This...I...Do...For...Me: Over 50, Black and Fabulous!

Episode 53 With Dr Matteel D. Knowles

In this episode, Dr. Knowles shares her journey of self-love, her love of exercise and body building, along with the barriers that she has overcome to create and maintain a healthy lifestyle.   A 25-year veteran in higher education, Dr. Matteel D. Knowlescurrently serves as the Vice President for Student Services at Greenville Technical College.  Prior to that, she served at the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort as the Vice President for Student Affairs; and prior to that, at Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood in various roles in Student Development.     Born and raised in Philadelphia, Dr. Knowles' family relocated to Jacksonville, Florida when she was 12.  The first in her family to earn a college degree, Dr. Knowles first earned an Associate of Arts degree from Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood.  She then went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Counseling and Human Services from Limestone College in Gaffney; a Masters in Career and Technology Education from Clemson; a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Leadership from the USC-Columbia; and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration, alsofrom USC-Columbia.   Prior to serving in executive-level leadership roles, Dr. Knowlesserved for approximately 13 years in administrative support positions – supporting executives in mortgage banking, universities, law firms, and manufacturing companies . . . eventually transitioning into higher education.   Very active in the community, Dr. Knowles has served as a board member or member for the following service organizations: Urban League of the Upstate, Arts Council of Greenwood, Meg's House women's shelter, the Bluffton Boys and Girls Club, the Rotary Club of Greenville, the United Way of Greenville County, the Hispanic Alliance, Upstate Bootcamp, Greenville Women Giving, Education First, Incorporated, the National Coalition Building Institute, and The Links, Incorporated.   An active public speaker and workshop presenter through her company MatteelSpeaks (www.matteelspeaks.com), Dr. Knowles was a featured TED Talk presenter in 2016.  She has served as a keynote speaker in various settings and has presented numerous professional and community workshops on a variety of topics designed to inform and inspire those who desire to transform their lives.   An overcomer, Dr. Knowles' intense desire to support others through positive change and authentic transformation is directly related to some of her own personal life transformations – surfacing and thriving on the other side of divorce, morbid obesity, first-generation education, and a lack of purpose, she now fully embraces a lifestyle grounded in choices that are mentally, physically and spiritually healthy and devotes much of her free time to personally coaching others through their own life makeovers.   When she's not working, Dr. Knowles enjoys working out, cooking, watching movies, and spending time with her husband Alex.  Dr. Knowles is excited to announce the February 14, 2023release of her personal development book, It's Your Time to Soar!

Episode 52 With Leiana Gary

After having served in various capacities as a speech-language pathologist for 40 years, Leiana J. Thomas Gary retired officially in 2019. Always a crafter and amateur gardener with an in-born entrepreneurial spirit and raised by a mother of the Renaissance kind, Leiana tended to look at things a little differently. During one of the last outdoor walks with her mother Alva prior to her passing in 2007, Leiana, made the snide remark "Someone should do something about these nasty looking planters" and her mother responding quietly later said, "And who might that someone be?" After 2 years of trying not to remember that conversation, Leiana founded the Cottage Grove Planters Society. She dug up all the hostas and day lilies out of her garden and began transplanting them with the help of family and friends into the planter pots one at a time. After two years of tending the planters, she began to look at the blank concrete planters as canvases to display student artwork. In 2009, the Cottage Grove Planters Project began, placing framed versions of local student artwork on the then 24 planter pots, using donated funds and materials. In 2012, the Cottage Grove Planters Project was awarded a Pepsi Refresh Grant to complete the installations. The project has continued since then and has been supported by numerous individuals and organizations such as My Block, My Hood, My City. The CGPS was recently awarded a Neighborhood Access Program (NAP) grant from the City of Chicago — Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events to replace the artwork with new designs by more local school children in addition to refreshing the plants and flowers. Also, to learn more about her forthcoming book covering the history and beauty of decorative drink ware, contact her at ltgary@sbcglobal.net. NOTE: Although we didn't cover this during the interview, along with Leiana's other gifts, she transforms magnets into brooches. While wearing her mother's favorite brooch that was lost forever because the clasp opened, Leiana decided that would never happen again. Having created refrigerator magnets in the past, she began adapting brooches that would adhere to clothing without pins using magnets instead. Ladies of Attraction was born in 2009. Website: www.ladiesofattraction.com Website: www.cottagegroveplanters.org Email: ltgary@sbcglobal.net

Episode 51 With Akosua Awusi

Akosua Awusi is the Founder and Chief Experience Officer at African Conversations and Connections (ACC Tours) — a boutique travel company providing group excursions to sub-Saharan Africa. ACC Tour's mission is to help tell the African story by providing safe, world class and inclusive guided tours of what Akosua likes to call Black Africa. ACC Tour's primary goal is to allow travelers to experience Black Africa below the surface. The company's curated tours are intimate by design — this allows travelers to immerse themselves in Africa's people, history and culture. In this interview, Akosua delves into what is magical about Ghana, its beautiful and welcoming people and why everyone should visit West Africa at least once. Akosua also shares with us her business model for getting more African Americans to visit the motherland, and she excitingly shares with us that ACC Tours have expanded their model into Tanzania. The company will also be expanding into Senegal and Nigeria. She is especially proud that in addition to her staff introducing travelers to the historic sites (e.g. Elmina at Cape Coast, Makola Market in Accra, 233 Night Club, etc.), she and her staff are adept at helping you to solidify your vision of the kind of experience you would like to have while in Ghana. If you want a dance class, yoga sessions, or take a ride in an ATV, ACC Tours can help you with that and many more offerings. We also jokingly talk about the friendly competition of which West African country has the best Jollof! Is is Ghana, Senegal or Nigeria? Akosua, who is a first generation American (her parents immigrated to Maryland from Ghana), received her degree in Finance from Temple University and her MBA from Pennsylvania State University. Akosua is bilingual in both English and Twi, and she has lived in Ghana and Belgium, along with working in other major cities in Africa and Europe.

Episode 50 With Linda S. Husser

Linda S. Husser is one of the most cutting edge Life Coaches you will meet.  When I asked her about her style of coaching and what makes it successful, Linda unequivocally stated that it's her own journey and vulnerability that makes her relatable to her clients.  She knows plenty about growing up in a dysfunctional family, but despite this, the strongest value that her parents taught her was staying connected to family and always being there for each other.  As one of six siblings, Linda still keeps that value at the center of her mind.  She knows all about habits that materialize for the purpose of hiding pain and perpetuating that foe of all foes — Imposter Syndrome. What is Imposter Syndrome, exactly?  Linda provides a clear and succinct answer — it's that feeling that no matter how many accolades one receives, achievements one attains, and compliments and praise one is offered, that lingering feeling that you are still not good enough remains. Many times this feeling is steeped in an lack awarenes of what you want, deserve and how to get it. The pain also manifests itself in the form of other preoccupations — overeating, oversleeping and oversexing.   Also, to maintain the  "I got it all together" image of outward confidence despite  low self-esteem, often times people revert to over-investing in material items.  According to Linda, none of these things will ever take the place of doing the work that leads you to believing in yourself.  When I asked Linda when one's self-esteem is really low, how do you move out  of that space.  She resolutely responded that you borrow that strength from someone else until you can move closer to a new state of mind.  You can get that from a Life Coach or anyone who strongly believes that you can shift your thinking, thus shifting your life.  Linda finds her work with Black Women age 50+ to be the most rewarding because so many women in this cohort think that they should be dialing down their dreams and desires versus seeing this period as a time to pivot and experience themselves in a new and dynamic way.  When working with clients, Linda asks "who told you you're too old to go back to school, start a business, or get married for the first time?"  These myths, through no fault of our own, are really prevalent in the media, medical settings and even with family members, who often times are living out of fear and unawareness themselves.  Linda does her innovative work through the vehicle of individual and group coaching. She is currently offering a free Master Class entitled "Ignite Your Life After 50" that runs from Monday, March 21 through Thursday, March 31, 2022.  This will be your opportunity to join a dynamic sisterhood of like-minded Black women who are seeking breathtaking "breakthroughs and remarkable results"in their lives.  According to Linda, you will get radical and design your destiny, own your full potential and genius without.  Linda reminds us that we are a unicorn not a donkey.  Finally, you will get the opportunity to "Regret Proof" your life. Linda's work is centered around helping you overcome your fear of failure and even success.  Linda confidently shares if this system worked for her, it will certainly work for you.   When I asked Linda what's next for her, she stated that she wants her Bodacious Black Woman program to become a movement.  She sees major conferences, conventions and merchandise on the horizon!  To connect with Linda, you can find her on midlifemojosession.com; www.lindahusser.com; lindahusser on Instagram.  To get your free gift of Boldacious Affirmations for Black Women, access bit.ly/lindasfreegift 

Episode 49 With Janice Sutherland

Janice Sutherland has quite the record for supporting women age 40+, particularly those who worry about being on a path that no longer serves them and need a bit of coaching on how to make a shift. Janice is an award winning career strategist, who helps mid-career professional women of color realign their desires and passions. She does all of this through the vehicle of her business "This Woman Can". As the eldest of six children, Janice was born and raised in Birmingham, England. She inherited strong values, specifically from her mother who always believed that Janice could do anything that she set her mind upon. As with most Black families, Janice's mother encouraged her to always do your best and not to half-step. "Shoot for Nothing Less than Excellence" was the mantra. Prior to starting her business, Janice had a varied career that was centered primarily in the corporate sector. She is a former Corporate CEO, and has had stints as an Executive Coach, Leadership Development Expert, Author and an in-demand speaker. Additionally, after Janice had changed careers several times (some voluntarily and some not), Janice left London and moved to St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda. It was in her new country (her ancestry emanates for Antigua) that Janice literally started over and became the first female CEO in the Telecoms sector. She had the dream job, a beautiful car and a mortgage – all the symbols of success. Feeling unsettled and wondering what was next for her, Janice left this environment, but wondered how she would share the move with family and friends. Like so many Black women, Janice wondered if people would think that she was crazy or too old for a full on career change. Also, issues of identity emerged, as well. She worried about who would she be without the job title, and most importantly, if she were to make this sweeping change, where would she start? Her biggest worry, however was "what if it didn't work out?" As Janice worked through these concerns, the beauty of it all came through because she now was equipped with helping Black women through uncertainty because she had experienced it first hand – in essence, these experiences would make her a more effective coach! As a result of having gone through her own experiences of self-doubt, she has since created a much more fulfilling life full of freedom, flexibility and choices that allow her to help others at the same crossroads. If you are looking for a strong coach that does not let you off the hook of having a fulfilling life, Janice can work with you to gain more joy in your current position, guide you through how to use your knowledge and experience to pivot to a new career more aligned to your passions. Additionally, she can help you navigate sensitive life transitions like divorce. You will walk away with a vision for your future goals and identify the cycles of self-sabotage that are impeding your progress. Janice concentrates on working with you around your beliefs, confidence level and values. Lastly, Janice will work with you to tailor success systems for your goals, strengthen your resilience so that you can confidently meet any challenge. Janice says, she will not coddle you, and you will appreciate her style when you begin to see the fruits of all the hard work you've done together. Please join Janice on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 Live or for the replay (if you can not attend on the 15th) for the event Black, Female and Over 50—The (Undervalued) Power Trifecta. This is live roundtable conversation on the intersectional bias of age, gender and race. You can join her for this event on LinkedIn at 9:00 a.m. CST Janice also is the host for the "This Woman Can" Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms (e.g. Apple, Spotify). Should you decide to work with Janice, she offers 1-1 and Group Leadership & Career Development Coaching; Career Transition Support – all of this can be offered virtually and in-person. You can connect with her on janicesutherland.com; on email at info@janicesutherland.com