Unbox Your Brilliance with Keisha Shields (interview)
In This Episode
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with my friend Jo Gifford. Jo is a content creator, project manager and team member for multiple global agile teams, a podcaster, and an author. Whether it’s connecting your audience to your business, connecting your team with your organisation, or creating content to connect to yourself, Jo is passionate about making it happen.
You are a leader and you have brilliance even if it’s boxed. Let’s dive into this episode and learn how Jo can help you connect to your unboxed brilliance.
Episode Show Notes
[00:01 – 05:00] Opening Segment
I introduce and welcome my friend, Jo Gifford
Jo talks a bit about herself
All about human connection
Content development lead, author, podcaster
Living in Cambridge, UK
Unboxed leaders – connecting people to their brilliance
[05:01 – 18:24] What is Your Brilliance
I talk about Jo’s book Brilliance Unboxed
Jo talks about her perception of brilliance
It’s your unique essence
Articulating what makes the client awesome
When people start questioning their power, change happens
Your purpose is probably already close to you
Notice the moments that make you feel like you’re in your flow
Write those moments down
Ask people around you about what they see you excel at
It’s how you hold space
[18:25 – 33:51] How Jo Literally Reclaimed Her Voice
Jo shares about the times she’s felt silenced
Developed a stammer after parents’ divorce
Never said true thoughts throughout the teen years
Jo talks about the experiences that led to her silence
Jo talks about getting her voice back
Started blogging and sharing experiences online
Finding her voice through writing
Owning and loving who I am
From a weakness, to one of her most powerful tools
The voice is your connection to other people
Refine your voice by expressing it through different creative outlets
Find the way you work best
I talk about my own journey stifling myself creatively
There is so much power with just connecting with yourself
Do something new everyday even if it’s tiny
Jo shares a story about becoming heard
[33:52 – 43:50] Upleveling Your Environment
Jo talks about how she changed her friends around
Putting up boundaries against people who use you as a dump
Now surrounded by amazing people
I share a story when I felt like my gift became a pain point
Uplevel your environment
Your experience seeing someone silenced in the workplace?
Jo shares her experiences she’s had earlier in her career
I talk about having always been the one making sure everyone is heard
Carrying these issues even into your own business
[43:51 – 48:09] Closing Segment
Advice to women in business who feel stifled
Write down the times you’ve felt connected to your brilliance
Invite your circle of friends to reflect back to you
Start publicly sharing something in any capacity
Output and use your voice even if it’s only with yourself
Turn the dial up when you find your confidence
Who would be best to connect with you and how to connect with you?
Links below
Final words
Closing