Core Clarity Co (LLC)

Today I had the opportunity to virtually attend a seminar hosted by PNC featuring the Hoda Kotb, as part of their Women in Business Week. Hoda, known for her insight and engaging storytelling, shared valuable insights that resonated with me– and I’m sure everyone else in attendance. Here are some key takeaways from her speech that I want to take note of:

1. Who is Your One?
Hoda challenged us to reflect on the people who have profoundly impacted our lives—the ones who have changed our course and believed in us when we couldn’t see the way forward. She emphasized that this “one” can be more than one person; it’s about recognizing and appreciating those who have made a significant difference. She shared in a memory of the first person who took a chance on her as a journalist after multiple rejections while driving through the east coast.
I can certainly identify a few “one’s” that stand out, even with only 30 years of life under my belt. The first that jump to mind are positive ones.. ones that took a chance on me, ones that inspired me, or ones that were a constant cheerleader for my ambitions. I want to also touch on some “one’s” that left a negative impact on my life. I still feel an emotional sting when reflecting on these individuals, but they changed the course of my life all the same. Without the pain, the growth, and the lessons learned from them, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

2. Not Everything Is Just for You
Another piece to reflect on from Hoda, was that the experiences and opportunities we receive aren’t solely for our benefit. Instead, they present a chance for us to pay it forward and help others along their journeys. She encouraged us to consider how many lives we can positively influence because of what we’ve been through.
The example given in her speech was her experience with breast cancer, and wanting it to not be a piece of her identity- she didn’t share the news more than necessary, discreetly received treatment, and did not want the sympathies typically given. While on a flight, the man siting next to her asked what procedure she had endured (after a mastectomy), and she made a point to tell him to remember her as more than someone he sat next to, who had breast cancer. His response was what is wrong with you? What is wrong with “cancer survivor” being a part of your identity- just the same as your age, gender, career, education, and more? He questioned who else she had not conversed with that could have benefited from hearing about her journey and strength.
We can take this within perspective, of course. If you have an experience that is on-going, or too painful to reconnect with, then it is never your responsibility to share with, emotionally support, or inspire others who are going through the same. Although, if we do have peace with the experience and the capacity to speak on it, how much could our community benefit from open communication on tough subjects?

3. Things Won’t Happen Unless You Ask
In a world where hard work often goes unnoticed, Hoda urged us not to shy away from advocating for ourselves. She emphasized the importance of speaking up, asking for what we want, and taking proactive steps towards our goals. She shared the sentiment that working overtime quietly is not noticed—sometimes, you have to be your own advocate.
I am sure that we have all had the experience of “going the extra mile,” and not bringing it to anyone’s attention. It has been societally understood that telling your coach, boss, teacher, or anyone above you in hierarchy, about your extra efforts was attention seeking or desperate. Why though? Why are we selling our own work short? Why would someone not recognize our skill just because they didn’t notice it naturally?
We have a single life on this floating rock- let’s make sure that our efforts are recognized and we verbalize our goals!

4. Make Room for What Matters
Lastly, Hoda spoke about the necessity of creating space in our lives for new opportunities and growth. She advised us to shed the things—whether physical possessions, relationships, or outdated mindsets—that no longer serve us. By letting go of what weighs us down, we make room for positive change and new beginnings.
Funny enough, I just had an extremely similar conversation with a friend this past weekend about how the universe always seems to work things out the way that they are supposed to happen. This may sound a bit “woo-woo,” especially coming from a therapist, but hear me out. I had given the example of losing a friendship that had lasted most of my life, and how the ending of it felt so abrupt and unnecessary. While it surely hurt in the moment, I can’t help but recognize that I have cultivated much more authentic and fitting friendships since then. The energy that I was putting into keeping that space filled (with someone who didn’t fit into it) was being wasted, but I didn’t recognize that until the space was made available.

To Close
Listening to this seminar left me inspired and motivated to apply these lessons in both my personal and professional life. As we celebrate Women in Business, let’s continue to uplift and empower one another, remembering that our journeys are better when we support and learn from each other’s experiences.

What resonates with you from Hoda’s insights? How do you plan to apply these lessons in your own life? Share your thoughts in the comments below!