MOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech

Episode S2E18: Show Notes.It is so easy to lose ourselves in grief, to feel like the heaviness will never lift. Known as a purveyor of hope, today’s guest started a podcast called Let’s Talk About Grief in 2018 when she discovered that many people viewed death and grief as negative and held little hope about life after grief. As a retired nurse and having studied Well Being Psychology at Yale and Positive Psychology at Penn State, Anne DeButte coaches individuals to move from hopeless to hopeful, helping them make a positive shift along the path of grieving without getting lost in it. In today’s episode, Anne shares the importance of recognizing and allowing yourself to feel your emotions rather than distracting yourself from them. We also discuss the losses everyone has experienced during COVID, how to support those in your workplace who have suffered a loss, and the value of reviewing HR policies around bereavement, so make sure to tune in today to learn more! Key Points From This Episode:•    Anne starts by acknowledging the grief everyone has been through during COVID.•    She speaks candidly about the grief she experienced when her father passed away.•    The importance of naming your grief and giving yourself permission to feel your emotions rather than avoiding them.•    Common responses to grief and why they are full of could’s, should’s, and would’s.•    Why grief or a broken heart can’t necessarily “heal” in the same manner as the body does.•    Extending compassion toward yourself and others who are going through grief.•    Understanding that grief isn’t comparable and there is no loss too small or too great.•    How to engage with and support someone in your workplace who has experienced a loss by simply being there for them.•    Anne’s advice for “being there” for someone during the isolation of the pandemic: reach out.•    Why being in nature can be so healing for someone who is grieving.•    How leaders can play a big role by speaking about grief in the workplace.•    The value of reviewing HR policies around bereavement, particularly during COVID.•    Why it is so important to make space for grief, whether personally or in the workplace.•    Find out how grief coaching can guide you from where you are to where you want to be.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Understanding GriefAnne DeButte EmailAnne DeButte on LinkedInAnne DeButte on TwitterAnne DeButte on FacebookAnne DeButte on InstagramAnne DeButte on ClubhouseKaren WorstellMOJO MakerFlameproof Your Career and Handle Adversity Like a BossMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedIn

A bank which has love at the core of its philosophy: it’s almost impossible to imagine, but our guest on today’s show, Chelsea Kim, has been an integral part of turning this concept into reality. Chelsea’s background in health education, and her drive to help others, ended up leading her into the FinTech world where, in November 2020, she co-founded BELLA. BELLA is a bank with a wonderful twist; giving back. In this episode, Chelsea explains how BELLA works, the challenges they have experienced with launching the app, and how the mindset change brought about by the pandemic actually helped boost BELLA’s growth. Being a disruptor isn’t easy, but the companies that break the mold are the ones that have the potential to create the biggest positive impacts. BELLA is a disruptor in the strongest sense of the word, and we are so excited to follow their developments into the future as they inject love, joy, and kindness into the world! Key Points From This Episode:When Chelsea realized she wanted to help others, and how that internal drive has shaped her life. Love and joy are the forces behind BELLA. The scarcity mindset that generally exists in wealth creation industries. BELLA’s aim is to inject love into an industry that has historically ignored it.An example of one of BELLA’s programs; the Karma Account.Chelsea’s educational and career background and how she ended up in the FinTech space.How Chelsea embodies the bumblebee principle. Challenges that the BELLA team were confronted with, launching during the COVID-19 pandemic.Ways that the pandemic actually worked to BELLA’s advantage.The two facets of BELLA, and where you can sign up. How banking through BELLA differs from banking through a traditional bank app.Chelsea’s approach to leadership. Why BELLA has chosen to keep their operation remote. Advice from Chelsea about following your dreams, no matter how out of reach they may seem.Here's how people can get involved with BELLA:Become a banking member - download the BELLA loves me App from the App Store or PlayStore (there are links on our website if they don't want to search - www.bellaloves.me)Follow us on Instagram (@bellaloves.me) - this is our main communication channel for the Community. If they don't want a bank account, they can participate in our events and keep up with our programs hereWe're hiring and they can come work with us to create the reLOVEution! Open jobs are posted on our website and LinkedIn.They can also ask questions and talk directly to our teams through Instagram DM, website "Message Us", or in the BELLA App by typing "human"If they have an initiative that they support and think aligns to our values, they can email community.initiatives@bellaloves.me and tell us about itLinks Mentioned in Today’s Episode:BELLAChelsea Kim on LinkedInMOJO MakerFlameproof Your Career & Handle Adversity Like a BossMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedIn

Episode S2E17: Show Notes.If you are a Broncos fan, today’s guest needs no introduction. From catching Peyton Manning’s last pass in Super Bowl 50 to being an unsigned free agent, running his football camp for young teens, writing a book, and coaching executives, Bennie Fowler is constantly on the top of his game and, in today’s episode, he shares his playbook for success for all humans, especially those in the tech sector. He began his career as an undrafted free agent, signed by the Denver Broncos in 2014, spending four years with them, and forming a part of the Super Bowl 50 Championship team in 2016. Bennie played college football at Michigan State University where he was a member of the 2014 Rose Bowl Championship team, and he holds the Bennie Fowler Youth Football Camp in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, every year. He is an in-demand speaker as part of the NFL Speaker Bureau and the author of Silver Spoon: The Imperfect Guide to Success, as well as the host of the Quiet Time Podcast. Tune in today to hear Bennie’s insights and advice for honing your vision, looking beyond your goals, and playing to win!Key Points From This Episode:The character traits of successful people, including discipline, vision, respect, and honesty.How Bennie used his clear vision to achieve the goals that seemed unattainable.Overcoming limiting beliefs, learning from your mistakes, and ensuring that the story you tell yourself honors who you really are.The importance of becoming self-aware and working through your fears.Getting your mind in the game; how to stop playing not to lose and start playing to win.Bennie challenges listeners: what would you do if you knew you could not fail?Hear about the Bennie Fowler Youth Football Camp, giving kids the chance to interact with and learn from professional athletes.Why Bennie believes that life is all about the service of others. A key takeaway from Bennie’s book, Silver Spoon: there is no perfect path to success.Resourcefulness, perseverance, and hard work will get you where you want to go.People that inspired Bennie on his journey, like his parents and his brother.Learn about the executive coaching that Bennie provides for entrepreneurs and CEOs.Bennie describes the experience of catching the last pass of Peyton Manning’s career.Final words of encouragement: the biggest room in the world is room for improvement.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Bennie Fowler on LinkedInBennie Fowler on TwitterBennie FowlerSilver SpoonQuiet Time PodcastBe the HeroThe Monk Who Sold His FerrariKaren WorstellMOJO MakerFlameproof: Your Anti-Burnout GuidebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedIn

Today’s guest believes that the tech industry is still a proverbial boy’s club. It is vital that we see more women, people of color, and nonbinary gender identities at the top. As a veteran with a background in national security and intelligence, Jenna Waters built the foundation of her career on a degree in information systems with a minor in cybersecurity, and served in threat intelligence for the US Navy, before eventually transitioning to the private sector.Today, she is a consultant at True Digital Security, where she serves her clients at the intersection of cybersecurity, privacy, and compliance, as well as program development, threat intelligence, and cloud security. She is wary of the fact that a laundry list of qualifications often acts as an equalizer for women in an industry that isn’t evolving quickly enough. In this episode, she shares her advice for both minorities in the tech space and their allies to advocate for themselves, speak their minds, and address the issue that cybersecurity has with diversity and inclusion. Tune in today to learn more! Key Points From This Episode:More about Jenna’s background and the choices that led her to this career path.What a career in threat intelligence looks like and its similarities with the private sector.Advice for those pursuing entry-level positions in cybersecurity: advocate for yourself!To collect certifications or not; while it’s possible to build your career without them, Jenna believes they act as an equalizer.The reality that cybersecurity is a male-dominated industry that isn’t evolving quickly enough.Why Jenna believes it is vital that we see more women, people of color, and non-binary gender identities in leadership positions.Don’t be a gatekeeper, be a gate opener; advocate for other women in your industry!How male allies can leverage their privilege for the betterment of women in their company.How Jenna found her quiet confidence and her advice for speaking up and building yours.When you advocate for yourself, you also advocate for the next person.Why you shouldn’t let yourself get distracted by anger and resentment.Jenna shares her intentions for the future, including driving cybersecurity into the socio-economic and political sphere.The responsibility that companies have to create a standard that ensures everyone benefits from cybersecurity and privacy equally.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Jenna Waters on LinkedInTrue Digital SecurityTrue Digital Security on LinkedInGood GuysKaren WorstellMOJO MakerFlameproof Your Career & Handle Adversity Like a BossFlameproof: Your Anti-Burnout GuidebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedIn

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Women and Minorities in STEM with Natoshia AndersonEpisode S2E15: Show Notes.Growing up with a mechanic as a father, Natoshia Anderson was always interested in the inner workings of mechanics. When she learned that mechanical engineering was a profession, she began a journey into the world of STEM. Today, not only is she an award-winning Advocate, Educator, Strategist, Author, and Inspirational Speaker but she also holds a PhD. Natoshia is the host of the podcast STEMming in Stilettos with Dr. Toshia, and the co-host of All STEAMed Up with Mocha and Foam. On today’s show, she shares some of the many challenges she has faced, both as a woman and a person of color in a white-male-dominated industry. She explains the importance of creating opportunities for other children, and especially young girls of color, to take a path into STEM, and what can be done to achieve this. She also introduces her new book ABC Engineering Book and talks about the importance of introducing STEM to children from a young age. Key Points From This Episode:Hear about Dr. Toshia’s personal journey as a woman of color in STEM.The influence of her parents in her career choice.  The revelation that mechanical engineering was a profession. Dr. Toshia’s experience as a minority: as a child and in college. Hear about her early work experiences in a field dominated by white men. The life-changing experience of meeting another black female engineer. How she realized she needed to inspire other girls of color to take a path into STEM. She reflects on how her experiences, both good and bad, have molded her. The importance of challenging stereotypes: not just in kids, but in their parents.How the opportunity arose for Dr. Toshia to publish a children’s book. Thoughts on the writing process. The success of the book so far. The goal of the book to introduce small children to engineering terms.The importance of introducing STEM to children from a young age. Hear about Dr. Toshia’s future plans, including a new book, consulting services, and her online show. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Karen WorstellMOJO Maker Create Your Leading EdgeMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedInDr. ToshiaSTEMming in Stilettos with Dr. ToshiaDr. Natoshia (Dr. Toshia) Anderson on LinkedInDr. Toshia on TwitterABC Engineering BookAll STEAMed Up with Mocha and Foam on YouTubeAll STEAMed Up with Mocha and Foam on FacebookBlack-ish 

Episode S2E14: Show Notes.If you were looking for a candidate to head security for a major corporation, today’s guest should be on the top of your list. Technologist, attorney, former federal cybercrime investigator with the FBI, privacy leader, and the founder of a non-profit that assists Minorities in Cybersecurity, Mary Chaney Esq. is a professional who has always set the bar very high for herself! Her story of driving herself to the top of her field while overcoming challenges and bias is a uniquely inspiring one and, in this episode, she shares the details of her professional path, where it led her, and how she blazed a trail for others looking to follow in her footsteps. She also shares her insights into being a minority in corporate America and her advice for picking your battles, hunting for yourself, and viewing adversity as your greatest teacher. Tune in today to learn more from this formidable woman of color in tech!Key Points From This Episode:Mary shares her professional journey and how she got into cybersecurity.Some of the challenges she encountered as a woman of color in corporate America.What sparked the decision to start her own cybersecurity and privacy law practice in Dallas.Learn more about Minorities in Cybersecurity, which assists minorities in the field with leadership development and opportunities.Mary reflects on forging her own path and always aspiring to reach the top of her field. How wanting more for herself allowed her to become a role model and resource for others.Biases in law enforcement often prevent African Americans from choosing that path and took an emotional toll on Mary.Sometimes, it isn’t about the fight, it’s about determining which battles you can actually win.The diversity and inclusion challenges she encountered in the FBI versus corporate America.Many corporate spaces aren’t diverse enough, which is why you sometimes have to “hunt for yourself,” as Mary puts it.Find out why Mary says that there are no failures, only opportunities to learn.The benefits of not taking yourself too seriously; all you can do is your best!The myriad of things you can learn about yourself when facing adversity, and you have to know yourself in order to be yourself.Hear about upcoming cyber security-specific workshops at Minorities in Cybersecurity.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Mary Chaney Esq. on LinkedInMary Chaney Esq. on TwitterMary Chaney Esq. on FacebookMary Chaney Esq.Minorities in CybersecurityAll STEAMed up with Mocha and Foam on FacebookAll STEAMed up with Mocha and Foam on YouTubeKaren WorstellMOJO MakerFlameproof: How to Flameproof Your Career and Your Life and Handle Adversity Like a BossMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedIn

Burnout is common in the tech world because of the constant push for innovation and the fast-paced nature of the industry. Former HR Professional Lisa Duerre spent over 25 years leading top Silicon Valley companies and experienced burnout herself. She now works as a burnout prevention and high-performance advisor for tech leaders. In this episode, Lisa talks about her tech journey and how imposter syndrome and a lack of boundaries contributed to her running herself into the ground. She talks about the symptoms of her burnout and what she did to work through it. Lisa highlights that so many people experience this issue, and you should not blame yourself or feel as though you have failed if it is something you are going through. We hear how Lisa came back a better, more thoughtful leader and the incredible impact this had on her team as a whole. Near the end of the show, we share an exciting project that Lisa and Karen are working on in Clubhouse, to help you reset and recharge for the week ahead. Preventing burnout takes intention, setting clear boundaries, and actively recharging your batteries in whatever way makes sense for you. As someone who knows the tech world inside out, Lisa has a wealth of knowledge we could all learn a great deal from!Key Points From This Episode:Get to know Lisa, her background in tech, and how she came to do burnout work.When Lisa realized that she was experiencing burnout and what caused it.What happened when Lisa paid a visit to the hospital when she had arm and chest pain.The importance of setting boundaries and knowing when enough is enough.How a lack of self-worth and self-love contributed to Lisa pushing herself so hard.Why overachievers are more prone to burnout.Lisa's decision to stay at her job and how she regrouped after she took time off.What Lisa noticed in her team when she came back with more intentionality.The importance of celebrating wins, especially in the fast-moving tech space.When Karen realized that she was experiencing burnout.Drawing a parallel between an airplane on autopilot and someone heading toward burnout.What the doctor told Lisa after she was cleared of a heart attack.Details about Lisa and Karen's project on Clubhouse to help people reset.Lisa's Ctrl+Alt+Delete podcast and the topics she and her guests cover.Two of Lisa's top tips for dealing with burnout.Life goes through cycles, and we can easily default back to burnout habits, so take care.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Lisa DuerreLise Duerre on TwitterCtrl+Alt+Delete with Lisa DuerreTony RobbinsThe Desire MapDr. Manuel AstrucKaren WorstellMOJO MakerMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedIn

More than ever, cybersecurity professionals need to communicate effectively, whether you’re talking to your team, at a conference, or to the board of directors. Here is a secret: when you learn to tell a story, that is when your presentations will generate real results. Today’s guest tells you why and shares some tips and tools to help you make your next presentation capture the board’s attention and get the results you need. Pat Quinn is a speech coach, professional consultant, and speaker. As a former professional magician, he learned the art of commanding a stage early in his career, and, with an advanced degree in brain research, Pat understands how adults learn new information. As a consultant and speaker, he has keynoted some of the biggest conferences and spoken to audiences from around the world. In this episode, he highlights the key elements of effective presentations, explains why stories are more powerful than facts, and shares some incredible tools that you can use to make it easier for you, plus a special discount code, so make sure to tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Pat shares a bit more about effective presentations and the power of stories versus facts.How stories are processed differently by the human brain than facts or sales pitches.Using story to make a pitch for funding; the value of telling an ordinary, relatable story.A tool Pat has developed to help capture and organize all his stories: StoryLinq.Many people are intimidated by a blank sheet of paper; create personal touch-points!Pat talks about the training feature in StoryLinq and the value of a founder story.The structure of a great story; 60 seconds for the “before”, 30 seconds for the “pivot”, and 60 seconds for the “after”.The importance of telling a simple, personal story; Pat shares a practical example.How you can use a story to move up in your company or get a promotion.Why Pat believes that storytelling is a currency of the future.Hear his personal story about the power of storytelling and how it has changed his life.Your personal brand is your story, because relevant anecdotes happen to you everyday!Pat encourages listeners to keep telling stories; when you tell your stories, other people know they are not alone.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Pat Quinn on LinkedInStoryLinqKaren WorstellMOJO MakerFlameproof: How to Flameproof Your Career and Your Life and Handle Adversity Like a BossMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedIn

Clutter is stressful, but organizing doesn't have to be. Today’s guest is Star Hansen, a Certified Professional Organizer that helps her clients create systems and strategies to eliminate chaos, enabling them to focus on what is important and guiding them towards a state of organization and joy. In this episode, you’ll hear from Star as she explains how she looks at the truth beyond the surface, allowing your clutter to show you who you are. She shares what your clutter can say about you, how it can block you from achieving something, and how you could use it more creatively to assist you on your journey if it were better placed. Find out about the method Star uses, the books she recommends, and her advice for stepping more fully into the present in order to let go of the past. You can create a sense of control and empowerment within a chaotic environment, and Star Hansen will show you how! Make sure not to miss this episode.Key Points From This EpisodeThe moment Star realized that her calling was helping people transform chaos into purpose. What clutter can say about you; why organizing actually has nothing to do with organizing.How clutter can also be a barrier: if you can’t find it, it can’t serve you.How your physical clutter is an outward representation of your internal mindset.Learn how to recognize what you’re blocking: are you hiding behind your clutter?Looking at where it is; clutter on a walkway could indicate an attempt to limit someone coming into your space, for example.Find out how your clutter could help you in a creative way if it were better placed.Star explains why she believes that your clutter actually holds the keys to your freedom.The method she uses with a client to help them move from chaos to order: curiosity.Why Star advises that you look for the yes in the mess.The importance of taking your time when it comes to family heirlooms versus junk mail.Star recommends Inbox Zero by Merlin Mann and The Hamster Revolution by Mike Song.From deconstructing your past to make space for your future; it’s easier to stress over something small than the big underlying issue.Creating a sense of control and empowerment within a chaotic environment.How every room in your home can be brainwashing you and how you can change that.Allowing yourself to step more fully into the present so it’s safe to let go of the past.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Star Hanson on TwitterStar Hansen on LinkedInStar Hanson on InstagramStar Hanson on YouTubeStar Hansen’10 Things in 20 Minutes’Inbox ZeroThe Hamster RevolutionKaren WorstellMOJO MakerFlameproof: How to Flameproof Your Career and Your Life and Handle Adversity Like a BossMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on Instagram

Do you ever feel that your skills and talents as an introvert are overlooked by your boss or colleagues? Maybe you’ve spent time trying to be more outgoing in order to fit in, only to find it exhausting and unsustainable. Well, you’re not alone! What today’s guest calls the extraversion bias is a common phenomenon, and it’s costing businesses money. In this episode, Joanna Rawbone shares her advice for introverts who need to show up in order to contribute, be seen, or get promoted. Joanna is an expert on introversion and what it means to flourish as an introvert and, tuning in, you’ll hear some of the differences and distinctions between introverts and extroverts, how the corporate environment doesn’t cater to introverts, and how extroverts can learn to recognize the important contributions that introverts make. Joanna also shares some tips for becoming a flourishing introvert by continually working at the edge of your comfort zone, playing to your strengths, and speaking up, as well as her advice for organizations to become more introvert-friendly. Tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Hear about Joanna’s personal journey from introvert to global change-maker and speaker.Shyness versus introversion and why you can’t conflate being shy into being an introvert.The distinction between introverts and extroverts when communicating or problem solving; think, say, think.How to leverage the power of introverts by being sensitive to their “recharging” needs.Why introverts will only speak up if they have something of value to contribute.The importance of continually expanding your comfort zone as a flourishing introvert.Learn how extroverts can recognize the contributions of introverts.Joanna reflects on the unconscious bias embedded in daily processes in organizations.Some of the frustration for ambitious introverts when their potential is going unnoticed.What Flourishing Introverts does to help introverts identify their strengths and own them.Techniques that Joanna uses with organizations, including observation and focus groups.The value and benefits for an organization when ensuring that all voices are heard.How the recruitment process could be adjusted to ensure that introvert-friendly processes like equitable tasks are built in.Joanna explains that it’s not about slowing down, it’s about making space.Hear from Joanna what the “offed-off bag” is and how she riffs from it each week.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Joanna Rawbone on TwitterJoanna Rawbone on LinkedInJoanna Rawbone on InstagramJoanna Rawbone on Facebook‘Tackling Extraversion Bias to Unlock the Potential of Introverts’Flourishing IntrovertsKaren WorstellMOJO MakerFlameproof: How to Flameproof Your Career and Your Life and Handle Adversity Like a BossMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedIn

Sandy Gledhill is a Corporate Problem Solver who has dedicated her career to helping high-performing leaders unlock the secrets to even greater levels of success. Her years spent coaching executives, entrepreneurs, and influencers uncovered a secret that is harbored by many high achievers; the hidden fears that often restrict them to living smaller lives than those for which they were destined. Sandy was well-acquainted with this particular secret, as she too had perfected the art of looking like a risk-taking success story while being plagued by a host of debilitating fears that were tearing her apart inside. In this episode, Sandy shares some of the misconceptions about fear and how you can start to live fearlessly. She also explains the mental shift required, how clearly defining your fears can help diminish them, and the importance of having an abundance mentality, as well as trusting your instinct and embracing failure. Tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:How Sandy came to understand every leader’s struggle with hidden fear.What she has learned along the way that helps her help others: fear of anything is not a healthy motivator!The broken corporate culture in America and how it encourages a sustained state of fear.Karen talks about her wakeup call, when she was no longer driven by her fear of failure.Sandy describes her personal relationship with fear and how she overcame it.Hear more about her book, The Fearless Revolution, and the practical tips it offers you.How to confidently project yourself into the future and anticipate a positive outcome.Understanding that your body doesn’t differentiate between excitement and fear, it’s all in your mind.Why fearlessness is not synonymous with being a daredevil; it’s a contract you enter into.Sandy explains that fear thrives in the shadows; clearly defining your fears is the first step.More about the fear of public speaking, why it is so common, and how to overcome it.How asking “so what?” in the face of your biggest fears can help you diminish them.The importance of having an abundance mentality when fear causes us to restrict.If living in fear causes things like arteries to contract, it’s possible that fearlessness opens everything up.Fear versus instinct; Sandy advises living fearlessly and trusting your instincts.Sally’s advice for professionals dealing with fear in the workplace: embrace failure!Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Sandy Gledhill on LinkedInSandy Gledhill on InstagramSandy Gledhill on FacebookThe Fearless RevolutionThe Fearless RevolutionKaren WorstellMOJO MakerFlameproof: How to Flameproof Your Career and Your Life and Handle Adversity Like a BossMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedIn

Making the internet a more secure place is a passion that runs deep for today’s guest. Tanya Janca, also known as She Hacks Purple, is the author of Alice and Bob Learn Application Security and the Founder and CEO of We Hack Purple, an online learning academy, community, and podcast that revolves around teaching everyone to create secure software. Tanya has been in the IT software development and security community for over 20 years and has won numerous awards. Tanya is a huge advocate for diversity, inclusion, and kindness. As you will see during today’s episode, that really does shine through in everything that she does and says, with magnificent results. We talk about what inspired her to establish her company, and how her company values impacted the accessibility of her community and platform. She shares personal experiences about being a woman leader in tech and how she stood her ground and stood up for herself against companies trying to bully her. We can’t wait for you to hear today’s show about all this and more, so tune in and enjoy!Key Points From This Episode:Tanya gives us an update on everything that she’s been working on since the last time she was on the show.What drives Tanya to do the work she is doing; establishing her company, We Hack Purple.What inspired Tanya to write her book Alice and Bob Learn Application Security.Tanya talks about the community she has established and the encouraging environment it has become.Tanya shares a personal experience where she stood up for herself as a woman in tech. Company values and how they impact the accessibility of Tanya’s platform and community.She explains more about the values and concepts behind her company and community. Tanya talks about her podcast – the We Hack Purple Podcast – and the heart behind it.We talk about the many awards that Tanya has received as a Woman in Security. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Tanya Janca on LinkedInTanya Janca on TwitterWe Hack PurpleWe Hack Purple PodcastAlice and Bob Learn Application SecurityKaren WorstellMOJO MakerFlameproof: How to Flameproof Your Career and Your Life and Handle Adversity Like a BossMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedIn

The theory of abundance suggests that, if you align your thoughts and feelings with positivity and opportunity, you can begin attracting personal and material abundance in your own life.  If you find yourself in a place where the role doesn’t feel right, the boss isn’t a good fit, or whatever it may look like, know that there is always another opportunity. You just need to get out and look for it. Our guest today is Aleta Jeffress. Aleta is the Vice President of Consulting Services for CGI. She has over 20 years as a successful CIO, executive business leader, and technologist, building relationships between business and technology to enable digital transformation and market growth. Aleta is truly such a special individual for us to listen to as she talks about building relationships, connecting with one another, and forging her path to her role as a senior leader. She shares her opinion on seizing abundance and the importance of continuing your search for options that are out there; finding the right fit. You’ll also learn why investing in yourself, on your own terms, for your own benefit, is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your career, how hiring a relational sales coach impacted her greatly, and so much more. So, tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Aleta describes the work she was doing before moving to Denver, Colorado.How she weighed up different cities and why she settled on Denver; with its emphasis on women in tech.Why she values one-on-one interaction and follow-up as part of her networking strategy.Aleta talks about her new role and her work in the Denver technology community.Her perspective of women in tech now and how that’s changed over the years.Hear about Bro Culture, Only and Lonely, and Aleta’s personal experience as a woman leader in tech.How Aleta established her aura of confidence; identifying key parts to figure it out for yourself. How going through the ‘sales journey’ helped establish Aleta’s presence and confidence.Aleta talks about the process of hiring a relational sales coach and how that impacted her. Why it is key to invest in yourself, on your own terms, for your own benefit. The seasons in life – there’s a season for everything just continue to look for options.Aleta shares two go the big challenges she overcame during her career.Some last words of advice from Aleta; security is an art. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Aleta Jeffress on TwitterAleta Jeffress on LinkedInCGIKaren WorstellMOJO MakerFlameproof: How to Flameproof Your Career and Your Life and Handle Adversity Like a BossMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedIn

To change things up a bit, this week we won’t be interviewing a guest on the show. Today, we are sharing some very special things with you, as well as some reflections as we move into the new season. After the year we have had, it is crazy to think that we are already approaching the end of the year - a traditional season of gifting. This year everything has been so incredibly different and it is hard to know, or to anticipate, what is coming. Even though the calendar says one thing, the way it feels, is very different. Today’s episode is a combination of personal perspectives and some practical suggestions. It is inspired by a story about my mom and her struggles with the winter seasons, where it was dim, the light was dim, it was often bone-chillingly cold, damp, and wet and you could go days, or months without seeing the sun. All things that account for the winter blues. Over the years, I developed a few tactics that help me get through them. Today we will be going over some of those strategies in the hopes that they might be helpful for the season that is ahead of us! Key Points From This Episode:Why I’m known as the Gadget Queen — ’tis the gift giving season.I go through my top 10 gift list: Why I picked them and where to get them.10: Fuzzy Socks!9: Anything Cashmere.8: Drinking Chocolate: Drinking a melted dark chocolate bar. 7: iPhone 11 Pro — The 250GB version. 6: Books: Kindle and Audible — Easy to cite, search, copy & paste it. 5: Apple Pro AirPods 4: Down Puffy — A Colorado essential, a packable insulation layer. 3: Stovetop Potpourri.2: Waterproof — Warm and Dry boots for your feet! There are so many options!1: Natural Beeswax Candles — They smell great and give off a dripless glow. Why reaching out, especially this year, will go a really long way. We talk more about Flameproof: A new program for our community.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Karen WorstellKaren Worstell on TwitterMOJO MakerFlameproof: How to Flameproof Your Career and Your Life and Handle Adversity Like a BossMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on FacebookMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on InstagramMOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech on LinkedInMountain Rose HerbsBig Dipper Beeswax 

Now more than ever, boards are looking for qualified women candidates, but it can still be lonely at the top, especially with so few women in positions of corporate leadership. How can you turn your uniqueness into your advantage, and lead with your intellect and experience? In today’s conversation with Board Director, Michele Ashby, we came to the conclusion that we should no longer use the term “only and lonely” to refer to underrepresented groups and women in male-dominated work environments. Michele is an independent corporate director, named one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business in Colorado for 2019. She is an expert on board governance and helping you find your path to the boardroom. In this episode, we discuss visibility and having the strength to hold your ground, and Michele shares the personal transformation she had to undergo in oder to become a champion for women in the boardroom. She also has some poignant advice for women looking to climb the corporate ladder, proposing that they prioritize themselves and never settle for less. Listeners also find out more about Michele’s programs and courses, and she shares her goal to train 1,000 women from diverse backgrounds. Learn from Michele about how she leads with curiosity, is always willing to learn, and how she mustered the initiative and confidence to grow her network, build something out of nothing, and turn her uniqueness into her advantage. Tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:How Michele became a board expert with a background in mining and finance.How Michele gained the support and visibility she needed to become a board member.Being invisible isn’t something Michele accepts – she demands the attention she deserves.Developing the necessary skills to hold her ground in a male-dominated environment.The role Michele’s family played in helping her develop the confidence she needed.Working with men versus working with women: Michele had to learn to trust women.Becoming a champion for women in the boardroom and the internal transformation that meant for Michele.Retooling or shifting her own thinking by talking to 200 women over 18 months.Bringing women to the board as qualified candidates and teaching them executive vernacular.Standing out as a young, motivated women in a male-dominated industry.Michele believes that curiosity, openness, and being willing to learn are crucial traits.Flip your thinking! Believe that you deserve to be paid for what you bring to the table.Michele advises women to prioritize themselves, to cut out what is sucking energy from them.No more only and lonely – if you’re standing on your own, you have the floor, so use it!What Michele teaches the women in her programs, particularly her board certification course.Overcoming the barriers the patriarchy has set up for women without creating new barriers.Translating the patriarchal model into words that women understand.How we can change the way we dance with adversity by appreciating what it’s teaching us.Michele talks about her goal to train 1,000 women from diverse backgrounds to sit on boards.The ongoing engagement Michele has with those who have completed one of her programs.

How do your eyes see a sunset? Do you even have the energy to climb up the mountain to see it? The question you should ask yourself is are you experiencing life in full color, or moving through it in black and white? These are things our guest is super passionate about. Today on the MOJO Maker Podcast, we welcome Dr. Heather Denniston, a popular health and wellness coach who speaks frequently to major tech audiences. Dr. Denniston is a seasoned chiropractor with additional certification as a wellness chiropractor. She is a NASM trained certified personal trainer, avid athlete, health enthusiast, and writer who has a passion for inspiring people of all ages to ignite the first step towards their personal best. Dr. Denniston knows a thing or two about balance and living life in full color. Stay tuned for this highly energetic and inspiring conversation about taking the small steps that give big results, and help keep you in the best shape to live your best life.Episode Highlights:Dr. Heather shares more about her background as a chiropractor.Her journey as she started working on her personal fitness lifestyle.The importance of setting a firm foundation for a long-term shift.Discovering your deeply moving wellness driver: Establishing your fitness “why.”Should versus good goals.A wellness pit-crew: Who is in your well-curated fitness support team. Every decision you make will lead you somewhere: Where do you want to go?A tiny shift made consistently will provide longevity.The key role rest plays in our day-to-day life: Letting your soul catch-up.Self-compassion can help you reach your goals.Dr. Heather shares the concept behind A Full-Color Life.We discuss her role to bridge personal wellness and professional success.How to gain access to the free gift Dr. Heather has available: Deeply moving wellness driver.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Flameproof: How to Flameproof your career and your life and handle adversity like a bossKaren WorstellMOJO MakerDr. Heather Denniston on LinkedInWell Fit and Fed on InstagramWell Fit and Fed on FacebookWell Fit and Fed on YouTubeWell Fit and Fed3-Day ResetThe Junk You Should Know Show Podcast

Resilience is a necessary condition for women to rise to senior positions in the tech world. Today we speak with OneLogin Chief Trust and Security Officer Vanessa Pegueros about what it would take to have more women in senior and boardroom positions. We open our conversation by exploring Vanessa's passion-fueled career path and why, by following her intuition, she transitioned into cyber-security, despite it not being her area of expertise.  After chatting about the power of networking, we talk about how falsely militant perceptions of cyber-security have frustrated women’s entry into the industry. Vanessa dives into why security is ideal for women before sharing how women in tech have to constantly justify their skills and knowledge. We touch on other limiting factors including race, how our culture links appearance to ability, and how a lack of confidence can hamper your progression. We then discuss how sport and other competitive activities can build resilience in young women. Vanessa shares the virtue of healthy locker-room talk in fostering resilience, and we chat about the importance of looking after yourself. Near the end of the episode, Vanessa gives young listeners her final advice; change the tech sector by creating companies and hiring women. Tune in to hear more of Vanessa’s hard-won insights on what we can do to create a more inclusive tech scene.Key Points From This Episode:Introducing CISO, board member, and tech investor, Vanessa Pegueros.Passion meets survival; hear about Vanessa’s early life and career trajectory.Why following what you love leads to career success.Listening to your intuition when making career decisions.The power of your network to help you to find new jobs. How perceptions of cyber-security led to the field becoming a male-dominated space.Vanessa shares her thoughts on why there is a lack of women in senior tech positions. Why having resilience is a requirement for becoming a senior woman in tech.How race and gender can be a lightning rod for negative attention.  Why appearance is a poor indicator of ability and character. How your feelings about yourself affect what you can bring to the table.Vanessa’s advice to young girls; play sport — you will learn how to win and lose.The unexpected value of having a locker-room mentality.Dealing with stress and the importance of taking care of yourself.Vanessa’s final advice to young women; “Go out and create companies.”Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Vanessa Pegueros on LinkedInExpediaOneLoginDocuSignUS BankKaren WorstellMOJO MakerFlameproof

Habit Building Secrets for Your Success with Edie DeVilbiss.Establishing new habits seems daunting because more often than not we are not successful in forging those long-term habits. However, it is really easy to start a new habit, we just tend to start in the wrong place! Our brains naturally do not like change; to it, change screams danger, and so beginning a new habit can quickly fail if we do not start from the right place. Our guest on today’s show is an expert when it comes to establishing and maintaining long-term habits. Edie DeVilbiss is passionate about sharing her discoveries. She worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for fourteen years, which left her cranky, fat, and cynical. She suffered from compassion fatigue, health problems, and spiritual malaise. Over the next 20 years, she intentionally renewed her life, and along the way, she earned a Master’s of Science, and an MDIV, and served as an addictions counselor and chaplain before retiring in 2020. Now, Edie enjoys a peaceful, thin, and joyful life she loves. It is her delight to help others in their journeys. Invite your best future — through working with her, you will gain simple and actionable tools to shape a life you love. She offers this quote; “Good habits are the key to success, bad habits are the unlocked door to failure,” from Og Mandino. Stay tuned for today’s episode, as we dive into the topic of how to establish lasting good habits with Edie DeVilbiss. Key Points From This Episode:Edie shares her background and pathway to helping people build good habits.Edie explains what compassion fatigue is and how it affected her life.How the principle of habit formation changed Edie’s life and outlook.How our culture indulges us in our bad habit formations.Edie takes us through an example of how to start building a good habit. Meditation: Being quiet helps us.Accountability partners and how they can influence your habit-forming.Edie shares what you will notice when you succeed in being quite daily.Why you should wait for a habit to be fully established before moving on.The role a guide played in Edie’s journey towards implementing healthy habits.Incentive versus anxiety: How humans have the capacity for delayed gratification.The next “right thing,” a very easy first step to changing your habits.How to get in touch with Edie.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Create Your Leading Edge ChallengeKaren WorstellMOJO MakerEdie DeVilbiss on LinkedInShape Good Habits 

"How to Authentically Handle Unwanted Attention" with Mitch Shepard.Episode 19: Show Notes.Today on the podcast we welcome my very good friend and coach, Mitch Shepard. Since the day her mother enrolled her in her first positive-thinking and manifestation course at the sweet age of 13, Mitch has always lived life on her own terms. From her childhood roots in middle-class Novato, California, to turning down a hard-earned job with Ernst & Young to pursue a career guiding wilderness expeditions, to leaving her position as CEO to take a 12-month sabbatical around the world, living life unconventionally has become one of her best talents.Mitch is a regular on the corporate speaker circuit as the CEO of Humin Inc., presenting topics related to Leadership, Cultural Intelligence, Tackling Pervasive Bias in Business, Building the Habits and Behaviors of Inclusion, Dreaming Big, and Avoiding Burnout. She has spent over 20 years coaching some of the world’s top leaders and her expertise lies in helping people push beyond their perceived limitations to achieve big goals. Aside from travel, a few of her passions include the outdoors, cooking, meeting new people (in the oddest of places), and speaking truth to power. Today we dive into the topic of what to do when you become the recipient of unwanted attention, so take a listen, take some notes, and enjoy!Key Points From This Episode:Mitch shares her career journey and the key insights she’s developed over the year.The moment Mitch she knew she had to be part of the solution for women in business.What led Mitch to become involved in women and culture development around gender. How Mitch is “Raising the floor and loosening the ceiling, simultaneously.”Strategies for getting your word in when you’re “one in a few.”The different varieties of unwanted attention and how to identify them.A few examples of when a compliment puts you under unwanted attention as a woman.Why giving guidance on how women can respond to unwanted attention.Mitch shares some examples of situations she experienced throughout her career.Why “building up the trust account,” before you make a “withdrawal” is important.How we gracefully find our paths to responding to situations.The role companies play in measuring the actual experience of the “one in few.” Who the responsibility should land on when these types of situations arise.An example of a newer generations’ response to these issues.Fight, flight, or freeze reactions: What’s right for you may not be right for another. We discuss the two part approach: In the moment and afterwards.Why getting safe first is important.How to send through comments or questions to Mitch. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Create Your Leading Edge ChallengeKaren WorstellMOJO MakerMitch ShepardMitch Shepard on LinkedInMitch Shepard on TwitterMitch Shepard on InstagramContact Mitch ShepardMitch Shepard on EmailHumin Inc.

Episode 18: Show Notes.Diversity and representation are incredibly important in technology, and while change is not going to occur overnight, tangible shifts are happening. Today's guest, Chenxi Wang, is recognized as an advocate for diversity and equality in the high-tech world, and she is at the forefront of the work to make tech more equitable. Along with her Ph.D. in Computer Science and her academic experience, Chenxi also has extensive practical knowledge, which has culminated in her role as Founder and Managing Partner of Rain Capital. In this episode, we gain insights into what led Chenxi to tech, and she shares the influence that her mother’s career as a math teacher and professor had on her. We also unpack the decline in the number of women developers and some of the factors that may be influencing this downward trend. As a WOC fund manager, Chenxi knows that she is in an incredibly unique position, and she does not take this lightly. She expands on how actively pursuing inclusion and working to overcome implicit bias has led Rain Capital to have a portfolio with over 40% woman-founded companies. Along with this, we also discuss what great leaders do to uplift their teams, advice for those hoping to make their mark in the world of tech, and why you should always ask questions. This was an incredible conversation with an inspiring woman tech leader. To hear more, tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Get to know Chenxi, her diverse professional background, and what she is up to now.The factors that influenced Chenxi to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science.Why Chenxi thinks the stereotypical portrayal of developers in media dissuades women to pursue this path.The disconnect between what is taught at college in computer science and what it takes to succeed practically.A twofold way to address inequity in tech — Organization reform and the individual woman.Some of the positive shifts that are happening in the industry, like in cybersecurity.Chenxi’s unique role as a woman of color fund manager and what’s she’s doing for other women.The percent of woman-founded companies Rain Capital is backing.Changes that Chenxi is seeing in diversity in the Silicon Valley landscape.What Chenxi has noticed about the woman-founded companies in her fund.A mentor that made Chenxi realize that her contribution was valuable.The gradual nature of change and the importance of reflecting on how far you have come.Chenxi’s advice for marginalized groups coming up in cybersecurity: Hone in on your strengths.You have to know yourself and what makes you tick.No matter how experienced you are, always ask questions from those with knowledge.Develop skills outside of the technical competencies to stand out.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Create Your Leading Edge ChallengeKaren WorstellMOJO MakerChenxi Wang on TwitterChenxi Wang on LinkedInRain CapitalEqual RespectBrotopia: Breaking Up the Boys' Club of Silicon ValleyEmily Chang on TwitterMelinda Gates