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Ep 96 - Igniting Your Creativity to Drive Innovation with Shelley Sanchez

Darlene Hawley

I believe we all have a creative genius inside of us. It looks different for everybody, but it's there, waiting to be unleashed.

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Welcome back to another exciting episode of the Attract and Stand Out podcast! 🎙️ This week, I’m thrilled to have creativity and innovation coach Shelley Sanchez with us. We dive deep into all things creativity, showing up authentically, and having fun while doing it! 🎨✨


Here are some highlights from our conversation:

✨ Shelley's Journey: After 25 years in corporate America, leading product development and innovation teams, Shelley embraced her creative genius and launched her own business. She also co-hosts the podcast "Glitter, Grit, and Growth."

✨ The Leap from Corporate: Shelley shares her experience of transitioning from a Fortune 125 company to entrepreneurship, turning a challenging situation into a golden opportunity.

✨ Mentorship Magic: We discuss the reciprocal nature of mentorship. Shelley mentored a woman who helped her start her online business, proving that everyone has something to give and receive.

✨ Building Blocks of Business: We explore the importance of viewing business growth as building with blocks—celebrating each step and not getting discouraged by setbacks.

✨ Creativity Unboxed: Shelley helps women tap into their creative potential, whether it’s through writing, painting, or even aerospace engineering! She believes creativity isn’t just for quitting corporate but can thrive within it.

✨ The Power of Play: How can organizations spark creativity and innovation? By encouraging play and imagination, much like when we were kids.


Join us as we explore these topics and more! Don't miss out on this inspiring episode—it's packed with insights, laughs, and actionable advice.


#AttractAndStandOut #PodcastEpisode #Creativity #Innovation #EntrepreneurJourney #Mentorship #BusinessGrowth #WomenInBusiness #CelebrateSuccess #CreativityUnboxed


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Shelley Sánchez is a creativity coach, business strategist, and an award-winning leader who is passionate about igniting creativity to drive innovation. For over 25 years, Shelley held senior leadership roles in the healthcare industry in product development, business development, strategy, training, sales, and operations in start-up companies to Fortune 500 organizations. She recently listened to her heart and launched her own coaching and consulting business and the podcast for women she now co-hosts, “Glitter, Grit, and Growth.”


Shelley graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in biology and Spanish from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. and completed numerous executive leadership courses through the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Shelley is a skilled speaker and can also be found on stage laughing until her sides hurt doing improv or stand-up comedy.


Shelley’s own life and career came alive again when she rediscovered the creative genius within her. Now, she’s on a mission to inspire women to tap into their creativity and find the courage to do epic new things! She is at home in the suburbs of Minneapolis, MN but as a lifelong explorer Shelley is happiest traveling the world on standby adventures with her husband, a pilot from Spain, and their two kids.


www.shelley-sanchez.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-sanchez/


Free Gift~ "5 Steps to Unlock Your Creativity: A Guide for Visionary Women," which is available at: https://shelley-sanchez.com/free-creativity-guide


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Darlene Hawley is a speaker, podcast host, business coach, and communication expert who shows ambitious, heart-centered entrepreneurs and rising business leaders how to speak up, stand out, and make more impact.


Grab my 10 Do's and Don't for Effective Daring Conversations: https://mailchi.mp/297e8105e904/communicationguide


Grab my 6 Steps To Attract & Stand Out digital guide, a free roadmap to create a successful business with less hustle and more ease: https://bit.ly/attractandstandoutonline


Grab a Chai and let's Connect:

https://darlenehawley.com

https://linkedin.com/in/darlenehawley


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Quotes:

  • "I believe we all have a creative genius inside of us. It looks different for everybody, but it's there, waiting to be unleashed." - Shelley Sanchez
  • "Expressing creativity doesn't always mean quitting your job. Sometimes, it's just about finding that spark and seeing where it takes you." - Shelley Sanchez
  • "Mentorship is a two-way street. We've all got things to give and receive from each other." - Shelley Sanchez
  • "Everyone needs a coach or a mentor. It's so easy to get stuck in our own thinking, and having someone to guide you is invaluable." - Darlene Hawley
  • "The entrepreneurial journey is not a straight path. It's about building those blocks, sometimes one at a time, and celebrating the progress along the way." - Shelley Sanchez
  • "Sometimes you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable to truly grow and innovate." - Shelley Sanchez
  • "In corporate, you're often reacting to what your boss wants. As an entrepreneur, you're the boss, and that mindset shift is huge." - Shelley Sanchez
  • "Taking the leap from corporate to entrepreneurship takes courage, but it's so worth it when you finally make that jump." - Shelley Sanchez
  • "Celebrating success is crucial. Sometimes, we need to zoom out and see how far we've come to truly appreciate our journey." - Darlene Hawley
  • "As solopreneurs, we have to plan for our celebration moments because we don't have the built-in celebrations that come with a corporate environment." - Shelley Sanchez
  • "We need to adopt a scientist mindset: start experimenting, don't wait for everything to be perfect, and learn as you go." - Shelley Sanchez
  • "In both life and business, zooming out helps to put things in perspective and see the bigger picture of our progress." - Shelley Sanchez


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10 Effective Communication Tips
Darlene Hawley, Personal Branding & Business Coach for service based entrepreneurs

Hey There!

I'm Darlene



As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.


My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.


Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.


Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.


Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.

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When you're talking but no one's listening. Have you ever introduced yourself at a networking event… only to feel like people’s eyes glazed over? One of my clients put it perfectly: “Darlene, I share who I am and what I do, but it feels like I’m invisible. People nod politely and then move on.” She had so much value to offer. In fact, she is amazing at what she did. Yet, her introduction was all over the place. Some days she was talking to potential clients, other days to possible collaborators, and sometimes even she wasn’t sure what her main point was. And that’s why it felt like no one was listening. Why This Happens It’s not because you’re not experienced enough. It’s not because you’re not interesting enough. It’s because without clarity about who your audience is in the room and what you really want to say, your voice gets lost in the shuffle of business cards and conversations. Networking rooms are full of people competing for attention. If your message doesn’t connect directly... if it doesn’t make them pause, lean in and say, “Tell me more” ... it disappears before they even leave the event. The Shift When this client and I worked together, the first thing we did was get crystal clear about: Who she most wanted to reach in the room. What those people actually cared about. How her work specifically helped them. Once she had that clarity, her introductions started sounding different... more direct, more alive, more her. And the result? People leaned in. Instead of walking away, they asked questions. They followed up after the event. They booked time with her. Because when you find your voice and know exactly who you’re talking to, you stop being forgettable. You become someone people can’t ignore. This is exactly what we’ll be diving into in Session 1 of my Attract & Stand Out Framework: Getting clear on who your audience is. Knowing what you want to say. Communicating how you help in a way that truly connects... whether you’re introducing yourself in a room or on stage. It’s not just about having the words, it’s about the confidence to say them out loud too... with presence, authority, and ease. If you’ve been walking out of networking events feeling overlooked, let this be a gentle nudge: ~ You don’t need to try harder. ~ You don’t need to stuff more into your intro. ~ You need clarity... on your audience, your message, and your voice. That’s where visibility begins. That’s how you go from overlooked to unforgettable. Think about the last time you introduced yourself at a networking event. Could the right person in the room... your dream client or collaborator... hear you and say: “That’s me. She gets it”? ________________________________________________________ 🌀 Nervous System Regulator: The 4-7-8 Reset Feeling that anxious butterfly sensation before you introduce yourself? Try this right before you speak: Inhale quietly through your nose for a count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7. Exhale slowly and fully through your mouth for a count of 8. Repeat this 3–4 times. It only takes a minute, but it tells your nervous system: You’re safe. You’ve got this. When your body is calm, your voice comes through with more presence and power... and people remember you. ✨ Ready to stop feeling overlooked at networking events? Download my free guide, 6 Steps to Attract & Stand Out, and discover how to clarify your message, show up with confidence, and connect with the people who matter most. Grab it here »
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