The Collective Corner with Elena Armijo

Are you a recovering perfectionist? In this episode, Elena speaks with Shirin Eskandani, a former opera singer and coach who helps others see their self-worth and beat perfectionism. 2020 was the year of pivoting. Pivoting from working in the office to working at home. Pivoting from celebrating birthdays, graduations, and weddings to delaying them. Pivoting from relationships and careers to adapting to uncertainty. As 2023 begins with layoffs and a looming recession, it seems the pivoting will not stop. The thing is, life is infused with pivots. They aren’t a recent phenomenon. They are just more evident. So, the question is, who would like to be when pivots happen in your life? You see, you can’t always control your circumstances, but you can determine who you will be. So, who will you choose to be? In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena provides a game plan so you can begin to strategize who you will be when pivots happen in your life. In her interview segment, Elena speaks with coach, writer, podcast host, and public speaker, Shirin Eskandani. Shirin has been featured as a wellness expert on “The Today Show,” The New York Times, The Doctors and Shape magazine. Before becoming a fantastic coach, Shirin was a professional opera singer and performed at Carnegie Hall as well as the Metropolitan Opera. Now, Shirin uses her unique perspective to catalyze thoughtful discussions, help others live on their terms, and embrace a softer, intentional, yet adaptable life. In this conversation, Elena and Shirin talk about recovering from perfectionism and workaholism, choosing the beauty of slow, determined living, fostering curiosity in the day-to-day, and understanding your own self-worth. Let’s Get Social! Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power in you. Learn more about Shirin’s coaching business and listen to her podcast. Connect with Shirin on Instagram. Follow her on LinkedIn! Contact Shirin here. This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

In the first episode of 2023, Elena speaks with coaches and podcasters Bay Leblanc Quiney and Laura Westman, who host West of Wonderland, a podcast about magic, wonder, and leadership. Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. What dream have you forgotten about? This is the start of a new year, so what do you want to accomplish with it? Wouldn’t it be amazing, at the end of this year, to say, “I’m achieving my dream?” The thing is, many of us have forgotten our dreams. We allow the stress of life and the seriousness of reality to dampen them, so we often set them aside as our childish hopes and forget about them. As we begin 2023, let’s rekindle those long-lost dreams. Let’s examine ourselves and remember what our dreams are. Then, let’s put them into action, so we can add wonder to the world! In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena shares action steps you can use so you can be closer to achieving your dream in just one month. In her interview segment, Elena talks with her friends Bay Leblanc Quiney and Laura Westman. These two bright, powerhouse ladies are professionally certified coaches, who bring wonder, joy, and magic to every conversation—including those they have on their podcast, West of Wonderland. During their chat, Bay, Laura, and Elena talk about how West of Wonderland began, the importance of restoring audacious optimism, why wishing is actually a good thing, and how many of the Disney characters we all know and love exemplify vital leadership qualities. Their conversation will be sure to make you smile and empower you to dream! Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena? Click here! Subscribe to West of Wonderland! Connect with these ladies on Instagram. Follow them on Facebook! Contact them here. This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

I want to thank you all who have listened to this show this year. The people that I've interviewed and brought to you are very dear and close to my heart and leaders in the world I see having a huge impact on disrupting the norm and creating a world that they envision for all of us in the future. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for listening. I want to wish you all a very warm and healthy holiday season. We're going to take a short break and be back at the beginning of the year with some amazing new guests all around leadership, development, growth, and us as a collective in the world bringing more love, light, and authenticity to the world. And until then, I will be slowly saying goodbye to 2022 and resting for the new year. Thank you again. I wish you the most beautiful, warm, loving holidays and a joyful holiday season. Elena

Why do we stay committed to our dreams? Elena and Angela Shanker discuss this question as they talk about being a successful musician in NYC and following your dreams despite hardships. Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. What is your current relationship to commitment? For some, commitment is a burden. For others, it’s an obligation or responsibility. But let’s dig a little deeper. What is your commitment based on? If it is based on external things, like perceived wrongs you see in the world that you are committed to fixing, that’s good! However, we all have a finite amount of time, so we can’t fix everything that we believe is wrong in the world, no matter how hard we try. Elena shares that when our commitment is based on something that is happening solely outside of us, that can cause us to eventually burn out. She notes that when your commitment comes from your core—from who you are and what you are passionate about—that passion-fueled commitment can be easier to fulfill, even when you run into challenges and obstacles along the way. In this episode, Elena talks with Angela Shanker, who is a beautiful example of a passion-driven, musically-gifted, dream-chasing woman. She and Elena talk about how Angela’s love for her craft and her family fueled her to consistently achieve goals that others deemed impossible, including making a sustainable living as a musician and music teacher in New York City, pivoting from her work in classical music to musical theater as she successfully learned how to play multiple new instruments during the pandemic, and becoming a musician in the orchestra for the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular for the past two years! If you want to be inspired to stay committed to your dreams and push through the hard days, you do not want to miss this episode of The Collective Corner! Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena? https://elenaarmijo.com/  Check out Angela’s website: https://angelashankar.com/  Connect with Angela on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/angshankarmusic/  This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Can you be a strong leader and feel deeply? In this episode, Elena and her guest, Lauren Borden, discuss the leadership strengths of HSPs, the benefits of emotional awareness, and more! Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. What gifts would more emotional awareness allow you to receive? Deeper relationships? Better communication with others? A stronger business? When you become more aware of your own emotional state, you can have more opportunities for self-reflection and growth. The thing is, self-evaluating can be uncomfortable and, oftentimes, it can be easier to push past your emotions instead of dealing with them. So, why should we engage in this practice of self-evaluation at all? Stay tuned, because, in this episode’s Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena details three reasons why practicing more emotional awareness can benefit your mental health, your leadership skills, and your relationships. In this episode, Elena talks with her friend, Holistic Leadership coach, and member of the C-Suite Collective, Lauren Borden. Not only is she armed with a PCC, M.A., and Ph.D., Lauren is an authentic and mindful person who truly sees the beauty in everyone she interacts with. Together, these two vibrant women discuss the power of highly sensitive people in leadership, new methods for understanding and honing your team’s strengths, how individuals can come together by recognizing the collective beauty of humanity, and the story behind Lauren's rebranding of her coaching business! To top it off, they also share their experiences of healing, growth, and relational development at Elena’s first-ever C-Suite Collective Retreat. If you’re a highly sensitive person (HSP) who wants to tap into your leadership strengths and communication skills, you don’t want to miss this episode! Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena? Click here! Check out Lauren’s coaching services. https://www.laurenbordencoaching.com/  Follow Lauren on Instagram! Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn. Contact Lauren here! This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

On this episode, Elena speaks with screenwriter and podcast producer, Eric McKeever, about his show, The Coach, why audio comedy is important, and how to stop resisting creative ideas. What creative project or idea have you been resisting? If you’re a creative or an entrepreneur, it seems new ideas are always coming to mind. Oftentimes, this can result in us acting on all of our new ideas, which keeps us from moving forward because we’re going in so many directions. Or, in response to spreading ourselves too thin by chasing so many ideas in the past, we keep our heads down and resist our new creative ideas. However, both responses can result in paralysis and we aren’t able to accomplish what we need to. So, how do we distinguish between the ideas that we really love and should pursue, and the ideas that are great but aren’t what we need to seize right now? In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena shares three steps you can use to recognize the creative ideas you’ve resisted, but need to act upon. In her interview segment, Elena talks with her friend and former opera colleague, Eric McKeever. Not only is Eric an accomplished baritone opera singer, he is also a talented artist with a portfolio that includes screenwriting and podcast producing. During their conversation, Elena and Eric reminisce about their first opera together, discuss the pivots that singers and artists had to make during the pandemic, and the catalytic conversation that launched Eric’s new audio-drama podcast, The Coach. Eric shares his inspiration behind the podcast, the ways humor addresses real life, how he has grown as a leader and an artist through the podcast production process, and more! Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena? Click here: https://www.elenaarmijopodcast.com/episodes/ Connect with the talented Eric McKeever: ericmckeeverbaritone@gmail.com Listen to “The Coach” here: https://thecoachpodcast.squarespace.com/ Follow “The Coach” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.coachaudiopodcast/ Check out “The Coach” on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCoachcomedy This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist  For more, visit Imagine Podcasting at https://www.imaginepodcasting.com/

John Biethan discusses the power of being heard, and podcasting’s unique ability to make that possible, because we all have something of value to say. What do you want to be known for in the world? What would you want people to say “thank you” for when you’re gone?  In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena provides insight on how to look into the future, consider the qualities you want to be remembered for, the legacy you want to leave, and how to work backwards from there to start making them a reality today. In her interview segment, Elena speaks with John Biethan, President and CEO of Imagine Podcasting.  John weaves a unique and fascinating lesson in audio for the listener, covering topics from podcasting’s beginnings, to music, to the creation of soundscapes and the feelings behind them. As the producer of Elena’s podcast, they discuss the dynamics of how to grow and maintain a media presence in today’s crowded landscape, as well as the current state of social media and where it’s going. You’ll hear about the newest “thing” in podcasting - private podcasting – and how it allows people to go deeper in their conversation and give the audience a more intimate experience. John also offers insight into leadership, responsibility and stewardship for women CEOs - that women often make better leaders than their male counterparts, and how everyone in business can benefit from slowing down and making an effort to really listen and hear what others have to say. Let’s Get Social! John Biethan Website:  https://www.imaginepodcasting.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbiethan/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/imagepodcasting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imaginepodcasting/ This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Jennifer Harshman, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

In her weekly Coaching Tip, Elena provides insight on what it means to be vulnerable and highlights the benefits of emotional exposure. Blaine Heck discusses the complexities of fertility and pregnancy for women in the workplace, as well as the hurdles that must be overcome with a disability. What does “being vulnerable” actually mean? While conventional wisdom says being vulnerable is being exposed to the potential of physical or emotional harm, Elena gives her own thoughts, using an illustration from Brene Brown. Being vulnerable is actually all about the courage it takes to step into uncertainty, experience risk and to take a chance on emotional exposure. Deeper and richer connections are the reward.  In her interview segment, Elena speaks with Blaine Heck, Senior Publicist at Nardi Media. Blaine dives deep into her experiences with pregnancy and IVF, all while juggling challenges, workload and stress at the office. Together they discuss the culture of shame around miscarriages, and the surprising healing support of social media. While being pregnant does affect the work, full transparency and an awareness of how you are showing up go a long way in helping others understand your experience, and make room for it. Blaine also shares (and compares) her disability in the workplace, specifically dyslexia. She offers insightful advice to employers, namely, that those with disabilities are often more creative than you realize, and that the disability often gives the individual a heightened awareness elsewhere - you just need to be open-minded enough to find it. Let’s Get Social! Blaine on IG: https:/www.instagram.com/btodfield/?hl=en Blaine on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blainetodfield/ Nardi Media: https://nardimedia.com/  Want to hear more from Elena? https://elenaarmijo.com/ and https://thec-suitecollective.com/ This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Jennifer Harshman, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

What is your current relationship with spirituality? We'll take a closer look at that in our coaching tip for the week. And in our interview segment, we’ll be joined by Meghan Smith, a spiritual teacher, leader, and coach. Learn more about how Elena can support you here https://elenaarmijo.com/  Meghan completed the Accomplishment Coaching Program in Victoria, B.C. Canada in 2019 and stayed on in a leadership role with the company for an additional two years upon graduation. Her podcast “The Skeptic's Guide to a Spiritual Life” reflects her past as a very skeptical, logic-brained lawyer who had very little room for spirituality in her life. She is now passionate about bringing spirituality to very high-achieving, high-performing people in a way that allows them to explore. Elena and Meghan talk about how Meghan successfully starts the “spirituality” conversation with her clients. They talk about partnership in spirituality, the willingness to open up, and how to find the access point to start the conversation. Finally, they confront the challenges that come with partnership and the relationship to spirituality.  Part of Meghan’s journey includes her recovery from adrenaline addiction. She is an advocate of the 12-step process, and the wisdom that comes with it, and says that if there is any part of you that may have addictive tendencies to go find 12-step work immediately.  Finally, Meghan invites you to really “get” and understand that you don’t need “fixing”. There’s nothing “wrong” with you. You’re just having a human experience.  In her Coaching Tip, Elena asks you about your relationship to whatever it is you believe. What is your current relationship to spirituality? Everyone has different versions of what spirituality means. The conversation around spirituality versus religion is a deeply layered conversation. Oftentimes when clients are confronted with limiting beliefs around something or STOPS, as we like to call it in the coaching world (where you are getting stopped around a concept or belief), it helps to look at the relationship to it. So instead of fighting against the beliefs that you have around God or the universe, or not believing in anything at all that’s outside of yourself, it's easier to focus on who you are being about that belief. So, for me, there's a lot of gold in looking at the relationship to it. No matter what I believe and what my choice is, am I in alignment with it? Are my actions lining up with who I'm choosing to be and what I believe about it? Get clear about what's going on and then ask yourself: how do you want it to go? What kind of access would you enjoy with an ideal relationship with spirituality? What would it allow or make possible in your life? Get Social with Meghan Smith in any of these places Website: https://www.meghansmithcoaching.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachmeghansmith/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-smith-coaching Podcast: https://www.meghansmithcoaching.com/podcast  Want to hear more from Elena? https://elenaarmijo.com/ and https://thec-suitecollective.com/ This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Jennifer Harshman, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

With the Great Resignation, the current recession, and other issues, so many teams are facing several crises now. Find out what you can do to lead more effectively through all of these challenges and more. Did you know that what happens throughout an organization is magnified at the C-Suite or executive level? Of course, each department and each level of the organization struggles with certain things. Today’s guest says something that might surprise you: she says it moves upward. The person at the top is seeing all of it, feeling all of it, and carrying the weight of all of it. That’s a lot of pressure. In this episode of The Collective Corner, Elena speaks with Annikki Hill, who has spent much of her career in the international financial sector, first as an attorney, and then as a health insurance manager in the Cayman Islands.  In 2012, Annikki founded her coaching practice, Blue Island Oracle. She works with individuals and corporate groups around the world to create alignment in their lives and within their teams. Annikki’s experience as an industry leader has served her clients well as they explore and expand their own leadership. She shares an interesting perspective on integrity in this episode. Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena? https://elenaarmijo.com/ and https://thec-suitecollective.com/  Connect with Annikki Hill in any of these places: Website: https://blueislandoracle.com/about/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueislandoracle  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annikki-hill-llb-accc-a46a847/?originalSubdomain=ky  Instagram: @blueislandoracle https://www.instagram.com/blueislandoracle/ This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Jennifer Harshman, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Where are you neglecting to celebrate in your life? We'll look at that in our coaching tip for the week. In our interview segment today, we have Alex Terranova, professional certified coach, founder of The Dream Mason, Inc., and author of Fictional Authenticity. Elena says of him, “I love this man so much. We met in our coach training program, and after an entire year of intense immersive training, we came out better humans and coaches for the world.” Learn more about how Elena Armijo can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. If your life were a watercraft, would it be a pirate ship, a US Navy vessel, or a Disney cruise? You’ll want to listen in to hear the meanings of these and to figure out where your ship is headed. You’re in control of so much. Have you pointed your life in the right direction, and what will you do to create the life you want? In her weekly coaching tip, Elena asks you about the things you can celebrate and encourages you to do so because too often, we skip celebrating. In Elena’s interview segment, she talks with Alex Terranova, Performance Alchemist & Coach. He is the author of Fictional Authenticity and Redefining Masculinity and the host of The DreamMason podcast and The Frequency Shifters Show. Alex works with men whose achievements and financial successes have not created the rewarding, joyful, and fulfilling life and business they desire. In this episode, he brings up some important things you’ll want to consider: race, politics, professionalism, personal responsibility, and more. Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena? https://elenaarmijo.com/  Connect with Alex Terranova, Performance Alchemist & Coach at his website, TheDreamMason, by email, or on social media. Here are his links: https://www.instagram.com/inspirationalalex/ https://www.facebook.com/DreamMasonInc/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvRU3eZLTS0n_Aj01w6McMg https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexterranova/ https://www.tiktok.com/@dreammason This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Jennifer Harshman, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

In this episode, Elena talks with Hilary Hoffman about how she got integrated into the C-Suite Collective. After nearly a decade in finance, spending her time most notably at Goldman Sachs and Oaktree Capital Management, Hilary Hoffman launched her fitness platform The SOTO Method in 2021. The SOTO Method is a program she initially created for herself; strapped for time, she craved a more efficient burn. The workout needed to reflect her reality: she had only 35 minutes, and every single second needed to count. Through Hilary’s extensive knowledge of isometrics, SOTO delivers approachability, efficiency and results. In class, you will be reminded to stay in the “can” mindset time and time again. This means physical strength starts with believing four words, “I can do this.” “After my time at Goldman, I made a pivot within the industry, and I landed in a spot that I was not particularly happy in. And that unhappiness brought me to a place of self-discovery. During that whole process, what I decided to do was instead of thinking, This is what I want to do next, I would have conversations with as many humans as I could. There was no agenda other than, ‘Tell me why you love your job. Tell me what you love about the day-to-day of your role at this company.’ I started to learn that people who loved their jobs the most had a sense of agency that they got to access on a daily basis. And more importantly, they were in roles where they felt like they were utilizing their strengths on a daily basis. And I had come to a place where a lot of the friction I experienced in finance . . . I was good enough at my job where I could have 100% been happy if I had stayed there and pivoted companies once. However, I decided to figure out what were my strengths and where can I best express them? And during this time, the SOTO method was something that I'd always come back to.” Hilary says, “It's such a powerful exercise of just saying out loud, ‘What is holding me back from taking that next step?’” Join us to learn more.  Contact Hilary Website: https://www.sotomethod.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sotomethod/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-soto-method Credits: This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:  John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting  Sam De Santo, Creative Director  Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer  Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer  Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager  Raejan Noh, Content Writer  Jennifer Harshman, Content Writer  Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram) 

What is the difference between a mentor and a coach? We look at that in this episode, and in our interview segment, we have Steve Friedman. Steve is an executive coach and consultant who has had several professions. He was the president of Pace University from 2007 to 2017, and he served as the dean of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. He was a well-established lawyer and created many, many breakthroughs for people in the world. He says, “For the last four or five years, I've been an executive coach for both companies and nonprofits. Through a variety of problems the university as a whole experienced, I became president virtually overnight. I did that for 10 years, and then I retired again in 2017, which brought me to what I'm doing today. I thought that being a coach would be a continuation of a high-level view of what I'd been doing all my life, which was basically helping people and bringing my experience and whatever talent I had to help them.” “I can tell you a brief story about myself. This is when I was president of Pace University early in my time there. After about nine months, I asked a coach to do a 180 and interview everybody. One of the comments that came back was ‘Steve's a smart guy. He makes up his mind quickly. And when he makes up his mind, he stops listening.’ Nothing could be further from the truth. I puzzled a lot about that, and I realized that what was going on is that at our management committee meetings, I was frustrated by the fact that everyone was talking to me instead of to each other. I finally got what I thought was a truly brilliant idea, which is when someone started to talk, I would look down, and then they would have to talk to each other because I wasn't looking at them. The fact is everyone saw this as he's not listening to me. And instead of being a brilliant idea, it was really one of the dumbest things I've ever done.” The biggest piece of advice he would give C-suite leaders right now is that professionals rise and fall based on what they do, and leaders rise and fall based on what they lead other people to do. Contact Steve Friedman: Email: sjf@pace.edu   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-j-friedman-abb9a025 This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Vibrant and passionate executive coach Juanita Molano Parra speaks with Elena Armijo about the double-edged sword of authenticity, creating a world of belonging and kindness, and expressing anger in a positive way. Learn more about how Elena Armijo can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. In this segment of The Collective Corner, Elena Armijo speaks with overcomer, creative, and executive coach Juanita Molano Parra. Originally from Bogota, Columbia, Juanita pursued a career in finance after graduating with an MBA from NYU Stern. However, when she moved to Indianapolis, she decided to shift gears and become a coach. During her coaching training, she met Elena and the two became fast friends. Today, Juanita has her own coaching business and is passionate about helping leaders escape from the land of “should” to a world where they can live the life they were meant to live. During their conversation, Elena and Juanita talk about how authenticity is a double-edged sword, the importance of expressing anger in a constructive way, creating an environment of belonging and kindness, and staying true to your values. As Juanita so vividly illustrates, “Our values are like a lighthouse that reveals who we are and what we stand for.” If you want to learn more about living in light of your values and balancing authenticity with belonging, check out this episode! Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena? Click here! Connect with the Juanita Molano Parra on her website, subscribe to her newsletter, and follow her on Instagram, LinkedIn, or email. This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Elena’s special guest this week is her childhood friend, Santino Jimenez. In this episode, you’ll learn how they were both shaped by their childhoods in Las Cruces, the lessons Santino has learned in his entertainment career, and why it’s vital to take action! Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. What gifts from your past have turned out to be your superpowers today? Sometimes, what is hindering us in the present is rooted in our past. Other times, the things that currently propel us forward are the values, beliefs, habits, and actions that have been developed in our childhood. These gifts from your past are the very things that support you and highlight the positive aspects of who you are today. In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena shares the gifts she’s carrying from her past, and how you can determine and better utilize the gifts you have attained from your own childhood. In her interview segment, Elena speaks with a very special guest—dynamite actor, improviser, and producer Santino Jimenez. Santino and Elena grew up together in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and their lives have taken interesting turns. While Elena went off to pursue music in New York, Santino headed to LA to pursue his acting career. Now, the two have reconnected and, in this conversation, you’ll hear about their childhoods, the ways they were shaped by their community and families, and how the gifts they were given in their pasts have propelled them in their lives now. From the importance of taking action, to staying humble and constantly learning how to perfect your craft, to telling it like it is and being yourself, Santino shares important insights for those who want to become actors, comedians, or just want to be reminded to pursue their dreams. Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena? Click here! Connect with the fantastic Santino Jimenez on Instagram. Check out Santino's IMDb profile! Contact Santino! This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Are you a small business owner or someone who’s considering launching your own business? Then, you’ll definitely want to listen to Elena’s conversation with Small Business Consultant and Certified Business Coach Robyn Koenig. Together, they talk about the lessons she’s learned, how to utilize structures in your small business, the power of simplifying, and more! Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. What could simplicity provide you access to? Many times, people believe that simplicity is equivalent to low-impact. But that’s not the case. In fact, simplicity allows you to experience life more fully because, instead of being pulled in so many directions you can only give a fraction of your attention to whatever’s going on, you can be fully present and engaged in the things that truly matter in your business, life, and relationships. In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena shares how she’s focused on simplicity in her own life and issues a call to action for you to do the same. In her interview segment, she talks with grace-filled Small Business Consultant and Certified Business Coach Robyn Koenig. Having spent 20 years in various roles in corporate, non-profit, and freelance environments, she has the experience and passion to help small business owners level up their businesses. After her second layoff in 2017, Robyn decided to launch her own business so she could dictate her opportunities and create a career she loves. Whether you’re a freelancer, coach, small business owner, or entrepreneur-explorer, her journey of perseverance, creativity, grit, and grace will inspire you. In their conversation, Elena and Robyn discuss the lessons Robyn learned through launching her small business, the pitfalls many small business owners fall into, why it’s good to try new ventures, how structures can be a small business owner’s best friend, and more! Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena Click here! Connect with the amazing Robyn Koenig on Instagram and LinkedIn. Check out Robyn's website! Contact Robyn! This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Do you ever feel lost or that you’ve forgotten who you are? Well, Business and Life Coach Aisha Crumbine is here to talk about how you can get clear on who you are, set boundaries, and embrace the journey so you can thrive! Learn more about how Elena Armijo can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. On the latest episode of The Collective Corner, Elena Armijo speaks with powerhouse Business and Life Coach Aisha Crumbine. Aisha is a certified trainer in psychological safety, holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Teacher’s College at Columbia University, previously served as the Vice President of Development for TFA Houston, and volunteered on the board and as a council member for Breakthrough Houston, Girls, Inc., and Houstonians for Great Public Schools. If you’re a listener of In a Manner of Speaking, you’ll recognize Aisha from the podcast’s first episode. Whether you’ve already heard Elena’s initial conversation with Aisha or if this is your first time listening to the podcast, you’ll definitely want to check out their episode here! Today, Elena and Aisha talk about how the past two years have opened up conversations surrounding trauma, creating space for yourself, and holding fast to your core values. One of the main things that Aisha focuses on with her clients is working through the mess in life and learning through it. As she so aptly puts it, “{You} don’t wait until you need to be strong to get strong. Like, everything along the way is giving you what you need so that when you need it, you have it.” If you want to really dive in and get clear on who you are, define who you want to become, and set better boundaries, Aisha’s new 6-month program launches the first week of June! Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena? Click here! Connect with Aisha Crumbine on her website or Instagram. You can listen to Elena and Aisha’s first conversation on In a Manner of Speaking here! This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Wheeling Symphony Orchestra conductor and music director John Gennaro Devlin joins Elena Armijo to talk about living in light of your values, the importance of relationships when you’re creating change, how to create a bridge between the artistic, business, and blue-collar communities, and more! Learn more about how Elena Armijo can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. What do values have to do with leadership? Too often, we are either not clear on our values or do not make our decisions based on them. When we aren’t living from our values, we can limit or destroy our impact in the world. So, how do we get clear on what our values are? Elena recommends an exercise from Brene Brown, which you can use to help clarify your values and determine if you are making decisions in alignment with them.  In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena provides insight and resources so you can discover your values and lead from them. In her interview segment, Elena Armijo speaks with conductor and music director at the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, John Gennaro Devlin. Originally from New York, he wanted to become a professional clarinetist, but, due to his outgoing personality, he pivoted into a role that he says, “Felt like home.” Now, at the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, John excels at creating a familial culture amongst the musicians and staff and creating bonds in his politically diverse community. In this episode, John shares why it’s vital an organization's decisions are aligned with its values, how beginning professionals can change their mindset so they can excel in their careers, why the orchestra is showcasing current American composers, what he’s doing to create relationships in his community, and more! Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena? Click here! Connect with John Gennaro Devlin on his website, Instagram, Facebook, or email. This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

In this segment of The Collective Corner, Elena Armijo talks with the wonderful Melanie Paez and Liz Haber Zambrano about their shared experiences as Latin American women, their approaches to coaching, and the beauty of looking at the world through the relationships you can create. Learn more about how Elena Armijo can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. In this episode of The Collective Corner, Elena Armijo talks with the wonderful Melanie Paez and Liz Haber Zambrano. Through her coaching business, Chief Executive Angel, Melanie helps reawaken people’s passions so they can thrive in every area of their lives. Liz’s ontological approach with her clients is an illustration of the way she partners with others so they can be confident in who they are, instead of who they should be.   Elena, Melanie, and Liz are all of Latin descent, had parents who assimilated quickly into American culture, are committed to the familial strength that is found in Latin culture, and are passionate about the similarities and differences that make everyone special. In this conversation, these vibrant Latin women talk about their sisterhood, their diverse backgrounds and shared experiences, the struggles and strengths of being Latin American women, and the beauty of looking at the world through the relationships you can create.   You can listen to their stories in the latest segment of The Collective Corner! Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena? Click here! Connect with the Melanie Paez on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Meet Liz Haber Zambrano on her website, Instagram, or on LinkedIn. This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Do you want to find support? Take a listen to Elena’s latest interview with Michelle Mercier for tips on creating space for what you need and developing yourself. Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. What does giving yourself permission look like today? If you gave yourself permission to get what you need in the moment, what would change? Would it bring you more joy? Would it create more opportunities? Would it help someone in the world? It’s easy to put ourselves on the back burner, especially when there are crazy things happening in the world that require our attention. But sometimes, in order to deal with the craziness, you need to take a moment for yourself.  In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena advises to ask yourself, “What do I need right now?” and then give yourself permission to attain whatever that is. In her interview segment, Elena talks with passionate mama, opportunity creator, and beautiful gem, Michelle Mercier. Michelle is a business coach, certified Dare to Lead™ professional, and host of the top-ranked podcast, The Resilient Entrepreneur. She’s a multifaceted powerhouse, who has over 20 years in various organizations, from nationally acclaimed nonprofits to corporations like PayPal. When she’s not helping others reach their potential and shine bright in the world, she’s taking care of her two kids and creating beauty in her current space. In their conversation, Elena and Michelle talk about processing grief, being a resilient mother, developing yourself, finding support, and recognizing the humanity in others. Let’s Get Social! Want to hear more from Elena? Click here! Listen to The Resilient Entrepreneur. Check out Michelle's website! Learn more about the amazing Michelle Mercier on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Contact Michelle! This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting Sam De Santo, Creative Director Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager Raejan Noh, Content Writer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)