Branding and Image Consultant
“I allow space to be imperfect and recognize that things are always changing.” with Nicolle Molina Osequeda & Fotis Georgiadis I allow space to be imperfect and recognize things are always changing: I remind myself that I wont always be in the same situation, have the same feelings or be in the same amount of …
“Mindfulness slows us down and reminds us of what we’re doing — and why.” with Jessica Weisz and Fotis Georgiadis Mindfulness is what keeps me — and our business as a whole — focused and thriving. There is so much going on in our lives today, from binging on our phones to major news stories grabbing our attention, to the ever-increasing …
“If you’re a person of color, or not, that is interested in growing this industry, the time to jump in the pool is now!” with Neil Kataria and Fotis Georgiadis It’s not about men or women of color. It about getting anyone who is interested to engage in the industry, as it is an industry …
Black Men and Women of The C-Suite: “Diversity affects your company’s bottom line.” with Eric Martin and Fotis Georgiadis Diversity affects your company’s bottom line. As the general population of the US becomes increasingly heterogeneous, it’s important for business leaders to understand that their general customer base will follow suit. In order to effectively reach …
I also have spent time understanding and communicating a little known but important part of differences in human brains. The hardwired differences that often lead to mental health struggles are also part and parcel of the differences that lead to potential for extraordinary strengths. Many of the world’s most astonishing geniuses also struggled with a …
Women Leading The Blockchain Revolution: “The only way forward is to innovate, take risks and to reach out when you need help.” with Visakha Thongphetsavong The nexus of class, gender and race together make the Blockchain Industry out of reach for a lot of us. The only way forward is to innovate, take risks and …
Women in STEM: “We’ve found that it’s crucial employees feel empowered to bring their true selves to work, are given the autonomy to make bold decisions, and feel supported and challenged along the way.” with Bethany Parker and Fotis Georgiadis I believe organizations have the responsibility to change workplace cultures and one of the first …
Talkspace Founders Roni and Oren Frank: “If we all shared the fact that we struggle from time to time, we would help create more visibility for these issues.” It’s a great question and one that definitely doesn’t have a singular, simple answer. Individuals need to be proactive and reach out to others for support as soon …
Lea Tarnowski: “When people get upset in high stress situations, ignore nasty comments, don’t take anything personally, do your job and move on.” I’ve had many mentors along the way starting from school and my very first internship, to where I am now. These are people who have been with me since day one. One of …
Meet The Women of STEM: “Trust your passion and demand compassion from yourself and others.” with Vanessa Ogle and Fotis Georgiadis Trust your passion and demand compassion from yourself and others. Listen to and trust in your heart to pick a direction, and then lead your team with that passion and compassion. For me, it …
Meet The Women In STEM: “When you’re traveling, don’t just stay in the boardroom, you have the rest of your life to climb your way to the top.” with Rhonda Vetere and Fotis Georgiadis When you’re traveling, don’t just stay in the boardroom, you have the rest of your life to climb your way to …
“Historically, when we hear the words “mental health” we automatically think of “mental illness,” and that term has a lot of negative associations.” with Patty Boyd and Fotis Georgiadis I think that, historically, when we hear the words “mental health” we automatically think of “mental illness,” and that term has a lot of negative associations. …
“Set aside time each day to focus on long range goals — don’t get caught putting out fires daily and lose focus/consideration of long range planning.” with MaryEllen Reider and Fotis Georgiadis Focus on what matters. Set aside time each day to focus on long range goals — don’t get caught putting out fires daily and lose focus/consideration of …
“The most successful leaders are ones who’ve been in the trenches” with Ashley Richardson and Fotis Georgiadis Lead by example — If you want your team to buy-in, you can’t just talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. The most successful leaders are ones who’ve been in the trenches and understand the value of getting …
An interview with Fotis Georgiadis Further, be a real person, not the persona of a leader. Let people know you and take the time to know them. Building rapport and trust is earned over time, not dictated by an org chart or a slide deck. Especially with large teams, leaders can feel like this very …
Don’t confuse decor with culture: Having kombucha on tap and a ping pong table aren’t culture. They are accoutrements. To build a strong culture, empower your employees, show them respect, admit your weaknesses, and celebrate their strengths and wins publicly. As a part of my series about strong female leaders, I had the pleasure of …
“Work with your employees’ strengths; Putting a square peg in a round hole is just going to leave you frustrated every time” with Peg McGregor I’d always encourage leaders to work with your employees’ strengths — trying to put a square peg in a round hole is just going to leave you frustrated every time. As a part of …
“There are myths about mental illness that often can be dispelled through education and experience.” with Stephanie S. Covington As individuals, we need to educate ourselves about what is actually true about mental illness. There are myths about mental illness that often can be dispelled through education and experience. Hearing the stories of how people …
“So many people feel overwhelmed, stigmatized, wrong, and helpless because nobody ever taught them what to do when they are stressed and anxious about things that occur in everyday life.” So many people feel overwhelmed, stigmatized, wrong, and helpless because nobody ever taught them what to do when they are stressed and anxious about things that …
“Society can help de-stigmatize mental illness by creating trauma-informed organizations and communities.” with Debra Anderson Society can help de-stigmatize mental illness by creating trauma-informed organizations and communities. Whether it’s training your community about trauma or developing wellness policies for your organization, the more we normalize mental illness, the better off we’ll be. I had the pleasure of …
“Public avenues too often highlight an inappropriate connection between violence and mental illness.” with Carolyn Beauchamp To this day, we are still in the process of transforming state psychiatric hospitals from custodial to treatment-focused facilities based on wellness and recovery. Even recently, it has taken strong advocacy nationwide to have mental illnesses included in insurance …
Women in STEM: “If your team doesn’t trust you, you are not a leader.” with Roni Frank and Fotis Georgiadis Trust is everything. If your team doesn’t trust you, you are not a leader. Period. Your ability as a leader to inspire and motivate employees is based on trust. When people trust you, they have …
Women in STEM: “Even large teams are about people and individuals.” with Diane Hoskins and Fotis Georgiadis Even large teams are about people and individuals. Understanding the people you are working with is critical. What motivates them? What are their best capabilities and where can they grow? In addition, large teams need a clear vision. …
Women in STEM: RetailMeNot’s Kelli Beougher, “ When you become a leader, it’s really not about you anymore.” with Fotis Georgiadis Be humble — No one wants to work for or with an arrogant self-promoter. When you become a leader, it’s really not about you anymore. It’s about the team and the company. Own your mistakes and …
Black Men and Women of the C-Suite: “Diversity of executive leadership is a complex challenge that is compounded by a false belief that we live a post-racial society.” with Dawn Morton-Rias and Fotis Georgiadis Diversity of executive leadership is a complex challenge that is compounded by a false belief that we live a post-racial society. …
“You don’t have to wait for the right time or the right position to become a leader.” With Dr. Noni Thomas López and Fotis Georgiadis You don’t have to wait for the right time or the right position to become a leader. You can do it on day one. Leaders aren’t born; they’re made. Once …
Xandr CMO Kirk McDonald: We live in a diverse world, you lead in a diverse world, your company competes in a diverse world.” This should be obvious by now, and I hope we are all getting to fully appreciate that to lead successful business ventures in a diverse society, we need a company leadership and workforce …
“Within this space, it is especially important that we continue to disprove the inaccurate information and stigma that has plagued the beauty and possibility of this plant.” with Alexis Rosenbaum and Fotis Georgiadis Large legacy companies may show less of their face and their team. Within this space, it is especially important that we continue …
“Be cognizant. For companies, this means first recognizing that your team isn’t as diverse as it could or should be.” with Cheryl Durst and Fotis Georgiadis Be cognizant. For companies, this means first recognizing that your team isn’t as diverse as it could or should be. Most of us feel comfortable in our own “bubbles”, …
“Discovering that a natural substance I had always discounted was the key to regaining my health made me question all of the choices I had made through to adulthood.” with Pamela Hadfield and Fotis Georgiadis Discovering that a natural substance I had always discounted was the key to regaining my health made me question all …
I go out into the world to physically meet and make conversation with the folks I believe would be interested in attending or otherwise supporting my cannabis events. Early in my cannabis event planning days, emailing businesses for partnerships wasn’t the most effective approach, and Facebook ads and Eventbrite ticketing systems were not always possible …
TIAA SEVP Sean Woodroffe: “Never worry about the next job you’re going to have, only focus on the job you have” Never worry about the next job you’re going to have, only focus on the job you have. If you’re laser-focused on the job you have and doing it to the best of your ability, the …
…drop what doesn’t work. This one comes from my own experience as well as my experience advising clients. Don’t fall in love with an idea to the extent that you are blinded to its negatives. Go with your gut. Move on. Trust yourself, if something is telling you no, listen. As a part of my series …
There is no change without change. You have to be willing to change yourself, your work, your habits, and your environment to stay on your journey to your desired success. It is up to you and no one else. You are in control and you have to do the work! As a part of my series …
TIAA SVP Sean Woodroffe: “Never worry about the next job you’re going to have, only focus on the job you have” Never worry about the next job you’re going to have, only focus on the job you have. If you’re laser-focused on the job you have and doing it to the best of your ability, the …
Julianna Carella: “The larger a brand or company becomes, the more intimate the relationship with their customers needs to be” We strongly believe that the larger a brand or company becomes, the more intimate the relationship with their customers needs to be. There is good reason why the cannabis industry fears corporate takeover; the world of …
Dr. Mark Kurzman: “Hope and a positive attitude are essential components on the road to recovery regardless of the condition the person has” …I believe that hope and a positive attitude are essential components on the road to recovery regardless of the condition the person has. I try my best to help my patients be hopeful …
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started: “You are not a CEO, you are a fire chief” With Emily O’Brien CEO of Mondo …Lastly, you are not a CEO, you are a fire chief. As stated above, there will be so many problems. Just put on your fire chief hat and put out the …
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started: “We aren’t getting bank loans anytime soon, but many vendors like merchant processing, payroll, and HR companies aren’t willing to work with cannabis companies either.” with Jay Burns and Fotis Georgiadis Cannabis businesses aren’t getting bank loans anytime soon, but many vendors like merchant processing, payroll, …
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started: “You never know what’s going to happen at the federal level.” with Bryce Berryessa and Fotis Georgiadis You never know what’s going to happen at the federal level. It still is a schedule one federal drug, and there are a lot of potential issues around that. …
5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started: “Being involved for five years, I know first-hand how difficult it is and how many obstacles you have to cross to become a successful brand and to make your mark in this industry.” with Alex Todd and Fotis Georgiadis My biggest concern is that there’s …
Men and Women of Color Leading The Blockchain Revolution: “I’m all in on our mission to make justice accessible to everyone” With Charley Moore CEO of Rocket Lawyer Incorporated I’m all in on our mission to make justice accessible to everyone. If we can do that in my lifetime, it will certainly make a positive …
5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started: “It is becoming more and more apparent that smaller businesses are being edged out.” with Gina Dubbé, Dr. Leslie Apgar and Fotis Georgiadis It is becoming more and more apparent that smaller businesses are being edged out. With the large, multi-state companies buying up the …
5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Leading a CBD Business: “There are very few women who run CBD companies, and yet, women are the main buyers of CBD products.” with Lisa Hannah and Fotis Georgiadis There are very few women who run CBD companies, and yet, women are the main buyers …
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started: “Implement an immediate way to report customer feedback given to employees” with L.A. Dawson and Fotis Georgiadis Given my background as a leadership coach, I’d tell any CEO to implement an immediate way to report customer feedback given to employees that is funneled up to you …
Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started: “Regardless of your specialization, make it a point to educate yourself on all facets of the industry.” with Dana Leavy-Detrick and Fotis Georgiadis Regardless of your specialization, make it a point to educate yourself on all facets of the industry. Everything is interconnected, and no …
5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started: “Create a culture of inclusion.” with Christine De La Rosa and Fotis Georgiadis Create a culture of inclusion.It is so important that this industry create pathways to serve communities that have historically been left out of participating in the building of a brand new legal …
Olivia Alexander of Kush Queen: “People over profits; I have always paid people too much per hour because a business is the people who work there.” People over Profits. I really believe in people over profits. I have always paid people “ too much” per hour. I have always heard to put the profits over everything …
“5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Leading A CBD Business”, with Joy Smith and Fotis Georgiadis You can’t jump over the hurdle if you don’t see it. We were very aware of the ‘gray area” that continues to exist in the CBD space. This is why we’re hopeful for FDA industry standards. …
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started: “You will have to prove your professionalism” with Jessica Billingsley You’ll get marked with a scarlet “C.” I can be called many things — a businesswoman, entrepreneur, mom, daughter, mentor. When I joined the industry, I was instantly tarred with the cannabis brush. People in my daily life …