Sharon Lee Reflecting on the past year of InPowered Women Podcast

Episode Summary:

In the latest episode of the InPowered Women’s Podcast, host Sharon Lee is celebrating a one-year anniversary in podcasting. She looks back on her journey, what it took to start her business, the challenges she encountered, and the lessons therein. With a passion for sharing and elevating women in the workforce, Sharon wants to share women’s stories, their challenges and the lessons they have learned. In this episode, she thanks the incredible and powerful women who have graced her podcast and shared nuggets of wisdom through their journey in entrepreneurship.

Insights from this episode:

• Sharon Lee, celebrating her one-year anniversary in podcasting and reflecting on the journey that has been
• The importance of taking a leap of faith and getting started
• Sharon Lee, on launching her business and the lessons learned
• The importance of community when building a business
• Looking back at guests Sharon has hosted this year and sharing their powerful insights
  

Quotes from the show:

• “We, all of us women, are inclined to take that first leap and put ourselves out there. Even when we are not sure of ourselves, we fake it till we make it! And I can attest to that” – Sharon Lee, InPowered Women, Episode #13
• “Taking the leap isn’t always easy, but the rewards can be so overwhelmingly wonderful. Sometimes your leap means re-inventing yourself, maybe that’s a personal reinvention, or it could be within your own company, other times it’s just a pivot” – Sharon Lee, InPowered Women, Episode #13
• “Confidence and fortitude are essential in any business endeavour, but they are even stronger when you have a supportive community around you” – Sharon Lee, InPowered Women, Episode #13
• “Each of these women (her guests) has taught me something valuable, from leadership to perseverance, reinvention to pivoting: it’s all part of this beautiful journey we are on as business leaders” – Sharon Lee, InPowered Women, Episode #13
• “I have a passion for elevating women in the workforce, sharing your stories: the defeats, the challenges and learning about the ways you have been supported” – Sharon Lee, InPowered Women, Episode #13

Episode Transcript:

Speaker 1

Welcome to the InPowered Women’s podcast, where we tell the stories of Unstoppable Female Leaders Who Excel, Uplift, and Secure a clearer Path for Female Leaders in the Future. I’m your host, Sharon Lee.

Hi, everyone, and welcome to a very special episode of the InPowered Women podcast. I’m your host, Sharon Lee, and today we’re celebrating a huge milestone, our first anniversary. That’s right. We’ve made it through an entire year, and I am beyond excited to share this moment with you, my amazing listeners. Now, let me tell you something. Statistically, most podcasts don’t make it to their first year. In fact, less than 20% of podcasts make it past their first anniversary. So you know what that means? We are survivors. And I have to say that’s something to celebrate. We, all of us women, are inclined to take that leap, put ourselves out there. And even when we’re not sure of ourselves, we fake it till we make it, right? And I can attest to that. Almost two years ago, I took the leap and started my own business, Pinnacle strategic advisors. And let me tell you, that little voice in my head did everything it could to talk me out of it. It told me I wasn’t smart enough, that I’d fail, that I didn’t have what it takes. Does that sound familiar? I think almost every single guest I’ve had on this podcast this year has shared a similar experience.

But what I’ve learned from all of them and from my own journey is that taking the leap isn’t always easy, but the rewards can be so overwhelmingly wonderful. Sometimes your leap means reinventing yourself. Maybe that’s a personal convention, or it could be within your own company. Other times, it’s just a pivot. When I launched my business, I had this idea of working with organizations that already had a marketing department, but I would come in and find the gaps. Maybe they needed a video or more steady social media cadence, or maybe they hadn’t updated their website in forever. There were so many possibilities. But over time, I pivoted. Instead of focusing on those gaps, I started focusing on nurturing relationships through strong content. Storytelling being my absolute favorite. With added automation, it even made it that much better. That’s when things started to click. By telling compelling stories and using the power of automation, you can consistently stay in front of your customers and prospects with fresh insights and tips, all while keeping their overall strategy in mind. And guess what? It works. Now, as I approach the second year of my business, I’m developing a new service offering, and I’m so excited to share it with you all.

It’s called Client Experience Journeys. Some people call it mapping. Let me tell you, it’s been such an amazing experience. Pun absolutely intended right there. But I’m working on a pilot project right now. Bottom line, this service allows companies to assess their interactions with clients from the prospecting phase all the way down to the close of the sale and continuing that cycle. This uncovers opportunities to leave lasting impressions. It’s not about being perfect every day or tap dancing for your clients. But when you’re being intentional, it’s memorable. Trust me, it works. It leads to deeper trust, more loyalty, and advocacy from your own clients. If you’re curious about it and you want to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Now I have to say, confidence and fortitude are essential in any business endeavor. Now, that’s not new information, but they’re even stronger when you have a supportive community around you. This past year, I joined a community of faith-driven female business leaders called Iron Forums for Women, and I ended up facilitating a chapter in flowery Branch, Georgia. It’s amazing how isolating you can feel as a business leader, and I can’t tell you how much I’ve benefited from that support, the mentorship, and friendship of this group.

I’m so thankful to have found them, and I’m able to lean on them. Speaking of gratitude, I want to take a moment to thank my incredible guests this past year. They’ve shared their stories, their wisdom, their bumps and bruises, and their insights with us. These women are truly unstoppable. Let’s take a quick look back at some of the powerful conversations we’ve had. There’s Dana Redden, who founded Solar Stewards and has been empowering marginalized communities through renewable energy. She shared how persistence in the face of adversity has been key to her success. We had a fun conversation reminiscing about the time we served on the Georgia Solar Board and the strides the solar community made during that time. Hey, we’ve got a little project going on right now, too, so that has been a whole lot of fun. Macy McNeely, founder of SalesGirls, taught us all about the power of mastering sales skills and how taking risks can truly pay off. Her story of evolving from resistance to embracing her father’s sales teachings  was great. She also invited me to her studio and recorded the podcast in front of her studio audience. That was so much fun.

Then we have Sheryl Smith. She made a huge impact on Georgia’s agritourism industry. Her career highlights how important it is to network, be open to unexpected paths, and always keep moving forward. And of course, Laure Hoffman, who is not just a sales and leadership coach, but also a facilitator for Iron Forums for Women. And she told us how she’s learned to embrace change and continuously be open to God’s plan for her. Her journey of pivots and reinventions was so powerful. Gwyn Reilly, CEO of Novie Edge, shared how important it is to have clear vision when running a business and how crucial it is to have a strong support system around you. Then there’s Joy Gendusa, founder of Postcard Media, who built her multimillion dollar business with sheer grit and determination. What a fun conversation we had. She learned to trust her gut and to believe in her product and to never back down. Amazing. Tiffany Foster, founder of Auria Lux Collection, recently launched her nonprofit Women4 Mentors organization. Her story is so much more than merely overcoming challenges and using her success to give back. It’s a testimony to her vision and making things happen.

I was right there in the beginning when this was just merely an idea. Now to see they will award a scholarship to a recipient this fall, wow, go, girl. Oh, my gosh, I love it. Don’t forget Stephanie Choury, She was introduced to me through a client of mine. He knew we would click immediately, and that we did. We talked business, books, and about a thousand other things. But that’s how we roll. Her insights into leadership, empathy, and creating a space for others to thrive are truly invaluable. Tonya Powers is executive director of the Franklin County Industrial Building Authority. We have known each other a long time, and I have nothing but respect for her energy, positivity, and grit. Hey, she’s got a great golf game as well. In fact, that’s where we met. Senator Guinn brought us together for a round of golf, and let’s just say the rest is history. I love her passion for economic development, regional growth, and creating opportunities for both businesses and individuals in her community. Just wait till we talk more with her about the Women of the Workforce endeavor that she’s got going on. I am so excited about this.

Callie Murray, whom I met at Iron Forums for Women, let’s see, last spring, she shared that she was working on her novel. I was absolutely fascinated to track her down for more information. Turns out she allowed my Book Club to read her manuscript. It was a beautiful story, and she is now working with a publisher. So keep an eye out for her on the bestsellers list. She’ll be there before we know it. And finally, my first guest on the InPowered Women podcast, Annie Lou. I was working on a project for Coca-Cola, and my client introduced us. She’s a self-proclaimed Harvard dropout and was thrust into the high-powered and male-dominated manufacturing world, where she’s the world on fire. Her story is a testament to resilience and breaking barriers in industries that were never meant to be hers, if you believe stereotypes. Each of these women has taught me something valuable, from leadership to perseverance, reinvention to pivoting. It’s all part of this beautiful journey we’re on as business leaders. Finally, I want to thank you, my listeners, for being a part of this ride. Your feedback, your support, and your participation have made this podcast so rewarding.

I have a passion for elevating women in the workforce and sharing your stories, the defeats, the challenges, and learning about the ways you’ve been supported. Here’s to all of the fierce women out there and to another year of empowered women podcasting. Let’s keep making waves, lifting each other up, and breaking those barriers together. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Stay tuned for more incredible stories. And as always, don’t forget to share the love and spread the word.

Thank you for listening to InPowered Women. If you like what you heard, please give us a five-star review and subscribe to the show wherever you listen to your podcast and share with those you think can benefit from this information. Please email all questions, suggestions, and compliments to sharon@pinnaclestrategicadvisors.net. The InPowered Women podcast is produced by the Podcast Laundry Production Company and executive produced by Sharon Lee.

This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.