In this episode 50, we are joined by **Erika Chestnut**, a seasoned leader in the tech industry with over 20 years of experience in building teams, fostering relationships, and spinning up new quality departments. Erika is fun, quirky, clever, and sassy, and her leadership style revolves around relationships, patience, and a healthy dose of humor. Her mission is to help create engaged, empowered, and excited teams and cultures.
1. **Introduction to Erika’s Leadership Journey**
- Erika shares her personal and professional journey, detailing her experiences in the tech world and how relationships have been key to her success.
- Key takeaway: Leadership starts with building authentic relationships.
2. **Leading with Relationships**
- We discuss the importance of reading the room and creating value through meaningful interactions.
3. **Understanding Communication with DISC**
- Erika talks about how utilizing DISC assessments has helped her lead high-performing teams.
- Importance of understanding different communication styles to improve teamwork and leadership effectiveness.
4. **Creating a Leadership Journey**
- We explore how women can build their leadership journey by focusing on clarity, owning their power, and mapping out their career paths.
- Erika shares her insights on balancing leadership with innovation and quality in the workplace.
5. **Navigating Leadership Styles and Cultural Differences**
- Discussion on how different leadership styles affect team dynamics and how to navigate cultural differences in leadership.
- The importance of authenticity in leadership and staying true to oneself.
6. **Communication Style: Friendly vs. Firm?**
- Should leaders be friendly first, or should they establish authority with firmness? Erika shares her perspective on how to strike a balance between the two.
7. **Owning Your Power and Career Path as a Woman**
- We talk about how women can own their power in their careers and create leadership opportunities for themselves.
- Erika emphasizes the importance of investing in personal growth and development to stay ahead in a competitive environment.
8. **How to Up Your Confidence**
- Erika shares her personal tips on how to build confidence in both professional and personal settings.
- Key takeaway: Confidence is built through consistency, communication, and commitment to growth.
9. **How to Work with Erika**
- Find out how to connect with Erika and access her resources through her websites.
**🔗 Resources & Links:**
- **Erika’s Website:** [Speak with Quality](https://www.speakwithquality.com)
- **Erika’s Personal Website:** [Erika Chesnut](https://www.erikachesnut.com)
**🔔 Takeaway Message:**
Erika reminds us that effective leadership starts with clarity, confidence, and power. Building authentic relationships, understanding communication styles, and constantly investing in yourself are the cornerstones of leading with quality. Up your confidence and own your leadership journey!
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Stay tuned for more episodes of the UpYourConfidence Podcast, where we continue to empower women to live boldly, lead authentically, and leverage their confidence in every aspect of life.