Bizzywomen.com had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Chandlee Bryan, career management consultant and the founder of  Best Fit Forward.

Can you tell us about yourself?   

I am a career management consultant and the founder of Best Fit Forward (www.bestfitforward.com), a boutique provider of resume writing and career coaching. I currently serve as the “resume specialist” for Microsoft Office Live’s My Resume Talks program (www.officelivestudent.com), and facilitates programming for New York City Job Seekers Meet-up (www.meetup.com/nycjobseekers).

Prior to founding Best Fit Forward, I worked in Career Services at Ivy League schools for eight years, serving as Director of Career Services at Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering. I have also worked as a recruiter. I write and speak about a diverse range of topics, from resume writing and interviewing skills to using social media in the job search.

There are a lot of coaches out there. What do you feel separates  you from everyone else? 

Like many coaches, I have a diverse set of skills and experiences that help inform my work with clients. As I spent over eight years working in Career Services at Ivy League schools, I would say that my personal “nitch” is entry-level career management strategies, and that my “secondary” differentiators are my experience in working with professional development of scientists and engineers as well as my experience in teaching others to use social media.

Do you think that there is value in using social media sites such  as Twitter and Linkedin to get a job? 

I feel that there is enormous value in utilizing social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter to find a position, and that–in fact–the use of such sites has become virtually essential in the current job market. Consider the RiseSmart statistic that job seekers spend an average of 50 hours a month online as part of their search, and the perennial wisdom that 60 to 80% of job offers are the direct result of networking–clearly any technique you can use to increase personal one-to-one exposure and interaction is enormously helpful.

Social networking sites facilitate these connections and can be incredibly powerful when used with intention. (A key element to position yourself for success is to communicate interests and experience in a consistent, concise manner across social networking platforms and to demonstrate willingness to help others.) 

In today’s situation of high unemployment, what would you tell job seekers to focus on in order to get a job? 

In today’s market, you have to “lean forward” to approach the market rather than “lean back,”  apply and wait for an offer to happen. 

Be clear about what you can do, and what value you offer others before you jump into the market. Research trends, employer needs, and demonstrate your knowledge of a position/industry throughout the application process. Ask questions to determine how your skills fit organizational needs, and articulate the impact that you can offer. 

Strive to be less than “an anonymous applicant.” When possible, identify hiring managers and stakeholders in advance of applying for positions…and let your contacts within an organization know that you’ve applied for a job with their company.

Be willing to consider contract work as a way inside the door. Many employers can make short-term commitments before they can make long-term ones.

Thank you.

Let’s see. A women is called a ’slut’ on national TV, and her 14 year old daughter is mentioned to ‘get knocked up’ by Alex Rodriguez in the middle of Yankee stadium, and leading feminists are silent. Double standard? Is their silence due to the fact that Gov. Sarah Palin is a conservative? Would someone dare make a similar joke about Michelle Obama, or one of her girls? Can you imagine the outrage if that would happen.

Whether you agree or disagree with Gov. Palin’s politics, doesn’t she deserve the same respect as any other women? The fact that she is one of the most influential women in the world, is of apparent little value, because she believes in oil drilling, and tax cuts, and as such she loses the support of the National Organization of Women, and other similar groups. Seems preposterous to any rational thinker.

Shame on you all for not protesting loudly on behalf of common decency and not coming to the aid of a fellow women.

This was Startup Nation’s first-ever Leading Moms in Business contest, and more than 621,000 votes were cast, supporting a variety of exceptional mom entrepreneurs. Startup Nation’s goal was to spotlight mom business owners and praise their entrepreneurial spirit, creative ideas and business savvy.

The Mom Entrepreneur’s Online Support Group provides resources, advice, feedback and discussions around topics that are relevant to mom entrepreneurs. Our organization’s online network helped promote members who were in the running for this contest through our newsletter, in group discussions, on our blog, and through online social networks like Twitter and Facebook.

Approximately 50 of our members were part of the competition, and everyone in our online support group was encouraged to vote daily for members who were running. It was due to this huge collaborative effort that many of our members were able to get the votes they needed to win this contest.

As a result, The Mom Entrepreneur members who were recognized as Top 2009 Leading Moms in Business include:

• LTDchix, LLC (#41 from Sparta, NJ)
• Old World Limited (#43 from Shakopee, MN)
• Lily Lane Cakes (#68 from Springfield, VA)
• whippersnappers studio (#71 from Bend, OR)
• Psi Bands (#82 from Pacific Grove, CA)
• CouponDivas (#85 from Matthews, NC)
• Sweetsation Therapy (#115 from Hypoluxo, FL)
• The Adventures of Scuba Jack (#118 from Gloucester, MA)
• Cottonseed Clothing (#122 from Chicago, IL)
• Cushie Pushie Company (#131 from Lawrenceville, NJ)
• Madama Griffitts O’Hara LLP (#172 from New York, NY)
• Personal Child Stories (#185 from Pine, AZ)
• Stroller Strides (#196 from San Diego, CA)

Startup Nation held this contest to celebrate the triumphs, tribulations, capabilities and achievements of moms running businesses across America.

We know first-hand that mom entrepreneurs are tremendous multi-taskers, juggling business and family responsibilities. As a group, we’re resourceful, driven, creative, motivated, passionate about our beliefs, and committed to achieving a successful work-life balance. It’s a great joy to celebrate the achievements of our members, and I am so genuinely pleased that they were recognized in this competition.

Great job moms!

Thanks to friend and fellow mom blogger Heather Allard at The Mogul Mom for this information.

Eileen Fisher, who started her company with $350 and a vision, is offering a Business Grant Program for Women Entrepreneurs. Five women-owned companies will be awarded with grants of $10,000 each. At least one of these grants will go to a start-up organization (or an organization that’s less than three years old), and the rest will go to organizations that need funds to grow. Only wholly woman-owned businesses are eligible for this grant.

The application deadline is June 1, 2009.

For complete information and to apply, read Heather’s post about the grant. You can also learn more about this grant and many others for mom entrepreneurs in the Resource section of The Mom Entrepreneur website.

“When you become truly selfish, you’ll have the extra reserves needed to really care about and be generous with others.” -Thomas Leonard

Click HERE to listen to a fun interview with me and Angie Jones the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and CFO (Chief Fitness Officer) of FitBusinessWoman.com.

We discuss the importance of taking time for yourself along with some creative ways to become truly SELF-ISH.

You can also right click and choose “save target as” to save to your computer and listen to later.

Shann Vander Leek is the Founder of True Balance Life Coaching and Co-founder of Seize True Success. She is a Coach Training Alliance certified professional coach, and certified yoga instructor. Shann is a prolific blogger, published writer and co-author of the Best Selling Book – Wake Up Women BE Happy Healthy & Wealthy. Shann’s personal style and direct approach have guided and inspired many in overcoming personal and professional challenges. Her background in sales, marketing and client development, along with leading a talented sales force for many years prepared her for the business of professional coaching. Shann inspires women in transition to create balance in their lives through personal coaching, yoga and creative expression. Telephone and email consultations make her accessible to clients all over the world. To find out about her Coaching Programs for Women, call Shann at 231.668.111 or visit www.truebalancelifecoaching.com

Shann Vander Leek

Each week Marigold honors a woman business owner who has demonstrated outstanding business integrity and unwavering support for women in business.  I am honored to be the recipient of the prestigious award.

Each recipient is honored with:

• Special Marigold E-Mail Salute to 2,000 area business women
• Radio spots on 106.7 YOU-FM telling her story to all of northern Michigan
• Is the featured guest on Mary in the Morning
• Receive an engraved award at the Williams Honda Salute to Women in Business Luncheon at the Marigold Business Conference in September 2009.

Who is Marigold?

Marigold celebrates women’s economic opportunities through entrepreneurship and career development. Marigold’s passion is serving and supporting women in business, bringing together the talents of many professionals to offer high quality training programs, support groups, marketing opportunities, and technical assistance.

Tune to YOU-FM at 106.7FM or 105.5FM this Friday from 7:45-8:15 to join in the conversation with me and Mary Rogers, founder of Marigold.  For show information, click here.

Marigold Excerpt

Shann Vander Leek was a powerful sales manager in the television broadcasting industry.  After 16 years, the high stress levels of being a corporate creature was losing its appeal.   After thoughtful consideration, moving forward on the path of her dreams was the ONLY option. Shann’s leadership abilities that made her such a huge success in the business world were now affording her the opportunity to follow her passion to inspire women in transition. Congratulations Shann!

“I think too often we as women put everyone and everything first,” said Shann.  “We forget that we can give the most when we are living lives we love.  We can be the best mothers, wives, business owners or colleagues when we are feeling nurtured, fulfilled, inspired and self expressed.”

My Story

I became a certified professional coach and business owner because it gave me the chance to be completely independent and allowed me to reinvent my life on my terms.   A rich and full life dedicated to personal freedom, creative expression and the opportunity to deliver a meaningful coaching service.

After 16 successful years devoted to sales and sales management in the high powered,television broadcasting industry, it was time for a significant change. The high stress levels
of being a corporate creature and doing business in someone else’s boardroom was losing its appeal.  Even though my career path resulted in the realization of many of my goals and
dreams, I became completely disinterested in corporate culture and, unwilling to jump through any more flaming circus hoops for power and money.

After thoughtful consideration, conversations with my family and confidantes; moving forward on the path of my dreams was my ONLY option. I prepared, planned, dreamed and
schemed for 12 months.  I covered all of the bases to allow for my transition from the corporate world. I love being an entrepreneur.  I am a natural leader and find that I am
thriving by following my passion to inspire women while honoring my natural rhythm.

The birth of my daughter inspired me to become an entrepreneur along with florescent lighting and corporate politics.   My family, friends and clients keep me inspired to “Show
Up” every day and keep growing personally and professionally.

I enjoy inspiring women in transition to create a more balanced way of living.  A life filled with extreme self-care.  I think too often we as women put everyone and everything first.
We will start a new business when the mortgage is paid off.   We will take yoga or art classes once the kids finish school.  We will get healthy or fit when we have more time.

My goal is to inspire as many women as possible to be willing to put themselves first, take care of their bodies, nurture their dreams, and make the best use of their talents.

My never ending curious nature along with a good supply of creative energy keeps me motivated. My mentor coach Deb Martin and my business partner at Seize True Success,
Diane Helbig have both been instrumental to my success.

The advice I share with women considering or in the beginning stages of ownership is as follows:

Figure out what you want to create and allow for a minimum of 12 months (if at all possible) to put your plan in action.

• Consider working with a coach or mentor to help you navigate the transition

• Involve your family and close friends

• Allow for setbacks and second guessing

• Set clear and specific dates of completion for each part of your transition

• Be flexible and find humor in the difficult situations.

Everything boils down to several simple ideas. Allow yourself the time to work through a serious transition, keep your family and close friends involved, allow for setbacks, work on a
reasonable time line and find humor in the day to day journey. Before you know it, you will be where you want to be – By Design.  Being in the business of inspiring people to recognize their brilliance is a blast!  The focus for the rest of my days is about inspiring women in transition to set big goals, achieve extraordinary results and create balance in their lives.

Discovering your groove and creating a luscious life is all about allowing for grace through the transition.

Learn more about my story – Walking Away From The Big Bucks In The Pursuit of True Balance in my new Best Selling book, Wake Up Women BE Happy, Healthy & Wealthy. Grab a copy today at www.truebalancelifecoaching.com or at Higher Self in Traverse City or Brilliant Books in Suttons Bay.  10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Women’s Resource Center in northern Michigan.

Thank you Marigold!

Shann Vander Leek is the Founder of True Balance Life Coaching and Co-founder of Seize True Success. She is a Coach Training Alliance certified professional coach, and certified yoga instructor. Shann is a prolific blogger, published writer and co-author of the Best Selling Book – Wake Up Women BE Happy Healthy & Wealthy. Shann’s personal style and direct approach have guided and inspired many in overcoming personal and professional challenges. Her background in sales, marketing and client development, along with leading a talented sales force for many years prepared her for the business of professional coaching. Shann inspires women in transition to create balance in their lives through personal coaching, yoga and creative expression. Telephone and email consultations make her accessible to clients all over the world. To find out about her Coaching Programs for Women, call Shann at 231.668.111 or visit www.truebalancelifecoaching.com

50% of the population and currently only 11% of the Supreme Court. That shouldn’t sit too well with women, and that’s why President Barack Obama needs to appoint a women to the nation’s highest court. This is also a view held by the court’s sole female justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In an article in the USA Today, Justice Ginsberg speaks about the importance of having another female voice on the court. The article says: ” In interviews with USA TODAY before Souter’s retirement announcement Friday, Ginsburg said the court needs another woman. “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. I don’t say (the split) should be 50-50,” Ginsburg said. “It could be 60% men, 40% women, or the other way around. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.

Since O’Connor’s departure in 2006, oral arguments and the justices’ behind-the-scenes discussions on how disputes should be resolved have had a different tone. In the strip-search case and others this term, Ginsburg has revealed a woman’s point of view that was strikingly at odds with those of many of her colleagues.

Ginsburg dominated oral arguments in an important case involving alleged discrimination related to pregnancy leaves. She was openly frustrated that some of her male colleagues, in her view, might not have understood the discrimination women face on the job.

She said the arguments in that dispute echoed those of a 2007 case involving Lilly Ledbetter, a 19-year worker at a Goodyear tire factory in Alabama who alleged that her pay dropped over time compared with men who had equal or less seniority. In that case, the court  with Ginsburg vigorously dissenting  narrowly ruled that women could not sue for pay inequities resulting from sex discrimination that had occurred years earlier.

Oral arguments in the pregnancy case were “just, for me, Ledbetter repeated,” Ginsburg told USA TODAY, adding that her colleagues showed “a certain lack of understanding” of the bias a woman can face on the job.”

It seems like Ginsburg has a point. We need to have more female representation on the court.

In a court decision among the most progressive in the world, the Israeli Supreme court ruled that childcare can be used as a tax deduction.

According to Globes: “The legal battle began with Adv. Vered Pery, who sought to deduct payments to a daycare center for her son in the tax year in dispute. The assessing officer did not allow the deduction of the childcare payments from her income, and Pery appealed to the District Court.

The Supreme Court decision was written by Judge Eliezer Rivlin. He accepted the District Court’s stance, and held that if the child were not supervised, Pery would not have been able to earn any income at all. Therefore, he decided, the expense was not just a condition for going out to work, but an expense required in order to earn income.”

This case could be the driving force for more women to enter  the workforce. A major problem facing Israeli women was that much, if not all, their salary went to paying for daycare. Now, they are free to work as the please knowing that they will not be taxed for making the decision to go out and work.

When you think about it, this really is a huge victory for women all over the world.

While many criticized her for not dumping her womanizing husband, former presidential candidate John Edwards, a new book written by Elizabeth Edwards may well be worth the read.

As was made Public Mrs. Edwards is terminally ill with cancer, was made aware of her husbands affair just after he declared his candidacy.

Her book ‘Resilience’ is due out in less than 2 weeks. According to the NY Daily News: “ Edwards denied paternity, and his wife’s book doesn’t address that issue.

But it does highlight Elizabeth Edwards’ anger and sorrow at being duped by a man whose four children she’d borne and whose political ambitions she’d passionately supported for so many years.

Hunter initially seduced Edwards using a worn come-on line, Elizabeth writes:

“You are so hot,” Hunter told him outside a swank New York hotel. The campaign ultimately paid Hunter $114,000 to produce a batch of short films on his candidacy.

She lashes out at Hunter, now 45, whose name she never actually uses in the book, as a parasitic groupie who invaded the Edwardses’ life.

Her own life may be tragic, she concludes, but Hunter’s is “pathetic.”

Even when Edwards confessed to his wife, he lied, claiming he had slipped up just once, Elizabeth writes. His original version of the story “left most of the truth out,” she writes.

While Elizabeth still hasn’t fully come to terms with her man’s roaming, the memoir is laced with a powerful dose of forgiveness.

“I lie in bed, circles under my eyes, my sparse hair sticking in too many directions, and he looks at me as if I am the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. It matters,” she writes.”

I guess the question for all women, is why would you stay with a husband who cheats?