 Hey everyone, welcome to Tuesday tea. I'm so excited to have you join us today We took a bit of hiatus on Tuesday tea because I was launching some LinkedIn master classes But I am thrilled to launch this month's episodes of Tuesday tea Starting off with my friend Karen Miller and I love Karen's story I heard part of her story When we were talking about personal branding a couple months ago Karen and her colleague joined me just to chat personal branding I wanted to get a sense from them about what they felt it branding was about and as Karen shared her story It was like she she know she needs to share this widely This is a story that all of us need to hear about Stepping in and stepping up and so Karen's gonna talk to us about Authenticity in personal branding today So Karen's role is with as a meetings and conventions specialist with Frederick Frederick to the tourism And for those of you who don't know where Frederickton is it is in Atlantic Canada And I'm gonna allow Karen to introduce herself a little bit more a little bit about her destination And then we're gonna talk about her personal brand Karen. It's so great to have you here today Well, thank you Leanne. I'm excited to be here. Thank you for the opportunity If you can we just share a little bit about your background how you came into the role there at Frederickton tourism Absolutely, I have been with the city of Frederickton now for over 15 years My background has always been in customer service not so much in-house hospitality but in call center management and I worked for a period of time at a Not proper association as a fundraising coordinator and event coordinator So when I came to the city 15 years ago, it was a completely different shift I came as a 9-1-1 operator and I worked in an emergency dispatch Center so I worked with the city as a 9-1-1 operator for five years and Then had the opportunity to come to tourism When I came to tourism, I was working in an administrative position which evolved to administration and sales So I worked a lot in the consumer market And I did a lot of the advertising sales and working consumer shows and doing consumer marketing working on publications and selling ads for Prentice materials. So that was my initial foray into the tourism world and so now that you're you've been now into your Roll for how long have you been now there at Frederickton tourism? I've been at Frederickton tourism for 15 years just over 15 And I've been in my current position as meeting and convention specialist for four years now Four years for you. So that's all far How time flies by because it seems like it was just yesterday that you and I met but it's been four years Now I would love for you to take us back to four years ago when you stepped into this role Because this is what I love about your story and I'd love for you to share How your role came about and how you stepped into it? I Had the pleasure of working with the wonderful Wendy Bradley Wendy worked in this position for many many years. She really created this position and The brand was largely about Wendy Bradley and Frederickton As New Brunswick's capital city. She really I think Did great strides in putting the city on the map when it came to meetings and conventions Wendy Had to take a bit of an eye of a hiatus from this position Unexpectedly so I approached our manager at the time and said Is there anything that I can do to help? Can I be trained as Wendy's backup? Is there anything I can do to support her and He my manager at the time was very supportive and said absolutely. Let's let's Put you in there because it's a fantastic market and I'm sure that Wendy would be glad to have a colleague working beside her so that's how I ended up coming into it It was as a support for Wendy And as many people know Wendy was not able to come back She's so well since we're tired and so I'm in the position full time So it was never intended to become a full-time position, but due to circumstance. I was very fortunate that it did and I had the pleasure of working with Wendy as well As many of our Canadian meetings and industry colleagues Have they know Wendy quite well But I think most of us would say that you and Wendy have very different styles. What can you share with me? about Stepping into a role that was previously owned by someone who was quite different from yourself It was it was an experience because when I first came in as I mentioned it was not Intending to become so actively involved in this market Wendy was still the base And she was still the dynamic personality and for those of you who know Wendy and for those who don't Wendy is a very bubbly outgoing very extroverted Social person so if there was anyone leading the charge to the dance floor or anybody who was willing just to pick up and go It's Wendy and she is like that in every factor of her life. She's like that personally and professionally So it was a bit of an adjustment when I came in because I am I am not always like that I tend to be a little more reserved a lot more reserved But our approach was still the same we both Love the city. We both love working with people and I think that that Commonality is what really ties us together But coming in and following in the footsteps of such a vibrant and on and dynamic personality was a little bit overwhelming at first That's true Now do you recall? Conversations that you had back then about when you were introducing yourself to people. Do you remember how you introduced yourself? To people who have never met you before Absolutely, and for the first for the first several months I would introduce myself as You may know my colleague Wendy Bradley from Frederickton and people would often say Oh, yes, Wendy and we would talk about Wendy and and it was the opportunity for me to through association with Wendy Become familiar to people within the industry and and over time It became less and less of that association and Certainly now when I talk to people People are more familiar with me And Wendy has really maintained a lot of those friendships and Sam and kept those contacts now still in her personal life. So It's nice now to To not always have that association And so now you've made a name for yourself and people know Karen from Frederickton When they didn't know Karen from Frederickton and it was very much about you being Wendy's replacement. How did that make you feel? I Never felt that I was Wendy's replacement and and I still don't to be honest There is no replacing Wendy Wendy is is such a force all on her own But I am just the new the new face in Frederickton And because our personalities are so different so different it was it was a little bit daunting at first That people would expect that I would have similar personality or behave a similar way and And that wasn't a direction that I could take myself the only person I can be is me and I recall having a conversation very early In in this career with my friend and trouble partner Aaron Blanchard And I said I was I was struggling on who I was going to be in this market and Aaron is very very smart and she said there you can only be who you are like you can't be Wendy because you're not Wendy So do you that's that's perfect So so that's the direction I went. I was like, okay This is Karen. This is who I am You know, it's so we're talking about authenticity today and authenticity can look For a hundred people. There's a hundred different ways of being authentic The irony is as many ways as you can be authentic You and I actually share a similar story and that is being I'm comfortable with being on the introverted side in a very extroverted industry And Wendy embodied our industry and we can name dozens of other industry professionals who embody that extroverted Side but you and I are actually on the opposite end of the spectrum and we find ourselves in an industry that We're we're in the minority. Maybe maybe we're not after today knows maybe we'll have some more closet introverts come out, but we're in the minority and And we need to be but we need to be authentic to that I guess feeling at what point I suppose in your career and maybe this is even pre Wendy But at one point did you just say, you know what? I'm I'm not going to change who I am This is who I am and the people that are attracted to me will be attracted to my authentic self And I think that I think that that conversation really Happened for me in this position with that conversation with Aaron It was a true pivotal moment for me that in many ways because I have such respect for Aaron and For how well she's respected with in Within the industry for her to in many ways give me permission to be myself and that it was okay Was a huge moment for me. I Am introverted in many ways, but once I'm comfortable and once I once I have a relationship with you It's fast and furious like once we're friends we're friends and And I think that that's what this relationship business is about. It's you know, it's it's fun and it's comfortable and it's Building those relationships and you do that by being yourself. You can't you can't be anybody, but because people will see right through you You know, I wish I had a conversation with Aaron because I feel I'm Almost almost 20 years late to that realization. It's really only been in the last Three or four years for me and given my tenure in the industry like you I've been in the industry a long time But it's really been only in three or four years where I've actually owned it and I haven't been Embarrassed by it and I don't know why Why that was such a hurdle for me. Did you have a similar hurdle like were you because I was embarrassed I really was embarrassed trying to pave my way in this extroverted industry Did you feel that same way or and if you didn't that is fine? I'll still own it But I definitely went through that and I don't know if for me it was embarrassment But it was definitely uncomfortable and at times it still is to force myself To walk up to a group of people who are very very obviously friends and already have a relationship in and to Feel comfortable enough to walk up and do that. So in many ways, that's where an introvert forces themselves to become Extroverted right because we need to push those boundaries and I and I know that about myself And so I'm consciously pushing myself in situations To make those connections because I know that that you know, it is something they continue to work with Yeah, and you're right. It's something we actually need to do I'm here to work in the business of meeting people quite literally. So we know we need to do it ourselves I heard it explained to me once and I for a long time I identified myself as an omnivert which meant I was introverted, but I could also be extroverted when called upon And I carried that omnivert flag loud and proud for the longest time But even that for me was inauthentic because every time I force myself to be an omnivert I couldn't wait to get back to being an introvert and or and it's not even a Reverting back to being an introvert, but I couldn't wait to take that large group setting and Find a few of those people and make a small group setting and that became my that became my zone Is that smaller group dynamic? Have you heard that term omnivert? Is that something I? Don't even know where I picked that out Yeah, it's it's like but I imagine I imagine it's like the lizard like I'm supposed to be a lizard And I just changed my colors depending on the environment. I'm in and I did that for the longest time I changed my colors and now I'm like, oh, it's just too much work And I think that's part of it right it's exhausting trying to be somebody or not It's so easy to disappear in a room full of people and so you know being present and being an active participant in the moment is So important so many those connections and and reach out to people and and it's okay to do that Over a series of different networks or different conferences. It doesn't all happen at those relationships at time, right? So it's yeah takes a while so so being in an industry and The irony I get that we haven't been in these rooms for a year now, but these rooms will come back and We will end up at a rendezvous Reception somewhere some day together What strategies would you suggest for people who are like us and and Me to meet but would rather meet in a different format. Do you have any strategies at all? I What I always try to keep in mind for myself is That everybody in that room was new to that room at some point I I'm very fortunate. I love my job. I love the people that I work with and I love this industry in and Everybody at some point was the newest person But they are also the warmest group of people Yesterday was an international women's day And it was a chance to celebrate the women in this industry and and it is really true There are so many warm and supportive and encouraging people in In this industry that even if you're not comfortable walking up to a group of people who are having a conversation Somebody will find you somebody will seek you out and see you hovering along the edges of the group and Reach out to you and say hello And then that person becomes your person. You see them again at the next day at the next in the morning, you know You know or you'll sit with them at noon hour and then all of a sudden you have a network and you're building your own It it happens Naturally But don't be afraid to walk up to a group They are so warm and receptive You can put that fear away Because we've all been in that same position and Absolutely, if you're the first time in the room or you've been in that same room for for a hundred different meetings And you see me come on up and say hi I mean we will be friends and then we'll sit together tomorrow. It's just that easy You know, I love what you said about our industry being so warm and friendly and you're right You're right. I think if I was in any other industry I'd be a lot worse off because everyone is so warm and friendly one of our warm and friendlies Is is sending you some love today sherry? Hi sherry. Thanks for watching And Karen she's sending you some some love so she Sherry is great. There's someone I haven't connected with for a while now We haven't connected with everybody for a while, but there's someone that I need to to connect with more So Karen, I would love for you to answer this question because the theme this week has really been about authenticity Especially when we're in these sales positions and we need to be authentic What does it mean for you to be authentic in your personal brand? for me If you've ever done any kind of an insights training or any of those personality profiles I always end up being almost entirely on the feeling side. I am all emotion for me Being authentic means being allowed to be Myself I care about people when I send you things in the mail or invite you to take part in something It's because I genuinely want you to dump It's about reaching out to people if they've had a birthday or reaching out to somebody if they've switched positions It's all about that human element. It's about making the contact And building those relationships just one small gesture at a time And that's exactly what sherry Said before you even said it. So you were her person at PCMA You made sherry feel so welcome. So anyways, thank you sherry for sending that because I think I think what sherry now has Then is she's kind of given that stamp to approval to say, you know what? this is authentically Karen and And that's the Karen that we love and so anyways sherry. Thank you so much Now for listeners who have reservations about being authentic and for a lot of Industries and and I was one of these people Being authentic just it wasn't going to fly for me. I needed to change who I was for a long time What advice would you have for a younger leanne about being authentic? I would say that that there is no other leanne Like the only piece that you can put forward is who you truly are and you are perfect Absolutely the way that you are and people are going to love who you are for who you are It's not about trying to be somebody else. It's not about trying to fit into a mold Because people don't want a mold right people don't want To have a room full of people just like them. It's the diversity. It's the differences. It's the personalities that make you Who you are and why you're so special so Yeah, absolutely a hundred percent you Yeah, you know and it goes back to what you said about wendy, you know trying to be wendy So I have a wendy in my life Her name is durese And for those of you who know durese semen's She's she's a powerful force and we joined a company at the exact same time So I didn't replace her. We were colleagues on the exact same journey But at opposite ends of the spectrum And there was no me being durese. There was no way I could be durese. I'd be exhausted I'd be dead like I'd be a gutter somewhere still trying to recover like it just was not going to happen for me But oh, I wanted to be more like durese, right? Everyone loved everyone loves durese. She's just magnetic and she's just got this presence but Over time I learned to embrace that I have a presence. It's just different I Will attract different kinds of people the kinds of people that durese attracts is awesome And but I will attract different kinds of people durese would overwhelm Someone like you karen and I don't know if you work with durese But you probably drink a lot after an interaction with her because like she's just so magnetic but you and I We could drink for hours and hours and time would just Fly by and it would just be so natural and easy just because we relate to each other's Relational the way we relate just to the world in general. So anyways, I have a I have a wendy I try to be my wendy and Failed miserably And so I'm happy. I'm very happy now just being leon. It's a lot easier. It's just a heck of a It is yeah, it's like yeah trying to keep track of who it is. I know it's just easier Keeping track of the real me and not the fake me. Absolutely Anyway Well, karen, I cannot thank you enough for Joining me today and sharing your story Like I said, I think this is a story. This is something that a lot of people Struggle with especially in an extroverted industry like ours is The whole trying to keep up with the joses and when stepping into a new market. What does that look like? When replacing a predecessor? So I appreciate you sharing your story And to your point you you're karen from frederickton Everyone knows you as karen from frederickton and that's and that's because you stay true to yourself and true to your authenticity Do you have any parting words as we wrap up this call today? I I I want to thank you For providing an opportunity for us to and and I speak on behalf of the run of frederickton team too Because as you mentioned, we've reached out to you before as a group and said, okay, you know help us um To have you as a sounding board and as a resource for us is huge And I think it's because of my personality and yours that we blend so well together that it's so comfortable Just to feel that support and um As I said yesterday, I I commented on one of your posts that you're truly an inspiration and you know what in someday I want to be that for for women starting in this industry. I want to be Somebody people will feel comfortable to reach out to But karen you already are and I think sherry alluded to that already so um, there is no beginning point or end point to being that person for One other person. So you already are that person. Yes. I I you know We didn't talk about it a lot and and maybe actually you can wrap up talking about a few things that are going on frederickton I Love for anyone who's never been to frederickton. You're putting it on your list right now Um when travel opens up you're going to visit frederickton. It is one of my favorite places in the world I'm I've I've fallen in love with with the destination karen. What's going on in frederickton right now? Um, is there anything that you can share about what's happening, especially in this new normal It is um We have been very fortunate here in the current pandemic situations that we have still been able to To gather in groups with all the health and safety precautions So a lot of our activities turn to outdoor activities. Um, so we are Snowshoeing and we're sweating and we're taking part in outdoor activities and there's an ice sculpture showcase um Frederickton is a beautiful green city. So For every opportunity that we have to get outdoors and enjoy it. Um, we're definitely doing that um as far as The winter the winter has been beautiful. So we've been snowshoeing and just staying active and And celebrating winter in frederickton Yeah, what what I love I think my favorite thing about frederickton and this is this is where I want to return is It sounds weird to say but your downtown core, which is very small core, but that's what makes it incredible I I love love love Just walking along there From the delta all the way back to the convention center. It's just it's just It's one of my favorite memories. Um I'll I'll never forget it for as long as I live and I hope that I can relive it someday Some days soon when we can travel Thank you Karen so much I'm I'm so thrilled that you had time to to share with us today to share your insights on authenticity Folks if you're looking for tips on how to be authentic in your brand Go to liankholderwood.com the most recent blog post talks about seven different ways That you can do that and one of the ways is what Karen did today And she's just telling her story And that's one of the most powerful ways that you can show up more authentically Is to step out and share your story Never know who you're going to help or inspire with your story Thank you so much for joining us on today's Tuesday tea Thank you to Karen Miller with Frederickton tourism and we'll see you next week. Bye for now