IAM336- Motivational Speaker and Coach Ignites Leaders to Unleash Their Full Potential

Soulaima Gourani is a motivational speaker, philanthropist and author, with many years of approximately 200-plus global talks per year. Gourani advises major companies on topics such as sales and service and customer loyalty, strategic relationship-building and change management, employee motivation and the future of business. In March 2012 Gourani was selected as one of the 192 management leaders by the World Economic Forum. In 2012 she was recognized as one of the 20 most business-minded people in the Nordic countries by Nordic Business Forum.

Gourani has received a number of prestigious awards, including Rising Star and Talent 2004, Top 100 Talent Europe (2004), 40 under 40 (2013) and Nordic 20 Thinkers (2013) and Womenomics Influencer Award 2015. She was also chosen as a UN Women Advisor Ambassador in August 2015. In 2016 Gourani was appointed by TED Talks as a mentor to the speakers. In 2017 top 100 women in media. And in 2019 Gourani was appointed Copenhagen Goodwill Ambassador.

Today she resides in Palo Alto, California, where she continues to advise American leaders, entrepreneurs and companies in areas such as strategy, management and leadership and as an online coach and mentor on www.womenreignite.com

• CEO Hack: Defining my five values- family, financial, fun, future proof and fitness
• CEO Nugget: Trust your own sense of business, ask only a few people for advice
• CEO Defined: Responsibility holder

Website: https://soulaima.com/

My new platform: https://womenreignite.com
Twitter: @soulaimagourani
Instagram: @SoulaimaGourani

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Transcription

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Intro 0:02

Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview? If so, you've come to the right place. Gresham Harkless values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you're in search of. This is the I AM CEO Podcast.

Gresham Harkless 0:29

Hello, hello, hello, this is Gresh from the I AM CEO podcast and I have a very special guest on the show today. I have Soulaima Gourani of Women Reignite. Soulaima, it's awesome to have you on the show.

Soulaima Gourani 0:39

And thank you for inviting me. It's a great honor.

Gresham Harkless 0:42

No problem. I'm super excited to have you on and wanted to read a little bit more about Soulaima so you can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing. Soulaima is a motivational speaker, philanthropist, and author, with many years of approximately 200-plus global talks per year. Gourani advises major companies on topics such as sales and service and customer loyalty, strategic relationship-building and change management, employee motivation, and the future of business. In March 2012 Gourani was selected as one of the 192 management leaders by the World Economic Forum. In 2012 she was recognized as one of the 20 most business-minded people in the Nordic countries by the Nordic Business Forum.

Soulaima has received a number of prestigious awards, including Rising Star and Talent 2004, Top 100 Talent Europe (2004), 40 under 40 (2013) and Nordic 20 Thinkers (2013), and Womenomics Influencer Award 2015. She was also chosen as a UN Women Advisor Ambassador in August 2015. In 2016 Gourani was appointed by TED Talks as a mentor to the speakers. In 2017 top 100 women in media. And in 2019 Gourani was appointed Copenhagen Goodwill Ambassador.

Today she resides in Palo Alto, California, where she continues to advise American leaders, entrepreneurs, and companies in areas such as strategy, management, and leadership and as an online coach and mentor. Soulaima, Are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO Community?

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Soulaima Gourani 2:13

Yes, that's true. That's my resume. It's impressive. Right?

Gresham Harkless 2:16

Exactly. You're rocking and rolling? Definitely.

Soulaima Gourani 2:18

Yeah, I never feel that I rock and roll really, when you read my resume, I always feel like, Oh, my God, did I really receive all those rewards? Because I don't feel like every word person, I just really go to my work every day, right? But it's nice to listen to, and I feel a moment of pride. But two seconds after I'm back, working again, I mean, when you get these rewards and those prices, it's a big honor, but it's only worth something for a few seconds, and then you should just move on and do something better, right? Keep improving yourself.

Gresham Harkless 2:57

Exactly. That makes perfect sense. And I always feel like a lot of people are accomplishing and rocking and rolling. As I say, a lot of times, it's just because you're staying present on the exact day and time and taking care of what you need to take care of. And when you look back, a lot of times, those things start to build into the wars that you have, as well. So I wanted to go back a little bit and hear a little bit more about what got you started on your entrepreneurial journey in what I call your CEO story.

Soulaima Gourani 3:23

It started with a strategy, I was laid off in 2007. And I happened to be pregnant. I know that is not legal. But that happens. It happens to a lot of women. It's just the fact and I decided that I would never be in a position ever again, where anyone would be able to fire me. I needed a different kind of security in my life now becoming a mom. So I started my consulting business, everyone who has a core competence of some kind, can start a consulting business. That's not so complicated. But what I didn't know. Little did I know that now 11 years later, I have a business that is operating in 35 countries.

So but it started out with being actually a sad beginning because I had to make money. And it was not my passion. I just needed a paycheck. So that was my beginning. And today I run for companies. And I'm on the board of I don't know how many companies but it started out by Yeah, I simply needed to make a living and I knew what I was good at. And I was good at advising people on sales. So many people have many great ideas but they don't know how to get them to do the sale selling and I'm good at that. So I was for rent, you could rent me and I could advise you on how to get your stuff sold. And I did that and I did that for many years and I still do that. And I still love my job but it started simply with Yeah, I needed a paycheck.

Gresham Harkless 4:59

Yeah. It's always tough to hear when things like that happen. But it's great to hear, people like you that are able to have your quote-unquote, back against the wall. But you're able to create and build something that's helped out, sounds like yourself, obviously, in your family, but also loads of other people as well as you're able to help them build their businesses.

Soulaima Gourani 5:16

I'm one of those women that had two choices in my life, I can either sit and wait for someone to find me, offer me a job, or hire me, or I could simply just take destiny into my own hands, and build my own career. And I grew up in a very white community, Moroccan Danish, and my name, Soulaima Gourani, it's a very rare name. And even though I wrote hundreds of applications. I'm not that person to get interviewed, I don't get jobs. So me being laid off and not being hired by anyone, was really my burning platform.

And so I would say, Thank you, to everyone who didn't want to hire me, because they pushed me in the direction that I am on now. Meaning I never considered being actually employed anywhere. I mean, I'm not considering anyone to come and rescue me, I'm on my own, and the moment you make that decision can be a good decision because then you stop hoping and you stop thinking that someone else will come and rescue you. The only way I can make sure that I can pay my bills every month is to keep keeping the best. Keep having great employees, happy employees, and very satisfied clients.

That is the three only things that I can do to make a lifelong career actually, is brutal, but that's just how it is. And I think more women and more men should draw a line in the sand and just make a decision. Do you want to be CEO? Do you want to be self-employed? Or do you want to be employed, and make that decision and stop flirting with both worlds, you know what I mean? Like, close the door, or open the door, either or make a decision and make it your best decision.

Gresham Harkless 7:05

Absolutely, there's a saying or quote that I always remember to tell myself if you want to take the island, you have to burn the boat. So you have to have it, there's no other way to do it. And a lot of times, if you are in the middle, you will try to go back or you won't go as far out as you could. So I appreciate you for doing it yourself, but also for empowering and helping others to do it as well, too.

Soulaima Gourani 7:28

But being a CEO is a big responsibility. And I think a lot of people mistakenly think that it's easy to be employed and that there's any safety going with unemployment. That being said, I know in us, health care benefits do really matter. I started out in Denmark, it's different because you have wealth, you have welfare, you have security, free education, and health care. So you will never be completely lost in the system. But now I live in the US under the same conditions as any American, any person who listens to this podcast, I am here on the very same ticket, as anyone else, right? And that burning platform does not scare me.

And if you're not afraid of having that huge responsibility for yourself, for your family, and for people, if you sleep well at night, then you have that DNA that is needed to create a good business, right? And I really encourage more people to start thinking about creating their own businesses, because we need more people to create jobs, we need fewer people to look for jobs. And the unemployment rate is so low right now. But in just a few years, a lot of jobs will disappear and will be taken over by robots, artificial intelligence software, and we need to create new services and new industries. So we need many more people who dare to have to live out the entrepreneurial DNA that they have in sight.

Gresham Harkless 8:52

Absolutely, that makes perfect sense. I guess, could you tell us a little bit about how you touched on a little bit about some of the things that you're doing to help support the clients and what you feel kind of makes you or your organization unique?

Soulaima Gourani 9:02

So I'm very focused on the future of work, I have a great passion for finding out what we're going to make, what kind of jobs we're gonna have in the future. And I'm associated with a World Economic Forum as an expert on future skills. And my next book is out in September in Scandinavia, not in us, but in Scandinavia, on how to design your life. And right now, I have a great passion for building a community called Women Reignite. It's a company and I decided to start focusing on women and prepare them for the future of work, because honestly speaking, men and women, women will be impacted by the future of work.

But most women have jobs that are in bigger danger than men because they have like routine jobs that can easily be automated. So I've decided to help 60 million women over the next three years to prepare them for the future of work. And I think that's my greatest passion right now to make sure that women and teenagers, female workers get into the future, in a good way. So I think my greatest value right now is that I might be indirectly responsible for people not being unemployed. I kind of like that.

Gresham Harkless 10:21

Yeah, definitely. And I'm sure they like it, as well as obviously, work is a big part of life. And like you mentioned, the future work is coming, no matter if you're ready for it or not, it's coming. So I appreciate you for preparing yourself and preparing so many people in so many companies and organizations for that as well. So I wanted to switch gears a little bit. And I want to ask you for what I call a CEO hack. And this might be an app or book or habit that you have, or even your own book you want to touch more on. But it's something that makes you more effective and efficient.

Soulaima Gourani 10:51

Yeah, I've identified my five values. And those five values are really making sure that I always stay on the path, how I spend my time, energy, resources, competencies, and money, right? And first of all, I call it my five F model. So I always make sure whatever I decide to do or not to do, how does it impact my family? How does it impact my financial situation, and then is it fun, I need to have a little bit of fun in my life, if I never laugh or have fun, then I just die, and then it has to be future-proof. So whatever I do should impact the past and the future positively. And then the last F is actually a little bit ridiculous. But it's nevertheless one of the most important things. And that is fitness, that's my last F and it is to stay healthy.

Gresham Harkless 11:47

Nice, I definitely appreciate that. And yes, it's good to hear, it's not just me, that gets overwhelmed by so many opportunities you see, but you can do everything. And I love the fact that you have those five Fs because a lot of times you think success is just one aspect. But if you're not healthy, no matter how successful you are, you may not be able to get enjoy it.

So to be able to put it through that framework, you can have that somewhat balanced to make sure that you are successful in those different aspects which add up to being successful. And now I want to ask you for what I call a CEO nugget, and this is a word of wisdom or piece of advice. Or if you can happen to be a time machine, what would you tell your younger business?

Soulaima Gourani 12:30

So first of all, I would trust myself, I've had too much self-doubt, I have been having an issue with trusting my own just mental state of mind, and I have been asking too many people for their opinions, it can be mentors or sponsors. And there's nothing wrong with that. But at some point, the only one who can make a decision is you. So I should have stopped asking people about their opinions. Earlier, I mean, I should just have trusted my o own sense of business, you know that I know that I have good quality in terms of finding good people to hire and good clients.

And I know how to run a business, I shouldn't have spent too much time running around asking people for advice, because in the end, for you to be successful with your own business, that is actually how you spend your time, you only have 24 hours a day.

And if you spent those 24 hours wrongly, you can never get those hours back. And most people are successful, not because they have the greatest idea. But because they're good at spending their time wisely. They focus they execute, they keep on track, and they make good decisions. I should not have asked so many people for advice, I should have chosen maybe one, maybe two, maybe three people only, and I should have kept them as my closest advisers. Instead of asking so many people, I was so insecure in the beginning. And when you ask people, you get 10-1000s of different advice, and what is the good advice then?

So I think that will be my key. Listen, I don't know why I didn't trust myself in the beginning, I do that now. I meditate, I just sit down, and I close my eyes. And I say so. So I'm gonna make a decision. And now I make decisions. I mean, every moment I make decisions, and most of them actually good decisions, I listened to myself.

Gresham Harkless 14:17

Nice. Definitely appreciate that. And yes, it's something that is always hard to do, especially if you're trying to do something unique. But it's great to hear that you would tell your younger business self that and as a great reminder for us as well. And now I want to ask you my absolute favorite question, what's your definition of what it means to be a CEO? And we're hoping to have different quote-unquote, CEOs on the show, and I know you touched on it a little bit, but what does being a CEO mean to you?

Soulaima Gourani 14:38

CEO, what it means to me is being responsible. I think it means I'm responsible for people's paychecks. I'm responsible for the success of my clients. So I would say responsible. I mean, if you don't like responsibility, then don't become a CEO because you're responsible. And no, no matter what happens you will always be the one to blame. But never the one to say you're never going to be the one that people celebrate completely right? You will celebrate your team. If it goes well, you celebrate your employees. But when you feel, it's always you that gets the pointed fingers at so I would say, if you don't like the responsibility, then don't be a CEO, because you will never get the full honor. But you will always be blamed.

Gresham Harkless 15:27

Absolutely, yeah, that makes perfect sense. And I truly appreciate your time. And now what I want to do is pass you the mic, just to see how best people can find out about all the awesome things that you're doing and get a hold of you.

Soulaima Gourani 15:39

Yeah, add soulaima.com I believe I'm the only one in the US with that name. aima.com, and that's my homepage. And there you can read much more about my books and my talks and my women we ignite and everything. Yeah.

Gresham Harkless 15:54

Awesome, awesome, awesome. We'll make sure to have those links in the show notes as well, just so everybody can click through and see all the awesome things you're doing. But I appreciate your time. And I hope you have a great rest of the day.

Soulaima Gourani 16:03

Yeah, and thank you for having me on your show. Thank you so much.

Outro 16:06

Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO Podcast powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co I AM CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes Google Play and everywhere you listen to podcasts, SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a five-star rating grab CEO gear at www.ceogear.co. This has been the I AM CEO Podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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