There is incredible power in amplifying women’s voices through speaking on stages and podcasts.

Quinn Conyers is a founder of Speaking to Society and she transforms average events into epic experiences. As a professional corporate event emcee as well as a compelling keynote speaker. She shares her journey of discovering her talent for public speaking in college to becoming a professional emcee, keynote speaker, and event strategist.

She explains that an emcee isn't just a speaker but an "event experience partner" who is responsible for managing the flow, handling unexpected challenges, and ensuring audience engagement from start to finish. For Quinn successful event marketing should go beyond demographics, connecting with attendees’ deeper motivations and challenges—what she calls their psychographics.

Quinn advises recognizing that emceeing and speaking require different skill sets and emphasizes the importance of identifying your specific strengths and energy levels for certain types of events, whether corporate conferences, multi-day engagements, or galas. She shares practical insights on how to sustain energy during long events and recommends that organizers collaborate with the right professionals to enhance the experience.

Get ready to spark and show your energy to others.

Show notes:
🎤 While taking public speaking in college, Quinn discovered that when she talked, people listened. 3:32
👧🏾 Quinn always had a voice even before she started speaking: she was sure about what she wanted and liked. 7:05
😷 During Covid, speaking took off for her as an emcee in Clubhouse. 9:29
🌟 It's just about doing your thing, and then what you're naturally gifted and talented will emerge. 14:22
🎯 Importance of starting your marketing and outreach earlier, and focusing on attendee experience. 16:42
🤓 Although Quinn calls herself an emcee, she is an event experience partner. 21:21
🤔 The difference between an emcee and a speaker. 26:04
🤩 As an emcee, it's best to take events in fields of your own background. 28:41
⚠️ It's about being proactive, and managing your energy: being an emcee is very demanding. 33:12

Links:

Connect with Quinn: linkedin.com/in/quinnconyers

Website: quinnconyers.com
-Connect with Adrienne: www.sheleadsmedia.com

-Listen to podcasts for women by women on the She Leads Podcast Network: www.sheleadspodcasts.com

>> "I love ❤️ Adrienne and The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, can I ask you to please take a moment and give our podcast some love? To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests of The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺️ Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!! XO -Adrienne <<

We have to build a bigger influence up, down, and across, in all of our relationships.

Cate Luzio, the founder and CEO of Luminary, a global professional education and networking platform addressing and impacting the systemic challenges faced by women throughout their professional journeys. Luminary now includes a 22,000 sq. ft. space in NYC and a virtual network.

The world still operates differently for boys and girls. Women are smart and capable but often don’t fully believe in their abilities. While women are breaking down barriers, many of these barriers are internal. Overcoming imposter syndrome requires an “action-oriented” approach, along with subtle shifts in language and mindset. Using “I deserve” rather than “I need” brings up the confidence and that is crucial for becoming a visible role model who inspires others. Our leadership sets the tone for collective growth and support—finding win-win relationships and moving away from competition with other women is key. Cate’s experience with Tiffany Dufu illustrates how competitive situations can turn into opportunities for mutual growth.

It is time to embrace your achievements unapologetically, and find a community where you get the support that you need and where you can also provide support for others.

Show notes:
👩‍💼 Cate was a panelist at She Leads Live 2018: she left a very successful career in finance to pursue her goal of creating greater impact. 04:33
👠 Luminary has a huge working space in New York and partners 40 women-led partners around the country and abroad. 7:06
🎯 The importance is in building confidence, becoming better self-advocates, influence, and relationship building 11:13
😇 Men have their insecurities but they don't say it outright: Cate don’t like the term imposter syndrome. 15:06
⚠️ Mindset shift: “When I get there,” not “If I get there”; “I deserve something” rather than “I need something.” 19:23
🔥 Am I competing with her: how can businesswomen turn from a competition into a collaboration? 25:06
🏆 “In life, you've got to make sure people know who you are, how good you are, and that you'll be a team player.” 30:00
▶️ Cate wants to keep expanding because the power of the impact is driving her every day. 33:05
🤓 A diverse board and a diverse leadership team, creates allies and foster inclusivity. 36:18

Links

LI: linkedin.com/in/cluzio

IG instagram.com/CateLuzio

Website: weareluminary.com

-Connect with Adrienne: www.sheleadsmedia.com

-Listen to podcasts for women by women on the She Leads Podcast Network: www.sheleadspodcasts.com

>> "I love ❤️ Adrienne and The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, can I ask you to please take a moment and give our podcast some love? To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests of The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺️ Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!! XO -Adrienne <<

You don't have to be a certain brand of woman in order to deliver your message.

Mona is the founder of Couture for Cause, a nonprofit organization using fashion to fundraise and raise awareness for girls’ education and empowerment worldwide. She shares her journey from childhood in India to the recent Met Gala, where she turned heads in a stunning Iris van Herpen dress. With a blend of humor and vulnerability, she reflects on her struggles with identity, a tomboy image, and searching for her authentic self.

Mona has a strong entrepreneurial mind and a love for freedom mixed with a love for fashion She talks specifically of creativity and aesthetics, which she refers to as "aesthetic intelligence” which she used at Met Gala to showcase her nonprofit work. Multiple businesses she built taught her lessons about flexibility, learning skills, and the power of real estate.

Mona knows the power of connection and community along with the extensive education she got helped her to get out of the social pressures women face, especially in India, thanks to her parents’ open-mindedness which was the key to her empowerment. She had a desire to turn a "guilty pleasure" of fashion into something meaningful. Through her organization, she combines her passion for couture with efforts to support grassroots initiatives in India, particularly for young women and girls affected by sex trafficking and other challenges. Mona’s life was marked with resilience, seeking freedom, and breaking the norms in business and life but her mom taught her to balance between ambition and humility and that lesson has been a significant part of her growth.

Show notes:
👗 Mona made a splash at the Met Gala in a beautiful Iris van Herpen dress. 02:33
👧🏽 Mona's story as a child in India: her father's influence and help were significant. 08:12
👠 Only as an adult did she realize she didn't have to pretend to be a tomboy to be an empowered woman. 13:47
🏰 Her parents have been her fortress: they were very open-minded. 17:02
🦅 In the US, she truly felt freedom: she wanted to be known for who she was. 21:32
👩🏽‍💼 Mona's journey started with getting a broker's license in Florida in 2004. 24:36
🎯 She had an entrepreneurial mindset: "You control your destiny by not working for someone." 25:44
🏆 The first step to having a successful mindset is being the highest version of yourself. 27:55
🔥 Her mother's lesson: "Don't let the things that you own—own you." 34:05
😍 Mona and her husband have highly complementary skill sets: their partnership led them from one business to another. 38:51
😇 Couture for a Cause: that's a form of art. 43:09
🍀 She wanted to start initiatives that help women leave a legacy or impact. 46:27
🤩 During Covid, Mona had a reflective moment: "How can I serve the world?" 49:35
🌻 Perfectionism and high standards used to make her procrastinate, but now she has grown beyond that. 55:30

Links
Mona's website: hautemona.com

Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hautemona/

Connect with Adrienne: www.sheleadsmedia.com

Listen to podcasts for women by women on the She Leads Podcast Network: www.sheleadspodcasts.com

>> "I love ❤️ Adrienne and The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, can I ask you to please take a moment and give our podcast some love? To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests of The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺️ Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!! XO -Adrienne <<