Bernadette Smith 7/8/22 Bernadette Smith 7/8/22

5 Things / Unplugged

This week I spent time in California whitewater rafting and hiking with an old friend. There was no cell service while we were on the overnight rafting trip, and it felt great to be completely unplugged. After I returned from the solace of nature, I learned there was a parade shooting in Highland Park, Illinois about 30 miles from my home.

Bernadette Smith 7/1/22 Bernadette Smith 7/1/22

5 Things / Community

Last week, I spent a few days at my mastermind retreat with a group of other business owners. I enjoy my mastermind so much because, honestly, being a founder can be lonely and I need all the support I can get to achieve my BIG vision for equality. I need community.

Bernadette Smith 6/24/22 Bernadette Smith 6/24/22

5 Things / Triggered

I spent two days this week on a retreat with my mastermind group. We’re a bunch of varied founders who come together to learn and support each other as we build our businesses. The theme of this retreat was “communication” and one of the sessions I enjoyed was on communicating with ourselves when we’re triggered by something someone says at work.

Bernadette Smith 6/17/22 Bernadette Smith 6/17/22

5 Things / Behavior

This week, one of our clients hosted me for a fireside chat. I was asked about how to respond to people whose sincerely held beliefs (religious or not) counteract current demographics, culture, and progressive thought. For example, a co-worker who believes that there are only two genders.

Bernadette Smith 6/10/22 Bernadette Smith 6/10/22

5 Things / Still Learning

This week I had a bunch of planning meetings in anticipation of upcoming keynotes. About 80% of the time, the client advises: “As a heads up, our employees are generally pretty conservative.” I’ve heard this from clients in many industries: financial services, energy, manufacturing, commercial real estate, and more.