What Women Can Do to Break Through the Post-Pandemic Career Barriers

2022 was a challenging year for many women entrepreneurs, leaders and executives who took on the responsibility of healing and rejuvenating their families and teams.

I talked with Leslie Grossman, Director of the Executive Women's Leadership program at George Washington University and the founder of Her Circle Leadership coach training program, about those challenges and the steps women can take to ensure that they achieve their goals in 2023. 

In this interview, we cover:

• What to do before you quit (don’t just give up!)

• How to be heard at a meeting - live or remote

• Where and how to build relationships that build your career or business

• Why delegating boost both your personal life and career

It is a lively discussion, and you'll come away with things you can do immediately. 

Head on to listen to the conversation in here:

After you have watched this- let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Then… are you ready to make 2023 a Great Year for Your Career or Business?

If you are looking for a new career avenue as a coach or want to deepen your coaching and leadership skills and make a bigger impact, income and influence in 2023, Leslie is offering a free workshop: How You Can Train (and Coach) Women Executives and Entrepreneurs to Soar! On Thursday, January 12th. This is great for Coaches, Consultants, Trainers, HR and DE&I Professionals. 

Sign up to join the live workshop and get access to the recording here. 

The next cohort of Leslie’s unique and powerful The Her Circle Leadership 6-week Women’s Leadership Coach Certification Program starts on January 31st. You can find all the information and apply to the program here and start supporting and empowering women leaders in profound ways. 

Much love, Jenni 

How I got here 1/2

It’s been a while since I have introduced myself.

I was born and raised in the forests of Eastern Finland.

I work as a transformational success coach, energy healer, and Rapid Transformational Therapist (hypnotherapist) for my own company Glad Unlimited.

I don't think titles do justice to our uniqueness and two people can't and don't do the same job in the same way.

I have developed my unique process and coaching methods over the years.

I have over 25 years of experience in the business of which 8 years is running my own company.

No, wait... My very first business was selling omelets to my family at the age of 9.

I didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school, so I took 2 years off and worked in 3 jobs; in the book store, sports store, and hamburger place… trying to figure out what to do “for the rest of my life”, what to study, who to become.

I felt alone with my decision and that it was a big thing to decide!

Secretly I wanted to study psychology, communication, philosophy but I just couldn’t force myself to focus and read so many books so I could apply to the university.

I never got the highest level of degree and it still bothers my ego sometimes, even I have proved I don’t need it to my happiness or to fulfill my professional ambitions.

When I was 21, I ended up studying information technology being one of the few girls in the department.

Throughout my studies, I supported myself by working part-time.

I had summer jobs teaching Finnish media moguls how to use email, as an IT admin, and after an exchange program in Holland, I worked in an IT company in London.

When I went back to Helsinki, the IT bubble had just blown up. No jobs, everyone panicked.

But I needed a job, it was my time to start living the “adult” life and make my living, so I decided to find it.

I managed to get my first “real” one in the cool mobile technology company Zed.

They laid off people as I was walking in. Therefore I was never officially introduced to my colleagues.

We developed the very first mobile business email solutions and products in the world.

I loved my Nokia Communicator and playing with all the new gadgets.

Once a nerd, always a nerd.

For my whole corporate career, over 13 years, I worked with mobile solutions, apps, mobile marketing, games, the internet...

I was developing and managing the range of mobile products & teams, sales, working for Nokia as a consultant, leading global projects for 64 countries.

I became the busy businesswoman who traveled for work. It was something I had dreamed of earlier.

After I transformed my career and followed my real calling, I felt sad as I first thought all this experience was wasted.

But no, all this experience helped me to understand my corporate clients where they come from and what they are dealing with.

It has helped me to build an online business- there are so many skills, knowledge & experiences that have helped me get here.

Mobile has been a big word for me.

It means movement. Flow. Freedom.

I’m a changemaker, change-lover, and an early adapter, naturally leaning towards the new.

For a long time I dreamt about freedom: feel free to be me, to express myself and my creativity, find my purpose and be able to manage my time, travel, and work from anywhere.

I have made this dream consciously true.

Since I was little I have felt I want and need to help others just because I can.

People always came to me for comfort, support, and advice.

I have a super-strong intuition and an ability to sense the energetics quickly.

This inner zoom lens helps me to see the big picture where my clients are fast, what they are going through and how they ended up there: one thing has led to another, what’s actually holding them back so we can release that and create new direction and vision.

But before I took the leap, I didn’t know how to change, create a new career or even build a business.

It's different when there's no one watching.

I faced a lot of resistance and fears.

Through my own obstacles, I needed to learn how to empower myself and transform from the inside out, create success and happiness meaningfully, from the heart, by cultivating the art of presence and my authentic essence, gifts.

This is why I started my coaching business first in Finland, then the next one in New York.

I'd also love to hear from you…

What's your success story? What do you want to accomplish?

Share with me below.

Much love, Jenni

If you know you need help to sort things out, find a new direction and stop standing in your own way so you can get clarity and results fast, book a Clarity consultation call here

How to energize yourelf when you feel drained

My 2-year old daughter had been waking multiple times per night for the last few nights. Actually even longer.

I’ve been okay with that; up during the nights and feeling energized during the days, until suddenly I was at my breaking point.

The lack of sleep starts eating us slowly and surely.

Already on Sunday, I needed to stay at home to take a nap when everyone else went to the beach. 

Yes, that was a severe FOMO moment, I hate anything or anyone over-controlling me, like even lack of sleep, and I felt sorry for myself that I couldn’t join my daughter and husband, as I really wanted to go. 

But… I needed to prioritize my well-being to get through the day.

It reminded me about my burnout and related insomnia from 12 years ago. My body still remembers well how awful that felt, and as I have said there’s no way I’m letting anything like that happen again. 

That’s why I love endlessly priest about healthy habits, how to maintain your energy, wellbeing from the inside out because all that is the source of everything and help others heal the roots for their issues, like I have done. 

It took a long time until I found the ways (worthiness) to make things easier for myself and find the shortcuts. 

Finding microwave potatoes from Spain is one of these shortcuts and helps to get dinner ready SO much faster (and they are better than the big muddy ones, tasting like new potatoes :)) I’m so proud of myself I’ve been able to let go of perfectionism in these little but remarkable ways! Allowing myself to make things as easy as I can is my mantra nowadays- with business and pleasure.  

So back to it… on Monday morning I woke up dead tired again. 

Lack of sleep makes anyone feel low, lacking energy, clarity, and creativity, and joy. 

The foggy brain, unclear thoughts, issues with the memory, never-ending sentences… yes, the tired brain disconnects us from our essence and brilliance. From the body and it’s hard to be present and our best selves when we are in survival mode. It’s easy to neglect healthy habits when you are just so tired and rather complain than do anything for it.  

Before I had a child I had no idea what kind of miracles working mothers were capable of. Now I know. 

You do amazing things! You should be so much prouder of yourself! You are creative, passionate, your mindset is better than many high-achievers, you get through anything!

After years of working with people and myself, I also know we CAN help ourselves feel energized and good even if it’s not possible for you to nap, sleep (or fall asleep) during the day because you work, and you have your passions.

When you feel good, good things can come, you get the results. Putting in the effort from the place of negative energy is a waste of time.

I also know many exhausted high-achieving women and mothers who tend to put in more effort, do one more thing, juggle even more balls in the air and escape their feelings, facing the reality and allowing themselves to get the rest of their need because they feel they will miss something out. But also because deep down they don’t feel enough and worthy to do that- they give a lot but don’t really know how to receive the same.

I was so tired on Monday morning I didn’t remember later in the day if I had even showered (I did).

What I did help me to start my day again so I forgot the morning totally, which was the turning point for me and I got myself energized for the work and the calls with my clients in the afternoon. I don’t like to cancel but as a coach, I need to show up as my best self. 

Before we can show up for anyone else, even for our kids, we have to show up for ourselves, and that’s the key here.  

Tips on how to raise your energy after a sleepless night or when you are feeling drained and you have to work and take care of your responsibilities:

1. If you wake up dead tired, don’t fuel yourself up with coffee but sleep more if you can. Just go back to bed and rest. 

2. Feel your feelings, lie in bed, and breathe to release all tension and negativity out. 

3. Journal about everything that’s going on. It’s okay to vent and struggle. Let it out.

4. Give yourself permission to have an off day. 

5. Focus on easy, simple tasks that don't require a lot from you.  

6. Minimize all events that are not obligatory on that day including work & personal life.

7. Say no to everything you can. 

8. Don’t make any big decisions. 

9. Ask for help, from your partner, a friend. Say that you are struggling. 

10. Order in, make a really simple dinner, or ask someone else to cook.

11. Think about the issues that cause the problem and ideas on how to fix the situation. Do you need to find information on something? Can you get help with that? Is there a boundary that you need to set for yourself or others? Change a habit if it’s somehow you who keeps you up? 

12. Go to bed early. Check your sleep habits, no screens, no substances, set those rules for yourself.

For those who are saying they don’t have time for this, you can make the time. Sit in the car for while by doing nothing, connect within, with your heart and your body. Being present, closing your eyes, and resting even you are not sleeping is helpful. You can scribble things down to any piece of paper.

If exhaustion or lack of sleep is starting to affect your performance and how you feel constantly, get help and figure out where is that coming from and change that.

When you have been operating on the high-striving mode it takes a while for your system to calm down. Repeat these little practices often, daily. Prioritize you and you will be rewarded, with results, happiness- wellbeing. You matter and your health matters.

What are the old ways that don't work for you anymore? What ways work for you?

Would love to hear from you!

Much love, Jenni

P.S. The doors to the Energetic Business Breakthrough are closing on May 7th! If you feel stuck with your business, habits, or career and have challenges in receiving your highest good, your goals and desires Sign up here

P.S.S. If you struggle with insomnia or stress, finding time, energy- balancing the work and life and it’s hard for making things work for you, I can help. You can get started by applying to book a complimentary Clarity call with me.

RELATED POST: 10 TIPS FOR BETTER SLEEP

Photo by Joshua Woroniecki on Unsplash