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Chic Perspectives

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Elizabeth Gordon interviews Megha Rodriguez, Technology Consultant & CEO of Hire Humanity, LLC

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Elizabeth and Megha

Elizabeth and Megha

Megha Rodriguez was my guest on the Chic Perspectives Show.  Megha is a business strategist and technology consultant with over 11 years experience as an entrepreneur.

She is the CEO of Hire Humanity, LLC, a business services company that helps small business owners and solo-preneurs bring their dreams to reality.  They do this by providing small businesses with the additional human resources needed to make their business grow.

In her consulting work, Megha is committed to helping women business owners identify how to align their heart’s calling with their business objectives. She trains people how to use technology (e.g. social media, web-based software, etc) to sustain their growth and provides hands-on management support to help put great ideas into action.

http://www.MeghaSuccess.com

http://www.HireHumanity.com

Megha works with clients on taking their core authenticity and harnessing it in their social media – and we talked all about how to do just that during the show.

Megha offers tons of great advice on how to leverage social media properly to grow your business and expand your reach as well as develop more powerful and trusted relationships with clients, colleagues and all of you business associates.

Here are a few of her words of wisdom to remember:

  • Be Authentic in building your online social relationships
  • Beware of over-automating your technology and losing your personal touch
  • Take the time necessary to identify your target market and make it SPECIFIC
  • Don’t try to be everything to everyone in your messaging
  • Be considerate by be honest
  • Transparency is king – people like those who are willing to admit their mistakes
  • Identify your core purpose it will make a difference in how you are perceived
  • Know where your target market lives and go there well, rather than being everywhere poorly

    • This all goes back to the old adage that is even more true today than ever before  – people do business with people – so being authentic is keep to getting and keeping good solid and profitable relationships.

    What truly motivates your business activity – money? power? social impact? being a change agent?

    This is not an idle question but rather an all encompassing power center that permeates all of your business actions.  Who you are matters and why you do what you do matters too.  People want to know you and the essence of your life and business philosophy that makes your business different.  Your authenticity can’t be copied and it will help you create a business of inherent value.

    Keep in touch with Megha @

    http://www.MeghaSuccess.com

    http://www.HireHumanity.com


    http://www.Facebook.com/MeghaSuccessPage

    http://www.Twitter.com/meghab

    http://www.linkedin.com/in/megharodriguez




    Elizabeth Gordon interviews Karen Hughes of Image Assets on the Chic Perspectives Show

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    Wondering what’s in style this season?  Well you’ve come to the right show.  Today I talked with Karen Hughes who is a Certified Image Professional and the President of Owner of Image Assets.

    www.ImageAssets.net

    Early in her life, Karen knew she loved clothes, having learned how to sew at the tender age of 10, but she had a passion for teaching.   Spending a decade in corporate America honing her presentation skills she found herself again drawn back to fashion and clothing – she has a degree in fashion merchandising. Taking time off to raise her 3 children she began to formulate her vision for a new role as an entrepreneur.

    It was with a passion for education and love of fashion that Image Assets was created. With a mantra to help women “look good, feel great and have FUN doing it”, Karen creates workshops and events that teach you how to build a wardrobe for the lifestyle that YOU lead, whatever your stage of life!

    By enhancing your image through better style and dress, you can enhance your career progression whether its up the ladder or out on your own as an entrepreneur.

    On the show today we talked about the 3 F’s of Fashion (Fit, Flatter, Feel-Good),

    as well as the 3-Keys to Building a Wardrobe (Core-Accent-Accessories).

    Karen revealed the biggest mistakes women make in purchasing clothes and she also explained why alterations matter.


    For more about turning your image into an asset, keep in touch with Karen @

    Check out Image Assets’ Trends with Friends Event on Tuesday the 2nd of March and the StyleCAMP at the end of the month.


    Twitter: www.twitter.com/imageassets

    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/karenhughes

    Facebook Fanpage: www.facebook.com/pages/Style-YOUniversity/188572746337?ref=sgm

    and of course check out her site as well @ www.ImageAssets.net

    Thanks Karen for all the great ideas and advice for a creating a winning look that speaks our style.

    Elizabeth Gordon interviews Marlene Waldock – Founder of the Because We are Women Annual Symposium on the Chic Perspectives Show

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    Marlene Waldock – Founder of the Because We are Women Annual Symposium

    Marlene is a seasoned business owner, award winning entrepreneur and the former host of New Jersey Business on News 12 New Jersey.

    Her accolades include 2007 WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT – NJAWBO, WOMEN WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE – SOROPTIMISTS, PRESIDENT, North Essex Chamber of Commerce, 2006 NJBIZ 50 BEST WOMEN IN BUSINESS, 2005 SBA Women Business Champion, 2005 Women Business Center Patron of the Year, SBA SMALL BUSINESS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR 2003, and NJAWBO BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2003.

    Marlene talks about how to re-invent yourself and create a new life experience leveraging what you have learned in your past.

    She reveals the powerful process used with a high degree of success at the Because We are Women conference, that enables women to tap into what they really want, clear their path of obstacles and create a plan for moving forward.

    Elizabeth Gordon interviews Casey Dawes – Founder of Wise Woman Shining

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    In this Chic Perspective, I talk with Casey Dawes – Founder of Wise Woman Shining

    Casey Dawes helps women business owners step into their power as women business leaders through consulting, training and coaching, using teleclasses and workshops that focus on practical, hands-on experiences to lay the organizational foundation for business, including finance, marketing and other systems.

    Casey has personally consulted for organizations such as AT&T, Verizon, Principal Financial and UPS.

    Casey reveals the biggest mistake that she sees women business owners make, along with how to write a business plan and the best way to approach this often intimidating task.

    She also assesses the current economic conditions as it relates to small business owners and gives suggestions for how women business owners can continue to grow.

    Elizabeth Gordon interviews Jackie Adams, Franchise Consultant, FranChoice

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    In this Chic Perspective episode, I interviewed Jackie Adams, Franchise Consultant, FranChoice about picking the right franchise and making it successful.

    Jackie Adams has 18+ years of franchise executive-level experience and offers a vast array of knowledge to every to the prospective franchisees she works with. Her work as a franchisee, an international franchise executive, and working with a start up franchise business, helps her match potential franchisees with the right franchise company. Jackie served as Director of Franchise Operations for Regus Business Centres, where she was responsible for the initial set-up and launch of the franchise division for this successful global company. At The Athlete’s Foot, Jackie was Global Director of Franchise Operations, overseeing 450+ franchised locations in 50 countries.

    In this Chic Perspective Jackie explains the benefits and drawbacks of owning a franchise, how to evaluate potential opportunities and compare their potential. Jackie explains how much you need to invest in a franchise, financing options and what to expect in terms of support from the system. She also talks about how to do your research and what questions to ask existing franchisees and how to think through such issues as personal exit strategy and where the franchise company is in terms of its expansion strategy.

    Elizabeth Gordon interviews Kaira Sturdivant Rouda, President of Real Living, Inc. and author of Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs

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    Kaira Sturdivant Rouda, President of Real Living, Inc. and author of Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs

    Kaira Sturdivant Rouda, president of Real Living and creator of the Real Living brand, is passionate about entrepreneurism, marketing and the power of women in the workforce and beyond.

    A published author, journalist, marketing executive and business owner, she built her career by working in marketing for national brands and large regional advertising agencies.

    While maintaining her own writing business, she became the vice president of marketing for an Inc. 100 national franchisor, where she found her passion for franchising as a means to entrepreneurial business ownership.

    In 1997, she entered another field filled with entrepreneurs – residential real estate. She launched the nationally award-winning Real Living brand in 2002, now among the fastest-growing franchise companies in the country and making a dramatic impact in an industry in flux.

    Kaira was recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Led Companies list. Real Living was also recently named one of the 50 Fastest Growing Companies in central Ohio.

    In this Chic Perspective, Kaira talks about putting the Real You in your business, bringing your authentic self and thus your joy to work with you and creating a business through vision, strategy and culture that allows you to achieve your dreams.

    Elizabeth Gordon interviews Michelle Briody, author of 16 Weeks to Your Dream Business: A Weekly Planner for Entrepreneurial Women on the Chic Perspectives Show

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    Today on the Chic Perspectives Show, I got to chat with Michelle Briody, author of 16 Weeks to Your Dream Business: A Weekly Planner for Entrepreneurial Women.

    Along with her co-author Nada Jones, Michelle founded an innovative fashion business in 2001 that showcased emerging women designers and their products in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle markets and gave women outside of NY and LA access to the latest trends.

    Having worked with hundreds of emerging women-owned companies, Nada and Michelle decided to write a book to empower other women to go after their dreams and do so in a smart and organized fashion that would lead them to success, while bypassing some of the common mistakes.

    In this Chic Perspectives interview, Michelle talks about their 16-week plan for getting started, how women tend to start, build and manage growth differently than men, how this serves as an advantage as well as how it can be a hindrance if they are not careful. Michelle recounts successful strategies of the top performing companies she has observed over the years and gives tips on marketing and public relations.

    We also talk about the all important topic of cash flow, how to create, grow and maintain it.

    Elizabeth Gordon interviews Desiree Scales, CEO of Bella Web Design

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    Today on the Chic Perspectives Show I got to chat with Desiree Scales, CEO of Bella Web Design.

    Elizabeth Gordon & Desiree Scales

    Elizabeth Gordon & Desiree Scales

    Bella Web Design has helped over 200 companies realize their success in Atlanta and more than 35 states nationwide for more than 10 years. Her company provides web design, web hosting, search engine submission and optimization, print design, email marketing, social media coaching, blogging and general web marketing consultation.

    Desiree accredits their success to her team’s creative talent, integrity, and friendly service that draws loyal clients.

    Desiree’s expertise and experience has evolved into a passion to educate both businesses and organizations on internet technology that ignites their success.

    She has been a featured speaker at companies, conferences and seminars across Atlanta and regularly provides classes on blogging, web design, branding, Internet marketing, Web 2.0 strategies and social media.

    She additionally offers personal Social Media Coaching to business owners who want to apply the online buzz to their customer relationships and bottom line.

    Desiree is an authority on all things web.  Her expert advice:

    • If you don’t think your site is professional enough, it’s not. Hire a pro.
    • Don’t skimp on your social media budget, it’s the most important item in it.
    • Blogging is the best way to start using social media.
    • Find one medium that fits your personality and stick with it.
    • Be flexible and follow others who provide a good example.
    • Helping others is the best way to establish your expertise.
    • Make sure you look at your overall strategy and your goals before starting.


    Check out Bella Web Design @ www.bellawebdesign.com

    And listen to the Bella Buzz every week, an awesome podcast with all the latest ideas and must do’s when it comes to social media and web strategy.

    www.thebellabuzz.com podcast/blog

    And don’t forget to Follow, Friend and Link as well…

    twitter.com/desireescales

    Facebook: companies.to/bellawebdesign

    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bellawebdesign

    Thanks again for coming on Desiree.  It was so great to see you again.


    Elizabeth Gordon and guest co-host Angela Stalcup interview Laura Scholz of CRAVE Atlanta and Scholz Communications

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    How do companies navigate the world of social media ?  What’s the cross over between social media and traditional media?  How does social media allow women to play to their strengths?  All this in more …

    Listen to Angela Stalcup, the Atlanta Market Director for Ladies Who Launch http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/atlanta and the Chief Empowerment Officer at The Curvy Life http://curvylife.com/

    and Laura Scholz ,  President of Scholz Communications and area director for CRAVE Atlanta, http://thecravecompany.com/

    http://www.facebook.com/craveatlanta?v=photos

    and of course me as we talk about:

    what works on social media and what doesn’t (how to make friends and how to avoid making foes),

    the types of result the pro’s are getting and how to cross leverage social media and traditional media,

    how to use social media to open doors that you never thought you’d be able to open on your own,

    how to manage your time on the tools through consistent and scheduled usage,

    what a ROI from social media looks like and why more and more small companies are using it to effectively level the playing field and gain market share and develop real relationships with customers.

    Thanks so much Laura and Angela for being with me.   Make sure to check them out @:

    Ladies Who Launch http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/atlanta and The Curvy Life http://curvylife.com/

    and Laura Scholz, President of Scholz Communications and area director for CRAVE Atlanta, http://thecravecompany.com/

    http://www.facebook.com/craveatlanta?v=photos

    Twitter: @LauraScholz

    Much continued Chic Success!

    Elizabeth Gordon interviews Angela Stalcup of Ladies Who Launch Atlanta and The Curvy Life on The Chic Perspectives Show

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    This week it was my pleasure to chat with Angela Stalcup, the Atlanta Market Director for Ladies Who Launch and the Chief Curvy Officer for The Curvy Life about how women entrepreneurs are changing the world.

    www.ladieswholaunch.com/atlanta www.curvylife.com

    Angela talked about the latest trends she is seeing in women entrepreneurs and why the numbers of women starting new businesses continues to grow in the current economy and how women are becoming more sophisticated in their approach.

    Angela gave some great examples of how the barriers to entry have gone down and how women can now compete at a global level with large companies without feeling a tremendous disadvantage.  All signs still point to this being an increasing popular path for women.  While lifestyle is usually a factor for women’t entrepreneurial career choice, more and more money has become more of the focus as women are realizing just what they are capable of achieving once they step out of the shadow of a boss and take their economic power into their own hands.

    Angela talked about the new feminine power and how it differs from the traditional view of power.  This is such a hot topic in female business leader circles of late, so I would to hear your comments on how women leaders are challenging the norms and bringing forth a new approach based on collaboration instead of control and what the effects of such a perspective shift will be.

    She also spoke of the rise of women in the corporate world and how leadership norms are changing, why certain practices are outdated and what it really takes to get ahead in today’s business world.

    Angela and I talked about the new girls club, and how the last 10 years have seen a great shift in how women network, connect and help each other.  We discussed why women in the past have felt a need to compete with each other and why cooperation is the new norm in women business relations.

    I know you’ll enjoy this insightful conversation about the next wave of feminine power in the workplace and what that means for profits, products and our planet.  Check out more about Angela, Ladies Who Launch Atlanta, and The Curvy Life @  www.ladieswholaunch.com/atlanta www.curvylife.com