leggett (00:45.97)I'd love to. Yeah, and it's been such a pleasure to get to connect with you as well. Your energy and insights are just really inspiring to me. So I'm Wendy Leggett. I'm the owner of Conflux Retirement Coaching. And my story is that I've been in sales for most of my career. Even in high school, I'd gotten a job at a boutique. I love the fashion, of course. I love the discount. But then I really love the process and I love the connection with customers. did really well and you know, we know that when we're in sales and we do well, oftentimes we get promoted. So I moved up the ladder when I was in high school into college, went to a large store, maybe people know Nordstrom, so I was there for quite a few years. But then I made the decision that I wanted to, at that time in my mind, move into something more professional. So whatever that means. And so that meant going to outside sales. And so then I started off with a large telecom company and worked my way up that ladder too. So the last position I had before I then stepped out for a little while to have my children was as a director of sales. Had a lot of people reporting to me, had a lot of distributors and call centers reporting to me as well. And so it was a very dynamic, creative position. I made a very emotionally based, not well thought out decision. Amy, when we... had our twins, I had planned to go back to work again, but then one of them became ill and he was fine afterwards. But at that moment, my heartstrings pulled me and said, you need to be home with your three children because we had an older son too. So I stepped away from that career, which was really such a gratifying, exciting one to me, but I felt that this was the right place for me. And then flash forward, I got back into sales, but as we know, And maybe this isn't the case for everyone, but for me, it was kind of starting over again and then working my way up. And so I tried a number of different avenues. The last position that I was in, I was a director of a number of franchises, director of sales. I loved that work, loved the owners of the company. But what happened there is that we were doing so well, very dynamic, creative. We were really breaking barriers in the way of sales and service. They decided to sell the company, which Wendy Leggett (03:10.13)you know, was for tutors on their part because it was a great time for them to do that. But for me, it ended up them bringing in a new owner with very, different philosophy than the previous owner and very different values than I was aligned with. So fixer that I was, I kept trying to figure out a way to make it work. But ultimately we know that we're in sales. We're facing our customers every day. We're working with our team members every day. And if we're bringing something forward that's not authentic or ring true to us, it's a very hard thing, a very difficult pill to swallow and it wasn't one that I could. So I was at a crossroads then, do I go back into looking for another sales position? But at that time I thought, you know, maybe this is an opportunity for me to dig a bit deeper and I think I was really searching. And what I found then was moving into the career that I'm in now. So shall I dig into that or because I know I'm... Amy Evans (04:06.794)why not? Yeah, we're absolutely we're here. Let's do it, please. Wendy Leggett (04:11.42)Yeah, very good. I was researching all kinds of different options. I hit upon coaching, which was new in my universe, know, in the different jobs I've been in. We'd had consultants, we'd had maybe really niche coaches, but I didn't really think of them in terms of coach, certainly not life coaches. But I decided, wow, that really resonates with me. I'm feeling like I want to dig a bit deeper. You sometimes we learn the things that we need for ourselves. as well as me wanting to bring that forward for others. So I went back to school, which was in and of itself kind of revolutionary because I hadn't been in school a long time, for a long time. And so went back to school, got my professional certified coaching credential through the International Coaching Federation and Coach Academy. And then through my travels, really started feeling like, you know, I really connect with that kind of client who's me. in that baby boomer generation, the one that's really looking at, you know, what's meaningful to me now? What feels like it's right and authentic and something that I can really feel like I'm making a difference about. So I did find out that there was something called retirement life coaching. There's associations, there's credentials. So I went back and received several credentials. And that's the work that I focus on is helping people transition from career. to retirement in a way that feels fulfilling, that allows them to really have a crystallized view of what this next chapter could look Amy Evans (05:45.44)Okay, well thank you for walking me through that. I'd love to learn just a little more about what the work of retirement coaching specifically. Can you share more detail about that? Wendy Leggett (05:59.767)Yeah, yeah, I'd love to. Thank you for asking. So my focus, and it's an important qualifier, is that I focus on the non -financial. it's, you know, very important, fundamentally important that people have their financial house in order. But we know that we bring our whole selves into retirement. And so if we only look at having our finances healthy, but not the rest of us are emotional or mental or physical or social. or feelings of purposefulness. If we don't have those healthy as well, then we can walk into retirement not really prepared to make the most of the next chapter. So the work that I do is really first raising people's awareness about what does retirement even mean to you? Because oftentimes like 90 % of the people in America plan to retire, but why? What does that mean to them? I'm a retirement life coach, but it doesn't mean that I think everybody should retire. have any plans to retire right now. But yet if someone is wanting to or they're thinking about it or they think, wow, that's the goal is to retire. Well, what is it that you're retiring to? And what is it that you're retiring with? So we start there. And then from there, we really look at, okay, so this is how we define retirement. What do we envision? What will a day in retirement look like for you? If you didn't have this time abundance that will be offered to you when you are post -career. How will you spend that time? What will feel meaningful to you? What will get you up in the morning and make you feel like it's making a difference? Because we know when the honeymoon wears out, which is generally six months to two years in after retirement, people start to really question, wow, is this all there is? Or they get into these patterns that just kind of perpetuate what they were doing at work. So many people will fill up their dance card and stay really busy because they feel like they're losing relevance. And so it's important that people then have that opportunity. And I do and they do that with me is to really start to crystallize, what does this look like for me? And then how does that align with my values? Because we know that when we're clear on our values, and we have actions that support those values, and then we move forward in a much more motivated way. So we go through that process, look at what feels purposeful to us. And purpose, you know, Wendy Leggett (08:25.126)in and of itself carries so much weight for people. You know, what is my purpose, finding purpose? But we know that purposeful is really a verb, it's an action, and we can have a number of things in our lives that feel purposeful. So we look at that, and then we go through and look at all the elements of well -being. So we do look at the physical, the social, the mental, the emotional, and the purposefulness or spiritual aspects of retirement wellness. Amy Evans (09:01.591)Thank you. Thank you for walking through that. I'd like to back up a little bit. Yeah, no, it's good. It's good. It's wonderful. Wendy Leggett (09:10.564)there was a lot there. Amy Evans (09:18.932)So I'd like to think, of take you back in time to when you were a sales leader. And when you first became a sales leader, Wendy, because you spoke fondly. I could hear it in your voice. You had some good experiences. I I think that's everybody's story. There's going to be great experiences. There's going to be other experiences, which we might think of as our learning experiences. Wendy Leggett (09:31.56)Yes. Wendy Leggett (09:48.673)That's how I turn them as well. Yes. Amy Evans (09:50.937)Right. I'd to think that, tell me a little bit about like when you first became a sales leader. What surprised you most and what did you enjoy most since that's who our audience is today? Walk me through a little bit of that, please. Wendy Leggett (10:10.866)Yeah, I think for me, it was like this beautiful melding of creativity and commerce. So it was this idea that we could be thinking really creatively about how to meet our clients' needs and how we could meet and exceed our numbers. And at the same time, really be having fun and being able to put ourselves forward. And so I think that's what I found as being a leader, because I was able to help chart the course then. wasn't... you know, in this position where I was doing, I was really able to make more of an impact. So as that leader. And so that's what I didn't realize it would feel that way. But that's what I recall from it. Amy Evans (10:53.536)Yeah. And talk to me a little bit about what that was like to be a woman in leadership at that point in your career. Did you have very many other female leader, sales leader, know, models or folks to look to or learn from? Wendy Leggett (11:11.61)Yeah, yeah, I was reflecting on that thought. And, you know, for me, and this takes us back, because again, I'm in that baby boomer generation. So when I was in sales leadership, the women that were sales leaders around me, unfortunately, I think at that time, we were really having to act more as men, we were having to be bringing forward that male energy and not really be able to springboard off of all of the things inherent in being a female. I think there's a beautiful balance that can happen there. But I think that what I observed a lot was that there wasn't women lifting one another up or supporting them necessarily. I saw a lot of more kind of aggressive behavior rather than assertive behavior. And so the models that I was able to really look to were outside of sales. And I think that At that time, maybe it was just that interpretation that in order to make the numbers or in order to really excel, then we had to downplay some of their aspects of who we were. And that's what I kind of observed. And even up till not so long ago, I worked for a sales leader who she was younger, which I shouldn't even say that because that wasn't the point. She was younger in the position though. So she didn't have a lot of experience. Amy Evans (12:34.243)Yeah. Wendy Leggett (12:37.254)We know, at least from my experience, oftentimes when someone's an excellent salesperson, they get promoted. They are moved into a sales leadership role. And sometimes they don't have the tools or sometimes they don't have the experience or the preference of really taking in a different view. And so they take all of their sales expertise in Acumen and they move it forward into what they think of as a leadership role. But I think of that as more as a management role. And there's a big difference there between being a manager and a leader. So I did see that kind of behavior as well where there just wasn't that kind of attention to those that were working for you and helping enable them and empower them and inspire them to then move forward in doing the business. So that was kind of my experiences. I found the role models really outside of this else. Amy Evans (13:36.481)Excuse me. Amy Evans (13:45.24)think you're alone in that. think that was absolutely a norm. I experienced that myself. With some of my most beloved leaders that I looked up to that were women, it was so normal at the time, or it felt like that was what was the expectation. You had to be a guy, a man, a woman who was kind of trying to be like a man at that point, because that was somehow what was acceptable. Thankfully, things have evolved a bit for us since then. But it wasn't that long ago. Really wasn't. Wendy Leggett (14:24.614)Yeah, and probably depending on the industry or depending on who is in the hierarchy, you know, I think it's important to raise that up so that I think whenever things are normalized, when like for your audience to know that if this is what's happening with you, this isn't out of the ordinary, you know, hopefully it's a lot more out of the ordinary than it was, but to recognize it's not you. So then what's needed to be able to move you forward in an important Amy Evans (14:51.81)Yeah, yeah. I mean, I have to say, think I had moments in my leadership development where I too, I was only woman in the room. And so who were my role models? These wonderful, powerful, successful gentlemen, their style wasn't my style. And it took me a while to understand that I had permission to add myself into my leadership style and subtract the parts of me that, the things I saw that weren't me. And that's when I finally gave myself permission to do that is when my own leadership started to grow and develop. So I love. Wendy Leggett (15:42.27)And if I may on that, sorry, but where did you find that strength of self? Because again, I think this could be a crossroads moment for some. And so maybe you have some insights around that to share. Amy Evans (15:53.935)gosh, well, thank you for the interview question for me. So where did I find the strength? was it was it. Excuse me. Amy Evans (16:11.052)I think it was really more about you can only subdue your own self for so long until your true self really just kind of comes out. It's like, your personality is showing. You better tuck that back in. I think one of the beautiful things that's happened over the last decade or so is that permission for all people. including women, to express themselves authentically. And I will tell you that there was one moment that sticks out in my mind where I was leaving a job that I had where I'd had a fantastic run. I'd had a fantastic run. I'd grown a lot as a leader and made lots of mistakes, but learned a lot along the way. And I was, was, transitioning out of the organization and one of the gentlemen that I was working with said something to me that I just, it's funny, I'll never forget and it was, Amy, be yourself. Just be yourself. And you'll do great. And those little words just stuck with me. So, you know. Wendy Leggett (17:16.734)you Wendy Leggett (17:28.798)Yeah, that's, no, that's to hear someone say that to you because we know that we should feel that way. But oftentimes we fight it, you know, we think that we need to fit into a certain box or carry a certain label. And so we do hold ourselves in the shadows. And I think that's why the work that I do with retirement rings so true to me, because I think especially generation to generation, you know, there are some of us who were raised with pushing those emotions down or pushing them away. And so we're not leaning into ourselves. We're just powering through and then no pain, no gain. And you just get it done and just keep moving on and moving forward. So for you to be able to sit in that place and say, just be myself, that's huge. I think that needs a real spotlight because I think so often we don't allow that. And yet that's where the real strength and that's where the... Amy Evans (18:04.952)Mmm. Wendy Leggett (18:24.38)the authenticity and the uniqueness can shine through. So thank you for sharing that. Amy Evans (18:29.654)Yeah. Thank you for the question. this is a natural transition to something you and I talked about when we first met. And it got me very excited, Wendy. And that was you talked about something that I'd never heard anybody share about before. And that was positive intelligence. Can you talk a little more about that, please? Wendy Leggett (18:55.0)sure, I'd love to. I think most of you listening probably have heard of emotional intelligence. And so we know then how we want to relate to people in different arenas and settings and things so that we're able to really collaborate and communicate and come to agreements. Positive intelligence takes that same concept and it both boils it down to very simple level. And at the same time, it becomes oftentimes more actionable because when things are simple, we can oftentimes put them into play. So the concept of positive intelligence came from Shirzad Shamin. So Shirzad Shamin is an author. He developed this concept, wrote a book called Positive Intelligence, and then took it several steps further where he then put a program behind it. And what he shares in his positive intelligence is that we have these three factors that allow us to Recognize when we have a negative emotion, he calls them our saboteurs. And the lead saboteur is a judge. We judge ourselves, we judge others, we judge circumstances. And along with that judge saboteur are their accomplice saboteurs. So we may feel that there's an avoider that's chirping in our ears and saying, I can't do that. Or a pleaser that I should act a certain way so that people will like me. Or a victim saboteur. I would do better in this job except that. Etc, etc. So we have these saboteurs and we all have them. Some are louder than others. Some have been around a lot longer than others. But at any rate, we recognize them when they come up because we start to feel these negative or difficult emotions. So the key behind positive intelligence is first of all, catching those saboteurs saying, whoa, I know what you're doing and I'm not listening to you because that's not who I am. So I'm not a hyper achiever. I have a hyperachiever characteristic sometimes that pushes me beyond what I should maybe be doing, or that is best for myself or others. So we catch the saboteur and then we go into what's called self command. And for some, might think of this as like a little mini meditation, but that idea is just quieting our brain for a moment. We caught the saboteur, we're stopping and we're reflecting. And there's ways to do that. We call them PQ reps and I can step you through that. Wendy Leggett (21:20.822)And then we move into what's called Sage. So we've had this time of reflection. We see that that negative emotion is working against us. And so then we move into the positive emotions, which are the Sage characteristics. It's when we activate our empathy powers, we activate our navigation powers, innovation powers, those types of things. And so then we move out of that negative space and move into this positive one. It's a very, very powerful approach. I know that I'm kind of synthesizing it here, but the core behind it is that it's really a lifelong practice for us to catch these saboteurs, quiet them, because we know that if we keep, as Shirzad would say, our hand on the hot stove for more than a second, that we're going to get burned. And so, yes, we can recognize the negative emotion. Feelings are critically important, but they're a signal. Something's amiss. But instead of ruminating in them or acting in a saboteur sort of way, then we want to move into a sage position. what questions does that kind of bring up for you or thoughts? Well, I'm thinking that I can hear in that description things that I can experience. I sometimes weekly. good for you because neither daily. Amy Evans (22:30.968)Well, first of all, I am thinking I can hear in that description things that I actively experience on a sometimes weekly basis myself. Yeah, yeah, depends on which day it is. So you shared a little bit, about a tool that you use. Is it something you'd be comfortable talking everybody through? Wendy Leggett (22:47.872)Maybe a moment to vote. Wendy Leggett (22:57.49)community. Yeah, sure. So this concept of PQs, which are using this positivity quotient, are a lot of different modalities, but I'm going to walk you through one. So let's say that you were coughing a little bit ago, and so you start to get this feeling like, no, I'm not going to be able to carry on with this. And so what we could do for a PQ is we could just take our fingertips, so take two fingertips and rub them together, if you would. Amy Evans (23:01.837)Yeah. Wendy Leggett (23:29.554)with such attention to detail that you can feel the ridges in your fingertips and just give it all your attention. Can you feel those ridges? Amy Evans (23:39.47)I'm going to close my eyes so I can feel them better. Yeah. Well, I can feel it, yeah. Wendy Leggett (23:42.268)That's even better, yeah. And so we're rubbing our fingertips and feeling the ridges with such attention to detail. That's all that we're really thinking about. Wendy Leggett (23:58.718)And then if you stop. and open your eyes. Do you get in just that moment, like a little bit of sense of calm? I mean, of course we're, yeah, yeah. Cause I mean, here we're chatting, so I recognize, but that's the idea of it is that when it's a practice that we build. even when we're not feeling a negative emotion, we catch ourselves during the course of the day, we take a little break and we go through PQs and it can be. Amy Evans (24:08.916)so, wow. Wendy Leggett (24:29.022)with our fingertips, I love doing it with breathing. So I love breathing in and holding it and breathing out and just calming my nervous system. We can do it when we're walking and we feel our feet on the pavement. And we just give our total focus to feeling those feet on the pavement. And what this is doing is it's just clearing our mind because our minds, I don't even, is it like 60 ,000? It's like some crazy amount of. ideas right that are going through our head at any given time but they're just thoughts. Our brains are pattern makers. They're trying to put all these pieces together but they can get overwhelming and they can close out the things that really deserve our focus that are our priorities that are the things that we're wanting to bring forward into the world and so the PQs allow us to just clear that clutter. I call it little brain breathers because it just allows that and I use this one especially when I'm in meetings And if something, if a saboteur comes up like, hey, wait a minute, why are they saying that, for example, not that I'd ever do that, so I just under the table, I'm doing my little PQs and it's almost like Pavlov's theory, you know, where you're just like rubbing that brings to mind that calm, that laser focus. So that's what it allows for. Amy Evans (25:48.495)So simple and so easy in the moment to do. I love that that can be done without anybody noticing that you're getting really present back to yourself again and calming down and be in the moment again. That's beautiful. Wendy Leggett (26:02.226)Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we can even do it just looking at one another. If we really look in one another's eyes. If I do that, unbeknownst to you, but I'm doing PQs looking at you, it can bring up that empathy power that I'm seeing in you, that beautiful spirit that you have that oftentimes, you know, gets veiled by the work that we're doing or the things that we're trying to accomplish. We stop seeing one another so we can do PQs. cues in that way too. All kinds of, you know, all kinds of ways to make it happen. the key is, is that we're learning to move our minds in a way that's positive. And the science behind it is this neuroplasticity that we know that our survivor brain skews to the negative. It had to, stranger danger, making sure, you know, that we were always safe. But it doesn't work for us any longer. It's not necessary. But yet that's how our brains work. Well, the science tells us we can now start to build those new neural pathways to the positive. And that's what this is all about. Over time, as we practice and we practice and we build it, more and more will we skew to the positive. So very powerful. Amy Evans (27:15.274)extremely powerful. That's that's remarkable. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. So we before we before we wrap up, I've got two two more questions. And then we'll also get to people who want to maybe find out a little bit more about getting in touch with you. So if you're eager to get that hang on a minute where we will get there. Let's go back to you know, Wendy Leggett (27:19.75)Yeah, yeah, thank you for the opportunity. Amy Evans (27:42.888)Thoughts or advice that you have for women leaders that might be listening to today's show or listeners? What's a piece of advice that you have for women in leadership or women who may be considering taking the leap and applying for a role in leadership and moving into a leadership role? Wendy Leggett (28:07.974)I appreciate that question. I'm really big on the power of transitions. I'm really big on understanding where are we at right now and having an ending to a chapter before we move into a new beginning. And I think that this applies, let's say you're in a sales position, you have this opportunity to advance in your career and move into a leadership position. Really recognizing, okay, I'm putting an end to this position, either a period or an exclamation mark or whatever. But what do I want to bring with me into my next role? And what do I want to leave behind? What patterns or habits, you know, being really mindful that aren't going to serve me as I move forward. And what are the strengths and capabilities and passions that I have that I really want to bring to the forefront in this new position? So it's really giving ourselves that space and grace to have that ending, move into what's called the neutral zone, this time of reflection. maybe journaling, meditating on it, whatever allows you walking in nature to gain that clarity, use the PQs, but gain that clarity before you move into the new beginning. And the reason I share this is I didn't realize the power of transitions. I moved into a lot of different positions. I was so excited about them. I focused just on the new position and I brought with me at times baggage or habits or patterns that really didn't serve me. They needed to be left behind. So that's one of the things that I would really want to spotlight for everyone is really give yourself that time around transitions. There's prolific work by William Bridges. He wrote a book called Transitions and he does speak about you have to start with the end first. And so I would really, really recommend that. And the other thing that I want to bring up, and this is for those that are planning for retirement, but it really is for your audience as well, is really being the leader of you. I call it the CEO of you. And so again, before we can lead others, I think it's critically important that we are leaning into ourselves and leading ourselves. You spoke about it earlier when you said, you know, just be you. Well, who, who are you? You know, so really, really leaning into that and really allowing ourselves to really gain that confidence and gain that knowledge and gain that springboard to then into that next position. So. Wendy Leggett (30:32.574)Those are two of the things I'd want to highlight. Amy Evans (30:36.603)Wow. I do like that. That's wonderful. Gosh, I'm sitting here listening to that answer and I was reflecting on the times that I'd had transitions in my own career and I did not give myself time to make that transition at all. Yeah. Wendy Leggett (30:39.511)And don't you think in a way it's inherent in the sales, you know, because sales we get it done. We're moving ahead. We're planning out the KPIs. We're figuring out how we're going to make them happen. Wendy Leggett (31:07.248)Et cetera. So it's understandable that we have that future focus as well. want to, but let's just allow ourselves to put that ending first so that we're really clear that we're not bringing some things with us. Because looking back, I noticed that there were things that I had, you know, that, and then we're not necessarily building off of confidence, especially if you're leaving a position that maybe there was some friction points for you or some tension. You could be building off of that as your foundation. That's not. coming from that point of strength or empowerment. Amy Evans (31:40.022)Wow, that's so powerful. Absolutely. We'll do one last question then I want to give everybody a chance to hear how to get in touch with you and how to find you, And that is, the last question is, what's the one leadership lesson that you keep learning again and again? Wendy Leggett (31:41.54)because you're so lucky. Absolutely. Wendy Leggett (31:48.018)I'm to take a minute you to take your time about it again in touch with you. And now the question for Wendy and the audience. The last question is what's the one thing that you should listen to that you keep learning again and again? Wendy Leggett (32:05.8)The one leadership lesson that I keep learning again and again is really just, guess it really is what you said about allowing myself to be me. I mean, I think that sometimes I really think, I should be going in this direction or listening to this person or observing what that person's doing and emulate them, but not really then stepping back and saying, okay, but why? How does that relate to me? How does that align with my values and where I want to? move forward and that's both personally and professionally. So I think it's just doing that check as we go along and making sure that we're on the path that we choose. I say to those going into retirement that I want you to create a retirement by design, not default. And that's, think, how I would want all of your listeners to think about whatever they're stepping into, create it by your design, not default. You have that choice. And that's what I need to keep reminding myself of as well. Amy Evans (33:09.208)How will people find you, Wendy? How do we get them to you? Wendy Leggett (33:14.204)Yeah, so my email is, the name of my company as I mentioned is ConFlex Retirement Coaching and that's -O -N -F -L -U -X. So you can email me at wendy at ConFlexRetirementCoaching .com. My website is ConFlexRetirementCoaching .com. And if I may, I'd love to offer up a little mini workbook for retirement readiness. And even if some of your listeners aren't preparing for retirement right now, it may be something that someone in their life could benefit from, or it may be something that I think just having it in the stew pot, you know, because 90 % of Americans at some point in time are going to retire, at least they're thinking about it. And so I think having a runway to retirement is just vitally important. So in the show notes, maybe we can put a little link and that little retirement readiness kind of allows you to go through a little workbook. And then if you'd like to contact me for a... complimentary discovery call around what you found, obstacles or opportunities, I welcome that as well. Amy Evans (34:17.012)my gosh, Wendy, that's awesome. I'm sure everyone will appreciate that. Well, my goodness, our time has gone by so quickly and it has been very informative. And Mike, I feel really just super calm after talking with you. You have such an absolutely delightful demeanor. How fortunate your clients are to get to work with you. And I've just really enjoyed our conversation today. Thank you. Yeah. Wendy Leggett (34:40.644)thank you. As did I. Thank you so much. It was a pleasure and I wish you and I wish everyone listening the very best, much success and that calm, know, because let's move off of the strength of the calm because that gives us that clarity and conviction and confidence to move forward. Amy Evans (35:02.07)Fantastic. Well, I'll put a wrap on this one and we'll look forward to getting everybody the good information that you want to share. Wendy Leggett (35:10.182)I appreciate it.    Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Podcast Host: Amy EvansWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast LinkedIn Profile  TakeawaysSales leadership can be incredibly stressful, especially at quarter-end.Building trust with team members is crucial for success.Effective communication can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.Emotional intelligence plays a key role in leadership.Taking a moment to breathe can change the outcome of a situation.Apologizing and acknowledging mistakes fosters a positive work environment.High-pressure situations can reveal true character in team dynamics.Support from colleagues can alleviate stress during tough times.Trust is the foundation of any successful team.It's important to remember the fun aspects of the job.   Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Guest Info:Susana Sarvis, President Realty Associates in Houston, TXhttps://www.susarviscoaching.com TakeawaysSusana transitioned from teaching to real estate, leveraging her educational background.Maintaining skills and networking is crucial for career transitions.Self-care is essential for leaders to stay motivated and energized.Emotional intelligence has become increasingly important in sales leadership post-pandemic.Creating a genuine and authentic workplace culture attracts the right talent.Networking can lead to unexpected career opportunities.Women in real estate need more representation in coaching roles.Asking team members what they need fosters a supportive environment.Social events are important for team bonding and morale.Overcoming self-doubt is key to pursuing new opportunities.Chapters00:00Introduction and Background02:37Journey into Sales and Sales Leadership06:08Building and Nurturing a Network09:19Staying Energized and Motivated11:24Influential Female Leaders13:06Challenges and Lessons in Sales Leadership15:08Changes in the Real Estate Industry20:54Overcoming Qualification Gaps24:54She Leads Real Estate Podcast Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

TakeawaysThe Women in Sales Leadership podcast aims to create a community for women in sales leadership positions.Amy Evans shares her journey in sales and leadership, highlighting the need for more women in leadership roles.The podcast aims to inspire, entertain, and make a difference in the lives of women in sales leadership.Amy encourages women to step out into the light, share their stories, and support each other.Sound Bites"There's never been a podcast, and this is the first one of its kind, that is for and about women in sales leadership.""It's a small group that we're in. We're in a small club and my aim is to make this club larger and to celebrate the beauty that it is.""Give yourself permission to shine. You have a story to tell. Your story is a story that somebody needs to hear."Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Women in Sales Leadership podcast02:07 Amy Evans' Journey in Sales and Leadership10:25 Personal Development and Leadership15:46 Experience at ADP and Salesforce19:26 Building a Successful Sales Team22:52 Transition and Personal Growth26:22 The Need for More Women in Sales Leadership29:22 Encouragement to Share Stories and Support Each Other  Amy Evans Leadership CoachingWomen in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedINHost Amy Evans @LinkedIN 

Amy Evans Leadership Coaching Women in Sales Leadership Podcast @ LinkedIN Host Amy Evans @LinkedIN