Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs, Senior Business Leaders, Managers, Sales Professionals, Female Leaders, and R&D, Innovation, DEI, and Other Critical Teams
Creating Cultures Where Well-Being Comes First
Darlene Hawley
How Living with an Invisible Illness Taught Me the True Meaning of Self-Care
May is Mental Health Awareness Month... and while there’s plenty of buzz around self-care this time of year, I want to share something a little more personal.
But for me, mental health isn’t just a trending topic... it’s deeply personal.
I want to pull back the curtain and share a part of my story that most people don't see.
I live with an invisible illness.
You probably wouldn’t know it just by looking at me... It’s quiet, meaning it doesn’t show on the outside, and persistent, always there in the background, shaping how I move through the world. One of the hardest (and most important) lessons it’s taught me is this:
If I don’t take care of myself first... everything else suffers.
Not just my health... but my relationships, my work, my creativity, my presence, my voice.
So I’ve started fiercely protecting the daily rituals that help me feel like myself again. Not just once in a while, but consistently:
✨ I go to bed and wake up around the same time each day... not because I want to, but because my body craves it.
✨ I move my body... not for the calories burned, but so I can keep moving each day. A stretch, a walk, a Pilates class, and a dance party in the kitchen resets my energy in a way nothing else can.
✨ I’ve learned that eating clean, less processed, more home-cooked meals helps me feel more like myself.
✨ I leave white space on my calendar. One of the hardest lessons I've learned is that not every hour needs to be filled... sometimes the most powerful thing I can do is sit in my backyard and just be.
✨ I get outside. Even if it’s just 10 minutes of sunshine on my face or standing barefoot in the grass... nature doesn’t ask anything of me and that’s the reminder I often need most.
These small, consistent choices help me show up stronger... not just for myself, but for my family, my friends, my clients, and my community.
And I believe that kind of well-being—one that starts with awareness and expands into action... is something we can create inside our workplaces too.
That’s why I’m offering my workshop, Speaking Up: The Pathway to Well-Being, to teams and organizations during Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond.
It’s a half-day Step into Your Moxie® experience designed to help employees explore the barriers to their wellness, create healthier boundaries, and communicate their needs with more confidence and power.
If you’d like to explore bringing this session to your workplace or employee resource group... or if you're curious how 1:1 or group coaching could support you or your team’s growth... book a quick call with me. I’d love to help you create a culture where well-being isn’t an afterthought... It’s the foundation.
Prioritizing mental health... at home and at work, isn’t just important. It’s essential.
Whether you're supporting yourself, your team, or your entire organization, remember this:
Well-being starts small, but its impact is limitless.
Let’s build workplaces (and lives) where wellness isn’t optional... it’s foundational.
✨Ready to Own Your Story and Attract Your Dream Clients?✨
If you’re ready to stop second-guessing your message and start using storytelling as a powerful tool to connect, inspire, and sell—then I’d love to invite you to my It’s Time to Own Your Story: Mini-Course.
In this self-paced course, you’ll learn how to:
✔️ Identify the key moments in your story that captivate your audience.
✔️ Share your story in a way that builds trust and positions you as the go-to expert.
✔️ Use storytelling across your website, social media, and sales conversations to attract and convert more clients.
Plus, you’ll get a
step-by-step workbook and
personal feedback on your brand story—so you can start sharing with confidence.
Hey There!
I'm Darlene
As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.
My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.
Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.
Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.
Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.
Uncover effective website strategies and analytics tips from digital marketing expert Philippa Gamse on attracting the right audience and enhancing your online presence.
Discover how The Handmaid’s Tale finale mirrors the real-life journey of reclaiming your voice. In this powerful blog, communication and leadership coach Darlene Hawley explores how resilience, healing, and speaking up go hand in hand—and why now is the time for women to lead with clarity, confidence, and courage.
Feeling overwhelmed by school volunteer requests, mental load, and career burnout? Discover how school expectations and emotional labor impact women leaders—and what you can do to reclaim your time, focus, and leadership goals.
Discover how to overcome fear, clarify your message, and lead with confidence using the Step into Your Moxie® Vocal Empowerment System. In this practical guide, communication coach Darlene Hawley shares five powerful strategies to help business owners and leaders speak up, build presence, and move people to action—without losing their authentic voice. Perfect for entrepreneurs, executives, and teams ready to amplify their impact.
Learn why data-driven decision-making is essential for service-based business owners. Discover the key metrics to track monthly to scale sustainably and grow your revenue with confidence.
Explore the wisdom of Dr. Shradh as she discusses embracing one's authentic self, connecting deeply with others, and the power of storytelling in personal and professional growth.
Feeling stuck, even though you're smart and capable? This post explores why high-achieving leaders and entrepreneurs often feel stalled—and how creating intentional space can unlock clarity, action, and impact. Discover why a focused VIP Day might be the breakthrough you need.
Welcome back to the Attract & Stand Out podcast! In this episode, I’m chatting with the incredible Michele Risa, CEO of Collaborative Solutions. Michele takes us on a journey—from her early days in the corporate world to launching her own business back in 1991 (before entrepreneurship was even a buzzword!). She opens up about what it really means to follow your heart, trust yourself, and build a business that reflects who you are at your core. We dive into so many powerful topics—why collaboration always wins over competition, the real work behind diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how trust is the true foundation of great leadership. Michele also shares stories from working internationally and offers such grounded wisdom on staying resilient and growing with intention over the long haul. If you're a leader who wants to make an impact by showing up as your full, authentic self—you’re going to love this conversation. Here’s what we cover: 00:30 – Michele’s leap from corporate to entrepreneurship 02:56 – Why collaboration is the future 04:50 – How DEI creates stronger businesses 08:20 – What it takes to lead with authenticity 11:47 – Michele’s biggest lessons from decades in business 18:45 – Navigating challenges with resilience 26:58 – Rapid fire Qs + final takeaways Let’s dive in! Michele Risa, CEO Collaborative Solutions, Inc since 1991, is an Executive Consultant specializing in trust, engagement, and talent optimization. Michele’s most recent project is creating employment for 1 million low-income women in the MENA region- Middle East/North Africa. She is: a renowned speaker at Mastercard, Microsoft, TEDx, and more. Co-author of the award-winning book "Conscious Entrepreneurs: A Radical New Approach to Purpose, Passion & Profit.” Former President of the Manhattan Holistic Chamber of Commerce. Certifications: PTSD, Breathwork, Reiki, Vipassana, and M.A. Columbia University. www.collaborativesolutionsco.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelerisa/
In this episode of the Attract and Standout podcast, host Darlene Hawley chats with Lisa Raebel, owner and founder of Rebel Girl Marketing. Lisa shares her journey from corporate sales to starting her own marketing firm, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and telling the truth in marketing. They discuss the challenges of marketing oneself as an entrepreneur, the significance of storytelling in marketing, and the essential differences between marketing and sales. Lisa also introduces her latest projects, including a new workbook and training sessions designed to help businesses excel in their marketing strategies. Tune in to learn actionable tips on how to effectively market your business and connect with your ideal clients. 00:27 Lisa's Journey to Entrepreneurship 02:35 Challenges of Marketing Yourself 05:44 The Power of Storytelling in Marketing 11:43 Differentiating Marketing and Sales 17:35 Back to Basics: Effective Marketing Strategies 20:45 Mindset and Persistence in Business 23:25 Upcoming Projects and Personal Insights ----- Lisa is the Founder, Author, Speaker & Chief Storyteller of Rebel Girl Marketing, where she has developed her proprietary RebelMindset approach to help businesses stay in business by utilizing focused, uncompromising marketing strategies. With over thirty years of experience as a successful marketing executive and leading sales professional, Lisa cuts through the noise and breaks down marketing to what makes sense for her clients, creating strategies that are simple, relatable to their target audiences, and result in double-digit sales growth year after year. Lisa is an accomplished speaker and book author, sharing her expertise and insights with audiences around the world. Her approach emphasizes the importance of creating a positive first impression through attention-getting Power Pitches, and she believes that everything is marketing, from how you answer your phone to your final conversation with a customer. Her ability to help professionals make a great first impression sets her apart in the world of marketing, and she is passionate about teaching others the benefits of a RebelMindset. When Lisa is not working, she enjoys spending time with her two children and husband of 30 years. Her passion for inspiration is found in her cooking, paddleboarding in Lake Country, or enjoying long hikes through the numerous trails in southeast Wisconsin. https://rebelgirlmarketing.com/ / lisaraebel / rebelgirlmarketing ----- Hi I'm Darlene Hawley, and I help entrepreneurs and executive leaders find their voice and mastering communication in high-stakes conversations and presentations, whether in the boardroom, on a sales call, or around the dinner table. Grab my 10 Do's and Don't for Effective Daring Conversations: https://mailchi.mp/297e8105e904/commu... Grab my 6 Steps To Attract & Stand Out digital guide, a free roadmap to create a successful business with less hustle and more ease: https://bit.ly/attractandstandoutonline Grab a Chai and let's Connect: https://darlenehawley.com / darlenehawley
