March 3, 2025 • 18 mins
A marketing professional who’s perpetually curious about the science of motivating audiences, she’s a self-proclaimed “marketing nerd.” That curiosity led her to leadership opportunities in broadcast tv and radio, cable, out of home and digital. Sandra and her business partner head a marketing and advertising firm, Impact Marketing Partners, and work with businesses around the country. She and her husband, Jim, have five children. They live in Charlotte with their dogs, Gus and Hank. She and Jim enjoy traveling together and planning the next adventure. For fun, Sandra loves golfing, running, singing and anything outdoors - - hiking, boating, ziplining - - she’s even tried surfing, but that didn’t end so well. Sandra has degrees in broadcast journalism and voice from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A die-hard Tar Heel, she has a closet full of Carolina Blue, but also pledges her allegiance to the Carolina Panthers.Along the way, she’s been fortunate to participate in community and industry boards. Board Associations in the past include:
- North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Board of Trustees
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Board of Directors
- Uptown Men’s Homeless Shelter Board of Directors
- Dave Ramsey Executive Advisory Council
- Chairman Isabella Santos Foundation
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the iHeartMedia Charlotte Women of Impact, celebrating women
in our community, presented by the Carolina Ascent and New
Hope Treatment Centers.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Is Sarah Lee and I have the honor and privilege
to sit here with Sandra Zochi, a partner at Impact
Marketing Partners here in Charlotte.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Tell me your background and what you do at Impact Marketing.
Speaker 4 (00:22):
Yeah, and my background is in almost any area of
media that you can think of. And I think part
of that was just fueled by a natural curiosity that
I wanted to know how it all worked. I love marketing.
I love media so much, and in reality, when I
set out to start my career, I wanted to be
(00:44):
a television producer forever and that was my goal. Went
to school, broadcast journalism major, all the rest of it.
And when I was in that role, I was bored
to tears and a little a little frustrated because, Wow,
this isn't what I thought it was gonna be. But
I'd always built it up in my mind.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Why wasn't it what you thought it would be.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
It was a huge man's world, and that's okay. At
the time, I didn't think about that too much. I
don't see the world in men and women. I just don't.
I see the world in people and who they are
and why they bring to the table. And maybe that's
a fault sometimes because I'm probably missing out on some cues,
(01:29):
But I think that that's been comfortable for me because
I don't want to get too caught up in the
negativity of it all. I want to see people for
who they are and what they can be. And you know,
a person who's not a kind person is a person
who's not a kind person, whether they're a male or female, right,
So that's just kind of been my vibe and it
(01:51):
served me well, I think. But no, at the time,
being in TV production, in news particular, I wanted to
have a family, and you're gonna be work in the
eleven o'clock. There's six and eleven, and I just was
missing out on some family time and I knew there
was going to be a lot of travel and other
things involved with it. So at the end of the day,
I did not enjoy it, and I did not enjoy
(02:14):
sitting in a corner and watching others do when I
felt like I was very capable too. But it did
spend some time doing that, and it humbled me, and
it put me on the path that I really was
meant to.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Be on, thinking of empowering the next generation of women.
What character traits do you think have been the most
instrumental to your success?
Speaker 4 (02:31):
I should probably go back because I didn't get to
where I am today. Okay, I'm not a producer. I
think whenever the whenever the television production piece did not
work out, whenever the producer piece just was not where
I felt like I was called to, I went into
the marketing side of the business and fell head over
(02:53):
hills in love with all things marketing. Became a total
marketing nerd. That led me into marketing sales, and then
I was really curious. I wanted to see how all
parts of it worked. So I wound up in the sales.
Speaker 5 (03:07):
Side of TV, radio, out home digital, and so I
learned the aspects of not just the medium, but really
how it all works and how does it go to
market and how can it help build businesses?
Speaker 4 (03:23):
And that tied me up for where I am today.
I'm here with all these amazing people at iHeart. I
work with you guys every day, Dave Carwill, Ryan Petrosso
and you and Paul and all the wonderful talent here
really helped me in my day to day. So that's
why I'm here.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
We love you so much and we're so grateful that
you're here. I love strong women. I love to hear
the stories on your starting points where you are now
because it's a long journey. So if you were to
talk to the next generation of women, what character traits
do you think have been the most instrumental to your success?
Speaker 4 (03:59):
There are a few. I had to whittle it down
because I had quite the checklist. I would say resilience, adaptability,
a really healthy dose of boldness like knock me down,
I get back up. And absolutely curiosity, And I just
keep coming back to that. You have to be curious.
You need resilience. Need I tell you, you will absolutely
(04:25):
hit walls. You're going to have bad days, You're going
to have situations of people that make you have a
bad day, and you don't have an option of packing
up and going home. You have to put on the
face and keep going. And sometimes you have to put
on the face keep going for weeks and months at
a time. But I think resilience is really important, otherwise
you'll unhook your gifts right. Adaptability. If there's anything that
(04:49):
you will learn in media, wow, blink and something's going
to be at your back door and you better learn it.
AI in classes for AI, what is this thing? How
do I use to grow my skill set so that
I can make my team better, I can make our
clients better. Adaptability have to be adapted.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Don't get comfortable, always evolve.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Right, And that's probably hand in hand with curiosity. You know,
you can't say, well, I know there's a new technology
out there, but I don't like it. I think that
speaks to the adaptable piece of it. Be malleable and adaptable.
But you have to want to learn. You have to
be curious and you have to go seek the best
ways for you to learn. And it's not just about
(05:32):
learning about AI, and not just about learning about OTT
and CTV and all these new technologies that have landed
on us over the last couple of years. You also,
I think, have to look at what happens to you
on a daily basis and say why did that happen?
Bad or good? But right now I'm going to talk
about the things that we deem to be bad and
(05:54):
what can I take from it? What can I take
from it and make it the university of my life
so that I can learn and put it to work
in my life, versus looking at it in a negative
way and it weighing on you. Flip it upside down,
make it positive and understand that you just took value
out of that experience. So that's the curiosity piece. And
(06:17):
finally the boldness. Yeah, as a woman, you have to
be bold. You have to know that you do have
a place, you do have a seat at the table,
you do have a voice, and do not feel that
you are secondary to anybody else.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Be bold as a woman.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Sometimes it's hard to be your bold, confident self and
also be soft because I think strong confident women can
sometimes come across as.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I'm a lot. I'm allowed to dig in.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
So I catch myself sometimes being overly bold, and I'm like, pull.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Back, rein it in, rein it in.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
You gotta be a little softer, And I think trying
to find that balance is hard.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
I think you said something that's really interesting, because being
bold doesn't mean being loud, right, Being bold sometimes means
being quiet. Look, you learn so much more by listening,
yes and understanding the timing of when to say what
(07:18):
is the most important, most impactful thing you can say,
And that in and of itself is next level bold
because you had the wherewithal to sit on what you
might have felt like was generating in your heart and
in your mind and your soul. But the real intellect
and the real control of that boldness is knowing when
to put it to work. That's the fairy dust. And
(07:42):
I see so many women unhook themselves. But you're smart,
and you know there's so much there that you can contribute,
but know when and know how and know when to
use it. And I think that boldness can't alone be loud.
It needs to be sometimes smarter about when to speak
(08:07):
and when not to speak.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
That is great advice, and even how you speak to someone,
because when you're direct, there's still ways to come across
and be bold and be soft and be loving and
get the point across without being so barbaric.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
One hundred percent. You can be bold and not be
heard because people have shut you off. You have to
be very careful now.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
I think oftentimes young people struggle with what they want
to do with their careers, especially now because there's so
many options out there. What are your thoughts on trying
to figure it all out in the beginning.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Now, I will tell you I would not have said
this to you when I was twenty two. You are
not who you are at thirty, when you are at twenty,
and you are not who you are when you are
forty and you're thirty. You're better versions of yourself. You've
accumulated experiences that make you better, that make you who
(09:07):
you're meant to be. Your gifts now are atomic. So yes,
I do think you should have a path and you
should know what it is, but you should be comfortable
in changing it as life leads you. And look, I
just told you a story about it. I would tell
you I'm going to move to New York. I'm going
(09:30):
to be a network producer. And this is and I
built my education, I built everything. And not long after
being in a position where I was walking in that direction,
I'm looking for a door quickly And I had to
be okay with that, you know, because what was next
and it made me stop, look at what I love
(09:52):
to do? You know, it sounds so cliche, but the phrase,
you know, do what you love and you'll never work
a day in your life, It's true. It's so true,
and you don't need to force that situation. Do see
what your bents are. You know, I will never be
a calculus teacher ever, Neither will lie. I won't be
(10:15):
a philosopher. But I know the things I'm good at
and I know how to lean into them, and they've
just grown with me as i've gotten older. So I
think that's okay. Career path is not linear. It zigzags
and it wonders and it takes you on a beautiful,
beautiful journey, so embrace it.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
I had probably twenty jobs before I was twenty five,
But because of all those life experiences, I now can
relate and all those experiences help me with what I
do right now.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Each job taught me something.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
If it's patience, if it's how to deal with people,
if it's how to be observant and self aware, there's
just so many things you learn no matter what path
you go down.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
It's cumulative. Look. I worked in the meat department of
a grocery store. You right, But I know how to
pick out the best cuts of meat. See I mean,
you can look I mean, and that's what how I
look at it. I worked for a stock brokerage firm
(11:13):
for when I was in college, and you know what,
I understand stock market. I can watch the NBC and
not get lost. That is not a path I took.
But that's exactly what you just said. My experiences are
accumulative for my quality of life. And how wonderful is
that that was not time wasted back in my little
(11:34):
hometown of Stanley, North Carolina, where I worked in the
small town grocery store in the meat department. Not sexy
at all, not something I put on my resume, but
you know, there's value. I do not discredit any of
the things that I'm.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Doing based on the lessons you've learned from your experience.
What would you say if you could go back to yourself,
like say twenty years ago, what advice would you give yourself?
Speaker 4 (12:01):
I would say, fear less and trust yourself more, because
I think when you're young, you don't have that confidence
in yourself. I just wish I could have taken myself
and just shaken myself and going, it's okay, you work hard,
you're going to you know, be fine. Don't be insecure.
(12:21):
This is good. You got this right. And I have
other people telling me that, but I didn't believe them.
So I think I would tell myself fear less, trust
more in yourself. Number two, be more loyal to yourself
than you are the big corporate entity, because corporations can
(12:41):
go through some really interesting times and you can get
pulled along with that and you can lose yourself. So
I think you do need to stay focused on yourself
as those things are occurring.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Have you ever experienced barriers in your career and how
have you broken those down?
Speaker 4 (12:57):
I think the first you have to understand where did
that barrier come from? I mean, boy, there is something
to you know, seek to understand first and then to
be understood. It's real. So if you can really see
what the impetus is behind that barrier, you will unveil
a lot of how you should react to it. Is
that insecurities from somebody else? Is it a manufactured barrier?
(13:20):
You know? What is that barrier there for? And then
and then I think that will tee you up to
say do I need to push through that barrier? Do
I need to walk around it? Or do I need
to walk away from the barrier? And that barriers have
lots of different personalities, So I mean, there have been
times when I've been like I know where that barrier's
(13:41):
coming from. And it's not a barrier that I'm willing
to challenge. I'm good. This means it's time for me
to move on, and I'm glad I did.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
You're so inspirational. I just love talking to you. There
are so many young women in Charlotte. What advice would
you give them as they set out on their own careers.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
I think I would say, you have to get this
part right out the gate. You must understand your worth
and from there your ambition, you know, can take flight,
but you first have to value yourself, and my goodness,
we all are valuable. We all are value valued, and
(14:23):
we all have different bents that are so needed. I
have a team of women and not one of them
is the same, but yet they all hold immense value
and we can't operate without one of them. We need them,
I need every one of them, and so I think,
first of all, you have to understand that number two,
build your tribe. My goodness, how do we get through
(14:47):
the day without our tribe? Remember, Dave Carwell is a
member of my tribe. You know. I know that if
I am in a tough place, that I can trust him,
and that has been built through the years. Right, So
Dave Carwila is a member of my tribe. But I
have friends who are a member of my tribe. When
I've had a bad day that I just might need
(15:07):
to download. I have intellectual women that I need to
lean on. I've got a business coach, you know. So
I think the tribe has a lot of texture to it.
But know who your tribe is and lean on them.
And I will say also when you're identifying those people,
know the people in your life who drain you and
avoid because that takes you down a different path. I
(15:31):
think that self care is important. You know, you got
to get rest, you got to take care of yourself.
You've got to continue to improve what you do. And
a lot of times our plate, you know, ambitious women
have a full plate. We get shoved off the plate.
You have got to take care of yourself. So I
think self care is super, super important. And finally, I
(15:53):
think enjoy the journey, you know, take joy in what
is occurring around you, and don't forget to lift other
people up on your way. And you don't know what
kind of day that woman sitting next to you is heaven,
and she's probably not telling you, but take a minute
and lift her up. It goes a long wait and
you may not ever know, but it doesn't take a
(16:16):
lot of time to lift other people up. And I
just think that on this rapid journey, crazy, hectic journey
that we're all on, just take a minute. Take a minute.
People need it.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
You're not only an incredible business woman, an inspirational speaker
you should just add to your resume, but you're also
a mom of six children.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
So how do you balance work life and family life?
Speaker 4 (16:40):
Gosh, there are days you don't but shout out to
my husband, Jim Zochie and to my kids. My kids
are amazing because they've allowed mom to do what mom does.
And you know, they knew that there were some nights
so that it was going to be leftovers. Thanks kids, So
they've been on this ride with me and they've not resisted,
(17:01):
they've supported, and I just can't thank them enough. I
just have the best family network possible, best friend network.
My husband is just an amazing guy. On his own,
he is an amazing talent and he just supports. He
if I'm having a bad or or a hectic day,
(17:24):
he doesn't push. He makes dinner. You know what I
know that's my guy, and you know, I wish everyone
had that support, But I just have a very very
supportive home and they bring me great joy. My family
brings me great, great joy, and they're the motivation behind
(17:45):
what I do. You know, I want to be able
to earn an amazing living so that I can spend
time with him, and so that I can give back
to causes that are so near and dear to us,
so that you know we're blessed to be able to others.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
You radiate joy through your pores like I hope, so
imagine your kids have got to be incredible, because I
mean this second you walk into a room, the room
brightens up, and I think we need more women like that.
And I love to be around strong, independent women. But
that you made a valid point. You help each other up.
We have individual talents that nobody else can mimic. And
(18:23):
so when we learn that and we group together and
we encourage each other and we lift each other up,
then we all succeed.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Will said, Yeah, you inspire me so to add you
to my tribe, and please do.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
I'm going to buy your first books and list is
already out there.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Uh, no time for a book yet yet well, thank
you so much for your time you, Sarah Leie, It's
a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
iHeartMedia. Charlotte Women of Impact celebrating women in our community,
presented by the Carolina Ascent and New Hope Treatment Centers,
This is the iHeartMedia Charlotte Women of Impact, celebrating women
in our community, presented by the Carolina Ascent and New
Hope Treatment Centers.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Is Sarah Lee and I have the honor and privilege
to sit here with Sandra Zochi, a partner at Impact
Marketing Partners here in Charlotte.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Tell me your background and what you do at Impact Marketing.
Speaker 4 (00:22):
Yeah, and my background is in almost any area of
media that you can think of. And I think part
of that was just fueled by a natural curiosity that
I wanted to know how it all worked. I love marketing.
I love media so much, and in reality, when I
set out to start my career, I wanted to be
(00:44):
a television producer forever and that was my goal. Went
to school, broadcast journalism major, all the rest of it.
And when I was in that role, I was bored
to tears and a little a little frustrated because, Wow,
this isn't what I thought it was gonna be. But
I'd always built it up in my mind.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Why wasn't it what you thought it would be.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
It was a huge man's world, and that's okay. At
the time, I didn't think about that too much. I
don't see the world in men and women. I just don't.
I see the world in people and who they are
and why they bring to the table. And maybe that's
a fault sometimes because I'm probably missing out on some cues,
(01:29):
But I think that that's been comfortable for me because
I don't want to get too caught up in the
negativity of it all. I want to see people for
who they are and what they can be. And you know,
a person who's not a kind person is a person
who's not a kind person, whether they're a male or female, right,
So that's just kind of been my vibe and it
(01:51):
served me well, I think. But no, at the time,
being in TV production, in news particular, I wanted to
have a family, and you're gonna be work in the
eleven o'clock. There's six and eleven, and I just was
missing out on some family time and I knew there
was going to be a lot of travel and other
things involved with it. So at the end of the day,
I did not enjoy it, and I did not enjoy
(02:14):
sitting in a corner and watching others do when I
felt like I was very capable too. But it did
spend some time doing that, and it humbled me, and
it put me on the path that I really was
meant to.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Be on, thinking of empowering the next generation of women.
What character traits do you think have been the most
instrumental to your success?
Speaker 4 (02:31):
I should probably go back because I didn't get to
where I am today. Okay, I'm not a producer. I
think whenever the whenever the television production piece did not
work out, whenever the producer piece just was not where
I felt like I was called to, I went into
the marketing side of the business and fell head over
(02:53):
hills in love with all things marketing. Became a total
marketing nerd. That led me into marketing sales, and then
I was really curious. I wanted to see how all
parts of it worked. So I wound up in the sales.
Speaker 5 (03:07):
Side of TV, radio, out home digital, and so I
learned the aspects of not just the medium, but really
how it all works and how does it go to
market and how can it help build businesses?
Speaker 4 (03:23):
And that tied me up for where I am today.
I'm here with all these amazing people at iHeart. I
work with you guys every day, Dave Carwill, Ryan Petrosso
and you and Paul and all the wonderful talent here
really helped me in my day to day. So that's
why I'm here.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
We love you so much and we're so grateful that
you're here. I love strong women. I love to hear
the stories on your starting points where you are now
because it's a long journey. So if you were to
talk to the next generation of women, what character traits
do you think have been the most instrumental to your success?
Speaker 4 (03:59):
There are a few. I had to whittle it down
because I had quite the checklist. I would say resilience, adaptability,
a really healthy dose of boldness like knock me down,
I get back up. And absolutely curiosity, And I just
keep coming back to that. You have to be curious.
You need resilience. Need I tell you, you will absolutely
(04:25):
hit walls. You're going to have bad days, You're going
to have situations of people that make you have a
bad day, and you don't have an option of packing
up and going home. You have to put on the
face and keep going. And sometimes you have to put
on the face keep going for weeks and months at
a time. But I think resilience is really important, otherwise
you'll unhook your gifts right. Adaptability. If there's anything that
(04:49):
you will learn in media, wow, blink and something's going
to be at your back door and you better learn it.
AI in classes for AI, what is this thing? How
do I use to grow my skill set so that
I can make my team better, I can make our
clients better. Adaptability have to be adapted.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Don't get comfortable, always evolve.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Right, And that's probably hand in hand with curiosity. You know,
you can't say, well, I know there's a new technology
out there, but I don't like it. I think that
speaks to the adaptable piece of it. Be malleable and adaptable.
But you have to want to learn. You have to
be curious and you have to go seek the best
ways for you to learn. And it's not just about
(05:32):
learning about AI, and not just about learning about OTT
and CTV and all these new technologies that have landed
on us over the last couple of years. You also,
I think, have to look at what happens to you
on a daily basis and say why did that happen?
Bad or good? But right now I'm going to talk
about the things that we deem to be bad and
(05:54):
what can I take from it? What can I take
from it and make it the university of my life
so that I can learn and put it to work
in my life, versus looking at it in a negative
way and it weighing on you. Flip it upside down,
make it positive and understand that you just took value
out of that experience. So that's the curiosity piece. And
(06:17):
finally the boldness. Yeah, as a woman, you have to
be bold. You have to know that you do have
a place, you do have a seat at the table,
you do have a voice, and do not feel that
you are secondary to anybody else.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Be bold as a woman.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Sometimes it's hard to be your bold, confident self and
also be soft because I think strong confident women can
sometimes come across as.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I'm a lot. I'm allowed to dig in.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
So I catch myself sometimes being overly bold, and I'm like, pull.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Back, rein it in, rein it in.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
You gotta be a little softer, And I think trying
to find that balance is hard.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
I think you said something that's really interesting, because being
bold doesn't mean being loud, right, Being bold sometimes means
being quiet. Look, you learn so much more by listening,
yes and understanding the timing of when to say what
(07:18):
is the most important, most impactful thing you can say,
And that in and of itself is next level bold
because you had the wherewithal to sit on what you
might have felt like was generating in your heart and
in your mind and your soul. But the real intellect
and the real control of that boldness is knowing when
to put it to work. That's the fairy dust. And
(07:42):
I see so many women unhook themselves. But you're smart,
and you know there's so much there that you can contribute,
but know when and know how and know when to
use it. And I think that boldness can't alone be loud.
It needs to be sometimes smarter about when to speak
(08:07):
and when not to speak.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
That is great advice, and even how you speak to someone,
because when you're direct, there's still ways to come across
and be bold and be soft and be loving and
get the point across without being so barbaric.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
One hundred percent. You can be bold and not be
heard because people have shut you off. You have to
be very careful now.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
I think oftentimes young people struggle with what they want
to do with their careers, especially now because there's so
many options out there. What are your thoughts on trying
to figure it all out in the beginning.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Now, I will tell you I would not have said
this to you when I was twenty two. You are
not who you are at thirty, when you are at twenty,
and you are not who you are when you are
forty and you're thirty. You're better versions of yourself. You've
accumulated experiences that make you better, that make you who
(09:07):
you're meant to be. Your gifts now are atomic. So yes,
I do think you should have a path and you
should know what it is, but you should be comfortable
in changing it as life leads you. And look, I
just told you a story about it. I would tell
you I'm going to move to New York. I'm going
(09:30):
to be a network producer. And this is and I
built my education, I built everything. And not long after
being in a position where I was walking in that direction,
I'm looking for a door quickly And I had to
be okay with that, you know, because what was next
and it made me stop, look at what I love
(09:52):
to do? You know, it sounds so cliche, but the phrase,
you know, do what you love and you'll never work
a day in your life, It's true. It's so true,
and you don't need to force that situation. Do see
what your bents are. You know, I will never be
a calculus teacher ever, Neither will lie. I won't be
(10:15):
a philosopher. But I know the things I'm good at
and I know how to lean into them, and they've
just grown with me as i've gotten older. So I
think that's okay. Career path is not linear. It zigzags
and it wonders and it takes you on a beautiful,
beautiful journey, so embrace it.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
I had probably twenty jobs before I was twenty five,
But because of all those life experiences, I now can
relate and all those experiences help me with what I
do right now.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Each job taught me something.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
If it's patience, if it's how to deal with people,
if it's how to be observant and self aware, there's
just so many things you learn no matter what path
you go down.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
It's cumulative. Look. I worked in the meat department of
a grocery store. You right, But I know how to
pick out the best cuts of meat. See I mean,
you can look I mean, and that's what how I
look at it. I worked for a stock brokerage firm
(11:13):
for when I was in college, and you know what,
I understand stock market. I can watch the NBC and
not get lost. That is not a path I took.
But that's exactly what you just said. My experiences are
accumulative for my quality of life. And how wonderful is
that that was not time wasted back in my little
(11:34):
hometown of Stanley, North Carolina, where I worked in the
small town grocery store in the meat department. Not sexy
at all, not something I put on my resume, but
you know, there's value. I do not discredit any of
the things that I'm.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Doing based on the lessons you've learned from your experience.
What would you say if you could go back to yourself,
like say twenty years ago, what advice would you give yourself?
Speaker 4 (12:01):
I would say, fear less and trust yourself more, because
I think when you're young, you don't have that confidence
in yourself. I just wish I could have taken myself
and just shaken myself and going, it's okay, you work hard,
you're going to you know, be fine. Don't be insecure.
(12:21):
This is good. You got this right. And I have
other people telling me that, but I didn't believe them.
So I think I would tell myself fear less, trust
more in yourself. Number two, be more loyal to yourself
than you are the big corporate entity, because corporations can
(12:41):
go through some really interesting times and you can get
pulled along with that and you can lose yourself. So
I think you do need to stay focused on yourself
as those things are occurring.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Have you ever experienced barriers in your career and how
have you broken those down?
Speaker 4 (12:57):
I think the first you have to understand where did
that barrier come from? I mean, boy, there is something
to you know, seek to understand first and then to
be understood. It's real. So if you can really see
what the impetus is behind that barrier, you will unveil
a lot of how you should react to it. Is
that insecurities from somebody else? Is it a manufactured barrier?
(13:20):
You know? What is that barrier there for? And then
and then I think that will tee you up to
say do I need to push through that barrier? Do
I need to walk around it? Or do I need
to walk away from the barrier? And that barriers have
lots of different personalities, So I mean, there have been
times when I've been like I know where that barrier's
(13:41):
coming from. And it's not a barrier that I'm willing
to challenge. I'm good. This means it's time for me
to move on, and I'm glad I did.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
You're so inspirational. I just love talking to you. There
are so many young women in Charlotte. What advice would
you give them as they set out on their own careers.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
I think I would say, you have to get this
part right out the gate. You must understand your worth
and from there your ambition, you know, can take flight,
but you first have to value yourself, and my goodness,
we all are valuable. We all are value valued, and
(14:23):
we all have different bents that are so needed. I
have a team of women and not one of them
is the same, but yet they all hold immense value
and we can't operate without one of them. We need them,
I need every one of them, and so I think,
first of all, you have to understand that number two,
build your tribe. My goodness, how do we get through
(14:47):
the day without our tribe? Remember, Dave Carwell is a
member of my tribe. You know. I know that if
I am in a tough place, that I can trust him,
and that has been built through the years. Right, So
Dave Carwila is a member of my tribe. But I
have friends who are a member of my tribe. When
I've had a bad day that I just might need
(15:07):
to download. I have intellectual women that I need to
lean on. I've got a business coach, you know. So
I think the tribe has a lot of texture to it.
But know who your tribe is and lean on them.
And I will say also when you're identifying those people,
know the people in your life who drain you and
avoid because that takes you down a different path. I
(15:31):
think that self care is important. You know, you got
to get rest, you got to take care of yourself.
You've got to continue to improve what you do. And
a lot of times our plate, you know, ambitious women
have a full plate. We get shoved off the plate.
You have got to take care of yourself. So I
think self care is super, super important. And finally, I
(15:53):
think enjoy the journey, you know, take joy in what
is occurring around you, and don't forget to lift other
people up on your way. And you don't know what
kind of day that woman sitting next to you is heaven,
and she's probably not telling you, but take a minute
and lift her up. It goes a long wait and
you may not ever know, but it doesn't take a
(16:16):
lot of time to lift other people up. And I
just think that on this rapid journey, crazy, hectic journey
that we're all on, just take a minute. Take a minute.
People need it.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
You're not only an incredible business woman, an inspirational speaker
you should just add to your resume, but you're also
a mom of six children.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
So how do you balance work life and family life?
Speaker 4 (16:40):
Gosh, there are days you don't but shout out to
my husband, Jim Zochie and to my kids. My kids
are amazing because they've allowed mom to do what mom does.
And you know, they knew that there were some nights
so that it was going to be leftovers. Thanks kids, So
they've been on this ride with me and they've not resisted,
(17:01):
they've supported, and I just can't thank them enough. I
just have the best family network possible, best friend network.
My husband is just an amazing guy. On his own,
he is an amazing talent and he just supports. He
if I'm having a bad or or a hectic day,
(17:24):
he doesn't push. He makes dinner. You know what I
know that's my guy, and you know, I wish everyone
had that support, But I just have a very very
supportive home and they bring me great joy. My family
brings me great, great joy, and they're the motivation behind
(17:45):
what I do. You know, I want to be able
to earn an amazing living so that I can spend
time with him, and so that I can give back
to causes that are so near and dear to us,
so that you know we're blessed to be able to others.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
You radiate joy through your pores like I hope, so
imagine your kids have got to be incredible, because I
mean this second you walk into a room, the room
brightens up, and I think we need more women like that.
And I love to be around strong, independent women. But
that you made a valid point. You help each other up.
We have individual talents that nobody else can mimic. And
(18:23):
so when we learn that and we group together and
we encourage each other and we lift each other up,
then we all succeed.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Will said, Yeah, you inspire me so to add you
to my tribe, and please do.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
I'm going to buy your first books and list is
already out there.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Uh, no time for a book yet yet well, thank
you so much for your time you, Sarah Leie, It's
a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
iHeartMedia. Charlotte Women of Impact celebrating women in our community,
presented by the Carolina Ascent and New Hope Treatment Centers,
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