Jennifer Yates’ Post

My only competition is my potential. (And this mindset changed everything for me.) When you’re just starting out, it’s easy to compare your journey to others: • Someone is already ahead of you. • Someone seems to have it all figured out. --- Here’s the truth: your path is yours alone. Instead of competing with others, focus on unlocking your potential. Ask yourself: • Am I taking the steps I know I’m capable of? • Am I aligning with my vision? The only version of you that matters is the one that’s growing. --- For women navigating the ups and downs: • Celebrate the small wins—progress adds up. • Trust in the work you’re putting in—even if it’s slow. • Remind yourself that your best is yet to come. Your only competition is becoming the person you’re meant to be.

Have you ever had a mentor who made a real difference in your career? Having someone in your corner who can offer guidance, share experiences, and provide support can be a game-changer. Mentorship is about empowerment. A mentor can help boost your confidence, expand your network, and open doors to new opportunities. They can be a source of inspiration, pushing you to dream bigger and aim higher. I personally encourage more women to seek out mentorship opportunities for themselves. I know it has done wonders for my journey already: https://lnkd.in/gMhX7z8U #WomenInLeadership #MentorshipMatters #EmpoweredWomen #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerGrowth #WomenSupportingWomen #MentorshipProgram #LeadershipDevelopment #WomenEmpowerment #CareerAdvancement #MentorshipJourney #WomenInBusiness #MentoringWomen #EmpowermentInWorkplace #BreakingBarriers #InclusiveLeadership

Imagine if there was a key that could unlock the doors to your fullest potential, a guide that transforms not just how you do business, but how you live your life. Well, guess what? That key is right here … and it’s more than just a book. It’s a revolution waiting to happen in your hands. She Leads from Within: Thought Leadership is Changing the Way Women Do Business isn’t just another book on your shelf; it’s a journey, a mentor, and a cheerleader all rolled into one. It’s for the dreamers, the doers, the believers, and everyone in between who knows they’re meant for more and are ready to make it happen. Why settle for ordinary when extraordinary is within reach? This isn’t just a call to action; it’s a call to rise. To step into your power, to lead with heart, and to change the game for yourself, your clients, and everyone in your life. Are you ready to turn the page to your best chapter yet? Let’s make that change happen together. Dive in, and let’s transform your world, one page at a time. 🔗 Purchase the digital copy of our book here: https://a.co/d/cE9nre1

✨ Mom | Wife | Entrepreneur | Aspiring Manufacturer ✨ Hi, I’m Mandisa Mazibuko, Managing Director at Envelop Empowerment Group and Director at Gilnokie Socks. My journey is a blend of leadership, empowerment, and family values that drive everything I do. 🌟 I have a passion for manufacturing, which is why I chose to pursue a GIBS MBA focused on manufacturing. I firmly believe that manufacturing remains a catalyst for economic growth, and I’m excited to contribute to this vital sector. My dream is to grow Envelop Empowerment Group into a major, multidimensional manufacturing company, operating in various sectors. At its core, my vision is driven by a sole intention: to empower and uplift women. I thrive in spaces where women-led businesses take centre stage, helping to create opportunities that close gaps, provide sustainability, and allow women to thrive. I feel I have a role to play in opening up opportunities for young black women—opportunities that weren’t always available to us. Being at the forefront of this change is both a privilege and an incredible journey. Being a mom has made me a natural leader. This role has taught me patience, resilience, and the importance of staying grounded—qualities that are essential in professional leadership and decision-making. As a wife, I’m a supporter and carer, with the ability to make and implement decisions that improve our family life. These experiences have shaped my confidence in making impactful choices in the professional space—where quick thinking and decisive action are often required. I’d love to connect with others passionate about uplifting women and driving meaningful transformation. Together, we can create opportunities, close gaps, and inspire change. 💡 What are your thoughts on the role of women in driving economic growth? Share below! #WomenInLeadership #Empowerment #Manufacturing #LeadershipJourney #InclusiveGrowth

Congratulations to Harpreet Ghumman for the launch of her book 'Living and Loving Unapologetically'. It was the word 'unapologetically' that really caught my attention. How often do we as women 'apologize for breathing'? And to such an extent that it hampers our professional and personal wellbeing. Harpreet reached out to me through a mutual colleague a few years ago when the concept of the book was just a twinkle in her eye. It is heartwarming to see where she has taken these concepts. Also noteworthy are the multiple learning styles that she has incorporated in the book - part knowledge sharing, part coaching with her strong and gentle words behind us. Now more than ever, we are in need of a book like this to catapult us into the next level of success. And yes, we can focus on women being more successful while still embracing the #UsToo approach that honors all the inspirational men AND women in our lives. While we have made great strides, there are so many systems and structures in place - still - that translate into abysmal representation of women in leadership positions - in large corporations, in government, in sports and multiple other areas. Now is the time to first reflect, and then take action - as individuals, and then collectively. Can't wait for my copy of the book to arrive so I can read it in detail, mark the critical sections, and leverage her practical tools. 'Unapologetically' is one of my new favorite words. :) Congratulations Harpreet! May you go from strength to strength. https://lnkd.in/gfSrkhN5 #LLU #booklaunch #Congratulations #leadership #womeninbusiness #gendergap #equity #womeninleadership #amazon #launch #positivepsychology #inclusionmatters

"It's not just me!" I feel the relief in the room. Every single time. There’s always that moment. In every women in leadership program I run. The moment a woman realises she’s not alone. Her whole body becomes lighter, her shoulders drop, her breath deepens. There’s a quiet reassurance in knowing that the fear of being ‘found out’ or feeling like she doesn’t quite belong isn’t something she’s carrying alone. The truth is, so many women in leadership feel this way. We walk around believing we need to be perfect, to have it all together, while silently wrestling with the fear of someone finally realising we don't deserve to be there. But what I see in these moments, when women share their experiences in a safe space, is nothing sort of transformative. This fear? It doesn’t come from being women. It’s not in our DNA, nor is it by design. It’s the result of years of conditioning—society’s subtle (and not-so-subtle) messages that have taught us to doubt ourselves in systems not built with us in mind. The best part? This conditioning can be unlearned. At 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 session, we’ll unpack why so many of us carry this weight and how we can start rewriting the narrative. Together, we’ll explore these beliefs and, more importantly, begin to let them go. Because when women come together, when we feel truly seen and heard, something shifts. We realise we’re not alone, and we’re not imposters—we’re simply women navigating leadership in a world that needs more spaces for us to show up as our whole selves. If you’ve ever carried that weight—the worry, the doubt—I invite you to join us. Let’s take that weight off your shoulders and start unlearning what no longer serves us, together. 📅 28th November, 10am - 4pm 📍 Bingham Riverhouse, Richmond 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 available until 31st October, via the link in comments and on my bio.

What have you learnt this week? If every day is a school day 😁what bit of advice have you taken this week? I’ve had a lot of great guidance this week from the likes of Darren Neill L.ISP, Charlie McIntyre and Daniel Priestley . I loved Daniel’s advice on refining your elevator pitch to be a Key Person of Influence. And took a gem from Charlie when he said “Don’t ask what someone THINKS about your offer at the end of the pitch. “ If you’ve got them emotionally invested in the value you can offer, this question nudges them into the logical zone and you lose that connection. Think instead about “when would you like to start?” Or something similar. And Darren’s reframing of innovation as actually over delivering is a great way to communicate that often used company value in a relateable way (along with a notebook of other ideas!). The big finish was with Susie Sprigg and her Women In Business Network (WIBN) leadership group where I learnt more about myself with a DISC profiling. This confirmed that the job I am doing now is exactly where I’m meant to be 🥳. So what have you learnt this week?? #lifelonglearning

“Komal, give yourself some credit!” It’s a phrase I’ve heard more times than I’d like to admit. You know, I've built Classy Women into a community of over a million followers and collaborated with top brands. You'd think I'd take a moment to pat myself on the back, but it's always been hard for me to do that. Growing up in a small village, I learned to focus on hard work. My drive was never about recognition; it was simply about doing my best and making an impact. But as I achieved more, others saw the value I brought, yet I was still in a mindset that didn’t celebrate these moments. 📍 So, what am I doing to work on this? 1. Practicing Reflection: I’ve started taking a few minutes weekly to look back on my wins, big and small. Sometimes, a moment of reflection reminds me of the journey and the milestones that deserve appreciation. 2. Accepting Compliments: It sounds simple, but now, instead of brushing off compliments, I pause and acknowledge them. 3. Seeking Balance: My goals are still ambitious, but I’m learning that recognizing my achievements doesn’t slow me down—it strengthens my foundation and makes future goals more fulfilling. If you’ve ever struggled to give yourself credit, know that it’s not a flaw but Fuel your journey. #womeninBusiness

Maturity And The Art of Letting Go My daughter just turned 18 the other day, and it’s one of those milestones in life that has made me pause and reflect. Watching her now, I see a remarkable young woman who’s independent, creative, compassionate, and full of dreams that are uniquely her own. She's everything I could have ever hoped for – but not necessarily in the way I imagined she’d be. I remember thinking about who she might grow up to be, all the possibilities that came to mind, and now I realise she’s grown beyond any of them. By instilling a strong set of values and letting her find her own way, she’s become someone I could never have anticipated, in the most wonderful way. It can be the same with building your brand. As business owners, we can be tempted to control every detail, to try and mould the outcome to be what we think it should be. But, like parenting, sometimes the best results come when we step back a bit and let the brand evolve in ways we didn’t necessarily plan for. Of course, it still requires guidance, nurturing, and instilling a core set of values, just as a child needs, but allowing the brand to mature and organically develop its own character can lead to incredible, unanticipated outcomes. In both life and business, maturity isn’t reached through strict control, but rather through nurturing, trusting, and letting go. It’s about letting something grow in ways we could never have predicted, to become something even more amazing than we dreamed it could be. What’s your experience with letting go to allow maturity to happen? #BrandMaturity #Leadership #LettingGo #BrandEvolution #BrandValues #BrandStrategy #ThoughtLeadership #CrankdMedia

At Thrive, we believe in the power of shared experiences and collective wisdom, especially for women navigating the complexities of modern life and career paths. Our TPMC philosophy is grounded in the idea that open, heartfelt dialogue in a safe space can be transformative. Here's what makes TPMC so impactful: 🌱 Common Ground: As women, we often face similar challenges in defining and expressing our roles in the world. TPMC provides a platform where these shared experiences foster deeper connections and understanding. 🔍 Curiosity and Awakening: Each session is designed to start with curiosity, move through personal insights, and lead to collective enlightenment. It's about exploring new perspectives and growing together. 🎤 Deep Listening and Sharing: Imagine a space where you can share your deepest thoughts and feelings without judgment. TPMC is that space. Here, listening is just as important as speaking. It’s where we witness the power of vulnerability and support. Through TPMC, we've seen incredible stories of growth and transformation. It’s not just about discussing challenges—it’s about unlocking new paths to personal and professional fulfillment. Ready to be part of something groundbreaking? Join our next Thrive Peer Mentoring Circle and experience the magic of transformation through shared stories and support. Let’s grow together in understanding and strength. #ThriveWithMentoring #WomenSupportingWomen #PeerMentoring #LeadershipDevelopment #PersonalGrowth