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Looking for inspiration, insightful advice, and a supportive community to help you navigate your business journey?
The Carolina Women's Collective is your one-stop shop. This biweekly podcast, hosted by Booth Parker, features interviews with a powerful network of female entrepreneurs and business leaders, sharing their inspiring stories, actionable advice, and industry expertise.
Whether you're a entreprenuer just starting out or a seasoned company executive, this show has something for you.
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Booth: [00:00:00] Today on the Carolina Women's Collective Podcast, I Booth Parker am joined by my co-founders, Silvana Botta and Jillian Lister. And we are going to chat about our upcoming second annual summit. We have recently launched the agenda and ticket. I've linked all that in the show notes so you can check it out and buy your tickets.
Booth: And this year's agenda has a heavy focus on personal and professional development. We have renowned speakers, Dr. Sarah Glover and Annie France. I'm not good in speaking Italian names, but I think I got that one right. And so we kind of wanna chat [00:01:00] about why we have gone this route of personal and professional development for this year's summit.
Booth: So as us ladies know, women are nurturers, and because of that we tend to put everyone else and their needs ahead of our own. And then we oftentimes, end up not taking the time to invest in ourselves. So whether you're in a season as a top level executive, a thriving business owner, or staying home to raise your little ones.
Booth: Personal growth and a mindset check-in is a valuable thing to do for yourself. And since the three of us have quite different backgrounds and experiences and are in different seasons of life, we wanted to chat about what personal development means to us and why we each find. Important. So Jillian, I'm gonna put you in the hot seat first, since you are the youngest of our trio and are in the midst of a young and growing [00:02:00] business while also raising toddlers.
Booth: So tell us why personal and professional development is important to you.
Jill: Yeah, so I would say that earlier in my career I had the opportunity to travel to major marketing conferences all over the country. It was exciting and rewarding. I learned so much from being in rooms with others in my industry and all over the United States.
Jill: And so that kind of professional development really shaped me. And now with two toddlers, at home, hopping on a plane for a week long conference just isn't realistic. So these days I get most of my growth from business podcast. I have a business mentor who I meet with by weekly and, experiences like the summit.
Jill: Excited that the conference can come to meet. But I believe it's so important to stay grounded in who you're becoming, both personally and professionally. So when you're building a business and raising a family at the same time, you have to be intentional about pouring into yourself because that's how you pour into others.
Jill: And so [00:03:00] I think it's very important to continue having different opportunities for personal and professional development, because it just makes yourself a better human being.
Booth: Awesome. Now, Silvana, you've had experiences all over the world, different cultures. You speak multiple languages, so you have the proof is in the pudding, as they say, and you were at that season where you have children starting to leave the nest as well.
Booth: So tell us why, uh, personal and professional development is important to you. To me, it's very important, not.
Silvana: Like Jillian have said for the growth, um, the learning experiences, and for me, professional development came so naturally because I started at such a young age under the influences of European South American companies, where there was always the opportunity or often the obligation to take courses to stay current with new products or business strategies.[00:04:00]
Silvana: So I mature and transition over the years. I truly understood the power of professional development. I always carry that commitment into my personal growth as well, and it's been invaluable to always invest in myself, making sure that I'm not just keeping up with the times, but I'm trying to stay ahead of the curve.
Silvana: My superpower was adaptability. I had to always adapt and being able to pivot and evolve as the world around me changed, as you said, from different markets, different countries, different cultures. So that is key to be able to adapt and evolve with the world around you. Now that I'm transitioning as some empty nester.
Silvana: I'd like to keep on doing professional and personal development. Also to be a living proof of example to my children as they are maturing and [00:05:00] becoming adults. I wanna show them by example, what is to be a dedicated person to yourself, to empower yourself. Therefore, you can help empower others. So now that I talk about my experiences, Booth as someone with experience in a family business and being self-employed and who is currently becoming an empty nester, tell us why personal and professional development is important to you.
Booth: You know, Jillian kind of alluded to this as well, but like, I've always. Thought of the analogy, like when you're on a plane, they say to put the oxygen mask on yourself before, you know, assisting others. And I kind of think of growth and personal and professional development in that way that if we don't pour into ourselves, then we can't show up and be.
Booth: What others need from us, even though women are constantly trying to do everything for everyone else [00:06:00] without putting their own oxygen mask on. And so I, I really like to kind of think of it that way and, and it's important because it's, it's a lifeline, right? So, it really is something that needs to be a center focus in your life.
Booth: And for me, early in my career, I was in a family business and... there's, there's pros and cons to family businesses. Some are more functional and some are more dysfunctional than others. But a lot of the times you kind of know your role and you stay in your lane and you do that role, what's expected, and you don't really get another word to say about it.
Booth: And for me. Kind of living like that and being able to do all of the technical requirements of a job. But not, not having that support of development and growth going on in my life. It turned my head into a place where my. My conversations in [00:07:00] my own head, uh, were very conflicted. A lot of negative self-talk because I didn't have any, anyone else telling me their story and how they worked through things.
Booth: And, and you know, when I was going through hard parts and that, those experiences, I never had that outlet of someone saying, oh, I've been through that. This is. You know, X, Y, and Z will help you here. And so I feel like surrounding yourself with people that have been there can help lift you up and that you can pour back into others.
Booth: I mean. When I became self-employed a few years ago, I really took that time to focus on growth, and I've read a lot of books. I've listened to a lot of podcasts. I've had a lot of quiet time of reflection, and then I've also met a lot of new people. And that's one reason I'm so passionate about what we do with with Summit and everything, because I know for me, I'm the happiest and most fulfilled I've ever been, which makes me better [00:08:00] for my family and everyone else that I pour into. And, um, and you know, this getting ready to be an empty nester situation like I am trying to surround myself with other women who've, who've been through this season and how you kind of refocus your purpose. At that, such a pivotal turning point in your life.
Booth: But likewise, I like to mentor and pour back into and help grow the younger generation like Jillian. I've, I've been in that overwhelmed stage. Now I never had 202 like she has, but you know, I've, I've been there and so I just, I feel like growth is so much about. What you do for yourself, and it's so important to, to do that for yourself.
Booth: And so us women, we love to spend money on our cosmetics and our hair and all the external things, but it's, we also have to stop and invest on the inside too. So, [00:09:00] that's, that's kind of my take. So do y'all have anything else to add? I love that. Yeah, I love that. That was, that's great. Very tiring. Yes.
Booth: So, another topic I'm really excited about for the day is. Amazing New York Times bestselling author, Kristy Woodson Harvey is going to lead us in a talk about how she took control of her calendar time management to create a career and life that she loves and is. Very, very successful. I know time management is a big hurdle for a lot of women.
Booth: If you follow Christie's social media, you know how insanely busy she is, but you also can see how much time she has for family and what a priority she makes it. So I am very excited to hear what she has to say. Jillian, what are some time management challenges you have faced and what are some strategies.
Booth: You have implemented that are working.
Jill: Yes. Time [00:10:00] management. Whew. That is, that's huge. So lately it feels like my days are shorter and I work with my husband and I'm like, Pat, how, how did the day already go by so fast? Um, so I have to get really intentional with how I manage it. Especially juggling both my agency and the Carolina Wellmans collective.
Jill: Um, and then time blocking has become my best friend. So I try to wrap up, work by five every day and just be really present with the boys. I might have work that I need to do after they get get down to sleep, but at five o'clock I shut my computer down and I try to be present with my boys and my husband for a little bit at, we either go for a walk or we play outside.
Jill: Just doing something outside of. The office and the house because our office is in our house. So. That is something that is very important to me. I have made boundaries and really time blocking those times where I am gonna be working or I'm gonna be with [00:11:00] family. I've also learned how important it's to actually see my calendar.
Jill: I'm a very visual person. I recently sat down and created a printed family calendar that includes everything from work, family commitments, doctor's appointments, and all important dates for the rest of the year. I was like, I need to see what I have going on for the next six months. So it hangs on a corkboard in my office, and it's just a great way that I can visually see.
Jill: Okay. In three weeks, we have lake weekend coming up, or in four weeks we have X, Y, Z coming up. And it just helps me stay organized and it kind of gets it outta my brain if you know what I mean. So having that, that clear representation beside me all the time, that clear visual is key for me. Um, I also try every Friday.
Jill: I'm a very, I'm a to-do list person, so I try to wrap up my to-do list and then make a new to-do list for the next week so I can fully like, check out for the weekend and be present with whoever I'm with, my family, my friends. Um, so that really helps. And then I can hit the ground running on Monday. [00:12:00] Um, so those are a few things that have helped me feel more grounded with my time, but I'm really looking forward to hearing how Christie manages hers, because I was talking to Booth about this a few weeks ago.
Jill: I was like, how does Christie do it? She's like, I don't even know how the airports are, are gonna work with like her schedule. And then I always see her with her family. So I am so, so excited to hear how she manages it all, and I'm excited that she will be speaking at Summit. So, Savannah, how about you?
Jill: What are some of your tips and tricks and things that you implemented?
Silvana: My goodness, my brain was racing. Racing. And it depends, right? It depends where you are in your life and the role that you're occupying as well. You can use time management if you're in a corporation in different way than when you're an entrepreneur, when you own your own business and you have to wear all those different hats.
Silvana: And then especially maybe at the starting of your career, you're so afraid to say no. Then you overcommit because you wanna say yes and please everybody and you want [00:13:00] to be known or, or the people know that you have a great service or that you're the best of doing this or that, and then you run based on urgency instead of intentionality.
Silvana: So of course that had happened and how did I overcome that? Well, I loved. Strategic plannings. I, I do, I believe in goals, not just for professional instances, but also personal. So I try to do everything that aligns what I set my intentions to be. So I try to always look at the big picture. I have the one goal, and if that will be in alignment with that one goal, I move forward.
Silvana: So one thing, even knowingly. I need to say no to a lot of commitments. As my kids left the house and I became an empty nester and I have all this much time on my hands, I have said yes to many other opportunities [00:14:00] that was exhausted and my poor husband that supposedly we were gonna have a little bit more time together to enjoy doing this and doing that.
Silvana: It was neglected. So, um, I had to learn to say no again. Into a personal social calendar more than a professional calendar. I have that one. To the TI can say no, no hesitation, but in the personal life it was, sure, yes, I can do it, I can help you. No worries. Absolutely. Fill in the cat, help me with the dog, whatever.
Silvana: And then I was like, oh, no, I can't. So yes, time blocking love, time blocking. At the end of the day, do a, a. Like overview, what have happened and what's gonna happen the next day Helps me prepare. Um, just because I do have family overseas, sometimes my planning is different than everybody else because and unfortunate circumstances happen and you need to be remain flexible.
Silvana: To hop on a plane and go [00:15:00] tomorrow or the next day. So for me, if I can accomplish 90%, 85 to 90% of what I said to do, I'm in good place and I, I, I give grace to myself. So now that you guys have discovered about how I manage my time management booth, you have had some very different season as far as what the calendar looks like.
Silvana: Tell us about some of those and how you overcome challenges and what were some things that worked for you? Okay,
Booth: so I have had very different seasons and, you know, early in my career when I was in, I, I call it corporate America, you know, I get to the office and all of those things. I, I've always done the time blocking.
Booth: So I think that's a, a common thread here, but. You know, I was very, very structured and I've always sworn by the whole meal planning and prepping it. It helped us eat healthy dinners and, and stuff like [00:16:00] that. But yeah, I would get up super early and get my workout done and get back before anybody else was even up and all of those things.
Booth: And, and one thing that you know, with the family business is. You know, there are labor laws that apply, apply to businesses and your employees and stuff, but when you're in a family business, they're, they don't apply to you. Okay? So you no rules. You work when you gotta work. There are no rules whatsoever.
Booth: And so. I, I was very grateful that I had a husband who, you know, prioritized his role as a father as well, and I could also make him a to-do list in addition to, to my own. And so we were a really good team in managing all the things we needed to do for our family and then our work and things like that.
Booth: But then, you know, I become. Self-employed and you know, it, it sounds great 'cause you have this whole calendar to plan for yourself, but it actually gets. [00:17:00] Significantly harder when you are in that role. And you know, like you said, Savannah, like I have always had a hard time saying, no, I'm a, I'm a people pleaser.
Booth: I'm working on it. I'm getting better and I'm getting better at setting boundaries as well, but. You know, you really have to be very disciplined when you are the one creating your whole calendar and not, you know, the hours that your job mandates you work kind of thing. And so. I'm really looking forward to hearing Christie talk about how she prioritizes and how she sets her boundaries since that is something that I've definitely struggled with with doing.
Booth: I have found that the people. That you say no to or that you back away from that are respectful of your decision are people that value their own time and they understand where you're coming from. But I've also found that there's a lot of people [00:18:00] that you give a yes to and they're only. They're kind of taking advantage of you.
Booth: They're using you for what they can get for their own personal gain from you. And I have found when you try to set boundaries with people like that, that they can be really disrespectful about it in a multiple, multiple different ways. And so, I think the way you approach boundaries and the why is really important and I'm.
Booth: Looking forward to learning from Christie. 'cause I, I know she's got certain boundaries. She's gotta do 'em differently and I'm really looking forward to hearing that because it's something that I, I'm working on and I need to learn from. And then I guess the, the last thing I will say, because like Jillian you said you're a to-do list kind of person.
Booth: I am a to-do list kind of person. I'm guilty of if I do something. Else that wasn't on the list, I'll write it down just so I can check it off. But, um, it's very, yes, very satisfying to me to, to check things [00:19:00] off. But one thing I've learned along the way is creating a realistic to-do list. And so I like to sit down maybe on Sunday and make a to-do list.
Booth: For the week. And then I start finding where all of the tasks can fit into my calendar. And you know what? Sometimes it's all not gonna get done that week. And, and that's okay. And that's when you decide which things can get bumped or which things are gonna be a no maybe. And that have to come off, off that list.
Booth: And I think when you're very structured and you can visualize your time. I'm visual as well. It really helps you know what, what works and what's gonna work for you. So. That's, that's kind of mine. Um, I, I do love a calendar and a planner, though. I, I'm not gonna lie. So anything color coded. Amen.
Jill: Color coded.
Jill: Amen. Yeah. I love it.
Booth: Yeah, I love it. So [00:20:00] now, uh, we're also going to have a panel and we have. Really, really, really great ladies on our panel. They all have vastly different careers, and so like we have Anne-Marie, who is a community leader, a nonprofit, um, she's executive director, but the similar type title, and she has.
Booth: Poured her life into her community and children especially, and being an advocate for children. And so I know she's done really amazing things. I'm excited to hear about those amazing things. But also just her mindset and everything about going into that. 'cause that can't be an easy. Easy role to do those things.
Booth: And so, and then we have April, who is an award-winning inventor and creator. She has multiple patents out there. She takes her creations and then uses licensing to [00:21:00] expand her product lineup. So clearly very different than Anne Marie, but very, very successful as well. Um. And then Zell, who is this fantastic blogger and influencer and she's also taken her love of fashion and lifestyle and has retail store.
Booth: And so I'm just really. Interested to hear how she takes something she's just passionate about and loves and has really made a career with multiple facets. It's not just siloed. Um, so that'll be great. And then we have Ashley who, Julie, yes. You hit on her because you know Yes. Better than I do.
Jill: Yeah. So Ashley has been a client of set sales for the last two and a half years.
Jill: We are so grateful, um, to work with Ashley and Red at Gaffers and now they own Birdie's. So I heard Ashley's. Red's story. So Red's her husband, they're co-owners of gaffers and birdies. I heard their story just [00:22:00] briefly, um, when they moved here, but I didn't, never heard the details until recently. And it, it is so fascinating.
Jill: I'm so excited for everybody to hear it at Summit. But, um, I'll just kind of give you guys a little sneak peek. So Ashley her and her family lived in a tent. Yes, a tent on okra Coke for a good amount of time so that they could build gaffers to where, where it was a smooth sailing business as much as, as much as a restaurant can be smooth sailing.
Jill: And they got to a certain point and then a hurricane came in to ocracoke. And just destroyed it. And they really had to figure out if that was gonna be, they were gonna rebuild from the ground up in Ocracoke or was there some, something more out there? Was there a different location And they just so happened to have a family trip planned.
Jill: They came to Emerald Isle and they saw, again, this is, [00:23:00] I, I don't think I mentioned this. This was in late 2019 and then early 2020 they decided to relocate their business to Emerald is, which is so wild. So they are about to celebrate their five years in business here in Emerald is. And in the last year they've launched a sip and shop that's next to their restaurant.
Jill: They have launched a catering and meal delivery service, and recently they just launched another restaurant, their sister restaurant over here in Cape Carteret at Star Hill called Birdie's. And they are just taking Carteret County by storm and I'm really, really excited. To have her tell her story.
Jill: Recently, she told it to her 116 employees that they employ, um, in their pre-summer meeting. And I got to hear more about it and it's just so inspiring. So she'll definitely break that down and tell her how of how she built it with her husband during the panel. And then, uh, like Booth was saying, I am, I've been following Zelle for a long time [00:24:00] now.
Jill: Um, just being from the fashion industry. And marketing. And I have been watching Zelle as a blogger and then seeing her boutique, um, in Wilmington. And I'm just really excited to hear more about her path and what she's learned along the way.
Silvana: Those are all fantastic and fascinating stories, and I wanna hear more.
Silvana: I wanna hear more about every one of them. Yes. You know, and I, and I heard a little bit about Ashley's already. I'm like, okay, every time you say a little bit more and you let. A lot of it out today, so I can't wait to hear the real story by Ashley. Yes. So, this is gonna be a great lineup, ladies.
Booth: Yeah, definitely.
Booth: I love how just they're all so successful, but they're, they're career paths are so different and it just speaks volumes to how. There's not just one. There's not just one road to go find a journey on. There's so many options out there, and really [00:25:00] finding one that fulfills you and is aligned with what you're passionate about is, is the story that that they're all gonna tell.
Booth: And they're also gonna. Continue the season of how, and kind of how they went about these things through their different seasons of life. So very, very excited to hear
Silvana: all that. And I can now wait also to hear our speakers with Annie Francesi and also with Sarah Globa, which is gonna be an interactive, it's not gonna just be a lecture, it's gonna be an interactive workshop hands on.
Silvana: So ladies get ready to really be. Part of the summit. Be hands on and put those tools at practice at the summit and then you'll carry with you in your business.
Booth: Yeah, absolutely. Mm-hmm. Absolutely. Or in life. In Life. Right. In life, yeah. For sure. For all of it. For all of it. And I, I also have to mention our opening speaker and mc for the day.
Booth: Michelle, Michelle Query. I'm so excited we're [00:26:00] kind of getting the original band back together because she is definitely the one that sparked my passion for doing women's events, so I know she's. Obviously passionate about them too. She's gonna be super exciting to, has have as our kinda leader for the day.
Booth: And of course it's at the gorgeous brand new Coral Bay Club. Fantastic food, lovely champagne networking reception to round out the day, so I know. I'm excited. I'm sure all of our listeners now are excited too, but be sure to grab your tickets. Because, and the link is in the show notes. Don't worry, it's right there.
Booth: Easy grab, but grab your ticket fast. We, um. As of the time of recording this, we we're about 75% of the way sold through, and this is days before this is actually going live. So, um, we are limited tickets remaining and so we want to see there and we'll also be announcing our 2026 membership and exciting things coming to [00:27:00] that.
Booth: We'll do that at Summit. So before we sign off, anything else y'all wanna add, Jill or Savanna?
Jill: Really excited to see you at Summit. Yes. And excited for all the new speakers this year. Yes. And thank you for having us again, booth. Of course. Yes,
Booth: thanks. I always love chatting with y'all and I'm, I'm so excited about our, you know, fresh lineup of speakers and a blend of local and other fellow North Carolinians.
Booth: So it's gonna be an exciting day, and we all look forward to seeing you at Summit. [00:28:00]