Ali Brown

Charlene Li, Author of ‘The Disruption Mindset’ — Glambition Radio Episode 184 with Ali Brown 

BY ALI BROWN | November 6, 2019 Leave A Comment

She says we’ve been approaching disruption—and growth—completely backward. And bestselling author and leadership disruptor Charlene Li is here to change that.

On this week’s #GlambitionRadio, Charlene reveals why growth creates disruption (not the other way around), and why leading from the edge isn’t for everyone. Her perspective is different from any I’ve heard before, and it affirmed of some of the disruptive decisions I’ve made that at times weren’t understood by my team and clients.

Charlene doesn’t shy away from the reality that making a disruptive decision—what she calls the ‘big gulp moment’—can feel scary and painful. She shares how to prepare for it, and offers brilliant advice for how to plan the future of your company so you can make the impact you are here to make.

Charlene has been named among the Top 50 Leadership Innovators by Inc., Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company, and is a sought-after speaker from TED and the World Business Forum to SxSW. On this week’s episode of #GlambitionRadio, you’ll hear:

*Why you have to ‘burn the boats’ if you want to lead and disrupt your industry (Charlene shares a fascinating case study of this from a software company you’ll recognize)

*How growing up in an immigrant family in Detroit taught Charlene to solve problems from the outside in

*Why Burning Man has been on Charlene’s bucket list for years (and why it’s meaningful that she finally went this year—with her 23 year-old son!)

*The three common beliefs of truly disruptive organizations (and how terrifying it was for Charlene to create her own disruptive business model)

*All about her new book, ‘The Disruption Mindset: Why Some Organizations Transform While Others Fail’.

Head to Apple Podcasts now to listen to this episode of Glambition Radio (or download it for later).

And come join in the conversation on Instagram or Facebook.

Xo,

Ali

PS — I would love your review! If you enjoy what I share in this episode, please leave a review and comment on Apple Podcasts. 🙂 Select ‘Listen in Apple Podcasts’ then choose the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ tab to share what you think. I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Show Notes:

*Learn more about Charlene here

*About Altimeter, the company founded by Charlene

Laura Wasser, Celebrity Divorce Attorney + Founder of ‘It’s Over Easy’ — Glambition Radio Episode 183 with Ali Brown

BY ALI BROWN | October 30, 2019 Leave A Comment

She’s represented Angelina Jolie, Kate Hudson, Kim Kardashian, Liam Hemsworth, and other celebs though the painful process of divorce.

But while superstar divorce attorney Laura Wasser charges hefty fees for her own celebrity clients, she has always had a dream of helping ALL women across the country more easily afford the standard legal fees that come with pursuing divorce.

Determined to make justice accessible, Laura founded ‘It’s Over Easy’: the online divorce platform that provides affordable legal services and resources for divorcing couples.

On this week’s episode of #GlambitionRadio, you’ll hear:

*Laura’s frank and unusual outlook on marriage, relationships and family (this is a powerful perspective that you don’t hear very often)

*The big celebrity divorce case—a name you would know—that first put Laura on the map (and why she can’t file any paperwork today without the tabloids calling her office!)

*The personal experience Laura had that motivated the concept behind ‘It’s Over Easy’

*The women who chose to invest in Laura’s company, and what made the investment meaningful to them

*What the first step to take is for anyone contemplating divorce right now

Head to Apple Podcasts now to listen to this episode of Glambition Radio (or download it for later).

And be sure to check out Laura’s book, ‘It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way: How to Divorce Without Destroying Your Family or Bankrupting Yourself’, wherever books are sold, and her podcast, ‘Divorce Sucks’!

And come join in the conversation on Instagram or Facebook.

Xo,

Ali

Show Notes:

*Learn more about ‘It’s Over Easy’, the online platform for divorce

*Listen to Laura’s ‘Divorce Sucks!’ podcast on Apple Podcasts

Paula Rizzo, Media Strategist + Author of ‘Listful Living’— Glambition Radio Episode 182 with Ali Brown

BY ALI BROWN | October 23, 2019 Leave A Comment

She is an Emmy-award winning TV producer, best-selling author, and expert media trainer and strategist. And today on #GlambitionRadio, Paula Rizzo reveals exactly how to get media attention for your new book or business venture, as well as the biggest mistake people make when pitching… and how to avoid it. She also details her journey to writing her second book, ‘Listful Living: A List-Making Journey to a Less Stressed You,’ available now.

On GlambitionRadio.com, Paula also opens up about the life-threatening health crisis she experienced after publishing her first book. (This was the first time I’d actually heard about it!) It forced her to slow down and say ‘no’ to what wasn’t important. Her story is an urgent reminder that we need to stay in tune with our bodies or risk serious damage to our health and even our lives.

As a media veteran for nearly 20 years on local and Fox News, Paula has received thousands of pitches. But her experience doesn’t stop there: as an author and entrepreneur, Paula has done her share of pitching and self-promotion, too. Her unique blend of skill and insight on both sides of the camera make her an invaluable media strategist and coach.

On #GlambitionRadio you’ll hear us discuss:

*The most important type of content you need to be producing right now — and why (this is smart, and it could mean less work, too)

*Why burnout is such a health crisis right now, and why Paula says that ‘rest is the new hustle’ (women entrepreneurs especially need to hear this)

*How authors can position themselves for media engagements that will lead to more sales (and what media to avoid if you’re an author)

*Why entrepreneurs must revisit their work schedules and boundaries on a regular basis (even if you think you have a handle on them)

Head to Apple Podcasts now to listen to this episode of Glambition Radio (or download it for later). And make sure you check out Paula’s latest book, ‘Listful Living: A List-Making Journey to a Less Stressed You,’ wherever book are sold.

And come join in our conversations on Instagram or Facebook.

Xo,

Ali

Show Notes:

*Learn about Paula’s media strategy and training services here

*The World Health Organization recognizes burnout as a health condition, as of May 2019

*Hear more about Paula’s career and backstory on this earlier interview we did: #GlambitionRadio Ep. 55

Sallie Krawcheck, Wallstreet Legend + Co-founder of Ellevest — Glambition Radio Episode 181 with Ali Brown

BY ALI BROWN | October 16, 2019 Leave A Comment

From decades in the powerful C-suites of Wall Street to today helping women of all levels invest for themselves, Sallie Krawcheck is a force to be reckoned with. And her new, disruptive investment platform, Ellevest — designed by women, for women — is rapidly changing what has historically been an industry designed for men.

Today on GlambitionRadio.com, Sallie reveals the moment she knew women actually needed their own investment platform, and why she decided to create it. She also shares the secret behind Ellevest’s incredible success, and what sets it apart from similar financial platforms that have failed.

I also HAD to hear the stories of her working on Wall Street in the 80s and 90s, and how she worked her way up to becoming CEO of Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, US Trust, the Citi Private Bank, and Sanford C. Bernstein. And don’t forget she was also CFO of Citigroup. (And, in a story demonstrative of this cutthroat industry, she learned she was fired from one of those jobs by… (wait for it…) hearing it on the TV. I just can’t imagine.)

Sallie and I both share a lack of tolerance for the dumbed-down financial advice for women that abounds, urging us to give up small luxuries like our daily coffee. Her advice? ‘Buy the f***ing latte!’ We discuss this topic, the viral article she wrote, and how to think bigger.

On this episode of #GlambitionRadio, you’ll also hear:

*Why every woman needs ‘take your hand off my leg’ money (this made me laugh out loud, and it is so true—she explains it on the show)

*How Sallie reinvented herself from corporate powerhouse to entrepreneur, and became the leader she is meant to be

*What it was like to come up the ranks in the male-dominated industry of Wall Street, and how that inspired her to do things differently at Ellevest

*The fine line that high-performing women must walk when being a BOSS, and Sallie’s advice for navigating the complex expectations of women leaders

(And there were so many more nuggets in this one I can’t even cover here – be sure to listen to get them all.)

Head to Apple Podcasts now to listen to this episode of Glambition Radio (or download it for later).

And come join in our conversations on Instagram or Facebook.

Xo,

Ali

Show Notes:

*Learn more about Ellevest, the investment platform for women

*Sallie’s Fast Company article, ‘Just buy the f***ing latte’, that went viral earlier this year

Caroline Criado-Perez, Activist + Author of ‘Invisible Women’ — Glambition Radio Episode 180 with Ali Brown

BY ALI BROWN | October 9, 2019 Leave A Comment

The cars we buy, the drugs we’re prescribed, even the A/C settings in conference rooms — are determined by data. And disturbingly, most of this data stems from ‘objective scientific’ research that still today completely leaves out half of the population: women. Today on GlambitionRadio.com, author and activist Caroline Criado-Perez reveals the shocking impact on women of a world designed by (and for) for men, and how she decided to write ‘Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men’.

On #GlambitionRadio, Caroline also opens up about the frightening experience when her campaign for better women’s representation on English currency led to such a level of harassment on Twitter (death threats and worse) that the platform changed their complaint procedures as a result. And, she shares the remarkable outcome of her efforts on this campaign.

In this eye-opening episode we also discuss:

*The pivotal moment when Caroline realized how the ‘default male’ impacts how women perceive the world (this was fascinating, and I’d never realized it before)

*How many business opportunities are missed when women’s data is not factored into product design or funding (Caroline gives a great example of this, which other moms and I can relate to!)

*The most shocking example of design that has ignored women entirely (and the sometimes fatal impact it has on women… and children)

*What happens when design and research teams don’t have enough women (this example from a well-known Apple product is so ridiculous I couldn’t believe it)

*What it’s really like to be an OBE – Officer of the Order of the British Empire, named by the Queen of England

Head to Apple Podcasts now to listen to this episode of Glambition Radio now (or download it for later). And make sure you check out Caroline’s latest book, ‘Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men’, wherever book are sold.

And come join in our conversations on Instagram or Facebook.

Xo,

Ali

Show Notes:

*In a world designed for men, the effects for women range from inconvenient to fatal — the Washington Post article Caroline wrote where I learned about her powerful work

*‘Battle of the Thermostat’: Cold Rooms May Hurt Women’s Productivity — an interesting New York Times article about how temperature affects women and men differently

*My mentioned interview with Cindy Eckert, billion-dollar dealmaker and CEO of Sprout Pharma (and special guest at my upcoming ICONIC event) on Episode 171 of Glambition Radio

‘Your Ego Loves False Metrics’ — Glambition Radio Episode 179 with Ali Brown

BY ALI BROWN | October 2, 2019 Leave A Comment

Join me for an upfront conversation this week on #GlambitionRadio to determine whether the metrics you are honoring in your business could actually be leading you down the WRONG path.

On this solo episode, I share some stories of metrics gone right… and wrong… including examples of both the new strategy Madonna is using for her tour and the grand fiasco of WeWork’s failed IPO. (Two opposite ends of the spectrum!)

I also disclose an important shift I made in the metrics I decided to STOP honoring and those I decided to START honoring, once I had my twins six years ago. And now those key metrics are changing yet again. The kids are in first grade and I have a newfound burst of energy while I am creating a brand new venture for 2020.

The bottom line is, the metrics you honor have to line up with your vision, and goals. But for many of us with that ‘comparisonitis’, we model others we think have the formula for success, without taking into consideration if that aligns with what we really want to create for ourselves and our specific audience.

Listen to this episode, and I invite you to take some time and look at the metrics you have been honoring, and ask if they are serving you or whether it’s time to honor some brand NEW ones. Catch it now at GlambitionRadio.com.

Warning: When you do this, it can be a hard adjustment. You may have to get used to things looking different in your business, and to outsiders. Even if the changes you are making guarantee you higher revenues and will suit you better, your ego will start SCREAAAAMING to go back. So you have to keep revisiting with yourself the reasons WHY you are making these changes.

So much of this is really just a mind game. And this is where most everyone STOPS because they can’t handle it! So listen to this episode for a strong new perspective.

(BTW… we do an entire session on this at my #ICONICwithAliBrown event, coming up in November in Phoenix. If you’re established in your business and this elevated conversation interests you, have a look at IconicWithAliBrown.com and apply for one of the few seats remaining.)

And come join in our conversations on Instagram or Facebook.

Xo,

Ali

Show Notes:

*The Wall Street Journal article on Madonna’s new concert-ticket strategy

*The Fast Company article on WeWork’s IPO fiasco

*My client Jessica Lorimer’s upcoming London event ‘Converting Corporate‘ (She is one of my Premier coaching clients)

*Seth Godin on the ‘minimum viable audience’

Vicky Tsai, Founder + CEO of Tatcha — Glambition Radio Episode 178 with Ali Brown

BY ALI BROWN | September 25, 2019 Leave A Comment

The founder of skin care brand Tatcha (which I am currently obsessed with) reveals the behind-the-scenes story of how she built her global luxury beauty company, recently acquired for a rumored $500 million, today on GlambitionRadio.com.

It started in 2009, when Vicky Tsai was desperately searching for products that didn’t aggravate her skin. She found answers in an unexpected place: a 200-year-old Japanese beauty manuscript detailing the generations-old skin care practices embraced by geisha.

Amazed by her healed skin, Vicky hired scientists and researchers so more people could experience these products (I was sold the first time I tried a Tatcha mask — I share that story in the episode). Tatcha’s superfood-based skin care is so nourishing and effective, the company quickly became one of the fastest growing in the US.

On #GlambitionRadio, Vicky shares the story of meeting the geisha who inspired her skin care collection, and the risks she took to start her company. We also discuss:

*The first big decision she made to buy a container of 10,000 blotting papers while on a trip to Japan — and how she did it with NO money

*Vicky’s two-fold advice for taking care of your skin (I did not know about this before she told me, and it made me change my routine right away)

*Why every purchase of a Tatcha product helps fund girls’ education around the world, and how giving back has impacted Vicky’s outlook on leadership and entrepreneurship

*The story behind Vicky’s decision to sell her engagement ring to start her company (and what her husband thought of this idea!)

Head to Apple Podcasts now to listen to this episode of Glambition Radio now (or download it for later).

And come join in our conversations on Instagram or Facebook.

Xo,

Ali

Show Notes:

*More about geisha, Japanese women who perform traditional arts such as singing and dancing (contrary to popular belief in the west, geisha are not courtesans)

*Room to Read, the nonprofit supporting girls’ education that partners with Tatcha

*The one skin care product Vicky recommends above all others!

When Shonda Rhimes came to AZ…

BY ALI BROWN | September 19, 2019 Leave A Comment

You know who Shonda Rhimes is, right?

She achieved almost everything a TV producer could hope for during her long run at ABC.

She evolved into not only one of the most prolific writer-producers in the business, but also a mogul, as the founder and head of her Shondaland production company.

ABC filled its entire Thursday night lineup with her shows — from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ to ‘Scandal’ and ‘How to Get Away With Murder’.

But there’s something I wanted to share with you here, because you can probably relate…

She shared during an interview that during this time of ultimate success, she was also getting… restless.

It was time for something new.

And a 9-figure offer from Netflix including open creative reign was the perfect place to jump.

Her problem, however?

She was now staring at a blank screen, expected to better her best.

She admitted she felt nearly out of ideas.

So — here’s the part I love! — she came to… Arizona.

It was HERE she chose to camp out for awhile, to get grounded for a new creative boost. And it led to her next BIG project.

I’ll be sharing more about Shonda’s process at my ICONIC event here on November 4+5.

And my biggest wish is that each of my 70-80 attendees will be refreshed and triggered for her next great work while she is here in AZ as well.

There’s always been something special about the energy here for me, as well as many of my clients.

There’s a strong groundedness in the desert – a calming but fortifying energy that you can use as needed to give yourself the ultimate ‘reset’.

When was the last time you attended an event that was less about piling on more ‘how-tos’ … and instead was about some brand new ‘what ifs’?

If this sounds enticing to you, we have a handful of seats remaining.

And be assured that while we do some pretty high-concept work at this event, we also dive into the very practical and immediate, with unbiased views of what’s working and not working right now in marketing, models, and messaging.

Have a look here.

And if ICONIC is not a fit for you, would you do me a favor and pass this on to another successful woman leader you know?

I’m looking for a few more amazing women leaders to round out our already powerful room of entrepreneurs averaging over $1.2 million in revenues each, including several in the 8-figure range.

It’s a truly extraordinary event… for extraordinary women leaders.

Best,

Ali

Jennifer Maanavi, CEO + Co-Founder of Physique 57 — Glambition Radio Episode 177 with Ali Brown

BY ALI BROWN | September 18, 2019 Leave A Comment

Physique 57 co-founder Jennifer Maanavi loved taking dance-inspired barre classes in New York City. The elegant, sophisticated movement suited her in a way the gym never did. So when the studio she loved suddenly closed, she knew someone had to keep this method alive. And she thought… ‘it might as well be me’.

Drawing on her MBA, Jennifer put together a business plan and recruited Tanya Becker, a star barre instructor. Within 20 minutes of their first meeting in 2006, Jennifer and Tanya realized they had the same vision: ‘to bring this method to women around the world’.

Thirteen years later, Physique 57 is a global luxury fitness brand with studios spanning across 5 countries (and more to come), from the US to India and Saudi Arabia.

Today on GlambitionRadio.com, Jennifer reveals how they built their renowned fitness company (before the days of social media and the boutique fitness trend), counting women like Sarah Jessica Parker and Kelly Ripa among their clients. She shares how then focusing on digital allowed for agile growth, and why expanding the franchise is their next goal (and why it’s important to them).

On #GlambitionRadio, we also discuss:

*What they did when their competition started copying them (from their name and branding to actual pictures of Tanya!)

*How their early adoption of the class packages model positioned them at the forefront of their industry (though it also came with significant challenges)

*What has become a distraction so they have decided to ELIMINATE it from their business model (this concept is so important)

*Why Physique 57 decided to open a location in one of the most challenging places for women in the world — Saudi Arabia

Head to Apple Podcasts now to listen to this episode of Glambition Radio now (or download it for later). And if you’re curious about franchising opportunities, see the link in the show notes below (I’m just saying, Scottsdale AZ would be a great place ;)).

And come join in our conversations on Instagram at www.instagram.com/alibrownofficial or Facebook at www.facebook.com/alibrownfan.

Xo,

Ali

Show Notes:

*Learn about Lotte Berk, whose exercise methods in the 1960’s inspire barre classes to this day

*Find information about Physique 57’s franchising opportunities here

*My previously mentioned interview with Ellen Latham, founder of Orangetheory Fitness on Episode 161 of Glambition Radio

My love/hate thing with Kanye West…

BY ALI BROWN | September 13, 2019 Leave A Comment

One thing I love to do at my events is pull in pop culture examples of interesting business and success principles.

For example, I have a love/hate thing with Kanye West.

[Fun fact: He and I shared a celebrity house-call doctor in Los Angeles for several years. If you search hard enough online, you can hear a recording from a few years ago of my doc calling in to request a 5150 hold on Kanye. I think it’s somewhere on TMZ. Classy website they are!]

I don’t really like Kanye’s music. I don’t agree with anything he typically says or does. He’s quite a pompous ass.

But I REALLY admire how excited and obsessed Yeezy gets with his ideas.

In interviews he shares his friends’ regret that he often gets so excited about new ideas, song lyrics, or concepts, that he calls them or sends them dozens of texts at odd times like 2am.

And I actually get that part…

When something new and creative emanates or “clicks” in your head, and that burst of pure joy explodes and you want to share it with someone… now! And it excites you so much it can keep you up at night.

(Brett has had to endure many of these moments of mine; thankfully not many at 2am. I used to do spontaneous middle-of-night voice recordings about ideas, but today I try to just peck out a version on my phone without waking him.)

Yeezy’s friends said he’s crazy.

They are right.

People who ‘receive’ immense ideas—incredibly powerful ‘downloads’—and the undeniable urge to act on them immediately are not… normal.

They are often seen as a wee bit crazy.

But if that’s crazy, then call me maybe.

The question is though: When is the last time YOU really felt like that?

If it’s time for that lovin’ feelin’ again… I have something guaranteed to work for you, if you qualify. And it’s happening November 5+6 here in Phoenix.

Have a look here.

And if you aren’t at the level yet to qualify, would you do me a favor and pass this on to an accomplished female business leader you know?

I’m looking for a few more amazing women leaders to round out our already powerful room of entrepreneurs averaging over $1.2 million in revenues each, including several in the 8-figure range.

An extraordinary event… for extraordinary women leaders.

Best,

Ali

PS — You’ve had enough how-to. It’s time for more ‘what if…?’

#IconicWithAliBrown