Latest news with #IAOTP

Associated Press
13-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
DIANE MCCLELLAND RECENTLY SELECTED AS EMPOWERED WOMAN OF THE YEAR BY IAOTP
Diane McClelland will be honored at the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) at their annual awards gala in Las Vegas NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, July 13, 2025 / / -- Diane McClelland, Co-founder of Girls STEAM. Institute™ was recently selected as Empowered Woman of the Year for 2025 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for her outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to the industry. Inclusion with the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an honor; only a few women are chosen for this distinction based on their years of experience, professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, and contributions to their communities. These women empower others with innovation and compassion to reach their goals while creating change for future generations. Diane McClelland will be honored for this distinction at IAOTP's 2025 Annual Awards Gala. /award-gala The President of IAOTP, Stephanie Cirami, stated, 'We are honored to have Diane McClelland as part of the IAOTP family. She provides visionary leadership as a female entrepreneur, and her extraordinary accomplishments prove she will empower women worldwide. We look forward to celebrating all her merits at the Annual Awards Gala and cannot wait to see more amazing things from this woman.' With four decades of industry experience, Ms. McClelland has firmly established herself as an expert in her field. A dynamic, results-driven leader, she is the Co-founder and CEO of Girls STEAM Institute™, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young girls ages 13–18 to explore entrepreneurship in STEAM fields through immersive technologies and global collaboration. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024, the organization is expanding its programs to include young women ages 19–26. This next phase provides mentorship in immersive technologies and entrepreneurship, equipping participants with the tools to build wealth, increase their net worth, and thrive as STEAM entrepreneurs. Through project-based and social-emotional learning, participants develop essential leadership and business skills. Mentored by successful women entrepreneurs and STEAM experts, they gain hands-on experience in areas such as leadership, technology, interpersonal communication, relationship-building, and business acumen—key components for success in the rapidly evolving STEAM landscape. Prior to founding Girls STEAM Institute™, Ms. McClelland served for over 18 years as the Co-founder, President, and CEO of Astra Society International, doing business as Astra Women's' Business Alliance. Before that, she co-founded her first nonprofit organization, the Foundation for Women Business Owners, where she also served as President and CEO. This early initiative was dedicated to helping women business owners gain access to capital and funding—an area that remains central to her mission today. Ms. McClelland's areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, strategic planning, program management, business development, leadership, and business strategy. Her career reflects a lifelong commitment to empowering women through entrepreneurship, education, and economic opportunity. Before embarking on her career path, Ms. McClelland studied International Business, Trade and Commerce at Portland State University School of Business. She also received a Dartmouth Executive Education leadership certificate. Throughout her illustrious career, Ms. McClelland has received many awards and accolades and has been recognized worldwide for her accomplishments. This year, she will be considered to be featured in TIP (Top Industry Professionals) Magazine. She will be honored at IAOTP's annual awards gala at the iconic Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas this December in recognition of her previous selection as Top Co-founder and CEO of the Year and her most recent accolade, Empowered Woman of the Year. Additionally, she was honored by Marquis Who's Who for her outstanding expertise and contributions to the nonprofit sector. Looking back, Ms. McClelland attributes much of her success to curiosity, empathy, and a positive mindset, which has been instrumental in her leadership roles. Ms. McClelland is working on a new movement to increase the number of women business owners in the global supply chains who will mentor and hire GEN Z & Millennial Women STEAM entrepreneurs steeped in immersive technologies into their supply not working, she enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time with her family. For more information, please visit: About IAOTP The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international boutique networking organization that handpicks the world's finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers, and help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join. You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview. IAOTP's experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals worldwide the recognition and credibility that they deserve and have helped build their branding empires. IAOTP prides itself to be a one-of-a-kind boutique networking organization that handpicks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place. For more information on IAOTP, please visit: Stephanie Cirami IAOTP +1 212-634-4427 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

Associated Press
13-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Top Empowerment Coach of the Year Awarded to Jamie McKinney by the IAOTP
Jamie McKinney Top coach and keynote speaker available for television, podcast, and media interviews on empowerment, executive presence, and career advancement DENVER, CO, UNITED STATES, July 13, 2025 / / -- The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) has named Jamie McKinney, best-selling author of Speak Up, Sister! and founder of the 3 Pillars of Leadership Course, as the 2025 Top Empowerment Coach of the Year in Career Development. This prestigious honor recognizes McKinney's transformative impact as a women's leadership coach, her innovative executive coaching programs, and her unwavering commitment to advancing confidence and career growth for women in male-dominated industries. With nearly three decades of experience, Jamie McKinney has redefined what it means to empower women at work. Through her signature programs—including the 3 Pillars of Leadership and Speak UP to Level UP® —she has equipped women from global organizations including Owens Corning, Liberty Energy, Precision Castparts, SLB, Xcel Energy, and Colorado School of Mines with skills to command the room, earn promotions, and access new opportunities. 'Over 80% of my clients receive promotions or expanded responsibilities within a year of completing the 3 Pillars of Leadership Course, and many with commensurate increases in compensation,' says McKinney. 'YTD, women participating in my programs have collectively increased their compensation by more than half a million dollars.' 'It's a privilege and a rush to help women unlock their confidence, step into their power, and achieve the careers they've always envisioned. Watching my clients thrive and lead with authenticity, especially in male-dominated industries, excites me every day.' Her coaching and leadership development programs have reached over 30,000 professionals worldwide, with participants spanning six continents and including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Belgium, France, Finland, India, and Australia. Participants consistently report increased self-confidence and self-awareness. McKinney's impact is evident in her 100% corporate client retention rate, as organizations consistently choose to work with her again for additional coaching and leadership engagements Jamie McKinney offers a dynamic range of services designed to elevate executive presence and authentic leadership, including executive coaching for both women and men, keynote speaking, and leadership workshops. She holds certifications in Neuroscience Coaching, Positive Intelligence, and Situational Leadership, ensuring her programs are grounded in the latest research on brain science, mindset, and adaptive leadership. Her numerous accolades include Training Magazine's Emerging Leader honor, the Denver Business Journal's Top Women in Energy, and the CREA Global Award from Brainz Magazine. This fall, McKinney will launch a new community, The Leadership Laboratory, a safe and welcoming space where you can experiment with your leadership style, create a plan, and execute it. The Leadership Laboratory will provide ambitious women with a hands-on, interactive space to refine their leadership style, build a promotion-ready plan, and access an empowering community of peers and mentors. Details and a waitlist are available at Reflecting on her journey, McKinney credits her success to values-based leadership, a passion for empowerment, and the mentors who shaped her path. As she looks ahead, her mission remains clear: to help women silence self-doubt, speak up confidently, and build the careers they deserve. Jamie McKinney will be honored at the IAOTP annual awards gala at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas this December. Media and Booking Information Jamie McKinney is available for television, radio, and podcast interviews, as well as expert commentary on women's leadership, executive presence, mental fitness, and overcoming self-doubt in the workplace. Suggested Interview Topics: • How Women Can Build Confidence and Command the Room • Overcoming Self-Doubt in the Workplace • Leadership Strategies for Women in Male-Dominated Industries • The Science of Mental Fitness and Career Success Contact: Jamie McKinney [email protected] | 347-927-4376 LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter About Jamie McKinney, Inc. Jamie McKinney, Inc. empowers professionals to lead with confidence and authenticity through executive coaching, keynote speaking, and leadership development programs. Learn more at About IAOTP The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is a boutique networking organization that recognizes and connects the world's leading professionals across industries. Honorees are selected for their achievements, leadership, and impact on their fields. For more information, to schedule an interview, or to request a speaking engagement, please contact Jamie McKinney at [email protected] or 347-927-4376. Stephanie Cirami IAOTP +1 212-634-4427 email us here Visit us on social media: Instagram Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.


Forbes
27-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
When Ego Interferes With Judgment
Melinda Fouts, Ph.D., of Success Starts With You, author of Cognitive Enlightenment and awarded Top International Coach 2020 by the IAOTP. The other day, a client was describing a situation that occurred at work. She is chief legal counsel, and another executive excluded her from looking over a contract. What? Yes. This executive bypassed her expertise and a major element of her role in the organization. During our session, we explored how that could happen. First, we needed to understand the executive's basic nature—was he a team player or someone who preferred to work independently? My client confirmed he was a lone wolf working solo, rather than collaborating with his "pack" or team. The next question to ponder was, Why did he struggle with working with a team? What prevents someone, anyone, from collaborating? There can be a vast array of reasons to explore, but in my experience, one that always needs to be considered is the ego. When Ego Becomes An Issue A healthy ego is essential for everyone; it motivates us to rise to challenges. However, an inflated ego can impair judgment and exacerbate conflicts. I identified this as a key issue for this executive because not only did he undermine my client, but he also threw her under the proverbial bus. When someone is driven by their ego and that ego feels threatened, it can lead to unprofessional behavior, as the ego is primarily concerned with survival. In situations where ego dictates actions, it must win and be right. Excluding my client from reviewing the contract might have been an attempt at self-preservation, avoiding feedback that some contract items needed changes. The ego perceives such feedback as criticism, which threatens its sense of correctness. After looking deeply into the executive's modus operandi of preferring to do it alone, my client and I next explored how this basic understanding could prepare my client to handle this executive in the future. When we gain awareness of another's behaviors, it opens us up to approach them differently. If ego was behind the choice to leave my client out of the picture, we had to explore how she could remind him of her role without bruising his ego. How To Navigate An Inflated Ego—Without Letting Your Own Get In The Way Often, when dealing with someone else's ego, our own ego can cloud our judgment. My client shared her intention to address this situation, which included defending herself. However, I informed her that this approach would likely be ineffective, as he could dismiss her words as mere noise, leading to no changes. Working with someone who has an inflated ego can be challenging, but there are strategies you can use to manage the situation effectively. Here are some steps I suggested to my client: Demonstrate that you understand their viewpoint. This can help reduce defensiveness and make them more receptive to your ideas. Be direct and to the point. Avoid long-winded explanations that might be dismissed. Use bullet points or numbered lists to organize your thoughts. Instead of criticizing their behavior, suggest constructive solutions. Frame your suggestions in a way that highlights mutual benefits. Find areas of agreement and build on them. This can help create a collaborative atmosphere and reduce ego-driven conflicts. These were just a few of the ideas we explored. Other suggestions were to focus on facts, set boundaries and stay professional and calm. By following these steps, I was confident that my client could effectively manage interactions with individuals who have inflated egos and work toward productive outcomes. Key Takeaways First, to understand the behavior, you need to get beneath the incident and look closely at what is driving the behavior. If it is ego-driven, stay calm and composed when confronting the situation. Put yourself under a microscope and rein in your own ego-based response to the situation. Be clear about your expectations moving forward by seeking common ground. By implementing these strategies, you can better navigate difficult interactions, keeping your own ego in check and your judgment clear. There are times the situation might become untenable; recognize when it is best to step back and disengage. Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?

Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Dr. Monica Vermani, C. Psych. selected as Top Clinical Psychologist by IAOTP
Dr. Monica Vermani will be honored at the International Association of Top Professionals annual awards gala in Las Vegas NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, May 23, 2025 / / -- Dr. Monica Vermani, Clinical Psychologist, Author, TEDx Speaker, and mental health advocate, was recently selected as Top Clinical Psychologist for 2025 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for her outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to the industry. Inclusion with the International Association of Top Professionals is an honor in itself; only a few members in each discipline are chosen for this distinction. These special honorees are distinguished based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, longevity in the field, other affiliations, and contributions to their communities. All Honorees are invited to attend the IAOTP annual award gala at the end of this year for a night to honor their achievements. /award-gala With close to three decades in the field of mental health, Dr. Vermani has proven herself an expert in the field. As a dynamic, results-driven leader, Dr. Vermani is a clinical psychologist, author, and founder of Dr. Vermani Balanced Wellbeing and Start Living Corporate Wellness. She provides therapy and psychological treatment services through a multifaceted dynamic suite of evidence-based treatment modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Supportive Psychotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Executive Coaching, and Mindfulness Meditation — Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Breath-Mind-Body Practices. Dr. Vermani specializes in facilitating treatments to adolescents and adults suffering from trauma/abuse, mood, anxiety, substance addictions and other related conditions and disorders. She also offers crisis management, marriage/couples/family counseling, chronic pain management, self-esteem/assertiveness enhancement, vocational counseling, skill development and professional coaching as well as conducts outpatient/inpatient psychological, vocational and forensic assessments. Dr. Vermani has worked with Canadian Armed Forces and US Military personnel, war veterans and 9/11 first responders in New York City, and brings this depth of experience and understanding of the unique needs and challenges of individuals suffering from PTSD. Recognizing the important role organizations needed to understand and take on to stem the rising costs of employee absenteeism, Dr. Vermani founded Start Living Corporate Wellness. Start Living Corporate Wellness offers companies of all sizes customizable programs that address issues like employee burnout, communication breakdown, anxiety, conflict resolution, and provide counselling, professional coaching skills and knowledge on a wide range of topics designed to erase the stigma around mental health, including managing stress, mood and anxiety, understanding mental health, health and self-care, anger management and avoiding burnout. Dr. Vermani is also a published author, with numerous professional journal articles, clinical research studies and media publications on trauma and abuse, mood and anxiety disorders, forensic psychology and attention deficit disorder. She is the author of The PCMAD (Primary Care Mood and Anxiety Diagnoser): The Development of a Diagnostic Tool to Detect Social Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Bipolar Disorder and Depression, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, (2011). In 2021 she published, A Deeper Wellness, Conquering Stress, Mood, Anxiety and Traumas. This engaging and practical book provides a clear and focused path to healing the past, dealing with the present and building an authentic, connected future —creating for a lasting, deeper wellness. Before embarking on her career path, Dr. Vermani earned her Bachelor's of Science Degree ( with Honors in Psychology, Sociology, Criminology and Women's Studies from the University of Toronto in 1997. She then earned her Master's in Counseling Psychology Degree (M.A.) in 2001 followed by her Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Degree (Psy.D.) in 2007, both from Adler School of Professional Psychology. In addition, she is a Certified Coach from Certified Coaches Federation (CCF), a Certified Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapist/Consultant, certified in Reiki – Level I, II, II & Master Level, Certified Breath~Body~Mind Meditation Therapist/Teacher, Mindfulness Professional Training Certification Levels 1,2,3, and she earned a diploma in Assaulted Women's & Children's Counselor/Advocate Program from George Brown College. Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Vermani has received many awards and accolades and has been recognized worldwide for her accomplishments. This year she will be considered for the Empowered Woman Award and to be featured in TIP (Top Industry Professionals) Magazine. She will be honored at IAOTP's annual awards gala at the remarkable Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas this December for her selection of Top Clinical Psychologist for 2025. The President of the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP), Stephanie Cirami, stated: 'Choosing Dr. Vermani for this honor was an easy decision for our panel to make. She is inspirational, influential, and a true visionary and thought leader. We cannot wait to meet her and celebrate her accomplishments at this year's gala.' Looking back, Dr. Vermani attributes her success to a strong values-based leadership style, a passion for her work, and mentors she had along the way. When not working, she enjoys traveling,volunteering, and spending time with friends and family. In the future, she hopes to empower people going into the field. For more information please visit: and About IAOTP The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international boutique networking organization that handpicks the world's finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers, and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join. You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview. IAOTP's experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals around the world, the recognition and credibility that they deserve and have helped in building their branding empires. IAOTP prides itself to be a one-of-a-kind boutique networking organization that hand picks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place. For More information on IAOTP please visit: Stephanie Cirami IAOTP +1 212-634-4427 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

Associated Press
25-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Zuzana Urbanova selected as Top Human Resources Director by IAOTP
Zuzana Urbanova will be honored at the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) annual awards gala in Las Vegas NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, April 25, 2025 / / -- Zuzana Urbanova, Human Resource Specialist, was recently selected as Top Human Resources Director for 2025 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for her outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to the industry. Inclusion with the International Association of Top Professionals is an honor in itself; only a few members in each discipline are chosen for this distinction. These special honorees are distinguished based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, longevity in the field, other affiliations, and contributions to their communities. All Honorees are invited to attend the IAOTP annual award gala at the end of this year for a night to honor their achievements. /award-gala With over a decade and a half of experience in the industry, Ms. Urbanova has certainly proven herself an expert in the field. As a dynamic, results driven leader, Ms. Urbanova is a results-driven HR professional who brings a unique blend of analytical prowess and empathetic leadership to drive organizational success. Her expertise spans talent acquisition, workforce planning, and strategic HR initiatives, allowing her to bridge business objectives with human capital management effectively. She currently serves as the director of external strategies at the National STEM Honor Society, where she leads multiple departments, manages social media and marketing strategies, and supervises talent acquisition. Her expertise in leadership, social media, marketing, human resources, and talent acquisition has been instrumental in propelling organizational growth. She also serves as human resources co-director at the same organization, continuing to significantly influence its development. Areas of expertise include, but are not limited to supervision, administration, recruitment, business development, networking, international business, international relations, HR training and development, and organizational development. Before embarking on her career path, Ms. Urbanova earned her Master's in Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources Management from the University of Northern Colorado and her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Nebraska - Omaha. Prior to moving to the Unites states, Ms. Urbanova earned a diploma in nursing from the School of Nursing Vsetin in 2008, followed by a diploma in social-labor law and employment from the Prague School of Advanced Legal Studies in 2013. Throughout her illustrious career, Ms. Urbanova has received many awards and accolades and has been recognized worldwide for her accomplishments. This year she will be considered for the Empowered Woman Award and to be featured in TIP (Top Industry Professionals) Magazine. She will be honored at IAOTP's annual awards gala at the remarkable Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas this December for her selection of Top Human Resources Director for 2025. In addition to her career, Ms. Urbanova is actively engaged in community organizations. Since 2024, she has served as the membership chair and board member for the Moylan Premier Figure Skating Club in Omaha. From 2022 to 2024, she was a mentor for college students through Mentor Collective in Omaha. In addition, she is a member of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce. The President of the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP), Stephanie Cirami, stated: 'Choosing Ms. Urbanova for this honor was an easy decision for our panel to make. She is inspirational, influential, and a true visionary and thought leader. We cannot wait to meet her and celebrate her accomplishments at this year's gala.' Looking back, Ms. Urbanova attributes her success to a strong values-based leadership style, a passion for her work, and mentors she had along the way. When not working, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. In the future, she hopes to empower people going into the field. For more information please visit: About IAOTP The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international boutique networking organization that handpicks the world's finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers, and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join. You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview. IAOTP's experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals around the world, the recognition and credibility that they deserve and have helped in building their branding empires. IAOTP prides itself to be a one-of-a-kind boutique networking organization that hand picks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place. For More information on IAOTP please visit: Stephanie Cirami IAOTP +1 212-634-4427 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.