Be Business Savvy - Create a Career that Soars!

In Part 3 of our conversation with Helen Jonsen, founder of Helen Jonsen Media, we dive into practical media coaching tips that every professional woman can use. Helen shares insights from vocal technique to signature remarks, revealing why memorization isn't the key to powerful speaking - authenticity and preparation are. Key Tips Covered: The science behind deep breathing and vocal control Creat...

Show Notes In Part 2 of our conversation, Michelle Redfern reveals what makes her leadership programs transformative for ambitious women. Unlike traditional programs that focus primarily on soft skills, Michelle's approach combines essential business acumen training with real-world strategic projects sponsored by executives. Participants work in teams to solve actual organizational challenges, gai...

Show Notes Understanding business context is crucial for effective communication with senior leaders Tailoring your communication style for executive audiences is essential Preparation and practice are key to improving executive communication skills Body language and voice tone play significant roles in conveying confidence Asking insightful questions can demonstrate engagement and business acumen...

Key Takeaways from Part 1 with Michelle Redfern Being an ambitious woman is often seen as a risk. Lead to Soar helps members practice expressing their ambition comfortably Ambition should be reframed as a positive force - not just for personal gain, but for improving the world around you Developing business savvy and aligning one's ambition with the organization's goals is crucial for women's care...

Key Takeaways Confidence for women in the workplace is about more than just feeling self-assured; it's about showcasing your business value Developing strategic and financial acumen helps women feel more confident in their ability to contribute to the organization The focus should shift from what women want to get from their work to what they are doing to help the company and themselves get ahead...

Show Notes In Part 2, Racquel Moses focuses on highlighting your unique impact in each role, not just performing as per your job description. Approach each new role with a mindset of measurable improvement from day one Aim to advance from entry to mid-level positions within two years Track your time meticulously to understand how you're contributing to business goals Think like a CEO of your own c...

Show Notes Racquel Moses is the CEO of the Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator and host of the "Getting to the Top" podcast. Early career experiences in banking mergers, JP Morgan Chase, and tech startups provided crucial exposure to business strategy and financials. Understanding both the "what" and "why" of business operations is critical for career advancement. Advice for women: Balance focusin...

Key Takeaways from Interview with Helen Jonsen: A kaleidoscope career utilizes fundamental skills and talents in various roles and industries throughout one's professional life. - Business disruptions (e.g., pandemic, AI) are changing how people work and view their careers. Non-linear career paths are becoming more common and accepted. Key to navigating a kaleidoscope career: Identify and articula...

We are highlighting 3 common career frustrations that women face: Overcoming career stagnation, Standing out in job searches and Reducing work-related overwhelm And providing actionable tips for conquering them including prioritizing tasks based on business impact and aligning work with strategic outcomes. Go Deeper Links ⭐ Business Savvy YOU! delivers the business, financial and strategic acumen...

In Part 1 of a series of podcasts based on my conversation with Helen Jonsen we discuss the crucial differences between "Girl Talk" and "Woman Talk" in professional settings. She shares three key strategies for women to command respect and authority: eliminating unnecessary apologies, owning the room through strong introductions, and always using your full name. These simple yet powerful communica...

5 reasons ( out of dozens) why I support VP Kamala Harris for President and hope you will too ! Check out the Go Deeper Links for a comprehensive list of VP Harris' positions and experience.   Go Deeper Links ⭐ Comprehensive list of VP Harris' positions and experience. ⭐ Business Savvy YOU! delivers the business, financial and strategic acumen you need to succeed: https://www.bebusinesssavv...

Your emotions aren't the problem, it's how you're packaging them. Discover how to couple your passion with business savvy to shatter stereotypes and command respect in the workplace.   Go Deeper Links ⭐ Business Savvy YOU! delivers the business, financial and strategic acumen you need to succeed: https://www.bebusinesssavvy.com/overview-business-savvy-you ⭐ Discover The Most Important Thing...

This is undoubtedly a blog of a different color! I had the pleasure of watching many of the Euro Cup games over the last few weeks, and while I'm from the U. S., and more or less agnostic about who wins, I do have to say that this year my preferred team time did win.   Spain had an amazing run and is an amazing team. I got to watch almost all of their games. PSST: I have to admit to having a...

TLDR : Use your smart search capabilities to discover where a woman can go in the company you're interviewing for. Also ask questions to discover what the hiring manger thinks about where women can go. A Lesson for the Ages As a college graduate, I had the opportunity to interview for two positions, both with insurance companies in the Hartford area. Now, this was the dark ages, so bear with me. T...

Your strengths don't matter! Do I have your attention yet? It's not 100 percent true, of course, and I will get to that in a minute. But first, let me explain what I mean. When it comes to career growth, decisions are made on the basis of your proven and perceived leadership skills. (Of course, bias in the minds of the hiring or promoting managers come into play, but since we can't do anything abo...

If organizations, coaches, and consultants spent half as much time getting managers to do their jobs rather than putting energy and effort into "fixing" women, we would be much further ahead on creating a level playing field, on women's advancement and on closing the wage gap. For far too long, responsibility has been placed on women to break the glass ceiling.   This is ludicrous. Yes, women...

This morning I'm musing about the question that I often I've gotten asked, mostly from men in my audiences, "Well, if organizations don't do such a good job teaching about The Missing 33%, how is it the men get ahead?" Two Reasons Men Advance In Spite of HR I'm here to explain a couple of reasons that men are able to get ahead more easily than women. The first I've touched on in prior  podcas...

I recently gave a webinar and before the webinar I had my colleagues inside the company poll their internal women's group to see which of nine topics they'd prefer me to touch on. One of them was "speaking up with comfort and credibility and authority." Reflecting on my own and the career journeys of other women I've realized that we don't actually go from not speaking up to confidently speaking u...

TLDR : Having financial acumen and speaking the language of business will ensure that you aren't locked out of career opportunities. You might have noticed in a past podcast that I recorded several  in the town of El Rompido in Spain, where I had  quite an adventure. I was in an Airbnb and when I checked in, the caretaker said, "If the winds pick up, please close the awnings."  Abou...

TLDR : This is already a very short summary of key info about strategic acumen. Please Read ON! Strategic acumen is perhaps my favorite of the three elements of Business Savvy, because I had to unlearn everything that I thought I knew about strategic acumen, and perhaps you will too.  Strategy Isn't...and Is I grew up in organizations being told that strategy was comprised of mission, vision,...

About Business Savvy YOU!  Good morning from beautiful South County, Rhode Island, where I am enjoying  the second day of sunshine for my morning walk.  It has been kind of a brutal spring.  As a regular listener to the Be Business Savvy podcast, You've heard me talk about  the many ways that being more business savvy enables you to have a more successful career and a less stre...

I recently delivered a webinar on how to Make the Most of Mentoring. During the Q& A one of the attendees asked: "How do I know if I'm ready for a promotion?" if I were to go simply by my Myers-Briggs preferences, I would say, "You will know because you feel ready for a promotion." And while part of that's true, it's not the whole truth. Five Indicators So, let me explain 5 indicators that you...

These are five reasons,  and there are many more, that even if you don't self identify as ambitious,  developing and demonstrating business savvy will serve you well. Hi, this is Susan Colantuono  coming from beautiful South County, Rhode Island. Not long ago, a woman said this to me, "Susan, I don't think of myself as ambitious. Why should I care about developing Business Savvy? "...

  TLDR : Use preparatory language to increase your chances of being heard and gaining the respect you deserve. Preparatory language is a comment made before the important comment. It is designed to draw attention to you so that you have gained attention before making your important point. "I am unheard in meetings. The men especially talk over me, interrupt or restate - minutes later - the ve...

TLDR : Scroll down to the Recap to read the summarized career advice from a woman who was a pioneer in engineering and IT. Susan : Good morning from beautiful Epona Dressage Center outside of Carmona, Spain, where I have spent the week with some amazing women. This morning I'm speaking with Wendy McLeod. I was struck by Wendy's career history because she was in the forefront and cutting edge of wo...