Author: CIO Times

Realtor® at Coldwell Banker Jim Henry & Associates | Roane County | Meigs Count | I Guarantee My Personal Best

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Adversities are like unexpected storms that sweep through our lives. They may seem like unwelcome guests. Yet, they bear within them the seeds of resilience and growth. Here, amidst the tempest, we find the raw materials for our transformation. Our muscles of endurance strengthen. We rise, not unscathed, but with newfound resolve. Adversity clears the fog. We glimpse alternate routes, uncharted and promising.

Years ago, Kathy May-Martin found herself in a storm. Failure was never an option for her, as she became a single mom in a business with no guarantee of a paycheck. With no other source of income, she found that adversity helped her find a better version of herself that she didn’t know existed.

A determined mother of a 6-month-old and expecting her second child, Kathy embarked on a new journey leaving her career in hospitality management, moving to a new town, and starting a new career where she could build a work-life balance around motherhood. Her first day at work was also her first day of finding her place and purpose in life. Real Estate, her new profile, became not only a successful career but more so a passion to assist all walks of life to achieve their Real Estate Goals.

“My two beautiful girls deserved for me to be the best I could be every day and so did my office and my customers. Needless to say, the hurdles of motherhood, learning the ends and outs of a new business, and getting my name and face known in a small town was met with a lot of hard work, excitement, and sheer determination,” recalls Kathy

Today, Kathy is a best-selling author and producing Broker in the Knoxville region.

The Rise

Kathy May-Martin, a seasoned real estate powerhouse, has consistently embodied an entrepreneurial spirit. Her extensive knowledge, unwavering expertise, and genuine passion for assisting others have been the cornerstones of her success over the past three decades. As both an Agent and Broker, Kathy has cultivated a loyal clientele that spans the entire state. Presently, she serves as the Owner and Managing Broker of Coldwell Banker Jim Henry & Associates, where she diligently supports clients across East Tennessee.

Kathy’s achievements in the real estate industry are nothing short of remarkable. As a global luxury agent, she has graced the covers of prestigious publications, including:

· “Top 100 People In Real Estate Magazine”

· CIO Women’s Magazine (Featured as one of the “Top Women Leaders in Real Estate”)

· Success Pitchers Magazine (Recognized as one of the “Most Eminent Leaders In Real Estate”)

· Top Executive Magazine (Named “Agent Of the Month”)

· Two-Time Cover Story Top Agent Tennessee

· Cio Today (Acknowledged among the “Top 5 Unstoppable Business Women Creating History in The Business World 2024”)

· World’s Most Admired Women Leaders In Real Estate 2024

Kathy attributes her achievements to her unwavering work ethic, commitment to exceptional service, meticulous attention to detail, and outstanding negotiation and communication skills. Her journey exemplifies resilience, determination, and a genuine desire to elevate the real estate experience for her clients.

The Company

Coldwell Banker, founded in 1906 in San Francisco, has been fulfilling the dream of home for over a century. It’s more than just a place; it’s a feeling that resonates deeply. As a powerful network in the real estate industry, Coldwell Banker provides world-class guidance to buyers and sellers alike.

https://youtu.be/_Maz6uZrtJQ

The company’s origins trace back to the aftermath of the Great San Francisco Earthquake when Colbert Coldwell established Tucker, Lynch & Coldwell. Their core principles were honesty, integrity, and service. Soon after, Benjamin Arthur Banker joined the firm, swiftly rising to partner status due to his exceptional work ethic and business acumen.

Coldwell Banker expanded across California, with seven offices serving both Northern and Southern regions. Their commercial success contributed to the development of office buildings and large-scale shopping centers. With the acquisition of major East Coast firms, Coldwell Banker achieved its dream of serving the entire continental U.S. In 1996, they became the first national real estate brand to launch a website, pioneering online accessibility.

Today, Coldwell Banker remains one of the most respected names in the industry. Their impressive track record includes 608,728 U.S. Transaction Sides in 2022, 117 Years of guiding people home, $295 Billion in sales volume, and being #1 in Agent Trust. Additionally, they have donated over $1.3 Million to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and achieved $288 Million in daily luxury sales.

Coldwell Banker’s network comprises approximately 52,200 independent real estate agents across 700 offices in the United States. Their commitment to agent satisfaction sets them apart. In summary, Coldwell Banker’s legacy is one of resilience, innovation, and unwavering dedication to the art of finding and creating homes.

Caring for the Community

Locally Kathy pays it forward by reinvesting in the communities she lives and works in. Voted Roane County’s Woman of the Year in 2021, Kathy is dedicated to her community, serving as Chair of The Fort Sanders Foundation Board of Directors, serves on the local Chamber of Commerce board, and is a long-standing member of the Harriman Rotary Club. A past Chair of the Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Creek District which spans across five counties, and served as Roane County’s Campaign Chair for Governor Bill Lee. She is heavily involved in a variety of local causes, schools, and organizations throughout the year. Kathy is equally devoted to her industry as the author of the popular book The Essential Guide to Buying and Selling Homes, which features key insights gleaned from her prestigious real estate career and is recognized as an “Amazon Best Selling Author” and excited to release a new book to the market in early Spring of 2024. When she’s not with clients or giving back, Kathy can be found spending time with her family and friends, relaxing on the lake, Hiking, or Golfing.

Navigating Change: Real Estate in the Age of Transformation

In the ever-evolving landscape of real estate, change is our constant companion. Kathy concurs that technological advancements, shifting customer needs, and evolving expectations are propelling the industry forward. To deal with the impending changes, one must be well informed courtesy reading from reliable sources, making positive use of the internet, through hands-on experience and finally training and more training.

Kathy points out that COVID-19 triggered an unprecedented wave of change. In her 30 years as a real estate professional, she had never witnessed such rapid transformation. Customers need and expectations changed. From shelter to sanctuary, homes took on new significance. Customers sought safety, comfort, and flexible spaces. The process of how Buyers previewed homes and how they bought homes, With changing Buyer Behavior sight-unseen purchases became commonplace. Offers soared above asking prices, often bypassing inspections and contingencies. With buyer dilemma setting in, many buyers sold their homes for top dollar but are caught in the middle of getting top dollar and paying top dollar for less of a home than they recently sold. Many Buyers were living and still are with family in campgrounds and rental properties. Rental properties were all at full occupancy and rental rates had increased tremendously for many unaffordable.

As agents, Kathy and her team had to adapt their negotiation strategies. Agility was key. They had to learn new and better ways of negotiating and doing business to stay competitive. “ It seems as if everyone and their cousin had decided to change careers and become a Real Estate Agent,” comments Kathy.

The real estate office environment changed as well. Agents met via Zoom as opposed to weekly office meetings, they worked from home and experienced rapid changes in the technology being put to use. Post covid not much has changed, feels Kathy. While some things returned to normal, others remained in flux. Getting agents re-engaged into the office environment and group participation has been a struggle, to say the least. However, performance and customer satisfaction are still as paramount as it was pre-COVID.

As the Managing Broker Kathy had to keep a pulse on the market and the rapid changes in the industry so they could train to change but be willing to change again next week. “What we learned in yesterday’s meetings, would be obsolete in next week’s meetings. Being a veteran in the business I knew the “unicorn market” would be short-lived and all the agents that got in the real estate business when business was easy might not be around when it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start working hard. We are back to negotiating the price, back to working through inspections, and coddling each transaction to the closing table,” says Kathy.

The After Effects of COVID

Post-pandemic, the industry is still facing changes. It has created a hybrid office work environment. With lots of individuals changing their careers to become real estate agents, Kathy shares that they had to have a better skill level than ever be more efficient at what they do, and respond quicker than ever before to the consumer.

At the consumer end, their ideas of homeownership changed. Suddenly it was a necessity for a home office, family, and entertaining space, luxury items such as pools and hot tubs also became a frequent request. Many homes were sold over the internet and have become the norm and an ongoing request. The value of homeownership changed in the consumer’s eyes almost overnight. “We as agents are

tasked post-COVID to retrain the consumer to realize the market has changed once again and what worked for your neighbor may not work for you when buying or selling. The real estate business is geographically like the weather, just because it’s sunny in Tennessee doesn’t mean it’s sunny in the neighboring state or even the adjoining area,” says Kathy.

Current Challenges and Potential Solutions in the Real Estate Industry

The delicate balance of supply and demand shapes the real estate landscape. Kathy points out that unfortunately, they face critical challenges that impact both buyers and builders. There is an Affordability Crisis. The dream of homeownership remains elusive for many. A severe undersupply of affordable and traditional housing compounds the issue. First-time buyers and those without substantial equity find themselves on the sidelines. The soaring cost of homes, coupled with rising interest rates, pushes ownership out of reach. There needs to be a provision for more affordable housing and creative financing options till the market conditions change.

The industry is also undergoing Building Blues. Aspiring homeowners seeking to build face a labyrinth of obstacles as there is a Builder Shortage and Available builders are scarce. Some projects stretch to over two-year timeline due to sluggish supply chains for materials. Due to the impact of Inflation building materials become costlier than initially quoted and during mid-construction, buyers encounter unexpected price hikes.

The industry also grapples with a scarcity of skilled professionals. There also is a shortage of skilled and experienced surveyors and professionals such as plumbers, electricians, general repairmen, movers, etc.

The solutions, suggests Kathy, lie in a multi-pronged approach. There needs to be a reduction in interest Rate. Lower interest rates can ease the burden on buyers. It is crucial to create more affordable Housing Initiatives. There is a need for Skilled Workforce Development and firms need to encourage training and attract new talent to the trades. Exploring creative and innovative financing models can make homeownership accessible and affordable for middle-class Americans.

Being Prepared for the Future

Change is a constant, regardless of the market. Staying attuned to market dynamics and actively listening to consumer needs and expectations are essential survival strategies. Consistent reading and ongoing training play a pivotal role.

“In our industry, flexibility is non-negotiable. We must adapt swiftly and execute the necessary protocols to sustain our business. As an owner, I perpetually seek out the right people and growth opportunities, ensuring our business continues to thrive and evolve,” says Kathy.

Further, she says that having a diverse age of associates is another key to survival and tenure in business. A mix of seasoned associates and fresh talent ensures longevity. Kathy invests in training and mentorship for both groups.

“I always keep cultivating and training new associates, along with nurturing and mentoring the experienced associates, then helping develop succession plans for the associates that are ready for the next chapter in life. Being a good leader means treating your team of associates as a valuable entity and consistently setting each one of them up for growing their business. in any given market with new tools

and new opportunities. In the coming years, I’m looking for growth for most, succession for some, and a constant influx of new aspiring associates with new ideas and new opportunities,” concludes Kathy.

The following sections need to be designed:

Quick Answers:

· What motivated you to become an entrepreneur?

My work ethic, and my ability to communicate with people

· How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The business was already in place. I just helped it flourish.

· How do you define success?

Loving what you do and doing a great job at it!

· What, according to you, makes a good leader?

Listening, flexibility, and Ever Evolving

· Who is your biggest role model?

Dolly Parton

· Have you ever failed at anything?

The first Real Estate Company I interviewed didn’t Hire Me

· A Quote you live by?

“Don’t Just aspire to make a living, Aspire to make a difference”. Denzel Washington

Quote: “Given the current volatility of the market, I use my knowledge and experience to set realistic expectations for my clients and minimize their frustration in any situation.”

Quote: “Every market offers different challenges and opportunities, and my knowledge and experience have taught me to embrace change and search for new opportunities where others might have overlooked them.”

Quote: “We must first begin by recognizing the problems facing the world and then implement the training that is necessary to bring awareness and solutions to the problems.”

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Managing Director Azolla Holdings Pty Ltd | Board Member | Innovator | Speaker | Writer

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Traditional consulting companies build their model around a cookie-cutter approach. They develop a framework or methodology and then sell it to customers in a replicated way at the same price of development. The over-reliance on the framework and methodology (trust the process) results in client outputs, such as a report. It is a very siloed approach allowing consultants to on-sell into another team and extending their revenue tail. For instance, you might have contracted for a strategy, and then be on-sold change management to help implement it. Then a digital platform to provide an efficient reporting system, and so on.

Azolla, however, is different. The company is focused on delivering outcomes by providing bespoke services to its clients through deep design. This means they provide a multi-layered and multi-disciplinary design methodology that combines everything their clients need to be successful. And they know it works based on the measured metrics, customer feedback, and documented qualitative evidence.

The Inspiration

The company takes its name from Azolla, an unassuming aquatic plant that changed the history of our world. Many millennia ago, the earth’s environment was different. This small aquatic plant, uninhibited by a lack of oxygen, water, and nitrogen, was able to grow and create the atmosphere we have today. This allowed for other organisms to reach their potential. The impact was so powerful that scientists call it The Azolla Effect. It is an analogy for what the company does with its clients.

Led by a scientist and sociologist by trade, Marion Burchell who chose a management and leadership stream, Azolla helps people, teams, and organizations by providing bespoke, deep design and multi-disciplinary layered ways to solve their pain points and challenges to have a bigger impact.

“The world we live in is changing. Our operating environment was stable, and what was required to solve a challenge was relatively known. The traditional way was created at a time when factories were not automated and relied on human power. The organizational structures, processes, and procedures implemented reinforced these ways of working. These, while relevant at the time, no longer serve us. New contemporary approaches to thinking, ways of working, and doing things are required to successfully navigate the complex and ambiguous operating environment in which we find ourselves,” reasons Marion.

Organizations are an extension of ourselves and our own experiences, knowledge, and capabilities. Therefore, for an organization to be successful it requires its people to grow and contribute in different ways. Azolla helps the client achieve this by leveraging its own diverse experiences, insights, and practices that they know work, mixed with best practices, methodologies, and academic frameworks. It’s a yin and yang approach – analytical with creative, practical with academic, strategic with implementation.

A Journey Made of Experience and Perspective

Where we are in our life journey is a culmination of our choices and experiences. It is for this reason Marion is an experience collector, as it helps develop a broader perspective and provides a deeper life practice.

Given this, it comes as no surprise that her professional journey is littered with a variety of different jobs from strategy, policy, planning, intergovernmental relations, innovation, digital and data reform, to different industries such as water, agriculture and food, cyber security, social and community safety, and different sectors such a government, resources, consulting, academia and not for profit. To the uninitiated, this may appear disparate however they are bound by commonality in curiosity, challenging oneself, and continuous learning.

Marion served as the first female Government Chief Information Officer for Western Australia, driving social inclusion, cyber security, and inter-jurisdictional data sharing. She led the design and implementation of the State’s first innovation strategy, the open data policy, and digital reform. Marion was instrumental in the development of the Office of the GCIO indicative of the priority and importance of technology to delivering better services to people. Her work was key to securing a $25m innovation fund and ensured focus on regular delivery of key initiatives to build momentum in the ecosystem and showcase the value of developing and supporting startups to the economy. She also negotiated a cyber security agreement which secured significant investment in local startups with scalable solutions to business challenges.

Marion provides advice to executives as well as being a non-executive Board member. She has trained with international experts in their fields, as well as delivered sessions of her own including to CEOs and entrepreneurs on Sir Richard Branson’s private island, Necker. She has over 20 publications (policies, guidelines, protection plans), several conference papers, and peer-reviewed journal articles. Her work has been cited as best practice internationally.

“These experiences enable me to help teams and organizations to re-imagine what is possible so they can create value and have a positive impact in the lives of their customers, their team, as well as their own. As a result, I created the company to have a bigger impact and a global influence,” she says.

A Balanced Working Style

As a leader, Marion’s job is to enable people to bring their best selves to the table and create an environment where they feel safe to share, participate, and empowered to deliver. She is very clear about direction, outcomes that need to be delivered, and who needs to be involved based on the capabilities required, and will remove any barriers or challenges to getting there. She is open about team members flagging early any issues so

that they can be managed or mitigated quickly and always gives credit when due. Innovation, evidence-based logic, co-design, and a good narrative are at the core – that is, a balanced blend of science and creativity.

Overcoming Challenges

Firstly, Marion doesn’t see things as challenges, she views them as opportunities to grow and demonstrate abilities to others, and yourself, that you didn’t know you had until that moment. These opportunities provide a testament to one’s spirit, true leadership qualities, and emotional intelligence.

“I have found that at each point of my career where there has been growth, this growth has occurred due to being challenged, and overcoming it. Those challenges were appropriate to moving to the next part of my evolution,” she says.

Marion says it is easy to get caught up in focusing on how one is different.

“I have been everything. The only female. The youngest person. The racially different. The newest person. The diverse thinker. These things can be the most challenging experience – if you let it. For me, I have always focused on:

– What’s the actual problem we are trying to solve?

– What’s the outcome we are looking to achieve?

– How can we have the best impact by creating a winning situation for everyone?

– What and who is required to achieve it?

By focusing everyone on commonalities and unifying people to a common cause, many of the potential obstacles I could have faced disappeared,” she explains.

The Right Use of Technology

Technology, feels Marion, is a tool that enables you to deliver an outcome. It is only part of the delivery solution. There is a myth that:

– Technology is the silver bullet that will solve the pain points and problems

– That being a contemporary or high-performing organization means having the latest technologies

– That having the latest technologies will result in greater market share or better outcomes

– That the solution is more technology

Instead, what we see is organizations end up investing lots of time and money in technologies that do not resolve the issue and make it worse as it results in multiple processes and systems.

Success comes from planning and doing the work upfront, usually driven by the business, to determine:

– What is actually needed (might not be technology)

– Redesign processes and ways of working

– Identify the actual key problem or pain point (it might not be the obvious)

– Consideration of practical implementation

This work is generally done with a keen focus on the technology or process, with little regard for the human aspect. “It is little wonder technology transformations fail or do not result in full benefit realization. We place the human back into the process – it goes beyond human-centered design,” she says.

Current Challenges in the Industry

Status quo thinking combined with the accelerated pace of delivery means people are not getting the required time and space to do good design. This is leading to poor outcomes such as:

– There is a focus on delivering against time (quality compromised)

– Potential consequences are not considered or designed for

– Assumptions are not tested due to hubris, living in a bubble of conformity,

– Ego-driven decision-making based on bias or thinking we are the experts

– Lack of accountability or curiosity

Yes, technology has changed our world, but much of our world remains the same, as at the core are humans. We think technology is the solution. Technology is only an enabler. This is why Azolla focuses on putting the human back into the center of the modern age.

Meeting Bigger Goals in the Coming Years

Marion wants her team to make a bigger impact in the coming years. Part of the reason for becoming an entrepreneur, for her, was to have a larger reach and be limitless. Marion and her team have not built their model using traditional MBA logic. They are not bound by geography and can deliver their services either face-to-face or digitally.

Their focus has always been on where they can have a positive impact, working with clients who are serious about high performance, delivering better outcomes, and continuously improving. This is evident in Azolla’s track record and client testimonials. Their clients are even award nominees based on the work they have delivered together.

Drawing Inspiration

Dead Poets Society is a film that profoundly influenced Marion and is deeply part of who she is today. Carpe Diem – or seize the day – is therefore the quote she lives by and finds helpful.

“It helps to remind us that opportunity is fleeting, as is life, so make the most of it. It aligns nicely with my upbringing and the parental mantras that were used like “If you don’t ask you don’t get”, “What’s the worst they can say? No?”, and “You never know if you don’t try”,” shares Marion.

“Recently I was watching “The Politician” on Netflix and there was a brilliant piece of writing, “There is more honor in defeat than unused potential.” Sometimes we need a reminder to keep us on track, inspiration to show us what is possible, or a circuit breaker to overcome inertia (comfortableness) and place us in motion away from mediocrity. That is what Carpe Diem is for me. A reminder to be authentic and true to self as that is how we can contribute our gifts to the world, live a full life, and challenge ourselves to reach our potential,” she concludes.

To be Designed:

Message for the Entrepreneurs:

Don’t get caught up in the good opinion of other people (GOOP). They are not you. They do not have your dreams, knowledge, experience, or skills. Some people will be genuine about their advice, placing your interests first. They will only be a handful. Know who they are. Many others, whether consciously or not, will have an opinion that is ill-informed, reflective of jealousy, will bring you back into the fold of the status quo, or manipulate you for their own benefit. You cannot change this, and in fact, doing so is only a waste of your energy which can be used more impactfully productive by focusing on what you want to achieve.

There is no time like now to be an entrepreneur. The traditional structures, systems, and ways of working no longer serve us. They were born during a period of industrialization and factory processes. We are seeing the start of a shift in the evolution of work which will result in a re-design. Much more than this, power is shifting. Trust has eroded in traditional sectors such as government (the lowest trust ratings), large corporates that have taken customers for granted and extorted them (e.g. Qantas, Facebook), and religious institutions (sexual abuse scandals). This has created a void that is currently being filled by entrepreneurs who are developing businesses that not only inspire us, and evolve us, but are far more layered in their design by focusing on multiple outcome benefits by being profitable, environmental, and delivering social impact.

Quote: “Our clients drive our market competitiveness as they apply for awards, and provide on-going testimonials and referrals.”

Quote: “Our clients proudly share the impact internally and externally of the programs we have delivered in partnership with them.”

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Human Resources Manager Moelven Edanesågen | Graduate Personnel Scientist

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From growing up on a farm to becoming one of Sweden’s most successful co-drivers in rally with three gold medals in the world championship. Tina Thörner was formed to become a result-oriented and purposeful girl, with a creative mind to solve the challenges facing her in life.

Some people have inspiring tales to tell. A few live an inspiring tale. Tina Thörner is one of the latter.

Growing up on a farm in Värmlandsnäs, a northern peninsula of Lake Vänern, Sweden, Tina learned to work hard and be proactive. Her grandmother’s motto was, “Nothing happens if you do nothing”. Her family taught her to focus on what she can control and pursue her goals. These cherished moments of her childhood taught her the lesson of her life to be a resilient and driven woman who never quits.

Always in the Driver’s Seat

Growing up, Tina had a passion for different sports and she collected many prizes in different disciplines. She wanted to become a fighter pilot in the 80s, an unusual choice for young girls then. After spending over a year at a flying school in Albuquerque, New Mexico (US) she encountered a block as Sweden didn’t allow women in force back then, so she continued with her study of economics.

At the gymnasium, Tina met her first boyfriend who was an upcoming rally driver in Sweden. Intrigued by speed and the sport, she joined him and they started competing together. They were to become professionals in 1989 when she lost him to an accident. That turned her world “upside-down” at the time and held her back for a while from the sport.

However, sometimes you heal where you hurt. In 1990 Tina was asked to co-drive for a professional Scottish female rally driver at General Motors. Since then, she spent the next 25 years as a professional co-driver in rally alongside the fastest women and men, becoming female world champion co-driver 3 times and two times rally raid champion co-driver in the desert competition and finishing 2nd overall in the DAKAR rally.

In 2015 Tina switched to work for motorsport in a new way, by leading a new AI technology project as Race Director, making everyday drivers aware of how they, through focusing on their driving, can be a change for lowering CO2 while driving as well as lowering the risk of having a car accident. “This is called FIA Smart Driving Challenge, the world’s biggest CSR project, that was used during COP 28 in Dubai for all transport and is run with AI technology from Greater Than, a Swedish insurance TECH company, where I also am a board member today,” says Tina.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, as universities and educational institutions opened up and went live on the web, Tina decided to make use of remote study. She used this time and took to educating herself in something she has great passion for today. This summer of 2023, she graduated as a personnel scientist. “Throughout my rally career, I have always worked and supported our development within every team when it came to working conditions and how we could structure and work smarter as well as personal development, both physical and mental.

During this time in motorsport, I did a lot of educational certifications for example; NLP Coach, Mental trainer, Yoga instructor, project manager and leadership as well as Stress and- health pedagogue. For 20 years I have also done speeches about motivation, reaching goals, team building, leadership training & workshops and mental training,” shares Tina.

After graduation in 2023, she found an opportunity as HR Manager at the Sawmill in her home community where she grew up, in Värmland and she applied for it and got through. Since September 2023, Tina has been a part of Moelven Edanesågen, where she loves to come to work every day with her new team of 109 employees.

A New Track

Tina’s journey has been “very” different to navigate to where she is today. However, it is passion and her commitment to better herself every day that has brought her to her new role. As an HR Manager at Moelven Edanesågen, in the Wood industry, Tina is managing 109 co-workers at the sawmill outside Arvika in Värmland. She came into this new environment with her experience, knowledge, and ways of leading rally teams in the world rally- and rally raid championship. This was followed as Race Director for FIA SDC. Both areas were a Multikulti environment, working with 100% focus, no excuses, no whining, and 100% responsibility for each and one’s work assignments. This whole “leading style” has brought a “wake-up call” into a very Swedish “blue-collar” Traditional working environment.

“That someone arrives every morning with a “SUNSHINE MINDSET” spreading positive energy and keeping self-discipline– have for me felt like the biggest change in everyday meetings with my colleagues/co-workers. The response has been very positive and at the moment this is spreading among many more today. That has helped us as a team to open up and overcome challenges much more easily and with a smile while working hard,” shares Tina.

She started to send weekly news – using live video, something that the organization and her team had never experienced before, and today they wait to watch it every Thursday. Also, she has now created team leaders within every shift so that the company is spreading the leadership and making it “flatter” and more inclusive of all workers. As a leader, Tina is very open and transparent, so that her team knows where they have her.

“Using situated leadership built from coaching my team to question existing ways of acting and doing – daring to think and try new ways. My most valuable style is leading out of “unconditional love” within a very CLEAR “game plan with rules”,” she shares.

Tina loves to use the latest technology and that has been a “turnover” in her new role as the HR manager. She has directed and implemented new digital programs and tools to be just as updated as most modern sawmills. She has also well implemented new education for all personnel to update their digital skills and know-how. “Why waste time on doing work that technology can and will do better than us humans without any “cultural or personal” values? I have invested in and been a part of an entrepreneurial education platform for children of the world: www.youracademy.com. I am passionate about implementing technology wherever it can be of best and most efficient use,” she shares. One of the users are the orphan home in Bangui, Central Africa where I have been their sponsor since 2010 and we have gone through 2 civil wars and many challenges, but today many of the children have created their life success both with education, work and private life and contribute back to support the orphans home lead by Maria Theresia.

A Leading Player in the Wood Industry

Moelven is (not: one of) an European (not:largest) producers of wood loaders. Together, its sawmills produce about 2 million m3 of pine and spruce annually. Moelven is a Scandinavian industrial group that produces building products and systems for the construction industry. With sustainable spruce and pine as raw materials, Moelven’s wide-ranging product and service range makes them one of the leading players in the industry.

Moelven sells raw materials further for processing in other industries and uses it in its own products where it manufactures everything clients need in terms of wood for their home, lumber for industry, glulam, building modules, flexible office solutions, chips, and bioenergy. In 100 years, Moelven has evolved from having one factory in Moelv producing wagon wheels dipped in boiling oil, to an international timber processing group.

Sustainability is crucial to Moelven’s competitiveness. Therefore, they have set ambitious and concrete sustainability goals within four main areas – safeguarding natural resources, focusing on people, local values, and climate-smart products and services. They manage the renewable resources they live off with respect and care. They take responsibility for creating a safe workplace where they take care of people and the environment as their fundamental values.

“We are proud of our over 100-year-old history and look forward to the future, where the digital sawmill plays a key role: Moelven as a company is focused on Transforming from a very traditional to a HIGH TECH/DIGITAL sawmill industry with just as up to date using digital and high-tech tools in creating the best work/life balance for all its employees,” says Tina.

Also, speaking about the future, she says, “You can expect that Moelven Edanesågen will be a company to visit in 3 years’ time, when others need inspiration on how we have the most inspirational work/life balance and healthy and engaged workers, where all can and will take turns in leading their group and supporting the management with new ideas and solutions for improving both machines and humans.”

Turning Challenges into Achievement Milestones

Tina’s biggest challenge was when she became the co-driver of Nasser Al-Attiyah from Qatar, who, at that time, had never won an international rally. He joined Tina and their BMW team who came from winning the World Cup title. They joined together and they overcame it through training and practice on Swedish Icy roads and an attitude of never giving in. Even when they disagreed with each other on most points, they agreed on a mindset: always act with a mindset that “we were newly in love” (it is from Tina’s leading tool: unconditional love leadership which she developed and) “cool down the differences using NLP coaching on each other” (again from Tina’s education and license as NLP coach).

They won the title that year. This was a success and a Historical victory – since no mixed team in the world with a man from Qatar joined by a European woman – had won an international title.

“To be a female, succeeding and navigating her driver and team to this success in 2008– overcoming all challenges, both personal (cultural) as well as technical – and the skepticism against our mix, all the negative comments and so on – gave us “fuel” to coach each other gaining an even stronger MIND, to SHOW the sport and THE WORLD – that, as Nelson

Mandela told me when he visited our workshop in South Africa, where I was competing for Nissan – the sport will unite and overcome so many more bridges between people of any culture and collar, than politicians can do – to join in and work hand in hand to succeed. And RIGHT he was – Nasser and I proved it and after that we have been role models for equality in the Middle East, supporting and inspiring this – seeing how males and females are now working and competing more accepted and equal,” states Tina. A great example in the Dakar Rally that now is run in Saudi Arabia where local female drives compete against male competition on equal conditions.

What she did learn from it all was that when it comes to human “brain pictures” – the way each and every one of us believes, have been trained to believe from our surrounding’s from growing up – what is OK and not OK– this can be changed over time. We can enlighten each other with an exchange of knowledge between us – not having to give every solution a RIGHT or WRONG – just letting it be “one option” on how to handle life. Now when she leads, she asks: is this a law of nature (not changed by humans) or is it “man-made/developed/decided? If humans have implemented it – then for sure it can be changed, sometimes in the snap of our fingers, if we really want to! A very good example is when all the flights in the world was grounded over a period of a couple of weeks…

And her second question is- give me new ideas and ways to act on it from how we see and look upon the world we live in today. Too many rules and laws are “outdated” in the modern world of new knowledge and technology; that is why she leads and pushes for “new alternatives” before she lets the team decide and “just do like people before us did!

Challenges within the Industry

From Tina’s point of view, what holds the industry and many more back is humans leading at the top. She observes that the board members are not enough “representative” of the blend of ages, sexes, and cultures. People tend, most of the time, to fall back into the “like we have done it before” methodology to stay safe and sound and make things less challenging or hassle-free. Tina, on the other hand, is an entrepreneur, who loves to dare, try and if it does not work out, try it again but in a different way – and has the grit to try until it succeeds.

“Older people tend to not want to have a “bumpy” surrounding –while testing new = less stress = more time for other things. Of course, not all need and have to change too fast – but still, be more dynamic and daring than what is shown and acted by board members and

leaders of our business of today,” she says. We have so much more knowledge and are well educated, but still oft “know better than the way we act”. One example is how slow the work together as “world citizens” acting to achieve the values of the 17 United Nations Global Goals….

The Second point is that the board and top leaders can invest a lot in new technology –

but do not invest the percentage that is needed of that investment in developing the humans! Humans have a lack of staying updated with the latest in knowledge compared to the modern machines they are asked to run and deliver results together with. She feels that they should put in equal, if not more, attention towards developing the most crucial resource – the human resource.

Words of Experience and Wisdom

Tina concludes with the following message to the young entrepreneurs:

“Be aware of a “HEALTH/WORK LIFE”, the importance of the higher purpose for our environment and planet, and plan, act, and thrive businesses for generations to come as well as living the best of life while leading and working today – here and now.

Take In that each and every one of us has very little time where we are a part of this “life on our planet”. Share the leadership with each business employer and create for all together to have the best of possibilities to live and work with life quality out of each companies’ possibilities. Involve – share and thrive together as a TEAM in every business with an “INCLUDING” leadership. Dare to share responsibility and make consequences when the gameplan is not supported or followed as agreed.”

“Never become a lazy and boring grown-up with a locked mindset!”

“Condition your mind to spread warmth & energy like the sun in every meeting with every person, animal, or plant every day.”

“Moelven will continue to build a sustainable future in wood.”

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Chief Executive Officer at PAVE Prevention Proactive Anti Violence Education and Consulting

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Things are not the way they used to be say few decades ago. This is not just in broader terms of living standards, social conditions, etc, but also on microlevels. Just like good things have taken a new form, so have the not-so-good things. Violence, for instance, today, is not just about blood and gory. It is also the fear one feels when walking down a dim-lit alley or that second thought one has while uploading a seemingly harmless and funny image of oneself over the internet.

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Violence and abuse have surely changed their forms. This means the way to fight them also needs to be changed. Today, it is not just about looking up to authorities to create a safe society, but about empowering individuals to recognize the kind of violence they are being subjected to and protect themselves from it.

As Arlene Limas, Olympic Champion and CEO of PAVE Prevention (Proactive Anti Violence Education), Inc. puts it, “I don’t think anyone can deny that Violence, in all its shapes and sizes, is impacting us all. From micro-aggression through full-blown psychological and physical events. Not to mention the wrecking ball of trauma that is left behind to impact everything from our financial prosperity to health outcomes.”

Having found herself very early on witnessing inappropriate behavior, power dynamics, treatment, and abuse, Arlene, a lifelong martial artist, athlete, and coach, has always advocated for safer spaces where athletes and people, in general, could thrive and succeed. Being a doer all her life, Arlene joined PAVE, a global organization whose purpose is to ignite change on the corporate and institutional level by providing access, process, and culture change. Arlene has spent her career advocating for athlete safety on and off the field of play. This commitment to safety advocacy ties in well to her new role as the CEO of PAVE Prevention, where she will continue to fulfill her lifelong commitment to personal safety for individuals worldwide.

Transition from a Player to a Guide

Arlene made history as the first American and the first woman to win a Gold Medal in Tae Kwon Do at the 24th Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, on September 17, 1988. She opened her school, Power Kix Martial Arts, in Stafford in May of 1993, paving the way for other women. Her current 12,500 sq ft facility has been going strong for 30 years.

As the CEO of PAVE Prevention, Arlene advocates for personal safety and empowers corporations. She aims to link high-level programming with corporations and organizations, tackling counterproductive work behaviors that can cause low productivity, tardiness, absenteeism, and high turnover. She strongly believes that her years as an athlete and coach have shaped and contributed to her current role. Looking at the company’s planning and goals much like a periodization plan she would set for herself or her team works for them. Also, grasping that it’s about the big goals, not the small wins or losses. “As far as tangible ideas and products, I am so very proud of our proprietary assessment tools and incredible training modules,” she says.

Arlene leverages her expertise, abilities, and achievements to improve the lives of many others as an instructor and entrepreneur. As the CEO of the startup, Arlene’s communication style lands between Intuitive and Personal styles. She loves to collaborate, include, and empower her team. “I feel we are better when we all are contributing,” she asserts.

Creating Safe Workspaces to Boost Productivity and Creativity

PAVE Prevention, a social enterprise aims to change the culture of violence in workplaces by teaching human safety skills. By enabling the individual, focusing on human development, and building fairer and violence-free workspaces, they believe everyone can stop the chain reaction of workplace violence and make safer communities.

Founded in 2021 in the United States of America, its mission is to offer training and consulting services to individuals and organizations – and the communities they serve – on how to prevent, respond, and heal from violent incidents. The founders have long understood that when individuals have the skills and knowledge to establish healthy boundaries, communicate confidently, and handle conflict, companies and communities gain financially and culturally. PAVE’s evidence-based, trauma-informed programming equips employees and members with the skills for better performance, stronger engagement, and healthier work culture.

PAVE Prevention’s objective is to spark change, safety, and leadership among organizations, individuals, and businesses. This is not about the differences. It’s about knowing that you can reach your full potential and succeed feeling safe and secure and because our shared goal is to build better and stronger human relations.

Working on a Deeper Level

Arlene explains that PAVE goes about providing solutions differently. They are trauma-informed, holistic, and deeply based on scenario learning. They aim to train for acknowledgment and awareness of what is happening to us as an individual as we enter into situations. Why is this situation escalating? Is this situation safe just because we know each other?

“I think having panic alarms at desks and on doors are great, better lighting in a parking lot, super, cameras to monitor a building a necessity, but until we empower each individual with a set of, what we call Human Safety Skills we fall short of our safety goals as a society. Learning to set a boundary, using our voice, and understanding the strength of being a good bystander or upstander. Understanding your own trauma, activators, and what an adrenalized response looks and feels like changes everything. It is similar to when an athlete can work through crippling pre-event anxiety. Everything just becomes clearer; you are faster and stronger,” she explains.

PAVE is also using technology to assist with their work. The power of assessments, data collection, and reporting platform have been a game changer for them. It shapes everything, curriculum, trainer approach, and validity of the work. They are also embarking on a partnership with an AI company, Scirevance, that will allow them to stay up-to-date and research at incredible speeds.

The leadership team at PAVE believes that creating diverse and inclusive spaces where people can be their authentic selves is imperative for success. PAVE aims to enable people to perform at their best, while fostering safer practices in their workplaces and communities. Diversity of people, ideas, and experiences enriches organizations. Being inclusive with different thoughts and backgrounds means

more than just expressing or sharing the experiences, but also feeling appreciated for doing so. So, the organization has been created as a multi-generational, multi-cultural, gender-inclusive workspace and they are fortunate to have trainers across the world to serve the communities that they live in.

Dealing with Challenges

When asked about her biggest challenge yet, Arlene says that most athletes and leaders, in general, welcome challenges. She thinks as an athlete, a coach and now leadership with PAVE, just getting folks to acknowledge that we must do better around creating safer spaces is a challenge. It is about changing people’s mindset.

“Everyone acknowledges that violence is happening in private but somehow sees a public discussion as a liability. Safety is a second-tier need just after basic life needs of water, food, and shelter. So, to your question… I am still attacking this challenge and learning every day,” she answers.

She also offers a simple tip that would help people, in their daily lives, to understand their situations and take a step for themselves. She says, “I would offer this tip… ask yourself, what do I want out of this interaction? Where do I want it to go, how will I respond? In a sense, have a game plan. Also, take more time to breathe and ground!”

New Year, New Goals

Arlene and her team are excited for 2024. They have made inroads in municipal sectors that are dealing with violence on a daily basis and are still serving their communities every day. Changing and impacting that culture will be incredibly rewarding. It will also allow them to share that data to encourage more meaningful work for PAVE. “It is my hope that someday in the near future having a good PAVE Score means something, it means that is a great place to work,” concludes Arlene.

“Better alone than in bad company! Integrity is everything!”

Quote: “I believe I have been empowering people through Martial Arts, Exercise, and Sport and now through Consulting and Training in the Workplace.”

Rapid Fires:

1. How would you sum up your 2023: Planting seeds!

2. A Contemporary Leader You Admire: Wow, I have many. I find myself going back to Anita Hill often!

3. A Book/Audiobook you are currently Reading/Listening: The Bonobo Sisterhood

4. Your biggest role model: My parents.

5. Success to you is: creating safe spaces where all individuals can be their authentic selves and contribute to the greater good. Whatever that may be for them.

6. Advise for the Young Entrepreneurs: Find your WHY and chase it! Build it! Also, surround yourself with a great team!

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