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Unknown
Hi everyone and welcome to the Style and Strategy podcast. Apologies. This week I am starting to lose my voice a little bit, so I'm going to sound a little bit odd through this recording, but I appreciate you sticking with me. Anyhow, look, I'm really excited to introduce our next guest on the Style and Strategy podcast. It's star Hephzibah.
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Unknown
Esther is a renowned leadership coach, speaker, and founder of the Shine Transformation Solutions. With over 15 years of experience spanning multiple continents, Esther has dedicated her career to empowering women through inclusive leadership, emotional intelligence, and personal development. She's a certified coach with John C Maxwell and has inspired countless individuals through her dynamic speaking engagements and transformation coaching programs.
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Unknown
S journey is a real testament to resilience and transformation. She was originally from Nigeria, where she faced significant challenges upon moving to Canada, including joblessness and navigating an unfamiliar job market. Through her determination and expertise, she founded Shine Transformation Solutions, where she now helps immigrant women and leaders overcome barriers to actually achieving their full potential. I really hope that you enjoy today's podcast.
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Unknown
I'm Sonya, a personal brand and style coach. My journey began in the corporate world and through lived experiences has led me where I am today. I've walked in those uncomfortable shoes, faced the same challenges, and questioned my path to professional success while simultaneously navigating my personal style journey and the challenges that each decade brings. I wholeheartedly believe in the fusion personal brand and style strategy.
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Unknown
My mission here is to provide you with practical, actionable strategies and lived experiences to help you unlock your next level of success through the power of personal, brand and style. Let's get started! Welcome to the Style and Strategy podcast. I am so excited to be chatting with Esther Hips. So she's actually based in Canada and we met through a mutual group that we're a part of.
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Unknown
So I'm really thrilled to be able to chat to her today. So Esther, I really want to start off around that journey, that start of your journey to get to where you were today. Tell me a little bit around, you know, as I understand that you've migrated from Nigeria to Canada and then you really faced some challenges when you first arrived in Canada.
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Unknown
How do you think some of those challenges really started to shape your approach to leadership and personal development?
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Unknown
Well.
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Unknown
Wow. You've given me goosebumps just listening to that. It resonates so much, even of my own personal journey. I felt the same way after finishing an MBA as well. Because everyone tells you. Yes. That's what you need to do to kind of get ahead. But actually taking that time to remember who you are at, you know, whatever turning point that is and reflecting inwards and yeah, so that's beautiful that you've been able to find that through that.
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Unknown
And so then like obviously going through the John Maxwell program. And for those of you who aren't familiar with John Maxwell, so, you know, is a New York Times bestselling author of the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. And if you haven't read this particular book, I would strongly recommend that you do take the time to review it. So after going through that journey as to how did you actually end up getting to the point where you've discovered sort of who you were and then you've said, right, that's it, I'm going to go and, you know, find this new mission and really start showing transformation solutions.
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Unknown
And.
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Unknown
Yeah. Yeah.
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Unknown
Yes.
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Unknown
Oh.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Well.
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Unknown
It's. You've given me goosebumps. And so you made that choice. And then.
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Unknown
Wow. That's an incredible journey to go through. And then really identify that point in time when you saw that there was going to be a lead. And I love the way you worded that. A lead on your potential to be able to then have the courage and the strength to be able to step out and say, no, it's time to back myself, which I know many of us, you know, challenge those events might happen, but because we're so in the go and running, sometimes you don't see the opportunity there or open up to take that opportunity and really back yourself on it.
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Unknown
So when you're given that you've gone through those personal experiences and you have, you know, structure and frameworks around supporting women around that, have you think, you know, do you help individuals of women identify and overcome some of their own limiting beliefs around that?
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Unknown
Yeah, exactly.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah. No, I love that. And you've recently just really practice what you preach as well. I know that you've recently had a bit of a sabbatical as well. And how do you find now that you've come out the other side, you've made that decision to take that break and then come back out the other side. How do you feel around that now?
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Unknown
Yes.
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Unknown
Well, to get to that point and all those elements of positive aspects that have come out of it, it's so inspiring is to, to then be able to get to that point. I know a lot of people want to do things like that, although they might talk about having a sabbatical or, or thinking, you know, I'll just take some time out where I'll turn off, but the turn off doesn't actually happen.
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Unknown
What advice would you give them in order to take? You know, obviously you've had a longer sabbatical, but to just to even get started down that track, especially for someone who is maybe go go go go go and, you know, hasn't had that opportunity to just have that time out but knows innately there's something there.
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Unknown
Yeah. Even just as a small step because to make the decision to say, okay, I'm going to take a sabbatical for three months because I know I need it versus, you know, 12 months. Even that, for some people, is a big step. And so what maybe smaller steps would you recommend that they maybe take to help get their headspace?
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Unknown
They.
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Unknown
Yes.
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Unknown
Yeah. A much.
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Unknown
It definitely the latter. The second one. Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah. Right.
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Unknown
Yes.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah. Love, love that I'm so important. I might have to get myself over to Canada for a retreat at some point.
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Unknown
Devon. Well, I haven't been to Canada, and I've always wanted to go, so it might be an excuse to, Look, so. As you. Yeah. Thank you. As you know, I really focus with my clients around personal brand, and they style. And you know what you said, really, in the beginning very much resonated with me because I am much more not about the superficial side.
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Unknown
It's actually about really understanding who they are internally and being able to align those two together. So a question for you through this journey that you've been on. How would you describe your personal brand potentially has shifted and evolved as you've, you know, gone from your corporate use to finding who you were and then evolving that again after your sessions.
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Unknown
So has that do you find that your brand as itself has changed in terms of your values and what you really stood for along that time?
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
I love that.
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Unknown
Yeah. Right. I love that it's so special hearing it.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Exactly. Exactly. And so do you think, personally, if I talk about style for a minute, do you think personally, now that you've been more anchored to who you are as well, that do you feel like your style has actually your personal style has actually shifted and transformed in any way?
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Unknown
Actual physical clothing? Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah. Beautiful.
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Unknown
Yeah. Yeah. Beautiful. And for those of you who are only listening, there is in a beautiful hot pink, slight floral top. And it looks beautiful against complexion. So tell me, what are the some of the most significant lessons that you say sum up in your journey? That if you could pass on to a younger self or someone that was, you know, maybe in those crossroads that you would like to share?
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
That one's given me goosebumps. So? So true.
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Unknown
Yeah. You know. No. That's right. Well love yourself first you've got to focus on that element of you because then everyone will actually say and appreciate it. Finally because you've done that work as well. Yeah. Very very true. They're great lessons. Okay. So I always ask my listeners and my guests, sorry, three quick questions. So given we've talked about spoken a little bit about style.
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Unknown
What would you say your signature style piece is that makes you feel truly represented in your brand and maybe is an essential part of your wardrobe?
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
Beautiful and then transformational. Right. So some of our listeners need, you know, maybe they're looking for a bit of inspiration. So maybe. What book are you currently reading or one that might be listening to that may have had an impact on your journey?
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Unknown
Yeah. Or one that you might be reading right now that you'd recommend.
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Unknown
Okay. That sounds like a good one. I haven't read that one.
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Unknown
Sounds like a good one. I love that. So then finally, we all have those days where we need an extra boost. What's your quick mindset ritual? Or something you do to help you feel empowered and maybe ready to tackle anything?
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Unknown
Yeah.
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Unknown
I love the simplicity of that one. And managing your own and regulating your own nervous system in such a simple way can be so beneficial in so many different circumstances. So I love the practicality of that particular tip as well. Is, if someone wants to get in contact with you or follow your journey or anything like that, I'll make sure I have it all in the show notes.
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Unknown
But where can they find you?
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00:34:27:23 - 00:34:49:18
Unknown
Thank you so much for being part of this inspiring episode. If you found value in today's discussion, please don't keep it a secret. Share it with a friend on social media. Tag me at Your Style Collective and leave a review. Your support means the world. Join me again next week for another empowering episode of Style and Strategy, The Leadership Series.
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Unknown
Thanks so much for tuning in. And remember, you're already taking that first step towards your transformation journey. See you next time.
