Richcroft Silent Auction
You know the drill. You walk into a silent auction saying, “I’m just here to support the cause.” Next thing you know, you’re the proud owner of a basket of artisanal mustards or—worse—a giant painting of a dog that looks nothing like your furry friend. As someone who prides herself on resourcefulness, I’m officially offering my services as your unofficial Silent Auction Strategist.Because really, shouldn’t we have ground rules? Here’s my personal checklist before placing that first bid:✅ Will this add actual value to my life (or can I share it with a friend)?✅ Will I be devastated if I don’t win it?✅ Will I wake up tomorrow and say, “Wait…did I just spend $300 on a baby snowsuit?” (True story.)✅ Am I okay treating this like a straight-up donation—even if the item gathers dust? 🔥 Pro Tips from the Field:Team up! I once split a celebrity chef dinner. Best move. Keep your eyes on sleeper items—the ones no one’s noticing Monitor your bids like it’s the stock market in the final 5 minutes And whatever you do: DO NOT BRING YOUR KIDS.My daughter figured out the bidding app at age 7 and walked away with some serious swag. My son recently conspired with a close friend to trick me into buying two dog portraits (they signed my name to the bid sheet). He even told another bidder, “This looks just like my childhood dog” to ward her off. The audacity. So yes—it’s for a good cause. But also, it’s a jungle out there.Stay sharp. Stay resourceful. And maybe leave the kids at home. 🐾 If you’d like this lovely piece of art, please consider a donation to the worthy organization that originally offered it at their silent auction – Richcroft Inc. Or just DM and it’s yours! What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever won at a silent auction? hashtag#SilentAuctionSurvival hashtag#ResourcefulnessInAction hashtag#NonprofitLife hashtag#HumorAtWork hashtag#BiddingWars hashtag#LinkedInHumor
Women in Business
As we close out International Women’s Month, I want to reflect on a few pivotal moments in my career that made me realize being a woman often required more from me than my qualifications alone. At twenty-one, I was told my skirt should be shorter while being considered for a promotion. At twenty-eight, at a different company, I applied for a promotion only to be told I wasn’t eligible because I didn’t have a college degree—despite the fact that the male hiring manager didn’t have one either. At thirty-five, while raising venture capital for my company, an investor I considered both a mentor and a friend arrived at my home with champagne and asked me to sleep with him. I was told by a female CEO that another venture investor – who invested in my company – replaces female CEO’s. We were both replaced. Women-led companies still receive about 2% of venture capital, the same as in 2000. ‼️ At thirty-seven, I invited a well-known venture capitalist to invest in my cyber company. Instead of discussing business, he spent the entire dinner—while introducing me to an angel investor—groping me under the table. Women aren’t asking for special treatment. We’re asking for our accomplishments to be recognized, for our voices to be heard, and for us to have the opportunity to reach our full potential. At forty-eight, just after being sworn into public office, I went into the private ensuite bathroom attached to my office and found a magnet on the mirror that said, “SHE who must be obeyed.” At forty-nine, the head of the governor’s transition team told me, “You’re aggressive,” and following a long pause where he seemed to reconsider his candor after seeing the expression on my face, added, “But in a good way.” I enjoy working with men. And women. And honestly, I’m not angry. I just want us to acknowledge the reality women have faced, and understand that we still have a long way to go. I know many women who have had amazing career support. We’re making progress but this recent news on 404’ing women and underrepresented groups is a setback. Nicole Malachowski, former Commander of the 333rd Fighter Squadron, summed it up perfectly when she responded to being erased from the Department of Defense: “We mark ‘firsts’ to ensure we never go back, and to ensure we keep the door open for the ‘second,’ ‘third,’ and ‘fourth,’ etc.” Let’s keep pushing forward. For all the women who follow. hashtag#internationalwomensmonth #hashtag#womeninleadership hashtag#womeninbusiness
International Women’s Month
As we close out International Women’s Month, I want to reflect on a few pivotal moments in my career that made me realize being a woman often required more from me than my qualifications alone. At twenty-one, I was told my skirt should be shorter while being considered for a promotion. At twenty-eight, at a different company, I applied for a promotion only to be told I wasn’t eligible because I didn’t have a college degree—despite the fact that the male hiring manager didn’t have one either. At thirty-five, while raising venture capital for my company, an investor I considered both a mentor and a friend arrived at my home with champagne and asked me to sleep with him. I was told by a female CEO that another venture investor – who invested in my company – replaces female CEO’s. We were both replaced. Women-led companies still receive about 2% of venture capital, the same as in 2000. ‼️ At thirty-seven, I invited a well-known venture capitalist to invest in my cyber company. Instead of discussing business, he spent the entire dinner—while introducing me to an angel investor—groping me under the table. Women aren’t asking for special treatment. We’re asking for our accomplishments to be recognized, for our voices to be heard, and for us to have the opportunity to reach our full potential. At forty-eight, just after being sworn into public office, I went into the private ensuite bathroom attached to my office and found a magnet on the mirror that said, “SHE who must be obeyed.” At forty-nine, the head of the governor’s transition team told me, “You’re aggressive,” and following a long pause where he seemed to reconsider his candor after seeing the expression on my face, added, “But in a good way.” I enjoy working with men. And women. And honestly, I’m not angry. I just want us to acknowledge the reality women have faced, and understand that we still have a long way to go. I know many women who have had amazing career support. We’re making progress but this recent news on 404’ing women and underrepresented groups is a setback. Nicole Malachowski, former Commander of the 333rd Fighter Squadron, summed it up perfectly when she responded to being erased from the Department of Defense: “We mark ‘firsts’ to ensure we never go back, and to ensure we keep the door open for the ‘second,’ ‘third,’ and ‘fourth,’ etc.” Let’s keep pushing forward. For all the women who follow. hashtag#internationalwomensmonth #hashtag#womeninleadership hashtag#womeninbusiness
MBOC
Remember the days when you could just pick up the phone, ask for something, and get it without all the red tape? Those days seem long gone… Last week, I needed a favor. Actually, the Maryland Business Opportunity Center (MBOC) needed the favor. We found ourselves locked out of the office, where we were scheduled to meet for our entrepreneurial cohort. As I sat in the parking lot, with a dozen people who had driven from all over the state for this program, I looked at Google maps to see if we could find another place to meet…Chik Fil A…Cracker Barrel…G&M Restaurant… That’s when I saw it. The Maritime Conference Center! I had been there for a graduate school retreat, and later, for a conference. I knew this gem in our community had rooms that could accommodate us. But calling out of the blue, with no advance warning….at 5:00pm on a Monday? The likelihood of success was super low! They politely took my call, and Christopher Sikora, an executive there, called me back. He could have easily said, “No,” and no one would’ve blinked. It was a big ask.He was also headed out the door for the day. I explained our situation, and Chris said YES. No contract, no heads-up, no compensation! He just wanted to help. A caravan of cars drove the mile to get there, and waiting for us in the lobby was Chris!! Truly above and beyond 🏆 We started our meeting a half hour late, but this meeting went on to inspire amazing new connections and ideas for the entrepreneurs in that room. What Chris showed us is that sometimes it’s the unexpected challenges that bring out the best in us. Entrepreneurs solve problems, but leaders like Chris remind us that a simple act of kindness can change the entire course of a day. If you’re ever in need of a space that goes beyond the ordinary, give Chris and the Maritime Conference Center a call. They not only offer top-notch facilities but also extraordinary service! hashtag#leadership hashtag#aboveandbeyond hashtag#entrepreneurship
Just Move Forward
Sometimes we don’t need a New Year’s resolution, we need to just move forward. On this day three years ago, I was launching a new chapter in my career. Which didn’t work out. I loved public service and wanted to serve again. Two days before I announced my run for office, my teen son was taken to the emergency room with a sports injury in Massachusetts. The day before I announced, my teen daughter was placed in precautionary quarantine for Covid exposure, in Massachusetts. A week after I announced, my son was placed in quarantine with Covid. Two weeks after I announced, my daughter contracted Covid and I had to drive eleven hours (remember when you couldn’t get on a plane) in a massive snowstorm to get her. The waning days of the pandemic were blowing up my campaign – from seven hours away. But it was a family emergency that took me out of the game entirely. I was crushed, but I had to walk away. It was a full year before things started to get back to normal. Just as I was catching my breath, my mother died, which wouldn’t have been a big deal because we had been estranged most of my life… But my special needs sister, Leslie, came to live with me. And she needed a level of care beyond what I could’ve imagined. I know many of you have seen your own challenges over the last few years. Just know I see you. As you’ve shared your mishaps and detours, I have felt your pain. Instead of a New Year’s resolution, I’m going to encourage you to Find Your Forward! Dust yourself off, take a deep breath, and try again! hashtag#FindYourForward hashtag#OneStepAtATime hashtag#Resilience
AXAL
I bet you never thought I’d be asking this question but here goes… Does anyone in LinkedIn need to update their Java legacy system? One of the coolest things I get to do is work with brilliant entrepreneurs. They invent things I can only dream of. And I get to help them turn their ideas into companies. I recently met Samai and Nand, two UMD students who figured out how to use AI to update legacy systems stuck in Cobol and Java. When I was County Executive, we were paying serious money for Cobol programmers, a software language that is 50+ years old. This, by the way, means many of the programmers are retiring! When we think about the next generation of software and solutions, we need to be listening to (wait for it)…the next generation! At nineteen and twenty, these guys have already developed a prototype and been accepted into Y Combinator, the premier path to success for any entrepreneur. They are looking for their first design partner to co-develop their solution for legacy Java installations. If you’re one of those executives who is ready to move into the future, reach out to them or me. They are interviewing for a partner starting next week! hashtag#LegacySystems hashtag#DigitalTransformation hashtag#Entrepreneurship
Holiday Lights
Adventures with Leslie Leslie continues to live her best life! In the last few weeks, she visited the Maryland Holiday Light Spectacular with her roommates and is enjoying holiday festivities with family and friends. Her biggest focus, however…the Baltimore Ravens. A few weeks ago, she said, “Laura, the Ravens aren’t doing too good. I don’t follow football quite as closely so I just listened. “Justin Tucker needs to stay on his kicking.” I’m starting to think he’s her favorite. And today she proudly said, “the Ravens will be in the payoffs.” I often wonder how much people like Leslie really understand…her IQ is 59…but I think it’s more than we realize. I was able to combine her two favorite things in one gift: Wockenfuss, a Baltimore candy tradition, makes a Ravens-colored nonpareil. Her favorite candy and favorite team in one gift! It’s not about the price, it’s about the connection. I am wishing every one of you a peaceful and joyful time with family and friends. #AdventuresWithLeslie hashtag#UnlikelyFootballExpert hashtag#RavensPlayoffs
I Can’t Work for a Woman
“I can’t work for a woman.” I’m not sure he meant for it to come out, although he had been dropping hints for awhile, but those were the words said (yelled) to me by a company founder. This founder wanted me to raise the money necessary to build the company. He also needed and wanted to get a paycheck. It had been three+ years of no funding, and they were looking at shutting down. I was the only one willing to take the risk necessary to make it happen. This happened months into working with this company, with no payment or salary. It was a start-up and signing on had been a huge risk. You’ve all heard me say how important it is to show up. Sometimes you have to know when to walk away. I calmly pushed my chair back from the conference room table, picked up my things, and walked out the door. Know your value. Know what you bring. Trust yourself to make the right decision. It didn’t take long for the call to come in, asking me to return. And I did…with some ground rules. It’s about showing up, and knowing when to walk away…but also about following through. The company was a huge success. I can’t say working with the founder was ever easy …but I can tell you that standing my ground, and the support of the other co-founder, made it possible to walk back into the office. Today, I am starting a new venture. I look forward to sharing the details soon! hashtag#leadership hashtag#resilience hashtag#showup hashtag#failure
The First Step Towards Change
The first step toward change is to own it. I had a conversation with my son, as he prepares to leave for college, about how he would like to do certain things differently this year. He brought it up so we went there. He’s often disorganized and keeping track of his work can be challenging…or at least it was in high school. I have the same challenges. In my early career, I was often encouraged to interview for an administrative assistant (previously known as secretary) job. It would take too long to count how many times…without a college degree…I was sent in this direction. The thought of creating a filing system…whew! I would’ve been terrible at it. Chatting it up on 800 number calls in a customer service center was more my jam. Learning to organize has been a lifelong endeavor for me, and I’ve learned to love it! So how did I change my thinking about this thing I wanted to change? 1. Own it – accept that this isn’t a strength 2. Learn from it – make an honest assessment of what is challenging about it 3. Change it – develop and follow a new routine I started with a book called something like 30 Days to Getting Organized, and I’ve never looked back. I can now go “Marie Kondo” or “Home Edit” on any room or filing system that crosses my path. For the new school year, my son and I decided to work together on a plan that has accountability built in. Own. Learn. Change. He’s working on a system but your thoughts on any other ideas are welcome too!! #change #newbeginnings #organization
Bet On Yourself
#BetOnYourself. For me, this meant cashing in my savings (including my 401k) to pay my bills, and paying my mortgage on a credit card…so that I could run a start-up that had more debt than cash. Building a company requires big-time risk. The decision I made to take this risk happened for a few key reasons: 1. I know what I have to offer – I believe in my ability and if I say I’m going to do something, I’ll get it done. 2. The path to leadership is not an equal opportunity endeavor – I was unlikely to be promoted into leadership because I didn’t check the typical boxes. 3. I trusted myself to know this was a good idea – many years of struggle helped me hone my instinct for survival, which is the underpinning of success. 4. One of the founders was willing to do “whatever it takes” – we didn’t always agree, but we were in agreement on the commitment necessary to succeed. There were challenges. One of the founders flat-out said he would not work for a woman. Big stumbling block. Financial decisions were made before I arrived that put us in debt right out of the gate. One of the founders (same one) didn’t understand the risk of protecting the IP and a presentation he did led to creating an unnecessary competitor. My unconventional background was viewed as a liability in the traditional business setting when, in fact, it was an asset. Living out of my car, struggling to buy food and pay rent, and surviving unspeakable challenges prepared me to succeed as an entrepreneur. No safety net = high level of motivation. This is me presenting my company to the Capital Investors, a who’s who of the early internet boom. This was in the book The Dinner Club by Shannon Henry Kleiber. hashtag#entrepreneur hashtag#entrepreneurship hashtag#leadership hashtag#LinkedIn
