Speak with Presence (Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas)

Jen Vellenga's "word" for 2023 is CONSISTENCY. Jennifer Rettele-Thomas challenged her to tell a story on the Speak with Presence podcast every day of 2023 starting on January 19, 2023.

Can Jen V. do it? JRT doubts it. 

Even if she's not perfect...how many stories can she tell and what structures will she use?

"Manny" (not his real name) has an odd request. This episode is about learning to be grateful, even in surprising circumstances.

Jen Vellenga's "word" for 2023 is CONSISTENCY. Jennifer Rettele-Thomas challenged her to tell a story on the Speak with Presence podcast every day of 2023 starting on January 19, 2023.

Can Jen V. do it? JRT doubts it. 

Even if she's not perfect...how many stories can she tell and what structures will she use?

What's the difference?  Jen demonstrates sharing an actual story vs. only telling the facts about a story.

Jen Vellenga's "word" for 2023 is CONSISTENCY. Co-host Jennifer Rettele-Thomas challenged her to tell a story on the Speak with Presence podcast every day of 2023 starting on January 19, 2023.

Can Jen V. do it? JRT doubts it. 

Even if she's not perfect...how many stories can Jen tell and what structures will she use? How creative can she get about where she finds the stories she shares? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to find out!

Jen V & JRT and the co-founders of Voice First World, a communication and executive coaching company.

Michele Thrash is the Founder of the So What! Now What? Coaching and Podcast. Michele has 20 years in the Personal Development space and a lifetime of overcoming all that life has to offer in the way of challenges and opportunities to pivot and grow.  She describes her life and the real life version of a trashy romance novel.  Her mission is to help women navigate the rough waters of life and relationships and come out on the other side stronger and more authentic than ever.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Allison Howard was named the first-ever President of KC Current on May 24, 2022. Howard joined the club after a ten-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. She spent the previous five years serving as Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, where she was instrumental in closing the Lakers’ most successful partnerships and led the organization’s corporate partnership strategy that surpassed $350 million in revenue.

Prior to her time with the Lakers, Howard was Vice President at Premier Partnerships where she sold and managed naming rights partnerships all over the country. She was also recognized as a "Woman of Inspiration" from WISE LA (Women in Sports and Events, Los Angeles) and served on the WISE LA board for 10 years.

Maria Borges is the Vice President of the Global Consumer Products – Optimization Economics at Mastercard and has 20+ years of global experience within the finance and payments industries. In her current role, Maria leads a unique team that drives global pricing initiatives for existing and new consumer solutions. Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration both in Accounting from Barry University and recently joined as a Board Member at Florida Justice Institute, a non-profit organization.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, let's chat: https://www.voicefirstworld.com/chat

Talk Nicely to Yourself features actor/singer, Shon Ruffin, a Kansas City-based performer. Jen V. & JRT spoke with Shon on location at the New Theatre and Restaurant in Overland Park, KS before she prepared for her nightly performance of Effie in the musical DREAMGIRLS. The show closed on Sept, 10, 2023 after a sold out run.

You can find Shon singing with the bands Freedom Affair and Lost Wax.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World, a communication and executive coaching company.  If you want to learn more, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Episode 9: Christina Piedlow is the President and CEO of TPG Trade Show and Event Marketing, an experiential marketing agency that specializes in bringing brand messaging to life in the event space. Her work has won awards, most recently a Silver Stevie Award for Best Corporate and Community B2B Virtual Event, and has been featured in several publications, including Exhibitor Magazine. Christina also has a passion for musical theatre and performs with New Musicals Inc. to bring new works to the stage. 

Book a call HERE to see if it's a good fit for us to work together - it's a free call!

Episode 15: The Growing Edge features Ibtissam Niri who lives in Marrakech, Morocco. She received her bachelor’s degree in Political Studies, Public Law, from Cadi Ayyad University in 2013 and her master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomatic and Consular Law from Hassan II University in 2017. Ibtissam is currently working toward her Ph.D. in Cyberspace at Mohammed V University in Rabat. She has volunteered for several associations dedicated to health, education, and sustainable development. In 2013, she became a volunteer at the High Atlas Foundation in Mohammedia, working on participatory democratic planning and management of development projects there.  In her current work with HAF, Ibtissam serves as the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program in Morocco, which engages U.S. technical experts to serve short-term volunteer assignments for the benefit of local farming cooperatives and associations. In conjunction with the F2F Country Director, she conducts participatory needs assessments with host organizations, and she develops Scopes of Work for incoming volunteers. She also oversees F2F’s knowledge management and monitoring & evaluation systems, providing support to volunteers in matters relating to research and documentation.  In her current work with HAF, Ibtissam serves as the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program in Morocco, which engages U.S. technical experts to serve short-term volunteer assignments for the benefit of local farming cooperatives and associations. In conjunction with the F2F Country Director, she conducts participatory needs assessments with host organizations, and she develops Scopes of Work for incoming volunteers. She also oversees F2F’s knowledge management and monitoring & evaluation systems, providing support to volunteers in matters relating to research and documentation. Mentioned in this episode: The Empowerment Institute

Nneka Okekearu is the Deputy Director and Head of Gender at the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University. She has a 1st degree in Banking and Finance and MBA and is currently pursuing a doctorate in entrepreneurship. She has over 25 years of experience spanning banking, telecommunication, and consulting. A World Bank Master Trainer and Assessor, Nneka believes in the power of mentoring, capacity building, and networks. As head of Gender and Deputy Director at the Enterprise Development Centre, she has had the privilege of supporting women on their entrepreneurship journey.

She has implemented, supported, and managed various programs on the continent, such as the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women; World Bank Women-X Project, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women ‘Road to Growth’ Program, the MasterCard Foundation ‘Transforming Nigerian Youths’ Program. Over the years, she has provided financial linkages for startups and social enterprises, both locally and internationally.

She has also implemented global programs such as the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), focusing on enterprising women in business. Nneka sits on the board of Assembly-hub, a catalytic platform aimed at strengthening the capacities of creative entrepreneurs.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on your public speaking and leadership presence, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Kathi Dantley Warren is the vice president for development and alumni relations at Rice University.                                                   

Prior to her promotion in July 2019, she served as Rice's associate vice president for development. In this role she was responsible for the day-to-day operations of individual fundraising programs and also oversaw various departments within the Development and Alumni Relations division, including gift planning, major gifts, school-based fundraising and annual giving.  Under Warren’s leadership, Rice achieved its largest annual fundraising total ever in fiscal year 2021 and secured its first-ever $100 Million gifts.  

She is sought-after speaker in the advancement field on leadership, organizational development, and DEI.

Kathi was named one of Houston’s 50 Most influential Women of 2022.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

In Episode 93, Confidence is Situational, Jen V sits down with JRT to laugh, tease, and answer a few listener questions about Speaking with Presence and Voice First World. 

‘Why do we do what we do?’ and ‘What are some of our success stories?’ Hear about Jen V & JRT’s own struggles with confidence and leadership, as well as the many, many successes they’ve experienced with clients/lifelong business associates.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and leadership coaching company.  They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Episode 37:  Title IX and Director of Toilets

Lisa Kaplowitz is the Co-founder and Executive Director of the Rutgers Center for Women in Business, and assistant professor of finance at Rutgers Business School, where she leverages 25+ years of experience as an investment banker and CFO. Lisa is also a restless champion for gender equality and her work has been featured on Bloomberg TV and in USA Today, Forbes, CFO Magazine and Bloomberg.com. Lisa’s advocacy began as a scholar-athlete at Brown University, when she was part of a landmark Title IX case that added more varsity athletic opportunities for women. Today, she continues to champion gender equity at work and in the home, alongside her husband and teenage sons, where you can see them in action in her latest TEDx, “Advancing Women in the Workplace, One Son at a Time.”

Podcast sponsor:  William and Lauren

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Episode 11: Candice McIntosh is the Executive Director of Girls On the Run of the Flint Hills. Her strong sense of values has come from being a military “brat,” embracing new cultures and adapting to new life situations. Drawn to Girls On the Run by her desire to help girls discover their full potential, much of her work has focused on developing and expanding the program to make lifelong changes in the girls she serves.  Candice’s 14 years of volunteer management experience and non-profit fundraising have helped her expand the program over the last six years throughout the Flint Hills region. Through her work she wants to make it possible for girls to recognize the vast inner power they possess to build rich lives with unlimited possibilities. 

On this episode, Take a Risk, we share a compilation episode from the 2020-2021 podcast, Ditch Your Backup Plan. This was Jen V.'s first podcast where she interviewed guests in the performing arts on what it means for them to follow a risky career path.

In this episode, each guest answers the question, "What has been your biggest risk?"  Some of their reflections may surprise you.  

This is also the exact episode that inspired Jen V. and JRT to chuck it all and resign from their positions in higher education to launch Voice First World®.  It was a huge risk and they have not regretted it for one single second!

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and executive coaching company.  They train executives, leaders, and speakers on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically, with presence, on stages, on video, and audio.  If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

In this episode, Giving Deeply, we spoke with Claire Costello, Managing Director, Senior Philanthropic Strategist for Philanthropic Solutions at Bank of America Private Bank.

Claire takes us on an exploration of what data says about how we—especially women—interact with philanthropy. Listen in on her insights into giving versus receiving and how we can best show up for philanthropy.

Affluent Charitable Giving Trends and Statistics in 2022 (bankofamerica.com)

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and leadership coaching company.  They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat

Shelby McKay joined Washington State University in January of 2020 as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Development. McKay was promoted to Associate Director of Athletics where she oversees all staff and student-athlete development.

McKay joined WSU after spending six years at George Washington University as the Senior Student-Athlete Development Associate. She also was responsible for the tutoring and study hall program, first year experience program, postgraduate scholarships, award nominations, and was the athletic departments lead for SAAC. In 2016, she created and implemented the current career development model for student-athletes. 

She mentions the Deviate program in this episode.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on your public speaking and leadership presence, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

In Episode 92, House Flip to Leadership, we had the pleasure of connecting with Tamara Day, host and designer of Magnolia Network's "Bargain Mansions."

Tamara is an expert home renovator both on-camera and off. Hear about her incredible leadership growth and the vital lessons she’s learned as star and lead designer of a multi-season TV show. 

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and leadership coaching company.  They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Episode 1: As co-founders of Voice First World, we (Jen V. and JRT) are curious about the intersection of public speaking and leadership presence. We ask women to speak with presence in all their spheres of influence...without being perfect. This podcast exists to uncover what's stopping women from speaking up. Our guests inspire women to embrace imperfection and lead at the highest levels anyway.

Book a call HERE to see if it's a good fit for us to work together - it's a free call!

We interviewed Nancy Whitworth, the Chief People Officer at McCownGordon Construction. We met with her on location at her office in downtown Kansas City, MO.

In this episode, Nancy explains how shifting her mindset completely changed her leadership game and the three words that inspired her epiphany. Learn about the enormous impact Nancy has on her community and Voice First World® itself, and how she’s gained a reputation as an outstanding leader. 

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and leadership coaching company.  They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

"Sally" (not her real name) calls out professionalism in the classroom. Triangulation lessons are learned the hard way.

Jen Vellenga's "word" for 2023 is CONSISTENCY. Jennifer Rettele-Thomas challenged her to tell a story on the Speak with Presence podcast every day of 2023 starting on January 19, 2023.

Can Jen V. do it? JRT doubts it. 

Even if she's not perfect...how many stories can she tell and what structures will she use?

Episode 13:  All-in Allies features Gender-in-the-workplace experts David G. Smith, Ph.D. and W. Brad Johnson, Ph.D. They show why and how men have a crucial role to play in promoting gender equality at work. Research shows that when men are deliberately engaged in gender-inclusion programs, 96 percent of women in those organizations perceive real progress in gender equality, compared with only 30 percent of women in organizations without strong male engagement. Smith, a sociologist, and Johnson, a clinical psychologist, are former naval officers with a mission to help men become more effective allies with women and more inclusive leaders in the workplace. Using evidence-based best practices from their books Athena Rising and Good Guys they show men how to partner with their female colleagues to advance women's leadership and equality by breaking ingrained gender stereotypes, overcoming unconscious biases, developing and supporting the talented women around them, and creating productive and respectful working relationships with women.

Episode 32:  Find Your Ally

Georgette Macdonald is the Director General of the National Research Council’s Metrology Research Centre, Canada’s National Metrology Institute (NMI). Georgette provides the overall vision and direction for the research activities and measurement services delivered by NRC Metrology. She is committed to fostering innovation through high-precision measurement science and advancements in metrology. Georgette leads the team to provide coherent metrological advice that improves and informs national policy and decision-making for commerce, standards development, regulation, and trade agreements. She links ideas to implementation through collaborative initiatives with stakeholders across the innovation landscape. NRC Metrology’s actions ensure the Canadian market has access to and confidence in competent measurement solutions and while supporting the international recognition of Canada's National Accreditation schemes and National Measurement System.

Her technical background is in mass and related quantities. She started her career in metrology with GJS Mass Measurement and Fisher Scientific Canada, as a Laboratory Technologist, and then as the Laboratory Supervisor and Quality Manager. 

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Episode 6: Amandina Altomare is a powerhouse female founder and thought leader paving the way for a new age in social media marketing. Her unique background in acting and PR make her an incomparable storyteller; she specializes in crafting the stories of brands through video and static content to reach their target audience online. Amandina's talent for social media and digital marketing was cultivated during her time in fashion PR when she represented acclaimed designers like Christian Siriano and denim wear brand 7 For All Mankind.
Amandina launched Media A La Carte in May of 2020 and has grown it to a 6 figure business in its first full year, a team of 4, and over 11k followers. The company has helped over 100 businesses and individuals grow their online presence since its inception. With a passion for KPIs and an insatiable New York work ethic, Amandina is a coveted partner for brands in the fashion, wellness, hospitality, and entertainment spaces.

Book a call HERE to see if it's a good fit for us to work together - it's a free call!

Nancy Whitworth is the Chief People Officer at McCownGordon Construction where she has blazed new trails with corporate and people strategy.  With 35 years of experience, she’s developed expertise in talent planning, human resources, organizational & talent development, leadership development, associate relations, total rewards, talent acquisition, and much more.

As part of McCownGordon’s executive team, Nancy has helped lead the company’s growth over the past 14 years, while concurrently shaping a culture that has earned national recognition as Fortune’s Top 20 Great Places to Work for medium businesses, as well as Best Places to Work for Millennials. Locally, the company has been designated by The Kansas City Business Journal as one of The Best Places to Work for the past 17 consecutive years.

Nancy was recently selected as a finalist for the 2022 Women Transforming Business award, which is a national award sponsored by CBIZ.  She was selected by Ingram’s as a WeKC (Women Executives Of KC) honoree in 2019, and by the Kansas City Business Journal for Women Who Mean Business class of 2013. 

In this episode 77, Lead with Love, we spoke with Christine Kemper, Marketing Professional, Board Member, and Founder of Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy, a school that teaches young women to use their voices, succeed in college and lead impactful, meaningful lives.

It's giving Tuesday! This is where to give: Education - KCGPA      Arts - Heartland Arts

In Christine’s inspiring story, she sees a need in her community and takes matters into her own hands to meet the need. Find out how the students in her school are encouraged to put their own presence into the world.

Following a fifteen-year career that began in the U.S. Department of Justice and evolved to include roles in business communications, politics and higher education, Christine founded a marketing and research consultancy that has advised local, national and global brands since 2002. She is co-founder of The Collectors Fund and The Kansas City Collection, two enterprises that invest in art and build markets for artists, as well as YEP, an internship and scholarship organization focused on nurturing entrepreneurship among high school students. She has served in leadership roles for dozens of regional nonprofit organizations, including the Women’s Foundation, Women’s Employment Network, WIN for KC, the WWI Museum and Memorial, DeLaSalle Education Center, the Symphony Foundation and University Academy Charter School. Her current passion is in her role as a founder and board chair of Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy. 

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and leadership coaching company.  They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

In this episode 85, Jen V. dives into her method for gaining speaking presence through the Presence Paradigm™ - Confidence, Focus, and Influence.

If you have communication topics you want to hear about, email Jen at JenV@VoiceFirstWorld.com

We all want it our way.  But are we listening?  If we aren't, artificial intelligence is!

In this episode, Jen V. talks about Kevin Roose's book, "Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation" and shares his advice on what to do in an increasingly automated world.

Jen Vellenga's "word" for 2023 is CONSISTENCY. Co-host Jennifer Rettele-Thomas challenged her to tell a story on the Speak with Presence podcast every day of 2023 starting on January 19, 2023.

Can Jen V. do it? JRT doubts it. 

Even if she's not perfect...how many stories can Jen tell and what structures will she use? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to find out!

Jen V & JRT and the co-founders of Voice First World, a communication and executive coaching company.

In Episode 94, Empathy in Action, we speak with Dr. Alan Verrill, President and CEO of AdventHealth Shawnee Mission. Alan has led multiple award-winning hospitals after working for 25 years as a trusted and compassionate physician. 

Dr. Verrill shares triumphs and obstacles experienced throughout his professional career; how he unexpectedly became a prominent leader after his military appointment, the changes he’s seen in medicine in recent years, and a heart-warming story about a patient who had a tremendous impact on him. Warning: The Jens cry in this episode.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and leadership coaching company.  They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Dani Welniak is the Vice President of Communications for the KC Current, the Kansas City soccer team for the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Dani has an impressive career as an on-air reporter for the Kansas City Chiefs and as a superbowl champion with the Dallas Diamondz - Women's Professional Full-Contact NFL Rules Football.

Dani is a confident speaker and shares her stories of overcoming failures and being supported by allies in a male-dominated industry.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World, a communication and executive coaching company.  If you want to learn more, book a call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Dr. Rebeca Chow is a bilingual Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Missouri/Kansas and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Dr. Chow is actively involved in the counseling and play therapy community with topics related to mental health neurobiology, diversity and inclusion, parenting, supervision, and technology. She is a consultant for the Kansas Division of Family Services and Sesame Street in Communities.  In addition, she is serving in the Association for Play Therapy Board of Directors. 

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on your public speaking and leadership presence, schedule a free call:

https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Jen Vellenga continues to fill the story bank with a story about William's award.  This episode is ripped from the files of group coaching for the Speak with Presence program by Voice First World.

Jen Vellenga's "word" for 2023 is CONSISTENCY. Co-host Jennifer Rettele-Thomas challenged her to tell a story on the Speak with Presence podcast every day of 2023 starting on January 19, 2023.

Can Jen V. do it? JRT doubts it. 

Even if she's not perfect...how many stories can she tell and what structures will she use?

Alisa McCabe is the president of First Step Financial.  She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed. She comes from a family of entrepreneurs. Her father, both brothers and her husband all own businesses. She has been working with business owners to create success since 2009. Her focus has been on organizing her clients' financials to gain insight to make thoughtful decisions and streamlining processes using the latest technology. She loves what she does, and her clients are inspired by her enthusiasm and knowledge about what it takes to run a successful company.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on your public speaking and leadership presence, schedule a free call:

https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Episode 14:  Marisa Carona has served as our Chief Growth Officer for Wingstop Restaurants Inc. since August 2021. Marisa joined the company in February 2015 and most recently served as Vice President, Strategy and Chief of Staff. During her time with the company, Marisa has led key areas of the business including corporate strategy, ESG, and training. Prior to joining Wingstop, Marisa led strategic initiatives at 7-Eleven, with an emphasis on innovation. Marisa began her career as an engineer for Lockheed Martin where she held various operations leadership roles. Stacy Peterson has served as our Chief Digital and Technology Officer for Wingstop Restaurants Inc. since August 2021. Stacy originally joined Wingstop in September of 2013 and led a number of technology, operations and consumer experience initiatives as both our Chief Information Officer and Chief Experience Officer. During her brief hiatus from Wingstop, Stacy served as the Chief Information Officer for Service King, a Blackstone Portfolio Company, where she led business transformation initiatives through system automation and centralization. Prior to Wingstop, Stacy held technology leadership roles at Kinko’s/FedEx Office and CBRE.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking confidently as a leader, let's chat: https://www.voicefirstworld.com/chat

Mari Tautimes is the author of #KeepGoing. She brings her 20+ years of entrepreneurial leadership to coach, train, and inspire today’s business leaders of all ages, experience-levels, and industries. Mari is that rare female leader who shatters the confines of “business” as we know it by revealing our own humanity through simple yet vulnerable writing, speaking, and entrepreneurial training, unapologetically from a woman’s perspective.

Having learned from the likes of Tony Robbins and Keith Cunningham, Mari is driven to inspire and motivate others to fulfill their potential and achieve their goals. She is a world-class speaker, trainer, EOS Implementer®, and mentor, sharing her story of perseverance and success to help others create and pursue their most fulfilling lives.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Episode 41:  Don't be Underestimated

Courtney's journey is about owning her story and not letting it own her.

As Courtney will tell you, a violent childhood in Atlanta, followed by a decision to drop out of high school, led her down a path of poor decision-making that continued for years. But, since earning her GED in 1992, Courtney has overcome insurmountable obstacles in both her professional and personal life.

Setting the bar high, she overcame her fear of flying and became a pilot in 2002. Two years later she was certified to teach aspiring pilots how to fly and follow their passion. In 2008, Courtney began her professional airline pilot career, in an industry where fewer than 4% of pilots are women. 

Within six years she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Aeronautical Science with specializations in space operations and aerospace safety systems from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. A 2012 Women Future Leaders Scholarship award fueled her determination. In 2014, Courtney moved to Nicaragua and started a nonprofit, Runucate (run+educate), to provide educational scholarships and teach English in the local community while she continued to work as a pilot. She unexpectedly relocated full time to the United States in May 2018 after political unrest erupted in Central America. She shifted her non profit focus and continues to run marathons globally to raise awareness and funds for organizations that fight illiteracy and provide education. In 2020 Courtney published a tell all memoir, This Is Your Captain Speaking - Reaching for the Sky Despite a Lifetime of Depression, Abuse and Fear. 

Through it all Courtney remains true to her mission of inspiration, mentorship and is a fierce advocate of the underdog. 

Podcast sponsor:  William and Lauren

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com

Episode 7: Dr. Karla Hughes is the former Chancellor and Professor Emerita of the University of Arkansas at Monticello.  She is also the first female to lead a four-year university in the University of Arkansas System.  Previously, Hughes was the Executive Vice President and Provost as well as the deputy to System President Sandra K. Woodley in the University of Louisiana System. Dr. Hughes has a PhD in Agriculture and over 45 years of teaching and leadership experience in the Academy at several institutions. She served with distinction as a faculty member, department chair, dean and provost involved in public affairs, institutional research, outreach and student services.  

Book a call HERE to see if it's a good fit for us to work together - it's a free call!

Jenna Byrnes joined the Oklahoma City Dodgers team as the Senior Vice President in September 2010. Jenna currently leads the organization’s revenue generating efforts with an emphasis in Ticket Sales, Marketing and Special Events. Additionally, Jenna focuses on designing and implementing business strategies, plans and procedures. In her time with the Dodgers, the team has increased attendance by 21% and maximized opportunities for non-baseball programming at the ballpark for businesses, nonprofits and members of the community.

In addition to her revenue responsibilities, Jenna focuses on leadership and professional development for the 50 full-time members of the organization with a focus on internal communication and company culture. She serves as a resource for other industry executives and was recognized as the 2013 and 2015 Pacific Coast League Female Executive of the Year. Jenna also teaches as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma Christian University. In 2016, Jenna was included in the okc.biz Forty Under 40 class. Jenna also contributed her perspective on “Finding Your Baseball Why” to The GMs Handbook, published in 2018 which hit #1 in 11 of Amazon’s book categories. 

Before arriving in Oklahoma, Jenna was the Senior Director of Ticket Sales for the Frisco RoughRiders (AA-Texas Rangers). Under her leadership, the team grew consistently in sales and led all of Double-A Baseball in attendance during each of her seven seasons.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Episode 12: 2022 IEEE Past President Susan K. (Kathy) Land.

Susan K. (Kathy) Land is a Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Missile Defense Agency. She has more than 30 years of industry experience in the application of software engineering methodologies, the management of information systems, and leadership of software development teams. 
Kathy served as the 2018 Vice President, IEEE Technical Activities. She also served two additional terms on the IEEE Board of Directors as Division VIII Director/Delegate in 2011 and 2012 and as Division V Director/Delegate in 2014 and 2015. She was President of the IEEE Computer Society in 2009. Kathy was a member of the IEEE-USA Board of Directors in 2013 and 2016. 

Kathy has been an active member of the IEEE Standards Association for more than 20 years and served as the Computer Society Vice President for Standards in 2004. She was the recipient of the 2007 IEEE Standards Medallion.

An IEEE Fellow, Kathy is the author and co-author of a number of texts and publications supporting software engineering principles and the practical application of software process methodologies. She is an IEEE-HKN Member and IEEE Computer Society Richard E. Merwin Award recipient. 

In this episode, Living in Mama Kelce’s World, we sit down with LeAnne Stowe, owner of Annie’s Barn. LeAnne talks about how she turned an online Facebook auction into a shop that operates in 12 different cities and online at https://anniesbarn.com/.

From her viral products to her personal connection with national hero “Mama Kelce” - the mother of NFL superstars, Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) and Jason Kelce (Philadelphia Eagles)  – hear how Annie has developed not only a thriving business, but a tight community of “Barnstormers.” 

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and leadership coaching company.  They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat

In Episode 88, we had the delight of speaking with Lindsey Roy, Senior Vice President - Strategy and Brand at Hallmark. She’s a global digital leader, public speaker, and author of “The Gift of Perspective: Wisdom I Gained from Losing a Leg and Two Lungs.”

Lindsey bestows some of this incredible wisdom on us, detailing how she takes gratitude to another level. She breaks down her hardships and how they completely shifted her perspective on life. She shares mindset challenges that anyone–regardless of their own life’s story–can try. 

https://lindseyroy.com/

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and executive coaching company.  They train leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to lead and speak confidently, book a discovery call HERE. 

Episode 16 - Courage to Lead Up:  Emily is a fundraising professional with 8 years of experience working in the private school, university and non-profit settings. She currently serves as the Development Director for Young Life Military – Club Beyond where she focuses on resource development and serves as Campaign Director for a multi-year campaign supporting ministry outreach for military teens and families on installations across the world. She is passionate about relationship building, volunteer engagement, matching passion with purpose, and developing systems that honor and serve the investors she works with. 

Billi Dray has been working to build ministry in the mission of Young Life for over 13 years. She has pioneered new outreach ministry to kids in the city, teen moms and now serving as Development Director for Developing Global Leaders, a college scholarship program for volunteers in developing countries while training them for leadership opportunities. She is passionate about building bridges between high potential leaders who lack resources and generous hearts who want to see the world changed for the better.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on your public speaking and leadership presence, schedule a free call:

https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

In this episode, Have You Made It?, we share a compilation episode from the 2020-2021 podcast,  Ditch Your Backup Plan: Stories of rewarding careers between starving artist and celebrity. This was Jen V.'s first podcast, where she interviewed guests in the performing arts on what it means for them to follow a risky career path.

In this episode, each guest answers the question, "Have You Made It?" It's an invasive question that artists get asked far too often. Their perspectives on this question will help you frame your own achievements, big and small.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and executive coaching company.  They train executives, leaders, and speakers on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically, with presence, on stages, on video, and audio.  If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Sandra Bargman is a creative soul, intuitive communicator, and energetic servant.

It started when she was three years old, marched into her family kitchen, hands on her hips and announced that she was here on “a mission!" Every career choice she has made has ultimately rested on the ancient Greek maxim of “Know Thyself," the directive that is at the heart of every artistic, spiritual and leadership journey.

She hold a BFA from Carnegie-Mellon University in drama and music and has had a happy 30+ year career as a professional actor, director, teacher and presentation coach. She has performed on the stages of Broadway national tours, the clubs and cabaret rooms of NYC, off-Broadway, regional theatres and beyond.

Her spiritual life called her further inward, and in 2007, she was ordained as an Inter-spiritual Minister from The New Seminary for Interfaith Studies. She hold an advanced certification from One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in Spiritual Counseling. Unaffiliated with any single religious tradition, she has helped clients of all faiths and traditions (including none) in pursuing deeper self- understanding in their personal quest to ’Know Thyself."

Jen Vellenga continues to fill the story bank with a story about singing in Shen Zhen, China in 1993.  This episode begins our celebration of International Women on the Speak with Presence podcast by Voice First World.

Jen Vellenga's "word" for 2023 is CONSISTENCY. Co-host Jennifer Rettele-Thomas challenged her to tell a story on the Speak with Presence podcast every day of 2023 starting on January 19, 2023.

Can Jen V. do it? JRT doubts it. 

Even if she's not perfect...how many stories can she tell and what structures will she use?

Jen Vellenga's "word" for 2023 is CONSISTENCY. Jennifer Rettele-Thomas challenges her to tell a story on the Speak with Presence podcast every day of 2023 starting today, January 19, 2023.

Can Jen V. do it? JRT doubts it. 

Even if she's not perfect...how many stories can she tell and what structures will she use?

She's posting video on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, too! Only on weekdays. 

Shannon Rich has spent her career leading organizations through transformational projects by challenging traditional methods. As president and CEO of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, she directed the single largest endeavor in the organization’s 95-year history-the opening of the Gaylord–Pickens Museum, unveiling a complete renovation of one of Oklahoma’s oldest treasures, the former Mid-Continent Life Insurance Building. 

Since Rich joined the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, there has been a significant increase to its statewide exposure, educational programming and guest experience. The museum has provided free field trips to over 45,000 students; developed one of the most active teen boards in the state; increased statewide donor support; established an emerging leaders board to raise awareness of the mission; created free family programming year-round; and completed a $19 million capital campaign. Ongoing initiatives include providing statewide scholarship opportunities to all 77 counties and its award-winning publishing program.

Under Rich’s direction, the museum was recognized as the Best New Attraction by the Oklahoma State Department of Tourism and Recreation, Nickelodeon’s Best Parents Pick for Teens, Best Day Camp and Best Museum, and Best New Attraction by Frontier Country Marketing Association. The museum also has received the Neil Horton Award for Excellence for its role in revitalizing downtown Oklahoma City. 

Rich continues to leave a lasting impact on her community. She has been recognized as one of Oklahoma’s “Most Admired CEOs,” is a three-time honoree and inductee of the Circle of Excellence for the Journal Record’s “50 Making a Difference” and a member of “Achievers Under 40.” She served as a delegate for the White House Conference on Women and also as a host committee member for Governor Frank Keating’s Conference for Women.  

A sought-after speaker on topics from business development, non-profit management and the importance of equity in the workplace, Rich is also the Founder of the LeadHERboard an online tool used to elevate, engage and professional women. 

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

After earning her BFA and moving to New York City, Susan hit the comedy club scene performing sketch comedy with the Obie Award winning New George’s “Kinda Personal,” her comedy duo “STEVE” as well as improvising with Upright Citizens Brigade, which, together, couldn’t surpass her proudest career moment... winding up on The Dana Carvey Show’s editing room floor.

Episode 8: Ray Burgman began serving as the Vice President, Programs and Services at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, a 501c3 regional postsecondary compact, on October 1, 2021. Burgman is a non-profit professional, serving in roles that elevate postsecondary education to its highest ideals. At WICHE, Burgman leads the Programs and Services team, which manages a dozen programs. The programs annually account for millions of dollars of student and college and university savings and range from student access and support services to campus leader development to risk management. Previously, Burgman served as director of programs and research at HERS (Higher Education Resource Services), a non-profit leadership development organization focused on women who work in postsecondary settings, for eight years. In addition, she served as an administrator at DePauw University, located in Greencastle, IN, in Academic Affairs and the Office of the President and at New College of Florida, located in Sarasota, FL, in Academic Affairs. Burgman was a tenured professor in economics and management at DePauw University. In addition, she taught at two other institutions in Florida, Santa Fe College and the University of South Florida-St. Peterburg. She completed the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Institute for Educational Management (IEM) program and the Higher Education Resource Services Leadership Institute to prepare for senior leadership. Burgman received a B.A. from New College of Florida and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Florida, located in Gainesville, FL. Interstate Passport program.

Book a call HERE to see if it's a good fit for us to work together - it's a free call!

Dr. Hilit Mechaber is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Sr. Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UMMSM).  She graduated from the UM BS/MD Honors Program in Medicine and completed her residency in Primary Care Internal Medicine at the George Washington University. Her professional niche is in the area of medical student career development and work-life integration. In her current decanal role, she creates and oversees programs and resources available for all areas of medical student support and career guidance. She is a national leader in student affairs with a passion and commitment to medical student well-being. Dr. Mechaber has broad national involvement as she currently serves as the Chair-Elect of the National Group on Student Affairs (GSA), recently completing her term as past-Chair of the GSA Committee on Student Affairs (COSA) and previously as the Southern Region’s Chairperson. She also represents the GSA as a member of ERAS National Advisory Board. She has also worked to support women in medicine locally and collaboratively with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion as her medical school’s advisor of AMWA, and also served as the UMMSM faculty institutional representative to the AAMC GWIMS for 8 years. 

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Sonal Shah serves as Interim Executive Vice President, Worldwide Network Advancement, United Way Worldwide. She leads the U.S. and International Network teams to work with local United Ways to help deliver the greatest impact for UWW's communities. She serves on the UWW Executive Leadership Team.  

Ms. Shah is a global leader on social impact and innovation. She has started and led social impact efforts in academia, government, and the private and philanthropy sectors for more than twenty-five years. Most recently she founded and led The Asian American Foundation, raising over $1 billion, the largest philanthropic effort serving the Asian American community. Before TAAF, she started and led Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation for over seven years, training students on social impact and leading research on different models of social innovation. In the Obama Administration, Ms. Shah served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Social Innovation at the White House, leading the efforts across government to introduce social innovation, including financial innovation, impact metrics, and the role of technology. In the private sector, she led the Global Development Initiatives at Google focused on impact investing and technology for social impact. At Goldman Sachs, Shah developed and implemented the firm’s environmental strategy. 

Ms. Shah also has significant experience working internationally as an economist at the Department of Treasury, setting up the central bank in Bosnia, working for post-conflict reconstruction in Kosovo, and implementing poverty reduction strategies in Africa. She also served as the chief of operations for the Center for Global Development.  

Ms. Shah was appointed by President Biden to serve as the Chief Commissioner on the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.  She also serves on Homeland Security Advisory Council.  Ms. Shah serves on the board of Oxfam America, the UBS Optimus Foundation, The Century Foundation, and the National Democratic Institute. She also serves as an adviser to Pinterest and Apollo Global Management. She is an advisor to the Provost at Georgetown University. In 2019-20, she served as the National Policy Director for Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Episode 4: Dr. Francesca Giordano is principal partner of Veduta Consulting, LLC, a private practice and consulting business in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Her clinical specializations include sexuality counseling, anger management, supervision, and career counseling. She consults on program innovation, transformational leadership, and entrepreneurial mindset. From 2010-2017, she was the Program Director for the Master of Arts in Counseling Program at Northwestern University.  She holds the rank of clinical professor at Northwestern University. She was also the Program Director for the Counseling@Northwestern and was a staff therapist for The Family Institute in Evanston, Illinois. Prior to joining The Family Institute, Dr. Giordano was a professor of Counseling in the Department of Counseling, Adult and Health Education at Northern Illinois University where she was Faculty Coordinator and Assistant Department Chair. She is also a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois.

Book a call HERE to see if it's a good fit for us to work together - it's a free call!

Molly Wurdack-Folt shares the story of how she spoke up during difficult furlough conversations at the height of the pandemic when sports and entertainment were hit hard by shutdowns. She advocates for speaking up courageously, even when the conversations are difficult and may not end the way you expect.

Molly is the Vice President, Partnership Activation. In her role, she is responsible for leading the Corporate Partnerships’ activation group across the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Entertainment arms of the business. Ensuring world-class experiences for partners through exceptional service, cutting-edge activation plans and flawless execution.  She also drives renewal sales efforts and developing cross-venue, multi-platform deals that leverage the sports & entertainment group’s unparalleled portfolio of properties.

Previously, Molly held the role of Director of Marketing Strategy for Olympia Entertainment. In that role, Wurdack managed the Corporate Partnership Marketing department, which she oversaw for more than seven years as the Director of Ticket Service and Corporate Partnership Marketing. She also sought out new opportunities for Red Wings sponsorships, working closely with the NHL and fellow NHL teams to grow revenue and expand relationships with key partners. Additionally, Molly managed two departments within the Marketing & Communications umbrella – Community Relations / The Detroit Red Wings Foundation and Guest Experience, which oversaw the Guest Connect Program focusing on guest experiences at Little Caesars Arena, the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park, and three outdoor amphitheaters.

Wurdack started with the Red Wings in May 2008 as the Manager of Ticket Service and Retention. In that role, she developed and implemented a new business unit, the Ticket Service and Retention department, which assisted in growing ticket retention and increased season ticket holder satisfaction. Wurdack was promoted to Director of Ticket Sales and Corporate Partnership Marketing in 2010 and oversaw client retention for all Red Wings season ticket holders, providing servicing, retention and upselling to these clients, along with overseeing the corporate partnership marketing team to fulfill and execute all sponsorship contracts. Prior to joining the Red Wings, Wurdack served as a Marketing Partnership Staff Assistant for the Miami Dolphins where she assisted in the execution and fulfillment of marketing partnership contracts.

Wurdack earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in psychology and a minor in business from Ohio University and went on to earn her Master’s degree in sports and business administration from Ohio University as well. Wurdack currently resides in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., with her husband, Jason, son, Beckett and daughter, Arden.  Connect with her on LinkedIn.  

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Episode 5: Yolonda P. Jacobs is a shareholder at Homer, Bonner, Jacobs, and Ortiz. Her practice focuses on complex civil and commercial litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Jacobs practiced with the law firms of Herron Jacobs Ortiz and Holland + Knight. Ms. Jacobs also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ursula Ungaro, District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Ms. Jacobs graduated from the University of Florida College of Law where she was a member of the Florida Law Review. Before attending law school, Ms. Jacobs was the director of a domestic violence and special assault diversion program with the State Attorney’s Office in Jacksonville, Florida.

Book a call HERE to see if it's a good fit for us to work together - it's a free call!

Episode 10:  Tina Santelli serves as Vice President, Worksite Specialty Solutions and Services for Alera Group. Tina is responsible for leading key top-tier partnerships at Alera Group, strategically developing relationships with preferred carriers. She maintains and strengthens existing carrier relationships, as well as identifying new strategic partnerships that will benefit Alera Group’s clients across the country. 

Tina’s previous experience includes serving as Vice President of Specialty Benefits with GCG Financial, where she provided clients with ancillary solutions. Before her time with GCG, she worked with Unum for 13 years on the sales and service side. 

Halfway to Anywhere with Logan Stacer, Executive Artistic Director of Heartland Arts KC and a Youth Pastor at Awaken Church KC.

In this episode, Logan shares where he finds confidence and joy. You'll learn how he advocates for multiple social justice challenges in Kansas City and you'll hear the story of a kitchen accident that led to his epiphany about being kind.

"If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. If you can't make it in Chicago, you can't make it anywhere.  If you make it in Kansas City, you are Halfway to Anywhere."

Heartland Arts KC trains performing artists to become advocates of social justice. They aim to position Kansas City as a hub for arts advocacy, making public policy accessible for all.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and executive coaching company.  They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically, with presence, on stages, on audio, and video.  If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Wendy Doyle fearlessly advocates for women’s economic and civic advancement by amplifying women’s voices and producing results. Wendy is at the forefront of all economic policies that impact women and their families. She regularly educates and informs decision-makers and community leaders about policy solutions for women at local, county, and state levels. Translating information into action, she testifies frequently to state legislatures, publishes op-eds in state newspapers, serves as a dynamic and informative presenter, and champions systemic policy change for governments and corporations through her thought leadership.

During her nine-year tenure at United WE, Wendy has led the organization to invest in research, advocacy, and policy solutions to remove economic barriers for women, including conducting 24 meaningful research studies, advocating for issues resulting in 51 policy actions, and supporting more than 180+ women in securing civic appointments. Wendy is committed to impacting hundreds of thousands of women and families through transformative research, scaling United WE’s fast-growing Appointments Project®, advocating for reforms that honor the legacies of women, and contributing to policy solutions that advance equal pay, paid family leave, affordable childcare and occupational licensing, among others.

Since 2013, Wendy has expanded United WE’s focus from serving Kansas City to all of Kansas and Missouri, and her success in the Heartland is spreading nationwide to cities including St. Louis, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh and South San Francisco. Wendy’s previous experience as an executive and strategic consultant for large nonprofits provides a unique systems approach to accelerating the pace of change through partnerships.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com

On April 2, 2021, the OSU/A&M Board of Regents selected Dr. Kayse Shrum as the 19th president of Oklahoma State University. A native Oklahoman, President Shrum earned her doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine and has completed executive leadership and management training programs at Harvard University and Stanford University.

Since taking office in July 2021, Dr. Shrum has forged a new chapter for OSU — boldly facing challenges like conference realignment and COVID-19 while positioning the university for future success by embarking on a strategic planning process. The systemwide strategy process will guide the future of OSU and secure its position as the nation’s premier land-grant university — with a focus on creating and discovering solutions to societal problems, providing students with a world-class education and sending them into the world after graduation well-equipped to handle the challenges before them. 

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, let's chat: https://www.voicefirstworld.com/chat

Trailer: As co-founders of Voice First World, Jen V. and JRT ask women to speak with presence in all their spheres of influence...without being perfect. This podcast exists to uncover what's stopping women from speaking up. Our guests will inspire women to embrace imperfection and lead at the highest levels anyway.

Book a call HERE to see if it's a good fit for us to work together - it's a free call!

Episode 18:  Becky is the resident storyteller, kindness champion, philanthropy celebrator, justice seeker, humanity endorser, envelope pusher, people lover and just a general awkwardness embracer at We Are For Good. She believes so firmly in authenticity to drive a narrative, she often shares the most self-deprecating things about herself in the process, because she understands connection isn't simply derived from the joy-filled moments - they're found in the messiest ones too.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on your public speaking and leadership presence, schedule a free call:

https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Episode 42:  Ready Now Men

Jeffery Tobias Halter is a corporate gender strategist. The country’s leading expert on engaging men to advance women, Jeffery is the President of YWomen, a strategic consulting company. The former Director of Diversity Strategy of The Coca-Cola Company, Jeffery has consulted with leading brands including Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Deloitte, Citigroup, GE, Johnson & Johnson, Moet Hennessy and more. Jeffery’s latest book WHY WOMEN, The Leadership Imperative to Advancing Women and Engaging Men, is the first business book written by a man on how companies can advance women to enhance the company reputation, the bottom line and retain talent. A highly sought-after speaker, Jeffery is a two-time TEDx speaker and frequently keynotes at industry and corporate events.

Podcast sponsor:  William and Lauren

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com

Originally from Scotland, Collette is an international leader, podcaster, certified coach and CEO (Chief Energy Officer) of Brain Sports. She has led international teams at Nike inc. and Levi Strauss for over twenty years most recently as the VP of Nike World Headquarters, Workplace Design and Connectivity. She has lived across Europe and Asia with her family.

Always curious about how the mind affects our lives, she took time to study her own for the last seventeen years. This has culminated in Brain Sports, a multi-media platform for coaches and athletes to restore the mental health and spirit of sports through coaching, playshops and a supportive community. Collette is certified in Humans Being, leading from the Inside Out, which focuses on executive and C-Suite women designed by Dr. Lou Ann Daly. She is an energy master and integrates this somatic wisdom into her coaching techniques with clients. Her specialty is helping her clients discover and materializing their highest and best self and to support their life vision and purpose.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com

Ushi’s mission and expertise is helping generous, trailblazing women know their value so they can build magnetic brands of positive influence and wealth. She is a globally recognized brand strategist, creative consultant and designer with an MBA. Her work has a collective reach of millions, including the visual direction of campaigns for the empowerment of more than 300,000 women in India and Africa. Ushi’s multicultural approach and heartfelt visual storytelling has inspired her clients to utilize her design talent and eye for their incredible homes, events, and weddings worldwide, in addition to the visual direction and mentorship she provides for their businesses. 

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, let's chat: https://www.voicefirstworld.com/chat

Dr. Novak has over 25 years of experience working in the fields of optical and wireless communications. She has a successful track record of R&D leadership and product development in the industrial and academic sectors. Prior to co-founding Pharad/Octane Wireless, Dr. Novak was a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at The University of Melbourne. Later she led cross-disciplinary R&D teams developing WDM hardware for long-haul transmission systems at Dorsál Networks and Corvis Corporation.

Dr. Novak received the degrees of Bachelor of Engineering and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Queensland, Australia, in 1987 and 1992, respectively. She is a Fellow of the IEEE and is recognized internationally as an expert in the areas of microwave and millimeter-wave photonics. Dr. Novak has published more than 300 papers in these areas, including seven book chapters. In 2018 she was awarded the IEEE Photonics Society Engineering Achievement Award for her work developing breakthrough technologies for the microwave photonics field.  She is currently serving as a member of the IEEE Board of Directors.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, let's chat: https://www.voicefirstworld.com/chat

In this episode, Jen V. goes solo in response to requests from listeners for communication tips and tools to speak...with presence. If you have communication topics you want to hear about, email Jen at JenV@VoiceFirstWorld.com.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and leadership coaching company.  They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

In Episode 89, Be a Light Post for People, we sit down with Dr. Michelle Robin, executive well-being coach, corporate well-being speaker, chiropractic physician, author, and advocate for generational & community well-being.

Michelle shares how she stays curious with life as she leads her community and gives guidance and connections to those around her. She highlights the importance of having a more vibrant, healthy lifestyle so you can show up for those around you. 

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and executive coaching company.  They train leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to lead and speak confidently, book a discovery call HERE. 

The nuance and why of the dress code.

Jen Vellenga's "word" for 2023 is CONSISTENCY. Co-host Jennifer Rettele-Thomas challenged her to tell a story on the Speak with Presence podcast every day of 2023 starting on January 19, 2023.

Can Jen V. do it? JRT doubts it. 

Even if she's not perfect...how many stories can she tell and what structures will she use?

Jen V & JRT and the co-founders of Voice First World, a communication and executive coaching company.

Episode 44:  Perfect Process Doesn't Exist 

Lisa González grew up in an entrepreneurial family in California and spent many summers and weekends working and learning about business.  After graduating from UCLA and attending law school in Texas (UT) she moved to Denver and helped Fortune 100 companies with legal issues but soon missed the energy of entrepreneurial business life. 

Amber Anderson is the founder of Tote + Pears,  the creative studio that provides audience insights and creates content, campaigns and designs that resonate with women — the decision-makers at home and untapped talent at work. They specialize in strategy, branding, and product and service development.

Amber brings almost two decades of experience managing all areas of the product and service lifecycle. At we look at women, the people they love and the layered identities that shape how they experience life’s moments. Then we use data and our understanding of intersecting identities to design brands, content and campaigns that meet people where they are.

Podcast sponsor:  William and Lauren

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com/

In Episode 91, Passport to Peace, we host our second Sudeikis and the matriarch of her family, Kathy Sudeikis. Kathy is VP of Corporate Relations at ACENDAS TRAVEL, she’s a travel expert, and a leader in the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend benefitting Children’s Mercy Hospital. 

Kathy shares some of her many stories collected throughout her career in the travel industry, including a surprise plunge into Arctic waters and her start in booking travel for celebrities. Hear her involvement in the incredibly impactful Big Slick event in Kansas City and how they’ve grown to donate nearly $22 million in 15 years. 

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and leadership coaching company.  They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Blaire Atkinson was appointed the seventh president of the OSU Foundation in May 2020, where she leads a staff of nearly 200 professionals dedicated to serving Oklahoma State University. She graduated from OSU with a degree in business administration and holds Senior Professional in Human Resources and SHRM Senior Certified Professional certifications. 

Blaire served as president of the OSU Alumni Association from October 2018 to May 2020. Prior to this, she served as the assistant vice president of Human Resources at the Foundation for three years, before transitioning to the role of senior associate vice president of Development Services, where she provided strategic direction and oversight in marketing and communications, donor relations and special events for three years. She began her career at the Foundation in 2011.

Blaire shows a deep passion and dedication for both Oklahoma State University and improving Oklahoma through quality education. She helped create the current culture within the Foundation, which assisted the organization in reaching new heights and expanding their capabilities to support Oklahoma State University.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, schedule a free call:
https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Robert has been a passionate supporter of gender equality throughout his 40 plus year consulting career. He helped set up the women’s network in Mercer UK and was the first man to join the Board of leading global women’s network, PWN Global. He has mentored and sponsored many women globally and is mentored himself by a number of women.

Today Robert runs his own consulting business, focussing on delivering keynotes, workshops and coaching for (mostly male) business executives to help them develop their leadership skills in gender balance and so build diverse and inclusive workplaces. He is a Board member of European Women on Boards, responsible for D&I Strategy, and is a Trustee of One Loud Voice for Women. Robert is also a Non-Executive Director of Spktral, the specialists in gender pay gap analysis and reporting. Connect with Robert on Linked In.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, let's chat: https://www.voicefirstworld.com/chat

Jen Vellenga's "word" for 2023 is CONSISTENCY. Jennifer Rettele-Thomas challenged her to tell a story on the Speak with Presence podcast every day of 2023 starting on January 19, 2023.

Can Jen V. do it? JRT doubts it. 

Even if she's not perfect...how many stories can she tell and what structures will she use?

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and executive coaching company.  They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically, with presence, on stages, on audio, and video.  If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Episode 40:  Heart Centered Sales

Michelle is the Founder of Unscripted Sales.  She teaches heart-centered coaches how to sell their coaching for thousands (even as a brand new coach). She’s an author, speaker, and podcast host.

Podcast sponsor:  William and Lauren

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com/

Episode 38:  Believe in Yourself

Episode 3: Becca Kötte continues to tour with Rod Stewart as a featured singer. She’s a Broadway actress and recording artist from Fargo, ND, currently living in Los Angeles. Jen V first met her when Becca was a student of hers at the University of Miami. Later when Jen directed her for an off-off-Broadway show in NYC, they became friends. Becca is one powerful speaker with an incredible voice.

Book a call HERE to see if it's a good fit for us to work together - it's a free call!

In this episode 75, Spectrum of Authenticity, we interviewed Lindsey Rood-Clifford, President and CEO of Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, MO. We met with her on location at Starlight in her office overlooking the audience seating.

Lindsey shares her experience being unanimously voted to be the new—and first female—CEO at Starlight, and how she creates change authentically in her role. Hear her philosophy on inspiring teams and constantly connecting with community.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and leadership coaching company.  They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Through decades of impacting experiences, Alison sees the world with a global perspective and with the straight up honesty and spirit of a Brooklyn-native, combined with California wellness-cool. She has a unique ability to see big picture opportunities very quickly.

With over 26-years in global tech enterprise Sales and Product Marketing Leadership within large and mid-sized enterprises, such as Cisco, Brocade, Autodesk, Riverbed, and a start-up exit to Microsoft, Alison has driven and experienced business growth across a wide range of perspectives.

Alison holds advanced certifications with the International Coach Federation - ICF (ACC), Co-Active Training Institute (CPCC), and from Cornell University in Women's Executive Leadership and Diversity and Inclusion.  She has a lifelong passion for whole wellness, incorporating her ‘Four Pillars of Wellness’ into her leadership coaching, and is a certified holistic wellness coach and former fitness trainer.  

In 2020, she received a diagnosis of Stage 3 endometrial cancer where she applied her warrior approach to herself.  Her journey through cancer treatment was the call she needed to move on from the enterprise and to build her own company, The Lens Leadership, a leadership coaching company specializing in coaching for companies, groups, and individuals, from young professionals to senior-most executives.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, let's chat: https://www.voicefirstworld.com/chat

Katie Stucky serves as Senior Director of Corporate Partnership Marketing for the Dallas Cowboys.

Katie has led the Corporate Partnership Marketing department with the Cowboys since 2018 and has been with the Cowboys organization for 10 years.

During her time at the Cowboys, Katie has held a series of roles in Corporate Partnerships, which included the execution and management of Dallas Cowboys founding level brand partnerships. During this time, Katie led the implementation of the Dallas Cowboys’ first-ever Naming Rights partnership, installation of the first-ever NFL digital tunnel cover and
execution of the well-known fan-engagement activation, Pose with the Pros.

In addition to leading the Corporate Partnership Marketing team, Katie is responsible for the strategic marketing, fulfillment, and retainment of all Dallas Cowboys Corporate Partnerships as well as several special projects that extend into Jones Family entities.

If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on your public speaking and leadership presence, schedule a free call:

https://www.voicefirstworld.com/apply

Episode 17: Mary H. Guindon, PhD (Dr. Mary) is former chair and associate professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Services at Johns Hopkins University where she created programs in organizational counseling, counselor clinical supervision, and contemporary trauma response.  Her over 30 years of clinical practice, consulting, and teaching experience include counselor training and supervision, mental health and career development, adult transitions, grief and loss, and global counseling issues. She has authored several books, including Self-Esteem Across the Lifespan: Issues and Interventions. She is also Jen V.'s mom!  

Master the Mundane with Deb Richard (pronounced ri-SHARD) will inspire listeners to trust their instincts and value integrity.

Deb played on the LPGA Tour for twenty years (1986–2005), during which she won five Tour events and finished in the top-10 in over seventy events. Her best finishes in the LPGA majors included a tie for tenth place in the 1996 Kraft Nabisco Championship, a tie for fifth in the 1991 LPGA Championship, a tie for ninth in the 1986 U.S. Women's Open, and ties for fourth in the 1988 and 1998 du Maurier Classic. In 1992, Richard was selected for the U.S. Solheim Cup team. 

Richard has been inducted into the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame. She has also received a number of awards for her charitable activities. To learn more about Deb, read her book, Trust: Understanding My Why or check out her leadership program, Burlap Leaders.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and executive coaching company.  Jen V. works with executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically, with presence, on stages, on audio, and video.  If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.