Speak with Presence

Maria Borges is the Vice President of the Global Consumer Products – Optimization Economics at Mastercard and has 20+ years of global experience within the finance and payments industries. In her current role, Maria leads a unique team that drives global pricing initiatives for existing and new consumer solutions. Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration both in Accounting from Barry University and recently joined as a Board Member at Florida Justice Institute, a non-profit organization.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, let's chat: https://www.voicefirstworld.com/chat

Originally from Scotland, Collette is an international leader, podcaster, certified coach and CEO (Chief Energy Officer) of Brain Sports. She has led international teams at Nike inc. and Levi Strauss for over twenty years most recently as the VP of Nike World Headquarters, Workplace Design and Connectivity. She has lived across Europe and Asia with her family.

Always curious about how the mind affects our lives, she took time to study her own for the last seventeen years. This has culminated in Brain Sports, a multi-media platform for coaches and athletes to restore the mental health and spirit of sports through coaching, playshops and a supportive community. Collette is certified in Humans Being, leading from the Inside Out, which focuses on executive and C-Suite women designed by Dr. Lou Ann Daly. She is an energy master and integrates this somatic wisdom into her coaching techniques with clients. Her specialty is helping her clients discover and materializing their highest and best self and to support their life vision and purpose.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com

Episode 45:  Building the Bench for Elected Officials - Wendy Doyle

Wendy Doyle fearlessly advocates for women’s economic and civic advancement by amplifying women’s voices and producing results. Wendy is at the forefront of all economic policies that impact women and their families. She regularly educates and informs decision-makers and community leaders about policy solutions for women at local, county, and state levels. Translating information into action, she testifies frequently to state legislatures, publishes op-eds in state newspapers, serves as a dynamic and informative presenter, and champions systemic policy change for governments and corporations through her thought leadership.

During her nine-year tenure at United WE, Wendy has led the organization to invest in research, advocacy, and policy solutions to remove economic barriers for women, including conducting 24 meaningful research studies, advocating for issues resulting in 51 policy actions, and supporting more than 180+ women in securing civic appointments. Wendy is committed to impacting hundreds of thousands of women and families through transformative research, scaling United WE’s fast-growing Appointments Project®, advocating for reforms that honor the legacies of women, and contributing to policy solutions that advance equal pay, paid family leave, affordable childcare and occupational licensing, among others.

Since 2013, Wendy has expanded United WE’s focus from serving Kansas City to all of Kansas and Missouri, and her success in the Heartland is spreading nationwide to cities including St. Louis, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh and South San Francisco. Wendy’s previous experience as an executive and strategic consultant for large nonprofits provides a unique systems approach to accelerating the pace of change through partnerships.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com

Jen Vellenga's "word" for 2023 is CONSISTENCY. Jennifer Rettele-Thomas challenges her to tell a story on the Speak with Presence podcast every day of 2023 starting today, January 19, 2023.

Can Jen V. do it? JRT doubts it. 

Even if she's not perfect...how many stories can she tell and what structures will she use?

She's posting video on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, too! Only on weekdays. 

Episode 44:  Perfect Process Doesn't Exist 

Lisa González grew up in an entrepreneurial family in California and spent many summers and weekends working and learning about business.  After graduating from UCLA and attending law school in Texas (UT) she moved to Denver and helped Fortune 100 companies with legal issues but soon missed the energy of entrepreneurial business life. 

Episode 43:  Don't Yell Back

After earning her BFA and moving to New York City, Susan hit the comedy club scene performing sketch comedy with the Obie Award winning New George’s “Kinda Personal,” her comedy duo “STEVE” as well as improvising with Upright Citizens Brigade, which, together, couldn’t surpass her proudest career moment... winding up on The Dana Carvey Show’s editing room floor.

Episode 42:  Ready Now Men

Jeffery Tobias Halter is a corporate gender strategist. The country’s leading expert on engaging men to advance women, Jeffery is the President of YWomen, a strategic consulting company. The former Director of Diversity Strategy of The Coca-Cola Company, Jeffery has consulted with leading brands including Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Deloitte, Citigroup, GE, Johnson & Johnson, Moet Hennessy and more. Jeffery’s latest book WHY WOMEN, The Leadership Imperative to Advancing Women and Engaging Men, is the first business book written by a man on how companies can advance women to enhance the company reputation, the bottom line and retain talent. A highly sought-after speaker, Jeffery is a two-time TEDx speaker and frequently keynotes at industry and corporate events.

Podcast sponsor:  William and Lauren

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com

Episode 41:  Don't be Underestimated

Courtney's journey is about owning her story and not letting it own her.

As Courtney will tell you, a violent childhood in Atlanta, followed by a decision to drop out of high school, led her down a path of poor decision-making that continued for years. But, since earning her GED in 1992, Courtney has overcome insurmountable obstacles in both her professional and personal life.

Setting the bar high, she overcame her fear of flying and became a pilot in 2002. Two years later she was certified to teach aspiring pilots how to fly and follow their passion. In 2008, Courtney began her professional airline pilot career, in an industry where fewer than 4% of pilots are women. 

Within six years she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Aeronautical Science with specializations in space operations and aerospace safety systems from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. A 2012 Women Future Leaders Scholarship award fueled her determination. In 2014, Courtney moved to Nicaragua and started a nonprofit, Runucate (run+educate), to provide educational scholarships and teach English in the local community while she continued to work as a pilot. She unexpectedly relocated full time to the United States in May 2018 after political unrest erupted in Central America. She shifted her non profit focus and continues to run marathons globally to raise awareness and funds for organizations that fight illiteracy and provide education. In 2020 Courtney published a tell all memoir, This Is Your Captain Speaking - Reaching for the Sky Despite a Lifetime of Depression, Abuse and Fear. 

Through it all Courtney remains true to her mission of inspiration, mentorship and is a fierce advocate of the underdog. 

Podcast sponsor:  William and Lauren

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com

Episode 40:  Heart Centered Sales

Michelle is the Founder of Unscripted Sales.  She teaches heart-centered coaches how to sell their coaching for thousands (even as a brand new coach). She’s an author, speaker, and podcast host.

Podcast sponsor:  William and Lauren

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com/

Episode 39:  Women + Layers

Amber Anderson is the founder of Tote + Pears,  the creative studio that provides audience insights and creates content, campaigns and designs that resonate with women — the decision-makers at home and untapped talent at work. They specialize in strategy, branding, and product and service development.

Amber brings almost two decades of experience managing all areas of the product and service lifecycle. At we look at women, the people they love and the layered identities that shape how they experience life’s moments. Then we use data and our understanding of intersecting identities to design brands, content and campaigns that meet people where they are.

Podcast sponsor:  William and Lauren

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com/

Episode 38:  Believe in Yourself

Episode 37:  Title IX and Director of Toilets

Lisa Kaplowitz is the Co-founder and Executive Director of the Rutgers Center for Women in Business, and assistant professor of finance at Rutgers Business School, where she leverages 25+ years of experience as an investment banker and CFO. Lisa is also a restless champion for gender equality and her work has been featured on Bloomberg TV and in USA Today, Forbes, CFO Magazine and Bloomberg.com. Lisa’s advocacy began as a scholar-athlete at Brown University, when she was part of a landmark Title IX case that added more varsity athletic opportunities for women. Today, she continues to champion gender equity at work and in the home, alongside her husband and teenage sons, where you can see them in action in her latest TEDx, “Advancing Women in the Workplace, One Son at a Time.”

Podcast sponsor:  William and Lauren

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Episode 34:  Bloom Where You Are Planted

Mari Tautimes is the author of #KeepGoing. She brings her 20+ years of entrepreneurial leadership to coach, train, and inspire today’s business leaders of all ages, experience-levels, and industries. Mari is that rare female leader who shatters the confines of “business” as we know it by revealing our own humanity through simple yet vulnerable writing, speaking, and entrepreneurial training, unapologetically from a woman’s perspective.

Having learned from the likes of Tony Robbins and Keith Cunningham, Mari is driven to inspire and motivate others to fulfill their potential and achieve their goals. She is a world-class speaker, trainer, EOS Implementer®, and mentor, sharing her story of perseverance and success to help others create and pursue their most fulfilling lives.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
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Episode 33:  Try. Fail. Learn.

Dr. Hilit Mechaber is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Sr. Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UMMSM).  She graduated from the UM BS/MD Honors Program in Medicine and completed her residency in Primary Care Internal Medicine at the George Washington University. Her professional niche is in the area of medical student career development and work-life integration. In her current decanal role, she creates and oversees programs and resources available for all areas of medical student support and career guidance. She is a national leader in student affairs with a passion and commitment to medical student well-being. Dr. Mechaber has broad national involvement as she currently serves as the Chair-Elect of the National Group on Student Affairs (GSA), recently completing her term as past-Chair of the GSA Committee on Student Affairs (COSA) and previously as the Southern Region’s Chairperson. She also represents the GSA as a member of ERAS National Advisory Board. She has also worked to support women in medicine locally and collaboratively with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion as her medical school’s advisor of AMWA, and also served as the UMMSM faculty institutional representative to the AAMC GWIMS for 8 years. 

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
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Episode 32:  Find Your Ally

Georgette Macdonald is the Director General of the National Research Council’s Metrology Research Centre, Canada’s National Metrology Institute (NMI). Georgette provides the overall vision and direction for the research activities and measurement services delivered by NRC Metrology. She is committed to fostering innovation through high-precision measurement science and advancements in metrology. Georgette leads the team to provide coherent metrological advice that improves and informs national policy and decision-making for commerce, standards development, regulation, and trade agreements. She links ideas to implementation through collaborative initiatives with stakeholders across the innovation landscape. NRC Metrology’s actions ensure the Canadian market has access to and confidence in competent measurement solutions and while supporting the international recognition of Canada's National Accreditation schemes and National Measurement System.

Her technical background is in mass and related quantities. She started her career in metrology with GJS Mass Measurement and Fisher Scientific Canada, as a Laboratory Technologist, and then as the Laboratory Supervisor and Quality Manager. 

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
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Episode 31:  Don't Give Up

Blaire Atkinson was appointed the seventh president of the OSU Foundation in May 2020, where she leads a staff of nearly 200 professionals dedicated to serving Oklahoma State University. She graduated from OSU with a degree in business administration and holds Senior Professional in Human Resources and SHRM Senior Certified Professional certifications. 

Blaire served as president of the OSU Alumni Association from October 2018 to May 2020. Prior to this, she served as the assistant vice president of Human Resources at the Foundation for three years, before transitioning to the role of senior associate vice president of Development Services, where she provided strategic direction and oversight in marketing and communications, donor relations and special events for three years. She began her career at the Foundation in 2011.

Blaire shows a deep passion and dedication for both Oklahoma State University and improving Oklahoma through quality education. She helped create the current culture within the Foundation, which assisted the organization in reaching new heights and expanding their capabilities to support Oklahoma State University.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Episode 30:  Create Belonging

Sonal Shah serves as Interim Executive Vice President, Worldwide Network Advancement, United Way Worldwide. She leads the U.S. and International Network teams to work with local United Ways to help deliver the greatest impact for UWW's communities. She serves on the UWW Executive Leadership Team.  

Ms. Shah is a global leader on social impact and innovation. She has started and led social impact efforts in academia, government, and the private and philanthropy sectors for more than twenty-five years. Most recently she founded and led The Asian American Foundation, raising over $1 billion, the largest philanthropic effort serving the Asian American community. Before TAAF, she started and led Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation for over seven years, training students on social impact and leading research on different models of social innovation. In the Obama Administration, Ms. Shah served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Social Innovation at the White House, leading the efforts across government to introduce social innovation, including financial innovation, impact metrics, and the role of technology. In the private sector, she led the Global Development Initiatives at Google focused on impact investing and technology for social impact. At Goldman Sachs, Shah developed and implemented the firm’s environmental strategy.  

Ms. Shah also has significant experience working internationally as an economist at the Department of Treasury, setting up the central bank in Bosnia, working for post-conflict reconstruction in Kosovo, and implementing poverty reduction strategies in Africa. She also served as the chief of operations for the Center for Global Development.  

Ms. Shah was appointed by President Biden to serve as the Chief Commissioner on the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.  She also serves on Homeland Security Advisory Council.  Ms. Shah serves on the board of Oxfam America, the UBS Optimus Foundation, The Century Foundation, and the National Democratic Institute. She also serves as an adviser to Pinterest and Apollo Global Management. She is an advisor to the Provost at Georgetown University. In 2019-20, she served as the National Policy Director for Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
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E29: Make Your Contribution.

Jenna Byrnes joined the Oklahoma City Dodgers team as the Senior Vice President in September 2010. Jenna currently leads the organization’s revenue generating efforts with an emphasis in Ticket Sales, Marketing and Special Events. Additionally, Jenna focuses on designing and implementing business strategies, plans and procedures. In her time with the Dodgers, the team has increased attendance by 21% and maximized opportunities for non-baseball programming at the ballpark for businesses, nonprofits and members of the community.

In addition to her revenue responsibilities, Jenna focuses on leadership and professional development for the 50 full-time members of the organization with a focus on internal communication and company culture. She serves as a resource for other industry executives and was recognized as the 2013 and 2015 Pacific Coast League Female Executive of the Year. Jenna also teaches as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma Christian University. In 2016, Jenna was included in the okc.biz Forty Under 40 class. Jenna also contributed her perspective on “Finding Your Baseball Why” to The GMs Handbook, published in 2018 which hit #1 in 11 of Amazon’s book categories. 

Before arriving in Oklahoma, Jenna was the Senior Director of Ticket Sales for the Frisco RoughRiders (AA-Texas Rangers). Under her leadership, the team grew consistently in sales and led all of Double-A Baseball in attendance during each of her seven seasons.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply