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Domonique Townsend spent years being undervalued by the companies she worked for, and when she decided to take the leap to start her own business, she knew she was ready to reach a higher potential. Domonique is the founder of We Optimize Work, a company that creates strategies and systems to help working moms and mom CEOs. As an operations coach and workflow expert with more than 10 years of engineering experience, Domonique is able to help moms manage their work and raise a family without compromising their sanity or goals.  Along with her years of industrial engineering experience, Domonique has trained or coached more than 3,100 people, and she’s a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Domonique also serves on boards for Purpose Preparatory Academy, the WBENC Next Gen Initiative and WomenGetIT, and she’s a Senior Scholar Instructor for #BlackTechFutures. In This Episode: Domonique shares her inspiring story of feeling undervalued at her job, getting laid off and turning her experience into a business that’s helping working moms optimize their lives and work. She also explains how she’s found mentors to support her throughout her journey and offers practical advice to other working moms.  Episode Highlights: Supporting working moms through We Optimize Work (2:49)  Building a business as a working mom (7:46) Domonique’s story of turning a layoff into an opportunity for growth (11:24) The importance of clients who align with your own values (22:27) Finding mentors who remind you of your worth (25:45) Advice for working moms who are feeling overwhelmed (43:50) Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Since starting her business in college, Gabby Male has transformed her interest in fitness into a passion for helping women to ditch dieting and feel empowered in their bodies. She’s a content creator, certified personal trainer and entrepreneur who’s built a large social media following and multiple successful businesses. In addition to her social media, Gabby is the creator of SWITCHIITUP — a monthly exercise platform based on building confidence— co-founder of The Rose Retreats — a series of events that help women find self-love and empowerment — and founder of relic96 — an upcycled apparel shop. Gabby is a firm believer in the idea that health involves so much more than just fitness and nutrition, and she’s using her platform to help women find greater mental, emotional, social, financial and sexual health. She joined Her Story of Success for our first live podcast of 2021 to share her inspiring story.  In This Episode: Gabby explains how she inadvertently started her fitness business in college and then made the courageous decision to shift her focus toward a more holistic form of wellness when her values started to change. She also shares some of her best advice for overcoming imposter syndrome, building community within your industry, and setting boundaries around what parts of your life you share on social media. Episode Highlights: Gabby’s story of turning a college hobby into a business Working through imposter syndrome Learning to outsource Building community in your industry Getting vulnerable while also setting boundaries Creating a new business during quarantine Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

When Her Story of Success CEO Leah Glover Hayes was looking for mentorship to help her grow in her career and eventually start a company, she quickly realized that not all mentorship is created equally. And while experts tend to agree that mentorship makes a major difference in determining someone’s career success and fulfillment, few people are sharing specifics about how to find the right mentor and build a mutually beneficial relationship.  Leah believes that there are four types of mentorship: Passive mentorship, peer mentorship, traditional mentorship and mentoring others. No matter where you are in your career journey, you can benefit from implementing one or all of these in your life. In this new, four-part series, Leah will provide you with all the tools and resources you need to start seeking out mentorship for yourself.  In This Episode: Leah explains how passive mentorship can help you grow in your career, relationships and life. She also shares some of the resources that have been most beneficial as she’s built her business, and she explains how you can find the right passive mentors for your specific goals and passions.  Episode Highlights: Why mentorship matters How passive mentorship can kickstart your mentorship journey The importance of finding the right resources Leah’s favorite passive mentorship tools The Books Leah Mentioned:   Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin 100 Days of Believing Bigger by Marshawn Evans Daniels Overcoming Underearning by Barbara Stanny The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst It’s About Damn Time by Arlan Hamilton Chasing the Bright Side by Jess Ekstrom Thrive Through It by Brittany Cole The Podcasts Leah Mentioned: The Oprah Winfrey Show How I Built This with Guy Raz The School of Greatness The EntreLeadership Podcast Biz Chick Other Online Resources Leah Mentioned: Brene Brown’s TedTalk Brittany Cole’s TedxTalk Lily Hansen’s TedxTalk Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com.

Her Story of Success… Sherri Kottmann believes that developing a strong sense of self is one of the most important things you can do for your career. She’s the Chief People Officer at Forrester, a research and consulting company that helps organizations grow through customer obsession, where she’s worked for the past ten years. Sherri initially started her career in sales, but upon being promoted to a sales leadership role, she realized her true passion was people. Sherri also served as the Director of HR at EF Educational Tours.  In her work as Chief People Officer, Sherri’s role extends beyond traditional conceptions of HR to include leadership over the employee experience organization, talent strategy, leadership development, executive coaching, experience design and cultural transformation. She’s excelled at helping her employees all over the world feel safe and supported during the challenges of COVID-19, and she’ll share some strategies other leaders can use to care for their teams. In This Episode: Sherri explains how she’s learned to integrate her life’s purpose into the work she does as a chief people officer, and she offers advice to women who are looking to find their purpose or direction. She also offers an insight look at the strategies she’s developed while leading an international company through the COVID-19 pandemic. Episode Highlights: Sherri’s story of discovering her passion for human resources How to identify your purpose The importance of “solving with, not for.” Cultivating community during COVID-19 Letting go of a need for control The Books Sherri Mentioned:   How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi Daring Greatly by Brene Brown Good to Great by Jim Collins   Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Her Story of Success…  Stephanie Cartin has a gift for staying ahead of the curve and executing on great ideas. She’s the co-founder and co-CEO of Socialfly, a social-first digital and influencer agency that’s worked with major brands like Girl Scouts, Samsung and Univision. Through the process of growing Socialfly and wanting to inspire other women, Stephanie and her co-founder Courtney also launched Entreprenista Media, where they co-host the Entreprenista Podcast and co-authored Like Love Follow:  The Entreprenista’s Guide to Using Social Media to Grow Your Business. Stephanie has appeared in or been featured on media outlets including Bloomberg, Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, Refinery29 and CheddarTV. She’s been recognized for her work with the SmartCEO Brava Award and a Stevie Award for Women Run Workplace of the Year. Additionally, Stephanie is the co-founder of Markid, a marketplace app where parents can sell gently used kids items.  Along with all of her innovation and business success, Stephanie has also dedicated herself to raising awareness through sharing her own struggles with infertility and a complicated pregnancy. She’s an incredible example of a woman who’s achieved both success and personal fulfillment, all while continuing to innovate and change the way companies approach marketing. In This Episode: Stephanie shares her inspiring story of starting a company at a young age and offers advice for other women business owners based on the lessons she’s learned along the way. She also opens up about her health struggles and explains how going through a difficult pregnancy helped shape her into a better CEO. Episode Highlights: Stephanie’s story of starting Socialfly and growing it into a successful company How to work on multiple brands or businesses at the same time The benefits of mentorship, coaching, and peer networks Stephanie’s story of struggling with infertility and finding answers through sharing her story Marketing advice for women business owners  Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Celebrating Success in 2020 Even though 2020 was an incredibly difficult year, it also provided a unique opportunity for changes in perspective. As we come to the end of 2020, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the ways Her Story of Success has grown and changed amidst the challenges of the past year. We’re grateful for the opportunity to play a role in helping you define and pursue your own version of success, and we’re excited to continue living into that mission in 2021! In This Episode: Her Story of Success CEO Leah Glover Hayes sits down with her Executive Producer Claire Bidigare-Curtis and Production Coordinator Bronte Lebo to take a look back at some of the ways Her Story of Success has changed throughout 2020. They also explain how they’re defining success for themselves and the company as they look ahead to the new year, and they share some amazing insights that were submitted by some of our listeners.  Episode Highlights: A look back at how Her Story of Success has changed in 2020 Listener Submissions: “Which podcast episodes were especially meaningful to you this year?” Empowering your team to succeed  Listener Submissions: “What lessons did you learn from listening to the podcast this year?” A look back at some of our favorite guests of 2020 Listener Submissions: “How do you define success today?” Celebrating our successes and looking ahead to the future You can catch up on all the episodes mentioned in this podcast by listening to this playlist.  Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Kim’s Story of Success... Kim Jones wants to help women find the freedom and confidence to remake their careers on their own terms. She’s a career transformation coach and the founder and CEO of Kim Jones Alliance, which she built out of her own experience of changing careers after experiencing personal tragedy. Before starting her business, Kim held executive level positions for multiple Fortune 250 clients, which gave her the experience she needed to work as a consultant for corporate clients and a coach for high-performing women. Kim is also a speaker and facilitator about topics including women in IT, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and navigating career change. Samantha’s Story of Success… Samantha Lane believes that by building more productive habits and time management skills, women can achieve greater success while also experiencing balance in their personal lives. Samantha is the Founder of Origami Day, a company that offers speaking, training, and consulting services, along with a product line centered around the Origami Day planner. Samantha is also a time management coach and keynote speaker, and she built her business out of her experience of struggling with workaholism and needing to take time to recover from an intensive surgery.  In This Episode:  Kim shares her story of leaving behind a successful career in corporate America to chart her own path, which led her to her passion for helping other women navigate career transformations. She also explains how overcoming limiting beliefs can help you discover your new trajectory and build the confidence to pursue it. Then in the second part of the episode, Samantha shares some practical tips and resources you can use to chart out your goals and practice better time management. She’ll also explain how goal planning can help you take your goals from an abstract idea into actionable, day-to-day steps.  Episode Highlights: Kim’s story of deciding to embrace the desire to take her career in another direction Overcoming limiting beliefs Creating a plan before you take the leap Samantha’s advice for setting SMART goals based on your vision for the next year How to practice goal planning Building a system based on your unique motivations and personality The importance of setting SMART goals The Books Leah and Kim Mentioned:   Thrive Through It by Brittany Cole Believe Bigger by Marshawn Evans Daniels It’s About Damn Time by Arlan Hamilton Overcoming Underearning by Barbara Stanny Untamed by Glennon Doyle Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo The Success Principles and The Success Principles Workbook by Jack Canfield   Gabby Bernstein’s books The Resources Leah and Samantha Mentioned: The Origami Day planner Origami Day digital downloads    Gretchen Rubin’s “The Four Tendancies Quiz” Individual consulting with Samantha Lane Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Leisse Wilcox believes the key to greater contentment is found through healing your relationship with yourself. She’s a coach who works with high-achieving, purpose-driven women, and she’s changing the global conversation around self-love and emotional health. Leisse is also a TedX speaker, podcast host, certified NLP practitioner, and author of To Call Myself Beloved: A Story of Hope, Healing and Coming Home. She’s been featured on season 2 of Amazon Prime’s The Social Movement and interviewed for media outlets including ABC, The Toronto Star, NPR and Thrive Global.  Leisse’s deep understanding of the human experience comes not only from her education, but also from her ability to turn difficult experiences like divorce, narcissistic abuse and breast cancer into something beautiful. Because of her own experience of learning to love and accept herself, she’s uniquely equipped to help other women do the same.  In This Episode:  Leisse shares inspirational advice for how you can start healing your relationship with yourself and live in alignment with your deepest values. She also explains why working with a coach can help you find greater fulfillment as an entrepreneur, and she shares her story of growing her coaching business by investing in herself and her career.  Episode Highlights: What to do when you realize you’re still feeling discontent in spite of your success How to scale with intention while staying aligned with your values Understanding your limiting beliefs  Leisse’s process of writing To Call Myself Beloved Expanding your business as a solopreneur The power of investing in yourself  Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Kate Kimmerle is on a mission to make high-quality, effective skin care accessible to everyone, regardless of race, age, skin issue or income. As the founder of Miss Spa and president of Revolution Beauty USA, Kate has fostered incredible innovation in the beauty industry, from being the first to bring sheet masks into the U.S. market in 2012 to focusing on clean beauty long before it was popular to do so. Most recently, Miss Spa expanded to offer an entire line of serums and other skincare products at the start of 2020, and they’re continuing to develop new innovations for the future.  In addition to her success in the beauty industry, Kate is also passionate about helping other women grow their businesses without giving away all their equity. She’s built her company with an emphasis on mentorship and a dedication to empowering other women, including customers and employees alike.  In This Episode: Kate offers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the secrets to Miss Spa’s success, including Kate’s own entrepreneurial story, details of how Miss Spa products are made, and more. Kate also explains how building a strong team has empowered her to succeed as a leader and innovator, and she offers advice to other working moms who are struggling with feelings of guilt.  Episode Highlights:  Kate’s story of turning her lifelong passion for beauty into a successful business  Building a strong team Secrets behind the affordability and effectiveness of Miss Spa’s products Overcoming mom guilt and seeing the long-term benefits for your kids Investing in other women business owners Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Jennifer VanOrman recognizes that the holidays can be a difficult time for many women when it comes to mental health and family relationships. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, Jennifer helps people find ways to appreciate the beautiful parts of life even in the midst of hardship. In her own life, Jennifer has dealt with many challenges, including abuse, the death of a spouse, and divorce, and she’s worked hard to build a beautiful life for herself in the midst of all of those things.  In This Special Holiday Episode: Jennifer shares some practical strategies you can use to better care for your own mental health this holiday season, along with practices that will help you treat yourself with kindness in daily life. She and Leah also discuss the importance of therapy and offer advice for anyone looking to find a therapist.  Episode Highlights: Normalizing the struggles of the holiday season Advice for managing difficult family relationships Understanding the role trauma can play in our lives Why therapy matters The power of self-kindness Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Her Story of Success began out of CEO Leah Glover Hayes’ desire to grow in her own career and find mentors who could help her on her journey. Through the process of searching for direction and purpose, Leah realized that something powerful happens when you get to hear stories, lessons learned and celebrations from other women. She created Her Story of Success to multiply the amazing conversations she was having, so that women like her could access new mentorship and the women she interviewed could multiply their legacies.  Soon after launching the podcast in 2018, Leah began receiving overwhelming feedback about the positive impact these interviews were having on the lives of her listeners. She knew her dreams had even bigger potential and decided to expand the brand and multiply the reach of Her Story of Success. It was then that she asked Melissa Aldridge to join the company, bringing over a decade of business strategy, finance, and operations experience to Leah’s vision and tenacity. With this two-part Our Story of Success series, Leah will share the story of how Her Story of Success came to be, and she offers advice and inspiration to listeners who are building their own businesses or looking to find more fulfillment in their lives and work.  In This Episode: Leah explains how she built the team behind Her Story of Success and is continuing to grow the company to empower women around the world. She also offers advice to business owners about the importance of outsourcing, how to build loyalty with your team, and why clarity is one of the most important things you can provide. Episode Highlights:  Moving on from a vendor that isn’t the perfect fit  Building a team that believes in your vision (with Claire Bidigare-Curtis and Bronte Lebo) How to help your employees succeed and grow The difference between outsourcing for specific skill sets and outsourcing for clarity Overcoming self-doubt and learning to celebrate your own success Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com.

Toni Purry wants to be the hype woman who reminds people to celebrate their wins. She’s an entrepreneur, visibility strategist and speaker who helps women build their confidence and find new ways to show up in the world. She’s also the author of My Hype Book, a motivational journal that guides readers to self-discovery through recognition and reflection.  Toni has more than 20 years of public relations experience, and the agency she started, Purry Communications Group, represented major brands like Marriott, Disney, Habitat for Humanity, Alabama State University, and many more.  After 11 years of running that agency, Toni pivoted to helping individuals build confidence and elevate their personal brands. She has helped her clients land placements with  The Today Show, Food Network, USA Today, The LA Times, O Magazine and more. Toni has also been honored with awards including a PRSA Prism Award and multiple AVA Awards, and she earned a spot in the exclusive O Magazine and Chase Bank “Stay A Step Ahead” program.  In This Episode: Toni shares her inspiring story of building a successful PR career and offers insight into some of the lessons she’s learned along the way. She also explains how you can build confidence and elevate your brand in the process.  Episode Highlights: Toni’s story of discovering a love for public relations The importance of asking for new opportunities Building a business during an economic crisis  The power of having a hype man Leaving the business you started and overcoming guilt  How to build confidence  Toni’s story of breaking down barriers as a Black woman and pageant contestant in the South Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Our Story of Success Her Story of Success began out of CEO Leah Glover Hayes’ desire to grow in her own career and find mentors who could help her on her journey. Through the process of searching for direction and purpose, Leah realized that something powerful happens when you get to hear stories, lessons learned and celebrations from other women. She created Her Story of Success to multiply the amazing conversations she was having, so that women like her could access new mentorship and the women she interviewed could multiply their legacies.  Soon after launching the podcast in 2018, Leah began receiving overwhelming feedback about the positive impact these interviews were having on the lives of her listeners. She knew her dreams had even bigger potential and decided to expand the brand and multiply the reach of Her Story of Success. It was then that she asked Melissa Aldridge to join the company, bringing over a decade of business strategy, finance, and operations experience to Leah’s vision and tenacity. With this two-part Our Story of Success series, Leah will share the story of how Her Story of Success came to be, and she offers advice and inspiration to listeners who are building their own businesses or looking to find more fulfillment in their lives and work.  In This Episode: Leah describes the inspiration behind Her Story of Success and provides an in-depth look at the early days of turning the podcast into a business. Along the way, she shares some of the wisdom she has learned about finding the right business partner, hiring people when you don’t have a large budget and seeking out mentors to help you reach your goals. Episode Highlights:  The inspiration behind Her Story of Success Finding a business partner with (Ellen Hoffman) Giving people opportunities to grow in their careers (with Isaac Jones) Moving into new seasons of life (with Ellen Hoffman) Knowing when to take on a business partner or investor Building a partnership agreement (with Melissa Aldridge) Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com.

Her Story of Success… Becca Stevens believes that when women help each other heal, it can ripple out to change entire communities. She’s the founder and president of Thistle Farms, an organization that helps survivors of trafficking, addiction and prostitution. Thistle Farms began as a community of five women in 1997. Since then, it’s grown to include a residential program, three social enterprises that provide jobs and leadership opportunities for survivors, and a national network of like-minded organizations. Becca is also a speaker, priest, author, and founder of nine other justice enterprises around the world. Becca is a survivor of abuse herself, so she recognized the need for a space where other survivors could heal and find freedom and peace. She also started Thistle Farms to help change the wider culture, which still supports the secrets of abuse and the commodifying of women. By providing a safe place to live, meaningful jobs and a lifelong support system, Thistle Farms is proving every day that “Love Heals.” In This Episode:  Becca shares her story of finding hope and healing after experiencing abuse, and she explains how she’s spreading that healing to other women through her work at Thistle Farms. She also offers encouragement to listeners who want to help change the culture around abuse and violence but don’t know where to begin.  Episode Highlights: Why we should empower women to come off of the streets rather than criminalizing them for being there Being a host instead of a hero Partnering with your spouse to raise a family while building a business The importance of purchasing products that help other women How to get involved in helping women survivors Products Leah and Becca Mentioned: Thistle Farms candles The Cafe at Thistle Farms Thistle Farms Immunity Oil Fair trade tea and coffee Love Welcomes Mats made by women refugees Love Heals by Becca Stevens     Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more at piccolomarketing.com

Inspiring Conversations, Revisited Her Story of Success recently went through a rebranding process to help us better reflect where our company is today while also preparing for Season Next. But even as we look ahead to where we want to go, it’s important to also remember where we came from. With Her Story of Success in Review, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations, giving you another chance to be inspired by the amazing women who helped mentor and shape Her Story of Success into the company we are today.  In this episode, Maggie Tucker, Nicole Wegman and Jess Ekstrom share their inspiring stories of starting, growing and running successful companies in the fashion retail space. They also offer practical advice and encouragement for anyone who wants to start their own business.  Their Stories of Success Maggie Tucker is the owner and founder of the Nashville-based retail stores magpies baby and magpies girl. The magpies stores provide clothing, gifts and more for young girls and their families in a uniquely joyful and fun environment. Maggie has been featured in Southern Living, Cottage Living and Gift Shop Magazine, and she won HGTV’s award for top retail merchandising and design. Maggie is also passionate about serving the Nashville community, both by partnering with entrepreneurs and creatives and by giving back to organizations like Preston Taylor Ministries and the Dream Center. Listen to Maggie’s full episode here, and her episode about navigating COVID-19 as a small business owner here.  Nicole Wegman is the founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, a jewelry company that’s making luxury accessible to the masses. Ring Concierge is run by women, for women, and it is disrupting the traditionally male-dominated jewelry industry with its all-female team and thriving e-commerce business. Nicole was inspired by her own experience of shopping for an engagement ring and realizing the industry lacked the perspective of millennial women. Ring Concierge has amassed a large social media following, where Nicole blurs the line between retailer and influencer to provide engaging, accessible content for her customers. Listen to Nicole’s full episode here. Jess Ekstrom is the Founder and CEO of Headbands of Hope, a social enterprise that donates one headband to a child with cancer for every headband sold. Since its founding, Headbands of Hope has donated more than half a million headbands to children’s hospitals in 16 countries around the world. Jess is also a speaker, founder of Mic Drop Workshop, and author of Chasing the Bright Side. She’s been featured in major media outlets like Entrepreneur, Forbes, Good Morning America and The Today Show. Listen to Jess’ full episode here. Episode Transcript

Her Story of Success… Lori Allen has built an incredible career as an entrepreneur, TV personality, author and speaker, all because of her ability to say yes to new opportunities that align with her goals. She’s the owner of Bridals by Lori and star of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta and Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids. Lori started her store just two weeks after graduating from college, and in the last 40 years she’s built a reputation as one of the world’s leading experts on bridal couture. After growing Bridals By Lori into a thriving business, Lori and her shop went on to star in 11 seasons of Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta and four seasons of Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids. Lori’s shows have aired in more than 120 countries, and brides from all over the world travel to Atlanta to shop at her store.  Most recently, Lori became an author with her book Say Yes to What’s Next: How to Age with Elegance and Class while Never Losing Your Beauty and Sass. Her openness about her experience as a breast cancer survivor has made her a sought-after speaker, as well as a voice for outlets like CNN, ABC’s Good Morning America and The Wall Street Journal. Lori’s 2012 TLC special “Say Yes to the Cure: Lori’s Fight” won the Realscreen Award for Best Health & Well-Being Programming.  In This Episode: Lori shares her inspiring story of starting Bridals by Lori in her twenties and gradually growing it into the globally recognized business it is today. She also explains how Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta came to be, and she opens up about some of the struggles she’s faced, like battling breast cancer and raising kids while running a business.  Episode Highlights: Lori’s inspiration for writing Say Yes to What’s Next and her message of encouragement for women over 50 The importance of building a business gradually, especially when you start at a young age Lori’s battle with breast cancer and the power of finding a team who will rally around you when you need to step away from your business The challenges of growing a business while raising children and how to overcome mom guilt The story behind Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta Avoiding gray divorce and learning to prioritize your own health and happiness

Inspiring Conversations, Revisited Her Story of Success recently went through a rebranding process to help us better reflect where our company is today while also preparing for Season Next. But even as we look ahead to where we want to go, it’s important to also remember where we came from. With Her Story of Success in Review, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations, giving you another chance to be inspired by the amazing women who helped mentor and shape Her Story of Success into the company we are today.  In this episode, Joy Altimare, Morgan Canclini-Mitchell, Kristin Carver-Smith, Nekasha Pratt and Krista Ripma tell their stories of how they ended up in their current careers, and they offer practical advice about how to build a brand, communicate in times of crisis, and more. Their Stories of Success Joy Altimare is a successful brand strategist who has worked with companies like L’Oreal, Verizon, Colgate-PalmOlive and Conde Nast. She’s currently the Chief Engagement and Brand Officer at EHE Health. As the only woman and the only person of color on her company’s executive team, Joy knows how hard it can be to deal with discrimination in the workplace, but she hasn’t let that stop her from building a career on her own terms. Joy is a passionate advocate for mentorship, and she serves as Marketing Chair on the board for Women in Need, Inc. Listen to Joy’s full episode here. With Two|PR, Morgan Canclini-Mitchell and Kristin Carver-Smith are working hard to amplify messages that matter. Morgan is the firm’s Principal and Founder, and she hired Kristin to help grow the business as the marketing principal. The pair have built an impressive roster that includes best-selling authors, professional athletes and Grammy award-winning artists, and they’ve earned bookings with CNN, Fox & Friends, Forbes, PBS and more. They’ve grown the business without ever needing to advertise, relying on their networks and word of mouth. Listen to Morgan and Kristin’s full episode here. Nekasha Pratt is an award-winning marketer, speaker and thought leader who’s passionate about helping brands define their strategies to maximize impact. She works as the Director of Marketing for Tennessee Tourism and is the Chief Strategy and Brand Officer for her own firm, Bright Advisory Group. Nekasha has been honored with awards including 3 international Cannes Lions Awards, Nashville’s 2019 Women of Influence Award, a BizWomen Economic Develop Headliner, and more. She also serves her community on boards like Women Can Be Angels, and she’s an advisor for the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and a Business Mentor for Pathway Women’s Business Center.  Listen to Nekasha’s full episode here. Krista Ripma is the President and Co-Founder of Authentic Audience, a digital marketing agency that helps brands tell their honest stories. She started Authentic Audience with her husband and has grown it into a thriving company that offers brand strategy, content creation, email marketing, social media and more, all with the goal of helping brands “sell the truth.” Krista has been featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur, hosts The Authentic Audience Podcast and recently developed an online course in Marketing Fundamentals to further share everything she has learned. Listen to Krista’s full episode here.

Their Stories of Success…  Erika Matallana, Daniel Oppong and Alessandra Alegre joined Her Story of Success CEO Leah Glover Hayes for a live panel discussion about “Navigating the Career Journey and Building the Right Support System to Thrive.” This event was created in partnership with Conexion Next, a network for Nashville’s young professionals.  Erika Matallana is the Director of Communications at Amedisys, a publicly traded healthcare company that provides home health, hospice and personal care. Before joining Amedisys, Erika spent almost 10 years working at HCA Healthcare, and she led the communications strategies for HCA’s Cultural Development and Inclusion group. Erika’s story of moving to the U.S. from  Bogotá, Colombia and working her way up the corporate ladder is so inspiring. She’s been honored for her communications work in both English and Spanish with awards including the Lovell Ethics Advocacy Award and the Literacy David Mejia Velilla Award.  Daniel Oppong is an EX Strategy Specialist at Limeade and the founder of OhanaHealth. He first developed a passion for healthcare innovation while working at Jumpstart Foundry, a seed-stage healthcare innovation fund. With OhanaHealth, Daniel is helping health tech companies find the top talent around the country through an innovative college student and recent graduate placement program. OhanaHealth also just launched its first product, a new tech platform that connects students with job opportunities. Alessandra Alegre is the Senior Manager of Special Services and Royalty Compliance at Tri Star Sports and Entertainment, where she works to help artists and entertainers connect all of their royalties. Alessandra moved to Tennessee from Lima, Peru for college 8 years ago, and she’s been an active member of the Nashville community ever since. Alessandra currently serves as the Chair of Professional Development for Conexion Next, and she’s also served with organizations like Musicares and the YWCA Junior Board.  In This Episode: Erika, Daniel and Alessandra open up about the challenges that come with being a person of color or an immigrant in the workplace, and they explain how they’ve overcome those challenges to build successful careers. They also offer advice for young professionals looking to build a stronger network or find a mentor. Episode Highlights: Taking pride in yourself and your work The power of mentorship What it’s like to be a person of color in corporate America How to build your network The importance of self-care

Her Story of Success recently went through a rebranding process to help us better reflect where our company is today while also preparing for Season Next. But even as we look ahead to where we want to go, it’s important to also remember where we came from. With Her Story of Success in Review, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations, giving you another chance to be inspired by the amazing women who helped mentor and shape Her Story of Success into the company we are today.  In this episode, Vicki Saunders, Hayley Dickson, Maria Aspen and Arlan Hamilton share their stories of working in finance, an industry predominantly led by white men. They explain how they’ve used their success to empower other women, and they share some of their best advice about raising money as a female founder, overcoming imposter syndrome and more.  Their Stories of Success Vicki Saunders believes that empowering women to practice radical generosity is the key to changing the world. She’s the founder of SheEO, a global initiative that supports, finances, and celebrates women who are working on the world’s to-do list. This unique model brings together 500 women activators in each cohort who contribute $1100 each to loan out to 5 women-led ventures. The organization is working to build a $1 billion perpetual fund by 2026. Before starting She-EO, Vicki built and ran companies in Europe, Toronto and Silicon Valley. She’s been honored as a UBS Global Visionary, Toronto Regional Board of Trade’s Business Leader of the Year,  and a World Economic Forum Global Leader for Tomorrow.  Listen to Vicki’s full episode here. Hayley Dickson is on a mission to help women, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals achieve greater financial success She carries this out in her role as a Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual, and she quickly set herself apart as one of the company’s top advisors. In her first year, Hayley was No. 1 in the Western Region among advisors with fewer than five years at the company, and in 2019, she was named one of the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Most Influential Wealth Managers. Hayley also worked tirelessly with the corporate office to launch a family planning policy that allows more flexibility and better benefits for moms. That policy is now used nationwide at Northwestern’s more than 250 offices.  Listen to Hayley’s episode here. Maria Aspan has spent years as a reporter and editor covering finance and gender, so she’s seen firsthand the need for greater diversity in finance. Today, she’s a senior writer at Fortune, writing about finance, the intersection of policy and business, and gender. She’s also the author of Startup Money Made Easy: The Inc. Guide to Every Financial Question About Starting, Running, and Growing Your Business, and she writes the weekly Lady Business newsletter. Before joining Fortune, Maria was an editor at large at Inc. Magazine, where she oversaw the annual Female Founders 100 List. Maria has won multiple Best in Business awards from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and she was a finalist for a Jesse H. Neal award. Listen to Maria’s full episode here, and her “HSS Live from NYC” episode here.  Arlan Hamilton understands the importance of investing in underrepresented founders, because less than five years ago, she was one herself. Arlan is the founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital, which she started while experiencing homelessness. Since then, Backstage Capital has raised more than $10 million and invested in more than 130 startup companies led by people of color, women and/or LGBT individuals. Arlan also co-founded Backstage Studio, which runs accelerator programs for underestimated founders. Arlan is the author of It’s About Damn Time and host of the “Your First Million” podcast. She’s been honored on lists like Forbes’ “40 Under 40” and Business Insider’s “Most Powerful LGBTQ+ People in Tech,” and she was the first non-celebrity Black woman to be featured on the cover of Fast Company. Listen to Arlan’s full episode here.

Rana el Kaliouby, co-founder and CEO of Affectiva, believes technology has enormous potential to improve people’s lives, but she wants to make sure it doesn’t dehumanize us in the process. She’s a pioneer in the field of Emotion AI, and she’s working to create technology that can detect human emotion and cognitive states. Rana holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and a Post Doctorate from MIT. Through her research and her work at Affectiva, she developed a product that helps people with autism learn to read other people’s emotions and facial expressions, and she’s working to find new ways to help people with mental illness as well. Rana has also given a TedTalk, hosted a PBS Nova series on artificial intelligence, and authored the book Girl Decoded: A Scientist’s Quest to Reclaim Our Humanity by Bringing Emotional Intelligence to Technology.  Rana has become a highly respected figure in the tech world, due to both her groundbreaking research and her advocacy for greater diversity in the industry. She’s been listed on Fortune’s 40 Under 40 and Forbes’ Top 50 Women in Tech. She’s also been honored as World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.  In This Episode: Rana shares her story of growing up in the Middle East and making the uncommon decision to move to England and pursue a career in technology. Along with sharing some amazing stories of ways her technology is improving people’s lives, she opens up about some of the struggles she’s faced on her journey, including divorce, imposter syndrome and raising money as a female founder. Episode Highlights: Rana’s experience of growing up around technology in the Middle East and moving past cultural norms to pursue her career  The importance of overcoming imposter syndrome to realize you have something important to say What it’s like to raise money as a female founder How to cultivate diversity of background and perspective in a company Rana’s story of adapting her technology to help people with autism, and her larger vision for a world where technology can use empathy