Episode 4: Jill

Jill Mennicken Kort, Senior Director Business Development, Forrest Solutions

“One of my mentors was a consultant back in the 80’s that my company hired and her name is Dr. Gilda Carl, she has a PHD in Communications. I can’t even tell you, she truly changed my life. Especially being from a big family where communication was chaotic with 5 sisters and not a lot of parental guidance because my mom had passed away when I was in my 20’s. She taught me so many things, like when you have a conversation with someone and confront someone it’s ok to talk about your feelings but use ”I“ language. So don’t be accusatory and say ”YOU made me do this“. No one makes you do anything. You use ”I'“ language and say ”I felt really disappointed when you made that comment in the meeting that I did this, I felt embarrassed. I'm sure you didn't mean it, but I was embarrassed“. You'd be surprised how the other person reacts. There's such a different way to approach things. No different than asking for another day off or a promotion. If you really take time to think about it, you should prepare for all hard conversations the way you prepare a pitch for a client. Any excellent sales person is going to practice like heck on their presentation before they go in and pitch a deal. I do the same thing before anything- it doesn't matter what the ”pitch“ is.”

Episode 3: Aimee

Aimee Frank, VP of Commercial Sales, SaaS Company

On the Power of your network & the importance of mentors:

“I think this applies to your whole career and life outside of work as well- have really good mentors and have people you can lean on and go to for advice, because no matter how strong and independent you are and as much as you do on your own, being able to lean on other people who have been in that position before, they’re going to be able to give you insight that you’re not going to be able to find on your own. I think that’s really imperative. I had really great leaders that I worked with that kept me going and pointed me in the right direction. Stay positive, find people that you can bounce ideas off of and have an end goal in mind. Have budget if you’re living in New York- create a budget for yourself and stick to it because money goes really quickly here. ”

On the DNA she looks for in a candidate when hiring:

“For me, I care more about qualities you can’t teach. I can teach someone a product, I can teach them technology, all of that stuff is coachable. Things I can’t teach- I can’t make you self motivated. I can’t make you someone who is coachable that wants feedback. I can’t teach you curiosity- are you going to go meet with a customer and genuinely want to understand their business?. Other things are aptitude. I really try and focus more on those intangible qualities rather than scrutinizing a resume and previous experience. I find that if you can find someone with those intangible qualities you can coach them on the rest. ”

I was able to sit down with Aimee and discuss making it in NYC, the power of your network, stepping outside of your comfort zone, the DNA she looks for when hiring, being pregnant in the workplace & creating a “women’s club” in a “boys club” culture.

Tune into the podcast for the full interview.

On the mindset it takes to be successful:

I mean it was scary. If you talk to really good sales people- & I'm sure you feel this way too- I was in the mindset that I was going to bet on myself. I will bet on myself that I will outwork and out hussle anyone and I will find a way to have success. I played sports my whole life and I'm definitely driven like an athlete and have that competitive attitude and I just knew that I would out hussle anyone- and I did. I made twenty-five grand my first year and then started making over six figures in years two and three just on 100% commission. So that was my mindset. I can out hussle and outwork everyone else around me. And, you know, I was young at the time. I didn't have a family, or kids to take care of so I could afford to gamble and make sacrifices because it was only for myself.

On creating “creating a “women’s club” in a historically “boys club” culture:

I think men have been doing this for years and that is just helping each other and creating relationships and pulling each other up. We talk about there being“bro culture” and all it is - is men helping other men. I think it’s so important that women, instead of seeing each other as competition, we help pull each other up, we’re helping each other and supporting each other, because at the end of the day we are going to have challenges that men aren’t going to understand. When I started my career, unfortunately, I really didn’t get support from a lot of the women that I worked with. I think they saw me more as a threat than as someone they would help mentor. That was really difficult for me- I promised myself that for the rest of my career no matter what I did I would never be that women. I believe I’ve stuck to that. I think it’s important that we are doing the same thing men have been doing for years and creating these network and helping to empower other females.”

Episode 2: Courtney

Courtney Kumpf, Age 42, Key Account Director, Oprah Magazine (http://www.oprah.com/app/o-magazine.html)

I was able to sit down with Courtney Kumpf to discuss taking risks, the mindset it takes to be successful, being a working mom & being comfortable in your own skin.

Tune in to hear the full interview.

Courtney on Taking Risks:

“You have to come from a place of yes. A place of yes is so important, because the second you start shutting stuff down too many doors close and I feel like you never even know. I mean I even take meetings with people who I know don’t have any money to spend with me, but they could end up being the next big thing and/or hire me to work for them. I’m a big believer in coming from a place of yes and keeping all of your windows, doors, open and letting it in.”

Episode 1: Nicole

Nicole Baker, Age 33, Owner & Partner, Studio Office Solutions (http://www.s-o-s.com/)

I was able to sit down with Nicole Baker to discuss career, success, challenges, being a working mom, divorce & the #metoo movement.

Tune in to listen to the full episode.

On the Idea of ‘Perfection’:
“It's my personal struggle, it probably will always be. I've never hit a day of perfection. Driven women, especially who come to New York, they want to hit financial goals. I'm generalizing so maybe I should just speak for myself. I have had financial goals I've wanted to hit. I wanted to fall in love, get married, have two kids, a boy and a girl. I wanted to have a big career and do it all while not gaining any weight, having awesome clothes and having a great time with my friends, being with my family and loving everyone that I work with. All of those things have happened they just did not happen the way I thought. I have an almost 4 month old daughter and I have a 3 year old son and I'm getting divorced. I'm shifting everything during my day to figure out how to be at a 4 o'clock Valentines day party at my son's school. I'm still nursing and my pumping schedule is always off because of work stuff. My Nanny is the most important person in my life, I can't do life without her. I've had to embrace people helping me, which I was way too good for that before. Even if I had a Nanny I had to do everything on my own.

When I was pregnant this last time I was so, so, sick, I didn't feel good. I had to raise my hand and say, “I can't be at a meeting I need someone to cover it”. These are things that attacked me at my core. Having to say I'm failing, I'm not doing a great job at something, I don't feel good, I'm having a day, I need help- but they are required sometimes. They forced me to look at myself and say “Ok you're not perfect and your not on this trajectory of perfection but what can you do everyday to feel good and still embrace this time.”

On Owning a Business:
“There's really hard days owning a business, starting one, having kids. A lot of stuff has happened and there are some days where I feel like I regret it because I'm not comfortable and then there are some days you are so happy, fulfilled and proud and not bored- never, ever, ever- and I know that's what I need to be doing because there is progress in growth and that to me is more important than comfort. “

On Being a Working Mom:
“Nothing is worse than feeling like you're working like an animal to be a great mom and to be delivering in business and feel like you're failing in both- that's a terrible feeling. Burning on both ends and feeling like you're disappointing on the home front and at work, those are the lowest days I've ever felt and a lot of people, not just women, a lot of people can understand and appreciate that. So being real about what you need and having your company, team, boss, being real about what they need and just having real conversation- that's a luxury I think we can have.”