Delve into how crucial it is to equip new managers with the skills to succeed. Remember, it’s not about PowerPoint; it’s about powerful transformations. Management Trainer Deborah Laurel and I touched on the staggering 60% failure rate for new managers and the dire need for mentorship. Whether it’s technical prowess or emotional intelligence, training before transitioning is key. Let’s ditch accidental managers and nurture intentional leaders. Stay proactive, give feedback, and let’s create an environment where every team member thrives. Dig into this episode for enriching insights and become the leader your team deserves!
The one piece of advice I’d give to my 18-year-old self, as told on the 60 Second Podcast with Matt McCoy.
If you’re a manager or someone in a leadership role and you’re overworked but uncomfortable with the idea of delegating this free virtual master class was made for you! It covers what you need to delegate, what you shouldn’t delegate, and how to delegate in a way that makes you comfortable and leaves you in control.
Do you have trainers that need some assistance in their training efforts? Today’s guest is DEBORAH LAUREL, MASTER TRAINING, giving you some very intelligent insights how trainers can up their game!
Deborah Laurel, The Peer Learning Institute
IB’s Professional of the Week is the premier way to meet Dane County’s professionals. This week features Deborah Laurel, co-founder and chief learning officer, The Peer Learning Institute.
August 2, 2021
Site Staff
What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your job and why?
The challenge is getting the word out about our unique peer-learning process for management development. The reward is seeing managers who had no previous management training or experience start to use management and interpersonal communication skills that increase their employees’ engagement, performance, and retention. The managers and their employees are much happier!
Who do you look up to or admire in business and why?
I admire Gail Johnson, who is the corporate relocation manager/concierge director for Restaino & Associates Realtors. She is incredibly successful, due in great part to her ability to develop and sustain relationships with a wide variety of organizations. She is also a wonderful mentor, willing to brainstorm and share practical suggestions for business development and provide very useful referrals.
What has been the high point of your career so far?
As a curriculum designer and facilitative trainer for over 35 years, the high point of my career has been working with USAID [United States Agency for International Development] to build training competencies in Croatia, Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, Jordan, and UAE. I have loved meeting the people, experiencing their cultures, sharing stories, and learning from each other. It is a wonderful feeling to see trainers and managers use what they’ve learned to make a real difference in their worlds.
Thinking back on your career, what advice would you give your 21-year-old self?
Trust in your strengths and your ability to continually learn and pivot. When opportunities present themselves, jump in with both feet. Don’t let imposter syndrome derail you. Don’t be afraid to walk away when work situations become damaging to you personally and professionally. Make a concerted effort to work with international agencies so you can learn and grow as you travel the world.
What would you say are the best things about living and working in Dane County?
This is a great place to raise and educate a family. The amount of cultural, ethnic, and educational events is astounding. State government agencies, the university, the vocational college, and companies of varying sizes provide huge opportunities for building a business. I love the lakes, the gardens, the small town feel of Madison, and its liberal values.
Do you have any secret talents or abilities that people would be surprised to discover?
I’m a playwright and an actress. I co-founded the first feminist theatre in the Midwest, The Apple Corps Ltd. We produced plays I wrote — Empty Space Blues and Women Alone Together — and toured the state with an NEA grant, performing at universities and NOW conferences.
What are your guilty pleasures?
I love to read mysteries that have female protagonists, are well written, and have a sense of humor. If a copy is around, I’ll read People magazine. Going for long walks listening to audio books is a daily favorite pastime. I had my children 18 years apart, so I get to enjoy them as they live their lives. I enjoy making bread. The first time I made a yeast bread, I waited two days for the yeast to bubble. It did not turn out well.
Madison, WI (February 27, 2014) – InteriorLOGIC, Inc., and Laurel and Associates, Ltd., two local long-standing woman-owned businesses, have been selected as recipients of the 2014 Wisconsin Governor’s Trailblazer Awards for Women in Business.
The Governor’s Trailblazer Awards honor the rich legacy of women’s business ownership across Wisconsin. Awards will be presented in a ceremony at the State Capitol on April 9, 2014, followed by a Trailblazer Luncheon sponsored by BMO Harris Bank. The 13 companies honored as the 2014 Trailblazer Award recipients represent six Wisconsin counties and a wide range of industries – including non-traditional industries for women.
“The value of these winners is not just in the past accomplishments we celebrate today- it is also in the women their trailblazing example will inform and inspire in the future to follow their own entrepreneurial passions and dreams,” said Mary Jo Baas, Chair, Wisconsin Women’s Council.
InteriorLOGIC, Inc., Robin Stroebel, CEO, and Laurel and Associates, Ltd., Deborah Spring Laurel, President, earned recognition in the Business Pioneer category as Wisconsin businesses that have been majority woman-owned 25-years or more. These business owners started and sustained businesses at a time when there were few resources and role models for women to do so. The awards recognize the substantial contributions women-owned businesses make to Wisconsin’s economy – businesses that have sustained families and anchored communities. These business owners were commended for their leadership and the lasting economic benefits their company brings to the state of Wisconsin.
The Governor’s Trailblazer Awards for Women in Business are hosted by the Offices of the Governor, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, and Wisconsin Women’s Council, with sponsorship from BMO Harris Bank, The WIDGET Source, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), Wisconsin Women’s Business Certification Program, and Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC).
For a complete list of award recipients and more information about the award program, visit the Women’s Council web site at www.womenscouncil.wi.gov/trailblazer.
