Here is the recipe:
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take a very large scoop of entrepreneurs ready to change the world
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add one powerful leader who ignores the word “can’t”
- drop in, one at a time, equally powerful women who hear the call to success
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mix with social media
- garnish with online and on-site programs
- blend with international flavors
- serve this nutritious combination everyday for health and wellness
ENJOY!!
That is the essence of what Sandra Yancey has done, created the right recipe for our times. I had the pleasure of interviewing her at the eWomen networking event in Sonoma County California.
A ball of energy, she exudes the power, passion, and purpose of the modern female entrepreneur. I was curious to understand how her dream began. There is always a back story that can help us look at our own barriers, challenges, and ways to overcome obstacles.
Sandra has the look and feel of someone who can move mountains. Her strength came from a series of unexpected deaths in her growing up years and a mother who modeled steadiness and how to face adversity head on.
She takes that same steadiness with her as she travels the country supporting women who are claiming their place in the world of work. There are now more females than males in college; it is hard to remember when it was a male bastion. One out of every eleven women in today’s marketplace starts a business; women are helping women make it happen.
Sandra told me about the time when she was unsure if her dream of this women’s network would make it. Finances were down and there was no well to dip into. She was talking with her mother who, in her calm, still manner, told her daughter that while she herself had no college degree, could not give business advice, she knew she had raised a smart daughter who would figure it out.
Sometimes courage shows up in just the right moment; the moment that trusting in another opens the door of possibilities.
Armed with determination, Sandra did figure it out. The eWomens Network is now the largest women’s event company in North America, producing more than 2000 events annually, facilitating connections between corporations, entrepreneurs, and corporate professionals.
That said, Sandra’s operating philosophy is the glue that holds the group together and helps all of us as women grow to use our full potential. So, take her words, those that stand on the shoulders of a loving mother, take them with you through the tough days when it looks rocky and unsure; “Living your dreams is not living in the safe zone”.
Sylvia Lafair
Sylvia Lafair, PhD, is President of CEO – Creative Energy Options, Inc., a global consulting company focused on optimizing workplace relationships through her exclusive PatternAware™ Leadership Model. Dr. Lafair is the author of Don’t Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns That Limit Success published by Jossey-Bass. As an executive coach and leadership educator, she has more than 30 years of experience with all levels of management from leading corporate officers of global companies to executives of non-profits and owners of leading family-owned businesses. She is now offering GUTSY Women Weekends, giving women the opportunity to dialogue and clarify next steps.
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