Office Baggage

A special crossover with our sister podcast, Table Stakes. As companies around the world cope with the ramifications of a global crisis, it’s more important than ever to ensure our company’s leaders and future leaders feel engaged and supported and have the tools necessary to future-proof your talent and succession strategy. There needs to be a massive shift in how we are training and building successful and sustainable workforces at every level of seniority. Partners Kirsten Ramos, Elevate Performance Solutions and Sophia Ruffolo, femmebought, and Marcy Twete, MT Consulting, are sharing their new program – Upskilling Remotely, Building Talent and Trust for the Future – inspiring companies to invest in managerial trust, preventing “diversity drain” and more. Our Guests Today: Sophia Ruffolo, Founder and CEO, femmebought Meet Sophia, a determined and passionate entrepreneur, lawyer, and advocate. As Co-Founder and CEO of femmebought, Sophia’s on a mission to help women-owned businesses reach the top. femmebought is an online women’s business directory, community, and education hub empowering women around the world to achieve their dreams.  Since launching femmebought in 2018, Sophia has built relationships with thousands of women worldwide. femmebought has a digital presence in over 3 continents and 10 countries with community hubs in Toronto, Chicago, and Tel Aviv. There are no plans of slowing down! People love working with Sophia because of her endless energy and drive to help women launch businesses on their terms. Through femmebought, Sophia builds bridges, offering real advice where there are gaps. Through femmebought, she prides herself on connecting you with the resources and network you need to launch and scale your business. Sophia champions diversity and inclusion, especially for underserved populations. She’s launched Pro Bono programs in two countries. She’s a sought after speaker on risk management, regulation, and growing a business from a side-hustle to full-time. If you’re ready to have a life built for freedom and flexibility, you need to speak to Sophia! Instead of waiting for someone to hand her a CEO title, she created it. Sophia believes that success isn’t defined by location or job title, but by passion and talent. Join femmebought today to live out this mission with her, and help women reach the top. Kirsten Ramos, Founder, Elevate Performance Solutions For over 10 years, Kirsten Ramos has motivated individuals to look within themselves to work more effectively with others. Kirsten Ramos has lead learning and development activities for smaller, post start-up organizations to a Fortune 500 company.  Her passion is working with new managers to provide tools for leading others effectively, assisting individuals with presentation skills, and developing and delivery fun and engaging team building.  Kirsten is certified in EverythingDiSC and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Assessment (MBTI) administration, and course delivery.  Kirsten has a Synchronous Learning Delivery certificate from the American Society for Training & Development (ATD) and much experience creating and delivering in-person and virtual learning to meet the demands of the global workforce.As an engaging facilitator, Kirsten has an easy-going, yet polished, style that clients appreciate.  Many former participants have shared they didn’t want to attend an “all-day session,” but walked away with skills they could implement th...

Carson Tate believes that work can be the full expression of who we are – the vehicle that takes us to a place where we reach the full potential of our greatness. Carson joins us to talk about her new book – Own It. Love It. Make It Work. In today’s environment, it can feel like we don’t have the same agency or ability to control our own destinies or careers. But we do! Carson’s mindset in itself is inspiring and her book will help you guide the next steps in your life and career. Our Guest Today: Carson Tate, Founder and Managing Partner, Working Simply, Author, Own It. Love It. Make It Work. Carson Tate believes that work can be the full expression of who we are – the vehicle that takes us to a place where we reach the full potential of our greatness. As a visionary in the field of personal productivity and organizational excellence, Carson uses practical advice and empathetic training to guide and support her clients, helping them shine more brightly than they ever imagined possible. A best-selling author, teacher and coach, for 15 years Carson has worked with organizations of all sizes around the world to help them improve the engagement of their employees, the productivity of their workforces, and the efficacy of their leadership. It is her mission to change how and why we work so that we can each make a greater impact on our own lives, on our communities, and on the world at large. Central to Carson’s vision is her belief that when we do work that matters to us, it leads to greater success and wealth. It becomes the foundation of a harmonious life where we have the time, space, mental clarity, physical well being, and emotional energy to take care of ourselves and others. Carson Tate is also the founder of Working Simply, Inc. where she equips organizations with tools, strategies, information and insights that inspire employees and leaders to use their gifts and talents to build their legacies. A prolific public speaker, Carson teaches audiences how to identify what success looks like from a personal and professional vantage point; how to move beyond the way we’re working today, into a new world of productivity and accomplishment; and how to “own it, love it, make it work” by breathing life and inspiration into work. Carson is a staunch advocate and champion for fair and flexible workplace practices that create healthy, nurturing environments for workers everywhere. Her goal is to shift the focus from output to impact – our value as workers is meant to be measured by our contribution. There’s nothing Carson loves more than connecting with people. In her uplifting and empowering courses, one-on-one coaching, speeches and workshops, Carson shares surprising ideas and insights that clients and audiences can immediately apply to create fulfilling lives that align with their values and priorities. She inspires people to craft a future for themselves in which their work plays a joyful role. Above all, Carson believes that work is where your mission meets your spirit. Find Carson Online: Instagram LinkedIn Working Simply Listen now:

Our society is obsessed with work ethic, but at the same time overworked, under rested, and seems to always feel a bit frazzled. Especially in this time of a global pandemic, our work lives and home lives are less separated than ever before, and it’s harder to truly find “time off.” John Fitch’s book tackles just that subject – how we, as individuals and as a society, can cultivate a “rest ethic” and spur creativity like never before. This isn’t just another time management book, it’s truly a new way of living. Our Guest Today: John Fitch, Co-Author, Time Off John Fitch is a business coach, angel investor, and writer. He is a recovering workaholic who wrote Time Off for a former version of himself. John studied Business and Media at The University of Texas at Austin. He has built a career designing digital products and as an active angel investor in technologies that are automating the mundane work that most people don’t enjoy. He cares deeply about the future of work and is optimistic that everyone has the opportunity to join the creative class in the near future. He cultivates great ideas and inspiration by hosting a dinner party, training Jiu-Jitsu, farming watermelons, playing music, and dancing. Find John Online: TimeOffBook.com @JohnFitch @Take.Time.Off Listen now:

Joined today by Jessica Merino from Merino Wealth, we’re continuing the conversation on women, money and the building blocks we all need to build financial independence and long-term success. From negotiation to charitable giving, from choosing ESG funds to taking risks, Jessica covers the finance topics you need to consider in your life today. Our Guest Today: Jessica Merino, CIMA®, CFP®, President and Founder, Merino Wealth Jessica’s interest in finances started back when she was about 9 years old, long before she knew what financial planning was. For birthdays, she passed up the usual doll and board game requests and instead asked for shares of stock, as she was fascinated with the stock market. While in high school, she began investing her own money after receiving 1 share of Walmart stock from her grandparents. This led her to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Investments, & Banking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She took a position as a financial advisor at a large firm where she worked for 11 years before starting Merino Wealth in 2016.   Jessica has helped clients in all walks of life and has built up a specialty working with high income earning female service professionals like attorneys, consultants, and women in tech who are in their 30s and 40s. She understands their challenges so her goal is to help them feel more confident and less stressed as they pursue their financial goals. Jessica loves her work and is passionate about helping women work towards financial equality. Jessica’s a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, providing financial planning services as a “fiduciary”—acting in the best interest of her financial planning clients. She was also awarded as 2019’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. She also received the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA) certification through the Investments & Wealth Institute™. Since only 17% of financial advisors are women Jessica’s also passionate about mentoring and collaborating with other female financial advisors. In her free time, Jessica volunteers with Step Up, mentoring young women in under-resourced communities. She’s also a member of the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago, TIC’s Women Advisor Group, and the Fairway Network.  Jessica lives on the Near North Side of Chicago with her wonderful husband Mike and their adorable dog Finnegan.   Follow Jessica Online: Facebook LinkedIn Listen now:

Today’s episode is a special “crossover” between Table Stakes Podcast and Office Baggage Podcast. In the environment of COVID-19, the issues surrounding employment and change management are affecting everyone whether through layoffs, furloughs, working from home, or training and safety for essential employees. All of us are dealing with both macro and micro economic issues as we consider a return to work and continued change and transformation in our work. CEO of the Prinz Law Firm, Kristen Prinz, and The Parker Avery Group’s Kathi Toll join us with expert commentary. Our Guests Today: Kristen Prinz, CEO, The Prinz Law Firm Kristen Prinz is an employment lawyer, business counselor, and founder of the Prinz Law Firm. She focuses on providing clients with strategic and cost-effective legal and business planning solutions to assist business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals in building and realizing their potential. Ms. Prinz uses strategic planning and policies to protect businesses from liability in recruiting, hiring, onboarding, assessing and separating from employees. She has helped businesses launch, grow and thrive by leveraging their employee and business relationships. Kathi Toll, Senior Manager, Change Management, The Parker Avery Group Kathi Toll is a management consultant who collaborates with retailers and brands to design and implement transformational business initiatives through change and project management, as well as education design and delivery. From Fortune 500 companies to mid-size firms, Kathi navigates intricate organizations and leads complex projects, while guiding effective internal and external communications. Kathi’s experience spans organizational change management, learning and development, and project management. She specializes in luxury beauty and works with retail clients that include many of the world’s leading brands and labels. Kathi holds a B. Ph. in Communication Studies from Northwestern University and completed her M.S. is Communication and Leadership at Northwestern. She also holds certifications from the Prosci Change Management program and the Kellogg School of Management. When Kathi has a break from consulting or studying at home in Chicago, she stays motivated by swinging kettle-bells, cycling, and hunting for the perfect shade of red lipstick. ​ Find Kristen Online * The Prinz Law Firm* Twitter* LinkedIn* Kristen’s Podcast – Tales from Around the Watercooler Find Kathi Online * Website* LinkedIn* Twitter Shownotes The list below details any key topics, issues, articles, notes mentioned in today’s show. * The Guardian: Women’s domestic burden just got heavier during coronavirus Listen Now Or tune in anywhere podcasts are found including

All of us have experienced job loss at some point in our lives and careers. Today, in the wake of COVID-19, millions of Americans are experiencing the acute pain, fear and grief that accompanies that loss. Joined by the CEO of Work It Daily, JT O’Donnell, we’re unpacking the uncomfortable stages of grief that often come with job loss or change, and how to weather that process well. “Your network is your net worth right now.”JT O’Donnell, CEO, Work It Daily Our Guests Today: JT O’Donnell is the founder and CEO of Work It Daily, the world’s top online career growth club. She’s also a LinkedIn influencer, author, guest speaker, and host of the JT Talks Jobs podcast. Her advice has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, CNN, MSNBC, and Inc. Magazine.J.T. has 18+ years in the staffing and recruiting industry. She started Work It Daily back in 2008, when the Great Recession hit. She saw the need to drop the economic and geographic boundaries for career coaching, and that’s just what she did. She’s proud to say that Work It Daily offers affordable, accessible (they have their own app!), and comprehensive career coaching for everyone, not just those who pull six figures. Connect with JT and Work it Daily: * Website: www.WorkItDaily.com* LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jtodonnell Listen now:

As we all navigate the COVID-19 crisis, Rae and Marcy catch up on their coping mechanisms during this crisis. As Rae eloquently says in today’s podcast, “We’re not all in the same boat, but we’re all in the same storm.” Here’s how we’re weathering that storm. Articles/Books/Podcasts we talked about on the podcast: * Adam Grant’s WorkLife Podcast and his most recent episode on “How Science Can Fix Remote Work”* Sarah Cooper, the comedian famous for “lip syncing Trump”* Samatha Irby’s new book “Wow, No Thank You”* Alive Rescue* Tiny N Tall Rescue* Jessica Simpson’s “Open Book” Listen now:

As we all navigate the biggest change most of us have ever seen in our lives and our careers, the question of personal and leadership development is paramount during this time. Leaders who can adapt, change and lead effectively during times of crisis will certainly come out ahead when this is all over. Today, with Founder of Intelead Alexis Gladstone, we are tackling topics from leadership development to skills development, from the glass ceiling to personal branding. Our Guest Today: Alexis Gladstone, Founder, Intelead Alexis Gladstone is the founder of Intelead, a Chicago-based consulting practice dedicated to aligning people strategies and business results. Intelead designs strategies and programs to help clients develop current and next generation leaders, increase the effectiveness of individuals insales, and drive organizational change that delivers results. Alexis has a passion for empowering women and helping them succeed and is a sought out voice, trainer, and coach on the topics of women and leadership and helping clients attract and develop female talent. She has worked domestically and internationally across a variety of industries,including manufacturing, financial and legal services, and not-for-profit. Follow Alexis Online: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexisgladstone/Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexisgladstoneWebsite: https://www.intelead.com/Instagram: @inteleadinc Books/articles/other we talked about in today’s show: * Alexis’ blog post: 20 Ways to Stand Out Without Bragging Listen now:

Rarely have we been this excited to have a guest on Office Baggage. Laura Gassner Otting is the author of what Marcy and Rae think is the best damn career/business book written in the last few years. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re missing in your career – this is the answer. Laura Gassner Otting is the author of Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life. We’re talking about achieving consonance in your career and the four key elements that go with it – calling, connection, contribution and control. Our Guest Today: Laura Gassner Otting, Author, Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life Laura Gassner Otting helps people get “unstuck” — and achieve extraordinary results. Through Limitless Possibility, Laura collaborates with change agents, entrepreneurs, investors, leaders, and donors to push past the doubt and indecision that consign great ideas to limbo. She delivers strategic thinking, well-honed wisdom, and catalytic perspective informed by decades of navigating change across the start-up, nonprofit, political, and philanthropic landscapes. Laura’s 25-year resume is defined by her entrepreneurial edge. She served as a Presidential Appointee in Bill Clinton’s White House, helping shape AmeriCorps; left a leadership role at respected nonprofit search firm, Isaacson, Miller, to expand the startup ExecSearches.com; and founded and ran the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, which partnered with the full gamut of mission driven nonprofit executives, from start-up dreamers to scaling social entrepreneurs to global philanthropists. She is the author of Mission-Driven, a book for those moving from profit to purpose, and most recently the author Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life, which debuted at #2 on the Washington Post bestseller list, right behind Michelle Obama, and which Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts chose as one of her Favorite Books of 2019. Through her own commitment to give back, Laura has helped build a local Montessori school, co-founded a women’s philanthropic initiative, advised a start-up national women’s PAC, grew a citizen-leadership development program, and completed three charity-inspired marathons—projects emblematic of her passions and values. She’s turned on by the audacity of The Big Idea and that larger-than-life goal you just can’t seem to shake. She’s an instigator, a motivator, and a provocateur, and she’s never met a revolution she didn’t like. Connect with Laura Online: Website: http://lauragassnerotting.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/heylgoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heylgoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heylgoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heylgo Listen now:

Joining us today are the co-founders of women's business directory Femmebought. Together, these two powerhouse women have built a community that empowers more women to reach the top and change the game - taking action toward a level playing field for women-owned businesses. Learn how you can "put your money where your mouth is" by buying women-owned.

We’ve spent three years on the journey of Office Baggage and every week someone asks us something like “was it hard to start a podcast?” Today, Marcy is solocasting, sharing our tips, tricks, nuts and bolts on starting a podcast. Which software do we use? How much does it cost? Do we make money? Tune in for all the A’s to your Q’s. Resources mentioned in this show: * My favorite “how to start a podcast” blog post from Buzzspout* Website design platforms: WordPress, Wix, Squarespace* WordPress templates: Organic Themes* Website hosting platform: GoDaddy* Podcast hosting platform: Libsyn* Podcasting music: PremiumBeats* Our podcast artwork designer: Katie Lord* Podcast microphone: Blue Yeti* Connecting your podcast to your website: Blubrry PowerPress Podcast Plugin* Record your podcast: Zoom, Google Voice* Recording and editing software: Audacity* Online newsletter software: MailChimp Listen now:

There are fearless girls everywhere in our world – at the office, at home, on the streets where we walk every day. But do we take the time to think about them? To honor them? This week we’re talking about our fearless work, our favorite fearless girls, and a group of women who finally get what they deserve – drivers licenses! Articles/books/etc. mentioned on today’s podcast: * The Keys to the Kingdom: Saudi Women Learn to Drive * The Fearless Girl Statue is Being Relocated   Listen now:   

Last year, we coined the term #BadassSallies after our dear Kellogg Dean, Sally Blount. But this week, the world was taken over by two incredible #BadassTammies. Among other things today, we are talking about Tammy Duckworth’s new baby and a major Senate rules change as well as pilot Tammie Jo Shults’ calm-under-pressure landing last week. Articles/books/etc. mentioned on today’s podcast: * Sen. Tammy Duckworth Is a Model for How You Can Make Change In the Workplace * Tammie Jo Shults was a hero long before she saved lives of 148 people * Talking about clothing for “real women,” the future of retail and giving shout-outs to a few amazing new brands: * MM Lafleur * Universal Standard * Rent the Runway * SAG-AFTRA wants to end hotel room meetings in bid to combat sexual harassment * Marcy’s favorite self tanner recommendation (not sponsored) * St. Tropez Classic Tan * Never never never self tan without a glove * In shower gradual tan   Listen now:   

If you listened to last week’s episode, you’ll know that our Season 2 opener was recorded in….January. So we’re doing “take 2” on our opening day, and now we’ll be back in action every week from here on out. Articles/books/etc. mentioned on today’s podcast: * ABC’s new show hits the nail on the head on marriage: Splitting Up Together * Pro Tip: You CAN Make Sparkling Wine With a SodaStream   Listen now:   

It’s “Opening Day” on Office Baggage for what we’re lovingly calling “Season 2.” The lesson for our winter was the difficulty of podcasting when we aren’t at Kellogg every other Friday. And we’ll admit it, this episode was recorded in…..January. But next week’s episode is our “take 2” of the season opener, and we’re happy to be fully back in action! Articles/books/etc. mentioned on today’s podcast: * Ezza Nails opens their fist location in Chicago – check it out!   Listen now: