Speaker Articles

Letter to My Future Self

A letter to myself

Featuring Liberty Mutual Insurance

Many of us have experienced the sense of excitement that comes from attending a conference. The amazing speakers, helpful breakout sessions and spontaneous conversations—all contribute to the buzz of new ideas and possibilities you feel. Indeed, 78 percent of Women’s Conference attendees reported feeling more optimistic about the future after attending the event.

So how do you sustain that inspiration? At the Texas Conference for Women last November, Liberty Mutual hosted “Letters to Our Future Selves” in their booth. Attendees wrote a letter to themselves describing their goals, aspirations and learnings. They will receive their letters six months after the conference.

In the meantime, we asked four women who work at Liberty Mutual in Texas to share a piece of advice that helps them be their best self at work. Read More →

Posted in Speaker Articles, Life on Your Terms, Goals & Priorities Tagged |

Mediterranean Fusion: Your Favorite Ethnic Dishes Just Got Heart-Healthier!

Lorena KaplenBy Lorena Asebedo Kaplen
Registered Dietitian, H-E-B

No doubt, diet and culture play a major role in what we eat and the food decisions we make every day. But with so many different cuisines and foods from all over the world available to us, we can embrace other cultures while creating a sense of community. In fact, with cuisine fusions and their endless combinations of flavors, the possibilities are limitless! Read More →

Posted in Speaker Articles, Health & Wellness Tagged , |

Handling Setbacks and Building ‘Resilient Muscle’

By Patricia F. Brown, VP Underwriting Global Retail Markets, Liberty Mutual Insurance

I am often asked two questions: “What has led to your success in the commercial insurance industry?” and “How have you overcome setbacks/challenges?

My personal experience of growing up in the South, having parents and siblings who experienced Jim Crow and being the daughter of a Tuskegee Airmen set the foundation of who I am today. The richness of my childhood experiences and my belief systems have had an undeniable impact on me both personally and professionally. Moreover, my professional journey as an African-American woman has included both lows and highs. Read More →

Posted in Speaker Articles, Embrace the Unknown, Health & Wellness, Job Advancement Tagged , |

5 Ways to Find Your Spark in 2019

Portrait of Kim Read, RetailMeNotBy Kim Read, SVP, Operations, RetailMeNot 

All too often, we start the year with clarity only to lose our focus and intention in the “go, go, go” of everyday life. So as this year draws to a close and you pause and reflect with an eye toward 2019, it’s a good idea also to think about how you’re going to stay directed and energized. Here is what has worked for me. Read More →

Posted in Speaker Articles, Life on Your Terms Tagged , |

Holiday Survival Tips from Simple Habit’s Founder

Yunha Kim meditating in a white roomA Stanford B school dropout, Yunha Kim is on her second startup—and like most things that meet a real need, it’s genius. Called Simple Habit, the app is a “Spotify” for meditation, meaning it’s a platform for different experts to share their bite-size meditations and audio therapy sessions.

Kim had her Eureka moment after turning to meditation apps to cope with the stress of running her first company. “I got pretty tired of hearing the same voice over and over again,” she recalls. “It occurred to me that to listen to a new singer, I don’t go to another app. I go to a platform like Spotify, where I can find new artists as well as my favorites.”

Flash forward less than three years, and Kim has a huge hit on her hands. “Simple Habit has helped more than 2.8 million people relieve stress and anxiety, with an average of 30,000 new users joining the platform every week,” she says. What’s more, she just closed $10 million in her series A, after raising $2.8 million from seed investors.

Her advice for newbie entrepreneurs? “Taking care of yourself is critical,” Kim says. “When you’re building a business from scratch, you are the number one resource you have. You will work long days, and stress is inevitable, so it’s important to take a little time each day to step away, breathe and reset.”

Here, Kim’s four tips—and her Simple Habit audio recommendations—for surviving the holidays: Read More →

Posted in Speaker Articles, Career Choices, Communication Skills, Networking, Job Advancement Tagged , |