Shannon Cassidy is Founder and CEO of bridge between, inc.. Shannon combines a keen ability to get to the heart of every matter with a proven track record.
She is the author of The 5 Degree Principle: How Small Changes Lead to Big Results and V.I.B.E., a discovery of what lies beneath and how that impacts you and others.
I recently had the privilege of speaking with her about her journey and becoming a Certified Woman Owned Business. As one who is eager to empower others and encourage them on to success, she generously shared some specifics on how being a female entrepreneur has impacted her, and why she does what she does.
Who is a female role model you looked to as an inspiration when starting bridge between?
Shannon: Agnes G. Doody, my mentor, former professor at the University of Rhode Island, and dear friend. She joined me at ESPN to discuss Gender Communication and Conflict Resolution to the leadership team last year. What a privilege! My kids call her Aunt Agnes. We visit her every summer. What an inspiration.
Was there a specific moment you felt the push, became inspired and convicted to become certified as a Woman Owned Business?
Shannon: When I spoke with a client at Comcast who said an objective of theirs is to partner with vendors who are women and minority owned. I looked into it and found out how to do it.
What is a company today (big or small, local or national) empowering women and why?
Shannon: Deloitte! They put their money with their mouth is by appointing the new CEO Cathy Engelbert.
Another is ESPN. My friend CFP Christine Dreisen was named WICT’s (Women in Cable Telecommunications) Woman of the Year. She was instrumental in launching espnW, ESPN’s first digitial initiative geared towards inspiring female athletes and fans.
What holds women back?
Shannon: Ourselves. I think we doubt, question, think we need 100% of qualifications before applying for positions, etc. We also aren’t as comfortable gaining sponsors and asking for what we want. We often live by: if I work hard enough that should be enough OR if I want to have kids I need to be okay with a certain title / level. So, ourselves primarily.
The Imposter Syndrome is when you feel like your accomplishments are nowhere near as good as those around you. Alicia Liu wrote an interesting article with the key takeaway “Imposter syndrome is not only an invisible hand that holds people back from attaining the things their abilities warrant, but it is also a blindfold that prevents people from even seeing what those things could be. That is very difference from having self-doubt about one’s real limitations.”
We all make hundreds of choices each day. Every step or decision we make adds up. Some get trapped in overindulging on self and minimally focusing on purpose. There are lots of things about you that you control.
At the end of the day, remember Shannon’s mantra at the end of this video: “I am enough.”
Contact Shannon and her team with help in connecting your potential to performance.