Conversations at Rally Innovations & Midwest House: Olivia West & Dr. Lonna Hardin 🎙️

Olivia West: Hey, it is Tuesday, August 29th, 2023, and we're here downtown Indianapolis at the COhatch Studio as a part of Rally 2023. And for those of you watching this, you're probably like, " What is Rally? I'm not there." Well, you should be. You should be here because this is the largest cross- functional, cross- industry, innovation conference in the world. Wait, I'm not sure if it's actually the world.

Lonna Hardin: Is the world.

Olivia West: The world? Awesome.

Lonna Hardin: Absolutely, yep.

Olivia West: So today I am joined by a new friend. We actually just met out on the street in the hallway. Can you tell the folks a little bit more about yourself?

Lonna Hardin: Absolutely. So I am on fire, first of all, because of all the amazing connections, the workshops, the opportunities, even just being here right now at the Midwest House in COhatch, co- working, we are meeting some of the most influential and powerful decision makers and companies in the world, evolving. I love that we're talking about AI, we're talking about emerging technologies. We actually just finished a workshop, which was really around how do you position your company in terms of venture capital, which is really one of the reasons why I'm here, seeking investment, and also just knowledge to really be able to thrive over the coming years. I am excited to meet you. First of all, she is so humble. Why don't you tell the people what you really do, who you really are. She is the voice of Indianapolis.

Olivia West: Oh boy, that was a heck of an introduction, but I'm more than happy to introduce myself. Hey everyone, my name's Olivia West. I am a marketer. I'm a global marketer. I'm a storyteller. I love to partner with brands, to partner with businesses, to tell their story to their customers, whoever that may be, if that's business to business, if that's business to consumer, whatever that may be. And recently, I have taken this amazing role, to be the voice of your Indiana Fever, our WNBA team here in Indianapolis. It's crazy. We're on a three win streak, which is awesome. Ball is life. It's been amazing watching these women this season continue to rebuild. This is a new team. We got a number one draft pick in Aliyah Boston, six foot five powerhouse from University of Carolina, go Gamecocks for any Gamecock fans tuning in. And it's been so exciting to just join the team at such an awesome time. It's exciting for me because it's new, it's exciting for them, and it's exciting for the fans.

Lonna Hardin: Absolutely. And one of the things I want to talk about today, and then I'll go more into my story, and since you are really instrumental in pulling that out, I'm going to let you lead that. But when we were talking early on, we were talking to the man from South Carolina and he was talking about all the athletes that are coming up. I'm in the education space. I'm also in the special needs space. So I was really intrigued by the conversation that you were having and what you were talking about, how women athletes are emerging and they're going to be really the next wave. I found that really striking because that's also the trajectory for women entrepreneurs as well, Black female entrepreneurs in the startup space. So really, why don't you talk to us more about that. I'd really love to know your insights in terms of the WNBA and women that are leading in the sports space and all of the opportunities that lie ahead.

Olivia West: That's a really great question, Lonna. So I think when we look at opportunity, you've got to go where the opportunity is. Right now, it's the wave. It's this female economy, it's the sheconomy. I remember when Beyonce kicked off her tour as well as Taylor Swift is on tour. Those tours had an impact to the whole city. Not just the little concert venue, not just the little sandwiches and snacks. Between the airfare, between the hotels, the small businesses, they were all patronized at a much higher rate because these women were doing their concerts. And not to mention Barbie, that whole Barbenheimer. Obviously both movies performed really well, but Barbie attracts a very specific audience and it's very women empowering. That's the wave right now. And that's something you can't argue with. We want to see young women. We want to see young girls. We want to see women at all ages and stages continue to rise and continue to win when they have good ideas, when they have great value to provide.

Lonna Hardin: I love that keyword win. So more about my own story. So my name's Dr. Lonna Hardin, as I said, and I'm with Live Your song, and I love that you really talked about Beyonce and Taylor Swift and how they are actually able to capitalize on their song and draw people from all over. And that is also my interest in the K through 12th grade space. I actually was a social emotional learning teacher working with K through 12th graders who often do not have vision. They don't have that ability to see themself winning because they come from under- resourced areas. So I love that you are talking about this because in this season right now where there's so many mental health challenges, where there's so many disparities, where there's so many people saying all of these different things that are happening in the world, children and youth still need to know that you have the choice and you can move ahead and live your song. You don't have to be Beyonce. You don't have to be Taylor Swift. The opportunities are endless. And even today meeting you, a young woman on the ball, focused on your future, I love we were having a conversation about my 17 year old and you were saying that really these are the pivotal years and the next 10 years is really what's going to set the track for the course ahead. So how can young female entrepreneurs, and even just youth in general, really capitalize on the opportunities that we are seeing today and plan out their future?

Olivia West: Absolutely. It was such a blessing, really, meeting you today. We were talking about what we did and then all of a sudden we were able to connect both of our worlds. So I invited Lonna and her family to actually come to the Indiana Fever game this Friday. So I'm really going to enjoy seeing them in the audience cheering each other along. But it's really just how can we all help each other? How can we be better neighbors? How can we be better community members? How can we provide more value? Whether that's at work, whether that's to the world, whether it's the tech ecosystem or not. How can I, as an individual, how can I provide more value? How can I continue to be my best self? And then when I'm in these places and spaces that we're just one degree away, one conversation away from connecting with people who could change everything for us. So many businesses are one conversation away from a funder, one conversation, just a couple of resources away from everything that they've ever needed to scale and go. So this is awesome today. Shout out to the Casted team. Shout out to the whole Casted team. Thank you for the sponsorship of this. I mean, you don't just talk the talk, but you really walk the walk. And you provided value to so many of us here at Rally.

Lonna Hardin: Yes. And I'm so excited to be here doing this podcast with you. We actually did come seeking investment. I'm actually building an AI software as a service solution for special needs families to help them navigate the IEP process. And honestly, I had not heard of Rally and just an investor, actually just like you said, those opportunities connecting me with like- minded people said, " You need to be at Rally." And even this resource, like you said, Casted. They're actually giving us resources. It's not always in the monetary investment. Sometimes it's time, sometimes it's knowledge, sometimes it's resources. But as you said, being able to tap into those things. I'm so excited that we have found like- minded people here at Rally, and I'm just super excited for what's ahead and to be able to continue these conversations.

Olivia West: Absolutely. So in closing, I just wanted to ask this, if you tomorrow could not leave behind any of your books that you've written? Or maybe your software was not able to be used, what lessons would you leave behind? So none of your books, none of the content you've created, just two lessons. Can you share that with us?

Lonna Hardin: Absolutely. So I think you may know that I am a very much impact focused entrepreneur. So everything that I do is really focused around that. So the lessons that I would leave, it's that you don't have to be a 49 plus, you don't have to be 50. You don't have to be having venture capital even to live your song and to live your dreams, but that knowledge of believing in yourself, and you being that biggest cheerleader and amplifying your own voice. When you amplify your own voice, you find those voices that are aligned and in sync with your frequency. So I always tell young people my success formula that has helped me which is vision plus voice equals velocity. What you-

Olivia West: Run that back, run that back.

Lonna Hardin: Vision-

Olivia West: That was too good not to run back.

Lonna Hardin: Vision plus voice equals velocity, which really means what you see and what you say is going to determine how fast you go and how far you get and where you get to. And I say that because I have a book called Voiceprint. And in that book, really what I'm talking about is that it took me a long time to own my own voiceprint, to celebrate not just the successes, but even the parts of myself I didn't want to tell people about. But the thing about a voiceprint is it's just like a thumbprint or a blueprint. It's one of a kind. And so you really have to be able to capture your own voiceprint and celebrate it. I don't care where you come from. I don't care what your story is. I don't care if other people don't value your voiceprint. You cannot actually do anything in life until you learn to celebrate and value your own. So that is what I would impart to young people. I would say own your voiceprint and then go out. Because Live Your Song actually is about, it's the highs and lows, it's not the song, it's the highs and lows on what you do with it that's going to determine whether it becomes a classic of all times or just something that you're dancing to on the radio for a moment. So that is what I would say.

Olivia West: I love that. Thank you so much for sharing those two things. I'm so glad that I asked. I'm so glad that I asked. I'm so glad that the listeners are now able to know this. And I would like to share my own as well.

Lonna Hardin: Absolutely.

Olivia West: Because even though we just met today, I have that same type of message. What I always say is that people cannot experience your value unless they can hear your voice. I've had this voice for years. I have had this passion for years. But until I was able to find an arena where my voice was welcomed, where my voice was celebrated, I wasn't able to impact people. I was not yet able to add that value to people. So you got to go, or you got to go to grow, where you're going to be valued, celebrated, and really mentored well. I would also say that the only way to truly lead and impact people is with a servant mind. We have to have that servant mindset. We have to steward relationships well. We have to steward resources well. If something is given to you, you better do something great with it before you ever ask for more. It's really easy to get greedy. It's really easy to say, " I want more. I want more." But what are you doing with what you already have? What are you doing with the resources, with the time, with the investments that you've already been given? So those are my two things. Shout out one more time to Casted.

Lonna Hardin: Casted.

Olivia West: Shout out to, yeah, one more thing.

Lonna Hardin: I actually want to say something because you really touched on a point, and even though you said, " What would you do if your books weren't here?" I really just want to touch on one of the books that actually started all of this because I think it's important what you said. The first book in the series is called Melody's Song and the City of the Voice Snatchers. And if we just have two more minutes, I'm going to tell you about it because I think it's important around voice. So Melody, she lives in a city that's powered by music. So every 30 days, somebody writes the town song to power the city for 30 days. So she just knows her song is going to be chosen to change the world. But every time she goes to sing, something crazy happens. She opens her mouth to sing, and frogs come out. Another time she opens her mouth to sing and her feet run backwards the other direction. So the kids are always making fun of her. But her mom keeps saying, " You're a special little girl." So one day at school, they announce a talent show. Whoever wins gets the power of the city for 30 days. She's like( singing). Her mom says, " Melody, don't do it." What do you think she does? She does it. A hand comes up, it scratches the chalkboard from top to bottom. Butterflies fly everywhere. She's devastated. She says she'll never sing again. And that's when her mom tells her the secret. When she was born, it was foretold she would be the girl with the golden voice. And that's when the voice snatchers started attacking the city, kidnapping the singers to power their own dark city. And to protect her mother took her voice and had it sealed away. Now, I won't tell you the end of the story, but it's a powerful story about self- love, self- identity, self- awareness, and self- confidence. And in closing, I'd like to say, whoever you are listening or watching, never let the voice snatchers steal your song. So you can have a voice. You can even be out there doing what, but when the voice snatchers come, you have to boldly declare that it's my voice and not allow it to be snatched. So I think that is wonderful what you've said. I love that you're out echoing your voice. I pray that your voice continues to amplify in the universe and draw those people that are in your tribe. And again, like you said, shout out to Casted and Midwest House as well, and even the Rally conference that brought us together to really share our stories and be able to amplify our own voices on this platform.

Olivia West: Did you all just hear how she left us hanging off the cliff? Like she did all of that? I want to know what happened to Melody's voice. I want to know how the talent show was. So can you tell people where they can find you and where they can get this book?

Lonna Hardin: Absolutely. So you can visit us at liveyoursong. com. You can look me up on LinkedIn, Dr. Lonna Hardin, and you can find our books on Amazon and all major retailers. Melody's song series, melody, and the City of the Voice Snatchers is one. I won't tell you the ending, but let me just tell you, we are teaching young people how to find their place in the world, connect with all of the global opportunities ahead, and understand that it is your voice that is going to open up doors and continue to take you where you need to go.

Olivia West: Thank you so much, Lonna.

Lonna Hardin: Thank you.

Olivia West: Thank you team.

Lonna Hardin: Yes.

Olivia West: And we'll see you next time.

Lonna Hardin: Absolutely.