fbpx

Archive for category: Woman Business Leader

You are here: / Woman Business Leader
Juliann Nichols

Jennifer Currence, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, ACC, CEO of WithIN Leadership

, , ,

Jennifer Currence is the CEO of WithIN Leadership, a leadership development and coaching company focusing on legacy leadership – who you want to be – in Tampa, Florida. It is here where Jennifer delivers results through customized training and coaching programs for leaders and Human Resources. She is the creator of the Leading for RealTM leadership development program and content creator for Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM’s) new People Manager Qualification (PMQ).

She earned her MBA with an emphasis in management and holds a nationally accredited certification in coaching (ACC) and two international senior-level certifications in human resources (SPHR and SHRM-SCP). Jennifer has been recognized as a Thought Leader by the International Society of Performance Improvement, a Subject Matter Expert by SHRM, and was named Tampa Bay’s HR Consultant of the Year for 2017.  She has 20+ years of experience in Human Resources and training in organizations, is a university professor, and is one of roughly 50 people in the world serving as a faculty member for SHRM.

Jennifer met JULO Strategy’s CEO Juliann Nichols at a Predictive Index Class they were both attending, and they established a relationship. Jennifer took CEO Mindset because she realized there were things she didn’t understand about running a business and the processes she needed to succeed.

During CEO Mindset, Jennifer learned how to “bake cupcakes,” Juliann’s process for writing detailed procedures, and her exit strategy – who does she want to be when she grows up. Jennifer focused on where she was in the present and not where she wanted to be. Her A-Ha Moment during CEO Mindset was thinking about the end game – a big awareness for her. She is still acting upon that awareness today.

Jennifer’s best things about CEO Mindset were hearing from other entrepreneurs – their successes and failures. The class helped her understand why she is a leader and business owner and clarify her business role. She now understands what she can automate, delegate, and eliminate to do more things she enjoys and is a genius doing. She’s learned how to spend her time wisely and more effectively.

Jennifer’s revenues have increased and are the most they’ve been since taking CEO Mindset. Being a CEO means freedom, constant change, a lot of innovation, and empowerment to Jennifer. She now has control over her destiny.

Jennifer has been published in HR Magazine and featured in Fast Company magazine, USA Weekly, and HR.com. She is a professional member of the National Speaker’s Association, the International Coaching Federation, and the author of three SHRM-published books on business behavioral competencies.

We are so proud of your accomplishments, Jennifer, and look forward to watching your continued successes!

/by
Juliann Nichols

14 Microchanges Guaranteed to Advance Your Career

, , ,

Is there some way to advance your career that’s faster than completing an MBA, and easier than rescuing your company from a hostile takeover bid? The truth is there are plenty of microchanges that can have a macro effect on increasing your value as an employee.

If you want a raise or just more job satisfaction, try these simple tips for taking your work performance to the next level. They’ll pay off quickly.

Online Microchanges for Greater Career Success

The internet makes it easy to gain knowledge and promote your visibility. Take advantage of virtual opportunities to climb the career ladder.

  1. Edit your LinkedIn profile. When’s the last time you updated your LinkedIn profile? Let colleagues see your most recent accomplishments. Research the most effective keywords that will make you stand out.
  2. Manage your network. Organize your contacts so you can follow up with the interesting graphic designer you met on the jogging trail. Whatever software you use, a successful system will help you to stay in touch and grow your network.
  3. Support others. Networking is more effective and rewarding when you focus on giving to others. Take a second to retweet someone’s message or recommend a former intern on LinkedIn.
  4. Follow industry news. Impress others with your knowledge. Spend a few minutes between meetings scanning the top business blogs in your industry.
  5. Collect time saving apps. Use technology to increase your productivity. Find a program that will remember your passwords or play phone tag for you.
  6. Monitor your time. On the other hand, it’s easy to lose track of time when you’re browsing online. Set limits on your YouTube sessions if you find yourself becoming distracted.

Offline Microchanges for Greater Career Success

Face-to-face interactions still have a dramatic impact. Maybe that’s even more true today when so much communication occurs electronically. See what a difference showing up in person can make.

  1. Demonstrate initiative. Identify what your boss considers to be the top business priorities so you know where to devote your efforts. Find a way to contribute that goes above and beyond your job description.
  2. Volunteer your assistance. Make allies by being helpful and generous. Pitch in when your office mate is facing a tight deadline.
  3. Speak up. Participating in meetings and business discussions will grow your confidence as they bring you extra approval.
  4. Radiate enthusiasm. Your boss will trust and value you more if you show that you’re invested in your career. Think about how your efforts contribute to the success of the company.
  5. Express gratitude. Let your colleagues know how much you appreciate them. Offer sincere praise and share credit for team projects. They’ll be more likely to return the favor.
  6. Dress sharp. Appearances count. Pay attention to the office culture so you can choose an appropriate wardrobe even if there’s no formal dress code. One good rule of thumb is to start dressing like the position you want to hold in the future.
  7. Join a professional association. Membership has its benefits, including networking and educational opportunities. Your employer may be willing to cover all or part of the cost.
  8. Use your vacation days. According to the Harvard Business Review, employees who take all of their vacation time have a 6.5% higher chance of receiving a promotion or a raise than their peers who are stockpiling their time off. Now, that’s a fun way to succeed in business.

The average fulltime work week in the United States is already 47 hours long. Wouldn’t you like to have a strategy for impressing your boss that doesn’t involve putting in a lot of extra hours? These microchanges will help you do a great job and maintain balance in your life.

/by
Juliann Nichols

Sara Ferrera, Veteran and CEO of Floaty’s Farm – Providing Locals With Home Grown Microgreens

, , , , , ,

If you have never heard of microgreens, they are young vegetable greens that fall somewhere between sprouts and baby leaf vegetables. They have an intense aromatic flavor and concentrated nutrient content and come in a variety of colors and textures. Although fragile, microgreens are versatile and flavorful and can complement or shine in any dish. And yes, they make powerful and delicious garnishes – but they are more than just toppers. Despite their small size, they pack a nutritional punch, often containing higher nutrient levels than more mature vegetable greens. This makes them a good addition to any diet.  

If you are looking for these fresh greens, Sara Ferrera, Founder and CEO of Floaty’s Farm has you covered. Sara provides local residents with these tiny but beautiful plants and does it all in her own backyard! 

Sara Ferrera spent most of her childhood running through cattle farms with friends in Russellville, Arkansas. Born in her grandparent’s cabin in the Ozark Mountains, Sara is no stranger to the wilderness and still finds solace when surrounded by nature. 

In 2011, Sara followed her grandfather’s footsteps and joined the Army as an Intelligence Analyst. She spent her days working in an office conducting research and processing Soldiers for the Combat Aviation Brigade out of Fort Riley, Kansas. Office life was a challenge, but Sara met the love of her life – in the next cubical over, and within a year, they were married. 

In August 2014, Sara left active duty to pursue the Army Reserves and experience what life was like on the “civilian side.” She soon moved to Florida to eventually become a contracted intelligence analyst until February of 2019, when she decided to pursue her passion and work toward a Fish and Wildlife Management degree. However, due to health complications, Sara put her education on hold. 

In January 2020, Sara joined the Veterans Florida Agricultural internship with the University of Florida’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.  This hands-on opportunity gave Sara just what she needed, a chance to learn the ins and outs of commercial agriculture. 

Sara expanded her knowledge by learning how to research chemical impacts of produce yield, identifying plant disease, identifying nematodes, and more. However, her internship was cut short due to COVID-19, and she was unable to continue lab rotations. Instead, Sara moved to the Farm Crew, where she transitioned from intern and eventually to a permanent employee. Sara’s time on the Farm Crew has been invaluable. She has learned managerial techniques, equipment logistics, and chemical operations. But the biggest lesson learned was that it is okay to make mistakes as long as you fix them and move forward. 

Sara has taken this lesson – along with her husband and team members’ encouragement and moved forward with starting her own urban farm, Floaty’s Farm.

She attended our CEO Mindset course to have a solid business plan and information on how to move forward to be successful. “I learned that I have a fear of failure but also success. I couldn’t start my business or begin to sell until I was confident in myself to get customers.” While focusing on produce, she still didn’t have a niche,  therefore, she wasn’t going anywhere with the product. Encouraged by peers, she decided to focus on microgreens and when she put out there what she was selling, she sold out in ONE DAY. She managed her time better by incorporating an assistant to handle tasks so she could focus on her produce.   

Floaty’s Farm began as a multi-produce urban farm, but after going through and utilizing what she learned from JULO Strategy, Sara now produces a microgreen specialty farm. Soon after, she began raising Barred Rock chickens and vermicomposting to assist with fertilization. 

Sara has vivid plans for Floaty’s Farm’s future, including expanding produce offerings, raising livestock, and an education center to teach others about responsible farming, wildlife conservation, and how agriculture can help others battling PTSD, much like her own internship. 

/by
Juliann Nichols

Kathy Smith, CEO of Chandelier Transformations Youth Mentoring Inc. – Empowering Young Women Through Mentorship

, , , , , ,

Children’s opinions of their bodies form at an incredibly early age, especially young girls. With social media and apps like TikTok, girls become consumed with how many likes they get, how popular they are, all while trying to be their own person and stay true to themselves. With these young minds still developing, it can be exhausting and overwhelming to stay positive. It is difficult to escape the “ideal” body image that is promoted in today’s media and no matter how much you try to shield your child from it, the message is likely to come through.  

Kathy Smith, Founder and President of Chandelier Transformations Youth Mentoring Inc. 501c3 Nonprofit organization in the Tampa bay area, mentors young, brown-skinned girls to embrace their individuality and live boldly and confidently in who God created them to be. By transforming their mindsets to illuminate their path and the path of all they meet, it empowers them to be trailblazers in the world through coaching, speaking, community involvement, mentorship, adolescent scholarships, and social activities.  

Kathy is a veteran of the U.S. Army serving 17 years as a Human Resource Specialist. In the military she served various roles that required her to be the voice for many Soldiers as an Equal Opportunity Specialist and Sexual Assault Victim Advocate. Kathy holds a BSBA, MSHRM and is currently pursuing a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.  

Growing up in Hillsborough county schools and raising a daughter and two sons of her own, Kathy felt that our younger generations needed real life role models and someone to teach them how to not only lead but communicate effectively in all aspects of their lives. She strives to instill excellence in young minority females by mentoring them on leadership, self- esteem, healthy relationships, boundaries as well as educational and Christian values to become pillars of success in their communities.  

As a Life Coach and Motivational Speaker, Kathy is the Transformation Strategist to professional women serving in the Armed Forces, female veterans and career-minded, goal-oriented women in the civilian sector needing to move from overwhelmed and undervalued to illuminating the path for themselves and others. She walks women through tearing down walls and strongholds of generational curses and self-sabotage that have plagued women for years. Kathy trains her clients to tap into their spiritual consciousness by removing the mask that they have built their lives around and to live life boldly and confidently in their God-given purpose. Through her support, clients can unlock their identity and potential to live a life of abundance and prosperity without fear, worry, anxiety or self-doubt.  

She enjoys meditating, studying ministry and natural health remedies, as well as spending time with her family and friends. She loves seafood and her favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

Kathy joined our CEO Mindset course to have a solid business plan, qualify and secure the funding to run Chandelier Transformations Youth Mentoring on a full-time basis and to be an essential business in her community. She wanted to network and build solid relationships with various individuals and form partnerships throughout the Tampa and St. Pete communities. 

She learned there were a lot of things she could delegate or eliminate to maximize her potential and run the business more effectively. She put strategies in place to avoid pitfalls and created tasks to get things done. A big “a-ha” was the difference of an end user client and a target client/market. “I learned that with my mentoring organization, my clients are my sponsors and donors. The girls and families that I serve are the end users.” 

Why would she recommend this course? “CEO Mindset gives you a clear strategy and develops the mindset to help you to get things done in your business. My practices, clients and tasks are clear and defined. No other training program has helped me with these things and in such a short amount of time. The pace is fast but knowing to brain dump and start with a fresh mindset, begin with the end in mind and Automate, Delegate and Eliminate! I feel that CEO Mindset has allowed me to navigate the pitfalls of starting and running a business. It has shown me I can run a business in a manner that will allow for success at the current moment and well into the future.” 

/by
Juliann Nichols

Carrie Roberts, CEO of American Trustee of Florida LLC – Helping Small Business Owners Find Affordable Insurance

, , , , , ,

In this ever-changing world of insurance, it can be difficult to know what type of coverage is right for you and your family. Health insurance is so important, especially these days, and having an experienced professional to assist with your needs can be helpful in finding the right program for you. 

Carrie Roberts, CEO of American Trustee of Florida LLC, helps employers and individuals‘ source affordable insurance solutions. They offer a wide variety of options for Health, Life, Supplemental, Annuities and so much more.  

A Florida native, Carrie was born and raised in the great city of Jacksonville. She left to explore the “Wild Blue Yonder” in 1989 and joined the United States Air Force where she met her husband and had two children. Carrie served 10 years in Active Duty and 3 years Civil Service as a Weather Forecaster. 

Carrie went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Business Management and her MBA with a focus in Marketing while working full-time retail management. After some time, she knew it was time to make a change as her season was over in retail. After much prayer and consideration, she entered the world of Insurance in 2016 and has not looked back.  

Carrie cut her teeth in the insurance industry as an Aflac Agent with a rapid succession to District Sales Coordinator. Wanting to provide her clients a more well-rounded suite of insurance options, Carrie became an Insurance Broker. She recently started American Trustee of Florida, LLC, where they help employers and individuals‘ source affordable Insurance coverage to meet their needs. It is Carrie’s vision to become “THE” go to Broker for small business owners! 

Don’t ever feel like it is too late to follow your dream! In addition to running her business, Carrie is now living her lifelong dream of performing in musical theatre. After raising two children, graduating from college and two careers, her very first show was in 2019 casted as Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast. She has since done two more shows and is looking forward to many more.

Carrie heard about our CEO Mindset course through one of our JULO alums, Trish Murphy. She wanted to be more of a savvy business owner, and well, learned she has a lot to learn about being a CEO! After implementing the knowledge gained, she realized she spent too much time doing things that were not income producing, therefore becoming counterproductive. She also needed to get her processes and systems in place in order to hire. Brain dumping was a huge takeaway and allowed her to allocate her time more efficiently. “At the end of each day, I can get it all out and help myself prepare for the days to come instead of spending that time spinning my wheels.”  

For Carrie, being a CEO means to own a business, with the processes, systems and a team that she puts into place to achieve her vision. “As a CEO, I am the face and cover of the business supported by a team that works together.” 

Why would she recommend this class? “This particular course is different than other business coaching classes. You walk away with the means and tools to run a practical business. The lessons are real life and real world and that’s important.”  

We couldn’t agree more Carrie. We look forward to seeing your continued accomplishments! 

/by
Juliann Nichols

On Our Vision Board – Shannon Carlton, CEO of Intentional Growth Strategies

, , , , ,

Remember when you were a kid; you would cut out clippings from newspapers and magazines and stick it up on your wall or in your binder. Sometimes it was a celebrity crush you had, or maybe it was a dream job you saw; a notable author you inspired to be like. You had dreams and told yourself one day you would make it big. You were building a vision for your future and what you wanted and giving your imagination a way to express itself. 

Shannon Carlton, CEO of Intentional Growth Strategies, teaches this practice today. Her services are most effective for women who want more fulfillment, gratitude, creativity, and balance; are feeling “stuck” but don’t know why; and want to live the life they know they were created to live.  

At the age of 40, Shannon decided she was done living safely and securely. Using the money her dad left in his life insurance, she took the plunge into opening a coworking space. For the past 4 years, Shannon has helped women in small businesses envision their lives with Vision Boards and accountability training. “I have heard from these women what an impact it has had on their lives and careers and wanted to share that passion with women small business owners everywhere.” 

“When you create a Vision Board not only will you be more motivated to make significant changes in your routines, but you will also change your life and the lives of your family because of your vision.” This can be any sort of board on which you display images that represent whatever you want to be, do or have in your life. Identify your vision and give it clarity.

Our Founder, Juliann Nichols, spoke at one of Shannon’s Vision Board retreats where Shannon learned about the CEO Mindset course. She took the program to get collaboration with other entrepreneurs and walk away with a clear vision, solid business plan, and to overall THINK BIGGER as a CEO. The biggest struggle she overcame was making sure processes and procedures were in place to support growth. “That is what CEO Mindset is great about. You must set up these processes and delegate to other people to free up the ‘genius’ space in your mind. Even though I loved having the big ideas and putting out the fires, I had to get away from that and think of myself as the CEO, not the employee.” 

In January, Shannon released a book titled “Manifest Your Vision with Grace, Gratitude and Growth: Your Guide to Getting Unstuck and Creating the Life You Desire with Vision Boards.” Designed to help you create the life you want to live by creating a Vision Board and then digging deep into setting goals and creating habits that will take you closer to your vision. You can pick up a copy here (insert link).  

Shannon also has an exciting event coming up. The 2nd Annual Ladies Business Vision Board Retreat from January 15-17, 2021 will dedicate all your time to growing your businesses and rediscovering your Vision for your professional life. “My excitement for this retreat far exceeds that of any of the previous Vision Board retreats I’ve hosted! This one is dedicated specifically to your business and will provide you clarity for the new year.” You can learn all about this exciting event here (insert link). 

We are so happy for all your accomplishments Shannon and look forward to seeing your business grow! 

/by
Juliann Nichols

Jessica Lynn Silva Gives You Practical Legal Advice – With A Personal Touch

, , , , , ,

If you are looking for a trustworthy lawyer to help you with a will, trust, or estate planning, Jessica Lynn Silva, CEO of Law Office of Jessica Lynn Law, can help you with this process. Serving the entire state of Florida, Jessica and her team strive to assist clients in a way that exceeds expectations. They provide wisdom and guidance in estate planning strategies and being your advocate in probating the estate of a loved one who has passed away.  

Jessica first began her legal career as a paralegal with Brock and Scott, PLLC, over twenty years ago.  Before opening her law firm, she garnered legal experience through her previous roles as an Estate Planning and Probate Associate Attorney with a local law firm, several years as Judicial Assistant to a Brevard County Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit, and as a Civil Litigation Paralegal, Real Estate Paralegal, Certified Notary Signing Agent, Real Estate Agent, Florida Mortgage Loan Originator, Real Estate Investor, and Property Manager.  In addition to practicing law, Jessica is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified County Civil Mediator, mediating County Civil, Circuit Civil (including Probate), and Family Law cases.

Jessica was born in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. However, she grew up traveling the United States and overseas as the daughter of a military family. She then married the United States Air Force Officer from Hawaii and traveled to the United States again, this time as a military wife. Jessica had resided in Viera, Florida with her husband and three children (two boys and a girl) since 2011 when they arrived via military assignment and ended up choosing to retire (from the military) there.

Jessica heard about our CEO Mindset™ course through one of our partners FAVOB (Florida Association of Veteran-Owned Businesses). She and her husband took the class together to strategize and focus on the niche of both their businesses and get guidance to set goals and learn what their strengths and weaknesses were implementing processes. One of Jessica’s highlights was learning the value of her worth and time per hour and translating that into gaining confidence bringing in new employees in her business. Even though she had an extensive background, getting the mentorship to broaden her mindset was invaluable.  Since taking the course, Jessica has opened a second location and is currently preparing to open her THIRD location in Tampa. What an amazing accomplishment! 

Jessica enjoys volunteering at her church and within the community.  She also enjoys quality time with her family and friends, kayaking, boating, listening to podcasts, interior decorating, reading, modeling, and being a voiceover artist.

“I feel so privileged to serve clients and their families in the community that I love. I look forward to meeting and helping more individuals and families soon.”

Apply to CEO Mindset ™

/by
Juliann Nichols

Monica Iannacone, CEO of Weekend Navigators Helps You Plan The Perfect Getaway

, , , , , ,

Are you dreaming of the perfect getaway? We are all having cabin fever these days. Monica Iannacone, CEO of Weekend Navigators, has the perfect solution. Her company helps couples plan memorable destination weddings and honeymoons using their travel expertise to plan every detail. They have traveled to 27 countries and can help create an unforgettable wedding or honeymoon experience. They travel to the resorts and build relationships that ensure every vacation is memorable, making travel stress-free.  

Have you already tied the knot? No worries, Monica has plenty of available destinations if you want to book your next unforgettable getaway. Travel to an oasis–like The Caribbean, explore Australia’s outback, or take a safari ride in Africa. Wherever the wind takes you, Weekend Navigators can help you plan from start to finish.  

With over 35 years of travel and planning experience in the military and life-long experience traveling and living around the world, Monica met her husband, Michael (an active-duty Marine) on an airplane when flying to mobilize for a year in the Navy Reserves. After they both deployed and traveled to over 20 countries in a year, they had a destination wedding in Rome, Italy. She is a Navy Veteran, Reserve Officer, and a Marine Corps spouse. She has lived in Italy and Spain and spent her life traveling for the military and for fun vacations worldwide, which explains why she loves sharing her love of travel and exploring! 

Monica and her husband started Weekend Navigators while they were both living overseas and planning their destination wedding. They started in late 2018 and helped couples plan destination weddings and honeymoons by using their travel expertise. They realized that couples, especially military couples, don’t have the time to plan their perfect wedding, and they wanted to make it stress-free. Eventually, they expanded to include social groups, couple retreats, girls’ getaways, and family vacations. “We wanted to help people who want an amazing vacation but don’t have the time to plan it—millennials in their 20s to mid–30s who love to travel but haven’t traveled much; retired couples that are planning a milestone anniversary. Engaged couples who want a destination wedding or honeymoon.“ 

Monica decided to join our CEO Mindset course to increase brand awareness of Weekend Navigators and network with other CEOs and business owners to collaborate and share experiences. “I wanted to partner and connect with other business owners to grow and scale our business, and specifically use our network to book more weddings and honeymoons for 2021 and beyond.“ She attended both Phase One and Phase Two classes, learning to automate, delegate, and eliminate and focus on the clientele to be happy and refer them. One of the most rewarding experiences was learning how to identify a PITA client. “A PITA client will consume time and money and prevent us from working with ideal clients.“ She enjoyed a small intimate group of people to collaborate with instead of a large room full of people. “I learned that it’s important to focus on myself, especially in the mornings, and have that dedicated time to work out, meditate, brain dump, and think.“

We are quite envious that you get to travel all over the world, Monica! We love seeing how much you have accomplished, and even though Covid is affecting travel, you and your business have booked out through 2022! Congratulations on all your success, and we look forward to seeing your business continue to grow!

 

Apply to CEO Mindset ™

JULO Strategy and Veterans Florida

Program expenses for all participants will be covered through funding provided by the Florida Legislature and Veterans Florida.

/by

© Copyright JULO Strategy Global 2024