Sunday, January 18

Thriving

Leading With Compassion, Equity, and Courage – Jessica P. Hansen, MSW
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Celebration, Christmas Issue, Cover Story, ISSUE 13, Thriving

Leading With Compassion, Equity, and Courage – Jessica P. Hansen, MSW

For over two decades, Jessica P. Hansen has worked at the intersection of humanity’s deepest needs and its highest potential. From refugee camps and rural villages to global nonprofits and corporate leadership spaces, her work has centered on dignity, protection, and access. In this conversation with Stellar Woman Magazine, Jessica reflects on who she is, what shaped her, and why compassion remains at the core of everything she does. WHO IS JESSICA HANSEN?“That is such a huge question,” Jessica says. “What comes up for me immediately is a quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson. He talks about having two purposes in life. One is to understand more about the world today than you did yesterday, and the other is to ease the suffering of others.” She explains that if she had to capture her life in a f...
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Every Day and Season Are New for You – by Ann Justi
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ISSUE 13, Issue One 2, Thriving

Every Day and Season Are New for You – by Ann Justi

Every year there is a new year and that gives way to reflect on the past year and deciding on how we want to spend the new year, like new year resolutions. The intention is to reflect on the ending of one year and plan for the new year. A chance to begin again reigniting your passions, dreams with personal rebirth and reinvention. Most plan big and fall short of the annual delivery. It does not have to be that way. Every day is a new day. A chance to take a step towards what you want in the new year and learn from the past year. Take inventory every season not just at the end of the year. Adjust as you go. Consistency and vision are key. Don’t let that you may not have had the year go like you wanted it to be. Small steps even if you are discovering what you want to do or achieve can ha...
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My Festive Reset- Monica Bradley
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ISSUE 13, Issue One 1, Thriving, Wellness

My Festive Reset- Monica Bradley

Here’s how Monica Bradley, Founder of MB Associates, plans to use the festive season to recharge and reawaken her goals. It’s the same every year. Christmas is portrayed as a season of joy and togetherness – and this can be true. But it can also be a time when we’re most depleted after a busy year. As a business owner, I know this only too well. After 12 months of managing the needs of clients, colleagues, family and friends, the festive season arrives. Instead of resting, I find myself racing around ensuring I have everything I need for festive gatherings at my home. As the managing director of MB Associates, a thriving mortgage brokers in Surrey, I spend most of the year with a hectic schedule. My role entails helping clients, managing my team, leading the business, attending event...
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Building Equity, Leadership, and Belonging – Dr Joanna Abeyie MBE
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Christmas Issue, Cover Story, ISSUE 13, Thriving

Building Equity, Leadership, and Belonging – Dr Joanna Abeyie MBE

Stellar Woman Magazine | Christmas Issue: Radiance Reborn Christmas is a season of reflection. It invites pause, honesty, and renewal. For Stellar Woman Magazine, this Christmas issue is shaped around Radiance Reborn. Not radiance as performance, but radiance as renewal. The kind that emerges when women continue to lead, question, and rebuild themselves and their work, even when the journey has been demanding. Dr Joanna Abeyie is a leader shaped by education, advocacy, and lived experience. Her work sits at the intersection of inclusion, leadership development, and social impact. In this conversation with Stellar Woman Magazine, she speaks candidly about her journey, the systems that shaped her, and why equity must be intentional rather than performative.\ QN. WHO IS DR JOANNA...
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Business, Issue one 5, Thriving

From Selling Fruits and Vegetables On a Veranda to Owning 7 Businesses – Susan Nyachwo

As part of our partnership with Street Business School, Stellar Woman Magazine had chat with some of their success stories. Street Business School empowers women to become thriving entrepreneurs, lifting themselves and their families to a more vibrant future. In this interview, Susan Nyachwo shares her experience growing from selling fruits and vegetable to owning 7 businesses. Tell us about yourself and backstory.  I am Nyachwo Susan and I'm 50 years old. I am a japadola from Tororo and my residence is in Luzira. I am a mother of five children and I am a What business did you want to do as a child? I just wanted to be a shopkeeper. Somebody who can make money in so many ways. That was my dream. What was your life before Street Business School? What were you doin...
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Business, Issue one 5, Thriving

How I became financially empowered – Rose Nalubega

Rose is a 40-year-old mother of 3 children. 2 daughters and a son. Rose’s first daughter (Shalom) finished university. Her second born is at the University offering an engineering Course. The last child is still at primary school level. Rose joined Street Business School in 2018. By then she had a retail shop but didn’t know how much sales and profits she made in her shop.   One day when Street Business School was mobilizing and registering women to join for trainings, she was motivated to join with the hope of learning how to calculate and understand the profits her business brought her. She attended all the training and says the modules that changed her life were finding capital and starting small, plus record and bookkeeping.  She decided to Practice reco...
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Issue One 1, Mind & Body, Thriving

The Quest for Excellence: Unleash Your Limitless Potential – Uma Subramanian

Picture a life where you consistently push beyond your limits, achieve remarkable success, and become the best version of yourself. This is the essence of striving for excellence—a transformative journey that promises fulfillment, growth, and a profound impact on the world around you. As you embark on this transformative path, it's essential to unlock your limitless potential and embrace the pursuit of excellence. In this article, I will share valuable insights and actionable tips to guide you on your journey, helping you unleash your full potential and strive for excellence in every aspect of your life. Throughout my personal and professional journey, I have encountered numerous challenges and opportunities that have shaped my pursuit of excellence. From breaking through boundaries in ...
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How Hala Taha transformed obstacles into opportunities
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Business, Cover Story, Thriving

How Hala Taha transformed obstacles into opportunities

Hala Taha is the host of Young and Profiting Podcast, frequently ranked as the #1 Education podcast across all apps. Hala is also the CEO of YAP Media, a full-service social media and podcast marketing agency for top podcasters, celebrities, and CEOs. She is well-known for her engaged following and influence on Linkedin, and she landed the January 2021 cover of Podcast Magazine. Hala is an expert on networking, personal branding, Linkedin marketing, side hustles, entrepreneurship, and podcasting. Who is Hala Taha? What is your back story? So they call me the podcast princess. In terms of my background story, I started my career in radio. I used to work at the radio station Hot 97. I started my journey in broadcasting 10 years ago working as an intern at the radio station. I worked th...
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Feminism, Issue One 1, Thriving

Viola Davis: A Story of Triumph in The Face of Turbulence.

Viola Davis is a critically revered, award-winning actress, producer, and New York Times Best-Selling Author.  She is the first black actress to win two Tony Awards (“Fences” & “King Hedley II”), an Oscar (“Fences”), and an Emmy (“How to Get Away with Murder”). Davis was most recently seen starring in "The Woman King," which she also produced. Here is the story of Viola Davis: The life into which she was born was hardly one of abundant promise. Viola Davis (born August 11th, 1965 in Saint Matthews, South Carolina) is the second-youngest of six siblings. Her father was a horse groomer and her mother a maid. As a young child, she often went hungry. Even though her parents were hard-working and received a welfare check, what money there was always gone after a few days. Gro...
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The only limits are the ones you set for yourself – June Dennis
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Business, Thriving

The only limits are the ones you set for yourself – June Dennis

June Dennis has two amazing careers - in marketing and higher education. After working in marketing and PR management roles for a decade, June Dennis started to teach professional courses in the evenings and got the teaching bug. She has over 25 years experience in higher education, and now in senior management roles. She is a leading specialist in academic partnerships with significant knowledge of the Higher Education sector, curriculum design and development and student experience. She is also a chair of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Board, a marketing NED & board advisor, expert witness, a business trainer and coach. June is on a mission to help small businesses succeed through accessing the full power of marketing and not just social media. in this chat with Stellar Woma...
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Business, Thriving

Don’t Let the Fear of Failure Hold you back – Beth Lapides

Beth is the creator, host and executive producer of the legendary and revolutionary UnCabaret which she has shepherded through 25 + years of weekly live shows, TV, CD’s, streaming and touring. UnCabaret has been called a ‘comedy be in’ by Rolling Stone. Vanity Fair said there's ‘Nothing cooler’. Variety called UnCab’s 25th anniversary show “a triumph!” and UnCabaret a ‘progressive comedy institution.’ The LA Times called Beth the ‘godmother of alternative comedy’. And Vulture says UnCabaret has ‘a magical life giving mystique and hilarious storytelling’. Beth is also the author of the critically acclaimed original audio book, So You Need To Decide, published by Recorded Books. Available everywhere audiobooks are. Get it on Amazon here! So You Need to Decide was ...
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Business, Issue one 5, Thriving

5 Leadership Lessons from Sheryl Sandberg to help you in decision making.

Self-Perception Plays a Key Role in Success Leadership starts at the top, setting the tone and establishing the code of conduct and goals for the business and its employees… But leaders also need to listen to feedback. If your company isn’t thriving as you want it to, you could be part of the problem. Are you making the right decisions? Do you trust your ideas enough? Are you decisive enough? Confidence is important if you want to lead a company to success. Trusting your ideas and skills leads to better decisions. However, truthful feedback is important too – and this can’t happen without engaging your employees. Talking to all your employees, regardless of departments or status, can provide a big-picture view of how you handle things. It can provide a boost of confidence and cha...
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Thriving

Tina Baker on Leading by Example and Making Tough Decisions

Tina B is a vocalist and songwriter whose voice and songs have been featured on gold and platinum records. Her music has helped create a musical movement that defines music today. The 1980s brought an explosion of new music coming out of New York City - dance, electronic, funk, hip-hop. Tina B's singles “Honey To A Bee”, “Bodyguard” and “January, February” contributed to the legacy and sound as fresh today as the day they were released. The “Bodyguard” video was written and directed by Beastie Boy, Adam Yauch. She made her first debut with Afrika Bambaataa and the Jazzy Five on “Jazzy Sensation, Manhattan Version” on Tommy Boy Records in 1981. Following her debut with “Jazzy Sensation,” Tina B joined Rockers Revenge in 1982, a funk and soul group founded by pioneering dance, pop, and e...
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Issue One 4, Opinion, Thriving

The Power Of Decisions Survey

We asked several people to share with us decisions that they have made that have had a big impact in their lives. Could you answer the same question for yourself? Could you please share the one decision that you have made that you believe has had a great impact on your life?Mastermind teamThe decision to shift my mindset. It all started there. Having the right mindset will make you see the world differently and positively.WoodieBecoming a child of God is worth more to me than all the silver and goldRachna R JInvesting in myselfAnna T BodinMarrying my husband.Applying to Harvard.Building my own business.All three were life-changing!Nicole Amy L.Morning to KoreaNatalie J WStopped drinking  5 years ago, it has had a phenomenal effect on my life Terri MI decided to teach. I decided that eve...
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Business, Issue One 4, Thriving

10 Books to Guide you in Courageous Decision Making

Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts by Annie Duke. "Thinking in Bets offers a compelling and eminently useful, new way to think about life's decisions. Annie Duke has written an important, and often hilarious, a book that will help you understand your own shortcomings--and make smarter choices as a result.  Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman.  In the highly anticipated Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. Kahneman exposes the extraordinary capabilities—and also the faults and biases—of fast thinking, and reveals the perva...
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Business, Cover Story, Feminism, Mind & Body, Thriving

Creating Impact, Influence and Income – Hui Hui Lek

Hui Hui is a coach, a course creator, and the Founder, and CEO of Impact University and Inner World Training. She is the creator of the Mission To Movement 10-Day Course Creation Challenge through which she helps new entrepreneurs and coaches create digital courses and coaching programs. Who is Hui Hui and what is your backstory? I was born and raised in Singapore, but I'm Chinese. Growing up, I was a very shy and introverted child. And because I'm the youngest child, most of the time I played alone at home and at times with my mom. Ever since I was young, I wanted to be an entrepreneur. So after my first job, which was book editor, I decided that I didn't want to just work for other people anymore. I wanted to start my own business. So I started my entrepreneurial journey. I have to...
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Cover Story, Thriving

Karen Spens on striving for excellence: Listen, Learn, and Lead

Karen Spens is the president of BI Norwegian Business School. She received her PhD from Hanken School of Economics in 2001 and became Professor of Supply Chain Management and Corporate Geography in 2007. She has since held several administrative positions at Hanken and in 2015 became the Rector of Hanken. She has mainly taught Supply Chain Management and has primarily published in the field of Humanitarian Logistics.  Watch Karen Spens' full interview with Stellar Woman Magazine below: https://youtu.be/Oht0Q4nvu14 So who is Karen Spens? What's your backstory? Thanks for inviting me. It’s my pleasure to be here today. One important thing women need to do when trying to move forward is to be daring enough to take on a new challenge. I was ...
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Issue One 1, Thriving

My Journey to Limitless –  Uma Subramanian

Rising above our circumstances, recognizing our limitless potential, and living the life we want Flashback to July 2022, when I made the courageous decision to quit my full-time job, where I was heading two business groups, reporting to a C-Suite executive. It was not something I decided on a whim or an impulse – there had been growing feelings of being excluded, overlooked, and not taken seriously since I started reporting to this new manager. However, things reached a tipping point during an official meeting when I was blatantly disrespected and devalued in front of my peers. In the past, I would have likely been caught up in self-doubt and misery as I tried to figure out what went wrong; however, this time around, it felt different.  As soon as this happened, I knew that ...
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Business, Issue one 5, Thriving

5 Tips for Courageous Decision Making – Anna Wintour

When it comes to taking risks, Anna Wintour is a firm believer in provoking a conversation, having a strong point of view, trusting your own instincts, and learning from your mistakes. Here are five tips from Anna Wintour on making decisions and taking risks. Expect the unexpected. Anna Wintour’s first American Vogue cover was very different from those that preceded it: The photo crop was wider; the model was not looking directly at the camera; the clothing had a casual sensibility, mixing a Christian Lacroix couture top with Guess jeans. In other words, it made a statement and spoke to what Anna wanted to convey, which was that fashion can be accessible, spontaneous, and fun. Ironically, that particular photo was never intended to be a cover. But as soon as Anna saw the image, s...
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Ceil Stanford on Success and Leading With Passion
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Cover Story, Thriving

Ceil Stanford on Success and Leading With Passion

Ceil Stanford is a coach, leader, business owner, entrepreneur, investor and mother. She is consistently recognized as a leader who teaches applicable and revolutionary processes for personal and professional development, helping others to develop their “inner champions.” Ceil transforms lives in extraordinary ways across the globe with entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, go-getters, parents, athletes and performers alike. In this interview with Stellar Woman Magazine she opens up about what success means to her and so much more. See excerpts below So what does leadership mean to you? Leadership to me is walking the talk. I don't respect someone that tells me to do things that they've never done or that they don't know how to do, or that they don'...
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Thriving

Diana Richardson – Phillipus On Transformational Leadership and Why Women Should Reach Their Full Potential

Who is Diana Richardson – Phillipus? My name is Diana Richardson- Phillipus, I have had quite the journey in my life from the time I was born. I am a Pennsylvania native, however I have resided in numerous places from childhood. I like to think that this is what has also contributed to my journey to entrepreneurship. I always knew that I wanted to be an entrepreneur! The stumbling block for me during that time was in what capacity. I’ve always been the type of person that would willingly offer up any type of service from ministering to my friends and family. I have been an avid reader all my life and I particularly enjoyed books that spoke to the power of the Law of Attraction. I remember the very first book on this topic that was introduced to me back in 2001 from a co-worker at the...
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Cover Story, Thriving

Daniela and Annette Felder on Gaps in Leadership in the Fashion Industry

Twin sisters Daniela and Annette Felder launched their womenswear line Felder Felder whilst studying at Central Saint Martins. Following their graduation in 2006, they were selected by Gen Art to showcase their collection during New York Fashion Week, and swiftly won the attention of the international fashion press and buyers, including Selfridges and Browns Focus. The sisters' signature style–feminine silhouettes toughened with chunky knitwear and bold accessories–garnered support from Simon Robbins of Russian Vogue, photographer Lorenzo Agius and stylist Patti Wilson. The German-born siblings received support from the Topshop/NewGen scheme three times, including for S/S 09. They were also featured in Hywel Davies' book 100 New Fashion Designers, published 2008. Daniela &a...
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Thriving

14 Reasons Why Jacinda Ardern is an Excellent Leader

Jacinda Ardern became the elected Prime Minister of New Zealand at 37 years old, making her the world's youngest female head of government, and only the second to become a mother while still in office. She has gained international recognition for strong and compassionate leadership.  Jacinda Ardern 1. She roots for solidarity “There are many factors which demonstrate that Jacinda Ardern is a great leader, but from a human rights perspective it was her masterful handling of the Christchurch shootings which really stood out. Around the world – from Brazil, India, Turkey, to even the USA and the UK – we have seen the rise of nationalism and populism. Nationalist and populist rhetoric typically comes at the expense of minorities and the already disenfranchised, be that on gr...
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Thriving

Power Women: Rwandan Beauty Entrepreneur Josette Komezusenge

Josette Komezusenge is a Rwandan beauty entrepreneur. She is born to the late Callixte Kayihura and Alexia Muhundwangeyo, both killed in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi along with 10 of her siblings. At the age of 15 she went to Belgium to begin her secondary education at College St Andre de Tournai.  “After completing my studies, I worked for the Belgian Government, but I wasn’t satisfied with my work and decided to be my own boss. With my humble savings, I opened up a salon and sold fashion accessories for women. Again, I wasn’t totally satisfied with my work because I dealt in products that changed skin complexion and hair colour, yet I wanted people to look more natural,” she says. Now, Josette owns 6 beauty salons, under the brand Maza Salon, the most famous in the ...
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Thriving

Rene Byrd On Leveraging Her Leadership Skills to Thrive as a Music Star

Rene Byrd is a Singer-Songwriter, Ambassador for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund UK, Online Influence Awards Finalist 2020, International Women of Empowerment Finalist 2021 and Co-Founder of Online Who AM I Talk Show. Rene- intro. After making time to support others during the pandemic, she shifted her mind from realising that she couldn’t release her music and decided to use the time to serve. She is the latest R&B/Pop songstress whose vocal talent has invited the attention of associates of the legendary Quincy Jones. Rene has performed at some of the most talked about international venues and on behalf of a European Prime Minister. Rene Byrd comes from a corporate background, which funded and elevated her exciting musical career from boardroom to stage. With her unique voice...
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Cover Story, Thriving

“Leadership is about having a vision and inspiring others to help you turn it into reality” – Amy Williams

Amy is an award-winning entrepreneur, thought-leader and mentor, she has spent 20 years working across the media, publishing and advertising industries. Amy has extensive experience in raising investment for both startups and corporates and secured significant seed capital within the first year of launching Fem Foundry. She is passionate about sharing this expertise by championing female capital and amplifying female-owned businesses. An expert in building, scaling and operating digital brands, Amy has worked across a number of industries creating disruptive growth strategies, driving revenue generation and establishing new networks. She has held senior positions at leading corporations such as Vice & The Daily Mail and startups promoting diversity, inclusion and parity at every sta...
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Teresa Mafalda Gonçalves on Success, Leadership, and Why it’s Important to Work Closely With Your Team
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Business, Thriving

Teresa Mafalda Gonçalves on Success, Leadership, and Why it’s Important to Work Closely With Your Team

Teresa Mafalda Gonçalves is the Chief Finance Officer at SATA Air Açores, a Portuguese airline based in São Sebastião, Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Portugal. She opens to Stellar Woman Magazine about leadership and success. Teresa Mafalda Gonçalves How do you define success? Well, for me success is feeling that we achieved our goals. It's feeling that we have done our best. Success can be achieved when you try to do your best in all aspects of everything you do. So, success for me is overcoming fear, learning something new each day, loving and being loved back, not giving up, celebrating all the victories, the ability to learn something and to be realized with our goals. This issue is about leadership. How do you define leadership?My definition of leadership can be differen...
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“Great Leaders are Great Listeners” – Rachel B. Lee
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Business, Cover Story, Thriving

“Great Leaders are Great Listeners” – Rachel B. Lee

Rachel B. Lee is a fearless #ladyboss. She started her career with Walton Isaacson, a marketing agency with expertise in multicultural segments, and managed Unilever’s first social media driven consumer activations including AXE One Night Only. After receiving her MBA from the University of Texas, Austin, McCombs School of Business, she entered the technology industry at Microsoft.  She has led branding, social media strategy, content development, blogging, influencer communities, podcasts, experiential, paid media and more for the Microsoft Partner Network, a 300K partner ecosystem of small to enterprise size businesses digitally transforming the world. Rachel B. Lee As social lead for Microsoft Inspire, she achieved over a billion impressions in 2017 and in 2018 won the Speake...
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20 great books that every leader must read.
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Business, Thriving

20 great books that every leader must read.

Leadership is not about titles or positions but about cultivating a skill set that will help you lead others toward greatness. These must- read books will improve your thinking, increase your confidence and provide you with the tools you need to become a better leader. We have rounded up 20 great books that will give you a glimpse into the minds of other leaders, and how they've faced challenges in their past. 21 irrefutable laws of leadership by John Maxwell is gold! What would happen if a top expert with more than thirty years of leadership experience were willing to distill everything he had learned about leadership into a handful of life-changing principles just for you? It would change your life. John C. Maxwell has done exactly that in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadersh...
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Thriving

Lessons on Leadership. From Serena & Venus Williams’ Story

In 1978 Richard Williams watched the finals of the French Open. He noted that the woman’s champion, Virginia Ruzici, took home a sizable check along with her trophy. Something stirred within him. Richard developed a 78-page plan to teach his daughters to become tennis champions. It was a strange plan indeed. He first had to teach himself this unfamiliar game of tennis by watching videos and taking lessons from a man nicknamed, “Old Whiskey.” Next, he decided to marry his long-time girlfriend, Oracene Price, and bring a few more girls into the world. This was accomplished when Oracene gave birth to Venus (1980) and Serena (1981) in Saginaw, Michigan. The final piece to this plan was a cross-country move to the ghetto of Compton, California. When Venus turned 4 and Serena 3, Richard began...
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