We're continuing the series we've been doing this month all around inspiring you to use your voice, no matter what your topic or your industry.

If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you know that I've been really excited about artificial intelligence and ChatGPT and all of the ways AI can help us both personally and professionally.

For this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Denise Musselwhite, a technology maven with a rich background in IT and a heart set on women's empowerment in tech.

Here's why you absolutely can't miss this episode:

• Discover Denise's Unique Journey: From growing up in her father's repair shop to becoming one of the few Latina CIOs, Denise shares her inspiring journey into the tech world, highlighting the blend of nature, nurture, and curiosity that fueled her career.
• AI as a Force for Good: We delve deep into the realm of Artificial Intelligence, exploring its potential as a collaborative partner in our professional lives. Denise opens up about her personal projects, including the "Kindness Beacon," and how AI can be harnessed to empower women and underrepresented professionals in technology.
• Leadership and the Leap into Entrepreneurship: Denise talks about her transition from a high-powered tech role to founding Tech and Thrive, sharing insights on the challenges and joys of nurturing leadership within the tech industry, especially for women.
• The Ethical and Inclusive Future of AI: We tackle the critical discussions surrounding AI, from ethical considerations to ensuring women's voices are integral in shaping the future of technology.
• Mentorship, Inclusion, and Empowerment: Denise emphasizes the importance of mentorship, the role of women in technology organizations, and how she's working to create more inclusive spaces in the tech world.

Denise's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and the crucial role of women in shaping the future of tech.

Join us as we explore the intersection of technology and empowerment, and get inspired to harness AI in your professional journey.

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/389/

Denise’s website: http://techandthrive.me/

AI Resources: https://techthrive.me/techai

The Kindness Beacon GPT (requires a paid subscription to ChatGPT4): techthrive.me/kindness

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Denise Musselwhite (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/musselwhited/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 375: How to Use AI to Amplify Your Superpowers and Prepare You to Show Up Anywhere with Stacey Hines
• Episode 313: How to Thrive in the Age of A.I.

Many conferences get hundreds of speaker submissions. How can you make yours stand out so it gets selected?

Then, once you do get selected, how do you make sure you deliver an engaging presentation at the conference?

That’s what I talk about with my guest Cathy McPhillips, who is Chief Growth Officer at the Marketing AI Institute.

Along with the virtual events they host year-round, they also host an in-person conference called MAICON, which I spoke at in 2023.

I invited Cathy on the show to share with us:

• Her background and what brought her to the Marketing AI Institute
• How Cathy and the team select speakers for MAICON and their other events
• What they look for in speaker submissions
• What makes a great speaker at their events (based on audience feedback)
• Tips she has for the listeners who want to speak at conferences
• >What they’re doing at the Marketing AI Institute and you can get involved

About My Guest: Cathy McPhillips is Chief Growth Officer at the Marketing AI Institute, overseeing marketing, growth, and customer experience, including MAICON and AI Academy for Marketers. Previously, Cathy led marketing at Content Marketing Institute and Content Marketing World, managed community growth for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, and owned her own strategic digital marketing business. She started her career at two Cleveland advertising agencies. Cathy was an Ohio University Jerry L. Sloan Visiting Professional in Public Relations, is a Folio: Top Women in Media, and a MarTechExec Woman You Need to Know in Martech.

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/388/

Marketing AI Institute: www.marketingaiinstitute.com

The Artificial Intelligence Show podcast: https://www.marketingaiinstitute.com/podcast-showcase

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Cathy McPhillips (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathymcphillips

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 245: How to Get Selected as a Speaker by Event Organizers with Sarah Soliman
• Episode 342: I Almost Got Stuck in the Expert Trap: How I Created My Recent Successful Conference Presentation

I talk quite a bit on this podcast about "the expert trap" and how so many of us get stuck teaching and training and don't step into thought leadership.

This applies not only to those of us who are entrepreneurs, but of course to all the academics out there as well (hand raised!).

This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone passionate about making a difference through their work, particularly in academia or any field where expertise is a given, but thought leadership can make an even bigger impact.

My guest is Laura McGuire, EdD, a social scientist, educator, and entrepreneur whose journey and work exemplify transformative thought leadership.

Laura's story is not just inspiring; it's a call to action for all of us to think bigger and challenge the status quo in our respective fields.

Laura and I talk about:

• The Expert Trap vs. Thought Leadership: Learn how professionals in academia, science, and other fields can transcend the confines of being labeled merely as experts to embrace the mantle of thought leadership, encouraging broader thinking and solutions to societal challenges.
• Laura's Inspirational Journey: From surviving domestic violence and navigating the challenges of early motherhood as a high school dropout to achieving a doctorate in education and becoming a beacon of change in the fields of educational leadership, sexual health education, misconduct prevention, and trauma-informed care.
• Addressing Systemic Issues: An in-depth look at how Laura's work is influencing industries and creating safer, more inclusive environments through training in trauma-informed care, restorative practices, and survivor support strategies.
• Overcoming Challenges: Laura shares their experiences of working in a climate of increasing legislative restrictions in Florida, reflecting on the implications for educators, advocates, and the communities they serve.
• The Power of Personal Storytelling: Discover the potency of integrating personal narratives into academic and professional discourse to connect more deeply with audiences and drive home the importance of the work being done.
• Breaking Free from the Expert Trap: Laura and I discuss practical strategies for academics and professionals to step into roles of thought leadership, including leveraging social media, understanding market rates for speaking engagements, and fostering a mindset geared towards impactful change.

About My Guest: Dr. Laura McGuire (they/them or she/her) is an internationally recognized consultant, survivor, researcher, seminarian, and author of the book Creating Cultures of Consent (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021) and The Sexual Misconduct Prevention Guidebook: Consent and Conduct for Higher Education Campuses (Fielding University Press, 2022). They were named as one of the 2022 Champions of Pride by The Advocate magazine and are regularly featured in media outlets for their expertise and approachability. Dr. McGuire is a certified full-spectrum doula, professional teacher, certified sexual health educator, and vinyasa yoga instructor.

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/387/

Laura’s website: https://drlauramcguire.com/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Dr. Laura McGuire (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-laura-mcguire-276b87100/