Make History by Being True to You

Earlier this year, football fans around the globe watched the first female and first openly gay person coach an NFL team in the Superbowl. But as Katie Sowars would tell it, she was just doing what she loves to do – and staying true to who she is as a person. When women do that, they make history – that’s ONPoint.

Let’s take a look at three more ONPoint women who made history by doing what they loved and being true to themselves and, in the process, inspire us to do the same.

Caroline Quien, Elena Holbrook, and Ella Harris made history this year at the University of Southern California’s Film School – where they submitted the first-ever undergraduate Film by an all-female cast and crew as their senior project. That wasn’t what they set out to do, at first. But, only one man interviewed to be on the team. Unfortunately, his vision for the production was not in line with the rest of the team. And the ladies had to stay true to their idea. In the end, everyone involved in the production – from the actors, directors, to the set crew was female. That’s a first for USC Film School undergraduates.

Attorney Brittany Barnett heads Girls Embracing Mothers. The non-profit organization works to maintain and strengthen the mother-daughter bond between mothers who are incarcerated and their daughters. Barnett’s mother was incarcerated when she was a child and that experience drove her to study law and work to overhaul the criminal justice system. Instead of chasing money by pursuing a corporate law career, she stayed true to herself and cut her teeth doing pro bono criminal cases for a large firm until she took a position with the non-profit. Barnett’s work with Girls Embracing Mothers made history by expanding visitation for incarcerated mothers so that they can be better parents to their daughters.

Louisa May Alcott loved to write. So she wrote. And made history in the process. Alcott gave us the beloved and timeless Little Women. And she didn’t compromise on her vision for female characters. By staying true to herself, the characters, particularly Jo March, endure as relatable – even today. The story is so timeless that it’s been adapted for film as recently as 2019. New generations continue to love Jo, Amy, Meg, and Beth March's adventures as much as Alcott did when she wrote them.

When you stay true to yourself, you can make history. Simply by being the best at what you do. Keep inspiring – and surround yourself with women who inspire you.

Women ONPoint’s making history by cultivating a community of leadership that embraces diversity and inclusion without compromising growth or excellence. Let’s make history together.

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Five Ways Leaders and Teams Can Celebrate the Month of Love

Next Level leaders have great ideas. We hire great talent to help us implement those ideas. And we compensate our teams well. But if the talent doesn’t stay excited about the idea or the team, we’ve lost both.

 

Keeping a team happy and passionate about our idea is no easy task. But it doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it sounds. Just share the love.

 

To help leaders do just that, we’re sharing some ideas we’re passionate about here at Women ON Point.

 

Have regular conversations.

Too often leaders and management react at the first sign of a team going downhill. ON Point leaders do things differently. Regular team assessments give help leaders understand how to support the team, where the team strengths lie, and what can improve.

 

Teams who participate in regular check-ins get used to the process. As time goes on, members open up and be more willing to share.

 

Keep the team-building ongoing.

Before bonding as a team individuals have to like one another. And the individuals on your team may have liked one another at one time. You liked them, that’s why you hired them. But as with any relationship, team members must work on their relationships with one another outside of day-to-day tasks.

 

Next Level leaders know that regular team-building exercises help team members work on their relationships with one another. Tackling a challenge that’s different from the norm forces individuals to let go of their past, challenge current assumptions about one another, and building stronger interpersonal relationships.

 

Be a leader that celebrates.

Nothing makes folks feel better than a pat on the back. ON Point leadership recognizes individual and team successes. It doesn’t cost a thing – and the benefits are priceless. Recognition fuels workplace happiness, motivation and gives employees a sense of value and belonging.

 

Give ownership.

ON Point leadership knows that every team member from the entry-level to the most senior member feels like they played a role in every success. And when things don’t go well, they take the time to analyze how each contribution played a role without pointing fingers. Every win is a team win and every loss is a team loss. Next Level leaders foster this team spirit by ensuring that the workload is shared equally to give all team members a sense of ownership.

 

Don’t just lead the team, be part of the team.

Make it clear to your team that as a leader, you are an equal part of the team. And be happy to do so. When the team sees that you are working on the project as hard as they are, rather than ruling from an ivory tower, they’ll keep putting in the extra effort. Your passion is infectious – that’s how you were able to find and convince top talent to be part of your team.

 

Here at Women ON Point, we’re here to help ON Point Next Level leaders build and maintain ON Point Next Level teams. Taking a little extra time with your team ensures that your team continues to feel the love – long after the month of love is over.

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4 Resolutions to improve your mental and emotional wellbeing

Happy new year! At WomenOnPoint, we are always striving to help you improve and build on your successes. If you were with us throughout 2019, you had a front-row seat to all of our new programs and initiatives, and we are immeasurably grateful to have been a part of your growth. As we begin a brand-new decade, we want to help you improve your overall wellbeing in the workplace, and beyond. 2020 is a great year to take care of your mental and emotional wellbeing, and to enjoy all the benefits of a healthier and more successful you.

Develop a practice of gratitude

Taking a moment at the beginning or end of each day to list even just a few things to feel grateful for can lead to a clearer mind and the ability to be more present in the moment. The more specific you can be, the more meaningful the practice will become to you. For example, it’s perfectly fine to list having a job in this uncertain economy as something to be grateful for. However, you will benefit more if you can list something unique to you, e.g., “I am grateful to lead a team of such talented professionals,” or “I am grateful for the challenge and rewards of my work.”

Learn something new

The value of a hobby might not be readily apparent to developing our leadership skills, but studies show that people who spend time on recreational activities tend to be more alert and better equipped to deal with stress. Not to mention the boost of confidence that comes with acquiring and improving on a new skill. As a busy professional, it might seem daunting to try and make time for a new pursuit, but a hobby doesn’t have to claim much time or even effort. There are tons of apps out there to exercise your brain, teach yourself a new language, or learn about everything from medieval history to architecture.

Nurture connections (and make new ones)

Your colleagues are uniquely qualified to understand the challenges you face in your job. Use that to your advantage and build a supportive community of your fellow professionals. Note that we used the word “supportive” – choose to be around people who are positive and focused on growth. Negative people in all areas of life will do little more than suck the life out of you, leaving you vulnerable to stress and depression.

Take care of your body

Taking care of yourself physically will do wonders for your emotional and mental wellbeing.  You don’t have to make drastic changes or even care about a number on a scale to see and feel the positive difference in your daily life. For example, taking a short walk during the workday can stimulate your feel-good hormones and send you back into the office feeling re-energized and refreshed. Walks or other physical activity can even boost your creativity and help you come up with ideas to help your team succeed.

A new decade is a great time to set goals for our development as leaders. Emphasizing your mental and emotional wellness, emotional self-awareness, and wellbeing is one of the smartest investments you can make in your continued professional growth. We hope you’ll join us this year and take advantage of WomenOnPoint as an invaluable resource.

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10 Ways to Say Thank You in Honor of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a special day to express thanks, gratitude and appreciation…but what about the other 364 days of the year?

As ON Point leaders, it’s critical to recognize and reward your team on a regular basis. Yet, so many leaders struggle with this simple skill, because they often don’t understand why someone should be rewarded for just doing their job.

If this is your mindset, maybe these staggering statistics about the power of positivity can change your mind…

Showing gratitude and appreciate decreases turnover by 22%, reduces frustration by 29%, lowers stress and depression by 28%, 81% of employees say that appreciation motivates them the most and 70% would work harder with more appreciation.

Here are 10 Ways to Say Thank You in Honor of Thanksgiving.

  1. Simply Say Thank You – never underestimate the power of those two little words, and never miss an opportunity to say thank you, especially when it’s said in a hand-written note.
  2. Optimize Occasions – birthdays, work anniversaries, kids’ graduations or a new certification are all reasons to take a beat and not just gloss over and get back to work.
  3. Celebrate Wins – start your daily huddle or team meeting with wins, both personally and professionally, to set a positive tone and encourage high-fives and congratulations.
  4. Cheers from Peers – encourage brag buddies to share successes, good news, extra efforts and gratitude between peers.
  5. Gift of Giving – find out their favorite coffee shop, retail store or spa service and show your appreciation with a personalized and thoughtful gift card.
  6. Time Out – time is our most valuable commodity and a great way to show gratitude with extra PTO, a customized flex-time schedule or a spontaneous invitation to leave work early.
  7. Invest in Development – reward your top performers with an opportunity to get even better by sending them to a leadership development summit like Women ON Point.
  8. Build & Bond – arrange a special offsite team building and bonding event to have fun, play hooky from work and show your team how much they mean to you.
  9. Ask Don’t Assume – appreciate and gratitude is not a one-size fits all so if you don’t know, then simply ask so you can honor them in a way that’s meaningful to them.
  10. Awards & Trophies – public displays of awards, certificates, ribbons, trophies and funny trinkets can lift your teams’ spirits, keep them motivated and recognize their accomplishments and hard word.

Thanksgiving is a special day to reflect on all the wonderful things you are grateful for…friends, family, good food, good health, a fulfilling career, a home, lots of love and more. To take your leadership skills to the Next Level, and to become an ON Point leader, it’s about turning that special day into an everyday practice.

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Trying to Eat an Elephant? Focus Your Attention & Find Success

We know you. You’re driven, motivated and wired to succeed. You move at lightning speed and are on the fast track to bigger and better things. And we couldn’t be more excited or more proud of our Women ON Point alumni and all their success.

We also know there is a big difference between doing things right and doing the right things. Are you focused on the “right things” that will catapult your career?

Pam, Sara and I have had the incredible privilege of working with a team of 30 dynamic, executive women and guiding them through our 12-month leadership academy. These women are leaders and at the top of their game. Superstars when we met them on day one.

But like everyone else, there was still room to grow…and did they ever!

Knowing that soft skills account for 85% of overall success, we administered the Emotional Intelligence assessment at the beginning and then again at the end of the leadership academy. Not surprising this group of Rockstar, over-achievers increased their overall scores by almost 300 points collectively. But how?

The age-old adage…How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

As you can imagine, these go-getters wanted to dive in and tackle all 15 EQ sub-scales at one time. But that is not how you eat an EQ elephant…and that is not how you move the needle and make improvements. Rome was not built in a day, and neither were you.

3 Ways to Focus Your Attention and Find Success

Less is More

When it comes to personal and professional growth and development, it’s impossible to improve everything at once. Don’t try to eat the entire elephant in one sitting. Focus on two or three areas that need your attention, narrow down a few specific behaviors that could use a little TLC and identify a couple of actions that could be better.

Create Accountability

One of the greatest benefits of having an executive coach is accountability. A coach helps you hyper-focus on the top priorities and holds you accountable for implementing change. However, you can also create accountability with a friend, colleague, mentor or team. Accountability helps turn your focus into results.

Celebrate Success

By breaking down your elephant into manageable, bite-sized pieces, it allows you to closely track the progress and celebrate the success. Whether it’s crossing the finish line or crossing something meaningful off your to-do list, it’s critical to acknowledge and recognize your successes. Remember, small wins quickly add up to significant successes.

We know that what you focus on grows. If you’re interested in growing your success, then it’s time to focus on doing the “right things” in the right way. And, we are here to help and to happily announce our Women ON Point: Next Level Leadership signature summits for 2020!

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Don’t Let Delegation be Your Downfall

We have good news and bad news. The good news is that our Women ON Point alumni are going gangbusters with more than a 70% success rate when it comes to promotions, raises, new career opportunities, board seats, and awards and recognitions.

Congratulations to everyone!

The bad is news is that delegation is still an anchor and an obstacle that prevents many from fully embracing that next level of leadership.

Let’s be honest. We are uber-competent when it comes to getting things done, and often believe we can do it faster and better than anyone else one. We also don’t ever want to overload or inconvenience anyone with additional tasks. However, knowing that effective leadership is defined by getting things done through others, mastering the art of delegation is critical to leadership success.

Here are 5 Steps to Delegating with Confidence:

1. Think of Delegation as a Gift

The first step is shifting your mindset. Instead of thinking of delegation as burdening or bothering someone else, think of it as a gift. You are gifting someone with an opportunity to shine, an opportunity to grow, and an opportunity to feel like a valued member of the team.

2. Start Small

Delegation is all about setting someone else up for success. Start with small, more manageable sized tasks and build from there. This allows you to also build trust and confidence in their skills and ability to deliver.

3. Set Clear Expectations

Clearly communicating expectations when delegating responsibilities is the difference between success and failure. Let the person know exactly why you’re asking and/or directing that project to them, what you want them to do, and when you want it done.

4. Check-In

Few people perform at their best with a “dump and dash” type of approach. When initially delegating, the onus is on you to check in routinely for a status update, to address any questions, and to make sure the assignment is on track for a successful outcome.

5. Celebrate

We talk a lot about “wins” at Women ON Point and delegating successfully is certainly something to celebrate. Instead of hastily moving onto the next item on the to-do list, take a moment and recognize that person for stretching their skill set, for expanding their bandwidth, or for going the extra mile. Rewarding a new job well done not only boosts that person’s confidence level, but it also strengthens your confidence in your ability to delegate…and a win-win situations is always worth celebrating!

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3 Ways to Strengthen Your Resilience Muscle

“How did you know this was exactly what I needed to hear and what I need to learn how to do?”

This is what we heard after taking a deep dive into resilience at a Women ON Point leadership academy event in Denver last week for 30 top-level women from a global tech company.

We know resilience is one of the most relevant and critical issues that exist in the workplace today. But WHY?

Because, there is more change, chaos and disruption than ever before. Technology innovation moves at the speed of light, global expansion seems to happen overnight, millennials will dominate the workforce by 2025, mergers and acquisitions can feel like a total blindside and people on average change jobs 12 times during a career.

There are unexpected challenges, struggles, twists, turns and roadblocks that happen every single day, and if your resilience muscle is not in tip-top shape, then you’re not going to make it.

Building resilience doesn’t happen by accident, and it doesn’t happen overnight. Like any muscle, strengthening your resilience muscle requires daily exercise. If you want to be able to go the distance, withstand turbulent times and bounce back from adversity, then resilience is your key to success.

Here are 3 Ways to Strengthen Your Resilience Muscle:

1. Know Your “WHY”

Without a clearly defined passion and sense of purpose, hardships can quickly turn into insurmountable obstacles. Knowing your “why” allows you to focus on the deeper meaning behind what you do and propels you through difficult times. It’s the “eye on the prize” strategy and your “prize” needs to touch your heart, feed your soul and be bigger and more important than any daily drama.

2. Practice Self-Care

Your career is a marathon, not a sprint, and if you don’t care for yourself like an elite athlete, you’ll never make it to the finish line. Plenty of sleep, healthy food and exercise are a given, but there is more to self-care than that. Try unplugging from technology for a weekend, spending more quality time with the important people in your life, reading a book for fun, volunteering in the community or meditating. Discover what fills you up with positive energy and commit to doing more of that.

3. Bend Without Breaking

Resilience is about the ability to bend without breaking. The more you can adapt, pivot, course correct and be flexible, the better equipped you will be to manage, withstand, overcome and rise above any challenging situation. You may have four different managers in a single year, experience unprecedented growth overnight, lose your largest client or be in the middle of a myriad of personal struggles, but it’s your ability to think outside of the box, be open to new ideas and seek alternative solutions that will allow you to win out in the end.

 

Resilience is so much more than the buzz word of the day. It’s a strategy for long-term success. If you want to make sure you’re armed and ready to go the distance, then you need to make sure your resilience muscle is as strong as it can be.

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month

The month of May is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues, but with the staggering statistics that exist today, we need to raise awareness every day.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1 in 5 people have experienced diagnosable mental health problems in the last year including depression and anxiety.

Stress and burnout are on the rise affecting one million people every day and costing the US workplace $300 billion annually. An estimated 217 million days of work are lost annually due to absenteeism and a decline in productivity as a result of mental health issues.

People are struggling and suffering and need help. This is why Women ON Point intentionally includes health and wellbeing into every summit, every academy, every program and in every way possible…relevant presentation topics, introspective exercises, private yoga, positive interpersonal connections, healthy meals and more. It needs to be a priority.

We know that overwhelming stress, pressure, change and chaos with no end in sight has become the norm. Everyone is expected to do more with less and be available to respond to texts and emails 24/7/365. In fact, 70% of people work while on vacation and only 23% use 100% of their vacation days.

The good news is there are 4 things you can easily do to improve your overall health and wellbeing and that of your team and organization.

 

Build Better Boundaries

Instead of “work/life balance,” it’s about creating a fully integrated life with better boundaries. Implement a “no work on Sunday” policy, insist everyone takes regular vacations, encourage hobbies and community activism, value quality time with friends and family, and commit to technology-free time.

 

WONP Alumni – “I finally took a girls trip!” “I went ice-fishing with my husband and left my phone at home.” “I booked and paid for a Disney cruise to make sure we took a family vacation.”

 

Strengthen Your Muscles and Your Mind

Exercise and healthy eating habits not only make you physically stronger, they strengthen your mental health as well. Get a workout buddy to help hold you accountable, sign up for a charitable 5K, or have healthy meals delivered to you if grocery shopping doesn’t fit into your schedule.

 

WONP Alumni – “I now do hot yoga a few times a week and have never felt better physically or mentally.” “I exercised early in the morning at the WONP summit, and realized I had more energy and greater clarity during the day. Now I do it every day.” “I arranged to have healthier snacks in the break room.” “Instead of a phone call, I try to schedule more meetings that include a walk outside.”

 

Embrace the Power of Positivity

We are inundated with negativity, bad news, criticism, and destructive self-talk. Keep a Brag Book to log your accomplishments and jog your memory of all your successes, express gratitude for the positive things in your life, celebrate wins of every shape and size, recognize and show appreciation for others.

 

WONP Alumni – “I implemented the positive Post-It note exercise in my office, and it has greatly improved the culture, collaboration and morale of the team.” “I now start every meeting with positive news and people sharing their wins.” “Instead of assuming my team knows, I now tell them they’re doing a great job and it has helped dramatically.”

 

Speak Up

There is no power in silence when it comes to mental health. Seek help if you need it, and talk openly about the importance of stress management, self-care and positive mental health with your team to reduce the stigma and feelings of isolation often associated with mental illness.

 

WONP Alumni – “I made sure to talk to my executive coach about making my wellbeing a priority.” “I added wellbeing to the agenda when I have my 1:1 meetings to see how everyone is feeling.” “I arranged to have health and wellbeing as a topic at our Lunch & Learn event.”

 

Designating the entire month of May to M is extremely important, but it needs to be top of mind every month. Make your health and wellbeing a priority every day of the year.

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Celebrate International Women’s Day Everyday

March 8th is International Women’s Day, and we know it doesn’t get the same fanfare, fireworks, food spreads, or fun parades as some other holidays, but it should. Right?!

We, at Women ON Point, know that women are getting braver, bolder, finding their voices, banding together, speaking up, and standing out in greater numbers than ever before. And we are committed to doing even more.

International Women’s Day is a global day dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women throughout the world. It’s also a day that encourages action to accelerate gender parity.

It’s 2019, and yet it’s hard to believe that women are still lagging in almost every category…leadership, pay, and overall gender parity. The World Economic Forum predicted that we wouldn’t achieve global gender parity until 2095, and the gender gap wouldn’t close completely until 2133.

Not only does this defy basic common sense, it defies good business sense. It has been proven over and over that the companies that perform best financially have the greatest number of women in leadership positions. The companies that have the top 20% of financial performance, 27% of the leaders are women. In contrast, the bottom 20% of financial performers have only 19% of women in leadership roles.

Across industries, countries, and companies, men and women alike agree that more female leadership leads to stronger, healthier, and more profitable organizations. Women have a positive impact on culture, productivity, results, relationships, collaboration, teamwork, motivating and developing others, spearheading change and innovation, taking initiative, establishing stretch goals, and practicing self-development.

There seems to be no end to what we can accomplish and the value we can bring when we are in positions of leadership. The bottom line is that everyone wins when we encourage, promote, and celebrate women in leadership roles.

Speaking of celebrating, here are 10 ways to celebrate International Women’s Day and make a difference in the lives of women everyday:

  1. Be a mentor to a female colleague or young woman
  2. Join a professional women’s group or chamber of commerce
  3. Nominate a female colleague for an award or recommend her on LinkedIn
  4. Encourage a co-worker (or yourself) to ask for a raise, promotion or stretch goal
  5. Support a non-profit dedicated to elevating women and girls
  6. Take a risk and do something outside your comfort zone like running for public office
  7. Advocate for better Diversity & Inclusion policies in your workplace
  8. Remember to write your successes in your Brag Book and boost your confidence
  9. Start a women’s group at work, initiative an event or find other ways to advance women
  10. Invest in yourself and attend a professional development event like Women ON Point: Next Level Leadership (include link)

At Women ON Point we are deeply honored to be able to celebrate women all day, every day, locally and internationally. Our goal is to help set women up for success in leadership roles in every industry by offering exclusive executive leadership summits. If you are looking to polish your leadership skills, skyrocket your confidence, and surround yourself with other female leaders, then this is the event for you. Celebrate and treat yourself on this special day…check it out!

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7 Ways to Fall in Love with Work

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow and love is in the air.

But what happens when you have lost that loving feeling for your job? Yes, I said “job”. We spend more time at work than we do anywhere else, and it can be miserable when we want to “break up” with work.

Just like in a personal relationship, losing the love for your job can lead to disengagement, dissatisfaction, disconnection, depression, and overall despair. Before you think about breaking up with your job, consider the fact that there are plenty of ways to rekindle the flame.

Here are 7 Ways to Fall in Love with Work:

  1. Look for a Little Love

It’s unrealistic to think or expect you’ll love 100% of your job, but it doesn’t need to be an all or nothing situation. Identify the parts of your job that you really enjoy, that you’re really good at, and that energize you, and find ways to do those more often. What you focus on will grow.

 

  1. Be Adventurous

Trying new things can be the spice of life, and the same holds true in the workplace. Seek out new opportunities, bust out of that comfort zone, and try something you’ve never done before. A new challenge is thrilling and can reignite your passion.

 

  1. Pop the Champagne

Regardless of whether or not you’re formally recognized for your contributions, value, and accomplishments, you need to celebrate on your own. Keep that bottle of bubbly on ice at all times, and remember to congratulate yourself on a job well done.

 

  1. Change Positions

If your current position isn’t floating your boat any longer, then look around and see if there’s an opportunity in another department, with another team, or under another manager. Sometimes a change of scenery or a change in responsibilities can bring back the love.

 

  1. Play Mind Games

Never underestimate the power of a positive attitude and mindset. Whether it’s through daily affirmations and mantras, meditation, or inspirational quotes, surrounding yourself with an abundance of positive energy helps to drown out the negative noise.

 

  1. Join the Group

Isolation leads to loneliness and lethargy. Get motivated by getting involved…join a club, a group, activity at work or Women ON Point. Step away from your desk and invite a co-worker to lunch. Accept an invitation to happy hour and start having some fun.

 

  1. Embrace a Mentor

Seeking the guidance and advice of a more seasoned or experienced professional can provide some much needed perspective to get back on track and fall back in love with your job.

 

There is a lot of love at Women ON Point, and we LOVE to shine a big, bright light on our alumni.

 

Check out this month’s Success Spotlight and please help us congratulate these amazing women!!

Brittany Barber – Women ON Point Alumni, Chicago 2017

Brittany works at the University of Minnesota in the College of Education and Human Development and was recently promoted from Associate Development Officer to Development Officer!!

Brittany says, “Thank you for the role all three of you played in my development as a professional, a mom, and a woman in general. I hope to pay forward that life changing impact some day!”

 

Brittany Glenn – Women ON Point Alumni, Minneapolis 2018

Brittany accepted a new role as Office Manager with United Forest Products!!

Brittany says, “I am grateful for the opportunity to attend Women ON Point. It empowered me be teaching me my strengths and how to empower others, and I created a network of amazing women who empower each other. This is the greatest support system and are led by amazing coaches and mentors!”

 

Laslie Boyer – Women ON Point Alumni, Denver 2018

Based on what Laslie experienced at the summit, she decided to pay it forward by giving her entire team the DiSC assessment and training.

Laslie says, “I had the opportunity to learn about my leadership style using the DiSC, and it gave me another data point about myself and how I show up as a leader. I wanted to provide other with a similar opportunity to learn about each other and provide common language in describing themselves.”

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