Natalie MacNeil: You started Ruby Media Group right out of college. What made you decide to take the leap into entrepreneurship rather than jumping into Corporate America?

Kristen Ruby: I decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship rather than jumping into Corporate America because I love the satisfaction of feeling that I have created something and that I have ownership of it. I think there is a big myth in America that you need to follow the system and climb the corporate ladder to gain experience. By strategically aligning with the right partners and choosing business mentors, you can gain invaluable experience that you may have otherwise not been able to gain inside of a corporation- it is a much more “hands on” approach to learning. My ultimate mission is to encourage more people to create their own businesses out of college by branding themselves appropriately in a specific niche. The media is constantly pushing out statistics about how students from 2009 do not have jobs. They should view this as a great opportunity to build something for themselves rather than jumping into a pile of competition.

NM: How have you used social media to build your business?

KR: I have used social media to build every aspect of my business. To this day, I still have not created one print advertisement. All of my new business comes through speaking engagements, conferences, my columns, or other means of social media communication. You have to commit the time to blog not only for your clients but for your own business to help build a voice and establish credibility in the marketplace. All of these things are unpaid activities but in actuality they are really your own marketing investment in yourself and your company. I utilize my blog, my web site, my Facebook and my twitter to share relevant content related to my business, as well as to promote interesting accomplishments of my clients. For example, with the help of Ruby Media Group, my client John Nevius at Anderson Kill & Olick was recently placed on Bloomberg television (twice).

NM: What tips do you have for people to make the most out of online networking?

KR: My tips would be to let your personality shine through. In the beginning of my use of social networking, I was afraid to let my personal voice shine through because I wanted everything to appear more corporate. The problem is that this looks too cookie cutter. People want to see the human aspect of your business, not just pre-canned tweets, etc. Today, I try to really share my life and blur the line between personal and corporate personas. Granted this is not the best approach for everyone, but as a blogger I feel that you have to inherently share part of your life with your audience, followers and fans to really increase client engagement.

NM: What are the top 3 lessons you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?

KR: The top 3 lessons I have learned as an entrepreneur are:

1. Don’t be afraid of big numbers. Entrepreneurs usually have a shift at some point in their first year of business where their business model changes, or they realize that the scope of the project is larger than they budgeted for. It is better to price accordingly than under price and wish you had priced accordingly from the beginning.
2. Don’t let people bring you down as a woman in business. Be proud of who you are and what you have accomplished as a female entrepreneur. Only keep people around you who will lift you up and inspire you. As a female entrepreneur, you may often receive a difficult time from some people who may say you are “too businesslike,” “not feminine enough,” and you are not “traditional enough.” Don’t let these people get you down! You are a woman of example!
3. Learn from every deal that you don’t close. This is critical, especially for early entrepreneurs who are not used to dealing with a lot of rejection. Every deal that you don’t close can teach you invaluable lessons for making future deals go smoother. I used to pour so much time into writing out detailed twelve page proposals only to have people utilize the information I wrote for them and shop it to someone else. I learned very quickly that being over-generous with upfront information can actually help you lose a deal rather than close it. Don’t give away the cow for free! You wouldn’t go into BMW and say, “Can I take this BMW home with me and then see if I want to buy it?” The same is true for your marketing services. Don’t give people the services before they have bought them or you will lose the allure of what you are selling.

NM: I have experienced people using my proposals too. It’s annoying but definitely a good lesson to learn early on. What is a day like “in your heels?”

KR: A typical day in my heels is extremely busy! The two things I love most in this world are my business and my stilettos (and of course my Dog, Morgy). I am usually running back and forth between client meetings, managing a team of five interns virtually on Skype, and having calls with partner firms. I only stop for two minutes to pick up a large coffee and half a muffin. I barely have time to eat and my Blackberry is usually buzzing. I spend a lot of my time tweeting for clients, blog writing and creating ad concepts for them. I also spend a lot of time working on the PR side of blogger outreach, pitching and placement. I love the feeling of securing placements for clients- there is nothing better than that! One of my mentors, Peter Giles, President of Giles Communications, taught me something invaluable. He said, “Always ask your clients if they are happy with what you are delivering.” I try to bring this approach into every aspect of my client relationships today.

Towards the end of the day, I always make room for an hour at the gym and some form of spiritual practice to clear my mind. After stopping for a quick bite, it is back to work! As you can tell, a day in the life of Kris Ruby’s heels is usually very entertaining- there is never a dull moment to say the least

NM: Thanks so much Kristen!

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In Her Heels: Interview with Kristen Ruby is a post from She Takes on the World

Joining me today is Stephanie Dolgoff, author of the new book, My Formerly Hot Life. Stephanie is a contributing editor at Parenting. Before that, she was a contributing editor at Real Simple, health director and features director at SELF magazine, and prior to that, executive editor and senior contributing editor at Glamour. She’s written for “O” The Oprah Magazine, Fitness, Health, Parents, Redbook, Seventeen, CosmoGirl, Ladies Home Journal, Prevention, American Photo, and many others!

Natalie MacNeil: Hi Stephanie! Tell me about Formerly Hot. Where did the name come from and what was your inspiration for the book?

Stephanie Dolgoff: The name started out as a joke. I felt like I was going through something but I couldn’t put my finger on what; I just felt weird, but everything was fine in my life. The only thing I could think of was that I wasn’t considered a “hot” girl anymore, which I had been for most of my life. I didn’t know what I was, but I knew what I wasn’t any longer: considered hot. So I joked to a friend that I should start a blog called Formerly Hot. The name alone was just too funny not to follow up on.

NM: Many women have a fear of aging. How did you let go of that fear?

SD: By laughing at it, and by realizing that there’s nothing to fear: Things are actually SO MUCH BETTER on this side of young. You’re more confident, you could care less what most others think of you, you’re better at your work, you feel better about your body, sex is better, relationships are better. I’m so much happier now than when I was a much less secure younger person (and not incidentally, looked closer to the ideal). Would I love to be me now and be “hot” again? Sure, but women our age are a different kind of hot, a more enduring, sincere kind of hot.

NM: You’ve written for many of the top magazines for women and have no doubt heard about almost every worry a woman could possibly have. What three things worry women the most in your opinion and what advice do you have for living worry-free?

SD: It depends on their age, but generally I’d say their bodies, their children and getting cancer.

I don’t think living worry free is possible or even advisable. You don’t want to be paralyzed by worry, but being aware enough to know what’s coming down the pike isn’t a bad thing. It’s a matter of degree. I’d say that as long as your worry translates to action (you exercise, take better care of your body, get your screenings and pay attention to your kids) then that’s OK. But once you’ve done what you can, put your feet up and have a glass of wine because life is too freakin’ short to spend it on pointless worry.

NM: What is a day like “in your heels?”

SD: In my flats, more likely. I have a hard time in heels these days unless they’re platforms or high-heeled clogs. NOT WORTH THE PAIN! I prep my girls for school or camp, feed them, rush them out the door, hit the gym, answer emails, make my to-do list and plow through it. On a good day I have a lunch or something fun and social to do, and then it’s looking at my to-do list and wondering why I didn’t get more done. I shop reflexively everywhere I go. I make it home and hang out with my girls some more, and zone out to Facebook or Mad Men or whatever else. I try to make sure I get some social blow-off time in every day. Otherwise I get crabby.

NM: Thanks Stephanie! And at She Takes on the World we think you’re HOT -minus the formerly.

Stephanie’s book can be purchased here.

In Her Heels: Interview with “Formerly Hot” Stephanie Dolgoff is a post from She Takes on the World

Natalie: I love the mission of ProjectExplorer.org. It’s so important to learn about different countries and cultures. What sparked the idea for this venture?

Jenny: In 1999, I was working on a web-based initiative at Credit Suisse during which time I had opportunity to work in Hong Kong and Tokyo. Having lived most of my life in rural, upstate New York, Asia was a complete cultural shock and eye-opening experience for me. I began thinking about the importance of developing a global awareness from a young age.

In 2003, after months of brainstorming I founded ProjectExplorer.org hoping to use my newfound love of travel as a way to educate young people by presenting compelling stories of the world’s cultures, histories, and people. My goal was, and is, to educate, inspire, and inform. In five short years, ProjectExplorer.org went from my simple idea to a world-class, award-winning program that is sought out by Tourism Boards to produce a series in their country.

Natalie: Turning your passion into a sustainable venture is so rewarding! Do you have a favorite series or place you’ve been?

Jenny: Without doubt, South Africa is my favorite place and ProjectExplorer.org series. I have been back three times, since production in 2007 and am currently planning another trip this year. The people there are just amazing! We had extraordinary collaborators for this series including Noble Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Interviewing Archbishop Tutu has been the high point of my professional life.

Natalie: The team you are taking to Mexico in June is an all-female team. What does that mean to you and was it your intention to put together a team of only women?

Jenny: This January, we conducted a worldwide search for new talent. The majority of those who responded were women. In fact, I only received 3 applications from men. So, all-women crew wasn’t something I had planned, it just happened.

However, the power of an all-female team (both in front of and behind the camera) holds enormous potential. Its easy to see that women and girls continue to be underrepresented in media – just turn on any news program. The team I have selected for our Mexico series (all of which are under 30) have the unique opportunity to break industry gender barriers and serve as role models for our thousands of young female viewers.

Natalie: What is a day like for you when you’re on location?

Jenny: In addition to directing and producing the ProjectExplorer.org series, I am also the Executive Director. So, while on location my workload doubles. It’s a tricky task to have to switch between the administrative and financial portion of the business, while keeping a strong focus on the creative process. Production typically means 16 hour days with 30-40 days away from home and my office. I’ve learned to juggle the two quite well. Now I am just trying to figure out how to catch some sleep on location!

Natalie: What advice do you have for social entrepreneurs?

Jenny: The best advice I can give is to spend time building your business. I see so many people who want to jump right in with the programming part of their businesses and nonprofits. It’s understandable; it’s the sexy part of what they want to do. By getting everything in order – a clear mission statement, market research, your Board of Directors & team, collateral materials, et al – you have set yourself up for success when you eventually launch your business.

Natalie: What are the three most important lessons you’ve learned while building this venture?

Jenny:

1. Being flexible and a fast decision-maker is a MUST in this line of work. I’m an uber-organized person and schedule nearly every minute on location. However, unique film opportunities oftentimes present themselves without notice. I have learned how to quickly adapt to these situations to capture the best video possible and re-work the schedule in a matter of minutes.
2. Don’t mix business and friends. While I consider many of my crew members friends, and have even hired people I knew outside of the project, when we are working I have learned the importance of asserting myself as the director. This usually means having a pre-production meeting with everyone, clearly laying out what everyone’s responsibilities are, and how we need to work (emphasis on work!) together in a compressed schedule to get the best quality material.
3. Being a young, female business leader can hold a great deal of power. Most people see my photo on our website as a series director and assume that I am the creative force behind the videos. When I meet with our sponsors, funders, and potential partners, I bring my corporate experience with me, and many of the executives I meet with are surprised to find that I am the business-mind behind the entire organization.

Natalie: Thank you so much Jenny and good luck in Mexico! I look forward to seeing the series.

Be sure to visit ProjectExplorer.org to learn more about Jenny and this social venture.

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In Her Heels: Interview with Globe Trotting Woman Entrepreneur, Jenny Buccos is a post from She Takes on the World

I just finished reading Queen of Your Own Life and I’m excited to be interviewing the authors today. Kathy Kinney and Cindy Ratzlaff are highly accomplished women and best friends. Kathy is best known for playing Mimi Bobeck on The Drew Carey Show. She has appeared in several films and television shows and toured the world with Drew Carey and the Improv All-Stars. Cindy is a publishing executive and President of Brand New Brand You. She has created marketing campaigns for more than 100 New York Times bestselling books.

Natalie: Ladies, why did you want to write Queen of Your Own Life together?

Cindy: We’ve been friends for more than 30 years. We’ve shared some of our most important life moments together. When I got laid off from my job as a publishing executive, I was hurt, frightened and really had the wind knocked out of my self-esteem. Kathy was able to hold a mirror up for me and reflect back to me what she always sees; the best in me. And, she kept doing that until I saw it too. It was through that moment of real friendship that the idea for Queen was born. Kathy and I had our own crowning ceremony to celebrate the women we had become and it made us laugh, cry and feel great. When we shared that with out other friends, they all said “I want that too.”

Kathy: It was only after four or five other crowning parties with friends that we realized we’d tapped into something pretty universal. Women everywhere were identifying with the Queen attitude. Cindy had been in publishing and she said, “I think this might be a book.” We decided that we’d write it all down only if it remained fun and only if we could work with nice people and only if it was easy. Well, the first agent we approached loved it. She was nice and the publisher who eventually won the bid for our book was nice too. The easy part was conceiving of the book. Writing was not easy but it was so much fun. I live in Los Angeles and Cindy lives in Pennsylvania. But we were still able to write together. We both have big iMac’s and we write everyday via ichat or Skype. We’ve created a virtual office for ourselves and we really can’t get through a day anymore without connecting that way.

Natalie: Throughout the book you talk about the gifts we can give ourselves. If you could each pick just one of those gifts for a woman to give herself, which would it be?

Cindy: For me that gift would be setting boundaries. So many women tell us that they are stressed and overwhelmed and that their families and friends expect too much of them and take advantage of them. We say, not so fast. Your family or friend doesn’t want to take advantage of you but we suspect you’ve been saying yes when you really mean no. When we say yes but mean no we show up for the relationship with resentment. We owe it to our friends and families to say what we mean and mean what we say.

Kathy: I’d want women to give themselves the gift of a Windy Mountain Moment. We think life is like a tapestry but most of the time we’re living in the back with all the knotted threads and trying to dodge the sharp needle poking through. It’s very important to step around to the front every once in awhile and see the beautiful work, the beauty of a life well lived. That’s the moment to take a deep breath and say “I admire this woman. I admire me.”

Natalie: What advice do you have for the woman reading this who isn’t very happy with the place she’s at in her life and wanting a change?

Cindy: Every day is a new opportunity to make that change. There is always something more. Surround yourself with positive, agenda-free friends who will support your desire to change. Then walk through the fear by taking baby steps toward your goal. Know that everyone has fear. Real bravery is taking action despite that fear.

Kathy: It’s time to, as we say in the Midwest, poop or get off the pot about how you feel about yourself. When are you going to do the things you long to do? When are you going to see the positive moments or people in a day? Isn’t it time to be happy? If not now, when?

Natalie: I see you post affirmations regularly on Twitter and Facebook and your book has a bunch of awesome “Royal Proclamations.” What is each of your favorite affirmations?

Cindy: My favorite affirmation is “I am Queen of My Own Life and I shall confront that damn talking mirror every day. It will have no power over me. Every time I look into it, I will see myself as the beautiful, intelligent, valuable woman that I am. So says the Queen!”

Kathy: One of my favorites is “I, the Queen, will fire up my imagination so that each day I can find something to be glad about. I will embrace my inner Pollyanna, without fear or embarrassment, and make the choice to be happy. I will create my own add-a-pearl necklace of gratitude and wear it with royal pride.”

Natalie: What is a day like for Queen Kathy and Queen Cindy?

Cindy: I live on the East Coast so I’m up earlier and go through all of my emails and monitor our social media sites and wait for Kathy to wake up. She lives on the West Coast. We meet every day and talk via ichat or Skype. In fact, we wrote the whole book that way. It was really fun. We didn’t even have to change out of our pajamas.

Kathy: If you can’t live near your best friend the next best thing is have a camera in your computer. We sometimes sit with Skype open not saying anything and each doing our work. It’s like the old days when we ran the New York County District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association. There’s a mouthful. So we’re still doing things we did when we were in our twenties. Ahhhh, it’s good to be the Queen!

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Queen of Your Own Life: Interview with Kathy Kinney and Cindy Ratzlaff is a post from She Takes on the World

Joining me today is Tammy Hawk-Bridges, founder of PhotoCandy, a company that turns memories into custom art pieces.

Natalie: Tell us more about your business, PhotoCandy.

Tammy: PhotoCandy was started out of a deep passion of mine which is the love of photos and memories. What I do is take a favorite picture/pictures and turn it into a piece a customized art portrait that is placed on canvas. It can be made into many different designs ranging from very abstract, pop art style, or in collages made from multiple photographs. It is fully customizable by the client based on their color preferences and their artistic taste.

Words cannot express the feeling I have when I put a canvas that I created in someone’s hands and get to see the look on their face. I create happiness and that feels amazing. I love the fact that something I created is hanging on the walls of their sacred place -their home. It means so much more than anyone really realizes.

Natalie: What made you take the leap into entrepreneurship and what did you do prior to running PhotoCandy?

Tammy: This is my second stint at being a business owner. About 12 years ago, I owned a business called Southern Soap Company. I made handcrafted soaps and sold them wholesale to stores. I had them in over 80 stores in the southeast. For the last 12 years I have been a sales exec, predominately in advertising and marketing for the media sector. What made me take the leap back to entrepreneurship? First of all: THE CURSE. I was born to be an entrepreneur -it is part of my core being.

The past several years have been tough for me. Even in our fast moving world of ideas, imagination and technology, women are still inferior in the work place, overlooked, and not paid equally to men. I am not saying that every company does that but it has been my personal experience. I am exhausted of my ideas and talent being taken for granted and once again ready to take matters in my own hands and to benefit personally from the knowledge that I have worked for all these years. In this stage of my career, my life has become more about meaning than money, I still have the need for the acknowledgment my drive and determination deserves.

Natalie: I always say that making meaning is more important to me than making money so I totally relate. What are the three biggest lessons you’ve learned as a woman entrepreneur?

Tammy: I really had to think about this one to just pick three since there are so many lessons I’ve learned.

1. One of the biggest drivers in making my decision to start PhotoCandy is that I had a business before and I made lots of mistakes. I learned my lessons and would not make any mistakes this second time around, right? WRONG. I have made new mistakes. Research ALL possibilities and exhaust them BEFORE making decisions in your business that cost money. I made a couple of very costly mistakes and as a veteran, I thought that wouldn’t happen. All business ventures are different and bring individual challenges. I don’t care if you have owned one business or twelve, treat it like it’s the very first time. Being too confident can cost money that you don’t have to spend.
2. Don’t exhaust yourself. I have literally worked an average of 18 hours a day and it wears me down emotionally and physically. This is something I battle constantly, I don’t know if I will ever be able to find the happy medium. When you are exhausted you are very vulnerable. When you are vulnerable you do not make good decisions. Nor are you emotionally equipped to handle things like disappointment and rejection which is something as a business owner you have to deal with almost daily. Unplug yourself and recharge – you will be better for it.
3. Find your focal point and stay on track. There are a million ideas -ideas curse me and keep me from sleeping at night so I too have to work at this. But you will never succeed at anything if you don’t focus on what you do the best. Some of the best advice I ever received was, “the jack of all trades is the master of none.”

Natalie: I’m still working on the focus part myself! What is a day like “in your heels?”

Tammy: I get up at 6 am and I get my kids off to school. I start the day by sitting down and going over the list of priorities that I made the night before. Because I am a morning person and that is when I am at peak I like to do my design work to fill orders because it takes careful attention to detail. Lunch is usually a handful of almonds and a cup of tea. I am not disciplined enough to stop working to eat right now… yet I am not any thinner hmmmmm.

I spend the afternoons doing research because I am still new at this venture and I am trying to learn the world of retail which is a very different animal to me. I am also working on social media and doing everything and anything I can do to get the word out about my business. I am also attending networking events every available opportunity. My day doesn’t really end right now. Yes, I take time to visit with my family and eat dinner, do a load of laundry or two but then I am right back up in my office usually well past midnight. I am extremely driven and so passionate that it is really hard to pull myself away, eat or even sleep at this point. My friends call it a gift -I refer to it as “the curse.”

Natalie: Thanks for sharing your story and advice for other entrepreneurs. One piece of advice for you: get some sleep and don’t skip any meals! Thanks Tammy.

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In Her Heels: Interview with Tammy Hawk-Bridges is a post from She Takes on the World

Photo credit: kk+

Throughout the day I love listening to TED talks while I work. Recently I went to an independent TED event with a roster of incredible speakers. One of those speakers was Marty Avery. She is the Chief Catalyst at What If, a forward thinking consulting firm that asks the question “what if?” a lot while solving problems. That question got Marty far in her career and earned her numerous accolades. She is faculty at the Banff New Media Institute’s Interactive Projects Lab and the Canadian Film Center’s Media Lab. Marty has also participated in the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Women Entrepreneurs in Canada as well as the United Nations World Summit.

Marty is one of those people whose presence leaves you feeling good -about yourself, about the people around you, about work, and about the journey we are all on. I had the opportunity to talk to Marty after the event about her career and women in business. Here’s our chat:

For more about Marty Avery, visit What-If.ca. If you would like to see Marty’s TED talk, here it is:

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The Power of “What If”: Interview with Marty Avery is a post from She Takes on the World

Part of what I love so much about connecting with other women entrepreneurs and having this blog is hearing all the stories of women who have overcome obstacles and adversity to get to where they are. Marissa Levin is a woman entrepreneur with an inspiring success story. Fourteen years ago, Marissa started her business, Information Experts, in her kitchen after her boss told her she would never be worth more than $34,000. Today, Information Experts is a multimillion-dollar integrated consulting firm and Marissa has since won several awards for her leadership skills. I am pleased to be interviewing Marissa today about her experiences as a woman entrepreneur.

Natalie: 14 years ago you started your business because your boss told you that you’d never be worth more than $34,000 and today you run a multimillion dollar company. What has this journey been like for you?

Marissa: This journey has been a tremendous learning experience. It has, in many ways, shaped and defined who I am. It has pushed me way beyond my comfort zones in many ways, and has required tremendous courage and perseverance. As a CEO and woman business owner, I am always concurrently both a teacher and a student, as well as a mentor and a protégé. I never envisioned that I would be running a business like this. I’ve always been expressive, family-oriented, relationship-focused, and interested in helping others. I try to be present in life… to show up in every aspect of my life, and in every relationship.

I also want to always be able to look squarely in the eye those that trust me and depend on me, and this need drives my decisions and actions. I take the trust and vulnerability of others very seriously. It really is these characteristics that drove me to start my own firm, because I don’t think these traits were valued or appreciated in my previous roles. Only my skill-sets were valued. I think my ability to stay true to my core value system has enabled me to be a successful leader. I also think I was very fortunate to learn early on what I didn’t want from life. And that also was a catalyst for me in starting my own firm. Overall the journey has been one of self-discovery, personal growth, and professional growth. And despite how much I have accomplished, I am certain I haven’t even scratched the surface of any of these aspects. I have so much more learning, growth, and discovery ahead of me, in all aspects of my life. And I will eagerly embrace all of it.

Natalie: Can you tell us a bit more about your company, Information Experts, and your role in the company today?

Marissa: Information Experts is a full-service strategic communications firm with three core practice areas: Education/learning, Human Capital, and Creative Services/Marketing/Outreach. Blending strategic thinking with creative and pragmatic implementation, we create and manage programs that produce real results: a changed and educated audience, a compelling brand and a more productive workforce. As CEO, internally I set the vision, mission, value system, culture, and strategic direction of the company. Externally I build our brand, articulate our value to the marketplace, establish relationships with strategic partners, and develop & maintain relationships with customers. I am very much the face of Information Experts. I also do a tremendous amount of speaking on how to successfully build a government contracting organization, how to bootstrap an organization, and how women entrepreneurs can build organizations that align with the rest of their lives. I am very passionate about helping other women business owners.

Natalie: What advice do you have for women entrepreneurs or women who may be in the position that you were in 14 years ago and wanting to start a business?

Marissa: Women today have so many more advantages than I had 14 years ago. There are so many avenues of emotional support for women business owners through local, national, and online networking organizations, and this is essential for women business owners. Tap into those groups You can’t build a business on your own, and you have so much to learn. Surround yourself with people that know more than you do and stay connected to others that emotionally support you.

Stay true to your core value system, and don’t forget to have a family life. I see so many women business owners delaying their family plans or becoming so engrossed with their businesses that they don’t nurture other essential relationships. There will never be a “right time” to try and have it all. The business can not define you. You must derive satisfaction from other aspects of your life. Do not neglect your relationships. I’ve had my business for almost 15 years, and I have two boys, ages 9 and 12. It is extraordinarily hard to try to be all things to all people. There are times when I have had to sacrifice the growth of my business for the development of my children but I make no apologies for that. I also implore women to give themselves the gifts of imperfection and self-acceptance. Embrace the journey and believe that you can succeed.

Natalie: What are the three most important lessons you have learned building Information Experts?

Marissa: I’ve learned finally to not compare myself to other successful women who seem to have it all together. Invariably, things are not always as they seem, and no one has it all together. I have also learned how important it is embrace change because at any given time, you will need to shift strategies due to circumstances beyond your control. Finally, I’ve learned that when you are in the middle of the ocean, failure is not an option. We must keep swimming. Somehow, in the hardest of times, we are able to find the strength to pull through and to come out stronger in the end. We must have patience and faith that things will turn out the way they were meant to be.

Natalie: What is a day like “in your heels?”

Marissa: Every day is different. But every day has similar components: self-care (beginning with a 60-minute exercise session), family care (caring for my kids before and after school and being present when I am with them; connecting with my husband outside of Information Experts), organizational care (doing what I need on any given day to propel the business forward: internal meetings, external meetings, planning, etc.), connectivity with extended friends and family, and some type of spiritual fulfillment, even if it is simply a prayer of gratitude.

Natalie: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story with us Marissa.

In Her Heels: Interview with Incredible Woman Entrepreneur, Marissa Levin is a post from She Takes on the World

Manisha Thakor (left) with co-author, Sharon Kedar

Manisha Thakor is on a mission to teach women how to “own your finances and own your life.” Through her books, articles, television and radio appearances, speeches, and blog –this female personal finance expert inspires women to take charge of their money. Her latest book, co-authored with fellow Harvard MBA Sharon Kedar, is Get Financially Naked. Manisha made time in her busy schedule for an interview with She Takes on the World.

Natalie: Getting financially naked. What’s it all about?

Manisha: If the whole world got financially naked – there would be shrieks galore! In our modern, hyper-consumptive society, millions of people present external images to the world that bear limited resemblance to their true, inner financial reality. During my 15 years working in the financial services industry I met countless people earning not only six digit but even SEVEN digit incomes who were living paycheck-to-paycheck. It was this concept – that if we really bared it all financially to each other many things would change – that was the genesis of the book title.

In terms of the meat of the book, it boils down to this. If you want to have a healthy, intimate romantic relationship you need to communicate with your mate about money. Alas, that’s not the message society gives us. Money is a subject that in many respects is more taboo than sex. When you meet that someone special, people will ask if you are physically compatible, spiritually compatible, emotionally compatible, or intellectually compatible. But rarely does anyone ask if you and your honey are financially compatible. That’s too bad because study after study shows financial issues are often the ones that make or break a relationship over the long run. So the goal of this book is to give readers both a language and a roadmap to traverse the often rocky path that is getting to know your mate, financially speaking.

Natalie: Why is it so important for women to “talk money with their honey” as you put it. I’m sure you’ve heard stories from many, many women.

Manisha: First and foremost, we women face serious financial headwinds. In the U.S. for instance, women still earn a measly $0.77 to a man’s $1.00. Women spend more time out of the paid workforce than men (an average of 12 years) caring for children or aging parents, and then to put a sour cherry on the top… we live longer, requiring us to need an even larger nest egg than men to live out our golden years in peace. On top of this, we women are not encouraged -generally speaking -to actively self-educate about personal finance.

One thing I can’t emphasize enough is that this is an issue that cuts across age, ethnic, geographic, and educational lines – affecting all women. I’ve literally met women running multi-million dollar businesses who have handed over financial control to their husbands only to find out down the road that hubby made poor investments or squandered funds in other ways. I’m not trying to portray women as victims or men as financial assailants -my point is simply that a more ideal situation would arise from BOTH partners having shared responsibility and awareness for household finances.

Natalie: Like you, I grew up in a household where money was talked about and my parents taught me the basics of personal finance. How should parents introduce their kids to personal finance?

Manisha: First, let me caveat that I’m not a parent! However, I am fascinated by the debate in the parenting community as to whether or not allowances should be tied to chores. I heard one woman say she didn’t want her kids to have negative associations with money… like work… and that’s why she felt allowances should be given with no strings attached. My observation has been that the earlier in life a person associates money with work, the better their financial habits. After all, unless a gigantic inheritance rains down on your head, the way the vast majority of us get money is precisely through work!

Another tool parents can use is to make the spending of food or entertainment funds a family project. For instance tell your kids how much you have budgeted to spend at the grocery store and have them shop with you – put them in charge of adding items up on a calculator as you put them in the basket. To me, the key challenge for a parent is to teach their children that money is something that is earned in exchange for work. That simple but powerful link seems to have gone missing over the past few decades and resulted in a culture of unfettered expectations among so many young folks.

Natalie: What advice do you have for getting financially naked with your partner?

Manisha: The most important thing to know is that there is no “right way.” Your goal as a couple is to have a fun and joyful life while living within your means. To do this, you need to each understand how the other one defines “joyful.” For me it’s endless hours in coffee houses reading and thinking about life. For my incredible husband it’s riding his motorcycle off road with his friends. What makes each of our hearts sing is unique. What is universal, however, is the fact that if you spend more than you earn, if your life is financed by debt, if you don’t know where your important documents are stored or whether you have adequate insurance protection in the event something goes wrong… life can become very stressful.

Get Financially Naked presents a 3 step plan for couples:

1. Understand your, and your mates’, money histories – to know what each of your financial dreams and hot buttons are.
2. Take a financial compatibility quiz to assess where you each fall in relations to money on three dynamics – knowledge, interest, and behavior – to identify gaps in knowledge and/or possible points of friction.
3. After this “financial foreplay” get “down to business” by listing what you own, owe, earn, spend, and your credit scores. It’s not a one and done activity but rather something couples should do annually at a minimum. If you need extra help, I suggest hiring an hourly, fee-based financial planner (NAPFA.org and GarrettPlanningNetwork.com are two great resources to find one in your area) to help you through this final step.

Natalie: What is a day like “in your heels?”

Manisha: A typical day for me is full of blue jeans and tee shirts, lots of coffee, and tons of fun. After 15 years in financial services, I left the corporate world in the spring of 2009 to go out on my own in pursuit of my dream of becoming the “Rachel Maddow of personal finance for women.” When a person thinks “personal finance” and “global women’s economic empowerment,” I want them to think Manisha Thakor.

As a solopreneur, I think of each day’s tasks as falling into one of these three buckets: Content, Distribution, Monetization. Right now I’m most focused on the first two buckets, under the belief that if I can help working women not only learn how to manage their money but really get motivated and excited to own their finances and own their lives, the monetization piece will fall into place over time. It’s very important to me that for every dollar I earn, whoever paid me that dollar receives way more than a dollar in value from me. In 2010 my primary goal is identifying what working women want when it comes to personal finance – specifically what gap in knowledge or motivation can I fill to help them live their lives from a place of financial strength.  Looking forward, I’d love to write another book, one that is truly a breakthrough on the feminist financial front and ultimately to host my own weekly 30 minute TV show that informs and inspires women financially on a global basis.

Natalie: It sounds like you will be incredibly busy moving forward and I wish you all the best. Thanks for taking the time for an interview with She Takes on the World.

For more information about Manisha, please visit ManishaThakor.com. Connect with Manisha on twitter @ManishaThakor.

In Her Heels: Interview with Personal Finance Expert & Author, Manisha Thakor is a post from She Takes on the World

Natalie: What does it mean to you to be an Olympic athlete and represent your country, Turkey?

Tuğba: It means the world to an athlete. It’s truly a dream come true to be able to get to such a level where you are going head to head with the best. Everything you have worked for, sacrificed and dreamed about is on the line and making it to the Olympics makes it all worth it.

Natalie: Speaking of dreams, what advice do you have for other women about setting goals and having a dream?

Tuğba: I am also a coach as well as an athlete so I see a lot of young, talented women who just don’t set their sights high enough and stick to their goals. It is more comfortable to be mediocre and fit in with the crowd than to take that extra step and do something for yourself in order to reach your dream. The path to success is often lonely and a lot harder. This is a trap. I feel that if I want to achieve something than I will do everything in my control to get it done because anything less will result in “what ifs” and regrets and I don’t think I could live with that.

Natalie: That’s great advice. Last, what is a day like for you?

Tuğba: My days vary depending on the time of year. In the summer we put in a lot more hours at the rink but in the winter, which is competitive season, we go for higher quality than quantity. A typical day would be training three hours on the ice with breaks between each hour session then off-ice work out classes. At the end of the day, I also coach for a few hours to help with my expenses.

Natalie: Thank you so much for taking the time for this interview and best of luck in Vancouver!

Show Tuğba your support by leaving her a message here. She is also a featured athlete at Panasonic’s One Winter, Five Dreams Athletes’ Blog where you can follow her Olympic journey.

Interview with Olympic Figure Skater, Tuğba Karademir is a post from She Takes on the World