Day: December 3, 2022

Women In Wellness: Fiona Riesch of HECH On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Taking care of your mental well-being as a daily self-care practice. At the end of every day, I take time to unwind and ground myself. For me this is cooking, I think everyone needs to discover what this is for themselves and try to bring it into their days as often as possible.

As a part of my series about women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Fiona Riesch.

Fiona Riesch is the HECH USA representative and advisor for premium retail & luxury hospitality — international, overseeing sales and development across new markets. She is passionate and truly people-centered, with 26 years of experience in luxury hospitality. Her career has spanned three continents and nine countries and all elements of the industry. She has worked in operations from the beginning to General Manager, supported Asset Management Teams, held regional positions, led multi-billion dollar openings and takeovers and started her own company. Fiona has a natural ability to build high-performing, motivated teams who are proud of the work that they accomplish. As an Aquarius, she has an innate creativity with which she approaches life, and her appreciation for beauty in all the complex myriad ways it takes shape, deepens her understanding of HECH’s commitment to their roots as a third generation family business, as well as the significance of what they achieve through passion and innovative scientific research.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I started out in luxury hospitality over 26 years ago and worked my way up through the operations side of the industry to general manager over the course of my career. Six years ago I started my own business and now most of my hospitality work is done on the consulting and design side of things. I was drawn to the hospitality industry at a very young age and continue to love working in a fast-paced, creative, collaborative environment where on any given day you have a new complex problem that needs to be solved. My work has taken me to countless incredible places, countries and cultures that I want to return to again and again, though out of all of them it’s the United States, New York specifically, that has captured me and is where I’ve settled. However, my true roots will always remain in Southern Germany where I grew up.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

The stories of a hotelier are endless, and we of course can’t really share them. So what I have is more of a personal growth story. Given that the luxury hotel world was very male-driven when I started, I tried — and I am sure many other women did as well — to work hard not only to be better but to truly be seen as the best. Our managers back then were our icons, and we tried to impress them in every circumstance with our hard work, knowledge, revolutionary ideas, and by beating deadlines. Basically to truly go above and beyond in every way that we could. It wasn’t simply about advancing in our careers, it was about our pride as well. I remember once, my mentor at the time who is still my biggest mentor to this day, gave me a strategic project to develop. I worked on it for days, while still doing my shifts, and I was convinced that what I had mapped out was the right way to go. When I was presenting and people in the room came back with questions about certain aspects of my plan, I argued and fought back, convinced of the strength of my idea and that I needed to stand my ground. At one point my mentor started to laugh, he broke all the tension in the room and told me that it was overall a good plan, but sometimes you need to listen and see if it can be made better, to take it back and tweak to perfection, and most importantly to know when and which battle you need to fight. To this day that advice stays with me. It might seem basic, but when you are in your early twenties, on a clear career path, and a woman who has to prove herself in a male-dominated industry, it was invaluable advice. My mentor and I still talk frequently to this day. I now sit in his chair figuratively speaking, and I know which battles to fight and when to listen and adapt. To recognize that hard-working individual in front of me, becoming a mentor myself.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The biggest lesson I have learned, without question, is that of patience. Mistakes have been made when I didn’t have it, and I have learned how to cultivate it, how to know when it’s not there, and how to return to it when I need to. What a teacher patience is.

When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

I have worked all my life in luxury hospitality, which nowadays means more than just hotels. It has expanded to spas, sports, MemberClubs, etc. These spaces are experienced and lived through design. From the architectural design of the space to the color palette, materials and lighting, every aspect of a space, and therefore of a guest experience, is thought about down to the most minute detail. It is through this work that design teams and hotel staff guide and redefine experiences of wellness. When design and concepts are truly expressed, breathed, and lived through by so many unique individuals, it creates a life of its own and changes our view of health and wellness, of what we owe to ourselves and to others. It opens up knowledge and product and experience to generations of people from any platform in our homes. My work with HECH is another part of this same equation. With them, I am also investing in and contributing to the conversation around what wellness is, and how we truly take care of ourselves so that we can also take care of others. It’s all about learning and sharing and returning to our roots so that we might continue to learn from past generations as well.

Controlled and sustainable origin, active ingredients and raw materials are at the heart of our product development and in line with our natural-born professionalism. As a family business in its third generation, HECH today is defined by a leading team of in-house nutrition scientists and a multi-generational, culturally diverse staff with a passion for developing products that are relevant to evolving needs and lives. Authenticity and sincerity guide all our decisions from people to products. In distribution and communication, we choose our partners based on shared values, and we always aim to win true believers.

At HECH, we love what we do. Because your body is your only true luxury. Wellness is a community practice as much as an individual one, and truly shows how interconnected the world we live in is. We also participate in a number of philanthropic causes and charities. Beauty is not just what you see, it is what you also give to others.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

1. In German, we have the word, “entschleunigung.” It essentially means taking time to listen to your body, to feel in your body, and to really understand what it needs. I think it’s very important to cultivate a sense of presence and home in your body. Along similar lines is trying to eat locally and in tune with the seasons. Cook at home so that you know what’s in your food. This is something that used to be the norm and is now a struggle, but I believe that it fosters a connection to your food and your environment.
2. Taking supplements is something that I have done for many years and intend to do for many many more. I strongly believe in the health benefits of supplementing with proper nutritional supplements. This does not replace a healthy diet, to the contrary, it is not the either or — it is the AND we need to focus on. It is also key to know what is in each supplement. Just like any other label, you need to read it and do the right research. Not everything or every brand is good for you and has a positive effect just because marketing says so.
3. Getting out in nature. For me, this looks like always returning to the ocean. I have the immense privilege of living by the beach, and the first thing I do, whenever I come home after traveling for work, is to go and take a walk by the water. Connecting with nature — smelling the flowers, sitting under a pretty tree — and moving your body every day are essential pieces of living a full life.
4. Making time for fun, whether this is spending time with your loved ones or just making sure you’re laughing about something every day, fun should be an intrinsic part of everyday life.
5. Taking care of your mental well-being as a daily self-care practice. At the end of every day, I take time to unwind and ground myself. For me this is cooking, I think everyone needs to discover what this is for themselves and try to bring it into their days as often as possible.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I would want organic, local produce and locally raised meats, sustainably sourced fish, to be affordable and easily accessible to everyone no matter where in the world they live. I believe in and strive in my personal life to eat seasonally, to buy fresh and local, and to shop for quality products where they are priced reasonably. While eating healthy food has significant and well-known health benefits, I also believe that having a more intentional relationship with food, where it comes from, and how it ended up in your kitchen, creates a thread of connection in a world where that is sorely lacking. Food is about slowing down, celebrating what we have and the people we share it with, and returning to our roots. All of this is essential to who I am.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

1. Find a balance between your workdays and stressful experiences. You are a lot stronger in the long run when you do.
2. Trust and honesty are a two-way street. Also in business. Not every partner turns out to be trustworthy.
3. Listen carefully. When you don’t take the time, you might miss an opportunity, a spark, a red flag, or even an idea.
4. Work ethics and career goals are different for everyone. Sometimes you spend too much time trying to get someone to value them the same way you do.
5. Value collaboration and learn how to best work in a team without sacrificing your boundaries or strengths.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Mental health — I work in a vibrant, fast-paced industry where work hours are never 9–5. While I love and thrive in this type of environment, I have found throughout my career that creating time and space to take care of my mental health has only allowed me to lean more thoroughly into all aspects of work. If we as individuals are not healthy, mentally and physically, we will simply not have our full strength to support what is really important to us. I can’t develop sustainable ideas and execute them if I don’t have personal well-being. This could look like making sure I have the time in my day for a run as I’m an avid runner, or something as simple as taking ten minutes during the day to step away from my computer and do a meditation. Either way, it is the act of investing time and attention in myself that I find to be essential.

What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?

Readers can follow HECH through our website, usa.hech.com, and on social media through Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. I also encourage them to try our products and become part of the beauty community in an entirely new way.

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

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Women In Wellness: Fiona Riesch of HECH On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Whitney Berger of WhitFit NYC On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Protect and guard your boundaries. Define your boundaries and guard them. Starting a Business, people will ask and expect a lot from you. Remember to draw that line so that your personal life isn’t sacrificed.

As a part of my series about women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Whitney Berger, founder WhitFit NYC.

Whitney Berger, the owner and founder of the new fitness studio WhitFit NYC in Manhattan, has completed Inferno Hot Pilates Levels One and Two with Gabriella Walters in Las Vegas, 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, has a Restorative Yoga certificate with Judith Lasater, and Barre training. Whitney has also created the new WhitFit HIIT workout program, which combines boxing footwork, barre, pilates, yoga, and boot camp, available exclusively at WhitFit NYC.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I started my fitness journey as a college athlete, playing lacrosse, volleyball, and cheerleading. In fact, I walked onto my college volleyball team having never played before. I want to bring the same enthusiasm and can-do attitude to my teaching that I brought to sports.

After completing Inferno Hot Pilates Levels One and Two, 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, a Restorative Yoga certificate, and Barre training, I taught a wide range of students, from athletes to people recovering from injuries, corporate training and everything in between. Learning and then sharing what I’ve learned with others is my passion.

I founded WhitFit NYC in lower Manhattan in December of 2022. I created the WhitFit HIIT workout after trying to find a balanced workout that would not allow my body to plateau. I was adopted from South Korea and raised in Connecticut. When I’m not working or teaching, you can catch me on the beach in Rhode Island, traveling with my 16-year-old, senior Dachshund Oscar Ketchup, and whipping up gorgeous, delicious meals in the kitchen.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

I wouldn’t say it’s the most interesting thing, but it is the most realistic. My business and studio concept started with an idea. I had so much pushback from family members and loved ones. This came from a place of concern and love but I made it very clear that I was going to do it. They were worried about me from an emotional and financial standpoint, as I was financing this on my own with no loans or investors. It is happening and I am going to do whatever it takes for it to succeed.

The lesson I learned from this experience was that sometimes it’s the people who love you most that are often the most negative. While it comes from a good place, you must keep going and continue to pursue your dreams.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

One mistake I made was trying to do too much, too soon. I am an avid learner and certification-obsessed type of person. I did a few of my trainings back-to-back and wish I had taken a bit more time to digest in between. The lesson I learned was to slow down and enjoy the moment. Truly enjoy all the beautiful things I was learning.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

I wanted to start my own workout and studio because I felt I personally wasn’t getting what I needed. Often times in the fitness and wellness world, there is underlying competition and judgment. The focus should be on being the best version of ourselves, not better than anyone else.

I wanted to create an environment where, no matter what your experience level, you are welcome without judgment. One of the kindest things you can do is to take time for yourself. Come to class and take an hour out of your day to care for yourself. I truly believe being understanding and kind with yourself creates a ripple effect in making the world a nicer place.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

1. Protect and guard your boundaries: Define your boundaries and guard them. Starting a business, people will ask and expect a lot from you. Remember to draw that line so that your personal life isn’t sacrificed.
2. Do things that are good for you and your business and don’t worry about what people think: I spent the beginning of my time opening focused on what old colleagues and other people would think about this or that and what they were saying. The reality is, they don’t have your best interest at heart and they are not paying your bills. Cut those negative ties immediately. Only keep people who want to see you succeed in your life.
3. It is lonely: I hate to admit but the truth is I feel lonely. I have a lot of work to do, and it is my work. I am self-funded, with no investors or business partners, so I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility that is mine alone.
4. It is okay to ask for help: This is something I have always had trouble with. It is okay to delegate and have others whom you trust help. It also helps with loneliness.
5. Enjoy it! I feel like everyone had told me all the bad things that might happen. They were trying to prepare me for things if they go wrong with the timeline of the buildout. But no one told me to enjoy it! Enjoy this time, this new beginning. There is only one first time! It’s stressful, but SO thrilling and exciting!

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

Something I would love is for all schools and colleges to offer yoga classes and mindfulness to be a part of the school curriculum. Imagine if young people had access from an early age. They would learn and then share what they’ve learned with others as they grow up. Learning from an early age that “self-care” is not something to be ashamed of. Taking time for yourself is so important for your well-

being as well as others.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

1. Protect and guard your boundaries. Define your boundaries and guard them. Starting a Business, people will ask and expect a lot from you. Remember to draw that line so that your personal life isn’t sacrificed.
2. Do things that are good for you and your business and do not worry about what people think. I spent the beginning of my time opening up too focused on what old colleagues or people would think about this or that and what they were saying. The reality is, they don’t have your best interest at heart and they are not paying your Bills. Cut those negative ties immediately. Only keep people who want to see you succeed in your life.
3. It’s Lonely. I hate to admit but the truth is I feel lonely. I have a lot of work to do, and it’s my work. I am self-funded, with no investors or business partners so I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility that is mine alone.
4. It’s okay to ask for help. This is something I have always had trouble with. It’s okay to delegate and have others whom you trust help. It also helps with loneliness.
5. Enjoy it! I feel like everyone had told me all the bad things that might happen or to prepare for things to not go the way it was supposed to with the timeline of the buildout. But no one told me to Enjoy it! Enjoy this time, this new beginning. There is only one first time! It is stressful, but SO thrilling and exciting!

Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Mental health is something that is dear to me. Mental health by definition includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental Health is something I have seen so many loved ones and friends struggle with, it is why I am so invested in fitness and wellness, it is why I created WhitFit NYC, I want to provide a thoughtful environment for all.

What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?

Website; whitfitnyc.com

Instagram: @whitneywhitneyb, @alittlebitwhit, @whitfitnyc

Tik tok @whitfit_nyc

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

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Women In Wellness: Whitney Berger of WhitFit NYC On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Start with the small wins. — Think about what’s the easiest way you can show up and yet be comfortable. Don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure to be perfect, just the fact that you showed up is enough. It takes a lot of guts to do that. You’re a winner because you tried. With practice, you’ll get better at it.

As a part of our series about how very accomplished leaders were able to succeed despite experiencing Imposter Syndrome, I had the pleasure of interviewing Aishwarya Rajan.

Aishwarya Rajan is a New York City based fiction writer and mentor for creative women. Her website is https://www.aishwaryarajan.com/ As a writer, she understands the inner challenges that can arise as you start to do your life’s work. Through her healing journey, she has learned how to overcome these challenges and helps others do the same. Originally from India, her varied interests include reading and collecting books, Indian mythology and pursuing a holistic lifestyle.

Thank you so much for joining us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?

Of course! Thank you for having me. I grew up in India in a loving middle-class family. My father had a huge collection of books and he encouraged my love of reading. When I was 19, sadly he passed away. My parents had good jobs and money was never an issue, until it was. Due to unforeseen circumstances, our family fell on hard times. I was graduating college at the time and felt a bit lost. I felt that my Bachelors degree in English Literature would not enable me to secure the kind of job and pay that I wanted both for myself and to help my family, so I decided to go down a different path and become a flight attendant. It was fun and served my purpose for a while, but eventually changing priorities meant that it was time to move on.

So, after having left my job when I was 31 and moving to the US, I was again completely directionless and confused. I had to start from scratch. I knew what I didn’t want to do, but I didn’t know what I wanted. I tried hard to be something I wasn’t and applied for jobs that I knew that I wasn’t a fit for just to fit in. I knew in my heart of hearts, I wanted to be a writer. I had my husband’s support and a bit of personal savings left, but I still couldn’t do it. I was scared to take the plunge because all through your adult life the message you get is that writing is not a real job but the real reason in my case was that I wasn’t sure if I had what it takes.

Then just as I was thinking about my next move, I got a sudden health scare. I remember after weeks of struggling, there came a point when I got sick of being scared. Accepting where I was allowed me to be fully in the moment and helped me recover and regenerate. It was a wake-up call for me to stop caring what others think of me, make authentic choices and treat myself better. I decided that I had nothing to lose and started writing every day. I’m now writing the first draft of my novel and motivate other creatives to follow their heart.

Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘take aways’ you learned from that?

As I mentioned, I was a flight attendant in my previous life. It taught me to be grateful for what I have and keep my priorities straight. On one hand it had elements of glamour, but on the other I would have to tend to a sick passenger or replenish the toilets. I realised that with everything you do, there will always be parts of it that appeal to you and then there will be parts that you’d rather not deal with. I also feel that sometimes you have to take up the job that is available to you and it doesn’t mean anything about your future potential. Even if you don’t completely align with what you are currently doing, there is always something you can learn in the whole experience which will come in handy at a later stage. In my case, living abroad alone in my early twenties made me stronger. My past experiences of travelling around the world and interacting with people from varied backgrounds helps me appreciate different perspectives in life, which in turn helps my writing.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

What I found from my own experience of writing, as well as working with some super talented women, was that connection is key. To put it simply, connection is what happens when you are grounded and fully present in the moment. You can have all the talent in the world, but you won’t be able to get far unless you learn to truly connect with yourself, with others and with what you do.

I write best when I’m connected with both my body and my mind. If you think about it, that’s why some stories are evergreen because it helps the readers pause and connect with their truth in some way. Make sure to pick something you truly enjoy. Don’t follow any success formula, there are no short cuts. You have to genuinely want to offer value to your readers or customers, to make them feel like it was worth it.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

Yes, there have been a few people who have helped me in my journey. But I want to give a special mention to my dad. He was an inspiring person who always had a smile and a great attitude. He helped so many strangers over his lifetime without expecting anything in return and to this day random people remember him for that. I learned from my dad that ultimately what matters more is what’s inside your heart, not in what’s external to you. That said, he always made me feel like I could achieve anything I put my mind to. I remember once at a PTA meeting in middle school, the teacher said I was no good at mathematics. Later when driving back home, he told me everyone has different strengths and interests, that I should make sure I pass my exams but to give special attention only to that which I naturally aligned with. He would bring me books that he felt I would enjoy reading, and of course he would get it right every time.

Ok thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of this interview. We would like to explore and flesh out the experience of Impostor Syndrome. How would you define Impostor Syndrome? What do people with Imposter Syndrome feel?

Imposter Syndrome is forgetting your essential dignity as a human being. All human beings are worthy by default but sometimes we forget to include ourselves in it. It’s a state of disconnection from ourselves. It’s you thinking there’s some minimum standard that you needed to have already met in order to be seen and that obviously everyone else but you has met that standard. Of course, it’s not true.

You can feel like you don’t belong in the company of more successful people, like people are obviously laughing at or ridiculing you in their minds if not openly or worry that you will look silly and amateurish if you go ahead with it. It can sometimes be hard to spot especially when one has achieved some measure of external success, but being a perfectionist or having really high standards are some clues.

What are the downsides of Impostor Syndrome? How can it limit people?

Each one of us has innate gifts through which we bring value to the world. Those with Imposter Syndrome find it hard to make use of those gifts and it stops them from fulfilling their true potential in life. They struggle to own up to their zone of genius because they’re so busy trying to fit in with everyone else. It comes from a huge fear of being seen and of success as much as failure.

How can the experience of Impostor Syndrome impact how one treats others?

When you have imposter syndrome, you’re not able to show up as your true self. You idealize others and think you are defective. That stops you from speaking your truth. You end up not pursuing the kind of meaningful connections and opportunities that you deserve.

When you overcome Imposter Syndrome however, it can really help you humanize people and develop empathy for others. You don’t see yourself or them through the prism of acceptability. You see the whole person and can therefore connect more authentically. This gives other people the space to be themselves as well. In that sense, you become a healer.

We would love to hear your story about your experience with Impostor Syndrome. Would you be able to share that with us?

For the longest time I never told anyone that I wanted to be a writer. Even after deciding to be one, I still felt a sense of dread introducing myself. I was in some writing groups, and I’d either be very silent or try to impress others so that they would take me seriously. I didn’t know what to say. I felt like I had to have a list of credentials handy before putting myself out there. It felt like I didn’t deserve to be seen or acknowledged if I hadn’t already proved myself. The truth is we all have to start somewhere. Nobody is an expert in all areas of their life. I started looking at the things I felt I was good at and that helped me believe in myself. I finally felt at ease when I found the courage to accept that I’m a writer and that alone is enough.. I am enough.

Did you ever shake the feeling off? If yes, what have you done to mitigate it or eliminate it?

Yes, I have. I practice communicating vulnerably. It’s not always easy but it’s definitely gotten easier with time. If I’m feeling nervous I share that even if it’s in some small way. That makes it better every time.

Another major thing that has helped me is focusing on gratitude. I remind myself that a lot of things had to have gone right for me to even exist on this planet and I’m really thankful for that. It puts things into perspective and stops me from overthinking it.

In your opinion, what are 5 steps that someone who is experiencing Impostor Syndrome can take to move forward despite feeling like an “Impostor”? Please share a story or an example for each.

Step 1: Start with the small wins.

Think about what’s the easiest way you can show up and yet be comfortable. Don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure to be perfect, just the fact that you showed up is enough. It takes a lot of guts to do that. You’re a winner because you tried. With practice, you’ll get better at it.

Step 2: Remind yourself that you don’t have to impress anyone.

You don’t have to impress anyone so just give it a try. It doesn’t mean you’ll do it perfectly or that you’ll be able to show up exactly as you imagined. But the first step is often the biggest step. When I first started to put myself out there, I was not sure what I should be doing. It seemed like as a writer I’m supposed to hide away in a corner writing and not really say anything. But I knew that I wanted to express my thoughts on a number of topics that are important to me. I made my first video and I thought it didn’t sound like me at all. But I kept going and reminding myself to celebrate all the stages of my journey, including the beginning. That’s when I started enjoying the process because the pressure was off.

Step 3: Focus on authenticity, not accomplishments.

Be aligned with who you are, because your most important accomplishments will come as a result of that. How can you show up as your truest self? If you struggle with Imposter Syndrome, it’s ok to be honest and share it with others. Even if it’s only a brief acknowledgment, it will help you relax and become more confident. You don’t have to act like you have it all figured out to be seen as an expert. People tend to gravitate towards those they can relate to and a lot of us have struggled with our confidence at some point. This is how your weakness turns into your strength, through your authenticity and vulnerability. If I feel nervous speaking in front of a big group, I acknowledge that and focus on our shared humanity. That lessens the awkwardness and brings us closer. When you look at the big picture, it changes the whole atmosphere in the room and makes you feel a lot more relaxed.

Step 4: Get clear on your ‘why’.

Your why is linked to your purpose and goals. What you can offer or are offering is bigger than you. Somebody out there needs what you and only you can offer them. Remembering that puts things into perspective and helps you calm down.

Step 5: Invest in your healing.

For a lot of people, Imposter Syndrome is linked to past conditioning and life experiences. Find out what’s holding you back and work towards removing your limiting beliefs. There are many healing modalities and you just have to find the ones that work for you. Ultimately, it’s about feeling confident in the knowledge that you are safe and grounded, even if it feels like the opposite when you go outside your comfort zone.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

My movement would be taking the time to connect with our breath. If we could all be silent and present with our thoughts, feelings and triggers, the world would be a much better place for all of us.

We are blessed that some very prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them 🙂

I would love to sit down and have a conversation with the author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I think she is strong, warm and gracious, and of course a brilliant writer.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/iamaishwaryarajan

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

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Aishwarya Rajan On How To Thrive Despite Experiencing Impostor Syndrome was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Modern Fashion: Elaina Mansour of Nijma M Fine Jewelry On The 5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand Today

An Interview With Candice Georgiadice

Humility can be so difficult sometimes. I personally want to be involved in every aspect and everything related to my business (and I am for the most part). But, I can’t do it all alone (I wish there were more hours in the day!). Knowing when to reach out to other professionals to get the job done is key and what you need to successfully lead a fashion brand. I knew I had luxuriously interesting jewelry designs but needed an effective strategy to get them seen among my target demographic (PR certainly was not my area of expertise). Thanks to my publicist Lori Harito at Boulevard of Dreams, we sat down and carved out a successful plan to get the word out there.

Many in the fashion industry have been making huge pivots in their business models. Many have turned away from the fast fashion trend. Many have been focusing on fashion that also makes a social impact. Many have turned to sustainable and ethical sourcing. Many have turned to hi tech manufacturing. Many have turned to subscription models. What are the other trends that we will see in the fashion industry? What does it take to lead a successful fashion brand today?

In our series called, “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand Today” we are talking to successful leaders of fashion brands who can talk about the Future of Fashion and the 5 things it takes to lead a successful fashion brand in our “new normal.”

As a part of this series I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Elaina Mansour.

Having spent years studying science and medicine, and practicing as a naturopathic doctor, Elaina Mansour, wanted to pursue another dream of hers — designing her own jewelry line. Her love of jewelry began from a young age. Growing up in a Lebanese household, Elaina admired the exquisite jewelry her mom wore. That stuck with her. Jewelry became part of her fondest childhood family memories. It is those memories along with her own appreciation for jewelry and how special it makes the wearer feel that inspired the inception of her own designs and Nijma M Fine Jewelry. Nijma M. Fine Jewelry is Elaina’s dedication to her Lebanese culture and ode to her mother’s love for fanciful, bright, joyful jewelry that was worn as a celebration of the everyday — never saved for a special occasion, but always chosen as the main event.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?

I grew up in Sudbury, a small city in Northeastern Ontario in Canada. My parents are Lebanese, and having grown up in a Lebanese household, it had such an influential impact on my upbringing and fostered an appreciation for business, fashion and jewelry. From the age of 10, I knew I wanted a career as a designer. After unfortunately getting quite sick when I was young, my attention was turned elsewhere and I decided to pursue a career in medicine. Little did I know that life would lead me back to fashion and jewelry many years later.

Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?

Before stepping into the world of jewelry design, I was a practicing naturopathic doctor. I still have my medical license to this day and naturopathic medicine will always have a place in my life. But, I realized that there was an overwhelming creative energy I had that wasn’t getting a proper outlet. After much deliberation, I realized that it was time for a career change and I was finally going to pursue my dream of being a jewelry designer.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

One of the biggest highlights was the media dinner we held for the exclusive launch of our inaugural capsule collection. It was an honor to be able to share my story, vision and jewelry designs with some of the most established journalists in the industry. It was such a special evening and I will always remember it fondly.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

If I had to choose just three character traits, I would say being realistic, decisive and having passion for what you do.

Starting a brand from scratch and building that brand is hard work. Period. It is so important to realize that and manage expectations. But, with that being said, it can be done. Many romanticize the notion of entrepreneurship too much without realizing the truths about it — it is a 24/7 job with ups and downs. I was so excited to launch my designs and website to the world, and I had to quickly remind myself it takes time and consistency to build trust with your clientele.

So much of entrepreneurship is about making decisions. It’s how you establish your business and push it forward towards growth. Some decisions are easier to make than others. One of the most fundamental and early decisions a leader needs to make when it comes to their business is what to name their business. I remember struggling for a while, wanting a name that represented me, as the jewelry designer, but also communicated what the business does. ‘Nijma’ is the Arabic word for ‘star’ and the middle name given to me by my parents. The ‘M’ represents the first initial of my last name. The ‘fine jewelry’ portion of the name was the easy part.

It can be considered such a cliché to constantly hear, “do what you love”. But when you are truly passionate about your career, you energetically draw others around you. People love connecting with other people. They want to hear about what you do and why you do it, it doesn’t matter what it is. I couldn’t ignore that little voice inside any longer that was telling me to follow my passion for jewelry design. I wake up thinking about it and go to sleep setting intentions and looking towards the future.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

It is so important to us to establish direct relationships with our customers. One way we strive to do this is through a concierge style customer service and part of this is offering complimentary shipping and a generous return policy (which isn’t very common among luxury, high end designers). Buying jewelry online can be tricky, and it is most important to us that our customers are pleased with their purchase (we exclusively sell online to our customers). In addition to this, we also offer post purchase customer care meaning any issues that may arise, we’re happy to help our clients figure it out.

Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that was relevant to you in your life?

My favourite life lesson quote is, “Get out of your own way”. We are often the only ones telling ourselves reasons why we can’t do something. Life is too short for that.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Do you see any fascinating developments emerging over the next few years in the fashion industry that you are excited about? Can you tell us about that?

Definitely the emergence of fashion being more accessible to people, and people embracing their own sense of fashion. Fashion rules are not as rigid anymore and self-expression is encouraged. I think more brands will be influenced by content creators and what they’re seeing online than the other way around, how it has typically been. I believe the emergence of tech in the way we shop (live shopping) will be a big trend in the fashion industry!

Can you share how your brand is helping to bring goodness to the world?

Everyone deserves to stand out and unapologetically be their awe-inspiring selves.

My jewelry is meant to inspire the wearer to express themselves in a way that allows them to connect with others and themselves. I’m a big believer that jewelry should spark joy through a maximalist aesthetic and encourage people to dress up everyday and not just on special occasions. Every day is the occasion.I was taught that from a young age and I continue to embody this through my designs which have a classic, timeless sentiment but with a modern twist.

Can you share with our readers about the ethical standards you use when you choose where to source materials?

A lot of research goes into which jewelry manufacturer to work with because ethical and sustainable practices is part of the Nijma M Fine Jewelry DNA. The use of recycled materials like gold and sustainably mined precious and semi-precious stones are a must for our designs. In addition to this, being able to trace the source of these materials (though ideal, not always possible currently) is also something we look for. We strive to work with manufacturers that value the art of handcrafted designs through the employment of skilled bench jewelers, as well as those that value their employees by paying a living wage.

Fast fashion has an advantage, that it is affordable for most people, but it also has the drawback that it does not last very long and is therefore not very sustainable. What are your thoughts about this? How does your company address this question? Fine jewelry, such as the Nijma M designs, may seem to have an expensive face value, but the beauty is that solid gold fine jewelry will last a lifetime! Would you rather continuously have to spend money replacing your fashion jewelry or finding a fine jewelry piece you love knowing it will last forever AND something you can gift as an heirloom one day? It’s also an economically smarter choice in the long term — gold is a precious metal with an ever increasing price. It’s a pretty easy choice if you ask me. But, with that being said, each customer has to choose what is most feasible for them.

Thank you for all that. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand”. Please share a story or example for each.

The first thing I would say is flexibility. You can plan and plan and plan and get everything lined up to execute your plan. The reality is that not everything is going to go your way all the time. So being flexible and pivoting in order to take that detour but still accomplish your goals is key. After weeks of searching for the right packaging supplier, I finally found one based in Italy with offices in NYC. It was the packaging I dreamed of for Nijma M! Unfortunately, due to staffing issues, they couldn’t fulfill my needs as a customer. In the end (and after more researching and much more frustration), I found another packaging supplier that really was the packaging supplier of my dreams. Also based in Italy, they are responsible for our gorgeous white crushed velvet with gold tassel packaging and I couldn’t be happier.

Speaking of flexibility and accomplishing goals no matter what, you also need a vision. You need to be clear on what your goals are. Without clear objectives, it’s difficult to articulate them to others and to build a team that is in sync. You also need a vision of what people want in the upcoming seasons, what’s going to be trendy, what people will be talking about. When I’m designing jewelry, I always look at trend forecasts like Trend Vision specifically for jewelry and even those like WGSN for the fashion industry as a whole.

Humility can be so difficult sometimes. I personally want to be involved in every aspect and everything related to my business (and I am for the most part). But, I can’t do it all alone (I wish there were more hours in the day!). Knowing when to reach out to other professionals to get the job done is key and what you need to successfully lead a fashion brand. I knew I had luxuriously interesting jewelry designs but needed an effective strategy to get them seen among my target demographic (PR certainly was not my area of expertise). Thanks to my publicist Lori Harito at Boulevard of Dreams, we sat down and carved out a successful plan to get the word out there.

The fashion industry is full of talent. In order to stand out, your message, your product has to make a statement in order to be seen. Take risks and don’t be afraid to be bold — whether with your messaging, branding, advertising, etc. I knew I had to be bold with the photography for Nijma M Fine Jewelry designs, especially with a heavy online presence. Photography for fine jewelry can often be subdued but I knew I wanted the opposite. Fine jewelry can be luxurious AND also modern and playful at the same time. I reached out to Sarah Wright at Yes & Studio in Toronto and she took my initial photography ideas and theme and turned them into purely magical photos.

Balance. I know, this is such a cliché! But, it cannot be stressed enough. Designing and creating in the fashion world is so rewarding but can also be so draining. In order to keep on giving and designing from an inspired place, proper rest and self care is needed. Self care looks different to each person. Not only does your business deserve so much attention, but so do you. Those are the doctor’s orders! My self care routine includes resurfacing face masks, lots of Arabic music and organizing my house (a total ‘Monica’, but a clean space equals clear thoughts and creative motivation for me).

Every industry constantly evolves and seeks improvement. How do you think the fashion industry can improve itself? Can you give an example?

In the fine jewelry world, there have been some great achievements especially when it comes to mined, natural diamonds. The Kimberley Process is one such example (they’ve drastically reduced the amount of diamonds from conflict areas entering the mainstream supply chain by close to 99.8% ). The continued pursuit of transparency in the industry is key. Companies willing to be transparent about their policies, where they mine their precious and semi-precious stones from, is not only what customers now want, but also is beneficial for the business in creating trust. It benefits everyone.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

A pressing issue in the fashion industry as a whole is fair wage and working conditions for all workers in all countries. There has been a lot of coverage on this issue, but not enough has been done to force the change that is needed. How about consumers and workers team up? Companies can’t ignore their customers and their employees.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Nijma M Fine Jewelry’s Instagram page is the best way to find out what we’re currently up to (@nijmamfinejewelry). Also, our website has all our current designs and is where our designs can be exclusively purchased www.nijmamfinejewelry.com.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

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Modern Fashion: Elaina Mansour of Nijma M Fine Jewelry On The 5 Things You Need To Lead a… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Power Women: Irene Nakamura iDepo Reporters On How To Successfully Navigate Work, Love and Life As A Powerful Woman

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

As a leader, I believe it’s imperative to focus on your beauty and health. Working out, and physical exercise is a part of beauty, and mental health is part of beauty too. It’s not just makeup and hair. It’s the way you take care of yourself overall, and what you project to others.

How does a successful, strong, and powerful woman navigate work, employee relationships, love, and life in a world that still feels uncomfortable with strong women? In this interview series, called “Power Women” we are talking to accomplished women leaders who share their stories and experiences navigating work, love and life as a powerful woman.

As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Irene Nakamura.

Irene Nakamura has been breaking barriers her whole life. Despite the suppressive cultural traditions of her traditional Japanese-American upbringing, such as having to wait for her younger brother to graduate from college before she was even allowed to enroll, Irene is no stranger to powering through tough situations. It is through Irene’s persistence, that she became the first JA Official Court Reporter for the USDC, Central District of California, and then founded her company, iDepo Reporters. As a business owner with 3 locations in 3 different states, she embraces a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusivity. As reflected in her own staff, her business is 100% culturally diverse.

Today, she uses her experiences to empower and provide minority women with resources to launch and grow their businesses. Mentoring women like herself who were taught to be limited to break the cultural mold and become limitless so they can thrive personally and professionally. As an advocate, Irene speaks on diversity, inclusion, and the marginalized population’s well-being, having personally been faced and overcome these challenges herself. Irene is also very involved in non-profit work, having participated in pro bono services. She is a member of the National Court Reporters Association, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Korean and Japanese American Bar Association, and the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?

Although I was raised in America, Japanese culture was prevalent in my life. Its cultural and societal norms set strict rules and conventions on both my behavior and my choices. My future was chosen for me. My husband was chosen for me. My role and destiny were chosen for me. I was expected to put my career, dreams, and future on hold and support my brother. As the male in the family, his education, career, and future were not only more important than mine, they were a prerequisite for mine. A subservient role had been hard-wired into my brain from an early age by my mother. She had, after all, done the same for her brother in Japan. In the male-dominated Japanese society, there was only one place for women — behind men.

Over time, I learned to suppress my wants, goals, and desire for freedom. Mother had raised me to be a ‘proper lady’, directing me to the ‘acceptable’ activities of her choosing — playing the violin instead of the drums, learning how to play the piano instead of dancing, forbidding me from cheerleading and certain sports but learning how to sew instead. I must be in a controlled lady-like environment or how will she be able to select a suitable husband for me and make the family proud? I may only have relationships with friends of her choosing until I was older, of course, and she could no longer control that.

There is a word in Japanese ’gaman’ (pronounced gah-mahn) which means to tolerate or put up with. The idea of ‘sucking it up’ was part of my DNA. I had mastered that skill, but it hadn’t broken my spirit… My story has a happy ending!

Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?

I vividly recall a time in high school, wondering why I should put in the effort to remain at the top of my class. My brother, five years younger than me, would have all the benefits of my hard work. I should just give up. According to my mother’s mandate and that of my culture, I could only begin to pursue my education after my brother completed his. It was my responsibility to support him in every way possible. In fact, by the time he received his double Master’s Ivy League education, in his early 30s, I had paid for the majority of it. Not just with my hard-earned dollars but with my future.

Although I was not allowed to apply to college until after my brother’s graduation, I decided to enroll in court reporting school, a trade school, which was 1/8th the cost of my brother’s tuition. My mother was unhappy with my decision. I did it anyway.

I didn’t even know what court reporting was at the time. I thought it was a news reporter, reporting courthouse verdicts, asking “What did you think of the verdict?” I soon learned that it was actually a career where I could make 6 figures — even working part-time — with jobs waiting for me immediately after certification.

I launched myself into a career where I capture attorneys’ clients’ stories that make history… in order to change the future.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

The winter holiday was approaching, and I’d just received frightening news — a cancer diagnosis. My shock was compounded when the company’s scheduling coordinator approached me with a special client request to take on a multi-party case with a demanding lawyer with whom I’d previously developed a rapport. It was a client they wanted to please at any cost. I agreed on the condition that the job did not interfere with my scheduled surgery or recovery. I was assured it wouldn’t and agreed to take the job.

Though my mind should have been focused on my health and impending surgery, I remained professional and did my due diligence, connecting with each of the 40 lawyers working on the case. Each agreed to allow the final transcripts to be turned in after the holiday. With everything in order, I left for the hospital with the hopes I’d be leaving the toxic cancer behind and starting fresh.

The surgery was successful. My doctors removed the toxic invader from my body. I was elated. I returned from the hospital, however, to find numerous emails and a full voicemail box. The messages complained of my unprofessionalism, ungratefulness, and thoughtlessness for not returning calls. These issues were not ones I was able to address from my hospital, nor were they part of our originally agreed-upon arrangement. Although I was now cancer-free, toxicity continued to invade my life.

As I began radiation treatments, the cumulative effect of toxicity in my life overwhelmed me. I wanted my own identity, to earn my own income, to be successful, and be independent.

Sometimes bad things happen to give you clarity on your path ahead. They help you see the challenges in front of you, to face them, and become the person you want to be. My cancer diagnosis was just that. I no longer wanted to be a victim of the choices others made for me. I vowed to start my own company and create an environment where people were treated with empathy, compassion, and equity. A workplace that empowered people and gave them the freedom to make their own decisions. Where they were treated fairly. Where race, religion, gender, and life choices had no bearing on their ability to do a good job.

From this place of newfound clarity, iDepo was born. In its first year, iDepo had two clients and made less than $10K, but I felt empowered. Ten years later, the company is nationally certified, as well as specially certified in five states, and as a minority and woman-owned business. My offices in California, Washington State, and Hawaii have 23 full-time employees and hundreds of contracted court reporters. Last year, iDepo recorded 7 figures in gross sales.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success?

Determination

Commitment to Learning

Willingness to Change

Can you please share a story or example for each?

Determination: Despite the roadblocks that I came across on my journey, such as not only not being invited to the Old Boys’ Club but being shunned from it, I persisted in procuring open-minded clients. I may have been told “No” a hundred times in a row, but I was determined to continue to pursue until I reached my revenue goal without compromising my morals.

Commitment to Learning: I am a stenographic court reporter by trade and a great one at that; however, I did not have much knowledge of running a business. I had made several mistakes in hiring the wrong people who endangered my company and later revealed their toxicity. I once had a team leader who demanded a $20 gift card simply because they made it through the week — I always assumed that was called a paycheck! I had hired a bully who suppressed her direct reports (later revealed after her departure) thus causing a retention issue and revenue loss. Their toxicity spread and I needed to take immediate action to ensure it spread no further. I realized quickly that I needed to invest in education; not only for myself but for my team.

Today, my educational investments in each employee have a twofold return. Happier employees and higher productivity.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” — Benjamin Franklin

“It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.” — Zig Ziglar

Willingness to Change: “This is how we’ve always done it” just isn’t enough.

During the pandemic, many businesses failed and ceased trading. Some of them could have been saved if they were willing to change. Change is the one constant in the world. We need to adapt and change.

The world of remote proceedings had been few and far between. As I pivoted my company, we were one of the first out the door to provide moderators for our remote deposition proceedings. Moderators, a term I created for this type of position, are a combination of tech support, diagnosing technical issues online on the fly, and exhibit presenters, presenting exhibits via share screen, chat, or link during the proceedings so that attorneys may focus on their jobs, which is to cross-examine witnesses instead of fussing with technology.

We were the first in Hawaii to provide this type of proceeding with this high level of assistance. We also provided Zoom and other remote platform training tailored to the legal field. Some reporting firms were reluctant or simply didn’t know how to change. Some Hawaii competitors actually joined our training to learn how to conduct remote proceedings for their companies.

I embraced this change and ran with it. We are known for our excellent moderators today. As a matter of fact, the moderator term is now the accepted terminology for the exhibit tech and tech support in Hawaii.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. The premise of this series assumes that our society still feels uncomfortable with strong women. Why do you think this is so?

Fear. Fear of losing power. Fear of intimidation. Fear of incompetency being revealed. Fear of the ‘tables turning’. We need way more strong female role models for society to get comfortable with strong women… After all, we’re here to stay!

Women have always been viewed as the weaker sex. When a woman accomplishes something unexpected from her gender, some men, more concerned with their egos, bravado, and pride, will attempt to tear apart that powerful woman’s confidence with condescending, self-serving remarks to assuage their own insecurities and lack of accomplishments.

The confident man will applaud a woman’s power and achievements.

Without saying any names, can you share a story from your own experience that illustrates this idea?

When dating, I found men disappearing as soon as they found out I own a successful business. During the initial date, when we were discussing our jobs/careers, most of the men said things such as “Oh, so you can just fire people whenever you want?” “That’s scary. You’re scary.”

Or: “So you’re the boss. You must just like bossing people around all the time.”

“You must have it easy if you’re the boss. Don’t have to do anything at all. Lazy job.”

What should a powerful woman do in a context where she feels that people are uneasy around her?

First, it’s important to remember that we can’t control how other people feel around us. We must learn, as women, to stop dimming our light to try to make others feel more comfortable around us.

That said, strong, confident leaders are good at gently drawing others into conversation, asking them about themselves, and listening intently to what they have to say. Genuine authentic interest in the other person’s life will help to create a sense of worth and value.

A genuinely powerful woman knows her importance and seeks to make others feel important too.

What do we need to do as a society to change the unease around powerful women?

We need to educate people about gender equality. Exposure to more strong women is needed. Businesses have a duty to promote more women into positions of influence.

In my own experience, I have observed that often women have to endure ridiculous or uncomfortable situations to achieve success that men don’t have to endure. Do you have a story like this from your own experience? Can you share it with us?

At conferences and networking events, I’ve had men blatantly dismiss me because I’m a woman or say things like “I’ll give you the business. Just come up to my room.” They would show a complete lack of respect for female business owners.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women leaders that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

The societal perception that women are less worthy and less capable than men.

Let’s now shift our discussion to a slightly different direction. This is a question that nearly everyone with a job has to contend with. Was it difficult to fit your personal and family life into your business and career?

Yes and no.

For the benefit of our readers, can you articulate precisely what the struggle was?

Having been conditioned to not prioritize myself throughout my upbringing, fitting in personal time was an immense challenge. I was conditioned to put my family first and career second, so I gave time to my family and career at the detriment of my own health. I had worked at the Federal courts reporting trials that required daily final transcripts, which meant no sleep. However, I was obligated to make sure my husband, mother, and brother had their meals, laundry, and house cleaning all taken care of, which, somehow, I managed to do. I needed to work to pay for livelihood essentials, and I was fully supporting my mother and brother. I had 365 days of expenses. It was relentless. I simply needed to make money.

I had no rest and no time for myself. Everything and everyone else were a priority. I started to deteriorate. I started to become sick — often. I began to spiral towards depression.

What was a tipping point that helped you achieve a greater balance or greater equilibrium between your work life and personal life?

When I was forced to cut off my right hand in order to save the body. What do I mean by that?

Due to the pandemic and other reasons, our revenues had dropped significantly, and I was forced to make the difficult decision to lay off my right-hand woman.

What did you do to reach this equilibrium?

I reclaimed my power.

Once I eliminated some toxic influencers from my life, I began to refocus my efforts. I reexamined my goals to identify what was preventing me from achieving them AND where I needed to direct my energy to reintroduce some balance into my life.

What did I do?

• I found true supporters and spent more time with them and other positive, like-minded people. I continue to do so.
• I consistently read books by authors successful in life, health, and business, or listen to or watch inspirational content.
• I enrolled in programs and classes to improve my mindset and learn new business skills, and life skills.
• I also hand wrote goals, affirmations, and gratitudes every day in a journal.
• I hired a mentor/business coach to help me navigate away from toxic influencers and toward self-power generators, and to focus on reaching specific targeted business goals, and keep me accountable.

I work in the beauty tech industry, so I am very interested to hear your philosophy or perspective about beauty. In your role as a powerful woman and leader, how much of an emphasis do you place on your appearance? Do you see beauty as something that is superficial, or is it something that has inherent value for a leader in a public context? Can you explain what you mean?

As a leader, I believe it’s imperative to focus on your beauty and health. Working out, and physical exercise is a part of beauty, and mental health is part of beauty too. It’s not just makeup and hair. It’s the way you take care of yourself overall, and what you project to others.

There’s a popular misconception that women spend too much on beauty, but what the masses misunderstand is that when a woman feels beautiful, she feels powerful. Have you ever seen a powerful woman speaker or leader look disheveled? No!

Why is that? Something happens INTERNALLY to your mindset. Yes, you look amazing. Yes, you feel good. Yes, you are a powerful woman leader!

How is this similar or different for men?

Men aren’t that dissimilar. They, too, need to focus on their beauty from inside and out to be a powerful leader. If they don’t look, feel, and sound polished, many people will not follow. Appearances constitute not only clothing and hair but attitude and facial expressions. If a person doesn’t feel good, you can notice it in their face immediately, which can result in them not getting their message across.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your opinion and experience, what are the “Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Powerful Woman?” (Please share a story or example for each.)

1. Surround yourself with power-people and remove toxic influencers from your circle
2. Adopt a positive mindset and a grateful attitude
3. Cultivate courage and determination.
4. Hone the ability to pivot and adapt
5. Be consistent

-Surround yourself with power-people and remove toxic influencers from your circle

I began to write that I intentionally surround myself with other powerful women. But I am truly intentional about surrounding myself with incredible power-people, regardless of gender.

Throughout my life I’ve had to repeatedly remove toxic influences — it’s something we all need to master.

I’ve intentionally curated an incredible circle of powerful people around me. Not only women, but I also have surrounded myself with powerful men.

I was fortunate to be able to work for the late Honorable Robert M. Takasugi, US District Court judge, appointed by President Gerald Ford, who changed my life. Since my father had already passed when I was 22 years old, Bob became a father figure to me.

He was a bona fide judge for the people.

From the get-go, from the moment I met him, he said to me, “It is an honor to meet you.” My first reaction was shock, “What? It’s an honor to meet YOU!”

I was shocked because most people of that status had treated me as if I had less value because I was not of the same stature in terms of job position and gender. I was not a lawyer. I was not a judge. I am a court reporter. He showed me that he valued the person and not the title or gender.

I pay this lesson forward every single day.

It’s true that people may not remember what you did or said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

Judge Bob Takasugi always made me feel valued and worthy. He would often say to me, “Irene, as a court reporter, you always take down everyone else’s record. Make sure you create your own record as your story is important.”

Surround yourself with power-people.

-Positive Mindset and Grateful Attitude

As a leader, I invest plenty of time and effort into helping my team develop personally as well as professionally. I offer them coaching and support to develop their own mindset and gratitude practices which I know will help them at work AND in their personal lives.

-Courage and Determination (stepping out of comfort zone)

One of the biggest fears I’ve faced is Public Speaking — especially on stage!

As a leader, I realized I can no longer be the silent stenographer sitting in the corner of the room unheard, unseen. I needed to speak up, embrace opportunities to be seen, and to lead.

Leaders cannot be silent if they want to be effective. I needed to boss up.

I was given an opportunity to speak on stage at a retirement party for the first minority female permanent law clerk lawyer for US District Court, Central District of California. Of course, there would be a slew of judges and lawyers in attendance. All of whom are natural orators and trained in effective public speaking. I was terrified and intimidated, to say the least.

Karen U. is one of the smartest women I know, a mathematician who became a lawyer. But more than her amazing ability to analyze cases and get to the heart of the matter, she is also the real deal. She took the time to counsel and mentor countless young lawyers who have come through the courthouse and helped them become not only better lawyers but better people. She asks questions and makes you feel like your opinions really matter. She even mentored me in my work as a court reporter.

Karen inspired and encouraged me to open my own court reporting firm after leaving the courthouse. And I am so thankful to her.

How could I not speak at her retirement party?

As my knees shook, I teared up while speaking about her and what impact this power-person made on my life. I bossed up and did it anyway, and I’ve never looked back.

-Ability to learn and apply

Introducing new revenue streams into a business, with efficient implementation is key to the longevity of a company. Powerful leaders have always prioritized seeking new revenue-generating ideas.

Artificial Intelligence is not popular in our stenographic industry, and I certainly don’t believe court reporters will ever be replaced by AI — rather they’ll be enhanced by it. But I am always keen to embrace and adapt to new technology. Stenographers partner with technology to enhance the speed at which the accurate transcription can be produced, such as real-time and expedited final transcripts, and even capturing non-verbal gestures.

I have previously provided 8 iPads to a courtroom full of attorneys and to the judge simultaneously, so they could all read my real-time feed of the trial, with every speaker identified with near-perfect accuracy.

We must be constantly ‘sharpening the saw’ when it comes to the service we deliver, and the ability to continuously learn and adapt is key to that.

-Consistency

Powerful women show up as their best selves every single day.

There’s a saying, how you do one thing, is how you do everything… powerful, successful women understand the importance of consistently showing up and ‘doing the work’.

We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with,

Yes, easy — Oprah. Ms. Winfrey is the queen of powerful leadership.

This was very meaningful, thank you so much!

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Power Women: Irene Nakamura iDepo Reporters On How To Successfully Navigate Work, Love and Life As… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.