About this Episode
Nell Merlino is an icon and a legend in her own right. She has a list of firsts that will impact generations. She was at the forefront to change the outlook on Aids during the Aids epidemic by handing out condoms with the Gay Men’s Health Crisis as an Awareness campaign. She utilized that campaign opportunity to springboard starting the first girls’ initiative, Take Our Daughters to Work Day, while she worked with Ms. Magazine – yes, the Gloria Steinem magazine that changed women’s outlook. After reading some research that said girls’ self-esteem dropped dramatically after reaching adolescence, she decided to change the way that girls see themselves by bringing them to a physical space where they could see themselves differently – the workplace! That movement is still around today and has expanded into Take Your Daughters and Sons To Work Day. Every year in April (this year, it’s April 22), children trek into the workplace with their parents to understand what they do and learn about different career options in preparation for real life. This year, quite a few of them will be leaving their at-home classrooms to invade the work-from-home environment created by their parents. For a few hours, they will listen in on negotiating, making tough decisions, and having fun doing at work. Her next adventure was Make Mine a Million $Business, where I met her. She was on fire to help women grow their businesses to the million-dollar mark. Again, research showed her that only about 3% of women business owners ever passed the million-dollar revenue goal. That program was sponsored by corporations like American Express and closed when sponsorship declined. Now, during COVID, Nell was moved to restart that venture to help small business owners take advantage of loan opportunities and discuss their issues during the pandemic; now in her next chapter with Count Me In Revival, she’s again following her calling. As I spoke with Nell, I couldn’t help wonder what it’s like to be her – from kicking down doors for women business owners to hosting Queen Raina of Jordan - all the time, fearless in forging new paths for women! Listen in and see if you feel the same way.
