Meet Sandy Lamb the CEO and owner of Altitude Business Coaching who has a passion for helping executive women and is known for challenging the status quo to get the best out of your greatest asset, people. She saw executive coaching as the perfect opportunity for her to give back the expertise and operational insights she learned in corporate America while affording her the opportunity to spend more time blending family and wellness into her life.
Sandy was “liberated” from corporate America almost 5 years ago and the vision she had for her company was to mentor executive women in how to position themselves to lead authentically in male-dominated industries. She is a graduate from Johns Hopkins University with an MBA in International Business. She is the chair for the Colorado Springs Regional Action Committee for the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, chair, mentor and Advisory Board member for 4Word, a member of the Advisory Board for Tomorrow People Organization based in Serbia and a speaker coach for TedX. Sandy resides in Colorado Springs with her husband of 25 years and their 3 teenage children.
She has spent the last few years speaking around the world on the subject of leading with emotional intelligence, finding your return on empathy and the science of well-being for audiences like Women in Nuclear, Women in Engineering, IEEE, Xcel Energy, Toyota Motor North America and Project Management Institute (PMI).
Today we had the opportunity to interview Sandy Lamb, see below for the Q&A with Sandy Lamb.
Can you share your strategies about how to stay calm and sane during difficult times.
Have you ever listened to the sound of your own breathing? I wish I knew then what I know now. When I worked in corporate America, I didn’t tap into half of the tools and techniques that are now a part of my morning routine. Every day includes some form of exercise, mindfulness meditation and prayer. These are the foundation for what allows me to literally stay calm and carry on. There is something so soothing about your own breath when you allow yourself the focus to literally hear yourself breathe. It means you must physically slow yourself down, which in turn, will slow your heart rate and activate the “happy hormones” in your brain, (i.e. dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin) There is a reason that my word of the year for 2022 is PAUSE. Life gets to moving way too fast sometimes and we all need to stop and smell the roses to maintain our sanity and truly appreciate what we have.
What has been your biggest milestone / achievement thus far?
There are so many things I could point to with this question, not the least of which was giving birth to 3 amazing, talented children and having all of us survive their teenage years. But the first thing that literally came to mind, which has given me so much fulfillment and joy in my career, is my Tedx speaker coaching. To-date I have coached 11 people to bring their one big idea to the Big.Red.Dot. I happened upon my first speaker coaching role at Tedx Colorado Springs in 2019 and since then have coached people from Chicago to Breckenridge, and most recently, Franklin, TN. I liken it in some ways to being a proud mom, because there is nothing more empowering then tapping into people’s purpose and passion and helping them on their journey to share their one big idea with the world.
What advice would you give to other aspiring female entrepreneurs?
Get ready to get ready. The most common mistake I see business owners make in the first year of their startup is that they begin before they are ready. They are super pumped upon an idea or purpose that they are passionate about (selling a product, providing a service), but they don’t know the first thing about running a business. And at the end of the day, if you don’t make $$$, you won’t be in business long. That’s just reality. Do your homework. Get clarity about your offering, who you want to serve, where you want to serve, and how much you want to charge them. In other words, strategic plan FIRST, then execute. Things tend to work out better in that order.
What does diversity mean to you personally?
One of my top LinkedIn posts in 2021 addressed this issue. It was very well received and resonated with many of my followers. Rather than recreate, I’m sharing link and text below. The basic premise is that I think we lose sight of the goal when we focus only on diversity. That is something that we can’t necessarily CHOOSE as individual contributors. However, the (Woman on TOPP) should focus her energy on where she BELONGS, which is a personal choice as well as a feeling.
You CHOOSE Belonging
I was talking with several women today about the fact that what we believe is what we focus on, and that the lies we believe as truths will affect us as if they ARE true. If you agree that thoughts drive our behaviors which drive our actions which yield results… then we will behave differently if we truly believe:
– I don’t have enough relevant experience
– I don’t have the authority to make that decision
– I can’t ask for a raise even though I deserve one
I had a bit of an epiphany with regards to this graphic that I’ve posted before. If you look at all 3 of these, what stands out to you about “Belonging” vs the D&I?
For me, it’s the only one I can control. Both diversity and inclusion require that someone else “invites me” or “asks me”, whereas belonging is a choice that I alone can make.
Don’t rely on anyone else to make you feel included. YOU decide where you belong and if you can’t dance like no one is watching, it might be time to dance somewhere else 🙏😊
How do you look to have a positive impact on people and planet?
Impact = Intention + Heart-centered action
Where love flows, the energy goes. Most of us set out to have a positive impact in the world, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. If our intentions are not pure, people will see right through them (as they should). In a world where authenticity has become a household name, there is no room for imposters.
What has made all the difference in my life is when I let go of self-centeredness and embrace the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “For it is in giving, that we receive.” When I give with an altruistic heart, the results are astounding…. Human connections are formed, people are positively impacted (and therefore pay it forward) yielding exponential heart-centered action. In other words, you cannot receive, until you learn to give with impact! (see equation above)
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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