Credibility and Connection Through Thoughtful Authenticity | Lauren Wittenberg Weiner | TEDxEustis
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- Thoughtful authenticity allowed Lauren Weiner to succeed as a female business leader in the insular world of Special Operations and win the largest contract awarded to a woman-owned business. Discover how thoughtful authenticity can develop connection and credibility, and transform your life. Lauren Wittenberg Weiner became an accidental entrepreneur when she quit her White House job to follow her husband on military orders to Italy. Once there, she discovered that military spouses were prohibited from holding professional-level jobs. She started WWC Global, and she and her team grew to $100m in annual revenue before selling it to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation in 2022. In 2018, WWC Global won the largest-ever contract to a woman-owned business in US Special Operations Command headquarters history- the headquarters for the Navy SEALs and Army Green Berets-making WWC Global one of the most successful women-owned small businesses in the government contracting space. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and a Ph.D. in psychology from Dartmouth College. She lives in Tampa Bay with her family, where she sits on the Board of multiple non-profits, acts as primary caregiver for her aging parents, and is a loud and proud hockey mom. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
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Wow I'm in such awe of this woman. I have so much respect for people who just _do_ the thing and carve out their own little space, especially in industries or environments where women aren't typically prominent.
Glad you sent it, its kind of a wake up call.
Cool, I have respect for her also.
its 2024, its just off that women still are struggling for equality in any industry.
thanks for emailing this to me, much needed
perfect for today, well said too
Fantastic TEDx Talk. Very inspiring. You look and are amazing!
Her journey from academic to entrepreneur to mom is such a powerful example of how multi faceted we are as people, and I love how that ties in to choosing which sides of ourselves we show to which people.
Thanks for sharing your excellent perspective with the world, Lauren! Well done!
the concept of "thoughtful authenticity" is something I'll definitely take to heart.
wow her whole vibe is just so unfiltered and refreshing compared to most polished corporate leaders. I love that energy!
Lauren is the best - authenticity personified!! So grateful to call her a friend and colleague!!
Thank you, and so proud of what you and your team have done at Muma College of Business! Under your leadership, the B-school at USF has absolutely soared, my friend!!
her story is an awesome reminder that success doesn't look a certain way or come from a certain background. If you have the skills and the hustle, you can do incredible things.
I love this mentality! Such an impressive women and a great mom!
I’ve had the pleasure of working for Lauren’s company for 8 years, she remains one of my biggest inspirations as a contracting professional. She’s an excellent leader of course, with an incredible passion for everything she does, but what shines through the most for me is her kindness, empathy, and integrity. Thank you for everything Lauren, glad to see you telling your story!
Derek, we got incredibly lucky when we hired you, and I love watching your amazing career trajectory. You are the real deal, my friend!
@@LaurenWeiner-us8sx This is such a wonderful interaction to come across
This is so cool, you can tell she's an awesome human. I'd love to work for her too!
Love the simple straightforward lesson we can learn from this talk. Valuable and useful advice!
I love how transparent she is about the "behind the curtain" reality - being a leader doesn't mean having it all together all the time. We've all got unpacked suitcases in our closets lol
I appreciate how she emphasized the importance of establishing credibility upfront.
Accidental entrepreneur, I think you are born with this skill.
Wow, this was a good share, thanks for the email.
Cred, its all about the cred - agreed!
Good forward, nice teat to get today, great info.
How much time each day do you spend watching talks?
In studies looking at character traits like authenticity, people are first asked to characterize the qualities that reflect their true self. Afterwards, they complete assessments-daily or once a week over a period of multiple weeks-about the extent to which their behaviour reflected their qualities and the extent to which they felt authentic.
I wonder if that means people feel authentic when they follow the social roles, or that people are terrible at understanding themselves, and the values they truly believe in.
every choice made is authentic. must be. unless it is literally made for us by another.
that's a really interesting study! hard to think about what qualities characterize my true self though
isnt the word authentic getting overused and really lost its intent?
@@randubrown I agree it is, words are losing their impact
I love her story, wow! Go Girl!
thanks for sending to me J, love this
@@suebakernottly welcome
Good link to send Janet thanks
Agree 100% needed this today too....
Wonderful, I am going to share this too
Lauren's candor is so refreshing. I will be sharing her points on executive presence and thoughtful authenticity with my team.
So wonderful to meet you last night!
That was an absolutely outstanding talk. You made the hometown proud, Lauren. Keep doing what you’re doing.
Anthony, I'm pretty sure you get the prize so far for commenter that's known me the longest. We've both come a long way from our paste eating days at Walnut Lake...
The idea of showing vulnerability while still maintaining credibility is intriguing and definitely worth considering
It's intriguing but how valuable is it really, to a team? Imagine something's happened that's put your workplace in crisis mode, do you really want the person leading you to breakdown and talk about how it's affecting their feelings or do you want them to take action and lead you out of the crisis?
I’ve been lucky enough to work for Lauren for over 7 years. Her leadership style fully encompasses thoughtful authenticity and trickles down throughout the company.
We have been lucky to have YOU in the company! So glad that I got that introduction from Amy so many years ago. You've excelled in every role we've had you in!
Inspiring and refreshing.
I found it pretty refreshing that she listed all that stuff and then said it hasn't changed her at her core. That in itself is pretty impressive.
Yeah that made me think for sure, I feel like that's not how it always goes
1. Authenticity is extraordinary
2. Being a chamelion in social settings backfires
3. AI skyrocketed value of authenticity
4. Preparation is the key
5. Authenticity is all time relevant
6. Authenticity is a sign of respect
This talk really highlights the power of owning your story and leading with authenticity. Feeling motivated to do the same!
absolutely! pretty cool to see what come of it for her
Man I can not express how much this speaks to me. I feel like I have so many different parts of myself and each one is like specifically honed to certain parts of my life.
Sharing this one for sure
I agree as a leader it's important to own up to mistakes and weaknesses. It builds trust and also means your team is comfortable coming to you when they make a mistake.
Yes-- authenticity absolutely engenders psychological safety among teams, which leads to much better outcomes when (inevitably) something goes wrong.
You were very young when I first met you. And you were authentic then ! I knew you were special . I am so happy for your success, and for the ability to see you again. My best to you, your Mom and Dad, and Aunt.
Well this just made my day. So grateful to have had the Salcicciolis in my life (from age 5 onward!!).
Obviously she's achieved a lot by using 'thoughtful authenticity' but it kind of sounds to be on a fine line of molding oneself to fit into professional contexts which doesn't seem very authentic?
I agree! It absolutely is a fine line, but one that it *is* very possible to walk. You don't have to be inauthentic-- and you shouldn't be-- to be conscious of what context you find yourself in. Yesterday I was fully authentic in speaking to a room full of professional women, and fully authentic a few hours later when flying with my daughter to a hockey tournament. In neither situation was I a different person, but the parts of me that were called to the forefront were obviously different based on the context. Thanks for the comment!!
Navigating through stereotypes and succeeding is truly inspiring.
Embracing your true self in a professional setting is challenging but rewarding.
Leadership lessons from a non-traditional leader are the best.
The journey from an academic to a CEO is fascinating.
Authenticity requiring accountability isn't something I've thought about before but it makes a lot of sense.
Yup! Personally I think they go hand in hand
Yeah, I think authenticity is about proving yourself multiple times over the course of difficult situations as well as the everyday and yes, taking accountability when you get it wrong
Interesting take on leadership and authenticity. It's all about finding the balance, I guess.
love how she broke down the pratfall effect.
I love that she mentioned some people take the "bring your whole self to work" aspect too seriously. Some of the people I work with it's like they go out of their way to tell me stories about themselves that are "vulnerable" or "real" they end up feeling almost curated? It's hard to explain but it's like.... just stop. Just let it happen naturally.
"Curated" is spot-on. Regardless of if it is "curated" to be perfect-looking or vulnerable... if it isn't actually authentic, it is pretty obvious.
Huh, never thought about adjusting authenticity based on context before. Food for thought.
Yeah it's an interesting idea! How do you know that you haven't over-adjusted to the point where you're no longer being authentic?
Lollll this talk is great and all but the closing advice was so unexpected and hilarious, loved it
thought the example about the pratfall effect was really interesting. it's about being relatable.
Establishing trust before revealing weaknesses makes sense. Basic but important principle.
Credibility through authenticity really resonated with me, it's such a powerful message
Thank you for sharing these actionable insights. Can't wait to apply them in my own leadership journey.
Thoughtful Authenticity as a tool and mindset is essential to counteracting imposter syndrome. There’s the saying “It’s simple, not easy” and I feel like that is Lauren’s message. It takes work to be thoughtfully authentic, but if that’s the goal you set for yourself, the imposter voice gets quieter and quieter as you own your power.
yes I got that also...
Thoughtful authenticity for the win! This speech made SO much sense - how can we show up and do things that don’t “seem for us?” Smart!
Thoughtful authenticity - Extremely relevant for all. Thank you for sharing the human side of your success. This is so motivating for entrepreneurs and professionals alike!
I'm looking at my cluttered apartment and thinking.. "I too am living a life of thoughtful authenticity" lolol
Hi I want your help
This talk was amazing! It really showed me the power of telling your own story and leading the way by being true to yourself.
I'm pretty into the idea of thoughtful authenticity. Like yes be who you are but also not everyone should get unbridled access to it. Also there's a time and place for each version of who you are.
As someone who experienced Lauren’s leadership first hand, I can say she lives every word she uttered here. Her superpower is that she sees the human behind every deal, every project, and every opportunity FIRST. She will do the right thing even when no one is looking and that is all the authenticity and credibility anyone could ever need. Lauren, thank you for being a true leader and a positive role model on how we should be doing business with integrity.
I love the phrase "thoughtful authenticity"! Thank you for a powerful talk.
What an inspiring journey! Shows what you can achieve with true grit 💪🏼
Ha! I'm in a management role and have definitely had to pick my moments in terms of being my authentic self. Because if I had my choice all the time I would roll into the office in my pajamas without any make-up. Doubt that would be inspiring for my team though
Me too!
Authenticity doesn't cost acdime, we all have it. We can all use it.
Great message, and so authentic to who you really are as a leader. Yours is the message I will remember the next time I get even a hint of imposter syndrome.
Hard agree to what she says around the 3:55 mark, if you're exactly the same person as you were 5 years ago something is wrong. Like you are _stagnant_
Thoughtful authenticity for the win! This speech made SO much sense - how can we show up and do things that don’t “seem for us?” Smart!
Katie, thank you for all of your support. 💕
Lauren, I knew part of your story, not the whole thing. You are an inspiration to many.
Such an incredible talk! You are such an inspiration Lauren! Thank you for showing so many of us that we don’t have to compromise who we are to be successful in business! You are amazing!!
Lauren is amazing and has always come through for me. She knows how to take care of her people and customers....I have never felt like anything but a friend when dealing with her...that's how authentic she is. If it weren't for her, my work environment would not be as dynamic as it is. I owe much of my success to her and her Team...Derek, Charles, Ryan, Jeremy and Cooper....
Thanks Lauren! Sincerely, your best client in the Universe-ity
You are still my all-time favorite customer ever...
Lauren's honest, witty, and thoughtful message was JUST what I needed to hear! Her professional and passionate approach is something I will continue to return to and refer to my Executive Coaching clients who need to be reminded of these timeless lessons.
So wonderful to share a stage with you, my friend. Grateful that TEDxEustis brought us together. Your talk was amazing, as well!!
"I respect you and everything you've done, but I don't have to have done that in order to do this." LOVE THIS! Well done, Lauren!
Thank you!!
I really appreciated what she said about people who take "bring your whole self to work" to extreme levels. It's almost like it becomes a caricature of an actual person. Like they're so desperate to prove who they are they stop being anyone actually relatable
hahaha yes I've experienced a few of those in my time
her point on balancing mess with inspiration is spot on. life's not all airbrushed.
This showed very strongly how authenticity and leadership can overcome stereotypes and enable us to reach even higher and I am here for it!!
Thank you!!
I was so here for her honesty about the mess behind the scenes. We all have those crazy mornings and unpacked suitcases, even if we seem like we've got it all together.
Saaaame it's so frustrating when people try to make you think they're perfect in everyway
Lauren’s message makes so much sense, and she lives it.
Lol had to love at "recovering academic" can totally relate to not using your PhD for anything actually related to its field.
*laugh
Congratulations my friend!!! So good!
Thank you for giving me the tools to make this talk happen, my friend! So grateful we got to share the stage and can't wait for your talk to be released!!
I love the term “thoughtful authenticity”! You killed it Lauren!
She’s pretty cool
Academic to CEO is amazing. Sows that your journey doesn't have to be some straight line to be successful.
Thoughtful authenticity- very well defined. And yes, you flipped the script and are inspirational because you are REAL!
Admitting mistakes is tough but necessary. Nothing groundbreaking, but a good reminder.
I didn't realize embracing your authenticity could lead to entrepreneurial success! Pretty inspiring stuff.
Iconic 🤩🤩
Great reminder that authenticity and self-improvement go hand-in-hand.
Keep kicking down doors! WTG, Lauren. So happy that TEDxEustis allowed our paths to cross.
Amy, I love how you frame reinvention-- as I'm going through my own reinvention, I keep coming back to your points!
"...recognize the context in which you're presenting yourself and modulate that presentation appropriately." This is like the intellectual way of saying "read the room" lol will be committing it to memory, thank you!
Feeling hopeful for the future of leadership after hearing this talk. Thoughtful authenticity seems like the way forward.
Not gonna lie.. when she started talking about being "chubby and unathletic" I was like oh here we go...but then she completely owned it. That's how you do vulnerability right.
Overall, such a refreshing perspective on how to be your honest, imperfect self without losing credibility. More leaders could take a page from her book!
What a wonderful message! I absolutely identify with the “four unpacked suitcases” anecdote, by the way - not an hour ago, I finally unpacked from a trip I took two weeks ago. (Sometimes, my authentic self is overwhelmed; if a line has to be drawn, it will be drawn at the unpacking stage of the work trip!)
Strength and vulnerability must coexist in any good leader; the balance between them will shift at times by necessity, but the willingness to honestly demonstrate both is the hallmark of authentic leadership. Thank you for modeling the way!
I'm so impressed by how she flipped the script on what people expect from a CEO in the military contracting world. Her success story is seriously inspiring!
Realizing it's ok to be yourself, but with thought, is such a valuable lesson. There is definitely a time and place for all the aspects of yourself and it's such a skill to know which part to reveal at which time.
The fact that authenticity has become such a buzzword is just so freakin ironic and honestly speaks to everything that's wrong with our society.
Does anyone else feel incredibly unaccomplished in comparison to this fireball of a human after hearing all she's achieved?? Dang.
Wow, that was incredible! Such a great reminder that being yourself and being a leader are totally connected
never thought about authenticity like that before. really makes you think.
The 'pratfall effect' sounds like a clever strategy. Might have to look into that more.
Overall I'm just in awe of her ability to be so transparently herself while radiating authority. We could all learn from that energy!
That concept of 'leading from the inside out' really resonated with me. That is something I'm proud to say I have done throughout my years.
This makes a whole lot of sense. Like I play mixed basketball on the weekends and who I am on the court is NOT who I am at home with my kids lol both sides are completely real and genuine, but obvs very different. The context and what's needed in the moment is everything
Loved the "prat fall" effect and can see how it would be effective to build trust and rapport. Will definitely be applying it in my own interactions
This is really important because the line between "authenticity" and "unprofessionalism" is very fine. Like yes we may be united in that we work for the same company and but beyond that we could be incredibly different people and maybe your pure, authentic self is a little offensive to me.
Did anyone else get distracted thinking about how good that beer probably tasted at the happy hour meetup? Just me? Okay then.
Ooft yes what she said about AI and deepfakes is very true and very scary.
Love this advice, I don't work in a business setting but I still found a lot of good take aways in this, thank you!
The line between authenticity and unprofessionalism is very fine and I appreciate the insights this talk gives into navigating it.
Her story is interesting but I'm not sure how applicable it is to everyone
"I thought out loud, a lot" wow thats me too...
true for many of us I tihnk 😂😂
I agree it's important to find that balance between authenticity and professionalism. Bit of a tightrope walk sometimes but easy to see the benefits
Just a gentle nudge to remember that there's always room for growth as leaders and communicators.
Wow what a flex to just casually have a PhD in psychology lol