Is your inner voice curious, kind, and supportive when things don't go as planned - or does it sound more like criticism and doubt?

Join me as I sit down with Kara Whittington, founder of WE INC. Marketing, to explore how embracing your authentic self can transform not only your business but your entire approach to life.

Our conversation digs into the importance of finding work worth doing, practicing self-compassion, and trusting that things will work out - even if not as you originally envisioned.

Kara has built a thriving business with intention and integrity since day one, now operating as a collective of majority women consultants with clients spanning the arts, culture, and social good. One of her secrets? Cultivating and practicing healthy self-talk and being incredibly intentional about her mindset.

You'll Learn:

⭐ How to build a business with intention from day one

⭐ Why work worth doing isn't always measured in money

⭐ The transformative power of changing your self-talk

⭐ How to practice self-compassion as a leadership tool

⭐ The art of letting go and trusting the process

Key Insights:

• People-First Business Model: Creating a sustainable business means prioritizing people over profit margins and building structures that support authentic collaboration.
• Self-Talk Transformation: The way you speak to yourself during setbacks directly impacts your resilience, creativity, and ability to lead effectively.
• Work Worth Doing: Making space for meaningful work - including unpaid passion projects - enriches both your business and your life in unexpected ways.
• Self-Care as Foundation: Taking care of yourself isn't selfish—it's the foundation that makes everything else possible, including modeling healthy behavior for others.
• Intentional Growth: Building something meaningful requires constantly checking in with your values and being willing to let go of what no longer serves you.

Timestamps:

[00:01] - Introduction and reconnection

[02:41] - The power of expressing emotions and vulnerability

[04:28] - Kara's journey to founding her marketing collective

[08:53] - Creating a "people-first" business model

[11:45] - The importance of self-care as a foundation

[17:49] - Modeling healthy behavior for children and others

[20:24] - Making space for "work worth doing" beyond paid work

[23:38] - The transformative power of changing your self-talk

[28:44] - Catalysts for mindset shifts

[32:35] - The journey of getting to know yourself

[36:04] - Building a meaningful legacy

Resources and Links:

• Find host Kirstin Belden on LinkedIn or at Beldenstrategies.com
• Connect with Kara Whittington on LinkedIn
• WE INC. Marketing

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! And if you're interested in more stories and tools for women leaders, sign up for my newsletter at Beldenstrategies.com/newsletter. Let's continue to empower each other in our journeys!