Heidi Hackemer – Nothing To It But To Do…

Our guest today is the extraordinary Heidi Hackemer who is VP of Engagement at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative…that’s the billion dollar philanthropic foundation founded by Pediatrician and Education advocate Priscilla Chan and, her husband, Facebook’s co founder, Mark Zuckerberg.

We first heard about Heidi as a leading creative thinker and someone who had founded a unique and highly regarded brand strategy agency in New York.  But then we realised how that was just the tip of the iceberg.

In today’s episode you’ll hear:

• Why she walked away from her prestigious role in advertising to drop out and drive around America on her own for two years.
• How differently she thought about her career when she was in her 20’s vs her 30s.
• How she built a business from the ground up to optimise creativity
• And her passionate reaction to the stereotypes women are expected to subscribe to, especially the assumption that every woman must want to be a mother. You’ll hear how Heidi has dealt with this big life question.

We really loved this conversation and know you will too.

So please enjoy this episode with the gutsy, creative and refreshingly frank Heidi Hackemer.

 

Here are a few links of interest:

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Siew Hoon Yeoh – Is Making Travel Better

Our guest this week is Singapore-based, travel entrepreneur Siew Hoon Yeoh.

Siew Hoon is one of the humblest people you’ll meet. She refutes the idea that she’s an innovator and a pioneer in her space. But ask anyone in the travel industry in Asia “who is the most innovative woman you know?” and Siew Hoon Yeoh is nearly always the answer.

Siew Hoon’s company Web in Travel (or WIT as you’ll hear her say in the interview) is a content and events company focused on online travel. Those in the know say Siew Hoon’s efforts to bring digital front and centre have been instrumental in helping the travel industry, particularly in Asia Pacific, move more quickly in the face of disruption. She sold WIT for an undisclosed sum four years ago but continues to run the business she loves.

In this episode you’ll hear Siew Hoon talk about:

– How her childhood as the daughter of a refugee in Penang, Malaysia shaped her views about the importance of community
– Why it’s a golden time for innovation in Asia right now
– How she thinks about building something new and innovative and;
– Why it’s so important to accept who you are and play to your strengths.

Enjoy this conversation with Siew Hoon Yeoh …

Want to find out more about Siew Hoon or Web in Travel (WIT)? Links of interest:

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Sherilyn Shackell – Has Found Her Purpose!

This week’s guest is the uplifting Sherilyn Shackell.

Sherilyn spent the first part of her career, by accident she says, as a formidable headhunter in the UK. She borrowed millions to buy the company she worked for in her mid 30’s and grew the business to be hugely successful. As successful as it was she felt like she was on a treadmill …earning more money to spend more money. Her physical and emotional health suffered.

A near death experience in her early forties led Sherilyn on a journey to find her purpose.

Sherilyn is now the Founder & CEO of the Marketing Academy, an international not for profit organisation dedicated to inspiring and developing talented stars in the Marketing, Media & Communication industries to become the leaders and influencers of tomorrow. She says these sectors have unique power to shape our collective opinions as a society.

In this episode you’ll hear Sherilyn talk about:

– How she liberates her decision making with the question “what’s the worst thing that can happen?”
– How she has gone about finding her purpose
– Why spending time with the people who will come to your funeral is crucial
– And, how she lost 21kg in 2017 and used blogging to keep herself accountable

Sit back and listen to the human dynamo, Sherilyn Shackell!

 

Want to find out more about Sherilyn and/or the Marketing Academy? Links of interest:

The Marketing Academy (TMA) Links:

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Kate Vale – Has an Uncanny Eye for Picking…

This week’s episode of Don’t Stop Us Now! is with the wonderful Kate Vale, a distinguished leader in the technology and media space in Australia.

Kate was Google Australia’s first employee and Managing Director, and built the Australian business from one employee to hundreds. She then did the same for YouTube.

In 2011 she joined Spotify, the Swedish music, video and podcast streaming service before most of us had ever heard of music streaming, let alone the name Spotify. She grew their business in Australia to be a hugely successful brand. Clearly she has an eye for the winners and a great talent in starting and growing strong teams in the digital space.

She’s recently moved to LA with her husband, a serial entrepreneur, and her two children. She’s a Non Executive Director for two prestigious tourism boards in Australia, Tourism Australia and Tourism Tasmania, and is currently enjoying a sabbatical with her family before she jumps into her next venture.

In this episode with Kate you’ll learn:

– How asking for help is one of the most fundamental success factors for female leaders, particularly those who have a family.
– How terrifying, yet exhilarating, it was to be Google’s first employee in Australia
– How she bounces back from adversity
– Her strategies for feeling strong and confident

Enjoy!

Photo credits: AFR

Had a listen to Kate and hungry for more? Links of interest:

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Tina Sharkey – Web Pioneer, Industry Disruptor & Tech…

Meet Tina Sharkey – serial innovator, entrepreneur and Silicon Valley legend

What can you say about the woman who literally coined the term, ‘Social Media’ and has had numerous accolades including being named One of the Most Influential Women in Technology (Fast Company)?

Tina Sharkey is a true web pioneer and serial entrepreneur. She’s been involved with the online world since the mid 1990’s and co-founded the iconic iVillage which in its day was the largest online destination for women. She created the online brands for Sesame Workshop, and has held key or CEO roles with AOL, and the massive parenting online community, BabyCenter.

These days you will find Tina disrupting another sector with her much lauded and awarded startup, Brandless where she is Co-Founder and CEO. Honoured by Fast Company and Ad Age amongst others as one of the most innovative startups this past year, Brandless is changing the way you buy essential groceries and products for your home and much, much more.

In this episode we chat to Tina about key lessons to date from her stellar career journey. You’ll learn:

• How she and her co-founder set about building Brandless and how they’re going about disrupting an entire industry
• How Tina has gone about thinking ‘what next’ in her career
• How she has juggled career and family and the tradeoffs she chose to make
• What she thinks really matters at the end of the day

We spoke to Tina online from her office in San Francisco.

Enjoy!

 

Links of Interest

Brandless website

Instagram: @Brandlesslife

Twitter:  @Brandless

Tina Sharkey on social

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Audette Exel – Make Your Own Rules

Keen to make a positive difference in the world? Then you’ll love this latest episode of Don’t Stop Us Now! Audette Exel has mastered the art of making her own rules to her achieve her world-changing vision.

Audette Exel is founder of one of the world’s earliest and most inspiring businesses for purpose, the Adara Group.

She’s one of the youngest women in the world to have run a publicly-traded bank; is a former World Economic Forum Global Leader of Tomorrow; and has been recognised as a Forbes Hero of Philanthropy amongst numerous other honours.

Audette’s mission is to build a bridge between the world of business and the world of people living in extreme poverty.

In this episode with Audette, we were blown away by her refreshing and candid thoughts including:

• The advantages of being a female entrepreneur and pioneer
• The liberating way she thinks about money and her own financial security
• Why she’s such an optimist even in today’s tumultuous times
• Her thoughts on why so many young women have a fear of failure.

Don’t miss our conversation with this world-changing human dynamo…

 

 

Links of interest:

Gloria Steinem (wikipedia)

Leymah Gbowee (Wikipedia)

Rosa Parks (Wikipedia)

B Corp Global Website

Follow Audette Exel:

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Rachel Botsman – TED Talks, Writing Books and BHAG…

Rachel Botsman’s TED talks have been watched more than 4 million times and subtitled in 29 languages. What’s more, Monocle magazine has rated Rachel as one of the world’s top 20 speakers.

However not only is Rachel an incredible speaker, she’s recognised internationally as a world class author, thought leader and original thinker.

Rachel is author of the book Who can you Trust? She also pioneered the idea of the sharing economy with the launch in 2010 of her book What’s Mine is yours – the rise of collaborative consumption.

This is your chance to hear Rachel speak frankly and ‘unplugged’ in a very raw and human way – no stage, no audience – just us!

We think you’ll love:

• Her personal tips for giving a world class speech, including the power of one word she writes on the top of every speech she gives
• The honesty as Rachel talks about her inner critic and self talk
• How this acclaimed author was told she couldn’t write and what effect that had
• HHow Rachel sets goals for herself and why her approach makes a big difference.

Rachel’s work has been honoured multiple times including:

• ‘One of the “Most Creative People in Business’ by Fast Company
• ‘Young Global Leader’ by the World Economic Forum
• ‘Thinkers 50’ Breakthrough Idea’ award for recognising a “radical idea which has the potential to change the way we think about business forever.”

Don’t miss this fascinating discussion!

 

Links of interest

Rachel’s TED Talks

We’ve stopped trusting institutions and started trusting strangers

The case for collaborative consumption

The currency of the new economy is trust

 

Rachel’s Books

Who Can You Trust

What’s Mine Is Yours

 

Follow Rachel Botsman

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Courtney Hohne – The truth about innovation

Ever wondered what life is like and what really happens in Google’s elite innovation division: X, the Moonshot Factory? We certainly have!

It’s just one reason why we love this episode with X’s Chief Storyteller, Courtney Hohne.

We think you’ll be fascinated by her insights about how the world’s most famous innovation team work, what it’s like to be a woman amongst a very, very geeky team and how to think about leading.

What you’ll learn:

• The blueprint for innovation at X and the truth about the innovation process
• How she finds a way to help X’s Engineers incredible inventions survive in the outside world
• Her views on how leadership can more often than not be about the smaller moments
• How she deals with imposter syndrome
• Tips and advice on how to take opportunities to grow your career

Courtney talks to us over Skype from Silicon Valley. Enjoy this inspiring conversation…

 

Links of interest:
The Atlantic “X and the science of radical creativity” by Derek Thompson

 

Follow Courtney at:

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