How do women business owners explain their success? How do they get wise, equipped, and win (success) by implementing their entrepreneurial dreams? I recently had the privilege of interviewing three powerhouse women business owners to ask these questions and learn. I chose Macy Troyer, Founder of the social media agency Goaldy; Estephanie Herrara, Founder of eh20 Marine Business Solutions; and Leanndra Yates, Founder of Exclusive Insights. I have been impressed and inspired by them through personal connections and wanted to introduce them to my followers because of what incredible women they are. They represent various industries, including business, marine, and education. I encourage you to listen to the complete interviews to hear their words. Let me know what inspires you from these interview highlights shared in my own words from what each of their messages said to me.
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Leanndra Yates is the Founder and CEO of Exclusive Insights, an educational consulting business that teaches families how to advocate for the needs of their students in partnership with teachers and administrators.
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What does becoming “equipped” mean for you as a woman in business?
We have to look at the whole child. We must be responsive to what’s working and what’s not and iterate a new plan. We have to take risks. We have to use data. We need to be authentic. We must be honest with families and schools and speak up that maybe the current goal isn’t the best. So many aspects encompass a human being. There may be language and cultural differences we need to learn. The more certain we are about something, the less likely we are to grow and challenge our own thinking. - Leanndra Yates
Knowing and speaking the love language of those interested in your services is important. Instead of being handed a booklet- take the time to schedule an in-person assessment. How would they like to be trained? Personalize any training and coaching based on their personality and their bandwidth. And it’s so much more than just the person you’re selling to. It’s important to discover what brands and boats they represent. What type of boating do they enjoy? What is the geography? What is the experience of the dealership? One needs to be willing to say perhaps it’s not a good match because of the knowledge gained before a sale that showed they don’t have the bandwidth to learn something new yet and will need to build to that level. - Estephanie Herrera
My self-awareness and self-belief in who I am helps me be rooted and have a firm foundation as a business owner. Then, I can circle back to my why of how to make an impact, love people, and empower my team and clients. You can pull out greatness in other people once you believe in yourself. An abundant mindset is key versus a scarcity mindset, which creates negativity and imagined competition. I am equipped by watching my mindset- knowing who I am, why I’m in the businesses I’m in, and how I can bring value. Mindset is so big. There’s more awareness around this now. Small negative self-talk spirals, and you have to catch yourself. If you are not mentally fit, it jeopardizes your business, your mental health, and your relationships. Mindset is EVERYTHING.” - Macy Troyer
How have you used your transforming influence in a gender-biased world?
The marine world is a male-dominated industry, specifically Caucasian males. Estephanie states she’s gone through a lot of challenges. Before she worked in boating dealerships in the States, she didn’t have words such as pay disparity, racism, sexism, and male chauvinism in her vocabulary. She’s found that it’s important to ensure you’re surrounded by people who empower you and value you, whether male or female.
Everybody’s experience is different, and Macy shared she hasn’t had any issues with gender bias. She is rooted in her belief in adding prospects to her clients and her team, which has nothing to do with her gender. She says, “My gender is the least interesting thing about me.” Macy’s lens of looking at how to connect with others and help make them comfortable as she gets to know them has enabled her to be the only woman in the room of very influential men and not feel intimidated. She knows the gifts she brings as a professional woman and concentrates on building connections.
Leanndra states that everything can seem like an emergency in education and life-changing decisions must be made quickly. She has had multiple experiences of being ignored or talked over in such a time-sensitive setting. She has confirmed it with various women colleagues who agree they’ve had difficulty communicating their ideas. Because the student’s needs are primary and time is of the essence- she and her female colleagues considered who the decision makers seem to listen to in planning meetings. That influential member was typically a male. Leanndra’s fix for dealing with gender bias in these situations has been to have a male colleague pitch the idea. When the idea was great, it would get through more quickly. She notes, “When I say it, it took 2-3 weeks for the idea to be acknowledged.” I deal with gender bias by recognizing patterns and determining who can get those thoughts through the quickest. Another way to deal with gender bias is to be a female business owner. Leanndra’s mother once asked her why she was still in her former administrative and teaching role based on the stress load of multiple factors. Women branching out to start their own businesses has been one powerful response to the immediacy of women dealing with a current gender bias climate.
How do you define the WIN (success) for you as a woman in business?
Success is being happy; you shine so bright when you are genuinely happy. When you’re happy, you’re aligned. Other people are affected positively. If you can be happy, that is a success. If I wake up happy in my relationships and at work, I feel I’m being successful. - Macy Troyer
Success is when the families that I’m working with have peace. Peace about how the services are being received, how the email was received, and that the child is being taken care of the way they expected they would be. Peace is knowing that someone has their back as parents and that they haven’t burned the bridge with the school. Sometimes, the issue is out of everyone’s control. We recognize that no one at this table is responsible for where we are. Peace is built when we realize we are all responsible for what happens next. - Leanndra Yates
Success is being well-rounded based on my personal goals both in and outside of corporate America. I want to grow vegetables and make my mom proud, as we grew up in the farmlands of Puerto Rico. Success is empowering the other person and sharing my knowledge. Success is hearing back from a client who has done all the prep work and calls to check in to ensure that what they’ve worked up is the best plan. Success is hearing the testimony of one client who was nervous but did her own closing after having been through my program. - Estephanie Herrera
From your experience, what is the secret sauce to being a woman in business who is wise, equipped, and WINs?
Stay true to who you are. Surround yourself with positivity. Others who may be negative may have to go. “It’s better to be alone than in bad company.” (Estephanie’s mom) To be fully happy and well-rounded, trust who you are, trust your faith, surround yourself with positive people who make you better, and be willing to let the negative people go.
Stop focusing on you so much. Instead of thinking about what you should say when networking opportunities arise, focus on others and ask how to serve them. What questions can you ask to serve, love, provide solutions, and focus on how you can help others? Instead of focusing on yourself, focus on others.
I’m still the cook in the kitchen figuring out this secret sauce. I know we need to show up and take action. Rely on the person you are and have honest examples instead of trying to be perfect. An authentic self makes a difference.
What can you apply from these interviews to your business? How can you Get Wise, Equipped, and WIN as a woman business owner? I’d love to support your journey and help you unleash your full transforming influence as a woman in leadership.
I look forward to connecting.
Transforming influence alongside you,
Macy Troyer, Owner of Goaldy, is available at macy@itsgoaldy.com or Linkedin.
Captain Estephanie Herrara, Owner of eh20 Marine Business Solutions, is available on LinkedIn, or Phone - 813 919 9605.
Leanndra Yates, Owner of Exclusive Insights, is available at leanndra@exclusiveinsights.org, or LinkedIn.