The Best Advice, Lies & How to Change the World

Mike Palanski

Author and Professor

Mike has always been fascinated with leadership. After working in retail product management and banking, Mike obtained his Ph.D. in Leadership/Organizational Behavior from Binghamton University. His initial research focused on leader integrity, but he later transitioned to a focus on leader development. He is currently a Professor of Management at the Saunders College of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, where he teaches courses in leadership, business ethics, and cross-cultural management. He has coached hundreds of leaders in RIT’s Executive MBA program and worked with students and professionals in Ireland, Croatia, Hungary, and China. Following in the footsteps of his entrepreneurial parents, in 2020 he founded his leadership development practice, Mpower2Lead, because he was tired of seeing really great people spend a ton of money on crappy, pseudo-science leader development programs, and he knew he could do better.

He is the author of the forthcoming book The Me1st Method: A Leader's Guide to Finding, Facing, and Embracing Your Next Big Challenge

Sara Troy

Podcaster

For 9-10 plus years, Sara Troy and her hosts at Self Discovery Media have lived within the philosophy of authenticity. With thoughtful guidance from extraordinary people from all across the world, we have come together to share those stories that make a difference in the lives of others. Within these stories, we find truthful inspiration that helps us to seek solutions to our own unique challenges. Through the art of conversation and storytelling, Self Discovery Media's Orchard of Wisdom shows invites you to participate in taking charge of your own life.

Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham

Founder/President

Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham is the Founder and President of Women TIES, LLC (Women Together Inspiring Entrepreneurial Success) a company specializing in promoting, publicizing and uniting women entrepreneurs and their companies online and in person in order to cultivate strong economic relationships to advance their companies and eradicate pay inequality.
In 1995, Tracy created her first company – Five Star Events – an events management company she ran for 15 years. In 2005, Tracy embraced her passion for supporting other women entrepreneurs and established her second company, Women TIES, LLC, to create a stronger geographic buying network for women business owners across New York.

In 2011, Tracy created a division of Women TIES called the “Women’s Athletic Network” which promotes athletic events for women entrepreneurs to participate in, train for or support as spectators. In 2017, Higginbotham also created a “Women’s Rights Equality Division” to Women TIES to unite women who are interested in being more involved with equality issues for women.

From 2017-2018, Tracy was contracted by 261 Fearless, Inc., a global running organization started by running icon Kathrine Switzer, to help them grow across North America in the position of 261 Fearless North America Leader. She transitioned from that position into Head of Club Promotional Outreach in North America. Higginbotham’s passion for helping global women increased during this time.

Higginbotham is a 1986 graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and post graduate studies in Business Management.

Tracy’s dedication to supporting women entrepreneurship was recognized by the Small Business Administration twice – once in 2005 and again in 2011 when she received the Region II "Women Owned Business Champion Award." The Women Business Champion award is given to someone for their significant contributions as an outstanding small business person and for dedicated support of small business.

Higginbotham has received numerous awards including: the WCNY “Women Who Make America Award,” Zonta Crystal Ball Award, Women in Business Award, 25 Women in Leadership Award, the Girl Scouts "The 100" who Inspire Girls to Achieve and Lead, 40 Under 40 Award, and the SUNY Oswego Alumni Association Community Service Award.

Higginbotham was an Advisory Board Member of the State University of New York at Oswego School of Business and Board Member of the Upstate Women's Business Center in Utica from 2005-2020.

She was the columnist of the Syracuse Post Standard’s “Ask the Entrepreneur” column for 11 years from 2001-2012. She has produced an inspirational e-newsletter for women entrepreneurs from 2005 to 2021. She is also the Past Chairwoman of the 40 Below Emerging Entrepreneurs Program; and Past Public Relations Co-Chair of the Women's Fund of New York.
Higginbotham is also a published writer of “Under the Rose-Colored Hat” and inspirational short stories and articles in several national publications and books, including the 2009 “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms” and the 2019 “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Running for Good.”

In 2022, Tracy committed to a large lifetime goal of trying event sport in her lifetime and will engage other women to join her in her pursuit of the goal.

Kevyn Joseph Rustici

Consultant

Kevyn works as a Strategic Human Capital Consultant helping HR teams, business leaders and all stakeholders to achieve their own definitions of success. He hosts two podcast series, Timeout with Leaders and #HRevolution, focused on leadership and the future of HR. From his experience working in the world of technology, at ADP and Toshiba, he is always looking for the most efficient and effective way to do the administrative work, to free up time to be strategic when it comes to a business’s people. Putting people before profits, yields better outcomes for the business and the community.

Eliza VanCort

Author / Speaker / Mentor / Teacher

Acclaimed Speaker Eliza VanCort is a renowned empowerment advocate and best-selling author of the book A Woman’s Guide to Claiming Space.

In her powerful talk, Claim Your Space: Power Tools For Women Rising, Eliza revisits painful episodes from her past to reveal how she overcame the childhood trauma of kidnapping and a life-altering accident as an adult, to evolve into the confident, unapologetic superhero she is today.

Using her academic expertise coupled with her training in voice and body work as an acting instructor, Eliza shares how to effectively claim space using practical tools and techniques. Her transformative method of engaging her guests has been described as “invaluable” and “thrilling,” by previous audiences, making her sought-after presentation a must-see for organizations nationwide.

Jillian Jones

Owner of Supportive Divorce Solutions

Jillian Jones is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® and the Founder of Supportive Divorce Solutions, Inc., an independent consulting firm serving clients nationwide. Her background as a Financial Planner, Wealth Manager and Insurance Agent, provides her clients with the skills and insight needed in a CDFA®. She ensures that each of her clients have the knowledge and support that is needed to make informed decisions about their divorce. By advocating for her client’s financial futures, clients feel confident in the choices they are making today and understand how those choices impact their future.
Through her specialized training, Jillian assists her clients with creating budgets, consulting on pensions, investments, retirement accounts, insurance, real estate and more. She can design your divorce settlement and propose creative solutions for child support and spousal support.
If you want a safe and secure financial future do not hesitate - schedule your 30-minute complimentary consultation today!

Emily Carpenter

Entrepreneur

Emily Carpenter is a website designer, entrepreneur, natural health blogger, and healthy body/weight loss coach. She'll make you feel good about your website AND your body again! She's also a certified aromatherapist, herbalist, homeopath, and Reiki master. Emily loves to teach what she learns and does so through blogging, podcasting, and regular TV appearances.