In this interview, Susan RoAne shares how she made the leap from laid-off teacher to bestselling author, how to play up the uniquely valuable feminine leadership traits and why giving credit to others is better than claiming ideas as your own. Plus so much more.
Susan is the author of the classic bestseller, How To Work A Room, with over 1.2 million copies sold in 13 countries. Named by Forbes.com as “one of the networking gurus of 2015,” Susan is an in-demand speaker who has delivered over 1,000 keynotes, sharing her message of connection and communication with audiences worldwide. She’s been featured in New York Times, The Guardian, CNN, The BBC and the Wall Street Journal and her clients include Coca Cola, The US Air Force, UnitedHealth Group, Yale, Apple, Intel, Stanford – and the list goes on. Suffice it to say Susan is a force to be reckoned with – and this interview is packed with gems.
Episode Highlights
• 2:50 – How she made the leap from laid-off teacher to bestselling author
• 15:53 – How to play up the uniquely valuable feminine leadership traits
• 7:39 – Why giving credit to others is better than claiming ideas as your own
• 10:11 – Why you need to integrate “safe, soft places” into your business
• 12:30 – A primer on standing out with old school phone communication
• 16:00 – The huge mistake new authors make (hint: you can’t just write the book you think people need)
• 17:05 – How to craft the perfect book topic
• 17:59 – Susan’s trick to “being known” as a professional and business entity
• 18:10 – Why you should do more face-to-face networking (and Susan’s recommended approach)
• 26:56 – The importance of writing and editing your own book
• 28:04 – When to shut out the critics and feedback and just do things your way
• 31:08 – 3 phrases people use to burst your bubble that you need to start ignoring today
• 32:00 – About Susan’s interviews with Cosmo and Maxim on getting the attention of the opposite sex
• Related: Download my free 22-page e-book, 9 Mistakes That Kill Your Love Life and Keep You Single
1. Favorite book for women?
- Stand Out by Dorie Clark
- Road to Character by David Brooks
2. Favorite self-care hack?
- I get up very early.
- I do social media while watching Steven Colbert, Trevor Noah or Larry Wilmore.
- I starting my day with laugh and read three newspapers: the local Marin one, the SF Chronicle and Sunday NY Times.
3. A valuable mentor you’d like to acknowledge?
- Sally Livingston and Michael LeBoeuf, who taught me the importance of living below your means.
4. Female CEO or thought leader you’re into right now?
- Irene Rosenfeld, CEO at KRAFT and Patricia Fripp
5. One thing you’d tell your 5 years younger self?
- “Try to be more of a techie. Get good at social media. I need to learn Periscope, Snapchat, Whatsapp.”
Resources Mentioned
• SusanRoAne.com (or email Susan here)
• George Bernard Shaw, playwright
• Tom Peters, author
• John Maxwell – quoted her in his book
• Gloria Steinem, journalist
• Malcolm Gladwell, author
• Related: Download my free 22-page e-book, 9 Mistakes That Kill Your Love Life and Keep You Single
Last Time on The NextFem Podcast
Get Practical Wisdom on Love and Leadership Delivered Weekly:
Subscribe to the show on iTunes or Android, or get email updates:
