Send us a text

What if the secret to navigating life's obstacles isn't finding the perfect map, but developing a mindset that always sees options? Janet's remarkable journey from unemployed 24-year-old to successful business founder and philanthropist offers powerful insights on leadership evolution that will transform how you approach challenges.

Janet didn't set out with a grand strategic vision when founding BevSource. She simply needed a job after being laid off from a brewery. This necessity-driven beginning evolved into a thriving business that would eventually attract private equity investment. Along the way, she transformed from someone "super driven, somewhat selfish" into a leader described as patient, empathetic, and focused on serving others.

The cornerstone of Janet's success? A mindset that consistently sees paths forward when others see only walls. "My mom always said you always have an option," she explains. This foundation became her leadership superpower—being what she calls an "unstucker," someone who helps people navigate life's maze by showing them strengths they haven't yet recognized in themselves.

During our conversation, Janet shares the profound advice that changed her approach to business challenges: "You can turn a company around in 90 days or kill it in 90 days. Make a decision." She reveals how a leader's energy dramatically influences an entire organization, why self-care isn't selfish but essential for effective leadership, and how her definition of success evolved from financial wealth to witnessing others thrive.

Whether you're starting a new venture, facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, or wondering what your next chapter holds, Janet's story offers a masterclass in viewing difficulties not as burdens but as opportunities to develop skills you'll need later. Her journey reminds us that true success comes not from accumulating wealth, but from helping others discover their own potential while navigating life with curiosity, resilience, and an unwavering belief that options always exist—even when we can't immediately see them.

Drive, Ambition, Doing, Leading, Creating... all good until we forget about our own self-care. This Village of All-Stars pays it forward with transparency about misses and celebration in winning. We cover many topics and keep it 100. We are Proven Not Perfect™️
https://www.provennotperfect.com

Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect
Check out Proven Not Perfect ™️ YouTube Channel as well. Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.

I'd love to hear what you think!

Send us a text

What does it truly mean to lead authentically in today's corporate landscape? Kim Seymour, a seasoned executive with decades of leadership experience, breaks down this question with refreshing clarity and hard-won wisdom.

"Leading people in a way that is sustainable for you, that you can believe in" forms the cornerstone of authentic leadership, according to Seymour. But this isn't just about showing up as your unfiltered self. Throughout this powerful conversation, she reveals the delicate balance between bringing your authentic voice to the table while understanding the ecosystem you're operating within.

Drawing from her impressive career journey, Seymour shares three essential unwritten rules that have guided her success: "Relationships are everything," "Always stay curious," and "Feedback is not optional." These principles aren't just platitudes—they're practical guideposts for navigating complex organizational dynamics while maintaining your integrity.

Perhaps most valuably, Seymour challenges conventional wisdom about the crucial first 90 days in any new role. Her counterintuitive advice? "Go hard for the first six months, then you never have to go hard again." This approach establishes your reputation and creates what she calls a "flywheel effect," where your initial investment continues generating momentum long after those intensive first months.

The conversation takes a particularly meaningful turn when discussing vulnerability in leadership—a quality that emerged as a superpower during pandemic challenges. Seymour reflects on how leaders who could blend strategic thinking with emotional intelligence created psychological safety while still delivering results during unprecedented uncertainty.

Whether you're just beginning your career journey or sitting in the C-suite, this episode offers invaluable insights on defining success on your own terms. As Seymour powerfully states, true success means having options—the freedom to choose your path forward rather than feeling trapped by circumstances. Subscribe now to continue growing as an authentic, effective leader who remains true to their core values.

Drive, Ambition, Doing, Leading, Creating... all good until we forget about our own self-care. This Village of All-Stars pays it forward with transparency about misses and celebration in winning. We cover many topics and keep it 100. We are Proven Not Perfect™️
https://www.provennotperfect.com

Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect
Check out Proven Not Perfect ™️ YouTube Channel as well. Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.

I'd love to hear what you think!

Send us a text

Maggie O’Brien is Managing Director - Co-Head of Chicago at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. She is a Daniel Burnham Fellow member of Leadership Greater Chicago, the region’s premier civic leadership organization. Complementing Maggie’s offer as a corporate and community leader, she is a mom and wife, committed to the love and advancement of her family. This conversation is ‘real’ and ‘raw’, getting deep into the reality of a PROVEN woman leader who navigates her journey with resilience, mindfulness and authenticity.

Maggie never expected to be pulled over on the side of a road for our conversation about female empowerment, but as she puts it - "such is the life we lead." This unplanned moment perfectly captures the reality of being a working woman balancing career ambitions with family responsibilities.

From the earliest days of her finance career, Maggie questioned whether she belonged in the room. At 23, walking into meetings with manufacturing executives, she wondered why they would ever listen to her advice. This vulnerability around confidence, especially for women in male-dominated fields, becomes our central theme. The conversation reveals how women often need significantly more certainty before taking risks compared to their male counterparts - a hesitation that can hold us back from opportunities for growth.

The turning point in Maggie's confidence came after successfully turning around an underperforming team, giving her tangible proof of her capabilities. Yet even successful leaders face setbacks. Her most valuable leadership lesson came from a failed turnaround where feedback revealed she'd been perceived as a "bulldozer" who hadn't taken time to understand the team before implementing changes. This taught her the essential principle that "you've got to get people in the boat with you before you ask them to row."

For women whose confidence has been shaken, Maggie recommends cultivating a personal "cheerleading squad" - trusted friends who genuinely see your value and can remind you of it during difficult times. This becomes increasingly important as leadership positions become more isolated, with positive reinforcement growing scarce.

The parallels between professional confidence and financial empowerment are striking. Women approach money decisions with similar caution, yet 80% will need to manage family finances at some point. For young women entering finance careers today, there's reason for optimism as technological advances make work-life balance more achievable, but representation remains critical - we need to see women who've successfully balanced career advancement with family life to believe it's possible for ourselves.

Listen for practical wisdom on developing self-advocacy, overcoming imposter syndrome, and finding your own power outfit (Maggie's is a hot pink Veronica Beard suit) that helps you own your presence in any room.

Drive, Ambition, Doing, Leading, Creating... all good until we forget about our own self-care. This Village of All-Stars pays it forward with transparency about misses and celebration in winning. We cover many topics and keep it 100. We are Proven Not Perfect™️
https://www.provennotperfect.com

Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect
Check out Proven Not Perfect ™️ YouTube Channel as well. Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.

I'd love to hear what you think!

Send us a text

This episode explores the complex realities of caregiving, focusing on the sandwich generation—the caregivers juggling responsibilities for both their children and aging relatives. With insights from Sue Ryan, we discuss self-care strategies, workplace transparency, and the importance of community support in navigating this demanding journey.
• Understanding the sandwich generation and its pressures
• Importance of transparency in caregiving within the workplace
• Strategies for self-care as essential for caregivers
• The role of community support and accepting help
• Introducing the Caregiver's Journey initiative for resources and guidance

Drive, Ambition, Doing, Leading, Creating... all good until we forget about our own self-care. This Village of All-Stars pays it forward with transparency about misses and celebration in winning. We cover many topics and keep it 100. We are Proven Not Perfect™️
https://www.provennotperfect.com

Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect
Check out Proven Not Perfect ™️ YouTube Channel as well. Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.

I'd love to hear what you think!

Send us a text

This episode dives into tech empowerment and artificial intelligence through a conversation with Noelle Russell. We explore her personal journey, the importance of AI literacy, practical tools for leveraging AI, and the evolving roles of leadership in this new era filled with technological advancements.

• Noelle shares her journey becoming an AI advocate
• The significance of personal experiences in shaping tech
• Emphasizing AI literacy for women in tech
• Practical tools personal and professional use
• AI as a task killer, not a job killer
• Transforming leadership to empower creativity and innovation
• Encouragement for women to voice their experiences in tech

Drive, Ambition, Doing, Leading, Creating... all good until we forget about our own self-care. This Village of All-Stars pays it forward with transparency about misses and celebration in winning. We cover many topics and keep it 100. We are Proven Not Perfect™️
https://www.provennotperfect.com

Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect
Check out Proven Not Perfect ™️ YouTube Channel as well. Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.

I'd love to hear what you think!

Send us a text

• The episode delves into the intricate subject of boundaries, emphasizing their role in fostering mental well-being and emotional freedom. By exploring personal experiences, generational impacts, and practical strategies, we guide listeners to understand and implement healthy boundaries in their lives.

• Boundaries and their importance for mental health
• The impact of upbringing and trauma on boundary-setting
• Current youth mental health crisis and its connection to boundaries
• Role of communication in parenting for boundary enforcement
• Practical steps for defining and asserting personal boundaries

_______________________________

Shairi R. Turner MD, MPH, is an internist and pediatrician with expertise in trauma-informed practices. She serves as the Chief Health Officer at Crisis Text Line, leading the organization’s external policy, advocacy, and partnership initiatives related to mental health. Crisis Text Line is a national not-for-profit organization that provides free, 24/7 text-based mental health support and crisis intervention in English and Spanish. In this role, she is fervently committed to addressing the youth mental health epidemic.

Dr. Turner has been a featured mental health expert at numerous conferences, top-tier and regional news programs, media interviews, and podcasts. Most notably, NBC’s Meet the Press, TIME Scripps News, Good Day DC, CNN, iHeart Radio Podcast with Michelle Williams, Good Day Seattle, HuffPost, to name a few. She also was a co-Host of NIKE’s acclaimed No Off Season podcast.

Drive, Ambition, Doing, Leading, Creating... all good until we forget about our own self-care. This Village of All-Stars pays it forward with transparency about misses and celebration in winning. We cover many topics and keep it 100. We are Proven Not Perfect™️
https://www.provennotperfect.com

Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect
Check out Proven Not Perfect ™️ YouTube Channel as well. Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.

I'd love to hear what you think!

Send us a text

Have you ever felt lost in the chaos of life, yearning for peace and renewal? Join me as I share personal insights on transforming our mindset by embracing acceptance. Through the practice of seeing beauty in our surroundings, from the grandeur of nature to the simplicity of everyday objects, we can find a sense of calm amidst the storm. Inspired by the timeless wisdom of Genesis, this episode explores how focusing on gratitude and what is rather than what isn't can open doors to recovery and new opportunities. It’s a journey of anchoring ourselves spiritually and allowing that foundation to guide us through life's challenges, while emphasizing the importance of centering ourselves in the present.

This conversation is a call to embody the light within, and find peace grounded in our true identity and purpose. Embarking on this journey of acceptance may just be the key to experiencing a state of perfect peace, offering a renewed perspective on what it means to live a fulfilling life.

Drive, Ambition, Doing, Leading, Creating... all good until we forget about our own self-care. This Village of All-Stars pays it forward with transparency about misses and celebration in winning. We cover many topics and keep it 100. We are Proven Not Perfect™️
https://www.provennotperfect.com

Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect
Check out Proven Not Perfect ™️ YouTube Channel as well. Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.

I'd love to hear what you think!

Send us a text

Ever find yourself tangled in analysis, trying to decode every instruction and intention before taking action? Join me, Shontra Powell, as I navigate through Mark 8:15-21 from the New King James Version of the Bible, where Jesus’s interaction with his disciples offers a profound lesson in trust and faith. Through a personal lens, I share how this passage challenges our habitual reasoning tendencies and invites us to embrace the simplicity of divine guidance without overthinking. This episode resonates deeply with those of us who are accustomed to dissecting every detail, offering a fresh perspective on the value of surrendering to faith and trusting a wisdom that surpasses our understanding.

In this reflection, we explore the significance of Jesus's questions to his disciples, urging them—and us—to recall past personal miracles (indescribable and undeniable events) and trust in the process. I reflect on my own journey of moving from constant analysis to a place of obedience and faith, highlighting the humbling realization that not every instruction requires our full comprehension, just our trust. For anyone who identifies as a critical thinker, this discussion is a call to action to step back, let go of the need to reason everything, and find peace in simply following divine instruction.

This is applicable in our personal and professional journey, as we are called and led. Tune in for a thought-provoking and engaging conversation that encourages us to let go and fully embrace faith.

Drive, Ambition, Doing, Leading, Creating... all good until we forget about our own self-care. This Village of All-Stars pays it forward with transparency about misses and celebration in winning. We cover many topics and keep it 100. We are Proven Not Perfect™️
https://www.provennotperfect.com

Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect
Check out Proven Not Perfect ™️ YouTube Channel as well. Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.

I'd love to hear what you think!