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Our mission is simple: to help entrepreneurs skyrocket their business success by leveraging the power of processes, policies, and people. Leading Behind The Scene is your weekly dose of inspiration to equip you to excel in business and life.
Episodes
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
How did you use your time during the 2020 lockdown? We all had our own way of preparing for life to return to normal during this time. Some of us were trying to survive, while others realized we had been coasting through life and not living. In this episode, I am sharing the seven ways to protect your heart and how you can use a time of rest to take advantage of the opportunity.
"To rise to the next level God has for us, we need first to ensure that our heart is right." - Gwendolyn Young
Highlights from this episode include:
- Preparing for opportunity (1:33)
- Checking your heart posture (2:18)
- Keep diligent watch over your heart (4:25)
- Protecting everything that comes in (6:39)
- Persevere in the face of difficulties (7:17)
- Following God's plan for you (7:51)
- Cultivate a community (8:56)
- Keep your priorities high (9:27)
- Trust the Lord in rest (10:40)
- Preach the gospel to yourself every day (11:56)
If we consistently apply these seven tips, God will teach us how to prepare for the opportunities he has for us. Your challenge this week is to join me in being more intentional about your thoughts, actions, and words and see if life does not flow more freely, abundantly, and easy for you. As always, I would love to hear where you are in your business and how the show is helping you lead behind the scenes!
Connect with Gwendolyn
Thanks for joining me on this episode of, Leading Behind the Scene! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help me reach even more entrepreneurs ready to make their move.
Thursday May 26, 2022
Thursday May 26, 2022
Are you prepared in advance to pivot? Sometimes we only think about pivoting when we are at a fork in the road. In this episode, I am chatting with Bernadette Hicks to discuss preparing in advance to pivot and how her own experience with planting seeds reaped the benefits for her whole business.
Bernadette Hicks is the CEO and President of ABC Toon Town Educational Center, one of the few African American-owned childcare providers in her community. For the last 20 years, she has been leading the center. They have weathered multiple storms from the state's ongoing fiscal crisis, which spells doom and gloom for many childcare providers but not ABC Toon Town, and she is leading through this disruption like a boss.
"Sometimes people are afraid to pivot because they're afraid of change. But what I learned is that it takes courage. People think it takes confidence, but it takes courage to pivot. Once you do it scared, and as you learn and grow, you'll be more comfortable with it." - Bernadette Hicks.
Highlights from my conversation with Bernadette Hicks include:
- Introducing Bernadette (1:14)
- Connecting with Bernadette Hicks (2:17)
- Pivoting to move to the next level (5:14)
- Keeping a legacy going after loss (8:04)
- Shifting during a global pandemic (10:07)
- Putting back to survive in the future (11:46)
- Behind the scenes of running a business (15:09)
- Creating a culture that supports (17:14)
- Preparing to pivot (21:50)
So, y'all heard it here first. If you did not have your notebook and pen with you to take notes, go ahead and hit that replay button to take down all the gems Bernadette gave us in this episode about her pivotal journey. Feel free to DM me on Instagram to share with me how you have pivoted in the past few years or where you can feel a shift coming on! As always, I would love to hear where you are in your business and how the show is helping you lead behind the scenes!
Thanks for joining me! If you enjoyed today's episode, give me a 5-star, and leave a review to help me reach even more entrepreneurs ready to make their move.
Connect with Bernadette
Connect with Gwendolyn
Thursday May 19, 2022
Thursday May 19, 2022
Did you realize you needed to make changes during the pandemic? Or maybe you have had a pivotal moment that made you understand what you were doing wasn't working. In this episode, I am chatting with Kimberly Whitfield about the four things the COVID shutdown made us realize we need to change going forward.
Kimberly is a mother, a US Air Force veteran, and an entrepreneur. Her passion is to provide financial education that provides economic empowerment and self-development. As a district director of MWR financial, she regularly empowers people every day. Kimberly holds a BS in management and serves as the Director of Operations for a leading consultancy firm that focuses on helping government agencies improve capabilities, eliminate efficiencies, and simplify their processes across accounting, management, and technology functions.
"If you keep doing the same things that you were doing in the past, and you're supposed to be going another way, it's not going to work out." - Kimberly Whitfield.
Highlights from my conversation with Kimberly Whitfield include:
- Introducing Kimberly Whitfield (1:08)
- Connecting with Kimberly (1:59)
- Kimberly's pivotal moment (4:58)
- When your plan doesn't work out (9:20)
- Increasing your cash flow (14:25)
- Minimizing your taxes (16:08)
- Minimize your debt (17:28)
- Dealing with big business (19:55)
- Actionable Homework (21:36)
- Excitement over your tax refund (23:56)
This episode was so good! I was expecting one tip from Kimberly, but she showed up and gave us four tangible changes we can and should make moving forward! What do you think? Did you make any of these changes during the global lockdown? Feel free to DM me on Instagram to share with me how you have pivoted in the past few years or where you can feel a shift coming on! As always, I would love to hear where you are in your business and how the show is helping you lead behind the scenes!
Connect with Kimberly
Text "Live" to 317-759-4105
Connect with Gwendolyn
Thanks for joining me on this episode of, Leading Behind the Scene! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help me reach even more entrepreneurs ready to make their move.
Thursday May 12, 2022
Thursday May 12, 2022
Do you feel like the only one holding yourself back is YOU? Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. Today I am chatting with Frenda Rodgers to discuss ending the battle against yourself and pivoting with discernment and strength.
Frenda is the CEO and College Access Counselor Access Chicago, where they provide homeschooling room for learning and academic tutoring for our kids. She co-founded Red House, a not-for-profit organization serving prostituted teens in Chicago and its surrounding areas. She was formerly a professional school counselor for the Brownsville Scholastic Institute and is also a recently self-published author of Nobody: Me at Age 40 - I am embracing your life's journey. Frenda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Spelman College, a couple of Master's Degrees, and is working towards her Ph.D. in Human Services with a concentration on Social and Community Services and nonprofit management.
"I pivot, and I move because God tells me to move. …if God does not lead me, because God created me and gave me this purpose, I'm lost." - Frenda Rodgers.
Highlights from my conversation with Frenda Rodgers include:
- Introducing Frenda (1:22)
- The day I met Frenda (2:38)
- Frenda's pivotal moment (5:22)
- Pivoting without a negative reason (8:48)
- Changing your plan after leaping (12:09)
- Publishing a book to help others heal (14:25)
- The strength in entrepreneurship (19:01)
- Frenda's top tip for adjusting and pivoting (21:16)
- Discernment during a shift (23:07)
I hope you caught that because Frenda dropped so many gems on being aligned with what God wants you to do, being aligned with your purpose, and being in tune with yourself during a pivot. Feel free to DM me on Instagram to share with me how you have pivoted in the past few years or where you can feel a shift coming on! As always, I would love to hear where you are in your business and how the show is helping you lead behind the scenes!
Connect with Frenda
Connect with Gwendolyn
Thanks for joining me on today's episode of, Leading Behind the Scene! If you enjoyed today's episode, please head over to Apple Podcast or Spotify, give me a 5-star, and leave a review to help me reach even more entrepreneurs ready to make their move. Also, don't forget to check out my website, visit me on Facebook, or hang out with me on Instagram to stay up-to-date on what's in store for you.
Thursday May 05, 2022
Thursday May 05, 2022
Do you feel content in your current situation and have a strong calling to do more? We have all experienced unprecedented levels of change and disruption in the past few years, and sometimes we don't know what to do with these conflicting feelings. Today we are talking with my good friend Rasheeda Davis, who I met during a pivotal moment in her life. Rasheeda will share her personal experiences and how we can navigate our shifts.
Rasheeda is currently a data analyst for Fortune 500 company where she has been in the healthcare industry for the last 17 years. For the last 20 years, she has been a leader, teacher, and mentor for young girls and women in her community. Rasheeda previously served as vice president of Heart Matters, a not-for-profit organization bringing healing to the broken and wounded hearted through creative arts, life groups, workshops, conferences, mentoring, and outreach.
"I could not be stuck where I was. I did not want to get left behind in an old season. So, I had to figure out everything from learning how to relate to people differently, that I needed community, and that I had to trust someone." - Rasheeda Davis.
Highlights from my conversation with Rasheeda Davis include:
- Introducing Rasheeda Davis (1:32)
- My first encounter with Rasheeda (3:07)
- Rasheeda's battles when we first met (4:37)
- Recognizing the need to pivot (6:53)
- Healing through ministering (9:15)
- Key steps to healing (10:57)
- You still have a choice to take action (13:40)
- Pivoting with faith (18:48)
- Shifting during a pandemic (21:19)
- Shifting to avoid settling (24:35)
- Tips for shifting (26:10)
I hope you had your notebooks and pens ready to jot down all the gems Rasheeda dropped. Pivoting can be intimidating but so fulfilling once we take that leap. Feel free to DM me on Instagram to share with me how you have pivoted in the past few years or where you can feel a shift coming on! As always, I would love to hear where you are in your business and how the show is helping you lead behind the scenes!
Connect with Rasheeda
Connect with Gwendolyn
Thanks for joining me on today's episode of, Leading Behind the Scene! If you enjoyed today's episode, please head over to Apple Podcast or Spotify, give me a 5-star, and leave a review to help me reach even more entrepreneurs ready to make their move. Also, don't forget to check out my website, visit me on Facebook, or hang out with me on Instagram to stay up-to-date on what's in store for you.
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
No one understands the ups and downs of starting a business as entrepreneurs do. When you're in the thick of it, it can feel like you're on your own, but you never have to face these challenges alone—you only need to find your community. Today we are talking with Lakita Thompson to discuss how she found her community even before starting her business and how that order of events was a game-changer.
Lakita is the CEO of Through Words Publishing, a top self-publishing company in the online space. Through Words Publishing is a virtually based publisher that can help you handle all the hurdles and stress of bringing your book into the public atmosphere. She is also the founder and executive director of the National Association of Mothers and Daughters United Worldwide, which fosters better bonds with moms and daughters to serve communities together.
"The fact that people care enough about you to let you know that you're ineffective and not being productive because you're not being your best self - that's why community is so important." - Lakita Thompson.
Highlights from my conversation with Lakita include:
- Introducing Lakita Thompson (1:50)
- How I met Lakita (2:38)
- Hopping on a plane to foster and empower community (5:39)
- Cultivating true friendships in the online space (8:56)
- What community means to Lakita (10:25)
- How community helps create purpose (11:19)
- Having a community in place for the hard times (14:22)
- Moving forward with a community (19:12)
- Why Lakita started serving the shelter (20:28)
- Zones of genius inside communities (24:18)
- For those who are struggling to find community (27:02)
What is your zone of genius in your community? Do you feel like your community identifies what you need most and helps push you each day? Feel free to DM me on Instagram to share how your community enables you to become a better version of yourself! As always, I would love to hear where you are in your business and how the show is helping you lead behind the scenes!
Connect with Lakita Thompson
Connect with Gwendolyn
Thanks for joining me on today's episode of, Leading Behind the Scene! If you enjoyed today's episode, please head over to Apple Podcast or Spotify, give me a 5-star, and leave a review to help me reach even more entrepreneurs ready to make their move. Also, don't forget to check out my website, visit me on Facebook, or hang out with me on Instagram to stay up-to-date on what's in store for you.
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
We started forming communities and building friendships that we could cultivate into lifelong relationships, even as children. It was vital for us to find adults we could gravitate to and trust, whether a teacher, coach, or family member. Today we are talking with Dr. Lolita Cleveland to discuss the importance of community in our lives and those around us who need us more than we know.
Dr. Lolita Cleveland is the CEO of Crumb Enterprises, a boutique coaching and consulting business where she focuses on business coaching, nonprofit consulting, and missions outreach. She is the founder of the Open Hands Project, designed to assist entrepreneurs and ministries with bridging their purpose with local and global humanitarian efforts addressing spiritual health, education, homelessness, and water shortages. She is also the Resource Coordinator for youth guidance, where she is a huge advocate for the children of the Chicago Public School System.
"I'm your number one cheerleader, I'm your number one coach, but I'm not gonna play with you. You've got to be ready to take the step." - Dr. Lolita Cleveland.
Highlights from my conversation with Dr. Lolita Cleveland include:
- Introducing Dr. Lolita Cleveland (2:00)
- How Lolita and I connected (2:53)
- What community means to Lolita (5:26)
- The significance of community in Lolita's life (6:21)
- Serving as an extension of the kids' community (9:18)
- Cultivating a judgment-free community (11:56)
- The Open Hands Project (15:29)
- Finding an expert before you leap (17:13)
- Protecting your community (19:09)
- Building trust in your community (23:40)
How do you extend your community to help those around you? Community is a huge part of my and Lolita's life. It has been instrumental in our personal growth and development and the work that she does with children. If you are looking for ways to create a sense of community for your own business or project, reach out to Lolita. Feel free to DM me on Instagram to share how your community helps give back! As always, I would love to hear where you are in your business and how the show is helping you lead behind the scenes!
Connect with Dr. Lolita Cleveland
Connect with Gwendolyn
Thanks for joining me on today's episode of, Leading Behind the Scene! If you enjoyed today's episode, please head over to Apple Podcast or Spotify, give me a 5-star, and leave a review to help me reach even more entrepreneurs ready to make their move. Also, don't forget to check out my website, visit me on Facebook, or hang out with me on Instagram to stay up-to-date on what's in store for you.
Thursday Apr 14, 2022
Thursday Apr 14, 2022
We all need a tribe of like-minded people in our lives that support and believe in us. For entrepreneurs, finding your tribe is essential to your success. Your tribe can help you through the tough times, offer guidance, and provide a listening ear when you need it most. So, how do you find your tribe? And once you find them, how do you make the most of those relationships? Today we are talking with Kesha Stowe to discuss our friendship and how our tribe has helped us become who we are today.
Kesha Stowe has experience in both government contracting and federal financial management. Today she's reeling in all her credentials and professional attributes to share with us how personal efforts are just as important as professional ones.
"I am my biggest advocate, and I am my biggest enemy, but as far as my support network, my community, they push me like never before. They pushed me beyond my limits." - Kesha Stowe
Highlights from my conversation with Kesha Stowe include:
- Introducing Kesha Stowe (2:44)
- The beginning of our friendship (4:04)
- Showing up for your community (6:32)
- The drive behind prioritizing friendships (8:55)
- Community is there, even in your absence (15:05)
- The effects of a community (17:01)
- The origin of Manifest (18:42)
- Contracting your small business with the government (20:05)
- Checking in with your community (22:03)
- Finding your tribe (25:06)
Sometimes we need a tribe to embrace us, and sometimes we need a group of friends who love our mamas as much as we do. Have you had a business connection turn into a close friendship? Feel free to DM me on Instagram to share how your tribe makes each day a better day in your business! As always, I would love to hear where you are in your business and how the show is helping you lead behind the scenes!
Connect with Kesha
Connect with Gwendolyn
Thanks for joining me on today's episode of, Leading Behind the Scene! If you enjoyed today's episode, please head over to Apple Podcast or Spotify, give me a 5 star, and leave a review to help me reach even more entrepreneurs ready to make their move. Also, don't forget to check out my website, visit me on Facebook, or hang out with me on Instagram to stay up-to-date on what's in store for you.
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
You've probably heard the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child." Well, the same can be said for entrepreneurs. It's not easy going it alone, so it's essential to build a supportive community of fellow business owners and be a support pillar within the group. By sharing resources and working together, you can make the journey easier and more fun. We already know the importance of having a community to support us, but how do we nurture our communities to make sure we give as much as we receive?
Today's episode is part two of our discussion on community. We will discuss our roles inside our communities and how to make sure we optimize the benefits of being a part of that community.
"When you feel like you belong, you have all the confidence in the world, and you have the confidence to take risks, you have the confidence to try new things because you have people supporting you, people cheering you on." - Gwendolyn Young
Here's what we covered in today's episode over community:
- Benefits of having a community (2:15)
- Belonging in a community (3:50)
- Give and take in a supportive community (6:29)
- Reflecting on your community (8:17)
How has having a community helped you in your business? How does your role in your community benefit everyone else? Feel free to share with me on Instagram! As always, I would love to hear where you are in your business and how the show is helping you lead behind the scenes!
Resources Mentioned
Connect with Gwendolyn
Thanks for joining me on today's episode of, Leading Behind the Scene! If you enjoyed today's episode, please head over to Apple Podcast or Spotify, give me a 5 star, and leave a review to help me reach even more entrepreneurs ready to make their move. Also, don't forget to check out my website, visit me on Facebook, or hang out with me on Instagram to stay up-to-date on what's in store for you.
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Does a supportive community surround you? No question owning your own business is hard work. It takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication to making it successful, but many business owners like yourself don't realize that you don't have to go at it alone. More importantly, you shouldn't! You need a community of people who can offer encouragement and advice when things get tough. When you're feeling overwhelmed or stuck, having this kind of community can be the difference between success and failure.
In the episodes leading up to this one, I have introduced many of the powerhouse women in my community. Today's episode is part one of my two-part discussion over community. While I don't have an official guest on today's show, you will hear my grandson, who is just as pumped up about this conversation as I am, in the background.
"You need that community of people who can love you through whatever that thing is gonna stand in the gap for you, or whatever that thing is when you can't do it for yourself." - Gwendolyn Young.
Here's what we covered in today's episode over community:
- What is community (2:30)
- What community is not (3:15)
- Learning from our mistakes (3:58)
- Exchanging knowledge within your community (4:23)
- Practicing networking (4:46)
- Learning new skills (5:23)
- Nurturing yourself within your community (5:54)
Do you have a supportive community in your business? Remember, having a group of people who believe in you and your vision can make all the difference. Feel free to share with me on Instagram! As always, I would love to hear where you are in your business and how the show is helping you lead behind the scenes!
Connect with Gwendolyn
Thanks for joining me on today's episode of, Leading Behind the Scene! If you enjoyed today's episode, please head over to Apple Podcast or Spotify, give me a 5 star, and leave a review to help me reach even more entrepreneurs ready to make their move. Also, don't forget to check out my website, visit me on Facebook, or hang out with me on Instagram to stay up-to-date on what's in store for you.