Social Proof

Show Notes:(0:50) Introduction to Katie(3:46) Working with the Unexpected(12:41) A Day in the Life(14:59) Vulnerability in the Workplace(17:18) Standards for Wielding Influence(23:46) Navigating Social Media(27:19) What Katie’s Currently Consuming(34:50) What’s Next for Katie Links:Beth StephensKatie GoodmanKatiegoodman.com Quotes:“The deal isn’t to say yes to everything, it’s a yes, I heard you. Yes, I see you’re trying to come up with an idea or trying to be heard. That’s the yes part, it’s affirmation and acceptance. Then the and part is adding something to it.” - Katie Goodman, (6:50)  “...if I can’t support you in taking five minutes to deal with something, that’s on me. I think it’s a messed up culture if we’re not able to treat each other as humans and we’re this word professional with a capital P and it’s become gross. Why do we care so much?” - Katie Goodman, (15:32)“I think that for me, as wanting to have influence on the conversations in the culture, we’re always thinking about what are we saying? How are we saying it a little bit differently or maybe a little bit more edgy?” - Katie Goodman, (19:22)

 Show Notes:(0:49) Introduction to Sydney(1:06) About Sydney(5:03) Sharing Realness on Social Media(7:35) Setting Internet Boundaries(12:03) Blending Modalities(17:32) Conscious Language Choice(21:22) Discouraging Negative Conversations (24:39) Managing the Day by Day(28:11) Marketing Yourself(31:10) Awareness of Online Appearance(38:16) Presenting Yourself to the World(43:31) Tips for Influencers Links:Beth StephensSydney BassThe Profitable Stylist Quotes:“There’s a balance between having that realness and also not making yourself too open to people. I have to be in a space where I feel good and confident about what I’m talking about or actions I’ve done so that I don’t get swayed by people’s comments or start to go into people pleasing or justification mode.” - Sydney Bass, (7:56) “Shifting from that negative to a positive helps on so many different levels with the energy you’re putting out. We talked about really honing in on specific words, like shifting the word but to the word and.” - Sydney Bass, (18:35) “...coming back to internet drama, I think people are drawn to that because either it’s anonymous or it’s from a safe place behind a screen. There’s almost a tendency on the internet to be bolder or say meaner things that you might not say to a person face-to-face.” - Beth Stephens, (23:45)

Show Notes:(0:49) Introduction to Brooke(3:15) BTRIBALFIT’s Backstory(8:28) Activating Influence (12:48) The Introspect That Comes with Age(18:21) Repetition Yields Results(19:30) Rewiring Beauty Standards(25:24) Embracing Your Personality(29:53) An Ideal Day(34:00) About the BTRIBALFIT Community(37:47) What Brooke is Currently Consuming(46:20) Closing Thoughts Links:Beth StephensBrooke RobinsonBTRIBALFIT Quotes:“That is a huge reason I love to activate people because I see their potential. I see it from start to finish. If you choose dedication and consistency without killing yourself, you’re going to see progress and the results you want. Repetition yields results.” - Brooke Robinson, (9:11)  “If you think about who listens to Social Proof, it’s a strange mix of people who are maybe shopper marketers or they work for a consumer goods company and make decisions related to social media or marketing, then you have individuals who have built a career or side hustle around their influence. We want them to be responsible in terms of how they show up online and build their personal brands.” - Beth Stephens, (16:42) “This goes back to influence and how you have to relate to that person, that leader, that coach, that fitness instructor, and find commonality. You have to say, ‘I like her, and I’m interested in and relate to what she’s saying.’ That’s where the power of positive influence comes out. You get to unpack and undo some damage.” - Beth Stephens, (22:15) “There will be women throughout the month that send me a little message, but they will say, ‘I have to be honest, I pressed play, but I just needed to hear your voice and be encouraged.’ They don’t even workout, they just need to hear some motivation that life’s going to be okay and they should be proud.” - Brooke Robinson, (36:29)

Show Notes:(1:03) Introduction to Tamiko(3:52) About NextUp(5:59) The Evolution of NextUp(9:12) The Importance of Paying It Forward(14:31) Tamiko’s View on Influence(19:19) Being Self-Aware(26:05) How Tamiko Wields Her Influence(32:17) Influence in Leadership(35:20) The Intricacies of Delivering Influence(37:57) Closing Questions Links:Beth StephensTamiko Olabintan NextUp Quotes:“Influence is whatever platform you’re on. People think you have to be this grand person talking on stage to hundreds of thousands of people to have influence. No, you have influence in your immediate circle. You have influence with your friends. You have influence at every level.” - Tamiko Olabintan, (14:41)  “I think when you start to influence is when you have a relationship because you can’t influence somebody that doesn't connect with you…you have to be able to have a relationship and be passionate about something.” - Tamiko Olabintan, (27:08) “The other thing I would say about influence is knowing who you are and what makes things go and leveraging that to your benefit. Then it influences others because it’s genuine. I think the ones that go viral are usually because they’re authentic.” - Tamiko Olabintan, (30:16)  “Where I’ve had the most success and where people really lean in, whether it’s clients or our team, is when they buy into that energy and that true self.” - Beth Stephens, (31:55)

Show Notes:(1:06) Introduction to Natalia(1:31) What Inspired Natalia to Work at Soapbox(2:01) Being an Influencer(4:37) How Being an Influencer Influences Natalia’s Job(5:18) Hot Tips for Getting Hired as an Influencer(6:18) Introduction to Jillian(8:05) How Jillian’s Previous Work Transferred to Soapbox(9:10) The Intricacies of Being a Social Media Manager(11:30) Keeping Content Fresh(12:45) Introduction to Tiffany(14:10) What the Term ‘Sales’ Implies(15:12) Working with Established Brands(18:06) Venturing into the World of Pets(22:46) Introduction to Jordan(23:38) Making the Leap from Education to Marketing(25:24) Most Loved Campaigns(27:10) Prioritizing Diversity and Inclusion(29:51) What Makes an Influencer Notable(32:16) Introduction to Lauren(33:04) Lauren’s Role at Soapbox(35:29) Random Influencer Encounters(37:48) Staying Calm when Things Are Hectic(40:00) Work-Life Balance(41:38) Introduction to Taylor(43:17) How Personalities Affect Work Styles(44:26) The Alluring Sides of Content Creation(45:42) Taking Risks(46:55) The Importance of a Supportive Team(50:24) Speaking Up for Yourself Links:Beth StephensNatalia ReneaumJillian WirtzTiffany MettsJordan Canter McGarrahLauren ScottTaylor Reese Soapbox Influence  Quotes:“I love it when influencers write a long pitch for our campaigns. I think that’s so important because I can tell the content is going to reflect how passionate they are about the brand…you can see the difference when influencers actually use the product.” - Natalia Reneaum, (4:37) “One of the coolest things that has opened my eyes up to the influencer world is saying, ‘We have this product that’s two hard boiled eggs in a package. What do you do with it besides eat it and make it look good?’ And I’ve been surprised by how many recipes or ways that people use these small items.” - Jillian Wirtz, (11:49) “That’s what I’ve found rewarding is when a client’s happy and you know there’s so many different pieces to serving that client and influencers are the segue to that.” - Lauren Scott, (33:37) “It’s like the analogy of the duck paddling beneath the water. You don’t really see what’s going on because so much of what we do on behalf of our clients is super frenetic and I think our job is to make it look and feel very smooth and seamless for the client.” - Beth Stephens, (37:26) “One of the neat things about how we’re structured is that we’re looking to this vast audience across the US and asking, ‘What would you try? What do you think would be neat? What’s the trend and what could we do differently?’” - Beth Stephens, (46:12)

Show Notes:(1:12) Introduction to Kim(2:00) A Typical Day in the Life(3:48) What Makes Aspire Unique(6:51) Maintaining a Personal Brand(11:08) Kim’s Non-negotiables(16:29) Prioritizing What Makes You Busy(21:03) Advice to Influencers(28:23) Kim’s Background That Led Her to Marketing(31:14) Advice to Aspiring Marketers(34:45) What Kim Is into Right Now(37:09) What Kim Is Consuming Right Now Links:Beth StephensKim FeilAspire Healthy Energy DrinksKim's LinkedIn Post  Quotes:“What I really think of influence is it’s born out of having built a good reputation over the course of your personal and professional life.” - Kim Feil, (7:04) “For me, I try to bend over backwards for anyone who reaches out for advice or time because I know I would not have had a shot at a career if people hadn’t extended me that same courtesy.” - Beth Stephens, (9:35) “That’s one of the first things I tell emerging leaders, is to absolutely make time to have perspective outside your day-to-day work and family because that’s how you stretch and that’s how you learn.” - Kim Feil, (10:28) “I was in a meeting that went ten minutes longer on a day when I had a full schedule, but I was enjoying the meeting so much, I said, ‘I will figure out how to make the next meeting achieve its goal in ten minutes less.’” - Kim Feil, (17:04) 

Show Notes:(1:56) Introduction to Jasmine(2:49) Introduction to J’Aaron(4:20) Introduction to Black Paper Party(9:07) Black Paper Party Funding(12:51) What Motivates Jasmine and J’Aaron(17:02) How Jasmine and J’Aaron Wield their Influence(21:13) Specifying Authenticity(22:11) Growing Up vs. Where They Are Today(29:01) Favorite Quotes(33:16) What Content Jasmine and J’Aaron Are Consuming(42:54) What Activity Jasmine and J’Aaron Are into Right Now Links:Beth StephensCharlotte WeddingJasmine HudsonJ’Aaron MerchantJazzyJaeNWABlack Paper Party "Our Deepest Fear” by Marianne Williamson  Quotes:“So we’re sharing black joy and just celebrating the holiday the way that we grew up celebrating and in a way that’s more accessible.” - Jasmine Hudson, (6:40) “The only other non-negotiable that I can think of is just making sure we understand the intention behind the ask…because we don't want to be like the diversity check mark. Like are you actually invested as an ally and can we see that in the work that you do and the results that you turn out?” - Jasmine Hudson, (19:30) “I think it’s also very important to specify what their version of authenticity is…when you’re approaching a community that you may not have much experience interacting with, you don’t get to tell them what you think is authentic.” - J’Aaron Merchant, (21:13)

Summary: On this episode of Social Proof, hosts Beth Stephens, Charlotte Banister, and Nate Patterson sat down to catch up on everything they learned in the inaugural season of Social Proof. The trio discusses wielding influence, the responsibility that comes with it, and what they have learned from previous guests.   Thanks for tuning in! Shownotes:(1:06) Introduction to Wielding Influence(2:37) Being Authentic and Genuine(3:45) Knowing Your Audience(6:52) Highest and Best Use(11:17) The Importance of Self-Reflection(15:18) Recent Trends(19:24) Final Thoughts Links:Beth StephensCharlotte WeddingNathan Patterson Quotes:“We’ve always kind of espoused this need for authenticity...but just from listening to our guests and getting to chat with them, all of them have unique stories, but I think the ones that rise to the top were the ones that were truly genuine to themselves.” - Nathan Patterson, (2:52) “Through Social Proof, we’re causing people to pause and think about how people do pay attention to me and to what I put into the world and what I have to say.” - Beth Stephens, (5:17) “I think that’s something huge we’ve learned from our guests to not be as afraid to look at ourselves in the mirror and see ourselves and be like, you can do better at this…just like being better in what you actually are good at.” - Charlotte Banister, (12:18)

Show Notes:(0:53) Introduction to Christina(4:00) Christina’s Experience as a Brand Ambassador(6:48) Christina’s Transition to Podcasting(11:26) Unpacking the Great Resignation(15:15) Communicating Your Vision(18:03) A Day in the Life(22:58) Utilizing Twitter(36:01) Future of the Influencing Industry(45:03) How Influence Is Wielded Links:Beth StephensChristina RoysterYoung, Black & Opinionated Quotes:“We’re always comparing ourselves to people in the media, and I had to stop and ask myself, ‘Am I doing this to glorify myself? Or am I really doing this for my audience?’ I had to reevaluate my priorities.” - Christina Royster, (10:04) “I feel like people are finally waking up and putting themselves first, and that’s what was most important to me, taking the time to get a little bit of clarity.” - Christina Royster, (13:31)“We’re willing to be influenced by people we believe in or we relate to, and I think there’s probably always going to be room for word of mouth marketing in that regard.” - Beth Stephens, (39:02) “When I stick to who I am and stay true to who I am, other people can relate and I make it cool to be kind and to not do what everybody else is doing. I think people respect that and it’s refreshing.” - Christina Royster, (45:49)

That's a wrap! The first season of Social Proof brought a plethora of intriguing guests who taught us about wielding influence with integrity and protecting our personal brand. A consistent theme in every episode was one of our podcast pillars: what it means to be well at work. Whether you're in a behemoth organization or operating solo, we've got some nuggets of wisdom to help you be well, have margin and do great work. 

Michiel Perry is an intriguing gal. After a career blending tech and public affairs (including stints at Google and in D.C. at the U.S. State Department), she is embracing life in the lowcountry of South Carolina. Michiel talks about leaning into her heritage, loving small town living and using her storytelling platforms to shine a light on Gullah art and culture.

Shannon Siriano Greenwood followed all the rules for finding success, yet she found herself burning out on repeat. Today she’s helping other women bend and break the rules through the Rebelle Conference and a private community called Swell. Join us for her perspective on what it takes to survive and thrive.

Angel Beasley is a powerful voice in the beauty industry as the merchandising director for specialty hair at Walmart. She shares why being a Black woman in beauty is so fun... and so essential in today's climate. Behind the scenes, she has built a personal brand and an inspiring framework for her life tied to taking care of her mind, body, marriage, career and family. And she's got boss tips for looking less tired.

Quinn Tempest is a vibrant, colorful, downtown-loving urbanista from Phoenix who helps entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life and channel their "why." She is a fount of knowledge, and one of the most popular speakers from our past Megaphone Summit. Her wit, vivaciousness and unique ability to help others channel their energy and identify their superpowers make this a can't miss episode.

0.00 Katherine spent 20 years of her life put together on the outside but broken on the inside as a people pleaser and overachiever who drew her self-esteem from external sources, and it nearly killed her. She finally got her act together by slaying her "dragon of self-doubt," and life on the other side is much better: she feels calm, she feels whole... and she is on a mission to help other women join her.6:06 The Mom Complex is Katherine's consulting company, which focuses on helping large brands understand moms and develop the right products for their lives. Their work is groundbreaking, and their ongoing research over the last ten years reveals that the vast majority of women struggle with self-doubt.  Katherine shares their focus on uncovering the truth and cutting through the tendency of moms - and women in general - to insist that they are fine, their husbands are perfect and their lives are amazing.9:25 How getting to a breaking point drove Katherine to take herself on as a project, and the two years she spent doing deep self work to understand herself, what made her happy, what made her upset, what made her exhausted and what made her energized."Now that I know myself, I know how to make myself happy and I know how to reduce my frustrations in life."13:12 Katherine has built a life and a career around studying and supporting mothers, and the Slay Like A Mother ecosystem is full of resources - many of them free and easily accessible - to tap into the keys to the kingdom that she has discovered. Katherine shares ways for listeners to take advantage of some of their learnings, as well as where to find lists of wins and lifehacks - or "slays" as she calls them - shared by others.18:30 Discussing non-negotiables, wielding influence with integrity, finding balance and setting boundaries. Katherine says: "For me, more is a four letter word: always chasing more money, more employees, more book sales... it just puts me in a hamster wheel.""I finally found balance in my life and I'm not going to screw it up now."27:10 Identifying voice, brand and language: Slay Like A Mother has an aggressive tone and stance, and it's about slaying and killing and taking down something that is trying to kill you. I wanted it to be heroic, because this stuff is life-changing. "A brand is everything: it sets the tone for how you're going to show up in the world, and it's definitive... it has edges."32:00 Managing dual desires: how Katherine eschews the word more while maintaining ambition and growth, figures out what her "currency" is and sets achievable goals. "Make sure you're going after the more that actually fulfills you.""I want to go to a plateau, and then I want to dance on the plateau. I'm tired of climbing with the pick-axe."37:20 Being intentional and deliberate with time and friendships, and how Katherine has learned how to set boundaries for herself and give time to herself rather than giving it all away. "In the previous version of myself, I was so empty on the inside that I had to go to external sources for my self-esteem by helping friends out (...) and doing all the things. So now that I can fill my own cup and my self worth comes from the inside, I don't give away as much of my time." 40:45 What Katherine, Nate & Beth are consuming and so into right now... and the concept that ultimately sold the Slay Like A Mother book concept in to the publisher: "The struggle is real, but the suffering is optional."  Show Links & Resources:Slay Like A Mother by Katherine WintschMore about Katherine and The Mom ComplexLists of tips, tricks, life hacks and "slays" to help moms & women thriveCaste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson ("The most enlightening book I've ever read," says Katherine)The Cru: circles of women matched to coach one another and accelerate their personal and professional growthSlay Like A Mother on Audible

Show Notes:0.00 Show Links & Resources:

Show Notes:0:00 Gail shares the story of building Caulipower, a brand built from a Pinterest fail during a quest for tasty, gluten-free food options. Plus, the plot twist that brought Gail and Stuart from being PR and marketing executives in a cross-continental relationship to living, working and quarantining together in L.A.5:27 Stuart discusses the shopper insights that are rampant and available to marketers if they are simply tuned in to social media:Social media is a place where consumers every day are articulating their unarticulated needs - companies don't need to do market research, they just need to look at social media to see what people are doing and saying and how they're behaving.7:07 Gail and Stuart talk culture, leading a mission-driven company, and how the innovation-first environment and purpose of the organization - making every day comfort foods healthy and better for you - have drawn the best and brightest to work for Caulipower. "I think what makes the caulipower culture so unique and wonderful is that it is made up of so many unique and Show Links & Resources:

Show Notes:0.00: Sarah shares her story of downloading TikTok to prove a point in November 2019 and the rapid progression to tens of thousands of followers in a short window, as well as how the TikTok algorithm allows creators to share their stories and build an audience rapidly.4:30: The Corporate Mama exists to tell it like it is for me, and hopefully bring value to other working moms. Sarah delves into how she identifies her corporate and mom identities and her views around work/life balance, and wondering where is the mom who is struggling to hold it all together? If I can't find her, I'll just be her."Every working mom has a different story and a different experience than I do (... so) it's really to kind of crush the idea of work/life balance, because I don't think that it exists. For me it's about what I'm willing to prioritize, and that's going to change from day to day."8:50: After gaining followers rapidly, Sarah talks about her first sponsored deal (which went up on the day we recorded this episode), and how she is navigating the opportunity to work with partners who will enable her by standing behind her message and platform. 12:45: Marketing personas: what's it's like to leverage influencers and plan campaigns in a marketing role... while being an influencer and participating in campaigns on the side. Sarah shares her mindset around what she looks for in a "successful" brand partnership.18:55: Sarah talks about her day, being responsive and engaged with her audience, how she manages her time between kids and chaos.  "I kind of had a talk with myself around: the growth will come if you continue to put out content you believe in that people are engaging with... you don't have to engage with every single trend."25:00 Prioritizing wellness and sanity: Sarah talks about how we defend our home life, establish boundaries and keep some sanity and wellness during the pandemic and current chaotic environment."Hours of operation are different for everyone. I think that will really have great implications once the world starts to open up again - what does that mean for flexibility and in terms of allowing people time to pursue their passions that make them happier at work?"36:00: Sarah, Beth & Char talk about who influences them and what they're devouring:That not-so-secret TikTok account: @TheCorporateMamaThe Yahoo! article that changed Sarah's privacy settingsKat Stickler (Mike & Kat) on IGGirlboss on IGDallas-based influencer Ashley RobertsonEmily Ley & the Simplified PlannerArtist & poet Morgan Harper NicholsCharban on IG. You know you want to follow.The Whole Brain Child on AudibleOuai Chill Pill Bath BombsOur friend and recent ADHD diagnosee KristenCrosley Turntables + Kitchen Covers with Drew & Ellie HolcombThe Record Room at Blake Street HouseWell+Good (wellness, skincare, food, nutrition)Daily shots of olive oil inspired by Bella Figura

Show Notes:0.00 Seven(ish) years ago, Jordan Jones was a homesick and rather lonely 23 year old working at an agency in San Francisco and feeling sorry for herself with her friends and family thousands of miles away in Texas. A Friday night call to her mom gave her a kick in the pants and a business idea that has taken her ideas to the shelves of Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Dillard's, Walmart and Whole Foods. Jordan discusses how she used PR, partnerships and retailers to establish her brand's validity in the early days."It was so exciting to me to go back to my original mission of creating this approachable brand at a price point that was for everybody. Everybody deserves to make their life a party. The idea that Walmart wanted to work with Packed Party to get our products to the masses was so exciting."11:30 Boots on the ground: suddenly Jordan was flying to China, creating 30 new products and bringing Packed Party to shoppers across the U.S. Today, the brand has lines of products throughout Walmart stores, from the party and celebrations aisle to baking, hair accessories and even the pet department. Jordan talks about the early signs of entrepreneurship and her various business ventures through the years."I really didn't know, so I just had to throw myself in the middle. When I first started Packed Party, I hired a TaskRabbit to teach me how to use Photoshop and InDesign. I was just so scrappy." 16:00 No small amount of hurdles along the way: lawsuits, copycats, hiring, firing: transitioning from founder to CEO. Jordan discusses putting her personal life on hold throughout her twenties because of what she'd created, and realizing that she was going to take a backseat to the company.  "It wasn't a matter of if we were going to win, it was when we were going to win. I've been told no a million times, and I've had people get in my face (...) and tell me I don't know what I'm doing."19:09 Building a brand and being relentless: Jordan unpacks her hustle, discipline and work ethic... from how she allocates her time to learning to lean on other people. "I decide what I'm going to do - it's bulleted very strategically - and I go do it. I'm not doing anything else until I'm done, I'm really disciplined. I'm still the one conceptualizing all the ideas, so you have to train your mind to get a lot faster."21:49 Focusing on your skillset, bringing in people who fill your gaps and paying attention to the data: how paying attention to the right things has helped Packed Party thrive. "I think that mentality of imperfectness and having (...) a lot of grace has built this team that's really confident speaking up, they see I'm willing to do whatever it takes... so people treat (the business) like it's theirs. They turn the lights off. They help each other."27:30 Wielding influence and not being an influencer, being present and Jordan's non-negotiables... plus what Beth, Nate and Jordan are currently so into:Jordan: BoxingJordan: Cleere Cherry Reaves and her book Focus: How One Word A Week Will Transform Your LifeJordan: It's Not Supposed To Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered by Lysa TerkeurstBeth: The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen HanselmanNate: You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero

Show Notes:0.00 Tiffany Dufu is the Founder and CEO of The Cru, which matches circles of women to collaborate and meet their life goals together. As the cumulative investment of many people, she's built a methodology and a sophisticated platform to help women set personal and professional intentions and goals... and then accomplish their wildest ambitions. "It's as though we're all climbing a mountain and we are tethered together."6:03 Tiffany discusses the structure of The Cru, and how the organization channels the energy of high-performing women to achieve lofty goals through a framework that prioritizes confidentiality, coaching and honing the mindset, skills and behaviors needed for success. "We need more spaces and experiences with diversity, where we transcend tribalism and come together to collaborate and see one another across boundaries."13:20 Do I have influence? Using social platforms to create change in the world, being intentional about leveraging platforms to get your message out and being consistent about the topics and issues people can count on you to advance and advocate. "Persuasion is in my blood."17:00 Exploring the mentors, role models, advocates and sources of inspiration along Tiffany's path. "If you want something you've never had before you're going to have to do something you've never done before in order to get it."21:45 Wielding influence: Tiffany's non-negotiables and thoughts on really understanding and tapping into your superpower. Each one of us has something very unique that we bring to the world, that must unleash and allow the world to experience. Your influence has to be rooted in something that will not fade away if Facebook folds, Twitter folds... when it all goes away, what is your influence rooted in?"What you do is far less important than the difference you make. Influence has nothing to do with followership, it has to do with the impact you make in the world.28:30 Drop the ball: why Tiffany wrote a book about abandoning sense of obligation and pressure to keep all the balls in the air flawlessly her entire life, and how women and men can let go of unreasonable expectations and achieve more by doing less.Show Links & Resources:The CruDrop the Ball by Tiffany DufuMasterClassReady Player Two by Ernest ClineThe Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern