Business
Her Story of Success recently went through a rebranding process to help us better reflect where our company is today while also preparing for Season Next. But even as we look ahead to where we want to go, it’s important to also remember where we came from. With Her Story of Success in Review, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations, giving you another chance to be inspired by the amazing women who helped mentor and shape Her Story of Success into the company we are today. In this episode, Sherry Deutschmann, Pat Shea, Sharon Reynolds, Marcie Allen Van Mol and Laquita Stribling describe some of the key experiences that shaped them into the leaders they are today. Each shares important lessons she’s learned, like the power of mentorship, the importance of self-care, and why you should always look for ways to give back to your industry. Their Stories of Success Sherry Stewart Deutschmann built LetterLogic out of her basement and grew it to $40 million before she sold the company in 2016. She did this by putting her employees first, paying them a living wage and creating an excellent company culture. Sherry has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes Magazine, Fast Company and more, and she was honored by President Barack Obama as a White House Champion of Change in 2016. Her newest venture, BrainTrust, is dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs grow their businesses to $1 million in annual revenue and beyond. Sherry is also the author of Lunch with Lucy. Listen to Sherry’s full episode here. Pat Shea believes her mission in life is to “help others help others,” and she knows firsthand the power of mobilizing a tribe to achieve a common goal. Pat served for 11 years as the CEO of YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee, where she turned the fight against domestic violence into a city-wide campaign. Today, Pat serves as CEO and president of Givful, a tech company that provides employers and their associates with the opportunity to support a culture of giving. She’s been honored for her years of important work with awards like the Nashville Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs, the 2017 Women of Influence/Trailblazers List, and Cable’s Promote Women Award. Listen to Pat’s full episode here. Sharon W. Reynolds runs four successful companies, and in each one, she’s driven by a passion to help others. She started with DevMar Products, a company that distributes eco-friendly janitorial products and later expanded that business to manufacture the products as well, with DevMar Manufacturing. Sharon also leads DevMar Global Healthcare Solutions, and she most recently started Bryla J Couture Clothiers, a fashion line that empowers women with fashion for a purpose. Sharon serves on boards including Second Harvest Food Bank, West End Home Foundation and WBENC South. She’s been honored with many awards for her work, like the WBENC 2019 Women Business Enterprise Star, the 100 Black Men and Women Presidents Organization Women of Color Achievement Award and Power Moves’ Best Entrepreneur of the Year. Listen to Sharon’s full episode here. Marcie Allen Van Mol has more than 25 years of experience in the music industry, and today she’s the President and Founder of MAC Presents, a music sponsorship and experiential agency that connects artists, brands and fans. Throughout her career, Marcie has worked with brands including Sony, Southwest and Verizon and artists like The Rolling Stones, Chance the Rapper and Billy Joel. Marcie teaches as an adjunct professor at NYU Steinhardt and is on boards for the Country Music Association and Berklee College of Music. She’s also a partner at Anzie Blue, a luxury CBD oil company and coffee shop that she started with her husband. Listen to Marcie’s full episode here, and her bonus episode on starting a business during COVID-19 here. Laquita Stribling strives to be a leader who opens doors for others in every area of her life. She’s a senior vice president at Randstad USA, the number one staffing company in the world. Laquita started at Randstad as an entry level associate 23 years ago, and since then has worked her way up to one of the highest positions in the company. She also served as the Tennessee District Governor for Rotary International, becoming the first Black woman to serve in that position. Laquita is an active member of her community as well, serving on boards for Second Harvest Food Bank and the Nashville Sports Council. Listen to Laquita’s full episode here.