Who Am I? - Episode 11

"Change is so scary.  It’s so easy to stay in our comfort zone.” – Laura Spiegel

 In this episode, Holly & Kristin talk with Laura Spiegel about:

• Paint Her in Color, the website, and organization Laura created to provide emotional support for parents of children with special health care needs.
• Making the difficult choice to move from a corporate role and a career on the fast track to find purpose and meaning while also devoting time to her child with special health care needs.
• What it means to be a mom, caregiver, spouse, business owner, volunteer… and all the other many roles women fill in today’s world.
• The challenges associated with making changes in her life and how she worked through those changes.

 Key Takeaways

• During times of change, lean into the emotions you are feeling. Recognize it’s okay to feel the way you do.  It’s valid.  Move through the emotions, don’t try to ignore them.
• Find your people… find your tribe. There are others out there going through similar life challenges and they can offer perspective and support.  Find them.  Lean into them.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Asking for help is a strength, not a sign of weakness.

Laura Spiegel  is the Founder of Paint Her in Color (https://www.paintherincolor.com), a website that supports emotional well-being in parents of children with heightened health care needs. With more than 100 personal stories, emotional support tools, and advocacy tips, Paint Her in Color gives parents the encouragement and resources needed to care for themselves while caring for others. Since July 2019, Spiegel’s site has touched nearly 20,000 parents of children with complex medical, developmental, and behavioral health care needs.

After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Spiegel spent over a decade at the world’s largest biotech company. Much of her work involved partnering with care teams to help people with chronic illness lead happy and healthy lives. Her professional and personal worlds collided in 2013 when her own daughter was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

When she isn’t managing Paint Her in Color, Spiegel is a regular contributor at Special Needs Living Magazine and Different Dream Living. Her writing has been published by Scary Mommy, Kevin MD, The Mighty, Yahoo, MSN, Parenting Special Needs Magazine, Complex Child Magazine, Thrive Global, Source Mama, and Humana Press. Her work has also been featured by Passionate World Talk Radio, the University of Notre Dame, and the Diversity Breakthrough Podcast.

As a global healthcare advocate, Spiegel frequently partners with children’s hospitals and non-profit organizations to improve the experience of care for children and families. As a keynote speaker, she helps healthcare teams deliver difficult pediatric diagnoses with compassion – and helps parents establish routines that support healthy and balanced lives as caregivers. 

Connect with Laura and check out the support resources at:

Website:          www.paintherincolor.com

Email:              laura@paintherincolor.com

LinkedIn:          https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-heim-spiegel-0b35067/

                        https://www.linkedin.com/company/paint-her-in-color-llc/about/

Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/paintherincolor

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/her_color

 

UPLIFTING WOMEN HOSTS Kristin Strunk and Holly Teska

Your co-hosts of the UPLIFTING WOMEN PODCAST, Holly Teska & Kristin Strunk, are women who UPLIFT other women at work and in the world.  Every other week they bring uplifting women guests to share their personal stories of challenge and triumph to inform and inspire their listeners.  The podcast also features guests who have played a significant role in honoring women and their place in the world by serving as promoters, sponsors, and coaches to the many women in their personal and professional lives.

Join Holly and Kristin as they hear how their guests navigate the world of career aspirations, life, love, and family. Get advice from successful women who have figured out their own version of "secret sauce" to create the life they love.

Holly believes the world needs the best leaders it can build; those who demonstrate integrity, empathy, humility, vision, positivity, and confidence. This type of leader brings out the best in others and delivers outstanding results. Holly feels we need everyone to perform at 100% to making our world a better place. Holly's experience in leadership, executive coaching, and talent development is the foundation of her career.  She has helped bright and motivated leaders become the very best versions of themselves. Through direct feedback, reflection, experimentation, and honest conversation, she will push you to excel at what you were called to do. Holly is especially committed to helping women navigate the choppy waters of today's fast-paced workplace and evolving world conditions but works with many different individuals and situations.  She welcomes inquiries for leadership and executive coaching and speaking engagements.

Kristin's experiences have led her to the simple conclusion that leadership is simple - maybe not always easy, but simple.  Her work supporting leaders in finding their voices inspired her to find her own voice in the space of employee experience and leadership development.  She often hears the question that isn't being asked and is skilled at facilitating conversations and building relationships.  She has helped executives lead organizational transformations involving employee engagement, technology, and the new "Future of Work." 

Follow her hashtag #responsibleleadership on social media to learn more about simple things leaders can do to build relationships and have a lasting positive impact.

 

Website:         www.upliftingwomen.net

Connect with Holly:

LinkedIn:         https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyteska

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/HollyTeska

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/holly.teska

Instagram:      https://instagram.com/HollyTeska

Personal

Website:         www.hollyteska.com

Email:             holly@upliftingwomen.net

 

Connect with Kristin:

 LinkedIn:        https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-strunk

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/leadadvisor

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/kristin.t.strunk

Instagram:      https://instagram.com/ktuttlestrunk

Personal

Website:         https://regentleadershipgroup.com/

Email:              kristin@upliftingwomen.net