ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Getting a seat at the table matters. But what happens once you're there?
In this special Women's Equality Day episode of the Empowering Women Podcast, Shannon reunites with Stacy Cassio, Founder and CEO of Pink Mentor Network - and the very first guest to join the podcast back in 2021.
This time, they're talking about game-changing influence: how we build it, how we use it, and why you don't need a certain title or position to start making an impact.
Stacy challenges us to think differently about where influence really comes from. It is not simply authority. It is understanding the value you bring. It is using your expertise, building meaningful relationships, speaking up from where you sit, and connecting your work to the bigger picture.
Shannon and Stacy explore what it means to be seen, known, and remembered; why mentorship and sponsorship matter throughout our careers; how to create opportunities instead of waiting for them; and why women shouldn't just have a seat in the rooms where decisions are made. We should be helping shape those decisions.
Whether you're just beginning your career, navigating a transition, or thinking about the legacy you want to leave behind, this conversation is an invitation to recognize something you may be underestimating:
Your influence starts right where you are.
💬 Gems from Stacy:
“It's not a pressure to carry it forward, it's a responsibility.”
“In strategic influence and strategic thinking, you are a key player no matter where you sit.”
[On strategic influence] “It's like a muscle. When you flex it, it's going to get stronger, and you're going to start to see your influence expand.”
“Your voice might not be at the same volume as mine today... it starts with a whisper.”
“There is a mentor's voice in us all.”
“We have to take responsibility of who sees, knows, and remembers us when we're not in the room.”
“You can be the one who asks the thing that nobody has considered, or the one that asks the thing that nobody is speaking up about.”
“[Knowing your impact] is transformational, because you know your value in every room.”
🔗 Episode Resources & Links:
🌐 Connect with Stacy and Pink Mentor Network
· Website: https://www.pinkmentornetwork.com/
· Stacy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacycassio/
· Pink Mentor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pinkmentornetwork/posts/?feedView=all
📚 Resources
- Strategic Influence Template: Strategic Visibility, The Path to Influence
- Brene Brown List of Values: https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/
- Subscribe to Stacy’s Mentoring Moments Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6864250463529787393/
EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKS
Empowering Women in Industry Annual Conference Sept 30_New Orleans
Empowering Women in Industry Membership
Empowering Women in Industry Magazine
