Meet Conrad Navarro! He’s been copywriting for about 7 years and has been good for about 6. Born and raised in the Indiana part of Chicago, he did a bit of everything before landing at Transcend to be their Swiss Army writer. Get to know him a little more from the Q&A below!
What are your favorite projects to work on and how do you want to grow professionally?
I love working on new things; anytime I get to explore a new topic I get excited. That being said, any client/account that lets me be funny or use puns is 10/10. Professionally, I just want to keep wearing more and more hats, move up the creative ladder, get more experience and eventually run a team.
Where do you pull inspiration from for creative work?
Anywhere I can get it. I watch a ton of movies, shows, read books, etc. I’ll also troll Pinterest or Ads of the World; you never know what might spark sometimes.
What’s a bucket list item you’ve held off on completing for years and when do you hope to complete it?
More world travel! I had big international plans at the beginning of 2020. You’ll never guess what put them off.
What small object in your house means the most to you and why?
I’m a big tchotchke collector, so I have a ton. A few tops would be the Buddha statue my grandpa got from Japan when he was stationed there, my grandma’s bolo tie (that lives in my car), and the ceramic cat jar my girlfriend made — among the tons of other things littering my shelves.
what advice do you have for small businesses looking to amplify their messaging and brand?
Find what sets you apart, find the audience looking for that exact thing, and lean into that heavily. If you try to appeal to everyone all the time, you’re gonna have a bad time.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Besides hanging with my cat, I love watching movies. I also play in a few bands on the side for fun, so playing music.
Who keeps you inspired and why?
My grandma, she had the craziest work ethic and kept her positivity through some really hard times. Also my girlfriend, she’s a teacher and a super talented artist in so many mediums.
What’s your favorite life lesson you’ve ever learned and held on to?
Things will almost never work out how you plan. Be willing to adapt and roll with the punches, because there will be punches.
What are you grateful for? What are you hopeful for?
I’m grateful for my family for always supporting me and my friends for being ride or dies. I don’t think I’d be where I am without those systems.
What are you proud of right now?
About a year ago I was part of a pretty big layoff from an agency, but I was able to rely on my freelance chops to keep my head above water.
Also, my band just finished recording an EP I’ve been excited about for years. Each song is devoted to our favorite Chicago dives.
Want to work with Conrad for your next fundraising project? Schedule a time to meet with Heather and discuss how Conrad can help your organization reach their marketing goals!
Meet Johanna Denmark—better known as Jojo—the newest member of the Transcend Ideas team! We’re thrilled to welcome her as a designer and copywriter. Jojo brings a fresh, local perspective to content creation and design, giving her valuable insight into how our clients can best connect with their audiences.
She also brings several years of experience supporting nonprofits, including Integrated Waste & Recycling in Jackson. Living on the Idaho side of the Tetons, Jojo loves spending time outdoors exploring our beautiful communities and trail systems with her dog, Archie. Get to know her better in the Q&A below.
What are your favorite projects to work on and how do you want to grow professionally?
I love creating things from scratch, and having general creative freedom. I want to continue to develop my graphic design skills!
Where do you pull inspiration from for creative work?
My everyday life! I also love looking at what other people I admire are creating, and getting inspiration from that.
What’s a bucket list item you’ve held off on completing for years and when do you hope to complete it?
Going to the Basque Region of Spain, but we’re going to go in the Spring of 2026!
What small object in your house means the most to you and why?
Hmm, this isn’t an object, but my most favorite thing about my house is that my dog Archie lives there. He makes life so much fun!
what advice do you have for small businesses looking to amplify their messaging and brand?
Lean into the fun side of things. Be unapologetic about taking up space in an original way.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Generally outside, or with a good book. Or both. I just really enjoy spending my free time around people I love!
Who keeps you inspired and why?
Loads of people keep me inspired, including my closest friends and family.
What’s your favorite life lesson you’ve ever learned and held on to?
Never stop learning.
What are you grateful for? What are you hopeful for?
I’m grateful for the opportunity to do the things I love, both professionally and personally. I am always hopeful for the future!
What are you proud of right now?
I’m really proud of myself for following my heart and pursuing a career that brings me joy & fulfillment.
Want to work on Jojo for your next project? Schedule a time to meet with Heather and discuss how Jojo can help fit the role for your organization’s marketing goals!
Heather Rodgers is the newest member to the Transcend Ideas team! She will offer support with her design and copywriting skills. She shares a little about herself in this Q&A below.
Heather Rodgers Q & A
1. What are your favorite projects to work on and how do you want to grow professionally?
I would say my favorite projects all focus on helping small brands grow through my designs, especially when I have lots of creative freedom. I love using vibrant colors and organic elements in my designs. Branding and logo design are among my top favorites. Professionally, I want to grow by expanding my skill set. As a self-taught graphic designer, it’s incredibly exciting for me to keep learning and evolving in my craft.
2. Where do you pull inspiration from for creative work?
I am consistently inspired by nature and spending time in the mountains. There’s something about being outside that sparks my creativity. I also love checking out the work of other talented designers and artists. They really motivate me to keep pushing my own boundaries.
3. What’s a bucket list item you’ve held off on completing for years and when do you hope to complete it?
l’ve always wanted to learn how to surf, but I’ve never lived close to the ocean or anywhere good for surfing. Maybe one day soon, I’ll finally get to go to a surfing camp or something like that!
4. What small object in your house means the most to you and why?
I have two small paintings from my grandmother that mean the world to me. She’s an incredibly talented artist, and her work has always inspired me. I treasure these paintings and look at them every single day.
5. What advice do you have for small businesses looking to amplify their messaging and brand?
My advice is to really get to know your ideal audience. Make sure every image, graphic, and bit of copy you put out there resonates with how your target audience will perceive it. It’s easy to lose sight of your core message when you’re so close to it, which is why getting some outside support, like from a team like Transcend Ideas, can make a huge difference. They can help you nail down and communicate what makes your brand unique. And remember, consistency is key—keeping your branding clear and recognizable across the board will help your message stick.
6. How do you like to spend your free time?
I love spending my free time outdoors, with my boyfriend and pup, Zeus. We are always planning weekend adventures.
7. Who keeps you inspired and why?
I’ve been fortunate to meet many creative and talented people throughout my life. My grandmother, as mentioned, is a huge inspiration to me. I also admire the work and entrepreneurship of many of my friends and family. I feel really lucky to connect with so many driven and amazing individuals.
8. What’s your favorite life lesson you’ve ever learned and held on to?
One of my favorite life lessons is to trust the process. Not everything falls into place right away, and that’s okay. It’s important to stay patient and keep moving forward, even when things don’t go as planned.
9. What are you grateful for? What are you hopeful for?
I’m grateful for the opportunity to work creatively and for the support of my family and friends. I’m hopeful for continued growth, both personally and professionally, and to keep finding new opportunities that challenge and inspire me.
10. What are you proud of right now?
Right now, I’m proud of how much I’ve grown as a designer, especially being self-taught. I’ve been able to work on projects that I love and help small brands grow, which is really rewarding.
How are you doing managing the stresses in your life and with maintaining compassion? There are 3 key indicators for you to do a self-assessment to see where you reside on your empathy health, also called the 3 A’s of Compassion Fatigue. The ABCs of Compassion Fatigue are Awareness, Balance, and Connection.
Non-profit and service-industry work is exhilarating when you feel like you are making a tangible difference in your community. Compassion fatigue results when there is a loss in your ability to nurture effectively when catering to others’ physical and emotional pain. Often, the demands of service-oriented industries can take a hit on our energy levels and the risk of burnout is real. Executive Directors and limited staff members have to wear the hat of many different roles in an organization and run on limited funds and time to make critical services available. The work is meaningful but the pressure can be intense if not effectively managed. If the distinction between another person and yourself becomes blurred and the emotional pain of the other is taken on as one’s own, you could be at risk for fatigue. If not effectively managed, compassion fatigue can have negative physical, mental, and emotional repercussions.
Many service providers and caretakers don’t realize when they are facing compassion fatigue. The condition can be surrounded by feelings of helplessness and powerlessness with patients or family, reduced feelings of empathy and sensitivity, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by work demands, feeling detached or numb, and loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy.
Do You Know How to Manage Compassion Fatigue?
Compassion fatigue affects everyone. The trick is finding a meaningful way to anticipate and work with the fatigue that will enhance your ability to combat it. We’re here to bring awareness to the most important step in any position is to take care of yourself. To heal the healer reinforces the fortitude needed to get back to the demands of work by incorporating the ABC’s of compassion fatigue: Awareness, Balance, and Connection into our regular routines.
Awareness
Building awareness of and taking action is the first step needed when recentering yourself in responsibilities. Your ability to attune to when you are out of sync is key to knowing when to take action and make a needed change. Your awareness skills will grow the more you recognize when your compassion is waning thin. ****Take a moment to step back and breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Is there any tension in your body? Taking intentional moments throughout your work day, on days off, or when with others – take your minds off of the demands and find where sources of stress may lie; whether they be physically with tension throughout your body or mentally with distractions and disruptive thoughts and get curious with the sources of stress.
Balance
Is your day a never-ending list of demands? Effective planning can help you find a balance between what can stay and what needs to go from your priorities in a day. Write out a list of everything that requires your presence in a day and write a secondary list alongside this to how you will ‘balance’ out the responsibilities on your plate to stay grounded through your every day. Finding balance can be as simple as stepping outside in the middle of your work day and taking a moment to be present with beautiful surroundings.
Connection
Isolation has started to dominate our existence in the past few years. From the pandemic to streaming subscriptions, it has become more convenient to enjoy the comforts of home. Rather than venturing out and forging meaningful connections with people in your community, people often opt out. The discomfort it takes to find a routine outside of your home is well worth the relationships you gain. There are so many people to meet with different backgrounds and views on the world. Even from the comforts of home, we often remain disconnected and distracted. Spending meaningful time with the ones we love is where we can find the most empowering healing.
Live Empowered in Your Compassionate Roles
Keep the 3 ABC’s of Compassion Fatigue front of mind as we roll into the busy summer months. Remember to fosterawareness, find balance, and build connections in your life to stay above overwhelm. Your ability to find a manageable pace of working with stressors will impact how you show up in your community. Sharing the tools to combat compassion fatigue will help us build more resilient communities and empower our non-profits to thrive!
Need an effective management plan for your non-profit marketing? Transcend Ideas would love to support your organization. Let’s get coffee and discuss the compassionate messaging goals for your organization.
Meet Heather Devine, the principal and visionary behind Transcend Ideas. Heather brings over 15 years of expertise in digital media to all the clients she serves in the Jackson Hole community. She loves supporting small businesses and national and local non-profits in their goals of strategic messaging, website layouts, and marketing solutions. Heather helps propel these businesses forward with thoughtful design strategy and compelling storytelling. She shared a bit about herself in this Q and A.
Meet Heather
1. What prompted you to start Transcend Ideas and what are your hopes for the future with the company?
I started Transcend Ideas with the desire to help small businesses and nonprofits amplify their meaningful messages through marketing and branding services. I’ve worked with businesses and nonprofits now for 16 years and with every year that passes I feel pride and excitement to help them succeed.
2. What company is a dream client or what would be a dream marketing campaign to work on?
A dream client to me is one that trusts in us, willing to try new things, and is passionate and excited about their mission and vision.
3. What’s a bucket list item you’ve held off on completing for years and when do you hope to complete it?
A bucket list item of mine would be to speak on a TEDx stage. I have a real passion for connection. I think one day sharing my story will be deeply satisfying and hopefully help a young person on their path some day.
4. What small object in your house means the most to you and why?
A journal that my husband and I have together. We write in it to express our love and appreciation for one another. And another journal that at the end of each year, as a family we tape in memories we’ve collected throughout that year. We reflect on memories together and look back with love and gratitude.
5. What advice do you have for small businesses looking to amplify their messaging and brand?
Keep at it if your heart is in it.
6. What hobby or skill do you have that has influenced your career the most and how?
My greatest skill is working with people. I love listening and I also love helping.
7. Where do you go to pull inspiration for work and your personal life?
I gather information in the form of podcasts, conversations with people, movies, webinars or workshops, and books.
8. What’s your favorite life lesson you’ve ever learned and held on to?
My greatest life lesson is to “give yourself grace.” You won’t get it right all the time, in fact the misteps are when you learn the most about yourself and your journey forward. That applies to any path you walk, whether it be parenthood, marriage, friendships, business, everything.
9. What are you grateful for? What are you hopeful for?
I’m grateful for the team I have at work and at home. We are nothing without the people there to support you a long the way. Thank you to my husband, Mike and my son, Elliott and our dog, Sadie for loving me, my flaws and all. Thank you to Brennan and Rachael for making my life easier.
10. What are you proud of right now? Could be a personal accomplishment, big or small.
I’m proud of how far I have come to step into my power. I am 40 now, woo-hoo! With this new stage in my life I can honestly look back and show compassion and love to myself. I’m grateful for every day I get to wake up and live.
Want to meet with Heather and get insight on your small business or non-profit project? Reach out now to schedule a time to meet up and discuss over coffee.
Heather’s other great love is her nonprofit, People Spread Love. Give a listen to these two podcast interviews where she talk about why this community/heart-centered work is so important to her.
Meet Meredith Runkle Olson, who has joined the Transcend Ideas team offering her copywriting skills. Meredith helps amplify our client’s messaging through thorough research and thoughtful and relatable writing. She shared a bit about herself in this Q and A so you may get to know Meredith in her own words.
Meet Meredith Runkle Olson, Copywriter
1. Where do you hail from? Where do you live now? And how did you come to be there?
I was raised in Maryland but I moved out west for undergrad at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mt. I absolutely love mountain sports and the pace of life here so I doubt that I’ll ever move away! I currently live in Jackson and have called it home for seven years.
2. What do you like to do for fun?
Hiking, trail running, biking, any type of water sport, volleyball and soccer.
3. What do you do in your role with Transcend Ideas? Do you like knowing your work helps others? And what areas are you most passionate about?
I am currently a copywriter. I’ll do anything from blogs to social media posts to editing. When I know that my work helps others it makes me want to work even harder. I’m passionate about conservation, the environment, social justice, finances, history, and public policy. I’m the nerd who goes to museums on vacation!
Meredith Runkle Olson
4. What are you grateful for? Big or small?
Jesus, my husband, our baby girl, Helen, the state of Wyoming, family, friends, and the amazing public lands here in the U.S. (There’s so much more but I’ll leave it at that)
5. Do you have any office mates? Animals? Partners?
My favorite office mate is my seven month old baby, Helen 😉 I’m currently a stay at home mom (the best job ever!) and I work part time as a copywriter. My husband works in town and tries to come home on lunch breaks so that all three of us get some quality time together. No doggos, although Helen LOVES animals.
“When I know that my work helps others it makes me want to work even harder.”
Meredith RUnkle Olson
6. What are you looking forward to this Summer?
I’m trying to train for a big trail run in the grand canyon so I’m looking forward to running in the Tetons or the National Forest this summer. Ooo, I can’t forget the people’s market, grass volleyball in May park, and outdoor concerts. There are just so many things in Jackson! No matter what I do, I love to show Helen my favorite spots and activities. My pace of life has dramatically changed since having a baby but I’m learning to love every day and be thankful for the little things.
Meredith in the Tetons
7. Do you have advice to a business or organization that wants to connect with their community and customers these days?
It’s simple, ask the people what they want.
8. For whom do you feel responsible?
I feel the desire to raise Helen and other children we have, in a healthy way. I want them to love nature, eat healthy, stay active, love others, serve those in need, and learn how to be mentally tough. Plus, I definitely feel responsible for the environment. At the rate that the whole world is going, our future generations won’t experience what we do. I want to help our communities focus on sustainable practices in every realm of life. I also want my children to understand finances. Most people my age were never taught how to avoid debt, wisely invest, budget, live frugally, and think about life in the long term. I want to change that for my family. Most Americans have out of control spending habits and I refuse to be a part of that.
9. What are you hopeful for this year?
I want to fully embrace being a great mom! It’s such an important role. I can pursue other things later in life but I can never get back this precious time with my baby. That being said, I still want to be active and show Helen how my hobbies and passions are important to me.
10. What are you proud of right now? Could be a personal accomplishment, big or small.
My husband and I are debt-free (besides a mortgage), I did all 42 miles of the Teton Crest Trail in a single day, and even though I decided not to go this route, I studied hard and got into law school with a great scholarship, and I created life.
Meet Rachael Kennedy, who has joined the Transcend Ideas team offering her project assistance and web skills. Rachael helps amplify our clients through technical adjustments to websites, SEO work, social media and more. She shared a bit about herself in this Q and A.
Meet Rachael Kennedy, Project Assistant & IT Support
1. What do you like to do for fun?
I love going on long drives to look for wildlife with my family. Whether we are birding, finding moose, bears, or other large mammals in the Greater Yellowstone. Grand Teton has been one of my favorite places to get great animal pictures. In May, we will see how many brand-new baby bison we can get photos of in Yellowstone. We are looking forward to trying to find some burrowing owls at the start of the summer, too.
2. What do you do in your role with Transcend Ideas? Do you like knowing your work helps others? And what areas are you most passionate about?
I help with marketing, SEO, and website work. I love serving people with technology – it is a field that has many barriers to access and can cause a lot of frustration when things don’t work as anticipated. Taking a load off of people in any small way is rewarding. I’m passionate about front-end work on websites, or UX/UI design. Making navigation across a website for a user as simple, intuitive, and beautiful as possible is a great challenge on every project.
3. What are you grateful for? Big or small?
Connections and community. I find it in a hundred small places now – chatting and laughing in the line at the grocery store with someone about my kiddos, FB groups, family group texts or potlucks, and community events. Maybe especially since Covid, I feel like the world needs each other more than ever and I’m grateful for the beautiful communities I’m a part of.
4. Do you have any animals?
I don’t have any animals, there are too many allergies with my siblings and extended family to have ever had a pet with fur. I have a wide assortment of tropical houseplants that have become my second babies though 🙂 My favorites are the alocasias and calatheas.
5. What are you looking forward to this summer?
I’m looking forward to all the dreamy photoshoots of my babies. The one I’m most excited about is taking my daughter to the lavender fields in Utah for her 4th birthday photos. I still have to decide what I will do for my son’s pictures for the summer – it’s always fun to figure out the perfect setup.
6. Do you have advice for a business or organization that wants to connect with its community and customers these days?
Make your values apparent through your messaging. That’s the fastest way for a potential customer to resonate with your brand. Sharing what you value cuts through a lot of noise.
7. For whom do you feel responsible?
My two darling kiddos <3 They are hilarious and already have their independent little personalities shining through. My daughter is the vibrant, busy socialite, and my son is the laid-back California smile and happy-to-hang-out guy. Both of them bring me so much joy!
8. What are you hopeful for this year?
I want to be more creative in the quiet moments, trying for a few more photos or sketches with the babes during big art messes, laughter, and exploring the world. Telling our stories in more ways and with more mediums than I have done in the past and digitizing assets as I do. This has to be one of childhood’s most magical times, and I don’t want to miss or forget a thing.
9. What are you passionate about?
There are so many complex problems in the world. The problem I seem most drawn to is coming up with economic initiatives for small and rural communities. Access to opportunity has a lot of ripple effects and touches on so many other problems our world faces. Finding ways to cut through conflicting/distracting messaging by building authentic and impactful websites and marketing campaigns that will make a difference in the world is something I think about a lot. Building great relationships and telling a great story – isn’t that the goal of any beautiful life 😉
10. What are you proud of right now? This could be a personal accomplishment, big or small.
I’m in the building routines stage with kiddos right now – when they ask for something in a patient way or don’t have a tantrum when they have to wait, I swear the entire world just stops to enjoy the peaceful moment with us. I want to try a few other things like colored boxes for toys and a visual schedule to keep building on their independence, but it’s all at a great place right now and I’m content with where we are at.
Have you met Meredith? She’s also on the Transcend Ideas team and she is now a new mommy! 🙂 Have you met Brennan? She’s our copywriter and illustrator always ready for adventure.
Are you excited to learn more about the team and look into working with Transcend Ideas on your next project? Let’s get coffee!
Meet Brennan Hussey, who has joined the Transcend Ideas team offering her copywriting and illustration skills. Brennan helps amplify our client’s messaging through thorough extensive research, curiosity, and thoughtful writing. Her illustrations bring a new flavor to our client’s marketing campaigns and for that we are grateful. She shared a bit about herself in this Q and A so you may get to know Brennan in her own words.
Meet Brennan
1. Where do you hail from? where do you live now? and how did you come to be there?
I grew up in Kansas City & Savannah GA, respectively. So therefore I’m a Southerner without a Southern accent. I still say Y’ALL because ‘Y’ALL means ALL’ 🌈
After college, studying Advertising and Communications at UGA, in the best music town in the country, Athens, GA – I migrated out west to be in the mountains. ⛰️ I’ve since lived in Jackson Hole, Idaho, Alaska, and now call Denver home. <3
Brennan and Reed mountain bike together
2. What do you like to do for fun?
FUN?! Oh yeah, I have it.
I live to cook & eat and especially love spending way too much on ingredients for an elaborate meal that will take me over 4 hours to complete. This, friends, and a nice bottle of Chenin Blanc is my idea of the perfect night.
I make an effort to spend as much time outdoors as possible – snowboarding, hiking, biking, playing tennis, & going on hot girl walks around the neighborhood. Cue Tina Turner in the Airpods -may she rest in power.
As a Sagittarius Sun – I’m an absolute walking cliché because I’m a travel addict. The minute I was able to make my own money, I started collecting stamps in my passport. I value how much understanding it has given me about the world around me.
And I LOVE anything to do with art whether that’s creating my own, listening to music, reading books, or indulging in tv and film. Give me all the art. Above anything else. Always.
3. What do you do in your role with Transcend Ideas? do you like knowing your work helps others? and what areas are you most passionate about?
I wear a few different hats for Transcend Ideas as a Content Creator.
First and foremost, I do work as a Content Writer which is a little more in-depth than it sounds. For blog posts and other content, I conduct detailed research, interview experts when needed, draft concise articles, carefully edit, upload it to the client’s CMS, arrange the layout, and amplify the SEO for maximum visibility. There’s a lot to it!
I also work as an Illustrator and Designer which includes drawing custom illustrations, designing event posters, visual content for social media, logo design, and even entire branding campaigns.
I also help collaborate and brainstorm with Heather on working concepts for clients and coming up with new marketing ideas and strategies. We work and communicate really well together and share healthy constructive feedback with one another. I really value her voice and appreciate that she also values mine.
And of course, I like knowing my work helps others. It’s one of the reasons I do what I do. As a writer, I cannot fathom doing anything but speaking my truth and sharing that with others.
My passion burns for a variety of topics. Cross-country skiing, yes. Girl empowerment, absolutely. Renewable energy, but of course. How to identify noxious weeds, bring it on. That’s one of the reasons I make a marvelous content writer, I can get excited about pretty much anything. And we all know excitement can be contagious.
4. What are you grateful for? Big or small?
BIG: The past year has been a year of asking for help. I’m so grateful that my requests have been answered. I feel so supported by my partner, friends, and family. I will always be grateful for that.
5. If your house was on fire and you could save 3 things, what would they be?
Let me preface this by saying, I don’t have any pets (yet). I’d probably grab my Monstera plant, a piece of framed art, and the box of cards & memories I keep under my bed.
I also help collaborate and brainstorm with Heather on working concepts for clients and coming up with new marketing ideas and strategies. We work and communicate really well together and share healthy constructive feedback with one another. I really value her voice and appreciate that she also values mine.
6. What are you looking forward to this summer?
Getting out into the mountains and seeing some live music outdoors. Oooh, also seeing the Barbie Movie that comes out in a few weeks. But would you hate me if I admitted I’m secretly pining for fall? 🍂
7. Do you have advice to a business or organization that wants to connect with their community and customers these days?
I think something that is oftentimes overlooked is not engaging with community members of all ages and demographics. I think we, as a society, can get locked into our own little bubbles and echo chambers. As a millennial, I’ve often felt overlooked by older generations. I don’t want to do this to the younger generations. I want them to know that their opinions matter. So to businesses and organizations, I advise you to cast a wider net and stay open-minded. The wisest among us know they don’t know everything.
8. What can you not stop talking about right now?
Station Eleven. I’m obsessed. It’s a limited series on HBO MAX. After I watched the show, I gobbled up the book it’s based on. It’s a post-apocalyptic story done differently than anything I’ve ever seen in that genre.
9. What are you hopeful for this year?
I’m on a journey of building upon my portfolio and building up my self-confidence. These two things are interconnected and I’m putting the needed work into nurturing them both. And, yes I’m feeling hopeful about it. I’m trying to remind myself to stay hopeful on down days as growth is not linear.
10. What are you proud of right now? Could be a personal accomplishment, big or small.
Learning how to say NO and protect my peace. I don’t feel like our society values this as much as it should. Looking out for your health and well-being is important. Learning to say no to things that will not serve us can sometimes feel counterintuitive. But always listen to your gut. The Olsen twins say it best, “NO, is a full sentence.”
Contact Transcend Ideas today to get Brennan busy working on an illustration or design project for your company!
I knew Empathy was a trait that helped better more relationships in all aspects of life. I’ve seen the difference it makes in mine. When the pandemic hit in 2020-21 I felt disconnection and I needed a periodic check-in with my team. A “how are you?” rather than diving right into work stuff became critical. I personally wanted my colleagues to care about me as I cared for them and their well-being.
Forbes recognizes the positive impact of empathy on innovation and retention. Studies show that empathetic leaders create engaged and productive teams. By considering others’ thoughts and feelings, leaders can connect on a deeper level, foster trust, and inspire empathy in return. This leads to a more compassionate and successful work environment.
“Leaders don’t have to be experts in mental health in order to demonstrate they care and are paying attention. It’s enough to check in, ask questions and take cues from the employee about how much they want to share.”
Stress is a pervasive state and data suggests it is an affect by the pandemic and the ways our lives have been turned upside down.*
Empathy by the Numbers
42% of people have experienced a decline in mental health
67% of people are experiencing increases in stress while 57% have increased anxiety, and 54% are emotionally exhausted, 53% of people are sad, 50% are irritable, 28% are having trouble concentrating, 20% are taking longer to finish tasks, 15% are having trouble thinking and 20% are challenging to juggle their responsibilities
61% of employees reported with empathy leaders were able to be innovative, compared to 13% of employees with less empathic leaders
76% of people who experienced empathy from their leaders reported they were engaged, compared to 32% who experienced less empathy
57% of white women and 62% of women of color said they were unlikely to think of leaving their companies when they felt their life circumstances were respected and valued by their companies
As a leader in the community I know how important it is to engage in empathy. From the receiving end it feels good to be seen and heard. On a Board of Directors we engage in similar behavior with a check-in before we begin to discuss anything on the agenda. If any of us are feeling low or drained, the camera doesn’t need to be on when we meet virtually and if they need to leave early we honor that with understanding and compassion for one another.
I’m a cheerleader for empathy marketing. When we engage with our audience in a way that they need and want, you are likely to be more engaged with us.
It’s clear that empathy should be a trait intertwined with leadership. It starts with caring about your team, and your community.
Cognitive empathy – Consider someone elses’ thoughts (“If I were in his/her position, what would I be thinking right now?”)
Emotional empathy – Consider someone elses’ feelings (“Being in his/her position would make me feel ___”)
Empathy is the most important leadership skill because it enables leaders to connect with their team members on a deeper level. Strong leaders understand and share the feelings and perspectives of their employees. They can make more informed decisions and create a supportive work environment. By demonstrating empathy, leaders foster trust, enhance collaboration, and inspire loyalty among their team. Ultimately, this drives higher levels of productivity and success.
Listen to my interview with Kaeyy Noella on her The Love Talk Wall podcast. I introduce her to “empathy marketing” and how I show up with Transcend Ideas. I introduce (in Part 2) how “empathy” makes up the key ingredient of People Spread Love.
How Empathy can Bridge Connection
Part 1: Empathy marketing can be a powerful tool for small businesses looking to build stronger relationships with their customers and differentiate themselves from competitors. By putting the needs and emotions of customers first, small businesses can create a more loyal customer base and drive long-term growth.
“Empathy” is a key component to how I show up in many places in my life. I recognize human connection is what we all strive for in this life. When we feel heard and understood we can profoundly connect.
“The Clubhouse app helped me find my voice.” I jumped on the app with curiosity and met these strong women entrepreneurs. They encouraged me to step into Transcend Ideas. And I’m eternally grateful for their strength in their belief in me. And made me believe in myself.
Part 2: My audio cut off as I began introducing the brand. I continued the introduction of People Spread Love in Part 2. I introduce People Spread Love and my journey starting a movement in 2015. First, with becoming a 501c3 non-profit organization. The organization empowers community members to write notes of love to those facing adversity all over the country and world. This brings us back full circle to the power of empathy and how it can facilitate human connection.
Kaeyy asked me about self-love and I told her a story about how I recently fractured my knee skiing. I touched on how grateful I am, even more so after getting hurt.
Listen to Part 1 & 2 of the podcast interview and let’s connect!
