SHE TALKS
M A G A Z I N E
V o l 2 I s s u e N o . 2
w w w . s h e t a l k s m a g . c o m
TO REGAINING
FOCUS WHEN
WORKING
TO FALL IN LOVE
WITH YOURSELF:
REDEFINING
BEAUTY FOR
WOMEN OVER 40
5 TIPS
F E A T U R I N G
SUN
LEARN TO LOVE
YOUR LOOT
10 WAYS
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CONTRIBUTORS
Editor-in-Chief
DR. JULIE DUCHARME
Cover Layout and
Magazine Design
DR. JOSHUA DUCHARME
Contributing Writers
Lifestyle Editor and
Feature Author
TIA CRISTY
ALIANA MOSS
AMANDA TAYLOR
BELINDA JANE
DR. JULIE DUCHARME
VIRGINIA WILCSEK
KIM-ADELE RANDALL
SHELBY JO LONG
KARINA SOLOMON
WENDY WATSON
NIKKI TERNAY
TIA CRISTY
DR. DONNA-CARD SESSOMS
KATHY ESPINOZA
Contents
5 TIPS TO REGAINING FOCUS
WHEN WORKING
10
PUTTING YOUR BEST FACE
FORWARD
14
POCKET SUN: LUCKY,
BRAVE, AND BLESSED
FEATURE
CONQUER PUBLIC SPEAKING
FEAR AND BOOST YOUR
BUSINESS
40
WELLNESS FOR THE HEART
AND MIND. THE JOURNEY TO
SELF-LOVE AND
EMPOWERMENT
45
RESET AND RECONNECT: YOUR
FEBRUARY GUIDE TO 60-
SECOND MIND-BODY RESET
49
THROUGH ROSE-COLORED
GLASSES: LESSONS ON
OPTIMISM, LOYALTY, AND RED
FLAGS
07
FEBRUARY GLOW-UP: SELF-
LOVE, SKINCARE, AND BRIGHT
BEAUTY TIPS FOR THE WINTER
BLUES
34
27
RADICAL SELF LOVE IN
PERIMENOPAUSE: EMBRACING
YOUR BODY'S MOST
POWERFUL TRANSITION
21
LOVE YOUR LOOT
52
10 WAYS TO FALL IN LOVE
WITH YOURSELF: REDEFINING
BEAUTY FOR WOMEN OVER 40
61
Table of
THE RISE OF WOMEN LEADERS:
BREAKING BARRIERS AND
SHAPING THE FUTURE
65
BE YOUR OWN BEST
VALENTINE
70
As February arrives, the world fills with talk of love. But here, in the She Talks
community, I want to take a moment to shift our focus from the traditional
notion of love—the flowers, the chocolates, the candlelit dinners—and instead,
dive into the kind of love that truly sustains us: the love we show to one another
through support, kindness, and unwavering presence.
Love is not just a feeling; it is an action. It is found in the quiet moments of life—
when a colleague stays late to help us finish a project, when a friend listens
without judgment during our darkest hours, or when a stranger extends
unexpected kindness that restores our faith in humanity. This kind of love, this
deep, unwavering support, is what builds strong communities, thriving
workplaces, and lifelong friendships.
Throughout my journey in leadership and business, I have learned that success
is not measured solely by achievements, but by the relationships we nurture
along the way. Love in leadership is about lifting others up, celebrating their
wins as if they were our own, and offering a hand when they stumble. It is about
fostering an environment where people feel seen, valued, and empowered.
In this issue of She Talks Magazine, we are celebrating these everyday
expressions of love. We are sharing stories of women who have built each other
up in boardrooms and break rooms, through late-night phone calls and midday
pep talks. We are shining a light on the power of mentorship, the importance of
collaboration, and the beauty of simply showing up for each other—not because
we have to, but because we choose to.
I invite you to take a moment to reflect on the people who have stood by your
side in moments of struggle and triumph. Think about the ones who have
believed in you, even when you doubted yourself. And then, ask yourself: How
can I pass that love forward? How can I be the one who shows up, who listens,
who lifts another up?
This February, let’s redefine love. Let’s make it about connection, about
resilience built through community, and about the profound strength found in
genuine support. Let’s make it about choosing to be there for one another—not
just when it’s easy, but when it truly matters.
Thank you for being part of this incredible community. Thank you for sharing
your stories, your wisdom, and your love. Together, we are creating something
truly powerful—a space where every woman is uplifted, empowered, and never
alone.
FROM THE EDITOR
Editor in Chief
ptimism sees opportunity in every
challenge, giving us the motivation to
persevere and innovate even in difficult
times.
THROUGH ROSE-
COLORED GLASSES
Lessons on Optimism, Loyalty, and Red Flags
Lessons on Optimism, Loyalty, and Red Flags
By Dr. Donna Card-Sessoms
By Dr. Donna Card-Sessoms
But what happens when optimism and loyalty
blur our ability to see the red flags waving
right before us? The very qualities that drove
me to succeed also made it hard to recognize
the subtle signs of trouble. I am deeply loyal—
not just to my family and friends, but it often
extends to the team, my department, the
vision of the leader, and the mission of the
organization. Alhamad and Amirah (2024)
describe employee loyalty as a strong
commitment to their employer, leading to
increased engagement, productivity, and a
willingness to go above and beyond. This
resonates with me deeply. But this loyalty has
not always served me well. In a previous role,
I believed that my optimism could improve a
toxic work environment, while my loyalty kept
me there longer than I should have, hoping
for change that never came.
Loyalty builds trust and strengthens
relationships, creating a foundation for
collaboration in both personal and professional
spaces. These qualities have often helped me
maintain a positive outlook, foster collaboration,
and remain dedicated to long-term goals. For a
perpetual optimist, who sees the glass as half full,
lemons make lemonade and lemon pie, problems
were opportunities to build and accomplish more
goals and became my modus operandi. After all,
my blood type is B+. For me, challenges were
stepping stones, and I operated with the belief
that everything would work out for the best—
because the best was always yet to come.
My "rose-colored glasses" led me to dismiss the
warning signs. Sometimes the red flags weren’t as
obvious as a manager’s resume on the copy
machine or a series of VP resignations. They came
in subtle ways, like the comment, "Some of you
won’t be here next year," or conflicting messages
from upper management. These moments often
gave me an uneasy feeling, a nagging sense that
something wasn’t quite right—my "Spidey Senses"
were tingling. Yet, my optimism pushed me to
believe that these were just minor bumps in the
road that could be overcome.
Looking back, I now see that those red flags were
glaring, but I chose to focus on the possibilities
instead of acknowledging the risks. My optimism
led me to think that the situation could be fixed,
that things would get better, or at worst, that I
wouldn’t be personally affected. But I’ve learned
the hard way that optimism alone doesn’t change a
toxic culture or systemic problems. One particular
instance stands out: while many of my colleagues
were notified of the upcoming lay-offs, I was told
my position was secure. I stayed committed,
worked hard, and kept my optimism alive. But just
a month later, I too was handed my severance
package. That moment taught me a valuable
lesson: optimism needs to be balanced with
realism. It helped me understand that no amount
of dedication can overcome organizational
mismanagement.
SHE TALKS | 8
Studio Shodwe
07 March, 2026
Issue 07
In those early years, my loyalty made me work
harder, convinced that I could right the wrongs and
detoxify a toxic environment. My optimism kept
me pushing forward, believing that change was just
around the corner. But I came to realize that not
every situation can be fixed through my sheer
determination. These experiences helped me
understand the importance of setting boundaries
and recognizing when it’s time to walk away—
because staying too long in the wrong place can
hinder both personal growth and professional
success.
Reflection and the determination to live
authentically have provided me with a respite of
sorts. What do I want in future workplaces? What
are my non-negotiables? I have a clearer
understanding of when to stay dedicated and
when to step away for my well-being. I’ve learned I
can’t thrive in a workplace that operates on fear or
where "CYA" (Cover Your A@@) is the norm. As
Gibaldi and Cusack (2019) point out, “the primary
fears of employees are over the opinions of their
leaders and the fear of being fired or laid off.” I’ve
read enough studies and lived through enough
experiences to understand that fear-based
environments stifle creativity, growth, and well-
being. These experiences haven’t turned me into a
pessimist. Instead, they’ve taught me to find a
balance—remaining hopeful but grounded in
reality. I trust my instincts now more than ever,
recognizing when something doesn’t feel right. I
remain optimistic and loyal, but with the wisdom
to know when it’s time to move on.
Connect with Dr. Donna @
Connect with Dr. Donna @
www.linkedin.com/in/dr-
www.linkedin.com/in/dr-
donna-card-sessoms-
donna-card-sessoms-
276b4116
276b4116
References:
Alhamad, A. H., & Amirah, N. A. (2024). The impact
of downsizing on employee loyalty. International
Journal of Academic Research in Business and
Social Sciences, 14(4), 811–824.
Gibaldi, C., & Cusack, G. (2019). Fear in the
Workplace. Review of Business, 39(1), 60-74.
GET UP AND
GET OUTSIDE
TIPS TO REGAINING
FOCUS WHEN
WORKING
By Kathy Espinoza
Admit it, we all lose focus at times while working.
What triggers loss of focus? You name it. How
about the constant social media activity, the kids
(furry ones too), not getting enough sleep,
meeting fatigue, the interruptions and so many
other things. The question is, how do you regain
your focus once you’ve noticed it’s gone?
It’s important to have a few ‘go-to’ options to
help regain focus and maintain productivity. Print
these five tips out and post them on your desk so
they are readily visible when you feel you need
them most.1
Research has shown one downside of too
much sitting is loss of focus. A quick way
to get the blood flowing back into the
brain is to get up out of that chair and
walk around your house or the office a
few times. Go outside to get some
sunshine, breathe in the fresh air, smell
the citrus blossoms and feel that vitamin
D getting into your body. Physical
movement is a way to rejuvenate the
brain and this needs to be done hourly!
Set your email reminder system to say
STRETCH to remind you to get up and
walk around.
STRETCH
OFTEN
Doing a few stretches can help improve focus
throughout the day as it is a great way to jump-
start your brain, get your circulation going,
sharpen the mind and wake up! I encourage you
to do some of these standing rather than sitting -
again, to get you out of the chair. Remember,
never stretch to the point of pain. If you are
unsure about any stretch, consult your
healthcare provider. These stretches are offered
for comfort, not treatment. Here are a few great
ones to try.
Upward Stretch - Standing or Seated
Stand up from your chair and take a moment
to regain your balance.
1.
Interlace your fingers and raise your hands
above your head, palms facing upward.
2.
Elongate your spine and feel the stretch in
your rib cage and arms.
3.
Take a few deep breaths as you reach and
stretch both sides of your torso.
4.
SHE TALKS | 10