Kristine Leadbetter-Gold knows what it’s like to overcome barriers to success.
After suffering a severe injury and temporarily losing the ability to walk, getting divorced, losing her house and her support network, she hit a personal rock bottom at the age of 25.
But instead of dwelling there, she started taking action to get her life back on track.
“That’s my main takeaway for everybody here today - take action,” she told the crowd at Norval United Church who gathered Friday morning (March 8) for the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce’s International Women’s Day event.
“If you don’t take the action, you won’t get the results.”
Leadbetter-Gold is the founder of the Women’s Network, an organization that builds connections, knowledge, reputation and experiences of professional women.
The 'Top 40 Under 40 and Women of Distinction' winner is also the producer and host of Lead Better with Kristine on Your TV, as well as the business and marketing director for Ross & McBride.
Here are some of the key messages she shared with local women about how to build their "professional capital:"
- Goal setting is very important. Start simple, and write down what you want.
- Putting your head down and working hard isn’t enough on its own. You need to “do less work and do more networking,” said Leadbetter-Gold. She spoke about the connections she’s made through networking and reaching out to mentors, and how they’ve helped advance her career.
- Along those lines, she also said, “Don't be afraid to ask someone to be your mentor. People are more accessible than you think they are.”
- Always be connecting. Build your “social capital” through things like events, boards, clubs, associations, etc.
- Aim to have at least 500 connections on LinkedIn - a number Leadbetter-Gold described as the “sweet spot.”
- Reputation is perception, so protect it and manage it - don’t just assume it will take care of itself.
- Make self care a priority - something Leadbetter-Gold admitted she’s personally still working on. Take breaks, and look after your physical and mental health.
- Confidence is a depleting resource - build it by creating a brag book to track your wins, and get comfortable talking about yourself.
