executive coaching Archives - Page 2 of 8

Parita Kuttappan on Redefining Success for Professional Women

October 6, 2025 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Parita Kuttappan on Redefining Success for Professional Women

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Parita Kuttappan on Redefining Success for Professional Women (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 905)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Parita Kuttappan, founder of Awarify Coaching. Parita works with executive women and working parents who are striving to balance ambitious careers with demanding personal lives. She shares insights on how mindset, confidence, and resilience intersect to help women redefine success on their own terms.

From navigating corporate culture and setting healthy boundaries to reframing “no” as “next opportunity,” Parita offers actionable advice for professionals who feel stretched thin or stuck in self-doubt. She also discusses how to build confidence by taking action instead of waiting for it, and why rest and reflection are essential ingredients of true resilience.

Whether you’re leading a team, managing a household, or both, this conversation will challenge how you think about ambition, burnout, and fulfillment.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Boundaries are essential, not optional. Many professional women were never taught how to set or enforce them, and learning to do so can transform both career and personal life.
Confidence comes from doing, not waiting. Action builds confidence—waiting until you “feel ready” keeps you stuck.
“No” means next opportunity. Reframing rejection as redirection creates new opportunities and decreases self-doubt.
Resilience requires rest. True resilience isn’t grinding harder; it’s allowing space to feel, reflect, and recover before moving forward.
Mindset determines fulfillment. Shifting from self-criticism to self-choice empowers women to take ownership of their path and redefine success on their own terms.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
00:34 Guest Introduction: Parita Kuttappan
01:58 Parita’s Coaching Journey
02:19 Challenges Faced by Professional Women
12:42 The Importance of Mindset
18:58 Building Confidence
20:39 Coaching Process and Success Stories
25:49 Conclusion and Contact Information
26:46 Final Remarks and Sponsor Message

Parita Kuttappan

Parita Kuttappan is a certified and professional mindset and confidence coach for executive and professional women and working parents.

She has 16 years of experience in strategic human resources in both the professional services and defense industries. Parita earned her Certified Professional Coach (CPC) certification through iPEC (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching) coaching, an ICF-Accredited Coaching Training Program.

Parita truly believes her coachees are the experts in their lives, while she is the expert in the coaching process. She uses powerful questions and tools to help her clients overcome unhelpful blocks, manage their energy, and understand how to create thoughts and feelings that lead to fulfillment and joy. Regardless of who she is working with, Parita’s core mission is to empower working women and parents everywhere to unlock their inner goal-getters, bring awareness to what is most important to them, and live more joyful and confident lives.

Website | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

If you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,300 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their market, community, and profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors — **John Ray, host of *North Fulton Business Radio* and Owner, Ray Business Advisors**

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the author of the five-star rated book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.

Parita Kuttappan, Professional Coach, on Energy Management

August 25, 2025 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Parita Kuttappan, Professional Coach, on Energy Management

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Parita Kuttappan, Professional Coach, LIVE from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 893)

Parita Kuttappan, a certified professional coach, joined host John Ray live from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit to share insights from her keynote on energy and how we manage it.

Parita explained how energy functions like a bank account, where daily choices and long-term habits determine whether we thrive or become depleted. She introduced a framework of six areas of influence, including physical, social, and emotional, that affect energy levels and encouraged participants to journal or track patterns to recognize where their energy is being drained.

She also emphasized the importance of proactive self-care, from small restorative practices to cultivating supportive relationships, so we do not end up “in the red” energetically. Her encouragement to allow ourselves grace and to stop wearing the “superwoman cape” reminded the audience that strength is built through awareness, balance, and self-compassion.

This interview was originally broadcast live from the 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit held on August 12, 2025, at The Commons at Phase in Alpharetta, Georgia. John Ray Co. and North Fulton Business Radio were the Media Sponsors for this year’s Summit.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Event Overview
00:57 Meet the Keynote Speaker: Parita Kuttappan
01:58 Understanding Energy Management
03:54 Six Areas of Influence on Energy
04:52 The Importance of Journaling
06:30 Balancing Energy in Daily Life
08:48 Encouragement and Final Thoughts

Parita Kuttappan

Parita Kuttappan is a certified and professional mindset and confidence coach for executive and professional women and working parents.

Connect with Parita on LinkedIn

2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit

The 2025 GNFCC BOLD Women’s Leadership Summit was held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at The Commons at Phase in Alpharetta, Georgia.

The mission of BOLD—Businesswomen Organizing for Leadership and Development—is to connect businesswomen to build outstanding networks and spheres of influence, to collaborate with each other and with partner organizations to develop their businesses, and to celebrate and recognize the women of North Fulton.

Website

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC)

The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1,400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth, and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

As a five-star accredited chamber, GNFCC’s vision is to be the premier organization driving member and community success across the region, and they are dedicated to pursuing this vision based on the guiding principles of advocacy, inclusivity, and operational excellence.

GNFCC promotes the interests of their members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play, and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision-makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.

Connect with GNFCC: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 890 episodes and having featured over 1,300 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John is the national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

If you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you would rather not make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, these professionals are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

Katie Moore, Sonal Chandler, Diamond Ford, and Teresa Caro on Trademarks, Cybersecurity, Senior Salon Services, and Leadership

July 17, 2025 by John Ray

Family Business Radio

Katie Moore, Sonal Chandler, Diamond Ford, and Teresa Caro on Trademarks, Cybersecurity, Senior Salon Services, and Leadership

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Katie Moore, Sonal Chandler, Diamond Ford, and Teresa Caro on Trademarks, Cybersecurity, Senior Salon Services, and Leadership (Family Business Radio, Episode 66)

In this episode of Family Business Radio, host Anthony Chen welcomes four dynamic women whose work spans business law, cybersecurity, senior hair salon services, and leadership coaching but whose stories are deeply rooted in family, legacy, and personal mission.

Katie Moore, founder of Katherine Moore Law, LLC, shares how childhood exposure to trademark law shaped her path and why intellectual property is essential for growing businesses.
Sonal Chandler, founder of Minerva Consulting, opens up about the loss of her father, her pivot from corporate cybersecurity to entrepreneurship, and how small businesses can proactively protect themselves in an age of AI threats.
Diamond Ford, founder of Don’t Touch My Hair by Hollywood, shares her journey from childhood beauty salons to creating a luxury experience for seniors, reminding us that dignity and care never grow old.
Teresa Caro, founder of Liminist, explains how she helps business owners, and particularly family-led businesses, navigate growth plateaus, generational succession, and team dynamics to build something that lasts.

This episode, spanning from trademarks to transitions, is brimming with practical wisdom and heartfelt insight. Whether you’re building a business, protecting a legacy, or redefining success, these stories will stay with you.

Anthony concludes the show with thoughts on crafting a legacy of memories, reminding us that you can’t buy time or memories.

Family Business Radio is underwritten and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network. The show is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Katie Moore, Katherine Moore Law, LLC

Trademarks protect the identity, value, and recognition your business builds, not just your logo.
You don’t have to wait to register. “Intent to use” filings can reserve your rights as you grow.
Descriptive names are weak trademarks; creative, distinctive names offer stronger protection.

Sonal Chandler, Minerva Consulting

Small businesses are attractive targets for hackers due to limited cybersecurity defenses.
Basic protections like strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and staff training go a long way.
Don’t just chase AI tools. Focus on how they fit your business strategy and strengthen operations.

Diamond Ford, Don’t Touch My Hair by Hollywood

Seniors want luxury, dignity, and routine in their grooming just like anyone else.
Salon environments using nostalgic music and décor create healing, memory-rich experiences for aging clients.
Stories from elders—like a 110-year-old who said “right now” is the best time to be alive—remind us to live gratefully and stay present.

Teresa Caro, Liminist

Founders often become the bottleneck to growth when they don’t shift leadership mindsets.
Succession planning can take seven or more years. Start before you feel “ready.”
Build a business that can thrive without you; systems and strategy matter more than solo effort.

Anthony Chen, Lighthouse Financial and Host, Family Business Radio

True legacy means living without regret—making memories, not just money.
Overworking can cost you the life experiences you’re working so hard to afford.
“You can’t buy time or memories”—use your success to support the life you want to live now.

Katie Moore, Katherine Moore Law, LLC

Katie Moore is an attorney specializing in corporate law, contracts, and trademarks. With a focus on helping business owners protect and grow their enterprises, Katie guides her clients through the legal requirements and best practices that can help them achieve their goals.

In her trademark practice, Katie assists clients in safeguarding their brand identities. Katie’s passion lies in empowering businesses to establish and maintain strong legal foundations for the brands they have worked so hard to build.

Katie’s approach to law is characterized by her dedication to providing personalized attention and tailored solutions to each client’s unique needs.

Katie is a graduate of the University of Georgia and Catholic University in Washington, DC.

Website | LinkedIn

Sonal Chandler, Minerva Consulting

Sonal Chandler is the founder and CEO of Minerva Consulting, a woman-owned business based in Alpharetta, GA. Minerva helps small and mid-sized organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture and harness the power of AI with clarity and confidence. Her firm specializes in cyber risk management and AI readiness & integration, bridging strategy, implementation, and education to make complex technology feel actionable.

With over 20 years of experience in technology consulting, Sonal’s background spans Fortune 500 enterprises, boutique firms, and high-growth startups. She is the host of the Minerva Meets podcast and author of the Mind Spark blog, where she explores how AI and cybersecurity are shaping the future of work.

Sonal holds a Master’s in Information Technology from AIU and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management from the University of South Carolina. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, cooking, watching sports, especially football, and traveling. Her favorite role of all is being a mother and role model to her two young daughters.

Website | LinkedIn

Diamond Ford, Don’t Touch My Hair by Hollywood

Diamond Ford is the visionary founder and CEO of Don’t Touch My Hair by Hollywood, a luxury salon management company revolutionizing beauty care within senior living communities. With nearly a decade of experience specializing in beauty services for seniors, Diamond has built a brand rooted in dignity, consistency, and elevated self-care.

Don’t Touch My Hair by Hollywood is a salon management company delivering luxury pampering and grooming services to senior living communities. Infused with Old Hollywood charm from iconic starlet imagery to the intentional use of music therapy featuring classic jazz, soul, and swing, they create an experience that restores dignity, evokes joy, and celebrates legacy. Through exclusive memberships, they provide not just beauty care but a place to gather, feel seen, and be treated. The team takes pride in serving with excellence, compassion, and purpose, making every appointment a moment of care, connection, and confidence.

In addition to her leadership in salon management, Diamond is a certified trichologist, a specialist in the study of hair loss. Her work blends science, beauty, and heartfelt service to restore dignity, confidence, and personal style to aging adults. She is known for building a brand that marries glamor with purpose and for mentoring other women in business through her journey as a wife, mother, and entrepreneur.

Website | LinkedIn

Teresa Caro, Liminist

Teresa Caro is the founder and CEO of Liminist, where she utilizes her proprietary LIMINAL methodology—Learn, Investigate, Measure, Innovate, Navigate, Adapt, Lead—to catalyze growth and elevate performance among C-suite executives, senior leaders, and high-potential teams.

With over twenty years of leadership experience in complex environments, Teresa is recognized for her strategic acumen and empathetic, grounded style. Her career includes award-winning work across sectors like CPG, retail, fintech, and B2B SaaS, and she has held notable leadership roles at organizations such as Razorfish, Engauge (acquired by Publicis), and Atlanticus. Her expertise lies in guiding organizations through acquisitions and digital transformations, consistently building strong foundations for success.

Teresa’s commitment to developing future leaders extends beyond her executive coaching, as she serves as a mentor coach for initiatives such as OnBoard and the UGA Digital Marketing Competition. She is a co-author of The Purpose Playbook, which promotes purpose-driven leadership. Teresa’s credentials include an MBA from Georgia State, executive coach certifications from CEC and ICF, and specialized expertise in assessment tools and mental fitness. A devoted golfer and yoga enthusiast, Teresa exemplifies the balance of professional drive and personal fulfillment, encouraging clients to do the same.

Website | LinkedIn

Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio

Family Business Radio is sponsored and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network. Securities and advisory services are offered through OSAIC, member FINRA/SIPC. RAA is separately owned, and other entities and/or marketing names, products, or services referenced here are independent of OSAIC. The main office address is 575 Broadhollow Rd., Melville, NY 11747. You can reach Anthony at 631-465-9090, ext. 5075, or by email at anthonychen@lfnllc.com.

Anthony Chen started his career in financial services with MetLife in Buffalo, NY, in 2008. Born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, he considers himself a full-blooded New Yorker while now enjoying his Atlanta, GA, home. Specializing in family businesses and their owners, Anthony works to protect what is most important to them. From preserving to creating wealth, Anthony partners with CPAs and attorneys to help address all of the concerns and help clients achieve their goals. By using a combination of financial products ranging from life, disability, and long-term care insurance to many investment options through Royal Alliance, Anthony looks to be the eyes and ears for his client’s financial foundation. In his spare time, Anthony is an avid long-distance runner.

Follow this link to access the complete show archive of Family Business Radio.

Meg Rentschler’s Journey from Therapist to Executive Coaching

April 16, 2025 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Meg Rentschler's Journey from Therapist to Executive Coaching

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Meg Rentschler’s Journey from Therapist to Executive Coaching (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 129)

In this episode of The Price and Value Journey, host John Ray interviews Meg Rentschler, an executive coach known for her deep listening, practical insights, and real-world coaching expertise. Meg shares her transformative journey from a long-time therapist to a successful executive coach, as well as working with other coaches. She discusses the circumstances surrounding her daring decision to abandon her role as a therapist in insurance provider panels and fully commit to coaching, along with the challenges and strategies she used to make this transition. Meg offers insights on the challenging identity shift required when transitioning careers, practical advice on managing client relationships effectively, staying true to one’s service mission, and the importance of clarity in professional identity and value proposition. She and John discuss creating value-based packages rather than hourly rates, strategies for coaches to confidently price their services, and the importance of avoiding poor-fit clients despite business pressures.

The Price and Value Journey is presented by John Ray and produced by North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of the Business RadioX® podcast network.

Meg Rentschler

Meg Rentschler is an Executive and Leadership Coach renowned for her commitment to helping management teams and organizations maximize individual and collective potential through tailored coaching and team-building programs. With over two decades of experience as a psychotherapist and business owner, Meg brings a profound understanding of human behavior, workplace dynamics, and the impact of stress on performance. Her approach is rooted in solution-focused methodologies, guiding leaders and teams to identify goals, leverage strengths, and address challenges to achieve meaningful business outcomes.

Meg holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University, and a Graduate Certificate in Executive and Professional Coaching from the University of Texas at Dallas. She is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and is skilled in utilizing a range of assessment tools, including emotional intelligence instruments and the Winslow assessment for employee and executive development. Her expertise spans industries such as transportation, technology, finance, healthcare, and services, with clients including American Airlines, Aetna Healthcare, and Bell Helicopter.

In addition to her coaching practice, Meg serves on the faculty at the University of Texas at Dallas, teaching in the Graduate Program for Executive and Professional Coaching. She is also a Certified Critical Incident Responder, having supported organizations through more than 200 workplace crises since 1992.

Meg is the creator and host of the STaR Coach Show, a weekly podcast dedicated to providing strategies, tools, and resources for coaches and leaders. Through over 430 episodes, she has built a platform that educates and inspires listeners about the transformative impact of coaching, featuring expert guests and practical insights for professional growth. Her passion for empowering others and fostering healthy, productive work environments is evident in her work as a coach, educator, and podcast host.

Website | LinkedIn | STaR Coach Show Website and Podcast Episodes

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to The Price and Value Journey
00:47 Meg Rentschler’s Journey from Therapy to Coaching
02:28 Early Influences and Career Beginnings
06:19 Transition to Executive Coaching
07:55 Coaching Philosophy and Approach
11:07 Challenges and Lessons in Transition
24:52 Advice for New Coaches
30:47 Common Struggles for New Coaches
31:41 The Journey of Pricing in Coaching
32:15 Transitioning from Therapy to Coaching
33:31 Building Experience and Finding Your Niche
35:55 Shifting to Package-Based Pricing
40:41 Offering Tiered Services for Coaches
43:14 Understanding Client Value vs. Self-Worth
45:56 The Importance of Saying No to Poor Fit Clients
47:19 Balancing Business Needs with Client Fit
53:27 Capturing Wisdom and Learning from Experience
54:54 Conclusion and Contact Information

About The Price and Value Journey Podcast

The title of this show describes the journey all professional service providers are on: building a services practice by seeking to convince the world of the value you offer, helping clients achieve the outcomes they desire, and trying to do all that at a price that reflects the value you deliver.

If you feel like you’re working too hard for too little money in your solo or small firm practice, this show is for you. Even if you’re reasonably satisfied with your practice, you’ll hear ways to improve both your bottom line and the mindset you bring to your business.

John Ray hosts the show, and he produces the show in conjunction with North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®. You can also find the series on all major podcast apps. The complete show archive is here.

John Ray, Host of The Price and Value Journey

John Ray, Author of The Generosity Mindset and Host of The Price and Value Journey — John Ray, Author of *The Generosity Mindset* and Host of *The Price and Value Journey*

John Ray is the host of The Price and Value Journey.

John owns Ray Business Advisors, a business advisory practice. John’s services include business coaching and advisory work, as well as advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their pricing. John is passionate about the power of pricing for business owners, as changing pricing is the fastest way to change the profitability of a business. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, consultants, coaches, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

In his other business, John is a podcast show host, strategist, and the owner of North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®. John and his team work with B2B professionals to create and conduct their podcast using The Generosity Mindset® Method: building and deepening relationships in a non-salesy way that translates into revenue for their business.

John is also the host of North Fulton Business Radio. With over 850 shows and having featured over 1,300 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in its region like no one else.

John’s book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices

John is the #1 national best-selling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

If you are a professional services provider, your goal is to do transformative work for clients you love working with and get paid commensurate with the value you deliver to them. While negative mindsets can inhibit your growth, adopting a different mindset, The Generosity Mindset™, can replace those self-limiting beliefs. The Generosity Mindset enables you to diagnose and communicate the value you deliver to clients and, in turn, more effectively price to receive a portion of that value.

Whether you’re a consultant, coach, marketing or branding professional, business advisor, attorney, CPA, or work in virtually any other professional services discipline, your content and technical expertise are not proprietary. What’s unique, though, is your experience and how you synthesize and deliver your knowledge. What’s special is your demeanor or the way you deal with your best-fit clients. What’s invaluable is how you deliver great value by guiding people through massive changes in their personal lives and in their businesses that bring them to a place they never thought possible.

Your combination of these elements is unique in your industry.There lies your value, but it’s not the value you see. It’s the value your best-fit customers see in you.

If pricing your value feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar to you, this book will teach you why putting a price on the value your clients perceive and identify serves both them and you, and you’ll learn the factors involved in getting your price right.

The book is available at all major physical and online book retailers worldwide. Follow this link for further details.

Connect with John Ray:

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter

Business RadioX®: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Navigating and Transforming Toxic Workplace Cultures E43

August 29, 2024 by Karen

Navigating-and-Transforming-Toxic-Workplace-Cultures-Feature

Phoenix Business Radio

Navigating and Transforming Toxic Workplace Cultures E43

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Navigating and Transforming Toxic Workplace Cultures E43

In a recent episode of the Culture Crush Business podcast hosted by Kindra Maples, Catherine Mattice, CEO of Civility Partners, and Danielle Pener, Principal Attorney at Alta Employment Law Workplace Investigations, collaborated to illuminate the intricate dynamics of tackling toxic workplace cultures.

Throughout their engaging dialogue, Catherine and Danielle explored the nuances of managing workplace culture, emphasizing the dual challenges of reactive responses to crises and proactive strategies for preventing them. They discussed the triggers prompting organizations to seek their expertise, ranging from public scandals to internal acknowledgments of systemic issues, underscoring the complexity of organizational dynamics.

Are you looking for a little more guidance in how to tackle improving culture in a toxic workplace? This is your episode to listen to!

Kindra Maples and her guests advocated for a comprehensive approach to workplace culture management, advocating for ethical leadership that prioritizes both employee well-being and organizational effectiveness.

Civility Partners is a strategic organizational development firm that collaborates with clients to foster positive work environments. Their array of services encompasses executive coaching, corporate training, and extensive culture change initiatives. They specialize in aiding organizations plagued by cultures of harassment, discrimination, and bullying to bolster employee engagement, refine performance management, enhance management effectiveness, and more.

Their dedication stems from a profound desire to alleviate the suffering experienced by countless individuals in the workplace. This genuine concern for employee well-being serves as the driving force behind their endeavors.

Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the founder/CEO of Civility Partners, a strategic organizational development firm focused on helping organizations create respectful workplace cultures and specializing in turning around toxic cultures. Civility Partners’ clients range from Fortune 500’s to small businesses across many industries.

Catherine is a TEDx speaker and an HR thought-leader who has appeared in such venues as USA Today, Bloomberg, CNN, NPR, and many other national news outlets as an expert. She’s an award-winning speaker, author and blogger, and has 50+ courses reaching global audiences on LinkedIn Learning.

Catherine’s award-winning book, BACK OFF! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work, was hailed by international leadership-guru, Ken Blanchard, as, “the most comprehensive and valuable handbook on the topic.”

Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn and follow Civility Partners on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Alta Employment Law is a workplace investigations law firm based in California with offices in San Francisco and San Diego. The attorneys conduct neutral third-party workplace investigations for companies of all sizes that need to meet their legal obligations to conduct prompt, thorough and independent workplace investigations into employee claims of harassment, discrimination, and other workplace misconduct.

The attorneys of Alta Employment Law are disciplined, detail-oriented and adaptive. They excel at defining and containing scope and maintaining clear lines of communication with clients. They are approachable and deeply committed to maintaining neutrality throughout the process. A key to their success is creating an environment in which each participant can be forthcoming in interviews. This allows them to achieve unmatched levels of quality in the evidence they gather.

With decades of experience in employment law, including years as in-house counsel, and more than a decade conducting investigations for companies of all sizes, the attorneys understand the hallmarks of excellent investigations. Clients can feel confident that their conclusions will always be well-reasoned and that the findings delivered will withstand scrutiny.

Danielle Pener has been practicing employment law for over two decades. In addition to working at both large and small law firms, she served as in-house employment law counsel at a Fortune 500 company and a Bay Area technology company.

In 2015, she founded Alta Employment Law to meet a growing need for workplace investigations and employment law advice and counsel, but quickly found that her passion lay in investigations. She loves being able to bring all of her experience, skills and talents to helping employees and employers navigate the complexities of the modern workplace.

Exclusive focus on investigations has allowed Danielle to refine her process such that she is able to efficiently and effectively gather relevant facts regardless of a client’s sector or size. She has investigated complaints in settings ranging from professional services to manufacturing, high tech to hospitality, at Fortune 100 companies, large and small privately-held companies, and nonprofit organizations. She also has a well-developed toolkit for managing complexities such as complaints that involve executives, witnesses represented by counsel, reluctant witnesses and situations involving multiple complainants.

Throughout her career, Danielle has been recognized for being thoughtful and meticulous. Clients appreciate her skillful management of the investigation process, and referring attorneys recommend her to their clients based on the excellent quality of her work.

Danielle is a member of the State Bar of California and the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI). She is an AWI Certificate holder, leads AWI’s Workplace Investigation Basics seminars for those learning investigations, and has spoken at the AWI Annual Conference.

Danielle also holds inactive bar licenses in Missouri and Kansas. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Washington University in St. Louis, with a double major in Political Science and Women’s Studies, and was in the top 20% of her class at UC Davis School of Law.

Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn.

About Culture Crush

At Culture Crush, culture isn’t just a corporate buzzword. It’s a key factor that can either boost your company or lead to its failure.

We’re culture consultants, with a focus on leadership, appreciation, communication, processes, accessibility, mental health, diversity, inclusion, and creating a dynamic workplace.

As a growing company:

Culture Crush Business is your hub for company culture resources. With deep cultural insights and years of expertise, we evaluate your company’s needs and connect you with the precise resources to cultivate a thriving culture.

We work with CEOs, founders, HR Directors, or Culture Leaders of companies or teams, who value company culture and understand its impact on their business success.With Culture Crush you’ll learn how to transform your workplace into a place of unity, efficiency, and growth. Don’t just fix your company culture – transform it with Culture Crush Business.

On this podcast: We focus on everything surrounding businesses with good company culture. We will talk with company leaders to learn about real-life experiences, tips, and best practices for creating a healthy work environment where employees are finding joy and satisfaction in their work while also striving and growing within the company. We share the resources to help improve company culture and showcase them on the podcast with their tips and tricks for growing culture.

About the Host

Kindra Maples is spartan racer, past animal trainer, previous magician’s assistant, and has a weakness for Oreo cookie shakes. Her journey working with people actually started working with animals as a teenager (don’t worry we won’t go that far back for her bio).

She worked for over 15 years in the zoo industry working with animals and the public. Her passion of working with animals shifted into working with people in education, operations and leadership roles. From there her passion of leadership and helping people develop has continued to grow.

Then came the opportunity for leading the Culture Crush Business Podcast and she jumped on it. Leadership, growth, and strong company cultures are all areas that Kindra is interested in diving into further.

Thank you for our Sponsor!

This episode is sponsored by Gateway Bank, a community bank in Arizona that specializes in serving small businesses across the Valley and the country.

When you work with Gateway, you don’t have to call an 800 number for support, or submit your loan application and wait weeks or months for an answer. You get fast, personal service from a team who knows you and cares about you.

When Gateway was founded in 2007, the team had a vision of building a hometown bank that prioritizes people over profits. Over 15 years later, they’re proud to still be one of the highest-performing AND highest-rated community banks around.

Whether you need a loan or banking services for your business, Gateway is here to help. Visit gcbaz.com/culturecrush for details and a free consultation with bank President James Christensen.

All loans subject to approval. Member FDIC.

Adapting to Growth: CEO Strategies and Coaching Benefits

July 8, 2024 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Adapting to Growth: CEO Strategies and Coaching Benefits

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Adapting to Growth: CEO Strategies and Coaching Benefits

In this engaging episode of Phoenix Business Radio, Karen Nowicki welcomes Stuart Wachs and DeeAnn Palin from OnPoint Impact, highlighting their focus on business growth for privately held companies through coaching services. Stuart and DeeAnn discuss their unique approach, leveraging shared values and experiences from Vistage, a mentoring program.

The conversation shifts to crucial aspects of team building and strategic planning as businesses grow, with Stuart emphasizing the need for CEOs to adapt and simplify complex issues. They discuss the challenges CEOs face, such as balancing business and personal life, and the role of coaching in overcoming these hurdles. An illustrative example of a marketing company’s breakthrough underscores the value of clarity and strategic focus, with DeeAnn highlighting the benefits of the Metronomics system in achieving compounded growth and the importance of holistic leadership on organizational well-being.

OnPoint Impact helps businesses achieve compound growth. We lead strategy sessions and team building to help you build cohesiveness and successful operations. We assist with aligning your business and assessing and structuring for scalability.

We provide full-service coaching to CEOs and leadership teams, powered by the Metronomics platform, that enables you to develop an executable strategy and operating framework to help your company achieve compounding growth, seamlessly integrating all facets of your business, including people, cash, strategy, and execution. With OnPoint Impact’s playbook and coaching, you gain access to a clear roadmap for achieving exceptional business results. Work with accomplished coaches who are proven, results-driven executives.

OnPoint Impact Co-Founder and Executive Coach Stuart Wachs brings over 20 years of CEO and business ownership experience and 10 years of coaching and consulting.

He has successfully led organizational startups, scales, and turnarounds. Stuart’s unique mix of operations, leadership development, and culture transformation makes him an expert in guiding CEOs and leadership teams.

OnPoint Impact Co-Founder & Executive Coach DeeAnn Palin combines over 20 years of corporate executive experience with 10 years of business ownership, operations & HR consulting, and coaching.

She excels in guiding businesses towards sustainable growth, scalability, and transformation, bringing a wealth of experience from diverse sectors.

Follow OnPoint on LinkedIn.

Fostering Psychological Safety and Accountability E42

June 24, 2024 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

Fostering Psychological Safety and Accountability E42

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Fostering Psychological Safety and Accountability E42

On the “Culture Crush Business Podcast,” host Kindra Maples introduces Jonathan Bennett, an executive coach from ClearlyThen Inc., and Amy Looper, CEO of Resilient Growth. They delve into the evolving acceptance of mental health discussions in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of bridging generational gaps in leadership understanding and addressing employee needs.

During the interview, Jonathan and Amy explored the challenges of fostering psychological safety and accountability in organizations. They both acknowledge the resistance from some leaders, who often view these initiatives as peripheral to core business goals.

The episode makes it clear that transforming leadership and organizational commitment is essential to creating workplaces where employees feel safe, valued, and motivated to do their best. This is a great episode to listen to if you are interested in the importance of building cultures that are safe and strong.

Jonathan Bennett, C.Dir., provides sought-after leadership coaching and strategic counsel to CEOs, executive teams, politicians, and boards of directors across Canada. With experience in urban, rural, remote, and First Nations communities, Jonathan’s expertise is in social purpose business strategy, governance, branding, change, and communications.

Prior to coaching, Jonathan Bennett founded Laridae, a management consulting and training firm that helps non-profit and public sector organizations soar. Laridae has now served more than 200 clients. As its first CEO, Jonathan grew Laridae from a start up to a leading firm in its space—Laridae is a proud B Corp.

Jonathan is a Special Graduate Faculty in Trent University’s M.A. Sustainability Studies Graduate Program. An experienced director, he serves on two privately held, corporate boards: Accerta and CashCo Financial, and is Board Chair of a local non-profit, Peterborough Community Health Centre. He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a Chartered Director (C.Dir.). Previously, he has served terms as Chair of the Board of Directors of Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) and the Kawartha Haliburton CAS, and served two terms as a Board Director for the Writers’ Trust of Canada.

A widely published and award-winning writer, Jonathan is the author of seven books. Born in Vancouver, grew up in Sydney, Australia, Jonathan lives with his family in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn.

Amy Leigh Looper is a highly sought-after global speaker on resilience and has empowered and trained thousands of people across the globe on how to release their fear, self-doubt, and anxiety to unleash their greatest potential. Your audience will feel empowered, heard, and understood as Amy shares relatable experiences and tactical tips to help all levels of leaders thrive in uncertainty.

Amy founded Resilient Growth, a personal development company headquartered in the Phoenix, AZ area after overcoming many challenges and adversities in life. After experiencing anxiety, birth trauma, and emotional abuse, her nervous system started to deteriorate leaving her exhausted and drained.

Amy didn’t allow any of these circumstances to hold her back. Instead, she leaned on her faith over fear to guide her wisdom, she healed her mind and body connection for high performance and turned her pain into a purpose-filled mission to empower others to heal subconscious patterns that no longer serve them, and build their resilience to increase overall well-being.

Amy works with global clients such as Dell Technologies, Deloitte, Vonage, and Outreach.io. She’s on a mission to help high-achieving professionals shift from chronic stress to discover how to increase their resilience skills to navigate change, challenge, and uncertainty.

In 2022, Amy released her first book, “Leading Motherhood: Surrendering To Faith Over Fear From The Delivery Room To Board Room” and plans to release “Resilient Growth” in early 2025. She’s certified by the AZ Trauma Institute.

Connect with Amy on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Culture Crush

At Culture Crush, culture isn’t just a corporate buzzword. It’s a key factor that can either boost your company or lead to its failure.

We’re culture consultants, with a focus on leadership, appreciation, communication, processes, accessibility, mental health, diversity, inclusion, and creating a dynamic workplace.

As a growing company:

About the Host

Thank you for our Sponsor!

This episode is sponsored by Gateway Bank, a community bank in Arizona that specializes in serving small businesses across the Valley and the country.

Whether you need a loan or banking services for your business, Gateway is here to help. Visit gcbaz.com/culturecrush for details and a free consultation with bank President James Christensen.

All loans subject to approval. Member FDIC.

Empowering Scholars and Fostering Authentic Partnerships

February 1, 2024 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Empowering Scholars and Fostering Authentic Partnerships

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Empowering Scholars and Fostering Authentic Partnerships

In this episode, Karen Nowicki hosts Rachel Lutowsky, Daniel Brown, and Tacey Clayton Cundy, representing Fahrenheit Advisors, Myriad at My Home Group, and CASA Academy respectively. They discuss their collaborative efforts in empowering low-income scholars and fostering authentic partnerships for positive community impact. Rachel reflects on coaching Tacey and Daniel, emphasizing their shared commitment to CASA Academy’s mission, while Daniel shares insights into his team’s unique salary-only model, complementing Tacey’s focus on empowerment and character development.

Listen to this episode as it highlights the importance of authentic collaboration in driving meaningful change within the community.

Join this team and their teams at the Annual CASA Academy Fundraiser: Click here for Details, Sp0nsorship Opportunities and Tickets

Myriad at My Home Group is a realty company in Phoenix that assists people through one of the most important times in their lives, buying or selling a home. The experienced team of 5, has been in business for nine years and has established a unique business model in the real estate game.

With Myriad’s model, they change the atmosphere in real estate by enlisting all salaried employees, allowing them to focus their attention on creating a positive client experience.

In the past year alone, they were able to help 120 families achieve their real estate goals while building long-lasting relationships at the same time. Our real estate consulting company in Phoenix will value your home and find the best buyers for you.

Our team is currently ranked in Arizona’s top .1% of REALTORS®, top 40 agents in the state of Arizona, and are consistently in the Top 10 producers with their brokerage, My Home Group.

After working in banking for over 10 years and bartending for a year in between, Daniel Brown decided to try something new.

In 2007, he was encouraged by a friend to get into real estate. At that time, the Great Recession had just hit and the economy was suffering its worst set-backs since the Great Depression. When many people were stepping away from real estate, Daniel was just beginning.

Over the course of 4 years, he closed on over a staggering 400 homes and gained a vast amount of experience in real estate.

That experience showed Daniel how important it was for agents to have some sort of financial stability so that they could focus on client needs instead of commissions. Daniel established a unique business model in the real estate game.

With Myriad’s salaried agent model, they change the atmosphere in real estate by enlisting all salaried employees, allowing them to focus their attention on creating a positive client experience.

Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn and follow Myriad on Facebook and Instagram.

CASA Academy is a free, public charter school that serves low-income students in kindergarten through sixth grade, providing students with the early academic foundation and character skills necessary to graduate from college and succeed in life. In the 2023-24 school year, CASA has continued implementing its growth plan, serving grades K-6, with the ultimate goal of serving grades K-8 in the year 2025.

CASA is not just a school, but a movement to raise the bar for education in Phoenix. Through a combination of rigorous academics, a college-bound culture, competitively selected teachers, and an extended school-day, CASA aims to have all of its students make over a year of growth in a single year. At CASA, the road to college truly starts in kindergarten.

Tacey Clayton Cundy graduated from Bucknell University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She went on to serve as a Teach for America corps member in Phoenix.

Following her corps commitment, Mrs. Clayton Cundy remained in the classroom teaching Title I second and third graders in Phoenix and Glendale. Always eager to improve her practice, Mrs. Clayton Cundy earned her master’s degree in elementary education and reading endorsement at Arizona State University and continued her education by earning a second master’s degree in administration and supervision through a scholarship from Teach for America and the University of Phoenix.

Mrs. Clayton Cundy served multiple summers on Teach for America’s summer institute staff as a literacy specialist and academic dean. Prior to co-founding CASA Academy, Mrs. Clayton Cundy was an Aspiring Leaders fellow and Charter Starter fellow through the Arizona Charter Schools Association.

Outside of work, you can find Mrs. Clayton Cundy teaching Jazzercise fitness classes, hiking in National Parks, and spending time with her husband and daughters.

Connect with Tacey on LinkedIn and follow CASA Academy on Facebook and Instagram.

Fahrenheit Advisors is a management consulting firm. They are management consulting, business operation, and growth experts with a focus on mid-market companies across the U.S. Fahrenheit’s executive and leadership coaching practice was founded in Phoenix, AZ and has grown to include ten coaches that support clients with a variety of programs and offerings to support your talent development needs at all levels of your company.

Rachel Lutowsky’s career in talent development and organizational leadership has spanned 30 years.

As the Managing Director for Fahrenheit Advisors’ leadership coaching practice, Rachel works with her team and Fahrenheit’s clients to sharpen leadership skills and maximize effectiveness.

Rachel has the ability to understand where business challenges meet interpersonal dynamics, and brings a unique, personable style to coaching, and consulting.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn.

Navigating Leadership: Insights from Industry Pros E46

January 31, 2024 by Karen

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AZ TechCast

Navigating Leadership: Insights from Industry Pros E46

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Navigating Leadership: Insights from Industry Pros E46

This dynamic podcast interview, hosted by Karen Nowicki and Steven Zylstra, featured esteemed guests Victor Assad from Strategic HR Consulting; Carol Stewart from Tech Parks Arizona and Art Taylor from PayPal. These leaders engaged in a comprehensive exploration of effective leadership in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

The group discussed the challenges faced by leaders today, including navigating remote work arrangements, adapting to changing regulatory landscapes, and maintaining strong organizational cultures amidst hybrid work setups. Victor emphasized the importance of aligning executive expectations with employee concerns, while Art stressed the need for ethics-based compliance programs. Carol highlighted the struggle of preserving a strong organizational culture in remote settings, focusing on creating inclusive environments and fostering connections among employees.

Transitioning to essential attributes for effective leadership and team development, the discussion continued with Art underlining the importance of openness to new approaches and creating a culture of trust. Victor emphasized transparency and flexibility, while Carol added courage and empowerment to the mix.

The conversation concludes with insights into the multifaceted nature of leadership, highlighting the significance of diversity, mentorship, and continuous growth in leadership roles, encapsulating a holistic understanding of effective leadership in today’s tech-driven world.

Fostering leadership growth is an important function of the Arizona Technology Council as they hold annual peer-to-peer networking groups for industry leaders to eagage with and learn from each other.

Victor Assad Strategic HR Consulting works with companies to transform HR, conduct executive and technical searches, implement hybrid work, improve compensation and performance management, leaders, teams, and cultures of innovation so they can grow profitably.

Victor Assad is the CEO of Victor Assad Strategic HR Consulting Managing Partner of InnovationOne, LLC. He works with companies to transform HR, conduct executive and technical searches, implement hybrid work, and improve leaders, teams, and cultures of innovation.

Victor is the author of the highly acclaimed book, Hack Recruiting: The Best of Empirical Research, Method and Process, and Digitization. He publishes a weekly blog and is quoted in journals such as The Wall Street Journal, Workforce Management, Human Resources Executive, and CEO Magazine. He publishes weekly blogs.

Victor has led human resources in strategic business units at Honeywell and Medtronic’s fast-growth, high-technology businesses. He has led HR globally from Mumbai to Milano. Victor has significantly improved HR and recruiting at business units of Honeywell and Medtronic and in his consulting, often cutting recruiting cycle time in half, improving diversity representation, and cutting costs per hire.

He has pioneered remote and hybrid work, improved performance management and compensation, built learning organizations, managed benefits, and developed great cultures, leaders, and teams.

He has worked in various industries with large and small employers, including medical devices, health care, semiconductors, high tech, real estate, retail, and with government agencies, such as the US Department of Energy, to name a few.

Victor holds a Master of Arts Degree in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. He has executive leadership certifications from Harvard and Kellogg. He and his wife live in Scottsdale, AZ.

Connect with Victor on LinkedIn.

Tech Parks Arizona advances companies of all sizes and facilitates university-industry interaction in alignment with the research, mission and goals of the University of Arizona (UA). Companies that partner with Tech Parks Arizona are linked to a world-class team that is invested in their success and directly connected to the research expertise and talent of the university through purpose-built environments which include the UA Tech Park, the UA Tech Park at The Bridges and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation.

The UA Tech Park, a thriving employment hub in southeast Tucson, houses over 100 companies and 6,000 knowledge workers, contributing a remarkable $2 billion annually to the local economy. As one of the nation’s premier research parks, it encompasses 1,267 acres and has 2 million square feet of tech offices, R&D, and laboratory facilities in southeast Tucson.

The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI), the university’s incubator network, provides access to people, programming, and places that help entrepreneurs take their companies from idea to market. With the mission to fuel the Arizona economy, UACI works to help scale science and tech-based startups through a 28-point structured roadmap.

The UA Tech Park at The Bridges is a 65-acre community of innovation within a larger 350-acre mixed-use development project, strategically located minutes from the University of Arizona Main Campus, Downtown Tucson and the Tucson International Airport.

The campus is perfect for tech-focused businesses and organizations that want to co-locate with the university and draw upon the talent and sharp minds that can be mined from the University of Arizona.

Tech Parks Arizona is proud to commemorate its 30-year anniversary. Shaping the Future at the Speed of Business – Technology’s Best Address.

Carol Stewart, a long-standing authority on research parks, is the Vice President for Tech Parks Arizona at the University of Arizona. Carol Stewart leads the UA Tech Park at Rita Road and is developing the UA Tech Park at The Bridges.

She is also president of the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI), a technology business incubator network serving the University of Arizona, Tucson and international community.

Stewart’s expertise in university research parks spans decades and nations with more than 20 years of experience working with research parks, technology commercialization, business incubation, governmental relations and business development.

As a pioneer in the research parks world, she has driven national policy, standardized programs, created national and international networks, built technology clusters, engaged stakeholders, and assisted countries with the development of their national science and technology policies.

Stewart is passionate about her community and serves as a champion in university-based economic development. She is a member of Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Flinn Foundation Steering Committee, a member of the Canadian Global Mentor Program and she also serves on the Board of Directors for Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce, Pima County’s Workforce Investment Board, Arizona Technology Council, Desert Angels, and is the Vice President on the national University Economic Development Association (UEDA) board, and a member of the North American CEO Council for Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW).

She also serves as the North American Division President for the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP). IASP is the worldwide network of science parks and areas of innovation. IASP has nearly four hundred members in 74 countries. Previously, Stewart served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), which represents 170 research parks in North America. She collaborates with numerous leaders world-wide to build and grow university-related research parks through education, unification, and collaboration. She helps to expand and advance the impact of research parks and areas of innovation by showcasing best practices across the globe.

Her proven success record also includes co-founding the Canadian chapter of the Association of University Research Parks, founding director of the David Johnston Research + Technology Park at the University of Waterloo spearheading the development of the park, advancing the park to over the one-million-square-foot milestone, leading the marketing efforts and launching the professional services division of Maplesoft, a global spin-off company from the University of Waterloo, and enhancing the entrepreneurial culture of Canada at the Canadian Industrial Innovation Centre (CIIC).

Follow Tech Parks Arizona on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

PayPal allows any business or individual with an email address to securely, conveniently and cost-effectively send and receive payments online. Our network builds on the existing financial infrastructure of bank accounts and credit cards to create a global, real-time payment solution.

Art Taylor serves as a vice president within PayPal’s Global Compliance Investigations division. In this capacity, Taylor leads a team of industry experts in charge of risk and compliance investigations in North America, ensuring PayPal fulfills its commitment to combat money laundering, terrorism financing and other related financial crimes.

Taylor’s team is primarily concentrated in two main hubs — Phoenix and Omaha, Nebraska — and encompasses approximately 400 talented subject matter experts. Taylor brings over 10 years of financial crime risk management and operations experience to PayPal.

Prior to joining the PayPal team in 2016, Taylor worked for American Express and Bank of America serving in a variety of compliance and operations leadership roles.

Over the last decade, Taylor has led global teams and developed organizational processes in the financial and compliance industries In 2015, Taylor earned the designation of Certified Advanced Financial Crimes Investigations Specialist (CAMS-CFI).

Taylor earned his master’s degree in global business management from the University of Phoenix, and a bachelor’s degree in international business from Menlo College.

Connect with Art on LinkedIn.

About Your Hosts

Steve Zylstra serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, a role he assumed in 2007. He is responsible for strategy, operations, finance and policy development. Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards in Arizona.

Zylstra serves on numerous councils, committees and boards, was named “Leader of the Year, Technology,” by the Arizona Capitol Times, and “Most Admired Leader” by the Phoenix Business Journal. In addition, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science in technology from the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Ariz.

Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.

Karen Nowicki is a successful author, speaker and the creator of Deep Impact Leadership™ and SoulMarks Coaching™. She is a two-time recipient of the prestigious national Choice Award® for her book and personal development retreat. Karen was crowned the first-ever “Mompreneur of the Year” Award in 2010 for the southwestern states. She was recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and work-life balance.

Karen has been an expert guest on regional TV and radio shows, including Fox Phoenix Morning Show, Sonoran Living, Good Morning Arizona, The Chat Room, and Mid-Day Arizona. She has been a regular contributor to many print and online magazines – publishing articles and blogs for business and education.

In addition to working with private coaching clients, Karen is also the Owner & President of Phoenix Business RadioX. The Business RadioX Network amplifies the voice of business – serving the Fortune 500,000, not just the Fortune 500. Phoenix Business RadioX helps local businesses and professional associations get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, profession, and community.

Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.

Leslie Cooper Marquez is a dynamic marketing professional with over 17 years of broad-based marketing, public relations and advertising experience in both in-house and agency environments.

Originally from Birmingham, AL, Leslie has honed her expertise across diverse sectors, including non-profit performing arts, legal marketing, mortgage technology, and residential mortgage marketing.

Leslie has been an integral part of the Arizona community for the past 5 years. Most recently, she served as the Marketing Director for Scottsdale-based mortgage technology firm, focusIT, Inc., and previously as the Director of Marketing for Ballet Arizona.

Beyond her professional commitments, Leslie is an active member of the community. She serves as a Sustainer with the Junior League of Phoenix, volunteers with the Distinguished Young Women of Arizona scholarship program and is an alumna of the esteemed Valley Leadership Accelerate class of 2019.

In her spare time, Leslie shares her passion for fitness as a dedicated barre instructor at TenPoint5 Central. Above all, she cherishes her roles as a devoted mother to a young son and a loving wife to her husband, David.

About Our Sponsor

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.

A trusted resource in strengthening Arizona’s technology industry, the Council proactively eliminates impediments that companies face, accelerates the entrepreneurial mindset in the state’s expanding innovation ecosystem, and works to create a destination for companies to be, thrive and stay.

Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.