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!

Join me as I sit down with Dani Bergstrom, founder of Fresnoland, to discuss her journey from urban planner to nonprofit journalism leader. Our conversation explores breaking barriers in male-dominated spaces, balancing motherhood with career ambitions, and the power of local journalism in empowering communities.

Dani's story is deeply personal - her mother gave up a journalism career under pressure from a strict religious community, but her eventual return to school helped shape Dani's belief in journalism as a tool for justice. Now, as a pioneer in the nonprofit news space, Dani is honoring that legacy while setting an example for her own children.

You'll Learn:

⭐ The importance of self-trust and personal autonomy in leadership

⭐ The role of journalism in fostering civic engagement and community awareness

⭐ How leading with vulnerability is more nuanced than it might seem

⭐ The generational impact of building a legacy through career choices

Key Insights:

• Breaking Barriers: Navigating male-dominated spaces requires both resilience and strategic boundary-setting, while maintaining authenticity and integrity.
• Motherhood and Ambition: Holding the demands of launching a business while raising children requires honest conversations about priorities and redefining what "having it all" means.
• Trust Your Gut: Leadership evolution often begins with learning to trust yourself and your decisions, even when facing external pressure or doubt.
• Local Journalism Matters: Community-centered journalism serves as a vital tool for civic engagement, justice, and empowering underrepresented voices.
• Generational Legacy: Personal experiences and family history profoundly shape professional missions - honoring past sacrifices while inspiring future generations creates meaningful impact.

Timestamps:

[00:00:23] - Introduction: Dani's journey from policy director to nonprofit newsroom founder

[00:03:50] - Dani's background as an urban planner and transition to journalism

[00:07:57] - The founding story of Fresnoland and pivoting during the pandemic

[00:14:42] - Balancing motherhood and career while launching a business

[00:21:39] - Dani's leadership evolution and learning to trust herself

[00:28:27] - Navigating gender dynamics in male-dominated workplaces

[00:38:54] - How Dani's mother's unrealized journalism dreams influenced her path

Resources and Links:

• Find host Kirstin Belden on LinkedIn or at Beldenstrategies.com
• Fresnoland website
• Follow Fresnoland on Instagram: @fresnoland
• Fresnoland's weekly podcast Fresnolandia: Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
• Connect with Dani on LinkedIn:

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!

What if the best leadership decisions come from asking "what if it were me?"

Join me as I sit down with Laura Harmon, Chief People Officer, to discuss career growth, authentic leadership, and the importance of creating space for others. Laura shares her journey from IT to HR, how being a mother has shaped her leadership style, and why taking pauses can lead to greater intentionality.

You'll Learn:

⭐ The importance of financial literacy for women (and what "F-U money" really means)

⭐ The ripple effect of authentic leadership

⭐ How creating safe spaces has been a theme in both her personal and professional life

⭐ Why asking questions and embracing curiosity never gets old

⭐ How parenthood influences your leadership approach

Key Insights:

• Evolution of HR: Over 25 years, HR has transformed from administrative function to strategic partner, requiring continuous adaptation and learning.
• The Power of Pauses: Taking intentional breaks - whether in conversation or career - creates space for reflection and more thoughtful decision-making.
• Financial Freedom as Leadership Tool: Building financial literacy and having options gives you the power to make values-aligned decisions, especially when facing challenging workplace situations.
• Creativity in Professional Settings: Bringing creative approaches to traditionally structured environments can unlock innovation and engagement.
• Legacy Through Authenticity: True leadership legacy isn't built on perfection—it's built on creating space for others to grow, making mistakes, and learning from them.

Timestamps:

[00:00] - Introduction and background on Kristin and Laura's relationship

[03:00] - Laura's career journey from IT to HR leadership

[08:00] - How HR has evolved over 25 years

[13:00] - The power of asking questions and embracing curiosity

[18:30] - Using creativity in professional settings

[23:00] - How parenthood influences leadership approaches

[30:00] - The courage to make mistakes and learn from them

[36:00] - The importance of taking pauses and being intentional

[44:30] - Building a legacy through authenticity and creating space for others

Resources and Links:

Find host Kirstin Belden on LinkedIn or at Beldenstrategies.com

Youth Leadership Institute (YLI)

Books:

• "Designing Your Life" by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

• "We Should All Be Millionaires" by Rachel Rodgers

• "Financial Feminist" by Tori Dunlap

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!