The Rutledge Perspective Podcast

Have you ever sat in a meeting for hours and at the end of it you feel just as lost as you did at the beginning? This is because "leaders" spend so much time making presentations look good, but they actually say nothing and have no real value. More time is invested in the slides than in the message and therefore no critical information is communicated. This is also why nothing gets done. Nothing g...

Let's close out Women's History Month with a bang! In this special episode of The Rutledge Perspective, I am joined by none other than Chicago-born media professional and social entrepreneur, Anna DeShawn! Anna is the Founder & CEO of E3 Radio which is an online radio station playing Queer music & reporting on Queer news with an intersectional lens. She is also the Co-Founder & CEO of The Qube, a...

Have you ever felt like you wanted to make a big change in your life but were afraid of everything that could potentially come with making that move? Maybe, you're okay with the fear of the unknown but you can't come to grips with the scrutiny that you will face from others for making a pivot in your career. If that's you, then you should go ahead, and press play on this episode because my guest i...

This week on the Rutledge Perspective Podcast, I am joined by the amazing Dr. Shayla Toombs-Withers and we will be talking about a major key in unlocking true wellness, your diet! Dr. Toombs-Withers is a board-certified physician in family medicine & obesity medicine, and the founder of Essence of Health Wellness Clinic based in Chattanooga, TN. Her belief is that we should have our food be our me...

This week on the Rutledge Perspective Podcast, we will continue to celebrate Women's History Month by highlighting amazing women that are accomplishing outstanding feats. Meet Rachel Soweija! Rachel is the owner of Vida Design, an interior design company based in Portland, Oregon. Today, Rachel shares with us how she had to overcome both external and internal barriers to get her business off the g...

Let's kick off Women's History Month with a bang by talking about taking your health into your own hands. By now, we are all aware of the issues that the black community and women as a whole face as it pertains to the disparity in health care. Although I highly encourage you to see a doctor regularly, there are things that you can do to live a much healthier life. There are also things that you ca...

Have you ever heard the expression, "it's not what you know but who you know?" Well, I'm here to tell you that this statement is partly true. Networking and connections are important but it's meaningful connections with the right intentions that are truly powerful! Connection is hearing what someone needs and being able to fulfill that need. It's not a selfish pursuit to shake hands with everyone...

Are you a business owner or a leader of an organization that's looking to hire top talent? If so, you may have had the struggle of weighing experience against qualifications. I'm here to tell you that the two are not mutually exclusive or guaranteed to exist at the same time. Someone can be qualified but lack experience or they can have a ton of experience but lack the necessary qualifications. Wh...

Let's talk about the concept of people being assets or human capital. Have you ever heard that it's wrong to call a person an asset? Well, I'm here to challenge that thought! People are absolutely an asset. Actually, as a leader, they are the greatest asset that you can have. Context matters folks. The word asset isn't a problem, it's how we treat people and how we treat assets in our organization...

Let's discuss the value of imperfection. We often get caught up in a cycle of perfectionism when it comes to succeeding in life. We strive to not make any mistakes, to get everything right the first time, and to put our best foot forward. But what if I told you that imperfection can actually be an asset? The power of imperfection lies in the fact that it allows us to learn and adapt to new situati...

Are you an entrepreneur, coach, or consultant that struggles with pricing your products or services? Maybe, you're an employee that has had difficulty negotiating a raise. If you wear any of these hats, this is the show for you! This episode of the Rutledge Perspective is packed full of tangible information that will help you navigate through compensation negotiations with the utmost clarity. Ther...

Don't overthink this, you are valuable! You're not valuable because of your job, your title, or your income. You're valuable simply because you exist. If you do not clearly define your own value, external factors will begin to shape how you view yourself as a human being.   As we begin this new year and we look at what we hope to accomplish, it's important to first establish who we are and where w...

Episode Summary Happy YOU year 2023! This year, we are going to start with a statement of truth: You ARE Good Enough! On these grounds, you will have the foundation to go after whatever it is you want with humility, clarity and confidence. Knowing you are enough enables you to say "I don't know" and then find out. It enables you to ask for help. It gives you POWER! About the Host: Laurel Rutledge'...

Episode Summary How do you know when you need to stop and regroup? What are the signs or the "gut instinct" that get your attention to redirect your actions to your aligned purpose? It's all about being self-aware enough to stop yourself in your tracks to say, "wait! What's up?" and then listen to the answer that your gut tells you. It is never wrong. About the Host: Laurel Rutledge's human-center...

Episode Summary How do you feel when you walk into your home? Your office? Your backyard? Or onto your balcony or patio? Do you feel peace? Do you feel comfort and safety? Do you feel heaviness? How your environment makes you feel directly impact how you behave. But you have a choice. What can you do to create an environment that supports the best YOU you can be? Do that! About the Host: Laurel Ru...

Episode Summary There is so much power in shifting our perspective in order to get aligned with who we are and where we are. And that alignment enables us to know what we want and plan how to make it happen. But, if we are not willing to watch our language and the words we use, the power of our tongue can lead to misalignment. For ourselves and for those we lead and serve.   About the Host: Laurel...

Episode Summary Cowardice, Confrontation, Cowardice, Candor. The 4 Cs. But how do they play out for you as you navigate your business and career. Well, it depends. Being reluctant to face an issue head on is not always cowardice. And candor is not always the best strategic decision. But CLARITY requires that we master these four things and adapt our execution to the environment in which we operate...

Episode Summary Whew! This interview is JUICY! Nicole Walker drops some serious wisdom about doing it afraid, the power of ignorance (it's a thing), connections and relationships, and being willing to shift perspective to what you are really being called to do. Oh yeah, and the big AHA: you can connect your excellence with your genius and deliver something uniquely yours! You gotta catch this conv...

Episode Summary Sometimes circumstances move us into spaces we were meant to be in all along. But that doesn't mean we are immediately comfortable in those spaces. But as my guest, Melynda Benlemlih discusses, understanding the discomfort and finding a way to move through it authentically is the key. For her, that was standing on her natural curiosity and care for others. Listen in to her in credi...

Episode Summary We are talking money! But not just money, about money and IMPACT! My incredible guest, Shinika Crawley knows what it means to dig deep into where you are to get everything you need to move into where you want to be. The shining example of shifting perspective to shift circumstances. And now, she is helping others do the exact same thing when it comes to building wealth and legacy....

Episode Summary It is easy to get intimidated watching others make this BIG moves. But action is not all about the superhero moment. Being in action starts with small steps. Steps ordered by your clear vision and aligned purpose. What is important is not allowing the desire for the big splash to keep you from sticking your toes in the water!   About the Host: Laurel Rutledge's human-centered appro...

Episode Summary We have to shift our perspective away from thinking that having to learn (or re-learn or un-learn) something is a blight on our character as we get older. There is ALWAYS something to learn. We also must be willing to give ourselves space to see that learning as information and NOT as ammunition to beat ourselves or others up for a lack of knowledge or understanding. Afterall, know...

Episode Summary We can be our own worst enemy. And we must keep our "enemies" close. Why? Because then we know they are playing the game. Get really clear on recognizing when your mindset is running game on you and move accordingly. In whatever way works for YOU. Don't let your mind overshadow your purpose. About the Host: Laurel Rutledge's human-centered approach, empathy, and understanding of in...

Karan Rhodes is the real deal. As a former HR executive at Microsoft, she saw first had the challenges and triumphs of great leaders. In a quest to understand the "secret", she commissioned her own research study into the topic and from there was born the Leadership Tactics Diagnostic. With this custom tool and her vast experience, Karan has helped countless leaders Lead at the Top of Your Game –...

Episode Summary Who knew that time could be a component of a scarcity mindset. You are focused on abundance. You know there is plenty for everyone. You have dreams and goals. You DON'T have enough TIME to make it all happen! But is that really true? While time is not renewable, the use of our time is totally in our control. Therefore, is it as scarce as it seems or is it a matter of choice? About...