July 31, 2025 • 33 mins
Danette Toole brings a wealth of experience to this candid conversation about authentic leadership across multiple domains. A corporate leader with over 20 years in HR and talent acquisition, a US Army Reserve veteran, entrepreneur, ministry leader, and devoted mother, Danette offers profound insights on maintaining priorities while excelling in diverse roles.
The heart of our discussion centers on Danette's refreshing approach to work-life integration. "Family always comes first," she declares with conviction. "The work is always going to be there, but your family time is not always guaranteed." Rather than compartmentalizing her life, Danette has developed practical strategies for moving between leadership spaces while preserving what matters most.
We explore the delicate balance of expressing faith in professional environments, where Danette shares her journey from reluctance to confidence. "You don't have to wear a flag and wave it around, but it is okay to express your beliefs and stand on them," she reflects. This authenticity has unexpectedly opened doors for others to share their own beliefs and values.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn when discussing entrepreneurship through a spiritual lens. Danette and her husband launched Grenada Nut Company with their natural pain relief products because they felt "convicted" to share these solutions with others who needed them – viewing their business much like sharing the gospel.
Perhaps most powerful is Danette's revelation about recognizing leadership within yourself before external validation arrives. "Know that you already are a leader, and when you start functioning in that, the positions come," she advises. This wisdom epitomizes her approach: leadership isn't bestowed by titles but demonstrated through consistent action, faith-based values, and prioritizing relationships.
Ready to transform your approach to leadership across the various domains of your life? Listen now and discover how to lead with both grace and effectiveness.
Connect with Danette:
- LinkedIn: Danette Toole
- Facebook: Cinnamon Sugar
Please subscribe to our mailing list to stay connected and get updates! Thanks for listening to the Graced to Lead Podcast.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey y'all, welcome back to the Grace to Lead
podcast.
Today's episode is packed withreal talk and some wisdom.
I'm chatting with my friend,danette Tool.
She's a corporate boss, amilitary vet, an entrepreneur, a
wife, a mom and a ministryleader.
Basically, she's doing all thethings right, and so what we
(00:21):
talk about today is what itreally looks like to lead with
faith and to make space for yourfamily as you lead, and a real
talk to stop downplaying theleadership that you already
carry.
So are you ready?
Let's get into it.
(00:44):
Welcome to the Grace to Leadpodcast.
I'm Belinda Gasson, your host,and listen, we have an amazing
guest with us today.
Her name is Danette Tool.
Let me just tell you aboutDanette.
Danette is a leader with over20 years of experience in human
resources and talent acquisition, including more than a decade
(01:06):
in pharmaceutical and biotech.
She currently serves as the RPOteam lead for enabling
operations team at TailoredManagement, supporting
AstraZeneca's US talentacquisition strategy.
Her work spans multiplecritical areas, from HR and
corporate finance tosustainability and
(01:27):
administration of operations,versatility and commitment to
operation excellence.
It was what she does, y'all.
So listen, danette is also aproud US Army Reserve veteran.
She served as a militaryintelligence analyst, an
experience that shaped herdiscipline, resilience and sense
(01:47):
of service.
In addition to her corporatecareer, danette co-founded the
Grenada Nut Company with herhusband, arthur.
Their family business creates100% plant-based topical
products that provide naturaldrug relief from joint pain,
offering healing rooted innature and culture through
(02:07):
products like Meg Relief, megRub, meg Soak and Meg Balm.
She's a Maryland native andholds a BA in marketing, with a
minor in photography from BaruchCollege in New York City.
She is a mom of two, serves inher church's dance ministry and
she finds joy behind the cameraas a portrait photographer.
(02:30):
Listen, danette is bringing allthe things y'all, and that's
one of the reasons that I wantedher to be on this show.
You have a leader who has liveda full and a fulfilling life.
She's balancing all kinds ofthings, and I think that there
is wisdom in what she has to saytoday.
So welcome Danette Toole to theshow.
(02:53):
Welcome to Grace to Lead,danette.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Thank you so much.
It's an honor and a privilegeto be here with you today.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Well, I am really excited and, as you know, for
every guest, what usuallyhappens is we run out of time.
So for this time, we're goingto jump right into the
conversation, and I think thatone of the things that is really
interesting about your journeyis that you've been able to do
your passion projects like yourphotography business.
(03:23):
You've managed to climb up thecorporate ladder and have real
leadership role in corporateAmerica, and you've started your
own family business, which, megRelief is wonderful, listen,
the great end of that company.
You all need to plug in becausewith that Meg soap and you put
that thing and soak your.
(03:44):
We're going to stay focused,but I think that people will
hear this and they'll say, well,she must be a superhero, or
something Like how in the worldcan she do all of these things?
And so I really want to startwith how you navigate the spaces
, how you navigate the spaces,and so can you tell us what is
(04:08):
maybe one tenet that isgrounding for you as you
navigate those spaces?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, so I know, for me, a family always comes first.
So if there is something that Ineed to attend to with them
while I'm still in corporate, Imake space for that.
I do A lot of times it'sdifficult to make that space,
but I prioritize my family'sneeds over anything else and
(04:39):
that's just how I live, quitehonestly.
Yeah, so just being organizedin that, okay, this is the all
of the things that we havecoming up and trying to get that
on the calendar.
You know, just basic stuff andmaking sure that I'm still able
to balance my workload and allthe needs from the corporate
(05:00):
side of things.
And then I always do make spacefor my dance ministry as well,
like they could ask me anythingand I'll be like, okay, we're
going to figure this out.
Those are the things that arethe most important.
Obviously, my career isimportant, because without it we
couldn't sustain our household,but I think, out of everything,
(05:25):
those are the things that youcan't replace, right?
So for me, they always takeprecedence.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
So I love that you said family, and this is an
interesting place for us tostart, because one of the common
things that we hear fromleaders is I don't know how to
balance it all.
I want to put my family first,but when I do that, sometimes my
work suffers.
Or you know, if I try to carveout time, then something always
comes up.
And so, for that woman who'sleading in these spaces, what
(05:59):
would you give as one or twopieces of advice for how they
can navigate those challenges?
Speaker 2 (06:04):
I will say that the work is always going to be there
.
There's always going to besomething that is an emergent
situation that you have toattend to, but your family time
is not always guaranteed right?
And just recently we just madea family trip.
We were out, we went to Atlantafor about five days, I think it
(06:28):
was, and we spent such goodquality time with our family.
I can't even express to you howimportant and precious that was
for me, and excuse me because Imay get emotional Because I
love them so much, but it'smoments like that that can't be
(06:49):
replaced.
And I got back and at first Iwas just like, oh, I can never
take a vacation.
Everything's blowing up.
But you know, my husband, whois my rock, talked me off my
(07:09):
ledge and always says you don'treally mean that, you don't mean
that, you know it's fine andyou're going to go in there and
you're going to do what you doand you're going to set
everything right and then itwill be OK.
And and he was right, he was100 percent right.
And now, looking back at thatmoment, I'm I'm so thankful for
(07:31):
the time to enjoy family, tocome together, to be intentional
about the time we spendtogether because it is so
important.
It's so important for the kidsalso to see us being intentional
, because I know that that'sgoing to carry forward when
(07:52):
their next generation comes.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
We're not.
I mean, that's part of why thispodcast exists.
It's part of why Grace to Leadworks is because we need to have
those vulnerable spaces, and itsounds like one of the tools
(08:15):
that you use is really havingthat support from your husband,
and so you know him sayinglisten, let me help you get a
different perspective.
Here It'll be OK, here it'sgoing to be okay.
So I love that.
I would like to know I'm goingto press in a little bit because
I think you approachedsomething when you said you came
back and you were feelingoverwhelmed.
You had this conversation withyour husband and he helped to
(08:39):
navigate that.
I'm curious were thereconversations that you needed to
have in the corporate spaces?
So did you have to haveconversations with your boss or
your coworkers or the peoplethat you lead in transitioning
back from vacation?
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yes, there had to be some conversations.
Typically, when I head out, wealways make sure that we have
somebody there that we can haveas our backup so that if
anything does happen withwhatever workload we're working
on currently in our stakeholder,that they have somebody to
reach out to.
There were a couple ofsituations that happened while I
was away.
(09:15):
Immediately, I had to schedulesome time with the woman who had
agreed to be my backup.
She really was helpful to keepthings moving while I was out.
The conversations are easy,really, because they update me
on the situation and I say thankyou for your support.
(09:36):
I'm going to take it forwardfrom here.
Just making sure thateverybody's aware hey, I'm back.
Thanks for your patience.
Making sure that everybody'saware hey, I'm back.
Thanks for your patience.
I appreciate you, but I'm on itnow and we go work this out.
So that's basically how thatgoes.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
So, leaders, if you're listening, there are two
things that she just said that Ithink is really important here.
When you are looking toprioritize your family first and
you want to make sure that yourfamily doesn't get lost in all
of the things, that one you needto be intentional about that.
So her and her family decidedto be intentional about spending
this time with the family.
That's the first thing.
The second thing is that sheset systems in place so that
(10:21):
when she left, things would moveon, and sometimes as leaders,
we don't wanna give anybody anopportunity to step up and do
things, but it sounds like inyour case, there were things
that came up but things workedout, and so I think that's
important.
And then, the last thing thatyou said that I want our
listeners to really hear is thatthe conversations were easy,
(10:44):
that you had when you came back,and I think in our minds
sometimes we make things biggerthan they really are and we tell
ourselves, oh, when we comeback, all of these difficult
things are going to happen, butthat's not necessarily the
reality.
So thank you for sharing that.
Let's move a little bit.
You talked about the danceministry, which means that's
(11:04):
important to you, and so knowthat you are a woman of faith.
Can you tell us a little bitabout how faith has shaped the
way you lead?
And let's start first with thecorporate space.
How has your faith shaped theway you lead in the corporate
spaces that you're in?
Speaker 2 (11:23):
So for me in the corporate space, because I know
it is very delicate, but Ialways have at the forefront of
my mind my Christian beliefs andI think one thing that I always
fall back on is compassion andmeeting people where they need
to be met, need to be met.
(11:49):
You know, understanding, notprobing and forcing the issue,
but if they're asking for myopinion, I'm not afraid to share
that.
You know, because of my faith,this is how I feel and a lot of
times we do definitely shy awayfrom that because it is so taboo
to discuss, you know, christianbeliefs or any religious
(12:11):
beliefs, but I find that themore that I share, the more
people are comfortable sharingthemselves.
I definitely say that.
You know you don't have to weara flag and wave it around, but
it is okay.
You should feel safe to expressyour beliefs and be okay with
(12:33):
standing on them as well.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
So well.
You've said a lot here, so oneof the things that I heard you
say was compassion, and I thinkthat is one of the tenets of our
faith is having compassion forothers, and we have a role model
in Jesus with that Right, andso I think compassion on the job
is important and I think it'sinteresting that you shared that
.
When you share openly, so it'snot like you're going around, as
(12:59):
you said, waving a flag, but ifsomeone asks or they notice
something in your behavior, youshare, opening openly, which
gives other people permission todo the same, and so I thought
that was really good.
I'm curious you said that youare much more comfortable now,
and I want to kind of tap intothat a little bit.
I would love, if you'recomfortable sharing, to hear
(13:22):
from you what reservations youhad before and what kinds of
things made you less comfortablebefore and what things happened
to make you more comfortable.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yes.
So I think for me, I was neverextremely confident in my
abilities to be a leader andreally was more afraid of
judgment from peers, fromexecutives, et cetera.
I didn't want to be deemed thereligious one, that person that
(13:56):
nobody wants to talk to or thatit just.
I felt that if I expressed orshared I would be judged right.
And because it's almost anunspoken law that you can't talk
about politics and you can'ttalk about religion, it was in
that understanding that I didn'tfeel so confident.
(14:19):
But I think, as I've foundreliance on my you know, I pull
my strength from God.
So in everything that I do, whenI am sharing, as I've shared
privately or one-on-one or insmall groups, I have just felt
(14:41):
more strong in being able tostand on my faith and share and
I think that's just about me andmy spiritual growth as I've
come along in that and then alsojust being in a space where I'm
more comfortable with my ownabilities, like I feel very
(15:05):
validated in my leadershipabilities, like I didn't see it
before and see that I was aleader before I was a titled
leader, right, I didn't feellike I was a leader but as I
reflected I see, oh yeah, I was.
Yeah, I was doing that.
I see why people were coming tome and I used to think I don't
(15:28):
know why.
Everybody can't figure it out.
But they come to me becausethey know that if they come to
me, I'm not only going to helpthem, I'm going to direct their
path in how I think they shouldgo.
I really rely on God is mystrength.
(15:50):
Honestly, like every single day, that is where I pull my
strength from.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
This is really good, and this is why we have these
conversations, because I thinksomebody needs to hear that you
have a very impressive career.
But I think it surprises peopleto hear that established
leaders didn't always feel soconfident in their leadership,
or that to say out loud.
Well, I wasn't even asconfident in my spiritual walk
(16:17):
as I, you know, thought enoughto share it or enough to to own
it, and so I think it's greatfor our listeners you, if you
are feeling this way, if you'refeeling like I don't even know
if I'm a leader, like I don'tknow why people are coming to me
, I don't know how I canrepresent God in these spaces.
Know that it's all a place ofwalking it out, and what we
(16:40):
heard Danette just say is thatas she walked, as she grew, as
she did, the confidence came.
I think that is amazing.
Thank you so much for sharingthat.
So let's talk about thisbusiness.
I remember the announcement ofGrenada Nut Company and I was
thinking, because I know yourfamily, I was thinking how on
(17:05):
earth are they going to have awhole business and leave that
business while doing all theother things?
Because you're doing a lot ofthings.
You have kids, you have life,you have church and your husband
has a business and you'reworking.
It's a whole lot.
So tell me why?
First of all, the company.
Why did you start Grenade andNut?
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Well, I think why?
Because we felt like peopleneed to know, people need this
in their life, like this productis special and it's special to
us and we didn't want to beselfish and keep it to just
ourselves.
We could have, but we felt itwas also a formula that is
(18:12):
drug-free, that is plant-basedand that works, is game-changing
.
I mean, it's changed our lives,so we wanted that for other
people.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
So I think this is a brilliant point.
To stand on for just a second,you said that you felt
passionate about it, that youwanted to share it, like you
share the gospel, and I thinkthat's brilliant, danette,
because I think there are lotsof people who are sitting on
entrepreneurial ideas, companies, businesses, gifts, services
(18:46):
whatever they want to call itthat they can package and give
others to sell, or whatever thecompany services are, and to
understand that if it's given toyou by God, you have a
responsibility to share.
It is a whole paradigm shift.
Do you feel that way?
Like if you didn't move, whatdo you think would have happened
(19:09):
?
Speaker 2 (19:11):
You know that is so good.
I think we would have felt thatway definitely if we had kept
it bottled up and just kept itto ourselves.
I feel we would have felt veryconvicted.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Yeah, that is so good .
Yeah, your services hear me.
Leaders listening to Grace theLead, grace the Lead leaders
listen to me when I say listen,linda, do they still say that?
I don't know.
Listen, that idea that you havefor the business, for the book,
(19:53):
for the company, for thewhatever, you have a
responsibility if it's beengiven by God to give it to the
people that God intends that isa Selah moment.
Wow, okay, I have somequestions.
Let me see.
Okay, so could you give me oneor two things, one or two
(20:16):
leadership lessons that you'velearned over this course of time
that prized you in thisleadership journey?
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Yeah, I think one of the biggest lessons that I
learned was not always to takeevery word from another leader
whom you respect as gospel,because you may get in there and
find a completely differentsituation.
(20:47):
Get in there and find acompletely different situation.
You have to assess for yourself.
And that was one of the things,because when I first became the
RPO lead, the team reputationwas not great, I will tell you
that, and I was just like Idon't know how I'm going to do
this.
I have this one member whom Ihave to deal with and I'm
(21:10):
hearing the leader that leftthere recently that you can't
listen to anything they say.
Everything's a lie, like allthese things.
I was already worked up and Iwas already like had in my mind
and understanding what thisperson was going to be like, and
it was so not the case, like itwas just I think it was more so
(21:36):
that this person really justwanted to be heard and validated
themselves, and once thathappened, the whole relationship
changed, the whole attitudechanged.
The whole attitude changed,everything changed and I got the
respect that that last leaderdid not, and so you know.
(21:56):
So I say, take things with agrain of salt From leaders and
really hear your people, likereally listen and take it in
what they're saying, because alot of times they just want to
be heard.
Yeah, I love it.
(22:18):
One other thing I can share thatcomes from the dance ministry
as a leader, because I never sawmyself as a leader there.
I just love it with all myheart, soul and everything that
is within me, and the peoplethat I have and can call my
sisters and brothers in thedance are so special to me.
(22:41):
But I never saw myself as aleader.
And then you know it's funnyagain my husband.
He's talking to me and he saidyou know, but aren't there times
that you create?
You are asked to create thechoreography yes.
Aren't there times where youare asked to bring a short
(23:03):
sermon at the beginning of therehearsal?
Yes.
Aren't there times where you'reasked to lead prayer?
Yes, okay.
So what part about you're not aleader of dance ministry is
this?
I said oh well, I guess you'reright.
You're right, I would.
(23:26):
I would encourage people to tryto take a step outside
themselves and look from theoutside to really see and assess
what your role is, because Godis elevating you for a reason.
(23:47):
God has picked you for thisspecific season and this
specific time.
So you are where you need to be.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
I'm pausing intentionally because I see that
you feel this deeply and so Ithank you for that.
I think those are two very goodlessons to take things with a
grain of salt, assess foryourself what you need to happen
and not rely on what you heard.
(24:19):
That's really good leadershipadvice across.
Wherever you're leading, evenif you're leading in your home
and you have children, whateveryou have a dog assess the
situation for yourself.
And then this point of lookingoutside yourself is necessary
(24:40):
because we often do seeourselves in the bubble of our
experiences.
In the bubble of ourexperiences which is often full
of disappointment sometimes, orrejection or whatever those
things are, but taking a stepoutside and realizing you were
already leading before you gotthe title.
I mean and that's what this isabout Grace to Lead is for
(25:01):
leaders, but it's not always forthe people who have the titles.
We're leading in lots of areasand we don't realize.
I think that is beautiful.
As I suspected, we're gettingclose to the end of our time.
It's clear that, in order tonavigate all the spaces in your
leadership journey, it takes alot of coordination and a lot of
support, and I want to ask, asa final question here what are
(25:24):
the things that tools, resources, people, systems that you use
in your leadership roles, thatyou can't live without?
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Well, wow, I rely on my calendar.
I rely on my calendar to keepme straight, number one, because
if that's a mess, then it canreally be a mess.
But I think, for me, besidesall the system support, I think
(26:03):
innately, it is you beingpresent in the moment, really
tuning in and dialing in, beingengaged with your role, with
your team, with your leadership,with the organization as a
whole as to what is going on.
(26:26):
Because if you don't knowwhat's going on, how can you do
your job?
How can you tell people whatthey need to do?
What they need to be focused inon to do is being dialed in.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
And so I hear you saying it's important to be
dialed in, really being aware ofwhat's happening.
How do you do that, Especiallyif you're a leader that's not at
all of the tables, If you'renot sitting at the table where
there's information to share?
What are the ways that you dialin that you understand what's
happening in the environmentaround you?
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Well one.
I definitely try to be present.
I show up to the meetings thatI'm encouraged to attend anytime
.
If I know that there's going tobe leadership on site, I'm
going to have my butt there onsite and they're going to see my
face and they're going to shakemy hand.
That is one way to be engaged.
(27:26):
That is one way to be seen andalso to be included at the table
.
A lot of times I'm includedbecause I'm present, because I'm
there, Because, in allactuality, our RPO team the
larger team we are consideredfield-based, so we don't have a
(27:48):
requirement to go into theoffice, contrary to people's
beliefs.
However, they see me two tothree times a week in the office
because I need to show up.
I need to make thoseconnections.
The connections are soimportant to be given the
(28:09):
opportunities to be placed inthose places where you can be
leading things, where you canget the information, Because
it's so important for us to knowwhat's happening on a more
global scale.
This is a global organizationand there is stuff happening all
the time and a lot of itimpacts our day-to-day.
(28:31):
So I just encourage people tomake yourself present and make
those connections.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Danette, what are you most proud of in your
leadership journey in any of thespace?
Speaker 2 (28:48):
You know it's funny Stability, stability.
I am most proud that I broughtstability to a team that was
seen to be, you know, veryunstable, not performing, not
(29:11):
performing.
And I know that I broughtstability to them and I know now
from their feedback that theyappreciate what I bring to the
table for them, so that for me,and what do you want your
leadership legacy to be?
well, that's a tough one for mebecause I mean, I don't think,
(29:31):
in terms of legacy long-lasting,like I am in the present, what
I'm doing and I think well, sosaying that, I think it's
providing a firm foundationright, a blueprint of how it
should carry on.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
I think that's a good place to end.
I'll ask you one final question.
Then we'll have you tell peoplehow to connect with you,
whatever you'd like to sharewith those who are listening.
If you could leave thisconversation with one piece of
advice for the leader that'slistening, what would that be?
Speaker 2 (30:12):
That would be know that you already are a leader
and when you start functioningin that, the positions come.
It comes to you.
That is how it was for me, andonce I understood and grabbed
onto that, the roles were justpresented to me.
(30:36):
I didn't even have to go outfor it.
I was identified as the leaderbecause I was functioning
already as that leader.
So know that you have it in you, so just walk in that.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Thank you so much, danette, for that.
This has been an amazingconversation, as I knew it would
be.
I think that many women wholead will find value in
everything that you had to say,and I imagine that some of them
are like hey, how do I connectwith Danette?
So Danette, tell us how canpeople connect with you, and is
(31:14):
there something that's going onthat you'd like to share with
people or you'd like to tellpeople about?
Now would be a great time to dothat.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
Okay, so you can connect with me on LinkedIn.
I am in their Danette tool, Ibelieve.
I also have photography page onFacebook if you wanted to check
that out.
So that is Cinnamon Sugar andyou can find me that page on
Facebook as well.
(31:42):
And then also for our MegRelief products.
And then also for our Megrelief products, you can find us
at meg reliefcom.
That's M E G R E L I E Fcom.
Yeah, and so please feel freeto reach out to me.
I'm always here.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
We'd love to connect.
Thank you so much.
So, for our listeners, we willput all of these links in the
description box.
You can reach Danette onLinkedIn as Danette Tool.
She also has her photographybusiness Facebook page, cinnamon
Sugar.
And, of course, you can go tomegreliefcom.
I highly recommend the MegRelief products.
Listen, that foot soap will getyou right.
I keep talking about it becausethat happens to be my favorite
product, but there are lots ofother great products.
(32:31):
Thank you, danette, for being aguest.
It has been, as my grandmotherwould say, a plum pleasing
pleasure having you on.
Thank you, thank you forinviting me and, to our
listeners, thank you forlistening to Grace to Lead.
We are picking up season twosoon and we're already planning
for season three.
I do not take your listeningfor granted.
(32:52):
I hear you.
You want to see some videos.
We're working on that.
You can go to BelindaGastoncomto get all the deets on what's
happening with me and listen toyour episodes, download your
episodes and share if you thinkthat this has helped someone.
I'm so grateful for you.
And so, until we meet eachother again next week, remember
you are indeed graced to lead.
(33:15):
Bye-bye.
Hey y'all, welcome back to the Grace to Lead
podcast.
Today's episode is packed withreal talk and some wisdom.
I'm chatting with my friend,danette Tool.
She's a corporate boss, amilitary vet, an entrepreneur, a
wife, a mom and a ministryleader.
Basically, she's doing all thethings right, and so what we
(00:21):
talk about today is what itreally looks like to lead with
faith and to make space for yourfamily as you lead, and a real
talk to stop downplaying theleadership that you already
carry.
So are you ready?
Let's get into it.
(00:44):
Welcome to the Grace to Leadpodcast.
I'm Belinda Gasson, your host,and listen, we have an amazing
guest with us today.
Her name is Danette Tool.
Let me just tell you aboutDanette.
Danette is a leader with over20 years of experience in human
resources and talent acquisition, including more than a decade
(01:06):
in pharmaceutical and biotech.
She currently serves as the RPOteam lead for enabling
operations team at TailoredManagement, supporting
AstraZeneca's US talentacquisition strategy.
Her work spans multiplecritical areas, from HR and
corporate finance tosustainability and
(01:27):
administration of operations,versatility and commitment to
operation excellence.
It was what she does, y'all.
So listen, danette is also aproud US Army Reserve veteran.
She served as a militaryintelligence analyst, an
experience that shaped herdiscipline, resilience and sense
(01:47):
of service.
In addition to her corporatecareer, danette co-founded the
Grenada Nut Company with herhusband, arthur.
Their family business creates100% plant-based topical
products that provide naturaldrug relief from joint pain,
offering healing rooted innature and culture through
(02:07):
products like Meg Relief, megRub, meg Soak and Meg Balm.
She's a Maryland native andholds a BA in marketing, with a
minor in photography from BaruchCollege in New York City.
She is a mom of two, serves inher church's dance ministry and
she finds joy behind the cameraas a portrait photographer.
(02:30):
Listen, danette is bringing allthe things y'all, and that's
one of the reasons that I wantedher to be on this show.
You have a leader who has liveda full and a fulfilling life.
She's balancing all kinds ofthings, and I think that there
is wisdom in what she has to saytoday.
So welcome Danette Toole to theshow.
(02:53):
Welcome to Grace to Lead,danette.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Thank you so much.
It's an honor and a privilegeto be here with you today.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Well, I am really excited and, as you know, for
every guest, what usuallyhappens is we run out of time.
So for this time, we're goingto jump right into the
conversation, and I think thatone of the things that is really
interesting about your journeyis that you've been able to do
your passion projects like yourphotography business.
(03:23):
You've managed to climb up thecorporate ladder and have real
leadership role in corporateAmerica, and you've started your
own family business, which, megRelief is wonderful, listen,
the great end of that company.
You all need to plug in becausewith that Meg soap and you put
that thing and soak your.
(03:44):
We're going to stay focused,but I think that people will
hear this and they'll say, well,she must be a superhero, or
something Like how in the worldcan she do all of these things?
And so I really want to startwith how you navigate the spaces
, how you navigate the spaces,and so can you tell us what is
(04:08):
maybe one tenet that isgrounding for you as you
navigate those spaces?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, so I know, for me, a family always comes first.
So if there is something that Ineed to attend to with them
while I'm still in corporate, Imake space for that.
I do A lot of times it'sdifficult to make that space,
but I prioritize my family'sneeds over anything else and
(04:39):
that's just how I live, quitehonestly.
Yeah, so just being organizedin that, okay, this is the all
of the things that we havecoming up and trying to get that
on the calendar.
You know, just basic stuff andmaking sure that I'm still able
to balance my workload and allthe needs from the corporate
(05:00):
side of things.
And then I always do make spacefor my dance ministry as well,
like they could ask me anythingand I'll be like, okay, we're
going to figure this out.
Those are the things that arethe most important.
Obviously, my career isimportant, because without it we
couldn't sustain our household,but I think, out of everything,
(05:25):
those are the things that youcan't replace, right?
So for me, they always takeprecedence.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
So I love that you said family, and this is an
interesting place for us tostart, because one of the common
things that we hear fromleaders is I don't know how to
balance it all.
I want to put my family first,but when I do that, sometimes my
work suffers.
Or you know, if I try to carveout time, then something always
comes up.
And so, for that woman who'sleading in these spaces, what
(05:59):
would you give as one or twopieces of advice for how they
can navigate those challenges?
Speaker 2 (06:04):
I will say that the work is always going to be there
.
There's always going to besomething that is an emergent
situation that you have toattend to, but your family time
is not always guaranteed right?
And just recently we just madea family trip.
We were out, we went to Atlantafor about five days, I think it
(06:28):
was, and we spent such goodquality time with our family.
I can't even express to you howimportant and precious that was
for me, and excuse me because Imay get emotional Because I
love them so much, but it'smoments like that that can't be
(06:49):
replaced.
And I got back and at first Iwas just like, oh, I can never
take a vacation.
Everything's blowing up.
But you know, my husband, whois my rock, talked me off my
(07:09):
ledge and always says you don'treally mean that, you don't mean
that, you know it's fine andyou're going to go in there and
you're going to do what you doand you're going to set
everything right and then itwill be OK.
And and he was right, he was100 percent right.
And now, looking back at thatmoment, I'm I'm so thankful for
(07:31):
the time to enjoy family, tocome together, to be intentional
about the time we spendtogether because it is so
important.
It's so important for the kidsalso to see us being intentional
, because I know that that'sgoing to carry forward when
(07:52):
their next generation comes.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
We're not.
I mean, that's part of why thispodcast exists.
It's part of why Grace to Leadworks is because we need to have
those vulnerable spaces, and itsounds like one of the tools
(08:15):
that you use is really havingthat support from your husband,
and so you know him sayinglisten, let me help you get a
different perspective.
Here It'll be OK, here it'sgoing to be okay.
So I love that.
I would like to know I'm goingto press in a little bit because
I think you approachedsomething when you said you came
back and you were feelingoverwhelmed.
You had this conversation withyour husband and he helped to
(08:39):
navigate that.
I'm curious were thereconversations that you needed to
have in the corporate spaces?
So did you have to haveconversations with your boss or
your coworkers or the peoplethat you lead in transitioning
back from vacation?
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yes, there had to be some conversations.
Typically, when I head out, wealways make sure that we have
somebody there that we can haveas our backup so that if
anything does happen withwhatever workload we're working
on currently in our stakeholder,that they have somebody to
reach out to.
There were a couple ofsituations that happened while I
was away.
(09:15):
Immediately, I had to schedulesome time with the woman who had
agreed to be my backup.
She really was helpful to keepthings moving while I was out.
The conversations are easy,really, because they update me
on the situation and I say thankyou for your support.
(09:36):
I'm going to take it forwardfrom here.
Just making sure thateverybody's aware hey, I'm back.
Thanks for your patience.
Making sure that everybody'saware hey, I'm back.
Thanks for your patience.
I appreciate you, but I'm on itnow and we go work this out.
So that's basically how thatgoes.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
So, leaders, if you're listening, there are two
things that she just said that Ithink is really important here.
When you are looking toprioritize your family first and
you want to make sure that yourfamily doesn't get lost in all
of the things, that one you needto be intentional about that.
So her and her family decidedto be intentional about spending
this time with the family.
That's the first thing.
The second thing is that sheset systems in place so that
(10:21):
when she left, things would moveon, and sometimes as leaders,
we don't wanna give anybody anopportunity to step up and do
things, but it sounds like inyour case, there were things
that came up but things workedout, and so I think that's
important.
And then, the last thing thatyou said that I want our
listeners to really hear is thatthe conversations were easy,
(10:44):
that you had when you came back,and I think in our minds
sometimes we make things biggerthan they really are and we tell
ourselves, oh, when we comeback, all of these difficult
things are going to happen, butthat's not necessarily the
reality.
So thank you for sharing that.
Let's move a little bit.
You talked about the danceministry, which means that's
(11:04):
important to you, and so knowthat you are a woman of faith.
Can you tell us a little bitabout how faith has shaped the
way you lead?
And let's start first with thecorporate space.
How has your faith shaped theway you lead in the corporate
spaces that you're in?
Speaker 2 (11:23):
So for me in the corporate space, because I know
it is very delicate, but Ialways have at the forefront of
my mind my Christian beliefs andI think one thing that I always
fall back on is compassion andmeeting people where they need
to be met, need to be met.
(11:49):
You know, understanding, notprobing and forcing the issue,
but if they're asking for myopinion, I'm not afraid to share
that.
You know, because of my faith,this is how I feel and a lot of
times we do definitely shy awayfrom that because it is so taboo
to discuss, you know, christianbeliefs or any religious
(12:11):
beliefs, but I find that themore that I share, the more
people are comfortable sharingthemselves.
I definitely say that.
You know you don't have to weara flag and wave it around, but
it is okay.
You should feel safe to expressyour beliefs and be okay with
(12:33):
standing on them as well.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
So well.
You've said a lot here, so oneof the things that I heard you
say was compassion, and I thinkthat is one of the tenets of our
faith is having compassion forothers, and we have a role model
in Jesus with that Right, andso I think compassion on the job
is important and I think it'sinteresting that you shared that
.
When you share openly, so it'snot like you're going around, as
(12:59):
you said, waving a flag, but ifsomeone asks or they notice
something in your behavior, youshare, opening openly, which
gives other people permission todo the same, and so I thought
that was really good.
I'm curious you said that youare much more comfortable now,
and I want to kind of tap intothat a little bit.
I would love, if you'recomfortable sharing, to hear
(13:22):
from you what reservations youhad before and what kinds of
things made you less comfortablebefore and what things happened
to make you more comfortable.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yes.
So I think for me, I was neverextremely confident in my
abilities to be a leader andreally was more afraid of
judgment from peers, fromexecutives, et cetera.
I didn't want to be deemed thereligious one, that person that
(13:56):
nobody wants to talk to or thatit just.
I felt that if I expressed orshared I would be judged right.
And because it's almost anunspoken law that you can't talk
about politics and you can'ttalk about religion, it was in
that understanding that I didn'tfeel so confident.
(14:19):
But I think, as I've foundreliance on my you know, I pull
my strength from God.
So in everything that I do, whenI am sharing, as I've shared
privately or one-on-one or insmall groups, I have just felt
(14:41):
more strong in being able tostand on my faith and share and
I think that's just about me andmy spiritual growth as I've
come along in that and then alsojust being in a space where I'm
more comfortable with my ownabilities, like I feel very
(15:05):
validated in my leadershipabilities, like I didn't see it
before and see that I was aleader before I was a titled
leader, right, I didn't feellike I was a leader but as I
reflected I see, oh yeah, I was.
Yeah, I was doing that.
I see why people were coming tome and I used to think I don't
(15:28):
know why.
Everybody can't figure it out.
But they come to me becausethey know that if they come to
me, I'm not only going to helpthem, I'm going to direct their
path in how I think they shouldgo.
I really rely on God is mystrength.
(15:50):
Honestly, like every single day, that is where I pull my
strength from.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
This is really good, and this is why we have these
conversations, because I thinksomebody needs to hear that you
have a very impressive career.
But I think it surprises peopleto hear that established
leaders didn't always feel soconfident in their leadership,
or that to say out loud.
Well, I wasn't even asconfident in my spiritual walk
(16:17):
as I, you know, thought enoughto share it or enough to to own
it, and so I think it's greatfor our listeners you, if you
are feeling this way, if you'refeeling like I don't even know
if I'm a leader, like I don'tknow why people are coming to me
, I don't know how I canrepresent God in these spaces.
Know that it's all a place ofwalking it out, and what we
(16:40):
heard Danette just say is thatas she walked, as she grew, as
she did, the confidence came.
I think that is amazing.
Thank you so much for sharingthat.
So let's talk about thisbusiness.
I remember the announcement ofGrenada Nut Company and I was
thinking, because I know yourfamily, I was thinking how on
(17:05):
earth are they going to have awhole business and leave that
business while doing all theother things?
Because you're doing a lot ofthings.
You have kids, you have life,you have church and your husband
has a business and you'reworking.
It's a whole lot.
So tell me why?
First of all, the company.
Why did you start Grenade andNut?
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Well, I think why?
Because we felt like peopleneed to know, people need this
in their life, like this productis special and it's special to
us and we didn't want to beselfish and keep it to just
ourselves.
We could have, but we felt itwas also a formula that is
(18:12):
drug-free, that is plant-basedand that works, is game-changing
.
I mean, it's changed our lives,so we wanted that for other
people.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
So I think this is a brilliant point.
To stand on for just a second,you said that you felt
passionate about it, that youwanted to share it, like you
share the gospel, and I thinkthat's brilliant, danette,
because I think there are lotsof people who are sitting on
entrepreneurial ideas, companies, businesses, gifts, services
(18:46):
whatever they want to call itthat they can package and give
others to sell, or whatever thecompany services are, and to
understand that if it's given toyou by God, you have a
responsibility to share.
It is a whole paradigm shift.
Do you feel that way?
Like if you didn't move, whatdo you think would have happened
(19:09):
?
Speaker 2 (19:11):
You know that is so good.
I think we would have felt thatway definitely if we had kept
it bottled up and just kept itto ourselves.
I feel we would have felt veryconvicted.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Yeah, that is so good .
Yeah, your services hear me.
Leaders listening to Grace theLead, grace the Lead leaders
listen to me when I say listen,linda, do they still say that?
I don't know.
Listen, that idea that you havefor the business, for the book,
(19:53):
for the company, for thewhatever, you have a
responsibility if it's beengiven by God to give it to the
people that God intends that isa Selah moment.
Wow, okay, I have somequestions.
Let me see.
Okay, so could you give me oneor two things, one or two
(20:16):
leadership lessons that you'velearned over this course of time
that prized you in thisleadership journey?
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Yeah, I think one of the biggest lessons that I
learned was not always to takeevery word from another leader
whom you respect as gospel,because you may get in there and
find a completely differentsituation.
(20:47):
Get in there and find acompletely different situation.
You have to assess for yourself.
And that was one of the things,because when I first became the
RPO lead, the team reputationwas not great, I will tell you
that, and I was just like Idon't know how I'm going to do
this.
I have this one member whom Ihave to deal with and I'm
(21:10):
hearing the leader that leftthere recently that you can't
listen to anything they say.
Everything's a lie, like allthese things.
I was already worked up and Iwas already like had in my mind
and understanding what thisperson was going to be like, and
it was so not the case, like itwas just I think it was more so
(21:36):
that this person really justwanted to be heard and validated
themselves, and once thathappened, the whole relationship
changed, the whole attitudechanged.
The whole attitude changed,everything changed and I got the
respect that that last leaderdid not, and so you know.
(21:56):
So I say, take things with agrain of salt From leaders and
really hear your people, likereally listen and take it in
what they're saying, because alot of times they just want to
be heard.
Yeah, I love it.
(22:18):
One other thing I can share thatcomes from the dance ministry
as a leader, because I never sawmyself as a leader there.
I just love it with all myheart, soul and everything that
is within me, and the peoplethat I have and can call my
sisters and brothers in thedance are so special to me.
(22:41):
But I never saw myself as aleader.
And then you know it's funnyagain my husband.
He's talking to me and he saidyou know, but aren't there times
that you create?
You are asked to create thechoreography yes.
Aren't there times where youare asked to bring a short
(23:03):
sermon at the beginning of therehearsal?
Yes.
Aren't there times where you'reasked to lead prayer?
Yes, okay.
So what part about you're not aleader of dance ministry is
this?
I said oh well, I guess you'reright.
You're right, I would.
(23:26):
I would encourage people to tryto take a step outside
themselves and look from theoutside to really see and assess
what your role is, because Godis elevating you for a reason.
(23:47):
God has picked you for thisspecific season and this
specific time.
So you are where you need to be.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
I'm pausing intentionally because I see that
you feel this deeply and so Ithank you for that.
I think those are two very goodlessons to take things with a
grain of salt, assess foryourself what you need to happen
and not rely on what you heard.
(24:19):
That's really good leadershipadvice across.
Wherever you're leading, evenif you're leading in your home
and you have children, whateveryou have a dog assess the
situation for yourself.
And then this point of lookingoutside yourself is necessary
(24:40):
because we often do seeourselves in the bubble of our
experiences.
In the bubble of ourexperiences which is often full
of disappointment sometimes, orrejection or whatever those
things are, but taking a stepoutside and realizing you were
already leading before you gotthe title.
I mean and that's what this isabout Grace to Lead is for
(25:01):
leaders, but it's not always forthe people who have the titles.
We're leading in lots of areasand we don't realize.
I think that is beautiful.
As I suspected, we're gettingclose to the end of our time.
It's clear that, in order tonavigate all the spaces in your
leadership journey, it takes alot of coordination and a lot of
support, and I want to ask, asa final question here what are
(25:24):
the things that tools, resources, people, systems that you use
in your leadership roles, thatyou can't live without?
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Well, wow, I rely on my calendar.
I rely on my calendar to keepme straight, number one, because
if that's a mess, then it canreally be a mess.
But I think, for me, besidesall the system support, I think
(26:03):
innately, it is you beingpresent in the moment, really
tuning in and dialing in, beingengaged with your role, with
your team, with your leadership,with the organization as a
whole as to what is going on.
(26:26):
Because if you don't knowwhat's going on, how can you do
your job?
How can you tell people whatthey need to do?
What they need to be focused inon to do is being dialed in.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
And so I hear you saying it's important to be
dialed in, really being aware ofwhat's happening.
How do you do that, Especiallyif you're a leader that's not at
all of the tables, If you'renot sitting at the table where
there's information to share?
What are the ways that you dialin that you understand what's
happening in the environmentaround you?
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Well one.
I definitely try to be present.
I show up to the meetings thatI'm encouraged to attend anytime
.
If I know that there's going tobe leadership on site, I'm
going to have my butt there onsite and they're going to see my
face and they're going to shakemy hand.
That is one way to be engaged.
(27:26):
That is one way to be seen andalso to be included at the table
.
A lot of times I'm includedbecause I'm present, because I'm
there, Because, in allactuality, our RPO team the
larger team we are consideredfield-based, so we don't have a
(27:48):
requirement to go into theoffice, contrary to people's
beliefs.
However, they see me two tothree times a week in the office
because I need to show up.
I need to make thoseconnections.
The connections are soimportant to be given the
(28:09):
opportunities to be placed inthose places where you can be
leading things, where you canget the information, Because
it's so important for us to knowwhat's happening on a more
global scale.
This is a global organizationand there is stuff happening all
the time and a lot of itimpacts our day-to-day.
(28:31):
So I just encourage people tomake yourself present and make
those connections.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Danette, what are you most proud of in your
leadership journey in any of thespace?
Speaker 2 (28:48):
You know it's funny Stability, stability.
I am most proud that I broughtstability to a team that was
seen to be, you know, veryunstable, not performing, not
(29:11):
performing.
And I know that I broughtstability to them and I know now
from their feedback that theyappreciate what I bring to the
table for them, so that for me,and what do you want your
leadership legacy to be?
well, that's a tough one for mebecause I mean, I don't think,
(29:31):
in terms of legacy long-lasting,like I am in the present, what
I'm doing and I think well, sosaying that, I think it's
providing a firm foundationright, a blueprint of how it
should carry on.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
I think that's a good place to end.
I'll ask you one final question.
Then we'll have you tell peoplehow to connect with you,
whatever you'd like to sharewith those who are listening.
If you could leave thisconversation with one piece of
advice for the leader that'slistening, what would that be?
Speaker 2 (30:12):
That would be know that you already are a leader
and when you start functioningin that, the positions come.
It comes to you.
That is how it was for me, andonce I understood and grabbed
onto that, the roles were justpresented to me.
(30:36):
I didn't even have to go outfor it.
I was identified as the leaderbecause I was functioning
already as that leader.
So know that you have it in you, so just walk in that.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Thank you so much, danette, for that.
This has been an amazingconversation, as I knew it would
be.
I think that many women wholead will find value in
everything that you had to say,and I imagine that some of them
are like hey, how do I connectwith Danette?
So Danette, tell us how canpeople connect with you, and is
(31:14):
there something that's going onthat you'd like to share with
people or you'd like to tellpeople about?
Now would be a great time to dothat.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
Okay, so you can connect with me on LinkedIn.
I am in their Danette tool, Ibelieve.
I also have photography page onFacebook if you wanted to check
that out.
So that is Cinnamon Sugar andyou can find me that page on
Facebook as well.
(31:42):
And then also for our MegRelief products.
And then also for our Megrelief products, you can find us
at meg reliefcom.
That's M E G R E L I E Fcom.
Yeah, and so please feel freeto reach out to me.
I'm always here.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
We'd love to connect.
Thank you so much.
So, for our listeners, we willput all of these links in the
description box.
You can reach Danette onLinkedIn as Danette Tool.
She also has her photographybusiness Facebook page, cinnamon
Sugar.
And, of course, you can go tomegreliefcom.
I highly recommend the MegRelief products.
Listen, that foot soap will getyou right.
I keep talking about it becausethat happens to be my favorite
product, but there are lots ofother great products.
(32:31):
Thank you, danette, for being aguest.
It has been, as my grandmotherwould say, a plum pleasing
pleasure having you on.
Thank you, thank you forinviting me and, to our
listeners, thank you forlistening to Grace to Lead.
We are picking up season twosoon and we're already planning
for season three.
I do not take your listeningfor granted.
(32:52):
I hear you.
You want to see some videos.
We're working on that.
You can go to BelindaGastoncomto get all the deets on what's
happening with me and listen toyour episodes, download your
episodes and share if you thinkthat this has helped someone.
I'm so grateful for you.
And so, until we meet eachother again next week, remember
you are indeed graced to lead.
(33:15):
Bye-bye.
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UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!