Susan Freeman

November 28, 2018

Podcasts

Wonder Women in Business Erinn Ford, President of KMS Financial Services

Susan Freeman

November 28, 2018

Podcasts

Erinn Ford, President of KMS Financial Services, Inc. ("KMS"), a Seattle-based independent advisory and brokerage ("IAB") firm supporting 350 financial advisors. — **Erinn Ford,** President of KMS Financial Services, Inc. ("KMS"), a Seattle-based independent advisory and brokerage ("IAB") firm supporting 350 financial advisors.

About Erinn Ford

Erinn Ford, President of KMS Financial Services, is a 27-year financial advice industry veteran who’s focused her career on aligning the strategies, solutions, and tools that financial advisors need to help clients reach their life goals.

Erinn has helped to launch multiple next-generation advisor mentoring programs, as well as scholarship and hiring campaigns that support the career development of women and other minorities across the financial advice profession. Most recently, this includes the launch of the Erinn Ford Leadership Scholarship to benefit female undergraduates at the University of Washington who are interested in pursuing a career in the financial industry.

Erinn is the recipient of a number of industry awards and recognition, including being named as one of the “Ten to Watch” on a list of industry leaders published annually by WealthManagement magazine. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband and two daughters.

Erinn and I had a very nice chat about her background, education, community involvement and the most important moments in her life — personal and professional. Erinn is authentic and delightful. She shared with me about her proudest professional accomplishments and who her most inspiring mentor is.

We clearly share a lot of the same philosophies about lifting women in business and I thoroughly enjoyed our podcast. You will too, I am sure!

Contact Erinn Ford

Erinn Ford

President

KMS Financial Services, Inc.

2001 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2801

Seattle, WA 98121

(206) 441-2885 ext. 253

www.kms.com

Susan Freeman

November 28, 2018

Podcasts

"Peer Pod" Podcast with Mark T. Greene, Ph.D. of Market Intelligence LLC

Susan Freeman

November 28, 2018

Podcasts

Mark T. Greene, Ph.D.

Market Intelligence LLC

About Mark T. Greene, Ph.D.

As a consultant, Mark pioneered professional service firms’ use of market research, process improvement, and competitive intelligence to make smart business decisions. As a CMO/Marketing Director he was instrumental in shaping strategic direction and branding for O’Melveny & Meyers, Nixon Peabody, Waller, and Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie. One of the first recipients of the Legal Marketing Association’s lifetime achievement award, Mark’s many other honors include:

Trustee and President of the College of Law Practice Management
Included on inaugural list of the National Law Journal’s “Business of Law Trailblazers & Pioneers”
Advisory Board of “Attorney at Work”
2014 winner of Nashville Business Journal’s “CMOs of the Year” award
GE-trained Six Sigma Black Belt and Champion
Distinguished Graduate Alumni of the University of North Carolina (Go Heels!)
Master Level Competitive Intelligence Professional (Academy of Competitive Intelligence)
Adjunct professor and lecturer at several universities

Mark is a frequent speaker and writer on artificial intelligence, market research, competitive intelligence, branding, and business strategy. Outside the business world, he is active on behalf of environmental organizations, a Master SCUBA Diver, avid cyclist, Boy Scout leader, and proud father of two Eagle Scouts.

Why Market Research, Competitive Intel, and AI?

When I asked Mark what compelled him to offer his services, he said he was driven to stay at the forefront of business and it seemed a perfect fit to bring market research to law firms and his intellectual capital to the changing market. Lawyers benefit most from Mark’s ability to help them minimize the risk in running their business by prudently implementing current best practices. So often, a firm’s strategic plan is anything but strategic. The plan is often filled with feel-good platitudes that everyone agrees on. If that’s the case, you do not have a meaningful strategic plan.

Mark says if lawyers don’t pay closer attention to this changing landscape, and engage in “business as usual,” waiting for the world to change around them, they will soon wonder what happened to their business. He advises lawyers to always be on the lookout for best practices in other industries, not just legal. Look at the Big Four and alternative service providers as well.

To keep up with the absolute latest news and developments in AI as it impacts the practice of law, follow Mark’s blog, “Today in Legal Artificial Intelligence” (www.MarketIntelligenceLLC.com).

**Enjoy the podcast.**

Mark Greene, Ph.D.

Contact Mark Greene, Ph.D.

Mark T. Greene, Ph.D., President

Market Intelligence LLC

100 Lakecrest Circle

Hendersonville, TN 37075

Mark@MarketIntelligenceLLC.com

703.408.0512

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-t-greene-phd-2815086

@MarkTGreene

Susan Freeman

November 27, 2018

Podcasts

Wonder Woman in Business, Wendy Toth

Susan Freeman

November 27, 2018

Podcasts

Wendy Toth

PowerSuiting.com

One day, I was on a plane to Boston and I sat next to a most remarkable woman named, "Wendy Toth" from Belmont, CA. Wendy was a C-suiter in tech in the communications realm so we had plenty to talk about. However, Wendy and I connected on a much deeper level. I felt as if I had known her for many lifetimes. She is a strong, sensitive, take-no-BS, kind of woman. She is a lover to her sculpture artist husband and friend to her sports racer son. She is a best friend to few and a good friend to many. She and I got off that plane never having met before but having decided to dine together at Legal Seafoods on Boston Harbor. Mike was already in Boston so he met us for dinner and we enjoyed one of the most memorable evenings ever. After Boston, Wendy changed positions and is now with Amazon. Though we have not kept in touch, I still feel her friendship.

Well, while in Healdsburg, Wendy Toth "followed" me on Twitter. I immediately sent her a picture of Mike waving at her and this message:

"Omg! We thought you were out of our lives. We miss you! We have to get together! Follow @mikefutrell too!"

As I explored her profile on Twitter, I saw:
Wendy Toth
Writer & Editor. Content Director. Editor-in-Chief @PowerSuiting Contributor to NY Times, NBC, PetCoach and more.

I quickly realized it was not the same Wendy Toth.

After I realized, I messaged to explain my mistake. We had a good laugh and then continued to chat. This Wendy Toth is as exciting as any and I am now thrilled to interview her on my "Wonder Women in Business" podcast. She is delightful, smart, kind, funny, and has terrific content. Follow her if you're on Twitter: @bestWendy and tell her @susfree sent you. ;-)

Lesson:
It's a small world and we should welcome new people, places and things into our heads and hearts. That, and "Wendy Toths" across the nation, coast-to-coast, are pretty cool people!

Today, I had an incredible conversation with the East Coast Wendy Toth!

Wendy is a writer, editor, and mom of two boys, with a focus on making life more fulfilling for families. For the last 15 years she has held staff and freelance positions at some of this country’s top publications. She’s been a staffer at Parents Magazine, NBC, PetSmart and most recently Happy Wellness Life. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Weight Watchers Magazine, Esperanza, and many more. Because she loves her work so much, she’s obsessed with helping others find career fulfillment, and writes about it regularly at PowerSuiting.com.

**Enjoy the podcast.**

Wendy Toth, CEO
PowerSuiting.com

In the podcast, Wendy speaks about her proudest professional accomplishment (to date, as she is young and is sure to have many more) and she mentioned having been published in the New York Times. I asked her if I could share the piece, “No, You Can’t Run With Me” and she said yes so enjoy. She also mentioned one of her inspirational mentors as Susan Shapiro, an award-winning writing professor, freelances for the NY Times, NY Magazine, WSJ, Washington Post, L.A. Times, Elle & Oprah.com. She's the bestselling author/coauthor of 12 books. I thought I might share her site here as well: SusanShapiro.net for those aspiring writers who are reading this!

Contact Wendy:

Website: PowerSuiting.com http://www.powersuiting.com/

Portfolio Site: WendyToth.com https://www.wendytoth.com/

Twitter: @PowerSuiting https://twitter.com/PowerSuiting

Twitter: @BestWendy https://twitter.com/BestWendy

Susan Freeman

November 20, 2018

Podcasts

Melissa Mahoney and Her Ikigai, Secret to Her Long and Happy Life

Susan Freeman

November 20, 2018

Podcasts

Ikigai

“Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.” —Japanese proverb

Melissa Mahoney Headshot_141010_1629_b.jpg — Melissa Mahoney

Mahoney Artwork

According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai—a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world’s longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. Having a strong sense of ikigai—the place where passion, mission, vocation, and profession intersect—means that each day is infused with meaning. It’s the reason we get up in the morning. It’s also the reason many Japanese never really retire (in fact there’s no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense it does in English): They remain active and work at what they enjoy, because they’ve found a real purpose in life—the happiness of always being busy.

Getting to Know Melissa Mahoney

Today, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing fine artist, Melissa Mahoney or MahoneyArtWork.com for my Freeman Means Business “Wonder Women in Business” podcast. Melissa’s latest painting series is titled, “Vortices.” She says Vortices draw all that surround them into their powerful currents. She's interested in these masses of energy and how they can contain and then transfer their energy.

Melissa is also attracted to the fluidity and texture of textiles. She created a recent series of artwork specifically to be printed on silk fabric. She created a custom silk scarf for Stanford University, and it sells at the Stanford bookstore on campus and online.

Melissa grew up in a family of artists, drawing and painting. She received formal art training at the University of Georgia where she earned a BFA. She went on to study art in Tuscany, Italy.

In our podcast, we discussed everything from her vast backpacking and biking travels throughout Europe and Asia to the incredible social psychologist, Geert Hofstede and his cultural dimensions.

Exhibitions and Awards

2018— Palo Alto Art Show, Palo Alto, California
2017— Triton Museum of Art, 2017 Statewide 2D Competition & Exhibition, Santa Clara, California
2017— Penninsua Art Gallery, San Mateo, California
2016— Simon Breitbard Fine Arts, Trunk Show, San Francisco, California
2016— Houzz, online art gallery
2016— OAC Gallery, online art gallery
2016— Saatchi, online art gallery
2015— Palo Alto Art Show, Palo Alto, California
2014— Woodside Gallery, Woodside, California
2016— SB Fine Arts, San Francisco, California
2016— Woodside Gallery, Woodside, California
2016— OAC Gallery, online
2016— Houzz, online
2013— A Single Grain of Rice, GALERIE MÉTANOÏA, Paris, France
2013— Beverly Hills artSHOW, Beverly Hills, California
AWARDED: Honorable Mention in Painting (4th place of 65 painters)
2013— Jeanie Madsen Gallery, I Love Santa Monica, Santa Monica, California
2013— TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Art Center, Los Angeles, California
JUROR: Edward Goldman, art critic for KCRW, NPR affiliate station and The Huffington Post
2013— Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles, California
2011— Orange County Center for Contemporary Arts OCCCA, Energy, Santa Ana, California
JUROR: Howard Fox (Curator Emeritus of Contemporary Art, LACMA)
2011— A Gallery Fine Art, El Paseo, Palm Desert, California
2010— Maiani Gallery, Montecito, California
2010— Bottoms Art Gallery, The Four Seasons Biltmore, Montecito, California

How to Contact Melissa Mahoney

Melissa Mahoney

Abstract artist and textile creator

Palo Alto, California

melissa@mahoneyartwork.com

mahoneyartwork.com

Susan Freeman

November 5, 2018

Podcasts

Deirdre Breakenridge: Igniting Your Passion so You Can Excel at Life

Susan Freeman

November 5, 2018

Podcasts

Deirdre Breakenridge

Pure Performance Communications

Deirdre K. Breakenridge is Chief Executive Officer at Pure Performance Communications. A veteran in PR, marketing and branding, Breakenridge has worked with organizations including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, JVC, Kraft, Nasdaq, NBA Events & Attractions and PRSA.

Breakenridge is the author of six business books. Her most recent book, “Answers for Modern Communicators” was published by Routledge in October 2017. Her other titles include “Social Media and Public Relations: Eight New Practices for the PR Professional, and “Putting the Public Back in Public Relations.”

As an adjunct professor, Breakenridge teaches online PR and social media courses for the UMASS at Amherst Journalism Department and for Rutgers University’s PR Certificate course. She speaks nationally and internationally on the topics of PR, marketing, branding and social media communications. Breakenridge is a LinkedIn Learning Instructor with seven video courses on Public Relations Foundations, Media Training, Handling an Unruly Audience, Marketing Communications, Go-To-Market Planning, Competitive Analysis and Creating a Marketing Culture.

Breakenridge is the host of a podcast program, Women Worldwide, interviewing women who share their incredible stories, educating, imparting advice and offering insights to show listeners. Women Worldwide has joined the C-Suite Radio Network, which is the home of podcasts for top business leaders and innovators.

NJBIZ named Breakenridge as one of the Best 50 Women in Business in the state of New Jersey. She also joined the ranks of the Top 250 Women Leaders published by Richtopia in from 2016 through 2018.

Breakenridge blogs about communication, the changing media landscape and collaborative technology at PR Expanded and is the co-founder of #PRStudChat, a dynamic Twitter community with Twitter chats for PR students, educators and PR pros.

Her latest book, “Answers for Modern Communicators,” is available on here Amazon. — Her latest book, “**Answers for Modern Communicators**,” is available on **here** Amazon.

Deirdre and I get quite personal and in interviewing her I felt as if I had known her all my life. I am sure you will appreciate the ups and downs we address in our professional and personal lives. This podcast was very meaningful — and very moving.

**Enjoy the podcast**.

Deirdre Breakenridge

Contact:

Deirdre Breakenridge, CEO

deirdre@pureperformancecomm.com

Phone: 732-580-8600

New Book: Answers for Modern Communicators was published in October 2017!

Website: www.pureperformancecomm.com

PR Expanded blog: www.deirdrebreakenridge.com

Women Worldwide podcast: womenworldwideshow.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dbreakenridge

Susan Freeman

November 4, 2018

Podcasts

Peer Podcast: Terrie Wheeler

Susan Freeman

November 4, 2018

Podcasts

Terrie Wheeler Full Res-008.jpg — Terrie Wheeler

PSM, LLC.

Terrie Wheeler is a legal marketing veteran, having served for 13 years as an in-house marketing director, then, in 1997 founding Professional Services Marketing, LLC. PSM delivers outsourced marketing and marketing coaching services to lawyers across the country. On August 15, 2018, Terrie launched CLE Connect| Ethical Marketing CLEs on Demand for lawyers in Minnesota. Terrie recently ended a six-year term as vice chair of the MN Lawyers Board of Professional Responsibility. She teaches marketing and client service at three midwestern law schools and is a syndicated columnist for the ABA’s Small Firm Solo Section, and Attorney at Law Magazine.

Background and Services Offered:

PSM has 35 employees who provide outsourced marketing department services to lawyers and law firms across the country. Terrie is also a personal marketing coach for lawyers who wish to expand their practices and drive new business.

CLE-Connect is a new venture focused on a niche within the CLE market – that of offering on-demand CLEs to lawyers in MN. What makes this unique? Each marketing course was approved for ethics credit!

What Compelled Terrie to Offer the Services She Does?

Lawyers don’t learn how to market in law school. Yet, they join the real world and quickly realize if they can’t develop business, they will not become a partner. Terrie has worked with lawyers her entire career, and loves helping them develop the individual and firm strategies (all as unique as each lawyers’ connections) that will drive new business into their firms.

She really enjoys having lawyers as clients and figured that if she could successfully serve lawyers as clients inside big law firms, she could also do so as a consultant on the outside.

For CLE-Connect, in Minnesota lawyers can earn 15 of the 45 CLE credits they earn through on-demand programming. There were absolutely NO marketing CLEs of any kind and Terrie was able to create 1-hour marketing CLEs that were also awarded ethics credits!

Three Things Clients Misunderstand – and Setting the Record Straight

1. “I have a marketing department, so I don’t need to market.” Not True! Lawyers need to understand that marketing is about messages (website, PR, events, social media) and sales is about asking questions. Lawyers need to learn to think and act like sales people if they want to develop business!

2. “If I leave my hectic law firm to start my own practice, I will achieve life balance.” Not True! Most lawyers have not read the E-Myth Attorney by Michael Gerber. Being an entrepreneur (E) takes a dedication to building an enterprise, not owning a crazy practice.

3. “Marketing is about where and how I advertise.” Not Ture! Advertising is really one of the least effective ways in which to develop clients. Building genuine relationships is the answer. Lawyers like to press the “easy” button and throw money at advertising – but generally, it doesn’t work.